2013 Tennis Thread

[Smallville22]

Laura Robson ends slump with win in Miami

Laura Robson moved into the second round of the WTA tournament in Miami after a 6-2 4-6 6-3 win over Camila Giorgi.
Robson, 19, managed to avoid following fellow Briton Heather Watson out at the first hurdle despite being taken to three sets by the 21-year-old Italian.
It was her first win since the Australian Open in January, where she lost to Sloane Stephens in the third round. She has lost in the opening round in three successive tournaments - to Daniela Hantuchova in Doha, to little-known Kazakh Yulia Putintseva in Dubai and to Sofia Arvidsson in Indian Wells.
Ranked a career-high of 43 in the world despite a 2013 win-loss record of 3-6 prior to the match, Robson took just 20 minutes to sweep to the opening set.
Eighty-fifth-ranked Giorgi fought back to take the second stanza, breaking Robson - who committed a slew of double faults and errors - twice while being broken once herself.
However the 5'6" player slumped to a fourth loss from four matches this season in the decider against left-hander Robson, who had five inches on her and served six aces to the Italian's two overall.
It was their first meeting. Robson will now face number 32 seed Alize Cornet of France, who enjoyed a bye into the second round.

WTA Miami first-round results

Bethanie Mattek-Sands (U.S.) beat Monica Puig (Puerto Rico) 6-4 7-5

Francesca Schiavone (Italy) beat Jana Cepelova (Slovakia) 5-7 6-4 6-4

Christina Mchale (U.S.) beat Anett Kontaveit (Estonia) 6-2 6-1

Anabel Medina Garrigues (Spain) beat Alexandra Dulgheru (Romania) 5-7 6-4 7-6(3)

Donna Vekic (Croatia) beat Yulia Putintseva (Kazakhstan) 7-6(4) 6-0

Madison Keys (U.S.) beat Allie Kiick (U.S.) 6-0 6-0

Zheng Jie (China) beat Yaroslava Shvedova (Kazakhstan) 7-5 6-4

Silvia Soler Espinosa (Spain) beat Pauline Parmentier (France) 6-0 6-7(2) 6-2

Eugenie Bouchard (Canada) beat Shahar Peer (Israel) 4-6 6-1 6-4

Laura Robson (Britain) beat Camila Giorgi (Italy) 6-2 4-6 6-3

Victoria Duval (U.S.) beat Andrea Hlavackova (Czech Republic) 7-6(4) 6-4

Magdalena Rybarikova (Slovakia) beat Mallory Burdette (U.S.) 6-2 6-4

Simona Halep (Romania) beat Sabine Lisicki (Germany) 6-2 3-6 7-5

Karolina Pliskova (Czech Republic) beat Lucie Hradecka (Czech Republic) 6-2 6-1

Urszula Radwanska (Poland) beat Annika Beck (Germany) 6-3 6-1

Olga Govortsova (Belarus) beat Melinda Czink (Hungary) 3-6 6-3 6-2

Svetlana Kuznetsova (Russia) beat Lourdes Dominguez Lino (Spain) 6-3 6-3

Romina Oprandi (Switzerland) beat Arantxa Rus (Netherlands) 6-4 3-6 6-3

Garbine Muguruza Blanco (Spain) beat Katerina Siniakova (Czech Republic) 6-2 3-6 6-4

Daniela Hantuchova (Slovakia) beat Tsvetana Pironkova (Bulgaria) 6-2 6-4

Jamie Hampton (U.S.) beat Monica Niculescu (Romania) 6-4 6-3

Stefanie Voegele (Switzerland) beat Petra Martic (Croatia) 6-3 6-3

ATP Miami first-round results

Dmitry Tursunov (Russia) beat Tim Smyczek (U.S.) 7-6(4) 7-5

James Blake (U.S.) beat Ryan Harrison (U.S.) 6-2 6-2

Dudi Sela (Israel) beat Marinko Matosevic (Australia) 6-2 1-6 6-4

Nikolay Davydenko (Russia) beat Paolo Lorenzi (Italy) 6-0 2-6 6-0

Horacio Zeballos (Argentina) beat Thiemo de Bakker (Netherlands) 6-1 3-6 6-3

Jurgen Melzer (Austria) beat Ricardas Berankis (Lithuania) 3-6 6-3 7-6(1)

Lleyton Hewitt (Australia) beat Joao Sousa (Portugal) 6-1 7-6(3)

Albert Ramos (Spain) beat Jan Hajek (Czech Republic) 6-3 6-1

Igor Sijsling (Netherlands) beat Leonardo Mayer (Argentina) 3-2 (Mayer retired)

Grega Zemlja (Slovenia) beat Roberto Bautista (Spain) 3-6 0-0 (Bautista retired)

Xavier Malisse (Belgium) beat Rajeev Ram (U.S.) 6-4 6-7(6) 6-4

Tobias Kamke (Germany) beat Blaz Kavcic (Slovenia) 7-6(5) 6-3

Michael Llodra (France) beat Benoit Paire (France) 7-6(7) 6-2

Somdev Devvarman (India) beat Evgeny Donskoy (Russia) 4-6 7-6(5) 6-2

Victor Hanescu (Romania) beat Andrey Kuznetsov (Russia) 4-6 6-3 4-1 (Kuznetsov retired)

Lukas Rosol (Czech Republic) beat Gilles Muller (Luxembourg) 7-5 6-4

 

[Smallville22]

Flushing Meadows to revert to Sunday finish

The US Open will revert to a 14-day tournament from 2015 after United States Tennis Association officials reached an agreement with players on restructuring the playing schedule and increasing prize money.
The USTA announced in December it was adding an extra day in 2013 and 2014 to the last Grand Slam of the year to give players a day off between the semi-finals and final, extending the tournament to 15 days with the men's final being played on a Monday.
But after discussions with players, the USTA announced on Wednesday that the finals would move back to their traditional time slots from 2015, with the men's championship on Sunday and the women's title match on Saturday.
"We've had conversations for the past several years with the players about the advisability of playing back-to-back on Saturday and Sundays for the semis and finals," US Open tournament director David Brewer said.
"It's simply taken us some time to get to the point where structurally we could provide that promised day of rest, and the day of rest is now locked and loaded going forward."
The men's semi-finals, which have generally been held the day before the final as part of the US Open's controversial "Super-Saturday", would be brought forward by a day to Friday to give the players a rest.
The men's first round, which had been spread over three days, will be held over two days, bringing the US Open in line with the other Grand Slams.
The changes will not come into effect until 2015 because the initial changes had already been locked in as part of an agreement with the ATP and WTA.
The five-year deal also included a hefty increase in prize money for the US Open. Officials had already announced this year's event would increase by $4.1 million (£2.7m) to $33.6m (£22.2m), but said the total purse would be raised to $50m (£33.1m) by 2017.
"Over the last year, (we've) had some spirited discussions (with players) but nothing like a threat," USTA executive director Gordon Smith said.
"We knew that we would be going up on prize money, as our income increases and frankly as the needs of players have increased.
"We have to recognise that the players mean everything to the Open and they're incredibly valuable to the sport and valuable to the success of the Open, and we have to reward them accordingly."
The US Open programme has been hotly debated by players for years after rain delays wreaked havoc on the event.
The tournament has spilled into a third week for each of the past five years because of weather delays, triggering complaints over why the showcase courts are not covered.
Wimbledon and the Australian Open both have retractable roofs over their centre courts and the French Open has announced plans to do the same at Roland Garros but the USTA says it is too expensive to do in New York.
The problem has been compounded by the congested schedule for the finals, which prompted the decision to make changes.
"These increases are the largest in the history of the sport, representing a significant step forward in truly recognising the input the players have in the success of the US Open," ATP president Brad Drewett said in a statement.
"We also welcome the decision from the USTA to adopt a schedule with the men's semi-finals completed by Friday and the final on Sunday, from 2015 onwards."

