ontennis news

Kuznetsova too good for Demenitieva

2007-08-25T01:36:00.000+01:00

Top-seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova beat the heat and Elena Dementieva in New Haven on Friday to move into the women's final of the Pilot Pen Tennis US Open warm-up.
On a sweltering day at the Connecticut Tennis Center, the 22-year-old Kuznetsova advanced into her fifth final of the year, advancing 4-6, 6-3, 3-0 when her fellow Russian retired due to dehydration after one hour and 52 minutes.

"It was hot," Kuznetsova said. I guess she was feeling dizzy but I was not well, too. It was weird, at the start I was suffering with the heat and breathing. But I know she was tired. Knowing that, I hung in there."

Kuznetsova had advanced from Thursday's quarterfinals when Italian Francesca Schiavone retired after just a set due to a left ankle injury.

"We were talking about it with my coach. I've never had this twice in a row," said the Russian, who awaits the winner of the second semi-final between Eleni Daniilidou of Greece and 18-year-old qualifier Agnes Szavay of Hungary.

Before she started to feel dizzy and queasy, Dementieva appeared in flawless form, finding the lines with her groundstrokes, nudging handy drop shots, and making her opponent twist and turn with a steady backcourt game.

Both players held stubbornly onto their serves, Dementieva defying her reputation for inconsistency.

She broke the world fourth-ranked Kuznetsova in the ninth game when her opponent clunked a backhand into the net to go up 5-4. After squandering three set points on her serve, she finally secured the set with a clean forehand winner.

Dementieva grabbed the momentum, breaking again in the opening game of the second set but quickly ran out of steam.

"I just felt a little sick," Dementieva said. "It was humid and hot.

Even after I won the first set, it was tough to play. I just didn't feel to have enough energy to play. Today, she was physically stronger than me."

Kuznetsova broke in the eighth game of the second set to level the contest and Dementieva struggled from there.

In the first men's semifinal, American Mardy Fish defeated big-serving Croatian Ivo Karlovic 7-6 (7/3), 6-4.

Busy Blake reaches New Haven semis

2007-08-25T01:34:00.000+01:00

In-form American James Blake survived a rollercoaster ride on Thursday to win two matches and reach the semifinals of the ATP event in New Haven, New York.

The third seed, who reached the Cincinnati Masters final last weekend, had to save three match points to beat Argentine Agustin Calleri before turning on the style to hammer Spaniard Fernando Verdasco 6-4 6-2.

Blake will meet fifth seed Paul-Henri Mathieu of France while American wildcard Mardy Fish takes on Croat Ivo Karlovic in the other semifinal.

"I felt great once I came back (against Calleri)," Blake said.

"I easily was just one first serve from being out of here and on my way to Flushing Meadows (for the US Open). Now I'm still in it I feel great and I feel kind of lucky to be still at the tournament and still alive."

Tuesday's virtual washout meant that the 16 remaining men faced the prospect of playing twice in a day but holder Nikolay Davydenko and second seed Tommy Robredo were both upended in the third round.

RECOVER MENTALLY

Top seed Davydenko was ousted 6-4 6-4 by Frenchman Gilles Simon while Robredo was beaten 6-3 6-3 by Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland.

"I think now I need to recover mentally," Davydenko, who is seeded fourth at next week's US Open, said.

"I need to be physically good because they are five-set matches but I need to get confidence back."

Mathieu, ranked a career-high 22, came from behind to beat in-form Spaniard Nicolas Almagro in the third round before seeing off his countryman Simon 6-4 6-3 in the final match of the day.

Fish continued his return to form, beating Argentine Jose Acasuso in three sets and then seeing off Wawrinka 6-3 6-3 to reach his first semifinal since February.

"Karlovic is extremely hard to play," Fish said.

"He puts an extreme amount of pressure on you to hold serve. I played him in the Australian Open in the first round in 2005 and I lost 7-6, 7-6, 7-6 and there were no breaks of serve."

Eleventh seed Karlovic won two tight three-set matches to set up his clash with Fish.

First he came from behind to beat former Australian Open champion Thomas Johansson 4-6 6-4 7-5 and then he edged out Russian Igor Andreev 6-7 6-4 7-6.

Monfils pulls out of US Open

2007-08-25T01:17:00.000+01:00

Frenchman Gael Monfils has pulled out of the US Open, the last Grand Slam of the season, which starts on Monday at Flushing Meadows, organizers said.
The 20-year-old cited a right hamstring injury, according to the US Open website. He was apparently hurt at the hardcourt tournament in New Haven this week, where he lost in the first round to Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka.

Monfils, ranked 44th in the world, was due to play a qualifier in his first round match in New York. He will be replaced in the draw by a luckly loser, US Open referee Brian Earley said.

Monfils joins compatriot Amelie Mauresmo on the sidelines for the final major championship of the year.

Former world No.1 Mauresmo announced earlier this month that she wouldn't play, saying she wouldn't be fit enough.

The 28-year-old has struggled with injuries and motivation all year having taken two months off in March to recover from an appendix operation.

Bragging rights on the line at US Open

2007-08-24T11:30:00.000+01:00

Justine Henin leads the walking wounded contingent of top women's contenders into the US Open tennis championships starting on Monday, with the season's grand slam bragging rights at stake at Flushing Meadows.

World number one Henin, nursing a sore shoulder, has dominated the women's tour with six titles, capped by her Toronto triumph earlier this month. She also won her fourth French Open crown and third in a row at Roland Garros.

