Tennis - Bangladesh Business News

Federer beats Nadal to win Shanghai Masters

BBN Desk — Sun, 15 Oct 2017 12:55:01 +0000

Federer takes on Nadal in Shanghai. Photo: Getty Images

Shanghai, China (BBN) - Roger Federer got one over his old rival Rafael Nadal to win the Shanghai Masters 6-4, 6-3 on Sunday in a showdown between the two best players on the planet.

It was a 94th title for the Swiss legend, drawing him level with the great Ivan Lendl, and closes the gap on world number one Nadal at the top of the rankings as the season reaches its conclusion, reports The Hindu.

In-form Nadal was ahead in their overall record down the years, with 23 wins to Federer's 14, but he was up against it almost right away.

Number two Federer put Nadal under the cosh immediately on the Spaniard's serve, breaking him in the first game — to roars of approval from the majority inside the arena.

The 36-year-old Swiss, fondly known as "Cow" in China for his laid-back personality, had started the better and he rattled through his own service game for 2-0.
Federer, a 19-time Grand Slam champion who had beaten Nadal in their last four encounters, was in full flow under the Qizhong Tennis Centre roof, which was closed because of downpours in Shanghai.
Nadal, 31, groaned while lashing many of his shots; Federer was all quiet efficiency.
Somewhere in the stadium somebody rattled a cow bell.
Federer rapidly made it 4-2 with two booming aces in a row, drawing huge cheers from much of the stadium.
In contrast, Nadal — a 16-time Grand Slam winner but who had never won the Shanghai Masters — was labouring through his service games.
He went long on a straightforward forehand but powered an ace to make it 4-3 to the Swiss.
There were suggestions that Federer might not be quite as fresh as his old foe, having been pushed to three sets a day earlier in the second semi-final against Juan Martin del Potro.
The timeless Federer rubbished that notion as he seared his way to a 5-3 first-set lead.
Nadal sent down his fourth ace for 5-4, only for Federer to seal the set with his seventh ace of the match.
There was little between the great rivals in the early exchanges of the second set until the pivotal fifth game.
Nadal, on a great run of form that won him the US Open and China Open in recent weeks, saved the first break point but could not survive the second one to put Federer in reach of a second Shanghai Masters crown.
BBN/MMI/ANS

Murray powers to first Dubai title

BBN Desk — Sun, 05 Mar 2017 06:09:13 +0000

Dubai, UAE (BBN) - Britain's Andy Murray saw off Spaniard Fernando Verdasco in straight sets to win the Dubai Championships for the first time.
The world number one dropped his first two service games but recovered to win 6-3 6-2 in one hour and 14 minutes, reports BBC.
It is Murray's first tournament win of 2017 and the 45th of his career, which will see him extend his lead over Novak Djokovic at the top of the rankings.
"I'm obviously very happy to do it here for the first time," said Murray.
"It's been a good start to the year."
SLOW START, STRONG FINISH
Murray went into the final with a 12-1 record against Verdasco, but the Scot made a slow start to the final, losing his first two service games and throwing in four double faults.
However, Murray managed to get himself level at 3-3 and was rarely troubled again.
Verdasco, 33, let a 40-0 lead slip in game eight, firing a forehand wide on break point and Murray served out a set in which his returning ability had made up for some erratic serving.
The Briton's game came together in the second set and a forehand pass gave him the early break for a 2-1 lead.
When Murray ran down a seemingly hopeless point to force another break point at 4-2 it was as good as over for Verdasco, and the top seed ended with the kind of clinical service game he had lacked at the start.
The final proved a far more straightforward contest than his quarter-final against Philipp Kohlschreiber, which saw Murray save seven match points and win an epic 31-minute tie-break.
"Often when you get through matches like that it settles you down for the rest of the tournament," said Murray.
"It's been quite a few late finishes this week. Maybe the last couple of matches, I didn't start as well as I would like. It's been the same for all the players, a bit tricky with the rain. Once I got going today, I was moving well and I finished strong."
MURRAY CONFIDENT AHEAD OF CALIFORNIA
Any major celebrations will have to wait as Murray heads to the airport and a 16-hour flight to Los Angeles, with the Indian Wells Masters getting under way next week.
Murray, who will play his first match in the Californian desert next weekend, hopes to improve on a relatively modest record of just one final appearance back in 2009.
Last year, he lost in the third round at both Indian Wells and two weeks later at the Miami Masters.
"I struggled at Indian Wells and Miami last year, I didn't play so well," he said. "This year has given me great momentum."
BBN/SK/AD

Federer beats Nadal to win 18th Grand Slam title

BBN Desk — Sun, 29 Jan 2017 12:40:17 +0000

Melbourne, Australia (BBN) - Roger Federer won his 18th Grand Slam title and first for five years with a thrilling five-set victory over Rafael Nadal in the Australian Open final.
The 35-year-old Swiss won 6-4 3-6 6-1 3-6 6-3 to claim his fifth Melbourne title and extend his lead at the top of the all-time men's major winners' list, reports BBC.
Nadal, 30, remains tied in second with Pete Sampras on 14 Grand Slams following his first final since 2014.
Federer's previous major title came at Wimbledon in 2012.
His achievement in ending that drought is all the more remarkable given this was his first tournament since Wimbledon last July, after which he took the second half of the season off to recover from a knee injury.
Federer becomes the first man in history to win five or more titles at three different Grand Slam events - five Australian Opens, five US Opens, seven Wimbledons.
Nadal was also on the way back from injuries that curtailed his 2016 season, but the Spaniard could not improve his winning record against Federer - the Swiss has now won 12 of their 35 matches and three of nine major finals.
BBN/MS/ANS

Serena triumphs over Venus in the Australian Open final

BBN Desk — Sat, 28 Jan 2017 10:37:19 +0000

Sydney, Australia (BBN) - A year after being shocked by Angelique Kerber, Serena Williams reasserted herself at the top of women’s tennis by winning the private battle with her sister.
The younger sibling both returned to world number one and moved ahead of Steffi Graf’s total of 22 Grand Slam titles when she subdued her beloved Venus 6-4 6-4 in 82 minutes, reports the Daily Mail Online.
Unlike twelve months ago it was not a classic contest, with the most riveting drama being in the early stages when the eventual champion struggled to keep her calm in the face of a spirited challenge.
For Serena it was a seventh win in Australia and puts her within one Major win of Margaret Court, who accumulated them at a time when Melbourne was a lesser currency, unlike now.
After a relatively fallow 2016, when Wimbledon was the highlight, she has resumed normal service and in some style, having not dropped a set all fortnight.
At the end, after failing to return a forehand driven into the corner, Venus came round the net to hug her sister.
She had arguably surprised even more in this tournament.
It always seemed that Venus’s biggest hope might be some sort of freeze from her sister, who came in as very strong favourite.
There were early signs that she could get a dividend from this, with Serena struggling for her rhythm as, expectedly, both players played close to the edge at almost maximum power.
Serena’s uptight mood was given away in the third game when, after early breaks had been exchanged, she slipped when trying to scamper in for a netcord and smashed her racket into the court during the stumble.
British umpire Alison Hughes saw the intent and immediately issued a code violation for racket abuse. All four initial service games were breaks, but then two holds were followed by another break from Serena when she hit a backhand down the line.
Although 36, Venus still moves like a ballerina – better than Serena - and if anything looks more sprightly than she did at 30.
That has served her well this fortnight against lesser players but gradually her sister’s penetration was starting to tell.
The crowd were slightly subdued but got more into it at the start of the second when Venus held off a break point at 1-1 with a backhand winner, wanting to get their money’s worth with even the cheapest tickets going for more than £100.
Serena had never lost a Grand Slam final after winning the first set, but her sister’s high first serve percentage meant she stayed in it.
But her second serve was being attacked and Serena forced three break points at 3-3, and off the third one she ripped a backhand cross court winner.
There were nervous moments in the last game but Venus netted two regulation forehands to ease the way.
BBN/SK/AD

