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Australian Open

Australian Open
The Australian Open is staged at Melbourne Park in Melbourne every January. Played on a hard court, it is the first of four annual grand slam tournaments, the others being the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open.
last updated:
9 September, 2024
Jannik Sinner (left) congratulated by Australia’s Alex de Minaur after their quarter-final match on Wednesday. Photo: AP

Sinner to face Shelton in Australian Open semi-finals after crushing De Minaur

Italian defending champion will face stubborn American 21st seed while world No 2 Iga Swiatek is on track for her first title in Melbourne.

Ageless Djokovic beats Alcaraz in 4 sets to reach Australian Open semi-finals

Novak Djokovic

Sinner toughs it out as Tien hobbles out, Monfils retires at Australian Open

Australian Open: Alcaraz, Djokovic to meet in last 8, Sabalenka marches on

Carlos Alcaraz reaches quarter-finals in Melbourne for the first time after Jack Draper retires hurt. Aryna Sabalenka sweeps past Andreeva.

Novak Djokovic hits a return during his men’s singles fourth round match against Jiri Lehecka. Photo: Xinhua

Australian Open, day 7: Sinner, Swiatek storm into round 4 in straight sets

Men’s world No 1 overcame American Marcos Giron after women’s No 2 overpowered Britain’s Emma Raducanu.

WTA (Women's Tennis Association)

Fired-up Djokovic sends Australian Open warning, as Osaka bows out injured

The Serb is on collision course with Carlos Alcaraz, who stayed on track with a wobbly win; Zheng Qinwen’s conqueror is thrashed.

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Esports

Australian Open brings the game to the gamers with live matches in animation form

Using an approach tried by the NFL and NBA, the year’s first grand slam is using Wii-like characters to attract a younger audience.

videocam
An animated form of Daniil Medvedev (left) smashing his racquet in his match against Kasidit Samrej on Tuesday. Photo: AP

Wang Xiyu in agonising loss as Zhang Shuai, Wang Yafan also exit Australian Open

Jannik Sinner recovers to win after Emma Navarro fights back from brink of defeat by Wang, while Iga Swiatek and Emma Raducanu set up clash.

WTA (Women's Tennis Association)

Zheng Qinwen says ‘not my day’ after shock Australian Open loss as Osaka, Alcaraz win

She says she has not fully recovered from an elbow injury, while Aryna Sabalenka, who beat Zheng in last year’s final, marches on.

WTA (Women's Tennis Association)

Three Chinese win at Australian Open, three exit – and Medvedev destroys racquet

Chinese qualifier Wei Sijia beaten by No 4 women’s seed but Wang Xiyu, Wang Yafan and Zhang Shuai get through.

Russia’s Daniil Medvedev smashes his racquet and a net camera during his match against Thailand’s Kasidit Samrej. Photo: Reuters
While you were sleeping

Shang injury update, China’s women take centre stage, ‘defective’ Olympic medals

It’s day three at the Australian Open, and China’s women are in action early. England bowling legend James Anderson to carry on playing.

Jerry Shang could not get through two sets in his first round match against Alejandro Fokina. Photo: Xinhua
IOC

LA wildfire: IOC to replace Hall’s medals; Gauff, Swiatek show victims support

The 50-year-old former US swimmer forced to leave behind the 10 medals he won over 3 Games at his Pacific Palisades home during the fires.

WTA (Women's Tennis Association)

China’s Shang, Yuan Yue out of Australian Open, Sinner, Alcaraz in solid starts

Shang, whose Hong Kong Open was cut short, appeared to be injured while Nick Kyrgios is also out; Djokovic, Osaka, Gauff all win through.

WTA (Women's Tennis Association)

Zheng Qinwen battles through at Australian Open, Nishikori clings on to win epic

Misfiring Zheng overcomes tough test from Romanian qualifier Anca Todoni, as storms lash Melbourne Park.

