Maria Sharapova has her eyes set on another Grand Slam title

The world number five is returning to the WTA tour in time for the 2014 Brisbane International. The Russian was forced to withdraw from the US Open and the year end championships after suffering ongoing right shoulder injuries since last August.

The four time grand slam champion believes she can challenge her rivals, but she will need to work hard in order to compete with Serena Williams, Victoria Azarenka and LI Na who have played outstanding levels of competitive tennis this year.

The 26 year old is set to play an exhibition match next week in Colombia with former world number one Ana Ivanovic.

Sharapova first shot to success after winning Wimbledon at the young age of 17 nearly a decade ago. She has managed to gain the number one world rankings on five different occasions since 2005.

Icons, Rivals, Champions, Sisters

What were the chances of two sisters dreams of playing tennis and becoming world number ones actually coming true? Very slim but it happened for Venus (seven time grand slam champion) and Serena Williams (seventeen time grand slam champion) who have no doubt changed the the game of womens tennis forever.

The two sisters were coached by their father Richard and mother Oracene from a very young age at home in California. There has been a noted rivalry between the two players who have set up meeting with one another in eight grand slam finals. Both players have had runs at the top of the rankings. In 2002, following the French Open they were ranked number one and two respectively. In 2010 they also managed to become the world number one in doubles.

A decade later, Serena has attained the world number one spot yet again. She remains in a league of her own on the WTA tour after finishing up her most consistent season yet reaching thirteen finals and claiming eleven titles.

Venus on the hand, has slipped to number 47 in the world rankings due to ongoing back injuries. The former champion enjoyed her best run this season in reaching the semi final in Tokyo, beating world number two Victoria Azarenka in straight sets.

Venus Williams has stated she intends to play a lot more tennis next season kicking off the Hobart International in a bid to warm up for the Australian Open 2014.

After contributing so much to womens tennis it will be fascinating what the future holds for these two players who have made history.

Serena Williams advances to the WTA Championship Final

Defending champion Serena Williams was pushed to a three set battle with seventh seed Jelena Jankovic 6-4 2-6 6-4.

The Serb has been the only player so far in the tournament to take a set from Williams, in what turned out to be a dramatic semi final showdown in Istanbul.

The world number one, appeared out of form and at times vulnerable knocking up an unusual forty unforced errors.

“I’m just trying out here. My body is a little tired after so many matches but I’m fighting”

The world number one has set up a final showdown with Li Na who defeated Petra Kvitova in straight sets 6-4 6-2.

Related articles

• Serena Heads to the Finals (thasportsjunkies101.wordpress.com)
• Serena battles past Jankovic to make WTA final (metronews.ca)
• Li reaches WTA final, becomes highest ranked Asian (sbs.com.au)
• Serena favourite for Istanbul finale (bbc.co.uk)
• Li Over Kvitova (thasportsjunkies101.wordpress.com)
• Li Na reaches WTA Championships final (sbs.com.au)
• Serena Williams advances to the WTA Championships Finalser (tennisaceupdates.wordpress.com)
• Li Na to meet Serena Williams in first WTA final (dnaindia.com)
• Li Na reaches WTA Championships final (miamiherald.com)

Serena Williams wins her 56th WTA Career Title in Beijing

World number one Serena Williams defeated Jelana Jankovic in straight sets to win her second ever China Open title.

The Serb and former world number one put up a fight but in the end it was the unstoppable force of Serena Williams that came out victorious 6-2 6-2.

Jankovic the number eight seed fought a hard battle against Williams as it looked like a comeback was on the cards in the second set with Jankovic breaking early.

The scoreline did not reflect the level of competitive tennis in which was played in Beijing today. Both players were evidently in pain at periods throughout the match with both players having to request their coach. Williams hit twenty nine winners past Jankovic who hit just nine.

Serena Williams won her tenth title this year after capitalising on her third champion point against Jankovic the 2008 winner.

Jelana Jankovic through to her third final appearance at the China Open

The former world number one outplayed Petra Kvitova 6-7 6-1 6-1 to book her place in the final.

Both players played scenes of breathtaking tennis particularly within the first set with a twenty two stroke rally for a single point in the tie break.

Kvitova held her own by taking the first set 7-6.

