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Australian Open: Naomi Osaka is back in a Slam's 3rd round for the 1st time in 3 years
Howard Fendrich, Associated Press | Updated Jan. 15 - 5:04 a.m. | Save Story
Naomi Osaka is back in the third round of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time since 2022 and she got there with wins at the Australian Open over two women who blocked her path last year. Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen won't be repeating her surprising run to the Australian Open final after a second-round upset loss to No. 97-ranked Laura Siegemund in his first tournament in 2025. Fifth-seeded Zheng lost last year's final to Aryna Sabalenka and went on to win the Olympic gold in Paris and finish runner-up at the WTA Finals in a breakout season. She had no answers for the 36-year-old Siegemund on Wednesday. Two-time defending champion Sabalenka won the last five games to overcome Jessica Bouzas Maneiro.
Coco Gauff is into the Australian Open's 3rd round and still unbeaten in 2025
Howard Fendrich, Associated Press | Updated Jan. 15 - 5:02 a.m. | Save Story
Coco Gauff has stretched her unbeaten start to 2025 to seven matches and 14 sets. The 2023 U.S. Open champion moved into the third round at the Australian Open with a 6-3, 7-5 victory over 173rd-ranked Jodie Burrage of Britain at Rod Laver Arena. Gauff was a semifinalist at Melbourne Park a year ago. Against Burrage, she went through a bit of a rough patch in the second set, struggling with double-faults and dropping four games in a row to go from a break up at 3-1 to a break down at 5-3. But when Burrage served for the second set, Gauff got back in control.
Australian Open 2025: How to watch on TV, betting odds and more to know
The Associated Press | Updated Jan. 15 - 2:14 a.m. | Save Story
Defending champion Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek highlight play on Rod Laver Arena on Day 5. Swiatek starts play at 11:30 a.m. local time (7:30 p.m. EST Wednesday) in a second-round match against Rebecca Sramkova. Sinner takes on Australian wild-card entry Tristan Schoolkate to open the night session at 7 p.m. (3 a.m. EST). The Sinner vs. Schoolkate match will be followed by one between No. 4 Jasmine Paolini, a finalist at Wimbledon and Roland Garros last year, against Renata Zarazúa. Taylor Fritz, last year's U.S. Open runner-up to Sinner, plays qualifier Cristian Garín of Chile at Margaret Court Arena.
Novak Djokovic breaks a tie with Roger Federer for the most Grand Slam matches in tennis history
Howard Fendrich, Associated Press | Posted Jan. 15 - 12:23 a.m. | Save Story
Novak Djokovic has added yet another record to his lengthy list of tennis accomplishments. Djokovic has broken a tie with Roger Federer for the most Grand Slam matches played in tennis history by reaching 430 on Wednesday at the Australian Open in what was a tougher-than-expected second-round victory. Djokovic improved to 379-51 for his career at major tournaments, a .881 winning percentage, by defeating 21-year-old Portuguese qualifier Jaime Faria 6-1, 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-2 in a match briefly interrupted by light rain before Rod Laver Arena's retractable roof was shut.
Sports on TV for Wednesday, Jan. 15
The Associated Press | Updated Jan. 14 - 3:20 p.m. | Save Story
(All times Eastern)
Brazil's João Fonseca is just 18 but he upset the No. 9 seed at the Australian Open
Howard Fendrich, Associated Press | Posted Jan. 14 - 6:07 a.m. | Save Story
João Fonseca has definitively introduced himself to the world as the latest teen sensation in men's tennis by upsetting No. 9 seed Andrey Rublev 7-6 (1), 6-3, 7-6 (5) in the first round of the Australian Open. The victory Tuesday night was quite a debut in the main draw of a Grand Slam tournament for the 18-year-old Fonseca. He is a Brazilian who is currently ranked 112th in the world and made it into the bracket at Melbourne Park by winning three matches in qualifying rounds last week. The victory over 10-time major quarterfinalist Rublev, who is 27, stretched Fonseca's unbeaten run to 14 matches.
Lorenzo Musetti's man bun is gone at the Australian Open, but he still manages to win by a hair
Howard Fendrich, Associated Press | Posted Jan. 14 - 5:27 a.m. | Save Story
Lorenzo Musetti's man bun is a thing of the past: The Italian tennis player showed up at the Australian Open with his famously lengthy locks sheared, and he wound up winning his first-round match by a hair. The 16th-seeded Musetti was a Wimbledon semifinalist last July and Paris Olympics bronze medalist last August. He needed 4 hours, 6 minutes on Tuesday to get past countryman Matteo Arnaldi 7-6 (4), 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-3 at Melbourne Park. Gone were the strands that dangled nearly to Musetti's shoulders under a backward white hat at the All England Club and, as recently as late November, at the Davis Cup Finals, which Italy won. Gone was the top knot the 22-year-old Musetti featured at the Summer Games.
