Team Europe reunited for a dinner together in Shanghai

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal together with their Laver Cup Team Europe mates and captain were pictured together having dinner in Shanghai this week. The picture was shared by Marin Cilic in his Instagram account.

Amazing time with great guys. #TeamEurope gathering in Shanghai. #Tomasgetwellsoon @rogerfederer @rafaelnadal @domithiem @alexzverev123 #bjornborg

A post shared by Marin Čilić (@marincilic_official) on Oct 9, 2017 at 10:40am PDT

Federer and Nadal who share one of the most intense rivalries in tennis history are obviously became teammates for the first time and they were even paired up as doubles partners at the inaugural Laver Cup.

Team Europe which was also featuring Dominic Thiem, Marin Cilic, Tomas Berdych, Alexander Zverev and captain Bjorn Borg took the championship after thrashing Team World 15-9 in Prague.

The victorious team, unfortunately without Berdych, was reunited on Monday as the dined together ahead of the Shanghai Masters.

If you're a big fan of online betting for ATP tennis matches, do follow up on the performances of the players in the Shanghai Masters during this period.

Source: Laver Cup website

Zverev who sat next to Nadal, also posted a similar group photo on Instagram with the caption: "Awesome dinner back with my #teameurope teammates".

Federer reposted the picture, alongside the words: "We all missed the Laver Cup so much that we had to have a reunion in Shanghai... Tomas Berdych we saved you a seat!"

Berdych exited the China Open in the last 16 courtesy of a shock defeat at the hands of Andrey Rublev. Nadal has better luck, beating Nick Kyrgios on last Sunday's final in Beijing.

Federer, meanwhile, did not enter the ATP 500 tournament, instead opting to save himself for this week's ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament.

Laver Cup: Teams announced in New York City

Source: lavercup.com

Rod Laver was joined by Roger Federer, John McEnroe, Marin Cilic, Tomas Berdych and Denis Shapovalov in the heart of New York City recently to announce the captain’s picks for the inaugural Laver Cup.

This year, the Laver Cup will be held at the O2 arena Prague from 22-24 September. It will be played in the USA in 2018.

Alexander Zverev, the world no.7 becomes the fifth top 10 player for Team Europe, joining Rafael Nadal, Federer, Cilic and Dominic Thiem. Berdych will also represent the European team at the O2 arena.

Source: lavercup.com

Meanwhile, Juan Martin del Potro and Denis Shapovalov were confirmed as the captain’s picks John McEnroe’s Team World.

To find out the performance of the players prior to the Laver Cup, you're advised to follow the online tennis betting odds especially leading towards the US Open to be held from 28 August to 10 September.

“The last member of Team Europe is going to be picked by Bjorn Borg as a captain’s pick is going to be Alexander Zverev,” Federer announced during the press conference at the JPMorgan Chase center.

“We are very excited about, because he’s had a wonderful year. It’s great news. We were very excited when we heard it."

Meanwhile, Team World’s captain John McEnroe said he was not ‘turning up to Prague to lose,’ and was excited to welcome Shapovalov and Del Potro into his team.

“I think this young man is going to be a great, great player in the future,” McEnroe referred to Shapovalov. “He’s a Canadian, but we won’t hold that against him. He’s also a left-hander, like Mr. Rod Laver and myself.”

McEnroe described Del Potro as a ‘tremendous young man, a little bit older and a veteran and a winner.’

Shapovalov is competing in the qualifying event of the US Open and joined the event in New York on his day off.

“It’s truly an honor to be sitting with past champions and present champions like yourselves, and, you know, I’m very happy to be here with all you guys.”

Federer, winner of 19 Grand Slam titles and two this year (the Australian Open and Wimbledon), said he could not wait to join with Rafael Nadal on Team Europe.

“For us to spend sort of a week together on the same team and, you know, exchanging ideas of how we could win the Laver Cup over the weekend, I think it’s going to be really highly entertaining for both of us.”

Players and captains alike paid tribute to Rod Laver, winner of the Grand Slam in 1962 and 1969, who the Laver Cup is named after.

McEnroe described Laver as his idol growing up and the perfect choice to be honored at this new and hyped event.

“We are looking to do something big here along the lines of the Ryder Cup in golf, and I think this is a magnificent way to try to get this going. It couldn’t be a better man to represent what we are trying to do here.”

