Federer ready for a repeat of magical 2017
REVITALISED after a fortnight’s family holiday in the Maldives, Roger Federer has arrived in Australia ready to embark on his milestone 20th year on the professional tennis tour.
Tennis
Headline acts are tipped to show
BRISBANE International organisers are confident there will be impending arrivals from Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray to dispel injury fears and headline the tournament next week.
Lay-off a sore point for Djokovic
NOVAK Djokovic aborted a troubled year after Wimbledon but the former world No.1 is confident he is over his chronic elbow pain as he bids for a record seventh Australian Open title.
Djokovic’s painful lesson in 10-year low
FORMER world No.1 Novak Djokovic will return to the tennis court this week after an injury lay-off that’s seen him plummet to his lowest point in a decade, admitting he’s learned a lesson.
Thompson forged for battle in Brisbane
AUSTRALIAN Davis Cup player Jordan Thompson has forged his Brisbane International preparation on backbreaking hours at one of the country’s most historically significant home courts.
Muller well rested for Aussie assault
RAFA-buster Gilles Muller is running down the clock on a 2017 season in which he added further credibility to the theory that men’s tennis is an older man’s game.
Azarenka’s Open hopes in doubt
FORMER world No.1 Victoria Azarenka’s hopes of contesting next month’s Australian Open are in the balance because of continuing custody battle.
Ploy to lure Serena Down Under
TENNIS Australia has made sure Serena Williams’s management is aware of a WTA Tour rule which allows her to make a late entry to its summer tournaments, including Sunday’s Brisbane International.
Tomic no-show leaves wildcard race wide open
BERNARD Tomic’s Davis Cup record alone would, alongside a more committed approach, make him worthy of an Australian Open wildcard. But not in the present circumstances.
How Rafa is shaping Ash’s Melbourne tilt
STUDYING Rafael Nadal’s run to his historic 10th French Open triumph this year has become the blueprint for Ash Barty’s plan make an impact at next month’s Australian Open.
Serena returns ahead of Open defence
JUST four months after giving birth to a daughter, Serena Williams will return to the court next week, with one eye firmly on the Australian Open in January.
Grand Slam party for Barty in 2018?
WIMBLEDON champion Garbine Muguruza says she counts Australian Ash Barty among the contenders for Grand Slam glory this year.
Nadal buckles ahead of Australian summer
RAFAEL Nadal’s ongoing knee injuries have forced him out of a rich exhibition in Abu Dhabi, raising serious concerns for the world No.1 ahead of the Australian Open and Brisbane International.
Rafter: How I control the media
PAT Rafter didn’t become one of Australia’s favourite sons by accident — it was the result of a deliberate plan he made sure to stick to.
Millman covets top 50
BRISBANE’S cashed-up former tennis battler John Millman believes his teak-tough finish to the season proves he is capable of a personal-best ranking next year.
How Kyrgios plans to win over fans
NICK Kyrgios was booed from court by a significant part of a Melbourne Park crowd at his most recent Australian tournament but the polarising star has a simple plan to won over home fans.
Ajla’s dig: ‘More Australian than Kyrgios’
BRISBANE International wildcard Ajla Tomljanovic says she got more questions right than boyfriend Nick Kyrgios in her Australian citizenship test application, while also defending the Aussie star’s on-court behaviour.
Murray still on track for Brisbane
BRISBANE International organisers say they remain confident Andy Murray will be ready to make a comeback from injury, as planned, at Pat Rafter Arena next month.
Yes to Thompson, no to Tomic
AUSTRALIAN Davis Cup success story Jordan Thompson will return to his happy hunting ground to start the tennis season with a wildcard into the Brisbane International.
Russian tennis star set for Playford tournament
FORMER world No.2 Vera Zvonareva is the star attraction in a women’s field featuring 13 top-200 ranked players for the City of Playford Tennis International.
Details emerge in Venus crash case
POLICE have reached a final decision in their investigation into Venus Williams’ fatal car crash which saw her breakdown at Wimbledon.
Kyrgios back in No. 1 girl’s good books
NICK Kyrgios was in the doghouse after partying with mystery beauties at Wimbledon, but it looks like he’s won his woman back.
Reason Kyrgios is at his ‘happiest’
NICK Kyrgios has had his ups and downs during a turbulent year of tennis, but says there’s one person who can be relied upon to keep him at his “happiest’’.
Kyrgios’ big sacrifice to ensure 2018 success
NICK Kyrgios is in no hurry to bring a coach into his team saying he can’t trust they’re not in it for the money. Meanwhile, he’s sacrificed his first sporting love for the sake of his tennis career.
Ex-Wimbledon champ returns to Tour
FORMER Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli is to return to the WTA Tour after more than four years in retirement.
Shock Wimbledon champ announces comeback
MARION Bartoli, who caused on of the great grand slam upsets at Wimbledon four years ago, is making a comeback to tennis.
Kyrgios lands to spark Brisbane
NICK Kyrgios has started the airlift of star players into the Brisbane International, flying into town from Argentina for a short series of practice sessions before Christmas.
