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Czech Republic's path to the Davis Cup final was wide open after they won the doubles and Argentine Juan Martin del Potro pulled out of the reverse singles in Buenos Aires. World number eight Del Potro almost withdrew from the semi-final at Parque Roca earlier this week due to pain in his right wrist.
"Juan Martin will not be in tomorrow's first singles against Tomas Berdych and he will be replaced by Carlos Berlocq," captain Martin Jaite said.
Del Potro opened up for Argentina with a three-set victory over Radek Stepanek on Friday before world number six Berdych overcame Juan Monaco in five sets to level the tie at 1-1.
Berdych and Stepanek then teamed up on Saturday to win the doubles 6-3 6-4 6-3 against Berlocq and Eduardo Schwank.
"Juan Martin finished yesterday's match in quite a bit more pain than the previous days. He's not in condition to play," said Argentina team doctor Miguel Khoury.
"He will not move his wrist for 10 days. That's the best decision for Juan Martin and the team."
Former US Open champion Del Potro, who missed most of the 2010 season after having surgery on the same wrist, was recommended two weeks of rest by his doctor but decided to make himself available to Jaite on Wednesday.
He said on Friday he decided to play because of massive support from Argentine fans.
Without Del Potro, Argentina's chances of bouncing back are minimal.
Berdych should have little trouble brushing aside world number 45 Berlocq, who is playing in his first Davis Cup tie at the age of 29, and Stepanek faces world number 11 Monaco in the final rubber.
The Czech pair, playing instead of the originally nominated Ivo Minar and Lukas Rosol, were never in trouble in the doubles although the Argentines showed early tenacity with the first set lasting close to an hour.
Read More: Czechs win doubles, Del Potro out of Sunday singles - Davis Cup 2009 - Tennis - Eurosport Australia
"Juan Martin will not be in tomorrow's first singles against Tomas Berdych and he will be replaced by Carlos Berlocq," captain Martin Jaite said.
Del Potro opened up for Argentina with a three-set victory over Radek Stepanek on Friday before world number six Berdych overcame Juan Monaco in five sets to level the tie at 1-1.
Berdych and Stepanek then teamed up on Saturday to win the doubles 6-3 6-4 6-3 against Berlocq and Eduardo Schwank.
"Juan Martin finished yesterday's match in quite a bit more pain than the previous days. He's not in condition to play," said Argentina team doctor Miguel Khoury.
"He will not move his wrist for 10 days. That's the best decision for Juan Martin and the team."
Former US Open champion Del Potro, who missed most of the 2010 season after having surgery on the same wrist, was recommended two weeks of rest by his doctor but decided to make himself available to Jaite on Wednesday.
He said on Friday he decided to play because of massive support from Argentine fans.
Without Del Potro, Argentina's chances of bouncing back are minimal.
Berdych should have little trouble brushing aside world number 45 Berlocq, who is playing in his first Davis Cup tie at the age of 29, and Stepanek faces world number 11 Monaco in the final rubber.
The Czech pair, playing instead of the originally nominated Ivo Minar and Lukas Rosol, were never in trouble in the doubles although the Argentines showed early tenacity with the first set lasting close to an hour.
Read More: Czechs win doubles, Del Potro out of Sunday singles - Davis Cup 2009 - Tennis - Eurosport Australia
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Venus Williams helped Washington catch up, then beat Coco Vandeweghe in a last-game tiebreaker as the Kastles completed their second straight undefeated championship WTT season with a 20-19 victory over Sacramento on Sunday.
The triumph capped a long, hard season for Williams, who has learned to compete while living with the auto-immune disease, Sjrogren's syndrome, that kept her out of the game from September 2011 through last March.
Williams felt fit, confident and ready to dig in and do whatever it took to succeed.
"I really felt like I came out on fire in all my matches," said Williams, named the WTT finals MVP.
Williams got plenty of work at the Family Circle Tennis Center to wrap up Washington's second consecutive, 16-0 season and third title in four years.
She and teammate Anastasia Rodionova won the women's doubles match to put Washington in front 8-6. After Sacramento took the men's doubles match to lead 11-10, Williams and Leander Paes won the mixed doubles competition in a last-game tiebreaker and sent the championship into a final women's singles showdown tied at 15-games apiece.
Vandeweghe broke Williams' serve to lead 3-2, but Williams broke right back and the match eventually went to the WTT's best-of-9 point, super tiebreaker. Vandeweghe quickly led 2-0 when Washington called time out. Paes jogged over talk with the seven-time Grand Slam champion.
"I just told her she's one of the greatest of all time," Paes said. "Go have fun and hit your shots."
Read more: Williams, Washington win 2nd straight WTT title - Tennis - SI-com
The triumph capped a long, hard season for Williams, who has learned to compete while living with the auto-immune disease, Sjrogren's syndrome, that kept her out of the game from September 2011 through last March.
Williams felt fit, confident and ready to dig in and do whatever it took to succeed.
"I really felt like I came out on fire in all my matches," said Williams, named the WTT finals MVP.
Williams got plenty of work at the Family Circle Tennis Center to wrap up Washington's second consecutive, 16-0 season and third title in four years.
She and teammate Anastasia Rodionova won the women's doubles match to put Washington in front 8-6. After Sacramento took the men's doubles match to lead 11-10, Williams and Leander Paes won the mixed doubles competition in a last-game tiebreaker and sent the championship into a final women's singles showdown tied at 15-games apiece.
Vandeweghe broke Williams' serve to lead 3-2, but Williams broke right back and the match eventually went to the WTT's best-of-9 point, super tiebreaker. Vandeweghe quickly led 2-0 when Washington called time out. Paes jogged over talk with the seven-time Grand Slam champion.
"I just told her she's one of the greatest of all time," Paes said. "Go have fun and hit your shots."
Read more: Williams, Washington win 2nd straight WTT title - Tennis - SI-com
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Andy Murray, the first British man to win a grand slam title in 76 years, received a rapturous welcome in his Scottish home town on Sunday, but admitted that his golden summer was giving him nightmares.
Murray said he was "overwhelmed" to see some 15,000 people turn out to greet him in Dunblane following his Olympic and US Open triumphs.
The 25-year-old became the first British man in 76 years to win a grand slam singles title when he beat Novak Djokovic to be crowned US Open champion in New York.
Victory saw Murray match the feat of British tennis great Fred Perry back in 1936 and completed a memorable year for the Scot following his Olympic Games final win over Roger Federer -- a repeat of the Wimbledon final which the Swiss star won.
"I dreamt three days after Wimbledon that I had won Wimbledon and I woke up and was absolutely gutted that I hadn't," said Murray.
"The other day I woke up after sleeping on the sofa and I was questioning whether it (the US Open win) actually happened.
"It was when I woke up and realised I had actually won the US Open that it all started to sink in."
On his return to Dunblane, Murray, who also won Olympic mixed doubles silver with Laura Robson, added: "It's overwhelming and I've never had anything like that before.
"I think it (the US Open win) will sink in over the next couple of days. It's been a bit of a whirlwind since the match with all the stuff the day after and travelling back, then all the stuff today with so many people.
"It's been a bit overwhelming and I think it will take a few days."
