Archive for the ‘Tennis’ Category

PostHeaderIcon R. Soderling had the better of Roddick

Favorite Robin Soderling defeated defending champion Andy Roddick 6-3, 7-5, Sunday to win top honors at the tournament in Brisbane.

Robin Soderling

Robin Soderling

The Swede has frustrated Roddick with powerful services and return very accurate, completing the tournament without losing a single round.

The U.S. has also doubled its contribution to the victims of devastating floods in the state of Queensland, which Brisbane is the capital. Ten people have died since late November, and about 200,000 others were affected by the disaster. Roddick had agreed to pay $ 100 for each ace he would succeed in the tournament – he won 54.

In the ladies final on Saturday, the victory went to Czech Petra Kvitova, 6-1, 6-3 against Germany’s Andrea Petkovic.

PostHeaderIcon Debut Victory And Defeat For López García Ramírez Hidalgo And Gimeno Traver In Doha

García-López Spanish only won on the first day of the tournament in Doha
García-López Spanish only won on the first day of the tournament in DohaBegan at this time a new edition of the Doha Open, a tournament worth 1.024 million dollars in prizes, and where Spanish Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, seventh favorite, debuted with victory over Mikhail Kukushkin of Kazakhstan.

Garcia-Lopez won in straight sets 6-1, 7-6 (1) the player Kazakhstan, and now in the second round will face the winner of the match that will be held on Tuesday, German Mischa Zverev and Ukrainian Illya Marchenko.

Ruben Ramirez-Hidalgo had no options to Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (N.3), who beat him by a convincing 6-2, 6-0.

Another Spanish that was eliminated in the first day was Daniel Gimeno Traver, falling to Ukrainian Sergei Bubka 6-0, 6-3 in just 53 minutes gone.

Roddick wins in its debut in Brisbane

American Andy Roddick, seeded second, won without trouble 6-3 6-2 against Australian Marinko Matosevic in Open debut in Brisbane (Australia).

Also advancing to the second round on Monday the German Florian Mayer and Michael Berer, Colombian Santiago Giraldo, Polish and Ukrainian Lukasz Kubot Alexander Dolgopolov.

PostHeaderIcon Who Will Be The Best Ever

the debate about who was who or who will be the best ever, in my opinion, is useless and fruitless.

Nadal said himself to the media after his consecration in New York. Echoing previous statements Laver or Jimmy Connors, another major, said the Spanish can not be compared to that assessment to players from different eras.

Is that tennis has changed so much that while in essence playing sport Laver, Budge, Perry and Emerson is the same as that played by the Swede Bjorn Borg, Americans Connors, John McEnroe, Agassi or Sampras or nationalized Czechoslovakian Ivan Lendl U.S. or practicing now Federer and Nadal, in practice is another. A very different.

It’s so different, especially thanks to new technologies applied to the rackets, the speed of the game is different, and therefore the preparation and the physical is much more pronounced. Sure, the hand that now there is also a greater emphasis on nutrition, physical therapy and, perhaps most influential in the change: there is more money to be distributed and more interests.

Maybe that’s what Agassi pushed himself to the abuse of performance enhancing drugs, something himself admitted in his autobiography U.S. Open and became a subject on which to reveal some details during the recent U.S. Open, he won twice in the same place where Nadal celebrated on Monday at 1994 and 1999, eight major titles.

Nadal and Agassi also share the honor of his Grand Slam, to be sure, in different years; we have added the Olympic gold medal.

Probably would benefit his archrival Sampras, among others.
The ATP, however, Agassi retired with a few years ago has virtually turned a deaf ear on the case of former world number one. Many were the means, then, linked to the stars with a mantle of protection of the governing body of the sport while others paid the bill.

Among the changes tennis before and now, as we said, is the business. And the point in question is that Agassi, in addition to over 30 million dollars in only won awards in his long career, was also the commercial image of the sport for many years.

