Tennis

Murray crumbles in face of Nadal's fiery onslaught

Happy returns were in short supply for Andy Murray at the Hamburg Masters yesterday as he was predictably outclassed 6-3, 6-2 by an imperious Rafael Nadal on his 21st birthday.

Inside Tennis

Henin springs shock as health issues force end to glorious career

Thursday, 15 May 2008

Justine Henin has spent a professional lifetime contradicting those who believe that only muscle and power can win the day in modern tennis. Yesterday the world No 1 sprang her biggest and final surprise when she announced her retirement. "This is a definitive decision," the 25-year-old Belgian said. "Those who know me know it is serious."

Murray hurries to win over error-prone Simon

Thursday, 15 May 2008

Andy Murray matched his best clay-court performance by reaching the third round of the Hamburg Masters with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Gilles Simon yesterday. "It was a very good victory," said Murray. "He's beaten a lot of top guys on clay and is a very tough clay-court player. I was happy to finish it off so professionally."

Djokovic closes on Nadal after ruling in Rome

Monday, 12 May 2008

Rafael Nadal has spent three years waiting for the chance to overtake Roger Federer, but just when he had the world No 1 in his sights the Spaniard has a challenger looming large in his own wing mirror. Novak Djokovic, fresh from his victory here yesterday over Stanislas Wawrinka in the final of the Rome Masters, could replace Nadal as the world No 2 at the end of this week's Masters Series event in Hamburg.

Wawrinka joins compatriot Federer in elite

Sunday, 11 May 2008

Despite Roger Federer's global domination you would hardly think of Switzerland as a hotbed of tennis. When the latest men's world rankings are published tomorrow, however, there will be two Swiss in the top 10 for the first time.

Federer's rejuvenation checked by Stepanek

Saturday, 10 May 2008

It was always a fair bet that a Swiss player would reach the last four of the Rome Masters, but few would have reckoned that the man in question would be Stanislas Wawrinka. As the Swiss No 2 reached his first Masters Series semi-final, Roger Federer yesterday suffered his sixth defeat of the year when he was beaten 7-6, 7-6 by Radek Stepanek.

Nadal's exit gives Federer chance of a Roman triumph

Friday, 9 May 2008

The Foro Italico, home of the Rome Masters, looks very different this year. The main stadium is being rebuilt and temporary seating has been erected around what was the second court, concealing most of the huge statues that were central to Benito Mussolini's vision of the park.

New Swiss on the block steps out of Federer's shadow

Friday, 9 May 2008

On the basis that losing is never as painful when your conqueror goes on to greater things, Andy Murray should now be feeling a good deal better about his defeat to Stanislas Wawrinka earlier this week. Wawrinka has grown used to living in the shadow of Roger Federer, but yesterday the 23-year-old Swiss outdid his more celebrated compatriot by reaching the semi-finals of the Rome Masters.

Murray struggles for consistency

Thursday, 8 May 2008

Twelve months ago Andy Murray headed for the Hamburg Masters as the world No 10, his ranking buoyed by a fine start to the year. He had successfully defended his San Jose title and finished runner-up in Doha, played in successive Masters Series semi-finals in Indian Wells and Miami, and equalled his best performance in a Grand Slam event by reaching the fourth round of the Australian Open, where he lost a five-set thriller to Rafael Nadal.

Murray picked off as Nadal suffers rare clay reverse

Thursday, 8 May 2008

Andy Murray went out in the second round of the Rome Masters here yesterday, beaten 6-2, 7-6 by Stanislas Wawrinka, but at least the British No 1 was in good company. Among the other losers was the king of clay himself, Rafael Nadal, who suffered only his second defeat in his last 105 matches on his favourite surface.

Wooden rackets sour at graphite's sweet spot

Thursday, 8 May 2008

Until the late 1970s, the ruling authorities in tennis saw no need to set parameters for the size of rackets. From the sport's earliest days rackets were similar in shape to those in use today. While manufacturers had their own preferences in terms of weight, strings and strength, there was little difference in the general style. Frames were mostly made out of ash, although newly developed adhesives and the ability to fashion thin veneers enabled manufacturers to use other woods from the middle of the last century.

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