Spain clinch Davis Cup with straight sets win

Spain have sealed back-to-back Davis Cup wins after Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco defeated the Czech Republic's Lukas Dlouhy and Jan Hajek in straight sets.

The defending champions had taken a 2-0 lead into Saturday's doubles rubber after David Ferrer rallied from two sets down to claim a 1-6, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4, 8-6 victory over Radek Stepanek on Friday. Rafael Nadal had earlier won the first singles match of the final, defeating Tomas Berdych 7-5, 6-0, 6-2.

And a battling display from Lopez and Verdasco saw the Spaniards claim their fourth Davis Cup title. The duo were taken to tie-break in the first set before taking the initiative with a 7-6 (9-7) win.

The Spanish pair were again tested by their Czech opponents in the second set, but set up a title win by taking the set 7-5.

And the Davis Cup was in Spanish hands for the second consecutive year as Lopez and Verdasco blazed to a 6-2 win in the third set to seal a straight sets victory.

Spain become the first nation to successfully defend the Davis Cup since Sweden in 1998.

Davydenko completes fairytale win

Nikolay Davydenko secured the ATP World Tour Final title with a straight sets 6-3, 6-4 victory over Juan Martin del Potro at the O2 Arena.

The 28-year-old Russian controlled the game from the outset winning by a comfortable margin over Del Potro who suffered a setback after being penalised for a foot fault early in the first set.

Davydenko, who was seeded sixth for the competition, managed to make up for last year when he was a beaten finalist. Throughout the end of season competition Davydenko managed to overcome all current grand slam champions to reign in London.

Del Potro seemed jaded and struggled to stamp his authority on the match. With the score at 1-2 on serve, Del Potro was foot faulted and clearly unsettled by the decision, handed the break of serve to Davydenko with a miss-hit forehand. It didn't get much better for the Argentinean.

Del Potro still seemed affected as the next game began but couldn't muster a break on Davydenko's serve who went on to serve out the set.

Davydenko had beaten Rafael Nadal, Robin Soderling and Roger Federer on his way to the final and was clearly a man brimming with confidence. Del Potro on the other hand seemed that he left his last bit of fight on the court after his marathon win against Soderling on Saturday.

In the second set Davydenko continued where he had left off. Any chance Del Potro had to force a change in the match was brutally snuffed out by the Russian. In game six with everything going with serve Davydenko had to save two break points, which he did with powerful aces.

The importance of the saved game was highlighted when in game nine Davydenko broke the serve of Del Potro with an emphatic love game.

Davydenko then went on to serve for the match and secure the biggest title of his career.

Murray discovers ATP fate on Twitter

Andy Murray learned of his exit from the ATP World Tour Finals via his fans on Twitter after farcical scenes at London's O2 Arena last night.

Murray's 6-4 6-7 (4-7) 7-6 (7-3) win over Fernando Verdasco had looked to be enough to see him through to the last four.

But he missed out on a place in the semi-finals when Juan Martin del Potro beat Roger Federer 6-2 6-7 (5-7) 6-3, meaning the Argentinean's games won/games lost ratio was one better than the British number one's.

But confusion reigned over the ATP event's obscure scoring system in the event of a tie, with Federer, Del Potro and Murray all having a 2-1 record.

'Anyone know what's going on?' Murray wrote on his Twitter page last night in the moments after Del Potro wrapped up his win. 'I think I'm audi [out] but the rules aren't worded too well.'

Del Potro meanwhile appeared uncertain whether his victory was enough to see him qualify, while the O2 crowd were just as confused until after a 15-minute delay an announcement confirmed Federer as group-winner and Del Potro as runner-up.

'This is the sport,' US Open champion Del Potro said. 'Just two players have to qualify.

'Maybe for the local public it's bad not to have the opportunity to see Murray in the semis, but they will see Federer for sure and other good players.'

World number one Federer said the rules had been 'very hard' on Murray.

'How can we imagine that we all play three sets and it comes down to a couple of games?' the Swiss star said.

'But that's not the way you can think. I definitely try to push myself to close out matches as quickly as I can against fellow rivals because you never know when you might need those games. They might come back in the match and turn the match around completely.