 

[Smallville22]

Wimbledon set to build second roof

Wimbledon will build another roof over one of its courts as part of a major redevelopment of the All England Club, according to a report in the Daily Mail.
The paper reports that the club chiefs have decided to build a cover over the 11,500-seat Number One Court, with an official announcement expected next month.
Work will start on the roof after the end of this year's championship in July - and construction will be much easier this time round that when the famous Centre Court had its cover installed in 2009.
"Unlike Centre Court, the secondary arena was designed to be ‘roof-ready’ when it was built in 1997, so the associated costs and logistical demands, while high, will not be as severe as the huge construction completed in 2009 to cover its iconic big *******," the paper reports.
That's probably just as well: the roof over Centre Court cost a reportedly whopping £150 million to build, with things like state-of-the-art air conditioning to protect the grass and the construction of a new electricity sub-station to handle the demands pushing costs to stratospheric levels.
The paper suggests that the new move is more about making money than spending it, pointing out that, "a covered Court No 1 will be another huge step forward for the tournament and guarantee two sets of matches for television, and more than 27,000 spectators, whatever the weather."
French Open and US Open organisers would love to say the same thing: local residents recently blocked Roland Garros's attempts to revamp the venue with a new roofed arena, while the vertiginous Arthur Ashe stadium at Flushing Meadows - which has seen Monday finishes for the past four years - is simply too big and the land around too cramped for a roof to be installed.

 

[Smallville22]

Serena Williams blasts past Pennetta in Miami

Serena Williams, playing her first match since regaining the world number one ranking, made a triumphant start to the Sony Open, thumping Italy's Flavia Pennetta 6-1 6-1.
Playing her first match after a bye in the opening round, Williams made a sloppy start, hitting two double faults in her opening service game, but was unstoppable once she found her rhythm.
"I think I was off, footwork-wise, but it's always good to win a match and then just keep going," Williams said.
"There's nothing like when they announce you and they say, 'the number one player in the world.' "It definitely gives me a little bit more confidence, I think a little bit more pep in your step. It's just a great feeling."
At 31, Williams is already the oldest woman to reach the top of the rankings but says she feels as young as ever and has lost none of her motivation as she chases a sixth Sony Open title.
"Growing up this was dubbed the fifth Grand Slam - it's not a Grand Slam, but it's definitely a great tournament," Williams said.
"It would be really cool to have the record. But I have a lot of matches to play these two weeks."
Williams's ****** Venus, seeded 19 in Miami, saw off Japanese veteran Kimiko Date-Krumm 7-6(3) 3-6 6-4 to seal her progress into the third round in a late-finishing match.
China's Li Na also made a flying start to the tournament, winning her first match since losing in the Australian Open final.
Li, beaten by Victoria Azarenka in Melbourne, reeled off the last 10 points of the match to beat Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands 6-3 6-1.
"My game was pretty good today," said Li. "I followed the plan of what I should do."
Defending champion Agnieszka Radwanska fired down six aces in a 6-3 6-2 win over Taiwan's Hsieh Su-Wei.
"I will do everything to hold the trophy again," said the Pole. "Winning this tournament is almost like winning a Grand Slam."
Former Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova and ex-world number one Caroline Wozniacki also won, but both had to fight all the way.
Kvitova rallied from a set down to beat Peng Shuai 5-7 6-2 6-2 while Wozniacki did the same to beat Czech qualifier Karolina Pliskova 5-7 6-3 6-3.

WTA Miami second-round results

19-Venus Williams (U.S.) beat Kimiko Date-Krumm (Japan) 7-6(3) 3-6 6-4

25-Varvara Lepchenko (U.S.) beat Irina Begu (Romania) 6-3 6-4

Romina Oprandi (Switzerland) beat 17-Lucie Safarova (Czech Republic) 7-6(4) 4-6 7-6(5)

Andrea Petkovic (Germany) beat 10-Marion Bartoli (France) 6-3 4-1 (Bartoli retired)

Magdalena Rybarikova (Slovakia) beat 27-Mona Barthel (Germany) 6-3 7-6(5)

9-Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark) beat Karolina Pliskova (Czech Republic) 5-7 6-3 6-3

Garbine Muguruza Blanco (Spain) beat 23-Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (Russia) 4-6 6-2 6-2

13-Dominika Cibulkova (Slovakia) beat Kristina Mladenovic (France) 6-2 6-3

Ayumi Morita (Japan) beat 31-Yanina Wickmayer (Belgium) 7-6(2) 2-6 6-3

1-Serena Williams (U.S.) beat Flavia Pennetta (Italy) 6-1 6-1

7-Petra Kvitova (Czech Republic) beat Peng Shuai (China) 5-7 6-2 6-2

16-Sloane Stephens (U.S.) beat Olga Govortsova (Belarus) 0-6 6-4 6-4

30-Kirsten Flipkens (Belgium) beat Stefanie Voegele (Switzerland) 6-4 6-2

Ajla Tomljanovic (Croatia) beat 24-Julia Goerges (Germany) 7-6(4) 6-2

5-Li Na (China) beat Kiki Bertens (Netherlands) 6-3 6-1

4-Agnieszka Radwanska (Poland) beat Hsieh Su-Wei (Taiwan) 6-3 6-2

ATP Miami first-round results

Thomaz Bellucci (Brazil) beat Daniel Brands (Germany) 2-6 6-4 6-2

Aljaz Bedene (Slovenia) beat Benjamin Becker (Germany) 6-4 6-3

Simone Bolelli (Italy) beat Jesse Levine (Canada) 4-6 6-3 7-6(4)

