Ivanovic and Sharapova win Milan exhibition

Ana and Maria Sharapova teamed up to defeat Italians Roberta Vinci and Sara Errani 2-1 in an exhibition event in Milan. Ana opened up the tie, putting the international team 1-0 ahead after beating Roberta Vinci 7-6(7-5). Sharapova then defeated Errani 6-3, before Ana and Sharapova lost the doubles rubber 6-4.

Ivanovic teams up with Sharapova in Milan

Former world number players and grand slam champions Maria Sharapova and Ana Ivanovic team up in Milan exhibition against Italians Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci. Four of the players are ranked inside the top 20. Last year's edition featured Francesca Schiavone, Flavia Pennetta, Venus and Serena Williams. Sharapova will take Errani and Ivanovic will take Vinci in their one set singles matches, subsequently the Serbian and Russian duo will take the Italians in the one set doubles match.

Sharapova aims for number 1

Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova aims to return to the No. 1 spot in the rankings after a solid season in 2012. Sharapova won the French Open this year to complete the career grand slam. ''Obviously, the goal is always to shoot for top spot and that's always where you want to be and stay,'' Sharapova said. ''It's one thing to reach the No. 1 ranking, another to keep it.'

Gisela Dulko retires from tennis

Former top-ranked doubles player Gisela Dulko of Argentina has retired from tennis, finishing her career with four singles titles and 17 in doubles. The 27-year-old Dulko said in a statement on her website that she was retiring because she no longer had "the same drive" and is not willing to make "the sacrifices" to compete on the WTA circuit.

Williams sisters finish Nigerian leg of tour

Serena and Venus Williams have completed the first leg of  visit to Africa, spending three days in Lagos, Nigeria, spreading the message of empowerment to young girls throughout the West African country.  Sisters played a singles match against each other in front of about 2,000 fans where Venus beat Serena 6-4,7-5. The pair also signed autographs and were given an honorary membership to the club. The sister will go to South Africa for the second leg of their trip.

Serena Williams crowns 2012 with WTA Championships title

Serena Williams won the WTA year end championships beating Maria Sharapova in the final 6-4,6-3. The 31 year old Williams became the oldest player to capture the year-end championships. But she will finish the year ranked No. 3, behind No. 1 Victoria Azarenka and No. 2 Sharapova

Sharapova and Williams set up final showdown in Istanbul

Serena Williams of the USA demolished Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska 6-2,6-1 to reach the final against Maria Sharapova at WTA Year End Championship in Istanbul. Sharapova beat Victoria Azarenka, who will finish the year as No.1 in the rankings, 6-4,6-2.Sharapova won her only title at the event in 2004 when she beat Williams, which is the last time the Russian beat the American.

Azarenka seals the year end number 1 ranking

Victoria Azarenka of Belarus wrapped up the season ending Number 1 position in the world by beating Li Na 7-6,6-3 on Friday in the WTA Championships. Azarenka also secured a spot in the semifinals and will next play Maria Sharapova of Russia.

                             

 

"It's kind of difficult to believe that a little girl from Belarus is on that list. It's really incredible achievement. When I started to play tennis I had this big picture in my head that I want to be there. Back then it's so far away. It's like pretty much touching the sky.
I'm here sitting kind of in the sky, so it's really incredible feeling."

 

Azarenka saves match points, Sharapova through to semis

Serena Williams beat 2011 French Open champion Li Na of China 7-6,6-3 for her second win in round-robin matches to close in on the semifinals at the tournament for the top eight players in the world. top-ranked Victoria Azarenka saved two match points before rallying past Angelique Kerber of Germany 6-7 (11), 7-6 (2), 6-4 in her first match at the event. Maria Sharapova also made into the semi finals with a tough three sets victory over Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland 5-7,7-5,7-5.

Kvitova pulls out of WTA championship

Defending champion Petra Kvitova has withdrawn from the WTA Championships due to a viral illness and will be replaced by Samantha Stosur. The world number six was able to play her first match in the White group on Tuesday but was toppled 6-3 6-2 by Agnieszka Radwanska. Kvitova is scheduled to represent her country in the Fed Cup final against Serbia in Prague next week. 

Williams, Radwanska and Sharapova win

In her first match since winning the US Open in September, Williams defeated Angelique Kerber 6-4, 6-1 to start season ending event featuring the top eight players in the world. In White Group matches, Agnieszka Radwanska defeated titleholder Petra Kvitova 6-3, 6-2, and Maria Sharapova defeated Sara Errani 6-3, 6-2 in a repeat of the French Open final

WTA Championships draw

The singles event features eight players and begins as a round robin event, split into two groups of four.

