Ferrer wins Auckland title for fourth time

Updated January 12, 2013 14:52:28

Spain's David Ferrer has won the ATP tennis title in Auckland, beating Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany 7-6 (7-5), 6-1.

It was the world number five's third consecutive Auckland title and fourth overall, equalling the record of Australian great Roy Emerson.

Ferrer won the match on Saturday in one hour 18 minutes but did not have everything his own way, having to come back from two breaks and set point down in the opening set.

Kohlschreiber did not lose a point in his first three service games and broke Ferrer in the third game, but he was unable to maintain the standard.

Ferrer was able to break back in the eighth game with some great returns, and though Kohlschreiber broke back immediately, the German failed to convert a set point on his serve and was broken after a series of errors.

Kohlschreiber paid for his mistakes in the tie-break, going down a mini-break early, and Ferrer closed it out 7-5 without losing a point on his serve.

The disappointment seemed to affect Kohlschreiber as his standard slipped in the second set.

A double fault gave Ferrer a break in the fourth game, and another break in the sixth game put Ferrer well on track.

The Spaniard won the match after Kohlschreiber skied a shot high into the stands on Ferrer's first match point.

Earlier, Colin Fleming of Scotland dedicated his doubles victory to his cancer-stricken former partner Ross Hutchins after winning the title in Auckland.

Fleming and Bruno Soares of Brazil, a first-time pairing, beat Johan Brunstrom of Sweden and Frederik Nielsen of Denmark 7-6 (7-1), 7-6 (7-2).

AAP

Tags: sport, tennis, new-zealand

First posted January 12, 2013 14:52:28

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Tipsarevic 'finally' wins Chennai title

Updated January 07, 2013 08:10:23

Serbian world number nine Janko Tipsarevic overcame early jitters to stave off Spaniard Roberto Bautista-Agut's challenge and win the Chennai Open.

The second-seeded Tipsarevic lost the first set but found his rhythm back to beat the unseeded Bautista-Agut 3-6, 6-1, 6-3 in a first-time meeting.

The 28-year-old Tipsarevic, who went down to Milos Raonic in last year's marathon final in Chennai, won his fourth career ATP World Tour title in timely fashion with the Australian Open just over a week away.

"I think there's just one word to say and it's 'finally'," he said after winning his first title in Chennai in his sixth attempt.

"Last year, some of you may know, I could smell it, it was just there."

Bautista-Agut, who defeated top seed Tomas Berdych in the quarter-finals, looked set for his first title at one stage but Tipsarevic fought back brilliantly to wrest control, exactly like he did against Aljaz Bedene of Slovenia in the semi-final.

Reuters

Tags: tennis, sport, india

First posted January 07, 2013 08:10:23

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Azarenka wins sixth season title in Linz

Updated October 15, 2012 07:40:30

World number one Victoria Azarenka has claimed her sixth title this season after beating German Julia Goerges in straight sets at the Linz WTA tournament on Monday morning (AEDT).

The Belarusian, in her ninth final appearance of 2012, overcame the fifth seed 6-3, 6-4 for a 14th career title.

In her first appearance at the tournament, the top seed had lost just 11 games in her first four matches and looked on course for another routine victory as she stormed into a 6-3, 5-0 lead against fifth-seeded Goerges.

"At 5-0 it felt like such a comfortable lead. I think I won seven games in a row at that point. But then Julia just went for her shots, and I kind of misjudged the situation," Azarenka said.

"I felt like the match was already in my hands, but Julia is such an unpredictable player, and the momentum can turn around really quickly with her, and it did. I wasn't really expecting to have such a change."

But Azarenka soon wrapped up the title when, with Goerges serving at 4-5 and 30-all, she took the last two points.

"I'm glad I stayed in the moment," Azarenka said.

"I did the right things at that moment to finish the match and I'm very happy I managed to win."

Azarenka's 2012 trophy haul began with her first grand slam title at the Australian Open, with follow-up victories in Sydney, Doha and Indian Wells.