Jarkko Nieminen (Finland) beat David Nalbandian (Argentina) 2-6 6-4 6-3

Guido Pella (Argentina) beat Carlos Berlocq (Argentina) 2-1 (Berlocq retired)

Lukasz Kubot (Poland) beat Frank Dancevic (Canada) 4-6 6-4 6-3

David Goffin (Belgium) beat Robin Haase (Netherlands) 7-6(4) 3-6 6-1

Viktor Troicki (Serbia) beat Pablo Andujar (Spain) 6-2 6-3

Bernard Tomic (Australia) beat Marc Gicquel (France) 7-5 7-6(3)

Santiago Giraldo (Colombia) beat Rhyne Williams (U.S.) 6-2 6-4

Guillaume Rufin (France) beat Marius Copil (Romania) 6-4 4-6 6-1

Olivier Rochus (Belgium) beat Tatsuma Ito (Japan) 4-6 6-4 3-1 (T. Ito retired)

Alejandro Falla (Colombia) beat Go Soeda (Japan) 7-5 6-1

Lu Yen-Hsun (Taiwan) beat Robby Ginepri (U.S.) 7-5 6-1

Daniel Gimeno-Traver (Spain) beat Denis Istomin (Uzbekistan) 6-2 6-4

 

[Smallville22]

Australia bad boy Tomic reinstated into Davis Cup team

Australia's bad boy of tennis Bernard Tomic has been re-instated into the Davis Cup team after being booted out last year for a perceived lack of commitment.
The lanky 20-year-old will join the team for its Asia/ Oceania group tie in Uzbekistan next month as Australia bid for a place in the World Group play+offs later this year.
Tomic, rated a prodigious talent and a future top-10 player by many tennis pundits, was kicked out of the team after earning the nick-name 'Tomic the Tank Engine' for appearing to 'tank' - or not try hard enough - in a series of losing matches in the second half of the year.
Tomic, who has also had a number of brushes with Australian police for speeding in his sportscar near his Gold Coast home, was suspended for the team's win over Taiwan last month and raised the tension with Rafter by saying he would subsequently rule himself out of their following tie.
The pair had mended fences, however, and world number 45 Tomic said he would join the team for a training camp in Munich following the Miami Masters, where he advanced to the second round on Thursday with a win over France's Marc Gicquel.
"(Uzbekistan's) not going to be a pretty place but I'm looking forward to it," News Ltd quoted Tomic as saying.
"We have got a good team now ... I think we should win and Davis Cup is back on the roll for me and I'm going to try my heart out when it comes."
Tomic is expected to vie with ageing former world number one Lleyton Hewitt and 51st-ranked Marinko Matosevic for one of the singles berths on the team for the April 5-7 tie against Uzbekistan in Namangan.

 

[Smallville22]

Sharapova through, Azarenka pulls out, Robson loses

Maria Sharapova survived unscathed but the Sony Open lost another Grand Slam champion when Victoria Azarenka exited the Miami tournament.
Britain's Laura Robson joined Azarenka on her way out of Florida after losing to Alize Cornet, the French 32nd seed in a rain-affected match.
Azarenka withdrew from her opening match because of an ankle injury she suffered playing at Indian Wells last week.
"I'm very disappointed ... But I have to take my health into consideration," said Azarenka, who won the Australian Open in January but has struggled with injuries since.
"I tried everything I could but couldn't make it. It's an unfortunate part of our job."
Azarenka's withdrawal proved an unexpected bonus for American teenager Lauren Davis, who failed to qualify for the tournament.
She was given a 'lucky loser' pass into the event when Azarenka pulled out then saved three match points in defeating Madison Keys 6-1 5-7 7-6.
"I just hoped and I wished and I prayed that I would get in," said Davis. "I was just so happy. I didn't care if I won or lost. I just was so grateful for the opportunity to play."
Sharapova romped to a 6-2 6-0 win over Canada's Eugenie Bouchard, winning 11 games in a row.
"It's always tough transitioning to the first match of a new tournament, especially after the great week I had in Palm Springs," Sharapova said.
"Everything's different - the stadium is different, the weather's different - so obviously I'm happy I was able to play well in my first match tonight."
Next for Sharapova is 29th seed and fellow Russian Elena Vesnina.
Robson, ranked a career-high of 43 in the world despite a 2013 win-loss record of 4-6 prior to her match against Cornet, dropped to a 5-7 7-5 6-1 defeat.
Rain stopped play with the scores at 2-2 in the second set and when play resumed, it was Cornet who edged the stanza.
Robson, who won her first match since reaching the Australian Open third round in January in overcoming Camila Giorgi in the opening round in Florida, fell apart in the decider as the Frenchwoman breezed to victory.
Sixth seed Angelique Kerber reached the third round with a 6-7(5) 6-3 6-2 win over Francesca Schiavone.
Having edged a tight first-set tiebreak, the veteran Italian then struggled on serve - with the German left-hander having little trouble in coasting through.
She will next play 28th seed Sorana Cirstea after the Romanian beat Silvia Soler Espinosa of Spain 2-6 7-5 6-2.
Italian 15th seed Roberta Vinci lost an opening tie-breaker to American Christina McHale 7-2 but won the last two sets to win through 6-7(2) 6-1 6-3 in over two-and-a-half hours.
The 30-year-old three-times Grand Slam doubles champion will face Spain’s Carla Suarez Navarro in the third round after the 20th seed beat Jamie Hampton of the USA in another three-setter.
Suarez Navarro was broken late in the first set but did likewise in the second before taking a final-set tie-break 7-3, triumphing 5-7 7-5 7-6(3) in two hours and 43 minutes.
Svetlana Kuznetsova won an all-Russian clash by ousting 18th seed Ekaterina Makarova 6-4 6-4 to set up a third-round match with Ana Ivanovic, who beat Urszula Radwanska 6-2 6-1.
Fourteenth seed Maria Kirilenko continued her good recent form with a 6-1 6-4 win over Bethanie Mattek-Sands while Jelena Jankovic, the 22nd seed, progressed 6-3 7-5 past Victoria Duval.

