Tennis News Headlines - Yahoo! News

Djokovic bids for 4th consecutive Grand Slam title

Sat, 26 May 2012 13:06:27 -0400

As daylight disappeared and wind whipped loose dirt around the court, Novak Djokovic watched one last ace fly off Roger Federer's racket and end their thrill-a-minute semifinal at the 2011 French Open.

Tsonga downbeat on French hopes at Roland Garros

Fri, 25 May 2012 20:53:35 -0400

French number one Jo-Wilfried Tsonga said he stood by his comments that there was little or no hope this year of a Frenchman winning at Roland Garros for the first time since Yannick Noah in 1983.

Serena Williams says sister Venus is 'inspiring'

Fri, 25 May 2012 17:03:20 -0400

Between bites of some "frites" at the players' restaurant, Oracene Price smiled at the thought of being back at the French Open with her daughters, Serena and Venus Williams.

Tsonga downbeat on French hopes at Roland Garros

Fri, 25 May 2012 17:00:34 -0400

French number one Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on Friday said he stood by his comments that there was little or no hope this year of a Frenchman winning at Roland Garros for the first time since Yannick Noah in 1983.

Robert Griffin III Is Already Making History; Rafael Nadal Lurks

Fri, 25 May 2012 13:36:18 -0400

Today in sports: RG3 makes uniform history, Atlantic City wants to legalize sports betting by the end of the year, and the French Open starts this weekend.

Serena set to conquer Paris

Fri, 25 May 2012 12:19:02 -0400

Serena Williams said Friday she is as committed to tennis now as she has ever been during the course of her career, with her sister Venus's battle against illness a particular inspiration to her.

Big three make for a vintage period, says Federer

Fri, 25 May 2012 12:16:10 -0400

PARIS (Reuters) - Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal, Novak Djokovic: whoever wins at Roland Garros will claim something more than just the French Open title as tennis is going through a "very special time", according to Federer himself. The Swiss could snatch a record 17th grand-slam crown on the Paris clay, while Nadal wants to secure a record seventh French title and world number one Djokovic hopes to become the first man in 43 years to win the four major titles in a row. "Well, I think at the moment it's quite incredible. ...

Big three make for a vintage period, says Federer

Fri, 25 May 2012 11:39:00 -0400

Happy Sharapova ready to take women's game by storm again

Fri, 25 May 2012 11:11:29 -0400

PARIS (Reuters) - Two years after reaching a nadir following a shoulder injury, a cheerful Maria Sharapova is just a few games away from topping women's tennis again as she looks to secure her maiden French Open title. The 25-year-old Russian will reclaim top spot in the WTA rankings if she wins in Paris and current world number one Victoria Azarenka does not reach the final, or if she reaches the final and the Belarussian fails to make it to the last eight. ...

Sharapova ready to take women's game by storm again

Fri, 25 May 2012 10:15:47 -0400

I lost focus after French Open title, says Li

Fri, 25 May 2012 09:33:49 -0400

PARIS (Reuters) - The distractions of being French Open champion led to six wasted months, said 2011 winner Li Na, who has finally found her form again in time to defend her title next week. "I lost a lot of time (after the title)," the Chinese player, who is seeded seventh in Paris this year, told a news conference after attending the draw ceremony on Friday. Li, who became the first player from an Asian nation to win a grand-slam tennis tournament when she beat Italian Francesca Schiavone in last year's final in Paris, failed to win more than two matches in a row for the rest of the season. ...

I lost focus after French Open title, says Li

Fri, 25 May 2012 08:44:45 -0400

Djokovic, Federer could meet in French SF again

Fri, 25 May 2012 06:49:07 -0400

Novak Djokovic's bid to win a fourth consecutive Grand Slam championship — and first at the French Open — might require a semifinal victory over Roger Federer.

All eyes on Nadal, Djokovic as French Open nears

Thu, 24 May 2012 13:06:05 -0400

Rafael Nadal's white T-shirt carried specks of rust-colored clay and his white socks were smothered with the stuff during a practice session on Court Philippe Chatrier in the steamy early afternoon Thursday.

France's Monfils pulls out of French Open

Thu, 24 May 2012 12:16:34 -0400

PARIS (Reuters) - World number 13 Gael Monfils has pulled out of the French Open because of a right knee injury, the French tennis federation (FFT) said on Thursday. The injury-prone Frenchman, who lost to Roger Federer in the quarter-finals at the claycourt grand slam event last year, will be out of action for three weeks. Monfils has been struggling with his form in recent weeks and suffered a shock defeat to unheralded American Brian Baker in the second round at Nice on Wednesday. The French Open starts at Roland Garros on Sunday.

