Alex de Minaur beats Francisco Cerundolo on day sevenNo 2 seed Swiatek breezes past Raducanu 6-1, 6-0Any thoughts? Get in touch with Rob on emailEmma Raducanu and Iga Swiatek have completed their warm-ups on Rod Laver Arena and we’re about to get under way. But hang on, the second seed is have a word to the match official and seems to be concerned about a lack of towels. Well, I guess that sets the tone for what should be a heated clash in steamy conditions.There is plenty of action on the court to keep us entertained but it can be easy to forget the impact that tennis can have on families in the present day, let alone across generations.It’s been an odd experience. Esna died in 1966 so has always been an ethereal presence – a long-skirted woman with Princess Leia buns in an ageing photograph who my mother would chide me with when asking why I was so terrible at sport. Continue reading...

Politics

The British No 1 faces a stiff task as Alcaraz looks to continue his chase for a career grand slam before Djokovic is in action later

Sport

Updates from Day 8 of tennis at Melbourne Park Draper v Alcaraz under way; Gauff and Sabalenka into quarter-finalsThree break point opportunities and four deuces later, Mirra Andreeva has failed in her first genuine chance to break Aryna Sabalenka. Again, despite the teenager returning with precision, she’s undone by the guile of her older rival, a drop shot sealing it.Sabalenka retains the break advantage and now leads this match 6-1, 4-2. Continue reading...

Events

Alex de Minaur beats Francisco Cerundolo on day sevenNo 2 seed Swiatek breezes past Raducanu 6-1, 6-0Any thoughts? Get in touch with John on emailEmma Raducanu and Iga Swiatek have completed their warm-ups on Rod Laver Arena and we’re about to get under way. But hang on, the second seed is have a word to the match official and seems to be concerned about a lack of towels. Well, I guess that sets the tone for what should be a heated clash in steamy conditions.There is plenty of action on the court to keep us entertained but it can be easy to forget the impact that tennis can have on families in the present day, let alone across generations.It’s been an odd experience. Esna died in 1966 so has always been an ethereal presence – a long-skirted woman with Princess Leia buns in an ageing photograph who my mother would chide me with when asking why I was so terrible at sport. Continue reading...

Politics

The British No 1 faces a stiff task as Alcaraz looks to continue his chase for a career grand slam before Djokovic is in action later

Sport

Updates from Day 8 of tennis at Melbourne Park Draper v Alcaraz under way; Gauff and Sabalenka into quarter-finalsThree break point opportunities and four deuces later, Mirra Andreeva has failed in her first genuine chance to break Aryna Sabalenka. Again, despite the teenager returning with precision, she’s undone by the guile of her older rival, a drop shot sealing it.Sabalenka retains the break advantage and now leads this match 6-1, 4-2. Continue reading...

Events

Alex de Minaur beats Francisco Cerundolo on day sevenNo 2 seed Swiatek breezes past Raducanu 6-1, 6-0Any thoughts? Get in touch with John on emailEmma Raducanu and Iga Swiatek have completed their warm-ups on Rod Laver Arena and we’re about to get under way. But hang on, the second seed is have a word to the match official and seems to be concerned about a lack of towels. Well, I guess that sets the tone for what should be a heated clash in steamy conditions.There is plenty of action on the court to keep us entertained but it can be easy to forget the impact that tennis can have on families in the present day, let alone across generations.It’s been an odd experience. Esna died in 1966 so has always been an ethereal presence – a long-skirted woman with Princess Leia buns in an ageing photograph who my mother would chide me with when asking why I was so terrible at sport. Continue reading...

Politics

Alex de Minaur beats Francisco Cerundolo on day sevenNo 2 seed Swiatek breezes past Raducanu 6-1, 6-0Any thoughts? Get in touch with John on emailEmma Raducanu and Iga Swiatek have completed their warm-ups on Rod Laver Arena and we’re about to get under way. But hang on, the second seed is have a word to the match official and seems to be concerned about a lack of towels. Well, I guess that sets the tone for what should be a heated clash in steamy conditions.There is plenty of action on the court to keep us entertained but it can be easy to forget the impact that tennis can have on families in the present day, let alone across generations.It’s been an odd experience. Esna died in 1966 so has always been an ethereal presence – a long-skirted woman with Princess Leia buns in an ageing photograph who my mother would chide me with when asking why I was so terrible at sport. Continue reading...

