Kerber going for women’s No. 1 ranking in Cincinnati

The American player had a short practice session on Monday on the Centre Court but noticed she has still pain and so will be replaced by the lucky loser Misaki Doi that will face Zheng or McHale.

Williams’ exit has major implications at the W&S Open as it opens the door for a new No. 1.

Top seed Williams, 34, revealed she had opted against accepting her wild-card place at this tournament due to a shoulder injury and if Kerber goes on to win in Cincinnati, she will take over at the top of the WTA rankings table.

Her No. 1 ranking is on the line, too. She is the defending champion there, and that means more points will be lost.

Williams is coming off a loss in the Rio Olympics to Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina in the third round, she double-faulted five times in one game and was visibly bothered by her shoulder.

Without Djokovic and Federer, the men’s draw is wide open.

There’s a chance for somebody else to get a Masters trophy on Sunday.

“He’s played in nine Ryder Cups and has unbelievable experience of foursomes and four-balls, so I couldn’t have picked a better partner”, said the 28-year-old of Westwood.

Andy Murray enters the tournament as its top seed – he’s won it twice – after winning the gold medal in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday night.

In another first-round match, unseeded Julien Benneteau upset 10th-seeded Spaniard David Ferrer 6-4, 2-6, 6-4. “It was a really, really hard match, one of the hardest matches I’ve played”.