France's Monfils pulls out of French Open

Thu, 24 May 2012 12:14:44 -0400

Sharapova and Serena head to Paris as favorites

Thu, 24 May 2012 06:23:04 -0400

(Reuters) - Based on form alone, Maria Sharapova enters the French Open as favorite to complete her career grand slam, a surprising turn of events for the Miami-based Russian whose relationship with the red dust has not always been a happy one. Her recent title in Rome, where she defeated 2011 French Open champion Li Na in the final, coupled with her resounding victory over world number one Victoria Azarenka to win Stuttgart a few weeks earlier means she is 12-1 for the claycourt swing and sliding into Paris full of joie de vivre. ...

Sharapova and Serena head to Paris as favourites

Thu, 24 May 2012 06:18:33 -0400

(Reuters) - Based on form alone, Maria Sharapova enters the French Open as favourite to complete her career grand slam, a surprising turn of events for the Miami-based Russian whose relationship with the red dust has not always been a happy one. Her recent title in Rome, where she defeated 2011 French Open champion Li Na in the final, coupled with her resounding victory over world number one Victoria Azarenka to win Stuttgart a few weeks earlier means she is 12-1 for the claycourt swing and sliding into Paris full of joie de vivre. ...

Isner carries slim US hopes in French Open tennis

Wed, 23 May 2012 21:40:56 -0400

John Isner, better known for taking more than 11 hours to win a Wimbledon match in 2010, leads American hopes at the French Open of ending an agonising 33-tournament wait for a Grand Slam men's title winner.

Clijsters to retire again after US Open

Wed, 23 May 2012 02:17:08 -0400

(Reuters) - Former world number one Kim Clijsters has confirmed that she will bring down the curtain on her second career at the end of this year's U.S. Open, Belgian news agency Belga has reported. The 28-year-old came out of retirement in 2009 after more than two years out of the sport, winning three more grand slam titles to take her career tally to four. Injury, which has hampered the Belgian throughout her career, has already forced her to pull out of the upcoming French Open and on Tuesday she said the August 27-September 9 U.S. Open would be her last tournament. ...

Clijsters to retire again after U.S. Open

Tue, 22 May 2012 22:31:15 -0400

Djokovic, Nadal in Rome Masters final rematch

Sat, 19 May 2012 17:08:53 -0400

World number one and defending champion Novak Djokovic swept past Roger Federer on Saturday to set up a Rome Masters final rematch with five-time winner Rafael Nadal.

Memorable: Man City's win among top comebacks

Tue, 15 May 2012 06:05:29 -0400

exciting, thrilling, stunning, heart-stopping.

Federer banishes clay blues to win Madrid Open

Mon, 14 May 2012 02:11:00 -0400

MADRID (Reuters) - Roger Federer left a lasting impression on the Madrid Open's controversial blue claycourt when the Swiss maestro ground out a thrilling 3-6 7-5 7-5 victory over Czech Tomas Berdych to match Rafa Nadal's record of 20 Masters titles on Sunday. Spaniard Nadal, who crashed out in the third round and will lose his number two ranking to his great rival, was one of the most vocal opponents of the new surface, which he said was dangerously slippery. ...

In-form Federer eyeing return to tennis summit

Mon, 14 May 2012 02:09:48 -0400

MADRID (Reuters) - After capturing the Madrid Open title and knowing he will climb back above Rafa Nadal to number two in the world, Roger Federer has set his sights on reclaiming the top ranking. The resurgent 30-year-old Swiss came from a set down to beat Tomas Berdych in the Madrid final on Sunday, a fourth title of the year and a third in the Spanish capital that put him level on 20 Masters crowns with great rival Nadal. ...

Federer rallies to beat Berdych in Madrid final

Sun, 13 May 2012 20:14:17 -0400

Roger Federer won the Madrid Open for the third time Sunday, rallying past Tomas Berdych 3-6, 7-5, 7-5 on the new blue clay court and overtaking Rafael Nadal for the No. 2 ranking.

Federer, Serena hammer out French Open threat

Sun, 13 May 2012 16:59:04 -0400

Roger Federer and Serena Williams took home trophies on Sunday from the Madrid Masters, with the pair of veteran champions hoping to channel their clay success into more glory at Roland Garros.

Serena humbles Azarenka to win Madrid Open title

Sun, 13 May 2012 11:54:27 -0400

MADRID (Reuters) - A fired-up Serena Williams sent out a warning to the young pretenders of women's tennis when she powered to a crushing 6-1 6-3 victory over world number one Victoria Azarenka to win the Madrid Open on Sunday. The 30-year-old former number one, seeded ninth at the premier clay event in the Spanish capital, extended her winning streak to 13 matches and looks to be coming into top form right on time for the French Open starting later this month. ...

