2013/05/26

Western & Southern Open Has Record Cyber Monday

(November 27, 2012) Cincinnati – Tennis enthusiasts  from 19 different states set to attend the Western & Southern Open in 2013 set a Cyber Monday in a record-setting holiday promotion for the tournament. Fans purchased $40,750 worth of tournament “Court Cards” from 12:01AM to 11:59PM on November 26, 2012.

The one-day promotion offered tournament Court Cards at a 10% discount. A Court Card is redeemable for tickets at the tournament box office, and food, beverage and merchandise at the Lindner Family Tennis Center during the event.

The Western & Southern Open is one of only five professional tennis events in the world (outside of the majors) to feature top-level men’s and women’s tournaments playing concurrently at the same venue during the same week. The event is played in Mason, OH, 20 miles north of Cincinnati.

 

The promotion was the first of two holiday efforts from the tournament. Beginning on December 12, 2012 (12/12/12), the event will offer exclusively through Ticketmaster a limited pre-release of tickets for the 2013 event. The sale runs for 12 days and fans can select their exact seats and print the tickets at home for last minute holiday gifts.

 

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Li Na Nets First Title of the Year at the Western & Southern Open

By Megan Fernandez

MASON, Ohio – Li Na won her first title of the year at the Western & Southern Open Sunday, coming back from a one-set deficit to dominate the end of the match, winning 1-6, 6-3, 6-1 over Angelique Kerber. The 30-year-old champ ran away with 11 of the last 12 games after trailing a set and a break for her ninth career title.

Asked how she felt after the match, she said, “Much better than last week,” and laughed. Six days ago, Li lost her third final of the year to Petra Kvitova at the Rogers Cup in Montreal.

Li said her failure to win a title in three trips to finals this year gave her extra motivation to win—as did seeing this year’s men’s Western & Southern Open champ, Roger Federer, walk by with his trophy before the women’s final began. The turning point in the women’s final came after Li got the second set back on serve and then held for 4-3. Kerber’s next service game produced a deuce-ad battle that, at times, left both players winded. After nine deuces. Li converted her fifth break point of the game, and never looked back. In the third set, she didn’t miss a first serve.

Kerber’s first appearance in a WTA Premier 5 final bookends an impressive year that started at the 2011 US Open, where she made her first Grand Slam semi-final despite a world ranking of No. 92, a ranking that had required her to enter qualifying the week before in Dallas. Monday, she will rise to a career-high No. 6 in the world on the strength of wins over Serena Williams and Kvitova this week in Cincinnati.

Kerber’s friend and countrywoman Andrea Petkovic saw this coming. Last year, Petkovic was in Kerber’s shoes, making the semifinals at Cincinnati. Asked about her German contemporaries, Petkovic pointedly said to keep an eye on Kerber. “She’s going to come back,” Petkovic said. “I called her and asked her to come to my academy where I train, and she came there for four weeks and practiced really, really hard.
I promise you she’s going to be at least top 30, like, in six months.”

Petkovic was close—Kerber ended the year ranked No. 32. And she continued to improve, winning her first two career titles this year, the indoor events in Paris and Copenhagen. Petkovic’s intense focus on fitness inspired her 24-year-old compatriot. “She was telling me, like, come on, you can do it,” Kerber said.

“I knew that we are on the same level on the tennis, but in the fitness I had no chance against her. We had a great time, and we are still in contact every week.” Incidentally, Petkovic has spent much of 2012 sidelined with an injury, returning this week in New Haven. Her ranking has slipped from No. 10 at the end of 2011 to No. 27 now.

Li’s new coach (and Justine Henin’s former one), Carlos Rodriguez, joined her in Cincinnati to begin their partnership. The two hadn’t even met before this week; Li hired him after corresponding with him only on the phone and by text message. He provided on-court counsel in Li’s quarterfinal, semi, and final, after sets won or lost. “You can see even I lose the first set, Carlos was coming, still laughing a lot,” Li said. Turning to a WTA Tour representative, she asked for help in describing her new coach. “Tell me what the words. … Yeah. Secret weapon.”

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Western & Southern Open – Saturday Results, Sunday Schedule

RESULTS – AUGUST 18, 2012
Men’s Singles – Semifinals
[1] Roger Federer (SUI) d Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) 76(4) 63
[2] Novak Djokovic (SRB) d [6] Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) 63 62

 

Men’s Doubles – Semifinals
[4] Robert Lindstedt (SWE) / Horia Tecau (ROU) d [2] Bob Bryan (USA) / Mike Bryan (USA) 75 67(5) 10-2
[6] Mahesh Bhupathi (IND) / Rohan Bopanna (IND) d Ivan Dodig (CRO) / Marcelo Melo (BRA) 64 63

 

Women’s Singles – Semifinals
[5] Angelique Kerber (GER) d [4] Petra Kvitova (CZE) 61 26 64
[9] Na Li (CHN) d [WC] Venus Williams (USA) 75 36 61
Women’s Doubles – Semifinals
[8] Katarina Srebotnik (SLO) / Jie Zheng (CHN) d [6] Nuria Llagostera Vives (ESP) / Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez (ESP) 64 63

 

ORDER OF PLAY – SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012
CENTER COURT start 12:30 pm
[1] Roger Federer (SUI) vs [2] Novak Djokovic (SRB) – ATP – SINGLES FINAL
Not Before 4:00 PM
[9] Na Li (CHN) vs [5] Angelique Kerber (GER) – WTA – SINGLES FINAL

 

