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Resolute Sabalenka ends Swiatek’s French Open dominance | Tennis News

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Mumbai: An Aryna Sabalenka match often sees her engage in constant animated chatter with her player box. Thursday was no different. From being a point away from leading 5-1, she was trailing 5-4 against Iga Swiatek.

Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka managed to get the better of Iga Swiatek 7-6(1), 4-6, 6-0 in the French Open semi-final on Thursday. (AFP)
Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka managed to get the better of Iga Swiatek 7-6(1), 4-6, 6-0 in the French Open semi-final on Thursday. (AFP)

The complaints grew longer. But then she started to chatter to herself. “Come on, fight,” she said. Time and again.

And she did.

The French Open semi-final was pegged as a delicious encounter between world No.1 Sabalenka and the three-time defending champion Swiatek. Between them, they had won seven of the last 12 Grand Slams and were two of the most dominant players in this era of women’s tennis. This was the final before the final. Both had something to prove.

But under the closed roof of Court Philippe Chatrier in rainy Paris, Sabalenka managed to get the better of Swiatek 7-6(1), 4-6, 6-0.

“It feels incredible but the job is not done yet. I’m just thrilled with the performance today with this win,” Sabalenka said in her post-match interview on court. “She’s the toughest opponent, especially on clay, especially at Roland Garros. It was a tough match, a tricky match.”

The win ensured that there will be a new French Open champion this year, as Sabalenka moved into a sixth major final in her last nine Grand Slam appearances. It is also her fifth final in the last 6 Slams she has played.

She will play American player Coco Gauff, who beat French wild card Lois Boisson 6-1, 6-2 in the second semi-final.

The 27-year-old from Minsk is a three-time Grand Slam champion. But each of those wins have come on hard courts. By no means is Sabalenka uncomfortable on clay, but she was looking for ways to break the shackles of being considered a hard court-specialist.

Sabalenka has been in terrific form at the French Open this year, winning all her matches before Thursday in straight-sets. But it would always take something special to beat Swiatek in Paris, even if the Pole had come into the tournament with not the best results (by her standards).

Swiatek has struggled to get back to her best since she had been suspended for a month in November for a positive dope test. She has struggled with form and has not won a title since she clinched her fifth Grand Slam and fourth in France last year.

But the four-time French Open champion found some rhythm at this edition. She also clawed her way back into the opening set after being down 4-1, and then winning the second set to force the decider.

Sabalenka however, remained steady and true to her strategies. The Belarusian struck heavy returns and looked to finish rallies early. So much so that off the 97 total points she won, 81 came from rallies that lasted four shots or less. And a good chunk of those points came with Sabalenka hitting behind Swiatek, forcing the Pole on the backfoot.

A scrappy first set was followed by a stronger display from Swiatek in the second. Winning the second should have put the former world No.1 in good stead going into the third. But Sabalenka managed to reset quickly.

Sabalenka did not commit a single unforced error in the third set and lost only three points on her serve. Swiatek meanwhile won only six points in the entire set, and none from her eight second serves.

“I’m glad I found my serve and it was a bit easier with the serve,” Sabalenka said about the third set. “And 6-0, what can I say, it couldn’t be more perfect than that.”

She now becomes only the third player, after Simona Halep (2019) and Maria Sakkari (2021) to have beaten Swiatek at the French Open, ending the former champion’s 26-match unbeaten run at the tournament.

But as she said, the win was important, but the mission is still incomplete.

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Tyrese Haliburton injured: What are the betting odds at halftime of NBA Finals Game 7?

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Jun 23, 2025 07:13 AM IST

Tyrese Haliburton’s injury has impacted the Indiana Pacers’ odds in the NBA Finals Game 7.

Tyrese Haliburton’s injury has impacted the Indiana Pacers’ odds in the NBA Finals Game 7. The Pacers’ betting odds have taken a dip even though they lead the Oklahoma City Thunder at halftime in the winner-takes-all game.

Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) falls to the court with an injury during the first half of Game 7 of the NBA Finals basketball series against the Oklahoma City Thunder Sunday.(AP)
Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) falls to the court with an injury during the first half of Game 7 of the NBA Finals basketball series against the Oklahoma City Thunder Sunday.(AP)

Here are the odds for both teams at halftime of the NBA Finals Game 7.

