<p>Venus Williams played through illness to win a seesaw opening round match against German Andrea Petkovic 6-4 0-6 6-3 at the BNP Paribas Open on Thursday.</p>

<p>Williams, who received medical attention from a trainer late in the first set, saved her best tennis for the biggest moments, breaking Petkovic for a sixth time in the final game to make up for a dismal second set.</p>

<p>Asked in an on-court interview to describe the encounter, the 38-year-old former world number one was almost at a loss for words.</p>

<p>"I don't know honestly. I'm still trying to figure it out," she said to laughs from the crowd on a sunny and windy day in the California desert.</p>

<p>"Every day is not your best day but that doesn't mean the heart and desire aren't there."</p>

<p>Thursday's match was just Williams' seventh of the year and first since January's Australian Open, where she fell to Simona Halep in the round of 32.</p>

<p>The win sets up a mouthwatering second-round clash with third seed Petra Kvitova, who holds a 4-2 edge in their previous meetings.</p>

<p>Canadian Eugenie Bouchard also required medical attention during the second set of her closely-fought evening match against Kirsten Flipkens, where she fell 7-5 3-6 7-5 to the German.</p>

<p>It was unclear what the problem was with Bouchard, who held a towel to her face while trainers attended to her during a medical timeout. But she appeared fine after the break.</p>

<p>The marathon battle included fantastic points from both players but Flipkens was ultimately the sharper of the pair, smacking a forehand winner cross court on matchpoint to advance to the second round of the tournament for a fifth time.</p>

<p>In other first-round winners on Thursday included Estonian Kaia Kanepi, Japan's Misaki Doi, American Madison Brengle and Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova.</p>


Venus Williams played through illness to win a seesaw opening round match against German Andrea Petkovic 6-4 0-6 6-3 at the BNP Paribas Open on Thursday. Williams, who received medical attention from a trainer late in the first set, saved her best tennis for the biggest moments, breaking Petkovic for a sixth time in the final game to make up for a dismal second set.

Venus Williams played through illness to win a seesaw opening round match against German Andrea Petkovic 6-4 0-6 6-3 at the BNP Paribas Open on Thursday. Williams, who received medical attention from a trainer late in the first set, saved her best tennis for the biggest moments, breaking Petkovic for a sixth time in the final game to make up for a dismal second set. Asked in an on-court interview to describe the encounter, the 38-year-old former world number one was almost at a loss for words. "I don't know honestly. I'm still trying to figure it out," she said to laughs from the crowd on a sunny and windy day in the California desert. "Every day is not your best day but that doesn't mean the heart and desire aren't there." Thursday's match was just Williams' seventh of the year and first since January's Australian Open, where she fell to Simona Halep in the round of 32. The win sets up a mouthwatering second-round clash with third seed Petra Kvitova, who holds a 4-2 edge in their previous meetings. Canadian Eugenie Bouchard also required medical attention during the second set of her closely-fought evening match against Kirsten Flipkens, where she fell 7-5 3-6 7-5 to the German. It was unclear what the problem was with Bouchard, who held a towel to her face while trainers attended to her during a medical timeout. But she appeared fine after the break. The marathon battle included fantastic points from both players but Flipkens was ultimately the sharper of the pair, smacking a forehand winner cross court on matchpoint to advance to the second round of the tournament for a fifth time. In other first-round winners on Thursday included Estonian Kaia Kanepi, Japan's Misaki Doi, American Madison Brengle and Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova.

Venus Williams overcomes illness to advance at Indian Wells

<p>Petra Kvitova says a meeting with former world number one Monica Seles at Wimbledon last year, where they discussed returning to the sport after a knife attack, had been one of the most important of her life.</p>

<p>Kvitova suffered cuts to her left hand while defending herself during a home invasion in 2016, while Seles was stabbed in the back during a match in Hamburg in 1993 which kept her off the court for more than two years.</p>

<p>"We met each other and decided we were looking to talk about what we'd been through," the Australian Open finalist told reporters at the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells on Wednesday.</p>

<p>"It was nice to meet someone who has been through something very similar," she said.</p>

<p>"It was a big surprise that she wanted to talk with me and say nice words. It was one of the biggest things I've ever heard and from such a legend, to hear what happened to her."</p>

<p>Seles returned to the game after the attack and won the 1996 Australian Open but never fully regained the dominant form that saw her win nine majors as a teenager.</p>

<p>Kvitova completed her recovery, which required surgery, ahead of schedule but said she was not sure she would ever be able to completely put the attack behind her.</p>

<p>"With my experience, I am not sure if I am going to be 100 percent one day and I'm not sure if she is either," she said.</p>

<p>"But hopefully she is happy and can enjoy her life as much as she can."</p>

<p>Kvitova, a two-time Wimbledon champion who is currently ranked third in the world, fell to world number one Naomi Osaka in the Australian Open final in January and to Belinda Bencic in the final of last month's Dubai Tennis Championships.</p>

<p>The powerful lefty will look to win her 27th WTA title when she takes on either Venus Williams or Andrea Petkovic on Friday in her first match of the tournament, where she is the third seed.</p>


Petra Kvitova says a meeting with former world number one Monica Seles at Wimbledon last year, where they discussed returning to the sport after a knife attack, had been one of the most important of her life.

Petra Kvitova says a meeting with former world number one Monica Seles at Wimbledon last year, where they discussed returning to the sport after a knife attack, had been one of the most important of her life. Kvitova suffered cuts to her left hand while defending herself during a home invasion in 2016, while Seles was stabbed in the back during a match in Hamburg in 1993 which kept her off the court for more than two years. "We met each other and decided we were looking to talk about what we'd been through," the Australian Open finalist told reporters at the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells on Wednesday. "It was nice to meet someone who has been through something very similar," she said. "It was a big surprise that she wanted to talk with me and say nice words. It was one of the biggest things I've ever heard and from such a legend, to hear what happened to her." Seles returned to the game after the attack and won the 1996 Australian Open but never fully regained the dominant form that saw her win nine majors as a teenager. Kvitova completed her recovery, which required surgery, ahead of schedule but said she was not sure she would ever be able to completely put the attack behind her. "With my experience, I am not sure if I am going to be 100 percent one day and I'm not sure if she is either," she said. "But hopefully she is happy and can enjoy her life as much as she can." Kvitova, a two-time Wimbledon champion who is currently ranked third in the world, fell to world number one Naomi Osaka in the Australian Open final in January and to Belinda Bencic in the final of last month's Dubai Tennis Championships. The powerful lefty will look to win her 27th WTA title when she takes on either Venus Williams or Andrea Petkovic on Friday in her first match of the tournament, where she is the third seed.

Petra Kvitova says meeting with Monica Seles was key after attack

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/search?q=Andy+Murray">Andy Murray</a> will put his "heart and soul" into trying to return to professional tennis, his mother Judy has said, although she admitted the player's future is unclear.</p>

<p>The 31-year-old underwent hip resurfacing surgery at the end of January in a final throw of the dice to try to overcome the problem that first became a serious issue in 2017.</p>

<p>The operation was performed primarily to improve his quality of life, with Murray revealing that he struggled simply to put on his socks and shoes, but also offered a potential route back to the sport.</p>

<p>"He is doing pretty well. It is not that long since he had the operation and time will tell," Judy Murray told Sky Sports.</p>

<p>"Nobody knows how he is going to recover in the longer term. He is in a good place mentally and we just keep our fingers crossed.</p>

<p>"But I tell you, if anybody can do it he can because he will put his heart and soul into it like he does with everything."</p>

<p>The former world number one announced at an emotional press conference ahead of the Australian Open in January that he planned to retire after Wimbledon but was more hopeful following a remarkable five-set defeat by Roberto Bautista Agut in the first round.</p>

<p>No player has come back from the same operation to play singles but American Bob Bryan recently returned in doubles and won an ATP Tour title in Delray Beach last month with his brother Mike.</p>

<p>Bryan said in Australia that he no longer felt any pain and backed Murray to follow him by making a comeback.&nbsp;</p>


Andy Murray will put his "heart and soul" into trying to return to professional tennis, his mother Judy has said, although she admitted the player's future is unclear.

Andy Murray will put his "heart and soul" into trying to return to professional tennis, his mother Judy has said, although she admitted the player's future is unclear. The 31-year-old underwent hip resurfacing surgery at the end of January in a final throw of the dice to try to overcome the problem that first became a serious issue in 2017. The operation was performed primarily to improve his quality of life, with Murray revealing that he struggled simply to put on his socks and shoes, but also offered a potential route back to the sport. "He is doing pretty well. It is not that long since he had the operation and time will tell," Judy Murray told Sky Sports. "Nobody knows how he is going to recover in the longer term. He is in a good place mentally and we just keep our fingers crossed. "But I tell you, if anybody can do it he can because he will put his heart and soul into it like he does with everything." The former world number one announced at an emotional press conference ahead of the Australian Open in January that he planned to retire after Wimbledon but was more hopeful following a remarkable five-set defeat by Roberto Bautista Agut in the first round. No player has come back from the same operation to play singles but American Bob Bryan recently returned in doubles and won an ATP Tour title in Delray Beach last month with his brother Mike. Bryan said in Australia that he no longer felt any pain and backed Murray to follow him by making a comeback.

Andy Murray will put 'heart and soul' into return, says mum Judy

<p>Roger Federer began his charge for a 100th career title by dispatching Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 on a windy centre court in the first round of the Dubai Championships.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Second seed Federer had to deal with a tricky opponent and strong gusts at the Aviation Club in front of nearly 5,500 fans at the Aviation Club, needing all three sets to make it past the opening round.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Swiss, a seven-time Dubai champion, had to go up a gear in the third set to advance to a second-round meeting with Fernando Verdasco after German Kohlschreiber made a match of it by winning the second.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I'm just happy to get through, it was tricky conditions out there," the 20-time Grand Slam champion said after his 14th straight win over Kohlschreiber, his friend and practice partner.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Philipp caused me a lot of trouble and we played in swirly conditions. All of a sudden it (the wind) could stop and you could be a break down. That also plays in your head a little bit.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I know the game's there. It was just really difficult conditions tonight."&nbsp;</p>

<p>Federer, who is seeded behind Kei Nishikori, swept the opening set after breaking in the first game but was pegged back.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Kohlschreiber, ranked 31st in the world, made a match of it in the second, breaking Federer three times on his way to taking the set 6-3.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The final game of the set was a nine-minute thriller, with the Swiss seed saving three set points before Kohlschreiber levelled the match with a volley winner.&nbsp;</p>

<p>But Federer cruised to the third set and the next round.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Khachanov, Raonic surprised</strong></p>

<p>Earlier, seeds Karen Khachanov and Milos Raonic suffered surprise first-round exits in testing conditions.</p>

<p>Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili stunned Russian fourth seed Khachanov 6-4, 6-1, while world number 14 Raonic was beaten his Dubai debut 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 by German Jan-Lennard Struff.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Khachanov went down in just 69 minutes to 19th-ranked Georgian Basilashvili, winner of two titles last season, as winds played havoc during the day.</p>

<p>"I know Karen is not having his best time at this moment. But I also did not have great beginning of the season," said Basilashvili.</p>

<p>"I was able to manage my nerves just (for the) whole match, especially in the windy conditions. It was really tough, (and I'm) really happy for sure."</p>

<p>Raonic battled for more than two hours but was unable to get past Struff.</p>

<p>In an unusual incident, one of Raonic's rocket serves struck a ball girl straight in face.</p>

<p>After a five-minute pause for treatment, she was led off court by a first-aid worker -- the girl returned at the end of the match and shook hands with the player, who gave her a racquet.</p>

<p>The Canadian fired 15 aces in his losing effort, dropping serve twice.</p>

<p>Struff advanced into a second-round match with Marton Fucsovics after the Hungarian defeated Damir Dzumhur 6-1, 7-6 (7/5).</p>

<p>Former finalist Verdasco smashed 13 aces as he put out Italy's Thomas Fabbiano 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.</p>


Roger Federer began his charge for a 100th career title by dispatching Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 on a windy centre court in the first round of the Dubai Championships.

Roger Federer began his charge for a 100th career title by dispatching Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 on a windy centre court in the first round of the Dubai Championships. Second seed Federer had to deal with a tricky opponent and strong gusts at the Aviation Club in front of nearly 5,500 fans at the Aviation Club, needing all three sets to make it past the opening round. The Swiss, a seven-time Dubai champion, had to go up a gear in the third set to advance to a second-round meeting with Fernando Verdasco after German Kohlschreiber made a match of it by winning the second. "I'm just happy to get through, it was tricky conditions out there," the 20-time Grand Slam champion said after his 14th straight win over Kohlschreiber, his friend and practice partner. "Philipp caused me a lot of trouble and we played in swirly conditions. All of a sudden it (the wind) could stop and you could be a break down. That also plays in your head a little bit. "I know the game's there. It was just really difficult conditions tonight." Federer, who is seeded behind Kei Nishikori, swept the opening set after breaking in the first game but was pegged back. Kohlschreiber, ranked 31st in the world, made a match of it in the second, breaking Federer three times on his way to taking the set 6-3. The final game of the set was a nine-minute thriller, with the Swiss seed saving three set points before Kohlschreiber levelled the match with a volley winner. But Federer cruised to the third set and the next round. Khachanov, Raonic surprised Earlier, seeds Karen Khachanov and Milos Raonic suffered surprise first-round exits in testing conditions. Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili stunned Russian fourth seed Khachanov 6-4, 6-1, while world number 14 Raonic was beaten his Dubai debut 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 by German Jan-Lennard Struff. Khachanov went down in just 69 minutes to 19th-ranked Georgian Basilashvili, winner of two titles last season, as winds played havoc during the day. "I know Karen is not having his best time at this moment. But I also did not have great beginning of the season," said Basilashvili. "I was able to manage my nerves just (for the) whole match, especially in the windy conditions. It was really tough, (and I'm) really happy for sure." Raonic battled for more than two hours but was unable to get past Struff. In an unusual incident, one of Raonic's rocket serves struck a ball girl straight in face. After a five-minute pause for treatment, she was led off court by a first-aid worker -- the girl returned at the end of the match and shook hands with the player, who gave her a racquet. The Canadian fired 15 aces in his losing effort, dropping serve twice. Struff advanced into a second-round match with Marton Fucsovics after the Hungarian defeated Damir Dzumhur 6-1, 7-6 (7/5). Former finalist Verdasco smashed 13 aces as he put out Italy's Thomas Fabbiano 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.

