Indian trailblazer Sania Mirza bowed out of Grand Slam tennis Friday with defeat in the Australian Open mixed-doubles final playing alongside Rohan Bopanna — her first playing partner 22 years ago. The 36-year-old Mirza, regarded as her country’s greatest women’s tennis player, returned to Melbourne Park for one last hurrah and made it all the … Read more
American qualifier Katie Volynets paid heartfelt tribute to her extended family in Ukraine after sending Russian world number nine Veronika Kudermetova spinning out of the Australian Open on Thursday. Kudermetova, who had a stunning 2022 in which she claimed almost 40 match wins, was beaten by the 21-year-old 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 on Margaret Court Arena. … Read more
Teenager Shang Juncheng created a slice of history Monday by becoming the first male Chinese player to win an Australian Open main draw singles match. The gifted 17-year-old, a qualifier, battled past Germany’s Oscar Otte 6-2, 6-4, 6-7 (2/7), 7-5 in nearly three hours of intense tennis to progress. After saving two break points in … Read more
This time last year, an air of uncertainty swirled around Novak Djokovic’s participation in the 2022 Australian Open. One that turned into a full-blown storm after he landed in Melbourne. Without a Covid vaccine and with a medical exemption that wasn’t of any worth, the Serb, then world No. 1, was barred from defending his … Read more