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Roland Garros French Open Day 7

Day 7 of the French Open, at Roland Garros, kicks off with 2009 champion Svetlana Kuznetsova (27), facing off against 2011 Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova (5). They will be followed by defending champion and World No. 1 Rafael Nadal playing the Argentine Leonardo Mayer. Local favorite Richard Gasquet (12) and the Spaniard Fernando Verdasco (24) will conclude the day’s action on Court Philippe Chatrier.

Up first on Court Suzanne Lenglen, the promising American Sloane Stephens (15) will meet the Russian Ekaterina Makarova (22). Next up are Lucie Safarova (23) and the 2008 Roland Garros champion Ana Ivanovic (11). The final match on Lenglen features last year’s Wimbledon champion Andy Murray (7), who will play the veteran German Philipp Kohlschreiber (28).

The full schedule for Day 7 is listed below (Results to follow)…

[divider]

Court Philippe Chatrier – 11:00 A.M.

Women’s Singles – Round 3
Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) (27) d. Petra Kvitova (CZE) (5) — 6-7(3), 6-1, 9-7

Men’s Singles – Round 3
Rafael Nadal (ESP) (1) d. Leonardo Mayer (ARG) — 6-2, 7-5, 6-2

Women’s Singles – Round 3
Andrea Petkovic (GER) (28) d. Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) — 6-4, 4-6, 6-4

Men’s Singles – Round 3
Richard Gasquet (FRA) (12) vs. Fernando Verdasco (ESP) (24) — To Finish: 3-6, 2-6, 2-2

[divider]

Court Suzanne Lenglen – 11:00 A.M.

Women’s Singles – Round 3
Sloane Stephens (USA) (15) d. Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) (22) — 6-3, 6-4

Women’s Singles – Round 3
Lucie Safarova (CZE) (23) d. Ana Ivanovic (SRB) (11) — 6-3, 6-3

Men’s Singles – Round 3
Gael Monfils (FRA) (23) d. Fabio Fognini (ITA) (14) — 5-7, 6-2, 6-4, 0-6, 6-2

Men’s Singles – Round 3
Andy Murray (GBR) (7) vs. Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) (28) — To Finish: 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 7-7

[divider]

Court 1 – 11:00 A.M.

Men’s Singles – Round 3
David Ferrer (ESP) (5) d. Andreas Seppi (ITA) (32) — 6-2, 7-6(2), 6-3

Women’s Singles – Round 3
Jelena Jankovic (SRB) (6) d. Sorana Cirstea (ROU) (26) — 6-1, 6-2

Men’s Singles – Round 3
Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (ESP) d. Donald Young (USA) — 6-2, 6-4, 2-6, 6-7(4), 6-4

Men’s Doubles – Round 3
Bob Bryan (USA) (1) / Mike Bryan (USA) (1) d. Jamie Murray (GBR) (15) / John Peers (AUS) (15) — 6-3, 6-1

[divider]

Court 2 – 11:00 A.M.

Women’s Singles – Round 3
Simona Halep (ROU) (4) d. Maria-Teresa Torro-Flor (ESP) — 6-3, 6-0

Men’s Singles – Round 3
Kevin Anderson (RSA) (19) d. Ivo Karlovic (CRO) — 6-3 Ret.

Women’s Singles – Round 3
Sara Errani (ITA) (10) d. Julia Glushko (ISR) — 6-0, 6-1

Men’s Doubles – Round 3
Marcel Granollers (ESP) (12) / Marc Lopez (ESP) (12) d. Mate Pavic (CRO) / Andre Sa (BRA) — 6-2, 6-1

[divider]

Court 3 – 11:00 A.M.

Men’s Doubles – Round 3
Maximo Gonzalez (ARG) / Juan Monaco (ARG) d. Andre Begemann (GER) / Robin Haase (NED) — 6-1, 3-6, 6-3

Not Before: 12:30 P.M.

