Archive for March, 2009

Murray beats Massu in Sony Ericsson Open at Miami

Andy Murray defeated Chile’s Nicolas Massu by beginning a tricky and wonderful attack, now he will be face and fight in the fourth round of Sony Ericsson Open on Monday at Miami. Murray will now in the front of world number 41 Viktor Troicki in the last 16 after the Serb punch Bjorn Phau 6-4 6-3.

Murray gave for a first-serve percentage of 45% in the start set in opposition to Massu and it was the Chilean’s faults that made the Scot back into the set. When he cracked to go 4-3 up it appeared as although the fourth seed was on path but he played one more bad performance game to let Massu back to 4-4.

Murray fought 5-1 clear in the second set and in spite of allowing one of the breaks go, there seemed to be tiny risk until Massu got back to 5-4. The Chilean then achieved two opportunities to make level the scores in a theatrical game but made voluntary faults on together and finally, Murray got the conquest on his second match point.

Luckily for the Briton, Massu could not manage the anxiety and pressure at key present moments three consecutive double-errors handed the plan to Murray once again and he served out confidently.

Murray prescribed, “His beginning was very fine and sound, striking the ball solid with his forehand and I was hitting it short. But after 3-0 in the first set I performed well until 5-1 (in the second) and then completely misplaced attentiveness, and finished up being in a battle at the end, which I didn’t essentially need.

He further said, “I was much gladder with the means I punch the ball today compared to my first match, bar the first and last three games.”

Somewhere else, sixth seed Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina facilitated past Janko Tipsarevic 6-4 6-1, and 11th seed David Ferrer of Spain defeat Croatia’s Marin Cilic 3-6 6-3 6-4.

On the other hand In the women’s draw, 13th seed Caroline Wozniacki defeat fourth seed Elena Dementieva 7-5 6-4 to participate in a quarter-final against eighth seed Svetlana Kuznetsova, who beat fellow Russian Alisa Kleybanova 6-2 6-1. Samantha Stosur carried out her win over second seed Dinara Safina by thrashing Amelie Mauresmo 6-4 6-4, and the Australian now face 11th seed Victoria Azarenka , who crushed Agnes Szavay 6-2 6-4.

Beachley stimulates Samantha Stosur at Miami

Australian tennis player ace Samantha Stosur compensated praise to seven-times world surfing champion Layne Beachley after sweeping to the major win of her career in Miami on Monday. To reach the fourth round of the Sony Ericsson Open, Stosur squeezed world No.2 Dinara Safina 6-1 6-4, a $A6.5 million event regarded as the sport’s “fifth slam”.

The landmark conquest carried out aching near-misses this time of year against world No.1 Serena Williams when the Queenslander wasted four match points in Sydney and fellow top tenners Elena Dementieva and Agnieszka Radwanska. That thin overcomes and several sage advices from Beachley have fuelled Stosur’s trust that she may hit the world’s top.

Stosur prescribed to AAP from Miami, “Last month Layne came with me to Dubai and she helped me out a lot that week and our links are still continue now”. She acquired in my head tiny and we talked about many things. Apparently she’s been through masses in her career and knows very well that how to manage pressure. Consequently we hung up much there and had a nice time and I learned and discovered a lot and I’m still annoying to continue that instructions of what she was capable to provide me there with each match going ahead.”

Beachley trained and taught Stosur to “live in the moment” sooner than obtain forward of herself in matches.

Stosur further said “Its nice simple when you find yourself anxious and confuse or get tight to start hastening and before you know it, you don’t yet know what you’re thinking or expecting”. So it is much about just living calm and making a point you’re breathing and sticking to what you do best.”

Stosur has long endangered to maintain major singles scalp when a three time grand slam doubles champion. “It was good to lastly acquire it under my strap, that’s for sure,” she said after maintain a showdown with former world No.1 Amelie Mauresmo for a quarter-finals berth.

“It’s just been the advancement of all things that have been happening by me for the last year and now it’s coming jointly.

A go over victory would push Stosur to the cusp of the world’s top 30 and within just outstanding distance of her career high No.27 ranking of two years ago before she was canceled with a career stalling viral illness.

Stosur said by describing her feelings, “Wins like today are going to get me there, but it’s not enough and sufficient now. I’ve to come back tomorrow and try to back it up.

Roger Federer and Djokovic takeover in Miami

Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic former top world champions stepped up their game with irresistible opening wins to power into the third round of the Miami Masters as seeds got centre stage.

