Lewis Hamilton has hit back at claims his salary demands are the reason contract talks between him and Mercedes have stalled.

Formula One’s world champion is out-of-contract at the end of the year and he’s been linked with a shock switch to Ferrari as he bids for a record-equalling seventh title.

A new deal with Mercedes could also be signed, however, and reports in Italy claim talks have opened between the Brit and CEO and team principal Toto Wolff over an extension.

Getty Images – Getty

However, the same reports say these talks have stalled because Hamilton is demanding upwards of £46million-a-year to stay with the Brackley-based team.

But in a post to Instagram which he later deleted, Hamilton wrote: “FYI Toto and I have not even spoken about contract yet. Nothing is being negotiated currently, papers making up stories.”

Social Media / Lewis Hamilton

Both Ferrari and Red Bull have moved to tie Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen respectively to long-term deals during Formula One‘s off-season.

But Hamilton, who has spent much of the winter break in America, is unlikely to rush into a decision on his future.

Ferrari confirmed their interest in Hamilton last year, and are set to need a replacement for Sebastian Vettel in 2021 if the four-time world champion’s deal is not renewed.

Hamilton, 35, can match Michael Schumacher’s record of seven titles if he wins the championship again this year.

The Englishman will get his first drive of the new Mercedes he hopes will fire him to further glory in the team’s behind-closed-doors launch at Silverstone on February 14.

The first pre-season test gets under way in Barcelona five days later before Hamilton opens his title defence in Melbourne on March 15.

Source: TalkSport.com Motorsport

Martina Navratilova and John McEnroe have been criticised by Australian Open organisers for staging a protest calling for the name of Margaret Court Arena to be changed at Melbourne Park.

On Tuesday, the two greats of the game – among the fiercest critics of Court for her controversial statements on the LGBTQ community and transgender athletes – took matter into their own hands a day after the 24-time grand slam singles champion was honoured on the 50th anniversary of her calendar Grand Slam.

Getty Images – Getty

Navratilova took part in a legends’ doubles match on the neighbouring 1573 Arena and was afterwards joined on court by McEnroe before climbing into the umpire’s chair to address the remainder of the crowd.

The sound system was quickly turned off but McEnroe and Navratilova then held up a banner reading ‘Evonne Goolagong Arena’.

Goolagong won seven grand slam singles titles during her career and was a trailblazer for indigenous Australian tennis.

The protest did not impress tournament organisers, however.

“We embrace diversity, inclusion and the right for people to have a view, as well as their right to voice that view,” a statement read.

“But the Australian Open has regulations and protocols with respect to how any fan, player or guest can use our facility, the event and the global stage it provides. This is to ensure the integrity of our event.

“Two high-profile guests have breached these protocols and we are working through this with them.”

Navratilova expressed her views in a letter on tennis.com, saying: “When airports, buildings, streets or stadiums are named after particular people, it is done, or at least should be done, to honour exceptional human beings – our heroes.

“Think Muhammad Ali, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King, Billie Jean King, Rod Laver, Rosa Parks. Would it not be appropriate if the Staples Center were renamed as a tribute to Kobe Bryant?

The Staples Center in Los Angeles has seen fans of Kobe Bryant flock to the LA Lakers’ home[/caption]

“Such luminaries excelled in their fields and transcended them; they made a positive contribution to mankind; they led by example. And, perhaps most of all, they were on the right side of history.

“But Margaret Court does not belong in that company or category. Nobody disputes her achievements on the tennis court, and her place in the sport’s history remains as distinguished as it gets.

“Nobody wants to take away or diminish her career, least of all me. Margaret, Billie Jean and Rod were my childhood heroes. I wanted to be like them. So, it pains me to say this, but Margaret Court Arena must be renamed.

“As a worthy replacement, my vote goes to Evonne Goolagong. Evonne is the embodiment of what a role model or hero truly is.

“Her heritage, her success against the odds, her Hall of Fame career and her exemplary life off court, in which she has given so much of herself to so many causes, are all attributes we can celebrate wholeheartedly.”

McEnroe had used his platform on Eurosport to hit out at Court ahead of the ceremony on Monday.

