King of the court

Linda Pearce THE new Australian No.1 is searching for the p-word he wants to use to describe his 20-year-old predecessor Bernard Tomic. Prodigy? Yes, that's the one.

Even for himself, Djokovic is an impossible act to follow

Linda Pearce AFTER taking his ATP World Tour Finals trophy to the German hospital bedside of his ill father, Srdjan, then heading to Brazil to play a weekend exhibition against Gustavo Kuerten and football with...

Tennis

Hewitt's hunger still burns

Linda Pearce One of the sport's ageing warriors has both unfinished business and an evolving role.

Tennis

Kooyong Classic sets sights on Nadal

Linda Pearce Rafael Nadal has never played at Kooyong, but the Spaniard's name is prominent on the ambitious wish list of AAMI Classic tournament director Colin Stubs as he seeks to fill the last vacancy in his...

Tennis

Williams proves the true No.1

Linda Pearce Li Na started the week by declaring that Williams, fit and at her best, is unbeatable.

Tennis

Untouchable Serena defeats Sharapova

Linda Pearce Serena Williams extended her domination of both Maria Sharapova and women's tennis this morning, the American completing an untouchable second half of the season with a 6-4, 6-3 defeat of Sharapova...

Stosur keeps the faith with coach

Linda Pearce ISTANBUL: Sam Stosur has extended her partnership with long-time coach David Taylor, despite a season that failed to reach the grand-slam-winning heights of last year.

Win over Azarenka has Sharapova in holiday frame of mind

Linda Pearce ISTANBUL: Maria Sharapova insists she will not have Victoria Azarenka, or tennis, on her mind when her holidays begin this week with a strawberry daquiri in one hand, a magazine in the other and the...

Tennis

Stosur retains coach despite mixed season

Linda Pearce, Istanbul Sam Stosur has extended her partnership with long-time coach David Taylor, despite a season that failed to reach the grand slam title-winning heights of 2011.

Tennis

Lifeless Stosur shanks her way to sorry season's end

Linda Pearce ISTANBUL: Samantha Stosur's self-assessment is 7/10 for a season she completed with a 0-2 record at the year-end WTA Championships. The weary world No.

Tennis

Stosur struggles, turns sights to rest and revival

Linda Pearce, Istanbul Sam Stosur's self-assessment is ''seven out of 10'' for the season she has completed.

Tennis

No tonic for Tomic

Linda Pearce, Istanbul Roger Rasheed, the coach recently endorsed by fellow South Australian Darren Cahill as the ideal fit for struggling Bernard Tomic, has accepted what can only be regarded as an easier option: a job...

Tennis

Radwanska triumphs in record-breaking WTA match

Linda Pearce, Istanbul The longest best-of-three-set match in WTA Championships history has won Agnieszka Radwanska a semi-final place in the $4.9 million year-end tournament for the first time.

Tennis

Sam Stosur beaten soundly in Istanbul

Linda Pearce, Istanbul Sam Stosur was a late starter at the WTA Championships, called-up only after illness forced the withdrawal of defending champion Petra Kvitova.

Williams forces Azarenka, Li Na semis play-off

Linda Pearce, Istanbul Victoria Azarenka's expected crowning as year-end No.1 will have to wait another night, after the Belarusian was denied 6-4, 6-4 by her nemesis Serena Williams, and left to play eighth seed Li Na for...

Our new No.1 has no grand slam victories

Linda Pearce Marinko Matosevic will become Australia's top-ranked tennis player on Monday.

Women's tennis the winner in epic match

Linda Pearce This was a women's match-of-the-year candidate, just when one was needed. A marvellous three-set, three-hour exhibition at the WTA Championships, in which top seed Victoria Azarenka saved two match...

No grand slam wins but Matosevic to take number one baton

Linda Pearce Bernard Tomic took over from Lleyton Hewitt, who succeeded Pat Rafter as Australia's top-ranked male tennis player.

Tennis

Stars learn to deal with drug tests

Linda Pearce 'People show up at my house at five in the morning trying to test me' says Serena Williams.

Tennis

Take a break, Tomic urged

Linda Pearce Amid social media wisecracks about 'Tomic the Tank Engine', came some sound advice.