Andy Murray trounced Marinko Matosevic 6-1, 6-3, 6-2 to reach the third round of the Australian Open on Wednesday but insisted there was no edge to the match after the Australian's criticism of his decision to hire Amelie Mauresmo as coach.
'When it's easy it's going to be no problem. When it gets tough that's when you know what's going to hold up and what's not'
Six times a men's singles champion Down Under, the Serbian will be joined in making a return at MelbournePark by 2008 women's champion Maria Sharapova, who missed last year's tournament because of a doping ban.
Serena Williams has defeated her compatriot in four straight matches since a defeat in the quarter-finals of the 2013 Australian Open.
Beaten by Roger Federer in last year's final, Cilic was pushed to the brink by Spanish veteran Verdasco who had the Croat on the ropes in the fourth set tiebreak.
Bernard Tomic bowed out of the Australian Open on Sunday with a stinging rebuke of the scheduling.
While trying to surpass Margaret Court's record of 24 Grand Slam titles might be one of the reasons she pushed herself to get back on court despite all her complications in childbirth, she also wants to see if she recover her pre-pregnancy form.
List of Australian Open women's singles champions since the event began in 1922 (Australian unless stated):
Photos from matches on Day 2 at the Australian Open on Tuesday
Fashion statements from Roland Garros...
Croatia's Mirjana Lucic-Baroni, who made the third round of the 1997 US Open also at 15, was the previous youngest player to advance to that stage of a grand slam.
Serena Williams started her quest to join Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova in joint fourth place on the career Grand Slam list with a 6-3, 6-1 victory over 18-year-old fellow American Taylor Townsend at the US Open on Tuesday.
Serena Williams is unlikely to win a record equalling 24th Grand slam title on the claycourts of Roland Garros, although her chance will come, the American's long-time coach Patrick Mouratoglou said on Friday.
Images from Saturday's action at the Australian Open.
Images from Sunday's action at the Australian Open in Melbourne.
IMAGES from Day 6 of the Australian Open in Melbourne, on Saturday.
'007, Why not? Maybe this is the year. Seven in 17. I'm not a numerologist but it sounds good'
Canadian tennis ace Eugenie Bouchard was left surprised after a male presenter conducting her on-court interview made an unusual request by asking her to give them a twirl.
Images from the Australian Open in Melbourne on Thursday.
Halep has struggled for form and fitness since her first-round defeat at the US Open last August and came to Australia on a five-match losing streak and without a coach after long-serving Darren Cahill left for "family reasons".
Coach Patrick Mouratoglou claimed Serena Williams' fitness had since gone up a notch and Margaret Court's all-time record of 24 Grand Slam singles titles may well be in peril at the Australian Open.
IMAGES from Day 1 of all the action from the Wimbledon Championships played at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, on Monday.
Mirjana Lucic-Baroni could barely contain her joy after continuing her remarkable run at the Australian Open to reach her first grand slam quarter-final since the 1999 Wimbledon championships on Monday.
Andy Murray would not have continued playing at the Australian Open if his father-in-law's health had deteriorated following his collapse at Rod Laver Arena, the world number two said on Monday.
'You can't be frustrated all the time because the neighbour has a bigger house than you, or a bigger TV or better garden. That's not the way that I see the life, you know'
The coach of Ana Ivanovic, and father-in-law of men's world number two Andy Murray, collapsed in the stands at Rod Laver Arena during the Serb's third round clash with American Madison Keys on Saturday, causing play to be suspended indefinitely.
List of Australian Open women's singles champions since the event began in 1922 (Australian unless stated):
Top 10 seeds David Ferrer, Tomas Berdych, Stan Wawrinka and Richard Gasquet raced into the second round of the Australian Open on Monday, apparently eager to make the most of relatively mild conditions at Melbourne Park.
As tradition demands the Serb will open play on Centre Court on Monday as defending men's champion but rather than a gentle loosener the 28-year-old faces a real danger in the form of Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber, the world number 33.
IMAGES from Australian Open matches played at Melbourne Park on Friday
Serena had said on Monday that she "can't wait for the future" as she warmed up for her return to the WTA Tour at the Tie Break Tens exhibition at Madison Square Garden.
Key facts and records of American Serena Williams and Canada's Bianca Andreescu
"It's kind of hard to say because she -- there's nothing I did wrong on those match points," Williams told reporters after her bid for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title ended.
IMAGES from Day 5 of the Australian Open in Melbourne, on Friday.
Serena Williams is third on the list of female Grand Slam title winners. She is one of only five women, after Maureen Connolly, Margaret Court, Martina Navratilova and Steffi Graf, to hold all four Grand Slam titles at same time.
Images from Day 2 of the 2022 Australian Open in Melbourne on Tuesday.
Images from matches played on Day 4 of the Australian Open at Melbourne Park on Thursday
Top seeded Briton Andy Murray was knocked out of the Australian Open in the fourth round on Sunday, losing 7-5 5-7 6-2 6-4 to German world number 50 Mischa Zverev on Rod Laver Arena.
Serena Williams allowed herself a few moments to enjoy her sixth Wimbledon title before thoughts turned to New York and the elusive calendar year feat.
Images from Day 3 of the 2022 Australian Open in Melbourne on Wednesday.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances