Serena Williams lost her first official match since maternity leave as she and sister Venus were beaten in a doubles dead rubber by the Netherlands in the Fed Cup in Asheville.

• Chris Dutton

Tennis ACT bosses are "open to all opportunities" if Australia hosts a World Group play-off in April.

• Caden Helmers

Australia is one step closer to a drought-breaking Fed Cup triumph.

• Caden Helmers

All eyes were on Ash Barty to start the day after Marta Kostyuk put the heat on the hosts.

• Eamonn Tiernan

They call her the next Martina Hingis for a reason.

• Eamonn Tiernan

Ash Barty delivered Australia the perfect start to its Fed Cup campaign in Canberra on Saturday.

• Frank Pingue

American Serena Williams was drawn to play doubles in a potentially decisive fifth rubber in this week's Fed Cup first round tie against the Netherlands in what will be her first competitive match in over a year.

• Eamonn Tiernan

Tennis Australia boss Craig Tiley says Canberra is in contention to host a Davis Cup tie this year.

• Eamonn Tiernan

Ash Barty wants to lead Australia back into the top echelon of world tennis.

• Eamonn Tiernan

Destanee Aiava has discovered what she really loves most about tennis - wearing green and gold.

• Eamonn Tiernan

Ukraine Tennis secretary Evgeniy Zukin has urged the ITF to change the Fed Cup schedule.

• Eamonn Tiernan

Australian captain Alicia Molik been presented with the prestigious Fed Cup commitment award.

• Eamonn Tiernan

Australian veteran Casey Dellacqua says breaking a 44-year Fed Cup title drought would top a grand slam win.

• Frank Pingue

Serena Williams will be "ready to go" when she returns to action this week in the United States' Fed Cup first round tie against the Netherlands, captain Kathy Rinaldi said on Wednesday.

• Eamonn Tiernan

Fed Cup: Australia are wary of Ukraine teenage sensation Marta Kostyuk who leads the singles attack at 15.

• Eamonn Tiernan

Ash Barty is determined to lead Australia back to World Group and end their 44-year Fed Cup title drought.

• Eamonn Tiernan

Australian No. 1 Ash Barty is in career-best form ahead of a crucial Fed Cup tie against the Ukraine.

• Caden Helmers

Alicia Molik is adamant Australia is nearing the end of its Fed Cup drought.

• ANALYSIS
• Roy Masters

The Australian Open 2018 was aired live in more than 220 territories on more than 65 different TV channels

• ANALYSIS
• Roy Masters

The strategies of Tennis Australia and Cricket Australia for securing the optimum dollar in broadcasting rights appear to be very different.

• ANALYSIS
• Roy Masters

Apart from the improved display of Nick Kyrgios at last month's Australian Open, the performance of Australians in recent grand slam events has been underwhelming.

• Phil Lutton

World No.5 Alex Zverev produced a flawless performance to beat an injured Kyrgios in three sets and end Australian hopes, with Germany taking the tie 3-1 in Brisbane.

Novak Djokovic has had elbow surgey in an attempt to cure an injury that has troubled him for the past two years.

• Phil Lutton

All eyes now fall on Nick Kyrgios after a doubles upset has given Germany a 2-1 advantage heading into the final day on Pat Rafter Arena.

• Phil Lutton

Nick Kyrgios wasn't always sold on the talents of Alex Zverev. Now the rising stars and close friends prepare to continue their rivalry when they square off in an eagerly awaited Davis Cup clash in Brisbane.

Holders France ran into a spot of bother as they split the opening day's singles matches to finish locked at 1-1 with Netherlands in the first round of their Davis Cup World Group tie after being hit by injuries.

Novak Djokovic says he had a "small medical intervention" on his bothersome right elbow.

• Phil Lutton

Kyrgios was all business as he swept aside Jan-Lennard Struff in three sets to leave the tie against Germany all square heading into Saturday's doubles.

• Phil Lutton

The teenager would fall to German world number five Alex Zverev but his stocks only soared in a nail-biting five setter on Pat Rafter Arena in the Davis Cup opener against Germany.