Read more: TENNIS: Success is stuff of nightmares for Murray - Other - New Straits Times TENNIS: Success is stuff of nightmares for Murray - Other - New Straits Times
Murray said he was "overwhelmed" to see some 15,000 people turn out to greet him in Dunblane following his Olympic and US Open triumphs.
The 25-year-old became the first British man in 76 years to win a grand slam singles title when he beat Novak Djokovic to be crowned US Open champion in New York.
Victory saw Murray match the feat of British tennis great Fred Perry back in 1936 and completed a memorable year for the Scot following his Olympic Games final win over Roger Federer -- a repeat of the Wimbledon final which the Swiss star won.
"I dreamt three days after Wimbledon that I had won Wimbledon and I woke up and was absolutely gutted that I hadn't," said Murray.
"The other day I woke up after sleeping on the sofa and I was questioning whether it (the US Open win) actually happened.
"It was when I woke up and realised I had actually won the US Open that it all started to sink in."
On his return to Dunblane, Murray, who also won Olympic mixed doubles silver with Laura Robson, added: "It's overwhelming and I've never had anything like that before.
"I think it (the US Open win) will sink in over the next couple of days. It's been a bit of a whirlwind since the match with all the stuff the day after and travelling back, then all the stuff today with so many people.
"It's been a bit overwhelming and I think it will take a few days."
Read more: TENNIS: Success is stuff of nightmares for Murray - Other - New Straits Times TENNIS: Success is stuff of nightmares for Murray - Other - New Straits Times
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The billboard for this summer's Hopman Cup added significant lustre yesterday with the inclusion of charismatic American Venus Williams and power-serving giant John Isner.
While Venus Williams, a seven-times grand slam winner, has never played in the Hopman Cup, younger sister Serena has twice won the event - with James Blake and Mardy Fish.
Isner, ranked No.10 in the world, won Hopman Cup XXIII with Bethanie Mattek-Sands in 2011 at his second attempt.
The signings of Williams and Isner, who stands 206cm, come in the wake of the first announcements last month when Tennis Australia named Novak Djokovic, Ana Ivanovic and Bernard Tomic.
It further allays fears that Tennis Australia would snaffle the biggest names for the Brisbane International which is held around the same time. While the Hopman Cup, scheduled from December 29 to January 5 at the new Perth Arena, remains an International Tennis Federation event, it is part-managed by TA, which also runs the Brisbane tournament
Event director Steve Ayles, who oversees all TA events, said the full field would be announced on October 9 where "there will be more players in the level of that company" announced. Ayles again refuted earlier suggestions that TA would downplay the Hopman Cup after Paul McNamee last summer finished a successful association of the event which he co-founded.
"Those comments had no substance, they didn't then and haven't now and won't have in the future," Ayles said.
While the 32-year-old Williams' ranking has dropped to 40 on the back of a season plagued by injury and illness, Ayles said she retained widespread appeal.
"When you look at players you want to attract the most important thing is to get people who have public appeal," he said.
"People want players who have marquee value. You can talk about top 10 players and sometimes top 10 players are fantastic, but when you talk about a player like Venus Williams, she's a character, she's got her own fashion brand, her own companies.
"She's got what I consider as considerable public appeal and she's never been to Perth."
Williams said the tournament would provide the perfect preparation for the Australian Open, which she has never won. She lost the 2003 final to her sister. "I've never been to Perth, never played the Hopman Cup, so for me to come the first time is going to be a wonderful experience, because I watch it on TV every year," she said.
Venus adds stardust to Hopman galaxy - The West Australian
While Venus Williams, a seven-times grand slam winner, has never played in the Hopman Cup, younger sister Serena has twice won the event - with James Blake and Mardy Fish.
Isner, ranked No.10 in the world, won Hopman Cup XXIII with Bethanie Mattek-Sands in 2011 at his second attempt.
The signings of Williams and Isner, who stands 206cm, come in the wake of the first announcements last month when Tennis Australia named Novak Djokovic, Ana Ivanovic and Bernard Tomic.
It further allays fears that Tennis Australia would snaffle the biggest names for the Brisbane International which is held around the same time. While the Hopman Cup, scheduled from December 29 to January 5 at the new Perth Arena, remains an International Tennis Federation event, it is part-managed by TA, which also runs the Brisbane tournament
Event director Steve Ayles, who oversees all TA events, said the full field would be announced on October 9 where "there will be more players in the level of that company" announced. Ayles again refuted earlier suggestions that TA would downplay the Hopman Cup after Paul McNamee last summer finished a successful association of the event which he co-founded.
"Those comments had no substance, they didn't then and haven't now and won't have in the future," Ayles said.
While the 32-year-old Williams' ranking has dropped to 40 on the back of a season plagued by injury and illness, Ayles said she retained widespread appeal.
"When you look at players you want to attract the most important thing is to get people who have public appeal," he said.
"People want players who have marquee value. You can talk about top 10 players and sometimes top 10 players are fantastic, but when you talk about a player like Venus Williams, she's a character, she's got her own fashion brand, her own companies.
"She's got what I consider as considerable public appeal and she's never been to Perth."
Williams said the tournament would provide the perfect preparation for the Australian Open, which she has never won. She lost the 2003 final to her sister. "I've never been to Perth, never played the Hopman Cup, so for me to come the first time is going to be a wonderful experience, because I watch it on TV every year," she said.
Venus adds stardust to Hopman galaxy - The West Australian
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Professional tennis Hall-of-Famer and former Wimbledon champion Stan Smith headlines the “Landfall Legends of Tennis” on Sept. 21-23 at the Country Club of Landfall’s Tennis Center.
The three-day event is sponsored by BB&T and presented by Williams Mullen. It will benefit the UNCW Seahawk Club and the Miracle League.
Smith, who dominated the sport in the early 1970s, is scheduled to compete against returning legends Jimmy Arias, Luke Jensen, Bret Garnett, Mikael Pernfors and CCL Director of Tennis Charlie Owens. CCL’s ACE Tennis Academy juniors, UNCW players and local professionals will also take the court with the Legends participants in singles, doubles and mixed doubles.
Smith dominated tennis in the early 1970s and posted Grand Slam victories at the 1971 U.S. Open and 1972 Wimbledon. He won 39 singles and 61 doubles titles, climbing to No. 1 in the world, and was inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame in 1976.
The event will fund student-athlete tennis scholarships at UNCW through the Seahawk Club and also generate funds for the Miracle League of Wilmington.
Read More: Legends tennis returns to Landfall this weekend | WWAY NewsChannel 3 | Wilmington NC News
The three-day event is sponsored by BB&T and presented by Williams Mullen. It will benefit the UNCW Seahawk Club and the Miracle League.
Smith, who dominated the sport in the early 1970s, is scheduled to compete against returning legends Jimmy Arias, Luke Jensen, Bret Garnett, Mikael Pernfors and CCL Director of Tennis Charlie Owens. CCL’s ACE Tennis Academy juniors, UNCW players and local professionals will also take the court with the Legends participants in singles, doubles and mixed doubles.
Smith dominated tennis in the early 1970s and posted Grand Slam victories at the 1971 U.S. Open and 1972 Wimbledon. He won 39 singles and 61 doubles titles, climbing to No. 1 in the world, and was inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame in 1976.
