The Championships Wimbledon Andy Roddick in history's way

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Roger Federer will face a familiar foe in his chase for Grand Slam history: Andy Roddick - a player he has beaten in 18 of 20 matchesstands in the way of a record 15th major title.

The milestones just keep coming for Federer, who has reached his seventh straight Wimbledon final and 20th in a major championship match overall.

A win over Roddick on Sunday would give him the biggest record of all, breaking the mark of 14 Grand Slams he shares with Pete Sampras. And Federer is one who appreciates tennis history more than most.

“I love playing against the younger generation, trying to beat those and then the next generation again and playing for the history books, but especially also playing for myself,” Federer said after beating Tommy Haas 7-6 (3), 7-5, 6-3 in Friday's semifinals. “There's a big incentive. I really enjoy that part of the game right now.”

A victory would also give Federer a sixth Wimbledon title and a return to the No. 1 ranking.

“I'm very proud of all the records I've achieved because I never thought I would be that successful as a kid,” Federer said. “I would have been happy winning a couple tournaments and maybe collecting Wimbledon. It's quite staggering now having reached … my sixth straight Grand Slam final. Having so many things going for me now again, opportunity again on Sunday, it's fantastic.”

Federer said he would be happy if Sampras showed up for the occasion. Sampras has been at home in California looking after his two young sons. Whether or not he comes, Federer was full of praise for the man whose record he is on the verge of surpassing.

“I think his success here at Wimbledon, being able to win seven times, it's amazing,” Federer said. “Winning it three times, coming back, winning it four times, going for five. It's quite something.”

Breaking the record would bolster the argument that Federer is the greatest player in the history of the game.

“I like listening about it,” he said. “It means I'm doing something right. But then again, let me finish my career, and then we'll see what happens at the end.”

The women's final was set for Saturday, with five-time champion Venus Williams facing little sister and two-time winner Serena for the second year in a row and fourth time overall in the Wimbledon title match. Venus was going for her eighth Grand Slam championship, Serena her 11th.

Rafael Nadal, the man who beat Federer in last year's final, is absent this year due to knee problems. And Andy Murray, the player many people predicted - and all of Britain hoped - would face Federer in this year's final, came up one match short.

Roddick, largely overlooked despite his appearances in two previous finals, beat Murray 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (7), 7-6 (5), stopping the third-ranked Scot's bid of becoming the first British male finalist since the 1930s. Now Roddick is out to stop Federer from breaking the Slam record.

“Obviously you can't really say enough to signify what Roger's career has been to this point,” Roddick said. “I'd love to delay (the record) for another Grand Slam.”

Asked whether he could picture himself hoisting the trophy on Center Court on Sunday, Roddick said with a smile: “Oh, I've done that many times.”

Federer's 18-2 record against Roddick includes victories in the 2004 and '05 Wimbledon finals. Roddick's only two wins came on hard courts.

“I've played him 20 times, so I've had plenty of time to study his game, to understand his game,” Federer said. “He's always played me quite differently every single time I've played him. I've had many different looks against Roddick. I enjoy how he leaves everything on the court. I can only marvel at how incredible his serve is. I like playing against him, not only just because of the record.”

For the 26-year-old Roddick, the march back to the final marks a personal turnaround. After losing in the second round last year, he said he wondered whether he still had enough to compete at the top level.

“You don't go back to a Wimbledon final by accident,” he said. “It certainly is a process. And it's probably been a longer process than I would have liked. … I didn't know if I was going to get to play a final of Wimbledon again. I'm certainly thankful to have that opportunity.”

Like most people, Murray and Haas figure Federer will have the edge again.

“I think Andy Roddick is playing some of his best tennis that I've seen,” Haas said. “But I wouldn't give him really a chance to beat Roger in the final. Maybe take a set.”

In their two previous finals and one semifinal matchup at Wimbledon, Roddick has won just one of 10 sets against Federer.

“Obviously Roger is the favourite,” Murray said. “If he plays his best and passes well, then there's no reason why he can't win.”

The Championships Wimbledon It's Serena this time

American second seed Serena Williams celebrates a point against her sister Venus Williams during their Wimbledon women's singles final at the All England Club in London yesterday. Serena won her third Wimbledon title defeting Venus 7-6, 6-2.Photo: AFP
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Serena Williams clinched her third Wimbledon title and 11th Grand Slam crown with a 7-6 (7/3), 6-2 victory over sister Venus, the defending champion, here on Saturday.

The victory added to her 2002 and 2003 wins at the All England Club and shattered Venus's hopes of a hattrick of titles and sixth overall which would have taken her level with Billie Jean King.

Saturday's final was the fourth all-Williams title match-up at Wimbledon and eighth in all Grand Slams with the win giving Serena the edge in head-to-head meetings at 11-10.

Of the eight major finals the sisters have faced each other in, Serena has won six.

"It feels so amazing. I'm so blessed. I feel like I shouldn't really be holding the trophy, Venus should be holding it, she always wins," said Serena who currently holds three of the four Grand Slam titles.

"I can't believe I have won 11 majors. It's a real honour."

Venus, 29, admitted Serena had been the better player of the two.

"She was just too good today. She had an answer for everything and played the best tennis," said Venus after a final fittingly staged on US Independence Day.

"I don't think the loss has set in yet, that's why I'm still smiling. But I have had some great times here and I'm looking forward to coming back next year."

Serve dominated the first set with 27-year-old Serena fighting off the only two break points in the eighth game and it was the younger of the two sisters who seized control of the tiebreak.

Serena went to three set points by forcing Venus to scramble from side to side before putting away a powerful crosscourt forehand.

Venus saved the first set point but was powerless when a pinpoint lob from her sister left her stranded at the net.

It was the first set Venus had dropped at Wimbledon since the third round in 2007, a run of 34 consecutive winning sets.

Serena, who had saved match point in her marathon semi-final win over Elena Dementieva, carved out her first set point when Venus double-faulted to hand her a 4-2 lead and revenge for last year's final defeat to her sister looked likely.

Second seed Serena held to love, backed-up by her 12th ace of the match, to lead 5-2.

She then wasted three match points in the eighth game but clinched the title when Venus netted with a forehand.

All-sister finale

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Venus and Serena Williams clash in a fourth all-sister Wimbledon final on Saturday determined to prove that their domination of the event is not a backward step for the sport's future welfare.

Despite 128 players starting out in the first round last week, the two Americans are once again left to contest the final for the second successive year and for the eighth time in a Grand Slam final.