The Williams sisters, Serena and Venus, have snagged the other two grand slams in announcing their return to the spotlight after a barren 2006.

But they too have injury issues.

Australian Open champion Serena has struggled with an injured left thumb, while Venus is suffering tendinitis in her right knee.

They are not the only top guns banged up at the end of an arduous season.

Defending US Open champion Maria Sharapova pulled out of this month's Los Angeles semifinals with a lower left leg strain after the Russian was bothered earlier in the year by a bad shoulder that limited her to one 2007 WTA Tour title.

Champions often find a way to battle through injury as 25-year-old Henin proved in snaring the Rogers Cup in Toronto after receiving treatment before winning the final against world number three Jelena Jankovic of Serbia.

The battling Belgian scored her seventh victory over Jankovic without defeat and said she was looking forward to mounting a campaign to repeat her 2003 US triumph. Last year she lost to Sharapova in the finals.

"It's going to be sore for a few days," she told reporters.

"I know it because that's a pain I've known for a couple of years. I'll be fine for the Open."

Serena, 25, ended 2006 ranked 95th but erased any doubts she still belonged among the tennis elite by launching the new tennis season with her third Australian Open title and eighth grand slam singles victory.

Her sister Venus, 27, won her fourth Wimbledon championship this summer and will be gunning for her third US Open victory.

The elder Williams, now ranked 13th, last won it in 2001, while ninth-ranked Serena seeks to reprise her 2002 triumph at the National Tennis Center.

Rounding out the leading contenders for the final grand slam event of the year are 2004 champion Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia, ranked fourth, and a pair of young players on the move up the rankings.

Fifth-ranked Ana Ivanovic of Serbia won earlier this month in Los Angeles for her second title of the year, while world number six Anna Chakvetadze of Russia won summer hardcourt titles in Cincinnati and Stanford to run her 2007 haul to four victories.

US Open final replay set for New Haven

2007-08-24T10:27:00.000+01:00

Svetlana Kuznetsova and Elena Dementieva set up an all-Russian semi-final at New Haven, a repeat of their 2004 U.S. Open final, won by Kuznetsova.

Top seed Kuznetsova was leading Francesca Schiavone 6-2 when the Italian retired with an ankle injury, while sixth seed Dementieva came from 4-0 down to beat Wimbledon runner-up Marion Bartoli of France 6-4 6-2.

But there will not be a third Russian in the semi-finals after fourth seed Dinara Safina self-destructed, blowing four match points before losing 1-6 7-6 6-2 to Greek Eleni Daniilidou.

Daniilidou will play Hungarian teenager Agnes Szavay in the last four after the 18-year-old beat eighth seed Alona Bondarenko of Ukraine 6-1 6-4.

Dementieva looked in trouble when she trailed Bartoli 4-0 but the Russian reeled off 12 of the next 14 games to clinch victory.

Third seed Bartoli struggled with a broken nail but Dementieva was good value for her win as she reached her fourth semi-final of the year.

"It was very difficult to get into the match," Dementieva said.

"I was trying just to find the rhythm and fight for every point and when I found it I just started to play better."

Kuznetsova said there would be no surprises when she and Dementieva meet for the eighth time.

"I played her here last year in the quarters I think and we had a three-setter," she said.

"I always enjoy playing her. I know her game pretty well, as she does mine. I think I have a better record (4-3), but still, it's always good to play your countrywoman and it great to have two Russians in the semi-final."

Safina had two match points on serve at 5-4 in the second set, and then two more in the tiebreak but let it slip.

World number 42 Daniilidou then eased through the third set to win a match that contained 14 breaks of serve.

Szavay followed up her win over second seed Daniela Hantuchova with a confident display against Bondarenko to reach the last four.

"If somebody had told me before the tournament that I would be in the semi-final, I would have been really satisfied," the 18-year-old said.

"I'm very tired but I hope I can prepare well for tomorrow."

Blake wins two to reach semis

2007-08-24T10:21:00.000+01:00

In-form American James Blake survived a rollercoaster ride to win two matches and reach the semi-finals in New Haven.

The third seed, who reached the Cincinnati Masters final last weekend, had to save three match points to beat Argentine Agustin Calleri before turning on the style to hammer Spaniard Fernando Verdasco 6-4 6-2.

Blake will meet fifth seed Paul-Henri Mathieu of France while American wildcard Mardy Fish takes on Croat Ivo Karlovic in the other semi-final.

"I felt great once I came back (against Calleri)," Blake said.

"I easily was just one first serve from being out of here and on my way to Flushing Meadows (for the U.S. Open). Now I'm still in it I feel great and I feel kind of lucky to be still at the tournament and still alive."

Tuesday's virtual washout meant that the 16 remaining men faced the prospect of playing twice in a day but holder Nikolay Davydenko and second seed Tommy Robredo were both upended in the third round.

Top seed Davydenko was ousted 6-4 6-4 by Frenchman Gilles Simon while Robredo was beaten 6-3 6-3 by Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland.

"I think now I need to recover mentally," Davydenko, who is seeded fourth at next week's U.S. Open, said.

"I need to be physically good because they are five-set matches but I need to get confidence back."

Mathieu, ranked a career-high 22, came from behind to beat in-form Spaniard Nicolas Almagro in the third round before seeing off his countryman Simon 6-4 6-3 in the final match of the day.

