Andreeva ready for role as defending Indian Wells champion
The Straits Times
March 5 - Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva said she will go into her Indian Wells title defence without worrying about the potential for dropping ranking points after being swept up in the excitement of being defending champion at last month's tournament in Dubai. Read more at straitstimes.com.
March 5 - Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva said she will go into her Indian Wells title defence without worrying about the potential for dropping ranking points after being swept up in the excitement of being defending champion at last month's tournament in Dubai.
Andreeva toppled world number one Aryna Sabalenka in last year's final in Southern California for back-to-back WTA 1000 titles after her triumph in Dubai, but struggled to find similar form thereafter as she navigated the demands of her breakthrough season.
The search for consistency continued after the 18-year-old won the Adelaide crown at the start of 2026 before a run to the quarter-finals in Dubai, where she embraced the added scrutiny that comes with past success.
"I was worried about defending points in Dubai since Roland Garros," Andreeva told reporters on Wednesday.
"I was thinking about it a lot, but when I came to Dubai the only thing I felt was the excitement of being there again, feeling new emotions at the tournament as defending champion.
"It was all new to me but I didn't feel the pressure for some reason as I thought I would. And here it's the same thing. I'm just so excited to be here as a defending champion, to see my photos almost everywhere.
March 15 - Toko Koga scored twice as Japan stayed on course for a third Women's Asian Cup title with a 7-0 win over the Philippines in Sydney on Sunday, setting up a semi-final against South Korea. Read more at straitstimes.com.
March 15 - The International Cricket Council (ICC) has reprimanded Pakistan batter Salman Agha for his reaction to a controversial run-out in the second One-Day International against Bangladesh in Dhaka on Friday. Read more at straitstimes.com.
INDIAN WELLS, California, March 15 - Daniil Medvedev said his Indian Wells semi-final win over Carlos Alcaraz on Saturday would prove nothing more than a temporary setback for the Spaniard, and that he and Jannik Sinner were playing at a totally different level from the rest of the tour. Read more at straitstimes.com.
PARIS, March 15 - France head coach Fabien Galthie hailed Louis Bielle-Biarrey as a “lethal weapon” following in the footsteps of Antoine Dupont after the winger’s four-try masterclass helped secure a dramatic Six Nations title-clinching victory over England on Saturday. Read more at straitstimes.com.
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. - All who wander up and down the leaderboard are not lost. Read more at straitstimes.com.
People feared for the safety of seven delegation members after they refused to sing Iran's national anthem. Read more at straitstimes.com.
The fourth-placed Lakers are currently on a four-game winning streak. Read more at straitstimes.com.
March 14 - The U.S. and Israel's conflict with Iran has led to sporting events being postponed in the region, while competitions elsewhere have been hit by travel disruption, with thousands of flights cancelled in some of the world's busiest transit hubs. Read more at straitstimes.com.
The 52-year-old sits atop the leaderboard with Joaquin Niemann heading into the final round. Read more at straitstimes.com.
March 14 - World number one Aryna Sabalenka said players must halt points straightaway to seek a video review for hindrance and not wait to decide, after Daniil Medvedev's dispute with Jack Draper sparked controversy at Indian Wells. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Victory also ensured their direct qualification for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil. Read more at straitstimes.com.
March 13 - Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina moved into the Indian Wells final with straight-sets victories over Linda Noskova and Elina Svitolina on Friday, setting up a rematch of their Australian Open Grand Slam title clash. Read more at straitstimes.com.
March 14 - Australia coach Joe Montemurro said Friday's 2-1 victory over North Korea had given them the belief to go on and win the Women's Asian Cup for the first time in 16 years after securing their place at next year's World Cup. Read more at straitstimes.com.