Sportmaster International

New York - Novak Djokovic dealt with cramping and back pain over nearly five hours of battle to survive a Czech challenge from sturdy Radek Stepanek 6-7 (4-7), 7-6 (7-5), 5-7, 7-5, 7-6 (7-2) on Friday at the US Open. It turned into a second-round battle for survival for the sometimes-fragile Serb who has raced up the rankings with Paris and Wimbledon semi-finals this season. Stepanek, ranked 35th, looked like staging an upset of the third seed with Djokovic down for the count on court with treatment for back pain. But the challenger also had
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British number one Murray beat Lee in San Jose earlier this season The 20-year-old Briton meets the world number 43 from around 2000 BST.”I played him in San Jose this year, won 7-6 in the third,” Murray said. “He’s a really good player, very consistent, does everything well.”He doesn’t do anything unbelievable but he’s in really good shape. It’s going to be a good match.”Murray was taken to five sets by Jonas Bjorkman in the previous round but, having worked on his fitness
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Djokovic smells victory - or is it just his feet? “I am totally exhausted. I have no energy. I just smelt my shoes - they are so stinky but it’s always good to win those matches.”

“They love the showtime.”

“That’s life. People are getting together, they are leaving each other.”

“I cannot live without my watch. I never saw another player playing with a watch. But I always keep my watch. I sleep with it. I take my shower. Everything.”

Djokovic thwarts upset From correspondents in New York, United States
Former Australian Captain September 01, 2007

WORLD No. 3 Novak Djokovic overcame painful leg cramps to outlast Radek Stepanek in a gruelling five-set thriller to and reach the third round of the US Open. The 20-year-old Serbian, who reached his first Grand Slam semi-finals this year at Wimbledon and the French Open, conquered his 34th-ranked Czech rival 6-7 (4/7), 7-6 (7/5), 5-7, 7-5, 7-6 (7/2) after four hours 44 minutes.
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Wawrinka is ranked 49 in the world Russian Safin, winner in 2000, had four chances to break in the first set but could not take any of them, allowing Swiss player Wawrinka to take the set.The world number 49 then broke 25th seed Safin twice in the second set.Another break in the third was enough to wrap up a 6-3 6-3 6-3 win and a fourth-round place at Flushing Meadows for Wawrinka for the first time. seeded 20, beat Wayne Odesnik in straight sets to progress to the fourth
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Henin eases through From correspondents in New York, United States
Former Australian Captain September 01, 2007

TOP seed Justine Henin powered into the last 16 at the US Open on Friday with her third straight-sets victory in three matches. The Belgian ousted Ekaterina Makarova of Russia 6-0, 6-2 in just 50 minutes to set up a fourth tie with Russia’s Dinara Safina, who brushed past American wildcard Ahsha Rolle 6-4, 6-3.

Henin and Safina have met three times with the Belgian winning in straight sets on each occasion.
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Henin was runner-up at last year’s US Open The Belgian world number one swept through the first set in just 18 minutes and then went 3-0 up in the second set.Left-hander Makarova finally held serve but there was no way back for the 19-year-old as Henin romped through.Henin, 25, now plays either 15th seed Dinara Safina or Ahshah Rolle.

New York - Home hero James Blake struggled with the crafty game of French shot-maker Fabrice Santoro to earn the first five-set win of his career with a post-midnight victory Friday at the US Open. The American ninth seed from neighbouring Connecticut managed to pip the cramping 34-year-old 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 to give the Gotham late-night crowd its first after-hours thrill of the fortnight. It took three and half hours for Blake to go the distance after nine defeats over five sets. ‘There used to be a big monkey on my back before this five-setter,’
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Event organisers have been hit by a series of high-profile men’s and women’s withdrawals in recent years.But at present they can expect nothing more than a hefty fine if they pull out of contracted tournaments.BBC 5live tennis correspondent Jonathon Overend said: “Talk of suspensions have been mooted for while but the new plan is surprisingly aggressive.”The aim by tour chiefs is to guarantee the top tournaments have a full complement of top-10 stars, without the current trend
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Blake, Roddick struggle through From correspondents in New York, USA
Former Australian Captain August 31, 2007

BIG guns Andy Roddick and James Blake struggled to stay on course as they snuck into the third round of the US Open.

On a hot and humid day that saw several players struggling with their fitness, No.5 seed Roddick dropped the first set against Argentina’s Jose Acasuso but won the next two as the South American struggled with a leg injury.

He failed to
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Forget padding Maria, just pass ice From Jim Slater in New York
Former Australian Captain August 31, 2007

WATCHING Maria Sharapova’s curvacious figure hugged by a crystal-spangled red dress today (AEST), in a US Open second-round victory, it’s hard to imagine such beauty buried under ice hockey pads.

But the defending champion, who reached the third round by routing Australia’s Casey Dellacqua 6-1 6-0 in 51 minutes, said that in her youth she wanted to become a rhythmic gymnast or, gasp, an ice hockey player.

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Hopeless for ‘helpless’ Aussie From Darren Walton in New York
Former Australian Captain August 31, 2007

AUSTRALIA’S shellshocked Casey Dellacqua admitted she was powerless to stop the 6-1 6-0, 51-minute, US Open thrashing by Russia’s Maria Sharapova today (AEST).

The defending champion brutally dispatched Dellacqua, after compatriot Anna Chakvetadze eliminated Nicole Pratt 6-4 6-3 in an earlier second-round match.

“I just felt on the back foot every point,” said Dellacqua.

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No mercy as Casey outclassed
Former Australian Captain August 31, 2007

MERCILESS defending champion Maria Sharapova outclassed Australia’s Casey Dellacqua 6-1 6-0 in the second round of the US Open today (AEST).

Savage … Maria in mean mood. Agence France Presse

The Russian, No.2 seed at Flushing Meadows, needed just 51 minutes to finish off Dellacqua, ending Australia’s involvement in the women’s singles.

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New York - Andy Roddick took what he could get on his 25th birthday, grabbing a third-round place at the US Open on Thursday after Argentine Jose Acasuso withdrew with a knee injury trailing 4- 6, 6-1, 6-2. ‘I don’t think you like winning matches like that,’ said 2003 winner Roddick, who improved to 3-1 in career birthday matches at Flushing Meadows. ‘I felt (after the first set) that I was starting to play okay and make returns and react,’ he said. ‘But at the end of the day, your goal is to get through and to give yourself a chance to play
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Different strokes, same result From Steve Ginsburg in New York
Former Australian Captain August 31, 2007

FORMER champion Martina Hingis and Svetlana Kuznetsova took different paths to the third round of the US Open today (AEST).

Hingis sliced, lobbed and chipped her way to a 6-2 7-5 win over Pauline Parmentier, while Kuznetsova employed power tennis in a 6-3 4-6 6-0 victory over Camille Pin.

“You try to mix it up, to give the opponent a different look every time,” said Hingis, who won the tournament a decade ago. “I think the crowd enjoyed it, too.”

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Henman was not expected to get beyond the first round in New York The 32-year-old, who stunned Dmitry Tursunov in the first round, meets the Frenchman, 22, in Louis Armstrong Stadium from around 1900 BST.”I don’t think he’s too dissimilar from Tursunov,” said Henman, playing in his last Grand Slam event before retiring.”He’s a great athlete, serves big, hits the ball aggressively. But I think I’ll have a good chance.”Tsonga is enjoying the best season of his career and is
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Davydenko outplays German From correspondents in Moscow
Former Australian Captain August 31, 2007

RUSSIA’S Nikolay Davydenko, the No.4 seed, reached the third round of the US Open with a 6-2 6-2 6-2 win over Germany’s Nicolas Kiefer today (AEST).

Davydenko will now face Spain’s Nicolas Almagro, the No.28 seed.

Agence France-Presse

The pair, who have announced this will be their last tournament together, beat Germany’s Tomas Behrend and Florian Mayer 4-6 7-5 6-3.Murray and Butorac, seeded 16th, will face American duo Amer Delic andJustin Gimelstob in the second round.They could then meet second seeds Mark Knowles and Daniel Nestor.

Scot no lame-duck for Lee From Jim Slater in New York
Former Australian Captain August 31, 2007

SOUTH Korea’s Lee Hyung-Taik can match his best Grand Slam showing since his 2000 debut with one more win, but British No.1 Andy Murray is blocking his path to the fourth round of the US Open.

Lee, carrying Asia’s hopes as the continent’s lone remaining singles player at the year’s final Grand Slam tournament, upset Argentina’s Guillermo Canas, the No.14 seed, 7-5 7-5 6-3 in 2hrs 23mins to reach the third round today (AEST).

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Roddick handed a leg up From Allan Kelly in New York
Former Australian Captain August 31, 2007

TOP home hope Andy Roddick moved closer to a US Open quarter-final clash with defending champion Roger Federer, when second-round opponent, Argentina’s Jose Acasuso, retired after the third set today (AEST).

The American won the first set 7-5 but, after claiming the second 6-3, Acasuso needed lengthy treatment to a right leg injury.

The South American was clearly hampered in his movements and the end came soon after Roddick had pocketed the third set 6-2.

