The Australian Open women’s lead-in tournaments have been rocked by the withdrawal of three high-profile players. After Serena Williams pulled the pin on Friday night, ahead of her Yarra Valley Classic semi-final against Ashleigh Barty, two-time Australian Open winner Victoria Azarenka and three-time major winner Naomi Osaka withdrew from their Grampians Trophy and Gippsland Trophy finals, respectively. Naomi Osaka won […]

Tennis: Judy Murray gives Andy coronavirus recovery update Current Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic is not being backed to defend his Melbourne crown by former world No.1 Mats Wilander. This year’s first Grand Slam takes place on Monday. Despite Covid chaos breaking out ahead of the tournament’s start, officials believe the slam will still take place on Monday. A hotel […]

Australian Open: Five things to watch The main draw for the Australian Open which was due to take place this morning has been postponed, casting doubts over whether the tournament will start as scheduled on Monday. Around 600 players, staff and officials have been forced to quarantine because a security guard at one of the tournament’s hotels tested positive for […]

Seven-time Grand Slam champion John McEnroe says marathon best-of-five-set matches have had their day and shorter formats should be introduced to all majors. Men’s singles matches in the four majors are still the first to three sets, although tie-breaks have now been introduced to shorten fifth sets at Wimbledon and the Australian Open, along with the US Open which made […]

Dan Evans faces fellow Brit Cameron Norrie in Australian Open first round with Jo Konta taking on qualifier Kaja Juvan and defending champion Novak Djokovic up against Jeremy Chardy Dan Evans and Cameron Norrie were paired together in first Grand Slam of year  There is the carrot for winner of a possible third-round clash with Rafael Nadal  Evans is the […]

Dan Evans will meet compatriot Cameron Norrie in a Battle of the Brits at the Australian Open following the draw on Friday, while Yorkshire’s Fran Jones, who was born with a rare genetic condition, will make her Grand Slam debut against Shelby Rogers. British No 1 Evans, who has continued his positive preparation for the first Grand Slam of the […]

Australian Open organisers insist they are ‘absolutely confident’ Grand Slam WILL go ahead despite 600 stars and officials having to isolate after a Covid case at quarantine hotel Australian Open organisers remain confident of starting Grand Slam on Monday  An employee at one of hotels used for quarantine tested positive for coronavirus Close to 600 players and staff deemed casual […]

Australian men’s players have often lived doomsday scenarios from draws of the past at their home grand slam, but the outlook was a little more glass-half-full on Friday. In reality, it was the nation’s best men’s player, Alex de Minaur, who might have a touch of trepidation ahead of round one action on Monday or Tuesday. The rising local meets […]

Coronavirus: Roger Federer reveals how he’s practising at home Roger Federer says he will make a decision on his retirement at the end of the season and it will be based on a combination of how his body is holding up and his results of the year. The 39-year-old has been struggling to recover from knee surgery which he underwent […]

MELBOURNE (REUTERS) – Italy sealed a place in the semi-finals of the ATP Cup by winning both singles matches against France on Wednesday (Feb 3), while Germany did their chances of progressing no harm by taking an unassailable 2-0 lead over Canada at the Rod Laver Arena. With the second edition of the national team competition truncated because of Australian […]