Saturday, March 30, 2013

Williams captures her sixth in Miami



World number one Serena Williams earned a record breaking sixth Key Biscayne women's title Saturday by beating 4 time grand slam champion Maria Sharapova 4-6,6-3,6-0 at the Sony Open. Sharapova who has lost 4 Miami finals faced yet another loss in the final on Saturday and she's now 0-5 in Key Biscayne finals. Also Sharapova is yet to beat Williams since 2004. Williams' other titles at Key Biscayne came in 2002, '03, '04, '07 and '08 and she is the first No. 1 seeded woman to win the title since she was champion in 2004.

Monday, March 25, 2013

Ivanovic wins grand slam champions battle

 

Ana Ivanovic of Serbia, 2008 French Open champion, defeated 2009 French Open and 2004 US Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia in third round of Sony Open to place in round 4. Ivanovic, who extends her win loss record against Kuznetsova to 8-3, will next face Sara Errani of Italy, who eased past Romanian Simona Halep 6-1,6-0. Ivanovic, seeded 12th, dominated in the opening set and it took Kuznetsova until the fourth game to register her first point of the match. The Serbian eventually clinched it 6-3 before sealing the triumph 6-3 again in the second. Roberta Vinci and Alize Cornet are also among Sunday's third round winners.

Cirstea makes the biggest upset, Sharapova safely through


Sorana Cirstea made the biggest upset of 2013 Sony Open so far by beating 6th seed German Angelique Kerber with an impressive scoreline 6-4,6-0. Number 3 seed Maria Sharapova also moved into the fourth round with the win over fellow Russian Elena Vesnina 6-4,6-2. Sharapova, who won Indian Wells last week, is looking for her first title in Key Biscayne after losing the final in 2005, '06, '11 and '12. Among the seeded players to lose are Nadia Petrova and Maria Kirilenko. Petrova was ousted by Jelena Jankovic 7-6,6-4 and Kirilenko lost to Klara Zakopalova 6-2,7-6. Cirstea will face Jankovic and Sharapova will play Zakopalova in round 4.

Sunday, March 24, 2013

Wildcard Muguruza upsets Wozniacki


Caroline Wozniacki has suffered a third-round defeat to Spanish wild card Garbine Muguruza at the Sony Open. Ninth seed Wozniacki was brushed aside 6-2 in the opening set before her opponent wrapped up the victory 6-4. Ajla Tomljanovic, Dominika Cibulkova, are also among round three winners from Saturday.

Radwanska survives early exit, Kivotva out


Agnieszka Radwanska has survived a scare in the third round of the Miami Masters with 7-6,2-6,6-3 three sets victory over Magdalena Rybarikova. The Pole will now face Sloane Stephens for a quarter-final spot. However former Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic faced a shock loss against Kirsten Flipkens of Belgium in the third round.  Kvitova, who won Dubai last month, struggled to find her form in the first set where she got bageled. She made a quick come back to clinch the second 6-4 however Flipkens came out on top 6-1 in the decider to scrape into round four. China's fifth-seeded Li Na defeated America's Varvara Lepchenko 6-2,6-4 in another third round match. Li is playing her first tournament since the Australian Open.

Serena into round 4, Venus withdraws


World number one Serena Williams of the USA added another win to her Miami campaign after beating Ayumi Morita of Japan 6-3,6-3 in the third round. Elder sister Venus withdrew from the Sony Open with a lower back injury just minutes before she was supposed to take the court against Sloane Stephens. Venus Williams is third second big name on the women’s side to pull out of the event, joining the two-time champion Victoria Azarenka and former US Open champion Samantha Stosur.