SA young guns eye upsets at home event
A PAIR of Adelaide youngsters are targeting big-name scalps in their own backyard as they continue their assault on the world rankings at the inaugural City of Playford Tennis International.
Barty in the mix for Brisbane glory
DESPITE having eight women with a better ranking than her at the Brisbane International, Ash Barty says she counts herself among the title chances to win her home state tournament.
Brisbane next for Aiava after wildcard win
DESTANEE Aiava swept through the Australian Open women’s wildcard playoff final but the Victorian teenager says she is willing to play qualifying for the Brisbane International.
De Minaur sets sights on Open success
NOW for next month’s Australian Open. That’s Alex De Minaur’s objective after the teenager secured an Australian Open main draw berth with a wildcard playoff victory.
Aiava’s ruthless Open wildcard win
ALICIA Molik has hailed Destanee Aiava as the perfect candidate to bolster Australia’s women’s tennis renaissance after the teenager secured an Australian Open singles wildcard.
French Open champion settles on Aussie coach
CRACK Aussie coach David Taylor – who guided Sam Stosur to her 2011 US Open title triumph over Serena Williams – is French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko’s new mentor.
Super Sloane ready to get into Brisbane zone
SURPRISE US Open champion Sloane Stephens kicks off her 2018 campaign in Brisbane next month and not even a perplexing losing streak to end her 2017 season is dulling her confidence.
Charitable Nick ‘motivated to help others’
NICK Kyrgios accepted a long-haul return trip to Argentina for his first outing in over two months. He then channelled $100,000 of his appearance fee into helping underprivileged Aussie youth.
Aiava, Patterson to clash for Open wildcard
DESTANEE Aiava and Tammi Patterson will fight out the Australian Open wildcard playoff after top seed Arina Rodionova’s December struggles led to semi-final defeat.
Hewitt protege hunting Open wildcard
ALEX De Minaur has declared victory in the Australian Open wildcard play-off as the “ultimate goal” after storming into the final.
Aussie to boost Djoker’s Open bid
FORMER world No.1 Novak Djokovic has hired Australian tennis analyst Craig O’Shannessy as the Serb targets a seventh Australian Open title next month.
Hewitt out of retirement for Australian Open
AUSTRALIA Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt has come out of retirement for the Australian Open and the former world No. 1 is determined “to give it a fair crack.”
Rising star set for SA tennis tournament
A RUSSIAN young gun who knocked Stan Wawrinka out of Wimbledon will headline the men’s draw at the $100,000 City of Playford Tennis International.
Stosur to enjoy home toon-up
A RETURN to the Sunshine State and slip down the rankings has primed Sam Stosur for a bumper Australian summer.
Young guns set up wildcard clash
YOUNG guns Omar Jasika and Alex De Minaur will clash in a blockbuster Australian Open wildcard playoff semi-final after contrasting wins at Melbourne Park.
Destanee survives wildcard playoff scare
DESTANEE Aiava has battled through an Australian Open wildcard playoff stumble, staving off fellow Victorian Masa Jovanic to reach the quarter-finals.
Groth slams injury claims as final act looms large
DISMISSING reports he was suffering a back injury, Sam Groth insists his Australian Open retirement plans are on track. ‘Everything is fine and I’m excited about playing my last tournament.’
Top seed passes Tomic test to stay in wildcard hunt
STILL finding touch after a gruelling fitness block, Arina Rodionova was relieved to survive a tough match with Sara Tomic and keep her Australian Open wildcard hopes alive.
Open seeding boost for Barty
ASHLEIGH Barty has received a big boost ahead of the Australian Open with the Newcombe medallist in line for an all-important seeding at the Melbourne Park event.
Kyrgios headlines Sydney FAST4 line-up
THE fourth consecutive year of FAST4 Tennis in Sydney will feature a star-studded line up of talent ahead of the all-important Australian Open grand slam tournament in January.
Tomic to skip Aus Open qualifier
BERNARD Tomic will not contest for an Australian Open berth until January, with the 25-year-old electing not to take up an invitation to next week’s wildcard playoff.
Another Fedal final? Tennis legend’s AO tip
IN awe of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, a retired tennis great is refusing to discount the prospect of the two titans continuing to defy history in 2018.
Nadal’s shock Federer relegation
RAFAEL Nadal has spoken candidly about the two men who will forever be tied to his legacy and made a surprise admission.
Hoops the stuff of dreams for Kyrgios
IT’S well known Aussie tennis star Nick Kyrgios’ real passion is basketball. So would he entertain a code swap? A couple of NBL heavy-hitters say they’d love to see it happen.
Serena ‘very likely’ to shoot for slam 24 in Melbourne
TENNIS legend Serena Williams is ‘very likely’ to resume her glittering grand slam career at the Australian Open in 2018 after lodging the official entry paperwork.
Tennis, basketball to go back-to-back at Aus Open
TENNIS Australia and the NBL are teaming up. During the 2018 Australian Open, Melbourne United will face the Cairns Taipans at Hisense Arena.
