2007 Tennis Season

[Tashnag]

You are right, federer is the king of tennis at the moment.
I see a lot of sampras fans really sad, Many consider sampras as greatest ever but now roger will clearly break all the records.
Federer will be the greatest ever tennis player

[Thuggishh_E]

Day 6:
Third Round:

Rafael Nadal (2) def. Stanislas Wawrinka (31), 6-2, 6-2, 6-2
Nikolay Davydenko (3) def. Fabrice Santoro, 7-6 (7-1), 6-2, 6-2
James Blake (5) def. Robby Ginepri, 7-6 (9-7), 7-5, 6-2
David Nalbandian (8) def. Sebastien Grosjean (28), 5-7, 4-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4, 6-1
Fernando Gonzalez (10) def. Lleyton Hewitt (19), 6-2, 6-2, 5-7, 6-4

Tommy Haas (12) vs. Florian Mayer postponed
Tomas Berdych (13) vs. Dmitry Tursunov (21) postponed
Andrew Murray (15) def. Juan Ignacio Chela, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4




Third Round:

Maria Sharapova (1) def. Tathiana Garbin (30), 6-3, 6-1
Kim Clijsters (4) def. Alona Bondarenko (29), 6-3, 6-3
Martina Hingis (6) def. Aiko Nakamura, 6-2, 6-1
Patty Schnyder (8) def. Alicia Molik, 3-6, 6-2, 6-0
Dinara Safina (9) vs. Na Li (19) postponed

Anna Chakvetadze (12) vs. Jelena Kostanic Tosic postponed
Vera Zvonareva (22) def. Ana Ivanovic (13), 6-1, 6-2
Daniela Hantuchova (15) vs. Ashley Harkleroad postponed

[Thuggishh_E]

Originally Posted by Tashnag

You are right, federer is the king of tennis at the moment.
I see a lot of sampras fans really sad, Many consider sampras as greatest ever but now roger will clearly break all the records.
Federer will be the greatest ever tennis player

Man i am a both Sampras & Federer fan.
so i'll be happy if the records will be broken w iza la2 kamen!
But Roger needs one more thing : Roland Garros......
ya3ne he still have not won there (thanks to a guy named Rafael...)!

[Thuggishh_E]

Day 7:

Fourth Round:

Roger Federer (1) def. Novak Djokovic (14), 6-2, 7-5, 6-3
Andy Roddick (6) def. Mario Ancic (9), 6-3, 3-6, 6-0, 5-7, 6-4
Tommy Robredo (7) def. Richard Gasquet (18), 6-4, 6-2, 3-6,

6-4
Mardy Fish def. David Ferrer (16), 6-1, 7-6 (7-4), 2-6, 7-5


Third Round:
Tommy Haas (12) def. Florian Mayer, 7-6 (7-3), 6-3, 6-3

Tomas Berdych (13) def. Dmitry Tursunov (21), 6-2, 6-1, 6-1






Fourth Round:
Lucie Safarova def. Amelie Mauresmo (2), 6-4, 6-3
Shahar Peer (16) def. Svetlana Kuznetsova (3), 6-4, 6-2
Nicole Vaidisova (10) def. Elena Dementieva (7), 6-3, 6-3
Serena Williams def. Jelena Jankovic (11), 6-3, 6-2

Third Round:
Na Li (19) def. Dinara Safina (9), 6-2, 6-2

Anna Chakvetadze (12) def. Jelena Kostanic Tosic, 6-4, 6-4
Daniela Hantuchova (15) def. Ashley Harkleroad, 6-7 (6-8),

7-5, 6-3

[Thuggishh_E]

Day 8:

Fourth Round:
Rafael Nadal (2) def. Andrew Murray (15), 6-7 (3-7), 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1
Nikolay Davydenko (3) def. Tomas Berdych (13), 5-7, 6-4, 6-1, 7-6 (7-5)
Fernando Gonzalez (10) def. James Blake (5), 7-5, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4)
Tommy Haas (12) def. David Nalbandian (8), 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-3





