Roger Federer fightback ends Monfils run

<a href="http://cache.images.core.optasports.com/news/tennis/2014/9/5/635299header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Roger Federer " border="0" src="http://cache.images.core.optasports.com/news/tennis/2014/9/5/635299header.jpg" title="Roger Federer " /></a>Roger Federer progressed to the US Open semi-finals after he came from two sets down to deny a brave Gael Monfils on Thursday.<br /> <br /> The Swiss second seed saved match points in the fourth set, and eventually prevailed 4-6 3-6 6-4 7-5 6-2 on Arthur Ashe Stadium.<br /> <br /> It was just the seventh time in a major that Federer had successfully arrested a two-set deficit.<br /> <br /> French 20th seed Monfils had not lost a set heading into his quarter-final with 17-time major winner Federer, and was still on a perfect run when he claimed the first two sets within one hour 18 minutes of the first ball being hit.<br /> <br /> Federer claimed the third after getting the decisive break in the fifth game, and maintaining his advantage by dropping just two points on serve in his next three service games.<br /> <br /> Monfils' chance to seal the upset came in the 10th game of the fourth set, as he opened up a 15-40 lead on the Federer serve - and two match points - but the Swiss saved the first when Monfils put a pass attempt long and the second with a brutal forehand down-the-line winner.<br /> <br /> The game was the first of five straight for the five-time champion at Flushing Meadows, with Monfils - serving at deuce in the 11th game - double-faulting twice in succession to hand his opponent an easy break.<br /> <br /> Federer took it to a fifth and opened up a break lead for 2-0 in the decider, as he raced towards the finish line.<br /> <br /> When Monfils was broken to love in the fifth game, his spirit was virtually crushed as Federer went on to complete a brilliant comeback in three hours 20 minutes.<br /> <br /> There was not much between the pair statistically, with Federer edging Monfils in the winners' count 48-43 and conceding slightly fewer unforced errors 44-49.<br /> <br /> Federer will take on Croatian 14th seed Marin Cilic in the semi-finals.<br /> <br /> <br /> <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/GAa_JW9XVAw" width="420"></iframe>

Federer Roger Federer Rogers Cup SPORT tennis US Open Roger Federer fightback ends Monfils run

Roger Federer progressed to the US Open semi-finals after he came from two sets down to deny a brave Gael Monfils on Thursday. The Swiss s...

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Tsonga suffers letdown, Djokovic defeats Simon

<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.<br /> <br /> 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.<br /> <br /> 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.<br /> <br /> Tsonga served at 52 per cent, but he won just seven of 23 points behind his second ball as the 25th-ranked Youzhny progressed.<br /> <br /> Youzhny now has a positive head-to-head record against Tsonga, although the win was only his second via match point - accounting for retirements.<br /> <br /> Tsonga was the only seeded casualty in Ohio, as top seed Djokovic and third seed Stan Wawrinka both negotiated their second-round matches.<br /> <br /> 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).<br /> <br /> 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.<br /> <br /> In more first-round results, seeds Ernests Gulbis (nine), Roberto Bautista Agut (13) and Marin Cilic (14) advanced.<br /> <br /> Latvia's Gulbis took two hours to down Croatian Ivan Dodig in straight sets, winning 7-6 (10-8) 7-6 (7-4).<br /> <br /> 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.<br /> <br /> 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).<br /> <br /> 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.<br /> <br /> American wildcards Robby Ginepri and Steve Johnson both capitalised on their chances in the main draw with first-up wins.<br /> <br /> 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.<br /> <br /> Italy's Andreas Seppi overcame a deficit to defeat Colombian Santiago Giraldo 4-6 6-2 7-5.<br /> <br /> 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.<br /> <br /> 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. Tson...

