Tennis News Headlines - Yahoo! News

Tennis-Emotional Nadal reaches Rome final, Serena rolls on

Sat, 18 May 2013 13:16:36 -0400

* Nadal beats Berdych 6-2 6-4 * Serena sees off qualifier Halep * Extends winning streak to 23 matches (Recasts after Nadal victory) By Eric Salliot ROME, May 18 (Reuters) - Rafa Nadal beat Czech sixth seed Tomas Berdych 6-2 6-4 to reach the Italian Open final on Saturday with a dominant performance that he described as emotional after his long injury absence. Nadal, who returned to action in February after seven months out with a knee problem, will have the chance to win his sixth title since his comeback when he faces either Roger Federer or Benoit Paire in Sunday's final. ...

Tennis-Serena extends winning streak to reach Rome final

Sat, 18 May 2013 12:18:36 -0400

(Adds quotes) By Eric Salliot Rome, May 18 (Reuters) - Serena Williams crushed Romanian qualifier Simona Halep 6-3 6-0 to book her place in the Italian Open final and extend her winning streak to 23 matches on Saturday. World number one Williams, who is chasing a fourth consecutive tour title, will face Victoria Azarenka in Sunday's final after the third seed beat last year's French Open finalist Sara Errani 6-0 7-5. Williams's unbeaten run has included title successes in Miami, Charleston and Madrid and she is chasing a first Rome title since 2002, the year she won her only French Open. ...

Tennis-Djokovic crumbles to defeat against Berdych in Rome

Fri, 17 May 2013 18:27:57 -0400

(Adds Federer result) May 17 (Reuters) - Czech Tomas Berdych snapped a run of 11 consecutive defeats by world number one Novak Djokovic to reach the semi-finals of the Rome Masters before Rafa Nadal was stretched to the limit against David Ferrer on Friday. Berdych clawed his way back from a 6-2 5-2 deficit to stun the Serbian top seed 2-6 7-5 6-4 and set up a semi-final meeting with Nadal, who for the second week running outlasted compatriot Ferrer in a fierce claycourt scrap. ...

US Open tennis leaving CBS for ESPN in 2015

Thu, 16 May 2013 15:03:38 -0400

The U.S. Open tennis tournament will leave CBS after nearly a half-century and move all TV coverage to cable starting in 2015 under an 11-year contract with ESPN.

Reuters U.S. Sports Schedule at 2 PM EDT on Wednesday, May 15

Wed, 15 May 2013 14:03:07 -0400

May 15 (Reuters) - Reuters U.S. sports schedule at 2 PM ET on Wednesday: - - - - The duty editor is Steve Ginsburg, 202-898-8427 - - - - National Football League Whaley replaces Nix as Bills' GM Assistant general manager Doug Whaley will be named general manager of the Buffalo Bills today, following the succession plan set in motion by Buddy Nix's retirement on Monday. ...

Tennis-Monfils and Razzano given wild cards for French Open

Wed, 15 May 2013 12:45:55 -0400

PARIS, May 15 (Reuters) - Former French Open semi-finalist Gael Monfils, who has struggled for form after a string of injuries marred his 2012 season, has been given a wild card for the grand slam claycourt event, organisers said on Wednesday. The 26-year-old Frenchman, who reached the last four in 2008, has dropped down the rankings to 119 from a high of seven in 2011. Compatriot Virginie Razzano, who stunned current world number one Serena Williams in the opening round last year, has also been handed an automatic entry. The French Open takes place from May 26 to June 9. ...

Venus loses to Robson, who faces Serena next

Mon, 13 May 2013 18:29:38 -0400

ROME (AP) — Beating one of the Williams sisters is an accomplishment any young tennis player should celebrate. Winning consecutive matches against both of them would likely be a career highlight.

Serena subdues Sharapova to defend Madrid title

Sun, 12 May 2013 10:55:13 -0400

By Iain Rogers MADRID (Reuters) - World number one Serena Williams racked up the 50th title of her illustrious 18-year career when she thumped Maria Sharapova 6-1 6-4 to defend her Madrid Open crown on Sunday. Williams' victory, her fourth tournament success of 2013 and only the seventh on clay since she turned pro in 1995, prevented Sharapova from leapfrogging her to the top of the rankings. It also showed the 31-year-old American, a 15-times grand slam singles champion, is on red-hot form as she prepares her bid to add to her sole French Open title at Roland Garros starting later this month. ...