Venus won last year to clinch her fifth Wimbledon title and a seventh major; Serena was the champion in 2002 and 2003 and has captured 10 Grand Slam trophies in all.

Despite the success, Russia's Dinara Safina, still without a major, and who was humiliated 6-1, 6-0 by Venus in the most one-sided Wimbledon semifinal in 40 years on Thursday, remains a contentious world number one.

The sisters, who are level 10-10 in career meetings, are desperate to put the controversy over rankings to one side and put on a competitive Centre Court showpiece.

"I think women's tennis is fantastic. I would never be down on it. I happen to have enormous respect for Dinara," said Venus after her 51-minute demolition of the Russian.

"I'm not the number one seed so I shouldn't be expected to win but I have more experience playing on grass courts."

Venus, bidding to win a hattrick of Wimbledon singles titles, is more concerned about quelling the competitive instincts of her sister who saved a match point in her three-set semifinal win over Elena Dementieva.

At 2hr 49min, it was the longest women's semifinal in history.

Venus recalled the first time she witnessed Serena's battling qualities when she was still a rookie on the tour back in 1998.

"We were playing in Sydney at White City and she was playing Lindsay Davenport. She was down 1-6, 2-5 and I'll never forget that she came back and won," said Venus.

"It was so intense. I just learned so much from that, her fight. I think that actually had a huge impression on my career, that one incident."

As always the final will be closely scrutinised for its competitive edge.

Twelve months ago, Dementieva, who had been defeated by Venus in the semi-final, appeared to suggest that the winner would be a "family decision" although she quickly corrected herself, claiming her remarks had been misinterpreted.

The sisters are sensitive to such accusations.

They haven't played the Indian Wells tournament since 2001 when fans reacted furiously to Venus's decision to withdraw from the semi-finals with an injury.

Venus won a closely-fought final here in 2008 and the sisters have served up two three-setters since, in Dubai and Miami.

"I'm happy for Serena to be in the final, but I have to face her and defeat her. I don't necessarily want her to lose, but for sure I want me to win," said the defending champion.

"Maybe that doesn't make sense. But when I'm playing someone else, I want them to lose. I don't like to ever see her disappointed in any way. But at the same time, I don't want to see myself disappointed. I need to get my titles, too."

Serena says the final is another step on their journey to fame and fortune which began in the tough Los Angeles neighbourhood of Compton.

"The more we play, the better it gets. When we play our match on Saturday it's for everything," said the world number two.

"This is what we dreamed of when we were growing up in Compton 20 something years ago. This is what we worked for, and this is what we want."

Wimbledon Championship 'Serena is like Roddick'

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Beaten Wimbledon semifinalist Elena Dementieva on Thursday compared the brutal serving power of Serena Williams to facing Andy Roddick, the fastest server in the men's game.

The Russian fourth seed lost an epic semi-final, the longest in the history of the women's tournament, 6-7, 7-5, 8-6 to the two-time champion and wasted a match point in the 10th game of the decider.

"It's not easy to fight against her. She's a great champion and she served so well that I wasn't sure if I was facing Serena Williams or Andy Roddick out there," said Dementieva, who lost to Venus Williams at the same stage in 2008.

"Her first serve percentage was huge, she was serving around 120mph."

Olympic champion Dementieva, whose best Grand Slam performances remain runners-up spots at the 2004 French and US Opens, said she regretted her choice of shot on match point when she led 5-4 in the final set.

With Williams approaching the net, the Russian went cross-court, rather than down the line, and the American gleefully accepted her opportunity with a simple saving backhand.

"That's my only regret. I should have taken more of a risk by going down the line," said the 27-year-old.

"A passing shot is my favourite shot to make. Maybe it was all too quick. I didn't see that she was moving to cover the cross-court. I should have gone down the line or even used a lob."

Serena, who will now face sister Venus in Saturday's final for the fourth time at Wimbledon and the eighth occasion in Grand Slams, admitted her serve was key to her escaping to victory.

She fired down 20 aces in the match, a statistic which made up for a host of unforced errors on her forehand.

"I owe it all to my serve. I was hitting aces on key points and to serve so well is very exciting," said the 2002 and 2003 champion.

"It was one of my most dramatic victories. I was down for pretty much the whole match so to come through was a great feeling.

"The only problem was my forehand didn't show up. I think she went to Hawaii."

Williams also praised Dementieva whose service game has radically improved in recent seasons.

"She didn't give me an inch. She played at 100 per cent," said the American.

"I have never seen her serve so well in my life. She was serving at 90mph, the low 100s, and to keep it up consistently is not easy."

Wimbledon Championship Federer on the cusp of history

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Roger Federer reached a record 20th Grand Slam final and a seventh straight Wimbledon title match with a 7-6, 7-5, 6-3 win over German veteran Tommy Haas in the semifinals on Friday.

Five-time Wimbledon champion Federer, who is chasing a record 15th Grand Slam crown, now tackles either Britain's Andy Murray or Andy Roddick of the United States in Sunday's final.

Watched by Grand Slam greats Bjorn Borg and Rod Laver, comfortably installed in the Royal Box, the world number two put on a magnificent show of serving against the German 31-year-old, not giving up a single break point.

"Tommy played great so I knew that there was a danger. I'm happy with my performance and it's unbelievable to be in another final," said Federer.

"I have had a lot of pressure over the years but I am looking forward to another great match and a chance to get into the history books."

Federer said he was looking ahead to the challenge of the final.

"I have had great matches with Roddick. You can never underestimate him with that serve," he said.

"Murray's at home. My record against him is not that good. He's shown over the last 18 months that he can be a Grand Slam contender."

The opening set on Friday was dominated by serve, but the Swiss second seed was the strongest in the tiebreak.

He went to three set points when Haas unleashed a loose forehand with the world number two wrapping up the set when the German, stranded behind the baseline, pushed a backhand into the net.

It was the dream start for the five-time champion after the nightmare beginning he suffered against the same opponent at the French Open last month when he had to recover from losing the first two sets in the fourth round.

Former world number two Haas, playing in his first Wimbledon semifinal, had to save a set point, which was also the first break point of the match, at 4-5 in the second set.

But the Swiss broke through in the 12th game for a two-sets lead when another Haas forehand went long.

Haas cracked for the last time in the eighth game of the third set when he netted an easy approach having saved four break points.

Federer then wrapped up the semifinal in just over two hours on his first match point with a spectacular, athletic smash.

