Tennis News
Women’s No 1 survives soaring temperature to defeat teenager 6-3, 6-0
Melbourne Park enacts extreme heat protocols on way to 45C
Aryna Sabalenka ended the teenage challenge at the Australian Open with an emphatic quarter-final final victory over Iva Jovic.
Having defeated 19-year-old Victoria Mboko in the fourth round, the world No 1 dropped just three games against 18-year-old American Jovic in a 6-3, 6-0 victory.
Continue reading...Ben Shelton came from a set down to book his place in the last eight, after Iga Swiatek and Jannik Sinner had eased through too
Down break point at 0-2 1-2, Darderi locates an ace, but he must soon handle another, Sinner dashing in to put away a volley having cracked a forehand to the corner. But a netted return restores deuce and from there he closes out the game before celebrating by petulantly throwing down a towel next to his coach. Meantime, Swiatek is doing all she can to prevent Inglis getting on the board, an overhead dispatched with prejudice saving game point at 3-0.
Swiatek breaks Inglis immediately for 2-0 and though, as she seeks to consolidate, she’s taken to deuce, she eventually prevails. She can play a lot better than this – and if she wins, against Rybakina, she’ll have to.
Continue reading... Sixth seed knocks out defending champion 6-3, 6-4
Three US women through to quarterfinals
Pegula (6) 1-0 Keys (9)* Pegula, in Adidas orange, holds to love. Keys, in Nike lemon and lime, mentioned in their podcast she was wary of her friend’s drop shots, which proved prescient when a delicate angle from Pegula secured the game.
Pegula has breezed through the draw so far, dropping just ten games. Keys has yet to lose a set but has been made to work harder. Fortunately her serve remains massive, and her 194kmh effort is the second fastest so far in the women’s draw.
Continue reading...Djokovic beats Van de Zandschulp 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (4)
Serb apologises after wild shot almost hits ball girl
Novak Djokovic chalked up his 400th grand slam victory with a 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(4) defeat of Botic van de Zandschulp to reach the fourth round on Saturday, but the Serb was fortunate not to receive a code violation after losing his cool.
An incident in the second set might have proved very costly, with Djokovic carelessly sending a ball flying close to the head of a ball girl at the net.
Continue reading... Sinner battles cramp and heat in four-set victory
Osaka withdraws before Inglis match | Email Luke
Van de Zandschulp has only been broken once in the tournament himself, so Djokovic is unlikely to get anything for free there.
*Van de Zandschulp 0-1 Djokovic (*denotes next server)
Continue reading...Osaka cites abdominal injury linked to prior pregnancy
Two-time champion withdraws before Inglis match
Naomi Osaka withdrew from the Australian Open just hours before she was due to take the court against the qualifier Maddison Inglis, citing an abdominal injury linked to body changes from her pregnancy.
The news landed late on a Saturday in Melbourne that had been heavily affected by soaring temperatures that triggered the tournament’s heat protocols, forcing arena roofs closed and suspending play on outside courts.
Continue reading... Keys, Pegula, and Anisimova all cruise into fourth round
Defending champion overcomes cramp amid extreme heat
Pliskova 0-1 Keys (9)* The 186cm Czech intersperses a trademark ace between a series of unforced errors to hand Keys a couple of break points. She saves the first but Keys secures the early advantage with a lovely in-to-out forehand winner. The champion has started strongly, striking the ball cleanly from the baseline. Pliskova, by contrast, looks a bit flat-footed and lacking timing.
The players are out on RLA. Key’s’s neon green Nike outfit is irridescent in the bright sunshine. Pliskova is serving in orange Adidas.
Continue reading...Evonne Goolagong Cawley Day is a welcome initiative but meaningful change will only come with a structural approach
The riverside walk to the Australian Open courts is a scenic joy for the sporting pilgrim. Rowing crews train up and down the water, framed by the city’s sun-flecked skyline. The Melbourne Cricket Ground floodlights signal distantly ahead. Beneath the feet of the crowds hurrying to ticket barriers, the concrete path transforms into an artwork: a twisting confluence of eels honouring their Yarra River migration, which once provided abundant food for the Wurundjeri people.