The event will fund student-athlete tennis scholarships at UNCW through the Seahawk Club and also generate funds for the Miracle League of Wilmington.
Read More: Legends tennis returns to Landfall this weekend | WWAY NewsChannel 3 | Wilmington NC News
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She was just 14 and had a talent for tennis set to take her to great heights.
But both her dreams and her innocence were stolen by a coach who used his position of trust to exploit her, a judge said on Friday.
Former Melbourne coach Mark Fitzpatrick, 33, was jailed for six years after pleading guilty to having a sexual relationship for almost two years with the teenager between 2006 and 2007.
Victorian County Court chief judge Michael Rozenes said Fitzpatrick took advantage of his role as a private coach to have sex with the girl at locations including public toilets, his home and her home.
He also gave her a mobile phone which he used to initiate contact for sex.
Judge Rozenes jailed Fitzpatrick for a minimum three and a half years, saying his offending was prolonged and relentless.
"You took advantage of the opportunity, you abused the trust, you corrupted her thinking and exploited her vulnerability," he said.
Read More: Tennis coach jailed for sex with teen
But both her dreams and her innocence were stolen by a coach who used his position of trust to exploit her, a judge said on Friday.
Former Melbourne coach Mark Fitzpatrick, 33, was jailed for six years after pleading guilty to having a sexual relationship for almost two years with the teenager between 2006 and 2007.
Victorian County Court chief judge Michael Rozenes said Fitzpatrick took advantage of his role as a private coach to have sex with the girl at locations including public toilets, his home and her home.
He also gave her a mobile phone which he used to initiate contact for sex.
Judge Rozenes jailed Fitzpatrick for a minimum three and a half years, saying his offending was prolonged and relentless.
"You took advantage of the opportunity, you abused the trust, you corrupted her thinking and exploited her vulnerability," he said.
Read More: Tennis coach jailed for sex with teen
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Martin Klizan of Slovakia defeated Fabio Fognini of Italy 6-2, 6-3 on Sunday to win his first career ATP title at the St. Petersburg Open.
The third-seeded Klizan broke the fourth-seeded Fognini twice in the first set and four times in the second. The last break came in the final game, when the left-hander hit a cross-court forehand winner to seal the victory. Klizan had used his only ace of the match to close out the first set.
In the past seven months, the 23-year-old Slovak has moved up from No. 121 in the world to a career-high 45th. His breakthrough season included reaching the fourth round of the U.S. Open by beating No. 6-ranked Jo-Wilfred Tsonga.
Fognini, ranked 53rd, was playing in his second ATP final but is still looking for his first title.
Klizan reached the final in St. Petersburg by upsetting top-seeded Mikhail Youzhny of Russia in a three-set match that lasted nearly four hours Saturday. After a short break, Klizan played a doubles semifinal, which he and his partner lost.
"I was really dead yesterday after the match, but I played very solid this week and I'm very happy that I won this week," Klizan said. "It's my first title and I hope not last, and I hope I can make more points in the end of this season."
The third-seeded Klizan broke the fourth-seeded Fognini twice in the first set and four times in the second. The last break came in the final game, when the left-hander hit a cross-court forehand winner to seal the victory. Klizan had used his only ace of the match to close out the first set.
In the past seven months, the 23-year-old Slovak has moved up from No. 121 in the world to a career-high 45th. His breakthrough season included reaching the fourth round of the U.S. Open by beating No. 6-ranked Jo-Wilfred Tsonga.
Fognini, ranked 53rd, was playing in his second ATP final but is still looking for his first title.
Klizan reached the final in St. Petersburg by upsetting top-seeded Mikhail Youzhny of Russia in a three-set match that lasted nearly four hours Saturday. After a short break, Klizan played a doubles semifinal, which he and his partner lost.
"I was really dead yesterday after the match, but I played very solid this week and I'm very happy that I won this week," Klizan said. "It's my first title and I hope not last, and I hope I can make more points in the end of this season."
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Eighth seed Jurgen Melzer was forced to retire from the Malaysian Open Monday after picking up a thigh injury in the first round, meaning Vasek Pospisil, ranked 122 in the world, went through. Melzer, 37 in the world rankings, was trailing 6-4, 2-0 when he called it a day at the ATP 250 tournament and did not speak to reporters after the match at the Putra Stadium on the outskirts of Malaysia's capital Kuala Lumpur. Canadian Pospisil said he was “disappointed” his Austrian opponent was unable to finish the match but felt “confident” after the victory.
“I will enjoy the win but it is not how I wanted to win... If he had carried on and finished the game, I would have considered it the best win of my career and a good achievement,” Pospisil, who is looking to break into the top 100 by the end of the year, said. It was unclear whether Melzer would be able to compete in a doubles match scheduled for Tuesday.Monday's first round also sprung an upset for Brian Baker, who lost 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) to fellow American Michael Yani. Baker, the world number 60, made a remarkable comeback in 2011 after six years out with multiple injuries and surgeries.
Read More: Tennis: Injured Melzer out of Malaysian Open Pakistan Sports
“I will enjoy the win but it is not how I wanted to win... If he had carried on and finished the game, I would have considered it the best win of my career and a good achievement,” Pospisil, who is looking to break into the top 100 by the end of the year, said. It was unclear whether Melzer would be able to compete in a doubles match scheduled for Tuesday.Monday's first round also sprung an upset for Brian Baker, who lost 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) to fellow American Michael Yani. Baker, the world number 60, made a remarkable comeback in 2011 after six years out with multiple injuries and surgeries.
Read More: Tennis: Injured Melzer out of Malaysian Open Pakistan Sports
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Rafael Nadal still has no timetable for his return from a knee injury, and the 11-time Grand Slam champion isn't sure if he'll play the Australian Open in January.
"All that is in my mind is to keep working hard to come back," Nadal said in interviews with European newspapers Tuesday. "I cannot think about the future because it's not like if you break your arm and you know you will have a few weeks like this, then a few weeks like that and then you are back."
The Spaniard hasn't played since losing in the second round of Wimbledon in June to little-known Lukas Rosol. Nadal is recovering from a partially torn patella tendon in his left knee.
"This is a day-by-day thing," Nadal said. "I have checks every day to see how I'm improving. I can't predict what will happen."
Nadal could miss the ATP World Tour Finals in London Nov. 5-12 and Spain's Davis Cup final against the Czech Republic Nov. 16-18.
As for the Australian Open, he was quoted in the Daily Mail as saying: "I hope you see me in Australia. That is the biggest goal for me, to come back just before then in Qatar, but I cannot say for sure it is going to happen.
Read More: Tennis: Nadal unsure on return - Sport - NZ Herald News
"All that is in my mind is to keep working hard to come back," Nadal said in interviews with European newspapers Tuesday. "I cannot think about the future because it's not like if you break your arm and you know you will have a few weeks like this, then a few weeks like that and then you are back."
The Spaniard hasn't played since losing in the second round of Wimbledon in June to little-known Lukas Rosol. Nadal is recovering from a partially torn patella tendon in his left knee.
"This is a day-by-day thing," Nadal said. "I have checks every day to see how I'm improving. I can't predict what will happen."
