Designer hat gets Russian in trouble

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Hot water ... the offending hat, worn by Kirilenko during her first two matches. Source: Rob Griffith / AAP

Russian hotty Maria Kirilenko flirted with disqualification before booking a fourth-round showdown with all-conquering Serena Williams at the Australian Open.

Kirilenko, who once posed for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition, is the poster girl for Stella McCartney, showcasing the famous designer's latest tennis number at Melbourne Park.

But the 25-year-old found herself in hot water on Saturday when the grand slam supervisor threatened to boot her out of the Open for breaching branding regulations.

The world No.14 and former Open quarter-finalist was ordered to remove the Stella McCartney logo from her visor before taking on Yanina Wickmayer at Hisense Arena.

"They said I couldn't wear that anymore, just on the practice court," Kirilenko said after overcoming the distraction to beat Wickmayer, the 20th seed, 7-6 (7-4) 6-3.

"Actually there were two signs - adidas and Stella McCartney - and they said I'm not allowed to wear two brands on the same visor.

"I don't know (why), but I played two matches with that (already) and nobody tell me until today.

"It's good that I had a bandanna in my bag, so I was fine to play."

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Heat down Perth to claim BBL title

Underdogs ... Brisbane Heat are this season's Big Bash League champions. Source: Daniel Wilkins / News Limited

Brisbane Heat are the new kings of Australian Twenty20 cricket after beating Perth Scorchers by 34 runs in Saturday's KFC T20 Big Bash League final at the WACA Ground.

T20 - WACA Ground

19 January 2013 - Day 1, Session 2

Scorchers 1st Innings

J. Behrendorf...	2	4	0	0	50
M. Beer	2	2	0	0	100
A. McDermott	4	0	21	2	5.25

Chasing 168 for victory, the Scorchers were restricted to 9-133, with dangerman Shaun Marsh dismissed for just 16 off 24 balls courtesy of a sharp overhead catch from Nathan Hauritz in the deep.

The Heat only booked their place in the BBL finals with an upset win over Hobart Hurricanes in the last round of the season and went into their semi-final against Melbourne Renegades as massive underdogs.

Former WA bad boy Luke Pomersbach cracked an unbeaten 112 to power the Heat past the Renegades in Tuesday's semi-final, but it was a team effort to get over the line against the Scorchers in the decider.

Joe Burns (43 off 27 balls) top-scored for the Heat in their total of 5-167, while Dan Christian (37 off 21) provided some crucial big hits at the tail-end of their innings.

And although Brisbane opener Pomersbach couldn't get close to repeating his recent heroics, he still managed 37 off 38 balls to get the Heat off to a solid start.

The Heat's bowlers then backed up the efforts, with West Indies paceman Kemar Roach (3-18 off four overs) and spinner Nathan Hauritz (0-11 off three overs) grinding down the Scorchers early, before Ben Cutting snared the crucial scalp of Marsh.

Brisbane achieved the win without skipper James Hopes, who failed in his bid to overcome a hamstring injury.

The Scorchers lost last summer's BBL final to Sydney Sixers, and were desperate to end the nine-year title drought for Western Australia cricket.

But they never looked likely in their run chase, especially after crawling to 1-17 after five overs.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

With Marsh at the crease, there was always hope.

But when he fell in the eighth over with the score at 2-38, the Scorchers were in big trouble.

Adam Voges (49 off 32 balls) and Marcus North (24) looked promising in patches.

But with Herschelle Gibbs missing through injury and Marsh dismissed cheaply, the Scorchers lacked the firepower to chase down the Heat's competitive total.

Although the Scorchers missed out on the BBL trophy, they can take consolation in the fact they've already booked their spot in this year's lucrative T20 Champions League. 

---

Relive the Big Bash League final with our Match Centre, featuring video of every boundary and wicket!

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Journalist Walsh accepts Armstrong apology

DAVID Walsh, the journalist who almost single-handedly queried disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong's remarkable comeback from cancer, has accepted the American's apology.

But he said he felt it hard to sympathise with him despite his confession.

Armstrong, who is being sued by Walsh's newspaper paper the Sunday Times for more than STG1 million ($A1.53 million) over a libel payment made to him in 2006, issued the apology during the second part of his interview with Oprah Winfrey on Friday (Saturday AEDT).

However, while Walsh accepted the apology, he tweeted that he didn't know how sincere it was.

"Watching part two of Armstrong interview, he admits to feeling shamed and humbled. But why is it so difficult to empathise with his situation?

