Sharapova injury blow ahead of U.S. Open

(CNN) -- Maria Sharapova has been forced to pull out of the WTA Rogers Cup tournament in Toronto next month, still plagued by a nagging left hip injury.

Organizers of the prestigious hard court tournament announced Sunday that the four-time grand slam champion had withdrawn from the event that starts August 5.

World No.2 Sharapova has not played since sensationally losing to Portuguese qualifier Michelle Larcher de Brito in the second round at Wimbledon on the opening Wednesday.

"I am extremely disappointed that I am unable to play in Toronto next week as it's one of the best and most important tournaments of the year," the Russian said.

"I was looking forward to making a healthy return to the courts in front of my Canadian fans but unfortunately I'm just not recovered yet."

Read: Sharapova hires Connors as coach

Sharapova, who recently took on former U.S. tennis legend Jimmy Connors as her coach, will be anxious to return as soon as possible with the U.S. Open looming.

She will be left with only two hard court tournaments at Cincinnati and New Haven ahead of the final grand slam of the season on the same surface at Flushing Meadows.

Meanwhile in ATP Tour action, Russia's Mikhail Youzhny won on the clay of Gstaad as he beat Dutchman Robin Haase 6-3 6-4 in Sunday's final.

Read: Federer's return to Gstaad cut short

It was the ninth Tour title for the 31-year-old, who has waited over 18 months to return to the winners' circle.

"I'm trying everything to try and play more consistently at a high level," he told the ATP Tour official website.

The tournament was marked by the early exit of home hero Roger Federer, with fellow Swiss and second seed Stanislas Wawrinka also following him out before the weekend action.

The Croatia Open title went to Spain's Tommy Robredo, who beat Fabio Fognini of Italy 6-0 6-3 in the final.

Victory for the fifth seed ended the Italian's 13-match winning streak which has brought him titles in Stuttgart and Hamburg.

Fognini made 31 unforced errors and said the efforts of recent weeks had caught up with him.

"I would like to apologize to the fans that I could not give more in the final, but I'm simply too tired from other matches," he admitted.

Via: Sharapova injury blow ahead of U.S. Open

Federer's return to Gstaad cut short

(CNN) -- Roger Federer's first appearance in Gstaad for nine years lasted just over an hour as the former World No.1 made an untimely exit to Germany's Daniel Brands.

Still experimenting with a larger racquet head, the Swiss maestro was always struggling against an opponent he beat in an ATP tournament in Hamburg last week, going down 6-3 6-4 in 66 minutes.

The defeat continues a sorry run for the 17-time grand slam champion, losing in the second round of his Wimbledon title defense and then falling at the semifinal stage in Germany on his return to action.

After his defeat, Federer said he had been suffering with back problems, but had decided to press ahead with his return to the Swiss venue.

"I only decided after today's warm-up whether I would play or not," he told the official ATP Tour website.

"I'm happy that I was able to play because I've had problems for some time now, already in Hamburg. "But it didn't get worse during today's match. I'm positive and I felt that it was getting better during the last few days."

Read: No excuses after Federer loses to Delbonis

Brands, ranked 55th in the world, was always on top, serving decisively with 11 aces and achieving a single break against the favorite in each set.

The 31-year-old Federer could take none of his five break point opportunities to leave the home crowd at the clay court tournament disappointed.

He famously was presented with cow when he played in Gstaad in 2003 after claiming his first Wimbledon crown and won the event on his last appearance in 2004.

Federer's only tournament title in 2013 came on his favorite grass at Halle, but his Wimbledon challenge was cruelly ended by Ukraine's world number 116 Sergiy Stakhovsky on the first Wednesday.

Read: Federer loses on day of massive upsets

It ended the record 36 consecutive grand slam quarterfinal appearances for the Swiss, amid talk his powers were waning.

Former champion Marcel Granollers of Spain ended the run of Federico Delbonis with a 6-2 7-5 victory to reach the quarterfinals.

Argentina's Delbonis, who shocked Federer in the semifinals in Hamburg, also put out defending Gstaad champion Thomas Bellucci in the first round, but could find no answer against Granollers.

He will play Dutchman Robin Haase, who saw off third seed Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia in straight sets, while Brands will take on Victor Hanescu of Romania.

Hanescu benefited from the second set retirement of Roberto Bautista Agut in their second round match.

Meanwhile, Serbian Davis Cup star Victor Troicki has been handed an 18-month ban for a doping offense, the International Tennis Federation announced Thursday.

Former World No.12 Troicki failed to provide a blood sample at the Monte Carlo Masters earlier this year. The 27-year-old will be banned until January 24, 2015.

Troicki gave a urine sample after his match, but claimed that he had been assured by the doping control officer (DCO) at the tournament that he could skip the blood sample because he had been feeling unwell.

"The tribunal concluded that the DCO told Mr Troicki that she could not advise him as to whether his reason for not providing a blood sample was valid, and that no such assurances were given by her," read an official statement on the ITF website.

Troicki's finest hour came in 2010 when he won the decisive final rubber for Serbia in the Davis Cup against France, but he has slipped to outside the top 50 of the current rankings.

Via: Federer's return to Gstaad cut short

Star says 'treated like a criminal' with doping ban

(CNN) -- A leading tennis player believes he has been "treated like a criminal" after being hit with an 18-month ban for flouting doping regulations and plans to take his case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

World No. 53 Viktor Troicki was suspended by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Thursday after being found guilty of failing to provide a blood sample in a drugs test during April's Monte Carlo Masters.

But Serbian Troicki has rejected the charge, alleging the doctor conducting the blood test allowed him to miss the procedure and says he will now appeal the decision.

Read: Tennis serves up new doping measures

"The doctor in charge of the testing told me that I looked very pale and ill and that I could skip the test if I wrote an explanation letter to the ITF about it," he said in a statement.

"She dictated the letter to me and let me go without giving blood. She was very helpful and understanding.

"Now I'm being charged for refusing to undergo a blood test without justification. This is a real nightmare.

"I put my trust in the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, I really hope they will look for the truth and find it."

The 27-year-old Troicki confirmed that he underwent a test the following day by the same doping control officer with the result coming back negative.

He also revealed that he had never previously missed a test and had undergone several blood and urine examinations during his career.

But the ITF has taken a different stance on the story, insisting that the doping control officer had told Troicki that "she could not advise him as to whether his reason for not providing a blood sample was valid, and that no such assurances were given by her."

Read: Murray condemns 'cover up'

"I feel like I'm being treated like a criminal," added Troicki as he contemplated the 18-month ban.

"I have a fear of the needle and I always have trouble drawing blood. But I always did. I am clean and will always be clean throughout my career.

"I just had the wrong doctor, who didn't tell me at all that I was risking anything. She showed me a letter of the ITF saying she is in charge of the decisions and I trusted her completely.

"I wish I had recorded the discussion, there would never have been a case if I had.

"This enormous sanction makes me speechless. It feels like the world that I help building day-by-day has let me down. It is the worst feeling you can imagine."

Read: Nadal urges tighter drugs control

Troicki reached a career high of 12 in 2011 and has won $4.5 million in prize money during his career.

He is the third tennis player to be hit with a ban for drug violations in 2013.

In May, Brazil's Fernando Romboli was handed an eight-and-a half-month ban after testing positive for diuretics, furosemide and hydrochlorothiazide.

In February, Barbora Zahlavova Strycova of the Czech Republic was banned for six months after testing positive for sibutramine, a substance which is often found in weight-loss products.

In March, the ITF confirmed it would introduce biological passports to tackle drug cheats.

Each player will have an individual electronic biological profile and be tested more regularly to monitor their levels and alert the authorities to possible drug use.

The scheme was welcomed by the world's top players with Roger Federer telling CNN that it was "naive" to think tennis was free of players who use drugs to enhance their performance.

Read: Tipsarevic says tennis is clean

But Troicki believes he was simply misled and insists he has no problem with the current drug regulations.

"The doping rules are strict and they must remain strict. But this was a clear mistake from the on-site doping control officer who was also a doctor and the person in charge to decide," added the Serbian.

"She let me go and reassured me. In my opinion, once she found out that she didn't follow procedures she turned her back on me.

"I am destroyed and exhausted. The whole period I have been thinking about this issue and it's not over, so I can't really describe it.

"I am not even angry with the doctor. I believe that maybe she was told her organization that she made a big mistake letting me go. She backed up and tried to save her job.

"I am a fighter and I will try to fight together with my team and my lawyers but I am quite destroyed now. I hope this nightmare will come to a good end. I really want to continue playing. I don't deserve this."

Via: Star says 'treated like a criminal' with doping ban

Perfect timing: Murray's triumph

(CNN) -- You can be forgiven for losing track of time the morning after a night 77 years in the making.

"Oh sorry, that's my alarm," says an apologetic Andy Murray as his alarm trills while being interviewed. "That was the finals day time for getting up, 915am ... just for yesterday."

Yesterday was Sunday July 7 and the day which saw Murray secure his place in British sporting history.

In the 24 hours between those two alarms going off, Murray's world irrevocably changed with his 6-4 7-5 6-4 win over over Novak Djokovic in straight sets ensuring he became Britain's first men's singles champion at Wimbledon since 1936.

Read: Murray wins Wimbledon

It had been the most energy-sapping three sets of his career, with the world No. 2 eventually beating the world No. 1 following three hours of brutal battle, but Murray didn't want to go to sleep.

