Unseeded Maria Sharapova joins world No. 1 Simona Halep and reigning French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko as the favorites this week in Shenzhen.

The WTA stop also features returning champion Katerina Siniakova, and Halep trying to hang on to the No. 1 ranking this week ahead of Garbine Muguruza and Caroline Wozniacki who can take it away.

Here is a look at the field:

SHENZHEN OPEN
SHENZHEN, China; Surface: hard

Seeds: Simona Halep, Jelena Ostapenko, …

Until Serena Williams gets ramped-up in 2018, the current tight race at No. 1 will see a few more new faces.

This week in Auckland, Caroline Wozniacki can re-take the No. 1 ranking from Simona Halep and hopping over No. 2 Garbine Muguruza. In her way in New Zealand will be the resurgent Julia Goerges, former champ Aggie Radwanska and returning champion Lauren Davis.

Here is a look at the field:

ASB Classic
AUCKLAND, …

While rivals Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Kei Nishikori pulled out of their first ATP stops, Andy Murray is forging onward and will at least be on site in Brisbane.

The Scot who is recovering from a hip injury, has a first round bye before facing the Ryan Harrison-Leonardo Mayer winner. But he didn’t look great during an exo set against Roberto Bautista Agut in Abu Dhabi, leaving some concern if …

2-time defending champion Novak Djokovic officially withdrew from the Doha event as he continues to recover from an elbow injury.

“Unfortunately, the situation with the elbow has not changed for better since yesterday. I still feel the pain,” Djokovic posted on Facebook. “Therefore, I will have to withdraw from ATP tournament in Doha, that has been voted the best 250 tournament in 2017. I am sorry that I will not be …

Bribane is the hot spot during week one of 2018 with some of the top players from both the ATP and WTA in attendance.

Grigor Dimitrov, coming off a career year, defends the men’s title while Karolina Pliskova will be tested to defend her 2017 title among five of the Top 10 WTA-ranked players.

Here’s a look at the fields:

BRISBANE INTERNATIONAL
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; Surface: hard

Women’s Seeds: Garbine Muguruza, Karolina Pliskova, Elina Svitolina, …

After months of rehab and optimism, Novak Djokovic’s start to the 2018 season will be delayed after the former No. 1 had to withdraw from the Abu Dhabi exo due to continued elbow pain.

“I am terribly disappointed that I am forced to withdraw from the Mubadala World Tennis Championship,” Djokovic said in a statement today. “Unfortunately, in the past few days I started to feel pain in the elbow and …

With concern mounting over Andy Murray’s participation at the Australian Open, the Scot showed up at the Abu Dhabi exo for a hit, and to allay some of those fears.

Nice bonus for #mwtc10 crowd. @andy_murray is practicing here in Abu Dhabi pic.twitter.com/L3le2Im56S

— Reem Abulleil (@ReemAbulleil) December 28, 2017

Murray also responded to a poll in which many didn’t think Murray …

Barilla has released a new spot featuring Roger Federer! Be careful with those sharp knives!

Roger Federer opens his 2018 exo season Friday in Perth at the Hopman Cup. And he’ll start the new season with a new friend he made while on a trip to Rottnest Island.

Meet my new furry friend.
So happy to be back down under 🙃#HappyQuokka @westernaustralia #justanotherdayinWA pic.twitter.com/YvgdMCs13u

— Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) December 28, 2017

Video of his trip:…

The 2018 season is off to an ominous start for Rafael Nadal. The World No. 1 withdrew from the Abu Dhabi a few days ago, which raised a few eyebrows though it was just an exo. But now Nadal has been forced out of the ATP Brisbane event as his knee is still not ready to go.

“I am sorry to announce I won’t be coming to Brisbane this year. My …

Will Rafael Nadal-Roger Federer remain in control? Or can Novak Djokovic and/or Andy Murray return to form? And who, if anyone, can dethrone 2-time defending champion Jaq Shivam?

All big questions for the upcoming tennis season.

So it’s that time of year. Put the presents down. Put the eggnog aside and enter the 2018 Tennis-X rankings contest!

Tell us the correct order (or close enough) of the men’s 2018 year-end ATP Top 10 …

Novak Djokovic is set to return to tennis for the first time in almost five months due to an elbow injury. The Serb who hasn’t played since Wimbledon, will be back on court on Friday in Abu Dhabi.

Ranked No. 12 now, the former No. 1 is anxious to get back to the top and win more Grand Slams, as he told Sport 360:

I would lie to you and I …

Rafael Nadal’s start to the 2018 season will be delayed. The World No. 1 has to withdraw from next week’s Abu Dhabi exo. Nadal finished 2017 with knee issues and reportedly he’s still not 100% ready.

“I am very sorry and disappointed to announce that I won’t be competing this year at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship,” Nadal said. “This would have been my ninth participation in the tournament where I …

In a surprise move, Serena Williams will play an exo match at next week’s Abu Dhabi event. In her first match since winning the Australian Open last January, Serena will meet French winner Jelena Ostapenko on Saturday, December 30 at 5pm local time. Her participation signals her intent to play in Australia after the recent birth of her first child.

“I am delighted to be returning to the court in Abu …

The year 2017 in men’s tennis was a new-era mess, a new-level mess, a Next Gen mess, as reflected in the final Top 10 rankings.

Last year was considered a mess as Rafa barely finished in the Top 10 and Federer shut down his year after the Olympics. The Tennis-X year-end winner picked 8 of the Top 10 last year.

This year? The winner picked an all-time low 6 of the Top …