Linda Pearce is the Chief Tennis Writer and general sports reporter for The Age. She writes about a range of sports, including football, netball, and gymnastics. Linda has twice been named Australian tennis writer of the year.
Laughed. Couldn't help it. There was just something amusing about listening to Mark Philippoussis talking this week about possibly being the right coach for Nick Kyrgios if only Kyrgios can choose who the right coach might be. Philippoussis? Really?
What will be the big tennis story of the summer? Roger Federer's reappearance? A Nick Kyrgios charm offensive? For John Newcombe, one component will be a successful comeback from injury for Thanasi Kokkinakis, even as Lleyton Hewitt warns that the young South Australian faces a "tough" return after what has effectively been a year away.
Another substantial Australian Open prizemoney increase is imminent as it pushes towards the $50 million barrier, with only the finer details of the record sum's distribution still being negotiated by Tennis Australia and player governing bodies the ATP and the WTA.
Australian Paralympian of the year Dylan Alcott has joined Sam Stosur, Lleyton Hewitt, Nick Kyrgios and Sam Groth on the Newcombe Medal honour roll.
In an amusing recent exchange on social media, a group of self-proclaimed tennis geeks asked if anyone could confirm whether Thanasi Kokkinakis is still alive, so little has he been seen in recent times. "Can't confirm," came the reply. From the account of one @TKokkinakis, self-described Australian tennis player and NBA fan..
After a season in which he had already reached dizzy heights, Andy Murray saved the best to last by outclassing Novak Djokovic 6-3 6-4 to claim his first ATP World Tour Finals title and secure the year-end top ranking.
Australia has its first champion at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals since the second of Lleyton Hewitt's consecutive successes in 2002, after Victorian John Peers partnered Henri Kontinen of Finland to win the doubles title at London's O2 Arena.
In wildly differing circumstances, Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic have arrived at the first championship match in the 27-year history of the season-ending tournament that will decide which man finishes the year at No.1.
Andy Murray remained the requisite one step ahead of rival Novak Djokovic in the duel for the year-end No.1 ranking, but needed to take many, many steps to do so.
Search pagination
Save articles for later.
Subscribe for unlimited access to news. Login to save articles.
Return to the homepage by clicking on the site logo.