Men’s Doubles – Round 3
Daniel Nestor (CAN) (3) / Nenad Zimonjic (SRB) (3) d. Jean-Julien Rojer (NED) (13) / Horia Tecau (ROU) (13) — 6-4, 7-5

Women’s Doubles – Round 2
Julie Coin (FRA) / Pauline Parmentier (FRA) d. Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) (3) / Elena Vesnina (RUS) (3) — 6-3, 5-7, 6-3

Mixed Doubles – Round 2
Timea Babos (HUN) / Eric Butorac (USA) d. Sania Mirza (IND) / Horia Tecau (ROU) — 1-6, 6-4 [10-7]

[divider]

Court 6 – 11:00 A.M.

Women’s Doubles – Round 2
Liezel Huber (USA) (15) / Lisa Raymond (USA) (15) d. Yung-Jan Chan (TPE) / Hao-Ching Chan (TPE) — 6-4, 6-2

Not Before: 12:30 P.M.

Women’s Doubles – Round 2
Ashleigh Barty (AUS) (7) / Casey Dellacqua (AUS) (7) d. Jana Cepelova (SVK) / Stefanie Voegele (SUI) — 6-1, 6-2

Mixed Doubles – Round 2
Alize Cornet (FRA) / Jonathan Eysseric (FRA) d. Klaudia Jans-Ignacik (POL) / Dominic Inglot (GBR) — 7-6(10), 3-6 [11-9]

[divider]

Court 7 – 11:00 A.M.

Men’s Singles – Round 3
Dusan Lajovic (SRB) d. Jack Sock (USA) — 6-4, 7-5, 6-3

Men’s Singles – Round 3
Marcel Granollers (ESP) d. Martin Klizan (SVK) — 6-7(5), 6-2, 7-6(4), 7-5

Men’s Doubles – Round 3
Lukasz Kubot (POL) (9) / Robert Lindstedt (SWE) (9) d. Jonathan Erlich (ISR) / Marcelo Melo (BRA) — 6-4, 7-6(5)

Women’s Singles – Round 3
Kiki Bertens (NED) d. Silvia Soler-Espinosa (ESP) — 6-2, 6-1

Women’s Doubles – Round 2
Madison Keys (USA) / Alison Riske (USA) d. Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) / Kirsten Flipkens (BEL) — Walkover

[divider]

Court 16 – 11:00 A.M.

Women’s Doubles – Round 2
Kveta Peschke (CZE) (4) / Katarina Srebotnik (SLO) (4) d. Oksana Kalashnikova (GEO) / Katarzyna Piter (POL) — 7-6(2), 6-4

Not Before: 12:30 P.M.

Women’s Doubles – Round 2
Lucie Hradecka (CZE) / Michaella Krajicek (NED) d. Kimiko Date-Krumm (JPN) / Barbora Zahlavova Strycova (CZE) — 6-3, 3-6, 6-3

Mixed Doubles – Round 2
Katarina Srebotnik (SLO) (2) / Rohan Bopanna (IND) (2) d. Cara Black (ZIM) / Robert Farah (COL) — 6-3, 3-6 [10-7]

Mixed Doubles – Round 2
Julia Goerges (GER) (8) / Nenad Zimonjic (SRB) (8) d. Liezel Huber (USA) / Juan Sebastian Cabal (COL) — 6-0, 6-1

[divider]

Court 17 – 11:00 A.M.

Women’s Doubles – Round 2
Cara Black (ZIM) (5) / Sania Mirza (IND) (5) d. Gabriela Dabrowski (CAN) / Alicja Rosolska (POL) — 6-1, 6-2

Not Before: 12:30 P.M.

Women’s Doubles – Round 2
Irina-Camelia Begu (ROU) / Karin Knapp (ITA) d. Raquel Kops-Jones (USA) (6) / Abigail Spears (USA) (6) — 4-6, 7-5, 7-5

Women’s Doubles – Round 2
Garbine Muguruza (ESP) / Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP) d. Andreja Klepac (SLO) / Maria-Teresa Torro-Flor (ESP) — 0-6, 6-2, 6-2

Mixed Doubles – Round 2
Arantxa Parra Santonja (ESP) / Santiago Gonzalez (MEX) d. Abigail Spears (USA) (1) / Alexander Peya (AUT) (1) — 5-7, 6-3 [10-4]

May 30, 2014
Roland Garros French Open Day 5

Eight-time champion and World No. 1 Rafael Nadal (ESP) plays the young, Austrian rising star Dominic Thiem on Court Philippe Chatrier on Day Five of the French Open, at Roland Garros. Former champion Ana Ivanovic (SRB) will play Elina Svitolina, of the Ukraine.

On Court Suzanne Lenglen, last year’s finalist and the No. 5 seed David Ferrer (ESP) faces off against the veteran Italian Simone Bolelli. The 2011 Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova (5) plays Marina Erakovic, of New Zealand.

The American Sloane Stephens will play Polona Hercog (SLO) on Court 1. Later, Andy Murray, the No. 7 seed and defending Wimbledon champion, will meet the Australian Marinko Matosevic. The final match on Court 1 will be the talented Romanian Simona Halep (4) playing Heather Watson (GBR).

The full schedule for Day 5 is listed below (Results to follow)…

[divider]

Court Philippe Chatrier – 11:00 A.M.

Women’s Singles – Round 2
Jelena Jankovic (SRB) (6) d. Kurumi Nara (JPN) — 7-5, 6-0

Men’s Singles – Round 2
Rafael Nadal (ESP) (1) d. Dominic Thiem (AUT) — 6-2, 6-2, 6-3

Men’s Singles – Round 2
Richard Gasquet (FRA) (12) d. Carlos Berlocq (ARG) — 7-6(5), 6-4, 6-4

Women’s Singles – Round 2
Ana Ivanovic (SRB) (11) d. Elina Svitolina (UKR) — 7-5, 6-2

[divider]

Court Suzanne Lenglen – 11:00 A.M.

Men’s Singles – Round 2
David Ferrer (ESP) (5) d. Simone Bolelli (ITA) — 6-2, 6-3, 6-2

Women’s Singles – Round 2
Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) d. Alison Riske (USA) — 7-6(5), 3-6, 6-3

Women’s Singles – Round 2
Petra Kvitova (CZE) (5) d. Marina Erakovic (NZL) — 6-4, 6-4

Men’s Singles – Round 2
Gael Monfils (FRA) (23) d. Jan-Lennard Struff (GER) — 7-6(4), 6-4, 6-1

[divider]

Court 1 – 11:00 A.M.

Women’s Singles – Round 2
Sloane Stephens (USA) (15) d. Polona Hercog (SLO) — 6-1, 6-3

Men’s Singles – Round 2
Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (ESP) d. Adrian Mannarino (FRA) — 6-4, 6-3, 4-6, 6-0

Men’s Singles – Round 2
Andy Murray (GBR) (7) d. Marinko Matosevic (AUS) — 6-3, 6-1, 6-3

Women’s Singles – Round 2
Simona Halep (ROU) (4) d. Heather Watson (GBR) — 6-2, 6-4

[divider]

Court 2 – 11:00 A.M.

Women’s Singles – Round 2
Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) (27) d. Camila Giorgi (ITA) — 7-6(5), 6-3

Women’s Singles – Round 2
Paula Ormaechea (ARG) d. Monica Niculescu (ROU) — 2-6, 7-5, 6-2

Women’s Singles – Round 2
Sara Errani (ITA) (10) d. Dinah Pfizenmaier (GER) — 6-2, 6-4

Men’s Singles – Round 2
Fernando Verdasco (ESP) (24) d. Pablo Cuevas (URU) — 4-6, 6-7(6), 7-5, 6-4, 6-3

[divider]

Court 3 – 11:00 A.M.

Men’s Singles – Round 2
Donald Young (USA) d. Feliciano Lopez (ESP) (26) — 6-3, 7-6(1), 6-3

Men’s Singles – Round 2
Andreas Seppi (ITA) (32) d. Juan Monaco (ARG) — 6-2, 6-4, 6-4

Women’s Singles – Round 2
Sorana Cirstea (ROU) (26) d. Teliana Pereira (BRA) — 6-2, 7-5

Men’s Singles – Round 2
Fabio Fognini (ITA) (14) d. Thomaz Bellucci (BRA) — 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(2)

[divider]

Court 4 – 12:00 P.M.

Women’s Singles – Round 2
Maria-Teresa Torro-Flor (ESP) d. Magdalena Rybarikova (SVK) — 6-2, 2-6, 6-2

Women’s Doubles – Round 1
Shuko Aoyama (JPN) / Renata Voracova (CZE) d. Amandine Hesse (FRA) / Mathilde Johansson (FRA) — 6-1, 6-4

Women’s Doubles – Round 1
Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) / Kirsten Flipkens (BEL) d. Julia Goerges (GER) (8) / Anna-Lena Groenefeld (GER) (8) — 7-5, 2-6, 7-5

Mixed Doubles – Round 1
Sania Mirza (IND) / Horia Tecau (ROU) d. Kveta Peschke (CZE) (4) / Marcin Matkowski (POL) (4) — 4-6, 6-3 [10-7]

[divider]

Court 5 – 11:00 A.M.

Women’s Singles – Round 2
Kiki Bertens (NED) d. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) (24) — 5-7, 6-4, 3-0 Ret.

Women’s Singles – Round 2
Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) (22) d. Coco Vandeweghe (USA) — 6-4, 6-3

Women’s Doubles – Round 1
Yung-Jan Chan (TPE) / Hao-Ching Chan (TPE) d. Kurumi Nara (JPN) / Anna Schmiedlova (SVK) — 7-5, 6-0

Women’s Doubles – Round 1
Julie Coin (FRA) / Pauline Parmentier (FRA) d. Irina Buryachok (UKR) / Vladimira Uhlirova (CZE) — 6-3, 6-3

[divider]

Court 6 – 11:00 A.M.

Women’s Singles – Round 2
Julia Glushko (ISR) d. Kirsten Flipkens (BEL) (21) — 6-4, 3-6, 6-4

Women’s Singles – Round 2
Lucie Safarova (CZE) (23) d. Casey Dellacqua (AUS) — 6-1, 5-7, 6-3

Men’s Singles – Round 2
Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) (28) d. Denis Istomin (UZB) — 6-3, 7-6(5), 6-2

Women’s Doubles – Round 1
Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) (12) / Flavia Pennetta (ITA) (12) d. Alize Cornet (FRA) / Caroline Garcia (FRA) — 3-6, 6-1, 6-2

[divider]

Court 7 – 11:00 A.M.

Men’s Singles – Round 2
Kevin Anderson (RSA) (19) d. Axel Michon (FRA) — 6-2, 6-3, 6-2

Women’s Singles – Round 2
Pauline Parmentier (FRA) d. Yaroslava Shvedova (KAZ) — 1-6, 6-3, 6-3

Women’s Singles – Round 2
Andrea Petkovic (GER) (28) d. Stefanie Voegele (SUI) — 6-2, 4-6, 6-2

Men’s Singles – Round 2
Jack Sock (USA) d. Steve Johnson (USA) — 7-5, 6-4, 6-2

Men’s Doubles – Round 2
Bob Bryan (USA) (1) / Mike Bryan (USA) (1) d. Jonathan Eysseric (FRA) / Marc Gicquel (FRA) — 6-3, 6-3

[divider]

Court 8 – 11:00 A.M.

Mixed Doubles – Round 1
Arantxa Parra Santonja (ESP) / Santiago Gonzalez (MEX) d. Lisa Raymond (USA) / John Peers (AUS) — 7-6(2), 6-2

Men’s Doubles – Round 1
Treat Huey (PHI) (7) / Dominic Inglot (GBR) (7) d. Santiago Giraldo (COL) / Alejandro Gonzalez (COL) — 6-3, 3-6, 6-3

Not Before: 2:00 PM

Men’s Doubles – Round 2
Daniel Nestor (CAN) (3) / Nenad Zimonjic (SRB) (3) d. Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP) / Igor Sijsling (NED) — 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-3

Mixed Doubles – Round 1
Cara Black (ZIM) / Robert Farah (COL) d. Alla Kudryavtseva (RUS) / Treat Huey (PHI) — 6-4, 6-4

Men’s Doubles – Round 2
Marcel Granollers (ESP) (12) / Marc Lopez (ESP) (12) d. Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (ESP) / Philipp Oswald (AUT) — 4-6, 6-0, 6-3

[divider]

Court 9 – 12:00 P.M.

Women’s Doubles – Round 1
Raquel Kops-Jones (USA) (6) / Abigail Spears (USA) (6) d. Sandra Klemenschits (AUT) / Yvonne Meusburger (AUT) — 6-3, 6-3

Women’s Doubles – Round 1
Gabriela Dabrowski (CAN) / Alicja Rosolska (POL) d. Ajla Tomljanovic (CRO) / Shuai Zhang (CHN) — 6-1, 6-3

Women’s Doubles – Round 1
Garbine Muguruza (ESP) / Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP) d. Mirjana Lucic-Baroni (CRO) / Sloane Stephens (USA) — 7-5, 6-4

Women’s Doubles – Round 1
Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) (3) / Elena Vesnina (RUS) (3) d. Alix Collombon (FRA) / Chloe Paquet (FRA) — 6-2, 6-3

[divider]

Court 10 – 11:00 A.M.

Mixed Doubles – Round 1
Liezel Huber (USA) / Juan Sebastian Cabal (COL) d. Stephanie Foretz Gacon (FRA) / Edouard Roger-Vasselin (FRA) — 6-3, 6-2

Men’s Doubles – Round 2
Jean-Julien Rojer (NED) (13) / Horia Tecau (ROU) (13) d. Nicholas Monroe (USA) / Simon Stadler (GER) — 6-3, 6-0

Women’s Doubles – Round 1
Su-Wei Hsieh (TPE) (1) / Shuai Peng (CHN) (1) d. Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) / Samantha Stosur (AUS) — 6-2, 6-4

Women’s Doubles – Round 1
Klara Koukalova (CZE) (14) / Monica Niculescu (ROU) (14) d. Monica Puig (PUR) / Yanina Wickmayer (BEL) — 6-7(1), 6-0, 6-3

[divider]

Court 11 – 12:00 P.M.

Women’s Doubles – Round 1
Cara Black (ZIM) (5) / Sania Mirza (IND) (5) d. Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) / Shahar Peer (ISR) — 6-3, 6-3

Women’s Doubles – Round 1
Irina-Camelia Begu (ROU) / Karin Knapp (ITA) d. Mona Barthel (GER) / Virginie Razzano (FRA) — 6-4, 6-3

Women’s Doubles – Round 1
Ashleigh Barty (AUS) (7) / Casey Dellacqua (AUS) (7) d. Polona Hercog (SLO) / Paula Ormaechea (ARG) — 6-2, 6-3

Mixed Doubles – Round 1
Anna-Lena Groenefeld (GER) / Jean-Julien Rojer (NED) d. Jie Zheng (CHN) / Scott Lipsky (USA) — 7-5, 6-3

[divider]

Court 14 – 12:00 P.M.

Men’s Doubles – Round 2
Lukasz Kubot (POL) (9) / Robert Lindstedt (SWE) (9) d. Jeremy Chardy (FRA) / Oliver Marach (AUT) — 6-4, 6-1

Men’s Singles – Round 2
Dusan Lajovic (SRB) d. Jurgen Zopp (EST) — 6-2, 6-4, 6-4

Mixed Doubles – Round 1
Raquel Kops-Jones (USA) / Raven Klaasen (RSA) d. Anastasia Rodionova (AUS) / Colin Fleming (GBR) — 3-6, 6-3 [10-8]

Women’s Doubles – Round 1
Andrea Petkovic (GER) / Magdalena Rybarikova (SVK) d. Claire Feuerstein (FRA) / Alize Lim (FRA) — 6-1, 6-3

[divider]

Court 16 – 11:00 A.M.

Men’s Singles – Round 2
Ivo Karlovic (CRO) d. Andreas Haider-Maurer (AUT) — 7-5, 6-3, 6-4

Men’s Doubles – Round 2
Jonathan Erlich (ISR) / Marcelo Melo (BRA) d. Rohan Bopanna (IND) (6) / Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi (PAK) (6) — 6-3, 6-4

Women’s Doubles – Round 1
Kimiko Date-Krumm (JPN) / Barbora Zahlavova Strycova (CZE) d. A. Medina Garrigues (ESP) (11) / Yaroslava Shvedova (KAZ) (11) — 6-4, 6-2

Women’s Doubles – Round 1
Sara Errani (ITA) (2) / Roberta Vinci (ITA) (2) d. Timea Babos (HUN) / Varvara Lepchenko (USA) — 6-1, 6-3

[divider]

Court 17 – 11:00 A.M.

Women’s Singles – Round 2
Silvia Soler-Espinosa (ESP) d. Yanina Wickmayer (BEL) — 6-2, 6-4

Men’s Singles – Round 2
Leonardo Mayer (ARG) d. Teymuraz Gabashvili (RUS) — 6-2, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4

Men’s Doubles – Round 1
Andre Begemann (GER) / Robin Haase (NED) d. Fabrice Martin (FRA) / Hugo Nys (FRA) — 6-3, 4-6, 6-3

Women’s Doubles – Round 1
Jarmila Gajdosova (AUS) / Janette Husarova (SVK) d. Karolina Pliskova (CZE) / Kristyna Pliskova (CZE) — 1-6, 6-3, 6-3

Men’s Doubles – Round 1
Feliciano Lopez (ESP) / Jurgen Melzer (AUT) d. Pierre-Hugues Herbert (FRA) / Albano Olivetti (FRA) — 7-6(4), 6-3

May 28, 2014
Sharapova Drives Away with Title in Stuttgart

Maria Sharapova retains her title at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, besting Ana Ivanovic 3-6, 6-4, 6-1, in a match that featured a dramatic shift in momentum at the midway point. Ivanovic came out strong and played at a very high level, seeming to be about to take out the defending champion, leading by a set and up 3-1 in the second. The Russian, with her back nearly to the wall, at risk of not only losing this title which she’d won the last two years, but also of dropping out of the Top 10, raised her level of play dramatically, and left the Serbian suddenly more confounded than confident. Sharapova won four games in a row, and then the set.

In the third, Sharapova broke Ivanovic in the first game, from which she never recovered. Both women are former world No. 1 players, with Sharapova currently at No. 9 and Ivanovic at No. 12, but this win brings Sharapova’s record in their head-to-head match-up to 10-3.

And she gets to keep the car, too.

[divider]

Also in women’s tennis today, Maria-Teresa Torro-Flor, a 21-year-old Spaniard, overcame Romina Oprandi of Switzerland to take the title at the Grand Prix De SAR La Princesse Lalla Meryem in Marrakesh, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.

[divider]

Cover Photo (Creative Commons License): Francisco Carbajal

April 27, 2014
Ana Ivanovic Biofile

By Scoop Malinowski

Status: 2008 French Open champion and former WTA world No. 1

Ht: 6-1 Wt: 150

DOB: November 6, 1987 In: Belgrade, Serbia

Tennis Inspiration: “Monica Seles. I was watching her on TV when I was four. During the break there was a commercial for a tennis school. I remembered the phone number and kept asking my mom there for maybe a month. Finally, she agreed. I fell in love with the game straight away. And for my fifth birthday my father gave me my first racquet.”

First Tennis Memory: “I remember my first ever lesson. I can’t describe how happy I was. It’s just a simple love for playing the game.”

Hobbies/Interests: “I love reading, especially historical thrillers. I spend a lot of time watching DVDs and going to the cinema. I like to have long dinners with my family and friends, I find that very relaxing.”

Last Book Read: “Monica Seles autobiography.”

Favorite Movie: “The Departed.”

Favorite TV Shows: “24, Lost and Prison Break.”

Musical Tastes: “Lots of kinds, Hip-hop, R&B, pop, Serbian.”

Favorite Meal: “Asian, especially sushi and black cod.”

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Cookies and cream.”

