Sports reporter
Melbourne
Courtney Walsh is a sports writer for The Australian specialising in AFL and tennis. He has also written for the Herald Sun, mX and various tennis magazines. He has worked as a tennis coach and is a graduate of the University of Melbourne, where he attained a Full Blue when named an All Australian in tennis.

TA elects first woman president

Jetstar

Jetstar Group chief executive Jayne Hrdlicka has been elected Tennis Australia president.

Barty breaks into world top 20

Australian tennis player Ashleigh Barty poses for photos at Pat Rafter arena in Brisbane, Wednesday, October 11, 2017. It has been confirmed that Barty will play in the 2018 Brisbane International Tournament. (AAP Image/Dan Peled) NO ARCHIVING

Ash Barty has set a new benchmark yesterday by becoming Australia’s top ranked woman for the first time.

Rookie from school of hard knocks

AFL Draft

Prospective AFLW ruck Tayla McAuliffe has always had a simple approach to football.

Weir eyes Perth with Ulmann

Caulfield Cup Day

Champion trainer Darren Weir has identified a horse that could allow him to replicate an epic party in Perth.

Power have eyes on the sky

Port Adelaide CEO Keith Thomas during a joint press conference at the Portman Ritz-Carlton in Shanghai, China, Thursday, May 11, 2017. (AAP Image/Tracey Nearmy) NO ARCHIVING

Port Adelaide’s vision for the move into China goes way beyond a game every year.

Suns defending Docker deal

Gold Coast Suns recruit Lachie Weller. Photo credit: Gold Coast Suns.

Gold Coast coach Stuart Dew has defended the club’s recruiting strategy over the first major decision made in his tenure.

Kyrgios’ season at an end

Australian Tennis star Nick Kyrgios walks off the court at the Shanghai Masters. Source: @TennisTV/Twitter

Nick Kyrgios has continued his regular practice of calling a premature end to the season.

Son of God’s second coming

2017 Brownlow Medal

Within minutes of the confirmation that Gary Ablett was coming back to Geelong, a huge banner heralded ‘The Return’.

Dad’s tips pay off for draftee

2017 AFL & AFLW Draft Combine

As a child growing up in Port Augusta, Jasmyn Hewett was never happier than when she was kicking the footy around in the dirt.

Teen puts footy before uni

2017 NAB AFL Women's Draft

Teenage sensation Isabel Huntington has overcome a debilitating knee injury to become the top selection in the AFLW national draft.

Power keen to turn lights

Ken Hinkley

Port Adelaide chief executive Keith Thomas is hopeful the Power will be performing under lights in Shanghai as soon as May.

Federer swats rival Nadal aside

Roger Federer of Switzerland holds the trophy after winning his men's final singles match against Rafael Nadal of Spain at the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament in Shanghai on October 15, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Nicolas ASFOURI

Roger Federer may well be in the most satisfying passage of his career.

Kyrgios finds moment to savour

Australian Tennis star Nick Kyrgios walks off the court at the Shanghai Masters. Source: @TennisTV/Twitter

Australian star’s play a classic example of shift in doubles.

Fed, Rafa in Shanghai showdown

Roger Federer

Roger Federer stands between Rafael Nadal and a slice of history in the final of the Shanghai Rolex Masters.

Nadal eyes all-time record

Rafael Nadal

Injured Juan Martin del Potro faces Roger Federer at Shanghai Masters, as Rafael Nadal aims for all-time record.

Tennis star in injury scare

Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina receives treatment after he fell during his men's singles quarter-final match against Viktor Troicki of Serbia at the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament in Shanghai on October 13, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / NICOLAS ASFOURI

A day after declaring his hopes of completing a full season in 2018, Juan Martin del Potro was barely able to shake his opponent’s hand.

Injury scare for del Potro

Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina hits a return against Viktor Troicki of Serbia during their men's singles quarter-final match at the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament in Shanghai on October 13, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / CHANDAN KHANNA

Argentine tennis star Juan Martin del Potro has suffered an injury scare in the Shanghai Masters tournament.

Chinese set to serve up a star

2017 US Open Tennis Championships - Day 14

As Rafael Nadal celebrated his US Open title last month, it was another New York triumph that stirred China.

Del Potro to return to Melbourne

Juan Martin del Potro

After skipping last year’s Australian Open, Juan Martin del Potro has declared his intention to return in January.

Federer straps himself in

Roger Federer

Roger Federer has always been a take-charge type of player on the tennis court.

Del Potro uses his superpower

Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina celebrates his victory against Alexander Zverev of Germany during their men's third round singles match at the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament in Shanghai on October 12, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / NICOLAS ASFOURI

Juan Martin del Potro is clubbing his way towards the ATP World Finals.

Fognini tantrum earns $123K fine

Fabio Fognini of Italy hits a return during his men's second round singles match against Alexander Zverev of Germany at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing on October 5, 2017.   / AFP PHOTO / NICOLAS ASFOURI

Italian firebrand Fabio Fognini fined A$123,370 for behaviour stemming from a misogynistic tantrum during the US Open.

Nadal survives Shanghai fans

Rafael Nadal

When Rafael Nadal arrived at his Shanghai hotel, he was confronted by the type of onslaught he usually dishes out to rivals.

Kyrgios fined for outburst

Nick Kyrgios of Australia hits a return during the men's singles against Steve Johnson of America at the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament in Shanghai on October 10, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / CHANDAN KHANNA

Nick Kyrgios has received a hefty fine for his embarrassing tantrum in Shanghai.

Kyrgios storms off ... again

Australian Tennis star Nick Kyrgios walks off the court at the Shanghai Masters. Source: @TennisTV/Twitter

Nick Kyrgios pleads illness as officials investigate his latest tantrum after he walked off the court midmatch at Shanghai | WATCH

Serena to lift Open above NYC

FILE - In this Jan. 28, 2017, file photo, Serena Williams answers questions at a press conference after defeating her sister Venus to win the women's singles final at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia. Williams praised her mother Oracene Price for being a role model in an open letter posted to Reddit on Sept. 19, 2017. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, File)

The Australian Open has conceded ground to its US rival but tournament organisers are unconcerned.

Kyrgios dispels frustration

2017 China Open - Day 9 - Finals

Nick Kyrgios shrugged off any tension stemming from an angst-riddled loss to Nadal with a breezy doubles victory.

Nadal extends lead over Federer

2017 China Open - Day 9 - Finals

Rafael Nadal extended his buffer over Roger Federer in the race to end 2017 as world No 1.

Cup catalyst for Kyrgios, Goffin

2017 China Open Day 8 - Semi-Finals

While the Davis Cup is suffering, the recent deeds of Nick Kyrgios and David Goffin demonstrate the competition’s value.

Ebden plays the waiting game

Matthew Ebden of Australia reacts after losing a point against David Goffin of Belgium during their men's singles second round match of the Japan Open tennis tournament in Tokyo on October 5, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / TORU YAMANAKA

Matt Ebden played a waiting game familiar to all professionals outside the world’s top handful.