2013 Tennis Thread

Sharapova crushes Jankovic to reach Miami final

Maria Sharapova's hot streak on American hard courts continued with a 6-2 6-1 semi-final win over Jelena Jankovic in the Sony Open in Miami.
The third seed, who also won the title in Indian Wells last time out, was at her clinical best, wrapping up the contest in just 64 minutes.
Four-times Miami runner-up Sharapova will face Serena Williams or Agnieszka Radwanska in the final, with the pair meeting later tonight.
The win was in stark contrast to her quarter-final victory over Sara Errani, where she made 57 unforced errors including 13 double-faults. She only double-faulted twice in this match.
''I just really thought I needed to step it up from my last match and play a little better,'' Sharapova said.
''I was really happy with the way I focused.''
Sharapova has never won in Miami, despite having taken a career Grand Slam. She has lost finals to Kim Clijsters (2005), Svetlana Kuznetsova (2006), Victoria Azarenka (2011) and Radwanska (2012).
''It would mean so much to me (to win in Miami),'' the Russian added. ''I absolutely love this city.
"It's the first city I landed in when I came to the United States as a little girl."
 
Murray sees off Cilic to reach Key Biscayne semis

Andy Murray recovered from a slow start to defeat Marin Cilic 6-4 6-3 and advance to the last four of the Miami Masters.
Having his serve broken twice in the early stages, Murray would grow into the match and recover the dropped games to take the opening set.
But after cruising to a commanding lead in the second, Murray failed to convert six match points against the towering Croat, who broke one back with the Olympic gold medallist serving for the match at 5-2.
But after sealing match point seven, Murray completed the straight-sets win against an opponent who made too many unforced errors to cause the highest remaining seed any serious problems.
Murray said: "Every time I was broken, I broke back almost straight away so I responded well despite it being a tough match against a good opponent in hot conditions."
 
Sharapova to meet Serena in Miami final

Maria Sharapova will face world number one Serena Williams in the final of the Sony Open in Miami.
Williams needed just 65 minutes to deal with fourth seeded defending champion Agnieska Radwanska 6-0 6-3, while Sharapova, who won at Indian Wells earlier this month, demolished Serbia's Jelena Jankovic 6-2 6-1.
Sharapova extended her winning streak to 11 matches with a lopsided win in just over an hour against Jankovic, a former world number one struggling to regain her best.
The Russian's win was in stark contrast to her quarter-final victory over Sara Errani, where she made 57 unforced errors including 13 double-faults. She only double-faulted twice in this match.
''I just really thought I needed to step it up from my last match and play a little better,'' Sharapova said.
''I was really happy with the way I focused.''
Despite Sharapova's good form, Williams will start as clear favourite in Saturday's final - she is 11-2 in meetings with the Russian and has won the last 10 matches between the pair.
Williams, seeking a record sixth Miami title, is relishing the chance of taking on the woman directly below her in the world rankings.
"I love playing her. I love seeing her on the opposite side because she just brings out a good game. I just like the challenge of playing someone who has made history and who is doing so well," the American said.
"She's been playing awesome. I definitely expect a tough match."
One of just 10 women who have won all four Grand Slams, Sharapova has been collecting titles all over the world but has never won the Sony Open, played in her home state of Florida, despite playing four previous finals.
"It would mean so much to me," she said. "I love this city, it's the first city I landed in when I came to the United States as a little girl."