And on the other hand Federer, who prevailed in 2005-2006 at Crandon Park, obtained his form in a runaway second set as he beaten American Kevin Kim 6-3, 6-2. Djokovic, who dominated in 2007, punch Canadian Frank Dancevic 6-3, 6-2. Federer is also attempting to get well and trying to recover his loss in the semi-finals at Indian Wells last weekend, with the Swiss, 31-8 in Miami, looking for his first title of the season. Federer’s conquest in just 64 minutes improved his 2009 record to 14-3.

Djokovic can have figured out the mystery of the slow beginning which has specified his year so far. He enhanced and improved to 18-7 throughout a season which built-in his 12th career title in Dubai.

France’s Gael Monfils sustained the achievement of sows, all of whom earned benefit from first-round byes. The number 9 hit American Michael Russell 6-2, 6-7 while number 13 James Blake blocked Julien Benneteau 6-4, 6-4.

Blake who equated the strength of the Masters 1000 competition to that of the Grand Slams said, “It’s a little bit breezy a little moisture, but the type of environment and situations you suppose here in Miami. It was excellent to get a win. Out Masters 1000s, they’re all enormous because you got the top players. I think they might be just as rough or almost as tough as a Slam to win because you’re playing a lot of enormous players so rapidly.

After the retirement of Russian Marat Safin she connected and joined his sister, women’s second seed Dinara Safina, in advancing, with the two-time Grand Slam champion defeating Spaniard Oscar Hernandez 6-4, 2-6, 6-1.

German Nicolas Kiefer presented a fight back over Frenchman Fabrice Santoro 5-7, 7-6 (7-5), 6-2 to earn a third-round place against Federer. Russia positioned four women into the third round, with second seed Safina foremost the way past France’s Mathilde Johansson 6-1, 6-3.

Safina, who lost an opportunity to grab the No.1 WTA ranking from Serena Williams last week at Indian Wells when the American did not play, stepped fourth-seeded compatriot Elena Dementieva, a winner over Anastasia Pivovarova 6-0, 3-6, 6-3.

The former US Open winner Svetlana Kuznetsova returned marvelous and thrilling scored over teenaged Austrian Tamira Paszek 2-6, 7-5, 6-1 while Alisa Kleybanova punch Galina Voskoboeva of Kazakstan 6-2, 6-4 to complete the Russian winning quartet.

Kim Clijsters once again in professional tennis

On the Thursday former tennis player of Belgium Kim Clijsters declared her return into the professional and competitive tennis approximately two years after retiring from the sport at just 23 years old.

Kim said in a press conference at her hometown “I intend to play in the US Open and about surely in the tournaments at Cincinnati early August, my first official tournament back and Tornoto”. She further said “I have been involved in practicing on a usual and regular basis with my training partner Wim Fissette and by physical coach Sam Verslegers, frequently as much as six hours in a day.

Kim who is the right hander, has a wonderful and marvelous tennis background included rewards and many achievements during his stay in tennis. Famous for her trademark splits suspicious play, she won 34 WTA tournaments and 11 doubles’ crowns including the 2005 US Open title when she beaten the French player Mary Pierce 6-3, 6-1 at Flushing Meadows. She also won the women’s season ending tour championship title conducted in 2002 and 2003.

Kim misplaced four Grand Slam finals particularly the 2003 French Open and US Open championship matches, as well as the 2004 Australian Open to compatriot and rival Justine Henin, who has also since retired. In August 2003 she got the top world rankings with a record of 427 wins against 104 defeats as well as having the extraordinary difference of holding the number one spot in both singles and doubles in 2003.

But handicapped by a series of injuries and keen to begin a family with new husband Brian Lynch, an American basketball player, she unexpectedly declared her retirement in May 2007 at just 23 years old.

At now 25, Clijsters is approximately two years younger than Williams and has time on her side in maybe retrieving the world No.1 ranked and including to her Grand Slam accumulation. What it occurs after blushing Meadows in beginning September, However, depends on more than a few factors, she insisted.

She said “I will have to get stock of how I supervise to unite my family condition with life on the circuit, I am a mother and a wife after all, and also we will have to see how I come out of it all physically.”

Clijsters will not be one of those players who need time to off separately to have a baby and then effort a return back to the route. A very close friend of Clijsters Lindsay Davenport former World No. 1 did similarly in 2007 even though she never officially and formally declared she was retiring. Last year the American prepared a dramatic return to the WTA Tour circuit winning four tournaments before moving to the sidelines again in January after announcing that she was pregnant once again.

