Second-seeded Serbian Jelena Jankovic and third seed Sara Errani of Italy were both bundled out of the Family Circle Cup in Charleston on Friday in gripping quarter-final upsets.
Women's tennis's biggest names still remaining at the US Open take centre stage on Sunday with Grand Slam winners Maria Sharapova, Venus Williams, Garbine Muguruza and Petra Kvitova all appearing on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
World No 2 Li Na finally made her first appearance at the Sony Open on Sunday, taming Madison Keys in an unsteady effort while three-time champion Venus Williams was also made to work under a blazing Florida sun for her spot in the fourth round.
Thanks to rain, Victoria Azarenka, Venus Williams and 20 other women at the Olympics who have yet to complete a singles match could end up on court six consecutive days if they reach the gold medal round.
Tennis players and venues stick to strict guidelines aimed at minimising health risks.
Second and third seeds Jelena Jankovic and Daniela Hantuchova were sent spinning from the Amelia Island tennis championship on Friday.
Venus Williams recovered from a slow start to beat Ukraine's Yuliana Fedak 7-5, 6-2 in the first round in Miami.
China's Zheng Qinwen is bidding to become the fourth woman to win Olympic gold and the US Open title in the same year
Roger Federer, Venus Williams and Jelena Jankovic all ran into a spot of bother on Monday before emerging unscathed to kick-start their French Open campaigns.
Maria Sharapova swept aside any fears about her fitness with a ruthless 6-0, 6-0 victory over Olga Puchkova on Monday as a trio of top women progressed with ease on the first morning of the Australian Open.
But matches between Venus and Serena are captivating, highly charged yet often disappointing affairs.
She will meet Anastasia Myskina or Venus Williams who were playing their semi-final later on Saturday.
Venus and Serena Williams served their way into the U.S. Open quarter-finals with impressive straight-sets victories Sunday, setting up a possible clash between the American sisters in the final four.
It was Venus's turn to write the Williams plot line at Wimbledon on Wednesday as she survived a gripping three-set battle with 40-year-old Japanese Kimiko Date-Krumm.
Rain played spoilsport at the French Open for the second day running when a torrential downpour stopped the action for a second time on Monday.
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga will make his Hopman Cup debut in Perth at the end of the year in what organisers boast will be the strongest ever field assembled for the mixed international tournament.
While 40 have tried only nine times have both Williams sisters been beaten by the same player at the same tournament and that list reads like a Grand Slam Hall of Fame with names that include; Steffi Graf, Martina Hingis, Lindsay Davenport, Justine Henin and Kim Clijsters, who like Pliskova, pulled the double off at the US Open.
A round-up of the important matches at Wimbledon on Friday.
Roger Federer moved a step closer to an elusive Olympic singles gold after reaching the final eight but Israel's Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram ended the World No 1's hopes of repeating his Beijing doubles success.
Time is running out for Serena to reach the career milestone that has become one of the sport's longest running storylines.
One magical point from Roger Federer capped an exhilarating first day at the US Open on Monday as a host of former champions each took their turn in the Flushing Meadows spotlight.
IMAGES from Day 3 of the US Open in New York on Wednesday.
World number one Victoria Azarenka's 26-match winning streak finally came to an end on Wednesday with a 6-3, 6-3 defeat to France's Marion Bartoli at the Sony Ericsson Open.
Bollettieri founded the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy in 1978. It was bought by the International Management Group in 1987.
Before Serena Williams planted her flag at the Sony Open it was sister Venus who ruled over the Miami hardcourts and the older of the tennis siblings signalled on Friday she was ready to reclaim the throne with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Anna Schmiedlova.
Venues Williams set up a fourth round clash with Australian hope Alicia Molik, while Lindsay Davenport will face Karolina Sprem.
Denis Shapovalov may not be old enough to drink in New York but is quickly becoming the toast of the Big Apple and the 18-year-old Canadian will again have a chance to light up the U.S. Open when he takes on Briton Kyle Edmund.
Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff, are a handful of contenders ready to swoop in
Serbia's Jelena Jankovic crushed leg-weary Caroline Wozniacki to reach the semi-finals of the WTA Championships while American holder Venus Williams reached the last four on Friday without hitting a ball.
'I think war made me stronger and also made me mentally stronger'
Wimbledon champions Roger Federer and Gabrine Muguruza stole the show at the Wimbledon Champions' Dinner in London on Sunday.
Facts and figures about the Wimbledon women's tournament which starts on June 23 in London.
If winning the US Open ever came down to a popularity contest, Kim Clijsters would be roared to victory every time.
Andy Murray sent an ominous warning to Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal about his intentions to win the US Open when he cruised through his first match at Flushing Meadows on Wednesday after Victoria Azarenka sent a shiver through the tennis world when she fainted on court.