Fourth Round:
Maria Sharapova (1) def. Vera Zvonareva (22), 7-5, 6-4
Kim Clijsters (4) def. Daniela Hantuchova (15), 6-1, 7-5
Martina Hingis (6) def. Na Li (19), 4-6, 6-3, 6-0
Anna Chakvetadze (12) def. Patty Schnyder (8), 6-4, 6-1

[Thuggishh_E]

Day 9:

Quarterfinals:
Roger Federer (1) def. Tommy Robredo (7), 6-3, 7-6 (7-2), 7-5
Andy Roddick (6) vs. Mardy Fish, 6-2, 6-2, 6-2




Quarterfinals:
Nicole Vaidisova (10) def. Lucie Safarova, 6-1, 6-4
Serena Williams def. Shahar Peer (16), 3-6, 6-2, 8-6

[Thuggishh_E]

Day 10:

Quarterfinals:
Fernando Gonzalez (10) def. Rafael Nadal (2), 6-2, 6-4, 6-3
Tommy Haas (12) def. Nikolay Davydenko (3), 6-3, 2-6, 1-6, 6-1, 7-5


Quarterfinals:
Maria Sharapova (1) def. Anna Chakvetadze (12), 7-6 (7-5), 7-5
Kim Clijsters (4) def. Martina Hingis (6), 3-6, 6-4, 6-3


so the semi-finals:
Federer vs Roddick
Gonzales vs Haas


& Williams vs Vaidisova
Clijsters vs Sharapova

[Thuggishh_E]

Henin-Hardenne will return to WTA tour in Paris next month



Justine Henin-Hardenne is separating from her husband and plans to return to the WTA Tour.

Three weeks after pulling out of the Australian Open, Henin-Hardenne, the former No. 1, announced on her Web site Wednesday that she and her husband, Yves, had decided to separate and she planned to play next month in Paris.

"The last few weeks were difficult for me," she said.

She was the runner up at the Australian Open last year and lost her No. 1 world ranking because of forfeiting the first Grand Slam of the year.

Henin-Hardenne, 24, won the French Open last year and reached the final at the three other majors before capping 2006 with a win in the season-ending WTA Tour Championship. She had a 60-8 record.

The Gaz de France tournament is set for Feb. 5-11.

"It's not far from my home, and it's always pleasant for me to be in Paris," the Belgian said. "This will be my first tournament for the season. I hope to find my form, and as usual will give all of myself."

[Thuggishh_E]

Semifinals:
Roger Federer (1) def. Andy Roddick (6), 6-4, 6-0, 6-2
Fernando Gonzalez def. Tommy Haas 6-1, 6-3, 6-1


Semifinals:
Maria Sharapova (1) def. Kim Clijsters (4), 6-4, 6-2
Serena Williams def. Nicole Vaidisova (10), 7-6 (7-5), 6-4











Woman Finals :

Serena Williams def. Maria Sharapova (1), 6-1, 6-2





Sharp and intensely focused from the start, Serena Williams simply overwhelmed Maria Sharapova 6-1, 6-2 Saturday to win the Australian Open and her eighth Grand Slam title.

"It was an awesome win, because I had so many critics. So many people ... saying negative things," Williams said. "Saying I wasn't fit, when I felt that I was really fit, and I could last three sets.

"It's always like, tell me no and I'll show you that I can do it. I get the greatest satisfaction just holding up the Grand Slam trophy and proving everyone wrong."

Williams was eager for the French Open to start, even though it's four months away.

"I'm ready to start training on the clay already," she said. "I saw some things here I want to work on. I'm ready to do that now, ready to take my game to a new level."

Only the second unseeded woman to win the Australian title in the Open era, Williams came into the tournament ranked No. 81 after playing in only four tournaments last year due to a bad knee. She will jump to No. 14 when the new rankings come out next week.

It was the 25-year-old American's first title in 15 tournaments since winning the 2005 Australian Open, and the most dominating win in a completed championship match at Melbourne Park since Steffi Graf beat Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario 6-0, 6-2 in 1994.