WTA Miami results

Semi-finals

1-Serena Williams (U.S.) beat 4-Agnieszka Radwanska (Poland) 6-0 6-3

3-Maria Sharapova (Russia) beat 22-Jelena Jankovic (Serbia) 6-2 6-1
 
Murray sees off Cilic to reach semis

Britain's Andy Murray moved into the semi-finals of the Sony Open with a 6-4 6-3 victory over Croatia's Marin Cilic to set up a meeting with Richard Gasquet in the last four.
The second-seeded Murray fought back from a break down twice in the first set and then grafted his way through the second to take a commanding lead.
Murray failed to convert six match points against the towering Croat, who broke one back with the Olympic gold medallist serving for the match at 5-2.
But after sealing match point seven, Murray completed the straight-sets win against an opponent who made too many unforced errors to cause the highest remaining seed any serious problems.
Murray said: "Every time I was broken, I broke back almost straight away so I responded well despite it being a tough match against a good opponent in hot conditions.
"It was a tough, tough match. Second set especially was a lot of long, long games and tough points.
"I just managed to come through that. Obviously I took a while to get to the finish line but I thought I played a solid match with not too many errors and was tough in the important moments," he said.
The US Open champion is the highest seeded player left in the men's draw after world number one Novak Djokovic lost to Tommy Haas and will leapfrog Roger Federer to second place in the world rankings if he wins the title.
"I'd like to get to number two this week. It would be nice, but I'd rather focus on trying to win my matches," said the Scotsman.
Eighth seed Gasquet outclassed Tomas Berdych in the day's later quarter-final, the Frenchman recording a 6-3 6-3 victory to reach his first semi in Miami.
Gasquet was solid, hitting 17 winners and breaking serve three times as he made up for his defeat to Berdych in the round of 16 at Indian Wells.
The Frenchman knows he is the underdog against Murray, who he has lost to four times in seven matches, but believes he is capable of producing an upset.
"I can win against Andy. He's the favourite, the number three in the world but I know his game, I know how he plays," he said.
The other semi-final features David Ferrer against Haas.
 
Berdych to miss Czech Davis Cup quarter-final

World number six Tomas Berdych will miss Czech Republic's Davis Cup quarter-final next week when the champions take on Kazakhstan.
Berdych dropped out after losing Thursday's Sony Open quarter-final against Frenchman Richard Gasquet 6-3 6-3 in Miami.
"Last night's match was the last straw for me," he told the Czech Davis Cup Facebook page.
"I woke up this morning and my shoulder hurt so much that it was clear I would not be able to play in Kazakhstan."
The Czech team will now be Radek Stepanek, Lukas Rosol, Jan Hajek and Ivo Minar.
 
Ferrer ends Haas run in Key Biscayne

Tommy Haas failed in his quest to become the oldest man since Jimmy Connors back in 1988 to reach the final of a Masters event, falling to the dogged David Ferrer 4-6 6-2 6-3 in a topsy-turvy semi final in Miami.
Haas had been in superb form en route to the semi final in beating world number one Novak Djokovic and Gilles Simon in straight sets and again looked full of confidence in breaking the Spaniard to win the opening set.
But the 34-year-old German began to look a little fatigued in the second and third sets and unforced errors began to creep into his game against the renowned fighting qualities of the tenacious Spaniard.
Ferrer broke twice in the second and three times in a bizarre third to advance to the final where he will now meet Andy Murray, the second seed beating Richard Gasquet 6-7(3) 6-1 6-2 in the second semi-final..
Haas began the match out-rallying the obdurate Ferrer from the baseline to break the Spaniard to love in the fifth game. In a purple patch that matched his lucky shirt, Haas strung eleven successive winning points together to ***** three more break points en route to a double break and 5-2. And although Ferrer broke back, Haas served out at the second time of asking.
With Ferrer ******* the German to play every ball, he started to yield his grip on the contest. The crucial break came in the sixth game as Haas hit long. A further break at 5-2 handed the Spaniard the initiative of serving first in the final set but it was Haas who broke first and again in the third game after dropping his own serve in the second.
But with Haas looking to keep the rallies short, he started to miss and Ferrer broke again in the sixth and eighth games before serving out for a place in the final.
Should Ferrer defeat either Murray, he will surprisingly become the first Spaniard to lift the Miami crown.
 
Murray outlasts Gasquet to reach final

Andy Murray booked his place in the final of the Miami Masters with a battling 6-7(3) 6-1 6-2 victory over world number 10 Richard Gasquet.
Murray proved physically and mentally stronger than the Frenchman as he weathered an early storm before holding out for the win.
Murray will move up to number two in the world, overtaking Roger Federer, if he wins the title on Sunday. Standing in his way is the tenacious David Ferrer to do that, the Spaniard ending the run of Tommy Haas earlier in the day to book his final berth.
Gasquet made a scintillating start to the match, breaking in just the second game by rattling a spectacular backhand passing shot down the line.
A second love service game quickly followed from the Frenchman and Murray, champion in Miami in 2009 and a beaten finalist last year, looked more than just a step too slow, but actually rattled.
The early deficit make Murray adapt a much more aggressive tactic, a move that paid dividends almost immediately.
The world number three broke back in the fifth game of the set, a flicked forehand winner down the line bringing up the break points before Gasquet conceded with a poor serve. The Scot then broke again, this time for the lead, in the ninth game when Gasquet failed to find the court with a forehand.
But, just when it looked like Murray might be hitting cruise control in the match, a poor game from him allowed Gasquet to break back immediately and the opening set headed into a tie-break.
A poor breaker from Murray, combined with some sparkling play from Gasquet, allowed the Frenchman race through and take the first set 7-3 in the breaker after Murray pulled a cross court backhand wide.
The early exchanges in the second set suggested there would be little to separate the players, neither appearing to have the edge in terms of momentum.
But Murray suddenly found another gear, breaking in both the fourth and sixth games (the latter with an exquisite backhand lob right onto the baseline) as he levelled the match in double-quick time.
Gasquet had an injury timeout for attention to blisters on the sole of his right foot in between the second and third sets, and looked completely beaten when Murray broke in the opening game of the decider.
Murray let the Frenchman back into the match again, however, immediately conceding his serve by opening and closing the second game with a double fault.
Gasquet was running out of energy, though, and Murray re-established his break advantage in the third game, when his opponent slipped on the baseline and netted a forehand to cede his serve once again.
This time Murray refused to make the same mistake, holding to consolidate the break before taking the Frenchman's serve again in the seventh game and serving out the match at the first attempt.
 
