Although Kyrgios pleded guilty, a magistrate has dismissed the charge against the 2022 Wimbledon finalist after his legal team pointed to mental health issues at the time. Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios pleaded guilty on Friday to assaulting his former girlfriend. However, the 2022 Wimbledon finalist escaped a conviction when the magistrate dismissed the charge. What happened? According to an agreed statement of facts presented to the court, the 27-year-old tennis player shoved his then-girlfriend with open hands after a heated argument outside her apartment in Canberra in 2021. In the courtroom, the prosecutor alleged that Kyrgios pushed his then-girlfriend to the ground during the incident. Why was the charge dismissed? Kyrgios' psychologist, Sam Borenstein, testified that the tennis star had suffered major depressive episodes in the past and had used alcohol and drugs to cope. Kyrgios' mental health issues led to impulsive and reckless behavior, he said. Magistrate Jane Campbell decided not to record a conviction against Kyrgios because the incident was at the low end of seriousness for a common assault and was not premeditated. She called Kyrgios' actions an act of "stupidity" and "frustration."

The Australian Open got a new champion. Aryna Sabalenka from Belarus won the Grand Slam trophy for the first time in her career. On Saturday, january 28, Sabalenka played against Elena Rybakina in the women's final in the first Grand Slam event of the year. The duration of this match was 2 hours and 28 minutes, Sabalenka defeated Kazakhstan's Rybakina. And through this match, Aryna Sabalenka won the first Grand Slam of her career in 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. Sabalenka, however, fell behind in the first set at Rod Laver Arena. From there, Sabalenka turned-around. Before Sabalenka has reached semifinal once at Wimbledon and twice at the US Open. This 24-year-old Sabalenka played the first grand slam final of her life. In the land of kangaroos, Aryna Sabalenka created a history. Aryna Sabalenka fell to the ground after winning the last point. Tear in her eyes. Over 31,000 tennis fans at Rod Laver Arena joined in the applause and cheers.

From 2018 to 2021, these four years, Naomi Osaka achieved a lot in her career. The Japanese tennis star has won four Grand Slam during this time, rising to the top of women's tennis. In 2018 and 2020, Naomi Osaka won the US Open title. And Won the Australian Open title in 2019 and 2021. In the year 2022, Osaka tasted a new thing. This tennis star shared the thing in 2023. Four months ago in September, Osaka withdrew herself from the second round of the Toray Pan Pacific Open-2022. Initially, the reason was reported to be lower abdominal pain but was later denied, which raised concerns. This time, Osaka withdrew  herself from the Australian Open. Last Sunday, she announced that she will not play in the upcoming Australian Open. The reason for the withdrawal is clear in Osaka's tweet, which has raised curiosity again. At the same time anxiety turned into joy. This 25 years tennis star is going to taste the motherhood. "I know that I have so much to look forward to in the future, one thing I'm looking looking forward to is for my kid to one of my matches and tell someone,  'thats my mom' haha. 2023 will be a year that'll be a full of lessons for me and I hope I'll see you guys in the start of the next one cause I'll be at Aus 2024," she wrote on her social media handle.

