BELINDA BENCIC

Iga Swiatek is winning easily — and quietly.

The talk of tennis — and beyond — for most of the past three weeks has been about Serena Williams and her announcement that she is planning to stop playing professional tennis.

The first three nights of the US Open are sold out, according to the U.S. Tennis Association.

MASON, Ohio — (AP) — Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka was eliminated by Shuai Zhang, 6-4, 7-5, in the first round of the Western & Southern Open on Tuesday. The tournament outside Cincinnati lost another big name, Coco Gauff, when she retired from her match against qualifier Marie Bouzkova with a left ankle injury. Belinda Bencic, who beat Serena Williams last week in Canada, fell to Sorana Cirstea, 6-2, 6-7 (3), 6-4. The 22-time Grand Slam champion is scheduled to play a second-round match on Wednesday. In a men’s first-round match, Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios beat Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 7-5, 6-4.

Serena Williams has fallen to 0-2 in matches since announcing “the countdown has begun” on her career.

Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka was eliminated by Shuai Zhang, 6-4, 7-5, in the first round of the Western & Southern Open on Tuesday. The tournament outside Cincinnati lost another big name, Coco Gauff, when she retired from her match against qualifier Marie Bouzkova with a left ankle injury. Gauff had her ankle taped after the first set and dropped out after the first game of the second set.

Toronto Tennis Serena Williams, of the United States, watches a return to Belinda Bencic, of Switzerland, during the National Bank Open tennis tournament Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022, in Toronto. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP) (Chris Young)MASON, Ohio — (AP) — Serena Williams' opening match in the Western & Southern Open has been rescheduled from Monday to Tuesday. The 40-year-old Williams, preparing to retire, is set to face 19-year-old Emma Raducanu, the defending U.S. Open champion. Williams lost 6-2, 6-4 to Belinda Bencic on Wednesday night in Toronto in her first match since she elaborated on her future plans. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

Toronto Tennis Serena Williams, of the United States, his a backhand to Belinda Bencic, of Switzerland, during the National Bank Open tennis tournament Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022, in Toronto. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP) (Nathan Denette)TORONTO — (AP) — Serena Williams has lost her first match since telling the world she is ready to leave professional tennis. The second-round match at the hard-court tuneup for the U.S. Open came a day after the 40-year-old Williams announced "the countdown has begun" on her playing career, saying she wants to have another child and pursue business interests. ___More AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsCopyright 2022 The Associated Press. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

Serena Williams has lost her first singles match in nearly a year.

Karen Khachanov has become the first man at this year’s French Open to eliminate an opponent seeded in the top 12.

Rising star Carlos Alcaraz has saved a match point in the fourth set and erased an early deficit in the fifth to overcome Albert Ramos-Vinolas 6-1, 6-7 (7), 5-7, 7-6 (2), 6-4 at the French Open.

Rafael Nadal reached 300 career Grand Slam match victories by beating Corentin Moutet 6-3, 6-1, 6-4 in the second round of the French Open at Roland Garros.

Once is enough when it comes to beating Rafael Nadal on a clay court.

John Isner believes in his chances against Rafael Nadal in the second round of the Italian Open.

Iga Swiatek ended her journey to the women’s No. 1 ranking in fitting fashion.

The unseeded Osaka will meet second-seeded Iga Swiatek in the Miami Open women’s final. 1-ranked player against the woman who will replace the now-retired Ash Barty atop the women’s rankings on Monday. “A lot of people have been telling me, ‘You’re back’ and stuff like that,” Osaka told reporters after qualifying for the final. She is 16-0 since and on the brink of completing the Sunshine Double — championships at both Indian Wells and Miami. 6 seed Casper Ruud earned the first spot in the title match by defeating Francisco Cerundolo 6-4, 6-1 in Friday’s semifinals.

Naomi Osaka is playing her first final in more than a year on Saturday, which sounds like a comeback story.

The unseeded Osaka defeated No. 22 Belinda Bencic 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 on Thursday in the Miami Open semifinals. It has been a long, trying and often emotional ride for Osaka since her win in the 2018 U.S. Open final over Serena Williams. 1-ranked women's player in the world next week — were meeting in the other women's semifinal on Thursday night. “Every muscle just went ‘cramp, cramp, cramp, cramp,'" Medvedev said.

Naomi Osaka has reached a championship match for the first time since the 2021 Australian Open.

Making the quarterfinals at a tournament used to be no big deal for Naomi Osaka.

