2013/05/25

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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Federer Claims Fifth Cincy Crown, 21st Masters Title with Win Over Djokovic

By Megan Fernandez

MASON, Ohio -The men’s final at the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati looked evenly matched on paper. World No. 1 Roger Federer would take on world No. 2 Novak Djokovic. The rivals had split their six championship-match meetings three apiece. Neither had lost serve in the tournament. Federer had played 62 matches on the year to Djokovic’s 63, and each had two hard-court losses. But 20 minutes after Djokovic opened the match with an ace, Federer had put written comparisons through the shredder with a 6-0 thrashing.

The lopsided start was the first bagel recorded in a Federer-Djokovic match. The Serbian played erratically, tossing in four double-faults and missing routine rally shots, and his footwork was lackluster.  Federer, razor-sharp, took advantage with soft volleys that the normally quick Djokovic struggled to reach, much less return. Federer finished the match 17 for 20 on  points at the net.

Djokovic perked up and tightened the screws in the second set, cutting down on errors and winning more baseline exchanges. Meanwhile, Federer’s first served dropped off, from 73 percent in the first set to 53 in the second. Serving at 5-5, Djokovic unleashed his best shots of the match, a pair of running, lashing forehand crosscourt winners reminiscent of his 2011 form. But in the tiebreak, he made a tactical error by lobbing Federer, even though the Serb had opted for passing shots on his opponent’s most recent trips to the net. The Swiss got the point for a mini-break.

The tiebreak provided the drama fans had hoped they might see for the duration of the match. Djokovic evened the score at 3-3. Federer earned a match point at 6-5. Then Djokovic held a set point at 7-6. Federer kept charging, using a forehand winner from midcourt to reach his second set point, and sealed the victory with the same shot on the next point.

Federer stands alone as the winner of five titles at the Western & Southern Open, a tournament with special meaning to him. “If I remember correctly, this was the first win I had after I had twins, right?” he said, referring to his 2009 victory, also over Djokovic. Perhaps later he’ll also recall this title as the first after turning 31. He now has 76 ATP World tour titles, including 21 Masters 1000 shields, tied for most with Rafael Nadal.

Djokovic, last week’s winner in Toronto, fell to 0-4 in finals at the Western & Southern Open, all straight-set losses. Last year he retired from the championship trailing a set and 3-0 to Andy Murray, sparking speculation that his dominant play leading up to Cincinnati had worn him out. But Djokovic had played 60 matches going into the W&S final last year, and this year he had 63 under his belt. Federer, showing no signs of wear and tear, had played 62 matches in 2012.

“I have made more than I expected after Olympic Games,” Djokovic said. “I lost only one match in two weeks on two 1000 events, which is great success. So I’m actually feeling good about myself at the moment.”

Federer has an unusual hope for the future: that more lower-ranked players will challenge the elite the way Lukas Rosol did against Nadal at Wimbledon two months ago. “I do hope more guys ranked where Rosol is or even better ranked do believe more in beating the top guys on the big stage,” he said. “It was just refreshing to see that it was possible for a guy like Rosol to come through.”

Refreshing, maybe. But far more common that a champion like Federer does.

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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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Western & Southern Open Men’s Final to Feature World’s Top 2 Players for First Time

By Megan Fernandez

MASON, Ohio – Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic will meet for the fourth time and on the third surface this year when they contest the final of the Western & Southern Open near Cincinnati on Sunday. Djokovic won their first two meetings in straight sets (both matches were on clay this spring), but since then, Federer has beaten Djokovic on grass, regained the No. 1 ranking, and become the man to beat once again on the ATP World Tour.

Djokovic booked his spot in Sunday’s final first be defeating Juan Martin del Potro 6-3, 6-2 in a rematch of the bronze-medal round at the Olympics. The Argentine missed a chance to take an early lead with two break points at 1-1 in the first set. Djokovic saved those and one more in that game with his trademark defense, and after the changeover, it was Del Potro’s turn to escape three break points, this time from love-40.

But Djokovic secured the first service break of the match two games later, and at 5-2, Del Potro called a trainer to look at his left wrist. It was all Djokovic from that point, and even his opponent knew it. “I didn’t retire because Djokovic is my friend and I have a lot of respect for him and I want to finish the match. And also for the crowd, for the tournament, and everybody,” said Del Potro, the tournament’s No. 6 seed.

“It was sportsmanlike,” Djokovic said of his opponent’s resolve. “He’s a great player and a great person.”

Retirements marred the latter rounds of the Western & Southern Open last year. Tomas Berdych retired from his semi-final against Djokovic, who, a day later, retired from the championship match against Andy Murray. Both players cited sore shoulders.

Del Potro didn’t blame his injury for the result. “I lost because Djokovic played much better than me. The wrist didn’t bother me too much,” he said.

Federer’s ninth consecutive victory over Stan Wawrinka ended his countryman’s surprising run in Cincinnati. The world No. 26 posted his best result of the year by taking advantage of a section of the draw left open by upsets of the No. 4 and No. 5 seeds, David Ferrer and Berdych.

Wawrinka stopped play to challenge on Federer’s first set point, believing his opponent’s shot landed long. He was right, barely, and then leveled the match at 5-5. At 2-2 in the tiebreak, he might have benefited from another show of chutzpah when Federer’s overhead appeared to go long; instead, Wawrinka continued to play, lost the point, and later double-faulted to give Federer another chance to close out the set, which he converted. Federer won the second set 6-3 for a shot to become the only five-time winner in Cincinnati.

“I’m obviously excited. I have loved this tournament for many years,” Federer says. “Couldn’t have a tougher test in the finals against Novak, because he is playing so great on the hard courts.”

Federer and Djokovic haven’t faced each other in a final since February 2011. Of their 27 contests overall, six have been title matches, and each man has won three. However, Federer has performed much better on Cincinnati’s hard courts, taking home the hardware in 2005, 2007, 2009, and 2010 and never losing a final. Djokovic hasn’t won a set in his trips to the 2008, 2009, and 2011 finals.

Both men are playing well, should have plenty of energy left, and will come into the match with some momentum—Federer from winning his seventh Wimbledon and first Olympic singles medal, and Djokovic fresh off a victory in Toronto last week. Cincinnati’s first-ever final featuring the top two players in the world stands to live up to its immense promise.

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

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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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