DAVIS CUP Wrap, MARCH 7

Serbia, Djokovic Stop Isner, US; to Meet Croatia
Nalbandian a Hero, Argentina to Play Russia; France v. Spain
Zonals: Britain, Canada Lose, Aussies Win MORE

Notes on a draw Sheet

Serbia Unsure of Singles Lineup vs. US

Plus: Gonzalez, Mirza, Jankovic, Ivanovic, IW WC's MORE

Boys to Men
Isner, Querrey Growing Into Legit Contenders MORE

NOTES ON A DRAW SHEET

Nick Bollettieri Falls Short of Hall Votes, Dubai Mad at Andy Murray MORE
She Still BeliEves
Oudin Finds Form, Drives Toward Top 20 MORE

THE TR NEWSLETTER: SUNDAY, FEB. 14, NO. 352
Verdasco Hits Through Roddick to Win San Jose
Fernando: ‘Now I know what to do on the important points’ MORE

Survival of the Mentally Fittest

Roddick to Meet Verdasco In San Jose Final MORE

Verdasco Tries to Make Elite Push; To Face Istomin in Semis

Roddick v. Querrey Also Ahead MORE

Another Year of the Federer?

Sampras, Dent Say Swiss Almost Unstoppable, Both Say Murray Plays Too Passive MORE

Roddick Still Hurting, Sampras on Coaching & Agassi's Allegations, Taylor Dent on Birth and Traveling With His Dad MORE

Lum photo

It's no Secret: Federer's Definitely Talented;
Roger Wins 4th Aussie Open Over Murray

Inhaling the Pressure:
Serena Outclasses Henin to Win 5th Aussie Open

Thunder Coming Down Under:
Serena, Henin Will Renew Rivalry in Final MORE

Down Goes Azarenka: Serena Pulls Off Amazing Comeback After Na Li Knocks Out Venus MORE

Roddick's Slam Chances Receding
After 5-Set Loss to Cilic MORE
Roddick Roars in 5 Set Win Over Gonzalez,
to Meet Cilic, Who Upsets Del Potro

Plus: Petrova Peaking, Safina Hurt, Kirilenko, Zheng Through MORE

Lum photo

Ferocious Face-Offs Down Under

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ROddick Might JUST HAVE BACK-up NOW
Isner Becomes a "Match Player" in Monfils Win

Also: Bondarenko, Kirilenko, Tomic, Fed Cup MORE

Ivanovic is Suffering and It's Not Pretty Sight

Aussie Open: US Ups and Downs, Sterling Wins, Devastating Defeats, Odd Occurences

A Tale of 2 Marias

Back to the Drawing Board for Sharapova as Kirilenko Stuns Her in First Round

2009 TennisReporters.net Readers Poll

Fans Return Federer to Top;
Serena Gains First TR Player Award

Sony Ericsson WTA Championships Breakdown MORE
Jankovic Takes Last Spot as Zvonareva Flames MORE
Decidedly Davydenko MORE
The Hit List, October 12, '09 MORE
Henin to the Rescue in a Hurry MORE
Jankovic, Sharapova to Revive Heated Junior Rivalry in Tokyo MORE
Clijsters-Henin Clash is Women's Best Rivalry MORE
Spain's 21st Century Davis Cup Dynasty MORE
US Open Title Over Federer Lifts del Potro MORE Comeback Queen Mom: Amazing Clijsters Downs Wozniacki to Win US Open MORE
Angry Serena Tossed in Bizarre US Open Semi MORE
Breaking Down the Players Amidst the Downpour MORE
Wozniacki Looks to Become New "It Girl" MORE
Serena and Comeback Mom Clijsters to Clash in USO Semis MORE
Federer Pumps Up the Volume MORE
A Mother of a Win: Clijsters Vexes Venus MORE
Dawg Day Afternoon MORE
Russia: An Enigma Rapped in a Puzzle MORE
American Revival May Be in Offing MORE
It's Serena, Venus and ... Oudin MORE
Del Potro Destroys Rafa, to Face Federer in US Open Final MORE
Cilic Stuns Murray in Breakthrough Win MORE
Del Potro Foils Ferrero and Looks Like Potential Finalist MORE
Swearing Game Bandage Tearing Zvonareva Melts Down MORE
Nadal's Injury Acts Up, to Face Monfils MORE
LA Women's Tournament Sold and Will Move to San Diego MORE
Pavel, Safin & Santoro: Retirement Trio Exits USO MORE
Clijsters Major Semifinal Threat MORE
Bury My Forehand on Venus' Wounded Knee MORE
Clijsters Craving Big Matches MORE
Isner, Young Head in Different Directions MORE
Will Federer Celebrate Sweet 16 in NYC? MORE
Drama Queens: Safina Survives, Ivanovic's Slam Season Ends in Tears MORE
Potential Early Blockbusters MORE

