2013 Tennis Thread

[Smallville22]

Murray defeated in Montreal doubles final

Britons Andy Murray and Colin Fleming lost the final of the men’s doubles in Montreal 4-6 6-7(4) to Alexander Peya and Bruno Soares.
Third seeds Peya and Soares, of Austria and Brazil respectively, claimed their seventh ATP World Tour doubles title with the win over the Brits.
Briton Murray lost his serve early on, as the favourites took a 3-2 lead in the first set, as Peya and Soares held their nerve to take the opener.
Murray’s partner Fleming then failed to hold his serve in the very first game of the second set. The British pair fought hard and broke back, however, levelling at 4-4. A set point came and went as the second set entered a tie-break.
Fleming double faulted at 2-5 before Peya and Soares sealed the victory.
"We played a solid match overall," said Peya. "We struggled a little bit in the middle of the second set and when we got close to the end. But I think we hung in there well and played overall a good match."
Soares also chipped in to express his delight at beating the two Brits: "It feels very good.
"This was our second final in a Masters event. It was tough conditions, tough opponents. We played a solid match and we're very happy with the win."

 

[Smallville22]

Williams hungry heading towards US Open

Even though she did not drop a set in winning her eighth title of the season at the Rogers Cup on Sunday, Serena Williams believes she can play even better heading into the US Open.
"Definitely can do a lot more," she said after her 6-2 6-0 victory over Romania's Sorana Cirstea in Sunday's final.
"It's always about constantly improving and never saying I did great and I can be satisfied.
"It's like I did great but what can I do better? What can I improve on? That's what I always strive for."
Williams won the French Open in June and has lost just three matches all year but the 31-year-old said her defeats to young
American Sloane Stephens at the Australian Open and Germany's Sabine Lisicki at Wimbledon had reminded her she needs to manage her on-court attitude.
"That could improve," she said. "I get so intense and so emotionally charged, and I want it so bad that sometimes it works against me."
Cirstea discovered first-hand just how motivated Williams is when she faced the ruthless world number one on Sunday and the unseeded Romanian said she was impressed by what she saw.
"She knows when to raise her level," Cirstea said. "She knows when it's enough to play and when she has to step it up."
Williams rebounded from her shock loss to Lisicki at Wimbledon by winning a tournament in Sweden but was still unhappy at the way she played so returned to Florida to continue working with her coach, Frenchman Patrick Mouratoglou, and her ******.
"I was really disappointed in how I played the last month," she said. "Even though I won Sweden, I was not happy with the way I played.
"So I went home and was working with my *** a lot and just going back to the basics. I didn't show it so much in (Toronto).
Hopefully I can continue to bring that game out."
Her victory on Sunday was Williams' 54th career WTA singles title, elevating her to outright fifth on the all-time list.
Despite her incredible record, the American said she was still suffered from nerves and expected to have more when she starts her US Open defence last this month.
"I think it almost is exciting to have butterflies, because it means that you care about it so much and you still get nervous," she said.
"I think when the day comes and I'm not nervous and don't have butterflies, then I need to start rethinking what I'm doing."

 

[Smallville22]

Stosur begins final US Open tune-up with win

Former US Open champion Samantha Stosur continued her build-up to the season's final Grand Slam with a convincing 6-1 7-5 win over Russia's Svetlana Kuznetsova in first round action at the Western and Southern Open.
The Australian 11th seed is among a host of former-Grand Slam winners making an appearance on the Cincinnati hardcourts this week, the joint event likely to be the final tune-up for the top players from both the WTA and ATP ahead of the US Open later this month.
All went according to script on day one of action with ninth seeded German Angelique Kerber battling past Italian qualifier Karin Knapp 6-7(6) 6-0 6-1, while 12th seeded Roberta Vinci of Italy also needed three sets to see off American Bethanie Mattek-Sands 6-4 5-7 6-3.
Russian 16th seed Maria Kirilenko was a 4-6 7-6 (4) 7-6 (4) winner over Georgian Anna Tatishvili, while unseeded Venus Williams swept past Slovakia's Jana Cepelova 6-4 6-1 to the approval of the home crowd.
American world number one Serena Williams, fresh off her win in Toronto, headlines a star studded women's field that will feature the top 20 ranked players.
World number three Maria Sharapova, healthy again after a lengthy injury layoff, returns to the court for the first time since Wimbledon against American Sloane Stephens.
Swiss Martina Hingis continued her return to competition teaming up with Slovakian Daniela Hantuchova for a 4-6 6-4 10-5 first round doubles win over Spain's Anabel Medina Garrigues and Italian Flavia Pennetta.

Cincinnati Open results

Round 1

12-Roberta Vinci (Italy) beat Bethanie Mattek-Sands (U.S.) 6-4 5-7 6-3

Eugenie Bouchard (Canada) beat Monica Puig (Puerto Rico) 6-3 6-4

Venus Williams (U.S.) beat Jana Cepelova (Slovakia) 6-4 6-1

Alisa Kleybanova (Russia) beat Sofia Arvidsson (Sweden) 4-6 6-4 7-6(7)

9-Angelique Kerber (Germany) beat Karin Knapp (Italy) 6-7(6) 6-0 6-1

16-Maria Kirilenko (Russia) beat Anna Tatishvili (Georgia) 4-6 7-6(4) 7-6(4)

Marina Erakovic (New Zealand) beat Carla Suarez Navarro (Spain) 6-3 6-4

Sloane Stephens (U.S.) beat Petra Martic (Croatia) 6-2 3-6 6-3

11-Samantha Stosur (Australia) beat Svetlana Kuznetsova (Russia) 6-1 7-5

Vania King (U.S.) beat Kristina Mladenovic (France) 6-3 6-4

Lauren Davis (U.S.) beat Klara Zakopalova (Czech Republic) 7-6(3) 7-6(1)

Simona Halep (Romania) beat Hsieh Su-Wei (Taiwan) 6-7(5) 6-1 6-2

 

[Smallville22]

Dimitrov downs Almagro on day of upsets in Cincinnati

Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov knocked out 13th seed Nicolas Almagro of Spain on a day of upsets at the Cincinnati Masters.
While all went according to the form book on the women's side of the draw, the opening day of action threw up plenty of surprises for the men.
Almagro was joined on the scrapheap by number 14 Fabio Fognini of Italy and 16th seed Jerzey Janowicz of Poland, all of whom fell at the first hurdle.
Almagro was stopped 7-6 (3) 6-4 by Dimitrov while Czech Radek Stepanek dumped Fognini 6-2 6-4 and wildcard American James Blake eliminated Janowicz 6-1 7-5.
An impressive line-up in Cincinnati - the final warm-up tournament ahead of the US Open - features world number one Novak Djokovic, Wimbledon champion Andy Murray, Rafa Nadal, also a winner in Canada on Sunday, and Roger Federer.
With the top seeds receiving first round byes some of the bigger names will begin to ease into the action on Tuesday with Federer, seeking to add to his five Cincinnati titles, opening his account against Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber.