But the serb came back strong in the second and third with constant breaks over a vulnerable looking Kvitova who hit multiple unforced errors.

Kvitova remains to lead in their head to head meeting by 2-1.

Jankovic will now play either Serena Williams or Agnieszka Radwanska in the final for a chance to claim her second title in Beijing.

Kvitova edges past Li Na in Quarter Final cliffhanger

Petra Kvitova has beaten Li Na to progress to the semi final of the China Open.

The three set miracle worker knocked the chinese player out on home soil 4-6 6-4 6-4.

Both players pulled off an outstanding display of tennis in front of 15000 spectators.

The chaos of the crowds clearly reached to an agitated Kvitova at times throughout the match in particular as the Czech lost her first match point.

The umpire was forced to intervene at times to remind the crowd to stay silent during play.

In the end it was Kvitova who came out glorious against Li Na who struggled with her first serve hitting a total of eleven unforced errors during the match.

Kvitova has set up a semifinal showdown with Jelana Jankovic. The serb and former world number one came through a three set battle with Lucia Safarova 6-7 6-4 6-4 earlier today.

Elsewhere today world number one Serena Williams knocked out sixth seed Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark 6-1 6-4.

Agnieszka Radwanska had a fight on her hands to eliminate Angelique Kerber of Germany. The pole let go of a 5-1 lead in the first set to enter in to a tie break.

Radwanska eventually rallied past her opposition with strong forehands and long rallies to secure a 7-6 6-4 win.

Radwanska will face Williams in the semifinal in their seventh meeting. Williams leads Radwanska 6-0 in their head to head meetings.

Sabine Lisicki advances at the China Open

The German needed little trouble in battling off Venus Williams 6-1 6-2.

Williams had exposed herself as a threat to this years Wimbledon finalist with her impressive run to the Semi final in Tokyo last week.

Lisicki was on top form knocking Venus out with a strong two handed backhand through the centre of the court.

Lisicki advances to a clash with fourth seed Na Li.

There were also wins for Serena Williams today who had to fight hard to get past Italian Francesca Schiavone 6-4 7-5.

Angelique Kerber easily advanced with a 6-1 6-2 victory over british player Laura Robson.

Eleventh seed Sloane Stephens pushed past Canadian Eugenie Bouchard in a three set battle 6-1 1-6 6-4.

British number one Laura Robson advances to the second round of the China Open

The 19 year old british teenager fought hard against Klara Zakopalova who is ranked 33 in the world.

Robson was pushed to a three set struggle 7-6 6-4 6-1.

She now faces Angelique Kerber of Germany in the second round.

Robson will be hoping to finish her season on a high following her success in reaching the fourth round of Wimbledon this year.

There was also wins for number one seed Serena Williams who beat Elena Vesnina 6-4 6-2.

Daniela Hantuchova failed to capitalise on her US open success where she had reached the quarter final crashing out to Na Li of China 6-0 6-4 in the first round in Beijing.

Samantha Stosur, Agnieszka Radwanska, Sara Errani, and Roberta Vinci have all advanced to the second round.

“Serena Williams best ever, but I am closing gap” according to Victoria Azarenka

Picking herself up from a second straight US Open final defeat, former world number 1 Victoria Azarenka believes she is catching up to her nemesis Serena Williams.

Speaking in an interview being held before her opening match at the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo. The two time Grand Slam champion recalled her 7-5 6-7 6-1 final defeat against Williams as a “learning experience”.

“Its just exciting to be in the era of somebody and competing with somebody who is considered the best ever and being their toughest opponent”

Vika was also quick to point out the fact she has had two victories over Serena this year, something in which no other player has achieved.

Proving that she is indeed the biggest threat to the 17 time Grand Slam winner.

Serena Williams still stands tall against this seasons biggest rivalry with a 13-3 win record against the Belarusian.

Meanwhile Williams has withdrawn from the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo to rest due to a considerable amount of tournaments played this year.

Maria Sharapova has also called time on the tournament in Japan due to ongoing shoulder injuries leaving Victoria Azarenka the number one seed and favourite to win the title.

Azarenka has set up a second round clash with Venus Williams.

Williams showing her old form easily advanced with a 6-3 6-1 win over Mona Barthel of Germany.