GRANDSTAND start 2:00 pm
[8] Katarina Srebotnik (SLO) / Jie Zheng (CHN) vs [5] Andrea Hlavackova (CZE) / Lucie Hradecka (CZE) – WTA – DOUBLES FINAL
Not Before 3:00 PM
[6] Mahesh Bhupathi (IND) / Rohan Bopanna (IND) vs [4] Robert Lindstedt (SWE) / Horia Tecau (ROU) – ATP – DOUBLES FINAL

 

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Saturday Semifinals Set for Western & Southern Open

Roger Federer photo © Enrique Fernandez for Tennis Panorama

By Megan Fernandez

MASON, Ohio – Roger Federer gave Mardy Fish one racket-clap but not much else en route to a 6-3, 7-6 (4) victory in the quarterfinals of the Western & Southern Open on Friday. Federer, four times a champion of this event, has faced a different semi-final opponent every time he has reached that round, and this year is no different. Across the net on Saturday he will see friend and fellow Swiss Stan Wawrinka, a winner over Milos Raonic of Canada.

Mardy Fish photo © Enrique Fernandez for Tennis Panorama

Fish picked up his game in the second set, earning the familiar “too good” gesture from Federer for a dipping cross-court passing shot. As Fish hung tough, the Lindner Family Tennis Center’s full house rewarded him with effusive support. No doubt many in the audience remembered that the World No. 20 had stretched Federer to three sets in the 2010 final, and were hoping their baseline slugfest could extend longer into the gorgeously clear and cool Midwestern night.  It looked like they might get their wish as the pair matched strength with strength. Federer unfurled a dainty drop shot at 2-2. Fish boomed a 133 mph serve up the middle in the next game. But the Swiss’s mix proved superior to Fish’s fight, and Federer closed out the match with an overhead on this third match point

“It was a great atmosphere,” Federer said. “Playing an American here in America, it’s always special.”  He’s happy with his adjustment to this event’s surface and balls just two weeks removed from playing on the Olympic grass. “The bounce is completely different here than at Wimbledon,” he said.

After the Wimbledon champ improved to 8-1 against Fish, he was asked about the state of his career-defining rivalry, with Rafael Nadal. He couldn’t remember exactly the last time they played (“Indian Wells, maybe?”), but he’s sure it wasn’t their final meeting. “I haven’t thought about it, that I might play Rafa less,” he said. “One time one top guy misses one major, I think some make a big deal out of it. It’s true that it’s a big shock, but it does happen from time to time.”

Novak Djokovic tends to move quietly through the draw in Cincinnati every year, and for the third time he has reached the semi-final without dropping a set—although thanks to a first-round bye and a second-round retirement by his opponent, Nikolay Davykenko of Russia, Djokovic has played only three sets this week. Today, he defeated Croatia’s Marin Cilic 6-3, 6-2 and earned chance to avenge his loss to Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina in the bronze-medal match at the Olympics—though he says revenge isn’t on his mind.

“I already put it aside,” the Serbian said. “As a tennis player, you have to do that.”

Del Potro defeated Jeremy Chardy of France, 6-1, 6-3, and Wawrinka came back from a one-set deficit to stop Raonic from reaching his first Masters 1000 semi-final. The Swiss No. 2, who won today 2-6, 7-6, 6-4, has struggled since his tough five-set loss to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at the French Open. “It was not easy,” Wawrinka said, “but I’m really happy to be back on the hard court. Since the beginning o of the tournament, I’m focused on what I’m doing.”

Venus Williams photo © Enrique Fernandez for Tennis Panorama

Venus Williams reached her first semi-final in two years by defeating Australian Sam Stosur 6-2, 6-7, 6-4, sealing victory with a pair of service winners and booking a match with China’s Li Na, who took advantage of Agniezska Radwanska’s sore shoulder and rare inconsistency to notch an easy 6-1, 6-1 win.
In the other semi-final, the Czech Republic’s Petra Kvitova posted a 6-4, 7-5 (4) win over Anastasia Pavlyunchenkova of Russia.
Almost giddy in her post-match press conference, Williams happily talked about everything from cornbread (“I’m probably going to throw some eggs in there”) to karaoke (nearly an addiction) to candy (something she’s given up to deal with Sjogren’s Syndrome). Little did she know that here sister, Serena Williams, was struggling against Angelique Kerber just outside the building on Center Court. Mere minutes after the elder Williams opined that her sister needed some rest, she was proven right: Kerber took a 6-4, 6-4 victory from the hottest player on the WTA Tour, ending her opponent’s 19-match winning streak.

Serena photo © Enrique Fernandez for Tennis Panorama

“Today was one of my biggest wins in my career, for sure,” says the world No. 7, who had now defeated both Williams sister in a span of three weeks. “I go out there not thinking that it’s Serena on the other side.”

But Kerber’s work wasn’t done for the day when she aced Williams on match point. As the tournament’s WTA blogger for the week, she had Friday’s column to write. Find it on www.cincytennis.com and see if she put as fine an end on her commentary as she did her match.

Megan Fernandez is covering the Western & Southern Open in Mason, Ohio for Tennis Panorama News. Follow her updates on twitter at @TennisNewsTPN.

All photos by © Enrique Fernandez for Tennis Panorama.