"Oprah pressured him, the apology was, I thought, hesitantly promised. I didn't ask for it, or expect it, but, yes, if it's offered, I accept."

The Sunday Times had earlier in the week taken out an advertisment in the Chicago Tribune with 10 questions they wanted Winfrey to ask Armstrong.

The English newspaper picked the Chicago Tribune as it is in the city where Winfrey hosts her show on her OWN cable TV network.

Aside from the Sunday Times lawsuit, there is also a potential threat to Armstrong's liberty, stemming from the fallen icon's role in the US Postal Service team, where he spent his most successful years in the saddle.

Having been paid by the government, the former team leader could face criminal charges for making fraudulent statements to his bosses.

He could also be accused of perjury over disclosures made under oath to a US federal jury in 2005.

If convicted, each false statement could lead to five years in jail.

Armstrong always maintained that he did not use banned substances during his stellar career, but the Sunday Times was one of the few publications to openly query his innocence.

The paper had to pay Armstrong $US300,000 ($A286,000) to settle a libel case after previously suggesting that he may have cheated.

The Sunday Times is reportedly demanding the return of the original settlement payment, along with interest and legal costs.

The newspaper had long questioned Armstrong's achievements and in 2004 it published an article stating that it was appropriate for questions about his success to be "posed and answered".

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Victory hold off 10-man Glory

The difference ... Thompson's pressure forced the own goal from Jamieson. Source: AAP

Melbourne Victory have held on for a scratchy 1-0 victory over a 10-man Perth Glory at nib Stadium.

It was far from the ideal performance from Ange Postecoglou's side, but an own goal in the 25th minute turned out to be enough as they picked up their third win in five games.

Both teams looked to move the ball in the opening stages and it would be the Victory to have the first real chance of the night through Archie Thompson.

The Socceroos striker looked threatening in the early stages and he went within a whisker of scoring with a header that drew a fine save from Danny Vukovic.

That seemed to fire the Glory into action and they too would come close to the opener as Dean Heffernan found the crossbar with a quality header.

The game settled down after that and the Glory looked to be gaining the ascendancy until Jamieson was found wanting at the back.

After winning a turnover from Bas van den Brink, Marcos Flores played a wonderful ball through for Marco Rojas and the New Zealander's cross forced Jamieson into a costly error under the pressure of Thompson.

The hosts looked the more likely for the rest of the half but were unable to make a series of corners count.

Perth were again on top early in the second half as they enjoyed extended periods of possession.

But they were unable to find the breakthrough and things got tougher for the home side in the 68th minute when Joshua Risdon was shown a second yellow card for a tackle on Leigh Broxham.

The game should have been out of reach for the hosts just minutes later when Rojas was played through by Spase Dilevski but the Kiwi powered his shot straight at Vukovic, who stayed big and made a strong save.

The Glory continued to press forward and they very nearly nabbed a draw when Ryo Nagai found the crossbar with a deflected shot in injury time.

It wasn't to be the home side's night however, as it finished 1-0 to the Victory.

Check out the goal and all the stats at Match Centre!

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Melbourne break Adelaide hearts

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Head hunter ... Josip Tadic celebartes with teammates after scoring. Source: Hamish Blair / AAP

Melbourne Heart leapt into the A-League top six and left Adelaide United with a greasy grip on a top two spot with a 2-0 victory at AAMI Park.

The Heart rebounded from their late capitulation to Sydney FC last weekend with a far more controlled performance against a Reds side which struggled for rhythm.

Goals in both halves to Josip Tadic and Richard Garcia secured the victory, pushing the Heart into fifth place.

		P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
1	Central Coast	16	10	4	2	15	34
2	Adelaide	17	10	2	5	6	32
3	Victory	16	8	3	5	0	27
4	Western Sydney	16	8	2	6	6	26
5	Heart	17	6	3	8	-1	21
6	Newcastle	16	6	2	8	-8	20
7	Perth	16	5	4	7	1	19
8	Brisbane	16	5	2	9	-1	17
9	Sydney	16	5	2	9	-13	17
10	Wellington	16	4	4	8	-5	16

Adelaide are in danger of both falling further behind league leaders Central Coast if the Mariners can pick up points against Newcastle Jets on Saturday and having third-placed Melbourne Victory close in if they succeed against Perth Glory on Saturday night.

As is their usual modus operandi, the Heart grabbed an early lead when striker Tadic headed home a Fred cross in the fifth minute with Adelaide's marking non-existent.