In Friday's second semifinal, third seed Murray will be looking to become the first British men's finalist since Bunny Austin in 1938. Fred Perry was the last British men's champion in 1936.

Roddick, the sixth seed and 2003 US Open winner, was runner-up here in 2004 and 2005, losing both finals to Federer.

The Championships Wimbledon Venus in last four

Defending champion Venus Williams closed in on a sixth Wimbledon title on Tuesday with a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska whose quarterfinal challenge melted in the searing heat.

World number one Dinara Safina reached semifinals for the first time with a 6-7 (5/7), 6-4, 6-1 win over unseeded German teenager Sabine Lisicki.

Despite losing the first set by double-faulting on a tie-break, the top-seeded Russian recovered to beat the world number 41 in two hours, 28 minutes on Centre Court.

Safina faces defending champion Venus Williams, the third seed, for a place in the final.

Fourth seed Elena Dementieva also eased into the last four for the second successive year after crushing unseeded Italian Francesca Schiavone 6-2, 6-2.

Dementieva made it at the All England Club for the first time last year before losing to eventual champion Venus Williams.

The Russian will hope to go one step further this time when she faces either Serena Williams, the second seed and two-time champion, or eighth seed Victoria Azarenka in the last four.

Since losing the finals of the French and US Opens in 2004, Dementieva has been unable to make it to the title match of a Grand Slam.

Venus, bidding to become the first woman to win a hattrick of Wimbledon titles since Steffi Graf's three-in-a-row from 1991 to 1993, next faces either top seed Dinara Safina or Germany's Sabine Lisicki for a place in the final.

The 29-year-old American, seeded three, has now won 32 consecutive sets at the All England Club since Japan's Akiko Morigami took the second set of their third round match in 2007.

She breezed through the first set in 27 minutes, serving up two love games on her way to a 5-0 lead before the 11th seeded Radwanska got on the board.

The Polish girl broke to love to lead 2-0 in the second set but that was as good as it got for the slender 20-year-old who had no answer to the American's brutal hitting power.

Venus ran away with the next six games to claim victory after 68 minutes.

"I really had to play well. It was close at the start of the second set. She's a good grasscourt player so I'm happy just to get through," said the American who has now reached her eighth semi-final in 10 years.

"If it was an all-Williams final that would be fantastic but we still have great players to meet and will have to bring our best tennis to the court."

Later Tuesday, two-time champion Serena Williams, the second seed, takes on Belarusian eighth seed Victoria Azarenka who is aiming to reach her first Grand Slam semi-final.

The last quarter-final features London-based Italian Francesca Schiavone, bidding to reach her first semi-final in a major, against Russian fourth seed Elena Dementieva who made the last four here last year.

The Championships Wimbledon Federer in last eight

Roger Federer thrived in 35-degree temperatures to clinch an 11th win in 11 meetings against big-serving Swede Robin Soderling on Monday and reach the Wimbledon quarterfinals.

In a repeat of the French Open final, where the great Swiss clinched a record-equalling 14th Grand Slam title, Federer won 6-4, 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/5) over the man who dramatically ended Rafael Nadal's Roland Garros reign.

Federer, chasing a sixth Wimbledon title, will be appearing in his 25th Grand Slam quarterfinal where he'll face Croatia's Ivo Karlovic, who has fired 102 aces in three rounds, or Spanish left-hander Fernando Verdasco.

Soderling, who also lost in straight sets in the second round here in 2008 to Federer, paid heavily for a sloppy service game when he cracked to trail 4-5 courtesy of a netted forehand.

Federer clinched the opener when the Swede went long with a second service return.

The Swede dropped just three points on serve in the second set, but Federer was the more composed in the tie-breaker, refusing to give Soderling the pace on which he thrives.

Soderling finally carved out his first break points of the match in the ninth game of the third set, but Federer stood firm to lead 5-4.

The Swedish 13th seed glanced a chance at 5/4 in the tie-breaker, but Federer went to 5/5 and then match point when his opponent served a third double fault.

The match was Federer's when the Swede went wide with a dispirited drive.

Germany's rejuvenated Tommy Haas, the oldest man left in the draw at 31, reached his first Wimbledon quarter-final with a 7-6 (10/8), 6-4, 6-4 win over Russian 29th seed Igor Andreev.

Haas, seeded 24, and who saved two match points in his third round marathon victory over Croatia's Marin Cilic, next faces either Serbian fourth seed Novak Djokovic or Israel's Dudi Sela.

Djokovic was a semifinalist in 2007 while Sela is the first Israeli in the last 16 here in 20 years.

A win for the world number 46 would make him the first Israeli man or woman to make a Grand Slam quarterfinal in the Open era.

In the women event, Venus and Serena Williams hardly broke sweat in the sizzling heat Monday as they cruised into the quarterfinals.

Defending champion Venus easily won the first set against former world number one Ana Ivanovic, who retired hurt in floods of tears, as temperatures shot past 30 degrees at the All England Club.

Serena strolled through against Daniela Hantuchova, while Elena Dementieva also had a comfortable ride into the last eight against Elena Vesnina.

Five-time champion Venus is bidding to become the first woman to win a hattrick of Wimbledon singles' titles since Steffi Graf claimed three in a row from 1991 to 1993.

The third seed cruised through the first set 6-1 in half an hour, after which Serbia's Ivanovic had her left thigh strapped up.

The 2008 French Open champion won the first game of the second set, but the pain was too much and she had no choice but to pull out, leaving Court One in a stream of tears.

Younger sister Serena, the second seed, beat Hantuchova 6-3, 6-1 in 56 minutes on Court 2.

The two-time champion easily brushed aside the unseeded Slovak, who has been suffering with a cold and now tackles Belarusian Victoria Azarenka.

Fourth seed Dementieva, a semifinalist last year, beat fellow Russian blonde Vesnina 6-1, 6-3 in 70 minutes.

Vesnina fended off a set point and took the sixth game but the Russian number two wrapped up the first set inside 29 minutes.

Vesnina, the world 37, put up a better fight of it in the second set, holding Dementieva at 2-2 before losing serve.

Dementieva, making her 11th Wimbledon appearance, now takes on either France's Virginie Razzano or Italy's Francesca Schiavone for a place in the semi-finals.

Azarenka, the eighth seed, had a tougher time of it to beat 10th-seeded Russian Nadia Petrova.

Azarenka won the first set 7-6 (7/5) on a tie-break, after which Petrova called a medical time-out and was treated with ice on her legs.