After waiting his entire career to win the title Britain had so wanted for nearly eight decades, the Scot was scared of waking up to discover it was all a dream.

"That's the one worry you have when you go to bed," Murray told CNN after becoming the first male British singles champion at Wimbledon since Fred Perry.

"You wake up and it's actually not true, so I was obviously very happy and relieved that I had done it."

Blog: Murray grasps opportunity to make history

Twelve months ago Murray had sobbed on Centre Court after losing his first Wimbledon final to Roger Federer.

Redemption came a month later on the same court against the same opponent, only with a different outcome.

The Scot won to clinch Olympic gold at London 2012 and the hearts of a jubilant British public began to soften towards a man that had arguably come up short in the popularity stakes when compared to another British tennis star -- the now retired -- Tim Henman.

In September a first grand slam title promptly followed at the U.S. Open, as Murray beat Djokovic in five sets in New York.

"Last year was the toughest loss of my career," explained the 26-year-old Murray when asked about his defeat in last year's Wimbledon final. "It was the first time I responded well from a grand slam defeat and the Olympics helped.

"That period after the Wimbledon final and the Olympics was probably the most important of my career because it could have gone the other way. I could have not recovered from it and it could have been a struggle but I worked hard.

"I said after the semifinal that Wimbledon is the pinnacle of the sport," added Murray, referring to his comments after his last four win over Jerzy Janowicz.

"To do it with all of the pressure and stuff was really tough, it took a lot out of me. I'm just glad I don't have to worry about it anymore."

Weight of expectation

Murray might have been worrying, but so to has the British public. Worrying about a Briton winning Wimbledon has been a national pastime.

He is the country's sole male tennis star and his annual quest for grass-court glory grips millions of anxious fans.

While the shouts of encouragement inside Centre Court can work in Murray's favor, the media interest and the weight of expectation can also be a monkey on his back.

"During the match you try to embrace the pressures, the emotions and the struggle you're going through out there," said Murray.

"You have to embrace the occasion, but it's not necessarily enjoyment. You enjoy the winning and the outcome. If you lose, you're incredibly disappointed."

It looked as if the pressure might just be too much for Murray in what proved to be the deciding game of an absorbing final.

Murray, calm and composed, was 40-0 up with three championship points.

Ever the competitor, Djokovic showed the spirit and skill which has led him to six grand slam titles by hitting back.

A nation held its breath.

"In that moment it must have been hard for people to watch," admitted Murray, who saved three break points before Djokovic found the net and the celebrations kicked off.

"Last night I just saw the last game, it was tough to watch even though I knew the outcome," said the Scot.

After such a momentous triumph, it is tempting to suggest Murray can rest on his laurels.

But the man from Dunblane has more grand slams in his sights, starting with a return to the Big Apple at the end of August.

"For me it's been to gradual improve throughout my career," he answers. "Year upon year just getting a little bit better and change a few things.

"I will have a rest now and get myself ready to defend the U.S. Open. It will be my first time trying to defend a grand slam title so it will be a new pressure for me, a new experience and I look forward to it."

He better keep that alarm on.

Via: Perfect timing: Murray's triumph

Ivanisevic's 'unsolved mystery'

Open Court is CNN's monthly tennis show. Click here for screening times and follow on Twitter @cnnopencourt

(CNN) -- The final game of one of the most memorable matches in Wimbledon history, featuring two fan favorites, took on a life of its own.

Back in 2001 -- in the 16th game of the fifth set -- members of Goran Ivanisevic's entourage asked for divine intervention as the Croatian sought to close out the encounter against Australia's Patrick Rafter and end years of Wimbledon heartache.

Ivanisevic himself asked for help from above, he wanted the same ball when serving, and Australian and Croatian spectators on Centre Court roared encouragement between points to make for a football like atmosphere.

Ivanisevic had lost three previous Wimbledon finals and seemed destined to miss out on glory at the All England Club given he had struggled with a shoulder injury earlier in 2001 and contemplated retirement.

His ranking of 125th wasn't even high enough to land direct entry into the tournament.

Read: Federer suffers shock defeat

Wimbledon gave Ivanisevic a wildcard, however, and he proceeded to work his way through the draw with a little help from Wimbledon's famed and all too frequent rain gods.

So there he was against Rafter on "People's Monday," leading 8-7 in the fifth set, four points from winning the most prestigious tennis tournament in the world.

No ordinary player -- and character -- one sensed that if Ivanisevic held serve, he would do it the hard way.

He had to overcome a resilient Rafter -- and painful memories of defeats to Pete Sampras, twice, and Andre Agassi.

It proved to be the case.

A forehand volley went long by a large margin for 0-15. At 15-all, he double faulted. Having hit an ace to get to championship point, he subsequently double faulted again -- by a yard.

A second championship point came and went with another double fault, this time into the net, and a third was saved by Rafter with a lob that was good enough against an Ivanisevic too frozen to jump.

Rafter finally buckled on a fourth match point, the pressure from Ivanisevic's destructive serve finally too much to repel.

A return sailed into the net and Ivanisevic was the Wimbledon champion and the only wildcard to bag the men's title at noted postcode SW19.

Dedication to a fallen friend

He worked his way into his players' box and exchanged hugs with his team, which included father Srdjan, who had recently undergone a triple heart bypass.

Ivanisevic dedicated the victory to former NBA star Drazen Petrovic, who died in a car accident in 1993.

"The best moment is when you hold the trophy," Ivanisevic told CNN's Open Court before the start of Wimbledon. This year's men's final will be played on Sunday.

"I was watching too many guys holding that beautiful trophy. I had this (runner-up) plate at home," added Ivanisevic. "It's a nice plate but you don't want to have that plate at home.

"Nobody cares for second place. If you want to go back now and think of Wimbledon finalists in the past 15 years, to be honest, I have no idea."

Read: Nadal upset again at Wimbledon

Ivanisevic almost didn't get that far.

He trailed Britain's Tim Henman two sets to one in the semifinals, losing the third 6-0 in about 15 minutes. He was out of sorts.

That's when the unpredictable British weather saved Ivanisevic and hurt the local darling.

With Henman holding a 2-1 advantage in the fourth set on the second Friday of the fortnight, rain fell and the contest was suspended.

They returned Saturday and Ivanisevic, mentally fresher, claimed the fourth set in a tiebreak. A further suspension ensured the nervy affair had to be completed Sunday, with Ivanisevic eliminating Henman 6-3 in the fifth to disappoint a nation.

A Monday final beckoned against Rafter, himself a loser to Sampras -- the king of Wimbledon prior to Roger Federer's arrival -- in the 2000 finale.

Fans queued up overnight to land one of the 10,000 unreserved tickets made available for the final, leading to a more vocal climax than usual.

"It was good that it was on a Monday because three finals I lost on Sunday, so finally I played on Monday," Ivanisevic said. "Unbelievable atmosphere, probably never again because now they have a roof.

"Patrick is a very good friend, a great guy. We both should have won Wimbledon before, him in 2000 in the final, and I was supposed to win a long time ago."

After Ivanisevic beat Carlos Moya in the second round he sensed something special was about to happen.

Did it the hard way

Besides Henman and Rafter, Ivanisevic also topped Andy Roddick, Greg Rusedski and Marat Safin in a difficult draw.

Of his seven victims, only one -- first-round opponent Fredrik Jonsson -- would never feature in the top four in the rankings.

"It was an unsolved mystery how I won, but I felt after the second round that I was going to win," Ivanisevic said. "I could not say it loud because they would think I was completely nuts.

"I felt for the first time after so many months, actually a year, the racket (that I played with had a special sound). I lost the sound for a year and a half and that (first) Monday I got the sound back. I said, 'This is a good sign.'"

The sound had vanished when Ivanisevic began the year by playing in qualifying at the Australian Open. Stuck on a back court after playing in some of the world's grandest stadiums, he tanked -- a tennis term for not trying.

Read: Djokovic conquers Australia

Although unpleasant at the time, it proved to be that year's turning point for Ivanisevic.

"I had a long journey to think about what I was going to do, then I went to play a challenger in Germany," Ivanisevic said. "I played the final. Then I started to play better. I didn't have great results but I started to enjoy it again.

"Wimbledon came and it was actually my time," added Ivanisevic, who can still be seen on the seniors' tour, while he also helps run a tournament in Zagreb and dabbles in commentating.

"It was written somewhere that it was my time. I did everything in my life the harder way. Why do it easy if you can do it the hard way?"

But by doing it the hard way, the larger-than-life Ivanisevic has ensured his achievement at Wimbledon will never be forgotten.

Via: Ivanisevic's 'unsolved mystery'

Homesick Serena back to form

(CNN) -- World No.1 Serena Williams put her Wimbledon loss behind her with a solid win in the Swedish Open.

The American swept past top-ranked Swedish player Johanna Larsson 6-4 6-1 to rack up her 51st win of the year.

But Williams, who was stunned in the last 16 of Wimbledon by eventual runner-up Sabine Lisicki, said she wouldn't be celebrating a return to winning ways.

"I'm not big on parties -- once upon a time but not anymore," Williams told reporters in Bstad.

"I'm so excited to go to Florida and go and see my Dad and my dogs -- I think that's enough.

"I wasn't playing well at Wimbledon when I lost and I didn't want to make the same mistake here. I really wanted to do better here.

"I've haven't been home in 12 weeks. I really miss being at home."