The WTA Chief Executive Larry Scott resigning

The WTA chief Larry Scott threw a surprising effect and shocked into the women’s tennis on the eve of one of the major occasions on the calendar on Tuesday by declaring that he will give up and steps down to move to a university athletics job in the United States.

The resignation declaration prior to the Miami Masters came less than three months after ATP boss Etienne de Villiers was enforced out and interchanged with a lawyer, Adam Helfant, with little bit experience in the sport.

Scott, who worked hard with the men’s ATP before coming over to the women’s side and functioning for six years as chief executive of the WTA, will head the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) PAC-10 Conference, effective July 1.

Scott oversaw a huge addition in prize money and a prosperous partnership with tour global sponsor Sony Ericsson, which turned headline players like Maria Sharapova and the Williams sisters into crossover celebrities with forays into fashion, music and show business and computer gaming.

Scott shortly prescribed “With women’s professional tennis more well-liked and admired than ever the Tour in the strongest business position in its history and a incredible senior management team in place, it is now the exact time for me to meet with the new challenge reliable with my family and personal destinations, and give up the room for the next generation of Tour leadership to take on new tasks”.

He will now work with the Tour Board on the selection procedure for his replacement.

The representative of Tournament Board and chairman of the Tournament Council Steve Simon said by expressing his opinion in the favour of Larry, “Under Larry’s leadership and guidance, both Tour and our sport have developed and grown up over the past six years beyond anyone’s extreme expectations,”

“As an association and sport, we are positioned for constant victory and success. We wish and hope Larry the very well in his new position, and are looking forward to start the process of electing a new one CEO for the organization to guide us into the future.”

The resignation will also let Scott to move a bullet in the continuing case of the Williams sisters’ boycott of the just-concluded Indian Wells Masters, a posture which for the first time in 2009 will result in sanctions for the millionaire sibling act.

The most recent Scott’s crisis and calamities came into being last month at Dubai when Israeli player Shahar Peer was deprived of a visa into the Arab emirate, sparking a war of words, a fine of $US300,000 ($A433,000) from the WTA and potential sanctions in opposition to the highlight event.

Scott also felt and analysis by seeing the global growth and development of the sport into new markets, including organization of the Tour’s first ever Asia-Pacific headquarters in Beijing.

By crushing Murray, Rafael Nadal achieved Indian Wells ATP title

To win the Indian wells ATP Master Title the world honored and one of the most poplar tennis player Rafael Nadal beaten the Andy Murray of Scotland by 6-1, 6-2 and won the Master series title of Indian Wells.

As in the final of women that predated it, the men’s championship match was arranged and played in whirling winds that had both players scrambling.

Nadal, the dominating Australian Open champion defied hard, impractical circumstances and situations to imprison the crown in the California desert for the second time after triumphing here in 2007. But Nadal, who began the tournament as the highest seed for the initial time after Roger Federer came and joined in as the number one the past five years restrained his total attention and focus to achieve the good job accomplished in one hour and 20 minutes.

Nadal prescribed “In fact I played a really good match with those conditions and situations”. “Andy could not play his best likely because of the situation, conditions and circumstances but I feel that I done my best to achieve the goal and played a really good performances in the whole match, moving very well. He further said that, I never made my legs stop during the whole match and I think that was the key of my success today.

In the meanwhile Murray seemed incapable to achieve to grips with the state of affairs. Murray agreed with Nadal while Nadal saying “I imagine I accepted a little bit improved and superior than him the conditions today.

Murray said by expressing his opinion after finishing the match “Rafa treated with it very well and better”. He strokes the ball clearly and appeared to obtain himself in better and exact positions than I did.

“You don’t unavoidably want to be doing a whole lot of opposing and running,” Murray added. “You want to be in the best position possible to hit each ball, and I wasn’t.” in spite of the conquer, world number four Murray leaves California closing in on world number three Novak Djokovic, whose title defence here ended with a quarter-final loss to American Andy Roddick.

Murray defeated Federer to make his place in the semis championship giving himself a shot at a third title of 2009 to go with those he won in Doha and Rotterdam. Murray’s performance made slow due to the illness since those successes, withdrawing from the quarter-finals in Dubai and skipping Davis Cup.

Under the conditions, he expressed, reaching in the final was a very good achievement.