Superb Serena Williams ends Konta hopes

BBN Desk — Wed, 25 Jan 2017 11:31:40 +0000

Sydney, Australia (BBN)-Six-time champion Serena Williams outplayed Britain's Johanna Konta to reach the Australian Open semi-finals.
The American, 35, won 6-2 6-3 and will next play unseeded Croat Mirjana Lucic-Baroni, who beat fifth-seeded Czech Karolina Pliskova 6-4 3-6 6-4, reports BBC.
Konta, seeded ninth, went into the quarter-final on a nine-match and 18-set winning streak but came up short in her first meeting with Williams.
Williams is now two wins from claiming an Open-era record 23rd major title.
"Johanna Konta has been playing so well," said the second seed.
"I was in the locker room watching her clean up her matches. She is a future champion here for sure, so I am pleased to get through this.
"I got a little frustrated with my serve, but I told myself 'don't get Babyrena' [Williams' angry alter-ego] and focused on enjoying myself out here. Today I felt I can do this, it is such a great opportunity for me."
Konta described facing Williams as the "best experience of my life".
WILLIAMS TOO STRONG FOR IN-FORM KONTA
In a match of big hitting and small margins, it was Williams who established an early control she would not relinquish.
The American's usually dominant first serve faltered as she made just 45 per cent, but she returned brilliantly to break the Konta serve - the best on tour this season going into the match - four times.
Konta had the first chance but went long with a backhand on break point at 1-1, then found her second serve under greater pressure than at any stage of the tournament so far.
Williams looked razor sharp on return, with two thumping forehand winners setting the American on the way to a 3-1 lead.
More heavy blows brought a second break, and with it the set, in game eight to end a run of 18 straight sets for Konta stretching back to her warm-up win in Sydney.
Konta showed why she had been seen as a real threat by recovering from 0-40 early in the second set and then breaking to lead 3-1, but a loose game handed the advantage back and Williams raced through five straight games to victory.
LUCIC-BARONI 'IN SHOCK' AT RETURN TO SEMIS
World number 79 Lucic-Baroni upset Pliskova to reach the semi-finals in Melbourne - 18 years after she reached the same stage at Wimbledon.
The 34-year-old hardly played in the early years of the century because of a series of personal issues.
"I can't believe this, this is crazy," said Lucic-Baroni.
"The only thing I can say is God is good. I can't believe I'm in the semi-finals again. I feel a little bit in shock right now.
"I know this means a lot to every player but to me this is overwhelming, this has truly made my life and everything bad that has happened OK."
Lucic-Baroni was a tennis prodigy, winning junior titles at the Australian and US Opens, and winning the Australian Open doubles with Martina Hingis in 1998.
She went on to reach the semi-finals at Wimbledon the following year, losing to Steffi Graf.
Lucic-Baroni and Williams will meet for the first time since Wimbledon 1998 in Thursday's semi-final, which begins at 03:00 GMT.
"It is really happening for the mid-30s," said Williams.
"Mirjana - it is so good to see her back out and inspiring to see her in the semi-finals. Whatever happens there will be someone in the final in their mid-thirties."
Serena's sister Venus takes on fellow American Coco Vandeweghe in the other semi-final.
BBN/SK/AD

