U.S. Open prize pot to hit $50 million

(CNN) -- He's enjoyed unprecedented success off the court, now Roger Federer has helped pave the way for some major changes at the U.S Open.

As president of the ATP Player Council, the 17-time grand slam champion, from Switzerland, has helped to negotiated a hike in prize money to $50 million by 2017, nearly double the figure in 2012.

The United States Tennis Association (USTA) confirmed the tournament -- the season's final major -- will also rejig its schedule to ensure the men's semifinals are played on Friday with the final reverting to Sunday by 2015.

It marks the culmination of a year's worth of discussions with the game's top players, led by Federer, but also including world No. 1 Novak Djokovic.

Read: Nadal urges tighter drugs control

"The [USTA] approached our concerns with a true spirit of partnership, and as president of the ATP Player Council I am personally grateful for their support," five-time U.S. Open winner Roger Federer said in a statement on the tournament's official website.

"The U.S. Open is very special, and we all look forward to great competition at Flushing Meadows later this year, and in the years yet to come."

Under the terms of the five-year deal with the men's ATP Tour and the women's WTA Tour, the tournament will now have a 2013 prize purse of $33.6 million -- a record $8.1 million increase from 2012.

Grass roots tennis will also see a boost in funding and Flushing Meadows in New York, which hosts the competition, will also be revamped, with a new Louis Armstrong Stadium and Grandstand.

"We welcome the commitment the USTA has made concerning player prize money at the U.S. Open through 2017," said Brad Drewett, ATP executive chairman and president.

"These increases are the largest in the history of the sport, representing a significant step forward in truly recognizing the input the players have in the success of the U.S. Open.

"We also welcome the decision from the USTA to adopt a schedule with the men's semifinals completed by Friday and the final on Sunday, from 2015 onwards."

The USTA announced in December 2012 it was moving the women's final back to Sunday and the men's final to Monday to allow the players more rest time.

Poor weather in recent years has seen the men's final take place on a Monday for the past five years, with some players having to play their semifinal and final on consecutive days.

But though the schedule will remain in place for the next two installments, by 2015 the U.S. Open will come into the line with the other majors and become a 14-day tournament.

"We applaud the USTA's long-term commitment to increased and fair compensation for our athletes," said Stacey Allaster, WTA chairman and CEO.

"For 40 years the USTA has been a leader for equality and for women's tennis, and today's announcement is a testament to their continued bold vision for the sport."

Recently, the game's top male players, like Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, called for more stringent drug testing, prompting the International Tennis Federation to announce they were introducing biological profiling into the sport.

"The USTA has a long-term vision in place to ensure that tennis continues to thrive in the United States," said David Haggerty, USTA chairman and president.

"This vision encompasses every level of the sport, from energizing existing fans, to attracting new players, to ensuring the U.S. Open remains one of the world's most prestigious sporting events.

"With this unprecedented commitment to long-term prize money and recognition of the value that players bring to the sport, we will gain stability for the sport so that we can focus our energy on growing the game and ensuring tennis' vitality in the U.S. for years to come."

Via: U.S. Open prize pot to hit $50 million

Nadal battles back for Indian Wells triumph

(CNN) -- Look out Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal is back -- and the numbers stacking up suggest he's better than ever.

After a seven-month injury layoff between July and February, the Spaniard has now won three titles since returning to the court following Sunday's 4-6 6-3 6-4 defeat of Juan Martin del Potro in the final of the Indian Wells Masters.

It was the 11-time grand slam winner's 600th ATP Tour win -- Federer is the only other active player to have reached that figure -- and it helped Nadal notch up a record 22nd Masters 1000 title.

The former world No. 1's triumph over Argentine Del Potro at the hard-court event also took him to 17 wins and one defeat for 2013 -- his best ever start to a season.

Read: Sharapova storms to title

"A lot of things happened in the last seven months, (so) to be back here and to have this very heavy trophy with me is amazing," the 26-year-old told the ATP Tour's official website after his third win at the event.

"Beating three top 10 players and winning a title like this is just something unbelievable for me. I'm very, very happy and very emotional."

