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Australian Open

Serena v Venus: It's episode 30

New York - AFP

Serena and Venus Williams will walk the slippery line between sisterly affection and athletic aggression for the 30th time on Friday, fighting for a place in the US Open last 16. The superstar sisters' third-round clash is their earliest Grand Slam meeting in 20 years -- since Venus beat her younger sister in the second round of the 1998 AustralianRead more

Grunter Sabalenka feels Aussie wrath

Melbourne - Al Maghirb Today

Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka are well known for it and now tennis has a new shrieker and grunter, who was so loud at the Australian Open the crowd started imitating her. Rising Belarusian star Aryna Sabalenka's screeching got so grating in her Australian Open clash with local hope Ashleigh Barty late Tuesday that the irritated centre court crowd beganRead more

Venus leads seeds tumbling out of Open

Melbourne - Al Maghrib Today

Rafael Nadal dispelled any injury worries to storm into the Australian Open second round Monday as Venus Williams led a slew of seeds out of the tournament in a dark day for American players. The Spanish world number one was hampered by a knee injury at the tail-end of the 2017 season, and he entered the opening Grand Slam ofRead more

Federer faces Bedene first up in Australian Open

Perth - Al Maghrib Today

Roger Federer will open his title defence against Slovenia's Aljaz Bedene and has a potential quarter-final with David Goffin in the Australian Open. In Thursday's draw, 36-year-old Federer, bidding for a record 20th Grand Slam title, has a first round encounter with the 51st-ranked Bedene. The Swiss marvel, chasing a sixth Australian Open crown, could also face big-serving Canadian MilosRead more

Injured Andy Murray out of Australian Open

London - Al Maghrib Today

Andy Murray needed only a couple of days in Australia to realize the hip problem that has kept him out of competitive tennis since Wimbledon was not going to improve in time for the season’s first major. Murray, a five-time finalist at the event, withdrew from the Australian Open on Thursday, two days after pulling out of a tuneup eventRead more

Federer, Nadal shine as rivals hobble into 2018

Paris - Al Maghrib Today

Written off as dead men walking, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal defied time to sweep the Grand Slams in 2017 while the injury curse which dogged their rivals looks set to be the new year's early storyline. Evergreen Federer, who will turn 37 in 2018, took his majors tally to 19 with a fifth Australian Open title, which was securedRead more

Serena Williams to make competitive return in Abu Dhabi next week

Abu Dhabi - Al Maghrib Today

Former world number one Serena Williams will make a surprise comeback at the Mubadala exhibition event in Abu Dhabi next Saturday, as she gears up for her Australian Open title defence in January. The decision to play in the United Arab Emirates should virtually confirm Williams' participation at Melbourne Park. The 36-year-old has not played since clinching a 23rd GrandRead more

Serena sorts out baby teething issues, hints at return

Miami - Al Maghrib Today

Serena Williams says she has struggled with her baby daughter's teething pain even as she tweeted a photo hinting she might be working on a comeback to defend her Australian Open title. The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion and former world number one drew sympathetic replies to Sunday tweets about baby daughter Alexis Olympia's teething issues, complete with a photo, thenRead more

Mother Serena 'can fix everything'

Wuhan - Al Maghrib Today

Chinese great Li Na backed Serena Williams to pull off a quickfire return to tennis after the birth of her first child -- but said there was no way she could have rushed back to the sport. Williams, 36, has spoken of her "outrageous" plans to defend her title at the Australian Open in January, less than five months afterRead more

Federer thanks lucky stars for Nadal

London - Al Maghrib Today

Roger Federer has admitted his year would have been "very different" had he not battled back from a 1-3 fifth-set deficit in his Australian Open triumph against Rafael Nadal. Without a Grand Slam title since 2012, Federer fought back to beat Nadal in January's decider in Melbourne, setting himself up for a stunning return to form. He followed it upRead more