Cincinnati Masters results

Round 1

James Blake (U.S.) beat 16-Jerzy Janowicz (Poland) 6-1 7-5

David Goffin (Belgium) beat Mackenzie McDonald (U.S.) 6-1 6-1

Dmitry Tursunov (Russia) beat Martin Klizan (Slovakia) 4-6 7-6(6) 6-4

Janko Tipsarevic (Serbia) beat Sam Querrey (U.S.) 6-7(5) 6-3 6-4

Radek Stepanek (Czech Republic) beat 14-Fabio Fognini (Italy) 6-2 6-4

Juan Monaco (Argentina) beat Jurgen Melzer (Austria) 6-3 6-2

Jeremy Chardy (France) beat Adrian Mannarino (France) 6-4 6-3

Grigor Dimitrov (Bulgaria) beat 13-Nicolas Almagro (Spain) 7-6(3) 6-4

Marcel Granollers (Spain) beat Lukas Rosol (Czech Republic) 5-7 6-4 6-0

Philipp Kohlschreiber (Germany) beat Mardy Fish (U.S.) 7-5 6-2

Brian Baker (U.S.) beat Denis Istomin (Uzbekistan) 7-5 6-3

 

[Smallville22]

American Harrison among wild cards for US Open

Ryan Harrison, who represented the United States at last year's London Olympics and in Davis Cup action, was among eight players given wild cards into the main draw of the US Open, tournament organisers said on Tuesday.
The 21-year-old Harrison, who has yet to back up his early promise and languishes 102nd in the rankings, is 10-17 this year and still seeking his first career ATP title.
American Brian Baker, who reached the fourth round of last year's Wimbledon after returning from a nearly six-year layoff due to injuries, was also given a wild card into the year's final grand slam.
Baker, who is currently ranked 185th but reached 52nd in 2012, returned to action this week after suffering a knee injury at the Australian Open in January.
Australia's James Duckworth and France's Guillaume Rufin represented the only international players named as wild cards.
Americans Rhyne Williams, Bradley Klahn, Rajeev Ram and 2013 U.S. Under-18s champion Collin Altamirano rounded out the wild cards for the Aug. 26-Sept. 9 tournament at Flushing Meadows.

 

[Smallville22]

Nadal making hard court look easy as US Open approaches

For many seasons Rafa Nadal has arrived at the tail end of the tennis schedule with his knees creaking like two rusty gates and nursing the aches and pains that are payment for his action-packed style.
But the Spaniard had no complaints as he glided into a news conference on Tuesday ahead of his opening-round match at the Western and Southern Open to discuss what has been a perfect start to the North American hardcourt campaign.
Nadal has already counted two hardcourt wins among his eight titles this season with victories at Indian Wells in March and in Montreal on Sunday.
With the exception of grass courts and an opening-round slip up at Wimbledon, the Spaniard has impressed on all surfaces this season having added to his Grand Slam collection at the French Open and capturing four of six Masters Series events.
Playing in his first tournament since a shock exit at the All-England Club, Nadal returned to action in Montreal last week and showed he was back to near his best and that his ailing body was ready for the gruelling demands of the North American hardcourt campaign.
Less than 24 hours after Saturday's hard-fought, semi-final win over world number one Novak Djokovic, Nadal, playing with all the conviction and freedom of a man near the peak of his powers, crushed Milos Raonic in front of the Canadian's home crowd to claim his 25th career Masters title.
With eight wins from 11 events, there is speculation that Nadal has finally struck a balance between tournaments and time off that has always proven elusive for the top players.
But the muscular Majorcan laughed off that suggestion saying it was virtually impossible to come up with a foolproof plan simply due to the nature of the sport.
"I will say in a sport like tennis, my feeling is everybody who says, 'I find the perfect schedule,' everybody's lying," Nadal said. "Because in tennis, when you prepare your schedule, you don't know if you will play one match, two, three, four, or five. You can lose in the first round, so the schedule is changing a lot.
"You cannot predict which result you're going to have in the tournament.
"I don't want to be too smart and say I prepared the schedule great and that's why I arrived to Montreal in very good shape. It's not true."
What is true is that Nadal is on top of his hardcourt game at the moment.
The US Open has always been the hardest Grand Slam for Nadal because of its unforgiving surface and timing, spending more time grinding his gears on the pavement than looking like the well-oiled machine he has this season.
Of his 12 Grand Slam titles only one has come on Flushing Meadow's hardcourts while he has only reached the final on one other occasion.
Some observers have suggested that Nadal is in the best hardcourt form of his career making him one of the red hot favourites to lift the season's final Grand Slam.
"It's difficult to compare with other seasons," said Nadal, who will join the action in Cincinnati on Wednesday with a second round clash against German qualifier Benjamin Becker. "I only played two tournaments on hard, but it's true that I played well.
"I watched a few matches of Indian Wells and tried to analyze what I really did well there and try to copy a little bit and practice with that goal.
"I played very well in both tournaments. Very happy the way that I played last week, especially last two matches."
Nadal insisted his approach has not changed but Djokovic disagrees.
"He became more aggressive," said Djokovic. "That's where I felt it. Especially on the return in Montreal he was coming closer to the line and he was picking up the ball quite fast.
"So that was different probably comparing to our last matches on hard court but it was still a close one."

