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Post by jimm on Mar 8, 2008 12:46:25 GMT
Rodd!ck and Connors split by mutual consent.. Suddenly Rodd!ck reaches a final.. Andy is his own worst enemy. Needs to add some variation to his game.
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Post by jimm on Mar 8, 2008 18:03:51 GMT
Rodthingy sees off Lopez in Dubai
Rodthingy went through the entire week without dropping his serve American sixth seed Andy Rodthingy won the Dubai Championships with a 6-7 (8-10), 6-4, 6-2 victory over unseeded Spaniard Feliciano Lopez.
He went through the entire week without dropping his serve, and did not face a break point in the final.
"This is as well as I have ever played. With these great players, to finish a week like this is just great," he said.
Rodthingy claimed the scalps of world number two Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic en route to the final.
He earned his 25th career title and his second of the year after winning in San Jose last month.
It was all the more remarkable because Rodthingy had a 6,000-mile journey from Memphis via Frankfurt which left him exhausted for the first two days of the tournament.
The first set went with serve (Lopez delivered 24 aces in all) but Rodthingy took a 4-1 lead in the tie-break before allowing the Spaniard back in.
When Lopez thundered three aces in a row to nose ahead 4-3 in the second set, an upset seemed possible but Rodthingy pounced on an error to turn the pressure around.
"I didn't feel like he was missing at all in the first set," Rodthingy added.
"When I lost the tie-break I told myself just keep at it because I don't remember him missing a ball."
Good to see him notch up the title.
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Post by jimm on Mar 11, 2008 13:38:41 GMT
Federer confident of finding form
Federer has been suffering from a viral infection World number one Roger Federer has dismissed suggestions his career is in decline after a recent slump in form.
The Swiss star, 26, was beaten in the first round of last week's Dubai Championships by Britain's Andy Murray.
That defeat was Federer's first match since losing to Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open semi-finals in January.
Federer said: "In Switzerland there is a little too much speculation my career is over. But I am happy and healthy, not miserable and down and out."
Federer fell ill after his shock loss in Melbourne and was diagnosed with mononucleosis, a virus causing fevers, sore throat and swollen lymph glands.
606: DEBATE Will Federer overtake Sampras's record?
He has since been given the all-clear to play and battled to a 6-3 6-7 (7-4) 7-6 (8-6) victory against 14-time Grand Slam winner Pete Sampras in an exciting exhibition match at Madison Square Garden on Monday.
Sampras displayed his trademark serve-and-volley game, improving with each set and prompting Federer to step up in order to secure victory in two hours and 15 minutes.
Federer will now compete at the Pacific Life Open at Indian Wells, California later this week.
He is within two Grand Slam titles of Sampras's record haul of 14, and insisted that he would use his recent defeats as motivation to complete the feat.
"Honestly, losses like this motivate me more than anything," he added.
"Trying to come back, trying to prove I'm still the one to beat. I just want to show I can do it over and over again.
"I love competing on centre courts all over the world. So many people are happy when I get there. It touches me. I love to practice more and more now," he said.
When it comes down to it at the big, big events, I think he'll be the guy standing with the trophy
Pete Sampras
"What I enjoy most are the matches, the pressure, the fans, centre court. I hope that's going to stay with me as long as possible."
Sampras also played down suggestions that Federer's dominance was on the wane.
"In a lot of ways Roger has created this sort of monster of being unbeatable," said the 36-year-old American.
"If you lose a match here, lose a match there, people have the assumption he has lost his edge, lost his dominance. I don't look at it like that at all.
"He'll play Indian Wells and he'll play Miami (in two weeks) and do fine at those events. When it comes down to it at the big, big events, I think he'll be the guy standing with the trophy."
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Post by jimm on Mar 11, 2008 14:03:54 GMT
Federer says his career is not in decline Mon Mar 10, 2008 10:42pm GMT By Larry Fine
NEW YORK (Reuters) - World number one Roger Federer dismissed suggestions his career was in decline and said he would use his recent defeats as motivation after recovering from an early-season virus.
The Swiss player was beaten in the first round in Dubai last week by Briton Andy Murray, his first match since losing to eventual champion Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open semi-finals in January.
