Ginepri earned just his third ATP Tour match win since that unfortunate crash about 17 months ago easily beating Xavier Malisse 6-1 6-2 on Tuesday night in the opening round of the SAP Open.

``I'm more motivated now than I have been for a long time'' he said. ``I see that tennis isn't such a bad thing...]]> Wed, 15 Feb 2012 07:42:55 +0000 http://www.imaginetennis.com/news/gonzalez-eliminated-in-1st-round-of-brazil-open-46546.htm SAO PAULO (AP) Soon-to-retire Fernando Gonzalez of Chile fell to Igor Andreev of Russia 6-2 6-3 in the first round of the Brazil Open ATP tournament on Tuesday.

The 31-year-old Gonzalez who last week said he will play only two other events before retiring lost to the big-serving Russian qualifier in just more than an hour. Gonzalez had the support of the Brazilian crowd but won only six points on Andreev's service games.

``I was happy I tried to enjoy all the moments because I know...]]> Wed, 15 Feb 2012 01:43:05 +0000 http://www.imaginetennis.com/news/seeded-players-lisicki-hantuchova-ousted-in-qatar-46544.htm DOHA Qatar (AP) Seeded players Sabine Lisicki and Daniela Hantuchova lost in the opening round of the Qatar Open on Tuesday after holding one-set leads.

Angelique Kerber overcame a stomach bug to defeat the ninth-seeded Lisicki 4-6 6-4 6-1 in an all-German match and Simona Halep of Romania downed the 15th-seeded Hantuchova of Slovakia 3-6 6-2 7-6 (4) after 2 hours 32 minutes.

Kerber a U.S. Open semifinalist who won her first WTA title at the Open GDF Suez last week will play...]]> Wed, 15 Feb 2012 01:13:03 +0000 http://www.imaginetennis.com/news/clijsters-withdraws-from-indian-wells-46541.htm INDIAN WELLS Calif. (AP) Kim Clijsters announced Tuesday that she has withdrawn from next month's BNP Paribas Open because of an injury to her left ankle.

Clijsters said in a statement that she is disappointed she won't be playing in the tournament saying she has great memories of Indian Wells.

The Belgian plans to retire at the end of the season. Clijsters has already retired once - in 2007 - but was tempted back in 2009 and has since won three Grand Slam titles.

She won...]]> Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:13:13 +0000 http://www.imaginetennis.com/news/troicki-beats-de-bakker-in-abn-amro-first-round-46542.htm ROTTERDAM Netherlands (AP) Seventh-seeded Viktor Troicki struggled against Thiemo de Bakker in the first set Tuesday before overpowering him in the second for a 7-6 (6) 6-0 win in the first round of the ABN Amro World Tennis Tournament.

Troicki who helped Serbia beat Sweden in the Davis Cup squandered three break points in the first set before edging De Bakker in a close tiebreaker.

De Bakker said ``I should have won that tiebreak'' and that ``I blew my chances in the first set.''

Nikolay...]]> Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:13:16 +0000 http://www.imaginetennis.com/news/williams-sisters-return-to-dc-team-for-teamtennis-46530.htm NEW YORK (AP) Sisters Venus and Serena Williams will return to the reigning champion Washington Kastles while John McEnroe and Martina Hingis are staying with the New York Sportimes after the World TeamTennis marquee draft.

Other top players picked Tuesday for the Pro League include three-time major champion Lindsay Davenport current top-ranked American Mardy Fish marathon man John Isner and two-time major finalist Mark Philippoussis.

The leading doubles team of American twins...]]> Tue, 14 Feb 2012 20:42:56 +0000 http://www.imaginetennis.com/news/2nd-seeded-alexandra-dulgheru-loses-in-bogota-46525.htm BOGOTA Colombia (AP) Second-seeded Alexandra Dulgheru of Romania was knocked out of the first round of the Copa BBVA Colsanitas on Tuesday losing to Karin Knapp of Italy 6-2 6-2.

Three other seeded players made better starts at the clay-court tournament.

