A battle of former champions went decidedly one way, and that way wasn’t Serena Williams’s. Johanna Konta destroyed the former No. 1 6-1, 6-0 in the first round at San Jose last night.

Serena won the first game then Konta reeled off 12 straight. The Brit who won the tournament in 2016, controlled the baseline and moved the 36-year-old Serena with ease around the court.

“It’s an absolute privilege to be on …

Former champions Serena Williams and Johanna Konta will meet in a tasty first rounder at the new San Jose event. Serena beat Konta in their only meeting in the 2017 Australian Open quarterfinals.

Konta won the title in 2016 while Serena took the crown in 2011, 2012 and 2014. She’s won her last 13 matches at the event which just moved from Stanford to its new home a half hour away …

Andy Murray was on the brink of a third straight early loss Monday night in Washington. Facing Mackenzie McDonald, Murray was down a set and a break point late in the second before recovering to win 3-6, 6-4, 7-5 in 2 hours, 37 minutes.

Murray led early with a break but fell apart allowing the American to string together a run of games to take the opener. He settled down in …

Still just 21, Alexander Zverev has a long way to go. And the German star says he’s always improving. A year ago, Zverev was 36-13 with three titles and held a ranking of No. 8.

This week he enters Washington 36-11 with two titles and a No. 3 ranking. And he comes in as the defending champion after beating Kevin Anderson it the final last year.

While he’s recorded the same number …

Following a false start at Wimbledon, Andy Murray makes his hard court debut tonight in Washington D.C. where he’ll face former UCLA standout Mackenzie McDonald. Murray is playing just his third event of the year after Queen’s and Eastbourne, and it’s his first hard court tournament since Indian Wells last year.

But Murray, who underwent hip surgery in January, says things are progressing.

“It’s feeling better all the time,” Murray told the …

No. 81 Nikoloz Basilashvili beat two-time Hamburg titlist Leonardo Mayer 6-4, 0-6, 7-5 on Sunday to become the first Georgian to win an ATP title.

“I’m extremely tired, I played seven matches. I literally gave, in every match, my heart,” Basilashvili said afterwards. “I’m pretty sure every player worked so hard for this, but it’s an unbelievable moment for me.”

Basilashvili improved to 2-2 in career finals, also winning in Hamburg …

Top-seeded American John Isner won his fifth BB&T Atlanta Open title on Sunday, defeating compatriot Ryan Harrison in the final for the second straight year 5-7, 6-3, 6-4.

The 33-year-old won his second ATP title of the year after the Miami Open in April.

The No. 8-seeded Harrison fell to 1-3 in career finals, also losing in the Brisbane championship in January.

Harrison won the first set for the first time in the …

Teenager Olga Danilovic lost in the qualifying, but then as a “lucky loser” into the main draw became the first player in Open Era history to win a title with such a designation, claiming the Moscow River Cup trophy.

The 17-year-old Serbian in the final beat fellow 17-year-old Anastasia Potapova, a wild card from Russia, 7-5, 6-7(1), 6-4 for her first WTA title.

“Yesterday, I said, ‘This is the final, and this …

Both Williams sisters and a slew of former No. 1s make San Jose a formidable field next week.

Garbine Muguruza, the top seed, starts against a former No. 1.

Here’s a look at the field:

MUBADALA SILICON VALLEY CLASSIC
SAN JOSE, Calif., USA; Surface: Hard

Seeds: Garbine Muguruza, Madison Keys, Venus Williams, Elise Mertens, Mihaela Buzarnescu, Serena Williams, Zhang Shuai, Timea Babos

Floaters: Victoria Azarenka, Kristina Mladenovic, Johanna Konta

Notes:

The Top 4 seeds receive opening-round …

Like many players on the ATP tour, Steve Johnson is saving some of his best tennis for his latter years.

The 28-year-old won the Newport Dell Technologies Hall of Fame Open on Sunday, the first times he’s won two titles in one year, adding to his Houston title during the claycourt season.

In the final he defeated first-time ATP finalist Ramkumar Ramanathan 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 for his fourth career title.

With few points …

Marco Cecchinato beat Argentine Guido Pella 6-2, 7-6(4) to take the title Sunday at the Plava Laguna Croatia Open in Umag.

It was the Italian’s second career title after winning in Budapest earlier this year.

He will climb to just outside the Top 20 on Monday after beginning the year outside the Top 100, aided by his French Open semifinal appearance.

“I think it’s the best moment of my life,” Cecchinato said. …

Fabio Fognini is ramping it up on clay before the US hardcourt season begins in earnest.

The tempestuous Italian won his second title of the year, both on clay, on Sunday beating Richard Gasquet 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 to win the SkiStar Swedish Open title.

The No. 3 seed Fognini lifted the Brasil Open title in February. All seven of his career titles have come on clay.

“I’m tired, but happy at the same …

No. 1 seed Anastasija Sevastova is moving into the Top 20 after wining her third career title on Sunday, beating No. 4 seed Petra Martic 7-6(4), 6-2 for the BRD Bucharest Open title.

“I feel very happy,” Sevastova said. “I need some time to enjoy it. It’s always like this. It comes pretty fast and you leave to the next tournament. But I am very happy and excited.”

In the 2016 final …

Alize Cornet returned to the winner’s circle Sunday at the WTA event in Gstaad, beating first-time finalist Mandy Minella of Luxembourg 6-4, 7-6(6) for her sixth career singles title.

“It was a very close match, I had a feeling it could go either way,” Cornet said. “I think I was maybe a bit more solid in the crucial moments, and I really wanted this trophy. I gave everything I had.”

Cornet did …

Jack Sock drops out at the last minute, but John Isner and Ryan Harrison are seeded Americans for the event that kicks off the US Open Series.

Nick Kyrgios, rising stars Hyeon Chung and Alex Minaur, and American Frances Tiafoe also add some spice to the field.

BB&T ATLANTA OPEN
ATLANTA, Georgia, USA; surface: hard

Seeds: John Isner, Nick Kyrgios, Hyeon Chung, Matthew Ebden, Frances Tiafoe, Jeremy Chardy, Mischa Zverev, Ryan Harrison

Floaters: Alex Minaur, …