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.
Caitlin Thwaites has played netball for the two biggest teams in Australia, the NSW Swifts and Melbourne Vixens, and is now part of the most powerful sporting club in the land. When asked about the difference in "the Collingwood way", Thwaites quoted coach Kristy Keppich-Birrell, whose message to her Diamond-studded line-up is: "You can dream big here".
Optimism, anticipation, bold declarations and Channel Nine celebrities in active wear were all in abundance as Netball Australia's new national league was officially launched to a grand Sydney Harbour backdrop.
Teenager Alex De Minaur dreams of playing for Australia, winning grand slam tournaments and becoming world No.1 – and his hero and mentor Lleyton Hewitt says he's doing all the right things to get there.
Women's sporting codes are in intense competition for talent, but ultimately, the fans will win.
Brisbane appeals as a potential home for the Davis Cup quarter-final to be played against the US in April, on a surface - hardcourt - that has already been determined.
All had gone exactly as planned for the Australians over the first two days.
With a 3-0 sweep against the depleted Czech Repubic at Kooyong, Australia have reached the last eight of the Davis Cup for the second time in three years.
Bernard Tomic's replacement Jordan Thompson made a winning start to his Davis Cup career, passing the baton and a 1-0 lead to Nick Kyrgios, who extended it to 2-0 with Usain Bolt-like speed. The first round tie against the Czech Republic could be over by Saturday afternoon. Bernie who?
While Nick Kyrgios may be this weekend's headline act at Kooyong, John Peers is quietly making news of his own.
Debutant Jordan Thompson has been drawn to begin Australia's Davis Cup world group first-round tie with Czech Republic at Kooyong on Friday morning.
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