Tomic battles into Sydney semis

Updated January 11, 2013 07:49:24

Bernard Tomic's new-found steel has thrust the reformed youngster into his second ATP Tour semi-final at the Sydney International.

Tomic battled back doggedly from a set down to defeat defending champion Jarkko Nieminen 6-7 (6/8), 6-4, 6-2 to move to within two victories of a long-awaited maiden tour title.

The 20-year-old will take on Andreas Seppi on Friday for a spot in the final after the Italian third seed beat Spain's Marcel Granollers 6-4, 7-5 in the late match.

Tomic's only other tour semi-final ended in defeat against Andy Murray last January in Brisbane.

Despite being below his best against the crafty Nieminen, Tomic will be a warm favourite no matter who he plays after extending his unbeaten summer streak to six straight wins.

The 2011 Wimbledon quarter-finalist now boasts 17 victories from his past 19 matches in Australia, an imposing record ahead of his home grand slam beginning in Melbourne on Monday.

But his latest triumph was hard-earned.

"I was happy with myself to stay in there," Tomic said.

"Early in that second set, I felt like he was going for shots and was relaxing and for me to stay in there til that 3-all point was really big.

"After I won that second set, I freed up and played better tennis."

Tomic fought hard to recover from 5-2 down in the opening set, only to blow his own 5-2 advantage in the tiebreaker.

He had two set points at 6-4 and wasted his best chance on his own service when he overcooked a routine forehand.

Heartened by the reprieve, Nieminen continued to attack and was rewarded with the first set.

"I was very concerned after that first set," Tomic said.

Living on the edge, Tomic grabbed the sole break of the second set late on when Nieminen faltered trying to stay in it at 4-5 down.

The Finn's poor service game ended quickly when he put two balls in the net to allow Tomic back on level terms.

Despite his experience, Nieminen has has converted only two of his 12 finals into titles and it showed as the left-hander capitulated in the deciding set.

He surrendered his second service game of the set and, rather embarrassingly, the one-time world number 13 shanked his second serve on match point.

Earlier, big-serving South African Kevin Anderson and Frenchman Julien Benneteau, last year's runner-up to Nieminen, booked their places in Friday's semi-finals.

Anderson downed Uzbek Denis Istomin 6-4, 6-3, while Benneteau eliminated American qualifier Ryan Harrison 6-4, 6-2.

AAP

Tags: tennis, sport, sydney-2000, nsw, australia, southport-4215, qld

First posted January 10, 2013 22:04:46

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Djokovic and Federer survive epic battles

Updated June 06, 2012 06:51:08

Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer survived five-set struggles at the French Open overnight to set up a mouth-watering semi-final, where the Swiss legend will attempt to shatter the world number one's Grand Slam dream.

Top seed Djokovic saved four match points against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga before pulling off a nail-biting 6-1, 5-7, 5-7, 7-6 (8-6), 6-1 quarter-final win.

Third seed Federer reached a record-equalling 31st grand slam semi-final when he survived a brutal barrage from frail Argentine Juan Martin del Potro before prevailing 3-6, 6-7 (4-7), 6-2, 6-0, 6-3.

After his triumphs at Wimbledon, the US Open and the Australian Open, Serb star Djokovic is bidding to become just the third man to hold all four grand slam titles at the same time and the first in 43 years.

His win over Tsonga made it 26 straight match victories in grand slams, but seldom has he been run so ragged as he was at times by the powerful Frenchman, who had let slip four match points in the fourth set.

The defeat meant Tsonga's dream of becoming the first Frenchman to win at Roland Garros since Yannick Noah in 1983 was cruelly shattered.

"He was the better player for most of the match and I was fortunate to come back from four match points down," said Djokovic, who had needed five sets to beat Italy's Andreas Seppi in the fourth round.

"It was an incredible match."

Heartbroken Tsonga said: "I did what I said I would and gave everything. I came close and I would have loved to have won.

"It's a shame because I was pretty close, but at the end I had no energy left.

"Now I will have to close this chapter."

The key part of the tie was in the ninth game of the fourth set when Tsonga had two match points, only for Djokovic to hold firm.

Two games later two more match points escaped the Frenchman, setting up a tie-break.

Djokovic trailed 2-4 in that, but with Tsonga looking increasingly tight, the top seed clawed his way back and forced a fifth set on his third set point.

The world number one seized the occasion to jump out into a 3-0 lead and he raced away to pull off a stunning victory.

Federer, the 16-time grand slam title winner and 2009 champion in Paris, came back from two sets to love down for the seventh time in his career and will take on Djokovic for the 26th time with a place in Sunday's final at stake.

