Carlos Moya won his second straight Chennai Open title by rallying from a 5-2 deficit in the third set to beat Paradorn Srichaphan 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (5) on Sunday in a rematch of last year's final.
Moya donated his winner's check of US$52,000 to relief efforts for the Dec. 26 tsunami-earthquake catastrophe that killed more than 150,000 in Asia.
The fifth-ranked Moya is the first player to win the hard-court tuneup for the Australian Open in consecutive years. Paradorn reached his fourth straight final at the tournament, but his lone championship came in 2003.
"I was extremely lucky to win today," Moya said. "It's a great way to start the year."
Moya, the 1998 French Open champion, twice broke Paradorn when the Thai player served for the match in the last set.
Fourth-seeded Vince Spadea of the US took only 45 minutes yesterday to blank David Sanchez of Spain 6-0, 6-0 in the first round of the US$426,000 tournament.
Spadea, an Auckland regular since 1995, overwhelmed his Spanish opponent, allowing Sanchez only 17 points in 12 games.
The pair had met only once previously and Sanchez had prevailed in straight sets on clay in Austria.
Spadea, Chicago-born but a Florida resident, was more at home Monday on Auckland's hard courts and in warm and humid conditions.
"I like the Auckland surface, it suits my game," Spadea said.
Fifth-seeded Fernando Gonzalez, backed by a raucous crowd of Chilean compatriots, beat James Blake of the US 7-6 (4), 6-1. Blake played for the US in last week's Hopman Cup.
Jose Acasuso of Argentina beat Julien Benneteau of France 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 in a center court match between unseeded players which lasted almost three hours. Potito Starace of Italy beat New Zealand wildcard Mark Nielsen 6-4, 6-4, and Mario Zabaleta of Argentina defeated New Zealander G.D. Jones 6-0, 6-2.
Australian Wayne Arthurs opened center-court play at the Medibank Sydney International yesterday with a 7-6 (1), 6-7 (4), 6-3 victory over Filippo Volandri of Italy.
Arthurs, who has played behind Lleyton Hewitt and Mark Philippoussis in Australia's Davis Cup team, said he's happy to take over the No. 2 singles role for the Aussies with Philippoussis injured and a March first-round encounter scheduled against Austria.
BIG NAMES GONE: Zverev is the clear favorite for a maiden Grand Slam title, reaching semi-finals for the fifth time in six years and finishing second on three occasions Alexander Zverev on Tuesday breezed past Rafael Jodar to stay on course for an elusive Grand Slam title at the French Open, while Jakub Mensik halted Joao Fonseca’s scintillating run in the quarter-finals. Zverev, the highest-ranked player left in the men’s draw, put an end to Spanish teenager Jodar’s impressive Roland Garros debut, easing into the semi-finals with a 7-6, (7/3), 6-1, 6-3 win. The 29-year-old Zverev is the clear favorite for a maiden Grand Slam title. He has finished runner-up on three occasions, including at the 2024 French Open. “I want to win the matches that are ahead of
After letting another big lead slip with an error-strewn performance at the French Open on Wednesday, top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka felt like getting as far away from the courts as possible. “Just want to quit tennis right now,” Sabalenka said after wasting a lead of a set and two breaks in a 3-6, 7-5, 6-0 loss to Diana Shnaider in the women’s singles quarter-finals. “We’ll see in few days. Hopefully I’ll get back on track mentally.” Sabalenka’s wait for a first French Open title continues despite the four-time major winner leading 4-1 in the second set and being two points from victory while
For some, Cristiano Ronaldo remains the essential spearhead for Portugal’s FIFA World Cup bid, while others believe his presence would prevent Roberto Martinez’s strong side from flourishing. The debate around the five-time Ballon d’Or winner rages on, as it did at UEFA Euro 2024 and four years ago in Qatar — yet Ronaldo endures, ready to play in a record sixth World Cup. The 41-year-old remains a global superstar despite swapping the European elite for Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr, and is the leading men’s international goalscorer with 143 strikes. With 25 of those coming in 30 games under Martinez, the coach
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