Tennis | Sports News from TimesOnline

Andy Murray fights through pain to beat Fernando Verdasco

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 01:30:00 GMT

AS THE pressure to earn a place among the world’s top eight players increases, Andy Murray is playing with the freedom of knowing he earned his place in tennis’s 2009 elite several weeks ago. So, while he may be aching and sore from the rigours of playing his first tournament in almost two months, the Scot is in a much-envied position to claim his sixth title of the year at the Valencia Open today.

Home is where the heart is for Roger Federer

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:00:49 GMT

HOME-TOWN dominance is a matter of some pride for Roger Federer, particularly in a venue that shortly will be given his name and where he used to work as a ball boy. The world No 1 will today bid to win the tournament for the fourth time in succession when he takes on Novak Djokovic in the final of the Davidoff Swiss Indoors Championships in Basel.

World in motion: Andre Agassi drugs confession ‘was to help others’

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:01:00 GMT

Katie Couric, the American broadcaster who did so much expert work during the dismantling of Sarah Palin a year ago, has done a more sympathetic job on Andre Agassi and can reveal the reason that Agassi unloaded the “crystal meth” confessions in his new autobiography, serialised exclusively in The Times, was apparently not to sell copies of his book but to help other people.

Yanina Wickmayer and Xavier Malisse fall foul of strict Flemish rules on drugs

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:01:00 GMT

It was not cocaine that found its way into anyone’s system this time, nor was it crystal methamphetamine. The offence for which two grand-slam semi-finalists from Belgium have had their tennis careers interrupted for a year is that they forgot to do their doping paperwork.

Andy Murray in a hurry to turn up heat and reach last four in Valencia Open

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:01:00 GMT

Andy Murray warmed to his task at the Valencia Open yesterday when he raced into the semi-finals with an impressive 6-4, 6-2 victory over Albert Montañés, of Spain.

Andy Murray shows that he is up for the fight during three-set victory

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:01:00 GMT

If Andy Murray wanted an early test of his battling qualities after six weeks out, he got it last night, being made to battle far harder than expected before clinching his place in the quarter-finals of the Valencia Open.

Andy Murray cautious before London date

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:01:00 GMT

Organisers of the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals at the O2 arena in southeast London should probably look away now.

Andy Murray’s fashion sense goes into overdrive with £10m deal with adidas

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:01:00 GMT

The prince has new clothes. As Andy Murray strives to break down the barriers between himself and the grand-slam tournament title he so yearns for, it was confirmed last night that he has signed a five-year, £10 million deal with adidas that includes wearing a new tennis shoe called The Barricade.

Tommy Haas confirms he has swine flu

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 11:25:57 GMT

Tommy Haas has contracted swine flu and pulled out of this week's Davidoff Swiss Indoors tournament in Basle.

Andy Murray is well placed to prove his fitness and reprise role of comeback king

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:00:54 GMT

If there is one thing that can safely be said of Andy Murray as he begins his quest for a sixth title of 2009 in Valencia today, it is that he will be fresh. The Scot has not played competitively for six weeks, since he put Davis Cup duty above the health of his left wrist, which had been bothering him since shortly before the US Open at the end of August.

Roger Federer shapes up for the challenges ahead by hiring full-time physio

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:59 GMT

Roger Federer returns to the ATP Tour after a six-week hiatus in his home city of Basle tonight, having taken a decision designed to preserve his dominance over the sport well into his thirties.

Andy Murray denies game is facing an endemic drug problem

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:29 GMT

Andy Murray said yesterday that Andre Agassi’s shocking revelations — serialised in The Times — do not mean that tennis has a drugs problem.

Serena Williams claims title in survival of the fittest

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:14 GMT

The Williams sister carrying the more visible strapping defeated the one with a smidgin less plaster to win a championship that always had more to do with physical distress than classic tennis.

Profile: Andre Agassi

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 18:11:00 GMT

Only a few weeks ago he was bowing and blowing kisses at a ceremony in New York, telling a rapturous crowd: “I missed you.” Andre Agassi, revered as an elder statesman of tennis, was one of four sportsmen being honoured as “athletes who give something back”. And, boy, was he planning to give something back.

The Net Post: London is on WTA's radar

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 15:50:27 GMT

Another year left in Doha, then three in Istanbul, Turkey, so what price London as the venue for the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour finals from 2014 onwards? Not only will the focus at the top of the men's game be solidly on the London Borough of Greenwich later this month, as the 02 Arena is spruced up and star-spangled for the Barclays ATP Tour World Finals; the women will be casting an interested eye on proceedings, too.

Sport round-up: Williams sisters in final

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 01:05:00 GMT

DEFENDING champion Venus Williams reached the final of the WTA championships in Doha, Qatar, after beating Serbia’s Jelena Jankovic 5-7 6-3 6-4. The American will face her sister, Serena, who overcame Caroline Wozniacki after the Dane pulled out with a stomach injury while trailing 4-6 1-0.

Andre Agassi ‘took speed’ before match

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 01:04:00 GMT

AS WELL as taking crystal meth, Andre Agassi took amphetamine, his new autobiography reveals, according to reports last night. The drug was said to have been given to him by his autocratic and hugely driven father Mike Agassi. Andre confesses to taking the pills before a tournament despite warnings from his older brother Phillip that he should not swallow then when they were offered by their father.

Dominance of Serena and Venus Williams continues in Doha

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:01:48 GMT

The story has been going for more than a decade now but once again the final of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Championships will be the exclusive domain of the Williams sisters. And for one crucial reason; they are still the strongest players in the woman’s game and this week Venus and Serena have also proved to be the most durable.

Andre Agassi’s lies are crystal clear

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:54 GMT

When you watched Andre Agassi play tennis, there was invariably a sense of witnessing a true performer. Here was the sportsman who gave sport fans everything he had, like it was an offering from him to us. And Agassi was loved for it. What now? He has written a book admitting his use of the mostly recreational drug crystal meth and lying to escape a drug ban and a tarnished image.

Unforgiving father who drove his son to triumph – and despair

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:46 GMT

APART from confessions about his drug use, perhaps the most striking revelation in Andre Agassi’s autobiography was the insight it gave into his troubled relationship with his father. Mike Agassi was the prototype tennis dad, somebody who saw great potential wealth for himself and his family if he could turn his son into a tennis champion, but it meant that the boy would have little joy in his childhood.

High society

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:39 GMT

Ever since I came face to face with a gaudily-dressed, frosted-haired 17-year-old upstart with a service return most grown champions would die for, Andre Agassi was a player apart from the rest. He’s always had the ability to surprise, to shock, if you like. So I was not surprised that he confessed to taking drugs this week — though I was amazed that they were of the recreational variety.

ATP backed after Andre Agassi drugs revelations

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 00:00:40 GMT

The former ATP prosecutor-in-chief strongly defended its part in the Andre Agassi crystal meth affair yesterday as the governing body came under fire from past and present members for letting the shamed champion get away with pulling the wool over its eyes so blatantly.

Caroline Wozniacki reaches semi-finals despite defeat by Jelena Jankovic

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 00:00:08 GMT

Andy Murray has landed in Valencia for next week’s ATP tournament to pick up on his interrupted year, six weeks after the Davis Cup tie against Poland when he played three times in successive days and exacerbated the damage to his left wrist.

Andre Agassi exclusive: I tell myself, you can win this thing with one swing

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:01:00 GMT

The talent assembled at Wimbledon is stunning. There’s Jim Courier, ranked number one, fresh off two Grand Slam victories. There’s Pete Sampras, who keeps getting better. There’s Stefan Edberg, who’s playing out of his mind. I’m the 12th seed, and the way I’ve been playing I should be seeded lower.

Andre Agassi exclusive: Revealed . . . the drug, the highs, the phone call – then the lies

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:01:00 GMT

I open my eyes and don’t know where I am or who I am. Not all that unusual — I’ve spent half my life not knowing. Still, this feels different. This confusion is more frightening. More total. I look up. I’m lying on the floor beside the bed. I remember now. I moved from the bed to the floor in the middle of the night. I do that most nights. Better for my back. Too many hours on a soft mattress causes agony.