A look at some of the long-standing barriers or world records which were broken in athletics, cricket and badminton.
Roger Federer pulled out of the Qatar Open due to back pain on Friday only 10 days before the start of the Australian Open.
The third seed won her first Grand Slam title when the Belgian retired from the women's singles final because of injury.
While Federer and Nadal will look to reignite the flair and fight they showed to reach last year's final, 2018 could have a different script at play.
Jos Buttler credits Matthew Hayden's advice and a break from the game for his return to form after struggling in the T20 World Cup.
Prajnesh Gunneswaran, who was the lone Indian left in the Australian Open qualifiers, lost in the final of the qualifying event on Friday.
Even putting on socks and shoes caused him severe pain, the three time Grand Slam winner revealed.
The Australian Open has seen many unheralded players punching above their weight. Rediff.com takes a look at a few such unseeded players who went the distance in the new millennium.
Maria Sharapova set up an enticing quarter-final showdown with Eugenie Bouchard at the Australian Open following a comfortable 6-3, 6-0 fourth round victory over China's Peng Shuai on Sunday.
This was Lakshya Sen's first title since the Canada Open in 2024.
India is set to compete in the Billie Jean King Cup Asia-Oceania Group I ties, aiming for promotion to the 2026 play-offs. Despite a setback with Shrivalli Bhamidipaty's withdrawal, the team hopes to capitalise on home advantage.
Saina Nehwal dug deep for a fighting win over Thai rival Ratchanok Intanon while Kidambi Srikanth too continued his good run to make the semifinals of the $ 750,000 Australian Super Series Badminton tournament.
India's U20 women's team is set to face Australia in their second Group C match of the AFC U20 Women's Asian Cup, aiming to improve upon their first-half performance against Japan. Coach Joakim Alexandersson emphasises mindset and bravery as key factors for success.
For the third time in five years, Rafa Nadal's Australian Open title hopes were ended by injury as he was beaten by Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka in the final on Sunday.
As Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner prepare for their season-opening exhibition match in Incheon, the world's top two men's tennis players floated the prospect of one day playing together in a doubles tournament.
'If I win the Australian Open, I will be the happiest person on the planet. I think that the (money) will be in much better use in the hands that know what to do with it, and know how to help others.'
The Indian tried to fight fire with fire but the intensity shown by Berankis blew him away and he found himself serving to stay in the set.
Mitchell Marsh calls Lucknow his 'second home' and praises Lucknow Super Giants fans despite a poor IPL 2026 season.
Hungarian Timea Babos and France's Kristina Mladenovic defeated Russian duo Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina 6-4, 6-3 to win the women's doubles title at the Australian Open on Friday.
P V Sindhu has made early exits in as many as seven of the 12 BWF World Tour events this year.
The 25-year-old Briton, who had never beaten Federer in a Grand Slam previously despite being one of the few players to hold a superior career record against the Swiss, advanced to the final with a 6-4, 6-7, 6-3, 6-7, 6-2 win in four hours.
Twenty nine years after winning her first grand slam title, Martina Navratilova swept to her 57th on Sunday.
Gujarat Titans' batting coach Matthew Hayden criticised the team's performance after their 99-run defeat to Mumbai Indians in the IPL, citing a poor batting display and ineffective death bowling as key factors in the loss.
Yuki Bhambri progressed to his maiden Grand Slam semi-final by advancing to the last four of the US Open men's doubles event with New Zealand partner Michael Venus.
Djokovic brought up set point with an acrobatic backhand and secured the set with an unreturned shot from the same flank to close in on his 399th Grand Slam match victory, and his 101st in Melbourne, leaving him one shy of recordholder Roger Federer.
The third seed withdrew because of a wrist injury that will sideline him for at least two weeks.
The Russian beat Henrieta Nagyova 6-1 6-2. She will now meet Justine Henin-Hardenne.
Former world number one Serena Williams suffered an injury scare less than two weeks ahead of the Australian Open on Wednesday when the American was forced out of the Brisbane International with a badly twisted ankle.
Lando Norris secured pole position for the Miami Grand Prix sprint race, outperforming Kimi Antonelli and Oscar Piastri. This victory marks a significant upgrade for McLaren, boosting their confidence for the main race.
Victoria Azarenka retained her Australian Open title with a tense 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 victory over China's Li Na, who suffered a sickening ankle injury in the second set and hit her head in the third when she twisted the joint for a second time.
World men's tennis No. 1 Novak Djokovic headed reluctantly home on Monday after being kicked out of Australia because of his COVID-19 unvaccinated status, but the government left the door open for a possible return to his favourite Grand Slam in 2023.
Sania Mirza and her Romanian partner Horia Tecau waltzed into the mixed doubles final of the Australian Open after beating Australian duo Jarmila Gajdosova and Matthew Ebden 2-6, 6-3, 10-2 at Melbourne Park on Friday.
Peter Senior drew on all his experience from 34 years as a professional golfer to master galeforce winds and win the Australian Open by a shot on Sunday, 23 years after he first held aloft the Stonehaven Cup.
Serena Williams underlined the difference in class and power between her and the rest of the women's field with a 6-0, 6-4 demolition of fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska on Thursday to reach her seventh Australian Open final.
With next week's Australian Open in mind, a weary Venus Williams has opted to skip the Hobart International while her American compatriot Sloane Stephens has pulled out of the Sydney International with a minor wrist injury.
Speaking to reporters at Flushing Meadows, 28 year old Zverev spoke about his journey since Wimbledon and shared how he took an uncharacteristic break from his rigorous routine.
Jannik Sinner said he had to prioritise preparations for his Australian Open title defence.
Sebastian Ofner may never forget the rules of the sport again after his premature victory celebration turned into a nightmare collapse against Nishesh Basavareddy in the Australian Open qualifiers on Wednesday.
Australian skipper Pat Cummins has become a fan of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, praising the young batter's explosive pyrotechnics in the IPL.
World No 1 Novak Djokovic eased his way into the Australian Open semi-finals, brushing aside Canada's Milos Raonic with a 7-6(5), 6-4, 6-2 victory.