The Russian won the second set 6-2 but lost the final set 6-3

The Championships Wimbledon Venus reveals secret

Venus Williams admits her seemingly unstoppable march towards a sixth Wimbledon title is being driven by the painful memory of the last time she dropped a set at the All England Club.

When Venus walks on court for her fourth round clash against Ana Ivanovic, the defending champion will be bidding to extend her winning streak on the south-west London grass courts to 18 matches.

Even more remarkable than that run, which stretches back to her defeat against Jelena Jankovic in 2006, is Venus's record of winning 29 consecutive sets dating back to a third round match against Japan's Akiko Morigami in 2007.

Morigami is the last player to seriously threatened Venus's reign as the queen of Wimbledon.

Although the Japanese eventually lost 6-2, 3-6, 7-5, she came within touching distance of eliminating the America after taking a 5-3 lead in the final set.

In a match played over two days due to rain, Williams got into trouble with 14 double faults and 42 unforced errors but emerged unscathed thanks to her bloody-minded refusal to accept defeat.

"That was an intense match and she was playing so well," Venus recalled. "She played low groundstrokes. I just remember playing very aggressive from 3-5, just returning aggressively.

"When the chips are down, I start to force the issue even more. Usually it works. You live and learn. I attribute it to that match."

The way she ground out that win showed Venus that no situation is completely hopeless and she has never looked back. Two successive Wimbledon titles followed and a third is well within her reach.

If she does lift the aptly named Venus Rosewater Dish again this year, Venus will become the first woman to complete a hat-trick of Wimbledon title since Steffi Graf in 1993.

She would also move within one title of Graf's total of seven and within three of record holder Martina Navratilova. Yet Venus insists thoughts of writing her name in the Wimbledon history books rarely entered her head.

"No, I don't think about it. But each one that I can manage to get, it's all mine, that's the good part about it," she said."

To achieve her goal this year, Venus will have to get past former French Open champion Ivanovic, the 13th seed, who she defeated easily in the 2007 semi-finals.

"We had a lot of great exchanges. I just remember playing aggressively," Venus said of that match.

"Obviously she's talented. I think this is a good surface for her. As far as her game she does everything well.

"I definitely feel calm and I know what I need to execute on the court. I feel good."

The Championships Wimbledon Veterans on course

Andy Murray cruised into the Wimbledon last 16 on Saturday while veterans Andy Roddick, Lleyton Hewitt and Tommy Haas led the charge of the old boys club.

Murray, bidding to end Britain's agonising 73-year wait for a home men's champion brushed past Serbia's Viktor Troicki 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 and will now face Switzerland's Stanilas Wawrinka for a place in the quarterfinals.

The 22-year-old third seed served up 17 aces against the outclassed Serb who has now lost all three meetings against the Scotsman.

With rain threatening at the end of a day when temperatures had smashed through 30 degrees, Murray hurried through his match, wrapping up victory after just 96 minutes.

"It was a very good performance," said Murray. "I felt a little uncomfortable at the start and the conditions were difficult with the rain and clouds.

"I was more comfortable after the first set and I'm happy with my first week here. But I have to play better if I want to win the title."

Hewitt, the 2002 champion, reached the fourth round for the sixth year in succession with a 7-5, 7-6 (7/3), 6-3 win over Germany's Philipp Petzschner and will tackle Czech Radek Stepanek for a place in the quarterfinals.

The 28-year-old Australian, steadily rebuilding his career after a lengthy lay-off following hip surgery, has yet to drop a set and showed why he is such a danger by putting out Argentine fifth seed Juan Martin Del Potro in the second round.

"It's not easy to reach the fourth round for a sixth year in a row, but a Grand Slam isn't won in the first three rounds," said Hewitt.

"It's all about finding a way through the first week. The draw opens up and you never know what might happen."

Two-time runner-up Andy Roddick of the United States, the sixth seed, also made it through with a gritty 7-6 (7/2), 7-6 (7/2), 4-6, 6-3 win over close friend, Jurgen Melzer.

It was Roddick's ninth win in nine matches against the Austrian and he will now tackle Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic for a place in the quarterfinals.

"Jurgen served really well. He's such a good player on grass, he comes forward, uses tricky slices so I'm lucky to be in the fourth round," said Roddick who sent down 33 aces.

German veteran Haas demanded Wimbledon install floodlights and introduce final set tiebreakers after winning a marathon five-set third round clash over Marin Cilic.

The 31-year-old German beat the 11th seeded Croatian 7-5, 7-5, 1-6, 6-7 (3/7), 10-8 in a four and a half hour tie which had started on Friday afternoon but had been held over for bad light.

"I don't know why they don't have lights here. I have never stopped a match a 6-6 before in the final set. It's tough to come back but I'm happy to get through," said Haas.

"I think they should be like the US Open and have a tie-break in the final set. I could hardly get out of bed today, but the adrenaline took over."

Haas, who won the Halle grasscourt tournament on the eve of Wimbledon, will now face Russian 29th seed Igor Andreev who saw off Andreas Seppi of Italy 6-1, 7-6 (7/5), 4-6, 7-6 (7/5) in another match held over.

Haas did have two match points in the fourth set tie-break on Friday before 20-year-old Cilic had two match points of his own in the 12th game of the decider before play was halted.

After eight defeats in eight outings, Berdych, the Czech 20th seed, pulled off his first win over Russian 12th seed Nikolay Davydenko, strolling to a comfortable 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 triumph.

Spain's former world number one Juan Carlos Ferrero justified his wildcard by beating Chilean 10th seed Fernando Gonzalez 4-6, 7-5, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in a match completed under threatening dark skies on Court One.

As a precaution, Centre Court's 80-million-pound roof was rolled out in readiness if the match had to be shifted off its neighbouring arena.

In the end, it wasn't required and the much-discussed roof still waits for its competitive bow.

The Championships Wimbledon Venus' sweet revenge

Defending champion Venus Williams avenged one of the most embarrassing defeats of her career on Saturday by sweeping into the last 16 at Wimbledon with a 6-0, 6-4 victory over Carla Suarez Navarro.

Williams will now tackle former world number one Ana Ivanovic who was left to carry Serbian hopes after sixth seed Jelena Jankovic suffered a shock exit against American qualifier Melanie Oudin.

Williams, 29, was unceremoniously bundled out of the Australian Open by unseeded Spaniard Suarez Navarro in the second round in January despite holding a 5-2 lead in the final set.

