Aqeel, Maheen top sindh tennis rankings

pakistan’s top tennis player Aqeel Khan and promising Maheen Dada topped the men’s and ladies’ singles half yearly rankings issued by the Sindh Tennis Association (STA) on Tuesday.

The rankings are based on the eight rankings events staged during the first half of the year under the aegis of STA. According to details, Super Series event carry 50 points, grade one 40 points and grade two 30 points.

Aqeel had collected 80 points by winning two grade one events in which he featured.

Maheen dominated most of the events and accumulated 110 points to retain her position.

Tabulated under event, ranking and points:
Men’s singles: 1-Aqeel Khan 80 pts; 2-Jalil Khan 70 pts; 3-Omer Shahid 50 pts; 4-Nasir Mushtaq 40 pts

Ladies singles:
1-Maheen Dada 110 pts; 2-Sara Ahmed 70 pts; 3-Zoya Khan 45 pts; 4- Waniya Khan and Urooj Iltifat 40 pts each

Juniors’ under-17 singles:
1-Hassan Siddiqui 140 pts; 2-Talha Zubair Surmawala 90 pts; 3-Murad Khan 83 pts; 4-Saud Shoaib 75 pts

Boys’ under-15 singles:
1-Marib Malik 95 pts; 2-Saud Shoaib and Malik Hamza 85 pts; 3-Azher A. Qadir 80 pts; 4-Hasan Farooq 60 pts

Boys’ under-13 singles:
1-Hasan Farooq 195 pts; 2-Nazif Ahmed 115 pts; 3-Marib Malik 80 pts; 4- Dawer Rehan 65 pts

Boys’ under-11 singles:
1-Houd Azher 195 pts; 2-Bilal Imran 125 pts; 3-Shahzil Malik 85 pts; 4-Mohammed Dada 63 pts

Boys’ and girls’ under-9 singles:
1-Houd Azher 210 pts; 2-Mohammed Dada 130 pts; 3-Ali Faisal 75 pts; 4- Esha Khan 35 pts

Seniors’ 35 plus singles:
1-Mohammed Abdul Saeed 40 pts; 2-Ejaz Sarhadi 30 pts; 3-Suhail Qadir and Rafi Derbari 20 pts each

Seniors’ 45 plus singles:
1-Gul Hameed 80 pts; 2-Syed Mohammed Jalal 70 pt; 3-Azheruddin and Badruddin Fakhri 35 pts each and 4-Iltifat Ahmed 20 pts

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Nadal sets up Djokovic showdown

Defending champion Rafael Nadal will get the chance to avenge the imminent loss of his world number one ranking to Novak Djokovic after the two rivals set up a Wimbledon final showdown here Friday.

Djokovic ensured he will topple Nadal at the top of the ATP’s latest rankings earlier Friday after a stylish 7-6 (7/4), 6-2, 6-7 (9/11), 6-3 semi-final win over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on Centre Court.

A few hours later, top seed Nadal joined Djokovic in Sunday’s final after shattering Andy Murray’s Wimbledon dream with a comprehensive 5-7, 6-2, 6-2, 6-4 win over the British fourth seed.

Nadal’s victory means the Spaniard will be given an early opportunity to remind Djokovic that he may only have a temporary lease on the number one spot as he chases an 11th Grand Slam title.

Nadal leads 16-11 in matches against Djokovic, although the Serb has won all four of their encounters this year.

“For me it’s a dream to be back in the final,” said Nadal after his win over Murray. “I feel sad for Andy, he deserved to be in the final. It’s tough for him to lose this match today, but I wish him all the best for the rest of the year.

“I think I played very well. To win against Andy I had to play my best tennis and today I played my best tennis.”

“It will be really difficult for me but I will try my best as always.”Murray meanwhile was left bitterly disappointed after falling in the semi-finals for the third consecutive year, a defeat that ensures Britain’s 75-year wait for a men’s Wimbledon champion goes on.

Earlier, an ecstatic Djokovic said reaching the final and gaining the number one ranking represented the realisation of twin childhood dreams.

“It’s difficult to put into words,” said Djokovic. “This is one of the best feelings I’ve had on a tennis court. My dreams are coming true —into my first final at Wimbledon.

“I’ve been working all my life for this. I’ve been dreaming about playing the final in Wimbledon since I started playing tennis when I was four, so to be there in the final on Sunday will be fantastic.”

Tsonga meanwhile said Djokovic would be a worthy world number one after a season which has seen him reach the last four of all three Grand Slams, a run which included his second Australian Open crown.

“I think he’s the best player in the world for the moment. He won the Australian Open. He got to the semis at Roland Garros. And now he’s in final here,” Tsonga said. “So he’s maybe the best.”

“I can beat everybody today, but not Djokovic, because he just played unbelievable,” said Tsonga. “He was everywhere. He returns unbelievable —all the time on his baseline, so it’s tough.”

Djokovic had lost in five of his seven previous encounters against Tsonga, who had advanced to the last four with a stunning five-set quarter-final victory over six-time champion Roger Federer.

But despite a spirited third set fightback from Tsonga, Djokovic maintained his composure to close out a deserved victory in 3hr 7mins

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Pakistan player shine in athens

It was medals galore for Team Pakistan, competing in the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Athens, Greece, on Friday.

Pakistan’s Rabia Saeed got a gold medal in women’s singles badminton as did Bakhtawar Gul in the 100m race.

Meanwhile, Ayesha Iftikhar and Sakhawat Ali picked up silver medals in the 100m and 200m races, respectively.

Bilawal Aslam, who already has a gold in 1,000m/1km time trial cycling, and a bronze in 10km road race, won another bronze medal in 5km time trial cycling along with teammate Nazeer Ahmed

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Aisam-peschke pair out of wimbledon

The pair of Pakistan’s Aisam ul Haq Qureshi and Kveta Peschke of Czech Republic lost in the second round of the mixed doubles competition at the Wimbledon tennis championships on Monday.

Aisam and Kveta were beaten by Israeli pair of Jonathan Erlich/ Shahar Peer 3-6, 1-6.

Aisam, who paired with Indian Rohan Bopanna in Men’s double, was also knocked out in the first round of the men’s doubles event

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Li stopped in her tracks, hewitt falls short

Li Na’s hopes of a French Open-Wimbledon double vanished on Thursday as the Chinese was beaten by wildcard Sabine Lisicki but Serena Williams, the last player to achieve the feat, continued her comeback in ominous fashion.

Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer continued their swashbuckling progress through the draw and fifth seed Robin Soderling fought back from two-sets down to beat former champion Lleyton Hewitt in an enthralling match.

Li, who became the darling of the world’s most populous nation by triumphing at Roland Garros this month, squandered two match points in a 3-6 6-4 8-6 defeat under Centre Court’s roof on a cool, showery day in south west London.

Her surprise exit to a player battling back from injury continued a recent trend of Wimbledon woe for winners of the women’s singles in Paris.

Francesca Schiavone made a first-round exit last year and Svetlana Kuznetsova, in 2009, and Ana Ivanovic, in 2008, survived only until the third round.

Li’s appearance on Centre Court was delayed by a gritty win for Soderling who dropped the first two sets against 2002 champion Hewitt.

Australian former world number one Hewitt, still a dogged competitor despite the injuries that have seen him drop out of the top 100, looked set to pull off the biggest shock of the tournament but Soderling won 6-7 3-6 7-5 6-4 6-4 after nearly four hours of baseline combat.

“We’ve all just been focusing on trying to get through here in sort of one piece and we’ll pick up all the pieces after that and put it together,” the 30-year-old Hewitt, who nearly missed the tournament because of a foot injury, said after his earliest exit since a first-round defeat as champion in 2003.

PERFECT START

Second seed Djokovic continued his perfect start with a crushing 6-3 6-4 6-2 victory over towering South African Kevin Anderson.

The Serb, who can take over as world No.1 if Rafa Nadal fails to retain his title, won the opening five games in 15 minutes and never looked back.

“I’m really happy with the opening two rounds in Wimbledon,” he said. “Two straight-set wins. I cannot ask for more.”

Third seed Federer also looked a class apart as he continued his bid for a seventh Wimbledon title and 17th grand slam crown with a 6-2 6-3 6-2 win over Frenchman Adrian Mannarino in the late match under the Centre Court roof.

“It was a nice match for me and it was good to play under the roof for the first time,” Federer said. “It was a good experience and the atmosphere was great.”

Defending women’s champion Williams dispensed with the tears as she reached the third round with an ultimately easy victory over Romanian teenager Simona Halep.

The 29-year-old, who wept after beating Aravane Rezai on Tuesday as the emotional turmoil of a horrendous 11 months out caught up with her, eventually found her A-game in a 3-6 6-2 6-1 victory out on Court Two.

While she was generally happy with her progress after returning to action just before Wimbledon, she was a little puzzled at the decision to schedule her match on the third-biggest court.

“I don’t know,” she told a news conference. “They like to put us on Court Two, me and Venus, for whatever reason. I haven’t figured it out yet. Maybe one day we’ll figure it out.”

Several other seeds began to bloom despite the fickle weather that had fans reaching for their pullovers and umbrellas throughout day four.

Sixth seed Schiavone beat Barbora Zahlavova 7-5 6-3 on her 31st birthday and was joined in the last 32 by Serbia’s Ana Ivanovic who breezed past Greek wildcard Eleni Daniilidou 6-3 6-0.

Top seed Caroline Wozniacki had a frustrating afternoon, however, as her second-round match against Virginie Razzano was postponed until Friday, as was 2004 champion Maria Sharapova’s against British teenager Laura Robson.

At least they survive to fight another day, unlike Li.

The 29-year-old was highly-fancied to challenge for the title after her runner-up finish at the Australian Open and then her crowning glory in Paris, but she was left to rue wasted opportunities against an inspired opponent.

When Li sent a forehand wide on match point, Lisicki, who missed most of 2010 with a serious ankle injury, fell to the turf and burst into tears.

Li remained upbeat and said she was looking forward to going home after a momentous few weeks.

“The match is over. It’s finished. After today, I don’t even think about it too much because now is my holiday, a week off. I didn’t even want to think about tennis.”

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Aisam, Bopanna knocked out in wimbledon first round

The pair of Pakistan’s Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi and Indian Rohan Bopanna was knocked out in the first round of the men’s doubles competition at the Wimbledon tennis championships on Thursday.

The Colombian duo of Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah fought back from a set down to turn the tables on their opponents 2-6, 6-2, 21-19.—Correspondent

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Aqeel thrilled at coaching stint with SL Davis Cuppers

Country’s ace tennis player Aqeel Khan has termed his maiden 15-day coaching stint with the Sri Lankan Davis Cup team in Colombo as ‘fruitful’ in terms of imparting training besides preparing himself for Pakistan’s next month tie against South Korea.

“The Sri Lankan Tennis Federation was so satisfied with my performance that they have offered another three months contract to groom their juniors,” Aqeel, who returned from Colombo the other day, told Dawn.

Aqeel added that he would consider the lucrative Lankan offer after Pakistan’s Asia Oceania zone group two Davis Cup second round tie against South Korea slated from July 8 to 10. The time would have gone wasted had he not taken up the assignment, he stated.

Aqeel, 31, said he would travel to Islamabad on Saturday to join the camp in preparation for the away encounter. Pakistan won 3-2 against Hong Kong in the first round.

“The Koreans will have home advantage and tough to beat on their soil on synthetic hard courts,” he said, adding that Pakistan last beat South Korea in 2003 at Lahore.