McEnroe is working in a television role at the Open[/caption]

McEnroe described the 77-year-old as the ‘crazy aunt’ of Australian tennis, saying the only thing longer than her list of tennis achievements was ‘her list of offensive and homophobic statements’.

Serena Williams’ third-round loss to Wang Qiang means she is still one slam title behind Court, and McEnroe added: “Serena, do me a favour, get two more grand slams this year and get to 25 so we can leave Margaret Court and her offensive views in the past, where they both belong.”

Tournament organisers had been put in a difficult position over how to mark Court’s anniversary, having honoured Laver last year.

The ceremony went off without incident bar the waving of a handful of rainbow flags. Court was presented with a replica trophy by Laver but was not given a microphone to address the crowd herself.

Source: TalkSport.com Tennis

Another year over, a new one just begun and talkSPORT cannot wait to gorge on a feast of sporting action.

January began with a barnstorming Merseyside derby and February will end with Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury’s mega fight.

In between then, we saw Conor McGregor return to the octagon and win in just 40 seconds in devastating fashion.

Boxing Schedule

All major upcoming bouts and results for 2020 here

January

20 – 2 February: Tennis. Australian Open
24-28: Cricket Fourth Test, Johannesburg: South Africa vs England

28-29: Carabao Cup, semi-final second legs
30: Rugby League Super League season begins

Getty Images

February

1-2: Six Nations begins. Wales vs Italy, Ireland vs Scotland, France vs England
2: Super Bowl
4: Cricket First ODI, Cape Town: South Africa vs England
7: Cricket Second ODI, Durban: South Africa vs England
8-9: Six Nations. Ireland vs Wales, Scotland vs England, France vs Italy
9: UFC 247. Jones vs Reyes
9: Cricket Third ODI, Johannesburg: South Africa vs England
12: Cricket First T20i, East London: South Africa vs England
14: Cricket Second T20i, Durban: South Africa vs England
16: Cricket Third T20i, Centurion: South Africa vs England
16: Women’s FA Cup fifth round
16: UFC Fight Night. Anderson vs Blachowicz
18-19: Champions League last 16: Borussia Dortmund vs PSG, Atletico Madrid vs Liverpool, Atalanta vs Valencia, Tottenham vs Leipzig
22-23: Italy vs Scotland, Wales vs France, England vs Ireland
22: Boxing. Deontay Wilder vs Tyson Fury 2 for WBC heavyweight title
20: Europa League last 32: Copenhagen vs Celtic, Wolves vs Espanyol, Rangers vs Braga, Bruges vs Man United, Olympiakos vs Arsenal
23: UFC Fight Night. Felder vs Hooker
25-26: Champions League last 16: Chelsea vs Bayern, Napoli vs Barcelona, Real Madrid vs Man City, Lyon vs Juventus
27: Europa League last 32 second legs
28: Europa League last 16 draw

There are some huge European games to look forward to in February[/caption]

March

1: Carabao Cup final
1: UFC Fight Night. Benavidez vs Figueiredo
3-6: FA Cup fifth round
7-8: Six Nations. Ireland vs Italy, England vs Wales, Scotland vs France
8: UFC 248
10-13: Cheltenham Festival
10-11: Football Champions League last 16 second legs: Valencia v Atalanta, Leipzig v Spurs, Liverpool v Atletico Madrid, PSG v Borussia Dortmund
12: Football Europa League last 16, first legs
14: Six Nations. Wales vs Scotland, France vs Ireland, Italy vs England
15: Formula One Australian GP

Getty Images – Getty

15: Women’s FA Cup quarter-finals
17-18: Champions League, last 16 second legs. Man City v Real Madrid, Juventus v Lyons, Bayern Munich v Chelsea, Barcelona v Napoli
19: Football Europa League, round of 16 second legs
19-23: Cricket First Test, Galle: Sri Lanka v England
20: Football Champions League and Europa League quarter-final and semi-final draws
20-23: FA Cup quarter-finals
22: Formula One: Bahrain GP
24-25: Women’s Champions League quarter-final, first legs, Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona, Lyon vs Bayern Munich, Glasgow City vs Wolfsburg, Arsenal vs PSG
26: European Championship qualifying play-off semi-finals: Bosnia-Herzegovina vs Northern Ireland; Scotland vs Israel; Slovakia vs Republic of Ireland
27: Football friendlies: England vs Italy, Wales vs Austria
27-31: Cricket second Test, Colombo: Sri Lanka vs England
31: European Championship qualifying play-off finals
31: Football friendly: England vs Denmark

