ATP/WTA 2013 week 1 so far



Sharapova in her Brisbane Press Conference

ATP/WTA 2013 week 1 so far

With the season beginning before we celebrated the arrival of 2013 there is much to talk about already - here's a quick round-up.

Injuries

World No.2 Maria Sharapova is a doubt for the Australian Open after withdrawing from the Brisbane International with a collerbone injury.

Three-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic managed to avoid injury after the Hopman Cup final when a barrier fell and struck him on the legs. 

The World No.1 and compatriot Ana Ivanovic had won their opening tie against Italy at the Mixed Doubles event in Perth.  Before heading to Australia Djokovic won the Mubadala World Tennis Championship exhibition event in Abu Dhabi.

Upsets

At the Brisbane International seeds Caroline Wozniacki and Sam Stosur were felled in the opening round by Ksenia Pervak and Sofia Arvidsson. 

Fellow top 10 seeds Sara Errani and Petra Kvitova faired little better losing their second round encounters with Daniela Hantuchova and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova respectively.

Business as Usual

Also in Brisbane Serena Williams picked up in the new season where she left off during 2012.  The 31 year-old Wimbledon, US Open and Olympic champion dropped just seven games in blasting past Varvara Lepchenko and Alize Cornet to reach the quarter finals. 

Next in the firing line for the American will be Sloane Stephens or Arvidsson.

Comeback

Multiple Grand Slam winner and former World No.1 Cara Black is back in WTA action for the first time since Wimbledon 2011 and the birth of her first child last year. 



Black poised to strike

The Zimbabwean and partner Anastasia Rodionova made a winning start at the ASB Classic in Auckland.  Black initially returned on the ITF circuit in October reaching back to back finals with Rodionova's sister Arina. 

Brit Watch

In Auckland British No.1 Heather Watson moved past fifth seed Sorana Cirstea after the Romanian retired after a set.  Watson is now in a seed-less section of the draw and next faces Kiki Bertens. 

Watson vs Cirstea ends after one set

In the doubles the Brit is seeded 2nd with home hope Marina Erakovic and next face Black and Rodionova.

At the inaugural Shenzhen Longgang Gemdale Open in China seventh seed Laura Robson was sliced and diced in the second round by Monica Niculescu. Anne Keothavong qualified and led sixth seed Peng Shuai by a break before falling in two sets.

In Brisbane US Open Champion Andy Murray begins the defence of his title with a second round meeting with Australian Open qualifier John Millman.  Johanna Konta defeated world no.98 Maria-Teresa Torro-Flor in the opening round of qualifying in the women's event.

At the Qatar Exxonmobile Open 2013 Dominic Inglot and partner Treat Conrad Huey stormed past top seeds Robert Lindstedt and Nenad Zimonjic 6-2, 6-2 in the opening round. Wimbledon Champion Jonny Marray is also into round two with German partner Dustin Brown.

Colin Fleming and Jamie Murray are seeded second in Brisbane while in Chennai Jamie Delgado and Ken Skupski are seeded fourth and are due to face Germans Andre Begemann and Martin Emmrich in round one.