Tennis-Serena subdues Sharapova to defend Madrid title

Sun, 12 May 2013 10:54:21 -0400

* Williams wins 50th career title, seventh on clay * Stops Sharapova from taking over as number one (Adds quotes, byline) By Iain Rogers MADRID, May 12 (Reuters) - World number one Serena Williams racked up the 50th title of her illustrious 18-year career when she thumped Maria Sharapova 6-1 6-4 to defend her Madrid Open crown on Sunday. Williams' victory, her fourth tournament success of 2013 and only the seventh on clay since she turned pro in 1995, prevented Sharapova from leapfrogging her to the top of the rankings. ...

Tennis-Nadal crushes Andujar to reach Madrid final

Sat, 11 May 2013 15:43:08 -0400

* World number five to play Wawrinka on Sunday * Spaniard chasing fifth title since return * Wawrinka upsets Czech sixth seed Berdych (Adds result of second semi-final, Andujar quotes) By Iain Rogers MADRID, May 11 (Reuters) - Rafa Nadal is one win away from a fifth title since his return from injury after the Spanish world number five thumped compatriot Pablo Andujar 6-0 6-4 on Saturday to set up a Madrid Open final against Stanislas Wawrinka. ...

Tennis-Relaxed Serena through to last eight in Madrid

Thu, 09 May 2013 16:48:13 -0400

* World number one thumps Kirilenko * Sharapova through against Lisicki (Adds results, byline) By Iain Rogers MADRID, May 9 (Reuters) - A laid-back Serena Williams breezed into the Madrid Open quarter-finals on Thursday when she barely broke sweat in a 6-3 6-1 destruction of Maria Kirilenko. The world number one and top seed, defending champion at the premier clay event in the Spanish capital, needed just over an hour to dismiss the 13th-seeded Russian and set up a last-eight meeting with Spanish wildcard Anabel Medina Garrigues. ...

Singapore to host WTA Championships

Wed, 08 May 2013 04:24:43 -0400

By Patrick Johnston SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Singapore will host the glittering annual finale of the women's tennis season from 2014 until 2018, the WTA said on Wednesday. The Southeast Asian city-state beat Tianjin in China and Mexico's Monterrey for the right to stage the WTA Championships after Turkey's Istanbul ends its three-year stint in October. "Your sensational city, the amazing city of Singapore, has won the right to host the WTA Championships for the next five years from 2014," WTA chairman and chief executive Stacey Allaster told reporters. ...

Tennis-Singapore to host WTA Championships

Wed, 08 May 2013 04:17:58 -0400

* Singapore beats Monterrey and Tianjin * Will host end of season event from 2014 to 2018 (Adds details) By Patrick Johnston SINGAPORE, May 8 (Reuters) - Singapore will host the glittering annual finale of the women's tennis season from 2014 until 2018, the WTA said on Wednesday. The Southeast Asian city-state beat Tianjin in China and Mexico's Monterrey for the right to stage the WTA Championships after Turkey's Istanbul ends its three-year stint in October. ...

Serena makes serene progress in Madrid

Tue, 07 May 2013 19:18:41 -0400

By Iain Rogers MADRID (Reuters) - World number one and defending champion Serena Williams continued her serene progress at the Madrid Open when she eased past Spanish wildcard Lourdes Dominguez Lino 6-2 7-5 in the second round on Tuesday. Chasing a fourth title of the year and the 50th of her career, Williams had too much power for the slightly-built Dominguez Lino, who nonetheless managed to unsettle her illustrious opponent with some clever drop shots and lobs. ...

Tennis-Serena makes serene progress in Madrid

Tue, 07 May 2013 19:13:28 -0400

* World number one beats Spaniard Dominguez Lino * Sharapova crushes American qualifier McHale (Adds Sharapova result, byline) By Iain Rogers MADRID, May 7 (Reuters) - World number one and defending champion Serena Williams continued her serene progress at the Madrid Open when she eased past Spanish wildcard Lourdes Dominguez Lino 6-2 7-5 in the second round on Tuesday. Chasing a fourth title of the year and the 50th of her career, Williams had too much power for the slightly-built Dominguez Lino, who nonetheless managed to unsettle her illustrious opponent with some clever drop shots and ...

