Posts Tagged ‘showdown’

Ana Ivanovic vs Kim Clijsters at BNP Paribas Showdown exhibition (3/5)

Ivanovic faces Clijsters in the semi-finals of the 2010 Billie Jean King Cup at Madison Square Garden in New York City. This was a one set, no ad exhibition. Clijsters won 7-6.

Federer sets up Djokovic showdown

Federer sets up Djokovic showdown
Roger Federer beats home favourite Gael Monfils in straight sets to tee up a mouth-watering semi-final against Novak Djokovic at the French Open.

Read more on BBC News

Ana Ivanovic vs Kim Clijsters at BNP Paribas Showdown exhibition (5/5)

Ivanovic faces Clijsters in the semi-finals of the 2010 Billie Jean King Cup at Madison Square Garden in New York City. This was a one set, no ad exhibition. Clijsters won 7-6.

Ana Ivanovic vs Kim Clijsters at BNP Paribas Showdown exhibition (4/5)

Ivanovic faces Clijsters in the semi-finals of the 2010 Billie Jean King Cup at Madison Square Garden in New York City. This was a one set, no ad exhibition. Clijsters won 7-6.

Ana Ivanovic vs Kim Clijsters at BNP Paribas Showdown exhibition (2/5)

Ivanovic faces Clijsters in the semi-finals of the 2010 Billie Jean King Cup at Madison Square Garden in New York City. This was a one set, no ad exhibition. Clijsters won 7-6.

Federer and Nadal Set For Showdown at Roland Garros

In 2009 and after several years of frustration, world number one, Roger Federer finally broke his Roland Garros ‘hoodoo’ and lifted the French Open Mens singles crown for the first time. Federer had been runner up for the three years previously and was beaten on each occasion by Rafa Nadal, the third defeat being one his most ignominious defeats of his otherwise illustrious career.

The 2008 final was as one sided an affair as one could get, with Nadal winning in three straight sets 6-1, 6-0, 6-3, leaving Federer to finally walk off court close to tears. For Nadal it marked, what most plaudits thought, his invincibility on the clay courts of Roland Garros, after all, he had won every single match he had played there since 2005, giving him a 28-0 record.

It was also believed at the time that Federer would never be the same player again, which was to an extent confirmed when he lost his Wimbledon crown six weeks later also to Nadal. His world number one ranking went soon afterwards and it appeared that after six years of being arguably the best tennis player the world has ever seen, were over. How wrong could we have all been!

Federer of course did go on to retain his US Open crown in 2008, but was beaten by Nadal in the final of the Australian Open a few months later in the first Grand Slam of 2009. That win seriously underlined, that although Federer was down, he was not out, but he could only be regarded from that moment as the number 2 in the world. The 2009 French Open was the next Grand Slam on the agenda and that according to everyone was already in Nadals ever expanding bag.

In that tournament everything seemed to be going to the prediction, Nadal had eased his way into the last 16 and was drawn against the inconsistent Swede and number 23 seed, Robin Soderling who had never previously won a set off the great Spaniard before. But in true kiss of death style, the impossible did happen; Soderling played the best tennis of his life and Nadal played his worst leaving Soderling to triumph at huge odds against and leaving the draw wide open for none other than the almost forgotten, Roger Federer.

Soderling continued his good form and reached his first (and only) Grand Slam final, where he met a resurgent Federer in hungry mood and looking for his first ever French Open and a record equaling 14th Grand Slam title.

The rest as they say is history, Federer won the match comfortably and has since gone on to regain his Wimbledon crown and although losing his US Open title, he regained his title in Australia by defeating Britains Andy Murray in the Final in January.

Federer is now back at number one in the world and holds the record of sixteen Grand Slam titles and he will come to Paris for the 2010 Frech Open looking to defend his title against Nadal, the man who almost destroyed him just 2 years ago and it would be no surprise to see this duo face off for the fourth successive year in the final at Roland Garros.

Williams meets Clijsters in semifinal showdown

Williams meets Clijsters in semifinal showdown
Defending U.S. Open champion Kim Clijsters will try to stay on track for her second straight title after a 2 1/2 -year layoff when she faces Venus Williams in the semifinals. The 27-year-old Belgian is trying to become the first woman to win back-to-back titles at Flushing Meadows since 2000-01, when Williams did it.

Read more on AP via Yahoo! Sports

Williams meets Clijsters in semi showdown at Open

Williams meets Clijsters in semi showdown at Open
Whether it’s starting a family or starting a business, Kim Clijsters and Venus Williams have figured out how to make life about more than hitting a fuzzy yellow ball. As for that tennis part _ well, things are going pretty well there, too. In the featured… Venus Williams – Kim Clijsters – Tennis – US Open – Samantha Stosur

Read more on San Francisco Chronicle

Federer, Nadal braced for French Open showdown

Federer, Nadal braced for French Open showdown
Roger Federer insists he can’t wait to confront a rejuvenated Rafael Nadal, written off as an injury-cursed, spent-force earlier this year, at the French Open which starts on Sunday.

Read more on AFP via Yahoo! Singapore News

Federer, Nadal set for Madrid showdown

Federer, Nadal set for Madrid showdown
Agencies Madrid, May 9: Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal step up their bids for final tune-ups prior to the French Open as headliners at the Madrid Masters starting on Sunday.

Read more on Central Chronicle

Nadal, Djokovic closer to Monte Carlo tennis showdown

Nadal, Djokovic closer to Monte Carlo tennis showdown
MONTE CARLO (AFP) – Rafael Nadal survived a brief rain break before resuming his storied clay-court dominance with a 6-4, 6-2 quarter-final defeat of fellow Spaniard Juan Carlos Ferrero at the Monte Carlo Masters on Friday. Later top seed Novak Djokovic moved nearer to a repeat of the final he lost to the Spaniard here a year ago with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Argentine David Nalbandian, on the way …

Read more on Manila Bulletin