Serena beats Sharapova to win sixth Miami title

World number one Serena Williams won a record sixth Miami title with a comeback 4-6 6-3 6-0 win over world number two Maria Sharapova.
Sharapova was bidding to become the first woman to win back-to-back titles at Indian Wells and Miami could barely have played better for a set and a half.
But still Williams managed to find a way through as she became just the fourth woman to win one title six times and the first in Miami.
The only other women to achieve the feat are Martina Navratilova (who won an incredible nine titles six times or more, including nine Wimbledon trophies), Steffi Graf (who won six titles six times or more, including seven Wimbledons and six French Opens) and Chris Evert (who won five titles six times or more, including seven French Opens and six US Opens).
Sharapova had lost the previous 10 encounters against Serena, a fact that the Russian was clearly aware of as she made a aggressive start to the match.
The tactic proved almost immediately fruitful, Sharapova earning herself early break points in just the third game of the match before going on to break two games later.
Williams cancelled that out in the very next game but Sharapova was determined not to be put off and re-established her break lead in the ninth game, pushing the American around the baseline and eventually drawing the error.
That break left Sharapova serving for the opening set, something she reeled off with panache, the Russian serving out to love for her first set against Williams in five years.
Williams made a move to dampen Sharapova’s momentum early in the second set breaking in just the second game as both players struggled with the sun down one end of the court.
Sharapova broke back immediately and then even took the lead, breaking to love in the fifth game, only to drop her serve in the sixth, also to love, as the sun continued to wreak havoc for the server.
An inspirational return game from Williams in the eighth game saw her finally get the chance to level the match; the American applying so much pressure to her opponent’s serve that Sharapova slapped down a double fault and netted a forehand on her way to conceding.
Serving from the end where the sun was causing the server most problems, Williams quickly went 0-30 down as she looked to level the match. But sheer determination saw the world number one through as she recovered to fashion a set point with an ace before Sharapova sent a forehand long as the set slipped by.
From there it was mainly one-way traffic, Williams subjecting Sharapova to a bagel in the final set despite the Russian doing very little wrong.
By that stage, however, Williams had the trophy (and Miami record) in her sights and rattled through the final six games to wrap up the match in two hours and nine minutes.
 
Serena beats Sharapova to win sixth Miami title

World number one Serena Williams won a record sixth Miami title with a comeback 4-6 6-3 6-0 win over world number two Maria Sharapova.
Sharapova was bidding to become the first woman to win back-to-back titles at Indian Wells and Miami could barely have played better for a set and a half.
But still Williams managed to find a way through as she became just the fourth woman to win one title six times and the first in Miami.
The only other women to achieve the feat are Martina Navratilova (who won an incredible nine titles six times or more, including nine Wimbledon trophies), Steffi Graf (who won six titles six times or more, including seven Wimbledons and six French Opens) and Chris Evert (who won five titles six times or more, including seven French Opens and six US Opens).
Sharapova had lost the previous 10 encounters against Serena, a fact that the Russian was clearly aware of as she made a aggressive start to the match.
The tactic proved almost immediately fruitful, Sharapova earning herself early break points in just the third game of the match before going on to break two games later.
Williams cancelled that out in the very next game but Sharapova was determined not to be put off and re-established her break lead in the ninth game, pushing the American around the baseline and eventually drawing the error.
That break left Sharapova serving for the opening set, something she reeled off with panache, the Russian serving out to love for her first set against Williams in five years.
Williams made a move to dampen Sharapova’s momentum early in the second set breaking in just the second game as both players struggled with the sun down one end of the court.
Sharapova broke back immediately and then even took the lead, breaking to love in the fifth game, only to drop her serve in the sixth, also to love, as the sun continued to wreak havoc for the server.
An inspirational return game from Williams in the eighth game saw her finally get the chance to level the match; the American applying so much pressure to her opponent’s serve that Sharapova slapped down a double fault and netted a forehand on her way to conceding.
Serving from the end where the sun was causing the server most problems, Williams quickly went 0-30 down as she looked to level the match. But sheer determination saw the world number one through as she recovered to fashion a set point with an ace before Sharapova sent a forehand long as the set slipped by.
"I was just making so many errors, and I just was like, 'Serena, are you really going to get to the final and not play up to your potential?'" said Williams.
"I was losing a little bit of pace on my ball which hurt me," said Sharapova. "Against a player like Serena, you can't really do that."
Williams, who has 15 Grand Slam singles titles, was happy to claim the record but was far from satisfied with her performance.
"One of the first things I said (after the match) is I need that tape so I can go home and study it and train and try to get better," she said.
From there it was mainly one-way traffic, Williams subjecting Sharapova to a bagel in the final set despite the Russian doing very little wrong.
By that stage, however, Williams had the trophy (and Miami record) in her sights and rattled through the final six games to wrap up the match in two hours and nine minutes.