But the 23-year-old then proceeded to lose the three following finals - including a defeat by Serena Williams at last month's US Open - before her 6-3, 6-1 defeat of world number two Maria Sharapova in Beijing.

Azarenka, whose win-loss record is now 13-0 since the US Open, and 26-0 in sets, will have a week off before the WTA Championships in Istanbul.

"I just want to rest a bit - it has been a long trip for me," she said.

"I'm happy I have this week to recover, regroup and refocus to go for that last push."

Goerges was playing the fifth WTA final of her career and is now 2-3 in those.

The German took the court again later on Sunday in the doubles final, where she partnered Barbora Zahlavova Strycova, but that did not go her way either, with Anna-Lena Groenefeld and Kveta Peschke winning 6-3, 6-4.

AFP

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First posted October 15, 2012 07:31:53

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Nadal not thinking about another Wimbledon title

Updated June 26, 2012 18:16:26

Being neither "arrogant" nor "crazy", Rafa Nadal is refusing to think about a third Wimbledon title ahead of his first-round match against Brazilian Thomaz Bellucci on Tuesday.

Having won a record seventh French Open title at the start of the month by beating his great rival Novak Djokovic in the final, the Spaniard could be forgiven for allowing his thoughts to wander to the possibility of another title in southwest London.

"I'm very happy the way things went the last couple of months, since the beginning of the season," he told reporters.

"Thinking about winning another title here in Wimbledon is arrogant and crazy. That's something I cannot think about."

Britain's Andy Murray follows Nadal on to Centre Court as he begins his latest attempt to win a maiden grand slam title at Wimbledon against Nikolay Davydenko, while in the women's competition, champion Petra Kvitova and Serena Williams are both in action.

"I think after Wimbledon, it changed everything as a player," Kvitova said ahead of her first-round clash against Uzbekistan's Akgul Amanmuradova which will open the Centre Court programme.

"(In) the tournaments after, the players want to beat me for sure."

Queensland teenager Ash Barty will make her Wimbledon debut tonight, against Italy's Roberta Vinci.

Barty is the tournament's reigning junior champion, but has chosen to compete in the women's draw this year.

Veteran Casey Dellacqua of Australia faces a tough first round assignment against the number nine seed Marion Bartoli.

In the men's draw, Bernard Tomic will start favourite against Belgium's David Goffin, Lleyton Hewitt will meet the number five seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, while Matthew Ebden will take on Frenchman Benoit Paire.

Hewitt was the champion in 2002 but needed a wildcard to play at Wimbledon this year after missing several months with a toe injury.

He has a tough first-up opponent in Tsonga, who beat Roger Federer on to his way to the semi-finals last year.

Reuters/ABC

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First posted June 26, 2012 15:55:48

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Kvitova downs Li for Montreal title

Updated August 14, 2012 14:08:30

Petra Kvitova overcame a mid-match slump to claim her first title of the season with a 7-5, 2-6, 6-3 victory over China's Li Na in the Montreal Cup on Tuesday (AEST).

In an entertaining but erratic encounter between two former major winners, the fifth-seed's first tournament win since last October's WTA Championship will lift the Czech's confidence ahead of the US Open starting at the end of the month.

"It is great to have a good result in the Montreal Cup before the US Open. Finally I have played well," the world number six told reporters.

"It is a great preparation. I have played some good matches here and I hope that I can continue that."

The 22-year-old's maiden victory on North American soil pocketed last year's Wimbledon champion $385,000 but it was not without drama.

The momentum shifted several times during the match but none more evidently than when Li won the first 16 points of the second set to race into a 4-0 lead after the 30-year-old 10th seed had dropped the opener.

Li, who remains without a title in 2012 after losing finals in Sydney, Rome and now Montreal, had started well before Kvitova eked out a 5-3 lead.

