Black Tennis Pros

At the Mutua Madrilena Madrid Open on Friday, Frenchman Gael Monfils and Spaniard Rafael Nadal hit the court in matching Nike attire for their quarterfinal match, and Nadal busted out of the gate in the same 'take no prisoners' form that he has displayed in each of his previous matches.

It wasn't as if Monfils didn't make the effort, he managed to get four games off of the Raging Rafa, but there was just very little else he could do to counter Nadal's assault. The longer the match went on, the more rattled Monfils seemed to get, serving double faults and over hitting on Nadal's serve whenever he could get a racquet on it. Nadal cruised to a 6-1, 6-3 win.

It's good to see Monfils again, and this was not a bad warmup tournament for his first back since his hand/wrist injury after Indian Wells.

We'll see what happens at his home grand slam... here's hoping.

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In today's quarterfinal action at the Mutua Madrilena Madrid Open, American Venus Williams, who won her third round match against Italy's Francesca Schiavone on Wednesday, will meet Australian Samantha Stosur against whom she currently stands 3-0. All of those matches came in straight sets, and none of the sets went past 6-4.

It would appear that Stosur has her work cut out for her.

On the men's side, Frenchman Gael Monfils, who has been on the injury list as of late, will meet Spain's one and only Rafa. Rafael Nadal, who is undefeated on clay this season (12-0), holds a 5-1 career mark against Monfils.

Monfils obviously has his work cut out for him too.



Lastly, No. 1 doubles seeds Venus and Serena Williams who are well on their way to becoming the world no. 1 doubles team, will go up against Iraeli Shahar Peer and her Italian teammate Francesca Schiavone.

The sisters defeated Russian Maria Kirilenko and Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska 6-2, 6-4 in the quarterfinals.

Should be good tennis on tap for today!!

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MADRID, Spain - Venus Williams cemented a return to the No.2 ranking at the Mutua Madrileña Madrid Open on Wednesday, beating Francesca Schiavone in the third round of the $4.5-million Premier-level event. The last time the 29-year-old Williams was in the Top 2 was May 11, 2003, almost exactly seven years ago.

"In the rankings, you keep going until you get to that No.1 spot," Venus said. "Of course, Serena and I being No.1 and No.2 in the world is what we dreamed of growing up. But we each dreamed of being No.1 - neither of us dreamed of No.2. I congratulate Serena on that ranking but I'm aiming to get there myself."

Way to go Venus!!

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ROUND 1

Women's Singles

(1)Serena Williams, USA vs. Bye

(4)Venus Williams, USA defeated (Q) Stefanie Voegele, SUI
6-4-6-2

Doubles

(1)Venus Williams, USA and Serena Williams, USA
vs.
BYE

Men's Singles

(7)Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, FRA vs. BYE

(12)Gael Monfils, FRA defeated Stephane Robert, FRA
6-2, 7-5

Doubles

Gael Monfils, FRA and Jeremy Chardy, FRA
defeated by
Nicolas Almagro, ESP and Marc Lopez, ESP
4-6, 2-6


ROUND 2

Women's Singles

(1)Serena Williams, USA defeated Vera Dushevina, RUS
6-7(2), 7-6(5), 7-6(5)

(4)Venus Williams, USA defeated Vera Zvonareva, RUS
7-5, 6-3

Doubles

(1)Venus Williams, USA and Serena Williams, USA
defeated
Alicja Rosolska, POL and Yaroslava Shvedova, KAZ
7-6(4), 6-2

Men's Singles

(7)Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, FRA defeated by Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, ESP
2-6, 0-0, Ret'd

(12)Gael Monfils, FRA defeated Philipp Petzschner, GER
1-1, Ret'd


ROUND 3

Women's Singles

(1)Serena Williams, USA defeated by (16)Nadia Petrova, RUS
6-4, 2-6, 3-6

(4)Venus Williams, USA defeated Francesca Schiavone, ITA
3-6, 6-1, 6-2

Men's Singles

(12)Gael Monfils, USA defeated Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, ESP
7-6(5), 6-4


QUARTERFINAL ROUND

Women's Singles

(4)Venus Williams, USA defeated (8)Samantha Stosur, AUS
6-3, 6-3

Doubles

(1)Venus Williams, USA and Serena Williams, USA
defeated
Maria Kirilenko, RUS and Agnieszka Radwanska, POL
6-2, 6-4