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Nadia overpowers compatriot From correspondents in New York
Former Australian Captain August 31, 2007

RUSSIA’S Nadia Petrova reached the third round of the US Open, defeating compatriot Anastasia Rodionova 7-5 6-1 today (AEST).

The No.7 seed will play either Michaella Krajicek, from the Netherlands, or Hungary’s Agnes Szavay for a place in the last 16.

Agence France-Presse

Corruption rfe, elite duo alleges From correspondents in Paris
Former Australian Captain August 31, 2007

MATCH-fixing, some of which is linked to internet gambling, is not uncommon in professional tennis, according to a damaging report in L’Equipe overnight.

Two elite players made the claims, under anonymity, in an interview with the France sports daily, claiming they have witnessed matches being “thrown” and that they have personally been offered bribes.

The
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Pratt rules out teen ‘choker’ From Darren Walton in New York
Former Australian Captain August 31, 2007

NICOLE Pratt insists boom young Russian Anna Chakvetadze is too mentally fragile to win the US Open, after losing 6-3 6-4 to her in the second round today (AEST).

Chakvetadze arrived at Flushing Meadows as one of the hottest players on tour, having scorched her way to four titles in 2007 - including two on American hard courts in the past five weeks - and risen to a career-high No.6 in the world.

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Erratic Murray does it tough From Allan Kelly in New York
Former Australian Captain August 31, 2007

ANDY Murray blew hot and cold before reaching the third round of the US Open with a 5-7 6-3 6-1 4-6 6-1 win over Sweden veteran Jonas Bjorkman today (AEST).

The 20-year-old Scot is on the comeback trail after a (northern) summer wrecked by a bad wrist injury, and his lack of confidence was evident as he allowed Bjorkman, the oldest man in draw at 35, to dominate the first set.

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News all bad for France From Allan Kelly in New York
Former Australian Captain August 31, 2007

SPAIN’S Fernando Verdasco underlined his potential with a straight-sets victory over France’s Gilles Simon in the second round of the US Open at Flushing Meadows today (AEST).

The 23-year-old from Madrid looked sharp and confident as he won through 6-0 6-4 6-3, in a quarter of the draw that also includes defending champion Roger Federer and last year’s beaten finalist, Andy Roddick.

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One of the most powerful terms used in world sport for decades is the mental state called “the zone”. This is the mental state which produces super-human performances, amazing shots and winning streaks.

Any tennis player who is in this mental state is virtually unbeatable at their respective level of competition - and at the elite level, you witness some unbelievable shotmaking.

A player who is in the zone experiences an unusual feeling of effortless power, allowing them to feel as if their racquet and body are powered by a turbo-charged engine, and they find their body gliding across the court and hitting with awesome power and minimum effort.

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Kuznetsova was frustrated to drop the second set Kuznetsova, the 2004 champion, beat France’s Camille Pin 6-3 4-6 6-0.Chakvetadze, the sixth seed, eased past experienced Australian Nicole Pratt 6-3 6-4 to book a meeting with India’s Sania Mirza.Mirza hit 33 winners and the same amount of errors as she defeated American Laura Granville 6-3 7-5.”In the second set she started playing a lot better,” said Mirza.”I’m happy where I am but I would like to be a little further up. I’m
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Gasquet’s withdrawal allowed Donald Young to reach the third round The 13th seed was due to face American teenager Donald Young, who will now go on to meet Feliciano Lopez or Igor Andreev in the third round.”With my illness, I’m sure I can’t win the match,” said Gasquet. “I am really, really disappointed because it’s an important tournament for me.”Gasquet was seeded to meet Roger Federer in the fourth round.Young, the 18-year-old Wimbledon junior champion, had never won a
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Federer routs Chilean qualifier From correspondents in New York
Former Australian Captain August 30, 2007

ROGER Federer took the second step in his quest for a fourth successive US Open title by thrashing qualifier Paul Capdeville from Chile 6-1 6-4 6-4 to reach the third round.

The world No.1, looking to register his 12th grand slam title in his drive to eclipse the record 14 won by Pete Sampras, needed just 89 minutes to advance at Flushing Meadows.

“‘I’m very
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Serena ‘getting better all time’ From correspondents in New York
Former Australian Captain August 30, 2007

SERENA Williams reached the US Open third round with a 7-5 6-2 win over Italy’s Maria Elena Camerin today (AEST).

The American, seeded No.8, will play Russia’s Vera Zvonareva for a place in the last 16. “I feel a lot better than in my first round. I’m definitely getting a lot stronger,” said Williams.

“It’s going to be a tough match but I always enjoy a challenge.”

