Bay Ledger News Zonebill@blnz.comtag:www.blnz.com,2009:people/albert_montanestag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/02/25/Federer_survives_scare_against_popular_06ef

Roger Federer seemed to have talked his way into a scare before beginning an up-and-down defence of his Dubai Open title with a recovery against an opponent even more popular than himself on Monday.

2013-02-25T18:30:25ZAFP Global Editionby Richard Eatontag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/02/06/Nadal_triumphs_singles_return_5150

Rafael Nadal made a triumphant singles return after a seven-month absence, beating qualifier Federico Delbonis 6-3, 6-2 in the second round of the ATP clay court tournament in Chile.

2013-02-07T03:00:00ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2012/08/23/hopes_little_Henin_York_magic_9808

Li Na believes her decision to hire Carlos Rodriguez, the man who steered Justine Henin to the 2003 and 2007 US Open titles, could be her New York gamechanger after enduring two successive first round failures.

2012-08-24T00:22:12ZAFP Global Editionby Dave Jamestag:www.blnz.com,2009:2012/05/27/Tsonga_Potro_take_hard_road_0749

Home hope Jo-Wilfried Tsonga struggled under the weight of expectations while dangerman Juan Martin Del Potro shrugged off an injury scare on Sunday's sweltering opening day at Roland Garros.

2012-05-27T18:03:33ZAFP Global Editionby Dave Jamestag:www.blnz.com,2009:2012/05/27/Dangerman_Potro_takes_hard_road_926d

French Open dangerman Juan Martin Del Potro shrugged off a knee injury scare as well as sweltering 30-degree heat to reach the French Open second round on Sunday.

2012-05-27T14:53:48ZAFP Global Editionby Dave Jamestag:www.blnz.com,2009:2012/05/27/Stosur_Kuznetsova_ease_through_French_e361

US Open champion Samantha Stosur had the honour of being the first player into the French Open second round at a sweltering Roland Garros on Sunday, brushing aside Britain's Elena Baltacha.

2012-05-27T13:38:57ZAFP Global Editionby Dave Jamestag:www.blnz.com,2009:2012/05/08/Azarenka_Sharapova_advance_Madrid_third_8eb2

The two leading women both reached the third round of the Madrid Masters on Tuesday, with top seed Victoria Azarenka made to struggle by Czech Andrea Hlavackova before emerging 6-3, 7-6 (7/2) winner.

2012-05-08T17:18:15ZAFP Global Editionby Scott Williamstag:www.blnz.com,2009:2012/05/08/Tennis_Azarenka_Sharapova_advance_Madrid_87be

The two leading women both reached the third round of the Madrid Masters on Tuesday, with top seed Victoria Azarenka made to struggle by Czech Andrea Hlavackova before emerging 6-3, 7-6 (7/2) winner.

2012-05-08T14:59:17ZAFP Global Editionby Scott Williamstag:www.blnz.com,2009:2012/05/08/Australias_Tomic_loses_Madrid_first_8c48

Veteran Czech Radek Stepanek on Tuesday ended the Madrid Masters run of Australian Bernard Tomic in the first round, with the Queensland youngster exiting 6-2, 7-5.

2012-05-08T12:13:47ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2012/05/06/Potro_wins_second_straight_Estoril_ab29

Top seed Juan Martin del Potro retained his title here at the Estoril Open on Sunday after inflicting a 6-4, 6-2 defeat on second seed Richard Gasquet.

2012-05-06T17:28:16ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2012/05/04/Gasquet_guns_into_Estoril_semi-finals_05f7

French second seed Richard Gasquet defeated Daniel Munoz-de la Nava 7-6 (7/1), 6-2 on Friday to reach the semi-finals of the Estoril Open, his first clay event of the season.

2012-05-04T16:24:54ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2012/04/26/Nadal_Murray_move_through_Barcelona_7271

Rafael Nadal recorded his 31st consecutive win at his home Barcelona Open on Thursday to reach the quarter-finals at the expense of Colombian qualifier Robert Farah 6-2, 6-3.

2012-04-26T17:49:03ZAFP Global Editionby Scott Williamstag:www.blnz.com,2009:2012/04/26/Murray_Raonic_Barcelona_battle_3361

Andy Murray crushed Colombia's Santiago Giraldo in a powerful 6-1, 6-2 display on Thursday to set up a quarter-final showdown with Milos Raonic at the Barcelona Open.

2012-04-26T14:21:14ZAFP Global Editionby Scott Williamstag:www.blnz.com,2009:2012/04/18/Nadal_passes_knee_test_Djokovic_c0c1

Rafael Nadal emerged a 6-4, 6-3 winner over Jarkko Nieminen with no obvious discomfort to his troublesome left knee as the Spaniard began his quest for a record eighth title at the Monte Carlo Masters on Wednesday.

2012-04-18T17:05:19ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2012/04/18/Nadal_passes_Monte_Carlo_knee_552c

Rafael Nadal emerged a 6-4, 6-3 winner over Jarkko Nieminen with no obvious discomfort to his troublesome left knee as the Spaniard began his quest for a record eighth title at the Monte Carlo Masters on Wednesday.

2012-04-18T14:13:02ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2011/10/11/Frustrated_Roddick_wins_Fish_Shanghai_9bc2

Andy Roddick refocused after losing his cool Tuesday to reach the third round of the Shanghai Masters with a 7-6 (7/3), 7-5 win as top American Mardy Fish crashed out to Australian teen Bernard Tomic.

2011-10-11T16:12:57ZAFP Global Editionby John Weavertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2011/10/06/Tsonga_storms_into_Beijing_quarters_731c

Hard-hitting top seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga showed no mercy on Thursday as he demolished home hope Zhang Ze 6-3, 6-4 to march into the quarter-finals of the China Open in Beijing.

2011-10-06T16:26:13ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2011/05/30/Nadal_into_last_eight_Djokovic_0aa3

Five-time champion Rafael Nadal reached the French Open last eight on Monday as title rival Novak Djokovic enjoyed a major psychological boost when he was handed a free pass into the semi-finals.

2011-05-30T19:43:18ZAFP Global Editionby Dave Jamestag:www.blnz.com,2009:2011/05/30/Djokovic_into_last_four_Fognini_cbc7

PARIS (Reuters) - Second seed Novak Djokovic got a walkover into the French Open semi-finals after last eight opponent Fabio Fognini pulled out Monday because of injury.

2011-05-30T10:47:25ZReuters US Online Report Sports NewsREUTERStag:www.blnz.com,2009:2011/05/28/Azarenka_race_into_round_four_87a2

PARIS (Reuters) - Novak Djokovic produced an unforgettable performance with the racket and the microphone and Roger Federer also strolled into the French Open quarter-finals on Sunday.

2011-05-29T20:03:51ZReuters US Online Report Sports NewsJulien Pretot