A misfiring and cramping Jannik Sinner admitted on Saturday that he “got lucky” after dropping a rare set before taming American underdog Eliot Spizzirri in furnace-like heat to make the last 16 at the Australian Open. The two-time defending champion was broken three times in the first set and six times in total as he laboured to a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 victory on over a lung-bursting three hours and 45 minutes. With temperatures climbing to 40C, it was not the demolition job many predicted against a player ranked 85 with Sinner struggling to acclimatise to the brutal conditions. Draping himself in ice towels during the changeovers, he suffered a fright in the third set with severe cramp that needed treatment. Hobbling, he was only saved when play was halted due to the extreme heat and the stadium roof closed. It was the first time Sinner had dropped a set in 12 matches, dating back to Vienna last year against Alexander Zverev. “It was hot today, I started to cramp a little bit in the third set, and yeah, got lucky today. At the point when they closed the roof, I tried to loosen up a little bit. It helped. I changed a bit also the way of how I played certain points. That helped me today, for sure,” said Sinner, who will face compatriot Luciano Darderi for a place in the quarter-finals. Meanwhile, Swiss veteran Stan Wawrinka, 40, made a heroic final farewell to the Australian Open in a battling third-round loss to Taylor Fritz. The US ninth seed beat the three-time Grand Slam-winner 7-6 (7-5), 2-6, 6-4, 6-4. Wawrinka, who made his debut at Melbourne Park in 2006 and won the major in 2014, is playing his last season before retiring. 12No. of matches since Jannik Sinner last dropped a set 51No. of unforced errors committed by Jannik Sinner This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
25 January,2026 09:43 AM IST | Melbourne | AFPWorld No. 4 Novak Djokovic became the first player to win 400 Grand Slam matches as the 38-year-old dispatched Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) to storm into the Round of 16. “I’m still trying to give these young guys a push for their money. I’m still around. I’m hanging in there. Alcaraz and Sinner are the two best players in the world. They’re playing on a different level from all of us right now. But when you enter the court and the ball rolls, you always have a chance, particularly here, on the court that has given me the most in my career,” said the 24-time Grand Slam champion. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
25 January,2026 09:38 AM IST | Melbourne | AFPTwo-time champion Naomi Osaka pulled out of the Australian Open with an abdominal injury ahead of her third-round clash on Saturday, saying “it breaks my heart”. The Japanese superstar made the announcement just hours before she was due to meet Australian qualifier Maddison Inglis on centre court in Melbourne. “I’ve had to make the difficult decision to withdraw to address something my body needs attention for after my last match,” said the 16th seed on Instagram. “I was so excited to keep going and this run meant the most to me, so having to stop here breaks my heart. But I can’t risk doing any further damage so I can get back on court, ” she said. Meanwhile, six-time major champion Iga Swiatek endured a roller-coaster ride before sealing her place in the last 16. The Polish second seed wobbled before beating 31st Russian seed Anna Kalinskaya 6-1, 1-6, 6-1. Earlier, Keys revelled in the scorching temperatures to set up a last-16 showdown with podcast co-host Jessica Pegula. Matches started an hour earlier than usual because of the heatwave, and Keys had no intention of hanging about. She dismissed former World No. 1 Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic 6-3, 6-3. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
25 January,2026 09:36 AM IST | Melbourne | AFPWorld champion D Gukesh had himself to blame as he fell into a blindspot and made an unimaginable blunder to go down to Nodirbek Abdusatorov of Uzbekistan in a sixth round match of the Tata Steel chess tournament here on Saturday. Top seed Arjun Erigaisi, meanwhile, benefitted from a similar oversight by Matthias Bluebaum of Germany to salvage half a point, while R Praggnanandhaa’s hunt for an elusive win went on as he was held to a draw by Vladimir Fedoseev of Slovenia. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
25 January,2026 09:27 AM IST | Wijk Aan Zee (The Netherlands) | PTIIndia's star mixed doubles table tennis duo of Diya Chitale and Manush Shah emerged champions at the WTT Contender Muscat on Friday in just their second tournament of the season. In a closely fought final against the fourth-seeded Chinese pair of Huang Yuzheng and Shi Xunyao, Chitale believes their aggressive game-style paired with fast tables helped the third-seed Indians win 3-2. “Our opponents were very strong and it was neck and neck throughout the match, so every point mattered. But we stuck to our plan of being aggressive and attacked at every opportunity. We ended up making good use of the conditions; the faster tables helped our natural playing style too,” Santacruz-based Chitale told mid-day. This was the Indian pair’s second WTT Contender title — they won the WTT Contender Tunis in 2025 — after a breakthrough season last year, which culminated in them becoming the first Indians to feature in the prestigious season-ending WTT Finals in December 2025. In the current tournament, Chitale admitted they made a slow start, but found their bearings in the later stages. The 22-year-old felt the semi-final battle against the French pair of Thibault Poret and Charlotte Lutz proved to be the turning point, as they rallied from two sets down to win 3-2 and progress to the summit clash. “Our [French] opponents were playing very aggressively and were on song that day. After we went 0-2 down, we adopted a nothing-to-lose kind of mentality. We realised there’s no point in playing passively, so we took the game to them. That comeback gave us a lot of confidence heading into the final,” explained Chitale. The Indian pair will next be seen in action at the WTT Star Contender Chennai, which begins on February 10. Chitale said they need to work on fine-tuning their defence. “We have been working on our defensive game since the WTT Finals. After this tournament in Muscat, we will have enough time to train on that one thing that we need to improve on for the WTT Contender Chennai, where our goal is to win in front of our home crowd,” Chitale signed off. TwoNo. of WTT Contender titles won by Chitale and Shah