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Pavlyuchenkova Moves On to Indian Wells as Draw Out; Chile Bests Israel


MONDAY, MARCH 8 - Just as she came off the first title run in her career at Monterrey, 18-year-old Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova had to hop a flight to the California desert to defend her points from her ’09 semifinal appearance at the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, which starts Wednesday. On Sunday, the powerful and chatty Russian beat Anastaija Sevastova 6-3, 2-6, 6-1 in the semis and the Daniela Hantuchova 1-6, 6-1, 6-0 in the final. She pushed her ranking up to No. 25 with a fine display of her top 5 potential, but now she’ll have to prove herself against most of the elite players again, as she could face Sam Stosur in the 3rd round of IW, then defending champ Vera Zvonareva or 2009 finalist Ana Ivanovic and even if she gets through there, very likely Victoria Azarenka or Yanina Wickmayer. We’ll really see who the WTA’s most promising young player by sometime next week.
The Indian Wells main draw is out, without, of course, the Williams sisters, but with everyone else of note including Justine Henin, Kim Clijsters and Maria Sharapova. On the top half, Clijsters has decent draw with potential matches against Alisa Kleybanova in R3, Sveta Kuznetsova or Agnes Szavay in R4 and in the quarters, anyone out of these seeds: Jelena Jankovic, Dominica Cibulkova, Flavia Pennetta or Shahar Peer. It could be much worse. If you consider Clijsters the favorite on in that quarter of the draw and she’s certainly been playing at higher level than Kuznetsova has since September outside of her major Aussie Open hiccup, then its bottom quarter of the top half that will likely produce her greatest threat, possibly in the form of the winner of the quarter between Azarenka and Wickmayer, or maybe even “Papillion” (one of Pavlyuchenkova’s nicknames).
The bottom half of the draw appears set for a showdown between the unseeded Justine Henin and Maria Sharapova. Henin is looking at the sporadic Maggie Rybarikova in R1, Gisela Dulko in R2, Aggie Radwanska in R3, Sabine Lisicki or Marion Bartoli in R4 and then maybe Elena Dementieva, who doesn’t always play well in the desert. Not so bad, but Henin is sure to be pushed somewhere. Sharapova could face Jelena Dokic in R2, then Jie Zheng, then Na Li, then Caroline Wozniacki, should the Dane survive Maria, Kirilenko, Alona Bondarenko or Nadia Petrova. It’s a much tougher draw fro Sharapova than in Memphis.
Ivanovic will have to likely have to face Sevastova to earn a rematch Zvonareva and then we’ll take it from there. There are no easy contests for Ivanovic anymore. Melanie Oudin plays Roberta Vinci to get to two-time IW winner Hantuchova, which will be a very rough match for the American, but a winnable one.
Chile got something to cheer about when its Davis Cup team outlasted Israel 4-1 on clay. Fernando Gonzalez bested Dudi Sela 6-4 6-4 6-3 to seal the tie. “The important thing was to win, whichever way,” Gonzalez said. “We are very happy with this victory, and we hope it brings a little joy to Chile and to the victims of the earthquake that must receive our support and feel that they are being helped.”
Gonzalez is skipping IW to visit towns that were affected by the earthquake. He’s planning on returning to play in Miami, although he says he’s contending with a knee injury. Chile will take on the Czech Republic at home.