Fish continued his return to form, beating Argentine Jose Acasuso in three sets and then seeing off Wawrinka 6-3 6-3 to reach his first semi-final since February.

"Karlovic is extremely hard to play," Fish said.

"He puts an extreme amount of pressure on you to hold serve. I played him in the Australian Open in the first round in 2005 and I lost 7-6, 7-6, 7-6 and there were no breaks of serve."

Eleventh seed Karlovic won two tight three-set matches to set up his clash with Fish.

First he came from behind to beat former Australian Open champion Thomas Johansson 4-6 6-4 7-5 and then he edged out Russian Igor Andreev 6-7 6-4 7-6.

Venus Unveils EleVen Clothing Range

2007-08-24T01:44:00.000+01:00

Sony Ericsson WTA Tour star Venus Williams and retailer Steve & Barry's announced on Thursday they are creating the largest fashion collection ever launched by a female athlete. The collection, called EleVen by Venus Williams, features a wide assortment of classic, active lifestyle and performance looks, on-court as well as casual footwear, accessories, and more. The signature item in the line is the V-Court, a high performance, on-court sneaker. Six-time Grand Slam champion Williams will be sporting the V-Court during her matches at the forthcoming US Open. The EleVen range of apparel, including the V-Court, will be on store shelves in time for this November's holiday season and will be sold exclusively at Steve & Barry's stores nationwide.

The EleVen range features over 120 pieces, including nine styles of athletic footwear - available in a wide variety of colors - track suits, fleece outerwear, street active apparel, graphic t-shirts, denim jackets and jeans, velour items, tote and gym bags, jewelry, sports underwear and much much more.

EleVen marks Williams' first-ever fashion line created with an exclusive retailer. Collaborating with a dedicated team of Steve & Barry's designers, the 27-year-old has immersed herself in the creation of every piece. Having spent much of her personal time over the past few years receiving a formal education in fashion design, Williams is drawing upon her learning to create a collection that represents her confidence and energy on the court, and her personal style, femininity and fun personality off of it.

"I love fashion and the idea that I am using my design education to actually create clothing and footwear that I will wear on and off the tennis court is a dream come true for me," Williams said, "the vision has been to create a collection that will allow women to enjoy an active lifestyle while remaining fashionable at the same time. I'm thrilled with everything we've created to launch EleVen."

Williams said the name EleVen comes from the address of the home where she first lived in California, together with her sister Serena and the rest of her family.

"We're excited to welcome Venus Williams to the Steve & Barry's family," said Steve & Barry's President Andy Todd. "Venus represents such fantastic qualities – achievement, fun, style - and she worked hard with our design team to ensure EleVen genuinely represents those attributes. Our shoppers are going to love this line."

Everything in EleVen will be priced at $19.98 or less, including the V-Court sneaker, which will retail for $14.98. While the price is affordable, the quality of the V-Court is high-end, offering similar construction and styling as many of the most expensive tennis sneakers on the market.

EleVen by Venus Williams will be sold exclusively at Steve & Barry's stores nationwide beginning mid-November. It will be merchandised in a store-within-store environment featuring specially designed fixtures and signage.

Henin Nominated for Sportswoman of the Year

2007-08-23T09:34:00.001+01:00

Every year since 1980, the Women's Sports Foundation, which was founded by Billie Jean King, has honored excellence in women's sports through the Sportswoman of the Year Award. This year, the world's top-ranked female tennis player, Justine Henin, is one of eight individual women's sports standouts nominated to receive the coveted award.

The Sportswoman of the Year Award is presented annually to one individual and one team athlete whose performances during the preceding 12-month period have been exceptional. Criteria in the selection process include championships won, records set and awards received. The 2007 awards consider achievements in the period between August 1, 2006, and July 31, 2007.

Among Henin's stellar achievements during the aforementioned 12-month period are seven Sony Ericsson WTA Tour titles and a return to the world No.1 ranking.

Although she missed most of last fall with a right knee injury, Henin completed her 2006 season with a title at the Sony Ericsson Championships, a victory that would help her return to No.1 in the world right at season's end. She has won six of the 10 tournaments she has entered this year, including her sixth career Grand Slam at Roland Garros (becoming just the second woman in the Open Era to win three straight titles there after Monica Seles, who did it from 1990 to 1992).

Henin's competitors in the individual sports category are bowler Diandra Asbaty, snowboarder Torah Bright, triathlete Vanessa Fernandes, swimmer Jessica Long, golfer Lorena Ochoa, track star Sanya Richards and fencer Rebecca Ward.

The winners will be announced to the public and the awards will be presented at the Annual Salute to Women in Sports Awards Dinner on Monday, October 16, 2007, at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City.

Former Sportswoman of the Year recipients from the tennis world are Tracy Austin (1980), Chris Evert (1981), Martina Navratilova (1982, 1983, 1984), Steffi Graf (1989) and the Williams sisters (as a team in 2000).

Founded back in 1974 by Billie Jean King, the Women's Sports Foundation is a charitable educational organization dedicated to advancing the lives of girls and women through sports and physical activity. The Foundation's Participation, Education, Advocacy, Research and Leadership programs are made possible by individual and corporate contributions. For more information, please visit its official Web site, at www.womenssportsfoundation.org.

Henin, Williams sisters pack same half of US Open tennis draw

2007-08-23T00:48:00.000+01:00

World number one Justine Henin and defending champion Maria Sharapova were drawn onto opposite sides of the US Open here on Wednesday but Henin's half has fellow 2007 Grand Slam winners Venus and Serena Williams.

