Sharapova outlasts Wozniacki in Miami

Maria Sharapova is through to the final of Sony Ericsson Open after coming through a tough three-set match with Caroline Wozniacki.

 

The world number two has yet to win a tournament this year, after losing in the final of both the Australian Open and the BNP Paribas Open to world number one Victoria Azarenka.

But she will not have to face the Belarusian this time around and will instead play fifth seed Agnieszka Radwanska in the final after the Pole beat Azarenka's conqueror, Marion Bartoli, in straight sets.

Sharapova looked like she would take the opening set from Wozniacki, after racing to a 4-1 lead, only for the Dane to reel off five games in a row before taking the set.

However the Russian bounced back to claim the second with ease before coming through a hard-fought final set to run out a 4-6 6-2 6-4 winner in two hours and 34 minutes.

It was a roller-coaster of a match in Miami and Sharapova was delighted that she was able to bounce back after the dramatic loss of the opening set.

"I'm really pleased that after losing that first one, being up and playing really well and then backing off and her stepping up, I could have easily just (gone) down in the second set," she told www.sonyericssonopen.com.

"But I really stepped it up again. I went out there and started being aggressive. I didn't stop after I put myself in a good position. I'm extremely pleased that I pulled it out today."

Sharapova has a 7-1 winning career record over Radwanska and suffered her only defeat at the 2007 US Open.

Simple for Murray as he downs Simon

Andy Murray is through to the quarter-finals of the Sony Ericsson Open after a straight-sets victory over Gilles Simon in Miami.

The Scot had not played for a couple of days as Canadian Milos Raonic had to withdraw through injury in the previous round and it took a while for the British number one to get going.

He had to save three break points in the opening game before securing a break of his own to claim the opening set. And the three-time Grand Slam finalist went on to earn a 6-3 6-4 triumph to set up a last-eight meeting with Serbian ninth seed Janko Tipsarevic. Murray was not too concerned about his slow start to the match and felt the tough opening game actually helped him to overcome the Frenchman.

"The first game probably helped because I saved a couple of break points," he told www.atptour.com. "After that, I kind of loosened up a little bit and felt much better. "So that first game, even though it was like 17, 18 minutes, was probably a good thing after not playing for a few days."

World number one Novak Djokovic is also through to the last eight after beating Frenchman Richard Gasquet 7-5 6-3, and he will now play Spaniard David Ferrer, who beat Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro 6-3 6-3. Second seed Rafael Nadal also progressed with a 6-4 6-4 success over Japan's Kei Nishikori but there are concerns over his fitness as he took a medical break with a knee injury late in the opening set. American Mardy Fish is also through after beating Nicolas Almagro 6-3 6-7 (2-7) 6-3.

Williams sisters advance in Miami

Serena Williams moved into the fourth round of the Sony Ericsson Open with a straight-sets victory over Sam Stosur on Monday.



The 30-year-old lost the final of last year's US Open to the Australian but was in no mood for a repeat performance and secured a 7-5 6-3 victory in Miami.

The 13-time Grand Slam winner looked in good nick and will now face former world number one Caroline Wozniacki, who took care of Yanina Wickmayer 7-6 (8-6) 6-0 in round three.Williams fell apart at Flushing Meadows in 2011 and blotted her copybook after becoming involved in a heated debate with the umpire.But despite the memory of that defeat, the Florida resident made it clear that she did not go into the contest looking for revenge and admitted she was more than happy with her serve after sending down 20 aces.

"That wasn't in my mind," she told a press conference after the match."I just thought, 'This is a new game'. My serve was hot."

Sister Venus also progressed as she shocked 15th seed Ana Ivanovic with a 6-7 (4/7) 6-2 6-2 victory over the Serb, while world number one Victoria Azarenka came from a set and two breaks down to beat 16th seed Dominika Cibulkova 1-6 7-6 (9/7) 7-5.Second seed Maria Sharapova was also a straight-sets winner but had to battle past a dogged Ekaterina Makarova - the Russian running out a 6-4 7-6 (7/3) victor over her compatriot in Key Biscayne, and she now faces French Open champion Li Na.Fifth seed Agnieszka Radwanska has ended the run of Spanish teenager Garbine Muguruza Blanco, winning 6-3 6-2, with seventh seed Marion Bartoli proving far too good for Maria Kirilenko with 6-1 6-2 triumph.

