Bouchard beats Ivanovic to reaches semi-finals

Teenager Eugenie Bouchard reached the Australian Open semi-finals with a 5-7 7-5 6-2 win over Ana Ivanovic. The Canadian, 19, took control after an Ivanovic medical timeout and will face Li Na in the semi-finals after the Chinese star beat Flavia Pennetta.

Sania-Black lost quarterfinal match of the women's doubles

MELBOURNE: Sania Mirza and her Zimbabwean partner Cara Black lost toWorld No. 1 pair Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci of Italy in the quarterfinals of the women's doubles at the Australian Open on Tuesday.

Maria Sharapova win Australian Open third round

Russian star Maria Sharapova survived a major scare before dousing the challenge of Italy's Karin Knapp in intense heat to reach the Australian Open third round Thursday.

Serena Williams into 4th round of Australian Open 2014

Top seed Serena Williams continued her impressive progress at the Australian Open as she eased into round four on another day of extreme Melbourne heat.

Auckland title 2014

Ana Ivanovic wins Auckland Classic

WELLINGTON: Ana Ivanovic claimed her first WTA Tour title in more than two years with a 6-2 5-7 6-4 victory over fellow former world number one Venus Williams to clinch the Auckland Classic on Saturday and boost her confidence ahead of the Australian Open.

Rafael Nadal's wining statement

I don't believe in miracles: Rafael Nadal

 

DOHA: When Rafael Nadal was told that the courts at Melbourne Park, venue of the opening Grand Slam of the year, were playing extra fast, he reacted with a volley of questions. "How do you know?" he asked, "Have you been there?"

Rafael Nadal claims Qatar Open title

 

Rafael Nadal beats Gael Monfils to win Qatar title

World number one Rafael Nadal survived a second-set wobble to beat Gael Monfils 6-1 6-7 (5-7) 6-2 to win the Qatar Open in Doha.

The Spaniard was in inspired form in the opening set, taking it in just 23 minutes.
But although Monfils led 3-0 in the second set, Nadal fought back before the Frenchman edged the tie-break.

Williams & Sharapova to meet

Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova to meet in Brisbane

 

Maria Sharapova will continue her comeback from a shoulder injury against world number one Serena Williams in Friday's Brisbane International semis.

Qatar Open 2014

Andy Murray began the new year with unhappily

Murray lost 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 to Florian Mayer, the world number 40 from Germany, who seemed more surprised than anyone at how the contest turned around.

Roger Federer I can win Grand Slam singles crown

Roger Federer

 still capable of winning a Grand Slam singles crown  

       BRISBANE: Swiss tennis great Roger Federer insisted on Monday he was still capable of winning a Grand Slam singles crown despite a relatively poor 2013 season which saw him slip to world number six.

The 32-year-old won only one title in an injury-hit 2013, leading many tennis fans to wonder whether he would add to his record tally of 17 Slams.

Rafael Nadal say, no to celebrity coach

Rafael Nadal not interested in celebrity coach

Abu Dhabi:  Rafael Nadal has no intention of joining the dizzying coaching merry-go-round which has seen Novak Djokovic hire Boris Becker in just one of a raft of changes ahead of the 2014 season.

Rafael Nadal lose match against David Ferrer

Rafael Nadal lose match against David Ferrer

ABU DHABI: Rafael Nadal got his season underway with a 6-4, 6-4 loss to fellow Spaniard David Ferrer in the semifinals of the Mudabala World Tennis Championship exhibition tournament in Abu Dhabi on Friday.

