2013 Tennis Thread

[Smallville22]

Sharapova extends Doha streak, Robson sent packing

Maria Sharapova cruised to her 10th straight Qatar Open win while Laura Robson was sent crashing out of the first round in Doha.
Russia's world number three Sharapova, the defending champion, beat French qualifier Caroline Garcia 6-3 6-2 in their second-round clash.
Sharapova broke twice early on, and while Garcia did break back once, the revival was short-lived as the Russian won back-to-back games for an unassailable first set lead.
The second set was on serve until Sharapova broke to go 4-2 up, before breaking again as Garcia went long.
The victory took one hour and 16 minutes and sets up a third-round match with either Sloane Stephens or Klara Zakopalova.
Sharapova's last match against Garcia was at the French Open two years ago when the Russian found herself 6-3 4-1 down before rallying for a three-set victory.
"I was quite happy with the way I played because my opponent had played a few matches already, so she's been able to get into that match atmosphere," Sharapova said.
"Sometimes that's a benefit. I wanted to start really strong. I had a really tough match against her in our previous encounter, so I really wanted to start better this time, as opposed to the way I started against her last time."
Things did not go so well for Russia's 12th seed Maria Kirilenko, who withdrew injured in the first set of her first-round match with compatriot Ekaterina Bychkova.
Second seed Serena Williams was also given a first-round bye and was similarly imperious in victory, beating Daria Gavrilova of Russia 6-2 6-1 to cruise through.
Williams will take the world number one spot if she reaches the semi-finals in Doha.
The 15-times Grand Slam winner has not topped the rankings since October 2010, but is close to returning to the pinnacle having claimed last year's Wimbledon and US Open titles.
Williams, who has now won 57 of her last 60 matches, broke Gavrilova in the sixth game of the first set and then raced away with the match in 54 minutes.
Question marks hung over the world number two's fitness heading into the event after she lost in the Australian Open quarter-final last month while suffering with back and ankle injuries.
"Mostly I've just been trying to play smoothly and avoid problems, and just do the things I've been working on," Williams said on the WTA website.
"Physically I'm feeling better, and hopefully I can stay on that level. Let's go onto the next round now."
Also in the second round, fifth seed Angelique Kerber was knocked out, losing 6-1 6-2 to fellow German Mona Barthel.
British number two Robson suffered a 6-4 6-1 defeat to Slovakia’s Daniela Hantuchova to go out in the first round.
Hantuchova broke to 5-3 in the first set, before dominating the second to win in just over an hour and a quarter.
World number 45 Robson is ranked 30 places above Hantuchova, but may have been feeling the effects of her Fed Cup heroics last week.
Both Robson and British number one Heather Watson won all of their matches as Great Britain beat Bulgaria, Portugal, Hungary and Bosnia to move into the World Group II play-offs.
Other big names to progress were ninth seed Marion Bartoli, who beat former French Open champion Francesca Schiavone 7-6(5) 6-3, and 15th seed Roberta Vinci, whose opponent Yanina Wickmayer retired injured while 2-6 1-2 down.

Qatar Open second round results:

2-Serena Williams (US) beat Daria Gavrilova (Russia) 6-2 6-1

3-Maria Sharapova (Russia) beat Caroline Garcia (France) 6-3 6-2

Mona Barthel (Germany) beat 5-Angelique Kerber (Germany) 6-1 6-2

Qatar Open first round results (day two):

Ekaterina Bychkova (Russia) beat 12-Maria Kirilenko (Russia) 3-0 (Kirilenko retired)

Daniela Hantuchova (Slovakia) beat Laura Robson (Britain) 6-4 6-1

Timea Babos (Hungary) beat Heidi El Tabakh (Canada) 6-2 6-3

16-Sloane Stephens (US) beat Anna Tatishvili (Georgia) 6-2 6-2

9-Marion Bartoli (France) beat Francesca Schiavone (Italy) 7-6(5) 6-3

Romina Oprandi (Switzerland) beat Tsvetana Pironkova (Bulgaria) 7-6(2) 7-5

Monica Niculescu (Romania) beat Jelena Jankovic (Serbia) 6-4 6-1

Klara Zakopalova (Czech Republic) beat Varvara Lepchenko (US) 7-6(8) 3-0 (Lepchenko retired)

15-Roberta Vinci (Italy) beat Yanina Wickmayer (Belgium) 6-2 2-1 (Wickmayer retired)

