Companies that have spent millions creating their brands (and defending them against competition) are not flattered by such imitation.

ECONOMIST: Counterfeiting

Figure Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Venezuela to offer the toughest competition (defending champ Japan is devoid of any major leaguers this year).

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In the women's singles Svetlana Kuznetsova is the defending champion but faces stiff competition in the face of the Williams sisters, as well as four-time French Open champion Justine Henin, who is competing for the first time since coming out of retirement.

CNN: Top 10 French Open moments

At present, the billions of dollars spent on some of the intelligence and defense cyber programs are in direct competition for the already scarce resources with those defending enterprise networks.

FORBES: Cyberwar Or Not Cyberwar? And Why That Is The Question

Defending champion Ryuichi Kiyonari, Jonathan Rea and Gregorio Lavilla have all left the championship but Laverty faces stiff competition from the likes of Shane Byrne, Tom Sykes, Leon Camier, Leon Haslam and Cal Crutchlow.

BBC: Michael Laverty

Meanwhile, Ferrer's victory ensured he joins defending champion Roger Federer -- who has qualified from Group B -- in the last four of the competition.

CNN: Ferrer stuns Djokovic in straight sets