 

[Smallville22]

Sharapova-Connors combo off to rocky start

The Maria Sharapova-Jimmy Connors partnership got off to a rocky start as Sloane Stephens shocked the third ranked Russian 2-6 7-6(5) 6-3 at the Western and Southern Open.
Victoria Azarenka also made a shaky return following a brief injury layoff but recovered to dispose of American qualifier Vania King 6-1 7-6(6) and reach the last 16.
While it is too early to tell if Sharapova and Connors can produce the same kind of success Andy Murray has enjoyed since recruiting Ivan Lendl as his coach, the first step was far from a positive one.
"Obviously I didn't lose today because I didn't implement what we were working on," Sharapova said. "The things that we're working on ... are to improve with the game I have.
"So, obviously, it's tough to lose at this stage but just got to keep working hard and keep moving forward."
Stephens, ranked 17th in the world, was always going to be a tricky test for Sharapova and the loss likely had more to do with her seven-week injury layoff than the new coaching relationship with Connors, who oozed grit and determination to build a Hall of Fame career.
On the sidelines with an injured left hip since a second round loss at Wimbledon, Sharapova moved effortlessly across the Cincinnati hardcourt but her play lacked sharpness, the Russian committing over 60 unforced errors and seven double faults.
"I stopped being patient and I started making a lot more errors, errors that I shouldn't make," said Sharapova.
"Obviously I haven't played in a long time but I can't make that excuse for myself because I've got to be ready from the first match.
"So it's obviously disappointing, but that's the way it goes in this game."
Connors would have been pleased with Sharapova's opening set but likely more impressed with the grit shown by her young opponent, who refused to buckle and battled back from 0-2 down in the second to ***** it to a tiebreak, which she took 7-5.
Looking on from the stands, Connors was dressed like he came to work with his long-sleeved white shirt rolled up the elbows and glasses dipped on his nose.
But there was nothing the nine-time grand slam winner could do as he watched his student unravel in the third set except hang his head.
Stephens left the door open for Sharapova as she struggled to close out the match, twice double-faulting on match point, before the Russian finally committed the last of her unforced errors by spraying a return long and wide.
"I rarely double fault, so for me to double fault twice on both match points was a little flustering but I was glad to get through it," said Stephens.
The match was the highlight of a busy day at the Western and Southern Open, which brings together the top players from the ATP and WTA Tours in a joint event that for many will serve as their final tune-up to the US Open.
Earlier in the day, Azarenka returned to action after sitting out last week in Toronto with a sore back, and the world number two showed no signs of rust as she breezed through the opening set in 28 minutes.
But it was King who took control early in the second set by breaking the grunting Azarenka at the first opportunity on the way to a 3-0 lead.
Azarenka, dripping with sweat on humid morning in Ohio, dug deep to pull level at 3-3 before ******* the set to a tiebreak, which she again rallied to win 8-6.
Frenchwoman Alize Cornet provided the upset of the morning session by knocking off 15th seed and former world number one and French Open winner Ana Ivanovic of Serbia 2-6 7-6 (8) 6-4.
Belgian 13th seed Kirsten Flipkens also made an early exit falling 3-6 6-1 6-3 to Russia's Elena Vesnina.

Cincinnati Open results

Round 2

Sloane Stephens (U.S.) beat 3-Maria Sharapova (Russia) 2-6 7-6(5) 6-3

2-Victoria Azarenka (Belarus) beat Vania King (U.S.) 6-1 7-6(6)

Round 1

14-Jelena Jankovic (Serbia) beat Sabine Lisicki (Germany) 7-6(5) 5-7 6-2

10-Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark) beat Peng Shuai (China) 6-1 6-1

Monica Niculescu (Romania) beat Yanina Wickmayer (Belgium) 6-1 6-2

Alize Cornet (France) beat 15-Ana Ivanovic (Serbia) 2-6 7-6(8) 6-4

Elena Vesnina (Russia) beat 13-Kirsten Flipkens (Belgium) 3-6 6-1 6-3

Magdalena Rybarikova (Slovakia) beat Julia Goerges (Germany) 6-2(0) 4-6 6-4

Ekaterina Makarova (Russia) beat Annika Beck (Germany) 6-3 6-2

Jamie Hampton (U.S.) beat Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (Russia) 7-5 4-6 6-3

Polona Hercog (Slovenia) beat Dominika Cibulkova (Slovakia) 6-2 6-4

Andrea Petkovic (Germany) beat Daniela Hantuchova (Slovakia) 2-6 6-4 6-1

Varvara Lepchenko (U.S.) beat Flavia Pennetta (Italy) 6-2 2-6 6-2

Mona Barthel (Germany) beat Lucie Safarova (Czech Republic) 6-3 6-4

 

[Smallville22]

