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☆ Novak Djokovic, Iga Swiatek open Australian Open as big favorites
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

January 15 - Novak Djokovic and Iga Swiatek are massive favorites to win their respective draws ahead of the start of the Australian Open on Sunday night. Djokovic makes his return to Melbourne after being deported ahead of last year's tournament because he was not vaccinated against COVID-19. He is seeking a 10th Australian Open title, which would also pull him into a tie with Rafael Nadal for the most major titles of all time with 22. Fritz, 25, is seeking his first major title and faces a potential semifinal match against Djokovic if he can get that far. Ons Jabeur was turned back in the finals at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open last year.

☆ Nadal launches title defence as Australian Open ushers in new era
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-15 | by ( Ian Ransom | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

MELBOURNE, Jan 15 (Reuters) - Rafa Nadal will kick off his Australian Open title defence on Monday with a first round test against rising Briton Jack Draper as a new era begins on the blue hardcourts of Melbourne Park. The top seed has had only one win since September's U.S. Open and admitted his title defence was vulnerable to an early shock after two straight defeats in the lead-up. The reigning French and U.S. Open champion opens her campaign against Jule Niemeier in the first evening match at Rod Laver Arena, the German who gave Swiatek a huge scare in the U.S. Open fourth round. With American tennis looking for a new champion in the post-Serena era, Coco Gauff will open the day session at Rod Laver Arena against Czech Katerina Siniakova. Medvedev, the men's seventh seed, will return to the scene of last year's final heartbreak when he faces unseeded American Marcos Giron in the late match at Rod Laver Arena.

☆ Nadal shrugs off rocky buildup to Australian Open defence
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-14 | by ( Ian Ransom | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MELBOURNE, Jan 14 (Reuters) - An upbeat Rafa Nadal has shrugged off his warm-up defeats ahead of the Australian Open as "just part of the business" and declared himself in a happy place ahead of his title defence. Nadal heads into a first-round match against rising Briton Jack Draper undercooked and with only one win since September's U.S. Open. Nadal arrived at Melbourne Park last year in a funk after a serious foot injury but ended up winning his second Australian Open crown by beating Russian Daniil Medvedev in a classic final. Last year's French Open winner, Nadal won two of the four Grand Slams, with fellow great Novak Djokovic winning Wimbledon. World number one Carlos Alcaraz, who is not playing at the Australian Open due to injury, was the only player to break the Nadal-Djokovic duopoly by claiming the U.S. Open.

☆ Djokovic says deportation drama paved way to success
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-14 | by ( Ian Ransom | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

MELBOURNE, Jan 14 (Reuters) - Novak Djokovic said his controversial deportation ahead of last year's Australian Open proved an unlikely catalyst for success in 2022, allowing him to regroup on the practice court before bouncing back with key titles. Back at Melbourne Park after his visa ban was lifted by the Australian government, Djokovic said missing events due to his vaccination stance had renewed his determination on the training court. I mean, you normally, as a professional tennis player on the highest level, don't have much time to really have a longer training block," Djokovic told reporters on Saturday. Djokovic told local broadcaster Nine Network that he felt like "the villain of the world" last year in Melbourne where he was detained at a hotel with asylum-seekers before being deported. Djokovic, who will bid for a record-extending 10th Australian Open crown, said he had no choice but to move on from the events of last year.

☆ Kyrgios braces for pressure as home favourite at Australian Open
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-14 | by ( Ian Ransom | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MELBOURNE, Jan 14 (Reuters) - With Ash Barty enjoying a comfortable retirement, Nick Kyrgios will be far and away the top drawcard for home fans at the Australian Open, feeling both privilege and pressure to meet expectations after his best season in 2022. "I walked in here at the Australian Open maybe eight, nine years ago as a wild card. 'How are you feeling about Australian Open? Though having not completed a tour match since October, Kyrgios has still managed to hog the limelight in the leadup to Melbourne Park. But the pair have become much closer since Kyrgios defended Djokovic during his deportation ordeal in the run-up to last year's Australian Open.

☆ Djokovic even hungrier to win Australian Open now - Becker
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BERLIN, Jan 13 (Reuters) - Novak Djokovic is even hungrier to win a 10th Australian Open title this year following his deportation from Australia 12 months ago due to his unvaccinated COVID-19 status, former world number one Boris Becker said on Friday. "When you have tasted gold then you are not satisfied with silver," Becker, who also coached Djokovic between 2013-16, said. Having arrived in Australia unvaccinated 12 months ago, the nine-times Melbourne champion was deported amid a backlash from angry Australians who had endured some of the world's toughest lockdown measures. "His disappointment a year ago was huge and that will make him even better this season at the Australian Open." He managed to watch tennis while in prison.