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Radwanska beats Williams in Montreal for first title of 2014

<a href="http://cache.images.core.optasports.com/news/tennis/2014/8/10/595523header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Radwanska beats Williams in Montreal for first title of 2014" border="0" src="http://cache.images.core.optasports.com/news/tennis/2014/8/10/595523header.jpg" title="Radwanska beats Williams in Montreal for first title of 2014" /></a>Agnieszka Radwanska claimed her first silverware of 2014 as she beat Venus Williams 6-4 6-2 in the Rogers Cup final on Sunday.<br /> <br /> The Pole, who has 13 career titles to her name, has struggled to make too much of an impact this season, but was convincing in disposing of Williams at the WTA Premier hard court event in Montreal.<br /> <br /> Third seed Radwanska won four games in a row in the first to storm into a 4-1 lead after Williams had claimed the opener.<br /> <br /> Williams battled hard to break back in a tight game six, but was unable to complete a comeback after seeing two break points come and go at 4-3 down.<br /> <br /> The American struggled on her first service throughout and that fact was emphasised by a second set in which she mustered only a 42 per cent success rate.<br /> <br /> Combined with an inability to win points on her second serve - Williams won just one out of 12 in the second set - it proved to be a recipe for disaster.<br /> <br /> Radwanska claimed the opening game of the second on Williams' serve to put the former world number one on the back foot from the off.<br /> <br /> Williams broke back to level matters at 2-2, but Radwanska won the next game to love as the seven-time grand slam winner's chances of coming away with the win grew ever slimmer.<br /> <br /> As it turned out, Williams would not win another game, leaving Radwanska to emphatically serve for the title.

Agnieszka Radwanska Rogers Cup tennis Venus Williams Radwanska beats Williams in Montreal for first title of 2014

Agnieszka Radwanska claimed her first silverware of 2014 as she beat Venus Williams 6-4 6-2 in the Rogers Cup final on Sunday. The Pole, w...

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Tsonga into top 10, Halep climbs to second

<a href="http://cache.images.core.optasports.com/news/tennis/2014/8/11/595783header.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/2014/8/11/595783header.jpg" /></a>Jo-Wilfried Tsonga climbed back into the ATP's top 10 for the first time in five months after his Rogers Cup triumph.<br /> <br /> The Frenchman more than deserved his rise from 15th to 10th in the rankings, as he downed four top-10 players - including Roger Federer in the Toronto final - to clinch his second career Masters title.<br /> <br /> The only other change in the top 10 was David Ferrer of Spain rising one spot to sixth, at the expense of Canada's Milos Raonic (seventh).<br /> <br /> The top five of Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Federer, Stan Wawrinka and Tomas Berdych remained.<br /> <br /> Feliciano Lopez rose to his highest ranking since May 2012 - 16th, up nine spots - after his run to the Toronto semi-finals.<br /> <br /> South Africa's Kevin Anderson - a Rogers Cup quarter-finalist - rose four places to 17th, his equal-highest career standing first achieved in July.<br /> <br /> Such is the fickle nature of sport, Anderson blew match points in his last-eight match against Grigor Dimitrov - had he converted, Anderson would have reached a career-best ranking.<br /> <br /> Big sliders in the top 50 were Ukrainian Alexandr Dolgopolov - down five to 22nd - and Canada's Vasek Pospisil, who fell 19 spots to 46th.<br /> <br /> Australia's Nick Kyrgios continued his rise, climbing 12 spots to 58th, while Poland's Jerzy Janowicz dropped 13 places to 65th.<br /> <br /> Kyrgios' compatriot Marinko Matosevic was shuffled 30 places down the pecking order to 89th.<br /> <br /> Back inside the top 100 was Cyprus' Marcos Baghdatis, who won a Challenger-tour event in Aptos to catapult 24 places up to 82nd.<br /> <br /> In the WTA Tour rankings, Romania's Simona Halep is officially the new world number two, assuming the mantle virtually due to Li Na's inactivity.<br /> <br /> Li, of China, has already flagged her withdrawal from the US Open due to a knee injury, which has seen her out of competition since Wimbledon.<br /> <br /> Returning to the top 10 was Belarus' Victoria Azarenka, up from 11th, with Serbia's Ana Ivanovic falling out.<br /> <br /> Rogers Cup finalist Venus Williams moved to 20th from 25th, while her fellow American Coco Vandeweghe - who had to qualify for the main draw in Montreal - rose 13 spots to 38th.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga Rogers Cup tennis Tsonga into top 10, Halep climbs to second

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga climbed back into the ATP's top 10 for the first time in five months after his Rogers Cup triumph. The Frenchman mo...