But Venus, the third seed, made amends in clinical fashion on Saturday to keep alive her bid to become the first woman to win a hat-trick of Wimbledon singles' titles since Steffi Graf claimed three in a row from 1991 to 1993.

Venus once again played with her left knee swathed in bandages but was hardly restricted as she eased past Suarez Navarro in one hour and 21 minutes.

The five-time Wimbledon champion has yet to drop a set in three rounds this year and her winning streak at the All England Club has now reached 17 matches.

Suarez Navarro, the world number 34, has already reached two Grand Slam quarterfinals at the tender age of 20, but she never threatened to repeat her Australian Open heroics.

A break for Venus in the opening game set the tone. With memories of that Melbourne defeat driving her on, Williams was quickly 4-0 up and took the set without surrendering a game.

Suarez Navarro had managed to test Williams a little more in the second set, but it couldn't last. The former world number one upped her game, broke for a 5-4 lead and served out the match.

Williams said: "I was really enjoying myself out there. She's a fast and competitive player so I was happy to close it out.

"When you're winning at Wimbledon there's not much better than that."

Meanwhile, Jankovic, the world number one only last August, was knocked out by 17-year-old Oudin, the world number 124, who claimed a famous 6-7 (8/10), 7-5, 6-2 victory.

Jankovic, who has been struggling with blisters and a broken toenail, was hampered by injury and heat exhaustion during a gruelling match on Court Three.

She called for treatment three times before finally cracking in the final set to continue a disappointing year for the Serb.

Oudin, playing in her first Wimbledon, will face China's Li Na or 11th seed Agnieszka Radwanska in her first Grand Slam fourth round appearance.

While Jankovic struggled, her compatriot Ivanovic showed signs of recapturing her former glories during an impressive 7-5, 6-2 victory over Australian 18th seed Samantha Stosur.

A year ago Ivanovic arrived in south-west London on top of the world rankings following her French Open victory. But a miserable run of results since that Paris triumph have left her outside the top 10 for the first time in two years.

The 13th seed, a Wimbledon semi-finalist in 2007, clearly has the game for grass however and was too strong for Stosur.

Former Wimbledon junior champion Caroline Wozniacki, the ninth seed, reached the fourth round for the first time as the Danish teenager defeated Spain's Anabel Medina Garrigues 6-2, 6-2.

The Championships Wimbledon Sharapova stunned

Centre Court queen Maria Sharapova, the 2004 champion, was sensationally dumped out of Wimbledon on Wednesday losing 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 to Argentina's Gisela Dulko in the second round.

Dulko, who needed five knife-edge match points to seal victory after 2hr 13min, goes on to face Russian 10th seed Nadia Petrova for a place in the last 16.

But for Sharapova, defeat will cast further doubts over the ability of the sport's most bankable star to ever return to her former powers following a 10-month absence from the tour nursing a shoulder injury.

"It's the biggest win of my career because she's a great champion and on centre court in the most important tournament in the world," said the 24-year-old Dulko.

"It's a dream day. I played a poor second set but I kept fighting in the third. I was really nervous at the end. I didn't want it to go to 5-5 because she competes right to the very end."

Dulko was quickly a break ahead to lead 2-0 as the Argentine showed few nerves playing in front of 15,000 people.

The world number 45, had the Russian scampering from side to side and took the opening set in the eighth game courtesy of a sweeping, crosscourt forehand winner.

Sharapova was soon in trouble again as the slender Argentine nipped ahead to a 3-0 lead in the second set, courtesy of a break in the second game.

Dulko had lost both her previous meetings with Sharapova, but the Russian is nothing if not competitive and she was back in contention with a break to trail 2-3.

Two successive double faults from a suddenly frail-looking Dulko then allowed Sharapova to lead 4-3 which became 5-3 on a service hold.

The former champion then unleashed a succession of thunderous service returns to further dismantle the Argentine's crumbling confidence and she broke again to level the tie in the ninth game.

Sharapova, now with renewed potency, was ahead to lead 1-0 in the decider before Dulko ended the Russian's seven-game streak to level at 1-1.

Breaks were exchanged in the next two games with Sharapova fighting off two breaks points, as well as picking up a time violation, in the fifth game.

Dulko, who has reached the third round here on three occasions, refused to be overpowered and she broke to love to lead 4-3 as the Centre Court crowd warmed further to the underdog.

Sharapova saved four match points in a tense 10th game, but Dulko claimed an emotional victory when the Russian unleashed a wild forehand.

The Championships Wimbledon Venus sinks Voegel

Defending champion Venus Williams moved into the Wimbledon second round on Tuesday but time caught up with fellow All England Club veterans Kimiko Date Krumm and Jelena Dokic.

Williams, the five-time, 29-year-old champion, beat Switzerland's Stefanie Voegele 6-3, 6-2 in a sun-kissed Centre Court workout.

"It is the best place to be when you are a pro tennis player and I savour every blade of it," said Williams. "I've had that crown for several years and I want to make it mine again."

While Williams was pondering facing Ukraine's Kateryna Bondarenko for a place in the last 32, Date Krumm and Dokic's hopes of a fairytale campaign melted in the Wimbledon heat.

Date Krumm, the 38-year-old Japanese who last played here in 1996, took the first set off Danish ninth seed Caroline Wozniacki but slipped to a 5-7, 6-3, 6-1 defeat.

The Japanese player, making a comeback this year, reached the semi-finals in 1996 and when she made her debut in 1989, Wozniacki was still a year away from being born.

Date Krumm, 20 years older than the blonde Dane, needed extensive medical treatment on her injured thigh as the marathon first round tie took its toll.

Dokic, who made her career breakthrough here in 1999 when she defeated top seed Martina Hingis, before her professional and private life went into a spiral, also needed medical attention.

The 26-year-old Australian took the first set off German qualifier Tatjana Malek before losing 3-6, 7-5, 6-2.

Dokic complained of feeling dizzy at the end of the second set and had her blood pressure taken at courtside.

Malek goes on to tackle Australian 18th seed, and French Open semifinalist, Samantha Stosur.

Also progressing in the women's draw was Serbian sixth seed Jelena Jankovic who defeated Germany's Julia Göerges 6-4, 7-6 (7/0) and she will face the Czech Republic's Iveta Benesova who saw off Britain's Katie O'Brien.

In the men's first round, Argentine fifth seed Juan Martin del Potro, a semifinalist at Roland Garros, brushed aside France's Arnaud Clement 6-3, 6-1, 6-2.