“@Pacers up 48-47 at halftime. Live odds at@BetMGM @okcthunder-5.5. Total 201.4. Moneyline: Thunder -275. Pacers +210,” a tweet on X revealed.

 

This means a bettor will make more money on the Pacers if they win the NBA title in Game 7 without their star Tyrese Haliburton, who suffered an ACL injury early in the first half.

Tyrese Haliburton’s father, John, couldn’t hold back. He burst into tears looking at his son being taken off the court after the Indiana Pacers star suffered an apparent Achilles injury in NBA Finals’ Game 7 vs the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday.

The injury came midway through the first quarter when the Pacers guard attempted to drive the ball. He fell and looked in pain almost immediately. Oklahoma City Thunder guard Alex Caruso stole the ball, and Jalen Williams finished with a dunk on the other end.

Haliburton was already nursing a right calf strain and was a near game-time decision for game six — when the Pacers routed the Thunder in Indianapolis to force the decisive game seven. On Sunday, the 25-year-old looked crushed as he was taken into the locker room. He hopped on one leg and was supported by the Pacers’ staff members.

The Pacers later confirmed Haliburton would play no further part in the game after suffering a “right lower leg injury”. Haliburton had made three three-pointers on the way to nine points before the injury.

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Thunder vs Pacers: Full list of NBA Champions ahead of Game 7

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The NBA season is coming to an end on Sunday night when Indiana Pacers visits Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 7 to decide which team will hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy.

The winner will take away the title from Boston Celtics and will become the league’s seventh different title winner in the last seven years.

This is the first time since Cleveland Cavaliers’ win over Golden State Warriors in 2016 that a matchup has gone to the seventh and deciding game.