Henin will open against a qualifier in the year's final Grand Slam tennis tournament, which starts here Monday, with Russia's Olga Poutchkova or another qualifier awaiting in round two.

Japan's Ai Sugiyama, Germany's Julia Schruff or yet another qualifier will face the Belgian star should she advance to the third round.

Henin, 25, has won six titles this year, including the 35th of her career on Sunday in Toronto. She lost last year's US Open final to Sharapova but won her sixth career Slam in May at the French Open, her fourth Roland Garros title.

US eighth seed Serena Williams, who won the Australian Open but lost to Henin in the French Open and Wimbledon quarter-finals, could face Henin again in the US Open quarter-finals.

Wimbledon winner Venus Williams is a potential semi-final foe for her sister or Henin, the draw ending the chances of a repeat of the all-Williams US Open finals won by Venus in 2001 and Serena in 2002, the last year either made the final here.

Venus Williams will have some major obstacles in her quarter of the draw, notably Serbian third seed Jelena Jankovic and Serbian fifth seed Ana Ivanovic.

Jankovic has beaten Venus Williams twice this year, in the third round at Roland Garros and a Charleston, South Carolina, semi-final. Ivanovic lost to Williams in a Wimbledon semi-final, two rounds after Williams ousted Sharapova.

Russian second seed Sharapova has sixth-seeded compatriot Anna Chakvetadze in her quarter of the draw as a potential quarter-final foe in her Slam title defense.

The Russian beauty opens against Italy's Roberta Vinci with Australian Casey Dellacqua or Russia's Yaroslava Shvedova awaiting in round two.

France's Emilie Loit and Virginie Razzano, Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska or Japan's Akiko Morigami are in position to be Sharapova's third-round foe with Czech Nicole Vaidisova and Israel's Shahar Peer the top-rated round of 16 foes possible.

The other quarter of a Russian-dominated seeding side of the draw features Russian fourth seed Svetlana Kuznetsova, the 2004 US Open champion, who opens against Czech Klara Zakopalova, and Russian seventh seed Nadia Petrova, who opens against Swiss Timea Bacsinszky.

Hantuchova suffers shock loss

2007-08-22T23:48:00.001+01:00

Second seed Daniela Hantuchova suffered a setback before next week's U.S. Open when she was beaten by a Hungarian qualifier in the second round of the WTA event in New Haven.

The Slovakian was broken five times as Agnes Szavay, ranked 41, clinched a 7-5 6-3 victory in one hour, 53 minutes to set up a clash with Alona Bondarenko of Ukraine.

After dropping the first set, world number 10 Hantuchova looked back on track when she recovered from an early break down in the second set.

But the 18-year-old Szavay then broke again and held on for victory.

Hantuchova admitted she had not expected Szavay to perform at such a high level.

"I was really surprised the way she played," Hantuchova said.

"She was just better on the day and took her opportunities. I missed so many easy returns and didn't make enough first serves. That was the key today."

Wimbledon runner-up Marion Bartoli survived a second-set scare to beat Virginia Ruano-Pascual 6-0 6-4 to reach the quarter-finals.

The third-seeded Frenchwoman won the first nine games before Spaniard Ruano-Pascual hit back to level at 4-4 in the second set.

Bartoli, who withdrew in the quarter-finals in Toronto last week due to a viral illness, proved strong enough, breaking again to set up a meeting with Russian sixth seed Elena Dementieva.

Dementieva stormed through the first set of her match with American wildcard Ashley Harkleroad, but then scraped through the second, winning the tiebreak 8-6 to seal a 6-1 7-6 win.

Italian Francesca Schiavone beat Frenchwoman Emilie Loit 6-1 6-4 to set up a quarter-final with either top seed Svetlana Kuznetsova or Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland, who meet in the night match.

Fourth seed Dinara Safina advanced but seventh seed Sybille Bammer was beaten 1-6 7-5 6-2 by Eleni Daniilidou of Greece.

In the men's event, fifth seed Paul Henri-Mathieu of France beat Peruvian Luis Horna 6-3 7-6 to reach the third round.

Mathieu will play Spanish 10th seed Nicolas Almagro, who came from behind to beat another Frenchman, Julien Benneteau, 6-7 6-3 6-3.

Croat 11th seed Ivo Karlovic and 12th seed Fernando Verdasco both progressed while 16th seed Agustin Calleri of Argentina beat American Robby Ginepri 6-4 3-6 7-5 to set up a clash with third seed James Blake.

Later on Wednesday, Russian top seed Nikolay Davydenko begins his title campaign with a second-round battle against American wildcard Donald Young.

Hewitt and Safin add to Mumbai line-up

2007-08-22T16:49:00.000+01:00

Former world number ones Lleyton Hewit and Marat Safin announce their participation in the Kingfisher ATP event to be staged in Mumbai next month.

Frenchman Richard Gasquet, a semi finalist at Wimbledon in July, and 2006 Australian Open finalist Marcos Baghdatis are also set to compete in the event scheduled to begin on September 24.

"All the leading players participating this year have beaten the best in the field and this fact holds promise for some scintillating action on the courts," said former Indian Davis Cup player Mahesh Bhupathi, whose company organises the event.

World number 27 Dmitry Tursunov is the defending champion, winning his first ATP title in the inaugural tournament last year.

