Professional Tennis
Bulgarian qualifier Tsvetana Pironkova scored a big upset Wednesday at the 2014 Apia International Sydney to advance to the semifinals with a 7-6(2), 6-3 win over the number three seed, Italy's Sara Errani in the quarterfinals. Pironkova is now into her second-biggest WTA semifinal, her biggest being Wimbledon in 2010. "This off-season I decided to change things a little, taking it easier and…
The top-seeded American duo of Bob & Mike Bryan were upset Wednesday at the Apia International Sydney, falling to the unseeded duo of Lukas Rosol & Joao Sousa 3-6 6-3 [14-12] in the quarterfinals. It marked the Bryans' earliest exit in Sydney since 2007. Winners of the last two doubles titles in Sydney, the Bryans have won three Apia International…
It was a good day for the United States Auckland’s Heineken Open on Wednesday, beginning with American Jack Sock's upset of the second-seeded Tommy Haas, 6-4, 6-4. The 21-year-old Sock, currently ranked 100th in the Emirates ATP Rankings, advances to his third ATP Tour-level quarterfinal and next meets Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut, a 6-3, 6-4 winner over the sixth-seeded Benoit Paire. John…
The top-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska was upset by Bethanie Mattek-Sands at the Apia International Sydney, falling 5-7, 2-6 on Tuesday. Having already won three qualifying rounds and a first round match this week, Mattek-Sands fell behind to Radwanska 5-3 in the first set, but turned things around in a hurry, building a 7-5, 3-0 lead en route to the win. Up…
Lucie Safarova pulled off the latest surprise at the Apia International Sydney on Tuesday, defeating Caroline Wozniacki 6-4, 7-6(7) to move into the quarterfinals. Wozniacki led 3-0 in the first set and held four set points in the second set tie-break, three at 6-3 and a fourth at 7-6, but Safarova won the last eight points of the first set and six…
Rafael Nadal defeated Gael Monfils in the finals of the 2014 Qatar ExxonMobil Open, opening his 2014 campaign with his 61st career title with a 6-1, 6-7(5), 6-2 victory. With Novak Djokovic opting not to play in Doha, Nadal further built on his lead at number one in the Emirates ATP Rankings, adding 250 points as well as $188,600 in prize…
Caroline Wozniacki opened her 2014 season on Monday with a 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 win over Julia Goerges in the first round of the Sydney International, one of the final warm-ups before the Australian Open. Wozniacki withdrew from last week's Brisbane International after hurting her right shoulder in practice and struggled early against Goerges, who was replacing the injured Sloane Stephens in the…
Australian Lleyton Hewitt defeated Roger Federer 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 in the finals of the Brisbane International, presented by Suncorp, earning his first ATP World Tour title since the 2010. "It means a lot with the caliber of players here as well in this tournament," said Hewitt. "It's not an easy tournament to win. I wasn't one of the top four…
Ana Ivanovic won her first WTA title in more than two years, defeating Venus Williams in the finals of the 2014 ASB Classic, 6-2, 5-7, 6-4. Ivanovic entered the ASB finals with a 1-8 career record against Venus, but got off to a fast start, winning five games in a row en route to the first set and eventually…
World number one Serena Williams defeated Maria Sharapova 6-2, 7-6(7) in the Brisbane International women’s semifinals for a trip to the finals against world number two Victoria Azarenka. With the win, Serena extended her winning streak over Sharapova to14th consecutive victories. After blowing two match points in the tie-breaker—one on her serve and another receiving—Serena sealed the win with an ace….