Nadal could miss the ATP World Tour Finals in London Nov. 5-12 and Spain's Davis Cup final against the Czech Republic Nov. 16-18.
As for the Australian Open, he was quoted in the Daily Mail as saying: "I hope you see me in Australia. That is the biggest goal for me, to come back just before then in Qatar, but I cannot say for sure it is going to happen.
Read More: Tennis: Nadal unsure on return - Sport - NZ Herald News
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The British Broadcasting Corp., which has provided coverage of Wimbledon since 1927, wants more nighttime tennis and less grunting during matches, according to the head of the network's sports group.
Matches at this year's Wimbledon championships finished as late as 11 p.m. with the retractable roof over Centre Court shut as rain interrupted play almost daily in the first week. While the weather gave tournament schedulers problems, it boosted television ratings for the BBC, the host broadcaster and British rights holder.
"It's been very successful," Barbara Slater, director of BBC Sport, said in an interview. "Inevitably, when play moves into the peak evening, audiences are higher."
A fourth-round match between eventual finalist Andy Murray of Britain and Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus finished at 11:02 p.m. local time, drawing a British television audience of more than eight million.
"It is safe to say that of course we as a broadcaster would love more tennis, and for that tennis to extend, but we are very aware there are constraints on the club," said Slater, who was in charge of the BBC's Olympics coverage this summer. "We have conversations with the All England Club, and they evolve their strategy going forward."
"At this stage there are no plans," to add night matches to the schedule, said Johnny Perkins, a spokesman for the All England Club, which organizes the annual tournament. "We stick to what we are; an outdoor daytime event with the capacity to play late if we need to."
Read More: Tennis: BBC Chief wants more Wimbledon night matches - MontereyHerald-com :
Matches at this year's Wimbledon championships finished as late as 11 p.m. with the retractable roof over Centre Court shut as rain interrupted play almost daily in the first week. While the weather gave tournament schedulers problems, it boosted television ratings for the BBC, the host broadcaster and British rights holder.
"It's been very successful," Barbara Slater, director of BBC Sport, said in an interview. "Inevitably, when play moves into the peak evening, audiences are higher."
A fourth-round match between eventual finalist Andy Murray of Britain and Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus finished at 11:02 p.m. local time, drawing a British television audience of more than eight million.
"It is safe to say that of course we as a broadcaster would love more tennis, and for that tennis to extend, but we are very aware there are constraints on the club," said Slater, who was in charge of the BBC's Olympics coverage this summer. "We have conversations with the All England Club, and they evolve their strategy going forward."
"At this stage there are no plans," to add night matches to the schedule, said Johnny Perkins, a spokesman for the All England Club, which organizes the annual tournament. "We stick to what we are; an outdoor daytime event with the capacity to play late if we need to."
Read More: Tennis: BBC Chief wants more Wimbledon night matches - MontereyHerald-com :
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Reigning Wimbledon and US Open champion Serena Williams has withdrawn from the China Open because of flu while her sister Venus has also pulled out, citing a back injury, organisers said Friday.
Serena, who confirmed her place among the tennis greats this year by raising her Grand Slam haul to 15 and winning Gold at the London Olympics, pulled out late on Thursday, just two days before the start of the first round.
It is a big blow to the organisers of the Beijing event as the world number four - who has already qualified for the season-ending WTA Championships in Istanbul, Turkey, next month - is one of the tour's most bankable stars.
"We would have loved for Venus and Serena to play the China Open this year, but unfortunately players get injured and sick and are unable to compete," Charles Hsiung, a director of the tournament, said.
"We hope that they both recover quickly and look forward to them returning to the National Tennis Stadium in 2013," he added.
Venus, the elder sister and a former world number one, has had a difficult year and currently lies 41 in the world rankings.
"I was looking forward to playing at the China Open this year, but am currently working through a minor back injury and will unfortunately need more time to recover," she said.
The WTA China Open starts on Saturday with Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland defending her title after against a host of top players, including world number one Victoria Azarenka, Russian Maria Sharapova and home favourite Li Na.
Tennis: Serena Williams withdraws from China Open
Serena, who confirmed her place among the tennis greats this year by raising her Grand Slam haul to 15 and winning Gold at the London Olympics, pulled out late on Thursday, just two days before the start of the first round.
It is a big blow to the organisers of the Beijing event as the world number four - who has already qualified for the season-ending WTA Championships in Istanbul, Turkey, next month - is one of the tour's most bankable stars.
"We would have loved for Venus and Serena to play the China Open this year, but unfortunately players get injured and sick and are unable to compete," Charles Hsiung, a director of the tournament, said.
"We hope that they both recover quickly and look forward to them returning to the National Tennis Stadium in 2013," he added.
Venus, the elder sister and a former world number one, has had a difficult year and currently lies 41 in the world rankings.
"I was looking forward to playing at the China Open this year, but am currently working through a minor back injury and will unfortunately need more time to recover," she said.
The WTA China Open starts on Saturday with Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland defending her title after against a host of top players, including world number one Victoria Azarenka, Russian Maria Sharapova and home favourite Li Na.
Tennis: Serena Williams withdraws from China Open
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Li Na is banking on a strong performance at the China Open to reach this season's grand finale -- but she'll face tough competition from Maria Sharapova in a star-studded field with Serena Williams a late withdrawal.
Asia's top women's player has been a picture of inconsistency since winning the French Open last year, highlighted by last month's triumph in Cincinnati, which was followed by a third-round exit at the US Open two weeks later.
A last-16 defeat to Caroline Wozniacki at the Pan Pacific Open has left Li struggling to hang on to her eighth position in the race to reach October's WTA Championships in Istanbul, Turkey, featuring the season's top eight players.
"I'm now number eight, so it's very tough. Right now I don't know," said Li in Tokyo, when asked if she thought she would make it to Istanbul. "I think it will be decided after Beijing."
"I wish I can be in the championships, but I lost today, so the only chance is that I have to do well next week in Beijing," added the 30-year-old, who is yet to win the title in Beijing in front of her home fans.
Sharapova and world number one Victoria Azarenka travel to the Chinese capital with their places in Istanbul assured, on the back of a season when they have stamped their authority on women's tennis along with America's Williams.
The late withdrawal of the 2004 champion because of flu is a blow to organisers coming in a year when she has confirmed her place among the tennis greats by winning the Wimbledon, Olympic and US Open titles, raising her Grand Slam haul to 15.
Venus Williams, the elder sister and a former world number one, has also pulled out, citing a back injury, organisers said on Friday.
Sharapova, the photogenic world number two from Russia, won her first Grand Slam title in four years at Roland Garros, while top-ranked Azarenka has claimed four trophies this year, including the Australian Open.
However, there are question marks over Azarenka's fitness after she pulled out of the Pan Pacific Open at the quarter-final stage, citing fatigue.
World number three Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland is defending her title after becoming the fourth player to qualify for the WTA finals.
"This is a goal for every player at the start of the season and I'm so happy to have made it," she said of the $4.9 million season climax.
And former world number one Wozniacki will be hoping to extend her recent revival, which included a first WTA title in more than 12 months in Seoul this month, by repeating her 2010 success in Beijing.
