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).     

 

Federer and Azarenka stemrolled through tournament to seize titles

Roger Federer breezed past Juan Martin Del Potro to take the title in Rotterdam in straight sets 6-1, 6-4. 

Federer took his first title of this season in a straightforward encounter easing to a 5-0 lead in the first set.  Del Potro managed to hold one service game but in the end he succumbed to Federer’s master class as the Swiss man took the set in 34 minutes. 

Del Potro did have chances in the match but failed to take any of his seven break points.  Federer on the other hand did not let any of his chances go as he broke the Argentine in the fifth game of the second set and continued in formidable fashion to take the match at the third time of asking in one hour and 26 minutes.  Federer has now managed to win at least one ATP World Tour Title in a season 12 years in a row. 

In the Qatar Total Open Victoria Azarenka faced Sam Stosur for the sixth time in her career and for the sixth time in a row as she beat the Australian without losing a set.  

Azarenka looked invincible even with her ankle injury that she sustained in her semi final match.  The injury focused Azarenka’s mind as she only made eight unforced errors compared to Stosur’s 25.  Azarenka dominated with her forehand taking Stosur’s weapons away from her as she won the match 6-1, 6-2 and looking like a very worthy world number one. 

Azarenka and Djokovic emerge victorious down under

The women’s champion was decided with Azarenka dispatching her Russian opponent Maria Sharapova 6-3, 6-0 in a very one sided match.  She lost the first two games of the final but managed to get back on track with ferocious baseline winners and powerful serving.  Sharapova could only compete with the decibel levels as her racket gave to many unforced errors which ultimately led to her undoing.  Her wait for another grand slam lives on.  But for Victoria Azarenka she won her first grand slam and is the new number one with Caroline Wozniacki dropping down to fourth position. 

It was not as straightforward for Novak Djokovic as it took him five hours and 53 minutes to retain his Australian Open crown.  It was the pair’s 30^th meeting and ended up being the longest match in the tournament s history.  Djokovic managed to come through 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7(5), 7-5.  Nadal had his chances, none more so than when he was a break up in the final set and at 30- 30, when he missed a straightforward backhand down the line.  It turned out to be the most crucial point in the match as Djokovic managed to break back and seal the set and the match.     

Azarenka and Sharapova to meet in Aussie Final

Victoria Azarenka reached her first Grand Slam final, by coming through her 3 set match against Australian favourite Kim Clijsters, 6-4, 1-6, 6-3.  A nervous looking Clijsters could not take her chances in the first set and was dominated by Azarenka.  However she fought her way back in the second set hitting huge ground strokes to secure a break in just the second game.  In the final set momentum swung as both players struggled with their nerves as they both lost their service games.  But Azarenka kept her cool and won the match with a smash winner.  Kim Clijsters walked off court to affectionate applause to what could be her last appearance on the Rod Laver Arena. 

Victoria Azarenka will be joined by the Russian Maria Sharapova in the final after she defeated Petra Kvitova in another three set victory, 6-2, 3-6, 6-4.  After losing the first set Kvitova relaxed in the second putting constant pressure on her opponent making fantastic winners.  The Czech also had lots of opportunities to take the final set due to Sharapova being 15-40 or love-30 on her serve but could not take them thanks to the Russian being able to find her first serve when it mattered.   

Rafael Nadal came from behind in what was an eagerly awaited semi-final clash against Roger Federer.  Federer made the better start cruising into a 3-0 lead, taking the ball early and hitting some unbelievable winners.  But Nadal battled back with some more super shot making, but went onto lose the first set on a tiebreak.  Nadal then stormed through the next set but looked a bit nervous in the third with them both making unusual errors.  This ultimately led to Federer’s demise as Nadal was able to get through this and continue to make fabulous winners to take the match, 6-7(5), 6-2, 7-6(5), 6-4.  He will now face either Novak Djokovic or Andy Murray in the final.   

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.

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.    

Kvitova gains WTA Championships and No. 2 Ranking

Petra Kvitova and Victoria Azarenka have made it through to the final and deservedly so as they have played the best the whole week fighting for their matches and showing great strength of character after other players have struggled to close out their contests. 

Kvitova started out the better of the two, gliding into a 5-0 lead with high-quality serving and effortless winners whereas Azarenka didn’t seem to show up giving her service games away with an abundance of errors.  She started to attend towards the closing stages of the first set breaking Kvitova’s serve and bringing more substance to her own.  It was now Kvitova’s turn to be tentative as she lost the rhythm on her usually blistering forehand to allow Azarenka back into the match and so the Belarusian levelled to 5-5.   But Kvitova managed to stumble on some momentum to win a bizarre first set 7-5.  Although this came with difficulty as Kvitova was only able to take the set at the fifth time of asking due to Azarenka relieving the Czech of any pressure by letting out an unforced error.

The final continued its unpredictability with Azarenka gaining a break and then promptly losing it.  Kvitova carried on the theme making unbelievable shots and then breaking down mentally awarding silly errors to let Azarenka gain another break.  As the second set progressed Azarenka looked the calmer with Kvitova’s reactions becoming louder, sharper and more aggressive after she won each point.  But this did not deter the focused Azarenka as she levelled the match with a set of her own 6-4. 

After working herself up into a frenzy in the previous set Kvitova started the better of two going into a 3-0 lead displaying some of her best tennis.  With her back against the wall Azarenka started to battle back but this was stopped by Kvitova’s defiant yelps and she kept herself ahead in the important points to win the Championships in energetic style, 7-5, 4-6, 6-3. 

This has been an amazing season for Kvitova starting at No. 34 and finishing at World No. 2, with wins at Wimbledon and now the end of year championships.  Both women will certainly be formidable opponents next year. 

Results on the ATP Tour:

Vienna

J Tsonga bt J Del Potro 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4

B Bryan/M Bryan bt M Mirnyi/D Nestor 7-6(10), 6-3

St. Petersburg

M Cilic bt J Tipsarevic 6-3, 3-6, 6-2

C Fleming/R Hutchins bt M Elgin A Kudryavtsev 6-3, 6-7(5), 10-8