Tennis

Djokovic Willing to Miss Grand Slam Tournaments to Stay Unvaccinated

It should not come as a revelation at this stage, but Novak Djokovic is not backing down. Not after all the drains on his energy and blows to his image. Not after twice being detained in Melbourne, Australia, last month. Not after his deportation from that country on the eve of the year’s first Grand […]

Rafael Nadal Wins the Australian Open, His 21st Grand Slam Title

Nadal made certain of that. “This has been one of the most emotional nights of my tennis career,” he told the cheering crowd, and later said: “If we put everything together, the scenario, the momentum, what it means. Yeah, without a doubt probably have been the biggest comeback of my tennis career.” Nadal, 35, returned […]

Ashleigh Barty Wins Australian Open Women’s Singles Title

MELBOURNE, Australia — The 44-year drought was over in Ashleigh Barty’s sunburned country. Barty, often inscrutable on a tennis court, had just finished letting her guard down with a full-flex howl of delight that could almost be heard above the roars in Rod Laver Arena. Now, Barty, Australia’s first Australian Open singles champion since 1978, […]

Australian Open Final Four: It’s Nadal vs. Berrettini and Medvedev vs. Tsitsipas

MELBOURNE, Australia — None of the men’s singles semifinalists at the Australian Open has made it this far unscathed. All have been pushed to five sets in the heat at Melbourne Park this year. Rafael Nadal, making his latest comeback, dropped more than 10 pounds and had to battle through nausea and dizziness during his […]

Rafael Nadal Beats Denis Shapovalov Amid Charge of Favoritism

MELBOURNE, Australia — After missing the game he has long played with such passion, Rafael Nadal has had ample opportunity to get reacquainted with tennis at this Australian Open. At age 35, his latest comeback from injury now finds him in the semifinals, just two victories from breaking his three-way tie with Novak Djokovic and […]

Is Tennis Moving Into a New Golden Age? We Can Only Hope.

There was something for everyone. Roger Federer’s linen grace. Rafael Nadal’s punishing power. Novak Djokovic and his single-minded determination. The unwavering way Serena Williams dismantled tired tradition. For two decades, professional tennis bathed in the golden glow provided by an unalterable hierarchy of players with distinctive styles and personalities that combined to define the game […]

Sabalenka Struggles, Then Prevails as Top Women Fall at Australian Open

MELBOURNE, Australia — Thursday was another rough day for the leading women at a major tennis tournament. Garbiñe Muguruza, the No. 3 seed, and Anett Kontaveit, the No. 6 seed, lost within five minutes of each other in their second-round matches at the Australian Open after playing in the championship match of the WTA Finals […]

Carlos Alcaraz Plays Matteo Berrettini at the Australian Open

VILLENA, Spain — The rowdy tennis academy Christmas party was underway in the adjoining room. But Carlos Alcaraz was sitting calmly at a table surrounded by trophies and talking about the beauty of training in this place that was remote, relaxed and “tranquilo.” It was hard not to detect a metaphor as the dance music […]

Emma Raducanu Defeats Sloane Stephens at Australian Open

MELBOURNE, Australia — Emma Raducanu wasted no time in announcing her presence in her first Grand Slam match since her stunning run to last year’s U.S. Open title. After hitting a forehand winner down the line past Sloane Stephens — the 2017 U.S. Open champion — Raducanu shouted a loud “Come on,” punctuating the first […]