April

1: Women’s Champions League quarter-final, second legs: Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid, Wolfsburg vs Glasgow City, PSG vs Arsenal, Bayern Munich vs Lyon
4: The Grand National
5. WWE Wrestemania
5: Formula One. Vietnamese Grand Prix
7-8: Champions League, quarter-final first legs
9: Europa League, quarter-final first legs
9-12: Golf. The Masters
12-15: Cricket. County Championship first round fixtures
14-15: Champions League quarter-final second legs
16: Europa League quarter-final second legs
18: Snooker. World Championship
19: Formula One. Chinese Grand Prix
25-26: Women’s Champions League semi-final first legs
26: London Marathon
28-29: Champions League semi-final first legs
30: Europa League semi-final first legs

Getty

May

2: Racing. 2000 Guineas
2-3: Women’s Champions League, semi-final second legs
3: Formula 1. Dutch Grand Prix
3: Racing. 1000 Guineas
5-6: Champions League semi-final second legs
7: Europa League semi-final second legs
9: Women’s FA Cup final
9: Giro d’Italia begins
10: Formula 1. Spanish Grand Prix
16: League Two play-off final
17: Final day of the Premier League season
23: FA Cup final
24: League One play-off final
24: Women’s Champions League final
24: Formula 1: Monaco Grand Prix
24: Tennis. French Open begins
25: Championship play-off final
27: Europa League final
28: Cricket. T20 Blast begins
30: Champions League final

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June

2: Football friendly. Austria vs England
4-8: Cricket First Test, The Oval: England vs West Indies
6: The derby at Epsom
7: Football friendly. England vs Romania
7: Formula 1. Azerbaijan Grand Prix
12-16: Cricket Second Test, Edgbaston: England v West Indies
12: Euro 2020 begins in Rome
14: Formula 1. Canadian Grand Prix
15: Tennis. Queen’s Club begins
16: Royal Ascot begins
18: Golf. US Open begins
20: Rugby union. Premiership final. and Pro14 final
25-29: Cricket Third Test, Lord’s: England vs West Indies
27: Tour de France begins
28: Formula 1. French Grand Prix
29: Wimbledon begins

getty

July

3: Cricket First T20i. England vs Australia
5: Formula 1. Austrian Grand Prix
5: Cricket Second T20i. England vs Australia
7: Third T20i. England vs Australia
11: Cricket First ODI. England vs Australia
14: Cricket Second ODI. England vs Australia
16: Cricket Third ODI.  England vs Australia
16: The Open begins
17: Cricket. The Hundred begins
18: Rugby league Challenge Cup final
19: Silverstone. British Grand Prix
24 The Olympic Games begin
30-Aug 3: Cricket First Test. England v Pakistan

Getty Images – Getty

August

2: Formula 1. Hungarian Grand Prix
7-11: Cricket Second Test. England vs Pakistan
14: Cricket The Hundred men’s final
14: Cycling Vuelta a España begins
20-24: Cricket Third Test. England vs Pakistan
23: WWE Summerslam
25: Paralympic Games begin
26: Athletics. European Championship begins
29: Cricket First T20i. England vs Pakistan
30: Formula 1. Belgian Grand Prix
31: Cricket Second T20i. England vs Pakistan
31: Tennis US Open begins

September

2: Cricket Third T20i. England vs Pakistan
3: Nations League begins
6: Formula 1. Italian Grand Prix
10: Cricket First ODI. England vs Ireland
12: Second ODI. England vs Ireland
15: Third ODI, The Oval: England v Ireland
20: Formula 1. Singapore Grand Prix
22-25: Cricket County Championship ends
25: The Ryder Cup begins
27: Formula 1. Russian Grand Prix