"In Switzerland there is a little too much speculation my career is over," the 26-year-old Federer told a news conference ahead of Monday's exhibition match against former number one Pete Sampras at Madison Square Garden.
"People just need to know I'm healthy and happy and not miserable and down and out."
The 12-times grand slam singles champion, who competes at the Pacific Life Open at Indian Wells, California later this week, was told he had mononucleosis (glandular fever) after the Australian Open.
"Honestly, losses like this motivate me more than anything," said Federer. "Trying to come back, trying to prove I'm still the one to beat.
"I just want to show I can do it over and over again."
The back-to-back defeats dented Federer's aura of invulnerability and fed the confidence of those younger rivals who have seen him reign as number one for a record 215 consecutive weeks.
LOVE COMPETING
Within two grand slam titles of Sampras's record haul of 14, Federer said his affection for tennis was greater than ever.
"I love competing on centre courts all over the world. So many people are happy when I get there. It touches me. I love to practice more and more now," he said.
"What I enjoy most are the matches, the pressure, the fans, centre court. I hope that's going to stay with me as long as possible."
Federer said he was looking forward to competing at the Beijing Olympics in August and to more Games campaigns beyond.
"The (London) Olympic Games in 2012 is something I'm looking forward to, and go from there. See how I feel with my fitness, my motivation."
Federer may have made his worst start to a season in eight years but Sampras was confident the Swiss would soon be winning again.
"In a lot of ways Roger has created this sort of monster of being unbeatable," said the 36-year-old American.
"If you lose a match here, lose a match there, people have the assumption he has lost his edge, lost his dominance. I don't look at it like that at all.
"He'll play Indian Wells and he'll play Miami (in two weeks) and do fine at those events. When it comes down to it at the big, big events, I think he'll be the guy standing with the trophy."
(Editing by Padraic Halpin)
His career might be ok, but his confidence must have taken a knock or two
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Post by SuperMarion on Mar 12, 2008 21:21:17 GMT
I just though it was a bog standard cold he had, not glandular fever! Which is notoriously difficult to get rid off and can be debilitating.
However it is sad the vultures are swarming over him now like they have been doing to Mauresmo.
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Post by jimm on Mar 14, 2008 15:03:35 GMT
Murrays prepare for Indian Wells openers
Andy and Jamie Murray are both set to compete at the first ATP Masters Series tournament of 2008, the Pacific Life Open, which is taking place in Indian Wells, California.
Andy and Jamie Murray are both set to begin their campaigns at the Pacific Life Open in Indian Wells this week. The $3,589,000 ATP Masters Series tournament is currently under way in California with the finals being played on Sunday 23rd March.
Andy Murray, the No 11 seed, has received a bye in the singles first round and will meet either Russian Marat Safin or Austrian Jurgen Melzer in round two. The 20 year-old British No 1 is chasing his third title of 2008 following tournament victories in Doha and Marseille.
Safin is widely regarded as one of the most talented players in the men’s game having lifted the US Open and Australian Open trophies in 2000 and 2005 respectively. Following his US Open success, the 6’ 4” tall 28 year-old was ranked No 1 in the world but is currently languishing at No 88.
Meanwhile, Melzer is the No 85 ranked player in the world but was as high as No 28 in March 2007. The 26 year-old left hander has one ATP title to his name having won the $355,000 Bucharest tournament in 2006.
Jamie Murray and Belarusian Max Mirnyi will meet Croatian Ivan Ljubicic and Spaniard Tommy Robredo in the opening round of the doubles event. Murray and Mirnyi began playing together at the start of 2008 and already have one title under their belt. The left and right handed duo were victorious at the $411,000 tournament in Delray Beach, Florida – impressively defeating the No 1 seeds, Americans Bob and Mike Bryan, in the final.
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Post by jimm on Mar 14, 2008 15:04:16 GMT
Murray brothers serve up aces for Sport Relief
Andy and Jamie Murray have promised to donate £100 for every ace they serve at the Pacific Life Open in their support of this year's Sport Relief.
Andy, 20, and Jamie 22, will be playing in the Pacific Life Open which starts in Indian Wells, California, on Thursday and have promised to donate £100 for every ace they serve during the tournament to Sport Relief.