Federer opens hardcourt season with win

Roger Federer got his delayed hardcourt season off to a positive start with straightforward 6-3 7-6 (7) win over Germany's Phillip Kohlschreiber to ease into the third round of the Western and Southern Open.
Struggling with a sore back, Federer did not play last week's event in Montreal and has not tested himself on the North American hardcourt since Indian Wells in March.
But the former-world number one signaled that he is ready to challenge for an unprecedented sixth Cincinnati title and then perhaps a sixth US Open to add to his Grand Slam collection.
"It was important to play a clean match," Federer told reporters. "I had a few tough weeks, months behind me, I was happy to play a clean match.
"I told myself I was not going to come back until I felt no pain in my back. Eventually I started to workout very hard.
"It is a tournament I have always played in lead up to the US Open, I like it here. I love the calmness of this place."
It has been far from a vintage season for Federer, who has seen his world ranking dip to number five and haul of titles stuck at one.
Federer arrives in the United States off a particular rough patch of form, losing in the second round at Wimbledon and then dropping his opening match at his home tournament in Gstaad.
However, the Swiss maestro was all business on an unusually chilly Ohio night, running his record against Kohlschreiber to 7-0.
Milos Raonic, who became the first Canadian to crack the top 10 of the world rankings after reaching the final in Montreal, struggled at first to adjust to his new status before storming back to take a 3-6 6-4 6-3 victory over American Jack Sock.
Earlier, third seeded Spaniard David Ferrer was ****** to work for his spot in the last 16, grinding out a 7-6 (5) 3-6 6-4 win over plucky American wildcard Ryan Harrison.
Harrison, who learned before the match that he had been given a wild card entry into the US Open, almost celebrated his trip to Flushing Meadows with an upset, battling the feisty Ferrer for two hours and 42 minutes on a blustery centre court.
Ferrer would have been prepared for a fight, having needed five sets to stop Harrison in the second round of Wimbledon in 2011 and the young American did not disappoint the home crowd, ******* the first set to a tiebreak before falling 7-5.
"Just wish I would have served a little better," Harrison lamented. "Obviously, I had some chances.
"I feel like my game is obviously right there on the brink of playing those top guys. That's kind of where you want it.
"Obviously, it would have been great to get a win today but I know that going in, if I compete the way I can and play the way I'm capable of, I'm going to be able to challenge just about anybody."
Ninth seed Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka enjoyed a smooth passage into the second round with a 6-3 6-4 win over Italy's Andreas Seppi, while evergreen German 11th seed Tommy Haas advanced with a no-fuss 6-4 6-4 decision over South African Kevin Anderson.
Spain's Feliciano Lopez upset Japanese 10th seed Kei Nishikori 6-4 7-6 (4) and 15th seed Gilles Simon of France retired with a hip strain while trailing Canadian Vasek Pospisil 6-3 1-1.

Cincinnati Masters results

Round 2

5-Roger Federer (Switzerland) beat Philipp Kohlschreiber (Germany) 6-3 7-6(7)

Julien Benneteau (France) beat Radek Stepanek (Czech Republic) 6-2 5-7 7-6(4)

3-David Ferrer (Spain) beat Ryan Harrison (U.S.) 7-6(5) 3-6 6-4

Grigor Dimitrov (Bulgaria) beat Brian Baker (U.S.) 6-3 6-2

Round 1

12-Milos Raonic (Canada) beat Jack Sock (U.S.) 3-6 6-4 6-3

Vasek Pospisil (Canada) beat 15-Gilles Simon (France) 6-3 1-1 (Simon retired)

9-Stanislas Wawrinka (Switzerland) beat Andreas Seppi (Italy) 6-3 6-4

Benjamin Becker (Germany) beat Pablo Andujar (Spain) 6-1 6-4

Mikhail Youzhny (Russia) beat Ernests Gulbis (Latvia) 7-5 6-3

John Isner (U.S.) beat Florian Mayer (Germany) 6-3 6-4

Jarkko Nieminen (Finland) beat Edouard Roger-Vasselin (France) 6-3 6-4

Tommy Robredo (Spain) beat Thomaz Bellucci (Brazil) 6-7(6) 7-6(7) 6-2

Feliciano Lopez (Spain) beat 10-Kei Nishikori (Japan) 6-4 7-6(4)

Nikolay Davydenko (Russia) beat Benoit Paire (France) 7-6(8) 6-3

11-Tommy Haas (Germany) beat Kevin Anderson (South Africa) 6-4 6-4

 

[Smallville22]

Roof planned for US Open's Arthur Ashe stadium

The United States Tennis Association (USTA) will reveal plans to build a retractable roof over the centre court Arthur Ashe Stadium as part of major changes to the Flushing Meadows venue.
Bad weather has wrought havoc with the U.S. Open schedule in recent years with the men's final, including last year's epic between Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic, being pushed back to Monday for each of the past five years.
The USTA announced a news conference for Thursday to detail the plans, which are part of a major overhaul of the venue, including the creation of two new stadiums at the venue, known as the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
Last year the organisation ruled out including a roof as part of the redevelopment, citing logistical issues.
Center courts at Wimbledon and the Australian Open have retractable roofs, while the French Open has announced plans to cover its main court.
This year's U.S. Open, which starts on August 26, has a Monday finish included as the official final day for the first time.
The switch to a scheduled Monday finish, unique among the four grand slam events, was criticised by the men's governing body the ATP.

 

[Smallville22]

Murray seeking US Open form after Cincy win

Andy Murray said he is keen to play as many matches as possible ahead of the US Open after opening his Cincinnati Masters campaign with a straight-sets win against Mikhail Youzhny.
Murray won 6-2 6-3 to set up a third-round clash with Julien Benneteau, who beat Radek Stepanek 6-2 5-7 7-6(4).
“I wanted to play a solid match, but I would have liked to have hit a few more winners. I came to the net a few times and missed a couple of volleys, but I was getting into positions,” Murray told Sky.
“I want to play more aggressively [before the US Open].”
The Scot, playing in only his second tournament since winning Wimbledon, raced into a 4-0 lead at the start of the match with two breaks of serve and his Russian opponent could not find a way back into the set from there, failing to convert his one break chance.
The second seed again broke twice to earn a 4-1 lead in the second stanza, and although Youzhny broke one game back on his sole break point in the set, Murray was comfortable in closing out the win in an hour and 10 minutes.
Youzhny will be unhappy with the seven double faults he served – against one from Murray – while the twice Grand Slam champion dominated both on first- and second-serve.
Murray lost in the third round of the Masters tournament in Montreal last week to Ernests Gulbis after a month’s break from the court, and reached the final of the doubles.
“It was an important match for me to get through,” Murray added. “I want to get through as many matches as possible before the US Open. I only had a couple last week.
“I prefer the conditions here. The court suits my game. I felt more comfortable and moved pretty well.”
The final Grand Slam of the year at Flushing Meadows begins on August 26.

