Three women in the field have topped the world rankings this season, incumbent Simona Halep and her predecessors Garbine Muguruza and Karolina Pliskova, but none of them have been able to kick on and cement their place as the tour's dominant player.
He leads the men's seedings ahead of defending champ Roger Federer, with Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov seeded third.
Serena Williams remains on course for a record sixth win at the Sony Ericsson Open after beating sister Venus 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 to set up a final meeting with 19-year-old Belarusian Victoria Azarenka. Azarenka defeated Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 in Thursday's other semi-final to book her place in a top tier final for the first time.
The world number two was not invited by team captain Shamil Tarpishchev after she pulled out of last week's semi-final against the United States citing a shoulder injury.
The Russian Fed Cup team were hailed by the local media following their semi-final victory in the U.S. at the weekend, while the hosts were criticised for their choice of venue and the treatment of the visiting captain.
Nadia Petrova and Elena Vesnina beat Wimbledon champion Venus Williams and Lisa Raymond in the decisive doubles contest to give Russia a 3-2 win over the United States in their Fed Cup semi-final on Sunday in Stowe, Vermont.
Ana Ivanovic reached her second semi-final in two weeks by overcoming seventh seeded Italian Flavia Pennetta 6-4, 6-4 at the Linz Open on Friday. Although Pennetta came within two points of recovering the break as Ivanovic served for victory, the Serbian held on to set up a clash with third-seeded Pole Agnieszka Radwanska.
Marion Bartoli had barely registered on the tennis scale before but that did not stop her from destroying Justine Henin's Wimbledon dream.
Rediff.com presents the early surprises at the year's first Grand Slam.
Ana Ivanovic became the second high-profile player to tumble out of the Kremlin Cup in two days after losing to Dominika Cibulkova 3-6, 6-2, 7-6.
Naomi Osaka faces Zheng before possible meeting with Coco Gauff
The unseeded Frenchwoman beat the top seed to set up a meeting with Russia's Elena Dementieva.
Serena Williams is third on the list of female Grand Slam title winners. She is one of only five women, after Maureen Connolly, Margaret Court, Martina Navratilova and Steffi Graf, to hold all four Grand Slam titles at same time.
Former world No. 1 Venus Williams made a triumphant return to tennis, easily beating Ashley Harkleroad in the first round at the Australian Open.\n\n
Here is a player profile, a look at the form and records of American Madison Keys and compatriot Sloane Stephens ahead of Saturday's US Open final (prefix number denotes seeding)
Top seed Ana Ivanovic crashed out of the Italian Open in her first game on Wednesday, losing 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 to Bulgarian qualifier Tsvetana Pironkova.
In the semi-finals of the Luxembourg Championship the teenager will play Italian fifth seed Francesca Schiavone.
After her narrow 7-6, 6-4 defeat by Venus Williams in the Australian Open third round on Saturday, the Indian ace expressed disappointment, lamenting she paid the price for failing to take her chances.
Opportunity knocks for Serena Williams on the grass courts of Wimbledon next week when she faces a diminished field on her best surface at the famous All England Club.
Top seed Amelie Mauresmo, Kim Clijsters and Martina Hingis also revelled in improved conditions following the rain-soaked start to the French Open.
World number one Serena Williams survived a scare to beat China's Li Na 4-6, 7-6, 6-2 on Wednesday and reach the Sony Ericsson Open semi-finals -- where she will meet her sister Venus.
Serena Williams will be 'ready to go' when she returns to action this week in the United States' Fed Cup first round tie against the Netherlands, captain Kathy Rinaldi said on Wednesday.
The Russian beat Italy's Roberta Vinci 6-2, 7-6 in the Toronto Cup on Tuesday.
Images from the matches played on Day 8at the Roland Garros on Sunday
Marion Bartoli stunned top seed Justine Henin to reach the Wimbledon final on Friday, beating the world number one 1-6 7-5 6-1.
Ana Ivanovic will take on Venus Williams in the semi-finals.
A round-up of the fourth day's play at the French Open.
The Swiss needs to win in Paris to join Don Budge and Rod Laver as the only men to hold all four slams at the same time.
The Russian won the Istanbul Cup after her opponent Aravane Rezai retired hurt.
Former World No 1 Kim Clijsters says, "I admire both Serena and Venus because they have a perseverance that is incredible. They're able to do a lot of things that other people can't do, physically and mentally, so I don't doubt that she will come back, I don't doubt it, but it just takes a little bit of time."
The American doubles specialist ended French schoolgirl Tatiana Golovin's amazing Australian Open run with a crushing 6-2 6-0 win in the fourth round.
Maria Sharapova had to workk hard for a 6-0, 5-7, 6-2 win over Israel's Shahar Peer to reach the China Open quarter-finals
The Indian ace defeated wild card Eleni Daniilidou of Germany 7-6(4), 2-6, 6-3 in the first round match on Tuesday.\n\n
After four days of play, the French Open was left without a Williams sister in the draw on Wednesday when former runner-up Venus joined 2002 champion Serena in making an early exit.
The Russian ace was beaten by Nicole Vaidisova in the Family Circle Cup second round.
French Open champion Anastasia Myskina lost to 15-year-old Czech Nicole Vaidisova in the second round of the Family Circle Cup.
Stephens sees success of Black women inspiring new generation.
She will face the Serbian in the first round of Cincinnati Open in Ohio on Monday.
