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SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Former world number one Andy Murray withdrew from the Australian Open Thursday after failing to recover from a hip injury, joining injured Japanese star Kei Nishikori on the sidelines. “Sadly I won’t be playing in Melbourne this year, as I am not yet ready to compete,” Murray said in a statement. “I’ll be flying home shortly to assess all the options but I appreciate all the messages of support and I […]
SHENZHEN, China (AFP) — World number one Simona Halep began the year in emphatic style with a 6-4, 6-1 victory over Nicole Gibbs as Maria Sharapova also romped through her first-round match at the Shenzhen Open on Monday. Romania’s Halep, who will be seeking her maiden Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in two weeks’ time, struck 12 winners to blitz the 110th-ranked American in one hour and nine minutes. “We had a big crowd, which […]
BRISBANE, Australia (AFP) — Japanese tennis star Kei Nishikori has withdrawn from the season-opening Brisbane International as he recovers from a wrist injury. Nishikori, 27, has been out of action for more than four months, dropping to 22 in the world rankings. “I am so disappointed to miss Brisbane this year. For years, it’s been my first tournament of the season and I always feel so at home there,” Nishikori said on the tournament’s official Twitter account. […]
PARIS, France (AFP) — Former Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli said on Wednesday that she first considered making a professional comeback while suffering from a mystery illness last year. The Frenchwoman was forced to pull out of an exhibition event at Wimbledon last year because of the virus, which medical experts said was so rare they had no name for it. But on Tuesday Bartoli announced that she would return to the WTA Tour in 2018, aiming to […]
SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Former world number one Novak Djokovic will warm up for a tilt at a record seventh Australian Open crown by playing in an innovative quickfire event at the Melbourne venue. Djokovic, who has been sidelined since July with a right elbow injury, is making his long-awaited return to the game at an exhibition tournament in Abu Dhabi from December 28-30. The Serbian world number 12 and volatile Australian Nick Kyrgios will […]
BRISBANE, Australia (AFP) — Australia will play Germany in the opening round of the Davis Cup World Group on hard court in Brisbane in February, organizers said Monday. The tie is expected to pit two of the world’s leading young players against each other — Australia’s Nick Kyrgios and Germany’s Alexander Zverev, the current world number four. Kyrgios led Australia to the Davis Cup semi-finals this year, while Zverev had his best year on tour, winning 55 […]
MELBOURNE, Australia (AFP) — Serena Williams will be ready to make her tennis comeback at the Australian Open with her return to Melbourne for the season’s opening Grand Slam “very likely,” organizers said Wednesday. Williams, 36, won this year’s Australian Open while pregnant and gave birth to a baby girl in September. She has not played a competition since, raising questions over whether the 23-time Grand Slam winner would attempt to defend her title next […]
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — David Lee, who helped the Golden State Warriors to the 2015 NBA title during a 12-season career, announced his retirement Sunday on Instagram. Lee, whose fiancee is Danish tennis star Caroline Wozniacki, averaged 13.5 points and 8.8 rebounds over 829 games with New York, Golden State, Boston, Dallas and San Antonio. “An epic night celebrating my retirement with my friends and family!” Lee posted with a group photo on Instagram. […]
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Tennis superstar Serena Williams is used to hoisting trophies, but on Thursday, it looks like she’ll be carrying a wedding bouquet. Music royalty Beyonce and Jay Z, along with actress Eva Longoria are among the A-listers reportedly convening in New Orleans for Williams’ wedding to Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian. People and The Daily Mail, citing unnamed sources, have reported that about 250 guests will be invited to the ceremony at […]
by John Weaver Agence France-Presse LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Roger Federer held young pretender Alexander Zverev at bay in a gripping contest Tuesday to reach the last four of the ATP Finals and stay on course for a seventh end-of-season crown. The world number two saw off a spirited challenge from the much-hyped German 7-6 (8/6), 5-7, 6-1 in front of a boisterous pro-Federer crowd to become the first man through to the last four at […]
MINSK, Belarus (AFP) — The United States aims to end its longest Fed Cup title drought when it meets a Belarus team missing former world number one and two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka in this weekend’s final. The 17-time champion US team claimed its last title in 2000 and has lost three finals since — to France in 2003 and Italy in 2009 and 2010. This time the team is missing the Williams sisters, who have […]
by Jed Court Agence France-Presse PARIS, France (AFP) — American Jack Sock said he shocked after moving from “thinking about his holidays” during his opening Paris Masters win, to qualifying for the World Tour Finals in London after claiming the Bercy title. The 16th seed beat qualifier Filip Krajinovic 5-7, 6-4, 6-1 in the final on Sunday. He trailed 5-1 in a deciding set during his second-round match against Britain’s Kyle Edmund on Wednesday, but […]