 

[Smallville22]

Williams survives Cincinnati scare

Serena Williams will try to fill one of the few holes in her resume this week but will need to up her game after laboring to a 4-6 6-2 6-2 win over Eugenie Bouchard at the Western and Southern Open.
In a career that has generated 54 singles titles, including 16 Grand Slams, Williams has won just about everything there is to win in her sport but Cincinnati, one of the WTA Tour's most prestigious tournaments, is not on that very long list.
If the world number one is to add a 55th title to her haul here she will have to perform at a much higher level than she did against the plucky but overmatched 19-year-old Canadian.
"Every ball I hit seemed to be going out and I even had the easiest approach shot and it went not slightly wide, it was like 50 feet out," said Williams, who was playing in her first match since Sunday's crushing win over Sorana Cirstea in the Toronto final.
"That was actually embarrassing.
"I thought I'd never hit a shot like that professionally. I have maybe in practice with my eyes closed but never conscious have I hit a shot like that.
"So it was just some crazy tennis out there."
Staring across the net at a number one ranked opponent for the first time, Bouchard registered an early shock when she broke Williams to open the match and held serve to go up 2-0.
Williams, who has already matched a career high this season winning eight titles, won the next two games but Bouchard would not back down breaking her opponent a second time on way to taking the first set.
In the second set, the powerful Williams would begin to show her class registering the early break to take the set and level the match then doing just enough in the third to finish off the 62nd ranked Bouchard.
Despite piling up 49 unforced errors, more than double the 23 from Bouchard, Williams still had enough weapons, including seven aces, to get the job done and run her match record this season to a stellar 57-3.
Italian sixth seed Sara Errani and her 12th seeded compatriot Roberta Vinci both advanced to the third round with testing three set wins.
Errani outlasted Slovenian qualifier Polona Hercog 6-4 5-7 6-4 while Vinci was a 6-4 6-7 (3) 6-3 winner over Germany's Andrea Petkovic.
Australian 11th seed Samantha Stosur, the 2011 US Open winner, had smoother passage taming American Jamie Hampton 6-3 7-6 (3).

Cincinnati Open results

Round 2

5-Li Na (China) beat Lauren Davis (U.S.) 4-6 6-1 6-1

Simona Halep (Romania) beat 8-Marion Bartoli (France) 3-6 6-4 6-1

4-Agnieszka Radwanska (Poland) beat Varvara Lepchenko (U.S.) 6-4 6-0

Magdalena Rybarikova (Slovakia) beat Alize Cornet (France) 3-6 7-5 7-5

10-Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark) beat Monica Niculescu (Romania) 6-4 6-3

14-Jelena Jankovic (Serbia) beat Ekaterina Makarova (Russia) 2-6 6-3 6-3

Elena Vesnina (Russia) beat Venus Williams (U.S.) 6-2 5-7 6-2

7-Petra Kvitova (Czech Republic) beat Marina Erakovic (New Zealand) 6-4 6-7(7) 6-3

9-Angelique Kerber (Germany) beat Alisa Kleybanova (Russia) 7-6(3) 6-2

Mona Barthel (Germany) beat 16-Maria Kirilenko (Russia) 6-4 6-4

1-Serena Williams (U.S.) beat Eugenie Bouchard (Canada) 4-6 6-2 6-2

12-Roberta Vinci (Italy) beat Andrea Petkovic (Germany) 6-4 6-7(3) 6-3

6-Sara Errani (Italy) beat Polona Hercog (Slovenia) 6-4 5-7 6-4

11-Samantha Stosur (Australia) beat Jamie Hampton (U.S.) 6-3 7-6(3)

 

[Smallville22]

Players embrace US Open roof plans

The world's top players are in almost unanimous agreement that plans to build a retractable roof over centre court at Arthur Ashe Stadium as part of major changes to the US Open venue are necessary.
Bad weather has routinely played havoc with the US Open schedule in recent years with the men's final being pushed to Monday from Sunday for each of the past five years.
"Obviously it's going to be great," world number one Serena Williams, a four-times US Open champion, said after reaching the last 16 at the Western and Southern Open in Cincinnati.
"It's going to take a really long time. They have a long term plan, super long term, and it's not going to happen next year or the year after.
"It's good to know that they're going for it."
Centre courts at Wimbledon and the Australian Open have retractable roofs, while plans to cover the main court at the French Open had left the US Open as the lone holdout.
Reigning men's US Open champion Andy Murray lamented that some of the character and romance of the four Grand Slams was slowly being removed with the elements no longer factoring into the play.
"For TV and stuff, it's fantastic, always good that you know matches are going to get finished," Murray said after reaching the third round in Cincinnati.
"I do feel like sometimes it (weather) is kind of part of the Slams a little bit. I don't necessarily miss being rained off but rain delays and stuff, it used to be part of it; whereas now that's kind of going away gradually.
"I don't particularly like going from indoors to outdoors to indoors but it's good for TV and good for fans that are watching."
Opened in 1997, the Arthur Ashe stadium has a capacity of 22,500, making it by far the world's largest tennis stadium.
The scale of the arena had been one of the main logistical challenges that emerged from previous feasibility studies with the United States Tennis Association previously saying a roof would be "technically complex and financially challenging."
This year's US Open, which runs August 26 to September 9, has a Monday finish included as the official final day for the first time.
"Over a two week period in the summer, end of summer, beginning of fall, chances are it's going to rain at least a little bit," said the top ranked American man John Isner.
"Maybe I can still be playing when that roof is up.
"That would be pretty neat. I can't imagine the expense of it and how they're going to do it but it will be really cool.
The answers will come on Thursday when the USTA will hold a news conference to detail the plans, which are part of a major overhaul of the venue, including the creation of two new stadiums at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

 

[Smallville22]