With long hair shaved on 80′s or 90′s. With the most colorful clothing or pure white. With huge sunglasses air or view. With actress Brooke Shields at his side or with his current wife Steffi Graf. With the help of banned substances or not. Agassi put his face to sell everything from cameras to luxury cars, through the most varied products. Much like today with Nadal, Federer’s heir … and Agassi.

PostHeaderIcon Nadal, The New King And A Dangerous Legacy

Rafael Nadal is on course to become the winningest player of all time. With only 24 years old just get in New York the only title that was missing from his collection of the four majors that make up the Grand Slam.

Of course, that does not mean, as many mistakenly reported that the muscular Spanish has won a Grand Slam. A Grand Slam is what got the American tennis legend Don Budge in 1938. Something that matched and then surpassed the Australian Rod Laver, once as an amateur in 1962 and again in 1969 as a professional. That is, winning all four major tournaments, the Open Australia, France, Britain and the United States in one year.

I just made Nadal equals, in some ways, what they have done well (after Budge and Laver) Britain’s Fred Perry, Roy Emerson of Australia, the U.S. also Andre Agassi and Roger Federer. All of them have won at least four major, albeit in different seasons.

The last three, Nadal, Agassi and Federer have reached further into three different surfaces: clay, grass and hard courts.

Federer, who is still regarded as the best ever despite the evident superiority that Nadal has on him for some years (14-7 leads the Spanish official clashes between the two), was just added to the previous list last year when he won on clay at Roland Garros, on the outskirts of Paris. That was the tournament itself, for example, Pete Sampras could not reach, which conspired to make the U.S. will add to that list privileged.

Nadal has just won his ninth title in Grand Slam tournaments, which could be considered minuscule by comparing the mark with the record 16 having Federer or 14 which accumulated Sampras retired. But most shocking is that no Spaniard has achieved everything he has achieved at such a young age.

That astonished more when you consider that until now has shared his career playing in the same era of the Swiss, who also holds the record for 237 consecutive weeks at number one ranking of the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) for A total of 285 weeks in different periods, only one of Sampras in total.

“Now is the best in the world and has the talent to be the best ever,” said Novak Djokovik between resignation felt by the final defeat and his admiration for Nadal, who beat him at Flushing Meadows for 6 -4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 in a final that was completed on Monday due to rain delays.

PostHeaderIcon Federer is proud of his 2010 season

The others can think what they want. Roger Federer believes that for its part had a very good 2010 season, which began with a victory at the Australian Open and he entered Sunday with a victory at the expense of Rafael Nadal in the Finals of the ATP.

“Whenever people say losing speed, I’m able to bounce back,” Federer told Monday during a telephone interview as he waited to catch his flight out of London.

The winner of 16 Grand Slam titles has admitted that Nadal was sovereign in 2010, reviving the global leader in favor of three major titles.

But Federer said he was happy to have overcome a loss of power in mid-season – defeated in the quarterfinals at Roland Garros and Wimbledon – to finish the season strong. Federer has been at the expense of those defeats Robin Soderling at Roland Garros and face Tomas Berdych in London after reaching at least the semifinals of 23 consecutive Grand Slams.

Also, Federer has dropped a little laugh at the assertion that he only played well early in the season and the end of 2010.

“For some, it’s almost as if I had offered to poor performance throughout the summer or that I had not played at all. It’s hardly the case. I played again and again. I had some good matches, “he said. And then I suffered a few defeats tough, some guys have played better than me, and suddenly the first half of the season was over. But I really feeling of having had some good weeks. ”

Following his disappointment at International of France and Great Britain, some are again put to doubt him. Federer did not let these comments bother him.

He is aware that opinions are changing.

“I’m not angry. As an athlete, we must remain open to criticism because it’s not everyone who shares the same opinion. Everybody does not like the same players,” said Federer, who has slipped to third in the world after Wimbledon, but that will end the year at the second position.

“The rankings are changing rapidly. Right now I’m focusing on the long term and, by doing that, I keep my composure in difficult times.”

He maintained a perfect 5-0 and won 10 of her 11 sets in the final tournament of the season in London, crowning the whole by a 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 Nadal Sunday.

