Britain's Andy Murray says that it has been hard at times for him to stay motivated since he became world number one last year.

With its quicksilver conditions, quaint old-tech environment and a leviathan casting his shadow across centre court, the French Open is now the hardest grand slam title to win, says former champion and tennis great Mats Wilander.

Nick Kyrgios suffers a setback in his preparations for the French Open when he is sent packing from the Lyon Open by qualifier Nicolas Kicker.

Maria Sharapova's comeback from a doping ban will include an appearance at the Rogers Cup in August after the former world number one is granted a wild card by the organisers of the Toronto tournament.

Bruno Slastan has been first on court at the French Open on every day the tournament has hosted since 1989, using all his experience to prep the world's most celebrated clay surface for five hours before play starts.

Novak Djokovic makes a timely return to his brilliant best after a traumatic year and talks of rediscovering his lost "joy" for tennis as he thrashes Dominic Thiem to set up an Italian Open final meeting with young German Alexander Zverev.

Maria Sharapova has been granted a wildcard for next month's WTA grasscourt event in Birmingham, a key Wimbledon warm-up, organisers said Thursday.

Rafael Nadal eased into the last-16 of the Italian Open on Tuesday when his second-round opponent Nicolas Almagro retired after sustaining a knee injury early in the first set.

Maria Sharapova's racket sponsor backs French Open's decision to deny the former world number one a wildcard entry and blames the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) for her exclusion.

Both Bangladesh boys' and girls' teams moved into the semifinals of the ITF Asian Under-12 Tennis Team Competition in Nepal yesterday, said a press release from Bangladesh Tennis Federation.

Defending champion and world number one Andy Murray was swept aside by home favourite Fabio Fognini at the Italian Open on Tuesday, being completely outplayed in a 6-2 6-4 defeat.

Roger Federer has pulled out of this month's French Open as he feels he needs to avoid playing on clay this season in order to prolong his career, the 18-times grand slam champion said on Monday.

Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal have returned to tennis in blistering form this season because they were able to recharge during injury layoffs last year, former world number two Alex Corretja has said.

Roger Federer has pulled out of this month's French Open as he feels he needs to avoid playing on clay this season in order to prolong his career, the 18-times grand slam champion said on Monday.

Former world number one Maria Sharapova says she is not looking too far ahead after returning from a doping suspension but concedes she is eager to be competing for the biggest titles in tennis again.

The head of women's tennis has condemned Madrid Open organisers for allowing controversial Romanian Fed Cup captain Ilie Nastase to take part in the trophy presentation ceremony following Saturday's final.

Delwar Hossain of Narshingdi Tennis Club beat Arif Hossain of American Club in straight sets to clinch the men's singles title of the Swiss Paper Independence Day Tennis Tournament, which concluded at the Ramna National Tennis Complex yesterday.

Former world number one Martina Navratilova has urged players to stop focusing on Maria Sharapova after the Russian's recent return from a 15-month doping ban.

The level of media coverage surrounding Maria Sharapova's return to tennis from a doping suspension has been a key factor in the five-time grand slam winner being offered wildcards to events, men's world number one Andy Murray has said.

Eugenie Bouchard claimed plenty of other players on the WTA Tour share her outspoken views on Maria Sharapova's return from an 15-month doping ban, but are too "scared" to speak out.