The 2011 French Open champion, who will return to the top 10 in the world rankings, fought back to level at 5-5 but was unable to covert a further four break points before suffering a bout of nerves on her next service game to drop the set.

Li responded immediately, aided by some wayward play from her opponent, winning the first four games of the second set without dropping a point as Kvitova lost focus and struggled to land in the ball in the court.

That Kvitova made 16 unforced errors while hitting just one winner indicated just how off-target the Czech had become during the second set.

However, the 22-year-old regrouped at the start of the third and regained the advantage when Li overhit a forehand while trailing 2-3 to drop serve and Kvitova held her nerve to seal a much-needed victory.

Reuters

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First posted August 14, 2012 13:41:21

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Serena wins fifth Wimbledon title

Updated July 08, 2012 17:42:39

Serena Williams celebrated a fifth Wimbledon women's singles title, made all the sweeter by it being the first since she battled a life-threatening illness.

Williams, who now has 14 Grand Slam titles, was laid low by blood clots that kept her out of the sport for a year until the eve of last year's tournament.

But the American buried all those fears with a 6-1, 5-7, 6-2 win in the final over Polish world number three Agnieszka Radwanska.

"I can't describe it. I almost didn't make it a few years ago. I was in hospital and I thought I'd never be here again, so this makes it so worth it," said Williams, the first 30-year-old since Martina Navratilova in 1990 to take the title at the All England Club.

"It's all the sweeter. I was so down but you never give up. You have to continue," added Williams, who won her first Wimbledon title in 2002.

Radwanska, bidding to become the first Pole to win a major title, had been laid low by a respiratory illness in recent days but battled hard before losing.

It was her third defeat in three matches against Serena, but the first time she had taken a set off the champion.

"I am very proud to have got to the final. I am still shaking but I tried, it just wasn't my day," said the 23-year-old, who was fighting back tears after the final.

"I have been unlucky here, playing in the wind and the rain, but I still played some great matches."

Meanwhile, three-times men's champion John McEnroe hailed Serena as the greatest women's player he has ever seen.

"I've seen them all, Martina Navratilova, Billie Jean King, Chris Evert was a machine ... Monica Seles, Steffi Graf but I believe we're watching the greatest female player that's ever played this game," McEnroe told the BBC.

"It's an elite, exclusive and an amazing club that she's part of."

Lindsay Davenport, the 1999 champion, praised Serena and sister Venus who also has five Wimbledon crowns.

"It all started to go downhill for her two years ago after she won Wimbledon," said Davenport.

"She was fighting last year to regain confidence on court. It's been a long road and that's the most emotional I've seen her win a Grand Slam.

"Given the way the French Open went for her, going out in the first round, a lot of people questioned her nerve but she held it together well in the final.

"Five Wimbledon singles titles ... we thought it was amazing with Venus. It's amazing to think about two sisters accumulating 10 Wimbledon titles in the last 13 years."

AFP

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First posted July 08, 2012 06:01:43

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Williams wins second straight Stanford title

Updated July 16, 2012 09:32:48

Serena Williams became the first woman since 2006 to win a second straight WTA Stanford event as the five-time Wimbledon winner defeated lucky loser Coco Vandeweghe 7-5, 6-3 on Monday morning (AEST).

Williams' title defence came six years after Kim Clijsters completed her double.

"I'm so glad to be done here," said Williams, who got a scare in a tight 53-minute opening set but easily won the second set.

"I was glad to come here but it was tough.

"I flew from Wimbledon and had to get adjusted to the conditions and beat the jet-lag. I was glad to play and it's great to win.

"But now I want to stay in the States for a while and prepare for the London Olympics."

Williams defeated Vandeweghe in 90 minutes, hammering 21 winners, nine aces and getting four breaks of serve.

Vandeweghe, ranked 120 but set for a rise into the top 75, was bidding for history in hopes of becoming the second lucky loser from qualifying rounds to win a WTA Tour title.

The Californian got into the field after another player withdrew before the start.

