Tennis

Bernard Tomic will play at next week's French Open despite his off-court troubles if only to keep some momentum going for the grasscourt season ahead, Tennis Australia's Todd Woodbridge said today.

Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams fired warning shots to their French Open rivals with comprehensive victories over Roger Federer and Victoria Azarenka respectively in Rome on Sunday.

Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna ended runners-up at the Rome Masters after a tame straight sets defeat at the hands of top seeded American team of Mike and Bob Bryan in Rome today.

Serena Williams won her fourth consecutive title of the year in dominating fashion today, beating third-seeded Victoria Azarenka 6-1, 6-3 in the Italian Open final.

Roger Federer will meet great rival Rafa Nadal in the Italian Open final after the Swiss held off a spirited challenge by unseeded Frenchman Benoit Paire on Saturday.

A week out from the French Open, Serena Williams is one victory away from winning her fourth consecutive title this year.

Rafael Nadal set up a potential Rome Masters final with Swiss rival Roger Federer after dominating Tomas Berdych 6-2, 6-4 in the semi-finals today.

Serena Williams is one victory away from winning her fourth consecutive title this year - with the French Open only one week away.

Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna reached the semifinals of the Rome Masters after getting a walkover from rivals Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek even as Sania Mizra and Bethanie Mattek-Sands crashed out of the women's event in Rome.

World No. 3 Roger Federer moved one step closer to his first title this season when he beat Jerzy Janowicz 6-4, 7-6 (2) to advance to the semifinals of the Italian Open tennis.

World number one Novak Djokovic crashed out of the Rome Masters at the hands of Tomas Berdych on Friday while Maria Sharapova withdrew from the women's event due to her illness.

Defending champion Rafael Nadal remained on course for the Rome Masters final after coming through a tough quarter-final against fellow Spaniard David Ferrer on Friday.

Novak Djokovic can't seem to find any consistency on clay courts. And with French Open less than 10 days away, he will enter Roland Garros on the back of two early losses.

Maria Sharapova withdrew from the Italian Open before her quarter-final with Italy's Sara Errani on Friday because of "physical problems", organisers said.