The Lawn Tennis Association has denied a London Times by Neil Harman that Greg Rusedski is set to replace British Davis Cup captain John Lloyd after Britain went down in Lithuania.
“We have had no direct contact at all (with Rusedski),” LTA player director Steve Martens told BBC Radio Five Live: “I think it would also be very disrespectful to a guy like John to do that when we haven't even finished the tie. Greg is a fantastic coach, he works with us, he's fully on board working with some of the male players and John so far has been fully in the loop in everything we do. Clearly we have to be swift and decisive. But it is very important that in the heat of the battle you don't do anything emotional. We have to be looking at this together with the captain, reviewing where we were with our players, where we were with our selection, where we were with the preparation of the players. That is exactly what we'll do over the next few days and the captain will be a full part of that."
Rusedski has spoken publicly about his desire for the job, but it is unknown how top British player Andy Murray feels about playing under Rusedski and Murray’s opinion is critical.

Davis Cup: Serbs Up 2-0 on US, Spain-Swiss, Sweden-Argentina Tied 1-1

FRIDAY MARCH 5 - New US singles players John Isner and Sam Querrey fought their tails off, but in the end, it was clay court knowledge and a home court advantage that mattered most as Serbia took a 2-0 lead over the US in Belgrade.
In the opening match, Viktor Troicki out-steadied Isner 7-6(4) 6-7(5) 7-5 6-4 in three hours and 36 minutes, which was flowed by another long and compelling contest, Novak Djokovic’s 6-2 7-6(4) 2-6 6-3 win over Querrey. “It was pretty rough, but that’s what I kind of expected,” said Isner. “There was some times that the [crowd] would get on me a little bit, but it didn’t affect me…. I fought hard, I knew that I was going to do that. I guess I’m proud, but I didn’t fight as hard as I could. It just stinks that I didn’t get the result that I wanted.”
On Saturday, Bob and Mike Bryan, face a tough task against nemesis Nenad Zimonjic and Janko Tipsarevic. “It’s going to be one of our toughest matches in Davis Cup,” said Bob. “We’ll use our twin telepathy.”
Elsewhere, Spain and Switzerland are tied 1-1 after Stanislas Wawrinka survived Nicolas Almagro 3-6 6-4 3-6 7-5 6-3. Spain’s David Ferrer then tied it by grabbing a 6-2 7-6 6-1 victory over Marco Chiudinelli. The new father Wawrinka will play doubles with Yves Allegro against Marcel Granollers/Tommy Robredo… Argentina is in with a shot in Sweden after Leonardo Mayer bested Joachim Johansson 5-7 6-3 7-5 6-4. In the first match, Sweden’s Robin Soderling put down Eduardo Schwank 6-1 7-6(0) 7-5 . Argentine David Nalbandian is set to go in Saturday’s doubles, and could also play singles on Sunday…Russia’s Igor Kunitsyn scored his first Davis Cup win over Somdev Devvarman, while Mikhail Youzhny took out Rohan Bopanna to go up 2-0 over India in Moscow. Kunitsyn subbed for Igor Andreev, who has a bum knee, which required an MRI. Youzhny is contending with a bad back. India will send out double specialists Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi against a makeshift Russian team.
The Czech Republic holds 2-0 lead over Belgium following Tomas Berdych’s 6-3 6-0 6- 4 win over Olivier Rochus and Radek Stepanek’s 6-2 6-4 7-6(3) victory over Xavier Malisse…France’s Jo-Wilfried Tsonga has a perfect Davis Cup record and stood strong in his 6-3 6-2 6-7 6-3 win over Germany’s Benjamin Becker in Toulon. Gael Monfils opened the day by besting Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-1 6-4 7-6(5). …Ivo Karlovic and Marin Cilic put Croatia ahead of Ecuador 2-0. ..In Zonal play, Australia grabbed a 2-0 lead over Chinese Tapei when Bernard Tomic pasted Tsung-Hua Yang 6-2 6-1 6-1 and Peter Luczak also won… James Ward became the first British man outside of Tim Henman, Greg Rusedski and Andy Murray to win a live singles rubber in 13 years when he beat Lithuania’s Laurynas Gregelis 6-4 6-2 6-4. Top Lithuanian Ricardas Berankis beat Dan Evans in five…Columbia leads Canada 2-0, Poland and Finland are even at 1-1, as are Austria and the Slovak Republic. Ireland leads Turkey 2-0. The WTA match of the day in Monterrey will be between Agnes Szavay and Dominika Cibulkova. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova is already through to the semis.