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October

10: Super League grand final
18-24: Cricket T20 World Cup begins
25: Formula 1. United States Grand Prix
26-30: Cricket T20 World Cup

November

1: Formula 1. Mexico Grand Prix
1: Cricket T20 World Cup
4-7: Cricket T20 World Cup
11: Cricket T20 World Cup semi-final
12: T20 World Cup semi-final
15: Cricket T20 World Cup final in Melbourne
15: Formula 1. Brazilian Grand Prix
23: Tennis. Davis Cup finals
29: Formula 1. Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

December

13: PDC World Darts Championship
26: Racing. King George IV Stakes
*BONUS! World’s Strongest Man is on the telly

Source: TalkSport.com Motorsport

Coco Gauff stunned Naomi Osaka to reach the fourth round of the Australian Open, while Serena Williams was sent crashing out of the tournament.

The 15-year-old Gauff has already made headlines around the world but none of her achievements so far could compare to this as she took apart the defending champion in straight sets.

Getty Images – Getty

Gauff, who won just three games against Osaka when they met at the US Open last summer, was rock solid and took advantage of a error-strewn display from her opponent to win 6-3 6-4.

The American is the youngest player to beat a top-five ranked opponent since Jennifer Capriati toppled Gabriela Sabatini at the 1991 US Open.

“Two years ago I lost first round in juniors, and now I’m here. This is crazy,” said the teenager.

“I was just telling myself one point at a time and keep fighting because you never know what happens on this court.

“I’m on Rod Laver Arena, I can’t believe this.”

While it was a memorable day for Gauff, the current superstar of women’s tennis – Serena Williams – saw her hopes of a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam singles triumph ended by Wang Qiang at the third round stage.

Getty Images – Getty

When they met at the US Open last summer, Wang won just one game and 15 points, but it was a completely different story this time as the 27th seed claimed a 6-4 6-7 (2) 7-5 victory.

It would have been fitting had the 38-year-old Williams finally moved level with Margaret Court in Melbourne as the tournament marks the 50th anniversary of her calendar Grand Slam.

However, she made 56 unforced errors compared to her opponent’s 20.

The shock defeat was Williams’ earliest exit at the tournament in 14 years.

Getty Images – Getty

“I just made far too many errors to be a professional athlete today,” she conceded.

“If we were just honest with ourselves, it’s all on my shoulders. I lost that match.

“It’s not about the tournament, it’s just like I can’t play like that. I literally can’t do that again. That’s unprofessional. It’s not cool.”

Caroline Wozniacki’s career, meanwhile, ended with a loss to Ons Jabeur, who made her own Grand Slam breakthrough with a 7-5 3-6 7-5 victory.

The former world number one announced last month that the Australian Open, the scene of her greatest triumph when she broke her grand slam duck in 2018, would also be the stage for her professional farewell at the age of 29.

Getty Images – Getty

“There’s a lot of emotions, a lot of things I can’t compartmentalise now,” said the Dane.

“A lot of excitement. A little sadness. Flashbacks to since I was a kid to this moment.

“The fact that it’s gone so quick but at the same time it feels like I’ve been out here for a long time. Players coming up to me and congratulating me. Just feeling the love from everyone has been very special.”

Wozniacki had staged a trademark fightback to beat Dayana Yastremska in the second round and looked like she might do the same when she recovered from 0-3 in the deciding set.

But Jabeur, the first Arab woman to make the last 16 at a slam, had not read the script and Wozniacki pushed a forehand long on the first match point.

In a tearful post-match interview, she made a joke about the shot that has been her major weakness, saying: “I think it was only fitting that my last match would be a three-setter, a grinder, and that I would finish my career with a forehand error.”

In the men’s side of the draw, Novak Djokovic produced a masterful serving performance to defeat Yoshihito Nishioka 6-3 6-2 6-2.

The defending champion hit 17 aces and lost just eight points on serve during the match, seven of them in the third set.

Source: TalkSport.com Tennis

Serena Williams will have to wait for that record-equalling Grand Slam as Wang Qiang stunned her in the third round of the Australian Open.

The shock defeat was her earliest exit at the tournament in 14 years.

