John McEnroe arrived in Wimbledon last night amused at the controversy he claims to have unwittingly caused with his comments that reigning women’s champion Serena Williams would not have a chance against any of the top 700 male players.

Andy Murray suffered his eighth grand slam final defeat as Novak Djokovic finally took the French Open title and with it his place in the highest pantheon of tennis.

Tennis player Novak Djokovic spoke rashly on social media. He should have followed the example of the humorous Garda road-safety Twitter feed, writes Terry Prone.

Top seed Serena Williams powered into the semi-finals of the Australian Open on Wednesday, but was denied a showdown with elder sister Venus in Melbourne.

Will Ferrell is set to star in tennis drama 'Match Maker'.

The perception that male ice skaters are gay — and the hostility behind it — is the sport’s dirty little secret, writes Abigail Jones

I know how galling this all must be, hearing about the big North American freeze and the tremors of polar madness it’s firing across the ocean to stir things up around your way.

Barack Obama has sent Russia a clear message about its treatment of gays and lesbians with his choices to represent the United States at the Sochi Winter Olympics.

The greatest woman-beats-man match in tennis history could have been an elaborate mob fraud, according to a new report from ESPN.

Wimbledon champion Serena Williams has accepted Andy Murray’s invitation for a showdown but admits it would be a struggle to win just one game against the Scot.

President Barack Obama was counting on former president Bill Clinton and Bruce Springsteen, top surrogates for his campaign, to carry his message.

Barack Obama is counting on former President Bill Clinton and Bruce Springsteen, top supporters, to carry his message. But he also has enlisted an army of A-list performers and public figures – from Lady Gaga to Billie Jean King, from Jay-Z to Crosby, Stills and Nash.

Augusta National’s decision to have women members for the first time inevitably means the spotlight will fall even more now on the Royal and Ancient Club, golf’s ruling body for most of the world.

Maria Sharapova has hit out at Gilles Simon as women tennis players cranked up the criticism of the Frenchman over his claim that men deserve to be paid more because their game is more entertaining.

Maria Sharapova hopes she can emulate women’s tennis pioneer Billie Jean King and set an example for the players who will follow in her footsteps as she once again sits on top of the world.

Venus Williams has been knocked out in the fourth round of Wimbledon by Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova 6-2, 6-3.

SERENA WILLIAMS is determined not to enjoy her incredible tennis success too much – so she can have more of it.

Former President Mary Robinson is to receive America’s Presidential Medal of Freedom from Barack Obama today.

FORMER President of Ireland Mary Robinson has hit back at pro-Israeli critics of her selection as recipient of a US Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Serena Williams insists she does not think of herself as among the greats of the sport despite picking up her 11th grand slam singles title at Wimbledon.

NEW Wimbledon champion Serena Williams is already thinking about winning her 12th grand slam singles title to draw level with her idol Billie Jean King.

Elton John said early today that he still found it hard to believe he had become a Broadway hitmaker.

US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice has revealed her gruelling fitness regime in an interview in which she describes former basketball superstar Michael Jordan as her all-time “most beautiful athlete”.

MARIA SHARAPOVA got high marks for the eloquence of her victory speech after winning the Australian Open on Saturday. Ditto on the preparation that got her there.

Elton John celebrated his 60th birthday with a host of celebrity friends, including Michael Stipe, Pierce Brosnan, Ozzy Osbourne and Bette Midler, at a New York City cathedral on Saturday night.

Sandra Bullock and Queen Latifah were named Women Of The Year at the American edition of Glamour magazine's annual awards on Monday.

ROGER FEDERER and Tiger Woods broke open two bottles of Dom Perignon and toasted — to a growing friendship, greatness and Grand Slams.

Maria Sharapova claimed her second grand slam title with superb straight-sets win over favourite Justine Henin-Hardenne in the US Open final.

HEALTH club owner Next Generation has whittled its suitors down to Whitbread, Esporta and property firm London & Regional, with bids around £200 million (€288.1 million), according to sources close to the auction.

Tennis legend Martina Navratilova missed the chance to break the Wimbledon record of 20 titles after failing to reach the women’s doubles final.

Serena Williams teamed up with Martina Navratilova in the first round of the Toyota Princess Cup, in Tokyo.

SERENA plumped for Catwoman over the Pink Panther on Saturday, but needed no superpowers at all to win the Williams family showdown and steal big sister Venus’s US Open crown.

World number six Monica Seles suffered a shock defeat in the Federation Cup but backed the United States' decision to drop Jennifer Capriati.

Jennifer Capriati has been dropped from the United States' Federation Cup team on the eve of their 2002 World Group first-round game against Austria.

Tennis sisters Venus and Serena Williams have been sued for allegedly backing out of a match against John and Patrick McEnroe that was to be billed as the ‘‘Battle of the Sexes II.’’

Venus Williams counted her blessings and breathed a massive sigh of relief today as she squeezed through to the last 16 of the Australian Open in Melbourne.