There were also comfortable wins for Chilean 10th seed Fernando Gonzalez, Russian 12th seed Nikolay Davydenko and Tommy Haas, the German 24th seed and a winner on grass at Halle last week.

The Championships Wimbledon Maria writes herself off

Maria Sharapova admits she will go into Wimbledon with no real expectation of repeating her 2004 triumph.

Sharapova is feeling her way gently back into action after 10 months on the sidelines with a shoulder injury and has played just three tournaments so far this year.

The Russian looked more than a little rusty as she was outplayed by China's Li Na in the semifinals of the pre-Wimbledon WTA event in Birmingham and is refusing to consider a long run at the All England Club.

Asked if it would be expecting too much to win a Grand Slam so soon after a long lay-off, Sharapova said: "I think it is. It's a little too soon to put that in my mind.

"Just to be here is already an accomplishment in itself. When I look back to where I was say, 10 or 11 months ago, or even three months ago, I'm definitely blessed to be here.

"Every single tournament right now is still a test and for me it's almost like the beginning of the season, whereas for many players it's already the second half of the season.

"I'm still testing out where my game is, where my body is and where my shoulder is.

"I will take it one match at a time. This is definitely a time in my career where I can't look into possible third round, fourth round or semi-final matches."

Sharapova, who plays Ukrainian qualifier Viktoriya Kutuzova in the first round, is currently ranked 59th in the world as a result of her injury woes.

She conceded she was surprised to hear that the All-England Club had done their former champion a favour by handing her the 24th seeding.

"Was I surprised? I guess I'd say a little bit. It's strange because I didn't really give much thought into it before it even came out," she said.

"I've been out of the game for so long, you know your ranking's going to drop and you don't expect to be seeded."

After so long out of the game, Sharapova is just happy to have the chance to get her competitive juices flowing again.

"There are many things I missed about the game," she said. "Getting pumped for the match the second you go on the court and hear the crowd and know you're in that environment again.

"Then the competitiveness of each match and pulling through tough situations in the match, or when you're up trying to close it out."

Federer feels disappointed

Roger Federer admits he was disappointed by Rafael Nadal's withdrawal from Wimbledon because he would have relished the chance to take on his great rival in another epic final.

Nadal's decision not to defend his title leaves Federer as firm favourite to win Wimbledon for the sixth time and beat Pete Sampras's record of 14 Grand Slam titles.

But, although he could have been forgiven for letting out a yelp of joy when he heard the news, Federer insists he felt a slight sense of anti-climax as it meant a temporary end to the rivalry.

"It's disappointing for me, of course, because I'd love to play him. He's my main rival," Federer said at a pre-tournament press conference on Saturday.

Nadal pulls out

The Championships Wimbledon


World number one Rafael Nadal insists his decision to withdraw from Wimbledon is not a sign that his powers are on the wane.

Nadal opted not to defend his All England Club title after accepting that he would be performing at less than 100 per cent because he has yet to fully recover from knee tendinitis.

The Spaniard has been dogged by the problem for several years as a result of his all-action style and love of playing on clay courts.

He admitted pulling out was the toughest moment of his career but said that he is convinced he can return better than ever.

"I had physical problems in two of the most important tournaments for me, Roland Garros and Wimbledon, so it is tough to accept for me," Nadal said.

"I am going to work very hard to come back as soon as possible and when I do, I want to come back with 100 per cent right both mentality and physically.

"One of the big problems now is that when I am playing, I am thinking more about the knees than the game. It is difficult to play like this. I want to come back feeling 100 per cent.

"It is not a chronic problem. I can recover for sure."

Just 12 months after savouring his first Wimbledon title after a thrilling five-set victory over Roger Federer, it was a far more sombre Nadal who drove away from the south-west London venue this time.

Ending Federer's five-year reign as Wimbledon champion had been a crowning achievement for Nadal, who already had four French Open titles on his CV.

But Federer has already taken over as French Open champion and now he is the firm favourite to regain the Wimbledon title as well.

Australian Open champion Nadal, the fourth man not to defend the Wimbledon crown in the modern era, was desperate to fight for the trophy but he acknowledged there was no way his knees would have stood up to two weeks of gruelling action.

"When I enter a tournament like Wimbledon I want to try to win but my feeling right now is that I am not ready to win," he said.

"Not playing Wimbledon was one of the toughest decisions of my career. But the situation makes the decision a little bit easier.

"I don't feel I am ready to approach a tournament as important as Wimbledon.

"I have decided that I just cannot play this tournament this year. I tried everything, I worked very hard in the last weeks to arrive here in the best condition.

"Friday's match was the last test and although I didn't feel terrible I was not close to my best.

"It is tough but at the same time, I have no option. I don't feel ready to compete at 100 per cent for two weeks.

"I have played with some problems on the knees for the last few months.

"Now I am going to be out for some time but I don't know how long. I arrived at one of the most important moments in the year in my worst condition."

More to come: Federer

French Open

Roger Federer, with a first French Open and a career Grand Slam carved into his storyboard of achievements, believes he is poised for another record-setting spell, with time stacked in his favour.

The Swiss maestro realised a lifetime dream of finally lifting a Roland Garros title to become only the sixth man in history to win all four majors with his 6-1, 7-6 (7/1), 6-4 victory over Robin Soderling equalling Pete Sampras's record of 14 Grand Slam trophies.

But Federer, who is not 28 until August, vowed there is more to come, with his professional ambition fuelled further by his private life soon to be enriched by wife Mirka bearing their first child.

Federer, acutely aware of the history of the sport, knows that Sampras was four years older, at 31, when he won his last Grand Slam title at the US Open in 2002.

Andre Agassi was already 29 when he won in Paris in 1999 to become the fifth man to complete the Grand Slam.

The colourful American, who presented the French Open trophy to Federer on Sunday, won the last major of his career, his eighth in total, at the Australian Open in 2003 when he was 33.

Agassi was still reaching Grand Slam finals at 35, when he lost the 2005 US Open final to Federer.

The Swiss also knows that more majors will only serve to finish, once and for all, arguments over who is the greatest player of all time.

"I just tried to have the best possible career I can. I think it should be judged at the very end. How well did I do? Good? Great? Very good? Or medium? It's for other people to decide," said Federer.

"Right now, I'm still playing. I haven't retired, and I think I still have many more tournaments to go and many more Grand Slams.

"I'll give it my best shot to have the best possible career.

