Cibulkova eases past Bartoli in California final

Updated July 23, 2012 11:28:24

Dominika Cibulkova won her second career title when she romped to a routine 6-1, 7-5 victory over top seed Marion Bartoli to win the Carlsbad Open in the United States on Monday morning (AEST).

In an impressive display from behind the baseline, the second seeded Slovakian was quicker around the court than her French opponent, rallying from a 4-1 deficit in the second set to record an important victory ahead of the Olympics.

The 23-year-old Cibulkova won the tournament without dropping a set and will rise to number 13 in the rankings when they are next released, one place lower than her career high.

"In past finals I was too nervous and this was first final I was just going for it," Cibulkova told reporters after outlasting Bartoli, who had eked out three-set wins over her last three opponents to reach the final.

Cibulkova, who captured her maiden title in Moscow last November, has one week to prepare for the London Olympics tennis tournament starting on July 28, one day after the opening ceremony.

Reuters

Tags: sport, tennis, united-states

First posted July 23, 2012 11:28:24

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Murray eases through to Brisbane semis

Updated January 06, 2012 17:08:00

Match practice for the Australian Open may have been Andy Murray's game plan at the Brisbane International but he will have no complaints with his quarter-finals quick kill on Friday.

World Number four Murray crushed doubles partner Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus 6-2, 6-2 and will face the winner of Friday's quarter-final between Bernard Tomic and Uzbekistan's Denis Istomin in a semi-final on Saturday.

Keen for court time ahead of the Australian Open after overcoming a groin strain, top seed Murray has already had plenty of that at the Brisbane International while nursing a right knee complaint.

The Scot had lost the first set in each of his previous matches, grinding out three-set wins over journeymen Mikhail Kukushkin and Gilles Muller.

But there were no such struggles on Friday as he ditched the knee strapping for the first time in Brisbane and brushed aside the world number 44 in just over an hour.

It seems the hard work is paying off for Murray ahead of the Australian Open where he has been runner-up the past two years.

Indeed Murray, 24, is leaving no stone unturned as he bids to become the first British grand slam champion in 76 years.

He has booked a one-off appearance at next week's Kooyong Classic to top up his Australian Open preparation under new coach Ivan Lendl, who flew into Melbourne on Friday.

A day after losing a doubles quarter-final alongside Baghdatis, Murray stared down the Cypriot from the other side of the net on Friday.

Murray may have come off a fourth-straight number four year-end finish, but he trailed 2006 Australian Open runner-up Baghdatis 3-2 in head-to-head meetings.

The Scot seemed determined to rectify that from the outset, racing to a 4-0 lead in the first set.

Moving freely for the first time at the tournament, Murray sealed the opening set in 30 minutes after twice breaking Baghdatis.

Baghdatis - who had not dropped a set before the quarter-final - tried to fight back in the second, threatening to break Murray's serve in the fourth and sixth games.

But Murray showed his class - and an ever-improving serve - to win the set in 35 minutes.

French second seed Gilles Simon was the first man through to Saturday's semi-finals after ousting Colombian Santiago Giraldo 7-6 (7-2), 6-4 on Thursday.

Simon will take on Russia's world number 15 Alexandr Dolgopolov after the third seed outlasted ex-champion Radek Stepanek, the sixth-seeded Czech, in their quarter-final 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 on Thursday night.

AAP

Tags: tennis, sport, brisbane-4000, qld, australia

First posted January 06, 2012 17:05:39

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Hewitt eases into Halle quarters

Posted June 10, 2011 06:19:00

Defending champion Lleyton Hewitt had few problems as he set up a quarter-final clash against crowd favourite Philipp Kohlschreiber at Halle's ATP grasscourt tournament.

The Australian won his second-round match against Italy's Andreas Seppi 6-4, 6-4 in one hour and 20 minutes.

With Wimbledon starting in 10 days' time, former world number one Hewitt admitted he was glad to have got a hard-fought match under his belt.

"This match was good, though it was a tough battle for me," the 30-year-old Hewitt said.

"Seppi had already played well against quality players. I remember him playing very well against James Blake at Wimbledon, so I know he plays well on grass.

"I was able to keep the ball flat and I am a little surprised about my performance.

"I feel pretty comfortable playing out there. Every time I come back from injuries, I noticed my ball-striking always comes back quickly and easily.

"It is the adjustment and the feeling for the court that is the thing missing."

Germany's Kohlschreiber awaits in the last eight clash after he enjoyed a 6-3, 7-6 (7-5) victory over seventh-seeded Ukrainian Alexandr Dolgopolov.

"Obviously Kohlschreiber is a quality player, who has come far in this tournament so I have to watch out," said Hewitt, who is also still involved in the doubles.

"I'd like to execute my game like I did today, that would be great."

Monfils through

French third-seed Gael Monfils is also into the quarter-finals and faces another German opponent in sixth-seed Florian Mayer.

The 24-year-old Monfils saw off Croatia's Ivan Dodig 6-2, 6-3, but admitted he is not a natural on grass and was looking to improve his game ahead of Wimbledon.

"I really feel good, especially because I moved well," said Monfils, who beat compatriot Florent Serra in straight sets in the first round.

"I am happy about that, because I do have problems adjusting to grass. In the last 10 days before Wimbledon, I want to improve my overall game further still - serve faster and stronger and work on my movement.

"Last year, I was terrible on grass, because that surface does not come natural to me, so this year I am happy, I want to continue improving.

"All in all, after this second easy win, I think I have made a good debut on grass here in Halle."

Mayer enjoyed a 7-6 (7-4), 3-6, 6-4 win over Taiwan's Lu Yen-Hsun.

He fired down 13 aces on the firm Halle turf which is favouring the big hitters, but says Monfils starts as favourite in their quarter-final.

"In my opinion, Monfils is slighty ahead as the favourite," Mayer said.

"I'm surprised how well he is playing on court here, but I must play my own game and let form on the day decide.

"I will have to get things right under pressure and play my game, otherwise it will be really difficult."

In the other quarter-finals, Germany's Philipp Petzschner will play Canada's rising star Milos Raonic and top seed Tomas Berdych will play fifth seed Viktor Troicki of Serbia.

-AFP

Tags: sport, tennis, australia, germany

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