Tennis: Breaking Stories and All the Latest from NBC Sports

Here is the latest Tennis News from NBC Sports.

Absence of Williams sisters highlights scheduling issue
U.S. captain Mary Joe Fernandez says the Fed Cup format may have to change in order for the world’s best players to participate.

Nadal beats Bedene to reach 3rd round at Monte Carlo Masters
Eight-time champion Rafael Nadal dropped serve twice and still beat Aljaz Bedene of Britain 6-3, 6-3 in the second round of the Monte Carlo Masters on Wednesday.

Djokovic loses to Vesely in 2nd round of Monte Carlo Masters
Defending champion Novak Djokovic was stunned by 55th-ranked Jiri Vesely

Federer beats Garcia-Lopez in comeback after knee surgery
Roger Federer made a successful return following knee surgery, beating Spaniard Guillermo Garcia-Lopez in the second round of the Monte Carlo Masters.

Federer confident his knee will hold up on return to action
Roger Federer fully expects his left knee to hold up when he returns to action at the Monte Carlo Masters on Tuesday, and the 17-time Grand Slam champion feels “mentally and physically” rested after more than two months out.

Djokovic’s French Open bid begins with Monte Carlo defense
Djokovic’s bid to finally win the French Open title starts with his title defense at Monte Carlo.

No. 2 Kerber retires at Volvo Car Open due to illness
Angelique Kerber retired because of illness during her match at the Volvo Car Open, sending Sloane Stephens to the finals.

Australian Open champ Kerber moves into Volvo semifinals
Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber moved a step closer to her second straight Volvo Car Open title on Friday.

Isner ousts Kudla at US clay court championships
Top-seeded John Isner had a two-set tournament-record 24 aces to knock out Denis Kudla in the second round of the U.S. men’s clay court championships.

Venus Williams off to powerful start at Volvo Car Open
Venus Williams used her powerhouse serves and crisp groundstrokes for a victory over Alison Riske at the Volvo Car Open.

Defending champ Kerber wins in Charleston
Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber opened defense of her Volvo Car Open title with a three-set victory over Lara Arruabarrena on Tuesday night.

Verdasco advances at US men’s clay court championships
Former champion Fernando Verdasco of Spain became the last player to advance to the second round of the U.S. men’s clay court championships Tuesday night with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Argentina’s Carlos Berlocq.

AP Interview: ITF’s Haggerty: ‘Tennis is a clean sport’
In his first six months as president of the International Tennis Federation, David Haggerty has had anything but a quiet time settling into the new job. Not with allegations of match-fixing and corruption, Maria Sharapova’s doping case, and disputes over prize money buffeting the sport.

Longtime Michigan State tennis coach Stan Drobac has died
Stan Drobac, who spent over three decades as the coach of Michigan State’s men’s tennis team and became a member of the Intercollegiate Tennis Hall of Fame, has died. He was 88.

Champion Djokovic says Miami Open will stay in Key Biscayne
Novak Djokovic says the Miami Open will remain in Key Biscayne for a long time, and South Florida tennis fans hope he’s right.

Djokovic seeks 6th Miami Open title
KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. (AP) Basking in cheers following his latest victory, a weary but happy Novak Djokovic kissed his hand and patted the stadium court concrete, celebrating his return to the Miami Open final. In sweltering semifinal sunshine Friday, Djokovic won a thrilling tiebreaker to beat David Goffin 7-6 (5), 6-4. The margin was so […]

Djokovic beats Goffin in Key Biscayne semis 7-6 (5), 6-4
In sweltering sunshine Friday, Djokovic won a thrilling tiebreaker to beat David Goffin.

Kuznetsova beats Bacsinszky 7-5, 6-3 in Miami Open semis
Kuznetsova erased 12 of the 14 break points she faced and beat Timea Bacsinszky on Thursday in the semifinals of the Miami Open.

Head of Spanish OC wants Nadal as flag bearer in Rio
The president of Spain’s Olympic committee would like to see Rafael Nadal as the country’s flag bearer in Rio.

Djokovic reaches quarterfinals at Miami Open
Novak Djokovic, the world’s top player, reached the Miami Open quarterfinals with a win over 14th-seeded Dominic Thiem of Austria.

Serena upset by Kuznetsova in 3 sets at Miami Open
Serena Williams’ 20-match winning streak at Key Biscayne ended with a loss to Svetlana Kuznetsova in the fourth round of the Miami Open.

Berdych edges Steve Johnson 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-3 at Miami Open
Tomas Berdych erased all 10 break points he faced and defeated American Steve Johnson 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-3 Sunday at the Miami Open.

Nadal retires in 3rd set at Miami Open against Dzumhur
Rafael Nadal slumped in a changeover chair, the blood pressure gauge strapped to his mighty left arm serving as a scoreboard.

Federer’s return from knee surgery delayed by flu
After missing nearly two months due to knee surgery, Roger Federer’s Miami Open return has been delayed due to a stomach virus.

Federer blames bath mishap for injury that led to surgery
KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. (AP) Roger Federer blames a bathroom mishap while on parental duty for the knee injury that forced him to have surgery for the first time. Speaking Thursday on the eve of his first match since the Feb. 3 operation, Federer said he hurt himself while preparing a bath for his twin daughters. […]

Serena, Djokovic differ on issue of equal pay in tennis
Novak Djokovic has suggested men should seek more money because their matches tend to attract more spectators. Serena Williams disagrees.

Tennis tourney director quits after criticizing women pros
LOS ANGELES (AP) The tournament director of the BNP Paribas Open who said women’s pro tennis players “ride on the coattails of the men” resigned Monday night. Tournament owner Larry Ellison said in a statement that Raymond Moore was quitting as chief executive officer and tournament director of the $7 million event featuring men’s and […]