Now head over to Geelung Cup Betting for a great online betting experience.

Garbine Muguruza, Roger Federer claim Wimbledon Championships

Muguruza looks stunning in an elegant white dress as she attended the Wimbledon Champions' Dinner
Source: Press Association

After claiming the titles on grass during the weekend, Wimbledon champions Garbine Muguruza and Roger Federer swapped their tennis whites for glamorous evening wear as they arrived at the Champions' Dinner. The event, which marks the end of the tournament, took place at the Guildhall, London.

Muguruza, 23, who lost at the Wimbledon final to Serena Williams two years ago, came back to beat Venus Williams to win her second Grand Slam title.

Meanwhile, Federer beat Croatian Maran Cilic in straight sets in a emotional final due to the latter's blister that caused him a meltdown. To find out Muguruza and Federer's chance of winning in the upcoming tournaments, check out CrownBet tennis odds.

Federer and Mirka at the Champion' Dinner in London
Source: Press Association

It is Federer's eighth Wimbledon title and the win makes him the oldest men’s champion in the Open era and the first man since Bjorn Borg in 1976 to sweep through the draw without dropping a set. Federer won another Grand Slam title earlier this year at the Australian Open.

As for Muguruza, she's the only second Spanish woman to win the Wimbledon singles title and the first since her coach Conchita Martinez triumphed back in 1994. Muguruza's mother is from Venezuela and her father is from Spain. She was born in Venezuela but moved to Spain when she was six and retains dual nationality but her current residency is listed by the women's tour as Geneva, Switzerland. In 2014, she decided to play for Spain. Muguruza joins Victoria Azarenka, Angelique Kerber, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Petra Kvitova among the active female players on two Grand Slam singles titles. Only Serena Williams and Venus Williams, with 23 and seven respectively, and Maria Sharapova on five, have more.

In the latest ranking updates, Muguruza is currently world's no. 5 while Federer is at no.3.

Arthur Ashe Kids' Day Feat. Novak Djokovic and Marin Cilic

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., July 15, 2015 – Today, the United States Association (USTA) announced a star-studded lineup for the milestone 20^th annual Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day presented by Hess. The stadium show will include live performances from Rolling Stone “Artist You Need to Know” Bea Miller, “hip-pop” duo Kalin and Myles, Flo Rida protégé Natalie La Rose, MTV's "Artist to Watch" Jacob Whitesides and chart-topping pop-rock act American Authors. They’ll team-up with tennis superstars Novak Djokovic, last year’s US Open champion Marin Cilic and more for a day of tennis, music and fun to honor the legacy of legendary pioneer Arthur Ashe. The annual event takes place Saturday, August 29th at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadow, NY, from 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m to kick-off the 2015 US Open, which runs from August 31st – September 13th.

From 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., families can enjoy an exciting array of free tennis games geared toward kids, plus live music and attractions taking place throughout the grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Inside Arthur Ashe Stadium from 1 p.m. – 3 p.m., the live tennis and music show will feature fun exhibition matches and skills competitions with Novak Djokovic and Marin Cilic as well as musical performances by Bea Miller, Kalin and Myles, Natalie La Rose, Jacob Whitesides and American Authors. Additional participants will be announced in the coming weeks.

Stadium show tickets are on sale now through Ticketmaster (1-866-OPEN-TIX), www.usopen.org and at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center box office. American Express is the official card of Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day. General admission promenade tickets cost $10 and loge tickets are $25. Arthur Ashe Kids' Day will be broadcast nationally by ESPN2 on Sunday, August 30, from 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. (ET). 

“It’s an historic occasion for Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day, as we mark two decades of bringing the best in tennis and music together on a truly special day for families," said Gordon Smith, USTA Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer. “The event also captures the spirit and vigor of Arthur Ashe and is a fantastic way of encouraging youth to be active in tennis and life, while developing healthy habits early on.”

Over the years, Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day has been a launching pad for many of music’s biggest acts including Shawn Mendes, Ariana Grande, Ne-Yo, Demi Lovato, Justin Bieber, Rihanna, Hunter Hayes, Fifth Harmony, The Wanted, Carly Rae Jepsen, Jonas Brothers, Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys and Hanson, among many others. 