It would not be all rest for the 31-year-old when she gets home to Palm Beach, however, as she also plans to spend some time with Dad Richard working on her serve.

The Swedish event was the first for Williams since her Wimbledon exit and she appeared to relish a return to clay.

The French Open champion is unbeaten on clay this year after also winning titles in Rome, Madrid and Charleston.

Via: Homesick Serena back to form

The WTA hits 40th

(CNN) -- It was the ultimate gathering of tennis talent.

A host of No.1 ranked women's players, including Serena Williams, marked the 40th anniversary of the WTA with a unique get together at Wimbledon Sunday.

Williams, the latest in an elite list of women to reach the summit of the game since a unified women's tour was founded in 1973, led the tributes to Billie Jean King, the driving force and first president of the association.

"Billie Jean has been my ultimate inspiration and taught me so many things about being a champion and staying a champion," she told CNN.

"We are celebrating 40 amazing years of the WTA and none of this would have been possible if she hadn't taken a stand for everyone."

King, who won 12 grand slam singles titles, organized the meeting at the Gloucester Hotel in London, just a week before the 1973 Wimbledon Championships, where the Women's Tennis Association formally came into being.

One voice

"We were working together to gain recognition for the future generation and to have one voice," she told CNN.

Read: Sharapova makes shock exit from Wimbledon

"Sixty three of us got in a room, we locked the door, we elected the officers and we were in business," she recalled.

King's great rivals at the time, Australian pair Margaret Court and Evonne Goolagong, were among the special invitees to the anniversary celebration, along with current stars such as Williams and her arch-rival Maria Sharapova.

To the left of Williams were Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert, who between them occupied the No.1 spot for 592 weeks.

Swiss miss Martina Hingis, fourth in the all-time list for week's in the top spot and Monica Seles, also sat side by side.

Old rivalries

Seles, who battled it out for top spot with the likes of Hingis, and U.S. pair Jennifer Capriati and Lindsay Davenport, enjoyed being reunited with them, with old rivalries long forgotten.

"It's a celebration where once we are retired we can relax, we don't have competitive pressures and we can be friends," she told CNN.

Read: Serena puts troubles aside for easy win

Germany's Steffi Graf, who tops the list, was a notable absentee, as was Belgian favorite Kim Clijsters as she is expecting her second child soon.

In recent years, a clutch of players such as Dinara Safina, Jelena Jankovic, Ana Ivanovic, Caroline Wozniacki and Victoria Azarenka, have all briefly topped the rankings before Williams has reasserted her dominance in the game by winning three of the last four grand slams.

Her 6-2 6-0 dismissal of Kimiko Date-Krumm Saturday took her into the last 16 as she bids to defend her Wimbledon crown.

Confident coach

Her coach and partner Patrick Mouratoglou told CNN that Williams was well prepared for her tilt at a 17th grand slam crown.

"She is in good form and for the past year has been working really really hard," he said.

"She has big goals and has done all the work necessary to be in a position to win a grand slam."

Canadian teenager Eugenie Bouchard, who upset Serbia's Ivanovic in the second round, represented the younger generation at the celebration along with American Madison Keys.

She fully appreciates the part played by King and other former players in helping bring riches and media attention to the women's game.

"I've learned all about it, it's a special event," she told CNN.

Via: The WTA hits 40th

No excuses from Federer as he loses with new racquet

(CNN) -- The saying goes that a bad workman blames his tools but Roger Federer refused to pin a shock defeat in Hamburg on his new racquet.

Federer, who is experimenting with a larger tennis racquet at the German tennis championships, was stunned in the semi-finals by qualifier Federico Delbonis, the world no. 114.

"He was better than me," said Federer, who lost a tight match 7-6 (9-7) 7-6 (7-4) to the Argentine. "I don't think it had much to do with the racquet.

"Both sets could have gone either way. It's clearly a pity I couldn't win either of the sets because I was starting to feel better towards the end of the match.

"Unfortunately I couldn't push him further and create more chances.

"I tried everything I could at this tournament. It's been a difficult week."

Federer entered the Hamburg clay-court tournament to try and rediscover some form after a dismal Wimbledon.

The Swiss winner of a record 17 grand slams made a shock second-round exit at the All England Club championships at the hands of 116th ranked Sergiy Stakhovsky.

Read: Federer facing new world order

Part of his plan to get back to his best has been a decision to play with a larger 98-inch square frame racquet -- eight inches larger than his previous racquet.

Explaining his decision to try out the racquet in Hamburg earlier this week, Federer said on the ATP Tour website: "I've been very close on numerous occasions to changing racquets in a bigger way.

"But then very often, time was the issue. Maybe also just the records of grand slams - I was always keeping on playing quarters and semis - so then it was also a bit more difficult to change it because of the time.

"After I lost at Wimbledon, I thought this is a good time to go and test the racquets, to take a bit of time off and then add some tournaments and see was there enough time to change or not.

"I'm happy I did the change and now we'll see how it goes."

Federer -- who dropped from third to fifth in the world rankings after his Wimbledon loss -- will now head home to Switzerland to play at Gstaad next week.

Delbonis now faces Fabio Fognini for the Hamburg title after the Italian beat Spain's Nicolas Almagro 6-4 7-6 (7-1).

Via: No excuses from Federer as he loses with new racquet

Hingis comes out of retirement for WTA event

(CNN) -- Five-time grand slam singles winner Martina Hingis is to make a return to the WTA Tour later this month in a tournament in the United States.

The 32-year-old Swiss officially retired for the second time back in 2007, but has entered the doubles at the Southern California Open in Carlsbad, partnering Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia.

Hingis, who was inducted into the International Tennis Hall Of Fame in Newport last weekend, is looking forward to returning to the fray at the tournament, which begins on July 27.

"I feel in good shape at the moment after playing World Team Tennis," she told the official WTA website.

"My competitive spirit is still very much alive and I love being out on court."

Hingis, who also won nine grand slam doubles titles in a glittering career, teamed up with Hantuchova in the final three events she played in her first comeback.

Read: Sharapova hires Connors as coach

"We are honored to have such a great champion choose to make the Southern California Open her first tournament back on tour," said tournament director Alastair Garland.

Hingis cut short that comeback when it was revealed she had tested positive for a metabolite of cocaine after her third round loss at Wimbledon six years ago.

She maintained her innocence, but was banned for two years by the International Tennis Federation.

Hingis first burst on to the scene in 1996 by pairing with Helena Sukova to win a grand slam doubles title while only 15 years of age.

The following year she became the youngest ever grand slam singles winner at 16 years three months in the Australian Open before becoming the youngest World No.1 in history.

Injuries forced her first retirement in 2002 before she returned four years later, but without recapturing her former dominance.

Read: Best of the best celebrate WTA's 40th

There is no indication if Hingis will extend her second comeback to singles competition, but has been successful with Washington Kastles in team tennis.

If she does decide to go down that route, Hingis will find that one of her former arch rivals Serena Williams is still in formidable form.

The World No.1 suffered a shock defeat at Wimbledon to Sabine Lisicki, but returned to competitive action Tuesday with a straights sets dismissal of Sesil Karatantcheva at the Bastad Open in Sweden.

Williams won 6-1 6-2 in the clay court event, extending her record for the year to 47-3, and delighting a packed center court crowd.

"I definitely didn't expect that. I walked out and I felt honored. That's one of the reasons I love to play, to come to countries I've never been to and play in front of a packed stadium. It's just great," she told the official WTA website.

Williams will next play Anna Tatishvili of Georgia, who beat Swiss wildcard and junior Wimbledon champion Belinda Bencic 2-6 6-4 6-4.

Via: Hingis comes out of retirement for WTA event

Sharapova hires Jimmy Connors as new coach

(CNN) -- It didn't take Maria Sharapova long to find a new coach.

Two days after announcing she was ending her successful three-year partnership with Thomas Hogstedt, Sharapova said former great Jimmy Connors will be Hogstedt's successor.

"I have known Jimmy for many years and we briefly worked together in 2008 just before the Australian Open," Sharapova told her website. "I am really excited about our new partnership and looking forward to the upcoming tournaments."

The coaching shuffle comes about two weeks after the U.S.-based Russian was upset by qualifier Michelle Larcher de Brito in the second round at Wimbledon.

"Due to personal issues, (Hogstedt) was not able to travel in the near future and we both agreed it was the right time to move our separate ways," the world No. 2 had said. "I am very thankful for all his work and wish him much success in the future."

Read: Larcher de Brito sends Sharapova packing

Connors won eight grand slam titles.

Like Sharapova, he was a steely competitor who never gave an inch. Some of his most memorable battles came against fellow American John McEnroe.

Connors' backhand is regarded as one of the best ever.

When his playing days were over, Connors kept a relatively low profile and mostly stayed away from tennis circles. That changed when he decided to work with a slumping Andy Roddick in 2006.

The move paid instant dividends for Roddick, as he reached the U.S. Open final two months later. Their association lasted two years, with Roddick saying he resigned.

Connors' autobiography was released earlier this year.

It was under Hogstedt, a former touring pro from Sweden, that Sharapova completed her grand slam collection last year at the French Open.

The victory was sweeter for Sharapova because it was her first grand slam title after a shoulder injury that derailed her career. She lost to Serena Williams in the final of this year's French.

Sharapova's movement noticeably improved under Hogstedt -- adding to her fierce ground strokes and intense desire to win.

