Jan 7, 2025, 04:43 PM ET Open Extended Reactions The Australian Open will be played from Jan. 12 through Jan. 26 in Melbourne, Australia. Reigning women’s champion Aryna Sabalenka enters the tournament as the betting favorite having successfully defended her title last year, prevailing over Zheng Qinwen in straight sets (6-3, 6-2). Sabalenka is also
Tennis
Jan 8, 2025, 10:23 AM ET Open Extended Reactions After a blink-and-you’ll-miss it offseason — there were exactly five days between the conclusion of the NextGen ATP Finals and the start of the United Cup — the 2025 tennis season is officially underway. And ready or not, it’s already time for the year’s first major
Jan 7, 2025, 08:27 PM ET Open Extended Reactions Recent doping controversies involving top players have not damaged tennis’s reputation but having a single commissioner for the sport would go a long way towards clearing up any confusion surrounding cases, John McEnroe said. Men’s world number one Jannik Sinner failed two drug tests in March
Jan 7, 2025, 07:37 PM ET Open Extended Reactions Nick Kyrgios is in danger of missing the Australian Open, with the returning star suffering an abdominal injury. The polarising Australian was primed for his Melbourne Park comeback next week, which would be his first major since the 2022 US Open. He has been sidelined with
Jan 7, 2025, 07:53 AM ET Open Extended Reactions Novak Djokovic and new coach Andy Murray have been seen practising together for the first time ahead of the start of the Australian Open on Sunday. Editor’s Picks 2 Related Djokovic, who hired his longtime rival to be his new coach ahead of the 2025 season,
ESPN News Services Jan 7, 2025, 12:52 AM ET Open Extended Reactions MELBOURNE — Cruz Hewitt, the son of former world No. 1 Lleyton, came up short in his bid to reach the Australian Open main draw when he was beaten 6-1, 6-4 by Nikoloz Basilashvili in the first round of qualifying Tuesday. The 16-year-old
Associated Press Jan 6, 2025, 01:47 PM ET Open Extended Reactions MELBOURNE, Australia — Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka says she and her partner, rapper Cordae, “are no longer in a relationship.” Naomi Osaka and rapper Cordae are no longer in a relationship, the tennis player posted on Instagram. Clive Brunskill/Getty Images Osaka posted the
Jan 6, 2025, 07:05 AM ET Open Extended Reactions Novak Djokovic revealed he still experiences trauma whenever he visits Melbourne, three years after he was deported for a breach of Australia’s COVID-19 rules. Editor’s Picks 1 Related Djokovic wasn’t allowed to defend his Australian Open title in 2022 because of his refusal to be vaccinated
Jan 5, 2025, 10:08 PM ET Open Extended Reactions SYDNEY — Naomi Osaka will undergo a scan on the injury that forced her to pull out of the Auckland Classic final but remains optimistic about playing at the Australian Open, the former world number one said on Monday. Osaka, the 2019 and 2021 champion at
Jan 5, 2025, 07:25 AM ET Open Extended Reactions Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova pulled out of the Australian Open due to a back problem, the Czech player said Sunday, while Caroline Wozniacki and Karolina Pliskova will also miss the year’s first Grand Slam. World No. 10 Krejcikova, a surprise winner at the All England Club
ESPN News Services Jan 5, 2025, 07:43 AM ET Open Extended Reactions Czech player Jiri Lehecka claimed the Brisbane International men’s title Sunday after American Reilly Opelka retired with an injury while trailing 4-1 in the opening set. Opelka upset former world No. 1 Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinals but appeared to struggle with a
Jan 5, 2025, 04:00 AM ET Aryna Sabalenka has won the Brisbane International, rallying from a set down against qualifier Polina Kudermetova to sharpen her tilt for a third-straight Australian Open title. The world No.1 looked in for a straightforward night at Pat Rafter Arena on Sunday when a Kudermetova double fault handed her an
Associated Press Jan 4, 2025, 05:15 PM ET SYDNEY — Sixth-ranked Elena Rybakina has defended her former coach Stefano Vukov after he was provisionally suspended by the WTA as the governing body investigates a potential breach of its code of conduct. Rybakina said this week that Vukov is rejoining her team, but the WTA suspension
Jan 4, 2025, 06:38 AM ET Open Extended Reactions BRISBANE — Aryna Sabalenka powered into the Brisbane International final with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over teenager Mirra Andreeva on Saturday, taking a step closer to a first trophy of the year before her Australian Open title defense begins later this month. World No. 1 Sabalenka
ESPN News Services Jan 3, 2025, 11:06 PM ET Open Extended Reactions SYDNEY — Poland marched into a second straight United Cup final Saturday with a convincing 2-0 victory over Kazakhstan after Hubert Hurkacz and Iga Swiatek won their singles matches. Last year’s runners-up will take on the United States or Czech Republic in Sunday’s
Associated Press Jan 3, 2025, 08:26 AM ET Open Extended Reactions BRISBANE, Australia — Novak Djokovic was beaten 7-6 (6), 6-3 by big-serving Reilly Opelka in the Brisbane International quarterfinals on Friday. Opelka served 16 aces — including one to finish off each set — to earn one of the biggest wins of the American’s
Associated Press Jan 3, 2025, 06:07 AM ET Open Extended Reactions SYDNEY — Karolina Muchova turned on the style during a 6-2, 6-2 victory over fourth-ranked Jasmine Paolini at the United Cup on Friday to help the Czech Republic secure a win over Italy and a semifinal spot against the United States. Muchova produced a
Jan 2, 2025, 07:15 AM ET Open Extended Reactions BRISBANE, Australia — Novak Djokovic‘s bid for a 100th ATP Tour title gained momentum Thursday as the Serb thumped fellow veteran Gael Monfils 6-3, 6-3 to reach the Brisbane International quarterfinals. The 37-year-old Djokovic, who is looking to join Roger Federer (103) and Jimmy Connors (109)