Archive for April, 2010

Justine Henin of Belgium stayed on course for her first title since coming out of retirement by beating Jelena Jankovic — yet again — for a place in the Porsche Grand Prix semifinals. Henin rallied to win Friday’s match 3-6, 7-6 (4), 6-3 and bring her record against the Serb to 10-0. “I still... »

World No. 3 Rafael Nadal appears nigh on unstoppable in his pursuit of a fifth title at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia and a record-equalling 17th ATP World Tour Masters 1000 shield. Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka played a high level of tennis that would have troubled most players, but was allowed just five games as Nadal... »

ATP World Tour No. 9 Fernando Verdasco was forced to call upon all his physical and mental reserves as he recorded his 12th win in 13 matches by defeating 2008 winner Novak Djokovic 7-6(4), 3-6, 6-4 in an enthralling quarter-final match Friday at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia, an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 clay-court... »

Number two seed Novak Djokovic is dumped out of the Rome Masters in the quarter-finals by Spain’s in-form Fernando Verdasco. … Article source: news.bbc.co.uk »

Romanian teenager Simona Halep reached her first WTA Tour final Friday, beating Renata Voracova of the Czech Republic 7-5, 6-4 at the Grand Prix SAR. The 18-year-old Halep pressured Voracova’s service games to win more than half of her return points even though the Czech landed 81 percent of her first serves and hit... »

Fernando Verdasco extended his impressive form on clay with a grueling 7-6 (4), 3-6, 6-4 win over Novak Djokovic in a Rome Masters quarterfinal Friday. The first set alone lasted nearly an hour and a half and the sixth-seeded Verdasco closed out the match with an ace down the middle after 3 hours and... »

Shahar Peer of Israel ousted a rusty Dinara Safina on Friday, beating the second-seeded Russian 6-3, 6-2 to reach the Porsche Grand Prix semifinals. Earlier, seventh-seeded Samantha Stosur also advanced to the last four with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Li Na of China to extend her winning streak on clay to 10. … Article source:... »

Third round action on Thursday features six of the top eight seeds, led by No. 2 and 2008 champion Novak Djokovic of Serbia, No. 3 and four-time Rome winner Rafael Nadal of Spain, No. 4 Andy Murray of Scotland and No. 5 Robin Soderling of Sweden. ] … Article source:... »

Rafael Nadal improved his record at the Rome Masters to 24-1 with a methodical 6-3, 6-2 win Thursday against 39th-ranked Victor Hanescu. The four-time winner in Rome saved all five break points late in the match, including one when he was serving for the match. He set up match point with a long rally... »

Justine Henin outlasted Belgian teammate Yanina Wickmayer 6-3, 7-5 Thursday to advance to the quarterfinals of the Porsche Grand Prix. Henin’s path to the final was eased when top-seeded Caroline Wozniacki, still bothered by a sore ankle, lost 6-4, 6-4 to Lucie Safarova. Dinara Safina, playing her first match since retiring at the Australian... »