SuperDuper-Tennis Archive

Saturday, May 02, 2009

May 01 - Breaking News (Tennis.com)

Saturday, May 02, 2009 | Posted by SuperDuper | | Edit Post
Last updated on 5/1/2009 5:03:14 PM
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by Kamakshi Tandon

The TickerTommy Haas has pulled out of Munich.

The TickerGaston Gaudio has received a wildcard into Estoril, along with Gilles Simon and Portuguese Rui Machado.

The TickerFlavia Pennetta upsets Jelena Jankovic 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 in Stuttgart.

The TickerRafael Nadal is through to the semifinals of Rome with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Fernando Verdasco. Verdasco appeared to be having significant trouble with his knee during the last two games of the match, getting treatment when down 5-3.

Nadal will next face Fernando Gonzalez, who defeated Juan Monaco 2-6, 6-3, 6-4.

The TickerRichard Gasquet has pulled out of Estoril with an elbow injury incurred during his third-round match against Verdasco in Rome. Robby Ginepri will also not be playing, still sidelined following appendix surgery in March.

The TickerAfter losing in the third round of Rome, Gilles Simon has taken a wildcard into Estoril. The tournament has one wildcard remaining, with the first having been given earlier to Portuguese Rui Machado.

The TickerRoger Federer and Novak Djokovic will face off in the semifinals of Rome after winning their quarterfinal matches relatively comfortably. Federer trailed by a minibreak in the first-set tiebreak against Mischa Zverev but won seven of the next eight points for a 7-6(3), 6-2 victory. Djokovic defeated Juan Martin del Potro 6-3, 6-4.

The TickerThe draw for the WTA event in Rome can be found here.

Ana Ivanovic and Venus Williams are potential quarterfinal opponents in the top half of the draw, with the winner potentially facing Dinara Safina in the semifinals. Rising teens Victoria Azarenka and Caroline Wozniacki are looking at a third-round clash for the right to face Serena Williams in the bottom quarter, with Serena slated for a possible semifinal against Jelena Jankovic.

The TickerAlize Cornet, who struggled with a groin injury in her opening match at Stuttgart, has been cleared to play in Rome next week.

The TickerSony Ericsson has extended its sponsorship of Miami by one more year. The existing agreement was to run through 2010.

In an interview with Bloomberg, a Sony Ericsson official also indicated that the company is open to renewing its deal with the WTA Tour but "will certainly be requesting more for the same amount of money."

The TickerJohn Isner wins the USTA men's reciprocal wildcard for the French Open, defeating Jesse Levine 7-6 (2), 6-4, 6-4."It's huge," said Isner, who will now get straight into the main draw and avoid what he described as "a crapshoot to win three rounds of qualifying matches."

The TickerLleyton Hewitt has received a wildcard into Munich. Marcos Baghdatis has received a wildcard into Belgrade.

The TickerWomen's Rome wildcards go to Italians Tathiana Garbin, Karin Knapp and Roberta Vinci.

The TickerServing at 0-1 against Robin Soderling in the third round of Rome, Rafael Nadal needed six deuces and 14 minutes to win the game but did not drop another, recording a 6-1 6-0 victory against the Swede.

The TickerRafael Nadal joins American golfer Tiger Woods and Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao as the only athletes on Time magazine's annual list of the 100 most influential people. Nadal is featured in the "Heroes & Icons" category.

The tribute to the Spaniard in this week's 'Time 100' issue is written by Serena Williams, who says, "I want to be like him... What makes him so good? I think it's that he's the hardest worker... you don't just wake up and — bam! — you're No. 1. It takes work, effort, desire, dedication — all qualities that Rafa has. I could be wrong, but I don't think I am far off."

Roger Federer, who made the list in 2007, this year writes the tribute to Woods.

The TickerTatiana Golovin, who has been sidelined since undergoing hip surgery last spring, will be commentating for French television during the French Open.
The TickerAlize Cornet, who lost 6-3, 6-1 to Daniela Hantuchova in Stuttgart, is battling a groin injury and will undergo an MRI to determine when she will return to the court.
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