Serena Williams beat Maria Sharapova for the 15th consecutive time, rallying in both sets for a 6-4, 6-3 victory in the Sony Open semifinals on Thursday.
Roger Federer delivered a lesson to the next generation at the Australian Open, extending his record to a 35th consecutive grand slam quarter-final after Serena Williams set up a clash with her would-be successor.
Tennis royalty is Down Under to try to capture the first major crown of the year, but two players should rise above all others in the opening test of 2013, which starts on Monday. 
Leading contenders for women's title
Serena Williams of the US skips rope during a practice session at Melbourne Park January 9, 2013, ahead of the Australian Open tennis tournament which begins on Monday.
Serena Williams' motivating factor in her WTA Championships triumph on Sunday was to save her own sanity, the American said after beating Maria Sharapova in the final of the season-ending tournament.
Even though she won four big titles during the year, Serena Williams will still end 2012 ranked number three behind Victoria Azarenka and Maria Sharapova.
No end in sight for rampant champion as she has set her sights on another Grand Slam title at the Australian Open next January, as Tang Zhe reports in Istanbul
American Serena Williams reached the semi-finals at the WTA Tour Championships in Istanbul on Thursday with what is fast becoming a routine defeat of world number one Victoria Azarenka.
Defending champion Petra Kvitova has withdrawn from the WTA Championships due to a viral illness and will be replaced by Samantha Stosur, tournament officials announced on Wednesday.
Victoria Azarenka looks favourite to end the year as world number one but few of the eight women who qualified for this week's season-ending WTA Championships would argue that Serena Williams still rules the roost.
Williams' US Open win gives her 15 Grand Slams - and an appetite to finish her career with as many as possible, AFP reports.
Factbox on American Serena Williams, who won her 15th Grand Slam singles title at the US Open on Sunday with a 6-2 2-6 7-5 win over Victoria Azarenka of Belarus.
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