Clijsters overcomes stumble to advance

NEW YORK - Defending champion Kim Clijsters struggled to find her footing on a windy day before recovering in time to win her 15th straight match at the U.S. Open.

The second-seeded Belgian beat Hungary's Greta Arn 6-0, 7-5 in the first round Monday. She fell behind 4-0 in the second set, and the 104th-ranked Arn had a chance to serve out the set at 5-4. But Clijsters got the break, then did it again to clinch the straight-set victory.

"I'm just glad to finish that second set off and not let it go three sets," she said.

Story continues below ↓advertisement | your ad here

Clijsters said she had some trouble adjusting her strokes when she was playing with or against the wind. What wasn't troubling her much was the left hip that bothered her during a tuneup tournament earlier this month.

A year ago, Clijsters was a wild-card entry in only her third tournament back after 2 1/2 years away from the sport. Now she's one of the favorites to win the Open.

Melanie Oudin and Francesca Schiavone also know how quickly perceptions can change. Oudin struggled with higher expectations since her crowd-pleasing run to the U.S. Open quarterfinals last year. So did Schiavone after her breakthrough French Open title in June.

But neither showed any signs of the pressure in cruising to dominant first-round wins.

Oudin, the 18-year-old from Marietta, Ga., needed just 56 minutes to beat Olga Savchuk of Ukraine 6-3, 6-0. Schiavone, the Italian who won her first Grand Slam weeks before her 30th birthday, dispatched Ayumi Morita of Japan 6-1, 6-0 in 58 minutes.

If anything, Schiavone seems to be having fun in the spotlight. Asked why she's a fan favorite, she playfully replied, "I attract them because I'm beautiful."

Schiavone acknowledged that maybe she's a bit more motivated at a Grand Slam than at other tournaments. She was pleased that her first-round match was in the grandstand -- a year ago, she was relegated to an outer court.

"I like to do it, because adrenaline is coming up and I enjoy much more than play in faraway court," she said with a laugh. "Maybe because I am 30 years old and now I want to enjoy with people."

Also in action on Day 1 were former No. 1s Dinara Safina and Ana Ivanovic, as well as Sam Stosur, who lost to Schiavone in the French Open final.

 Video 

  Who will step up in Serena's absence?
Aug. 24: Tiffany Simons and Harry Cicma look at the women's draw of the upcoming U.S. Open.

NBC Sports

 

 

The 43rd-ranked Oudin won the last nine games against Savchuk, a 143rd-ranked qualifier. Oudin's success last year earned her the opening match in Ashe, where the sparse crowd gave her a warm ovation when she took the court a little after 11 a.m.

Oudin snapped a four-match losing streak and won for only the fifth time in her past 18 matches. A year ago, she became the darling of the tournament, upsetting Maria Sharapova and Elena Dementieva en route to becoming the youngest U.S. Open quarterfinalist since Serena Williams in 1999.

Schiavone, seeded No. 6, had been just 3-6 since winning at Roland Garros. She lost in the first round at Wimbledon and dropped her opening match at three other tournaments. Her only three victories came against opponents outside the top 65.

Schiavone had no difficulty against the 83rd-ranked Morita, facing just one break point and hitting 28 winners.

Russia's Dementieva, the No. 12 seed, also advanced easily, beating Olga Govortsova of Belarus 6-1, 6-2.

Also on NBCSports.com

  Fantasy football: Ranking the top QBs to draft
NCAA FB: ’Bama-Florida new top rivalry  |  Preseason Top 25
Little League: Japan ends U.S. streak  |    Images
PHT: Is Crosby really a dirty player?  |    Images
Twitter: Follow us @nbc_sports

 

© 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Ivanovic, Radwanska advance at StanfordGuardiola fined for ref rant

Wozniacki edges Schnyder in Montreal

MONTREAL (AP) - Second-seeded Caroline Wozniacki edged Patty Schnyder 7-5, 7-5 Wednesday at the Rogers Cup.

The Dane won the match played mostly from the baseline against the Swiss veteran. Wozniacki improved her career record to 4-1 against the 52nd-ranked Schnyder.

The second-ranked Wozniacki will face Flavia Pennetta, who defeated Russian Alisa Kleybanova 6-3, 6-3.

Story continues below ↓advertisement | your ad here

Seventh-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland defeated Vania King of the United States 6-0, 6-3.

Dinara Safina, the 2008 winner in Montreal, won an all-Russian match against Nadia Petrova 7-5, 4-6, 6-4. The former No. 1 is playing her fourth tournament since a lower back injury sidelined her in November.

Kimiko Date Krumm withdrew with a strained left quadriceps, allowing 17th-seeded Marion Bartoli of France to advance. Bartoli will play Iveta Benesova on Thursday.

The Japanese veteran withdrew from the second-round match after reaching the main draw as the "lucky loser" from the qualifying tournament and defeating Monica Niculescu in the first round.

