Top-ranked Roger Federer continued his dynamic US Open form in near-tropical conditions on Saturday while fourth seed Serena Williams braved the steaming heat to avenge a shock defeat she suffered in January.
Serena Williams applied some coaching tips from older sister Venus in her 6-3 6-2 thumping of sixth-seeded Dinara Safina on Friday that put the American into the finals of the US Open.
IMAGES from the Australian Open on Tuesday.
Tennis stars Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams confessed that they got distracted by some X-rated girl talk during the draw ceremony for the WTA Championship in Istanbul.
Venus Williams' return to action following a five-month injury layoff ended in defeat.
Wimbledon champions Roger Federer and Serena Williams were on course for further success at the All-England Club after booking their places in the Olympic singles semi-finals on Thursday.
The International Tennis Federation (ITF) launched an investigation into Romanian Fed Cup captain Ilie Nastase after allegations the former world number one had made a derogatory comment about Serena Williams' unborn child.
Local favourite Patty Schnyder eased into the second round of the Zurich Open on Tuesday after sixth seed Serena Williams retired injured at 6-0, 3-0 down.
Serena Williams, winner of eight Grand Slam tennis titles, says she has been inspired by her fellow American, boxing great Muhammad Ali.
Paths to the final in the women's singles at the U.S. Open (prefix denotes seedings)
World number one Serena Williams brushed past a weary Conchita Martinez 6-2, 6-2 on Thursday to reach the quarter-finals of the $1.3 million Family Circle Cup
Justine Henin is likely to be favourite to win the Australian Open but Serena said she believes she could retain the trophy.
As Serena Williams sits out a fourth straight Grand Slam, Simona Halep and Karolina Pliskova will join Caroline Wozniacki in a quest for a major breakthrough in Australia.
Serena Williams has already achieved her stated goal of winning a second French Open title this year but the top-ranked American is still not satisfied with her season despite having more fun than ever on tour.
Pliskova was down 5-1 against Williams in the final set before the seventh seed produced a fight-back for the ages to claim a 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 quarter-final win over the American great.
Also making it to the last eight were Svetlana Kuznetsova and Czech teenager Nicole Vaidisova.
Serena Williams has still not kicked post Wimbledon jet lag, but she still managed to beat Chanelle Scheepers 6-4, 6-0 in the quarter-finals of the Stanford Classic on Friday.
The World No 1 tennis star has revealed that she desperately wants to settle down in life and have a family of her own.
