Football star Lionel Messi gained a new admirer in the form of Serena Williams at the Australian Open, while Angelique Kerber is keeping her cards close to her chest ahead of the women's final on Saturday.
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Australian Open Diary: Messi, Kerber
Lionel Messi gained a new admirer in the form of Serena Williams, while Angelique Kerber is keeping secrets at the Australian Open.
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We look at the talking points from Melbourne.
MESSI HAS A FAN IN SERENA
Preparing for her 26th grand slam final, Serena Williams still had time to reveal her admiration for one of football's greatest players.
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Five-time Ballon d'Or winner and Barcelona star Lionel Messi was the talk of Melbourne after Williams was asked to name an athlete she admired outside of tennis.
"I don't watch a tremendous amount of sport, outside of football, American football," said Williams.
"I like Messi a lot. I think he's a pretty amazing player, footballer."
SECRET KERBER
Grand slam final debutant Angelique Kerber is keeping her cards close to her chest 24 hours out from Saturday's decider against Williams.
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Kerber was training next to the world number one and defending champion at Melbourne Park on Friday.
But do not fret, the German seventh seed made sure not to expose her tactics while the 21-time grand slam winner was in close proximity.
"I was waiting when she went [laughter]," Keber told reporters. "I was practicing my normal practice.
"Of course, then she left the court and then I was starting to practice my game plan."
HINGIS-MIRZA WIN THIRD STRAIGHT SLAM
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Martina Hingis continued her remarkable second-coming as she teamed up with Sania Mirza to win another women's doubles title.
The 35-year-old Hingis and Mirza defeated seventh seeds Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka 7-6 (7-1) 6-3 on Rod Laver Arena for a third consecutive grand slam crown.
Hingis and Mirza, amid a 36-match winning streak, won Wimbledon and the US Open heading to Melbourne.
TOMIC FALLS SHORT IN SEMIS
The Australian Open girl's campaign of Sara Tomic came to an end in straight sets.
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Tomic – the 17-year-old sister of Bernard Tomic – was beaten 6-2 6-3 by fifth seed Vera Lapko on Hisense Arena.
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