Andy Murray loses first match after back surgery

Andy Murray loses first match since recovering from back surgery

 

British number one Andy Murray lost on his return to action after undergoing back surgery in September

The 26-year-old, who was recently named BBC Sports Personality of the Year, lost 7-5 6-3 to Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the Mubadala World Tennis Championships in Abu Dhabi.
Murray has not played since Britain's Davis Cup World Group play-off win over Croatia in September.
He will now face Stanislas Wawrinka in the fifth-placed play-off on Friday.
Murray was due to return to action last month at the Dream Cup exhibition in Barbados but the event was cancelled, so he continued training at his Miami base.
"I moved well in the first set [against [Tsonga], especially once I got into the rallies," he told The National newspaper.
"I didn't feel slow at all. In the second I slowed down slightly, but that's something that is going to get better by playing matches.
"I can't expect to feel great for long periods of matches straightaway.
"But it was a good workout. You want to play your best, but you need to be realistic and patient.
He added: "I was hitting the ball OK, moving well for the most part.
"Moving is the most important thing. I just need to be able to do it for a longer period. I just felt like I hadn't played a match for a while."
Tsonga, 28, went into the match with an 8-1 career deficit in competitive matches against Murray.
"It's not often I take two sets off Andy, even in practice," said the Frenchman, who himself has been struggling with a knee injury.
In the other match, Spaniard David Ferrer beat Wawrinka 7-5, 6-1 to set up a meeting with world number one Rafael Nadal.
Tsonga will face world number two Novak Djokovic on Friday also.

Nadia Petrova out of Australian Open

 Nadia Petrova out of Australian Open after mother's death

Moscow:  Russian tennis star Nadia Petrova has pulled out of January's Australian Open following the death in a car accident of her mother, herself an Olympic athletics bronze medallist.

Also out of the season-opening Grand Slam in Melbourne is another top Russian player, Maria Kirilenko, who is injured.

The withdrawal of both players was reported by Russian media and confirmed on the official Twitter account of the Australian Open.

Petrova's mother - Nadezhda Ilyina - died in a car accident in the Moscow region on December 7. A successful 400 metre runner, she won a bronze in the 4x400 relay in the 1976 Olympics in Montreal.

She had also held the USSR record in both the 400 metres and the 4x400 metres relay as well as the world record for 400 metres indoors.

"Our condolences to Nadia Petrova who's withdrawn from Ausopen following the tragic loss of her mother," the Australian Open organisers said.

Sania Mirza talk about partnership with Cara Black

Sania Mirza talk about partnership with Cara Black

 MUMBAI: With an impressive year of tennis behind her, Sania Mirza has her eyes set on a brand new start in the New Year. Not only did she win five WTA titles, the doubles star also reached the semifinals of the US Open and the mixed doubles quarterfinals of the Australian Open in 2013.

"I have had a very good year. You try to outdo yourself every year. But you have to put it behind with the new season starting. So I am looking at a fresh start," Sania said on the sidelines of the ITPA Tennis Doubles Masters event at Khar Gymkhana on Saturday.

Sania will try to extend her unbeaten run with her Zimbabwean doubles partner Cara Black in the coming season but in the Australian Open mixed doubles, she will collaborate with Horia Tecau of Romania.

"Cara and I haven't lost a match. We won all the three tournaments we played. We are looking forward to our new partnership. She was in Hyderabad practising with me. We are doing the right things and are very excited," said the Hyderabadi.

"I will be leaving for Australia on January 2. Before the Australian Open, I will participate in a tournament in Sydney." Her partnership choices for the Asian Games, however, are comparatively unclear.

"That (Asian Games) is a long time (away). A tennis player plays 25 weeks a year. So, we have to worry about four Grand Slams much before we worry about anything else," said the 27-year-old."I have always said I am always on national duty.

Whenever or whoever needs me to play with I have played in the past and I will play in the future as well." Asked if she would consider playing in the singles format, Sania said, "I can't predict what is going to happen one year from now in the Asian Games in October.

If my body feels up to the task, I might play. But at the moment it seems unlikely." Having frequently changed her doubles partner in the past year, Sania claims finding the right chemistry is essential.

"Every partner has a share of goods and bads. But once you get along with most people that is when you form a good partnership and it depends on your chemistry. It will be unfair to name one person.

