Former world number one and two-time Grand Slam winner Simona Halep announced her retirement from professional tennis on Tuesday after losing in the first round at her home event in Cluj.
Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova will return to action this month after a 15-month maternity break, with the Czech set to play in three tournaments in the United States.
"He has lost only four or five matches in the past year, so it's crazy. I know people say who's better out of us. They say Jannik is better or some say me. It's all discussion."
World number one Jannik Sinner will not defend his ATP 500 title in Rotterdam as the Italian's "body needs time to rest" after winning the Australian Open, tournament organisers announced Monday.
Double Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner set his sights on mastering clay and grass courts to make himself a complete player after the Italian claimed his third hardcourt Grand Slam title on Sunday.
The 23-year-old came through a tense battle between the world's top two players 6-3, 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 on Rod Laver Arena, raising his arms in the air and looking to the sky in celebration.
The victory earned the Italian world number one his third Grand Slam crown.
The Australian Open, the first Grand Slam of the year, ends on Sunday when defending champion Jannik Sinner faces Alexander Zverev for the men's title. AFP looks back on five memorable storylines from the past two weeks in Melbourne:
Djokovic's bid for a record-extending 41st Masters 1000 title was ended in just over an hour by Chilean Tabilo, who is ranked 32nd in the world but was hugely impressive and claimed his first win over a top-10 opponent.
Defeat to seventh seed Hurkacz casts doubt over whether clay-court icon Nadal will play at the upcoming French Open, where he has won a record 14 titles.
Novak Djokovic was left in agony after being struck with a hard plastic water bottle as he left the court following his 6-3, 6-1 win over France's Corentin Moutet at the Rome Open which advanced him to the third round on Friday.
"I have Roland Garros in just two weeks and a half... I need to prove myself if I am able to push my body to the limit, I need to push to feel myself ready for what's coming," Nadal told reporters.
World number one Novak Djokovic said he believes he will be in top form for the French Open and hopes to prove that at the Italian Open which started on Wednesday.
The 22-time Grand Slam singles champion has recently returned to the circuit after a long absence due to injury.
Rublev, who takes the Madrid crown from double champion Carlos Alcaraz whom he beat in the quarter-finals, said he had played despite feeling ill at times this week and hailed his doctors for helping him through.
Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time.
Rublev upset home favourite Alcaraz 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 to reach the semi-finals.
Last month, the Serb ended a five-year partnership with coach Goran Ivanisevic.
