DANIIL MEDVEDEV IS BACK: THE GRAND SLAM LOSING STREAK IS FINALLY OVER IN MELBOURNE
Daniil Medvedev is 6-0 in 2026! Discover how his new coaching team helped him snap a year-long Grand Slam losing streak today.
Daniil Medvedev finally snapped his year-long losing streak at the Grand Slams, beating Jesper de Jong in the first round of the Australian Open. It’s been a rough ride for him—he crashed out in the first round at Roland Garros, Wimbledon, and the US Open last year. Not the kind of run you expect from a former world No. 1. Before that, he’d lost early at the Australian Open too, falling to Learner Tien.
Things look different now. Medvedev came into Melbourne fresh off his 22nd career title in Brisbane, and he played like a man with something to prove, taking out De Jong 7-5, 6-2, 7-6 (2). Just like that, the losing streak is over.
Next up is Quentin Halys from France. And with Felix Auger-Aliassime, the seventh seed, out of the picture after retiring from his first-round match with cramps, Medvedev’s path at the tournament feels a little clearer.
Last season, Medvedev’s fortunes started to change after he split with his long-time coach Gilles Cervara. That breakup came after a pretty public meltdown at the US Open. Now, with Thomas Johansson and Rohan Goetzke in his corner, he seems lighter—he even called them “a breath of fresh air”.
“Last year was tough,” Medvedev admitted. “But I feel great with my new team. I don’t dwell on the past. What happened, happened. It’s just part of the job, part of life. I still finished the year ranked 12 or 13 in the world, and honestly, a lot of players would be happy with that.”
He wasn’t thrilled about missing the ATP Finals in Turin for the first time in years, but he’s not beating himself up over it. The end of the season went better than most of the year, and he’s working hard to stay positive on court. “I made a big push to be more positive out there. It’s working so far, but I’m not the kind of guy who says, ‘That’s it, I’m fixed.’ You never know what’s next. I’m just trying to stay positive, both on the court and in life.”
THE 3.3.26 DATE: UNEARTHING THE ROMANTIC DETAILS BEHIND ARYNA SABALENKA’S PROPOSAL IN CALIFORNIA
Aryna Sabalenka is engaged: Read about the 3.3.26 proposal to Georgios Frangulis and the reactions from Gauff, Alcaraz, and Djokovic.
Coco Gauff and Carlos Alcaraz are just a couple of the tennis stars who rushed to celebrate Aryna Sabalenka’s big news: she’s engaged to Georgios Frangulis.
Sabalenka dropped the announcement on social media right before kicking off her run at Indian Wells. As the world number one, she’ll jump straight into the second round, waiting to face either Alycia Parks or Himeno Sakatsume. But honestly, her focus seems split lately, and who can blame her? Off the court, she’s soaking up all the love and congratulations pouring in from fellow players.
She posted a video of the proposal on Instagram, adding a simple, sweet caption: “You & me, forever, 3.3.26.” Coco Gauff chimed in with a quick "Congratulations", and Alcaraz went all out with a stretched-out “Congratulatiooooons!” Ben Shelton and Amanda Anisimova also sent their best, and even Novak Djokovic shared some love. Sabalenka’s close friend Paula Badosa joined in, and skiing legend Lindsey Vonn couldn’t resist commenting either.
Now, with all the excitement swirling around her engagement, you have to wonder, can Sabalenka keep her head in the game at Indian Wells? Wedding plans are probably swirling in her mind, but if history tells us anything, it’s that Sabalenka knows how to lock in when it matters. Her serve is as deadly as ever, and she’s already put together an 11-1 win-loss record this season, with two finals under her belt.
She kicked things off with a title in Brisbane, then hit a snag in the Australian Open final against Elena Rybakina. No doubt, she’s itching to get back to her winning ways in California. The hard courts there play right into her strengths, and all four of her Grand Slam titles have come on this surface. Plus, she’s been a finalist at Indian Wells twice, so she’s got plenty of motivation to finally go all the way.
The field is stacked, so it won’t be easy. But honestly, if anyone’s primed for a breakthrough at Indian Wells, it’s Sabalenka.
TENNIS TRIPLE THREAT: ALCARAZ, SINNER, AND SABALENKA HUNT FOR GLOBAL SPORTS' BIGGEST INDIVIDUAL TROPHIES
Laureus 2026 nominees are out: Read why Alcaraz, Sinner, and Sabalenka are favourites to win global sports' most prestigious awards.
The Laureus Sports Awards announced their latest nominees on Tuesday, and tennis really took centre stage this year. Five tennis players landed spots across different categories, with Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner leading the charge as top contenders for World Sportsman of the Year.
These awards are a pretty big deal in the sports world, and tennis stars usually get a lot of love here. Legends like Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Serena Williams have all racked up multiple wins. Other big names, Justine Henin, Naomi Osaka, and Jennifer Capriati, have also claimed trophies in various categories.
This year, Alcaraz and Sinner headline the men’s awards. Both are up for World Sportsman of the Year after smashing through 2025 with two Grand Slam singles titles apiece. Alcaraz grabbed the French Open and US Open, collecting eight ATP titles overall. Sinner wasn’t far behind, winning six titles, including the Australian Open and Wimbledon. Alcaraz didn’t slow down, either. He kicked off 2026 by winning the Australian Open and just kept rolling.
It’s not just about the men, though. Aryna Sabalenka is in the running for World Sportswoman of the Year after a dominant 2025. She spent the entire year as world No. 1 and picked up her fourth Grand Slam singles title at the US Open, plus three more WTA titles. She’s joined on the shortlist by footballer Aitana Bonmati, athletes Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Faith Kipyegon, and swimmer Katie Ledecky.
Amanda Anisimova’s comeback story also got some well-deserved recognition. She’s up for World Comeback of the Year after an incredible season where she made the finals at both the US Open and Wimbledon, scooped up two WTA 1000 titles, broke into the top 20, and finished the year ranked world No. 4. She’s competing with cyclists Egan Bernal and Simon Yates, golfer Rory McIlroy, athlete Yulimar Rojas, and footballer Leah Williamson.
Joao Fonseca is another name to watch. He’s nominated for World Breakthrough of the Year after jumping from outside the top 140 to inside the top 30, winning two ATP titles, and scoring wins at all four Grand Slams.
The shortlists are stacked this year. You’ve got Ousmane Dembele, Mondo Duplantis, Marc Marquez, and Tadej Pogacar in the men’s field. For the breakthrough award, there’s also footballer Desire Doue, basketball player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, darts prodigy Luke Littler, F1 champ Lando Norris, and swimmer Yu Zidi. The competition looks fierce all around.
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