Li conquers Australian Open

China's Li Na stormed to her second major singles title, battling past brave underdog Dominika Cibulkova 7-6 (7-3), 6-0 to win the Australian Open women's final on Rod Laver Arena. In doing so, she became the oldest winner of the women's title, surpassing Margaret Court who was 30 when she became champion in 1973.

Li Na and Dominika Cibulkova reach final

Li Na will meet Dominika Cibulkova in the Australian Open final after the Slovakian continued a tournament of upsets by thrashing Agnieszka Radwanska. Cibulkova's only previous grand slam semi-final came at the 2009 French Open but she appeared completely nerveless in routing fifth seed Radwanska 6-1, 6-2. Li Na beat Canadian teenager Eugenie Bouchard 6-2,6-4 earlier.

Cibulkova reaches semis, Radwanska ends Azarenka's defense

Dominika Cibulkova followed up her victory over Maria Sharapova by crushing Simona Halep to reach the semi-finals of the Australian Open. The 24-year-old Slovakian's only previous grand slam semi-final came at the French Open in 2009 and she has never made a slam final. In the last four Cibulkova will play fifth seed Agnieszka Radwanska, who beat two time defending champion Victoria Azarenka 6-1,5-7,6-0.

Bouchard's run continues, Li beats Pennetta

Canadian teenager Eugenie Bouchard upset Serbia's Ana Ivanovic to advance to the semi-finals of the Australian Open.With Ivanovic twice requiring medical treatment on her right thigh late in the second set, Bouchard seized her opportunity, going on to win 5-7, 7-5, 6-2 in a match lasting two hours and 24 minutes. She will play her semi-final against another French Open champion, Li Na, who hammered Flavia Pennetta 6-2, 6-2 earlier on Wednesday.

Round 4 Results - Day 8

Dominika Cibulkova def. Maria Sharapova 3-6,6-4,6-1
Simona Halep def. Jelena Jankovic 6-4,2-6,6-0
Victoria Azarenka def. Sloane Stephens 6-3,6-2
Agnieszka Radwanska def. Garbine Muguruza 6-1,6-3

Ivanovic upsets Serena Williams

Former world number one, 2008 French Open champion, 14-seeded Ana Ivanovic ended Serena Williams' bid for a sixth Australian and 18th Grand Slam title with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory over the American on Rod Laver Arena. The American also had been on a winning streak of 25 matches coming into the championship. Ivanovic had never taken a set off the world No 1 in their previous four matches and the 2008 French Open winner had never beaten a top five player in a Grand Slam outside of French open. Ivanovic will play Eugenie Bouchard in the quarter finals to extend her win streak to 10-0

                                      Williams congratulating Ivanovic after the match at the net.

Bouchard creates history

Canada's Eugenie Bouchard became the first Canadian to reach a Grand Slam quarterfinal since Patricia Hy-Boulais at the 1992 US Open beating Australia's last hope Casey Dellacqua. Bouchard came back from a set down to take the Australian wild card 6-7,6-2,6-0.

Pennetta reaches first Aussie quarters, Li awaits

The 28th-seeded Flavia Pennetta, who turns 32 next month, has played some of the best tennis of her career since returning last year from a wrist injury that caused her ranking to drop as low as No. 166.
Pennetta reached her first Grand Slam semifinal at the U.S. Open last year and has followed that by reaching her first quarterfinal at Melbourne Park in 11 appearances. Pennetta will play  two-time finalist Li Na who has advanced to thequarterfinals for the third time in four years with a 6-2, 6-0 win in just 59 minutes over Ekaterina Makarova on Sunday.