Defending champ downed in Miami

Defending champion Kim Clijsters crashed out of the Sony Ericsson Open after being outplayed by her fellow Belgian Yanina Wickmayer.



The 28-year-old, who missed large chunks of the 2011 season with injury, was no match for her younger rival who recently inherited the Belgian number one status. Clijsters, sidelined since the Australian Open in January due to an ankle complaint, has seen her ranking drop to the point where she is unseeded at this fortnight's event in Miami.Wickmayer, who had lost their only previous meeting at Eastbourne, converted four of her 11 break points to come through in straight sets 6-4 7-6 and set up a fourth round clash with Caroline Wozniacki.The 22-year-old has never previously beaten Wozniacki in four matches and faces an in-form fourth seed who rolled past Petra Cetkovska of the Czech Republic, winning 6-3 7-5. - http://www.setanta.com

Federer sets up Roddick clash

Bizarre incident can't stop Swiss progressing in Miami



Roger Federer will play Andy Roddick in the third round of the Sony Ericsson Open after opening his campaign with a straight-sets win.

The Swiss third seed raced through the opening set, breaking twice and not facing a single break point. When he soon moved a break up in the second set the match looked poised for a swift conclusion but a bizarre game whenFederer served for the match let Harrison back in.First Federer missed an overhead to fall into trouble and then when he was two break points down at 15-40 he literally stopped playing after hearing what he felt was a line call.The umpire ruled no such call had been made and Harrison had the break back.However, Federer refocused when the set reached a tie-break to set up his meeting with old rival Roddick.

Looking forward to his clash with Roddick, Federer, who feels the courts are playing slightly faster than in Indian Wells and has subsequently raised his racquet tension, added: "It's unusual to see him so early in the tournament but I'm sure it's going to be a great match." - http://www1.skysports.com

Del Potro set for Queen's outing

Juan Martin Del Potro has confirmed that he will play in the AEGON Championships at Queen's Club in preparation for Wimbledon.



The 23-year-old has joined Andy Murray and the man that the Scot beat in last year's final, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, as the big-name players to enter the event in west London.

Del Potro has shown only glimpses of the form that saw him beat Roger Federer in the final of the 2009 US Open in recent times as he continues his comeback from a serious wrist injury.The Argentinian can be devastating on his day and has a forehand to match any in the game, but he has struggled with consistency since returning to action last year. The South American is looking forward to the event but admits that, while he would love to win Wimbledon, grass is not his favourite surface and he will look to keep making improvements during the short grass-court season.

"I like the surface. I'm not a grass-court specialist but I'm improving," he told reporters ahead of the Sony Ericsson Open. "The AEGON Championships at Queen's is an amazing tournament, very nice to come to, to play, to train and I will be there for sure trying to win my first title on grass."I think that if I play my best tennis I have a chance to win a grand slam on grass but it will be very difficult."

Mixed news for Brits

Wins for Robson and Ward but Keothavong, Broady and Evans lose




Laura Robson and James Ward won their opening qualifying matches at the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami but there was disappointment for fellow Britons Anne Keothavong, Naomi Broady and Dan Evans.

Robson made light of a gap of 37 ranking places to beat Russia's world No.83 Alexandra Panova 6-3 7-6 (7-3).Ward was an impressive 6-3 6-3 winner against Andrey Golubev, a player 24 places ahead of him in the rankings at number 138.

However, despite being the second seed in women's qualifying, Keothavong was knocked out 6-4 6-3 by Japan's Misaki Doi.Broady was thrashed in straight sets, going down 6-3 6-0 to qualifying top seed Kateryna Bondarenko, while Evans lost 7-6 (7-4) 6-0 to Bjorn Phau.

