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straight-set win

Djokovic through to Beijing second round

Mon, 10/05/2009 - 22:50 by surajdogra

Beijing -- No. 2-seeded Novak Djokovic advanced to the second round of the $3.3 million China Open tennis tournament in Beijing with a straight-set win Monday.

Djokovic got past Victor Hanescu 6-3, 7-5 despite having his serve broke three times. But his defense was sharp and he won 52 percent of the points on Hanescu's
serve.

Eighth-seeded Marin Cilic also advanced out of the first round Monday, stopping
Igor Andreev 6-4, 6-4. Cilic was in total control in the first set -- losing just five points on serve -- and staggered only slightly in the second before finishing off the win.

Tommy Robredo posted the day's most lop-sided score, winning 6-2, 6-1 over Benjamin Beck while Juan Carlos Ferrero took a tight 7-5, 7-6 (7-3) decision from

Verdasco breaks into quarterfinals

Thu, 10/01/2009 - 23:04 by surajdogra

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- No. 2-seeded Fernando Verdasco claimed six service breaks during a straight-set win Thursday in the second round of the $947,750 Malaysian Open.

Verdasco took a close first set and dominated the second for a 6-4, 6-0 victory over Karol Beck. Verdasco had three breaks in each set and won 60 percent of the points when Beck served.

He faces Richard Gasquet in Friday's quarterfinals. Gasquet had 26 aces in beating Joachim Johansson 4-6, 7-6 (7-1), 6-2 in the second round. Johansson blasted 24 aces himself but managed just three in the decisive third set.

Fourth-seeded Fernando Gonzalez was a 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 victor Thursday over Rohan Bopanna and drew Mikhail Youzhny for his quarterfinal foe.

Federer continues string of major semis

Thu, 07/02/2009 - 02:09 by surajdogra

London -- Roger Federer used a straight-set win Wednesday at the Wimbledon Championships in London to reach his 21st consecutive major tournament semifinals.

Federer, who won five consecutive Wimbledon titles before losing in the finals last year, will go against 24th-seeded Tommy Haas in Friday's semifinals. The other semifinal pits third-seeded Andy Murray against sixth-seeded Andy Roddick.

The No. 2-seeded Federer can regain the world No. 1 ranking and set a record with his 15th Grand Slam title should he win his next two matches. He looked to be on that mission Wednesday in a 6-3, 7-5, 7-6 (7-3) win over 22nd-seeded Ivo Karlovic. He had just seven unforced errors and won 87 percent of the points on his serve.