Page 8 - Tennis

Australian Open 2025 HIGHLIGHTS: Djokovic wins 4-set tie against Basavareddy to start campaign

This year's Australian Open holds special significance for Djokovic, as whispers of retirement have started to grow. It could be his final appearance at a venue where he has enjoyed so much success.

Tsitsipas stunned by Alex Michelsen in first round of Australian Open 2025

Alex Michelsen beat Stefanos Tsitsipas in a four-set thriller to book his place in the second round of the competition

Australian Open: Coco Gauff starts with straight-sets win over Sofia Kenin

Coco Gauff had a little difficulty adjusting to the sun at one end of Rod Laver Arena and dropped an early service game but quickly settled into a rhythm to start her Australian Open with a 6-3, 6-3 win Monday over 2020 champion Sofia Kenin. Third-seeded Gauff won the title at the WTA Finals last November and started this season by helping the U.S. to victory at the United Cup last week, a run that gives her a chance to move atop the rankings. The 2023 U.S. Open champion is wearing a Marvel-inspired bodysuit and skirt at Melbourne Park and she's radiating confidence and calm. I knew going in it was going to be difficult, but you know I'm happy with how I played, she said of the 1-hour, 20-minute win over Kenin, who at No. 81 is a much tougher opponent than her ranking suggests. I mean (I) could serve better, but like on that side I was struggling to see the ball, Guaff said, pointing to one baseline on the main show court that was bathed in sun. So I'm just happy that I was able to

Australian Open today's matches: Djokovic's match starts at 1:30 PM IST

World number one and defending champion in the men's singles event, Jannik Sinner, will be in action on Monday

Australian Open: How much money did Sumit Nagal earn after 1st round exit?

Nagal, the sole Indian in the men's singles draw, had managed to reach the second round in the previous year's tournament but was unable to replicate that form on Sunday.

Australian Open: 'Big 3' lone warrior Novak Djokovic ready to battle again

The 2025 Australian Open, which kicked off on Sunday, marks the first major since Nadal's final match at the Davis Cup in November.

Australian Open: Alcaraz and Sinner look to start strong in post-Rafa era

Both Alcaraz and Sinner are coming off a year of spectacular success in 2024, which has left little doubt that they are the leaders of the next generation in men's tennis.

Veteran ace Gael Monfils reaches his 35th ATP final in Auckland aged 38

Gael Monfils has become the second oldest player in more than 30 years to reach the final of an ATP Tour event after beating American Nishesh Basavareddy 7-6 (5), 6-4 in the semifinals at Auckland on Friday aged 38 years, 131 days. Ivo Karlovic is the oldest, having won through to final in Pune, India in 2019 at the age of 39 years, 311 days. Monfils edges Stan Wawrinka who was aged 38 years and 124 days when he reached the final at Umag, Croatia in 2023. Karlovic also reached the final at Den Bosch in 2017 aged 38 years, 110 days while Roger Federer (Basel in 2019 aged 38 years and 80 days) and Rafael Nadal (the 2024 Swedish Open at 38 years and 48 days) also are in the top five. Frenchman Monfils has been breaking records steadily in his winning run at Auckland. When he beat Jan-Lennard Struff to reach the quarterfinals, he became the oldest player in the professional era to reach the last eight in Auckland. He became the oldest-ever semifinalist in Auckland when he beat Facundo

Australian Open 2025: Kyrgios eyes Grand Slam return after 2 years away

Love him or hate him, Nick Kyrgios is good for tennis and the sport will get a boost from his return to Grand Slam action at the Australian Open or so he says. We watch sport because we want personalities. ... It's like drama, theater. For me, being personally back, it adds a bit of question marks to, like, What is going to happen today?' I love that. Every time I step out on court, I don't know if I'm going to be super controversial in a good or bad way, 2022 Wimbledon runner-up Kyrgios said on Friday, when he indicated he thinks he'll be able to compete despite a recent issue with an abdominal muscle. Throughout my career, it hasn't always been good, continued the 29-year-old Australian, wearing a green hat in support of his favorite NBA team, the reigning champion Boston Celtics, but it's added a lot of excitement to the game. As play begins at Melbourne Park on Sunday (Saturday EST), Kyrgios is sure to be among the players garnering the most attention from spectators, media and

Australian Open 2025 schedule, draw and key stats you need to know

The final of the Australian Open will be played at the Rod Laver Arena on January 26th.

