Sportmaster International

Miami - Roger Federer got on and off the court in a mere 47 minutes as Swede Robin Soderling retired with an illness while trailing 6-4, 3-0 in their third-round match.

While Federer might have sympathised slightly after dealing with the mononucleosis virus to start the season, the top seed was more pleased to have escaped the heat and move into the fourth round. ‘It’s a big difference between not playing at all and playing one and a half sets,’ said Federer, given a walkover at his last event at Indian Wells when German Tommy
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Henin, Federer cruise through From correspondents in Miami, USA
Former Australian Captain April 01, 2008

WORLD No. 1 players Roger Federer and Justine Henin advanced at the $8.23 million WTA Tour Sony Ericsson Open in Miami, Henin in straight sets and Federer thanks to an injury retirement.

The Swiss superstar was leading Robin Soderling 6-4 3-0 when the Swedish player retired with a right wrist injury, advancing Federer into a fourth-round match.

Federer,
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Davenport returned to the tour last year after having her first child

The 31-year-old American beat world number two Ana Ivanovic on Sunday but found Russia’s Safina too tough, going down 6-3 6-4.

Top seed Justine Henin saw off Elena Vesnina 6-2 6-2, and Venus Williams beat Caroline Wozniacki 6-3 6-3.

Roger Federer went through after Robin Soderling retired trailing 6-3 3-0.

Fourth seed of Russia beat Italian Simone Bolelli 6-7 (5-7) 7-5 6-1.

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Every summer, under the heat of a Parisian sun, the ‘Tournoi de Roland-Garros’ - commonly known as the French Open - is held in the French capital. The tournament lasts for two weeks, between mid-May and early June, in the Stade de Roland Garros, and is the second of the Gland Slam competitions which take place on the annual tennis circuit.

The event has a long and prestigious history, which began in 1891, as the Championat de France International de Tennis. It’s renowned for being the world’s best clay court tennis tournament, and thus one
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Maria Sharapova missed her Fed Cup debut three times through injury

Sharapova won both rubbers on her long-awaited debut against Israel last month, but Svetlana Kuznetsova will lead Russia in the 26-27 April tie.

Captain Shamil Tarpishchev said it was a long-standing arrangement.

“We had an agreement with Kuznetsova and Sharapova that one of them would play against Israel and the other against the US,” said Tarpishchev.

“Sharapova had already played
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Miami - Rafael Nadal survived the distraction of a rain delay to post a 6-2, 6-4 win over German Nicolas Kiefer for a place in the third round of the Miami Masters on Sunday.

   ’I'm very happy about my victory,’ said the Spaniard who is searching for his first title this season. ‘When I come back to the court the ball was a little bigger and slower, and it was a little bit more difficult for me.    ’I feel I played a very complete match.’    The second seed will next face 16th seed Paul-Henri Mathieu of France, who beat Spanish
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Hewitt confident of Townsville tie By Robert Grant
Former Australian Captain March 31, 2008

AUSTRALIA No.1 Lleyton Hewitt is confident of playing in next week’s Davis Cup tie against Thailand despite sustaining a hip injury.

Hewitt, who first noticed the complaint during his loss at Indian Wells a fortnight ago, said it had not improved on Sunday, despite treatment.

Australia are scheduled to play a key tie against Thailand in Townsville from April 11-13. The winner will advance to a place in the September play-offs for the chance to return to the World Group.

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Miami - Mother-of-one and 33rd-ranked Lindsay Davenport rolled back the years nine months after giving birth as she sent second seed Ana Ivanovic out in the third round of the Miami Masters 6-4, 6-2 in a Sunday upset.

‘She played like a top-10 player easily today,’ said a stunned Ivanovic, one week removed from winning the prestigious title at Indian Wells, California. Davenport, 31, seemed surprised to have gone through: ‘Sometimes you just never know what to expect when you go out for a certain match on a certain day.’ Ivanovic,
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Henin, Williams into fourth round From correspondents in Miami, America
Former Australian Captain March 31, 2008

WORLD number one Justine Henin and Lindsay Davenport have advanced to the fourth round of the WTA and ATP Masters Series hardcourt tournament on Sunday.

Henin, who has won two titles in four tournaments this year, will next face Elena Vesnina for a berth in the quarter-finals. The Russian outlasted American Ashley Harkleroad 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 after three hours and seven minutes.
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Davenport was playing her first-ever match against the Serbian star

The win denied Ivanovic a chance to win back-to-back titles after her victory at Indian Wells last week.Third seed Svetlana Kuznetsova had to save a match point before beating Bulgaria’s Victoria Azarenka.The 2004 US Open champion trailed 5-2 before winning the final 11 games of the match to win 1-6 7-5 6-0.Ivanovic appeared to have no answer against the aggressive game of Davenport, who is
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Miami - Stifling spring heat made life on the court a challenge for Justine Henin as she overcame the elements to reach the fourth round of the Miami Masters on Sunday.