Roger Federer starts 100th title bid with Kohlschreiber win in Dubai

<p>Swiss tennis star Roger Federer will begin the quest for his 100th ATP singles title when he faces Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany in the first round of the Dubai Championships on Monday (February 25).</p>

<p>The 20-times Grand Slam champion, who has not played this year since his Australian Open round of 16 defeat by Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas in January, said he would love to reach the milestone in Dubai.</p>

<p>Federer, the seven-time Dubai champion, last lifted the trophy in 2015 when he defeated Novak Djokovic.</p>

<p>The 37-year-old Federer, who will return to the European clay court season after two years away, said that he is excited about the prospect of playing on clay again.</p>

<p>Federer, whose sole French Open title came in 2009, announced on Wednesday (February 20) he will mark his return to clay at the Madrid Open which starts on May 3.</p>


Swiss tennis star Roger Federer will begin the quest for his 100th ATP singles title when he faces Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany in the first round of the Dubai Championships on Monday (February 25).

Swiss tennis star Roger Federer will begin the quest for his 100th ATP singles title when he faces Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany in the first round of the Dubai Championships on Monday (February 25). The 20-times Grand Slam champion, who has not played this year since his Australian Open round of 16 defeat by Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas in January, said he would love to reach the milestone in Dubai. Federer, the seven-time Dubai champion, last lifted the trophy in 2015 when he defeated Novak Djokovic. The 37-year-old Federer, who will return to the European clay court season after two years away, said that he is excited about the prospect of playing on clay again. Federer, whose sole French Open title came in 2009, announced on Wednesday (February 20) he will mark his return to clay at the Madrid Open which starts on May 3.

Roger Federer would love to win 100th ATP title in Dubai

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/search?q=Andy+Murray">Andy Murray</a>, who had announced that he will be <a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-andy-murray-breaks-down-at-press-conference-as-he-announces-intention-to-retire-189518">retiring this year</a> because of the severe pain from his troublesome right hip, might return to return to competitive tennis.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Murray's mother&nbsp;Judy said that the former world number one might return to the game after regaining full fitness but she also admitted that her son is aware that it might "not be possible."&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I think he will (return)," Judy was quoted as saying by Sky Sports at the Rio Open. "(But) I think he's aware that it might not be possible.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"He's a smart guy, he has a lot of interest in different things, he has a lot of options in life after tennis. But the most important thing is that he's free from the pain he's had for 20 months.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"He has a young family, you have to think about the quality of life for the rest of your life. Actually, that's the most important thing."&nbsp;</p>

<p>Three-times Grand Slam champion Murray has been struggling to recover from hip surgery and regain top form.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He recently underwent a <a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/british-tennis-star-andy-murray-undergoes-hip-surgery-in-london-informs-fans-via-instagram-193659">hip resurfacing surgery</a> in London.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The two-time Olympic champion said last month surgery was the only option if he wanted to extend his career.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"There is a strong possibility I won't come back and play after an operation. I want to play tennis, but not with the hip I have right now," Murray had said earlier.&nbsp;</p>


Andy Murray, who had announced that he will be retiring this year because of the severe pain from his troublesome right hip, might return to return to competitive tennis.

Andy Murray, who had announced that he will be retiring this year because of the severe pain from his troublesome right hip, might return to return to competitive tennis. Murray's mother Judy said that the former world number one might return to the game after regaining full fitness but she also admitted that her son is aware that it might "not be possible." "I think he will (return)," Judy was quoted as saying by Sky Sports at the Rio Open. "(But) I think he's aware that it might not be possible. "He's a smart guy, he has a lot of interest in different things, he has a lot of options in life after tennis. But the most important thing is that he's free from the pain he's had for 20 months. "He has a young family, you have to think about the quality of life for the rest of your life. Actually, that's the most important thing." Three-times Grand Slam champion Murray has been struggling to recover from hip surgery and regain top form. He recently underwent a hip resurfacing surgery in London. The two-time Olympic champion said last month surgery was the only option if he wanted to extend his career. "There is a strong possibility I won't come back and play after an operation. I want to play tennis, but not with the hip I have right now," Murray had said earlier.

Andy Murray could make return after hip surgery, says mother Judy

<p>World number one Naomi Osaka was adamant that her shock split with coach Sascha Bajin had nothing to do with money but it was because she was determined that her career would not be about putting "success over happiness".</p>

<p>The German had guided the Japanese player to back-to-back Grand Slam titles as well as to the summit of the WTA rankings. But just two weeks after her triumph at Melbourne Park, Osaka abruptly severed ties with Bajin. That led to suggestions the two had fallen out over money.</p>

<p>"Everyone thinks it was a money-related issue, but it wasn't," the US&nbsp;and Australian Open champion told the WTA in Dubai. "That's one of the most hurtful things I've ever heard.</p>

<p>"I travel with everyone on my team, I see them more than my family. I would never do that to them.</p>

<p>"My reason is I wouldn't put success over my happiness - that's my main thing. I'm not going to sacrifice that just to keep a person around."</p>

<p>Bajin, a former hitting partner of Serena Williams, Victoria Azarenka and Caroline Wozniacki, was named as the WTA's coach of the year in 2018 after his success with Osaka.</p>

<p>During their time together, Osaka rocketed from 72 in the world at the start of 2018 to number one last month.</p>

<p>Osaka said it was clear things were not right between them during the season's opening major.</p>

<p>"It was kind of brewing in Australia. I think some people could see that if they saw how we interacted," the 21-year-old added.</p>

<p>"I would not want to split on really bad terms. I'm not going to say anything bad about him because, of course, I'm really grateful for all the things he's done.</p>

<p>"During the Australian Open, I was just trying to tell myself to get through it. I'm not sure, but I think you guys noticed."</p>

<p>Osaka said she hopes to have a new coach in place by March at Indian Wells.</p>

<p>"It's not really ideal to go to Indian Wells without a coach. I don't want someone that's in the box saying negative stuff. That would be the worst," she said.</p>

<p>"(I want) someone that's kind of direct, not afraid to say things to my face. I'd rather someone say it directly to me than go around my back. That's one of the biggest things."</p>


World number one Naomi Osaka was adamant that her shock split with coach Sascha Bajin had nothing to do with money but it was because she was determined that her career would not be about putting "success over happiness".

World number one Naomi Osaka was adamant that her shock split with coach Sascha Bajin had nothing to do with money but it was because she was determined that her career would not be about putting "success over happiness". The German had guided the Japanese player to back-to-back Grand Slam titles as well as to the summit of the WTA rankings. But just two weeks after her triumph at Melbourne Park, Osaka abruptly severed ties with Bajin. That led to suggestions the two had fallen out over money. "Everyone thinks it was a money-related issue, but it wasn't," the US and Australian Open champion told the WTA in Dubai. "That's one of the most hurtful things I've ever heard. "I travel with everyone on my team, I see them more than my family. I would never do that to them. "My reason is I wouldn't put success over my happiness - that's my main thing. I'm not going to sacrifice that just to keep a person around." Bajin, a former hitting partner of Serena Williams, Victoria Azarenka and Caroline Wozniacki, was named as the WTA's coach of the year in 2018 after his success with Osaka. During their time together, Osaka rocketed from 72 in the world at the start of 2018 to number one last month. Osaka said it was clear things were not right between them during the season's opening major. "It was kind of brewing in Australia. I think some people could see that if they saw how we interacted," the 21-year-old added. "I would not want to split on really bad terms. I'm not going to say anything bad about him because, of course, I'm really grateful for all the things he's done. "During the Australian Open, I was just trying to tell myself to get through it. I'm not sure, but I think you guys noticed." Osaka said she hopes to have a new coach in place by March at Indian Wells. "It's not really ideal to go to Indian Wells without a coach. I don't want someone that's in the box saying negative stuff. That would be the worst," she said. "(I want) someone that's kind of direct, not afraid to say things to my face. I'd rather someone say it directly to me than go around my back. That's one of the biggest things."

Split with coach Bajin not over money, says Naomi Osaka

<p>Belgium's Elise Mertens claimed the biggest win of her career on Saturday, surprisingly coming from a set down to beat world number three Simona Halep and clinch the Qatar Open.</p>

<p>The world number 21 won 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, despite being outclassed in the first set, overcoming an eight-minute medical timeout for back pain in the second set, and losing 18 consecutive points at one stage in the match.</p>

<p>"It's a big moment for me, getting that victory," said a jubilant Mertens, 23, afterwards.</p>

<p>"I think this one would be, especially also with my tennis I played, the nicest one, nicest victory."&nbsp;</p>

<p>Her win, in a little over two hours, was her third victory over a top ten player in Doha this week, and her second over a Grand Slam champion.</p>

<p>Halep is the reigning French Open champion and Angelique Kerber, who she beat in the semi-finals, holds the Wimbledon title.</p>

<p>Qatar is the fifth title of Mertens' career but notably her first at a Premier-level event. She said it outshone her achievement in getting to the Australian Open semi-finals in 2018.</p>

<p>Mertens started nervously, lost her opening service game, and the first set in just 32 minutes.</p>

<p>At 2-0 down in the second, it looked like it was going to turn into a routine victory for Halep.</p>

<p>"I couldn't say I was really nervous," she added, "but I think my shots went long. "So, I really had to accelerate a little bit better to keep it in the court."&nbsp;</p>

<p>Mertens broke back, then called for medical attention and was the stronger player for the remainder of the game.</p>

<p>She could rise as high number 16 in the next rankings because of her victory in Doha.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Coincidentally her ranking of 21 coming into the tournament was exactly the same as last year's winner in Doha, Petra Kvitova.</p>

<p><strong>'I didn't have a chance'</strong>&nbsp;</p>

<p>A clearly fading Halep, who played in the Fed Cup last weekend when she led Romania into the semi-finals for the first time, also called for medical assistance for treatment to a blister on her right foot.</p>

<p>"I was really tired in the third set, I couldn't have the chance to win this match," said Halep, who won the Qatar title in 2014.</p>

<p>"I had to be 100% to be able to win such a big match. But she deserved to win, she was stronger, she was fresher. I'm not making a drama."&nbsp;</p>

<p>Halep added that she "needed rest", but would definitely play in Dubai next week. Despite her defeat, the Romanian will head back to number two in the rankings on the back of her performances in Doha.&nbsp;</p>


Belgium's Elise Mertens claimed the biggest win of her career on Saturday, surprisingly coming from a set down to beat world number three Simona Halep and clinch the Qatar Open.

Belgium's Elise Mertens claimed the biggest win of her career on Saturday, surprisingly coming from a set down to beat world number three Simona Halep and clinch the Qatar Open. The world number 21 won 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, despite being outclassed in the first set, overcoming an eight-minute medical timeout for back pain in the second set, and losing 18 consecutive points at one stage in the match. "It's a big moment for me, getting that victory," said a jubilant Mertens, 23, afterwards. "I think this one would be, especially also with my tennis I played, the nicest one, nicest victory." Her win, in a little over two hours, was her third victory over a top ten player in Doha this week, and her second over a Grand Slam champion. Halep is the reigning French Open champion and Angelique Kerber, who she beat in the semi-finals, holds the Wimbledon title. Qatar is the fifth title of Mertens' career but notably her first at a Premier-level event. She said it outshone her achievement in getting to the Australian Open semi-finals in 2018. Mertens started nervously, lost her opening service game, and the first set in just 32 minutes. At 2-0 down in the second, it looked like it was going to turn into a routine victory for Halep. "I couldn't say I was really nervous," she added, "but I think my shots went long. "So, I really had to accelerate a little bit better to keep it in the court." Mertens broke back, then called for medical attention and was the stronger player for the remainder of the game. She could rise as high number 16 in the next rankings because of her victory in Doha. Coincidentally her ranking of 21 coming into the tournament was exactly the same as last year's winner in Doha, Petra Kvitova. 'I didn't have a chance' A clearly fading Halep, who played in the Fed Cup last weekend when she led Romania into the semi-finals for the first time, also called for medical assistance for treatment to a blister on her right foot. "I was really tired in the third set, I couldn't have the chance to win this match," said Halep, who won the Qatar title in 2014. "I had to be 100% to be able to win such a big match. But she deserved to win, she was stronger, she was fresher. I'm not making a drama." Halep added that she "needed rest", but would definitely play in Dubai next week. Despite her defeat, the Romanian will head back to number two in the rankings on the back of her performances in Doha.

