02/02/2026

SPORTS MONDAY | FEB 2, 2026

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‘I have big goals’ Silent killer Rybakina targets world No. 1 after Melbourne win E LENA RYBAKINA beat the two top-ranked players in the world to win the Australian Open and show that her quiet ruthless ness can propel her to No. 1 and more Grand Slam glory. seed retained her trademark cool to pull through. Rybakina later revealed that beneath her understated celebrations was huge relief. “Now it’s different. So I just hope that I can carry all this momentum, hopefully do a good job with the team and continue this way throughout the year.” powerful Belarusian struck back to win her first major title in three sets. There was a Wimbledon quarterfi nal and semifinal for Rybakina in 2023 and 2024, and she got to the last eight of the French Open. But her career was hampered by ill

2022. “It was really stressful.” Put to her that statistically she has been the best player in the world since Wimbledon in the middle of last year, Rybakina looked almost embarrassed. “I didn’t even know these statistics, to be honest. The reason, I mean, I’ve been playing well,” she said, smiling. “I have a very aggressive style of game, so I think that’s definitely the key. I don’t know which other answer I can give you.” She was similarly coy when asked if being No. 1 for the first time was on her radar. “I have big goals. Of course time will show, but definitely we will keep on working,” she said. – AFP

Rybakina’s tense victory over Sabalenka, having beaten Poland’s sec ond seed Swiatek in straight sets in the quarterfinals, was her 20th win in her last 21 matches. Rybakina, who switched to play for Kazakhstan in 2018 because of finan cial reasons, was tipped for more Grand Slam success after her Wimbledon breakthrough in 2022. She reached the Australian Open final six months later, facing Sabalenka again. Rybakina won the first set but the

Proving it was no fluke, it was the second time in three months that big serving Rybakina has beaten the world No. 1. She has been the form player on tour since the middle of last year and is set to return to her career-high ranking of three, behind Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek. Australian media labelled her a “quiet assassin”. “Last year I didn’t start that well,” said Rybakina, as she eyes a second Wimbledon title in June-July.

The Moscow-born Kazakh emerged from a power battle with top seed Aryna Sabalenka to claim the Melbourne title in three tight sets on Saturday. The 26-year-old’s 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 tri umph brought her a second major crown, more than three years after win ning Wimbledon. Two-time Australia champion Sabalenka had her chances, notably leading the final set 3-0, but the fifth Napoli edge Fiorentina as injury crisis deepens ITALIAN CHAMPIONS Napoli edged lowly Fiorentina 2-1 in Serie A yesterday to keep pace in the title race, three days after being dumped out of the Champions League. Napoli lost 3-2 to Chelsea on Wednesday and 3-0 to Juventus in the league the previous weekend but bounced back thanks to impressive goals from Antonio Vergara in the 11th minute and Miguel Gutierrez early in the second half. Staggering under the weight of an injury crisis that includes star midfielder Kevin De Bruyne and striker Romelu Lukaku, Napoli lost captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo to a twisted knee in the first half. “It’s a serious injury, the cruciate ligament… coach Antonio Conte said after the game. “We’re killing these guys, we’re killing football... with 60-70 matches per season, it’s suicide.” Fiorentina forced Conte’s charges to dig in when Manor Solomon pulled a goal back on 57 minutes, but the home team held on for a narrow win with a lively pressing game. “We’ll keep fighting,” vowed Conte. “We want to make sure we at least get back into the Champions League.” Inter Milan travel to Cremonese on Sunday and lead the title charge on 52 points, with AC Milan second on 47 ahead of Tuesday’s game at Bologna. Napoli climbed provisionally to third on 46. Roma have 43 ahead of Monday’s game at Udinese. Napoli went into Saturday’s game with just one win from their last seven matches in all competitions. Earlier yesterday Pisa lost 3-1 at home to Sassuolo. They have won just one match from 23 but Verona dropped to the foot of the table after a 4-0 defeat by Cagliari. – AFP BARCELONA spurned some big chances but still moved four points clear at the top of La Liga yesterday with a 3 1 win at Elche, thanks to goals from Lamine Yamal, Ferran Torres and Marcus Rashford. Elsewhere third-place Atletico Madrid drew 0-0 at lowly Levante, while Villarreal were also held in a 2-2 draw at Osasuna. Hansi Flick’s Barca created several clear opportunities in an entertaining clash but the woodwork and some prof ligate finishing stopped them from securing a far bigger victory.

