Ferrer beats Almagro, wins Swedish title
July 9, 2007
David Ferrer of Spain beat countryman Nicolas Almagro 6-1, 6-2 Sunday to win the Swedish Open for his fourth ATP title. The second-seeded Ferrer broke Almagro in the opening game of the match and took a 5-1 lead after another break. In the second set, Ferrer twice broke the unseeded Almagro. “I’m very happy for this win,” said Ferrer, who lost only one set in his five matches at the clay-court…
Federer-Nadal match boosts NBC ratings
July 9, 2007
Roger Federer’s second Wimbledon final against Rafael Nadal drew a TV audience about 10 percent larger than last year’s matchup did. The coverage of the men’s championship Sunday, won by Federer in five sets, drew a 3.2 overnight rating on NBC. That’s up from 2.9 in 2006, when Federer beat Nadal in four sets at the All England Club.
Final shows Nadal closing on Federer
July 8, 2007
Rafael Nadal is getting closer. A year after losing the Wimbledon final to Roger Federer in four sets, the second-seeded Spaniard pushed Federer to the full five Sunday before falling 7-6 (7), 4-6, 7-6 (3), 2-6, 6-2. “He’s playing phenomenal tennis,” Federer said. “He’s definitely improved yet again. “I think last year he came out, nothing to lose, kind of hit hard but didn’t know why.
Young wins Wimbledon juniors title
July 7, 2007
Long touted as the next great American tennis player, Donald Young played the part Sunday by winning the Wimbledon juniors title. The 17-year-old Young beat top-seeded Vladimir Ignatic of Belarus 7-5, 6-1. “If I’d have lost the first set, it would have been a real dogfight to come back and try to win the second because he would have just got even more confident,” said Young, who was seeded third.
Young back at Wimbledon juniors
July 6, 2007
Donald Young had a change of heart about playing junior tennis. The 17-year-old American, the youngest boy to win a junior Grand Slam title, originally said he would only play professional events in 2007. But he reconsidered and is playing in his first junior event of the year at Wimbledon. “Junior Slams are really big,” said Young, who beat Dimitris Kleftakos on Friday to reach the semifinals.
Venus Williams wins 4th Wimbledon title
July 6, 2007
Improbable as this Wimbledon title might have seemed, Venus Williams knew it could happen. Far away as that trophy might have appeared only last week, Williams knew she had the game and the grit to grab it. Oh, how her serves and strokes sizzle on the grass of Centre Court. With a dominant run through the latter rounds, Williams became the lowest-ranked woman to win Wimbledon, beating Marion Bartoli…
5th straight Wimbledon title for Federer
July 6, 2007
The best tennis rivalry in years blossomed a little more in the Wimbledon final, and even Roger Federer was happy about it. He answered the latest challenge from nemesis Rafael Nadal beautifully. Federer matched Bjorn Borg’s modern record of five consecutive Wimbledon men’s titles Sunday, beating Nadal in the final for the second year in a row, 7-6 (7), 4-6, 7-6 (3), 2-6, 6-2.
Wimbledon to stay on NBC through 2011
July 5, 2007
Wimbledon will stay on NBC through 2011 after the network and the All England Club agreed to a four-year contract extension. This is the 39th consecutive year NBC has aired the grass-court Grand Slam. “We are delighted that our long partnership with NBC Sports is to continue,” All England Club chairman Tim Phillips said Thursday.
Williams sisters pull out of doubles
July 4, 2007
The Williams sisters pulled out of doubles at Wimbledon on Wednesday after Serena lost her singles quarterfinal against Justine Henin. Serena Williams strained her left calf and also hurt her left thumb during her fourth-round singles victory Monday. “I’ve never experienced that much pain,” she said Wednesday, referring to the calf injury.
Kournikova, Sampras in World Team Tennis
July 3, 2007
Anna Kournikova will open the season, Pete Sampras plans to play four matches and John McEnroe will try to keep up “with the big boys” of World Team Tennis. Co-founded by Billie Jean King, the coed league kicks off its 32nd season Thursday. The monthlong series will feature appearances by Venus and Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova and the top-ranked doubles duo of Bob and Mike Bryan.
