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Nishikori dumps Tsonga from Australian Open
MELBOURNE: Kei Nishikori shocked former finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in five sets to become the first Japanese man into the Australian Open quarter-finals in 80 years on Monday.
The 24th seed dug deep to knock out sixth seed Tsonga, 2-6, 6-2, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 in 3hr 30min in sweltering conditions on Hisense Arena.
It was Nishikori's second win over Tsonga after beating him in Shanghai last year and sets him up with a quarter-final against British fourth seed Andy Murray on Wednesday.
It is the first time a Japanese man has reached the last eight at the Australian Open since 1932, when there were two in the quarter-finals.
It was Nishikori's best result at a grand slam, surpassing his fourth round appearance at the 2008 US Open.
He also became only the second Japanese man to reach a grand slam quarter-final in the open era since Shuzo Matsuoka at Wimbledon in 1995.
Nishikori broke Tsonga's serve six times and cashed in on Tsonga's 70 unforced errors, 40 of them on his big forehand.
His only ace in the match brought up three match points in the final game and he clinched victory with a running volley at the net.
Nishikori, seeded here for the first time at a grand slam, is the highest ranked Japanese man in ATP World Tour rankings history. (AFP)
Bailey to lead Australia in T20s against India
MELBOURNE: Uncapped George Bailey was Monday named skipper of a revamped Australian squad for next month's Twenty20 internationals against India as selectors looked towards September's T20 world cup.
Bailey replaces Cameron White, who has been dropped from the 14-man squad, while veteran spinner Brad Hogg returns to international cricket just weeks short of his 41st birthday.
Chief selector John Inverarity said Australia's T20 team, currently ranked fifth in the world, needed changes.
"The panel has been discussing this T20 squad for about six weeks and has unanimously decided on the squad, the captain and the vice-captain," he said.
"The selectors consider this to be a very well-balanced T20 squad and look forward to the team acquitting itself very well."
Inverarity said with this in mind the selectors had chosen Bailey to lead the new-look team.
"The panel unanimously favoured George Bailey as captain of the T20 team," he said.
"George is a very good T20 player with a sound record. He is widely respected and regarded as an outstanding captain, having had sustained success in this role."
Inverarity said selectors were looking to the new leadership of coach Mickey Arthur, Bailey and opening batsman David Warner to drive the T20 team.
The squad contains experienced bowlers Brett Lee and Hogg, while Shane Watson was not considered for selection as he regains full match fitness after recent injuries.
Australia take on India in T20 internationals at Sydney Olympic Park on February 1 and at the Melbourne Cricket Ground two days later.
The ICC World Twenty20 takes place in Sri Lanka, starting in September.
Australia - George Bailey (captain), David Warner (vice-capt), Travis Birt, Dan Christian, Xavier Doherty, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, Brad Hogg, David Hussey, Brett Lee, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Clint McKay, Matthew Wade.
(AFP)
Kvitova downs Ivanovic to reach quarter-finals
MELBOURNE: Reigning Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova downed Serbia's Ana Ivanovic in straight sets to reach the quarter-finals of the Australian Open on Monday.
After cruising through the first set Kvitova held off a late fight-back from the Serb to win 6-2, 7-6 (7/2) in 85 minutes in the first match of the day in the Rod Laver Arena.
The tall left-hander broke Ivanovic twice in the first set and once in the second, but was herself broken when serving for the match at 5-4.
Ivanovic held her next service game to love as Kvitova began to look shaky, but the second seed produced some big serves to take the set into a tiebreak.
And Kvitova took charge of in the tiebreak, quickly opening a 6-2 lead and sealing a place in the quarter-finals when an Ivanovic backhand hit the bottom of the net.
The Czech world number two hit more than twice as many winners as Ivanovic -- 30 to 14 -- which proved the difference between the two players.
"It was quite a hard match at the end of the second set," she said, adding that she was happy to be off the court early on a typically hot Melbourne day.
"I think I was quite lucky I played my match at 11 o'clock. It's hot, but we are in Australia so we are ready for it."
Kvitova has now reached the quarter-finals in Melbourne for the second year in row and will next play either Italian Sara Errani or Zheng Jie from China. (AFP)
Williams shocked at Australian Open
MELBOURNE: Five-time champion Serena Williams crashed to one of her worst ever grand slam defeats and Japan's Kei Nishikori stunned Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on a day of major shocks at the Australian Open on Monday.
As Andy Murray reached the quarter-finals with minimal fuss, little-known Russian Ekaterina Makarova handed out one of the Open's great upsets when the world number 56 beat out-of-sorts Williams 6-2, 6-3.
Williams, who has been struggling with an ankle injury and admitted she was "not 100 percent", was broken five times and sent down seven double-faults to end her 17-match winning streak in Melbourne, stretching back to 2009. (AFP)
Australia squad for T20 series with India
MELBOURNE: The Australian squad named on Monday for two Twenty20 internationals against India in Australia next month:
Australia - George Bailey (capt), David Warner (vice-capt), Travis Birt, Dan Christian, Xavier Doherty, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, Brad Hogg, David Hussey, Brett Lee, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Clint McKay, Matthew Wade. (AFP)
Sri Lanka beat South Africa in the fifth and final One Day International by two wickets at Johannesburg.
Batting first‚ South Africa made 312 runs for the loss of four wickets in their alloted fifty overs. In reply‚ Sri Lanka achieved the target for the loss of wickets in overs. South Africa has won five-match series by three-two.
Aisam-ul-Haq‚ Jean-Julien Rojer have advanced to 3rd round of Australian Open.
The pair of Pakistan's Aisam-ul-Haq and Jean-Julien Rojer have advanced to the 3rd round beating Philipp Marx and Adil Shamasdin by 7-6 and 6-4 in the 2nd round of doubles event of Australian Open Tennis Tournament.
Andy Murray reached the Australian Open quarter-finals for a third year running after Mikhail Kukushkin retired through injury while trailing 6-1 6-1 1-0.
The effects of two five-set matches in rounds two and three took their toll on Kukushkin, who pulled out with a left hip flexor problem after 49 minutes.
Serena Williams became the most high-profile casualty at the Australian Open so far after suffering a shock last-16 defeat by unseeded Etakerina Makarova.
The 13-time Grand Slam champion - a five-time winner at Melbourne Park - made 37 unforced errors as 56th-ranged Makarova won 6-2 6-3 the 82 minutes.
Petra Kvitova remains in contention for the Australian Open title and world number one ranking after beating Ana Ivanovic to reach the quarter-finals.
The Czech second seed, who has a chance of replacing Caroline Wozniacki at the top of the rankings, won 6-2 7-6 (7-2) on a scorching day at Melbourne Park.