The brothers have also put themselves 'up for auction' for Sport Relief and will team up to play the best of five games against the highest bidder at the National Tennis Centre at Roehampton, south-west London.
Andy, currently ranked No 11 in the world, said: "I am pleased to be able to support as good a cause as Sport Relief and this will give me an added incentive for my first serve."
Jamie added: "Sport Relief is a fantastic initiative and we're going to have a lot of fun trying to out-ace each other in Indian Wells given that all the money is going to charity ."
Their sponsorship partners, Highland Spring, Fred Perry and the Ace Group have also pledged to match the money raised through serving aces.
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Post by SuperMarion on Mar 14, 2008 22:27:11 GMT
Get bidding Jim. Spank his bottom!
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Post by jimm on Mar 16, 2008 9:56:03 GMT
LOL If I could still run for more than 5 mins I would Alice
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Post by jimm on Mar 16, 2008 9:57:40 GMT
Nadal progresses at Indian Wells
Nadal coped well with the blustery conditions in California Rafael Nadal made a comfortable start to the defence of his Pacific Life Open title with a straight-sets win over Colombian qualifier Santiago Giraldo.
The Spaniard, seeded two, won 6-3 6-3 in difficult windy conditions to move into round three.
Last year's runner-up, Serbia's Novak Djokovic, also started solidly, beating Italian Andreas Seppi 6-3 7-6 (7-3).
In the doubles Jamie Murray and Max Myrni defeated Ivan Ljubicic and Tommy Robredo 6-4 7-6 (7-3).
Jamie's brother Andy and partner Eric Butorac followed them on court beating Martin Damm and Pavel Vizner 7-5 6-3.
Both Nadal and Djokovic were relieved to get through as the blustery desert winds made life difficult for all the players.
"Today I win. That's it. I can't do too much," said Nadal.
And Djokovic echoed those comments, saying: "I won. That's all that matters."
Djokovic will play Xavier Malisse or Philipp Kohlschreiber in round three, while Nadal will take on America's Donald Young.
Andy Murray gets his singles game under way on Sunday, against Austrian Jurgen Melzer while top seed Roger Federer plays Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain.
606: DEBATE Who will triumph in Indian Wells?
In the women's event Ana Ivanovic admitted she allowed the conditions to distract her as she suffered a scare before beating Romanian Ioana Raluca Olaru 6-1 5-7 6-0.
"I was really upset when she broke me back on 3-2 in the second set, and I just struggled to find my game little bit," Ivanovic said.
"I wasn't moving enough and when it's windy day we really have to focus on footwork and moving the feet, and going around the ball, and I didn't do that well."
Elsewhere, Serbia's world number four Jelena Jankovic and twice champion Lindsay Davenport cruised through their opening matches.
Shrugging off the gusting winds, Jankovic crushed American wildcard Ahsha Rolle 6-0 6-2, while Davenport advanced when Argentina's Gisela Dulko retired hurt with a thigh strain trailing 2-6.
Davenport will play Taiwan's Chan Yung-Jan, who shocked 11th seed Sybille Bammer 6-1 6-3.
But the day's biggest casualty was seventh seed Nicole Vaidisova of the Czech Republic who lost in the final match of the day to Australian Casey Dellacqua 6-1 3-6 6-4.
Qualifier Evgeniya Rodina upset 16th-seeded Virginie Razzano 6-0 6-7 6-2 and another Russian-French pairing saw 12th seed Vera Zvonareva edge past Aravane Rezai 6-3 3-6 6-3.
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Post by jimm on Mar 17, 2008 5:48:46 GMT
Rodthingy knocked out by Haas at Indian Wells
By Mark Lamport-Stokes
INDIAN WELLS, California (Reuters) - Andy Rodthingy became the first big name to make an early exit from the Pacific Life Open when the sixth-seeded American lost 6-4 6-4 to Germany’s Tommy Haas in Sunday’s second round.
Former U.S. Open champion Rodthingy, who won ATP titles earlier this season in San Jose and last week in Dubai, was swept aside in 85 minutes on the Stadium Court at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.