The 39-year-old Date Krumm returned in 2008 after a 12-year retirement, winning last year's Korea Open to become the second-oldest player after Billie Jean King to win an official event.

Wozniacki, a winner two weeks ago in her hometown of Copenhagen, passed Jelena Jankovic this week for the No. 2 spot in the rankings.

© 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Guardiola fined for ref rantWozniacki advances to Danish Open quarters

Federer hopes to start comeback in Toronto

TORONTO (AP) - Since his last competitive match, Roger Federer has fought off aches and illness, fallen from No. 1 in the rankings and hired a coach.

Now his body feels better. Whether his game is improved will be seen starting Tuesday, when he begins play at the Rogers Cup in the second round.

"Being ranked No. 3 in the world is something I haven't been in a very long time," Federer said Monday. "I'm doing all the right things. It's, to me, just a matter of time. But guys are getting good and it's inspiring for me also to get better."

Story continues below ↓advertisement | your ad here

Federer has won 62 singles titles on the ATP World Tour, but only one this year.

He took the Australian Open in January - his 16th Grand Slam title - but was forced to withdraw from a tournament in Dubai the following month with a lung infection. He has not played competitively since his quarterfinal loss to Tomas Berdych at Wimbledon in June.

He has spent several weeks working with Paul Annacone, whose former pupils include Pete Sampras and Marat Safin.

"I don't think I was frustrated after my loss from Wimbledon," Federer said. "I was disappointed that my body wasn't holding up and that Berdych played such a good match and that I couldn't defend my Wimbledon dream again."

The third-seeded Federer will face Juan Ignacio Chela, who beat Alejandro Falla 6-1, 6-3 Monday.

In other matches, Sergiy Stakhovsky defeated Richard Gasquet 7-5, 6-1, Tommy Robredo topped Jarkko Nieminen 6-1, 6-4, Kevin Anderson beat Leonardo Mayer 7-6 (2), 6-4, Julian Benneteau ousted Denis Istomin 6-4, 6-4 and Victor Hanescu beat 19-year-old Canadian wild-card entry Milos Raonic 6-4, 6-4.

© 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Deschamps rules out salesFederer gets tested again at Wimbledon

Nadal-Federer final as appealing as ever in Canada

TORONTO - A Rafa Nadal-Roger Federer final remains one of the most mouthwatering matches in tennis and the Spaniard set the stage for another classic showdown on Friday, calling his rival on the other side of the Canada Masters draw.

Back on top of the world rankings, a relaxed Nadal fittingly conducted the draw for the August 9-15 tournament high up in Toronto's CN Tower where his first task was to pick either Federer or Briton Andy Murray to line up alongside him.

Staring at the two chips, a playful Nadal laughed when placing Federer with second seed Novak Djokovic on the other side of the bracket, leaving himself with the prospect of a semi-final against defending champion Murray.

Story continues below ↓advertisement | your ad here

Federer and the CN Tower -- once the world's tallest free-standing structure -- have slipped in the rankings but both remain popular attractions in Canada.

The Swiss maestro has hoisted the Canada trophy twice in 2004 and 2006, matched by the Spaniard's 2005 and 2008 titles, but the two have never faced off on Canadian hardcourts.

Back in action for the first time since his triumph at the All England Club, Nadal was focusing more on adding an elusive U.S. Open trophy to his Wimbledon and French Open titles this year rather than another clash with his great rival.

PUNISHING SURFACE

"It's a very important part of the season and for me every tournament is very important," Nadal told reporters.

"Winning three grand slams, and we are speaking about the U.S. Open, is going to be a goal but I can only try my best all the time.

"For me this tournament is the most important thing."

The North American hardcourt campaign has proved the most punishing part of the season for Nadal, the unforgiving surface exacting a heavy toll on his fragile knees.

But this year Nadal comes into the event rested after taking three weeks off to undergo what he called "prevention treatment," a break that included watching Spain win the soccer World Cup in South Africa.

He returned to practice about 10 days ago but continues to ease back into action, and said he would warm up for the tournament by playing a round of golf on Saturday.

In contrast to Federer, who faces his Wimbledon conqueror Tomas Berdych and 2007 champion Djokovic, Nadal's draw has fewer hurdles, a possible quarter-final against eighth seed Andy Roddick likely to be the first major test.

The Spaniard takes on either Canadian wild card Frank Dancevic or Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka after a first-round bye.

"I feel good," said Nadal. "I had a very good grass court season, clay court season and I was in the semi-finals in Indian Wells and Miami.

"I am feeling confident in my body. I am thinking about my tennis not my body.

"Right now I am (in) perfect condition."

Copyright 2010 Reuters. Click for restrictions.

