Nadal wins; Azarenka in shock exit

MADRID (AFP) – Rafael Nadal made a comfortable start to his quest for a third Madrid Masters title on Wednesday but Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka slumped to a shock exit. Nadal eased past Frenchman Benoit Paire 6-3, 6-4 and will next face either compatriot Nicolas Almagro or Mikhail Youzhny of Russia for a place in the quarterfinals. Incoming search terms:rafa nadal... 

Nadal could face top 3 in quarters

PARIS (AFP) – Seven-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal will not have his seeding bumped up at this year’s Roland Garros, organisers confirmed on Saturday. The Spaniard’s world ranking has slipped to five after he missed seven months of action through injury. As a result, there had been speculation that the 26-year old would receive a higher seeding at the tournament... 

Sharapova turns back Ivanovic

STUTTGART, Germany (AP) – Top-seeded Maria Sharapova got through another tough test in outlasting Ana Ivanovic 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 on Friday to advance to the semifinals of the Porsche Grand Prix. Sharapova, the defending champion, needed more than three hours to overcome Lucie Safarova a day earlier. This one was an hour shorter but perhaps just as intense. Incoming search terms:Audi... 

Schiavone wins, faces Maria next

INDIAN WELLS, California (AFP) ­- Former French Open champion Francesca Schiavone defeated fellow Italian Flavia Pennetta 7-5, 6-1 on Wednesday to book a clash with second-seeded Maria Sharapova at the BNP Paribas Open. Schiavone, the 2010 Roland Garros winner, improved to 5-2 against Pennetta, who has only recently returned from wrist surgery.  Read More »

Azarenka, Li clash for title

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Victoria Azarenka will have 48 hours to calm her nerves, rest her body and move past a center-court controversy before she returns to defend her Australian Open title on Saturday. Her opponent is an emotionally and physically fresher Li Na, the 2011 French Open champion. Both women used the word “hungry’’ to describe how much they want to win... 

Sharapova sizzles

MELBOURNE (AFP) – Maria Sharapova and Li Na crushed hapless opponents Monday to storm into the Australian Open second round, making their intentions clear as they bid for further Grand Slam glory. Fellow major winner Venus Williams also romped on a warm Melbourne Park day, but fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska was put through her paces by local qualifier Bojana Bobusic before finding... 

Maria hurt

BRISBANE, Australia (AP) – No. 2-ranked Maria Sharapova has withdrawn from the Brisbane International before her opening match after feeling pain in her right collarbone during practice. The French Open champion on Tuesday said she would head immediately to Melbourne to start preparing for the Australian Open, starting Jan. 14.  Read More »

Djokovic, Ivanovic in Hopman Cup

PERTH, Australia (AFP) ­- Serbian glamour pairing Novak Djokovic and Ana Ivanovic hope it will be a case of third time lucky when they join forces at the Hopman Cup starting on Saturday. The duo are top seeds for the $1 million tournament at the new Perth Arena, and the long-time friends will be competing in the event together for the third time, having also teamed up in 2006 and 2011.  Read More »

Sharapova to play in Brisbane

BRISBANE, Australia (AP) – Maria Sharapova has assured organizers of the Brisbane International tennis event that she will start her Australian Open preparations at the tournament despite her withdrawal from a South Korean exhibition this week with a neck injury.  Read More »

Don’t expect miracles, Nadal warns

ABU DHABI (AFP) – Rafael Nadal will make his long-awaited return to tennis after an agonising six-month knee injury battle in the Gulf this week, but has warned he is not expecting any title-winning pyrotechnics.  Read More »