“He played well,” Rodthingy, 25, told reporters after losing for only the third time this year in 17 hardcourt matches.
“He was coming up with some serious passing shots. He deserved a lot of what came his way and got the breaks today, also.
“I don’t feel like I hit the ball badly. I maybe didn’t play as well as I should have on the points I should have won well on.
“That being said, I’ve been playing very, very well for the last month so I’m not going to freak out over this loss and forget everything I’ve been able to kind of work towards in the last month.
“My confidence is fine,” the 2003 U.S. Open champion added. “I feel optimistic about the tournaments coming up.”
Haas, who had previously beaten the American six times in nine career meetings, broke in the ninth game to take the opening set.
BACKHAND PASSES
He delivered successive backhand passes down the line to break Rodthingy again in the seventh game of the second set before serving out in the 10th to wrap up victory, clinching the final point with a net cord.
“Today was one of the matches where I won the majority of the important points,” said Haas, who had surgery on a problem right shoulder for a third time in November.
“When I broke him a couple times today, I really played some great points, backhand and forehand passing shots and forehand lobs. And that was really the only difference today.”
“I think he’s just a great competitor. He really makes you win every point. I think for some reason the matchup with my game against his really matches good.
The 29-year-old Haas will next meet 30th-seeded Spaniard Fernando Verdasco or Victor Hanescu of Romania.
(Editing by Peter Rutherford)
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Post by jimm on Mar 17, 2008 6:01:49 GMT
Smiles for Federer after winning start at Indian Wells
By Mark Lamport-Stokes
INDIAN WELLS, California (Reuters) - Swiss world number one Roger Federer, back in action after recovering from a recent viral problem, smiled broadly after easing through his opening match at the Pacific Life Open on Sunday.
The top seed crushed Spaniard Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 6-3 6-2 in a second-round encounter at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden where he was champion for three years in a row from 2004.
“I’m happy the way it went today,” a beaming Federer told reporters after breaking his opponent three times on the Stadium Court to wrap up victory in 68 minutes.
“I came up with some nice plays at the right moments so I was very pleased with my performance today. I wouldn’t play too risky but I got off to a good start and could have taken many more chances, I think.
The 26-year-old Swiss said he moved pretty quickly on court.
“I was happy with that. No breathing problems, no pains or aches, so everything was fine.”
Federer had competed in only two ATP events this season after succumbing to mononucleosis (glandular fever) at the end of last year.
He lost to Serb Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals of the Australian Open in January and was beaten in the first round in Dubai last week by Briton Andy Murray.
“I haven’t played much and I think this is the difficulty,” said Federer, a winner of 12 grand slam titles.
“But then again, every first round you play in a big tournament, or any tournament, is always a bit of pressure if you’re No. 1 seed.
“You just don’t feel at ease like you do feel in a second or third round. When you start a tournament and you start it well, you get on a roll. I guess for the second round I’ll be much more relaxed.”
Federer, who has spent a record 215 consecutive weeks at the top of the men’s rankings, will next meet Frenchman Nicolas Mahut who beat Spaniard Nicolas Almagro.
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Post by jimm on Mar 20, 2008 8:45:01 GMT
Misfiring Murray goes out to Haas Murray beat Haas in the quarter-finals last year Andy Murray surrendered a one-set lead to crash out of the Pacific Life Open 2-6 7-5 6-3 to Germany's Tommy Haas. The British number one started strongly, breaking in the third and fifth games to take the opening set. Murray's serve deserted him in the second and Haas stormed to a 4-1 lead, and although Murray recovered the break, the German broke again to level. Murray then passed up five break points in the decider, and paid for it as Haas broke him to love and then served out. The Scottish 20-year-old berated himself afterwards, saying: "If I had played a bit more aggressively in the third set - like I did in the first set - then I would have won the match. "I still think I was good enough to win the match but I didn't." Murray had vowed to keep his temper under control against Haas having failed to stay calm in his third-round victory over Ivo Karlovic. But it was another outburst in the final set against Haas that seemed to turn the tide for the German, who is making his comeback from shoulder surgery. After missing a chance to break Haas at 4-3, Murray screamed out in frustration, but that only succeeded in firing up Haas who immediately broke the Briton to love. The German set up two match points and Murray netted on the second of them to hand Haas victory. There was better news for the British number one's brother, Jamie Murray, who reached the semi-finals of the men's doubles with Belarusian playing partner Max Mirnyi. The duo enjoyed a superb 5-7 6-4 (10-6) win over American top seeds Bob and Mike Bryan after a match tie-break. The victory sets up a last-four meeting with Israeli duo Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram."
