Naomi Osaka ended Victoria Azarenka's dream run to claim her second US Open title in three years with a 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 comeback win on Saturday which cemented her status as the sport's leading light both on and off the court.
World number one Aryna Sabalenka reached the last 16 at the Miami Open when Elena-Gabriela Ruse retired injured on Saturday, while men's top seed Alexander Zverev beat Jacob Fearnley 6-2, 6-4 to reach the third round.
Naomi Osaka has witnessed a huge change in her career after claiming a maiden Grand Slam title in 2018, but the rising star of women's tennis will not be changing her quirky personality in media appearances that has endeared her to so many.
The 21-year-old is looking to become just the 11th woman to claim a third consecutive Grand Slam title.
Osaka's focus has been on racial injustice over the last few months, the 23-year-old has long been a symbol for change in Japan.
'For me, I don't feel sad because I wouldn't even know what I'm expected to feel'
"I feel like I'm more... I wouldn't say confident but I'm more, like, I have inner peace. I don't know. Like zen. I don't really want to use words I don't know.'
The athletes on the US magazine's list have enjoyed sporting success as well as promoting other causes.
Images from Tuesday's action at the Australian Open.
The 23-year-old Pole, who also won the Roland Garros title in 2020, said she was fully aware that perfectionism was a double-edged sword.
French Open champion Gauff is in line for a clash with fellow American Jessica Pegula.
A calm Sloane Stephens picked her shots to perfection to overcome Japan's Naomi Osaka in a battle between the last two US Open champions at the WTA Finals on Monday before top seed Angelique Kerber was upset by Kiki Bertens.
Naomi Osaka continued her stunning run of form with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over 23-times Grand Slam champion Serena Williams in the first round of the Miami Open on Wednesday, the latest big win for the 20-year-old Japanese player.
Aryna Sabalenka took a step closer to a first trophy of the year before her Australian Open title defence begins later this month.
Former world number one Maria Sharapova lost her second consecutive first round match with a 6-4, 6-4 defeat to Japan's Naomi Osaka at the BNP Paribas Open in California on Wednesday.
Serena Williams squandered four match points and blew a 5-1 lead in the decider to fall to seventh seed Karolina Pliskova 6-4 4-6 7-5 in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open.
I have to be two feet in tennis or two feet out.'
Jannik Sinner begins his Australian Open title defence against Nicolas Jarry while women's champion Aryna Sabalenka takes on 2017 U.S. Open winner Sloane Stephens
Serena Williams had to dig deep to fend off Latvian challenger Jelena Ostapenko as she wrapped up Friday's play at the Fed Cup in Seattle with a hard-fought victory that gave the United States a 2-0 advantage. Williams' experience and savvy ways showed in critical moments against the 22-year-old Ostapenko as she prevailed 7-6(4), 7-6(3) in a match that took one hour and 46 minutes.
'I am still hungry for running in the Olympic Games and winning a gold medal, so I still feel fresh every time I wake up.'
Former India batsman Mohammad Kaif said that players in individual sport like tennis should be allowed to avoid media if they are struggling mentally.
Wild card Caroline Wozniacki, another former champion and returning mother, will play 20th seed Magda Linette.
Images from Day 2 of the 2024 Australian Open in Melbourne on Monday.
A trio of tennis moms-Naomi Osaka, Angelique Kerber and Caroline Wozniacki-are poised for comebacks at the Australian Open.
As the fans head toward Flushing Meadows, tennis stars gear up with ground-breaking styles to rule the courts.
Opelka, Kyrgios included in Team World for Laver Cup.
Williams has just one professional tournament remaining before she drops the curtain on her historic career
Defending champion Novak Djokovic will bid for a record-extending 11th title at Melbourne Park and 25th Grand Slam crown overall.
Looking to improve her claycourt skills, she spent a bit of time at 11-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal's academy.
Italian Cocciaretto stuns Pegula in big Wimbledon upset; Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen was beaten by Czech Katerina Siniakova.
All the action from Day 4 at the Australian Open on Wednesday
Images from Day 1 of the Australian Open in Melbourne on Monday.
Images from Day 6 of the US Open in New York, on Saturday.
World number one Naomi Osaka was beaten in her opening match at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Tuesday, losing to France's Kristina Mladenovic 6-3, 6-3 on her return to competitive action after winning last month's Australian Open.
Naomi Osaka's total is the most ever earned by a female athlete in a 12-month period.
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.
Former Australian Open runner-up Petra Kvitova said on Monday she is expecting her first child with husband and long-time coach Jiri Vanek and would miss the year's first Grand Slam which begins in two weeks.
Naomi Osaka settled her nerves and stepped up her preparations for the Australian Open by beating Alize Cornet 6-2, 6-2 to reach the last 16 of the Gippsland Trophy warm-up tournament in Melbourne on Tuesday.
A look at the records of Czech Republic's Karolina Pliskova and Japan's Naomi Osaka before their semi-final match at the Australian Open on Thursday (prefix number denotes seeding):
Already a sporting icon, Osaka's fight for equality has focussed even more attention on her