'It happened to me once this year against Tsonga - I was 5-1 up in the third and I ended up losing. You always have to push yourself. The system is the way it is.'

Del Potro win sends Murray crashing out

Juan Martin del Potro defied a Roger Federer comeback to beat him in three sets - and knock Andy Murray out of the ATP World Tour finals.

Del Potro knew a straight sets win would guarantee his place in the semi-finals, but a three set win would mean if came down to games difference and unfortunately for the British fans, he edged out Murray by one game after a 6-2 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 win.

That meant Murray was left to rue more than a dozen missed break point opportunities in his match with Fernando Verdasco that would have meant he qualified for the last four, but Del Potro and Federer will now return on Saturday.

Del Potro took the early initiative with an early break on his third break point in the opening game as he progressed to a 3-1 lead.

A double fault from the world number one gave Del Potro the double break and he closed out the set with two big serves to leave Federer needing the second set to avoid being eliminated.

Federer had to fight hard to avoid falling a break down in the opening game of the second set, but after saving a break point, he began to look more dominant on his serve.

However, Del Potro matched him game for game and the set inevitably progressed to a second set tiebreak.

Del Potro looked favourite to see out the match in straight sets after leading 4-2 and 5-4 in the tiebreak but Federer came storming back both points on the Argentinean’s serve and win the set with a volley.

Going into the final set, Murray fans needed Federer to win four games in the final set for Murray to make the last four, and at 3-3, he had his chance.

However, Del Potro saved three break points to, unbeknown to him, remain in the tournament, and he made his move in Federer’s next service game by bringing up three break points, and he converted the second to move one away from the last four and knocking Murray out.

Federer ensured the game went to 30-30, but two huge Del Potro serves were enough to seal the win and agonisingly send Murray out of the tournament - despite winning two out of his three group games.

Murray overcomes Verdasco in epic tussle

Andy Murray all but secured his place in the semi-finals of the ATP World Tour Finals with a gruelling three-set win over Fernando Verdasco at London's O2 Arena.

The British number one won through 6-4 6-7 (4-7) 7-6 (7-3), meaning anything but a straight-sets victory for Juan Martin del Potro over Roger Federer in tonight's final group A match will see him take his place in the weekend's semi-finals.

The 22-year-old went into the match knowing a win against his Spanish opponent would take him to the brink of qualification, and he started well, forcing three break points on Verdasco's serve.

But Verdasco, 26, held to win the opening game.

Murray held to level, and opened up a 30-15 advantage in the next game, but Verdasco held serve with an ace.

A double fault from Murray gave Verdasco his own 30-15 advantage, but an ace and a crosscourt backhand winner were enough for the crowd favourite to win for 2-2.

Both players held dominantly for 3-3 as they upped their game towards the business end of the set.

However, Murray earned another break point in the seventh game after a delightful crosscourt backhand but Verdasco held firm to remain ahead.

Murray produced his second successive love service game for 4-4, before finally taking his chance to break in the next game.

After the game was progressed to deuce, a Verdasco error gifted him a break point before he netted an easy volley at the net to put the Scot one away from the first set.

Two double faults from Murray gave Verdasco an opening at 0-30, but he responded to earn his first set point. He netted for deuce, and repeated the same error on his second and third set point, but another Verdasco error handed Murray the set on his fourth set point.

Verdasco played more aggressive at the beginning of the second set, and after opening up a 2-1 lead, he got to deuce on Murray's serve with a thunderous forehand down the line, but two errors meant Murray held onto his serve.

In the fifth game of the set, the Spaniard netted for deuce, and a passing shot from Murray evaded Verdasco to earn break point, but some solid serving from Verdasco kept him ahead at 3-2.

Murray hit back from registering his sixth double fault to level at 3-3, before more aggressive play from the baseline from Verdasco saw him hold after Murray had hit back form 40-0 down to force deuce.

A love service game from Murray in under a minute brought the scores to 4-4, and he continued that momentum to take the first point on Verdasco's serve.

However, a couple of Murray mistakes saw Verdasco take the next four points for the game, leaving Murray serving to stay in the second set.