Six-time champion Djokovic knocked out by world number 117

BBN Desk — Thu, 19 Jan 2017 11:15:05 +0000

Melbourne, Australian (BBN) - Defending champion Novak Djokovic suffered a shock defeat by world number 117 Denis Istomin in the second round of the Australian Open.
The six-time winner struggled for rhythm and lost 7-6 (10-8) 5-7 2-6 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 in four hours and 48 minutes, reports BBC.
It is the first time Djokovic, 29, has lost in the second round of a Grand Slam since 2008 at Wimbledon.
The result leaves world number one Andy Murray as favourite to win his first Australian Open title in Melbourne.
Britain's Murray, who has already reached round three, has lost five finals in the past seven years in Melbourne, four of them to Djokovic.
It is only the second time in seven years that Djokovic has lost to a player ranked outside the top 100 - his defeat by Juan Martin del Potro, ranked 145th, at the Rio Olympics in 2016 being the other occasion.
"He deserved to win. No doubt, he was a better player in the clutch moments," Djokovic said.
"Many things came together for him today and he's a well-deserved winner. There's not much I could do."
ISTOMIN HOLDS NERVE AGAINST WORLD NUMBER TWO
Djokovic could not find his rhythm, eventually winning his first service game after 15 minutes but going on to lose the first set in one hour and 25 minutes.
He won four consecutive games in the third set as his opponent faltered but Istomin came back in the fourth set to take it to a tie-break.
Both players served aggressively as they received vocal support from the crowd, with Istomin taking the match to a deciding set with a brutal ace.
Istomin, who broke in game five, remained strong on his own serve and raised his arms to the crowd after Djokovic sliced his final shot into the net.
Uzbek Istomin will next face Spain's Pablo Carreno Busta, who beat Britain's Kyle Edmund on Thursday.
'I SURPRISED MYSELF'
"It is the biggest win [of my career] for me and means so much, now I feel I can play with these guys and be with them on the same level," said Istomin.
"From the third set I had cramp in my leg, I don't know how I held it. I was playing so good.
I surprised myself."
Istomin had two years out of the game after breaking his leg in a car accident in 2001 and spending three months in hospital.
Coached by his mother Klaudiya, he dropped out of the top 100 in 2016 and was given a wildcard to play in the Australian Open.
Prior to his win over Djokovic, Istomin had won just one of 33 matches against a player ranked in the world's top 10.
His best Grand Slam result is reaching the last 16 at Wimbledon in 2012 and the US Open in 2013, where he lost to Murray.
DJOKOVIC'S DIFFICULT SEVEN MONTHS
Djokovic has struggled for consistency since winning his first French Open title in June 2016 and completing a career Grand Slam.
He was knocked out in the third round at Wimbledon by American Sam Querrey but looked to have returned to form when he won the Rogers Cup in July.
However, he went on to lose to Del Potro in the first round of the Olympics and was knocked out of the doubles competition the following day.
He struggled physically in the US Open final, losing in four sets to third seed Stan Wawrinka, before he lost the world number one ranking to Murray in November.
Murray also ended his run of four consecutive ATP World Tours Finals titlesin the same month.
"Djokovic is not the same Djokovic we saw this time last year, who was at the peak of his career," two-time Australian Open finalist Pat Cash told BBC Radio 5 live.
"It's clearly the mental edge. He's done so much and worked so hard to grab those four Grand Slams, I think he's just lost the edge."
BBN/MS/SK

Djokovic retains Qatar Open title

BBN Desk — Sun, 08 Jan 2017 05:23:50 +0000

Doha, Qatar (BBN)-Novak Djokovic withstood a comeback from Sir Andy Murray to defend his Qatar Open title and end the Briton's winning streak of 28 consecutive ATP Tour matches.
Murray remains world number one despite the 6-3 5-7 6-4 defeat by the Serbian world number two, reports BBC.
The Scot saved three match points to come from a set and a break down to win the second set and level the match.
But Djokovic broke in game seven of the decider to win in two hours 54 minutes.
Both players now head to Melbourne for the Australian Open, the year's first Grand Slam, which starts on 16 January.
"Its a tough one to lose," said Murray, 29. "It was high level tennis, some of the points were physically tough. But it's a great way to star the new year and I look forward to the next few weeks."
This was the 36th meeting between the pair and Murray had won the last time they met at the ATP Tour Finals in November, a victory that kept him at world number one.
The Scot has never beaten the Serb after losing the first set and he was soon trailing as Djokovic broke in the eighth game following a string of unforced errors from Murray.
Djokovic broke again in the second set and served for the match at 5-3 but Murray fought back and reeled of four straight games to level.
The 12-time Grand Slam champion looked to be tiring in the third and was 0-30 on his own serve at 2-3 down but he fought back to hold and then broke Murray for the third time in the match as he won his second title in Doha.
"To win here, against the biggest rival, is a dream start," said Djokovic, who was penalised a point in the second set for smashing his racket.
Djokovic is the defending champion in Melbourne, having won his sixth Australian Open title last year as he condemned Murray to a fifth defeat in the final of the tournament.
'MURRAY AND DJOKOVIC TO DOMINATE 2017'
The end of his winning streak will be less of a concern to Murray than the fact he was beaten by Djokovic - who appears to be nicely back on track.
The world number two played a phenomenal deciding set - showing great resilience after Murray had turned the second set on its head.
The win is sure to give Djokovic renewed confidence as he heads to Melbourne as a six time Australian Open champion.
But Murray also looks to be in fine form: if they stay free of injury, these two look likely to dominate 2017 as well.
BBN/SK/AD