Belgium's Mertens shrugs off back pain to beat Simona Halep for Qatar Open title

<p>Former world No.1 Rafael Nadal is all set to tie the knot with his long-time girlfriend Mery Perello following the recent engagement of the couple.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The 32-year-old proposed Perello for marriage, as confirmed by the ATP in a recent tweet.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Spaniard, who recently appeared in the Australian Open, was defeated by current world number one Novak Djokovic in the final game of the Grand Slam event.</p>

<p>Nadal had no answer to Djokovic's groundstrokes which cost him the game 6-3, 6-2, 6-3</p>

<p>After the loss, Nadal had said he was content with being able to even reach the final given the injury problems that prevented him from playing.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">💍<a href="https://twitter.com/RafaelNadal?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RafaelNadal</a> is officially off the market after proposing to his girlfriend Maria Francisca "Xisca" Perello<br />
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Congratulations Rafa! 😊 <a href="https://t.co/LkSckpHVxr">pic.twitter.com/LkSckpHVxr</a></p>
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<p>Nadal has won a total of 17 Major titles and has been a runner up in eight Grand Slam events. The 'King of Clay', has also bagged a total of 11 French Open titles, highest by anyone in the history of tennis.</p>


Former world No.1 Rafael Nadal is all set to tie the knot with his long-time girlfriend Mery Perello following the recent engagement of the couple. The 32-year-old proposed Perello for marriage, as confirmed by the ATP in a recent tweet.

Former world No.1 Rafael Nadal is all set to tie the knot with his long-time girlfriend Mery Perello following the recent engagement of the couple. The 32-year-old proposed Perello for marriage, as confirmed by the ATP in a recent tweet. The Spaniard, who recently appeared in the Australian Open, was defeated by current world number one Novak Djokovic in the final game of the Grand Slam event. Nadal had no answer to Djokovic's groundstrokes which cost him the game 6-3, 6-2, 6-3 After the loss, Nadal had said he was content with being able to even reach the final given the injury problems that prevented him from playing. 💍@RafaelNadal is officially off the market after proposing to his girlfriend Maria Francisca "Xisca" Perello Congratulations Rafa! 😊 pic.twitter.com/LkSckpHVxr — ATP Tour (@ATP_Tour) January 30, 2019 × Nadal has won a total of 17 Major titles and has been a runner up in eight Grand Slam events. The 'King of Clay', has also bagged a total of 11 French Open titles, highest by anyone in the history of tennis.

Rafael Nadal proposes marriage to long-time girlfriend Mery Perello

<p>Former world number one Andy Murray has undergone a hip resurfacing surgery in London, the 31-year-old Scot said on Tuesday.</p>

<p>Murray has struggled to regain form since undergoing hip surgery last year and was knocked out in the first round of the Australian Open earlier this month, having said the tournament could be his last as a professional.</p>

<p>His post on Instagram featured an X-ray picture of his hip.</p>

<p>"I now have a metal hip," Murray wrote in his post.</p>

<p>"Feeling a bit battered and bruised just now but hopefully that will be the end of my hip pain."</p>

<p>In an emotional news conference in Melbourne ahead of the Australian Open, Murray announced he would retire this year, preferably after a farewell appearance at Wimbledon.</p>

<p>The two-time Olympic champion told BBC this month that surgery was the only option if he wanted to extend his career.</p>

<p>"There is a strong possibility I won't come back and play after an operation. I want to play tennis, but not with the hip I have right now," he said.</p>

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<p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BtNiST6FrYn/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">I underwent a hip resurfacing surgery in London yesterday morning...feeling a bit battered and bruised just now but hopefully that will be the end of my hip pain 😀 I now have a metal hip as you can see in the 2nd photo 👉👉 and I look like I've got a bit of a gut in photo 1😂</a></p>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/andymurray/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> Andy Murray</a> (@andymurray) on <time datetime="2019-01-29T08:18:42+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;">Jan 29, 2019 at 12:18am PST</time></p>
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<p>The ATP Tour posted a tweet in support for Murray: "Get well soon Andy, we know you will do everything to get back on tour!"</p>

<p>Three-time Grand Slam Murray initially had surgery on his right hip in January 2018 and has played 15 matches since returning to action last June.</p>

<p>He was due to play in next month's Marseille Open but withdrew from the tournament last week.</p>


Former world number one Andy Murray has undergone a hip resurfacing surgery in London, the 31-year-old Scot said on Tuesday. Murray has struggled to regain form since undergoing hip surgery last year and was knocked out in the first round of the Australian Open earlier this month, having said the tournament could be his last as a professional.

Former world number one Andy Murray has undergone a hip resurfacing surgery in London, the 31-year-old Scot said on Tuesday. Murray has struggled to regain form since undergoing hip surgery last year and was knocked out in the first round of the Australian Open earlier this month, having said the tournament could be his last as a professional. His post on Instagram featured an X-ray picture of his hip. "I now have a metal hip," Murray wrote in his post. "Feeling a bit battered and bruised just now but hopefully that will be the end of my hip pain." In an emotional news conference in Melbourne ahead of the Australian Open, Murray announced he would retire this year, preferably after a farewell appearance at Wimbledon. The two-time Olympic champion told BBC this month that surgery was the only option if he wanted to extend his career. "There is a strong possibility I won't come back and play after an operation. I want to play tennis, but not with the hip I have right now," he said. View this post on Instagram I underwent a hip resurfacing surgery in London yesterday morning...feeling a bit battered and bruised just now but hopefully that will be the end of my hip pain 😀 I now have a metal hip as you can see in the 2nd photo 👉👉 and I look like I've got a bit of a gut in photo 1😂 A post shared by Andy Murray (@andymurray) on Jan 29, 2019 at 12:18am PST × The ATP Tour posted a tweet in support for Murray: "Get well soon Andy, we know you will do everything to get back on tour!" Three-time Grand Slam Murray initially had surgery on his right hip in January 2018 and has played 15 matches since returning to action last June. He was due to play in next month's Marseille Open but withdrew from the tournament last week.

British tennis star Andy Murray undergoes hip surgery in London, informs fans via Instagram

<p>Novak Djokovic underwent surgery to fix an elbow problem 12 months back and in the process seems to have also eradicated any remaining glitches in his game, handing out an incredible mauling to Rafa Nadal in the Australian Open final on Sunday.</p>

<p>With his record seventh crown at Melbourne Park, Djokovic moved ahead of Pete Sampras as third on the men's all-time list of most Grand Slam titles (15) and probably more poignantly just two behind Nadal.</p>

<p>Roger Federer is still out in front with 20 and the debate on the sport's greatest player has mostly centred around the Swiss master and the Spaniard.</p>

<p>But Djokovic has most certainly thrown his hat into that ring and the mark remains a motivation for him.</p>

<p>"Of course, it motivates me," said Djokovic, who earlier posed with his trophy for "the most beautiful and the most expensive" photograph of the night with four Australian tennis greats including Rod Laver and Roy Emerson.</p>

<p>"Playing Grand Slams, biggest ATP events, is my utmost priority in this season and in seasons to come. How many seasons are to come? I don't know. I'm not trying to think too much in advance.</p>

<p>"I do want to definitely focus myself on continuing to improve my game and maintaining the overall well-being that I have mental, physical, emotional, so I would be able to compete at such a high level for the years to come, and have a shot at eventually getting closer to Roger's record. It's still far."</p>

<p>In their last meeting at Melbourne Park seven years ago, the Serb needed a record five hours and 53 minutes to beat Nadal in the title clash in a match regarded as a classic.</p>

<p>On Sunday, he needed little more than a couple of hours to clinch his 15th Grand Slam trophy and third in succession after winning Wimbledon and the US&nbsp;Open. The victory also tied his career Grand Slam final meetings against Nadal at 4-4.</p>

<p><strong>Clay Challenge&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>The biggest challenge for Djokovic this year will come at the French Open once again from Nadal, where the 32-year-old has won a record 11 titles.</p>

<p>"I have to work on my game, my claycourt game, a bit more, more specifically than I have in the last season," said Djokovic, who completed his first 'Nole Slam' in 2015-16.</p>

<p>"I am already playing better. But, I mean, clay specifically in order to have a chance and shot at the title. The ultimate challenge there is to win against Nadal."</p>

<p>The 31-year-old played like a man possessed as those present at the packed Rod Laver Arena, which boasted strong support for Nadal, were left shaking their heads in disbelief at his utter dominance.</p>

<p>Djokovic had five breaks of serve while conceding only a single break point against an opponent, who was yet to lose a set en route to the final.</p>

<p>He committed nine unforced errors while hitting 34 winners, often under pressure and off balance.</p>

<p>That was after giving away only five unforced errors in his semi-final thrashing of Lucas Pouille.</p>

<p>"Back-to-back semi-finals and finals, I think I made 15 unforced errors in total in two matches," he said. "It's quite pleasantly surprising to myself, as well, even though I always believe I can play this way, visualize myself playing this way.</p>

<p>"At this level, as I said, under the circumstances, it was truly a perfect match."</p>


Novak Djokovic underwent surgery to fix an elbow problem 12 months back and in the process seems to have also eradicated any remaining glitches in his game, handing out an incredible mauling to Rafa Nadal in the Australian Open final on Sunday.

Novak Djokovic underwent surgery to fix an elbow problem 12 months back and in the process seems to have also eradicated any remaining glitches in his game, handing out an incredible mauling to Rafa Nadal in the Australian Open final on Sunday. With his record seventh crown at Melbourne Park, Djokovic moved ahead of Pete Sampras as third on the men's all-time list of most Grand Slam titles (15) and probably more poignantly just two behind Nadal. Roger Federer is still out in front with 20 and the debate on the sport's greatest player has mostly centred around the Swiss master and the Spaniard. But Djokovic has most certainly thrown his hat into that ring and the mark remains a motivation for him. "Of course, it motivates me," said Djokovic, who earlier posed with his trophy for "the most beautiful and the most expensive" photograph of the night with four Australian tennis greats including Rod Laver and Roy Emerson. "Playing Grand Slams, biggest ATP events, is my utmost priority in this season and in seasons to come. How many seasons are to come? I don't know. I'm not trying to think too much in advance. "I do want to definitely focus myself on continuing to improve my game and maintaining the overall well-being that I have mental, physical, emotional, so I would be able to compete at such a high level for the years to come, and have a shot at eventually getting closer to Roger's record. It's still far." In their last meeting at Melbourne Park seven years ago, the Serb needed a record five hours and 53 minutes to beat Nadal in the title clash in a match regarded as a classic. On Sunday, he needed little more than a couple of hours to clinch his 15th Grand Slam trophy and third in succession after winning Wimbledon and the US Open. The victory also tied his career Grand Slam final meetings against Nadal at 4-4. Clay Challenge The biggest challenge for Djokovic this year will come at the French Open once again from Nadal, where the 32-year-old has won a record 11 titles. "I have to work on my game, my claycourt game, a bit more, more specifically than I have in the last season," said Djokovic, who completed his first 'Nole Slam' in 2015-16. "I am already playing better. But, I mean, clay specifically in order to have a chance and shot at the title. The ultimate challenge there is to win against Nadal." The 31-year-old played like a man possessed as those present at the packed Rod Laver Arena, which boasted strong support for Nadal, were left shaking their heads in disbelief at his utter dominance. Djokovic had five breaks of serve while conceding only a single break point against an opponent, who was yet to lose a set en route to the final. He committed nine unforced errors while hitting 34 winners, often under pressure and off balance. That was after giving away only five unforced errors in his semi-final thrashing of Lucas Pouille. "Back-to-back semi-finals and finals, I think I made 15 unforced errors in total in two matches," he said. "It's quite pleasantly surprising to myself, as well, even though I always believe I can play this way, visualize myself playing this way. "At this level, as I said, under the circumstances, it was truly a perfect match."

Novak Djokovic sets sight on Roger Federer's record of 20 Grand Slam titles

<p>Australian Open finalist Petra Kvitova will not play in the first-round Fed Cup tie as the Czech Republic face Romania on February 9-10, Czech media said Sunday, quoting her manager.</p>

<p>"She defends her titles in St Petersburg the week before that and in Doha the week after," manager Miroslav Cernosek told the website of the DNES broadsheet daily.</p>

<p>"Neither I nor captain Petr Pala expect her to take part," he said, adding however that he expected Kvitova to join the Fed Cup team later.</p>

<p>"She has always played... When she could. She is not one of those looking for excuses," he added.</p>

<p>Fed Cup team spokesman Karel Tejkal declined to confirm the information for AFP.</p>

<p>With Kvitova on the team, the Czechs have won six of the last eight Fed Cups.</p>

<p>In last year's final, they swept the US team 3-0 in Prague.</p>

<p>The 28-year-old Kvitova, the Wimbledon champion from 2011 and 2014, lost to Japan's Naomi Osaka 6-7 (2/7), 7-5, 4-6 in the Australian Open final on Saturday.</p>

<p>It was Kvitova's first Grand Slam final since a knife-wielding robber cut her left hand two years ago.</p>

<p>Her Australian Open performance will propel her to the second spot in the WTA rankings on Monday, equalling her top ranking from 2011 and 2012.</p>

<p>The highest-ranking Czech player available for the tie against Romania in the eastern Czech city of Ostrava is now Australian Open semi-finalist Karolina Pliskova.</p>

<p>Romania will rely on Simona Halep, who is still the world number one until Monday when she will be replaced by Osaka.</p>


Australian Open finalist Petra Kvitova will not play in the first-round Fed Cup tie as the Czech Republic face Romania on February 9-10, Czech media said Sunday, quoting her manager.

