“I gave everything I have on the court this week,” said the 29-year-old Bautista Agut, who won his first Auckland title two years ago. “It was an unbelievable match today. I’ve been fighting a lot on the court…I played two amazing games at the [end] of the match.”

(2) Del Potro to start against the Shapovalov/qualifier winner…(5) Bautista Agut looking at a 2nd rd. American meeting with either last week’s Brisbane finalist Ryan Harrison or Steve Johnson…Wildcards went to Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas, New Zealand’s Michael Venus and China’s Wu Yibing…

Goerges’ brutal groundstrokes were on point throughout the two sets, cracking 41 winners to 23 unforced errors.

Sock said playing deeper into his ilness was like “an out of body experience,” adding, “I don’t feel like I’m really here.”

Maria Sharapova (left arm) and Simona Halep (Achilles) withdrew from Brisbane on Tuesday before playing a match. Sharapova, who was the Brisbane defending champ, in the off-season played the International Premier Tennis League, and now won’t play until the Australian Open

We thought Serena was all warm and fuzzy these days, hanging with bestie Caroline Wozniacki at the end of 2014, complimenting others, having charity events, showing her warm side, giving lollipops to children, but Evil Serena reared her head yesterday at the Hopman Cup when she choked the mixed doubles and called the chair umpire a liar! YOU’RE A LIAR! Here’s to an eventful 2015!

The week has been a great effort for Venus, but the American hasn’t been tested — at all. She has averaged losing fewer than four games per match this week, strolling into the final.

John Isner and Gael Monfils have withdrawn from Auckland.

Notes: Sam Stosur still injured?…Tough draws for (3) Vesnina against the Puerto Rican riser Puig, and (5) Pennetta against the former No. 1 Venus…Venus on the small-tournament guarantee-cash circuit this year?…Wildcards went to Aussies Casey Dellacqua, Olivia Rogowska and Storm Sanders…Storm Sanders is an awesome sports name, period…Pulling from the tournament were Nadia Petrova, Ashleigh Barty and Stefanie Voegele…Vesnina in last year’s final beat Barthel…Returning former champs in the field are Vesnina (2013), Barthel (2012), and Jie Zheng (2005).

Serena Williams continued her dominance over rival Maria Sharapova running her streak over the Russian to 14 straight. Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal were also winners on Friday.

Rafael Nadal advanced to the semifinals in Doha. In Brisbane tonight Roger Federer returns while Serena Williams takes on Maria Sharapova in the first big blockbuster match of the season.

David Ferrer is already into his second semifinal of the young 2013 season while Bernard Tomic stays hot in Sydney.

Venus Williams has withdrawn from Auckland.

Notes: (8) Lu opens against Simon, and (6) Lopez vs. (WC) Del Potro; other wildcards to Brit James Ward and Aussie Matthew Ebden; Baghdatis beat Gasquet in last year’s final; Del Potro makes his first tournament appearance since October and only his third in the last 11 months after a right wrist injury that required surgery; American Donald Young lost in the qualifying as did Aussie Carsten Ball; seeds Querrey, Gulbis and Lopez have losing career records in Sydney; the Bryan brothers, winners in 2009, are the top seeds in the doubles; Baghdatis, the only returning champ in the field, is looking to become the first back-to-back winner since James Blake (2007-06); Pete Sampras and Lleyton Hewitt (twice) won back-to-back titles, but no one has one three in a row in Sydney in the Open Era.

Roger and Rafa coming off the final at the cash-grab Abu Dhabi exo where Rafa won in two tiebreaks; organizers shelled out appearance money for world No. 1 Rafa and No. 2 Roger, but it falls off from there with No. 13 Tsonga the No. 3 seed; the Ukraine’s Sergei Bubka gets a wildcard; Federer likely to face two qualifiers in first two matches; Davydenko won the title last year, beating Roger and Rafa; returning champs in the field are Davydenko (2010) and Federer (2006-05).