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Western & Southern Open – Friday Results, Saturday Schedule

RESULTS  – FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012

Men’s Singles – Quarterfinals

[1] Roger Federer (SUI) d [10] Mardy Fish (USA) 63 76(4)

[2] Novak Djokovic (SRB) d [12] Marin Cilic (CRO) 63 62
[6] Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) d [LL] Jeremy Chardy (FRA) 61 63
Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) d Milos Raonic (CAN) 26 76(5) 64

 

Men’s Doubles – Quarterfinals
[2] Bob Bryan (USA) / Mike Bryan (USA) d [8] Aisam Qureshi (PAK) / Jean-Julien Rojer (NED) 46 64 10-4
[6] Mahesh Bhupathi (IND) / Rohan Bopanna (IND) d [3] Mariusz Fyrstenberg (POL) / Marcin Matkowski (POL) 64 36 10-8
[4] Robert Lindstedt (SWE) / Horia Tecau (ROU) d [7] Marcel Granollers (ESP) / Marc Lopez (ESP) 76(3) 76(2)
Ivan Dodig (CRO) / Marcelo Melo (BRA) d Andreas Seppi (ITA) / Viktor Troicki (SRB) 60 61

 

Women’s Singles – Quarterfinals
[9] Na Li (CHN) d [1] Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) 61 61
[5] Angelique Kerber (GER) d [2] Serena Williams (USA) 64 64
[WC] Venus Williams (USA) d [3] Samantha Stosur (AUS) 62 67(2) 64
[4] Petra Kvitova (CZE) d [17] Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) 63 76(4)

 

Women’s Singles – Third Round
[17] Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) d [6] Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) 64 64
[9] Na Li (CHN) d [Q] Johanna Larsson (SWE) 62 62

 

ORDER OF PLAY

SATURDAY, AUGUST 18, 2012
CENTER COURT start 1:00 pm

[6] Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) vs [2] Novak Djokovic (SRB) – ATP

[1] Roger Federer (SUI) vs Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) – ATP

Evening Session - Not Before 7:00 PM

[5] Angelique Kerber (GER) vs [4] Petra Kvitova (CZE) – WTA

[WC] Venus Williams (USA) vs [9] Na Li (CHN)

 

GRANDSTAND start 11:30 am

[8] Katarina Srebotnik (SLO) / Jie Zheng (CHN) vs [6] Nuria Llagostera Vives (ESP) / Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez (ESP) – WTA
Ivan Dodig (CRO) / Marcelo Melo (BRA) vs [6] Mahesh Bhupathi (IND) / Rohan Bopanna (IND) – ATP
Not Before 5:30 PM
[4] Robert Lindstedt (SWE) / Horia Tecau (ROU) vs [2] Bob Bryan (USA) / Mike Bryan (USA) – ATP

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Western & Southern Open – Thursday Results, Friday Schedule

RESULTS

THURSDAY, AUGUST 16, 2012

Men’s Singles – Third Round

[1] Roger Federer (SUI) d Bernard Tomic (AUS) 62 64

[2] Novak Djokovic (SRB) d Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) 60 ret. (right shoulder)
[LL] Jeremy Chardy (FRA) d [3] Andy Murray (GBR) 64 64
Milos Raonic (CAN) d [5] Tomas Berdych (CZE) 64 26 62
[6] Juan Martin del Potro (ARG) d Viktor Troicki (SRB) 76(2) 26 61
[10] Mardy Fish (USA) d Radek Stepanek (CZE) 63 63
[12] Marin Cilic (CRO) d Pablo Andujar (ESP) 76(4) 62

Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) d [14] Kei Nishikori (JPN) 63 63

 

Men’s Doubles – Second Round

Andreas Seppi (ITA) / Viktor Troicki (SRB) d [1] Max Mirnyi (BLR) / Daniel Nestor (CAN) 46 64 10-8

[2] Bob Bryan (USA) / Mike Bryan (USA) d Jarkko Nieminen (FIN) / Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) 60 61
[4] Robert Lindstedt (SWE) / Horia Tecau (ROU) d [WC] Brian Baker (USA) / Rajeev Ram (USA) 64 36 10-6
Ivan Dodig (CRO) / Marcelo Melo (BRA) d [5] Leander Paes (IND) / Radek Stepanek (CZE) 63 46 10-5
[7] Marcel Granollers (ESP) / Marc Lopez (ESP) d Juan Sebastian Cabal (COL) / Bruno Soares (BRA) 26 76(3) 10-7
[8] Aisam Qureshi (PAK) / Jean-Julien Rojer (NED) d [WC] James Blake (USA) / Sam Querrey (USA) 62 76(4)

 

Women’s Singles – Third Round

[1] Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) d [WC] Sloane Stephens (USA) 61 46 64

[2] Serena Williams (USA) d [Q] Urszula Radwanska (POL) 64 63
[3] Samantha Stosur (AUS) d Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) 61 63
[4] Petra Kvitova (CZE) d Shuai Peng (CHN) 62 62
[5] Angelique Kerber (GER) d [Q] Andrea Hlavackova (CZE) 64 76(5)

[WC] Venus Williams (USA) d [7] Sara Errani (ITA) 63 60

Anastasia Pavyuchenkova (RUS) leads [6] Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) 64 – suspended, rain

[9] Na Li (CHN) vs [Q] Johanna Larsson (SWE) – postponed, rain

 

Women’s Doubles – Quarterfinals

[5] Andrea Hlavackova (CZE) / Lucie Hradecka (CZE) d [2] Sara Errani (ITA) / Roberta Vinci (ITA) 63 36 10-3

[6] Nuria Llagostera Vives (ESP) / Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez (ESP) d Natalie Grandin (RSA) / Vladimira Uhlirova (CZE) 61 62
[Alt] Darija Jurak (CRO) / Katalin Marosi (HUN) d [WC] Varvara Lepchenko (USA) / Sloane Stephens (USA) 46 75 10-8

 

Women’s Doubles – Second Round

[WC] Eleni Daniilidou (GRE) / Shuia Peng (CHN) d [1] Liezel Huber (USA) / Lisa Raymond (USA) 64 64

 

ORDER OF PLAY

FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012
CENTER COURT start 11:00 am

[6] Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) vs [LL] Jeremy Chardy (FRA) – ATP

