The 30-year-old Russian, who has won five Grand Slams and is among the highest-paid athletes in the world, returned to action on Wednesday with a straight sets win over Roberta Vinci following her suspension for the use of banned substance meldonium.
Russia's Ekaterina Makarova and Brazil's Bruno Soares completed an unlikely run to the US Open mixed doubles title by beating fourth-seeded Kveta Peschke of the Czech Republic and Marcin Matkowski of Poland on Thursday.
Serena Williams was bundled out of the Australian Open on Monday, losing her fourth-round match to Russian world number 56 Ekaterina Makarova 6-2, 6-3 on a scorching day at Rod Laver Arena.
Rediff.com presents the early surprises at the year's final Grand Slam
Poland's third seed Agnieszka Radwanska has been bundled out of the US Open by Russia's Ekaterina Makarova in the biggest shock of the women's event at Flushing Meadows.
Russia's Ekaterina Makarova etched her name into Australian Open folklore on Monday by stunning Serena Williams 6-2 6-3 in their fourth-round match to end the American's aura of invincibility at Melbourne Park.
Serena Williams and Ekaterina Makarova sprinted into the semi-finals of the U.S. Open on Wednesday but marathon man Kei Nishikori had to go the distance to upset Stan Wawrinka and become the first Japanese man into the last four of a grand slam in 81 years.
'The toughest is what's to come. I hope that I'll be able to take that and play even better'
Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina claimed their maiden grand slam title together by beating Italian top seeds Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci 7-5, 6-2 in the French Open women's doubles final on Sunday.
Images from Day One of the Australian Open, in Melbourne, on Monday.
Wins deciding set shootout after premature celebration. The Briton, who overcame dual Grand Slam semi-finalist Ekaterina Makarova, thought she had won the first round match after reaching seven points in the third set tiebreak and celebrated accordingly.
Hungarian Timea Babos and France's Kristina Mladenovic defeated Russian duo Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina 6-4, 6-3 to win the women's doubles title at the Australian Open on Friday.
IMAGES from the matches played on Day 3 of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on Wednesday
Sania Mirza and her Swiss partner Martina Hingis won their first ever title on red clay, capturing the Internazionali BNL d'Italia trophy.
Ekaterina Makarova, who upset an injured Serena Williams in the fourth round of the 2012 Australian Open, completed a Melbourne Park sweep of the Williams sisters by eliminating Venus 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 to advance to the second round on Monday.
Since that moment, Maria Sharapova has looked virtually unbeatable
'Right now I think that I have to find to myself again and just trying to forget the clay court season as soon as possible'
Russians Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina won the Wimbledon women's doubles title for the first time, while Poland's Lukasz Kubot and Brazil's Marcelo Melo won the Wimbledon men's doubles crown.
Zverev, who is looking for his fourth tournament win of the year, needed only 64 minutes to defeat Nishikori and move into the final in WashingtonDC where he will play Kevin Anderson after the South African beat Jack Sock by the same score.
Serena Williams will face Maria Sharapova for the Australian Open title
Russians Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina beat Martin Hingis and Italy's Flavia Pennetta 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 to capture the U.S. Open doubles title on Saturday, denying the Swiss a return to the Flushing Meadows winner circle for the first time in 16 years.
Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis are in line to win their second title in a row as they breezed into the Miami Open final with a straight sets win over Timea Babos and Kristina Mladenovic.
Petra Kvitova's preparations for the defence of her Wimbledon title suffered a setback when she was beaten by Russia's Ekaterina Makarova in the first round of the Eastbourne International on Tuesday.
Top-seeded world number one Williams overpowered Russian left-hander Ekaterina Makarova 6-1 ,6-3, unleashing her daunting firepower against the 17th-seeded Russian. Wozniacki advanced when China's Peng Shuai broke down in scary distress due to heat illness and retired in the second set, while trailing 7-6(1), 4-3.
Russia's Maria Sharapova booked her spot in the last four of the Australian Open on Wednesday with a surprisingly simple 6-2, 6-3 win over compatriot Ekaterina Makarova. She will face Czech Petra Kvitova.
India's Sania Mirza and her partner Martina Hingis staged a superb comeback to clinch the women's doubles title after a thrilling victory against Russian duo of Elena Vesnina and Ekaterina Makarova in the final, on Saturday.
Petra Kvitova moved closer to a third straight Connecticut Open crown after defeating Ekaterina Makarova 6-3, 6-1 to reach the semi-finals on Thursday.
Top seeds Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci of Italy produced a great escape as they beat Russia's Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 to retain the Australian Open women's doubles title.
Former world number one Maria Sharapova sounded out a warning to her rivals on Tuesday after demolishing fellow Russian Ekaterina Makarova 6-1, 6-1 in 54 minutes to advance to the third round of the Italian Open.
Zverev defeated Anderson 6-4, 6-4 and captured his fourth title of the year in the finals played on Sunday.
Sania Mirza and Swiss legend Martina Hingis began their partnership with a title win as they overcame Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina 6-3, 6-4 in the summit clash of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.
India's tennis star Sania Mirza retained her numero uno status in women's doubles for the second consecutive year, despite failing to defend the WTA Finals Singapore title with partner Martina Hingis. Defending champions Sania and Hingis had lost to Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina in the semi-finals of the WTA Finals Singapore on Saturday.
Her doubles partner, Bethanie-Mattek Sands now wears the 'Miss World No.1 crown'
Images from all the action from Day 1 of the French Open played at Roland Garros in Paris on Sunday
Serena Williams and friend Caroline Wozniacki arranged a get-together in the US Open women's final, winning their Friday semi-finals in contrasting fashion on a stifling hot, humid day at Flushing Meadows.
World No 1 Serena Williams has tormented Maria Sharapova for over a decade
Images from Tuesday's matches at the Australian Open.
The tension mounted and temperatures soared at the U.S. Open as top seed Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray set up a sensational quarter-final, and Serena Williams made a 2014 grand slam breakthrough.
Serena Williams won her 750th career match to stay on track for her ninth Miami Open title when she beat Zarina Diyas of Kazakhstan 7-5 6-3 in the third round in Florida on Saturday. The world number one improved her career record to 750-125, seventh on the all-time list and just three match wins behind Lindsay Davenport's 753. Martina Navratilova sits atop the all-time list with 1,442 wins. The 34-year-old Williams will meet Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova in the fourth round. The 15th seed defeated France's Caroline Garcia 4-6 6-2 7-6(6). Unlike the last time they met, when Williams required 54 minutes and Diyas won just two games, the 22-year-old Kazak gave the American some trouble in the heat and humidity of Miami.
A round-up of sports action from around the world.