Robson and Ward must win another round to reach the first round proper of the lucrative event, which runs through to April 1.Andy Murray and Elena Baltacha are in the main draw by right, and Heather Watson has been granted a wild card.Baltacha will play Serena Williams in the second round, should the Scot beat China's Zhang Shuai in her first match. - http://www1.skysports.com

Four-some win for Federer

American Isner stands tall but can't quite topple in-form Swiss in final



Roger Federer became the first man to win the BNP Paribas Open four times with a 7-6 (9-7) 6-3 victory over John Isner in Indian Wells.The in-form Swiss battled through a flu bug throughout the week to claim his third straight title on the ATP Tour, following on from his recent successes in Rotterdam and Dubai.

"Sometimes just have to play a bit sick," he said. "I am happy to come through at the end. It makes me really happy beating the best. This is a great feeling. "It has been a tough week with a lot of players getting sick. I am happy I survived the early rounds to give myself a chance."

Having stunned world number one Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals, Isner suggested he could pull off another upset during a tense opening set that included a brief delay for rain. - http://www1.skysports.com

Isner serves up Fed final

John Isner stunned world number one Novak Djokovic at the BNP Paribas Open to set up a final clash against Roger Federer.



The big-serving American hammered down 20 aces on his way to a 7-6 (9-7) 3-6 7-6 (7-5) win and is now set to break into the world's top ten for the first time.

Isner recovered from a break down in the first set to claim the opener on a tie-break with his fourth set point, before the Serbian ace hit back to level matters with a solitary break in the second.However, Isner was not to be denied and claimed the match in the decisive tie-break in the third to claim his first career win over Djokovic and book a place in his first Masters final.There he will face former world number one Roger Federer who, after a three-and-a-half-hour rain delay, proved too strong for Rafael Nadal.The Swiss star saved two break points in the opening game before claiming the first set, and went two breaks up early in the second.Nadal reclaimed one of those before the rain returned with Federer at match point at 5-4 up, but the stoppage was brief and the world number three wrapped up the win. - http://www.setanta.com

BNP Paribas Open owner Larry Ellison going big

Billionaire sees event drawing 500,000, yet retaining its 'intimacy'



The BNP Paribas Open is on track to set a new attendance record, but owner Larry Ellison has even bigger plans for the fifth- largest tennis tournament in the world.

This year's event is on pace to attract more than 375,000 fans, which would shatter last year's record of 350,000.But Ellison, the founder and CEO of computer hardware and software giant Oracle, has his sights set on attracting 500,000 to the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. In order to accomplish that, Ellison said there will be added parking and building on Stadium 2 to create a permanent structure to provide more comfort for the fans.If the BNP Paribas Open does swell to 500,000 fans, it will attract more than the 2011 Wimbledon (494,761) and 2011 French Open (429,105). It would trail this year's Australian Open (686,006) and the 2011 U.S. Open (658,664).

With the plans for ambitious growth, Ellison — listed by Forbes magazine as the sixth- richest man in the world, with a net worth of $36 billion — doesn't want to lose the charm and intimacy of the event. When the tournament moved into the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in 2000, it attracted 187,431 fans.By most measures, the BNP Paribas has separated itself from the other top events on the men's ATP and women's WTA tours, which does not include the four majors.With a prize pool eclipsing the $11 million mark, the BNP Paribas Open is the richest of the elite Masters 1000 events on the ATP Tour and the WTA premiere mandatory events. - http://www.mydesert.com

Azarenka flying in Indian Wells

World number one Victoria Azarenka eased into the quarter-finals of the BNP Paribas Open but Caroline Wozniacki crashed out on Tuesday.



Azarenka was far too good for Julia Goerges and needed just 63 minutes to record a 6-3 6-1 victory over the 23-year-old German and she now faces Polish fifth seed Agnieszka Radwanska.The Belarusian extended her winning streak to 20 matches in 2012 and she has yet to be beaten this year.