When they met at the US Open last summer, Wang won just one game and 15 points, but it was a completely different story this time as the 27th seed claimed a 6-4 6-7 (2) 7-5 victory.

It would have been fitting had the 38-year-old Williams finally moved level with Margaret Court in Melbourne as the tournament marks the 50th anniversary of her calendar Grand Slam.
However, she made 56 unforced errors compared to her opponent’s 20.

Getty Images – Getty

Williams won her first tournament in three years in Auckland earlier this month and arrived in Melbourne with a determined intensity that seemed to indicate she was ready to put four recent grand slam final losses behind her[/caption]

“I just made far too many errors to be a professional athlete today,” she said.

“If we were just honest with ourselves, it’s all on my shoulders. I lost that match. It’s not about the tournament, it’s just like I can’t play like that. I literally can’t do that again. That’s unprofessional. It’s not cool.”

Caroline Wozniacki’s career, meanwhile, ended with a loss to Ons Jabeur, who made her own grand slam breakthrough with a 7-5 3-6 7-5 victory.

The former world number one announced last month that the Australian Open, the scene of her greatest triumph when she broke her grand slam duck in 2018, would also be the stage for her professional farewell at the age of 29.

Getty Images – Getty

“There’s a lot of emotions, a lot of things I can’t compartmentalise now,” said the Dane.

“A lot of excitement. A little sadness. Flashbacks to since I was a kid to this moment.

“The fact that it’s gone so quick but at the same time it feels like I’ve been out here for a long time. Players coming up to me and congratulating me. Just feeling the love from everyone has been very special.”

Wozniacki had staged a trademark fightback to beat Dayana Yastremska in the second round and looked like she might do the same when she recovered from 0-3 in the deciding set.

But Jabeur, the first Arab woman to make the last 16 at a slam, had not read the script and Wozniacki pushed a forehand long on the first match point.

In a tearful post-match interview, she made a joke about the shot that has been her major weakness, saying: “I think it was only fitting that my last match would be a three-setter, a grinder, and that I would finish my career with a forehand error.”

At her press conference later, she added: “Throughout the match there were a couple of times where I was like, ‘Shoot, this could be my last one’. It was just like, ‘I don’t want it to be the last one, I want to be out there fighting’.

“I fought like my life depended on it. I think the result today doesn’t matter to me as much as the way that I fought, that I gave it everything. I wanted to be out there. I did everything. Throughout my career, that’s what I’m known for.”

Source: TalkSport.com Tennis

Venus Williams succumbed to teenage starlet Coco Gauff once again in the first round of the Australian Open in Melbourne.

The 15-year-old’s success in the first round at Wimbledon last summer thrust her into the realms of global superstardom.

AFP or licensors

With Gauff now a top 100 player – and 39-year-old Venus having been a doubt for the tournament with a hip injury – it was far less of a surprise to see the teenager come through 7-6 (5) 6-3 under the roof on Margaret Court Arena.

The young American’s achievements should certainly not be taken for granted, though, and she showed maturity well beyond her years to battle through after nerves kicked in during the first set.

Gauff led 5-3 and had three sets points, while a 5-2 lead in the tie-break also disappeared, but a missed backhand volley from Venus at 5-6 helped her young opponent over the line in the opener.

There were no wobbles in the second, and Gauff said: “That was really difficult, she played really well. I was really nervous for today’s match. I was a bit shocked, I’m sure everybody was shocked, when they saw that draw but I’m really glad to get through it.”

Getty Images – Getty

Elsewhere, Serena Williams began her campaign in emphatic fashion with a 6-0 6-3 victory over 18-year-old Russian Anastasia Potapova.

The 38-year-old is making her latest bid to equal Margaret Court’s record of 24 grand slam singles titles having lost in four finals since returning to the tour nearly two years ago after the birth of daughter Olympia.

Serena appears particularly determined to make this the one, and she said: “I think it’s factored a lot into my game, and now it’s just more or less about doing the best that Serena Williams can do.

“Margaret Court was a wonderful, great champion. And now how great is Serena Williams? That’s it. That’s kind of what I have been thinking about the last couple of weeks and months. It definitely helps me relax a lot.”