ness and injuries, particularly back trouble, and she has suffered insomnia. Speaking after beating Sabalenka, she said she was able to enjoy her Australian title more than the Wimbledon one. “I remember I was not sleeping well, semis, even quarters. Final I don’t even, how many emotions and how many thoughts was going through my head,” she said on Saturday, looking back to

Bayern held at Hamburg to open door for Dortmund

BAYERN MUNICH dropped points for the second straight week in the Bundesliga as they

Bayern since 2014, a run of nine straight defeats with 39 goals conceded. Arsenal loanee Vieira tucked a penalty under Neuer’s outstretched hand to give Hamburg the lead, their first goal against Bayern in seven matches dating back to 2016. Kane brought the visitors level just before the break, scoring on the spin from a rebound with a classic poacher’s finish. Halftme substi tute Diaz gave Bayern the lead 90 seconds into the second period, guiding a Michael Olise pass in from close range.

like a defeat. We wanted more today, but when you look in the faces of our team, it’s a good sign for next week that we want to attack again.”

Bayern sporting director Max Eberl directed his ire at the match officials, saying: “the referee was a bit over whelmed.” It was the first time Hamburg a v o i d e d de f ea t against

were held to a 2-2 draw at Hamburg yesterday.

Borussia Dortmund have a chance to revive a dormant title race with a win at home to

bottom club Heidenheim over night, which would draw them to within six points. Hamburg had lost 17 and

The visitors levelled minutes later though as Vuskovic headed a cross past Neuer and just inside the post, before holding on to nab a valuable point. Andrej Kramaric scored twice as Hoffenheim extended their strong run with a 3-1 home win over Union Berlin. Hoffenheim narrowly escaped relegation last season but have picked up 19 of a possible 21 points in their past seven games to move level with second-placed Dortmund.

drawn three of their past 20 games with Bayern but put up a fight, taking the lead with a Fabio Vieira penalty after 32 minutes. The defending champi

ons hit back when Harry Kane and Luis Diaz scored either side of half-time, but the hosts swiftly equalised through Luka Vuskovic. Hamburg had a chance to win it late with Manuel Neuer well outside his box, but Alphonso Davies denied Vieira and saved Bayern with a desperation clear ance. A “dissatisfied” Neuer told Sky : “the draw feels

Hoffenheim play at Bayern on Sunday and Kramaric told Sky Germany: “We’re up for it – it’ll be a great test. If we

keep up the per formances we’ve had in the past few weeks, we will not leave empty-handed.”

Bayern’s Serge Gnabry (front) in action with Hamburg’s Sambi Lokonga during yesterday’s Bundesliga match at the Volksparkstadion, Hamburg. – REUTERSPIC

– AFP

Barcelona extend La Liga lead after Elche victory

competitions, after Yamal’s cross was blocked and fell nicely to him. “Normally we have players who fin ish very well, maybe in a game you miss your chances, but the important thing is that we’re generating them,” De Jong told Movistar . Diego Simeone’s Atletico looked uninspired at Levante as they could only take a point against the team sitting 19th in the table and now lie 10 points behind Barca. “It hurts not to get the three points today,” admitted Atletico defender Robin Le Normand. – AFP

work by Frenkie de Jong before the break. Fermin Lopez, Raphinha and Torres all missed good chances for more goals as Barca created danger at will, with Elche coach Eder Sarabia, a former Barca assistant under Quique Setien, sticking with his open style. Rashford was also guilty of missing a good chance after he came on for Raphinha at half-time, curling past the post as he ran through. The English winger, on loan from Manchester United, did score Barca’s third, his 10th of the season across all

ing after six minutes after Dani Olmo sent him through on goal. The 18-year old coolly rounded goalkeeper Inaki Pena, a former Barca player, and slotted home. Olmo hit the crossbar before Elche equalised with a well-worked move to get Alvaro Rodriguez in behind Barca’s high line. Torres should have restored the Catalans’ advantage but, in a comi cal moment, hit the bar from point blank range and then immediately diverted the rebound against the post. The Spain international made amends by smashing home after fine

Elche, 12th, have impressed this sea son and created good chances of their own at the Martinez Valero stadium, but Barca were too strong for them, despite some poor finishing. “In the first half you have to decide this game, I like (it more) when the play ers turn their chances into goals,” Flick told reporters. “We created a lot of chances but we missed them in front of goal, this is the bad thing, but in the end I told the team I’m happy with the three points and congratulations on this performance.” Teenage star Yamal opened the scor