Both teams had dangerous patches of play and Adelaide could have equalised had Dario Vidosic done better on 42 minutes.

He shot well over the bar after Evan Kostopoulos had played him in on goal.

A minute later, Adelaide keeper Eugene Galekovic made a fine save to deny David Williams and Tadic was unable to make any meaningful contact with a difficult rebound.

---

Relive every goal, tackle and foul in our Match Centre.

---

But it took just four minutes after halftime for the Heart to go further ahead, when midfielder Matt Thompson dispossessed Kostopoulos in midfield, ran to the edge of the box, then played in Garcia who slotted home coolly.

While Heart are the best first half team in the A-League this season, they are also the worst second-half performers.

But they were rarely troubled by a flat Reds side in the second half - long-range shots from Kostopoulos and Cameron Watson late in the period their best attempts.

Both teams also have significant injury concerns out of the match.

Heart lost skipper Fred to what appeared a hamstring or quadriceps injury just 10 minutes into the second half.

And soon after Adelaide's Vidosic limped from the field to be substituted.

Melbourne Heart coach John Aloisi confirmed post match that Fred had damaged his quadriceps and would have scans to determine the severity of an injury which left the Brazilian visibly distressed.

"I only spoke to him very briefly and he's very upset, so we'll have to have scans to see if it's something serious - if it's a tear or not,'' Aloisi said.

"Disappointing, because last week you saw the old Fred coming back and now this happened ... we'll just have to see the extent of it.''

Adelaide coach John Kosmina said Vidosic had a hip injury, picking up two knocks in the same area during the match.

And he lamented what he called "two cheap goals'' his side conceded at poor times.

"We played well in patches but we gave two cheap goals away, and that's what probably killed us,'' Kosmina said.

"When we did keep the ball we looked half-decent. We just didn't do it for long enough.''

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

V8 Abu Dhabi race cancelled

Cancelled ... Jamie Whincup in action at last year's race in Abu Dhabi. Source: EDGE Photographics / AAP

V8 Supercars organisers have been forced to cancel their glamour race in Abu Dhabi for the 2013 season.

It was announced on Friday that the event at Yas Marina Circuit has been sidelined this year in what appears to have been a call made by Formula One authorities, namely Formula One Managemtn (FOM).

The Abu Dhabi race was run last year as the only support category for the F1 Grand Prix at the same venue and was scheduled to do the same this year before Friday's announcement.

"V8 Supercars have been absolutely amazing in the three years we've worked with them building a fan base for the sport locally and in the region," Yas Marina Circuit CEO Richard Cregan said.

"As one of the most exciting motorsport categories in the world we hope to see them back at Yas Marina Circuit soon."

V8 Supercars organisers said they understood the decision and are comfortable with it, but are hopeful of returning to the circuit in 2014.

"It has always been clear that FOM ultimately decides, or approves, 'support' categories that run in conjunction with Formula One," V8 Supercars CEO David Malone said.

"We were acutely aware of this when we announced the 2013 calendar, with FOM then making this decision in late December. We thoroughly enjoy competing alongside Formula One and are absolutely comfortable with this news.

"There are contingencies in place and we will discuss the options, which may include racing on an alternate date to Formula One in 2014, with Yas Marina Circuit as soon as possible.

"What is very clear is the outstanding relationship we have with Richard Cregan and his team at Abu Dhabi Motorsport Management; and a committed combined will to find an alternative solution that fits for all.

"V8 Supercars and ADMM will announce any new arrangements as soon as they are decided."

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Sharapova continues Open dominance

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Fired up ... Sharapova was in control from start to finish against Williams. Source: Dita Alangkara / AAP

Seven-time grand slam champion Venus Williams became another Maria Sharapova victim as the Russian took her astonishing Australian Open start up a notch in the third round.

Sharapova, 25, whose preparation for the tournament was limited by a collarbone injury, had gone through the first two rounds without losing a game, blitzing fellow Russian Olga Puchkova and Japan's Misaki Doi.

Australian Open: Ladies Singles

Round 3, 18/01/13

Unlike those victims, Williams at least made it onto the scoreboard as Sharapova won 6-1 6-3.

Williams had been expected to give the No.2 seed her first real fight of the tournament.

But Sharapova, who won the Open in 2008 and lost last year's final to Victoria Azarenka, dominated from the start.

She won the first four games, making it 28 in succession to start her tournament, before Williams held serve to ensure she would avoid a whitewash.

It was a blip as the Russian played clinical tennis to race through the next five games.

---

Click here for a full list of the day's Australian Open results.

---

It was only when Sharapova first served for the match at 5-1 that Williams provided substantial resistance, breaking serve for the first time.

That prolonged the match for two more games.

Sharapova will meet unseeded Belgian Kirsten Flipkens in the fourth round, after Flipkens beat Russia's Valeria Savinykh on Friday.

Australian Open: Ladies Singles

Round 3, 18/01/13

Iva (13)	7	6
Jan (22)	5	3

Sharapova said it the meeting with Williams was something she had been eyeing since the draw was announced.

"No matter what she's ranked or seeded she's always a very tough opponent,'' Sharapova said.

"I was very determined out there and really wanted this victory.''

Meanwhile, Ana Ivanovic, seeded 13, defeated compatriot Jelena Jankovic, the 22nd seed, 7-5 6-3 in the third round on Friday.

Radwanska had an easier pathway, continuing her stunning form with a 6-3 6-1 win over young Briton Heather Watson.

Australian Open: Ladies Singles

Round 3, 18/01/13

The fourth seed has already won titles in Auckland and Sydney and is yet to drop a set at Melbourne Park on her progression through to the last 16.

Crowd favourite and former finalist Li Na of China, meets German Julia Goerges after defeating Romanian Sorana Cirstea 6-4 6-1.

Australian Open: Ladies Singles

Round 3, 18/01/13

A second German, the fifth-ranked Angelique Kerber, also made it to the last 16 with a 6-2 7-5 victory over rising American star Madison Keys.

Radwanska and Watson, a 20-year-old from Guernsey, had met once before - at Wimbledon, last year where the Pole was the eventual runner-up.

---

Find all your Australian Open results here!

---

"It's great that I am already playing my best tennis at the beginning of the year,'' Radwanska said after her win on Wednesday.

"I just hope I can keep playing on the same level through the rest of the tournament.''

Watson managed her first service break points in the final game but watched them evaporate as Radwanska clawed her way to deuce.

An ace brought up match point, which she seized on as the British woman netted a return.

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

'Lance doesn't realise his crime'

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Disappointed ... Phil Liggett was once a staunch defender of Lance Armstrong. Source: Sarah Reed / News Limited

Veteran cycling commentator Phil Liggett is one of several prominent people within the sport to have criticised the lack of detail and real contrition in Lance Armstrong's confession during his interview with Oprah Winfrey.

Liggett, nicknamed 'the voice of cycling', used to strongly support Armstrong.

"It was not a deep and sincere apology if that's what we were looking for," Liggett said.

"He has to name names.

"He doesn't seem to realise the incredulous crime he's committed."

Retired Australian Tour de France star Robbie McEwen, who organised charity rides with Armstrong in this country only a couple of years ago, said he felt deceived.

"It's changed everyone's opinion of him," McEwen said of the confession.

"Everyone wanted to believe in the hero, the fairy tale story.

"I don't think there's a person on the planet who even remotely follows cycling who hasn't changed their opinion of what we thought Lance was."

Fellow Australian cycling great Stuart O'Grady was among those who stressed the sport had changed since Armstrong's Tour reign.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

"The damage has been done, there's no getting around that,'' O'Grady said.

"But what we can do now is look to the future."

The man who oversaw the doping investigation into Armstrong has called the disgraced cyclist's confession a step in the right direction.

US Anti-Doping Agency chief executive Travis Tygart said Armstrong now must give more formal evidence about his doping past.

Reaction to Armstrong's much-anticipated interview with talk show host Oprah Winfrey was as wide and varied as the opinions of him have always been.

---

Watch part two of Lance Armstrong's interview with Oprah Winfrey on the Discovery Channel on Foxtel, from 1pm (EDT) Saturday.

---

There was fascination, great sadness, indifference and revulsion.

Tygart was matter-of-fact.

Armstrong once called the USADA investigation that Tygart oversaw into his cycling career a "witch hunt", but chose not to contest its exhaustive report when it was published last August.

The Texan was stripped of his record seven Tour de France titles, his Olympic bronze medal from 2000 and banned from all sanctioned sport for life.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

"If he is sincere in his desire to correct his past mistakes, he will testify under oath about the full extent of his doping activities," Tygart said in a statement.

Cycling's world body, UCI, is in the midst of an argument about whether there should be a truth and reconciliation process for the sport.