:update:
 
Murray back at world number two after Florida triumph

Andy Murray is the new world number two after he came back from match point down to outlast David Ferrer 2-6 6-4 7-6 in an astonishing Miami Masters final.
"It was a very long match," said Spaniard Ferrer of an epic contest that ran for two hours and 45 minutes before British number one Murray collected his second Masters title with a 7-1 success in the third set tie-break.
He was last world number two in August 2009 when Roger Federer was number one and Rafael Nadal was blighted by injury.
This time only Novak Djokovic is ahead of the Scot with Federer dropping to number three. Ferrer would have gone number four with victory over Murray, but remains ranked fifth behind fourth-placed Nadal.
"I'm sorry I couldn't win it for my supporters," added Ferrer, who had the majority of the crowd behind him but remains without a victory over a top four opponent in any final on the ATP tour. "I am having a very good season. I just needed one point."
Murray was in agreement after collecting his ninth Masters title on tour.
The match hinged on Ferrer's championship point in the 12th game of the third set with Murray trying to ***** the match to the tie-break on a serve he struggled with all day in some searing heat and wind.
Ferrer challenged a Murray shot that hit the baseline rather than continuing the point, but Hawk-Eye replays showed the ball was in. Murray won the next two points before dominating the tie-break to pick up his second trophy in Miami.
"That is the beauty of the challenge system," said Murray. "Some matches that would have been over. It just dropped in. It was such a tough match that could have gone either way.
"Neither of us played our best tennis, but it was good to get there in the end. I will take four days off and start training on the clay before going to Monte Carlo a week on Wednesday. I did a lot of things well this week, but I need to serve better to win matches more comfortably.
"The rest of my game was pretty good throughout the week."
Murray added: "David is one of the best players in the world. He is a great fighter. I'm sure we will have more tough matches in future."
Murray was never really involved in the first set as he fell 5-0 behind before losing it 6-2. The Scot recovered strongly to ***** a deciding set by pocketing the final two games of a second set that he won 6-4.
The final set was characterised by breaks of serve before Ferrer became the first man to hold, edging 4-3 clear only for Murray to recover and serve for match leading 5-4.
Ferrer - known as The Wall - was hardly finished and looked the stronger figure as Murray failed to see out the match before hobbling around the court grimacing in trailing 6-5.
He looked a spent *****, but there was more drama to come as Murray survived the match point before finally breaking Ferrer's resistance. The Spaniard began to cramp a couple of points before his defeat was finalised by Murray's mental strength.
 
Robson loses Miami doubles final, partners Raymond at Wimbledon

Laura Robson was a beaten finalist in the women's doubles final in Miami, going down with veteran partner Lisa Raymond to a 6-1 7-6(2) defeat to third seeds Nadia Petrova and Katarina Srebotnik.
The 19-year-old, together with her 39-year-old partner, had enjoyed a stunning run to the final, including defeating the top seeds Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci in the semi-finals. Speaking after the match, Robson told the BBC that the duo would play together in the women's doubles at Wimbledon.
But it took just 70 minutes for the Russian/Slovakian pairing to wrap up the title.
Petrova and Srebotnik were clinical on return, creating 10 break points and converting half of them, and though the second set was closer than the first, they breezed through the tie break to seal the match.
Robson was playing in her first doubles final on the WTA tour.
 
