Playing in her first final at the elite Premier Mandatory level, World No.15 Elena Vesnina battled through a tense three hours and one minute to subdue eighth-ranked Svetlana Kuznetsova.

Serena Williams had little trouble in getting past Elene Vesnina in their semi-final clash, while her elder sister Venus Williams was sent packing in straight sets by Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber

Serena Williams needed just 48 minutes to overwhelm Elena Vesnina 6-2, 6-0 on Thursday in a semifinal that felt more like a training session.

Serena Williams, who is bidding for a record-equalling Open era 22nd Grand Slam title, will face Russian World No. 50 Elena Vesnina in the Wimbledon semi-finals

Wimbledon men's singles defending champion Novak Djokovic's third round exit against Sam Querrey surprised the tennis world.

Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic became the first French duo to win the French Open after 46 years as they defeated Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina to clinch the women's doubles title.

Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis lost 2-6, 6-4, 10-5 to Russian pair Elena Vesnina and Daria Kasatkina in the quarterfinals of the Qatar Open, bringing an end to their 41-match unbeaten streak.

Karolina Pliskova and Barbora Strycova beat Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Elena Vesnina 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 at Prague's hardcourt O2 Arena to hand Czech Republic their fourth trophy in five years.

Martina Hingis, 33, was playing with Italy's Flavia Pennetta but despite a promising start to the women's doubles final they went down 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 to fourth seeds Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina.

Russians Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina ended the surprising run of Japanese veteran Kimiko Date-Krumm and Czech partner Barbora Zahlavova Strycova 7-5, 6-3 and will take on Martina Hingis and Flavia Pennetta in the final.