World number one Aryna Sabalenka warmed up for a tilt at a third Australian Open title in four years in ominous fashion by winning her second successive Brisbane International crown on Sunday.
Sabalenka scored a dominant 6-4, 6-3 win over Marta Kostyuk in just 78 minutes.
“Every day you go out there and prove your level, and I think this week I did it really well,” said Sabalenka after a tournament in which she powered to the title without dropping a set.
Looking ahead to the Australian Open, which begins next Sunday, Sabalenka said: “The only thing I know is that I’ll be there, I’ll be fighting.”
Salablenka lost in the Melbourne Park final last year to Madison Keys, having been the Australian Open champion in 2023 and 2024.
“I’ll do my best to go as far as possible,” said Sabalenka. “And do a little bit better than last year. That’s my focus.”
Kostyuk, the world number 26, had enjoyed a spectacular week, beating three top 10 players on the way to the final.
But she had no answer to the power of Sabalenka and the Ukrainian’s serve, so reliable in the early rounds, also went off the boil.
Sabalenka was rarely troubled on her own delivery and faced only three break points.
The 27-year-old Belarusian said she had tried to introduce new elements to her game so she wasn’t relying just on power, and that had paid off this week.
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Ukraine spotlight
Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine reacts during the women’s singles final against Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus at the Brisbane International tennis tournament in Brisbane on January 11, 2026. (Photo by William WEST / AFP)
“I finally found the touch game,” she said.
“I figured something and I kind of changed my game style — now I’m not only the aggressive player, I can play at the net, I can be in defence, I can use my slice, I have a good touch.
“I’m super happy to see that things are clicking together.”
There has been animosity between the two players in the past.
Like many Ukrainian players, Kostyuk refuses to shake hands with Russians or Belarusians because of the war in her homeland.
There was no handshake at the end of the Brisbane final, and in her speech at the trophy presentation, Kostyuk brought up the situation in Ukraine.
“I play every day with a pain in my heart, and there are thousands of people who are without light and warm water right now,” she said.
“It’s minus 20 degrees outside, and it’s very painful to live this reality every day.”
Sabalenka said she wasn’t concerned by Kostyuk’s attitude towards her.
“It’s their position, what can I do?” she asked.
“When I go out there, I think about my tennis and the things I have to do to get the win.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s Marta Kostyuk or Jessica Pegula there. I have nothing to prove. I go there, and I just compete as an athlete.”
Kostyuk told reporters she was determined to keep what is happening in Ukraine in the public eye.
“I think it’s important for me to use my platform in the right way, and my platform is Ukraine, because I represent Ukraine,” she said.
“So I think it’s really important to talk about that.”
Liverpool right-back Conor Bradley is set to undergo surgery on a serious knee injury, which will rule him out for the rest of the season.
The Northern Ireland international suffered the injury in the closing stages of Thursday’s 0-0 draw at Arsenal.
Gunners’ forward Gabriel Martinelli apologised after the match for attempting to push Bradley off the field in the mistaken belief he was time-wasting.
“Liverpool FC can confirm Conor Bradley has sustained a significant knee injury,” the English champions said in a statement.
“Bradley will undergo surgery in the coming days and then begin a period of rehabilitation.”
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The BBC reported that the injury is not an anterior cruciate ligament tear but does involve damage to the bone and ligament.
Bradley is also a major doubt for the World Cup should Northern Ireland navigate two play-off matches in March, starting with a trip to Italy.
His absence is a major blow to both club and country.
The 22-year-old was seen as the natural heir to Trent Alexander-Arnold at Anfield when he departed for Real Madrid.
But injuries have limited Bradley’s impact this season with Arne Slot often having to turn to midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai to deputise at right-back.
Liverpool are still involved in three competitions and begin their FA Cup campaign at home to Barnsley on Monday.
Slot’s side sit fourth in the Premier League and are also on course to qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League.
As Catherine, Princess of Wales, celebrates her 44th birthday this week, the Mirror takes a look at what the future queen is really like behind palace doors, including her very relatable habit
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She’s one of the most photographed women in the world, but what is life really like behind closed doors for Catherine, Princess of Wales?
From the moment she walked down the aisle at Westminster Abbey in the spring of 2011, all eyes have been on the future queen, once known simply as Kate Middleton. From motherhood to her cancer journey, the 43-year-old has kept royal watchers updated with her various milestones and challenges.