UCI president Pat McQuaid said in a statement that Armstrong's interview was disturbing.

"Armstrong also rightly said that cycling is a completely different sport today than it was 10 years ago," McQuaid added.

"In particular the UCI's introduction of the biological passport in 2008 - the first sports federation to do so - has made a real difference in the fight against doping.

"Finally, we note that Lance Armstrong expressed a wish to participate in a truth and reconciliation process, which we would welcome."

Australia's Tour de France pioneer Phil Anderson, a team-mate of Armstrong's in the early 1990s, said the interview had not told him much new.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

"I don't think anything was really revealed, beyond what had been leaked," Anderson said.

"Finally we hear it from him.

"You look at his body language, he doesn't look any different to his usual interview."

Betsy Andreu, the wife of Armstrong's former teammate Frankie Andreu and one of the first to publicly accuse the Texan of doping, agreed.

"I'm really disappointed,'' Andreu, who was repeatedly attacked by Armstrong over the years, told CNN.

"After what you've done to me, what you've done to my family and you couldn't own up to it. And now we're supposed to believe you?" she said.

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Donaldson outshines McIlroy, Woods

Jamie Donaldson ... is a shock first-round leader at the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship. Source: Kamran Jebreili / AAP

Unheralded Jamie Donaldson outshone Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods at the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship by shooting an opening-round 5-under-par 67 for an early one-shot lead on Thursday.

McIlroy, playing with new clubs following his multi-million dollar sponsorship deal with Nike, finished with a 3-over 75 and risks missing the cut.

He repeatedly missed fairways including a shot on his 12th that hit a tree and ended up in a car park that led to one of his two double bogeys.

His other double bogey came when he muffed a chip in thick rough on his par-3 6th. He also putted poorly, missing a par putt on his 17th and a birdie putt on the 18th.

Mclroy insisted his difficulties had more to do with rusty strokes than the new equipment.

While he repeatedly slumped after a bad shot or frowned following a missed putt, the 2012 European Tour and US PGA Tour money winner seemed resigned to the fact that it would take time for him to adjust to the new Nike clubs.

"When you go out and you've got new stuff, you are going to be a little anxious and hopefully you play well," McIlroy said.

"But I guess I can learn from it and move on and go into tomorrow and try and play a bit better. It's about playing yourself into the weekend."

Woods, meanwhile, finished a rollercoaster round at even par after ``grinding it out.''

The 14-time major winner had four birdies to go along with four bogeys and ended his round by three-putting his 18th for a bogey when he hit the second putt too hard.

"I'm still right there," said Woods, who was five shots behind Donaldson.

"You know, if I two-putt that last hole I'm in I think 12th or 13th or something like that. There's not a lot of guys going low out there. These fairways are tiny to begin with, but there are a lot of crosswinds."

"I put something up there and lost it,'' Woods said of his bogeys on the back.

It was left to the 47th-ranked Donaldson to show how to master the narrow fairway and overcome the windy conditions. He had six birdies - including holing a bunker shot on his 12th - to go along with a bogey.

"Solid start, played some pretty good golf out there," said Donaldson, who was looking for his second European Tour victory.

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Big guns cruise, Duckworth loses epic

Big guns ... Andy Murray and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga into the third round. Source: David Crosling / AAP

Super-fit Andy Murray kept his cool on a brutally hot Melbourne Day to ease through to the third round of the Australian Open.

Ivan Dodig (CRO) bt Jarkko Nieminen (FIN) 6-3 6-7(3) 6-3 6-7(4) 6-1

6-Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) bt Benjamin Becker (GER) 6-2 6-4 6-2

Gael Monfils (FRA) bt Lu Yen-Hsun (TPE) 7-6(5) 4-6 0-6 6-1 8-6

14-Gilles Simon (FRA) bt Jesse Levine (CAN) 2-6 6-3 7-6(4) 6-2

Jeremy Chardy (FRA) bt 30-Marcel Granollers (ESP) 6-3 3-6 6-1 6-2

12-Marin Cilic (CRO) bt Q-Rajeev Ram (USA) 7-5 6-2 6-4

Blaz Kavcic (SLO) bt WC-James Duckworth (AUS) 3-6 6-3 6-4 6-7(3) 10-8

Bernard Tomic (AUS) bt Q-Daniel Brands (GER) 6-7(4) 7-5 7-6(3) 7-6(8)