Daniil Medvedev never gave Andy Murray a chance.

Australian Open Tennis Amanda Anisimova of the U.S. celebrates after defeating Belinda Bencic of Switzerland in their second round match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022. The 20-year-old American took less than 90 minutes to beat Olympic gold medalist Belinda Bencic 6-2, 7-5 to set up a potential third-round match against defending Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka. Anisimova warmed up for her 12th Grand Slam appearance by winning five matches and the title at a WTA 250 tune-up event at Melbourne Park earlier this month. Djokovic, a nine-time champion at Melbourne Park, couldn't play after having his visa canceled for failing to meet Australia's strict COVID-19 vaccination regulations. In other early second-round results on Day 3 of the year’s first tennis Grand Slam event, two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka beat Jil Teichmann 6-1, 6-2, and No.

Australian Open Tennis Naomi Osaka of Japan plays a forehand return to Camila Osorio of Colombia during their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 17, 2022. (AP Photo/Hamish Blair) (Hamish Blair)MELBOURNE, Australia — (AP) — The Australian Open started Monday without nine-time champion Novak Djokovic and, finally, the focus was on forehands and backhands instead of his fight to avoid deportation because he isn't vaccinated against COVID-19. After winning here last year, capturing her second Australian Open title in three years, the four-time major winner pulled out of the 2021 French Open before the second round, then sat out Wimbledon. “It just feels really nice to start the year with this tournament,” Osaka said in a post-match, on-court interview. It began when he was granted an exemption to strict vaccination rules by two medical panels and Tennis Australia in order to play in the Australian Open.

Australian Open Tennis Maria Sakkari of Greece waves after defeating Tatjana Maria of Germany in their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 17, 2022. (AP Photo/Hamish Blair) (Hamish Blair)MELBOURNE, Australia — (AP) — The Latest on Monday from the Australian Open at Melbourne Park (all times local):___1:20 p.m.Fifth-seeded Maria Sakkari beat Tatjana Maria 6-4, 7-6 (2) in the first match completed on the main show court in the first Grand Slam tournament of the year. Women’s defending champion Naomi Osaka was scheduled to play the second match on Rod Laver Arena, followed by Rafael Nadal. Showing evidence of vaccination has been a requirement for all those entering Melbourne Park on Day 1 of the Australian Open, the morning after nine-time champion Novak Djokovic was deported for not meeting the country’s strict COVID-19 vaccination rules. Fifth-seeded Maria Sakkari is playing Tatjana Maria in the opening match on Rod Laver Arena.

The Australian Open has started without nine-time champion Novak Djokovic.

Defending champion Naomi Osaka has had a relatively trouble-free 6-3, 6-3 win over Camila Osorio in her first-round match on Rod Laver Arena.

SYDNEY — (AP) — Canada's Denis Shapovalov has announced he has tested positive for COVID-19 after arriving in Sydney for the ATP Cup. Shapovalov played last week at the World Tennis Championship exhibition event in Abu Dhabi, where he beat Rafael Nadal in the third-place playoff match. Nadal also tested positive for the coronavirus after playing at the tournament, as did Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Belinda Bencic and Tunisian Ons Jabeur. Former world No.10 Shapovalov said on social media he is in isolation and experiencing only minor symptoms. “Hi everyone, just wanted to update you that upon my arrival in Sydney, I tested positive for COVID,” Shapovalov said.

Russia has won both singles matches to defeat Switzerland 2-0 in the final of the Billie Jean King Cup to claim the trophy for the fifth time.

Unseeded Shelby Rogers saved 7 of 8 break points and put together a 6-4, 7-5 victory over 2019 U.S. Open champion Bianca Andreescu on Wednesday to reach the third round of the Chicago Fall Classic. The 43rd-ranked Rogers, a 28-year-old from South Carolina, picked up her sixth victory of the season against a member of the Top 20, including an upset of No. 1 Ash Barty at Flushing Meadows last month. Beating the eighth-seeded Andreescu made Rogers 24-19 in 2021, giving her a career high for wins in a season.

