David Nalbandian wants to return to Queen's next year despite being disqualified in final for injuring line judge

David Nalbandian hopes to return to Queen's next summer despite being disqualified from Sunday's final for an ill-tempered kick that bloodied a line judge's shin and could leave the Argentinian up to £43,000 out of pocket.
 
In the wars: David Nalbandian took his anger out on an advertising hoarding when flew up and cut the leg of the line judge Photo: GETTY IMAGES


Nalbandian won the first set of his AEGON Championships final at Queen's but lost his temper in the second set after being broken by opponent Marin Cilic.

After missing a lunging forehand Nalbandian kicked an advertising hoarding in front of the chair of line judge Andrew McDougall.

The hoarding flew off its hinges and struck McDougall in the shin, causing an inch-long gash from which blood started to seep.

Nalbandian was disqualified after being deemed guilty of unsportsmanlike conduct and he suffered further pain when he had his £36,500 prize money withdrawn and heard he could be hit with a £6,400 fine.

Yet despite the incident, Nalbandian hopes to return to the Wimbledon warm-up event next year.


"This incident doesn't mean that I'm not going to come back," Nalbandian said. "It doesn't matter. I really feel good at this tournament.

"The tournament director is great to me and I like it. This is a bad situation for everybody and I really apologise for that but it doesn't mean anything to next year."

The 6,000-strong crowd sided with Nalbandian straight after the incident, many of them unaware the kick had caused such damage to the left leg of McDougall, who needed treatment for the injury.

Tournament director Chris Kermode stopped short of saying the 10th seed would definitely be allowed back, but conceded banning the player would be highly unlikely.

"Look, mistakes happen," he said. "I haven't really thought about next year, but you can ask me again in a couple of weeks

"There was no way he intended to do that. It would be foolish to say he's not welcome back to this tournament.

"The tennis he's played this week has been phenomenal and the crowd like him.

"You could tell by the crowd that they wanted him to play, so, you have to forgive these things and move on."

 

O'Brien eases through

(UKPA)

British number two Katie O'Brien joined Elena Baltacha in the second round of the Australian Open after a straight sets win over Patricia Mayr.

The Hull-born 23-year-old won 6-3 6-3 to progress past the first round of a grand slam for just the second time in her career.

O'Brien's best ever result at a major was reaching the second round at Wimbledon in 2007 and a confident display, against a player ranked three places behind her in 90th, ensured she would at least match that.

A difficult task, however, awaits in the next round where she will play eighth seed Jelena Jankovic.

O'Brien quickly found her stride, breaking her Austrian opponent in the fifth game to go 3-2 ahead and then with Mayr serving to stay in the set broke again to take the advantage.

Mayr broke early in the second set, but from there the Austrian's serve let her down. O'Brien pounced on the opportunity and broke on three consecutive occasions to surge ahead before wrapping up the match when Mayr dumped a forehand into the net.

Copyright © 2010 The Press Association. All rights reserved.

Australian Open 2010: Andy Murray happy with first round display

Andy Murray was satisfied with his performance as he brushed aside South African Kevin Anderson to reach the second round at the Australian Open despite the fifth seed struggling with his serve.

Andy Murray claimed a 6-1, 6-1, 6-2 win over the qualifier and despite his struggles the Scot had the measure of Anderson's usually reliable serve and broke eight times during the match to seal an easy win.

"I got here 10 days earlier than I've done in the last three years," said Murray. "I feel good and I think that match proved it [but I'd like to have served bit better."

Murray faulted with 65 per cent of his first serves, which was a concern, and he will have to improve on that later in the tournament. However, Anderson could not hold on to his serve which was broken eight times.

"He didn't get broken in the whole of qualifying," Murray added. "He's 6ft 8in and it was a tough first round for me, so I was a bit nervous at the start but got off to a good start and broke him straightaway."

With strong support from the Melbourne Park crowds, Murray is optimistic he can have a good run in the season's opening grand slam.

Discussing the crowd's backing for him, Murray said: "I've never done that well (at the Australian Open) but hopefully I can go a little better this year and hopefully it will make the difference."

Kirilenko tells boyfriend: 'Now go beat Federer'

Julian Linden

MELBOURNE

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Maria Kirilenko and her boyfriend Igor Andreev wanted to start 2010 with a bang.

Sports

After the Russian pulled off the biggest win of her career by beating Maria Sharapova 7-6 3-6 6-4 on the opening day of the Australian Open, she now expects Andreev to make some noise against Roger Federer Tuesday.

"Before the matches he said that we can start the year loud (with a big upset)," she told a news conference.

"And I have already started the year loud, I think. So now it's his turn. Of course, it's going to be tough, but in the first round you never know what's gonna happen."

Kirilenko had beaten her good friend Sharapova once before, at Beijing in 2005, but Monday's unexpected win was all the sweeter because it was at a grand slam.

The pair won a doubles title together at Birmingham in 2005 when they were teenagers but while Sharapova's career has gone from strength to strength, Kirilenko's has stalled.

She has won five WTA Tour titles but her best result at a grand slam was reaching the fourth round at Melbourne Park in 2008.

