MIKE DICKSON IN MELBOURNE: Williams looks increasingly unlikely to win that elusive 24th Major as the years tick by, and the changing of the guard in women's tennis becomes more apparent.

Karl Stefanovic joked that he's been blacklisted from the Australian Open after pulling a stunt with a go-kart during a segment for Today on Friday.

MIKE DICKSON IN MELBOURNE: In the city whose climate is famous for showcasing all four seasons in one day you could hardly keep up with the dizzying shifts at the Australian Open.

MIKE DICKSON IN MELBOURNE: One former tennis prodigy from Florida defeated a present one when fourteenth seed Sofia Kenin brought the run of Coco Gauff to an end.

The Australian gave it his all in a spirited performance but went down 6-3 3-6 7-6 7-6 in four sets against the Spaniard in an emotion-charged showdown.

Ash Barty's face is all over Melbourne endorsing range of products as she moves towards becoming the first homegrown female champion at the Australian Open in 42 years.

She lost her semi-final match to American Sofia Kenin in Melbourne on Thursday, going down in straight sets.

MIKE DICKSON IN MELBOURNE: Barty cradled her 12-week-old niece as she tried to shrug off the disappointment of ending Australia's long wait for a homegrown women's Open winner.

The 23-year-old lost her semi-final match in 40 degree heat to American Sofia Kenin in Melbourne on Thursday, going down in straight sets.

The 23-year-old lost her semi-final match in 40C heat to American Sofia Kenin on Thursday, going down in straight sets.

MIKE DICKSON IN MELBOURNE: Given her story it is hardly surprising that Kenin, 21, exudes hunger. There are shades of her, on court, of Monica Seles and Maria Sharapova.

The Serb was just 16 years old when Federer claimed his first Grand Slam title at Wimbledon in 2003 but now is on the verge of moving to within three Slam triumphs of the Swiss.

The 21-year-old Moscow-born American was victorious over former world No.1 Garbine Muguruza in three sets in Saturday night's final at Melbourne Park.

The Australian Open reached its enthralling climax on Sunday as Novak Djokovic bounced back to beat Dominic Thiem 6-4, 4-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the men's singles final. 

Upon spotting the children playing tennis in the streets without a net, the Serbian star decided to join them. saying afterwards: 'That's how we all started - I invoke these situations.'

World Cup-winning captain Cafu has sensationally claimed that he was thrown out of the Brazil dressing room after their 7-1 thrashing by Germany.

Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone unintentionally told the wife of World Cup journalist Jorge 'El Topo' Lopez that her husband had been killed in a car crash in Sao Paulo on Twitter.

Brazil star Neymar could not hold back the tears as he revealed he had come within a few inches of being paralysed. Neymar, giving his first press conference after being hospitalised with a fractured vertebrae in Brazil’s World Cup quarter-final win over Colombia, also said he disagreed with his agent for calling coach Luiz Felipe Scolari 'a repulsive and conceited old jerk'.

Jose Mourinho believes Lionel Messi is not the greatest player of all time, and not even a man-of-the-match performance in the World Cup final will change that.

Holland winger Arjen Robben has insisted Argentina have zero chance of beating Germany in the World Cup final on Sunday.

Luis Suarez's lawyer has condemned FIFA's punishment of the Uruguay striker for biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini as 'draconian, totalitarian and fascist', and said an appeal will go to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

FIFA's official ticket and hospitality partner MATCH has denied its English director Ray Whelan is 'a fugitive' from Brazilian police.

The 2014 FIFA World Cup final is almost upon us, and adidas have released their advert to mark the showdown at the Maracana.

The Italian official accused last week of favouring Argentina and Lionel Messi has been chosen to referee their World Cup final against Germany.

Louis van Gaal created the little bit of history that he desired by ensuring Holland remained undefeated in normal and extra time with a 3-0 third-place play-off victory over hosts Brazil.