☆ Djokovic seeks normal service at Australian Open to match Nadal
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( Shrivathsa Sridhar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Jan 12, 2023; Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Novak Djokovic of Serbia hits a backhand during a practice session on Rod Laver Arena with his coach Goran Ivanisevic at Melbourne Park. Mandatory Credit: Mike Frey-USA TODAY SportsMELBOURNE, Jan 13 (Reuters) - Novak Djokovic resumes his Grand Slam title race with Rafa Nadal next week at the Australian Open, returning to what was his happiest hunting ground before the ugly controversy which led to his absence last year. While Roland Garros has been Nadal's domain for nearly two decades, Melbourne Park is almost as much for Djokovic, with the world number five capturing nine titles and holding an 82-6 record since 2007. Djokovic has also proven to be unbeatable in Australian Open semi-finals and finals with 9-0 records in both, making him the automatic favourite anytime he enjoys a deep run. The injury withdrawal of world number one and U.S. Open champion Carlos Alcaraz robbed the year's first Grand Slam of a genuine title contender.

☆ Swiatek the favourite as Melbourne Park set for new champion
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

MELBOURNE, Jan 13 (Reuters) - Iga Swiatek is the strong favourite to land her fourth Grand Slam title at the Australian Open, but the picture is considerably less clear if the world number one fails to live up to her top seeding. DIFFERENT PROPOSITIONSwiatek was thrashed 6-4 6-1 by Danielle Collins at Melbourne Park last year in her first hardcourt Grand Slam semi-final, and the American looms this year in the last 16 if the seedings hold. Charismatic American teenager Coco Gauff would be a popular champion, not least in the Australian Open marketing department. Last year's French Open finalist is in form, having opened the season with the title at the Auckland Open. Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina's big serve gives her a chance of a second Grand Slam title, while world number four Caroline Garcia is enjoying a late-career renaissance and won the WTA Finals on hardcourt last year.

☆ ITF ends Davis Cup partnership with Pique's Kosmos investment group
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Jan 12 (Reuters) - The International Tennis Federation announced on Thursday that it was ending its Davis Cup partnership with Gerard Pique's investment group Kosmos. In 2018, the ITF had unveiled the 25-year, $3 billion partnership with former Barcelona soccer player Pique's investment group amid much fanfare. It said then that the package to revamp the Davis Cup competition would safeguard the future of the sport as it would "deliver long-term benefits for players, nations, fans, sponsors and broadcasters". "The ITF can confirm that its partnership with Kosmos Tennis for Davis Cup is ending in its fifth year," the ITF said in a statement. The partnership increased participation, prize money and interest in Davis Cup and produced funding to support the global development of our sport."

☆ Djokovic faces Carballes Baena, Swiatek meets Niemeier at Australian Open
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Shrivathsa Sridhar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Second seed Casper Ruud - twice a runner-up on the Grand Slam stage last year - plays Tomas Machac. A pre-tournament practice match between Nick Kyrgios and Djokovic saw tickets sold out in 58 minutes and the pair could potentially meet in a blockbuster quarter-final. Five-times runner-up Andy Murray plays Matteo Berrettini while fifth seed Andrey Rublev meets wildcard Dominic Thiem in other first-round matches. The Polish player could face seventh seed Coco Gauff in the quarter-finals and third seed Jessica Pegula in the semi-finals. Women's world number two Ons Jabeur will begin her latest attempt to become the first Arab player to claim a Grand Slam singles title when she plays Tamara Zidansek.

☆ Undercooked Nadal targets number 23 at Melbourne Park
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Nick Mulvenney | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"I need to win matches for sure, but the preparation is going quite well, practising a lot and I think I am in good shape. "But I'm confident that if I am able to have this last week of positive practices, why not?" As world number two, Nadal will be top seed on his 18th trip to the Australian Open after the injury withdrawal of his young compatriot Carlos Alcaraz. He followed that up with a 14th French Open title and could forge even further ahead of Novak Djokovic (21) and the now retired Roger Federer (20) in the Grand Slam title race with a third triumph on Melbourne's famous blue courts. Reporting by Nick Mulvenney in Sydney, editing by Bradley PerrettOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Australian Open title can be balm for Djokovic after deportation saga
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Shrivathsa Sridhar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