Kirilenko reached a career high ranking of 18 that year but has slipped to 58 after experiencing knee problems in 2009.

"I had a knee problem last year, actually here in Australia," she said. "I was not so good and after Wimbledon, I started to get some treatment.

"Since then, I've had a lot less pain. For example, today I played three-and-a-half hours and I didn't have any pain. And I was moving quite good, I think."

(Editing by Peter Rutherford)

Serena Williams says her knee is OK and she's all set to defend Australian Open title

By Dennis Passa (CP) – 1 hour ago

MELBOURNE, Australia — Serena Williams says her left knee is just fine and it won't keep her from playing both singles and doubles at the Australian Open.

The defending champion said Saturday that although her knee bothered her for much of the Sydney International final the previous night, the injury wasn't serious and it wasn't the reason for her 6-3, 6-2 loss to Elena Dementieva.

"The knee is much better," Williams said. "It was good for me to get all those matches in. So it was good."

She said the pain, which she only described as "definitely not ligament" related, hadn't hampered her preparation for the season's first major.

"Absolutely not," she said. "If anything, it helped. I played a lot of matches in a row, back to back. I had a long three-set match. But that was good preparation for me because I do plan on playing both singles and doubles here."

Williams said Olympic champion Dementieva played a strong match.

"I think Elena played well. She always plays me well ... she played amazing," Williams said. "It's very comforting to know that I wasn't at my best on that particular match. What athlete really is at 100 per cent every time? Probably never."

Williams said she cancelled a practice session Saturday because she wanted some rest, and she'd be ready for her first-round match at Melbourne Park against Poland's Urszula Radwanska on Tuesday.

"Don't want to push it, go too far," she said of the cancelled session. "Definitely want to do the best I can obviously, but also want to pace myself. Hopefully I can play seven singles rounds and six doubles rounds."

Urszula Radwanksa is the younger sister of Agnieszka Radwanska. Williams is the younger of the two Williams sisters on the circuit - Venus is 29, Serena 28.

"I've played her before at Wimbledon, so she's a tough cookie ... and she's definitely no pushover," Williams said of Radwanska. "She's a younger sister, and younger sisters always want to play really hard and really tough. I know that for a fact."

Whatever lightheartedness Williams had in her voice about sibling rivalries disappeared when she was asked about the U.S. Open last year. A profanity-laced, finger-pointing tantrum directed at a line judge in a semifinal loss to Kim Clijsters cost Williams a record fine of US$82,500.

She also faces suspension from the U.S. Open if she has any serious outbursts at a major in the next two years.

Williams has spoken only briefly about the episode since arriving in Australia more than a week ago, and has let everyone know she doesn't really want to talk about it.

So she didn't take kindly to this question from an Australian journalist: "Last time we saw you in a Grand Slam, there was that little incident in New York. How is your anger management coming along?"

"Was it anger management, do you think?" Williams replied, obviously perturbed. "How is your writing coming along?"

When the journalist replied: "Just fine, thank you," Williams said: "Great. Ditto, kiddo."

Copyright © 2010 The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

Roger Federer's wife Mirka gives birth to twin girls

Roger Federer wife Mirka gave birth to twins.The twins are the first children for the famous couple and Roger Federer said that this was the most happiest moment in their lives.Federer shared is joy with his fans through his Facebook account.Mirka gave birth to the twins in Switzerland.Both the girl babies are hale and healthy along with the mother.

Roger Federer has named the girl babies.Myla Rose and Charlene Riva are the names of the two cute tiny little tots.Mirka was also a tennis player,but she had to quit tennis due to injury very early in her career.We have to wait and see what is in store from these two little ones who are from a strong tennis background.

Wimbledon 2009: Roger Federer vs. Robin Soldering

Roger Federer looks to be in great form and he might well be in the course to clinch yet another Wimbledon title and regain his crown and become the World No1.The match between Roger Federer and Robin Soderling was a hard fought one though the scores might not suggest so.Fedx showed his class against Soderling with his forehand and his placements here spot on.

Federer clinched the first set 6-4.The second set was equally poised and they reached a 6-6 and went to tiebreaker.Roger Federer showed his class and won the set in 7-6 score.The third set also went on to a tie-breaker and Fedx clinched the set and the game with 7-6 score again.Federer now has reached the quater finals and it looks as if he will be the Champion this time.

RESULT AND SCORE

Federer wins against Soderling

6-4 ,7-6 ,7-6

French Open Final : Roger Federer vs Robin Soldering

French Open finals would have been perfect if it had been between Roger Federer vs Rafel Nadal.But that is not the case anymore and the match is between Roger Federer and Robin Soderling.If Federer can pull of this it would be remarkable because he would reach the feat what Samparas has achieved. It is not going to be easy with Robin Soderling,but still I keep my fingers crossed and I would like Federer to win.

ROGER FEDERER WINS AGAINST ROBIN SODERLING IN STRAIT SETS : 6-1, 7-6, 6-4. Now Roger Federer has become the legend of Tennis.



