Maria Sharapova Knocked out of Pan Pacific Open

Maria Sharapova was the Toray Pan Pacific Open champion in 2005 and 2009. damien137 | photobucket.com

Samantha Stosur knocked Maria Sharapova out of the Toray Pan Pacific Open in the quarter-finals on Thursday.

Sharapova battled to the end in a 22 point tie-break in the second set.

Sharapova earned the first break of the match at 4-3, but Stosur won the next three games to take the first set.

Stosur took the lead in the second set 5-3. Sharapova then won eight points in a row to tie the set up at 5 all.

Sharapova saved three match points and almost won the set before Stosur won her fourth match point and advanced to the semi-finals.

Sharapova was forced to three sets and more than three hours of play in the second round by Heather Watson.

Lucie Safarova brought the second set to a tie-break in the third round against Sharapova.

Sharapova’s next tournament is the China Open in Beijing starting on Saturday. This will be her last WTA event before the TEB BNP Paribas WTA Championships on October 23.

Roger Federer Knocked-out of US Open in Quarter-finals

Roger Federer will keep his number 1 spot regardless who wins the US Open, but he will have to battle to keep the ranking for the end of the season. balence | photobucket.com

Roger Federer just couldn’t measure up to Tomas Berdych on Wednesday night ant was knocked-out of the US Open.

This is the first time since 2003 that Federer has lost before the semi-finals at the US Open.

Federer went up a break in the first set, but Berdych came back and brought the set to a tie-break.

Berdych dominated the tie-break 7-1.

Berdych went on to take the second set 6-4.

In the third set things turned around for Federer and he won 6-3.

Things seemed like Federer would be talking control of the match from this point on, but Berdych sealed his fate in the fourth set.

Berdych defeated Federer 7-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.

“I really expected myself to play better tonight,” Federer said at his press conference. “Especially at night, I have had such a great record.”

Federer has played 23 night-session matches at the US Open and hasn’t lost any of them.

Berdych on the other hand, has never played a night match till Wednesday.

This is the second time Berdych has beaten Federer in a quarter-final of grand slam. The last time was in 2010 at Wimbledon.

Federer also said: “I felt good. It’s such an amazing summer I had. I really thought I was going to come out and play a solid match. I didn’t do that tonight. Obviously there is a bit of a letdown now.”

Roger Federer		Tomas Berdych
63%	First Serve %	59%
7	Aces	14
3	Double Faults	3
44	Winners	30
40	Unforced Errors	21
4/6	Break Points Won	5/11
25/30	Net Points Won	9/16

Match Time: 2h 40m

Roger Federer	6(1)	4	6	3
Tomas Berdych	7(7)	6	3	6

Andy Murray Battles Back From a Set and 5-1 Down at US Open

Andy Murray has reached the semi-finals of seven of the last eight Grand Slams. tylovepchy | photobucket.com

On Wednesday night, Andy Murray looked like he was going to be knocked out of the tournament, but he battled his way back to advance to the semi-finals.

Murray lost the first set against Marin Cilic, 6-3.

Murray then went down 5-1 in the second set.

Murray was able to save a set point at 5-2 and turn the match around.

Murray brought the second set to a tie-break and won.

After the tie-break Murray won the last two sets easily, 6-2, 6-0.

This win earned Murray a place in the season-ending Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London in November.

The rain delays caused more shuffling about on Wednesday.

Murray was scheduled to play on Arthur Ashe Stadium, but due to rain was moved to the Louis Armstrong Stadium.

Andy Roddick and Juan Martin del Potro were still playing when Murray and Cilic took the court.

The Louis Armstrong Stadium was almost empty until the the people watching Roddick filtered in after the other men’s quarter-final was finished. Pippa Middleton was one of the spectators.

Murray mentioned in his press conference how he’s had a lot of tough matches on the Louis Armstrong Stadium.

An example of that was two years ago when he experienced one of his worst losses against Stanislas Wawrinka.

Murray also mentioned that the Louis Armstrong Stadium’s conditions are quicker than Arthur Ashe Stadium.

“I think when the conditions slowed down a bit and it started to get a bit darker that helped me,” Murray said in his press conference.

Murray will play Tomas Berdych on Friday in the semi-finals.

Murray was probably expecting to play Roger Federer, but Berdych knocked Federer out in four sets.

Andy Murray		Marin Cilic
55%	First Serve %	53%
11	Aces	2
4	Double Faults	6
39	Winners	32
31	Unforced Errors	50
8/19	Break Points Won	4/9
19/22	Net Points Won	19/29

Match Time: 3h

Andy Murray	3	7(7)	6	6
Marin Cilic	6	6(4)	2	0

Maria Sharapova and Roger Federer on the Road to Olympic Gold

This year Maria Sharapova won the only grand slam she had yet to win: The French Open. Now she continues on the road to winning the only other thing she has yet to win: a gold medal. Galina_Arhangelskay | photobucket.com

Maria Sharapova had another battle on Thursday to advance to the semifinals.

