Linda Pearce
Australian Open: Past local heroes know what Ash Barty is up against
Pat Rafter. Pat Cash. Mark Philippoussis. Jelena Dokic. Four Australians among those who know what life is like as a singles hope...
Notes from a legend: Rod Laver on Nick Kyrgios and Margaret Court
Watching Saturday night TV in the hotel room from which he can see the lights of the stadium bearing his name, Rod...
Australian Open: Kyrgios busts a gut and forces a showdown with Nadal
Nick Kyrgios threw himself around the court. He fought. Bled. Argued. Took and lost a two-sets-to-love lead and two match points. Threatened...
Australian Open: Say hello to the new, possibly maturing, Nick Kyrgios
With a big hello to Jerry Maguire, Nick Kyrgios had me at “dickhead”. Well, almost. How encouraging to Kyrgios admit he was...
Millman v Federer: The team man fighting to ‘make lightning strike twice’
Roger Federer’s legendary former coach Tony Roche is at the busy National Tennis Centre practice courts, chatting about a player he calls...
Australian Open: Baked in Queensland, the emerging women inspired by Ash Barty
Ash Barty brings more than just a perfectionist’s attitude and inspiring up-close presence when she trains at her Brisbane branch of Tennis...
Australian Open: Hard work and enthusiasm, the cap fits Marc Polmans
For the most obvious hint of Marc Polmans’ quirkiness, look no further than the hat. Legionnaires style, a la Ivan Lendl, it...
Australian Open: The Aussie battlers enjoying their moment in the sun
As James Duckworth sat down with a generous serving of salad and freshly-cooked chook at a window table in Melbourne Park’s impressive...
The GOATs and 18 locals: Linda Pearce’s insider guide to the Australian Open
The Australian Open starts on Monday, with Novak Djokovic and Naomi Osaka as the defending champions and 18 Australians in singles, including...
Australian Open: As the smoke clears, Kyrgios is feeling the positive vibes
Nick Kyrgios is not interested in being mentored by John McEnroe, or a verbal rally with his latest critic, Alexander Zverev. He’s...