Monfils outduels fellow Frenchman in an Australian Open 1st-round match for the ages
The Associated Press | Updated Jan. 14 - 1:47 a.m. | Save Story
The 38-year-old Gael Monfils has held off fellow Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in five sets to advance to the second round of the Australian Open. Much was made of the aging entertainer's match against the up-and-coming 21-year-old with the booming serve and the bright future in tennis. Monfils wasted match points in the third set and again on Mpetshi Perricard's serve in the fifth before finally clinching the win. Monfils warmed up for the year's first major by winning a title in New Zealand last weekend. Earlier, No. 8 Emma Navarro needed 3 hours and 20 minutes to edge Peyton Stearns 6-7 (5), 7-6 (5), 7-5 in an all-American women's first-round contest.
Daniil Medvedev destroys a TV camera attached to the net during his 5-set Australian Open win
Howard Fendrich, Associated Press | Updated Jan. 14 - 1:12 a.m. | Save Story
Daniil Medvedev has used his racket to smash a tiny camera attached to the net at the Australian Open while he was trailing in his first-round match in the main stadium. The No. 5-seeded Medvedev eventually rallied to beat his 418th-ranked opponent in five sets. Medvedev won the 2021 U.S. Open and is a three-time runner-up at Melbourne Park, including a year ago. He was not playing his best against Kasidit Samrej, a wild-card entry from Thailand who was making his Grand Slam debut. The camera-destroying racket swings happened in what would be the last game of the third set, which Samrej claimed to take a two-sets-to-one-lead. But Medvedev won 12 of the last 15 games.
Jenson Brooksby returns to pro tennis at the Australian Open after 2 eventful years away
Howard Fendrich, Associated Press | Posted Jan. 13 - 11:37 p.m. | Save Story
American tennis player Jenson Brooksby has made his return to professional tennis after an eventful two years away. His first match since January 2023 came at the Australian Open on Tuesday and he did not exactly get to ease his way back into action. Brooksby's first-round opponent was No. 4 seed Taylor Fritz, who was the runner-up at last year's U.S. Open and ATP Finals. Fritz won 6-2, 6-0, 6-3 at John Cain Arena. Brooksby missed time because of two wrist operations and a suspension for missing doping tests. He spoke to the AP last month about being diagnosed as autistic as a child.
Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray chatted mid-match thanks to the new Australian Open coaches' box
Howard Fendrich, Associated Press | Posted Jan. 13 - 9:20 p.m. | Save Story
Novak Djokovic and his new coach, Andy Murray, are taking advantage of a new setup at the Australian Open that gives players' entourages a chance to sit right next to the court in special four-seat pods. It allows for easier interaction between a player and a coach during a match. Djokovic and Murray made their debut as a partnership during a first-round victory in Rod Laver Arena on Monday night. Tennis is now allowing coaching in all matches after trying to prevent it for years. Having the coaches right near the court is something new this year at Melbourne Park.
Sports on TV for Tuesday, Jan. 14
The Associated Press | Updated Jan. 13 - 11:32 a.m. | Save Story
(All times Eastern)
Naomi Osaka says she sent someone to grab her daughter's birth certificate from her LA home
Howard Fendrich, Associated Press | Updated Jan. 13 - 8:00 a.m. | Save Story
at the Australian Open, she needed to send someone to retrieve her 1 1/2-year-old daughter's birth certificate from their California home in case it got caught up in the wildfires ravaging the greater Los Angeles area. After a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 victory against Caroline Garcia of France in the first round at Melbourne Park on Monday night, Osaka said during an on-court interview at Rod Laver Arena that she had learned that there was a fire burning three blocks from her house. Osaka said she figured it would be a good idea to keep the birth certificate safe. Her daughter, Shai, was born in July 2023 and has traveled with Osaka on the tennis tour.
Australian Open: Novak Djokovic and new coach Andy Murray get a win against US teen in debut
Howard Fendrich, Associated Press | Updated Jan. 13 - 7:15 a.m. | Save Story
Novak Djokovic's first match with former rival Andy Murray as his coach turned into a first-round victory at the Australian Open. That is after things did not start all that well, even against a 19-year-old making his Grand Slam debut. Eventually, Djokovic asserted himself for a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 win against Nishesh Basavareddy, an American who left Stanford University and turned pro last month. That got Djokovic started in his bid for an 11th championship at Melbourne Park and a record 25th major title overall. Djokovic says it was "a little bit of a strange experience" to have Murray in his box but that "he gave me some great advice mid-match."
