Black Tennis Pros

(AGI) Rome- Andreas Seppi has qualified for the AEGON International quarter finals. The ATP tournament is worth 462,075 euros in prize money and is being played on Eastbourne's grass courts.

In the second round, the Italian player won 7-6(1) 6-3, in an hour and twelve minutes of play, defeating U.S. player Donald Young, who had come through from the qualifying round.

The next opponent will be the winner of the match between Belgium's Olivier Rochus and Argentina's Carlos Berlocq.

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In a second round match, Czech Radek Stepanek knocked out top-seeded Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-2, 6-3. Tsonga, a runner-up Monday at The Queen’s Club, managed to win just 55 per cent of his service points and was broken four times during the 59-minute match.

Stepanek improved to a 15-12 season record, and recorded his first win over Tsonga in three meetings. The former World No. 8 next meets the winner between Japan’s Kei Nishikori and German qualifier Rainer Schuettler.

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EASTBOURNE, United Kingdom (AFP) — Serena Williams hit the wall in her career comeback at Eastbourne Wednesday after only one victory, with top seed Vera Zvonareva sending the American back to the practise courts.

The Russian's 3-6, 7-6 (7/5), 7-5 three-hour triumph was revenge for a Wimbledon final a year ago won by Williams, now ranked 26th after nearly a year out of the game.

Williams was appearing in Eastbourne for the first time after two operations on a foot she cut after last year's Wimbledon followed by further surgery in February to remove blood clots from her lungs.

Zvonareva lost to the American in the last match Williams played prior to this week, the All-England club final nearly 50 weeks ago.

"It was definitely tough," said the winner, also a US Open finalist last autumn.

"Serena is such a champion. She's making an unbelievable comeback. We had a battle out there."

Williams served for a straight-set victory leading 5-4 in the second set only to double-fault it away.

That gave Zvonareva new life, with the Russian showing mental strength in a see-saw contest as Williams struggled in saving 15 or 21 break points and producing seven double-faults.

After squaring the sets, Zvonareva, who held a 5-2 lead at one point, was unable to convert on three match points in the tenth game of the third, dropping serve for 5-all.

But the relieved Russian re-broke a game later and finally served out the victory.

"I was trying my best, everything was tough. I'm happy with how I played and I'm very happy to get this win," said Zvonareva.

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Ana Ivanovic

Venus Williams, who beat No.8 seed Andrea Petkovic on Monday in her first match in four and a half months, was the first of the two to take Centre Court, and took just 62 minutes for a 63 62 win over Ana Ivanovic. The 30-year-old, who turns 31 on Friday, is now 7-1 lifetime against Ivanovic.

"I was happy to have those clean service games and not a lot of errors," Williams said. "I thought she played really well. When she had a chance to strike the ball she hit the corners. I felt good to be able to get on top of her today. I feel I'm playing well on the big points - these matches have been crucial for me to get back, literally in the swing of things."

Williams was asked about Eastbourne - this is her first trip there since 1998. "When the Sun shines, it's gorgeous. I don't remember too much from back in the days. I remember it rained a lot here, so we were forced to stay in. We didn't really get to do anything, just kind of waiting to practice or play a match. This year I've had the opportunity to go out a little bit more. I quite like it, actually. I took a walk around town a little bit. I had a couple karaoke spots but didn't get a chance to go."

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It's Wednesday at the AEGON International which means it's second round singles time at Devonshire Park.

The standout match is the women's top seed Vera Zvonareva against the unseeded American wild card Serena Williams. Yesterday Williams, the world No.26, recovered from a slow start to defeat Tsvetana Pironkova 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 in her first match since she won the Wimbledon title in 2010. Her opponent in that Wimbledon final, almost 12 months ago, was none other than Vera Zvonareva and it was a one-sided win for Williams who took it 6-3, 6-2.

However times have changed. Before yesterday, due to a serious foot injury and blood clots on both lungs, the former world No.1 had not played. Zvonareva, meanwhile, has maintained her form and is currently sitting at No.3 in the world rankings. The Russian came past Britain's Heather Watson yesterday, winning 6-3, 6-3 and will relish the opportunity to get her revenge on the younger Williams sister.

Serena's older sister, Venus, starts the proceedings on day five as she takes on Ana Ivanovic in the first match of the day on Centre Court. The pair have met on seven occasions with Williams winning six of them.

Third on Centre Court is the men's top seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who brushed aside Denis Istomin yesterday, 6-2, 7-5, and he plays Radek Stepanek after the Czech player defeated Britain's Colin Fleming in round one.

Speaking of Brits, Elena Baltacha takes on third seed Victoria Azarenka first on Court 1 and James Ward will play a one set shootout against Janko Tipsarevic after their match was called to a halt at one set all yesterday.

With Schiavone, Hantuchova, Li Na and Kvitova also in action, as well as a doubles appearance from British duo Heather Watson & Anne Keothavong it promises to be another entertaining day of tennis in Eastbourne.

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Eastbourne, Great Britain - Tuesday was another demonstration of just how far Heather Watson has come in 18 months. The British No. 2 was barely expected to pick up a game against last year’s Wimbledon runner-up and world No. 3 Vera Zvonareva in their match at Eastbourne at the AEGON International. But Watson impressed, taking three games in each set. Now she needs the right draw.

Zvonareva defeated the Brit 6-3, 6-3.

Has Loving Support Of Family

We are a very close family so it’s not always easy but I speak to Dad every day on the phone or by Skype,’ said Heather, who has three grown-up siblings.

‘I’m very lucky to have parents who have sacrificed a lot for my tennis. They are the perfect parents, great support but not too pushy.’

Indeed, the delightful Mrs Watson gives this sometimes peculiar breed of parent a good name, cheerfully admitting to being more of a support system for her well-adjusted daughter than any tennis genius.

‘We always wanted to give the children the best opportunities, whatever they chose to do, and for Heather it was tennis,’ she said.

‘We decided as a family that I would be with her from 16 to 18 so we are apart sometimes as a family, but it is not a long-term thing.

‘At first it cost us easily more than $50,000 per year but now we are getting help from the LTA.’

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