This year’s lineup will feature:

Bea Miller – Singer/songwriter Bea Miller began tapping into her vocal prowess by belting out “America the Beautiful” after a Venus vs. Serena match at the 2008 US Open, sparking a serious desire to devote her life to making music. Years later, she emerged as a top-ten finalist on The X-Factor, and signed a deal with Syco Music/Hollywood Records. She released her debut EP Young Blood in the spring of 2014 with singles “Young Blood” and “Fire N Gold” both landing on the Billboard charts. She also honed her performance skills touring with Demi Lovato. Her raspy vocals and sharp-edged pop have already earned her recognition as one of Rolling Stone’s “10 Artists You Need To Know,” as an MTV “Artist to Watch for 2015,” as one of Billboard’s “10 Artists to Watch in 2015,” and as Radio Disney’s “Next Big Thing.” With her debut album Not An Apology dropping July 24, Bea’s excited about performing her new songs live and deepening her connection with her fanbase.

Kalin and Myles – Continuing the tradition of artists “graduating” from the Hess Festival Stage to the AAKD Stadium Show, Bay area twosome Kalin and Myles stir up pop, hip-hop, and R&B into an irresistible and inimitable hybrid affectionately and appropriately dubbed “Hip Pop.” First meeting at a house party in 2011, they began making music together, creating their own beats, singing, and rapping. In April 2014, they inked a deal with Republic Records for the release of the Chase Dreams EP, where they steered pop music down their own lane. The collection's first single "Love Robbery” quickly racked up over 5 million views on YouTube while snagging the #1 “most played” spot at Power 106FM in Los Angeles. The band has gone on to sell nearly 800,000 digital singles to date and their success amplified once more with the release of their Dedication EP followed by this summer’s Dedication 2015 Tour. The album elevates Kalin and Myles to a new plateau with the title reflecting their commitment to delivering for the countless fans worldwide, who are turning them into a household name.

Natalie La Rose – Dutch native Natalie La Rose’s debut single for I.M.G./Republic Records, “Somebody” featuring Jeremih, is one of this Summer’s biggest singles. Now certified platinum by the RIAA, “Somebody” hit #1 at Rhythm and entered the Top 3 on Top 40 airplay charts nationwide.  “Somebody” entered the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 as well as the Top 10 of both iTunes’ Pop and Overall Top Songs chart.  It’s also been one of the Top 5 “Most Shazamed Records in the USA.” To date, the song has over 105+ million streams on Spotify worldwide, with over 65+ million YouTube/Vevo views and counting. La Rose made her national television debuts this Spring on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and the Late Late Show with James Corden. She also opened the Radio Disney Music Awards with Fifth Harmony, who she is touring with this Summer. With the release of her second buzzworthy single, “Around The World” featuring Fetty Wap, La Rose is quickly proving that she is more than just somebody, she is an artist to watch!

Jacob Whitesides – An undeniably talented songwriter and performer, Jacob Whitesides—chosen as MTV’s “Artist To Watch” this August—has caught the ears of millions of music fans with his debut EP A Piece Of Me which reached #1 on the iTunes U.S. Singer/Songwriter chart, #3 on the Pop Albums chart and #5 on the Overall chart. Jacob’s unprecedented independent success to date has been accomplished entirely on his own, simply relying on his music and a genuine dialogue with his millions of devoted social followers around the globe (aka “Whitesiders”), who have allowed Jacob to land at the top of the charts in seven countries and help him sell out his first European shows in only minutes. Jacob—raised modestly by a single mom in the smoky mountains outside of Knoxville, Tennessee—is breaking virtually every music industry rule by maintaining full control of his career as CEO of his own touring, merchandising and record label, Double U Records. At 17, Jacob is proving how musicians can establish a credible career for themselves by using the available democratic and free media platforms to support their music. Jacob is currently on a U.S. Amphitheater tour with R5.

American Authors – Brooklyn based band American Authors hail from the four corners of the country, each bringing their own influences and experiences to the writing table to create pop-flavored alt rock sprinkled with four-part harmonies, spirited lyrics, and contagious optimism. “Go Big Or Go Home” is the follow-up to their triple-platinum Top 5 hit “Best Day Of My Life,” which boasts over 47.5 million streams and 58.1 million YouTube views to date.  “Best Day Of My Life” and “Believer” were back-to-back hits from the debut album Oh, What A Life, which rose to #3 on the Billboard Top Rock Albums chart. “Go Big Or Go Home” premiered earlier this month on U.S. television when they returned (for their third appearance!) on ABC’s Live with Kelly & Michael.  The band’s headline summer tour across the U.S. continues in Tulsa on July 24th and Baton Rouge on August 1st. On August 2nd in Birmingham, AL, they segue into two weeks of co-headline shows with Andy Grammer. American Authors’ second album on Island Record is due out September 25^th.

