Tag: tennis
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Federer roars into record 15th Australian Open quarter-final
Melbourne, Jan 26 (AFP/APP): Roger Federer flicked a switch after losing the opening set to crush Marton Fucsovics and book a record 15th Australian Open quarter-final on Sunday, with unheralded American Tennys Sandgren his next hurdle. The Swiss master took time to work out the Hungarian but when he did it was one-way traffic, romping…
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Coco Gauff, 15, crashes out in tears at Australian Open
Melbourne, Jan 26 (AFP/APP): Coco Gauff’s bid for history at the Australian Open ended in tears in the last 16 on Sunday as the 15-year-old crashed out in three sets to fellow American Sofia Kenin. The 14th seed Kenin recovered from a set down to win convincingly 6-7 (5/7), 6-3, 6-0 and Gauff left the…
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Serena Williams not going quietly as Coco makes case as heir
Melbourne, Jan 25 (AFP/APP):Serena Williams suffered her earliest exit from the Australian Open since 2006 but the 23-time Grand Slam champion is not ready to hand over the baton to heir apparent Coco Gauff just yet. The 38-year-old Williams was downcast but quietly defiant in the aftermath of her shock third-round loss to Wang Qiang…
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Serena Williams stunned at Australian Open, ending record bid
Melbourne, Jan 24 (AFP/APP): Serena Williams was sensationally knocked out of the Australian Open third round by China’s Wang Qiang on Friday, torpedoing her bid for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam crown. Williams, 38, was the bookies’ favourite to win an eighth title at Melbourne Park but she came unstuck against a determined Wang, who…
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Nadal aims to keep heat on Federer Slams record
Melbourne, Jan 22 (AFP/APP): Rafael Nadal will step up his bid for a record-equalling 20th Grand Slam title when he faces Argentina’s Federico Delbonis at the Australian Open on Thursday. The Spaniard can only count one Melbourne title among his 19 Majors but he will be confident of reaching the third round at least after…
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Wildcard Sharapova dumped out in Australian Open first round
Melbourne, Jan 21 (AFP/APP): Maria Sharapova’s faltering career hit a fresh low Tuesday when the five-time Grand Slam champion was turfed out in the first round of the Australian Open in straight sets. The 32-year-old former world number one carried a haunted look at times in a 3-6, 4-6 defeat to Croatia’s 19th-seeded Donna Vekic.…
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Osaka makes net-busting start to Australian Open title defence
Melbourne, Jan 20 (AFP/APP): Naomi Osaka began her Australian Open title defence in emphatic fashion, breaking the net with a blockbuster serve as she dismantled unseeded Czech Marie Bouzkova on Monday. The 22-year-old Japanese, the world’s second highest-paid female athlete after Serena Williams, powered through 6-2, 6-4 in 80 minutes. The two-time Grand Slam champion,…
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‘I’m just Olympia’s mum’: Serena’s history chase begins with quick win
Melbourne, Jan 20 (AFP/APP): Serena Williams blitzed the first set in 19 minutes as she launched her quest for a 24th Grand Slam title with a quickfire demolition of Anastasia Potapova at the Australian Open on Monday. The 38-year-old American, wearing a lilac dress and matching trainers, and sporting heavily decorated fingernails, powered past the…
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Federer has ‘low expectations’ at Australian Open
Melbourne, Jan 18 (AFP/APP): Roger Federer might have won 20 Grand Slams and six Australian Open titles but the Swiss great Saturday insisted he had “low expectations” at the first Major of the season. The 38-year-old crowd favourite has yet to play a competitive match this year, opting out of the recent ATP Cup to…
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Osaka vows to block out negatives after ‘toughest year’
Melbourne, Jan 18 (AFP/APP): Defending Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka said Saturday that 2019 was the “toughest year of my life” after the Japanese ploughed through several coaches and suffered a major dip in form. The 22-year-old began last year in spectacular fashion, winning in Melbourne for back-to-back Grand Slam titles and soaring to the…