Murray delighted with '******' win in Miami

An exhausted Andy Murray credited his mental strength and physical freshness for his tie-break victory over David Ferrer in the Sony Open final on Sunday after a gruelling two hour, 45 minute battle.
"It was a ******, ****** match. Both of us were kind of on our last legs," Murray told reporters after his 2-6 6-4 7-6 win.
"It was a good job it wasn't a best-of-five-set match, because I don't know how the last few sets would have ended up.
"It was one of the toughest matches I have had to play in a Masters Series, for sure," added the Scotsman who will move to number two in the world, above Roger Federer, in Monday's latest ATP world rankings.
The match, played at mid-day in South Florida heat and humidity, became a war of attrition with neither player near their peak in terms of shot-making but both doggedly sticking at the task.
"I showed good mental strength to get through that match, because it easily could have slipped away from me," said Murray.
"It was a big match for both of us, and I think that showed in some of the way that we played.
"We didn't play necessarily our best tennis. I was up a lot and couldn't close the match out. Matches like these ones are tough, because, you know, the humidity here is ******," added the U.S. Open and Olympic champion.
Murray is acknowledged as one of the sport's true fitness fanatics, spending his off-season in Miami working out but he said his physical condition at the end of the contest owed more to his scheduling.
"I think just general freshness, really. I think being fresh helped even though the tennis wasn't great," he said. "I just managed to get over the line in the end."
Ferrer was left regretting his decision when on championship point, 5-4 up against Murray's serve, to challenge a Murray shot rather than play it.
The ball was ruled in and the Scot went on to take the game into a tie-break which he won 7-1.
"I chose my decision in that moment. It's a bad moment now and don't want to think anymore about that. I want to forget it as fast as possible," the Spaniard told reporters.
Ferrer's determined display led Murray to urge greater respect for his opponent, currently ranked fifth in the world.
"I don't think he gets the respect that he deserves within the game. He's been in the top five in the world now for at least three years.
"He's improved his game every single year. That takes, you know, a great attitude to be able to do that," said Murray.
"Providing his body holds up, he'll be around the top of the game for as long as he wants or he can, because he's a very, very, good tennis player and has a great attitude."
 
Robson new British No.1 after win in Charleston

Laura Robson will be the new British number one after easing into the second round of the ****** Circle Cup in Charleston despite struggling on serve against Spain's Estrella Cabeza Candela.
The Briton landed only 44 per cent of his first services in and committed eight double faults but nevertheless emerged with a 6-2 6-2 win to move above Heather Watson.
The 19-year-old, who lost in the doubles final with partner Lisa Raymond in Miami on Sunday, will next face qualifier Eugenie Bouchard of Canada.
Robson, seeded 16th, need only 74 minutes for the victory after saving seven Cabeza Candela break points from seven in the first set.
In the second set she was broken by 26-year-old Cabeza Candela, but converted three of four break chances herself.
Top seed Serena Williams moved into the third round with a 6-2 6-3 win over Camila Giorgi of Italy and will next face Sabine Lisicki, who double-bagelled Anna Tatishvili.

****** Circle Cup results

Round 2

Bethanie Mattek-Sands (U.S.) beat 4-Sloane Stephens (U.S.) 6-2 6-0

12-Varvara Lepchenko (U.S.) beat Mathilde Johansson (France) 6-1 4-6 6-1

Jessica Pegula (U.S.) beat 8-Mona Barthel (Germany) 7-6(4) 6-1

11-Sorana Cirstea (Romania) beat Anabel Medina Garrigues (Spain) WO

1-Serena Williams (U.S.) beat Camila Giorgi (Italy) 6-2 6-3

Stefanie Voegele (Switzerland) beat 7-Carla Suarez Navarro (Spain) 6-2 6-4

Round 1

16-Laura Robson (Britain) beat Estrella Cabeza Candela (Spain) 6-2 6-2

9-Jelena Jankovic (Serbia) beat Melanie Oudin (US) 6-4 5-7 6-4

Mirjana Lucic-Baroni (Croatia) beat Romina Oprandi (Switzerland) 4-6 6-1 6-3

Madison Keys (US) beat Alexandra Cadantu (Romania) 7-6(3) 6-4

10-Julia Goerges (Germany) beat Yulia Putintseva (Kazakhstan) 6-2 6-3

Vania King (US) beat 14-Yaroslava Shvedova (Kazakhstan) 4-6 6-1 6-4

Marina Erakovic (New Zealand) beat Daniela Hantuchova (Slovakia) 7-6(2) 6-4

15-Sabine Lisicki (Germany) beat Anna Tatishvili (Georgia) 6-0 6-0

Monterrey Open results

Round 1

Jovana Jaksic (Serbia) beat Vera Dushevina (Russia) 4-6 7-6(4) 7-6(2)