Politics

Updates from Day 8 of tennis at Melbourne ParkGauff v Bencic in action; Draper v Alcaraz to comeThree break point opportunities and four deuces later, Mirra Andreeva has failed in her first genuine chance to break Aryna Sabalenka. Again, despite the teenager returning with precision, she’s undone by the guile of her older rival, a drop shot sealing it.Sabalenka retains the break advantage and now leads this match 6-1, 4-2. Continue reading...

Events

Alex de Minaur defeats Francisco Cerundolo on seventh dayNo 2 women’s seed defeats Raducanu 6-1, 6-0 at Melbourne ParkAny thoughts? Get in touch with John on emailEmma Raducanu and Iga Swiatek have completed their warm-ups on Rod Laver Arena and we’re about to get under way. But hang on, the second seed is have a word to the match official and seems to be concerned about a lack of towels. Well, I guess that sets the tone for what should be a heated clash in steamy conditions.There is plenty of action on the court to keep us entertained but it can be easy to forget the impact that tennis can have on families in the present day, let alone across generations.It’s been an odd experience. Esna died in 1966 so has always been an ethereal presence – a long-skirted woman with Princess Leia buns in an ageing photograph who my mother would chide me with when asking why I was so terrible at sport. Continue reading...

Politics

Updates from Day 8 of tennis at Melbourne ParkSabalenka and Gauff in action early; Draper v Alcaraz to comeAndreeva strikes back! Sabalenka was going for the throat in that game, pummelling returns in a bid to bgreak the teenager a second time. Instead Andreeva stayed calm and made it five points in a row to get things back to 3-2 in the second set. That was the Russian’s best game of the match so far. Is it a turning point?Double trouble for Mirra Andreeva. She has lost her second serving game and is unravelling on Rod Laver Arena with even foot faults creeping in. Continue reading...

Events

Emma Raducanu suffered her heaviest defeat at a Grand Slam as she was crushed by No2 seed Iga Swiatek at the Australian Open, shipping 11 games in a row to lose in little over an hour.

Politics

Alex de Minaur defeats Francisco Cerundolo on seventh daySecond seed defeats Raducanu 6-1, 6-0 at Melbourne ParkAny thoughts? Get in touch with John on emailEmma Raducanu and Iga Swiatek have completed their warm-ups on Rod Laver Arena and we’re about to get under way. But hang on, the second seed is have a word to the match official and seems to be concerned about a lack of towels. Well, I guess that sets the tone for what should be a heated clash in steamy conditions.There is plenty of action on the court to keep us entertained but it can be easy to forget the impact that tennis can have on families in the present day, let alone across generations.It’s been an odd experience. Esna died in 1966 so has always been an ethereal presence – a long-skirted woman with Princess Leia buns in an ageing photograph who my mother would chide me with when asking why I was so terrible at sport. Continue reading...

Politics

Alex de Minaur defeats Francisco Cerundolo on seventh daySecond seed defeats Raducanu 6-1, 6-0 at Melbourne ParkAny thoughts? Get in touch with Martin on emailEmma Raducanu and Iga Swiatek have completed their warm-ups on Rod Laver Arena and we’re about to get under way. But hang on, the second seed is have a word to the match official and seems to be concerned about a lack of towels. Well, I guess that sets the tone for what should be a heated clash in steamy conditions.There is plenty of action on the court to keep us entertained but it can be easy to forget the impact that tennis can have on families in the present day, let alone across generations.It’s been an odd experience. Esna died in 1966 so has always been an ethereal presence – a long-skirted woman with Princess Leia buns in an ageing photograph who my mother would chide me with when asking why I was so terrible at sport. Continue reading...

