2013 Tennis Thread

[Smallville22]

Berdych stuns Djokovic in Rome, faces Nadal in semis

Sixth seed Tomas Berdych recovered from a set and a break down to dump world number one Novak Djokovic out of the Rome Masters at the quarter-finals stage.
Berdych was just two points away from defeat before he managed to ***** his way into the match and beat Djokovic 6-2 5-7 6-4.
"It's a special victory. I was on 11 defeats in a row and it had to stop," said Berdych, who did not even create a break point until Djokovic served for the match at 5-3 in the second set.
Next up for Berdych will be a match-up against either world number five Rafael Nadal, after the six-times former champion survived a second set fight-back from David Ferrer to triumph 6-4 4-6 6-2.
"It was a very weird match," Djokovic said. "I lost concentration and I started to play too defensively and did not convert my opportunities and I lost this match on my own.
"I need to make sure that I don't have highs and lows. I'm sure that I will be ready for Paris."
Djokovic cruised through the first set in just 32 minutes, producing some sublime tennis as he broke in the fourth and eighth games while barely being tested on his own serve.
The second set looked to be following much the same path when Djokovic broke in the sixth game, with the net helping him create the perfect drop shot when his return of serve caught the top of the tape and rolled over.
But with Djokovic serving for the set, it all fell apart for the world number one. A forehand into the net handed Berdych a lifeline, a break back point.
The Czech took it with a rattled backhand winner down the line before breaking again in the 11th game and levelling up the match at one set apiece with a cross court forehand winner at the first time of asking.
An early break for Berdych in the third set compounded Djokovic’s woes as Berdych sought just his second win over the Serb in 15 attempts.
Berdych was ****** to fend off a break point in the very next game, but did so with a forehand volley winner, before marching confidently through the remainder of his service games and towards the semi-finals.
Serving to stay in the match at 4-5, Djokovic posted a solid hold to leave Berdych serving for the match.
Three match points quickly followed for the Czech before his only real stumble of the final set. A backhand long and two forehands wide, one in either direction, quickly allowed Djokovic to level up at deuce.
But the sixth seed held his nerve, earning himself a fourth chance with a vicious forehand that Djokovic could only net in response, before booking his place in the semi-finals with an ace.
Despite booking his place in the semi-finals Nadal did not have it all his own way against fellow Spaniard Ferrer, the world number four enjoying the first opportunity to break – in just the fourth game of the match.
But Ferrer could not take advantage of the chance and Nadal punished him in the very next game, securing the opening break when Ferrer meekly dumped a forehand into the net.
Ferrer also held a couple of break back chances in the very next game but again Nadal saved them before going on to serve out the set with no further trouble.
The 31-year-old completely turned things around in the second set, however, breaking in the second and fourth games before Nadal could get himself on the scoreboard with a break back in the fifth.
Despite looking on course to level the match in the ninth game when he served for the second set, Ferrer dropped his serve only to eventually seal the set a game later, breaking the Nadal serve for a third time with a backhand passing shot winner down the line.
The defending champion quickly regained momentum, however, breaking in the third and fifth games of the final set before serving out the match when Ferrer sent a forehand return of serve long.
"It was an extremely tough match, David always takes you to the limit," said Nadal, looking for his sixth title in eight tournaments since returning from injury.
"I am extremely happy. I think I made a huge effort both in the second set when I was 4-0 down and in the third to get past a fantastic opponent."

 

[Smallville22]

Sick Sharapova withdraws from Rome, Serena marches on

Maria Sharapova withdrew from the Italian Open before her quarter-final with Italy's Sara Errani on Friday because of "physical problems", organisers said.
Italian Open officials did not elaborate further on the reasons for Sharapova's Rome exit but the 26-year-old said on her Twitter account she was sick.
"I'm sorry for having to withdraw from the tournament this morning. Didn't recover after being sick last week and it got me again last night," Sharapova tweeted.
"It really is one of my favourites tournaments during the year and I can't wait to be back next year."
Sharapova showed no signs of any physical problems in easing through her third round match against Sloane Stephens on Thursday, the Russian winning 6-2 6-1.
The news comes two days after Andy Murray withdrew from the men’s tournament with a hip problem.
Sharapova is set to defend her French Open title later this month.
Top seed Serena Williams is now the overwhelming favourite to lift the title after demolishing Spain's Carla Suarez Navarro 6-2 6-0, stretching her winning run to 22 matches.
"I guess this is the best period in my career but I don't really think about it," the American said.
Former women's champion Jelena Jankovic was beaten by Romanian qualifier Simona Halep 4-6 6-0 7-5, while third seed Victoria Azarenka of Belarus beat Australia's Samantha Stosur 6-4 1-6 6-3

Rome Masters (women) quarter-final results:

3-Victoria Azarenka (Belarus) beat 9-Samantha Stosur (Australia) 6-4 1-6 6-3

1-Serena Williams (U.S.) beat Carla Suarez Navarro (Spain) 6-2 6-0

7-Sara Errani (Italy) beat 2-Maria Sharapova (Russia)WO

Simona Halep (Romania) beat Jelena Jankovic (Serbia) 4-6 6-0 7-5

Rome Masters (women) round three results:

9-Samantha Stosur (Australia) beat 8-Petra Kvitova (Czech Republic) 7-5 2-6 6-1

2-Maria Sharapova (Russia) beat 16-Sloane Stephens (U.S.) 6-2 6-1

3-Victoria Azarenka (Belarus) beat Ayumi Morita (Japan) 6-1 2-0 (Morita retired)