APTOPIX US Open Tennis Alexander Zverev, of Germany, returns a shot to Lloyd Harris, of South Africa, during the quarterfinals of the US Open tennis championships, Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola) (Elise Amendola)NEW YORK — (AP) — The Latest on the U.S. Open tennis tournament (all times local):___6 p.m.Coco Gauff and Caty McNally knocked off the top-seeded team of Elise Mertens and Hsieh Su-wei to reach the women's doubles semifinals. With Leylah Fernandez and Emma Raducanu in the women's singles semifinals, Gauff 17, and McNally, 19, added to the success of teenagers in the U.S. Open. ___4:10 p.m.Olympic gold medalist Alexander Zverev has made it back to the U.S. Open semifinals a year after finishing as the runner-up at the hard-court Grand Slam tournament. ___12:35 p.m.Emma Raducanu is trying to become the second teenager in the women's semifinals at the U.S. Open.

APTOPIX US Open Tennis Emma Raducanu, of Great Britain, reacts after defeating Belinda Bencic, of Switzerland, during the quarterfinals of the US Open tennis championships, Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2021, in New York. “My flights were booked at the end of qualifying,” Raducanu said with a chuckle Wednesday, “so it’s a nice problem to have." “Somehow managed to win that first set,” Zverev said. By the end against the 11th-seeded Bencic, a U.S. Open semifinalist in 2019, Raducanu had nearly twice as many winners as unforced errors, 23-12. “I haven’t actually called my parents for quite a while,” Raducanu said with a sheepish smile and a roll of her eyes.

APTOPIX US Open Tennis Alexander Zverev, of Germany, returns a shot to Lloyd Harris, of South Africa, during the quarterfinals of the US Open tennis championships, Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2021, in New York. Zverev lost to Dominic Thiem in a fifth-set tiebreaker in last year’s championship match at Flushing Meadows after taking the first two sets. Zverev then took leads of 3-0 in the second set and 4-0 in the third. ___1:40 p.m.Emma Raducanu became the second teenager to reach the U.S. Open semifinals in two days, upsetting Olympic gold medalist Belinda Bencic 6-3, 6-4. Fourth-seeded Alexander Zverev, the men's gold medalist in Tokyo, faces unseeded Lloyd Harris in the other quarterfinal.

US Open Tennis Emma Raducanu, of Great Britain, reacts after defeating Belinda Bencic, of Switzerland, during the quarterfinals of the US Open tennis championships, Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2021, in New York. 17 seed Maria Sakkari of Greece, a semifinalist at this year's French Open, on Thursday for a spot in the final. By the end against the 11th-seeded Bencic, a U.S. Open semifinalist in 2019, Raducanu had nearly twice as many winners as unforced errors, 23-12. From there, Raducanu reeled off five games in a row to take the opening set, the first dropped by Bencic all tournament. When Bencic double-faulted to get broken and fall behind 3-2 in the second set, she trudged, slow as can be, to a corner of the court to retrieve her towel.

British teenager Emma Raducanu has become the first qualifier in the professional era to reach the U.S. Open semifinals.

Novak Djokovic will take his Grand Slam bid into the U.S. Open semifinals.

US Open Tennis Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, returns against Jenson Brooksby, of the United States, during the fourth round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Monday, Sept. 6, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) (John Minchillo)NEW YORK — (AP) — The Latest on the U.S. Open tennis tournament (all times local):___8:55 p.m.Novak Djokovic has evened his riveting fourth-round match against American Jenson Brooksby at one set apiece. Trying to complete the first calendar-year Grand Slam by a man since 1969, Djokovic shook off the loss of an exhausting 24-point game that cut his lead to 3-2. Djokovic is trying to win the calendar-year Grand Slam. Another player advanced to his first Grand Slam quarterfinal when unseeded Lloyd Harris handled Reilly Opelka’s big serve and eliminated the No.

US Open Tennis Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, returns against Jenson Brooksby, of the United States, during the fourth round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Monday, Sept. 6, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) (John Minchillo)NEW YORK — (AP) — The Latest on the U.S. Open tennis tournament (all times local):___7:55 p.m.Jenson Brooksby has won the first set against No. Djokovic is trying to win the calendar-year Grand Slam. Another player advanced to his first Grand Slam quarterfinal when unseeded Lloyd Harris handled Reilly Opelka’s big serve and eliminated the No. ___2:45 p.m.Alexander Zverev is into the U.S. Open quarterfinals with his 15th straight victory.

