Serena Williams tips Johann Konta for Australian Open crown after ending Briton’s run January 25, 2017 Title favourite Serena Williams hailed Johanna Konta as a future Australian Open champion after ending the Briton’s dazzling run in Melbourne on Wednesday. Williams, who is seeking an Open-era record 23rd grand slam crown, overpowered Konta 6-2, 6-3 to set up a semi-final against unseeded Croatian Mirjana Lucic-Baroni. It halted Konta’s run of nine consecutive [...]
Roger Federer and Venus Williams roll back the years on way to Australian Open semi-finals January 24, 2017 Evergreen Roger Federer is plotting the downfall of compatriot Stan Wawrinka after becoming the oldest men’s singles semi-finalist at a grand slam for 25 years. Federer, 35, continued his impressive return from injury at the Australian Open by despatching Sir Andy Murray’s conqueror Mischa Zverev 6-1, 7-5, 6-2 in the quarter-finals on Tuesday. It made [...]
I’m ready to beat Serena Williams, says Johanna Konta, after British No1 sets up showdown with Australian Open favourite January 23, 2017 In-form British No1 Johanna Konta insists she feels ready to take on Serena Williams after setting up an Australian Open clash with the 22-time grand slam winner. Konta is due to meet Williams in the quarter-finals on Wednesday morning after brushing aside 30th seed Ekaterina Makarova 6-1, 6-4 in the fourth round on Monday. Williams [...]
Sir Andy Murray vows to bounce back after Australian Open heartbreak comes early January 22, 2017 World No1 Sir Andy Murray has vowed to come back stronger after suffering a shock fourth-round defeat to German Mischa Zverev at the Australian Open on Sunday. Top seed Murray, fancied to end his run of near misses in Melbourne following the early exit of main rival Novak Djokovic, lost 7-5, 5-7, 6-2, 6-4 to [...]
Champion Angelique Kerber knocked out of Australian Open as top seeds tumble in fourth round January 22, 2017 Defending champion Angelique Kerber rued another below-par display after her disappointing season continued with a surprise defeat to American Coco Vandeweghe at the Australian Open on Sunday. Kerber suffered the earliest exit by a women’s singles title-holder in Melbourne for a decade as she followed men’s top seed Sir Andy Murray out of the tournament [...]
Sir Andy Murray receives huge Australian Open boost after Novak Djokovic suffers shock defeat to Uzbek wild card Denis Istomin January 19, 2017 Defending champion Novak Djokovic admits he is at a loss to explain his dramatic decline after crashing out of the Australian Open in the second round to wild card Denis Istomin on Thursday. Djokovic lost a marathon contest with the world No117 from Uzbekistan 7-6 (10-8), 5-7, 2-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4 – his earliest loss [...]
Johanna Konta sweeps into Australian Open third round but fellow Brit Heather Watson crashes out January 19, 2017 Britain’s Johanna Konta insists she is not looking too far ahead at the Australian Open despite underlining her title credentials while more big names tumbled out on Thursday. Konta, who reached the last four in Melbourne last year, despatched powerful Japanese teenager Naomi Osaka 6-4, 6-2 to set up a third-round clash with former world [...]
Sir Andy Murray douses concerns over ankle injury after brushing aside Russian teenager at Australian Open January 18, 2017 World No1 Sir Andy Murray played down fears over an ankle injury after cruising past Russian teenager Andrey Rublev to reach the third round of the Australian Open men’s draw. Murray’s ankle gave way at the start of the third set and he visibly remained in discomfort despite showing few ill-effects as he dispatched Rublev [...]
I have exorcised ghosts, insists Dan Evans after biggest win of his career at Australian Open January 18, 2017 British No3 Dan Evans insisted he has exorcised the ghost of past missed chances after producing a seismic shock at the Australian Open by dispatching former US Open winner Marin Cilic. Evans, who is ranked No 51 in the world, had never previously beaten a top 10 player at a grand slam but reversed that [...]
Johanna Konta fails to hit top gear but still leads British assault at Australian Open January 17, 2017 World No9 Johanna Konta expressed her relief at clearing the opening hurdle of her grand slam season after defeating Belgium’s Kirsten Flipkens in the first round of the Australian Open. The 25-year-old, who prevailed 7-5, 6-2, led the home nations charge in Melbourne as Heather Watson and Kyle Edmund also progressed, ensuring that five British [...]