Tennis Buff

The Fundamentals Of Tennis

noreply@blogger.com (jan erik) — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 08:55:00 +0000

This article is not mine. I just copied it because of my love of the sport and with the intention of sharing it to all tennis buffs who are dropping on this blog. Here it goes...

I trust this initial effort of mine in the world of letters will find a place among both novices and experts in the tennis world. I am striving to interest the student of the game by a somewhat prolonged discussion of match play, which I trust will shed a new light on the game.

May I turn to the novice at my opening and speak of certain matters which are second nature to the skilled player?

The best tennis equipment is not too good for the beginner who seeks really to succeed. It is a saving in the end, as good quality material so far outlasts poor.

Always dress in tennis clothes when engaging in tennis. The question of choosing a racquet is a much more serious matter. I do not advocate forcing a certain racquet upon any player. All the standard makes are excellent. It is in weight, balance, and size of handle that the real value of a racquet frame depends, while good stringing is, essential to obtain the best results.

After you have acquired your racquet, make a firm resolve to use good tennis balls, as a regular bounce is a great aid to advancement, while a "dead" ball is no practice at all.

If you really desire to succeed at the game and advance rapidly, I strongly urge you to see all the good tennis you can. Study the play of the leading players and strive to copy their strokes. Read all the tennis instruction books you can find. They are a great assistance.

More tennis can be learned off the court, in the study of theory, and in watching the best players in action, than can ever be learned in actual play. I do not mean miss opportunities to play. Far from it. Play whenever possible, but strive when playing to put in practice the theories you have read or the strokes you have watched.

Never be discouraged at slow progress. The trick over some stroke you have worked over for weeks unsuccessfully will suddenly come to you when least expected. Tennis players are the product of hard work. Very few are born geniuses at the game.

Tennis is a game that pays you dividends all your life. A tennis racquet is a letter of introduction in any town. The brotherhood of the game is universal, for none but a good sportsman can succeed in the game for any lengthy period. Tennis provides relaxation, excitement, exercise, and pure enjoyment to the man who is tied hard and fast to his business until late afternoon. Age is not a drawback. The tennis players of the world wrote a magnificent page in the history of the World War. No branch of sport sent more men to the colours from every country in the world than tennis, and these men returned with glory or paid the supreme sacrifice on the field of honour.

The following order of development produces the quickest and most lasting results:

1. Concentration on the game.

2. Keep the eye on the ball.

3. Foot-work and weight-control.

4. Strokes.

5. Court position.

6. Court generalship or match play.

7. Tennis psychology.

concentration.
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Tennis is played primarily with the mind. The most perfect racquet technique in the world will not suffice if the directing mind is wandering. There are many causes of a wandering mind in a tennis match. The chief one is lack of interest in the game. No one should play tennis with an idea of real success unless he cares sufficiently about the game to be willing to do the drudgery necessary in learning the game correctly. Give it up at once unless you are willing to work. Conditions of play or the noises in the gallery often confuse and bewilder experienced match-players playing under new surroundings. Complete concentration on the matter in hand is the only cure for a wandering mind, and the sooner the lesson is learned the more rapid the improvement of the player.

The surest way to hold a match in mind is to play for every set, every game in the set, every point in the game and, finally, every shot in the point. A set is merely a conglomeration of made and missed shots, and the man who does not miss is the ultimate victor.

USTA Florida March Notes: McEnroe in Delray

noreply@blogger.com (jan erik) — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 05:36:00 +0000

John McEnroe and Patrick Rafter stole the show with an epic final match at the Delray Beach Stadium & Tennis Center in their first meeting ever on the ATP Champions Tour. Playing in the championship match of the eight-man event, the 51-year-old McEnroe and the 37-year-old Rafter both held their serves through 24 games, forcing two tie-breakers that decided the match 7-6(4), 7-6(1) for Rafter. There was levity, intensity, and stellar tennis in this chess match of a confrontation. Both players looked for every opportunity to come up to the net and display their vintage, old-school volleying games. "It was great," said McEnroe after the match. "I think we showed the young guns how to use a little variety. They hit the ball so hard, but maybe they'll see that it pays to have a little more variety. It was a lot of fun playing Pat except I would have liked it if the scores were reversed." In the second set, after McEnroe aced Rafter with an out-wide delivery on the deuce court, Rafter dropped his racket and said, "You're amazing, mate." McEnroe chided linesmen and castigated the umpire, Mark Bell, but he also awarded Rafter an ace on a serve in the second set that a linesman called out. "What has gotten into you?" asked Rafter. McEnroe put up his hands and said, "You hit 50 and weird things happen."

Prior to the beginning of the Delray Beach ATP Champions Tour event, McEnroe and Haiti's Ronald Agenor played an exhibition in the street on the main strip in Delray Beach, with patrons lining the street five deep. "What's the winner get, a shot of tequila or what?" McEnroe asked the crowd. The two played on a makeshirt tennis court surrounded by trees between East 1st and East 2nd avenues, promoting the first ATP Champions Tour event in Delray Beach, played alongside the Delray Beach International Tennis Championships ATP World Tour event. "You cannot be serious!" McEnroe yelled to the match umpire, slamming his racquet down to the delight of the crowd, which filled the street to get a glimpse of the American legend.

Source: http://www.usatennisflorida.usta.com

Tennis Champions: Are They Born Or Made?

noreply@blogger.com (jan erik) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 18:59:00 +0000

John Newcombe, former world tennis No 1 and former Australian Davis Cup captain, once said that the top Australian players of his era believed that it was their destiny to become tennis champions.

Two weeks before achieving his first Wimbledon title (in 1985 when seventeen years old), Boris Becker told his friend that he felt as if it were predetermined.

As a seventeen year old, Ivan Lendl, who, prior to Pete Sampras, held the No 1 spot longer than any other player in history, was convinced that he would turn himself into the best player in the world. He would even tell you so.

When asked by the media about his chances of winning his first US Open title (in 1975), Jimmy Connors' response was: "There are 127 losers in the draw -- and me!"
Jimmy won.

What these former greats had in common was an unshakable certainty that they would win. It is a trait that is shared by all top sports people.

But a question that has always fascinated me is: Are such champions born, or are they made?

Were Newccombe, Becker, Lendl and Connors born to rule the tennis world? Or did they become champions because of the choices they made? Was their success predetermined, as suggested by Newcombe and Becker? Or was it a result of a single-minded dedication to making themselves the very best, as implied by Lendl and Connors?

Are champions a product of nature? Or of nurture?

To be a true champion at tennis or any other sport requires very special qualities. These qualities or attributes can be divided into two categories -- the physical and the mental. It is my contention that physical attributes are predominantly a product of chance. They are determined genetically.

For instance, some people are born with a body structure conducive to speed, others to strength, and so on. In this sense, a very large proportion of the population are excluded, from birth, from ever winning an Olympic gold medal as a sprinter or a weightlifter.

It is the same with tennis. The physical attributes that are required to become a champion player are such things as good hand-eye coordination, quick reflexes, and leg-speed. Without question, these attributes can be developed to their fullest potential with hard work and effective training methods.

But most people are excluded from becoming the best tennis player in the world, no matter how much time they spend attempting to reach their physical ceiling of potential.

Does this mean, then, that champions are born? Were Newcombe, Becker, Lendl and Connors so physically superior to everyone else that becoming the best was just a mere formality?

Certainly not. All four were exceptionally gifted physically, but in my view, there were other players of the same eras who were more gifted than they were.

What separated them from everyone else were their mental attributes: their will to win, their determination, their perseverance, their ability to remain calm under presuure, their ability to bounce back from disappointments, and the belief that they deserved to win -- all attributes that not one of us is born with, but that each one of us has the power to develop. The only choice is whether we want to or not.

It is in this sense that, given the necessary or essential physical attributes as a starting point, all champions are not only made -- they are self-made.

How To Play Tennis - The Mental Game

noreply@blogger.com (jan erik) — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 16:57:00 +0000

Learning how to play tennis can be either a wonderful or a very frustrating experience. It depends on whether your approach and expectations to the game are realistic and whether your coach and his way of teaching the game of tennis are the best for your starting level of play.

When you start learning how to play tennis you probably don't know much about it. You've seen how good players play and they seem so effortless and the game seems easy. You decide that you want to try it too and enroll in one of the lessons at your local club.

There are 2 main areas when you are still learning how to play tennis:
- Technique (footwork, body, arm action)
- Tactics

And here are the main mental points for these two areas of your beginning lessons:

1. Be aware – when you learn how to play tennis you are soon overwhelmed with lots of information. This can cause you to lose focus on most important things – depending on your coach's instructions. Listen to your coach and do as he/she tells you to. Sometimes it's your arm movement, sometimes focusing on the feel of the racquet, sometimes on your movement. Be aware of what is happening so that you may correct that.

We coaches often come to the situation when the player wants to hit the ball in court while our main concern is correct form. And sometimes we don't care about form and just want the player to develop feel and put the ball in court but the beginner is still focused on the correct form. So stay with your coach's instructions and be aware of the outcome.

2. Don't take the game too seriously and don't try too hard – it's only a game. You are already too tense at the start since you don't feel which muscles you need and which you don't. So you use too many of them. If you add to this a too serious approach and you try too hard to hit the ball in or to please your coach, you will slow down your improvement and lose all the joy and fun when learning how to play tennis.

3. Accept mistakes as a part of this game. There will be probably quite some mistakes at the beginning. Don't let that discourage you, it's only feedback. You learn from them. You need mistakes, without them you can't explore your limits. And remember your tennis abilities have nothing to do with you – your inner self. There is no connection unless you make one.

4. Be patient and willing to wait before results come. Your brain and body need many repetitions before they adapt. Wait and be patient. You'll soon know how to play tennis. :)

5. Here are some mental qualities that lead you to success, regardless of your skill level or area of your involvement:

a) Focus on what you want instead of what you don't want
- playing better instead of not playing bad
- serving in the court instead of not making a double fault
- hitting an »easy« ball in rather than hoping that you won't miss again

b) Be decisive – when you decide what you want to do (hitting down the line or crosscourt, hitting close to lines or more in the middle, playing more attacking shots, playing more volleys, …) do it. Stay with you decision. Decide quickly – remember: he who hesitates is lost.

Even if your decision turns out to be wrong, you'll get some feedback. When you are indecisive and don't decide what to do, you don't know when will such a situation present itself again.

c) Be courageous – there are many situations in the game where you'll feel the fear: of missing, of making a fool of yourself, of winning, of not improving … There is only one way of beating the fear – courage. Doing the right thing regardless of your emotional tendencies. Just do it. Feel the fear and do it anyway.