But their last tournament together didn't go as planned, with Sharapova slipping twice on the grass at Wimbledon against Larcher de Brito and suffering her earliest grand slam exit in three years.

The loss, however, allowed Sharapova to watch the end of boyfriend Grigor Dimitrov's marathon five-set loss to Grega Zemlja.

Hogstedt left Li Na to work with Sharapova at the end of 2010, with the Chinese baseliner then reaching the final at the Australian Open while Sharapova crashed out in the fourth round.

Read: Sharapova takes swipe at Williams

Li, the French Open winner in 2011, has the same agent as Sharapova in Max Eisenbud.

Sharapova formerly worked with Michael Joyce and her father, Yuri.

Earlier this week, another former No. 1, Ana Ivanovic, severed ties with Nigel Sears, the father of Andy Murray's girlfriend.

Via: Sharapova hires Jimmy Connors as new coach

Federer facing new world order

(CNN) -- As Britain continues to celebrate Andy Murray's Wimbledon title, things aren't going quite as well for Roger Federer.

Federer, who owns a men's record 17 grand slam titles, slumped to his lowest world ranking in 10 years when the new standings were released Monday.

The Swiss dropped from third to fifth in the aftermath of his upset loss in the second round to Sergiy Stakhovsky at Wimbledon, matching the ranking he last held in June 2003 when he wasn't yet a grand slam winner.

Read: Ukrainian stuns Federer

Federer, a month away from his 32nd birthday, responded to the defeat by entering a pair of smaller clay court tournaments in Europe in a bid to reverse fortunes.

He is sixth in the calendar-year points standings, with the top eight earning a berth at the year-end championships in London.

Federer will play at next week's German Tennis Championships in Hamburg before contesting the Swiss Open in Gstaad the following week.

"I'm really looking forward to playing in front of my home fans in Gstaad this summer," Federer told his website this month. "I have got a lot of great memories of the tournament in the mountains of Switzerland."

Federer last played in Gstaad in 2004, winning the event for the only time. He lost his first four matches there before reaching the final in 2003 a week after his maiden grand slam triumph at Wimbledon.

While Federer frets over his drop in the rankings, man of the moment Murray is very much on the up.

He has spectacularly recovered -- with the help of coach Ivan Lendl -- from losing his first four grand slam finals and in the 2011 semifinals at Wimbledon to Rafael Nadal when he was firmly in control.

He has now captured two of the last three grand slam tournaments he has competed in and replaced Federer as the world's best grass court player, having also claimed Olympic gold at Wimbledon in 2012 and a Wimbledon warm-up in London last month.

"Under pressure right now Andy has two majors and a gold medal," his coach Ivan Lendl told British newspaper the Telegraph as he reflected on Murray's Wimbledon victory over Novak Djokovic on Sunday.

"Novak is a great player, don't get me wrong. He has had a phenomenal last 12 months, basically since the start of 2011, so the rankings look at all of that.

"[But] if somebody has two majors and an Olympic gold medal, and everybody else has only one major . . ." Lendl added, before tailing off. "Everybody can make their own opinion on that."

Read: Murray ends British drought

When the Scot downed world No. 1 Djokovic in straight sets in Sunday's final, it ended a 77-year wait for a British men's singles champion at tennis' most prestigious tournament.

Murray said Monday that he only had one-hour of sleep after his victory -- and that he didn't want to go to sleep at all because he thought when he woke up it would all be a dream.

The Queen was one of those to congratulate Murray and he is being tipped to receive knighthood.

Read: Murray set to cash in

The Scot's last loss on grass was to Federer in the 2012 Wimbledon final.

"I didn't always think it was going to happen," said Murray of his Wimbledon conquest. "I didn't doubt myself so much after last year's final.

"It was the best I'd recovered from a grand slam loss. Maybe a couple of years ago when I lost in the semis to Rafa when I was up a set, maybe a break as well or had break points, and didn't get that, that was a tough, tough one for me."

And Murray said he doesn't expect his motivation to dip after his historic fortnight at Wimbledon.

"I hope I don't lose hunger -- I think I should be able to use this as motivation," said the Scot. "I know what it's like losing in a Wimbledon final, and I know what it's like winning one. And it's a lot better winning.

"I just need to make sure I don't get side-tracked by anything."

Via: Federer facing new world order

Ivanisevic's Wimbledon win an 'unsolved mystery'

Open Court is CNN's monthly tennis show. Click here for screening times and follow on Twitter @cnnopencourt

(CNN) -- The final game of one of the most memorable matches in Wimbledon history, featuring two fan favorites, took on a life of its own.

Back in 2001 -- in the 16th game of the fifth set -- members of Goran Ivanisevic's entourage asked for divine intervention as the Croatian sought to close out the encounter against Australia's Patrick Rafter and end years of Wimbledon heartache.

Ivanisevic himself asked for help from above, he wanted the same ball when serving, and Australian and Croatian spectators on Centre Court roared encouragement between points to make for a football like atmosphere.

Ivanisevic had lost three previous Wimbledon finals and seemed destined to miss out on glory at the All England Club given he had struggled with a shoulder injury earlier in 2001 and contemplated retirement.

His ranking of 125th wasn't even high enough to land direct entry into the tournament.

Read: Federer suffers shock defeat

Wimbledon gave Ivanisevic a wildcard, however, and he proceeded to work his way through the draw with a little help from Wimbledon's famed and all too frequent rain gods.

So there he was against Rafter on "People's Monday," leading 8-7 in the fifth set, four points from winning the most prestigious tennis tournament in the world.

No ordinary player -- and character -- one sensed that if Ivanisevic held serve, he would do it the hard way.

He had to overcome a resilient Rafter -- and painful memories of defeats to Pete Sampras, twice, and Andre Agassi.

It proved to be the case.

A forehand volley went long by a large margin for 0-15. At 15-all, he double faulted. Having hit an ace to get to championship point, he subsequently double faulted again -- by a yard.

A second championship point came and went with another double fault, this time into the net, and a third was saved by Rafter with a lob that was good enough against an Ivanisevic too frozen to jump.

Rafter finally buckled on a fourth match point, the pressure from Ivanisevic's destructive serve finally too much to repel.

A return sailed into the net and Ivanisevic was the Wimbledon champion and the only wildcard to bag the men's title at noted postcode SW19.

Dedication to a fallen friend

He worked his way into his players' box and exchanged hugs with his team, which included father Srdjan, who had recently undergone a triple heart bypass.

Ivanisevic dedicated the victory to former NBA star Drazen Petrovic, who died in a car accident in 1993.

"The best moment is when you hold the trophy," Ivanisevic told CNN's Open Court before the start of Wimbledon. This year's men's final will be played on Sunday.

"I was watching too many guys holding that beautiful trophy. I had this (runner-up) plate at home," added Ivanisevic. "It's a nice plate but you don't want to have that plate at home.

"Nobody cares for second place. If you want to go back now and think of Wimbledon finalists in the past 15 years, to be honest, I have no idea."

Read: Nadal upset again at Wimbledon

Ivanisevic almost didn't get that far.

He trailed Britain's Tim Henman two sets to one in the semifinals, losing the third 6-0 in about 15 minutes. He was out of sorts.

That's when the unpredictable British weather saved Ivanisevic and hurt the local darling.

With Henman holding a 2-1 advantage in the fourth set on the second Friday of the fortnight, rain fell and the contest was suspended.

They returned Saturday and Ivanisevic, mentally fresher, claimed the fourth set in a tiebreak. A further suspension ensured the nervy affair had to be completed Sunday, with Ivanisevic eliminating Henman 6-3 in the fifth to disappoint a nation.

A Monday final beckoned against Rafter, himself a loser to Sampras -- the king of Wimbledon prior to Roger Federer's arrival -- in the 2000 finale.

Fans queued up overnight to land one of the 10,000 unreserved tickets made available for the final, leading to a more vocal climax than usual.

"It was good that it was on a Monday because three finals I lost on Sunday, so finally I played on Monday," Ivanisevic said. "Unbelievable atmosphere, probably never again because now they have a roof.

"Patrick is a very good friend, a great guy. We both should have won Wimbledon before, him in 2000 in the final, and I was supposed to win a long time ago."

After Ivanisevic beat Carlos Moya in the second round he sensed something special was about to happen.

Did it the hard way

Besides Henman and Rafter, Ivanisevic also topped Andy Roddick, Greg Rusedski and Marat Safin in a difficult draw.

Of his seven victims, only one -- first-round opponent Fredrik Jonsson -- would never feature in the top four in the rankings.

"It was an unsolved mystery how I won, but I felt after the second round that I was going to win," Ivanisevic said. "I could not say it loud because they would think I was completely nuts.

"I felt for the first time after so many months, actually a year, the racket (that I played with had a special sound). I lost the sound for a year and a half and that (first) Monday I got the sound back. I said, 'This is a good sign.'"

The sound had vanished when Ivanisevic began the year by playing in qualifying at the Australian Open. Stuck on a back court after playing in some of the world's grandest stadiums, he tanked -- a tennis term for not trying.

Read: Djokovic conquers Australia

Although unpleasant at the time, it proved to be that year's turning point for Ivanisevic.

"I had a long journey to think about what I was going to do, then I went to play a challenger in Germany," Ivanisevic said. "I played the final. Then I started to play better. I didn't have great results but I started to enjoy it again.