Naturally, many have warmed to this middle-class girl turned princess, who has maintained high levels of public approval, despite dark clouds having loomed over the gates of Buckingham Palace in recent times. Indeed, this year has proven to be particularly difficult for The Firm, with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew, having faced yet more scrutiny over his friendship with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
The former Duke of York, who was stripped of his titles back in October, has consistently denied any wrongdoing. Meanwhile, Kate, with her cheerful smile and graceful yet warm approach to royal duties, has seen her emerge as one of the palace’s greatest assets. And, as she celebrates her 44th birthday this week, Kate is already showing glimpses of the queen she will one day become.
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Relatable mum
Back in January 2020, Kate joined author Giovanna Fletcher for a very special episode of her Happy Mum, Happy Baby podcast, opening up about everything from mum guilt to hypnobirthing. Speaking with The Times, Giovanna shared: “What I think surprised me was how nervous we both were at the top of the chat. I think there’s no denying, when you talk to Catherine, you know what she means to the country, what influence she will have on life going forward — and can have with her early years campaigning.
“So I think I was nervous because of that. She was nervous because she knew that she was about to speak in a way that she’d never spoken before.” Supportive Prince William was thankfully on hand behind the scenes to offer his wife some reassurance, advising her to “just talk” and that they could always snip out parts in the edit.
And so it was that the princess and the podcaster hit it off, continuing their chat off-air about “feral” children and Kate’s very relatable habit. Giovanna revealed: “She told me that she was notoriously bad at keeping an eye on her phone. She always loses her phone. All of her Christmas presents that year were related to her keeping track of her phone… It was all about her not losing her phone.”
This isn’t the only time mum-of-three Kate has opened up about the challenges of parenthood. Back in September, to mark the third anniversary of the death of Queen Elizabeth II, she and Prince William visited the Sunningdale branch of the Women’s Institute (WI), where they opened up about life with their three children, Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, seven.
Curious WI members were keen to know whether Prince Louis was “a bit of a handful” compared with Prince George, noting that the eldest Wales sibling appeared to be the sensible one while Louis was “a bit of a character”. However, William divulged that while George knew how to behave in public, “behind closed doors, it’s a different story”. Last summer marked a milestone move for the young family, who moved from Adelaide Cottage into Forest Lodge, an eight-bedroom Grade II-listed Georgian mansion in Windsor Great Park.
Prince Harry motto
In recent years, the British monarchy has been shaken by the departure of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who, in January 2020, made the bombshell decision to step back as working members of the Royal family and carve out a new life for themselves in California. And while Harry and Meghan have spoken out about the high-profile rift, detailed in the 2023 memoir Spare, William and Kate have kept quiet on the matter.
However, it’s believed the couple could be making their feelings known in more subtle ways, for example, opting not to publicly acknowledge Harry’s 41st birthday in September. Royal expert Duncan Larcombe told OK!: “Kate’s silence spoke a thousand words. They didn’t post anything on his birthday, which the royals normally would do. So Kate’s message was loud and clear: the ball’s not in our court, Harry – it’s in yours.”
Due to strict royal protocol, the prince and princess have to resort to such signals to send a pointed message. Duncan continued: “Neither Kate nor William can speak out publicly about Harry and Meghan. They have kept silent throughout all of this and rolled with all the punches, so they’re forced into subtle, secret messaging – which is what this seems to be. They’re not prepared to call Harry’s bluff by sending him joyful birthday wishes, so they remain silent and avoid him at all costs.”
‘Special relationship’
Fans have seen a different side to Kate since she emerged from her recent illness. In September 2024, she and William shared an emotionally-charged video to announce the end of her cancer treatment, and the romantic display, which saw them holding hands on a Norfolk beach, was a far cry from traditional royal press releases.
Royal correspondent Katie Nicholl told OK! “The beautiful video that Catherine released to celebrate the end of her chemotherapy gave us a real insight into them as a couple. For a couple that have always been so private, it was unusual. You could see the love between them, and you could see how romantic they are together from the way William put his hands through her hair. They were just clearly so comfortable and happy in each other’s company – there was a real sense of love and friendship. It gave us a very special insight into a very special relationship.”
‘Naughty sense of humour’
While university sweethearts William and Kate put on a more formal display in the early years of their marriage, they now appear more relaxed while out and about, showing their close connection. Meanwhile, away from the public gaze, insiders say the pair have always been fond of teasing each other, with William once admitting they’d bonded thanks to Kate’s “naughty sense of humour”.
Katie continued: “William and Kate are quite shy and reserved by nature, and in the past, they haven’t made many public displays of affection. But I think there’s been a willingness to show the world what they’ve been through, in a way that they’re comfortable with. They’ve been together for so many years, and you can really see that in the way they are with one another. You can really see William’s love and respect, and his devotion to his wife. I think they’ve emerged a lot stronger and even more together.”
