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Five-time Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova withdrew from the WTA Bank of the West Classic just before her scheduled second-round match Wednesday with a left arm injury, tournament officials announced. “We’re sad to announce that @mariasharapova has withdrawn after doctor’s advice regarding her left arm,” a post on the tournament’s Twitter feed said. Sharapova played her first US match in more than two years on Monday, defeating American Jennifer Brady 6-1, 4-6, 6-0 in an opening-round match at the hardcourt event in Stanford, California. “Toward the end of the Monday night’s match, I felt pain in my left forearm,” Sharapova said Wednesday. “After yesterday’s scan, the doctor has recommended I don’t risk further injury.” The former world number one from Russia hadn’t played in the US since March of 2015, before serving a 15-month doping suspension for the use of meldonium. Seventh-seeded Ukrainian Lesia Tsur...

Roger Federer came into 2017 with many doubters. The general feeling was that his career was certainly in its twilight and was slowly winding down to a comfortable, albeit uneventful, end. The 35-year-old had not won a Grand Slam in five years, and it looked as though the younger generation had finally found a way to overcome his mastery. How wrong we all were. Federer got off to a blistering start this year, winning his 18th Slam at the Australian Open before choosing to take a break to focus on and prepare for the grass court season. That proved to be a stroke of genius, as Federer cruised to a record eighth Wimbledon title with terrifying ease, seeing fit to not drop a single set on his way to Centre Court glory. It is safe to say that 2017 has been one of the best years of Federer's long and illustrious career. His remarkable resurgence has been a joy for all to watch and his endlessly passionate approach to the game has left the world in awe of his ability and agelessness. ...

Serbian  Novak Djokovic is in doubt for the U.S. Open due to his elbow injury, his country’s  media reported, citing the country’s Davis Cup team doctor. Djokovic, a former world number one,  retired hurt during the quarter-finals at Wimbledon and said he was considering taking a break from playing to recover from the long-standing injury to his right elbow. Serbia’s Sportski Zurnal reported that the 30-year-old could face up to 12 weeks on the sidelines. “He has a bruised bone due to excessive playing,” it quoted Zdenko Milinkovic as saying. “Novak is in Toronto undergoing some further tests with specialists.” The 12-times grand slam champion won the U.S. Open in 2011 and 2015.  This year’s tournament, which  begins on Aug. 28 will offer  a record $50.4 million in prizes, according to  the organizers, United States Tennis Association, USTA. Winners of the men’s and women’s singles titles will each earn $3.7 million, while runners-up will pocket $...

Roger Federer won a record eighth Wimbledon title and became the tournament’s oldest champion Sunday with a straight-sets victory over injury-hit Marin Cilic, who dramatically broke down in tears midway through the final. Federer claimed his 19th Grand Slam title 6-3, 6-1, 6-4 and at 35 is Wimbledon’s oldest men’s winner of the modern era, succeeding Arthur Ashe, who was almost 32 when he won in 1976. However, the Swiss superstar’s 11th Wimbledon final, and 29th at the majors, will also be remembered for the moving sight of the popular Cilic breaking down in tears after slipping 3-0 behind in the second set.

Muguruza was born in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas in October, 1993. Her mother Scarlet Blanco is from the South American country and Muguruza holds dual Spanish-Venezuelan nationality. Father Jose is a Spanish-Basque. Paris — mon amour et bete noire — Muguruza won the French Open title in 2016 but her defence ended in tears and controversy this year after she accused the Roland Garros crowd as being “disrespectful” for their behaviour towards her as she lost to home star Kiki Mladenovic. While she conducted a tearful news conference, coach Sam Sumyk described the Paris fans as “pathetic”. Coaching row — Muguruza was accused of being illegally ‘coached’ from her player’s box by vanquished Wimbledon quarter-final opponent Svetlana Kuznetsova. “It was pretty clear because we all speak Spanish here. She was talking to her all the time. It’s her physio. I mean, I know she acts like this all the time. I don’t think it’s appropriate,” said the Russian. Muguruza said it was all something ...