Not Before 1:00 PM
[12] Marin Cilic (CRO) vs [2] Novak Djokovic (SRB) – ATP
Not Before 3:00 PM
[5] Angelique Kerber (GER) vs [2] Serena Williams (USA) – WTA

Evening Session - Not Before 7:00 PM

[1] Roger Federer (SUI) vs [10] Mardy Fish (USA) – ATP

Not Before 8:30 PM
Winner of Wozniacki vs Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) vs [4] Petra Kvitova (CZE) – WTA

 

GRANDSTAND start 11:30 am

[6] Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) vs [17] Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) – To Finish 46

Not Before 1:00 PM
[3] Samantha Stosur (AUS) vs [WC] Venus Williams (USA) – WTA
Not Before 3:00 PM
Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) vs Milos Raonic (CAN) – ATP

Evening Session – Not Before 7:00 PM

[1] Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) vs Winner of Li Na vs Larsson

 

COURT 3 start 11:30 am

[9] Na Li (CHN) vs [Q] Johanna Larsson (SWE)

Not Before 12:30 PM
[WC] Eleni Daniilidou (GRE) / Shuai Peng (CHN) vs [8] Katarina Srebotnik (SLO) / Jie Zheng (CHN) – WTA
[3] Mriusz Fyrstenberg (POL) / Marcin Matkowski (POL) vs [6] Mahesh Bhupathi (IND) / Rohan Bopanna (IND) – ATP
[8] Aisam Qureshi (PAK) / Jean-Julien Rojer (NED) vs [2] Bob Bryan (USA) / Mike Bryan (USA) – ATP

 

COURT 4 start 11:00 am

Andreas Seppi (ITA) / Viktor Troicki (SRB) vs Ivan Dodig (CRO) / Marcelo Melo (BRA) – ATP

[7] Marce Granollers (ESP) / Marc Lopez (ESP) vs [4] Robert Lindstedt (SWE) / Horia Tecau (ROU) – ATP
Not Before 2:00 PM
[Alt] Darija Jurak (CRO) / Katalin Marosi (HUN) vs [5] Andrea Hlavackova (CZE) / Lucie Hradecka (CZE) – WTA

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Chardy Topples Murray in Cincinnati

Andy Murray

France’s Jeremy Chardy toppled third seed Andy Murray at the Western & Sothern Open in Mason, Ohio on Thursday 6-4, 6-4 to move into the quarterfinals. It was Murray’s first loss to Chardy who made it into the main draw as a “lucky loser.”

Murray noted that he had a difficult time controlling his shots in the windy conditions.

“I was a little bit uncomfortable with those balls bouncing extremely high, Murray said. It was fairly hard to control.”

The Olympic singles gold medalist admitted that he had an off-day. “I didn’t serve particularly well,” said Murray. “You know, I got broken three times in the second set, which isn’t good enough. You know, I broke him a couple of times in the second.

“I had a lot of close games on his serve in the first and second set and didn’t convert enough chances, and, yeah, I didn’t serve well enough.

“Sometimes a few games can change matches. Had breakpoints in the first set. If I had maybe gone up there maybe I would have started to play better, but when I went behind he started serving better, and he was going for his shots.

Murray said that he won’t be playing any more matches before the US  Open.

“I won’t play any more matches, Murray added. “I mean, always when going into the big tournaments, sometimes I’ve won tournaments in the buildup and it hasn’t helped me; this year Wimbledon I lost in the first round at Queen’s and made the final there for the first time. I have won Queen’s before and not done well at Wimbledon.

So it doesn’t normally have that much bearing. But, you know, obviously I would have liked to have done a bit better this week.”

 

Chardy will play Juan Martin Del Potro on Friday for s spot in the semifinals.

 

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Western & Southern Open – Wednesday Results, Thursday Schedule

WESTERN & SOUTHERN OPEN
Cincinnati, OH, USA
August 13-19, 2012
Hard/Outdoors

Men’s Singles – Second Round
[1] R Federer (SUI) d A Bogomolov Jr. (RUS) 63 62
[2] N Djokovic (SRB) d A Seppi (ITA) 76(4) 62
[3] A Murray (GBR) d [WC] S Querrey (USA) 62 64
S Wawrinka (SUI) d [4] D Ferrer (ESP) 64 61
[6] J Del Potro (ARG) d T Haas (GER) 75 62
P Andujar (ESP) d [7] J Tipsarevic (SRB) 64 41 ret. (virus)
R Stepanek (CZE) d [8] J Monaco (ARG) 76(2) 61
[10] M Fish (USA) d C Berlocq (ARG) 63 61
[12] M Cilic (CRO) d [Q] J Levine (USA) 75 76(6)
[14] K Nishikori (JPN) d [WC] J Blake (USA) 26 64 64
M Raonic (CAN) d M Baghdatis (CYP) 67(6) 63 64
V Troicki (SRB) d [WC] L Hewitt (AUS) 62 60
[LL] J Chardy (FRA) d D Istomin (UZB) 64 63
N Davydenko (RUS) d F Mayer (GER) 63 63

Men’s Doubles – Second Round
[6] M Bhupathi (IND) / R Bopanna (IND) d R Haase (NED) / J Monaco (ARG) w/o (Monaco – toe)

Men’s Doubles – First Round
I Dodig (CRO) / M Melo (BRA) d T Berdych (CZE) / F Mayer (GER) 64 63
J Cabal (COL) / B Soares (BRA) d C Fleming (GBR) / R Hutchins (GBR) 64 64
[WC] B Baker (USA) / R Ram (USA) d J Benneteau (FRA) / R Gasquet (FRA) 64 67(4) 10-2