Continuing, he said, Aisam-ul-Haq will come to Korea directly after playing Wimbledon and will take sometime to adjust in different conditions. He regretted that contrary to other nations, Pakistan doesn’t have strong backup players who can deliver when required.

“We (Aisam and Aqeel) have carried the team to World Group (once) and group one (thrice) during the last 12 years,” he remarked.

Refuting allegations of PTF spokesperson that he (Aqeel) had breached the code of conduct while visiting abroad without informing the federation, he said: “I have signed no central contract with the PTF and am free to travel. Did the PTF spokesperson ask Aisam’s schedule or take action against Samir Iftikhar for not attending Birbal’s training camp?”

With over 100 titles under his belt, Aqeel said he had always turned down coaching offers in the past as he feel pride in playing for the nation. “My age is catching up fast and unfortunately I don’t own a house after playing for well over a decade for the nation for peanuts,” he concluded.

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Camp for Pakistan's Davis cup tie against S.korea from wednesday

The training camp for Pakistan’s Davis Cup tie against South Korea next month begins on Wednesday in Islamabad.

US-based coach Jalil Riaz will supervise the camp which will not include Pakistan’s ace tennis player Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi who is set to take part in the Wimbledon Championship.

Qureshi will fly directly to Korea from England for the Davis Cup tie, Pakistan Tennis Federations Senior Vice President Irshad Bhatti told PPI.

Aqeel Khan, the current Pakistan’s No 1 would join the camp on 17th June after his coaching stint with Sri Lanka’s junior team.

Meanwhile, upcoming star Samir Ifikhar will also join the camp the same day as he is currently in the UK due to his academic commitments. The fourth member of the Korea bound team is Yasir Khan, the younger brother of Aqeel Khan.

Others to participate in the camp are Jalil Khan, M. Abid, Muzammil and Muddasir.

“This will be a top-class tennis training camp and therefore we have also called two youngsters Muzammil and Mudassir to get exposure and gain confidence by playing against top-class national players,” Irshad said.

Denied of home-advantage for some years, Pakistan defeated Hong Kong at their home earlier this year and they would now face South Korea in the Asia Oceania Group-II tie from 8th to 11th July. A win in the contest will ensure the teams promotion to Group-I

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Nadal in queen's last eight after stepanek test

Rafael Nadal had to dig deep to reach the quarter-finals at Queen’s with a hard-fought 6-3, 5-7, 6-1 win against Czech veteran Radek Stepanek on Thursday.

Few players have made the switch from clay to grass courts more effectively than Nadal, but the French Open champion is taking a while to find his feet on the lush lawns of west London as he prepares for the defense of his Wimbledon title.

The top seeded Spaniard admits he could do with some time off as he is still drained by his heroics in Paris and the strain showed a little during this inconsistent display.

“He made it tough and I’m a bit tired. But the crowd are fantastic and it’s a pleasure to be here,” Nadal said.

“I am motivated to keep playing well. Wimbledon is there, but I’m focused on Queen’s for now. I will have to play well against (Jo-Wilfried) Tsonga to win.”

So far Nadal has struggled to recapture the magical shot-making that dazzled Roger Federer in the French Open final.

He looked comfortable enough in the first set on Thursday and got the only break in the fifth game as a powerful backhand pass left Stepanek rooted to the spot.

The second set seemed to be following a similar pattern when Nadal broke for a 3-1 lead.

This time Stepanek, aided by some sloppy play from Nadal, broke back as the Spaniard served for the match.

Encouraged by that escape, Stepanek took advantage of a series of Nadal double faults to break again and then serve out the set.

At such pressurised moments Nadal usually finds the winning formula.

So it proved in the final set as he finally found some momentum, breaking twice in succession to set up a last eight clash against French fifth seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

World number four Andy Murray ignored the pain of his ankle injury to reach the last eight with a 6-4, 7-6 (7/3) win over Serbian 14th seed Janko Tipsarevic.

Murray has conceded that the recovery time for the ligament and tendon damage he sustained at the French Open means he should really be resting this week, but a desire to get plenty of time on grass before Wimbledon has forced him to ignore his discomfort.

The 24-year-old, wearing a brace on his troublesome right ankle and moving cautiously at times, did a reasonable job of disguising the pain as he secured a last eight match against Marin Cilic or Thomaz Bellucci.

“It was a high-quality match. We both played well, especially at the end of the second set. It was a big test,” Murray said. “The ankle was the best it’s felt today.”

Elsewhere in the third round of the Wimbledon warm-up, Andy Roddick remained in the hunt for a record fifth Queen’s crown with a 6-4, 6-4 win over South Africa’s Kevin Anderson.

The American third seed, a three-time Wimbledon finalist, thrives on grass and he did just enough to see off 15th seed Anderson and seal a last eight clash against Fernando Verdasco, who defeated David Nalbandian 7-5, 6-1.

“There are a lot of times when he hits his first serve in a good spot and you’re rendered a little helpless. Thankfully I was just able to get my teeth into a couple of games and convert the break points,” Roddick said.

France’s Adrian Mannarino enjoyed a remarkable double success as he reached the last eight on his Queen’s debut.

Mannarino started the day with his second round tie against French sixth seed Gilles Simon delicately poised at one set all overnight.

But Simon had to pull out when trailing 3-0 in the final set due to a back injury.

And Mannarino, ranked 54th in the world, followed that success with an even better result just hours later as the 22-year-old defeated former US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (9/7).

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Nadal beats Federer for sixth french crown

Rafael Nadal sealed a record-equalling sixth French Open title with a 7-5 7-6 5-7 6-1 win over Roger Federer on Sunday to continue his dominance on clay over his great rival.

The victory meant the Spaniard equalled Bjorn Borg’s men’s singles record at Roland Garros while it also made sure he would remain world number one amid pressure from Novak Djokovic.