The AAKD Grounds Festival offers a wide range of interactive activities and the opportunity for children of all ages to test their skills, hit with top tennis pros, win prizes and enjoy music:  

·         Hess Festival Stage – the Grounds Festival’s free concert featuring up-and-coming musical talent including girl-pop trio Sweet Suspense and rising Def Jam artist Alessia Cara (additional acts to be confirmed) is hosted by Radio Disney.

·         YouthTennis.com – Tennis is sized right for kids! With shorter courts, smaller racquets and lower-bouncing balls, the focus is on the fun so kids enjoy the game right from the start.

·         USTA Play Day – Experience a “Play Day”—a welcoming way for kids to experience the social and competitive aspects of tennis. Play points and rally against other players and pros.

·         Family Fun Court – Kids aren’t the only ones who can have fun playing tennis. Join your child on court and see how you can play tennis anywhere.

·         Hess Toy Truck Obstacle Course – Test agility, balance, running and tennis skills on the engaging and challenging obstacle course.

·         Hess Target Time – Intermediate and advanced level-kids can test their skills hitting targets.

·         Xerox Beat the Pro – Challenge the best playing points against some of the top touring and teaching pros in the world.

·         PTR 10 and Under Tennis – Have some fun with PTR professionals and work on improving your beginning serve, scoring and rally skills.

·         USPTA 10 and Under Tennis – USPTA-certified teaching professionals host this court consisting of 30 colorful hitting stations using a variety of teaching aids.

·         Nike Tennis – Tennis and skill activities on two courts featuring Nike sponsored athletes.

·         Esurance Champions of the Court – Exciting doubles play for all levels. Which team will win Champions of the Court?

·         Tennis and Education Zone – Innovative and fun tennis-based, educational activities to develop the skills of beginning players of all ages.

·         Coca-Cola Get Fit and Play – Challenging tennis courses for varying skill levels focusing on agility, balance, coordination, speed and strength.

·         IBM Speedzone – Just like the pros, utilize IBM's speed serve technology to test the power behind your shot.

·         Wilson Burn Challenge – Try the new Wilson Burn racket to see how your serves, groundstrokes and footwork rank against competitors worldwide. 

·         The US Open American Express Fan Experience – Step inside the US Open American Express Fan Experience for even more tennis fun! The Fan Experience is located in the Chase Center near the East Gate.

·         Watch the Pros Practice – See tennis’s biggest stars up close as they prepare for the US Open. Public practices are featured on Louis Armstrong Stadium, Grandstand and Court 17.

·         Also – Autographs, Face Painting, Juggling Workshop, Hair Beading and Braiding, Storytelling, Balloon Artists, Roving Entertainers and more!

Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day presented by Hess is the largest single-day, grassroots tennis and entertainment event in the world and has been supported by Hess since 2003. Withchart-topping performers, celebrities and professional tennis players, the day helps to promote youth tennis and encourages children of all ages to develop healthy habits through fun activities. Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day also celebrates the life and values of tennis legend and humanitarian Arthur Ashe.

Proceeds from Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day benefit the USTA Foundation which helps fund the National Junior Tennis & Learning Network (NJTL), a nationwide group of more than 500 nonprofit youth-development organizations that provide free or low-cost tennis, education and life-skills programming to more than 225,000 children each year, founded 45 years ago by Arthur Ashe, along with Charlie Pasarell and Sheridan Snyder. 

For more information on Youth Tennis and Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day, log on towww.YouthTennis.com and/or www.AAKD.com. To connect via social media, please “like” the official Facebook page facebook.com/ArthurAsheKidsDay and/or follow@AAKidsDay on Twitter and Instagram. In the event of inclement weather, ticket holders can log on to any of the sites listed above for the most up to date information.

The 2014 US Open surpassed 700,000 attendees for the seventh time, with the final tally of 713,642 ranking fourth-highest US Open attendance in history.

