Shelton ends losing streak to reach Auckland quarter-finals

Shelton ends losing streak to reach Auckland quarter-finals

Top seed Ben Shelton got his Australian Open preparations back on track Wednesday after a run of defeats with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Hungary's Fabian Marozsan at the Auckland Classic. The American world number 16 reached the quarter-final of the Australian Open, the last four at the US Open and secured a first ATP title in Tokyo in his first full season on tour in 2023. But the […]

January 10, 2024 6

Sport

Changes to tennis Tour start times to combat late matches

The ATP and WTA, the two bodies that run the majority of men and women's professional tennis respectively, introduced measures Tuesday aimed at minimising the scourge of late finishes.Tennis tournaments have been plagued by matches that drag on long into the night, and even early morning.The ATP and WTA said that no match on their Tours will now start after 11pm, while matches unable to start on the court before […]

January 10, 2024 7

Sport

Exciting Men’s draw at the Australian Open

Novak Djokovic is targeting an 11th Australian Open title and in the absence of injured Rafael Nadal several younger players are out to stop him. AFP Sport highlights five men to watch when the first Grand Slam of the year begins on Sunday: He may be 36 but the 24-time Grand Slam winner is still the man to beat after another hugely successful 2023, which included overcoming Stefanos Tsitsipas […]

January 9, 2024 3

Sport

Nadal pulls out of Australian Open

Spanish superstar Rafael Nadal on Sunday 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.The 37-year-old had been out of the game since injuring his hip at the 2023 Australian Open, undergoing surgery before making his return at the Brisbane International.He won his opening two matches in straight […]

January 8, 2024 5

Sport

Rybakina, Dimitrov win Brisbane International

Elena Rybakina will head to the Australian Open full of confidence after demolishing Aryna Sabalenka in the Brisbane International final Sunday, while Grigor Dimitrov upset Holger Rune to win his first title since 2017.Rybakina, who will now become world number three, won the first eight games in a row on her way to a 6-0, 6-3 win in just 73 minutes over the Australian Open champion in a repeat […]

January 8, 2024 1

Sport

Germany wins maiden United Cup

Alexander Zverev saved two match points in a gruelling three-set win over Hubert Hurkacz to help Germany upset top seeds Poland and clinch a maiden United Cup title in Sydney on Sunday.The world number seven kept the tie alive with his never-say-die 6-7 (3/7), 7-6 (8/6), 6-4 victory after top-ranked Iga Swiatek had swept past Angelique Kerber 6-3, 6-0.Zverev returned to partner Laura Siegemund and seal the title with […]

January 8, 2024 1

Sport

Nick Kyrgios “tired of tennis”

Nick Kyrgios says that "I don't want to play anymore" but will give his tennis career another one or two years, days after pulling out of his home Australian Open. The talented but temperamental 28-year-old had knee surgery in January and then aborted plans to return at Wimbledon after tearing a ligament in his wrist. The 2022 Wimbledon finalist has spoken previously of his struggles with his mental health and […]

December 13, 2023 3

Sport

Nadal returns in Brisbane next month

Former world number one Rafael Nadal said on Monday he expects "nothing" from himself before his return to the courts next month.Nadal, 37, has been out with a hip injury since last January but is set to feature at Brisbane in the near year.The Spaniard will use the tournament as a warm-up to the Australian Open in Melbourne having slumped to 663rd in the world before starting his […]

December 5, 2023 3

Sport

Italy wins the Davis Cup after a 47 year wait

Italy won the Davis Cup for the first time since 1976 as Jannik Sinner crushed Alex de Minaur 6-3, 6-0 to seal a 2-0 win over Australia yesterday in Malaga. The world number four clinched victory in the second singles rubber after Matteo Arnaldi dug deep to beat Alexei Popyrin 7-5, 2-6, 6-4 in the opening clash. Sinner, who remarkably beat top-ranked superstar Novak Djokovic twice in one day on […]

November 27, 2023 3