Ekaterina Makarova (Russia) beat Carla Suarez Navarro (Spain) 6-1 6-2

17-Lucie Safarova (Czech Republic) beat Eleni Daniilidou (Greece) 6-2 6-3

11-Nadia Petrova (Russia) beat Andrea Hlavackova (Czech Republic) 6-2 6-3

Hsieh Su-Wei (Taiwan) beat Tadeja Majeric (Slovenia) 6-4 6-4

Sorana Cirstea (Romania) beat Ons Jabeur (Tunisia) 2-6 6-3 6-0

Christina Mchale (U.) beat Vera Dushevina (Russia) 6-1 6-2

Urszula Radwanska (Poland) beat Nadiya Kichenok (Ukraine) 6-1 6-0

 

[Smallville22]

Del Potro beats Monfils to progress

Second seed Juan Martin Del Potro, aiming to go one better than his runner-up finish at last year's World Indoor Tournament, eased past Frenchman Gael Monfils 6-3 6-4 in the first round.
The world number seven was in command from the moment he broke serve in the second game.
"I chose to approach the net a lot and that went well for me," Del Potro said. "I needed to do that against Gael who is definitely on his way back.
"It won't take him long before he is battling for a top-10 spot again," added the Argentine, who was beaten 6-1 6-4 by Roger Federer in last year's final in Rotterdam.
Monfils is on the comeback trail after an injury-plagued campaign last season during which he dropped outside the top 100 for the first time since 2005.
"I'm disappointed. Not only because of the defeat but because I had chances in this match," said the Frenchman.
"But overall the body and legs feel great and I know I am improving."
Del Potro now faces Ernests Gulbis after he surprised Robin Haase 6-2 6-1.
Latvian qualifier Gulbis, who has dropped outside the top 100 from a career high of 21, claimed only his second main tour win of the season against the Dutchman.
Russian Mikhail Youzhny sustained a back injury against Dutchman Thiemo de Bakker and had to pull out at 4-1 down in the third and final set.
Roger Federer, the world number two, gets his campaign underway on Wednesday, when he faces Grega Zemlja of Slovenia.
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was surprisingly beaten in his first-round match on Monday, losing to Dutch wildcard Igor Sijsling.

World Indoor Tournament first round results:

2-Juan Martin Del Potro (Argentina) beat Gael Monfils (France) 6-3 6-4

Jarkko Nieminen (Finland) beat David Goffin (Belgium) 6-0 6-0

Ernests Gulbis (Latvia) beat Robin Haase (Netherlands) 6-2 6-1

Julien Benneteau (France) beat Tobias Kamke (Germany) 6-3 6-2

Thiemo de Bakker (Netherlands) beat Mikhail Youzhny (Russia) 3-6 7-6(2) 4-1 (Youzhny retired)

Brazil Open first round results:

5-Thomaz Bellucci (Brazil) beat Guilherme Clezar (Brazil) 7-6(4) 5-7 7-6(1)

Filippo Volandri (Italy) beat Daniel Gimeno-Traver (Spain) 6-3 3-6 7-6(6)

8-Albert Ramos (Spain) beat Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (Spain) 6-3 7-5

Carlos Berlocq (Argentina) beat Andrey Kuznetsov (Russia) 6-3 6-4

Guido Pella (Argentina) beat 6-Fabio Fognini (Italy) 7-6(6) 1-6 6-1

San Jose Open first round results:

Tim Smyczek (U.S.) beat 5-Fernando Verdasco (Spain) 6-3 6-3

6-Denis Istomin (Uzbekistan) beat Ryan Sweeting (U.S.) 6-3 6-4

7-Marinko Matosevic (Australia) beat Jack Sock (U.S.) 7-6(5) 6-1

Benjamin Becker (Germany) beat Ryan Harrison (U.S.) 6-7(3) 7-5 6-3

Lleyton Hewitt (Australia) beat Blaz Kavcic (Slovenia) 3-6 6-4 7-6(4)

Vasek Pospisil (Canada) beat Evgeny Donskoy (Russia) 7-5 6-1

 

[Smallville22]