Women’s Singles – Second Round
(1) Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) d. Sofia Arvidsson (SWE) 64 63
(4) Petra Kvitova (CZE) d. Mona Barthel (GER) 36 62 75
(6) Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) d. (Q) Sesil Karatantcheva (KAZ) 61 60
(7) Sara Errani (ITA) d. Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) 64 64
(9) Li Na (CHN) d. Sorana Cirstea (ROU) 63 46 63
(Q) Andrea Hlavackova (CZE) d. (11) Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) 76(1) 41 ret. (right elbow injury)
(17) Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) d. Julia Goerges (GER) 63 60
Peng Shuai (CHN) d. Roberta Vinci (ITA) 63 64
Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) d. (LL) Anna Tatishvili (GEO) 61 62
(Q) Urszula Radwanska (POL) d. (Q) Yaroslava Shvedova (KAZ) 46 41 ret. (heat illness)
(WC) Sloane Stephens (USA) d. (WC) Camila Giorgi (ITA) 62 61
(WC) Venus Williams (USA) d. Chanelle Scheepers (RSA) 26 63 62

Women’s Doubles – Second Round
(2) Errani/Vinci (ITA/ITA) d. Rodionova/Voskoboeva (AUS/KAZ) 64 64
(5) Hlavackova/Hradecka (CZE/CZE) d. Goerges/Peschke (GER/CZE) 61 46 106 (Match TB)
(6) Llagostera Vives/Martínez Sánchez (ESP/ESP) d. Dushevina/Suárez (RUS/ARG) 26 63 119 (Match TB)
(WC) Lepchenko/Stephens (USA/USA) d. (7) Kops-Jones/Spears (USA/USA) 36 64 106 (Match TB)
(8) Srebotnik/Zheng (SLO/CHN) d. Makarova/Tatishvili (RUS/GEO) 36 64 119 (Match TB)
Grandin/Uhlirova (RSA/CZE) d. Arvidsson/Craybas (SWE/USA) 61 76(6)
Jurak/Marosi (CRO/HUN) d. Cibulkova/Hantuchova (SVK/SVK) w/o (Cibulkova: right elbow injury)

Women’s Doubles – First Round
(WC) Daniilidou/Peng (GRE/CHN) d. (WC) Jankovic/Peer (SRB/ISR) 61 63
Schedule – Thursday August 15, 2012

CENTER COURT start 11:00 am
[10] M Fish (USA) vs R Stepanek (CZE) – ATP
Not Before 1:00 PM
[Q] U Radwanska (POL) vs [2] S Williams (USA) – WTA
Not Before 2:30 PM
[1] R Federer (SUI) vs B Tomic (AUS) – ATP
Not Before 7:00 PM
N Davydenko (RUS) vs [2] N Djokovic (SRB) – ATP
Not Before 8:30 PM
[9] N Li (CHN) or S Cirstea (ROU) vs [Q] J Larsson (SWE) – WTA

GRANDSTAND start 11:00 am
[1] A Radwanska (POL) vs [WC] S Stephens (USA) – WTA
[LL] J Chardy (FRA) vs [3] A Murray (GBR) – ATP
[WC] V Williams (USA) vs [7] S Errani (ITA) – WTA
Not Before 7:00 PM
[6] C Wozniacki (DEN) vs [17] A Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) – WTA

COURT 3 start 11:00 am
[6] J Del Potro (ARG) vs V Troicki (SRB) – ATP
P Andujar (ESP) vs [12] M Cilic (CRO) – ATP
Not Before 2:30 PM
S Wawrinka (SUI) vs [14] K Nishikori (JPN) – ATP
M Raonic (CAN) vs [5] T Berdych (CZE) – ATP
J Nieminen (FIN) / S Wawrinka (SUI) vs [2] B Bryan (USA) / M Bryan (USA) – ATP

COURT 9 start 11:00 am
[5] A Kerber (GER) vs [Q] A Hlavackova (CZE) – WTA
S Peng (CHN) vs [4] P Kvitova (CZE) – WTA
[3] S Stosur (AUS) vs E Makarova (RUS) – WTA
[WC] V Lepchenko (USA) / S Stephens (USA) vs [Alt] D Jurak (CRO) / K Marosi (HUN) – WTA
[1] L Huber (USA) / L Raymond (USA) vs [WC] E Daniilidou (GRE) / S Peng (CHN) – WTA

COURT 6 start 12:00 noon
[7] M Granollers (ESP) / M Lopez (ESP) vs J Cabal (COL) / B Soares (BRA) – ATP
Not Before 2:00 PM
I Dodig (CRO) / M Melo (BRA) vs [5] L Paes (IND) / R Stepanek (CZE) – ATP
[1] M Mirnyi (BLR) / D Nestor (CAN) vs A Seppi (ITA) / V Troicki (SRB) – ATP
[5] A Hlavackova (CZE) / L Hradecka (CZE) vs [2] S Errani (ITA) / R Vinci (ITA) – WTA

COURT 7 start 12:00 noon
[8] A Qureshi (PAK) / J Rojer (NED) vs [WC] J Blake (USA) / S Querrey (USA) – ATP
[WC] B Baker (USA) / R Ram (USA) vs [4] R Lindstedt (SWE) / H Tecau (ROU) – ATP
[3] M Fyrstenberg (POL) / M Matkowski (POL) vs L Kubot (POL) / J Tipsarevic (SRB) – ATP
N Grandin (RSA) / V Uhlirova (CZE) vs V Dushevina (RUS) / P Suarez (ARG) or [6] N Llagostera Vives (ESP) / M Martinez Sanchez (ESP) – WTA

 

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Players React to Nadal’s US Open Withdrawal in Notes and Quotes From the Western & Southern Open

Rafael Nadal announced on Wednesday that he will not play at the US Open. Players competing at the Western & Southern Open gave their reactions to the news during their post-match news conferences:

Q. Rafael Nadal is not going to play the US Open he announced today. Do you have any thoughts or comments on that?

JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: No, I don’t have idea. It’s a very sad moment for him, for sure.

