Stosur and Tomic win in Miami

Updated March 23, 2012 16:16:15

Australian tennis stars Samantha Stosur and Bernard Tomic both secured first-up wins at the Miami hardcourt tournament.

Sixth-seeded Stosur cruised into the third round of the women's event with a 6-4, 6-0 victory over Russian qualifier Valeria Savinykh. Stosur had received a bye in the opening round.

The US Open champion next faces South African Chanelle Scheepers.

Tomic booked a meeting with Spanish fifth seed David Ferrer after downing Ukraine's Sergiy Stakhovsky 7-6, (7-4), 6-3 in the men's first round.

But fellow Australian Matt Ebden lost to American Sam Querrey 6-1, 5-7, 7-5, having produced a stirring fight-back after losing the first set in just 24 minutes.

While it was a low-key day for the men, a host of women's stars were in action, including Serena Williams, who made a successful WTA return in her first tournament match since the Australian Open.

Williams beat China's Zhang Shuai 6-2, 6-3 in her first tour match since she was sidelined by a left ankle injury.

The former world number one fired six aces and connected on 64 per cent of her first serves while surrendering only one break to advance to the third round.

The 13-time grand slam singles champion will next face Italy's Roberta Vinci, who ousted Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova 7-5, 6-1.

Williams played for the US Fed Cup team last month, winning two singles matches in a 5-0 World Group II victory over Belarus.

But she had not been in a tour match since losing to Russia's Ekaterina Makarova in the round of 16 at Melbourne.

Five-time Miami winner Williams, the 10th seed on the women's side of the $US9.6 million ($A9.27 million) event, withdrew before her Brisbane quarter-final match because of an ankle injury in her only other WTA start this year.

Kim Clijsters also continued her comeback from injury, ousting German 14th seed Julia Goerges 6-2, 7-5 to reach the third round.

Russian second seed Maria Sharapova also made it through to the third round, beating Israeli Shahar Peer 4-6, 6-3, 6-3.

AAP/AFP

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First posted March 23, 2012 11:08:46

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Stosur falls in Miami

Updated March 27, 2012 12:28:54

Samantha Stosur bowed out of the WTA/ATP event in Miami following a straight-sets loss to Serena Williams.

Williams recovered from a break in both sets to beat Stosur 7-5, 6-3 in what was a rematch of last year's US Open final, which the Australian won.

The defeat continues what has been a mixed start to 2012 for Stosur, who is ranked number five in the world.

Williams produced 20 aces but it was not all plain sailing for the former world number one, who lost her first serve of the match but came back to grind out the set in the first meeting between the two players since the US Open decider.

Down 5-2 in the second, Stosur twice saved match point and forced Williams to serve out for the match and although the American trailed 0-40 she booked her spot in the quarter-finals.

"I think for the most part things are working pretty decent," said Williams, who claimed revenge for her defeat at Flushing Meadows had not entered her head.

"I honestly feel like I can do better but my serve was hot and that is pretty cool."

Top seed Victoria Azarenka survived a scare from Dominika Cibulkova, gutting out a 1-6, 7-6 (9-7), 7-5 victory in the fourth round.

Azarenka advances to face France's Marion Bartoli, who easily defeated Maria Kirilenko 6-1, 6-2.

Russian Maria Sharapova also booked a place in the quarters with a 6-4, 7-6 (7-3) win over compatriot Ekaterina Makarova despite being broken four times.

Makarova fought particularly hard in the second set but eventually fell 7-3 in the tie-break.

Sharapova, the runner-up im Miami last year, will face China's Li Na after the French Open champion beat German Sabine Lisicki 3-6, 6-4, 6-2.

Meanwhile, defending champion Novak Djokovic dispatched fellow Serbian Viktor Troicki with a 6-3, 6-4 win to move into the fourth round of the men's draw.

The world number one broke Troicki three times en route to his 11th consecutive win against his compatriot to set up a fourth-round match against Frenchman Richard Gasquet.

Gasquet, who has been a quarter-finalist in four tournaments so far this year, beat Spain's Albert Ramos 6-2, 5-7, 6-3.

Leading American Mardy Fish recovered from being a break down in the first set to defeat 28th ranked Kevin Anderson of South Africa, 6-4, 6-3.

