Serena Williams reaches Italian Open final

A week out from the French Open, Serena Williams is only one victory away from winning her fourth straight tournament. 1368890948

At the Net: One to watch: Benoit Paire

French tennis has certainly picked up the pace in recent years -- well, on the men's side anyway -- and the latest of its quality ball-strikers is Benoit Paire.

Top-ranked Djokovic beaten by Berdych in Rome

Novak Djokovic can't seem to find any consistency on clay courts. And with the French Open less than 10 days away, he will enter Roland Garros on the back of two early defeats.

Berdych stuns Djokovic; Federer, Nadal reach semis in Rome

Czech slugger Tomas Berdych came from way behind to upset two-time champion Novak Djokovic, while six-time winner Rafael Nadal and reigning Wimbledon champion Roger Federer each pulled out quarterfinal victories Friday at the $3.475 million Italian Masters tennis event.

Sharapova withdraws in Rome

Maria Sharapova will not win a third straight Italian Open after withdrawing from the French Open tune-up on Friday because of illness.

Serena continues roll into Rome final, Azarenka next

Red-hot Serena Williams eased into the semifinals, while two-time defending champion Maria Sharapova pulled out of her scheduled quarterfinal match Friday at the Italian Open because of an illness. 1368890952

Sharapova withdraws from Italian Open with illness

Two-time defending champion Maria Sharapova has withdrawn before her Italian Open quarterfinal match against seventh-seeded Sara Errani because of illness.

Tennis spotlight

Andy Murray ‘doubtful’ for French Open

It is mid-May, the thick of the clay season, the time of year when tennis players’ socks get really dirty, and when Rafael Nadal looks superhuman. The 2013 French Open in Paris is 10 days away, and this is what we know:

US Open tennis leaving CBS for ESPN in 2015

The U.S. Open tennis tournament will leave CBS after nearly a half-century and move all TV coverage to cable starting in 2015 under an 11-year contract with ESPN.

• http://twitter.com/HowardFendrich

U.S. Open tennis will leave CBS for ESPN in 2015

The U.S. Open tennis tournament will leave CBS and move all its television coverage to ESPN starting in 2015 under an 11-year contract.