The Belgian top seed defeated Italy’s Sara Errani 6-2, 6-1. Svetlana Kuznetsova, the 2006 champion, had to mount a huge fightback to escape against Viktoria Azarenka. After trailing badly in the second set, the Russian found her form just in time for a 1-6, 7-5, 6-0 third-round win. Venus Williams, seeded sixth, had no trouble as she ended the run of New Zealand’s
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Miami - After losing his third hardcourt match out of five from this dismal month in the US, Andy Murray has no choice but to steel himself for the rigours of the fast-approaching clay season.

The Scottish 13th seed was bundled out in a lacklustre performance in his opening match at the Miami Masters, losing in a third-set tiebreaker to Croatian Mario Ancic, whom he beat in the February final in Marseille. With a fourth-round loss last week in Indian Wells to Tommy Haas followed by his Miami misery, Murray has little to cheer
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Murray double-faulted with victory in sight against Ancic

The Briton was broken early in the first set by the world number 63 but hit back before handing a 6-2 2-6 7-6 (9/7) victory to the Croatian.Murray took control of the second set, taking the fourth and eighth games.But in the final-set tie-break, Ancic - serving at 4-6 - saved one match point before Murray hit a double-fault on his second match point on route to defeat.”That was just a bad serve,” said
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Hurting hip hampers Hewitt From correspondents in Miami, Florida
Former Australian Captain March 30, 2008

LLEYTON Hewitt blamed a nagging hip injury after losing 6-3 7-6 (7-4) to Argentine Jose Acasuso in an opening match today at the Miami Masters.

“I just couldn’t quite move properly,'’ said the Australian, who picked up the problem last week in Indian Wells.

“I went out there, and I tried and just couldn’t quite compete the way wanted to. I suffered against (Mardy) Fish last week, and I’ve been battling it ever since.

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Roddick rallies to beat qualifier From correspondents in Miami, Florida
Former Australian Captain March 30, 2008

AMERICAN Andy Roddick had to rally for a three-set victory over Serbian qualifier Viktor Troicki to reach the third round of the WTA and ATP Masters Series tournament.

Roddick, a two-time winner on the ATP Tour already this year, came into the second Masters Series event of the season hoping to improve on his performance in the first - an abrupt second-round exit at Indian Wells last week.

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Serena launches title defence From correspondents in Miami, USA
Former Australian Captain March 29, 2008

SERENA Williams launched her WTA title defecse at the Sony Ericsson Open with a confident victory over unseeded Romanian Edina Gallovits.

Williams, the No.8 seed, needed just 54 minutes to dismiss Gallovits 6-1 6-2 to reach the third round of the tournament, which also features an ATP Masters Series tournament.

Like all 32 seeded players, Williams
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South African Anderson stuns Djokovic From correspondents in Miami, USA
Former Australian Captain March 29, 2008

SOUTH African qualifier Kevin Anderson sent defending champion Novak Djokovic packing, ending the third-seeded Serbian’s bid for a second straight ATP Masters Series title.

Anderson, ranked world No. 122, defeated the world No. 3 and reigning Australian Open champion 7-6 3-6 6-4 in a second-round match at the $8.21 million Sony Ericsson Open, which features both the prestigious ATP Masters Series draw and a WTA tournament.
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Miami - Justine Henin rolled out a bulked-up serve, firing 10 aces in a 6-4, 6-2 defeat of Angelique Kerber to reach the third round of the Miami Masters on Friday.

The Belgian world number one couldn’t help but be pleased with her reinforced delivery, the result of a month’s worth of specialised training. ‘I did spend a lot of time on my serve in the last few weeks,’ said the seven-time Grand Slam champion who has not played for a month since a Dubai quarter-final loss. ‘I also had to spend a lot of time in the gym and really
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Henin won her only title of the year so far in Antwerp

Belgium’s Henin, was playing for the first time since defeat by Francesca Schiavone in Dubai last month, saw off Germany’s Kerber 6-4 6-2.

Williams thrashed Edina Gallovits 6-1 6-2, while Svetlana Kuznetsova beat Yung-Jan Chan 6-1 3-6 6-0.

Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal are in action later on Friday.

These days, tennis is quite in craze and a very popular game all over the world. Earlier, it used to be the game of only the upper class and supreme rulers society. But, we can see that there is a sea of change today. It has become a game for all the classes. It is played in every street and court. Also, schools and colleges have tennis as a game to be played. Previously, even if you had flair to learn tennis, it was way too expensive.

