The dream final between Naomi Osaka and Simona Halep in Melbourne was dashed Saturday after Osaka withdrew ahead of her semifinal due to an ab injury.

The beneficiary is Veronika Kudermetova who gets into the final, her third WTA title match.

Meanwhile, Halep cruised into her final with a 6-3, 6-2 over Chinese teenager Zheng Qinwen.

“I’m really happy that I can play the final for the first tournament of the year,” the …

Rafael Nadal’s return to tennis has been a good one so far. In his first event since the summer, the former No. 1 is into the Melbourne final after dispatching Emil Ruusuvuori 6-4, 7-5.

“It’s an important comeback after five months outside of competition and it means a lot to me to be back in Australia,” said Nadal. “I need to do some things better on court, but it’s step by …

Up to this point, I’ve tried to give the benefit of doubt to Novak Djokovic. I do think he was fed some wrong information from the Australian Open and he’s likely going to get sent home on Monday. But he has some explaining to do on another matter.

According to court documents released earlier today, Djokovic tested positive for COVID on December 16.

“..the date of the first positive COVID PCR …

According to legal documents filed in Australia’s Federal Circuit Court, Novak Djokovic tested positive for COVID as recently as December 16.

The Serb used that positive test as a basis for entry into Australia. He was granted an medical exemption by two independent panels but he visa was revoked upon arrival, as we now know.

Djokovic is set to appeal his visa cancellation Monday morning in Melbourne.

But we know …

Rules are rules, the PM said the other day. So if the rules are being applied to Novak Djokovic — who clearly Scott Morrison, the PM, has a beef wit, they have to be applied to others.

According to reports, one official and another WTA player named Renata Voracova also arrived into under the same exemption as Djokovic.

The unnamed official has already flown back while the 81st-ranked doubles player Voravoca …

Former No. 1s Naomi Osaka and Simona Halep both rolled into the Melbourne quarterfinals on Thursday.

Osaka pounded Maryna Zanevska 6-1, 6-1. After a tough 3-set opener against Alize Cornet, it was a strong performance by Osaka who is playing her first event since the US Open.

Halep also look good crushing countrywoman Elena-Gabriela Ruse 6-2, 6-1 in just over an hour.

“Very happy that I could win this match in this way,” …

Things are heating up on the WTA tour already in 2022. Following a big comeback win over Coco Gauff, World No. 1 Ash Barty will take on former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin Friday in Adelaide.

Barty came from a set and a break down against Gauff on Wednesday while Thursday Kenin saved three match points to fight off Ajla Tomljanovic 3-6, 7-6(5), 6-3.

And that’s not the only quarterfinal battle of …

Rafael Nadal met the press for the first time since Novak Djokovic visa cancellation, and the former No. 1 said that if the Serb wanted to play in Melbourne, he could have. The only thing stopping him was himself by not getting the vaccination.

“From my point of view, that’s the only thing that I can say is I believe in what the people who knows about medicine says, and if …

Novak Djokovic and his lawyers will have the weekend to ready their appeal to the Australian government’s decision to deny the World No. 1 his visa.

Djokovic will stay isolated in the Park Hotel in Melbourne until Monday when his case is heard. If the decision is overturned, he will move to his tournament apartment (which his team is likely staying) and prepare for the Australian Open. If not, he …

Plot twist!

Just over 36 hours ago, Novak Djokovic received clearance to enter Australia and play in Melbourne. Earlier today, that clearance was taken away.

The World No. 1 made the 15-hour flight from Dubai landing Wednesday night in Melbourne with his team. The Australian Border Force, however, would not let him go any further and after hours of interrogation have told Djokovic that they have cancelled his visa and …

Of course this would happen to Novak Djokovic.

Djokovic was controversially granted a medical exemption some 36 hours ago from the Australian government — for whatever reason (some reports suggest a recent bout with COVID) — so he posted the usual social media picture with his baggage and promptly boarded a flight.

BUT…

Upon landing today in Melbourne, Australia won’t let him in!

Apparently (depending on what news feed you read), there was …

News of Novak Djokovic’s medical exemption has spread among his peers, and some are giving a “wink” to the Australian government’s decision to let the World No. 1 into the country and play the Australian Open without being vaccinated.

While government/tournament maintain there was no preferential treatment giving to Djokovic and no knowledge that it was Djokovic making the request, at least one player is on record as not buying …

Novak Djokovic will be defending his Australian Open. The World No. 1 confirmed earlier today that he received clearance from the Australian government to play the Australian Open.

“I’ve spent fantastic quality time with loved ones over break & today I’m heading Down Under with an exemption permission. Let’s go 2022!” Djokovic posted on twitter.

With nearly everyone already in Australia, Djokovic was among the last holdouts as he waited on his …

Former No. 1s and Grand Slam champions Naomi Osaka and Simona Halep will open their 2022 campaigns in the Melbourne 1 Summer Set event.

Osaka makes her first appearance since her stunning US Open loss to Leylah Fernandez.

Currently ranked No. 13, the 24-year-old Osaka is the top seed at the warm-up event. She opens against the tricky Alize Cornet, then meet the hard-hitting Liudmilla Samsonova in the quarters with …

The 2022 WTA season is already underway in Adelaide with some of the top names in women’s tennis.

The event is headlined by five of the Top 10 players led by No. 1 Ash Barty, Aryna Sabalenka, Maria Sakkari, Paula Badosa and 2021 champion Iga Swiatek.

Former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin returns along with Elena Rybakina, Elina Svitolina plus Victoria Azarenka, Petra Kvitova and young stars Coco Gauff and US Open …