Fish advances to face Spain's 12th seed Nicolas Almagro who played solid tennis, committing just 10 unforced errors in his 6-3, 6-4 win over compatriot Fernando Verdasco.

ABC/Reuters

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First posted March 27, 2012 07:36:16

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Nadal advances to Miami quarters

Updated March 28, 2012 15:13:41

Defending champion Novak Djokovic and world number twos Rafael Nadal and Maria Sharapova have all advanced at the Miami Masters.

Serbian star Djokovic, winner of the past three grand slam singles crowns, reached the quarter-finals with a 7-5, 6-3 victory over French 17th seed Richard Gasquet.

Djokovic will next face the winner of a later match between Spanish fifth seed David Ferrer and Argentina's 11th seed Juan Martin Del Potro.

Nadal, a three-time Miami runner-up who has never lifted the trophy, ousted Japanese 16th seed Kei Nishikori 6-4, 6-4.

British fourth seed Andy Murray ousted French 13th seed Gilles Simon 6-3, 6-4.

The Scotsman, who could face Nadal in the semi-finals, booked a last-eight date against Serbian ninth seed Janko Tipsarevic, who defeated Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov 7-6 (7-3), 6-2.

US eighth seed Mardy Fish outlasted Spanish 12th seed Nicolas Almagro 6-3, 6-7 (2-7), 6-3 in other fourth-round matches.

Next for Fish will be Argentina's Juan Monaco, who stopped Andy Roddick - after his memorable win over Roger Federer- with a 7-5, 6-0 victory.

Nadal fired eight aces and won 65 per cent of first-serve points while saving six of the eight break points he faced to advance in two hours and 11 minutes, improving to 16-3 on the season.

"The beginning was very tough," Nadal said.

"I started playing more aggressively. At the end of the first set, I felt that I started to win my serves easier than him. I believe that I had more the control of the game.

"In the second set I started well, 3-0. Just 5-3, I didn't play my best game there and he broke me. Happy to have the break back later and finally win the match."

The Spaniard will face French sixth seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the quarter-finals, after he defeated Florian Meyer of Germany 6-3, 6-2.

On the women's side, second seed Sharapova advanced to the semi-finals with a 6-3, 6-0 victory over Chinese eighth seed Li Na, the Russian beauty snapping a four-match losing streak to the Asian star.

"I came into this match losing to her the last few times," Sharapova said.

"I really wanted to change that."

The match began with five consecutive service breaks but Sharapova found her form at 4-3, winning the last eight games of the match and 12 points in a row in one stretch to move on after 68 minutes.

"I was really consistent in conditions where it was a little gusty and blowing around and I faced a tough opponent too," Sharapova said.

"I did a good job of maintaining my consistency throughout the whole match."

Sharapova will next face Caroline Wozniacki after the fourth seed enjoyed her first ever victory over Serena Williams, winning 6-4, 6-4.

"I knew I had to close it out, she wasn't going to give it me, she was determined," said the Dane, who played intelligent and patient tennis, and made the most of Williams's 36 unforced errors.

"I knew if I didn't take care of my serves it would be difficult."

AFP/Reuters

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First posted March 28, 2012 08:07:48

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Radwanska wins Miami title

Updated April 01, 2012 06:36:58

Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska used her wits to defeat world number two Maria Sharapova 7-5, 6-4 to win the women's final at the Miami WTA/ATP event.

Sharapova has now lost all four finals she has featured in at the Miami tournament and all three she has played in this year.

Radwanska's victory was her second of the year following a triumph in Dubai and her ninth WTA title, arguably her most valuable one.

"I'm just very, very happy that I have been able to play my best tennis since the beginning of the year. Let's hope that I can continue," Radwanska said.

"I will never be able to serve like Maria but I try different things and mix it up."

The Pole, ranked fourth in the world, won the tournament without losing a set and she showed exactly why with a classy display that left Sharapova scurrying around the court at times.

There was characteristically little emotion from Radwanska, beyond a timid half-raising of her arms, when Sharapova went long on the final point to hand her victory.

But that was typical of the businesslike and strategic way Radwanska went about beating Sharapova.

In the first set, Radwanska, in control of her service game despite lacking a powerful first serve, survived break point in the fifth game but that was a rare opening for her opponent.

The set was heading to a tie-break when Sharapova, down 6-5, suddenly lost her previously solid service game.