Garbine Muguruza stormed to her first Wimbledon title and shattered Venus Williams’ history bid with a majestic 7-5, 6-0 victory in Saturday’s final. Muguruza overwhelmed Williams with a supreme display of power hitting in 77 minutes on Centre Court to become only the second Spanish woman to win Wimbledon. Watched from the Royal Box by King Juan Carlos of Spain, the 23-year-old finally got her hands on the Venus Rosewater Dish two years after losing to the American’s sister Serena in her maiden Wimbledon final. Fittingly, it was Muguruza’s current coach Conchita Martinez who was the first woman to raise the Spanish flag at Wimbledon in 1994 when she defeated Martina Navratilova.

Roger Federer is one win from a historic eighth Wimbledon title after beating Czech 11th seed Tomas Berdych in straight sets in the semi-final. The Swiss, 35, won 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-4) 6-4 to reach his 11th Wimbledon final, having last won the title back in 2012. He will face Croatia’s Marin Cilic after the seventh seed beat American 24th seed Sam Querrey 6-7 (6-8) 6-4 7-6 (7-3) 7-5 on Centre Court. Cilic, 28, is into his second major final after winning the 2014 US Open. “It’s unbelievable,” said Cilic, the second Croat to reach the men’s final after Goran Ivanisevic won in 2001. “The way this tournament has unfolded I’ve been playing really great tennis.” Federer has already added to his lengthy list of achievements by reaching a record 29th Grand Slam final, becoming the second-oldest man to do so after the 39-year-old Ken Rosewall reached the 1974…

Venus Williams became the oldest Wimbledon finalist for 23 years on Thursday as the American star ended Johanna Konta’s history bid with a masterful 6-4, 6-2 win. Twenty years after making her Wimbledon debut, five-time champion Williams is into her ninth final at the All England Club and her first since 2009. The 37-year-old’s sublime display of power-hitting on Centre Court stopped Konta becoming the first British woman to make the final for 40 years and set up a title match against Spain’s Garbine Muguruza.

Andy Murray has crashed out of Wimbledon in the quarter-finals leaving British hopes resting on Johanna Konta. Murray lost out in an epic five-set match against the 6ft 6in American Sam Querrey, who became the first US tennis player to reach the semi-finals of Wimbledon since Andy Roddick eight years ago. The world number one was unable to replicate Konta’s success on Centre Court yesterday losing 6-3, 4-6, 7-6, 1-6, 1-6. Murray came into the tournament dealing with a sore left hip and it clearly impeded him as the match wore on. He grimaced as he stumbled or landed awkwardly while attempting to play his game. Defending champion Andy Murray looked in discomfort during the match and British hopes now rest on Johanna Konta Murray’s defeat means the 50-year wait for a British man and woman in the Wimbledon semi-finals goes on. Konta yesterday became the first British woman to make it to the semi-finals of Wimbledon since Virginia Wade in 1978. Ice-cool Konta held her nerve in a nail-bitin...

Wimbledon men's quarter-finals on Wednesday (x denotes seeded player): Defending Wimbledon champion Andy Murray (pictured) will retain his world number one ranking if he defeats Sam Querrey in the quarter-finals Defending Wimbledon champion Andy Murray (pictured) will retain his world number one ranking if he defeats Sam Querrey in the quarter-finals (AFP) Andy Murray (GBR x1) v Sam Querrey (USA x24) -- Defending champion Murray will retain his world number one ranking if he defeats Querrey, the man who ended Novak Djokovic's run as champion in 2016. Murray is bidding to make his eighth Wimbledon semi-final in the last nine years and is playing in his 10th straight quarter-final at the tournament. Murray and has reached the last-eight at 24 of the last 26 Slams. Querrey, 29, made the quarter-finals in 2016 where he lost in four sets to eventual runner-up Milos Raonic. He has sent down 99 aces, just three behind tournament leader Gilles Muller, the conqueror of Rafael Nadal. Hea...

