As the fans head toward Flushing Meadows, tennis stars gear up with ground-breaking styles to rule the courts.
The Williams sisters' contribution to tennis was also highlighted by Japan's Naomi Osaka, who reached the second round after demolishing Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
Serena Williams had to dig deep to fend off Latvian challenger Jelena Ostapenko as she wrapped up Friday's play at the Fed Cup in Seattle with a hard-fought victory that gave the United States a 2-0 advantage. Williams' experience and savvy ways showed in critical moments against the 22-year-old Ostapenko as she prevailed 7-6(4), 7-6(3) in a match that took one hour and 46 minutes.
Serena and Venus Williams usually get top billing at the Miami Open but this year there is another sister act vying for thespotlight with world number one Naomi Osaka showing older sibling Mari the ropes.
Penpix of the top women's contenders at the 2021 Australian Open
Naomi Osaka settled her nerves and stepped up her preparations for the Australian Open by beating Alize Cornet 6-2, 6-2 to reach the last 16 of the Gippsland Trophy warm-up tournament in Melbourne on Tuesday.
The players have been allowed out to practise for five hours a day during their quarantine but Djokovic said he had headed to a local park on his first morning in Australia without restrictions.
IMAGES from Day 10 of the US Open matches played in New York on Wednesday
Naomi Osaka, winner of the past two Grand Slam tournaments, has parted ways with her coach Sascha Bajin.
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.
A look at the top women's contenders at the 2020 French Open.
The 21-year-old is looking to become just the 11th woman to claim a third consecutive Grand Slam title.
Former world number one Karolina Pliskova utilised her big serve to full effect to ease to a 6-4, 6-4 victory over home favourite and U.S. Open champion Naomi Osaka in the Pan Pacific Open final in Tokyo on Sunday.
Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Johanna Konta progressed to the Italian Open semi-finals on Friday, but Roger Federer and Naomi Osaka were forced to withdraw with injury problems. World number one Osaka pulled out of her quarter-final meeting with Kiki Bertens due to a thumb injury before 37-year-old Federer announced his withdrawal because of a problem to his right leg.
Naomi Osaka ended Victoria Azarenka's dream run to claim her second US Open title in three years with a 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 comeback win on Saturday which cemented her status as the sport's leading light both on and off the court.
Images from Day 3 of the 2022 Australian Open in Melbourne on Wednesday.
Women's tour needed to change its rules for players that take maternity leave.
"(Novak) has said that he views this as a private matter for him. We would love to see Novak here, he knows that he'll have to be vaccinated to play here."
Mixed reactions pour in as Osaka debate rages on.
Novak Djokovic will begin his Australian Open title defence against Frenchman Jeremy Chardy, while reigning women's champion Sofia Kenin meets wild card Maddison Inglis, following the draw for the year's first Grand Slam on Friday.
This year's Australian Open will be allowed to admit up to 30,000 fans a day, around 50% of usual capacity, amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe congratulated Osaka on Twitter and thanked her for 'giving Japan a boost of inspiration at this time of hardship'
'I hope that as an association we make the best decision for our business, for our health, for the tournaments, for public.'
Williams has just one professional tournament remaining before she drops the curtain on her historic career
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.
Gauff vows to be more aggressive in Osaka showdown
Osaka remains on course for glory at Melbourne Park after blowing away Ukrainian Elina Svitolina 6-4, 6-1 to set up a last four clash with Czech Karolina Pliskova in the year's first Grand Slam.
Former world number four Kimiko Date has been invited to play in next month's Japan Women's Open barely a fortnight before she turns 47, the Japan Tennis Association said on Wednesday.
Both are in superb form and have yet to drop a set at this year's championship. Britain's Murray, the number one seed, will face 28th ranked Fabio Fognini from Italy while Spaniard Nadal will go up against Russian Karen Khachanov, ranked 30.
Opelka, Kyrgios included in Team World for Laver Cup.
Serena Williams creates ripples with her latest outfit.
An outcry over the whereabouts of Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai escalated on Friday as the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) said it was prepared to pull its tournaments out of China if they were not satisfied with the response to her sexual assault allegation.
Having clawed her way back after years of setbacks in her career and personal life, US Open runner up Victoria Azarenka said on Saturday that she wouldn't let her three-set loss to Naomi Osaka in the final keep her down for long.
Novak Djokovic was eliminated from the Grand Slam after inadvertently hitting a ball into a line judge's throat during his fourth round match on the Arthur Ashe Stadium court.
Images from Day 1 of the 2023 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on Monday.
Osaka's focus has been on racial injustice over the last few months, the 23-year-old has long been a symbol for change in Japan.
Images from Day 9 of the 2021 US Open in New York on Wednesday.
One year after shaking off a crippling foot injury to claim a stunning US Open victory, Sloane Stephens said her follow-up season felt just as good as the American prepares to play in next week's WTA Finals for the first time.
Naomi Osaka has witnessed a huge change in her career after claiming a maiden Grand Slam title in 2018, but the rising star of women's tennis will not be changing her quirky personality in media appearances that has endeared her to so many.
Brady saw four match points slip through her fingers as she served it out nervously but finally celebrated the win when Muchova fired a forehand long.
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