News for today's 2018: 08/13/14

Profile Tsonga

3:53 PM Anonymous 0

<dl style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<dt style="clear: left; float: left; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 10em;">First name</dt>
<dd style="float: left; margin: 0px; overflow: auto; padding: 0px; width: 10em; word-break: break-all; word-wrap: break-word;">Jo-Wilfried</dd>
<dt style="clear: left; float: left; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 10em;">Last name</dt>
<dd style="float: left; margin: 0px; overflow: auto; padding: 0px; width: 10em; word-break: break-all; word-wrap: break-word;">Tsonga</dd>
<dt style="clear: left; float: left; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 10em;">Nationality</dt>
<dd style="float: left; margin: 0px; overflow: auto; padding: 0px; width: 10em; word-break: break-all; word-wrap: break-word;">France</dd>
<dt style="clear: left; float: left; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 10em;">Date of birth</dt>
<dd style="float: left; margin: 0px; overflow: auto; padding: 0px; width: 10em; word-break: break-all; word-wrap: break-word;">17-04-85</dd>
<dt style="clear: left; float: left; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 10em;">Place of birth</dt>
<dd style="float: left; margin: 0px; overflow: auto; padding: 0px; width: 10em; word-break: break-all; word-wrap: break-word;">Le Mans</dd>
<dt style="clear: left; float: left; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 10em;">Age</dt>
<dd style="float: left; margin: 0px; overflow: auto; padding: 0px; width: 10em; word-break: break-all; word-wrap: break-word;">29</dd>
<dt style="clear: left; float: left; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 10em;">Country of birth</dt>
<dd style="float: left; margin: 0px; overflow: auto; padding: 0px; width: 10em; word-break: break-all; word-wrap: break-word;">France</dd>
<dt style="clear: left; float: left; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 10em;">Height</dt>
<dd style="float: left; margin: 0px; overflow: auto; padding: 0px; width: 10em; word-break: break-all; word-wrap: break-word;">188 cm</dd>
<dt style="clear: left; float: left; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 10em;">Weight</dt>
<dd style="float: left; margin: 0px; overflow: auto; padding: 0px; width: 10em; word-break: break-all; word-wrap: break-word;">90 kg</dd></dl>
</div>

First name Jo-Wilfried Last name Tsonga Nationality France Date of birth 17-04-85 Place of birth Le Mans Age 29 Country of birth France Height 188 cm Weight 90 kg …

Ukraine´s Davis Cup tie set for neutral venue

3:49 PM Anonymous 0

<a href="http://cache.images.core.optasports.com/news/tennis/2014/8/12/597321header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://cache.images.core.optasports.com/news/tennis/2014/8/12/597321header.jpg" width="320" /></a>The International Tennis Federation (ITF) have ruled that Ukraine cannot stage next month's Davis Cup tie with Belgium in Kiev. 
 
Last week, the Davis Cup committee confirmed Kiev as a suitable venue for Ukraine's match against Belgium, despite ongoing political unrest in the eastern European country. 
 
However, that decision was challenged by the Belgian Tennis Federation, who have subsequently seen their appeal upheld by the ITF's board of directors. 
 
The Israel Tennis Association had also appealed to the ITF over the Davis Cup committee's ruling that they cannot host their tie with Argentina. 
 
However, that appeal was rejected by the ITF, who cited concerns over the security situation in the Middle Eastern country. 
 
Both Ukraine and Israel now have the option to nominate neutral venues for their respective World Group play-off contests, with the latter set a deadline of August 14 to do so. 
 
Should either nation not come up with a neutral venue, the Davis Cup committee can choose a setting of their own or decide to give home advantage to the opposition. 
 
ITF president Francesco Ricci Bitti said: "It is always a very difficult decision for the ITF to take away choice of ground in [the] Davis Cup. 
 
"The competition was founded on the principles of better understanding among nations and we believe it has done a good job in fostering this over 114 years. 
 
"However, the safety of players, officials and spectators has to take priority and the board believed that it was not prudent to hold ties in Ukraine or Israel because of political unrest in these countries at the present time and for the foreseeable future."

Belgium Davis Cup International Tennis Federation ITF news sports tennis Ukraine Ukraine´s Davis Cup tie set for neutral venue

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) have ruled that Ukraine cannot stage next month's Davis Cup tie with Belgium in Kiev. Last week, the Davis Cup committee confirmed Kiev as a suitable venue for Ukraine's match against Belgium, despite ongoing…

Azarenka withdraws from Western and Southern Open

3:47 PM Anonymous 0

<a href="http://cache.images.core.optasports.com/news/tennis/2014/8/12/597433header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Azarenka withdraws from Western and Southern Open" border="0" src="http://cache.images.core.optasports.com/news/tennis/2014/8/12/597433header.jpg" title="Azarenka withdraws from Western and Southern Open" /></a>Defending champion and former world number one Victoria Azarenka has withdrawn from the Western and Southern Open with a right knee injury. 
 
The two-time Australian Open champion, who only made her return from a foot problem at the Aegon International in June, had been due to play Barbora Zahlavova-Strycova in the first round of the WTA Premier event in Cincinnati on Tuesday. 
 
Azarenka beat Serena Williams in three sets to take the 2013 showpiece, but will not get a chance to defend that crown. 
 
Despite the setback, the Belarusian is confident that she will be fit for the US Open - which gets under way in 13 days' time. 
 
"It's tough to withdraw as defending champion," Azarenka said. "[The Western and Southern Open] is a great tournament and I really enjoy it. 
 
"I should be good for the US Open." 
 
Since her return to action, Azarenka has failed to add to her tally of 17 WTA singles titles and was knocked out in the second round at Wimbledon by Bojana Jovanovski. 
 
The 25-year-old has reached the final of the US Open at Flushing Meadows in each of the last two years, losing to world number one Serena on both occasions. 
 
Zahlavova-Strycova will now face Germany's Mona Barthel, who takes Azarenka's place in the draw as a lucky loser from qualifying.

news sports tennis Victoria Azarenka WTA Premier Azarenka withdraws from Western and Southern Open

Defending champion and former world number one Victoria Azarenka has withdrawn from the Western and Southern Open with a right knee injury. The two-time Australian Open champion, who only made her return from a foot problem at the Aegon International…

Teen duo granted US Open wildcards

3:45 PM Anonymous 0

<a href="http://cache.images.core.optasports.com/news/tennis/2014/8/13/597949header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Teen duo granted US Open wildcards" border="0" src="http://cache.images.core.optasports.com/news/tennis/2014/8/13/597949header.jpg" title="Teen duo granted US Open wildcards" /></a>Teenagers CiCi Bellis and Taylor Townsend have been handed two of eight women's singles wildcards for the upcoming US Open. 
 
Bellis, 15, will be the youngest player in the main draw for the last grand slam of the year, which starts on August 25. 
 
The right-hander, runner-up in the juniors at the French Open, took out the USTA Girls' 18s National Championship on Saturday to earn the wildcard. 
 
Bellis is one of six Americans granted a passage into the main draw. 
 
Townsend, Grace Min, Nicole Gibbs, Danielle Collins and Madison Brengle will also be in the first round. 
 
Townsend, who made the French Open third round, was controversially overlooked for a wildcard in 2012 due to concerns over her weight. 
 
Australian Jarmila Gajdosova and Frenchwoman Amandine Hesse received wildcards through reciprocal agreements the USTA has with Tennis Australia and the French Tennis Federation. 
 
The 101st-ranked Gajdosova, a former world number 25, has won 16 of her past 19 matches. 
 
"I am very excited to be main draw of a grand slam again," she said. 
 
"It's been a long road back but I've been working hard to get healthy and fit and improve my game and my ranking. 
 
"It's taken me six months since I started playing again to get myself back [near] the top 100. 
 
"So I hope to use this opportunity that I was given and I hope to play my best and have some good results."

Bellis news sports Taylor Townsend Teenagers CiCi Bellis tennis wildcard Teen duo granted US Open wildcards

Teenagers CiCi Bellis and Taylor Townsend have been handed two of eight women's singles wildcards for the upcoming US Open. Bellis, 15, will be the youngest player in the main draw for the last grand slam of the year, which starts on August 25. The r…

Tsonga suffers letdown, Djokovic defeats Simon

3:39 PM Anonymous 0

<a href="http://cache.images.core.optasports.com/news/tennis/2014/8/13/597975header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cache.images.core.optasports.com/news/tennis/2014/8/13/597975header.jpg" /></a>Rogers Cup winner Jo-Wilfried Tsonga suffered a letdown at the Western and Southern Open on Tuesday, while Novak Djokovic progressed. 
 
Tsonga, whose Masters tournament win in Toronto on Sunday was his second career success at ATP 1000 level, was humbled by Russia's Mikhail Youzhny 6-1 6-4 in the first round in Cincinnati. 
 
The Frenchman edged back into the ATP's top 10 after beating Roger Federer in the Toronto final, but Tsonga's booming serve let him down against Youzhny. 
 
Tsonga served at 52 per cent, but he won just seven of 23 points behind his second ball as the 25th-ranked Youzhny progressed. 
 
Youzhny now has a positive head-to-head record against Tsonga, although the win was only his second via match point - accounting for retirements. 
 
Tsonga was the only seeded casualty in Ohio, as top seed Djokovic and third seed Stan Wawrinka both negotiated their second-round matches. 
 
Serbia's Djokovic staved off the plucky Gilles Simon of France 6-3 4-6 6-4, while Swiss Wawrinka dispatched of German qualifier Benjamin Becker 6-3 7-6 (7-5). 
 
The pair are the first players through to the last 16 of the hard-court tournament, which serves as the penultimate warm-up event to the US Open starting later in August. 
 
In more first-round results, seeds Ernests Gulbis (nine), Roberto Bautista Agut (13) and Marin Cilic (14) advanced. 
 
Latvia's Gulbis took two hours to down Croatian Ivan Dodig in straight sets, winning 7-6 (10-8) 7-6 (7-4). 
 