World Cup fanatic Rihanna posted a picture of herself and football legend Pele soon after she landed in Brazil ahead of Sunday evening's final. The Barbados-born singer, who has been tweeting her thoughts on the World Cup throughout the duration of the tournament, met the 72-year-old in Rio de Janeiro.

Brazil's third-place play-off against Holland on Saturday was a chance for a redemption following their jaw-dropping 7-1 semi-final humiliation to Germany.

NEIL ASHTON AT THE MARACANA: Germany have been regarded as the best prepared team at the tournament for some time: Best players, best training ground, best coach, best everything.

MARK WEBSTER: Mike Ingham, a familiar voice on BBC Radio 5 Live for three decades, delivered his last commentary as Germany beat Argentina to win the World Cup on Sunday night. As ever, he found the right words for the occasion.

They are the bits of tournament television coverage we love to watch but which we also dread, and in the battle of the World Cup 2014 montages BBC just shaded it over ITV.

SPONSORED: Lionel Messi and James Rodriguez have lit up the summer with their silky skills and fabulous flair... but back home these football freestylers have impressed on a special pitch in east London.

My wife was told she was not getting enough state pension as she was only getting 39 per cent of my payment when she should be getting 60 per cent.

My husband is terminally ill now. Will I receive any of his state pension when he dies? This is Money's pensions columnist, Steve Webb, explains how the rules work according to a couple's ages.

KIERAN GILL: Amanda Staveley could be about to become the new First Lady of Football. She is thought to have a personal fortune of £115m-plus, and is no stranger to the limelight.

EXCLUSIVE BY MIKE KEEGAN AND CRAIG HOPE: Sources have disclosed that all the necessary paperwork has been lodged, and that the potential deal now awaits their approval.

Mark Jenson is the co-founder of The Mag, now the leading independent website on all things Newcastle United. He speaks out about what it is like to support a team owned by the retail giant.

OLIVER HOLT - CHIEF SPORTS WRITER: Let us disregard the succession just for a moment and agree that if Mike Ashley departs Newcastle United, it will be a reason to celebrate. 

Longstaff, who burst onto the scene when he scored the match-winner against Manchester United, is out of contract on June 30 and talks over a new deal have stagnated in recent months.

The prospective new owners - a consortium backed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund - are on the cusp of tying up a £300m that would rocket the club to the top of the financial charts.

EXCLUSIVE BY MARTIN SAMUEL: The deposit paid by the Saudi Arabian consortium is non-refundable, meaning Newcastle owner Ashley gets richer even if the takeover is not ratified.

England cricket legend Andrew Flintoff has recalled how Newcastle boss Steve Bruce once bailed him out of a sticky situation at a restaurant after his credit card had maxed out.

The versatile left back had impressed for Rennes this season before the coronavirus pandemic halted play, helping guide his side to third in Ligue 1 with 10 matches remaining.

Amnesty's UK director Kate Allen wrote a letter saying there were serious questions to address but Masters insisted 'due process' would take place.

A £300million buyout of the north-east club, backed by the country's public investment fund, is reportedly close to being finalised.

beIN Sports shone a light on Saudi Arabia's involvement in the piracy of matches, highlighting the Premier League's unsuccessful attempts to take legal action against satellite provider Arabsat.

The UK government have been urged by its own members to take an active role in scrutinising the Saudi-led takeover of Newcastle United following calls for the deal to be blocked.

The Human Rights Foundation have become the latest campaign group to write to Premier League chief executive Richard Masters condemning the takeover of Newcastle.

The Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Oliver Dowden has been slammed for failing to intervene in the proposed takeover of Newcastle United by a Saudi-led consortium.

The Saudi consortium's proposed takeover means that they are set to hold an 80 per cent stake in the club, putting American Henry Mauriss' attempt to buy Newcastle on the back burner.

The Saudi Investment Fund's takeover of Newcastle United appears to be edging ever closer, as the COO of the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) has become closely involved with the deal.