Tennis: Louk Sorensen has suffered a blow to his preparations for this month’s Australian Open after being forced to retire during his first match in the New Year.

CONOR NILAND’S US Open dream ended in misery last night after he was forced out of the tournament by food poisoning, conceding his first round clash with world number one Novak Djokovic.

CONOR NILAND says he can’t wait to take to the court for his dream showdown against Novak Djokovic in the first round of the US Open.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC hit passing shots and looping lobs with equal perfection to overwhelm Andy Murray 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 yesterday, winning his second Australian Open title and extending Britain’s near 75-year drought in men’s Grand Slam singles.

World number 11 Li Na has progressed to the final of the Sydney International with a straight-sets victory over Serbian teenager Bojana Jovanovski.