Former world number one Novak Djokovic's Australian Open preparations suffered a blow Friday as he was bundled out of the Brisbane International by towering American Reilly Opelka.
Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner powered to his first Rotterdam Open title on Sunday, breaking down a determined defensive effort from Australia's Alex De Minaur to win 7-5, 6-4 in a high-quality battle.
Patience is a virtue that Sinner does possess, and eventually that paid off.
"I'm the same boy I was before I won the title," he insisted on his return to Rome.
Ever since bursting on the scene as a 17-year-old in 2019, the Italian has been touted as one of tennis' future greats.
Jannik Sinner stormed back from two sets down to beat Daniil Medvedev in a gruelling five-set Australian Open final on Sunday and win his first Grand Slam.
Since Stan Wawrinka won his only title in Melbourne in 2014, Novak Djokovic has picked up six trophies, Roger Federer has won two and Rafael Nadal has won one.
The Belarusian world number two has yet to drop a set in Melbourne this year
Former US Open champion Medvedev will hope to get third time lucky when he meets Italian youngster Jannik Sinner on Sunday
With Novak Djokovic's reign broken, Andy Murray boosted his claim to the Melbourne Park throne with a comprehensive 6-4 6-2 6-4 win over American Sam Querrey to reach the fourth round of the Australian Open on Friday.
Uzbek Denis Istomin pulled off an Australian Open upset for the ages when he sent reigning champion Novak Djokovic tumbling out of the year's first grand slam in a near five-hour epic on Thursday.
Third seed Milos Raonic continued his machine-like advance through the Australian Open on Thursday, easing past Gilles Muller 6-3 6-4 7-6(4) to reach the third round.
Rafael Nadal powered into the second round of the Australian Open with a commanding straight-sets win over Germany's Florian Mayer on Tuesday.
Serena Williams exploded any doubts about her form on Tuesday as she swept into the Australian Open second round on her return to Grand Slam action.
Venus Williams survived a rocky start to reach the second round of her 17th Australian Open on Monday, putting her 7-6 7-5 victory over Kateryna Kozlova down to hard-earned experience.
World number one Andy Murray could face challenges from Kei Nishikori and Stan Wawrinka if he is to reach a sixth Australian Open final following Friday's draw.
Next month's Australian Open will offer Aus$50 million (US$36.25 million) in prize money, with the men's and women's singles champions both netting a cool $3.7 million, organisers said on Wednesday.
Maria Sharapova is suspended for two years by the International Tennis Federation for testing positive for meldonium at the Australian Open.
Nike suspends its relationship with Maria Sharapova after the five-time Grand Slam tennis champion admitted failing a drug test.
