Australian Open | featured news

Andy Murray has beaten Roger Federer for the first time in a Grand Slam event to advance to the Australian Open final against top-ranked Novak Djokovic. The world No. 3 beat the Swiss star 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-7 (2), 6-2.

A fatigued Novak Djokovic stared down a ferocious challenge from Rafa Nadal to defend his Australian Open in the longest grand slam final ever played.

Rafael Nadal beats Lukas Lacko to reach the Australian Open fourth round, while Roger Federer sees off Ivo Karlovic.

Defending champion Roger Federer pulled out of his semifinal match against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at the Qatar Open because of a back injury on Friday. However, the 16-time Grand Slam champion says he expects to be ready for the Australian Open, which starts Jan. 16. In a news conference 30 minutes before his match, Federer said his back had not improved since beating Andreas Seppi in three sets on Thursday.

Rafael Nadal says he plans to take several weeks off after the Australian Open to recover from a nagging shoulder injury.

The loudest cheers were for Tiger Woods. The Australian Open belonged to winner Greg Chalmers. Chalmers won his national championship for the second time Sunday, closing with a 3-under 69 to hold off a late charge by Woods and a 50-foot birdie putt by John Senden that just missed forcing a playoff.

Tiger Woods says his confidence is returning as he vaulted to the halfway lead in the Australian Open at The Lakes on Friday in pursuit of his first tournament victory in two years. It is the first time the former world number one has led after a round since the third round of the Chevron World Challenge last December.

Australian Open runner-up Li Na reached the quarterfinals of the French Open with a 2-6, 6-1, 6-3 win over Petra Kvitova on Monday and became the first Chinese player to advance that far at the clay-court Grand Slam. Li has reached the quarterfinals at all four major tournaments and will next play either Victoria Azarenka or Ekaterina Makarova.

Kim Clijsters claimed her fourth grand slam title with a 3-6 6-3 6-3 victory over China's Li Na in a thrilling Australian Open final in Melbourne Saturday.

Novak Djokovic ended Roger Federer's hopes of a second successive Australian Open title with a thrilling victory in their semifinal on Thursday night.