Sharapova broke Clijsters in the first game and went on to hold serve and take the lead 2-0.

In the third game Clijsters won her first game to get on the board.

Clijsters then broke back to make the score 2-all.

Sharapova broke back for 3-2.

Sharapova went on to hold on serve, then broke Clijsters again and served for the set.

Sharapova won the set 6-2.

Sharapova and Clijsters both held on serve at the beginning of the second set.

Sharapova broke Clijsters in the third game of the set and then held on serve to lead 3-1.

Clijsters held on her serve and then broke back for 3-all.

At 5-4 Sharapova served to stay in the set and made the score 5-all.

Sharapova broke Clijsters in the 11th game and then served for the match.

Clijsters fought in the final game, but Sharapova won the game and won the match 7-5.

Even after a tough physical and emotional match Wednesday, Sharapova gave it her all to advance to the semifinals.

The match between Roger Federer and John Isner of the U.S.A was a very close one.

Federer didn’t get a break till the ninth game of the first set.

Federer won the first set 6-4.

Neither Federer or Isner gave an inch during the match and the second set went to a tiebreak.

Federer won the tiebreak 7-5 and is on his way to winning the only thing he has yet to win: a gold medal in the men’s singles.

Andy Murray Gives Himself a Good Chance at an Olympic Medal

Andy Murray is well on his way to winning an Olympic medal. Nowherexg0d | photobucket.com

Andy Murray is through to the semifinals and has given himself a good chance at an Olympic medal.

Murray started off strong on Thursday, unlike his start on Wednesday’s round three match.

Murray won his first service game without losing a point and started his aces early, with one in his first service game. He made 15 aces throughout the course of the match.

Nicolas Almagro of Spain double faulted in the in the fifth game of the first set to give Murray the break and lead 3-2.

Murray went on to hold his service game for 4-2.

In the seventh game Murray had to run up to the net to hit the ball. He hit the ball for an angle shot and a good point, but Murray hit the net with his foot and the point went to Almagro 30-15.

Murray came back for 30-all.

Murray was not able to win the game and Almagro held for 3-4.

That one point may have cost Murray the seventh game, but he was still in the lead.

Murray made another incredible shot in the ninth game. He hit the ball around the net for a point.

Almagro served to stay in the set and managed to hold 4-5 and forced Murray to serve for the set.

Murray won the set without losing a point in the final game.

Almagro then called for the trainer for his shoulder. He had been rubbing his shoulder on the changeovers.

Murray broke Almagro in the first game of the second set.

Almagro didn’t even win a point till the third game. In this game he managed to hold his serve and win a game. This would be the only game Almagro would win in the second set.

In the fourth game, Murray served two aces in a row followed by two double faults. He managed to hold on serve despite the double faults. Murray continued his lead for 3-1.

Murray then broke Almagro for a 4-1 lead.

Murray held on his serve without losing a point and forced Almagro to serve to stay in the match.

Murray only lost one point in the final game to win the match and advance to the semifinals.

Andy Murray and Roger Federer Advance to the Semi-Finals

Andy Murray makes it through to the sem-finals for the fourth year in a row. Nowherexg0d | photobucket.com

Andy Murray battled his way to the semi-finals, while Roger Federer made it through with ease.

David Ferrer went up a set after a close tie-break and things seemed grim for Murray. Especially after he fought back winning three games in a row.

Ferrer wasn’t going to make it easy for Murray. They kept going back and forth being on par almost the entire match, after the first set.

The second set went to a tie-break and Ferrer went up quickly. Then Murray fought back once again and this time he was able to take the tie-break and the set.

Ferrer continued to make Murray work. Murray was able to win the third 6-4.

Things continued to be close into the fourth set and went to another tie-break.

Murray was able to win the match with an ace.

Federer’s match against Mikhail Youzhny was much more straight forward.

Federer won easily 6-1, 6-2, 6-2.

Murray will face Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the semi-finals and Federer will face Novak Djokovic.

David Ferrer		Andy Murray
68%	First Serve %	61%
6	Aces	18
0	Double Faults	3
44	Winners	61
31	Unforced Errors	39
2/12	Break Points Won	3/9
43/55	Net Points Won	33/47

Match Time: 3h 52m

David Ferrer	7(7)	6(6)	4	6(4)
Andy Murray	6(5)	7(8)	6	7(7)

Roger Federer		Mikhail Youzhny
62%	First Serve %	65%
2	Aces	3
0	Double Faults	2
25	Winners	14
13	Unforced Errors	20
6/20	Break Points Won	0/20
24/34	Net Points Won	12/27

Match Time: 1h 32

Roger Federer	6	6	6
Mikhail Youzhny	1	2	2