Category News

Russian-born Daria Kasatkina says she can “finally breathe” as she prepares for her first Australian Open as a home player.

Kasatkina has gained Australian citizenship in the build-up to the tournament, having played as a neutral athlete since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The 28-year-old has not returned to Russia since coming out as gay in the same year, and has described the war in Ukraine as a “nightmare”.

“Finally I can just breathe. I can live and just do my job and not be worried about the things which are not in my control,” said the former world number eight.

“The last season was very, very tough. I was trying to get out of this hole basically.”

Kasatkina ended her 2025 season early, having said in October that “mentally and emotionally I am at breaking point”.

She will begin her tournament against Czech teenager Nikola Bartunkova, and the new Australian number two will expect to receive huge support in Melbourne.

“For the first time I’m going to play in front of such a big home crowd, so that’s going to be special,” Kasatkina said.

“I have to manage my nerves, because I’ve never been in this situation before.

“This is a good pressure, so I would choose this one compared to what I have been through in the past couple of years.

Kasatkina’s friend and former compatriot Mirra Andreeva is established as Russia’s top women’s player for now.

The world number eight claimed her fourth WTA title with a 6-3 6-1 victory over fellow teenager Victoria Mboko in the Adelaide International final on Saturday.

The 18-year-old fought back from 3-0 down in the opening set, winning six consecutive games.

She then broke early in the second set and sealed the match on serve against 19-year-old Canadian Mboko.

Andreeva, who won back-to-back WTA 1,000 titles last year in Dubai and Indian Wells, will face Paris Olympics silver medallist Donna Vekic in the opening round of the Grand Slam at Melbourne Park.

In Auckland, Czech Jakub Mensik took the men’s title with a 6-3 7-6 (9-7) win over Sebastian Baez of Argentina.

Italy’s Elisabetta Cocciaretto beat American Iva Jovic 6-4 6-4 in Hobart to claim her first WTA title since 2023.

We move a step closer to Super Bowl 60 with four Divisional Round games coming up – and if this week brings anything like the drama from Wildcard Weekend, it will be quite the treat.

The battle for the Lombardi Trophy is as wide open as it has been in years, and nobody would be surprised by any of the remaining eight sides going on to taste glory in Santa Clara next month.

But who will emerge victorious this weekend as the number one seeds enter the fray?

We have our panel of experts to try to pick the winners, including Radio 5 Live’s Rob Staton, BBC Sport journalist Paul Higham and our special guest, former NFL coach Phil McGeoghan.

All times GMT and AFC/NFC seedings in brackets

Saturday, 17 January

Sunday, 18 January

Rob Staton: Bills

I’ve just got a sense that Josh Allen might will his team to victory again. This is his big opportunity this season so can he take advantage?

Phil McGeoghan: Broncos

My wife’s from Buffalo and we met when I was coaching for the Buffalo Bills, but I’ve spent most of my career in Bronco land. So I’m not going to say it out loud. She gets a little fired up, but that’s who we’re going for in this house (Broncos), but that’s only in the basement. So I’m subterranean Phil. I can’t wait to see what happens, but I’m going to be doing it well below ground, cheering as quietly as possible for the Denver Broncos.

Mike White: Broncos

The way this season has unfolded it seems like the door has been left wide open on the AFC side for Josh Allen and the Bills to finally end their wait not only for a return to the big game but also for their first Lombardi success.

However, I’m finding it hard to look past the Broncos who had the advantage of the bye week, have a dominant defence, know about winning games in comeback mode and aren’t banged up the way Buffalo are – especially at the wide receiver position. I’ll take Denver to progress but in a close one by three points or less.

Paul Higham: Broncos

Denver won the last Super Bowl at Levi’s Stadium (the venue for Super Bowl 60 next month) a decade ago, which was also their last play-off win – while it’s the only stadium in the league Josh Allen has yet to play in, so there’s a hint of destiny about both sides.

Allen got his first road play-off win last week, Buffalo’s first since 1993, but he got beat up in Jacksonville, has a depleted bunch of receivers, and if James Cook again struggles against Denver’s rush defence even Superman himself may just have too much to overcome by himself.

Rob Staton: Seahawks

You’ve got to give Kyle Shanahan and his team a tonne of credit for what they’ve achieved amid an injury crisis, but realistically this might be a game too far.

