3:19 PM ET Jake Michaels Close ESPN Associate Editor Jake Michaels is a Melbourne-based sports writer who covers everything from Aussie Rules to Formula One, basketball to boxing. He joined ESPN in June, 2013 and works as an Associate Editor, covering sport in Australia and around the world. Matt Walsh Close Assistant Editor Matt Walsh

5:32 AM ET There’s nothing in the world even close to watching Nick Kyrgios play on John Cain Arena. In three-and-a-half engrossing, frenetic, and at times ridiculous hours, Kyrgios saved two match points, twice went ballistic at the net cord, and even called chair umpire Marijana Veljovic “bro”. But in the end he posted arguably

11:34 PM ET MELBOURNE, Australia — After defeating two-time Slam quarterfinalist Tennys Sandgren in the opening round of the Australian Open, an emotional Alex De Minaur aimed a series of fist pumps towards the Melbourne sky. The 21st seed couldn’t contain his elation, not just at tasting victory once again at a major, but mainly

7:15 AM ET MELBOURNE, Australia — Ashleigh Barty may not have played a Grand Slam match in over 12 months, but she showed no sign of nerves or rust in her 6-0, 6-0 first-round win against Danka Kovinic at the Australian Open on Tuesday. The world No. 1 needed just 44 minutes to close out

2:00 AM ET ESPN News Services MELBOURNE, Australia — If Rafael Nadal has a bad back, he didn’t show any signs of it in his 6-3, 6-4, 6-1 win over Laslo Djere on Tuesday in the first round at the Australian Open. The No. 2-ranked Nadal is aiming to go one better than Roger Federer

12:14 AM ET Denis Shapovalov had to literally ‘hold on’ to beat Jannik Sinner in a thrilling Australian Open win over the Italian on Tuesday, having been left fuming after he was denied a request to take a bathroom break before the deciding fifth set. “What happens if I go?” Canadian Shapovalov asked German umpire

4:18 AM ET It didn’t take long — just two games in fact — but Nick Kyrgios was back to his prickly best on John Cain Arena at the Australian Open on Monday evening [AEDT]. Down a break at 0-2 in the first set against Portugal’s Frederico Ferreira Silva, Kyrgios turned his attention to his

7:27 AM ET D’Arcy MaineESPN.com AS NAOMI OSAKA stood in the middle of Arthur Ashe Stadium hoisting the trophy at the US Open in September, Bianca Andreescu watched from her parents’ house outside of Toronto some 500 miles away. She was happy for Osaka, but it stung. As the defending champion, having defeated Serena Williams

11:13 PM ET D’Arcy MaineESPN.com While Tom Brady was making his case for the greatest athlete of all time on Sunday night, some 9,600 miles away, Serena Williams was saying, “Not so fast, pal.” With all due respect to Brady and his Super Bowl-winning Tampa Bay Buccaneers teammates, he wasn’t the only G.O.A.T. in action

8:00 AM ET ESPN staff The first Grand Slam event of the year has finally arrived. The 2021 Australian Open will provide a little bit of a return to normalcy, as fans will be in attendance. Despite the obstacles, from 72 players having to quarantine upon arrival and forced to train in their hotel rooms