Stephens Ousted in Hobart, Ostapenko Beats Cirstea in Adelaide 

Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia reacts after winning the second set in her quarter-final match against Victoria Azarenka of Belarus during the Brisbane International tennis tournament in Brisbane, Australia, Friday, Jan. 5, 2024. (AP)
Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia reacts after winning the second set in her quarter-final match against Victoria Azarenka of Belarus during the Brisbane International tennis tournament in Brisbane, Australia, Friday, Jan. 5, 2024. (AP)
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Stephens Ousted in Hobart, Ostapenko Beats Cirstea in Adelaide 

Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia reacts after winning the second set in her quarter-final match against Victoria Azarenka of Belarus during the Brisbane International tennis tournament in Brisbane, Australia, Friday, Jan. 5, 2024. (AP)
Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia reacts after winning the second set in her quarter-final match against Victoria Azarenka of Belarus during the Brisbane International tennis tournament in Brisbane, Australia, Friday, Jan. 5, 2024. (AP)

Sloane Stephens's Australian Open buildup suffered a blow after the former US Open champion lost 6-4 3-6 7-6(5) to China's Yuan Yue in the Hobart International first round on Tuesday.

The duo slugged it out for nearly three hours before the Chinese world number 73 secured a memorable victory.

Having split the first two sets, Yuan broke Stephens when the American was serving for the match at 6-5. Stephens led 5-4 in the tiebreak but could not hold on to her advantage.

"I'm very happy and excited to win," a beaming Yuan said.

"She's a Grand Slam champion. At home, I'd (often) watch her play on the TV. I'm happy to be here (playing against her)," she said of her opponent.

Former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin began her campaign at the Melbourne Park warm-up event with a 6-3 6-3 win over Greet Minnen of Belgium.

Kenin, who saved all three break points she faced, will meet Daria Saville for a spot in the quarter-finals.

Britain's Emma Raducanu withdrew from a charity match in Melbourne on Tuesday, which was part of her Australian Open buildup, the BBC reported.

Her original opponent Naomi Osaka had pulled out earlier and was replaced by Donna Vekic for the contest, which was cancelled.

In the first round of the Adelaide International, sixth seed Jelena Ostapenko came back from a sluggish start to beat Sorana Cirstea 2-6 6-2 6-4.

Ostapenko needed nearly two hours to secure victory at the Australian Open tune-up event, enjoying a modicum of revenge after the Romanian beat her at Wimbledon last year.

Cirstea won four games in a row to race through the opening set, but former French Open champion Ostapenko hit back and fired back-to-back aces to force the decider.

The Latvian raced into a 5-2 lead but was broken serving for the match. She blew two match points at 5-3 before sealing victory with her sixth ace.

She next meets Caroline Garcia, who rallied past 18-year-old Australian wildcard Taylah Preston 6-4 1-6 6-3.

World number seven Marketa Vondrousova withdrew from the event ahead of her first-round match due to a hip injury.

Laura Siegemund, part of the Germany team that won the United Cup title last week, upset world number 14 Liudmila Samsonova 6-7(1) 6-4 6-4.

Elsewhere, Arthur Fils ended Richard Gasquet's title defense at the Auckland Classic with a 6-3 6-4 win over his French compatriot.

"He's a great champion," Fils said of former world number seven Gasquet.

"He won here last year, so I was a little bit nervous before the match, but I´m really happy to play against him."

Returning to the tour for the first time since last year's Wimbledon, Denis Shapovalov lost 6-4 6-2 to Sebastian Ofner.



Cancelo Ruled Out of Al-Hilal’s Asian Champions League Semi with Al-Ahli 

Football - Saudi Pro League – Al-Hilal v Al-Shabab - Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - April 21, 2025 Al-Hilal coach Jorge Jesus is seen during the match. (Reuters) 
Football - Saudi Pro League – Al-Hilal v Al-Shabab - Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - April 21, 2025 Al-Hilal coach Jorge Jesus is seen during the match. (Reuters) 
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Cancelo Ruled Out of Al-Hilal’s Asian Champions League Semi with Al-Ahli 

Football - Saudi Pro League – Al-Hilal v Al-Shabab - Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - April 21, 2025 Al-Hilal coach Jorge Jesus is seen during the match. (Reuters) 
Football - Saudi Pro League – Al-Hilal v Al-Shabab - Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - April 21, 2025 Al-Hilal coach Jorge Jesus is seen during the match. (Reuters) 

Al-Hilal coach Jorge Jesus has ruled Joao Cancelo out of the remainder of his side's Asian Champions League Elite campaign with a hamstring injury ahead of their all-Saudi Pro League semi-final against Al-Ahli in Jeddah on Tuesday.

The former Manchester City and Barcelona defender limped off 42 minutes into Al-Hilal's 7-0 thrashing of South Korea's Gwangju on Friday and Jesus confirmed the 30-year-old would play no further part in the continental championship.

"The only negative part of an excellent night was the injury to Joao Cancelo," said Jesus. "He's one of the players who is very important for the team for his attacking ability.

"We will not have him. He will be out for four to six weeks, that means his season is practically over, but he will be well prepared for our participation in the Club World Cup."

Al-Hilal remain on track for a record-extending fifth Asian title but face a difficult challenge against an Al-Ahli side that is the only undefeated team left in the competition.

The clubs have already met three times this season in domestic competition, with Al-Ahli winning the most recent encounter in the Saudi Pro League thanks to a hat-trick by England striker Ivan Toney.

That win was coach Matthias Jaissle's first against Al-Hilal in five attempts and the German is confident his side can repeat the feat.

"It helps definitely to know, to feel that we are capable to win against Al-Hilal," said Jaissle.

"We've played against Al-Hilal so often and they have huge quality in their squad, but we're well prepared. We know exactly what will come tomorrow, there will be no surprises on the pitch. Details will be decisive."

The semi-final will be played at Al-Ahli's home at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium and Jaissle is hoping the support of the local fans will be a factor in deciding the outcome.

"The results in the matches since the competition started show clearly that this competition fits us," he said. "But we didn't achieve anything so far.

"Everything has to fit together, all the details in all phases of the game. Then you need sometimes a bit of luck and the extra energy of the fans."