Tennis

7:59 AM ET Sam Stosur will call time on her distinguished tennis career after a 21st Australian Open campaign. The conqueror of Serena Williams in the 2011 US Open singles final made an emotional departure from that domain last year. On Saturday, she announced the mixed doubles with Matt Ebden and the women’s event alongside

8:16 AM ET D’Arcy MaineESPN.com With Novak Djokovic making his return to Melbourne after his ill-fated trip to Australia in 2022, and much speculation on who will fill the 43-major-trophy-size voids left by Serena Williams and Roger Federer, there are more than a few storylines to watch going into the 2023 Australian Open. But, perhaps,

8:28 AM ET D’Arcy MaineESPN.com NEARLY EVERY TIME Kiranpal “KP” Pannu tells someone what he does for a living, he’s bombarded with questions about his seemingly glamorous lifestyle as a professional tennis player. It happens almost every day. “Unfortunately, all of their assumptions are wrong,” Pannu said recently, sighing. “And I’m like, ‘Well, if only

12:24 AM ET HOBART, Australia — American Lauren Davis has claimed a second WTA title six years after her first, beating Italian rookie Elisabetta Cocciaretto in the Hobart International final. The 29-year-old, who came through qualifying, outlasted her younger and higher-ranked opponent 7-6 (7-0) 6-2 on Saturday afternoon. World No.84 Davis upset fourth seed and

9:38 AM ET D’Arcy MaineESPN.com The return of Novak Djokovic. The quest for continued dominance by one of the sport’s brightest young stars in Iga Swiatek. The start of a brand-new season. That’s right, it’s summertime Down Under and that means just one thing — it’s Australian Open time. And needless to say, there is

5:20 AM ET Big guns Nick Kyrgios and Novak Djokovic have taken strong steps forward in their respective Australian Open title bids, dispelling injury fears during an entertaining exhibition clash. Djokovic was given a warm welcome by fans at a sold-out Rod Laver Arena on Friday night as he returned to Melbourne Park for the

2:44 AM ET Italian youngster Elisabetta Cocciaretto is on the verge of a maiden WTA title after knocking out former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin at the Hobart International. World No.67 Cocciaretto, who has beaten two seeded players at the tournament including Alize Cornet in the first round, progressed to the final with a 7-5

4:45 PM ET Associated Press LONDON — The International Tennis Federation is ending its Davis Cup partnership with the private investment group fronted by former Barcelona soccer star Gerard Pique, which helped revamp the storied competition in 2018. The ITF signed a 25-year partnership with Kosmos Tennis in 2018, when a new Davis Cup format

7:00 AM ET SWEAT DRIPS OFF Nick Kyrgios‘ face as he stands near the edge of the tennis court. It’s a blistering August day in Mason, Ohio, and the 27-year-old, fresh off his maiden trip to a Grand Slam final, wipes down his body with a white towel. His eyes narrow as he looks in

12:33 AM ET Associated Press MELBOURNE, Australia — Rivals Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal were placed on opposite halves of the Australian Open bracket in the draw Thursday, meaning the owners of a combined 43 Grand Slam singles titles could only meet in the final at Melbourne Park. Djokovic, a nine-time champion in Australia, returns

1:09 PM ET D’Arcy MaineESPN.com Four-time major champion and former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka announced she is pregnant and indicated she will miss the entire 2023 tennis season. “I realize that life is so short and I don’t take any moments for granted, everyday is a new blessing and adventure,” Osaka tweeted Wednesday, including

5:24 AM ET Former World No. 1 Andy Murray said he has “no time frame” on retirement after notching his first win of the season on Wednesday. The three-time Grand Slam champion finally got his first victory of the year with a 2-6, 6-3 .10-2 super tiebreaker win over Zhang Zhizen at the Kooyong Classic

1:45 AM ET HOBART, Australia — One-time Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin has declared she is feeling like herself again on court after struggles with form and injury led her ranking to nosedive. The 24-year-old progressed to the quarter-finals of the Hobart International on Wednesday, breezing past Belgian qualifier Maryna Zanevska 6-2 6-3. Kenin, who

4:09 PM ET D’Arcy MaineESPN.com Ons Jabeur, the WTA’s No. 2-ranked player in the world and a finalist at last year’s Wimbledon and US Open, was one of eight announced as members of the inaugural player executive committee for the Professional Tennis Players Association on Tuesday. Jabeur joins co-founders Novak Djokovic and Vasek Pospisil on

4:47 AM ET MELBOURNE, Australia — Former semi-finalist Fernando Verdasco‘s hopes of reaching an 18th Australian Open main draw remain alive after he fought his way into the second round of qualifying. The former world No.7, who lost a five-set Open semi to eventual champion Rafael Nadal in 2009, fought back from a set down

2:15 AM ET HOBART, Australia — Former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin has made a bright start at the Hobart International, beating higher-ranked Lin Zhu in straight sets. Kenin, who sits at world No.143 three years after her Melbourne Park triumph, was too strong in a 6-2 6-2 first-round win over her 85-ranked opponent on

12:18 AM ET Associated Press AUCKLAND, New Zealand — Belgium’s David Goffin has ousted fifth-seeded Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan 6-3, 6-4 in the first round of the ASB Tennis Classic in a match which produced an engrossing clash of styles. Goffin, a baseliner who won his seventh ATP singles title last year on clay in

12:34 AM ET Associated Press ADELAIDE, Australia — Petra Kvitova issued a reminder of her ability ahead of the Australian Open when she beat Elena Rybakina on Monday in a clash of Wimbledon champions at the Adelaide International. The 32-year-old Kvitova who won at Wimbledon in 2011 and 2014 relied on a powerful serve to