Petra Kvitová

World number three Casper Ruud cruised past Thiago Monteiro in straight sets but it was in vain as Norway crashed in their mixed teams United Cup tie against Brazil in Brisbane on Jan. 1.

After the Brazilians won both opening singles rubbers on Dec. 31, Ruud's 6-3, 6-2 victory brought his country back into contention.

The No.1 seed won in straight sets

Petra Kvitova compared the atmosphere created by Greek Maria Sakkari's supporters on Rod Laver Arena to "a soccer match" but cut through the noise and battled back from a set down to reach the Australian Open quarter-finals on Sunday.

Romanian tennis player Simona Halep, world number three, on Tuesday advanced to the second round of the women's singles event at the Australian Open tournament, the first Grand Slam of the year, after defeating American Jennifer Brady 7-5 (5) 6-1. Seed number 4 Halep, 28, prevailed in an hour and 36 minutes, dominating the second set after a very balanced first one.

Romanian tennis player Simona Halep and German tennis player Angelique Kerber will participate in an exhibition double match, alongside special guests, in Adelaide on Sunday, informed the organisers of the WTA tournament - 2020 Adelaide International, which kicks off Monday.

Romanian tennis player Simona Halep was voted the July player of the month, in a poll on the WTA website, after winning the 2019 Wimbledon Open women's singles trophy. Halep topped the monthly poll, surpassing US Serena Williams, the player she defeated in the Wimbledon final, as well as Anastasija Sevastova and Jil Teichmann.

He will begin the new week as the 57th rocket in the world, writes NOVA TV. 

Grigor Dimitrov retreated with four more positions in the world rankings and will start the new week as the 57th rocket in the world. The best Bulgarian tennis player dropped out last week at the start in Atlanta, where he lost against  World No. 405 Kevin King.

Romanian tennis players Simona Halep (WTA's 3rd), Mihaela Buzarnescu (WTA's 28th), Irina Camelia Begu (WTA's 71st), Ana Bogdan (WTA's 99th) and Monica Niculescu (WTA's 100th) were invited by Florin Segarceanu, the non-playing captain of Romania's Fed Cup team to play against the Czech Republic's team, in the first round of the World Group.

Romania's Simona Halep further tops the WTA ranking, 1,225 points clear of world No. 2, Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark.

This is Halep's 33rd week at the top of the world ranking (17 weeks straight) and next Monday will see her overcoming Germany's Angelique Kerber, who spent 34 weeks as WTA leader, placing her 12th in an all-time record.

Twice Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova withdrew from the Brisbane International with a viral illness on Jan. 1.