8:35 PM ET MELBOURNE, Australia — For the first time in 15 years, five Australian singles players reached the third round of the Australian Open. The last time that happened, back in 2004, Roger Federer had just one Grand Slam title to his name, Mark Philippoussis was the nation’s highest-ranked player and the Melbourne Park

3:19 PM ET ESPN News Services MELBOURNE, Australia — Maria Sharapova smacked a forehand winner — the sort she has hit so many times, at so many key moments, over the years — to take control against defending champion Caroline Wozniacki at the Australian Open. Sharapova balled up her fists, shut her eyes, threw back

4:35 AM ET Simon Cambers MELBOURNE, Australia — As the Australian Open began in earnest Monday, the sport’s leading male players were peppered with questions about the future of the ATP executive chairman and president, Chris Kermode. Kermode’s contract is up at the end of 2019, and this week, the ATP Player Council discussed his

10:58 AM ET Andy Murray will face a difficult but “not impossible” task to compete at Wimbledon later this year, according to his hip surgeon Dr. John O’Donnell. Murray, 31, announced in an emotional press conference at the Australian Open that he intends to end his playing career after Wimbledon, but O’Donnell is pessimistic about

10:57 PM ET Simon Cambers MELBOURNE, Australia — The draw is out and the players know their fates. For some, the Australian Open brings a sense of optimism — a new year, a fresh start and a favorable bracket. For others, say, Nick Kyrgios, not so much. Unseeded Kyrgios drew No. 16 Milos Raonic and

11:17 PM ET MELBOURNE, Australia — As the players took their turn addressing the media over the past few days at Melbourne Park, one common theme came to light: They’re ready. They’re pumped. They’re feeling good. Bring on the Aussie Open! OK, perhaps the news of Andy Murray was a bit of a downer, but

7:13 AM ET Associated Press SYDNEY — Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova beat Ashleigh Barty 1-6, 7-5, 7-6 (3) in the women’s singles final on Saturday at the Sydney International. Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic holds the trophy after beating Australia’s Ashleigh Barty in the women’s final match at the Sydney International. Photo by PETER

1:34 AM ET Simon Cambers MELBOURNE — Praise continued to pour in for Andy Murray at the Australian Open on Saturday, 24 hours after his announcement that he plans to retire from tennis after Wimbledon because of a hip injury. But amid all the tributes for his on-court achievements, which included three Grand Slam titles,

1:22 AM ET With a maiden WTA title under her belt, American youngster Sofia Kenin has her sights fixed on doing some damage at the Australian Open. The 20-year-old claimed the Hobart International on Saturday, surging past unseeded Slovakian Anna Karolina Schmiedlova 6-3 6-0 in her first top-level singles final. Sofia Kenin with the 2019

3:48 AM ET MELBOURNE, Australia — Novak Djokovic has hailed Andy Murray a “great champion” after learning the Scot is likely to hang up his tennis racquet at the conclusion of 2019’s Wimbledon championship. Murray, 31, fought back tears in Melbourne on Friday as he announced that this would be the final time he will