In the first blockbuster showdown of 2017, Rafael Nadal will meet Milos Raonic Friday in the Brisbane quarterfinals.

Nadal advanced to the quarterfinals crushing Mischa Zverev 6-1, 6-1 in under an hour.

“I played a great match, I think,” Nadal said. “Difficult say something negative, because in general I saw after, on the video screen, like, 30 winners and just a few unforced errors. Returning very well, I think. A lot of …

Andy Murray upped his win streak to 27 Thursday after edging Nicolas Almagro 7-6(4), 7-5 in the quarterfinals at Doha.

On a windy day, Murray was broken in his first service game before recovering. The two traded early breaks in the second. Murray sealed the win breaking Almagro with the Spaniard serving 5-6.

“Tough, tough conditions for everyone today, Murray said. “It was obviously very windy and it was blowing kind of …

Both Williams sisters exited the WTA Auckland event Wednesday. Elder sister Venus withdrew after beating local favorite Jade Lewis 7-6(2), 6-2. Because of Tuesday rain, Venus was scheduled for a second match later in the day against Naomi Osaka but withdrew due to pain in her right arm.

“I love this tournament and I’m really sad that I have to withdraw, but I’m happy to have had the opportunity to be …

Windy conditions and a lack of “feel” saw top players Serena Williams and Simona Halep make early-round exits at WTA events in Auckland and Shenzhen respectively on Wednesday.

The world No. 2 Williams racked-up almost 90 unforced errors during a 6-4, 6-7(3), 6-4 loss to fellow American Madison Brengle in the second round at the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand.

“You really have to go back to the drawing board, because …

Andy Murray came out hot in 2017, blitzing Jeremy Chardy in the first round at Doha today 6-0, 7-6. The victory extended Murray’s career-best with streak to 25.

“Obviously I would like to try and keep the run going as long as possible,” Murray said of the streak. “Does feel a little bit like starting fresh again after the off-season and having not played a match for pretty much a month …

Rafael Nadal officially opened his 2017 season on a positive note besting Alexandr Dolgopolov 6-3, 6-3 Tuesday night in Brisbane.

“I was very happy with that start,” said Nadal who came in off an Abu Dhabi exo win Saturday. “Winning against (Dolgopolov) is never easy.

“I said yesterday it was an important match for me. It was an important match for me and not much time to adjust the game and to …

Novak Djokovic began his 2017 season much like he finished 2016, starting slow. Opening his Doha title defense, Djokovic found himself promptly down 2-5 to German Jan-Lennard Struff before recovering for a 7-6(1), 6-3.

“It’s first match of the year. You never know how you’re going to start,” said Djokovic. “As well as you have trained in the preparation period and the days prior to the tournament, really is different when …

Playing his first match since Wimbledon, Roger Federer was in good form beating Brit Dan Evans 6-2, 6-3 in his opening match at the Hopman Cup team exo event.

“For three or four weeks now I’ve stopped thinking of it, because I don’t have any reactions anymore,” Federer said of the left knee. “I don’t have any pain. It’s been nice that I was able to get rid of that early.”

Federer …

World No. 1 Andy Murray and No. 2 Novak Djokovic duel for a title in Doha, while Marin Cilic is the favorite in Chennai:

QATAR EXXONMOBIL OPEN
Doha, Qatar; surface: hard

Seeds: Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic, Tomas Berdych, David Goffin, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Ivo Karlovic, Philipp Kohlschreiber, Marcos Baghdatis

Floaters: Fernando Verdasco, Florian Mayer

Notes: Murray, Djokovic and Berdych make for three Top 10ers in the field…The wildcard fetch went to Belgian Arthur De Greef, Turkey’s …

Former champs Agnieszka Radwanska Simona Halep are joined by fellow Top 10er Johanna Konta in China where former No. 1 Jelena Jankovic and riser Camila Giorgi are among the potential disrupters.

SHENZHEN OPEN
Shenzhen, China; surface: hard

Seeds: Agnieszka Radwanska, Simona Halep, Johanna Konta, Timea Bacsinszky, Timea Babos, Anastasija Sevastova, Monica Niculescu, Alison Riske

Floaters: Camila Giorgi, Jelena Jankovic

Notes: Radwanska, Halep and Konta make three Top 10 players in the draw…Potential tough starts for …

Newly-engaged Serena Williams hit the Auckland beach with fiancee Alexis Ohanian. The pair helicoptered to Waiheke Island to welcome in the New Year.

“Waiheke is just so beautiful. To have a gorgeous island like this so close to the city is special, Auckland takes your breath away,” Serena said.

“The scenery is beautiful, but there is also a great city vibe. The food has been so awesome, and I hear …

2016 was a tough year for Thanasi Kokkinakis. The rising Australian star was pegged among the best of a deep crop of young players, but the 20-year-old’s hopes were derailed last season by a series of injuries including recovery from shoulder surgery, a groin injury and a pectoral strain all of which limited him to just one event, the Rio Olympics.

“It was the worst year of my life, for sure,” …

Rafael Nadal won the Abu Dhabi exo Saturday beating David Goffin 64, 76(5). The result was more or less meaningless, but what wasn’t was the fact Nadal was feeling healthy.

After battling a bad wrist for the last half of 2016, Nadal was very pleased with the three wins he earned at the event.

“I was very happy with my performance and it gives me some positive energy to take into …

It’s a strong turnout this week on both the men’s and women’s side at the Brisbane International in Australia, where world No. 1 Angie Kerber and former No. 1 Rafael Nadal are among the headliners.

Here’s a look at the men’s and women’s fields:

BRISBANE INTERNATIONAL
Brisbane, Australia; surface: hard

Men’s Seeds: Milos Raonic, Stan Wawrinka, Kei Nishikori, Dominic Thiem, Rafael Nadal, Lucas Pouille, Grigor Dimitrov, David Ferrer

Men’s Floaters: Sam Querrey, Alexandr “The Dog” …

Awards, awards, awards. You’ve read the read, now read the best. World No. 1s Andy Murray and Angelique Kerber are players of the year? Yawn. Thank’s for figuring that one out.

Here’s who took home some of the most coveted year-end awards from the 2016 tennis season:

BEST MATCH — MEN: Rio Gold Medal Match – Andy Murray d Juan Martin del Potro 7-5, 4-6, 6-2, 7-5
Andy Murray became the first …