Djokovic victorious at China Open

Updated October 07, 2012 23:25:25

World number two Novak Djokovic overcame Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France in straight sets on Sunday to win the China Open for a third time.

The 25-year-old Serb defeated the world number seven 7-6 (7-4), 6-2 to maintain his unbeaten record at the ATP 500 tournament in Beijing.

Djokovic has won the China Open every time he has entered, his previous titles coming in 2009 and 2010 before he missed last year because of injury, and his record at the tournament now stands at 14-0.

He is pressing to beat Roger Federer to the year-end number one spot in the world rankings and said he was "delighted" at his latest triumph.

"It's an amazing feeling to win this trophy in the new stadium," he said of the capital's National Tennis Stadium, which had yet to be built the last time he won in Beijing.

The Serbian had won his previous five meetings against Tsonga, including three this year, and was ultimately too strong for the Frenchman, who was making his first China Open final appearance and only his third full match of this year's tournament.

AFP

Tags: tennis, sport, china

First posted October 07, 2012 23:25:25

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Stosur joins victorious big names

Updated May 10, 2012 08:43:16

Samantha Stosur eased into the last eight of the Madrid Masters with a straight sets win over Czech Petra Cetkovska.

The Australian needed 72 minutes to secure her place in the next round, saving a remarkable seven from eight break points.

Meanwhile, Spanish clay powerhouses Rafael Nadal and David Ferrer got on and off the controversial blue clay courts as quickly as possible with the Iberian pair racing into the third round while Roger Federer was made to work harder.

Second seed Nadal took just 80 minutes in winning his first match against Nikolay Davydenko since 2009, earning a 6-2, 6-2 victory.

Fifth seed Ferrer dismissed Czech Radek Stepanek 7-6 (7-4), 6-2 in almost the same match time.

Federer had to use all his guile and experience to battle back from a set down and see off fast-rising Canadian Milos Raonic 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7-4).

The Swiss maestro, after an opening round bye, was playing his first match since the end of March and only just edged out the big-serving 21-year-old, who rocketed down 21 aces.

Nadal, leading critic of the dubious qualities of the Madrid surface being trialled amid huge controversy, tried to end talk of the courts and move onto the tennis.

"I played as good a match as I could in these strange circumstances," said the king of clay, winner of Monte Carlo and Barcelona titles last month.

"I'm happy with the way that I played.

"The situation is not easy. This is a fantastic tourney, one of the best in the world. My motivation is strong to play here. I had a fantastic result today, I played better than I expected."

But Nadal added a final word on the issue.

"Conditions here are completely different than on the rest of the clay circuit. If this was in the summer or at the end of the season I would have nothing to say.

"I'm not against change but this is the wrong time of the calendar for it. I don't want to speak more on this."

Ferrer kept his comments completely non-controversial.

"They're a bit slippery but they are working hard to improve them," said the winner of three titles this year.

"It's not a question of criticising, it's just going out on court and doing the best you can."

Croatian Marin Cilic overcame eighth seed John Isner 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-3) as the big American fired 14 aces in his losing effort.

Cilic dodged a bullet with six double-faults including one as he held match points in the second-set tiebreaker.

Frenchman Gael Monfils continued his winning return after more than a month out with an abdominal injury as the 12th seed won as Russian Igor Andreev withdrew with a right shoulder injury trailing 6-3, 1-0.

Compatriot and 14th seed Richard Gasquet advanced over Viktor Troicki 7-5, 6-3 while Spanish 15th seed Fernando Verdasco needed nearly three hours to beat Alejandro Falla 6-7 (4-7), 6-4, 6-4 to next face Nadal.

Champion ousted

In the WTA second round, Czech Lucie Hradecka beat defending champion compatriot Petra Kvitova 6-4, 6-3 to send the third seed home.

World number one Victoria Azarenka, who lost to Kvitova in last year's final, claimed her place in the quarter-finals with a 6-4, 6-4 success against Ana Ivanovic.

