A merciless Andy Murray subjected Australia's Bernard Tomic to a 6-3, 6-2 thrashing on Saturday to deflate local fans and set up an intriguing final with Alexandr Dolgopolov at the Brisbane International.
Indian tennis star Sania Mirza began the 2015 season and her partnership with Su-Wei Hsieh with a hard fought 7-5, 6-3 win over Jarmila Gajdosova and Ajla Tomljanovic, in Brisbane on Tuesday.
An inspired Milos Raonic toppled Roger Federer 6-4, 6-4 to win the Brisbane International on Sunday and avenge his defeat to the Swiss master in last year's final.
'Even if we had won the New Zealand series 3-0, it would have meant little because the conditions in Australia are very different, and the team there is very different.' 'In Australia, you just go with a clean slate and start fresh. It doesn't matter what has happened on the previous page.'
Australia's Matthew Wade struck his maiden one-day century to help secure a comprehensive 92-run victory over a disjointed Pakistan in the first one-day international in Brisbane on Friday.
'We believe there are other, more creative solutions than rebuilding the Gabba for the Games which provide a legacy for our sports and even greater access for fans to an exceptional Olympic and Paralympic Games.'
Novak Djokovic will prepare for a tilt at an 11th Australian Open title by representing Serbia at the United Cup mixed team tournament while old rival Rafael Nadal and former women's world number one Naomi Osaka return at Brisbane after time away.
Kim Clijsters suffered an injury scare ahead of her Australian Open defence when she was forced to retire from her Brisbane International semi-final against Slovakia's Daniela Hantuchova on Friday.
Starc currently stands as the fifth-highest wicket-taker for Australia in Test cricket, with 351 wickets to his credit.
India's tri-series campaign was thrown into disarray as they lost Sri Lanka by 51 runs in Brisbane on Tuesday.
Here is a quick glance of all the highs and lows from Nadal's stupendous career:
Rafael Nadal said he would love to keep playing long enough for his son to remember him on court, though the 22-time Grand Slam champion concedes time is not on his side.
Smith carried his bat with an unbeaten 91 in a losing cause in Brisbane.
'He is definitely much more mature and he knows the value of his place in the Indian team, 2-3 years of not being there.' 'He will now look to take care of his body much more. He has developed from a youngster to a responsible person now.' 'He knows what he needs to do, to succeed at the highest level.'
Australia's Grace Harris broke her bat into two pieces when smashing one delivery for six in the Women's Big Bash League T20 match.
No decision yet on the fate of the Sydney Test, which starts December 26, but for us the tour is still on, says the Board of Control for Cricket in India secretary, Sanjay Patel.
Prajnesh, India's top-ranked singles player at 122, downed the local wild card Jason Kubler 7-5, 6-3 in the first round
Ana Ivanovic recovered from an awful start to beat Kaia Kanepi at the Brisbane International on Thursday and remain on track for a glamour meeting with Maria Sharapova.
Top seed Robin Soderling underlined his credentials as an Australian Open contender by overpowering defending champion Andy Roddick 6-3, 7-5 to win the Brisbane International on Sunday.
Coco Gauff battled past Elina Svitolina in the Auckland Classic final on Sunday to retain her title.
The MS Dhoni-led CSK is on top of Group 'B' and will eye a hat-trick of victories and seal a semi-final spot when they square off against Brisbane Heats of Australia in Ranchi on Saturday.
Defending champion Andy Roddick weathered an early onslaught from hard-hitting Ukrainian Alexandr Dolgopolov before steamrolling him 6-4 6-1 to book a quarter-final place at the Brisbane International on Wednesday.
Therapy and motherhood have, she has said, helped her on her mental health journey and she appeared to be having a lot more fun on court in Brisbane.
Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams will be fit to play at the Brisbane International, which begins this weekend, after injury scares, organisers said on Thursday.
'Test match cricket is never easy ... when you have a guy disrespecting West Indies, and us players that are playing, it is hurtful.'
Rafael Nadal said he was still in two minds about whether he will play in the French Open.
Ever dissatisfied World No 1 Victoria Azarenka began her build-up to the Australian Open with an imposing 6-3, 6-3 victory over big-serving Sabine Lisicki in the Brisbane International second round on Wednesday.
American Andy Roddick survived a determined fight back from defending champion Radek Stepanek to win the Brisbane International final on Sunday.
Justine Henin and Kim Clijsters steamrolled their semi-final opponents on Friday to set up a tantalising all-Belgian final at the Brisbane International. Henin, playing her first tournament in 20 months after coming out of retirement, crushed Serbia's Ana Ivanovic 6-3, 6-2 in a little over then hour. Then Clijsters, who won last year's US Open after making her own fairytale comeback, demolished Germany's Andrea Petkovic 6-4, 6-2.
Belgium's US Open champion Kim Clijsters showed no mercy against her childhood friend Alicia Molik at the Brisbane International on Tuesday, whipping the Australian 6-0, 6-3 to cruise into the third round.
After several losses in the early years of the new century, a resurgent India notched up two consecutive series wins in Australia to become the Aussies' nemesis.
Kim Clijsters survived two match points before winning her eagerly awaited rematch with fellow Belgian Justine Henin 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 in the final of the Brisbane International on Saturday.
Sania Mirza and her partner Bethanie Mattek-Sands had a superb start to the season as they lifted the WTA Brisbane International trophy.
Naomi Osaka's return a boost for women's tour, says Mouratoglou
'I wasn't even coming out to the ground.' 'He told me to come to the ground, even if it's just to support the guys.' 'I came and he did something to my toe. I don't know what he did, but something worked.'
Former England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff joined Brisbane Heat on a short-term deal in the Big Bash League (BBL) on Thursday, extending his surprise return to Twenty20 cricket.
Nic Pothas appointed as interim coach of Windies
Former US Open champion Dominic Thiem huffed and puffed his way into the main draw of the Brisbane International on Saturday, but not before a hissing intruder slithered onto the court and briefly halted play.
Shaun Marsh will replace injured Australia captain Michael Clarke for the second Test match against India, starting at Brisbane from December 17, Cricket Australia said on Saturday.
England will be begin their defence of the Ashes in Brisbane in November next year in the first Test of a five-match series, the England and Wales Cricket Board and Cricket Australia said on Wednesday.