Red Group

(1) Victoria Azarenka (BLR)
(3) Serena Williams (USA)
(5) Angelique Kerber (GER)
(8) Li Na (CHN)

Three grand slam champions are in red group this year. World number one Victoria Azarenka, who won 6 titles including her maiden grand slam title early this year in Melbourne will look forward to clinch her very first YEC title after losing her first final last year to Petra Kvitova. Since losing the US open final to Serena Williams, Azarenka hasn't lost a single match or set in her last three tournaments and is in a 13 match win streak. Serena Williams, the second highest ranked player in red group, has also won 6 titles this year including two grand slams and the Olympics gold medal. (Charleston, Madrid, Wimbledon, Stanford, Olympics, US Open). Williams is 2/2 in YEC finals triumphing in 2001 and 2009. Angelique Kerber is the only player in the group without a grand slam but the German is having a fantastic season with reaching the semi finals of Wimbledon and winning two indoors titles earlier this year (Paris, Copenhagen). Kerber is competing for the first time in YEC. Li Na, former French Open champion, hasn't reached a quarter final stage of any of grand slams this year though she made the cut. Chinese won Cincinnati and is competing for the second time after competing last year.



White Group

(2) Maria Sharapova (RUS)
(4) Agnieszka Radwanska (POL)
(6) Petra Kvitova (CZE)
(7) Sara Errani (ITA)

Maria Sharapova won three titles this year, all of them on clay, including French Open. Sharapova completed the career grand slam by winning the French Open but narrowly missed the chance to complete the career golden slam as she lost in the Olympic final to Serena Williams. Sharapova's last two defeats come from Azarenka's racket (US Open and Beijing). Agnieszka Radwanska is also having the best year of her career achieving the highest rank and reaching the first ever grand slam final at All England Club. More over she won Dubai, Miami and Brussels coming into her 4th YEC as the 4th seed this year. The defending champion Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic will start her title defense in white group as the 6th seed this year. Kvitova won last year's title without losing a match. Former Wimbledon champion couldn't get her self into grand slam winning circle this year although she won Montreal and New Haven to clinch the US Open series.Kvitova passed the fourth round stage of first three grand slams of this season. Sara Errani of Italy is the surprise package of  among the field as the Italian  is having a breakthrough season. Errani won four international clay titles (Acapulco, Barcelona, Budapest, Palermo) and reached the final of French Open. Also She reached the quarter finals of Australian Open and the Semi finals of US Open. Errani also competes in the doubles event along with Robreta Vinci.

Samantha Stosur of Australia and Marion Bartoli of France are the two alternates.

Wozniacki clinches Moscow, wins 20th title

Caroline Wozniacki claimed her 20th career title by beating top seed Samantha Stosur 6-2 4-6 7-5 in a thrilling Kremlin Cup tennis final on Sunday. Dane trailed Stosur 1-3 in the third set but rec

overed from the deficit, then broke the Australian in the 12th game to clinch her second title of the season after winning the Korea Open few weeks ago. Russian duo Eketerina Makarova and Elena Vesnina won the women's doubles event.

Venus ends title drought, wins Luxumbourg

Venus Williams is delighted to get back into the winner's circle after a two-year battle with injuries and illness as she downed Romania's Monica Niculescu 6-2 6-3 to win the Luxembourg Open title on Sunday.

Ivanovic, Stosur and Wozniacki reach Moscow semis

Ana Ivanovic and Samantha Stosur won in straight sets Friday, to set up a semifinal showdown at the Kremlin Cup. Ivanovic beat Vesna Dolonc 6-4,6-1 of Serbia and Stosur defeated Klara Zakop

alova of the Czech Republic 6-1, 6-3. Caroline Wozniacki knocked out the defending champion Dominika Cibulkova 6-2,6-7, 6-1 meanwhile Sofia Arvidsson backed up her victory over Marion Bartoli in the second round by beating Maria Kirilenko, the only Russian left in the women's draw, in straight sets 6-3,6-3 to reach the semi finals.

Venus, Petkovic into Luxumbourg semis

Venus Williams beat top seed Roberta Vinci of Italy 7-6,6-4 on Friday to reach the semifinals of the Luxembourg Open. Williams will face Andrea Petkovic of Germany, who defeated Ksenia Pervak of Kazak

hstan 6-3,6-2. Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia beat Lourdes Dominguez Lino of Spain 7-5,6-0 to set up the other semifinal against Monica Niculescu of Romania, who defeated Lucie Hradecka of the Czech Republic 6-0,6-4.