Source: TalkSport.com Tennis

Andy Murray isn’t taking part in this year’s Australian Open but there are still plenty of British players who have gained direct entry into the main singles draws.

Although it could be a blessing in disguise for Murray as this year’s championships are set to be a struggle for all involved.

Getty Images – Getty

Due to the ongoing wildfires the air quality is clearly not as good as it should be, and it badly affected players during qualifying this week, with one – Dalila Jakupovic – even pulling out of her qualifier as she was struggling to breathe properly.

However, the show must go on and below are six Brits you should look out for Down Under.

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Dan Evans

He had to qualify in Melbourne last year and shows what an impressive 12 months he’s had that he goes into this year’s tournament at a career-high ranking of 33.

With his year-long drugs ban now firmly behind him, Evans has added reliability to his obvious talent and competitive grit and remains both a compelling player to watch and one capable of stand-out wins.

Evans led Britain brilliantly at the ATP Cup and enjoys the conditions in Melbourne, reaching the fourth round in 2017, where he claimed the best win of his career against Marin Cilic.

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Cameron Norrie

Left out the British team for the Davis Cup finals, Norrie played as the number two behind Evans at the ATP Cup and came away with two victories, albeit against low-ranked players.

The 24-year-old left-hander progressed well last season as he reached his first ATP Tour final in his home city of Auckland and broke into the world’s top 50 for the first time, finishing the year at 53.

This will be Norrie’s second appearance in the main draw at Melbourne Park. He lost to American Taylor Fritz on his debut last year.

Getty Images – Getty

Kyle Edmund

Having drawn the line under a hugely disappointing 2019, Edmund can hopefully look ahead to what is to come this year with optimism.

Edmund has a new coach in experienced Argentinian Franco Davin and no ranking points to defend until the end of February, which should help him push back towards at least the top 50.

His performances helped Britain get to the Davis Cup semi-finals in November, showing glimpses of a player perhaps potentially even better than the one who made the last four in Melbourne in 2018 and reached the world’s top 15.

Getty Images – Getty

Johanna Konta

She will hope to carry on her brilliant Grand Slam run having reached at least the quarter-finals at the last three tournaments.

However, Konta has not won a match since beating Karolina Pliskova in the fourth round of the US Open in early September, having subsequently called time on her season to address a nagging knee injury.

It remains an issue, and Konta’s only warm-up match was a defeat by Barbora Strycova in Brisbane, but the 28-year-old Sydney native loves the Australian conditions and a high seeding will help with the draw.

AFP

Heather Watson

Having initially been just outside the ranking cut-off, withdrawals allowed Watson to make it into the main draw for a ninth straight year.

Last season was largely disappointing for her, with a first-round loss to Petra Martic in Melbourne part of an eight-match losing streak.

But Watson finished the year by reaching a fourth WTA Tour final in Tianjin and remains a player capable of strong results.

Watson’s best performance in Melbourne came in 2013, where she reached the third round.

Getty Images – Getty

Katie Boulter

The 23-year-old from Leicestershire is currently ranked down at 317 but has entered what will be her first Grand Slam for a year using a protected mark of 85.

Boulter produced one of the best wins of her career against Ekaterina Makarova in the first round in Melbourne last year but a back injury – suffered in helping Great Britain to their historic Fed Cup victory over Kazakhstan in April – ended up ruling her out for more than six months.

It is a long way back up the rankings but Boulter has a big game and a strong mentality.

Getty Images – Getty

Source: TalkSport.com Tennis

Australia’s horrific bushfires have taken their toll on this year’s Australian Open with one player collapsing on court during a qualifying match.

Dalila Jakupovic went over when playing against Switzerland’s Stefanie Voegel and was helped off the court in Melbourne with breathing difficulties.

The Slovenian was in a good position to win the match but had to withdraw due to being unable to cope with the conditions any longer.

Twitter @ESPNAusNZ

Twitter @ESPNAusNZ

Twitter @ESPNAusNZ

Twitter @ESPNAusNZ

Twitter @ESPNAusNZ

The 28-year-old later said she was ‘sad and angry’ after recovering and admitted to feeling ‘scared’ as she struggled to breathe.