Pre-Match Feeling: “I like to be alone for the final moments before a match. I sometimes play Sudoku and listen to music. This helps me relax and then, just before I go out, I start to really think about my tactics for the match.”

First Car: “Peugeot 207.”

Current Car: “Peugeot 207.”

What Would You Be If Not A Tennis Player: “It’s hard to say. Probably I would be doing something with languages. I love languages.”

Favorite Web Site: “I enjoy visiting my own web site (www.anaivanovic.com). Because it’s a nice record of my career. I also Google a lot and You Tube.”

Favorite You Tube Videos: “I like to watch clips from comedy shows like Friends.”

Greatest Sports Moment: “Winning the French Open in June of 2008.”

Most Painful Moment: “I would probably say that having to withdraw from the Olympics in Beijing was the most painful moment of my career. I had been dreaming of playing in an Olympics for many years, and I got injured just a few weeks before. I did everything I could to try and recover in time, but it was too late. It was a huge disappointment.”

Favorite Tournaments: “There are so many. But if I have to choose one, it’s the Australian Open. I have family in Melbourne and I love to visit there.”

Funniest Players Encountered: “Novak Djokovic. I’ve known him since we were four and he always made me laugh a lot. It’s fitting that they call him The Joker.”

Toughest Competitors: “Henin and the Williams sisters.”

Best You Ever Felt On Court: “It’s funny, I often dream about playing the perfect match. But of course, that’s impossible. Still, I’ve had some pretty good matches. Beating Sharapova 62 61 in the semifinals of the French Open was one of the best. Against Hingis in Montreal was also a great match for me. There was a match against Schnyder in Stuttgart when I won 60 62.”

Funny Tennis Memory: “My first ever match in front of a big crowd was an exhibition with Mansour Bahrami and Henri Leconte. Those guys are very funny. I was very nervous because I was so inexperienced but they were so funny that I was able to relax. They were all the time joking around. Novak is also fun to play with. We played together in mixed doubles in Australia and around that time we also played a singles exhibition against each other. I was laughing a lot during those matches.”

Embarrassing Tennis Memory: “Playing a junior tournament in Canada. I was in the player lounge and they called my match. I wasn’t quite ready so I was in a bit of a rush. I grabbed my bag and ran to the courts. When I got there, I realized I had taken someone else’s racquet bag! I ran back to return it and get mine. Luckily, whoever it was didn’t realize. But I was still very embarrassed.”

First Famous Tennis Player You Encountered: “It was Venus Williams. I was playing French Open juniors and I was with my friend Sanja Ancic, who was also playing. We were in the locker room and she saw Venus and thought it would be fun to have our picture taken with her. She was very nice to us. I still have the picture.”

People Qualities Most Admired: “I think it’s important to be driven, to have a goal. I like people who are caring and generous and also those who have a good sense of humor.”

Scoop’s Book “Facing Federer: Symposium of a Champion” was called “addictive reading” by www.Tennis.com. It’s available at www.amazon.com.

January 20, 2014
Australian Open Day 9 Quarterfinals Schedule of Play / Scores: Tuesday, January 21

[Scores added as known.]

Rod Laver Arena — 11:00 A.M.

Women’s Singles – Quarterfinals
Na Li (CHN) (4) d. Flavia Pennetta (ITA) (28) — 6-2, 6-2

Women’s Singles – Quarterfinals
Eugenie Bouchard (CAN) (30) d. Ana Ivanovic (SRB) (14) — 5-7, 7-5, 6-2

Not Before: 2:30 P.M.

Men’s Singles – Quarterfinals
Tomas Berdych (CZE) (7) d. David Ferrer (ESP) (3) — 6-1, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4

Not Before: 7:00 P.M.

Men’s Singles – Quarterfinals
Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) (8) d. Novak Djokovic (SRB) (2) — 2-6, 6-4, 6-2, 3-6, 9-7

Men’s Doubles – Quarterfinals
Daniel Nestor (CAN) (8) / Nenad Zimonjic (SRB) (8) d. Alex Bolt (AUS) / Andrew Whittington (AUS) — 6-2, 7-6(1)

[divider]

Margaret Court Arena — Not Before: 1:00 P.M.