Nick Kyrgios says his Australian Open loss might have been his last singles match in Melbourne
Howard Fendrich, Associated Press | Posted Jan. 13 - 6:26 a.m. | Save Story
Nick Kyrgios has lost 7-6 (3), 6-3, 7-6 (2) to unseeded Jacob Fearnley in the first round of the Australian Open. Kyrgios said afterward that Monday night's contest probably was the last Australian Open singles match of his career. Kyrgios delivered the occasional ace and his favorite sort of trick shots, delighting a home crowd as he usually does. But his much-anticipated return to Melbourne Park after two seasons filled with injuries and surgeries did not last long or go particularly well. Kyrgios was hampered by a strained abdominal muscle and hit fewer aces and slower serves than Fearnley.
Frances Tiafoe picks up a tough victory after throwing up at the Australian Open
The Associated Press | Posted Jan. 13 - 4:19 a.m. | Save Story
Frances Tiafoe has thrown up during a first-round match at the Australian Open along the way to a five-set victory. He said afterward he might have quit if this had been just a run-of-the-mill tournament. The 17th-seeded Tiafoe, who turns 27 in a week, managed to win the topsy-turvy match against Arthur Rinderknech of France 7-6 (2), 6-3, 4-6, 6-7 (4), 6-3 in 4 hours, 8 minutes on Monday. His Grand Slam breakthrough came at Melbourne Park in 2019, when he made it to the quarterfinals before losing to Rafael Nadal. Since then, Tiafoe has taken more steps forward, including making it all the way to the semifinals at the U.S. Open in 2022 and 2024.
Jannik Sinner starts his Australian Open title defense with a straight set win
The Associated Press | Updated Jan. 13 - 1:24 a.m. | Save Story
Jannik Sinner has started his Australian Open title defense with a challenging win over No. 35-ranked Nicolas Jarry. The 23-year-old Italian had plenty of support in the crowd at Rod Laver Arena in two tough early sets before extending his winning streak to 15 matches. Top-ranked Sinner entered his first Grand Slam title defense with attention from last year's doping case on his mind. Third-seeded Coco Gauff opened her Australian Open with a 6-3, 6-3 win over 2020 champion Sofia Kenin. Gauff won the title at the WTA Finals last November and started this season by helping the U.S. to victory at the United Cup in Sydney.
Alex Michelsen upsets Tsitsipas at the Australian Open and thanks his Mom
The Associated Press | Updated Jan. 12 - 10:47 p.m. | Save Story
Alex Michelsen produced the biggest win so far of his fledgling career to upset 2023 runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas in the first round of the Australian Open and the first person he credited was his mom. The 20-year-old American overcame some nerves on his serve before closing out the match in four sets. His mother practiced most days with him as a child and Michelsen says "no chance I'd be here without her." It was his first win ever against a player ranked in the top 20 at a Grand Slam. Tsitsipas is a 26-year-old from Greece who has a career-high ranking of No. 3 and who has contested two Grand Slam finals.
Australian Open: Olympic champ Zheng Qinwen starts her bid for another final on a rainy Day 1
Howard Fendrich, Associated Press | Updated Jan. 12 - 3:55 p.m. | Save Story
Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen made the most of the indoor conditions under a roof at Rod Laver Arena to advance to the second round of the Australian Open in straight sets while it poured with rain outside. In her first match on Melbourne Park's main court since her loss in last year's final to Aryna Sabalekna, Zheng advanced 7-6 (3), 6-1 over 20-year-old qualifier Anca Todoni. They had just finished the pre-match formalities when play was delayed by a few minutes so that the roof could be closed. It was one of the matches that continued under cover when tournament organizers suspended play on all outside courts until later in the afternoon.
Hady Habib becomes the first man representing Lebanon to win a Grand Slam singles match
Howard Fendrich, Associated Press | Updated Jan. 12 - 5:19 a.m. | Save Story
Hady Habib's history-making run at the Australian Open will continue. The first man to represent Lebanon in a Grand Slam singles tournament became the first to win a match by defeating Bu Yunchaokete of China 7-6 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (6) on Sunday. The 26-year-old Habib won three matches in qualifying rounds just to get into the field of 128 players. Now he'll be one of the 64 to make it into the second round after his victory on Day 1 at Melbourne Park. Habib, who is ranked outside the top 200, was born in Houston, Texas; his father is Lebanese. Habib went to Texas A&M University. He represented Lebanon at the Paris Olympics last year.
