Osaka forced to retire at Australian Open, Sabalenka overcomes wobbles

  • Reigning champion battles heat and wind to deny Tauson
  • Andreeva, Vekic, Gauff and Badosa all into round four

Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic advanced to the last 16 after the two-time champion Naomi Osaka retired during Friday’sthird-round match with an injury.

Bencic took the first set in a tie-break 7-6 (3) before Osaka, who pulled out of the Auckland final this month due to an abdominal injury, withdrew. Osaka led 5-2 in the opening set but showed signs of struggles with her abdomen and called for a physio during a changeover. The 27-year-old initially soldiered on after treatment before retiring.

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Thomas and Young set for big hooking duel at Church Bank

Harry Thomas and Isaac Young are teammates in the Scarlets Academy but they will be bitter rivals when Wales U20 takes on the Regional Academies XV at Llandovery’s Church Bank on Friday 17 January (7.30pm kick-off). Thomas has been handed the honour of captaining the Wales U20 side after being drafted in for round two […]

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