She said: “It was really bad. I never experienced something like this and I was really scared. I was scared that I would collapse.

“That’s why I went on the floor. Because I couldn’t walk any more. I’ve never had asthma before.

“I think it was not fair because it’s not healthy for us. I was surprised. I thought we would not be playing today.

“We don’t have much choice. If we don’t go on the court, maybe we get fined. It would maybe have been better to wait to see if tomorrow is better. They still have time, there is no rush.”

Tennis Australia insist its on-site experts had declared the playing environment at Melbourne Park safe enough.

Other players had issues including Canada’s Eugenie Bouchard, who left the court during a match against Chinese player You Xiaodi after complaining of a sore chest.

Bouchard returned to play the final set following the medical timeout and went on to win 4-6 7-6 6-1.

Practice sessions were temporarily suspended for the tournament early on Tuesday due to haze caused by the fires.

A statement from Australian Open organisers read: “Further decisions will be made based on onsite data, and in close consultation with our medical team, the Bureau of Meteorology and scientists from EPA Victoria.

“As always the health and safety of our players, our staff and our fans is our priority.”

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British no.6 Liam Broady, who lost 6-3 6-0 to Belarus’ Ilya Ivashka, was another who struggled with the conditions.

Broady said: “I would like to think I am properly fit at the moment and after four games I was absolutely gassed.

“At 6-3, 3-0 down, when you are supposed to be relatively fresh, I was bent double and gasping for air. My fitness is one of the best parts of my game but I definitely didn’t feel great.

“This morning it was obviously pretty bad. I warmed up and then I was most surprised by how bad it still was when I was walking out to the court.

“I had been inside from 10 o’clock for three hours and, because they had decided to go ahead, I thought it would have cleared up a lot. You can hardly see the city buildings over there. It is pretty bad.”

Maria Sharapova and German Laura Siegmund also abandoned their matches in the second set while competing at nearby exhibition tournament in Kooyong due to conditions.

Australia legend Shane Warne opens up on bushfires as baggy green cap sells for $1m to help cause

The wildfires have been raging for months in both Victoria, where Melbourne is located, and the neighbouring state of New South Wales, leading to Victoria’s Environment Protection Authority warning air quality in the state would range from moderate to hazardous.

Tournament director Craig Tiley said last week he was hopeful the tournament would go ahead but vowed to closely monitor the air quality.

He said: “We have committed substantial extra resources to analysis, monitoring and logistics to ensure the health and safety of all players, staff and fans throughout the summer and have no other plans to move events (following the cancellation of an event in Australia’s capital Canberra).

“Assessing the likelihood of smoke-induced interruptions is a bit like how we treat heat and rain.

“We have experts who analyse all available live data as specific to our sites as possible and consult regularly with tournament officials and, in the case of heat and smoke, medical experts.

“We have access to real-time monitoring of air quality at all of our venues and are working closely with medical personnel and local experts onsite to ensure we have the best possible information available to make any decisions regarding whether play should be halted at any point.

“The health of players, fans and staff is a priority at all times and we will continue to make these decisions with that in mind.”

The Australian Open tournament proper is due to start on Monday January 20.

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Source: TalkSport.com Tennis

Lewis Hamilton has donated more than £260,000 to support fire and animal rescue services working in the Australian bushfire crisis.

The Formiula One champions is concerned about the fires’ devastating effect on wildlife and the continuing impact of climate change.

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Huge parts of south-east Australia have been ravaged by fires with 27 people killed and more than 2,000 homes destroyed.

The 35-year-old Mercedes driver wrote on Instagram: “It saddens me deeply to know that over 1 billion animals in Australia died a painful death, no way out, not their fault.

“My love of animals is no secret and I can’t help but grieve for the defenceless animals thought to have died so far, pushing certain species closer to extinction.

“I’m lucky enough to visit Australia often and I know first-hand how beautiful the country is. Keep fighting Australia. I’ve spent some time speaking to people in Australia who are working at the heart of this and I’m filled with admiration for everything they are doing.