Learning how to play tennis can be a very fun, exciting and rewarding experience. Follow these mental steps when learning and playing and you are on your way to becoming a mental master of this beautiful game.

Learning To Play Tennis

noreply@blogger.com (jan erik) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:44:00 +0000

Most people begin to learn how to play tennis by watching tennis matches on television. They will learn about the scoring system used in the tennis matches and learn how to differentiate between one tennis racquet brand and another. Over time, they will also know the different playing styles of every tennis player on the circuit and some they will be able to identify on sight with their full name. They might concentrate very intently on each ball service because each player seems to have a different serving style.

It is common to see children playing alone outside with a racquet and a ball. They are learning to play tennis by practicing their serve on a concrete wall. They might realize that tennis requires them to run more quickly than they initially thought, and by the end of the day they are ready to go to bed early because they are extremely tired. The next day that they practice tennis in this manner, they might be more willing to pace themselves in their tennis training.

The local library has many sources of information that people can use to gain knowledge about the game of tennis. There are sports magazines and internet sites with plenty of information to read, hear and visualize, as well as an unlimited number of videos that people can rent to view when they have some free time during the day. All of these news sources will be verified and children find this information resource invaluable when they join a tennis team at school.

A tennis player can learn all about the world of tennis by studying how to become a professional in the sport and by following the career trail of players who have played professionally for many years. They might even learn where the tennis courts are in their hometown so they can practice volleying the ball over an actual net.

Many neighborhood apartment complexes install tennis courts to lure in the right crowd. Any tenant that has the energy to play tennis will generally have a proactive lifestyle. Neighbors can spend many hours on the tennis court getting exercise just to keep fit. While they are busying themselves by learning tennis, they will generally stay out of trouble and spread good cheer among other residents who live there.

Some parents might be willing to sign a child up for a lessons at a local tennis center. Learning the game from someone that has perfected their craft is generally the best way to learn it. The tennis centers will have regulation courts where people can learn to serve the tennis ball with precision and returning the ball several times after that will be what their formal training in tennis will perfect.

People get inspired to learn tennis by buying tennis outfits and equipment. The salesmen at a sports equipment outlet will be a good guide to make sure they have everything they need. When learning to play tennis, only the basic equipment needs to be purchased. Players can move on to more expensive styles in racquets after their tennis training has been completed.

Tennis And "The Ugly Parent Syndrome"

noreply@blogger.com (jan erik) — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 15:29:00 +0000

There's a syndrome in tennis circles that has come to be widely known as "The Ugly Parent Syndrome."

It is one in which teenaged players, or even those in their pre-teens, are placed under enormous pressure by over-zealous parents determined to see their children scale the heights of tennis greatness.

The pressure these parents exert can come in many forms -- from subtle psychological techniques that play one child off against another ("How come Johnny's forehand is much better than yours? -- Don't you think you should practise more often?") to threatening a child with a loss of some value if he doesn't perform ("Forget about that new racquet if you don't beat Johnny").

It can involve becoming deaf to their child's concerns if those concerns conflict with what the parent has determined to be in the child's "best interests". ("I know you'd rather spend some more time with your friends, but I know what's best, and what's best is that you spend two more hours practising forehands.")

And in some extreme cases, the pressure can even take the form of actual physical abuse.

On an international scale, the most (in)famous "ugly parent" of all is Jim Pierce, whose daughter, Mary, has been for a number of years one of the game's top women players.

In the early 1990's, Jim Pierce's behaviour became so threatening to his daughter that she hired bodyguards and took out restraining orders to protect herself from him.

In 1993, he was banned by the Women's Tennis Association from attending tournaments, although that ban was lifted a few years later.

There have been many other documented instances of what can only be described as child abuse leading, in most cases, to premature retirement and the destruction of the parent/child relationship.

Bearing in mind that it is only those instances where the child reaches an international level of play that any publicity is brought to bear on an abusive parent, consider how much of this sort of thing goes on at the lower levels.

When I look at some of the tennis parents today -- in contrast to 20 or 25 years ago, when most parents were able to draw the distinction between a supportive influence and an overbearing, constraining one -- I can't help but observe the same sort of unhealthy obsession with their child's performance that characterises the more notorious of tennis' ugly parents.

Forgetting that the most important thing for a child to develop is a love of the game, these parents all but guarantee their child's involvement with the sport will be short-lived.

As anyone who has competed at a high level of sport knows, there is nothing worse than having to deal with the added burden of unwanted pressure, particularly from a parent (or coach) who has zero understanding of what the game is about -- but who thinks they do.

Living vicariously through their child, or attempting to impress other parents with their child's ability, or secretly hoping to one day live off their child's earnings, the ugly parent is driven by a compulsive desire to control every single aspect of his or her child's career, often based on a groundless assumption that their child is destined for tennis stardom.

Del Potro becomes the new King of Queens; dethrones five-time champ Federer

noreply@blogger.com (jan erik) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 17:09:00 +0000

By Erin Bruehl
Monday, September 14, 2009

Juan Martin del Potro did what many thought unlikely, if not improbable.

He dethroned Federer as the US Open champion, ending his five-year reign as the King of Queens, in a come-from-behind 3-6, 7-6 (5), 4-6, 7-6 (4), 6-2 victory for his first major title.

It was the first five set men’s final since 1999, when Andre Agassi defeated Todd Martin and one of the biggest US Open upsets in recent memory with the No. 6 seed defeating the 15-time Grand Slam champion and world No. 1. It was also del Potro’s first career victory over Federer in seven matches.

Del Potro, just 20 years old, became the second Argentine in history to win the US Open, joining Guillermo Vilas, who won in 1977. He certainly earned it, taking out six-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal in straight sets in the semifinals before defeating Federer in the final.

He collapsed on the court on match point and with tears in his eyes he took the trophy, completing the dream of winning his favorite tournament.

“When I lay down to the floor, many things come to my mind,” del Potro said, referring to his reaction on match point “First my family and my friends and everything. I don't know how I can explain, because it’s my dream. My dream (is) done. It’s over. I will go home with a trophy, and it’s my best sensation ever in my life.”

“It’s too early to explain. Maybe tomorrow, maybe next week I will be believing in this,” del Potro said.

The last time Federer lost at the US Open was back in 2003, also to an Argentine, David Nalbandian.

Federer entered the tournament as the favorite to win six in a row after a fantastic summer that included completing the career Grand Slam with his first Roland Garros title, setting the all-time Grand Slam record with his sixth Wimbledon title and playing some of the best tennis of his career. He also defeated del Potro in the semifinals of Roland Garros in five sets and in straight sets at the Australian Open.

“It was tough luck today, but I thought Juan Martin played great,” Federer said. “I thought he hung in there and gave himself chances, and in the end was the better man.”

“Five was great, four was great, too. Six would have been a dream, too,” Federer said of his US Open run. “(You) can’t have them all. I’ve had an amazing summer and a great run. I’m not too disappointed just because I thought I played another wonderful tournament. (I) had chances today to win, but couldn’t take them. It was unfortunate.”

In the first set of the match, it seemed improbable that the match would go the distance as Federer seemed fully in control and del Potro came out struggling due to nerves of playing in his first Grand Slam final against the five-time champion.

Federer was doing everything well, except serving, in the opening set and much of the second. Del Potro also struggled with his first serves early and also seemed to not be moving well around the court. The Swiss was sharp with his shots early, mixed them up well and continued to be aggressive coming to net where he was dominating points and also never faced a break point.

“The beginning of the match I was so nervous, I can’t sleep last night. I don’t take a breakfast today. That’s part of the final,” del Potro said. “But Roger start very good. I start little down. I was bad with my serve, and that’s (an) important weapon of my game.”

The tide of the match seemed to turn in del Potro’s favor during the second set. The set actually moved forward with Federer up a break and ahead 5-3, despite still serving uncharacteristically poorly. Del Potro held to pull to within 5-4 but was still struggling with errors throughout the set.

For the match, Federer converted just 50 percent of his first serves and had an unbelievable 11 double faults to just 13 aces. In contrast, he hit 50 aces in his five-set Wimbledon victory over Andy Roddick. He also had 62 unforced errors to 56 winners; in comparison del Potro had 60 unforced errors to 57 winners.

Federer took the ball to serve and at 30-30, del Potro hit a passing shot that the linesman called wide. The Argentine challenged the call and Chase Review showed he was in fact correct, the ball just clipped the side of the line, making the score 30-40 in his favor. Federer continued to disagree with the spot of the ball and the fact the call was overruled seemed to disrupt his play for the rest of the set.

“I see the ball landing, I see the ball hanging, and then it’s called in,” Federer said. “I mean, I should have made the difference earlier so I’m not in a position where a challenge like that is gonna make a difference.”

On the next point, del Potro rocked another passing shot for his first break of the match and to bring the set back on serve. The set moved to a tiebreak and at 3-all, Federer sent a wild shot high and long for a 4-3 del Potro lead that he never relinquished and he was now the one dictating the pace of play.

“I got off to a pretty good start, and had things under control as well in the second set. I think that one cost me the match eventually. But I had many chances before that to make the difference,” Federer said.

For del Potro, it was a small turning point.

“When I broke his (Federer’s) serve for first time, I start to believe in my game,” he said.

And a different del Potro then seemed to surface in the third set as he moved around the court much better and hitting his powerful forehand with lots of authority. In contrast, while Federer’s serve percentage went up slightly, his shots and placements were not nearly as precise as they were early in the match.

Federer went down a break in the third at 4-3 but was immediately able to break back and then in tenth game won the break and the set when del Potro double faulted on consecutive points. But the Argentine kept fighting.

“When I won the second set, I think if I continuing playing same way, maybe I have chance to win,” del Potro said. “But after, when I lost the third set, I start to think bad things. It was so difficult to keep trying to keep fighting. But one more time the crowd and the fans helped me a lot to fight until last point. I think I have to say thank you to everyone for that.”

In the fourth set after the double faults, del Potro repeatedly took speed off his powerful first serves, which reached as high as 138 mph at one time early in the match, relying on his forehand to win him big points. His first serve percentage increased, ending at 65 percent. In the tiebreak, del Potro once again took the lead at 5-2 and did not look back.

Del Potro took the ball to serve first in the fifth set and after holding, broke Federer with a passing shot to take the lead and held his ground, never being broken in the set and winning the match with a break in the eighth game when Federer hit a shot past the baseline.

And there was officially a new King of Queens.