Saturday, March 23, 2013

WTA Miami second round results


Sara Errani def. Daniela Hantuchova 6-3,6-1
Simona Halep def. Tamira Paszek 6-1,6-7,7-5
Svetlana Kuznetsova def. Ekaterina Makarova 6-4,6-4
Ana Ivanovic def. Urzula Radwanska 6-2,6-1
Maria Kirilenko def. Bethanie Mattek Sands 6-1,6-4
Klara Zakapolova def. Anabel Medina Garrigues 6-3,7-6
Elena Vesnina def. Donna Vekic 6-4,6-2
Maria Sharapova def. Eugenie Bouchard 6-2,6-0
Angelique Kerber def. Francesca Schaivone 6-7,6-3,6-2
Sorana Cirstea def. Silvia Soler Espinosa 2-6,7-5,6-2
Jelena Jankovic def. Victoria Duval 7-5,6-3
Nadia Petrova def. Zheng Jie 6-3,6-1
Roberta Vinci def. Christina McHale 6-7,6-1,6-3
Carla Suarez Navarro def. Jamie Hampton 5-7,7-5,7-6
Alize Cornet def. Laura Robson 5-7,7-5,6-1
Lauren Davis def. Madison Keys 6-1,5-7,7-6

Serena Williams def. Flavia Pennetta 6-1,6-1
Ayumi Morita def. Yanina Wickmayer 7-6,2-6,6-3
Romina Oprandi def. Lucie Safarova 7-6,4-6,7-6
Dominika Cibulkova def. Kristina Mladenovic 6-2,6-3
Caroline Wozniacki def. Karolina Pliskova 5-7,6-3,6-3
Garbine Muguruza def. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 4-6,6-2,6-2
Varvara Lepchenkova def. Irina Camelia Begu 6-3,6-4
Li Na def. Kiki Bertens 6-3,6-1
Agnieszka Radwanska def. Su wei Hsieh 6-3,6-2
Magdalena Rybarikova def. Mona Barthel 6-3,7-6
Venus Williams def. Kimiko Date Krumm 7-6,3-6,6-4
Sloane Stephens def. Olga Govortsova 0-6,6-4,6-4
Andrea Petkovic def. Marion Bartoli 6-3,4-1 ret.
Ajla Tomljanovic def. Julia Goerges 7-6,6-2
Kirsten Flipkens def. Stefanie Vogele 6-4,6-2
Petra Kvitova def. Shuai Peng 5-7,6-2,6-2

Friday, March 22, 2013

Azarenka pulls out of Miami


Two-time champion Victoria Azarenka put an end to several weeks of speculation on Friday as the second seed withdrew injured just ahead of her opening match at the Miami Masters. The winner from 2009 and 2011 finally bowed to the inevitable as she pulled out with an ankle injury after quitting before an Indian Wells quarter final a week ago. Azarenka's second round opponent Madison Keys will now face fellow American Lauren Davis, who awarded the lucky loser spot.

Sunday, March 17, 2013

Stosur withdraws from Miami


The calf strain that last week cost Sam Stosur the chance to reach her first WTA semi-final in five months has forced the world No.9 out of the follow-up premier mandatory event starting on Tuesday in Miami.
Stosur, who turns 29 later this month, has withdrawn from the Sony Open as she continues to rest and treat the right leg injury sustained as she served for her fourth round match against German Mona Barthel in Indian Wells. She was forced to hand another German, Angelique Kerber, a quarter-final walkover.

Sharapova wins Indian Wells


Maria Sharapova has won the BNP Paribas Open for a second time after romping her way to a 6-2 6-2 victory over Caroline Wozniacki. The victory, worth $1 million, gave Sharapova at least one title for 11 straight years dating to 2003. Wozniacki struggled with Sharapova's serve, winning just 3 of 22 points on the Russian's first serve while Sharapova was dominating all over the court with 33 winners. It's Sharapova's second Indian Wells title.

Saturday, March 16, 2013

Wozniacki to meet Sharapova in Indian Wells final


Former champion Caroline Wozniacki battled through a marathon encounter to upset fourth seeded German Angelique Kerber 2-6,6-4,7-5 on Friday and reach her third BNP Paribas Open final in four years. The eighth-seeded Dane, winner at Indian Wells in 2011 after being a losing finalist the previous year, will play Maria Sharapova, winner of 2006 and last year's finalist. Sharapova outclass fellow country woman Maria Kirilenko 6-4,6-3 in her semi final match.

