Caroline Wozniacki began her bid to win the New Haven Open for a fifth consecutive year with a comfortable victory over Ekaterina Makarova.

Serena Williams must hope the effort of playing two doubles matches in a matter of hours does not take a heavy toll as she tackles Victoria Azarenka in today's Wimbledon semi-finals.

Victoria Azarenka had some sympathy for Serena Williams after banishing memories of her own first-round struggles at the French Open by breezing into round three.

Victoria Azarenka led a quintet of leading players in cruising into the second round of the Australian Open today.

There were mixed fortunes for last year’s finalists at the French Open today as Francesca Schiavone moved into the fourth round but Samantha Stosur was knocked out by Gisela Dulko.

Third seed Vera Zvonareva came back from match-point down to defeat ailing German Sabine Lisicki 4-6 7-5 7-5 in the second round of the French Open this evening.

French Open title contenders Samantha Stosur and Caroline Wozniacki reached the third round of the French Open in contrasting fashions at Roland Garros today.

Novak Djokovic came through one of the toughest tests of his unbeaten season to date to extend his extraordinary winning streak to 30 matches and book his place in the Mutua Madrid Open semi-finals.

A potentially memorable final showdown between clay court king Rafael Nadal and in-form world number two Novak Djokovic at the Madrid Open moved a step closer last night as both players progressed through to the quarter-finals without any problems.

Kim Clijsters and Petra Kvitova will meet in the Open Gaz de France final tomorrow after breezing through their respective semi-finals in Paris today.

Top seed Marion Bartoli made a shock second-round exit from the WTA Tour Bell Challenge when she was stunned by wild card Rebecca Marino in straight sets in Quebec.

Eighth seed Nadia Petrova overcame a poor showing in the first set to book her place in the second round of the Pilot Pen Tennis tournament in New Haven.

Former world number one Dinara Safina claimed back-to-back wins for the first time since the Australian Open in January to reach the third round of the Rogers Cup in Montreal.

Venus Williams has made herself unavailable for the USA's Fed Cup semi-final against Russia in Alabama this weekend because of injury.

Former champions Kim Clijsters and Venus Williams stayed on course for a last-16 showdown at Flushing Meadows after both coming through their US Open second-round ties.

MARAT SAFIN’s famously emotional temperament was kept in check as he reflected on his elimination from his last-ever grand slam tournament at Flushing Meadows yesterday.

DEFENDING champion Venus Williams launched her bid for Wimbledon singles title number six with a 6-3 6-2 win over Stefanie Voegele yesterday.

TOP seed Rafael Nadal yesterday created a French Open record for consecutive wins in the men’s singles – but he admitted he was not at his all-conquering best in his straight-sets triumph over qualifier Marcos Daniel.

Top seed Dinara Safina confirmed her status as title favourite by crushing British number one Anne Keothavong on day two of the French Open.

Frenchwoman Marion Bartoli was the only seed to fall today as the first round of the Madrid Open got under way.

Second seed Serena Williams has been dumped out of the Internazionali BNL d'Italia in her first game in Rome after suffering a 6-2 2-6 6-1 defeat to Patty Schnyder in the second round.

Second seed Venus Williams survived a second-set scare to edge past Sania Mirza in the second round of the Family Circle Cup in Charleston.

Former world number one Lleyton Hewitt fought back from a set down to reach the second round of the Miami Masters today with victory over Israel’s Dudi Sela.