MELBOURNE (Reuters) – A rampaging Roger Federer kicked off his 17th Australian Open campaign with a 6-2 6-1 6-2 demolition of Georgian battler Nikoloz Basilashvili to reach the second round on Monday. The 17-times grand slam champion shone under the lights of Rod Laver Arena to wrap up the match in one hour and 12 […]
REUTERS – Caroline Wozniacki was left ruing her inability to see off Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva after the unseeded 21-year-old rallied back from a set down to knock out her more established opponent in the first round of the Australian Open on Monday. Putintseva notched the tournament’s first upset by beating Wozniacki 1-6 7-6(3) 6-4 at […]
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Big financial incentives for gamblers, small tournaments of little consequence to top players and the ease of fixing the outcome of a one-on-one sport have helped turn world tennis into a haven for match-fixers, according to experts and industry insiders. Tennis was rocked on Monday by allegations that the game’s authorities have […]
REUTERS – World number two Andy Murray will look to get his bid for a maiden Australian Open title off to a solid start when he faces Germany’s Alexander Zverev at the Margaret Court Arena on Tuesday. The Scot is aiming become the first man in the Open era to win the Australian Open title […]
MELBOURNE (Reuters) – It was a bad day at the office for Sloane Stephens but an unforgettable one for Chinese qualifier Wang Qiang, who sent the former semi-finalist spinning out of the Australian Open with a stinging first-round defeat on Monday. American Stephens entered the tournament seeded 24th after enjoying a confidence boost from winning […]
MELBOURNE (Reuters) – World number one and defending champion Novak Djokovic marched imperiously into the second round of the Australian Open with a dominant 6-3 6-2 6-4 victory over Chung Hyeon on Monday. The 28-year-old Serb looked as untroubled by the Melbourne heat as he was by the South Korean teenager in the 115-minute contest, […]
By Nick Mulvenney MELBOURNE (Reuters) – It was very much business as usual for Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams at the Australian Open on Monday, even if allegations of widespread match-fixing cast a shadow over the opening day of the year’s first grand slam. As the sun shone and more than 70,000 fans streamed through […]
MELBOURNE (Reuters) – Defending champion Serena Williams dispelled any doubts about her fitness and form after a four-month break from the game with a tense 6-4 7-5 win over feisty Italian Camila Giorgi to reach the second round of the Australian Open on Monday. The world number one had barely swung a racquet in anger […]
MELBOURNE (Reuters) – World number one Novak Djokovic said a member of his staff was approached about fixing a match early in his career, and he questioned whether betting companies should be allowed to sponsor big tennis tournaments. The reigning Australian Open champion was speaking after the sport was rocked by allegations that the authorities […]
An epic semifinal- Nadal vs Verdasco- Australian Open 2009 After Roger Federer dismantled the big-serving Andy Roddick in straight sets to enter fourth final of the Australian Open in his career, it was time for all-Spanish men’s semifinals. The semifinal was between Spain’s no .1 Rafael Nadal and Spain’s no. 2 Fernando Verdasco. On one […]
By Nick Mulvenney MELBOURNE (Reuters) – Defending champions Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams will be hoping to get the Australian Open off to a sizzling start when they play back-to-back on Rod Laver Arena on Monday. The weather also looks set to do its part in keeping temperatures high from the off at Melbourne Park […]