VenusВ to skip Cincinnati Open with knee injuryBaggies snub Valero bid

VenusВ to skip Cincinnati Open with knee injury

CINCINNATI - Seven-times grand slam winner Venus Williams pulled out of next week's Cincinnati Open with a knee injury, the tournament's organizers said on Friday.

Williams, disappointed to miss out after making her debut in the event last year, said she experienced pain in her knee last week after returning to her normal practice schedule.

"My medical advisors and physio have recommended that I refrain from competition until I am pain free," Williams, whose sister and world number one Serena will not be competing, said in a statement released by the organizers.

Story continues below ↓advertisement | your ad here

"Unfortunately, I am not at a point where I can commit to competing next week."

Despite losing Williams, the event still boasts eight top 10 players on the WTA Tour, and 26 of the Top 30, including defending champion and top seed Jelena Jankovic, defending U.S. Open champion Kim Clijsters, and three-time grand slam champion Maria Sharapova.

The main draw action begins on Monday with the final on August 15. The men's tournament takes place the following week and features Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Andy Roddick.

Copyright 2010 Reuters. Click for restrictions.

Henrique returns to RacingDel Potro unable to defend U.S. Open title?

Wozniacki advances to Danish Open quarters

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) -Top-seeded Caroline Wozniacki rallied from a set down to reach the Danish Open quarterfinals with a 4-6, 6-2, 6-0 win Thursday over Iveta Benesova of the Czech Republic.

The 3rd-ranked Wozniacki was broken five times in the first set, where only one of the games went with serve. But the third-ranked Dane then found her stride and held serve the rest of the way, adding two breaks in the second set and three in the third.

Wozniacki will face fifth-seeded Julia Goerges of Germany for a spot in the semifinals.

Story continues below ↓advertisement | your ad here

In other second-round matches, Slovakia's Polana Hercog rallied to beat Britain's Anne Keothavong 4-6, 6-0, 6-4, Anna Chakvetadze ousted fellow Russian Anna Lapushchenkova 6-3, 6-4 and Sorona Cirstea of Romania overcame Slovenia's Katarina Srebotnik 7-5, 4-6, 6-2.

© 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Rafael open to Prem switchDolgopolov, Chela reach 2nd round at Croatia Open

Serena Williams, Isner to combine for Hopman Cup

PERTH, Australia (AP) -No. 1-ranked Serena Williams will combine with John Isner to represent the United States in a star-studded field at the Hopman Cup international mixed teams tennis tournament in January.

Williams and Isner will join the Serbian pair of Novak Djokovic and Ana Ivanovic, Belgium's Justine Henin, Australia's Lleyton Hewitt and France's Gael Monfils in the tournament which runs Jan. 1-8.

Djokovic won the Australian Open in 2008 after reaching the Hopman Cup final with Jelena Jankovic and says the tournament provides an ideal prelude to the season's first Grand Slam event.

Story continues below ↓advertisement | your ad here

"I'm looking forward to going back to the Hopman Cup," Djokovic said. "For me it was a good preparation for the Australian Open."

Williams will partner Isner, the 6-foot-9 American best known for winning the longest match in professional tennis history. He beat Frenchman Nicolas Mahut 70-68 in the fifth set of their 11-hour, 5-minute first-round match at Wimbeldon this year.

World No. 17 Monfils will be partnered by 2009 junior world No.1 Kristina Mladenovic and world No. 14 Henin by Steven Darcis. Sam Stosur has yet to confirm whether she will partner Hewitt in the Australian team as she did in last year's tournament.

Tournament director Paul McNamee said he was still hopeful of attracting world No. 4 Andy Murray, who reached the final of last year's tournament with teenager Laura Robson.

"It's a spectacular lineup," McNamee said. "There is potential for some really great match-ups for both the men and the women, not to mention the mixed."

------

Confirmed lineups:

United States: Serena Williams, John Isner.

Serbia: Ana Ivanovic, Novak Djokovic

Belgium: Justine Henin, Steve Darcis.

France: Kristina Mladenovic, Gael Monfils.

© 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Fish outlasts Isner to win Atlanta finalGuardiola fined for ref rant

Roddick has long known he'd excel on hard courts

WASHINGTON (AP) -Andy Roddick has known since early in his career this would be the time of year he'd excel.

This is when the tennis circuit moves to hard courts, leading up to the U.S. Open, adding zip to his serves and forehands, the foundations upon which his game is built.

His first quarterfinal at an ATP tournament came at age 17 on a hard court at the Legg Mason Tennis Classic, and 14 of Roddick's 29 career titles came on the surface. Three titles came in Washington, where as the No. 2-seeded player he has a first-round bye. Roddick's first match this year is Tuesday night against Benjamin Becker or Grega Zemlja.

Story continues below ↓advertisement | your ad here

On Monday, Igor Kunitsyn beat Kei Nishikori 6-2, 6-3 in a match between qualifiers.

© 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Guardiola fined for ref rantFederer gets tested again at Wimbledon