Blake dodges rain to post win

2007-08-22T15:48:00.000+01:00

Former champion James Blake took advantage of a rare spell of dry weather in New Haven to defeat Frenchman Arnaud Clement 6-4 6-2 and reach the third round of the Pilot Pen Open.

Blake, who was a finalist in Cincinnati last week losing to world number one Roger Federer, was one of only a few players who completed matches as nine hours of play was lost to the rain.

"I think I am playing some of my best tennis," the American said. "American hard courts is where I feel the most comfortable. It suits my game the best, I've got the fans on my side and I end up feeling great.

"I feel like I am playing better than when I won here in 2005 but the Tour is getting better as well."

In the only other men's match to be completed American wildcard John Isner continued his impressive run of form with a 6-3 6-4 win over Germany's Benjamin Becker to reach the second round.

In just his fourth ATP tournament, the 6ft 9in Isner, who has leapt from 839 to 199 in the world rankings since reaching the final in Washington, smashed 13 aces to hand Becker his sixth straight defeat.

The 22-year-old, who appeared at his post-match press conference wearing a James Blake T-shirt after losing a bet with his compatriot, will play fourth seed David Ferrer of Spain in the second round.

"I have to wear this after every match this week," Isner said of the T-shirt. "It wasn't really a bet but he helped me out, to get into this tournament, so I said I would do anything I could.

"In the warm-up I have to wear this Nike shirt that he autographed, and it's awful."

But Blake had nothing but praise for Isner and said he was enjoying having some fun with his younger counterpart.

"He's a great kid," Blake said. "He has got a ton of potential. In tennis years, he is very young so the success he's having at this level is incredible. It's fun to be hazing someone who is about 10 inches taller than me."

In the only women's match to be completed Sania Mirza booked her place in the second round with a 6-3 6-3 win over Spaniard Anabel Medina Garrigues.

Dementieva marches on

2007-08-21T13:43:00.000+01:00

Sixth seed Elena Dementieva sank Italys Mara Santangelo 6-2 3-6 6-0 in the WTA event at New Haven.

Dementieva, who is making her eight appearance in this event, committed nine double faults to her opponent's seven, struggling once again with her delivery.

Her first serves were off target, her marshmallow second serves attackable. "It was one moment in the game when I was rushing too much," Dementieva said.

"Sometimes I feel I have to take more time before serving and stay focused.

"But in the end, I was happy with how I played. I was playing longer and not giving her any chances to get into the net."

The 25-year-old Russian is now slated to meet wild-card American Ashley Harkleroad, who steamrolled Tatiana Poutchek of the Belarus 6-1 6-0.

Also on Monday, Austrian Sybille Bammer, the number seven seed, farewelled Meghann Shaughnessy of the United States 6-4 6-2; Hungarian qualifier Agnes Szavay stunned Australian Samantha Stosur 6-2 6-4 and Alona Bondarenko, the eighth seed, eased past Belarusian Olga Govortsova 6-3 7-6.

Bondarenko, 23, is enjoying her best season on the WTA tour with a career best of 25 in the world. She reached the finals in Warsaw in May and was a semi-finalist in Istanbul a few weeks later.

The 23-year-old Ukrainian awaits the winner of the rain delayed match between India's Sania Mirza and Spain's Anabel Medina Garrigues.

Medina Garrigues was up 1-0 and 30-30 before rain interrupted play for the day.

Federer, Henin top US Open seedings

2007-08-21T11:57:00.000+01:00

World number ones Roger Federer and Justine Henin were on Monday named as the top seeds for the US Open, which starts in New York next week.
Swiss Federer will be bidding for his fourth consecutive title at Flushing Meadows, while Belgian Henin is hoping to repeat her 2003 triumph.

Organisers kept in line with the world rankings, with Spain's Rafael Nadal seeded two, Novak Djokovic of Serbia at three and Russian Nikolay Davydenko fourth.

Three other former champions are seeded in the men's event with American Andy Roddick fifth, 2001 winner Lleyton Hewitt of Australia 16th and 2000 champion Marat Safin of Russia at 25.

Defending women's champion Maria Sharapova of Russia is seeded second behind Henin, with Serb Jelena Jankovic third and Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova, the 2004 winner, fourth.

Wimbledon champion Venus Williams is 12th while her sister Serena, who has not played since Wimbledon, is eighth.

The draws will be conducted on Wednesday.