1-Serena Williams (U.S.) beat 14-Dominika Cibulkova (Slovakia) 6-0 6-1

Simona Halep (Romania) beat 13-Roberta Vinci (Italy) 6-4 6-2

Carla Suarez Navarro (Spain) beat Lourdes Dominguez Lino (Spain) 6-2 6-3

7-Sara Errani (Italy) beat 12-Maria Kirilenko (Russia) 6-3 2-0 (Kirilenko retired)

Jelena Jankovic (Serbia) beat 5-Li Na (China) 7-6(2) 7-5

 

[Smallville22]

Federer stops Janowicz to reach Rome Masters semis

Second seed Roger Federer overcame a brief scare in the second set to beat Jerzy Janowicz 6-4 7-6(2) and reach the semi-finals of the Rome Masters.
Against a tricky opponent, highly confident after back-to-back wins over top 10 Frenchman, Federer perfectly judged the first set, sticking with Janowicz despite facing early break points before breaking to seal the set at the first opportunity.
The Pole struck back with an early break in the second set but again Federer refused to panic, eventually breaking back in an epic 10th game before going on to wrap things up in surprisingly straight-forward fashion in the tie-break.
Federer will next face Benoit Paire, the unseeded Frenchman crushing Spaniard Marcel Granollers 6-0 6-1 in his first Masters series quarter-finals.
After consecutive victories of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Richard Gasquet, it was unsurprising to seed Janowicz make a quick start to the match, holding with ease before earning himself an early break point in just the second game.
Federer saved it before going on to exchange comfortable service holds with the mercurial Pole that looked to have the first set headed for a tie-break.
But Federer struck in the 10th game at his very first opportunity, first hitting into the body of Janowicz before going down the line with a forehand passing shot winner.
The Pole immediately bounced back in impressive fashion, breaking in the opening game with a sublime backhand lob.
Both players held with ease throughout most of the set but just like in the first, when it came down to the moment of pressure, Janowicz cracked.
With Janowicz serving to extend the match into a third set, Federer found himself in possession of just his second break point of the match when the Pole slapped down a double fault.
Although Janowicz saved the first, another double fault a couple of points later did not help his cause and this time Federer did break back with a backhand volley winner across court.
The Pole did hold under extreme pressure two games later to ***** the tie-break but by this time Federer could sense victory, charging through the breaker for the loss of just two points and sealing the victory with another forehand winner.

 

[Smallville22]

Serena extends winning streak in Rome to set up Azarenka final

Serena Williams crushed Romanian qualifier Simona Halep 6-3 6-0 in Rome to book her place in the Italian Open final and extend her winning streak to 23 matches.
Serena Williams crushed Romanian qualifier Simona Halep 6-3 6-0 to book her place in the Italian Open final and extend her winning streak to 23 matches on Saturday.
World number one Williams, who is chasing a fourth consecutive tour title, will face Victoria Azarenka in Sunday's final after the third seed beat last year's French Open finalist Sara Errani 6-0 7-5.
Williams's unbeaten run has included title successes in Miami, Charleston and Madrid and she is chasing a first Rome title since 2002, the year she won her only French Open.
"I love the clay. I haven't had many wins at Roland Garros but I do love it," Williams said.
"I was unhappy with some things today. I want to do well here as well as (in Paris)."
Williams' opponent was playing her first top-level semi-final and was bidding to become the first qualifier to reach the final in Rome.
Halep scored an early break of serve for a 2-1 lead in the first set but then wilted, winning just one more game as 15-times grand slam singles champion Williams steamrollered her way into the final.

 

[Smallville22]

Nadal reaches Rome Masters final

Rafael Nadal remained on track for his seventh Rome Masters title in nine years when he beat Tomas Berdych 6-2 6-4 to book his place in the final.
Fifth seed Nadal was sublime in the first set, breaking in the first and fourth games to take it in exactly 30 minutes.
Berdych made the second set a more competitive affair but Nadal found another level to break in the ninth game before serving out to reach his eighth consecutive final since returning from injury in February.
Since making his return from seventh months on the sidelines with injury in February, Nadal has picked up titles in Sao Paulo, Acapulco, Indian Wells, Barcelona and Madrid, while also reaching the finals in Vina del Mar, Monte Carlo and now Rome.
With Berdych coming into the match off the back of a win over Novak Djokovic, Nadal was clearly in no mood to mess around against the Czech sixth seed and broke in the opening game of the match with a vicious forehand winner that set the tone for the first half hour.
A second break followed in the fourth, back-to-back backhand passing shot winners bring up the break points before a forehand passing shot winner down the opposite line sealed the game for the Spaniard.
Nadal quickly formalised his lead by serving out the set to love before Berdych finally got a foot in the match by fashioning a break point opportunity in the second game of the second set.
The chance went begging, however, and with it Berdych’s only real opportunity to get back into the match, that being the Czech’s only break point of the game.
After exchanging comfortable service holds through the middle of the set, Nadal lifted his level almost imperceptibly in the ninth game, breaking to love when Berdych failed to find the court with a forehand.
Nadal did miss his first match point, the Spaniard’s only wrong step of the afternoon, but quickly made amends with a huge first serve down the centre of the court that Berdych could only return long.
"I am feeling better physically," the 11-times grand slam winner said in an interview with Spanish television broadcaster Teledeporte.
"These are emotional moments for me as I think I have managed to turn around a situation in which after many months of doubts I am able to play at a level that I would not have dreamed of four months ago."
The world number five, who will move ahead of compatriot David Ferrer and back into fourth should he win the title, will face Roger Federer in the championship match on Sunday, after the second seed defeated Benoit Paire 7-6(5) 6-4 in the second semi-final.