Djokovic and Nadal remain on course in Cincinnati

Novak Djokovic and Rafa Nadal joined Andy Murray in the third round of the Cincinnati Masters with straight sets wins.
Centre court at the sprawling Lindner ****** Tennis Center turned into a parade of champions as fans savoured an action-packed day that began under a bright morning sun with Wimbledon winner Murray breezing past Russian Mikhail Youzhny 6-2 6-3.
Australian Open champ Djokovic beat Argentine Juan Monaco 7-5 6-2 to move a step closer to becoming the first player to win all nine World Tour Masters titles, before French Open winner Nadal dispatched German Benjamin Becker in equally impressive fashion, 6-2 6-2, under the floodlights.
Nadal, who has been in superb form opening up his hardcourt campaign with a win in Montreal on Sunday, continued to build momentum towards the US Open later this month and extended his hardcourt winning streak to 11 matches.
"I played well tonight, I should be very happy the way that I played since the beginning," Nadal said. "Just for a few games the serve was down a little bit. For the rest, I think I played a great match.
"When you change cities, change a little bit of weather, the feelings on the ball is different and when you have these kind of tournaments back to back it's not easy, but I'm very happy with the way I played this afternoon and the way that I adapted the game."
Djokovic was all business on an unusually chilly afternoon on the outskirts of Cincinnati as he eased past Monaco.
"Between 4-1 and 4-5 (first set), four quite bad games for me," Djokovic said. "I stopped moving my legs. I didn't really go for my shots.
"I let him kind of dictate the play and wait for his mistake, which was not the right tactics.
"But all in all, I expected a little bit of a challenge for myself especially because he's a good player but also because it's the first match here in Cincinnati, which has different conditions from what we played in Montreal."
Twice before, in 2008 and 2011, world number one Djokovic and number two Murray have met in the Cincinnati final with the Scot winning on both occasions.
But this year the big Serb, who has four runner-up finishes on the Ohio hardcourts, will be determined to be the last man standing and become the first player to complete what the ATP Tour has dubbed the 'Career Golden Masters' and win all nine World Tour Masters titles.
Murray and Djokovic have been making a habit of meeting when something big is on the line.
They clashed in the finals of three of the last four Grand Slams with Djokovic coming out on top in Australia and Murray the winner at the US Open and Wimbledon.
In other matches, seventh seed Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro, the 2009 US Open champion, tamed Russian Nikolay Davydenko 7-5 7-5 while top ranked American John Isner beat Frenchman Richard Gasquet, the eighth seed, 7-6 (6) 6-2.
Canada's Milos Raonic, who moved into the top 10 for the first time this week, continued his good form disposing of Serbia's Janko Tipsarevic 6-4 7-6 (4).

Cincinnati Masters results

Round 2

Tommy Robredo (Spain) beat 9-Stanislas Wawrinka (Switzerland) 7-5 3-6 6-3

4-Rafa Nadal (Spain) beat Benjamin Becker (Germany) 6-2 6-2

6-Tomas Berdych (Czech Republic) beat Jarkko Nieminen (Finland) 6-3 6-2

Dmitry Tursunov (Russia) beat James Blake (U.S.) 6-4 6-4

12-Milos Raonic (Canada) beat Janko Tipsarevic (Serbia) 6-4 7-6(4)

1-Novak Djokovic (Serbia) beat Juan Monaco (Argentina) 7-5 6-2

John Isner (U.S.) beat 8-Richard Gasquet (France) 7-6(6) 6-2

Feliciano Lopez (Spain) beat Jeremy Chardy (France) 6-4 2-2 (Chardy retired)

7-Juan Martin Del Potro (Argentina) beat Nikolay Davydenko (Russia) 7-5 7-5

David Goffin (Belgium) beat Vasek Pospisil (Canada) 7-5 1-6 7-6(6)

11-Tommy Haas (Germany) beat Marcel Granollers (Spain) 6-4 6-1

2-Andy Murray (Britain) beat Mikhail Youzhny (Russia) 6-2 6-3

 

[Smallville22]

Marion Bartoli announces shock retirement

Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli has shocked the tennis world by announcing her retirement from the sport at the age of 28.
After a second round loss to Romanian Simona Halep at the Western and Southern Open, the Frenchwoman, ranked seventh in the world, walked into the media room and told stunned reporters: "I just can't do it anymore".
Her surprise announcement comes just six weeks after she beat Germany's Sabine Lisicki in the Wimbledon final to claim her one and only Grand Slam title.
"Well, it's never easy and obviously there is never a time to say it or whatever, but that was actually the last match of my career," said Bartoli, wiping the tears from her eyes. "It's time for me to retire and to call it a career.
"I feel it's time for me to walk away."
Bartoli had given no hint that she was considering retirement and in fact seemed focused on preparing for the North American hardcourt season and the upcoming US Open.
She played last week in Toronto and was seeing her first action in Cincinnati having received a first round bye.
But a 3-6 6-4 6-1 loss to Halep looks to have been the last straw.
"It's been a tough decision to take," said Bartoli, an eight-time winner on the WTA tour.
"I've been a tennis player for a long time and I had the chance to make my biggest ***** a reality.
"You know, everyone will remember my Wimbledon title. No one will remember the last match I played here. I made my ***** a reality and it will stay forever with me, but now my body just can't cope with everything."
WTA chairman and CEO Stacey Allaster paid tribute to Bartoli's "long, successful career".
"She is an inspirational champion and a great ambassador for women's tennis that has dedicated her life to the sport and given so much back to the game," she said in a statement issued in the early hours of Thursday morning.
"I am so proud of her for who she is, her values and for fighting to realise her ***** of winning Wimbledon."

 

[Smallville22]

Wimbledon triumph left Bartoli with nothing more to give

Having realised a lifelong ***** by claiming the Wimbledon title, Marion Bartoli decided she had nothing left to give on Wednesday, shocking the world of tennis by bidding a sudden and poignant farewell to the sport.
Just six weeks earlier, the 28-year-old Frenchwoman had shed tears of joy as she soaked up the applause following her straight sets win over Germany's Sabine Lisicki in the Wimbledon final to claim her first and only grand slam title.
The toast of France, Bartoli was on top of the sporting world but came crashing back down to earth on Wednesday when a second round loss to Romanian Simona Halep at the Western and Southern Open was enough to convince her it was time to quit.
"Well, it's never easy and obviously there is never a time to say it but that was actually the last match of my career. Sorry," the world number seven said with tears pouring from her eyes.
"It's time for me to retire and to call it a career. I feel it's time for me to walk away.
"My body, I just can't do it anymore."
Bartoli had offered no hint that she was contemplating retirement and appeared focused on preparing for the upcoming U.S. Open, where she had her best grand slam result last season by reaching the quarter-finals.
But the loss to Halep persuaded the circumspect Frenchwoman that the time was ripe to hang up her racket and as the crowds left the stadium and headed out into the night, Bartoli did likewise to start a new life.
"You never kind of know before it's going to be your last match but I felt that way after the match. I felt I just couldn't do this anymore," Bartoli admitted. "After one set, my whole body was in pain.
"You know, everyone will remember my Wimbledon title. No one will remember the last match I played here.
"There are so many things to do in life rather than playing tennis, so I'm sure I will find something."