The result was cruel luck on the 1.98m Del Potro, who had looked on course for a straight-sets win after unleashing a brutal wave of power-hitting off both wings which left Federer floundering in the first two sets.

However, his hopes were finally sabotaged by a recurrence of the knee injury which has plagued him in Paris and which left him struggling to move by the end of the match.

"I knew Juan Martin's knee was bothering him and was trying to finish the rallies quickly," said Federer, who has pulled level with Jimmy Connors' mark of 31 grand slam semi-finals.

"I knew it would be a big fight today. I played well tactically and was strong mentally because there wasn't a lot in it."

Federer, playing in his 50th straight grand slam tournament and 32nd consecutive quarter-final at the majors, took an 11-2 career advantage over the towering Argentine into Tuesday's clash.

One of those wins came in a gripping Roland Garros semi-final in 2009, when he twice fought back from a set deficit to win in five before Del Potro gained revenge three months later with a first grand slam title triumph at the US Open.

The 23-year-old Argentine had lost all five meetings with the Swiss since returning after almost a year out from wrist surgery in 2011.

"I played a great match, but in the third and fourth sets, he started to play a lot better than he did at the beginning," said Del Potro, who insisted his knee was not a problem.

"I called the trainer to have the tape loosened on my knee, but there was no problem.

"I just served really badly in the fourth set and you won't get many points against the top guys if you do that.

"He took his opportunities and won."

The two remaining quarter-finals will take place tonight, when six-time champion Rafael Nadal meets fellow Spaniard Nicolas Almagro boasting a 7-0 career advantage.

Fourth seeded Andy Murray faces Spain's David Ferrer, defending a 5-4 head-to-head lead.

AFP

Tags: tennis, sport, france

First posted June 06, 2012 06:42:11

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Sore Federer battles through in Rome

Updated May 17, 2012 10:41:23

An aching Roger Federer made up for lost time as he saw off Carlos Berlocq of Argentina 6-3, 6-4 to reach the third round of the Rome Masters.

The Swiss only decided to play after his morning practice session, carrying a few aches and pains following his Madrid Masters title win last weekend.

Second seed Rafa Nadal, beaten in the third round on the blue clay in Madrid, looked delighted to be back on the red stuff as he beat German Florian Mayer 6-1, 7-5.

Meanwhile, Australian Samantha Stosur setup a third-round clash with Venus Williams after easing past Italian Sara Errani 6-3, 7-5.

Adjusting from the slick, slippery blue clay to the far slower red clay of the Foro Italico with ease, Federer conceded he had been unsure what to do up to the very last minute.

"I wanted to see how I felt and make sure that I didn't have anything major because we're ahead of a long summer," he told a news conference.

"If this was the last tournament of the season it would be no problem. But as this is the beginning of many tournaments in a row, potentially a lot of five-setters in a row, I need to make sure I make good decisions, so I go round by round.

"I'm happy that I felt OK out there today."

A good performance this week from Federer, who now plays former world number one Juan Carlos Ferrero, would help him to close the gap on Novak Djokovic in top spot.

"I might be world number three again next week but that doesn't matter for Rafa (Nadal, the number three) and myself," he said.

"It's interesting times right now and I know there's going to be a lot of talk about the rankings.

"What I know is that I'll have a shot until the US Open, whatever shape or form with the rankings, and we'll see how it's going to play. Right now I'm just happy I'm healthy."

Tomas Berdych, beaten by Federer in the Madrid final, eased past Lukas Kubot 6-4, 6-1 to reach round three, while Juan Martin Del Potro also advanced.

In the women's event, Serena Williams made it two wins in the space of 18 hours as she battled back to beat Russia's Nadia Petrova 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.

"It was very difficult for me today," Williams told a delighted crowd in Italian. "I hope that I can play better from here."

Venus Williams improved her chances of making the Olympics on merit as she battled to a 7-6, 6-1 win over Ekaterina Makerova of Russia.

The former world number one, who needs to climb above Varvara Lepchenko in the United States pecking order, will take on fifth seed Stosur in round three.

There were defeats, though, for world number three Agnieszka Radwanska and former world number one Caroline Wozniacki.

Radwanska was ousted 6-4, 4-6, 6-1 by Petra Cetkovska of the Czech Republic while Wozniacki, suffering from sinus problems, quit when trailing 6-4, 4-0 to Anabel Medina Garrigues of Spain.

World number one Victoria Azarenka suffered a blow to her French Open preparations when she was forced to pull out with a right shoulder injury.

Azarenka had shown no sign of discomfort when she walloped Israel's Shahar Peer 6-1, 6-2 in the second round but the WTA announced her withdrawal shortly after the victory.