"I hope I can maintain the records I have and I hope to break some other ones along the way. I hope to stay healthy. That's most important because motivation and drive is not a problem for me."

Next Grand Slam stop for Federer will be the All England Club from June 22 where he will attempt to win back the Wimbledon title he had held for five years until Rafael Nadal took it back to Spain last year.

Nadal, who had defeated Federer in the last three finals in Paris, had himself been knocked out in the fourth round here by Soderling.

The world number one, so long Federer's nemesis, is now a doubt for Wimbledon because of a knee injury, a factor that only serves to boost the new French Open champion's outlook on life and career.

"If I had to retire tomorrow I would be happy because I feel like I've put everything out there," added Federer.

"I always said it doesn't matter when I retire, I'll be at peace. I can walk away from this game tomorrow, but I don't choose to because I love this game too much.

"Tennis is not forever; I know that. But I'll try to definitely enjoy it as long as I can."

French Open Federer breaks clay jinx

Roger Federer gloriously completed a career Grand Slam on Sunday by capturing a record-equalling 14th major with a 6-1, 7-6 (7/1), 6-4 win over Robin Soderling in the French Open final.

The 27-year-old world number two finally won a Roland Garros crown at the 11th attempt and in his fourth successive final having come up heartbreakingly short in the last three showdowns against Spanish nemesis Rafael Nadal.

His victory, ironically over the Swedish 23rd seed who shocked four-time Nadal in the last 16, took him level with great friend Pete Sampras as the holder of 14 Grand Slam titles.

He also moved into a select group made up only of Fred Perry, Don Budge, Rod Laver, Roy Emerson and Andre Agassi as men who have won all four of the Grand Slam events.

"It was probably my greatest victory, I was under big pressure. I did it and it's phenomenal," said Federer who broke down in tears after being presented with the trophy by Agassi, the 1999 champion, and while the Swiss national anthem was played.

Soderling, who has now lost 10 times in 10 meetings with Federer, admitted the Swiss was a deserving winner.

"Roger was too good for me today, he played much better. He is a worthy winner and for me he is the best player in history," said Soderling.

"He gave me a lesson in how to play tennis."

Any doubts over Federer's ability to overcome his Paris jinx were quickly dashed as the Swiss star, playing in a record-equalling 19th Grand Slam final and riding a tidal wave of support, dominated Soderling.

He broke the first game on a Soderling double fault and was soon a second break to the good to lead 4-0 when a sweetly-timed drop shot left the Swede stranded behind the baseline.

Soderling, the first Swede in the Roland Garros final since his coach Magnus Norman finished runner-up to Gustavo Kuerten in 2000, stopped the rot with a hold to trail 4-1, but Federer quickly nipped further ahead to 5-1.

Soderling's uncompromising forehand, which was a dagger to the heart of Nadal, was looking more like a blunt instrument in the damp and chilly conditions.

His service game crumbled again in the seventh game as Federer claimed the opening set.

It had taken just 23 minutes with the Swiss losing just two points on serve.

The final was then delayed by a worrying security breach during the fourth game of the second set with Federer ahead 2-1.

A spectator, dressed in red, waved a flag of the Barcelona football club in the world number two's face before he was wrestled off Court Philippe Chatrier by security guards.

But the Swiss star wasn't disrupted from his elegant stride, either by the intruder or the rain which started to steadily fall.

Although Soderling slowly rediscovered his service power, it was Federer who was comfortably dictating the points and he fired down four aces in the tie-break to open up a two-sets lead.

He was a break ahead in the third set to lead 1-0 before Soderling carved out, and squandered, his first break point of the match in the fourth game.

Federer then sent down his 16th ace of the tie to stretch to 4-2.

He came out to serve for a place in history but faltered to 30-40 with a wild, running forehand.

With pregnant wife Mirka looking anxiously on, he averted the crisis and went to match point with a confident volley and claimed victory when Soderling netted a service return after 1hr 55min on court.

Federer slumped to the Paris clay in celebration and in tears as he secured his place as arguably the greatest player of all time.

French Open All-Russian final

Svetlana Kuznetsova set-up an all-Russian French Open final against top seed Dinara Safina when she defeated battling Australian Samantha Stosur 6-4, 6-7 (5/7), 6-3 in Thursday's semi-finals.

Dinara Safina hopes that a more economical run to this year's French Open final will crown her drive to win a first Grand Slam title and silence her critics.

The 23-year-old Russia top seed goes up against compatriot Svetlana Kuznetsova in the championship match at Roland Garros on Saturday having lost just one set along the way.

Last year she arrived in the final against Serbia's Ana Ivanovic in a depleted physical state having survived punishing three setters in the fourth round and quarter-finals.

The result was a disappointing 6-4, 6-3 loss that left her frustrated and determined to earn a second bite at the cherry this year.

"I wouldn't say I was too nervous last year," she said after defeating Slovakia's Dominika Cibulkova 6-3, 6-3 in the semi-finals.

"It was just that I was tired overall because I had such a tough draw and so many matches I had to pull out.

"This year I've spent much less time on the court so I'm much fresher."

Also different for Safina this year will be her familiarity with her opponent.

She had played Ivanovic before their final in 2008 but the Serb was still something of an unknown quantity at that level.

Kuznetsova on the other hand she knows inside out. The two are good friends, have known each other from the time they were youngsters and played 12 times since 2001 with Safina leading their rivalry 7-5.

This year they have comfortably been the two best players in the claycourt season - Kuznetsova winning the final in Stuttgart and Safina gaining her revenge in Rome.

That loss in Germany was the only one sustained by Safina in 21 matches since she earned the world No.1 spot from Serena Williams on April 20.

But her reign has been contested, notably by the younger of the Williams siblings, due to the fact that she has yet to win a Grand Slam title.

Safina believes she is being unfairly treated.

"I think since I became No.1 I'm playing in finals and winning the titles so how much more proof do I need to give people that I think I deserve that spot."

"It would be great though if I could have a Grand Slam."

Kuznetsova, still only 23 despite having played for six years at the highest level, recalls that in their earlier days back in Russia she was clearly second fiddle to the Muscovite Safina who had a famous brother Marat and a respected coach for a mother.

"I used to be girl from St. Petersburg, she was Moscow and her mom is huge coach who been coaching her. I mean, she was No. 1, No. 2, always great. I don't even know what number I had," she said.

That changed when they both turned professional with Kuznetsova, who moved to Spain with her parents to foster her career, breaking through early and Safina struggling to make the transition.