Read More: Tennis: Make or break for Li Na at China Open - Channel NewsAsia
Asia's top women's player has been a picture of inconsistency since winning the French Open last year, highlighted by last month's triumph in Cincinnati, which was followed by a third-round exit at the US Open two weeks later.
A last-16 defeat to Caroline Wozniacki at the Pan Pacific Open has left Li struggling to hang on to her eighth position in the race to reach October's WTA Championships in Istanbul, Turkey, featuring the season's top eight players.
"I'm now number eight, so it's very tough. Right now I don't know," said Li in Tokyo, when asked if she thought she would make it to Istanbul. "I think it will be decided after Beijing."
"I wish I can be in the championships, but I lost today, so the only chance is that I have to do well next week in Beijing," added the 30-year-old, who is yet to win the title in Beijing in front of her home fans.
Sharapova and world number one Victoria Azarenka travel to the Chinese capital with their places in Istanbul assured, on the back of a season when they have stamped their authority on women's tennis along with America's Williams.
The late withdrawal of the 2004 champion because of flu is a blow to organisers coming in a year when she has confirmed her place among the tennis greats by winning the Wimbledon, Olympic and US Open titles, raising her Grand Slam haul to 15.
Venus Williams, the elder sister and a former world number one, has also pulled out, citing a back injury, organisers said on Friday.
Sharapova, the photogenic world number two from Russia, won her first Grand Slam title in four years at Roland Garros, while top-ranked Azarenka has claimed four trophies this year, including the Australian Open.
However, there are question marks over Azarenka's fitness after she pulled out of the Pan Pacific Open at the quarter-final stage, citing fatigue.
World number three Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland is defending her title after becoming the fourth player to qualify for the WTA finals.
"This is a goal for every player at the start of the season and I'm so happy to have made it," she said of the $4.9 million season climax.
And former world number one Wozniacki will be hoping to extend her recent revival, which included a first WTA title in more than 12 months in Seoul this month, by repeating her 2010 success in Beijing.
Read More: Tennis: Make or break for Li Na at China Open - Channel NewsAsia
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Asia's top women's player Li Na has said she has learnt from the mistakes of her disastrous China Open last year and no longer feels the pressure of playing in her home tournament.
The 2011 French Open champion was a relieved woman after brushing aside fellow former Roland Garros winner Francesca Schiavone in the Beijing tournament's first round - a year after a humiliating defeat at the same stage.
"I don't think people can make the same mistakes. Last year I came to the China Open after the Grand Slam title and I think all the audiences and myself gave too much pressure to me," the 30-year-old said.
"I experienced the Grand Slam title and failure afterwards. So I will not think it a big thing anymore," added Li, who has never won the China Open.
Li defeated Schiavone, who was defending champion, 6-4, 7-6, to win her first Grand Slam but the Chinese star then slumped to an embarrassing straight-sets defeat to Romania's Monica Niculescu in front of her home fans.
She has struggled with consistency this year and faces a fight to make October's WTA Championships in Istanbul, Turkey but will take confidence from her 6-2, 6-3 thrashing of the Italian on Sunday.
"I don't give in to too much pressure, because after all you never know how your performance is going to be," she said afterwards. "You don't know the performance of the opponent either."
Li faces a tough match in her next round, coming up against Pan Pacific Open winner Nadia Petrova.
The Chinese star is seeded seventh, one place ahead of Samantha Stosur who bombed at this year's Australian Open just months after becoming US Open champion, citing the weight of expectation that win brought coupled with playing at home.
Tennis: Li says she has learnt from China Open mistakes
The 2011 French Open champion was a relieved woman after brushing aside fellow former Roland Garros winner Francesca Schiavone in the Beijing tournament's first round - a year after a humiliating defeat at the same stage.
"I don't think people can make the same mistakes. Last year I came to the China Open after the Grand Slam title and I think all the audiences and myself gave too much pressure to me," the 30-year-old said.
"I experienced the Grand Slam title and failure afterwards. So I will not think it a big thing anymore," added Li, who has never won the China Open.
Li defeated Schiavone, who was defending champion, 6-4, 7-6, to win her first Grand Slam but the Chinese star then slumped to an embarrassing straight-sets defeat to Romania's Monica Niculescu in front of her home fans.
She has struggled with consistency this year and faces a fight to make October's WTA Championships in Istanbul, Turkey but will take confidence from her 6-2, 6-3 thrashing of the Italian on Sunday.
"I don't give in to too much pressure, because after all you never know how your performance is going to be," she said afterwards. "You don't know the performance of the opponent either."
Li faces a tough match in her next round, coming up against Pan Pacific Open winner Nadia Petrova.
The Chinese star is seeded seventh, one place ahead of Samantha Stosur who bombed at this year's Australian Open just months after becoming US Open champion, citing the weight of expectation that win brought coupled with playing at home.
Tennis: Li says she has learnt from China Open mistakes
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The 2013 Australian Open will offer a record US$31.1 million (RM95 million) in prize money, as organisers respond to threats of a boycott from players agitating for a greater share of revenue.
Tennis Australia chief executive Steve Wood said yesterday the A$4 million (RM13 million) hike from the last tournament was the single biggest increase in the history of the opening Grand Slam of the season.
"We are proud to announce this major increase in prize money," he said.
"We have led the world in prize money for these incredible athletes and we want to ensure that the Australian Open continues to make a major contribution to the financial wellbeing of professional tennis players."
It follows reports in August that players on the ATP Tour, which runs the men's game, were considering a boycott of January's tournament in a bid to gain a higher percentage of Grand Slam event revenues for themselves.
At issue is the pay of lower-ranked players who often exit in the first round after making the long journey Down Under.
While this year they pocketed A$20,800 for a first round defeat at the Australian Open, some players struggle to make ends meet during the year, as they pay for much of their own expenses and travel.
Without a high profile, they are also unable to score lucrative sponsorship deals that could help sustain their careers.
Wood said Tennis Australia officials would seek further input from the players regarding a more equitable distribution of prize money, with an announcement on the breakdown closer to the tournament.
Read more: TENNIS: Australian Open offers record prize money - Other - New Straits Times TENNIS: Australian Open offers record prize money - Other - New Straits Times
Tennis Australia chief executive Steve Wood said yesterday the A$4 million (RM13 million) hike from the last tournament was the single biggest increase in the history of the opening Grand Slam of the season.
"We are proud to announce this major increase in prize money," he said.
"We have led the world in prize money for these incredible athletes and we want to ensure that the Australian Open continues to make a major contribution to the financial wellbeing of professional tennis players."
It follows reports in August that players on the ATP Tour, which runs the men's game, were considering a boycott of January's tournament in a bid to gain a higher percentage of Grand Slam event revenues for themselves.
At issue is the pay of lower-ranked players who often exit in the first round after making the long journey Down Under.
While this year they pocketed A$20,800 for a first round defeat at the Australian Open, some players struggle to make ends meet during the year, as they pay for much of their own expenses and travel.
Without a high profile, they are also unable to score lucrative sponsorship deals that could help sustain their careers.
Wood said Tennis Australia officials would seek further input from the players regarding a more equitable distribution of prize money, with an announcement on the breakdown closer to the tournament.
