Australian young gun Talia Gibson has stormed home to record the biggest win of her career and seal a spot in the Indian Wells quarterfinals.
The 21-year-old West Australian defeated world number seven Jasmine Paolini, the two-time singles grand slam runner-up in 2024 and 2025 French Open doubles champion, 7-5, 2-6, 6-1 in a tick over two hours in California.
Gibson burst her way into the WTA top 100 this week after her two wins in qualifying were followed up by successes over American Ann Li, 11th-seeded Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova and Denmark’s 17th-ranked Clara Tauson.
In the process, Gibson became the first qualifier to reach the tournament’s quarters in 11 years and first Australian since Casey Dellacqua in 2014.
Gibson and her 30-year-old Italian opponent each fired down four aces, the Australian dished up five double-faults to one and lost serve three times, but broke on five occasions from 13 opportunities to set up a clash with either 14th-seeded Czech Linda Noskova or the Philippines’s Alexandra Eala.
Aryna Sabalenka meantime credits her new puppy, Ash, with providing “mental health support” as she continues to rack up victories and maintain her standing as the top-ranked player in the women’s game.
Sabalenka brought her cavalier King Charles spaniel to a post-match interview on the Tennis Channel following her 6-2, 6-4 round-of-16 victory over Naomi Osaka.
“I feel like I’m much more settled, calm, more in control,” the Belarussian, who has a history of emotional, on-court outbursts, said.
“Whenever I feel like going crazy on my team, I just pet Ash and I feel better.”
Aryna Sabalenka credited her pet with helping her navigate the highs and lows that come with her tennis career. (Getty Images: Robert Prange)
Sabalenka shared news of her puppy in a social media post last week, introducing the “new addition” to Team Tiger, her support team of coaches, trainers and other staff.
Sabalenka said she wanted her dog’s name to be related somehow to New York and the US Open.
“Apple doesn’t sound right,” she said.
So, she went with a nod to American tennis great and civil rights activist Arthur Ashe, after whom the main US Open stadium court is named.
AAP