“It’s special to play the last game of the season against Rafa, because you can enjoy it more instead of running to play the next tournament,” Federer said.

The top two players in the world have a record of 1-1 against each other in 2010. During his career, Nadal leads the series 14-8.

“When he plays well, it’s hard to find solutions against him,” said Nadal.

PostHeaderIcon Masters: Federer and Murray in force

Roger Federer and Andy Murray both won their first match in the finals of ATP on Sunday, each with victories in two innings in the first day of the tournament which concludes the season.

Federer beat David Ferrer 6-1, 6-4 on the ground inside the O2 Arena, while Murray defeated Robin Soderling 6-2, 6-4.

Murray, Federer, Soderling and Ferrer in group B.

In group A, hostilities begin Monday: The number one Rafael Nadal will take on Andy Roddick, Novak Djokovic, while play against Tomas Berdych.

Sunday, Murray has limited success with the forehand of Soderling, who has signed only five shots of winning this way.

The Swede reached the final at Roland Garros and has won the Paris Masters this year.

“I played very intelligently,” said Murray. In the second set, there were many long rallies and I was often on the defensive, but I kept the same tactics and I survived. ”

The Briton has faced only one break point, converting itself three of its six occasions like that.

“He defended himself very well,” said Soderling. Sometimes I was hitting the ball very hard, I tried to be aggressive. Every time I went to the net, he left a very good shot. I did better in the second set but it was better than me. ”

In doubles, the American favorites Bob and Mike Bryan were right Austrian Jurgen Melzer and German Philipp Petzschner, 6-3, 7-5.

Poles Mariusz Fyrstenberg and Marcin Matkowski defeated the Czech Lukas Dlouhy and Leander Paes of India 6-3, 7-6 (3).

PostHeaderIcon ATP: Soderling climbs to 4th place

The Swede Robin Soderling moved Monday to 4th place in the ATP rankings to Britain’s Andy Murray with a win at Paris-Bercy on Sunday.

This is the highest ranking of his career Soderling successor awards at the Paris tournament to Novak Djokovic eliminated in the round and remains third.

Ranking first eight can still move by the end of the year based on their performance at the Masters which begins Sunday in London.

Note also expected to tumble Nikolay Davydenko (22nd) coming out of the Top 20 for first time since January 17 … 2005.

Rankings on November 15

1. Rafael Nadal (ESP) 11 450 pts

2. Roger Federer (SUI) 7645

3. Novak Djokovic (SRB) 5635

4. Robin Soderling (SWE) 5380 (1)

5. Andy Murray (GBR) 5360 (-1)

6. Tomas Berdych (CZE) 3755

7. David Ferrer (ESP) 3735

8. Andy Roddick (USA) 3665

9. Fernando Verdasco (ESP) 3240

10. Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) 2920

11. Jürgen Melzer (AUT) 2785 (1)

12. Gael Monfils (FRA) 2485 (2)

13. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) 2345

14. Marin Cilic (CRO) 2300 (1)

15. Nicolas Almagro (ESP) 2160 (1)

16. Mardy Fish (USA) 1991 (2)

17. Ivan Ljubicic (CRO) 1965

18. Sam Querrey (USA) 1860 (2)

19. John Isner (USA) 1850

20. Bagdhatis Marcos (CYP) 1785 (1)

PostHeaderIcon Ana Ivanovic back in the top 20

Serbia’s Ana Ivanovic is back in the Top 20 in 17th place in the WTA rankings Monday by winning the Masters ca “of Bali on Sunday.

Ana Ivanovic

In ATP, David Ferrer, titrated to Valencia on Sunday, Andy Roddick and Fernando Verdasco have doubled, while the rest of the Top 10 does not move, even if Roger Federer, who won in Basel, has filled a small part of its enormous behind the world No 1 Rafael Nadal.