Sharapova produced two loose shots and then a volley into the net to leave her trailing 0-40 in the game and although Radwanska wobbled with two tame returns into the net, Sharapova failed to clear the net herself to hand her opponent the set.

It was a similar story in the second set, with both players solid on serve, but Radwanska coming out on top when it mattered at the conclusion of the set.

Radwanska fought back from 0-30 down to go 6-5 up and force Sharapova to hold serve to stay in the match.

Sharapova looked agitated and was let down by some reckless strokes, twice going long on returns, as Radwanska lured her into defeat.

Reuters

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First posted April 01, 2012 06:03:19

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Djokovic books Miami final with Murray

Updated March 31, 2012 13:42:38

World number one Novak Djokovic beat Argentine Juan Monaco 6-0, 7-6 (7-5) to reach the final of the Miami Masters, where he will meet Andy Murray.

Fourth-ranked Murray's semi-final against Rafa Nadal was a walkover after the Spaniard pulled out with a knee injury.

There was the air of a virtual walkover in the way Djokovic dealt with a wayward Monaco in the first set.

The Serb, in imposing form, dismissed him in just 27 minutes and took full advantage of the Argentine's numerous unforced errors as he won 24 of 32 points.

"He was incredible, he really played like the world number one and it was tough on me," said Monaco.

But after Djokovic broke to go 3-2 up in the second, Monaco fought back well and forced some errors out of the Australian Open champion, who was finally broken when he served for match at 5-4.

The gritty Argentine took the match into a tie-break - a tight affair featuring several long rallies, including one entertaining 26 stroke exchange won by the Serb.

Monaco, who had been cheered on by a largely Latin-American crowd, eventually went long on the decisive point to hand victory to Djokovic.

"I started very strong, just going for the shots, being very aggressive, then I just wasn't able to close it out," said Djokovic, who is now looking for his third win at Key Biscayne.

"All the credit to him for staying in the match, fighting and coming back (but) I still think I gave him points. I made so many unforced errors that I got him back to the match."

Djokovic has a 7-5 record from previous meetings with Murray although the Scot won the most recent in the semi-final in Dubai three weeks ago and also the last time they met in a final - when Djokovic retired in the second set at Cincinnati.

The pair also met in the 2009 Miami final with Murray running out a 6-2, 7-5 winner and Djokovic knows he can expect a tough encounter in the Florida heat.

"We all know his talent, his potential, and quality," he said of Murray.

"He's dangerous on any surface. Obviously here we played finals in 2009 and I lost in straight sets. He likes the conditions. He likes to play in the heat as well, and has a good serve.

"We kind of play similar, as well. We grew up together. We know each other really well and we have been rivals since and good friends off the court. It's going to be a good match.

"I don't think it's going to affect him that much that he hasn't played today, but we'll see what happens," he added.

Reuters

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First posted March 31, 2012 13:42:38

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Djokovic defends Miami title

Updated April 02, 2012 10:53:51

World number one Novak Djokovic defeated Andy Murray 6-1, 7-6 (7-4) to win his second straight Miami Masters 1000 title and third overall.

Djokovic, who won in Miami for the first time in 2007, became just the third man to win the title three or more times, along with Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras.

For his third straight match, Djokovic cruised through the first set before finding himself in a tense tussle in the second.

But even though the second set went with serve until the tie-breaker, it was Murray who was under pressure most, fighting off break points in three of his service games.

"I thought I played a great match from start to end," said Djokovic, who did not drop a set in the tournament.

"There was a couple of service games I had a chance to break him in the second set. He's such a quality player, you never know.

"That's why he's right at the top, he always comes back, even if you feel you have control of the match.

"I'm really happy to close it out in straight sets."

Djokovic, 24, captured his 30th ATP title, and his second this year after his triumph at the Australian Open. It marked his 11th victory in the ATP's elite Masters 1000 series.

Murray had beaten Djokovic in the semi-finals at Dubai in February, and the Serbian was then upset by American John Isner in the semi-finals of the Indian Wells Masters 1000 last week.

Djokovic says that makes this win, which made him the first man since Roger Federer in 2006 to successfully defend the Miami crown, all the sweeter.

"I had a great tournament after that tough loss in the semi-finals at Indian Wells," he said.

Murray, who beat Djokovic in the 2009 Miami final, was playing his first match since Wednesday, when he downed Janko Tipsarevic in the quarter-finals.