Australian Open finalist Petra Kvitova will not play in the first-round Fed Cup tie as the Czech Republic face Romania on February 9-10, Czech media said Sunday, quoting her manager. "She defends her titles in St Petersburg the week before that and in Doha the week after," manager Miroslav Cernosek told the website of the DNES broadsheet daily. "Neither I nor captain Petr Pala expect her to take part," he said, adding however that he expected Kvitova to join the Fed Cup team later. "She has always played... When she could. She is not one of those looking for excuses," he added. Fed Cup team spokesman Karel Tejkal declined to confirm the information for AFP. With Kvitova on the team, the Czechs have won six of the last eight Fed Cups. In last year's final, they swept the US team 3-0 in Prague. The 28-year-old Kvitova, the Wimbledon champion from 2011 and 2014, lost to Japan's Naomi Osaka 6-7 (2/7), 7-5, 4-6 in the Australian Open final on Saturday. It was Kvitova's first Grand Slam final since a knife-wielding robber cut her left hand two years ago. Her Australian Open performance will propel her to the second spot in the WTA rankings on Monday, equalling her top ranking from 2011 and 2012. The highest-ranking Czech player available for the tie against Romania in the eastern Czech city of Ostrava is now Australian Open semi-finalist Karolina Pliskova. Romania will rely on Simona Halep, who is still the world number one until Monday when she will be replaced by Osaka.

Australian Open finalist Kvitova pulls out of Fed Cup tie against Romania

<p>A chastened Rafa Nadal said even his best tennis may have not been enough against a rampant <a href="Novak Djokovic beats Rafael Nadal to win record 7th Australian Open title ">Novak Djokovic after being thrashed by the Serb in the Australian Ope</a>n final on Sunday.</p>

<p>The Spanish second seed came into the clash in outrageous form but was dominated throughout the 6-3 6-2 6-3 loss at Rod Laver Arena, the worst in his Grand Slam rivalry with the world number one.</p>

<p>Although reaching the final without dropping a set, Nadal said he was still short of his best after a long injury lay-off following the U.S. Open and lacked an edge to pressure the Serb.</p>

<p>"Of course, he played, I think, fantastic. At the same time it`s true that when he`s playing that way, I think I needed something else," the 17-times Grand Slam champion Nadal told reporters.</p>

<p>"I was not able to have that extra thing tonight, being honest.</p>

<p>"Playing the way he played tonight, I needed that defensive game to finally have the chance to be offensive.</p>

<p>"When he was hitting, it`s true that maybe it was difficult to beat him even if I was at my 100 per cent (level). But probably it would have been a little bit more of a fight."</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>He racked up 28 unforced errors while Djokovic leaked only nine, in an astonishing display of control.</p>

<p>Despite the thrashing, the defiant Spaniard said his five-set semi-final loss to Djokovic at Wimbledon last year was more disappointing than Sunday`s defeat.</p>

<p>He has now lost eight successive matches to Djokovic on hardcourts, his last win coming at the 2013 U.S. Open.</p>

<p>But he was adamant he could rebound and find the skill to challenge again.</p>

<p>"What I need is time, I need work and I need more weeks like this one," said Nadal.</p>

<p>"That`s really the only thing that I hope, is to have the chance to keep practising well and to have the chance to keep playing with healthy conditions.</p>

<p>"I can`t be sad. It would not be fair to be sad. I played against a player that today was better than me."</p>

<p>While buoyed to have played seven matches at Melbourne Park following a litany of injuries, he conceded that he would still need to manage his schedule carefully.</p>

<p>"I need matches, but I can`t go crazy to play matches. I have my age," said the 32-year-old.</p>

<p>"If I am healthy, I am competitive, I am happy, I have the chance to win tournaments. If not, things change 100 per cent."</p>


A chastened Rafa Nadal said even his best tennis may have not been enough against a rampant Novak Djokovic after being thrashed by the Serb in the Australian Open final on Sunday.

A chastened Rafa Nadal said even his best tennis may have not been enough against a rampant Novak Djokovic after being thrashed by the Serb in the Australian Open final on Sunday. The Spanish second seed came into the clash in outrageous form but was dominated throughout the 6-3 6-2 6-3 loss at Rod Laver Arena, the worst in his Grand Slam rivalry with the world number one. Although reaching the final without dropping a set, Nadal said he was still short of his best after a long injury lay-off following the U.S. Open and lacked an edge to pressure the Serb. "Of course, he played, I think, fantastic. At the same time it`s true that when he`s playing that way, I think I needed something else," the 17-times Grand Slam champion Nadal told reporters. "I was not able to have that extra thing tonight, being honest. "Playing the way he played tonight, I needed that defensive game to finally have the chance to be offensive. "When he was hitting, it`s true that maybe it was difficult to beat him even if I was at my 100 per cent (level). But probably it would have been a little bit more of a fight." 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. He racked up 28 unforced errors while Djokovic leaked only nine, in an astonishing display of control. Despite the thrashing, the defiant Spaniard said his five-set semi-final loss to Djokovic at Wimbledon last year was more disappointing than Sunday`s defeat. He has now lost eight successive matches to Djokovic on hardcourts, his last win coming at the 2013 U.S. Open. But he was adamant he could rebound and find the skill to challenge again. "What I need is time, I need work and I need more weeks like this one," said Nadal. "That`s really the only thing that I hope, is to have the chance to keep practising well and to have the chance to keep playing with healthy conditions. "I can`t be sad. It would not be fair to be sad. I played against a player that today was better than me." While buoyed to have played seven matches at Melbourne Park following a litany of injuries, he conceded that he would still need to manage his schedule carefully. "I need matches, but I can`t go crazy to play matches. I have my age," said the 32-year-old. "If I am healthy, I am competitive, I am happy, I have the chance to win tournaments. If not, things change 100 per cent."

Humbled Rafael Nadal says needs 'time, work' to beat Novak Djokovic

<p>Novak <a href="http://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pictures-dominant-novak-djokovics-7th-record-australian-open-title-victory-193182">Djokovic on Sunday stunned Rafael </a>Nadal 6-3 6-2 6-3 to win the Men's Australian Open 2019 title.&nbsp;</p>

<p>By virtue of this win, he's won a record seventh Australian Open title and his 15th grand slam title. He’s gone above Pete Sampras in the all-time list. He’s two behind Nadal and five behind Roger Federer.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The game lasted for just two hours and four minutes.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Magnificent Seven!<a href="https://twitter.com/DjokerNole?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DjokerNole</a> is the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AusOpen?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AusOpen</a> 2019 men’s singles champion def. Rafael Nadal 6-3 6-2 6-3.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AOChampion?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AOChampion</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AusOpenFinal?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AusOpenFinal</a> <a href="https://t.co/x5oRr6pfuO">pic.twitter.com/x5oRr6pfuO</a></p>
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) <a href="https://twitter.com/AustralianOpen/status/1089475767677775872?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 27, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p>Djokovic had hit 34 winners to 21 for Nadal. He only made nine unforced errors while Nadal made 28. Djokovic converted five of eight break points and only had to save one break point.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Novak Djokovic on Sunday stunned Rafael Nadal 6-3 6-2 6-3 to win the Men's Australian Open 2019 title. By virtue of this win, he's won a record seventh Australian Open title and his 15th grand slam title.

Novak Djokovic on Sunday stunned Rafael Nadal 6-3 6-2 6-3 to win the Men's Australian Open 2019 title. By virtue of this win, he's won a record seventh Australian Open title and his 15th grand slam title. He’s gone above Pete Sampras in the all-time list. He’s two behind Nadal and five behind Roger Federer. The game lasted for just two hours and four minutes. Magnificent Seven!@DjokerNole is the #AusOpen 2019 men’s singles champion def. Rafael Nadal 6-3 6-2 6-3.#AOChampion #AusOpenFinal pic.twitter.com/x5oRr6pfuO — #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 27, 2019 × Djokovic had hit 34 winners to 21 for Nadal. He only made nine unforced errors while Nadal made 28. Djokovic converted five of eight break points and only had to save one break point.

Novak Djokovic beats Rafael Nadal to win record 7th Australian Open title 

<p>It was an agonising two hours and 27 minutes but Japanese tennis fans burst into tears and shouts of joy Saturday as <a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/naomi-osaka-beats-petra-kvitova-to-win-australian-open-192967">Naomi Osaka sealed her second straight Grand Slam</a>.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Supporters in a packed Tokyo bar had a rollercoaster ride watching the action from the Australian Open final as their heroine Osaka contrived to give up three Championship points in the second set.</p>

<p>But as Osaka claimed victory and sunk to her knees in triumph and disbelief, fans let out the pent-up emotion following a thrilling see-saw <a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/petra-kvitova-feels-a-winner-despite-australian-open-pain-193041">battle with eighth seed Petra Kvitova</a> from the Czech Republic.</p>

<p>They punched the air, clapped hands and gave each other hugs and high fives as shouts of joy rang around the B ONE bar in upmarket Ginza, replacing earlier chants of "Naomi! Naomi! Naomi!"&nbsp;</p>

<p>Prime Minister Shinzo Abe led his nation's congratulations, hailing an "impressive victory in a very tight game".</p>

<p>"I'm so proud of the birth of the new world queen," tweeted Abe.</p>

<p>In securing victory in Melbourne after her stunning win over Serena Williams in the US Open last year, Osaka also clinched the world number-one spot, the first Asian to do so.</p>

<p>Her US Open victory was the first by a Japanese player and she is now the youngest woman to win back-to-back majors since Martina Hingis in 1998 and the youngest number one since Caroline Wozniacki in 2010.</p>

<p>With her gutsy performance in Melbourne backing up her breakthrough in New York, Osaka confirmed herself as the new star in the women's game and fans were expecting her to kick on from here.</p>

<p>"She can win much, much more! I want her to win on grass... I want her to win at Wimbledon!" Masako Takeda said at the bar as she wiped away tears of joy.</p>

<p>Another fan, Aki Tani, praised Osaka for being "humble but playing boldly" on court.</p>

<p>"I'm so happy that we can tell she has grown so much over the past two years!" she said.</p>

<p>Nozomi Hirabayashi noted it was "unthinkable before" that a Japanese player could become the world's best.</p>

<p>"I'm so proud," he said. "I want her to win the next Grand Slam as she is very mentally strong." News flashes screamed across Japanese networks after the nail-biting match.</p>

<p>The Sankei newspaper tweeted: "She scored a remarkable win that makes us see 'the Era of Naomi' coming up." Osaka has a Japanese mother, a Haitian father and was raised in the United States.</p>

<p>She has dual Japanese-American citizenship and often replies to questions from Japan's media in English, apologising for not knowing the appropriate word when she speaks Japanese.</p>


It was an agonising two hours and 27 minutes but Japanese tennis fans burst into tears and shouts of joy Saturday as Naomi Osaka sealed her second straight Grand Slam.

It was an agonising two hours and 27 minutes but Japanese tennis fans burst into tears and shouts of joy Saturday as Naomi Osaka sealed her second straight Grand Slam. Supporters in a packed Tokyo bar had a rollercoaster ride watching the action from the Australian Open final as their heroine Osaka contrived to give up three Championship points in the second set. But as Osaka claimed victory and sunk to her knees in triumph and disbelief, fans let out the pent-up emotion following a thrilling see-saw battle with eighth seed Petra Kvitova from the Czech Republic. They punched the air, clapped hands and gave each other hugs and high fives as shouts of joy rang around the B ONE bar in upmarket Ginza, replacing earlier chants of "Naomi! Naomi! Naomi!" Prime Minister Shinzo Abe led his nation's congratulations, hailing an "impressive victory in a very tight game". "I'm so proud of the birth of the new world queen," tweeted Abe. In securing victory in Melbourne after her stunning win over Serena Williams in the US Open last year, Osaka also clinched the world number-one spot, the first Asian to do so. Her US Open victory was the first by a Japanese player and she is now the youngest woman to win back-to-back majors since Martina Hingis in 1998 and the youngest number one since Caroline Wozniacki in 2010. With her gutsy performance in Melbourne backing up her breakthrough in New York, Osaka confirmed herself as the new star in the women's game and fans were expecting her to kick on from here. "She can win much, much more! I want her to win on grass... I want her to win at Wimbledon!" Masako Takeda said at the bar as she wiped away tears of joy. Another fan, Aki Tani, praised Osaka for being "humble but playing boldly" on court. "I'm so happy that we can tell she has grown so much over the past two years!" she said. Nozomi Hirabayashi noted it was "unthinkable before" that a Japanese player could become the world's best. "I'm so proud," he said. "I want her to win the next Grand Slam as she is very mentally strong." News flashes screamed across Japanese networks after the nail-biting match. The Sankei newspaper tweeted: "She scored a remarkable win that makes us see 'the Era of Naomi' coming up." Osaka has a Japanese mother, a Haitian father and was raised in the United States. She has dual Japanese-American citizenship and often replies to questions from Japan's media in English, apologising for not knowing the appropriate word when she speaks Japanese.

Australian Open: Japan tennis fans hail 'new Queen' Naomi Osaka

<p>Comeback queen Petra Kvitova said she was hurting but still <a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/naomi-osaka-beats-petra-kvitova-to-win-australian-open-192967">felt like a winner after going down</a> guns blazing against Japan's Naomi Osaka Saturday in an epic clash for the Australian Open crown.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Czech two-time Wimbledon champion overcame incredible odds to even play tennis again after a knife attack damaged her racquet hand in late 2016.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Doctors had given her only a 10 per cent chance of returning to the sport and Kvitova said reaching the final of the season-opening Grand Slam was an achievement in itself.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"It's hurting a lot today, I wanted to win and have the trophy," the 28-year-old said after the 7-6 (7/2), 5-7, 6-4 defeat.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"But I think I already won two years ago. So for me, it's crazy. I can hardly believe that I just played in a Grand Slam final again.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I've been through many, many things, not really great ones."&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Czech said she had her chances against Osaka and the 2hr 27min final hinged on a few key moments.&nbsp;</p>

<p>She was unable to convert five break points in the first set but forced a tie-break, only for Osaka to run away with it.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Kvitova then summoned her renowned fighting spirit to survive three championship points as she trailed 3-5 in the second, forcing a decider.</p>

<p>"I was thinking that if I turn it around, probably (momentum) it's on my side. In the end, it wasn't," she said after Osaka rallied to take a decisive break in the third set.</p>

<p>"I don't think I played really badly, but I just maybe could have gone a little bit more aggressive one or two rallies."&nbsp;</p>

<p>Regardless of the result, what Kvitova calls her "second career" post-attack is back on track.</p>

<p>She put together an 11-match winning streak on the way to the final, including a title in Brisbane, and did not drop a set on her way to the decider at Melbourne Park.</p>

<p>Her run to the final will lift her to number two in the world rankings, behind only Osaka, equalling the career high position she reached after winning her first Wimbledon title in 2011.</p>

<p>Such a comeback appeared unthinkable after the December 2016 attack.</p>

<p>Australian media this week published gruesome photographs of her injured hand, with the flesh sliced open and the tip of the index finger almost cut off.</p>

<p>She said she did not know if she would ever hold a racquet again.</p>

<p>"It's not 100 percent and never will be. It's just how it is," she said.</p>

<p>"I'm just trying to take maximum from the minimum. I feel great. I'm playing great tennis. I don't think that I could really imagine at the time being this kind of player again."</p>


Comeback queen Petra Kvitova said she was hurting but still felt like a winner after going down guns blazing against Japan's Naomi Osaka Saturday in an epic clash for the Australian Open crown.

