Kokkinakis fights to opening round win
THANASI Kokkinakis became the sixth Australian to advance to round two of the 2024 Australian Open men’s draw, after a four-hour slog at John Cain Arena yesterday. The local favourite came from behind to beat world number 37 Sebastian Ofner in a five set thriller, 7-6, 2-6, 6-7, 6-1, 7-6. Having overcome career threatening injuries […]
Pole of women’s draw advances after battle
DAY three of the 2024 Australian Open saw women’s number one seed Iga Swiatek finally get to get her campaign underway, and she did so in positive fashion over American Sofia Kenin. It was hard fought at times for the Pole, but she ultimately prevailed in straight sets 77-62, 6-2. Swiatek finished with the higher […]
Demon time: Top Aussie advances
TOP-RANKED Australian Alex de Minaur has advanced to the second round of his home Grand Slam, after big-hitting Canadian Milos Raonic was forced into a third set retirement (hip). The match was level at one set apiece, with de Minaur up 2-0 in the third before a hobbling Raonic called time. Local fans came out […]
Big names fall as some Aus Open campaigns barely get off ground
DAY 2 at the 2024 Australian Open saw a big day for the seeds in the women’s draw, with a number of them falling at the first hurdle. The biggest of the seeds to fall was Czechia’s Marketa Vondrousova, with the number 7 seed and reigning Wimbledon champion falling to Ukrainian qualifier Dayana Yastremska in […]
No Djoke: Qualifier forces Novak near miss
WORLD number one Novak Djokovic survived a scare on day one of the 2024 Australian Open, beginning his quest for a record 25th Grand Slam on shaky ground. The 11-time champion was pushed to four sets by 18-year-old Croatian qualifier Dino Prizmic, who was making his Grand Slam debut. In what felt like the birth […]
Sabalenka merciless in first round belting
REIGNING Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka was made to wait for her first round walk onto Rod Laver Arena, but wasted no time in belting qualifier Ella Seidel 6-0, 6-1. It was a merciless display from the world number two, who took just 53 minutes to run through her opponent. >> SCROLL for all the […]
Ostapenko announces Aus Open intentions
LATVIAN contender Jelena Ostapenko has announced herself as a genuine Australian Open threat after taking out the Adelaide International title yesterday. The tournament’s sixth seed claimed her seventh tour trophy and will return to the top 10 rankings for the first time since 2018. Ostapenko needed only an hour and 15 minutes to defeat world […]
Lehecka, Tabilo take out first tour titles
JIRI Lehecka and Alejandro Tabilo claimed their maiden ATP Tour titles yesterday, taking out the Adelaide International and ASB Classic respectively. The latter, a qualifier in Auckland, jumped 33 spots up the rankings to earn a top 50 berth. Tabilo downed Japan’s Taro Daniel 6-2, 7-5, blasting 37 winners and sending down 10 aces en […]
Lehecka, Draper fight for first title in Adelaide
THE 2024 Adelaide International final will feature two players fighting for their maiden ATP Tour title, after Jiri Lehecka and Jack Draper advanced through the semis. Both men are also playing in their second tour finals, with Briton Draper reaching his second consecutive decider. Czech seventh seed Lehecka took just 71 minutes to blitz the […]
Mertens dashes Saville’s Hobart hopes
AUSTRALIAN hopeful Daria Saville‘s run at the Hobart International has ended in the semi finals, after being bested by Elise Mertens over three sets, 6-4, 4-6, 7-5. Having been pushed to a third set, Mertens broke in the 11th game of the decider and converted her serve to fell the home crowd favourite. Despite the […]
