Of all the people you would expect to leap to Novak Djokovic’s defence, Nick Kyrgios would be well down the list. The Australian tennis ace has long been a Djokovic critic, even calling him a “tool” last year after the Serbian superstar provided Australian Open organisers with a list of suggestions to improve quarantine conditions. But as Djokovic controversially remained “locked up” in a modest Melbourne hotel, …

Serb politicians and celebrities have described the treatment of Novak Djokovic as shameful scapegoating, as the foreign ministry in Belgrade suggested the world tennis No 1 had been “lured to Australia … to be humiliated.” The 34-year-old champion, who was born in the Serb capital, is in detention in an immigration hotel in Melbourne pending a legal challenge to Australia’s decision on …

The 2022 ATP Tour will bThe 2022 ATP Tour will begin in Sydney, with the ATP Cup to signal the start of a new season of men’s tennis.egin in Sydney, with the ATP Cup to signal the start of a new season of men’s tennis. Fans will be treated to over a week of group-stage, semi-final, and final action, as …

The Matildas have drawn 1-1 in their second and final friendly match against world champions USA in their last hit-out before January’s Asian Cup. Australian winger Kyah Simon clawed a goal back in the dying stages of the game in Newcastle, cancelling out an early goal from American striker Ashley Hatch in the fourth minute. Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson made a …

Penrith have defeated South Sydney 14-12 to claim a third NRL premiership, making amends for last year’s grand final heartbreak and ending coach Ivan Cleary’s long wait for a title. The Panthers dominated territory but were left scampering in the final minutes of Sunday’s grand final at Suncorp Stadium to ensure Souths didn’t steal a win in captain Adam Reynolds …

The Matildas will play on home soil for the first time in 19 months when Brazil visit Sydney for two internationals in October. The October 23 and 26 games will be held at the newly named CommBank Stadium in Western Sydney. The matches have been given the green light by the NSW government after Football Australia proposed a comprehensive biosecurity …

Emma Raducanu has split from her coach, less than two weeks after winning the U.S. Open as a qualifier. Andrew Richardson coached Raducanu for two years at youth level and linked up with her again in July on a short-term deal for the duration of her time in the United States ahead of and during the U.S. Open. The 18-year-old …

Britain’s Emma Raducanu has made history by becoming the first qualifier to win a major tennis title, beating Canada’s Leylah Fernandez in the US Open final at Flushing Meadows, 6-4, 6-3. Raducanu won three straight matches to get through qualifying, then seven more on the way to securing her first major title without dropping a single set The 18-year-old Brit is the first …

Naomi Osaka says she plans to take a break from tennis following her shock third-round exit at the US Open. Osaka, the defending champion, lost to Canadian Leylah Fernandez 5-7, 7-6 (7/2), 6-4, before breaking down in tears when she spoke at her post-match media conference. “I feel like I’m kind of at this point where I’m trying to figure out what I …

The Tokyo Olympics ended behind closed doors with International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach calling them “Games of hope, solidarity and peace” amid the coronavirus pandemic. According to tradition, Bach closed the July 23 to August 8 Summer Games in the presence of Japanese crown Prince Akishino and speaking French invited the youth of the world to the Games of …