Olympic champion Elena Dementieva eased to a 6-4 6-1 victory over fellow Russian Elena Vesnina to capture the Auckland Classic title today.
Dementieva, 27, wrapped up the victory in just 88 minutes and completed the tournament without dropping a set. What a great start for the long tennis season. “I played some good tennis, especially in the semi-final and final. It’s been a great beginning of the year,” she told a news conference.
The win was world number four Dementieva’s 12th title of her career and fourth in the last 12 months, highlighted by winning the gold medal at the Beijing Olympics in August.
The unseeded Vesnina, 22, was playing in her first WTA final after teaming up with Dementieva in the doubles.
“Maybe I was bit tired,” she said.
“It was long week for me, a lot of long matches. Maybe I was a bit nervous today.”
(Via Reuter; Images via sports.sina.com)
Seems like Rafael's Nadal obsession with Roger Federer continues.
Despite the emergence of players like Andy Murray and Gilles Simon, Nadal is still focusing on Roger. In the latest development, Nadal started his new year by capturing a surprising doubles title in Doha. Roger had a great year last year partnering with Stanislas Wawrinka in the men's doubles. I guess Nadal wants to emulate his idol's success in the men's doubles.
In the final match last night, Nadal and fellow Spaniard Marc Lopez shared the same gear with the same matching knee straps. Lopez even bites his trophy, a Nadal's signature gesture. I thought they made a cute and fun combination!
They teamed up to win the doubles crown, upsetting the no. 1 team in the world of Daniel Nestor and Nenad Zimonjic 4-6, 6-4, 10-8 in one hour and 27 minutes.
"It was disappointing to lose in the singles yesterday so I feel a bit better having won the doubles," Nadal said.
"Daniel and Nenad are the best team in the world and they were tough to beat today."
Lopez who was holding a piece of crumpled paper said, "I would like to thank Rafa for giving me the opportunity to play with him and win my first ATP title."
Oh yeah, something bizarre happened during the match; a cat suddenly ran out to the court :D
I'm not a doubles fan but I swear this is one of the most entertaining doubles match I've ever seen!
(Via tennistalk.com; Images by Martin Bureau/AFP/Getty Images)
Slovak Republic pair of Dominik Hrbaty and Dominika Cibulkova pulled off a major upset to win the $1-million ITF Hyundai Hopman Cup tennis championship in Perth’s Burswood Dome.
It was the Slovak nation’s 3rd Cup win in eight appearances at the international mixed teams championship.
The victory was clinched by Hrbaty in a thrilling singles battle, beating Russia’s Marat Safin, a former world No. 1, 6-7 (5/7), 7-5, 7-6 (7/3). Earlier, Cibulkova had beaten world no. 3 Dinara Safina 6-7 (3/7), 6-1, 6-4.
In a power-packed six hours of tennis, the Slovaks survived against higher-ranked opponents after both teams had gone into the final undefeated from their three round robin matches.
The 19-year-old Cibulkova, ranked 19 in the world, converted five of her 10 break point opportunities in her singles win and completed the week unbeaten in four matches, plus two mixed doubles.
Her partner, who celebrated his 31st birthday earlier in Cup week, survived numerous crisis moments as the powerful Safin blasted 22 aces past him.
The victory belied Hrbaty’s singles ranking of 252 after a career high of 14. Safin, ranked at 29 after a year of injury, has announced that this could well be his last year on Tour.
The Slovaks shared a winner’s prize of A$250,000, plus two diamond-encrusted tennis balls.
P.S. If you do not know the relationship between Cibulkova and Jurgen Melzer, click here.
(Via Hopman Cup official website; Images by Tony Ashby/AFP/Getty Images))
Olympic champion Elena Dementieva eased to a 6-4 6-1 victory over fellow Russian Elena Vesnina to capture the Auckland Classic title today. 
The unseeded Vesnina, 22, was playing in her first WTA final after teaming up with Dementieva in the doubles. 