 

[Smallville22]

Federer sets up Nadal final in Rome

Second seed Roger Federer booked a meeting with Rafael Nadal in the final of the Rome Masters after beating unseeded Frenchman Benoit Paire 7-6(5) 6-4 in the Italian capital.
Federer was pushed by Paire early on in the match but found another level in the tie-break and, once ahead by a set, never really looked in danger of being taken to a third.
Federer’s clash with Nadal in Sunday’s final will be the first meeting between the pair on clay since their epic final at Roland Garros two years ago.
Six-times former champion Nadal advanced to the championship match with a 6-2 6-4 victory over sixth seed Tomas Berdych.
Paire, playing in his first Masters series semi-finals, made a sensational start to the contestearning himself an immediate break point with a cross court forehand winner that landed right on the outside of the line.
Although the Frenchman could not quite take advantage of the chance, or a second a couple of points later, the threat was clear, Paire high on confidence after wins over higher ranked players Juan Monaco, Julien Benneteau and Juan Martin Del Potro heading into the last four.
Another break point followed in the fifth game but again the chance went begging for the Frenchman as Federer made a trip into the net and produced a smash winner.
Federer got his first chance at a break point in the sixth game but Paire posted a battling hold from 0-40 down before going on to make good on his early promise by sealing the first break of the match.
Immediately pegged back by Federer, Paire going to the drop shot on consecutive points without any success, the Frenchman then twice served to stay in the set and ***** the tie-break.
Again it was the Frenchman who went ahead first, a mini-break coming on the very first point before he was pegged back at the change of ends by a Federer forehand winner across court.
Paire came within two point of taking the first set when he snuck ahead again but a forehand long allowed Federer to level up at 5-5 before the second seed snatched the set at the first time of asking with a high forehand volley winner.
Federer further compounded the trouble for Paire by breaking early in the second set, the two-times former Rome finalist capitalising on back-to-back double faults from the Frenchman.
Paire did have the chance to get the break back when, in the sixth game, Federer slapped a poor forehand long of the baseline. Again, though, he could not take advantage of his opportunity and Federer went on to hold with an ace and an unreturnable first serve.
Although Paire showed his mettle in holding to 30 when serving to stay in the match, Federer had little difficulty in serving out the match, a forehand winner down the line off a shorter ball seeing Federer set up the Nadal clash after 89 minutes.

 

[Smallville22]

Williams wins Italian Open title

World number one Serena Williams won her fourth consecutive title with a 6-1 6-3 victory over Victoria Azarenka at the Italian Open in Rome.
As much as the score made the match seem a completely one-sided affair, Azarenka actually had multiple chances to get ahead before Williams served out the match to love after one hour and 34 minutes.
Williams adds the Italian Open title to her wins in Miami, Charleston and Madrid and heads in to Roland Garros on a career-best 24 match unbeaten streak.
The victory in Rome is Williams’s second Italian Open triumph, her first coming in 2004 when she also picked her only French Open title to date.
"It wasn't easy, nothing is ever easy," Williams said. "Last year I was feeling excellent on clay but didn't do that great at Roland Garros; this year I'm cautious and I want to work hard and stay focused and win every point I play, and not slack at all."
Williams admitted that she would, however, allow herself one deviation from her usually strict training diet - an Italian ice cream. "This is what I was waiting for," she said. "I'll have pistachio - it's the only one I get."
Azarenka made a bright start to the match as she raced out to a 40-0 lead before being pegged back and broken by Williams in an opening game that lasted more than eight minutes.
The Belarusian had immediate chances to break back but could not take advantage and quickly found herself two breaks down after again failing to take her chances to hold in the third game.
Although Azarenka did finally get on the scoreboard in the fourth game, getting one of the breaks back after a very poor drop shot attempt from the world number one, the Belarusian was left to rue missed opportunities. She was 3-1 down when she could just as easily have been 3-1 up.
Having given herself a stern talking to in between games, Williams immediately re-established her double break lead, harnessing her anger into a series of ****** forehands which left Azarenka reeling.
The world number one quickly held to go 5-1 ahead before breaking for a fourth time to seal what looked like a comfortable opening set but which in reality had taken 46 tough minutes and the determination to save multiple break points.
The second set quickly looked like it was going to follow the same path before Azarenka finally managed to secure a hold of serve in the second game, being ****** to save yet more break points before holding with a huge first serve.
Another service hold followed for Azarenka in the fourth game of the set, the Belarusian again saving break points before managing to hold when Williams pulled a forehand wide across court.
The American finally did break in the sixth game, Azarenka going wide with a forehand, only to hand the Belarusian the immediate break back with a poor game that concluded with a forehand into the net from Williams.
But Williams was not going to let an increasingly positive Azarenka ***** her way back into the match and broke again in the eighth game, a double fault from the Belarusian seeing her concede her serve.
The world number one had no trouble in backing up the break this time, serving out the match without the loss of a point and securing victory with consecutive aces and a forehand winner down the line.

 

[Smallville22]