Comeback Queen Mom: Clijsters Wins US Open

noreply@blogger.com (jan erik) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 17:05:00 +0000

By Matt Cronin
Sunday, September 13, 2009

In an extraordinary chapter to a delicious comeback to competition, new mother Kim Clijsters won her second US Open title with a decisive 7-5, 6-3 victory over Caroline Wozniacki on Sunday.

Battling swirling winds and an ambitious 19-year-old opponent, the 26-year-old Clijsters continued to go for her shots, dominated off the forehand side, stood strong in incredibly athletic rallies and grabbed the points that mattered the most.

Clijsters, who also won the 2005 US Open title, came into the match far more experienced and on a roll, having knocked off former champion Venus and Serena Williams en route to the final. Even though she had taken more than two years off to get married and have a child, Clijsters returned with the same weapons, just as quick, more mature and with a better understanding of her possibilities on the court.

“At that time I didn't look at it that way,” Clijsters said. “But maybe now I've become a lot more understanding of myself, how to deal when different emotions (that) come up.

"Maybe that's something when you're young and you get nervous. As an example, beating Venus a few rounds ago. Maybe in the past I would have been influenced a little bit about good results and then had the lack of that focus a little bit in the next round. So even the situation with Serena, those are things when you're 18, 19, can have a big impact on you. Now I have the experience of knowing how to deal with it and knowing myself a little bit better. I think that's the biggest difference, is that I know myself a lot better than I did a few years ago.”

Clijsters broke the Dane to go ahead 2-0 in the first set in a backhand crosscourt winner and it appeared that she might cruise to victory, but Wozniacki dug in, at times dictating play with her vicious backhand, running just as fast and hard as Clijsters and delighting in their crosscourt rallies.

Wozniacki broke Clijsters twice and went ahead 4-2, but the Belgian stormed back, and broke back to 4-4 when her foe double faulted. But the ninth seeded Wozniacki, who had won New Haven the week before the Open and who had upset Roland Garros champion Svetlana Kuznetsova en route to the final, broke again to 5-4 when she won a huge scramble point that had Clijsters sprinting back and forth chasing short balls and swerving lobs.

However, Clijsters wouldn't go away, and ran off three straight games to win the set, taking it when she got a ball into her wheelhouse and nailed her favored inside out forehand into the corner.

The wind calmed down in the second set and both women held serve to 3-2, but then Clijsters broke in the next game when Wozniacki erred on a backhand.

Clijsters appeared to grow a little nervous in the final few games but served intelligently, stayed steady and whenever she got an opportunity, banged heavy crosscourt forehands into Wozniacki's weaker side.

“The first couple of games I wanted to get into the match,” said Wozniacki, who was playing in her first major final. “I wanted to just know what I'm up against, and I fast found out that I'm up against a really strong player that doesn't give away any free points. I really had to fight for it. She played really well. She played aggressive. She just played better than me.”

The Belgian won the match when she put away a simple overhead and she became the first mother since Evonne Goolagong at 1980 Wimbledon to win a major.

Clijsters dropped to the ground in celebration and began to weep for joy.

Later, she would climb into the Friends' Box to hug her husband, New Jersey's Brian Lynch, as well as her coach, Wim Fisette, her trainer and friends.

Fisette knew once they began practicing at the beginning of the year that she'd have a shot at climbing back to the top, because Clijsters got stronger, was more relaxed as a happy mother to her 18-month-old daughter, Jada, and she began to further trust her weapons.

"It's a surprise, but the level isn't a surprise because she's such a big talent who doesn't need a year to get to her best level," he said. “She needed a few matches, but I knew she could do it at the Open. She went every day to practice and then to play with Jada and she didn't have the time to think about that she had to play Serena or a final tonight, because she was busy with Jada. It was perfect for her mind."

Right after the trophy presentation ended, Jada came down to the court, pranced around and played with the trophy. Clijsters said that she was happy to play the role as hero for working mothers.

“This is something that in my wildest dreams could never imagine happening,” she said. “So I kind of have to get used to the situation. I look forward to having that role a little bit maybe. It's something that I think as a woman and as a woman who has a family and being an athlete, I think it's possible. I think there are other athletes out there. Obviously in tennis we have Sybille Bammer, and she's doing really good, as well. But to win a Grand Slam now I think is obviously a big deal in women's tennis, and the history of women's tennis.”

Federer makes Grand Slam history with epic Wimbledon triumph

noreply@blogger.com (jan erik) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 15:54:00 +0000

Roger Federer made history on Sunday when he defeated brave Andy Roddick 5-7, 7-6 (8/6), 7-6 (7/5), 3-6, 16-14 to win a sixth Wimbledon title and claim a record 15th Grand Slam crown in a classic final.

But the 27-year-old Swiss second seed was given a huge fright by the American sixth seed who led by a set, had four set points in the second and didn't drop serve until the final, heartbreaking game of the match.

In an extraordinary conclusion, the deciding set was, at 95 minutes, the longest ever played in a men's Wimbledon final and was longer than it took the Williams sisters to contest the women's final on Saturday.

Federer now has six Wimbledon titles, five US Opens, three Australian Opens and a French Open trophy, and has surpassed Pete Sampras's mark of 14 majors.

He will also reclaim his world number one spot from Rafael Nadal, who beat him in a five-set final here last year.

"Andy (Roddick) played an unbelievable tournament. He's a great guy but there has to be a winner sometimes," said Federer after the 4hr 16min final.

"I didn't hold the trophy last year. But it feels great after such a crazy match which could have gone on for a few more hours. My head is still spinning.

"Getting 15 Grand Slam titles is not something you dream about when you are a little boy, but I've had a great career.

"It's been quite a month winning the French Open and Wimbledon back-to-back just like Bjorn Borg did.

"I don't play to break records but it's great to have them."

Roddick, who has now lost three Wimbledon finals to Federer, was in tears at the end of the match.

"Roger is a true champion and he deserves all he gets," said Roddick.

"I hope to come back one day and get my name up on that winners' board."

When asked later if he had just lost to the greatest player of all time, Roddick replied: "Yes."

Sampras, and fellow greats Rod Laver and Bjorn Borg were on hand to watch Federer's bid for history, as were Hollywood giants Woody Allen and Russell Crowe, such was the attraction of the Centre Court blockbuster.

Sampras had flown in from his California home and he agreed with Roddick.

"In my book, Roger is the greatest of all time. He has his critics and people point to Rafael Nadal beating him, but for me he's the greatest. He is a legend and an icon," said Sampras.

"He is a great champion and a good guy. He's very humble, which I like."

Federer, in a record seventh straight Wimbledon final and 20th Grand Slam title match, saw Roddick save four break points in the 11th game of the opening set and he immediately paid a heavy price.

The Swiss went wide with a crosscourt drive, which put him set point down, and then repeated the error to hand the American the opener 7-5.

Roddick, whose only Grand Slam title came at the 2003 US Open, lost the 2004 and 2005 finals here to Federer, just two of his 18 defeats in 20 previous career meetings with the world number two.

But on Sunday he wisely adopted the same game plan he employed in his semi-final win over Britain's Andy Murray, a powerful mix of trademark big groundstrokes punctuated by regular visits to the net.

Roddick then stretched to a 6/2 lead, and four set points, in the second set tiebreaker, but Federer fought back and levelled the final when the American unleashed a wild backhand.

Roddick was now under siege, saving a break point in the sixth game of the third set before another tiebreaker was required.

Federer went to three set points, two of which Roddick saved, but the Swiss opened up a two sets to one lead when a Roddick service return fell comfortably into his hitting zone and he despatched a fierce forehand winner.

But Roddick, playing in his first Grand Slam final since the 2006 US Open, refused to surrender and broke Federer to lead 3-1 in the fourth set on his way to levelling the final.

Federer again failed to convert a break point in the second game of the marathon decider before he was forced to fight off two on his own serve in the 17th game.

But eventually Roddick, always having to play catch-up, finally wilted in the 30th game of the decider when he ballooned a weary forehand long.

Day 10 At The French Open 2009

noreply@blogger.com (jan erik) — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 06:57:00 +0000

Serena Williams ousted as Robin Soderling wins anew from French Open 2009

WTC World No. 2 Serena Williams of the United States fall victim to an upset in the quarterfinals of the French Open 2009 while Maria Sharapova …. On the ATP side, surprisingly, Swede Robin Soderling wins anew, knocking off Russian Nikolay Davydenko.

Day Nine At The French Open 2009

noreply@blogger.com (jan erik) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 02:21:00 +0000

Andy Roddick’s best showing at the French Open ended with a lopsided loss in fading light. Which bothered him more Monday, that he played poorly in a 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 fourth-round exit against 11th-seeded Gael Monfils of France — or that the match continued as dusk descended?

“Obviously they’re both frustrating, and both contributed to my frustration,” said Roddick, the last U.S. man in the tournament. “He handled the conditions better than I did.”

The match was the last of the day on Court Suzanne Lenglen, and play didn’t begin until 7:47 p.m. Roddick began complaining to chair umpire Enric Molina in the second set that it was too dark.

After losing that set, Roddick told Molina: “I’m having trouble seeing the ball. I can’t see the ball.”

Roddick, never before past the third round at Roland Garros, missed several volleys and at least one overhead shot. After one miscue, the partisan crowd roared, and Monfils egged the spectators on, waving his hands as if to say, “Get louder!”

“The crowd did a good job supporting me. At times, I asked them to wake up and try to bury Andy. They responded, and I think he was a bit annoyed,” said Monfils, who’ll play Roger Federer in the quarterfinals. “As for Andy, I apologize for that.”

Day Eight At The French Open 2009

noreply@blogger.com (jan erik) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 16:59:00 +0000

Rafael Nadal’s hopes of winning another French Open in 2009 are finished. Robin Soderling has played an excellent match and managed to dethrone the king of clay by 3 sets to 1.

At precisely 5:54 p.m. local time, history was made at Roland Garros. For the first time here, the 22-year-old Spaniard lost a match.

Nadal did seem uncharacteristically laconic at times and displayed negative body language throughout, but just as much, Soderling won it.

Day Seven At The French Open 2009

noreply@blogger.com (jan erik) — Sun, 31 May 2009 13:34:00 +0000

The last American standing, Andy Roddick, the No. 6 seed in this tournament has advanced to the second week of the French Open 2009. For the first time in his career without dropping a set and without dropping his serve, his best showing so far at Roland Garros since he played it in 2001. 7 aces, no double faults, 27 winners, 11 unforced errors, 3 break points saved, 4 of 7 (57%) break points converted, 17 of 24 (71%) at net. Now, what can you say about this man with a fear of red clay who overpowered a Frenchman, Marc Gicquel 6-1, 6-4, 6-4? Of course Roddick has played beautiful clay court tennis in the past but today what he did was exemplary…superb!