"It was really exciting to be in the final, hopefully this was a good omen for the rest of the summer," she said.

"Hardcourt is definitely my favourite surface. I'm happy to be out there playing."

The performance earns the Californian a direct entry into the US Open.

Williams has two trophies in as many weeks after winning Wimbledon last weekend, then flying to northern California to shift onto the hardcourts.

The world number four now owns 43 career titles, the same number as her sister Venus.

Williams also has four wins in 2012, putting her joint leader in that category alongside world number one Victoria Azarenka.

AFP

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First posted July 16, 2012 09:32:48

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Vinci downs Jankovic for Texas title

Updated August 25, 2012 15:58:39

Italy's Roberta Vinci completed her warm-up for the US Open with a straight-sets victory over former world number one Jelena Jankovic in the final of the WTA's Texas Open.

Vinci, seeded third, won the last six games of the second set to complete a 7-5, 6-3 victory.

Vinci, making the most of second-seeded Jankovic's five double faults, claimed her seventh career WTA title and her first of 2012.

It was a morale-boosting victory with the US Open -- the final Grand Slam of the season -- due to start on Monday at Flushing Meadows.

Serbia's Jankovic, meanwhile, missed an opportunity to lift a trophy for the first time since 2010.

It was her second appearance in a final this season. She lost to American Melanie Oudin on the grass courts of Birmingham in June.

Vinci, who had booked her spot in the final with a dominant 6-0, 6-0 semi-final win over Serbia's Bojana Jovanovski, found the going tougher against Jankovic, needing just over two hours to triumph.

AFP

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First posted August 25, 2012 15:58:39

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Bhupathi, Mirza win French mixed title

Updated June 08, 2012 08:52:04

India's Mahesh Bhupathi and Sania Mirza won the mixed doubles title at the French Open, defeating Santiago Gonzalez of Mexico and Klaudia Jans-Ignacik of Poland 7-6 (7-3), 6-1 in the final.

Bhupathi, one of the most successful men's doubles and mixed doubles players ever, won the title in style on his 38th birthday.

He first won the mixed doubles title at Roland Garros in 1997, when he teamed up with Japan's Rika Hiraki to become the first player from India to lift a major trophy.

AFP

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First posted June 08, 2012 08:52:04

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Nadal seals magnificent seventh French title

Updated June 12, 2012 09:20:58

Rafael Nadal has clinched a record seventh French Open title, defeating world number one Novak Djokovic 6-4, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 and shattering the Serb's dream of grand slam history.

In a final pushed into a third week for only the second time because of Sunday's rain, the Spanish world number two, playing in his 16th grand slam final, also took his Paris record to a staggering 52 wins against just one loss.

Victory allowed him to break the tie for six French Opens he shared with Bjorn Borg.

"It's a real honour," Nadal said.

"But for me the most important thing is this tournament. For me this is the most important tournament in the world.

"I'm really, really emotional and it's probably one of the more special moments of my career."

Djokovic was left to regret his unforced error count of 53 which undermined his challenge.

After Sunday's suspension at 2:50am (AEST), the players, meeting in a fourth successive grand slam final, resumed with Nadal leading 6-4, 6-3, 2-6, 1-2, but with Djokovic in the ascendancy and serving for a 3-1 lead in the fourth set.

But a forehand error from Djokovic, with the court at his mercy, gave Nadal a break point and the Spaniard seized it when the Serb had been left flat-footed by a net cord which allowed his opponent to push through a winner.

The set remained tight as would be expected with the pair meeting for a 33rd time.

Nadal moved to 5-4 as the umbrellas went up all around Philippe Chatrier Court and the players sat courtside to wait out a passing, heavy shower and complained to tournament referee Stefan Fransen about the slippery conditions.

Djokovic finally buckled when a monster forehand from Nadal set up championship point, which he converted when the top seed tamely served up a fourth double fault.

"Rafa was the better player," Djokovic said.

"I hope to come back next year and play even better."

