For several reasons, this year's Australian Open should be a much different experience for Andy Murray than the 2016 edition. The most obvious reason is the number next to Murray's name: 1. Murray, playing in his 12th Australian Open, is the top seed at a Grand Slam for the first time. The Scot ascended to No. 1 in the Emirates ATP Rankings last season at the BNP Paribas Masters in Paris in November. Closer to home, Murray should have a more peaceful stay in Melbourne this January. Twelve months ago, his wife, Kim Sears, was pregnant and could have gone into labour at any point during the tournament. She gave birth to their daughter, Sophia Olivia, a week after Murray...
World No. 3 Milos Raonic was left wondering whether one member of the press corps was fully engaged at the top of his pre-tournament Australian Open press conference in Melbourne Saturday. The Canadian was expecting to be asked about the addition of Richard Krajicek, but he was unprepared for how it went down. Here's the first question of the media conference: Q. Why did you change your coach to Krajicek? MILOS RAONIC: It was just a timing of how things went. I feel like for me to make the steps I want, especially forward, specifically with that focus, you have these two guys that move very well laterally. I don't think I'm ever going to be the best guy from the...
A slew of American #NextGenATP stars have successfully advanced into the main draw of the Australian Open, with Frances Tiafoe, Noah Rubin, Reilly Opelka and Ernesto Escobedo taking their spot among the 16 final-round qualifying winners on Saturday. Second seed Tiafoe survived a marathon 3-6, 6-0, 7-5 match against fellow American Tim Smyczek. Both players held serve throughout the final set until Tiafoe finally broke Smyczek in the last game to wrap up the win. This is the first time that the 18-year-old has come through qualifying at a Grand Slam. In an all-teen battle, Opelka came through 7-6(4) 6-3 against Norwegian Casper Ruud to secure his first Grand Slam main draw appearance. The American reached his first ATP World...
Roger Federer’s return to tournament play at the Australian Open has fans buzzing about potential matches against the world’s top players, but the four-time champion said he can't look that far ahead when he doesn't know who he will play first. The No. 17 seed opens up against a qualifier and is guaranteed to play another qualifier in the second round should he advance. Having not played a competitive match since Wimbledon, Federer said he can’t afford to take any of his opponents lightly. “It would be good to know who I play. Once it's out, it's a good thing because then you can start actually mentally preparing for the Australian Open,” said Federer. “Is it a lefty, a righty?...