Fourth-seeded German Angelique Kerber had to dig deep in the second set on Monday to polish off a 6-1, 7-6 (7/4) third-round victory over Yanina Wickmayer at Indian Wells.

Former tennis World No. 1 Jennifer Capriati is facing battery charges and possible arrest after being accused of stalking and punching an ex-boyfriend on Valentine's Day.

World number four Agnieszka Radwanska launched into unexpected criticism of incidents at the Fed Cup last week, alleging that "unfair" and irresponsible behaviour had taken place at the world team event in Israel.

French tennis star Marion Bartoli admitted on Tuesday it was "tough" to split from her father who had been coaching her for 20 years.

Russia's Fed Cup captain Shamil Tarpishchev said Tuesday he is still hopeful that top players -- Maria Sharapova and Svetlana Kuznetsova -- will be available for April's Fed Cup semi-final against Slovakia.

Serena Williams will complete another remarkable achievement if she can regain the world number one ranking at the Qatar Open starting on Monday.

Three-time winners Italy edged a weakened United States 3-2 on Sunday to reach the Fed Cup semi-finals and an April date with double defending champions, the Czech Republic.

Elena Vesnina and Ekaterina Makarova put Russia into the Fed Cup semi-finals on Sunday when they secured a 6-2, 6-2 win over Japan's Ayumi Morita and Misaki Doi for a 3-2 victory.

Defending champions the Czech Republic, bidding to become the first country in 18 years to capture three successive Fed Cup titles, opened a 2-0 lead over Australia in their first round clash on Saturday.

Petra Kvitova and Lucie Safarova handed holders Czech Republic a 2-0 lead over Australia after the first day of their Fed Cup World Group tie in the eastern Czech city of Ostrava on Saturday.

Ayumi Morita drew Japan level 1-1 against Russia in their Fed Cup World Group first round match here on Saturday as she dismantled Ekaterina Makarova 6-2, 6-2 in a one-sided tie.

Maria Kirilenko gave Russia a 1-0 lead against Japan in the opening match of their Fed Cup World Group first round tie with a tough straight sets victory over Kimiko Date-Krumm here on Saturday.

Holders Czech Republic will take on Australia in the Fed Cup's first round in the eastern Czech city of Ostrava at the weekend, with eyes on a treble and concerns about the form of their top singles players.

The 2013 Fed Cup World Group gets under way Saturday with the tournament missing marquee names Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova and with a late format tweak aimed at boosting the event's appeal.

Petra Kvitova of holders Czech Republic will take on Australia's Jarmila Gajdosova in the opening singles rubber of the Fed Cup World Group first-round tie in the eastern Czech city of Ostrava on Saturday, following Friday's draw.

Former World No. 1 Venus Williams withdrew from next week's WTA Qatar Open, citing a lower back injury.

Australian Open semi-finalist Sloane Stephens was replaced on the US Fed Cup team by Melanie Oudin on Sunday for the Americans' first-round tie next week at Italy.

French number one Marion Bartoli bowed out in the quarter-finals of the Paris Open on Friday after a 7-6 (9/7), 6-4 defeat to Germany's Mona Barthel.

French number one Marion Bartoli bowed out in the quarter-finals of the Paris Open on Friday after a 7-6 (9/7), 6-4 defeat to Germany's Mona Barthel.

French number one Marion Bartoli celebrated her recall to the country's Fed Cup team on Wednesday with a battling 7-5, 6-1 second-round win over American Christina McHale at the Paris Open.