May 2007

Hewitt outlasts Gaudio in Paris

Editor / 31 May 2007 / Leave a comment

Lleyton Hewitt showed all his battling qualities to come through a five-set epic with Gaston Gaudio in the second round of the French Open. The Australian looked to be heading out of the year's second Grand Slam when he fell...Read more »

Djokovic - Murray can challenge big two

Editor / 31 May 2007 / Leave a comment

Novak Djokovic believes he and Andy Murray are among a group of players who can challenge Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal for major honours. The world number six is rated as one of the best youngsters on the circuit and...Read more »

Safin suffers Paris woe

Editor / 30 May 2007 / Leave a comment

Russian star Marat Safin has crashed out of the French Open, beaten in straight sets by Janko Tipsarevic. The big-serving right-hander has never been at home on clay, with just one semi-final appearance to his name at Roland Garros in...Read more »

Sharapova tested but through

Editor / 30 May 2007 / Leave a comment

Maria Sharapova is through to round two of the French Open after a straight sets victory over Emilie Loit. The world number two eased through the first set but met stubborn resistance in the second, losing her serve on two...Read more »

French Open - Day 4 preview

Editor / 30 May 2007 / Leave a comment

They got nearly 11 hours tennis at the French Open on Tuesday but the backlog from the first two days' disruption means that some players are still to complete their first match while others are tackling their second. Seven men's...Read more »

Federer makes perfect start

Editor / 29 May 2007 / Leave a comment

Top seed Roger Federer described his eventual 6-4 6-2 6-4 first-round win over Michael Russell at the French Open as the "perfect start". The Swiss star had led 6-4 4-1 on Monday before rain brought an end to play but...Read more »

Venus looking to make progress

Editor / 29 May 2007 / Leave a comment

Venus Williams felt she put down a marker as she overcame French teenager Alize Cornet in one of only six rain-interrupted games to be completed at the French Open on Monday. Williams was in danger of losing the first set...Read more »

Tim made to wait

Editor / 28 May 2007 / Leave a comment

Major rain delays at Roland Garros mean Tim Henman will have to wait until Tuesday to start his first round match at the French Open. The British number two will face Latvian teenager Ernests Gulbis in his first Grand Slam...Read more »

Henin begins Paris defence with win

Editor / 28 May 2007 / Leave a comment

Defending champion Justine Henin gained a straight sets victory in the first round of the French Open on Sunday. The Belgian ace beat Russia's Elena Vesnina 6-4 6-3, but certainly didn't have it all her own way after enduring a...Read more »

French Open Preview: Day 2

Editor / 28 May 2007 / Leave a comment

The two men who dominated the year's first major, the Australian Open, take to the court in Paris to start their French Open campaigns - weather permitting! Only seven matches were completed on day one and the weather forecast still...Read more »

Safin makes it through

Editor / 27 May 2007 / Leave a comment

Marat Safin is the first big name through to the second round of the French Open, after victory over Fernando Vicente. The Russian ace took just one hour and 25 minutes to dispose of his Spanish opponent, winning in straight...Read more »

French Open update

Editor / 27 May 2007 / Leave a comment

The 2007 French Open got off to a damp start when their historic Sunday start was hit by rain. The weather will almost certainly his the tournament programme hard and force adjustments to the Monday schedule. It will almost certainly...Read more »

Mauresmo confident despite defeat

Editor / 27 May 2007 / Leave a comment

Amelie Mauresmo feels she can have a big impact at the French Open, despite suffering defeat in the final of the Strasbourg Open at the weekend. The French ace went down 6-4 4-6 6-4 to Spain's Anabel Medina Garrigues, in...Read more »

Player Profile: Radek Stepanek

Editor / 26 May 2007 / Leave a comment

The French Open gets under way on Sunday and Radek Stepanek gets the chance to cause one of the Championship's first upsets, when he faces Australian Open runner-up Fernando Gonzalez in the men's singles first round. The Czech number two,...Read more »

Williams wants more French silverware

Editor / 26 May 2007 / Leave a comment

Serena Williams was in a confident, relaxed mood ahead of the French Open, where she is scheduled to meet Justine Henin in the quarter-finals. The 25-year-old has missed the last two tournaments at Roland Garros due to injury but is...Read more »

Henman upbeat for Paris opener

Editor / 26 May 2007 / Leave a comment

Tim Henman is not fancied to pull up any trees at the French Open but is confident of beating first-round opponent Ernests Gulbis. The British number two has been paired with the 18-year-old Latvian in the opening round at Roland...Read more »