Bautista Agut, of Spain, clawed his way past Slovakian lefty Martin Klizan 6-2 4-6 7-5, while Croatia's Cilic dismissed another left-hander, Spaniard Feliciano Lopez, 6-3 6-4. 
 
Frenchman Julien Benneteau saved two match points to fend off lucky loser Blaz Rola of Slovenia 6-7 (7-9) 6-3 7-6 (9-7). 
 
Similarly, Canada's Vasek Pospisil denied Czech veteran Radek Stepanek thrice on match point before posting a 5-7 6-1 7-6 (7-4) triumph. 
 
American wildcards Robby Ginepri and Steve Johnson both capitalised on their chances in the main draw with first-up wins. 
 
Ginepri battled past rising Austrian star Dominic Thiem 6-3 5-7 7-5, while Johnson was handed a straightforward 6-4 6-1 win over Benoit Paire courtesy of a poor performance from the French qualifier. 
 
Italy's Andreas Seppi overcame a deficit to defeat Colombian Santiago Giraldo 4-6 6-2 7-5. 
 
Down a set and at 2-2 in the second, Seppi reeled off eight straight games to earn a 4-0 lead in the decider - only to narrowly avoid a tie-break as Giraldo finished strongly. 
 
British qualifier James Ward hit eight aces as he defeated Spain's Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 6-2 3-6 6-1.

Cincinnati Jo-Wilfried Tsonga news sports Rogers Cup tennis Tsonga suffers letdown, Djokovic defeats Simon

Rogers Cup winner Jo-Wilfried Tsonga suffered a letdown at the Western and Southern Open on Tuesday, while Novak Djokovic progressed. Tsonga, whose Masters tournament win in Toronto on Sunday was his second career success at ATP 1000 level, was humbl…

Halep, Wozniacki post convincing wins

3:37 PM Anonymous 0

<a href="http://cache.images.core.optasports.com/news/tennis/2014/8/13/598017header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cache.images.core.optasports.com/news/tennis/2014/8/13/598017header.jpg" /></a>Second seed Simona Halep progressed past Kirsten Flipkens in their Western and Southern Open second-round affair on Tuesday. 
 
Romania's Halep, the world number two, downed Belgian Flipkens 6-4 6-2 in one hour 27 minutes at the WTA Premier event in Cincinnati. 
 
Both players struggled on serve in the opening set, with 22 break-point opportunities shared between the two - with Halep taking the lead after saving a break point when serving for the set. 
 
The match found more rhythm in the second set, with Halep inflicting breaks in games one and five and losing just four points on serve for the remainder as she cantered into the last 16. 
 
Other second-round results saw fifth seed Maria Sharapova and 12th seed Caroline Wozniacki win their first matches in Ohio. 
 
Russia's Sharapova was tested by American Madison Keys before winning 6-1 3-6 6-3, while Denmark's Wozniacki continued her solid form with a 6-2 6-3 thrashing of China's Zhang Shuai. 
 
In first-round action, seeds Sara Errani (14), Carla Suarez Navarro (15) and Lucie Safarova (16) progressed with three-set wins. 
 
Italian Errani was down a break in the third set against Belgium's Yanina Wickmayer but bounced back to win 7-5 3-6 7-6 (7-2). 
 
Suarez Navarro of Spain was too good for Bulgaria's Tsvetana Pironkova 6-3 1-6 6-2, while Czech Safarova beat in-form American Venus Williams 6-7 (2-7) 6-3 6-4. 
 
Czech Barbora Zahlavova Strycova won 11 consecutive games on her way past lucky loser Mona Barthel of Germany 7-5 6-0. 
 
Zahlavova Strycova was set to play Victoria Azarenka, before the Belarusian withdrew from the tournament with a right knee issue. 
 
American Sloane Stephens broke Germany's Andrea Petkovic five times on her way to a 6-3 6-3 win, and Japan's Kurumi Nara thrashed Swiss Romina Oprandi 6-0 6-2. 
 
Qualifier Andrea Beck of Germany beat Spaniard Garbine Muguruza 6-3 2-6 6-3, and her countrywoman Sabine Lisicki defeated Italy's Roberta Vinci 6-3 2-6 6-2. 
 
Russian Ekaterina Makarova was a 6-2 6-2 winner over Slovakian Daniela Hantuchova, and compatriot Svetlana Kuznetsova hit 12 aces in a tough victory against Italian Camila Giorgi 6-4 6-7 (4-7) 6-3. 
 
Wildcard Christina McHale won an all-American battle against qualifier Nicole Gibbs 4-6 6-3 6-1. 
 
Kazakhstan's Zarina Diyas edged out fellow qualifier Irina-Camelia Begu 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-5).

news sports Simona Halep tennis WTA Premier Halep, Wozniacki post convincing wins

Second seed Simona Halep progressed past Kirsten Flipkens in their Western and Southern Open second-round affair on Tuesday. Romania's Halep, the world number two, downed Belgian Flipkens 6-4 6-2 in one hour 27 minutes at the WTA Premier event in Cin…

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