Now both find themselves at the top of the tree and facing off in a Grand Slam final for the first time.

It's a prospect that Kuzetsova relishes.

"She's going to be favourite to win. She's No. 1. She played an unbelievable season. She beat me last time we played in Rome," she said.

"But there are some points I can work on and think positive for myself.

"First of all, that I beat her, as I did in Stuttgart. It was indoor, but still, she can play very well in indoor.

"I have to move her around definitely But I have just to work my game."

Both players have minor injury concerns with Safina under the weather with a virus the last few days and Kuznetsova having a bad blister on her foot.

French Open Federer-Soderling final

Roger Federer moved to within one match of finally winning the French Open when he came from behind to defeat giant Argentinian Juan Martin del Potro in Friday's semifinal.

The second seed, who has lost the last three finals here to Rafael Nadal, took everything Del Potro could fling at him and then pounced when the South American wilted to win a cliff-hanger 3-6, 7-6 (7/2), 2-6, 6-1, 6-4.

In Sunday's final he will take on Swedish surprise Robin Soderling who sent top seed Nadal crashing out in a fourth round shocker.

Soderling, seeded 23, had earlier reached the championship match with a battling 6-3, 7-5, 5-7, 4-6, 6-4 semifinal win over Fernando Gonzalez of Chile.

It was the second five-setter for Federer in the tournament having battled back from two sets to love down against Tommy Haas in the fourth round.

"That's one more step and I am so happy to have comeback like that," he said.

"For a moment there Juan Martin was playing so well, but I had some luck on my side and I fought hard.

"Soderling played a great match against Gonzalez to be in the final. He deserves to be there because he also beat Nadal and he was the man to beat in this tournament."

Del Potro had dropped just the one set en route to the last four while Federer had dropped four, but with the world No.2 having won all five of their previous matches in straight sets he was the big favourite.

Federer had the first break point to go 3-1 up, but failed to take it and quickly fell 0-40 down on his following serve.

He staved off two of the break points against him, but Del Potro converted the third to lead 3-2.

Del Potro easily held his next two serves hitting his first serves at well over 200 kilometres per hour and there was a stunned silence as he then broke Federer to love in the following game taking the set in 38 minutes.

Federer steadied the ship as they moved on to the second set but he was still unable to put any real pressure on the South American's big serve which he was holding with ease.

Serves dominated until the 10th game when Federer chose the wrong time to come into the net on a first serve and allowed Del Potro to blast a backhand past him.

The Argentinian got to 0-30 before Federer clawed his way back eliciting a huge roar of approval from a packed centre court crowd.

Still Federer could do nothing to menace the Del Potro serve and it needed a superb tie-break from him, taking the first three points and then winning it 7/2, to avoid having to face a two sets to love deficit for the second time in the tournament.

Federer let out a roar of self-encouragement as he clinched that, but the frown was back on his face minutes later when he played a loose service game to hand back the initiative to Del Potro at the start of the third set.

Sania blames injury for exit

India's Sania Mirza blamed a lack of match practice after being eliminated in the first round of the French Open here on Tuesday.

The world number 95 is trying to regain form after an injury-plagued 2008, but looked short of sharpness in a rain-hit 6-4, 7-6 (7/3) defeat to Kazakhstan's Galina Voskoboeva.

"It was tough conditions to play in, going on the court and then going off, and it was windy," said Mirza.

"I haven't had too much practice as well because I injured my wrist again after (the) Madrid (Open) and had to head back home and get that treated. And it's not one of my favourite surfaces to play on!

"But I take nothing away from her. She played really well, she served really well and I think that was the difference."

Mirza held to love in an emphatic opening service game before the heavens opened, forcing the players off with the score 1-1.

The 22-year-old surrendered her serve in the first game after the rain delay and spurned two chances to break back in game six, letting another two break points slip by at 4-3 down as Voskoboeva, 24, closed out the set.

The players exchanged breaks twice in the second set before Russia-born Voskoboeva, the world number 81, took advantage of her opponent's misfiring serve to clinch victory in the tie-break, sealing her win with an ace.

Voskoboeva will play Russian seventh seed Svetlana Kuznetsova in round two.

Mirza became the first female Indian player to earn in excess of one million US dollars in 2008, despite a season disrupted by a recurring wrist injury that caused her to miss last year's French Open.

Her Australian Open mixed doubles success in Melbourne this year, with partner Mahesh Bhupathi, made her the first Indian woman to win a Grand Slam title.

"The amount of people who came up to us and said congratulations - those kind of things are really small things, but they really mean a lot," Mirza said.

"A stranger walks up to you and says 'I'm so happy', because you won a tennis match. You bring smiles to people's faces.

"It's great support, because there's a lot of Indians out there trying to support you, but there's also a lot of pressure.

"That's the way it is though. They expect me to win every match I play, but I think I'm used to it now."

OTHER FIRST RD RESULTS
Women
Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS x7) bt Claire Feuerstein (FRA) 6-1, 6-4

Jelena Jankovic (SRB x5) bt Petra Cetkovska (CZE) 6-2, 6-3

Petra Martic (CRO) bt Mara Santangelo (ITA) 6-4, 6-2

Melinda Czink (HUN) bt Anastasija Sevastova (LAT) 3-6, 6-4, 6-1

Sybille Bammer (AUT x28) bt Nathalie Dechy (FRA) 6-3, 7-6 (7/1)

Magdalena Rybarikova (SVK) bt Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) 6-1, 2-6, 8-6

Aleksandra Wozniak (CAN x24) bt Monica Niculescu (ROM) 6-4, 4-6, 6-3

Caroline Wozniacki (DEN x10) bt Vera Dushevina (RUS) 4-6, 7-5, 6-1

Men
Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG x5) bt Michael Llodra (FRA) 6-3, 6-3, 6-1

Marc Gicquel (FRA) bt Rainer Schuttler (GER x27) 6-0, 6-0, 6-4

Daniel Gimeno (ESP) bt Evgeny Korolev (RUS) 6-4 abandon

Victor Crivoi (ROM) bt Simon Greul (GER) 6-1, 7-6 (7/1), 6-2

Novak Djokovic (SRB x4) bt Nicolas Lapentti (ECU) 6-3, 3-1 abandon

Andreas Beck (GER) bt Ivan Navarro (ESP) 7-6 (11/9), 6-4, 6-1

Gael Monfils (FRA x11) bt Bobby Reynolds (USA) 6-2, 6-3, 6-1