Wheelchair great Vergeer retires after a decade unbeaten

One of the most dominant records in sport came to an unblemished conclusion when Dutch wheelchair tennis player Esther Vergeer hung up her racket after an unbeaten decade.
The 31-year-old, who claimed four Paralympic singles gold medals and three in doubles, won 470 consecutive matches and 120 successive tournaments, dropping only 18 sets during that time.
Her career record stands at 700 wins and 25 defeats.
She won every grand slam singles event she ever entered, racking up 21 singles and 23 doubles titles - and went two years without losing a set from 2004 to 2006.
"Esther Vergeer is a tremendous ambassador not only for tennis but also for disability sports," ITF President Francesco Ricci Bitti said.
"She is an inspiration to many. Wheelchair tennis owes her a huge debt of gratitude for her professionalism and her quality as a player."
Vergeer, who took up wheelchair tennis because of complications after spinal surgery at the age of 12, rose to world number one in 1999 - aged just 18 - and remained there ever since.
"I love this game more than anybody. It's a lot of sacrifice, it's a lot of effort, but I do enjoy that," she told The Sport Review last year when asked how she kept her motivation for so long.
"My main motivation is the inner game: I just love the sport, I love the training, but then also the way I see that I can improve in so many aspects still."
Vergeer became a paraplegic when an operation to repair haemorrhaging ***** vessels around her spinal cord went wrong. She says that she longer sees herself as disabled.
"At the beginning, I didn't realise I'd be paralysed the rest of my life. I was little and in pain and in hospital and all those things together made me think that when I got home and I didn't have pain any more, I would be able to walk again," she said.
"But when I got back home, had to go back to school, play with my friends, it dawned on me it would be the rest of my life.
"In the beginning it's hard, of course, everything I did I compared with before: It was easier when I could walk, it was more fun when I could walk, so it was difficult.
"I guess sports, and the people around me, made me realise that the world doesn't end. Now I can do all the things that other 30-year-olds do so I don't see myself as a disabled."

 

[Smallville22]

Britain to face Argentina

Great Britain will travel to Argentina in the Fed Cup World Group II play-offs in April.
The British team, led by Laura Robson and Heather Watson, gained promotion from the 16-nation Europe/Africa Zone Group I in Israel last week and are now just one win away from being promoted to World Group II in 2014.
The match, scheduled for April 20-21, is likely to be held on clay with the hosts currently only having one player in the world’s top 200 in the shape of 195th ranked Paula Ormaechea after Giselle Dulko’s retirement last year.
GB captain Judy Murray said: "Argentina away on clay will be a tough challenge for us but we have a strong squad and a huge opportunity to grab a place in the World Group. Vamos!"
Argentina are facing relegation from World Group II following a painful loss to Sweden in the first round where they relinquished a 2-0 lead at the end of day one.

 

[Smallville22]

Azarenka still unbeaten after easing through in Qatar

Top seed Victoria Azarenka eased into the third round of the WTA tournament in Doha while Sloane Stephens was dumped out.
Azarenka was broken early by Swiss Romina Oprandi to go 2-0 behind but responded with three breaks to take the opening set.
She raced 3-0 up in the second stanza before sealing the match 6-2 6-3 as the six-foot Belarusian's first serve dominated.
However she had to save six of seven break points won by her 5'6" opponent.
Defending champion Azarenka is now 10-0 in 2013 having won the Australian Open. She will retain the number one spot in the WTA rankings if she reaches the final and Serena Williams fails to reach the semis.
She withdrew from her Brisbane International semi-final against Williams at the start of the year with a toe infection.
Oprandi won their first meeting on clay in 2007 while Azarenka won the two others, both last year, on the grass of Wimbledon and hardcourt of the China Open quarter-finals.
Azarenka will next play American Christina McHale who knocked out Lucie Safarova.
American teenager Stephens, who beat Williams in the Melbourne quarter-finals, was ousted by Czech Klara Zakopalova after two close tie-breaks.
The 16th-ranked Stephens won the first set but ultimately went down 4-6 7-6(5) 7-6(5).
The other seeds to drop out on Wednesday were ninth seed Marion Bartoli, who has been suffering with flu and went down 6-4 6-4 to Svetlana Kuznetsova, and Italian 15th seed Roberta Vinci, who lost 6-2 5-7 6-0 to Pole Urszula Radwanska.
The latter's ******, fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska, moved safely through to the third round with a 6-3 6-2 defeat of Australia's Anastasia Rodionova while former world number one Caroline Wozniacki faced some stiff resistance initially from Sorana Cirstea before winning 7-6 6-0.

ATP Doha round two results

Svetlana Kuznetsova (Russia) beat 9-Marion Bartoli (France) 6-4 6-4

8-Samantha Stosur (Australia) beat Monica Niculescu (Romania) 6-4 1-6 6-3

10-Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark) beat Sorana Cirstea (Romania) 7-6(7) 6-0

Daniela Hantuchova (Slovakia) beat Ekaterina Bychkova (Russia) 6-3 1-6 6-3

Urszula Radwanska (Poland) beat 15-Roberta Vinci (Italy) 6-2 5-7 6-0

7-Petra Kvitova (Czech Republic) beat Ekaterina Makarova (Russia) 6-4 0-0 (Makarova retired)

1-Victoria Azarenka (Belarus) beat Romina Oprandi (Switzerland) 6-2 6-3

Klara Zakopalova (Czech Republic) beat 16-Sloane Stephens (U.S.) 4-6 7-6(5) 7-6(5)