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Tsonga clinches Toronto title

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga completed his impressive Rogers Cup by claiming the title with a straight-sets win over Roger Federer on Sunday.<br /> <br /> The Frenchman battled to a 7-5 7-6 (7-3) victory over Swiss maestro Federer in the final in Toronto.<br /> <br /> It marked the 13th-seeded Tsonga's 11th ATP World Tour title and first since February 2013.<br /> <br /> On his way to the title, Tsonga claimed the scalps of four of the world's top 10 - Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Grigor Dimitrov and Federer.<br /> <br /> The 29-year-old will return to the top 10 for the first time since March after becoming the first Frenchman to win on Canadian soil.<br /> <br /> Tsonga served 11 aces and gave second seed Federer no break-point opportunities during the 107-minute battle at the ATP 1000 hard-court event.<br /> <br /> Both players were comfortable on serve in the first set, until Tsonga broke to 30 in the 12th game.<br /> <br /> Tsonga wasted chances in the second, squandering break points in the sixth and eight games.<br /> <br /> His next missed opportunity was a match point in the 10th, but he made no mistake from 3-3 in the tie-break as he ran away to claim the title.

Federer Grigor Dimitrov Jo-Wilfried Tsonga news sports Rogers Cup Toronto Tsonga clinches Toronto title

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga completed his impressive Rogers Cup by claiming the title with a straight-sets win over Roger Federer on Sunday. The Fr...

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Tsonga to meet Federer in Rogers Cup final

<a href="http://cache.images.core.optasports.com/news/tennis/2014/8/10/594807header.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/2014/8/10/594807header.jpg" /></a>Jo-Wilfried Tsonga made it through to his first final in three years after disposing of Grigor Dimitrov in straight sets at the Rogers Cup.<br /> <br /> Tsonga - seeded 13th - was too strong for Bulgarian seventh seed Dimitrov in the semi-finals, easing to a 6-4 6-3 win after an hour and 24 minutes in Toronto.<br /> <br /> The Frenchman won three break points, saved all four presented to Dimitrov and won 88 per cent of his first service points as he reached his first ATP Tour final since finishing runner-up at the BNP Paribas Masters in 2011.<br /> <br /> Tsonga - coincidently - lost that match-up to Roger Federer, who he will face in Sunday's decider after the Swiss second seed accounted for Spaniard Feliciano Lopez 6-3 6-4.<br /> <br /> "I'm feeling good," said Tsonga.<br /> <br /> "I have been waiting for this moment for a couple of years now.<br /> <br /> "It's good because I have always believed in myself during all these years.<br /> <br /> "It will for sure make me stronger and keep my motivation at the highest level."<br /> <br /> A day after eliminating Andy Murray, Tsonga continued where he left off against Dimitrov, taking the opening set.<br /> <br /> Tsonga, though, did not have it all his own way in the first stanza after being forced to save four break points as he attempted to serve for the set with a 5-4 lead.<br /> <br /> The 29-year-old Frenchman ramped up the pressure in the second set, breaking twice as progressed to his third ATP World Tour Masters 1000 final.<br /> <br /> Standing in Tsonga's way is Federer, who leads the head-to-head record 11-4.<br /> <br /> Federer - Rogers Cup champion in 2004 and 2006 and runner-up in 2007 and 2010 - made light work of Lopez as he wrapped up proceedings in straight sets.<br /> <br /> The 33-year-old sent down 13 aces and won 86 per cent of his first services points.<br /> <br /> Federer also broke twice throughout the encounter, while he did not face a break point against Lopez.

Federer Grigor Dimitrov Jo-Wilfried Tsonga news sports Rogers Cup tennis Tsonga to meet Federer in Rogers Cup final

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga made it through to his first final in three years after disposing of Grigor Dimitrov in straight sets at the Rogers Cup. ...

