Black Tennis Pros

It was a fight to the finish today when American Serena Williams and Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova battled it out on the tennis court in Miami at the Sony Ericsson Open. In the end Kuznetsova got knocked out 3-6, 7-5, 6-3.

Serena has been back on the money with regard to her fitness and preparation. She's playing this tournament with the prowess that originally took her to the top.

"I don't feel tired or sore or anything," Williams said 90 minutes after the match. "I feel like I'm really fit. I've been working really hard."

There were some portions of the match though that just were not pretty, and Serena's game was error filled, but she got the job done regardless.

For a brief moment she slowed to where it appeared that she was about to be overtaken by Kuznetsova. Serena took an injury timeout during which she received treatment from the trainer for what was later described as a back injury.

"Once she came out it got better, like straightaway, and it got even better after that."

A win in the final would be a fifth title at this event for Serena. "I haven't won anything five times, except I win all the time in Uno, I don't think that counts."

"I love playing here, all my friends come out. I promised tickets for Saturday, so I was like, `I can't lose. I've got to stay in there a little bit longer.' It was mainly my motivation."

In the words that one of the fans yelled from the stands, "Serena, this is your house"

Where James Blake left off this afternoon, fellow American and Florida resident Serena Williams picked up in the women's game and kept the punishment rolling.

The Sony Ericsson Open is feeling all kinds of heat today. Serena Williams was all about her game and took it to Belgium Justine Henin with no holds barred. In little more than an hour and twenty minutes Serena defeated Henin 6-2, 6-0. Yeowches!

Serena was very businesslike and strategic throughout the entire match showing very little emotion or concern for anything other than the next play. If Henin had a game plan, it didn't work.

"It wasn't easy, it was just the fact of me making the right shots at the right time."

"I wish this was a Grand Slam," Serena said with a laugh. "I'm going to try do this at a Grand Slam, and not only at this tournament."

During her post-match news conference, an exchange regarding Serena's fitness left the room in laughter.

Reporter: "So many people here at the tournament have been buzzing about just how good you look physically on the court. You've not looked this good since... Can you finish that sentence?"

Williams: "Since 1982."

Reporter: "Serious question."

Williams: "That was a serious answer."

Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic had two choices today, to either hit the ball or to get out of it's way because his opponent, American James Blake, was in the zone and firing winners across the net very impressively.

Just a short while ago at the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami, Blake defeated Stepanek 6-3, 6-4 in roughly an hour and twenty minutes.

Blake was strictly business this afternoon. In his very aggressive quest to win today's match, Blake whizzed 24 winners by Stepanek and won 25 of 35 first serve points. It was truly a ball striking performance to be envied.

Stepanek may have had a game plan in mind, but ended up trying his best just to return the ball. He wasn't without a few glimpses at potentially slowing Blake down, he managed to break his serve twice. Unfortunately it was just a blip on Blake's way to taking both sets.

Blake now awaits the winner of the Rafael Nadal and Paul Henri Mathieu match.

Round 3 - Women's Singles

Serena Williams, USA
defeated Flavia Penetta, ITA 7-6(6), 6-3, 6-2









Venus Williams, USA
defeated Marina Erakovic, NZL 6-2, 6-1









Round 3 - Men's Singles

James Blake, USA
defeated
Fabrice Santoro, FRA 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-4










Round 3 - Men's Doubles

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, FRA and Richard Gasquet, FRA
defeated
Jurgen Melzer, AUT and Andy Roddick, USA
3-6, 6-3, 10-8

Who would have thought that ATP Tour players Americans James Blake and Sam Querrey could hit home runs with the same ease they serve an ace?

On Saturday, during a detour from the Sony Ericsson Open, Blake and Querrey suited up in Marlins' uniforms and the question was answered.

Blake hit two home runs out to left field, while Querrey connected on two of his own.

These guys are working it on and off the court.

No, it wasn't your classic Federer trouncing of his opponent, but it was Federer doing what he needed to do to win, and pulling it off.

World no. 1 Roger Federer looking a bit more sharp than in his previous matches as of late, defeated Frenchman Gael Monfils 6-3, 6-4 last night at the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami.

There wasn't a whole lot of difference between the two men in the match. Neither was able to completely play their own game. The edge that Federer brought was his ability to play the big points well. He refused Monfils seven break point opportunities by raising his level of play in each instance.

"I tried to play in an aggressive way," said Federer post match."

"I couldn't really chip and charge the way I wanted to do because he's improved his second serve. I played well on the big points."

Round 2 - Women's Singles

Serena Williams, USA
defeated
Edina Gallovits, ROU 6-1, 6-2










Venus Williams, USA
defeated
Marta Domachowska, POL 6-4, 6-3








Milagros Sequera, VEN
defeated by
Daniela Hantuchova, SVK 6-2, 6-1








Round 2 - Men's Singles

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, FRA
defeated
Jurgen Melzer, AUT 6-7(4), 7-5, 6-1








James Blake, USA
defeated
Andreas Seppi, ITA 7-5, 6-3

Round 1 - Women's Singles

Milagros Sequera, VEN defeated Yaroslava Shvedova, RUS
6-3, 6-4


Round 1 - Men's Singles

Gael Monfils, FRA
defeated
John Isner(WC), USA 6-7(8), 6-3, 6-3