1947 – Philadelphia Warriors beat Chicago Stags

1948 – Baltimore Bullets beat Philadelphia Warriors

1949 – Minneapolis Lakers beat Washington Capitols

1950 – Minneapolis Lakers beat Syracuse Nationals

1951 – Rochester Royals beat New York Knicks

1952 – Minneapolis Lakers beat New York Knicks

1953 – Minneapolis Lakers beat New York Knicks

1954 – Minneapolis Lakers beat Syracuse Nationals

1955 – Syracuse Nationals beat Fort Wayne Pistons

1956 – Philadelphia Warriors beat Fort Wayne Pistons

1957 – Boston Celtics beat St. Louis Hawks

1958 – St. Louis Hawks beat Boston Celtics

1959 – Boston Celtics beat Minneapolis Lakers

1960 – Boston Celtics beat St. Louis Hawks

1961 – Boston Celtics beat St. Louis Hawks

1962 – Boston Celtics beat Los Angeles Lakers

1963 – Boston Celtics beat Los Angeles Lakers

1964 – Boston Celtics beat San Francisco Warriors

1965 – Boston Celtics beat Los Angeles Lakers

1966 – Boston Celtics beat Los Angeles Lakers

1967 – Philadelphia 76ers beat San Francisco Warriors

1968 – Boston Celtics beat Los Angeles Lakers

1969 – Boston Celtics beat Los Angeles Lakers

1970 – New York Knicks beat Los Angeles Lakers

1971 – Milwaukee Bucks beat Baltimore Bullets

1972 – Los Angeles Lakers beat New York Knicks

1973 – New York Knicks beat Los Angeles Lakers

1974 – Boston Celtics beat Milwaukee Bucks

1975 – Golden State Warriors beat Washington Bullets

1976 – Boston Celtics beat Phoenix Suns

1977 – Portland Trail Blazers beat Philadelphia 76ers

1978 – Washington Bullets beat Seattle SuperSonics

1979 – Seattle SuperSonics beat Washington Bullets

1980 – Los Angeles Lakers beat Philadelphia 76ers

1981 – Boston Celtics beat Houston Rockets

1982 – Los Angeles Lakers beat Philadelphia 76ers

1983 – Philadelphia 76ers beat Los Angeles Lakers

1984 – Boston Celtics beat Los Angeles Lakers

1985 – Los Angeles Lakers beat Boston Celtics

1986 – Boston Celtics beat Houston Rockets

1987 – Los Angeles Lakers beat Boston Celtics

1988 – Los Angeles Lakers beat Detroit Pistons

1989 – Detroit Pistons beat Los Angeles Lakers

1990 – Detroit Pistons beat Portland Trail Blazers

1991 – Chicago Bulls beat Los Angeles Lakers

1992 – Chicago Bulls beat Portland Trail Blazers

1993 – Chicago Bulls beat Phoenix Suns

1994 – Houston Rockets beat New York Knicks

1995 – Houston Rockets beat Orlando Magic

1996 – Chicago Bulls beat Seattle SuperSonics

1997 – Chicago Bulls beat Utah Jazz

1998 – Chicago Bulls beat Utah Jazz

1999 – San Antonio Spurs beat New York Knicks

2000 – Los Angeles Lakers beat Indiana Pacers

2001 – Los Angeles Lakers beat Philadelphia 76ers

2002 – Los Angeles Lakers beat New Jersey Nets

2003 – San Antonio Spurs beat New Jersey Nets

2004 – Detroit Pistons beat Los Angeles Lakers

2005 – San Antonio Spurs beat Detroit Pistons

2006 – Miami Heat beat Dallas Mavericks

2007 – San Antonio Spurs beat Cleveland Cavaliers

2008 – Boston Celtics beat Los Angeles Lakers

2009 – Los Angeles Lakers beat Orlando Magic

2010 – Los Angeles Lakers beat Boston Celtics

2011 – Dallas Mavericks beat Miami Heat

2012 – Miami Heat beat Oklahoma City Thunder

2013 – Miami Heat beat San Antonio Spurs

2014 – San Antonio Spurs beat Miami Heat

2015 – Golden State Warriors beat Cleveland Cavaliers

2016 – Cleveland Cavaliers beat Golden State Warriors

2017 – Golden State Warriors beat Cleveland Cavaliers

2018 – Golden State Warriors beat Cleveland Cavaliers

2019 – Toronto Raptors beat Golden State Warriors

2020 – Los Angeles Lakers beat Miami Heat

2021 – Milwaukee Bucks beat Phoenix Suns

2022 – Golden State Warriors beat Boston Celtics

2023 – Denver Nuggets beat Miami Heat

2024 – Boston Celtics beat Dallas Mavericks

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A’ja Wilson scores 24 as Aces beat cold-shooting Caitlin Clark and Fever 89-81 to end 3-game skid

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Jun 23, 2025 03:02 AM IST

A’ja Wilson scores 24 as Aces beat cold-shooting Caitlin Clark and Fever 89-81 to end 3-game skid

LAS VEGAS — A’ja Wilson scored 24 points in a battle with cold-shooting Caitlin Clark on Sunday to lead the Aces to an 89-81 victory over the Indiana Fever and stop a three-game Las Vegas skid.

HT Image
HT Image

Wilson, the reigning MVP, was one of five Aces in double figures. Jackie Young scored 19 points and Chelsea Gray finished with 18.

Aliyah Boston scored 26 points for the Fever, including 18 in the first half. Clark, last season’s Rookie of the Year, had 19 points and 11 assists but shot just 1 of 10 from 3-point range. She’s 1 for 17 from deep over her last two games.

Kelsey Mitchell added 20 points for Indiana.

Wilson and Clark struggled early, combining to shoot 2 of 15 midway through the second quarter.

The game was even at 69-69 in the fourth quarter when the Aces outscored Indiana 9-2 to go ahead for good.

The Aces , who won their second WNBA championship in a row just two years ago and expected to contend again this season, entered having lost five of six. Beating the Fever could get Las Vegas heading in the right direction. Indiana is 2-3 over its last five.

Going back to last season, the Aces are 5-0 against the Fever. The teams will meet twice in Indianapolis later this season.

The game was down Las Vegas Boulevard at T-Mobile Arena to accommodate a larger crowd than the Aces’ usual home, Michelob Ultra Arena. Las Vegas usually has rowdy fans, but as expected, many spectators wore Clark shirts and jerseys.

Indiana’s DeWanna Bonner missed her fourth consecutive game for personal reasons. Coach Stephanie White returned to the bench after missing the Fever’s previous game at Golden State, also for personal reasons.

WNBA: /hub/wnba-basketball

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.

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