Aryna Sabalenka beats Sloane Stephens to begin her bid for a third Australian Open title
The Associated Press | Posted Jan. 12 - 2:45 a.m. | Save Story
Aryna Sabalenka has started her bid to become the first woman in a quarter-century to win three consecutive Australian Open titles with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over 2017 U.S. Open champion Sloane Stephens. Sabalenka's first-round victory on Sunday night lasted just 71 minutes. Sabalenka is seeded No. 1 at a Grand Slam tournament for the first time and while she was not perfect against Stephens, she was plenty good. As big a server as there is in women's tennis, Sabalenka did not hit her first ace until the match's 15th game and finished with only two.
Australian Open 2025: How to watch on TV, betting odds and more to know
The Associated Press | Posted Jan. 12 - 1:25 a.m. | Save Story
Coco Gauff, Nick Kyrgios, Novak Djokovic, Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek are among the big names scheduled to be in action on Day 2 of the Australian Open. Gauff, the 2023 U.S. Open champion, is scheduled to face Sofia Kenin, the 2020 Australian Open champion, in the opening match on Rod Laver Arena. That will be followed by defending champion Sinner against Nicolas Jarry. Djokovic's bid for a 25th Grand Slam title starts with a night match against 19-year-old American Nishesh Basavareddy. Kyrgios was the 2022 Wimbledon runner-up and played just one match in 2023 and 2024 because of injuries. He is scheduled to play Jacob Fearnley at night.
Croatian tennis player Donna Vekic sends a message of love to LA because of the wildfires
The Associated Press | Posted Jan. 12 - 12:42 a.m. | Save Story
Australian Open tennis player Donna Vekic has sent a message of support to her coach, Pam Shriver, and others in the greater Los Angeles area dealing with the wildfires ravaging the city. Vekic drew a heart and wrote "LA" in blue ink on a courtside TV camera after a victory on Sunday. Vekic reached Wimbledon's semifinals last July and won a silver medal at the Paris Olympics for Croatia last August. She defeated Diane Parry of France 6-4, 6-4 in the first round of this season's first Grand Slam tournament. Vekic trained with Shriver in Los Angeles during her sport's just-concluded preseason.
Nishikori saves 2 match points to advance in his Australian Open comeback
The Associated Press | Posted Jan. 12 - 12:33 a.m. | Save Story
Kei Nishikori saved two match points against Thiago Monteiro and ensured his Australian Open comeback advanced to the second round. The 2014 U.S. Open runner-up fended off both match points and held in the 10th game of the third set before he rallied for a 4-6, 6-7 (4), 7-5, 6-2, 6-3 win in just over four hours. The 35-year-old Japanese star improved to 29-8 in five-setters, including 8-1 at the Australian Open. He says he's feeling positive about his next round "I'm feeling so good," he says, "why not?"
Novak Djokovic stands alone at the Australian Open now that Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer retired
Howard Fendrich, Associated Press | Posted Jan. 11 - 8:30 p.m. | Save Story
and the first major championship to be held since Nadal played his final match in November. Federer retired in 2022.
Australian Open 2025: Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have a real rivalry atop men's tennis
Howard Fendrich, Associated Press | Updated Jan. 11 - 12:06 a.m. | Save Story
When Carlos Alcaraz is on court for a training session, perhaps working on his newly revamped service motion, he's doing so to buttress a game already good enough to claim four Grand Slam titles. He's also got his young rival, Jannik Sinner, in mind. No. 1 Sinner and No. 3 Alcaraz are setting themselves up at the top of men's tennis as the 2025 Slam season is set to start Sunday (Saturday EST) at the Australian Open. Sinner is the defending champion at Melbourne Park and is coming off a season with two major trophies. Alcaraz won the other two men's Slam events in 2024.
Australian Open 2025: How to watch on TV, betting odds and more to know
The Associated Press | Updated Jan. 10 - 11:33 p.m. | Save Story
Play in the year's first Grand Slam tennis tournament is scheduled to begin at the Australian Open on Sunday local time (Saturday EST) and will run for 15 days. The defending champions at the hard-court tournament are Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner. They are both ranked No. 1 and are the betting favorites at Melbourne Park this year. Sabalenka will be in action during the night session on Day 1 in Rod Laver Arena against 2017 U.S. Open champion Sloane Stephens. The 2025 women's and men's singles champions each will earn about $2.15 million. This is the first Grand Slam tournament since Rafael Nadal's retirement.
Elena Rybakina disagrees with the WTA's provisional suspension of coach Stefano Vukov
The Associated Press | Posted Jan. 10 - 11:01 p.m. | Save Story
Elena Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, says she disagrees with the WTA Tour's decision to provisionally suspend her longtime coach, Stefano Vukov, and reiterated that she never made a complaint about him. Rybakina was asked about her coaching situation Saturday at a news conference the day before the start of the Australian Open. She was the runner-up to Aryna Sabalenka two years ago at Melbourne Park and is seeded No. 6 this time. Rybakina announced right before last year's U.S. Open that she no longer was working with Vukov, then said ahead of this season that her new coach would be Goran Ivanisevic. Rybakina said this month Vukov would be rejoining her team.