Robin Soderling won against the World's No1 Nadal. The 4th round match was intensely fought in which Nadal lost to Soderling.In the semifinals Soderling when a marathon game which lasted for 5 sets against Fernando Gonzalez in which Robin won the first 2 sets and the next to was won by Fernando Gonzalez and in the final set Robin bounced back after trailing 1-4.

It is very hard to predict a winner,but I would like Federer to win it.He such a consistent performer and this would be a real compliment for him.Lets us hope that the Sunday's final is a nail biting one.

French Open 2009 :Maria Sharapova beats Nadia Pedrova in Paris

Maria Sharapova stormed her way to beat the 11th seed Nadia Pedrova to reach the third round of the French Open. Since she was in a major lay-off due her injury she was considered as the under-dog for this match.Maria Sharapova surprised everyone and proved her critics wrong with a 6-2 1-6 8-6 victory over her opponent.

Maria Sharapova played some ruthless tennis in the first set to take the set with a 6-2 win. The injured right hand shoulder became a big problem for her in the second round.She just managed to take 1 game and lost the set 1-6.The third set was a fierce and hard fought battle in which Maria Sharapova won the set and clinched the match.

Australia pull out from Davis Cup

Australian team has pulled out of th Davis Cup which was scheduled to be held in Chennai from May 8 to May 10th.The main reason for this could be the security concern that is prevailing in India.IPL which was to be scheduled in Indian mainly moved outside India because of security concerns.Is IPL showing a wrong signal to all other country people that India is not a safe place.We have to wait and see how all other countries behave and what opinion they have about India and other Asian countries.

Nadal crowned King of Monte Carlo five times in a row

Rafael Nadal became the first man to win the Monte Carlo Masters five times in a row.He defaeted Novak Djokovic to win the title.Now he can be seriously called the "King of Clay court".

Nadal was defending his title against Novak Djokovic.The match started and Nadal clinched the first set in style and won th set with 6-3.Novak Djokovic played some fierce shots to win the second set 6-2.Nadal the champion of clay increased his skills and clinched the third set and the match in style.

Roger Federer gets married

Roger Federer is one of my favorite Tennis star.He has won 13 Grans Slams titles.He is one of the living legends of the game.Off late his form is not that good.But it is not the right time to discuss about his professional life.My Tennis star has got married to Mirka is long time girl friend in his home town surrounded by his close friends.

I hope his love life makes him fresh ans his back in the court with his usual power and precision.I personally feel that there is still some more years of competitive tennis left in Federer.

Nadal loses Rotterdam title to Murray

Rafael Nadal the World No1 lost to Andy Murray in the World Indoor tournament.Right from the start of the match Nadal was completely out of socks.The match finished in 3 sets in which Andy claimed the first set 6-3.Even though Nadal was injured he came back strongly in the second set 6-4.The third and the final set was a one side in which Andy claimed the set in style with 6-0.Though it was disappointing for me to see Nadal loose the match it was great to see him not to give up despite of being injured.This proves that Nadal has all the class and determination to stay as the World class player.Surely he is a champion!!!!

Sania loses Pattaya Open title

Vera Zvonareva who was termed a s the favorite overcame India's Sania Mirza with ease.The first set was a tight one in which Vera Zvonareva won the set 7-5.In the second set the 24 year old Russian demolished Sania to win the set 6-1.

If Sania had won the match it would have been her second title.She gave a good fight in the 1st set..But she was not on par with the class showed by Vera Zvonareva in the second set

Rafael Nadal wins the Australian open title

The finals of the Austaralian open was no different tahn a normal Nadal Fedx clash.It was a classical one and a five setter.Nadal won the first set breaking fedx serve thrice..Then in the second set Fedx won th game with ease to make it one each.Then Nadal took the third set in the tie-breaker.As usual Mr.Cool Bounced back on the 4th set to make it 2 all.But Nadal proved is supremacy in the fifth set with sum power packed forehand and backhand to take the set and the game.

Rafael Nadal (1)		7	3	7	3	6
Roger Federer (2)		5	6	6	6	2

Sania-Bhupathi win mixed doubles title

The Indian pair Sania and Mahesh Bhupathi won the mixed doubles final of the Australian Open in style .They outclassed there opponenets who where Nathalie Dechy and Andy Ram in a convincing straight set 6-3 6-1.Thus Sania Mirza became the first Indian Women to win a senior grand slam title.

Yuki Bhambri creates history at Australian Open

Yuki Bhambri cliniched the Australian Open junior Grand Slam title against Germany's Alexandros-Ferdinandos Georgoudas 6-3, 6-1 .The match got over within an hour.He became the fourth Indian to do so.The former greats have tipped that this is a big achievement and he looks all set to make it big in the mens arena.So watch out Yuki is surely an EMERGING STAR...

Sania and Bhupathi strom into Australian Open Final

Sania and Bhupathi in the semi-finals of the Australain open against Czechs Iveta Benesova and Lukas Dlouhy trailed at the beginning by 1-3 ...then they raised there standard of the game to finish the match with 6-4, 6-1 .