Murray out of Indian Wells

Andy Murray had such a promising start to the season with a run to the finals in Dubai, after losing in an epic semi final match to the world number one Novak Djokovic, that it did not seem at all likely that Murray would stumble out of the draw in his first match at Indian Wells for a second year in a row. 

Murray looked to have overcome his demons after another heartbreaking loss at the first grand slam of the year when he beat Djokovic in Dubai.  But today he was upset by Spaniard Guilermo Garcia-Lopez 6-4, 6-2. 

The Spaniard is currently ranked 92^nd but managed to break the Scott twice in the second set to seal the match in one hour and 40 minutes.  Garcia-Lopez stuck the ball sweetly moving Murray around the court soaking up Murray’s errors on both wings.  He will now play Ryan Harrison in the next round.  Murray on the other hand will travel to Miami hoping to bring his game together for the next event.    

Djokovic eased through to the third round with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Andreev Golubev and will now play Kevin Anderson who has just won his second career title at Delray Beach.  Tomas Berdych also advanced but had it tougher, having to close the match in three sets against Sergiy Stakhovsky.  Rafael Nadal returns to the game after having a month out to play Leonardo Mayer.   

Indian Wells, California

 On the women’s side of the draw Caroline Wozniacki demolished Ekaterina Makarova 6-2, 6-0 although still insisted on her father coming onto court after winning the first set.  She has done enough at this event to secure her top five ranking for another week.  Maria Sharapova made light work of Gisela Dulko with the same score line and will now take on Simona Halep.  The new world number one Victoria Azarenka had a tougher route through against promising player Mona Barthel winning 6-4, 6-7(4), 7-6(6).     

 

Supreme performance seals semi final place for Rafa

Through to the semi finals in the men’s draw is Roger Federer who beat Del Potro 6-4, 6-3, 6-2.  Federer put in an excellent performance to see off the Argentinean making sensational winners.  He will now face Rafael Nadal who also put in a supreme performance to beat Tomas Berdych 6-7(5), 7-6(6), 6-4, 6-3.  His forehand was impressive as he out powered the Czech hitting some untouchable returns sealing the match at the 1^st time of asking after 4hours and 16 minutes on court.      

Azarenka had her toughest test so far against Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska in their quarter final match.  Radwanska won the first set in a tie break winning it 7-0, but Azarenka fought her way back, shouting and screaming herself through the games to take the next two sets, closing out the match, 6-7(0), 6-0, 6-2.  Azarenka who has not been a favourite with the Aussie crowed due to her screeching will now play Kim Clijsters who is affectionately known as Aussie Kim due to her engagement to Lleyton Hewitt.  The Belgium beat the world number one Caroline Wozniacki in another tough match winning, 6-3, 7-6(4); the defending champion was in stunning form as she battled past Wozniacki who also produced some fantastic points.  But her wait for a grand slam lives on.

Federer and Clijsters through to Quarters

When Roger Federer was 19 years of age, the up and coming player, he had to face Pete Sampras at Wimbledon, he won.  Now there is a new kid on the block, Bernard Tomic, the story of this year’s Australian Open, it was questioned whether history was going to repeat itself, but there was no such luck for the home favourite as he succumbed to the class that is Roger Federer, 6-4, 6-2, 6-2.  Federer used his drop shot superbly and Tomic could not come up with an answer to Federer’s skill and expertise this time round.  Del Potro will be Federer’s next opponent as he dispatched Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-4, 6-2, 6-1 as he continued his quest to get back to the form that won him the US Open in 2009. 

Nadal also had an easy way through to the quarters against fellow Spaniard Feliciano Lopez 6-4, 6-4, 6-2.  He will now play Tomas Berdych who had an epic encounter against Nicolas Almagro, winning 4-6, 7-6(5), 7-6(3), 7-6(2) in what was a thrilling match which saw the Czech hold his nerve far better than his opponent.   

Agnieszka Radwanska won her 4^th round match incredibly easily against Julia Gorges 6-1, 6-1 in 54 minutes with the German only winning 22points.  Her opponent will now be Victoria Azarenka who again stormed through her match making light work of her opponent winning 6-2, 6-2. 

Wozniacki at Wimbledon

Things were a lot tighter in the match between Kim Clijsters and Li Na.  After Clijsters fell over on her ankle in the first set which saw have to have an injury time out she managed to fight back to gain a 3 set win, 4-6, 7-6(8), 6-4.  Li Na had four match points in the second set tiebreak but squandered them all and the Belgian took the match in what was a repeat of last year’s final.  Clijsters now plays Caroline Wozniacki in what was a very nervy second set, but she managed to come through it with a 6-0, 7-5 win over Jelena Jankovic.     

Cruise control for top seeds

It was a very straightforward day at the office for the women with none of the top seeds really struggling.  Caroline Wozniacki, the world number 1, looks to be having no trouble as she dispatched Niculescu, 6-2, 6-2 in 1hr and 15 minutes.  Jelena Jankovic continues her run of form beating American Mchale6-2, 6-0; the nerves that she has suffered from in the past don’t be affecting her ability to close out matches this year.  The ever consistent Agnieszka Radwanska went through her match easily with a 6-2, 6-2.  Azarenka also went through in 2 sets, 6-2, 6-4, although it was tough against the inform Mona Barthel who won the title in Hobart the week before the Open.  Kim Clijsters also won in straight serves, 6-3, 6-2 against Daniela Hantuchova, in what could have been a tough match if the Hantuchova hadn’t been injured. 

The top seeds in the men also went through in straight sets, with Rafael Nadal coming through against Lacko, 6-2, 6-4, 6-2.  The Spaniard looks in imperious form with no sign of an injury to hamper his progress so far in the Australian Open.  Federer continued his run against the big serving Croatian, Ivo Karlovic, 7-6, 6-5, 6-3.  Federer managed to get the crucial breaks when needed and always looked comfortable when serving.  Thomas Berdych set up a fourth round clash against Nicolas Almagro, after conserving his  energy to just a 3 set match against South African Kevin Anderson winning 7-6, 7-6, 6-1.    

WTA Championship Results –27th

Petra Kvitova bt Caroline Wozniacki 6-4, 6-2

Victoria Azarenka bt Li Na 6-2, 6-2

Agnieszka Radwanska bt Vera Zvonareva 1-6, 6-2, 7-5

Azarenka & Kvitova are now into the final four.