Tag: AUSOPEN

Djokovic Played Australian Open With 3 Centimeter Tear in Hamstring, Says Tiley

Novak Djokovic played with a three-centimeter (1.2 inches) tear in his hamstring during his run to a record-extending 10th Australian Open title, tournament director Craig Tiley said on Wednesday. The Serbian, who suffered the hamstring injury en route to winning the warm-up title in Adelaide, won the season-opening major after beating Stefanos Tsitsipas in Sunday’s…


Fire Still Burning, Djokovic and GOAT Debate Move on to Paris

MELBOURNE—A triumphant Novak Djokovic paraded the Australian Open trophy around the gardens of Melbourne’s Government House on Monday, his 10th title having added another notch in the plus column for those who argue he is the Greatest Of All Time (GOAT). That debate may never be settled but if it is to be decided purely…


Sabalenka Beats Rybakina for Australian Open Women’s Title

MELBOURNE, Australia—The serves were big. So big. Other shots, too. The points were over quickly. So quickly: Seven of the first 13 were aces. And so it was immediately apparent in the Australian Open women’s final between Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina that the one who could manage to keep her serve in line, get…


Djokovic Tops Paul; Reaches 10th Australian Open Final

MELBOURNE—Novak Djokovic reached a record-extending 10th Australian Open final on Friday and set up a blockbuster decider with Greek trailblazer Stefanos Tsitsipas and a battle for the world number one ranking. Nine-times champion Djokovic kept his perfect semi-final record at Melbourne Park intact with a 7–5 6–1 6–2 win over outgunned American Tommy Paul at…


Paul Downs Shelton in All-American Clash to Make Australian Open Semis

MELBOURNE—Tommy Paul became the first American man to reach the Australian Open semi-finals since Andy Roddick in 2009 after outclassing Ben Shelton 7–6(6) 6–3 5–7 6–4 in an all-American clash at Melbourne Park on Wednesday. Paul held his nerve in the big points and stood up well to his 20-year-old opponent’s blistering serve to reach…


Flawless Djokovic Dismantles de Minaur to Storm Into Quarter-Final

MELBOURNE—Novak Djokovic steamrolled local hope Alex de Minaur 6–2 6–1 6–2 on Monday to ease into the quarter-finals of the Australian Open with a statement win in his quest for a 10th title at the Grand Slam that has only been threatened by a hamstring issue. It was Djokovic’s 38th consecutive win on Australian soil…


Djokovic Worried About Leg, Bothered by Heckler in Australia

MELBOURNE, Australia—Novak Djokovic propped up his left shoe on a courtside sign so he could stretch out a hamstring that he acknowledged afterward concerns him. He grimaced while flexing the muscle after one point, hopped on his right leg to keep weight off the left after another. He took a medical timeout while a trainer…


Nadal Sidelined for 6–8 Weeks With Hip Flexor Injury

MELBOURNE—World number two Rafa Nadal will be sidelined for six to eight weeks by the hip flexor injury he suffered during his second-round loss at the Australian Open, the Spaniard’s team said on Thursday. Nadal’s title defense ended bitterly on Wednesday as he slumped to a 6–4 6–4 7–5 defeat by Mackenzie McDonald, the latest…


Injured Champion Nadal Crashes out of Australian Open

MELBOURNE—Defending champion Rafa Nadal crashed out of the Australian Open second round on Wednesday after aggravating a hip problem during his 6–4 6–4 7–5 defeat to Mackenzie McDonald, the Spaniard’s latest entry in an injury-blighted history at Melbourne Park. Nadal’s elimination shakes up the men’s draw and puts a twist in the Grand Slam titles…


Djokovic Feels the Love During Dominant Opening Victory

MELBOURNE—Novak Djokovic soaked up thunderous applause in his first match back at the Australian Open after last year’s deportation drama, as the nine-times champion outclassed Roberto Carballes Baena 6–3 6–4 6–0 on Tuesday in a flawless start to his title bid. Returning to Melbourne Park where the prolific Serbian was denied a title defense in…