The game of tennis had become a rich mans game because the trainers were charging hefty amount of money to
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Henin named Player of the Year From correspondents in Miami
Former Australian Captain March 28, 2008

BELGIAN world No.1 Justine Henin reaped yet another reward for her outstanding 2007 season as she was named the WTA player of the year.

Henin, who also earned the honor in 2003, won 10 of the 14 tournaments that she started last year. She was unbeaten in 25 straight matches after falling to France’s Marion Bartoli in the semi-finals at Wimbledon.

Despite that
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Fish … dismissed at the first hurdle in Miami. AFP Fatigued Fish flounders in Miami From correspondents in Miami, USA
Former Australian Captain March 28, 2008

AMERICAN Mardy Fish, who shocked world No. 1 Roger Federer en route to the Indian Wells final last week, won’t be making a giant-killing run at the second ATP Masters Series tournament of the season.

Fish fell at the first hurdle
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Miami - Ice-calm Roger Federer refused to panic despite not winning a title this so far season, insisting that he’s on track with his long-range planning at the Miami Masters.

‘It was just a matter of getting enough matches in the last events,’ said the world number one whose semi-finals at the Australian Open and Indian Wells are considered sub-par by his usual gold-standard measurements. The Swiss is coming off a loss last week at Indian wells where he was out-played by American Mardy Fish. ‘When you tend to lose you want
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Miami - Number one Justine Henin will put her delicate right knee to its first test in a month as she starts in the second round of the Miami Masters.

But the Belgian has revealed that she had considered an operation after a quarter-final thumping by Maria Sharapova at the Australian Open. Instead the four-time French Open champion opted for a February cortisone injection which she hopes will carry her for a few more months through the clay season. Optimism currently reigns in the Henin camp: ‘Two months after the injection
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Kuerten sent packing From correspondents in Miami, Florida
Former Australian Captain March 27, 2008

THREE-time French Open champion Gustavo Kuerten, playing his final season, lost 6-1 7-5 to Sebastien Grosjean on day one of the ATP and WTA Sony Ericcson Open in Miami.

The 31-year-old Brazilian wild card entrant had not played an ATP match in 13 months, but he wanted to make a farewell tour this year of the events dearest to his heart, including Roland Garros, where he won in 1997, 2000 and 2001.

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Indian Wells, California - Maria Sharapova vowed on Wednesday not to rush back on to court until the shoulder problem which kept her from the Miami Masters has completely healed.

‘The main goal now is to get that rest and recovery - no matter how long that is,’ said the three-time Grand Slam champion whose unbeaten streak in 2008 was ended when she lost last week in the Indian Wells semis to Svetlana Kuznetsova. ‘My goal after the rest is to get onto the clay courts (which begin in a fortnight) and start training and do all
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Haas misses Miami From correspondents in Miami, Florida
Former Australian Captain March 27, 2008

TOMMY Haas has pulled out of the ATP Masters Series Sony Ericsson Open in Miami, citing a sinus infection, tournaments organisers have announced.

Haas, the world No.36, retired from a quarter-final match against world No.1 Roger Federer in Indian Wells, California, last week for the same reason.

The German, 29, who seemed to be returning to the form that saw him rise
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The Centre Court had no roof during its refurbishment in 2007 The new five-year extension will incorporate TV, radio, broadband and, for the first time, BBC iPlayer. “We are deeply proud of historic ties with Wimbledon, but this is focused on state-of-the-art digital services,” said BBC director of sport Roger Mosey.Digital viewers will again be able to enjoy extensive extra coverage of the Championships via the red button, which will also be available on broadband.Wimbledon
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Murray has won two titles this season The world number 13 was handed a bye in the first round along with world number one Roger Federer, who is set to face either Gael Monfils or John Isner. Another Briton, Alex Bogdanovic, failed in his bid to qualify, going down 6-4 3-6 6-1 to Serbia’s Viktor Troicki.The tournament runs from Wednesday 26 March to Sunday 6 April.Defending champion Novak Djokovic said he was eager to build on his good run of form having already achieved two
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Indian Wells, California - Novak Djokovic and Ana Ivanovic completed the first-ever Serbian tournament title sweep as both pulled off victories on Sunday at the Indian Wells Masters.