I wish him very fast recovery for him. We miss him in these kind of tournament. It’s really tough moment for him, for sure. I wish all the best, a good recovery. I don’t have too many words to say.

 

Q. I’m sure you heard that Rafa Nadal pulled out of the US Open with knee problems. What was your reaction when you heard that?

ANDY MURRAY: Well, yeah, I mean, it’s obviously a shame. I mean, I like Rafa a lot as a friend. Yeah, I’m disappointed for him. But I think for tennis and also a major competitions, it’s a huge benefit when you have the top players playing.

 

Yeah, it’s obviously tough for him. He’s had trouble with his knees in the past. So, you know, I hope he can rest, doesn’t come back too early, and gets them fixed so he can get back to playing his best tennis.

Q. What was your reaction when you heard that Nadal officially pulled out of the US Open today?

ROGER FEDERER: Well, not a surprise, because I wrote him and he told me like it wasn’t looking good at all. I kind of knew. Saw it coming. But obviously when it’s official it’s disappointing for tennis, there’s no doubt about it.

I would love to have him in the draw. In particular, sort of the 12 days before the Open you figure he might still have time to fix what he has to fix to get ready. If he pulls out that early before the Open, it must be something serious.

That’s what is sort of scary. There is obviously the whole debate going on if he is going come back for this year. I hope he will. He’s definitely got some more weeks off now because of it.

I hope in hindsight this is a very smart decision by him. But it’s obviously a big blow and disappointing news for the tennis world.

 

 

 

Q. You probably heard that Rafa pulled out of the US Open.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah, I heard.

Q. I’m just wondering what your thoughts are about that and his long term processes, if it seems like he has this chronic tendonitis.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, I really don’t know what the injury is and how serious it is. Obviously it’s that serious that takes him, you know, out from the tour for last couple of months.

You know, he’s a great competitor, and, you know. He’s somebody I know really well on and off the court. I’m sure that if he was able to perform in US Open he would come.

So I wish him a quick recovery, obviously.

Grand Slams. Obviously great rivalry. Going into the US Open I realize there are a lot of other great players, but does it take away a little bit of the excitement for you knowing he’s not going to be there, one of your great rivals?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, my excitement is always the same when I am approaching any Grand Slam. Obviously it’s the biggest tournaments we have in sport.

Yes, the fact is that tennis is going to lose a little bit because of Rafa not being there and playing, because he’s somebody that has made a history of this sport. We all know how good he is and how popular he is.

Again, there is everybody else except him who is going to play there, so I am sure we will have a good tournament.

 

 

Q. Rafa is out of the US Open.

MARDY FISH: Really?

Q. I’m not sure if you heard that.

MARDY FISH: That’s too bad.

Q. Thoughts on that? It’s surprising.

MARDY FISH: Yeah, it’s too bad. You felt like if he wasn’t able to come to at least here — a lot of guys took Toronto off, but at least come here. Maybe he was in trouble. So it’s a shame.

You know, he made the final last year and he’s the past champion year before that. He’ll be missed.

Q. When something happens like Nadal pulling out of the US Open while you’re at a tournament, what’s the buzz in the locker room among the players like?

MILOS RAONIC: I don’t think too many players concern themselves too deeply about it. Everybody pretty much in the locker room had a match today. I don’t think it was by any means any, say, priority for them, that kind of news.

It’s a little bit sad just because he’s a really good guy and a lot of people get along with him; but at the same time, it’s a competitive sport.

 

 

Q. Not sure if you heard, but Rafa is out of the US Open.

SLOANE STEPHENS: I just read it on Twitter. I’m devastated. This is so sad.

 

Q. What is it like when he’s not in the locker room at slams? What does he bring that might be…

SLOANE STEPHENS: I’m not sure because I’m not in his locker room. (Laughter.)

I love Rafa so I love seeing him at tournaments. I get star struck when I see him. I’m like, Oh, my God I wish I could touch him.

It will be sad with him not there, obviously. I mean, he’s such an amazing player. I just kind of — I like seeing him practice. He’s on the P1 through 5 or whatever and he’s always on the first court so everyone can see.

I like eating my lunch and watching him. I’m kind of bummed he won’t be there. I’m sure we will have, you know, still an amazing tournament.

 

Q. Does it affect the buzz of the tournament even when somebody on the other draw is out? Can that really carry over to the women’s side?

SLOANE STEPHENS: I don’t really think so. I mean, Murray is still playing, Olympic gold medalist, Federer, Djokovic still playing.

Rafa will be missed, but I’m sure that people think that Djokovic and Murray and Fed are pretty hot too. So I think it will work out.

 

Non-Nadal quotes:

Venus’ Success Ring

Q. You’re known to wear bling on the court. There is a ring you used to wear all the time, the big round ring. What happened with that and did you replace it? What’s the ring you have now?

VENUS WILLIAMS: The ring I have now is actually my last shopping purchase. It’s called a success ring, actually. But my match ring, I do have it here with me. I always have it. I haven’t been wearing it as much lately.

I have been wearing it since ’03 I think, so it’s been a long time. Actually 2002. I think it’s been a very long time. Just switching things up a little bit.

 

“I’m Not a Model”

Q. Professional photographers take lots of pictures of you. How do you feel about the pictures when you look at them? Like them? Don’t like them? Don’t care?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I like looking at the pictures. I critique myself. It’s good stuff. More than anything it’s fun to see the pictures over the years. It’s like seeing your life. It’s a beautiful thing.