WTA Miami second-round results:

8-Sara Errani (Italy) beat Daniela Hantuchova (Slovakia) 6-3 6-1

22-Jelena Jankovic (Serbia) beat Victoria Duval (U.S.) 6-3 7-5

12-Ana Ivanovic (Serbia) beat Urszula Radwanska (Poland) 6-2 6-1

32-Alize Cornet (France) beat Laura Robson (Britain) 5-7 7-5 6-1

3-Maria Sharapova (Russia) beat Eugenie Bouchard (Canada) 6-2 6-0

14-Maria Kirilenko (Russia) beat Bethanie Mattek-Sands (U.S.) 6-1 6-4

Simona Halep (Romania) beat 26-Tamira Paszek (Austria) 6-1 6-7(4) 7-5

11-Nadia Petrova (Russia) beat Zheng Jie (China) 6-3 6-1

28-Sorana Cirstea (Romania) beat Silvia Soler Espinosa (Spain) 2-6 7-5 6-2

6-Angelique Kerber (Germany) beat Francesca Schiavone (Italy) 6-7(5) 6-3 6-2

21-Klara Zakopalova (Czech Republic) beat Anabel Medina Garrigues (Spain) 6-3 7-6(3)

20-Carla Suarez Navarro (Spain) beat Jamie Hampton (U.S.) 5-7 7-5 7-6(3)

Lauren Davis (U.S.) beat Madison Keys (U.S.) 6-1 5-7 7-6(7)

15-Roberta Vinci (Italy) beat Christina Mchale (U.S.) 6-7(2) 6-1 6-3

Svetlana Kuznetsova (Russia) beat 18-Ekaterina Makarova (Russia) 6-4 6-4

29-Elena Vesnina (Russia) beat Donna Vekic (Croatia) 6-4 6-2

 

[Smallville22]

Djokovic wins as Del Potro falls in Miami

Novak Djokovic eased into the third round of the Miami Masters but fellow Grand Slam champion Juan Martin Del Potro fell at the first hurdle.
Djokovic, playing in the late night match, cruised to a 6-1 6-0 victory over Lukas Rosol.
Three-time Miami champion Djokovic seized upon five of his seven break point chances to ease into the third round with a 53-minute victory.
“It is a great start,” said the Serb who stepped on court following a three-hour rain delay and a 27-minute ********.
“After Indian Wells, I tried to rest. There are different conditions here, but tonight was perfect for tennis. I enjoyed every moment of it and I love this court.”
But former US Open champion Del Potro suffered a surprise 7-6 6-1 loss to Germany's Tobias Kamke.
The towering Argentine had two set points in the opening set but lost his way just a week after making the men's final at Indian Wells.
"He didn't play obviously his best tennis," said Kamke. "But still I think I did a good job and pretty satisfied with that."
Spain's David Ferrer, the men's third seed, had an easier time. He won in a walkover when Russian qualifier Dmitry Tursunov pulled out and will face Fabio Fognini for a place in the last 16 after the Italian beat Michael Llodra of France 6-4 6-1.
Seventh seed Janko Tipsarevic eased into the third round with a straight-sets defeat of Dudi Sela.
The Serb, ranked ninth in the world, converted four of his five break points to win 6-2 6-4 while saving five of Israeli qualifier Sela's six.
He will next face giant South African Kevin Anderson, ranked 26th, after his 6-3 7-6(4) win over Horacio Zeballos of Argentina.
Tommy Haas was made to work for victory over Igor Sijsling as the German triumphed 6-0 5-7 6-3.
Germany’s 15th seed Haas took a first-set bagel but dropped serve for the first and only time late in the second set. Haas broke his opponent again in the third to close out victory in just under an hour and a half.
It was the eighth time Haas reached the third round at Crandon Park. He will face Alexandr Dolgopolov after the Ukrainian beat Nikolay Davydenko 6-2 6-3.
Japan’s Kei Nishikori cruised into the third round with a 6-3 6-3 win over Victor Hanescu of Romania.
The 13th seed broke Hanescu five times to claim victory in an hour and 20 minutes.
Nishikori will face Belgium’s Xavier Malisse in the third round after he beat 22nd seeded Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 6-3 6-2.

Miami Masters second-round results:

Somdev Devvarman (India) beat Edouard Roger-Vasselin (France) 4-6 6-4 7-5

1-Novak Djokovic (Serbia) beat Lukas Rosol (Czech Republic) 6-1 6-0

26-Kevin Anderson (South Africa) beat Horacio Zeballos (Argentina) 6-3 7-6(4)

11-Gilles Simon (France) beat Lleyton Hewitt (Australia) 6-3 6-3

Tobias Kamke (Germany) beat 5-Juan Martin Del Potro (Argentina) 7-6(5) 6-1

19-Alexandr Dolgopolov (Ukraine) beat Nikolay Davydenko (Russia) 6-2 6-3

James Blake (U.S.) beat 24-Julien Benneteau (France) 6-2 6-3

7-Janko Tipsarevic (Serbia) beat Dudi Sela (Israel) 6-2 6-4

Albert Ramos (Spain) beat 12-Juan Monaco (Argentina) 6-2 4-6 6-3

32-Fabio Fognini (Italy) beat Michael Llodra (France) 6-4 6-1

Jurgen Melzer (Austria) beat 31-Marcel Granollers (Spain) 6-3 6-4

Grega Zemlja (Slovenia) beat 23-Florian Mayer (Germany) 6-3 7-6(3)

3-David Ferrer (Spain) beat Dmitry Tursunov (Russia)WO

15-Tommy Haas (Germany) beat Igor Sijsling (Netherlands) 6-0 5-7 6-3

13-Kei Nishikori (Japan) beat Victor Hanescu (Romania) 6-3 6-3

Xavier Malisse (Belgium) beat 22-Jeremy Chardy (France) 6-3 6-2

 

[Smallville22]

Wozniacki upset again in Miami

Ninth seed Caroline Wozniacki fell to another shocking defeat in the third round of the Sony Open to wild card Spaniard Garbine Muguruza.
The unknown Muguruza required less than an hour and a half to defeat the other half of golfing world number one Rory McIlroy 6-2 6-4.
The former world one lost to China’s Wang Qiang at the Malaysian Open and unseeded Svetlana Kuznetsova at the Australian Open, and Muguruza becomes the latest in a line of unexpected defeats for the Dane.
Li Na is the next mountain for Muguruza to climb after the Chinese fifth seed saw off Varvara Lepchenko 6-2 6-4.

WTA Sony Open round three results

4-Agnieszka Radwanska (Poland) beat Magdalena Rybarikova (Slovakia) 7-6(5) 2-6 6-3

Garbine Muguruza Blanco (Spain) beat 9-Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark) 6-2 6-4

Ajla Tomljanovic (Croatia) beat Andrea Petkovic (Germany) 0-6 6-4 7-6(1)

5-Li Na (China) beat 25-Varvara Lepchenko (US) 6-2 6-4

16-Sloane Stephens (U.S.) beat 19-Venus Williams (US)WO

30-Kirsten Flipkens (Belgium) beat 7-Petra Kvitova (Czech Republic) 6-0 4-6 6-1

 

[Smallville22]

Murray cruises past Tomic in Miami

Second seed Andy Murray cruised through to the third round of the Miami Masters with a comfortable 6-3 6-1 victory over disinterested Bernard Tomic.
Australian Tomic started fairly strong and conjured three break points early on, but offered little resistance as the Scot warmed up in the match.
And Murray, who will leapfrog Roger Federer in the rankings if he goes all the way in Miami, did not have to go any higher than second gear to dispatch the out-of-sorts world number 45 in just 56 minutes.
Up next for the Olympic gold medallist will be 29th seed Grigor Dimitrov who won the opening set over Simone Bolelli before the Italian retired with the second all square after two games.
Sixth seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga is also through, taking an opening-set tie-breaker before finishing a straight-sets job on Viktor Troicki.