"I played very well," Roddick quipped. "I knew the crowd would not be for me but they were very respectful…it's a lot better than I have done here before but it's only three matches."

I just hope Roddick would continue what he showed today on his games ahead to reach the finals. Could he do that? Well, let’s see.

Below are Tommy Haas, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Samantha Stosur, Virginie Razzano, Aleksandra Wozniak, and Sorana Cirstea all broke ground and broke through against the odds to reach the second week of Roland Garros.

Ana Ivanovic Quest For Second French Open Title

noreply@blogger.com (jan erik) — Sun, 31 May 2009 10:10:00 +0000

This post is for all the fans of Ana Ivanovic. Some of her photos during the French Open 2009 at Roland Garros Stadium in Paris, France. So here it goes…

Ana bites her hair as she trains for the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Friday May 22, 2009.

Ana serves a ball to Czech Republic's Iveta Benesova during their French Open tennis third round match on May 29, 2009 at Roland Garros Stadium in Paris. The event, the second Grand Slam tournament of 2009, runs from May 25 to June 7, 2009.

Ana hits a backhand against Benesova of Czech Republic on day six of the French Open at Roland Garros on May 29, 2009 in Paris, France.

Ana celebrates a point during the Women's Singles Third Round match against Benesova of Czech Republic on day six of the French Open at Roland Garros on May 29, 2009 in Paris, France

Ana serves a ball to Benesova during a French Open tennis third round match on May 29, 2009 at Roland Garros Stadium in Paris. The event, the second Grand Slam tournament of 2009, runs from May 25 to June 7, 2009.

Ana hits a backhand against Benesova of Czech Republic on day six of the French Open at Roland Garros on May 29, 2009 in Paris, France.

Ana jumps as she defeats Czech Republic's Benesova 6/0, 6/2. during their third round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Friday May 29, 2009.

Below and above are Ana’s reactions every time she wins a point against Italy's Sara Errani during their French Open tennis first round match on May 24, 2009 at Roland Garros stadium in Paris.

Above, Ana returns a ball to Italy's Sara Errani during the French Open tennis first round match on May 24, 2009 at Roland Garros stadium in Paris.

Above and below Ana stretches to hit a backhand during her Ladies' Singles First Round match against Saran Errani of Italy at the French Open on May 24, 2009 in Paris, France.

Ana returns the ball to Thailand's Tamarine Tanasugarn during their second round match at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Wednesday May 27, 2009.

Ana celebrates a point during her Women's Singles Second Round match against Tanasugarn of Thailand on day four of the French Open at Roland Garros on May 27, 2009 in Paris, France.

Ana's reaction after winning a match against Tamarine Tanasugarn of Thailand on day four of the French Open at Roland Garros on May 27, 2009 in Paris, France. Ivanovic won 6-1, 6-2.

Ana Powers Past Benesova

noreply@blogger.com (jan erik) — Sun, 31 May 2009 05:03:00 +0000

Ana Ivanovic produced a brilliant performance to power past 32nd seed Iveta Benesova 6-0, 6-2 in the third round of the French Open. The 21-year-old smacked 20 winners during a 61-minute rout to extend her winning streak at Roland Garros to 10 matches.

Benesova was on the back foot almost from the very start. She carved out two break points in the opening game of the match, but Ana saved them both. Thereafter, Ana dominated with her forehand and demonstrated excellent court craft: she hit stop volleys, drop shots and heavy backhand slice.

Ana broke in the second game of the match. She added further breaks in games four and six as she whitewashed the Czech in an opening set that lasted just 23 minutes.

It was more of the same in the second set, although Benesova fought gamely and took a 2-1 lead by breaking Ana in the third game.

Normal service was resumed in the following game as Ana again overwhelmed her opponent, winning the remaining five games of the match to extend her head-to-head record over the Czech to 5-0. After winning the final point of the match she clenched her fist in recognition of a highly accomplished performance.

"It was a pretty good match," said Ana modestly. "I was really happy. The score doesn't indicate how hard I had to work for some points.

"She started playing much, much better in the second set, and started hitting the ball much heavier. I just played really good and stayed in the moment and did what I had to do out there. I'm really happy about my match today."

Ana will meet either ninth seed Victoria Azarenka or Spanish clay court expert Carla Suarez Navarro, ranked 22nd, in the fourth round on Sunday.

This article can be read at http://www.anaivanovic.com/?path=start/news&detailpage=1550

Day Six At The French Open 2009

noreply@blogger.com (jan erik) — Sat, 30 May 2009 15:29:00 +0000

Andy Murray secured his place in the fourth round of the French Open for the first time in his career after defeating Janko Tipsarevic who retired due to injury 7-6(3), 6-3.

Murray was on course for victory but will be pleased not to have needed to dip into his energy reserves against an opponent who had made life difficult for him, particularly in the first set.

The Serb had led 5-2 in the opener, with two breaks of serve, but the British No3 seed stepped up a gear and hauled himself back into the set. Murray forced a tie-break after forcing Tipsarevic into a series of errors. He then put together a fabulous return of serve, passing shot combination on set point to win the deciding game 7-3.

The Scot then broke the man ranked No65 in the world in the first game of the second set, and at that point Tipsarevic called for the physio. The courtside massage seemed to do the trick when he immediately broke back, but that proved to be a false dawn for the Serb as Murray took control, finding more regularity on his first serve, and maneuvering his opponent around the court with ease.

Murray broke him at 3-2 and then again at 5-3 to move into a two set lead. Tipsarevic had evidently lost his early-match verve but it was still a surprise when he decided not to carry on. Murray was not complaining though, and with a clenched fist, he celebrated this significant milestone in his career.

He now faces the big-serving No13 seed Marin Cilic and, providing he gets his eye in on return of serve, surely stands a good chance of reaching the quarter-finals, where a matchup with either Fernando Gonzalez or Victor Hanescu awaits.

Andy Murray of Britain returns backhand shot to Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia during their French Open tennis third round match on May 29, 2009 at Roland Garros stadium in Paris. Murray won 6-7(3), 6-3.

Big names advances into the fourth round includes, world No.1 Rafael Nadal of Spain shows too much power against Lleyton Hewitt of Australia 6-1, 6-3, 6-1. World No.2 Roger Federer of Switzerland outlasted Paul Henri Mathieu of 4-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-4. No. 4 seed Novak Djokovic of Serbia outclassed Sirgiy Stakhovsky of Ukraine 6-3, 6-4, 6-1. No. 6 seed Andy Roddick of USA defeated Marc Gicquel of France 6-1, 6-4, 6-4. No. 5 seed Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina defeated Igor Andreev of Russia 6-4, 7-5, 6-4. No. 8 seed Fernando Vedasco of Spain won over his countryman Nicolas Almagro 6-2, 7-6(4), 7-6(8).

Below are the scores:

Saturday, May 30, 2009

Third Round – Men’s Singles

[2] R Federer (SUI) d [32] P Mathieu (FRA) 4-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-4
[29] P Kohlschreiber (GER) d [4] N Djokovic (SRB) 6-4, 6-4, 6-4
[5] J del Potro (ARG) d [25] I Andreev (RUS) 6-4, 7-5, 6-4
[6] A Roddick (USA) d M Gicquel (FRA) 6-1, 6-4, 6-4
[9] J Tsonga (FRA) d C Rochus (BEL) 6-2, 6-2, 6-2
[11] G Monfils (FRA) d [24] J Melzer (AUT) 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1
[16] T Robredo (ESP) d M Gonzalez (ARG) 4-6, 7-5, 6-1, 6-0
T Haas (GER) d J Chardy (FRA) 7-5, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4

Third Round – Women’s Singles

(2) Serena Williams (USA) d. Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez (ESP) 4-6, 6-3, 6-4
(30) Samantha Stosur (AUS) d. (4) Elena Dementieva (RUS) 6-3, 4-6, 6-1
(5) Jelena Jankovic (SRB) d. Jarmila Groth (AUS) 6-1, 6-1
(7) Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) d. Melinda Czink (HUN) 6-1, 6-3
(9) Victoria Azarenka (BLR) d. (22) Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP) 5-7, 7-5, 6-2
Sorana Cirstea (ROU) d. (10) Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) 7-6(3), 7-5
(12) Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) d. Kateryna Bondarenko (UKR) 6-2, 6-4
(24) Aleksandra Wozniak (CAN) d. Lourdes Dominguez Lino (ESP) 6-2, 3-6, 6-3
Virginie Razzano (FRA) d. Tathiana Garbin (ITA) 7-5, 7-5

Friday, May 29, 2009

Third Round – Men’s Singles

[1] R Nadal (ESP) d L Hewitt (AUS) 6-1, 6-3 6-1
[3] A Murray (GBR) d J Tipsarevic (SRB) 7-6(3), 6-3 ret. (hip)
[30] V Hanescu (ROU) d [7] G Simon (FRA) 6-4, 6-4, 6-2
[8] F Verdasco (ESP) d [31] N Almagro (ESP) 6-2, 7-6(4), 7-6(8)
[10] N Davydenko (RUS) d [17] S Wawrinka (SUI) 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2
[12] F Gonzalez (CHI) d [WC] J Ouanna (FRA) 7-5, 6-3, 7-5
[13] M Cilic (CRO) d [18] R Stepanek (CZE) 6-1, 7-6(4), 6-3
[23] R Soderling (SWE) d [14] D Ferrer (ESP) 6-7(5), 7-5, 6-2, 7-6(5)

Second Round

[4] N Djokovic (SRB) d S Stakhovsky (UKR) 6-3, 6-4, 6-1
[29] P Kohlschreiber (GER) d J Ferrero (ESP) 6-4, 2-6, 6-4, 6-7(3), 6-3

Third Round – Women’s Singles

(1) Dinara Safina (RUS) d. (27) Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) 6-2, 6-0
(29) Agnes Szavay (HUN) d. (3) Venus Williams (USA) 6-0, 6-4
(8) Ana Ivanovic (SRB) d. (32) Iveta Benesova (CZE) 6-0, 6-2
(20) Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) d. Gisela Dulko (ARG) 6-4, 6-2
(25) Li Na (CHN) d. Olga Govortsova (BLR) 7-5, 6-1
Aravane Rezai (FRA) d. (Q) Michelle Larcher de Brito (POR) 7-6(3,) 6-2
Maria Sharapova (RUS) d. (Q) Yaroslava Shvedova (KAZ) 1-6, 6-3, 6-4

(9) Victoria Azarenka (BLR) vs. (22) Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP) 5-7, 7-5 - Postponed due to darkness

Day Five At The French Open 2009

noreply@blogger.com (jan erik) — Fri, 29 May 2009 12:28:00 +0000

Roger Federer, the No. 2 seed in this tournament advances into the third round but needed four sets to beat Jose Acasuso of Argentina. The Swiss and World No.2 tennis player saved a set point at 5-2 in the third set on his way to a 7-6 (10/8), 5-7, 7-6 (7/2), 6-2 victory over the Argentine. Federer went into the match with a 3-0 record over Acasuso, but the two had never met on clay. The cold, rainy weather made for molasses slow court conditions - just the kind the Argentine dirtballer needed to test Roger.