Alla Kudryavtseva (Russia) beat Eva Birnerova (Czech Republic) 6-4 6-3

Tereza Mrdeza (Croatia) beat Daria Gavrilova (Russia) 6-4 6-2

Donna Vekic (Croatia) beat Julia Cohen (U.S.) 6-0 6-4

Lauren Davis (U.S.) beat Olga Puchkova (Russia) 6-2 (Puchkova retired)

8-Ayumi Morita (Japan) beat Jana Cepelova (Slovakia) 6-0 6-1
 
Henman to play in Edinburgh event

Tim Henman and Goran Ivanisevic are to join John McEnroe in Edinburgh for the Brodies Champions of Tennis in June.
The pair, who famously met in the semi-finals of Wimbledon in 2001 before the Croat went on to win the title as a wildcard, will reprise their rivalry at the first ever ATP Champions Tour event in Scotland.
Henman said: "I’m really looking forward to returning to Edinburgh to compete in the Brodies Champions of Tennis event. The last time I played in Scotland was at the National Junior Championships at Craiglockhart and it will be a real pleasure to come back and play in front of some very knowledgeable supporters.
"Andy Murray’s success has put Scotland firmly on the tennis map and the level of support he has received demonstrates that there is a great passion for tennis in Scotland. It is fantastic that Brodies LLP has come on board to sponsor the event in its inaugural year and I am looking forward to being a part of what is shaping up to be a first class event."
Henman is also looking forward to reprising his rivalry with Ivanisevic.
“I’m really looking forward to playing Goran again,” said Henman. “Our match in 2001 in the semi’s at Wimbledon was such a unique match and such a special match because it was of huge importance to both of us. If there’s one match that people want to talk about with me it’s probably that one. l look forward to playing him again, and hopefully beating him this time.”
Ivanisevic is equally excited by the prospect of once again playing the man that he beat on his way to that life-changing Wimbledon title.
'Whenever I see Tim I think of that match,' he said. 'It’s going to be great to play him again, especially in Scotland. I have always wanted to visit Scotland, home of Andy Murray! It will be great to see Edinburgh, a city that I have heard so much about, and I am looking forward to competing for the title. I know John McEnroe is going to be there as well so it should be a fun week. It always is when John is around!'
 
Djokovic to warm-up for SW19 at Boodles

Novak Djokovic will play in the Boodles invitational tournament as part of his preparations for Wimbledon.
The world number one has opted to play at the event at Stoke Park in Buckinghamshire in preference to the main ATP tour events held the week before SW19 in Eastbourne and 's-Hertogenbosch.
The Serb first competed at Stoke Park in 2006 and last year faced Andy Murray.
“I’m so happy to be coming back to The Boodles. It’s always great preparation for Wimbledon for me because I know that the quality of the tennis and the opponents is always really high,” said Djokovic.
“Stoke Park is a beautiful place to play and the crowd always makes it lots of fun for us too.”
Djokovic will be joined by former US Open champion Juan Martin Del Potro, 2011 Wimbledon finalist Tomas Berdych, Richard Gasquet, Marin Cilic, Grigor Dimitrov and Milos Raonic.
 
Heather Watson diagnosed with Glandular Fever

British tennis star Heather Watson has been ordered by doctors to rest after being diagnosed with Glandular Fever.
The Guernsey star, who will be replaced as British number one by Laura Robson next week, has complained about tiredness this season and had threatened to take a break in any event after admitting she felt 'burnt out.'
Now though it appears there was a medical reason for her slump in form and motivation.
"I had to do some ***** tests after Miami and the results have shown that I have traces of Glandular Fever (mono) in my system. There is no ************ for this other than complete rest but the good news is that the doctors have told me I am at the tail end of the fever. This means I have been trying to compete through the symptoms for some time," said Watson.
"I have been struggling with both training and playing matches and felt so tired and exhausted for months but now that the doctors have found the cause of this, it explains everything that has been happening to me physically and mentally. I am actually relieved to know what is wrong so that I can get myself on the mend.
"I hope to recover as soon as possible by resting my body and getting lots of *****. I already feel better from being at home for a week, and am looking forward to getting back on Tour soon."
Iain Bates, LTA Head of Women’s Tennis, said: "First of all, get well soon, Heather, from the whole team. We all know she’ll bounce back better than ever. Heather’s focus will be on her recovery, and we will do whatever we can to support Heather and help that process."
 