"Wimbledon came and it was actually my time," added Ivanisevic, who can still be seen on the seniors' tour, while he also helps run a tournament in Zagreb and dabbles in commentating.

"It was written somewhere that it was my time. I did everything in my life the harder way. Why do it easy if you can do it the hard way?"

But by doing it the hard way, the larger-than-life Ivanisevic has ensured his achievement at Wimbledon will never be forgotten.

Via: Ivanisevic's Wimbledon win an 'unsolved mystery'

Perfect timing: Murray wakes Britain from 77-year slumber

(CNN) -- You can be forgiven for losing track of time the morning after a night 77 years in the making.

"Oh sorry, that's my alarm," says an apologetic Andy Murray as his alarm trills while being interviewed. "That was the finals day time for getting up, 915am ... just for yesterday."

Yesterday was Sunday July 7 and the day which saw Murray secure his place in British sporting history.

In the 24 hours between those two alarms going off, Murray's world irrevocably changed with his 6-4 7-5 6-4 win over over Novak Djokovic in straight sets ensuring he became Britain's first men's singles champion at Wimbledon since 1936.

Read: Murray wins Wimbledon

It had been the most energy-sapping three sets of his career, with the world No. 2 eventually beating the world No. 1 following three hours of brutal battle, but Murray didn't want to go to sleep.

After waiting his entire career to win the title Britain had so much wanted over nearly eight decades, the Scot was scared of waking up to discover it was all a dream.

"That's the one worry you have when you go to bed," Murray told CNN after becoming the first male British singles champion at Wimbledon since Fred Perry.

"You wake up and it's actually not true, so I was obviously very happy and relieved that I had done it."

Blog: Murray grasps opportunity to make history

Twelve months ago Murray had sobbed on Centre Court after losing his first Wimbledon final to Roger Federer.

Redemption came a month later on the same court against the same opponent, only with a different outcome.

The Scot won to clinch Olympic gold at London 2012 and the hearts of a jubilant British public began to soften towards a man that had arguably come up short in the popularity stakes when compared to another British tennis star -- the now retired -- Tim Henman.

In September a first grand slam title promptly followed at the U.S. Open, as Murray beat Djokovic in five sets in New York.

"Last year was the toughest loss of my career," explained the 26-year-old Murray when asked about his defeat in last year's Wimbledon final. "It was the first time I responded well from a grand slam defeat and the Olympics helped.

"That period after the Wimbledon final and the Olympics was probably the most important of my career because it could have gone the other way. I could have not recovered from it and it could have been a struggle but I worked hard.

"I said after the semifinal that Wimbledon is the pinnacle of the sport," added Murray, referring to his comments after his last four win over Jerzy Janowicz.

"To do it with all of the pressure and stuff was really tough, it took a lot out of me. I'm just glad I don't have to worry about it anymore."

Weight of expectation

Murray might have been worrying, but so to has the British public. Worrying about a Briton winning Wimbledon has been a national pastime.

He is the country's sole male tennis star and his annual quest for grass-court glory grips millions of anxious fans.

While the shouts of encouragement inside Centre Court can work in Murray's favor, the media interest and the weight of expectation can also be a monkey on his back.

"During the match you try to embrace the pressures, the emotions and the struggle you're going through out there," said Murray.

"You have to embrace the occasion, but it's not necessarily enjoyment. You enjoy the winning and the outcome. If you lose, you're incredibly disappointed."

It looked as if the pressure might just be too much for Murray in what proved to be the deciding game of an absorbing final.

Murray, calm and composed, was 40-0 up with three championship points.

Ever the competitor, Djokovic showed the spirit and skill which has led him to six grand slam titles by hitting back.

A nation held its breath.

"In that moment it must have been hard for people to watch," admitted Murray, who saved three break points before Djokovic found the net and the celebrations kicked off.

"Last night I just saw the last game, it was tough to watch even though I knew the outcome," said the Scot.

After such a momentous triumph, it is tempting to suggest Murray can rest on his laurels.

But the man from Dunblane has more grand slams in his sights, starting with a return to the Big Apple at the end of August.

"For me it's been to gradual improve throughout my career," he answers. "Year upon year just getting a little bit better and change a few things.

"I will have a rest now and get myself ready to defend the U.S. Open. It will be my first time trying to defend a grand slam title so it will be a new pressure for me, a new experience and I look forward to it."

He better keep that alarm on.

Via: Perfect timing: Murray wakes Britain from 77-year slumber

Britain's Murray wins Wimbledon

(CNN) -- At last.

The 77-year itch has been scratched, history has been rewritten and the yearning is no longer.

Perhaps now -- after becoming the first British man to win Wimbledon for what seemed an eternity, Andy Murray will finally feel loved.

A straight sets victory over Novak Djokovic in the final was accomplished with the grit and vigor for which this champion is renowned -- but it is his softer side which has endeared him to the wider world.

Just 12 months ago, Murray stood on Centre Court and cried. He cried tears of pain and anguish -- showing a part of himself of which very few ever knew existed following his final defeat.

"It feels slightly different to last year," Murray told fans on Centre Court.

"Last year was one of the toughest moments of my career, so to manage to win the tournament today.

"It was an unbelievably tough match, so many long games.

"My head was everywhere in that last game, he was hitting some unbelievable shots and I think that is why at the end of the match I almost didn't know what had happened.

"The last 30 minutes have been a bit a bit of a blur. I just don't know what to say."

Turning point

That defeat in the final to Roger Federer was a turning point -- not just in Murray's career, but in his relationship with British tennis fans.

He was human. He did feel. He was no longer the angry, skinny, and grumpy teenager which had always threatened but never quite delivered.

No, this time the British public knew they had someone special.

As those tears streamed down his face, the nation finally realized that this was a man who just desperately wanted to give the country what it wanted -- a Wimbledon champion.

Fast-forward 12 months and with the U.S. Open title already in the bag and the experience of winning Olympic gold on the very same court, Murray produced his finest hour.

A straight sets victory over World No.1 Djokovic is an astonishing achievement -- more so given the level of pressure heaped on Murray around this time of year.

Murray is all too aware of the history. Not since Fred Perry won the last of his three titles in 1936 had a British man won the singles tournament at Wimbledon.

It was the year that Jesse Owens won four gold medals at the Munich Olympics, the year when the Spanish Civil War began,a time when King Edward VIII abdicated the throne to marry Wallis Simpson and Franklin D. Roosevelt was reelected President of the U.S. following a landslide victory.

Albatross

Since Murray emerged from the shadows of Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski, the weight of expectation has hung around his neck like an albatross.

But whereas last year he had yet to win a grand slam tournament before taking on Roger Federer in last year's final, that is no longer the case.

His dramatic five set win over Djokovic at the U.S. Open last September came on the back of his Olympic triumph and gave him the belief he belonged at the very top.

Working alongside coach Ivan Lendl, a man who like Murray also lost his first four grand slam finals, has given the Dunblane-born player an extra edge.

"He believed in me when a lot of people didn't," Murray told reporters.

"He stuck by me through some tough losses the last couple of years. He's been very patient with me. I'm just happy I managed to do it for him."

That belief was in evidence on Centre Court as he endured a brutal battle against one of the fittest men on the circuit in Djokovic.

There were punishing baseline rallies, moments of cross court genius, drop-shots to delight and a level of willpower seen only at the very pinnacle of the sport.

After taking the first set 6-4, Murray was forced to show the kind of resilience which he has become so well known for.

In his quarterfinal tie against Fernando Verdasco, he came from two sets down to triumph, while he also trailed in his semifinal before fighting back to claim victory.

Fightback

So when Djokovic led 4-1 in the second set, there were few brave enough to write Murray off, even against one of the finest players of his generation.

From 4-1 down, Murray rallied, showing all the qualities which have turned him into a modern day Adonis on the tennis court.

There was fight, there was passion, but there was also a vital component of coolness in the heat of the battle which gave him an extra edge.

From 4-1 down, Murray broke back to level at 4-4 before taking the set 7-5 as Djokovic's nerve began to falter.

With just one set separating him from sporting immortality, Murray began in fine style, breaking Djokovic to take a 2-0 lead.

But the Serbian, who won the title in 2011, refused to buckle and battled back to level at 2-2 before breaking the home favorite once more to threaten the prospect of a fourth set.

Recovery

Once again, Murray was forced to call upon his powers of recovery, using even muscle and straining every sinew in a bid to level the set.

Backed by vociferous following, he fought his way back to level before breaking Djokovic to lead 5-4 and ensure he would serve for the match.

Three consecutive points followed -- three Championship points awaited.

But Murray has never been one for making life easy for himself -- nor for his fans who held their collective breath.

Djokovic staved off three Championship points before having the audacity to force Murray to save three break points.

Each time, with the pressure growing and the specter of failure on the horizon, Murray held firm.

Then, finally, when the fourth Championship point presented itself, he took it.

Cue bedlam. Hysteria. As Murray sank to the turf, a nation rose from its slumber to salute a new champion, a new hero, a sporting icon.

The rocky road to love might have been a long one but this love affair between Murray and the British public could be just beginning.

Via: Britain's Murray wins Wimbledon

Wimbledon final showdown of opposites

(CNN) -- They've taken contrasting routes to the Wimbledon final, have very different styles of play and polar opposite personalities, but Sabine Lisicki and Marion Bartoli will have one thing in common on Saturday afternoon on the famous Centre Court.