11-Nadia Petrova (Russia) beat Hsieh Su-Wei (Taiwan) 3-6 6-2 6-4

13-Ana Ivanovic (Serbia) beat Simona Halep (Romania) 6-3 0-0 (Halep retired)

Christina Mchale (U.S.) beat 17-Lucie Safarova (Czech Republic) 6-4 6-2

4-Agnieszka Radwanska (Poland) beat Anastasia Rodionova (Australia) 6-3 6-2

6-Sara Errani (Italy) beat Timea Babos (Hungary) 6-4 6-0

 

[Smallville22]

Federer moves through in Rotterdam

Roger Federer struggled to see the ball and felt the conditions at the World Indoor Tournament were a little too warm for his liking but that did not stop the top seed from romping to a 6-3 6-1 win over Slovenian Grega Zemlja in the first round.
Playing his first competitive match for almost three weeks, the Swiss defending champion struggled with his first serve in front of a capacity 10,500 crowd but he still completed victory in 58 minutes.
He won 10 straight points in the first set to take a 4-2 lead and from then on Federer allowed his opponent only two more games to wrap up his 10th straight win in Rotterdam.
"My start wasn't so well because it was warmer on the court compared the training sessions I had the previous day," Federer said.
"It was also a bit difficult to see the ball in the beginning and while that might sound strange, there also is some pressure of playing a first round."
Fourth seed Richard Gasquet joined the 17-times grand slam champion in the second round with a 7-6 6-1 win over Serbia's Viktor Troicki.
Gasquet will next face Marcos Baghdatis who advanced after Benoit Paire pulled out injured. The Cypriot was leading 6-0 6-7 4-0.
Gilles Simon, seeded fifth, and Julien Benneteau completed a good day for France.
Simon eased past Italian qualifier Matteo Viola 6-3 6-1 to reach the quarter-final, while Benneteau also dropped just four games in his 6-1 6-3 win over Victor Hanescu.

ATP Rotterdam results

Round 2

Grigor Dimitrov (Bulgaria) beat Nikolay Davydenko (Russia) 7-5 6-3

Julien Benneteau (France) beat Victor Hanescu (Romania) 6-1 6-3

5-Gilles Simon (France) beat Matteo Viola (Italy) 6-3 6-1

Round 1

1-Roger Federer (Switzerland) beat Grega Zemlja (Slovenia) 6-3 6-1

Marcos Baghdatis (Cyprus) beat Benoit Paire (France) 6-0 6-7(3) 4-0 (Paire retired)

4-Richard Gasquet (France) beat Viktor Troicki (Serbia) 7-6(3) 6-1

Matthias Bachinger (Germany) beat 6-Andreas Seppi (Italy) 6-3 6-4

ATP San Jose results

Round 1

Matthew Ebden (Australia) beat Rik De Voest (South Africa) 6-2 7-5

Alejandro Falla (Colombia) beat Flavio Cipolla (Italy) 7-6(1) 7-6(10)

Brazil Open results

Round 1

David Nalbandian (Argentina) beat Jorge Aguilar (Chile) 7-5 5-7 6-3

Paul Capdeville (Chile) beat Horacio Zeballos (Argentina) 6-7(5) 6-0 3-0 (Zeballos retired)

Joao Souza (Brazil) beat Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo (Spain) 7-6(6) 0-0 (Ramirez Hidalgo retired)

Albert Montanes (Spain) beat Paolo Lorenzi (Italy) 6-4 6-4

 

[Smallville22]

Nadal pulls out of Brazil doubles

Former world number one Rafa Nadal withdrew suddenly from the doubles at the Brazil Open because of what organisers said was a desire to preserve his strength for the singles competition.
The 26-year-old Spaniard, who returned to action at the Chile Open last week after a left knee condition had sidelined him for seven months, was down to play both singles and doubles in Sao Paulo.
However, he was already complaining of lingering pains before making his doubles debut alongside Argentine David Nalbandian in a 6-3 3-6 11-9 victory over Spaniards Pablo Andujar and Guillermo Garcia Lopez on Tuesday night.
Just moments before he and Nalbandian were due to play Horacio Zeballos and Oliver Marach on Wednesday, the pair withdrew.
Nadal is still expected to play in the singles tournament and is scheduled to make his first appearance on Thursday night against Brazilian Joao Souza, the world number 140.
If all goes well, the seven-times French Open champion will head to another clay court tournament in Mexico as part of his preparations for the defence of his Roland Garros title in May.

 

[Smallville22]

Zahlavova Strycova given six-month doping ban

Czech tennis player Barbora Zahlavova Strycova has been given a six-month ban for a doping offence.
Zahlavova Strycova, ranked 124 in the world, tested positive for the stimulant sibutramine last October, the International Tennis Federation said in a statement.
The 26-year-old denied any intent to enhance her performance and said the stimulant had got into her system through her use of a dietary supplement.
"She is suspended from participation for a period of six months, back-dated to commence from 16 October 2012 and so ending at midnight on 15 April 2013," the ITF said in a statement.
"The ITF did not dispute Ms Zahlavova Strycova's account of the circumstances surrounding her ingestion of sibutramine."
Zahlavova Strycova's results from the Luxembourg Open and the ITF Bueschl Open will be disqualified and she will forfeit the ranking points and prize money she won at those events.

 

[Smallville22]

Azarenka, Serena reach Qatar last eight

World number one Victoria Azarenka and second-ranked Serena Williams eased into the Qatar Open quarter-finals with dominant third-round victories in Doha.
Belarusian Azarenka, who won last month's Australian Open, demolished American Christina McHale 6-0 6-0 in just over an hour.
"I felt like I came out very focused, with a good mindset and a good game plan," Azarenka said on the WTA website.
"There were a few close games, but I felt like I was really taking advantage of every opportunity I had and not letting her play her game," added the top seed who notched the sixth 6-0 6-0 win of her career.
Azarenka saved both of the break points she faced and crushed the American on serve to set up a last-eight clash with Italian sixth seed Sara Errani, who needed three sets to overcome Slovakia's Daniela Hantuchova 7-5 5-7 6-2.
The top seed is now 11-0 in 2013 having won the Australian Open. She will retain the number one spot in the WTA rankings if she reaches the final and Williams fails to reach the semis.
Fifteen-times Grand Slam champion Williams crushed Pole Urszula Radwanska 6-0 6-3 while Russian third seed Maria Sharapova overpowered Czech Klara Zakopalova 6-3 6-3.
Fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska beat former world number one Ana Ivanovic 6-1 7-6 and will next face Caroline Wozniacki, another former world number one, who defeated German Mona Barthel 7-6 6-3.
"It wasn't great tennis out there today - the wind was a huge factor," Wozniacki said. "To be honest it was just about getting the ball in play today.
"I was just trying to get it in and hoping for the best. It was a struggle, but I got through it," added the Dane.
Australian Sam Stosur reached the last eight with a 6-4 7-5 win over Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova.
Czech Petra Kvitova completed the quarter-final line-up after recovering from a slow start to overcome Russian Nadia Petrova 4-6 6-4 6-3.

Results

Round 3

10-Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark) beat Mona Barthel (Germany) 7-6(6) 6-3

4-Agnieszka Radwanska (Poland) beat 13-Ana Ivanovic (Serbia) 6-1 7-6(6)

1- Victoria Azarenka (Belarus) beat Christina McHale (U.S.) 6-0 6-0

8-Samantha Stosur (Australia) beat Svetlana Kuznetsova (Russia) 6-4 7-5

6-Sara Errani (Italy) beat Daniela Hantuchova (Slovakia) 7-5 5-7 6-2

3-Maria Sharapova (Russia) beat Klara Zakopalova (Czech Republic) 6-3 6-3

2-Serena Williams (U.S.) beat Urszula Radwanska (Poland) 6-0 6-3

7-Petra Kvitova (Czech Republic) beat 11-Nadia Petrova (Russia) 4-6 6-4 6-3

 

[Smallville22]

Federer reaches World Indoors quarters

Roger Federer cruised past Dutchman Thiemo de Bakker 6-3 6-4 in the second round of the World Indoor Tournament in Rotterdam.
Defending champion Federer only landed 42 per cent of his first serves during the first set but an early break helped him take the lead against an awkward opponent cheered on by a home crowd.
"He had a clear game plan with a lot of variation so I never really got into a rally," Federer said. "He was also unpredictable for me."
Another early break in the second set combined with an improved service ratio earned top seed Federer a place in the quarter-finals where he faces Frenchman Julien Benneteau, who he beat twice on the grass courts of Wimbledon last year.
Federer won at the London Olympics in straight sets but had to overcome a two-set deficit weeks earlier on his way to his 17th Grand Slam title.
"It will be tough as he (Benneteau) serves and returns well, while he played convincing matches in the first two rounds," the Swiss added.
Second seed Juan Martin Del Potro, beaten by Federer in last year's final, kept his best tennis for the big points as he struggled before beating wild card Ernests Gulbis 7-6 6-3.
"The first set was tough and quite a battle and I had some luck on the final point in the tiebreak," the Argentine said.
Latvian Gulbis impressed with his serve in the second set when he hit five straight aces, but a break in the eight game was enough for Del Potro to clinch the match.
"Matches like this are decided on one or two points per set, and I was at my best in those moments," Del Potro added.
In the quarter-final, Del Potro will meet Finn Jarkko Nieminen who needed three sets to overcome German qualifier Matthias Bachinger 6-3 5-7 6-3.
Fourth seed Richard Gasquet suffered a 6-4 6-4 defeat against Marcos Baghdatis from Cyprus.
Gasquet had a perfect start to the year with titles in Doha and Montpellier, reaching the fourth round at the Australian Open in between, but an early break in each set was too much for the Frenchman. Baghdatis next meets Grigor Dimitrov.