Mixed Doubles – Round 2
Jie Zheng (CHN) / Scott Lipsky (USA) d. Anna-Lena Groenefeld (GER) (1) / Alexander Peya (AUT) (1) — 2-6, 7-6(5) [10-5]

Women’s Doubles – Quarterfinals
Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) (3) / Elena Vesnina (RUS) (3) d. Andrea Hlavackova (CZE) (7) / Lucie Safarova (CZE) (7) — 6-2, 2-6, 7-6(4)

Women’s Doubles – Quarterfinals
Sara Errani (ITA) (1) / Roberta Vinci (ITA) (1) d. Cara Black (ZIM) (6) / Sania Mirza (IND) (6) — 6-2, 3-6, 6-4

Not Before: 5:00 P.M.

Women’s Doubles – Quarterfinals
Kveta Peschke (CZE) (4) / Katarina Srebotnik (SLO) (4) d. Jarmila Gajdosova (AUS) / Ajla Tomljanovic (CRO) — 7-5, 4-6, 6-4

[divider]

Show Court 2 — Not Before: 2:00 P.M.

Women’s Doubles – Quarterfinals
Raquel Kops-Jones (USA) (8) / Abigail Spears (USA) (8) d. Shahar Peer (ISR) / Silvia Soler-Espinosa (ESP) — 6-4, 6-0

Men’s Doubles – Quarterfinals
Eric Butorac (USA) / Raven Klaasen (RSA) d. Treat Huey (PHI) (12) / Dominic Inglot (GBR) (12) — 6-7(3), 7-6(6), 6-4

Mixed Doubles – Round 2
Julia Goerges (GER) / Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi (PAK) d. Andrea Hlavackova (CZE) (4) / Max Mirnyi (BLR) (4) — 6-3, 6-4

Cover Photo (Creative Commons License): Rexness

January 20, 2014
Ana Ivanovic Shocks Serena Williams in Australia

In a stunning upset, Ana Ivanovic defeated five-time champion Serena Williams in the fourth round of the Australian Open. Ivanovic came from a set down to prevail 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 in 1 hour and 56 minutes. It was the 26-year-old Serb’s first victory over Williams in five attempts.

“It’s amazing,” said Ivanovic. “Honestly, I went on the court and I just wanted to play the best I could. I’m so thrilled.”

It was Williams first loss since August 2013.

Ivanovic, seeded 14, will face Eugenie Bouchard or Casey Dellacqua in the quarterfinals.

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Cover Photo (Creative Commons License): NAPARAZZI

January 19, 2014
Ana Ivanovic Secures WTA Auckland Title

Former world No. 1 Ana Ivanovic continued with her excellent run of form by defeating Venus Williams 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 in a titanic battle to seize the WTA Auckland crown in 2 hours, 19 minutes.

Williams, also a former world No. 1, fought back strongly after Ivanovic had raced to an early lead by taking the opening stanza 6-2. The 33-year-old American won the second set to level proceedings having fought back from 3-5 down and facing a championship point. She held serve and then broke the Serb twice to send the match into a deciding set.

In the decider, Ivanovic broke Williams early and stayed in control, despite having to survive two break points when serving for the match.

It was Ivanovic’s 12th title and first since 2011.

[divider]

Cover Photo: NAPARAZZI (Creative Commons License)

January 4, 2014
Ladies Final Four in Madrid

The final four will play out the Ladies semifinals on Saturday with both top seeds still in the draw. World number #1 and top seed Serena Williams meets Sara Errani, and Maria Sharapova faces off against former French Open champion Ana Ivanovic.

Quarterfinal Results:

[7] Sara Errani (ITA) d Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) 6 – 4, 6 – 3
[16] Ana Ivanovic (SRB) d [6] Angelique Kerber (GER) 6 – 3, 6 – 1
[1] Serena Williams (USA) d Anabel Medina Garrigues (ESP) 6 – 3, 0 – 6, 7 – 5
[2] Maria Sharapova (RUS) d Kaia Kanepi (EST) 6 – 2, 6 – 4

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May 11, 2013