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Casey shares centre stage
Former Australian Captain August 30, 2007

CASEY Dellacqua’s second-round night clash with defending champion Maria Sharapova, on the Arthur Ashe Stadium court, is the Australia highlight on day four of the US Open at Flushing Meadows tomorrow (AEST).

Aussies in action tomorrow (prefix denotes player’s seeding):

Women’s singles, second round
Casey Dellacqua v 2-Maria Sharapova (Rus)
Nicole Pratt v 6-Anna Chakvatadze (Rus)
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Murray will team up with Butorac for the final time in New York Wimbledon mixed champion Murray teamed up with world number one doubles player Huber to beat fourth seeds Paul Hanley and Mara Santangelo 7-5 6-4.Murray opens his men’s doubles campaign with Eric Butorac against Tomas Behrend and Florian Mayer on Thursday.Fellow Briton James Auckland teamed up with Germany’s Benjamin Becker to beat Chris Haggard and Thomas Johansson.Playing together for the first time competitively,
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Russian claims biggest scalp From correspondents in New York
Former Australian Captain August 30, 2007

CHILE’S Fernando Gonzalez, the No.7 seed, was eliminated in the first round of the US Open today (AEST), Russia’s Teimuraz Gabashvili beating the Australian Open runner-up 6-4 6-1 3-6 5-7 6-4.

Gabashvili earned a second-round match with American Robby Ginepri.

The Gonzalez defeat, the highest seed yet to fall at the year’s last Grand Slam event, eases the quarter of the draw that includes injured No.2 seed, Spain’s Rafael Nadal.

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Jelena never in doubt From correspondents in New York
Former Australian Captain August 30, 2007

SERBIA’S Jelena Jankovic, the No.3 seed, defeated Olga Govortsova, from Belarus, 6-2 6-2 to reach the third round of the US Open today (AEST).

Jankovic will now play France qualifier Alize Cornet.

Agence France-Presse

‘Aussie grinder’ seizes moment From Jim Slater in New York
Former Australian Captain August 30, 2007

ALUN Jones was a bit shocked to find himself ahead of second-ranked Rafael Nadal in each of the first three sets, but the South Africa-born Australian, of Welsh parentage loved every magical minute today (AEST).

Spain’s Nadal, battling tendinitis in his left knee, eventually escaped with a 7-5 3-6 6-4 6-1 victory after 2hrs 44mins to sustain his fading hopes of a third consecutive Grand Slam final.

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Murray is on the comeback trail after a wrist injury The 20-year-old thrashed qualifier Pablo Cuevas in the first round, but Bjorkman, 35, will pose a tougher test.”I still need to get the average speed of my forehand up. It was a little bit slow against Cuevas,” he said.”He’s got a lot of experience, so he’s going to have a game plan. I’m going to have to play really well to beat him.”Murray has never faced Bjorkman, who reached the semi-finals in New York 10 years ago. (more…)

Staying-alive Tim upsets odds From correspondents in New York
Former Australian Captain August 30, 2007

TIM Henman kept his Grand Slam career alive at the US Open, upsetting Russia’s Dmitry Tursunov 6-4 3-6 6-3 6-4 in a first-round match today (AEST).

The soon-to-be 33-year-old Englishman has already announced this will be his last ATP tournament, with the ceremonial end being programmed at Wimbledon in a Davis Cup match with Croatia next month.

Henman lost five
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Happiness Henin’s net gain From Allan Kelly in New York
Former Australian Captain August 30, 2007

BELGIUM’S Justine Henin’s emotion-charged year moved another step forward when she defeated Bulgaria’s Olga Pironkova 6-4 6-0 to reach the US Open third round today (AEST).

The No.1 seed has won six of the 10 tournaments she has contested this year, including her fourth French Open crown in June, regaining the world No.1 position in the process.

On the personal
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Jones … won the second set. Pic: Agence France-Presse Aussie wildcard worries Nadal From Jim Slater in New York
Former Australian Captain August 30, 2007

SPAIN’S Rafael Nadal struggled with a left knee injury and an impressive effort from unheralded Australian wildcard Alun Jones today before reaching the second round of the US Open.

The world No.2 escaped with a 7-5 3-6 6-4 6-1 victory
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Marat scoffs at fading glories From Jim slater in New York
Former Australian Captain August 30, 2007

MARAT Safin is not worried about his tennis legacy - or anyone else’s for that matter.

The two-time Grand Slam champion advanced to the second round of the US Open, firing 19 aces and outlasting 68th-ranked Canada qualifier Frank Dancevic 7-5 7-6 (7-5) 7-6 (9-7) in 2hrs 25mins today (AEST).

The Russian rated his 2000 US Open final victory over Pete Sampras as
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