Tennis

Andy Murray had just spent nearly five hours on court in an Australian Open semifinal loss to Novak Djokovic that ran past midnight. Then he found out drug testers were looking for him. “Just a bit annoyed … I know the players go on about it a lot, but they’ve changed these rules with the drug test,” Murray said.

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Novak Djokovic overcome his breathing problems and fatigue to beat his old friend Andy Murray in an almost five-hour Australian Open semifinal Friday night and move into his third straight Grand Slam final. Standing between Djokovic and a record shared by some of the greatest players of all time will be No.

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With singles play on their minds, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Vera Zvonareva nearly forgot to sign up in time for doubles at the Australian Open. The Russians were lucky they got in under the wire. On Friday, they rallied to beat the Italian duo of Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 to win the women’s doubles championship.

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After reaching her first Grand Slam final, the big question for Bethanie Mattek-Sands is what to wear for the occasion? The 26-year-old American, known for her sometimes outlandish fashion sense, and Romanian partner Horia Tecau advanced to the mixed doubles final at the Australian Open on Friday with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Sania Mirza and Mahesh Bhupathi of India.

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Svetlana Kuznetsova and Vera Zvonareva of Russia have captured the Australian Open women’s doubles title, beating the Italian duo of Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 Friday. Kuznetsova, a two-time Grand Slam singles champion, and Zvonareva are both known primarily for their singles play, although each has one previous Grand Slam doubles title with a different partner.

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Petra Kvitova was disappointed to fall short against the more experienced Maria Sharapova in the semifinals of the Australian Open. However, after her breakthrough season in 2011, the 21-year-old Czech put the 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 loss in perspective. “Yes, of course I’m disappointed right now,” Kvitova said Thursday.

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The age gap only two years, the difference in experience is vast between Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka. Sharapova will play her sixth Grand Slam final at the Australian Open on Saturday against Azarenka, who is making her debut. And it isn’t just a major title on the line — the winner will claim the No.

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One round earlier than they usually meet in a Grand Slam, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer still treated it like a final. Nadal outlasted Federer 6-7 (5), 6-2, 7-6 (5), 6-4 in an Australian Open semifinal on Thursday night between longtime rivals who had met in eight major finals. It was the first time they’d played in the semis of a Grand Slam since 2005.

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With a quick wave and a smile, Kim Clijsters walked out of Rod Laver Arena for probably the last time in her professional career on Thursday, leaving behind a crowd that has come to view her as their own. Clijsters, who plans to retire at the end of the season, was adopted by fans when she began dating Australian Lleyton Hewitt in 2000 and the affection didn’t wear off after the couple split…

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Rafael Nadal outlasted Roger Federer 6-7 (5), 6-2, 7-6 (5), 6-4 in an Australian Open semifinal on Thursday night, the longtime rivals playing with the intensity normally displayed when meeting in a Grand Slam final. The stars who met in eight Grand Slam finals were on the same side of the draw for the first time at a major since 2005.

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