Henin and Nadal find out first round tests

Editor / 25 May 2007 / Leave a comment

Defending women's champion Justine Henin will face Russia's Elena Vesnina in the first round of the French Open, while men's champion Rafael Nadal has been drawn against Argentina's Juan Martin Del Potro. Both Henin and Nadal are seeking third consecutive...Read more »

Roddick remains confident

Editor / 25 May 2007 / Leave a comment

Andy Roddick is still in upbeat mood going into the French Open despite his surprise defeat at the Poertschach International. The American number one went down in straight sets in Vienna, 7-5 6-3, to highly-rated French youngster Gael Monfils. The...Read more »

French Open tennis women's preview

Editor / 24 May 2007 / Leave a comment

Rafael Nadal goes into the French Open Championships chasing a third men's singles title. Justin Henin can go one better. She has already won the women's singles title three times - in 2003, 2005 and 2006. As the No. 1...Read more »

Roddick downed by French youngster

Editor / 24 May 2007 / Leave a comment

Andy Roddick has crashed out of the Hypo Group International in Poertschach, beaten in straight sets by French starlet Gael Monfils. Roddick was looking to stay in the tournament as long as possible with the French Open due to begin...Read more »

Canas ban upheld

Editor / 24 May 2007 / Leave a comment

Guillermo Canas' preparations for the French Open have been hit by the news that the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has upheld his 15-month doping ban. The Argentinian has already served the suspension, between June 2005 and September 2006,...Read more »

French Open men's singles preview

Editor / 24 May 2007 / Leave a comment

Suddenly it's a two-horse race where a week ago not many Betfair punters would bet against Rafael Nadal. They may not bet against him even now as he trades at 1.78 to win the men's singles title when the French...Read more »

Sharapova makes winning return

Editor / 23 May 2007 / Leave a comment

Maria Sharapova made a winning return after a two-month injury lay-off with victory over Tsvetana Pironkova in straight sets in the Istanbul Cup. The US Open champion looked short of match fitness but still managed to take the first set...Read more »

Murray out of French Open

Editor / 23 May 2007 / Leave a comment

Andy Murray has ruled himself out of the French Open - and will not be rushed into making a decision about his chances of making Wimbledon. The 19-year-old Scot suffered a wrist injury in the Hamburg Masters last week and...Read more »

Philipp Kohlschreiber Germany

Editor / 23 May 2007 / Leave a comment

Hosts Germany chase their fifth ARAG World Team Championships in Dusselforf this week - and injury to Tommy Haas has put 23-year-old Philipp Kohlschreiber at the forefront of their bid. The right-hander from Augsburg got his team off to a...Read more »

Mauresmo playing catch-up

Editor / 22 May 2007 / Leave a comment

Betfair customers will have to pay heed to Amelie Mauresmo's comments that she is "a long way from the top players" as the French Open approaches. The 27-year-old has always buckled under the pressure at Roland Garros and has just...Read more »

Henman warning for injured Murray

Editor / 22 May 2007 / Leave a comment

Tim Henman has warned Andy Murray not to risk playing in the French Open if there is any doubt over his injured wrist. The 20-year-old Scot damaged tendons in his right wrist while leading Filippo Volandri 5-1 in the first...Read more »

Henin confident ahead of quad bid

Editor / 21 May 2007 / Leave a comment

Justine Henin insists she is happy with her preparation ahead of next week's French Open and is full of confidence going into the tournament. Having missed the Australian Open due to the break-up of her marriage, Henin has claimed three...Read more »

Nadal reassures supporters

Editor / 21 May 2007 / Leave a comment

Punters who have backed Rafael Nadal to make it a hat-trick of French Open titles have been buoyed by the news that the Spanish ace insists his game is in great shape and his confidence remains undiminished despite seeing his...Read more »

Fed Express guns down Nadal

Editor / 20 May 2007 / Leave a comment

Roger Federer has finally broken his duck against Rafael Nadal on clay after claiming the Hamburg Masters with a three-set victory over the Spaniard. Nadal had put together an incredible run of 81 successive victories on clay but that record...Read more »

Murray still has French hopes

Editor / 20 May 2007 / Leave a comment

Andy Murray has contradicted his coach Brad Gilbert and says he still has a chance of playing in the upcoming French Open. The British number one appeared to be ruled out of the Roland Garros showpiece, and even possibly the...Read more »

World Team Cup

Editor / 20 May 2007 / Leave a comment

While Roger Federer bids to win his fourth Hamburg Masters title and Raphael Nadal aims to take his first later today, many of the other top names in men's tennis are in Dusseldorf for the start of this week's...Read more »

