MELBOURNE (AFP) -- Iga Swiatek is in scintillating form as she seeks a maiden Australian Open crown, but she could face a stiff test from defending champion Aryna Sabalenka while two-time winner Naomi Osaka is making her comeback. Poland's Iga Swiatek (AFP) World number one Swiatek has won 17 of...
ADELAIDE (AFP) -- Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova pulled out of the Adelaide International with a hip injury on Tuesday, Jan. 9, just days before the Australian Open, as Jelena Ostapenko set up a clash against Caroline Garcia. Latvia's Jelena Ostapenko (AFP) Czech world number seven...
MELBOURNE (AFP) -- Novak Djokovic is once again red-hot favorite at the Australian Open as he chases an unprecedented 25th Grand Slam title, but a wrist problem and the emergence of Carlos Alcaraz puts his all-conquering reign under threat. Spain's Carlos Alcaraz (left) and Serbia's Novak Djokovic...
HONG KONG (AFP) -- World number five Andrey Rublev prepared for next week's Australian Open in perfect style as he swept past Finland's Emil Ruusuvuori 6-4, 6-4 to win the Hong Kong Open on Sunday, Jan. 7. Russia’s Andrey Rublev holds the trophy after winning the match against Finland’s Emil...
MELBOURNE (AFP) -- Spanish superstar Rafael Nadal on Sunday, Jan. 7, pulled out of the Australian Open with a "micro tear on a muscle" barely a week after making his comeback from a year-long injury absence, but said he remained positive. Spain's Rafael Nadal (AFP) The 37-year-old had been out of...
LOS ANGELES (AFP) -- Former US Open champion Gary Woodland will return to golf competition at the Sony Open next week after undergoing surgery to remove a brain lesion in September. Former US Open champion Gary Woodland (AFP) Woodland, 39, said in August he would have surgery after attempting to...
BRISBANE (AFP) -- Elena Rybakina will head to the Australian Open full of confidence after demolishing Aryna Sabalenka in the Brisbane International final on Sunday, Jan. 7, while Grigor Dimitrov upset Holger Rune to win his first title since 2017. Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan (left) holds the...
BRISBANE (AFP) -- Two-time Wimbledon champion Andy Murray said 2024 could be his final year before retirement after illness and injury hampered his preparation for the new season. Two-time Wimbledon champion Great Britain's Andy Murray (AFP) Murray's year will begin at the Brisbane International as...
AUCKLAND (AFP) -- World number three Coco Gauff said on Sunday, Dec. 31, she felt more relaxed heading into the next month's Australian Open after achieving her goal of winning a Grand Slam title as a teenager. USA's Coco Gauff (AFP) The 19-year-old won the US Open in September and said it was a...
Yuka Saso marked her performance in the past season on the LPGA Tour with seven Top 10 finishes in 22 tournaments with a notable runner-up effort in a major championship (Women’s PGA) last June. Yuka Saso (ninth from left) poses with some of the top Junior PGT campaigners during a recent clinic...
BRISBANE (AFP) -- Rafael Nadal left the door ajar on Sunday, Dec. 31, to continuing after the 2024 season, but conceded there was "a high percentage" that he was on his last trip as a player to Australia. Spain's Rafael Nadal speaks during a press conference at the Brisbane International tennis...
PERTH (AFP) -- Novak Djokovic called Australia his "happy place" on Saturday, Dec. 30, as he prepared to kick off his season at the United Cup with a tricky clash against China's fast-improving Zhang Zhizhen. A handout photo taken on Friday, Dec. 29, and released on Saturday, Dec. 30 by Tennis...