Injury clouds Kyrgios' comeback to Grand Slam stage at Australian Open

Nick Kyrgios' planned return to Grand Slam tennis at the Australian Open is in doubt after he sustained an abdominal injury and was forced to withdraw from an exhibition with Novak Djokovic this week. The 2022 Wimbledon finalist, sidelined with wrist and knee injuries since the 2022 U.S. Open, said in an Instagram post Wednesday that an ultrasound scan had revealed an abdominal strain and unfortunately (I) won't be able to play my good friend (Djokovic) this Thursday. He said he'd be resting and doing everything possible to be ready for the Australian Open, which starts Sunday at Melbourne Park. The mercurial Australian, who has become a popular commentator during his lengthy stints on the injured list, made his competitive comeback last week at Brisbane, where he played one singles match and partnered with Djokovic in two doubles matches. Djokovic and Kyrgios won their opening doubles match, a crowd-pleasing, fist-pumping affair by both players at Pat Rafter Arena before a 6-2, 3-

Novak Djokovic opens up about 'trauma' tied to Australia deportation

Novak Djokovic said he still feels a bit of trauma when he travels to Australia, stemming from his deportation in 2022 because he was not vaccinated against COVID-19. The last couple of times that I landed in Australia, to go through passport control and immigration, I had a bit of trauma from three years ago," Djokovic said in an interview with Melbourne's Herald Sun newspaper published Monday, ahead of the Australian Open. And some traces still stay there when I'm passing passport control, just checking out if someone from immigration zone is approaching. Djokovic, who has won 10 of his 24 Grand Slam championships at Melbourne Park, continued: The person checking my passport are they going to take me, detain me again or let me go? I must admit I have that feeling. Back in 2022, Djokovic sought, and initially obtained, an exemption that would allow him into the Australian Open and the country even though there were strict rules requiring shots to protect against the coronavirus.

Osaka suffers injury scare ahead of Grand Slam return at Australian Open

Naomi Osaka's fitness for the Australian Open is in question after the four-time Grand Slam champion and former No. 1 suffered an apparent abdominal injury Sunday while playing the final of a WTA tournament in Auckland. Osaka had won the first set of the final 6-4 against Denmark's Clara Tauson when she spoke to her coach Patrick Mouratoglou, the chair umpire and a tour trainer before deciding to withdraw. The nature of her injury wasn't immediately clear but seemed to be abdominal, not the back injury she suffered at the China Open in October and which ended her 2024 season. Osaka was in tears as she sat waiting for the trainer. She then left the court to a subdued ovation as spectators before returning for the prizegiving. I just want to thank everyone for welcoming me to such a beautiful city," Osaka said. "I had a lot of fun playing here and I'm really sorry about how it ended but I hope that you enjoyed the tennis that we did play. I'm just really grateful to be here. Osaka h

Coco Gauff beat Iga Swiatek in straight sets to secure United Cup for USA

Coco Gauff overcame second-ranked Iga Swiatek 6-4, 6-4 in the opening singles of the United Cup mixed teams tennis event and the United States went on to win the final by beating Poland 2-0 on Sunday. Taylor Fritz beat Hubert Hurkacz 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (4) at the Ken Rosewall Arena as the Americans secured their second United Cup title in three years. It's great to win a team event, the only team event I've ever won, so I'm super excited, the third-ranked Gauff said. The 20-year-old American won all five of her singles matches at the United Cup in straight sets, in an ideal build-up for the Australian Open starting Jan. 12. It was also the second straight win for Gauff over Swiatek after victory on her way to winning the WTA Finals event in Riyadh in November. I have the belief that I'm one of the best players in the world and when I play good tennis I'm hard to beat, Gauff said after her latest triumph. Poland was runner-up for the second straight year after losing the previous editi

Novak Djokovic's achievements overshadowed in debate over tennis' GOAT

The unanswerable question, of course, is whether Djokovic is the GOAT. That's a complex issue over which fans will forever bicker