French test the focus for Serena

Editor / 19 May 2007 / Leave a comment

Serena Williams vowed she would come back fitter and stronger for the French Open after crashing out of the Italian Open to Patty Schnyder. US star Williams said there were no excuses for an error-strewn performance which led to Swiss...Read more »

Murray out of French Open

Editor / 19 May 2007 / Leave a comment

Brad Gilbert, the coach of Andy Murray, has confirmed the world number 10 will miss the French Open because of injury. The 20-year-old Scot damaged wrist tendons in his first-round match at the Hamburg Masters Series event earlier this week....Read more »

Petrov becomes latest French Open doubt

Editor / 18 May 2007 / Leave a comment

Nadia Petrov is a doubt for the upcoming French Open after being forced to withdraw from the Italian Open with a back injury. The Russian had to pull out midway through her clash with Elena Dementieva in Rome after calling...Read more »

Federer confidence building

Editor / 18 May 2007 / Leave a comment

Roger Federer's comfortable win over Juan Carlos Ferrero at the Hamburg Masters has boosted his confidence ahead of the upcoming French Open. Questions were being asked about the form of the world number one, after losing twice to Guillermo Canas,...Read more »

Hamburg quarter-final preview

Editor / 18 May 2007 / Leave a comment

Rafael Nadal can stretch his winning streak to an incredible 80 matches on clay - but only if he gets the better of Fernando Gonzalez in Germany. The French Open champion meets the fifth-seed again in the Hamburg Masters quarter-finals...Read more »

Nadal exacts revenge on Andreev

Editor / 17 May 2007 / Leave a comment

Betfair punters who have backed Rafael Nadal to win the Masters Series event in Hamburg will have been pleased with his comfortable victory over Igor Andreev on Thursday. The 20-year-old Spaniard extended his record-breaking winning streak to 79 matches on...Read more »

Mauresmo's French Open hopes take a hit

Editor / 17 May 2007 / Leave a comment

The Italian Open in Rome has been thrown wide open after top seed Amelie Mauresmo was sent crashing out at the second-round stage by unseeded Australian Samantha Stosur. The Frenchwoman was playing in only her second tournament since undergoing appendix...Read more »

Murray facing fitness fight

Editor / 16 May 2007 / Leave a comment

Andy Murray faces a race to be fit for the French Open after suffering a wrist injury in his match against Filippo Volandri in Hamburg. The British number one was playing his first match since picking up a back injury...Read more »

Fed Express to go it alone

Editor / 15 May 2007 / Leave a comment

Roger Federer is not looking to replace former coach Tony Roche before Wimbledon as he does not want anyone "interfering" with his preparation. The world number one sensationally split from the veteran tactician at the weekend after two years working...Read more »

First Test preview

Editor / 15 May 2007 / Leave a comment

England kick off their summer Test campaign on Thursday when the West Indies are the first international visitors of the year to Lord's for the opening game in a four-game series that should prove to be an intriguing battle between...Read more »

Murray drops Davis Cup hint

Editor / 15 May 2007 / Leave a comment

Andy Murray has hinted he may well pick and choose which Davis Cup ties he plays in order to try cut back on his injury problems. The 20-year-old has suffered with a number of injuries since bursting onto the scene...Read more »

Benjamin Becker

Editor / 15 May 2007 / Leave a comment

The name B Becker is as big as they come in German tennis but rising star Benjamin Becker is no relation to the great Boris Becker. But that hasn't stopped the young man from Merzig making his mark, especially in...Read more »

Ivanovic cool on French test

Editor / 14 May 2007 / Leave a comment

Ana Ivanovic toppled third seed Svetlana Kuznetsova to win the German Open in Berlin on Sunday but was quick to play down her chances of glory at Roland Garros. The 19-year-old played through the pain of a foot injury to...Read more »

Nadal warns of more to come

Editor / 14 May 2007 / Leave a comment

Rafael Nadal fired a warning to his Hamburg rivals by insisting he is in "the best moment of my career". The 20-year-old Spanish sensation enhanced his burgeoning reputation as the king of clay with an emphatic 6-2 6-2 victory over...Read more »

Hamburg Masters - PREVIEW

Editor / 14 May 2007 / Leave a comment

The Masters Series hits Hamburg big time today with Rafael Nadal as unstoppable as a juggernaut on an autobahn. Nadal yesterday won the Italian Masters in Rome to take his winning streak on clay to 77 matches - a record...Read more »

