MIKE DICKSON IN MELBOURNE: Maria Sharapova's precipitous tumble down the rankings continued after she was bundled out of the Australian Open first round by Donna Vekic.

The Frenchman, who has been embroiled in a sexism storm over the incident during the qualifying match, said John Blom told him the girl was 'not his slave'.

MIKE DICKSON IN BRATISLAVA: Harriet Dart gave Great Britain a brief injection of hope, but an age old fallibility on clay means the country's leading women are likely to miss out on the riches.

MIKE DICKSON: Kyle Edmund's revival of the past few months gathered further pace on Sunday when he took his second title on the main ATP Tour.

MIKE DICKSON: Her retirement deprives tennis of a star name, one of several likely to depart the sport in the next two years. Others will, however, be able to leave with their heads held higher.

The Miami Open was cancelled earlier on Thursday but now the event in Monte-Carlo next month will not take place, as well as tournaments in Houston, Marrakech, Barcelona and Budapest.

The world tennis number one sought advice from people around the world on how best to direct help where it is needed before making the donation, which is approximately £890,000.

The Mouratoglou Academy will host real tennis matches between some of the world's greatest players which will be streamed live to fans across the world during COVID-19 lockdown.

The world No 1 has suggested that he could delay his return to the tennis tour, were it to be made compulsory for him to take any safeguard that emerged against the virus.

The 20-time grand-slam champion posted a series of tweets on Wednesday afternoon expressing his belief that the sport would be better off with one stronger governing body.

MIKE DICKSON: Roger Federer has sparked a conversation throughout the world of tennis by tweeting a suggestion about merging the governing bodies of the men's and women's game.

Rafael Nadal has endured a series of injuries during his illustrious career but the latest setback appeared to happen in the comfort of his own home. 

Djokovic posted a video on Instagram showing him exchanging shots with another man at a tennis club in the coastal city of Marbella, where the Serb has reportedly stayed.

EXCLUSIVE: Dan Evans will team up with Kieron Vorster, a no-nonsense South African whose clients have included ex-top-10 player Wayne Ferreira and ex-Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech.

MELISSA KITE: Part of the reason is Carrie Symonds. I fear there is something female voters don't like about seeing a man well into his 50s with a girlfriend almost half his age in Downing Street.

New Year's Eve has been and gone but it seems no one has told Ashton Irwin.

He finally confirmed his romance with model Crystal Leigh on New Year's Eve following months of speculation. 

5 Seconds Of Summer rocker Luke Hemmings looked worse-for-wear as he left a Hollywood hot-spot on Sunday night

He is believed to to have split from YouTube star Arzaylea Rodriguez after they unfollowed each other on Instagram in April.

He's the Sydney boy who became a worldwide rock star in 5 Seconds of Summer.

He's the 5 Seconds of Summer star known for constantly changing the colour of his hair.

5SOS front-man Luke Hemmings and his former flame Arzaylea Rodriguez's rocky romance met its end in May this year.

William Tyrrell's biological mother has stepped out in public a week after she was finally revealed as the missing boy's parent.

5 Seconds of Summer's Michael Clifford, 22, enjoys a date night with girlfriend Crystal Leigh, at Nobu Malibu on Saturday.

 5 Seconds Of Summer have released their first song in nearly two years.

He was romantically linked with Kendall Jenner in 2014 when they were pictured getting into a taxi together in New York.

On Wednesday, guitarist Michael Clifford hinted at the possibility of another collaboration with the Good Charlotte boys.

5 Second Of Summer (5SOS) have become No. 1 in the US. The Australian-raised hunks' third album Youngblood topped the coveted Billboard 200 charts this week.

5 Seconds of Summer's Calum Hood performs bizarre leg kick in VERY tight flares during appearance on The Project

It certainly pays to be in 5 Seconds Of Summer.

5 Seconds Of Summer's Luke Hemmings and girlfriend Sierra Deaton made their relationship Instagram official back in July. 

He debuted his striking red hair on Christmas Day.

It's been quite a year for 5 Seconds Of Summer, with the band's latest album Youngblood topping the charts around the world.

They've been pictured together on several occasions since late 2017.

It's been a busy year for 5 Seconds of Summer, with their single Youngblood spending an impressive 46 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100.

It's been a busy year for 5 Seconds of Summer, with their single Youngblood spending an impressive 46 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100. 

They made a spectacular comeback last year with their Youngblood album.

They excitedly announced their engagement in January this year.

They may have been dating since 2017, but Ashton Irwin and Kaitlin Blaisdell still appear to be in the throes of newfound love.

They're one of the biggest bands to ever come out of Australia. 

5 Seconds of Summer's Michael Clifford politely says performing at the ARIAs was 'more exciting' than the Billboard Music Awards...seconds before he clears his throat

The 23-year-old bassist appeared to have no qualms about playing seventh wheel as he arrived for the group date at Double Bay venue The Golden Sheaf.

5SOS' Calum Hood, 23, and Ashton Irwin, 24, attended the Sydney premiere of Muriel's Wedding The Musical on Thursday.

Michael Clifford treated his fiancée Crystal Leigh to a vegan feast for her birthday recently.

Calum Hood is the only member of ARIA award winning Aussie pop group 5 Seconds of Summer who is single. 

 5 Seconds of Summer's singer Luke Hemmings has been happily dating girlfriend Serra Deaton since last February.

5 Seconds of Summer were left red-faced after their backstage rider was publicly revealed on NBC's A Little Late with Lilly Singh.  

Zayn Malik's family have been celebrating Martin Tiser's 18th birthday, weeks after he married the One Direction star's sister Safaa, 17.

The 37-year-old British TV personality shocked The Masked Singer panelists while revealing she was Ladybug on Wednesday's episode featuring guest Triumph, The Insult Comic Dog.

She said 'yes' to marrying 5 Seconds Of Summer guitarist Michael Clifford, earlier this year.