Swiss Federer, who was bidding to beat Nadal in western Paris for the first time in five attempts, raced into a 5-2 lead in the first set and squandered a set point before errors crept into his play as the top seed turned the screw with some exceptional recovery shots.

Nadal rattled off seven games in a row to move 2-0 ahead in the second set as gasps went around a packed crowd on Court Philippe Chatrier, who were mainly supporting record 16-times grand slam champion Federer.

A slow start to the two-week tournament by Nadal was long forgotten by the time two of the greats of the game came to clash in the final after third seed Federer had ended second seed Djokovic’s 41-match winning streak in 2011 in the semis.

Like so many of their epic duels down the years, this was another match full of exhilarating rallies and spellbinding winners but “King of Clay” Nadal deservedly prevailed.

Nadal, who has only ever lost one match in his seven years at the French Open, gave Federer a glimmer of a chance in the second set but easily won the tiebreak 7-3.

Federer battled back from 4-2 down in the third with some sublime tennis to extend the contest and had 0-40 on Nadal’s opening service game in the fourth set.

However, Nadal roared back to claim his 10th grand slam title when a resigned Federer hit a forehand long, the emotional Spaniard dropping to his knees in celebration.

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Nadal and Federer excel to seal dream final

Roger Federer stunned Novak Djokovic and Rafa Nadal beat Andy Murray as the four musketeers put on swashbuckling displays on Friday, with a classic duel still to come in Sunday’s French Open final.

Five-times winner Nadal will take on old nemesis and 16-times grand slam champion Federer after the Swiss pulled off a 7-6 6-3 3-6 7-6 win over Djokovic to inflict the Serbian’s first loss in 42 matches and stop him becoming world number one.

That honour will stay with Spanish birthday boy Nadal, who swished and swaggered his way into the final with a 6-4 7-5 6-4 victory over fourth seed Murray on a windy but sunny Court Philippe Chatrier.

“Always in these kind of matches, it is small things but I started playing the match fantastically,” Nadal told reporters.

The Briton went down fighting, showing the same tenacious spirit which has carried him through a sprained ankle and some tough matches in the Roland Garros fortnight.

In the end, Nadal, who has lost only once on the Paris clay in singles, was just too good but the high quality of tennis in both semi-finals showed the men’s game is in the rudest health it has ever been, in contrast to the women’s.

China’s Li Na faces defending champion Francesca Schiavone in Saturday’s women’s final but the duo will have to go some way to match the gripping drama that the men provided on Friday.

It was not long before third seed Federer and second seed Djokovic were unleashing stunning winners and duelling in extraordinary rallies.

“The first set was awesome and we were a bit tired for the second and third set,” Federer said after reaching his first grand slam final in more than a year as dusk almost descended.

“It will be a very difficult final.”

Two breaks of serve each in the first set led to a tight tiebreak which the 2009 winner edged 7-5 when his rival, who had not played since Sunday, netted.

BOUNCED RACKET

With the noisy crowd firmly behind Federer, Djokovic bounced his racket off the ground before the Swiss won the second set after surging 3-1 up when a net cord went his way.

Australian Open champion Djokovic was not going to give up lightly and he roared back in the third set, breaking early and putting an extra flourish into his forehand to hit back.

Federer was not be outdone though and nervously sealed the fourth-set tiebreak as Djokovic failed in his quest to win a first French title and beat John McEnroe’s 1984 record of 42 wins since the start of the season.

“I think I had a good first set and I was really unfortunate to lose that set,” Djokovic told a news conference.

“I think I played well. I congratulate him for a great performance. We were part of a really good match.”

Nadal, who made a slow start to his favourite tournament before regaining his form, was made to work for every point as he continued his bid to equal Bjorn Borg’s record of six French Open titles.

The Mallorcan, celebrating his 25th birthday, broke serve for 2-1 in the first set with a passing shot down the line and after Murray missed three break points to hit back straight away, Nadal powered 4-1 ahead.

As women in the packed stands fanned their faces in the heat and superb rallies went on and on, Scot Murray brought the score back to 5-3 but he missed two more break points as Nadal closed out the first set.

The second set had a similar feel but Murray, who kept shouting to himself to keep focus, surrendered his serve for 6-5 having been 5-4 ahead and Nadal triumphed again after more electric tennis.

Nadal used his trademark open-bodied crosscourt forehand to huge effect, somehow finding a split second to come all the way round the ball in the high-powered encounter while Murray used his quickening serve, drop shots and slices exquisitely.

“It’s been by far the best claycourt season for me in terms of the way I’ve actually played on this surface,” Murray said.

“I’ve had decent results before, but I feel like I played a lot better.”

All the pair had in common in the third set was their blue shirts as Nadal ended Murray’s hopes of becoming the first British man in a Roland Garros final since Bunny Austin in 1937

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Djokovic out of Queen's Murray a doubt

World number two Novak Djokovic pulled out of the pre-Wimbledon Queen’s Club tournament in the wake of his epic 7-6 6-3 3-6 7-6 defeat by Roger Federer in the French Open semi-finals on Friday.

“I’ve pulled out from Queen’s and I will take a rest before Wimbledon,” Serbian Djokovic told a news conference ahead of the London grass court tournament, which starts on Monday.

Later Queen’s Club tournament organisers issued a statement saying Djokovic had withdrawn because of patellar tendinitis, which affects the tendon connecting the kneecap to the shinbone.

Earlier on Friday, Briton Andy Murray, who lost to Rafa Nadal in the other Roland Garros semi-final, said he was not sure whether he would take part in the London grasscourt tournament, which starts on Monday.

An ankle injury suffered in Paris means he wants to see how he reacts to coming off anti-inflammatory pills. “I’m not 100 percent sure if I’ll play there,” said the 24-year-old.

World number one Nadal, who faces Federer in the Sunday’s French Open final, four-time Queen’s winner Andy Roddick and 2009 US Open champion Juan Martin Del Potro are all due to take part in the Wimbledon warm-up tournament.