Nadal destroys Federer to defend Rome Masters title

Rafael Nadal warmed up for the French Open in perfect fashion with a 6-1 6-3 demolition of Roger Federer to defend his Rome Masters title.
Nadal, who will move back up to fourth in the world when the new rankings are released on Monday, has now won seven titles in nine years in the Italian capital and has also picked up six titles in eight tournaments since returning from injury in February.
Alongside titles in Sao Paulo, Acapulco, Indian Wells, Barcelona, Madrid and now Rome, Nadal has also reached the finals of Vina del Mar and Monte Carlo since he re-joined the ATP tour after seven months on the sidelines with his troublesome left knee injury.
The Mallorcan broke in the second, fourth and sixth games to race through the opening set in just 24 minutes. And he looked set to do the same in the second only for Federer to secure consecutive games in the dying stages.
But it was only a temporary blip from Nadal, who barely put a foot wrong all afternoon, and he wrapped up victory after 68 minutes with a forehand winner.for his 36th victory in 38 matches this year.
"It's a very important day, a very happy day for me after a difficult year last year," Nadal, speaking in Italian, told the crowd after the trophy presentation.
"It is really emotional for me to win a tournament with such a long history as Rome. See you next year.
"I am just enjoying the moment and valuing it more than ever because I know where we were just a few months ago. Being here a few months later with all I have achieved is really more than a *****."
Nadal, who has not always looked at his best all week - dropping sets to Ernests Gulbis and David Ferrer - made a blistering start to the match with a break in just the second game when Federer sent a forehand long.
The Spaniard then followed that up with a second break two games later, with an angled cross court forehand winner, before sealing the first set at the first attempt when Federer pulled a forehand volley wide across court.
Yet another break followed in just the second game of the second set, Nadal easily anticipating a cross court forehand volley winner from Federer and returning it with interest for a backhand passing shot winner across court.
When Federer squandered game points two games later, instead allowing Nadal to break for a fifth time with a sensational backhand passing shot winner down the line from outside the tramlines and two metres behind the baseline, it looked as though the world number three was going to be restricted to just the two games for the afternoon.
But there was still a little life left in Federer as, with Nadal serving for the title, he broke back to love before also holding with ease to put a little more pressure on the Spaniard.
It was inconceivable that Nadal would drop serve two games in a row, however, and so it proved to be; the fifth seed serving out the match to love to firmly install himself as favourite to lift an eighth French Open title in three weeks time.

 

[Smallville22]

Wade: Murray continues to lack belief on clay

Three-time Grand Slam winner Virginia Wade believes British number one Andy Murray needs to believe in himself on clay if he is to impress at the French Open.
Murray has struggled at the French Open in the past and was knocked out at the quarter-final stage last year by David Ferrer.
The Scot has yet to decide whether he will compete at Roland Garros after pulling out of last week's Rome Masters with a back problem during his second round match with Marcel Granollers.
Murray's best performance at the sport's second Grand Slam of the season was a semi-final appearance two years ago when he lost to Rafael Nadal.
“I think he gets nervous and thinks he isn’t going to recover, but I’m sure he will play,” said British icon Wade.
“He needs to embrace clay a little bit more. I think he has a good game for clay, but he seems to not think so himself. I think to reach the semi-finals would be a very successful for Andy.”
This year’s tournament sees the return of seven-time French Open winner Rafael Nadal, who starts the tournament a strong favourite ahead of world number one Novak Djokovic.
“I’m definitely going to give the edge to Djokovic, but it’s going to be tough because Nadal is playing better,” added Wade.
“Grigor Dimitrov is playing well but I doubt whether he can sustain it in a five-set match against Nadal or Djokovic. Tomas Berdych looks so good but then suddenly doesn’t look as good against Djokovic or Nadal when they’re playing well. I think those two are the only real contenders actually.”
In the women’s draw, British duo Laura Robson and Heather Watson will look to impress. Wade believes they can both progress into the latter stages of the tournament as long as they avoid the in-form Serena Williams.
“Frankly, I cannot see anyone beating Serena unless she implodes like she did last year,” said Wade.
“She is looking very comfortable on clay, she won convincingly in Madrid and Maria Sharapova doesn’t seem to have any answers for her. Paris can be slower though and if someone can return her serve they have a reasonable chance.
“I would put it as Serena, followed by Sharapova, followed by Victoria Azarenka...but anything can happen!”

 

[Smallville22]

Baltacha through in Brussels

Elena Baltacha booked her place in the second round of the Brussels Open after beating Stefanie Voegele 7-6 7-5.
The 29-year-old Scot, who required foot surgery in October, battled through in 119 minutes against the 58th ranked Swiss.
Baltacha has slipped to 234 in the world rankings after nearly 10 months out of the game but will now face Jana Cepelova for a place in the quarter-finals.
Caroline Wozniacki is top seed for French Open warm-up at the Primrose Royal Tennis Club in the north of the Belgian capital.

Brussels: Round 1 results

Elena Baltacha (GBR) beat Stefanie Voegele (Switzerland) 7-6 7-5

7-Varvara Lepchenko (USA) beat Bojana Jovanovski (Serbia) 6-2 6-7(8) 6-4

Jana Cepelova (Slovakia) beat Lesia Tsurenko (Ukraine) 5-7 6-3 7-5

Olga Govortsova (Belarus) beat Arantxa Rus (Netherlands) 6-2 7-5

 

[Smallville22]

Hewitt falls at first hurdle again

Lleyton Hewitt’s clay court season suffered another setback as the Australian suffered a second successive first round loss at the hands of Pablo Andujar at the Nice Open on Monday.
Hewitt slipped to a 6-3 4-6 6-3 defeat to his Spanish opponent, the loss following his three set loss to Martin Alund in the opening round in Texas.
Former Wimbledon and US Open Champion Hewitt has now only reached the third round once in his last eight events.