Men's Singles

(12)Gael Monfils, FRA defeated by (2)Rafael Nadal, ESP
1-6, 3-6


SEMIFINAL ROUND

Women's Singles

(4)Venus Williams, USA defeated Shahar Peer, ISR
6-3, 6-0

Doubles

(1)Venus Williams, USA and Serena Williams, USA
defeated
Shahar Peer, ISR and Francesca Schiavone, ITA
7-5, 6-2


FINAL ROUND

Women's Singles

(4)Venus Williams, USA defeated by Aravane Rezai, (FRA)
2-6, 5-7

Doubles

(1)Venus Williams, USA and Serena Williams, USA
defeated
(8)Flavia Pennetta, ITA and Gisela Dulko, ARG
6-2, 7-5


ROUND 1

Singles

Asia Muhammed, USA defeated by Alexandra Mueller, USA
3-6, 3-6

Ahsha Rolle, USA defeated (WC)Grace Min, USA
6-2, 6-2

Alexandra Stevenson, USA defeated by Johanna Konta, AUS
0-3, Ret'd

Doubles

Ahsha Rolle, USA and Alexandra Mueller, USA
defeated
Alexandra Cercone, USA and Lauren Herring, USA
6-4, 6-3

Asia Muhammed, USA and Coco Vandeweghe, USA
defeated by
Kristie Ahn, USA and Nicole Gibbs, USA
7-6(3), 2-6 [6-10]

Tiya Rolle, USA and Chanelle Van Nguyen, USA
defeated by
Alina Jidkova, RUS and Tetiana Luzhanska, UKR
4-6, 1-6

Eliminated during singles qualifying rounds:

Tiya Rolle, USA


ROUND 2

Singles

Ahsha Rolle, USA defeated Ivana Lisjak, CRO
6-2, 6-2


QUARTERFINAL ROUND

Singles

Ahsha Rolle, USA defeated by Johanna Konta, AUS
4-6, 4-6

Doubles

Ahsha Rolle, USA and Alexandra Mueller, USA
defeated
Ivana Lisjak, CRO and Petra Rampre, SLO
7-5, 6-1


SEMIFINAL ROUND

Doubles

Ahsha Rolle, USA and Alexandra Mueller, USA
defeated
(1)Julie Ditty, USA and Carly Gullickson, USA
7-6(5), 6-1

FINAL ROUND

Doubles

Ahsha Rolle, USA and Alexandra Mueller, USA
defeated by
Kristie Ahn, USA and Nicole Gibbs, USA
3-6, 2-6


ROUND 1

Singles

(LL)Nicholas Monroe, USA defeated by (Q) Matt Reid, AUS
6-7(3), 1-6

(7)Donald Young, USA defeated by (SE) Joseph Sirianni, AUS
4-6, 4-6

Doubles

Nicholas Monroe, USA and Michael Ryderstedt, SWE
defeated by
Gero Kretschmer, GER and Alex Satschko, GER
5-7, 1-6

Cory Parr, USA and Todd Paul, USA
defeated by
Greg Jones, AUS and Jose Statham, NZL
2-6, 4-6

Eliminated during singles qualifying rounds:

Nicholas Monroe, USA
Todd Paul, USA


ROUND 1

Singles

Marcus Fugate, USA defeated Roman Recarte, VEN
7-6(4), 6-2

Timothy Neilly, BAH defeated by (Q)Joseph Cadogan, TRI
1-6, 2-6

Doubles

Marcus Fugate, USA and Timothy Neilly, BAH
vs.
BYE

Eliminated during singles qualifying rounds:

Marvin Rolle, BAH


ROUND 2

Singles

Marcus Fugate defeated by Blake Strode, USA
4-6, 6-7(6)


QUARTERFINAL ROUND

Doubles

Marcus Fugate, USA and Timothy Neilly, BAH
defeated
Chris Kwon, USA and Konstantin Lazarov, USA
6-3, 6-3


SEMIFINAL ROUND

Doubles

Marcus Fugate, USA and Timothy Neilly, BAH
defeated by
Denis Kudla, USA and Junior A. Ore, USA
0-1

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Comments and Graphics - Layouts - Photobucket

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Venus Williams continues to tear up the Sony Ericsson Open WTA Tour, eclipsing sixth seed Agnieszka Radwanska 6-3, 6-1 Tuesday to race into the semi-finals of the Sony Ericsson Open. Williams improved to an 18-1 match record on the season, and is closing on her third consecutive title, following earlier victories in Dubai and Acapulco.