However, Djokovic has been joined on the sidelines by Mardy Fish (abdominal injury), and Richard Gasquet (leg injury).

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Li brushes sharapuva aside to set up schiavone final

China’s Li Na carried the hopes of a continent into the French Open final as she blew away Maria Sharapova’s dream of a career grand slam to set up a Roland Garros showdown with holder Francesca Schiavone on Thursday.

Sixth seed Li, bidding to become the first Asian to win a grand slam singles title, punished former world number one Sharapova 6-4 7-5 on a windy Parisian day before French hopes died when fifth seed Schiavone eased past Marion Bartoli with a relatively routine 6-3 6-3 win on court Philippe Chatrier.

If she needs any encouragement she need look no further than the feisty Schiavone who this time last year became an Italian sporting heroine by beating Samantha Stosur to become the first woman from her country to win a grand slam singles title.

“It’s something important for Chinese tennis. They broadcast the match live on Chinese TV,” Li, the Australian Open runner-up, told a news conference.

“I think many children have been able to watch the match and they maybe thinking that one day they’ll be able to do the same, or even better.”

Li, who according to organisers attracted between five and seven million additional viewers in China, is also expected to rely on the China sports minister’s support with Liu Peng planning to travel to Paris for the final.

The momentum Sharapova had built up during the tournament with her dominant power tennis had installed her as many people’s favourite for the one slam to elude her.

However, all that expectation went flat as, with no plan B tucked away in her fancy handbag, she never really recovered from a terrible start despite the never-say-die attitude that has got her out of many jams in the past.

“You obviously try to adjust, especially after you lose the first set. I still feel like I had my share of chances in the first set, and I just didn’t take them,” said Sharapova, whose cause was not helped by 10 double faults.

Li cantered into a 3-0 lead as she snatched her opponent’s serve twice, relying on her powerful forehand to put the normally assertive Sharapova on the back foot.

ON THE ATTACK

With swirls of red clay dust whipping up in the breeze on court Philippe Chatrier, Sharapova did manage to close the gap to 4-3 before the last three games of the set went against serve, Li wrapping up the opening set when Sharapova’s forehand clipped the netcord and bounced wide.

Sharapova broke at the fourth attempt in the opening game of the second set, but Li hung on, saving another break in the fifth game. The Chinese was gifted her next break when Sharapova double-faulted and another service misfire handed Li victory in one hour 48 minutes.

It did not take Schiavone as long to extend her remarkable Roland Garros winning streak to 13 matches.

Bartoli went on the attack from the start, trying to unsettle Schiavone with her trademark crosscourt double-handed shots, but the Italian showed once again her love for the clay.

Schiavone stole Bartoli’s serve to move 5-3 ahead before serving out the set.

The 11th-seeded Bartoli fought back, opening a 2-0 lead in the second set, only for Schiavone, whose spinning forehand did most of the damage, to break back for 2-2.

Bartoli, hoping to become the first French player to win the singles here since Mary Pierce in 2000, then just ran out of steam, conceding another break in the seventh game and bowed out when she netted a forehand.

“I had to run a lot. A lot,” Schiavone told a courtside interviewer. “Of course, experience will be a factor (in the final). But Li has been playing amazing this year, starting in Australia. It’s going to be tough.”

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Aqeel's Sri lanka stint irks PTF

The quiet departure of Aqeel Khan, a top ranking national tennis player, to Sri Lanka has annoyed the Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) which now says the top-ranking player never informed them before leaving Pakistan.

Aqeel left Pakistan for Sri Lanka the other day to train players in the island nation and would be staying in Colombo from June 15 to 18.

Irshad Bhatti, the official PTF spokesman, told Dawn on Tuesday: “Aqeel Khan is not in Pakistan as per our information. Besides he has also failed to inform [us], knowing that he has crossed the disciplinary guidelines of the federation.”

Irshad added despite this discipline issue involving Aqeel the federation still wanted to consult him.

“The move to train individuals in Sri Lanka was never in the knowledge of the federation,” said the official. “But we want to give him a patient hearing because he is No.1 in national rankings and we really respect him,” stated the spokesman.

Though, it is pertinent to mention that for any individual — sports athlete or official — a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) is mandatory before proceeding to any international destination and the NOC is issued by the Interior Ministry.

“Aqeel will be part of Pakistan’s Davis Cup team but he has to give answers to the federation,” the spokesman responded when asked about Aqeel’s inclusion in the Davis Cup squad.

The spokesman said a brief meeting with Aqeel after his return from Sri Lanka was very much needed to avoid breach of PTF’s disciplinary code in future and to set better examples for youngsters.

Pakistan are set to play Davis Cup tie against South Korea in July this year.

“The challenge from South Korea is tough and we firmly believe that Aqeel, Aisam-ul-Haq and two other players, to be selected after trials, will form a strong squad for the Davis Cup,” said Irshad.

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Aqeel off to sri lanka for coaching stint

Pakistan’s top tennis player Aqeel Khan left here for Colombo on Tuesday on his maiden coaching assignment leaving Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) in a quandary ahead of the Asia Oceania Zone group two second round Davis Cup tie against South Korea from July 8 to 10.

“I’m leaving for Colombo to train the Sri Lankan team for their Asia Oceania Zone Davis Cup group three engagements for a fortnight and will be back by the middle of June,” he told Dawn shortly before departure.

He said: “I feel honoured after the Sri Lankan Tennis Association extended an invitation to prepare their team for the eight-nation round robin contest, which also takes place at Colombo from June 15 to 18.”

The eight countries which have been drawn into two pools are Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Myanmar, Oman, UAE, Vietnam and host Sri Lanka. Top two teams get promotion in group two in 2012 while the lowest two would be relegated to group four.

Asked about package he added that apart from return air ticket, accommodation and local hospitality he has been offered US $ 2,000 for a short stint.