French veteran Gael Monfils becomes the oldest player to win an ATP Tour singles title
The Associated Press | Posted Jan. 10 - 8:58 p.m. | Save Story
French veteran Gael Monfils has become the oldest player to win an ATP Tour title after beating Zizou Bergs 6-3, 6-4 in Auckland. Monfils claimed his 13th tour title 20 years after his first and the age of 38 years, 132 days. He takes over from Roger Federer who was 38 years, 74 days old when he won the final tour title of his career, the Swiss Indoor title at Basel in 2019.
Tennis star Jannik Sinner gets April date at sports court for appeal hearing in doping case
The Associated Press | Updated Jan. 10 - 8:47 a.m. | Save Story
Top-ranked tennis player Jannik Sinner will go to sport's highest court in April for the World Anti-Doping Agency's appeal that seeks to ban him from the sport for at least one year. The Court of Arbitration for Sport says it scheduled a closed-doors hearing on April 16-17 at its headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland. WADA is challenging a decision last year by the International Tennis Integrity Agency not to suspend Sinner for what it judged was accidental contamination by a banned anabolic steroid last March. Sinner won the U.S. Open in September after details of his case were revealed.
Novak Djokovic declines to address a past interview about getting sick in Australia in 2022
The Associated Press | Posted Jan. 10 - 2:37 a.m. | Save Story
Novak Djokovic has declined to address a past statement about getting sick in Australia in 2022. The 10-time Australian Open champion said at a news conference Friday that he didn't want to rehash what he describes as a months-old interview with GQ magazine in which he said he had high levels of metal in his blood from food he was served while detained before being deported from Melbourne three years ago. The Australian Open starts Sunday (Saturday EST) at Melbourne Park, where Djokovic is bidding to become the first player in tennis history with 25 Grand Slam singles titles.
Iga Swiatek and Jannik Sinner discuss their doping cases ahead of the Australian Open
Howard Fendrich, Associated Press | Posted Jan. 10 - 2:17 a.m. | Save Story
after a doping case she describes as probably the worst time in her life. Jannik Sinner, another player who spent time at No. 1 and tested positive in 2024, said Friday he hasn't been told when the World Anti-Doping Agency's appeal of his exoneration will be heard in court. He is the defending champion at the Australian Open, where play begins Sunday (Saturday EST).
Veteran Gael Monfils reaches his 35th ATP final in Auckland aged 38
The Associated Press | Updated Jan. 10 - 1:15 a.m. | Save Story
Gael Monfils has become the second-oldest player since 1990 to reach a final on the men's elite tennis tour. The veteran Frenchman beat American Nishesh Basavareddy 7-6 (5), 6-4 in the semifinals at Auckland on Friday. Monfils did so at the age of 38 years, 131 days. Ivo Karlovic holds the ATP Tour record having won through to final in Pune, India in 2019 at the age of 39 years, 311 days. Monfils edges out Stan Wawrinka who was aged 38 years and 124 days when he reached the final at Umag, Croatia in 2023.
Imagine if Messi coached Ronaldo: Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray team up at the Australian Open
Howard Fendrich, Associated Press | Posted Jan. 10 - 1:14 a.m. | Save Story
until now. That's because Djokovic got the bright idea to hire the recently retired Murray as his coach, at least through the Australian Open that begins Sunday (Saturday EST). It's an unusual pairing that caught their sport by surprise in November, after Djokovic called up Murray to check on the possibility of teaming up.
Australian Open 2025: Nick Kyrgios aims to return to Grand Slam play after more than 2 years away
Howard Fendrich, Associated Press | Updated Jan. 10 - 12:37 a.m. | Save Story
Nick Kyrgios says he is good for tennis and the sport will get a boost from his return to Grand Slam action at the Australian Open. The 2022 Wimbledon runner-up indicated Friday he thinks he'll be able to compete at the year's first major tournament despite a recent issue with an abdominal muscle. Play begins Sunday (Saturday EST). Kyrgios is sure to be among the players garnering the most attention from spectators, media and other athletes, assuming, that is, he is fit enough. He played a total of one singles match across 2023 and 2024 combined while dealing with knee and wrist problems.