Novak Djokovic reached the Wimbledon quarter-finals with a straight-set victory over France’s Adrian Mannarino. In a match delayed from Monday, the world number four beat Mannarino - who is ranked 51st in the world - 6-2, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4 in two hours and 13 minutes. The Serb appeared unhappy with the condition of Centre Court and also received treatment on his right shoulder during the match. The 30-year-old will face Czech 11th seed Tomas Berdych in the last eight. When asked about his shoulder, Djokovic told BBC Sport: “We’ll see. It has something which has been dragging back and forth for a while, but I am still managing to play.” The match was due to be played on Monday on Court One but was postponed following Rafa Nadal and Gilles Muller’s four hour and 48 minute tie. The decision to postpone the match until yesterday, rather than play it on Centre Court after Roger Federer’s victory on Monday over Grigor Dmitrov, was questioned by some, including Djokovic’s wife Jelena.

Venus Williams powered her way to the semifinals at the Championship with a 6/3, 7/5 domination of reigning French Open Champion and rising star, Jelena Ostapenko from Latvia. The other one-time Grand Slam winner, Garbine Muguruza also powered her way to victory over Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia, 6/3; 6/4. The Williams’ show on Centre Court added epithets to her history-making career. It seemed a good omen for Ostapenko that she won the toss and elected to receive. However, the decision back-fired as her opponent hammered three aces in winning the first game. The unsettled Ostapenko lost her opening serve and Venus held to lead 3-0. The red sign of danger woke up the charming Ostapenko, as she raced to 40-0 in her service, which she held to the applause of the entire stadium crowd.Although Williams had three game points at 40-0, she lost two before slamming the door to lead 4-1. Ostapenko raised the speed of her serve and was rewarded with the sixth game. Serving with accuracy and pac...

Rafael Nadal’s Wimbledon bid has been ended by Luxembourg’s Gilles Muller in a five-set thriller on Centre Court. Muller pulled off a 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 15-13 shock to knock the French Open champ out of SW19. Two-time Wimbledon champ Nadal saved two match points in the fourth set. The Spaniard then saved two match points in the 10th game of the deciding set against the world no.26. However, Muller made no mistake at the fifth time of asking to triumph 6-3 6-4 3-6 4-6 15-13 after more than four-and-a-half hours on a packed-out No.1 Court. Earlier, Roger Federer, the third seed, beat Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria 6-4 6-2 6-4 in just over an hour and a half. Federer will face either sixth seed Milos Raonic of Canada or Germany’s Alexander Zverev in the quarter-finals.

Angelique Kerber crashed out of Wimbledon and lost her hold on the world number one ranking as the German was beaten 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 by Spain’s Garbine Muguruza on Monday. Kerber’s fourth round exit extended a miserable run for last year’s Wimbledon runner-up, who has failed to make the last eight at any of this year’s three majors. Kerber, the 2016 Wimbledon runner-up, will be replaced at number one by either Karolina Pliskova or Simona Halep. Muguruza, the 2015 finalist, goes onto play Svetlana Kuznetsova for a place in the last four.

After yesterday’s rest day, the Big Four in men’s tennis are all in last-16 action on Manic Monday. On the women’s side, German top seed and 2016 runner-up, Angelique Kerber takes on Garbine Muguruza of Spain, reports www.dw.c. Not since Lleyton Hewitt won the championship 15 years ago has someone other than Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal or Andy Murray triumphed in the Wimbledon men’s singles. All of the Big Four are back on court on so-called Manic Monday, when every player — men and women — remaining in the tournament will be fighting for a berth in the last eight. Wimbledon is the only grand slam that schedules all of the last-16 singles matches on the same day, a bonanza for the lucky spectators with tickets. Record seven-times winner, Federer takes on Bulgarian 13th seed, Grigor Dimitrov, Djokovic, the three-time champion, meets unseeded Frenchman Adrian Mannarino, 2008 and 2010 winner, Nadal tackles 16th seed Gilles Muller of Luxembourg and Murray, the defending cha...