Read more: TENNIS: Australian Open offers record prize money - Other - New Straits Times TENNIS: Australian Open offers record prize money - Other - New Straits Times
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British tennis star Andy Murray has claimed playing smart tennis rather than his best tennis was the major reason behind winning elusive Grand Slam at the US Open.
Murray also admitted that he had yet to come fully to terms with his achievement, but has had time to consider what made the difference during his glorious summer.
“I thought I played really well at the Olympics. At the US Open I didn`t feel like I played that well. Obviously the conditions didn`t help. But I played smart tennis,” the Independent quoted Murray, as saying.
“It wasn`t always easy to serve well or to hit the ball cleanly from the back of the court, but I found a way to win the matches, even when I wasn`t playing well. And that`s something that was so important,” he added.
“Sometimes in the past when I`ve been playing well I would win a lot of matches and then when I wasn`t playing well I would get down on myself and not figure out exactly how to win all of the time, especially in the Slams,” he said.
Murray added: “I think I did a very good job of that at the US Open because I didn`t feel like I played unbelievable tennis all the time, although the conditions didn`t help. I played smart the whole time and was able to stay focused.”
“I was using the time I had at the change of ends and the time between points better. I`d obviously managed to turn the match around against Cilic. That could easily have gone the other way. That was a big turning point,” he concluded.
Andy Murray says playing
Murray also admitted that he had yet to come fully to terms with his achievement, but has had time to consider what made the difference during his glorious summer.
“I thought I played really well at the Olympics. At the US Open I didn`t feel like I played that well. Obviously the conditions didn`t help. But I played smart tennis,” the Independent quoted Murray, as saying.
“It wasn`t always easy to serve well or to hit the ball cleanly from the back of the court, but I found a way to win the matches, even when I wasn`t playing well. And that`s something that was so important,” he added.
“Sometimes in the past when I`ve been playing well I would win a lot of matches and then when I wasn`t playing well I would get down on myself and not figure out exactly how to win all of the time, especially in the Slams,” he said.
Murray added: “I think I did a very good job of that at the US Open because I didn`t feel like I played unbelievable tennis all the time, although the conditions didn`t help. I played smart the whole time and was able to stay focused.”
“I was using the time I had at the change of ends and the time between points better. I`d obviously managed to turn the match around against Cilic. That could easily have gone the other way. That was a big turning point,” he concluded.
Andy Murray says playing
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Shanghai Masters organisers have tightened security around Roger Federer after the top-ranked men's tennis player was targeted by an online death threat, a report said Thursday.
Extra precautions for Federer, who has arrived in Shanghai with his family, were taken after an unknown blogger said he planned to "assassinate" the player, in a bizarre posting on a popular Chinese website.
"On October 6, I plan to assassinate Federer for the purpose of tennis extermination," read the message, posted under the name 'Blue Cat Polytheistic Religion Founder 07' on baidu-com.
The user also posted a doctored image showing a decapitated Federer on his knees on a tennis court, with a masked executioner dressed in black and holding an axe posing next to him.
Police and other government agencies have been contacted to increase security around Federer, an official with the tournament's organising committee told the Shanghai Youth Daily.
"We hope that it was an oral threat only, and the fan won't take substantive action. However, we have to take it seriously," Yang Yibin was quoted as saying.
"We have contacted the local police and we will upgrade the level of security for Roger. Meanwhile, we will also protect other players' security."
Yang gave few details of the extra security, but he said Federer's arrival time was not disclosed to media and that he and his family were ushered through a VIP channel and driven straight to their hotel after flying in to Shanghai.
Attacks on tennis players are rare, but in 1993 Monica Seles was stabbed by a deranged fan during a match in Hamburg.
In the 2009 French Open final, a fan invaded the court and tried to put a beret on Federer, before being tackled by security officials.
Tennis: Federer targeted by Chinese death threat - Channel NewsAsia
Extra precautions for Federer, who has arrived in Shanghai with his family, were taken after an unknown blogger said he planned to "assassinate" the player, in a bizarre posting on a popular Chinese website.
"On October 6, I plan to assassinate Federer for the purpose of tennis extermination," read the message, posted under the name 'Blue Cat Polytheistic Religion Founder 07' on baidu-com.
The user also posted a doctored image showing a decapitated Federer on his knees on a tennis court, with a masked executioner dressed in black and holding an axe posing next to him.
Police and other government agencies have been contacted to increase security around Federer, an official with the tournament's organising committee told the Shanghai Youth Daily.
"We hope that it was an oral threat only, and the fan won't take substantive action. However, we have to take it seriously," Yang Yibin was quoted as saying.
"We have contacted the local police and we will upgrade the level of security for Roger. Meanwhile, we will also protect other players' security."
Yang gave few details of the extra security, but he said Federer's arrival time was not disclosed to media and that he and his family were ushered through a VIP channel and driven straight to their hotel after flying in to Shanghai.
Attacks on tennis players are rare, but in 1993 Monica Seles was stabbed by a deranged fan during a match in Hamburg.
In the 2009 French Open final, a fan invaded the court and tried to put a beret on Federer, before being tackled by security officials.
Tennis: Federer targeted by Chinese death threat - Channel NewsAsia
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US Open champion Andy Murray was stunned by Milos Raonic 6-3 6-7 7-6 in the semi-finals of the Japan Open on Saturday, ending the Briton's defence of his Tokyo title.
Murray's frustration boiled over on several occasions, the Olympic champion smashing another racquet and yelling furiously at himself as Raonic saved two match points.
"He started the match well and I was slow to get off the mark," the world number three told reporters. "There was always going to be a bit of residue from the last few months."
Murray was broken by the Canadian in the first game and a booming forehand by Raonic on his first set point forced the top seed into a shanked backhand which flew high into the crowd.
The Scot faced break points in the second set and angrily trashed his racquet for the second match in a row as sixth seed Raonic continued to blast winners past him.
But Murray, who also reached this year's Wimbledon final, dug in to win the tiebreak 7-5 with a fizzing backhand return onto the laces of Raonic on his first bite at the cherry.
Raonic, who has been taking rickshaw rides around ancient Tokyo and taking a keen interest in samurai swords, twice gifted Murray match points with double-faults at 5-6 in the decider.
Both times his serve bailed him out.
"He played well behind his first serve," said Murray, who had thrashed Raonic 6-4 6-4 6-2 in the fourth round of the US Open last month. "That made it tough for me."
Raonic, dressed like a throwback with 1970s-style striped shirt and headband, clinched victory with another vicious serve Murray could only slam long after two hours, 46 minutes.
Raonic, who fired down 13 aces, will face either local favourite Kei Nishikori or Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis in Sunday's final of the $1.28 million hardcourt tournament.
Tennis: Murray cut down by razor Raonic
Murray's frustration boiled over on several occasions, the Olympic champion smashing another racquet and yelling furiously at himself as Raonic saved two match points.
"He started the match well and I was slow to get off the mark," the world number three told reporters. "There was always going to be a bit of residue from the last few months."
Murray was broken by the Canadian in the first game and a booming forehand by Raonic on his first set point forced the top seed into a shanked backhand which flew high into the crowd.
