'In choosing to be fully himself, even when it was uncomfortable, Usman Khawaja expanded the meaning of representation and conscience in Australian sport,' notes Asif Ullah Khan.
Sania Mirza and Elena Vesnina showed nerves of steel under pressure as they shocked second seeds Liezel Huber and Lisa Raymond to breeze into the women's doubles semi-final of the Australian Open in Melbourne.
The Australian Open offers wildcard spots for eight men and eight women for the Jan. 15-28 tournament at Melbourne Park.
The women's draw for the Australian Open is resembling the march of the walking wounded, with more than a quarter of the top 25 ruled out or carrying injuries into the year's first Grand Slam.
Factbox on Switzerland's Roger Federer, who defeated Rafael Nadal in the Australian Open men's singles final on Sunday.
It was the first Grand Slam triumph for Polasek, 35, who came out of retirement in 2018
The Indian ace and his partner Samantha Stosur lost in the quarter-finals of the mixed doubles.
Jacob Bethell scored his maiden Test century to lead an England rearguard action on the fourth day of the fifth Test on Wednesday but Australia still looked firmly set for victory.
Lots to look forward to in Indian sports as packed 2026 calender awaits
Guess the player by their trademark outfits, tattoos or hairstyles.
Rediff.com takes stock of the seeded casualties on the first day of the Australian Open.
Defending champion Novak Djokovic was knocked out of the Australian Open quarter-finals by Stanislas Wawrinka 2-6, 6-4, 6-2, 3-6, 9-7 on Tuesday.
Gill, who was vice-captain of the T20I side, was the most high-profile absentee when the national selectors named a 15-member squad for the global showpiece in India and Sri Lanka starting February 7.
Images from the Australian Open women's final played in Melbourne on Saturday.
Former world number one Ana Ivanovic is doubtful for this month's Australian Open after suffering a stomach injury at the Hopman Cup mixed team event.
Having retained the majority of their squad, MI will be the team to beat given their formidable batting, but Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Delhi Capitals will be out to spoil their party.
Aryna Sabalenka exemplified consistency in 2025 and arrives for the November 1-8 tournament having retained her US Open title in September, after finishing runner-up to Madison Keys at the Australian Open and Coco Gauff at Roland Garros.
Top seed Andy Murray could meet Roger Federer or Kei Nishikori in the third round, while Serena faces tricky Belinda Bencic in opening round
London Olympics bronze-medallist Saina trounced Malaysia's Jin Wei Goh 21-12, 21-14 in 37 minutes to set up a women's singles quarter-final with 2013 World champion and second seed Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand. In the men's singles, Srikanth defeated Indonesia's Sony Dwi Kuncoro 21-19, 21-12 in 34 minutes.
India's singles player Somdev Devvarman suffered disappointment in the Australian Open qualifications at Melbourne Park on Thursday. The 173rd-ranked lost 6-2, 1-6, 4-6 to the 164th-ranked Jurgen Zopp of Estonia. World No. 168 Saketh Myneni was left the last Indian standing as he edged out another Indian and Chennai Open quarter-finalist Ramkumar Ramanathan, 6-4, 6-1.
The Bhupathi-Melzer pair lose in straight sets to Argentine team of Diego Schwartzman and Horacio Zeballos.
Normal service resumed at the Australian Open on Saturday as Roger Federer and Serena Williams booked their places in the second week of the championship.
Roger Federer found that out this week when he was blocked access to a locker room at the Australian Open by a security guard who took his job very seriously.
Images from Day 1 of the Australian Open.
Five teenagers ended last year inside the world's top 50, led by number 12 Sloane Stephens, and the sight of 16-year-old Belinda Bencic pushing world number four Li Na hard at the Australian Open suggests big things for her future.
Usman Khawaja picked as Australia announce squad for Sydney Test against England
Royal Challengers Bengaluru rode on a century partnership between Radha Yadav and Richa Ghosh before off-spinner Shreyanka Patil produced a magical five-wicket haul to beat Gujarat Giants by 32 runs and register their third consecutive win in the Women's Premier League, in Navi Mumbai, on Friday.
With two men's five-set matches having caused a log-jam, Muguruza and Konta did not begin their match until 12:30 am local time (1330 GMT) on Friday at Margaret Court Arena, a record late start at the Grand Slam.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru will look to build on those gains when they take on a star-studded UP Warriorz in the WPL in Navi Mumbai on Monday.
Novak Djokovic blamed "human error" on Wednesday for a mistake in his Australian immigration paperwork and apologised for breaking isolation for a photoshoot when he had COVID-19 last month.
The 35-year-old wicketkeeper-batter was part of two one-day international World Cup triumphs and six successful T20 World Cup campaigns.
Adam Scott soared back into contention with a five-under par 66 in the second round of the Australian Open on Friday, claiming a course record that lasted little more than half an hour.
India's challenge at the 2010 Australian Open Squash Championship came to a premature end on Wednesday after unseeded Dipika Pallikal bowed out in the first round of the tournament in Canberra.
Her elaborate outfit required years of Nike production planning, with crystals proving particularly challenging on performance wear. The dramatic hair change after walking out onto the court was always part of the plan.
Images from Day 5 of the Australian Open.
Maria Sharapova's eagerly-awaited return to the Australian Open ended swiftly on Monday when she was sensationally knocked out of the first grand slam of 2010 just hours after it began.
Factbox on American Serena Williams, who plays sister Venus in the final of the Australian Open on Saturday.
Players competed at empty stadiums at Melbourne Park through the five-day lockdown but reduced capacity crowds of 7,477 have been permitted in each of Thursday's two sessions and the same number for the singles finals sessions on Saturday and Sunday.
Australia head coach and selector Andrew McDonald has confirmed Usman Khawaja will play in the fifth Ashes Test against England at the Sydney Cricket Ground amid media speculation it could be his last international.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances