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Federer stunned by Hewitt in Halle final

June 14, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

(Reuters) – Roger Federer suffered a shock defeat by Lleyton Hewitt in the final of the Halle grasscourt event Sunday, losing 3-6 7-6 6-4 to the Australian.

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Six-times Wimbledon champion Federer had not lost a match at Halle since 2002, winning the title five times, and had beaten Hewitt 15 times in a row over the past six years.

Hewitt, a former Wimbledon champion himself, ended the two hour 20 minute contest when his forehand hit the net tape and dropped dead on Federer’s side.

“He played fantastic and deserved to win,” Federer told the tournament’s website (www.garyweber-open.com)

The Swiss said he had been satisfied with his tournament but without a title since the Australian Open at the start of the year he is looking a little vulnerable as Wimbledon approaches.

“I’m happy with the way I’m playing,” he said. It’s unfortunate not coming through today, but I think my level of play is fine. This loss here doesn’t worry me in any way.”

Hewitt rolled back the years to complete his collection of the world’s top grasscourt titles. He has won Wimbledon, Queen’s Club and now Halle.

“Roger’s a hell of an opponent, his grass-court record speaks for itself,” Hewitt told reporters. “Any time you play Roger on a grass court you know you’re in for a hell of a battle and I was lucky to get out of today’s match.

“It’s fantastic for me. I’m getting toward the end of my career and had couple of surgeries, to know I can still compete at this level. I’m thrilled to be here and to have won another title.”

Going into Sunday’s final, Federer had won 76 of his last 77 matches on grass dating back to 2002. His only blemish was a five-set loss to Rafael Nadal in the 2008 Wimbledon final.

However, Hewitt is not one to surrender easily and he refused to be intimidated by his abysmal record against the 16-times grand slam champion.

After allowing Federer to bag the first set, he chased down everything the top seed could throw at him to win his first title in over a year and first on grass since triumphing at Queen’s in 2006.

(Reporting by Martyn Herman in London; editing by Ed Osmond and Alison Wildey)

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Injury ends Gulbis’s French Open hopes

May 24, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Roland Garros proved a stride too far, literally, for Latvian dark horse Ernests Gulbis on Sunday as he was forced to retire with a hamstring injury after doing the splits against Frenchman Julien Benneteau.

The 23rd seed was already a set and 2-1 down when he inadvertently performed a gymnastics-type move in the corner while trying to recover from reaching a wide backhand.

He returned to the court after treatment but was clearly restricted and the 21-year-old, who beat world number one and defending French Open champion Roger Federer in Rome recently, threw in the towel trailing 6-4 6-2 1-0.

“When I returned a serve, 2-1, second set, I stretched my leg, my hamstrings, and I heard two cracks,” Gulbis told reporters. “I don’t know what is it. I’m going to get an MRI in hospital and check it. I hope it’s nothing serious.”

Gulbis, a player who has finally been delivering on his potential this year, said he hoped to be fit for the grasscourt season after an encouraging claycourt swing.

“I will try not to be pessimistic for the grass court season,” he said. “Obviously I love grass. I love the tournaments there. There are not many tournaments. Queen’s, Wimbledon, I really enjoy, I enjoy playing on grass.”

(Reporting by Julien Pretot; editing by Miles Evans; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: backhand, cracks, Dark Horse, Doing The Splits, french open, french open champion, frenchman, Grass Court, Gulbis, gymnastics, Hamstring Injury, Hamstrings, Julien Benneteau, Miles Evans, queen, roger federer, roland garros, Rome, swing, wimbledon

Djokovic to compete for Queen’s title

April 10, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

World number two Novak Djokovic has confirmed he will play at this year’s Queen’s tournament, the warm-up event before Wimbledon.

The Serbian, who has yet to win a grass court title, has been added to a field which already includes Rafael Nadal, Juan Martin Del Potro and Andy Roddick for the event which gets under way on June 7.

“It would mean a lot to me if I could go one step further than in 2008 and win … at Queen’s, and then to do well at Wimbledon,” the 2008 runner-p, said.

“The grass court season is unique and it is very exciting to play at Queen’s because the atmosphere is fantastic and there is so much tradition for tennis in England.”

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: Andy Roddick, atmosphere, England, Grass Court, Juan Martin del Potro, novak djokovic, queen, rafael nadal, Serbian, Sport, Tennis, tradition, United Kingdom, wimbledon

Sporting world unites to admire Federer

July 6, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

London, July 6(ANI): Following Roger Federer’s 15th Grand Slam title, the sporting world has united in their admiration for the World No. 1 player.

Famous sportspersons -Jimmy Connors, Rod Laver, Bjorn Borg John McEnroe, Mats Wilander, Tim Henman, Tiger Woods, Tracy Austin, Serena Williams and many others came forward to applaud the unique achievement that Fedrer has achieved and were in awe of his talent.

“In the modern game, you’re a clay-court specialist, a grass-court specialist or a hard-court specialist – or you’re Roger Federer,” The Sun quoted Connors, as saying.

Four time Wimbledon champion, Rod Laver, was amazed with the array of shots that Fed has in his kitty, saying “He has too many shots, too much talent in one body. It’s hardly fair one person can do all this.” hile, American golfer, Tiger Woods, whose achievements to date rank him among the most successful golfers of all time, rated Fedrer’s achievements in tennis to be far greater than what he had done in golf.

Meanwhile, John McEnroe had a high regard for the Swiss star.

“He’s the most gifted player I’ve ever seen. I played against the Samprases, Beckers, Connors, Borgs. This guy could be the greatest of all time,” he said. (ANI)

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Murray fired up after receiving ‘royal seal of approval’ from The Queen

June 27, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

London, June 26 (ANI): Britain’s No. 1 Andy Murray received the royal seal of approval from The Queen, and served up a tennis feast as he outclassed Ernests Gulbis to reach third round at Wimbledon.

Murray revealed he opened a letter of congratulations from Her Majesty after winning his first grass-court and home title in the Aegon Championships at Queen’s Club.

The last time that The Queen came to SW19 was in her Jubilee Year, 1977, when Virginia Wade lifted the women’s crown – the nation’s last home singles success.

The Queen can return to Centre Court on men’s finals day on July 5 if Murray is one of the finalists. Murray, 22, made just five unforced errors throughout.

“It’s surprising – you don’t get that every day. What did it say? Just well done for winning at Queen’s and good luck here was the gist of it,” the Daily Express quoted Murray, as saying.

“I don’t read that much of the stuff during Wimbledon. But that one, someone from the All England Club came and gave it to me at the end of practice. He told me who it was from, so obviously I was going to open it.”

Murray added: “I don’t want to give myself marks out of 10, but it was very good. I played well and served really good throughout. Apart from the very first game, where I had a couple of chances on my serve, I didn’t give him another break point.” (ANI)

Filed Under: Sports News Tagged With: AEGON, andy murray, break point, daily express, England Club, feast, first game, first grass, gist, good luck, Grass Court, Gulbis, last time, majesty, queen, royal seal, seal of approval, Unforced Errors, virginia wade, wimbledon

I feel I can win Wimbledon this year, says Murray

June 23, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

London, June 23 (ANI): Britain’s No.1 tennis player Andy Murray has said that he is good enough to lift the Wimbledon title this year.

The World No.3 bid for glory begins on Centre Court today against American Robby Kendrick.

Murray, who lost in the quarterfinals to Rafa Nadal last year, said: “I now feel I can win the tournament. I am a much better player than when I was last at Wimbledon. I’ve had some good results with the highlight reaching the US Open final.”

“Now, I am looking to go one better. I have a lot more confidence in myself. When the big points and important moments come in matches, I feel like I am going to win them. I am just going into every match feeling and thinking exactly the same, not worrying about my opponents too much,” he added.

And the Scot says he won’t be underestimating World No.76 Kendrick, who he said was a tough grass court player, The Sun reports.

Murray said: “I’ve played him three times so I know a lot about him. He’s a tough grass-court player so there is no chance of me under- estimating him.” (ANI)

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Murray claims that he has rediscovered his winning habit

April 2, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

London, Apr.2 (ANI): British tennis star Andy Murray insists that he has rediscovered the habit of winning as he prepares for a Masters quarterfinal in Miami today.
The British No 1 will take on Fernando Verdasco – who beat him in the fourth round of the Australian Open in January – at the Sony Ericsson Open.
“I’ve now been finding ways to win when I’ve not been playing my best. I guess that’s all you can do. At the end of last year my consistency was great and I’ve started this year really great. I need to make sure I keep it going,” The Sun quoted Murray, as saying.urray is hoping to capture the world number one spot with his recent stupendous form.

Murray has been performing well on grass court as well as on synthetic courts’ as he powered his way through to the final of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells last weekend, but was outclassed by the world number one Rafal Nadal.

“Looking at the matches I’ve won and the win-loss record since Wimbledon,I think if I’d played like that the whole year, then I would be close to finishing No 1,” The Sun quoted Murray, as saying.

Murray currently ranks number four in world, and is pushing hard to dethrone Serbian ovak Djokovic from the third spot.

Murray, 21, however, knows that challenging Nadal’s kingship on the clay court would be something near to impossible, and getting past Roger Federer’s class on the grass court would require tremendous effort.

“If I can improve in the clay-court season then I can definitely move up,” he said. (ANI)

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Britain’s Andy Murray eyeing no.1 spot

March 25, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

London, Mar.25 (ANI): British tennis star Andy Murray is hoping to capture the world number one spot with his recent stupendous form.

“Looking at the matches I’ve won and the win-loss record since Wimbledon, I think if I’d played like that the whole year, then I would be close to finishing No 1,” The Sun quoted Murray, as saying.