REIGNING champion Venus Williams snatched victory from the jaws of defeat at Wimbledon yesterday, but it was top seed Amelie Mauresmo who looked every bit a champion in waiting with a fine display on Centre Court.

Maria Sharapova may be one of the world’s most beautiful women, but she knows she cannot compete with England playing in a World Cup.

Tennis legend Martina Navratilova lost at the semi-final stage of the mixed doubles in Paris today.

Women’s world tennis number one Amelie Mauresmo has announced she will be returning to Eastbourne next month to play in the Hastings Direct International Championships as her final preparation for Wimbledon.

CLAY-COURT king Rafael Nadal was unable to hide his delight after setting a new record for consecutive wins on the surface, and securing his place in the second round of the French Open.

Martina Hingis looked in vintage form Monday at the Internazionali d’Italia.

Martina Hingis has pulled off a shock victory against Maria Sharapova in the semi-finals of the Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo.

Martina Hingis and Mahesh Bhupathi won the mixed doubles crown at the Australian Open with an emphatic 6-3 6-3 victory over Daniel Nestor and Elena Likhovtseva.

Martina Hingis is closing in on her 15th career grand slam title after she and Mahesh Bhupathi reached the Australian Open mixed doubles final.

Lindsay Davenport is two wins away from successfully defending her title at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix.

SPANISH sensation Rafael Nadal progressed to the third round of the US Open yesterday without any undue alarm, beating American wild card Scoville Jenkins in straight sets.

Neither Nathalie Dechy of France nor Jelena Jankovic of Serbia & Montenegro will be entering the US Open in a positive frame of mind.

Number three seed Amelie Mauresmo will meet Anastasia Myskina on Centre Court this afternoon as she bids to reach the semi-finals for the second year in a row.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA’S Wimbledon fortunes took a turn for the better yesterday when the Russian number nine seed booked her place in the last eight at the All England Club.

Anastasia Myskina’s Wimbledon fortunes took a turn for the better this afternoon when the Russian number nine seed booked her place in the last eight at the All England Club.

Amelie Mauresmo booked her place in the quarter-finals of Wimbledon for the third time after recovering from a slow start to beat Russian Elena Likhovtseva 6-4 6-0 on Court One this afternoon.

SECOND seed Andy Roddick became embroiled in a bitter row after surviving a scare against unheralded Italian Daniele Bracciali to book his place in the third round at Wimbledon after a rain interrupted day yesterday.

Russian number nine seed Anastasia Myskina made heavy weather of securing her place in the last 16 at Wimbledon, coming through an epic, near three-hour battle with Jelena Jankovic before rain stopped play at the All England Club this afternoon.

MARY PIERCE stormed into her first grand slam final in five years by crushing Russia’s Elena Likhovtseva in straight sets at the French Open.

Mary Pierce stormed into her first grand slam final in five years by crushing Russia’s Elena Likhovtseva in straight sets at the French Open.

WITH the one missing Grand Slam title in his collection now just two matches away, Roger Federer’s dream of winning the French Open is closer to being realised.

Defending Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova trained her focus on the grass court season after bowing out of the French Open at the quarter-final stage today.

Lindsay Davenport booked a place in the quarter-finals of the French Open today, defeating former Roland Garros finalist Kim Clijsters.

The Russian contingent at Roland Garros have enjoyed a successful day with number two seed Maria Sharapova leading the charge into the women’s fourth round.

THE role of defending French Open champion weighed on Anastasia Myskina, as did her mother’s illness. And so her bid to repeat last year’s success ended in record time.

Anastasia Myskina’s defence of the French Open crown she won in glorious fashion last year ended with a whimper today as she crashed out in the opening round of this year’s event at Roland Garros.

Andy Roddick will not be defending his title at the $6.56m (€5m) Nasdaq-100 Open.

Lindsay Davenport admits she is amazed to find herself in the fourth round of the Australian Open as top seed and world number one.

Russia’s Anastasia Myskina today advanced to the fourth round of the Australian Open without hitting a ball.

Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova battled back from the brink of defeat to reach the second round of the US Open at Flushing Meadow.

US Open Championship, Flushing Meadows, New York

France's Mary Pierce has beaten Venus Williams in the women's singles event in Athens.

Martina Navratilova has confirmed her acceptance of a wild card at Wimbledon and will play in the singles for the first time since 1994.

French Open, Roland Garros, Paris

French Open champion Juan Carlos Ferrero denied the home crowd the chance of an all-American men’s final in the US Open with a four-set victory over Andre Agassi.

US Open results, Flushing Meadows, New York

Results so far from Round 1 at Wimbledon.

French Open, Roland Garros, Paris

The weight of history might be playing on the mind of Serena Williams as she bids for a fifth consecutive Grand Slam title.

Reigning champion Venus Williams remains on course for a record-breaking hat-trick of Wimbledon titles after cruising through her quarter-final against unseeded Russian Elena Likhovtseva.

Champion Venus Williams cruised through to the women's singles semi-finals with a facile 6-2 6-0 victory over Elena Likhovtseva on centre court his afternoon.