Tennis

News 9   //    15 Aug 2018, 10:01 IST SHARE Cincinnati, Aug 15 (AFP) Roger Federer began his US Open preparation with a comprehensive 6-4, 6-4 defeat of Peter Gojowczyk in a first ATP Cincinnati Masters appearance since 2015.The 20-time Grand Slam champion, who turned 37 last week, is pacing his tennis year, playing a limited schedule and missing events when he feels the need to rest. He has missed the last two editions of this tournament because of injury.Eighth seeded Petra Kvitova used her precision serve to overpower Serena Williams 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 in their second round match on Tuesday night.Federer's defeat of the 47th-ranked German in 72 minutes marked the first step towards a possible eighth title at the tournament."I felt good in that first match, to be honest, walking out, hardly any nerves. I think I knew what I had to do," Federer said."It's fast-court tennis. I knew my opponent was going to go for it and take big cuts at the ball, so there is … [Read more...] about Federer opens with win over Gojowczyk, Kvitova ousts

News 9   //    15 Aug 2018, 09:48 IST SHARE Los Angeles, Aug 15 (AFP) The most radical overhaul in the 118-year history of the Davis Cup could be given the green light tomorrow as the tennis world gathers in Florida to vote on sweeping reforms which have divided the sport.Around 120 delegates at the International Tennis Federation's annual meeting in Orlando will decide whether proposals by federation chief David Haggerty are to be given the go-ahead.Haggerty's plan will see the Davis Cup's sprawling existing format, stretched across the calendar year and played in all corners of the globe, condensed into a season-ending 18-nation event played at a single, neutral venue.Haggerty told AFP in a conference call on Tuesday that the overhaul would boost the ITF's ability to spread development funding across the globe, pumping around $25 million back into the sport."The ITF is the only organisation that puts money into the development of the game," Haggerty … [Read more...] about Tennis world to vote on Davis Cup shake-up

News 9   //    15 Aug 2018, 09:45 IST SHARE Roger Federer made a winning return to action at the Cincinnati Masters on Tuesday, as Nick Kyrgios survived an amusing equipment problem and Rogers Cup revelation Stefanos Tsitsipas fell at the first hurdle. Federer is the highest ranked player in the field in Ohio in the absence of Rafael Nadal and the world number two had little trouble advancing at the expense of Peter Gojowczyk, as he seeks a first title at the ATP Masters 1000 event since 2015.Kyrgios had to battle hard to overcome Denis Kudla, having initially mislaid a crucial aspect of his ensemble, while David Goffin gained revenge on behalf of the big names surprisingly dumped out of the Rogers Cup by teenage upstart Tsitsipas. FEDERER UP AND RUNNING Playing for the first time since turning 37 last week, and returning to competitive action after a break following his surprise Wimbledon loss to Kevin Anderson last month, Federer showed few … [Read more...] about Kyrgios forgets tennis shoes, Federer back in business

News 10   //    15 Aug 2018, 09:10 IST SHARE Serena Williams bowed out in the second round of the Cincinnati Masters on Tuesday, as Carolina Garcia progressed from a demanding tie and Karolina Pliskova ended a long losing record.Petra Kvitova had too much for Williams to deal with at the WTA Premier 5 event, as the American great continues to ease her way back into regular elite competition.Garcia, meanwhile, was at risk of an upset in her meeting with a former winner in Ohio, while Pliskova finally got the better of a long-term rival.KVITOVA EDGES MEMORABLE WILLIAMS DUELKvitova had to dig deep to prevail against Williams, the Czech winning 6-3 2-6 6-3 after two hours on the outdoor hard courts."It's always a pleasure to share a court with her [Williams], I'm just happy I did well today," Kvitova said in an on-court interview. Fifth seed Svitolina also endured a gruelling encounter with Svetlana Kuznetsova late in the day, the Ukrainian eventually … [Read more...] about Williams knocked out as Garcia and Pliskova advance in Ohio

