Belgium's Yanina Wickmayer began the defence of her Auckland Classic title with a enthralling, hard-fought 6-3, 6-7, 6-1 first-round victory over former world number one Dinara Safina on Tuesday.
Spirited to the core and unbeaten so far, qualifiers Auckland Aces would be up against a tough challenge when they take on South African side Titans in their second Group A match of the Champions League Twenty20 in Durban on Wednesday.
Maria Sharapova underlined her pulling power on Monday with Auckland Classic organisers confirming they had sold out all of the day sessions for the entire tournament just minutes before she stepped on court for her first round match.
Top seed Maria Sharapova delivered an enigmatic performance but still advanced to the quarter-finals of the Auckland Classic with a 6-3, 7-5 victory over Renata Voracova of the Czech Republic on Wednesday.
The Indian ace and France's Fabrice Santoro beat Jiri Novak and Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic in the final.
Statistical highlight of day three of the opening Test match between India and New Zealand in Auckland on Saturday.
Djokovic saved three breakpoints in stifling conditions to go 5-4 up but lost the opening set in a tough tiebreak as Opelka cranked up his serve
Jack Sock started a new tradition on Thursday, one that the 23-year-old hopes will become a regular occurrence as he carves out a successful tennis career.
Ajaz Patel said helping New Zealand wrap up a 3-0 series sweep in India on Sunday was even more special than his spectacular outing at the Wankhede Stadium three years ago
A round-up of tennis matches played on Tuesday.
Pakistan's tour of New Zealand started in the worst possible fashion, as they were humiliated by Auckland in the opening Twenty20 tour match on Thursday. Put into bat first, Pakistan were bundled out for 90 runs in 17.4 overs as Auckland's left-arm pacer Michael Bates ripped through the top order at Colin Maiden Park. Auckland overhauled the target off 13.2 overs winning the match by five wickets.
Top seed Caroline Wozniacki and former World No 1 Venus Williams ensured Auckland Classic organisers' dream final remained on track with the duo both recording comfortable victories in their first round matches on Tuesday.
Novak Djokovic and Nick Kyrgios enthralled fans on their debut as a doubles team on Monday
Premier League champions Manchester City were drawn on Thursday with Juventus, Wydad AC and Al Ain in Group G for next year's FIFA Club World Cup in the United States.
Gauff split from coach Brad Gilbert and flipped the script weeks later, however, winning her second WTA 1000 title last month at the China Open before reaching the Wuhan Open semis.
Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki and the evergreen Venus Williams won their semi-finals at the Auckland Classic on Friday to set up a final showdown between two former World No 1s.
Lindsay Davenport continued her smooth progress towards another title as she cruised past Sara Errani of Italy 6-3 6-3 to reach the semi-finals of the Auckland Classic on Thursday. The former world number one, in just her fourth tournament back after a year out in which she had her first child, needed just 57 minutes to see off the world number 69.
Aryna Sabalenka is the red-hot favourite at Melbourne Park, where another victory would give her a fourth major title and widen the gap in the rankings to Poland's Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff of the United States.
Top seed David Ferrer will meet former world number three David Nalbandian in the final of the Auckland Open after they both advanced with easy semi-final victories on Friday.
The 22-year-old player has had a solid year, winning the mixed-doubles titles at the French and U.S Open.
New Zealand Test player Henry Nicholls has been charged with violating New Zealand Cricket's code of conduct after being reported by umpires for ball-tampering in a domestic first-class match.
Carlos Alcaraz secured his passage into the fourth round of the Australian Open with a 6-2, 6-4, 6-7(3), 6-3 victory over Nuno Borges.
Belgium's Yanina Wickmayer upset top seed Flavia Pennetta 6-3, 6-2 in the final of the Auckland Classic on Saturday to complete a remarkable return to the courts after having a doping ban overturned.
A semi-final berth seems like a distant possibility for Auckland Aces but the New Zealand side will look to keep itself in the calculations by taming the demoralised Perth Scorchers when the two teams lock horns in their final round-robin Champions League Twenty20 match in Centurion on Tuesday.
Australia registered a tense 12-run win over New Zealand in the second one-day international at Auckland.
New Zealand all-rounder Jacob Oram has been ruled out of the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy One-day International series due to a knee injury, while skipper Daniel Vettori is likely to miss the second ODI against Australia in Auckland on Saturday.
Holidaying or home, she chooses well when standing in front of her wardrobe.
Top seed Juan Martin del Potro will play sixth seeded American Sam Querrey in the Auckland Open final after both advanced to the title match in contrasting style on Friday.
Heading into the final, Gauff had lost the first set in three straight matches and the former U.S. Open champion seemed determined to buck that trend, serving to love in the opening game and breaking early for a 2-0 lead.
Former US Open champion Del Potro fired down 11 aces and did not face a break point during the one hour, 33 minutes match.
Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro served notice of his strong form ahead of the Australian Open when he crushed defending champion Bernard Tomic 6-3, 6-1 in the final of the Sydney International on Saturday.
Serena Williams crashed out of the Auckland Classic after fellow American Madison Brengle pulled off a 6-4, 6-7(3), 6-4 upset in a see-saw second round contest.
David Ferrer underlined his Australian Open threat by thrashing Gael Monfils 6-1, 6-2 to reach the final of the Auckland Open on Friday and remain on course for a fourth title at the tournament.
Former world number four Jelena Dokic's return to competitive tennis ended abruptly on Tuesday when the Australian was bundled out of the Auckland Open in the first round.
Images from Day 2 in the first Test between New Zealand and India, at Auckland, on Friday.
Colin Munro blasted New Zealand's fastest Twenty20 half century to surpass a mark set by Martin Guptill earlier in the innings as the hosts swept their two-match series against Sri Lanka with a nine-wicket win in Auckland on Sunday.
Top seed Agnieszka Radwanska overcame blustery conditions and a dogged Jamie Hampton in the semi-finals of the Auckland Classic on Friday to set up a title clash against Belgium's Yanina Wickmayer.
If there is any actor who emerges from this wreck with his talent unscathed, it is Vijay Raaz, observes Deepa Gahlot.
India players paid for their under-performance in the opening Test against New Zealand in Auckland as most of them saw a drop in their rankings.
India face a daunting task of scoring 407 runs to win the first cricket Test after New Zealand suffered a dramatic batting collapse in the second innings and were skittled out for 105. Images from the third day's play in Auckland on Saturday.