History made: Habib is 1st Lebanese player in Open era to play in a Grand Slam men's singles draw
The Associated Press | Updated Jan. 9 - 7:20 p.m. | Save Story
Hady Habib isn't likely to find anything too daunting at the Australian Open now that he's become the first Lebanese player in the Open era to reach a Grand Slam men's singles draw. He advanced through three rounds of the qualifying at Melbourne Park, winning his third match in a tiebreaker 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (8) over Clement Chidekh of France on Thursday to secure a place in the main draw of the tournament that starts Sunday. It continues a rapid rise for Habib, who made his Olympic debut last year in Paris, running into eventual silver medalist Carlos Alcaraz, a four-time major winner, in the first round.
Coco Gauff has worked on her serve and her forehand heading into the 2025 Australian Open
Howard Fendrich, Associated Press | Posted Jan. 9 - 6:13 p.m. | Save Story
Coco Gauff has made improvements to her serving and her forehand. And the strides in both of those areas are among the reasons she's considered one of the few women ready to challenge two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka for the title at the Australian Open. Gauff is seeded third at Melbourne Park. The year's first Grand Slam tournament begins Sunday (Saturday EST). Gauff won the 2023 U.S. Open as a teenager and wants to add to her trophy cabinet. She came close in Australia a year ago, making it to the semifinals before losing to Sabalenka. Gauff faces 2020 Australian Open champ Sofia Kenin in the first round.
Australian Open 2025: Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff lead the women's field
Howard Fendrich, Associated Press | Posted Jan. 9 - 12:27 a.m. | Save Story
Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff lead the women's field at the 2025 Australian Open. The year's first Grand Slam tournament begins on the hard courts of Melbourne Park on Sunday morning local time, which is Saturday night in the United States. The favorite is Sabalenka. She is ranked No. 1 and won the past two championships in Australia. Swiatek is coming off a one-month doping suspension and is a five-time major title winner who is ranked No. 2. Gauff's first major trophy came at the 2023 U.S. Open. She lost to Sabalenka in the 2024 Australian Open semifinals.
Sinner, Djokovic in opposite halves at the Australian Open, Sabalenka vs Stephens in 1st round
The Associated Press | Updated Jan. 8 - 11:55 p.m. | Save Story
Defending champion Jannik Sinner and 10-time Australian Open winner Novak Djokovic have landed in opposite sides of the draw for the season's first major, ruling out a replay of last year's semifinal encounter. Sinner upset Djokovic in the semifinals in Melbourne last year before coming back to beat Daniil Medvedev in the final for his first Grand Slam singles title. Aryna Sabalenka will be attempting to win a third consecutive women's singles title at Melbourne Park, something last accomplished by Martina Hingis from 1997 to 1999. Sabalenka drew a tough opening match against 2017 U.S. Open champion Sloane Stephens.
Australian Open 2025: Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic lead the men's field
Howard Fendrich, Associated Press | Posted Jan. 8 - 11:53 p.m. | Save Story
Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic lead the men's field at the 2025 Australian Open. The year's first Grand Slam tournament begins on the hard courts of Melbourne Park on Sunday morning local time, which is Saturday night in the United States. The No. 1-ranked Sinner won his first Grand Slam title last year in Australia. The Italian was cleared in a doping case in August, but the World Anti-Doping Agency appealed his exoneration. Alcaraz is a four-time major champion who is trying to complete a career Grand Slam at age 21. Djokovic has won 10 of his 24 major titles in Australia.
Australian Open 2025: How to watch on TV, betting odds and more to know
The Associated Press | Posted Jan. 8 - 11:04 p.m. | Save Story
Play in the year's first Grand Slam tennis tournament is scheduled to begin at the Australian Open on Sunday local time and will run for 15 days. The draw to set the brackets for the singles fields was held on Thursday in Melbourne. The defending champions at the hard-court tournament are Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner. They are both ranked No. 1 and are the betting favorites at Melbourne Park this year. The 2025 women's and men's singles champions each will earn about $2.15 million. This is the first Grand Slam tournament to be held since Rafael Nadal's retirement.
Australian Open 2025: There really isn't much time off in the offseason for tennis players
Howard Fendrich, Associated Press | Posted Jan. 8 - 6:43 a.m. | Save Story
If it seems as though the 2025 professional tennis year started pretty much immediately right after 2024 ended, that's because that's exactly what happens in a sport where the offseason really does not leave players much time to be "off." For tennis, 2025 began while the calendar still read 2024. Count 2023 U.S. Open champion Coco Gauff among those who wish there were more time for rest and relaxation, practice and preparation, before the Australian Open. The year's first Grand Slam tournament starts this weekend. Gauff got ready for that by winning the United Cup, a 2025 event that began in December.