Both will be searching for a maiden grand slam title -- the ultimate validation of their undoubted talents.

Lisicki, who put out defending champion Serena Williams, the biggest upset in a tournament of massive upsets, also dispatched former grand slam champions Francesca Schiavone and Samantha Stosur en route to her first final at this level.

Read: Serena stunned by Germany's Lisicki

15th seed Bartoli came through almost unnoticed before thrashing Belgium's Kirsten Flipkens, herself a relative unknown, in the semifinal.

Lisicki has a booming all-court game, which has earned her the tag "Doris" -- a reference to its similarity of the style of German legend Boris Becker.

The three-time Wimbledon champion is also an admirer: "Sabine Lisicki rocks," Becker tweeted as she beat fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska in another three set nail biter in the semifinals.

Bartoli's game is definitely not for the purist, with her own unique service action and double handed thumps on both wings.

Read: Best of the best mark WTA's 40th

It's not pretty but effective as seven WTA career titles testify. In the 2007 Wimbledon semifinal she played Justine Henin, possessor of a classic backhand and No.1 seed at the time.

She lost the first set lamely and trailed the Belgian in the second. Commentators were already lamenting the one-sided nature of the match before Bartoli confounded her critics to pull off a stunning upset.

She lost to Venus Williams in the final, but the experience may prove a big advantage.

Lisicki will look to ride the wave of support which has greeted her march to the title match.

The 23-year-old has earned the affection of the crowds with her outgoing and cheerful personality.

She has played with a permanent smile on her face even when apparently slipping to defeat against Williams and Radwanska.

Read: Lisicki repeats Centre Court magic

Wrapping up match point against the seemingly invincible Williams, she collapsed to the turf in joyful sobs.

Her place in the affections of the fans was sealed. "I love Wimbledon," she beamed after beating Radwanska and the feeling is mutual.

Bartoli is an engaging eccentric, who reportedly brooded for months after taking the brave decision to dispense with the services of her father Walter as her coach.

Former World No.1 Amelie Mauresmo has taken the job and is credited with damping down the inner turmoil which can undermine Bartoli's best efforts.

So relaxed was the 28-year-old that she admitted to taking a half hour cat nap just before dispatching Flipkens.

When asked about it, Bartoli replied "I'm French," as if it offered an explanation for her unusual slumbers.

Read: Second seed Sharapova stunned

It remains to be seen if the prospect of facing the lower ranked 23rd seed Lisicki in the biggest match of their careers will ruffle her newly found sang-froid.

Lisicki has won three of their four matches, including a three-set quarterfinal match at Wimbledon in 2011 as the German first made her mark on her favorite grass.

But Bartoli's single win over her came at Wimbledon back in 2008.

It's certainly a final which absolutely nobody predicted at the start of the fortnight with bookmakers offering odds of 1500 to 1 on its prospect.

There were clearly few takers with the safe bets on another Serena Williams -- Maria Sharapova showdown before the shocks started on the first Wednesday.

Lisicki will be looking to become the first German to win a grand slam since Steffi Graf won her 22nd and final major at the 1999 French Open. Graf sent her a good luck text before she beat Radwanska.

Perhaps it's fate, but the last French success at this level came to Bartoli's new mentor Mauresmo back in 2006 when she won two slams.

Both finalists have had to overcome setbacks to reach the ultimate stage.

Lisicki suffered a career threatening ankle injury in 2009, while Bartoli's recent slump in form and loss of confidence this year had seen her fail to go past the quarterfinal stage in any tournament before Wimbledon.

It's safe to say that victory come Saturday tea time will change the life of one these young women forever as they claim their place in the tennis record books.

Via: Wimbledon final showdown of opposites

Bryan brothers complete Golden Slam

(CNN) -- Bob and Mike Bryan won a third Wimbledon men's doubles champions on Saturday to complete a Golden Slam following their success at last year's Olympics.

The 3-6 6-3 6-4 6-4 win over the 12th seeds Ivan Dodig and Marcelo Melo means that the American twins now hold all four major titles -- the first male doubles pairing ever to do so in the open era -- and the Olympic title.

"I didn't think anything could feel as sweet as the gold medal, but this one just feels like there's a cap, a lid, or a ribbon around our career. It's pretty cool," Mike Bryan said.

"It's something we never dreamed of, to try to win four in a row. It's too hard to dominate in doubles," he added.

Read: Brilliant Bartoli wind women's singles title

"Maybe we had a little luck involved along the way. We just took one at a time. It just added up. Now we got to try to suit back up for the calendar Slam. I don't even want to think about that."

The quest for the Golden Slam didn't get off to the best start with Dodig and Melo racing into a 4-0 lead, before finally taking the first set 6-3.

But the Bryans found their form early in the second, breaking the Dodig serve in the second game before taking the set 6-3.

A solitary break of serve was all that was needed in the remaining two sets with the Bryan's eventually easing to victory in one hour 58 minutes.

Read: Djokovic and Murray to contest dream Wimbledon final

The win takes the brothers' tally of tour titles to nine for the season and a career total of 91.

In the women's doubles final, eighth seeds Su-Wei Hsieh and Shuai Peng beat the 12th seeds Ashleigh Barty and Casey Dellacqua of Australia 7-6 6-1.

Via: Bryan brothers complete Golden Slam

Brilliant Bartoli romps to Wimbledon title

London (CNN) -- France's Marion Bartoli has claimed the women's singles title at Wimbledon with a crushing 6-1 6-4 victory over Sabine Lisicki.

The 28-year-old, a losing finalist against Venus Williams in 2007, swept aside her German opponent is one hour 21 minutes to claim her first Grand Slam title.

Bartoli becomes only the second French woman to win Wimbledon in the open era, following in the footsteps of Amelie Mauresmo who won in 2006.

"I'm so happy I am holding the trophy. It has been my dream since I was six years old. I would like to thank everyone in the crowd who supported me today," Bartoli said.

Read: Djokovic and Murray to contest dream Wimbledon final

For Lisicki, the vanquisher of Serena Williams in the fourth round and Agnieszka Radwanska in the semis, the disappointment was almost too much to bear.

"Marion has been in that situation before and she handed it perfectly. She deserves it. I hope I get the chance one more time as well." Lisicki said fighting back tears.

Both women started the match nervously losing their opening service games, but it was Bartoli whose game suddenly gelled while Lisicki, appearing in her first Grand Slam title, wilted under the pressure on a sweltering Center Court.

With her game in top gear, Bartoli took the first set in just 29 minutes. A more composed Lisicki returned from a bathroom break and held her opening service game of the second set, before Bartoli reeled off five games in succession.

Read: Ivanisevic's epic Wimbledon win an 'unsolved mystery'

Lisicki, who stunned Serena Williams in the fourth round, fought to the end holding serve in the seventh game and breaking Bartoli as she served for the match in the next.

Another hold from the German made the score 5-4, but at the second time of asking Bartoli made no mistake, serving out the match to love and finishing with an ace.

Via: Brilliant Bartoli romps to Wimbledon title

Djokovic survives Del Potro onslaught

(CNN) -- Novak Djokovic triumphed in one of Wimbledon's classic matches and Andy Murray subdued the challenge of a young upstart Friday to set up a dream final showdown at the grass court grand slam.

World No.1 Djokovic needed four hours 43 minutes, the longest men's singles semifinal in the tournament's history, to beat Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro, 7-5 4-6 7-6 6-7 6-3.

Home favorite and second seed Murray won a gripping, but at times controversial, last four clash with Poland's Jerzy Janowicz, 6-7 6-4 6-4 6-3 to join him in the title match.

It will be their fourth clash in a grand slam final, the last won by Djokovic in the Australian Open earlier this year.

The top seed was involved in the match of the tournament, marked by breathtaking and grueling rallies, none more so than when Djokovic had the first of his chances to win as he led 6-4 in the fourth set tiebreak, holding two match points.

An incredible 24-shot exchange ended with Djokovic hitting long and former U.S. Open champion del Potro took advantage to win the next three points, including the second match point, to force the decider.

The pace was unrelenting and Del Potro finally cracked in the eighth game, conceding his service to leave 2011 champion Djokovic to serve for his place in the final.

Read: Ivanisevic's 2001 win 'unsolved mystery'

Del Potro was still not finished and forced a break point, but Djokovic was not to be denied and closed out victory on his third match point with a backhand winner.

"It was one of the best matches I have been part of, one of the most exciting, it was so close," he told BBC Sport.

"That's why he's a grand slam champion, he came up with some unbelievable shots

"I'm very proud to go through. When I lost the fourth set of course it was disappointing because I was close to winning and didn't capitalize.

"He came up with some big forehands. It was a very high level of tennis," he added.

Read: Murray pulls off great escape

Del Potro, apparently nursing an injury, had beaten Djokovic in the 2012 London Olympics bronze medal match on Wimbledon grass, and sensed another upset.

After Djokovic took the first set on a single break of service in the 12th game, eighth seed del Potro hit back to level by claiming his opponent's service for the first time.

The third set was again played at a high intensity and Djokovic had three points to take it as he led 6-5, but again del Potro responded to force a tiebreak.

Djokovic moved ahead again by dominating it for the loss of just two points and when he broke to lead 4-3 in the fourth it looked all over.

Read: Friend's trauma reveals the hidden side of Murray

But that was to underestimate del Potro and in the next game he bravely leveled before his tiebreak heroics which will be long remembered.