With just 10 days until the start of the French Open, the Belarusian will hope for a quick recovery ahead of her bid for a second straight grand slam title.

AFP/Reuters

Tags: tennis, sport, italy, australia

First posted May 17, 2012 07:18:27

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Clijsters battles back from the brink

Updated January 23, 2012 00:09:15

Defending Australian Open champion Kim Clijsters said she faced an anxious wait to find out the condition of her injured ankle after her remarkable win over China's Li Na on Sunday.

Clijsters rolled her left ankle midway through the first set of her dramatic fourth-round match, before staging what she described as the best comeback of her career.

The Belgian saved four match points in the second set, coming from 6-2 down in a tie-break to defeat a shell-shocked Li 4-6, 7-6 (8-6), 6-4.

It was a magnificent turnaround from the Belgian, who looked down and out as she hobbled to her chair at 3-3 in the first set after rolling her ankle during a baseline rally.

Clijsters, who had her leg raised during her post-match press conference, said she did not know the extent of her injury or how it would heal before her quarter-final against Caroline Wozniacki on Tuesday.

The top seed Wozniacki saw off the challenge of former world number one Jelena Jankovic in straight sets.

The day was all about Clijsters though, who added another indelible Australian Open memory to those from her run to the title last year.

"It's only the first hour since I'm done. I'm taped already and I was fully covered in the ice bath for the ankle and everything," she said.

"I have the best people around me to take care of me and to make sure that this is hopefully not going to get any worse than it is now.

"That's why I'm sitting here with my leg up, to try and keep the swelling down as much as possible. We will see."

Clijsters admitted she had briefly considered pulling out when she suffered the injury.

"It definitely crossed my mind at some point (to pull out) but I knew if I could just try to let the medication sink in, or if I could get through the first 20 minutes, half-hour, I think the pain would go away a little bit and then maybe with the adrenaline I could just fly through it," she said.

The much-anticipated rematch of last year's final had threatened to turn into a huge anti-climax as Clijsters struggled to continue after the fall.

Clijsters decided to battle on, but it soon became obvious that she was not moving as well as she normally does and she had trouble chasing down Li's wide balls.

She managed to hold her serve after the injury but Li then broke Clijsters' next service game and held her own to take the first set in 43 minutes.

Clijsters started slowly in the second set but began to move better and forced the set into a tie-break.

Li opened a 6-2 lead, only for Clijsters to win six points in a row to level the match, the last an audacious lob that left the Chinese stranded at the net.

"I didn't want to give her anything for free," Clijsters said of the four match points.

"If she was going to come up with an ace or with a winner, you know, too good, but I didn't want to make the mistake.

"I think she was a little bit lost or maybe a little bit confused at that time and she made two pretty easy mistakes when we changed sides.

"That made me believe in it even more in the beginning of that third set to just stick through it from the beginning and try to get as many breaks as I could in the beginning."

By this point the match had swung firmly back towards Clijsters as Li lost her first two service games and the defending champion raced into a 4-0 lead.

She fought back but it was too late and Clijsters sealed victory when a Li backhand hit the net on her second match point.

"I knew beforehand it was going to be a tough match, physically, mentally, everything," Clijsters said.

"But I didn't expect this - it was amazing to get through."

Wozniacki raced away with the first set and edged the second to win 6-0, 7-5, with the Serbian 13th seed making a huge 50 unforced errors in a match lasting one hour and 43 minutes.

The Dane looked like running away with the contest when leading 4-1 in the second set, but Jankovic staged a late comeback before the Dane sealed the win on her second match point.

"My confidence is high, my fitness is good, I feel like my play is improving so I'm very positive," said Wozniacki. "I thought I played a great set and a half today but then she started to play well."

AFP

Tags: australian-open, tennis, sport, melbourne-3000, vic, australia

First posted January 22, 2012 19:17:49

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Djokovic battles to end Federer era

Updated September 11, 2011 09:24:00

World number one Novak Djokovic rallied from two sets down and saved two match points to beat five-time champion Roger Federer 6-7 (7-9), 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 7-5 to reach the US Open final.

The top-seeded Serb, who had also saved two match points en route to a semi-final win over Federer at Flushing Meadows last year, avenged his loss at the hands of the Swiss legend in the French Open semi-finals, a defeat which ended his 43-match winning run.

Despite losing the third and fourth sets, Federer appeared poised for victory after breaking Djokovic in the deciding set - the world number one's untimely double fault giving Federer triple break point which he converted to a 5-3 lead.