Q. Back to the picture thing, do you feel pretty comfortable? You have been doing photo shoots for a long time. Do you feel pretty comfortable in front of the camera now? Is it different from being photographed on the tennis court?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, I’m pretty comfortable. If I had a choice I’d go to practice over a photo shoot. I’m not a model. I’m an athlete, you know, a fighting athlete on the court. That’s my main thing.

 

 

Agniezska Radwanska

 

Love you sis, but I want to be No. 1

Q. Your sister (Ursula) has been playing really well. Probably a career high ranking. How much of that do you think is partially how well you’ve been doing also? Do you think the family feeds off each other at all?

AGNIESZKA RADWANSKA: Well, I think so, but I’m just very happy that, you know, she’s playing very good and have some good results last couple weeks.

Actually, I think she’s on court now, so I really gonna cheer for her maybe from the locker room because it’s really hot out there and I need to rest after my match.

But I think it’s great thing to have a sister on tour, especially that we are very close. I just hope she can be also, you know, maybe not No. 1 but No. 2, because I want to be No. 1. (Smiling.)

 

Q. Are you focused at all on how close you actually are to No. 1 right now?

AGNIESZKA RADWANSKA: Well, I know that I am close, but it’s, I think, it’s still a little bit, you know, far from No. 1. I’m just going to do everything in my power to be No. 1, at least for a week, so I know that I have chances this year to do that.

 

Doesn’t have a goal to be No. 1 right now

Q. Not too long ago you were very close to being No. 1 in the world, and I was wondering, with respect to that, what’s your goal for getting there eventually?

PETRA KVITOVA: I don’t have any goal like be No. 1 right now. Yeah, I knew that in the beginning of the year was really huge for you guys, but not for me.

Yeah, I was injured in the season, but still I’m trying to do my best and still be in game, improve my game. For me it’s important to stay healthy that I can play.

 

 

 

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Western & Southern Open – Tuesday Results, Wednesday Schedule

RESULTS – TUESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2012

Men’s Singles – First Round

[10] Mardy Fish (USA) d Feliciano Lopez (ESP) 62 63
Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) d [LL] Alejandro Falla (COL) 64 61
[14] Kei Nishikori (JPN) d Marcel Granollers (ESP) 61 62
[LL] Jeremy Chardy (FRA) d [16] Andy Roddick (USA) 76(4) 63
Tommy Haas (GER) d David Nalbandian (ARG) 67(0) 76(4) 63 (saved 1 MP)
[WC] Sam Querrey (USA) d Jurgen Melzer (AUT) 46 62 64
Milos Raonic (CAN) d Richard Gasquet (FRA) 76(4) 63
Alex Bogomolov Jr. (RUS) d Jarkko Nieminen (FIN) 64 63
Carlos Berlocq (ARG) d Santiago Giraldo (COL) 75 63
Radek Stepanek (CZE) d Albert Ramos (ESP) 62 62
**Falla replaced [11] Gilles Simon (shoulder)

Men’s Singles – Second Round

[5] Tomas Berdych (CZE) d [Q] Yen-Hsun Lu (TPE) 63 64

Bernard Tomic (AUS) d [WC] Brian Baker (USA) 64 63

Men’s Doubles – First Round

Lukasz Kubot (POL) / Janko Tipsarevic (SRB) d Jonathan Marray (GBR) / Frederik Nielsen (DEN) 64 76(1)

Andreas Seppi (ITA) / Viktor Troicki (SRB) d Paul Hanley (AUS) / Nenad Zimonjic (SRB) 76(5) 26 10-7
Jarkko Nieminen (FIN) / Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) d Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) / Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) 76(8) 26 10-8

[WC] James Blake (USA) / Sam Querrey (USA) d Jurgen Melzer (AUT) / Philipp Petzschner (GER) 62 76(5)

Women’s Singles – First Round

[WC] Venus Williams (USA) d [12] Maria Kirilenko (RUS) 63 67(5) 62
Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) d [15] Nadia Petrova (RUS) 76(8) 31 ret. (dizziness)
[Q] Yaroslava Shvedova (KAZ) d [16] Lucie Safarova (CZE) 63 64
[17] Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) d Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP) 64 60
Chanelle Scheepers (RSA) d Christina McHale (USA) 36 63 30 ret. (gastrointestinal illness)
[WC] Sloane Stephens (USA) d Tsvetana Pironkova (BUL) 64 61
Roberta Vinci (ITA) d [Q] Madison Keys (USA) 63 63
[Q] Andrea Hlavackova (CZE) d [Q] Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA) 63 75
Sofia Arvidsson (SWE) d Tamira Paszek (AUT) 61 21 ret. (migraine)
Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) d Jie Zheng (CHN) 26 76(1) 63
[LL] Anna Tatishvili (GEO) Klara Zakopalova (CZE) 76(5) 75
Sorana Cirstea (ROU) d Yanina Wickmayer (BEL) 67(6) 62 63
[Q] Sesil Karatantcheva (KAZ) d [Q] Kiki Bertens (NED) 62 61

Women’s Singles – Second Round

[2] Serena Williams (USA) d [Q] Eleni Daniilidou (GRE) 63 64
[3] Samantha Stosur (AUS) d Anabel Medina Garrigues (ESP) 64 67(6) 64
[5] Angelique Kerber (GER) d [LL] Timea Babos (HUN) 36 61 62
[Q] Johanna Larsson (SWE) d [8] Marion Bartoli (FRA) 64 62

