TENNIS

The tennis world has been left in total shock at the news of Ashy Barty’s retirement. Less than three months after being crowned Australian Open champion, Barty called time on her career at the age of 25.

Emma Raducanu has pulled out of a WTA tournament in Monterrey next week and could potentially miss out on the Indian Wells event in March. The reigning US Open champion suffered an injury to her left leg during her shock defeat to Australian Daria Saville in Guadalajara earlier this week.

Ash Barty has become the first Aussie to win the Australian Open in 44 years with a straight-sets victory over Danielle Collins in the women’s singles final at Rod Laver Arena on Saturday.

World No. 1 tennis player Novak Djokovic has ruled the Australian Open for over a decade winning nine titles at the first grand slam of the calendar year. But, 2022 will be the first year he won’t play in the grand slam tournament since 2005.

Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai spoke with Olympic officials in a video call and told the international body that she is well, the International Olympic Committee said Sunday. There has been worldwide concern for her safety since she went missing shortly after accusing a former Chinese vice premier of sexual assault.