2013 Tennis Thread

[Smallville22]

Tsonga dumped out of Japan Open

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga slumped out of the Japan Open at the second round following a 6-4 7-6 loss to Ivan Dodig.
The world number eight only returned to action last week having picked up a knee injury at Wimbledon in June.
And Tsonga, who beat Gael Monfils in the first round, struggled throughout as a dogged Dodig forced the Frenchman into a number of unforced errors.
Dodig took the second set and match courtesy of a Tsonga forehand that found the net in the tie-break.
"I'm not shocked by this result," the second seed told reporters.
"This game is difficult enough with two legs. With one and a half it's complicated."
Top seed Juan Martin del Potro overcame Carlos Berlocq 6-2 6-2 to secure his spot in the quarter-finals.
Del Potro just lost eight points on his serve to and converted four of his seven break point opportunities to ease into the next round.
"I played better than yesterday, which was pleasing," said del Potro. "I hit my forehand really strong and I was confident, able to break serve many times.
"Playing under a closed roof is a little different to the outdoor conditions, but it helps my game and especially my serve."

 

[Smallville22]

Li sets up Kvitova showdown in China

Home favourite Li Na overcame Germany's Sabine Lisicki 7-5 6-4 at the China Open on Wednesday to set up a quarter-final showdown with former Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova.
Czech Kvitova, who won the Japan Open last weekend, overcame Italian fifth seed Sara Errani 6-4 6-7(3) 6-3 in their third round clash at the prestigious $5 million Beijing tournament.
"I felt like I played very well at the beginning of each set, but then there were some turning points and she would start playing better, and I would make some easy mistakes," Kvitova told the WTA website.
"It was really up and down today - a big fight - but I expected that. I just kept fighting and I'm happy to win today."
Li, the first Asian to win a Grand Slam singles title when she triumphed at the 2011 French Open, had the crowd happy as she scored a break in her 13th seeded opponent's first service game.
The world number five ran in to trouble though as she attempted to serve out the set as Lizicki broke back to level at 5-5 only for Li to break again and win it 7-5.
Another break came midway through the second set as Li wrapped it up 6-4 despite a match total of seven double faults. That serving issue will need to be resolved if she is to find a way past in-form Kvitova.
"It's always tough to play against her - she has a huge, big serve, and also forehand," Li said.
"She broke my rhythm a little bit today. I need three or four shots to get my rhythm, and sometimes she just comes and shoots the ball in one shot. So I was a little bit shocked, but I'm really happy to win.
"I don't think either of us played to the best of our ability, but we worked really hard on the court, and I'm very glad to see that no matter how close the score was, I stayed calm and controlled myself."
World number one Serena Williams is back in action on Thursday when she takes on Maria Kirilenko in the third round.
There were also several second-round matches on Wednesday as world number four Agnieszka Radwanska eased through to the last 16 courtesy of a 6-3 6-2 win over Madison Keys, while Ana Ivanovic was shocked by Polona Hercog.
Radwanska beat Keys at this year’s Wimbledon and saw off her challenge in one hour and 15 minutes.
In a ruthless first set, Radwanska converted her only break point to take the set 6-3 before three breaks of serve were enough to secure a straight sets win over her talented American counterpart.
"I played her at Wimbledon a few months ago, so I kind of knew what to expect, especially the big serve," Radwanska told the WTA website. "We played a really long three set match there. She was really serving unbelievable.
"So I knew I had to stand two steps backwards to reach that serve. But I don't think her percentage of first serves was as good as the matches before - it was a little bit easier for me today.
"But she's one of the youngest talented players coming out. Last year I was asked me to name which of the players can be the most dangerous to the top seeds, and I actually said it's Madison Keys, because she can play very good tennis.
"In a couple of years we're going to see her more often."
Former world number one Ivanovic, meanwhile, lost 6-4 6-4 to Slovenian qualifier Hercog, who broke once in each set and never faced a break point in a tight encounter.
"It was a big challenge for me to go out there on a big court and play against Ana Ivanovic, and I'm just really happy the way it turned out," Hercog said.
"It's probably one of the biggest victories for me. I beat (Marion) Bartoli before when she was Top 10, but Ana is on her way back so it's a very big win for me."
Other second-round matches on Wednesday saw eighth seed Jelena Jankovic beat Kazakh qualifier Galina Voskoboeva 6-3 5-7 6-3 in two-and-a-half hours, while Andrea Petkovic followed her first-round upset over Victoria Azarenka with a 4-6 6-4 6-1 win over twice China Open winner Svetlana Kuznetsova.

 

[Smallville22]

Nadal sets up Fognini clash in China

Rafa Nadal moved another step closer to regaining the top spot in the world rankings from Novak Djokovic after the Spaniard came through a tough tussle with Philipp Kohlschreiber in the China Open on Wednesday.
The 13-times Grand Slam champion beat the German 6-4 7-6(3) on the hard courts at the National Tennis Centre in Beijing to set up a quarter-final against Fabio Fognini of Italy.
Nadal needs to reach the final of the $2,315,250 tournament to take back the top ranking from Djokovic, who has finished the last two years as world number one.
The Spaniard has won 10 titles this year, including the French and U.S. Opens, after coming back from his latest spell on the sidelines to allow his troubled knees time to recover. He is now aiming to extend that brilliant run in Asia.
The 27-year-old traded breaks with Kohlschreiber early in the opening set on Wednesday before securing another in the 10th game when the German hit a forehand long.
The second set went with serve until a tiebreak where Nadal's serve helped him prevail 7-3 to rack up his 19th consecutive win since losing in the first round of Wimbledon to Belgian Steve Darcis.
"Today the serve, in my opinion, helped in the important moments," Nadal was quoted as saying by the ATP Tour.
"But it's true that his level of tennis I think was just brilliant tonight. I won because I played a great match. If not, I would not be here with a victory."
Fognini booked his last eight spot with a 6-0 6-2 thrashing of former world number one Lleyton Hewitt.
Big serving American John Isner was another second round winner as he prevailed 6-2 6-7(3) 6-4 over Spanish qualifier Roberto Bautista. He will next play Czech world number five Tomas Berdych who claimed a walkover over Russia's Nikolay Davydenko.
Djokovic is back on court on Thursday when he takes on Nadal's compatriot Fernando Verdasco in second round action.

 

[Smallville22]

Serena passes Kirilenko test to reach China quarters

World number one Serena Williams saved three set points on her way to edging Russian Maria Kirilenko 7-5 7-5 on Thursday to advance to the quarter-finals of the China Open with her 70th win of the season.
The top-seeded American had won all seven of her previous encounters against the 18th-ranked Kirilenko but was forced to dig deep on many occasions to ensure her eighth victory over the Russian would be completed in straight sets.
Kirilenko secured the first break of the match in the ninth game and had three set points on her serve in the next but Williams rallied to break back before sealing the set after her opponent double faulted.
"I just thought, 'what else can I do except fight for this point and the next point,'" Williams told the WTA website of the prospect of losing the first set.
"Maybe I got lucky a little bit - I just started to relax and kind of swing and not think about it too much out there. I'm obviously just really happy to get through this match today."
Williams fell behind again in the second set after being broken in the fifth game but the 17-time Grand Slam singles winner, who has won more than $9 million (£5.5 million) in prize money in 2013, rallied again to close out the set and the match.
Caroline Wozniacki set up a quarter-final encounter with Williams after she outlasted the American Sloane Stephens 6-3 6-1.
Earlier, eighth seeded Serb Jelena Jankovic dished up a double bagel 6-0 6-0 beating of Spaniard Carla Suarez Navarro to also advance to the last eight.

 

[Smallville22]

Djokovic battles past Verdasco to China quarters

Novak Djokovic beat Fernando Verdasco 7-5 2-6 6-2 to move into the quarter-finals of the China Open.
The defending champion, aiming for his fourth China Open title in five years after missing the 2011 tournament through injury, will lose the top spot next week if Spaniard Rafa Nadal reaches the final in Beijing.
In the quarter-finals, the Serb will face American Sam Querrey, who caused an upset by defeating sixth-seed Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka 6-3 7-6(2) in 76 minutes.
While much is being made of the No.1 battle the 26-year-old six-times Grand Slam champion insists winning, rather than ranking points, is his sole focus when he takes to the court.
"I try to do what I need to do, and that is to win the matches," Djokovic told a news conference.
"Rankings will change. They change all the time. Over the years it has been the case. But you can't think too much about it. Your job is to win as many matches as possible and the rankings will follow the results that you make."
The Serb wasted an early break of serve in the first set and had to wait for the final game to break Verdasco again and seal the opener.
Using his forehand to great effect Verdasco fought back, breaking Djokovic's serve twice in the second set to take the Serb into a centre court decider.
Reigning Australian Open champion Djokovic, without a title since the Monte Carlo Masters in April, quickly re-established his superiority to snuff out any chance of a shock.
"(It was a) lack of concentration from my side," Djokovic added. "I had some chances at the start of the second set, and I managed to allow him to come back into the match and start playing well.
"But, again, the important thing is that in the third set I regained the focus and the patience also, decreased the unforced errors, and managed to get a win, which is what counts."

 

[Smallville22]

Spain opt against renewing Corretja's Davis Cup contract

The Spanish tennis federation (RFET) has decided not to extend the contract of Davis Cup captain Alex Corretja when it expires at the end of this year.
Former world number one Carlos Moya, who retired from the ATP Tour at the end of 2010, will take over to prepare Spain for their opening World Group tie at home to Germany at the end of January, local media reported.
Juan Carlos Ferrero, another former number one, had also been considered for the job, they added.
Corretja succeeded Albert Costa, now RFET sporting director, as Davis Cup captain after Spain's triumph against Argentina in the 2011 final.
They were runners-up to Czech Republic last year before a depleted team missing injured talisman Rafa Nadal suffered a surprise defeat away to Canada in the 2013 first round.
Nadal, who like Moya is from the Balearic island of Mallorca, returned to help Spain retain their elite World Group status in a play-off against Ukraine this month.
Corretja said after the 5-0 victory in Madrid he would like to continue but the federation has decided on a fresh start.
"The RFET announces that, guided by the criteria of the sporting department and with the backing of the board of directors, it has been decided not to extend Alex Corretja's contract as captain of the men's national tennis team on Dec. 31," the federation said in a brief statement on Thursday.
In March 1999, Moya became the first Spaniard to rise to number one since the ATP rankings were introduced and held the spot for two weeks.
One of the finest moments of his Davis Cup career came in Seville in 2004 when he beat Andy Roddick to clinch the title against the United States.
Ferrero, who retired last year, helped the Iberian nation to their first triumph in the competition in 2000 and their subsequent victories in 2004 and 2009.

 

[Smallville22]

Nadal on brink of reclaiming top spot after Fognini scare

Rafa Nadal is one victory away from returning to the top of the world rankings after surviving a huge scare to beat Italian Fabio Fognini in the quarter-finals of the China Open on Friday.
The Spaniard will regain top spot if he reaches the final regardless of what current No.1 Novak Djokovic does in Beijing.
Djokovic, who needs to retain the title to have any chance of holding Nadal at bay, responded with a thumping 6-1 6-2 defeat of American Sam Querrey to set up a semi-final against Frenchman Richard Gasquet.
Nadal, who enlarged his Grand Slam singles haul to 13 this year by winning the French and U.S. Opens, has not been ranked one in the world since July 2011 but has produced a stunning run since returning from a long lay-off in February.
Fognini, ranked 19, nearly put a spanner in the works though before Nadal earned a 2-6 6-4 6-1 victory to reach the semis.
"It's (the number one ranking) something that doesn't create more pressure for me," Nadal, who will face fourth seed Tomas Berdych in the last four, said. "It's something that already happened in the past. If that happens again, good, it will be special for me, but we'll see.
"I am going to have a very tough opponent in front of me. In the end, it's another match. True, it's a little bit more special for the circumstances, but nothing else.
"It is not the moment to think about No. 1... it is the moment to think about Berdych."
Fognini was a point away from taking a 5-1 lead in the second set and an upset was well on the cards with Nadal seemingly troubled by a left-knee injury he suffered in the opening minutes of the match.
However, he found his form in the nick of time and the Italian managed just one more game.
The stylish Fognini dished out some brilliant groundstrokes in the opening set to break Nadal three times.
He continued his domination in the second set as he built a 4-1 lead but faltered with victory in sight.
Nadal blazed back to win the next five games and the 27-year-old strolled through the decider to stay on course for an 11th title of an incredible season.
"It's true that his level of tennis for a long time in the match was very, very high," Nadal added.
"When you are playing against an opponent playing well, the thing that you have to do is try to push him to the limit and try to make him play very well for a very, very long time.
"That's something that I was not doing for the first set and a half. Then the situation changed a little bit."
Djokovic needed only 52 minutes to dismantle Querrey as his love affair with Beijing continued.
The Serb has never lost a match at the tournament, winning the title in 2009, 2010 and 2012, only missing out in 2011 when he pulled out because of injury.

 

[Smallville22]

Almagro ends home hopes of Nishikori

Spaniard Nicolas Almagro hailed 'sushi power' as he overcame home favourite and defending champion Kei Nishikori in three tight sets in the Japan Open quarter-finals on Friday.
Almagro produced some stunning ground strokes to claim a 7-6(2) 5-7 6-3 victory at the Ariake Colosseum and set up a semi-final clash with Argentine top seed Juan Martin del Potro.
"He (Nishikori) lost set point in the first set and I played really aggressive after that," the Almagro told reporters.
"After that, the match was amazing and I am very happy, because I did a really good job today. It was sushi power."
Sixth seeded Almagro, still an outside bet for a place in the ATP's World Tour Finals in London next month, had trailed by two breaks at 4-1 in the opening set but clawed his way back and prevailed in a tiebreak.
A powerful backhand down the line from Nishikori, who won the title last year to become the first Japanese man to win on the ATP Tour, levelled the match at one set each but an injury hampered his progress in the decider.
The Japanese, ranked 13th in the world, had a medical time out at 2-1 in the third and then lost three straight games from 3-3 as Almagro claimed victory.
"I hurt my back and towards the end and it got to the point that I could not get back (in position) after I hit the ball," Nishikori said. "I'd like to say I did well under the circumstances, but results are what matter.
"I have had problems with my back for the last four or five years. I have hurt it again but it can't be helped. I think I have done well to get this far."
Del Potro needed three sets to overcome awkward Ukrainian Alexandr Dolgopolov 4-6 6-4 6-2 on the Tokyo hard courts.
In the other half of the draw Canadian Milos Raonic beat Slovakia's Lukas Lacko 6-3 6-3 as he tries to follow up his title run at last week's Thailand Open.
He will face Ivan Dodig in the last four after the unseeded Croat downed Jarkko Nieminen of Finland 6-2 7-6(3).

 

[Smallville22]

Williams breezes past Wozniacki to reach China semis

Serena Williams brushed aside former world number one Caroline Wozniacki 6-1 6-4 to advance to the semi-finals of the China Open on Friday.
The top-seeded American, who has won more than $9 million in prize money in 2013, broke Wozniacki twice to breeze through the first set in 26 minutes.
Williams continued her dominance in the second set, breaking Wozniacki in the first and third games to go up 4-0. The Dane fought back, closing the gap to 4-3, but it was not enough to stop Williams from winning the set 6-4.
"I felt I played really well tonight, especially in the first set," Williams told reporters. "I played well in the second set too, but I think Caroline just played so much better and she lifted her game so much.
"But I think overall it was the best performance I've had this week, which I'm excited about."
Third-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska will be up next for Williams, who took her number of wins in 2013 to 71.
Ninth-seeded Czech Petra Kvitova broke the hearts of the crowd when she rallied to beat home favourite Li Na, seeded fourth, 4-6 6-2 6-4.
The former Wimbledon champion set up a semi-final date with Serbian Jelena Jankovic, who won a two-hour, 36-minute match against Czech Lucie Safarova 6-7(3) 6-4 6-4.
Radwanska, who has never beaten Williams in their previous six meetings, defeated seventh-seeded German Angelique Kerber 7-6(7) 6-4 to complete the semi-final line-up.

 

[Smallville22]

Nadal returns to world number one

Rafael Nadal will return to the top of the world rankings after beating Thomas Berdych to reach the final of the China Open.
Serb Novak Djokovic, who will lose top spot when the new rankings are announced on Monday, will meet Frenchman Richard Gasquet in the second semi-final.
Berdych, trailing 2-4 in the opening set, tweaked his back while running for a backhand slice and needed a medical time out.
He did return to the court but after a few points decided he could no longer continue, handing the 27-year-old Spaniard an easy passage to Sunday's title round.
Nadal, who boosted his grand slam singles tally to 13 this year by winning the French and U.S. Opens, has not been ranked number one since July 2011 but has produced a stunning run since returning from a long injury lay-off in February.
"(This is) a great year, one of the best years of my career without any doubt," Nadal told reporters. "(It) sure is special be back to the top position of the rankings after more than a half year without playing tennis.
"At the end, it's just a number... What (makes) me happy is (everything) I did to be back where I am today."
He has lost two finals since his return, winning 10 tournaments and adding over $10 million (£6.2m) in prize money in 2013.
The semi-final victory extended Nadal's winning run to 21 matches and another win on Sunday will give him his first China Open title since 2005.
"(It) will be a great finish (to) the season if I am able to finish the season (at) the No. 1 spot," the Spaniard added. "For that, I am sure I need to win more matches if I want to be there."

 

[Smallville22]

Del Potro beats Almagro, faces Raonic in final

Juan Martin del Potro defeated Spaniard Nicholas Almagro 7-6(7) 7-6(1) to set up a final against Milos Raonic in the Rakuten Open.
Almagro started sluggishly and almost trailed 3-0 in the opener before finding his range and fighting back to draw level. The two continued to trade blows in an hour-long first under the closed roof at the Ariake Coliseum as a tie-break beckoned. Del Potro saved a set point in the breaker to finally come through and take the opening set.
Though the second stanza resulted in another tie-break, neither player was able to create a break point – both serving well. It was the Argentinean that again proved too hot for his Spanish opponent, changing up his serve to prevail.
The win sees del Potro through to his 22nd tour-level final after completing his 17th victory in 18 matches.

 

[Smallville22]

Del Potro sets up final clash with Raonic in Tokyo

Top seed Juan Martin del Potro beat Nicolas Almagro of Spain 7-6(7) 7-6(1) in the semi-final of the Japan Open on Saturday to set up a title clash with big-serving Milos Raonic of Canada.
In-form Raonic, who lost to home favourite Kei Nishikori in last year's final, defeated unseeded Ivan Dodig of Croatia 7-6(4) 6-1 in 84 minutes to reach his fourth final of the year.
Argentine del Potro, 25, prevailed in both the tie-breakers to beat sixth seed Almagro under a closed roof at the Ariake Coliseum in Tokyo in the second semi-final.
Raonic, who won his second title of the year at last week's Thailand Open, has neither dropped a set nor has been broken in his four matches in the tournament.
Raonic, 22, has won the only meeting against world number seven del Potro in straight sets in Montreal this August.
"In the final, anything can happen," del Potro was quoted as saying by Japan's Kyodo news agency.
"Milos is playing really well. He already won the tournament last week, beating (Tomas) Berdych in the final, and he's here in another final of a big tournament.
"I know his game, and it's tough to break his serve. But as I said, anything can happen in the final and maybe I need to play better than today for me to have a chance."
The Montenegro-born Raonic, who won his first 2013 title after retaining his San Jose crown in February, served 12 aces in the semi-final to boost his four-match tally to 64.
"For me, it's going to be about taking care of my serve primarily, and after that, trying to dictate and play on my terms as much as possible," Raonic said.

 

[Smallville22]

Serena thumps Radwanska to set up final with Jankovic

Serena Williams and Jelena Jankovic set up a final showdown in the China Open after contrasting victories in the semi-finals.
The top-seeded American, who has now won 72 matches in 2013 and a prize purse of more than $9 million (£5.6m), hit 31 winners to thrash Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska 6-2 6-2.
But former world number one Jankovic had to rally from a set down to notch up her first career win against ninth seed Petra Kvitova 6-7(7) 6-1 6-1.
The 32-year-old Williams, who will be eyeing her 10th title of the season on Sunday, received medical attention on her back during the second set but it provided no respite for Radwanska.
"Playing against Agnieszka, she plays like magic, she can move the ball left and right - she can do anything with her shots," Williams told reporters.
"So for me today it was just important to try to stay ahead of her, or one step ahead of her. I just tried to do that today and I'm happy with how things went."
Kvitova, who won her second WTA title of the year last week in Tokyo, edged Jankovic in the tiebreak to bag the first set but a flurry of errors in the second set handed the momentum back to the Serb.
"I lost to her the last two times we played. She has always given me a lot of trouble and didn't allow me to play my game," Jankovic told reporters. "Even today in the first set she was controlling the points.
"I was still there, but didn't feel comfortable. But in the next two sets I felt like I went on top of her and took control. Then as the match went on I think she got a little bit tired... and then I had everything in my hands, pretty much."
The Serb, who reached the top of women's world rankings in 2008, had no qualms in admitting that she had to be at her best to even have a chance against Williams, whom she has beaten four out of 10 times in the past.
"She's in unbelievable form. Even though I have beaten her in the past... I think she's the most difficult player to play against," Jankovic said.
"She has a lot of experience, winning a lot of titles and winning pretty much everything there is to win.
"She's physically so strong, I think stronger than 99 percent of the players. She has all the shots. When she's on top of her game, it's very difficult to beat her."

 

[Smallville22]

Del Potro boosts London hopes with title in Japan

Top seed Juan Martin del Potro beat Canada's Milos Raonic in the battle of big-servers on Sunday to bag the Japan Open title and boost his chances of qualifying for the end-of-season ATP World Tour finals in London.
The 25-year-old Argentine, a last-minute wild-card entry for injured Andy Murray, won 7-6(5) 7-5 with the lone break of serve of the match coming at the fag end of the second set as Raonic lost the final in Tokyo for the second year running.
The win gave del Potro his third title of the year and moved him up to fifth spot in the race to London while Raonic is 10th in the qualification race for next month's tournament involving the top eight players of the world.
Raonic, 22, who finished runner-up to Kei Nishikori last year, fired 17 aces and was untroubled in his service games before a crucial double fault in the first-set tie-breaker put del Potro ahead.
The Argentine got his first break point opportunity in the 11th game in the second set and managed to convert the third to go 6-5 up before holding on in the next game to win in an hour and 43 minutes.
"I played really well in the last two games of the match, returning all of his first serves," del Potro told reporters. "It was a fantastic week for me as I played better and better with each match.
"In the tie-break, he hit a double fault in the most important part of the match and then my chance came, which I knew I had to take.
"I did what I could to win. When he serves well and hits aces, it means I have to be aggressive on serve. I threw in drop shots and came to the net to mix up my game."
Del Potro hit seven aces and had to save three break points in the first set against the Canadian, who had won their only meeting in Montreal in August.
"I created opportunities and barring a double fault and a few points I could not have done much better," Raonic rued.

 

[Smallville22]

Serena powers past Jankovic for 10th title in 2013

World number one Serena Williams bagged her 10th title of the year with a 6-2 6-2 thrashing of Jelena Jankovic in the final of the China Open on Sunday.
The top-seeded American broke the eighth-seeded Serb twice in the first set and three times in the second to register her 73rd win of the season.
Williams appeared in pain after serving an ace during the third game of the second set and her serve was broken for the only time in the match in that game as Jankovic went 2-1 ahead.
But it was Jankovic who had to take a medical time out after the game due to a problem in her hip.
The Serb, however, failed to win another game upon her return to the court as Williams racked up five games in a row to close out the match.
"I'm really excited. I didn't think I'd win this tournament starting out, so I'm really happy to be here holding the trophy," Williams, who complained of a sore back after Saturday's semi-final, said during the presentation ceremony.
Sunday's victory also gave the 32-year-old Williams her 56th career title.

 

[Smallville22]

Djokovic beats Nadal to win fourth China Open crown

Novak Djokovic won his fourth China Open title in five years on Sunday, prevailing 6-3 6-4 in the final against Rafael Nadal who will replace him as the men's world number one on Monday.
The Serb continued his love affair in Beijing, improving his tournament record to 19-0 after brushing aside Nadal to halt his run of three defeats against the Spaniard.
Nadal had to reach the final in the tournament to displace Djokovic from the top ranking and the issue was put to rest on Saturday when Tomas Berdych retired with a back injury in his semi-final against the Spaniard.
"I needed this win today," Djokovic told reporters. "I really wanted to get my hands on the trophy and win against Nadal, who has been the best player so far in 2013.
"It's very important for my confidence. It's very important mentally and emotionally for me."
The 26-year-old Djokovic stamped his authority on the title match early, racing to a 3-0 lead and never allowing the Spaniard, who went into the match unbeaten on hard courts this year, to stage a comeback.
The Serb broke Nadal, who has won 10 tournaments and added over $10 million in prize money in 2013, in the first game of the second set - hitting winners almost at will.
Since winning the Monte-Carlo Masters in April against Nadal, Djokovic had lost to the left-handed Spaniard in the French Open semi-finals, the Rogers Cup semi-finals and the final of the U.S. Open.
"I managed to stay tough and not drop my concentration, which I think (happened) in both Montreal and at the U.S. Open in the important moments," Djokovic said.
"I learned my lesson. It was a few very tough and close matches that I lost against Rafa on hard courts, especially the last one in the U.S. Open final."
Such was Djokovic's domination that the 27-year-old Nadal, who boosted his grand slam singles tally to 13 this year by winning the French and U.S. Opens, failed to create a single break point opportunity in the whole match.
"I didn't see the way to stop him this afternoon," Nadal said. "This afternoon he was too strong for me. I didn't play my best match, but he played at a very high level with his serve.
"I was not able to have any chance when I was returning during the whole match. He had the ball staying very low. It was very difficult to create spin on this ball.
"He was able to hit all the balls where he wanted. When that's happening against a player like Novak, you are dead. You don't have not one chance."
Djokovic also won the China Open in 2009, 2010 and 2012, while missing out in 2011 through injury.

 

[Smallville22]

Watson falls in opening round in Osaka

Britain's Heather Watson crashed out of the Japan Open in the opening round in Osaka.
The world number 92 lost 6-4 6-4 against seventh seed Monica Puig, with the Puerto Rican world number 48 consistently attacking Watson's serve.
Watson defended doggedly and saved nine of the 14 break points she faced, but she was unable to make much headway on Puig's serve.
The British number two earned three breaks of serve against an opponent a year younger than her, but struggled to create openings and went down in straight sets.
British number one Laura Robson is also playing at the event, and begins on Tuesday against 42-year-old Japanese legend Kimiko Date-Krumm.

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Results from the Japan Open Women's Singles Round One matches

3-Samantha Stosur (Australia) beat Johanna Larsson (Sweden) 6-4 6-2

5-Eugenie Bouchard (Canada) beat Varvara Lepchenko (U.S.) 6-3 6-0

8-Monica Puig (Puerto Rico) beat Heather Watson (Britain) 6-4 6-4

Misaki Doi (Japan) beat Silvia Soler Espinosa (Spain) 6-1 6-2

Kurumi Nara (Japan) beat Caroline Garcia (France) 6-3 6-2

Linz Open Women's Singles Round One matches on Monday

Stefanie Voegele (Switzerland) beat Klara Zakopalova (Czech Republic) 5-7 7-5 6-0

Francesca Schiavone (Italy) beat Karolina Pliskova (Czech Republic) 7-5 6-2

Elina Svitolina (Ukraine) beat Mona Barthel (Germany) 6-2 7-5

 

[Smallville22]

Isner battles through tough opener in Shanghai

John Isner was pushed hard before coming through a tough opening match at the Shanghai Masters.
Isner found himself a set down against Colombian qualifier Santiago Giraldo before winning 4-6 7-5 7-5 in the first round.
The 14th seed had to contend with a typhoon, playing under the closed roof at the Qizhong tennis centre, but threw in numerous errors. Typhoon Fitow battered China's east coast on Monday.
Isner dropped the first set before restoring parity on his seventh set point in the second. Isner came up with 29 aces but threw in 32 unforced errors. He broke Giraldo in the 12th game of the third set to seal victory.
Elsewhere, Spain's Marcel Granollers won 6-4 6-4 against Serbian Janko Tipsarevic, a figure who toiled with problems to his left ankle .
Fifth seed Roger Federer, who trained in intense heat in Dubai before coming to Shanghai, opted not to play a competitive match for over a month following his loss to Tommy Robredo at the US Open.
But much to the delight of the local crowd, he partnered local hero Zhang Ze, ranked 271 in singles and 437 in doubles, to breeze past Kevin Anderson and Dmitry Tursunov 6-2 6-1 to record his first doubles win of 2013.

