Serena Williams produced a battling display yesterday to overcome thigh and back injuries and beat Vera Dushevina at the Madrid Open, recovering from a set and a match point down to win 6-7, 7-6, 7-6.

Jelena Jankovic destroyed the prospect of an all-Williams semi-final at the Italian Open by blitzing Venus 6-0, 6-1 in Rome last night.

Serena Williams easily dispatched Maria Kirilenko 6-1, 6-4 as she continued to gather momentum on her return from injury by reaching the last four of the Italian Open.

Reigning US Open champion Kim Clijsters was among the seeds to progress to the women's singles third round at the Australian Open in Melbourne today.

Former world No.1 Justine Henin says she has matured during her 20-month break from tennis and can be a better player when she makes a return to the sport next week.

World number two Rafa Nadal's comeback came to a shuddering halt today when he was crushed 6-1 6-3 by Croatian Marin Cilic in the semi-finals of the $6.6m (£4.1m) China Open.

Thank goodness for Kim Clijsters and Melanie Oudin. The women's game has been in the doldrums of late, but the 26-year-old Belgian and the 17-year-old American have been front-page news here at this year's US Open.

If it were not for the strawberries, cream and Pimms, Elena Dementieva might begin to think she was competing in her domestic championship. Russia's Olympic champion has already faced two compatriots this week and has a third lined up.

The scale of the task so bravely essayed by Laura Robson on Monday was put in encouraging perspective yesterday when Daniela Hantuchova beat last year's semi-finalist, Zheng Jie, 6-3, 7-5.