"Bethanie (Mattek-Sands) has been my best friend on tour and off it. So it is lot of fun to play with her. We had some great results a well. Unfortunately due to her health we had to stop playing together," Sania said, when asked to name her favourite partner.

"But I have a good partnership with Cara and we get along. More than that, she is too experienced. She has done it all. She has won Grand Slams, so I learn a lot from her as well. She is extremely humble. At the moment I will have to say Cara Black because I am playing with her," she added.

Leander Paes - To win a doubles medal in Olympics close to my heart

CHANDIGARH: Indian tennis ace Leander Paes on Tuesday said that the thought of winning a doubles medal in Olympics is close to his heart and he wants to fulfill the wish.

"I would say to win a doubles medal in Olympics, this is close to my heart. I am looking forward to get a good partner. Another one I would say is to win a career grand slam in mixed doubles," Paes told reporters after featuring in an exhibition match at Chandigarh Lawn Tennis Association (CLTA) stadium on Tuesday.

Paes, who along with CLTA chairman Rajan Kashyap addressed the news conference, was asked if he still has any wish that has not been fulfilled yet.

Paes, whose father Dr Vece Paes was also present, said while cricket was definitely like a religion in India, over the years tennis has also grown in popularity.

"I think we need to open more professional tennis academies like the DLTA in Delhi. We are also trying to start one in Mumbai, where I live," the senior Paes said.

Asked about the upcoming London Olympics, Paes said he was hoping to get a good partner to win a medal in the doubles.

"I do have a preference, but some conversations have to be private," he said when asked if he had a specific partner in mind.

Commenting on the Indian tennis scene, Paes said it has a great future and apart from him and Mahesh Bhupathi and Sania Mirza, there was promising talent coming up.

He heaped praise on players like Somdev Devvarman and Yuki Bhambri.

"Indian tennis at the moment has a great mix of age and experience. It's good time that young ones are developed (in singles)."

Earlier, Paes and Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda defeated budding trainees of the CLTA, Anuj Bhatti and Ranjit Singh 7-6 in an exhibition match.

Meanwhile, in an initiative to promote sports in rural areas of Haryana, the state government on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with CLTA.

The MoU, signed in the presence of Hooda and Paes, would provide training, boarding, lodging, schooling and participation during tournaments to the 15 selected players from rural areas of Haryana and the state government would sponsor those players, Kashyap said.

CLTA would also provide technical assistance to the state government for development and promotion of the game.

Kashyap said the CLTA would also offer advanced training facilities on mutually agreed terms for coaches and player at CLTA centre.

It would also ensure that the selected trainees were admitted in reputed schools.

Praising Haryana's initiative, Paes said that rural talent was abundant in the country.

"Rural people are tough, rugged, especially in Punjab and Haryana, where they have done so well in wrestling, hockey and other sports," he said.

Paes, who will play the role of a mentor and brand ambassador of CLTA, will be visiting here once in a while.

Paes is also trying to get a Spanish coach for the youngsters.

Meanwhile, replying to a question on cricketer Yuvraj Singh, Paes wished him a speedy recovery.

"We also love him so much and want to see him back in action soon. Yuvi is a great player. He has conquered this ailment (cancer). (The) entire tennis fraternity wishes him good health," he said.

Leander Paes say,Franchise leagues need to learn from IPL

Paes was speaking at the Star Sports India Pro Leagues Forum on the subject of "Growing the Club Culture".    

NEW DELHI: Hailing IPL for successfully creating loyal followers, India tennis star Leander Paes on Friday said the city-based franchise league is the way forward to popularise other sports, which need to replicate the model of the popular cricket tournament.

In the USA, city-based franchise tennis tournament -- World Team Tennis (WTT) -- is extremely popular and Paes said something on those lines should be introduced in Indian tennis as well as other sports in the country.

"IPL is close relevant of the World Team Tennis (WTT). The stadia are packed with fans for entire 21 days. The format of the tournament makes it interesting for the viewers. Also there are great players participating in the league. That is what IPL has been successful in doing here and we have to learn from it to replicate it in other sports," said Paes, who plays for Washington Kastles franchise in WTT.