ATP MIAMI MASTERS - ROUND TWO RESULTS

10-Nicolas Almagro (Spain) beat Guido Pella (Argentina) 6-0 6-3

29-Grigor Dimitrov (Bulgaria) beat Simone Bolelli (Italy) 6-4 1-1 (Bolelli retired)

2-Andy Murray (Britain) beat Bernard Tomic (Australia) 6-3 6-1

Thomaz Bellucci (Brazil) beat 21-Jerzy Janowicz (Poland) 7-6(5) 3-6 6-3

Jarkko Nieminen (Finland) beat 27-Martin Klizan (Slovakia) 6-2 6-2

6-Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (France) beat Viktor Troicki (Serbia) 7-6(6) 6-3

16-Andreas Seppi (Italy) beat Aljaz Bedene (Slovenia) 7-5 5-7 7-5

David Goffin (Belgium) beat 18-Philipp Kohlschreiber (Germany) 7-6(5) 4-6 6-2

17-Sam Querrey (U.S.) beat Lukasz Kubot (Poland) 4-6 6-3 6-3

8-Richard Gasquet (France) beat Olivier Rochus (Belgium) 7-5 6-2

 

[Smallville22]

Sharapova advances in Miami

Maria Sharapova eased into the last-16 of the Sony Open with a straight-sets victory over fellow Russian Elena Vesnina.
The third seed outclassed her compatriot 6-4 6-2 in an hour and 47 minutes to keep her strong recent form going.
Next up for Sharapova is Klara Zakopalova, the Czech 21st seed, who hopes to take two consecutive Russian scalps after dumping out 14th seed Maria Kirilenko 6-2 7-6.
But the French Open champion will be competing knowing she has a chance to reclaim the world number one ranking from Serena Williams in a city she loves, but one which has seen her lose four finals including the last two.
Sharapova said: "I personally love Miami, I've been coming here since I was a little girl.
"I've only had a few days to recover from Indian Wells but there's no greater motivation than winning."

Round three results

3-Maria Sharapova (Russia) beat 29-Elena Vesnina (Russia) 6-4 6-2

21-Klara Zakopalova (Czech Republic) beat 14-Maria Kirilenko (Russia) 6-2 7-6(4)

28-Sorana Cirstea (Romania) beat 6-Angelique Kerber (Germany) 6-4 6-0

32-Alize Cornet (France) beat Lauren Davis (US) 2-6 6-3 6-2

22-Jelena Jankovic (Serbia) beat 11-Nadia Petrova (Russia) 7-6(7) 6-4

 

[Smallville22]

Djokovic untroubled by Devvarman in Miami

World number one Novak Djokovic ****** little time in booking his place in the fourth round of the Miami Masters with a 6-2 6-4 win over Somdev Devvarman.
Two-times defending champion Djokovic needed just 53 minutes to race past Lukas Rosol in his opening match on Friday and although he was tested a little more by Devvarman, the world number one rarely needed to move out of second gear.
Devvarman managed just the one break point opportunity, in the final game of the match, but Djokovic was easily able to save it before serving out at the first attempt to set up a clash against in-form German Tommy Haas.
Earlier in the day, 15th seed Haas had produced a compact performance in blustery conditions to beat potentially tricky Alexandr Dolgopolov, seeded 19th in Miami, 6-3 6-2.
In perhaps the most exciting match of the day, Djokovic's Serbian compatriot Janko Tipsarevic continued his tentative return to form with a battling 4-6 7-6(5) 6-0 win over 26th seed Kevin Anderson.
Seventh seed Tipsarevic had not won a match since the Australian Open coming into Miami but weathered a storm in the opening couple of sets, including the second set tie-break where he found himself 2-4 down, before outlasting Anderson.
The south African completely collapsed in the final set, managing to find just seven points and failing to secure a single game as he helped Tipsarevic set up a fourth round clash with Gilles Simon, the French 11th seed a 6-4 6-4 victor over Grega Zemlja.
Third seed David Ferrer racked up his fourth victory over Fabio Fognini this year, knocking the Italian 32nd out of the tournament with a 6-1 7-5 win to earn himself a match against 13th seed Kei Nishikori. The Japanese player eased past Belgium's Xavier Malisse 6-2 7-5 to reach the last 16.

Round three results

1-Novak Djokovic (Serbia) beat Somdev Devvarman (India) 6-2 6-4

11-Gilles Simon (France) beat Grega Zemlja (Slovenia) 6-4 6-4

7-Janko Tipsarevic (Serbia) beat 26-Kevin Anderson (South Africa) 4-6 7-6(5) 6-0

15-Tommy Haas (Germany) beat 19-Alexandr Dolgopolov (Ukraine) 6-3 6-2

13-Kei Nishikori (Japan) beat Xavier Malisse (Belgium) 6-2 7-5

3-David Ferrer (Spain) beat 32-Fabio Fognini (Italy) 6-1 7-5

 

[Smallville22]

Serena roars back to win in Miami

Serena Williams had to come back from a set down to beat Dominika Cibulkova 2-6 6-4 6-2 in the fourth round of WTA Miami.
The world number one is seeking her sixth title in Key Biscayne, but struggled for rhythm for more than an hour as Cibulkova threatened an upset in front of a half-full stadium.
Indeed Cibulkova had taken the first set and led 4-1 in the second before Williams rallied, finishing off the contest with three aces. It was in stark contrast to her earlier display, and she racked up 52 unforced errors in the course of the match.
''I was just struggling,'' Williams said. ''I was making so many errors and couldn't pull myself together.
''I saw my *** on the sideline, and he was so calm and so relaxed, and I was just like, 'OK, Serena, you can do this.' I took that energy and started playing better.''
Williams will face Li Na in the quarter-finals after the Chinese beat wild card Garbine Muguruza 7-6 6-2.
Maria Sharapova powered her way past another opponent in Miami as the Russian world number two remains on target to finally claim a tournament that has brought her plenty of heartbreak.
The third seed shrugged off the challenge of Klara Zakopalova, easing to a 6-2 6-2 victory over the Czech to advance to the quarter-finals and inch closer making it fifth time lucky in Florida.
Sharapova was beaten in the last two finals after also falling in the tournament decider in 2005 and 2006, and her determination to go one better this year was evident against Zakopalova, who was helpless in the face of the Russian's power.
Sharapova now meets eighth seeded Italian Sara Errani, who came back from a disastrous opening set to clinch a 1-6 6-4 6-2 over Ana Ivanovic of Serbia.
Errani will be joined in the quarter-finals by compatriot Roberta Vinci, who also had to come from behind to down Frenchwoman Alize Cornet 2-6 6-4 6-4.
Awaiting Vinci in the last eight is Jelena Jankovic, who downed Sorana Cirstea in straight sets.
Another top seed who struggled but eventually progressed was Agnieszka Radwanska, who needed three sets to overcome American rising star Sloane Stephens.
The 20-year-old, a semi-finalist at the Australian Open, took the first set 6-4 before fourth-seeded Radwanska bounced back, dropping just two more games to win 4-6 6-2 6-0.
Her reward is a quarter-final against Kirsten Flipkens, who ousted Ajla Tomljanovic in three tight sets.