Djokovic, Kyrgios dazzle fans with flashy play in doubles triumph

Exchanging smiles, laughs and flashy shots, Novak Djokovic and Nick Kyrgios teamed up in doubles on Monday as they both returned to the court in preparation for the Australian Open. The two former Wimbledon final opponents reached the second round of the Brisbane International with a 6-4, 6-7 (4), 10-8 win against Alexander Erler and Andreas Mies. It was Kyrgios' first match in 18 months due to wrist and knee injuries, while Djokovic missed the season-ending ATP Finals last month with an unspecified injury. They had the crowd on their feet several times at Pat Rafter Arena, including when Djokovic flicked an around-the-net backhand winner during the first set. Djokovic then turned to point at a grinning Kyrgios, who slapped Djokovic's outstretched hand in celebration. That's just an iconic Novak moment. The way the guy moves around the court, I've never moved like that in my life. I was just loving it, said Krygios, who treated the crowd to some shot-making of his own. When Kygrio

Max Purcell, US Open doubles champion, suspended for doping violation

Two-time Grand Slam winning doubles player Max Purcell has entered a voluntary provisional suspension under tennis' anti-doping rules. The International Tennis Integrity Agency announced the sanction in a statement on Monday after the 26-year-old Australian admitted to violating Article 2.2 of the Tennis Anti-Doping Program relating to the use of a Prohibited Method. The ITIA said the suspension came into effect on 12 Dec., and time served under provisional suspension will be credited against any future sanction. The length of time of the voluntary suspension was not specified by the ITIA. During the provisional suspension, Purcell is prohibited from playing in, coaching at, or attending any tennis event authorized or sanctioned by the members of the ITIA (ATP, ITF, WTA, Tennis Australia, Fdration Franaise de Tennis, Wimbledon and USTA) or any national association," the ITIA statement read. Purcell, with compatriot Jordan Thompson, won the U.S. Open in September and won Wimbledon w

Russian tennis star Daniil Savelev suspended for 2 years for doping

Russian tennis player Daniil Savelev has accepted a two-year suspension for doping, the International Tennis Integrity Agency said Friday. The ITIA said that Savelev tested positive for the prohibited substance meldonium in July 2024. He has been provisionally suspended since August of this year. That means his suspension will end in August 2026. Savelev had reached a career-high world doubles ranking of 1,486 in August 2022. The ITIA said that it believed that Savelev had not intentionally taken the banned substance, saying that Savelev admitted to ingesting meldonium tablets, confusing family medication for supplements of a similar appearance. The doping watchdog said that Savelev agreed to accept the suspension since he did not take any steps to mitigate the rules violation.

ATP Guarantees $1.3M in Income to 26 Players in 2024 Tennis Tour

The ATP men's tennis tour paid out $1.3 million to a total of 26 players in 2024 under a new financial program called Baseline that guarantees minimum annual incomes for players ranked in the top 250. Players received money in each of three categories, the tour said Wednesday, without naming most of the individuals: 17 got paid as part of minimum guarantees that make up the difference if players do not reach certain thresholds in singles prize money, three through injury protection that helps those whose tournament participation is limited by health issues, and seven via newcomer investment that provides funds to new members of the top 125. One player received money from both the minimum guarantee and income protection parts of the plan, which was announced in August 2023. This season was the first of a three-year trial. As a professional tennis player, you're focused on results. Relying on your performance to succeed can be difficult, especially when dealing with setbacks like ...

Sumit Nagal to play fifth Grand Slam after earning Australian Open spot

Indian tennis star Sumit Nagal is set for his fifth appearance in a Grand Slam after earning a direct entry for the main draw of next year's Australian Open. The 98th-ranked Nagal, who features in the entry list released by Tennis Australia on Friday, had to go through the qualifying rounds in the competition's previous edition. In the first round, Nagal had stunned the 31st seed Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan in straight sets to record a win by 6-4, 6-2, 7-6 (5), becoming the first Indian player to beat a seeded player in the main draw in singles at Grand Slam in 34 years. However, Nagal's journey ended in the following round with a defeat to wild-card Shang Juncheng of China. Nagal's career maintained an upward spike when he became the 10th player from India to break into top 100 in ATP rankings. Meanwhile, reigning world No 1 and defending champion Jannik Sinner is top seeded for the Australian Open, followed by Alexander Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz. Novak Djokovic is seeded ...