However after playing 18 matches in six weeks, the new world No. 4 has pulled out of next weekend's Miami Masters, though he plans to return for April's Monte Carlo Masters, where he will bid for a ninth successive triumph at the clay court event -- the Mallorcan's favorite surface.

Read: Bromance of tennis' "marathon men"

"When you have one comeback like I'm having, you remember all the low things, lower moments that you had during those seven months," added Nadal.

"Hopefully I passed and can just remember all the people that really helped me a lot during all this time."

Del Potro had beaten third seed Murray and world No.1 Djokovic to reach the final, but conceded he couldn't match Nadal.

"I think Rafa deserved to win," said del Potro, who has lost eight of his 11 matches with Nadal. "The last hour of the match, he played so solid and put me so far (from) the baseline and made winners.

"But I think I (had) a good tournament anyway, and Rafa played really well today in the second and third sets. He broke me early in the third. Playing against him when the score is down is tougher. I was fighting all the time but he won in the end."

Via: Nadal battles back for Indian Wells triumph

How do you solve a problem like Maria?

(CNN) -- "How do you solve a problem like Maria?"

That was the question Caroline Wozniacki was left asking Sunday after being handed a brutal beating in the final at Indian Wells.

Maria Sharapova's pace and power ensured a 6-2 6-2 victory in a one-sided final and left Wozniacki with the unenviable record of never having beaten a top-three player in a final.

Read: Sharapova through to final

The four-time grand slam champion, currently ranked third in the world, will now become the new World No.2 when the revised standings are unveiled on Monday.

"What makes it so special is when you end up as the champion, that's why I am smiling," Sharapova said courtside after extending her run of at least one WTA title each year since 2003.

"I really appreciate these moments. This is what I do all the work for. When you have days like this ... it's a really nice feeling because everything has paid off."

The Russian, who boasted a 4-2 record over Wozniacki heading into the contest, needed just 81 minutes to claim her first title since the 2012 French Open.

Sharapova, 25, started at breathtaking speed, pummeling her opponent with a degree of power which gave Wozniacki little chance.

After breaking the World No.10 in the first game of the match, Sharapova rarely let up, claiming the first set 6-2 after unleashing a series of impressive winners.

Sharapova then broke Wozniacki in the first game of the second set and then again once more before serving out for the match at 5-2.

"I think it was a tough match, a tough battle, and there were a lot of games that went to deuce and a lot of long games," Sharapova told reporters.

"I always felt like I was always a foot ahead, especially with the breaks. I was able to serve well today, and that helped me."

Wozniacki, who has 20 WTA titles to her name, is now hoping to bounce back in Miami next week.

"She was putting pressure on me from the start," Wozniacki told reporters.

"She was serving very well. I felt like everything that she wanted to do today was going in. She was making very few errors, and if she did, then it was really at the times where it didn't really matter.

"I have to say she just played too well today."

Rafael Nadal will play Juan Martin del Potro in the men's final Sunday.

Via: How do you solve a problem like Maria?

Wozniacki seeks Sharapova 'check mate'

(CNN) -- It will be former world No. 1 against former world No. 1 when Maria Sharapova lines up against Caroline Wozniacki in the women's final at Indian Wells on Sunday -- a tale of two careers that have headed in opposite directions.

While Sharapova completed her recovery from longterm injury problems by completing her collection of grand slam titles at last year's French Open, Wozniacki is still waiting for her first major crown as she battles to remain among the game's top 10.

Sharapova returned to second in the rankings following Friday's 6-4 6-3 semifinal victory over fellow Russian Maria Kirilenko, as another former No. 1 -- defending champion Victoria Azarenka -- slipped down after pulling out of her quarterfinal clash with Wozniacki due to an ankle injury.

The Dane, meanwhile, battled into her third final in four years at the Californian hard-court tournament as she came from behind to overcome German fourth seed Angelique Kerber 2-6 6-4 7-5.

Read: Federer refuses to blame injury

"Maria is a great competitor and fights for every point," Wozniacki said of her next opponent, who she thrashed in the 2011 semis on the way to winning the title.