Polish fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska brought an end to the 16-match win streak on clay of Sara Errani with a 6-0, 6-1 thrashing in 65 minutes.

Roberta Vinci struck a blow for Italy after Errani's loss, sending out Belgian Yanina Wickmayer 6-1, 6-2. Errani was fresh from the clay title in Budapest at the weekend.

French Open winner Li Na booked the first of the women's quarter-final places as she defeated 12th seed Angelique Kerber 7-5, 6-4.

AFP/Reuters

Tags: tennis, sport, spain, australia

First posted May 10, 2012 06:42:53

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'No limits' says victorious Azarenka

Updated January 30, 2012 08:16:45

Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka has warned there are no limits to what she could achieve after destroying Maria Sharapova in the final.

Playing in the first grand slam title match of her career, the 22-year-old from Belarus showed nerves of steel to demolish 2008 champion Sharapova 6-3, 6-0 in one hour and 22 minutes and immediately set her sights on the rest of the year.

"It's going to be a long year. It's going to be a lot of matches. I just want to keep improving," the new world number one said.

"I feel like there is no limit really."

After making a slow start and going 2-0 down, the Belarusian won 12 of the next 13 games to sweep to the title with Sharapova unable to respond.

"It's a dream come true, you know. I have been dreaming and working so hard to win a grand slam, and being number one is a pretty good bonus," said Azarenka, who replaces Caroline Wozniacki as world number one on Monday.

Azarenka dominated Sharapova by stepping up to the baseline and taking the ball early, pressuring the Russian into making a host of uncharacteristic errors.

She outplayed Sharapova in all departments, matching the Russian's power from the back of the court and volleying confidently.

"Today I didn't think going into the match that I had to play perfect. I just had to play better than my opponent," she said.

"The first two games were a little bit of a disaster, but then I kind of got the momentum going.

"I relaxed and I started focusing on the moment on each point, you know, trying to do whatever it takes to win that point."

Despite appearing ice cool on the outside, Azarenka admitted she had been a bundle of nerves before the final.

"I was super nervous, I couldn't wait to actually go on the court and play," she said.

"It was a long wait, you know. I was like, OK, I'm ready to go. I'm ready to go. When is it coming? When is it coming? What time is it?

"I just think I really handled the situation well after that little slack period in the beginning."

"She really started aggressively," Azarenka added.

"It kind of kept me a little bit off guard, because I tried to be aggressive myself and it didn't really work. I missed a few shots.

"But I'm glad I could stay humble and just take it one at a time. Just keep fighting, keep fighting, and changing the momentum."

Staying positive

Sharapova insisted the best was still ahead of her despite the devastating defeat.

"She did everything better than I did today. I had a good first couple of games, and that was about it," Sharapova said bluntly.

"Obviously to get to the final is a good achievement, but to end up being the one that loses is always tough, no matter what sport you're in.

"But I'm proud of the fact that I made it this far. It's been a few years since I've been in the finals of the Australian Open.

"It's a good start to the year for me. I have a lot to look forward to this year."

Sharapova won the last of her three grand slams in Melbourne in 2008, before shoulder surgery later that year knocked her out of the sport for nine months and set her career back on its heels.

"It's frustrating, but I have a pretty good head on my shoulders in terms of having a good perspective on sport and life," she said.

"And as hard as it is and as much as you want to be the champion, there's only one.

"That's why the feeling is so special when you do achieve that. That's why the work is so hard and extreme.

"That's why the pleasure that you get and the excitement is what you work for, because you know how special it is."

AFP

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

First posted January 29, 2012 12:12:35

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Rusty Serena returns victorious

Updated January 18, 2012 07:50:57

A rusty and agitated Serena Williams grimaced her way through an attack of swooping bugs to resume her domination at Melbourne Park with a scratchy 6-3, 6-2 win over Austria's Tamira Paszek on Tuesday night.

Williams, unable to defend her 2009 and 2010 titles last year due to a freak foot injury, found herself dive-bombed by crickets that made merry on a balmy evening at Rod Laver Arena.

