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 […]
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Viktor Troicki will go into the Australian Open with his confidence sky high after retaining his title at the Sydney International with a thrilling 2-6 6-1 7-6(7) victory over Grigor Dimitrov on Saturday. The tough 29-year-old Serbian, who won the title as a qualifier last year, looked dead and buried after Dimitrov […]
MELBOURNE (Reuters) – Serena Williams brushed off concerns about her fitness on Saturday and declared herself “at 130 percent” for her Australian Open title defence. The 21-times grand slam singles champion has played almost no competitive tennis since the U.S. Open last September and pulled out of the Hopman Cup two weeks ago with knee […]
WELLINGTON (Reuters) – Roberto Bautista Agut won the Auckland Classic for his third ATP title on Saturday after Jack Sock retired ill while trailing 6-1 1-0 in the final of the Australian Open warm-up tournament. Sock had complained of suffering flu-like symptoms when he stunned four-times champion and world number eight David Ferrer in the […]
REUTERS – France’s Alize Cornet thrashed an error-prone Eugenie Bouchard 6-1 6-2 to win the Hobart International title on Saturday, bringing the Canadian former Wimbledon semi-finalist’s nascent resurgence to a shuddering halt. Cornet dominated the contest on a blustery day in Tasmania, winning the first set at a canter after an early exchange of breaks […]
MELBOURNE (Reuters) – Novak Djokovic deserves a “little star” next to his name for a spectacular 2015 season that saw him win three grand slams among his 11 titles but the men’s game is not simply a matter of the Serb versus the rest, Roger Federer said on Saturday. The world number one’s dominance has […]