Sports

January 18, 2026 12:01 PM

Fans frustrated by long queues, ticket sales halt on day one of Australian Open

Australian Open organisers came under fire on the Grand Slam's opening day on Sunday as frustrated fans sweated in long queues to the gates of Melbourne Park and complained of confusion over the suspension of ticket sales. With heightened security at the event in the wake of the Bondi Beach shootin...

January 18, 2026 11:56 AM

Marketa Vondrousova withdraws from Australian Open with injury

Former Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova withdrew from the Australian Open on Sunday after the Czech player said she was dealing with a shoulder injury. Vondrousova, who won her lone Grand Slam title at Wimbledon in 2023, has struggled for form since a quarter-final run at the U.S. Open last y...

January 18, 2026 11:42 AM

Wimbledon expansion plans back in UK court for latest legal battle

Wimbledon's plans to expand the grounds for the world's oldest and most prestigious Grand Slam tennis tournament were back in court on Friday, as campaigners again seek to block the project. The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club wants to treble the size of its main site, which has been home ...

January 18, 2026 11:41 AM

Jannik Sinner returns to Melbourne stronger after doubts and doping cloud

Defending champion Jannik Sinner arrives at the Australian Open a different man to the one who walked into Melbourne Park a year ago, stronger in body and mind after navigating a period he describes as the most difficult of his young career. The 24-year-old Italian was playing under the cloud of an...

January 18, 2026 11:39 AM

Stan Wawrinka at peace as former champion plays last Australian Open

Stan Wawrinka will play his final Australian Open with a sense of nostalgia for the Grand Slam that made his career as well as a feeling of calm about the road ahead. The 40-year-old Swiss, who won three Grand Slam titles during the golden era of Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, confirmed that 202...

January 18, 2026 11:38 AM

Aryna Sabalenka primed for Australian Open after exhibition experiments

Aryna Sabalenka's off-season featured a string of exhibition matches and the world number one said on Friday they had given her the ideal platform to experiment and refine her game ahead of her push for a third Australian Open title. While the majority of players chose to wind down after a gruellin...

January 18, 2026 11:36 AM

Stefanos Tsitsipas seeks the joy of competition ahead of Melbourne Park return

Stefanos Tsitsipas returns to Grand Slam tennis following a back injury that derailed the second half of his 2025 campaign and the former Australian Open runner-up said on Friday he was only focused on enjoying himself at Melbourne Park. The former world number three played two singles matches for ...