10:29 PM ET Associated Press SYDNEY — The U.S. beat the Czech Republic 3-1 at the mixed teams United Cup when American Frances Tiafoe‘s opponent Tomas Machac retired due to a right ankle injury in the second set of their singles match Friday. Top-seeded Greece and Italy also completed wins on Friday. Tiafoe won the

7:42 PM ET ESPN News Services MELBOURNE, Australia — Former U.S. Open champion Dominic Thiem was given a wild card into the main draw of next month’s Australian Open after his successful return from a right wrist injury, it was announced. Tournament officials said Friday that Thiem, an Australian Open finalist in 2020, received a

6:16 AM ET Associated Press ADELAIDE, Australia — Novak Djokovic is reiterating that he bears no hard feelings on his return to Australia after his visa cancellation and subsequent deportation in January ahead of the Australian Open tennis tournament. Djokovic was deported almost 12 months ago after arriving unvaccinated against COVID-19 at a time when

1:25 AM ET Novak Djokovic and the rest of the world’s premier tennis players will compete for more than AUD$100 million (USD$67.35 million) in prize money over the Australian summer. The historic high mark comes from a record AUD$76.5 million (USD$51.52 million) Australian Open purse and the addition of the lucrative new United Cup mixed

9:54 PM ET Associated Press SYDNEY — Taylor Fritz and Madison Keys gave the United States a 2-0 lead over Czech Republic at the new United Cup mixed teams tournament on Thursday. Fritz broke Jiri Lehecka‘s serve in the ninth game of the second set and went on to beat the Czech player 6-3, 6-4.

1:25 AM ET Nick Kyrgios faces a race against time to hit peak form and fitness for his Australian Open tilt after pulling out of the inaugural United Cup teams event due to injury. World No. 22 Kyrgios was scheduled to spearhead the Australian team, starting against Great Britain’s Cameron Norrie in Sydney on Thursday

4:55 PM ET Associated Press SYDNEY — Novak Djokovic has arrived in Australia almost a year after he was deported over his stance against COVID-19 vaccination, Tennis Australia confirmed Wednesday. Djokovic will open his 2023 campaign in Adelaide as he prepares for a shot at a 10th Australian Open title. The 21-time major winner has

5:08 PM ET Associated Press BERLIN — Tennis great Boris Becker tearfully recounted the moment the door of his single-occupancy cell at Britain’s notorious Wandsworth prison closed for the first time, speaking publicly after serving eight months for bankruptcy offenses. “It was the loneliest moment I’ve ever had in life,” Becker said in an interview

2:44 PM ET Three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray has said he will keep competing as long as his body is in good shape, but added that he is one “big injury” away from calling time on his career. Murray, 35, has suffered with injuries during his career and had hip surgery in 2018 and

9:01 PM ET ESPN News Services MELBOURNE, Australia — Venus Williams has been awarded a wild-card entry to play at the Australian Open next month, 25 years after she played the Grand Slam tournament for the first time. The 42-year-old Williams has reached the final twice in Australia, including a loss to her younger sister,