Coverage of Serena Williams' third consecutive women's singles title and Marin Cilic's first men's singles win aired on CBS Sports, capping a 47-year relationship with the US Open.  A new 11-year partnership with ESPN will commence for the 2015 US Open, whereby ESPN will become the exclusive domestic television and digital media partner.  The 2014 US Open was broadcast in more than 200 countries around the world, and aired on CBS, ESPN and Tennis Channel in the U.S.

The 2015 US Open will be held Monday, August 31 through Sunday, September 13. Tickets for the 2015 US Open can be purchased four ways: 1) at USOpen.org; 2) by calling Ticketmaster at 1-866-OPEN-TIX; 3) at all Ticketmaster outlets; or 4) at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center box office.  American Express is the Official Card of the US Open.

Hess Corporation (NYSE: HES) is a leading global independent energy company engaged in the exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas. More information on Hess Corporation is available at www.hess.com.

The USTA is the national governing body for the sport of tennis in the U.S. and the leader in promoting and developing the growth of tennis at every level -- from local communities to the highest level of the professional game.  A not-for-profit organization with more than 750,000 members, it invests 100% of its proceeds in growing the game. It owns and operates the US Open, the highest attended annual sporting event in the world, and launched the Olympus US Open Series linking 10 summer tournaments to the US Open. In addition, it owns the 90-plus Pro Circuit events throughout the U.S, and selects the teams for the Davis Cup, Fed Cup, Olympic and Paralympic Games. TheUSTA’s philanthropic entity, the USTA Foundation, provides grants and scholarships and helps underserved youth and people with disabilities. For more information on the USTA, log on to usta.com, “like” the official Facebook page facebook.com/usta or follow @usta on Twitter.

Is the Big 4's dominance in ATP finally over?

After nearly one decade of Grand Slam finals involving long time nemeses Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic, Croatian Marin Cilic's victory over Kei Nishikori at the US Open finally gave new hope to the other tennis players that they do not have to wait for too long to be succeed.

Believe it or not, the discussion in the next major tournament, would be on whether someone else besides the Big 4 will win the championship. Whatever happened in the past two weeks could determine the future of the Australian Open and the subsequent majors in 2015. However, to check the current tennis market, you may go to William Hill online betting.

Since the 2005 French Open, all 38 consecutive Grand Slam finals have been dominated by at least one of Federer, Nadal or Djokovic. There were four exceptions in nearly 10 years with Juan Martin del Potro's victory over Federer at the US Open in 2009, Murray's wins against Djokovic at the US Open in 2012 and Wimbledon last year, and Stanislas Wawrinka's defeat of Nadal at the Australian Open early this January.

''That they are great champions, and it's going to take so much to break them and to break (into) the finals of a Grand Slam or to be able to win it,'' Marin Cilic the newly crowned US Open champion told the journalists between TV appearances in Manhattan.

''Last several years, it almost felt like you have to play incredible tennis in order to achieve that,'' Cilic said.

''And I would say I was also a little bit lucky here. There was no Rafa. And I had a good draw. I didn't play Novak or Andy or those guys,'' he added.

The Croatian's unbelievable win in New York included a straight-set domination of Federer in the semifinals, raising questions yet again about whether, at 33, the 17-time major champion will ever add to his trophies again.

Nadal missed the opportunity to defend his title due to his right wrist injury, while Djokovic was humbled by Kei Nishikori who emerged as a finalist but eventually lost his bid to become the first Asian to win a Grand Slam title. Meanwhile, Murray who is one of the 'Big 4' is not quite up to the standards he was setting before a back surgery a year ago.

Perhaps Wawrinka's triumph in Melbourne has given hope to some including Cilic that things were going to be different from then on. Just look at the results of the Grand Slam semifinal debuts by Ernests Gulbis at the French Open in June, and by Grigor Dimitrov and Milos Raonic at Wimbledon the following month.

''They are coming. They are there. This is good for tennis,'' said Cilic's coach, 2001 Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic.

''This is a new, fresh breath of air for tennis, and tennis needed this.''

However Cilic remained humble and not ready to write off the 'Big 4' yet. He shouldn't be.

''I mean, the guys are going to still be there,'' Cilic said looking ahead to next season.

It's just going to get more exciting from here. The upcoming Asian swing and indoor hardcourt season will give us a better clue on what will happen next year.

Australian Open Day 3 Wrap-up: Brutal end for Dementieva, Blake, Tomic

It's another missed opportunity for Elena Dementieva at the Grand Slam after beaten by comeback queen Justine Henin yesterday.