He advanced to the title match on a walkover when world number two Rafael Nadal withdrew before their semi-final with a left knee injury.

Oddly, that was Murray's second walkover of the tournament, after Canadian Milos Raonic pulled out of their scheduled third-round clash with an ankle injury.

Whether it was the lay-off or not, Murray was not at his sharpest, his 39 unforced errors making things easier for Djokovic.

His only break chance came in the fifth game of the first set, but he was unable to convert it and stem Djokovic's momentum.

Djokovic had gained the upper hand in the fourth game of the opening set, which Murray led 40-0 but ended up losing on Djokovic's second break point.

The defending champion eventually closed out the opening set with his first ace of the match, and Murray promptly found himself in a 0-30 hole in the first game of the second, typical of the pressure he faced throughout the second set.

"Maybe it took a few games to get used to the pace," Murray said, but added he thought the set was closer than the score reflected.

"There were a lot of close games in the first set. He played better on the big points in the first set.

"In the second set, it was very close. If I was sluggish and I was only a couple of points away from winning the set, I'd say that's a very good sign."

Murray says his biggest problem was his return game, normally his strong point.

"If I had returned a bit better I would have been right in the match," he said. "That's the only thing that I'm surprised that I didn't do well, because it's normally the strongest part of my game."

AFP

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First posted April 02, 2012 05:43:46

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Nadal, Murray advance at Miami

Updated March 26, 2012 14:57:43

World number two Rafael Nadal cruised through to the last 16 at the ATP/WTA Miami Masters tournament, while fourth seeded Andy Murray advanced without even breaking a sweat on Monday morning.

Nadal continued his domination over Czech Radek Stepanek with a straight forward 6-2, 6-2 victory in a third round match on centre court.

Murray reached the fourth round by not hitting a ball when Canadian Milos Raonic withdrew with a right ankle injury.

Nadal, who is chasing his first Miami title, has now beaten Stepanek in all six contests dating back to their first meeting in 2004.

"I am just happy to be in the fourth round winning two matches with positive feeling and with comfortable results," Nadal said.

"I will just try to keep doing well and try to keep improving a little bit."

Nadal finished with three aces, won 74 per cent of his first-serve points and saved both break point chances he faced in the 86-minute match.

Nadal advances to face Japan's Kei Nishikori who breezed past Czech Lukas Rosol 6-4, 6-2.

"He's a fantastic player and will be a very difficult match for me," Nadal said of Nishikori.

"He has big talent to hit the ball very early, to play very aggressive."

The 24-year-old Scot Murray will tackle French 13th seed Gilles Simon for a place in the quarter-finals of a tournament he won in 2009.

Highly-regarded Canadian 26th seed Raonic had already been forced to pull out of the doubles on Saturday where he and South African partner Kevin Anderson had managed just three games against Michael Llodra and Nenad Zimonjic.

The 21-year-old Raonic had been in a rich vein of form in 2012, winning titles in Chennai and San Jose and making the final in Memphis.

At Indian Wells last week, he was knocked out in the third round by eventual champion Roger Federer.

"The doctor in Spain doesn't think it's anything big. It probably just needs a couple days of rest and, with treatment, it should be OK in a week," said Raonic.

"It's frustrating, but you have to look at the big picture."

Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov recorded his first victory over a top 10 player when he beat seventh-seeded Czech Tomas Berdych 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 in two hours and 16 minutes.

Dimitrov saved five of seven break points to reach the fourth round of a Masters 1000 tournament for the first time.

The 20-year-old Dimitrov will next face ninth-seeded Serb Janko Tipsarevic, who fired down 10 aces to get past 18th-seeded Ukrainian Alexandr Dolgopolov 6-4, 5-7, 6-2.

Tipsarevic leads Dimitrov 2-0 in their head-to-head series, with both meetings coming last year at Eastbourne and Washington.

On the women's side, American wild card Venus Williams struggled to defeat Aleksandra Wozniak of Canada 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-5) and top seed Victoria Azarenka powered past Heather Watson 6-0, 6-2 in third round matches on Sunday.

Williams advances to face former world number one Ana Ivanovic who beat 20th seeded Daniela Hantuchova 6-2, 7-6 (7-2).