Azarenka captures Linz

Top-ranked Victoria Azarenka won her sixth WTA title of the season Sunday by beating Julia Goerges 6-3, 6-4 at the Generali Ladies. Goerges, who has two career titles, is 0-2 in WTA finals this season after also losing in Dubai in February. Azarenka has won 13 straight matches without dropping a set since losing the U.S. Open final last month. She pulled out before her quarterfinal at Tokyo two weeks ago due to dizziness, then won in Beijing last week to begin her streak. Azarenka's next tournament is the season-ending WTA Championships in Istanbul.

Watson wins Japan Open

Heather Watson won the Japan Open title after a marathon 3 hour 12 minute battle with Chang Kai-chen. The match saw Watson hold match points before Chang came back and won the second. Chang went up a break and had multiple match points at 5-4 before Watson broke and won a final-set tiebreak. Watson won by a score of 7-5, 5-7, 7-6. With this win, Watson attained a top fifty ranking for the first time in her career, at the same time overtaking compatriot Laura Robson as the British number one. Heather also became the first Brit to win a WTA Singles Title in 24 years.

Azarenka vs Sharapova 2012 Beijing Highlights

Azarenka conquers Beijing

Victoria Azarenka won her fifth title of the year by dominating Maria Sharapova 6-3, 6-1. It was the third time this year Azarenka beat Sharapova in a final after victories at the Australian Open and Indian Wells.

Azarenka, Sharapova into Beijing final

Top-ranked Victoria Azarenka beat ninth-seeded Marion Bartoli 6-4, 6-2 Saturday at the China Open to set up a final against Maria Sharapova. Sharapova cruised to a 6-4, 6-0 semifinal victory over seventh-seeded Li Na of China.

Quarter finalists set in Beijing

Quarter finalists for China Open, last premier mandatory event of the year, are set. Top two seeds Victoria Azarenka and Maria Sharapova comfortably reached the last eight stage thanks to straight sets vic

tories over Elena Vesnina and Polona Hercog. The defending champion and the third seed Agnieskzka Radwanska of Poland struggled little a bit in her third round encounter against Lourdes Dominguez-Lino of Spain but came through in three sets 2-6,6-1,6-4. Angelique Kerber outlasted two year's ago champion Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark 6-1,2-6,6-4 meanwhile Li Na beat Peng Shuai in three sets to reach the quarter finals after the all Chinese third round clash. Carla Suarez Navarro and Romina Oprandi are the surprise quarter finalists in the draw and Oprandi made into the last eight after beating the former world number one Ana Ivanovic of Serbia and Suarez Navarro upset 4th seed Petra Kvitova and former world number one Jelena Jankovic of Serbia on the way to the last eight.

Ivanovic saves match points and reach round 3

Ana reached the third round of the China Open in Beijing with a thrilling  victory over world No.20 Varvara Lepchenko. The 11th seed faced two match points and a 6-4, 5-3 deficit but found her form just in time to triumph in three sets 4-6, 7-5, 6-1.

Petkovic loses to Jankovic, Li beats Schiavone

Li Na of China thrashed ex-French Open champion Francesca Schiavone of Italy in straight sets 6-2,6-3. Li, who has never won the China Open, needs a strong showing this week to qualify for the WTA Championships in Istanbul next month. Meanwhile Andrea Petkovic, last year's runner up to Agnieszka Radwanska, lost to her own doubles partner Jelena Jankovic of Serbia. Former champion Jankovic beat the German 6-2,6-4. Unseeded Monica Niculescu, last year's surprise semi finalist, off to another good start to the tournament when she upset the Czech Republic's 16th seed Lucie Safarova 6-2, 6-0. Ayumi Morita of Japan knocked out Spain's Maria-Teresa Torro-Flor 6-3, 6-0 and China's Peng Shuai beat Yanina Wickmayer of Belgium.

Petrova vs Radwanska 2012 Tokyo Highlights

Kvitova, Ivanovic start Beijing campaign

Former Wimbledon and French Open champions Petra Kvitova and Ana Ivanovic started their China Open campaign with two straight sets victories. Kvitova outclassed Daniela Hantuchova 6-2,6-3 and Ivanovic stormed pass Christina McHale 6-3,6-2. Romina Oprandi, Carla Suarez Navarro and Yaraslova Schvedova are also among the day 1 winners.

