Serena Williams Skips Australian Open, Missing Another Major

By BY CHRISTOPHER CLAREY from NYT Sports Williams, 40, withdrew from her second straight Grand Slam, saying, “I am not where I need to be physically to compete.”https://nyti.ms/3ItdlLH

The Australian Open will require players to be fully vaccinated.

By BY CHRISTOPHER CLAREY from NYT Sports The rule casts doubt on the participation of Novak Djokovic and others.https://nyti.ms/3qWlj9Q

Roger Federer to Miss Australian Open and All but Rules Out Wimbledon

By BY CHRISTOPHER CLAREY from NYT Sports Recovering from his fourth knee operation, Federer, at 40, has no illusions about winning a 21st major title. He wants to return for different reasons.https://nyti.ms/3ntz4KQ

Roger Federer to Miss Australian Open and All but Rules Out Wimbledon

By BY CHRISTOPHER CLAREY from NYT Sports Recovering from his fourth knee operation, Federer, at 40, has no illusions about winning a 21st major title. He wants to return for different reasons.https://nyti.ms/3Cs0mFY

Novak Djokovic Gets His Groove Back in Paris

By BY CHRISTOPHER CLAREY from NYT Sports He bolstered his claim to being the best men’s player of this era by securing the year-end No. 1 ranking for a record seventh year.https://nyti.ms/3ER2kB6

Nick Kyrgios Comes to Wimbledon to ‘Chill Out’ and Gets Hot Instead

By BY CHRISTOPHER CLAREY from NYT Sports He hadn’t competed since the Australian Open, and hadn’t left his country since March 2020, but he impressed in a tireless five-set victory that stretched over two days.https://nyti.ms/3hg1pA0

After Serena Williams is Injured, Wimbledon Defends Court Conditions

By BY BEN ROTHENBERG from NYT Sports Slippery grass caused tournament-ending injuries in back-to-back matches as many stars wiped out during the first two days of the tournament.https://nyti.ms/3ybsw66

With an Early Win, Korda Advances His Father’s ‘Half-Crazy’ Plan

By BY BEN ROTHENBERG from NYT Sports Petr Korda has long envisioned greatness for his children, the pro golfers Nelly and Jessica and the tennis pro Sebastian, who won his first-round match at Wimbledon.https://nyti.ms/3A4TmyG

It’s Novak Djokovic’s Wimbledon. Don’t Roll Your Eyes.

By BY KURT STREETER from NYT Sports The fiery star’s march toward history could force his detractors into an uncomfortable position: giving him his due.https://nyti.ms/3xxU7OP

For Novak Djokovic, Two Down and Two, Maybe Three, to Go

By BY CHRISTOPHER CLAREY from NYT Sports He has won the Australian and French Opens but a Grand Slam won’t be easy. He must defend Wimbledon. Then there’s the U.S. Open. And don’t forget about the Olympics.https://nyti.ms/3wpOHoJ

Why the Grand Slam Tournaments Risked Playing Hardball With Naomi Osaka

By BY MATTHEW FUTTERMAN from NYT Sports Leaders in the game noted that Osaka’s decision to bypass news conferences came as major media organizations had been cutting back on tennis coverage for years, a troubling dynamic for a sport that battles for exposure.https://nyti.ms/3vLGQBF

Naomi Osaka Fined $15,000 for Skipping News Conference

By BY CHRISTOPHER CLAREY from NYT Sports Osaka won her opening match at the French Open, but was warned that she risked escalating penalties, including default, if she failed to fulfill her media obligations.https://nyti.ms/34xCQZI

The Australian Open Promised Lessons for Pandemic Sports. Just Not These Ones.

By BY MATTHEW FUTTERMAN from NYT Sports The goal was to hold a major international sports event without putting public health at risk. Mission accomplished, but pulling it off presented major, unforeseen challenges and many sleepless nights.https://nyti.ms/3qI5qkr

Medvedev’s Australian Open Loss Shows the Men’s Tennis Gulf Is Still Strong

By BY KAREN CROUSE from NYT Sports The players at the top, starting with Novak Djokovic, have yet to be significantly challenged by the new generation.https://nyti.ms/2ZD5I08

Novak Djokovic Wins Third Straight Australian Open Title

By BY MATTHEW FUTTERMAN from NYT Sports The victory for the top-ranked Djokovic, in three sets over the fourth-ranked Daniil Medvedev of Russia, gave him his 18th career Grand Slam title.https://nyti.ms/2NGfY4V

A Brief Australian Open Recap: Osaka Beats Brady

By Unknown Author from NYT Sports Naomi Osaka won her fourth Grand Slam singles championship on Saturday by defeating Jennifer Brady 6-4, 6-3 at the Australian Open. Here’s how she did it.https://nyti.ms/3pBNUwP

Australian Open 2021: In Defeat, Jennifer Brady Proves She Belongs

By BY MATTHEW FUTTERMAN from NYT Sports Appearing in her first Grand Slam final, the 25-year-old American started slow against Naomi Osaka, but rallied to go down fighting.https://nyti.ms/3sbUsE1

A Women’s Doubles Champion Says She’s Going Solo

By BY BEN ROTHENBERG from NYT Sports After Aryna Sabalenka and her partner, Elise Mertens, won the Australian Open, Sabalenka said she was breaking up their team so she could focus on her singles career.https://nyti.ms/3bpHxYk

2021 Australian Open: Naomi Osaka and Jennifer Brady Meet for the Title

By BY BEN ROTHENBERG from NYT Sports Osaka, a three-time major winner, and Brady, a first-time Grand Slam finalist, played a memorable semifinal at the 2020 U.S. Open and have history dating back to youth tournaments.https://nyti.ms/3ueMtbm

2021 Australian Open: Naomi Osaka and Jennifer Brady Meet for the Title

By BY BEN ROTHENBERG from NYT Sports Osaka, a three-time major winner, and Brady, a first-time Grand Slam finalist, played a memorable semifinal at the 2020 U.S. Open and have history dating back to youth tournaments.https://nyti.ms/2M4ZHWJ