Roger Federer is practising pain-free after undergoing two knee surgeries this year and says he expects to return to the circuit at the Australian Open in January.
Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand battled past Malaysia's Cheng Su Hui and Tan Zhing in a tough opening round match.
Two-time Grand Slam champion Lleyton Hewitt has flagged his retirement after a record 20th campaign at his home Australian Open next year.
The 19-year-old, who is ranked 34th in the WTA Tour rankings, occupies the last seeded place.
Novak Djokovic is finally set to return to action next week after six months out with an elbow injury and will then decide whether to take part in the Jan 15-28 Australian Open.
Paes and Raja dispatched the pair of Nikoloz Basilashvili and Andreas Haider-Maurer 6-2, 6-3 in their opening round.
World No. 32 Ayush, who claimed his maiden Super 300 title at the US Open earlier this year, dismissed Canada's Sam Yuan 21-11, 21-15 in 33 minutes.
Prize money row rumbling behind scenes at Melbourne Park
Players at this month's Australian Open will not be required to take COVID-19 tests and could play even if they had the virus, tournament director Craig Tiley said.
The former Australian Open champion said he is as hungry as ever to claim the tournament for the fifth time later this month.
Australian Open organisers increased prize money for the early losers at the opening Grand Slam of the season to record levels on Thursday, a move which is likely to quell player unrest and end talk of a strike.
Sania Mirza booked a berth in the women's singles main draw of the Australian Open with an easy straight sets victory over Canada's Stephanie Dubois, in Melbourne on Sunday.
Smoke-induced interruptions likely at season's first grand slam.
Tennis Australia announced on Tuesday that the world No. 6 had pulled out because of a back problem.
All players who want a visa to compete in the Australian Open will need to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, the country's immigration minister said on Wednesday, putting Novak Djokovic's title defence and Grand Slam record bid in doubt.
Despite former world No 1 Serena Williams not being in action for almost a year, British No 1 Johanna Konta still views Williams as the player to beat at the Australian Open in 2018.
Rafter, who turns 31 on Sunday, is not planning a comeback to the professional circuit.
Images from Wednesday's men's and women's singles matches at the Australia Open in Melbourne.
Roger Federer beat Rafael Nadal 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 in the Australian Open final on Sunday to win his 18th Grand Slam singles title.
World No 9 Lucie Safarova will miss this month's Australian Open as she has yet to regain full fitness following a bacterial infection last year, the Czech said on Friday.
The five-day lockdown, ordered after a new COVID-19 outbreak at a hotel, was due to start at midnight.
The Williams sisters' contribution to tennis was also highlighted by Japan's Naomi Osaka, who reached the second round after demolishing Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
UP Warriorz beat Mumbai Indians by 22 runs in WPL
Australian batter Phoebe Litchfield's commanding knock of 78 off just 40 balls went in vain as Gujarat Giants beat UP Warriorz by 10 runs in a high-scoring Women's Premier League match, Navi Mumbai, on Saturday.
Organisers hope the anxious buildup will be forgotten when the action begins.
Last year's Australian Open runner-up Jo-Wilfried Tsonga could miss next week's tournament after a back injury forced him out of the Sydney International on Thursday.
Former world No. 4 Jelena Dokic has won a direct wildcard entry into next month's Australian Open by winning a qualifying tournament in Melbourne on Sunday. Dokic, who came from a set down to beat Queensland junior Monica Wejnert 6-7, 7-5, 6-3 will now attempt to qualify for lead-up tournaments in Brisbane and Hobart in the New Year.
With this loss, Prajnesh lost a golden opportunity to face Djokovic in the second round.
Nepal head coach Stuart Law expressed disappointment over the team's 10-wicket defeat to debutants Italy, saying players had "not shown commitment".
Jannik Sinner had to dig deep to get the better of Auger-Aliassime in the second semi-final.
Roger Federer and Justine Henin have been named as top seeds for next week's Australian Open.
The 2011 Australian Open will offer a record A$25 million ($24.2 million) prize money, up 3.8 per cent on the previous year, with the men's and women's winners to each pocket A$2.2 million.
Novak Djokovic became the first man to win three successive Australian Open titles in the professional era when he beat third seed Andy Murray 6-7, 7-6, 6-3, 6-2 in a battle of attrition on Sunday.
Michael Hussey shared a heart-warming insight into Mahendra Singh Dhoni's mindset on how the Chennai Super Kings legend calms young Indian players in the high-pressure Indian Premier League.
On a high after beating RCB, Delhi Capitals aim for strong showing against Gujarat Giants
Ash Barty ended Australia's 44-year wait for a home winner at the Australian Open when the world number one staved off a fightback from American Danielle Collins to complete a 6-3, 7-6(2) win on Saturday and pick up her third Grand Slam title.
After just four days the Asian challenge is all but over at the Grand Slam of Asia/Pacific
Prize money for both the men's and women's singles champions at next year's Australian Open has been increased to $1.16 million.
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