Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan continued their pursuit of a 117th team crown on Thursday by reaching the ASB Classic semi-finals.

The second-seeded Americans, contesting their first tournament together for eight months, knocked out Austin Krajicek and Artem Sitak 7-6(2), 2-6, 10-2 in 87 minutes. The Bryans led 4/1 in the first set tie-break, but needed to save one set point at 5/6.

It was their third match together since Bob Bryan sustained a right hip injury on 13 May 2018 in the Mutua Madrid Open final.

They will next challenge third seeds Raven Klaasen and Michael Venus, who recovered from a slow start to overcome Guido Pella and Joao Sousa 7-5, 6-3 in the quarter-finals.

Ben McLachlan and Jan-Lennard Struff edged past last week’s Brisbane International champions Marcus Daniell and Wesley Koolhof 7-6(4), 7-6(5) in 88 minutes to set up a semi-final against top seeds Oliver Marach and Mate Pavic.

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Italy’s Andreas Seppi knocked out top seed Stefanos Tsitsipas with a nerve-free performance 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 on Thursday at the Sydney International. The 34-year-old Italian saved six of seven break points against Greece’s #NextGenATP star, and when it came time to serve for the match, Seppi didn’t flinch.

The Italian, who broke at 4-4 in the third, served out the quarter-final to love to reach his third Sydney semi-final (2013, 2016). “I always play my best tennis in Australia so I really enjoy playing here,” Seppi said.

Tsitsipas, No. 15 in the ATP Rankings, hit 15 aces but donated seven double faults to the Italian veteran, who will meet either third seed Diego Schwartzman of Argentina or Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka in the semi-final.

For the third time in four years, Juan Martin del Potro will open his ATP Tour season at the Delray Beach Open presented by VITACOST.com. Del Potro reached a career-high No. 3 ATP Ranking in 2018, but has been sidelined since October after suffering a fractured patella during the Rolex Shanghai Masters.

“I have great memories of Delray Beach and the fans, from winning the title in 2011 to starting my comeback here in 2016,” said the 30-year-old Argentine. “This city will always be a special place for me.”

Del Potro won the Delray Beach title on his tournament debut (d. Tipsarevic) and also reached the semi-finals in 2016 (l. to Querrey) and ’17 (l. to Raonic). Last year, he bowed out in the Round of 16 to eventual champion Frances Tiafoe before going on a 15-match winning streak with titles in Acapulco and Indian Wells.

“We’ve been fortunate to forge a special relationship with Delpo,” commented Tournament Director Mark Baron. “He enjoys the laid-back vibes of Delray Beach and is treated like family. He is family to all of us. We look forward to him launching another successful year starting here in Delray Beach.”

The 2011 champion will play his first match Tuesday, 19 February, at 8pm.

Let the anticipation hit high gear. The seeds for the 2019 Australian Open, which starts Monday, have been announced, and the top is littered with names that have dominated the season’s first Grand Slam for the past decade plus.

Six-time champion Novak Djokovic, No. 1 in the ATP Rankings, is the top seed in Melbourne. The Serbian, who fell in the semi-finals of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open last week (l. to Bautista Agut), will be going for a record-breaking seventh Australian Open crown. Djokovic is currently tied with Roger Federer for the Open Era mark.

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The 31-year-old Djokovic is also trying to win his third consecutive Grand Slam, after winning Slams Nos. 13 and 14 at Wimbledon and the US Open, respectively.

Second seed Rafael Nadal will be contesting his first tour-level match of the season when he takes to the courts in Melbourne Park. Nadal had to withdraw from the Brisbane International last week because of left thigh strain.

The Spaniard has not played a tour-level match since 7 September, more than four months ago, when he had to retire from his US Open semi-final against Juan Martin del Potro. But the 17-time Grand Slam champion has captured one Australian Open title (2009) and reached three other finals (2012, 2014, 2017).

He has a chance at No. 1 during the Aussie fortnight. Nadal will regain the top spot in the ATP Rankings on 28 January if he wins the title and Djokovic does not reach the fourth round.

Federer, the third seed, also will be vying for a three-peat and a record-breaking seventh Australian Open crown. The 37-year-old has not won back-to-back-to-back titles at the same Grand Slam since the 2006-08 US Open.

Federer could match Djokovic’s Open Era record by winning his third consecutive Australian Open crown. Djokovic, Nadal and Federer have combined for 13 of the past 15 Australian Open titles and eight consecutive Grand Slam championships. The draw for the 2019 Australian Open will take place from 6 p.m. Thursday, local time.

1. Novak Djokovic (SRB)
2. Rafael Nadal (ESP)
3. Roger Federer (SUI)
4. Alexander Zverev (GER)
5. Kevin Anderson (RSA)
6. Marin Cilic (CRO)
7. Dominic Thiem (AUT)
8. Kei Nishikori (JPN)
9. John Isner (USA)
10. Karen Khachanov (RUS)
11. Borna Coric (CRO)
12. Fabio Fognini (ITA)
13. Kyle Edmund (GBR)
14. Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE)
15. Daniil Medvedev (RUS)
16. Milos Raonic (CAN)
17. Marco Cecchinato (ITA)
18. Diego Schwartzman (ARG)
19. Nikoloz Basilashvili (GEO)
20. Grigor Dimitrov (BUL)
21. David Goffin (BEL)
22. Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP)
23. Pablo Carreno Busta (ESP)
24. Hyeon Chung (KOR)
25. Denis Shapovalov (CAN)
26. Fernando Verdasco (ESP)
27. Alex de Minaur (AUS)
28. Lucas Pouille (FRA)
29. Gilles Simon (FRA)
30. Gael Monfils (FRA)
31. Steve Johnson (USA)
32. Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER)