Barely a week after the US Open climaxed in a thrilling final between Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka, the WTA juggernaut moves onto the first phase of its Asian swing. This week, there are International-level tournaments taking place in Guangzhou, China and Seoul, South Korea. Both events offer an opportunity for lower-ranked players to accumulate some points and prize money, as well as for some more high-profile stars to regain some of their lost form.

 One of those stars is Caroline Wozniacki, who enters Seoul as the top seed. Wozniacki was criticised throughout 2011 for playing too many “lesser” events such as this, accused of trying to rack up ranking points in smaller tournaments to make up for underwhelming performances in the grand slams. In 2012, however, Wozniacki has participated in only one International event, and that was in her home town of Copenhagen, the de facto “Wozniacki Open”. She has had a very difficult season, spinning from the top of the rankings to 11th, with many disappointing losses along the way.

Ironically, as the 2012 season enters the home straight, Wozniacki might be advised to play in as many tournaments as she can. For the first time since 2008, it is highly possible that the Dane will not make it to the end-of-year championships. This would be a further blow to her confidence, which has been plummeting throughout the year. She still has a chance to make it to the elite eight-player event in Istanbul, but she needs to start winning, starting in Seoul.

 For a supposedly smaller event, the draw features a lot of very accomplished players, and the top eight seeds are all in the top 30. Wozniacki will begin her campaign against the young Dutch player, Arantxa Rus. She will be the heavy favourite in that match, and would also be tipped to ease through a second round clash against either a qualifier or Alexandra Cadentu of Romania. In the quarter-finals, the competition will become noticeably stiffer, with 28th-ranked Klara Zakopalova her likely opponent. The Czech is nearing the end of her career, but is still capable of causing huge problems for the top players, as seen in her three-set battle at the French Open against Maria Sharapova.

 Should Wozniacki make it to the last four, and should results follow the seedings, she would encounter Russian veteran Nadia Petrova, another player who pushed Sharapova to the limit in the US Open. Wozniacki has won their last four meetings, but it has been a long time since their rankings were a mere seven spaces apart.

The lower half of the draw is also full of talented and formidable players, including rising American Varvara Lepchenko and second-seeded Maria Kirilenko. Somewhat ominously from Wozniacki’s point of view, her potential opponents in the final could be any one of three players who have handed her tough losses this year: Julia Georges, Kaia Kanepi and Tamira Paszek.

 So, for Wozniacki, victory in the Korea Open is far from a foregone conclusion. But if she can summon her best tennis, the event could well serve as a late turning-point for the Dane as she bids to finish her season on a high. Winning the title in Seoul would not only do wonders for her confidence, rake in useful ranking points and improve her chances of making it to the marquee Istanbul championships; it would also guarantee her a back-up place in the Tournament of Champions in Sofia. There is a lot to play for.

article source:http://www.10sballs.com/2012/09/18/tournament-preview-kdb-korea-open-seoul-wozniacki-seeks-to-rescue-a-disappointing-season/

MANKATO — Football has the Jug. Soccer has Pack the Stands.

Tennis? Well, it’s time for a new tradition between the Mankato West and Mankato East/Loyola teams.

On Tuesday at the East courts, the West girls became the first winner of the Cup, a trophy that will go to the winner of each match between the Scarlets and Cougars — girls in the fall, boys in the spring.

West won the Big Nine Conference meet 6-1 and earned the No. 1 seed in the Section 2AA, South Subsection tournament, which begins in two weeks.

But the Cup was an extra bonus.

“We had a nice time with it, got a group picture with it,” West coach Adam Doll said.

Doll said the old trophy was found in a box given to him this summer. Doll thought it would make a nice addition to the rivalry, especially among a group of players who spend much of the summer playing USTA tennis together.

The front of the trophy has the inscription “Greater Mankato Tennis.” The other side shows that a player named Bob Bigelow won it in 1968 and 1969.

The Scarlets, who are ranked No. 14 in the coaches association poll, won two three-setters Tuesday.

