The Australian Open started with a bang and the stars weren't hard to miss, as most of them were seen wearing loud colours at Melbourne Park.
"Well, I don't know what his intentions are, how he feels, but he is definitely always one of the top favourites in every tournament that he plays," said Djokovic, who beat Slovenian qualifier Aljaz Bedene 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 to join the Spaniard in the second round on Tuesday.
- 'I think they've made a very brave and good decision in making Steve the captain' - 'I'm comfortable where my game's at, everything's going in the right direction, I'd just like to get more runs'
Sri Lanka great Kumar Sangakkara has been named as the Leading Cricketer in the World in the 2015 Wisden Cricketers' Almanack.
Despite all the hype, however, the match will do well to live up to some of the Manchester derby tussles down the years. Here are five of the most memorable:
Australia's retiring one-day captain Michael Clarke has urged his players to put 'skill over emotion'.
The same bowling which was India's weakest link coming into the World Cup has remarkably become their strongest suit as the reigning champions eased into the last four in impressive style.
Impressed with the excellent bowling show by the Indian team so far, former captain Sunil Gavaskar has said that the bowlers have combined well as a unit to pick all the opposition wickets in the seven wins on the trot in the ongoing World Cup.
Sri Lanka skipper Angelo Mathews is looking to overwhelming support from the crowd.
The toe-crusher is hitting the target, the bouncer is coming out well and, most importantly, the wicket column is swelling again.
Sri Lanka veterans Tillakaratne Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara smashed imperious centuries to punish a wasteful Bangladesh.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni's theory got firm backing from Sachin Tendulkar.
'Controlled aggression is my mantra' 'I am telling myself to stay at the wicket'
Gaganjeet Bhullar turned in yet another steady round of three-under 69 to overturn a six-shot deficit into a one-shot lead on a blustery day at the Fiji International.
Praising opener Shikhar Dhawan's match-winning century against South Africa, India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni said the left-hander played smart by staying at the crease even after getting his hundred.
Maria Sharapova's dreams of a sixth Grand Slam title were ended by Serena Williams and her wrecking ball serve in the Australian Open final on Saturday, but the Russian was adamant she would someday have the American's measure.
Celebrated wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist and late former captain and selector Jack Ryder will be inducted into Australian Cricket Hall of Fame at the annual Allan Border Medal ceremony in Sydney on January 27.
Australia will miss captain George Bailey in the One-dayer against England on Friday but their focus will be to seal a place in the ODI tri-series final.
'I had said earlier that Ajinkya Rahane would be looked at as a third opener but that situation can change because he has batted at No. 4 in a World Cup (in 2015) before. These conditions are such that you get to play fast bowling throughout the innings so he becomes a strong candidate for No. 4'
Phillip Hughes' tragic death came back to haunt Australia after star all-rounder Shane Watson was hit on the helmet by a vicious bouncer from pacer James Pattinson during their training session at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Tuesday.
The Nitro Series promised to make athletics a show and the sport's ultimate show-man Usain Bolt capped its first meeting in Melbourne on Saturday by propelling his team of international "All-Stars" to a crowd-pleasing win in the 4x100 metres relay.
After a 3-0 ODI whitewash and a win in the first T20 International, India would be looking to continue their dominance and complete the clean sweep when they take on a hapless Zimbabwe in the second and final T20 International in Harare.
Croatia's Mirjana Lucic-Baroni could barely contain her joy after reaching the Australian Open semi-finals on Wednesday, 19 years after her only previous singles match win at Melbourne Park prior to her remarkable run.
Bangladesh continued their giant-killing exploits with a nine-wicket victory over South Africa in Wednesday's rain-hit final one-day international to clinch the three-match series 2-1.
IMAGES from all the action on Day 8 the Australian Open on Monday
Here is a fact-box on Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes, who died on Thursday. He was 25.
Bangladesh thrashed South Africa by seven wickets in the second one-day international on Sunday to tie the three-match series at 1-1 after an inspired bowling performance saw the Proteas bundled out for 162, their lowest total against the hosts.
Ramkumar Ramanathan's good run at the Chennai Open continued as he combined with compatriot N Sriram Balaji to knock out fourth seeded Kiwi pair of Artem Sitak and Marcus Daniel on Wednesday and storm into the doubles quarter-finals.
.jpg)
Missy Franklin surprised herself by going second-quickest behind Australia's Cate Campbell with a personal best in the heats for the women's 100 metres freestyle on Thursday as the American teenager chases a fourth world championship gold of the week.
Australia defeated West Indies by a massive 177 runs to win the second Test match in Melbourne and claim the series 2-0.
Former Pakistan captain Rameez Raja believes Indian bowlers should take a cue from Wahab Riaz's hostile spell.
Former Australia opener and chief coach Geoff Marsh feels that speedster Mitchell Starc's performance will be key for the home team in their upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup semi-final clash against India at the SCG on Thursday.
A selection of musings from around the cricket World Cup.
Former Pakistan pacer Aaqib Javed feels that Mohammed Shami is the best Indian paceman on view and his performance has been key to India's good show in the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup.
Attributing his brilliant World Cup form to a calm mind and hard work, Indian batsman Shikhar Dhawan has said he managed to come out of a lean patch by sticking to his strong work ethic.
India's batting at the death is one grey area that skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni would like to address.
India cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni feels that talented Mumbai batsman Ajinkya Rahane is one player who has improved by leaps and bounds in recent times and is ready to don any hat for the team's cause.
"I prayed hard. Prayers not to win but for strength. All glory to God," the World No 1 said.
Kevin Pietersen felt like a "clown" after getting out in the first innings of the second Test but maintained he has been in prime form during England's heavy defeats in the opening three Ashes matches.
Photos from the Australian Open matches played at Melbourne Park on Wednesday.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances