Danish Open: Jankovic survives Robson; Kanepi outlast Babos
AHN Sports Staff Copenhagen, Denmark (AHN Sports) – Former world’s No.1 Jelena Jankovic dug deep from her bag of trick to get past Great Britain’s Laura Robson, 6-4, 7-6 (8), Wednesday at the 2012 WTA e-Boks Danish Open. Jankovic advanced to the next round but not before overcoming a tough challenge from the 18-year-old Robson. Jankovic committed 11 of 18 double faults in the tennis match but the Serb managed to grind out the victory down the stretch. Up next for Jankovic will be Russia’s Yulia Putintseva, who defeated 19-year-old Danish netter Karen Barbat, 6-4, 7-5. No.5 seed Kaia Kanepi also bested Hungarian Timea Babos 7-5, 4-6, 7-6(2) to book a place in the quarterfinal round of the $220,000 tournament. Meanwhile, 19-year-old Ryan Harrison also made big waves in the ongoing 2012 ATP US Men’s Claycourt Championships as he defeated Alex Bogomolov Jr. 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in a three-set thriller Wednesday. Harrison will next take on Russian Igor Kunitsyn, who blasted Belgium’s Xavier Malisse 6-4, 6-2. Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved
Serena smashes Safarova for 40th WTA career singles title
AHN Sports Staff Charleston, SC, United States (AHN Sports) – Serena Williams bagged her first title of the year in a dominant fashion, cruising past a completely overwhelmed Lucie Safarova, 6-0, 6-1, Sunday at the 2012 Family Circle Cup. Williams capped a superb week of tennis with her first clay court title in four years, doing it without dropping a single set at the event. Coming off a 6-1, 6-1 domination of Australian Sam Stosur in the semifinals, Williams fired powerful serves and a flurry of beautiful shots to charge her relentless attack on Safarova. Safarova, who entered the finals with a 6-0, 6-0 semifinals win against Polona Hercog, was powerless against Williams’ bludgeoning performance as she barely prevented a double-bagel loss to the American. Undefeated against Safarova in five matches, Williams captured her 40th WTA career singles title and her only fourth clay court championship in her illustrious career. With French Open fast approaching, Williams looked poised to add another majors to her collection of 13 Grand Slam titles. Her only title-winning feat in Roland Garros came in 2002 at the expense of his sister, Venus Williams. Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved
Sony Ericsson Open: Sharapova upends Wozniacki, books finals ticket
AHN Sports Staff Key Biscayne, FL, United States (AHN Sports) – Maria Sharapova advanced to the finals of the Sony Ericsson Open after pulling off a 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 victory against former world’s no.1 Caroline Wozniacki Thursday at the Tennis Center at Crandon Park. With Victoria Azarenka eliminated Wednesday, Sharapova looks poised to bag her first singles title of the year after defeating Wozniacki in a scintillating battle of the beauties semifinal.. Sharapova overcame a shaky start and forced a decider, which ended in a controversy after umpire Kader Nouni reversed the lineman decision calling the Russian’s serve too long. If the call was not overruled, Sharapova would have been cited for double-faulting which would have tied the score at 40-40 in the 10th game of the third set. The umpire’s decision angered Wozniacki, considering the disputed call could have changed the complexion of the match. “It’s obviously a tough situation to be in,” Sharapova told ESPN Thursday, “because it’s so close to the end of the match, and both of us had fought so hard for over two hours.” Meanwhile, world’s No.1 Novak Djokovic also made it to the semifinal round after disposing David Ferrer, 6-2, 7-6 on Thursday. The Serbian netter cruised past the Spaniard in the first set before coming through with big shots in the tiebreaker of the second set to arrange a semifinal showdown with Juan Monaco, coming off a 6-1, 6-3 stunner over no.8 seed Mardy Fish. Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved
Sony Ericsson: Sharapova solves Li Na; Wozniacki tops Serena