Fresh from winning in Sydney last week, she came to Melbourne with confidence to clinch a Grand Slam title which is still missing from her trophy list.

Dementieva lost 7-5, 7-6 in the high-pressure match at Rod Laver Arena.

In the men's singles, US Open champ Juan Martin del Potro battled for over four hours before winning 6-4, 6-7, 5-7, 6-3, 10-8 against James Blake to reach the third round of the Australian Open.

Another notable match yesterday was the one between Marin Cilic and local boy Bernard Tomic.

Cilic survived the match with a 6-7, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 victory over the 17-year old.

Here's the rest of the results from the Australian Open singles and doubles on Day 3 (prefix number denotes seeding):

Round 2 - Men's Singles
14-Marin Cilic (CRO) bt Bernard Tomic (AUS) 6-7(6) 6-3 4-6 6-2 6-4.
4-Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) bt James Blake (USA) 6-4 6-7(3) 5-7 6-3 10-8.
Florent Serra (FRA) bt Jarkko Nieminen (FIN) 3-6 6-4 5-7 7-6(4) 7-5.
5-Andy Murray (GBR) bt Marc Gicquel (FRA) 6-1 6-4 6-3
Ivo Karlovic (CRO) bt Julien Benneteau (FRA) 2-6 6-1 6-3 6-3.
Florian Mayer (GER) bt 29-Viktor Troicki (SRB) 4-6 6-4 7-6(2) 6-1.
12-Gael Monfils (FRA) bt Q-Antonio Veic (CRO) 6-4 6-4 6-4.
19-Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) bt Igor Kunitsyn (RUS) 6-3 6-2 6-2.
24-Ivan Ljubicic (CRO) bt Andrey Golubev (KAZ) 6-3 3-6 6-2 6-3
27-Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) bt Wayne Odesnik (USA) 6-4 3-6 6-3 6-2
Evgeny Korolev (RUS) bt 21-Tomas Berdych (CZE) 6-4 6-4 7-5
Feliciano Lopez (ESP) bt Rainer Schuttler (GER) 6-3 2-6 6-3 6-2
33-John Isner (USA) bt Louk Sorensen (IRL) 6-3 7-6(4) 7-5
2-Rafael Nadal (ESP) bt Lukas Lacko (SVK) 6-2 6-2 6-2
7-Andy Roddick (USA) bt Thomaz Bellucci (BRA) 6-3 6-4 6-4
11-Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) bt Marsel Ilhan (TUR) 6-3 6-4 7-5

Round 1 - Women's SIngles
22-Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) bt Viktoriya Kutuzova (UKR) 3-6 6-1 7-5
29-Shahar Peer (ISR) bt Lucie Hradecka (CZE) 6-7(5) 6-2 6-1
Sofia Arvidsson (SWE) bt Jarmila Groth (AUS) 6-4 2-6 6-4
Tathiana Garbin (ITA) bt 28-Elena Vesnina (RUS) 7-6(5) 6-4
Julia Gorges (GER) bt Tamira Paszek (AUT) 6-0 3-6 6-3
7-Victoria Azarenka (BLR) bt Stephanie Cohen-Aloro (FRA) 6-2 6-0
9-Vera Zvonareva (RUS) bt Kristina Kucova (SVK) 6-2 6-0
Melinda Czink (HUN) bt Stefanie Vogele (SUI) 5-7.
16-Li Na (CHN) bt Marina Erakovic (NZL) 6-2 6-0
Tsvetana Pironkova (BUL) bt Galina Voskoboeva (KAZ) 6-4 6-4.
Julia Gorges (GER) bt Tamira Paszek (AUT) 6-0 3-6 6-3.
4-Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) bt Aleksandra Wozniak (CAN) 6-4 6-2.
Yaroslava Shvedova (KAZ) bt Kimiko Date Krumm (JPN) 6-4 6-2
Iveta Benesova (CZE) bt Chang Kai-Chen (TPE) 7-5 6-2.
Agnes Szavay (HUN) bt Stephanie Dubois (CAN) 6-3 6-2