But when the Swiss great mustered double match point, Djokovic threw caution to the wind, pouncing on a 174 kph Federer serve and belting the return back for a winner.

"If it comes in, it comes in," Djokovic said of his strategy at that point.

"It's a risk. Last year, I was in a very similar situation. He was two match points up. I was hitting a forehand as hard as I can.

"You're gambling. If it's out, you lose. If it's in, maybe you have a chance. I got lucky today."

Federer was clearly stung to be derailed by a "lucky shot".

"That's why we all watch sports, isn't it? Because we don't know the outcome and everybody has a chance, and until the very moment it can still turn," he said.

"That's what we love about the sport, but it's also very cruel and tough sometimes. It got me today."

Djokovic saved another match point when a Federer forehand clipped the net cord and went out.

Two games later, Djokovic punctuated two long rallies with forehand winners to gain another break and he captured the three hour, 51 minute battle when Federer sent a service return long.

"It was definitely the biggest win of this year, one of the biggest wins of the career under the circumstances," Djokovic said.

"Roger was in control, playing better.

"I switched gears and played much better over three sets."

The defeat in the final major of the year ends Federer's streak of winning at least one grand slam every year since he won the first of his record 16 majors in 2003.

The heartbreaking loss was also only the second time in 184 matches that Federer has been beaten after leading by two sets and the fourth time in his career.

"You have to figure that Novak was going to get his teeth into the match at one stage," Federer said.

"Everything I did today I thought was the right way. He just played really well in the third and the fourth."

Djokovic, who will face either defending champion Rafael Nadal or world number four Andy Murray in Tuesday morning's (AEST) final, has a chance to add a third grand slam title to the Australian Open and Wimbledon trophies he has lifted in a spectacular season that has seen him win 63 of his 65 matches.

The Serbian also had to contend with a capacity, pro-Federer crowd in the massive Arthur Ashe Stadium and at one stage appeared to lose his temper when fans cheered his crucial double fault to go down 5-3 in the final set.

The at times maligned Djokovic taunted the crowd after saving the first Federer match point with his stunning winner and turned to them again for support when he broke Federer for the second time in three games.

But by the end of the fantastic encounter a humble Djokovic seemed to have put the crowd onside with an enthusiastic celebration and post-match victory dance.

ABC/AFP

Tags: tennis, sport, united-states, serbia

First posted September 11, 2011 07:33:51

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Stosur battles into Eastbourne semis

Updated June 17, 2011 10:40:00

Samantha Stosur has come from a set down to beat Russian world number three Vera Zvonareva in the quarter-finals of the WTA event in Eastbourne.

Stosur was down 4-2 in the second set before hitting back to win 4-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4 in just under three hours at Devonshire Park.

The Queenslander will now meet Marion Bartoli for a place in Saturday's final, after the Frenchwoman's opponent, Victoria Azarenka, was forced to retire.

Stosur says she is certain she made the right decision in missing Australia's Fed Cup tie loss to Ukraine in April.

She chose to stay in Europe to prepare for the claycourt season rather than return to Melbourne for a World Group play-off tie eventually won by the visitors.

Despite the shock loss, Stosur says it was the correct decision in what was a difficult situation for both her and the team.

"I definitely wanted to be there if it was possible, but it was a decision I made for my schedule and to stay over in Europe," she said.

"I don't think it was an ideal situation for anyone to have to go back. I made that choice and I still thought the girls could have been able to win."

Meanwhile, Daniela Hantuchova ended the Williams sisters' run at Eastbourne, as she finally triumphed after 10 losses in her career series with Venus.

Hantuchova, who had won just two sets previously against the American holder of five Wimbledon titles, secured a gritty 6-2, 5-7, 6-2 quarter-final victory to send Venus out a day after her sister Serena lost to top seed Vera Zvonareva.

Hantuchova, ranked 25th, laboured for two hours and 23 minutes after a delayed start due to rain in the area. The Slovak, who played last week's Birmingham final, won her 27th match of the season and heads into a semi-final against fifth seed Petra Kvitova, who beat Agnieszka Radwanska 1-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7-2).

In other results at Eastbourne, the men finally completed three left-over second-round matches topped by rain on Wednesday.

Janko Tipsarevic, the number three and last seed remaining, beat Mikhail Kukushkin 6-3, 7-6 (7-2), Belgian Olivier Rochus stopped Argentine Carlos Berlocq 3-6, 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-3) and Japan's Kei Nishikori beat German veteran Rainer Schuettler 6-4, 4-6, 6-2.

- ABC/AFP

Tags: sport, tennis, australia, united-kingdom, england

First posted June 17, 2011 06:12:00

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