"She plays very aggressively and tries to take every ball on the rise and plays very flat -- it's going to be very tough."

Sharapova, who won the desert event in 2006 and was runnerup last year, has a 4-2 advantage over the world No. 10 and won both their encounters after that Indian Wells defeat.

"Caroline is dangerous when she has the opportunities to open up the court and runs you side to side," said the 25-year-old, who will be seeking her 28th WTA title while Wozniacki aims for a 21st.

The 22-year-old will try to stifle Sharapova's power game on a surface that suits her patient baseline approach.

"I really enjoy this tournament -- I think it shows," Wozniacki said. "I think the court suits me very well. I like that it goes fast through the air but it's a pretty slow court.

"It's a game of chess out there -- if you play it here, you expect it here. 'Wait, is it short? Okay, go in and attack. Is it deep? You need to play deep back because you don't want her to attack.'

"It's a game of finding out where is the toughest for the opponent to get to the ball."

In the men's tournament, Rafael Nadal will continue his comeback in the first of Saturday's semifinals when he takes on sixth-seeded Czech Tomas Berdych.

The winner of that match will play either world No. 1 Novak Djokovic or Juan Martin del Potro, who eliminated third-ranked Andy Murray on Friday.

Del Potro beat Djokovic in the bronze medal match at the London 2012 Olympics but has since lost four times to Serbia's Australian Open champion, who is unbeaten this year following his 6-3 6-1 win over French eighth seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

"I need to play better," the Argentine said of his prospects against Djokovic, who has now won 22 matches since losing in the second round at the Paris Masters in late October.

Murray could have reached second in the rankings above defending champion Roger Federer -- who lost to Nadal -- if he had made it to the final.

"I had some chances in the second set, didn't manage to get them. I could've served better and returned better -- two pretty important parts of the game," the Scot said after his error-strewn 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 6-1 defeat.

Via: Wozniacki seeks Sharapova 'check mate'

Federer refuses to blame back injury

(CNN) -- Roger Federer refused to blame an ongoing back problem after being dumped out at Indian Wells by long-term rival Rafael Nadal.

Federer, who could now drop to World No.3 should Andy Murray reach the final, was beaten 6-4 6-2 by the Spaniard.

The 31-year-old looked to be playing through the pain barrier during his last-16 win over compatriot Stanislas Wawrinka just 24 hours earlier.

But the 17-time grand slam winner did not use his back complaint as an excuse for his performance as his quest for a record fifth triumph at Indian Wells fell flat.

Federer, Nadal to renew rivalry

"[It was the] same as against Stan. I mean, I could play," Federer told reporters.

"I'm happy to be out there and able to compete. But it's obviously a small issue."

Instead, Nadal avenged last year's semifinal defeat by the Swiss and took his record to 19-10 in matches against Federer.

But the manner of victory was not lost on Nadal, who was quick to acknowledge the limitations of his opponent.

"I played a fantastic first set, in my opinion. The second set was strange," said Nadal.

"The second set, I think Roger didn't fight as usual. He probably had some problems and he didn't feel comfortable enough to keep fighting.

"Both of us tried to play our best. I played much better than yesterday.

"My movements today were much, much better than yesterday, so I'm very happy for that, especially after a long match yesterday, to be able to compete well the next day."

Federer: Good to have Rafa back

This was the earliest the pair had met in a regular tournament since 2004, when Nadal won their first meeting in the third round of the Sony Open Tennis in Miami.

The 26-year-old will now face Tomas Berdych in his eighth consecutive semifinal at Indian Wells.

The women's quarterfinals were blighted by injury after defending champion Victoria Azarenka and seventh seed Sam Stosur both pulled out with injury.

Djokovic, Azarenka extend unbeaten runs

Azarenka, ranked two in the world, was forced to withdraw with tendinitis and inflammation in her right foot and ankle.

"That's frustrating for me as a player, not knowing," Azarenka told reporters after revealing she is unsure of her recovery time.

"Sometimes you think, OK, well, I rest three days and I'm going to be fine with it. But when you don't know the healing process it's a little bit frustrating."

