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Medvedev Withdraws from Rotterdam Due to Fatigue, Foot Issue 

Russia's Daniil Medvedev speaks during a press conference after defeat against Italy's Jannik Sinner during their men's singles final match on day 15 of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 29, 2024. (AFP)
Russia's Daniil Medvedev speaks during a press conference after defeat against Italy's Jannik Sinner during their men's singles final match on day 15 of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 29, 2024. (AFP)
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Medvedev Withdraws from Rotterdam Due to Fatigue, Foot Issue 

Russia's Daniil Medvedev speaks during a press conference after defeat against Italy's Jannik Sinner during their men's singles final match on day 15 of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 29, 2024. (AFP)
Russia's Daniil Medvedev speaks during a press conference after defeat against Italy's Jannik Sinner during their men's singles final match on day 15 of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 29, 2024. (AFP)

Defending champion Daniil Medvedev has pulled out of the Rotterdam Open due to fatigue and a right foot injury, the Russian world number three said.

The 27-year-old, who lost to Italian Jannik Sinner 3-6 3-6 6-4 6-4 6-3 in the Australian Open final last month, spent a Grand Slam record 24 hours and 17 minutes on court at Melbourne Park.

Medvedev beat Sinner in the Rotterdam final last year.

"Unfortunately, I have to pull out of Rotterdam," the 2021 US Open champion said in a statement on Monday.

"After an incredibly tough and long run in Australia my body (and especially my right foot) is not recovered enough yet to play come and defend my title.

"I love playing in Rotterdam, have a long history with the event, and look forward to coming back in 2025."

World number four Sinner will be the top seed at the hard-court tournament following Medvedev's withdrawal, with Andrey Rublev, Holger Rune and Hubert Hurkacz among the other top-ranked players participating in the ATP 500 event.

The tournament takes place from Feb. 12-18.

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Two-time Defending Champion Sabalenka is Into 4th Round at Australian Open

17 January 2025, Australia, Melbourne: Russian tennis player Aryna Sabalenka celebrates her victory over Denmark's Clara Tauson during their women's singles third round match of the Australian Open Tennis tournament at Melbourne Park. Photo: Joel Carrett/AAP/dpa
17 January 2025, Australia, Melbourne: Russian tennis player Aryna Sabalenka celebrates her victory over Denmark's Clara Tauson during their women's singles third round match of the Australian Open Tennis tournament at Melbourne Park. Photo: Joel Carrett/AAP/dpa
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Two-time Defending Champion Sabalenka is Into 4th Round at Australian Open

17 January 2025, Australia, Melbourne: Russian tennis player Aryna Sabalenka celebrates her victory over Denmark's Clara Tauson during their women's singles third round match of the Australian Open Tennis tournament at Melbourne Park. Photo: Joel Carrett/AAP/dpa
17 January 2025, Australia, Melbourne: Russian tennis player Aryna Sabalenka celebrates her victory over Denmark's Clara Tauson during their women's singles third round match of the Australian Open Tennis tournament at Melbourne Park. Photo: Joel Carrett/AAP/dpa

It wasn't often pretty, but two-time defending Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka extended a few impressive streaks on Friday while becoming one of the first players to advance to the fourth round of the year's opening Grand Slam tournament.
In a tougher-than-expected match, Sabalenka beat Clara Tauson 7-6 (5), 6-4 in a poor early serving display by both players to open the sixth day of play on Rod Laver Arena, The Associated Press reported. It was Sabalenka's eighth match victory in a row to start the season after winning the Brisbane International 10 days ago, and her 17th win in a row at Melbourne Park.
As well, it's been nearly three years — the 2022 French Open — that the top-ranked Sabalenka has failed to advance past the third round of any Grand Slam tournament in which she played.
Both players lost their first three service games, and it became seven service breaks in a row when Sabalenka lost her fourth service game at love. After Tauson fired an unreturnable backhand cross-court to set up break point, Sabalenka managed a wry smile.
Tauson finally held a service game to lead 5-3 and Sabalenka also won her service game to stay in the first set. But no surprise — the Danish player lost her service while serving for the first set to leave it at 5-5, eventually going to a tiebreaker which Sabalenka won despite leading 4-1, taking the opening set in 63 minutes.
“The conditions are really tough to serve, heavy conditions,” Sabalenka said. “It was really important to get all of those breaks back. It could have gone either way.”
Sabalenka broke Tauson's serve in the third game of the second set and from there the odds were in Sabalenka's favor — when Sabalenka has an early break in a set, she wins it 88% of the time. But she still needed a break after seven deuces in the ninth game to put her in control and served out the match — after saving two break points in the final game.
“That was a great battle, she played unbelievable tennis,” Sabalenka said. “I am super happy I was able to push myself. I told myself, ‘well girl, you are tough.’ So many times I thought I was done.”
In another early match Friday, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova beat Laura Siegemund 6-1, 6-2 to also advance to the fourth round. Siegemund beat Olympic gold medalist Zheng Qinwen in the second round.
Also advancing Friday was 11th-seeded Paula Badosa, who beat Marta Kostyuk 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, and 18th-seeded Donna Vekic, who defeated 12th-seeded Diana Shnaider 7-6 (4), 6-7 (3), 7-5..
In the only early men's result Friday, American Tommy Paul beat Roberto Carballes Baena 7-6 (0), 6-2, 6-0 to also advance to the fourth round.