US Open Tennis Emma Raducanu, of Britain, reacts to winning a point against against Shelby Rogers, of the United States, during the fourth round of the US Open tennis championships, Monday, Sept. 6, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) (Seth Wenig)NEW YORK — (AP) — The Latest on the U.S. Open tennis tournament (all times local):___4:25 p.m.Emma Raducanu has gone all the way from the U.S. Open qualifying rounds to the quarterfinals. Raducanu reached the fourth round at Wimbledon and has gone a step further in the year’s last Grand Slam tournament, becoming just the third female qualifier to reach the U.S. Open quarterfinals in the professional era. 1 seed Ash Barty in the last round, jumped to a 2-0 lead before Raducanu won the next 11 games. ___2:45 p.m.Alexander Zverev is into the U.S. Open quarterfinals with his 15th straight victory.

US Open Tennis Alexander Zverev, of Germany, celebrates after winning his match against Jannik Sinner, of Italy, in the fourth round of the US Open tennis championships, Monday, Sept. 6, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) (Seth Wenig)NEW YORK — (AP) — Alexander Zverev and Belinda Bencic want a trophy in their hands to go with the gold medals they had around their necks. The Tokyo Olympics tennis champions both moved into the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open on Monday, getting a step closer to their first Grand Slam titles. Bencic also had her best result in a major at the U.S. Open, reaching the semifinals in 2019 in her last appearance. ___More AP tennis coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsCopyright 2021 The Associated Press.

Novak Djokovic has extended his pursuit of the first calendar-year Grand Slam in men's tennis since 1969 by beating the last U.S. singles player at the U.S. Open.

US Open Tennis Alexander Zverev, of Germany, returns a shot against Jannik Sinner, of Italy, during the fourth round of the US Open tennis championships, Monday, Sept. 6, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) (Seth Wenig)NEW YORK — (AP) — The Latest on the U.S. Open tennis tournament (all times local):___2:45 p.m.Alexander Zverev is into the U.S. Open quarterfinals with his 15th straight victory. Zverev started his winning streak at the Olympics, where he beat top-ranked Novak Djokovic in the semifinals en route to the gold medal. 7 seed from Poland who won last year's French Open, was the only women's player to reach the fourth round in every major this year. He will become the first man to win all four in the same year since 1969 if he wins the U.S. Open.

US Open Tennis Belinda Bencic, of Switzerland, returns a shot against Iga Swiatek, of Poland, during the fourth round of the US Open tennis championships, Monday, Sept. 6, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola) (Elise Amendola)NEW YORK — (AP) — The Latest on the U.S. Open tennis tournament (all times local):___1:30 p.m.Belinda Bencic is back into the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open. Bencic was a semifinalist at the U.S. Open in 2019, the last time she played. 7 seed from Poland who won last year's French Open, was the only women's player to reach the fourth round in every major this year. ___More AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsCopyright 2021 The Associated Press.

Maria Sakkari has eliminated 2019 champion Bianca Andreescu in the latest-finishing women’s match in tournament history to reach the U.S. Open quarterfinals for the first time.

US Open Tennis Emma Raducanu, of Great Britain, returns a shot to Sara Sorribes Tormo, of Spain, during the third round of the US Open tennis championships, Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) (Seth Wenig)NEW YORK — (AP) — The Latest on the U.S. Open tennis tournament (all times local):___4:45 p.m.Emma Raducanu continues to roll at the U.S. Open, using a straight-sets victory to advance to the fourth round. Raducanu, who was born in Canada and represents Britain, is into the fourth round at the U.S. Open after getting to Week 2 of Wimbledon in her major debut at age 18. ___2 p.m.Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Belinda Bencic and French Open semifinalist Maria Sakkari are back in the fourth round at Flushing Meadows after straight-set victories. Next for her will be a match against either two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova or 17th-seeded Maria Sakkari.

US Open Tennis Oscar Otte, of Germany, reacts during a first round match with Lorenzo Sonego, of Italy, during the first round of the US Open tennis championships, Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2021, in New York. It's also the first time at any Grand Slam tournament that three male qualifiers reached Week 2 since the 1995 French Open. He is the lowest-ranked man to get to the fourth round in New York since No. Bencic was a semifinalist at the 2019 U.S. Open for her best Grand Slam showing. Also on Saturday's schedule on a sunny day: 2019 U.S. Open champion Bianca Andreescu.