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Radwanska beats Williams in Montreal for first title of 2014

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://cache.images.core.optasports.com/news/tennis/2014/8/10/595523header.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/2014/8/10/595523header.jpg" /></a></div> Agnieszka Radwanska claimed her first silverware of 2014 as she beat Venus Williams 6-4 6-2 in the Rogers Cup final on Sunday.<br /> <br /> The Pole, who has 13 career titles to her name, has struggled to make too much of an impact this season, but was convincing in disposing of Williams at the WTA Premier hard court event in Montreal.<br /> <br /> Third seed Radwanska won four games in a row in the first to storm into a 4-1 lead after Williams had claimed the opener.<br /> <br /> Williams battled hard to break back in a tight game six, but was unable to complete a comeback after seeing two break points come and go at 4-3 down.<br /> <br /> The American struggled on her first service throughout and that fact was emphasised by a second set in which she mustered only a 42 per cent success rate.<br /> <br /> Combined with an inability to win points on her second serve - Williams won just one out of 12 in the second set - it proved to be a recipe for disaster.<br /> ews<br /> Radwanska claimed the opening game of the second on Williams' serve to put the former world number one on the back foot from the off.<br /> <br /> Williams broke back to level matters at 2-2, but Radwanska won the next game to love as the seven-time grand slam winner's chances of coming away with the win grew ever slimmer.<br /> <br /> As it turned out, Williams would not win another game, leaving Radwanska to emphatically serve for the title.

Agnieszka Radwanska news sports Rogers Cup SPORTS tennis Venus Williams Radwanska beats Williams in Montreal for first title of 2014

Agnieszka Radwanska claimed her first silverware of 2014 as she beat Venus Williams 6-4 6-2 in the Rogers Cup final on Sunday. The Pole,...

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Venus through to Montreal final

<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-J5AOauiV6bs/U-fQ6Pmz3AI/AAAAAAAAAFA/YAf00Vjt1rQ/s1600/594795header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Venus through to Montreal final" border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-J5AOauiV6bs/U-fQ6Pmz3AI/AAAAAAAAAFA/YAf00Vjt1rQ/s1600/594795header.jpg" title="Venus through to Montreal final" width="320" /></a>Venus Williams booked her spot in the Rogers Cup final, at the expense of her top-seeded sister Serena on Saturday.<br /> <br /> In the 25th career meeting between the Williams sisters, it was Venus who earned bragging rights with a shock 6-7 (2-7) 6-2 6-3 win after just over an hour in Montreal.<br /> <br /> Venus' triumph - her 11th against Serena - was her first over a reigning world number one since upstaging Dinara Safina in the 2009 Wimbledon semi-finals.<br /> <br /> The 34-year-old fended off 19 aces from Serena to advance to Sunday's decider, where she will face Agnieszka Radwanska after the third-seeded Pole overcame Russian Ekaterina Makarova 7-6 (7-1) 7-6 (7-3).<br /> <br /> "The level of game we played was pretty high," said Venus<br /> <br /> "We're both serving well, returning well, moving well - everything is happening so well that all of our matches seem to be very competitive."<br /> <br /> Venus stormed out of the blocks to take a 3-1 lead only for Serena to hit back, levelling the match at 3-3, before eventually closing out the opening set in a tie-break.<br /> <br /> Two breaks of serve in the second stanza - the first coming in the opening game - set the tone as Venus forced a third set.<br /> <br /> It was a similar story in the deciding set, with Venus breaking Serena's serve in the sixth game to reach her second final of 2014, having won the Dubai Tennis Championships in February.<br /> <br /> Following Venus into the final was Radwanska, who finally got the better of Makarova in straight sets after two hours and four minutes on court.<br /> <br /> Radwanska had lost her past two meetings against Makarova, slipping up at the US Open in 2013 and Wimbledon in June.<br /> <br /> But the 2012 Wimbledon finalist exacted revenge, making the most of Makarova's 43 unforced errors.<br /> <br /> Radwanska finished the match with 28 winners and just 14 unforced errors.<br /> <br /> "I think it was a great match," Radwanska said.<br /> <br /> "Two hours of fighting and long rallies and tight games - I had to really run a lot to win that match because she's so good. I had to give 100 per cent today.<br /> <br /> "I think I was just better on a few points today. I'm really happy with the win."

2014 Championships news news sports Rogers Cup SPORTS tennis Venus Williams Venus through to Montreal final

Venus Williams booked her spot in the Rogers Cup final, at the expense of her top-seeded sister Serena on Saturday. In the 25th career mee...