Monday's fourth-round results

3-Maria Sharapova (Russia) beat 21-Klara Zakopalova (Czech Republic) 6-2 6-2

22-Jelena Jankovic (Serbia) beat 28-Sorana Cirstea (Romania) 6-0 6-4

8-Sara Errani (Italy) beat 12-Ana Ivanovic (Serbia) 1-6 6-4 6-2

15-Roberta Vinci (Italy) beat 32-Alize Cornet (France) 2-6 6-4 6-4

4-Agnieszka Radwanska (Poland) beat 16-Sloane Stephens (US) 4-6 6-2 6-0

1-Serena Williams (US) beat 13-Dominika Cibulkova (Slovakia) 2-6 6-4 6-2

30-Kirsten Flipkens (Belgium) beat Ajla Tomljanovic (Croatia) 6-7(6) 6-4 6-3

5-Li Na (China) beat Garbine Muguruza Blanco (Spain) 7-6(6) 6-2

 

[Smallville22]

Murray survives Dimitrov test in Miami

World number three Andy Murray was made to work hard to book his place in the fourth round of the Miami Masters when he beat Grigor Dimitrov 7-6(3) 6-3.
Murray, seeded second in Miami in the absence of Roger Federer, found himself 5-2 down in the opening set as Dimitrov made a blistering start to the match.
But ultimately the Bulgarian 21-year-old was let down by his mental strength, slapping down three double faults in the one game when he attempted to serve out the opening set. He had done the same in Indian Wells just two weeks ago when he hit four consecutive double faults while serving for the opener against world number one Novak Djokovic.
But even after being let off the hook in that seventh game of the opening set it was far from straightforward for Murray as he struggled with his serve, managing to land just 58 per cent of his first serve.
But the Scot eventually made his experience tell, ******* his way back into the match with three straight games getting him back on level terms before he pushed the first set into a tie-break.
Again Murray was the more solid player in the breaker, running away with things after the change of ends and sealing the first set at the first attempt when Dimitrov sent a forehand sailing long beyond the baseline.
The 2009 Miami champion capitalised on his momentum, breaking in the second game of the second set, when Dimitrov sent a backhand long, before edging towards the victory.
Dimitrov continued to cause Murray problems on serve and even held a break back point in the final game of the match, landing a forehand right on the baseline.
But Murray was in no mood for the contest to be extended, saved the break point with an ace before booking his place in the last 16 when Dimitrov netted a backhand.
"It was way cooler today with much slower conditions," Murray said. "I was leaving the ball a bit short. Once I started to improve my depth a bit, I made it tough for him."
Next up for Murray will be 16th seed Andreas Seppi, the Italian surviving a strong challenge from Thomaz Bellucci to progress 7-5 4-6 6-2.
Fourth seed Tomas Berdych overcame an even bigger hurdle than Murray, eventually beating Colombian Alejandro Falla 2-6 7-6(6) 6-4.
Falla was painting the lines off both the forehand and backhand wings as he opened up a set and a break lead in less than an hour on the Grandstand court.
But Berdych slowly battled his way back into the match, saving a match point at 2-6 2-5 with a second serve ace that caught the very back of the service line.
The Czech was ****** to save a second match point in the tie-break, again finding a big second serve when he really needed it - the Colombian this time netting a forehand return.
From there Berdych's experience was the most telling factor, the Czech world number six increasingly turning momentum in his favour and serving out the match at the first attempt, despite being ****** to first save a break point in the final game of the match.
Berdych, a semi-finalist in Indian Wells last week, will next face 17th seed Sam Querrey. The American was handed his place in the last 16 when 14th seeded Canadian Milos Raonic was ****** to withdraw from the tournament with a fever.
Berdych was joined in the fourth round by sixth seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
The Frenchman had a much easier time of it, easing past veteran Finn Jarkko Nieminen 6-3 6-3 to set up a meeting with ninth seed Marin Cilic.
Croat Cilic took advantage of some uncharacteristically sloppy serving in the first set by John Isner to claim a 6-3 7-6(3) victory over the 20th seeded American.
Completing the fourth round line-up is eighth seed Richard Gasquet and 10th seed Nicolas Almgaro.
Gasquet produced a mature performance to beat mercurial Russian Mikhail Youzhny 6-3 6-4 in the first match of the day, while Almagro bullied his way past slight Belgian David Goffin by the same scoreline.

Third Round Results:

9-Marin Cilic (Croatia) beat 20-John Isner (U.S.) 6-3 7-6(3)

17-Sam Querrey (U.S.) beat 14-Milos Raonic (Canada)WO

4-Tomas Berdych (Czech Republic) beat Alejandro Falla (Colombia) 2-6 7-6(6) 6-4

6-Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (France) beat Jarkko Nieminen (Finland) 6-3 6-3

2-Andy Murray (Britain) beat 29-Grigor Dimitrov (Bulgaria) 7-6(3) 6-3

16-Andreas Seppi (Italy) beat Thomaz Bellucci (Brazil) 7-5 4-6 6-2

10-Nicolas Almagro (Spain) beat David Goffin (Belgium) 6-3 6-4

8-Richard Gasquet (France) beat 28-Mikhail Youzhny (Russia) 6-3 6-4

 

[Smallville22]

Baker, Ward, Fleming and Marray selected for Davis Cup

Great Britain captain Leon Smith has expressed his delight at having Jamie Baker and James Ward back in his squad as they prepare to face Russia in the Davis Cup.
Baker and Ward will both play singles in the Euro/Africa Zone Group I second round clash with Colin Fleming, who represented Team GB at the London 2012 Olympics, teaming up with Jonny Marray in the doubles.
Marray is the reigning Wimbledon doubles champion having won the title with Danish partner Frederik Nielsen last year while Baker reach the main draw of the Australian Open in January.
Baker last played in the Davis Cup during Britain's defeat of Tunisia in Group II two years ago while Ward suffered a broken wrist last year but is now back.
If Britain defeat Russia they will go forward to the World Group play-offs in September but if they lose they will face a Group II relegation play-off at that time of year instead.
And, while aware of the size of the task in hand against Russia, Smith admitted his satisfaction at the make-up of his squad with Baker and Ward back in action.
Andy Murray will miss out as he prepares for the French Open and Smith said: "It's great to have Jamie Baker back in the team after him starting the year so well in qualifying at Australian Open in January.
"James Ward has done fantastically well to come back from a long-term injury sustained last year and brings a lot of Davis Cup experience to the team having played in six of the last seven ties for his country.
"Colin Fleming has had a great start to 2013 winning ATP titles in both Auckland and Marseille. In Jonny Marray we have the current Wimbledon doubles champion who also went on to reach the semi-finals of the ATP World Tour Finals at the end of last year.
"We look forward to the challenge of competing against a very strong Russian side and, with the advantage of a home crowd supporting the team, we hope we can make life as difficult as possible for the opposition."