Comeback queen Petra Kvitova said she was hurting but still felt like a winner after going down guns blazing against Japan's Naomi Osaka Saturday in an epic clash for the Australian Open crown. The Czech two-time Wimbledon champion overcame incredible odds to even play tennis again after a knife attack damaged her racquet hand in late 2016. Doctors had given her only a 10 per cent chance of returning to the sport and Kvitova said reaching the final of the season-opening Grand Slam was an achievement in itself. "It's hurting a lot today, I wanted to win and have the trophy," the 28-year-old said after the 7-6 (7/2), 5-7, 6-4 defeat. "But I think I already won two years ago. So for me, it's crazy. I can hardly believe that I just played in a Grand Slam final again. "I've been through many, many things, not really great ones." The Czech said she had her chances against Osaka and the 2hr 27min final hinged on a few key moments. She was unable to convert five break points in the first set but forced a tie-break, only for Osaka to run away with it. Kvitova then summoned her renowned fighting spirit to survive three championship points as she trailed 3-5 in the second, forcing a decider. "I was thinking that if I turn it around, probably (momentum) it's on my side. In the end, it wasn't," she said after Osaka rallied to take a decisive break in the third set. "I don't think I played really badly, but I just maybe could have gone a little bit more aggressive one or two rallies." Regardless of the result, what Kvitova calls her "second career" post-attack is back on track. She put together an 11-match winning streak on the way to the final, including a title in Brisbane, and did not drop a set on her way to the decider at Melbourne Park. Her run to the final will lift her to number two in the world rankings, behind only Osaka, equalling the career high position she reached after winning her first Wimbledon title in 2011. Such a comeback appeared unthinkable after the December 2016 attack. Australian media this week published gruesome photographs of her injured hand, with the flesh sliced open and the tip of the index finger almost cut off. She said she did not know if she would ever hold a racquet again. "It's not 100 percent and never will be. It's just how it is," she said. "I'm just trying to take maximum from the minimum. I feel great. I'm playing great tennis. I don't think that I could really imagine at the time being this kind of player again."

Petra Kvitova feels a winner, despite Australian Open pain

In pics: How Rafael Nadal suffered at the hands of 'dominant' Novak Djokovic at 2019 Australian Open

<p>India cricket captain Virat Kohli and his wife Anushka Sharma recently met tennis great Roger Federer at the Australian Open.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Former world number one Roger Federer was knocked out of the Aus Open after <a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/roger-federer-loses-to-stefanos-tsitsipas-knocked-out-of-australia-open-191635">he was beaten in four sets</a> 6-7, 7-6, 7-5, 7-6 by Stefanos Tsitsipas in the Round of 16.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In an interview, Virat said that interaction with Federer made his day as the Swiss legend remembered meeting the Indian skipper some years back.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Amazing (feeling). I have met him a couple of times before, the fact that he remembered me was like 'waoh'," the fanboy in Kohli was there to be seen.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"He (Federer) told me that he met me in Sydney a couple of years back during an exhibition match and I was like "waoh he remembers me".&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I can't explain that feeling. I have seen him play since I was a child and he is a great man and a great human being," Kohli said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"He kept asking me questions and I could talk to him about mindset. It was a beautiful time spent," Kohli fondly recollected.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">What a day at the Australian open. ❤😍👌👌 An amazing way to finish the Australian summer. Forever grateful🙏😇❤<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ausopen?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ausopen</a> <a href="https://t.co/fqOiekjH3F">pic.twitter.com/fqOiekjH3F</a></p>
— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) <a href="https://twitter.com/imVkohli/status/1086529811504345088?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 19, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Beautiful sunny day at tennis with this beautiful sunny boy ❤️ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AustralianOpen?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AustralianOpen</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ausopen?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ausopen</a> <a href="https://t.co/8yj9ztjprH">pic.twitter.com/8yj9ztjprH</a></p>
— Anushka Sharma (@AnushkaSharma) <a href="https://twitter.com/AnushkaSharma/status/1086541446109261826?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 19, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>


India cricket captain Virat Kohli and his wife Anushka Sharma recently met tennis great Roger Federer at the Australian Open. Former world number one Roger Federer was knocked out of the Aus Open after he was beaten in four sets 6-7, 7-6, 7-5, 7-6 by Stefanos Tsitsipas in the Round of 16.

India cricket captain Virat Kohli and his wife Anushka Sharma recently met tennis great Roger Federer at the Australian Open. Former world number one Roger Federer was knocked out of the Aus Open after he was beaten in four sets 6-7, 7-6, 7-5, 7-6 by Stefanos Tsitsipas in the Round of 16. In an interview, Virat said that interaction with Federer made his day as the Swiss legend remembered meeting the Indian skipper some years back. "Amazing (feeling). I have met him a couple of times before, the fact that he remembered me was like 'waoh'," the fanboy in Kohli was there to be seen. "He (Federer) told me that he met me in Sydney a couple of years back during an exhibition match and I was like "waoh he remembers me". "I can't explain that feeling. I have seen him play since I was a child and he is a great man and a great human being," Kohli said. "He kept asking me questions and I could talk to him about mindset. It was a beautiful time spent," Kohli fondly recollected. What a day at the Australian open. ❤😍👌👌 An amazing way to finish the Australian summer. Forever grateful🙏😇❤#ausopen pic.twitter.com/fqOiekjH3F — Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) January 19, 2019 × Beautiful sunny day at tennis with this beautiful sunny boy ❤️ #AustralianOpen #ausopen pic.twitter.com/8yj9ztjprH — Anushka Sharma (@AnushkaSharma) January 19, 2019 ×

Virat Kohli on meeting tennis star Roger Federer: 'I can't explain that feeling'

<p>French pair Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut beat 2017 champions Finn Henri Kontinen and local hope John Peers 6-4, 7-6(1) to win their maiden Australian Open men's doubles title on Sunday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>With the victory, Herbert and Mahut added the Melbourne Park title to their US&nbsp;Open, Wimbledon and French Open crowns to complete the career Grand Slam.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Frenchmen, seeded fifth at the year's first Grand Slam, got the only break in the opening set when they broke Kontinen's serve at 4-4 and then Herbert held on.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="fr">🏆🏆🏆+🏆 <a href="https://twitter.com/AustralianOpen?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AustralianOpen</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/nmahut?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nmahut</a><br />
📸 Antoine Couvercelle <a href="https://t.co/9BNX72qkJu">pic.twitter.com/9BNX72qkJu</a></p>
— PH Herbert (@p2hugz) <a href="https://twitter.com/p2hugz/status/1089420040355495937?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 27, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p>The second set went on serve before Herbert and Mahut got the upper hand in the tie-breaker to seal the victory in an hour and 38 minutes at the Rod Laver Arena.&nbsp;</p>


French pair Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut beat 2017 champions Finn Henri Kontinen and local hope John Peers 6-4, 7-6(1) to win their maiden Australian Open men's doubles title on Sunday.

French pair Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut beat 2017 champions Finn Henri Kontinen and local hope John Peers 6-4, 7-6(1) to win their maiden Australian Open men's doubles title on Sunday. With the victory, Herbert and Mahut added the Melbourne Park title to their US Open, Wimbledon and French Open crowns to complete the career Grand Slam. The Frenchmen, seeded fifth at the year's first Grand Slam, got the only break in the opening set when they broke Kontinen's serve at 4-4 and then Herbert held on. 🏆🏆🏆+🏆 @AustralianOpen @nmahut 📸 Antoine Couvercelle pic.twitter.com/9BNX72qkJu — PH Herbert (@p2hugz) January 27, 2019 × The second set went on serve before Herbert and Mahut got the upper hand in the tie-breaker to seal the victory in an hour and 38 minutes at the Rod Laver Arena.

Australian Open: Frenchmen Herbert, Mahut win men's doubles title

<p>Japan's Naomi Osaka battled past Czech eighth seed Petra Kvitova 7-6 (7/2), 5-7, 6-4 to win her first Australian Open crown Saturday and become the new world number one.&nbsp;</p>

<p>She&nbsp;became the first Japanese player to win the Australian Open.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also, the win made Osaka the first player from an Asian country to claim the world number one ranking.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I felt like I was in a state of shock through the entire trophy presentation," the 21-year-old said.</p>

<p>A rattled Osaka almost blew her title hopes with one hand on the trophy when she failed to convert three championship points leading 5-3 in the second set.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The never-say-die Kvitova forced a deciding set before Osaka finally edged ahead with a decisive break early in the third.</p>

<p>"Of course I felt&nbsp;very disappointed and sad when I had three match points," she said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I tried to tell myself there's nothing I can do about it. Told myself I'm playing a final and need to keep fighting and couldn’t act immature and needed to keep fighting."</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Tears of joy 🙏<a href="https://twitter.com/Naomi_Osaka_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Naomi_Osaka_</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AusOpen?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AusOpen</a> <a href="https://t.co/ckfLkGG6kf">pic.twitter.com/ckfLkGG6kf</a></p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">What a moment. <a href="https://twitter.com/Naomi_Osaka_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Naomi_Osaka_</a> wins her second Grand Slam in a row 🏆🏆<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AusOpen?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AusOpen</a> <a href="https://t.co/9TTskXIH9E">pic.twitter.com/9TTskXIH9E</a></p>
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<p>The fourth seed and US Open champion made it two Grand Slam titles in a row after a see-sawing 2hr 27min match.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The hard-fought victory made Osaka the first Asian, male or female, to hold the world's top ranking, taking over from Romania's Simona Halep.&nbsp;</p>


Japan's Naomi Osaka battled past Czech eighth seed Petra Kvitova 7-6 (7/2), 5-7, 6-4 to win her first Australian Open crown Saturday and become the new world number one.

Japan's Naomi Osaka battled past Czech eighth seed Petra Kvitova 7-6 (7/2), 5-7, 6-4 to win her first Australian Open crown Saturday and become the new world number one. She became the first Japanese player to win the Australian Open. Also, the win made Osaka the first player from an Asian country to claim the world number one ranking. "I felt like I was in a state of shock through the entire trophy presentation," the 21-year-old said. A rattled Osaka almost blew her title hopes with one hand on the trophy when she failed to convert three championship points leading 5-3 in the second set. The never-say-die Kvitova forced a deciding set before Osaka finally edged ahead with a decisive break early in the third. "Of course I felt very disappointed and sad when I had three match points," she said. "I tried to tell myself there's nothing I can do about it. Told myself I'm playing a final and need to keep fighting and couldn’t act immature and needed to keep fighting." Tears of joy 🙏@Naomi_Osaka_ #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/ckfLkGG6kf — #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 26, 2019 × What a moment. @Naomi_Osaka_ wins her second Grand Slam in a row 🏆🏆#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/9TTskXIH9E — #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 26, 2019 × The fourth seed and US Open champion made it two Grand Slam titles in a row after a see-sawing 2hr 27min match. The hard-fought victory made Osaka the first Asian, male or female, to hold the world's top ranking, taking over from Romania's Simona Halep.

