Picking up her racquet bag and marching straight out of Rod Laver Arena without a nod or a wave, Maria Sharapova's abrupt exit after her fourth-round loss to Dominika Cibulkova on Monday spoke volumes of her disdain for a forgettable Australian Open.
Serena Williams admitted that a bad back sustained during practice hampered her movement during her shock fourth round loss to Ana Ivanovic on Sunday, but refused to blame the injury for her stunning exit that blew the Australian Open wide open.
Images from the Australian Open matches played on Sunday.
Serbia's Ana Ivanovic stunned World No 1 Serena Williams at the Australian Open on Sunday with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 fourth-round upset at Rod Laver Arena.
Images from the Friday's play at the Australian Open.
Victoria Azarenka said the prospect of winning a third straight Australian Open title is an inspiration, not a pressure, after booking her place in the third round.
The thought of playing a long match in the extreme Melbourne heat resulted in a sleepless night for Serena Williams, but the World No 1 need not have worried as she strode swiftly into the Australian Open third round on Wednesday.
Images from the Australian Open matches played in Melbourne on Tuesday.
Images from the quarter-final matches played at the Australian Open at Melbourne Park on Tuesday
Novak Djokovic weathered a gallant challenge from a tenacious Lleyton Hewitt to send the last Australian in the draw packing and make the quarter-finals of the Australian Open on Monday.
Serena Williams was bundled out of the Australian Open on Monday, losing her fourth-round match to Russian world number 56 Ekaterina Makarova 6-2, 6-3 on a scorching day at Rod Laver Arena.
Kim Clijsters was courage personified as the defending champion shook off a painful ankle injury and saved four match points to overhaul China's Li Na 4-6, 7-6, 6-4 and reach the quarter-finals of the Australian Open on Sunday.
Images from day four of the Australian Open 2012 tennis tournament in Melbourne, on Thursday.
Defending champions Serena and Venus Williams defeated Cara Black and Liezel Huber 6-4, 6-3 to win the Australian Open women's doubles title on Friday, maintaining the partnership's perfect record in grand slam finals.
Top seed Sabalenka proved to be at another level, though, racking up 32 winners for the match to leave Badosa chasing shadows under the lights at Rod Laver Arena.
Jarmila Gajdosova and Matthew Ebden became the first locals to win a main draw Australian Open title since 2005 when they clinched the mixed doubles on Sunday.
Li Na's bid for a second Grand Slam title ended tearfully with an injured ankle, a bruised head and a heart-breaking defeat to Victoria Azarenka, but she could still laugh off her 'stupid' falls after a gallant failure in the Australian Open final.
China's Li Na sent a wayward Maria Sharapova crashing out of the Australian Open semi-finals on Thursday and says there will be no repeat of her capitulation to Kim Clijsters in the 2011 Melbourne Park final.
Roger Federer fended off a withering challenge from Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to prevail 7-6, 4-6, 7-6, 3-6, 6-3 in Rod Laver Arena and reach the semi-finals of the Australian Open tennis on Wednesday.
Serena Williams trounced Maria Kirilenko at the Australian Open on Monday, setting up an all-American quarter-final with her would-be successor Sloane Stephens after Andy Murray had put flagging Frenchman Gilles Simon out of his misery.
Maria Sharapova missed out on a third successive 'double-bagel' but humbled Venus Williams 6-1, 6-3 to charge into the fourth round of the Australian Open on Friday.
Carlos Alcaraz powered into the Australian Open quarter-finals for the first time on Monday
Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka and Madison Keys made rocky starts on Thursday but eventually secured contrasting victories to set up a heavy metal Australian Open final showdown
Madison Keys blasted her way into the Australian Open semi-finals for a third time as the American continues her bid for a first Grand Slam title.
Top seed Caroline Wozniacki and former champion Maria Sharapova brought glamour and grit to the opening day of the Australian Open with first round victories on the Rod Laver Arena Monday.
World No 1 Novak Djokovic won a record-extending 6th Australian Open title after defeating Briton Andy Murray in straight sets at Melbourne Park on Sunday.
A fatigued Novak Djokovic stared down a ferocious challenge from Rafa Nadal to retain his Australian Open title on Sunday in the longest Grand Slam final played.
A fatigued Novak Djokovic stared down a ferocious challenge from Rafa Nadal to defend his Australian Open title early on Monday in the longest grand slam final ever played.
A second title eluded Leander Paes at this year's Australian Open as he and partner Elena Vesnina ended runners-up in the mixed doubles event after being outplayed by Horia Tecau and Bethanie Mattek-Sands in the summit clash in Melbourne on Sunday.
Russians Svetlana Kuznetsova and Vera Zvonareva ground down the Italian pairing of Roberta Vinci and Sara Errani 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 to win the Australian Open women's doubles title on Friday.
Rafa Nadal came from behind to topple great rival Roger Federer 6-7, 6-2, 7-6, 6-4 on Thursday in an enthralling Australian Open semi-final of the highest quality.
Defending champion Novak Djokovic gritted his teeth after suffering a leg injury to grind down David Ferrer 6-4, 7-6, 6-1 at the Australian Open on Wednesday and set up an intriguing re-match of last year's final with Andy Murray.
Roger Federer thrashed Juan Martin Del Potro 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 to reach the Australian Open semi-finals on Tuesday, exorcising a Grand Slam demon against the Argentine in his 1,000th tour match.
World No 1 Novak Djokovic praised the battling spirit of Nicolas Mahut after he thrashed the injured Frenchman 6-0, 6-1, 6-1 in 74 minutes on Saturday to reach the Australian Open last 16.
Andy Roddick's 11th Australian Open campaign ended in disappointment on Thursday when he was forced to retire against Australian Lleyton Hewitt when trailing two sets to one.
Serena Williams, unable to defend her 2009 and 2010 titles last year due to a freak foot injury, found herself dive-bombed by crickets that made merry on a balmy evening at Rod Laver Arena.
Images from Day 1 at the Australian Open, in Melbourne, on Monday.
Roger Federer showed no sign of back trouble as he cruised into the second round of the Australian Open on Monday with a 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 victory over qualifier Alexander Kudryavtsev.
So prior to their Melbourne Park rematch, former champion Sharapova said she was primed and ready for another drawn out dog-fight against the 14th seed.
Stars made their way to the Australian Open to cheer on Rafael Nadal.
