Sabalenka, Rybakina to Open New Season in Brisbane 

Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka returns the ball to Poland's Iga Swiatek during their women's singles semifinal tennis match at the WTA Finals Championship in Cancun, Mexico on November 5, 2023. (AFP)
Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka returns the ball to Poland's Iga Swiatek during their women's singles semifinal tennis match at the WTA Finals Championship in Cancun, Mexico on November 5, 2023. (AFP)
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Sabalenka, Rybakina to Open New Season in Brisbane 

Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka returns the ball to Poland's Iga Swiatek during their women's singles semifinal tennis match at the WTA Finals Championship in Cancun, Mexico on November 5, 2023. (AFP)
Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka returns the ball to Poland's Iga Swiatek during their women's singles semifinal tennis match at the WTA Finals Championship in Cancun, Mexico on November 5, 2023. (AFP)

World number two Aryna Sabalenka and number four Elena Rybakina will open their 2024 seasons at the Brisbane International warm-up for the Australian Open, organizers said on Tuesday.

Former world number one Naomi Osaka was already announced for the WTA 500 event, which is returning in the first week of January after a three-year hiatus forced initially by the COVID pandemic.

Sabalenka is ineligible to compete in the United Cup mixed tournament taking place in Perth and Sydney the same week because of the continuing ban on teams from Belarus and Russia stemming from the invasion of Ukraine.

The 25-year-old will join her fellow Belarusian and twice Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka in the 48-player Brisbane field as she prepares for her first Grand Slam title defence at Melbourne Park.

"Australia holds a special place in my heart after winning my first Grand Slam there," Sabalenka said in a news release.

"I can't wait to make my debut at the Brisbane International and play in front of the Queensland tennis fans."

Russian-born Kazakh Rybakina, the Wimbledon champion in 2022, lost to Sabalenka in this year's Melbourne final.



Bellingham Leads Madrid Past Mallorca to Set Up a Spanish Super Cup Final Against Barcelona

Soccer Football - Spanish Super Cup - Semi Final - Real Madrid v RCD Mallorca - King Abdullah Sports City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - January 9, 2025 Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Pedro Nunes
Soccer Football - Spanish Super Cup - Semi Final - Real Madrid v RCD Mallorca - King Abdullah Sports City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - January 9, 2025 Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Pedro Nunes
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Bellingham Leads Madrid Past Mallorca to Set Up a Spanish Super Cup Final Against Barcelona

Soccer Football - Spanish Super Cup - Semi Final - Real Madrid v RCD Mallorca - King Abdullah Sports City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - January 9, 2025 Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Pedro Nunes
Soccer Football - Spanish Super Cup - Semi Final - Real Madrid v RCD Mallorca - King Abdullah Sports City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - January 9, 2025 Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Pedro Nunes

Jude Bellingham scored again to lead Real Madrid into the Spanish Super Cup final with a 3-0 win over Mallorca in Saudi Arabia on Thursday.
The England midfielder, who led Madrid in scoring last season, started this campaign slowly but has netted seven goals in his last eight Spanish league games, The Associated Press reported.
He notched another goal in 63rd minute of the Super Cup semifinal when he finally broke down a tough Mallorca that until his goal had imposed its defensive style on the star-studded Madrid.
Bellingham blasted in the third shot in a row by Madrid after Rodrygo initially hit the post and goalkeeper Dominik Greif blocked a follow-up by Kylian Mbappé. Bellingham collected the rebound and slotted his shot from just outside the six-yard box under the on-rushing Greif and past three defenders who were trying to protect the goalmouth.
Madrid tacked on two goals late in stoppage time. Mallorca's Martin Valjent scored an own goal when he inadvertently turned a pass by Brahim Díaz into his net. Rodrygo then took Madrid's third.
The match ended with a short scuffle after the final whistle before calm was restored. It started when Bellingham slapped the back of the neck of Mallorca defender Pablo Maffeo, who had had an intense duel with Vinícius Júnior during the game.
Barcelona awaits Madrid in Sunday’s final.
Madrid lost Aurélien Tchouaméni, a midfielder playing as a central defender, in the 54th after he took a hard knock to the head during a collision with a Mallorca player. Youth player Raúl Asencio replaced him.
Madrid was competing as last season’s Spanish league champion, while Mallorca was invited as the runner-up in the Copa del Rey.
Former Madrid striker Karim Benzema, who now plays in the Saudi Arabian league, was in attendance.