"I just kept coming back," Williams said. "I tried not to let anything discourage me today. I kept thinking about how I really need this match and I need these points."

Azarenka will square off against 16th seeded Slovakian Dominika Cibulkova for a spot in the quarter-finals.

In other women's matches, French seventh seed Marion Bartoli defeated Simona Halep 6-4, 7-6 (8-6) and Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska crushed Silvia Soler-Espinosa, of Spain 6-1, 6-2.

AFP

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First posted March 26, 2012 14:57:43

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Tomic warned for coaching in Miami loss

Updated March 25, 2012 13:11:58

Bernard Tomic plans to appeal any possible fine levelled against him for coaching in his second-round loss at the ATP/WTA event in Miami.

The Australian teenager was cautioned in his 6-4, 6-4 loss to Spanish fifth seed David Ferrer at what is one of the ATP's prestigious Masters 1000 tournaments, but claimed he was merely asking his coach-father John to have some racquets restrung.

A distracted Tomic then asked his father to move so he was not warned again before explaining himself to the chair umpire.

Meanwhile, Roger Federer set up a 24th career meeting against old rival Andy Roddick as both eased through the second round.

Third-seeded Federer, who has a 21-2 record against world number 34 Roddick, recorded his 23rd win of 2012 by beating 19-year-old American wild card Ryan Harrison 6-2, 7-6 (7-3).

The Swiss superstar is bidding to capture his third Indian Wells-Miami title double, having also won the back-to-back US hardcourt Masters events in 2005 and 2006.

Federer has now won 40 of his past 42 matches since the 2011 US Open semi-finals.

Roddick, the number 31 seed and 2004 and 2010 champion in Miami, dropped nine points on his serve and hit 10 aces to beat Luxembourg's Gilles Muller 6-3, 6-2.

The American, who is at his lowest ranking since July 2001, won in 74 minutes.

In the women's event, former world number one Kim Clijsters lost 6-4, 7-6 (7-5) to Belgian compatriot Yanina Wickmayer, the 23rd seed, in the third round.

Clijsters saved three match points but appeared to suffer a recurrence of her ankle injury.

American 10th seed Serena Williams breezed into the fourth round with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Italian number 21 seed Roberta Vinci.

Williams, who is playing her first tournament since a fourth-round exit at the Australian Open, will face either Australian sixth seed Samantha Stosur or South Africa's Chanelle Scheepers for a place in the last eight.

AAP/AFP

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First posted March 25, 2012 07:17:10

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Djokovic breaks Ferrer resistance in Miami

Updated March 30, 2012 14:04:02

Serbian World number one Novak Djokovic moved into the semi-finals of the Miami Masters after holding off Spain's David Ferrer 6-2, 7-6 (7-1).

Djokovic will face Juan Monaco for a place in the final after the Argentinian celebrated his 28th birthday with a 6-1, 6-3 win over American eighth seed Mardy Fish.

Djokovic cruised through the first set in just 32 minutes and when he broke Ferrer's first serve of the second set, an easy win seemed assured.

Ferrer broke back straight away, however, then held his own before Djokovic broke again to go 5-4 up.

Djokovic still could not serve out the match, with Ferrer breaking again, eventually forcing the set into a tie-break.

Djokovic then showed why he is the world number one by raising his game, easily winning the tie-break to wrap up the match.

"David is a great competitor in every sense and I really wanted to get it done in straight sets because physically he is always there," Djokovic said.

Monaco, who beat American Andy Roddick in the previous round, will head into the semi-final in a confident mood.

The 21st seed won 71 per cent of his first serve points and proved too much for Fish, who could not put pressure on his opponent until breaking to level the second set at 3-3.

But Monaco closed out the match in one hour and 22 minutes and was clearly delighted to have given himself a chance of reaching what would be the biggest final of his career.

"I meant every shot that I played, I did. It was a perfect match for me," said Monaco, who has won four ATP Tour events.

"It was unbelievable. That was the way to celebrate my birthday, playing like this. I feel proud and very happy."

Fish agreed that Monaco had been too much for him to handle on the day.

"He did a lot of things well and I think more than anything else, he shrunk the court extremely well with his movement and that's why I think you saw a ton of errors from me," said Fish.

Friday's other semi-final features Britain's Andy Murray against Rafa Nadal.

Reuters

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First posted March 30, 2012 14:04:02

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