Nice: Round 1 results

Lu Yen-Hsun (Taiwan) beat 5-Andreas Seppi (Italy) 7-5 1-6 6-4

Pablo Andujar (Spain) beat Lleyton Hewitt (Australia) 6-3 4-6 6-3

Victor Hanescu (Romania) beat Albert Ramos (Spain) 6-3 5-7 6-4

Robin Haase (Netherlands) beat Marinko Matosevic (Australia) 6-1 6-4

Carlos Berlocq (Argentina) beat Leonardo Mayer (Argentina) 6-2 6-1

Duesseldorf: Round 1 results

6-Jarkko Nieminen (Finland) beat Lukas Lacko (Slovakia) 6-3 6-1

Guido Pella (Argentina) beat Lukasz Kubot (Poland) 6-4 4-6 6-4

Tobias Kamke (Germany) beat Benjamin Becker (Germany) 6-3 6-2

Roberto Bautista (Spain) beat Gilles Muller (Luxembourg) 2-6 6-4 6-2

Andre Ghem (Brazil) beat Go Soeda (Japan) 6-4 6-0

 

[Smallville22]

Bartoli and Paszek dumped out at first hurdle in Strasbourg

Top two seeds Marion Bartoli and Tamira Paszek were bounced out of the opening round in Strasbourg in straight sets.
No.1 seed Bartoli, who has had an inconsistent season to date, fell to a 6-3 6-2 defeat against Camila Giorgi.
The 21-year-old Italian is ranked 88th in the world and dominated to win in an hour and 19 minutes despite suffering an insane 16 double faults in the two sets. Bartoli served 10 doubles of her own.
The French world number 13 has lost as many matches as she has won this year and her career has been set back by injuries in recent times.
A former Wimbledon finalist, she will not be hopeful of challenging at her home Grand Slam at Roland Garros - where she was a semi-finalist in 2011 - as it starts this weekend.
Second seed Tamira Paszek's appalling season continued as she was ousted by wildcard Virginie Razzano.
The 22-year-old Austrian, twice a quarter-finalist at Wimbledon, has now lost 10 of her 11 matches in 2013 including all of her three matches on clay ahead of the French Open.
Frenchwoman Razzano, who shocked Serena Williams in the first round of the French last year, raced to a 6-1 6-4 victory in Germany after breaking her 28th-ranked opponent six times.
The 30-year-old player, ranked 178th in the world, was broken three times herself and dominated the stats in all areas.

WTA Strasbourg results

Round 1

4-Hsieh Su-Wei (Taiwan) beat Annika Beck (Germany) 6-7(6) 7-5 6-1

Maria Teresa Torro (Spain) beat 8-Daniela Hantuchova (Slovakia) 6-3 4-6 7-6(4)

7-Chanelle Scheepers (South Africa) beat Claire Feuerstein (France) 7-5 6-4

Flavia Pennetta (Italy) beat Elina Svitolina (Ukraine) 6-4 6-2

3-Alize Cornet (France) beat Mathilde Johansson (France) 6-3 6-2

5-Monica Niculescu (Romania) beat Marina Erakovic (New Zealand) 6-7(7) 6-3 7-6(5)

Misaki Doi (Japan) beat Karolina Pliskova (Czech Republic) 7-5 6-2

Anna Tatishvili (Georgia) beat Caroline Garcia (France) 6-7(4) 7-5 6-4

Shelby Rogers (U.S.) beat Marta Domachowska (Poland) 6-2 7-5

Magda Linette (Poland) beat Olga Puchkova (Russia) 6-4 7-6(2)

Lauren Davis (U.S.) beat 6-Christina Mchale (U.S.) 7-5 6-3

Eugenie Bouchard (Canada) beat Silvia Soler Espinosa (Spain) 6-3 6-3

Camila Giorgi (Italy) beat 1-Marion Bartoli (France) 6-3 6-2

Johanna Larsson (Sweden) beat Petra Cetkovska (Czech Republic) 6-2 2-6 6-3

Lucie Hradecka (Czech Republic) beat Garbine Muguruza Blanco (Spain) 6-4 6-3

Virginie Razzano (France) beat 2-Tamira Paszek (Austria) 6-1 6-4

 

[Smallville22]

Klein falls to loss in Roland Garros qualifier

Brydan Klein went down 7-6 6-3 to 19-year old Mathias Bourgue at the qualifiers for the French Open in Roland Garros.
Bourgue, who became the youngest player since Richard Gasquet to make the final of the French junior championships, had to save four set points in the opener but easily took the second set.
"I'm pleased because I train all year round at Roland Garros, so it's nice to play here," the youngster said.
"If he'd have won the first set, things would have got a lot more complicated. But the fact that I won it lifted a weight from my shoulders and obviously took the wind out of his sails."

French Open qualifying results

Cedrik-Marcel Stebe (Germany) beat Ivan Sergeyev (Ukraine) 6-4, 6-2.

Jozef Kovalik (Slovakia) beat Inigo Cervantes (Spain) 6-2, 6-3.

Wu Di (China) beat Matthew Barton (Australia) 6-2, 6-3.

19-Diego Sebastian Schwartzman (Argentina) beat Guido Andreozzi (Argentina) 7-5, 6-2.

12-Jan-Lennard Struff (Germany) beat Gerald Melzer (Austria) 6-4, 6-3.

8-Wayne Odesnik (United States) beat Marco Trungelliti (Argentina) 6-4, 6-4.

26-Simon Greul (Germany) beat Josselin Ouanna (France) 6-4, 6-4.

Quentin Halys (France) beat Jimmy Wang (Taiwan) 6-3, 6-4.

Pierre-Hugues Herbert (France) beat Leonardo Kirche (Brazil) 7-6 (7), 6-3.

20-Steve Johnson (United States) beat Marsel Ilhan (Turkey) 3-6, 6-1, 6-2.

30-Ruben Bemelmans (Belgium) beat Tennys Sandgren (United States) 6-4, 5-7, 9-7.

6-Gastao Elias (Portugal) beat Hiroki Moriya (Japan) 6-3, 6-3.

Agustin Velotti (Argentina) beat Bradley Klahn (United States) 6-3, 7-5.

11-Denis Kudla (United States) beat Steven Diez (Canada) 6-3, 6-2.

Somdev Devvarman (India) beat 21-Matteo Viola (Italy) 6-4, 1-6, 6-4.