'Double muppet' Robson crashes out in Charleston

Laura Robson called herself a "double muppet" on court as she crashed out in the second round of the WTA Charleston event to Canada's Eugenie Bouchard 6-4 3-6 6-1.
The 16th seed, who will overtake Heather Watson as British number one next week, was favourite against an opponent who is 72 places lower than her in the WTA world rankings (114 to Robson's 42).
The first set was a long, messy affair, but Bouchard dug in to win it 6-4.
At one stage during the second set, Robson shouted to herself "Stop being such a muppet" and then after another miss said: "Again, double muppet."
However she fought back to win that second set before fading badly in the third against the more consistent Canadian.
Such was Robson's frustration that she threw her racquet at her chair when the match finally finished.
There was no such drama for second seed Caroline Wozniacki though as she defeated Spain's Silvia Soler Espinosa 6-1 6-1 in her second round contest.
"I felt like I served really well today, and returned really well too," Wozniacki said.
"Playing your first match of the year on clay, it's always going to be difficult to slide and move unbelievably, but I felt like I did a pretty good job of that out there and I'm pleased with my work."
Australian third seed Samantha Stosur crushed Kiwi rival Marina Erakovic 6-1 6-2 to seal her progress into the next round.
"I'm really pleased with the way I went out there and played today," Stosur said.
"I went for my serve a lot and whenever I had the opportunity I tried to get the ball off the court. That's why it really worked so well and helped me think out there, 'Okay, this is going well, I've got to keep at it.'
"I probably didn't expect to win my first match back (from injury... But as the match went on I felt really good and the way I was playing all came together. And of course I really enjoy playing on this court, so I always try to do my best every time I'm out there.
"I mean it's all great but I don't want to get ahead of myself. I certainly want to take it day by day, keep doing the right things."
Venus Williams was made to work hard for her place in the third round after world number 104 Monica Puig took her to three sets.
Fifth seeded Williams appeared to be cruising to victory after romping through the opening set, but the Puerto Rican fought back to claim the second.
Williams broke twice in the decider to eventually wrap up a 6-2 5-7 6-3 victory.
"She really found her rhythm in the second set," Williams said afterwards.
"She started controlling the points, so in the third set I just tried to play confident and hopefully get some first serves in. But she played really, really well - she should be looking forward to a lot of great wins in the future."
Ninth seed Jelena Jankovic won through, but was also pushed to her limits in a 5-7 7-6 6-3 win over Caroline Garcia of France.

****** Circle Cup results

Round 2

5-Venus Williams (U.S.) beat Monica Puig (Puerto Rico) 6-2 5-7 6-3

9-Jelena Jankovic (Serbia) beat Caroline Garcia (France) 5-7 7-6(10) 6-3

6-Lucie Safarova (Czech Republic) beat Mirjana Lucic-Baroni (Croatia) 7-5 6-1

Andrea Petkovic (Germany) beat Vania King (U.S.) 7-5 6-4

3-Samantha Stosur (Australia) beat Marina Erakovic (New Zealand) 6-1 6-2

Mallory Burdette (U.S.) beat 15-Sabine Lisicki (Germany) 3-6 7-6(5) 7-5

2-Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark) beat Silvia Soler Espinosa (Spain) 6-1 6-1

Eugenie Bouchard (Canada) beat 16-Laura Robson (Britain) 6-4 3-6 6-1

10-Julia Goerges (Germany) beat Olga Govortsova (Belarus) 6-2 0-6 6-3

Madison Keys (U.S.) beat Grace Min (U.S.) 6-4 6-3

Monterrey Open results

Round 2

Monica Niculescu (Romania) beat 6-Yanina Wickmayer (Belgium) 6-4 3-6 6-1

7-Urszula Radwanska (Poland) beat Donna Vekic (Croatia) 6-4 6-1

8-Ayumi Morita (Japan) beat Galina Voskoboeva (Kazakhstan) 6-4 7-6(3)

5-Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (Russia) beat Tereza Mrdeza (Croatia) 6-1 6-1
 