WTA to 8 November:

1. Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) 8035 pts

2. Vera Zvonareva (RUS) 6785

3 Kim Clijsters (BEL) 6635

4. Serena Williams (USA) 5355

5. Venus Williams (USA) 4985

6. Samantha Stosur (AUS) 4982

7. Francesca Schiavone (ITA) 4935

8. Jelena Jankovic (SRB) 4445

9. Elena Dementieva (RUS) 4335

10. Victoria Azarenka (BLR) 4235

11. Li Na (CHN) 3555

12. Justine Henin (BEL) 3415

13. Shahar Peer (ISR) 3365

14. Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) 3000

15. Nadia Petrova (RUS) 2702

16. Marion Bartoli (FRA) 2645

17. Ana Ivanovic (SRB) 2600 (7)

18. Maria Sharapova (RUS) 2591 (-1)

19. Aravane Rezai (FRA) 2575 (-1)

20. Maria Kirilenko (RUS) 2550 (-1)

ATP ranking:

1. Rafael Nadal (ESP) 11 810 pts

2. Roger Federer (SUI) 7695

3. Novak Djokovic (SRB) 6945

4. Andy Murray (GBR) 5670

5. Robin Soderling (SWE) 4960

6. Tomas Berdych (CZE) 3710

7. David Ferrer (ESP) 3645 (1)

8. Andy Roddick (USA) 3485 (1)

9. Fernando Verdasco (ESP) 3240 (-2)

10. Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) 2955

11. Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) 2865

12. Jürgen Melzer (AUT) 2650

13. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) 2525

14. Gael Monfils (FRA) 2485

15. Marin Cilic (CRO) 2390

16. Nicolas Almagro (ESP) 2195

17. Ivan Ljubicic (CRO) 2000

18. Mardy Fish (USA) 1991

19. John Isner (USA) 1885

20. Sam Querrey (USA) 1850 (2)

PostHeaderIcon Tipsarevic has a rendezvous with Federer

Serbia’s Janko Tipsarevic beat Denis Istomin 6-2, 6-4, Tuesday to advance to second round of the indoor tennis championships in Switzerland, where he will face three-time champion Roger Federer.

Tipsarevic broke the service of the Uzbek thrice. Whoever occupies the 46th place in the world has lost its two previous clashes against Federer.

In other first round matches, the French Richard Gasquet beat Taiwanese Yen-Hsun Lu 6-3, 6-1; Colombian Santiago Giraldo was right of Slovak Karol Beck 6-2, 6-1; and Serbian Viktor Troicki showed the output to Germany’s Michael Berrer in straight sets 6-3, 6-0.

At night, Novak Djokovic successful launch in inflicting a 6-4 loss, 6-2 to Latvian Ernests Gulbis.

PostHeaderIcon Romanians needed in Russia

The third-seeded Serbian Janko Tipsarevic of origin and Victor Hanescu, eighth-seeded from Romania, have advanced to the second round of the St. Petersburg Open with wins final on Tuesday.

Tipsarevic, 46th Racquet World, beat Russian Igor Kunitsyn 6-4, 6-2. For its part, Hanescu eliminated finalist of the tournament in 2009, Argentine Horacio Zeballos, in two sets 6-2, 6-0 after only 54 minutes of play

Tipsarevic, who rolled past Andy Murray during the match of the quarterfinals of the 2008 tournament, broke Kunitsyn three times. He had seven aces, has made 10 winners and lost just five points from their opening nine laps in the service to overcome the 106th player in the world in one hour, four minutes.

Hanescu, 52th player in the world, has won eight consecutive games and has never faced a break point.

Hanescu will face the next round American qualifier Rajeev Ram, who made 17 aces to finally topple the Spaniard Pablo Andujar 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-3. Ram, 166th in the world, reached the second round of an ATP tournament for the first time since he lost to Andy Roddick in Atlanta last July.

Earlier Tuesday, the sixth-seeded Uzbek Denis Istomin had withdrew after injuring his right knee when he trailed 6-2, 2-2 against Ukraine’s Illya Marchenko.

On the other hand, the French Paul-Henri Mathieu has advanced with the Argentine Maximo Gonzalez 6-4, 6-3, and qualifier Evgeny Donskoy recorded its first victory on the ATP tour, beating his compatriot Russian Andrey Kuznetsov 7-5, 7-6 (2).