PAIN EVERYWHERE

An eight-time winner on the WTA Tour, Bartoli played in every grand slam since the 2002 U.S. Open and was seen as one of the sport's more durable competitors.
But Bartoli made it clear that 13 years on the circuit had taken a heavy toll and it was a price she was no longer willing pay.
"I've been already through a lot of injuries since the beginning of the year," she added. "I've been on the tour for so long and I really pushed through and left it all (out there) during that Wimbledon.
"I really felt I gave all the energy I have left inside my body.
"I have pain everywhere after 45 minutes or an hour of play. I've been doing this for so long... it's just body wise I just can't do it anymore."
The decision to retire was made easier by the fact that Bartoli had battled long enough to realise her ***** of becoming a grand slam champion.
After winning Wimbledon, Bartoli said it had been her ***** since she was six-years old to hold the trophy.
For 13-years and through 47 grand slam tournaments Bartoli had chased that singular ***** and finally made it a reality but in doing so had sacrificed everything she had to offer.
"It's hard to explain but when you dreamed about something for so long and you have been on the tour for many, many, many years and you have been through up and downs and high and lows," said Bartoli, struggling to regain her composure.
"My body was really starting to fall apart and I was able to keep it together, go through the pain with a lot of pain throughout this Wimbledon, and make it happen.
"That was probably the last little bit of something that was left inside me.
"I made my ***** a reality and it will stay with me forever."

 

[Smallville22]

Injured Tsonga won't play in New York

World number eight Jo-Wilfried Tsonga has pulled out of the US Open after failing to recover from a knee injury.
The Frenchman has not played since retiring hurt against Latvia's Ernests Gulbis during his second-round clash at Wimbledon.
Tsonga, a quarter-finalist in New York in 2011, announced the news on his official website saying the August 26th start date for the US Open is just too soon.
"I have to take care of my health and make sure I can play 100 per cent," he said,
"The thinking is simple, the doctors told me it would be two months for my tendon to partially heal and five months to be completely healed.
"Two months is the amount of time between the injury and the US Open. It would be stupid for me to go there knowing full well that I have no chance because I'm not prepared enough."
Tsonga said he instead hoped to begin his road to full recovery by playing in Metz from 16 to 22 September.
"I know exactly what I have. I know exactly how long it will be before I'm back on top. This is an injury that I've had before," said Tsonga.
"Whenever I've hurt myself before I often come back again even stronger.
"I still have one month (before I play again), it will come soon enough, but I am optimistic!"

 

[Smallville22]

Former players urge Bartoli to rethink, or face regret

Former top tennis players Goran Ivanisevic and Guy Forget have urged Marion Bartoli to reconsider her shock decision to retire from the sport, saying the Wimbledon champion would regret missing out on many great moments.
The world number seven stunned the tennis world on Wednesday by calling it a day at the age of 28, six weeks after her first Grand Slam triumph.
"What she did at Wimbledon was fantastic but she will regret this decision when Wimbledon comes," Ivanisevic, unable to defend his 2001 All-England title because of a shoulder injury, said.
"There is nothing like playing at Wimbledon as 'Wimbledon champion'," added the big-serving Croat, who retired from the sport in 2004 after losing to Australian Lleyton Hewitt in the third round of the grasscourt Grand Slam on Centre Court.
Former men's world number four Forget said the decision announced after a second-round defeat by Romanian Simona Halep at the Western and Southern Open in Cincinnati sounded too hasty.
"Marion is a very smart girl, she is so dedicated about the sport that I'm always very cautious about someone's quote right after a defeat," the former French number one said.
"I hope she is going to change her mind. You don't want to have regrets looking back. Being a professional player is such an exceptional job and you don't want to look back a few months or years later and think 'why did I stop?'."
He advised Bartoli to simply take a break rather than pack up her racquets for good.
"Don't rush it, just don't rush it," he said.
"Take time, go to the beach for a few days, go running in the park, just get your head together ... if you don't want to play the next week, just don't play it, if you want to miss the US Open, fine, but just don't quit.
"Don't take such a radical decision only a few weeks after winning the biggest tournament in the world."
French tennis federation president Jean Gachassin, who was not aware of Bartoli's decision before she made it public, said he had not lost hope of persuading her to reverse her decision.
"Some champions have come back like (Kim) Clijsters or (Justine) Henin and I hope I will make Marion change her mind in the coming months," he told French broadcaster L'Equipe 21.
Former world number one Clijsters won the US Open twice in 2009 and 2010 and the 2011 Australian Open when she returned to the sport after retiring.
"Marion has been such a fighter. I want her to continue training because I know she's going to miss tennis," Gachassin added.
French tennis coach Patrick Mouratoglou was convinced this was not the end of Bartoli's tennis career.
"Marion, hope you are already preparing your comeback ... I checked if we weren't the 1st of April when I read." he wrote on Twitter.
Bartoli is due to hold a press conference on Thursday.

 

[Smallville22]