Buoyed by clusters of noisy, flag-waving compatriots perched in the upper reaches of the stadium, the pair of 20-year-olds notched another landmark day in their young nation’s fast-rising tennis culture. Third seed Djokovic climbed to within striking distance of world number two Rafael Nadal with a hard-fought 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 win over American outsider
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Masterful Djokovic fries Fish From correspondents in Indian Wells, California
Former Australian Captain March 24, 2008

NO.3 seed Novak Djokovic of Serbia won the Pacific Life Open ATP Masters Series title with a 6-2 5-7 6-3 victory over unseeded American Mardy Fish.

Djokovic, who claimed his first grand slam title with a victory at the Australian Open in January, improved on his runner-up finish to Spain’s Rafael Nadal last year.

Fish, a one-time top-20 player
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Djokovic made amends for finishing runner-up last year

The 20-year-old Serb took the third Masters Series title of his career with a 6-2 5-7 6-3 win.

Fish beat Roger Federer in the semis but despite a second-set fightback, this time Djokovic proved too strong.

It is Djokovic’s ninth career title and comes two months after his maiden Grand Slam win at the Australian Open.

The final was played in an unusually rowdy atmosphere, with a large contingent of Serbian supporters
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Ivanovic beat Kuznetsova for the fifth time in six meetings

The 20-year-old Serbian won 6-4 6-3 to claim the sixth title of her career and solidify her place at number two in the world rankings.

Ivanovic edged a tight first set with the only break in game nine.

And after letting a lead slip in the second, Ivanovic won nine straight points on her way to sealing the title.

She finished the match with 30 winners to Kuznetsova’s 14, and condemned the Russian to an
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Indian Wells, California - Tennis longshot Mardy Fish will make a run at the third title of his career with a Sunday final against Novak Djokovic less than 24 hours after stunning Roger Federer at the Indian Wells Masters.

Mardy Fish of the US hits a forehand against Roger Federer of Switzerland during the Pacific Life Open tennis tournament in Indian Wells, California, USA, 22 March 2008. Fish upset Federer 6-3, 6-2. EPA/JOHN G. MABANGLOThe 6-3, 6-2 Saturday upset by the
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Guccione beats world No.12
Former Australian Captain March 23, 2008

CHRIS Guccione has claimed a big scalp in upsetting No.1 Fernando Gonzalez 5-7 6-4 6-4 to book a place in the BMW Championship semi-finals in Florida.

The Australian Davis Cup player, the world No.70, overcame the world No.12, from Chile, with his trademark serve-and-volley game, firing 20 aces for the match.

“The plan was to get to the net as much as I could today and make Fernando try to pass
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Great day … Fish’s performance belied his low ranking. AFP Fish stuns Federer in straight sets From correspondents in Indian Wells
Former Australian Captain March 23, 2008

WORLD No.1 Roger Federer was stunned by unseeded American Mardy Fish after Rafael Nadal’s Pacific Life Open title defence came to an abrupt halt in the semi-finals.

Federer lost to an American player for the first time
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Djokovic gained revenge for defeat by Nadal in last year’s final

The Serb broke twice in each set to win 6-3 6-2 in one hour 28 minutes.

Nadal had lengthy treatment to a toe injury between sets and could not match last year’s final win over Djokovic.

World number one Roger Federer plays American Mardy Fish in the second semi-final of the Masters Series event.

606: DEBATE Who will win in Indian Wells?

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Sharapova won her first 18 matches of the year

The Russian, twice a runner-up at Key Biscayne, saw her 18-match unbeaten start to 2008 end against Svetlana Kuznetsova in Indian Wells on Friday.

Sharapova admitted after that defeat that she was feeling jaded.

Asked if she would take time off, she said: “I don’t know, maybe next week. My body is kind of hurting a bit.”

Sony Ericsson Open tournament director Adam Barrett said: “We wish Maria a speedy recovery and hope she is able toreturn to the court quickly.

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Indian Wells, California - Exhausted Maria Sharapova has dropped a huge hint that resting might take precedence over playing - with the upcoming Miami Masters a possible scheduling victim.

The Russian was rolled and her 18-match win streak ended in a semi-final loss to Svetlana Kuznetsova at the Indian Wells event. And Sharapova says that a non-stop schedule so far in 2008 may be taking a toll on her fitness. ‘I’m playing a lot of tennis, been flying a lot. It’s all been work since I took a week off after the Championships
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Indian Wells, California - Svetlana Kuznetsova slammed the door on Maria Sharapova’s undefeated season, setting up a final with Ana Ivanovic at the Indian Wells Masters on Friday.

Maria Sharapova of Russia wipes her face after losing a point against Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia during the Pacific Life Open tennis tournament in Indian Wells, California, USA 21 March 2008. Kuznetsova defeated Sharapova 6-3, 5-7, 6-2. EPA/PAUL BUCK’I'm human, I’m allowed to make a few mistakes
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