Monday, July 29, 2013

Sharapova withdraws from Rogers Cup


World no. 2 Maria Sharapova has withdrawn from the Rogers Cup due to a hip injury. Sharapova suffered the injury during a fall in her loss to Michelle Larcher de Biro.

Sharapova, who has been working with Jimmy Connors as her new coach since Wimbledon, commented, "I'm extremely disappointed that I'm unable to play in Toronto next week as it's one of the best and most important tournaments of the year. I was looking forward to making a healthy return to the courts in front of my Canadian fans but unfortunately I'm just not recovered yet."

Saturday, July 6, 2013

Bartoli creates history, wins Wimbledon


Marion Bartoli outclassed German Sabine Lisicki 6-1,6-4 to win her first grand slam at Wimbledon lawn tennis championship. Bartoli, beaten finalist in 2007 here to Venus Williams, never looked back after easing passed the Lisicki in the opening set. This was Bartoli's 47th Grand Slam tournament, the most ever played by a woman before earning a championship. She is the only woman in the 45-year Open era to win Wimbledon playing two-fisted shots off both wings. Bartoli became the first woman in the Open era to win Wimbledon without facing anyone seeded in the top 10 - her highest-rated opponent was No. 17 Sloane Stephens of the United States in the quarterfinals. That's in part because of all of the injuries and surprises, including exits for No. 2 Victoria Azarenka, No. 3 Maria Sharapova, No. 5 Sara Errani, No. 7 Angelique Kerber, No. 9 Caroline Wozniacki and No. 10 Maria Kirilenko by the end of the second round.

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Kvitova out, new grand slam champion to be born


With Petra Kvitova and Li Na crashing out to Belgian's Kirsten Flipkens and Agnieszka Radwanska respectively, a new grand slam champion will be born on Saturday. Kirsten Flipkens stuned Petra Kvitova, 2011 Wimbledon champion, to book her first ever semi-final place meanwhile Li Na lost to last year's runner up Agnieszka Radwanska. Sabine Lisicki beat unseeded Estonian Kaia Kanepi 6-3 6-3 to back up that Monday's shock victory over red-hot favourite Serena Williams. Lisicki, trying to become Germany's first grand slam singles champion since Steffi Graf in 1996, will take on fourth seed Radwanska on Thursday while Flipkens will play 2007 Wimbledon runner-up Bartoli, who beat Sloane Stephens of the USA 6-4 7-5.

Monday, July 1, 2013

Manic Monday shocker for Williams


The defending champion and five-time Wimbledon winner Serena Williams failed to close out her fourth round match after leading 3-1, 40-15 in the decider. After losing the first set 2-6 Serena came back strongly to bread stick the German in the second. However she failed to close out the match despite the 3-1 40-15 lead. Lisicki will play Kaia Kanepi next, who beat Laura Robson in straight sets.


Li Na also reached the last eight, beating Robreta Vinci 6-2,6-0.

Kvitova first into Quarters, Flipkens joins


Former champion Petra Kvitova became the first player to reach the quarterfinals at this year's Wimbledon, beating Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain 7-6 (5), 6-3. She was joined minutes later by Kirsten Flipkens of Belgium, who reached her first career Grand Slam quarterfinal by ousting Flavia Pennetta of Italy 7-6 (2), 6-3. Agnieszka Radwanska, Sloane Stephens and Marion Bartoli also joined Kvitova and Flipkens after winning their fourth round matches.

Sunday, June 30, 2013

Former champ Kvitova through, Radwanska struggles


2011 champion Petra Kvitova overcame an inexplicable mid-match lapses to eliminate Russian 25th seed Ekaterina Makarova 6-3 2-6 6-3. Kvitova was down a break when the match got suspended but fought back to clinch the match eventually. Agnieszka Radwanska, who lost to Williams in last year's Wimbledon final, was pushed to three sets by 18-year-old American Madison Keys before winning 7-5, 4-6, 6-3. Meanwhile Li Na of China, the sixth seed and 2011 French Open champion, took two hours to win 4-6, 6-0, 8-6 over Klara Zakopalova.

