Poland's red-hot world number one Iga Swiatek did not drop a game in her Saturday singles match against Romania's Andreea Prisacariu, sending Poland through to November's Billie Jean King Cup finals in decisive fashion.

Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Monday

Williams, who played an exhibition match last December in the United Arab Emirates, where she lost to French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko, said in addition to working on her serve and returns, she needs to manage her time better now that she has her daughter in tow.

Venus Williams and CoCo Vandeweghe won the opening singles matches to give holders the United States a commanding 2-0 lead in their Fed Cup World Group opener against the Netherlands in Asheville, North Carolina on Saturday.

Serena was drawn on Friday to play doubles in a potentially decisive fifth rubber in this week's Fed Cup first round tie against the Netherlands in what will be her first competitive match in over a year. The doubles rubber, which is scheduled for Sunday on an indoor hard court in Asheville, North Carolina, will be played even if one side clinches the best-of-five match series through the opening four singles matches.

Serena Williams will be 'ready to go' when she returns to action this week in the United States' Fed Cup first round tie against the Netherlands, captain Kathy Rinaldi said on Wednesday.

A summary of sports events and sportspersons, who made news on Tuesday.

The year 2016 was officially the Earth's warmest since record-keeping began in the 1880s, the World Meteorological Organization announced on Wednesday.

A day after his State of the Union Address, the US President will visit the Linamar factory in Asheville, North Carolina to announce his measures.

The search giant's home page displays a virtual Moog synthesizer, invented by Dr Robert Moog as a tribute to the greatest pioneer of electronic music.

Another rough decade for the Rust Belt.

The Tar Heel state, home to banking giants Bank of America and Wachovia, placed five metros in the top 25.