Paes was speaking at the Star Sports India Pro Leagues Forum on the subject of "Growing the Club Culture".

"Cricket may not be the fastest sport nor the most athletic one but it has successfully managed to get the community involved with it. Linking franchises with major cities of the country, the IPL has been able get supporters who identify with their teams. They believe they are a part of the team," the 14-time Grand Slam title winner said.

"The focus of a league is also very important. It should be an entire family packages. People from all age group should be attracted to it. It should offer people something tangible they believe in."

The 40-year-old veteran said the timing of hosting a league was very important as the event required lot of investment and focus should be on grabbing as many eyeballs as possible.

"A professional league brings like-minded people as a vehicle to popularise the game. Lot of efforts goes into it. The timing of any league is very important to garner maximum response. With so many tournaments happening in any sport, a league should be able to draw best players from across the world. The timing and the duration of the event is also very crucial as there is a large dependency on television viewerships," said the current US Open doubles champion.

Paes added that growth of league culture gives opportunity for budding players to learn from their role models and become future stars.

"Such leagues give chance to upcoming players to rub shoulders with some of the greats of the game, which in turn widens the talent pool of a country. I believe in 10 years we will have multiple medal winners at the Olympics," he said.

He said a league gives an opportunity to athletes, corporates to flourish, besides the sport gaining fans.

"IPL governance is so well done. IPL has been able to evolve rules, governance and involve communities. It has allowed athletes to flourish. The businesses also gain from it. It's a win-win situation for everyone," Paes added.

Martina Hingis accused of assaulting husband

The husband of former tennis champ Martina Hingis has accused his wife and mother-in-law of assaulting him and has left Switzerland fearing for his life, the Blick daily reported on Thursday.

Police in the northern Swiss canton of Schwyz confirmed that Thibault Hutin was in the process of filing a complaint following an incident at the couple's apartment in the village of Feusisberg.

The 27-year-old French equestrian had talked to police on Tuesday about "serious problems" at his home on Monday evening, police spokesman David Mynall said.

"He has started the process of filing a complaint, but it hasn't been finished yet," he said, not specifying the nature of the incident or who the complaint was being filed against.

Hutin, however, told Blick that his 32-year-old wife, the former world number one, her mother and her mother's boyfriend had "beaten and scratched" him.

The boyfriend had also struck him in the head with a DVD player, he said, adding that he was so "terrified" he had fled to Paris.

"I'm really afraid. What will be next, a bullet?" he asked in the interview.

Hingis, the winner of five Grand Slam singles titles, came back from six years of retirement in July this year to play doubles.

Hingis, who could not be immediately reached for comment, was reportedly in Tokyo to take part in a 30th anniversary celebration for the WTA tournament.

She had originally been set to take part in the Pan Pacific Open women's tennis tournament in Tokyo this week, but withdrew for "personal reasons," organisers said earlier this month.

Serbia to face Czech Republic in Davis Cup final

Serbia will face defending champions the Czech Republic in the Davis Cup final after defeating Canada 3-2 in the semi-finals on Sunday.
Janko Tipsarevic led Serbia into their second final in four years after defeating Vasek Pospisil 7-6 (7/3), 6-2, 7-6 (8/6).
Earlier, world number one Novak Djokovic had beaten Milos Raonic 7-6 (7/1), 6-2, 6-2 to level the tie at 2-2.
Serbia, the 2010 champions, will host the November 15-17 final against the Czechs who defeated Argentina 3-2 in their semi-final in Prague.
"Czech Republic is extremely difficult, they have Tomas Berdych who has been in the top 10 for years, they have Radek Stepanek who always plays good in Davis Cup, but we have Novak (Djokovic), Nenad (Zimonjic) and I hope we will have Victor back into our team," Tipsarevic said.
 Serbia are without Viktor Troicki, who is serving an 18-month doping ban handed down by the International Tennis Federation (ITF).
After taking the first set, the 23rd-ranked Tipsarevic capitalised on the 41st-ranked Pospisil's claycourt inexperience to breeze through the second.
With the 10,000-strong crowd willing him on, Tipsarevic stretched out to 5-2 in the third set before Pospisil battled back for another tie-breaker.

