Anne-Maree, a fervent fan of Rafael Nadal, had always wanted to name her next dog after the Spanish warrior. Sister Jenny and her husband Bruce suggested the pair be named Rafa and – after his great rival – Roger.
Veteran Venus Williams has ended CoCo Vandeweghe's giantkilling run to become the oldest Australian Open women's finalist in professional tennis history.
It's a captivating semi-final clash between Serena Williams and the story of the tournament, Croatian veteran Mirjana Lucic-Baroni
Rafael Nadal and Grigor Dimitrov are rapt with their return to form. How did they do it? It's the age-old story.
Mirjana Lucic-Baroni broke down mid-sentence and sobbed. She couldn't go on.
The dream is still alive. Rafael Nadal's two-and-a-half year absence from the final four of a grand slam is over.
Roger Federer first tried to qualify for the Australian Open in 1999. He lost in the first round, in straight sets, to tour veteran Olivier Delaitre. Yes, Virginia, there wasn't a Santa Claus.
Serena Williams will play on Friday for a shot at her seventh Australian Open title, after dismissing Johanna Konta in emphatic style.
Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov won through to his second semi-finals of a major for the second time after a straight sets elimination of Belgian David Goffin on Rod Laver Arena on Wednesday.
Emotional Mirijana Lucic-Baroni wept and declared everything bad that had happened in her troubled life was now made OK by winning through to just her second grand slam semi-final, 18 years after her last.
Tidbits and news from off the courts at the Australian Open.
It's an intriguing Australian Open women's quarter-final: the great Serena Williams versus emerging Brit Johanna Konta.
Roger Federer is the closest as close as the professional tennis circuit has to a wise elder. So it's worth listening to the Swiss master's theory.
Roger Federer is through to a semi final match up with countryman Stan Warinka after beating Mischa Zverev but praising the German's attractive game.
Bernard Tomic has made himself unavailable for Australia's opening Davis Cup tie against the Czech Republic in Melbourne next month.
Meeting the 16-year-old Mirjana Lucic in a Sydney hotel lounge during her first, spectacular, career ascent, the Croatian prodigy anointed by Steffi Graf as her most likely successor had a physique and demeanour well beyond her years. She was also grouped with Martina Hingis and the Williams sisters as the future of the women's game.
Between first and second sets on Rod Laver arena on Tuesday, Stan Wawrinka and Jo wilfried Tsonga snarled at one another from their chairs like schoolboys. Their exchange was in French, but the strength and depth of it might be divined from Tsonga's opening gambit: "You looking at me?"
Now a watcher and fan not a player Andy Roddick said a dream final at this year's Australian Open of Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal would be the most important match in grand slam history.
Milos Raonic finally feels close to flu-free. And having seen, reached and successfully passed the "tipping point" in his most recent match against Rafael Nadal, he is confident he can do it again when they play their quarter final.
The television ratings war has heated up with Channel Seven hitting out at suggestions Channel 10's Big Bash League dominated over the first week of the Australian Open.
Unseeded American Coco Vandeweghe has emerged as the bolter of the women's draw, charging into the semi-finals of the Australian Open after a straight-sets elimination of Garbine Muguruza.
Love has been in the Open air this week
Venus Williams has reached her first Australian Open semi-final in 14 years, matching the most recent Wimbledon result that was her best at a grand slam since 2009. At 36, the oldest woman left in the tournament is the oldest to ever advance this far.
Gone are the days of a simple hot dog and beer at the tennis.
It was shaping as a captivating Australian Open quarter-final clash between Stan Wawrinka and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. The Swiss had other ideas, winning in straight sets.
Australian tennis legend Rod Laver says the time may have come to stop criticising Nick Kyrgios, and instead concentrate on local talent "who really want to play."
Tennis Australia is under investigation by the corporate watchdog over allegations a $200 million deal to sell the broadcast rights of the Australian Open to Seven West Media may have broken the law.
It might have been the greatest shot of all time ... had it gone in.
The junior Italian tennis player who was controversially disqualified from the Australian Open for hitting a ball boy has spoken out, claiming her dismissal from the tournament was ridiculous.
Anything Roger can do, Rafa can do too. Even a little more simply.
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