The celebrations were ecstatic as Nadal fell to his knees and consoled Djokovic before the champion climbed into the player's box to embrace his family.

On Sunday, Djokovic had looked down and out at one stage, even picking up a warning for destroying his courtside chair box with his racquet.

After slipping two sets down, he was also a break behind at 0-2 in the third before he reeled off eight games in succession to take the third set - the first lost by Nadal in this year's event - and lead 2-0 in the fourth.

The first game of the fourth set had featured a gruelling 44-shot rally.

But Nadal had raged at tournament referee Stefan Fransen for having to keep playing as the court became increasingly treacherous.

As he stormed, Djokovic, who had been two sets to love down to Andreas Seppi in the fourth round, and saved four match points in his quarter-final victory over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, seized his chance to get back into the match.

The last time a French Open men's final failed to be completed on the last Sunday was 1973 when it was played on the Tuesday with Ilie Nastase beating Niki Pilic.

Monday finishes have become common at the US Open in New York with the last four finals taking place on the extra day while the 2001 Wimbledon final was also completed on a Monday.

Roland Garros will eventually avoid late finishes as a main court with a retractable roof is to be built in 2017.

AFP

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First posted June 11, 2012 22:06:33

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Errani keeps twin title dream alive

Updated June 09, 2012 10:38:46

Sara Errani warmed up for her singles final by teaming up with fellow Italian Roberta Vinci to win the French Open women's doubles title on Friday by beating seventh-seeded Russians Maria Kirilenko and Nadia Petrova 4-6, 6-4, 6-2.

The fourth seeds, who were runners-up at the 2012 Australian Open, claimed their first major title.

Vinci and Errani have also won tournaments this year in Monterrey, Acapulco, Barcelona, Madrid and Rome.

Errani, who plays Maria Sharapova in the singles final on Saturday evening (AEST), is the first player since Kim Clijsters in 2003 to reach the singles and doubles finals at Roland Garros in the same year.

She is hoping to emulate Mary Pierce, who was the last woman to win both titles at the French Open in 2000.

Reuters

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First posted June 09, 2012 10:18:56

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Nadal captures sixth Rome title

Updated May 21, 2012 22:59:19

Rafa Nadal enjoyed the perfect fillip ahead of his French Open defence with a commanding 7-5, 6-3 victory over world number one Novak Djokovic in the delayed Rome Masters final on Monday.

Beaten surprisingly early on Madrid's blue clay earlier this month, the 25-year-old Mallorcan was at his destructive best to claim the title in the Italian capital for the sixth time.

In doing so he will rise back to second in the world rankings after being overtaken by Roger Federer last week.

The match, the 32nd between the pair, had been postponed by rain on Sunday, but both players came out firing in front of a healthy crowd in the Foro Italico as the sun returned.

Nadal went immediately on the attack, carving out two break points in Djokovic's opening service game only for the elastic-limbed Serb's defences to dig him out of trouble.

The Spaniard did draw first blood when he punished a dreadful Djokovic drop shot in the fifth game to move ahead but he immediately handed the service break back with a lacklustre game culminating in a forehand error.

Djokovic briefly switched up a gear and began to dominate the rallies but was broken again at 5-5 after a volleying exchange and Nadal served out a 76-minute opener.

Nadal made it five games in a row when he moved 2-0 ahead in the second set and although Djokovic hung on grimly, threatening to break back in the fourth game only to mess up an easy smash, he stayed in control.

Two bad bounces and a double-fault on match point helped Nadal close it out and improve his career head-to-head record over the Serb to 18-14.

Reuters

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First posted May 21, 2012 22:51:25

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Nadal wins seventh Barcelona title

Updated April 30, 2012 08:11:25

Rafael Nadal confirmed his status as king of clay by winning his seventh Barcelona Open title with a high-quality 7-6 (7-1), 7-5 defeat of David Ferrer.