No. 3 Romina Oprandi of Switzerland defeated Alexandra Cadantu of Romania 6-2 6-2; No. 5 Gisela Dulko of Argentina defeated Kathrin Woerle of Germany won 1-6 6-2 6-4; and No. 7 Lourdes Dominguez Lino of Spain beat Sharon Fichman...]]> Tue, 14 Feb 2012 20:13:02 +0000 http://www.imaginetennis.com/news/fifth-seeded-berlocq-advances-46524.htm SAO PAULO (AP) Fifth-seeded Carlos Berlocq of Argentine defeated Eric Prodon of France 6-4 6-0 in the first round of the Brazil Open on Tuesday.

The 42nd-ranked Berlocq runner-up last week in Chile saved five break points in the first set. He cruised to victory with three straight service breaks in the second with Prodon double-faulting four times.

Earlier Tuesday Spanish qualifier Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo the oldest player in the main draw at 34 needed two hours to defeat Rui Machado...]]> Tue, 14 Feb 2012 20:13:02 +0000 http://www.imaginetennis.com/news/seeds-lisicki-hantuchova-beaten-in-qatar-46523.htm DOHA Qatar (AP) Seeded players Sabine Lisicki and Daniela Hantuchova lost in the opening round of the Qatar Open on Tuesday after holding one-set leads.

Angelique Kerber overcame a stomach bug to defeat the ninth-seeded Lisicki 4-6 6-4 6-1 in an all-German match and Simona Halep of Romania downed the 15th-seeded Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia 3-6 6-2 7-6 (4) after 2 hours 32 minutes.

Kerber a U.S. Open semifinalist who won her first WTA title in Paris last week will play Tsvetana...]]> Tue, 14 Feb 2012 20:13:01 +0000 http://www.imaginetennis.com/news/djokovic-awarded-serbias-top-honor-from-president-46509.htm BELGRADE Serbia (AP) Novak Djokovic has been awarded the top state honor in Serbia.

President Boris Tadic has decorated the tennis great with the Karadjordjeva Star Medal the highest honor in the Balkan country.

Tadic said on Tuesday Djokovic deserves the medal for ``special merits in representing Serbia.'' Djokovic was the world's top-ranked player and winner of the last three Grand Slams.

Djokovic will formally receive the medal at a ceremony on Wednesday marking Serbia's...]]> Tue, 14 Feb 2012 15:13:01 +0000 http://www.imaginetennis.com/news/mcenroe-wins-doubles-exhibition-at-sap-open-46510.htm SAN JOSE Calif. (AP) The hands were still soft the volleys were crisp and the temper had calmed down 20 years after John McEnroe had last been a regular on the ATP Tour.

McEnroe made a brief return to play an exhibition doubles match Monday on the opening night of the SAP Open teaming with young American Jack Sock to beat Gael Monfils and Steve Johnson 6-4 6-4 in a lighthearted match.

McEnroe showed the deft skill at the net that made him one of the game's best doubles players...]]> Tue, 14 Feb 2012 15:13:01 +0000 http://www.imaginetennis.com/news/mcenroe-wins-doubles-exhibition-at-sap-open-46491.htm SAN JOSE Calif. (AP) The hands were still soft the volleys were crisp and the temper had calmed down 20 years after John McEnroe had last been a regular on the ATP Tour.

McEnroe made a brief return to play an exhibition doubles match Monday on the opening night of the SAP Open teaming with young American Jack Sock to beat Gael Monfils and Steve Johnson 6-4 6-4 in a lighthearted match.

McEnroe showed the deft skill at the net that made him one of the game's best doubles players...]]> Tue, 14 Feb 2012 06:13:03 +0000 http://www.imaginetennis.com/news/federer-says-there-is-no-rift-with-wawrinka-46488.htm ROTTERDAM Netherlands (AP) Roger Federer says he was misunderstood and he did not blame Switzerland teammate Stanislas Wawrinka for their Davis Cup loss to the United States.

In comments translated from French Federer appeared to criticize Wawrinka's performances in the 5-0 first-round loss.

But speaking at a pre-tournament news conference Monday at the ABN Amro World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam Federer said there was no rift with Wawrinka.