25 January,2026 09:25 AM IST | Mumbai | Ronan CarvalhoAlisha Lehmann, the women’s footballer with the most Instagram followers (15.9 million), has not just bagged a new contract with Leicester City, but has also found new love in Montel McKenzie — a model who recently starred in Britain’s famous reality TV show Love Island. McKenzie, 28, was the one to announce their relationship on Wednesday when he wished the 27-year-old Swiss international a happy birthday while posting a slew of photographs of the couple spending time together. In one of the pictures, Lehmann is seen sitting on McKenzie’s lap while in a white bikini. In another picture, the couple are seen sharing a passionate kiss. Lehmann is also the manager of MVPs United, a team that plays in the Baller League — a six-a-side football tournament in the UK. According to British newspaper The Sun, that’s how the two met, as McKenzie, who is also an amateur footballer, is one of the players on the team’s roster. According to a source quoted by the British tabloid: “They hit it off straight away. Alisha has been flying him to her Como apartment for sneaky weekend breaks for a while now, I don’t think Montel could quite believe his luck.” This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
24 January,2026 08:31 AM IST | Britain | AgenciesAn ominous Carlos Alcaraz warned he was getting “better and better” after sweeping into the Australian Open last 16 on Friday. The Spanish World No. l wasted little energy in his 100th Grand Slam match — he has won 87 of them, matching Bjorn Borg’s record at the same stage of his career — with a 6-2, 6-4, 6-1 mauling of France’s Corentin Moutet, ranked 37th. It thrust him into a clash for a place in the quarter-finals with 20th-ranked American Tommy Paul. “I think my level is getting better and better,” said the six-time Grand Slam winner. “Corentin isn’t a player who plays with much rhythm in the match, with [his] dropshots, slices. So sometimes it’s tricky to get a good rhythm, which I think today I just got whatever I could, which I’m really happy about. I’m excited to keep it going,” he added. Alcaraz, 22, has never gone past the last eight in his four previous trips here, with the Australian Open the only Grand Slam missing from his burgeoning collection. He will become the youngest man to win all four majors should he push on and make his breakthrough. 100No of Grand Slam matches played by Carlos Alcaraz; He has won 87 of them This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
24 January,2026 08:27 AM IST | Melbourne | AFPTeenager Iva Jovic sent two-time Grand Slam finalist Jasmine Paolini crashing out of the Australian Open on Friday with the eighth-ranked Italian the biggest scalp of the young American’s burgeoning career. The 18-year-old was undaunted against Paolini, storming home 6-2, 7-6 (7-3) to make the last 16 at a major for the first time. She will play Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva for a place in the quarter-finals. ‘Amazing feeling’ “It feels amazing [to beat a Top 10 player]. I’ve been wanting this one for a while now and working really hard for it. I had a couple of tough losses [against Top 10 players earlier] and I’m just so happy to get through that barrier and get the win today,” the World No. 27 said, before adding she had been given some handy tips from 24-time Grand Slam-winner Novak Djokovic ahead of the match. “[He] just [told me] to open up the court a little bit better, to not rush into the shots all the time, find some more width. So I tried to do that, and it ended well. So I’m just going to try to keep listening to Novak.” ‘Couldn’t move at my best’ Meanwhile, Paolini was left to rue a decision she made before the match got underway. “I laid down on the sofa after lunch, and that wasn’t a good idea for my stomach. I stepped on the court, and I couldn’t move at my best. But I was trying to hang in there, because I knew that as the time passed, I would get better, but it wasn’t enough to turn the match,” said Paolini. In another match, top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka had to dig deep to overcome Anastasia Potapova of Austria 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (9-7). The Belarusian admitted that she was “emotionally all over the place.” How Jovic rose from 191st to 27th in one year Iva Jovic was born in Torrence, California to a Serbian father (Bojan) and Croatian mother (Jelena) on December 6 2007. She displayed an interest in a wide variety of sports at a young age, but always had a special affinity for tennis, just like her older sister Mia, who played at the college level. Jovic’s talent was apparent even at the junior level, evidenced by the fact she was ranked World No. 2 on the junior circuit and also won two junior Grand Slams, albeit in the doubles category (Australian Open 2024, Wimbledon 2024). She made her professional debut as a 15 year old in 2022, but last year proved to be the turning point in her budding career. At the start of 2025, she was ranked 191st, but she went on to win the WTA 500 event in Guadalajara, Mexico and the WTA 125 event in Ilkley, UK. She also entered the main draw at all four Grand Slam events and is currently 27th. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
24 January,2026 08:23 AM IST | Melbourne | AFPIf change is a constant, then shooting, as a sport, is trying out different things to stay relevant in the Summer Olympic programme. With Los Angeles allotted the 2028 Olympics, at one point of time there were doubts if shooting would make the cut. It has, and the sport is in for some adjustments as well. Keeping in sync, changes are made by the world shooting body (ISSF), which also have to be implemented by national federations. Recently, the first set of selection trials were held at the Dr Karni Singh Ranges in New Delhi, where rifle shooters had to adjust to new gear. The weight of the heavy jacket and trousers, earlier made of thick leather has been cut. The focus now is on lighter material, which means a shooter finding the right balance is more about the athlete’s own efforts and adaptability. Rifle shooters wearing their heavy jackets and trousers during the ISSF World Cup at Cairo last November. Pic/Getty Images In addition to the change in jacket and trousers, the rapid-fire pistol event also sees a change. For the final, now eight shooters stand in the lanes. Earlier, it was six. In an interview with mid-day, 2008 Beijing Olympics gold medallist Abinav Bindra opened up on the changes and their significance given the next two years are important for Indian shooters, first with the Asian Games this year and eventually leading to the 2028 Olympics. Edited excerpts from the interview. What are your thoughts on the changes made by ISSF on clothing for rifle shooters. Does reduction in thickness of jacket and trousers mean shooters have to work harder on balance, so important in this sport?The proposed changes were absolutely necessary. Over time, the stiffness of shooting equipment had crossed a point where it bordered on what I would call technological doping. The balance between skill and equipment had shifted too far, and pure shooting ability was being overshadowed. That was never the essence of the sport in earlier times. Whether these changes truly restore that balance or remain largely cosmetic is something only time will tell, but the intent to bring skill back to the forefront is the right one. The first set of selection trials held by the NRAI are over which saw the rifle shooters in lighter attire. Do you think adaptability is in the head and heart or is it more to do with accepting changes?Adaptability is as much about mindset as it is about method. These changes force athletes to return to the fundamentals. Shooters will have to train their bodies properly, develop genuine balance, and strengthen their mental resilience. Equally, coaches will need to refocus on actual coaching — on technique, posture, breathing, and competition psychology. In many ways, this is a reset for the sport, and that can be a healthy thing. There are also quite a few changes in the new format and how the NRAI also put it in place. Is change a constant that has to be accepted?Change is a constant not just in sport, but in life too. Sport has to evolve continuously to remain relevant, fair, and engaging. The challenge is not resisting change, but managing it thoughtfully so that it enhances the sport without diluting its core values. In rapid fire pistol, the field for final has been increased to eight. Is this done to make the sport better to view or is everything driven by making the sport look busier and faster on TV?That’s quite a technical question, and I must admit I don’t follow the discipline in that level of detail anymore. However, what I can say is that rapid fire pistol finals are inherently exciting, hit or miss, instant results. For someone watching the sport for the first time, it is intuitive and easy to understand, which is always a positive from a spectator’s perspective. What are your thoughts on the new shooting league in India? Will it generate more interest in the sport of shooting?As a former athlete, I genuinely wish the initiative the very best. While I’m not directly involved and don’t know the detailed plans, I firmly believe that any league can succeed only if it excites communities, engages young people, builds a strong fan base for teams, and most importantly innovates. Sport cannot wait for people to come to it; it has to go to the people. Urbanising the concept, making it accessible, and attracting audiences beyond the traditional shooting community are critical. Otherwise, it risks becoming just another league that struggles to sustain itself over time.
24 January,2026 08:12 AM IST | Palakkad | S KannanP V Sindhu and Lakshya Sen suffered straight-game losses to their respective opponents in the women’s and men’s singles quarter-finals, marking the end of Indian challenge in the USD 500,000 Indonesia Masters badminton tournament here on Friday. Sindhu lost to top seed and World No. 4 Chen Yu Fei of China 13-21, 17-21 in the quarter-final contest that lasted 42 minutes to bow out of the Super 500 event. In the men’s singles, Lakshya, a 2021 world championships bronze medallist, was beaten 18-21, 20-22 by Thailand’s Panitchaphon Teeraratsakul in a match that lasted 46 minutes. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
24 January,2026 08:11 AM IST | Jakarta | PTITop Indian shuttlers P V Sindhu and Lakshya Sen entered the quarter-finals of the Indonesia Masters badminton tournament after securing straight-game wins in their respective last 16 matches here on Thursday. Sen prevailed over Hong Kong China’s Jason Gunawan 21-10, 21-11 in a contest that lasted a little over half an hour, while Sindhu notched up a 21-19, 21-18 triumph over Line Hojmark Kjaerfeldt of Denmark. Later in the day, former World No. 1 Kidambi Srikanth, a 2021 world championships silver medallist, was too erratic to pose any challenge, going down 11-21, 10-21 to Chinese Taipei’s Chou Tien Chen in a lop-sided Round of 16 encounter. In women’s singles, Anmol Kharb showed a lot of heart to challenge former world champion Nozomi Okuhara before going down 21-16, 14-21, 11-21 in 56 minutes. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
23 January,2026 09:38 AM IST | Jakarta | PTIADVERTISEMENT
