MELBOURNE, Australia -- Some thoughts on Thursday's women's semifinals at the Australian Open, where Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka advanced with three-set victories to set up a final in which the winner will become the WTA's new No. 1 ...
In terms of age, just two years separate Australian Open finalists Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka. But in terms of what the two young women have achieved in their tennis careers so far, they are poles apart.
It is a noise that has become synonymous with watching top-level tennis -- the sound of ear-splitting shrieks and grunts as star players battle against each other in a bid to claim the sport's biggest prizes.
Third seed Novak Djokovic produced a superb display to beat Andy Murray in straight sets to claim the second Australian Open title of his career.
A memorable women's final at the 2011 Australian Open pitted third seed Kim Clijsters against Li Na of China at Melbourne Park's Rod Laver Arena.
Top seed and world number one Rafael Nadal of Spain has been knocked out of the Australian Open by compatriot and "friend" David Ferrer.
Andy Roddick has crashed out of the Australian Open in straight sets 6-3 6-4 6-4 to Swtizerland's Stanislas Wawrinka at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne.
Roger Federer began the defense of his Australian Open crown with a straight sets victory over Slovakian Lukas Lacko at Melbourne Park on Monday.
Queensland's flood disaster fund received a massive boost on Sunday as the world's best tennis players turned out to raise money at a packed Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne.
Serena Williams successfully defended her Australian Open title with a 6-4 3-6 6-2 victory over Belgium's Justine Henin in a thrilling final in Melbourne on Saturday night.
Serena Williams warmed up for her women's singles final clash with Justine Henin by teaming with sister Venus to win the Australian Open doubles crown in Melbourne on Friday.
Men's semifinals: Andy Murray of Great Britain came from a set down to see off the bold challenge of Croatian outsider Marin Cilic to reach the final of the Australian Open on Thursday.
Top seed Roger Federer sent out an ominous warning to his rivals with the most comfortable of Australian Open second-round victories over Victor Hanescu on Thursday.
Second seed Rafael Nadal and fifth seed Andy Murray are both trough to the second round of the Australian Open in Melbourne after opening the tournament with straight sets victories.
Serena Williams will be bidding for her 10th grand slam triumph and fourth Australian Open title when she plays Russian Dinara Safina in Saturday's final in Melbourne, with the world number one ranking also up for grabs for either player.
Serena Williams booked a semifinal clash with Russian Elena Dementieva at the Australian Open after officials took the heat out of her 5-7 7-5 6-1 win over Svetlana Kuznetsova by closing the Rod Laver Arena roof.
Dinara Safina apologised to the Melbourne crowd after ending Jelena Dokic's Australian Open dream -- and then begged for their backing in her semifinal against Russian rival Vera Zvonareva.
Holder Novak Djokovic is through to the last 16 of the Australian Open at Melbourne Park, but the Serb's four-set victory over Amer Delic was marred by crowd disturbances between fans of both players.
Jelena Dokic produced late night heroics on the Rod Laver Arena to upset Russian 17th seed Anna Chakvetadze 6-4 6-7 6-3 and extend her Australian Open comeback into the third round.
Australian Lleyton Hewitt bowed out of his home Grand Slam event after an epic five-set match against 13th seed Fernando Gonzalez at Melbourne Park on Tuesday.
Serena and Venus Williams began their Australian Open campaigns with straight sets victories at Melbourne Park on Tuesday.
Jelena Jankovic 'hot-footed' to a 6-1 6-3 victory against Yvonne Meusburger of Austria in the Australian Open first round as temperatures soared on Rod Laver Arena on Monday.
Defending champion Maria Sharapova has been forced to pull out of the Australian Open due to a shoulder injury.
It was business as usual for Roger Federer as he put his third round scare at the Australian Open behind him to ease past 13th seed Tomas Berdych in straight sets to reach the quarterfinals.
World No. 1 Roger Federer survived a massive scare at the Australian Open on Saturday, with the top seed twice coming from behind to win a five-set epic 6-7 (5-7) 7-6 (7-1) 5-7 6-1 10-8 against unseeded Serb Janko Tipsarevic.