The Scot faced break points in the second set and angrily trashed his racquet for the second match in a row as sixth seed Raonic continued to blast winners past him.
But Murray, who also reached this year's Wimbledon final, dug in to win the tiebreak 7-5 with a fizzing backhand return onto the laces of Raonic on his first bite at the cherry.
Raonic, who has been taking rickshaw rides around ancient Tokyo and taking a keen interest in samurai swords, twice gifted Murray match points with double-faults at 5-6 in the decider.
Both times his serve bailed him out.
"He played well behind his first serve," said Murray, who had thrashed Raonic 6-4 6-4 6-2 in the fourth round of the US Open last month. "That made it tough for me."
Raonic, dressed like a throwback with 1970s-style striped shirt and headband, clinched victory with another vicious serve Murray could only slam long after two hours, 46 minutes.
Raonic, who fired down 13 aces, will face either local favourite Kei Nishikori or Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis in Sunday's final of the $1.28 million hardcourt tournament.
Tennis: Murray cut down by razor Raonic
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Top-ranked Victoria Azarenka beat ninth-seeded Marion Bartoli 6-4, 6-2 Saturday at the China Open to set up a final against Maria Sharapova.
Sharapova cruised to a 6-4, 6-0 semifinal victory over seventh-seeded Li Na of China.
In men’s play, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France advanced to the final when Feliciano Lopez retired with a left-wrist injury. In today’s final, Tsonga will play top-seeded Novak Djokovic of Serbia, who defeated unseeded Florian Mayer of Germany 6-1, 6-4.
Azarenka, who won her first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in January, was tested in the first set by Bartoli, but ran ahead to a 5-1 lead in the second set.
But Bartoli refused to allow Azarenka to serve out the match in the seventh game even though the Belarussian held a match point. Bartoli broke serve on a second opportunity when Azarenka hit a forehand long.
Azarenka took advantage of her next match point on Bartoli’s serve in the eighth game.
Sharapova, who will be playing for her fourth title of the year, took 68-minutes to secure the first set. The Russian finally went ahead when Li, serving at 4-5, sailed a forehand long on a second set point in the 10th game.
Li saved the first set point in the opening set with a winning volley smash at 30-40, but made the forehand error two points later to lose her serve and the set.
Sharapova needed only 33 minutes to take the second set, winning 25 of the 34 points played.
“As far as today, it was a really high quality first set and a few ups and downs,” Sharapova said. “I came back and then I broke her in that last game of the (first) set. It was important for me to take that momentum going into the second.”
Tsonga was leading 6-1, 4-1 when Lopez decided he could no longer continue playing. Lopez had the trainer on court after the conclusion of the first set.
“Even if today Feliciano was not in good shape, and even if he has a problem, I played well,” Tsonga said. “This week my level goes better and better.”
Tsonga is 2-0 in finals this year, winning the Doha and Metz, titles. He defended his Metz title last month.
JAPAN OPEN: Milos Raonic of Canada advanced to the final, beating defending champion Andy Murray 6-3, 6-7 (5), 7-6 (4) in Tokyo on Saturday.
Raonic, seeded sixth and ranked 15th, will meet local hope Kei Nishikori, who beat unseeded Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus 6-2, 6-2.
Murray and Raonic had split their two previous career meetings, both this year. Raonic beat Murray on clay at the Barcelona Open, while Murray knocked Raonic out of the U.S. Open in the fourth round.
Raonic has won two tournaments this year, triumphing in Chennai, India, and San Jose, Calif.
Tennis Roundup: Azarenka to face Sharapova in China Open final | JournalNow-com
Sharapova cruised to a 6-4, 6-0 semifinal victory over seventh-seeded Li Na of China.
In men’s play, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France advanced to the final when Feliciano Lopez retired with a left-wrist injury. In today’s final, Tsonga will play top-seeded Novak Djokovic of Serbia, who defeated unseeded Florian Mayer of Germany 6-1, 6-4.
Azarenka, who won her first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in January, was tested in the first set by Bartoli, but ran ahead to a 5-1 lead in the second set.
But Bartoli refused to allow Azarenka to serve out the match in the seventh game even though the Belarussian held a match point. Bartoli broke serve on a second opportunity when Azarenka hit a forehand long.
Azarenka took advantage of her next match point on Bartoli’s serve in the eighth game.
Sharapova, who will be playing for her fourth title of the year, took 68-minutes to secure the first set. The Russian finally went ahead when Li, serving at 4-5, sailed a forehand long on a second set point in the 10th game.
Li saved the first set point in the opening set with a winning volley smash at 30-40, but made the forehand error two points later to lose her serve and the set.
Sharapova needed only 33 minutes to take the second set, winning 25 of the 34 points played.
“As far as today, it was a really high quality first set and a few ups and downs,” Sharapova said. “I came back and then I broke her in that last game of the (first) set. It was important for me to take that momentum going into the second.”
Tsonga was leading 6-1, 4-1 when Lopez decided he could no longer continue playing. Lopez had the trainer on court after the conclusion of the first set.
“Even if today Feliciano was not in good shape, and even if he has a problem, I played well,” Tsonga said. “This week my level goes better and better.”
Tsonga is 2-0 in finals this year, winning the Doha and Metz, titles. He defended his Metz title last month.
JAPAN OPEN: Milos Raonic of Canada advanced to the final, beating defending champion Andy Murray 6-3, 6-7 (5), 7-6 (4) in Tokyo on Saturday.
Raonic, seeded sixth and ranked 15th, will meet local hope Kei Nishikori, who beat unseeded Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus 6-2, 6-2.
Murray and Raonic had split their two previous career meetings, both this year. Raonic beat Murray on clay at the Barcelona Open, while Murray knocked Raonic out of the U.S. Open in the fourth round.
Raonic has won two tournaments this year, triumphing in Chennai, India, and San Jose, Calif.
Tennis Roundup: Azarenka to face Sharapova in China Open final | JournalNow-com
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WORLD No 2 Novak Djokovic overcame Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France in straight sets yesterday to win the China Open for a third time.
The 25-year-old Serb defeated the World No 7 7-6 (7-4), 6-2 to maintain his unbeaten record at the ATP 500 tournament in Beijing and take the winner's prize of US$530,570 (RM1.6 million).
Djokovic has won the China Open every time he has entered, his previous titles coming in 2009 and 2010 before he missed last year because of injury, and his record at the tournament now stands at 14-0.
He is pressing to beat Roger Federer to the year-end No 1 spot in the world rankings and said he was "delighted" at his latest triumph.
"It's an amazing feeling to win this trophy in the new stadium," he said of the capital's National Tennis Stadium which had yet to be built the last time he won in Beijing.
Little separated the players throughout the entire opening set. The first four games went to serve before Tsonga made a breakthrough in the fifth game, breaking Djokovic without losing a point.
But the Serb immediately broke back and the next six games went with serve to force a tie break, where Djokovic raced to a 4-1 lead.
Tsonga won two quick points before Djokovic spurned an opportunity while 5-3 ahead, pushing a simple forehand shot well wide.
But two mistakes from the Frenchman, a double fault and a backhand half volley into the net, gave the tie break and set to Djokovic.