Serena too strong for Date Krum, Robson marches on


The defending champion Serena Williams used eight aces and 11 return winners to power past 42-year-old Kimiko Date-Krumm of Japan 6-2, 6-0 in 61 minutes. Date Krumm was the oldest woman to reach the third round at Wimbledon in the 45-year Open era. Serena will play Sabine Lisicki who defeated Samantha Stosur of Australia in three sets. Crwod favourite Laura Robson produced a stunning fightback to beat Marina Erakovic and become the first British woman to reach the last 16 at Wimbledon since 1998.The British number one was three points from a straight-sets defeat on Court Two, but recovered to win 1-6 7-5 6-3.

Friday, June 28, 2013

Kanepi edges 7th seed Kerber


 
Kaia Kanepi of Estonia knocked out seventh seed and last year’s semifinalist Angelique Kerber of Germany, 3-6, 7-6(6), 6-3, at Wimbledon Friday to book a spot in the third round. Kanepi will next meet wildcard Alison Riske, who recovered from a set down to defeat Urszula Radwanska, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. Flavia Pennetta bounced back from a 6-0 defeat in the first set to edge 29th seed Alize Cornet, 0-6, 7-6(4), 6-2, and reach the fourth round against 20th seed Kirsten Flipkens, a 6-4, 6-2 winner over Vesna Dolonc. The crowd favourite Laura Robson defeated Mariana Duque, 6-4, 6-1.

Kimiko Date advances with a record, Serena awaits


At the age of 42 Kimiko Date-Krumm has become the oldest woman to advance to the third round of Wimbledon in the Open era with a 6-4, 7-5 victory over Romania’s Alexandra Cadantu. Sje will play Serena Williams in third round who beat Caroline Garcia 6-3,6-2.

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Black day for number ones



After Vicotira Azarenka pulled out due to a knee injury four other former world number one players lost their second round matches.

Former Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova was knocked out in the second round by qualifier Michelle Larcher De Brito 6-3,6-4. Sharapova also lost in the fourth round last year. Former world number ones Ana Ivanovic and Caroline Wozniacki also suffered surprised second round defeats to Canada's Eugenie Bouchard and Petra Cetkovska respectively. Bouchard beat the Serbian 6-3,6-3 meanwhile Cetkovska eased passed Wozniacki 6-2,6-2

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Williams starts title defense, Radwanska advances


Top Seed Serena Williams extended her unbeaten run to 32 games after her 6-1 6-3 win over Mandy Minella of Luxembourg to start her title defense at Wimbledon. The American, 16 time grand slam champion, is aiming for her 6th title at SW19. Agnieszka Radwanska, last year's runner up to Williams, also opened her campaign with a comfortable victory over Yvonne Meusburger of Austria.

Home town girl Robson upsets Kirilenko

 




Laura Robson became the first British woman to defeat a top-10 player at the All England Club in 15 years when she beat 10th-seeded Maria Kirilenko 6-3, 6-4 in the first round. 7th seeded Angelique Kerber and 6th Li Na also won in straight set in their openers at SW19.

Monday, June 24, 2013

Puig upsets Errani, Azarenka through


Puerto Rican teenager Monica Puig had 38 winners and eliminated fifth-seeded Sara Errani of Italy 6-3, 6-2 in her first grass tournament as a pro. Errani, world number five, has also suffered a humiliating exit by Yaroslava Schvedova last year. The Italian went an entire set without winning a point en rout to that defeat. Errani is the third top-5 women's seeded player who has lost in the first round at Wimbledon since 2001. The others were Martina Hingis in 2000 and Francesca Schiavone in 2010.

 World number two Victoria Azarenka eased through the opening set against Maria Joao Koehler and was one point away from going 2-0 up in the second when she slipped behind the baseline while trying to reach a shot. The Belorussian fought back to clinch the match 6-1 6-2 to reach the second round.

Sharpaova, Ivanovic advance, Kvitova survives


Third-seeded Maria Sharapova, the 2004 Wimbledon champion, came through a first-set tiebreaker and beat 37th-ranked Kristina Mladenovic of France 7-6, 6-3. Petra Kvitova has survived a scare in the opening round at Wimbledon to progress to the second round. The eighth seed was forced to a deciding set by American Coco Vandeweghe before recording a 6-1 5-7 6-4 win.