World number two Nadal went from one history-making weekend to another after claiming an unprecedented eighth straight title a week ago in Monte Carlo where he beat world number one Novak Djokovic.

Seven days later, he took nearly three hours to add to his records in Barcelona as he held off compatriot Ferrer.

Nadal and his friend were playing their fourth final at the Real Club de Tenis, with Nadal winning all of them dating back to 2008.

He now stands as the only man to win two different events at least seven times each.

"This was my hardest match since the start of the clay season," said the winner. "David always takes you to the limit.

"I was lucky when I saved break points. The odds were on my side. In the second set David played very close, but I had the luck at the end. I'm so happy and I feel sorry for him. I'm starting to feel my game well on the clay."

Nadal's victory was his 34th in a row at Barcelona and improved his finals record on clay to 34-4.

His only clay finals losses have come against Djokovic and Roger Federer, each beating him twice.

The Barcelona triumph in front of 8,000 fans came exactly 10 years to the day that a 15-year-old Nadal made his debut on the ATP Tour in his native Mallorca.

Sunday's final was the 10th between Spaniards at the tournament in the Open era, the sixth featuring Nadal and the fourth in five years between Nadal and Ferrer.

Spaniards have won the home title for the past 10 years since 2003.

"Rafa is Rafa and he is very good," Ferrer said in defeat. "I've lost four times to him in this final. But I've always lost to one of the greats. He is a very good player and even better as a person."

The marathon final looked never-ending after a first set lasting 93 minutes with Nadal saving five set points in the 12th game before the tiebreaker which he dominated.

Ferrer, 30, refused to roll over, with the third seed coming from 1-3 down as he broke Nadal in the fifth game and then did it again for 5-4 as Nadal produced a double-fault.

But Nadal was not done, with the top seed breaking back for 5-5, producing a love game for 6-5 and breaking again to end the dramatic contest a game later on the first of three match points.

Nadal now stands 14-4 over Ferrer after winning the 48th trophy of his career.

AFP

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First posted April 30, 2012 08:09:12

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Kerber takes Wozniacki's Copenhagen title

Updated April 16, 2012 13:23:23

Double defending champion Caroline Wozniacki suffered her first defeat at the WTA Copenhagen Open on Monday (AEST) when Germany's Angelique Kerber took her title in a 6-4, 6-4 win.

Top seed Wozniacki had won the first two editions of the indoor hardcourt title in 2010 and 2011, building up a 14-0 streak in the process at her home event.

Kerber, the second seed, had lost her two previous meetings with Denmark's Wozniacki.

"I felt like I had nothing to lose. If I lost the match, it's OK against her. It made me take more chances and I'm glad it worked out," said Kerber, who won her second career title after her maiden triumph in Paris in February.

"I love playing here and today I played a really good match against Caroline. I'm happy I was able to raise my level for the last few matches here and I've gained a lot of confidence. I'm very motivated to continue working hard."

Wozniacki said she would recover fron the defeat.

"You always want to win," said the Dane.

"Yes, it's disappointing to lose, but it's not a disaster. You lose matches sometimes, and today was one of those times. There's a new match and new tournament coming, so you go on."

AFP

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First posted April 16, 2012 13:23:23

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Federer beats Isner to win Indian Wells title

Updated March 19, 2012 12:18:46

World number three Roger Federer beat John Isner 7-6 (9-7), 6-3 in the Indian Wells final Sunday to capture his third tournament in a row and a record fourth Indian Wells title.

Federer has been battling a flu bug all week and said he was close to pulling out of Indian Wells. It limited his practice time early in the event but he said he was feeling much better after beating American 11th seed Isner.

"Sometimes just have to play a bit sick," said Federer, who earned $943,000 for the victory. "I am happy to come through at the end. It makes me really happy beating the best.

"I've really played amazing these last three matches in particular. I couldn't be more happy. They were really great wins."

One of the hottest players on the ATP Tour, Federer has now captured three consecutive events after winning back-to-back finals in Rotterdam and Dubai.