Zheng Qinwen has made it safely into the second round of the Australian Open. Photo: EPA-EFE
ATP

Russian nearly man Rublev retains grand slam belief ahead of Australian Open

World No 9 Andrey Rublev face teenage prospect Joao Fonseca in first round clash in Melbourne, fit-again Nishikori backed to fire.

Andrey Rublev fires a backhand during his Bank of China Hong Kong Open loss to Fabian Marozsan. Photo: Elson Li
Naomi Osaka

Australian Open: results of scan ‘not fantastic’ but Osaka to play in Melbourne

The 2019 and 2021 champion was in tears last Sunday after abdominal injury forced her to quit her first WTA Tour final in almost three years.

Novak Djokovic

Djokovic says he was poisoned before being deported during 2022 Australian Open

The Serb, whose visa was cancelled after he refused to be vaccinated against Covid-19, says he had ‘health issues’ from his stay in detention.

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WTA (Women's Tennis Association)

Zheng Qinwen leads Chinese charge at Australian Open – and has a favourable draw

Seven of China’s 10 players in year’s first grand slam face unseeded opponents, while defending champions Sinner, Sabalenka get challenging openers.

China’s Zheng Qinwen is on a collision course with Aryna Sabalenka in the quarter-finals. Photo: Xinhua
ATP

Hong Kong’s Coleman Wong exits Australian Open qualifying after loss to Fonseca

Hongkonger was aiming to reach the main draw of a grand-slam tournament for the first time and had won his first qualifier in Melbourne.

ATP

Hong Kong Coleman Wong takes step closer to Australian Open main draw after plucky win

The 20-year-old edges past Dmitry Popko but has 2 more qualifying rounds to get through to become first Hongkonger to play at Melbourne Park.

Australian Open: Zheng Qinwen aims to follow Li Na, finally beat Aryna Sabalenka

Olympic gold medallist reached the final in Melbourne 12 months but is aiming to go one better in 2025.

China’s Zheng Qinwen is looking to add the Australian Open title to the gold medal she won at the Paris Olympics. Photo: Xinhua
Naomi Osaka

Excited Osaka says ‘deep love’ of tennis keeps her going

But the 4-time grand slam winner, now ranked 58, says she will not ‘hang around’ in tennis if her results fail to match her high expectations.

Naomi Osaka of Japan in training for the Auckland Classic, which she is using as a springboard to the Australian Open, which she won in 2019 and 2021. Photo: AP
WTA (Women's Tennis Association)

‘Fresh and ready to go’: Sabalenka hungry and ready for more grand slam success

The 26-year-old Belarusian reached 7 finals and won 4 titles, including the Australian and US Open majors, but says she can get better.

Doping in sport

‘Devastated’ Australian tennis star Purcell provisionally suspended for doping

The 26-year-old two-time grand slam doubles champion admits to breaching anti-doping rules relating to the use of a ‘prohibited method’.

Australian Open: former champion Wawrinka, Chinese veteran Zhang get wild cards

Nine local players also gain entry to season’s first grand slam, where crowd favourites the ‘Special Ks’ will reunite in the doubles.

Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka, seen here at the Swiss Indoors tournament in October, won the first of his three grand slam titles at Melbourne Park in 2014. Photo: AP

Nishikori, Kyrgios and Bencic return to Australian Open with protected rankings

Japan’s highest-ever ranked men’s player last played singles at Melbourne Park in 2021, the Australian returns from injury and the Swiss from maternity leave.

Kei Nishikori of Japan will play in singles at the Australian Open for the first time in four years. Photo: Kyodo
WTA (Women's Tennis Association)

Chinese No 1 Zheng to play at Australian Open without breakthrough coach Riba

The Spaniard, who guided her through her groundbreaking season this year, is having surgery, and will be covered by Argentine Dante Bottini.

ATP

Djokovic loses No 1 spot to Sinner, Swiatek increases huge lead in ATP rankings

Sinner is the first player from Italy to reach No 1 since the computerised rankings began in 1973 and will be the top-seeded man at Wimbledon.

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