``It was a tough weekend for us''...]]> Tue, 14 Feb 2012 02:12:58 +0000 http://www.imaginetennis.com/news/mathieu-upsets-lopez-in-abn-amro-fist-round-46482.htm ROTTERDAM Netherlands (AP) Paul-Henri Mathieu rallied from a set down Monday to upset fourth-seeded Feliciano Lopez 4-6 7-6 (5) 6-4 in the opening round of the ABN Amro World Tennis Tournament.

Sixth-seeded Alexandr Dolgopolov of Ukraine also went out in the first round losing 6-7 (4) 6-4 6-2 to Lukasz Kubot of Poland.

Mathieu who is ranked No. 733 after missing the entire 2011 season with a knee injury looked sharp in beating Lopez in a match that lasted nearly three hours.

``I...]]> Tue, 14 Feb 2012 00:13:14 +0000 http://www.imaginetennis.com/news/ivanovic-advances-in-qatar-when-opponent-quits-46460.htm DOHA Qatar (AP) Serbia's Ana Ivanovic advanced to the second round of the Qatar Open on Monday when Carla Suarez Navarro withdrew midway through their match because of a back injury.

Ivanovic the 2008 French Open champion was leading 6-1 4-1. Trailing 1-2 in the second set Suarez Navarro had already sought courtside treatment from the WTA Tour medical team. The Spaniard then briefly left the court before resuming the set.

``It is very unfortunate for her'' Ivanovic said. ``It is never...]]> Mon, 13 Feb 2012 19:12:59 +0000 http://www.imaginetennis.com/news/azarenka-already-thinking-about-golden-slam-46445.htm DOHA Qatar (AP) With the No. 1 ranking and her first major title secured Victoria Azarenka is already thinking about the ``Golden Slam.''

The 22-year-old Belarussian who won the Australia Open last month still has a long way to go but the London Olympics is high on her wish list.

``That's everybody's dream to achieve but I mean it's a very difficult task'' said Azarenka who will put her 12-0 record on the line this week at the Qatar Open. ``But I definitely am going to have the...]]> Mon, 13 Feb 2012 14:43:02 +0000 http://www.imaginetennis.com/news/nishikori-confident-after-success-in-australia-46446.htm TOKYO (AP) Now that he's had success on one of tennis's biggest stages Japan's Kei Nishikori is determined to take his game to the next level.

Last month Nishikori became the first Japanese man to reach the quarterfinals of the Australian Open since the Open Era began in 1968 with a five-set victory over former finalist and sixth-ranked Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France in the fourth round.

The 22-year-old lost to No. 4-ranked Andy Murray in straight sets in the quarterfinals but said...]]> Mon, 13 Feb 2012 14:43:02 +0000 http://www.imaginetennis.com/news/harrison-isner-complete-us-rout-of-switzerland-46422.htm FRIBOURG Switzerland (AP) The United States completed its 5-0 rout of Switzerland in the first round of the Davis Cup on Sunday with 19-year-old Ryan Harrison and John Isner winning the closing singles matches.

Harrison made his Davis Cup debut defeating Michael Lammer 7-6 (0) 7-6 (4) to extend the Americans' lead to 4-0. Isner who stunned Roger Federer in four sets Friday then beat Marco Chuidinelli 6-3 6-4 to give the U.S. its first sweep since a 2004 first-round series against Austria.

``It...]]> Mon, 13 Feb 2012 02:12:56 +0000 http://www.imaginetennis.com/news/murray-to-play-at-queens-club-ahead-of-wimbledon-46418.htm LONDON (AP) Andy Murray is hoping to defend his Queen's Club title in June as a grass-court warmup for Wimbledon and the London Olympics.

Murray has won the Queen's tournament twice in the past three years and is trying to become the first Briton since 1925 to lift the trophy for a third time.

Wimbledon begins a week after Queen's which starts June 11. The Olympic tennis tournament will also be held at the All England Club.