The Swiss star's fourth Indian Wells title is one more than the old mark he had shared with Jimmy Connors and Michael Chang.

He clinched Sunday's contest on the first match point when Isner smacked a forehand into the net.

Federer's road to the finals included wins over hard-serving Canadian Milos Raonic, Brazilian number one Thomaz Bellucci, former US Open champ Juan Martin del Potro and Spanish rival Rafael Nadal in the semi-finals.

"Honestly, I never looked one match ahead of me," Federer said.

"I thought del Potro was going to be extremely difficult. Once I got through that one, I only thought of the Nadal match.

"So for me, maybe mentally because of what happened, it was a bit of an easier tournament.

"I played with an attitude that I can only win here. I don't favor myself because I have not felt great. It would be a surprise to come through.

"That's how it feels now. I was able to come through, and so convincingly at the end is amazing. I've really played amazing these last three matches."

Federer also avenged a loss to Isner earlier this year in Davis Cup play.

On Sunday, Federer and Isner held serve in the second set until Federer finally broke the American in the seventh game to take a crucial 4-3 lead. Federer hit a backhand straight at Isner, who tried a drop shot on his backhand but it hit the net.

Federer won four of five points on his serve in the next game to take a 5-3 lead and then broke Isner again in the final game.

He has compiled a 22-2 ATP Tour record this season and has now won 15 matches in a row since losing to Isner in Davis Cup.

The only people to have beaten him on the court this year are Nadal and Isner and he defeated both of them in Indian Wells. France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga won in a walkover over Federer in January at Doha.

Federer has been on a blistering pace this season and is showing no signs of slowing down. He cannot afford to if he is going to catch world number one Novak Djokovic.

"For the moment, Novak is the best player," Federer said. "A lot has to happen for me to come through. I am playing well and I have won six of the last eight events I have played."

Another goal of Federer's is winning at the London Olympics, which begin in just over four months.

Asked if he could pick one thing to win this year, he replied, "to win the Olympic gold. Why not, right? But it is going to be lot of hard work."

Isner's path to the final included a semi-final upset of Djokovic.

Isner, who was leading the tournament in aces heading into the final, hit just four aces against Federer. He also had one double fault and won just 47 per cent of his second-serve points.

Isner said when he looks back on the tournament, it was a good experience to reach his first Indian Wells final.

"I certainly played well all week and obviously today it did not go my way," he said. "I don't really feel like I necessarily played my best, but that's what Roger does.

"I mean, if I have any shot to beat him I'm going to have to play my best. That wasn't the case today. He was too strong."

AFP

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First posted March 19, 2012 10:18:59

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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

Tags: tennis, sport, united-states

First posted April 01, 2012 06:03:19

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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

Tags: tennis, sport, united-states

First posted April 02, 2012 05:43:46

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Berdych beats Monfils for Montpellier title

Updated February 06, 2012 10:28:29

Czech Tomas Berdych claimed his seventh career title when he defeated local favourite Gael Monfils 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 in the final of the Open Sud de France in Montpellier.

World number seven Berdych had too much pace for Frenchman Monfils and prevailed in two hours five minutes.

"It was a great three sets, it was very close and I'm happy I was able to do it," top seed Berdych told French TV channel Canal Plus Sport.

"He is a great player, he knows how to fight on court, but I knew that and I was ready for it."

Monfils, who was the defending champion, admitted the better player had won.

"I tried to return his serves better, to be more aggressive but it is not easy when he steps on to the court," he said.

Berdych took the first set easily but world number 13 Montfils started to move much better in the second.

He opened up a 3-1 lead and although the Czech threatened to level in the eighth game, Monfils held serve to send the match into a decider.

Monfils saw off two break points in the eighth game but conceded the third to let Berdych serve for the match.

The Czech duly delivered, wrapping it up on his first match point with a backhand winner.