Long wait

All the time Murray and his 24th seeded opponent Janowicz were waiting and by the time they emerged on Centre Court it was early evening.

The 22-year-old Janowicz signaled he was not going to roll over with confident play in the first set and when it went to the tiebreak he took control to win it 7-2.

Murray gained the early break in the second set and eventually leveled at one set apiece.

But with Janowicz again powering ahead to 4-1 in the third set, the alarm bells were ringing for the Scot.

But showing great character and finally inspiring the crowd into raucous mood, he blasted through the next five games to take the set.

Read: Djokovic breezes into second week

With light fading and following continuous complaints from Janowicz, referee Andrew Jarrett ordered the roof to be closed, meaning a delay of 20 minutes.

Angry Murray

Murray, with the momentum behind him, was outraged and loudly complained to the officials -- "That's not fair," he said.

He later revealed that Janowicz, who has soared up the rankings since reaching last year's Paris Masters final, had spent the delay making a mobile phone call.

"He seemed very relaxed. That's the sort of player he is, that's why he is very loose on the court," was Murray's verdict.

When they emerged for the second time, Murray almost immediately broke Janowicz's service and saw it through to the finish, winning with a whipped forehand to reach his second straight Wimbledon final.

Via: Djokovic survives Del Potro onslaught

Ivanisevic's epic Wimbledon win an 'unsolved mystery'

Open Court is CNN's monthly tennis show. Click here for screening times and follow on Twitter @cnnopencourt

(CNN) -- The final game of one of the most memorable matches in Wimbledon history, featuring two fan favorites, took on a life of its own.

Back in 2001 -- in the 16th game of the fifth set -- members of Goran Ivanisevic's entourage asked for divine intervention as the Croatian sought to close out the encounter against Australia's Patrick Rafter and end years of Wimbledon heartache.

Ivanisevic himself asked for help from above, he wanted the same ball when serving, and Australian and Croatian spectators on Centre Court roared encouragement between points to make for a football like atmosphere.

Ivanisevic had lost three previous Wimbledon finals and seemed destined to miss out on glory at the All England Club given he had struggled with a shoulder injury earlier in 2001 and contemplated retirement.

His ranking of 125th wasn't even high enough to land direct entry into the tournament.

Read: Federer suffers shock defeat

Wimbledon gave Ivanisevic a wildcard, however, and he proceeded to work his way through the draw with a little help from Wimbledon's famed and all too frequent rain gods.

So there he was against Rafter on "People's Monday," leading 8-7 in the fifth set, four points from winning the most prestigious tennis tournament in the world.

No ordinary player -- and character -- one sensed that if Ivanisevic held serve, he would do it the hard way.

He had to overcome a resilient Rafter -- and painful memories of defeats to Pete Sampras, twice, and Andre Agassi.

It proved to be the case.

A forehand volley went long by a large margin for 0-15. At 15-all, he double faulted. Having hit an ace to get to championship point, he subsequently double faulted again -- by a yard.

A second championship point came and went with another double fault, this time into the net, and a third was saved by Rafter with a lob that was good enough against an Ivanisevic too frozen to jump.

Rafter finally buckled on a fourth match point, the pressure from Ivanisevic's destructive serve finally too much to repel.

A return sailed into the net and Ivanisevic was the Wimbledon champion and the only wildcard to bag the men's title at noted postcode SW19.

Dedication to a fallen friend

He worked his way into his players' box and exchanged hugs with his team, which included father Srdjan, who had recently undergone a triple heart bypass.

Ivanisevic dedicated the victory to former NBA star Drazen Petrovic, who died in a car accident in 1993.

"The best moment is when you hold the trophy," Ivanisevic told CNN's Open Court before the start of Wimbledon. This year's men's final will be played on Sunday.

"I was watching too many guys holding that beautiful trophy. I had this (runner-up) plate at home," added Ivanisevic. "It's a nice plate but you don't want to have that plate at home.

"Nobody cares for second place. If you want to go back now and think of Wimbledon finalists in the past 15 years, to be honest, I have no idea."

Read: Nadal upset again at Wimbledon

Ivanisevic almost didn't get that far.

He trailed Britain's Tim Henman two sets to one in the semifinals, losing the third 6-0 in about 15 minutes. He was out of sorts.

That's when the unpredictable British weather saved Ivanisevic and hurt the local darling.

With Henman holding a 2-1 advantage in the fourth set on the second Friday of the fortnight, rain fell and the contest was suspended.

They returned Saturday and Ivanisevic, mentally fresher, claimed the fourth set in a tiebreak. A further suspension ensured the nervy affair had to be completed Sunday, with Ivanisevic eliminating Henman 6-3 in the fifth to disappoint a nation.

A Monday final beckoned against Rafter, himself a loser to Sampras -- the king of Wimbledon prior to Roger Federer's arrival -- in the 2000 finale.

Fans queued up overnight to land one of the 10,000 unreserved tickets made available for the final, leading to a more vocal climax than usual.

"It was good that it was on a Monday because three finals I lost on Sunday, so finally I played on Monday," Ivanisevic said. "Unbelievable atmosphere, probably never again because now they have a roof.

"Patrick is a very good friend, a great guy. We both should have won Wimbledon before, him in 2000 in the final, and I was supposed to win a long time ago."

After Ivanisevic beat Carlos Moya in the second round he sensed something special was about to happen.

Did it the hard way

Besides Henman and Rafter, Ivanisevic also topped Andy Roddick, Greg Rusedski and Marat Safin in a difficult draw.

Of his seven victims, only one -- first-round opponent Fredrik Jonsson -- would never feature in the top four in the rankings.

"It was an unsolved mystery how I won, but I felt after the second round that I was going to win," Ivanisevic said. "I could not say it loud because they would think I was completely nuts.

"I felt for the first time after so many months, actually a year, the racket (that I played with had a special sound). I lost the sound for a year and a half and that (first) Monday I got the sound back. I said, 'This is a good sign.'"

The sound had vanished when Ivanisevic began the year by playing in qualifying at the Australian Open. Stuck on a back court after playing in some of the world's grandest stadiums, he tanked -- a tennis term for not trying.

Read: Djokovic conquers Australia

Although unpleasant at the time, it proved to be that year's turning point for Ivanisevic.

"I had a long journey to think about what I was going to do, then I went to play a challenger in Germany," Ivanisevic said. "I played the final. Then I started to play better. I didn't have great results but I started to enjoy it again.

"Wimbledon came and it was actually my time," added Ivanisevic, who can still be seen on the seniors' tour, while he also helps run a tournament in Zagreb and dabbles in commentating.

"It was written somewhere that it was my time. I did everything in my life the harder way. Why do it easy if you can do it the hard way?"

But by doing it the hard way, the larger-than-life Ivanisevic has ensured his achievement at Wimbledon will never be forgotten.

Via: Ivanisevic's epic Wimbledon win an 'unsolved mystery'

Date-Krumm creates Wimbledon history

(CNN) -- A glance at some of the Wimbledon semifinalists in 1989 -- such as Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, John McEnroe and Ivan Lendl -- evokes distant memories of yesteryear but one player from those championships is, remarkably, still playing today: Kimiko Date-Krumm.

To illustrate her longevity another way, the Berlin Wall was still standing when the diminutive Japanese made her Wimbledon debut in June 1989.

Her opponent on the day was another player reminiscent of another era -- Zina Garrison -- with the American beating the then 19-year-old in straight sets in an inauspicious start for the youngster.

Over two decades on, the 42-year-old has become the oldest player to reach the third round at Wimbledon in the Open Era -- beating the mark held by Briton Virginia Wade (39 years, 362 days) when knocking out Romania's Alexandra Cadantu 6-4 7-5 on Thursday.

The last time Date-Krumm contested the third round at Wimbledon was when she reached her one and only semifinal, where she was beaten by Steffi Graf -- some 17 years ago.

Read: Sharapova stunned in second round

Her reward is a showdown with world No. 1 Serena Williams, who cruised past French teenager Caroline Garcia in straight sets in round two (6-3 6-2) and who was a seven-year-old growing up with dreams of tennis stardom when the Japanese made her debut.

"I'm very happy to be in the third round, especially since I love Wimbledon and have many good memories here," Date-Krumm told reporters after her match. "I think it's amazing. At the age of 42, I cannot believe it.

"This year I skipped a lot of the clay court season so I could focus on the grass. And luckily this year I didn't play a seeded player in the first round, because most of the time I did. It's working. I'm very happy."

Known simply as Date prior to her marriage to German motor racing driver Michael Krumm in 2001, the veteran of the women's tour knows her continuation at Wimbledon won't be easy against the five-time champion -- one who has won her last 33 matches.

"She's so strong. It's very, very difficult to beat her," she said. "I played with Venus here two years ago, but of course there's a big difference between Venus and Serena.

"Serena has more power and more speed. She has more confidence. She has more everything. I just need to try my best on the court and we'll see. I hope I can stay on the court more than an hour, an hour and a half."

Williams herself is full of admiration for a player who quit the sport in 1996 -- only to make her comeback in 2008 at the age of 37, a time when most professionals have hung up their rackets.

"I've never played her but I have so much respect for her," the defending champion told reporters after her match.

"I think she's so inspiring to be playing such high level tennis at her age. And she's a real danger on grass courts - I know that - I will have to be ready."

"Kimiko has great hand-eye coordination. Doesn't matter how hard you hit it, she sees the ball and gets it back.