Smith comfortable with underdogs tag

Great Britain captain Leon Smith admits his side enter their Davis Cup Euro/Africa Zone Group 1 clash with Russia as underdogs despite playing the tie on home soil in Coventry.
The quartet of James Ward, Jamie Baker, Colin Fleming and Wimbledon doubles champion Jonny Marray are just one tie away from a World Group play-off but without Andy Murray they face an uphill battle against a Russian team featuring former Davis Cup champion Dmitry Tursunov.
While Marray and Fleming form a high-class doubles pair, neither Ward nor Baker are ranked in the world’s top 200 singles players.
But despite that Smith insists his charges are raring to go as they continue their attempt to reach the World Group for the first time since 2009.
Smith said: "None of these games will be easy and it's a really tough draw.
"After all the build-up we don't have long to go now.
"The GB players have been practising hard and we can't wait for the first match to start."
Joining Tursunov for Russia will be rising star Evgeny Donskoy, who took a set off Murray in Indian Wells last month, Igor Kusnitsyn and 20-year-old Victor Baluda.
After a bye in the first round, this will be Britain's first Davis Cup action since defeat at the same stage a year ago to Belgium but Fleming – the only survivor from that tie – is desperate to make home advantage count.
He said: "We are looking forward to the Davis Cup and this is the first time I will have played in Coventry.
"It is always a great weekend and it is a huge opportunity for us since it puts tennis in the spotlight. We will be the underdogs but we have a great team spirit and want to cause as many upsets as possible.
"The key for us is to give the crowd something to shout about and I think it will be an exciting weekend."
 
Simon replaces Gasquet in quarter-final

Gilles Simon has been included in France's team to face Argentina in this weekend's Davis Cup quarter-final tie after Richard Gasquet had to pull out with an ankle problem, captain Arnaud Clement has said.
"The most important thing is that Gilles is in great form and feeling confident," Clement said.
"Everyone was expecting Richard given his early season results but he is still feeling pain in his ankle."
World number 13 Simon had reached at least the quarter-finals in four of his last five tournaments.
French number one Jo-Wilfried Tsonga will take on Carlos Belocq in the first singles rubber on Friday, with Simon playing Juan Monaco.
David Nalbandian and Horacio Zeballos will face Julien Benneteau and Michael Llodra in Saturday's doubles on clay in Buenos Aires.
 
Djokovic eyes return to form in Davis Cup tie versus US

Novak Djokovic believes he has left his recent poor form behind and will be in top shape when he leads Serbia in this weekend's Davis Cup quarter-final tie against the United States.
The world number one, who was upset last month in the semi-finals at Indian Wells by Juan Martin Del Potro and then in the third round at Miami by Tommy Haas, will open Friday's play against American number two John Isner.
That match will be followed by a clash between top American Sam Querrey and Serbia's number two, Victor Troicki.
Djokovic said that he played the worst that he has in three years in his 6-2 6-4 loss to Haas.
"You got to be ready to win and lose," Djokovic said. "I've been very consistent in the last few years of my career. I understand that people are always expecting me to play semi-finals or finals of every event I play in. If a loss before that stage of the tournament happens, everybody starts questioning.
"I'm feeling good. I'm moving on. I'm trying to play well here, and hopefully we can bring the win to Serbia."
The tie marks just the second meeting between the US and Serbia in Davis Cup. Serbia won the only meeting, 3-2, in the 2010 in Belgrade.
The United States picked an indoor hard court in Boise, Idaho, partly because of its high altitude - 2,842 feet (866 meters) above sea level - which should benefit Isner and Querrey, both of whom are big servers.
"We are playing in the conditions which are not normal for the tennis," said Serbian captain Bogdan Obradovic. "Still, we practice for five days and also doing some fitness. So my players are ready."
US captain Jim Courier is hoping that Isner and Querrey can turn around their recent fortunes.
The 20th ranked Querrey has not reached a quarter-final since early February, while number 23 ranked Isner is 7-7 this year and failed to close out the US Davis Cup tie in February against Brazil, leaving Querrey to clinch the final rubber.
Isner has beaten Djokovic once, but is 1-2 against the Serbian.
"I have to play very well," Isner said. "If I don't, chances are it may not turn out so good for me.
"He's the number one player in the world. Everyone has to play well if they want to have a chance to beat him. Simple as that."
While Saturday's doubles is scheduled to be between the world's top team of Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan against Nenad Zimonjic and Ilija Bozoljac, Courier expects Troicki to play doubles with Zimonjic, as they have teamed together many times in the past.
The Bryans are 21-3 as a doubles team together in Davis Cup, but lost their last match against Brazil.
"We're itching to go and want to redeem ourselves," Mike Bryan said. "We think we can play better, so that's why we're excited for this one."
Should the tie go to Sunday singles, Djokovic is scheduled to play Querrey in the first match, followed by Troicki versus Isner.
The No. 44-ranked Troicki could then be called upon to play three rubbers, which he has never done so in the 14 ties he has played.
"Personally I feel fit and ready to play all three days if I have to," Troicki said.
 
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