Third round results - Day 6

Victoria Azarenka def. Yvonne Meusburger 6-0,6-1
Sloane Stephens def. Elina Svitolina 7-5,6-4
Garbine Muguruza def. Caroline Wozniacki 4-6,7-5,6-3
Agnieszka Radwanska def. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 5-7,6-2,6-2
Maria Sharapova def. Alize Cornet 6-1,7-6
Dominika Cibulkova def. Carla Suarez Navarro 6-1,6-0
Simona Halep def. Zarina Diyas 6-1,6-4
Jelena Jankovic def. Kurami Nara 6-4,7-5

Ivanovic beats Stosur in a thriller

Ana Ivanovic ended hopes of home favourite Sam Stosur to set up a fourth-round clash with Serena Williams at the Australian Open. Ivanovic recovered from losing a dramatic first set filled with tension, unconverted set points by both players and an interruption in the middle of a stirring tiebreak due to a heavy shower above the Rod Laver Arena. After losing the close opening set determine Serbian eventually grabbed next two sets for 6-7(8-10), 6-4, 6-2 victory under the roof of Rod Laver Arena. Ivanovic’s win sets up a fourth round clash against World No.1 and five-time champion Serena Williams on Sunday.

Ana Ivanovic leaves the court as rain suspends play in her third round match against Samantha Stosur.

Williams records 61th victory, Li survives

World number one and 5 time Australian open champion Serena Williams broke yet another record with match win No. 61 at the Australian Open, highest by any female tennis player, as she advanced to the fourth round with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Daniela Hantuchova. Two-time finalist Li Na, the major threat to top-ranked Williams in the top half of the women's draw, had to save a match point before coming back to beat No. 26-seeded Lucie Safarova 1-6, 7-6 (2), 6-3 in 2 hours, 37 minutes. Williams will play winner of Samantha Stosur and Ana Ivanovic in round of 16.

Azarenka through to round 3

Defending Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka booked a place in the third round with a hard-fought win against Czech Barbora Zahlavova Strycova on Thursday night. Azarenka, the second seed, overcame the world No. 84 6-1, 6-4 under the roof of Rod Laver Arena. Belorussian will take on either Yvonne Meusburger or Bojana Jovanovski in round round of 32.

More Second Round Results - Day 4

Slane Stephens def. Ajla Tomljanovic 3-6,6-2,7-5
Elina Svitolina def. Olivia Rogowska 6-4,7-5
Garbine Muguruza def. Anna Karolina Schmiedlova 6-3,6-3
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova def. Mandy Minella 6-2,6-2
Alize Cornet def. Camila Giorgi 6-3,4-6,6-4
Dominika Cibulkova def. Stefanie Vogele 6-0,6-1
Carla Suarez Navarro def. Galina Voskoboeva 7-6,3-6,8-6
Jelena Jankovic def. Ayumi Morita 6-2,6-0
Kurumi Nara def. Magdalena Rybarikova 6-4,6-3
Zarina Diyas def. Marina Erakovic 6-4,6-0
Simona Halep def. Varvara Lepchenko 4-6,6-0,6-1
Yvonne Meusburger def. Bojana Jovanovski 3-6,6-3,6-2

Wozniacki overcomes McHale, Radwanska advances

Carole Wozniacki of Denmark moves into the Australian Open third round after beating McHale 6-0, 1-6, 6-2 under the roof of Rod Laver Arena due to extreme heat conditions. Wozniacki is joined by Polish woman Agnieszka Radwanska who defeated Olga Govortsova of Belarus 6-0,7-5

Sharapova survives marathon second round

Maria Sharapova survived a scare to reach the Australian Open third round as the temperature exceeded 40C for the third consecutive day in Melbourne. Sharapova squandered three match points but eventually won 6-3 4-6 10-8 over Italian Karin Knapp.

Ivanovic storms past Beck, Stosur next

Former Australian open finalist Ana Ivanovic of Serbia powered past her second round opponent Annika Beck of Germany 6-1, 6-2 to reach third round. Ivanovic will face former US Open champion Samantha Stosur of Australia in next round. The 17th-seeded Stosur triumphed 6-2, 6-0 over Tsvetana Pironkova, the recent Sydeny winner.