Aqeel, 31, said the coaching assignment would also benefit him to get needed practice for Pakistan’s second round rubber against Koreans by playing against Lanka’s top player Harshana Godammana.

To a question, he dismissed the notion that he (Aqeel) didn’t avail PTF’s offer to travel anywhere in the world for training.

“After receiving an invitation letter from a US-based academy courtesy of former player Zulfiqar Rahim, I made efforts for the visa but was told that it would take at least 20 days for the interview which does not [even] guarantee a US visa,” he asserted

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Federer earns a chance to end Djokovic,s streak

Roger Federer was the last man to beat Novak Djokovic on a tennis court, and he can be the next one as well.

The 16-time Grand Slam champion set up a delectable semifinal match against the second-seeded Serb by defeating Gael Monfils 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (3) Tuesday at the French Open. If he beats Djokovic on Friday, it will end the two-time major champion’s perfect season and 43-match winning streak.

“It’s not the driving force behind this match, to be honest. For me, the plan is trying to get a step further and into the finals of the French Open,” said Federer, the 2009 champion at Roland Garros. “At the end of the day, that’s, for me, the big picture, and that’s why I entered the French Open. It wasn’t to stop Novak.”

Defending champion Francesca Schiavone and No. 11 Marion Bartoli also reached the semifinals Tuesday, while Andy Murray advanced to the quarterfinals by finishing off Viktor Troicki in a five-set match played over two days.

On Wednesday, Murray will play again, this time for a spot in the semifinals, when he faces Juan Ignacio Chela.

Five-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal will play two-time finalist Robin Soderling. In the women’s tournament, Maria Sharapova is to play Andrea Petkovic and Australian Open finalist Li Na is to face Victoria Azarenka.

Federer has not dropped a set in five matches at this year’s French Open. But against Djokovic, he’ll be facing the man who eliminated him from the past two majors at the semifinal stage.

He’ll also be up against a man who is 41-0 in 2011 and is enjoying a 43-match winning streak dating back to Nov. 27, when Federer beat Djokovic at the ATP Finals in London. With one more win, Djokovic can also assure himself of the No. 1 ranking.

“I know he has a lot on the line, which we all know about,” Federer said. “I have been there myself before in 2004 when I was going for world No. 1 against (Juan Carlos Ferrero) in Australia in the semis of a Grand Slam, as well. So it’s a similar situation.”

With a victory over Federer, Djokovic can equal John McEnroe’s Open era record of 42 straight wins to start a season. And with three more, he would match Guillermo Vilas’ record 46-match winning streak.

“A big question remains: ‘How long can you keep it up?’” Federer said. “I said it a couple weeks ago. It’s just hard day in and day out to be asked the questions, ‘How many more wins can you get?’

“You would just like to, you know, not talk about it. Just go out there and do it over and over again.”

Schiavone is also trying to do something again.

A year after she became the first Italian woman to win a Grand Slam title, she is one match from making it back to the final after beating 14th-seeded Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia 1-6, 7-5, 7-5.

But things didn’t start off so well on Tuesday; she was two points from defeat in the second set.

“I never stopped believing in what I could do,” said Schiavone, who will play Bartoli in the semifinals. “I started too slow, absolutely too slow. But in the end I felt better.”

Bartoli, eccentricities and all, advanced by beating 2009 French Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova 7-6 (4), 6-4.

The 11th-seeded Frenchwoman, only the fourth woman from her country to reach the semifinals at Roland Garros in the Open era, psychs herself up by hopping around between points and swinging her racket while awaiting serves.

“It’s really to stay focused on what I have to do,” Bartoli said in explaining her quirks. “It’s really important for me to relieve the pressure … and really focus on myself and what I need to do.”

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Li and Djokovic advance in very contrusting ways

Li Na was pushed to the limit before she sealed a spot in the French Open quarter-finals on Monday but winning machine Novak Djokovic did not need to hit a ball to take his place in the men’s last four.

Australian Open runner-up Li, the first Chinese player to reach the Roland Garros quarters, outlasted Czech ninth seed Petra Kvitova 2-6 6-1 6-3 on another warm day in western Paris but with thunderstorms forecast later.

After a lightning-quick third-round victory over Sorana Cirstea, sixth seed Li was given a much tougher test but again impressed the tennis connoisseurs on Court Philippe Chatrier with her dogged determination and weight of shot.

She battled back from an early break in the third set to prevail and prompted the suited gentlemen in the galleries to tip their panama hats in appreciation.

Djokovic was already looking almost unstoppable in his bid for a first title in the clay grand slam and now he will get an extra’s day rest compared to the others in the men’s draw.

His quarter-final opponent Fabio Fognini pulled out of Tuesday’s slated match after failing to recover from a thigh injury sustained in Sunday’s long five-set duel against Albert Montanes.

“My doctors said if I play tomorrow maybe it can be dangerous,” flamboyant Fognini told a news conference.

Serbia’s red-hot second seed Djokovic is on a 41-match winning streak since the start of the year, just one behind John McEnroe’s 1984 record.

His progression through the last eight will not count as part of the streak, officials confirmed, so the world number two will have to lift the trophy if he is to break the American’s mark in Roland Garros. Roger Federer could loom in the semi-finals.

Another player with injury problems is fourth seed Andy Murray, who is due to play Viktor Troicki in the fourth round later if he has sufficiently shrugged off an ankle injury suffered in his easy win over Michael Berrer on Saturday.

Five-times champion and holder Rafa Nadal was playing dangerous Croatian Ivan Ljubicic for a spot in the quarters while Maria Sharapova takes on Agnieszka Radwanska on centre court with her title prospects rapidly improving.

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Aisam, Rohan cruise into french open quarters

Pakistan’s ace tennis player Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi and his Indian teammate Rohan Bopanna on Monday stormed into the men’s doubles quarterfinals of the French Open tennis tournament in Paris.