In the semi-finals Williams will play 13th seeded Frenchwoman Marion Bartoli.

Despite coming into the Sony Ericsson Open after a month’s layoff, Williams showed that conditioning was not an issue, finding her best form one day after grinding out a tough three-set win over Daniela Hantuchova. In that match she lost eight of the first nine games before fighting back.

“[Today was] a little more straightforward. We had some kind of interesting times in the first set where we traded breaks. Getting through a match like yesterday makes me more confident because it wasn't exactly my best game.

“Today I was kind of eager to clean up my act. We had some really good rallies and really good points, but I just see me keep coming out on top, so of course I like that.”

Williams, at 29 the oldest remaining player in the draw, will next play the winner of former Wimbledon finalist Marion Bartoli and 12th-seeded Belgian Yanina Wickmayer.

Williams won three Sony Ericsson Open titles (1998, '99 and 2001) in a four-year period as part of a 22-match winning streak that was halted by sister Serena in 2002. Williams, who did not play the tournament in 2000, has not been to the final since her 2001 title run.

Eighth-seeded Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga needed just 59 minutes to overpower Spanish former World No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero 6-2, 6-2, as he dropped just four points on his first serve en route to the quarter-finals for the second straight year.

The Frenchman, who fell to Novak Djokovic in the last eight of the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tennis tournament last year, broke serve five times and surrendered just four points behind his first serve to record his second victory over the 12th-seeded Ferrero.

The 24-year-old Tsonga, who won his first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title in Paris two years ago, improved to a 14-5 mark on the season, highlighted by semi-final efforts at the Australian Open (l. to Federer) and the Open 13 (l. to Benneteau) in Marseille.

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Press Release



Atlantic City (March 30, 2010) - Harrah's Entertainment, Caesars Atlantic City and StarGames announced today that Caesars Tennis Classic host Venus Williams will receive the first annual Caesars Tennis Classic Achievement Award during the exhibition event on Saturday, April 10, 2010 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. The award recognizes a tennis personality that has contributed above and beyond their play both on and off the court. In addition to her stellar play on the court as one of the top women players in the world (she advanced to the quarterfinals of this week's Sony Ericsson Championship in Miami yesterday), Williams continues to be a great ambassador of the sport working with the UNICEF, the USTA, the WTA and the Women's Sports Foundation to promote the game and give back to different communities throughout the world. Don Marrandino, the President of the Eastern Division of Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. will present the award to her on behalf of the inaugural Caesars Tennis Classic.

The highly anticipated Caesars Tennis Classic, hosted by Williams, will feature tennis greats of past and present including Ivan Lendl, Pete Sampras, Andy Roddick, James Blake, Mats Wilander and Marat Safin in a one night tennis spectacular at the newly renovated Boardwalk Hall. In addition to the Classic, Caesars will host pre and post-tournament events including the must see Tennis Village in the Palladium Ballroom at Caesars with appearances by the tennis greats. Detailed information regarding the Caesars Tennis Classic can be found at www.CaesarsTennisClassic.com.

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Monday evening in Miami at the Sony Ericsson Open, it appeared that Slovak Daniela Hantuchova was headed toward having beat down bragging rights over American Venus Williams after taking the first set 6-1. Hantuchova was pumped and moving the match along quickly as she continued to play well into the second set.

Venus, being the phoenix that she is, would not be kept down, but definitely had work to do. She steadily improved her game and played with greater focus the longer the match went on. The third set break over Hantuchova that put Venus up 5-4 and virtually sealed the match, was followed in the final game by an eventual three match points for Venus. The final score was 1-6, 7-5, 6-4.

Post match Venus said, “I haven’t seen her play so well in a long time. Obviously I needed to do something and when times get tough I hit harder. It’s just me. It’s natural for me.”

"Days like this you just have to figure out a way to win the point, even if it's not pretty. I enjoy that battle. ... When it counts and times get tough, I always feel confident that I'm going to find a way to win the point."

Holding up the red, white and blue all by her lonesome, Venus will next meet Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska in the quarterfinal round.

Serena sat in the stands and cheered her big sister on, as she had to withdraw from the tournament due to injury.

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