Rafael Nadal claimed his first grasscourt title for five years.
It was a case of down but definitely not out as a Rafael Nadal kept picking himself off a slippery and dusty Centre Court surface to storm into the Wimbledon semi-finals with a pulsating 7-5, 6-7(7), 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 over Juan Martin del Potro.
Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova is happy to finally play tennis again for fans around the world - even if they can only watch on television. The world number 12 will headline an all-Czech tournament in Prague starting Tuesday without spectators, handshakes or the usual towel service.
'The art of swing bowling should come back. Learning the knuckle ball and all is fine. If you don't know how to swing the ball, everything is waste.'
Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Wednesday
Jana Novotna was a true winner but it was the misfortune of the brilliant Czech, who died on Monday aged 49, to always be recalled for one of sport's most famous and heart-rending meltdowns despite her collection of 100 tennis titles.
Federer, who skipped the entire clay court season after winning the Australian Open and claiming titles at Indian Wells and Miami this year, will next play defending champion Florian Mayer who beat Frenchman Lucas Pouille in three sets.
amiliar names, however, are tipped to take off with the winners' trophies. The following is a list of talking points at the Australian Open:
Three-time Wimbledon champion John McEnroe has advised Rafael Nadal to sack his long-term coach, uncle Toni and 'get a new damn coach' to get back to top form.
Spaniard Feliciano Lopez has not beaten Roger Federer in 13 attempts but he finally got one over him on Tuesday without even needing to lay a glove on the Swiss great.
Sania and Hingis eased to a convincing 6-3, 6-1 victory against the Chinese pairing of Shilin Xu and Xiaodi You in the final to claim their sixth title of the year.
He maintained his unwanted record of never having won a major starting the final round from behind.
Andy Murray was left to rue eight set points that went begging in the first set as he slumped to a shock 7-6(10) 6-2 defeat by Czech veteran Radek Stepanek in the third round of the Aegon Championships on Thursday.
On Sunday the Ukrainian Tennis Federation urged the sport's governing body the International Tennis Federation (ITF) to immediately expel Russia and Belarus from the organisation and ban Russia from team and individual tournaments. Also, athletes from Ukraine and other nations have called on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to suspend Russia and Belarus and ban their athletes from events immediately.
And, since, pictures speak more than words, Rediff.com brings you images from these sporting events and others that made headlines in the week gone by.
"At this point of the season for me, every victory is important, every title means a lot to me. This is not confidence for Wimbledon, this is an important victory for me and I'm happy for that today.
"At this point of the season for me, every victory is important, every title means a lot to me. This is not confidence for Wimbledon, this is an important victory for me and I'm happy for that today.
Britain's Andy Murray has reunited with former coach Ivan Lendl as the World number two prepares for another tilt at the Wimbledon title.
Sachin Tendulkar says he did not find it disrespectful that Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova did not know who he was, as she does not follow cricket.
Stan Wawrinka's new union with coaching consultant Richard Krajicek got off to the worst possible start as he lost 6-2, 7-6 (3) to Fernando Verdasco in the first round of the Aegon Championships on Tuesday.
Bookmakers William Hill have the Briton as 15/8 favourite for the 2018 drivers championship, with Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel at 3/1 and Red Bull's Max Verstappen at 10/3.
There is no one more unbeatable in men's tennis than Novak Djokovic when the Serb is at his best, former world number four American Todd Martin said. Reigning world number one Djokovic has already established himself as one of the best ever to play the game and the Serb's Grand Slam haul of 17 is just three behind the 20 that Roger Federer has amassed. The Swiss player will be 39 in August.
Serbian Djokovic, who 12 months ago had elbow surgery, won Wimbledon and the U.S. Open in 2018, before lifting this year's Australian Open crown, to add to his tally of Grand Slam singles titles and reclaim top spot in the rankings.
Rediff.com brings you a selection of images of fans taking to the field of play to make a point or gain attention.
Rafael Nadal, like Roger Federer, Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic, is a great believer in mutual respect. The leading quartet on the men's circuit do not indulge in slanging matches.
Former Wimbledon champion Lleyton Hewitt gave Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov a grasscourt masterclass in a second-round victory at the Aegon Championships at Queen's Club on Wednesday.
World number two and top seed Caroline Wozniacki, runner-up at the south coast event last year, cruised into the semi-finals with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Australia's Ashleigh Barty.
Borna Coric ended Roger Federer's 20-match winning streak on grass, beating him 7-6(6), 3-6, 6-2 in the Halle Open final on Sunday while also bringing to a halt the Swiss maestro's reign as World No 1.
Former English tennis player Virginia Wade has slammed has women tennis players saying that they are bland, muscular, grunting, insular, robots with no personality.
Holder and top seed Novak Djokovic suffered an almighty scare against South African giant Kevin Anderson before bad light halted play with the score tied at two sets all in their fourth round match at Wimbledon on Monday.
Like The Championships at Wimbledon, the big guns took a beating in the 24th edition of the Gulf Monsoon Scooter Rally on Sunday. The Gulf Oil Corporation sponsored, Sportscraft-organised event saw the emergence of a new champion in Bhopal's Muzaffar Ali.
Andy Murray says he is playing better than when he won Wimbledon in 2013 and after the last few weeks, it would be no surprise if he repeats that historic feat next month.
Indian Wells runner-up Juan Martin del Potro believes Britain's Andy Murray can become world tennis No 1 this year.
Australian veteran Lleyton Hewitt gave a glimpse of his grasscourt arts to beat Juan Martin del Potro in Friday's quarter-finals of the Aegon Championships.
Sara Errani beat doubles partner Roberta Vinci 6-3, 6-3 in a subdued all-Italian semi-final at the Dubai championships on Friday.
Czech Petra Kvitova defeated titleholder Agnieszka Radwanska 6-2, 6-4 in the Dubai Championships on Thursday to set up a semi-final against Caroline Wozniacki.
The French Open champion beat Fernando Verdasco 2-6, 7-6, 7-6 in three hours.
Former Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova claimed her 10th singles title after defeating Sara Errani 6-2, 1-6, 6-1 in the final of the Dubai Championships on Saturday.
Paes-Shamsasdin also in last four
Even though she won four big titles during the year, Serena Williams will still end 2012 ranked No 3 behind Victoria Azarenka and Maria Sharapova. After backing up her victories at Wimbledon, the Olympics and the US Open with the WTA Championships title on Sunday, Williams concurred with Sharapova and World No 8 Li Na that she is in fact the world's top female tennis player.