In the women’s side, Five-time Wimbledon champion Venus Williams may be known for her high-octane offence, but it was her steely defence that pulled her through in a remarkable 6-7(2) 6-2 7-5 victory over Czech Lucie Safarova to advance into the third round. On the other hand, her younger sister, Serena Williams, 10-times grand slam champion and No. 2 seed here raced into the third round with an easy victory over Spaniard Virginia Ruano Pascual 6-2, 6-0.

Also advances to the third round is 7^th seed Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia who shows little mercy in a swift 6-0 6-2 hammering of Kazakhstan’s Galina Voskoboeva.

Snapshots of the day.

Venus Williams (R) shakes hands with Lucie Safarova at the end of their French Open tennis second round match on May 28, 2009 at Roland Garros stadium in Paris where Venus won 6-7, 6-2, 7-5.

Serena Williams (R) and Virginia Ruano Pascual meet at the net following their Women's Singles Second Round match on day five of the French Open at Roland Garros on May 28, 2009 in Paris, France. Serena won 6-0, 6-2.

Day Four At The French Open 2009

noreply@blogger.com (jan erik) — Thu, 28 May 2009 15:08:00 +0000

Murray Rises, Safin Flops at French Open 2009.

Andy Murray continued his love-hate relationship with clay at the French Open, coming back from 1-5 down in the third to defeat Italian Potito “You Say Potatoe” Starace 6-3, 2-6, 7-5, 6-4 to advance to the next round. The No. 3-seeded Brit will next meet Serbian Janko Tipsarevic, who beat No. 28 seed Feliciano Lopez of Spain in four sets.

Rafael Nadal, the No. 1 seed and world’s No. 1 tennis player, is ready to claim his 5^th consecutive French Open title as he advances to the next round after demolishing unseeded Teimuraz Gabashvili of Russia 6-1, 6-4, 6-2.

French wildcard Josselin Ouanna ousted former No. 1 Marat Safin 7-6(2), 7-6(4), 4-6, 3-6, 10-8 in the biggest upset of the day.

In the women’s side, Maria Sharapova of Russia mauls compatriot Nadia Petrova 6-2, 1-6, 8-6. And what a way to do it - winning five straight games in the first, flailing in the second and fighting back from a break down in the third.

My favorite and defending champion, Ana Ivanovic title quest remained on-course after a comfortable 6-1, 6-2 win over world No. 52 Tamarine Tanasugarn of Thailand. The 21-year old pretty lass from Serbia blitzed 32 winners against 14 unforced errors as she overwhelmed her opponent in just 65 minutes. Congratz Ana!

Below are the results:

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Second Round – Men’s Singles

[1] R Nadal (ESP) d T Gabashvili (RUS) 6-1, 6-4, 6-2
[3] A Murray (GBR) d P Starace (ITA) 63-, 2-6, 7-5, 6-4
[7] G Simon (FRA) d R Kendrick (USA) 7-5, 6-0, 6-1
[8] F Verdasco (ESP) d P Petzschner (GER) 6-1, 6-2, 6-3
[12] F Gonzalez (CHI) d R Machado (POR) 6-2, 6-3, 6-2
[13] M Cilic (CRO) d D Sela (ISR) 6-0, 6-3, 6-1
[14] D Ferrer (ESP) d N Kiefer (GER) 6-3, 5-7, 6-4, 3-6, 6-2
[17] S Wawrinka (SUI) d N Massu (CHI) 6-1, 6-1, 6-2
[18] R Stepanek (CZE) d [LL] M Montcourt (FRA) 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4
J Ouanna (FRA) d [20] M Safin (RUS) 7-6(2), 7-6(4), 4-6, 3-6, 10-8
[23] R Soderling (SWE) d D Istomin (UZB) 6-4, 7-6(4), 6-4
[30] V Hanescu (ROU) d M Youzhny (RUS) 7-5, 7-5, 7-5
[31] N Almagro (ESP) d E Gulbis (LAT) 6-7(4), 7-6(5), 6-3, 6-2
J Tipsarevic (SRB) d [28] F Lopez (ESP) 6-7(9), 6-4, 7-6(4), 6-3
L Hewitt (AUS) d A Golubev (KAZ) 6-4, 6-3, 6-1
[10] N Davydenko (RUS) vs D Junqueira (ARG) 4-6, 6-3, 6-0, 2-2 - Suspended due to darkness

First Round – Men’s Singles

A Clement (FRA) d [21] D Tursunov (RUS) 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1
C Rochus (BEL) d F Santoro (FRA) 6-3, 6-1, 3-6, 6-4

Second Round – Women’s Singles

(1) Dinara Safina (RUS) d. (Q) Vitalia Diatchenko (RUS) 6-1, 6-1
(8) Ana Ivanovic (SRB) d. Tamarine Tanasugarn (THA) 6-1, 6-2
(9) Victoria Azarenka (BLR) d. Kristina Barrois (GER) 7-6(1), 7-5
Maria Sharapova (RUS) d. (11) Nadia Petrova (RUS) 6-2, 1-6, 8-6
(Q) Michelle Larcher de Brito (POR) d. (15) Zheng Jie (CHN) 6-4, 6-3
(20) Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) d. Kirsten Flipkens (BEL) 6-1, 6-0
(22) Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP) d. Lucie Hradecka (CZE) 6-2, 6-4
(25) Li Na (CHN) d. Timea Bacsinszky (SUI) 6-1, 6-4
(27) Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) d. Julie Coin (FRA) 6-2, 7-6(2)
(29) Agnes Szavay (HUN) d. Elena Vesnina (RUS) 6-2, 6-0
(32) Iveta Benesova (CZE) d. Alla Kudryavtseva (RUS) 6-1, 6-2
Gisela Dulko (ARG) d. Anna-Lena Groenefeld (GER) 7-6(5), 0-6, 6-2
Aravane Rezai (FRA) d. (Q) Polona Hercog (SLO) 3-6, 6-4, 6-2
Olga Govortsova (BLR) d. Akgul Amanmuradova (UZB) 6-3, 6-7(3), 7-5
(Q) Yaroslava Shvedova (KAZ) d. (Q) Arantxa Rus (NED) 6-0, 6-2
Lucie Safarova (CZE) leads (3) Venus Williams (USA) 7-6(5) - Suspended due to darkness

First Round – Women’s Singles

(21) Alize Cornet (FRA) d. Maret Ani (EST) 6-4, 7-5

Day Three At The French Open 2009

noreply@blogger.com (jan erik) — Wed, 27 May 2009 12:04:00 +0000

ATP World Tour No. 4 Novak Djokovic advanced to the Roland Garros second round after a strong opening performance against Ecuadorian Nicolas Lapentti in Paris on Tuesday. The Serbian’s commanding performance saw him open up a 6-3, 3-1 lead over Lapentti before the former Top 10 player was forced to retire with an ankle injury.

Meanwhile in the WTA side, Serena Williams, the No. 3 seed, also advances to the second round but needed a hardly fought three setters to win against Klara Zakopalova, who dismissed Serena in three sets in Marbella a few weeks back, fought like a wounded animal to save 8 of 9 match points on her own serve. It took a forehand error on the 9th for her to finally surrender 6-3, 7-6(5), 6-4. See below how Serena reacts after the win.

Below are the results:

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

First Round – Men’s Singles

[4] N Djokovic (SRB) N Lapentti (ECU) 6-3,3-1 ret.
[5] J Del Potro (ARG) d M Llodra (FRA) 6-3, 6-3, 6-1
[9] J Tsonga (FRA) d J Benneteau (FRA) 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
[11] G Monfils (FRA) d B Reynolds (USA) 6-2, 6-3, 6-1
[Q] L Mayer (ARG) d [15] J Blake (USA) 7-6(6), 7-5, 6-2
[16] T Robredo (ESP) d [WC] A Mannarino (FRA) 6-2, 6-1, 6-2
M Gonzalez (ARG) d [22] M Fish (USA) 6-3, 1-6, 6-4, 7-6(4)
M Gicquel (FRA) d [27] R Schuettler (GER) 6-0, 6-0, 6-4
[29] P Kohlschreiber (GER) d [WC] B Tomic (AUS) 6-1, 6-2, -2
[Q] V Crivoi (ROU) d [Q] S Greul (GER) 6-1, 7-6(1), 6-2
A Beck (GER) d I Navarro (ESP) 7-6(9), 6-4, 6-1
V Troicki (SRB) d [Q] L Kubot (POL) 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-7(4), 6-3
D Gimeno-Traver (ESP) d E Korolev (RUS) 6-4 ret.
[Q] S Stakhovsky (UKR) d B Dabul (ARG) 4-6, 7-5, 7-6(2) 6-3
J Monaco (ARG) d M Baghdatis (CYP) 6-3, 6-2, 6-4
A Seppi (ITA) d G Garcia-Lopez (ESP) 6-3, 6-3, 6-1
J Ferrero (ESP) d I Ljubicic (CRO) 2-6, 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3
T Haas (GER) d A Pavel (ROU) 6-1, 6-4, 6-4
[21] D Tursunov (RUS) vs A Clement (FRA) 3-6, 6-3 - to finish Wednesday
C Rochus (BEL) vs F Santoro (FRA) 6-3, 6-1, 3-6, 5-3 - to finish Wednesday