Serena makes serene progress into Madrid third round

Tue, 07 May 2013 11:52:52 -0400

MADRID (Reuters) - World number one and defending champion Serena Williams continued her serene progress at the Madrid Open tennis when she eased past Spanish wild card Lourdes Dominguez Lino 6-2 7-5 in the second round on Tuesday. Chasing a fourth title of the year and the 50th of her career, Williams had too much power for the slightly-built Dominguez Lino, who nonetheless managed to unsettle her illustrious opponent with some clever drop shots and lobs. ...

Tennis-Serena makes serene progress into Madrid third round

Tue, 07 May 2013 10:20:44 -0400

MADRID, May 7 (Reuters) - World number one and defending champion Serena Williams continued her serene progress at the Madrid Open tennis when she eased past Spanish wild card Lourdes Dominguez Lino 6-2 7-5 in the second round on Tuesday. Chasing a fourth title of the year and the 50th of her career, Williams had too much power for the slightly-built Dominguez Lino, who nonetheless managed to unsettle her illustrious opponent with some clever drop shots and lobs. ...

I acted in self-defense, says Tomic's father

Mon, 06 May 2013 16:43:10 -0400

By Iain Rogers MADRID (Reuters) - Bernard Tomic's father John told a Madrid court on Monday he had acted in self-defense when he butted a member of the Australian world number 53's coaching staff in the face at the weekend. John Tomic, a burly former taxi driver who now coaches his son, and the man he tangled with, Bernard's practice partner Thomas Drouet, both turned up for the hearing in the centre of the Spanish capital. ...

Tennis-I acted in self-defence, says Tomic's father

Mon, 06 May 2013 16:40:01 -0400

* Father breaks member of coaching team's nose * Tells Madrid court it was self defence * ATP, Tennis Australia investigating incident (Adds Dolgopolov quotes paras 18-21) By Iain Rogers MADRID, May 6 (Reuters) - Bernard Tomic's father John told a Madrid court on Monday he had acted in self-defence when he butted a member of the Australian world number 53's coaching staff in the face at the weekend. ...

Tennis-Sluggish Serena begins Madrid defence, Li ousted

Sun, 05 May 2013 15:52:55 -0400

* Top seed Williams beats Putintseva * Fifth-seeded Li surprised by Keys (Adds results, byline) By Iain Rogers MADRID, May 5 (Reuters) - World number one Serena Williams recovered from a lethargic start to her Madrid Open title defence to seal an ultimately comfortable 7-6 6-1 victory against teenage qualifier Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan in the first round on Sunday. ...

Top players pay tribute to ATP chief Drewett

Sun, 05 May 2013 14:40:44 -0400

MADRID (Reuters) - Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Andy Murray and Rafa Nadal joined a minute's silence at the Madrid Open on Sunday in memory of men's ATP Tour executive chairman and president Brad Drewett, who died on Friday. The four tennis heavyweights were joined on the Manolo Santana show court at the Magic Box arena by women's world number one Serena Williams to pay tribute to Australian former player Drewett, who passed away aged 54 after suffering from Motor Neurone Disease. "It's devastating news for not just us tennis players, but the tennis world," Djokovic said. ...

Tennis-Top players pay tribute to ATP chief Drewett

Sun, 05 May 2013 14:34:22 -0400

MADRID, May 5 (Reuters) - Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Andy Murray and Rafa Nadal joined a minute's silence at the Madrid Open on Sunday in memory of men's ATP Tour executive chairman and president Brad Drewett, who died on Friday. The four tennis heavyweights were joined on the Manolo Santana show court at the Magic Box arena by women's world number one Serena Williams to pay tribute to Australian former player Drewett, who passed away aged 54 after suffering from Motor Neurone Disease. "It's devastating news for not just us tennis players, but the tennis world," Djokovic said. ...