Murray will not have to face second-ranked Rafael...]]> Sun, 12 Feb 2012 23:43:04 +0000 http://www.imaginetennis.com/news/injured-milos-raonic-out-of-davis-cup-for-canada-46413.htm VANCOUVER British Columbia (AP) Canada's Milos Raonic was replaced for a key Davis Cup singles match against France on Sunday because of a knee injury. His spot was taken by Frank Dancevic who faces Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

Canada trails 2-1 in the World Group series and needs to win both singles to advance. The winner will play the United States in the quarterfinals in April. The loser goes to a September playoff to try to keep its spot in the elite 16-team group for 2013.

Tennis Canada...]]> Sun, 12 Feb 2012 22:13:14 +0000 http://www.imaginetennis.com/news/germanys-kerber-beats-bartoli-in-paris-final-46409.htm PARIS (AP) Angelique Kerber won her first WTA title Sunday by overpowering second-seeded Marion Bartoli 7-6 (3) 5-7 6-3 in the Open GDF Suez final.

Kerber became the first German to win the Paris tournament since Steffi Graf in 1995 clinching victory with a forehand winner.

``I knew I had nothing to lose'' Kerber said. ``She was the favorite today.''

After a first set with four service breaks Kerber capitalized on an unforced error from Bartoli to take a 4-1 lead in the tiebreaker....]]> Sun, 12 Feb 2012 20:43:21 +0000 http://www.imaginetennis.com/news/navratilova-azarenka-kvitova-to-be-great-rivals-46406.htm PARIS (AP) Martina Navratilova expects a compelling rivalry to develop between Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka and Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova.

Speaking ahead of an exhibition match at the Open GDF tournament in Paris on Sunday Navratilova said Azarenka and Kvitova have all the right attributes.

``I think we definitely have the possibility of a great rivalry between Azarenka and Kvitova'' the tennis great said. ``They are very talented players. They have really intense...]]> Sun, 12 Feb 2012 19:13:12 +0000 http://www.imaginetennis.com/news/serbia-beats-sweden-advances-in-davis-cup-46398.htm NIS Serbia (AP) Janko Tipsarevic beat Michael Ryderstedt of Sweden in straight sets Sunday to send Serbia to the Davis Cup quarterfinals against the Czech Republic.

Tipsarevic won 6-2 7-6 (5) 7-5 to give Serbia an unassailable 3-1 lead in the best-of-five series on an indoor hard court in the central Serbian town of Nis. In the last match Serbia's Dusan Lajovic beat Filip Prpic 6-4 6-4 for the final 4-1 score.

The Serbians won the two opening singles matches but Swedes Johan Brunstrom...]]> Sun, 12 Feb 2012 18:13:20 +0000 http://www.imaginetennis.com/news/daniela-hantuchova-wins-pattaya-open-again-46399.htm PATTAYA Thailand (AP) Slovakia's Daniela Hantuchova won her second straight Pattaya Open title Sunday defeating Russia's Maria Kirilenko 6-7 (4) 6-3 6-3.

This was Hantuchova's fifth career title and her first since winning in Thailand a year ago.

``Even after I lost the first set I kept fighting and never looked back'' said Hantuchova who successfully defended a title for the first time. ``This is special for me.''

Not wanting to break a winning routine Hantuchova said...]]> Sun, 12 Feb 2012 18:13:20 +0000 http://www.imaginetennis.com/news/austria-beats-russia-to-reach-davis-cup-quarters-46397.htm WIENER NEUSTADT Austria (AP) Jurgen Melzer eased past Alex Bogomolov Jr. of Russia 6-2 6-4 6-1 Sunday to help Austria reach the quarterfinals of the Davis Cup for the first time since 1995.

Melzer's victory gave Austria an insurmountable 3-1 lead and set up a quarterfinal against defending champion Spain in April. Russia's Igor Kunitsyn defeated Andreas Haider-Maurer 6-4 4-6 7-6 (4) in the meaningless final singles match leaving Austria with a 3-2 victory

Two-time champion Russia...]]> Sun, 12 Feb 2012 17:43:31 +0000 http://www.imaginetennis.com/news/daniela-hantuchova-wins-pattaya-open-again-46389.htm PATTAYA Thailand (AP) Slovakia's Daniela Hantuchova won her second straight Pattaya Open title defeating Russia's Maria Kirilenko 6-7 (4) 6-3 6-3.