He won the opening two points, but a double fault and an exquisite Verdasco drop volley forced 30-30, and a Murray mis-hit gave the Spaniard his first break point, and set point. Murray repelled that with a flat serve out wide before two more powerful first serves took it to 5-5.

Murray created an opening at 15-30 in the next game, before a double fault handed Murray two break points. However, two exceptionally worked points brought the game back to deuce, before Verdasco netted a volley into the net for Murray's third break point of the game, but this time, Verdasco was successful with his backhand volley. A double fault gave Murray a fourth break point but again, Verdasco came up with the goods to force deuce. The Spaniard finally managed to see out the game with two vicious forehand winners which left Murray serving to stay in the set for the second time.

Murray managed to do with relative ease, and rounded off the game with an ace down the middle to force a tie-break.

Verdasco took the opening point with a drop-volley, before clinching the min-break after Murray netted. Murray took the third point when Verdasco went long, before Murray regained the break to trail 2-3, but went long to fall a min-break behind again as Verdasco lead 4-2 at the change of ends.

An aggressive point pulled it back to 4-3, before Verdasco went wide for 4-4. An unreturnable serve down the middle gave Verdasco a 5-4 advantage before a forehand winner gave the Spaniard two set points. An eighth double fault handed the set to Verdasco as the match went to a decider.

Murray took the opening game of the third set, and created a break point opportunity in the next game but Verdasco responded to make it 1-1.

Murray held to love in the next, bur despite Murray getting to 30-30, Verdasco held serve again for 2-2.

The Spaniard had a bigger impact on Murray's serve in the fifth game, hitting a crunching forehand winner, but a couple of flat serves were not handled by Verdasco and it went 3-2 to Murray.

The British number one produced a fine lob to get to 30-30 on Verdasco's serve, and a stunning crosscourt backhand brought up deuce, but several powerful baseline shots earned game point for Verdasco, and an ace levelled the scores at 3-3.

Verdasco took the opening point in Murray's next service game before two aces made it 30-15, and he took the next two points to lead 4-3, and keep the set going with serve.

Verdasco was beginning to come out on top in the crucial points, and rallied from 30-15 down to even things up at 4-4.

That momentum created by Verdasco continued on Murray's serve as a backhand winner down the line brought up 30-30, before another inspired crosscourt winner edged him again at 5-4, forcing Verdasco to serve to stay in the match.

He began the game confidently, forcing two Murray errors with his serve to go 30-0 up, but Verdasco went long with a lob and wide with a forehand for 30-30. However, two nerveless points took it to 5-5, before a service hold to love from Murray meant Verdasco needed to serve to stay in the match for a second time.

Like his previous service game, he opened up a 40-0, mainly due to two aces, before Murray netted to send the match into a final set tie-break.

Murray took the first point on serve, before Verdasco responded with a smash. Murray earned the first min-break with a floated backhand that Verdasco could only volley into the net, but Verdasco again responded to force Murray to net for 2-2. Murray kept the tie-break on serve with a well executed volley before Verdasco double faulted to give Murray a 4-2 lead at the change of ends.

Murray achieved a double mini-break to lead 5-2 after forcing Verdasco to net another volley, and Murray earned three match points after Verdasco went long and another Verdasco error gave Murray the match.

If Del Potro beats Federer, who has won both his two games so far, in three sets it will come down to win percentage of games for Murray, Federer and Del Potro to determine who reaches the semis.

Murray reigns in Spain

Andy Murray declared his satisfaction with a 'very, very good' week's work after defeating Mikhail Youzhny of Russia 6-3, 6-2 to win the Valencia Open.

It has been a good weekend for Brits hoping to defeat Russians as David Haye had beaten Nikolay Valuev to become world boxing champion the night before, a bout fight-fan Murray is sure to have watched.

Perhaps Haye's victory inspired the Scot to introduce a greater element of aggression into his game - a tactic which paid off as early as the fourth game when a cross-court forehand secured a telling break of serve.

The knock-out blow which ended the first set was an ace, a trick world number four Murray repeated in the next set after two early breaks of serve had put his 27-year-old opponent firmly on the ropes.