Venus Williams joined her sister Serena in the second round of the Australian Open as she saw off a spirited challenge from China's Zi Yan in a night match at Melbourne Park on Tuesday.
SI.com: Total dominationupdated: Wed Mar 28 2007 11:23:00
MELBOURNE, Australia -- Remember the historic performance Michael Phelps had at the 2004 Olympics? Eight medals, including six gold? Comparisons to Mark Spitz? Well, why stop there? Phelps is making his own standards seem mortal at the FINA World Championships, where he is on the verge of the greatest single-meet performance in swimming history. Granted, Phelps has completed only three events so far, but it's the way he has owned the pool in those events that is rendering comparisons with anyone other than himself pointless.
Russia and China shared the four gold medals on offer on day five of the world swimming championships in Melbourne on Wednesday.
American brothers Mike and Bob Bryan retained their Australian Open men's doubles title on Saturday with a 7-5 7-5 victory over Jonas Bjorkman and Max Mirnyi.
Chile's Fernando Gonzalez demolished second seed Rafael Nadal in straight sets to earn a semifinal clash with Germany's Tommy Haas at the Australian Open in Melbourne on Wednesday.
Second seed Rafael Nadal twice came from a set behind to wear down Scot Andy Murray and reach the Australian Open quarterfinals in Melbourne on Monday.
Lleyton Hewitt's hopes of winning his home grand slam disappeared for another year as an inspired Fernando Gonzalez knocked him out in a third round match at Saturday.
Top seed Roger Federer waltzed into the fourth round of the Australian Open with a 6-3 6-3 7-6 win over Mikhail Youzhny in Melbourne on Friday.
Serena Williams overcame a stuttering start before moving into the third round of the Australian Open with a 7-6 6-2 win over Luxembourg's Anne Kremer in Melbourne on Tuesday.
Croatia's Ivan Ljubicic became the first major casualty on the opening day of the Australian Open, falling 4-6 7-6 6-4 6-4 to American Mardy Fish on Monday.
Top seed Roger Federer survived a ragged start to beat German Bjorn Phau 7-5 6-0 6-4 in the opening match of his Australian Open title defense in Melbourne on Monday.
It's match point for top-ranked tennis player Roger Federer at the 2006 Australian Open final in Melbourne, Australia.
Unseeded Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis extended his extraordinary run at the Australian Open on Tuesday, upsetting seventh seed Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia 6-4 6-2 4-6 3-6 6-3 to reach the semifinals.
American ace Andy Roddick dispatched giant South African Wesley Moodie in straight sets to reach the third round of the Australian Open in Melbourne on Wednesday.
Mark Philippoussis is expected to be given a wildcard entry to next year's Australian Open tennis tournament, despite a slump in form, officials have said.
Third seed Lleyton Hewitt held off a late charge by Argentine David Nalbandian to win a drama-packed match 6-3 6-2 1-6 3-6 10-8 and reach his first Australian Open semifinal.
Guillermo Coria, David Nalbandian and Guillermo Canas have made history as three Argentines reached the fourth round of the Australian Open for the first time in its 100-year history.
Wimbledon champion and fourth seed Maria Sharapova crushed China's Li Na 6-0 6-2 to reach the fourth round of the Australian Open.
French Open champion Anastasia Myskina needed just 58 minutes to book her place in the second round of the Australian Open on Tuesday, easing to a 6-1 6-4 victory over Czech Kvete Peschke.
Second seed Amelie Mauresmo dispelled any concerns about her fitness with a clinical 6-2 6-3 win over in-form local Samantha Stosur at the Australian Open on Monday.
Justine Henin-Hardenne triumphed in the latest battle of the Belgians to claim the Australian Open title on Saturday as Kim Clijsters' Grand Slam jinx struck again.
World number one Andy Roddick was sent crashing from the Australian Open as unseeded Russian Marat Safin prevailed in a gripping quarterfinal in Melbourne on Tuesday.
Swiss world No. 2 Roger Federer played some breathtaking tennis to come from behind and end Lleyton Hewitt's Australian Open 4-6 6-3 6-0 6-4 on Monday.
Top seed Andy Roddick destroyed Taylor Dent 6-2 6-0 6-2 to reach the Australian Open fourth round in an awesome display of power and precision.
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