ATP Rotterdam results

Round 2

1-Roger Federer (Switzerland) beat Thiemo de Bakker (Netherlands) 6-3 6-4

2-Juan Martin Del Potro (Argentina) beat Ernests Gulbis (Latvia) 7-6(5) 6-3

Marcos Baghdatis (Cyprus) beat 4-Richard Gasquet (France) 6-4 6-4

Jarkko Nieminen (Finland) beat Matthias Bachinger (Germany) 6-3 5-7 6-3

Martin Klizan (Slovakia) beat Igor Sijsling (Netherlands) 6-2 6-4

ATP San Jose results

Round 2

1-Milos Raonic (Canada) beat Michael Russell (U.S.) 6-2 7-5

3-Sam Querrey (U.S.) beat Lleyton Hewitt (Australia) 7-6(6) 1-6 7-6(4)

6-Denis Istomin (Uzbekistan) beat Benjamin Becker (Germany) 6-3 6-7(5) 6-2

8-Xavier Malisse (Belgium) beat Matthew Ebden (Australia) 5-7 7-5 7-6(1)

Alejandro Falla (Colombia) beat 7-Marinko Matosevic (Australia) 6-4 6-4

Steve Johnson (U.S.) beat Tim Smyczek (U.S.) 6-3 6-3

 

[Smallville22]

Nadal kicks off with a win in Brazil

Rafael Nadal continued his comeback from a serious knee injury with a 6-3 6-4 win over Joao Souza at the Brazil Open
The Spaniard , who withdrew from the doubles tournament in Sao Paulo after one match in order to protect his knee from overexertion, was not at his best but still had enough to see off his opponent, ranked 140 in the world.
The 11-times Grand Slam champion, who has slipped to fourth in the world following his injury lay-off but is the top seed in Brazil, wrapped up victory in an hour and 19 minutes.
He came under pressure early in the second set when Souza ****** a break point, but it was saved and Nadal went on to break at 4-4 before serving out for victory.
He moves into the quarter-finals - having received a first-round bye - where he faces Carlos Berlocq of Argentina, who downed eighth seeded Spaniard Albert Ramos 7-6(7) 6-4.
"It was an important victory for me," Nadal said. "The conditions are very difficult. The court is very fast, the ball too."
Asked about his injured left knee, he replied: "Today I think it was acceptable, normal. Let's hope it will be the same tomorrow. The important thing is that it (the knee) does not hurt."
Nadal played his first competitive match in close to eight months last week in Chile - the beginning of a three-match run that took him to the final.
Defending champion Nicolas Almagro also kicked off his campaign with a second-round victory, the Spaniard beating Chile's Paul Capdeville 6-4 6-7(3) 6-2.
Almagro has a rich history at the tournament - the second seed has won it a total of four times, including the last three editions.
There was less cheer for third seed Juan Monaco though as the Argentine became the first major casualty of the week, falling to a straight-set 7-5 6-2 defeat to Italian Simone Bolelli.

Round 2 results:

1-Rafa Nadal (Spain) beat Joao Souza (Brazil) 6-3 6-4

David Nalbandian (Argentina) beat Guido Pella (Argentina) 6-4 6-2

Albert Montanes (Spain) beat 7-Pablo Andujar (Spain) 7-5 6-2

Filippo Volandri (Italy) beat 5-Thomaz Bellucci (Brazil) 6-3 6-2

Carlos Berlocq (Argentina) beat 8-Albert Ramos (Spain) 7-6(7) 6-4

2-Nicolas Almagro (Spain) beat Paul Capdeville (Chile) 6-4 6-7(3) 6-2

Simone Bolelli (Italy) beat 3-Juan Monaco (Argentina) 7-5 6-2

 

[rivasky]

One of the prettiest ladies on the tour has to call it quits. Agi Szavay announces her retirement after years of injuries.

