Alternate Sports - Tennis News

Bedene knocked out of Shenzhen Open

Thu, 01 Oct 2015 22:13:27 +0000

Aljaz Bedene exits the Shenzhen Open in round two, beaten in straight sets by Hyeon Chung of South Korea.

Reuters U.S. Sports Schedule at 2 PM EST on Thursday, Oct. 1

Thu, 01 Oct 2015 18:27:34 +0000

Oct. 1 (Reuters) - Reuters U.S. sports schedule at 2 PM ET on Thursday: - - - - The duty editor is Steve Ginsburg, 202-898-8427 - - - - NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE Ravens at Steelers PITTSBURGH - Winless and on the road, the Baltimore Ravens are in desperation mode but find a wounded Pittsburgh Steelers team scrambling on a short week to replace star QB Ben Roethlisberger in an AFC North division grudge match. ...

Nadal says Djokovic 'difficult to equal'

Thu, 01 Oct 2015 16:48:35 +0000

Rafael Nadal heaped praise on longstanding rival Novak Djokovic Thursday for playing at a level "difficult to equal" ahead of an exhibition match between the pair in Bangkok. The Spaniard, who ended the season without a Grand Slam title for the first time since 2004, congratulated the top-ranking Serbian for his "amazing" run culminating in last month's US Open title, his third major of the year. "The mental strength and the level of tennis is difficult to equal," Nadal, 29, said sitting next to Djokovic at a press conference in the Thai capital.

Tennis - Venus subdues Konta, Serena-slayer Vinci up next

Thu, 01 Oct 2015 15:40:42 +0000

- Venus Williams earned the chance to avenge her sister Serena's seismic defeat at the US Open when she subdued battling Briton Johanna Konta to reach the Wuhan Open semi-finals on Thursday. The seven-time Grand Slam-winner survived a three-set examination by qualifier Konta to set up a meeting with Roberta Vinci, Serena Williams' shock conqueror in New York. The American veteran looked rattled as she slipped to 3-1 down in the third set against Konta, the British number-one-in-waiting, but she recovered to take it 6-4, 6-3, 7-5.

Konta run ended by Williams in China

Thu, 01 Oct 2015 15:39:49 +0000

Britain's Johanna Konta loses in three sets to former world number one Venus Williams in the Wuhan Open quarter-finals.

Heartbroken Serena cuts season short, takes financial hit

Thu, 01 Oct 2015 15:25:49 +0000

Serena Williams finally signalled her anguish at letting slip a calendar-year Grand Slam on Thursday as she brought her season to an early close, passing up a hefty financial windfall. Williams pulled out of both the China Open and the year-ending WTA Finals, saying she needed "time to heal" -- despite missing hundreds of thousands of dollars in bonuses and prize money. Williams was two matches from equalling Steffi Graf's record 22 Slam trophies, and 1988 sweep of all four major titles, when she suffered a stunning loss to Roberta Vinci in the US Open semis.

Williams will not play again in 2015

Thu, 01 Oct 2015 14:19:56 +0000

World number one Serena Williams to take the rest of the year off to recover from injuries, according to the China Open.

Tennis-Venus ends Briton's run, Muguruza powers on in China

Thu, 01 Oct 2015 13:45:32 +0000

Grand slam finalists Garbine Muguruza and Roberta Vinci stormed into the last four of the Wuhan Open in China on Thursday while Venus Williams ended the giant-killing run of Briton Johanna Konta. Konta had accounted for world number two Simona Halep, 13th seed Andrea Petkovic and benefited from former world number one Victoria Azarenka retiring from their second-round clash but seven-times grand slam champion Williams proved too strong.

Tennis - Tennis: Nadal says Djokovic 'difficult to equal'

Thu, 01 Oct 2015 13:39:00 +0000

- Rafael Nadal heaped praise on longstanding rival Novak Djokovic Thursday for playing at a level "difficult to equal" ahead of an exhibition match between the pair in Bangkok. "The mental strength and the level of tennis is difficult to equal," Nadal, 29, said sitting next to Djokovic at a press conference in the Thai capital.

Tennis - Tennis: Serena says withdraws from China Open and WTA Finals

Thu, 01 Oct 2015 10:40:07 +0000

- World number one Serena Williams has withdrawn from next week's China Open in Beijing and the WTA Finals in Singapore, ending her season. "I am taking a proactive step and withdrawing from tournaments in Beijing and Singapore to properly address my health and take the time to heal," the 21-time Grand Slam winner said in a statement. Williams, 34, has not played since she lost in the semi finals of the US Open to Italy's Roberta Vinci, one of the most shocking upsets in tennis history.