This was Hantuchova's fifth career title and her first since winning in Thailand a year ago.

Hantuchova seeded third won in 3 hours 14 minutes. Kirilenko had already spent more than 9 1/2 hours on court just to get to the final her first on the WTA Tour in nearly 16 months.

The Russian double-faulted to give Hantuchova the crucial...]]> Sun, 12 Feb 2012 16:43:19 +0000 http://www.imaginetennis.com/news/croatia-defeats-host-japan-3-2-in-davis-cup-46387.htm HYOGO Japan (AP) Big-serving Ivo Karlovic beat Go Soeda 7-6 (4) 6-1 6-4 Sunday sending Croatia past Japan 3-2 and into the quarterfinals of the Davis Cup.

Kei Nishikori defeated Ivan Dodig 7-5 7-6 (4) 6-3 in the day's first reverse singles to pull the host nation even in the best-of-five. first-round series. But Soeda was overpowered by Karlovic who had 17 aces.

Croatia advances to the quarterfinals in April while Japan goes to a promotion/relegation playoff in September. Japan was...]]> Sun, 12 Feb 2012 16:43:19 +0000 http://www.imaginetennis.com/news/us-sweeps-federers-swiss-team-out-of-davis-cup-46371.htm FRIBOURG Switzerland (AP) Given a supremely tough draw in the Davis Cup the United States is off to an exhilarating start.

It swept Roger Federer and Switzerland in the first round with Mardy Fish and Mike Bryan winning the doubles match on clay a surface selected by Federer to exploit what was perceived as an American weakness.

But Fish and Bryan paired for the first time in more than three years were clearly up for this challenge Saturday before a Swiss crowd that at times turned...]]> Sun, 12 Feb 2012 03:42:56 +0000 http://www.imaginetennis.com/news/bartoli-kerber-make-open-gdf-suez-final-46356.htm PARIS (AP) Marion Bartoli of France and Angelique Kerber of Germany won semifinal matches Saturday and will play for the title at the Open GDF Suez.

The second-seeded Bartoli defeated Klara Zakopalova of the Czech Republic 7-6 (3) 6-0 to reach her first final since winning the Japan Open last October. Kerber a U.S. Open semifinalist defeated Yanina Wickmayer of Belgium 6-7 (2) 6-3 6-4.

Bartoli hit two consecutive aces to take a 5-0 lead in the final set converting her first match...]]> Sat, 11 Feb 2012 20:12:55 +0000 http://www.imaginetennis.com/news/argentina-beats-germany-3-0-in-davis-cup-46350.htm BAMBERG Germany (AP) Argentina's David Nalbandian and Eduardo Schwank rallied from two sets down in doubles against Germany on Saturday reaching the quarterfinals of the Davis Cup with a 3-0 lead.

The Argentine pair beat Tommy Haas and Philipp Petzschner 3-6 4-6 6-4 6-3 6-4 to clinch the first-round series ahead of reverse singles on Sunday.

Argentina which finished runner-up to Spain last year is seeking its first title after losing four finals.

Germany won three titles...]]> Sat, 11 Feb 2012 18:42:56 +0000 http://www.imaginetennis.com/news/sweden-wins-davis-cup-doubles-trails-serbia-2-1-46347.htm NIS Serbia (AP) Sweden avoided elimination from the Davis Cup first round by defeating Serbia in doubles on Saturday.

Johan Brunstrom and Robert Lindstedt beat Janko Tipsarevic and Nenad Zimonjic 3-6 6-3 7-6 (4) 6-7 (3) 10-8.

Serbia is playing without top-ranked Novak Djokovic who is resting after winning the Australian Open.

Serbia hopes to wrap up the best-of-five series in the reverse singles on Sunday. Tipsarevic will play Michael Ryderstedt in the opening match.