More Second Round Results - Day 3

Lucie Safarova def. Lucie Hradecka 6-7,6-3,6-0
Alison Riske def. Yanina Wickmayer 6-1,6-1
Daniela Hantuchova def. Karolina Pliskova 6-3,3-6,12-10
Ekaterina Makarova def. Irina  Falconi 6-2,7-5
Flavia Pennetta def. MOnica Puig 6-3,6-4
Mona Barthel def. Luksika Kumkhum 4-6,6-3,6-4
Casey Dellacqua def. Kirsten Flipkens 6-3,6-0
Eugenie Bouchard def. Virginie Razzano 6-2,7-6
Zheng Jie def. Madison Keys 7-6,1-6,7-5
Laurin Davis def. Julia Goerges 7-5,2-6,6-4

Williams safely into round 3

  
Serena Williams continued her quest for a first Australian Open crown since 2010 with a 6-1 6-2 victory over Vesna Dolonc. 5 time champion at Melbourne park will play Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia who came through after a marathon encounter against Karolina Pliskova 6-3,3-6,12-10.

Kerber eases into third round

Angelique Kerber breezed into the third round of the Australian Open on Wednesday thanks to a comfortable win over Alla Kudryavtseva. The world number nine advanced from the second round encounter with a 6-4 6-2 straight-set victory at the expense of the Russian qualifier on the Margaret Court Arena.

Li advances, Lisicki bombs out

Fourth seed Li Na progressed to the third round of the Australian Open after a 6-0,7-6 victory against teenager Belinda Bencic. Bencic put up more of a challenge in the second set to force a tie-break but Li prevailed to win 6-0 7-6 (7-5). Last year's Wimbledon finalists 15th seed Sabine Lisicki bomb out in the second round to Monica Niculescu of Romania 2-6,6-2,6-2.

Former champ Sharapova wins

Third seed Maria Sharapova clawed her way into the Australian Open second round on Tuesday with a straight-sets win over Bethanie Mattek-Sands 6-3,6-4. Sharapova, who won the Australian Open in 2008 and made the final in 2007 and 2012, next plays Italy's Karin Knapp of Italy.

Radwanska survives Putintseva test, Jankvoic safely through

Agnieszka Radwanska came through a tough opening round match over Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan in Melbourne's blistering heat. The Pole bageled the 19 year old opponent but she fought back to clinch the second set 7-5 pushing the encounter to a surprised three setter. However after two hours and 22 minutes Radwanska captured the decider 6-2 to close out the encounter and place in second round, where she meets Olivia Rogowska of Belarus. Former number one 8th seed Jelena Jankovic eased past Misaki Doi of Japan in straight sets 6-1, 6-2 in just 74 minutes, and her opponent in the second round of the season’s first Grand Slam will be Ayumi Morita of Japan, who beat the Ukrainian Nadiya Kichenok by 6-2, 7-6 (7-5).


More First Round Results - Day 2

Zarina Diyas def. Katerina Siniakova 6-2,6-4
Kurumi Nara def. Shuai Peng 7-5,4-6,6-3
Varvara Lepchenko def. Lesia Tsurenko 2-6,6-3,6-4
Ayumi Morita def. Nadiya Kichenok 6-2,7-6
Magdalena Rybarikova def. Andrea Petkovic 6-2,6-3
Marina Erakovic def. Sorana Cirstea 6-4,7-6
Karin Knapp def. Paula Ormaechea 6-4,6-2
Olga Govortsova def. Yingying Duan 6-0,7-6
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova def. Teliana Pereira 7-6,6-4
Garbine Muguruza def. Kaia Kanepi 6-2,2-6,6-2
Anna Karolina Schemiedlove def. Timea Babos 4-6,6-4,7-5
Olivia Rogowska def. Mariana Duque 6-3,6-3
Ajla Tomljanovic def. Tadeja Majeric 3-6,7-6,6-4
Elina Svitolina def. Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-3,6-3
Bojana Jovanovski def. Jana Cepelova 6-7,6-1,6-3
Slonae Stephens def. Yaraslova Shvedova 7-6,6-3

Azarenka begins title defense, Wozniacki through

World number two and two time defending champion Victoria Azarenka of Belarus began her title defense with a 7-6,6-2 victory over Sweden's Johanna Larsson. Azarenka, winner of last two Australian opens, is bidding for the third consecutive title.Azarenka's next hurdle is Barbora Zahlavova-Strýcova who beat Su-wei Hsieh 6-1,4-6,6-1.

