- 'Party atmosphere': Skygazers treated to another aurora show
- Djokovic 'overwhelmed' after 'greatest rival' Nadal's retirement
- Zelensky in Berlin says hopes war with Russia will end next year
- Kyrgyzstan opens rare probe into glacier destruction
- European Mediterranean states discuss Middle East, migration
- Djokovic proves staying power as progresses to Shanghai semi-finals
- Hurricane Milton leaves at least 16 dead as Florida cleans up
- Britain face 'ultimate challenge' in America's Cup duel with New Zealand
- Lebanon calls for 'immediate' ceasefire in Israel-Hezbollah war
- Nihon Hidankyo: Japan's A-bomb survivors awarded Nobel
- Thunberg leads pro-Palestinian, climate protest in Milan
- Boat captain rescued clinging to cooler in Gulf of Mexico after storm Milton
- Tears, warnings after Japan atomic survivors group win Nobel
- 'Unspeakable horror': the attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
- Stock markets diverge before China weekend briefing
- Christian villagers 'trapped' in south Lebanon crossfire
- Sabalenka sets up Gauff showdown in Wuhan semis
- EU questions shopping app Temu over illegal products risk
- Kim Sei-young holds lead with late birdies at LPGA Shanghai
- Toulouse welcome Dupont 'boost' as Olympic star returns to Top 14
- Japanese atomic bomb survivor group Nihon Hidankyo wins Nobel Peace Prize
- Deadly Israeli strike on Beirut likely targeted Hezbollah security chief
- Bangladesh Islamist chief backs crimes against humanity trial for ex-PM
- Everest climber's remains believed found after 100 years
- 20 Pakistan coal miners shot dead in attack
- Clashes on South China Sea, Ukraine dominate Asia summit
- Han Kang's books sell out in South Korea after Nobel win
- Zelensky meets Pope, Scholz as whirlwind Europe tour ends
- Hello Hallyu: why is South Korean culture sweeping the globe?
- UK economy rebounds in August in boost to new govt
- Voice of Japan's beloved robot cat 'Doraemon' dies
- Shanghai markets sink ahead of briefing on mixed day for Asia
- Investors, analysts eye bigger China stimulus at Saturday briefing
- 20 Pakistan coal miners shot dead in attack: police
- Blinken condemns China's 'increasingly dangerous' sea moves
- Toyota returns to Formula One as Haas partner
- EU chief says China must 'adapt its behaviour' to solve trade row
- Musk unveils robotaxi, pledges it 'before 2027'
- Lynx rally, stun Liberty in overtime in WNBA Finals opener
- Pogacar hunting 'perfect' season finale with Coppi's Il Lombardia record
- 'Soul of old Baghdad': city centre sees timid revival
- Kittle at the double as Niners hold off Seahawks
- At least 11 dead in Florida but Hurricane Milton not as bad as feared
- Yankees advance in MLB playoffs as Guardians stay alive
- Asian markets mixed after Wall St drop, Shanghai dips before briefing
- Automaker Stellantis says CEO will retire in 2026
- Musk's promised robotaxi unveil delayed
- Kamada says Japan can close in on World Cup place against Australia
- On US coast, wind power foes embrace 'Save the Whales' argument
- Renewables revolt in Sardinia, Italy's coal-fired island
RBGPF | -1.03% | 59.49 | $ | |
RYCEF | 0.58% | 6.92 | $ | |
CMSC | -0.14% | 24.555 | $ | |
NGG | 0.88% | 66.265 | $ | |
BTI | -0.04% | 35.095 | $ | |
RIO | 0.55% | 67.21 | $ | |
GSK | -1.03% | 38.811 | $ | |
AZN | 0.25% | 77.06 | $ | |
SCS | 2.48% | 12.92 | $ | |
CMSD | -0.28% | 24.7 | $ | |
RELX | 1.51% | 47.07 | $ | |
VOD | -0.78% | 9.665 | $ | |
BCC | 1.95% | 141.71 | $ | |
JRI | 0.08% | 13.23 | $ | |
BCE | 0.27% | 32.95 | $ | |
BP | -0.48% | 32.185 | $ |
Sabalenka returns from shoulder injury at Washington
Two-time reigning Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka returns to competition at this week's WTA Washington Open after taking a month off due to a shoulder injury.
And the world number three is counting on being as ready as her rivals now playing in the Paris Olympics when the US Open begins on August 26.
"It's still way to go to the US Open. I feel like they going to be ready," Sabalenka said. "Probably they'll just take a break. They're not going to play whatever.
"At the end it was very important for me to take a little break. I had really tough struggles starting from March. It was much needed. Mentally, I feel more fresh and more ready to go. I'll be ready."
Sabalenka reached the US Open semi-finals in 2021 and 2022 and last year advanced to the New York final, where she lost to American Coco Gauff.
Washington top seed Sabalenka was not able to compete at the Olympics because her homeland of Belarus was banned from sending athletes to Paris over support of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Sabalenka wants to get back on the court for competition after lengthy rehabilitation work on her right shoulder.
"I'm here because I got injured and I haven't played for a while," Sabalenka said. "I felt like I need to build my confidence back and build my level back before going to the US Open. So I need to play some matches and that's why I'm here."
Sabalenka, who last played in Washington in 2017, suffered her shoulder injury last month at Berlin, forcing her to retire from a quarter-final match.
She later withdrew from Wimbledon, where she had made the semi-finals in her two prior appearances.
"That was a very tough decision because I never pull out from the tournament because of the injury," she said. "Even if I was injured, I was still playing. I was still struggling, but being able to play. It was my first experience like that.
"But I decided to take care of my health, to do a proper rehab, get back stronger. So the recovery was very tough one because for two weeks I was doing rehab, like a lot of exercises, a lot of treatments, a lot of recovery stuff."
Sabalenka, 26, was off the court for a week and a half to focus on fitness.
"It felt like the whole day I've been doing exercises," she said. "It feels like it's actually time to switch off, but you're still working out, still doing something. It was very tough.
Sabalenka worked out in hot and humid Florida, making similar conditions in the US capital somewhat easier.
"I feel like physically I'm well-prepared after Florida," she said.
"Hopefully this injury will never bother me again and I'll be able to play the next Grand Slam, which is my favorite one. I really want to do well there."
P.Stevenson--AMWN