Round 2 - Women's Singles
Justine Henin (BEL) bt 5-Elena Dementieva (RUS) 7-5 7-6(6).
Roberta Vinci (ITA) bt Vania King (USA) 7-6(7) 7-5.
Maria Kirilenko (RUS) bt Yvonne Meusburger (AUT) 6-3 6-1.
8-Jelena Jankovic (SRB) bt Katie O'Brien (GBR) 6-2 6-2.
Sara Errani (ITA) bt Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) 6-2 6-3.
27-Alisa Kleybanova (RUS) bt Sorana Cirstea (ROU) 6-4 6-3.
2-Dinara Safina (RUS) bt Barbora Zahlavova Strycova (CZE) 6-3 6-4.
31-Alona Bondarenko (UKR) bt Polona Hercog (SLO) 6-4 7-5.
Angelique Kerber (GER) bt 26-Aravane Rezai (FRA) 6-2 6-3.
Yanina Wickmayer (BEL) bt 12-Flavia Pennetta (ITA) 7-6(2) 6-1.
19-Nadia Petrova (RUS) bt Kaia Kanepi (EST) 6-4 6-4.
Zheng Jie (CHN) bt 24-Maria Jose Martinez (ESP) 2-6 6-2 6-3.
11-Marion Bartoli (FRA) bt Sandra Zahlavova (CZE) 6-4 6-4.
15-Kim Clijsters (BEL) bt Tamarine Tanasugarn (THA) 6-3 6-3.
Elena Baltacha (GBR) bt 30-Kateryna Bondarenko (UKR) 6-2 7-5.
3-Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) bt Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) 6-2 6-2

Round 1 - Men's Doubles
2-Daniel Nestor (CAN)/Nenad Zimonjic (SRB) bt Samuel Groth/Jason Kubler (AUS) 7-6(5) 6-3.
Kaden Hensel/Greg Jones (AUS) bt Paolo Lorenzi (ITA)/Christophe Rochus (BEL) 7-6(3) 3-6 7-6(2).
Leonardo Mayer/Horacio Zeballos (ARG) bt 12-Marcelo Melo/Bruno Soares (BRA) 7-6 6-4.
Lucas Arnold (ARG)/Horia Tecau (ROU) bt Wesley Moodie (RSA)/Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) 4-6 7-6(4) 7-5.
Colin Fleming/Ken Skupski (GBR) bt Lu Yen-Hsun (TPE)/Janko Tipsarevic (SRB) 7-5 6-4.
17-Jurgen Melzer (AUT)/Philipp Petzschner (GER) bt Marc Lopez/Santiago Ventura (ESP) 6-4 6-1.
8-Marcel Granollers/Tommy Robredo (ESP) bt Matthew Ebden/Brydan Klein (AUS) 6-2 6-4.
5-Lukasz Kubot (POL)/Oliver Marach (AUT) bt Juan Ignacio Chela (ARG)/Daniel Gimeno (ESP) 6-7(1) 6-3 6-1.
Albert Montanes (ESP)/Martin Vassallo Arguello (ARG) bt Jose Acasuso/Sebastian Prieto (ARG) 6-4 6-4
5-Lukasz Kubot (POL)/Oliver Marach (AUT) bt Juan Ignacio Chela (ARG)/Daniel Gimeno (ESP) 6-7(1) 6-3 6-1
Colin Fleming/Ken Skupski (GBR) bt Lu Yen-Hsun (TPE)/Janko Tipsarevic (SRB) 7-5 6-4
17-Jurgen Melzer (AUT)/Philipp Petzschner (GER) bt Marc Lopez/Santiago Ventura (ESP) 6-4 6-1
1-Bob Bryan/Mike Bryan (USA) bt Michael Berrer/Simon Greul (GER) 6-4 7-5.
7-Mariusz Fyrstenberg/Marcin Matkowski (POL) bt Ross Hutchins (GBR)/Jordan Kerr (AUS) 6-4 2-6 7-6(4)
Rik De Voest (RSA)/Scott Lipsky (USA) bt Rohan Bopanna (IND)/Aisam Qureshi (PAK) 4-6 6-1 7-6(6).
Arnaud Clement (FRA)/Jonathan Erlich (ISR) bt 10-Julian Knowle (AUT)/Robert Lindstedt (SWE) 6-7(3) 6-4 6-4
Rameez Junaid/Peter Luczak (AUS) bt 15-Jaroslav Levinsky (CZE)/Travis Parrott (USA) 4-6 7-6(5) 6-2
Johan Brunstrom (SWE)/Jean-Julien Rojer (AHO) bt Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (ESP)/Olivier Rochus (BEL) 6-2 6-3
Philipp Marx (GER)/Igor Zelenay (SVK) bt Nick Lindahl/Matt Reid (AUS) 6-3 6-4
Prakash Amritraj/Somdev Devvarman (IND) bt James Cerretani/Travis Rettenmaier (USA) 5-7 6-4 7-5

(Images via Yahoo! Sports)

Weekend winners

Nikolay Davydenko recovered from being bagelled in the first set and then saved two match points in the second set to defeat Rafael Nadal 0-6, 7-6, 6-4 and win the Qatar Open title in Doha.

