'It's a double-edged sword, but I'm enjoying it.'
The four-times Grand Slam champion, who is eyeing her third Australian Open trophy when the tournament begins on January 18 at Melbourne Park, was pushed harder in the next set but edged ahead again at 5-4 to wrap up the win on serve.
Fifth seed Elena Rybakina booked her place in the Australian Open semi-finals on Wednesday with a dominant second set display to hand six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek a 7-5, 6-1 defeat at Melbourne Park.
Russian-born Daria Kasatkina said she is ready to embrace the "good pressure" of a home Grand Slam when she steps onto the Melbourne Park court as an Australian citizen for the first time.
IMAGES from Day 4 of the matches played at the Australian Open at Melbourne Park on Wednesday.
Australia batter Travis Head has endorsed Jake Weatherald as an opening partner following the South Australian's rough start as a Test cricketer in the Ashes.
Keys, who captured her first Grand Slam title at the tournament last year, said she was still getting used to the surreal experience of seeing herself immortalised around Melbourne Park.
England called up spinner Shoaib Bashir and seamer Matthew Potts for the final Ashes Test against Australia beginning on Sunday with one of them set to fill the void created by Gus Atkinson's injury-induced absence.
IMAGES from the Australian Open matches played at Melbourne Park in Melbourne on Thursday.
From afar on Saturday, the SCG track looked to have a distinct tinge of green on it as the groundsmen ran the roller over it.
Nick Kyrgios will only feature in the doubles at the Australian Open, which begins at Melbourne Park on January 18.
Germany's Alexander Zverev remained on track for a return to the Australian Open final after beating American Learner Tien 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-1, 7-6(3) in the Melbourne Park quarter-finals on Tuesday.
Cricket Australia were left millions of dollars out of pocket, having to refund tickets for a confirmed sell-out crowd on day three at the 100,000-seat stadium and for another large crowd for day four.
Aryna Sabalenka handed 18-year-old American Iva Jovic a comprehensive 6-3, 6-0 defeat in the quarter-finals at a sweltering Melbourne Park on Tuesday to remain on course for a third Australian Open title in four years.
Seven-times Grand Slam champion Venus Williams thanked Australian Open organisers on Saturday for giving her a wildcard that will see the 45-year-old American become the oldest woman ever to compete in the singles main draw.
Kyrgios, the 2018 Brisbane champion, is now ranked 673rd in the world with no protected ranking and will also need a wildcard to compete at Melbourne Park.
New Melbourne queen Rybakina happy to find highest level again
Tough road for defending champion Keys
Twice Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka floated onto Rod Laver Arena in a jellyfish-inspired outfit and claimed a see-sawing 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 win over Croatian battler Antonia Ruzic to reach the second round at Melbourne Park on Tuesday.
Jessica Pegula moved into the semi-finals of the Australian Open for the first time in her career on Wednesday, with a 6-3, 7-6(1) win over fellow American and fourth seed Amanda Anisimova at Melbourne Park.
The Melbourne Cricket Club has launched an exhibition celebrating the life, career and enduring legacy of spin great Shane Warne.
If selected, it would be the fast-medium pacer's first Test since taking five wickets in a heavy defeat by New Zealand in Hamilton a year ago.
'I've practised with both of them a little bit and they're incredible ball strikers. There's more to come, I hope they stay injury-free.'
'We could play a couple of all-rounders. Could play a spinner. Could play no spinner. We'll figure it out.'
Babar Azam's first Big Bash League stint ended early as the Pakistan star returned home before Sydney Sixers' eliminator after an underwhelming season.
Serena Williams fuels comeback speculation with TV interview
World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka set social media abuzz with playful romance rumours after a cheeky remark about her boyfriend, Georgios Frangulis, during her Brisbane International victory speech on Sunday.
A thrilling seventh game had both players scrambling in long rallies as the momentum shifted back and forth until Gauff fired a backhand winner and screamed in triumph.
Tennis fans in Australia could win A$10 million ($6.71 million) by correctly predicting every match winner at the Australian Open.
Cricket Australia are bracing for a massive loss of around Aus $10m ($7.72 million), according to media reports in Australia.
Aryna Sabalenka fell 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 to Elena Rybakina on Saturday, the Russia-born Kazakh turning the tables on the Belarusian who beat her for the 2023 title.
Jannik Sinner was in ominous form on the Rod Laver Arena court he has ruled for two years before the match was cut short.
Sophie Molineux will take over as Australia's all-formats captain after Alyssa Healy retires at the end of the upcoming home series against India.
A fine half-century from Babar Azam and a three-wicket haul by pacer Sean Abbott helped Sydney Sixers seal a six-wicket win over Melbourne Renegades during their Big Bash League (BBL) New Year's clash on Thursday.
Mitchell Starc, who picked up 26 wickets in four matches with an average of 17.42, has moved one rung up to share the second spot with Pakistan spinner Noman Ali.
Batting great Alistair Cook says England's 2-2 home series draw against Shubman Gill-led India was against "not a great Indian side", flagging concerns over the team's preparation for the Ashes.
The overwhelmingly bowler-friendly Melbourne pitch on which 20 wickets fell on Day 1 of the Boxing Day Test has prompted Kevin Pietersen and Dinesh Kartik to point out the selective criticism of Indian tracks when spinners get wickets in a heap.
Lorenzo Musetti brushed aside Taylor Fritz in straight sets to reach his first Australian Open quarter-final, setting up a blockbuster last-eight clash with Novak Djokovic at Melbourne Park.
As he chases Grand Slam success, Alexander Zverev describes the unseen routines and discipline behind playing tennis with type 1 diabetes.
Richardson has, so far, played three Test matches since making his debut in 2018-19. The pacer has picked up 11 wickets at an average of 22.09.