World number 23 Youzhny is an impressive scalp for Murray, considering that Valencia was the first tournament the British Davis Cup star has played since returning to the circuit after a six-week injury lay-off.

The new Valencia champion said: 'It is very rare for someone to win a tournament after a long break. I am happy I have come back from the injury well and played better with every match.'

Murray will be hoping that he can win career title number 15 at next week's Paris Masters event.

He has received a bye through to the second round where he will meet James Blake, the likeable American he beat in the final of this year's pre-Wimbledon Queen's Club tournament.

Adidas man Murray makes Valencia quarters

Andy Murray celebrated signing a lucrative clothing deal with German sports giants Adidas by beating Leonardo Mayer 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 to reach the quarter-finals of the Valencia Open.

Perhaps the thought of the £15 million the five-year deal will net him distracted the world number four as he surprisingly lost the second set against an Argentinean opponent ranked 60 places below him.

But he booked his place in the last eight of the Spanish tournament with a single break of serve which came in the sixth game of the deciding set.

The Scot is constantly clothed by iconic British firm Fred Perry, the company founded by the last English player to win Wimbledon.

Murray, however will now be hoping to follow in the footsteps of Adidas-sponsored previous Wimbledon winners such as Stefan Edberg and Stan Smith following his new deal.

Some of the best players never to win Wimbledon, including Tim Henman and Ilie Nastase, have also sported the three stripes on their shoulders on the lawns of the All England Club.

Murray will unveil his new look in time for next January's Australian Open.

Haas hit by swine flu

German tennis player Tommy Haas' season looks to be over after the Wimbledon semi-finalist pulled out of this week's Davidoff Swiss Indoor tournament in Basle after contracting swine flu.

The 31-year-old, who pulled out of last month's Stockholm Open, consulted his doctor after suffering flu symptoms and was diagnosed with the H1N1 strain.

Haas told Bild newspaper in Germany: 'I did a test because I suspected I had the swine flu and the test was positive.

'It was obviously a shock for me. It was really bad for three days and I couldn't leave my hotel room. I felt really bad.

'I am quite relaxed because I know that swine flu is a particularly strong form of flu, but when you are in a good physical condition like I am then you can quickly beat it off.'

The world number 17 now also looks set to miss the Paris Masters next week.

Murray back with a win in Valencia

Andy Murray marked his return to the tennis circuit with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Daniel Gimeno-Traver in the Valencia Open.

The world number four hasn't played a professional match since playing and winning two singles matches as Great Britain lost their Davis Cup relegation play-off against Poland in September.

The Scot played through the pain barrier during the tie, further aggravating a wrist injury, resulting in him withdrawing from subsequent tournaments in Shanghai and Tokyo.

His absence from the tour meant that he has slipped down the world rankings from number three to number four.

However, there was no sign of his wrist injury as he beat his Spanish opponent in straight sets although he is still receiving regular ice treatment in an attempt to get back to full fitness.

Serena's Doha win 'unexpected'

New WTA Tour Championship final winner Serena Williams claimed that her triumph in Doha was unexpected.

The 28-year-old had been widely tipped to defeat 29-year-old Venus in today's final, having beaten her in the Wimbledon final and also in this tournament's group stages.

But perhaps her 6-2, 7-6 triumph was less predictable when considering that the Doha event is the first non-Grand Slam event she has won since April 2008.

The reigning Australian Open champion said: I totally didn't expect to come here and win - my practice didn't go well at all.'

She added: 'I know Venus didn't feel so good today but she just got everything back and it was frustrating.'

Serena now has a 13-10 head-to-head career record against her sister and will be looking to fend off challenges from US Open champion Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin, who recently announced her return to the circuit, in order to retain her number one ranking in 2010.

Serena dethrones Venus in Doha

Serena Williams justified her status as world number one by defeating defending champion Venus Williams 6-2, 7-6 (7-3) in the final of the end-of-season WTA Tour Championships in Doha.

The final was a re-run of this year's Wimbledon final which the younger Williams sister also won in straight sets.

Both players came on court with strapping to their legs, unwanted souvenirs of tough seasons which have exacted their toll on two of the finest players the ladies' game has ever seen.

