Tennis

5:00 AM ET Frenchman Gregoire Barrere stunned No. 4 seed Grigor Dimitrov to reach the quarterfinals of the Open Sud de France in Montpellier on Wednesday. Barrere, 25, battled to a 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-5 against the the world No. 23 after two hours and 34 minutes. Canada’s Vasek Pospisil also caused a shock after defeating

11:59 AM ET Associated Press LONDON — American tennis player Abigail Spears was handed a 22-month doping ban on Wednesday after a positive test from last year’s U.S. Open. The 38-year-old Spears has won 21 women’s doubles titles during her career and won the mixed doubles title at the Australian Open in 2017. Her urine

5:24 PM ET Felix Auger-Aliassime is through to the round of 16 at the Open Sud de France in Montpellier, having beaten Damir Dzumhur on Tuesday. The Canadian struggled against his opponent, rallying from one set down to win 6-7, 6-2, 6-2 in the last match of the day. Serbian Filip Krajinovic made his life

Feb 3, 2020 The new decade in Grand Slam tennis began ominously, amid anxiety caused by the bushfires raging throughout Australia. Thanks to some much welcome rain and cool weather, the Australian Open quickly morphed into one of the most competitive, fascinating tournaments in recent memory. The women’s event was dominated by fresh, if not

Feb 1, 2020 Simon Cambers MELBOURNE, Australia — Desire, mental strength and willpower as strong as anyone’s who has ever played the game. That’s what got Novak Djokovic over the line as he ground down Austrian Dominic Thiem 6-4, 4-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 on Sunday to win his eighth Australian Open crown and take his

10:31 AM ET The last, crisp backhand Novak Djokovic fired in the fifth set of the Australian Open final on Sunday forced a match-ending error by Dominic Thiem. The shot signified what could be the beginning of the final phase of a three-way race to become the greatest of all-time in the men’s game. Djokovic’s

10:46 AM ET MELBOURNE, Australia — “Time violation, Mr. Djokovic.” It was these four words that caused the first of two dramatic swings in the Australian Open men’s final on Sunday. Novak Djokovic, the man who came into the match as a seven-time winner at Melbourne Park, had taken a tight first set against fifth

7:49 AM ET Associated Press MELBOURNE, Australia — Novak Djokovic was looking weary and worn down. He trailed Dominic Thiem in the Australian Open final — miscues mounting, deficit growing. Djokovic did what he does, though. He refused to lose, waited for a chance to pounce and found his best tennis when absolutely necessary. Regaining

Feb 2, 2020 Associated Press American Rajeev Ram‘s decision to focus on doubles paid off handsomely Sunday when he teamed with Englishman Joe Salisbury to win the Australian Open men’s doubles crown. The 11th seeds were in total control from early in the opening set to beat Australian wildcard pair Max Purcell and Luke Saville

Feb 1, 2020 Associated Press Barbora Krejcikova paid an emotional tribute to a passed compatriot when she successfully defended her Australian Open mixed doubles title. Krejcikova and Nikola Mektic beat Jamie Murray and Bethanie Mattek-Sands 5-7, 6-4 (10-1) in a fluctuating final under the closed roof at Rod Laver Arena on Saturday night. The last

9:45 AM ET D’Arcy MaineESPNW Writer MELBOURNE, Australia — Sofia Kenin came to the year’s first Grand Slam as a player to watch — a rising American placed in the toughest quarter of the draw — but without many expectations. She left it the sport’s newest superstar. After an impressive run to the finals that

5:53 AM ET Associated Press MELBOURNE, Australia — This, essentially, was where Sofia Kenin was going to win or lose the Australian Open final: She was down love-40 while serving at 2-all in the third set against two-time major champion Garbine Muguruza. Kenin came through in spectacular fashion. She won the next five points, each

4:17 AM ET Brad Gilbert Close Former player-turned coach and author Brad Gilbert is an analyst on ESPN’s extensive schedule of tennis programming, including, since 2009, all four majors – the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon and US Open. He joined ESPN in 2004 and serves as a studio analyst, match analyst and sideline

9:26 AM ET Simon Cambers MELBOURNE, Australia — If Dominic Thiem goes on to win this year’s Australian Open for his first Grand Slam title, there can be no question he will have earned it. Having needed five sets to get through his second-round match against Australian Alex Bolt, the Austrian outlasted Rafael Nadal in

7:40 AM ET Associated Press MELBOURNE, Australia — Locked in an even-as-can-be Australian Open semifinal, Dominic Thiem looked up at his guest box, patted his belly and stuck out his tongue, as if to indicate he was feeling sick. He shook his head. He winced. Whatever might have been going on, Thiem turned out to

3:49 AM ET Chris Evert MELBOURNE, Australia — It’s the Australian Open women’s singles final that not many predicted going into Thursday’s semifinals — I know I had Ashleigh Barty facing off against Simona Halep — but that’s the beauty of tennis. Instead, we have Garbine Muguruza looking to add to her two Grand Slam

5:30 PM ET MELBOURNE, Australia — After 14 days of captivating tennis at Melbourne Park, Novak Djokovic and Sofia Kenin emerged as Australian Open singles champions for 2020. Djokovic’s come-from-behind five-set win over Dominic Thiem in Sunday’s final gave him an unprecedented eighth Australian Open title. Kenin, the 21-year-old American, enjoyed a fairy-tale fortnight, defeating

7:00 AM ET Simon Cambers MELBOURNE, Australia — It seems that even Roger Federer does not have an unlimited supply of miracles. Having got himself out of jail against the Australian John Millman in a final-set tiebreak in Round 3 and saved seven match points in beating Tennys Sandgren in another five-setter in the quarters,