Petrova vs Stosur 2012 Tokyo Highlights

Radwanska vs Kerber 2012 Tokyo Highlights

Petrova wins Tokyo

Nadia Petrova won Toray Pan Pacific Open beating Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland 6-0,1-6,6-3

Petrova's run continue, Radwanska beats Kerber

Nadia Petrova of Russia beat Samantha Stosur of Australia 6-4,6-2 to reach the final of Toray Pan Pacific Open. The 17th seed faces the defending champion Agnieszka Radwanska who beat Angelique Kerber 6-1,6-1.

Toray Pan Pacific Open First Round Results

Ana Ivanovic def. Andrea Hlavackova 6-3,2-0 ret.
Ayumi Morita def. Sorana Cirstea 6-2,3-6,6-2
Jelena Jankovic def. Yanina Wickmayer 6-3,6-3
Jamie Hampton def. Caroline Garcia 6-2,6-2
Nadia Petrova def. Peng Shuai 6-1,6-4
Petra Martic def. Andrea Petkova 0-6,6-3,6-4
Dominika Cibulkova def Anabel Medina 6-3,7-6
Roberta Vinci def. Barbora Zahlavova Strycova 6-4,4-6,7-5

Hsieh Su-Wei conquers Guangzhou

Hsieh Su-wei of Taiwan scored beat Laura Robson of Britain 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 Saturday to win the Guangzhou Open.

Top seed Wozniacki wins Korea Open

Former world number one Caroline Wozniacki dropped just one game against Kaia Kanepi in the final of the Korea Open on Sunday for her first WTA title of the year.Wozniacki beat Kanepi 6-1,6-0 and won her first title of the year.

Serena wins 15th slam

Former world number one Serena Williams of USA beat the current world number one Victoria Azarenka 6-2 2-6 7-5 in a dramatic US Open final on Sunday to win her fourth title at Flushing Meadows and her 15th career grand slam.

Azarenka broke and led 5-3 in the final set, and was two points away from the championship with Williams serving to stay alive however Williams dominated in next four games to seal the victory

Errani, Vinci wins doubles

Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci of Italy won women's doubles event beating Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka Czech Republic 6-4,6-2

Women's final postponed

This year, the women's final between Williams and Victoria Azarenka was pushed back a day because of a strong storm bearing down on New York. It marks the fourth time in the last five years the women's final, normally scheduled for Saturday, will be played on Sunday instead. The men's final, meanwhile, was also pushed back a day and will close on Monday for the fifth straight year.

Serena, Azarenka into the final

Fourteen time grand slam champion Serena Williams eased past Sara Errani of Italy 6-1,6-2 while Azarenka beat Maria Sharapova 3-6 6-2 6-4

Semi Finalists set for US Open crown

Vicotira Azarenka, Maria Sharapova, Serena Williams and Sara Errani are the remaining players in the women's draw of 2012 US Open as they came through from the quarterfinal stage to semi final stage in different styles. Azarenka knocked out the defending champion Samantha Stosur of Australia 6-1,4-6,7-6 in a very close match. Azarenka will play Russian Maria Sharapova to place in her first final in Flushing Meadows. Sharapova came through after a slow and rain delay start to book her semi final spot by beating Marian Bartoli of France 3-6,6-3,6-4 in another close match. Serena Williams and Sara Errani also earned their semi final spots as they beat Ana Ivanovic of Serbia and Roberta Vinci of Italy respectively

Williams sisters lose in doubles

Serena and Venus Williams were handed a surprise defeat by the Russia pair Maria Kirilenko and and Nadia Petrova in the third round of the doubles event. Reigning Wimbledon and Olympics champions were demolished in straight sets 6-1,6-4. Kirilenko and Petrova captured the Bornze medal at the Olympics.

Vinci and Errani set all Italian quarterfinal clash

Italian Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci, the doubles partners, each won a fourth round singles match in a straight set upset. Vinci beat Wimbledon runner up Agnieszka Radwanska 6-1,6-4 meanwhile Errani saw off Angelique Kerber,last years semi finalist, 7-6,6-3. The 29 year old Vinci had never before reached a Grand Slam quarterfinal

Serena blanks Hlavackova to reach quarters

Three time US Open and fourteen time grand slam champion Serena Williams won by a 6-0,6-0 score for the first time in 62 career victories at US Open to reach quarterfinals. Hlavackova had never been past the second round in singles at a major tournament before this year's US Open. Williams will next face former world number one Ana Ivanovic of Serbia

Ivanovic ends four year wait

Former French Open champion Ana Ivanovic of Serbia reached her first Grand Slam quarterfinal in four years, and first ever at the US Open, when she defeated Bulgaria's Tsvetana Pironkova 6-0,6-4 in a fourth round match. Ivanovic's last major quarterfinal came on the way to her one and only Grand Slam triumph at the 2008 French Open

