Scorching heat halted outdoor matches and sent fans scurrying for shade at the Australian Open on Tuesday.
Rafa Nadal said playing Roger Federer always brings the best out of him after he bludgeoned his way past the Swiss on Friday to reach the final of the Australian Open.
Second seed Serena Williams admitted closing the roof on Rod Laver Arena because of the soaring temperatures helped her battle back from a first set deficit to beat Svetlana Kuznetsova 5-7, 7-5, 6-1 on Wednesday. The American's victory prevented a Russian sweep of the Australian Open semi-finals and she will now play Elena Dementieva in the last four on Thursday.
Kim Clijsters recovered from a set down to beat Li Na 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 to win the Australian Open on Saturday after the Chinese imploded under pressure in the second set and took out her frustrations on her country's fans.
Andy Murray ground down David Ferrer 4-6, 7-6, 6-1, 7-6 on Friday to reach his second consecutive Australian Open final, raising British hopes of ending a 75-year drought for a men's singles grand slam champion.
Lion-hearted Li Na broke new ground for China at the Australian Open on Thursday, fighting back to topple World No1 Caroline Wozniacki and become her country's first singles Grand Slam finalist.
Caroline Wozniacki dragged herself back from the brink to power into the semi-finals of the Australian Open with a gritty 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 win over a dogged Francesca Schiavone on Tuesday.
Rocket-heeled Rafa Nadal's bid for a fourth consecutive Grand Slam gained pace on Thursday with a 6-2, 6-1, 6-1 demolition of hapless American qualifier Ryan Sweeting at the Australian Open.
Roger Federer fired up the Australian Open with a blistering start to his title defence on Monday, bringing some welcome warmth to an unseasonably cool Melbourne Park on opening day.
Roger Federer opened his Australian Open title defence in belligerent fashion on Monday, thrashing hapless Slovak Lukas Lacko in straight sets to stroll into the second round of the year's first grand slam.
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.
Reader Namit sent us this picture from Melbourne.
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
Reader Saurav Sachdev sent us a picture of Sania Mirza from Melbourne.
Sania Mirza bowed out of the Australian Open after a 6-7, 4-6 loss to Venus Williams in the third round.
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.
Mike and Bob Bryan defended their Australian Open doubles title on Saturday with a 6-3, 6-7, 6-3 win over Canada's Daniel Nestor and Nenad Zimonjic of Serbia.
Images from day ten of the 2010 Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, on Wednesday.
Images from day six of the 2010 Australian Open on Saturday.
Roger Federer's straight sets demolition of Romanian Victor Hanescu on Thursday served a timely reminder to the men who would be king that on centre court he still rules supreme.
Comeback queen Justine Henin issued an ominous warning to her rivals at the Australian Open by knocking out Russian fifth seed Elena Dementieva 7-5, 7-6 in the second round on Wednesday.
A blue plexicushion centre court at Rod Laver Arena was the centrepiece of the Australian Open 2008 launch.
Brothers Mike and Bob Bryan retained their Australian Open men's doubles title on Saturday after a 7-5, 7-5 victory over Jonas Bjorkman and Max Mirnyi.
Roger Federer strolled to a 6-2, 7-5, 6-3 win over Novak Djokovic to reach the Australian Open quarter-finals.
The fifth seed continued his imperious run by casting aside fellow American Alex Kuznetsov in the Australian Open second round on Thursday.
Fernando Verdasco was kicking himself after narrowly missing his chance to beat fellow Spaniard Rafa Nadal in an epic five-set semi-final at the Australian Open in the early hours of Saturday. The energy-sapping five hour 14 minute match beat the previous record held by Boris Becker and Omar Camporese since 1991 by three minutes.
Roger Federer set up a juicy third round clash with former Australian Open champion Marat Safin after finally subduing a stubborn Evgeny Korolev 6-2, 6-3, 6-1 on Wednesday.
Rafa Nadal soothed his disappointment at yet another loss to Novak Djokovic in the longest ever Grand Slam final by declaring he was at least free of the mental chokehold the Serb had placed him under throughout last year.
In an epic encounter, Rafael Nadal rallied from a set down to defeat Roger Federer 6-7, 6-2, 7-6, 6-4 in the Australian Open semi-final at Melbourne Park on Thursday.
A fired-up Rafael Nadal survived a huge scare from big-hitting Czech Tomas Berdych at the Australian Open on Tuesday to prevail 6-7, 7-6, 6-4, 6-3.
The 20-year-old Serb said he would take time out to celebrate his success with people who matter.
Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga said he was overwhelmed after his win over 14th seed Mikhail Youzhny at the Australian Open.
Fifth seed Ana Ivanovic was knocked out of the Australian Open first round on Monday when she was upset by doubles specialist Lucie Hradecka 1-6, 6-3, 6-2.
The Australian team of Wayne Arthurs and Todd Woodbridge teamed up to beat Alex Corretja and Feliciano Lopez in the crucial doubles rubber.
Comeback queen Williams demonstrated that she still belonged among the elite as she annihilated Sharapova to win her eighth Grand Slam trophy.
The Indian ace and his partner Samantha Stosur lost in the quarter-finals of the mixed doubles.
"She played some incredible points on match point, she reminded me a bit of myself," said Williams after the match.
They needed iron willpower to stagger through scrappy quarter-finals on Wednesday and set up a heavyweight meeting in the last four.