Petra Kvitova out for six months after attack

BBN Desk — Thu, 22 Dec 2016 09:17:20 +0000

Prague, Czech Republic (BBN) - Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova will be out of tennis for at least six months as she recovers from a knife attack - but should be able to resume her career.
The Czech, 26, underwent surgery to tendons and nerves on her playing hand following the attack by an intruder at her home in Prostejov on Tuesday, reports BBC.
Kvitova faces a slow rehabilitation process after 14 days of bed rest.
The "best-case scenario" sees her on the practice court after six months.
Surgeon Radek Kebrle said that the operation on Kvitova's left hand went "very well, with no complications," but it will be three months until the world number 11 can even grip a racquet.
"It is too soon to specify when precisely she can return to competition, but Petra is ready to do everything she can to get back competing at the highest level," said a statement from her management.
"Petra is happy with how the operation went and is in good spirits."
Kvitova had said she was "shaken" and "fortunate to be alive" following the incident on Tuesday.
She suffered lacerations to her left hand when struggling with an intruder who posed as a utilities man to gain access to her apartment.
ANALYSIS
Piers Newbery, BBC Sport tennis writer:
Kvitova faces a long road back to competitive action but given the nature of the attack she suffered, it will be a victory for the Czech simply to step back onto the court to resume her professional career.
When that will be is unclear as the rehabilitation process cannot get under way until six to eight weeks after Tuesday's surgery, and the early prognosis suggests she will not return to the practice court for six months.
However, her initial statements have been bullish and she will be especially motivated to get back after the impressive form she showed in the second half of 2016.
Assuming she is out for at least six months, Kvitova will return with a 'special ranking' that will allow her to enter up to eight tournaments with the ranking of 11 that she held when she last played.
She will not lack for support as one of the most popular players in the sport, both among spectators and her fellow competitors.
The example of Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro might provide some inspiration - a similarly popular player who returned triumphantly this year after potentially career-ending wrist problems.
KVITOVA CAREER STATS
 Turned professional in 2006, aged 16
 First Wimbledon appearance as a junior in 2007, reaching the last 16
 First career title in 2009 - the Hobart International, Australia
 Now has 19 titles with career prize money totalling more than £18.4m
 Reached a career-high of world number two in October 2011, behind Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki
 Won a bronze medal at the Rio Olympics, losing her semi-final to eventual gold medallist Monica Puig.
BBN/MS/ANS