4-Andreas Haider-Maurer (Austria) beat Jan Mertl (Czech Republic) 1-6, 7-5, 9-7.

Jesse Huta Galung (Netherlands) beat 27-Mischa Zverev (Germany) 6-1, 6-2.

Pere Riba (Spain) beat Pedro Sousa (Portugal) 6-3, 6-1.

Peter Polansky (Canada) beat Andrey Golubev (Kazakhstan) 6-3, 6-3.

Antonio Veic (Croatia) beat Peter Gojowczyk (Germany) 5-7, 6-3, 6-4.

James Duckworth (Australia) beat Alex Bolt (Australia) 6-3, 7-6 (1).

Facundo Arguello (Argentina) beat Oleksandr Nedovyesov (Ukraine) 6-3, 6-4.

Andreas Beck (Germany) beat 32-Alejandro Gonzalez (Colombia) 7-6 (4), 6-3.

16-Matthew Ebden (Australia) beat Konstantin Kravchuk (Russia) 7-6 (2), 6-7 (4), 6-4.

Julian Reister (Germany) beat Aldin Setkic (Bosnia-Herzegovina) 6-2, 7-5.

5-Adrian Ungur (Romania) beat Andrej Martin (Slovakia) 6-3, 6-3.

Arthur De Greef (Belgium) beat 23-Marius Copil (Romania) 6-4, 7-5.

Farrukh Dustov (Uzbekistan) beat Sam Groth (Australia) 1-6, 6-4, 6-4.

3-Steve Darcis (Belgium) beat Victor Crivoi (Romania) 6-3, 6-2.

7-Filippo Volandri (Italy) beat Facundo Bagnis (Argentina) 6-2, 6-3.

Dusan Lajovic (Serbia) beat Jules Marie (France) 6-0, 7-5.

Julio Cesar Campozano (Ecuador) beat Albano Olivetti (France) 7-5, 6-1.

Matt Reid (Australia) beat Gianluca Naso (Italy) 6-4, 6-4.

Amir Weintraub (Israel) beat Chen Ti (Taiwan) 6-1, 6-3.

24-Michael Berrer (Germany) beat Igor Kunitsyn (Russia) 6-2, 6-4.

Renzo Olivo (Argentina) beat Sergio Gutierrez-Ferrol (Spain) 6-2, 5-7, 7-5.

Axel Michon (France) beat Laurent Rochette (France) 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.

Rhyne Williams (15), United States, def. Boy Westerhof, Netherlands, 6-2, 3-2, retired.

Vasek Pospisil (2), Canada, def. Johan Sebastien Tatlot, France, 6-2, 6-4.

Javier Marti (Spain) beat Boris Pashanski (Serbia) 6-1, 1-0, retired.

Martin Fischer (Austria) beat Nikola Mektic (Croatia) 6-0, 6-0.

Jonathan Eysseric (France) beat Niels Desein (Belgium) 6-7 (3), 6-4, 6-3.

Vincent Millot (France) beat 31-Tatsuma Ito (Japan) 6-4, 3-6, 8-6.

28-Teymuraz Gabashvili (Russia) beat Jonathan Dasnieres de Veigy (France) 7-5, 6-7 (8), 6-2.

Maxime Teixeira (France) beat David Guez (France) 6-2, 6-3.

Stephane Robert (France) beat Igor Andreev (Russia) 6-1, 4-6, 7-5.

13-Jack Sock (United States) beat Maxime Authom (Belgium) 6-4, 6-2.

22-Michal Przysiezny (Poland) beat Arnau Brugues-Davi (Spain) 6-1, 6-4.

Jorge Aguilar (Chile) beat Bastian Knitte (Germany) 6-4, 2-6, 6-4.

Mikhail Kukushkin (Kazakhstan) beat Uladzimir Ignatik (Belarus) 7-5, 6-1.

9-Joao Souza (Brazil) beatDanai Udomchoke (Thailand) 6-1, 6-2.

17-Jiri Vesely (Czech Republic) beat. Denys Molchanov (Ukraine) 7-6 (7), 6-2.

Pablo Carreno-Busta (Spain) beat Dominik Meffert (Germany) 7-6 (9), 7-5.

Dusan Lojda (Czech Republic) beat Eduardo Schwank (Argentina) 6-2, 6-3.

29-Daniel Munoz-de la Nava (Spain) beat Hans Podlipnik-Castillo (Chile) 2-6, 7-6 (5), 6-1.

14-Illya Marchenko (Ukraine) Nicolas Renavand (France) 7-6 (3), 2-6, 6-0.

Paul Capdeville (Chile) beat10-Tim Smyczek (United States) 6-2, 7-5.

Malek Jaziri (Tunisia) beat Mirza Basic (Bosnia-Herzegovina) 0-6, 6-3, 9-7.

Pavol Cervenak (Slovakia) beat Guilherme Clezar (Brazil) 3-6, 7-6 (7), 8-6.

Frank Dancevic (Canada) beat Adrian Menendez-Maceiras (Spain) 6-3, 7-6 (5).

25-Flavio Cipolla (Italy) beat Robby Ginepri (United States) 6-3, 6-1.

1-Alex Bogomolov Jr (Russi) beat Alessio di Mauro (Italy) 7-6 (4), 6-1.

Mathias Bourgue (France) beat Brydan Klein (Britain) 7-6 (7), 6-3.

18-Matthias Bachinger (Germany) beat Calvin Hemery (France) 6-1, 6-2.

