Serena confirmed her entry to the tournament she won for a seventh time on her last appearance in 2017.
The 21-year-old Japanese was scheduled to face sixth seed Kiki Bertens after coming through two matches on Thursday in the rain-affected tournament but said she was forced to withdraw due to pain and swelling at the base of her thumb.
Even in her wildest dreams 11th seed Angelique Kerber could not have imagined that by the end of the first week of this year's Wimbledon, she would be the highest ranked player left in the top half of the women's draw.
Some of the biggest surprises so far from the Tokyo Games.
IMAGES from Day 2 of the 2022 French Open at Roland Garros in Paris on Monday.
IMAGES from the US Open matches played on Day 1 at the Flushing Meadows in New York on Monday.
Time is running out for Serena to reach the career milestone that has become one of the sport's longest running storylines.
With rain having washed out Wednesday's play, Federer along with champion Rafael Nadal and top seed Novak Djokovic all face playing back-to-back matches on Thursday if they want to reach the quarter-finals.
'I'm very privileged to be in the second week of Wimbledon again. This is genuinely one of my favourite weeks of the year so to be prolonging my stay is a lot of fun but I'm looking forward to the challenge.'
Big names and young guns turn up the heat at US Open
The Czech was a player transformed after a medical timeout in the second set and rallied to secure a place in her first Grand Slam semi-final, where she will meet the winner of the clash between Americans Jennifer Brady and Jessica Pegula.
We spotted some celebs from the world of Hollywood, cricket and comedy enjoying some tennis action and here we give a glimpse of them...
Playing in his first competitive singles match on the ATP Tour since August 5, the 20-times Grand Slam champion showed no signs of rust in his second round win against Lithuanian qualifier Ricardas Berankis.
Romania's Italian Open winner Simona Halep, Spain's Garbine Muguruza and US Open semi-final foe Victoria Azarenka of Belarus present a major challenge for Serena Williams at the upcoming French Open.
French Tennis Federation (FFT) President Gilles Moretton described Osaka's action as a "phenomenal mistake".
Images from Day 6 of the 2021 French Open at Roland Garros in Paris on Friday.
Serena Williams showed glimpses of what lies in store for rivals this season
Victoria Azarenka's return to the top has been a long road full of setbacks and challenges but she knuckled down, swallowed her ego and now finds herself back in a Grand Slam final after a seven-year absence.
Asked about the campaign against the Games, Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike said she would work towards a "safe and secure" Olympics.
Dozens of Japanese towns have abandoned plans to host Olympic athletes because of concern they will overburden stretched medical resources amid a fourth wave of coronavirus infections.
Japan has extended a state of emergency in Tokyo and three other areas until the end of May and is struggling to contain a surge in COVID-19 cases
India's Nagal draws world No 128 Bradley Klahn in opener.
Serena Williams was sent spinning out of the Western and Southern Open by Maria Sakkari on Tuesday after the Greek rallied from a set down to beat the 23-times Grand Slam champion 5-7, 7-6(5), 6-1 and reach the quarter-finals.
Looking to improve her claycourt skills, she spent a bit of time at 11-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal's academy.
Images from Day 2 at the US Open played at Flushing Meadows in New York on Tuesday
Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka will join Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic in playing a pre-Australian Open warm-up exhibition
Tennis matches at the Ariake Tennis Park will begin from 3pm local time (0600 GMT) from Thursday, governing body International Tennis Federation said after requests from players who had struggled in the stifling weather.
Halep, who held the WTA year-end top ranking in 2017 and 2018, has not lost a set in her first week at Melbourne Park and was aggressive against Putintseva from the outset.
American tennis player Taylor Fritz and his doubles partner, Tik Tok personality Addison Rae, won the virtual Stay At Home Slam on Sunday as real-life tennis remains on hold because of the coronavirus crisis. The likes of the Williams sisters, Japanese stars Naomi Osaka and Kei Nishikori and the recently retired Maria Sharapova competed as their favourite characters from the world of Nintendo to raise money for charity.
Images from Day 6 of the US Open in New York, on Saturday.
Ferrer, 37, announced earlier in the year he would end his 19-year career at the Madrid Open and prolonged his time on court by a day by beating Roberto Bautista Agut on Tuesday, but was easily overpowered by world number four Zverev.
Images from Day 7 of the 2021 US Open in New York on Sunday.
The United States and Britain had also called for China to provide proof of Peng's whereabouts.
With no standout favourite in the women's field, it could provide an ideal stage for American Serena Williams to finally end her quest for an elusive 24th Grand Slam title.
Images from Day 7 of the 2020 US Open in New York on Sunday.
Pole says she feels much better prepared to handle the pressure of her latest career milestone.
Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova stands on the threshold of finally delivering the title long predicted
Japan's Nishikori was the first man representing an Asian country to break through to a Grand Slam final at the 2014 tournament before Marin Cilic stopped him in the title match.
'We love our sport but it puts everything into perspective'
IMAGES from Day 5 of the 2020 US Open in New York on Friday.
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