Carlos Alcaraz has stamped his favouritism for the French Open after taking down Stefanos Tsitsipas to win back-to-back titles at the Barcelona Open. With doubts surrounding Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic, Alcaraz now appears to be the red-hot favourite to take the title at Roland Garros. Alcaraz produced a near-flawless display in Barcelona on Sunday to claim his third title of 2023, crushing …

The Matildas will be hoping more silverware is on its way this year after capping an undefeated Cup of Nations campaign with a 3-0 win over Jamaica. Katrina Gorry got the first-half breakthrough for Tony Gustavsson’s side in Newcastle before goals to Alex Chidiac and Caitlin Foord assured them of a seventh straight victory. Gustavsson wanted to use this friendly …

Countries including Estonia and Latvia have threatened to boycott the 2024 Paris Olympic Games if the International Olympic Committee permits athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete. Last week, the IOC announced that athletes from the two countries, which are currently banned from European competitions, might be able to earn slots for the Olympics by qualifying through Asia, prompting comments from …

On winning his 10th Australian Open on Sunday night, Novak Djokovic didn’t scream or hurl his racquet in the air but instead looked to his box and pointed to his temple. Indestructible, unassailable, he was saying, won in the head. And really it was. Rafael Nadal’s long-time coach Uncle Toni has always said that however physically impressive Rafa is, he’s …

Aryna Sabalenka has recalled her “it’s not you, it’s me” moment as she fought to save the relationship that ultimately made her career. Sabalenka jubilantly declared her stirring Australian Open final triumph over Elena Rybakina the best day of her life, having returned from the depths of despair to finally claim her maiden grand slam singles crown. It was only …

Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina and rampant world No.5 Aryna Sabalenka will play for the 2023 Australian Open crown after storming to a pair of straight-set semi-final triumphs in Melbourne. Rybakina ended Victoria Azarenka’s inspired run to be the first woman through to the final with a 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 victory before Sabalenka outclassed unseeded Pole Magda Linette 7-6 (7-1) 6-2 on Thursday …

Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina has ended Victoria Azarenka’s inspired run to be the first woman through to the Australian Open final in Melbourne. Continuing her relentless charge through the draw, Rybakina overpowered the two-time former champion 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 in Thursday night’s opening semi-final at Rod Laver Arena. The Kazakh’s victory was her third straight over a grand slam champion …

Seventy years after becoming the youngest player to win the Australian Open, tennis legend Ken Rosewall believes Nick Kyrgios can also be a home slam champion. Now 88, Rosewall still keeps close tabs on the game and has followed the stilted progress of Australia’s top-ranked man Kyrgios. Like many, he’s been frustrated to see Kyrgios not always maximise his potential …

Lionel Messi finally achieved his World Cup dream as Argentina won their third crown on penalties in one of the greatest finals in the tournament’s history. Argentina won the shootout 4-2 after a spectacular game which developed into the much-anticipated confrontation between the 35-year-old maestro Messi and his France opposite number Kylian Mbappe. France’s own superstar scored a hat-trick – the first in …

Nick Kyrgios has revealed that playing exhibition tennis in Saudi Arabia for a seven-figure sum rather than representing Australia in the Davis Cup was an “easy” decision for him. The Wimbledon finalist also said negativity towards him and the feeling of not being embraced by Australia was also behind his attitude towards competing for his country, admitting he was not …