Second-seeded Vince Spadea outlasted qualifier Bobby Reynolds 1-6, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (2) Tuesday in the first round of the Tennis Channel Open, fighting off two match points in the second set.
Spadea came in at 7-5 this season, battling stomach flu and aching from tendinitis in his right shoulder that forced him out of last week's tournament in Memphis. He hadn't practiced since Saturday, and had to wait through four rain delays that totaled more than 3 hours to get started.
But the 30-year-old journeyman still knows how to win.
"All excuses aside, I decided to play," he said. "My preparation wasn't ideal, but I still was out there to compete."
Top-seeded German Tommy Haas withdrew because of flu, and Wayne Arthurs of Australia upset fourth-seeded American Taylor Dent 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (4).
Defending champion and top seed Carlos Moya defeated Ecuador's Nicolas Lapentti 6-4, 7-6 (4) Tuesday in the first round of the Mexican Open.
Second-seeded Argentine Gaston Gaudio withdrew with an injury after splitting two sets with Tomas Zib of the Czech Republic. Gaudio took the first set 6-2, but lost the second 7-5 before withdrawing.
Eighth-seeded Rafael Nadal of Spain defeated Alex Calatrava 6-4, 6-4. The 18-year-old Nadal used a dominant service game on the clay court to defeat his countryman.
Marat Safin, playing his first match since winning the Australian Open three weeks ago, was in the opening round of the US$1 million tournament, eliminated by Germany's Nicolas Kiefer 7-6 (2), 6-4.
In the day's marquee match, Tim Henman saved one match point and rallied to beat Greg Rusedski 4-6, 7-6 (7), 6-4 for his fifth straight victory over his fellow Briton.
Kiefer, the 2000 Dubai champion and a two-time finalist in the United Arab Emirates, earned grudging applause from a capacity crowd, which overwhelmingly supported Safin.
Conchita Martinez rallied from a set down to beat Roberta Vinci of Italy 5-7, 6-0, 6-2 and reach the second round of the US$600,000 tournament.
Martinez broke Vinci six times in the match, three in the second set, to prevail in 1 hour, 46 minutes.
Also on Tuesday, Ai Sugiyama of Japan reached second round by beating Samantha Stosur of Australia 6-2, 6-3 and set up a clash with Francesca Schiavone of Italy. Elsewhere, 18-year-old Russian Maria Kirilenko of Russia beat Lucie Safararova of the Czech Republic 6-3, 6-1, and Nicole Pratt of Australia outlasted Selima Safr of Tunisia 7-5, 6-2 to earn a second-round clash with compatriot and No. 4 seed Alicia Molik.
A homeless man accused of stalking tennis star Anna Kournikova pleaded innocent Tuesday to battery and other charges stemming from his arrest on her neighbor's pool patio.
William Lepeska, 40, has been jailed in a psychiatric unit on US$250,000 bond. He could face 30 years in state prison if convicted of two counts of battery on police officers, resisting arrest and burglary, all felonies. He also faces misdemeanor charges of stalking, indecent exposure and criminal mischief.
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
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
Liverpool are in advanced talks with former AFC Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola as they seek a replacement for Arne Slot, reports said on Tuesday. Iraola has emerged as Liverpool’s top target to replace Slot, who was sacked on Saturday last week after a turbulent second season in charge. Liverpool have reportedly agreed a deal in principle to bring the Spaniard, who left Bournemouth at the end of this season, to Anfield. Sporting director Richard Hughes was heavily involved in hiring Iraola during his time at Bournemouth and is again spearheading the recruitment of the highly rated coach. The Reds are
KNICKS TAKE LEAD: San Antonio put on a 9-0 run to be up 95-94 with just over 2 minutes to play, but the rest of the game belonged to the New York Knicks It was past five minutes through the third quarter of Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday and the New York Knicks’ 11-game winning streak was in major jeopardy. The Knicks missed nine of their first 10 shots in the early part of the period and trailed the San Antonio Spurs by 14 points. They were floundering. Then something crazy happened. The Knicks found new life from an unlikely source: The Spurs. New York rallied to tie the game by the end of the period, gave up the lead briefly late in the fourth quarter, and pulled away late for a 105-95
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