However, the 35-year-old said this week that the bitter saga had taken its toll. "I was really drawn into a storm in media worldwide that was related to anything to do with COVID and the vaccine," Djokovic told Channel Nine. "All of a sudden I became the villain of the world which is a terrible position to be in as an athlete. I had an amazing tournament, tremendous support - a packed house every match," Djokovic said. Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Melbourne; Editing by Simon Cameron-MooreOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ 'One of the best', Kyrgios ready for tilt at Australian Open title
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Nick Mulvenney | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Tennis great and compatriot Rod Laver said after the U.S. Open that only self-belief was preventing Kyrgios from joining the Grand Slam winners' club. "I'm definitely going to go into any tournament, the Australian Open, with confidence, and I think I've proven I can go deep at a Grand Slam. 47-YEAR DROUGHTHis best run at his home major was seven years ago when he reached the quarter-finals, with fourth-round appearances in 2018 and 2020 his other ventures into the second week of the Australian Open. Ash Barty last year rode a tidal wave of support to end the long wait for a homegrown singles champion at the Australian Open - a drought that stands at 47 years for the men's title. Unlike the now-retired three-times Grand Slam champion, Kyrgios has not always been popular with all of his compatriots as a result of his frequent clashes with officialdom and fans.

Tennis star Naomi Osaka announced her pregnancy Wednesday, explaining why she withdrew from the Australian Open a few days prior. She told fans that this year will be one "full of lessons" and that she hopes to see everyone at next year's Australian Open. 1 by the WTA, Osaka won both the Australian and U.S. opens twice from 2018 to 2021. She made headlines in May 2021 when she announced she would not compete at the French Open, citing anxiety over post-match news conferences. Despite the tumultuous year, Osaka finished the 2021 season remaining ranked No.

☆ 'Frenemies' Djokovic and Kyrgios to play practice match before Australian Open
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/3] Serbia's Novak Djokovic poses with the trophy after winning the Wimbledon men's singles final alongside runner up Australia's Nick Kyrgios, July 2022. REUTERS/Toby MelvilleJan 9 (Reuters) - Novak Djokovic and Nick Kyrgios will rekindle their bromance by playing a practice match before the Australian Open, giving the latter a chance to stretch his legs before the year's first Grand Slam. Australian Open organisers said "tennis' most famous frenemies" will play each other at Rod Laver Arena on Friday. Djokovic had said last week that he had discussed playing a practice match with Kyrgios, adding that the Australian wanted shorter sets. The pair were once at loggerheads and had a frosty relationship when Kyrgios labelled Djokovic "boneheaded" and a "tool".

☆ Kvitova takes her chances to down Rybakina in Adelaide
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

ADELAIDE, Jan 9 (Reuters) - Former Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova ousted the current holder of the All England Club title Elena Rybakina 6-3 7-5 in the opening round of the Adelaide International 2 on Monday to continue her winning start in the new season. The second set of the contest was just as tight with no break points until the 11th game when Kvitova earned two and converted the second for a 6-5 lead with a blistering forehand return. "I was trying to wait for my chance to see if I could break her," said the world number 16. The top three women in the world were all late withdrawals from the second Adelaide tournament with Pegula citing a change of schedule and Iga Swiatek (shoulder) and Ons Jabeur (back) both nursing injuries. The other women's warm-up for the Australian Open this week is the Hobart Open, which returns after a two-year hiatus caused by the COVID pandemic.

Naomi Osaka withdrew from the Australian Open on Saturday just over a week until the tournament begins. "It’s an honor to be able to play at the Toray Pan Pacific Open in front of the amazing fans here in Japan," Osaka said. Formerly ranked No.1 by the WTA, Osaka has won both the Australian and U.S. opens twice between 2018 to 2021. Osaka made headlines in May 2021 when she announced she would not compete at the French Open, citing anxiety over post-match press conferences. “I would never trivialize mental health or use the term lightly,” Osaka said at the time.

☆ Noskova stuns Jabeur in Adelaide to set up Sabalenka showdown
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/4] Tennis - Adelaide International - Memorial Drive Tennis Club, Adelaide, Australia - January 7, 2023 Czech Republic's Linda Noskova in action during her semi final match against Tunisia's Ons Jabeur REUTERS/Loren ElliottJan 7 (Reuters) - Qualifier Linda Noskova continued her giant-killing run at the Adelaide International 1 on Saturday, as the 18-year-old toppled ailing world number two Ons Jabeur 6-3 1-6 6-3 to set up a final against second seed Aryna Sabalenka. She returned rejuvenated to grab the second set dropping only one game, but found herself a break down at 1-3 in the decider and Noskova held her nerve to grab the victory. "I'm happy with the level I played today, especially with her different game," Sabalenka said of Begu. The American will meet 2016 Junior Roland Garros singles champion Rebeka Masarova of Spain, who downed fellow qualifier Ysaline Bonaventure of Belgium 6-3 6-3. Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru Editing by Christian RadnedgeOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Raducanu suffers injury scare ahead of Australian Open
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"So to be stopped by a freak injury, rolling an ankle is pretty disappointing, in the first week as well. The Australian Open begins on Jan. 16. AZARENKA THROUGHAt the Adelaide International 1 WTA 500 event, twice Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka saw off Zheng Qinwen 6-2 7-5 to reach the quarter-finals alongside unseeded duo Irina-Camelia Begu and Linda Noskova. China's Zheng, who was named WTA Newcomer of the Year in 2022, sent down 10 aces and 34 winners but also made 35 unforced errors at the Australian Open warm-up event. Belarusian Azarenka next faces Czech teenager Noskova, who followed up her first-round upset of Daria Kasatkina with a 6-2 6-2 win over fellow qualifier Clair Liu.