21-Andreas Seppi (ITA) bt Denis Istomin (UZB) 7-6(4) 5-7 6-7(3) 7-6(3) 6-2

3-Andy Murray (GBR) bt Joao Sousa (POR) 6-2 6-2 6-4

13-Milos Raonic (CAN) bt Lukas Rosol (CZE) 7-6(2) 6-2 6-3

7-Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) bt Go Soeda (JPN) 6-3 7-6(1) 6-3

17-Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) bt Q-Amir Weintraub (ISR) 6-2 7-6(4) 6-4

Q-Ricardas Berankis (LTU) bt 25-Florian Mayer (GER) 6-2 6-3 6-1

2-Roger Federer (SUI) bt Nikolay Davydenko (Rus) 6-3 6-4 6-4

Murray, who undergoes a tough off-season training program every year in Miami, proved far too good for Portugal's Joao Sousa, winning 6-2 6-4 6-4.

"You need to be the one that's trying to dictate the points in these conditions,'' said Murray, the No.3 seed and reigning US Open champion.

"Miami is the perfect preparation.

"It's hot and humid there, although it certainly doesn't get up to 37 degrees.''

---

Click here for all the Australian Open scores and results

---

Murray advanced to a third-round clash with regular practice partner Ricardas Berankis.

The Lithuanian qualifier needed only 77 minutes to send No.25 seed Florian Mayer tumbling out of the Open.

Mayer - who hammered an out-of-sorts Bernard Tomic in the pivotal match of last year's Davis Cup playoff tie against Germany - was trounced 6-2 6-3 6-1 by Berankis.

Australian James Duckworth has bowed out of the Australian Open in the second round to Slovenian Blaz Kavcic in another marathon match.

Playing in searing heat at Melbourne Park, the 20-year-old Sydneysider courageously saved five match points in the final set before going down to the world No.93 3-6 6-3 6-4 6-7 (3-7) 10-8.

Duckworth had already battled through a four-and-a-half-hour, five-set encounter to topple his great mate and compatriot Ben Mitchell in the opening round.

But Thursday's clash with Kavcic was an even more gruelling affair.

At four hours and 52 minutes, it was the longest match of the tournament on the hottest day so far.

French crowd pleaser Jo-Wilfried Tsonga also moved into the third round with a minimum of fuss.

Tsonga - whose best grand slam result came when he reached the final at Melbourne Park in 2008 - proved too good for Japan's Go Soeda, winning 6-3 7-6 (7-1) 6-3 in two hours and three minutes.

The No.7 seed was broken early in the second set, but was able to get back on level terms and then breeze through the tiebreaker.

While the top three seeds are capturing more attention, 2009 US Open winner Juan Martin del Potro has moved through his first two rounds in even more dominant fashion.

Del Potro conceded just five games in his opening round win over French qualifier Adrian Mannarino and a further eight in eliminating German Benjamin Becker 6-2 6-4 6-2 in the second round on Thursday night.

It means the sixth seed has conceded fewer games than any of the top three seeds over the opening two rounds.

"I served well and I made a lot of winners with my forehand. When I'm 100 per cent I have a good chance to keep winning matches," del Potro said after the match.

No.13 seed Milos Raonic from Canada beat Czech Lukas Rosol 7-6 (7-2) 6-2 6-3 to set up a third-round clash with German No.17 seed Philipp Kohlschreiber, who beat Israel's Amir Weintraub 6-2 7-6 (7-4) 6-4.

The stated aim for both player and coach is for the world No.7 to fulfil his immense promise and join the list of major winners.

"My career was always about taking the next step, always trying to improve something in your game,'' Tsonga, 27, said on Thursday after beating Japan's Go Soeda 6-3 7-6 (7-1) 6-3 to advance to the third round of the Australian Open.

"Sometimes you have a coach and sometimes you need to be alone.

"To think about your game, all you want, all your expectation.

"So for me it was good to be alone at this time and then I did another step and I decided to come back to a coach.''

Tsonga wants to be best remembered for winning majors.

The Frenchman's best grand slam result to date came at Melbourne Park back in 2008, when he advanced to the final only to be beaten by Novak Djokovic as the Serb won the first of his five major titles.

Tsonga has also reached the semi-finals at Wimbledon in each of the last two years, famously beating Roger Federer in 2011 after dropping the opening two sets.

"I've had some good results (at the grand slams) but I want to take the next step and it's maybe to win one,'' he said.

"Today I'm working for that and I'm doing everything to achieve these things.

"I don't have too many goals.

"The only goal is to play well in that kind of tournament.''

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More