Tag Archives: tennis

Soderling fights back to secure final place

Sweden’s Robin Soderling came from 4-1 behind in the final set to defeat 12th seed Fernando Gonzalez in a thrilling battle of the big hitters to reach the French Open final at Roland Garros on Friday. Soderling, who shocked defending champion Rafael Nadal in the fourth round, continued his remarkable Parisian run by posting a 6-3 7-5 5-7 4-6 6-4 victory over Chilean Gonzalez in an epic match that lasted three hours and 28 minutes. The 23rd seed is through to his first grand slam final, where he will now meet either Roger Federer or Juan Martin del Potro

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Superb Soderling sweeps into Paris semis

Swede Robin Soderling swept into his first career Grand Slam semifinal with a spectacular 6-1 6-3 6-1 demolition of Russian 10th seed Nikolay Davydenko at the French Open on Tuesday. The 23rd-seeded Soderling had inflicted a first Roland Garros defeat on four-time defending champion Rafael Nadal in the previous round and was in equally impressive form as he saw off his Russian rival

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The Heartthrob from the Vatican

When Pope Benedict XVI touches down for his first papal visit in the United States next week, you may notice that he doesn’t have the same onstage flair as his predecessor, John Paul II. But you may also begin to notice a very handsome man of the cloth never far from the pontiff’s side. That would be Monsignor Georg Gänswein, the Pope’s personal secretary, responsible for everything from deciding who gets to see Benedict, to keeping His Holiness on schedule, to discreetly handing him his papal reading glasses just before a homily or other public discourse

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Federer to become a father for first time

Tennis superstar Roger Federer and longtime partner Mirka Vavrinec are expecting their first baby this summer, the Swiss ace revealed on his personal Web site on Thursday. Describing it as “awesome news”, he wrote on www.rogerfederer.com

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Israeli doubles star Ram allowed UAE entry

Israel’s Andy Ram will be able to play in the Dubai Tennis Championships next week after being granted a visa to enter the United Arab Emirates. The ATP had been under pressure to ensure Ram could compete after his countrywoman Shahar Peer was prevented from playing in the women’s event this week. ATP president and executive chairman Adam Helfant told PA Sport: “I am pleased that the efforts to secure Andy Ram’s visa to compete in the ATP World Tour 500 event in Dubai next week have been successful.

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Tennis Channel won’t air Dubai tournament

The Tennis Channel has canceled plans to broadcast a tournament in Dubai because an Israeli player was banned. Shahar Peer, the 45th-ranked women’s player according to the World Tennis Association, qualified to compete in this week’s Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships but was denied a visa by the United Arab Emirates.

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Venus Williams: The winning shot

Venus Williams is most often seen wiping perspiration from her brow as she thunders around the court contesting championship tennis matches. These photos show the world number six in a more reflective mood, posing for a 16-page fashion spread in the Italian edition of Marie Claire. They were taken in Miami, Florida in December last year by her friend and photographer Koto Bolofo

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UAE denies visa to Israeli tennis player

The United Arab Emirates has refused to grant a visa to a female Israeli tennis player, preventing her from competing in the Sony Ericsson World Tennis Association Tour in Dubai, the WTA said in a statement Sunday. The move runs counter to WTA policy, which says no player should be barred from competing in a tournament for which she has qualified

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