The first two service games of the second set were held before Djokovic broke in the third and was spurred on to take the next two games, establishing a 4-1 lead. Then he came from behind to hold serve in the sixth.
Tsonga held in the seventh before Djokovic did the same to take the set and the match in one hour and 41 minutes.
"The first set was really even, and maybe a couple of points decided the winner there," Djokovic said.
"We served well when we needed to, and I think the realistic thing to expect for the first set was tie break.
"I managed to hold my nerves in the end. He made the double fault that probably cost him the set.
"Then when you're getting to the second set with the set advantage, mentally it is much more encouraging for you and then you try to play on that confidence run that you have," he added.
"I made that early break in the second and after that I felt much more comfortable on the court."
A disappointed Tsonga admitted afterwards that he had let an opportunity slip early in the tie.
"It was a good match," he said. "I missed maybe something in the first set. I was a break up and I was playing well.
"But then he played solid. It was really difficult to control him. I just tried to play my game, to be aggressive. But against a player like this, for the moment my level is not high enough to beat him."
The Serb had won his previous five meetings against Tsonga, including three this year. He was ultimately too strong for the Frenchman, who was making his first China Open final appearance and only his third full match of this year's tournament.
Tsonga, making his fourth appearance at the China Open, started with a tough three-set win over Uzbekistan's Denis Istomin before receiving a walkover against Russia's Nikolay Davydenko.
He defeated Mikhail Youzhny 6-3, 6-2 in the third round and won his semi-final match against Feliciano Lopez when the Spaniard, who was trailing 1-6, 1-4 at the time, retired with a wrist injury.
For his part Djokovic opened with a first-round three-set win against German qualifier Michael Berrer and followed it with a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Carlos Berlocq of Argentina.
In the third round, the Serb dispatched Austria's Jurgen Melzer 6-1, 6-2 before defeating Florian Mayer of Germany in the semi-final 6-1, 6-4.
Meanwhile, World No 1 Victoria Azarenka thrashed second seed Maria Sharapova in straight sets to win the crown.
The Belarusian dispatched Maria, ranked World No 2, 6-3, 6-1, in the final of the Beijing tournament -- the last Premier Mandatory event of the women's calendar.
It was Victoria's first China Open title in four attempts and her fifth tournament triumph of the season.
It was the sixth time the two had met in the final of a tournament and the fourth time this year. Victoria has now won five and lost only one of their title deciders. AFP
Read more: TENNIS: Djokovic wins again - Other - New Straits Times TENNIS: Djokovic wins again - Other - New Straits Times
The 25-year-old Serb defeated the World No 7 7-6 (7-4), 6-2 to maintain his unbeaten record at the ATP 500 tournament in Beijing and take the winner's prize of US$530,570 (RM1.6 million).
Djokovic has won the China Open every time he has entered, his previous titles coming in 2009 and 2010 before he missed last year because of injury, and his record at the tournament now stands at 14-0.
He is pressing to beat Roger Federer to the year-end No 1 spot in the world rankings and said he was "delighted" at his latest triumph.
"It's an amazing feeling to win this trophy in the new stadium," he said of the capital's National Tennis Stadium which had yet to be built the last time he won in Beijing.
Little separated the players throughout the entire opening set. The first four games went to serve before Tsonga made a breakthrough in the fifth game, breaking Djokovic without losing a point.
But the Serb immediately broke back and the next six games went with serve to force a tie break, where Djokovic raced to a 4-1 lead.
Tsonga won two quick points before Djokovic spurned an opportunity while 5-3 ahead, pushing a simple forehand shot well wide.
But two mistakes from the Frenchman, a double fault and a backhand half volley into the net, gave the tie break and set to Djokovic.
The first two service games of the second set were held before Djokovic broke in the third and was spurred on to take the next two games, establishing a 4-1 lead. Then he came from behind to hold serve in the sixth.
Tsonga held in the seventh before Djokovic did the same to take the set and the match in one hour and 41 minutes.
"The first set was really even, and maybe a couple of points decided the winner there," Djokovic said.
"We served well when we needed to, and I think the realistic thing to expect for the first set was tie break.
"I managed to hold my nerves in the end. He made the double fault that probably cost him the set.
"Then when you're getting to the second set with the set advantage, mentally it is much more encouraging for you and then you try to play on that confidence run that you have," he added.
"I made that early break in the second and after that I felt much more comfortable on the court."
A disappointed Tsonga admitted afterwards that he had let an opportunity slip early in the tie.
"It was a good match," he said. "I missed maybe something in the first set. I was a break up and I was playing well.
"But then he played solid. It was really difficult to control him. I just tried to play my game, to be aggressive. But against a player like this, for the moment my level is not high enough to beat him."
The Serb had won his previous five meetings against Tsonga, including three this year. He was ultimately too strong for the Frenchman, who was making his first China Open final appearance and only his third full match of this year's tournament.
Tsonga, making his fourth appearance at the China Open, started with a tough three-set win over Uzbekistan's Denis Istomin before receiving a walkover against Russia's Nikolay Davydenko.
He defeated Mikhail Youzhny 6-3, 6-2 in the third round and won his semi-final match against Feliciano Lopez when the Spaniard, who was trailing 1-6, 1-4 at the time, retired with a wrist injury.
For his part Djokovic opened with a first-round three-set win against German qualifier Michael Berrer and followed it with a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Carlos Berlocq of Argentina.
In the third round, the Serb dispatched Austria's Jurgen Melzer 6-1, 6-2 before defeating Florian Mayer of Germany in the semi-final 6-1, 6-4.
Meanwhile, World No 1 Victoria Azarenka thrashed second seed Maria Sharapova in straight sets to win the crown.
The Belarusian dispatched Maria, ranked World No 2, 6-3, 6-1, in the final of the Beijing tournament -- the last Premier Mandatory event of the women's calendar.
It was Victoria's first China Open title in four attempts and her fifth tournament triumph of the season.
It was the sixth time the two had met in the final of a tournament and the fourth time this year. Victoria has now won five and lost only one of their title deciders. AFP
Read more: TENNIS: Djokovic wins again - Other - New Straits Times TENNIS: Djokovic wins again - Other - New Straits Times
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Maradona, also former Argentina's soccer team coach, cheered every point won by Monaco, number 11 in the world ranking, who played in the clay court of Parque Roca's "Mary Teran de Weiss" stadium. Maradona, who wore a dark t-shirt and sun glasses, was euphoric and good-humored. During a pause in Monaco's match, Maradona said hello to former Boca Juniors' star Martin Palermo, another personality who attended the stadium.
Maradona, 51, is a tennis fan and has also been present in past Davis Cup series, such as the semifinal match against Russia in 2008 in Buenos Aries, as well as the final match against the same rival in 2006 in Moscow.
After two hours and 36 minutes, Monaco defeated Berdych, number 6 in the world ranking, with a score of 1-6, 6-4, 6-1 and 2-1.
Earlier, Argentinean Juan Martin Del Potro, number 8 in the world ranking, defeated Radek Stepanek, number 40 in the world ranking, with a score of 6-4, 6-4 and 6-1, giving Argentina its first point in Davis Cup.
Maradona supports Argentinean players |Tennis |chinadaily-com.cn