The results at the Sydney International and Heineken Open tournaments were not kind to the top seeds of each respective tournament on Wednesday as the day saw a number of surprises. First in Sydney, Juan Martin del Potro continued his comeback season with another victory, coming back from a set down to knock off top-seeded…
The ATP has announced significant efforts to enhance the ATP Challenger Tour, including further increases in prize money. The ATP Challenger Tour comprises approximately 150 tournaments each year and serves as a springboard for players to compete on the ATP World Tour. The increases will take place at the lowest category of tournaments, with minimum…
Argentinean Juan Martin del Potro won his first match since last February, knocking off Ukrainian Sergiy Stakhovsky 6-3, 7-6(4) at the Sydney International on Tuesday. “It was a great moment for me,” said Del Potro, who is the defending champion at this tournament. “I think I played well in my first match after ten months….
World number three Simona Halep has withdrawn from the Sydney International tournament with gastroenteritis, the Romanian announced on Tuesday. “I feel like I cannot play,” said Halep, the tournament’s top seed. “I came here to play all the tournaments, so it’s not good to stop. I didn’t play already for three days. But I have…
Maria Sharapova edged Ana Ivanovic 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-3 to win the Brisbane International on Saturday. The world number two fought back from a set down to upend the Serbian and capture her 34th career title. “I played four good matches against very different types of opponents. Couldn’t have asked for a better preparation,” said Sharapova…
Two days after falling to Venus Williams in the ASB Classic title match, world number eight Caroline Wozniacki retired from her first-round match against Barbora Zahlavova-Strycova at the Sydney International tournament with a wrist injury. “I felt it during one shot,” said Wozniacki, who was trailing 4-6, 1-1 at the time of her retirement. “I…
Roger Federer became the third person in tennis history to record 1,000 career match wins on Sunday, defeating Canadian Milos Raonic 6-4, 6-7(2), 6-4 in the Brisbane International final. He joins Jimmy Connors and Ivan Lendl as the only players to reach the 1,000-win mark. “Clearly it’s a special day for me, winning a title plus…
The Shenzhen Open’s two top seeds were on court at the Chinese tournament’s semifinals on Friday, but only one of them was able to make it through to the final. Top-seeded Simona Halep disposed of WTA Rising Star Saisai Zheng 6-2, 6-3, winning five of the eight break point chances she had to wrap up the…
The Brisbane International title match will feature a rematch of the 2008 Australian Open final, as top-seeded Russian Maria Sharapova will take on second-seeded Ana Ivanovic of Serbia. Sharapova continued her dominant play on Friday, rolling past up and coming star Elina Svitolina 6-1, 6-3 in one hour and 24 minutes. “I’m one step further…
The top four seeds at the Brisbane International have advanced to the tournament’s semifinals, after the field of eight was cut down to four on Friday. The field’s top seed, Roger Federer, made quick work of his quarterfinal opponent James Duckworth. Federer beat the Australian 6-0, 6-1 and needed just 41 minutes to do so. “I…