MELBOURNE, Australia — One more major title, just one, and Rafael Nadal will share the most prestigious record in modern men’s tennis with Roger Federer. But Nadal is panther-quick to assure you that he is not ripping forehands in practice or drifting off to sleep with “No. 20, No. 20” ringing in his head. The […] More
Gauff once again finds herself playing Naomi Osaka in the third round of a major. Still just 15, Gauff is drawing praise for adapting to stardom so quickly. More
MELBOURNE, Australia — Her Grand Slam losing streak up to four matches, Maria Sharapova surely was aware questions about her future would be coming. She was not able to provide answers. Might this have been her last trip to the Australian Open, a tournament she won in 2008 as part of a career Grand Slam? […] More
MELBOURNE, Australia — As the reigning Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka opened her season earlier this month, she checked herself as she expressed her goals for the rest of the year. “I think just to try as hard as I can every match,” Osaka said. “Because for me, when I feel like I do that, […] More
MELBOURNE, Australia — Coco Gauff was a qualifier and Grand Slam rookie when she played Venus Williams for the first time. That was at Wimbledon in July, and Gauff’s first-round, 6-4, 6-4 victory over the five-time Wimbledon champion sent shock waves through the All England Club and beyond, far beyond. Much has changed in six […] More
MELBOURNE, Australia — The Australian Open, site of epic jet lag and searing heat, has long been a struggle against the elements as much as a tussle against the opponent across the net. Scheduled in the Australian summer, the Open is where the former champion Ivan Lendl donned a Legionnaire’s cap to combat the sun […] More
In the 1970s, many top players did not even bother showing up for the Australian Open. The country was too remote, the prize money too low, the facilities erratic as the event moved from city to city, and it was held over the Christmas holidays. The tournament moved to mid-January in 1987 and found its […] More
Many do not recall her 1979 victory in the tournament, which is about to begin this week in a country ravaged by fire. More