Women’s Doubles – First Round

[6] Nuria Llagostera Vives (ESP) / Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez (ESP) d Olga Govortsova (BLR) / Alla Kudryavtseva (RUS) 64 36 10-3

[8] Katarina Srebotnik (SLO) / Jie Zheng (CHN) d Casey Dellacqua (AUS) / Andreja Klepac (SLO)  63 63

Natalie Grandin (RSA) / Vladimira Uhlirova (CZE) d Irina-Camelia Begu (ROU) / Anabel Medina Garrigues (ESP) 76(5) 61

Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) / Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) d Jarmila Gajdosova (AUS) / Klara Zakopalova (CZE) 46 61 10-4
Anastasia Rodionova (AUS) / Galina Voskoboeva (KAZ) d Gisela Dulko (ARG) / Francesca Schiavone (ITA) 64 62

Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) / Anna Tatishvili (GEO) d Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA) / Sania Mirza (IND) 26 61 10-8

Julia Goerges (GER) / Kveta Peschke (CZE) d Yung-Jan Chan (TPE) / Hao-Ching Chan (TPE) 64 36 16-14
[WC] Varvara Lepchenko (USA) / Sloane Stephens (USA) d Klaudia Jans-Ignacik (POL) / Alicja Rosolska (POL) 63 64

ORDER OF PLAY – WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2012
CENTER COURT start 11:00 am
[1] Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) vs Sofia Arvidsson (SWE) – WTA
Andeas Seppi (ITA) vs [2] Novak Djokovic (SRB) – ATP
[WC] Sam Querrey (USA) vs [3] Andy Murray (GBR) – ATP
Evening Session – Not Before 7:00 PM
[1] Roger Federer (SUI) vs Alex Bogomolov Jr. (RUS) – ATP
Not Before 8:30 PM
[9] Na Li (CHN) vs Sorana Cirstea (ROU) – WTA

GRANDSTAND start 11:00 am
[10] Mardy Fish (USA) vs Carlos Berlocq (ARG) – ATP
Mona Barthel (GER) vs [4] Petra Kvitova (CZE) – WTA
[WC] Venus Williams (USA) vs Chanelle Scheepers (RSA) – WTA
[6] Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) vs [Q] Sesil Karatantcheva (KAZ) – WTA
Evening Session – Not Before 7:00 PM
[4] David Ferrer (ESP) vs Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) – ATP

COURT 3 start 11:00 am
[WC] Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) vs Viktor Troicki (SRB) – ATP
[6] Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) vs Tommy Haas (GER) – ATP
Not Before 2:30 PM
Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) vs Richard Gasquet (FRA) or Milos Raonic (CAN) – ATP
[7] Racquel Kops-Jones (USA) / Abigail Spears (USA) vs [WC] Varvara Lepchenko (USA) / Sloane Stephens (USA) – WTA
Evening Session – Not Before 7:00 PM
Vera Dushevina (RUS) / Paolo Suarez (ARG) vs [6] Nuria Llagostera Vives (ESP) / Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez (ESP) – WTA

COURT 9 start 11:00 am
[WC] Sloane Stephens (USA) vs [WC] Camila Giorgi (ITA) – WTA
Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) vs [7] Sara Errani (ITA) – WTA
[WC] James Blake (USA) vs [14] Kei Nishikori (JPN) – ATP
[7] Janko Tipsarevic (SRB) vs Pablo Andujar (ESP) – ATP

COURT 4 start 11:00 am
[Q] Andrea Hlavackova (CZE) vs [11] Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) – WTA
[Q] Yaroslava Shvedova (KAZ) vs [Q] Urszula Radwanska (POL) – WTA
Radek Stepanek (CZE) vs [8] Juan Monaco (ARG) – ATP
Not Before 3:30 PM
[3] Vani King (USA) / Yaroslava Shvedova (KAZ) vs Natalie Grandin (RSA) / Vladimira Uhlirova (CZE) – WTA-After suitable rest

COURT 6 start 11:00 am
Julia Goerges (GER) vs [17] Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) – WTA
[LL] Jeremy Chardy (FRA) vs Denis Istomin (UZB) – ATP
[5] Andrea Hlavackova (CZE) / Lucie Hradecka (CZE) vs Julia Goerges (GER) / Kveta Peschke (CZE) – WTA-After suitable rest
Anastasia Rodionova (AUS) / Galina Voskoboeva (KAZ) vs [2] Sara Errani (ITA) / Roberta Vinci (ITA) – WTA-After suitable rest
[WC] Brian Baker (USA) / Rajeev Ram (USA) vs Julien Benneteau (FRA) / Richard Gasquet (FRA) – ATP

COURT 7 start 11:00 am
Shuai Peng (CHN) vs Roberta Vinci (ITA) – WTA
[LL] Anna Tatishvili (GEO) vs Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) – WTA
[Q] Jesse Levine (USA) vs [12] Marin Cilic (CRO) – ATP
Tomas Berdych (CZE) / Florian Mayer (GER) vs Ivan Dodig (CRO) / Marcelo Melo (BRA) – ATP
Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) / Anna Tatishvili (GEO) vs [8] Katarina Srebotnik (SLO) / Jie Zheng (CHN) – WTA

COURT 10 start 11:00 am
Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) vs Florian Mayer (GER) – ATP
Colin Fleming (GBR) / Ross Hutchins (GBR) vs Juan Sebastian Cabal (COL) / Bruno Soares (BRA) – ATP
Not Before 2:30 PM
[WC] Jelena Jankovic (SRB) / Shahar Peer (ISR) vs [WC] Eleni Daniilidou (GRE) / Shuai Peng (CHN) – WTA-After suitable rest
Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) / Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) vs [Alt] Darija Jurak (CRO) / Katalin Marosi (HUN) – WTA-After suitable rest

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