For four nights, Melbourne’s infamous ‘alternative place of detention’ for migrants became his abode: no tennis courts, no swimming pool and no leaving

Here are the implications the Australian fires might have on tennis players as they gear up for the first grand slam of the new decade

Pell had been trying to overturn the verdicts and six-year sentence for sexually assaulting two 13-year-old choirboys in the 1990s

Cardinal George Pell, found guilty earlier this year on five counts including oral rape and molestation, will begin his appeal against the convictions

The Vatican finance chief has become the highest-ranked Catholic ever to be sent to trial over historic sex offences

Defending champion Novak Djokovic battled past Rafael Nadal in an epic, five-set Australian Open final which clocked in at five hours and 53 minutes.

Rafael Nadal has once again proved Roger Federer’s Grand Slam nemesis, beating the Swiss great to reach the Australian Open final.

Red Bull’s driver Mark Webber expressed his growing impatience with questions about his personal relationship with team-mate Sebastian Vettel.

Melbourne Rebels coach Rod Macqueen has demanded more aggression from his forwards as the team prepare to meet the Sharks.

The Waratahs gave the Melbourne Rebels a rude welcome to Super rugby on Friday, running in seven tries in a ruthless 43-0 trouncing.

Defending champion Roger Federer enjoyed a record 57th win at the Australian Open on Friday as former winner Justine Henin was defeated.

Rafael Nadal brushed off qualifier Ryan Sweeting on Thursday as women’s favourite Kim Clijsters also sped into the Australian Open third round.

Reigning champion Roger Federer was taken to five gripping sets by French nemesis Gilles Simon on Wednesday.

Venus Williams battled through injury to reach the Australian Open third round on Wednesday as Fernando Verdasco survived a five-set thriller.

Top seed Rafael Nadal was handed an easy win at the Australian Open on Tuesday, as Kim Clijsters humiliated Dinara Safina 6-0, 6-0.

Rafa Nadal opened his Australian Open campaign with a nasty, brutish and quick demolition of Marcos Daniel on Tuesday that ended after 46 minutes.

All rounder Shane Watson conceded Australia had all but lost the Ashes on Tuesday and admitted the side’s abysmal performance in the fourth Test.

England were on the verge of retaining the Ashes after feeble Australian batting left the fourth Melbourne Test at their mercy on Tuesday.

Jonathan Trott posted his third century in five Ashes Tests to take England closer to a historic series victory in the fourth Test against Australia.

Australian skipper Ricky Ponting was fined 40% of his match fee by the ICC on Monday after clashing heatedly with the match umpires.