Marcel Granollers and Marc Lopez partnering for the first time eased to a 6-2 6-3 6-1 victory over Kazakh pair Evgeny Korolev and Yuriy Schukin on indoor clay.

The hosts won their 22nd straight tie on home soil and 24th straight on clay. They won without second-ranked Rafael Nadal who sat out the series.

Spain will play...]]> Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:42:55 +0000 http://www.imaginetennis.com/news/czechs-beat-italy-3-0-in-davis-cup-reach-quarters-46336.htm OSTRAVA Czech Republic (AP) The Czech Republic reached the Davis Cup quarterfinals after Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek won the doubles for a 3-0 lead over Italy on Saturday.

Berdych and Stepanek defeated Daniele Braccialli and Potito Starace 6-3 6-4 6-2 in the first round of the World Cup.

The Czech pair converted the first match point from Stepanek's forehand volley.

In the first set the Czechs took a 3-0 lead. Stepanek who won his maiden Grand Slam title when he teamed...]]> Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:08:10 +0000 http://www.imaginetennis.com/news/kirilenko-beats-cirstea-in-pattaya-semifinal-46323.htm PATTAYA Thailand (AP) Maria Kirilenko of Russia edged Sorona Cirstea of Romania 6-2 5-7 6-4 to reach the final of the Pattaya Open on Saturday.

The 26-year-old Kirilenko will bid for her sixth career title and first since 2008.

Kirilenko broke Cirstea in the fifth game of the first set to take a 3-2 lead and cruised the rest of the way clinching the set with an ace.

Cirstea rallied for a 4-2 lead in the second but Kirilenko adjusted for a 5-4 lead. The Romanian evened the...]]> Sat, 11 Feb 2012 15:13:00 +0000 http://www.imaginetennis.com/news/croatia-takes-2-1-lead-over-japan-in-davis-cup-46319.htm HYOGO Japan (AP) Ivo Karlovic and Ivan Dodig beat Tatsuma Ito and Yuichi Sugita 6-4 6-4 3-6 6-3 Saturday to give Croatia a 2-1 lead over Japan in their first-round Davis Cup World Group series.

Karlovic made the most of his powerful serve combining with Dodig for 24 aces.

Japan is returning to the World Group for the first time in 26 years after beating India 4-1 in a regional playoff in September. Croatia is seventh in the Davis Cup rankings 10 places ahead of Japan.

Dodig...]]> Sat, 11 Feb 2012 14:43:03 +0000 http://www.imaginetennis.com/news/nadal-gets-surprise-drug-test-follows-tv-skit-46320.htm MADRID (AP) Rafael Nadal says he underwent a surprise drug test toward the end of a week in which the Spaniard was the butt of jokes by a French TV program about his country's alleged ties to doping.

Nadal wrote on his Twitter account on Saturday: ``8:30 in the morning!!!Just finished passing a surprise antidoping test...it was expected after everything...but I'm happy it's like this!''

The Spanish sports ministry contacted its French counterparts to complain over the satirical skits....]]> Sat, 11 Feb 2012 14:43:04 +0000 http://www.imaginetennis.com/news/rafael-nadal-undergoes-surprise-drug-test-46317.htm MADRID (AP) Rafael Nadal says he underwent a surprise drug test toward the end of a week in which the Spaniard was the butt of jokes made by a French TV program about his country's alleged ties to doping.

Nadal wrote on his Twitter account on Saturday: ``8:30 in the morning!!!Just finished passing a surprise antidoping test...it was expected after everything...but I'm happy it's like this!''

The Spanish sports ministry has contacted its French counterparts to complain over the satirical...]]> Sat, 11 Feb 2012 13:12:56 +0000 http://www.imaginetennis.com/news/canada-rallies-to-tie-france-1-1-46306.htm VANCOUVER British Columbia (AP) Milos Raonic beat Julien Benneteau 6-2 6-4 7-5 on Friday night to give Canada a 1-1 tie with France after the opening singles in the Davis Cup match Canada's first at the World Group level in eight years.

``I kept a really good flat line the whole match with not only with my physical (game) but also with my mental'' Raonic said. ``I think that's what really paid off.''