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Radwanska beats Williams in Montreal for first title of 2014

Agnieszka Radwanska claimed her first silverware of 2014 as she beat Venus Williams 6-4 6-2 in the Rogers Cup final on Sunday.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IHcqRx3mxYk/U-fQPQu0q3I/AAAAAAAAAE4/lGcW1fEHR5s/s1600/595523header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Radwanska beats Williams in Montreal for first title of 2014" border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IHcqRx3mxYk/U-fQPQu0q3I/AAAAAAAAAE4/lGcW1fEHR5s/s1600/595523header.jpg" title="Radwanska beats Williams in Montreal for first title of 2014" width="320" /></a>The Pole, who has 13 career titles to her name, has struggled to make too much of an impact this season, but was convincing in disposing of Williams at the WTA Premier hard court event in Montreal.<br /> <br /> Third seed Radwanska won four games in a row in the first to storm into a 4-1 lead after Williams had claimed the opener.<br /> <br /> Williams battled hard to break back in a tight game six, but was unable to complete a comeback after seeing two break points come and go at 4-3 down.<br /> <br /> The American struggled on her first service throughout and that fact was emphasised by a second set in which she mustered only a 42 per cent success rate.<br /> <br /> Combined with an inability to win points on her second serve - Williams won just one out of 12 in the second set - it proved to be a recipe for disaster.<br /> <br /> Radwanska claimed the opening game of the second on Williams' serve to put the former world number one on the back foot from the off.<br /> <br /> Williams broke back to level matters at 2-2, but Radwanska won the next game to love as the seven-time grand slam winner's chances of coming away with the win grew ever slimmer.<br /> <br /> As it turned out, Williams would not win another game, leaving Radwanska to emphatically serve for the title.

2014 Agnieszka Radwanska news sports Rogers Cup tennis Venus Williams Radwanska beats Williams in Montreal for first title of 2014

Agnieszka Radwanska claimed her first silverware of 2014 as she beat Venus Williams 6-4 6-2 in the Rogers Cup final on Sunday. The Pole, w...

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Sharapova, Kvitova exit as Williams rolls on

<a href="http://cache.images.core.optasports.com/news/tennis/2014/8/8/592647header.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/2014/8/8/592647header.jpg" /></a>Maria Sharapova and Petra Kvitova were among the surprise losers at the Rogers Cup as Serena Williams advanced on Thursday.<br /> <br /> Sharapova, the Russian fourth seed, slumped to a 6-2 4-6 6-2 loss to Spain's Carla Suarez Navarro on the hard courts in Montreal.<br /> <br /> The 14th-seeded Suarez Navarro broke Sharapova's serve nine times – three of those came in the deciding set – in the third-round win.<br /> <br /> Suarez Navarro faces another powerful opponent in the quarter-finals in American Venus Williams, who also claimed a scalp by beating German sixth seed Angelique Kerber 6-3 3-6 6-4.<br /> <br /> Czech second seed Kvitova exited the WTA Premier event after a 6-4 1-6 6-2 defeat to Russian left-hander Ekaterina Makarova.<br /> <br /> On a day of upsets, Makarova's quarter-final opponent Coco Vandeweghe stunned Jelena Jankovic.<br /> <br /> American qualifier Vandeweghe fought to a 7-6 (10-8) 2-6 7-5 win over the Serbian seventh seed.<br /> <br /> As seeds around her were beaten, Serena Williams avoided problems against Czech Lucie Safarova.<br /> <br /> The world number one clinched a 7-5 6-4 victory over the 15th-seeded Safarova.<br /> <br /> Williams will face in-form Danish 11th seed Caroline Wozniacki, who needed just 56 minutes to crush American qualifier Shelby Rogers 6-1 6-0.<br /> <br /> Rogers could win just four points in the second set hammering.<br /> <br /> Belarusian eighth seed Victoria Azarenka was a 6-2 6-4 winner over British qualifier Heather Watson and Polish third seed Agnieszka Radwanska overcame German Sabine Lisicki 6-1 3-6 6-3

Maria Sharapova news Petra Kvitova Rogers Cup Sharapova, Kvitova exit as Williams rolls on

Maria Sharapova and Petra Kvitova were among the surprise losers at the Rogers Cup as Serena Williams advanced on Thursday. Sharapova, the...

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