Jo-Wilfried Tsonga made the Paris spectators happy when he recovered from a first-set loss to move into the second round of the French Open on Sunday's first day.

With six French Open titles already under his belt you would have thought that Rafael Nadal hardly needed a morale-booster going into Roland Garros, but the 25-year-old Spaniard struck a significant psychological blow with his 7-5, 6-3 victory over Novak Djokovic in the delayed final of the Rome Masters yesterday.

Rafael Nadal enjoyed the perfect fillip ahead of his French Open defence with a commanding 7-5 6-3 victory over world number one Novak Djokovic in the delayed Rome Masters final today.

Maria Sharapova overcame a frustrating rain delay to defeat Li Na 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 in the final of the Rome Masters yesterday.

Leading pair forget their blue days in Madrid to roar into last four back on Rome's red clay

Roger Federer climbed back to No. 2 in the rankings after rallying to beat Tomas Berdych 3-6, 7-5, 7-5 and win the Madrid Open for a third time on Sunday.

The world's two best players may not be there, but spectators at future Madrid Masters tournaments will at least be guaranteed some dazzling tennis.

The organisers of the Madrid Masters will be under pressure to revert to traditional red-clay courts next year, after the world's top two players delivered damning verdicts on the blue clay which is being used for the first time at this week's event.

Wimbledon's early victims will be comforted by a larger slice of the total prize money this year after organisers today announced a 26 per cent pay rise for first-round losers.

United collapse puts City in box seat as Wolves go down

Andy Murray saw his Monte Carlo Masters challenge end at the quarter-final stage following a long tussle with sixth seed Tomas Berdych.

World number one Novak Djokovic and defending champion Rafael Nadal reached the Monte Carlo Masters third round after straightforward victories today in the season's first big claycourt tournament.

Rafael Nadal is used to coming here with question marks over his future, but as he prepared to begin his quest for an eighth successive Monte Carlo Masters title, even the king of clay admitted yesterday to being "a little bit scared".

Great Britain have won all five of their Davis Cup ties since Leon Smith succeeded John Lloyd two years ago but this weekend the captain faces his biggest challenge as Britain and Belgium meet at Glasgow's Braehead Arena with a place in a September play-off for promotion to the elite 16-nation World Group at stake.