MELBOURNE (AFP) -- Aryna Sabalenka said on Friday, Jan. 12, she felt "really great" heading into the defense of her Australian Open title, with a hard grind during the pre-season making her "as ready as I can be". The 25-year-old Belarusian had a breakthrough 2023 in which she claimed a maiden...
AUCKLAND (AFP) -- Britain's world number 19 Cameron Norrie pulled out of the Auckland Classic with a wrist injury on Thursday, Jan. 11, leaving his fitness in doubt just three days before the Australian Open. Britain's Cameron Norrie (AFP) American top seed Ben Shelton had just powered past...
MELBOURNE (AFP) -- Top seed Novak Djokovic was drawn on Thursday, Jan. 11, against a qualifier or lucky loser to begin his bid for an 11th Australian Open crown, and could meet fellow Grand Slam champion Andy Murray in the third round. Great Britain's Andy Murray (left) and Serbia's Novak Djokovic...
MELBOURNE (AFP) -- Iga Swiatek will be a hot favorite to win a first Australian Open when it begins on Sunday, Jan. 14, but could face a stiff challenge from former champions Aryna Sabalenka and Naomi Osaka. Poland's Iga Swiatek (top), Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka (bottom left) and Japan's Naomi Osaka...
AUCKLAND (AFP) -- Top seed Ben Shelton got his Australian Open preparations back on track on Wednesday, Jan. 10, after a run of defeats with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Hungary's Fabian Marozsan at the Auckland Classic. USA's Ben Shelton (AFP) The American world number 16 reached the quarterfinal of the...
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...
