Sharapova and Jankovic survive scares in1st round at U.S. Open

No. 14 seed, Maria Sharapova, survived a 3-set scare in her match against No. 60 ranked, Jarmila Groth, while 4th seed, Jelena Jankovic was given a huge scare by 18-year-old Romanian Simona Halep.

Sharapova overcame a deficit and a big-hitting opponent to avoid a significant upset in the first round of the U.S. Open.

Sharapova, the 2006 champion at Flushing Meadows, played solidly and often safely while putting together a 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 victory over 60th-ranked Jarmila Groth of Australia on Tuesday.

Bondarenko upsets No. 8 seed Li at U.S. Open

Kateryna Bondarenko from Ukaraine pulled a huge upset in round one of the U.S. Open, defeating No. 8 seed, Na Li of China.

Li admitted she wilted in the stifling heat with temperatures peaking at around 95 degrees Fahrenheit. “From the middle of the second set I was feeling the energy was going down,” Li told Reuters. “I talked to myself to stay positive on the court but it didn’t work.”

Li looked on course for a straightforward win when she broke serve twice to win the first set. But Bondarenko, who has slipped down the rankings after a three-month absence with knee trouble, leveled the match and, as Li faded, roared through the decider to reach round two.

Hantuchova sends Safina packing in 1st round at U.S. Open

No. 24 seed, Daniela Hantuchova downed former World No. 1 Dinara Safina in the first round of the 2010 U.S. Open at Flushing Meadows.

Safina was the top seed here last year, but was eliminated in the 3rd round. She has been plagued by a back injury which has forced her to miss almost three months of the 2010 season, including Wimbledon. She reached the World No. 1 ranking in April of 2009, but her ranking has now dropped to 50th in the world in just over a year. She has yet to win a Grand Slam tournament.

Wozniacki seeded No. 1 at Open; Clijsters No. 2

Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark is seeded No. 1 at the U.S. Open, followed by No. 2 Kim Clijsters of Belgium.

It is the first time Wozniacki was seeded No. 1 at a Grand Slam tournament, a spot which she filled in after world No. 1 Serena Williams of the U.S.A. pulled out of the tournament, saying she still is recovering from surgery to repair cuts on her right foot.

Wozniacki, ranked No. 2 behind Williams by the WTA, was the runner-up at Flushing Meadows last year and is the first woman since 2003 to be seeded No. 1 at the U.S. Open without already having won a major championship.

Serena Williams pulls out of 2010 U.S. Open

World No. 1 Serena Williams will miss the 2010 U.S. Open due to injury.

On the advice of her doctors, top-ranked tennis star Serena Williams withdrew from the U.S. Open on Friday. The 28-year-old champion, who is still recovering from recent foot surgery, said in a written statement that she was pulling out of the tournament “with much frustration and deep sadness.”

Justine Henin calls it quits for 2010

Justine Henin has announced that she will miss the rest of the 2010 season as she recovers from an elbow injury.

The No. 14th ranked player from Belgium injured her elbow at Wimbledon in July, and said on her website she will not be able to practice again until October.

Henin, a seven-rime Grand Slam winner, returned to tennis at the beginning of this season after 18 months in retirement. She reached the final in her first two tournaments, including the Australian Open, and won titles in Stuttgart and Den Bosch.

Top-seeded Jankovic ousted by qualifier Benesova

Qualifier Iveta Benesova of the Czech Republic ousted top-seeded Jelena Jankovic of Serbia Tuesday night in the 2nd round of the 2010 WTA Rogers Cup in Montreal, Canada.

This win over No. 3 ranked Jankovic in straight sets, 7-6(3), 6-3, was the biggest victory of Benesova’s career. After the match she said: “It was almost a perfect match for me… I was in the zone and focused on my game.” Her previous best win was over then No. 10 ranked Vera Zvonareva in 2005.

Jankovic has played only four matches in three tournaments this month after missing two weeks with an ankle injury she claims is completely recovered.

Sharapova and Ivanovic suffer injuries in Cincinnati

Maria Sharapova of Russia and Ana Ivanovic of Serbia sustained foot injuries during the Cincinnati Open, both while playing against Kim Clijsters.

Sharapova, ranked No. 12, aggravated a heel injury in the championship match against Clijsters. “I felt some pain in my foot late in the second set which kind of scared me so I have been forced to pull out of Montreal,” Sharapova wrote on her official website. “I am hoping I just need a few days of rest.”

Clijsters had advanced after Ivanovic, ranked No. 39, retired from their semifinal matchup due to a foot injury.

Clijsters rallies to beat Sharapova for WTA title

It was 4th seed former #1 Kim Clijsters battling it out with 10th seed former #1
Maria Sharapova in the final of the WTA Tour Western & Southern Financial Group Women’s Open in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA yesterday, Aug. 15th, 2010. The fans got their money’s worth at the 3-set match in which Kim came out the victor, 2-6, 7-6(4), 6-2.

Maria held three match points with Kim serving at 3-5 in the second set just before rain interrupted the match. Maria was unable to convert and the tension and drama of the moment heightened as play was halted.

Pavlyuchenkova captures Istanbul tennis title

Russian third seed, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, defeated compatriot Elena Vesnina 5-7, 7-5, 6-4 on Sunday to capture the WTA Istanbul Cup title in Istanbul, Turkey.

At 19-years-old, Pavlyuchenkova is ranked No. 24, the highest-ranked teenager in the world. It was her second career championship after Monterrey earlier this season.

Pavlyuchenkova did it the hard way, taking the victory after three hours and 10 minutes on the court in the final match, rallying from 0-4 in the second set and 1-3 in the third.

Vesnina, who celebrated her 24th birthday on Sunday, came into Istanbul on a seven-match losing streak, having not won a match on the Tour since Charleston in April.