Novak Djokovic opened his clay-court season with a surprising loss to Alejandro Davidovich Fokina at the Monte Carlo Masters. Davidovich Fokina stunned the top-ranked Serb 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-1 in the second round to hand Djokovic another setback as he tries to move on from the controversy surrounding his refusal to get vaccinated against COVID-19. It makes for rare back-to-back losses for Djokovic, who …

AFLW star Tayla Harris has revealed the horrifying toll of attacks from social media trolls that have become a daily reality for her since a viral photo that captures her kicking motion shot her to fame. In a trailer for the Amazon Prime documentary Kick Like Tayla, Harris said she continues to receive personal attacks on social media “every day”. “I know what they …

Billie Jean King Cup captain Anne Keothavong admits “nobody expected Emma Raducanu to do what she did in New York so soon” as Britain prepare for a massive qualifier against the Czech Republic. Raducanu will be making her singles debut in the team which also comprises Harriet Dart, Katie Swan and Sonay Kartal for the tie held outdoors on clay …

The Socceroos’ hopes of automatic qualification for November’s World Cup in Qatar have been flattened after an uninspiring 2-0 loss to Japan in Sydney on Thursday night. While a win against a nation it had not defeated since 2009 seemed unlikely in the first instance, the disastrous build-up to Australia’s penultimate Asian qualifier made a win almost out of the realms …

Ash Barty has told media to be patient in revealing whether she will take up another sport, after fronting a press conference to explain her shock retirement. The 25-year-old shocked the tennis world on Wednesday when she revealed she was stepping away from the sport, prompting an outpouring of tributes from tennis players and fans alike. Barty said there was “no …

Rafael Nadal has defeated new men’s world number one Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 6-3 in a rematch of their Australian Open final to storm into the decider of the ATP 500 event in Acapulco. Nadal had to fight back from two sets down in their previous meeting in Melbourne last month to clinch a men’s record 21st major singles title. But in Mexico, it was …

The Socceroos’ hopes of gaining direct entry into the World Cup have been dealt a blow following a dramatic 2-2 draw with Oman. The draw will most probably force Graham Arnold’s men to qualify via intercontinental play-off route. Australia got off to a strong start, going up 1-0 through a first-half Jamie Maclaren penalty but Oman pulled one back via an Abdullah Fawaz screamer from …

Sam Kerr endured a rare off night in front of goal as the Matildas crashed out of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup with a shock 1-0 quarter-final loss to Korea Republic. Kerr had a series of golden opportunities early in Sunday’s match in Pune, and she fluffed another chance at the death when Australia needed a goal to send the …

Freshly crowned Australian Open champion Ash Barty says she chose to have a low-key celebration following her victory in the women’s singles final, admitting she felt “pretty wrecked”. Barty won her first Australian Open championship with a 6-3, 7-6 (7-2) triumph over American Danielle Collins on Saturday night. It is her third major singles title, following her successes at the 2019 …

A man who was arrested at the Australian Open has been released pending further inquiry, as police investigate assaults on staff at the event. Earlier on Wednesday, Victoria Police alleged a woman had been sexually assaulted at Rod Laver Arena just before midnight on Tuesday. However, police have since changed their statement and no longer believe the sexual assault took …