Latest results from the Shanghai Masters Men's Singles Round 1 matches on Monday

11-Tommy Haas (Germany) beat Sam Querrey (US) 6-4 6-4

14-John Isner (U.S.) beat Santiago Giraldo (Colombia) 4-6 7-5 7-5

Gael Monfils (France) beat Tatsuma Ito (Japan) 6-3 6-2

Marcel Granollers (Spain) beat Janko Tipsarevic (Serbia) 6-4 6-4

 

[Smallville22]

Sharapova withdraws from WTA Championships

World number three Maria Sharapova withdrew on Monday from the end-of-season WTA Championship in Istanbul due to the shoulder injury that also kept her out of the US Open.
The 26-year-old Russian has not played since losing to Sloane Stephens in the second round of the Western and Southern Open in Cincinnati in August.
"I am very disappointed I will not be able to play in the TEB BNP Paribas WTA Championship this year," Sharapova told the tour website (www.wtatennis.com) on Monday.
"The fans in Istanbul have welcomed us each year with such intense passion and warmth. I will sincerely miss the energy and excitement they bring to the year-end tournament."
The four-times grand slam winner, who fired coach Jimmy Connors after just one match together following the defeat by Stephens, pulled out of the U.S. Open held in August and September due to inflammation in her right shoulder.
Petra Kvitova, Sara Errani and Jelena Jankovic have joined world number one Serena Williams, Victoria Azarenka, Agnieszka Radwanska and Li Na in qualifying for the eight-player WTA Championship that begins on Oct. 22.
Sharapova's place is still up for grabs through the rankings.

 

[Smallville22]

Struggling Federer has no plans to retire

Roger Federer has no plans to retire despite his struggles to find his form in 2013.
While tennis fans and pundits are obsessed with his below-par performance at the four majors this year which has left him in danger of missing the cut for the season-ending ATP finale for the first time since 2001, Federer has already put a positive spin on his trials and tribulations.
"I always knew that this year, after a very tough year in 2012, the Olympics (and winning Wimbledon), was going to be a bit more quiet," the Swiss told reporters in Shanghai on Monday after winning his first-round doubles match with little-known Chinese Zhang Ze.
"I expected myself probably not to be as successful and as busy playing matches and tournaments.
"My mindset now is, okay, next year is going to be a great year again where I'm not going to have that many points to defend, especially at some very key moments where I consider myself a favourite.
"For that reason I'm really looking forward to 2014 already."
Federer, who won the last of his record 17 grand slam titles at Wimbledon 15 months ago before scooping a silver at the London Games, went through the 2013 season without reaching a major final for the first time since 2002 and his only success has been at the low-key Halle tournament.
He lost in the Australian Open semi-finals to Andy Murray, fell at the last-eight stage to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the French Open, suffered a shock second-round defeat at Wimbledon to journeyman Sergiy Stakhovsky before losing to Tommy Robredo in the U.S. Open fourth round last month.
"I didn't want to focus too much on what happened the last two months. The U.S. Open, I hardly ever thought about it if I look back, at the Robredo match," he said.
"It wasn't my day. It's one of those things you just want to move on from.
"I think my game's been coming back, which has been very important. Now it's about staying positive and working hard every single day. That's been the mindset."
If the over-exuberant fan reaction in Shanghai is anything to go by, the 32-year-old will be the star attraction in China this week even though he has now slipped down the rankings.
Fellow Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka, Richard Gasquet and Milos Raonic are all breathing down his neck and could trip him up in the race to secure a place at the World Tour Finals in London.
World number one Rafa Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Murray and Spain's David Ferrer have already sealed spots for next month's tournament involving the top eight players.
Currently seventh in the ATP Race, Federer's job has also been made more difficult as he is slated to meet Djokovic in the Shanghai quarter-finals with only 105 points separating him and ninth-placed Frenchman Gasquet.
"It was the goal at the beginning of the season to qualify for it. I consider it the absolute best of the best tournament out there, so I want to be part of that," said Federer.
"So it's extra motivation for me to play well and be part of that great tournament."
Federer, who trained in intense heat in Dubai before coming to Shanghai, opted not to play a competitive match for over a month following his loss to Robredo in New York.
But much to the delight of the local crowd, he partnered local hero Zhang, ranked 271 in singles and 437 in doubles, to breeze past Kevin Anderson and Dmitry Tursunov 6-2 6-1 to record his first doubles win of 2013.