“I don’t feel that I m frustrated just now with how the week went, because I wasn’t waiting and expecting to do that well,” he said. “Today was not my best day, but I’ll definitely get over it. I’m guessing I’m not going to play in those conditions each week.”

Nadal was playing in his third final in four starts this season, including his five-set Aussie Open triumph over Federer and a loss to Murray in Rotterdam. Nadal also lost to Murray in the semi-finals of the US Open last September, but the Spaniard said against the Briton that he wasn’t out for revenge.

“Andy was the only big top player I didn’t win against this year, so it’s an important win for me. But the most important thing for me is to win the title, not the opponent.”

Zvonareva beats Azarenka and ready for Indian Wells final

Recently on Friday’s competition between Zvonareva and Azarenka the Russian Fourth seeded Vera Zvonareva got a unique conquest with the directly sets triumph over doubles partner Victoria Azarenka and now she gets ready to face the Indian Wells final hard-court tournament.

Zvonareva the top and uppermost seed gone in the draw, brought down the eighth seed from Belarus 6-3, 6-3. And now she gets ready for the Well’s final on Sunday in which she’ll face moreover opposing champion Ana Ivanovic from Serbia or Russian teenager Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.

Earlier of this year Zvonareva who gained and won her succeeded eighth career title at Pattaya City, kept her full pressure and dominance with Azarenka, who has unfortunately never got and taken a set from the Russian in four meetings.

Zvonareva in a shortly speech prescribed “I remains pretty happy with my game at all ,” Zvonareva further said by expressing her feelings, “I did few mistakes and errors, few double faults here and there on various places but I was going for my shots.”

In the second set of the first game she broke Azarenka down and once more time in the final game to avoid her from defeat showed great excellency and to seal the victory in one hour and 20 minutes.

19 years old Azarenka,who succeeded in gaining the first two titles of her career this year in Brisbane and Memphis, distress the highest-seeded Russian Dinara Safina in the quarter-finals, rallying from a set down. “A wasted match,” was the hopeless Azarenka’s appraisal as she bewailed her 37 unforced faults. “Vera played good. I didn’t do yet 10 percent of my game today.”

Even in both two rounds against Zvonareva she had her lucks and chances but her failure made her unsuccessful to alter the two break points in the ninth game to make bigger the first set and she also had three break chances in the eighth game of the second.

In spite of the beat, the 11th-ranked Azarenka is predictable to break into the top 10 when the new WTA rankings are released on Monday. On Saturday Azarenka and Zvonareva will be get back again on the similar side of the net on Saturday, when they challenge the women’s doubles final. The second one semi-final was determining up as a fight of youth versus experience and practice.

Zvonareva said “I imagine it going be a hard and tough challenge between those two girls” “Because Anastasia, who is a young, youthful, brilliant talented upcoming player. She undoubtedly has a superior serve. She has an excellent big game, so for Ana it’s going to be very tough and difficult for Ana. But Ana who is a Grand Slam Champion has already all this experience and know about the finger tennis tips and indeed unique skills. She’s fighting and defending champion here.”

Ivanovic got victory in the French Open last year and detained the world number one ranking for a total of 12 weeks, but this semi final appearance is her most excellent and very well result of 2009. In the World she now ranked on seventh, Ivanovic qualified for the semis with no beating a stroke when adversary Sybille Bammer withdrew with a shoulder injury.

Andy Murray qualified for Semis at Indian Wells

At Indian Wells Andy Murray reached the last four with an excellent brilliant battling 7-5 7-6 (8-6) wining over Croatia’s Ivan Ljubicic. In the match neither player detected their beat, though the Briton started fine when he terminated in the beginning game.

Ivan Ljubicic broke back in the sixth but Miss a step and fall on his serve in the eleventh with Murray going on to obtain the set. Both players showed marvelous performance and made each other’s service broke in the second set of games. But at the time when it came to the tie-break, both players have to face a tough challenge; Andy Murray determined and contained his nerve to seal a tough win.

Now Murray will face also Roger Federer or Fernando Verdasco in the last four at Indian Wells.

In a shortly speech the 21 years old Murray prescribed “I thought I did well, at the end of each set I began to make further returns. I did very well in the tie-break at the end. He further said “I didn’t serve big the entire time but on the second serve didn’t offer any opportunities away; I bounced back fine and well each time I got broken, so I was happy with that.”