Stosur's calf injury gifted Germany's fourth seed Angelique Kerber a place in the last four where she will now play Caroline Wozniacki.

In the other semifinal, 2006 winner Maria Sharapova will face fellow Russian Maria Kirilenko.

It is the first time Kirlenko has made the final four at Indian Wells following wins over Agnieszka Radwanska and former Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova.

Via: Federer refuses to blame back injury

Federer, Nadal to renew rivalry at Indian Wells

(CNN) -- One of sport's greatest rivalries will be reignited Thursday when Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal go head-to-head in the quarterfinals of the Indian Wells Masters.

Seventeen-time grand slam champion Federer and Nadal, a winner of 11 majors, haven't played each other since the semifinals of the 2012 edition of the Miami event, when Federer emerged with a straight-sets win.

Switzerland's Federer booked his place in the last eight with a 6-3 6-7(7-4) 7-5 victory over compatriot and former doubles partner Stanislaw Wawrinka, while Spain's Nadal came from behind to beat Latvian Ernests Gulbis 4-6 6-4 7-5.

World No. 5 Nadal has the edge over second seed Federer, leading the head-to-head record with 18 wins to Ferderer's 10. Nadal has also emerged victorious from six of the eight grand slam finals the pair have contested.

Read: Federer -- "Good to have Rafa back"

For former world No.1 Nadal, the win over Gulbis represented another step forward in his comeback from a knee injury which sidelined him for seven months.

"To win matches in days like today are more important that ever for me, and I'm very happy about what I did on court," the 26-year-old told the ATP World Tour's official website. "I'm happy about the attitude. With all the problems, I was able to keep being focused and keep winning."

Defending champion Federer is bidding for a record fifth Indian Wells triumph.

"Today it was extremely close again," said the 31-year-old. "OK, I should [have] maybe closed it out in the second set, but he did well to stay in it.

"At the end, I don't know what [got] me through. Maybe it's the experience or maybe [I was] a bit more calm in those moments. I'm not sure. Today I think I was a little lucky to come through it in the end."

Read: Tennis' unlikely bromance

Top seed Novak Djokovic extended his unbeaten start to 2013, stretching his winning streak to 16 by defeating American Sam Querrey 6-0 7-6 (8-6) in a match which finished at 1:51 am local time.

Despite the defeat, Querrey is certain to usurp John Isner as the U.S.'s top-ranked male tennis player.

Next up for six-time grand slam champion Djokovic is France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who came from one set down to beat Canadian Milos Raonic.

Third seed Andy Murray, who lost to Djokovic in January's Australian Open final, battled past Argentina's Carlos Berlocq. Britain's Murray twice trailed by a break of serve in the opening set but recovered to record a 7-6 (7-4) 6-4 win.

Murray's quarterfinal opponent will be Berlocq's compatriot Juan Martin del Potro after the 2009 U.S. Open winner breezed past veteran German Tommy Haas 6-1 6-2.

In the women's draw, second seed Maria Sharapova beat No. 6 Sara Errani in a repeat of the 2012 French Open. It was Sharapova's third successive win over Errani, having also got the better of the Italian at the season-ending WTA Tour Championships.

"I didn't play my best tennis throughout the whole match. Sara had many opportunities to win the first set," Russia's Sharapova told the Tour's official website after her 7-6 (8-6) 6-2 quarterfinal success.

"But I stayed strong and tough. Although I wasn't playing at the highest level, I tried to be as consistent as possible and hang in there. Once I got the first set, I got in a better rhythm, which helped me and gave me more confidence."

Sharapova's semifinal opponent will be countrywoman Maria Kirilenko, after the 13th seed upset in-form world No. 8 Petra Kvitova with a 4-6 6-4 6-3 win.

Via: Federer, Nadal to renew rivalry at Indian Wells

Djokovic, Azarenka extend unbeaten runs

(CNN) -- Novak Djokovic and Victoria Azarenka continued their dominance of men's and women's tennis by registering straight-sets wins at the Indian Wells Masters in California.