Thursday, March 14, 2013

Azarenka and Stosur out with injuries


Defending champion Victoria Azarenka withdrew from the BNP Paribas Open on Thursday because of a right ankle injury that had been bothering the world's second-ranked player since before the tournament began. Azarenka was scheduled to play No. 8 seed Caroline Wozniacki in an afternoon quarterfinal that would have pitted two former top-ranked players against each other. Earlier, No. 7 seed Sam Stosur pulled out of her quarterfinal against No. 4 Angelique Kerber because of a right calf injury.

Sunday, March 10, 2013

Sharapova safely through, Errani reaches 20 wins


Former champion Maria Sharapova survived a tough battle with Spain's Carla Suarez Navarro on Sunday, winning 7-5,6-3 to book her place in the fourth round of the BNP Paribas Open. The Russian, champion here in 2006, will next face Spaniard Lara Arruabarrena-Vecino, who beat Roberta Vinci of Italy in three sets. In other matches on Sunday, Czech Klara Zakopalova overcame Slovakia's Dominika Cibulkova 6-4,7-5 and Russian Maria Kirilenko scraped past American qualifier Mallory Burdette 6-3,4-6,6-2. Errani is the WTA's match win leader for the year, and now she is the first to cross 20 wins of this season. Errani outclassed Johanna Larsson of Sweden 6-3,6-1 to clinch her 20th victory in the third round. Errani won Acapulco last week and reached the finals in Paris and Dubai.

Azarenka starts title defense, Ivanovic and Wozniacki in round 3


Australian Open champion and top seed Victoria Azarenka recovered from a sluggish start to beat Slovakia's Daniela Hantuchova 6-4,6-1 in the second round of the BNP Paribas Open. The defending champion Belorussian was down 1-4 in the opening set but found her form to beat the two time Indian Wells champion Hantuchova. 2008 Champion Ana Ivanovic of Serbia breezed past American teen Taylor Townsend 6-1,6-2 in her opening round match while 2010 champion Caroline Wozniacki struggled against former top 20 player Alize Cornet, however managed to pass the opening hurdle 6-4,3-6,6-3 at Indian Wells Tennis Garden.

Stosur and Kerber advance to third round


Former US Open champion Australian Samantha Stosur reached the third round of the BNP Paribas Open with a commanding 6-3 6-4 victory over American teenager Madison Keys. Fourth seeded German Angelique Kerber swept past Romania's Irina Begu 6-3 6-2 while Belgian Yanina Wickmayer beat Croatia's Mirjana Lucic-Baroni 3-6 6-3 6-2. Nadia Petrova and Julia Goerges also comfortably reached the round three after straight sets wins.

Saturday, March 9, 2013

Radwanska, Bartoli safely through


Third seed Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland outclassed American teenager Maria Sanchez 6-2 6-1 and will next meet Romania's Sorana Cirstea. Svetlana Kuznetsova also advanced to the third round, recovering from a poor start to upset 18th-seeded former. Serb Jelena Jankovic 0-6 6-2 7-5. Jankovic, former Indian Wells champion, hasn't been able to win a match in the Indian Wells Tennis Garden since she lost to Ana Ivanovic in 2011 fourth round. Kuznetsova will next face ninth seed Marion Bartoli of France who defeated South Africa's Chanelle Scheepers 6-3 6-3.