Nick Kyrgios' return to Grand Slam tennis hits an injury setback ahead of the Australian Open
The Associated Press | Updated Jan. 8 - 5:38 a.m. | Save Story
Nick Kyrgios faces another injury setback in his planned return to Grand Slam tennis at the Australian Open after an abdominal strain forced him to withdraw from an exhibition with Novak Djokovic this week. The 2022 Wimbledon finalist, sidelined with wrist and knee injuries since the 2022 U.S. Open, said in an Instagram post Wednesday that an ultrasound scan revealed an abdominal strain and "unfortunately (I) won't be able to play my good friend (Djokovic) this Thursday." The 29-year-old Australian has signaled the injury is "not too serious" but told Australia's 7News it would limit his preparations for the Australian Open, which starts Sunday at Melbourne Park.
Sports on TV for Wednesday, Jan. 8
The Associated Press | Posted Jan. 7 - 8:10 a.m. | Save Story
(All times Eastern)
Australian Open 2025: How to watch on TV, betting odds and more to know
The Associated Press | Posted Jan. 7 - 6:35 a.m. | Save Story
Play in the year's first Grand Slam tennis tournament is scheduled to begin at the Australian Open on Sunday. The draw to set the brackets for the singles fields will be held on Thursday in Melbourne and the hard-court tournament at Melbourne Park lasts 15 days. The defending champions are Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner. They are both ranked No. 1 and are the betting favorites at Melbourne Park this year. The 2025 women's and men's singles champions each will earn about $2.15 million. This is the first Grand Slam tournament to be held since Rafael Nadal's retirement.
French Open organizers introduce draw to access ticket sales
The Associated Press | Updated Jan. 7 - 3:13 a.m. | Save Story
French Open organizers are introducing a draw system to access ticket sales for the clay-court Grand Slam tournament. The French tennis federation says the trial of the random draw for the general public should help reduce waiting times, ensure a fairer access to seats and combat fraud. Registration for the draw will run from Jan. 27 to Feb. 9. Being selected in the draw will guarantee access to ticket sales, but not necessarily the right to receive tickets for a specific day or court.
Cameron Norrie accidentally hits spectator with thrown racket at Auckland ATP event
The Associated Press | Updated Jan. 6 - 11:39 p.m. | Save Story
British tennis star Cameron Norrie has apologized and avoided disqualification after a racket he tossed in the air struck a spectator at the ATP Tour tournament in Auckland. Auckland-born Norrie was facing match point against Facundo Diaz Acosta of Argentina when he lightly tossed his racket into the air. The racket struck a woman in a court-side box who was unhurt. Norrie went on to lose 6-2, 6-3 in the first round of the tournament.
Novak Djokovic says he still feels 'trauma' when he travels to Australia because of his deportation
Howard Fendrich, Associated Press | Updated Jan. 6 - 2:22 p.m. | Save Story
Novak Djokovic says he still feels a bit of trauma when he travels to Australia. He says that stems from his deportation from the country in 2022 because he was not vaccinated against COVID-19. Djokovic says in an interview with Melbourne's Herald Sun newspaper published Monday that he worries that maybe he will be detained when he arrives in Australia. Play in the Australian Open begins at Melbourne Park on Sunday, which is Saturday in the United States. Djokovic has won 10 of his 24 Grand Slam titles at the Australian Open. That includes in 2023. He lost to Jannik Sinner in the semifinals a year ago.
Sports on TV for Tuesday, Jan. 7
The Associated Press | Updated Jan. 6 - 12:55 p.m. | Save Story
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Tennis star Naomi Osaka says she and rapper Cordae are no longer in a relationship
The Associated Press | Posted Jan. 6 - 11:14 a.m. | Save Story
Four-time Grand Slam tennis champion Naomi Osaka says she and her partner, rapper Cordae, are no longer in a relationship. Osaka posted the news on social media Monday, less than a week before the Australian Open begins. Osaka won that event in 2019 and 2021. She also owns two titles from the U.S Open. Osaka and Cordae became parents to a daughter in Los Angeles in July 2023. Osaka returned to the tour at last year's Australian Open after about 15 months off. Osaka reached the final of a tournament in Auckland, New Zealand, last week but she stopped playing because of an injury.
Gauff beats Swiatek again as US wins United Cup for 2nd time in 3 years
The Associated Press | Posted Jan. 5 - 5:46 p.m. | Save Story
Coco Gauff overcame second-ranked Iga Swiatek 6-4, 6-4 in the opening singles of the United Cup mixed teams tennis event and the United States went on to win the final by beating Poland 2-0. Taylor Fritz beat Hubert Hurkacz 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (4) at the Ken Rosewall Arena as the Americans secured their second United Cup title in three years. The third-ranked Gauff says it's "the only team event I've ever won, so I'm super excited." Poland was runner-up for the second straight year after losing the previous edition to Germany.
