Novak Djokovic is hurtling towards a unique place in tennis history after crushing Rafael Nadal to claim an unprecedented seventh Australian Open men’s singles crown. The resurgent world No.1 destroyed the second-ranked Nadal 6-3 6-2 6-3 on Sunday night in the most one-sided men’s final at Melbourne Park in 16 years. In eclipsing the six Open titles of Roger Federer …

Novak Djokovic has been given quick passage through to the semi-finals at the Australian Open after Kei Nishikori was forced to retire mid-match with a leg injury. Clearly struggling, Nishikori was unable to keep up with the top seed, and he withdrew down 6-1, 4-1 in the second set. Djokovic will next face France’s Lucas Pouille for a place in …

The aged care worker who was secretly filmed abusing a grandfather on Sydney’s northern beaches has been sentenced to four months in jail. Prakash Paudyal, 35, pleaded guilty to assaulting David Nabulsi at a Bupa nursing home in Seaforth last year. Paudyal was caught on hidden camera repeatedly hitting the 82-year-old with a shoe. He was also observed pulling Mr …

Tired but smiling, an 18-year-old Saudi runaway who said she feared death if deported back home has arrived in Canada, which had offered her asylum in a case that attracted global attention after she mounted a social media campaign. “This is Rahaf Alqunun, a very brave new Canadian,” Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said arm-in-arm with the Saudi teen in Toronto’s …

An emotional Justice Margaret Beazley has fought back tears as she formally accepted the role of NSW Governor from the NSW Premier today. At a ceremony outside the Sydney Opera House, Ms Beazley, a former Federal Court of Australia judge and NSW Court of Appeal judge, said she was honoured to take the role after the forced resignation of David …

More than a million cigarettes illegally imported into Australia under a layer of loose tea have been seized by border officials in Melbourne. Two men have been arrested after Australian Border Force officers stopped a rental truck in Tullamarine containing $10 million worth of illegal tobacco on Thursday. It’s alleged as well as the latest 1.1 million cigarette consignment the …

The AFC Asian Cup is upon us and, as reigning champions, all eyes will be on the Socceroos to see if they can retain their crown under new coach Graham Arnold. Arnold has coached the Socceroos in an Asian Cup before, with the former Sydney FC boss taking over just before leading the side to the quarterfinals in 2007. Since …

Roger Federer has come away with the bragging rights over fellow tennis great Serena Williams after the pair faced each other on court for the first time. After both champions won their respective singles ties, Federer spearheaded Switzerland’s 4-2, 4-3 (5-3) victory in the mixed doubles decider at the Hopman Cup in Perth. “I was nervous returning,” Federer said after …

Australian housing prices have experienced their steepest drop since the global financial crisis, according to property analysts CoreLogic. On a national basis, property prices fell 4.8 per cent last year — driven mainly by sharp declines in Sydney (-8.9 per cent) and Melbourne (-7 per cent). The latest figures from CoreLogic show national dwelling values have slumped 5.2 per cent …

The NSW Government has ordered a “comprehensive investigation” into the structural integrity of Sydney’s Opal Tower after a severe crack in the 34-storey apartment building forced a mass evacuation on Christmas Eve. It comes as photos of the damage to the building have emerged, showing the destruction of the plaster inside and the cracking in walls that triggered the evacuation, …