"She came out today and she really played flawless tennis," said a downcast Sharapova, the reigning U.S. Open champion who had a 13-match Grand Slam winning streak snapped. "It was my mom's birthday today and I couldn't win for her."

Williams put together the third consecutive singles rout in Rod Laver Arena, after top-ranked Roger Federer pounded Andy Roddick and No. 10 Fernando Gonzalez was nearly flawless in beating Tommy Haas in the semifinals. They will play for the men's title Sunday.

"I was really inspired," Williams said of the performances by Federer and Gonzalez. "I thought if they could do it, so could I."

With occasional showers and a strong wind outside, the roof was closed on packed Rod Laver Arena. Williams saw it as an omen: She won her other two titles here, in 2003 and 2005, with the roof closed.

Williams, who had started slow in her earlier matches, was clearly into it from the start this time. She was pouncing on Sharapova's second serves, standing inside the baseline to send them back faster than they came over.

"She started doing that from the beginning of the match," said Sharapova, who won only a quarter of her second serves. "She was aggressive from all her shots. She was going for it, making most of it."

As the match wore on, Sharapova's shoulders drooped when she missed a first serve, clearly dreading another zinging return, then staring back in frustration when it left her flat-footed. After one, she muttered: "Yeah, too good."

Sharapova sets the pace against most opponents, but Williams' power cut the rallies short and had the crowd gasping. The American had nine winners in the first four games alone, a stretch in which she won 12 straight points after Sharapova held a game point while serving at 0-1.

Sharapova finally got on the board, holding serve while trailing 0-5. During the game, Williams glared at the 19-year-old Russian and had several word for her after getting hit by an overhead.

At the changeover following the 26-minute first set, Sharapova leaned over in her chair, talking to herself as she rocked back and forth, but she didn't get any better.

After taking the match in just 1 hour and 3 minutes, Williams tossed her racket in the air and dropped on her back. Then she hopped around on the court in jubilation before slapping hands with her mother, Oracene, and some of the fans in the first row of seats, and dancing a little jig.

"I'd like to thank my mom. I was a bad student this fortnight," Williams said. "I yelled at her, said some things under my breath. But she just kept coming. I really appreciate it.

"My plan was just to play my game. I finally played it for the first time this whole tournament. When I'm playing well, it's difficult for anyone to beat me. Tennis is what I think I was born to do."

Williams dedicated the title to her half-sister, Yetunde Price, who was shot to death in 2003.

"I just love her so much," she said, her voice cracking. "I'll try not to get teary-eyed but I said a couple of days ago, if I win this it's going to be for her. So thanks Tunde."

"Every match I wrote notes. Usually I write, `Look at the ball,' `Move forward,' `Do this, do that.' Today my note was just `Yetunde.' Every changeover I looked at it."

Chris O'Neill, who was ranked No. 111 when she won the 1978 title, was the only other unseeded woman to win an Australian Open.

Sharapova, who will assume the No. 1 ranking from Justine Henin, suffered her worst loss in a Grand Slam tournament.

"I don't like losing," she said. "You go back in the locker room, like, `Darn it, I just lost. Someone is celebrating over there. They're going to be opening a bottle of champagne."

[Thuggishh_E]

Man Finals :
Roger Federer (1) def. Fernando Gonzalez (10), 7-6 (2), 6-4, 6-4








Federer beats Gonzalez for 10th Grand Slam title




Roger Federer captured his 10th Grand Slam singles title without dropping a set, finishing a dominating run through the Australian Open by beating Fernando Gonzalez of Chile 7-6 (2), 6-4, 6-4 in Sunday's final.

Federer improved his winning streak to a career-best 36 matches, became the first man in the Open era to twice win three straight majors and has won six of the last seven Grand Slam titles -- his only loss was in the French Open final to Rafael Nadal.

It also was the first time that a champion went through a major without dropping a set since the 1980 French Open, when Bjorn Borg did it for the third time. Ken Rosewall, who was sitting in the stands, was the last man to accomplish the feat at the Australian Open, in 1971.

By reaching the final, Federer already had tied Jack Crawford's record of playing in seven consecutive finals at the majors, set in 1934.