Serena humbles Azarenka to win Madrid Open title

Sun, 13 May 2012 11:44:35 -0400

Federer topples Tipsarevic to reach Madrid final

Sat, 12 May 2012 21:22:25 -0400

MADRID (Reuters) - Roger Federer moved a step closer to a record-equaling 20th Masters title when he thumped Janko Tipsarevic 6-2 6-3 at the Madrid Open on Saturday to set up a final showdown with Tomas Berdych.

Djokovic toppled by Tipsarevic in Madrid

Sat, 12 May 2012 04:13:10 -0400

MADRID (Reuters) - Novak Djokovic's frustration with the controversial blue clay at the Madrid Masters reached new heights after the world number one was beaten 7-6 6-3 by fellow Serb Janko Tipsarevic in the quarter-finals on Friday. Djokovic and world number two Rafa Nadal, who was dumped out by Spanish compatriot Fernando Verdasco on Thursday, have complained bitterly all week about the slippery nature of the showcourt surface. ...

Djokovic toppled by Tipsarevic in Madrid

Fri, 11 May 2012 17:57:29 -0400

How do you solve a problem like Maria? Ask Serena

Fri, 11 May 2012 15:42:51 -0400

MADRID (Reuters) - Serena Williams maintained her vice-like hold over Maria Sharapova on Friday, sweeping to a seventh successive victory over the world number two to reach the Madrid Open semi-finals. The ninth-seeded American powered through 6-1 6-3 and next plays Czech qualifier Lucie Hradecka while world number one Victoria Azarenka will meet third-ranked Agnieszka Radwanska for the sixth time this year. Williams extended her record against Sharapova to eight wins in 10 meetings since they first clashed in Miami in 2004. ...

American Tennis Rallies for Military Families With ThanksUSA

Wed, 09 May 2012 13:18:07 -0400

WASHINGTON, May 9, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- ThanksUSA today announced that Women's Tennis Association (WTA) No. 1 Doubles Player and US Open Doubles Champion Lisa Raymond will serve as a national spokesperson for the charity, which aims to thank America's troops through the gift of education. Ms. Raymond is partnering with Men's Doubles Champions Bob and Mike Bryan to team with tennis clubs, professionals, players and fans around the world to help provide ThanksUSA scholarships to military families.

Djokovic slams blue clay after edging Madrid opener

Tue, 08 May 2012 16:29:35 -0400

MADRID (Reuters) - World number one Novak Djokovic lashed out at Madrid Open organizers and the ATP over the event's controversial blue clay courts after fighting off Spanish qualifier Daniel Gimeno-Traver 6-2 2-6 6-3 in the second round on Tuesday. The defending champion, back in action after a two-week break following the death of his grandfather, said it was "impossible to move" on the Manolo Santana show court and accused tennis officials of ignoring players' concerns. ...

Halle...where the streets have Roger's name

Tue, 08 May 2012 10:51:14 -0400

BERLIN (Reuters) - The small German town of Halle, known around the world for the grass court tennis event dominated by Roger Federer, has paid tribute to its biggest ambassador by naming a street after the 16-times Grand Slam champion. The road leading to the tournament stadium has been renamed after the Swiss, who has won the Halle title five times. "It was this personal commitment to us and the fact that he is highly respected the world over that led us to consider how we could honour him," tournament director Ralf Weber said on Tuesday. ...

Azarenka and Sharapova motor through in Madrid

Tue, 08 May 2012 10:48:50 -0400

MADRID (Reuters) - Top seeds Victoria Azarenka and Maria Sharapova made serene progress past Czech opponents into the third round of the Madrid Open tennis on Tuesday. Azarenka dispatched Andrea Hlavackova 6-3 7-6 and Sharapova saw off Klara Zakopalova 6-4 6-3. Sharapova, who beat world number one Azarenka in the Stuttgart final last month, was first up on the unfamiliar blue clay of the Manolo Santana show court, a controversial innovation at this year's edition of the event that has prompted mixed reactions from players. ...

Struggling Venus crashes out of Madrid Open tennis

Tue, 08 May 2012 01:34:37 -0400

Seven-time grand slam-winner Venus Williams crashed out of the Madrid Open as men's top seed Novak Djokovic slammed tennis chiefs for not consulting players over a controversial new blue surface.

Tennis Legend Billie Jean King to address National Press Club, May 9

Sun, 06 May 2012 22:30:12 -0400

WASHINGTON, May 6, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Tennis great Billie Jean King, winner of 39 Grand Slam singles, doubles and mixed doubles tennis titles, including a record 20 titles at Wimbledon, will announce the U.S. Tennis Association's "10 and Under Tennis Initiative" at a National Press Club Speakers Luncheon on May 9.

Federer has no fear of Big Blue in Madrid

Sun, 06 May 2012 15:44:11 -0400

Blue clay courts at the Madrid Masters hold no fears for former champion Roger Federer, with the confident Swiss insisting on Sunday that he will be ready for any conditions when he begins play in the second round.