The men’s champion and Caroline Wozniacki withstood the intense temperatures which affected so many playersThis turbulent Australian Open has been about longevity, endurance and iced towels, three of the defining features of the modern game.The wonder of Roger Federer’s victory against the 29-year-old Marin Cilic on Sunday was not just that it gave him his 20th major in a record 30th final but that the 36‑year‑old Swiss fashioned a fortnight of such sweet perfection to get there, spending less than 11 hours on court while his younger rivals laboured in the killing heat for much longer. Cilic clocked up 17hr 3min en route. At the end it showed. Related: Caroline Wozniacki ends years of doubt with maiden grand slam | Simon Cambers...
Despite Serena Williams’s absence, the women’s draw provided more excitement than the men’sWith close friend Caroline Wozniacki competing for her maiden grand slam, seven-time Australian Open champion Serena Williams went to bed, “too nervous to watch”. This is not the first time Williams has publicly admitted to “turning the channel” on a tournament she has made her own, but this time the inference could not have been more different. The irony is that in this case Williams missed a classic; an epic all the more impressive given her sizeable absence.After all, publicity for the 2018 women’s draw began with Craig Tiley doing his best to hype Williams’ possible return, at one point promising there was “no question” she would be...
Tim Henman highlights the weapons the Briton can deploy to beat Marin Cilic in the Australian Open semi-finalKyle Edmund’s forehand is one of the great shots in the game. It’s definitely among the top five forehands and he’s more mature, he’s been on the Tour a while and the pieces of the puzzle are coming together. He has to look to dictate as much as he can because, if he doesn’t, Marin Cilic will be the one dictating. Continue reading...
Nottinghamshire batsman says he learned lessons from incident involving Ben Stokes and he is already making amends“It’s been a long few months,” says Alex Hales. England took a 2-0 lead in the ODI series at Brisbane, Hales pitching in with 57 in a four-wicket win. While the focus is on the 29-year-old’s return to international cricket, the interest is on his time away.For his part in September’s incident that has led to Ben Stokes and two others being charged with affray, Hales was suspended by the ECB for the final two summer ODIs against West Indies. In October, he learned he was not under investigation and began the process of getting on with life and cricket. That, in part, has...
England’s victory at the MCG showed the difference between the Test and one-day teams, and where the priorities lie for players for whom the red-ball game is no longer the pinnacleIt was 5C in London last Sunday, unless you had Test Match Special on the radio. Then January felt a few degrees warmer than it really was. Saturday’s hangover was easier too, the morning’s chores more agreeable, the first sip of tea that little bit sweeter. Because for once this winter, England were winning. And half a world away, Jason Roy and Joe Root were walloping Australia’s bowlers all around the MCG. Roy made 180, each six a sorely needed pick-me-up after a month of blue Mondays, when the first...