AHN Sports Staff Miami, FL, United States (AHN Sports) – Maria Sharapova punched her ticket to the semifinal round of the 2012 Sony Ericsson Open after cruising past Li Na, 6-3, 6-0, Tuesday at the Tennis Center at Crandon Park. After losing to Li Na in their four previous matches – including last year’s French Open semifinal, Sharapova broke a 3-3 deadlock in the seventh game and went on to demolish the Chinese star in the next eight games. With the victory, Sharapova once again advanced to the semifinal round of a WTA tourney for the third time this season. The Russian beauty advanced in the finals of the Australian Open and BNP Paribas Open, losing both times vs. world’s No.1 Victoria Azarenka. Sharapova will next take on another former world’s No.1 in Caroline Wozniacki, who defeated Serena Williams, 6-4, 6-4, in the quarterfinals. Meanwhile, Andy Roddick found himself packing his bags home after losing to Argentine Juan Monaco, 7-5, 6-0, in their fourth-round duel. Fresh off stunning Roger Federer, Roddick took a dose of its own medicine as Monaco fired several aces and beautiful winners to completely confuse the American in Key Biscayne. Rafael Nadal also outlasted Japanese sensation Kei Nishikori, 6-4, 6-4, while top-ranked Novak Djokovic continued his domination with a 7-5, 6-3 victory against Frenchman Richard Gasquet. Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved
Roddick upsets Federer in third round of Sony Ericsson Open
AHN Sports Staff Key Biscayne, FL, United States (AHN Sports) – Andy Roddick has been looking for a boost and he may have given himself one Monday night. Staring across the net at his long-time rival and nemesis, Roddick summoned some of his best tennis to defeat Roger Federer, 7-6 (7-4), 1-6, 6-4 in the third round of the Sony Ericsson Open Roddick served out the match to post his third victory in 24 matches against Federer. “There is no script in sports. I think that’s what makes it the best entertainment in the world,” Roddick said. “Nights like tonight are why you play the matches. You don’t know what’s going to happen.” The matchup featured a pair of former No. 1′s but they came into the night headed in opposite directions. Federer is ranked third in the world and had gone 40-2 since the U.S. Open. Roddick came into the event, which he has won twice before, ranked 34th, his lowest since 2001. Also a two-time winner here, Federer took the setback in stride, knowing he has been playing great tennis of late. “I feel like I lost against a former No. 1, not that I lost against a guy ranked 30 in the world,” Federer said. “I’m happy to see Andy play really well. He’s a great champion, and enjoy him while you have him. It was a great night for him and America’s tennis.” On the women’s side Serena and Venus Williams both reached the quarterfinals. Serena had 20 aces in a 7-5, 6-3 victory over Samantha Stosur while Venus edged No. 15-seeded Ana Ivanovic 6-7 (4-7), 6-2, 6-2. Williams is playing in her first tournament since withdrawing from the U.S. Open in August after being diagnosed with an autoimmune disease. Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved
Venus, Azarenka advance; Nadal, Murray move on at Sony Ericsson
AHN Sports Staff Miami, FL, United States (AHN Sports) – Venus Williams advanced to the fourth round of the 2012 Sony Ericsson Open following a gutty 4-6, 6-4, 7-5 victory against Canada’s Aleksandra Wozniak Sunday at the Tennis Center at Crandon Park. Williams kept her competitive juices flowing in his third round showdown with Wozniak as the Florida native overcame a match point and then rallied to beat the Canadian before a partisan crowd in Key Biscayne. With the victory, Williams set up an intriguing fourth-round clash with another former world’s no.1 Ana Ivanovic, who beat Slovakian Daniela Hantuchová, 6-2, 7-6. Meanwhile, the domination continued for top-netter Victoria Azarenka as the Belarusian sensation stormed to a 6-0-6-2 win against Britain’s Heather Watson. On the men’s side, Germany’s Florian Mayer booked a 6-4, 6-2 upset victory against American netter John Isner Sunday. Rafael Nadal also had an easy time against Radek Štěpánek 6-2, 6-2, Andy Murray made it to the fourth round without breaking a sweat after his Canadian opponent Milos Raonic withdrew from competition with a sprained right ankle. Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved
Djokovic, Isner set up semis duel; Sharapova, Ivanovic in final four
