Tennis: Breaking Stories and All the Latest from NBC Sports

Women’s tour CEO says ‘WTA stands on its own’
The former tournament director at Indian Wells who now runs the WTA Tour calls his successor’s critical comments “disappointing and alarming.”

Djokovic, Azarenka roll to easy title wins at Indian Wells
Novak Djokovic rolled past Milos Raonic 6-2, 6-0 to win the BNP Paribas Open for a record fifth time Sunday, while improving to 22-1 in matches this year.

Djokovic beats Nadal to reach Indian Wells final
Novak Djokovic continued his recent mastery of Rafael Nadal on hard courts.

Djokovic, Nadal set for showdown at Indian Wells
Novak Djokovic dominated both tiebreakers to beat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at the BNP Paribas Open, setting up a semifinal against Rafael Nadal.

Roger Federer plans to play Miami Open in Key Biscayne
Roger Federer, who had surgery for torn knee cartilage last month, has decided to play in the Miami Open.

Fed Cup: Australia to host US on clay in Brisbane
Australia will host the United States at Brisbane’s Queensland Tennis Centre in next month’s Fed Cup World Group playoff.

Murray: Careful to read everything that is relevant to him
Scottish tennis star Andy Murray reacted to Maria Sharapova’s failed drug test by noting that he’s careful to read everything that is relevant to him.

Eugenie Bouchard beat Risa Ozaki at Indian Wells
Eugenie Bouchard beat Japanese qualifier Risa Ozaki 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 on Thursday night to close out first-round women’s play in the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.

Switzerland returns to WTA Tour with new event in Gstaad
The WTA Tour is returning to Switzerland after an eight-year gap with a clay-court tournament in July.

Real Madrid backs Nadal after doping accusations from France
Real Madrid has joined the defense of Raphael Nadal after doping accusations made by a former French minister.

Venus Williams falls in Indian Wells return
Venus Williams tumbled out of the BNP Paribas Open in her first match at the event since 2001, falling 6-4, 6-3 to Japanese qualifier Kurumi Nara on Friday night in front of a sparse, wind-blown crowd that returned after a rain-delay midway through the first set.

Australian Open champ Angelique Kerber falls in Indian Wells
Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber dropped out of the BNP Paribas Open on Saturday and two other top-seeded women also exited in the second round at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.

Serena Williams advances in Indian Wells
Top-ranked Serena Williams moved into the fourth round of the BNP Paribas Open on Sunday with a ragged 7-6 (2), 6-0 victory over Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan.

USTA hires former WTA CEO Allaster as chief of pro tennis
Former WTA CEO Stacey Allaster has been hired as the U.S. Tennis Association’s chief executive for professional tennis.

Murray loses in 3 sets in third round of BNP Paribas Open
There’s something about playing in the Southern California desert that gives Andy Murray fits.

Serena says it’s ‘really cool’ having sister Venus with her
Serena Williams said it is “really cool” to have older sister Venus with her at the BNP Paribas Open.

Racket sponsor backs Sharapova despite failed drug test
Maria Sharapova’s racket supplier became the first main sponsor to publicly back the five-time Grand Slam champion after she admitted to failing a doping test.

UN agency stops work with ambassador Maria Sharapova
A United Nations agency says it has stopped working with Maria Sharapova pending the tennis star’s doping case.

Pound: Sharapova guilty of ‘willful negligence’ in drug test
Maria Sharapova was guilty of “willful negligence” for using meldonium, and international tennis officials were aware that many players were taking the drug before it was banned this year, former World Anti-Doping Agency president Dick Pound said Wednesday.

Djokovic, Williams roll in straight sets at Indian Wells
Defending champion Novak Djokovic continued his dominance of Philipp Kohlschreiber, winning 7-5, 7-5 in the third round of the BNP Paribas Open on Tuesday.

Tsonga to the rescue of ailing ball girl
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga came to the aid of a ball girl in distress and won accolades on social media from fans who called him a gentleman.

Sharapova wins her 600th match and asks am ‘I getting old?’
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) Maria Sharapova reached a career milestone on Friday, which came as a nice surprise after a tough match. “Oh, wow. I’ve won 600 matches?” Sharapova said, when an on-court interviewer congratulated her for the achievement earned by winning her third-round match Friday at the Australian Open.The No. 5-seeded player then thought a […]

The Latest: Djokovic beats Seppi, reaches 4th round
The latest from the Australian Open on Friday (all times local):

Another Federer milestone: win No. 300 at a Grand Slam
Roger Federer was already a long way clear at the top of the list of men with the most wins in Grand Slam singles matches, so becoming the first to 300 almost seemed like a secondary consideration.

Serena’s midriff, naval ring take center stage at Australian Open
Serena Williams’ latest on-court fashion statement is an attempt to “push the envelope” with a nod to classic tennis style.

Azarenka advances, Muguruza out in 3rd round in Australia Open
Two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka walked onto Rod Laver Arena knowing that the draw appeared to be opening up in her favor.

Isner makes 2nd week at Aussie Open for 1st time since 2010
John Isner is back in the second week at Melbourne Park for the first time in six years after defeating 18th-seeded Feliciano Lopez.

Azarenka: Tennis hunger comes from childhood in Belarus
Pressure is merely a matter of perspective for Victoria Azarenka, who can recall days when she was worried as much about going hungry as she did about her next match.

Murray advances, Ivanovic loses amid medical distraction
Ana Ivanovic’s coach and Andy Murray’s father-in-law was rushed to the hospital while each was playing, but he is OK. Murray won; Ivanovic lost.

Sharapova advances to quarterfinals at Australian Open
Maria Sharapova beat Belinda Bencic to reach the quarterfinals and a possible rematch of last year’s final with Serena Williams.

Serena, Sharapova to meet in Australian Open quarterfinals
Serena Williams will meet Maria Sharapova in the quarterfinals in a rematch of last year’s Australian Open final.

Serena-Sharapova rivalry comes again to Australian Open
Serena Williams says she doesn’t remember much about the first time she played Maria Sharapova at the Australian Open, but she remembers the outcome.

Azarenka, in form, and into Australian Open quarters
Victoria Azarenka couldn’t get off court quickly enough to check the score after reaching the Australian Open quarterfinals.