Premium Link Upgrade

You'll be missed, babe! :wave: :iloveyou:

 

[Smallville22]

AGNES SZAVAY have a good life, and thanks for the good tennis moments :hatsoff:

 

[Smallville22]

Sharapova too good for Stosur in Qatar

Maria Sharapova continued her untroubled progress at the Qatar Open, brushing aside Australia's Samantha Stosur 6-2 6-4 to reach the semi-finals.
The Russian, who began the week with the possibility of reclaiming the world number one ranking, has not dropped a set in her three matches, a feat equalled by world number one Victoria Azarenka who saw off Italian Sara Errani 6-2 6-2.
American Serena Williams, 31, will return to the top of the rankings if she beats Petra Kvitova later on Friday to set up a semi-final showdown with Sharapova.
Should 15-times Grand Slam champion Williams beat the Czech she will go back to number one for the first time since October 2010 and become the oldest woman to top the rankings.
Sharapova held an 11-2 career record over Stosur and was never threatened during an 82-minute victory.
Australian Open champion Azarenka's hopes of holding on to the top ranking are out of her hands, even if she wins the title.

 

[Smallville22]

Federer sent packing by Benneteau

Defending champion Roger Federer suffered a shock 6-3 7-5 defeat by Frenchman Julien Benneteau, who has yet to lift a tour title during his 13-year career, in the World Indoor Tournament quarter-finals.
The top seed struggled throughout with his first serve and was broken three times in the opening set.
Benneteau, 31, broke again early in the second set before the world number two, backed by a capacity crowd of 10,500, broke back.
Federer had chances to break again in the 11th game but world number 39 Benneteau managed to hold him off before clinching victory on his first match point as a backhand pass from the Swiss went out.
"If you lose your serve five times, like I did today, you can't win indoors," Federer said. "Julien played great, created more chances than I did and fully deserved to win.
"I fought back at the end of the second set and had chances to take it into a third but that would have been more luck than I deserved."
Benneteau next meets fellow countryman Gilles Simon who put out Martin Klizan when the Slovakian retired through injury while trailing 6-7 6-3 3-0.
"This is a really good win and I am pleased with the way I played today," said Benneteau.
World number seven Juan Martin Del Potro stayed on course for his second successive appearance in the final by sweeping aside Finn Jarkko Nieminen 6-3 6-4.
The Argentine, beaten in last year's final by Federer, will play Grigor Dimitrov in the last four after the Bulgarian came from behind to defeat Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis 6-7 7-6 6-3 in a thriller.
"There are no easy matches here," said Del Potro. "Nieminen played some excellent forehands on important points and I had to stick to my game plan and be patient."
The 21-year-old Dimitrov looked down and out when he trailed 6-5 in the second set but he then reeled off 18 consecutive points to level the match, including taking the tiebreak 7-0, before going on to reach his final indoor semi-final.
"I can't remember ever scoring 18 straight points before and I didn't even notice it during the match," said the Bulgarian.

ATP Rotterdam quarter-final results

5-Gilles Simon (France) beat Martin Klizan (Slovakia) 6-7(6) 6-3 3-0 (Klizan retired)

Julien Benneteau (France) beat 1-Roger Federer (Switzerland) 6-3 7-5

2-Juan Martin Del Potro (Argentina) beat Jarkko Nieminen (Finland) 6-3 6-4

Grigor Dimitrov (Bulgaria) beat Marcos Baghdatis (Cyprus) 6-7(4) 7-6(0) 6-3

ATP San Jose quarter-final results

2-John Isner (U.S.) beat 8-Xavier Malisse (Belgium) 7-6(8) 6-2

4-Tommy Haas (Germany) beat Steve Johnson (U.S.) 6-4 6-2

 

[Smallville22]

Federer backs squash for 2020 Games inclusion

As arguably the greatest ever tennis player, Roger Federer is urging Olympic officials to back another racket sport by including squash in the programme for the 2020 Games.
"I really like the sport and I even used to play it in my younger days but that was with a wooden racket," 17-times grand slam champion Federer told Reuters after he suffered a surprise defeat in the quarter-finals of the World Indoor Tournament.
"There are some great characters active in the sport and I believe that they deserve to be present at the Olympics."
Martial arts karate and wushu, rollersports, wakeboarding, squash, sports climbing, wrestling and a joint bid by baseball and softball are the candidates for the one open spot for the 2020 Games.