News 21   //    15 Aug 2018, 08:43 IST SHARE Petra Kvitova had to dig deep to see off the challenge of Serena Williams and progress to the third round of the Cincinnati Masters after an absorbing contest in Ohio.After suffering the worst defeat of her career to Johanna Konta in San Jose, Williams withdrew from the Rogers Cup for personal reasons, and later revealed she had been struggling with the emotional challenges of balancing motherhood with her career.The 23-time grand slam singles champion produced an impressive performance in the WTA Premier 5 event, where she is a two-time winner.But it was not enough to cope with an in-form Kvitova, who emerged a 6-3 2-6 6-3 winner after an entertaining struggle that lasted two hours on the outdoor hard courts of the Lindner Family Tennis Center."It's always a pleasure to share a court with her, I'm just happy I did well today," eighth seed Kvitova said."She really pushed me a lot, I just tried to stay … [Read more...] about Kvitova sees off Serena in Cincinnati classic

Feature 5   //    15 Aug 2018, 07:57 IST SHARE Elina Svitolina found herself in trouble in more ways than one but came out of it by the skin of her teeth at the Western & South Open Tuesday night. Svetlana Kuznetsova gave her a tremendous up and down battle through three sets before faltering in the late stages giving the Ukrainian a 7-6(1), 4-6, 6-4 win on grandstand court at the Lindner Family Tennis Center.This was the third meeting for the two Europeans and the first in two years playing all hard court matches previous. The Russian veteran got the edge on Svitolina back in Moscow where they played a tiebreak before Kuznetsova went on to win it in three sets. The 33 year old started making her way deep into tournaments after Wimbledon becoming her ninth tournament where she was ousted in the early rounds.When she came into the second half of the hard court season, she managed a thrilling victory in Washington to win the title for a second time. … [Read more...] about Svitolina contains the victory against Kuznetsova in Cincinnati

News 6   //    15 Aug 2018, 07:14 IST SHARE PERTH, Australia (AP) — Two-time grand slam champion Garbine Muguruza will team with veteran David Ferrer in a strong Spanish pairing at the Hopman Cup mixed teams tennis tournament in Perth from Dec. 29. Ninth-ranked Muguruza and former World No. 3 Ferrer are among players making their debuts at the tournament, a major lead-up event for the first grand slam of the season, the Australian Open.Rising Greece star Stefanos Tsitsipas, ranked 15, will also make his Hopman Cup debut alongside 31-ranked Maria Sakkari. Playing at the Canadian Open last week Tsitsipas, 21, became the youngest player in the history of the ATP Tour to beat four top-10 players in consecutive matches at one tournament. "I'm super excited to be playing in Perth and, together with Maria, being the first Greek team playing in Perth for many years," Tsitsipas said. "I've worked so hard for it and being part of … [Read more...] about Muguruza, Ferrer to play for Spain at Hopman Cup

News 15 Aug 2018, 06:14 IST SHARE Roger Federer made a confident start in his bid to claim an eighth Cincinnati Masters title, the Swiss brushing aside Peter Gojowczyk in straight sets on Tuesday.A winner at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Ohio as recently as 2015, Federer was playing for the first time since turning 37 last week.But the second seed made light of his status as the sport's elder statesman by easing to a 6-4 6-4 victory in one hour and 13 minutes against the German world number 47.The highest ranked player in the field in Rafael Nadal's absence, Federer will now face Argentina's Leonardo Mayer for a place in the quarter-finals.Gojowczyk initially held his own up against the Swiss great, but when a backhand down the line on the run went long in the fifth game, the crucial first break went Federer's way.Some signs of rust were present from a player who had not competed since his surprise defeat to Kevin Anderson at Wimbledon, Federer offering up three break points in … [Read more...] about Federer dispatches Gojowczyk in Cincinnati

News 23   //    14 Aug 2018, 23:40 IST SHARE Stan Wawrinka, Victoria Azarenka and Svetlana Kuznetsova are among the players to have been handed wildcards for this year's US Open.The final grand slam of the year gets under way at Flushing Meadows later this month, with tournament organisers announcing the wildcards for the respective men's and women's singles on Tuesday.Former champion Wawrinka, currently 151st in the ATP rankings, has been handed an entry to the men's draw.The Swiss, who triumphed in New York in 2016, has struggled to regain top form after a lengthy lay-off caused by a knee injury.There is also a past US Open winner among the women's wildcards in 2004 winner Kuznetsova - ranked 88th by the WTA.Former world number one Azarenka, currently one place higher than Kuznetsova in the rankings, joins the Russian in the draw. Fetching more content... Fetching more content... … [Read more...] about Wawrinka and Azarenka receive US Open wildcards