Henin happy with Slam preparation

Editor / 13 May 2007 / Leave a comment

Despite going out of the German Open at the semi-final stage, Justine Henin believes she has had good preparation for her tilt at the French Open. Poor weather in Berlin meant this week's tournament suffered from repeated disruption, and Henin...Read more »

Fed heads to France without a coach

Editor / 13 May 2007 / Leave a comment

Betfair punters will have been far from impressed by Roger Federer's recent form as he continues to struggle on clay and he now finds himself heading into the French Open without a coach. The Swiss star, who remains the 4.7...Read more »

Kuznetsova eyes Henin clash

Editor / 12 May 2007 / Leave a comment

Russia's Svetlana Kuznetsova secured a German Open semi-final place where she is hopeful of facing world number one Justine Henin. Kuznetsova, who is trading at 4.2 to win the title, reached the last-four of the tournament by beating defending champion...Read more »

Nadal eases through in Rome

Editor / 12 May 2007 / Leave a comment

Rafael Nadal defeated Novak Djokovic to progress to the semi-finals of the Rome Masters and equal John McEnroe's one-surface record. The Spaniard powered past 19-year-old Djokovic 6-2 6-3 in their quarter-final showdown to clinch a 75th consecutive win on clay...Read more »

Federer puzzled by clay form

Editor / 11 May 2007 / Leave a comment

Betfair customers appear to be losing faith in world number one Roger Federer following another disappointing defeat. Having been beaten twice by Guillermo Canas earlier in the season, the world number one crashed out of the Rome Masters at the...Read more »

Swiss ace faces fitness race

Editor / 11 May 2007 / Leave a comment

Betfair punters will be taking note that Martina Hingis is in a race against time to be fit for the French Open after suffering a back injury. The 26-year-old former world number one crashed out of the German Open 6-4...Read more »

Rome quarter-finals preview

Editor / 10 May 2007 / Leave a comment

First it was Guillermo Canas in Indian Wells and Miami, now it is Italian Filippo Volandri who has upset Roger Federer. Wild card Volandri toppled the world number one and top seed 6-2 6-4 - helped by an unprecedented number...Read more »

Nadal reaches dizzy heights in Rome

Editor / 10 May 2007 / Leave a comment

Rafael Nadal admitted he felt 'dizzy' before stretching his winning streak on clay to 73 games with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Italian wildcard Daniele Bracciali. The Spanish 'King of clay' went 3-0 up on his way to another straight...Read more »

Roddicks raw power grinds down Gaudio

Editor / 10 May 2007 / Leave a comment

Third seed Andy Roddick blasted past former French Open champion Gaston Gaudio to set up a clash with Juan Ignacio Chela in the last 16 of the Rome Masters. Roddick was playing for the first time since March because of...Read more »

Sharapova could miss Paris Grand Slam

Editor / 09 May 2007 / Leave a comment

Betfair tennis punters will have been alerted to the news that Maria Sharapova could miss the French Open through injury. The world number two has been forced to withdraw from next week's Italian Open in Rome due to a shoulder...Read more »

Safin shows signs of recovery

Editor / 09 May 2007 / Leave a comment

is through to the second round of the Rome Masters and showing signs of a return to form. The Russian ace crashed out at the first-round stage in Barcelona last week and started slowly in his first round tie in...Read more »

No more Mr. Nice Guy - Tim

Editor / 08 May 2007 / Leave a comment

Tim Henman has admitted he may have to get nasty in his quest to turn around his disappointing 2007 campaign. The British number two suffered another blow in his bid to get back amongst the big guns with an early...Read more »

Murray out of Rome Masters

Editor / 08 May 2007 / Leave a comment

Andy Murray blamed a lack of match practice for his disappointing 6-1 1-6 6-3 defeat in the Rome Masters. The world number 10 got off to the worst possible start on the clay as he dropped his serve three times...Read more »

All signs point to Henin

Editor / 07 May 2007 / Leave a comment

Betfair punters see Justine Henin as the firm favourite to claim French Open success following another tournament victory for the Belgian. The world number one picked up her third title of the season with victory at the J&S Cup final...Read more »

Murray admits brother title battle

Editor / 07 May 2007 / Leave a comment

Andy Murray has revealed a healthy rivalry with his older brother Jamie, as the pair look to continue a good start to 2007. Murray junior has maintained his progress on Tour this year, climbing into the world's top ten and...Read more »

