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Nadal to meet Federer in Rome final, Serena rolls on

Sun, 19 May 2013 01:39:35 +0300

By Eric Salliot ROME (Reuters) - Roger Federer will meet great rival Rafa Nadal in the Italian Open final after the Swiss held off a spirited challenge by unseeded Frenchman Benoit Paire on Saturday. The 7-6 6-4 scoreline suggested a routine victory for the world number three, but the 24-year-old Paire was a break up in the first set and held three mini breaks in the tiebreak before being let down by poor shot selection. The second set was more straightforward for Federer, into the Rome final for the third time and first since 2006, as he wrapped up victory in just under 90 minutes. ...

Emotional Nadal reaches Rome final, Serena rolls on

Sat, 18 May 2013 20:39:36 +0300

By Eric Salliot ROME (Reuters) - Rafa Nadal beat Czech sixth seed Tomas Berdych 6-2 6-4 to reach the Italian Open final on Saturday with a dominant performance that he described as emotional after his long injury absence. Nadal, who returned to action in February after seven months out with a knee problem, will have the chance to win his sixth title since his comeback when he faces either Roger Federer or Benoit Paire in Sunday's final. ...

Serena extends winning streak to reach Rome final

Sat, 18 May 2013 20:18:52 +0300

By Eric Salliot Rome (Reuters) - Serena Williams crushed Romanian qualifier Simona Halep 6-3 6-0 to book her place in the Italian Open final and extend her winning streak to 23 matches on Saturday. World number one Williams, who is chasing a fourth consecutive tour title, will face Victoria Azarenka in Sunday's final after the third seed beat last year's French Open finalist Sara Errani 6-0 7-5. Williams's unbeaten run has included title successes in Miami, Charleston and Madrid and she is chasing a first Rome title since 2002, the year she won her only French Open. "I love the clay. ...

Djokovic crumbles to defeat against Berdych in Rome

Sat, 18 May 2013 02:22:41 +0300

REUTERS - Czech Tomas Berdych snapped a run of 11 consecutive defeats by world number one Novak Djokovic to reach the semi-finals of the Rome Masters before Rafa Nadal was stretched to the limit against David Ferrer on Friday. Berdych clawed his way back from a 6-2 5-2 deficit to stun the Serbian top seed 2-6 7-5 6-4 and set up a semi-final meeting with Nadal, who for the second week running outlasted compatriot Ferrer in a fierce claycourt scrap. ...

Sick Sharapova withdraws from Italian Open

Fri, 17 May 2013 15:03:43 +0300

ROME (Reuters) - Maria Sharapova withdrew from the Italian Open before her quarter-final with Italy's Sara Errani on Friday because of "physical problems", organisers said. The Russian is set to defend her French Open title later this month. Italian Open officials did not elaborate further on the reasons for Sharapova's Rome exit but the 26-year-old said on her Twitter account she was sick. "I'm sorry for having to withdraw from the tournament this morning. Didn't recover after being sick last week and it got me again last night," Sharapova tweeted. ...

Nadal survives Gulbis scare, Williams run continues

Fri, 17 May 2013 01:22:16 +0300

(Reuters) - Defending champion Rafa Nadal recovered from losing the opening five games against Ernests Gulbis to book his place in the quarter-finals of the Rome Masters on Thursday. The Spaniard, looking for his seventh Rome title, was shaken by a ferocious onslaught from Gulbis, losing the first set in 34 minutes, but recovered to win 1-6 7-5 6-4. ...

Easy ride through to Rome quarters for Djokovic

Thu, 16 May 2013 15:43:51 +0300

(Reuters) - World number one Novak Djokovic made short work of Ukrainian Alexandr Dolgopolov to reach the quarter-finals of the Rome Masters on Thursday with a 6-1 6-4 win. Djokovic, back in his stride after his shock second-round defeat to Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov in Madrid last week, had too much power and control for the 23rd-ranked Dolgopolov and brushed him aside in exactly an hour after the day's play had been briefly delayed by rain. ...

Shirt-ripping Janowicz stuns Tsonga, Murray hurt

Thu, 16 May 2013 03:14:22 +0300

ROME (Reuters) - Jerzy Janowicz ripped off his shirt after stunning Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Juan Martin del Potro visited the Pope and Andy Murray and Stanislas Wawrinka pulled out through injury at the Italian Open on Wednesday. Rafael Nadal and Maria Sharapova sailed through their second round matches with embarrassingly one-sided wins. Nadal began his quest for his seventh ATP title of the season by demolishing local hope Fabio Fognini 6-1 6-3, winning 74 percent of his service points and breaking his 25th-ranked opponent five times. ...