First Round – Women’s Singles

(2) Serena Williams (USA) d. Klara Zakopalova (CZE) 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-4
(4) Elena Dementieva (RUS) d. (Q) Chanelle Scheepers (RSA) 6-4, 6-3
(5) Jelena Jankovic (SRB) d. Petra Cetkovska (CZE) 6-2, 6-3
(7) Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) d. (WC) Claire Feuerstein (FRA) 6-1, 6-4
(10) Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) d. Vera Dushevina (RUS) 4-6, 7-5, 6-1
(18) Anabel Medina Garrigues (ESP) d. Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) 6-2, 5-7, 6-0
(24) Aleksandra Wozniak (CAN) d. Monica Niculescu (ROU) 6-4, 4-6, 6-3
(28) Sybille Bammer (AUT) d. Nathalie Dechy (FRA) 6-3, 7-6(1)
(30) Samantha Stosur (AUS) d. Francesca Schiavone (ITA) 6-4, 6-2
Maria Jos? Martinez Sanchez (ESP) d. (31) Peng Shuai (CHN) 1-6, 6-2, 6-4
Virginie Razzano (FRA) d. Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) 6-3, 6-3
Sorana Cirstea (ROU) d. (Q) Carly Gullickson (USA) 6-4, 6-2
Magdalena Rybarikova (SVK) d. (WC) Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) 6-1, 2-6, 8-6
Melinda Czink (HUN) d. (Q) Anastasija Sevastova (LAT) 3-6, 6-4, 6-1
Yanina Wickmayer (BEL) d. Urszula Radwanska (POL) 4-6, 6-3, 6-0
Jelena Dokic (AUS) d. Karolina Sprem (CRO) 3-6, 6-1, 6-2
Galina Voskoboeva (KAZ) d. Sania Mirza (IND) 6-4, 7-6(3)
Viktoriya Kutuzova (UKR) d. (Q) Zuzana Ondraskova (CZE) 6-2, 6-4
Virginia Ruano Pascual (ESP) d. Nicole Vaidisova (CZE) 6-4, 6-3
(Q) Petra Martic (CRO) d. Mara Santangelo (ITA) 6-4, 6-2

Suspended due to darkness
(21) Alize Cornet (FRA) leads Maret Ani (EST) 6-4, 4-4

2009 French Open TV Schedule

noreply@blogger.com (jan erik) — Wed, 27 May 2009 10:46:00 +0000

Below is the US, UK, Canada, and Australia French Open TV Schedule. Scroll down to find your listing.

2009 Roland Garros French Open

Paris, France

Prize Money: $ 6,947,960

Surface: red clay / outdoor

* Defending champs: Rafael Nadal (4 times) and Ana Ivanovic

US TV Schedules

Sunday, May 24
5:00 am - 12:00 pm: French Open Early Rounds - TENNIS CHANNEL (HD) - LIVE
12:00 pm - 6:00 pm: French Open Early Rounds - ESPN2 + ESPN2 HD - LIVE and tape
6:30 pm - 5:00 am: French Open “Tonight” show - TENNIS CHANNEL (HD) - tape

Monday, May 25
5:00 am - 3:00 pm: French Open Early Rounds - TENNIS CHANNEL (HD) - LIVE
3:00 pm - 5:00 am: French Open “Tonight” show - TENNIS CHANNEL (HD) - tape

Tuesday, May 26
5:00 am - 12:00 pm: French Open Early Rounds - TENNIS CHANNEL (HD) - LIVE
12:00 pm - 6:30 pm: French Open Early Rounds - ESPN2 + ESPN2 HD - LIVE and tape
6:30 pm - 5:00 am: French Open “Tonight” show - TENNIS CHANNEL (HD) - tape

Wednesday, May 27
5:00 am - 12:00 pm: French Open Early Rounds - TENNIS CHANNEL (HD) - LIVE
12:00 pm - 6:30 pm: French Open Early Rounds - ESPN2 + ESPN2 HD- LIVE and tape
6:30 pm - 5:00 am: French Open “Tonight” show - TENNIS CHANNEL (HD) - tape

Thursday, May 28
5:00 am - 12:00 pm: French Open Early Rounds - TENNIS CHANNEL (HD) - LIVE
12:00 pm - 6:30 pm: French Open Early Rounds - ESPN2 + ESPN2 HD - LIVE and tape
6:30 pm - 5:00 am: French Open “Tonight” show - TENNIS CHANNEL (HD) - tape

Friday, May 29
5:00 am - 12:00 pm: French Open Early Rounds - TENNIS CHANNEL (HD) - LIVE
12:00 pm -6:30 pm: French Open Early Rounds - ESPN2 + ESPN2 HD - LIVE and tape
6:30 pm - 5:00 am: French Open “Tonight” show - TENNIS CHANNEL (HD) - tape

Saturday, May 30
5:00 am - 1:30 pm: French Open Early Rounds - TENNIS CHANNEL (HD) - LIVE
1:30 pm - 4:30 pm: French Open Early Rounds - NBC - LIVE
4:30 pm - 5:00 am: French Open “Tonight” show - TENNIS CHANNEL (HD) - tape

Sunday, May 31
5:00 am - 3:00 pm: French Open Early Rounds - TENNIS CHANNEL (HD) - LIVE
3:00 pm - 6:00 pm: French Open Early Rounds - NBC - tape
6:00 pm - 5:00 am: French Open “Tonight” show - TENNIS CHANNEL (HD) - tape

Monday, June 1 - RD. of 16
5:00 am - 12:00 pm: French Open Round of 16 - TENNIS CHANNEL (HD) - LIVE
12:00 pm - 6:30 pm: French Open Round of 16 - ESPN2 + ESPN2 HD - LIVE and tape
6:30 pm - 5:00 am: French Open “Tonight” show - TENNIS CHANNEL (HD) - tape

Tuesday, June 2 - QUARTERS
8:00 am - 12:00 pm: French Open Quarterfinals - TENNIS CHANNEL (HD) - LIVE
12:00 pm - 6:30 pm: French Open Quarterfinals - ESPN2 + ESPN2 HD - LIVE and tape
6:30 pm - 5:00 am: French Open “Tonight” show - TENNIS CHANNEL (HD) - tape

Wednesday, June 3 - QUARTERS
8:00 am - 12:00 pm: French Open Quarterfinals - TENNIS CHANNEL (HD) - LIVE
12:00 pm - 6:30 pm: French Open Men’s Quarterfinals - ESPN2 + ESPN2 HD - LIVE and tape
6:30 pm - 5:00 am: French Open “Tonight” show - TENNIS CHANNEL (HD) - tape

Thursday, June 4 - SEMIS
5:00 am - 8:00 am: French Open Men’s Doubles Semifinals - TENNIS CHANNEL (HD) - LIVE
8:00 am - 1:00 pm: French Open Women’s Semifinals - ESPN2 + ESPN2 HD - LIVE
1:00 pm - 6:30 pm: French Open Women’s Semifinals - TENNIS CHANNEL (HD) - tape
6:30 pm - 5:00 am: French Open “Tonight” show - TENNIS CHANNEL (HD) - tape

Friday, June 5: - SEMIS
5:00 am - 10:00 am: French Open Women’s Semifinals - TENNIS CHANNEL (HD) - tape
10:00 am - 1:00 pm: French Open Men’s Semifinals - NBC - LIVE
4:00 pm - 11:00 pm: French Open Men’s Semifinals - TENNIS CHANNEL (HD) - tape
11:00 pm - 6:00 am: French Open Men’s Semifinals - TENNIS CHANNEL (HD) - tape

Saturday, June 6: - FINAL
9:00 am - 12:00 pm: Women’s FINAL - NBC - LIVE

Sunday, June 7: FINAL
9:00 am - 2:00 pm: Men’s FINAL - NBC - LIVE

UK TV Schedules

Sunday 24th May - 2009
British Eurosport (10:00-19:30)
British Eurosport HD (10:00-15:00, 16:00-19:30)
BBC Interactive (10:00-19:00)

Monday 25th May - 2009
British Eurosport (10:00-15:00, 16:45-19:30)
British Eurosport HD (10:00-14:30, 16:45-19:30)
BBC Interactive (10:00-19:00)

Tuesday 26th May - 2009
British Eurosport (10:00-19:30)
British Eurosport HD (10:00-19:30)
BBC Interactive (10:00-19:00)

Wednesday 27th May - 2009
British Eurosport (10:00-19:30)
British Eurosport HD (10:00-14:30, 16:45-19:30)
BBC Interactive (10:00-19:00)

Thursday 28th May - 2009
British Eurosport (10:00-18:30)
British Eurosport HD (10:00-15:00, 16:45-18:30)
BBC Interactive (10:00-19:00)

Friday 29th May - 2009
British Eurosport (10:00-18:30)
British Eurosport HD (10:00-15:00, 16:45-18:30)
BBC Interactive (10:00-19:00)

Saturday 30th May - 2009
British Eurosport (10:00-19:30)
British Eurosport HD (10:00-15:30, 16:30-19:30)
BBC Interactive (10:00-19:00)

Sunday 31st May - 2009
British Eurosport (10:00-11:45, 16:30-19:30)
British Eurosport HD (10:00-11:45, 16:30-19:30)
BBC Interactive (10:00-19:00)

Monday 1st June - 2009
British Eurosport (10:00-19:30)
British Eurosport HD (10:00-19:30)
BBC Interactive (10:00-19:00)

Canada TV Schedules

Sunday 24th May
Early Round Coverage Day 1 Noon ET /9am PT TSN2/TSN2 HD

Monday 25th May
Early Round Coverage Day 2 9am ET /6am PT TSN/TSN HD

Tuesday 26th May
Early Round Coverage Day 3 9am ET /6am PT TSN/TSN HD

Wednesday 27th May
Early Round Coverage Day 4 9am ET /6am PT TSN/TSN HD

Thursday 28th May
Early Round Coverage Day 5 9am ET /6am PT TSN/TSN HD

Friday 29th May
Early Round Coverage Day 6 9am ET /6am PT TSN/TSN HD

Saturday 30th May
Early Round Coverage Day 7 9pm ET /6am PT TSN/TSN HD

Sunday 31st May
Round of 16 9am ET /6am PT TSN/TSN HD

Monday 1st June
Round of 16 5am ET /2am PT TSN/TSN HD

Tuesday 2nd June
Men’s and Women’s Quarterfinals 8am ET/5am PT TSN/TSN HD

Wednesday 3rd June
Men’s Quarterfinals 8am ET /5am PT TSN/TSN HD

Thursday 4th June
Women’s Semifinals 8am ET /5am PT TSN/TSN HD

Friday 5th June
Men’s Semifinals 7am ET /4am PT TSN

Saturday 6th June
Women’s Final 9am ET /6am PT TSN/TSN HD

Sunday 7th June
Men’s Final 9am ET /6am PT TSN/TSN HD

Australia TV Schedules

Sunday 24th May - 2009

9:30 am - 11:30 am
11:30 am - 1:30 pm
6:30 pm - 7:00 pm
7:00 pm - 4:00 am
7:00 pm - 4:00 am