They deserve credit for being the last woman standing in a tournament which was blighted from injury-related withdrawals involving Dinara Safina, Vera Zvonareva and Victoria Azarenka.

The tone of the match was set in the third game when Serena broke with ease en-route to clinching the first set in under half an hour.

Venus spared some embarrassment for the tournament organisers by at least making a fist of the second set, fighting back from 1-5 down to force a tiebreak.

But 2009 has been Serena's year and the reigning Wimbledon and Australian Open champion was not about to end the season with a whimper, wrapping up victory in the tiebreak with an ace and an Alpha-female forehand.

If the WTA decide to show leniency over her abuse of a line judge during the US Open semi-final then she will enjoy a perfect end to a near-perfect year.

Nadal loses Shanghai final

Rafael Nadal's quest for his first tournament victory since April continues after he was beaten 7-6, 6-3 by Nikolay Davydenko of Russia in the final of the Shanghai Masters.

Shanghai is the first tournament final that top seed Nadal has reached since returning to the circuit in September following a four-month injury lay-off caused by knee and abdominal injuries.

The two players swapped breaks in the first set and sixth seed Davydenko had to save a set point to force a tiebreak.

The Russian admitted that his semi-final clash with Novak Djokovic had left him feeling tired but there was no sign of weariness as a backhand crosscourt volley helped him wrap up the tiebreak 7-3.

Top seed Nadal was broken to love at 2-3 in the second set and the rest of the match went with serve meaning that Davydenko now has a 3-2 career record against the six-time Grand Slam winner.

Davydenko's successful campaign in the Far East this autumn (he won the Malaysian Open earlier this month) means that he now stands a good chance of qualifying for the ATP tour finals which take place in London in November.

The top eight tennis players in the world will be invited to participate in London and Davydenko is currently ranked seventh in the world.

Stunning Stosur wins Japan Open

Samantha Stosur claimed her first WTA tour title by beating Italy's Francesca Schiavone 7-5 6-1 in the final of the Japan Open.

It was a case of sixth-time lucky for Australian Stosur as she had lost all five of her previous tour finals.

Schiavone also has a poor record when it comes to the business end of tournaments, having lost nine of the last ten matches she has played in finals.

The only break of the first set came in its final game and when Stosur repeated the trick in game four of the next set she ran away with the match.

Stosur is currently ranked number 14 in the ladies' game and reached the semi-finals of the French Open earlier this year.

Murray drops to four in rankings

Britain's Andy Murray has dropped out of the world's top three players following Novak Djokovic's tournament victory in the China Open earlier this month.

The Serbian star beat Marin Cilic in straight sets in the final of the event on October 11, securing the required points to usurp Murray from his spot immediately behind world number one Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

Murray is currently out injured because of a wrist problem he aggravated while on Davis Cup duty for Great Britain against Poland last month - which has forced him to miss all three of his scheduled tournaments since the US Open.

At Flushing Meadows, Murray - then seeded number two after overtaking Nadal in the rankings in August - suffered an early exit to Cilic in the fourth round.

The Scot's next scheduled tournament is the Valencia Open early next month - one of only two events, alongside the Paris Masters a week later, that will come before the ATP World Tour Finals at London's O2 Arena in late November.

Wildcard for former champion Henin

Former champion Justine Henin has been granted a wildcard for next year's Australian Open.

The 27-year-old Belgian announced earlier this year that she would come out of retirement in 2010 after less than two years away, and the former champion has been handed a wildcard for the event she won in Melbourne in 2004.

Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley said he had little hesitation in handing Henin one of 12 available wildcards into the first Grand Slam event of 2010.

'I spoke to Justine's team over the weekend and was happy to grant her request for a wildcard,' he said.

'Justine is the ultimate competitor, the winner of seven Grand Slam titles, and we are looking forward to welcoming her back.'

The former world number one won a total of 41 WTA Tour titles before walking away from tennis in May 2008 despite still topping the rankings - citing a succession of injuries and a desire to live life away from the game.

Henin is expected to play her first comeback game at the Brisbane International, where fellow Belgian star Kim Clijsters will start her 2010 season.

Her coach Carlos Rodriguez told Belgian media on last week that Henin was negotiating with organisers in Brisbane and Auckland to play the events before the Australian Open on January 18th.

