Men and Women Tennis Updates (4/2)

Written by: Staff on 2nd April 2013

Sony Open tennis tournament on Key Biscayne, Florida

Men and Women Tennis Updates (4/2)

epa03640668 John Isner of the USA returns the ball against Marin Cilic of Croatia during their third round match at the Sony Open tennis tournament in Miami, Florida, USA, 25 March 2013. EPA/RHONA WISE |

DAVIS CUP

Quarter-final play at the worldwide team event begins on Friday, with Serbia’s visit to the outpost of Boise, Idaho one of the picks of the week. With the visitors led by No. 1 Novak Djokovic and the American men short seemingly on form after early Miami losses from John Isner and Sam Querrey, the tie could well be wide open.

In Vancouver, Canada can again count on Milos Raonic against Italy after his recovery from the virus which forced him to quit the Miami event for a second year in succession. Argentina host France in Buenos Aires without Juan Del Potro, who has opted out for this season and is reportedly dealing with family problems after an early Miami loss following his Indian Wells final on hardcourt against Rafael Nadal.

The last other tie features holder the Czech Republic travelling to Kazakhstan without lynchpin Tomas Berdych, out with a shoulder injury he suffered last week. Radek Stepanek, the other half of the dynamic duo which engineered last Novembers knockout of Spain in the final, will see doubles play only after his January surgery for a neck problem.

CHARLESTON

Bethanie Mattek-Sands won the longest match played so far on the WTA this season, an emotional and drama-filled defeat of Australian Anastasia Rodionova 6-4, 6-7(4), 7-6(3). The epic in 3:43 broke all records for 2013 as Rodionova threw in a few tantrums – including an unprecedented eruption at a trainer who had come to the court.

Americans picked up three additional wins as No. 12 Varvara Lepchenko beat compatriot Christina McHale 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 and Grace Min added another loss to the sad season of 13th seed Tamira Paszek, winning 6-3 when the injured Austrian could not continue. New pro Mallory Burdette defeated France’s Kristina Mladenovic 6-1, 1-6, 6-0. Canadian Eugenie Bouchard, the junior Wimbledon champion, stopped Italian Nastassja Burnett 6-2, 6-3.

The green clay tournament on Har-Tru is headlined by Miami champion Serena Williams, who flew in after her win at Crandon park over Maria Sharapova to defend her title from last season. Sister Venus is also entered. Former No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki takes the second seeding behind Serena while Australian Samantha Stosur will test a calf injury which forced her to miss the Miami hardcourt date.

In other results: Swiss Stefanie Voegele beat Brazil’s Teliana Pereira 4-6, 6-2, 6-4, while American Jamie Hampton lost. Former French Open winner Francesca Schiavone of Italy went out in the firs round a victim of Silvia Soler-Espinosa of Spain 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(6).

MONTERREY

In the rescheduled Mexican hardcourt tournament, qualifying took up much of the programme, with a handful of first round results are included. Seventh seed Urszula Radwanska began over American Maria Sanchez 6-2, 2-6, 6-2 while Kazak Galina Voskoboeva beat Greek Eleni Daniilidou 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 and Monica Niculescu defeated over-40 Japanese Kimiko Date-Krumm 6-2, 2-1 when the veteran had to quit.

The tournament lost a top drawcard as Victoria Azarenka withdrew last week due to the foot injury which has bothered her for two months, leaving German Angelique Kerber as top seed ahead of Marion Bartoli – who has announced another coaching change. Maria Kirilenko is third seed while wildcard Ana Ivanovic is fourth.