Six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek on Saturday said she saw little point to the "Battle of the Sexes" match and that women's tennis has nothing more to prove.
Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are set for more world domination in 2026, starting at the Australian Open, while Aryna Sabalenka is bubbling with confidence as she chases further Grand Slam success.
Coco Gauff and Taylor Fritz will spearhead the United States' title defence at the mixed teams United Cup in Australia.
Aryna Sabalenka raced into a fourth consecutive Wuhan Open quarter-final Thursday, having revealed she spent time on holiday last month practising with Novak Djokovic.
Iga Swiatek powered her way to the third round of the WTA's 1,000-level Wuhan Open on Tuesday with a straight sets win against Marie Bouzkova.
Carlos Alcaraz added his voice to the criticism and pulled out of the Shanghai Masters with "physical issues" as the packed schedule for elite tennis players came under renewed scrutiny this week.
Jannik Sinner survived a scare to sink French qualifier Terence Atmane at the China Open on Saturday as Iga Swiatek launched her title bid and home player Zheng Qinwen returned from injury.
Iga Swiatek battled back from a disastrous start to win the Korea Open on Sunday, beating Russia's Ekaterina Alexandrova 1-6, 7-6 (7/3), 7-5 in the final.
Amanda Anisimova avenged her Wimbledon thrashing by Iga Swiatek to reach the US Open semi-finals on Wednesday, while a resurgent Felix Auger-Aliassime sealed his place in the last four.
Naomi Osaka powered past third seed Gauff 6-3, 6-2 in a highly-anticipated but lopsided fourth-round showdown of former US Open champions.