Patient Djokovic wins China Open

Novak Djokovic has revealed that 'patience and experience' were the telling factors which helped him beat Marin Cilic in the China Open final.

The Serb player expressed relief after his 6-2, 7-6 (7-4) victory as Croat Cilic twice served for the second set.

Djokovic, who will claim back his world number three ranking from the injured Andy Murray next week, said: 'My patience and the choice of certain shots and a little more experience than he has decided the winner.'

The location might also have helped. Beijing is a happy hunting ground for Djokovic who won the Olympic gold medal in the city last year.

Number eight seed Cilic's booming serve proved too much for Murray in the US Open and also helped him beat Rafael Nadal in the semi final, a 6-1, 6-3 result which left the Spaniard commenting that 2009 has been 'a difficult year'.

But Cilic struggled to find his rhythm on his serve, indeed each player dropped serve three times in a see-saw second set.

Tsonga wins Japan Open

Second seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France won the Japan Open with a convincing display against Mikhail Youzhny of Russia.

The 2007 Australian Open runner-up fired down 11 aces on the way to a 6-3, 6-3 victory, a result which leaves him seventh in the world rankings.

Tsonga is well aware that if he holds on to his ranking he will qualify for the ATP Tour Finals in London in November, an event which is open to the world's top eight players.

Britain's Andy Murray is already assured of a place as are Wimbledon champion Roger Federer, US Open holder Juan Martin del Potro and world number two Rafael Nadal.

Novak Djokovic has also qualified and is due to contest the rain-delayed final of the China Open against Marin Cilic later today [Sunday].

Kuznetsova regains China Open crown

Svetlana Kuznetsova has regained the China Open title after defeating Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska 6-2 6-4.

The Russian player, whose victory helped her rise one place to number five in the world rankings, last won the Beijing event in 2006 and made the final last year.

Radwanska can draw consolation from the fact that her good run of form in the Far East has helped her into the top ten.

If the former Wimbledon junior champion can claim a place in the world's top eight by the end of the month she will qualify for the riches on offer at the WTA tour championship end-of-season tournament in Doha.

Murray withdraws from Shanghai Open

By Alistair Potter.

Andy Murray has withdrawn from the Shanghai Open in China next week because of continuing problems with his wrist injury.

The world number three, who aggravated the long-standing problem while on Davis Cup duty for Great Britain last month, will not travel to the Far East after being advised to rest the troublesome joint.

In a brief statement on his personal website, a spokesperson for Murray said: 'Due to medical advice Andy will not be travelling to China.

'He has decided to give his wrist extra time to recover and is likely to return for the Valencia Open.'

The news means Murray has still not taken to the court on the ATP Tour since his early elimination from the US Open in August, when he lost in straight sets to Marin Cilic in the fourth round.

However, the 22-year-old has always stated his desire to be fit for the season-ending ATP World Tour Finals at the O2 Arena in London at the end of November.

Serena back on top of tennis world

Serena Williams has reclaimed her place as the top-ranked player in the ladies game by progressing to the third round of the China Open in Beijing.

Her 6-3, 6-2 victory over Russia's Ekaterina Makarova means that Dinara Safina's troubled reign as world number one is over - Safina lost to Chinese wildcard Zhang Shuai in round two of the same tournament.

Commenting on her achievement, Williams said: 'Obviously I'm happy to be there because I've worked so hard this year to get there, I think I've earned it.'

Reclaiming the number one spot will be some consolation for her surprise semi-final loss to Kim Clijsters in last month's US Open.

It was during this defeat that Williams told a line judge that she was 'f****** going to take this f****** ball and shove it down your f****** throat'.

The outburst has made her the subject of an International Tennis Federation inquiry which could see her banned from competing at Grand Slam tournaments.

Such a punishment would help rivals such as Dinara Safina catch up with Williams in the world rankings.

Safina might well be secretly relieved to lose her number one status as she was much criticised for reaching the game's summit without winning a Grand Slam title.

The Russian made unwanted history during her second-round defeat by world number 226 Zhang as no previous world number one has ever lost to such a lowly-ranked player.