Fox Sports 3
Fox Sports 3
Fox Sports 3
Fox Sports 3
Fox Sports HD

WTA Tour Warsaw, Final
ATP World Tour 250, Austria Semifinals
French Open Preview
LIVE: French Open, Day 1
LIVE: French Open, Day 1

Monday 25th May - 2009

1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
3:00 pm - 7:00 pm
7:00 pm - 4:00 am
7:00 pm - 4:00 am

Fox Sports HD
Fox Sports 3
Fox Sports 3
Fox Sports HD

French Open, Day 1
French Open, Day 1
LIVE: French Open, Day 2
LIVE: French Open, Day 2

Tuesday 26th May - 2009

4:00 am - 7:00 pm
8:00 am - 2:00 pm
7:00 pm - 4:00 am
7:00 pm - 4:00 am

Fox Sports 3
Fox Sports HD
Fox Sports 3
Fox Sports HD

French Open, Day 2
French Open, Day 2
LIVE: French Open, Day 3
LIVE: French Open, Day 3

Wednesday 27th May

4:00 am - 7:00 pm
8:00 am - 1:00 pm
7:00 pm - 4:00 am
7:00 pm - 4:00 am

Fox Sports 3
Fox Sports HD
Fox Sports 3
Fox Sports HD

French Open, Day 3
French Open, Day 3
LIVE: French Open, Day 4
LIVE: French Open, Day 4

Thursday 28th May

4:00 am - 7:00 pm
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
7:00 pm - 4:00 am
7:00 pm - 4:00 am

Fox Sports 3
Fox Sports HD
Fox Sports 3
Fox Sports HD

French Open, Day 4
French Open, Day 4
LIVE: French Open, Day 5
LIVE: French Open, Day 5

Friday 29th May

4:00 am - 7:00 pm
9:00 am - 3:00 pm
7:00 pm - 4:00 am
7:00 pm - 4:00 am

Fox Sports 3
Fox Sports HD
Fox Sports 3
Fox Sports HD

French Open, Day 5
French Open, Day 5
LIVE: French Open, Day 6
LIVE: French Open, Day 6

Saturday 30th May

4:00 am - 5:00 pm
1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
10:00 pm - 4:00 am

Fox Sports 3
Fox Sports HD
Fox Sports 3

French Open, Day 6
French Open, Day 6
LIVE: French Open, Day 7

Sunday 31st May

4:00 am - 7:00 pm
8:00 am - 11:30 am
7:00 pm - 4:00 am
7:30 pm - 4:00 am

Fox Sports 3
Fox Sports HD
Fox Sports 3
Fox Sports HD

French Open, Day 6
French Open, Day 6
LIVE: French Open, Day 7
LIVE: French Open, Day 7

Day Two At The French Open 2009

noreply@blogger.com (jan erik) — Tue, 26 May 2009 13:12:00 +0000

There was loads of action on the second day of French Open at Roland Garros where big names of tennis like Federer, Nadal, Roddick, Shararapova, Safina and Venus Williams advances to the next round after claiming victory over their respective opponents.

Russia's Maria Sharapova, ranked 102 in the world, needed three sets to defeat Anastasiya Yakimova of Belarus 3-6, 6-1, 6-2. Her compatriot Dinara Safina, the women’s No. 1 seed blanked Anne Keothavong of Britain 6-0, 6-0. On the other hand, Venus Williams, the No. 3 seed, also needed three sets to overcome her fellow American Bethanie Mattek-Sands 6-1, 4-6, 6-2.

On the men side, Rafael Nadal of France, the No. 1 seed, was not at his suffocating best as he launched his campaign to win a record fifth straight men’s title. He squandered some early opportunities and made uncharacteristic errors with his two-handed backhand against a Brazilian veteran Marcos Daniel whom he beat in straight sets 7-5, 6-4, 6-3, while Roger Federer of Switzerland, seeded No. 2, had less difficulty with Spanish veteran Alberto Martin, winning 6-4, 6-3, 6-2. American Andy Roddick, seeded No. 6, who hadn’t been past the first round since 2005, beat Romain Jouan of France who was ranked 305 in the world in straight sets 1-1 6-2, 6-4, 6-2.

Rafael Nadal

Andy Roddick

Venus Williams

Maria Sharapova

Below are the results:

Monday, May 25, 2009

First Round – Men’s Singles

Nikolay Davydenko (10), Russia def. Stefan Koubek, Austria, 6-2, 6-1, 6-4.
Mikhail Youzhny, Russia, def. Gilles Muller, Luxembourg, 7-6(2) 6-1, 6-4.
Stanislas Wawrinka (17), Switzerland, def. Nicolas Devilder, France, 6-3, 5-7, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4.
Potito Starace, Italy, def. Mischa Zverev, Germany, 6-7 (5), 7-5, 1-0, retired.
Robin Soderling (23), Sweden, def. Kevin Kim, United States, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (4), 6-2.
Nicolas Massu, Chile, def. Daniel Koellerer, Austria, 6-3, 6-4, 1-6, 2-6, 6-3.
Nicolas Kiefer, Germany, def. Ilia Bozoljac, Serbia, 7-6 (4), 3-6, 7-5, 6-4.
Denis Istomin, Uzbekistan, def. Santiago Giraldo, Colombia, 6-3, 6-7 (2), 6-3, 7-6 (4).
Victor Hanescu (30), Romania, def. Steve Darcis, Belgium, 7-6 (8), 7-6 (5), 7-6 (3).
Rafael Nadal (1), Spain, def. Marcos Daniel, Brazil, 7-5, 6-4, 6-3.
Fernando Gonzalez (12), Chile, def. Jiri Vanek, Czech Republic, 6-3, 6-2, 6-3.
Rui Machado, Portugal, def. Kristof Vliegen, Belgium, 6-2, 6-4, 4-6, 2-6, 6-3.
Roger Federer (2), Switzerland, def. Alberto Martin, Spain, 6-4, 6-3, 6-2.
Paul-Henri Mathieu (32), France, def. Laurent Recouderc, France, 6-4, 6-4, 6-1.
Guillaume Rufin, France, def. Eduardo Schwank, Argentina, 6-1, 6-3, 6-3.
Janko Tipsarevic, Serbia, def. Albert Montanes, Spain, 3-6, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (5), 6-4.
Feliciano Lopez (28), Spain, def. Franco Ferreiro, Brazil, 6-7 (3), 4-6, 7-6 (4), 7-5, 6-2.
Teimuraz Gabashvili, Russia, def. Igor Kunitsyn, Russia, 6-7 (6), 7-6 (5), 6-3, 6-1.
Pablo Andujar, Spain, def. Robby Ginepri, United States, 6-4, 7-6 (7), 7-6 (3).
Simone Bolelli, Italy, def. Tomas Berdych (19), Czech Republic, 6-4, 6-4, 5-7, 4-6, 6-3.
Jose Acasuso, Argentina, def. Santiago Ventura, Spain, 3-6, 7-6 (5), 6-0, 6-3.
Jurgen Melzer (24), Austria, def. Sergio Roitman, Argentina, 6-4, 7-6 (4), 6-0.
Andy Roddick (6), United States, def. Romain Jouan, France, 6-2, 6-4, 6-2.
Jeremy Chardy, France, def. Thiago Alves, Brazil, 6-2, 7-6 (10), 6-3.
Martin Vassallo Arguello, Argentina, def. Thomaz Bellucci, Brazil, 6-4, 6-7 (4), 5-5, retired.
Diego Junqueira, Argentina, def. Paul Capdeville, Chile, 3-6, 7-5, 6-1, 6-3.

First Round – Women’s Singles

(1) Dinara Safina (RUS) d. Anne Keothavong (GBR) 6-0, 6-0
(3) Venus Williams (USA) d. Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA) 6-1, 4-6, 62
(13) Marion Bartoli (FRA) d. Pauline Parmentier (FRA) 3-6, 6-1, 6-3
(12) Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) d. Rossana De Los Rios (PAR) 6-3, 6-1
Alexa Glatch (USA) d. (14) Flavia Pennetta (ITA) 6-1, 6-1
Kateryna Bondarenko (UKR) d. (17) Patty Schnyder (SUI) 6-4, 6-3
(15) Zheng Jie (CHN) d. Stephanie Cohen-Aloro (FRA) 6-1, 6-3
(20) Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) d. Alona Bondarenko (UKR) 6-4, 2-6, 6-4
(22) Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP) d. Edina Gallovits (ROU) 6-1, 6-4
(Q) Polona Hercog (SLO) d. (23) Alisa Kleybanova (RUS) 6-2, 4-6, 6-1
Mariana Duque Marino (COL) d. (26) Anna Chakvetadze (RUS) 3-6, 6-4, 6-4
(29) Agnes Szavay (HUN) d. (Q) Corinna Dentoni (ITA) 6-3, 6-4
Lucie Safarova (CZE) d. Sabine Lisicki (GER) 6-2, 1-6, 6-1
Tamarine Tanasugarn (THA) d. Camille Pin (FRA) 6-3, 5-7, 7-5
Aravane Rezai (FRA) d. Ai Sugiyama (JPN) 6-3, 6-2
Lucie Hradecka (CZE) d. (Q) Yvonne Meusburger (AUT) 6-1, 6-2
Olga Govortsova (BLR) d. (LL) Katie O’Brien (GBR) 6-1, 6-1
Lourdes Dominguez Lino (ESP) d. Barbora Zahlavova Strycova (CZE) 6-1, 4-6, 9-7
Mariya Koryttseva (UKR) d. Patricia Mayr (AUT) 6-1, 6-1
Jill Craybas (USA) d. Tsvetana Pironkova (BUL) 7-5, 6-2
Olivia Rogowska (AUS) d. Maria Kirilenko (RUS) 6-4, 6-4
Kirsten Flipkens (BEL) d. Stephanie Foretz (FRA) 6-1, 4-6, 6-4
Maria Sharapova (RUS) d. Anastasiya Yakimova (BLR) 3-6, 6-1, 6-2
Akgul Amanmuradova (UZB) d. (WC) Irena Pavlovic (FRA) 6-3, 6-4
Jarmila Groth (AUS) d. Kinnie Laisne (FRA) 6-4, 6-3
Tathiana Garbin (ITA) d. Ayumi Morita (JPN) 7-5, 7-5
(Q) Michelle Larcher de Brito (POR) d. Melanie South (GBR) 0-6,7-6(5), 7-5

Suspended: Vera Dushevina (RUS) vs. (10) Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) To Finish 6-4 5-7

Ivanovic Passes First Test In French Open Title Defence; Murray Win In Straight Set

noreply@blogger.com (jan erik) — Mon, 25 May 2009 04:18:00 +0000

Ana Ivanovic opened the main court action on Sunday at the 2009 edition of the French Open to defend her title with a straight set 7-6 (3), 6-3 win over Italian Sara Errani in two hours and two minutes. The reigning champion has never lost in her opening match in five appearances at Roland Garros, and she made a promising start to her title campaign.