Murray doubtful for French Open with back injury

Wed, 15 May 2013 23:00:26 +0300

ROME (Reuters) - Andy Murray is a doubt for the French Open after suffering a lower back problem that forced the world number two to retire from the Italian Open on his 26th birthday on Wednesday. Murray retired from the contest against Spain's Marcel Granollers moments after levelling the second-round match by winning the second set having already had treatment on court. "I pulled out because there is a good chance I wouldn't be playing tomorrow. We'll have to wait for Paris. I'd be very surprised if I were playing in Paris," he said. "I need to make plans and see what to do. ...

Navardauskas Giro stage win boosts Garmin-Sharp team

Wed, 15 May 2013 20:08:47 +0300

By Alasdair Fotheringham VAJONT, Italy (Reuters) - Lithuania's Ramunas Navardauskas gave Garmin-Sharp a boost with a solo summit finish win on stage 11 the day after team leader Ryder Hesjedal lost all hope of repeating last year's overall Giro d'Italia success. Navardauskas, who was part of a long-distance break of 20 through the Dolomite mountains, shed his closest pursuer, Daniel Oss of Italy, five km from the finish line, to claim his first Grand Tour stage victory on Wednesday. ...

Monfils and Razzano given wild cards for French Open

Wed, 15 May 2013 19:48:28 +0300

PARIS (Reuters) - Former French Open semi-finalist Gael Monfils, who has struggled for form after a string of injuries marred his 2012 season, has been given a wild card for the grand slam claycourt event, organisers said on Wednesday. The 26-year-old Frenchman, who reached the last four in 2008, has dropped down the rankings to 119 from a high of seven in 2011. Compatriot Virginie Razzano, who stunned current world number one Serena Williams in the opening round last year, has also been handed an automatic entry. The French Open takes place from May 26 to June 9. ...

Serena gains sisterly revenge on Robson in Rome

Wed, 15 May 2013 02:43:08 +0300

REUTERS - World number one Serena Williams inflicted swift revenge on behalf of her older sister when she beat Britain's Laura Robson 6-2 6-2 in the Rome Masters on Tuesday. Venus Williams was despatched in straight sets by Robson in Monday's first round but Serena, fresh from her defeat of Maria Sharapova in the Madrid Open final at the weekend, was a different proposition once she had warmed up. Robson broke serve in the opening game but the American quickly hit her stride to take the first set. ...

Venus Williams dumped out of Rome masters by Robson

Mon, 13 May 2013 18:08:51 +0300

REUTERS - A rusty Venus Williams was blown away 6-3 6-2 by rising British left-hander Laura Robson at the Rome Masters tennis on Monday. With clay dust swirling around the tree-lined Foro Italico courts, the American former world number one suffered a scrappy, undignified exit as her fabled power game misfired. Robson will now try to complete a rare double as top seed Serena Williams, winner in Madrid, awaits in round two. ...

Tomic father's Madrid hearing suspended until October

Mon, 13 May 2013 18:01:36 +0300

MADRID (Reuters) - The hearing in Madrid on Tuesday at which John Tomic, father and coach of Australian world tennis number 52 Bernard Tomic, was due to answer a charge of causing criminal injury has been postponed until October, court authorities said on Monday. The hearing could not take place on Tuesday because the alleged victim, Bernard's practice partner Thomas Drouet, was not in Spain and was unable to attend, the authorities said. An exact date had not yet been set, they added. ...

Nadal getting close to the place he wants to be

Sun, 12 May 2013 21:31:32 +0300

By Iain Rogers MADRID (Reuters) - When Rafa Nadal returned to action in February after seven months out with a knee injury he never thought that just over three months later he would have another five titles in the bag, including two more Masters triumphs. The Spaniard, a former number one and the French Open champion, dropped to five in the world during his enforced absence before storming back to win in Sao Paulo, Acapulco, Indian Wells, Barcelona and now Madrid. ...

Nadal wins Madrid to lay down French Open marker

Sun, 12 May 2013 20:14:55 +0300

By Iain Rogers MADRID (Reuters) - Clay king Rafa Nadal sent another reminder he is not about to surrender his Roland Garros crown without a fight when he crushed Swiss 15th seed Stanislas Wawrinka 6-2 6-4 to win the Madrid Open on Sunday. It was the Spanish world number five's fifth title since he returned from a seven-month injury layoff in February and was more evidence that his troublesome knees are not about to bring his career to a premature end. ...