"She has great hands, a wonderful great volley, comes to the net a lot, and she plays really flat too, so the ball stays really low."

Read: Azarenka hits out over Wimbledon's injury crisis

Should Williams beat the second oldest woman to reach the third round of any grand slam in the Open Era since 45-year-old Renee Richards at the 1979 US Open, she will be just one victory away from equalling the longest winning streak in women's singles history -- the 35 straight wins achieved by her sister Venus in 2000.

Venus beat Date-Krumm in a three-set epic at Wimbledon in 2011, prompting Serena to suggest she will talk to her elder sibling for some tips.

"I think I lost four years of my life watching that match," Serena added. "So I will definitely be talking to Venus and figuring out what I can do to do the best that I can."

In other matches on a rain-affected Thursday, fourth seed Agnieszka Radswanka -- last year's beaten finalist -- defeated France's Mathilde Johansson 6-1 6-3 to earn a clash against American Madison Keys for a place in the last 16.

Sixth seed Li Na was another Asian to reach the third round as the Chinese saw off Simona Halep 6-2 1-6 6-0, although the Romanian needed treatment on a back injury.

Also advancing on Thursday were former U.S. Open champion Samantha Stosur and Sabine Lisicki, the big-hitting German who wasn't even born when Date-Krumm first played at Wimbledon.

Via: Date-Krumm creates Wimbledon history

Lisicki repeats Centre Court magic

(CNN) -- Sabine Lisicki survived another emotional roller coaster to claim her place in the women's singles final at Wimbledon with a thrilling three-set victory over fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska Thursday.

The 23rd seed from Germany will play Marion Bartoli of France Saturday, the winners progressing to the title match by vastly contrasting routes.

15th seed Bartoli took little over an hour to end the dream run of Belgian Kirsten Flipkens 6-1 6-2 in the first semifinal.

Lisicki, who caused the upset of all upsets when she dispatched defending champion Serena Williams on Monday, was again taken the full distance by Radwanska before winning 4-6 2-6 9-7 in two hours 18 minutes of compelling action on Centre Court.

Like in her match against No.1 seed Williams, Lisicki trailed by a break in the decider and looked to be heading for the exit door until summoning up a stirring comeback.

"In the third set I was down 3-0 and I thought 'I did it against Serena, I can do it again," she told BBC Sport.

"It was unbelievable, I think the last few games were so exciting. It was a battle and I'm just so happy to have won it," she added.

Radwanska, beaten by Williams in last year's final, appeared to have taken a stranglehold on the match when she recovered from an early break down in the second set to win eight of the next nine games.

But the 23-year-old Lisicki, who has become an instant crowd favorite at SW19, battled back to serve for the match at 5-4, only to be broken again.

Radwanska kept on the pressure to force Lisicki to hold her own service twice to stay in the championship but in the 15th game fell behind again.

Serving for a place in the final for the second time, Lisicki held her nerve and took it on her second match point before falling to the turf in trademark celebration.

Bartoli, who revealed after her victory that she had taken a half hour nap shortly before coming out for one of the most important matches of her career, emerged from her slumbers to dismiss 20th seed Flipkens.

Looking to follow in the footsteps of famous compatriots such as Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin, Flipkens looked nervous and tentative from the start and could not repeat the form which had seen her knock out 2011 Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova.

"I was asleep from 12 until 1230, you can ask the physio," Bartoli said. "And I was still razor-sharp right from the start."

She put out Henin in the 2007 semifinals before going on to lose in straight sets to Venus Williams and will be looking to go one better against Lisicki, who is appearing in her first grand slam final.

Via: Lisicki repeats Centre Court magic

Murray stars in great escape

(CNN) -- In a tournament which has produced so many shocks perhaps the only surprise is that it took Andy Murray so long to put his legions of fans through the mill.

As Britain paused, skipped its afternoon tea and instead munched nonchalantly on strawberries and cream, Murray threatened to sour an afternoon which had promised so much.

The stage was set -- gone were the usual suspects. There was no Roger Federer, no Rafael Nadal. This was Murray's moment.

But somebody forgot to tell Fernando Verdasco - the man who had the audacity to threaten the home favorite's apparently seamless stroll to the final.

Two sets down and staring elimination in the face, Murray produced when it mattered.

The World No.2 rallied in heroic fashion to win 4-6 3-6 6-1 6-4 7-5 and seal his place in the semifinal of Wimbledon for the fifth time in his career.

"There's been a lot of matches where I've been behind and managed to turn it round," Murray told the BBC.

"I don't know if it is the most emotional match, but it was an unbelievable atmosphere and great to get through.

"Fernando served unbelievably well especially when he was behind. In the first set he played some really good stuff, in the second set my level dropped and I started rushing a bit.

"i managed to turn it around. I made some poor choices. He's a very, very good player he's been at the top of the game before and he's playing well again.

"I started to play more solid and really took my time when I had the chance."

Tears

Last year, Murray stood on the Centre Court at Wimbledon and captured the hearts of a nation as he cried through a speech just minutes after his final defeat by Federer.

Weeks later, he exorcised that ghost, defeating Federer on the same court to win Olympic gold and give himself the perfect preparation going into the U.S. Open.

Murray's heroic victory over Novak Djokovic in New York ended Britain's 76-year wait for a grand slam champion as he finally equaled the achievements of Fred Perry.

Defeat in the final of the Australian Open deprived him of a second slam, while injury prevented him from competing at Roland Garros.

Not since Perry triumphed in 1936 has the home crowd saluted one of its own -- but Verdasco appeared disinterested by such sentiment.

The Spaniard, currently the ninth best player in his own country, had never made it past the fourth round of Wimbledon before this year.

Ranked 54 in the world, the left-hander was supposed to merely turn up and succumb to the inevitable.

But this Wimbledon tournament has refused to conform with normality -- Nadal, Federer, Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova will tell you that.

Instead, it was Verdasco who took the contest to Murray, swinging with his prodigious forehand which left the Briton chasing hopelessly across court.

The 29-year-old took the opening set 6-4 to leave Murray cursing his luck and silence a partisan crowd.

While the vocal support roared Murray back to the baseline, it was Verdasco who was making all the noise.

Once again he left Murray questioning his game as he hit winner after winner to claim the second set 6-3 and leave his opponent teetering on the edge.

Blinked

But then Verdasco blinked.

From being in control of the contest, Verdasco squandered the initiative and allowed Murray to waltz to the third set 6-1.

Suddenly the impetus was with the home favorite and backed by the majority of the 10,000 crowd and countless others on 'Murray Mound', he roared back into the contest.

Whereas an hour earlier it was Murray looking at the sky, this time it was Verdasco who was left with more questions than answers.

Now it was Murray's turn to dominate, showing that extra level of fitness and rapid cross-court speed as he leveled the match by taking the fourth set 6-4.

Having won 14 of his 20 contests which have gone to five sets, Murray would have been confident of pulling off the great escape.

Verdasco proved a stubborn opponent, holding serve with relative ease to take the match to 5-5 in the decider.

But in the 11th game, Murray finally made the breakthrough, taking a 6-5 lead before serving for the match which he did with aplomb.

Janowicz

Murray will play Poland's Jerzy Janowicz in the last four after the 24th seed saw off fellow Pole Lukasz Kubot.

Janowicz hit 30 aces and 58 winners on the way to becoming his country's first ever male grand slam semifinalist.

"Really I have not many words to say right now," he told the BBC.

"I'm just really happy and it doesn't matter if I'm the first or second from Poland."

Earlier, six-time grand slam winner Djokovic swatted aside Tomas Berdych 7-6 6-4 6-3 to make it through to the semifinal stage.

The Serb star, who defeated Nadal in the 2011 final, will play Argentina' s Juan Martin del Potro in the last four.

Djokovic, who has now reached 13 consecutive Grand slam semifinals, avenged his 2010 defeat by Berdych -- a contest which propelled the Czech into the final on that occasion.

Read: Flipkens back from the brink

The 26-year-old was 3-0 down in the second set but wrestled back control of the match before seeing off his disheartened opponent.

"It was a close match -- it could have gone either way," Djokovic told reporters.

"He was a double-break up in the second set. I don't know how I got out of that, but I was serving and returning well.

"I have a commitment to go far in this tournament. I am playing some of my best tennis on grass even though it's not my preferred surface,"

World No.6 Berdych revealed his disappointment after his performance tailed off following a promising opening set and a half.

He said: "I can play better than I played today. If you give him too much then it's a lot."

Del Potro

Meanwhile, del Potro overcame an injury to his left knee to ease past World No.4 David Ferrer 6-2 6-4 7-6.

The Argentine hit 42 winners and 12 aces after slipping on the Centre Court surface early on during the last eight clash.

Del Potro, who had not reached the semifinal of a grand slam since winning the U.S. Open four years ago, is the second Argentine to reach the last four following David Nalbandian in 2002.

"I was really close," del Potro told reporters after being asked how close he was from retiring.

"I felt a lot of pain at the beginning of the match. It was exactly the same as before.

"It's really, really painful. I twisted my knee once again, but the doctor gave me some magic pills so I could finish the match. I'm so glad to go through."

Ferrer had problems of his own, revealing he was struggling with an ankle injury.

"I wasn't able to warm-up properly but it was fine during the match," he told reporters.

"I don't think his injury affected him. He was more focused and aggressive, served really well and deserved to win."

Via: Murray stars in great escape