Struggling with her serve, backhand and a gritty opponent in the first during the first set, the Serbian righted her ship in the tiebreaker, nailing a series of brilliant forehand winners and watching her opponent commit two uncharacteristic unforced errors to end the 72-minute first set.

Playing with much more confidence in the second set, Ivanovic dictated play with her forehand and aggressive returns, no longer hesitating when she received balls into her wheelhouse. The 21-year-old needed three match points to close out the contest, but ended it with a bullet forehand and a swing volley winner.

Meanwhile in the men’s draw, third seed Andy Murray of Britain dropped just five games against Juan Ignacio Chela of Argentina beating the latter 6-2, 6-2, 6-1 on Sunday in his opening match at the French Open.

Murray, who has reached only one clay-court semifinal in his career, was broken in the first game of the match, but then dominated Chela with 55 winners and 10 aces.

Below are the results:

Sunday, May 24, 2009

First Round – Men’s Singles
Andrey Golubev (KAZ) d Denis Gremelmayr (GER) 6-3 6-3 6-2
Mathieu Montcourt (FRA) d Yen-Hsun Lu (TPE)6-2 Ret.
Dudi Sela (ISR) def Jean-Rene Lisnard (MON) 6-4 6-3 4-6 6-3
Marat Safin (RUS)[20] d Alexandre Sidorenko (FRA) 6-4 6-4 6-4
Fernando Verdasco (ESP)[8] d Florent Serra (FRA) 6-2 6-1 6-4
Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) d Ivo Karlovic (CRO)[26] 6-7(1) 6-7(4) 7-6(4) 6-4 6-3
Nicolas Almagro (ESP)[31] d Agustin Calleri (ARG)6-4 6-1 6-3
Marin Cilic (CRO)[13] d Jan Hernych (CZE)6-0 6-4 6-3
Josselin Ouanna (FRA) d Marcel Granollers (ESP) 7-5 2-6 3-6 7-6(2) 6-1
Gilles Simon (FRA)[7] d Wayne Odesnik (USA) 3-6 7-5 6-2 4-6 6-3
Andy Murray (GBR)[3] d Juan Ignacio Chela (ARG) 6-2 6-2 6-1
Radek Stepanek (CZE)[18] d Gaston Gaudio (ARG) 6-3 6-4 6-1
David Ferrer (ESP)[14] d Frederico Gil (POR) 6-2 6-4 6-4
Robert Kendrick (USA) d Daniel Brands (GER) 6-7(7) 7-5 7-6(11) 4-6 6-3
Philipp Petzschner (GER) d Peter Polansky (CAN) 5-7 6-2 7-6(4) 4-6 6-3

First Round – Women’s Singles

(8) Ana Ivanovic (SRB) d. Sara Errani (ITA) 7-6(3), 6-3
(9) Victoria Azarenka (BLR) d. Roberta Vinci (ITA) 6-4, 62
(11) Nadia Petrova (RUS) d. (WC) Lauren Embree (USA) 6-1, 6-2
Anna-Lena Groenefeld (GER) d. (16) Amelie Mauresmo (FRA) 6-4, 6-3
(Q) Yaroslava Shvedova (KAZ) d. (19) Kaia Kanepi (EST) 7-6(2), 3-6, 6-2
(25) Li Na (CHN) d. Marta Domachowska (POL) 6-4, 6-2
(27) Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) d. Ioana Raluca Olaru (ROU) 6-3, 6-2
(32) Iveta Benesova (CZE) d. Julia Goerges (GER) 75 41 ret. (heat illness)
Gisela Dulko (ARG) d. Tamira Paszek (AUT) 6-1, 6-3
Elena Vesnina (RUS) d. Severine Bremond Beltrame (FRA) 6-3, 6-3
Julie Coin (FRA) d. Nuria Llagostera Vives (ESP) 7-5, 6-2
Kristina Barrois (GER) d. Maria Emilia Salerni (ARG) 3-6, 6-1, 6-2
Alla Kudryavtseva (RUS) d. Varvara Lepchenko (USA) 6-3, 6-3
Timea Bacsinszky (SUI) d. (WC) Emilie Loit (FRA) 46 6-4, 6-1
(Q) Arantxa Rus (NED) d. (WC) Olivia Sanchez (FRA) 6-1, 6-1
(Q) Vitalia Diatchenko (RUS) d. Mathilde Johansson (FRA) 2-6, 6-2, 10-8

Federer Ends Title Drought in Style

noreply@blogger.com (jan erik) — Thu, 21 May 2009 06:58:00 +0000

ATP World Tour No. 2 Roger Federer ended his title drought in style on Sunday with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over rival and reigning ATP World Tour Champion Rafael Nadal in the final of the Mutua Madrilena Madrid Open, an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 clay-court tennis tournament.

The 27-year-old Federer clinched his first ATP World Tour title since winning his hometown title in Basel (d. Nalbandian) in October 2008. The Swiss was contesting his 80th tour-level final and improved to a 58-22 lifetime mark after capturing his 15th ATP World Tour Masters 1000 trophy. Andre Agassi holds the all-time record with 17 of the coveted shields, while Nadal is tied with Federer on 15.

Roger Federer believes that now that he was able to beat Rafael Nadal on clay the confidence from this win will give him an advantage going into the only grand slam title that eludes him, the French Open.

His victory over Nadal on clay had come at the perfect time with the French Open which starts in Paris very soon.

“I am very happy that I remained positive and I got the win I needed badly because I have had some rather bad losses this year in terms of the way I played but I think that everything is falling into place and I felt it coming the last few weeks so it is the right time to get a victory like this,” said Federer.

Kuznetsova-Mauresmo Win Doubles Title

noreply@blogger.com (jan erik) — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 05:24:00 +0000

Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia and Amélie Mauresmo of France captured the Sony Ericsson Open women’s doubles title with a hard-fought 4-6, 6-3, 10-3 victory over third seeds Kveta Peschke and Lisa Raymond on Sunday April 5, 2009.

After surrendering the first set by one break of serve, Kuznetsova and Mauresmo hit back to win a second set featuring five breaks of serve. They then raced away with the match tie-break to seal victory after 78 minutes.

The Russian-French duo upset top seeds Cara Black and Liezel Huber in the second round on their route through to the final, which also included victories over sixth seeds Llagostera Vives-Martinez Sanchez in the quarterfinals and Groenefeld-Schnyder in the semifinals.

It is the second Sony Ericsson WTA Tour doubles title for Kuznetsova and Mauresmo, who triumphed together at 2006 Eastbourne (d. Huber-Navratilova). They also finished runners-up in the 2005 Wimbledon final (l. to Black-Huber). Their best previous result at the Sony Ericsson Open had been a semifinal appearance in 2006 (l. to Raymond-Stosur).

The 23-year-old Kuznetsova won her 14th Sony Ericsson WTA Tour doubles title, and her first since the victory in Eastbourne. It is the second time she has won the Sony Ericsson Open doubles title, having also lifted the trophy in 2005 with Alicia Molik (d. Raymond-Stubbs). She finished runner-up at the Sony Ericsson Open in 2004 (w/ Likhotseva). She improved to a 14-15 mark in doubles finals.

Mauresmo, 29, clinched just her third Sony Ericsson WTA Tour doubles title – joining the titles she claimed at 2000 Linz (w/Rubin) and 2006 Eastbourne. She improved to a 3-1 record in doubles finals.

Czech Peschke and American Raymond were appearing in their third Sony Ericsson WTA Tour doubles final together and dropped to a 1-2 record. They won their lone title at 2008 New Haven (d. Cirstea-Niculescu) and finished runners-up at Paris (l. to Black-Huber) last month.

Mirnyi-Ram Clinch Second ATP World Tour Team Title

noreply@blogger.com (jan erik) — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 04:59:00 +0000

Belarusian Max Mirnyi and Andy Ram of Israel won their second ATP World Tour team title with a hard-fought 6-7(4), 6-2, 10-7 victory over Australians Ashley Fisher and Stephen Huss on Saturday April 4, 2009 in the final of the Sony Ericsson Open, an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tennis tournament in Miami.

Mirnyi’s victory marked the second triumph of the day for Belarus after World No. 10 Victoria Azarenka won the women’s singles title by defeating five-time former champion Serena Williams.

It is the fourth Sony Ericsson Open title for Minsk-native Mirnyi, after he also lifted the trophy in 2003 (w/ Federer), and 2005 and 2006 (w/ Bjorkman). Mirnyi's four titles tie Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde for the most in tournament history. Ram was contesting his first Sony Ericsson Open final.

Currently 10th in the 2009 ATP Doubles Team Rankings, Mirnyi and Ram were competing in their second consecutive ATP World Tour Masters 1000 final after losing to Americans Mardy Fish and Andy Roddick in the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells two weeks ago.

The Belarusian-Israeli duo won its first ATP World Tour title on its partnership debut in Vienna last October (d. Peya-Petzschner). They have a 15-4 match record.

With no breaks of serve in the first set of Saturday’s final – the first in Miami to feature two unseeded teams since 1991 - Fisher and Huss quickly took command in the tie-break by racing out to a 4-1 lead before going on to close it out 7-4 to take a one-set lead. Mirnyi and Ram hit back with two breaks of serve in the third and seventh games of the second set to level the match before rallying from a 1-4 deficit in the match tie-break to clinch victory 10-7 after one hour and 37 minutes. They did not face one break point in the match. The duo had saved five match points in the second set tie-break of their semifinal win over Austrians Julian Knowle and Jurgen Melzer.

The 31-year-old Mirnyi won his 36th tour-level doubles title (36-27 record) and extended his streak of winning at least one title for 11 consecutive years. The 28-year-old Ram was contesting his 30th tour-level final and captured his 16th trophy; he has won at least one title every year since 2003.

Fisher and Huss were trying to become the first Australian duo to win the Sony Ericsson Open title since Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde in 2000. They were contesting their first ATP World Tour final after ousting top seeds Bob and Mike Bryan in the semifinals. They dropped to a 8-10 match record together.