The top seeds continued their procession through the first round of the Australian Open today to make a mockery of the widely held belief that there is great depth in the men’s game.

World number 11 Li Na has progressed to the final of the Sydney International with a straight-sets victory over Serbian teenager Bojana Jovanovski.

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.

Third seed David Ferrer opened his SkiStar Swedish Open campaign today with a comfortable 6-3 7-5 victory over Italy's world number 86 Fabio Fognini in Bastad.

TOP seed Rafael Nadal last night broke another French Open record as he stayed on course for a fifth successive title with a routine straight-sets victory over Teimuraz Gabashvili in the second round yesterday.

Andy Murray survived a major mid-match slump to defeat Potito Starace in four sets in the second round of the French Open today.

Andy Murray survived a major mid-match slump to defeat Potito Starace in four sets in the second round of the French Open today.

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 Rafael Nadal today 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 victory over qualifier Marcos Daniel.

World number two Roger Federer made a successful return since his Australian Open final defeat with a 7-6 (7/4) 6-4 win over Frenchman Marc Gicquel in the second round of the BNP Paribas Open.

Roger Federer cruised into the second round of the Beijing Olympics and then vowed not to “freak out” at his impending demotion to world number two.

PROFESSIONAL tennis bodies must implement an anti-corruption programme to combat threats to the game, an independent review recommended yesterday.

The ATP has confirmed that Italian duo Potito Starace and Daniele Bracciali have been suspended for betting on matches.

CARLOS MOYA and Juan Igancio Chela ensured the US Open men’s singles quarter-finals would be an all-seeded affair when they rebuffed the challenges of Ernests Gulbis and Stanislas Wawrinka in New York last night.

JELENA JANKOVIC’S credentials as a dark horse for the French Open title were further enhanced as she won a high-quality third-round clash against Venus Williams yesterday.

Top seed Roger Federer cruised into the fourth round of the French Open with a routine straight-sets win over Potito Starace.

Roger Federer was left distinctly unimpressed after he was forced to play the latter part of his second-round win over Thierry Ascione at the French Open in near-darkness last night.

Third seed and last year's runner-up Lleyton Hewitt will begin his quest for the Australian Open title with a first round match against Czech Robin Vik.

Third seed Guillermo Coria confirmed his status as favourite at the French Open as he crushed Croatia’s Mario Ancic in straight sets to book his place in the fourth round.