From shy bride to ‘star’
Having been at the heart of the Royal Family for 15 years now, Kate has gone from being a nervous public speaker to a confident Queen-in-waiting, having shaped her own path and sense of purpose. Dedicated to initiatives close to her heart, Kate is particularly focused on helping families through her Shaping Us campaign, which aims to increase public understanding of the importance of the first five years of a child’s life.
Kate’s Together at Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey, which recognises those who have gone above and beyond to help others throughout the year, has also proven to be a success and a highly anticipated evening in the Royal calendar. Meanwhile, the princess looked every bit the self-assured future queen as she joined forces with Charles and Camilla to welcome President Trump and his wife, Melania, on their landmark state visit, even charming POTUS at the Windsor banquet table.
Katie reflected: “Kate has been two decades in the public eye, and she looks so much more at ease now. As the young Kate Middleton, she didn’t have a press officer on speed dial or a security entourage, and when you look at her metamorphosis from commoner to royal, it has been extraordinary. She’s been flawless for decades; she has not put a foot wrong.” Agreeing, Royal biographer Hugo Vickers, author of Alice: The Story of Princess Alice of Greece, remarked, “If Catherine continues the way she’s going, she’ll be the perfect Queen Consort. She’s a star and really key to the monarchy.”
Important future job
As one of the most senior members of the Royal Family, Kate has naturally been compared with the previous Princess of Wales, her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana. But while Diana remains an enduring source of inspiration and fascination for many, it’s believed Kate’s legacy will be quite different.
Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told The Mail Online: “She is not likely to emulate Diana, who reached out to others brilliantly but was also brittle and deeply unhappy. They are too different to be compared,” he explained. “Catherine’s legacy will be one of total loyalty to her husband and the institution of monarchy.”
And when the time comes for William to take his father’s place on the throne, Kate will have an important destiny in store – revamping the reputation of the ancient institution she married into. This will, of course, be no easy task. It’s no secret that the monarchy has weathered a few blows in recent years, with Harry and Meghan’s decision to step back as working royals contributing towards a soured public opinion.
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Mr Fitzwilliams explained: “Partly owing to the antics of the Sussexes, a majority of young people currently favour a republic. However, the same group shows poll ratings of 70 to 75 per cent for Catherine, and I believe her legacy will include changing the attitudes of many of this pivotal group.”
Do you have a story to share?Email me at julia.banim@reachplc.com.Follow Mirror Celebs onSnapchat,Instagram,Twitter,Facebook,YouTubeandThreads
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Call The Midwife star Jenny Agutter previously described her health issue as “painful and horrible” as she revealed the symptoms she was suffering from
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Call The Midwife’s Sister Julienne star Jenny Agutter has issued an update about her health, ahead of the return of the new series. Just before the BBC drama’s 2020 Christmas special, the actress said she was “perfectly fit” before being struck down with shingles.
While the infection is expected to last up to four weeks, Jenny said she is still suffering from some discomfort five years later.
Speaking to Woman’s Weekly Magazine, she said: “It’s an itchy, bruised feeling around my face on one side. I feel it across my eyebrow and on my forehead.”
Despite this, the Red Dwarf star said she is in fine health, adding: “I am very lucky and thankful that I can enjoy a walk, that my body’s functioning and working properly, that I have an appetite and can enjoy food.
“Of course, things get creakier as you get out of bed in the morning and you find yourself grunting as you get up from a low chair.”
Previously opening up about her shingles battle, Jenny described it as a “painful and horrible” time.
Asked what caused the issue during an interview with Lorraine Kelly, she shared: “It may be stress, it’s funny as I think the lockdown has affected different people in different ways.
“It attacked the nerves in my neck, so I had a rash and pain in one side of my head and one eye. I also had photophobia [intolerance to light] for a month.”
According to the NHS, the first signs of shingles can be:
A tingling or painful feeling in an area of skin
A headache or feeling generally unwell
A rash will usually appear a few days later. In rare cases shingles can cause pain without a rash
The website adds: “Usually you get the shingles rash on your chest and tummy, but it can appear anywhere on your body including on your face, eyes and genitals.
“The rash appears as blotches on your skin, on one side of your body only. A rash on both the left and right of your body is unlikely to be shingles.”
If you believe you have shingles, you can get advice from a pharmacist or NHS 111.
Meanwhile, the Call The Midwife star marked her 73rd birthday in December, following the wrap of filming for the latest series.
