Six-time champion Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from next week’s China Open in Beijing due to an elbow injury, the tournament announced today.

“I am extremely disappointed not to be able to compete at the China Open this year. I’m still recovering from my elbow injury and have been advised not to play until my condition improves. I will continue with my rehabilitation and hope to be able to return to the …

In her first match as a No. 1 player, Angelique Kerber had to come from a set down to earn victory. Kerber dropped the first then rallied to defeat France’s Kristina Mladenkovic 6-7(4), 6-1, 6-4 in the opening round at Wuhan.

“Kiki was playing very well today, especially in the first set. I was trying to come back in the second,” Kerber said. “The first match is always tough. But I’m …

The seeds in action cruised in Tuesday play at the Shenzhen Open in China as No. 6 Benoit Paire ground out a 6-7(5), 7-5, 6-3 win over Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili, and No. 8 Jiri Vesely topped Spain’s Pablo Andujar 6-2, 7-6(8).

In other results Mikhail Kukushkin beat Lukas Rosol 7-6 in the fifth, American qualifier Ryan Harrison surprised Spaniard Guillermo Garcia-Lopez in straights, and Thomaz Bellucci and injury-comeback player Janko Tipsarevic …

Angelique Kerber returns to tennis this week in Wuhan, China. The German comes in off her second career Grand Slam title winning the US Open. And she will also play her first match as the No. 1 player in the world! With that ranking comes the big target on her back.

“Every player would like to beat me now,” Kerber said. “So I will just try to going out and …

The ITF just announced a future plan to hold the finals of the Fed Cup and the Davis Cup at rotating neutral sites.

US Open finalist Karolina Pliskova who will play for the Czech Republic when they visit France in the Fed Cup final in November, doesn’t like the idea.

“To be honest, I think it’s I don’t want to say stupid,” Pliskova said from Wuhan Sunday. “For me it looks …

Monica Puig is still adjusting to life as an Olympic gold medalist. Never having won a big title, Puig became an instant star winning a first gold medal for her country of Puerto Rico. And with it came the attention, even from celebrities she would never believe knew who she was.

“I did see a Sports Illustrated article, Mike Tyson,” Puig said in Wuhan on Sunday after losing to Roberta …

Frenchman Lucas Pouille broke through for his first career title on Sunday in France, defeating top-seeded Dominic Thiem 7-6(5), 6-2 for the Moselle Open crown in Metz.

The 22-year-old improved to 30 wins on the year and recorded a fifth win over a Top 10 opponent.

“Winning a title is a big step, it’s an objective I wanted to achieve this year,” the Frenchman said. “It was a well-played final. We both …

Teen Alexander Zverev made the St. Petersburg Open his coming-out party on Sunday, beating US Open champion Stan Wawrinka 6-2, 3-6, 7-5 to win his first title of the year.

He improved to 1-2 in finals this year and for his career.

“I played all the finals well,” the German said. “I lost to Dominic Thiem on clay and I could have won against Florian Mayer on the grass…Now I’m very happy …

Former No. 1 Wozniacki Wins 1st Title of Year at Tokyo

Caroline Wozniacki won her first title of the season on Sunday in Tokyo when the former world No. 1 defeated Japanese rising star Naomi Osaka 7-5, 6-3.

“I just wanted to go out and enjoy it,” Wozniacki said of the championship match. “It’s the final and both of us had great weeks. We both wanted to go out there and play …

Stan Wawrinka will look to win his 12th straight ATP final Sunday when he takes on 19-year-old Alexander Zverev for the St. Petersburg title.

Wawrinka ran his win streak to 10 after dismantling Roberto Bautista Agut 7-6, 6-2 to reach the final on Saturday.

Zverev earned his first career Top 10 win beating Tomas Berdych 6-4, 6-4.

“I just needed to serve well in the first place, and I did. Then I had …

Even after the anticipated withdrawal of world No. 2 Serena Williams (No. 2, doesn’t that sound weird?), the unfortunately-titled Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open beginning next week will feature eight of the WTA Top 10, and 16 of the Top 18.

Serena’s announcement that she will skip all tournaments until the year-end WTA Finals almost mathematically cements No. 1 Angie Kerber’s status as the year-end No. 1. But that’s not saying she’ll …

Tomas Berdych return from appendicitis has gone well so far. The big Czech advanced to the semifinals today in St. Petersburg beating Paolo Lorenzi 6-4, 6-3 Friday.

“I felt good,” Berdych said. “I am trying to improve day by day, trying to find my rhythm. My goals is to play as many matches as possible.”

Next up is the teen sensation Alexander Zverev. The German took out his third straight Russian blasting …

US Open semifinalist Caroline Wozniacki continued her climb back up the rankings beating qualifier Magda Linette 6-4, 6-3 to reach the last four at the Tokyo event.

The former No. 1 will meet fellow former champion Agnieszka Radwanska in the semifinals after the Pole ousted Olympic gold medalist Monica Puig 6-2, 6-3.

“We’ve played many times before, and again she’s a close friend,” Wozniacki said. “It’s going to be another tough one …

Novak Djokovic’s gala week wrapped up Thursday in Milan with an exo match against friend Rafael Nadal. Djokovic won the match 64, 64 in front of 12,000 at the Assago Forum.

Here are some highlights.

Djokovic and Nadal will be back on the tour for real in …

For the second straight year, Serena Williams will miss the WTA Asian swing after withdrawing from next week’s Wuhan event and the Beijing tournament in October due to a right shoulder injury.

“I am disappointed that I will not be able to compete at the Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open or the China Open due to continuing issues with my right shoulder,” Serena said in a statement. “I have been practicing and …