Isner vs. Troicki to Highlight Busy Davis Cup Friday

Del Potro, Gonzalez Out of Indian Wells, Graf, Navratilova to Play Haiti Exo MORE

Debate on Tour's Calendars
Masks Real Problems MORE

TUESDAY, MARCH 2 - Despite the absences of Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal, Juan Martin Del Potro and Andy Roddick and now likely Nikolay Davydenko, it should be a fairly interesting round of 16 in Davis Cup, with the US vs. Serbia the most intriguing tie, followed by Spain against Switzerland and then Chile against Israel, mostly because due to the horrific earthquake that struck that South American nation last weekend, the tie, when it goes off, will surely be emotional. MORE


Bryans Pass Mac/Fleming; Davis Cup Happenings in Chile, Spain, Argentina


MONDAY, March 1 - Bob and Mike Bryan won their 58th team title in Delray Beach, passing John McEnroe and Peter Fleming on the Open Era list. The twins are now just four back of the Woodies.
“It’s pretty cool to be on our own,” said Mike “I’m sure they’re not going to get any easier. You feel a little more extra pressure because now everyone’s talking about it, we’re even thinking about it now. We want to break [the record].” On Saturday, the 31-year-old American twins became the first team in the Open Era to win 600 matches together. MORE


Djokovic, Venus, Gulbis, Kleybanova Wins Titles

SUNDAY, FEB. 28 - Novak Djokovic defended a title for the first time in his career by winning the rain-delayed Dubai final with a 7-5, 5-7, 6-3 victory over Russian Mikhail Youzhny, It was the Serbian’s 17th career title and it didn’t come easy as he had to also scored three set wins over Marcos Baghdatis, Ivan Ljubicic and Victor Troicki. MORE


Cilic Out of Dubai; Djokovic Wins
Fish Finding From in Delray MORE


Murray, Davydenko Out of Dubai
Venus v. Kanepi in Acapulco MORE

Murray Tries to Matter Again

Ivanovic Hires Gunthardt MORE

The Wrap, Week of Feb. 15-21

Querrey Chops Down Isner for Memphis Crown; Sharapova, Llodra, Ferrero, Duque Marino Also Win Crowns

Venus Beats Vika for Dubai Title; Querrey vs. Isner in Memphis Final

SATURDAY, FEB. 20 - Victoria Azarenka may be one of the most promising players on tour, but she’s sure having trouble against the elite veterans. On Saturday, Venus Williams retained her Dubai crown by defeating Belarussian 6-3 7-5 for the title. It was Venus’ 42nd singles title, putting her one ahead of Justine Henin. MORE


Venus v. Vika in Dubai; Querrey Gets Revenge Over Roddick

FRIDAY, FEB. 18 - Venus and Vika will meet for only the second time, but it will be a defining match for Azarenka, who needs to win another fair sized title in order to reestablish her credentials. MORE


Roddick Survives, Sharapova, Oudin Cruise; Venus v. Peer in Dubai

THURSDAY, FEB. 18 - Andy Roddick is still having trouble breaking serve, but once again, he was able to break down an opponent when it mattered most as he took down his friend James Blake, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(3) in front of what was said to overflow crowd of more than 5,000 at the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships in Memphis. MORE

Sampras/Federer to Play Agassi/Nadal in Hit for Haiti at Indian Wells MORE

Woznaicki, Kuznetsova Fall in Dubai

Roddick v. Blake Ahead in Memphis

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 17 - Caroline Wozniacki just can’t seem to get her season going on the right track, and neither can Svetlana Kuznetsova. In Dubai, the top seeded Dane fell to the inspired Israeli Shahar Peer 6-2 7-5, while Kuznetsova was beaten 5-7 7-6 6-4 to Russian qualifier Regina Kulikova. MORE