"Bugs fell on my back twice," said the 13-times grand slam champion, bidding for her sixth title at Melbourne Park.

"I hate bugs more than you can imagine. I hate bugs. Like, they kept jumping on me. I just - yuck!

"So I'm going to request not to play at night anymore because I hate bugs, except for the final. I heard it's at night, though. I'll try to get used to them."

Williams, who entered Rod Laver Arena with heavy strapping on both ankles and only two matches under her belt in five months, was also irked by her game, with her baseline rockets missing their targets for much of the 79-minute match.

Muttering and cursing, Williams knuckled down enough to break Paszek once in the first set and twice in the second, and closed out the match with her serve on fire and no sign of discomfort from a twisted ankle suffered at the Brisbane International.

Having put on a brave face in the leadup, Williams admitted she had actually torn ankle ligaments and would need to wait and see how it felt in the morning.

"Something was pretty bad. I tore a couple ligaments, so ... But it's all right. I'm in here playing," she said.

Apart from two matches in Brisbane, Williams's previous match was at the US Open in September where she lost to Australia's Sam Stosur in the final after a sensational outburst at the chair umpire.

The 21-year-old Paszek, sensing her opponent's frustration, went toe-to-toe with Williams in a series of fiery baseline duels but was broken in the eighth game before conceding the set.

Williams ratcheted up the pressure at 2-2 in the second set and the Austrian wavered, sending a regulation backhand wide down the tramlines to concede break point before Williams closed it out with a commanding volley and a fist-pump.

Energised, Williams cracked four straight aces to hold serve and sealed the match with another pair of booming serves.

The win was the 13-times grand slam champion's 15th in a row at the year's first grand slam. She faces Czech Barbora Zahlavova Strycova in the second round.

"Physically I felt fine," said 12th seed Williams.

"I was definitely moving better than I suspected. I still think I can move better, though, and just get that confidence. It would be great."

Reuters

Tags: tennis, melbourne-3000

First posted January 18, 2012 01:18:25

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Azarenka victorious in Sydney decider

Updated January 13, 2012 23:46:29

Known best for the sounds she makes on court, Victoria Azarenka will instead head to Melbourne Park with plenty of noise being made about her Australian Open chances after the Belarusian took out the Sydney International on Friday night.

The 22-year-old overcame a second-set lapse to down defending champion Li Na 6-2, 1-6, 6-3 at Sydney Olympic Park.

One of the noisiest players on tour - who grunted her way to the 95 decibel mark during her semi-final run to Wimbledon last year - Azarenka instead turned up the volume on her powerful ground strokes, giving Li the run around from the back of the court.

While much of the focus this week has been on the battle for the world number one between incumbent Caroline Wozniacki and her suitor Petra Kvitova, Azarenka has quietly consolidated her number three ranking and must be considered a serious threat in Melbourne.

A 2005 junior Australian Open champion, Azarenka was a stealthy mover on the tour last year, rising from 10th in the world to her current ranking thanks to three titles and consistent results at the four grand slams.

She fairly blasted through the first set on Friday night, ripping winners at will, particularly on the backhand flank.

But the errors that tallied so swiftly for Li in the opener began to dwindle in the second set, China's number one player taking it comfortably as she began to eye off her first tournament win since last year's French Open.

After games had stayed on serve at 4-3 in the decider Azarenka then found an extra gear, breaking her opponent to serve for the match.

Also known on occasion for her fragile temperament, Azarenka steeled herself during a tense game to serve out the match, calmly blunting several break back opportunities to snare the title.

Despite the loss, Li will also have plenty of confidence heading to Melbourne.

She is 18-2 in singles matches in Australia over the last year, her only losses across four tournaments coming on Friday night and in the final of the grand slam opener of 2011 against Kim Clijsters.

AAP

Tags: sport, tennis, sydney-2000, nsw, australia

First posted January 13, 2012 23:38:20

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