 

[Smallville22]

Andy Murray withdraws from Roland Garros

Britain's world number two Andy Murray has pulled out of the French Open after failing to recover from a lower back injury which he aggravated at the Italian Open last week.
"It's a really tough decision and I love playing in Paris, but after seeking medical advice, I am not fit to compete," Murray said in a statement released by his management company.
"Apologies to the organisers and thanks to everyone for the messages of support. Now my complete focus is on getting back on the court as soon as possible."
Murray retired injured in the Italian Open second round in Rome on his 26th birthday last Wednesday after levelling his match with Spaniard Marcel Granollers by winning the second set.
"I'd be very surprised if I were playing in Paris," he said after having treatment on court. "I want to make sure that it's something that I can sort out. It's not enjoyable to play now."
The French Open, which starts on May 26 at Roland Garros, will be the first Grand Slam Murray has missed since Wimbledon in 2007 when he had a wrist injury.
He will now focus on preparing for the grass court season and set his sights on being ready to play at Queen's Club, the warm-up event for Wimbledon starting on June 10.

 

[Smallville22]

Davydenko dumped out at first hurdle in Dusseldorf

Nikolay Davydenko fell to a 3-6 6-4 6-3 defeat to Aljaz Bedene of Slovenia in the opening round in Dusseldorf.
Bedene took less than two hours to consign Davydenko to a fourth straight defeat following losses in the opening rounds at Munich, Madrid and Rome.
Viktor Troicki beat Michael Russell in three sets 3-6 6-3 6-4 to set up a match-up against Grega Zemlja, who overcame David Goffin 5-7 6-0 6-2.
In Nice, Gael Monfils came from a set down to beat Santiago Giraldo 4-6 6-3 6-3.

ATP Dusseldorf results

Round 1

7-Viktor Troicki (Serbia) beat Michael Russell (U.S.) 3-6 6-3 6-4

Aljaz Bedene (Slovenia) beat 8-Nikolay Davydenko (Russia) 3-6 6-4 6-3

Grega Zemlja (Slovenia) beat David Goffin (Belgium) 5-7 6-0 6-2

Igor Sijsling (Netherlands) beat Evgeny Korolev (Kazakhstan) 6-2 6-4

ATP Nice results

Round 1

Guillaume Rufin (France) beat Paolo Lorenzi (Italy) 6-3 6-1

Gael Monfils (France) beat Santiago Giraldo (Colombia) 4-6 6-3 6-3

Paul-Henri Mathieu (France) beat Ryan Harrison (U.S.) 6-4 6-4

6-Fabio Fognini (Italy) beat Marco Cecchinato (Italy) 1-6 6-1 6-2

Sergiy Stakhovsky (Ukraine) beat Rogerio Dutra Silva (Brazil) 6-2 6-3

 

[Smallville22]

Tomic to play in Paris despite ***'s ban for alleged assault

Bernard Tomic will play at next week's French Open despite his off-court troubles if only to keep some momentum going for the grasscourt season ahead, Tennis Australia's Todd Woodbridge said.
Tomic's ****** John faced a charge of causing criminal injury in a Madrid court earlier this month after allegedly assaulting his ***'s hitting partner Thomas Drouet.
Tomic senior says he acted in self defence and the court hearing has been suspended until October.
With a best showing of one second round appearance last year, the slow Roland Garros clay courts would hardly be ranked as Tomic's favourite surface but Woodbridge said the 20-year-old would play despite withdrawing from last week's Rome Masters.
"From the communication I've had with his ******, he will be in Paris and playing," Woodbridge, TA's Professional Tennis Manager, said at Melbourne Park.
"I think it's very important that he plays there but whether he has a good result or not is probably unlikely given the surface and the circumstances.
"But he needs to keep playing coming into the grasscourt season - that's where he's played some great tennis before and if you don't get that little bit of match play, it's hard to get the momentum going."
Although John Tomic has been suspended from ATP events pending the court case, Woodbridge said he remained the world number 59's coach.
"He may not be on site but he's still going to be giving the instructions, and I think that's important for everyone to know, their relationship is still strong," he said.
Woodbridge said he thought Tomic, whose best Grand Slam singles performance was a quarter-final appearance at Wimbledon in 2011, would be able to handle being in the public spotlight despite the recent troubles.
"He can handle that side of things - there's been plenty of it so far," he added.
"Winning a match would be great and if he gets a tough draw just playing a really tight, solid match. I think that's his first goal."
The French Open starts on May 26 and runs through until June 9.

 

[Smallville22]

Del Potro pulls out of Roland Garros

World number seven Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina has pulled out of next week's French Open after failing to recover from a virus.
Del Potro, who reached the quarter-finals at the claycourt Grand Slam event last year, flew home after losing to Frenchman Benoit Paire in the Rome Masters event last 16 last week.
"He has withdrawn," a French Federation spokesman told Reuters, confirming Argentine media reports.
"I am sad to miss such an important tournament, one that you always ***** of winning," Del Potro was quoted as saying.
Del Potro is the second top-10 player to withdraw from the French Open, which starts on Sunday at Roland Garros, after Briton Andy Murray announced he would miss the tournament because of a back injury.
Former world number seven Mardy Fish, 41st in the ATP rankings, and his fellow American Brian Baker, 71st, have also pulled out.

 

[Smallville22]

Konta through, Keothavong out in Roland Garros qualifying

Anne Keothavong lost her first preliminary round contest to Eva Birnerova at the French Open, but Johanna Konta advanced.
Konta, the British number three, beat China’s Saisai Zheng 6-1 6-3 and will meet Galina Voskoboeva of Kazakhstan next.
Keothavong, however, was bagelled in the deciding set of her prelim opener by Czech player Birnerova after the two ladies traded sets at 6-3 apiece.
Another qualifying hope on the WTA side, British number five Tara Moore, was beaten in straight sets by Bulgarian-born Kazakh Sesil Karatantcheva 6-3 6-3.
The two highest-ranked British females, Laura Robson and Heather Watson, will proceed straight to the main draw which happens on Friday.
The clay Grand Slam in France begins properly on Sunday.

