Grand Slam
Naomi Osaka vows to block out negatives after ‘toughest year’
Defending Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka said Saturday that 2019 was the “toughest year of my life” after the Japanese ploughed through several coaches and suffered a major dip in form.
Bushfire smoke hits Australian Open again, but rain raises hopes
Bushfire smoke disrupted the Australian Open build-up Wednesday for a second straight day to deepen concerns about the fate of the year’s first tennis Grand Slam, but a cool change late in the day raised hopes of rain soaking the blazes.
Ashleigh Barty still on top but gap narrows ahead of Australia Open
Dumped out of the Brisbane International in straight sets last week, Barty retains a comfortable cushion of 1,607 points over the Czech, who went on to win the Brisbane title for the third time in four years on Sunday.
Karolina Pliskova wins in Brisbane to fire Australian Open warning
Karolina Pliskova said her tough three-set win over Madison Keys in the final of the Brisbane International on Sunday was the ideal preparation for next week’s Australian Open.
Serena ends three-year title drought, hands winnings to bushfire appeal
Serena Williams ended a three-year title drought and donated her winner’s cheque to victims of the Australian bushfires in an emotional WTA Auckland Classic final on Sunday.
Rafael Nadal’s Spain to meet Novak Djokovic’s Serbia in ATP Cup final
Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic will face each other in the final of the inaugural ATP Cup after winning epic three-set matches Saturday to steer Spain and Serbia into the decider.
Ashleigh Barty looks to kickstart season in Adelaide
Ashleigh Barty plans to use next week’s ATP-WTA Adelaide International to put the final polish on her Australian Open preparations after a shock defeat in Brisbane.
ATP Cup: Battling Novak Djokovic leads Serbia into final
Novak Djokovic was at his battling best to topple gutsy fifth-ranked Daniil Medvedev on an epic Saturday and send Serbia into the inaugural ATP Cup final.
Serena Williams, Caroline Wozniacki march into Auckland semis
Serena Williams, chasing her first title in three years, wore down a tenacious Laura Siegemund on Friday to set up a semi-final showdown with Amanda Anisimova at the WTA Auckland Classic.
Serena Williams drops set before reaching Auckland quarters
With her focus on winning a 24th Grand Slam at the Australian Open, Williams said she needs all the court time she can get after a long off-season since losing September’s US Open final.
Naomi Osaka reveals Beyonce pep talk, says ‘she smelled expensive’
Japanese sensation Naomi Osaka has revealed her excitement at meeting her idol Beyonce, saying the US singer “smelled expensive” and gave her a morale-boosting pep talk at a low point last year.
Stan Wawrinka looks to end title drought in desert sideshow
Stan Wawrinka hopes the Qatar Open ends his worrying title drought although the fanfare surrounding the newly-created ATP Cup more than 10,000km away in Australia means his efforts this week may struggle to register barely a blip on the global tennis radar.
Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal lead calls for ATP Cup, Davis Cup to merge
Superstars Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal said Thursday there was little point in having two men’s team tennis competitions so close together and suggested the new ATP Cup should merge with the Davis Cup.
Venus Williams pulls out of Brisbane International
Venus Williams pulled out of the season-opening Brisbane International on Wednesday after a “setback” during practice.
Kei Nishikori pulls out of Australian Open with elbow injury
A day after Andy Murray put his Grand Slam comeback on hold, Japan’s Kei Nishikori has become the latest high-profile player to withdraw from next month’s Australian Open, citing a right elbow injury.
Andy Murray ruled out of ATP Cup, Australian Open
Andy Murray said he was “gutted” to be missing next month’s Australian Open after being ruled out of the first Grand Slam of 2020 with a pelvic injury.
Andy Murray reveals emotional impact of Dunblane Massacre
Former world tennis number one Andy Murray reveals for the first time in a new documentary that he suffered from breathing problems and anxiety following the Dunblane School massacre.
Dominic Thiem into ATP finals semis as Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer face shootout
Dominic Thiem produced a scintillating display of attacking tennis to beat Novak Djokovic and qualify for the last four at the ATP Finals on Tuesday, leaving the Serbian facing a shootout against Roger Federer.
Recent Stories
Senator Shehu Sani: My travail is politically motivated
Civil Rights activist and former lawmaker, Senator Shehu Sani, has declared that his current travail in the hands of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was politically motivated and out of malice, saying he has not in any way begged the anti graft agency not to make public alleged audio recording between him and his accuser, Alhaji Sani Dauda.
Finidi George reacts to Afcon 2021 scheduling
Finidi George says the scheduling of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations is bad news for most European teams.
NAFDAC alerts on use of paracetamol for food preparation
Following recent alert by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on the use of paracetamol tablets in food preparation, some Lagosians have expressed shock and disappointment.
Nigerian agronomist Lekan Are passes on at 86
Dr Lekan Are, a foremost Nigerian agronomist, businessman, philanthropist and Chairman of University Press Plc, is dead.
Access Bank gets final nod to acquire Kenyan Transnational Bank
Access Bank Plc says it has secured final approvals of all relevant regulatory authorities in Kenya for the acquisition of Kenya-based Transnational Bank Plc (TNB).
Most Popular
Femi Fani-Kayode: Supreme Court judgment sacking Governor Ihedioha ‘nonsense’
Femi Fani-Kayode, ex-Aviation Minister and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has described the Supreme Court’s judgment sacking Emeka Ihedioha as Imo State Governor as nonsense.
Rafael Nadal renews call for ATP Cup and Davis Cup to merge
World number one Rafael Nadal renewed his call Sunday for the new ATP Cup to merge with the Davis Cup, urging tennis chiefs to fix it “for the health of our sport”.
Diego Simeone sends message to Federico Valverde after Spanish Super Cup red card
Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone says he would have done exactly the same thing as Federico Valverde after the Real Madrid midfielder’s match-saving professional foul in the Spanish Super Cup.
Nigerien president sacks army chief, others after terrorist attack on military base
Nigerien President Issoufou Mahamadou fired the country’s top security chiefs on Monday, in a move that sent a strong message to citizens about his handling of recent security crisis in the country.
Customs shortlists 16,399 for interview
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has shortlisted a total of 162,399 out of the 828,333 candidates that applied for its employment last year.