Politics

Updates from seventh day of tennis at Melbourne ParkSecond seed defeats Raducanu 6-1, 6-0 in third roundAny thoughts? Get in touch with Jonathan on emailEmma Raducanu and Iga Swiatek have completed their warm-ups on Rod Laver Arena and we’re about to get under way. But hang on, the second seed is have a word to the match official and seems to be concerned about a lack of towels. Well, I guess that sets the tone for what should be a heated clash in steamy conditions.There is plenty of action on the court to keep us entertained but it can be easy to forget the impact that tennis can have on families in the present day, let alone across generations.It’s been an odd experience. Esna died in 1966 so has always been an ethereal presence – a long-skirted woman with Princess Leia buns in an ageing photograph who my mother would chide me with when asking why I was so terrible at sport. Continue reading...

Politics

Brit outclassed in 6-1, 6-0 loss to second seedSwiatek eases into fourth round at Melbourne ParkOver the past few years of professional tennis, the sight of Iga Swiatek annihilating another poor, defenceless opponent has become as sure as the sun will rise. When Swiatek’s game is flowing and her mind is clear, the combined quality of her violent ball-striking, athleticism and unrelenting focus is so great that, at some point or another, she has rendered nearly all of the best players in the world spectators in their own match.On Saturday afternoon at Melbourne Park, it was Emma Raducanu’s turn to endure such an unpleasant experience. Raducanu cut a lonely, solemn figure on one of the biggest tennis stadiums in the world as she was completely helpless in the face of a supreme Swiatek, who ruthlessly opened up her bakery to reach the fourth round of the Australian Open with a dominant 6-1, 6-0 win. Continue reading...

Politics

Updates from seventh day of tennis at Melbourne ParkSecond seed defeats Raducanu 6-1, 6-0 in third roundAny thoughts? Get in touch with Jonathan on emailEmma Raducanu and Iga Swiatek have completed their warm-ups on Rod Laver Arena and we’re about to get under way. But hang on, the second seed is have a word to the match official and seems to be concerned about a lack of towels. Well, I guess that sets the tone for what should be a heated clash in steamy conditions.There is plenty of action on the court to keep us entertained but it can be easy to forget the impact that tennis can have on families in the present day, let alone across generations.It’s been an odd experience. Esna died in 1966 so has always been an ethereal presence – a long-skirted woman with Princess Leia buns in an ageing photograph who my mother would chide me with when asking why I was so terrible at sport. Continue reading...

Politics

Updates from seventh day of tennis at Melbourne ParkSecond seed defeats Raducanu 6-1, 6-0 in third roundAny thoughts? Get in touch with Martin on emailEmma Raducanu and Iga Swiatek have completed their warm-ups on Rod Laver Arena and we’re about to get under way. But hang on, the second seed is have a word to the match official and seems to be concerned about a lack of towels. Well, I guess that sets the tone for what should be a heated clash in steamy conditions.There is plenty of action on the court to keep us entertained but it can be easy to forget the impact that tennis can have on families in the present day, let alone across generations.It’s been an odd experience. Esna died in 1966 so has always been an ethereal presence – a long-skirted woman with Princess Leia buns in an ageing photograph who my mother would chide me with when asking why I was so terrible at sport. Continue reading...

Politics

Updates from seventh day of tennis at Melbourne ParkRaducanu drops first set to the second seedAny thoughts? Get in touch with Martin on emailEmma Raducanu and Iga Swiatek have completed their warm-ups on Rod Laver Arena and we’re about to get under way. But hang on, the second seed is have a word to the match official and seems to be concerned about a lack of towels. Well, I guess that sets the tone for what should be a heated clash in steamy conditions.There is plenty of action on the court to keep us entertained but it can be easy to forget the impact that tennis can have on families in the present day, let alone across generations.It’s been an odd experience. Esna died in 1966 so has always been an ethereal presence – a long-skirted woman with Princess Leia buns in an ageing photograph who my mother would chide me with when asking why I was so terrible at sport. Continue reading...

Politics

Tennis superstar Novak Djokovic has declared he is a 'big fan' of Australian Open villain Danielle Collins as unruly crowd behaviour threatens to escalate at Melbourne Park.

Politics