The top seed can expect a tougher test against the fast-rising Indian.
Maria Sharapova won the women's crown for her first WTA Tour title.
Ana Ivanovic recovered from an awful start to beat Kaia Kanepi at the Brisbane International on Thursday and remain on track for a glamour meeting with Maria Sharapova.
Maria Sharapova made a powerful start to the new tennis season on Tuesday, crushing Kazakhstan's Yaroslava Shvedova 6-0, 6-1 at the Brisbane International on Tuesday.
A summary of sports events and sports persons, who made news on Friday.
A quick guide into the life of Serena Williams, the GOAT - The Greatest of All Time!
The International Cricket Council will conduct random dope tests during the World Twenty20 Championship in India, which is a regular practice in all ICC events, Tournament Director M V Sridhar said on Thursday. "The random dope tests have been a part of ICC events for a long time. Random dope tests are performed at all ICC events and it is not a new phenomenon," Tournament Director M V Sridhar told PTI. Sridhar clarified that a series of drug scandals that have recently rocked the sporting world, including tennis star Maria Sharapova's revelation, has not prompted the ICC to take this step as dope tests have been in practice since 2011. "I have never said that it is being done because of drug test failures as this has been a practice for a long time," Sridhar insisted. "ICC events have had dope tests since 2011. They (other sports) have their own anti doping agency which performs as ICC is not part of WADA and cricketers have not signed any whereabouts clause. "For the record, ICC had performed random dope tests at 2011 World Cup, T20 editions in 2012 and 2014. There are times when these dope tests are done during training sessions," Sridhar added.
While some say the five-times Grand Slam champion, initially banned for two years after testing positive for Meldonium, has done her time some fellow players are angry the red carpet is being rolled out.
She should win her place thanks to good results, says Radwanska
'The situation with Sharapova could be resolved after April 21 when we meet with the head of the international federation. After that all should be become clear. It is too early to talk about Sharapova competing at the Olympic Games'
Having pulled out of the Brisbane International tournament through injury for the last two years, Maria Sharapova might consider it a victory in itself if she actually gets out on court at the Pat Rafter arena on Monday.
Djokovic continues to lead ATP Rankings
Victoria Azarenka displayed the kind of form that could lead her to a hat-trick of Australian Open titles later this month by brushing aside German fourth seed Angelique Kerber 6-3, 6-1 in the Brisbane International final on Saturday.
As tradition demands the Serb will open play on Centre Court on Monday as defending men's champion but rather than a gentle loosener the 28-year-old faces a real danger in the form of Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber, the world number 33.
Germany's Angelique Kerber came from a set down to outmuscle Caroline Wozniacki 3-6, 6-1, 7-5.
Reigning champions Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams have been named top seeds for the Australian Open starting on Monday.
Serbia's Novak Djokovic is the top seed in the men's draw which includes five-times US Open champion and 17-times Grand Slam winner Roger Federer as seventh seed - his first time the Swiss has been placed outside the top three in a Grand Slam in over ten years.
Top tweets from the second day's play at the French Open featuring John Peers, Novak Djokovic, Caroline Wozniacki and Kristina Mladenovic:
Maria Sharapova will appeal a two-year ban for doping imposed by the International Tennis Federation on Wednesday.
Serena Williams will be favourite for a fourth French Open title if she survives into the second week, former men's champion Jim Courier believes.
The Russian made it to her first WTA Tour final with a 6-3, 7-5 win over Zheng Jie of China.