Sharapova eases pass Schiavone, Kvitova struggles



Maria Sharapova began the campaign for her second BNP Paribas Open title with an easy victory over former French Open champion Francesca Schiavone 6-2,6-1. Sharapova won the title in 2006 and lost to top seeded Victoria Azarenka in last year's final. Sharapova will face 25th seed Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain in the third round. Petra Kvitova, Maria Kirilenko, Sara Errani, Roberta Vinci, Dominika Cibulkova, Sorana Cristea, Johanna Larsson and qualifier Lesia Tsurenko also moved into the third round of the women's draw. Kvitova needed three sets to come through her second round match against Olga Govortsova 6-4,3-6,6-3. Errani followed the similar pattern to beat her second round opponent Lourdes Dominguez Lino 6-2,3-6,6-3.

Thursday, March 7, 2013

BNP Paribas Open First Round Results


Daniela Hantuchova def. Stephanie Foretz Gacon 6-3,3-6,6-4
Monica Niculescu def. Elina Svitolina 6-0,6-0
Jamie Hampton def Bethanie Mattek Sands 5-7,6-3,6-1
Urzula Radwanska def. Arantxa Rus 6-3,6-3
Stefanie Vogele def. Petra Martic 4-6,6-4,6-3
Sofia Arvidson def. Laura Robson 2-6,7-6,6-1
Kimiko Date Krumm def. Galina Voskoboeva 6-4,3-6,6-4
Alize Cornet def. Monica Puig 6-7,6-2,6-2
Irina Camelia Begu def. Heather Watson 6-2,6-4
Mirjana Lucic def. Pauline Parmentier 7-5,6-3
Garbine Mugurza def. Bojana Javonovski 2-6,7-5,6-3
Magdalena Rybaricova def. Romina Oprandi 7-6,6-0
Taylor Townsend def. Lucie Hradecka 3-6,7-6,6-3
Kiki Bertens def. Annika Beck 3-6,6-4,6-1
Alexandra Dulgheru def. Michelle Larcher de Brito 6-4,6-4
Medison Keys def. Melanie Oudin 6-4,4-6,6-3

BNP Paribas Open First Round Results


Olga Govortsova def. Mindy Minella 6-2,3-6,6-4
Lesia Tsurenko def. Ayumi Morita 6-1,6-2
Shahar Peer def. Marina erakovic 6-3,6-4
Simona Help def. Lauren Davis 6-2,6-0
Christina McHale def. Tsvetana Pironkova 6-3,6-4
Mallory Burdette def. Jill Craybas 6-1,6-3
Anabel Medina Garrigues def. Casey Dellacqua 6-1,6-3
Maria Sanchez def. Olga Puchkova 6-3,6-3
Lourdes Dominguez Lino def. Grace Min 1-6,6-4,6-3
Johanna Larson def. Timea Babos 6-7,6-2,6-0
Svetlana Kuznetsova def. Andrea Hlavackova 6-3,6-1
Ksenia Pervak def. Zheng Jie 6-1,6-2
Lara Arruabarrena Vecino def. Sesil Karatantcheva 6-4,1-6,6-3
Silvia Soler-Espinosa def. Vania King 6-7,6-2,6-1
Francesca Schiavone def. Flavia Pennetta 7-5,6-1

Sunday, March 3, 2013

Pliskova conquers Malaysian Open


Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic fought back from a poor first set to beat American Bethanie Mattek-Sands 1-6, 7-5, 6-3 on Sunday to win the Malaysian Open.

Errani defends Acapulco title


Sara Errani of Italy successfully defended her Acapulco title by beating the Spaniard Carla Suarez Navarro 6-0,6-4. The No.1 seeded Errani didn't drop a set all week to earn the first title of the year after failing two finals last month in Paris and Dubai respectively.

Niculescu wins Brazil Tennis Cup for 1st title


Monica Niculescu of Romania defeated Olga Puchkova of Russia 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 in the final of the Brazil Tennis Cup to win her first WTA title on Saturday. Niculescu had been runner-up twice on tour before finally breaking through at the outdoor hard-court tournament in southern Brazil. The 109th-ranked Puchkova, who ended with six double faults, had upset top-seeded Venus Williams in three sets in Friday's semifinals.