Maria Sharapova banned for two years

BBN Desk — Thu, 09 Jun 2016 03:25:15 +0000

London, UK (BBN)-Maria Sharapova has been banned for two years by the International Tennis Federation for using a prohibited drug.
The Russian was provisionally banned in March after testing positive for meldonium at January's Australian Open, reports BBC.
The heart disease drug, which 29-year-old Sharapova says she has been taking since 2006 for health issues, became a banned substance on 1 January 2016.
The five-time Grand Slam winner said she "cannot accept" the "unfairly harsh" ban - and will appeal.
Sharapova will challenge the suspension, which is backdated to 26 January 2016, at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas).
In a statement, she said the tribunal concluded her offence was "unintentional" and that she had not tried to use a "performance-enhancing substance".
But she claimed the ITF had asked the tribunal to impose a four-year ban, adding it "spent tremendous amounts of time and resources trying to prove I intentionally violated the anti-doping rules".
The tribunal ruling said Sharapova tested positive for meldonium in an out-of competition test on 2 February, as well as in the aftermath of her Australian Open quarter-final defeat by Serena Williams on 26 January.
It treated both results as a single anti-doping violation.
The London 2012 Olympic silver medallist added: "I have missed playing tennis and I have missed my amazing fans... your love and support has gotten me through these tough days.
"I intend to stand for what I believe is right and that's why I will fight to be back on the tennis court as soon as possible."
The ITF will not appeal against the tribunal's decision.
Nike, which suspended its relationship with Sharapova in January, said it would "continue to partner" the Russian, based on the tribunal's findings.
Sharapova was Forbes' highest-paid female athlete for 11 consecutive years, until Williams moved above her this year.
The American made £28.9m from winnings and endorsements to Sharapova's £21.9m.
Aged 17, Sharapova became the first Russian to win Wimbledon in 2004, added the US Open in 2006 and the Australian Open in 2008, before completing a career Grand Slam with the French Open title in 2012.
She won the French Open again in 2014, but the 2018 tournament in Paris is the next major Sharapova can enter, when she will be 31.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) said in April that scientists were unsure how long meldonium stayed in the system, and suggested athletes who tested positive before 1 March could avoid bans, provided they had stopped taking it before 1 January.
However, Sharapova had already admitted she continued taking the substance past that date, saying she was unaware it had been added to the banned list as she knew it by another name - mildronate.
In reaching its verdict, the ITF recognised Sharapova had not intentionally broken anti-doping rules, as she did not know that mildronate contained a banned substance from January of this year.
But the federation said the Russian was "the sole author of her own misfortune", as she had "failed to take any steps to check whether continued use of the medicine was permissible".
Reaction
Former world number one Caroline Wozniacki described Sharapova's case as a "sad situation".
"Tennis has a really strong anti-drug policy in place and it helps the sport really keep clean," the 25-year-old told BBC Sport.
"It's always a sad situation when someone is getting banned or you have heard they have failed a drug test - not only for Maria but for tennis in general.
"The ITF is doing its best to make sure nobody tries to go that route of taking any enhancing drugs, it's unfortunate for anyone who did that unintentionally as well."
Meanwhile, Wada said it would "review the decision, including its reasoning" and decide whether to appeal.
BBN/SK/AD

Sharapova 'determined to fight back' after failed drugs test

BBN Desk — Sat, 12 Mar 2016 11:41:37 +0000

London, UK (BBN)-Maria Sharapova says she is "determined to fight back" after testing positive for meldonium.
In a Facebook post that criticised "distorted and exaggerated" reporting, the Russian denied taking meldonium every day and missing five warnings that the drug was about to be banned, reports BBC.
She also criticised the tennis authorities for making the relevant information "too hard to find".
Sharapova, 28, will be provisionally suspended from 12 March.
The five-time Grand Slam winner, who faces a ban of up to four years, says she has been taking the drug, which was added to the World Anti-Doping Agency's (Wada) banned list on 1 January, for health reasons for the past 10 years.
However, she insisted she had only taken the heart drug "in the low doses recommended".
Taking issue with reports that a normal course of meldonium treatment lasts only four to six weeks, she added: "The story quotes the manufacturer of my medicine as saying: 'Treatment course can be repeated twice or thrice a year. Only physicians can follow and evaluate patient's health condition and state whether the patient should use meldonium for a longer period of time.'
"That's exactly what I did. I didn't take the medicine every day."
While Sharapova reiterated she had "no excuses" for failing to be aware of the change in regulations, she criticised the way in which the information was communicated to players.
"The communications? They were buried in newsletters, websites, or handouts," she wrote.
"In order to be aware of this 'warning', you had to open an email with a subject line having nothing to do with anti-doping, click on a webpage, enter a password, enter a username, hunt, click, hunt, click, hunt, click, scroll and read.
"I guess some in the media can call that a warning. I think most people would call it too hard to find."

Sharapova concluded: "I have been honest and upfront. I look forward to the ITF hearing at which time they will receive my detailed medical records."
BBN/SK/AD