In the opening match Jo-Wilfried Tsonga topped Vasek Pospisil 6-1 6-3 6-3 in front...]]> Sat, 11 Feb 2012 06:43:00 +0000 http://www.imaginetennis.com/news/isner-shocks-federer-in-davis-cup-us-leads-2-0-46304.htm FRIBOURG Switzerland (AP) First Mardy Fish put together a compelling rally to get the United States off to a fast start. Then John Isner bashed his way to a big upset.

Now Roger Federer and company are on the ropes.

Isner jolted Federer with his big serve and booming groundstrokes Friday winning 4-6 6-3 7-6 (4) 6-2 to give the U.S. a 2-0 lead against Switzerland in the first round of the Davis Cup.

Isner challenged the 16-time Grand Slam champion in long rallies on the indoor...]]> Sat, 11 Feb 2012 04:42:58 +0000 http://www.imaginetennis.com/news/kerber-stuns-sharapova-to-reach-paris-semifinals-46299.htm PARIS (AP) Top-seeded Maria Sharapova was ousted from the quarterfinals of Open GDF Suez on Friday beaten by Angelique Kerber of Germany 6-4 6-4.

Kerber a U.S. Open semifinalist will next play Yanina Wickmayer of Belgium who defeated Mona Barthel of Germany 6-4 6-7 (3) 6-3.

Klara Zakopalova of the Czech Republic also advanced rallying past sixth-seeded Julia Goerges of Germany 3-6 7-5 6-1. Zakopalova will face second-seeded Marion Bartoli of France who downed Roberta Vinci of Italy...]]> Sat, 11 Feb 2012 00:43:00 +0000 http://www.imaginetennis.com/news/spain-leads-kazakhstan-2-0-in-davis-cup-46290.htm OVIEDO Spain (AP) Spain showed it can win without Rafael Nadal with the defending Davis Cup champions taking a 2-0 lead over Kazakhstan on Friday behind victories by Juan Carlos Ferrero and Nicolas Almagro.

Ferrero rallied in the fifth set to beat Mikhail Kukushkin 6-1 4-6 7-6 (2) 4-6 6-4 to open the World Group first-round series on indoor clay. Almagro downed Andrey Golubev 6-3 4-6 6-1 6-1.

Nadal and David Ferrer have helped Spain win three of the past four titles. Both are absent...]]> Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:42:57 +0000 http://www.imaginetennis.com/news/jim-curley-quits-as-us-open-tournament-director-46285.htm WHITE PLAINS N.Y. (AP) Jim Curley is stepping down as tournament director for tennis' U.S. Open a post he's held since 2001.

The U.S. Tennis Association announced Curley's move Friday. He will stay on as a consultant through this year's Grand Slam tournament which runs Aug. 27 through Sept. 9.

Curley says he believes ``it is time for a change.''

Deputy tournament director David Brewer will take over as tournament director and oversee the USTA's professional tennis operations....]]> Fri, 10 Feb 2012 21:42:58 +0000 http://www.imaginetennis.com/news/austria-takes-2-0-lead-over-russia-in-davis-cup-46283.htm WIENER NEUSTADT Austria (AP) Andreas Haider-Maurer defeated No. 1 Russian player Alex Bogomolov Jr. 6-1 6-4 6-7 (1) 6-2 on Friday to give Austria a 2-0 lead in the first round of the Davis Cup.

Austria needs one more win in the best-of-five series to enter the quarterfinals of the World Group for the first time since 1995.

Russia has managed to win from 0-2 only once against Germany in 1995.

Austria's leading player Jurgen Melzer beat Igor Kunitsyn 6-2 6-7 (3) 6-4 3-6...]]> Fri, 10 Feb 2012 21:12:58 +0000 http://www.imaginetennis.com/news/no-4-wozniacki-to-keep-father-as-coach-46280.htm NEW YORK (AP) Caroline Wozniacki is keeping her dad as coach.

The former top-ranked player fired coach Ricardo Sanchez last week after just two months on the job.