Naomi Osaka beats Petra Kvitova to win Australian Open

Greatest rivals Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal square off in Australian Open final

<p>The rewards could not get bigger when Petra Kvitova takes on Naomi Osaka in Saturday's Australian Open final with one of them set to emerge as a fresh champion at Melbourne Park as well as the new world number one.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Four months after stunning 23-times Grand Slam champion Serena Williams in the final of the US&nbsp;Open last September, 21-year-old Osaka is one win away from becoming the first player since Jennifer Capriati to win the next Grand Slam after her maiden major title.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The fourth seed, one of the cleanest strikers of the ball in women's tennis, is not expecting it to be a cakewalk, especially being pitted against an opponent as aggressive as Osaka and also more experienced with two Wimbledon titles under her belt.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Osaka fought back from a set and 4-1 down against Taiwan's Hsieh Su-wei in the third round at Melbourne Park and showed her determination in winning two more three-setters to keep a 13-match victory streak in Grand Slams running.&nbsp;</p>

<p>She will need all of that grit if she hopes to stop Kvitova, who is yet to drop a set en route to her maiden Australian Open final, in their first career meeting.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>In Pics: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/photos/naomi-osaka-vs-petra-kvitova-besides-australian-open-title-the-winner-will-be-the-new-world-no1-192555">Kvitova vs Osaka: Besides winning Aus Open title, </a></strong><strong><a href="http://www.wionews.com/photos/naomi-osaka-vs-petra-kvitova-besides-australian-open-title-the-winner-will-be-the-new-world-no1-192555">winner</a></strong><strong><a href="http://www.wionews.com/photos/naomi-osaka-vs-petra-kvitova-besides-australian-open-title-the-winner-will-be-the-new-world-no1-192555"> will be the new world No.1</a></strong></p>

<p>"I think to have the opportunity to play her for the first time in a final of a Grand Slam is something very amazing," Osaka told reporters after her semi-final win. "I've watched her play the Wimbledon finals.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I know what a great player she is. It's definitely going to be very tough for me."&nbsp;</p>

<p>Kvitova is one match away from capping one of the most inspiring comebacks in the history of the sport, having had to undergo a nearly four-hour surgery on her playing hand in 2016 after being attacked by a knife-wielding intruder at her home in the Czech Republic.&nbsp;</p>

<p>She missed the 2017 tournament at Melbourne Park while recovering from the surgery and it was just not a case of overcoming a physical injury as the attack left an indelible mental scar too.</p>

<p>"I have been in the final of the Grand Slam, but this is a little bit different," she told reporters on Friday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I'm not playing on the grass, but I think it's just probably a little bit more special because it's after everything I have been through. So I think it's just different, but I don't think it's, like, more nervous."&nbsp;</p>

<p>The 28-year-old, currently sixth in the rankings, won the Sydney International warm-up before arriving in Melbourne and has not looked back, having strolled past her opponents in an 11-match winning streak.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Saturday could, however, be a different fight against the big-hitting Osaka, who hammered 56 winners and clubbed 15 aces to defeat another Czech player in Karolina Pliskova.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I need to play my best tennis, what I can say. I think Naomi is on fire. She's in very good form," Kvitova said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"She's an aggressive player, which I am, as well. So I think it will be about who gonna take the first point and push the other a little bit."&nbsp;</p>

<p>With both players evenly matched in their aggressive play and ability to serve big, Kvitova's coach Jiri Vanek believed the player with the bigger heart will win Saturday's contest.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Vanek's opposite number Sascha Bajin believes Osaka's fitness and mindset will give her the edge in rallies.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The number one ranking will be the cherry on the top for the winner as she will unseat Romanian Simona Halep, who was ousted by Serena Williams in the fourth round, at the top spot of the women's game on Monday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It will be a first-ever week as world number one for either players as Osaka is at her career-best ranking at fourth, while Kvitova climbed as high as second during 2011.&nbsp;</p>


The rewards could not get bigger when Petra Kvitova takes on Naomi Osaka in Saturday's Australian Open final with one of them set to emerge as a fresh champion at Melbourne Park as well as the new world number one.

The rewards could not get bigger when Petra Kvitova takes on Naomi Osaka in Saturday's Australian Open final with one of them set to emerge as a fresh champion at Melbourne Park as well as the new world number one. Four months after stunning 23-times Grand Slam champion Serena Williams in the final of the US Open last September, 21-year-old Osaka is one win away from becoming the first player since Jennifer Capriati to win the next Grand Slam after her maiden major title. The fourth seed, one of the cleanest strikers of the ball in women's tennis, is not expecting it to be a cakewalk, especially being pitted against an opponent as aggressive as Osaka and also more experienced with two Wimbledon titles under her belt. Osaka fought back from a set and 4-1 down against Taiwan's Hsieh Su-wei in the third round at Melbourne Park and showed her determination in winning two more three-setters to keep a 13-match victory streak in Grand Slams running. She will need all of that grit if she hopes to stop Kvitova, who is yet to drop a set en route to her maiden Australian Open final, in their first career meeting. In Pics: Kvitova vs Osaka: Besides winning Aus Open title, winner will be the new world No.1 "I think to have the opportunity to play her for the first time in a final of a Grand Slam is something very amazing," Osaka told reporters after her semi-final win. "I've watched her play the Wimbledon finals. "I know what a great player she is. It's definitely going to be very tough for me." Kvitova is one match away from capping one of the most inspiring comebacks in the history of the sport, having had to undergo a nearly four-hour surgery on her playing hand in 2016 after being attacked by a knife-wielding intruder at her home in the Czech Republic. She missed the 2017 tournament at Melbourne Park while recovering from the surgery and it was just not a case of overcoming a physical injury as the attack left an indelible mental scar too. "I have been in the final of the Grand Slam, but this is a little bit different," she told reporters on Friday. "I'm not playing on the grass, but I think it's just probably a little bit more special because it's after everything I have been through. So I think it's just different, but I don't think it's, like, more nervous." The 28-year-old, currently sixth in the rankings, won the Sydney International warm-up before arriving in Melbourne and has not looked back, having strolled past her opponents in an 11-match winning streak. Saturday could, however, be a different fight against the big-hitting Osaka, who hammered 56 winners and clubbed 15 aces to defeat another Czech player in Karolina Pliskova. "I need to play my best tennis, what I can say. I think Naomi is on fire. She's in very good form," Kvitova said. "She's an aggressive player, which I am, as well. So I think it will be about who gonna take the first point and push the other a little bit." With both players evenly matched in their aggressive play and ability to serve big, Kvitova's coach Jiri Vanek believed the player with the bigger heart will win Saturday's contest. Vanek's opposite number Sascha Bajin believes Osaka's fitness and mindset will give her the edge in rallies. The number one ranking will be the cherry on the top for the winner as she will unseat Romanian Simona Halep, who was ousted by Serena Williams in the fourth round, at the top spot of the women's game on Monday. It will be a first-ever week as world number one for either players as Osaka is at her career-best ranking at fourth, while Kvitova climbed as high as second during 2011.

Naomi Osaka, Petra Kvitova chase double delight in Australian Open final

<p>A rampant Novak Djokovic completed a stunning 6-0, 6-2, 6-2 demolition of Lucas Pouille on Friday to storm into his seventh Australian Open final and set up a mouthwatering title match with Rafa Nadal.</p>

<p>The six-times champion was at his devastating best in the one hour and 23-minute procession as he gave the hapless Pouille a brutal lesson in Grand Slam tennis and extended his perfect semi-finals record to 7-0 at Melbourne Park.</p>

<p>Attacking the lines with machine-like precision, Djokovic broke the 28th-seeded Frenchman seven times yet never looked in danger of conceding a break point.</p>

<p>Top seed Djokovic wrapped up the encounter on the second match point when Pouille netted and the Serb will face Nadal in search of a record seventh title in Melbourne.</p>

<p>Djokovic was left struggling to remember whether he had played any better in his previous Melbourne semi-finals.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">.<a href="https://twitter.com/DjokerNole?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DjokerNole</a> concedes just four games against Lucas Pouille to set up an <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AusOpen?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AusOpen</a> blockbuster final with Rafael Nadal.<br />
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📰👇<a href="https://t.co/8WXJxn9xlc">https://t.co/8WXJxn9xlc</a></p>
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<p>"It's definitely one of the best matches I have ever had on this court, definitely. Everything worked the way I intended before the match," he said.</p>

<p>Djokovic will meet second-seeded Spaniard Nadal in Sunday's final seven years after the Serb prevailed in a five hour 53-minute epic at the 2012 tournament, the longest Grand Slam final on record.</p>

<p>"I would definitely want to buy the ticket for the match, for those who haven't yet," he quipped in his on-court interview.</p>

<p>"That's (2012 final) a once in a life-time event and hopefully the outcome will be the same for me."</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">.<a href="https://twitter.com/DjokerNole?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DjokerNole</a> sending <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AusOpen?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AusOpen</a> final vibes to the <a href="https://twitter.com/RodLaverArena?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RodLaverArena</a> crowd 🙌 <a href="https://t.co/PRgnjNcezW">pic.twitter.com/PRgnjNcezW</a></p>
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<p>Even before entering the court on Friday, Djokovic was a heavy favourite on paper.</p>

<p>No Frenchman had beaten him in 27 previous matches at the Grand Slams, his last defeat coming against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at the 2010 quarter-finals in Melbourne.</p>

<p>A nervous-looking Pouille felt the weight of history and was soon under siege on serve.</p>

<p>After saving two break points, he struck a double-fault to fall 2-0 behind.</p>

<p>That was all the head-start Djokovic needed as he roared to a 5-0 lead before many of the centre court fans had settled in their seats.</p>

<p>Djokovic smiled ruefully after wasting a set point with an ambitious drop shot from the baseline.</p>

<p>But with another two in the bank and an anxious opponent, he could afford the luxury.</p>

<p>Pouille did little with the reprieve, smacking a forehand long, and when the dust had cleared, he looked up to see the set was gone in 23 minutes.</p>

<p>A low rumble of unease coursed through the stadium as Djokovic broke the Frenchman to lead 3-1 in the second, with fans being served up an execution rather than treated to a contest.</p>

<p>After Pouille held serve to 4-2, the crowd erupted.</p>

<p>There was plenty of good will toward the Frenchman at centre court but even his most loyal fans would have tutted at the way he conceded the second set in 33 minutes.</p>

<p>He squandered a chance to hold serve with an errant backhand then lazily fired wide off the same wing to hand the Serb a two-set lead.</p>

<p>From there it was academic, as Djokovic whipped through the last set in 27 minutes, with Pouille yet another of the Tour's young hopefuls left humbled by the master Serb.</p>


A rampant Novak Djokovic completed a stunning 6-0, 6-2, 6-2 demolition of Lucas Pouille on Friday to storm into his seventh Australian Open final and set up a mouthwatering title match with Rafa Nadal.

A rampant Novak Djokovic completed a stunning 6-0, 6-2, 6-2 demolition of Lucas Pouille on Friday to storm into his seventh Australian Open final and set up a mouthwatering title match with Rafa Nadal. The six-times champion was at his devastating best in the one hour and 23-minute procession as he gave the hapless Pouille a brutal lesson in Grand Slam tennis and extended his perfect semi-finals record to 7-0 at Melbourne Park. Attacking the lines with machine-like precision, Djokovic broke the 28th-seeded Frenchman seven times yet never looked in danger of conceding a break point. Top seed Djokovic wrapped up the encounter on the second match point when Pouille netted and the Serb will face Nadal in search of a record seventh title in Melbourne. Djokovic was left struggling to remember whether he had played any better in his previous Melbourne semi-finals. .@DjokerNole concedes just four games against Lucas Pouille to set up an #AusOpen blockbuster final with Rafael Nadal. 📰👇https://t.co/8WXJxn9xlc — #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 25, 2019 × "It's definitely one of the best matches I have ever had on this court, definitely. Everything worked the way I intended before the match," he said. Djokovic will meet second-seeded Spaniard Nadal in Sunday's final seven years after the Serb prevailed in a five hour 53-minute epic at the 2012 tournament, the longest Grand Slam final on record. "I would definitely want to buy the ticket for the match, for those who haven't yet," he quipped in his on-court interview. "That's (2012 final) a once in a life-time event and hopefully the outcome will be the same for me." .@DjokerNole sending #AusOpen final vibes to the @RodLaverArena crowd 🙌 pic.twitter.com/PRgnjNcezW — #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 25, 2019 × Even before entering the court on Friday, Djokovic was a heavy favourite on paper. No Frenchman had beaten him in 27 previous matches at the Grand Slams, his last defeat coming against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at the 2010 quarter-finals in Melbourne. A nervous-looking Pouille felt the weight of history and was soon under siege on serve. After saving two break points, he struck a double-fault to fall 2-0 behind. That was all the head-start Djokovic needed as he roared to a 5-0 lead before many of the centre court fans had settled in their seats. Djokovic smiled ruefully after wasting a set point with an ambitious drop shot from the baseline. But with another two in the bank and an anxious opponent, he could afford the luxury. Pouille did little with the reprieve, smacking a forehand long, and when the dust had cleared, he looked up to see the set was gone in 23 minutes. A low rumble of unease coursed through the stadium as Djokovic broke the Frenchman to lead 3-1 in the second, with fans being served up an execution rather than treated to a contest. After Pouille held serve to 4-2, the crowd erupted. There was plenty of good will toward the Frenchman at centre court but even his most loyal fans would have tutted at the way he conceded the second set in 33 minutes. He squandered a chance to hold serve with an errant backhand then lazily fired wide off the same wing to hand the Serb a two-set lead. From there it was academic, as Djokovic whipped through the last set in 27 minutes, with Pouille yet another of the Tour's young hopefuls left humbled by the master Serb.

Australian Open: Novak Djokovic defeats Lucas Pouille to set up Nadal final

<p>Scorching temperatures suspended play at the Australian Open tennis grand slam in Melbourne on Friday, expected to be the hottest day in a decade, as a week-old heat wave brought power outages and left streets bare in the business district.</p>

<p>Firefighters 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.</p>

<p>"Glam Slam and Australian Tennis Championships matches have been suspended on all outside courts at Melbourne Park and Albert Reserve," tournament organisers said on social media.</p>

<p>It was the second day that heat had affected play, after the roof at the Rod Laver arena was closed on Thursday for the women's semi finals match.</p>

<p>But the blistering heat did not stop the world No. 4, Japan's Naomi Osaka, from taking to the practice courts early, ahead of Saturday's women's final, where she faces the world number 6, the Czech Petra Kvitova.</p>

<p>Crowds were only expected to gather later in the day for the men's semifinals between world No. 1 Novak Djokovic, and Lucas Pouille of France, ranked 31.</p>

<p>Fire officials in the state's north set the danger rating to "extreme," while bushfires raging out of control around eastern Timbarra prompted an emergency warning to campers.</p>

<p>In the southern island state of Tasmania, officials issued eight emergency warnings.</p>

<p>"We've got a lot of fire in the landscape," state fire official Andrew McGuinness told broadcaster ABC. "Some of those fires are quite large. And already, we're seeing quite nasty fire weather conditions."</p>

<p>In Victoria, home to 4 million people, rolling power outages of two hours each could hit about 60,000 homes, after blackouts on Thursday in Adelaide, the capital of South Australia, which saw temperatures hit 46.2 C (115.16 F), surpassing a record set in 1939.</p>

<p>Australia's power operator again ordered industrial users to ease back and reduce pressure on Victoria's overburdened grid, including an aluminium smelter owned by Alcoa in the town of Portland.</p>

<p>Only a few people sat under the umbrellas outside Melbourne cafes that are usually heaving by midday, while ice cream melted slowly in the open-air storefront of a Ben and Jerry’s that had no customers.</p>

<p>Still, some businesses were banking on more patrons as temperatures cool ahead of a long weekend anchored by Saturday's national holiday, Australia Day.</p>

<p>"Days like this attract more customers for us," said Charlotte Jobling, of the Ice Bar in the trendy Fitzroy district.</p>

<p>"Although the streets are a bit quieter, people who are out and about are more likely to come inside. We are hopeful for a full-on evening tonight."</p>


Scorching temperatures suspended play at the Australian Open tennis grand slam in Melbourne on Friday, expected to be the hottest day in a decade, as a week-old heat wave brought power outages and left streets bare in the business district.