 

[Smallville22]

Serena battles past Li in Miami

Serena Williams came through a tough quarter-final match against Li Na to set up a semi-final date with Agnieska Radwanska at WTA Miami.
The world number one took the first set with a single break of serve, defending well as she saved three break opportunities held by Li.
Williams was pushed even harder in the second as fifth seed Li raced into a 5-2 lead after the American lost her serve for a second time.
Li was unable to close out the set, however, with it going to a tie-break in which Williams held firm to win the match 6-3 7-6(5) and set up a semi-final against Radwanska, who beat Kirsten Flipkens 4-6 6-4 6-2 later in the day.
"She plays so well - we always have such intense matches," Williams said.
"I love it - she always improves, and that always keeps me motivated. I just had to get more consistent and hang in there."
Li was disappointed not to have grabbed her opportunities better.
"I had chances but I didn't hold," Li said. "She's the best player in the world, so if you don't take your chances, she will never give you a chance again.
"But I still have to see it in a positive way. I played well here. I just have to continue to work with my team and get ready for the clay court season.
"I'm looking forward to the clay court season because I'm healthy and hitting the ball well."
Radwanska had to come from behind to topple Flipkens, who looked on course for an upset after a promising opening set.
But Pole Radwanska, seeded fourth, rallied to claim the next stanza before sealing her 23rd win in 27 matches this year.

WTA Miami results

Quarter-finals

4-Agnieszka Radwanska (Poland) beat 30-Kirsten Flipkens (Belgium) 4-6 6-4 6-2

1-Serena Williams (U.S.) beat 5-Li Na (China) 6-3 7-6(5)

 

[Smallville22]

Haas stuns Djokovic, Murray through

Germany's Tommy Haas recorded the upset of the Miami Masters when he stunned two-times defending champion Novak Djokovic 6-2 6-4, while Andy Murray booked his place in the quarter-finals with victory over Andreas Seppi.
Haas, who turns 35 on April 3, needed just 80 minutes to register his second victory over a world number one, following his upset victory against Andre Agassi in the quarter-finals of the 1999 Grand Slam Cup.
Tuesday's defeat snapped Djokovic's 14-match winning streak in the tournament as the Australian Open champion lost for just the second time this season.
The victory carried Haas into the Miami quarter-finals for the first time while he improved his head-to-head record against Djokovic to 3-4.
Haas next plays Gilles Simon after the 11th-seeded Frenchman rallied past Serbia's Janko Tipsarevic 5-7 6-2 6-2.
World number three Murray, seeded second in Miami in the absence of Roger Federer, had none of the troubles he had suffered in the previous round against Grigor Dimitrov and booked his place in the last eight with a 6-2 6-4 win over Seppi in just 86 minutes.
Every time Murray has won his first match in Miami, he has reached the semi-finals or better, but he will have to beat ninth seed Marin Cilic if he is to repeat that feat again this year. The Croat produced an assured performance to beat sixth-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 7-5 7-6(3).
Murray made a confident start to the match but was helped by a nervy start from Seppi, who failed to find a first serve in the opening game, instead handing the break to the Scot.
The 25-year-old eased through each of his service holds before breaking again in the seventh game, pummelling the Seppi forehand which eventually broke down, and then serving out the set with little trouble.
Seppi cut a much more confident figure in the second set as he pushed Murray harder on the Scot's serve. Still the Italian could not fashion himself a break point though and it was Murray who again made the breakthrough, this time in the ninth game, when Seppi netted forehands on three consecutive points.
Murray did have a little trouble serving for the match, handing Seppi a break back point with a double fault.
But it was only a momentary wobble from Murray as he saved the break point with an ace down the centre of the court before wrapping up the win when Seppi sent a forehand long.
Third seed David Ferrer also ****** little time in booking his place in the quarter-finals with a 6-4 6-2 win over 13th seed Kei Nishikori.
Nishikori caused Ferrer just the one moment of real concern when he broke as the Spaniard served for the first set.
Ferrer lost his temper with a linesman who had called a ball out only to correct himself, thereby ******* the rally to be replayed. The Spaniard lost the replay - and the game - and went on to demand that the linesman be removed during the change of ends.
The request was refused and Ferrer recovered his composure in enough time to break in the very next game to seal the set, before easing through the second set.
Ferrer will next face Juergen Melzer, the Austrian ****** to come back from a set down to beat Spaniard Albert Ramos 2-6 6-3 6-3.
After being ****** to come from a set, a break and match points down to beat Alejandro Falla in the third round, fourth seed Tomas Berdych eased past 17th seed Sam Querrey 6-1 6-1.
Berdych will face Richard Gasquet in the last eight, the French eighth seed battling back from a set down to beat Nicolas Almagro 6-7(3) 7-5 7-6(3).

Miami Masters results

Round 4

15-Tommy Haas (Germany) beat 1-Novak Djokovic (Serbia) 6-2 6-4

11-Gilles Simon (France) beat 7-Janko Tipsarevic (Serbia) 5-7 6-2 6-2

9-Marin Cilic (Croatia) beat 6-Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (France) 7-5 7-6(4)

4-Tomas Berdych (Czech Republic) beat 17-Sam Querrey (U.S.) 6-1 6-1

2-Andy Murray (Britain) beat 16-Andreas Seppi (Italy) 6-2 6-4

8-Richard Gasquet (France) beat 10-Nicolas Almagro (Spain) 6-7(3) 7-5 7-6(3)

Jurgen Melzer (Austria) beat Albert Ramos (Spain) 2-6 6-3 6-3

3-David Ferrer (Spain) beat 13-Kei Nishikori (Japan) 6-4 6-2

 

[Smallville22]

