Judy Murray positive despite disappointing day

Fed Cup captain Judy Murray believes there are plenty of positives to take despite five Britons crashing out of the Australian Open in the first round.

Andy Murray wins in Brisbane ahead of Australian Open

Andy Murray enjoyed the perfect preparation for the Australian Open with a comfortable victory over Ukraine's Alexandr Dolgopolov in the Brisbane International final.

Andy Murray beats Mikhail Kukushkin in Brisbane opener

British number one Andy Murray overcame fitness concerns and an in-form Mikhail Kukushkin to win his opening match of 2012 at the Brisbane International.

Andy Murray has "struck gold" in appointing new coach Ivan Lendl

Andy Murray has "struck gold" in appointing new coach Ivan Lendl, according to the eight-time major winner's former mentor Tony Roche.

Novak Djokovic beats David Ferrer to win Abu Dhabi exhibition

Novak Djokovic beat David Ferrer 6-2 6-1 to win the World Tennis Championship exhibition in Abu Dhabi.

Tennis Star Rafael Nadal Take a Rest When He Will finish Australian Open

World number two Rafael Nadal plans to take several weeks off after the Australian Open to properly recover from a nagging shoulder injury.

Injured Maria Sharapova expects to be fit for Australian Open

Maria Sharapova is confident of being fit for January's Australian Open despite pulling out of the Brisbane International with an ankle injury.

Novak Djokovic wins overseas award

Tennis star Novak Djokovic who won three of the sport's four Grand Slams in 2011.

Judy's law- Murray's best to lead women's quest out of the wilderness

From a talent pool of two — her own sons —Judy Murray produced two world-class tennis players. From next year, with the whole country to work with, she will be trying to deliver some more.

Venus Williams out of Auckland tournament because of illness

Venus Williams's participation in the Australian Open has been put in doubt after she withdrew from January's ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand, because of ongoing health issues.

Lawn Tennis Association chief shies away from setting rankings target

Lawn Tennis Association chief executive Roger Draper has refused to predict how many British players will be ranked in the world top 100 in five years.

Great Britain's new Fed Cup team captain by the Lawn Tennis Association

Judy Murray has been named as Great Britain's new Fed Cup team captain by the Lawn Tennis Association. 

Spain close to victory over Argentina

Spain are on the verge of winning the Davis Cup after opening day victories for Rafael Nadal and David Ferrer left Argentina teetering on the brink.

Nadal thrashed Juan Monaco before David Ferrer beat Juan Martin Del Potro in an energy-sapping five-set epic.

Roger Federer beats David Ferrer to reach World Tour final

Roger Federer moved to within one win of a record sixth year-end crown after beating David Ferrer to reach the final of the ATP World Tour Finals.

The 16-time Grand Slam champion was not at his vintage best but had far too much for Ferrer, winning 7-5 6-3 in an hour and 25 minutes at London's O2 Arena.

He is into his 100th career final and will now leapfrog Britain's Andy Murray to finish the season as world number three - his ninth straight top-three year-end ranking.

In Sunday's showpiece he will play Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who beat Tomas Berdych 6-3 7-5 in the second semi-final.

"I'm very happy to have played so well again," said Federer. "That's what it takes to beat David. He's had an amazing season and tournament so far."

Tipsarevic v Berdych play news

Berdych 2-6 3-3 Tipsarevic

Berdych strangles a forehand about eight feet long and buries a forehand volley into the net to slip 30-0 adrift. Plenty of grimaces from the Czech. No sign of him regaining his, ahem, bounce as Tipsarevic polishes off the next points as well. Janko has dropped just two points on his serve so far this set. And my puns are done you will be relieved to read.

Berdych 2-6 3-2 Tipsarevic

Berdych looks poised to match Tipsarevic's clean sweep of the previous game before Janko hits an arcing forehand return millimetres over the tape to get to 40-15. Another pearler off the forehand wing from Janko and suddenly this could turn interesting. But Berdych pinches off his opponent's burgeoning enthusiasm for the fight with a clean winner which trims the whitewash.

Andy Murray loses to David Ferrer in opener

Andy Murray suffered the worst possible start to his ATP World Tour Finals campaign with a straight sets defeat by David Ferrer of Spain.

It was a bitterly disappointing performance from the British number one, who has been tipped by many to reach the final but may now struggle to advance past the group stage.

Murray required treatment for an injury after losing the first set and he became increasingly angry with himself as he twice saw breaks of serve overturned in the second.

Ferrer v Murray play news

Murray 4-6 2-3 Ferrer
Punchy hitting from Ferrer and all of a sudden he looks on top again. He moves into a 30-15 lead with a whipped forehand winner and makes it 40-30 with an ace out wide. And there's his third of the match, straight down the middle...

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Murray 4-6 2-2 Ferrer
Murray unfurls the old between-the-legs trick but ends up losing the point and falling 0-30 behind.... three break-points for Ferrer as Murray collapses under a smash and he only needs one of them as Murray misses the base-line with an attempted pass. Interesting...

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Murray 4-6 2-1 Ferrer 
 Ferrer skips into a 40-0 lead before Murray pegs him back to 40-30... make that deuce as Ferrer finds the net with a forehand down the line. Ferrer puts away a neat stop-volley at the end after a booming serve and Murray gifts the Spaniard the game with a flicked backhand into the net.

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Murray 4-6 2-0 Ferrer 
 Murray gets a spot of luck, a net cord flummoxing Ferrer and taking the Brit to 30-0 and Murray wins the game after Ferrer slices into the net from close-range.

Recent Top tennis players set for ATP World Tour Finals

Roger Federer says he is not feeling the pressure as he seeks to defend his ATP World Tour Finals crown and lift a record sixth season-ending title.

The 16-time Grand Slam champion has slipped to number four in the rankings but is confident of ending 2011 on a high.

"It would be amazing to win for the sixth time," he said.

"There's always pressure as defending champion but I'm used to it. I've done it so many times."

World number two Rafael Nadal added: "Being here is a big motivation - it's one of the most beautiful courts in the world."

Boris Becker says Andy Murray's approach is 'too negative'

Andy Murray's approach remains "too negative" to win a Grand Slam title, according to Boris Becker.

Murray, who is set to compete in next week's ATP World Tour Finals in London, has been urged to attack more.

"For Murray to win a Grand Slam, it's not a question of technique or his actual game," said Becker, a six-time Grand Slam champion.

Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova dominates WTA player awards

Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova has been named WTA player of the year.

The 21-year-old Czech began the year ranked 34 in the world before she won her maiden Grand Slam beating Maria Sharapova at Wimbledon in July.

She also won the Fed Cup and the end-of-season WTA Tour Championships, finishing the year ranked two in the world, behind only Caroline Wozniacki.

Germany's Sabine Lisicki won Comeback player of the year after she reached the semi-finals at Wimbledon.