Tennis

Venus Williams battles back to oust Wang

The 37-year-old, a five-time winner at the All England Club, wrapped up a 4-6 6-4 6-1 second-round success to mark her 97th main-draw match at the grass-court grand slam – a record for an active player.

The pair also met in the first round of the French Open, when Williams – who has endured an emotional week amid questions over her involvement in a fatal road accident – prevailed in straight sets, but it was a tougher test on this occasion against the world number 55.

Williams returns to number one

The American, who is skipping the rest of the year after announcing last week that she was pregnant, took to social media to offer her first public thoughts on impending motherhood.

"My Dearest Baby, You gave me the strength I didn't know I had. You taught me the true meaning of serenity and peace," the 35-year-old who owns 23 grand slam titles, said on Instagram.

"I can't wait to meet you. I can't wait for you to join the players box next year," she continues.

Maria Sharapova: Drugs-ban return generating mixed reaction

Players including men's No. 1 Andy Murray, seven-time grand slam winner Venus Williams, twice grand slam winner Angelique Kerber and former No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki have all weighed in on whether the five-time grand slam winner and one of the world's most recognizable athletes should benefit from wildcards as she tries to rebuild her tennis career.

Argentina win first Davis Cup title

Argentina have won their first ever Davis Cup tennis title after Juan Martin Del Potro and Federico Delbonis won this morning's reverse singles to seal their comeback 3-2 win over hosts Croatia in the final.

Croatia led 2-1 going into the final day in Zagreb and looked on course for their second title when Marin Cilic led Juan Martin del Potro by two sets to love.

But Del Potro staged a remarkable comeback to win 6-7 2-6 7-5 6-4 6-3 in four hours 53 minutes.

Federico Delbonis then swept past Ivo Karlovic 6-3 6-4 6-2 in the decisive fifth contest to clinch victory.

Venus joins Sister Serena at Auckland

It will be the first time since 1998 that the Williams sisters have played at the same international-level tournament, other than the majors.

Venus Williams has competed at the event since 2014.

She won the trophy in 2015, beating top seed Caroline Wozniacki in the final, and came runner up in 2014.

This year she was upset by young Russian player Daria Kasatkina in the first round.

Tournament Director Karl Budge said he was overwhelmed to have Venus join Serena at the 2017 tournament.

Serena Williams to star in NZ

The former world number one was announced as a competitor by ASB Classic officials to compete in next year's tournament.

Williams, currently ranked at number two in the world, will be the highest ranked player ever to compete at the Auckland tournament which has attracted stars such as Venus Williams, Carolina Wozniacki and Rafael Nadal in the past.

ASB Classic organisers said they believed the American player's participation would make this the biggest event in the tournament's history.

Federer hails Serena longevity

 Williams, who moved level with Steffi Graff on 22 grand slam titles with victory at Wimbledon in July, has to reach the final at Flushing Meadows to have a chance of keeping the moniker as the best player in women's tennis with Angelique Kerber in pole position to take over.

The 34-year-old has been at number one since February 2013 and 17-time grand slam champion Federer, who remains at fourth in the ATP rankings at the age of 35 but announced in July he would miss the rest of the year because of a knee injury, has nothing but admiration for the American.

Serena eases past King

The world number one, bidding for her 23rd grand slam, eased to a 6-3 6-3 victory over fellow American King at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Thursday.

Williams dropped just one game in her only previous meeting with King – at Flushing Meadows in 2014 – and while that changed, the result was never in doubt.

The 34-year-old hit 19 winners in the first set as she dominated with her power, before cruising through the second.

The match was complete in just 64 minutes, with Swede Johanna Larsson awaiting Williams in the third round.

Rio 2016: Quotes of the Games

Following two weeks of thrilling sports action, we take a look at some of the more memorable quotes from Rio 2016.

 

Words to inspire

Nadal eases past Cuevas

Rafael Nadal continued his solid form with a straight-sets win over Pablo Cuevas in the Western and Southern Open second round.

The Spaniard, who lost the bronze-medal match at the Olympics on his return from a wrist injury, gained a measure of revenge over Cuevas with a 6-1 7-6 (7-4) victory.