Sharapova battles past Petrova, Bartoli stuns Kvitova

 

Former Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova was beaten by former Wimbledon runner up Marion Bartoli in the fourth round of US Open. Kvitova, the US Open series winner was knocked out by the French women in three sets 1-6,6-2,6-0. Bartoli will face the reigning French Open champion Maria Sharapova, who beat Nadia Petrova 6-1,4-6,6-4 in an all Russian fourth round battle

Azarenka dominates, Stosur stops Robson

  
Defending champion Samantha Stosur ended the run of 18 year old Briton Laura Robson with a 6-4 6-4 win in the fourth round of the US Open on Sunday. Seventh seeded Stosur advanced to a quarter final clash with an opponent she has never beaten, World Number 1 Victoria Azarenka of Belarus, who ousted Georgia's Anna Tatishvili 6-2, 6-2

Ivanovic beats Stephens for the second consecutive year

Former Number 1 Ana Ivanovic ended American Sloane Stephens' run at the US Open for the second consecutive year. The Serbian beat Stephens 6-7(4),6-4,6-2 in the third round Saturday

night. Ivanovic eliminated Stephens at the same stage at Flushing Meadows in 2011. Angelique Kerber, Sara Errani, Roberta Vinci and Agnieszka Radwanska also earned easy straight sets victories in their third round matches

Williams outclasses Makarova, Hlavackova beats Kirilenko

Wimbledon and Olympic champion Serena Williams of USA beat Ekaterina Makarova of Russia 6-4,6-0 in the 3rd round of US Open. Makarova beat Williams at the Australian Open in January.

Serena will play Andrea Hlavackova of the Czech Republic in fourth round to place in the last eight of the tournament. Hlavackova beat Maria Kirilenko of Russia 5-7,6-4,6-4 to clash the encounter against 14 time grand slam champion

Ivanovic eases into round two, Wozniacki bombs out

Former world number one Ana Ivanovic of Serbia eased past qualifier Elina Svitolina of Ukrain 6-3,6-2 in the opening round of US Open. Ivanovic will meet Sofia Arvidson in second round who beat the veteran Kimiko Date Krumm in first round. Meanwhile Irina Camelia Begu made the biggest upset of the tournament so far by beating another former world number one and 8th seed Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark 6-2,6-2

Serena starts the US Open campaign

Serena Williams dropped just two games to start her US Open campaign as she defeated fellow American Coco Vandeweghe 6-1,6-1. Serena will meet Maria Jose Martina Sanchez in the second round

Radwanska through to round 2

Second seed Agnieszka Radwanska made an impressive start to her US Open campaign with a 6-1,6-1 victory over Nina Bratichikova of Russia. World number two Radwanska  showed no signs of a shoulder injury that forced her out of the New Haven tournament last week. Venus Williams overpowered Bethanie Mattek-Sands 6-3 6-1 and in the process clocked the fastest women's serve of the tournament to date at 124 mph. Venus will meet Angelique Kerber of Germany in the second round who beat Anne Keothavong 6-2,6-0. Seeded players Sara Errani and Dominica Cibulkova also through to round of 64 after three sets victories

Serena Williams 2012 US Open Press Conference

Clijsters advances, Kvitova and Azarenka too

Kim Clijsters began the last tournament of her career by winning her 22nd consecutive US Open match, beating 16 year old American wild card Victoria Duval 6-3,6-1 in the first round. US Open series champion Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic started her US Open campaign beating Polona Hercog of Slovania 7-6,6-1. The top seed Victoria Azarenka easily past Alexandra Panova of Russia 6-0 6-1 in the opening round. 16th seed Sabine Lisicki and 18th seed Julia Goerges were surprisingly beaten in the opening round by Sorana Cirstea and Kristyna Pliskova respectively

Stosur, Sharapova ease through

The defending champion Samantha Stosur of Australia crushed talented Croatian Petra Martic 6-1 6-1 in just 51 minutes to reach the second round of US Open. The defending champion picked up right where she left off 12 months ago. 2006 champion and former world's number one Maria Sharapova of Russia also made into the round 2 after beating Hungary's Melinda Czink 6-2, 6-

Kvitova conquers New Haven and US Open series

Petra Kvitova claimed her second title of the season by beating Maria Kirilenko 7-6,7-5 in the final of the New Haven Open. Kvitova has secured the top spot in the US Open Series standings as a result of her performance in the tournaments heading into the final Grand Slam of the season

Vinci wins Dallas

Roberta Vinci won the Texas Open on Friday night, beating second seeded Jelena Jankovic 7-5, 6-3