Carlos Alcaraz, the Spanish tennis sensation, has set his sights on the forthcoming French Open at Roland Garros. The 19-year-old has yet to win a Grand Slam in his career, but he seems confident in his ability to do so in the lucrative clay-court tournament. Alcaraz was eliminated in the third round of the Australian … Read more
As part of efforts to broaden golf’s appeal, the men’s and women’s Australian Open competitions will be held at the same time and at the same venues, organisers announced on Friday. Today is a historic day, with Golf Australia confirming the first-ever joint men’s and women’s Australian Open, in addition to the Australian All Abilities … Read more
Novak Djokovic came back from a set and a break down to overcome Laslo Djere in his ATP event opener in Belgrade on Wednesday, avoiding a third straight defeat. After trailing 4-3 in the second set, the world number one defeated his fellow Serb 2-6, 7-6 (8/6), 7-6 (7/4) in three hours and 21 minutes. … Read more
World number one Novak Djokovic lost to Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in his opening match at the Monte Carlo Masters. In the second round, Davidovich Fokina surprised top-ranked Novak Djokovic 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-1, handing him another blow as he tries to move on from the controversy surrounding his refusal to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Djokovic … Read more
Former Australian Open runner-up and world number five Jo-Wilfried Tsonga announced on Wednesday that he will retire from tennis following this year’s French Open. “A few weeks ago I decided I was going to stop at Roland Garros this year,” the 36-year-old Tsonga said in a video posted to social media. “It took me a … Read more
Australia’s tennis star Nick Kyrgios, the former World no. 14, opened up about his mental health and a rough patch that he went through in 2019. He revealed that he had suicidal thoughts, abused drugs and self-harmed during the dark period. The controversial crowd-pleaser, who won the Australian Open doubles title last month, posted a … Read more
Rafael Nadal matched his best career start to an ATP Tour season with a victory Tuesday in his first match since capturing the Australian Open title, reaching the second round of the Mexican Open. The 35-year-old Spanish left-hander defeated US lucky loser Dennis Kudla 6-3, 6-2 to book a hardcourt date with American Stefan Kozlov … Read more
Novak Djokovic admitted the warm reception he was given by fans in Dubai on Monday exceeded his expectations as he made a successful return to the tour for the first time since his deportation from Australia. The world No.1 kicked off his 2022 campaign with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Italian teenager Lorenzo Musetti, and was greeted … Read more
Novak Djokovic’s season, derailed in January when he was deported from Australia, finally starts on Monday in Dubai with the world number one insisting players in the locker room “have been positive and welcoming” on his return. Djokovic missed the chance to win a 10th Australian Open, and 21st Grand Slam, due to the cancellation of his … Read more
Novak Djokovic, the world number one, stated on Thursday that he has missed playing tennis as he prepares for his comeback in Dubai following the coronavirus vaccine controversy that prevented him from defending his Australian Open title. The Serb, who was deported from Australia due to a lack of vaccinations, toured the Serbian pavilion at … Read more
British tennis star Andy Murray has said that he will not take part in the French Open and an entire clay-court season. He further added that he will play grass-court events and try his best to enter the prestigious Wimbledon 2022. After a second-round exit at this year’s Australian Open, the two-time Wimbledon champion is … Read more
Patrizia Kummer, an unvaccinated Swiss snowboarder who competed in the Beijing Olympics on Tuesday after three weeks of quarantine, said she had “no difficulty” and didn’t “care what people thought” of her. Athletes who have been vaccinated against Covid-19 enter the “closed loop” bubble system immediately at the Beijing Games, but those who have not … Read more
Australian Open 2022 was this year’s first Grand Slam tournament that took place at Melbourne Park in Australia from 17 to 30 January 2022. The 110th (54th edition in the Open Era) edition of the major event ended with one of the all-time great men’s finals. Men’s singles defending champion Novak Djokovic was unable to … Read more
Rafael Nadal roared back from two sets down to win a titanic five-set duel with Daniil Medvedev and claim a record 21st Grand Slam men’s title in the Australian Open final on Sunday. The Spanish great looked dead and buried as the Russian world number two carved out a two-set lead but Nadal surged home … Read more
