Andy Murray will be retiring this year because of the severe pain from his troublesome right hip with next week's Australian Open potentially his last tournament as a professional, the former world number one said on Friday.

Tennis star Andy Murray to retire this year due to injury

Double defending champion Roger Federer will start his bid for a hat-trick of Australian Open titles next week against unseeded Uzbek Denis Istomin, who caused a huge upset when he defeated Novak Djokovic in the second round two years ago.

Roger Federer to open Australian Open defence against Istomin

World number one Simona Halep crashed to a straight-sets defeat against unseeded Ashleigh Barty in the second round of the Sydney International on Wednesday. Halep, playing in her first tournament since a back injury cut short her 2018 season in September, lost 6-4 6-4 in 87 minutes with the result dealing a blow to her Australian Open preparations.

Simona Halep falls to Barty in Sydney second round

Serena Williams is back in Melbourne as hot favourite to repeat her 2017 Australian Open win and claim a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam with rivals, including defending champion Caroline Wozniacki, battling health issues and poor form.

Australian Open: History beckons as Serena shoots for Grand Slam history

Star players Roger Federer and Angelique Kerber have cautiously welcomed new tie-break rules for the deciding set at the Australian Open. The year's opening Grand Slam, starting January 14, will for the first time feature an extended tie-break in the final set when the score reaches 6-6, rather than a traditional full set.

Federer, Kerber cautious on new Aus Open tie-break rule

Former world number one Maria Sharapova's Australian Open preparations suffered a blow after a thigh injury forced her to retire from the Shenzhen Open quarter-final clash against Aryna Sabalenka on Friday.

Maria Sharapova suffers injury blow ahead of Australian Open

World number five Juan Martin del Potro will miss next month's Australian Open as he continues to recover from a kneecap fracture he suffered during a fall at the Shanghai Masters October, he said on Monday.

Del Potro to miss Australian Open with knee injury

Players in the men's draw at the Australian Open will be allowed 10-minute breaks during matches as part of an updated extreme heat policy at the year's first Grand Slam.

Australian Open tweaks extreme heat policy

The Australian Open has joined Wimbledon in introducing a final set tiebreak from next year's competition, following the "most extensive" consultation in the event's history, tournament director Craig Tiley said on Friday.

Australian Open introduces final set tiebreak

American Tennis star Serena Williams will resume her quest for a record-equalling 24th grand slam title at the Australian Open in January. The organisers on Wednesday confirmed her entry to the tournament she won for a seventh time on her last appearance in 2017.

Serena Williams confirms Australian Open return

Seven times champion Serena Williams will be back at the Australian Open in 2019 having missed her title defence this year after giving birth, organisers said Tuesday.

Serena confirmed for eighth Australian Open title tilt

World number two Roger Federer says he is mulling a return to the European clay-court season in 2019 following a two-year absence. Federer, speaking to ESPN on the sidelines of this weekend's Laver Cup, has skipped the clay-court segment of the season since 2017 in order to conserve energy for Wimbledon and hard-court seasons.

Federer mulling clay court return in 2019

Praneeth defeated Indonesia's Maulana Panji Ahmad in straight games

Shuttler Sai Praneeth wins at Australian Open

The 28-year-old Belarusian missed the majority of last season due to a prolonged legal battle over the custody of her son

Resurgent Azarenka confirms European charge after long-awaited return

Shane Warne took to Twitter to applaud the genius kid, Eli Mikal Khan, for his extraordinary bowling action

Watch: Pakistani whizz-kid with Shane Warne-like bowling action

Weekly compilation of sports and other related news

WION Sports News: Top sports results this week

Serena William returns to her sport after giving birth to her daughter in September, coach Mouratoglou calls this her biggest challenge

Tennis: Serena's comeback her greatest challenge, says coach Mouratoglou

Leave apart tennis, Roger Federer is greatest ever sportsperson across all the sports.

Opinion: Roger Federer is best ever sportsperson across all sports

The 36-year-old defending champion won the opening set in 24 minutes

Roger Federer wins Australian Open 2018 Men's Singles

The Swiss legend Roger Federer defeated Richard Gasquet of France, 6-2, 7-5, 6-4

Australian Open: Defending champion Roger Federer races into R16

Kerber will face either 26th seed Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland or Taiwan's Hsieh Su-wei for a place in the quarter-finals

Australian Open: Angelique Kerber outplays Maria Sharapova to reach R16

They overcame the Brazilian-Briton team 7-6(3) 5-7 7-6(6) after battling hard for close to three hours

Australian Open: Leander Paes, Purav Raja save match point to make pre-quarters

Hyeon Chung becomes the third Korean player to make the R16 at a Grand Slam, ousting No.4 seed Zverev 5-7, 7-6(3), 2-6, 6-3, 6-0

Australian Open: Hyeon Chung beats Alexander Zverev, enters R16

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Tennis star Andy Murray to retire this year due to injury

Roger Federer to open Australian Open defence against Istomin

Simona Halep falls to Barty in Sydney second round

Australian Open: History beckons as Serena shoots for Grand Slam history

Federer, Kerber cautious on new Aus Open tie-break rule

Maria Sharapova suffers injury blow ahead of Australian Open

Del Potro to miss Australian Open with knee injury

Australian Open tweaks extreme heat policy

Australian Open introduces final set tiebreak

Serena Williams confirms Australian Open return

Serena confirmed for eighth Australian Open title tilt

Federer mulling clay court return in 2019

Shuttler Sai Praneeth wins at Australian Open

Resurgent Azarenka confirms European charge after long-awaited return

Watch: Pakistani whizz-kid with Shane Warne-like bowling action

WION Sports News: Top sports results this week

Tennis: Serena's comeback her greatest challenge, says coach Mouratoglou

Opinion: Roger Federer is best ever sportsperson across all sports

WION Sports News: Top sports results this week

Roger Federer wins Australian Open 2018 Men's Singles

Australian Open: Defending champion Roger Federer races into R16

Australian Open: Angelique Kerber outplays Maria Sharapova to reach R16

Australian Open: Leander Paes, Purav Raja save match point to make pre-quarters

Australian Open: Hyeon Chung beats Alexander Zverev, enters R16