The Czech–American is considered one of the greatest players of all time. She says she will fight the disease "with all have I got." Martina Navratilova said she had been diagnosed with throat and breast cancer. In a statement released Monday, the tennis legend said her prognosis was good, and she would start treatment this month. "This double whammy is serious but still fixable, and I'm hoping for a favorable outcome," the 66-year-old Navratilova said. "It's going to stink for a while, but I'll fight with all have I got." The cancer was discovered in early November during the WTA finals when Navratilova noticed a swelling in her neck that did not go down and had biopsies performed. Navratilova battled cancer before Navratilova underwent treatment for breast cancer in 2010 and was later declared cancer-free. She originally retired from tennis in 1994 but later returned to the tour to play doubles in 2000 and occasionally competed in singles. She won 59 Grand Slam titles overall, including 31 in women's doubles and 10 in mixed doubles. More recently, she worked as a television analyst. Because of her latest diagnosis, she would not be a regular part of Tennis Channel's coverage of the Australian Open but would appear from time to time remotely. Fellow tennis star take to social media to offer support Navratilova took to Twitter to "thank you all for your support, and I am not done yet,'' she tweeted Monday. Among her well-wishers was another tennis trailblazer Billie Jean King. "Martina is as brave as she is strong," King wrote on Twitter. "She has fought this battle before, and she is in our thoughts and prayers." Chris Evert, Navratilova's great rival on the courts who became her friend, revealed in January 2022 that she had ovarian cancer but was declared to be in remission in May. She wrote on Twitter that Navratilova "is a woman who takes on challenges with strength and resilience…You got this, Martina!"

Roger Federer departed Indian Wells empty-handed for a second straight year, but the Swiss great sees no reason he can’t get back on track at the Miami Masters. “Sure, it’s frustrating and disappointing and sad to some extent,” Federer said after falling 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 to Austrian Dominic Thiem in Sunday’s final. Thiem, 25, denied Federer a record sixth Indian Wells title and returned to his career-high of fourth in the world — bumping Federer down to fifth going to the second leg of the “Sunshine Double” of Indian Wells and Miami. But Federer, the 20-time Grand Slam winner who claimed a remarkable 100th career title in Dubai last month, can afford to take the defeat in stride — especially when he’s playing well and feels his 37-year-old body is fully fit. “It’s just not as dramatic,” he said of falling to a player who was “just a bit better when it mattered”. “Whereas, when you’re hurt and things are difficult, maybe those hurt more. “I’m going to Miami. The body is perfectly fine. That also always keeps me upbeat, and I feel it’s a privilege when I feel this way leaving a tournament. “I have been playing every single day for the last three weeks. I can be very happy and proud of that fact.” As at Indian Wells, Federer could meet fellow Swiss Stan Wawrinka in the third round in Miami. Federer is a three-time winner at Miami, but he lost his second-round opener last year after falling to Juan Martin del Potro in the final at Indian Wells. With that in mind, Federer shied away from predicting he would bounce back in a big way from his loss to Thiem, with the Miami event’s move to a new venue adding to his sense of uncertainty. “Now it’s totally different,” Federer said of the tournament moving from its longtime home on Key Biscayne to the Hard Rock Stadium — home of the NFL’s Miami Dolphins. A new stadium court inside the actual stadium is the centerpiece of the new venue, which also features a secondary grandstand court and two smaller show courts and practice courts. “Everybody’s got to get used to center court or the conditions at the new site,” Federer said. “I’m eager to find out how it’s going to be like. There are still a lot of open question marks. Right now I feel really good.” Source: AFP AH

Roger Federer made it through to a record seventh Australian Open final when South Korean Hyeon Chung retired in the second set of their semi-final. The Swiss led 6-1, 5-2 when 21-year-old Chung was forced to call it quits, three games after being treated for a blister on his left foot. Defending champion Federer, 36, goes on to face Croatian sixth seed Marin Cilic in Sunday's final. The world number two is seeking a sixth Australian and 20th Grand Slam title. Federer was on course to take a two-set lead after just 62 minutes when the second semi-final came to an abrupt halt. Chung's management later said the problem had developed during the tournament, and they had tried to ease the pain with injections as it was much worse than a regular blister. ‘I thought the first set was normal,’ said Federer. ‘I couldn't tell what was going on with my opponent.’ ‘In the second set I felt he was getting slower. He's had a problem with the blister. It hurts - a lot. At some point it's too much and you make things worse.’ ‘Clearly I'm happy to be in the final - but not like this. He's had such a wonderful tournament,’ said Federer. Chung had spent around 12 hours on court heading into the semi-final, including a grueling win over Novak Djokovic in round four, and the physical effort finally took its toll. AH