Serena Williams ends season early to focus on health

Thu, 01 Oct 2015 10:19:02 +0000

World number one Serena Williams has opted to pull out of the WTA Finals and end her season early following a roller coaster campaign that has taken its toll on her body, the American said on Thursday. Williams, 34, has not played since her shock loss to Italy's Roberta Vinci in the semi-finals of the U.S. Open last month, which ended her bid to claim all four grand slam titles in the same season. The 21-times Grand Slam singles champion said she had been carrying injuries and the loss to Vinci had taken its toll, adding she would not play again this year after also pulling out of next week's China Open.

Serena ends season early to focus on health

Thu, 01 Oct 2015 10:13:04 +0000

World number one Serena Williams has opted against defending the WTA Finals title and decided to end her season early following a roller coaster campaign littered with pains and prizes, the American said on Thursday. The 34-year-old's last match was her shock loss to Italy's Roberta Vinci in the semi-finals of the U.S. Open last month, which ended her bid to become the first women in 27 years to win all four grand slam titles in the same season. The 21-times grand slam singles champion said she had been carrying injuries throughout the campaign and the loss to Vinci had taken its toll, adding she would not play again this year after also pulling out of next week's China Open.

Tennis-Serena ends season early to focus on health

Thu, 01 Oct 2015 10:03:34 +0000

* Serena has not played since Vinci loss * I've played injured most of the year, says American (Adds details) SINGAPORE, Oct 1 (Reuters) - World number one Serena Williams has opted against defending the WTA Finals title and decided to end her season early following a roller coaster campaign littered with pains and prizes, the American said on Thursday. The 34-year-old's last match was her shock loss to Italy's Roberta Vinci in the semi-finals of the U.S. Open last month, which ended her bid to become the first women in 27 years to win all four grand slam titles in the same season. The 21-times grand slam singles champion said she had been carrying injuries throughout the campaign and the loss to Vinci had taken its toll, adding she would not play again this year after also pulling out of next week's China Open.

Tennis-Serena Williams ends season early to focus on health

Thu, 01 Oct 2015 09:00:27 +0000

Konta fulfilling a childhood dream

Wed, 30 Sep 2015 20:21:55 +0000

From "performance anxiety" to facing Venus Williams in seven months - how Johanna Konta found her form on the big stage.

Konta stuns world number two Halep

Wed, 30 Sep 2015 19:15:30 +0000

Britain's Johanna Konta fights back to beat world number two Simona Halep 6-3 3-6 7-5 and reach the Wuhan Open quarter-finals.

Serena coach hints at rest after US Open heartache

Tue, 29 Sep 2015 21:46:19 +0000

Serena Williams's coach raised the prospect of the world number one skipping the remainder of the season on Tuesday as she struggles to come to terms with her failure to clinch a calendar Grand Slam. Patrick Mouratoglou told ESPN that Williams was intensely disappointed after missing out on a fifth consecutive Grand Slam crown and probably should wait until next year before returning to competition if she is not properly motivated to play. "She was two matches away from something really big, so it was very painful," said Mouratoglou.

Tennis - Tennis: Serena coach hints at rest after US Open heartache

Tue, 29 Sep 2015 21:28:03 +0000

- Serena Williams's coach raised the prospect of the world number one skipping the remainder of the season on Tuesday as she struggles to come to terms with her failure to clinch a calendar Grand Slam. Patrick Mouratoglou told ESPN that Williams was intensely disappointed. "She was two matches away from something really big, so it was very painful," said Mouratoglou. "Any loss is very painful for her, but this one even more than usual. So it just takes time to recover from it, and when the motivation comes back, which I don't doubt it will, then it will be time to start tournaments again."

Dizzy Wozniacki, Azarenka join Wuhan casualty list

Tue, 29 Sep 2015 17:08:55 +0000

Caroline Wozniacki complained of dizzy spells on Tuesday as she joined Victoria Azarenka on the long list of casualties at the Wuhan Open, which has been badly hit by upsets and retirements. A day after Maria Sharapova and Eugenie Bouchard both withdrew with injuries, Wozniacki, Azarenka and Belinda Bencic all had medical problems as the end of a long season nears. Wozniacki, the former world number one from Denmark, called the doctor on court to take her temperature as she lost to Anna Karolina Schmiedlova 1-6, 6-4, 7-6 (8/6) in round two.

GB's Bedene beats Youzhny in China

Tue, 29 Sep 2015 14:16:38 +0000

British number two Aljaz Bedene beats Russian Mikhail Youzhny in round one of the Shenzhen Open.