 

[Smallville22]

Serena oldest player to top rankings after Doha win

Serena Williams showed tennis was not just the domain of teenagers as she climbed back to the top of the world rankings, becoming the oldest female to hold the coveted position at the age of 31.
The American is world number one for the sixth time in her storied career after finishing off former Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova 3-6 6-3 7-5 with a thumping ace in the quarter-finals of the Qatar Open.
Williams will meet Russian Maria Sharapova, who had also been in hot pursuit of the number one ranking this week, in a lip-smacking semi-final on Saturday.
"I'm so sensitive nowadays, I'm always ******! I've just been through so much and never thought I'd be here again," Williams, who recovered from 4-1 down in the third set, told the crowd as she fought back tears.
At 31 years, four months and 24 days, she will be the oldest woman in the top spot since computer rankings began in 1975.
Williams eclipses fellow American Chris Evert, who was 30 years, 11 months and three days when she last held the ranking in 1985.
Since then teenagers like Steffi Graf, Monica Seles and Sharapova have often been world number one but, more than a decade after first claiming top spot, 15-times grand slam champion Williams showed she still hungers for success.
It was little wonder the second seed was so emotional after all the injuries, illnesses and surgery she has endured since last relinquishing the number one spot in October 2010.
While Williams relishes the prospect of beginning her 124th non-consecutive week as the world's best female player when the new rankings are officially unveiled on Monday, Sharapova must take consolation from continuing to progress at the Qatar Open.
The Russian brushed aside Australia's Samantha Stosur 6-2 6-4 on Friday having not dropped a set in her three matches, a feat equalled by outgoing world number one Victoria Azarenka of Belarus who saw off Italian Sara Errani 6-2 6-2.
Third seed Sharapova, who held an 11-2 career record over Stosur going into the match, was never threatened in her 82-minute victory.
Top seed Azarenka will face Agnieszka Radwanska in the semi-finals after the fourth seed overcame former world number one Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark 6-2 7-5 in the late match.

 

[Smallville22]

Oldest players to hold WTA world number one ranking

A list of the oldest women to be world number one after Serena Williams claimed the top spot aged 31.

Serena Williams (U.S) 31 years, 4 months, 24 days

Chris Evert (U.S) 30 years, 11 months, 3 days (Nov 1985)

Martina Navratilova (U.S) 30 years, 9 months, 29 days (Aug 1987)

Lindsay Davenport (U.S) 29 years, 7 months, 8 days (Jan 2006)

Serena Williams 29 years, 0 months, 14 days (Oct 2010)

Steffi Graf (Germany) 27 years, 9 months, 16 days (Mar 1997)

 

[Smallville22]

Nadal rolls on in Sao Paulo

Rafael Nadal came from a set down to book a place in the semi-finals of the Brazil Open with a 3-6 6-4 6-4 win over Carlos Berlocq.
The Spanish world number five started sluggishly and lost the opener against his Argentine opponent, ranked 78.
Having bounced back to claim the second set, Nadal then edged a tough decider - in which he was broken early to trail 3-1 - to seal victory in two hours and 24 minutes.
''I knew there was a chance I was going to lose it, but luckily I was able to recover in the end,'' Nadal said.
''I'm very happy because it was a very difficult match against a great opponent. I'm happy to reach the semi-finals and now we'll see how it goes.''
Nadal next plays Martin Alund after the world number 111 downed Filippo Volandri of Italy 7-5 7-6(5).
The Argentine, who accounted for Jeremy Chardy in the second round, had never won an ATP match until arriving at the indoor clay-court tournament in Sao Paulo this week.
Nicolas Almagro's bid to win third straight Brazil Open title was ended by David Nalbandian, who won a lengthy three-setter 7-6(5) 3-6 7-6(3).
Second seed Almagro failed to capitalise on his chances, taking just two of 11 break points, allowing Nalbandian to go on and book a date with Simone Bolelli of Italy.
Bolelli beat Albert Montanes of Spain 6-4 6-4 to reach his first ATP semi-final since 2008

Brazil Open quarter-final results:

1-Rafa Nadal (Spain) beat Carlos Berlocq (Argentina) 3-6 6-4 6-4

David Nalbandian (Argentina) beat 2-Nicolas Almagro (Spain) 7-6(5) 3-6 7-6(3)

Martin Alund (Argentina) beat Filippo Volandri (Italy) 7-5 7-6(5)

Simone Bolelli (Italy) beat Albert Montanes (Spain) 6-4 6-4

 

[Smallville22]

Del Potro eases into Rotterdam final

Juan Martin Del Potro beat Grigor Dimitrov 6-4 6-4 to move into the World Indoor Tournament final in Rotterdam.
World number seven Del Potro, the highest remaining seed after defending champion Roger Federer’s shock exit on Friday, needed an hour and 15 minutes to see off the Bulgarian.
That sets up a final meeting with one of two Frenchmen, Federer-slayer Julien Benneteau, or Gilles Simon.
Del Potro played the key points well, which was enough to see him through as he saved both break points he faced, while Dimitrov only managed to retrieve one of three.
Indeed, Del Potro served up fewer aces and more double faults than Dimitrov, but the Argentine's superior power allowed him to dominate his service points anyway.
Benneteau and Simon start their match later on Saturday.