Tennis-Sluggish Serena begins Madrid defence with laboured win

Sun, 05 May 2013 09:49:32 -0400

MADRID, May 5 (Reuters) - World number one Serena Williams overcame a lethargic start to her Madrid Open title defence to seal an ultimately comfortable 7-6 6-1 victory against teenage qualifier Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan in the first round on Sunday. Chasing her fourth title of the year, Williams was tested by the 88th-ranked Putintseva early in the match on the clay at the Magic Box arena but her superior power told in the end against a woman 13 years her junior. Williams is making a fourth appearance in Madrid after beating Belarussian Victoria Azarenka in last year's final. ...

Tennis-Evert hurt by Connors' revelations of 'private matter'

Sat, 04 May 2013 12:42:59 -0400

By Pritha Sarkar LONDON, May 4 (Reuters) - Tennis great Chris Evert has hit out at her former fiance Jimmy Connors for hinting that their relationship ended in the 1970s after she had an abortion against his wishes. "In his book, Jimmy Connors has written about a time in our relationship that was very personal and emotionally painful," Evert said in a statement released to Reuters on Saturday through her agent Lawrence Frankopan at StarWing Sports. ...

Tennis-Hingis effect helps Pavlyuchenkova to first title on clay

Sat, 04 May 2013 10:43:46 -0400

May 4 (Reuters) - Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova warmed up for the French Open by winning her first claycourt title with a 7-5 6-2 win over Spanish fourth seed Carla Suarez Navarro in the Portugal Open final on Saturday. Pavlyuchenkova's decision to hire five-times grand slam champion Martina Hingis as a coach paid dividends as she completely outplayed her opponent in the second set to win her fifth career title. Her previous four successes were all achieved on hard courts. ...

ATP chairman Brad Drewett dies at 54

Fri, 03 May 2013 17:15:22 -0400

LONDON (AP) — Brad Drewett, a former tour player who led the ATP as executive chairman and helped increase prize money at Grand Slam tournaments, died Friday. He was 54.

ATP chief Drewett dies aged 54

Fri, 03 May 2013 14:31:58 -0400

LONDON (Reuters) - Brad Drewett, executive chairman and president of the men's ATP Tour since 2012, died aged 54 on Friday from Motor Neurone Disease, the ATP said in a statement. Drewett's WTA counterpart Stacey Allaster added: "Brad was an incredibly warm human being and a dedicated family man. He also was always an inspiring leader. Today the entire tennis community mourns the loss of a great friend and colleague. "Brad's contributions as a player and visionary leader make him one of the greatest in making tennis the popular, worldwide sport it is today. ...

Tennis-ATP chief Drewett dies aged 54

Fri, 03 May 2013 14:26:48 -0400

(Adds quotes, WTA reaction) LONDON, May 3 (Reuters) - Brad Drewett, executive chairman and president of the men's ATP Tour since 2012, died aged 54 on Friday from Motor Neurone Disease, the ATP said in a statement. Drewett's WTA counterpart Stacey Allaster added: "Brad was an incredibly warm human being and a dedicated family man. He also was always an inspiring leader. Today the entire tennis community mourns the loss of a great friend and colleague. "Brad's contributions as a player and visionary leader make him one of the greatest in making tennis the popular, worldwide sport it is today. ...

Tennis-Don't write Rafa off the No.1 spot, says Gilbert

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 15:59:07 -0400

LONDON, April 30 (Reuters) - For Rafael Nadal to bridge a 7,000-point gap with Novak Djokovic in the ATP rankings looks like a tall order, even for a player of his qualities, yet he could still threaten the Serb's hopes of ending 2013 as world No.1. With the French Open looming large on the horizon, Nadal is back in the claycourt groove as he continues his comeback from a knee injury that sidelined him for seven months. ...

'I'm gay': NBA player Jason Collins breaks barrier

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 09:51:01 -0400

WASHINGTON (AP) — Last summer, NBA veteran Jason Collins considered joining an old Stanford college roommate, U.S. Rep. Joseph Kennedy III, at Boston's gay pride parade.

NBA veteran center Jason Collins comes out as gay

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 22:37:09 -0400

WASHINGTON (AP) — With the simplest of sentences, NBA veteran Jason Collins set aside years of worry and silence to become the first active player in one of four major U.S. professional sports leagues to come out as gay.