Sharapova, Isner Memphis Winners
Woznaicki, Venus Win In Dubai

TUESDAY, FEB. 16 -Former UGA standout John Isner returned to the tour in fine fashion on Monday at the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships/Cellular South Cup in Memphis. The towering Isner, who was last seen reaching the fourth round of the Australian Open and is now ranked a career high No. 25, took out US teen Ryan Harrison 6-1, 7-5 . MORE

USTA Selects Birmingham, Alabama for Fed Cup Semi Between US & Russia

TUESDAY, FEB. 16 - The USTA announced that Birmingham, Ala., has been selected as the site for the 2010 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas semifinal tie between the United States and Russia, April 24-25. The matches will be played at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex Arena, which will be hosting a Fed Cup event for the first time. . MORE

SUNDAY, FEB. 14 - Elena Dementieva came from a set down to beat Czech Lucie Safarova 6-7. 6-1, 6-4 to win the Paris Indoor, the Russian’s 16th crown. "It was very emotional. I always wanted to win in Paris," Dementieva said. "This tournament is very special for me and I was coming here every year trying to win this title." MORE


Dementieva vs. Safarova in Paris Final MORE

Oudin Hits a Hot Streak

FRIDAY, FEB. 12 - Melanie Oudin’s slump is now really, really over. The Georgia teen reached her first WTA tour semi when she took out Agnes Szavay 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 at the Paris Indoors. MORE

Querrey Bests Dent; Oudin on Roll

THURSDAY, FEB. 11 - They live within 30 miles of each other now in Southern California but come from different parts of the tennis generational universe. On Thursday, 22-year-old Sam Querrey beat Taylor Dent 6-4, 6-4 at San Jose's SAP Open, in a necessary for victory for Querrey, who has struggled getting his feet under him since his bizarre arm injury in Thailand last Octobe . MORE

Cover Girl Decker's Husband Roddick Scrapes Through MORE

Fish Injured, Roddick to Give it a Go MORE


Fed Cup Winners: US, Russia, Italy, Czechs; Ivanovic Goes 0-3 MORE

US Fences in France; Other Three Fed Cup Ties at 1-1 MORE


Closing AO Notes: Murray's Lack of Offense MORE

Nadal Out for 4 Weeks

MORE

Murray Clips Cilic to Reach Final
MORE

Bryans Upset With Snoozing Leconte
MORE

Same As it Ever Was: Federer Downs Pissed off Davydenko
MORE

Nadal Injures Knee Again; Retires Against Brilliant Murray MORE

Relaxed Yet Intense: Henin Finding Balance, to Meet Zheng in Semis MORE

Perfect Men's Quarters Set: Fed v. Davydenko, Tsonga v. Djokovic

Serena Smothers Sam, Venus to Face Li

MORE

Tsonga Tries to Regain Elite Status

Venus in Search of Higher Level

Hewitt v. Bagman Revisited,
Venus to Face Dellacqua MORE

A Jewel of a Justine Victory
MORE

Safina Just Wants to Have Fun,
Roddick Pulls Through MORE

Let the New Grand Slam Decade
Begins Down Under MORE

AO Draws Out: Clijsters, Henin in Sam 1/4; Same With Nadal & Murray

MORE

Wrap: Week of Nov. 30-Dec. 6 MORE
Wrap: Week of Nov. 22-29 MORE
Wrap: Week of Nov. 9-15 MORE
Wrap: Week of Nov. 2-8 MORE
WRAP: WEEKS OF OCT. 26-NOV. 1 MORE
WRAP: WEEKS OF OCT. 18-25 MORE
WRAP: WEEKS OF OCT. 11-17 MORE
WRAP: WEEK OF OCT. 5-11 MORE
WRAP: WEEK OF OCT. 3 MORE
WRAP: WEEK OF SEPT. 26 MORE