And while this may seem like the perfect time to take a step back, Jenny said this isn’t on her radar.
“I enjoy the stimulus of work,” she added to the publication. “I love going to work and seeing people.
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“There’s something really good about working on projects in a collaborative way and I love being on set and seeing how everything is done.”
Reigning Masters champion Shaun Murphy was eliminated on day one of the 2026 event, losing 6-2 to China’s Wu Yize in the first round.
Murphy, who beat Kyren Wilson to win the Triple Crown event for a second time a year ago, lost the opening three frames and, despite taking frame four, then lost the fifth on a black-ball finish.
Wu, 22, is ranked 13th in the world and picked up his first ranking title in November when he won the International Championship in Yanjing in his home country, beating world champions Judd Trump, Zhao Xintong and John Higgins along the way.
On his Alexandra Palace debut, Wu made a superb clearance of 137 in frame two and a break of 56 in frame seven.
He will play either current UK champion Mark Selby or China’s Xiao Guodong in the quarter-finals on Thursday.
“I felt a bit of pressure when I entered the stadium because it was the first time I’ve played in such a big stadium and the fans were so enthusiastic,” said Wu.
“After the first frame, I felt a bit more relaxed and I totally enjoyed the atmosphere. It’s definitely a great achievement for myself – my first time playing at the Masters and the first time beating Shaun Murphy.”
For 43-year-old Murphy, who reached the semi-final of the UK Championship last month, it was a disappointing afternoon with him failing to register a single break of 50.
“I’ve been looking forward to today for a year, walking out as champion, but I enjoyed the first 10 minutes,” said Murphy. “I didn’t play well, certainly the worst performance of my season, maybe the worst in the Masters.
“I’m very disappointed. None of it was there. I felt everything I touched was not there. I’ve been working very hard, practising hard, playing a lot of snooker, so I didn’t expect to play like that and I’m as shocked as anyone.
Gabriel Martinelli shrugged off the backlash to his clash with stricken Liverpool defender Conor Bradley to send Arsenal into the fourth round of the FA Cup with a 4-1 win at Portsmouth on Sunday.
The Championship side were dreaming of an upset against the Premier League leaders when they went in front after just three minutes through Colby Bishop.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta had made 10 changes from the side that drew 0-0 with Liverpool on Thursday.
Martinelli drew stinging criticism for trying to push Bradley off the pitch in the closing stages after the Northern Irishman hit the ground with a serious knee injury.
Liverpool confirmed on Sunday that the right-back will require surgery and will miss the remainder of the season.
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Arsenal’s Brazilian forward #11 Gabriel Martinelli (2R) celebrates scoring the team’s third goal during the English FA Cup third round football match between Portsmouth and Arsenal at Fratton Park in Portsmouth, southern England, on January 11, 2026. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP)
The Brazilian apologised to Bradley after the game and did not seem affected by the furore at Fratton Park.
Arsenal could rely on their threat from set-pieces to turn the tie around.
The Pompey lead lasted only two minutes as Christian Norgaard bundled in from close range before Martinelli flicked in the first of his three goals.
Noni Madueke missed the chance to make it 3-1 from the penalty spot when the England international fired wide.
Martinelli killed the tie off early in the second period from Gabriel Jesus’ cross before completing his hat-trick from another Arsenal corner.
Arsenal’s Brazilian forward #11 Gabriel Martinelli celebrates scoring the team’s fourth goal, his hat-trick, during the English FA Cup third round football match between Portsmouth and Arsenal at Fratton Park in Portsmouth, southern England on January 11, 2026. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) /
Darren Fletcher is looking to further his case to remain in charge of Manchester United beyond Sunday with victory over Brighton later to keep alive the Red Devils’ hopes of silverware this season.
Leeds needed a second-half fightback to beat Derby County 3-1 and book their place in the fourth round.
The Premier League side have lost just once in their last nine games to pull clear of the relegation zone.
But they were headed for defeat at half-time to second-tier Derby after Chilean international Ben Brereton Diaz drilled a strike into the bottom corner.
Joel Piroe had seen a penalty saved by Jacob Zetterstrom before Leeds fell behind, but the Dutch striker redeemed himself by playing a part in the comeback.
Jaka Bijol played the ball into the area, and Piroe’s neat step-over allowed Willy Gnonto to smash home a 55th-minute equaliser.
Just four minutes later, Piroe’s low shot was parried by Zetterstrom, and Ao Tanaka slotted in the rebound.
The visitors made sure of victory in stoppage time when James Justin rounded off a slick counter-attack.
