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.
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.
Images from Day 6 of the 2024 Australian Open in Melbourne on Friday.
Images from Day 5 of the 2023 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on Friday.
Reader Namit sent us this picture from Melbourne.
Reader Shirley sent us pictures of Bhupathi and Paes from Adelaide.
The Australian Open final appears to promise two possible scenarios, either the finest display of stroke-making in living memory or the maestro Roger Federer simply crushing Chilean dasher Fernando Gonzalez.
Kyrgios and Kokkinakis, nicknamed the 'Special Ks' as juniors, claimed their first major title
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.
Reader Saurav Sachdev sent us a picture of Sania Mirza from Melbourne.
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.
Kyrgios and Kokkinakis were nicknamed the 'Special Ks' as juniors
Sania Mirza bowed out of the Australian Open after a 6-7, 4-6 loss to Venus Williams in the third round.
Denis Shapovalov said his Australian Open quarter-final opponent Rafael Nadal "100%" receives preferential treatment from officials and benefited from favouritism during the Spaniard's five-set victory on Tuesday.
Nadal fought from two sets down to defeat Medvedev in a five-set thriller at Rod Laver Arena.
A blue plexicushion centre court at Rod Laver Arena was the centrepiece of the Australian Open 2008 launch.
Rafael Nadal is taking no pleasure from the absence of great rival Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open, even if it means he has a clearer shot at the Grand Slam title record.
Serena Williams again wore her distinctive single-legged leotard for her second match at the Australian Open on Wednesday, and said the light material was perfect for the warmer conditions if a little too sheer to wear by itself.
Naomi Osaka faces Zheng before possible meeting with Coco Gauff
More major trophies surely await if she can convert her irresistible hardcourt form to French Open clay and grass at Wimbledon.
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.
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.
Women's champion Serena Williams, bidding for her 22nd Grand Slam title, will have to overcome No 4 seed Agnieszka Radwanska in the first singles semi-final at the Rod Laver Arena.
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.
Fourth seed Kim Clijsters overcame a late wobble to beat Slovakian Daniela Hantuchova 6-1 7-5 on Monday and set up a mouth-watering Australian Open quarter-final against Martina Hingis.
Lleyton Hewitt was beaten 6-2, 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 by Chilean Fernando Gonzalez in the Australian Open third round.
Second seed Rafael Nadal ground down German Philipp Kohlschreiber to win a tough match 7-5 6-3 4-6 6-2 in the Australian Open second round on Thursday.
Aryna Sabalenka bludgeoned her way to a maiden Grand Slam title at the Australian Open with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 win over Kazakh 22nd seed Elena Rybakina on Saturday in a thrilling final .
Beaten in just over two hours, Nadal won barely a third of the match's points, was broken five times and conjured only a single break point in the third set, which the Serb saved.
Fire-fighters went on alert as the mercury crept towards an expected maximum of 44 degrees Celsius (111 F), the highest since Black Saturday bushfires in 2009 that killed about 180 people in the southeastern state of Victoria.
Elena Rybakina stormed to her first Australian Open final with a 7-6(4), 6-3 win over Victoria Azarenka on Thursday, wearing the twice champion down in a cagey first set before dominating to close out the match.
A disbelieving Magda Linette continued her dream run at the Australian Open on Wednesday with a stunning victory over former world number one Karolina Pliskova to move into the semi-finals.
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