Serbia through to Hopman Cup final

Updated January 05, 2013 08:12:57

Novak Djokovic made a blistering return to form as Serbia reached the final of the Hopman Cup at Perth Arena.

Djokovic was below his best in a loss to Australia's Bernard Tomic earlier in the round-robin stage but he demolished Germany's Tommy Haas 6-2, 6-0 before Ana Ivanovic defeated Tatjana Malek 6-0, 6-1 as Serbia finished top of Group A.

Australia needed a German victory for any hope of qualifying for Saturday's final.

The world number one needed just 62 minutes to beat Haas, hitting 33 winners in his most impressive match of the week.

Djokovic and Ivanovic will meet the Spanish team of Fernando Verdasco and Anabel Medina Garrigues in the final.

"It's great. I came out on court today feeling much fresher than the opening few days," Djokovic said.

"I'm glad I could get a point for Serbia.

"Tommy's a very talented player. He's been struggling with injuries for the last few years.

"He's very persistent to come back into the top 10. I wish him all the best for the Australian Open."

Earlier on Friday, South Africa beat France 2-1 in their dead rubber when Jo-Wilfried Tsonga had to retire in the deciding mixed doubles because of a groin injury.

Chanelle Scheepers beat France's Mathilde Johansson 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 before Tsonga defeated Kevin Anderson 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-3) during which the French player appeared to slightly injure his groin while stretching for a shot during a rally.

Scheepers and Anderson won the first set of the mixed doubles 6-3 and were trailing 2-1 in the second when Tsonga indicated he could not continue.

Tsonga then announced his withdrawal from the Sydney International, which begins on Sunday. The Australian Open gets underway on January 14.

Reuters

Tags: sport, tennis, perth-6000, wa, australia

First posted January 05, 2013 00:43:31

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Saville and Rogowska awarded Australian Open spots

Updated January 04, 2013 13:36:53

Rising Aussie tennis stars Luke Saville and Olivia Rogowska have been granted wildcards into this month's Australian Open in Melbourne.

Saville, who won the Australian Open junior title last year and the Wimbledon junior title a year earlier, has been nudging his way up the senior rankings and is now ranked 349 in the world after winning tournaments in Cairns and Bangkok in 2012.

"To be competing against some of the best players in the world is going to be a great experience for me," Saville said.

"I feel as if this is a reward for the great year I have had and all the hard work I have put into my tennis."

The Adelaide-based 18-year-old was named male junior of the year at the Newcombe Medal, Australian Tennis Awards, last month.

Rogowska, 21, achieved a career-high singles ranking of 108 during 2012 with title wins in Esperance, Rockhampton and Burnie, and main draw appearances at the Australian and US Opens.

Rogowska said she is grateful to tournament director Craig Tiley for the opportunity to play in front of family and friends in her home town of Melbourne.

"I've been training really well over the last few months and have worked a lot on my fitness and strength," Rogowska said.

"I believe that I can compete with the top girls in the world. I'm looking forward to a big 2013 and there is no better way to start than at the first Grand Slam of the year."

The reciprocal French Open wildcards will go to 19-year-old Caroline Garcia, currently ranked number 154, and Josselin Ouanna, ranked number 120.

A promising junior, Ouanna defeated current world number one Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals of the boys' singles draw at the Australian Open in 2004 before going down to countryman Gael Monfils in the decider.

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First posted January 03, 2013 17:12:47

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Millman hoping for future Davis Cup spot

Updated January 11, 2013 10:01:55

Australian Open wildcard John Millman is hoping his summer to remember will eventually lead to a Davis Cup call-up.

The world number 191 from Queensland has enjoyed some high-profile run-outs this summer, beating Japan's Tatsuma Ito in the Brisbane International before taking US Open champion Andy Murray to three sets.

He followed up his Brisbane efforts with a straight-sets win over Tommy Robredo at the Sydney International, before losing to third seed Andreas Seppi.

He told ABC News Breakfast he hopes his increased profile can result in a Davis Cup team nod - an idea that seemed fanciful just a month ago.

"That's the dream for every Australian tennis player," he said.

"That's the greatest achievement someone can have in sport, to represent their country and I'd jump at the opportunity, if given a chance.

"I know Pat (Rafter) and [Davis Cup coach] Josh Eagle and I'm in talks with them and hopefully, if I can keep getting results, then one day I can justify selection to the Davis Cup team."

He says his good form this summer is reward for battling back from injury in 2011.

"I was wondering whether to keep at it [in 2011] but I decided to, and 2012 was a long year," he said.

"Now the rewards have really paid off and I've managed to get some great results and hopefully I can keep them going here in Melbourne."

He says his match against Andy Murray, which ended 6-1, 5-7, 6-3 in the Scot's favour, was easily a highlight of his career so far.