Former number one Caroline Wozniacki breezed past her opening round opponent Lourdes Dominguez Lino 6-0,6-2.

More First Round Results - Day 2

Carla Suarez Navarro def. Vania King 6-3,6-2
Alize Cornet def. Polona Hercog 1-0 ret.
Simona Halep def. Katarzyna Piter 6-0,6-1
Christina McHale def. Chan Yung-jan 7-5,6-4
Galina Voskoboeva def. Irina-Camelia Begu 7-5,4-6,7-5
Dominika Cibulkova def. Francesca Schiavone 6-3,6-4
Camila Giorgi def. Storm Sanders 4-6,6-1,6-4
Stefanie Vogele def. Kristina Mladenovic 7-5,7-5
Mandy Minella def. Carina Witthoft 6-1,6-4

Serena begins Aussie Open campaign

Top-ranked Serena Williams extended her winning streak to 23 matches and cruised into the second round of the Australian Open with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Australian wildcard entry Ashleigh Barty on Monday night. Williams' 6-2, 6-1 victory took only 57 minutes as she eased through to a second-round meeting with Serbia's Vesna Dolonc. Williams is bidding for her 6th Australian Open title.

Li cruises into round 2, Kerber struggles

Former French Open champion and twice runner up at Melbourne park, Li Na, stormed past last year's junior Australian open champion Ana Konjuh of Croatia 6-2, 6-0 in 61 minutes in the first round of Australian Open. Li will play Belinda Bencic who defeated Kimiko Date Krumm 6-4,4-6,6-3, who is 27 years older than her. Meanwhile in the opening match of the Rod Laver Arena, Germany's 9th seed Angelique Kerber came through after losing the second set 6-0 to Jermila Gajdosova of Australia. Gajdosova rolled her ankle in the first point of the second set however she was unstoppable in the set and didn't allow Kerber a single game. Kerber clinched the opening set 6-3 and the decider 6-2.

More First Round Results - Day 1

Karolina Pliskova def. Pauline Parmentier 6-0,6-1
Daniela Hantuchova def. Heather Watson 7-5,3-6,6-3
Medison Keys def. Patricia Mayr-Achleitner 6-2,6-7,9-7
Zheng Jie def. Robreta Vinci 6-4,6-3
Lucie Safarova def. Julia Glushko 7-5,3-6,6-1
Monica Niculescu def. Shahar Peer 6-4,6-1
Vesna Dolonc def. Lara Arruabarrena 2-6,6-2,6-4
Sabine Lisicki def. Mirjana Lucic-Baroni 6-2,6-1
Tsvetana Pironkova def. Silvia Soler Espinosa 6-3,6-2
Yaninca Wickmayer def. Dinah Pfizenmaier 7-6,6-3
Lauren Davis def. Sachia Vickery 6-3,6-3

Upsets on Magaret Court Arena

6th seed Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic and 7th seed Sara Errani of Italy crashed out of the first round of the Australian Open. Errani was outclassed by Julia Goerges 6-3,6-2 on MCA and later Kvitova joined the Italian when she fell to Thailand's Luksika KumKhum 6-2,1-6,6-4 on the same stadium. Earlier on MCA seven time grand slam champion Venus Williams suffered another early exit.

More First Round Results - Day 1

Alison Riske def. Elena Vesnina 6-2,6-2
Mona Barthel def. Shuai Zhang 7-6,6-3
Lucie Hradecka def. Donna Vekic 6-3,6-1
Alla Kudryavtseva def. Caroline Garcia 6-2,7-6
Flavia Pennetta def. Alexandra Cadantu 6-0,6-2
Monica Puig def. Anna Tatishvilli 6-2,6-4
Irinia Falconi def. Anabel Medina Garriguess 6-3,6-1
Eugenie Bouchard def Tan Haochen 7-5,6-1
Virginnie Razzano def. Alison Van Uytvanck 7-6,7-6

Ivanvoic moves past Bertens, Zvonareva's comeback ends

Ana Ivanovic beat Kiki Bertens of Netherlands 6-4,6-4 in the opening round of 2014 Australian open to begin her campaign at the first grand slam of the year. Recent Auckland champion struggled with her serve throughout the match but managed to close out the encounter in two sets over the error-prone Dutch. Former number one Ivanovic will take on Annika Beck of Germany in round 2 on Wednesday. Beck impressively defeated Petra Martic of Croatia in her opening round without dropping a game to score the first double bagel of the tournament.