 

[Smallville22]

Zheng shocks Wozniacki in Belgium

China’s Zheng Jie sent top seed Caroline Wozniacki tumbling out of the WTA Brussels Open with a convincing 6-2 6-4 win.
There were few problems for the other seeded players on Wednesday, fourth seed Sloane Stephens completed her delayed match against Tsvetana Pironkova with a 6-3 2-6 6-3 win before beating Zhang Shuai 6-4 6-0 later on the same day. And seventh seed Varvara Lepchenko thrashed Britain's Elena Baltacha 6-2 6-0.
Fifth seeded Belgian Kirsten Flipkens also came through despite dropping the second set against American Madison Keys and there were more comfortable straight set wins for sixth seed Julia Goerges and eighth seed Peng Shuai who cruised through against Coco Vandeweghe and Sofia Arvidsson respectively.
There were also no big upsets in the second round of the WTA Strasbourg International although seventh seeded Chanelle Scheepers of South Africa had a slight wobble against American Shelby Rogers, dropping the opening set 6-2 before coming through.

WTA Brussels Open results

Round 2

4-Sloane Stephens (U.S.) beat Zhang Shuai (China) 6-4 6-0

Romina Oprandi (Switzerland) beat 6-Julia Goerges (Germany) 6-3 0-0 (Goerges retired)

Zheng Jie (China) beat 1-Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark) 6-2 6-4

8-Peng Shuai (China) beat Olga Govortsova (Belarus) 4-6 7-6(4) 7-6(4)

7-Varvara Lepchenko (U.S.) beat Elena Baltacha (Britain) 6-2 6-0

Round 1

5-Kirsten Flipkens (Belgium) beat Madison Keys (U.S.) 6-4 1-6 6-2

Romina Oprandi (Switzerland) beat Melanie Oudin (U.S.) 6-2 6-2

Jamie Hampton (U.S.) beat Yanina Wickmayer (Belgium) 1-6 6-3 6-4

Zheng Jie (China) beat Mallory Burdette (U.S.) 6-2 4-6 6-3

6-Julia Goerges (Germany) beat Coco Vandeweghe (U.S.) 6-1 7-5

8-Peng Shuai (China) beat Sofia Arvidsson (Sweden) 6-3 6-0

Zhang Shuai (China) beat Magdalena Rybarikova (Slovakia) 6-1 6-3

Yulia Putintseva (Kazakhstan) beat Alison Van Uytvanck (Belgium) 6-1 6-0

Kaia Kanepi (Estonia) beat 3-Dominika Cibulkova (Slovakia) 6-4 7-6(6)

4-Sloane Stephens (U.S.) beat Tsvetana Pironkova (Bulgaria) 6-3 2-6 6-3

WTA Strasbourg International results

Round 2

3-Alize Cornet (France) beat Magda Linette (Poland) 6-3 6-4

Misaki Doi (Japan) beat 4-Hsieh Su-Wei (Taiwan) 6-4 4-6 7-6(3)

Johanna Larsson (Sweden) beat Virginie Razzano (France) 6-3 6-3

Anna Tatishvili (Georgia) beat 5-Monica Niculescu (Romania) 4-6 6-3 6-2

Flavia Pennetta (Italy) beat Maria Teresa Torro (Spain) 6-2 6-3

7-Chanelle Scheepers (South Africa) beat Shelby Rogers (U.S.) 2-6 6-3 6-4

Eugenie Bouchard (Canada) beat Camila Giorgi (Italy) 6-3 6-0

Lucie Hradecka (Czech Republic) beat Lauren Davis (U.S.) 6-2 6-2

 

[Smallville22]

Croft backs Robson to enjoy glory run

Former British number one Annabel Croft believes Laura Robson is capable of a “terrific run” at this year’s French Open and compensate for injured fellow Brit Andy Murray's absence from the men's draw.
Robson has impressed in recent weeks, demolishing Agnieszka Radwanska in Madrid before knocking out seven-times Grand Slam winner Venus Williams in Rome.
Following Andy Murray’s decision to pull out of this year’s tournament, Robson is arguably Britain’s best hope in Paris with rivals Heather Watson and Elena Baltacha the only other players to make the draw.
Jo Durie reached the last four of the French Open in 1983 during her rise to number five in the world, but no British woman has come to emulating that success 30 years ago.
“I think Laura has turned her season spectacularly well," said former world number 21 Croft.
"For somebody who had lost six first rounds in a row and then suddenly come out and beat a seven-time Grand Slam winner in Venus Williams is amazing.
“It was a pretty convincing scoreline when she lost to Serena Williams, but there was plenty of evidence in that match that she can live with the very best in the world and there was no question in my mind that Serena had to really focus to beat her.
“I saw a lot of promise in what Laura did and I think she has notched up some unbelievable victories over the last 12 months and I could see her having a terrific run, not only at the French but at Wimbledon too. She’s built up quite a reputation and her opponents fear her because she has unbelievable weapons out there.”
This year’s draw will be made on Friday and Robson will hope to avoid an early clash with world number one Serena Williams.
The 15-times Grand Slam winner has been in superb form this year and has been widely backed to take her second French Open title.
“Every year for the last few years we’ve picked Serena going into it, but it has never quite worked out for her,” added Croft.
“I think she will be very hungry and motivated after having a great clay court season. I will probably go with Serena, but you can’t rule our Maria Sharapova or Victoria Azarenka, who will be my close second and third.”