Sam Stosur eyeing Fed Cup return
SAM Stosur is set to rejoin the Australian Fed Cup team next year for a serious charge at making the nation’s first final since 1994.
Djoker bunny becomes his coach
NOVAK Djokovic has enlisted a player he’s completely dominated throughout his career as a new coach.
Serena among stars in doubt for Aus Open
SERENA Williams is yet to make a call on her participation at the Australian Open, while world number 12 Svetlana Kuznetsova is also a doubt for the first grand slam of 2018.
Money matters to Destanee but so does winning
DESTANEE Aiava was stung by the backlash when she declared her primary tennis motivation was money and the comparisons to Bernard Tomic, but says she has other career drivers.
Tomic unsure about wildcard playoff
BERNARD Tomic remains undecided about contesting the Australian Open wildcard playoff amid concerns from tennis great John Newcombe that the fallen star is “wasting his life”.
Shock as Brisbane International boss pulls plug
GEOFF Quinlan had assembled perhaps the most compelling men’s field in the Brisbane International’s history. But he won’t be around to see the fruits of his labour after resigning.
‘Barty can win Grand Slam title’
TWO of Australia’s greatest tennis stars believe Newcombe Medal winner Ash Barty has the ability and drive to complete her incredible comeback story with a Grand Slam title.
Take a break, Bernard: Newk
JOHN Newcombe has urged wallowing Bernard Tomic to take a break from tennis to decide if he wants to revive a stalled career.
Barty back for more next year
AFTER four wins over top-10 players to barge to a top-20 ranking, 2017 Newcombe Medallist Ash Barty will be back next year to shake the women’s tennis elite again.
Comeback queen Barty wins Newcombe Medal
ASHLEIGH Barty has capped off a stunning season by securing the Newcombe Medal as Australian tennis’ best-performed player in 2017.
Barty, Peers duel for top honour
CAN doubles success compare favourably with strong singles results? We will know at tonight’s Newcombe Medal when Tennis Australia judges decide between John Peers and Ash Barty.
Stars flock to Sydney International
FORMER world No 4 Kei Nishikori will continue his comeback from serious injury when he contests the Sydney International in January.
France end 16-year Davis Cup drought
LUCAS Pouille has ended a 16-year drought for France in the Davis Cup, winning the decisive match for the hosts to beat Belgium 3-2 in the final.
Tomic forced to fight for Aus Open wildcard
AFTER a horror year on the ATP Tour, tennis bad boy Bernard Tomic will need to prove to Australian Open officials that he deserves a wildcard into the event.
From ‘Miracle of Montreal’ to Memorial Drive
WHY French tennis player Gael Monfils believes Adelaide will help him capture an elusive Grand Slam title.
Shock France snub for Davis Cup final
FRANCE captain Yannick Noah has surprisingly cut a dependable veteran from his squad to face Belgium in the Davis Cup final — but won’t elaborate on the decision.
Monfils reveals his plan to win a Slam
WHY French tennis superstar Gael Monfils will drastically alter his schedule after Adelaide to reach his ultimate goal.
Barty to be ultimate Brisbane wildcard
FOLLOWING her stunning second half of the season, Ash Barty will be the most dangerous of the unseeded players in the Brisbane International women’s singles.
Sharapova investigated by police in India
TENNIS superstar Maria Sharapova is being investigated by police in India in a cheating and criminal conspiracy case.
You cannot be serious! SA banishes tennis linesmen
LINESMEN, famous for bearing the wrath of John McEnroe, may soon be a thing of the past thanks to a world-first trial at Adelaide’s major tennis tournament.
Brisbane not on Djokovic’s radar
NOVAK Djokovic has changed his mind about his summer tournament plans and won’t be joining fellow “big four’’ rivals Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray in Brisbane.
Kokki to plot Oz Open assault in Adelaide
ADELAIDE’S own Thanasi Kokkinakis to headline the 2018 World Tennis Challenge alongside Frenchman Gael Monfils and former stars Andre Agassi and Mats Wilander.
Australian Open change puts pressure on stars
JANUARY’S Australian Open will use a 25-second shot clock in a move widely interpreted as being aimed at ponderous players like Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
Tomljanovic push could earn a shot
A SURGE in the rankings has put Australia’s import Ajla Tomljanovic in the conversation for Tennis Australia wildcards this summer.
End of an era? Biggest fear for Fed-Nadal rivalry
THEY surpassed all expectations to dominate in 2017 but a sleeping “greatness” in men’s tennis threatens to diminish Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal’s rivalry next year.
Kvitova plans to serve up her best in Sydney
LESS than 12 months after being stabbed in a home invasion, dual Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova plans to use the Sydney International to finally return to her world-beating best.
‘Gutted beyond words’: Tennis champ dies
EMOTIONAL tributes from across the world of tennis have been paid to former Wimbledon champion Jana Novotna after she died at the age of 49 following a long battle with cancer.
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