☆ Kyrgios expected to be fit for Australian Open despite latest withdrawal
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Jan 5 (Reuters) - Nick Kyrgios is expected to be fit to play at the Australian Open despite pulling out of a second warm-up tournament following his withdrawal from next week's Adelaide International with an ankle injury, his manager told Australian media. "We are very excited and working every day to make sure we're ready for the Australian Open," Kyrgios's manager Daniel Horsfall told Australian media. "A lot of people were upset after he pulled out of the United Cup, but I hope they now realise the injury is genuine. "The Adelaide International wishes Nick Kyrgios the best of luck and a quick recovery, understanding the importance of the Australian Open preparation." Kyrgios' withdrawal came after the 27-year-old, who won the men's doubles title at last year's Australian Open, was involved in a public spat with United Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt over his absence from the mixed team competition.

☆ Sabalenka survives scare to reach Adelaide quarters
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Having received a bye into the second round, second seed Sabalenka started sluggishly to find herself in trouble trailing by five games to one but the 24-year-old roared back to save six set points and claim the opening set in the tie-break. After the pair traded breaks other early in the next set, Sabalenka showed her mental toughness again in the tie-break to seal her first win of the season in two hours and 15 minutes. "She's an incredible player with a huge serve, so it was a tough match and I'm super happy with this win." Sabalenka will next face former French Open runner-up Marketa Vondrousova, who handed Kaia Kanepi a bagel en route to a 6-0 6-4 victory. Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru; Editing by Robert BirselOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Azarenka digs deep to beat Kalinina in Adelaide
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Jan 3 (Reuters) - Former world number one Victoria Azarenka overcame a shaky start to beat Anhelina Kalinina 7-6(9) 7-6(5) in a gruelling match at the Adelaide International 1 on Tuesday and reach the second round of the WTA 500 tournament. Twice Australian Open champion Azarenka found herself in trouble trailing 5-1 but she summoned up her fighting spirit to save five set points before edging a tense tiebreaker. "When you talk about first matches that are never easy this one was definitely at the top of the list," Azarenka said. Former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko plays Czech Karolina Pliskova later on Tuesday. Top-seeded American Coco Gauff made short work of Tatjana Maria, beating the Wimbledon semi-finalist 6-4 6-1 to snap a five-match losing streak.

☆ Nadal not too worried by shaky start to season before Australian Open
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Jan 2 (Reuters) - Rafa Nadal said losing two straight matches was hardly the ideal preparation for his Australian Open title defence, but the world number two believes he had no reason to feel alarmed ahead of the season's first Grand Slam starting in two weeks. read moreBut Nadal, who needed pain-numbing injections on his foot en route to the French Open title and pulled out of his Wimbledon semi-final with an abdominal injury last year, said there were still positives despite his shaky start to the new season. I need battles like this," Nadal told reporters. "I have two weeks before the Australian Open starts. I can't say the situation is ideal but at the same time I can't say it's negative, because for moments I was playing good," Nadal said.

☆ Navratilova diagnosed with throat and breast cancer
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Czech-born Navratilova, who became a U.S. citizen in 1981, was also diagnosed and beat breast cancer back in 2010. Navratilova added that the cancer was in Stage 1, and the prognosis are good, with treatments to begin next week. The cancer was first discovered in early November during the WTA finals when Navratilova noticed a swelling in her neck that did not go down. "When it didn't do down, a biopsy was performed, the results came back as Stage 1 throat cancer. "At the same time as Martina was undergoing the tests for the throat, a suspicious form was found in her breast, which was subsequently diagnosed as cancer, completely unrelated to the throat cancer.

☆ Belarusian Sabalenka says Wimbledon ban on players 'changed nothing'
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Wimbledon organisers banned players from Russia and Belarus last year due to Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. Sabalenka said she was "super disappointed" with Wimbledon's decision and that she trained in Miami when the Grand Slam took place in June and July. "I had a great time in Miami, but I really missed the people because the atmosphere at Wimbledon is super amazing. You can feel these people really love tennis there and I really miss them," Sabalenka said. But if they're going to ban us again; I don't care about Wimbledon's decision.

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