Profile: Paul-Henri Mathieu

Editor / 07 May 2007 / Leave a comment

Paul Henri Mathieu may be missing from the action in Rome this week but he is a player to watch through the rest of the clay court season - especially at the French Open at the end of May -...Read more »

Local favourite clinches BMW Open

Editor / 06 May 2007 / Leave a comment

Philipp Kohlschreiber completed a sensational week in Munich by winning the BMW Open with a comeback win over Mikhail Youzhny. The German crowd favourite from Augsburg won his first ATP tour title by converting his fourth match point in the...Read more »

Clijsters calls time on career after injury

Editor / 06 May 2007 / Leave a comment

Former world number one Kim Clijsters has brought forward her retirement from tennis with immediate effect due to injury problems. The 23-year-old Belgian had always planned to wind down her career ahead of her July wedding to American basketball player...Read more »

Tennis - Rome Masters preview

Editor / 06 May 2007 / Leave a comment

After Rafael Nadal's victory over Roger Federer on the 50-50 grass and clay court in Majorca, it's back to the serious business and the Rome Masters - starting on Monday. Nadal won that exhibition match in a third-set tie-break in...Read more »

Kohlschreiber sets up Youzhny clash

Editor / 05 May 2007 / Leave a comment

Philipp Kohlschreiber is through to his first ATP Tour final after a straight sets victory over Marcos Baghdatis in Munich. The German youngster wasted little time in defeating the Greek Cypriot 6-2 6-3 and he will face Mikhail Youzhny in...Read more »

Henin into Warsaw final

Editor / 05 May 2007 / Leave a comment

Justin Henin is through to the final of the J & S Cup with a hard-fought, three-set victory over Jelena Jankovic. The Belgian ace took the first set but suffered a dip in form in the second as her Serbian...Read more »

Berdych storms on in Munich

Editor / 04 May 2007 / Leave a comment

Betfair punters see Tomas Berdych as the favourite to take the BMW Open in Munich, after another impressive display from the world number 12. The man from the Czech Republic, seeded two at the German event, cruised past Chile's Nicolas...Read more »

Clijsters exit leaves path clear for Henin

Editor / 04 May 2007 / Leave a comment

Betfair punters see Justine Henin as the strong favourite to win the J&S Cup, following Kim Clijsters' shock first-round defeat in Warsaw Defending champion Clijsters crashed out of the tournament following a 7-6 (7-3) 6-3 defeat to Julia Vakulenko. The...Read more »

Estoril Open quarter-final preview

Editor / 04 May 2007 / Leave a comment

There will be a new name on the Estoril Open role of honour come Sunday, as none of the last eight has triumphed at the Portuguese event before. The way things are shaping up it looks like the winner could...Read more »

Serena out of German Open

Editor / 03 May 2007 / Leave a comment

World number 12 Serena Williams has pulled out of next week's Sony Ericsson WTA Qatar Telecom German Open in Berlin because of a groin injury. The Australian Open champion has played just four tournaments this year but did appear for...Read more »

Safin joins Queen's field

Editor / 02 May 2007 / Leave a comment

Marat Safin is the latest big-name star to sign up for the traditional Wimbledon warm-up event at Queen's Club. The tennis circuit moves to London for the grass-court season following the French Open with Betfair punters sure to make Roger...Read more »

Mac - Federer must adapt on clay

Editor / 02 May 2007 / Leave a comment

John McEnroe believes Roger Federer will have to change his approach on clay if he is to finally break Rafael Nadal's dominance. The Spaniard is Betfair's 1.75 favourite to take the French Open later this year after he stretched his...Read more »

Mathieu looks to build on success

Editor / 02 May 2007 / Leave a comment

Paul-Henri Mathieu is hoping his third ATP Tour title at the Grand Prix Hassan II in Casablanca on Sunday, will kick-start his season. The Frenchman, who had not won an event since 2002, defeated Albert Montanes 6-1 6-1 in just...Read more »

Petrova ready to fight on

Editor / 01 May 2007 / Leave a comment

Nadia Petrova backers will have taken heart from her battling 6-3 7-5 win over Katarzyna Piter in the J&S Cup in Warsaw. The 24-year-old 8.8 tournament fancy missed the French Open and Wimbledon last year because of injury but still...Read more »

Djokovic keen to kick on

Editor / 01 May 2007 / Leave a comment

Tournament favourite Novak Djokovic is long odds on to see off second-round opponent and fellow teenager, Santiago Ventura, after overcoming Igor Andreev in three sets at the Estoril Open on Monday. Third seed Djokovic needed two hours and 42 minutes...Read more »