Dubai's Exiles & Hurricanes claim HSBC Youth Rugby Series titles

Sun, 12 May 2013 19:06:56 +0300

Two Dubai clubs - Hurricanes and Exiles - claimed four titles between them in the HSBC Youth Rugby Series 2012/13 end of season prize-giving, which was attended by England great Jason Robinson.

Serena eyeing Paris after second straight Madrid title

Sun, 12 May 2013 18:58:31 +0300

By Iain Rogers MADRID (Reuters) - Serena Williams went from winning the Madrid Open to losing in the first round at Roland Garros last year and she is hoping history does not repeat itself after crushing Maria Sharapova to defend her title in Spain on Sunday. Williams has one more tournament to play - the clay event in Rome - before heading to Paris for the French Open, where the 31-year-old American has just the one singles title compared with five at Wimbledon, five at the Australian Open and four at the U.S. Open. ...

Serena subdues Sharapova to defend Madrid title

Sun, 12 May 2013 18:01:59 +0300

By Iain Rogers MADRID (Reuters) - World number one Serena Williams racked up the 50th title of her illustrious 18-year career when she thumped Maria Sharapova 6-1 6-4 to defend her Madrid Open crown on Sunday. Williams' victory, her fourth tournament success of 2013 and only the seventh on clay since she turned pro in 1995, prevented Sharapova from leapfrogging her to the top of the rankings. It also showed the 31-year-old American, a 15-times grand slam singles champion, is on red-hot form as she prepares her bid to add to her sole French Open title at Roland Garros starting later this month. ...

Nadal crushes Andujar to reach Madrid final

Sat, 11 May 2013 22:44:21 +0300

By Iain Rogers MADRID (Reuters) - Rafa Nadal is one win away from a fifth title since his return from injury after the Spanish world number five thumped compatriot Pablo Andujar 6-0 6-4 on Saturday to set up a Madrid Open final against Stanislas Wawrinka. With his customary strapping on the troublesome left knee that sidelined him for seven months until February, Nadal was in scintillating form as he raced through the first set on the sun-drenched clay of Manolo Santana centre court. ...

Tomic pulls out of Rome Masters before father's hearing

Sat, 11 May 2013 17:11:27 +0300

MADRID (Reuters) - Australian Bernard Tomic, whose father and coach John is due to appear in a Madrid court on Tuesday to answer a charge of causing criminal injury, has pulled out of this week's Rome Masters, the ATP said on Saturday. John Tomic has been suspended from ATP events after he was involved in an altercation with his son's practice partner in a Madrid street last weekend. Tomic told a Madrid court on Monday he had acted in self-defence when he butted practice coach Thomas Drouet in face, breaking his nose, and the pair were ordered to appear at another hearing on Tuesday. ...

Murray's clay season 'going in the right direction'

Sat, 11 May 2013 16:42:20 +0300

MADRID (Reuters) - Andy Murray complained he has been failing to take his chances but said his clay season was "going in the right direction" following the failure of his latest bid for a maiden title on his least favoured surface. Murray lost 7-6 6-4 to Czech sixth seed Tomas Berdych in the Madrid Open quarter-finals on Friday but will at least have the consolation of climbing above Roger Federer to number two in the world when the rankings are updated on Monday. ...

'Boring' Serena sweeps past Errani into Madrid final

Sat, 11 May 2013 14:55:38 +0300

MADRID (Reuters) - Serena Williams' tactic of staying in her hotel room and being "boring" appears to be paying off after the world number one and top seed swept past Sara Errani into the final of the Madrid Open on Saturday. Chasing a 50th career title at the clay event in the Spanish capital, defending champion Williams was far too strong for the Italian seventh seed, winning 7-5 6-2 to set up a clash against Maria Sharapova or Ana Ivanovic. ...

Murray exits, Nadal fights past Ferrer in Madrid

Sat, 11 May 2013 04:11:58 +0300

By Iain Rogers MADRID (Reuters) - Andy Murray's latest bid for a maiden clay title ended when he fell to Tomas Berdych in the Madrid Open quarter-finals on Friday, leaving Rafa Nadal as the only member of the 'big four' still alive at the Masters event. World number three Murray had lost his last two matches on clay against Berdych, runner-up to Roger Federer in Madrid last year, and was beaten 7-6 6-4 by the Czech sixth seed after Nadal battled past Spanish compatriot David Ferrer 4-6 7-6 6-0. ...