But the same cannot be said for Wozniacki, who lost out to Ana Ivanovic in the battle of the former world number ones, with the Serb running out a 6-3 6-2 winner in California.Second seed Maria Sharapova wasted little time in beating beating Italy's Roberta Vinci 6-2 6-1 to set up an all-Russian quarter-final against Maria Kirilenko, who took care of compatriot Nadia Petrova 6-1 5-7 6-2.

But Azarenka is the player they will all have to beat and she is expecting a hard-fought encounter with Radwanska in the last eight."I think it's going to be a tough match, as usual. We have really tough battles," she told a press conference. "I'm really looking forward to playing her again. She's a great player and a very good challenge for anybody to play." -http://www.setanta.com

'Patient' Djokovic powers on

Novak Djokovic admitted he had to "be patient" before securing a 6-2 6-3 win over South African Kevin Anderson at Indian Wells.



Defending champion Djokovic, seeking a third career title at the tournament, seized both his break-point opportunities in a tight first set and gained a solitary break in the second before serving out for victory in one hour and 37 minutes.Despite the one-sided scoreline, Djokovic said it had been attritional stuff.

Also in men's third-round action, American 11th seed John Isner beat 22nd seed Juan Monaco 7-5 7-5, but there was disappointment for the home fans as both Mardy Fish and Andy Roddick lost.Eighth seed Fish was beaten 6-3 6-4 by Australian qualifier Matthew Ebden, while seventh seed Tomas Berdych saw off Roddick.Ebden, who next faces Isner, told www.bnpparibasopen.com: "Especially in America, to beat the top player here is an incredible feeling.

Thirteenth-seeded Frenchman Gilles Simon got the better of Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka 6-4 6-4 and 12th seed Nicolas Almagro of Spain saw off Colombia's Santiago Giraldo in three sets.Pablo Andujar won his all-Spanish clash with Albert Ramos in straight sets, while in the late match, Ryan Harrison beat Guillermo Garcia Lopez.. - http://web.orange.co.uk

Azarenka still unbeaten

Belarusian extends winning streak but Kvitova crashes out

Victoria Azarenka swept into the fourth round of the BNP Paribas Open with a 6-1 6-2 victory over Russia's Svetlana Kuznetsova in Indian Wells.

The Australian Open champion from Belarus moved to 19-0 for the year with a slick performance against the veteran, breaking serve three times in the first set and twice more in the second to win in just an hour.

Serving for the match at 5-2, Azarenka went 40-15 up before double-faulting but then sealed the win on the next point when her opponent's backhand flew long.

"I am really happy with the way I played today, I really turned it around from the survival the last time around," she said, referring to her three-hour battle with Mona Barthel in the previous round.

"I really had to step it up from my last match. I'm glad I could perform much better than I did in my first match and show some good tennis."

The world number one will next meet Germany's Julia Goerges, a 6-3 6-4 winner against Spaniard Anabel Medina Garrigues. - http://www1.skysports.com

Azarenka still unbeaten

Belarusian extends winning streak but Kvitova crashes out



Victoria Azarenka swept into the fourth round of the BNP Paribas Open with a 6-1 6-2 victory over Russia's Svetlana Kuznetsova in Indian Wells.

The Australian Open champion from Belarus moved to 19-0 for the year with a slick performance against the veteran, breaking serve three times in the first set and twice more in the second to win in just an hour.Serving for the match at 5-2, Azarenka went 40-15 up before double-faulting but then sealed the win on the next point when her opponent's backhand flew long.

"I am really happy with the way I played today, I really turned it around from the survival the last time around," she said, referring to her three-hour battle with Mona Barthel in the previous round."I really had to step it up from my last match. I'm glad I could perform much better than I did in my first match and show some good tennis."The world number one will next meet Germany's Julia Goerges, a 6-3 6-4 winner against Spaniard Anabel Medina Garrigues. - http://www1.skysports.com