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Post by jimm on Mar 24, 2008 5:04:02 GMT
By Mark Lamport-Stokes
INDIAN WELLS, California, March 23 (Reuters) - World number three Novak Djokovic held off a fightback by American Mardy Fish to win the Pacific Life Open final 6-2 5-7 6-3 on Sunday and secure his second prestigious ATP title of the year.
Two months after claiming his first grand slam crown at the Australian Open, the Serb broke world number 98 Fish once in the final set before sealing victory in just over two hours.
"It's been a dream start to the year," third-seeded Djokovic, runner-up in the Masters Series event at Indian Wells 12 months ago, told reporters.
"Before I started this year, I said my goals were to be consistent with results, reach the Masters and hopefully win a grand slam. I did that in a very, very small amount of time.
"I also want to congratulate Mardy on a fantastic week. He's a much better player than that (98th) and deserves to be ranked much higher."
Fish, ranked a career-high 17th four years ago, capped a remarkable run that featured three victories over top-10 players by stunning Swiss world number one Roger Federer in Saturday's semi-finals.
"This has been a tremendous week for me, definitely one I will never forget," said the American, who won the last of his two ATP titles in Houston in 2006. "Yesterday was one of the best days of my life and this is my favourite tournament."
Djokovic, 20, made a fast start in the final, winning the first six points of the match and breaking Fish in the second game when the American crowd favourite hit a forehand long.
Although Fish broke back in the fifth, forcing a backhand error by his opponent with a searing forehand service return, he failed to hold serve in the sixth.
HIGH-QUALITY RALLIES
A protracted game featuring high-quality rallies ended when Fish pushed a backhand wide and double-faulted to trail 2-4. Djokovic held for 5-2 and again broke in the eighth when the American double-faulted to take the opening set in 35 minutes.
The second set went with serve until breaks were exchanged in the sixth and seventh games, the Serb throwing his racket in frustration after double-faulting for his lead to be pegged back to 4-3.
Fish, beginning to replicate the form he produced the previous day to stun Federer, piled on the pressure in the 11th before breaking when Djokovic netted a backhand.
That put the American 6-5 up and he served out for the set, levelling the match when the Serb blasted a backhand drive into the net.
"I was nervous in that moment and it resulted in some unforced errors," Djokovic said of his inability to close out after leading 4-2 in the second set. "I gave him the opportunity to come back into the match, which he used."
Djokovic fought back from 0-40 down on his own serve with three aces in the first game of the third to hold and broke Fish in the second with a backhand winner down the line.
"It was the turning point in the whole match," the Serb said of holding serve in the first game. "If I didn't come up with the three aces, it could go either way."
The rest of the set went with serve until the Serb fired his 10th ace for his first match point before sealing victory at the second attempt when Fish struck a backhand long. (Editing by Ed Osmond)
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Post by jimm on Mar 24, 2008 22:14:41 GMT
Murray hires an image adviser Andy Murray, who up to now has reveled in his image of the feisty young rebel who is not to bothered by his what he looks like or what the public think of him, has finally decided that his image needs jump-charging and has turned to one of Britain’s foremost sporting public relations gurus. Stuart Higgins is a former editor of the top selling British tabloid newspaper The Sun. Amongst his clients are top English Premier League football club Chelsea as well as Wembley Stadium and British Airways. Murray has yet to rival his predecessor Tim Henman in either the public perception of the nation or potential earning power from commercial enterprise. Britain’s opinion of Murray nose dived even further last month when he left it to his agent Patricio Apey of Ace Group to inform British Davis Cup captain John Lloyd that the 20 year-old Scot was pulling out of the Davis Cup’s World Group confrontation with Argentina." Image Adviser!!?? What a dork. Does he think that will make him OK after what he did?
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