Murray stopped by Berdych in Madrid quarter-finals

Sat, 11 May 2013 00:13:19 +0300

MADRID (Reuters) - World number three Andy Murray's latest bid for a maiden career title on clay ended when he was beaten 7-6 6-4 by sixth-seeded Czech Tomas Berdych in the Madrid Open quarter-finals on Friday. The Briton had lost both of his previous two matches on the red dust against Berdych, who was runner-up to Roger Federer last year, and produced an erratic performance this time. Murray battled through a gruelling three-hour encounter against Frenchman Gilles Simon on Thursday that finished after one o'clock in the morning local time (12.00 a.m. ...

Serena given first serious test in Madrid

Fri, 10 May 2013 21:14:35 +0300

By Mark Elkington MADRID (Reuters) - World number one Serena Williams was given her first serious test at this year's Madrid Open but recovered from a second set mauling to beat Spaniard Anabel Medina Garrigues 6-3 0-6 7-5 in the quarter-finals on Friday. It was only the seventh time in her career Serena had lost a set to love, the last time being in November 2008 against her sister Venus at the season-ending WTA Championships in Qatar. ...

Nadal fights past Ferrer to reach Madrid Open semis

Fri, 10 May 2013 20:29:03 +0300

MADRID (Reuters) - Rafa Nadal recovered from accidentally striking himself in the face with his racket to see off Spanish compatriot David Ferrer 4-6 7-6 6-0 in the Madrid Open quarter-finals on Friday. World number four Ferrer, ranked one place above Nadal following the Majorcan's seven-month layoff with a knee injury, showed why he is considered one of the most tenacious competitors on the circuit to take the first set of the last-eight clash at the clay Masters event. ...

Serena forced to battle her way into Madrid Open semis

Fri, 10 May 2013 16:00:04 +0300

MADRID (Reuters) - Top seed and world number one Serena Williams was pushed all the way by unseeded Spaniard Anabel Medina Garrigues before triumphing 6-3 0-6 7-5 to make the semi-finals at the Madrid Open on Friday. The defending champion at the clay event fought back from 4-2 down in the third set to see off the local favourite, who was cheered on by a partisan crowd at the Magic Box Arena. "It was definitely a battle," Williams told a news conference. "I obviously didn't do much in the second set, and I think I gave her a lot confidence to play better. ...

Federer suffers shock Madrid exit to Nishikori

Fri, 10 May 2013 02:49:23 +0300

By Iain Rogers MADRID (Reuters) - Roger Federer's hopes of claiming a second straight Madrid Open title were dashed when the world number two suffered a surprise 6-4 1-6 6-2 third-round defeat to Japanese young gun Kei Nishikori on Thursday. Playing his first tournament since taking a seven-week break following his quarter-final exit at Indian Wells, Federer became the second high-profile casualty at the clay Masters event following Tuesday's shock second-round defeat for world number one Novak Djokovic to unseeded Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov. ...

Relaxed Serena through to last eight in Madrid

Fri, 10 May 2013 00:07:11 +0300

By Iain Rogers MADRID (Reuters) - A laid-back Serena Williams breezed into the Madrid Open quarter-finals on Thursday when she barely broke sweat in a 6-3 6-1 destruction of Maria Kirilenko. The world number one and top seed, defending champion at the premier clay event in the Spanish capital, needed just over an hour to dismiss the 13th-seeded Russian and set up a last-eight meeting with Spanish wildcard Anabel Medina Garrigues. "I just felt really relaxed today," Williams told a news conference. "I felt like I was just taking my time. So hopefully I can keep calm and relaxed. ...

Practice court beckons for Federer after Madrid defeat

Thu, 09 May 2013 22:05:38 +0300

By Iain Rogers MADRID (Reuters) - Roger Federer vowed to get straight back on the practice court after the world number two was dumped out in the third round of the Madrid Open by Japan's Kei Nishikori on Thursday. Defending champion at the clay Masters event in the Spanish capital, Federer was playing his first tournament after a seven-week rest following defeat to Rafa Nadal in the quarter-finals at Indian Wells. ...

Nadal closing on Rafa-Roger rematch in Madrid

Thu, 09 May 2013 20:13:34 +0300

MADRID (Reuters) - Rafa Nadal remained on course for a possible semi-final clash with great rival Roger Federer when he thumped unseeded Russian Mikhail Youzhny 6-2 6-3 to claim a spot in the last eight of the Madrid Open on Thursday. The Spanish world number five fell in the third round of the clay Masters event last year but never looked under pressure against Youzhny and showed his recent seven-month injury layoff had not robbed him of any agility. ...