One day on, Bartoli has 'no regrets' about retirement

In the cold light of day, Marion Bartoli said she was having no second thoughts about her shock decision to retire from tennis and was looking forward to starting a new chapter in her life.
Wimbledon champion Bartoli, 28, stunned the tennis world 12 hours earlier when she left the court after a second round defeat at the Western and Southern Open and told a news conference: "I feel it's time for me to walk away".
Despite calls from some past and present players to step back, take a deep breath and reconsider what appeared to be a snap decision, the French world number seven remained convinced the timing of her call was the right one.
"It just sounded crystal clear at the end of the match," Bartoli told reporters by phone on Thursday.
"It felt so clear. It's not things you can explain. And you don't say (to) yourself 'well, if I lose that match, I retire'. You just feel it, feel that it's the right time. I'm at peace with myself. I feel great mentally.
"I am not at all regretting anything. I am a tennis player, just not a professional tennis player. I'm not dead."
When asked what she would miss most about playing on the professional circuit, Bartoli's answer was, as always, direct and to the point.
"Not much to be honest," she said. "I just really felt I gave it all. The body has (a) certain amount of something that you can give and I gave it all and that's it."
Bartoli explained that her 13-year career had taken a tough toll on her physically.
"I still wanted to play. I had goals but my body can't stand that anymore," she said.
"Since the beginning of the year, I suffered a lot of injuries, everywhere - foot, ankle, shoulder. I gave all I had to win Wimbledon. I touched my limits and I can't stand to put (in) the same intensity on a daily basis anymore."
Few people tipped Bartoli to win Wimbledon when the grasscourt grand slam event started, including herself, after injuries ruined the first six months of her season. She was even battling with pain during the tournament.
"At Wimbledon, I spent so much time with my physio. I felt heavy pain in my Achilles tendon, in my shoulder. I needed 30 minutes to be able just to walk after waking up," she said.
"That's why I said I've reached my limits. And this is what I'm the more proud of - having been able to do it, overcome the pain to win there."
Since she lost on Wednesday, to 21-year-old Romanian Simona Halep in Cincinnati, many people have tried to convince her to take a break and come back or face regret.
But Bartoli, who is regarded as a thoughtful person on the tennis circuit, ruled out the idea.
"I completely live with my decision. The people I'm close to know that I'm not a person who changes her mind," she said. "I have always been uncompromising when deciding something and I won't change my mind."
Just hours into her retirement Bartoli had already begun to plan out a new life which would continue to include tennis.
Bartoli said she would go to watch friends play, cheer for them, take classical dance classes and go to galleries and museums.
"There are a lot of things I can do outside of hitting a tennis ball and I am sure I will enjoy them," she said.

 

[Smallville22]

Azarenka win cannot halt Bartoli buzz

Victoria Azarenka's win over Magdalena Rybarikova paled into insignificance following the news of Marion Bartoli's retirement.
A routine 6-3 6-4 third round victory by the world number two could not turn the conversation away from Bartoli, the Wimbledon champion having stunned the sport 12 hours earlier by announcing she was quitting following a second-round defeat.
"I actually saw that on Twitter and I was like, yeah, that's some crap," Azarenka told reporters. "I think everybody's a little bit surprised about that.
"I think it's very brave to do that. I think she was chasing her ***** for such a long time. When she got it, it felt good. So whatever makes her happy.
"There's no doubt it's been surprising for everybody."
There was nothing surprising about Azarenka's third round match as she moved easily into the quarter-finals, despite problems with her serve during an uneven match that featured 13breaks.
Rybarikova tried to create some drama when the Slovakian grabbed an early break and a 2-0 lead but the Australian Open champion stormed back, sweeping the next five games to easily take the opening set.
The second set opened with both players staying on serve before Azarenka nosed in front 2-1 but would end with seven consecutive breaks and the Belarusian again on top.
"Today there was sometimes a little bit of trouble servingbut overall I felt better than I did in my first match," said Azarenka. "I was much more controlling the game. It was really up to me today, I felt.
"I was doing everything I wanted to do but I still feel there can be a lot more improvement."
Li Na's Cincinnati title defence also picked up steam as the fifth-seeded Chinese rolled to a 6-4 6-4 win over ninth seed Angelique Kerber of Germany while Polish fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska swept past Russian Elena Vesnina 6-0 6-2.
In other third round action, Italian doubles partners Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci went toe-to-toe for a spot in the final eight with the 12th seeded Vinci coming out on top, beating her sixth seeded team mate 6-4 6-3.
American Sloane Stephens, second round conqueror of world number three Maria Sharapova, was thinking upset again after taking the opening set against 14th seeded Jelena Jankovic until the Serb rallied to claim a 3-6 7-5 7-5 win.

 

[Smallville22]

Players in shock but back Bartoli decision

The tennis world reacted with stunned disbelief on Thursday as word of Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli's retirement spread, leaving the sport without one of its most popular champions and intriguing personalities.
Following a second round loss at the Western and Southern Open on Wednesday, the 28-year-old Frenchwoman walked off the court and two hours later stepped into a press conference to shock everyone, saying: "I feel it's time for me to walk away."
Immediately social media exploded with fans, coaches,commentators and players, past and present, reacting with surprise and support.
"Crazy to **** up hearing about @bartoli_marion retiring but understand the feeling... Congrats on a great career," said Belgian Kim Clijsters, a former world number one who retired and then later returned to the sport to win two grand slams.
"You've had an unbelievable career & made your ***** come true! Wishing you ALL the best girl," tweeted Sabine Lisicki,who was left in tears after being beaten by Bartoli in the Wimbledon final.
The Bartoli buzz dominated conversation at the Western and Southern Open with players arriving on Thursday not only to find out that the popular Frenchwoman had been knocked out of the tournament but had left the sport.
"I actually saw that on Twitter and I was like, yeah, that's some crap," world number two Victoria Azarenka told reporters."I think everybody's a little bit surprised about that.
"I think it's very brave to do that. I think she was chasing her ***** for such a long time. When she got it, it felt good. So whatever makes her happy.
"There's no doubt it's been surprising for everybody."
Andy Murray, the men's Wimbledon champion, who shared the tennis spotlight with Bartoli just six weeks ago, was caught off guard but happy to see her go out a winner.
"In some ways, it's surprising but I did say in here the other day that...I think the biggest compliment you can pay an athlete is they've reached their potential, and I believe she did that," summed up world number two Murray.
"She worked exceptionally hard to get to where she's got to. She deserved to win a grand slam and maybe it was the right time for her to stop because of how hard she needed to work.
"But it was obviously surprising because you don't see it that often in sport where people kind of finish almost on the top in a way."
Described as quirky and brilliant, there was no denying that Bartoli marched to the unique beat of her own drum.
From her double-handed groundstrokes off both wings to her unorthodox training methods, Bartoli work outside the box and was celebrated for her uniqueness.
"So more power to her," said top-ranked American John Isner."She had a great career and capped it off on a very high note. I'm not talking about losing here, I'm talking about winning Wimbledon.
"Not many people can call themselves a grand slam champion,but she can."