WOMEN

1. Justine Henin, Belgium

2. Maria Sharapova, Russia

3. Jelena Jankovic, Serbia

4. Svetlana Kuznetsova, Russia

5. Ana Ivanovic, Serbia

6. Anna Chakvetadze, Russia

7. Nadia Petrova, Russia

8. Serena Williams, United States

9. Daniela Hantuchova, Slovak Republic

10. Marion Bartoli, France

11. Patty Schnyder, Switzerland

12. Venus Williams, United States

13. Nicole Vaidisova, Czech Republic

14. Elena Dementieva, Russia

15. Dinara Safina, Russia

16. Martina Hingis, Switzerland

17. Tatiana Golovin, France

18. Shahar Peer, Israel

19. Sybille Bammer, Austria

20. Lucie Safarova, Czech Republic

21. Alona Bondarenko, Ukraine

22. Katarina Srebotnik, Slovenia

23. Tathiana Garbin, Italy

24. Francesca Schiavone, Italy

25. Mara Santangelo, Italy

26. Sania Mirza, India

27. Vera Zvonareva, Russia

28. Ai Sugiyama, Japan

29. Samantha Stosur, Australia

30. Agnieska Radwanska, Poland

31. Anabel Medina Garrigues, Spain

32. Michaella Krajicek, Netherlands

MEN

1. Roger Federer, Switzerland

2. Rafael Nadal, Spain

3. Novak Djokovic, Serbia

4. Nikolay Davydenko, Russia

5. Andy Roddick, United States

6. James Blake, United States

7. Fernando Gonzalez, Chile

8. Tommy Robredo, Spain

9. Tomas Berdych, Czech Republic

10. Tommy Haas, Germany

11. Mikhail Youzhny, Russia

12. Ivan Ljubicic, Croatia

13. Richard Gasquet, France

14. Guillermo Canas, Argentina

15. David Ferrer, Spain

16. Lleyton Hewitt, Australia

17. Carlos Moya, Spain

18. Marcos Baghdatis, Cyprus

19. Andy Murray, Great Britain

20. Juan Ignacio Chela, Argentina

21. Juan Carlos Ferrero, Spain

22. Paul-Henri Mathieu, France

23. Juan Monaco, Argentina

24. David Nalbandian, Argentina

25. Marat Safin, Russia

26. Jarkko Nieminen, Finland

27. Dmitry Tursunov, Russia

28. Nicolas Almagro, Spain

29. Filippo Volandri, Italy

30. Robin Soderling, Sweden

31. Potito Starace, Italy

32. Jurgen Melzer, Austria

Henman to quit next month - report

2007-08-20T12:16:00.000+01:00

Tim Henman will retire after the Davis Cup tie against Croatia at Wimbledon on September 23 according to The Times.

The Oxfordshire ace, who turns 33 in a fortnight's time, has not entered an ATP tournament after the rubber at SW19.

Henman, who becomes a father for the third time later in the month, will look to end his career by helping Great Britain return to the World Group for the first time in five years.

He withdrew from this week's event in New Haven due to his persistent back problem but will compete in his final Grand Slam at next week's US Open.

Having reached six Grand Slam semi-finals, won 11 ATP Tour events and reached a career high world ranking of four in 2002, Henman is Britain's most successful open era player.

But the big one eluded "Tiger Tim" as he bowed out in the Wimbledon semi-finals in 1998, 1999, 2001 (when just two points from victory at one point) and 2002.

However, Lawn Tennis Association chief executive Roger Draper said Henman had yet to make a final decision.

He told BBC Radio Five Live: "Jan Felgate, who's his agent, has basically said there's no official confirmation. But it's clear his career will end sooner rather than later.

"Tim's his own man. He's always made his own decisions. He may fancy one more shot at Wimbledon next year and only time will tell."

Schnyder out in New Haven

2007-08-20T11:15:00.000+01:00

Fifth seed Patty Schnyder lost on the opening day of the WTA event in New Haven, beaten 7-6 2-6 6-4 by Italian Francesca Schiavone.

The Swiss looked set for victory when she recovered from the loss of the first set to level the match but Schiavone, the world number 26, hit back to reach round two.

She will play Emilie Loit of France or lucky loser Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia in the second round.

In the day's other women's match, American Vania King beat another Italian, Tathiana Garbin, 6-4 6-4 to set up a clash with Russian fourth seed Dinara Safina.

American wildcard Donald Young earned his first win on the ATP Tour by beating compatriot Amer Delic 4-6 6-3 6-4 in the first round of the men's event.

The reward for 18-year-old Young is a second-round match against top seed Nikolay Davydenko of Russia.

Another American wildcard, Mardy Fish, also advanced with a 4-6 7-5 6-4 win over German Florian Meyer, and there were victories for Americans Robby Ginepri and Michael Russell and former Australian Open champion Thomas Johansson of Sweden.

Croatian Mario Ancic continued his comeback after a lengthy spell out with glandular fever by beating American Ryan Sweeting to qualify for the main draw.

Ancic, a former Wimbledon semi-finalist, rejected a wildcard into the main draw in order to get some more match practice going into the U.S. Open, which begins on August 27.

Henin wins Toronto title

2007-08-19T23:03:00.000+01:00

World number one Justine Henin captured her 35th career title and sixth of the year, beating world number three Jelena Jankovic 7-6 (7/3), 7-5 to win the Toronto hardcourt crown here Sunday.
The Belgian top seed needed six match points, five in the final game, to subdue her third-seeded Serbian opponent and collect a 181,980-dollar top prize from the 1.34 million-dollar event, a tune-up for the US Open that begins August 27.

In her first tournament since losing in the Wimbledon semi-finals, the 25-year-old Henin improved to 43-4 this season in only her 10th tournament.

Henin, who also won this event in 2003, was down a break in both sets but rallied each time to deny Jankovic a fifth title of the year and improve to 7-0 lifetime against Jankovic, including five triumphs this year.

Henin jumped to a 5-1 tie-breaker lead and captured the first set four points later when Jankovic pushed a volley wide.

Jankovic, wearing a bandage on her left knee, broke Henin to open the second set but double faulted away a break for the second time in the match to allow Henin to level at 2-2.

Jankovic broke again, held serve and was two points from a break for a 5-2 lead before Henin rallied to hold serve, break back to level at 4-4 and hold again for a 5-4 edge.

Henin reached match point on Jankovic's serve but the Serbian star smashed a service winner to deny the threat and went on to hold serve and level the set.