US Open Tennis Bianca Andreescu, of Canada, reacts after defeating Greet Minnen, of Belgium, during the third round of the US Open tennis championships, Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) (Seth Wenig)NEW YORK — (AP) — The Latest on the U.S. Open tennis tournament (all times local):___2 p.m.Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Belinda Bencic and French Open semifinalist Maria Sakkari are back in the fourth round at Flushing Meadows after straight-set victories. Bencic was a semifinalist at the 2019 U.S. Open for her best Grand Slam showing. ___12:25 p.m.Bianca Andreescu is now 10-0 for her U.S. Open career and back in the fourth round of the tournament she won in 2019. Also on Saturday's schedule on a sunny day: 2019 U.S. Open champion Bianca Andreescu.

Emma Raducanu continues to roll at the U.S. Open, using a straight-sets victory to advance to the fourth round.

Novak Djokovic has moved into the third round of the U.S. Open as he tries to complete a calendar-year Grand Slam and collect a 21st major championship.

Maxime Cressy had heard people chanting his name in college, when he twice clinched big wins against his rival school.

Cincinnati Tennis Ashleigh Barty, of Australia, holds the trophy after defeating Jil Teichmann, of Switzerland, to win the women's single final of the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament, Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021, in Mason, Ohio. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) (Darron Cummings)MASON, Ohio — (AP) — Top-ranked Ash Barty won her fifth title of the season, taking eight of the last nine games from wild card Jil Teichmann for a 6-3, 6-1 victory in the Western & Southern Open final on Sunday. Teichmann had a surprising run to the final, upsetting second-ranked Naomi Osaka, Olympic gold medalist Belinda Bencic and fourth-ranked Karolina Pliskova. “This is where you belong,” Barty said to Teichmann during the post-match ceremony. ___More AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsCopyright 2021 The Associated Press.

Ash Barty bounced back from a disappointing loss at the Tokyo Olympics.

Novak Djokovic is leaving the Olympics without a medal.

Katie Ledecky made more history for the U.S. in the pool.

(AP Photo/Michel Euler) (Michel Euler)PARIS — (AP) — The Latest on the French Open (all times local):___4:45 p.m. The new doubles partnership of Venus Williams and Coco Gauff didn’t go very far at the French Open. It marked the first time that Williams had played a Grand Slam doubles match with anyone but her sister. She and Serena Williams have won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles. ___3:40 p.m.Swiss qualifier Henri Laaksonen upset 11th-seeded Roberto Bautista Agut in their second-round match at the French Open.

France Tennis French Open Switzerland's Henri Laaksonen reacts as he defeats Germany's Yannick Hanfmann during their first round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium Sunday, May 30, 2021 in Paris. (AP Photo/Michel Euler) (Michel Euler)PARIS — (AP) — The Latest on the French Open (all times local):___3:40 p.m.Swiss qualifier Henri Laaksonen upset 11th-seeded Roberto Bautista Agut in their second-round match at the French Open. ___1:40 p.m.Sixth-seeded Alexander Zverev hit 15 aces on his way to the third round at the French Open. The Swiss player has never progressed past the third round at the French Open in five appearances. ___11 a.m.Serena Williams resumes her quest for a fourth French Open title against yet another Romanian opponent.

Serena Williams had her serve back in good working order and that helped her get back to the third round of the French Open.

France Tennis French Open Germany's Alexander Zverev plays a return to Russia's Roman Safiullin during their second round match on day four of the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, Wednesday, June 2, 2021. (AP Photo/Michel Euler) (Michel Euler)PARIS — (AP) — The Latest on the French Open (all times local):1:40 p.m.___Sixth-seeded Alexander Zverev hit 15 aces on his way to the third round at the French Open. The Swiss player has never progressed past the third round at the French Open in five appearances. ___11 a.m.Serena Williams resumes her quest for a fourth French Open title against yet another Romanian opponent. The seventh-seeded Williams plays Mihaela Buzarnescu for a spot in the third round at Roland Garros.

France Tennis French Open United States Serena Williams prepares to serve to Romania's Irina-Camelia Begu during their first round match on day two of the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, Monday, May 31, 2021. (AP Photo/Michel Euler) (Michel Euler)PARIS — (AP) — The Latest on the French Open (all times local):___12:35 p.m.Tenth-seeded Belinda Bencic's campaign at Roland Garros is over. The Swiss player has never progressed past the third round at the French Open in five appearances. ___11 a.m.Serena Williams resumes her quest for a fourth French Open title against yet another Romanian opponent. The seventh-seeded Williams plays Mihaela Buzarnescu for a spot in the third round at Roland Garros.

