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Tennis: The January 14 edition

Introducing the new guard shaking things up in the world of professional tennis; meet Ajla Tomljanovic, the Aussie who beat Serena Williams in the US Open; Ash Barty and former coach Craig Tyzzer discuss their ongoing friendship; rising Australian player Rinky Hijikata talks tennis with Benjamin Law; the new Netflix documentary playing to the Australian Open’s entertainment agenda; and a tennis-themed The Quiz and Get It.

11 stories

She beat Serena – but for many, that isn’t the only surprise about Ajla Tomljanovic

Surrounded by 24,000 hostile fans at Arthur Ashe stadium, Tomljanovic was not expected to beat her childhood idol Serena Williams at last year’s US Open.

  • Amanda Hooton

Record winning streaks. Freak forehands. The young guns transforming tennis

For two decades, a handful of legendary names dominated tennis. Now, the guard’s changing: the current No.1 players are aged just 19 and 21.

  • Courtney Walsh

Quit while ahead or wait ’til the bitter end? The other challenge in tennis: retiring

Roger, Serena, Ash: for a player, choosing when to say goodbye may well be one of the most difficult parts of the job – and of life.

  • Alan Attwood
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Big serves: Pat Rafter loved bananas. Hingis: sushi. Kournikova: turkey sandwiches

Catering to tennis players and their entourages: how hard can it be? Bone-breakingly, soul-shatteringly hard – but also, strangely thrilling.

  • Helen Goh

Tennis and fashion’s love game – on and off the court

From Agassi’s fluoro threads to Federer’s Rolex watches to Serena Williams’ – well – everything, fashion and tennis have long been happy bedfellows.

  • Melissa Singer
A new Netflix docuseries devotes an episode to the bromance between Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis, pictured here chest-bumping during the 2022 Australian Open.

‘Make it like a bullfight arena’: How tennis is amping up the shock and awe

Thumping contests. Fly-on-the-wall documentaries. These days, there’s a lot more boosting the Australian Open – and tennis.

  • Brook Turner

‘I was so teary’: Ash Barty on the moment that stunned even her coach

When the former No. 1 decided to quit last year, her coach Craig Tyzzer was taken by surprise. But now, Barty says their friendship is a “beautiful thing”.

  • Konrad Marshall

‘He did look a bit nervous’: Aussie Rinky Hijikata on taking a set from Nadal

The 21-year-old discusses last year’s US Open match against Rafael Nadal, the challenges of being an Aussie on tour, and how a little self-doubt can be helpful.

  • Benjamin Law
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Smoked trout dip
EASY

Danielle Alvarez’s smoked trout dip with crudites

A play on taramasalata – made traditionally with cod roe – this uses smoked river trout fillets, which are delicious and a more sustainable option than salmon.

  • < 30 mins
  • Danielle Alvarez
Chicken Kara-age with Japanese mayo and a spiced seasoning

Julia Busuttil Nishimura’s Japanese fried chicken with quick cucumber pickles

In our house, tennis is king – and so is this incredibly flavourful and succulent chicken karaage, which I like to serve with quick cucumber pickles, shichimi togarashi and mayo.

  • 30 mins - 1 hr
  • Julia Busuttil Nishimura
Good Weekend Quiz online index image

The Tennis Quiz

Trivia buffs: test your knowledge with today’s interactive tennis-themed quiz.

Other editions

The March 21 edition

Stephanie Alexander and The Cook’s Companion at 30 | Free-diver Ant Williams | Debra Adelaide and Gabrielle Carey | How to deliver a baby on a plane

  • 11 stories

The March 14 edition

The high-strung, low-key world champ who could become our most-capped swimmer | Ukraine’s world-leading robotics work | Filmmaking at -50C | Consoling a friend

  • 13 stories