Sharapova beats Li Na to win Porsche GP again

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 11:38:23 -0400

STUTTGART, Germany (AP) — Maria Sharapova beat Li Na 6-4, 6-3 on Sunday to successfully defend her WTA Porsche Grand Prix title in a final between the last two French Open champions.

Sharapova, Li reach final in Stuttgart

Sat, 27 Apr 2013 15:29:33 -0400

STUTTGART, Germany (AP) — Defending champion Maria Sharapova will face Li Na in the final of the Porsche Grand Prix on Sunday in a matchup of the last two French Open winners.

Players to get huge Wimbledon windfall

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 11:52:48 -0400

By Martyn Herman LONDON (Reuters) - Wimbledon organizers moved to justify a staggering 40 percent rise in total prize money on Tuesday that will make the pot at this year's championships the biggest ever in tennis. Players at this year's grasscourt grand slam, which starts on June 24, will receive a total of $34.45 million with the men's and women's singles champions each pocketing $2.44 million. Last year's Wimbledon singles champions earned 1.15 million pounds - 39 percent less. ...

Tennis-Players to get huge Wimbledon windfall

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 11:46:51 -0400

(Adds quotes, details) By Martyn Herman LONDON, April 23 (Reuters) - Wimbledon organisers moved to justify a staggering 40 percent rise in total prize money on Tuesday that will make the pot at this year's championships the biggest ever in tennis. Players at this year's grasscourt grand slam, which starts on June 24, will receive a total of 22.6 million pounds ($34.45 million) with the men's and women's singles champions each pocketing 1.6 million pounds ($2.44 million). Last year's Wimbledon singles champions earned 1.15 million pounds - 39 percent less. ...

Reuters Sports Schedule at 0600 GMT on Tuesday, April 23

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 01:59:58 -0400

Reuters sports schedule at 0600 GMT on Tuesday: - - - - SOCCER English Premier League MANCHESTER - Manchester United reclaimed their Premier League crown in style on Monday as Robin van Persie's hat-trick inspired a 3-0 win over Aston Villa that gave them an unassailable 16-point lead over Manchester City and erased the pain of last season. ...

Tennis-French Open should give Nadal higher seeding, says Forget

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 15:31:58 -0400

MONTE CARLO, April 21 (Reuters) - The French Open should consider protecting Rafael Nadal with a higher seeding to avoid a potential quarter-final clash with Novak Djokovic, according to Roland Garros committee member Guy Forget. Nadal, the defending French Open champion, has slipped to fifth in the world rankings after missing seven months of competition with a knee injury, and could be drawn in the same section as world number one Djokovic at next month's claycourt grand slam. ...

Tennis-Djokovic ends Nadal's Monte Carlo reign

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 12:43:30 -0400

(Add quotes, details) By Gregory Blachier MONTE CARLO, April 21 (Reuters) - Novak Djokovic ended Rafael Nadal's eight-year reign at the Monte Carlo Masters with a clinical 6-2 7-6 victory in the final on Sunday. Nadal, the only player to win a tournament eight times in a row, had enjoyed a 46-match winning streak at the claycourt Masters event before world number one Djokovic prevailed to claim his first title in the principality. ...

Passports should end doping system "disaster:" Berdych

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 10:52:04 -0400

By Gregory Blachier MONTE CARLO (Reuters) - Current anti-doping measures in tennis are a "disaster" and the introduction of biological passports can only improve matters, world number six Tomas Berdych said. "The system right now... I don't know how it works with the others but with me, it does not work at all," the Czech told Reuters in an interview at the Monte Carlo Masters this week. "You have to say every single day... where you are. I've done this for three or four years already and I had only two tests out of the tournaments," Berdych said. ...

Tennis-Passports should end doping system "disaster" - Berdych

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 10:36:43 -0400

By Gregory Blachier MONTE CARLO, April 21 (Reuters) - Current anti-doping measures in tennis are a "disaster" and the introduction of biological passports can only improve matters, world number six Tomas Berdych said. "The system right now... I don't know how it works with the others but with me, it does not work at all," the Czech told Reuters in an interview at the Monte Carlo Masters this week. "You have to say every single day... where you are. I've done this for three or four years already and I had only two tests out of the tournaments," Berdych said. ...