Men and Women Tennis Update – Davis Cup, Charleston, Monterrey

Written by: Staff on 3rd April 2013

Sony Open tennis tournament on Key Biscayne, Florida

Men and Women Tennis Update - Davis Cup, Charleston, Monterrey

epa03645608 Serena Williams of the US returns the ball to Maria Sharapova of Russia during their women's final match at the Sony Open tennis tournament in Miami, Florida, USA, 30 March 2013. Williams defeated Sharapova. EPA/ERIK S. LESSER |

Men Tennis Update – DAVIS CUP

Host Americans as well as visiting Serbs were getting used to the 850-metre altitude of Boise, Idaho, unlikely venue for the weekend Davis Cup quarter-final tie between the US and the European side. With Novak Djokovic leading the Serb attack and American big men Sam Querrey and John Isner both off their games, the competition is looking extremely level.

But that’s where captain Jim Courier hopes to pull off a win by catching the visitors out with the altitude of the small-town capital of one of the least-known parts of the US. “We all sat down with the players and looked at what we thought could give us the best possible advantage playing against a really difficult team in Serbia,” said Courier,

“Our team is an aggressive team, we like to serve well. The ball travels through the air a lot faster. This (Boise) is mid-level altitude, this isn’t super high altitude, say like a Denver. It’s controllable altitude. But the ball will move through the court, bounce higher, get onto the players quicker. It’s typically pretty good for an offensive player.”

Djokovic has had time off for a week now after losing early in Miami against Tommy Haas in the fourth round. Other ties include Canada v Italy in Vancouver, Argentina facing France in Buenos Aires and a depleted Czech Republic travelling into central Asia for a tie with Kazakhstan.

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Women Tennis Update:

CHARLESTON

It was a surprisingly smooth swap from hardcourt of Miami to the Charleston clay for Serena Williams, who took advantage of a bye to reach the third round with an opening defeat of Italian Camila Giorgi 6-2, 6-3.

Williams, the world No.1, is defending her title on the hybrid Har-Tru green clay before getting serious on the real-deal red stuff in Europe prior to the French Open. While not on peak form, William was able to get the job done to win her 11th straight match at the tournament in which she last appeared in 2012 proceeded by 2008. Williams was helped by a dozen double-faults from her 85th-ranked opponent,

Romanian Sorana Cirstea joined Williams in advancing when Spanish opponent Anabel Medina Garrigues pulled up injured for their second-round contest and also withdrew from doubles due to a knee injury.

In the first round, Serbia’s Miami semi-finalist Jelena Jankovic, the ninth seed who once stood world No.1, beat one-time American hope Melanie Oudin 6-4, 5-6, 6-4 while German Julia Goerges, the No. 10, led compatriot Sabine Lisicki to a win. Goerges beat Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan 6-3, 6-3; Lisicki defeated Anna Tatishvili without the loss of a game.

British teenager Laura Robson got straight to work after playing the Miami doubles final, starting out her week by beating Estrella Cabeza Candela of Spain 6-2, 6-2. Two more Americans advanced at home as Vania King upset 14th seed Yaroslava Shvedova 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 and Madison Keys stopped Alexandra Cadantu 7-6(3), 6-4.

MONTERREY

Japan’s Ayumi Morita was the only seed on court in early matches, with the No.8 advancing over Jana Cepelova of Slovakia), 6-0 6-1. Upcoming Serb prospect Jovana Jaksic put out Russian Vera Dushevina in a struggle, 4-6, 7-6(4), 7-6(2).

British-coached teen Donna Vekic (Croatia) claimed her third main-draw win of the season as she beat American Julia Cohen 6-0 6-4. Russian Alla Kudryavtseva advanced over Czech Eva Birnerova 6-4 6-3 and Miami qualifying lucky loser who got to the third round last week in Florida, won 6-2 when Russian Olga Puchkova retired.

Topics: Ayumi Morita, Camila Giorgi, Charleston tennis news, Davis Cup, Donna Vekic, Laura Robson, Monterrey tennis news, Serena Williams, Sorana Cirstea, Sports, Tennis News