Reuters

Tags: tennis, sport, france, czech-republic

First posted February 06, 2012 10:28:29

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Melzer stops Raonic to win Memphis title

Updated February 27, 2012 10:59:19

Unseeded Jurgen Melzer defeated Milos Raonic 7-5, 7-6 (7-4) in the final of the $1.28 million ATP Memphis Open to capture his fourth career title.

It was the second year in a row the fourth-seeded Canadian Raonic lost in the Memphis final after winning the week before in San Jose.

Melzer, who upset top seed John Isner and third seed Radek Stepanek en route to the final, clinched Sunday's victory in a second set tie-break when Raonic hammered a backhand into the net.

Melzer broke Raonic's mighty serve in the seventh game of the second set to cut Raonic's lead to 4-3. Melzer then survived a set point in the 10th game before both players held serve to set up the tie-break.

Melzer also broke Raonic's serve in the 11th game of the first set to take a 6-5 lead. He ended the 41-minute opening set with an ace out wide on his second set point that Raonic could not reach with his backhand.

By taking the first set, Melzner snapped Raonic's 2012 win streak at 19 consecutive sets. Raonic had not lost a set since he fell to Aussie Lleyton Hewitt in the third round of the Australia Open in January.

The left-handed Austrian earned $260,000 in prize money for his first win since successfully defending his crown in his hometown of Vienna two years ago.

It was the first career meeting between the Canadian rising star and the 14-year veteran Melzer, who was playing with a broken toe suffered in his hotel when he first arrived in Memphis.

Melzer now has a 4-7 career record in finals and also won his first title on US soil after finishing runner-up in his previous three attempts.

Raonic, who lost in last year's final to American veteran Andy Roddick, came into Sunday's final riding a nine-match win streak and was seeking to add the Memphis crown to titles he already won this year in San Jose and Chennai.

AFP

Tags: sport, tennis, united-states

First posted February 27, 2012 10:59:19

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Ferrer beats Almagro for 13th title

Updated February 27, 2012 12:50:05

World number five David Ferrer claimed his 13th career title with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory over fellow Spaniard and 2011 winner Nicolas Almagro in the Buenos Aires Open final on Monday morning (AEDT).

Top seed Ferrer, runner-up to compatriot Juan Carlos Ferrero in 2010, recovered from dropping his only set of the tournament to improve his head-to-head record against world number 11 Almagro to 9-0.

"I'm really happy, this was an account I had pending. This title is something very important to me," Ferrer said in a courtside interview.

"I'll be back, for sure," Ferrer told fans at the claycourt tournament at the Buenos Aires Lawn tennis Club, confirming he would return to defend the title next year.

Almagro, looking to repeat his back-to-back wins in Brazil and Argentina last year having retained his Brazil Open title in Sao Paulo last week, made the better start and broke Ferrer in the third game.

Serving for the set, the second seed found himself 40-15 down but worked his way back and took the game with his first set point, slamming down one of his 36 aces in the tournament.

Ferrer, who had the easier passage through the semi-finals after beating local favourite David Nalbandian 6-1, 6-4 on Saturday, gradually wrested control from Almagro after earning a break in the fourth game of the second set.

He broke again in the third and fifth games of the deciding set and won on his second match point when Almagro went wide with a backhand down the line.

The 29-year-old Ferrer said his experience had helped him through.

"With Nico they are always very physical matches. With the passing of the years one doesn't have that anxiety of youth," he said.

World number 11 Almagro, who has 11 titles all on clay, said Ferrer deserved his victory as the better player on the day.

"I played pretty well. Against another rival I might have won," the 26-year-old told a news conference.

"At no time did I lose my confidence in my tennis. This shows how well David is playing.

"I'm perfect physically. I work hard to be in good shape after difficult matches like yesterday's," added Almagro, who needed three sets to overcome Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka in the last four.

"(Ferrer) went up a gear and I couldn't counter that.

Reuters

Tags: sport, tennis

First posted February 27, 2012 09:18:12

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