The fifth-seeded India-Pakistan pair defeated Andrey Golubev of Kazakhstan and Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan 6-3, 7-5.

They will now play top seeds Mike and Bob Bryan who overcame a stiff resistance from Russias Teymuraz Gabashvili and Mikhail Kukushkin of Kazakhstan 7-6(6), 7-5.

Earlier, Qureshi and his mixed doubles partner, Kveta Peschke lost 6-4, 6-4 to Jarmila Gajdosova and Thomaz Bellucci in the second round.

NADAL BATTLES THROUGH
  
Champion Rafa Nadal played three decent sets and Novak Djokovic none at all as the leading duo progressed in the French Open on Monday and injury-hit Andy Murray battled to stay in the tournament.

A rematch of last year’s final between Spaniard Nadal and Sweden’s Robin Soderling beckons in the last eight, a round in-form Djokovic gets to skip after Fabio Fognini pulled out of the clay grand slam and Tuesday’s match with injury.

Briton Murray decided to soldier on with his ankle problem and after whacking his foot with his racket in anger and ripping his bandage off, he came back from two sets down to level at 4-6 4-6 6-3 6-2 against Viktor Troicki when bad light stopped play.

Maria Sharapova sounded in pain judging by her grunts but was in fact all smiles as she shot her arms into the air in jubilation after reaching the women’s quarters with an inconsistent 7-6 7-5 win over Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska.

As the first rain spots of the tournament began to drip on fans zig-zagging their way among the Roland Garros boutiques and snack stalls, Nadal was criss-crossing centre court in his usual all-action style even if he is still not quite at his best.

“I’m playing well but there are moments where I make a few mistakes in a row,” the five-times winner told reporters.

“I have to hit the ball with a little more conviction.”

Soderling, who beat Nadal in the last 16 in 2009, bashed Gilles Simon 6-2 6-3 7-6 on a stunned Court Philippe Chatrier.

There was some cheer for the French fans though as Gael Monfils roared back to overcome seventh seed David Ferrer 6-4 2-6 7-5 1-6 8-6 and progress to meet Roger Federer on Tuesday.

Monfils and Marion Bartoli reaching the last eight is the first time two French players have made it so far in their home grand slam since 2002.

Australian Open runner-up Li Na, the first Chinese to reach the quarter-finals in Paris, outlasted Czech ninth seed Petra Kvitova 2-6 6-1 6-3 at the start of another humid day on which forecast thunderstorms never appeared.

After a lightning-quick third-round victory over Sorana Cirstea, sixth seed Li was given a much tougher test but again impressed the tennis connoisseurs with her dogged determination.

She battled back from an early break in the third set to prevail and prompted the suited gentlemen in the galleries to tip their panama hats in appreciation.

“It was tough, like 3-0 down in the final set. I didn’t believe I could come back, because she has a huge big serve,” said Li, whose nervous husband and ex-coach could not watch.

“So I don’t know what happened. Maybe just my husband left and I could win six games in a row,” she joked.

Djokovic was already looking unstoppable in his bid for a first French Open title and now he will get an extra day’s rest.

The Serb’s quarter-final opponent Fognini pulled out of Tuesday’s slated match after failing to recover from a thigh injury sustained in Sunday’s five-setter with Albert Montanes.

The second seed is on a 41-match winning streak since the start of the year, just one behind John McEnroe’s 1984 record.

His progression through to the last eight will not count as part of the streak, officials confirmed, so the world number two must lift the trophy if he is to break the American’s mark here.

Federer may loom in the semi and victory would give Djokovic the world number one spot whatever incumbent Nadal does.

Murray, who twisted his ankle in Saturday’s win over Michael Berrer, faced a wait to get on Court Suzanne Lenglen with possible last-eight opponent Juan Ignacio Chela taking almost four hours to overcome Alejandro Falla in five sets.

The Monfils match then finished having been suspended due to bad light on Sunday before emerging women’s contender Victoria Azarenka thrashed Ekaterina Makarova 6-2 6-3.

Murray eventually appeared on court looking well but his face began to crumple as Serb Troicki exploited the Scot’s slight lack of movement before Murray showed superb resilience.

The women’s draw has been blown wide open by the top three seeds all crashing out.
Seventh seed Sharapova sprinkled the court with unforced errors but hung in to defeat Poland’s Radwanska with the three-times grand slam champion’s title odds shortening as the most experienced name left.

The Russian faces Andrea Petkovic in the last eight after the German undid Maria Kirilenko 6-2 2-6 6-4

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Djokovic, Federer on collision course at Frech Open

Djokovic produced an unforgettable performance with the racket and the microphone and Roger Federer also strolled into the French Open quarter-finals on Sunday.

World number two Djokovic extended his unbeaten run to 41 matches this year as the Serb crushed 13th seed Richard Gasquet 6-4 6-4 6-2.

Djokovic will next face Italian Fabio Fognini, who came out on top in a four-hour-22-minute, five-set battle with Spain’s Albert Montanes.

After Djokovic had showed off his devastating racket-wielding powers, the man known as The Joker on tour chose to entertain the Centre Court crowd further.

With the spectators appearing to misunderstand one of his routine answers, he decided to take matters into his own hands by grabbing the microphone off his interviewer and quizzing the fans in French.

“Eh, everybody, what happened?” he said, triggering roars of laughter.

Should Djokovic beat Fognini he would equal John McEnroe’s 42-0 record since the start of the year and set up a possible semi-final showdown with Federer.

Federer, a 16-times grand slam champion, appeared to be floating through air in a 6-3 6-2 7-5 thrashing of fellow Swiss Wawrinka as he produced some delectable shots to delight the packed crowd.

Barely anyone noticed, however, as women’s third seed Vera Zvonareva made an early exit.

Zvonareva had to play in front of rows of empty seats on Court Philippe Chatrier as she was knocked out by fellow Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 7-6 2-6 6-2 in a forgettable fourth-round match.

The 14th seeded Pavlyuchenkova, at 19 the youngest woman left in the draw, reached her first grand slam quarter-final after winning a match litted with unforced errors.

NOT ACCEPTABLE

She will meet champion Francesca Schiavone, who fought off three-times French Open semi-finalist Jelena Jankovic 6-3 2-6 6-4.

The Italian fifth seed, who kissed her beloved Roland Garros clay after a two-hour 38-minute tussle, showed more tactical abilities than the Serbian 10th seed.

Zvonareva summed up the gloom surrounding women’s tennis at this year’s French Open, where none of the top three seeds reached the last eight for the first time since the sport turned professional in 1968.

“It’s not acceptable at this stage of the grand slam,” she said.

Gasquet could do nothing against Djokovic.

The Serb was in a class of his own, barely blinking as Gasquet unleashed a series of trademark sizzling backhands.

“I’m definitely playing the best tennis of my life,” said Djokovic.

“I had two important breaks in the first sets. I played a great match.”

Federer, the 2009 champion, barely put a foot wrong on the key points against Wawrinka and wrapped up victory on a sunsoaked court in less than two hours.

Federer, who had fans leaping to their feet following a jaw-dropping sliced backhand passing shot down the line, came through a sticky patch when he conceded an early break in the third set but he kept cool to win six of the next seven games.

Federer, whose run of reaching 23 consecutive grand slam semi-finals was ended by Robin Soderling in the quarter-finals in Paris 12 months ago, has yet to drop a set in the tournament.

Next up for him will be either Spanish seventh seed David Ferrer or ninth seed Gael Monfils, whose baseline contest was interrupted due to bad light with the Frenchman leading 6-4 2-6 7-5 0-2.

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Clijsters limps out as soderling strides on

Kim Clijsters’ 11th hour recovery from injury to play at the French Open proved in vain as her hopes were blown away in the second round on Thursday but Rafael Nadal stayed on course for a sixth title with a grinding win.

As the wind buffeted Roland Garros and the skies threatened a downpour, world number two Clijsters, who recovered just in time after injuring her ankle at her cousin’s wedding, folded after squandering a match point against Dutchwoman Arantxa Rus, losing 3-6 7-5 6-1.

The Belgian, who had been on a 15-match winning streak in grand slams, was runner-up in 2001 and 2003 and her exit was her worst performance in Paris since her debut in 2000.

“I was too negative in my head,6” reigning Australian and U.S. Open champions Clijsters told reporters, refusing to blame her injury layoff for the defeat.

“If I wasn’t feeling like I was able to play tough matches, then I wouldn’t have made that decision to come here.”

Rus, the world number 114 in only her third year on the tour, was ecstatic to have beaten her “hero”.

Pablo Andujar is a big fan of world number one Nadal’s but found his fellow Spaniard in better form than in his five-set cliffhanger against John Isner on Tuesday.

Nadal still missed a trick or two in a 7-5 6-3 7-6 win over the tricky Andujar but while he is struggling to light the fire that brought him five titles in his six campaigns here, the Mallorcan’s battling qualities were still in evidence as he saved seven set points in the third set.

“I am not playing that well and I’m going to try to play much better next time. That’s what I can say and that’s what I can think, try my best in every moment,” the world number one, who next plays Croatian qualifier Antonio Veic, told reporters.

Fourth seed Andy Murray, who could meet Nadal in the semis, laboured to a 7-6 6-4 7-5 win over Simone Bolelli while fifth seed Robin Soderling overcame Albert Ramos 6-3 6-4 6-4.

It was the end of the road, however, for last year’s semi-finalist Juergen Melzer who was stopped in five sets by Czech unknown Lukas Rosol.

PAINTED FACES

Sweden’s Soderling, who like Clijsters has lost two Paris finals, against Roger Federer in 2009 and last year to Nadal, is flying beneath the radar in western Paris with all the focus on stuttering Nadal and the immense form of rival Novak Djokovic.

But cheered on by a smattering of Swedes with painted faces on a half-full Court Suzanne Lenglen, Soderling displayed why he is so dangerous on clay with some thumping winners.

Murray, outclassed by Djokovic in January’s Australian Open final, huffed and puffed at times on his way to victory against the stubborn Bolelli but the crafty Briton has a decent draw and can never be discounted if he finds his best form.

“I was not worried about how I was hitting the ball today, because I’ve seen some of the matches, and everyone is struggling (in the wind),” Murray said of the tricky weather.

Russia’s Maria Sharapova, a hot tip for the title, was almost blown off course against highly-rated French teenager Caroline Garcia before romping through the last 11 games for a 3-6 6-4 6-0 victory.

The former world number one Sharapova has suffered her share of injury and health problems but with the draw wide open she may never get a better chance to win the only grand slam title to elude her.

The seventh seed sprayed errors in the first half of her match against world number 188 Garcia who used the noisy home crowd on court Philippe Chatrier to her advantage.

Fighter that she is, Sharapova did not panic, rode out the storm before finally hitting her stride to set up a meeting with Chan Yung-jan of Taiwan.

“I just never think that the match is over until it actually is,” Sharapova told reporters. “I think that no matter what situation you’re put in, no matter how good or bad you feel, you’ve got to finish the match.”

Fourth seed Victoria Azarenka of Belarus continued her good form with a 6-0 6-1 whipping of France’s Pauline Parmentier and China’s Australian Open runner-up Li Na improved on a shaky opening round to enhance her prospects with a comfortable victory over Silvia Soler-Espinosa.

Czech dark horse Petra Kvitova made her move with a 6-4 6-1 victory over China’s Zheng Jie and 12th seed Agnieszka Radwanska, another who will eyeing a title charge, also reached the third round by overcoming India’s Sania Mirza 6-2 6-4

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