The 25-year-old Federer now is within four of Pete Sampras' record 14 Grand Slam titles.

"I don't know how I did it so quickly, in such a short period of time," Federer said.

Next up is the French Open, the only major he hasn't won.

"That's such a tough Grand Slam to win," Federer said. "I am improving year by year on clay and maybe one year (Nadal) won't be in the final. If he is, maybe I can beat him."

While Federer made his two-week blitz look easy, he said a lot of work went into it.

"It all works out in the end. It is just wonderful. I have had a great run here again this year," he told a crowd that included his parents, who sat courtside after flying in to watch him for the first time in Australia. "I am very proud to be holding this trophy again."

Gonzalez, who fell to 0-10 against Federer, said the Swiss star was simply too good.

"I have to congratulate again -- again -- Roger," the 26-year-old Chilean said. "He is a great champion who played a really good match today, all week -- almost all his life."

Federer said he had thought about a different strategy against Gonzalez, then recalled his past success.

"In the end I said, you know what, I've beaten him nine times, so just take it easy and play your game, and hopefully it is going to work out," he said. "It did."

Gonzalez, seeded 10th and in his first Grand Slam final, kept Federer under pressure with his big forehand, but could not quite match the all-around game of the player who has been ranked No. 1 for 156 consecutive weeks.

He broke Federer in the ninth game, the first break point chance of the match, and had two set points in the next game but failed to convert.

"I was missing too many forehands, I didn't know what to do exactly with his slice," Federer said. "Maybe the wind, maybe his court coverage and everything put me under pressure, and I wasn't feeling that great right from the start.

"If he closes out 6-4, he is clearly the better player in that set. I came back just at the right moment."

Federer broke back to level it at 5-all, then had four set points in the next game before Gonzalez held in a game that went to deuce seven times. That forced a tiebreaker which Federer dominated, jumping out to a 5-0 lead after winning a challenge against an incorrect baseline call and getting the first point replayed.

Gonzalez, the Olympic doubles champion, had conceded only two points on serve in the second set until Federer broke for a 4-3 lead.

Federer fired an ace to close the second set and broke Gonzalez in the seventh game of the third. He earned triple championship point with a forehand winner and closed it with a backhand down the line.

"That match point was fantastic," Federer said. "I think that was my only backhand winner up the line when he was also at the baseline. To finish it off like this, it was great."

He fell to his back, rolled over and then got up, hit a ball into the stands and took a bow. He held both arms high before throwing his wristband into crowd.

For the match, Federer lost only 17 points in 16 service games plus the tiebreaker, and dropped only two points on serve in the last set.

He finished with 45 winners and only 19 unforced errors -- just four in the final set.

Gonzalez, who had only three unforced errors against Tommy Haas in the semifinals, had 28 against Federer to go with 31 winners.

The first set lasted 65 minutes, two minutes longer than Serena Williams needed to win the women's final 6-1, 6-2 over Maria Sharapova on Saturday afternoon.

Williams stayed in Melbourne and was at a packed Rod Laver Arena on a chilly, breezy night for the men's final that had fans bundled up.

Just as in last year's victory over Marcos Baghdatis, Federer had to beat an opponent who had become a crowd darling.

Amid chants of "Vamos Fernando!" and "Come on, Speedy!" one particularly fervent fan clutched the corners of a Chilean flag and kissed the corners on key points.

Federer had plenty of backers, too, with a number of faces painted like the Swiss flag. One fan waved a sign that proclaimed "Federer is betterer," and the Swiss star backed it up.

Gonzalez was trying to run around his backhand to whip powerful forehands and Federer sought to keep him from doing it, leading to a number of backhand-to-backhand rallies.

But while Gonzalez has improved his backhand, the most glaring weakness in his game, Federer showed he can rip winners from either side.

Gonzalez was grunting, not on his shots but with effort while tracking down Federer's groundstrokes to the corners. He stumbled and fell once and nearly a second time, and frequently tied his shoes to buy time.











Sampras Watch out! next year Roger will have his 15th GS!
A legend in the making......