Maria Sharapova underlined her pulling power on Monday with Auckland Classic organisers confirming they had sold out all of the day sessions for the entire tournament just minutes before she stepped on court for her first round match.
Top seed Maria Sharapova delivered an enigmatic performance but still advanced to the quarter-finals of the Auckland Classic with a 6-3, 7-5 victory over Renata Voracova of the Czech Republic on Wednesday.
Chanting protestors interrupted Shahar Peer's second round match at the Auckland Classic on Wednesday before the Israeli advanced to the quarter-finals with a 6-1 6-0 victory over Slovakia's Magdalena Rybarikova.
Juan Martin Del Potro, who reached the quarter-final of the Australian Open on two occasions, has been battling problems with his right knee since June last year
World number eight Caroline Wozniacki pulled out of her first match at the Sydney International with a wrist injury on Monday.
Belgium's Yanina Wickmayer upset top seed Flavia Pennetta 6-3, 6-2 in the final of the Auckland Classic on Saturday to complete a remarkable return to the courts after having a doping ban overturned.
Elena Dementieva overpowered Serena Williams 6-3, 6-1 at the Sydney International on Thursday to set up an all-Russian final against Dinara Safina.
Italian top seed Flavia Pennetta advanced to the final of the Auckland Classic after thumping doubles partner Francesca Schiavone 6-3, 6-0 in under an hour on Friday
Elena Dementieva beat fellow Russian Dinara Safina 6-3, 2-6, 6-1 in the final of the Sydney International on Friday to complete a perfect buildup to next week's Australian Open.
A noticeable presence of protestors outside the venue failed to stop Olympic champion Elena Dementieva from marching into the semi-finals of the Auckland Classic on Thursday.
Former world number four Kimiko Date's international comeback ended in defeat in the first round of the Auckland Classic on Monday. Now playing under the name Date-Krumm, she succumbed 6-4, 6-3 to American Jill Craybas in her first WTA tournament outside Japan in 13 years.
Daniil Medvedev fired Russia into the final of the ATP Cup on Saturday with a tense 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 win over an injury-hampered Alexander Zverev after the German destroyed a racket in frustration over a lost service break.
The former world number one beat Aravane Rezai of France 6-2, 6-2 in the final of the Auckland Classic.
Lindsay Davenport continued her smooth progress towards another title as she cruised past Sara Errani of Italy 6-3 6-3 to reach the semi-finals of the Auckland Classic on Thursday. The former world number one, in just her fourth tournament back after a year out in which she had her first child, needed just 57 minutes to see off the world number 69.
Former world number one Martina Hingis was knocked out by Jelena Jankovic at the Sydney International.
Top seed Jelena Jankovic of Serbia and third-ranked Slovak Daniela Hantuchova enjoyed contrasting opening-round victories in the Auckland Classic on Tuesday.
American multiple grand slam champion Venus Williams collected the 49th title of her illustrious career by defeating Japan's Misaki Doi 6-4, 6-2 in the final of the inaugural Taiwan Open on Sunday.
Jankovic will face Vera Zvonareva in Saturday's final after the Russian overcame American Jill Craybas.
Russian second seed Anastasia Myskina made a disappointing start to her 2007 campaign on Monday, falling at the first hurdle in the Auckland Classic to Argentina's Gisela Dulko
The 22-year-old player has had a solid year, winning the mixed-doubles titles at the French and U.S Open.
Joining her in the last four stage are France's Camille Pin, American Jill Craybas and Russia's Vera Zvonareva.
Richard Gasquet won a 13th career singles title by beating fellow Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu 7-5 6-4 in the Open Sud de France final in Montpellier on Sunday.
The former US Open champion said he needs more recovery time after leading Argentina to the Davis Cup title for the first time in November.
With next week's Australian Open in mind, a weary Venus Williams has opted to skip the Hobart International while her American compatriot Sloane Stephens has pulled out of the Sydney International with a minor wrist injury.
Warne, Ponting, Langer to play Twenty20 bushfire match; Serena donates Auckland winnings to help raise money.
Both will play their second-round singles matches on Thursday.
The 23-times Grand Slam champion looked a completely different player from the person who smashed her way into the semi-finals of the doubles with Caroline Wozniacki on Wednesday but managed to do just enough to beat the 86th-ranked McHale.
Serena Williams expects her sister Venus to be back at Melbourne Park next year for a 17th crack at winning the Australian Open, the American world number one said.
Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Sunday
Serena Williams crashed out of the Auckland Classic after fellow American Madison Brengle pulled off a 6-4, 6-7(3), 6-4 upset in a see-saw second round contest.
Serena Williams is chasing Australian Margaret Court's record 24 Grand Slam singles titles
Williams had little trouble against the 31-year-old German although the gusty breezes at Auckland Tennis Centre played havoc with her ball toss, especially when she was serving for the match at 5-3 in the second set.
Top seed Caroline Wozniacki and Venus Williams advanced to the Auckland Classic quarter-finals and kept alive the hopes of an anticipated final between the pair in dramatically contrasting circumstances on Wednesday.
World No 2 Serena Williams shook out any cobwebs from four months away from tennis with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over France's Pauline Parmentier in the first round of the Auckland Classic on Tuesday.
Battle-scarred Argentine Juan Martin del Potro clinched his 21st career title with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Kevin Anderson in the Mexican Open final in Acapulco on Sunday.
Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Wednesday
Jack Sock started a new tradition on Thursday, one that the 23-year-old hopes will become a regular occurrence as he carves out a successful tennis career.
A round-up of tennis matches played on Tuesday.
Jack Sock celebrated a pair of firsts on Friday by powering past fourth seed Kei Nishikori 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 to book a date with Roger Federer in the semi-finals of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California.
Ana Ivanovic claimed her first WTA Tour title in more than two years with a 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 victory over fellow former world number one Venus Williams to clinch the Auckland Classic on Saturday and boost her confidence ahead of the Australian Open.
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