Henin squandered a 40-0 lead and was forced into a marathon 11th game that saw nine deuces before Henin hit a backhand winner and Jankovic netted a forehand volley, allowing Henin to hold for a 6-5 lead.

After that drama, Henin won the first three points in the next game to gain triple match point but squandered them all, the last on a wide forehand, and missed on a fifth match point by pushing a backhand wide.

An overhead smash gave Henin a sixth match point and she finished matters at last, blasting a second serve for a cross-court winner to capture the title.

Blake sets up Fed final

2007-08-19T12:06:00.001+01:00

James Blake beat fifth seed Nikolay Davydenko of Russia 6-4 6-2 to set up a clash with world number one Roger Federer in the final of the Cincinnati Masters.

The American ninth seed went into his match with Davydenko having won all of their five previous meetings but the Russian jumped out to a 2-0 lead.

Blake then reeled-off four straight games, Davydenko broke back and levelled at 4-4 before the American broke again in the 10th game to take the set.

Blake then romped through the second set to set up a clash with Federer, who has beaten him in all six of their previous matches.

"He (Davydenko) is someone I feel like if I play my best I can dictate and take it to him," Blake said.

"Roger has clearly been the best player in the world for the last few days, but when I get into a final I know I'm playing great tennis, so I have a chance."

Hewitt looks at positives

2007-08-18T23:50:00.000+01:00

Lleyton Hewitt believes he make a strong impression at the US Open after running Roger Federer close in their semi-final at the Cincinnati Masters.

Hewitt was a break up in the final set against the world number one before finally falling to a 6-3 6-7 7-6 defeat, but his performance once again showed he is close to rediscovering the form that saw him take the world number one spot in the past.

"I'm playing pretty good at the moment, I love playing on the American hard courts, it suits my game," said Hewitt after the match.

"I sort of battled through my first round here, I did all the hard yards, I didn't play my best tennis, but I've got better and better, and if I keep give myself chances against Roger or Rafa at the end of big tournaments then sooner or later it is going to fall my way.

"The last two weeks have been good, it has been really good preparation for the US Open, I couldn't have asked for two better weeks, and it has taken the best guy in the world to knock me off."

In a close match, Hewitt said he was upset about being called for a number of foot fault violations during the match, and argued that in such a tight game, they could have proved crucial.

"There might have been one time where I touched the line, but I have watched my action so many times in the past, it looks like my foot twists over the line but my shoe is actually not touching the line, I spoke to the referee about it, but there is not much I can do about it when I'm out there," he said.

"That cost me a couple of points, but there was only a couple of points between us in the match. It could have gone either way, I was up 3-2 and a break and if I had converted there it would have been 4-2 and I could have had a real go on his next service game.

"But he can pull the trigger on the big points, and nine times out of ten it comes off, that is why he is one of the best players of all time."

Henman out of New Haven

2007-08-18T22:51:00.000+01:00

Tim Henman is in a race against time to get fit for the US Open after pulling out of next week's event at New Haven.

The British number two has been in poor form for most of the season and has lost in the first round of his last two North American hard court events in Washington and Cincinnati.

He will now miss the final pre-US Open event in New Haven due to a lingering back compliment but still hopes to be fit for New York.

"It's frustrating because I haven't had that many problems with it all year; in the summer it was fine," he said.

"But playing on hard courts is a lot tougher on the body and my back hasn't reacted as well as I would've wanted.

"It's tough to concentrate on winning when I'm worrying about my back so I want to try and get it right as soon as possible.

"My goal now is to try and get as much treatment on it as possible before the start of the US Open."

Andy Murray has also pulled out of New Haven, leaving both British hopes short of match practice ahead of the US Open which starts on August 27.

Henin reaches Toronto final

2007-08-18T21:38:00.000+01:00

World number one Justine Henin reaches the final of the Rogers Cup in Toronto with a 6-3 6-0 dismissal of China's Yan Zi.

The Belgian, who has reached the final in her last three appearances in Canada, will now await the winner of the second semi-final between second seeded Serb Jelena Jankovic and Frenchwoman Tatiana Golovin.

Yan, whose 169 world ranking was so low that she was an alternate in the Toronto qualifying draw, was the revelation of the tournament producing a string of upsets.

The 22-year-old doubles specialist claimed several big name scalps, including defending champion and world number four Ana Ivanovic and Wimbledon finalist and seventh seed Marion Bartoli, becoming the just the third Chinese player to reach the semi-final of a WTA Tier I event.

World number one Henin, playing her first event since a semi-final loss at Wimbledon, will be chasing her sixth title of the season.

Henin remains on course despite wind

2007-08-18T12:19:00.000+01:00

World number one Justine Henin stayed on course for the Toronto Cup final with a 7-6 6-3 quarter-final win over Russia's Nadia Petrova on a windy day in Canada.

With just two matches under her belt since a semi-final loss at Wimbledon, Henin appeared frustrated by the gusting winds that buffeted players all day at the Rexall tennis centre.

But the battling Belgian stood her ground and weathered an early challenge from the sixth-seeded Petrova to secure a semi-final date with Chinese qualifier Yan Zi.

Ranked 169 in the world, Yan continued her Cinderella run advancing when Wimbledon finalist Marion Bartoli of France retired trailing 6-2 3-0 with the flu to become the third Chinese player to reach the semi-final of a WTA Tier I event.

Second seed Jelena Jankovic, meanwhile, closed in on her fifth title of the season, taming Virginie Razzano of France 7-5 6-2 to set up a final-four showdown with another Frenchwoman, Tatiana Golovin, who toppled third seed Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia 2-6 7-5 6-1.