It appeared that Murray who just played fifty minutes in the last round before his opponent Tommy Robredo retired injured, would walk the match against Ljubicic, who had taken part in a three-hour marathon against Igor Andreev the previous day.

In both players’ performances the wind played a big role and the crowds at Indian Wells were not treated to a hard-court classic partly as a consequence of the situation. For the British number one the things began good, who went 2-0 up after having broken the Croat in the first game.

When Murray played a lot of badly judged drop shots into the net Ljubicic broke back in the sixth. But Murray again beat the 30 year old in the 11th and held serve to take the first set 7-5. It was all mundane stuff in the second set until the ninth game when at deuce; Murray challenged the umpire who had called the shot out and called a shot in. The Hawk-Eye repeat backed Murray to the anger of Ljubicic. The Croat went on misplace his service game.

Murray said “The reason I challenged was because he appeared like he was going to hit it; then the call came, and he still hit the ball over,”. I thought maybe he thought it was going out. But I couldn’t see, because of the ATP sign at the side of the court.

Though, the Croat established himself and broke Murray’s serve in the next. But in the tie-break, the Scot came out on top with a Ljubicic unforced error from the baseline giving him the conquest.

Pakistan wishes for neutral Davis Cup venue

The Pakistan tennis officials declined to play their country’s relocated Davis Cup tie against the Philippines in the Philippines, referring security reasons, fears and calling for a neutral venue.

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) had expressed to Pakistan that its Asia Oceania Group II tie has been moved to the Philippines due to the some security reasons.

Dilawar Abbas officially said, “The Players of Pakistan have also security concerns about playing in the Philippines as well, so the tie must be shifted to a neutral venue. “The ITF has prescribed us that our home tie which was owing to be played in Lahore has been shifted after some Philippine players, who have US passports, raised security doubts,” the president of Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) Dilawar Abbas told AFP.

Last Week the Philippine Lawn Tennis Association (PLTA) wrote to the International Tennis Federation (ITF), saying that the March 3 attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team had spread the waves of fear in peoples and concerns about playing in Pakistan. The same city in which the Sri Lankan cricket team was attacked killing eight Pakistanis and injuring seven touring players and their assistant coach, the Philippines was scheduled to play Pakistan from July 10-12 in Lahore.

Abbas described that relocating to the Philippines would affect and disturb their opportunities. He further told “By not playing on our home courts we have misplaced the home benefit so we are not going to give that advantage to our opponents and instead press for a neutral venue.

Pakistan’s chances of hosting international sport were covered a serious and heavy powerful stroke by the attacks on the Sri Lankan cricket team. Last month, Pakistan was compelled to move their home Davis Cup tie against Oman to Muscat after their rivals raised security concerns.

Owing to be staged next month in Pakistan, An international squash event was called off and New Zealand has suggested that it will not send its cricket team to Pakistan for the November-December series this year.

Bangladesh’ cricket also delayed its tour to Pakistan on Tuesday by saying that they would not be able to assurance security for the Pakistani team in the wake of last month’s mutiny in Dhaka.

Federer Murray advances in Indian Wells

Roger Federer made his brilliant and excellent record against Fernando Gonzalez to 12-1 with a three-set conquest Wednesday and qualified for the quarterfinals of the BNP Paribas Open.

Federer’ play spotty but excellent and sufficient enough to keep carry on his domination of his frequent opponent, ousted Gonzalez 6-3, 5-7, and 6-2. On the other hand Andy Roddick, who is the only American remaining in the singles draw, get back strongly in the third set to beat David Ferrer 7-6 (5), 3-6, 6-3. Roddick accomplished with 10 aces against his Spanish opponent in the contest played between them, who served eight of his own.

Roddick, had difficulty keeping his shots on the court in the second round when ranked No. 7 and then he obtained the limit once again in the third to pull out the match. He did with 38 unforced errors, five more than Ferrer.

Defending champion and No. 3 Novak Djokovic outlasted Stanislas Wawrinka 7-6 (7), 7-6 (6). Juan Martin Del Potro defeated John Isner 7-6 (4), 7-6 (3), and Ivan Ljubicic downed Igor Andreev 4-6, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (4). Andy Murray too superior, stretching his well 2009 start to 18-1 when Tommy Robredo retired in the second set of their match due to the wrist injury. Murray got victory in the first set 6-2 and was up 3-0 in the second.