He says playing in the big time has motivated him to push on from the Challenger Tour into the ATP Tour proper.

"I was having lunch with a few friends and my old man ... and I was wondering what that motivation was and how I was going to win points against [Murray in Brisbane].

"But I came out and it was a packed crowd, 5,500 strong Queensland supporters there and the atmosphere was easily the best I've ever experienced and a lot of the guys in the crowd thought it was unbelievable too.

"It was a great match and I fell just short and it's great to know that I can compete at that high level.

"Along the Challenger Tour it can get a little bit hairy there at times. I'm not going to lie, the money is nice and a grand slam, even with the increased prize money, it does fund your travel, it funds your year.

"I've never really done it for the money or the fame, it's more for personal satisfaction and accomplishment.

"It's something that's really rewarding when you've worked so hard to do something and it pays off."

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

First posted January 11, 2013 10:01:55

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Serena streaks to Brisbane victory

By Luke Pentony at Pat Rafter Arena

Updated January 06, 2013 08:15:50

Serena Williams sent an ominous warning to her rivals ahead of the Australian Open, winning the final of the Brisbane International in compelling fashion at Pat Rafter Arena.

Williams claimed her 47th career title with a straight-sets defeat of close friend Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, posting a 6-2, 6-1 triumph in just 50 minutes.

The world number three, a winner of 15 major singles titles, will head to Melbourne with great confidence, as she has now lost just one match since exiting the French Open in the first round last May.

Williams described her Brisbane campaign as the ideal tune-up for the Australian Open, which begins January 14.

“It was a really good week for sure,” she said.

“I definitely worked hard for this week and I’m going to do a little more work so I can be ready in eight days.”

Williams did not drop a set in Brisbane and while the Friday night faithful were robbed of a semi-final clash between her and Victoria Azarenka when the world number one withdrew with a toe injury, those in attendance on Saturday evening were treated to a sublime display.

The 31-year-old fired down nine aces and scalped four breaks of serve, with the 36th-ranked Pavlyuchenko left frustrated after what had been a giant-killing week in Brisbane.

She beat seeds Petra Kvitova (sixth) and Angelique Kerber (fourth) in straight sets and her form in the Queensland capital suggests she should edge closer to her highest ever ranking of 13 during the season.

“I started the match pretty well, I think, but when she’s on fire ... I feel like there is not much I can do,” Pavlyuchenkova said.

“Still, I was hoping to turn the match around. Until the end I was fighting, like every point.”

Two breaks of serve proved to be the key for Williams in claiming the first set, although Pavlyuchenkova showed in the early stages she was intent not to allow her opponent to dictate terms.

She was not afraid to go for her shots on the Williams serve and this was evident when she crunched a crosscourt forehand winner to lead 30-15 during the third game.

Williams eventually held to lead 2-1 and games continued to go on serve until Pavlyuchenkova’s third service game.

She conceded her first double fault and her defensive game fell to pieces when Williams capitalised on her first break point with a powerful forehand that the Russian failed to return.

Williams, leading 4-2, knew she had the upper hand and after holding serve she secured her second break with Pavlyuchenkova conceding the set after just 24 minutes with a double fault.

The command Williams enjoyed showed no sign of diminishing in the second set, as she leapt quickly out to a 2-0 lead, having broken Pavlyuchenkova for the third time.

Williams illustrated the depth of her game in claiming the break of serve with a brilliant crosscourt volley at the net that left Pavlyuchenkova stranded near the baseline.

To the credit of Pavlyuchenkova she refused to give up and after Williams held her next service game she got on the board to trail 3-1.

But it did prove to be as close as the 21-year-old could get to Williams, who grabbed another break in the sixth game prior to serving for the match.

She clinched the title with a sizzling backhand winner in the corner, an appropriate punctuation mark to what had been an impressive showing.

“I’ve been in the zone a few times, I don’t know if I was in “the zone” today,” Williams said of her performance.

“I was definitely heading in that direction.

“I think it is the zone. I’ve been in the ‘Twilight Zone’ where I just felt so good I couldn’t do anything wrong.”

Williams will now head to Melbourne to complete her preparations under coach Patrick Mouratoglou.

Elsewhere, Li Na won the Shenzhen Open on Saturday, beating the Czech Republic's Klara Zakopalova 6-3, 1-6, 7-5.

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

First posted January 05, 2013 21:12:16

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Millman, Barty get Australian Open wildcards

Updated January 02, 2013 10:11:42

Queenslanders John Millman and Ashleigh Barty received New Year boosts in the form of wildcards to play in the main draw at this month's Australian Open.

The 23-year-old Millman, who won through qualifying to play this week's Brisbane International, was rewarded by Tennis Australia for a strong year in which he hauled his world ranking up from number 541 to 199 after playing 25 tournaments.

Barty, 16, also made a big move in 2012, rising from number 669 to 175.