At the No. 1 singles spot, Andrea Erdman defeated Libby Andrego 7-6, 2-6, 6-3 in a 2-hour, 45-minute match. At No. 1 doubles, Miranda Wynkoop and Justine Scheller defeated Kjersten Lemke and Paige Lingbeck 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.

“We had to show up to play,” Doll said. “It’s hard coaching against these kids who I’ve spent time with in the summer program. But it’s fun to play each other and see time spent over summer and improvement on both sides of the court.”

Lauren Makela, Julia Snelson and Maddy Valentine also won singles matches for the Scarlets, and West got a win from the No. 3 doubles team of Meaghan Haley and Melissa Lager.

The Cougars’ lone win came at No. 2 doubles where Justine Pasker and Katelyn Scharmer won in straight sets. That duo also won their flight Saturday at the West Invitational.

“We’re looking to get experience and see more of that kind of play,” East/Loyola coach John Romberg said prior to Tuesday’s meet.

West (11-3) will host Owatonna on Thursday with third place in Big Nine Conference on the line. East/Loyola (4-7) will play Thursday at Faribault.


article source:http://mankatofreepress.com/sports/x1059025463/Mankato-West-tops-East-Loyola-in-inaugural-Cup-tennis-match

Photo: APCzech Republic's Tomas Berdych celebrates at the end of a Davis Cup semifinal tennis match against Argentina's Carlos Berlocq in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sunday, Sept. 16, 2012. Berdych won 6-3, 6-3, 6-4.

David Ferrer and Tomas Berdych duly won their singles with little fuss and lined up Spain and the Czech Republic for the Davis Cup final in November.

The No. 5-ranked Ferrer and No. 7 Berdych ensured their teams secured 3-1 semifinal victories with a match to spare. Spain won a 24th straight home tie since 2000 in beating the United States in Gijon, and the Czechs handed Argentina in Buenos Aires its first home loss on clay since 1998.

The Czechs will host their first cup final since 1980, when they won their only cup as the former Czechoslovakia. It's set for Nov. 16-18. "This is going to be the highlight of my career up until now," Berdych said. "It is going to be very difficult playing against Spain, the champion, but at least we are lucky to be playing at home."

Spain, the team of the century so far, will be bidding for its fourth title in five years, among them a 5-0 sweep of the Czechs in the 2009 final in Barcelona. Ferrer beat John Isner 6-7 (3), 6-3, 6-4, 6-2, his speed and defense inducing 70 unforced errors from Isner, who took out his frustration by slamming and kicking his racket. Ferrer has won all 16 of his cup singles on clay.

"(Ferrer's) a guy who never gives up, he's a gladiator and he knows the way he needs to play on clay, the way he needs to move and hit the ball," Spain captain Alex Corretja said. "It's been a wonderful year and now we want to go for more, of course."

Ferrer, in the absence of the unavailable Rafael Nadal, will have a chance to lead Spain to a fourth Davis Cup title in his career. "This is the competition in which I have felt the most emotions in. I'm a team player," he said. "I don't know how much longer my career will last so I want to do my best possible in the Davis Cup. Alex Corretja motivated me to play this season."

In Buenos Aires, Berdych accounted for cup debutant Carlos Berlocq 6-3, 6-3, 6-4. It's the sixth time in the cup that Berdych has played three matches in a tie and the third time he's won all three. He also did it against Serbia in the quarterfinals in April.

"To win three points in three days — especially in this place — I just feel great," Berdych said. Berdych's achievement was made easier when Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro aggravated his left wrist injury in winning his Friday singles and had to withdraw before his scheduled match with Berdych.

Meanwhile, in the playoffs to make next year's World Group, Germany came from 2-1 down to beat Australia 3-2 in Hamburg and keep the Aussies in zonal play for a sixth straight year. Brazil earned promotion after nine years away by beating Russia, which was demoted for the first time in 19 years. Brazil avenged its loss to Russia, the 2002 and 2006 champion, in the same stage a year ago.

Japan's first appearance in the World Group after 26 years was brief after Israel won 3-2 in Tokyo, and the Roger Federer-led Switzerland was the only other team aside from Israel to win away, beating the Netherlands 3-2 in Amsterdam.

