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 […]
MELBOURNE (Reuters) – Maria Sharapova says her Australian Open preparations have gone smoothly despite her lack of recent on-court action, all barring a mix-up at the Melbourne Park laundry over a pair of leopard print underwear. Sharapova, Australian Open champion in 2008, pulled out of her title defence at the Brisbane International two weeks ago […]
MELBOURNE (Reuters) – After two years of injury frustration and bouts of depression, Victoria Azarenka is hoping a little bit of motorcycle riding and some street art will change people’s perceptions and help her to a third Australian Open title. The 26-year-old Belarusian is one of the favourites for the year’s opening grand slam that […]