The 2011 junior Wimbledon champion was excited to get the news of her second Australian Open start at the Hopman Cup mixed teams tournament in Perth where she was teamed with Bernard Tomic for Australia.

"Hopefully I can bring out some of the tennis I've been producing here at the Hopman Cup so far," said Barty, who is coached by Jason Stoltenberg and Jim Joyce.

AAP

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

First posted January 01, 2013 10:51:39

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Del Potro and Hewitt to meet in Kooyong final

Updated January 11, 2013 17:31:19

Lleyton Hewitt will play world number seven Juan Martin del Potro in the Kooyong Classic final on Saturday after the Argentine beat Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis in the semi-final.

Del Potro cruised past Baghdatis 6-4, 6-1 in the semi-final to set up the clash with home town hero Hewitt.

The Australian 31-year-old Hewitt last won the Kooyong title in 2011 and he has met del Potro three times.

The Argentine has won the past two encounters between the two of them.

Taking on a player the class of del Potro will give Hewitt a solid hit-out before his tough first-round Australian Open match against world number nine Janko Tipsarevic.

Hewitt goes into the final in good form after defeating Milos Raonic and Tomas Berdych in his first matches at Kooyong.

In other results on Friday, Raonic suffered his third defeat of the exhibition tournament when he lost to Italy's Fabio Fognini 6-4, 6-4.

Japan's world number 19 Kei Nishikori finally made it onto the court and celebrated with a 6-0, 4-6, 6-3 win over French journeyman Paul-Henri Mathieu.

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First posted January 11, 2013 13:34:45

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Sam stalls again in Sydney loss

Updated January 08, 2013 10:25:17

Samantha Stosur is remaining upbeat about her Australian Open hopes despite her sorry run continuing with a roller-coaster first-round exit from the Sydney International.

Stosur's 6-3, 6-7 (7-9), 6-4 defeat at the hands of China's world number 42 Jie Zheng was her fifth consecutive loss in Australia, a miserable run that stretches back to last summer.

She rebounded from match point down to take the match to three sets, but despite a brave effort she could not produce her top form with enough consistency to clinch the match.

The world number nine will head to Melbourne for the Open starting next Monday alarmingly underdone after playing just two matches since having minor ankle surgery six weeks ago.

With little history of performing well at a tennis major without a strong build-up, Stosur's Open prospects look grim.

But the 2011 US Open champion insists she will take a considerably more positive mindset into the season-opening major than last year when she crashed to a first-round loss to Romanian Sorana Cirstea.

Stosur refused to blame her surgery as any kind of excuse for Monday night's loss and said she actually felt like she'd made significant strides since last week's rusty straight sets defeat in Brisbane to Swede Sofia Arvidsson.

"It's bad because it's another loss, but to be honest I feel a lot better after this loss than last week's loss because I felt like I did some better things," Stosur said.

"It's not like I was playing a bad opponent either - either week.

"I feel like I at least got out of a point in the match where I felt I could have been playing better and actually got through that and at least got myself into a winning position.

"I think another week I'll be playing better again. You never know what can happen with one win.

"We'll just try and take it one match at a time and hopefully I can get through that first one and then from there we'll see."

Stosur made a bright enough start against Jie, establishing two break points in the first game, but the alarm bells were ringing again when Zheng jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the opening set.

The Gold Coast-native got on the scoreboard to hold her own serve, but the 29-year-old Zheng was playing confidently and she sealed the opening set in 43 minutes.

Stosur showed fight to win five straight points from 0-40 to hold serve for 3-2 in the second set, and then raced through the next two games - including a break - for a 5-2 lead.

Stosur was starting to come into her own, hitting for the corners and putting Zheng on the defensive, but she could not quite make the final breakthrough.

Zheng survived a string of break points to hold in the eighth game, caught her opponent on the hop to get the break back and then held to level at 5-5.

The set eventually went to a tie-break, with a number of mini-breaks of serve.

Zheng had a match point on Stosur's serve at 6-7, but the Australian forced an error from her opponent to hold on.

Another error off Zheng's racket then brought up set point, before her passing shot on the run went long to give Stosur the set in 72 minutes.

Stosur looked confident in the final set, and she broke early to take a 3-1 lead.

Zheng looked down and out, but she dug in and forced a break before levelling at 3-3.

She held for 4-3 and then played solid on Stosur's serve, drawing errors from the Australian's racket before hitting an almost unplayable cross-court return to get the break for 5-3.

Serving for the match, Zheng went down three break points, and although she saved one, Stosur converted the second to take it back to 4-5.

The Australian could not take her chance, however, making a series of errors to go down 0-40.

Stosur rifled a forehand winner to save one match point, but a backhand into the net finally ended the match after two and a half hours.

AAP / ABC

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First posted January 07, 2013 21:28:44

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