"Today was the strongest (winds) I have ever experienced," Jankovic said. "I was struggling with my serve because the winds were very strong...I was struggling to put it in the box."

"I was frustrated but just tried to stay positive."

The 13th meeting between Henin and Petrova ended in familiar fashion with the Belgian posting her 11th win, improving her record in quarter-finals this season to a 11-0.

A finalist her last two visits to Canada and winner of the title in 2003, Henin got her match off to an unsteady start as Petrova raced to a 3-0 lead.

But the world number one slowly came to grips with the blustery conditions, forcing the opener to a tie-break which she took 7-4.

"I can tell you it was terrible out there," Henin said. "Here the wind turns all the time, I can tell you it's hard to play good tennis. It's tough, very tough."

Jankovic, who played earlier in the day but also had problems with the wind, seized command of a tight opening set when she broke Razzano to go up 6-5 then swept through the next five games to take the first set and 4-0 lead in the second.

Playing her first event since a quarter-final defeat by eventual champion Venus Williams at Wimbledon, Kuznetsova looked in control after taking the opening set.

The Russian, however, only held her serve once in the final two sets, Golovin sweeping nine of the next 10 games.

Yan advances after Bartoli retires

2007-08-18T01:18:00.000+01:00

Chinese qualifier Yan Zi continued her Cinderella run at the Toronto Cup, advancing to the semi-finals when Wimbledon finalist Marion Bartoli of France retired with a virus.

Ranked 169 in the world, Yan is only the third Chinese player to reach the semi-finals of a WTA Tier I event and the first qualifier to advance to the final four in Canada in 11 years.

Bartoli was trailing 6-2 3-0 when she called for the trainer and after a brief discussion and no treatment the seventh seed told the umpire she could not continue.

"I felt sick with a virus, I couldn't make it, I was just too tired," Bartoli said. "I've got a headache and don't feel good at all. I couldn't complete the match.

"It's a virus that takes you down and makes you so tired you cannot stay awake. I just could not keep my eyes open. I was just not able to play some tennis at all today."

Yan's march to the final four included a two-set win over fourth seed and defending champion Ana Ivanovic in the second round.

She will play either world number one Justine Henin or sixth seeded Russian Nadia Petrova for a place in the final.

A doubles specialist, Yan's singles ranking has tumbled as she has focused on preparing for next year's Beijing Olympics.

But with doubles partner Zheng Jie injured, Yan has been able to play more singles events and has slowly inched back up the rankings.

In 2006, Yan and Zheng earned China's first grand slam titles with victories at the Australia Open and Wimbledon.

Jankovic sets up Golovin semi in Toronto

2007-08-17T23:00:00.000+01:00

Second seed Jelena Jankovic of Serbia closed in on her fifth title of the season by taming Frenchwoman Virginie Razzano 7-5 6-2 on Friday to reach the semi-finals of the Toronto Cup.

But third seed Svetlana Kuznetsova, four times a runner-up this year, was ousted 2-6 7-5 6-1 by Tatiana Golovin of France.

Playing her first event since a quarter-final defeat by eventual champion Venus Williams at Wimbledon, Kuznetsova looked in control after taking the opening set.

The Russian, however, only held her serve once in the final two sets in difficult, blustery conditions.

The second set began with eight consecutive breaks until 2004 U.S. Open champion Kuznetsova held to grab a 5-4 lead.

World number 19 Golovin then swept nine of the next 10 games to reach her second semi-final of the season.

"I think the match from the start was very tough, we both struggled," Golovin told reporters. "We couldn't get our rhythm.

"I tried to cut down on the unforced errors and she started making mistakes. She got into a bad momentum and it never really stopped."

Golovin, who captured her first career title at Amelia Island in April, now takes on world number three Jankovic for a place in the final of the $1.3 million event.

Jankovic seized command when she broke Razzano to go 6-5 up, the first of six successive games she won.

"It was very tough, the wind was very strong," said the 22-year-old Serb. "I just tried to keep moving and do my best."

Later on Friday, world number one Justine Henin takes on sixth-seeded Russian Nadia Petrova while Marion Bartoli of France plays Yan Zi of China.

Hewitt downs Moya to reach semifinals

2007-08-17T20:58:00.001+01:00

Lleyton Hewitt produced a commanding performance to beat Spaniard Carlos Moya 6-2 6-4 on Friday to reach the semifinals of the Cincinnati Masters.

In the battle of the two former world number ones, the Australian broke serve in the first game and stormed through to his fourth semifinal of the year. He will face either world number one Roger Federer or unseeded Spaniard Nicolas Almagro.

"I am playing well at the moment," Hewitt, twice runner-up in Cincinnati, said. "I thought my court coverage was exceptional today.

"But it's hard to close him out, he's such a strong player, so I am really happy to win in straight sets."

World number 19 Moya had beaten fourth seed Novak Djokovic of Serbia on his way to the last eight but made too many unforced errors as Hewitt cruised through the first set.

Hewitt then broke twice to lead 3-0 but after having treatment for a blister on his right big toe Moya broke back and forced the Australian to serve out the match.

Hewitt kept his nerve to reach his fourth semifinal of the year.

Later on Friday, ninth seed James Blake was playing fellow American Sam Querrey, while fifth seed Nikolay Davydenko of Russia faced Spanish 16th seed David Ferrer.