On Wednesday the celebration of country continued inside the precinct. This was Evonne Goolagong Cawley Day, when the tournament celebrates First Nations people and culture. A packed schedule of entertainment included a smoking ceremony on the steps of Margaret Court Arena, a Q&A with Cathy Freeman, and a performance from the Coodjinburra pop star Budjerah. There were taster sessions and weaving workshops, and all the ball kids were from tennis programmes for Indigenous peoples.
Continue reading...There’s nothing more iconic at the Australian Open than the ballkids, and as a child Guardian Australia’s Matilda Boseley dreamed of becoming one. Now, as an adult, that dream has 'come true' – with Australian Open ballkids Hunter and Amelia putting Matilda to the test
Continue reading...There’s nothing more iconic at the Australian Open than the ballkids, and as a child Guardian Australia’s Matilda Boseley dreamed of becoming one. Now, as an adult, that dream has 'come true' – with Australian Open ballkids Hunter and Amelia putting Matilda to the test
Continue reading...World No 168 beats German veteran Laura Siegemund in three sets
Rinky Hijikata, Dane Sweeny and Taylah Preston lose in second round
Inspired qualifier Maddison Inglis has ridden an emotional rollercoaster in her first grand slam appearance in four years to book a spot in the Australian Open third round.
Inglis has joined big gun Alex de Minaur in the round of 32 after defeating German veteran Laura Siegemund 6-4 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (10-7) in a tense, gruelling and sometimes fiery match that lasted three hours and 20 minutes on ANZ Arena.
Continue reading...Ten-time winner beats Italian qualifier 6-3 6-2 6-2 in second round
Serbian could face Botic van de Zandschulp next at Melbourne Park
Djokovic to serve first…
Cries of “Nole!” as the living legend strides out onto a sunbathed Rod Laver Arena. He unpacks his bags in front of a knot of Serbian fans and pulls on a white crocodilian hat. Maestrelli is wearing his baseball cap backwards, like a Steve Buscemi meme.
Continue reading...Big-serving Serbian takes Australian hope to four sets
‘I’m super happy to battle my way through’
Alex de Minaur maintained his perfect record at the Australian Open against lower-ranked opponents by outlasting the big-hitting Hamad Medjedovic over four sets and advancing to the third round.
After being stunned by the world No 90 in the first set, the Australian’s superior fitness and class came to the fore as he prevailed 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-2, 6-1 in three hours and four minutes on Rod Laver Arena.
Continue reading... Live updates from all of the action at Melbourne Park
Bencic outclasses Boulter | Sinner through | Mail Daniel
G’day and welcome to the Australian Open 2026 – day four!
There’s an absolutely indecent quantity of glorious tennis ready to enrich our working day. The pick of the night matches on our show courts features Maria Sakkari against Mirra Andreeva, a second tough assignment for the most precocious tenniser in the world, but don’t be surprised if the wily Hamed Medjedvoci gives Alex de Minaur more trouble than seems likely.
Continue reading...The football and tennis writer, who has died aged 84, was a major force in changing the Guardian’s sports coverage, alongside long stints at the Daily Express and Independent
In my mind’s eye I remember it all. John Roberts, the Guardian’s northern-based football writer, had come down on a rare visit to the sports desk in London. I was a new boy on the subeditors’ desk. Everyone was pleased to see John: he was that kind of bloke.
While he was there, the chief sub wondered, could he perhaps look at a news agency story from his beat that had just come in. It could have been anything: the latest signing by Bob Paisley or Malcolm Allison or the latest misadventure of George Best. Instead of giving it the once-over or adding a sentence or two, he walked over to a quiet corner, picked up an office phone and started a long call. By the end he had the full story. There was an air of amazement in the room.
Continue reading...