Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Yuan Yue of China celebrates during her match against Sloane Stephens

Stephens ousted in Hobart, Ostapenko beats Cirstea

Sloane Stephens's Australian Open build-up suffered a blow after the former US Open champion lost 6-4 3-6 7-6 to China's Yuan Yue in the first round of the Hobart International on Tuesday.

Tennis • 09 Jan 24

Venus Williams serves with Serena Williams at the net in what is expected to be their last Grand Slam doubles appearance

Williams' doubles dream over, Kostyuk avoids handshake

There will be no farewell grand slam title in doubles for Serena Williams after she and sister Venus lost in the first round at the US Open while Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk declined to shake the hand of her Belarusian opponent Victoria Azarenka after their second-round match.

Tennis • 02 Sep 22

Stephens overcomes Keys in first round thriller

Former champion Sloane Stephens overcame best friend Madison Keys' aggressive play to secure a 6-3 1-6 7-6(7) win in the first round of the US Open.

Tennis • 30 Aug 21

Williams (r)will face Greek 15th seed Maria Sakkari in the next round

Williams battles to victory over Stephens

Serena Williams' quest for a 24th grand slam singles title at the US Open remains alive after she came from a set down to defeat Sloane Stephens in the third round.

Tennis • 05 Sep 20

Sloane Stephens is hopeful for the new generation of tennis players

Success of black women will inspire more - Stephens

Former US Open champion Sloane Stephens believes the current cohort of young black women at the top of the game bodes well for the future of African-American involvement in tennis.

Tennis • 04 Sep 20

Sloane Stephens (L) congratulates Johanna Konta

French Open: Konta shocks Stephens to reach last four

Johanna Konta swept aside seventh seed Sloane Stephens 6-1 6-4 to reach her third grand slam semi-final at the French Open.

Tennis • 04 Jun 19

Serena Williams remains on track to add to her haul of grand slams

Serena Williams through to a 13th US Open semi-final

Serena Williams took revenge against Karolina Pliskova to set up a US Open semi-final against Anastasija Sevastova.

Tennis • 05 Sep 18

Sloane Stephens was unable to cope with the soaring temperatures in New York

Defending champion Stephens crashes out of US Open

Defending US Open champion Sloane Stephens crashed to defeat in the quarter-finals, losing 6-2 6-3 to Latvian 19th seed Anastasija Sevastova.

Tennis • 04 Sep 18

Serena (R) and Venus Williams last clashed in last year's Australian Open final

Sister Act 30: Serena and Venus to clash at US Open

Serena and Venus Williams will go head-to-head for the 30th time on Friday after booking their spots in the third round of the US Open.

Tennis • 30 Aug 18

Following her U.S. Open title, Sloane Stephens embarked on an eight-match losing streak.

Stephens braces for U.S. Open title defence

Sloane Stephens has a new swagger in her step since winning last year's U.S. Open but now faces the challenge of showing it in the New York spotlight

Tennis • 25 Aug 18

Serena is seeking an eight Wimbledon victory

Winning return for Serena Williams at SW19

US Open champion Sloane Stephens crashed out in the first round of Wimbledon after a straight sets defeat to Donna Vekic.

Tennis • 02 Jul 18

Simona Halep in action against Garbine Muguruza in the semi-finals

French Open final a 'normal match' for Halep

Simona Halep claims she is under no pressure as she goes in search of an elusive first grand slam title.

Tennis • 08 Jun 18

Simona Halep (r) has never reached the semi-finals before

Top seed Halep sets up semi-final date with Kerber

Simona Halep won nine games in a row to breeze past Karolina Pliskova and set up a mouthwatering Australian Open semi-final against former champion Angelique Kerber.

Tennis • 24 Jan 18

Sloane Stephens (l) of the United States hugs Madison Keys

Stephens determined not to change after US Open win

Sloane Stephens is determined that her unlikely triumph at the US Open will not change her too much and believes she will remain the same home-loving woman she has always been.

Tennis • 10 Sep 17

Stephens overwhelms Keys to win US Open

Sloane Stephens raced to her first grand slam title at the US Open with a one-sided victory over friend Madison Keys.

Tennis • 10 Sep 17

Madison keys (L) will take on Sloane Stephens in Saturday's final

Old friends Keys & Stephens prepare to do battle

Not being able to play tennis has propelled Sloane Stephens and Madison Keys into an unlikely final showdown at the US Open.

Tennis • 08 Sep 17

Sloane Stephens was ranked down at 934 only a month ago

New faces at US open final with Stephens facing Keys

Sloane Stephens will face Madison Keys in the US Open final as the next generation of American talent took centre stage at Flushing Meadows.

Tennis • 08 Sep 17

Coco Vandeweghe ended Karolina Pliskova's run at number one in the world rankings

Vandeweghe continues American domination at US Open

Coco Vandeweghe continued America's dominance of the women's US Open with a quarter-final victory over Karolina Pliskova that ended the Czech's reign as world number one.

Tennis • 06 Sep 17

Sloane Stephens is through to the US Open semi-final

Sloane Stephens marches into US Open semi-finals

Sloane Stephens continued her remarkable comeback by defeating Anastasija Sevastova to reach the semi-finals of the US Open.

Tennis • 05 Sep 17

Marion Bartoli returns against US player Sloane Stephens

Bartoli knocks Stephens out at SW19

Marion Bartoli moved one win away from a second Wimbledon final after a straight-sets victory over Sloane Stephens in a rain-affected match on Court One.

Tennis • 02 Jul 13

Sloane Stephens got the better of Serena Williams today

Stephens stuns idol Williams in Australia

Sloane Stephens stunned childhood idol Serena Williams to reach the Australian Open semi-finals today.

Tennis • 23 Jan 13

Sloane Stephens