Casey Dellacqua powered her way to an impressive 6-2, 6-2 victory over the former world Number 2 Vera Zvonareva from Russia. Dellacqua dominated the match against the 2010 Wimbledon and US Open runner-up, who is coming back to the competition after a soldier surgery. Another crowd favourite Sam Stosur beat Klara Zakopalova in straight sets 6-3,6-4.

Venus Williams crashes out in opening round

Seven time grand slam champion Venus Williams of the USA lost in the opening round of year's first grand slam to Russian Ekaterina Makarova 2-6,6-4,6-4. Williams, who took the first set solidly, blew 3-0 lead in the decider before failing to Makarova. Twice Australian open quarter finalist the No. 22-seeded Makarova upset Venus's younger sister Serena Williams in the fourth round at 2012 Aussie Open.

Muguruza captures Hobart title

Qualifier Garbine Muguruza of Spain defeated Klara Zakapalova of the Czech Republic 6-4, 6-0 to win the Hobart International on Saturday, her first WTA singles title. The 20-year-old Muguzura, who did not drop a set from the qualifiers to the final, joins 2012 champion Mona Barthel as the only qualifiers to win the Hobart event.

Pironkova wins Sydney final

Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova beat German fifth seed Angelique Kerber 6-4, 6-4 to secure her long-awaited first title after eight years in Sydney. The world number 107 is the first qualifier in more than three and half years to clinch a WTA premier level title. Kerber was Pironkova's third top-10 victim of the week, with the Bulgarian having also accounted for French Open runner-up Sara Errani and former Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova on her way to the title.

New Rankings - January 06 2014

Ivanovic beats Venus Williams, wins Auckland

Ana Ivanovic began the 2014 season in perfect fashion as she defeated seven-time Grand Slam champion, four time Olympic gold medalist and former world number Venus Williams 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 to win the ASB Classic title in Auckland in her first appearance. Ivanovic took a 5-3 lead in the second set and had a championship point but the experienced American saved it and came back to clinch the second set. The Serbian broke Williams early in the third set, which turned out to be the key break of the decider. The 26-year-old former French Open champion captures the 12th tournament win of her career and just the second win over Venus Williams.

Serena Williams defends Brisbane crown

World number one Serena Williams won the season-opening Brisbane International tennis tournament when she beat second seed Victoria Azarenka 6-4, 7-5 in 98 minutes. Williams, who also beat world number four Maria Sharapova in the semi-finals, did not drop a set on the way to the final.

Li wins all Chinese final in Shenzhen

Top-seeded Li Na defended her Shenzhen Open title on Saturday by defeating Peng Shuai 6-4, 7-5 in only the second all-Chinese final on the WTA Tour. Li captured her eighth career WTA title and first since Shenzhen last year.

Azarenka, Serena in Brisbane final

Victoria Azarenka defeated former world number one Jelena Jankovic 1-6,6-3,6-4 to reach final of Brisbane International. Azarenka will face world number one Serena Williams who out classed Russian Maria Sharapova 6-2,7-6. Williams is the defending champion of the event.

Ivanovic to clash Venus Williams in Auckland final

Ana Ivanovic of Serbia reached the final of ASB Classic, Auckland, after a sensational 6-0,7-6 victory over her this week's doubles partner Kirsten Flipkens of Belgium. The Serbian, who never dropped her serve in the two setter, heads into the final against 7 time grand slam champion Venus Williams of the USA. Venus Williams, former No. 1 now ranked 47th, was due to play fellow American Jamie Hampton in the semifinals however Hampton was forced to withdraw shortly before the semi final clash sending Williams into the final. Williams chose Auckland for her comeback after being sidelined by injuries since September.