Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova survived a test in the third round of the French Open, eventually getting past Nina Bratchikova 6-2 4-6 6-1.

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

One of Italy’s most wanted fugitive mobsters was captured by police today.

Serena Williams felt her third-round victory over fourth seed Victoria Azarenka at the US Open yesterday was worthy of a semi-final.

China’s Li Na became the first Asian player to win a grand slam singles title with a 6-4 7-6 (7/0) victory over defending champion Francesca Schiavone in the French Open final this afternoon.

Francesca Schiavone credited the inspirational power of the French Open after moving to within one victory of a second successive Roland Garros title.

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.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC is expecting a battle when he takes on 2009 US Open champion Juan Martin Del Potro in the pick of the third-round matches at the French Open today.

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.

Defending women’s champion Francesca Schiavone wasted little time in reaching round two of this year’s French Open with a thumping 6-2 6-0 victory over American teenager Melanie Oudin.

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.

World number one Caroline Wozniacki hit back from a set down to finally break the resolve of Francesca Schiavone and move into the Australian Open semi-finals.

Francesca Schiavone tonight moved into the quarter-finals of the Australian Open after edging out Svetlana Kuznetsova in the longest women’s grand slam match in the open era.

Second seed Kim Clijsters is looking forward to a US Open semi-final against Venus Williams but she will have to improve on an error-strewn display in the last eight against Sam Stosur.

Venus Williams came through an entertaining quarter-final with Francesca Schiavone to make the last four of the US Open.

Former world number one Ana Ivanovic is determined to get back to her best after winning just three games in her fourth-round clash with defending champion Kim Clijsters at the US Open.

RAFAEL NADAL made smooth progress into the fourth round of the US Open with a straightforward win over Gilles Simon last night.

A powerful mobster from the Camorra crime syndicate in southern Italy has been arrested, Italian police said today.

Francesca Schiavone produced another inspired display of all-court tennis in today's French Open final to become the first Italian woman to win a grand slam.

RAFAEL NADAL last night insisted tomorrow’s French Open final against Robin Soderling would not be a grudge match, because the Swede had become a better person in the past year.

JELENA JANKOVIC was blasted off court by Samantha Stosur yesterday before claiming her opponent had played like a man.

Jelena Jankovic was blasted off court by Samantha Stosur today before claiming her opponent had played like a man.

Francesca Schiavone today became the first Italian woman through to a grand slam final after a tearful Elena Dementieva dramatically quit their French Open semi-final.

FRENCH Open giant killer Robin Soderling insisted he never stopped believing he could end his hoodoo against Roger Federer after finally toppling the defending champion last night.

Francesca Schiavone today produced one of the most complete performances of this year's French Open to stun Caroline Wozniacki and become the first woman into the semi-finals.

Australia’s Samantha Stosur claimed her first WTA Tour title with a 7-5 6-1 win over Francesca Schiavone in the final of the Japan Women’s Open today.

Maria Sharapova breezed through to the second round of the WTA LA Women’s Tennis Championships in Los Angeles with a straight-sets victory over Jarmila Groth.

Elena Dementieva reached her second successive Wimbledon semi-final with an easy victory against Italian Francesca Schiavone in the baking heat on Court One.

British star Tim Henman's Wimbledon hopes were ended today after he was thrashed by world number one Roger Federer in the second round.

Amelie Mauresmo, Kim Clijsters and Patty Schnyder all secured straight-sets wins in the fourth round of the Australian Open in Melbourne.

Amelie Mauresmo powered into the quarter-finals of the US Open at Flushing Meadow with a 6-4 6-2 victory over Francesca Schiavone of Italy.

Serena Williams shrugged off doubts about her fitness to cruise into the second round of the US Open with a 6-1 6-3 victory over Sandra Kleinova of the Czech Republic.

Liverpool footballer El-Hadji Diouf was fined £5,000 (€7,250) today for assaulting a Celtic fan by spitting on him during a Uefa Cup match.

Liverpool star El Hadji Diouf has invited the Celtic fan he spat on during a Uefa cup match to be his VIP guest for the return leg of the fixture.

Jennifer Capriati, the comeback queen of women’s tennis, is just one victory away from revisiting the crowning glory of her traumatic youth.