Author: Michael Dickens

Idemo! Djokovic Wins Ninth Australian Open Title

MELBOURNE/WASHINGTON, February 21, 2021 (by Michael Dickens) Novak Djokovic entered the 2021 Australian Open final having won the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup eight times. They accounted for nearly half of his 17 Grand Slam singles titles. For the past decade, he’s […]

Krejcikova, Ram Win Mixed Doubles Title, Again

MELBOURNE/WASHINGTON, February 20, 2021 (by Michael Dickens) It’s a tough act for any mixed doubles team to follow, going on Rod Laver Arena, just after Naomi Osaka won her second Australian Open women’s title. However, Barbora Krejcikova and Rajeev Ram […]

Dominant Down Under, Osaka Wins Fourth Major Title

MELBOURNE/WASHINGTON, February 20, 2021 (by Michael Dickens) Naomi Osaka has been perfect in Grand Slam finals. For that matter, she’s been perfect on court for the past year. Simply unbeatable, and arguably the best clutch player of her generation. On […]

Mertens, Sabalenka Win Second Major Together

MELBOURNE/WASHINGTON, February 19, 2021 (by Michael Dickens) The second-seeded team of Elise Mertens of Belgium and Aryna Sabalenka from Belarus won the Australian Open women’s doubles title, their second Grand Slam crown as a team, Friday afternoon on Rod Laver […]

Stosur Enjoying Every Moment She’s On Court

MELBOURNE/WASHINGTON, February 18, 2021 (by Michael Dickens) Australia’s Samantha Stosur has been a fixture on the WTA Tour for the past 20 years. Last June, the 36-year-old Brisbane native, who won the 2011 US Open singles title, has three Grand […]

Osaka Beats Serena, Changing Of The Guard?

MELBOURNE/WASHINGTON, February 18, 2021 (by Michael Dickens) Tenth-seeded Serena Williams of the United States and third-seeded Naomi Osaka of Japan faced each other for the second time at a Grand Slam, when they met in the semifinals of the Australian […]

Tsitsipas-Nadal: Once In A Lifetime Or Not?

MELBOURNE/WASHINGTON, February 17, 2021 (by Michael Dickens) Tennis fans around the world were treated to a late-night thriller Wednesday by rising Greek star Stefanos Tsitsipas and 20-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal of Spain in the men’s quarterfinals of the […]

Lost, Then Found, Muchova Knocks Out Barty

MELBOURNE/WASHINGTON, February 17, 2021 (by Michael Dickens) Everything began sunny at the Australian Open in Melbourne Park on Wednesday. From the bright skies and 25º Celsius conditions that baked Rod Laver Arena in sunshine to World No. 1 Ashleigh Barty‘s […]

For Tyzzer, Coaching Barty Is Not A Chore

MELBOURNE/WASHINGTON, February 16, 2021 (by Michael Dickens) Craig Tyzzer began working with Ashleigh Barty on a full-time basis at the start of the 2016 season. He’s guided the affable Aussie from winning her first WTA Tour singles title at Kuala […]

Osaka, Williams Sweep Their Way To Australian Open Semifinals

MELBOURNE/WASHINGTON, February 16, 2021 (by Michael Dickens) After Naomi Osaka secured her berth in Tuesday’s quarterfinal round of the Australian Open, she let out an audible sigh during her post-match interview on Rod Laver Arena when she was told she […]