Battle-scarred Haas still turning back the clock

Tommy Haas produced the shock of the year so far by outclassing world number one Novak Djokovic in Miami on Tuesday.
The German's 6-2 6-4 victory at the Sony Open proved again the widely held belief that but for chronic injury problems and bad luck, grand slam titles would surely have come his way.
Haas's classical, easy-on-the-eye, style took him to world number two in May 2002 and for a while he looked like the natural adversary for the emerging Roger Federer.
His progress was stalled, however, first when his parents were in a serious motorcycle accident that left his *** in a **** for weeks and then when two shoulder surgeries kept him off the court for more than a year.
He has been playing catch-up ever since, but rather than any bitterness, Haas's previous misfortune has taught him to enjoy moments like this week's masterclass against Djokovic - a player who has become almost unbeatable on hard courts.
"Playing against Novak and coming out on top at this time of my career, it's unbelievable," Haas, who missed 11 months after hip surgery in 2010, told reporters.
"It goes up as one of the best wins of my career.
"There were times when I wouldn't have believed (that I could get back to this level), no way.
"When I came back after my hip surgery it was gruelling. It was nine months, 12 months before I actually felt like I could train again and get in better shape and sort of maybe feel like I can move and give myself a chance to at least try to go for some victories again that I would enjoy."
Watching Haas beat Djokovic, and the way he beat Federer in the grasscourt final at Halle last year, it is impossible to understand how the German has never reached a grand slam final.
Semi-finals at the Australian Open in 1999 and 2007 and a similar run at Wimbledon in 2009 are his best attempts and while his chances of bettering that may be over, Haas is clearly enjoying making up for all the lost time.
Back at 18th in the world, having less than two years ago held no ranking whatsoever, Haas believes he is playing some of the best tennis of his career.
"Somewhere in the middle of last year, sometime in April, May, my body sort of adjusted a lot and I could train," said Haas, who has career wins over nine of the last 10 players to hold the world number one ranking although before Djokovic not a current one since Andre Agassi in 1999.
"Luckily I'm a guy that likes to work out and get in the best shape that I possibly can, my body allowing. Right now I feel pretty good, as good as I have in a long time, and, you know, I just never give up."
Haas will face Frenchman Gilles Simon on Wednesday when he will be attempting to reach the semi-final of a Masters Series event for the first time since Paris in 2006.
"This is what I keep playing for," he said. "These are the moments I appreciate the most, going on those big stadiums, big stages, playing against the best people in the world."

 

[Smallville22]

Ferrer survives Melzer scare to reach Miami semis

World number five David Ferrer overcame a sloppy start to defeat Austrian Juergen Melzer 4-6 6-3 6-0 in their quarter-final.
Third-seeded Ferrer, the world number four and second-highest remaining seed behind Andy Murray, was poor in the first set, making a succession of errors after an early break.
But the Spaniard, who has already won twice this year after notching seven tournament wins in 2012, fought back in the second, showing his trademark determination from the baseline as he beat back his Austrian opponent.
He then raced through the final set losing just four points on serve and committing only four unforced errors to finish with a flourish.
The loss ended a nine-match winning streak for 42nd-ranked Melzer, who won earlier this month in Dallas.
The Spaniard will meet the winner of Wednesday's later match between Germany's 15th-seeded Tommy Haas, who knocked out world number one Novak Djokovic, and French 11th seed Gilles Simon.

 

[Smallville22]

Sharapova battles into Miami semis

Maria Sharapova was shaky from the service line but the Russian world number two dodged danger at key moments to beat seventh seed Sara Errani 7-5 7-5 and reach the semi-finals of the Sony Open in Miami.
Serving at 4-5 in the second set of a see-saw struggle, the third seed Sharapova saved three set points before winning the final three games to end the two hour, 29-minute battle.
"She had her chances to win that second set. Who knows what would have happened," said Sharapova, a four-times Miami finalist who has yet to win the tournament.
"I'm lucky to get to the next one and have a chance to be in the semis again ... the great thing is that I pulled through. I worked hard. I was steady, and I gave myself a chance to get here."
Errani had four service breaks against Sharapova, who committed 14 double faults. But the 25-year-old Italian was even more vulnerable to the big-hitting Sharapova, who broke serve six times.
Sharapova, bidding for a rare double following her win at Indian Wells earlier this month, will play 2008 runner-up Jelena Jankovic of Serbia in the semi-finals.
The Russian is seeking a 29th career title in Florida. She has reached the final on four occasions in Miami, losing them all - to Kim Clijsters in 2005, Svetlana Kuznetsova in 2006, Victoria Azarenka in 2011 and Agnieszka Radwanska in 2012.
"I've been so close to winning," she said. "I would love to win this.
"I've been coming to this tournament since I was a little ***. It would mean a lot to win it."
Jankovic booked her place in the last four with a 6-4 6-7(6) 6-3 victory over 15th seed Roberta Vinci of Italy in the final women's match of the day on Stadium Court.
The Serb was made to battle hard, particularly during a second set tie-break which she edged by a fine margin to send the match into a decider.
The final set was slightly more comfortable for Jankovic, who broke twice before sealing victory in two-and-a-half hours.
The other semi-final features Serena Williams against Agnieszka Radwanska.

WTA Miami results

Quarter-finals

22-Jelena Jankovic (Serbia) beat 15-Roberta Vinci (Italy) 6-4 6-7(6) 6-3

3-Maria Sharapova (Russia) beat 8-Sara Errani (Italy) 7-5 7-5

 

[Smallville22]

Ferrer survives Melzer scare to reach Miami semis

World number five David Ferrer overcame a sloppy start to defeat Austrian Juergen Melzer 4-6 6-3 6-0 and set up a Miami Masters semi-final against Tommy Haas.
Third-seeded Ferrer, the world number four and second-highest remaining seed behind Andy Murray, was poor in the first set, making a succession of errors after an early break.
But the Spaniard, who has already won twice this year after notching seven tournament wins in 2012, fought back in the second, showing his trademark determination from the baseline as he beat back his Austrian opponent.
He then raced through the final set losing just four points on serve and committing only four unforced errors to finish with a flourish.
The loss ended a nine-match winning streak for 42nd-ranked Melzer, who won earlier this month in Dallas.
The Spaniard will meet 15th-seeded Haas, who continued his great form in Florida with a 6-3 6-1 win over French 11th seed Gilles Simon in the late match on Stadium Court.
Haas, who accounted for world number one Novak Djokovic in the previous round, wrapped up the straight-set win in just over an hour.
The German won 80 per cent of his first service points during the opening set before ramping that figure up to 85 in the second.
Haas claimed four of his eight break points chances, while Simon could not muster even one opportunity in a one-sided affair played in slightly better conditions than 24 hours previously, when Haas and Djokovic had to battle the cold and wind.

Miami Masters results

Quarter-finals

15-Tommy Haas (Germany) beat 11-Gilles Simon (France) 6-3 6-1

3-David Ferrer (Spain) beat Jurgen Melzer (Austria) 4-6 6-3 6-0

:update: