Sports
Sabalenka says ‘Battle of the Sexes’ pays off after ruthless win
BRISBANE: Aryna Sabalenka said her much-maligned exhibition match against Nick Kyrgios had paid dividends as she demolished Cristina Bucsa on Tuesday to launch her Australian Open preparations.
The world number one took just 48 minutes to dispose of the Spaniard 6-0, 6-1 in the second round of the season-opening Brisbane International.
The ease of the win against the world number 50 will send a warning to the Belarusian’s rivals ahead of the Australian Open starting January 18.
She raced through the first set in just 22 minutes and took only 26 minutes to claim the second against an opponent who had no answer to the power of the 27-year-old.
Sabalenka said the fact that she played so well in her first match of the season showed that the December 28 exhibition in Dubai against the mercurial but controversial Kyrgios was worthwhile.
“I mean, when you play against a guy, the intensity is completely different,” she said.
“Especially when there is Nick, who is drop-shotting every other shot, so you move a lot, so there was a great fitness for me.
“And today I was, like, whew, let’s move around, you know. “That exhibition, it was fun. It was a great challenge,” she added.
“I think we brought so many eyes on tennis. It wasn’t about proving something to anyone, it was able to show that tennis can be really huge.”
Sabalenka will now play either Jelena Ostapenko or Sorana Cirstea in the third round and remains on track to meet Madison Keys in the quarter-finals in a rematch of last year’s Australian Open final, won by the American.
Keys reached the Brisbane third round with a 6-4, 6-3 win over fellow American McCartney Kessler.
Like Sabalenka, Keys had a bye into the second round and said she had found it tough to find her rhythm early on.
“I think it’s sometimes a little bit harder when the person you’re playing has already played a match, and then you’re kind of trying to still knock off a bit of the rust,” she said.
“I felt like it took a little bit just to find my rhythm, but I feel like once I did it, I kind of settled in a little bit better.”
There were two major upsets in the men’s draw, with second-seeded Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina and Canada’s fifth seed, Denis Shapovalov, both losing.
American Brandon Nakashima downed Davidovich Fokina 7-6 (7/4), 6-4, while Belgian qualifier Raphael Collignon beat Shapovalov 6-4, 6-2.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Dominiq Ponder died this weekend, the team’s head coach Deion Sanders confirmed on Sunday with a social media post.
“God please comfort the Ponder family, friends and loved ones,” Sanders wrote on social media. “Dom was one of my favorites! He was Loved, Respected & a Born Leader. Let’s pray for all that knew him & had the opportunity to be in his presence. Lord you’re receiving a good 1. Comfort us Lord Comfort us.”
Ponder was 23 years old.
Details of Ponder’s death are not yet known.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Colorado head coach Deion Sanders watches his team warm up before an NCAA college football game against TCU Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, in Fort Worth, Texas. (Tony Gutierrez/AP Photo)
Ponder, a 6-foot-5, 200-pound signal caller, joined the Buffaloes and “Coach Prime’s” program in 2024 after spending time at Bethune-Cookman before making his way to Boulder.
Last season, Ponder played just two games for the Buffaloes while serving in his backup role. He recorded two rush attempts and one pass attempt.
The Opa Locka, Fla., native also received tribute from a fellow quarterback with the Buffaloes, Colton Allen.
Bethune-Cookman QB Dominiq Ponder takes a snap during the Wildcats’ spring game Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Daytona Stadium. (IMAGN)
“Dom, you were a blessing to so many people,” Allen wrote on Instagram. “You had a presence about you that just made everything better. You brought so much joy to me and everyone around you. I’m grateful for every lift, every practice, every rep, every conversation we got to share. I’ll carry those with me for the rest of my life.”
Ponder was going to be a part of Colorado’s spring practices, which are set to begin on Monday. It’s unknown if Sanders will postpone the start due to Ponder’s passing.
Ponder also received a tribute from the University of Central Florida.
Colorado head coach Deion Sanders watches his players warm up before an NCAA college football game against Utah, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (Tyler Tate/AP Photo)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
“Our prayers are with Dominiq and the Ponder family along with all in the Colorado football program,” the university’s football account on X wrote.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Related Article
With spring training camps underway, it is time to look at the state of baseball. As part of our 2026 MLB season preview, ESPN’s Buster Olney surveyed those around the industry to help him rank the top 10 players at every position.
The objective of this exercise is to identify the best players for the 2026 season, not who might be best in five years or over their career. Who will be the best pitchers to take the mound this season? Who are the game’s most powerful hitters in 2026? And how do marquee positions like shortstop and center field shake out?
We rolled out a position per day over two weeks: starting pitchers, relievers, catchers, first basemen, second basemen, third basemen, shortstops, corner outfielders, center fielders and designated hitters.
Who are the best players today? Check out who makes the list at every position.
Top 10 starting pitchers
The question seems simple: Who is the best starting pitcher in MLB, Tarik Skubal or Paul Skenes? But this was a debate that confounded evaluators more than any other. See our top 10 »
Top 10 relief pitchers
MLB bullpens are loaded with flamethrowers again in 2026 — but there’s not really any doubt who’s No. 1 among relievers. See our top 10 »
Top 10 catchers
Seattle’s Cal Raleigh set the standard for hard-hitting catchers with a historic 2025 season. Can anyone beat him out for the top spot? See our top 10 »
Top 10 first basemen
The battle for the top spot on our list at first base is between a veteran star coming off a dominant October and a young slugger who could be the talk of MLB in 2026. Which player is the best of the best? See our top 10 »
Top 10 second basemen
This year’s second basemen include accomplished veterans, young stars and players still new to the position. Here are the best of the best. See our top 10 »
Top 10 third basemen
The hot corner boasts stars like Jose Ramirez, Alex Bregman, Manny Machado, Bo Bichette, Carlos Correa and more. Where do they all land among the top 10 at the position? See our top 10 »
Top 10 shortstops
The shortstop position is full of big-name stars: Bobby Witt Jr., Gunnar Henderson, Geraldo Perdomo, Francisco Lindor, Corey Seager and Mookie Betts, to name a few. But which one earned the top spot at the premier infield position? See our top 10 »
Top 10 corner outfielders
The outfield corners are loaded with future Hall of Famers, fast-rising young players and two sluggers who share a city. See our top 10 »
Top 10 center fielders
Center field is a spot ruled by some of baseball’s young stars — but which one of them sits atop our list? See our top 10 »
Top 10 designated hitters
You might be able to guess the superstar atop the list of the best designated hitters in baseball for 2026 — but who else joins him in our ranking? See our top 10 »
‘No intelligence suggests’ Iran planned to attack US first, Pentagon tells Congress
Defence stocks surge on Middle East tensions! HAL, BEL, Paras Defence rise up to 13% even as stock market crashes – The Times of India
Indian news channel hacked, airs pro-Pakistan slogans
Pakistan carries out precision strikes on seven militant hideouts in Afghanistan
Eye-popping rise in one year: Betting on just gold and silver for long-term wealth creation? Think again! – The Times of India
These Cheap Noise-Cancelling Sony Headphones Are Even Cheaper Right Now
-
Politics1 week agoPakistan carries out precision strikes on seven militant hideouts in Afghanistan
-
Business1 week ago
Eye-popping rise in one year: Betting on just gold and silver for long-term wealth creation? Think again! – The Times of India
-
Tech1 week agoThese Cheap Noise-Cancelling Sony Headphones Are Even Cheaper Right Now
-
Sports1 week agoKansas’ Darryn Peterson misses most of 2nd half with cramping
-
Sports1 week agoHow James Milner broke Premier League’s appearances record
-
Entertainment1 week agoViral monkey Punch makes IKEA toy global sensation: Here’s what it costs
-
Entertainment1 week agoSaturday Sessions: Say She She performs "Under the Sun"
-
Sports1 week ago
Mike Eruzione and the ‘Miracle on Ice’ team are looking for some company