Mike White: Seahawks

This feels like a game too far for the Niners against a highly talented Seattle who boast a stingy defence whilst San Fran are battered, bruised and without big-name, big-game players such as George Kittle, Nick Bosa and Fred Warner.

Sam Darnold has an injury designation going into this but is expected to play. Once upon a time, that would’ve been a boost for any of Seattle’s opponents, but the post-New York Jets Darnold is a different proposition and the one-time former 49ers backup will lead them to the NFC title game. Seahawks by 10.

Phil McGeoghan: Niners

Very interesting game. The 49ers are decimated by injuries, but the best predictor of future events is past events. They’ve found a way to overcome injuries for quite some time so that means culture has now taken over and it’s a winning culture. You don’t forget how to win.

Paul Higham: Seahawks

Sam Darnold led the league in turnovers and has an injury, so Seattle will hope to win this with their improving ground game, which averaged 140 yards a game over the last eight weeks, against San Francisco’s ailing rush defence heading in the opposite direction.

The pass rush is another decider – the Niners ranked last in sacks and second-last in quarterback pressures as their pass rush unit is basically all out injured. Seattle, meanwhile, get consistent pressure and dominated two weeks ago having upped their blitz rate.

Rob Staton: Patriots

The Texans’ defence is legit and can win them any game, but Drake Maye’s mobility and playmaking is the perfect counter. Pats get it done.

Phil McGeoghan: Patriots

The Texans have changed games, ruined games, so you must have a protection plan for the Houston Texans. They will ruin your weekend. In my mind, though, just looking at the way Drake Maye is playing at this particular point and the way that they’re just kind of moving, I think it’s the Patriots, right?

I am from Boston. So I think if I go home and I don’t say the Patriots, I might be in the ‘harbour’ or something. So I will say I think it’s going to be the Patriots.

Mike White: Patriots

This is likely to be a tight affair with very few points in the game. The Patriots offence matching up against that forceful Texans defence feels like the match-up to keep an eye on. And with CJ Stroud set to be without his best receiving option in Nico Collins (concussion), Houston’s chances just reduced considerably.

Mike Vrabel’s already a strong coach of the season candidate, and returning the Patriots back to their once-familiar surroundings of the AFC Championship game will only enhance those credentials. Pats take it by six.

Paul Higham: Texans

Houston’s first road play-off win last week was a statement win for this terrifying defence, but the Pats have won a league-leading eight straight Divisional games.

Rob Staton: Bears

There’s just a bit of magic about the Bears at the moment and the Rams have not played their best football in weeks. Soldier Field will be rocking and I think Chicago make it to the NFC Championship.

Mike White: Rams

The Chicago Bears’ renaissance has been nothing short of remarkable and Ben Johnson deserves a tonne of credit for it. As does Caleb Williams who’s defied a lot of the (justified) rookie season critics in his second year.

That said, this is a Rams team that many have been crowning as the champions-elect for weeks and not without good reason. Whether it’s offensive guru Sean McVay, the experience and MVP qualities of Matthew Stafford or the magic hands of Puka Nacua, they have all the ingredients for another Super Bowl run. The predicted Arctic conditions might be somewhat of a leveller but still taking the Rams by four.

Phil McGeoghan: Rams

I am such a fan of Sean McVay. His mind, the way it works, his gameplans, also his humour. His willingness to be open. All these things matter in football.

Because of his personality and how he is with the players, he admires his guys. He doesn’t pretend Davante Adams isn’t one of the best to ever do it. He doesn’t pretend he’s not in awe of Matthew Stafford when he makes one of his no-look throws. That stuff really builds culture.

That’s why they’ve won Super Bowls, that’s why people don’t leave there unless they get promoted and get better jobs, because McVay is such a good man and he’s a brilliant, brilliant offensive mind so I’m picking Sean McVay and the Rams for those reasons.

Paul Higham: Bears

Only four quarterbacks have thrown for 140-plus yards and two touchdowns in the fourth quarter of a play-off win in the past 20 years – and two of them collide at Soldier Field.

So this genuinely could be decided by whether Matthew Stafford or Caleb Williams, who have combined for 29 fourth-quarter touchdowns this season, has the ball last after both earned thrilling late wins last week.