Injury scare for Naomi Osaka ahead of Australian Open
The Associated Press | Updated Jan. 5 - 1:15 a.m. | Save Story
Naomi Osaka's fitness for the Australian Open is in question after the four-time Grand Slam champion and former No. 1 suffered an apparent abdominal injury while playing the final of a WTA tournament in Auckland. Osaka had won the first set of the final 6-4 against Denmark's Clara Tauson when she spoke to her coach Patrick Mouratoglou, the chair umpire and a tour trainer before deciding to withdraw. The nature of her injury wasn't immediately clear.
Rybakina defends former coach Vukov after he's suspended by WTA
The Associated Press | Posted Jan. 4 - 3:02 p.m. | Save Story
Sixth-ranked Elena Rybakina has defended her former coach Stefano Vukov after he was provisionally suspended by the WTA. The governing body is investigating a potential breach of its code of conduct. Rybakina said this week that Vukov is rejoining her team but the WTA suspension means the Croat won't be accredited to enter player-only areas including practice courts and training areas. The 2022 Wimbledon champion says on Saturday in Sydney that Vukov "never mistreated me" in their years working together. The WTA has confirmed that Vukov "is currently under a provisional suspension pending an independent investigation into a potential breach of the WTA code of conduct."
Grigor Dimitrov retires with groin injury during Brisbane International semifinal
The Associated Press | Posted Jan. 4 - 1:31 a.m. | Save Story
Defending Brisbane International champion Grigor Dimitrov has retired from his semifinal match to give Jiri Lehecka a shot at a second Australian title. Trailing 6-4, 4-4, world No. 10 Dimitrov received treatment on his groin and hip region at Pat Rafter Arena. He went off court and then attempted to play on before retiring Saturday to send the 23-year-old Lehecka into his fourth ATP final. Lehecka won last year's Adelaide International title, his first ATP singles tournament win. Dimitrov, a former world No. 3, has one week to recover before the Australian Open, which begins Jan. 12 in Melbourne.
Novak Djokovic beaten by big-serving Reilly Opelka in quarterfinals of Brisbane International
The Associated Press | Updated Jan. 3 - 4:05 p.m. | Save Story
Novak Djokovic was beaten 7-6 (6), 6-3 by big-serving Reilly Opelka in the Brisbane International quarterfinals. Opelka served 16 aces including one to finish off each set and earned one of the biggest wins of the American's career. The 37-year-old Djokovic was playing his first tournament of the year. The 24-time Grand Slam champion is preparing for the Australian Open which starts on Jan. 12. New coach Andy Murray will join Djokovic in Melbourne. Opelka will face Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in the semifinals. The other semifinal will feature Jiri Lehecka against Grigor Dimitrov.
Muchova turns on the style during win over Paolini to help Czechs into semis vs. US at United Cup
The Associated Press | Posted Jan. 3 - 3:32 a.m. | Save Story
Karolina Muchova turned on the style during a 6-2, 6-2 victory over fourth-ranked Jasmine Paolini at the United Cup to help the Czech Republic secure a win over Italy and a semifinal spot against the United States. Muchova produced a "tweener" shot between her legs during a memorable exchange in the first set. Muchova improved to 5-0 in her career against Paolini. The Italian was a finalist at the French Open and Wimbledon last year. Tomas Machac then beat Flavio Cobolli 6-1, 6-2. Muchova and Machac will next face Americans Coco Gauff and Taylor Fritz. Iga Swiatek's Poland plays Kazakhstan in Saturday's other semifinal of the mixed team event.
Sports on TV for Friday, Jan. 3
The Associated Press | Updated Jan. 2 - 3:00 p.m. | Save Story
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Sports on TV for Thursday, Jan. 2
The Associated Press | Updated Jan. 1 - 8:00 p.m. | Save Story
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Gauff and Fritz put US in United Cup semifinals. Kazakhstan beats Germany to advance
The Associated Press | Updated Jan. 1 - 1:50 p.m. | Save Story
Coco Gauff and Taylor Fritz have powered the U.S. into the semifinals of the United Cup mixed teams tennis event. Gauff got the ball rolling for her team with a gritty 7-6, 6-2 win over China's Zhang Shuai in Perth, Australia. Fritz then made sure of victory by edging Zhang Zhizhen 6-4, 6-4. The U.S. also won the mixed doubles encounter. Kazakhstan advanced to the semifinals with a 2-1 win over a Germany team playing without the injured world No. 2-ranked Alexander Zverev who was a late scratch due to a biceps injury.