Scorching temperatures suspended play at the Australian Open tennis grand slam in Melbourne on Friday, expected to be the hottest day in a decade, as a week-old heat wave brought power outages and left streets bare in the business district. Firefighters 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. "Glam Slam and Australian Tennis Championships matches have been suspended on all outside courts at Melbourne Park and Albert Reserve," tournament organisers said on social media. It was the second day that heat had affected play, after the roof at the Rod Laver arena was closed on Thursday for the women's semi finals match. But the blistering heat did not stop the world No. 4, Japan's Naomi Osaka, from taking to the practice courts early, ahead of Saturday's women's final, where she faces the world number 6, the Czech Petra Kvitova. Crowds were only expected to gather later in the day for the men's semifinals between world No. 1 Novak Djokovic, and Lucas Pouille of France, ranked 31. Fire officials in the state's north set the danger rating to "extreme," while bushfires raging out of control around eastern Timbarra prompted an emergency warning to campers. In the southern island state of Tasmania, officials issued eight emergency warnings. "We've got a lot of fire in the landscape," state fire official Andrew McGuinness told broadcaster ABC. "Some of those fires are quite large. And already, we're seeing quite nasty fire weather conditions." In Victoria, home to 4 million people, rolling power outages of two hours each could hit about 60,000 homes, after blackouts on Thursday in Adelaide, the capital of South Australia, which saw temperatures hit 46.2 C (115.16 F), surpassing a record set in 1939. Australia's power operator again ordered industrial users to ease back and reduce pressure on Victoria's overburdened grid, including an aluminium smelter owned by Alcoa in the town of Portland. Only a few people sat under the umbrellas outside Melbourne cafes that are usually heaving by midday, while ice cream melted slowly in the open-air storefront of a Ben and Jerry’s that had no customers. Still, some businesses were banking on more patrons as temperatures cool ahead of a long weekend anchored by Saturday's national holiday, Australia Day. "Days like this attract more customers for us," said Charlotte Jobling, of the Ice Bar in the trendy Fitzroy district. "Although the streets are a bit quieter, people who are out and about are more likely to come inside. We are hopeful for a full-on evening tonight."

Heat wave brings blackouts to Melbourne, halts play at Australian Open

<p>Unseeded pair Samantha Stosur and Zhang Shuai took out the Australian Open women's doubles title on Friday to be crowned Grand Slam champions at Melbourne Park for the first time.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Australian-Chinese combination battled past Hungarian-French second seeds Timea Babos and Kristina Mladenovic -- last year's champions -- 6-3, 6-4 on Rod Laver Arena.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Today, it is a dream true for me," said Zhang, who won her first Grand Slam doubles title.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Stosur added: "Shuai, it is always a pleasure being on court with you, we have a great friendship."&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">"We have a great friendship and I think that really shows when we play."<a href="https://twitter.com/bambamsam30?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@bambamsam30</a> credits partner <a href="https://twitter.com/zhangshuai121?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@zhangshuai121</a> for their <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AusOpen?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AusOpen</a> title. <a href="https://t.co/Wl57GNIGJI">pic.twitter.com/Wl57GNIGJI</a></p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">.<a href="https://twitter.com/zhangshuai121?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@zhangshuai121</a> considered retirement in 2015. <a href="https://twitter.com/bambamsam30?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@bambamsam30</a> urged her to keep playing.<br />
<br />
Four years later, they are Grand Slam champions together 🏆<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AusOpen?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AusOpen</a> <a href="https://t.co/IP1vtMCgdo">pic.twitter.com/IP1vtMCgdo</a></p>
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) <a href="https://twitter.com/AustralianOpen/status/1088696366379888642?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 25, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p>It was their maiden Slam crown as a team, although Stosur had previously won the 2005 US Open and 2006 French Open in a partnership with Lisa Raymond that earned them 20 titles altogether.&nbsp;</p>

<p>En route to the title, Stosur and Zhang knocked out reigning French Open and Wimbledon champions Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova.&nbsp;</p>


Unseeded pair Samantha Stosur and Zhang Shuai took out the Australian Open women's doubles title on Friday to be crowned Grand Slam champions at Melbourne Park for the first time.

Unseeded pair Samantha Stosur and Zhang Shuai took out the Australian Open women's doubles title on Friday to be crowned Grand Slam champions at Melbourne Park for the first time. The Australian-Chinese combination battled past Hungarian-French second seeds Timea Babos and Kristina Mladenovic -- last year's champions -- 6-3, 6-4 on Rod Laver Arena. "Today, it is a dream true for me," said Zhang, who won her first Grand Slam doubles title. Stosur added: "Shuai, it is always a pleasure being on court with you, we have a great friendship." "We have a great friendship and I think that really shows when we play."@bambamsam30 credits partner @zhangshuai121 for their #AusOpen title. pic.twitter.com/Wl57GNIGJI — #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 25, 2019 × .@zhangshuai121 considered retirement in 2015. @bambamsam30 urged her to keep playing. Four years later, they are Grand Slam champions together 🏆#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/IP1vtMCgdo — #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 25, 2019 × It was their maiden Slam crown as a team, although Stosur had previously won the 2005 US Open and 2006 French Open in a partnership with Lisa Raymond that earned them 20 titles altogether. En route to the title, Stosur and Zhang knocked out reigning French Open and Wimbledon champions Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova.

Australian Open: Samantha Stosur, Zhang Shuai win women's doubles title

<p>Petra Kvitova will compete in her first Grand Slam final in five years after ending the fairytale run of unseeded American Danielle Collins with a decisive 7-6(2), 6-0 victory on a scorching afternoon at Melbourne Park on Thursday.</p>

<p>The eighth-seeded Czech will meet the winner of US&nbsp;Open champion Naomi Osaka and seventh-seeded compatriot Karolina Pliskova as she bids for her first Grand Slam triumph since claiming the second of her Wimbledon titles in 2014.</p>

<p>The match at Rod Laver Arena was riven with tension, with a delay to close the roof during the first set due to the stifling conditions and a malfunction of the net cord sensor at the start of the second that left server Collins fuming.</p>

<p>Kvitova capitalised on the American's distraction to break her three times in succession on the way to an emphatic victory that made her the first Czech woman to reach the Melbourne final since Jana Novotna lost the 1991 decider to Monica Seles.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Petra Kvitova: "I love playing finals."<br />
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Her last eight finals:<br />
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W, W, W, W, W, W, W, W<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AusOpen?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AusOpen</a> <a href="https://t.co/o5TigDx5ZY">pic.twitter.com/o5TigDx5ZY</a></p>
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) <a href="https://twitter.com/AustralianOpen/status/1088301518090956801?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 24, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p>"It means everything. I really worked very hard, finally I made it deep in this tournament," Kvitova said in her on-court interview.</p>

<p>"I am going to enjoy the final whatever happens. I am very, very happy.</p>

<p>"The first set was very tight. I was very nervous. I am glad I came through the tiebreak."</p>

<p>Collins was angered when the net cord technology failed at 15-30 when she was on serve during the opening game of the second set.</p>

<p>Having won the point, she was made to replay it and remonstrated with chair umpire Carlos Ramos.</p>

<p>The technology gave up another phantom beep on Collins's replayed serve and Ramos told both players there had been a malfunction.</p>

<p>Re-starting with a second serve, Collins gave up a backhand unforced error to concede two break points.</p>

<p>She saved one with a big backhand winner but netted on the second.</p>

<p>From there, things quickly went downhill for the American as the Czech ramped up her power game and roared to 5-0.</p>

<p>Collins conceded another unforced error on her forehand to give Kvitova match point and the Czech fired her 30th winner to claim a clinical win.</p>


Petra Kvitova will compete in her first Grand Slam final in five years after ending the fairytale run of unseeded American Danielle Collins with a decisive 7-6(2), 6-0 victory on a scorching afternoon at Melbourne Park on Thursday.

Petra Kvitova will compete in her first Grand Slam final in five years after ending the fairytale run of unseeded American Danielle Collins with a decisive 7-6(2), 6-0 victory on a scorching afternoon at Melbourne Park on Thursday. The eighth-seeded Czech will meet the winner of US Open champion Naomi Osaka and seventh-seeded compatriot Karolina Pliskova as she bids for her first Grand Slam triumph since claiming the second of her Wimbledon titles in 2014. The match at Rod Laver Arena was riven with tension, with a delay to close the roof during the first set due to the stifling conditions and a malfunction of the net cord sensor at the start of the second that left server Collins fuming. Kvitova capitalised on the American's distraction to break her three times in succession on the way to an emphatic victory that made her the first Czech woman to reach the Melbourne final since Jana Novotna lost the 1991 decider to Monica Seles. Petra Kvitova: "I love playing finals." Her last eight finals: W, W, W, W, W, W, W, W#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/o5TigDx5ZY — #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 24, 2019 × "It means everything. I really worked very hard, finally I made it deep in this tournament," Kvitova said in her on-court interview. "I am going to enjoy the final whatever happens. I am very, very happy. "The first set was very tight. I was very nervous. I am glad I came through the tiebreak." Collins was angered when the net cord technology failed at 15-30 when she was on serve during the opening game of the second set. Having won the point, she was made to replay it and remonstrated with chair umpire Carlos Ramos. The technology gave up another phantom beep on Collins's replayed serve and Ramos told both players there had been a malfunction. Re-starting with a second serve, Collins gave up a backhand unforced error to concede two break points. She saved one with a big backhand winner but netted on the second. From there, things quickly went downhill for the American as the Czech ramped up her power game and roared to 5-0. Collins conceded another unforced error on her forehand to give Kvitova match point and the Czech fired her 30th winner to claim a clinical win.

Petra Kvitova defeats Danielle Collins to reach Australian Open final

Kvitova vs Osaka: Besides winning Aus Open title, winner will be the new world No.1

<p>Rafael Nadal handed rising star Stefanos Tsitsipas a tennis lesson Thursday as he drubbed him 6-2, 6-4, 6-0 in the Australian Open semi-final.</p>

<p>Greek 14th seed Tsitsipas had enjoyed a fairytale run to his first Grand Slam last four, including a win over Roger Federer, but found Nadal in ruthless form as he won in 1hr 46min.</p>

<p>The Spanish second seed has not dropped his serve for an astonishing 63 straight games and has not lost a set on his way to the final, where he will face either Novak Djokovic or Lucas Pouille.</p>

<p>"It's been a great match, a great tournament," Nadal said after a breathtaking display of almost perfect tennis.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I think I have played very well every day. After a lot of months without playing is probably this court, this crowd it gives me that unbelievable energy."</p>

<p>The 20-year-old Tsitsipas had been hailed as a new Greek god of tennis after beating Federer, but his ascent to the summit of his personal Olympus was comprehensively halted by the colossus called Nadal.</p>

<p>Nadal's win put him into his fifth Australian Open final and keeps him on course to become the first man to win all four Grand Slams twice in the Open era if he can add to his sole Melbourne Park crown in 2009.</p>

<p>Tsitsipas, in just his second Australian Open and seventh appearance at a Grand Slam, was looking to become the first Greek player -- man or woman -- to reach a final in a major.</p>

<p>"He has everything to become a multi-Grand Slam champion," Nadal said of the young Greek, who enjoyed a breakthrough 2018, winning the ATP Tour NextGen Finals.</p>

<p>"When at that age he is in the semi-finals that says a lot of good things about him and winning the matches that he won already, so, yeah, I hope to face him in important rounds in the next couple of years, hopefully."</p>

<p>Nadal, who shattered the dreams of two other NextGen stars 19-year-old&nbsp;Alex de Minaur&nbsp;and 21-year-old Frances Tiafoe by jumping all over their serves early, made another immediate statement.</p>

<p>At 1-1 a rasping double-handed backhand and a forehand winner gave him a first break point which the Spaniard duly converted.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">He came into <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AusOpen?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AusOpen</a> under an injury cloud.<br />
<br />
Many people doubted him.<br />
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But <a href="https://twitter.com/RafaelNadal?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RafaelNadal</a> is now in the final &amp; looking for an 18th Grand Slam trophy. <a href="https://t.co/V9OKpl7ej8">pic.twitter.com/V9OKpl7ej8</a></p>
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) <a href="https://twitter.com/AustralianOpen/status/1088389383575781378?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 24, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">"No, they don't need any message. They are good and they are improving every month."<a href="https://twitter.com/RafaelNadal?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RafaelNadal</a> gives a classy message to the younger generation 🙏<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AusOpen?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AusOpen</a> <a href="https://t.co/YbQNBRKnPH">pic.twitter.com/YbQNBRKnPH</a></p>
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) <a href="https://twitter.com/AustralianOpen/status/1088386706406019072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 24, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p><strong>Outrageous winner</strong></p>

<p>With the pressure mounting, Tsitsipas tried to hammer his way out of trouble at 4-2 down by going for huge serves.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Two double faults were the result and with his strategy being scrambled, an ill-advised drop shot gave the rapidly advancing Nadal an easy kill to extend his advantage to 5-2 before serving out the set in just 31 minutes.</p>

<p>The second stanza was on serve at 2-2 when Nadal pulled off the shot of the tournament, a running forehand around the net post from almost behind the umpire's chair on his way to earning three break points.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This time the early break did not come as Tsitsipas suddenly found his first serve accuracy when he needed it most and crucially clung on to hold with an ace.</p>

<p>But at 4-4 he was in trouble again as Nadal swarmed all over him and took the break and again served for a two-set cushion after just 75 minutes of play.</p>

<p>And the great Spaniard was in no mood to hang about at the start of the third, breaking Tsitsipas not once but three times to inflict a humiliating 6-0 "bagel" on the youngster in a further 31 minutes.</p>

<p>The second break came with the help of another outrageous forehand winner after being wrong-footed, a dreamy lob winner followed by a tricky backpedalling overhead smash made to look ridiculously easy.</p>


Rafael Nadal handed rising star Stefanos Tsitsipas a tennis lesson Thursday as he drubbed him 6-2, 6-4, 6-0 in the Australian Open semi-final. Greek 14th seed Tsitsipas had enjoyed a fairytale run to his first Grand Slam last four, including a win over Roger Federer, but found Nadal in ruthless form as he won in 1hr 46min.

