Serena Finishes Sharapova-Azarenka 1-2 Punch to Win Brisbane

If world No. 1 Serena Williams was looking to make a statement in the first tournament of the year at the Brisbane International, consider it made. After defeating former No. 1 Maria Sharapova in the semifinals, the American beat former No. 1 Victoria Azarenka 6-4, 7-5 in the final, her top two adversaries, without dropping a set.

“It’s definitely always interesting to play someone …

In new profile piece in the Sydney Morning Herald from Linda Pearce, budding star Grigor Dimitrov talks about his relationship with new coach Roger Rasheed and all the rules the Australian has outlined.

Rasheed, who’s worked with Lleyton Hewitt and Gael Monfils among others, it trying to instill a new attitude into the talented Bulgarian known for his Federer-eqse hot shots, Grand Slam girlfriend and questionable attire.

“One of the first …

The plays have made it known that the courts this year in Australia are playing faster than they have in the past. And one would think that would suit a 7-time Wimbledon champion like Roger Federer, but the Swiss doesn’t 100% agree.

“Obviously the margins are smaller on a quicker court,” Federer said on Friday. “Because let’s say the first game I do get broken because he hits a few good …

Serena Williams won her her 58th career WTA title earlier today defeating friend and rival Victoria Azarenka 64, 75 in Brisbane.

Before the No. 1 vs. No. 2 showdown, Serena, who’s been known to sing karaoke (she has a karaoke room in her house), was asked if she’d ever done a song from Azarenka’s pop star boyfriend RedFoo’s collection.

“Never done him on karaoke,” she said. “I’ll put him on my …

Maria Sharapova suffered her 14th straight loss to Serena Williams Thursday night in Brisbane. The Russian, though, took the positives after the loss to the rival who has dominated her winning 15 of 17 meetings overall.

“I just found 14 ways how not to win,” Sharapova said after the 62, 76 loss to Serena. “That’s the only way you can look at it. I could be in a worse position and …

Serena Williams started strong and then hung on to beat rival Maria Sharapova 6-2, 7-6(7) to reach the Brisbane finals where she’ll play on Saturday Victoria Azarenka in a battle of the top two ranked women’s players in the world.

“The quality of the match was very high, especially from Maria’s end, so it was good for me to come up with a win in that match,” Williams said. “We’re both …

Rafael Nadal overcame a break deficit in the second set to turn away Ernests Gulbis for the seventh straight time, 7-5, 6-4 in the quarterfinals in Doha earlier today.

The win moves Nadal into the semifinals tomorrow against little-known qualifier Peter Gojowczyk. The 24-year-old German edged Dustin Brown 7-5 in the final set breaker to advance to his first career ATP semifinal.

Maybe the bigger highlight came after the match when Nadal …

The long flowing mane of Feliciano Lopez is a thing of the past. For 2014, the statue-esque Spaniard shed his hair during the off season opting for a the much tighter buzz cut look.

Feliciano López estrena nuevo look. Año nuevo, corte nuevo. pic.twitter.com/sHhRPuZJLT

— Nacho Mühlenberg (@NachoMuhlenberg) January 2, 2014

The move didn’t go over well with the opposite sex, particularly Andy Murray’s mom, Judy, …

Four years ago Marin Cilic was trending skyward, reaching the Australian Open semifinals and finally cracking the ATP’s Top 10.

Now at age 25 and ranked No. 37, the wiry Croatian is starting a second career after serving a brief doping suspension that stunted what was a good start to 2013 and forced him off the tour for almost five months.

“Feels still the same career, but feels like a new …

Roger Federer already put his entry in for 2014 Shot of the Year, and it’s going to be tough to beat. Playing earlier today in doubles with partner Nicoals Mahu in Brisbane, Federer hit this incredible mishit overhead smashed that bounced on the opponent side of the court then caromed back into Federer’s side for an untouched winner!

Federer and Mahut beat Dimitrov/Chardy to reach the semifinals. Tonight in the singles …

Andy Murray’s second match of the season was considerably different than his first. After double bageling an overmatched wildcard in his Doha opener on Monday, Murray, a 2-time tournament champion, let slip a set and 3-0 lead to Florian Mayer to fall 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 in the second round on Wednesday.

“I felt like I slowed down in the second set, service speed and movement,” said Murray. “It wasn’t a particular …

Caroline Wozniacki and Rory McIlroy broke into 2014 with some major news. The happy couple are engaged!

Wozniacki, who had to withdraw from Brisbane with a right shoulder injury, made the announcement earlier today via twitter:

Happy New Year everyone! Rory and I started 2014 with a bang! … I said YES!!!! pic.twitter.com/J7c2pXgsdC

— Caroline Wozniacki (@CaroWozniacki) December 31, 2013

Rory also tweeted after the successful proposal …

Speaking during a presser in Brisbane on Monday, Roger Federer explained why he’s made a recent switch to a larger, 98sq inch, racquet, moving up from his customary 90sq inch.

“They sent me one round of racquets after the US Open, and now another one after the World Tour Finals I tested again a couple and chose the one I’m playing with now, that I’ve been practicing with two and a …

Earlier this week in Brisbane Kei Nishkori addressed the media speaking about what the process was in hiring former World No. 2 and American great Michael Chang.

“We played exhibition two years ago in Japan,” Nishikori said. “That’s first meeting of us. That time I didn’t think he is going to coach me, but end of this year I was start thinking to finding someone advise me more about something I …

Ahead of his first official match of 2014, Rafael Nadal met the press yesterday in Doha where the World No. 1 discussed his off season and a new treatment on his ailing knees.

“I started (training only) two weeks ago – two weeks and a half,” Nadal the Peninsula. “And (in) the first week, I didn’t move myself, just practicing from the middle. So realistically speaking, I was playing for …