She says during a conference call Friday from Doha Qatar that she's been coached by her father Piotr ``for a very long time'' and ``right now it's the best thing.''

She won't need much coaching at the BNP Paribas Showdown on March 5 at Madison Square Garden. Wozniacki will play Maria Sharapova in the opening exhibition...]]> Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20:42:59 +0000 http://www.imaginetennis.com/news/serbia-takes-2-0-lead-over-sweden-in-davis-cup-46275.htm NIS Serbia (AP) Serbia took a 2-0 lead over Sweden in the first round of the Davis Cup on Friday after Janko Tipsarevic defeated Filip Prpic and Viktor Troicki beat Michael Ryderstedt.

The ninth-ranked Tipsarevic had 11 aces and converted four of five break points to beat Prpic 6-3 6-3 6-4 in the best-of-five World Group series.

Prpic failed to take any of his five break chances. Prpic is ranked No. 1426 but Tipsarevic says ``the rankings don't do him justice.''

Troicki downed...]]> Fri, 10 Feb 2012 19:43:00 +0000 http://www.imaginetennis.com/news/argentina-leads-2-0-over-germany-in-davis-cup-46276.htm BAMBERG Germany (AP) David Nalbandian rallied to beat Florian Mayer 2-6 6-0 6-1 7-6 (5) and give Argentina a 2-0 lead over Germany Friday in the first round of the Davis Cup.

Earlier Juan Monaco defeated Philipp Petzschner 6-3 6-3 6-3.

Nalbandian fell behind 4-0 and failing to mount much of a challenge in the first set. But the 30-year-old Argentine veteran dominated the next two sets. He fired an ace to serve out the third set before Mayer began playing well again.

The German...]]> Fri, 10 Feb 2012 19:43:00 +0000 http://www.imaginetennis.com/news/kvitova-pulls-out-of-qatar-open-with-injury-46269.htm DUBAI United Arab Emirates (AP) Wimbledon Open champion Petra Kvitova has pulled out of the Qatar Ladies Open because of an unspecified injury.

The second-ranked Czech will miss the tournament that starts Monday.

Tournament organizers say they have no information on Kvitova's injury.

Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka is the top-seeded player. The field includes defending champion Vera Zvonareva 2011 finalist Caroline Wozniacki and U.S. Open winner Sam Stosur.

The Slovak remained unbeaten against King with a 7-0 record.

Hantuchova will face Taiwanese qualifier Hsieh Su-wei who beat Sania Mirza of India 7-5 6-3.

Sorana Cirstea of Romania reached semifinal when top-seeded Vera Zvonareva of Russia retired with a left hip injury. The match was tied 2-6 6-4 2-2 when Zvonareva...]]> Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:43:13 +0000 http://www.imaginetennis.com/news/croatia-japan-even-in-davis-cup-world-group-46258.htm HYOGO Japan (AP) Ivo Karlovic beat Kei Nishikori 6-4 6-4 6-3 Friday to give Croatia a split against Japan in the first round of the Davis Cup.

Karlovic overpowered Nishikori with 18 aces in the day's second singles in World Group play. In the first match Japan's Go Soeda rallied past Ivan Dodig 6-7 (3) 3-6 6-4 6-3 7-5.

Nishikori became the first Japanese man to reach the quarterfinals of the Australian Open since the Open era began in 1968 but struggled against the big-serving Croatian.

Japan...]]> Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:43:32 +0000 http://www.imaginetennis.com/news/cirstea-advances-when-zvonareva-retires-in-pattaya-46252.htm PATTAYA Thailand (AP) Sorana Cirstea reached the semifinals of the Pattaya Open when top-seeded Vera Zvonareva of Russia retired in the third set Friday because of a left hip injury.

The match was even at 2-6 6-4 2-2 when Zvonareva pulled out and sent Cirstea into the next round.

Cirstea a 21-year-old Romanian who is seeded seventh will next face either Maria Kirilenko of Russia or Tamarine Tanasugarn of Thailand.

Also Taiwanese qualifier Hsieh Su-wei beat Sania Mirza of India...]]> Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:43:00 +0000