Sweden will lose its record of most World Group appearances (31) to the U.S. and Czech Republic after being swept by Belgium, Italy beat Chile 4-1 to stay up, Canada defeated South Africa, and Kazakhstan topped Uzbekistan 3-1.

 article source: http://www.mail.com/int/sports/tennis/1566480-spain-czechs-set-up-davis-cup-final-clash-nov.html#.1258-stage-set1-5

BET FOR NOVAK DJOKOVIC @ 1.170!

World no. 2 Novak Djokovic advanced easily to the quarterfinals after his fourth round opponent Stanislas Wawrinka retired in the third set 6-4 6-1 3-1. He will face Juan Martin Del Potro, who routed Andy Roddick 6-7 (1), 7-6 (4), 6-2, 6-4, which led to the American’s retirement from tennis.

Match Preview

PREVIOUS MATCHES
2007 US Open
Djokovic	6-1, 6-3, 6-4	Del Potro
2008 Masters Final Shanghai
Djokovic	7-5, 6-3	Del Potro
2009 Masters Series Rome
Djokovic	6-3, 6-4	Del Potro
2011 French Open
Djokovic	6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2	Del Potro
2011 Davis Cup
Djokovic	6-7, 0-3	Del Potro
2012 London Olympics Men’s Singles
Djokovic	5-7, 4-6	Del Potro
2012 Masters Series Cincinnati
Djokovic	6-3, 6-2	Del Potro

Djokovic won the US Open title last year, making him a clear favourite to win in this year’s tournament. His elevation to world no. 1 and his current standing at no. 2 evidently shows that he is at the top of his career. His seamless run in the tournament – including Wawrinka’s retirement in the third set of their fourth round match, exemplifies his great form.

Del Potro’s 2009 US Open title victory makes him a formidable contender for this year’s US Open title. His return from a 2010 wrist injury that stopped him from playign against tough oponnent Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at the Kooyong Classic may have led him to struggle in finding form, but at 23 years of age, he has more time to climb on top of the tennis scene. The Argentinian world no. 8 defeated Roddick in the fourth round despite the American’s popularity, following his earlier announcement that he will retire after his last match in the tournament.

While Del Potro managed to beat Djokovic in the grass courts of the 2012 London Olympics men’s singles bronze medal match, the Serbian’s advantage in playing on hard courts can give him a winning opportunity in the US Open. Del Potro’s dominant forehands serve as his forte, but Djokovic’s ability to direct the ball while playing defensively can force the Argentinian to use his backhand. Djokovic stands a chance to win the quarterfinals in three sets.

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Photo credits:

Djokovic and Del Potro [Photograph]. (2012). Retrieved 6 September 2012, from < http://dalje.com/en/foto.php?id=20&rbr=22087&idrf=893647 >

BET FOR JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO @ 1.330!

Juan Martin Del Potro possesses better sports betting predictions over incoming opponent Andy Roddick. The Argentinian enjoys a 3:1 win record over the American since 2008 and is currently a bronze medallist of the 2012 London Olympic Games men’s singles tennis event.

Roddick has favourable form this year following his March 2012 victory on playign against tough oponnent and world no. 1 Roger Federer in an ATP Miami fixture. He recently climbed up the world rankings from 31 to 20 through winning ATP titles at Eastbourne and Atlanta.

Del Potro’s advantage lies on his impressive showings in two Grand Slam events this year. He lasted until the quarterfinal of the 2012 Australian Open and fourth round of the 2012 Wimbledon. His impressive Olympic bronze medal victory against former world no. 1 Novak Djokovic is a fitting addition to his striking performances in the Rotterdam Open and Estoril Open.

While Roddick’s rise in world rankings and announced retirement after the US Open both appear as his strong driving forces, Del Potro posed an undeniably strong showing this year. This is evident in the Argentinian’s straight finish against compatriot Leonardo Mayer in the third round 6-3, 7-5, 7-6, which is in contrast to the American’s four-set victory over Fabio Fognini 7-5, 7-6, 4-6, 6-4. In the match, Roddick struggled with poor serving that cost him the third set.