Wildcard recipient Yanina Wickmayer won the Auckland title, defeating top seed Flavia Pennetta 6-3, 6-2 in the final.

In another women's tennis event Down Under, Kim Clijsters defeated Justine Henin 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 in an all-Belgian final in Brisbane on Saturday.

The doubles final was won by Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka who edged Melinda Czink and Arantxa Parra Santonja in a match tie-break victory, 2-6, 7-6, 10-4.

In the men's event, Andy Roddick took the Brisbane title by holding on for a 7-6, 7-6 win over Radek Stepanek.

In the men's doubles final, Marc Gicquel and Jeremy Chardy upset no. 1 seeds Lukas Dlouhy and Leander Paes in the final, 6-3, 7-6(5).

Marin Cilic has defended his Chennai title by defeating Stanislas Wawrinka 7-6(2), 7-6(3) in the final.

Spaniards Marcel Granollers and Santiago Ventura won the doubles title, defeating Janko Tipsarevic and Rendy Lu Yen-hsun 7-5, 6-2 in the doubles final.

(Images via Yahoo! Sports)

US Open Day 11 Wrap-up: Juan Martin del Potro cruises into the semifinals

I always believe in Juan Martin del Potro's consistency even though Marin Cilic took the first set in their quarterfinal match last night.

By the time del Potro levelled at 3-3 in the second set, I went to bed because I'm pretty confident about his chance to the semifinal.

As expected, Del Potro sealed it with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-1 victory.

The second quarterfinal match between Rafael Nadal and Fernando Gonzalez was suspended due to rain.

Here's Friday's order of play on day 12 at the U.S. Open (prefix denotes seeding):

(Starts at 12:30 PM)
Kim Clijsters (Belgium) v 2-Serena Williams (USA)

(Not before 2:00 PM; match may be moved to Armstrong)
11-Fernando Gonzalez (Chile) v 3-Rafael Nadal (Spain)

(Match may be moved to Armstrong)
Yanina Wickmayer (Belgium) v 9-Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark)

(Images via Yahoo! Sports)

US Open Day 9 Wrap-up: Nadal gets the kiss, Murray gets the kick

More bizarre incident happened on Day 9.

Just when Rafael Nadal finished the match against Gael Monfils, a fan ran out of nowhere, approached the Spanish player and gave him a kiss before a woman security guard intervened.

Here's the video taken from Gototennisblog.

When asked about the incident, Nadal said, "For me, it wasn’t a problem. The guy was really nice. He said, ‘I love you,’ and he kissed me.” :D

By defeating Monfils 6-7, 6-3, 6-1, 6-3 to move on to the quarterfinals, Nadal will regain his no. 2 ranking from Andy Murray who was upset by Marin Cilic earlier.

Back to Nadal, he'll try to complete a career Grand Slam by winning the US Open.

He'll meet Fernando Gonzalez in the quarterfinal after the Chilean eliminated Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (3), 6-4.

In another men's singles match, Juan Martin del Potro defeated Juan Carlos Ferrero 6-3, 6-3, 6-3.

In the women's singles, Kim Clijsters dispatched Li Na in straight sets with a 6-2, 6-4 victory.

The opponent waiting for her next in the semifinals is none other than Serena Williams who sent off Flavia Pennetta 6-4 6-3.

Here's Wednesday’s order of play on day 10 at the U.S. Open (prefix denotes seeding):

(Not before 1630GMT)
Yanina Wickmayer (Belgium) v Kateryna Bondarenko (Ukraine)
4-Novak Djokovic (Serbia) v 10-Fernando Verdasco (Spain)

(Not before 2300GMT)
Melanie Oudin (U.S.) v 9-Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark)
1-Roger Federer (Switzerland) 12-Robin Soderling (Sweden)

(Via AP, US Open website)