He reached the fourth round at Melbourne Park for the 14th time in 16 trips. The top-seeded Australian beat Ekaterina Alexandrova of Russia 6-2, 6-4 to reach the fourth round of the Australian Open for the third straight year. The seventh-seeded Rublev will meet Casper Ruud of Norway in the fourth round. 5 seed Stefanos Tsitsipas beat Mikael Ymer of Sweden 6-4, 6-1, 6-1 in the third round. ___3:35 p.m.Unseeded American Mackenzie McDonald has matched his best Grand Slam result by reaching the round of 16 at the Australian Open.

Italian tennis player Simone Bolelli, left, and Argentina's Maximo Gonzalez are escorted to their training session in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 18, 2021. (Luis Ascui/AAP Image via AP)With no way out, tennis players in lockdown are figuring out ways to keep themselves fit within the confines of their Melbourne hotel rooms as they prepare for the Australian Open. Angelique Kerber, who won the Australian Open in 2016, spent her birthday in quarantine on Monday. But local government, tennis and health authorities have said all players were warned of the risks well in advance. “We’ve got to do whatever we can to make it as fair as possible for those players that are in lockdown.”___More AP tennis: https://apnews.com/apf-Tennis and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Italian tennis player Simone Bolelli, left, and Argentina's Maximo Gonzalez are escorted to their training session in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 18, 2021. The number of players in hard quarantine swelled to 72 ahead of the Australian Open after a fifth positive coronavirus test was returned from the charter flights bringing players, coaches, officials and media to Melbourne for the season-opening tennis major. Some players have expressed anger at being classified as close contacts merely for being on board those flights with people who later tested positive. But local government, tennis and health authorities have said all players were warned of the risks in advance. The Australian Open starts Feb. 8 following a week of warmup tournaments at Melbourne Park and the ATP Cup.

World No.1 Ashleigh Barty and defending champion Elina Svitolina will face off for the richest prize in tennis after the pair came through tough three-set semifinals at the WTA Finals in China Saturday. (Olive Brunskill/Getty Images)(CNN) - World No.1 Ashleigh Barty and defending champion Elina Svitolina will face off for the richest prize in tennis after the pair came through tough three-set semifinals at the WTA Finals in China Saturday. It's an opportunity against a really tough player," said Barty. READ: Svitolina advances as injured Andreescu forced outREAD: Barty into last four as dream season continuesClearly troubled, Bencic tried to shorten the rallies, but the counter punching skills of Svitolina saw her level at one set all. Visit CNN.com/tennis for more news, features and videosWith the momentum shifting, Barty broke Pliskova in the next game and never looked back.

(CNN) - Naomi Osaka got her WTA Finals campaign off to a winning start by defeating Petra Kvitova 7-6 4-6 6-4 in an epic battle that lasted two hours, 39 minutes. In a repeat of this year's Australian Open final, when Osaka won the second Grand Slam of her career, the world No. She then lost the second set having led by a break, but controlled the final set to record her first WTA Finals victory having lost all three of her matches last year in Singapore. READ: Top eight women compete for record $14 million at WTA Finals"I'm not great at first rounds," said Osaka after the match. Osaka and Kvitova were competing in a round-robin group that also includes Asheligh Barty and Belinda Bencic, who went head-to-head in Sunday's second game.

Serena Williams moved into a 10th US Open final and picked up a record-equaling 101st win in New York by routing Elina Svitolina 6-3, 6-1. On the other side of the net will be fellow North American Bianca Andreescu, the 19-year-old Canadian who rallied to defeat Belinda Bencic 7-6(3) 7-5 and make a maiden grand slam final. Williams booked a spot in the final almost exactly 20 years after appearing in her first grand slam final at the 1999 US Open, before Andreescu was even born. Williams was once unbeatable in grand slam finals, winning eight straight from 2012-2015. If she upsets Williams, Andreescu would become her country's first grand slam singles champion and the first female teen to win a major since Maria Sharapova at the 2006 US Open.

Naomi Osaka is eliminated from the U.S. Open by Belinda Bencic. FLUSHING, N.Y. - Naomi Osaka authored an indelible mark on the US Open when she comforted the sport's newest sensation, Coco Gauff, following their highly anticipated third-round match. Osaka entered the US Open under an injury cloud, having retired at her previous event in Cincinnati with a knee injury two weeks ago. Bencic, 22, has had plenty of injury problems herself, so the win over Osaka is sure to be even sweeter for her. In her maiden grand slam quarterfinal, Vekic might have the edge over Bencic since she prevailed when they met at the French Open.