Azarenka boils over in surprise Madrid Open exit

Thu, 09 May 2013 02:01:00 +0300

By Iain Rogers MADRID (Reuters) - Victoria Azarenka lost her temper and was docked a point for smashing her racket on the way to a surprise 1-6 6-2 6-3 defeat by unseeded Russian Ekaterina Makarova in the Madrid Open second round on Wednesday. The Belarussian world number three, runner-up in the last two editions of the premier clay event and coming back from an injury layoff, appeared firmly in control against her 24th-ranked opponent after cruising through the first set. ...

Nadal subdues Paire to advance at Madrid Open

Wed, 08 May 2013 23:38:23 +0300

By Iain Rogers MADRID (Reuters) - Rafa Nadal avoided a similar fate to beaten world number one Novak Djokovic when he dismissed French young gun Benoit Paire 6-3 6-4 to claim a place in the third round of the Madrid Open on Wednesday. Serb Djokovic fell to another promising youngster, Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov, in the second round of the Masters event on Tuesday but Nadal showed why he has the best record on clay in the pro era with a clinical display. ...

Bulgarians hail "phenomenal" Dimitrov after Djokovic win

Wed, 08 May 2013 14:49:34 +0300

SOFIA (Reuters) - Grigor Dimitrov has been hailed as Bulgaria's new sports hero by local media after the 21-year-old pulled off a stunning upset over world tennis number one Novak Djokovic at the Madrid Open on Tuesday. Dimitrov, the youngest of the six players aged 23 or under in the top 50, battled through cramp to seal a shock 7-6 6-7 6-3 win in the second round and became the first Bulgarian to beat a player occupying the world's top spot. "Bulgarian sport found its new hero after Hristo Stoichkov," newspaper Trud wrote on Wednesday. ...

Singapore to host WTA Championships

Wed, 08 May 2013 11:24:43 +0300

By Patrick Johnston SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Singapore will host the glittering annual finale of the women's tennis season from 2014 until 2018, the WTA said on Wednesday. The Southeast Asian city-state beat Tianjin in China and Mexico's Monterrey for the right to stage the WTA Championships after Turkey's Istanbul ends its three-year stint in October. "Your sensational city, the amazing city of Singapore, has won the right to host the WTA Championships for the next five years from 2014," WTA chairman and chief executive Stacey Allaster told reporters. ...

Djokovic win could be the breakthrough for Dimitrov

Wed, 08 May 2013 03:15:32 +0300

By Iain Rogers MADRID (Reuters) - Grigor Dimitrov has long been touted as the next Roger Federer but it may be the 21-year-old Bulgarian's stunning win against world number one Novak Djokovic at the Madrid Open on Tuesday that finally catapults him into the big time. An inspired Dimitrov battled through cramp and milked the raucous support of the fans at the clay Masters event in the Spanish capital, producing some breathtaking shots to oust the top-seeded Serbian in the second round and claim by far the biggest win of his career. ...

Djokovic ousted by Dimitrov in Madrid

Wed, 08 May 2013 02:38:36 +0300

By Iain Rogers MADRID (Reuters) - Novak Djokovic was dumped out of the Madrid Open in the second round on Tuesday when he went over on his ankle and incurred the wrath of the locals on the way to a shock 7-6 6-7 6-3 reverse to Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov. The world number one, who had a bye in the opening round, was already a break down to the unseeded 21-year-old in the second set when he twisted the same ankle he hurt playing for Serbia in the Davis Cup last month. ...

Serena makes serene progress in Madrid

Wed, 08 May 2013 02:18:52 +0300

By Iain Rogers MADRID (Reuters) - World number one and defending champion Serena Williams continued her serene progress at the Madrid Open when she eased past Spanish wildcard Lourdes Dominguez Lino 6-2 7-5 in the second round on Tuesday. Chasing a fourth title of the year and the 50th of her career, Williams had too much power for the slightly-built Dominguez Lino, who nonetheless managed to unsettle her illustrious opponent with some clever drop shots and lobs. ...

Federer looking sharp on return

Wed, 08 May 2013 00:42:48 +0300

By Iain Rogers MADRID (Reuters) - Roger Federer looked as sharp as ever in his first outing after a two-month layoff as he eased past Radek Stepanek 6-3 6-3 at the Madrid Open on Tuesday before Andy Murray came through a testing encounter against Florian Mayer 7-6 7-6. Defending champion at the clay Masters event in the Spanish capital, Federer chose an eye-catching mint-green shirt for his first match since losing to Rafa Nadal at the Indian Wells Masters in March. ...