After a very strong start, Rafael Nadal returns to action Wednesday at the Australian Open. The World No. 1 will take on Argentine Leonardo Mayer who took a set off Nadal at the US Open last year.

Nadal’s 6-1, 6-1, 6-1 opening round win over Victor Estrella Burgos was his most dominant win at the event. He is trying to reach the third round at the Australian Open for a 12th …

Top-seeded Simona Halep started out her Australian Open campaign and defense of the No. 1 ranking on the right foot, but not necessarily the right ankle, on Tuesday in Melbourne, defeating Aussie wildcard Destanee Aiava 7-6(5), 6-1 to move into the second round.

“I felt a pain on the court, but I didn’t have time to check it,” said Halep after tweaking her ankle during the match. “I feel that nothing …

The big story Tuesday on the men’s side of the Australian Open was the health of 6-time champion Novak Djokovic. After not having hit a ball on the pro tour since mid-July due to a right elbow, the Serb didn’t disappoint by hammering American Donald Young 6-1, 6-2, 6-4.

“It felt great to be back on the court and compete again,” said Djokovic. “It’s been a while obviously you don’t know …

A host of former champions lead the way Tuesday at the Australian Open. All eyes will be on Novak Djokovic as he makes his long-awaited comeback to tennis from a 6-month layoff to take on American Donald Young.

Djokovic, who seeks a record seventh Australian Open title, is seeded down to 14, his lowest in 11 years. But with his new coaching team of Radek Stepanek-Andre Agassi, and a new service …

Last year’s US Open final was an American dream featuring Serena and Venus Williams. The 2018 Australian Open proved to be an American nightmare on Day 1 as the Top 3 U.S. seeds exited Melbourne, some in ugly fashion.

Serena Williams withdrew from the event due to maternity, but the 2017 finalist Venus was handed a brutal draw that turned deadly when she was upset by the Williams-killer Belinda Bencic 6-3, …

Rafael Nadal rolled back the clock and brought back the sleeveless top and also brought back the punishment hammer Victor Estrella Burgos 6-1, 6-1, 6-1. It was Nadal’s first match of the season after withdrawing from Brisbane and an exo in Abu Dhabi to rest his knee. But Nadal looked in full form against the 37-year-old.

“Happy for the start, of course,” Nadal said. “Is a positive start with a good …

The season’s first Grand Slam begins Monday at the Australian Open. Headlining the session is Rafael Nadal who makes his 2018 debut after a right knee injury. The 2009 champion who also won the US Open is seeking a second Career Grand Slam.

Venus Williams knows a thing or two about Grand Slam. Venus, who first played the tournament 20 years ago, faces the returning former Top 10 Belinda Bencic in …

If you don’t think tennis isn’t nutz, just go back a year when many so-called experts wondered if Roger Federer’s career was over after a lengthy recovery from knee surgery. Well, fast forward to today and at 36, improbably the Swiss is the healthiest guy in the game while his peers are all fighting injury, and some fighting for their career!

It’s incredible this sport. As I’ve said before, just when …

After a long rehab from August surgery on his left knee, Stan Wawrinka is finally ready to return to tennis, and he’ll do so at the Australian Open, the tournament he broke through to win his first Grand Slam in 2014.

But the Swiss, who hasn’t played since Wimbledon, didn’t make that final call to give it a go until Saturday after practice in Melbourne.

“It’s the most important for me to …

Things are looking good for Rafael Nadal. After withdrawing from Abu Dhabi and then Brisbane due to his right knee, Nadal sounds like he’s back to full strength. Though, he cautions, he will play the Australian Open for the first time in his career without any official warm-up event.

Because of that, Nadal asked the tournament to make his practice match yesterday with Dominic Thiem feel like a real match. And …

The controversial Nick Kyrgios called him home event, the Australian Open, just another tournament, citing that the tennis is much more than just January.

“At the end of the day, I know even if I lose first round here, there’s a long year ahead. Obviously I’d love to do well here, but for me it’s just another tournament,” Kygios said.

“I’m not going to say quarterfinals, semifinals, anything like that. I just …

Meeting the press Saturday in Melbourne, Novak Djokovic revealed that his injured elbow still wasn’t healed. And the 6-time champion didn’t rule out surgery down the road. He also wouldn’t discuss what exactly the problem was with the elbow, only that it’s been a hindrance for a while now.

Djokovic, who hasn’t played an official match since a shock Wimbledon quarterfinal loss to Tomas Berdych, is set to return in best-of-5 …

Unlike five other players, she’s far and away from challenging for the No. 1 ranking next week during the Australian Open, but early in 2018, former No. 1 Angelique Kerber has shown she will be a contender for another title in Melbourne.

Kerber on Saturday captured the Sydney International title, stopping the run of homecountry favorite Ashleigh Barty 6-4, 6-4.

“I am playing amazing tennis again and feeling just great,” Kerber said …

It was likely a preview of finals for years to come.

Touted 21-year-old Russian Daniil Medvedev held off 18-year-old 2018 breakout player Alex de Minaur 1-6, 6-4, 7-5 on Saturday in the final of the Sydney International.

It was the youngest ATP final in 21 years, since Rafael Nadal beat Novak Djokovic at Indian Wells. And it was the first career title for Medvedev.

“I mean, to make it through the qualies, there …

Roberto Bautista Agut is not your typical Spaniard. He likes hardcourts, and he likes New Zealand. A lot.

On Saturday the Spaniard beat former US Open winner Juan Martin del Potro 6-1, 4-6, 7-5 in the final of the ASB Classic in Auckland for his second career title in New Zealand.

“I gave everything I have on the court this week,” said the 29-year-old Bautista Agut, who won his first Auckland title …