Former world number one Ana Ivanovic of Serbia moved into the second round of the Championships thanks to a 7-6, 6-0 victory over Frenchwoman Virginie Razzano. Ivanovic will take on Canada's Eugenie Bouchard in the second round. Another former world number one Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark beat Estrella Cabeza Candela in her first-round match. The Dane won 6-0 6-2 and will play Petra Cetkovska, who beat rising star Donna Vekic, in the second round.

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Venus Williams withdraws from Wimbledon


Venus Williams has withdrawn from Wimbledon because of continuing issues with her lower back. Williams, who turned 33 on Monday, withdrew from the doubles competition at the French Open after losing her opening-round singles match citing the same lower back injury.

The statement: "Unfortunately, I will not be able to participate in Wimbledon this year. I am extremely disappointed as I have always loved The Championships, but I need to take time to let my back heal. I look forward to returning to the courts as soon as possible, with my goal being to return to Mylan World Team Tennis on July 8th in Washington DC. Many thanks to my fans for the love and support and I will be seeing you very soon back on the courts."

Saturday, June 8, 2013

Serena Williams champion again


World number one Serena Williams clinched her second French Open title when she beat defending champion Maria Sharapova of Russia 6-4 6-4 in the final. The 31-year-old American, who won her first Roland Garros title in 2002, became the oldest player to win the French Open in the open era. Williams also improved her head to head record to 14-2 against the Russian meanwhile extending her career best win streak to 31. The victory completed the No. 1 ranked Williams' rebound from a shocking loss to Virginie Razzano in the first round at Roland Garros a year ago. Since that defeat she's 74-3.

Thursday, June 6, 2013

Brutal Serena embarrasses Errani in French Open semi


Serena Williams of the US was in a brutal form in her semi final match against last year's finalist Sara Errani; the American world number one reached her first French Open final in ten years beating the Italian 6-0,6-1. Serena sealed the encounter in 46 minutes. Williams will take on Maria Sharapova in the final on Saturday.

Defending champion Sharapova battles into French final


Maria Sharapova, the defending champion, overcame 11 double faults and earned a return trip to the French Open final, beating Victoria Azarenka, 6-1, 2-6, 6-4, in a rain delayed match.

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Azarenka, Sharapova battle into semis

 

Vcitoria Azarenka booked her place in the semi finals of the French Open for the first time beating Maria Kirilenko 7-6,6-2.  She will face reigning champion Maria Sharapova, who edged into the French Open semi-finals with a battling victory over Jelena Jankovic. The Russian second seed fought back from a first-set whitewash to claim a 0-6 6-4 6-3 success at Roland Garros.

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Serena ends quarter final curse in Paris


The last four times 2002 champion Serena Williams had reached the last eight at Roland Garros, she had been sent packing, in 2004, 2007, 2009 and 2010. In 2009 and 2010 she was very close to win, in fact she had match points in 2010, yet she was eventually stopped at the last eight hurdle. Making it to a dramatic end, Serena battled past the 2009 champion Svetlana Kuznetsova, who in fact beat Williams in the same stage in that year, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3. Williams, who has won 15 grand slam titles but only one at Roland Garros, will face fifth seed Sara Errani, who beat Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska 6-4, 7-6(6).

Monday, June 3, 2013

Sharapova, Azarenka into quarters


Defending champion Maria Sharapova returned to the French Open quarterfinals by beating 17th-seeded Sloane Stephens of the United States 6-4, 6-3 on Monday. She will face No 18 Jelena Jankovic in the quarterfinals. Jankovic, the 2008 U.S. Open runner-up, advanced with a 6-0, 6-2 victory over 54th-ranked Jamie Hampton of the US.  Third seed Victoria Azarenka beat Francesca Schiavone to reach the quarter-finals in another round four encounter. Australian Open champion triumphed 6-3 6-0 to face Maira Kirilenko of Russia, who ended  the run of Mattek-Sands with a 7-5 6-4 victory.