Tennis

Casper Ruud won his second straight singles match of the season on Monday before backing up in the mixed doubles to steer Norway past Croatia at the United Cup.

In his first match of the new season, Djokovic eased past Zhang Zhizhen 6-3, 6-2 to give Serbia a 1-0 lead in its Group clash with China in Perth.

Rafael Nadal last played at the Australian Open a year ago where he suffered a second-round loss to America's Mackenzie McDonald.

Gauff could not become the first teen to win multiple matches at a WTA Finals since Serbian Ana Ivanovic in 2007.

Rawat was in his confident self while notching up a 6-1 6-4 victory over Suraj Prabodh in men's singles, while Ramanathan and Raja got the beating of Indo-Malaysian pair of Dev Javia and Mitsuki Wei Kang Leong 6-3 7-6 (4).

Ruud's Asian swing ended with a 6-3, 6-4 defeat to American world number 79 Giron in Tokyo. While Shelton reached the quarter-finals with a 6-7 (5/7), 6-4, 6-3 win over Australia's Thompson.

The 26th seed finally sealed a thrilling quarter-final on his sixth match point and plays Poland's 16th seed Hubert Hurkacz for a place in Sunday's final.

The Russian navigated an awkward first set before triumphing 7-6 (7/3), 6-3 and will face Ugo Humbert of France in the next round.

Felix Auger-Aliassime and Ben Shelton added a doubles win for Team World, who take a 10-2 lead into the final day.

Federer drew roars from the crowd at Rogers Arena where Team World, captained by Patrick McEnroe, swept Bjorn Borg's Team Europe on day one to take a 4-0 lead in the competition Federer helped create in 2017.

The 43-year-old Bopanna and Yuki Bhambri picked up a 6-2 6-1 win over Elliot Benchetrit and Younes Lalami Laaroussi of Morocco in one hour and 11 minutes at the Mini Stadium.

Defending champion Canada advanced to the Final 8 of the Davis Cup, while the United States was eliminated by Finland, which reached the quarterfinals for the first time with a 3-0 win.

The WTA suspended activities in China in December 2021, when former world doubles number one Peng briefly disappeared after making -- and then withdrawing -- accusations of sexual assault against a senior Chinese leader.

Sasikumar Mukund will kickstart India’s challenge in the Davis Cup World Group II tie against Morocco, taking on World No.557 Yassine Dlimi in the tie-opener.

The Netherlands registered a 2-1 victory over the United States in Group D in Split as Frances Tiafoe went down to Tallon Griekspoor 6-3, 6-7 (7), 7-6 (2).

Simona Halep has been handed a four-year ban from tennis for banned blood-booster roxadustat and on two separate anti-doping rule violations.