News Wings

Tag: Australian Open

  • Emirates serves up a winning partnership with world no. 1 tennis player Aryna Sabalenka

    Emirates serves up a winning partnership with world no. 1 tennis player Aryna Sabalenka

    Emirates has today announced a landmark partnership with the world’s No. 1 tennis player, Aryna Sabalenka, who becomes the airline’s first tennis ambassador.

    The milestone builds on Emirates’ longstanding commitment to tennis as the Official Airline of all four Grand Slams worldwide. To mark the occasion, Sabalenka unveiled an Emirates A380 aircraft adorned with a special tennis-inspired livery celebrating its sponsorship of the Australian Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon and US Open.

    Sabalenka and Emirates both share a passion for excellence, innovation and a winning spirit. Dubai serving as a hub for Sabalenka’s training and preparation over the years, positions her as a natural fit for Emirates.

    The partnership caps a dominant period for the 27-year-old, who is now a four-time Grand Slam champion after claiming a second US Open in September last year. Sabalenka, who won back-to-back Australian Open titles in 2023 and 2024, before finishing as runner-up at AO25, has also been crowned the WTA Tour Player of the Year for the past two seasons.

    Reflecting on the announcement, Sabalenka shared, “In tennis, every little detail counts – so to align with a brand which matches my ambition and attention to detail makes this feel like a natural fit.

    Travelling in world-class comfort with Emirates has been key to my preparation. But this partnership represents much more than that – because it also highlights what we, as women in sport, can achieve on the world stage.

    I feel proud and excited to partner with Emirates, a brand whose values of quality and excellence closely align with mine.”

    Boutros Boutros, Emirates’ Executive Vice President for Corporate Communications, Marketing & Brand said, “Aryna is not only a champion on the court but a global icon who inspires millions through her determination and professionalism – qualities that resonate strongly with our ethos at Emirates. With Dubai as our shared home, we already have a strong connection with Aryna, and this partnership allows us to elevate our engagement in a truly meaningful way.

    Together, we hope to create unique opportunities for fans to experience the Emirates journey, both in the air and at the heart of the sport. Whether it be by offering live tennis through our ice entertainment system, or a taste of Australia through our in-flight menu. Emirates can’t wait to see what Aryna can achieve at the Australian Open and beyond in 2026.”

    Emirates’ extensive portfolio of global sports and cultural partnerships connects millions of people through shared passions and world-class experiences. The airline’s tennis portfolio includes some of the highest‑profile events on the ATP and WTA tours, including the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships as well as all four Grand Slams (Australian Open, Roland Garros, US Open, Wimbledon).

    Beyond tennis, Emirates’ commitment to connecting fans across the globe through shared sporting moments spans horse racing through the Dubai World Cup and Team Godolphin; golf via the DP World Tour; cricket across all major ICC events and the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires and Lancashire County Cricket Club; sailing with Emirates Team New Zealand, SailGP and Emirates Great Britain Sail GP team; basketball through the NBA, Real Madrid and Beirut Basketball club; cycling with UAE Team Emirates XRG; and Australian rules football with Collingwood FC. Emirates’ iconic “fly better” branding appears on the jerseys of leading football clubs including Arsenal FC, Real Madrid CF, AC Milan, S.L. Benfica, and Olympique Lyonnais. Emirates also serves as Platinum Partner to FC Bayern Munich’s first team. Emirates has been the title sponsor of The FA Cup for nearly a decade. In the UAE, the airline supports the Pro League and appears on Al Ain FC’s training kit during the 2025/2026 season.

  • Caroline Wozniacki retires after Australian Open Exit to Ons Jabeur

    Caroline Wozniacki retires after Australian Open Exit to Ons Jabeur


    Caroline Wozniacki’s career ended as it played out – with a lot of fight and a big smile.
    The former world number one announced last month that the Australian Open, the scene of her greatest triumph when she broke her grand slam duck in 2018, would also be the stage for her professional farewell at the age of 29.

    Wozniacki would have hoped to stretch out the goodbye a little longer but Tunisian Ons Jabeur made her own grand slam breakthrough with a 7-5 3-6 7-5 victory.

    “There’s a lot of emotions, a lot of things I can’t compartmentalise now,” said the Dane.
    “A lot of excitement. A little sadness. Flashbacks to since I was a kid to this moment.

    “The fact that it’s gone so quick but at the same time it feels like I’ve been out here for a long time. Players coming up to me and congratulating me. Just feeling the love from everyone has been very special.”

    Wozniacki had staged a trademark fightback to beat Dayana Yastremska in the second round and looked like she might do the same when she recovered from 0-3 in the deciding set.
    But Jabeur, the first Arab woman to make the last 16 at a slam, had not read the script and Wozniacki pushed a forehand long on the first match point.

    In a tearful post-match interview, she made a joke about the shot that has been her major weakness, saying: “I think it was only fitting that my last match would be a three-setter, a grinder, and that I would finish my career with a forehand error.”

    At her press conference later, she added: “Throughout the match there were a couple of times where I was like, ‘Shoot, this could be my last one’. It was just like, ‘I don’t want it to be the last one, I want to be out there fighting’.

    “I fought like my life depended on it. I think the result today doesn’t matter to me as much as the way that I fought, that I gave it everything. I wanted to be out there. I did everything.

    Throughout my career, that’s what I’m known for.
    “It’s exciting. It’s terrifying. It’s a lot of emotions at the same time. But I’m happy. I’m very happy. Even though I was crying a lot earlier, it really wasn’t sad tears.”

    A teenage prodigy, Wozniacki was a grand slam finalist at 19 and world number one a year later. But a slam title remained elusive until this tournament two years ago, when she defeated Simona Halep in an epic final to add what proved to be the final piece of the jigsaw.

    “I’ve learnt so much,” said Wozniacki. “I wouldn’t be the person I am today without all those experiences.

    “I think the main thing I’ve learned is, no matter where you’re from, no matter what colour of your skin, no matter if you’re tall or short, big or small, it doesn’t matter. If you have a dream and you go for it and work hard, anything is possible.

    “I had a dream when I was a kid. I wanted to win a grand slam. I wanted to be number one in the world. People thought that I was crazy being from a small country. But I made it happen. I worked so hard for it every single day. I’m very, very proud of that.”

    The tournament had compiled a film of Wozniacki’s friends and rivals paying tribute to her, while she was joined on court by her family, with dad Piotr, her coach throughout her career, hoisting her high in the air.

    “I think what happened today was perfect,” she said. “It was a packed stadium. People stood up. There was ‘Sweet Caroline’ through the microphones. People were clapping. I had the Danish flag at my back. I had my family there.
    “I don’t think I could have scripted it any better. I think it was the perfect moment.”

    Wozniacki has made no secret of her desire to start a family with husband David Lee, the former NBA player, while she will also work to raise awareness of rheumatoid arthritis, which was was diagnosed with in 2018.

    She admits tennis will be hard to replace, saying: “I think what I’m going to miss is that competitiveness. Winning a tight match, that adrenaline I think is going to be very hard to duplicate in anything else that I’ll do.
    “I’m sure there are going to be times when I wish I was out there playing in grand slam finals or semi-finals. But there will be other moments in my life that I think are going to mean just as much, or maybe more.”