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Serena Williams Caps Historic Year With a Win in Istanbul

Serena Williams came from behind to beat China’s Li Na in the WTA Championships final in Istanbul: 2-6, 6-3, 6-0.

The 32-year-old world No. 1 overcame a lethargic start, and a stellar Li, who broke early, and dominated the first set, though Williams started to regain form in her last service game of the opener. Midway through the second set, it was the 31-year-old No. 5-ranked Chinese woman who appeared to run out of gas, allowing Serena to then run away with the match.

The win gives Williams a career-best 11 titles for the year, a win-loss record of 78-4, and a record-smashing $12.4 million in total prize money. (The previous record was set by Victoria Azarenka last year, with $7.9 million.)

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Photo credit: Aleksandr Osipov (Creative Commons License)

October 27, 2013
Del Potro Prevails Again in Basel

In a repeat of last year’s final at the Swiss Indoors Basel 500, Juan Martin Del Potro again denied Roger Federer and his hometown crowd: 7-6(3), 2-6, 6-4. The win gave the Argentine his fourth title of 2013. Federer was playing in his eighth consecutive final at his local tournament, his tenth overall, where he has won five titles.

The match was an entertaining affair, with much good tennis on display. Del Potro broke in the eighth game of the first set, but Federer broke back immediately, and the set eventually went to a tiebreak, which the Argentine world No. 5 dominated handily. The Swiss, currently ranked No. 7, broke early in the second and raced through in very fine form. However, Del Potro returned the favor in the first game of the decider. Federer nearly broke back in the next game, but Del Potro hung on, and the one break proved to be enough for the win.

Federer has yet to qualify for the ATP World Tour Finals, and will need to win his second round match in Paris this week to assure his place, in what would be his twelfth consecutive year-end championship tournament. Juan Martin Del Potro has already qualified.

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Photo credit: Marianne Bevis (Creative Commons License)

October 27, 2013
Federer, Del Potro, Ferrer and Youzhny Advance to Finals in Basel and Valencia

Roger Federer, Juan Martin Del Potro, David Ferrer, and Mikhail Youzhny have advanced to the finals of Basel and Valencia.

In Basel, the Argentine Del Potro beat the Frenchman Edouard Roger-Vasselin in three sets, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2. In the next semifinal, the Swiss Roger Federer won a hard-fought contest against the young Canadian Vasek Pospisil, finally winning in three sets, 6-3, 6-7(3), 7-5.

In Valencia, the first semifinal was an all-Russian affair, with Mikhail Youzhny knocking out Dmitry Tursunov, 6-2, 6-4. Up next, No. 1 seed David Ferrer, of Spain, beat countryman Nicolas Almagro, 6-2, 6-3, to advance to the final.

On Sunday, the Basel final will take place not before 14:30 P.M. (local time); the Valencia final is scheduled for not before 16:00 (local time).

October 26, 2013
Serena Williams and Li Na Advance to WTA Championship Final

Serena Williams and Li Na have advanced to the final of the WTA Championship in Istanbul, Turkey.

Li Na beat Petra Kvitova 6-4, 6-2 in just over an hour and a half.

Serena Williams won the first set against Jelena Jankovic 6-4, then played a distracted second set, getting broken twice, to lose it 2-6. In the third set, Williams was up a double break, and served for the match at 5-2, when Jankovic broke back, saving a match point, then proceeded to win the next two games. Williams finally closed out the match after serving for it a second time, closing it out 6-4, 2-6, 6-4.

Williams and Li Na will play the WTA Championship final on Sunday. It will begin not before 10 P.M. EDT.

October 26, 2013
Valencia and Basel – ATP Latest Scores – Friday, October 25

Latest Scores – Friday, October 25

Basel:

Roger-Vasselin d Brands — 6-3, 4-6, 6-3
Pospisil d Dodig — 7-6(11), 6-4
(3) Federer d (8) Dimitrov — 6-3, 7-6(2)
(1) Del Potro d Mathieu — 6-4, 6-4

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Valencia:

(1) Ferrer d (5) Janowicz — 6-4, 4-6, 6-0
(3) Almagro d (7) Fognini — 7-6(6), 6-2
Tursunov d Chardy — 6-3, 6-3
Youzhny d Nieminen — 7-5, 6-7(4), 6-4

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Basel Schedule of Play — Saturday, October 26:

CENTER COURT — Not Before 14:30

[1] Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) v Edouard Roger-Vasselin (FRA)
[3] Roger Federer (SUI) v Vasek Pospisil (CAN)

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Valencia Schedule of Play — Saturday, October 26

AGORA — Not Before 16:00

Dmitry Tursunov (RUS) v Mikhail Youzhny (RUS)

Not Before 20:00

[1] David Ferrer (ESP) v [3] Nicolas Almagro (ESP)

October 26, 2013
Li Na, Kvitova and Errani Prevail on Day 4 of the WTA Championships

Li Na, Sara Errani, and Petra Kvitova win their matches on Day 4 of the WTA Championships in Istanbul, Turkey.

(4) Li Na (CHN) d. (2) Victoria Azarenka (BLR) — 6-2, 6-1
(6) Sara Errani (ITA) d. (7) Jelena Jankovic (SRB) — 6-4, 6-4
(5) Petra Kvitova (CZE) d. (8) Angelique Kerber (GER) — 6-7(3), 6-2, 6-3

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Schedule of play for Saturday, October 26, 2013:

Center Court (Not Before 15.00hrs)

1. Li Na vs. Petra Kvitova
2. Serena Williams vs. Jelena Jankovic

October 26, 2013
Valencia and Basel – ATP Latest Scores – Thursday, October 24

Latest Scores – Thursday, October 24

Basel:

(1) Del Potro d Baghdatis — 6-1, 6-2
Roger-Vasselin d Kamke — 7-5, 6-3
Mathieu d Llodra — 6-4, 6-3
(8) Dimitrov d Dolgopolov — 6-3, 6-2
Pospisil d Karlovic — 6-3, 6-4
Brands d Kubot — 6-2, 6-4

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Valencia:

(1) Ferrer d Benneteau — 6-2, 6-1
Youzhny d Kohlschreiber — 6-4, 6-3
(3) Almagro d Przysiezny — 6-4, 7-5
Chardy d (4) Isner — 7-6(7), 6-3
Nieminen d Falla — 6-2, 6-3
(5) Janowicz d Sousa — 6-2, 7-5

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Basel Schedule of Play — Friday, October 25:

CENTER COURT — Start 14:00

Edouard Roger-Vasselin (FRA) v Daniel Brands (GER)

Not Before 16:00

Ivan Dodig (CRO) v Vasek Pospisil (CAN)

Not Before 18:00

[1] Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) v [Q] Paul-Henri Mathieu (FRA)

Not Before 20:00

[8] Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) v [3] Roger Federer (SUI)

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Valencia Schedule of Play — Friday, October 25

AGORA — Start 13:00

Jarkko Nieminen (FIN) v Mikhail Youzhny (RUS)

Dmitry Tursunov (RUS) v Jeremy Chardy (FRA)

[1] David Ferrer (ESP) v [5] Jerzy Janowicz (POL)

Not Before 20:00

[3] Nicolas Almagro (ESP) v [7] Fabio Fognini (ITA)

October 25, 2013
Serena Williams, Kerber and Li Na Winners on Day 3 of WTA Championships

Serena Williams, Angelique Kerber, and Li Na were the winners on Day 3 of the WTA Championships in Istanbul, Turkey.

(1) Serena Williams (USA) d. (5) Petra Kvitova (CZE) — 6-2, 6-3
(8) Angelique Kerber (GER) d. (3) Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) — 6-2, 6-2
(4) Li Na (CHN) d. (7) Jelena Jankovic (SRB) — 6-3, 2-6, 6-3

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Schedule of play for Friday, October 25, 2013:

Center Court (from 17:00 hrs)

1. Victoria Azarenka vs. Li Na
2. Petra Kvitova vs. Angelique Kerber
3. Sara Errani vs. Jelena Jankovic

October 25, 2013
Valencia and Basel – ATP Latest Scores – Wednesday, October 23

Latest Scores – Wednesday, October 23

Basel:

(3) Federer d Istomin — 4-6, 6-3, 6-2
(1) Del Potro d Laaksonen — 6-4, 6-4
Llodra d (5) Gasquet — 6-4, 6-2
(8) Dimitrov d Stepanek — 6-3, 6-3
Mathieu d Kudla — 6-4, 7-5
Dodig d (6) Nishikori — 6-1, 6-2
Pospisil d Haase — 6-4, 6-4

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Valencia:

(1) Ferrer d Monfils — 6-3, 6-2
(4) Isner d Gulbis — 7-6 (4), 7-6 (2)
Kohlschreiber d (2) Haas — 3-6, 6-3, 6-3
Tursunov d Bautista Agut — 6-2, 7-6 (3)
(7) Fognini d Granollers — 6-3, 6-2
Chardy d Mayer — 4-6, 7-5, 6-3
Nieminen d Paire — 6-3, 6-3

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Basel Schedule of Play — Thursday, October 24:

CENTER COURT — Start 14:00

Edouard Roger-Vasselin (FRA) v [Q] Tobias Kamke (GER)

Not Before 16:00

[Q] Paul-Henri Mathieu (FRA) v Michael Llodra (FRA)

Not Before 18:00

[1] Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) v Marcos Baghdatis (CYP)

Not Before 20:00

[8] Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) v [WC] Alexandr Dolgopolov (UKR)

COURT 2 — Start 14:00

Vasek Pospisil (CAN) v Ivo Karlovic (CRO)

Not Before 16:00

Lukasz Kubot (POL) v Daniel Brands (GER)

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Valencia Schedule of Play — Thursday, October 24

AGORA — Start 13:00

Jeremy Chardy (FRA) v [4] John Isner (USA)

Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) v Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER)

[1] David Ferrer (ESP) v Julien Benneteau (FRA)

Not Before 20:00

[3] Nicolas Almagro (ESP) v [Q] Michal Przysiezny (POL)

PISTA 1 — Start 13:00

[Q] Alejandro Falla (COL) v Jarkko Nieminen (FIN)

[Q] Joao Sousa (POR) v [5] Jerzy Janowicz (POL)

October 24, 2013
Li Na, Jelena Jankovic and Serena Williams Victorious on Day 2 of WTA Championships

Li Na, Jelena Jankovic, and Serena Williams won their matches on the second day of the WTA Championships, in Istanbul, Turkey.

(1) Serena Williams (USA) d (3) Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) — 6-2, 6-4
(4) Na Li (CHN) d (6) Sara Errani (ITA) — 6-3, 7-6 (5)
(7) Jelena Jankovic (SRB) d (2) Victoria Azarenka (BLR) — 6-4, 6-3

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Schedule of play for Thursday, October 24, 2013:

Center Court (from 17:00 hrs)
1. Li Na vs. Jelena Jankovic
2. Agnieszka Radwanska vs. Angelique Kerber
3. Serena Williams vs. Petra Kvitova

October 24, 2013