The Canadian saved four match points before Tipsarevic finally sealed victory.

"I had a feeling it could have been much easier, but somehow I could not capitalise on my opportunities, but nevertheless I won and Serbia are in the final," Tipsarevic said after the match.

Earlier, Djokovic got Serbia back into the match by defeating Raonic. Raonic put up a strong fight against Djokovic in the first set, but his hopes took a major blow when he lost the tiebreak 7-1.

In the second set Djokovic took total command and convincingly made two service breaks.

The third set was similar as Djokovic grabbed another two breaks to lead 4-0 before Raonic, who defeated Tipsarevic in an exhausting four-hour match on Friday, managed briefly to get back into the match with a break of his own.

But Djokovic stepped up the pace again and broke on Raonic's next serve.

"I played at my own tempo from the very beginning and I knew the returns would be crucial, so I paid special attention to them," Djokovic said.

Serbia's coach Bogdan Obradovic couldn't hide satisfaction as his team reached a second final in four years.

"I could not expect anything better than this, turning Canada's 2-1 lead into victory with two 3-0 wins, this is really a spectacular result," Obradovic said.

Czech Republic to a third Davis Cup final in five years

Radek Stepanek and Tomas Berdych led holders Czech Republic to a third Davis Cup final in five years after breezing past Argentina's Carlos Berlocq and Horacio Zeballos in Saturday's doubles.

Stepanek and Berdych won 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 in two hours and three minutes to earn an unbeatable 3-0 lead after they had dominated Friday's singles.

The Czechs, who won the 2012 trophy by beating Spain 3-2 in Prague, will travel to either Canada or Serbia for the November 15-17 final.

"It's pure fantasy, the guys played at a hundred percent again," said team captain Jaroslav Navratil.

"They didn't give the Argentinians a chance, they wiped them out, and we're very happy we can fight for the lovely trophy again after a year," he added.

"We would like to keep the trophy because it's beautiful," said Stepanek.

The Czech duo on Saturday won the 13th of their 14 Davis Cup doubles rubbers together since teaming up in 2007, while Berlocq and Zeballos played their debut doubles match together in Prague.

Besides, Stepanek, the world number five in doubles rankings, got a boost from the US Open doubles title with Leander Paes a week ago.

Pushed on by an emotional crowd of more than 11,000 fans around the superfast hardcourt at Prague's O2 Arena, the Czechs benefited from good serving and Stepanek's dominance at the net.

All they needed was four breaks, one apiece in the first two sets and two in the third.

Berlocq was the first to lose his serve in game eight of the first set, handing the Czechs a 6-3 set win.

He failed again late in the second set which the Czechs won 6-4. Each of the Argentinians then lost their serve in the last set which the Czechs took 6-2.

"We played a great game. Everything was in the right place today, we didn't drop a serve," said Berdych.

"As long as you are able to make pressure on them, you make chances, and that's what we've done today," he added, calling the rubber "one of the very good matches together with Radek."

On Friday, Stepanek, the world number 61 in singles and Czech number two, saw off 30th-ranked Argentinian number-one player Juan Monaco 7-6 (7/3), 6-3, 6-2 in the opening rubber.

Fifth-ranked Berdych then beat world number 93 Leonardo Mayer 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Argentina were missing their top star Juan Martin Del Potro, who is taking a break from the competition this year, as well as an injured David Nalbandian.

The 2012 Davis Cup triumph was the first for the Czechs since Czechoslovakia, which split peacefully into the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1993, won the trophy in 1980 with a team led by then 20-year-old Ivan Lendl.

Argentina, who have played three finals in the last seven years, are still seeking their first Davis Cup trophy.