![](http://web.archive.org./web/20160101061231im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2013/10/22/4851768/sbanner-tennis.jpg)
New dad Mitchell can set date with Federer
![Hopman Cup](/web/20160101061231im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/x/w/i/3/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glxw19.png/1451624785742.jpg)
4:06 PM Australian wildcard and new father Ben Mitchell has the prime chance to take on Roger Federer in the Swiss tennis maestro's first match of 2016 at the Brisbane International.
Kokkinakis: not the present but still the future
![Thanasi Kokkinakis.](/web/20160101061231im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/j/c/z/q/3/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gljj4g.png/1451560692958.jpg)
Linda Pearce 12:30 PM When Thanasi Kokkinakis speaks of the "obstacles" he had to negotiate in his breakthrough season in the top 100, he means the death of his grandmother, an illness that caused him to drop five kilograms in the same difficult lead-up to Wimbledon, and his unwitting and unwelcome role in the Kyrgios-Wawrinka-Vekic sledge controversy in August.
Gael Monfils withdraws from Hopman Cup due to leg injury
![Gael Monfils is out of the Hopman Cup.](/web/20160101061231im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/h/e/i/3/j/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glxkn0.png/1451548708917.jpg)
6:58 PM The Hopman Cup has suffered a major pre-tournament blow after world No.24 Gael Monfils was forced to withdraw because of a leg injury.
Brisbane's the place for Sharapova
![Maria Sharapova, winner of the Brisbane Internmational in January 2015, says the event is one of her favourites.](/web/20160101061231im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/x/g/3/m/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glxfvl.png/1451548776415.jpg)
​Hot and humid weather and a strong Brisbane International field are exactly the ingredients Maria Sharapova believes can kickstart her campaign for a sixth grand slam title.
Murray expects no lip from Kyrgios
![Andy Murray poses for a selfie with fans in Kings Park, Perth, ahead of the Hopman Cup.](/web/20160101061231im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/x/d/t/o/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glxfw4.png/1451548844301.jpg)
World No.2 Andy Murray says he's not expecting any pranks from Australian bad boy Nick Kyrgios when they cross paths at the Hopman Cup.
Andy Murray chooses to gym in...Cockburn???
![Andy Murray surprised many with his appearance at a Cockburn gym.](/web/20160101061231im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/x/a/o/y/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glxamf.png/1451527941309.jpg)
Simon White It seems the Fremantle Dockers aren't the only sporting stars with Cockburn on their mind - with the world's No. 2 ranked tennis player Andy Murray working out at a local gym on Thursday morning.
Tennis
Kyrgios the media's most mentioned athlete
![Nick Kyrgios had an eventful year.](/web/20160101061231im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/k/8/b/q/z/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glwm1m.png/1451466020123.jpg)
Chris Dutton Reckon Jarryd Hayne, Michelle Payne and Jason Day were big in 2015? Well, Canberra's Nick Kyrgios tops the lot.
Gavrilova sets eyes on grand advance
![Daria Gavrilova announced herself as a future star in 2015 by beating former world No.1s Maria Sharapova and Ana Ivanovic.](/web/20160101061231im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/h/9/h/3/3/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glx1i0.png/1451463722090.jpg)
She's finally got her hands on an Australian passport, and now Daria Gavrilova has set her sights on becoming a force in next year's tennis grand slams.
Hewitt sweating it out for his Open swansong
![Lleyton Hewitt: Determined to enter his final Australian Open in peak fitness.](/web/20160101061231im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/w/u/x/3/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glwusd.png/1451459548700.jpg)
Lleyton Hewitt's unprecedented 20th straight Australian Open tilt next month will be the culmination of a brutal summer fitness regime.
Tennis stars converge on Australia as the countdown gets under way
![Roger Federer.](/web/20160101061231im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/i/s/1/8/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glwd5r.png/1451380450187.jpg)
The world's finest tennis players are converging on Australia in search of grand slam riches and a summer treasure chest totalling almost $50 million.
Soderling finally retires after long illness
![End of the road: Robin Soderling.](/web/20160101061231im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/v/1/d/9/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glv1da.png/1451041499277.jpg)
Sweden's Robin Soderling, the player best known for being the first man to beat Rafael Nadal at the French Open, has retired from professional tennis because of a long-running illness.
Kokkinakis ruled out of summer due to injury
![Thanasi Kokkinakis hits a forehand return.](/web/20160101061231im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/j/q/a/c/i/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gluu8p.png/1451005190439.jpg)
Exciting teenager Thanasi Kokkinakis has ruled himself out of the Australian summer of tennis with a shoulder injury.
Kooyong to host Davis Cup first round
![Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt.](/web/20160101061231im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/j/o/t/4/r/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gluh21.png/1450907383948.jpg)
Lleyton Hewitt's Davis Cup captaincy debut will take place in Melbourne, with Kooyong selected to host Australia's first-round tie with the United States in March.
Djokovic and Serena Williams named ITF players of the year
![Player of the year: Serena Williams of the United States.](/web/20160101061231im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/i/7/a/u/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glu6qc.png/1450853714432.jpg)
Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams were named men's and women's world champions for 2015 by the International Tennis Federation.
Murray can challenge Djokovic: McEnroe
![Andy Murray has enjoyed one of his best years in 2015.](/web/20160101061231im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/b/0/m/v/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glu1m5.png/1450853884539.jpg)
Tennis great John McEnroe is urging Andy Murray to lighten up and take a leaf out of Roger Federer's book as the Scot bids to break Novak Djokovic's grand slam stranglehold in 2016.
Mark Woodforde to serve on ITF board
![Fprmer doubles champion Mark Woodforde.](/web/20160101061231im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/s/y/h/2/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glsyd2.png/1450731607062.jpg)
Australia's 12-time grand slam doubles champion Mark Woodforde has been appointed to the board of directors of the International Tennis Federation.
Kyrgios and Wawrinka heal wounds for Slammers
![Nick Kyrgios had an eventful year.](/web/20160101061231im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/k/8/b/q/z/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glskfp.png/1451466020123.jpg)
Chris Dutton They're the most unlikely teammates the tennis world has ever seen, but rising star Nick Kyrgios hopes playing alongside Stan Wawrinka has helped heal the wounds of an infamous sledge.
Teen earns Australian Open wildcard
![Maddison Inglis celebrates match point.](/web/20160101061231im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/r/y/y/u/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glry5r.png/1450653929071.jpg)
Teenager Maddison Inglis has crashed Arina Rodionova's party to score a maiden main-draw berth at next month's Australian Open.
Aussie Open hopes hinge on official discretion for Bai
![Alison Bai.](/web/20160101061231im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/s/2/q/i/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glrymq.png/1450597478255.jpg)
Chris Dutton Nick Kyrgios builds bromance with Andy Murray while Alison Bai and James Frawley miss out on Australian Open wildcard.