Slovakia's world number six Dominika Cibulkova dropped just two games in blistering heat to win her opening match at the Sydney International on Monday.

Novak Djokovic said he did not intentionally hit a ball into the crowd during his Qatar Open final against Andy Murray, an incident which threatened to take the gloss off his victory.

World number one Andy Murray claimed his 26th consecutive victory on Wednesday with a battling 7-6 (8/6), 7-5 win over Austria's Gerald Melzer to reach the Qatar Open quarter-finals.

Serena Williams suffered a shock second-round defeat at the Auckland Classic Wednesday following her sister Venus's earlier withdrawal with an arm injury.

Andy Murray began 2017 where he left off last year, beating Jeremy Chardy in straight sets in his season opener in Qatar on Tuesday to register his 25th consecutive victory.

Spanish superstar Rafael Nadal hopes a dramatic change to his longstanding schedule will lead to success in the Australian Open later this month.

Cagey veteran Richard Gasquet led France to a 2-1 win over Germany at the mixed teams Hopman Cup in Perth on Monday.

World number one Andy Murray insisted Sunday that Novak Djokovic will remain his biggest threat in 2017, as the pair prepare for a potential first clash of the season in Doha this week.

Former world No 1 Ana Ivanovic on Wednesday announced her retirement from tennis, admitting that the physical toll of the circuit had proved too much.

On-going fitness issues have forced Juan Martin del Potro out of next month's Australian Open and his planned warm up event in New Zealand, organisers of the Auckland Classic announced Saturday.

Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova will need at least three months of rest after surgery to her left hand cut by a knife-wielding burglar on Tuesday, her spokesman said.

Next month's Australian Open will offer Aus$50 million (US$36.25 million) in prize money, with the men's and women's singles champions both netting a cool $3.7 million, organisers said on Wednesday.

Andy Murray was voted the BBC Sports Personality of the Year for a record third time on Sunday despite his wife telling him she was voting for one of his rivals.

World number two Novak Djokovic confirms that he has split from his coach Boris Becker after three years working together

Argentina's Davis Cup champions returned to a heroes' welcome in Buenos Aires on Tuesday after clinching their maiden title with a stunning 3-2 win over Croatia at the weekend.

Argentina lift their first Davis Cup title after Juan Martin Del Potro and Federico Delbonis win Sunday's reverse singles to complete the South American nation's spectacular comeback in a 3-2 victory over hosts Croatia in the final.

Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic will slug it out for the world number one ranking in a high-stakes final at the ATP Tour Finals after completing their contrasting paths to the dramatic showdown.

Andy Murray remains on course for a dramatic showdown with Novak Djokovic as the world number one staged a superb fightback to defeat Milos Raonic 5-7, 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (11/9) in the semifinals of the ATP Tour Finals.

Andy Murray is braced for the tantalising prospect of facing Novak Djokovic in the final of the ATP Tour Finals with the world number one ranking on the line.

Novak Djokovic booked his place in the semifinals of the ATP Tour Finals with an emotional 7-6 (8/6), 7-6 (7/5) victory over Milos Raonic on Tuesday.