When Serena Williams returned to the women's tour early last spring the mission was simple: to win a 24th Grand Slam and to do so as a proud parent.

The mystery of whether Serena Williams will mix with Andy Murray in the doubles has finally been solved, but the question of her competitiveness as an individual entity remains unanswered.

As the top women's seed, Ashleigh Barty, the world No 1 and newly crowned French Open champion, has every right to feel there is a weight of expectation on her shoulders.

Barty, chasing back-to-back grand slams following her French Open success last month, beat the Belgian 6-1 6-3 to advance to the third round on Thursday.

Ash Barty took less than an hour to defeat Alison Van Uytvanck at Wimbledon on Thursday and addressed a snub from Serena Williams made earlier during a press conference.

MATTHEW LAMBERT AT WIMBLEDON: There will be no meeting of the Murrays in the men's doubles this year after Jamie's new partnership with Neal Skupski hit an early bump in the road.

She produced one of the great final performances at the All England Club, committing three unforced errors in a 6-2, 6-2 win over Serena Williams that she described as the best match of her life.

When Queenslander Ash Barty won her first grand slam tennis title at the French Open in June she celebrated by going out for beer and steak. 

Ashleigh Barty is poised to crown her phenomenal season by becoming the first Australian woman to ever top the year-ending tennis rankings.

French Open champion Barty, who had been beaten twice by Kvitova in Australia earlier this year, fired nine aces and converted three of six break points to win the encounter.

Japan's Naomi Osaka fought back from a set down to beat Australian world number one Ash Barty 3-6 6-3 6-2 in the final of the China Open in Beijing on Sunday.

British Fed Cup star Katie Boulter looks finally ready to resume her career after nearly six months spent battling injury.

The American, who became the youngest player to reach a WTA final since Czech Nicole Vaidisova in 2004, overcame 2017 French Open champion 6-3 1-6 6-2 in the final.

Ashleigh Barty's coach can pinpoint the moment when the Australian morphed from good to a great.

The Canadian sounded a positive note at the end of what he freely admits has been 'the most challenging month in my 35 year career in sport', with further cancellations also coming on Friday.

The U.S. president quoted his predecessor as he took part in the British commemoration of the 75th anniversary of D-Day, led by Queen Elizabeth II, in Portsmouth, on the English south coast.

Emmanuel Macron and Justin Trudeau were pictured sharing a warm embrace in Paris today, as they met to discuss a new EU-Canada trade deal. 

First daughter Ivanka Trump continued to engage with world leaders as she accompanied her father in South Korea.

AOC's glib, sneering tweet struck me as particularly inappropriate given that she is herself arguably the least 'qualified' member of the House of Representatives in US political history.

It's come to light that Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, might have relatives that are even more well-known than her distinguished spouse. Here at other famous familial connections.

'President Trump is very intimidated by Justin Trudeau because he's a good looking, smart kid and President Trump is like this orange fat blob,' said Scaramucci in an interview with ABC Australia.

A photo has emerged showing Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wearing blackface to a party 18 years ago when he was a private school teacher. 

TOM LEONARD: Accused of racism and the most shameless hypocrisy, Justin Trudeau risks being turfed out of office after a first term plagued by scandals and embarrassment.

Justin Trudeau was dragged on social media by both conservative and liberal pundits after three different instances surfaced of him donning blackface as recently as 2001.

Fox host and father-of-four said on Thursday's Tucker Carlson Tonight he would never allow his daughter to date a man who was a feminist, because Bill Clinton was and Ted Kennedy 'killed a woman'.

At a town hall meeting in Saskatoon on Thursday night, Trudeau faced tough questions about the imbroglio despite the crowd being stocked with supporters from his ruling Liberal Party.

Donald Trump said he was 'surprised' at the number of times Justin Trudeau has donned blackface but admitted he hoped he would not get asked about the Canadian prime minister.

Roger Husband spoke to Global News to defend Trudeau's costume but say it 'stood out' against those of the students he was teaching at West Point Grey Academy.

New Forest West MP Sir Desmond Swayne (pictured) said in a blog post that he wouldn't do it again - but only because of the 'trouble' of getting clean again.'

Deanna Brown Thomas, 50, said her late father would not have been insulted by Desmond Swayne's actions (pictured) during the party in Hampshire seven years ago.

Trudeau works as a communications professor at the college in Denton, Texas, and has done since 2005. He was investigated in 2018

Donald Trump used a NATO meeting Tuesday with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to push Speaker Nancy Pelosi to pass the USMCA trade deal.

Trump hasn't been humiliated at the NATO summit at all. He's just had to endure the petty mockery of a jealous bunch of Mean Girls who like to make fun of him behind his back.

Downing Street said the two world leaders had a call this afternoon as Mr Trump praised Mr Johnson and they discussed their shared desire for increased trade between the two nations.

The eight-bedroom gated estate on Vancouver Island, Canada, boasts two beaches and views across the peninsula from the four acre property.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex say they plan to split their time between the United Kingdom and North America after they step back from senior roles in Britain's Royal Family.

Insisting 'the best British experts' should be involved in the investigation into the incident in Tehran, Boris Johnson said last night: 'The loss of life is a tragedy.

Canada's finance minister says its government has not yet decided if it will cover the $1.7 million it will cost to provide security for Harry and Meghan after the couple decided to move to North America.

Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told the Sussex's they are 'always welcome here' on Twitter at Christmas.Trudeau and his wife Sophie were told about the couple's move late last year, insider says.

Canada's prime minister Justin Trudeau says Harry, Meghan (pictured) and Archie 'were among friends, and always welcome here' after the family spent six weeks in a Vancouver mansion.

On Wednesday, the pair shared images on their official Instagram page, Sussex Royals, promoting 'Bell Let's Talk', which is run by phone provider Bell.

AMANDA PLATELL: Everything Prince Harry and Meghan do seems to blow up in their faces as they don't seem to think.The taxpayer won't foot the bill for their family's police protection.

On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump announced that he and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau agreed to shut down their border.

The God's Plan rapper updated fans while Instagram Live-ing with his dad Dennis Graham on Friday.  Drake is one of the many asymptomatic celebrities who have been able to acquire the tests.

Ryan Reynolds used his platform to urge people to stay at home in a new video shared to Instagram on Tuesday. 

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau outlined advice about people wearing masks during an address. Trudeau said they could protect people from 'breathing or speaking moistly' on others.

Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage insisted 'No Deal is the best deal' and told the Boris Johnson it would be a 'historic mistake' to rehash Mrs May's Withdrawal Agreement - minus the backstop.

Nigel Farage said he was ready to put 'country before party' and 'help in any way we can' if a snap poll is triggered.

Nigel Farage said 'of course' the Brexit Party and Tories must do a deal to stop them splitting the Eurosceptic vote in a snap election - which could come as early as October 15.

Members of the European Research Group are reported to have held 'very tentative' discussions with the Brexit Party leader over the possibility of a pact saying it 'would be mad' not to pursue one.