Rafael Nadal handed rising star Stefanos Tsitsipas a tennis lesson Thursday as he drubbed him 6-2, 6-4, 6-0 in the Australian Open semi-final. Greek 14th seed Tsitsipas had enjoyed a fairytale run to his first Grand Slam last four, including a win over Roger Federer, but found Nadal in ruthless form as he won in 1hr 46min. The Spanish second seed has not dropped his serve for an astonishing 63 straight games and has not lost a set on his way to the final, where he will face either Novak Djokovic or Lucas Pouille. "It's been a great match, a great tournament," Nadal said after a breathtaking display of almost perfect tennis. "I think I have played very well every day. After a lot of months without playing is probably this court, this crowd it gives me that unbelievable energy." The 20-year-old Tsitsipas had been hailed as a new Greek god of tennis after beating Federer, but his ascent to the summit of his personal Olympus was comprehensively halted by the colossus called Nadal. Nadal's win put him into his fifth Australian Open final and keeps him on course to become the first man to win all four Grand Slams twice in the Open era if he can add to his sole Melbourne Park crown in 2009. Tsitsipas, in just his second Australian Open and seventh appearance at a Grand Slam, was looking to become the first Greek player -- man or woman -- to reach a final in a major. "He has everything to become a multi-Grand Slam champion," Nadal said of the young Greek, who enjoyed a breakthrough 2018, winning the ATP Tour NextGen Finals. "When at that age he is in the semi-finals that says a lot of good things about him and winning the matches that he won already, so, yeah, I hope to face him in important rounds in the next couple of years, hopefully." Nadal, who shattered the dreams of two other NextGen stars 19-year-old Alex de Minaur and 21-year-old Frances Tiafoe by jumping all over their serves early, made another immediate statement. At 1-1 a rasping double-handed backhand and a forehand winner gave him a first break point which the Spaniard duly converted. He came into #AusOpen under an injury cloud. Many people doubted him. But @RafaelNadal is now in the final & looking for an 18th Grand Slam trophy. pic.twitter.com/V9OKpl7ej8 — #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 24, 2019 × "No, they don't need any message. They are good and they are improving every month."@RafaelNadal gives a classy message to the younger generation 🙏#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/YbQNBRKnPH — #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 24, 2019 × Outrageous winner With the pressure mounting, Tsitsipas tried to hammer his way out of trouble at 4-2 down by going for huge serves. Two double faults were the result and with his strategy being scrambled, an ill-advised drop shot gave the rapidly advancing Nadal an easy kill to extend his advantage to 5-2 before serving out the set in just 31 minutes. The second stanza was on serve at 2-2 when Nadal pulled off the shot of the tournament, a running forehand around the net post from almost behind the umpire's chair on his way to earning three break points. This time the early break did not come as Tsitsipas suddenly found his first serve accuracy when he needed it most and crucially clung on to hold with an ace. But at 4-4 he was in trouble again as Nadal swarmed all over him and took the break and again served for a two-set cushion after just 75 minutes of play. And the great Spaniard was in no mood to hang about at the start of the third, breaking Tsitsipas not once but three times to inflict a humiliating 6-0 "bagel" on the youngster in a further 31 minutes. The second break came with the help of another outrageous forehand winner after being wrong-footed, a dreamy lob winner followed by a tricky backpedalling overhead smash made to look ridiculously easy.

Rafael Nadal races to Australian Open final, beats Stefanos Tsitsipas

<p>Japan's Naomi Osaka defeated seventh seed Karolina Pliskova to enter her maiden Australian Open final&nbsp;on&nbsp;Thursday to set up final with&nbsp;Petra Kvitova.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The 21-year-old Osaka won 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 to reach a second straight Grand Slam decider after her breakthrough triumph at last year's US Open.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Fourth seed Osaka hit winners almost at will from both her forehand and backhand and broke Pliskova's service games twice while facing not a single breakpoint to canter through the first set.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Czech eighth seed <a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/petra-kvitova-defeats-danielle-collins-to-reach-australian-open-final-192410">Kvitova defeated unseeded American Danielle Collins</a> 7-6(2), 6-0 to enter her first Grand Slam final in five years.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Two Grand Slam finals in a row. Only 21-years-old.<a href="https://twitter.com/Naomi_Osaka_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Naomi_Osaka_</a> is a star 🌟<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AusOpen?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AusOpen</a> <a href="https://t.co/AHs37jIfkM">pic.twitter.com/AHs37jIfkM</a></p>
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) <a href="https://twitter.com/AustralianOpen/status/1088337835344576512?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 24, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Our 2019 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AusOpen?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AusOpen</a> Women's Singles finalist <a href="https://twitter.com/Naomi_Osaka_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Naomi_Osaka_</a>'s message to her Japanese fans 🎌<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AusOpen?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AusOpen</a> <a href="https://t.co/eSjkAd1HFU">pic.twitter.com/eSjkAd1HFU</a></p>
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) <a href="https://twitter.com/AustralianOpen/status/1088336683458838528?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 24, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">😴🚶‍♀️<a href="https://twitter.com/Naomi_Osaka_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Naomi_Osaka_</a>'s itinerary as she prepares for her first <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AusOpen?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AusOpen</a> final against Petra Kvitova 😂 <a href="https://t.co/b6hJOzBvZD">pic.twitter.com/b6hJOzBvZD</a></p>
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) <a href="https://twitter.com/AustralianOpen/status/1088336211436032001?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 24, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p>Pliskova, who had stunned Serena Williams in the quarter-finals, failed to live up to her reputation as a big server but showed lot of pluck to level the match with a second break at 5-4 after the players had an early trade of breaks.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Osaka converted her only breakpoint opportunity in the decider while her opponent wasted four and the 21-year-old made it to her second straight Grand Slam final with her 15th ace to seal the match in an hour and 53 minutes.&nbsp;</p>


Japan's Naomi Osaka defeated seventh seed Karolina Pliskova to enter her maiden Australian Open final on Thursday to set up final with Petra Kvitova. The 21-year-old Osaka won 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 to reach a second straight Grand Slam decider after her breakthrough triumph at last year's US Open.

Japan's Naomi Osaka defeated seventh seed Karolina Pliskova to enter her maiden Australian Open final on Thursday to set up final with Petra Kvitova. The 21-year-old Osaka won 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 to reach a second straight Grand Slam decider after her breakthrough triumph at last year's US Open. Fourth seed Osaka hit winners almost at will from both her forehand and backhand and broke Pliskova's service games twice while facing not a single breakpoint to canter through the first set. Czech eighth seed Kvitova defeated unseeded American Danielle Collins 7-6(2), 6-0 to enter her first Grand Slam final in five years. Two Grand Slam finals in a row. Only 21-years-old.@Naomi_Osaka_ is a star 🌟#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/AHs37jIfkM — #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 24, 2019 × Our 2019 #AusOpen Women's Singles finalist @Naomi_Osaka_'s message to her Japanese fans 🎌#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/eSjkAd1HFU — #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 24, 2019 × 😴🚶‍♀️@Naomi_Osaka_'s itinerary as she prepares for her first #AusOpen final against Petra Kvitova 😂 pic.twitter.com/b6hJOzBvZD — #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 24, 2019 × Pliskova, who had stunned Serena Williams in the quarter-finals, failed to live up to her reputation as a big server but showed lot of pluck to level the match with a second break at 5-4 after the players had an early trade of breaks. Osaka converted her only breakpoint opportunity in the decider while her opponent wasted four and the 21-year-old made it to her second straight Grand Slam final with her 15th ace to seal the match in an hour and 53 minutes.

Australian Open: Naomi Osaka beats Pliskova, will play final against Czech Republic's Petra Kvitova

<p>Serena Williams on Wednesday was knocked out of the Australian Open by former world no.1 Karolina Pliskova.&nbsp;Williams squandered four match points and blew a 5-1 lead in the decider to fall to seventh seed Pliskova 6-4 4-6 7-5 in the quarter-finals.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"She improved her game in the second set. I was struggling a little bit against the wind. She was playing very well in the second set. I was almost in the locker room but now stand here as the winner. My mind was in the locker room at 5-1 down but I was still here. I was too passive and mentally down. She got a little bit shaky in the end. I took my chances and I won," Pliskova said after her win.</p>

<p>"I'm happy to play two days in a row. I like it. Naomi Osaka [her semi-final opponent] is dangerous but there is nobody more dangerous than Serena, she concluded.</p>

<p>By virtue of this win, Pliskova advanced to meet Japan's Naomi Osaka for a place in the final.</p>


Serena Williams on Wednesday was knocked out of the Australian Open by former world no.1 Karolina Pliskova. Williams squandered four match points and blew a 5-1 lead in the decider to fall to seventh seed Pliskova 6-4 4-6 7-5 in the quarter-finals.

Serena Williams on Wednesday was knocked out of the Australian Open by former world no.1 Karolina Pliskova. Williams squandered four match points and blew a 5-1 lead in the decider to fall to seventh seed Pliskova 6-4 4-6 7-5 in the quarter-finals. "She improved her game in the second set. I was struggling a little bit against the wind. She was playing very well in the second set. I was almost in the locker room but now stand here as the winner. My mind was in the locker room at 5-1 down but I was still here. I was too passive and mentally down. She got a little bit shaky in the end. I took my chances and I won," Pliskova said after her win. "I'm happy to play two days in a row. I like it. Naomi Osaka [her semi-final opponent] is dangerous but there is nobody more dangerous than Serena, she concluded. By virtue of this win, Pliskova advanced to meet Japan's Naomi Osaka for a place in the final.

Australian Open: Serena Williams knocked out after she loses quarter-final to Karolina Pliskova

<p>Novak Djokovic reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open for a seventh time on Wednesday after eighth seed Kei Nishikori retired hurt when trailing 6-1 4-1 in their quarter-final.</p>

<p>Top seed and six-times champion Djokovic will meet Frenchman Lucas Pouille, a maiden Grand Slam semi-finalist, on Friday for a place in Sunday's final.</p>

<p>Rafa Nadal and Greek wunderkind Stefanos Tsitsipas will meet in the other semi-final on Thursday.</p>

<p>Nishikori, who grinded through three five-set matches at the tournament, was clearly struggling after a handful of games in the evening match at Rod Laver Arena and had a medical time-out after losing the first set.</p>

<p>He grimaced as a trainer worked on his right thigh and pulled out of the match after Djokovic won the fifth game.</p>

<p>Although appearing untroubled by any injury niggles, Djokovic was grateful for the short match, having complained of a sore back and a "couple of issues" after battling through a taxing four-set clash against Russian Daniil Medvedev in the previous round.</p>

<p>"As they say this is exactly what the doctor ordered," he told Jim Courier in their on-court interview.</p>

<p>"I've had plenty of matches so far this year .. And I'll do everything to get ready for that (next) one."</p>


Novak Djokovic reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open for a seventh time on Wednesday after eighth seed Kei Nishikori retired hurt when trailing 6-1 4-1 in their quarter-final.

Novak Djokovic reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open for a seventh time on Wednesday after eighth seed Kei Nishikori retired hurt when trailing 6-1 4-1 in their quarter-final. Top seed and six-times champion Djokovic will meet Frenchman Lucas Pouille, a maiden Grand Slam semi-finalist, on Friday for a place in Sunday's final. Rafa Nadal and Greek wunderkind Stefanos Tsitsipas will meet in the other semi-final on Thursday. Nishikori, who grinded through three five-set matches at the tournament, was clearly struggling after a handful of games in the evening match at Rod Laver Arena and had a medical time-out after losing the first set. He grimaced as a trainer worked on his right thigh and pulled out of the match after Djokovic won the fifth game. Although appearing untroubled by any injury niggles, Djokovic was grateful for the short match, having complained of a sore back and a "couple of issues" after battling through a taxing four-set clash against Russian Daniil Medvedev in the previous round. "As they say this is exactly what the doctor ordered," he told Jim Courier in their on-court interview. "I've had plenty of matches so far this year .. And I'll do everything to get ready for that (next) one."

Australian Open: Djokovic through to semi-finals after Nishikori retires

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