AHN Sports Staff Indian Wells, CA, United States (AHN Sports) – Novak Djokovic secured his seat to the semifinal round after grinding out a 6-3, 6-4 decision against Spain’s Nicolas Almagro at the 2012 BNP Paribas Open Thursday at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Djokovic moved a step closer toward defending his title after unleashing a variety of shots and at the same time capitalizing on Almagro’s errors to set up a semifinal duel with American netter John Isner. Djokovic improved to 14-1 in the year and seems on his way to capture another singles title after the Australian Open championship in January. Meanwhile, Isner survived a ferocious showdown with Frenchman Giles Simon, 6-3, 1-6, 7-5, to advance to the semifinal round of the first Masters tournament scheduled in the ATP World Tour this year. After taking the opening set in an easy fashion, Isner faced a stiffer challenge from the Frenchman as Simon quickly took the second set and forced a decider. However, Isner showed character in the third set as he persevered to a close victory against Simon. On the women’s draw, Maria Sharapova progressed to the semifinal round following a gutty 3-6, 7-5, 6-2 win over compatriot and friend Maria Kirilenko. Sharapova, the runner-up in this year’s Australian Open, took over three hours to dispatch Kirilenko, whose unforced errors cost her the chance to nail a semifinal spot. The Russian beauty will next take on Serbian Ana Ivanovic, who has showed her old form to beat no.7 seed Marion Bartoli 6-3, 6-4. Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved
Federer stops Murray, claims 72nd career title in Dubai
AHN Sports Staff Dubai, United Arab Emirates (AHN Sports) – Former world No.1 Roger Federer captured his second title this season and the 72nd of his career with a 7-5, 6-4 victory over Britain’s Andy Murray in the finals of the 2012 ATP Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships Saturday. Federer sustained his excellent showing over the past three weeks as he defeated Murray for the 7th time in 15th meetings and set him up well for the upcoming ATP Masters 1000 Series in Indian Wells. The Swiss Master capitalized on several unforced errors committed by Murray to clinch the hard-fought opening set. Murray kept the match tight through the first eight games but miscues continued to hound him into the second set, allowing Federer to seize the victory in front of thousands of fans at Dubai Aviation Club Tennis Centre. After bowing out to Rafael Nadal in the semifinal round of the Australian Open, Federer appears in good shape to pull off a strong run at several ATP tournaments and Grand Slams. Murray, on the other hand, fell short at completing a tremendous feat in Dubai following a 6-2, 7-5 upset win over world’s no.1 Novak Djokovic in the semifinal round. Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved
Dubai Open: Djokovic in semis clash vs. Murray, Federer battles Del Potro
AHN Sports Staff Dubai, United Arab Emirates (AHN Sports) – World’s no.1 Novak Djokovic moved another step closer to defending his title at the Dubai Tennis Championships after carving 6-1, 7-6 (6) victory over compatriot Janko Tipsarević Thursday at the Dubai Aviation Club Tennis Centre. Struggling with his stroke throughout the tournament, Djokovic pulled off a dominant opening set before carving a gutty effort in the second set and eliminating Tipsarevic in the process. Djokovic, seeking his fourth straight title in Dubai, will take on Australian Open semifinals foe Andy Murray. The Scottish set up an interesting semifinal duel with Djokovic by beating Czech Republic’s Tomas Berdych 6-3, 7-5. Meanwhile, Roger Federer also reached the final four round with another clinical victory over Russia’s Mikhail Youzhny, 6-3, 6-4. Fresh off capturing his first title of the year in Rotterdam, Federer will be battling again Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro for the third time this season. Del Potro, who also captured his first singles title since coming back from a wrist injury, is expected to give Federer a run for his money after posting a big win over Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 7-6, 6-2. Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved
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