Rafael  Nadal believes he can snatch a third Wimbledon title if he carries his first-week form into the business end of the tournament. Champion in 2008 and 2010, Nadal had experienced some difficult years at Wimbledon since then and his days as a grass-court contender looked to be slipping away. But the bustling Spaniard had played some sensational tennis in his opening three matches and faces Luxembourg veteran Gilles Muller on Monday for a place in the quarter-finals. It would be a monumental upset were Muller to topple 31-year-old Nadal, who is three years his junior and a fellow left-hander. And Nadal said the key to his success over the remainder of the tournament would be to avoid letting his level slip. ‘I’m very aware of the fact I have a very serious rival in front of me, someone who’s a specialist on this surface. I’m going to try to be courageous, aggressive and play well,’ Nadal said. ‘If I were able to play at the same level I’ve played so far it would be very good. I...

Angelique Kerber survived a threat against American world number 70 Shelby Rogers to reach the Wimbledon last 16. Germany’s Kerber, 29, lost a tight first set before fighting back to win 4-6, 7-6 (7-2), 6-4 in a thrilling battle on court two. She will face Spain’s 14th seed Garbine Muguruza in the fourth round on Monday. Kerber will lose her world number one ranking if she does not reach the final. Muguruza, a Wimbledon finalist in 2015, powered to a straightforward 6-2, 6-2 victory over Romania’s Sorana Cirstea. Second seed Simona Halep could take top spot from Kerber by reaching the semi-finals, while Karolina Pliskova - despite her second-round exit - still has a chance of taking it. Two-time Grand Slam champion Kerber’s form has dipped since winning the US Open last year. She has failed to win any tour titles since then and sits just 15th in the year-to-date rankings. But the left hander, who was beaten by Serena Williams in last year’s final, is known for her fighting qualities an...

Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic marched into the business end of Wimbledon as they reached the last 16, while women's top seed Angelique Kerber scraped through on Saturday. Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic marched into the business end of Wimbledon as they reached the last 16, while women's top seed Angelique Kerber scraped through on Saturday. Seven-time champion Federer made it into the fourth round for the 15th time with a 7-6 (7/3), 6-4, 6-4 win over Germany's  Mischa Zverev . The Swiss great said:  "I'm very happy now to sit back, relax a day and come back strong, hopefully, on Monday",  when he faces  Grigor Dimitrov , who has been nicknamed  "Baby Fed" . "Every time I play against him he's stronger than the time before. "I'm ready for a tough one but sure again, another exciting match because he's a great shotmaker." All the men's and women's fourth round matches take place on Monday. Third seed Federer was ...

The American, who is ranked 103 in the world, suffered a freak right knee injury during her match against Sorana Cirstea yesterday - leaving SW19 fans feeling sick. Mattek-Sands, 32, fell to the ground and yelped "f**k, help me, help me" while clutching her leg early in the third set. Cirstea jumped over the net and gasped as her stricken opponent was sprawled out on the floor. Mattek-Sands will today undergo more scans on her horror Wimbledon knee injury. Doctors closely monitored her condition overnight and the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) say more will be known following today tests. "Bethanie of course thanks everyone for their kind wishes and messages of support," a WTA statement added. ** BETHANIE MATTEK-SANDS LATEST : Live updates on star's condition** Bethanie Mattek-Sands suffered a horrendous knee injury during her match against Sorana Cirstea When she spoke about incident for the first time, Cirstea said: "I think the kneecap, it was out....

Andy Murray came through a thrilling encounter against Italian Fabio Fognini to book his spot in the fourth round of Wimbledon with a 6-2 4-6 6-1 7-5 victory on Friday. The Wimbledon champion looked almost certain to be dragged into a fifth set by Fognini when he trailed 5-2 in the fourth, but he showed his mettle to save five set points and win five straight games to wrap up the victory in two hours 39 minutes. The momentum in the match swung dramatically from one player to the other with Murray breaking twice to clinch the first set before the Italian battled back in the second to level. Britain’s world number one regained the initiative as Fognini appeared to be struggling with an ankle injury, but the top seed’s hopes of an easy route into the last 16 were smashed as the Italian came out firing in the fourth. Fognini broke Murray in the fifth game and then had a series of set points both on his serve and the Briton’s. Yet, with the Centre Court crowd willing Murray on, he fought...