The respective Australian Open champions are unbeaten in 2013, with second-ranked Azarenka on a 17-match winning streak while world No. 1 Djokovic is 15-0 for the year.

Djokovic overcame a first-set battle to beat Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov 7-6 (7-4) 6-1 in the third round. Next up for the 25-year-old top seed is soon-to-be U.S. No. 1 Sam Querrey.

"He started off well today (Tuesday), but then I think he gave me the break with four double faults," Serbia's six-time grand slam champion told the ATP World Tour's website.

"I haven't done much really in the match in the second set when I made two breaks. It was all of his unforced errors, so I just needed to hang in there and try to be patient.

"I just tried to stay positive and calm and hang in there and wait for the chances. So that's, I guess, the biggest positive I can take out of today's performance."

Read: What would you ask Boris Becker?

Querrey will usurp world No. 15 John Isner as the top American male tennis player after a 7-6 (7-5) 6-7 (7-9) 7-5 defeat of Australian 23rd seed Marinko Matosevic earned him a last-16 place.

"It means a lot. It's a great feeling," said Querrey, the last player to beat Djokovic in an ATP event, in Paris in November.

"I feel like I have worked hard to earn it. Everyone seems like they've got their shot with Andy (Roddick) and Mardy (Fish) and James (Blake) and John, and so I feel like it's my turn now."

Third seed Andy Murray saved five break points on his way to a 6-3 6-2 victory over Taiwan's Yen-Hsun Lu, avenging his defeat to the world No. 79 at the Beijing 2008 Olympics.

Murray, the 2012 U.S. Open champion, will play Carlos Berlocq in the fourth round after the Argentine upset 16th seed Kei Nishikori.

Read: Bromance of tennis' 'marathon men'

Berlocq's compatriot Juan Martin del Potro beat unseeded Bjorn Phau 6-2 7-5 to set up a meeting with the German's veteran compatriot Tommy Haas.

In the women's draw, top seed Azarenka will play former world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki in the quarterfinals after overcoming an ankle injury to beat Poland's Urszula Radwanska 6-3 6-1.

"It was pretty obvious I wasn't feeling that well -- my ankle was bothering me, it's been bothering me for a while, and it hasn't really been getting better," defending champion Azarenka told the WTA Tour's official website.

"But on the bright side, I won the match today. I overcame those things and -- I don't know how -- managed to just take my opportunities and really go for my shots and make it happen, and not just wait for her mistakes."

Wozniacki dug deep to get the better of Russian 10th seed Nadia Petrova, eventually emerging with a 7-6 (7-3) 6-3 success.

"Victoria has improved in a few ways that have helped her a lot," said the Dane. "I think I'm playing well. She's obviously playing well. I'm looking forward to playing her again. We'll see what happens; I definitely need to bring my A-game."

Second seed Maria Sharapova, beaten by Azarenka in last year's final, will play 2012 French Open runner-up Sara Errani in the quarterfinals.

Sharapova reached the last eight for a third successive year by beating Lara Arruabarrena-Vecino of Spain 7-5 6-0.

"I just didn't get a good rhythm on her game from the beginning," the Russian said. "But I thought towards the end of the first and beginning of the second set I really stepped it up, was being more aggressive, and really gave myself a better margin than I did throughout the first set."

Italy's Errani won her eighth straight match, beating French ninth seed Marion Bartoli 6-3 6-2.

Fifth seed Petra Kvitova reached the quarterfinals of the event for the first time in her career with a win over fellow Czech Klara Zakopalova. The 2011 Wimbledon champion set up a tie with Russia's Maria Kirilenko, who shocked Poland's world No. 4 Agnieszka Radwanska with a 6-1 4-6 7-5 triumph.

The remaining quarterfinal pits Australian seventh seed Samantha Stosur against sixth-ranked German Angelique Kerber.

Stosur came from behind to defeat another German, 24th seed Mona Barthel, while Kerber -- seeded fourth in the absence of world No. 1 Serena Williams and No. 5 Li Na -- beat Spanish qualifier Garbine Muguruza 6-4 7-5.

Via: Djokovic, Azarenka extend unbeaten runs