Rafael Nadal marched into the final of the Australian Open to be just one match away from becoming the all-time men’s Grand Slam leader after overcoming Matteo Berrettini in the semi-final on Friday. The 35-year-old Spanish great, seeded sixth, was too solid for the Italian seventh seed, winning 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 in 2hr 55min, … Read more
Rafael Nadal needed five match points before putting away tenacious German qualifier Yannick Hanfmann at the Australian Open on Wednesday and continue his march towards a record 21st Grand Slam title. The Spanish world number five was always in command in a 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 win in 2hr 42 min in hot conditions on Rod … Read more
Power-serving top seed Ashleigh Barty raced into the Australian Open third round Wednesday with another stellar performance, expelling little energy to swat aside Lucia Bronzetti. The Australian world number one is in commanding early-season form, and she was laser-focused on Rod Laver Arena against her second qualifier in a row, blasting through the Italian 6-1, … Read more
Australia’s government cancelled the world number one Novak Djokovic’s visa for a second time on Friday as it sought to deport the tennis superstar for arriving in the country without a Covid-19 vaccine. According to Australia’s Immigration Minister Alex Hawke, he acted on “health and good order grounds on the basis that it was in … Read more
Crowds at the troubled Australian Open will be capped at 50 per cent capacity as Covid-19 cases and hospitalisations continue to rise in Melbourne, announced Thursday. Face masks will also be mandatory at the opening Grand Slam of the year, which starts on Monday, except when eating or drinking, and spectators must socially distance themselves … Read more
MELBOURNE: Novak Djokovic was drawn Thursday to play fellow Serb Miomir Kecmanovic in the first round of the Australian Open despite ongoing uncertainty over whether he will still be in the country. The world number one, top seed and defending champion is looking to clinch a 10th title at Melbourne Park starting next week and a record … Read more
MELBOURNE: Australia was poised Thursday to decide if it will deport Novak Djokovic following a sensational legal battle over the tennis superstar’s arrival in the country without a Covid-19 vaccine. The 34-year-old world number one’s hopes of a record 21st Grand Slam were in peril after he admitted breaking isolation rules in Serbia and to an incorrect … Read more
SYDNEY: In-form world number seven Anett Kontaveit cruised into the Sydney Classic semi-finals Thursday after top-10 opponent Ons Jabeur retired hurt, days before the Australian Open. The Estonian won a tight first set 6-4 before the Tunisian called for a medical timeout. After lengthy treatment on her lower back, Jabeur forfeited the match. It is a big … Read more
MELBOURNE: Novak Djokovic on Wednesday admitted “errors” in his travel papers and for not isolating after a claimed coronavirus infection, as he battled to stay in Australia and fight for a record 21st Grand Slam. The world number one said his team had offered fresh information to the Australian government, which is pondering whether to cancel his … Read more
MELBOURNE: The rapidly spreading Omicron variant, no Serena Williams or Roger Federer and now the Novak Djokovic saga — the Australian Open is struggling to live up to its “Happy Slam” reputation. With the tournament just 10 days away, there was the threat Friday of more disarray with the possibility of other players being in a similar … Read more
MELBOURNE: Rafael Nadal stepped up his return from Covid and injury with a patchy win over qualifier Ricardas Berankis at the Melbourne Summer Set tournament on Thursday. The 20-time Grand Slam champion launched his Australian Open preparations with a 6-2, 7-5 win in the second round, his first singles match on the ATP Tour since August. The … Read more
ADELAIDE: Iga Swiatek showcased her Australian Open credentials with a 6-1, 6-2 demolition of US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez at the Adelaide International on Thursday. The Pole, who won the 2020 French Open as a 19-year-old, took just 77 minutes to dispose of the Canadian and set up a quarter-final clash against former world number one Victoria … Read more
SYDNEY: World number nine Hubert Hurkacz powered Poland into the ATP Cup semi-finals on Wednesday, overwhelming Argentina’s in-form Diego Schwartzman to ensure his country became the first to book a last-four berth. Both nations went into the tie in Sydney unbeaten in Group D, winning previous clashes with Greece and Georgia, to make their showdown a winner-takes-all … Read more
MELBOURNE: Novak Djokovic received “no special” favours to be granted a Covid vaccine exemption to play at the Australian Open, said tournament chief Craig Tiley on Wednesday, as the move sparked a furious backlash. The nine-time Australian Open champion Djokovic announced late Tuesday he was en route to Melbourne with “an exemption permission”, ending the drawn-out saga over whether … Read more
