The Australian Open has been full of headline making incidents, from the capsicum spray incident with Greek fans, to the new Plexicushion courts, to the dramatic Saturday night which saw Lleyton Hewitt win a match after 4am. Craig Tiley is the tournament director and has been answering plenty of questions. He answers more on The Serve.
A match that starts just before midnight is going to acquire instant cult status. The early morning ritual creating a surreal atmosphere within the Rod Laver Arena, as if a bond was being forged between thousands of strangers, forever intrinsically linked by the unique experience. Those fans – the ones that stuck around - have a lifelong memory, while the match has a nice by-line, however it is insane that a match of such marquee value kicks off near midnight.
Scrub the marquee part, it is diabolical that any match would start at such a ridiculous time. Read the rest of this entry »
Why can’t Australian Open officials ban Marcos Baghdatis’ cousin from sitting in the stands? Read the rest of this entry »
 Roger Federer has scored his first win since January, however his three set win over long-time retired Pete Sampras in an exhibition in New York will hardly silence his doubters.
Novak Djokovic, Australian Open champion for barely an hour, already realises the magnitude of his breakthrough grand slam triumph, the first by a Serbian player.
World number three Novak Djokovic has dramatically won his first grand slam title, surviving a leg injury to beat unseeded Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 in the Australian Open final. More..
Ana Ivanovic is philosophical about her straight sets defeat to Maria Sharapova in the final of the Australian Open.
Unseeded Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga has boldly declared that tomorrow night’s Australian Open final against world number three Novak Djokovic could be one for the ages.
“It’s going to be a big moment of sports.”