After losing his four-year hold on the top spot to Rafael Nadal last year Federer, ranked No. 2, was conflicting against No. 17 Gonzalez. The Chilean fought and struggled his way back into the match in the second set, overcoming initial disappointment he had vented by slamming a racket onto the court three times and shattering it. Federer, the tournament champion three successive years beginning in 2004, said he felt that he finally was able to set up some rhythm in his game after playing frequently serve and return against his first two opponents.

Federer said, “Today was a bit more baselines, even though I couldn’t discover his (Gonzalez’s) backhand”. “If you don’t find his backhand, the point is over hurriedly. He has such a massive forehand. “I’m looking ahead to playing against (Fernando) Verdasco. It’s a good thing that I’m still in the tournament and going well along with facing an opponent who actually is going to extend the rallies a little bit.”

Verdasco overcome Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 to get the quarterfinal chance against Federer. Murray, ranked No. 4, said he anticipated a hard test heading into his match against Robredo. The 21years old Scot said “I was expecting a hard and tough match. I had misplaced to Tommy two prior times I played him”. “I knew I had to be on my game.”

Murray said, he was well conscious that Robredo had a problem with his wrist, though he still seemed to be hitting the ball very well. “But spiritually and mentally, a wrist problem can be harsh and also can make ones tough during match,” Murray further said. “I know because I’ve been through it. It’s just the pain that’s there and feeling like something might happen.”

And on the women’s side, No. 6 Vera Zvonareva defeated No. 13 Caroline Wozniacki 6-4, 6-2.

Mildura host Aussie Fed Cup tie against Swiss

Australia and Switzerland are participants and will play the next month’s Fed Cup tie against each other on grass in Mildura.

The chief events manager of Tennis Australia Steve Ayles said “The Victorian Murray River town’s world-class courts and scenic location had set it in front of more than a few other bidders for the women’s teams’ tennis occasion on April 25 and 26”.

Winning the tie would qualify Australia for the World Group II next year and remain them in the running to enter the top group in 2011, while a loss would send them back to the Asia/Oceania group next year.

Australia boasts a 3-1 head-to-head record alongside Switzerland, including a 5-0 clean sweep when they last met in 2006. They will be imaginary to make on that record, with the likes of Samantha Stosur, Jelena Dokic and Casey Dellacqua to call on against a Swiss team expected to be headed by Patty Schnyder.

The tie will double as a fundraiser to help rebuild tennis facilities affected by the recent Victorian bushfires.

Mildura has not hosted a Fed Cup tie before, but was the site of Australia’s notorious Davis Cup loss to Zimbabwe in 1998, in which Mark Philippoussis refused to play, but came out to watch.

Fighting champ Djokovic proceed at Indian Wells

Novak Djokovic set up his defence of the Indian Wells Masters succession title with a straight-sets conquest on Sunday, as world No.1 Rafael Nadal prepared to open his campaign. Serbia’s Djokovic seeded third behind Nadal and Swiss world No.2 Roger Federer in the $US5.4 million ($A8.2 million) occasion overcame 54th-ranked Argentinian Martin Vasallo Arguello 7-5 6-4 to achieve the third round.

Djokovic, who claimed his initial title of 2009 at Dubai two weeks ago, raised an early break in every set only to surrender his serve before breaking Vasallo Arguello once more. When the Argentinean sent a service return long, he precluded the match on a breezy stadium court at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on his second match point.

Spain’s Nadal the 2007 champion who has additional promoted his hard-court recommendations with his Australian Open triumph this year, was to play German qualifier Michael Berrer in a second-round match. Confronting China’s Peng Shuai in the third round, women’s top seed Dinara Safina of Russia was also in action.

Safina, who has a chance to supplant the absent Serena Williams atop the world rankings by reaching the final of this WTA event, will be trying to avoid the upset bug that saw 15 of 32 seeded women eliminated in the second round, including second-seeded Jelena Jankovic of Serbia, No.3 Elena Dementieva and No.6 Svetlana Kuznetsova, both of Russia.

In other early matches, last year’s surprise men’s finalist Mardy Fish, who surprised Federer in the semi-finals in 2008, was beaten 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-1) by France’s Jeremy Chardy. Fourth-seeded Russian Vera Zvonareva prepared it securely into the fourth round with a 6-3 6-1 win over Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic. Fish admitted that after last year’s heroics, it was deflating to lose his first match.

He said.”I will undoubtedly never forget last year, also never forget the semi-final match against Roger. Maybe it all evens itself out in the end,”

Now Chardy next faces Spain’s David Ferrer, runner-up to Djokovic in Dubai, who defeat US qualifier Todd Widom 6-4 7-5.

