If you were to come up with the concept now, the idea of two people standing toe-to-toe and belting each other in the head until both were senseless and one was flat on the floor would only ever be a metaphor for modern political debate. Yet in a world where we are so determined to eradicate brain trauma that young …

American Sofia Kenin has broken through for her first grand slam title at just 21 years of age, with a three-set win over two-time major winner Garbine Muguruza. Muguruza, who won the 2016 French Open and Wimbledon 2017, took out the first set before her 14th-seeded opponent took control to take out the title with the 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 win. …

Dominic Thiem made a significant breakthrough at the Australian Open on Wednesday night, upsetting World No. 1 Rafael Nadal 7-6(3), 7-6(4), 4-6, 7-6(6) at Rod Laver Arena. The Austrian recorded his first Grand Slam victory against the 2009 champion in six attempts to reach his first semi-final at the opening major championship of the year. Thiem won 78 per cent of first-serve points (65/83) and struck 65 …

For a nation that has been sifting through the dirt for decades for a truly loveable tennis champion, Australia has finally hit the mother lode in Ash Barty. The Queenslander is that rarest of rare gems in sport: a relentless winner who is also universally adored and respected. It’s not something Australia has had in abundance of late, in tennis …

Alexei Popyrin has underlined why he is a rising star of Australian tennis after comfortably progressing to the third round at Melbourne Park via a straight-sets win. Popyrin exerted his command over Spain’s Jaume Munar early in their Australian Open encounter on Court Three en route to winning 6-2, 7-6 (7/5), 6-2 in two hours and four minutes. The win …

A clash with Rafael Nadal still looms for Nick Kyrgios, but for the time being he will be satisfied to have safely advanced to the third round of the Australian Open at Melbourne Park. Kyrgios was in superb touch at times during his 6-2, 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 defeat of veteran Frenchman Gilles Simon to edge a step closer to meeting …

As you drive to the city from Melbourne’s Tullamarine Airport, the giant billboards on the overpasses leave little doubt about who is the star attraction of this year’s Australian Open. If you have come from overseas and are keen to taste the local “delicacy”, you might find the contents of supermarket shelves confusing: Vegemite has been rebranded as Bartymite. You …

A visibly agitated Rafael Nadal has delivered a backhander to ATP Cup organisers, complaining about scheduling after he suffered a rare singles defeat and Spain just scraped through to play Australia in the semi-finals of the men’s team event. The world number one was not at his best on Friday — and into the early hours of Saturday, losing in …

A misfiring Maria Sharapova has been upset by American qualifier Jennifer Brady in the first round of the Brisbane International. The five-time grand slam champion served 11 double faults to the world No.53’s one to crash out 3-6 6-1 7-6 (7-4) in a clash lasting more than two hours. Sharapova may be one of the tournament’s biggest names but had …

Maria Sharapova has pledged at least $25,000 to Australia’s bushfire relief and urged Novak Djokovic to do the same. The five-time grand slam champion becomes the latest of a host of tennis stars to donate to the cause after Australian Nick Kyrgios kick-started a wave of support from the sport earlier this week. Wildfires have raged across Australia for months, killing …