World number two Rafael Nadal confirmed on Tuesday that he will not defend his US Open crown this year at Flushing Meadows as organisers released the singles entry list for the Grand Slam. Spain's Nadal had said in June that he had reservations about travelling to the U.S. amid the COVID-19 pandemic and he joins women's world number one Australian Ash Barty in skipping the tournament due to COVID-19 concerns.
It was Novak Djokovic's first match this year after his Australian Open hopes were dashed when he was deported following an 11-day saga revolving around his decision not to have a COVID-19 vaccination.
Hewitt defers Hall of Fame induction due to travel restrictions
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.
Novak Djokovic launched his bid to stay on course for a Golden Slam with a clinical 6-2, 6-2 win over 139th-ranked Hugo Dellien of Bolivia on Saturday, as sweltering conditions in Tokyo took a toll on the players on the opening day of tennis at the Games.
Images from Day 4 of the Australian Open in Melbourne on Thursday.
Sania Mirza and her doubles partner Czech Republic's Barbora Strycova went down to Timea Babos of Hungary and Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in straight sets in the final of the Apia International tennis tournament in Sydney on Friday.
Images from Day 8 of the 2021 US Open in New York on Monday.
Angelique Kerber's build-up for next week's Australian Open suffered a setback with the German world number one going down in straight sets to Russian teenager Daria Kasatkina in the second round of the Sydney International.
Garbine Muguruza stormed back into the Grand Slam big time with a 7-5, 6-3 win over Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova to reach her first Australian Open semi-final. Fourth seed Simona Halep advanced to her second Australian Open semi-final with a 6-1, 6-1 demolition of Estonia's Anett Kontaveit in just 53 minutes on Rod Laver Arena.
Rohan Bopanna and Leander Paes crossed the first-round hurdle in the men's doubles with their respective partners while Sania Mirza crashed out of the women's doubles after a first-round loss at the French Open.
Poland's world number four Agnieszka Radwanska breezed past Spaniard Larra Arruabarrena 6-0, 6-2 in the semi-finals of the Korea Open on Saturday to set up a title clash with Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
Former champion Stan Wawrinka battled past Russian fourth seed Daniil Medvedev in five sets to reach the Australian Open quarter-finals with a 6-2, 2-6, 4-6, 7-6(2), 6-2 victory. Fifth seed Dominic Thiem kept his flawless record against Gael Monfils intact with a trouble-free 6-2, 6-4, 6-4 victory on Monday to reach his maiden Australian Open quarter-final.
Svetlana Kuznetsova thrashed defending champion and fellow Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova to win the women's title 6-2, 6-1.
Andrey Rublev and Alexander Zverev clinched the Laver Cup for Team Europe with a 6-2, 6-7(4), 10-3 win over Team World's Reilly Opelka and Denis Shapovalov on Sunday in Boston.
Grand Slam champions Daniil Medvedev from Russia and Belarusian Victoria Azarenka will not be able to participate in the June 27-July 10 tournament.
Greek teenager Stefanos Tsitsipas secured the biggest win of his career when he sent Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic packing in the third round of the Rogers Cup with a stunning 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-3 win on Thursday.
Check out the most shocking upsets at this year's Wimbledon.
The Williams sisters' contribution to tennis was also highlighted by Japan's Naomi Osaka, who reached the second round after demolishing Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
Venus Williams said she was by no means finished yet after swatting aside Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova to march into the semi-finals of the Australian Open for the first time since 2003 on Tuesday.
World number three Karolina Pliskova overcame a stern test to reach the semi-finals of the BNP Paribas Open on Wednesday after edging French Open champion Garbine Muguruza 7-6(2), 7-6(5) at Indian Wells.
Novak Djokovic will begin his Australian Open title defence against Frenchman Jeremy Chardy, while reigning women's champion Sofia Kenin meets wild card Maddison Inglis, following the draw for the year's first Grand Slam on Friday.
Spain's Rafael Nadal was at his dominant best against Pablo Carreno Busta on Saturday, brushing aside his compatriot 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 to move into the fourth round at the Australian Open. Images from Day 6 of the Australian Open at Melbourne Park on Saturday.
A summary of sports events and sports persons, who made news on Sunday
Jana Novotna took Barbora Krejcikova under her wing in 2014 and while the youngster "never tried to imitate" her, the 2018 French Open and Wimbledon doubles champion drew inspiration from her mentor.
She remained philosophical in defeat, however, saying that her expectations coming into the tournament had not been high.
Russian sixth seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova claimed her third title of the year by beating seventh-seeded Australian Daria Gavrilova in the final of the Hong Kong Tennis Open on Sunday.
Pre-tournament favourites Jelena Jankovic and Elena Dementieva suffered shock defeats in the second round of the WTA event in Indian Wells on Saturday.
Serena Williams creates ripples with her latest outfit.
Millman, ranked 80 places above world number 14 Pouille, needed 73 minutes to clinch a 6-3, 6-4 victory and the best win of his career by ranking position.
Former world number one Victoria Azarenka criticised French Open organisers on Sunday for scheduling men's matches in all but one of the night slots so far this year.
Following Iga Swiatek's victory over Coco Gauff in the final, here's a list of French Open women's singles champions:
Polish top seed Agnieszka Radwanska came from behind to beat Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-7 (6), 6-3, 6-4 in the final of the Korea Open in Seoul to bag her third WTA title of the year on Sunday.
Zverev has not lost to Wawrinka in two previous meetings but is not taking the 2014 Melbourne Park champion lightly.
Images from Day 1 at the Australian Open.
Serena Williams showed glimpses of what lies in store for rivals this season
Andy Murray took a step closer to a first title in arguably the toughest year of his playing career, grinding out a 3-6, 7-5 ,6-2 win over Ugo Humbert on Saturday to reach the final of the European Open in Antwerp.
The Czech Republic defended their Fed Cup title on Sunday as Karolina Pliskova became the home team's hero with a starring performance in their thrilling 3-2 come-from-behind victory over Russia.
Indo-Chinese pair were beaten 6-4, 6-4 by second seeds Martina Hingis and Yung-Jan Chan on Friday.
Organisers hope the anxious buildup will be forgotten when the action begins.