Battle for the 2009 Davis Cup title

The beginning round of the 2009 Davis Cup by BNP Paribas produced its customary combine of shock consequences, predictable results and marvelous performances over the weekend. In the quarterfinals of July, supremacy champion Spain will host Germany, last year’s runner-up Argentina will tour to Czech Republic, the United States will tour Croatia, and Israel will host of Russia.

France was one of two seeded nations to be distress over the weekend. In Ostrava, experience triumphed over youth as Czech Republic handed the nine-time champion its first beginning round beating in the contest for nine years. Radek Stepanek dominated world No. 8 Gilles Simon 76, 63, and 76 in the fourth rubber, after teaming with Tomas Berdych to conquest in the doubles. It was a disappointing Davis Cup first appearance for Simon, who also misplaced his opening singles match to Berdych on Friday.

Spain toured into the last eight in spite of having to play three matches on Saturday, after high winds left the Benidorm stands insecure on Friday. Unfazed by the delay, the hosts crushed Serbia 4-1, world No. 1 Rafael Nadal defeating world No. 3 Novak Djokovic 64 64 61 in the first reverse singles on Sunday to seal the victory. Having swept past Janko Tipsarevic in straight sets on Saturday, Nadal extended his winning streak in Davis Cup to 12 matches. Spain’s other winning point was provided by David Ferrer, who beat a below-par Djokovic in straight sets on the first day.

The additional seeded nation to descend was seven-time champion Sweden. Its tie with Israel, being played behind closed doors in Malmo with just a handful of audience to witness the drama, was the only one to go to a critical fifth rubber. Thirty-year-old Harel Levy, ranked No. 241 in the world, defeated Andreas Vinciguerra 64 46 64 36 86 in just over three and a half hours to put Israel in the Davis Cup quarterfinals for just the second time. The outcome marked the first time in Sweden’s 84-year Davis Cup history that the nation had lost a tie from 2-1 up, and avenged Israel’s defeat to Sweden in last year’s first round. All four of the singles matches went to five sets, and Dudi Sela was concerned in two of them, most fatefully defeating Thomas Johansson on Sunday to pave the way for Levy’s heroics.

In Alabama, the United States got full benefit of the absence of world No. 2 Roger Federer to beat Switzerland 4-1. Andy Roddick won a significant Davis Cup rubber for the 11th time, defeating Stanislas Wawrinka in straight sets in the first reverse singles. In Garmisch-Partenkirchen, hosts Germany put the loss of the opening match behind them to record a 3-2 victory over Austria, Nicolas Kiefer striking the winning blow against Jurgen Melzer in the fourth rubber, having also won the doubles with Philipp Kohlschreiber. The Germans’ upcoming meeting with Spain is a repeat of last year’s quarterfinal.

Another outstanding performance was showed by Dmitry Tursunov in Romania, the Russian coming back from two-sets-to-love down in the fourth rubber to defeat Victor Hanescu 46 57 63 64 62 and hand Russia a Davis Cup quarterfinal berth for the fifth consecutive year. This came after Tursunov and Marat Safin’s shock five-set defeat to Marius Copil and Horia Tecau in the doubles.

There were two whitewash victories. Argentina, with a different style and having a new look team headed by Juan Ignacio Chela and Juan Monaco in the nonattendance of David Nalbandian, had no difficulty casting aside Netherlands 5-0 in Buenos Aires. Croatia was the 5-0 victor in Porec over a Chilean team playing without the injured Fernando Gonzalez.

The 2009 Davis Cup by BNP Paribas quarterfinals will occur 10-12 July with suggested venues from the host nations owing on 23 March. Austria, Chile, France, Netherlands, Romania, Serbia, Sweden and Switzerland will offer to keep their World Group places for 2010 when they participate in the Play-offs on 18-20 September, dealing with eight nations promoted from Europe/Africa Group I, Asia/Oceania Group I and Americas Group I.

This weekend the ITF welcomed Telefonica as the authorized Telecommunications Sponsor of Davis Cup by BNP Paribas and the ITF. In adding to on-court banners, Telefonica will supply telecommunications proficiency at Davis Cup ties around the world and advice the ITF and its member nations on new ways to expand and develop their internet properties.

Twenty six Davis Cup by BNP Paribas zonal connects also took place over the weekend.