Murray withdraws from Japan Open.

Andy Murray has withdrawn from the Japan Open in Tokyo, an ATP Tour 500 event, on bases of medical advice, leaving Murray an extra week to rest his left wrist before the Shanghai Masters 1000.

This leaves Japan’s only ATP Tour level tournament with the US Open champion Juan Martin Del Potro as top seed after Roger Federer had withdrawn at the end of last week.

The world number 3’s injury is improving daily, according to a statement on his offical site, and is very close to resuming full-training, with the wrist being assessed again this weekend.

Murray will be hoping that his wrist has recovered in time for Shanghai as on that week he will be defending his winners points from Madrid last year.

Soderling, Monfils and Davydenko reach QFs.

Top seed Nikolay Davydenko cruised into the quarter-finals of the ATP Proton Malaysian Open in Kuala Lumpur with a straight-sets win over Taylor Dent.

The Russian defeated the American wild card 6-3 7-6 (7/4) to claim his place in the last eight.

Davydenko’s compatriot Mikhail Youzhny was an even more comfortable winner, defeating Cypriot wild card Marcos Baghdatis 6-2 6-3.

Robin Soderling, the third seed from Sweden, was also a second-round winner today, thrashing American qualifier Brendan Evans 6-1 6-1.

In first-round action in Kuala Lumpur, German Simon Greul edged Belgian Christophe Rochus 6-4 3-6 6-2 and French duo Richard Gasquet and Gael Monfils advanced in straight sets.

Gasquet powered past Romania’s Victor Crivoi 6-1 6-2 while fifth seed Monfils saw off Uzbekistan’s Denis Istomin 7-6 (7/3) 7-6 (7/2).

JJ has a 2 tough matches to go…..Masha’s is a cakewalk!

Jelena Jankovic remained on course to win a third title in 2009 as she made light work of Russian Elena Vesnina in Tokyo on Wednesday.

Serbian Jankovic, 24, eased into the quarter-finals of the Toray Pan Pacific Open, at the expense of Vesnina who retired injured when trailing 6-1 3-0.

After wins in Marbella and Cincinnati earlier in the year, seventh seed Jankovic finds herself the favourite in the Japanese capital after early exits for the players ranked ahead of her.

The tournament has seen shock early defeats for defending champion Dinara Safina, Venus Williams, Elena Dementieva, Caroline Wozniacki, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Vera Zvonareva.

France’s Marion Bartoli will take on Jankovic in the last eight after recovering from an unconvincing start to beat Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 4-6 6-2 7-5. On the same of the most difficult side of the draw Victoria Azarenka will meet Li Na.

Former world number one Maria Sharapova later won an all-Russian clash with Alisa Kleybanova 2-6 6-2 6-2 to reach the last eight.

Rafa shopping for a yacht in Monte Carlo?

After a couple of days of rest, Rafa Nadal will be back training today in Mallorca for what will be the preparation of the end of the season.

The No.2 tennis player in the world, together with his childhood friends enjoyed a week of relaxation in the Côte d’Azur (located in the French Riviera), before heading to Monte Carlo, which is one of Rafa’s favourite places to visit in the world.

His visit to the famous and prestigious city was a lot more especial than usual because he got to spend time enjoying its life and spectacular scenery instead of concentrating only on his tennis and stressing out about results.

During his stay, he was invited to the Monaco Yacht show by the organizers of the event, where he got the chance to see one of the most beautiful and luxurious yachts in the Principality.

He has recovered from an abdominal injury and made himself available for Spain’s Davis Cup final against the Czech Republic in December.

He said in an e-mail that medical tests he had in Barcelona on Wednesday showed his stomach muscle had healed. He hasn’t played since losing in the U.S. Open semifinals to eventual champion Juan Martin del Potro.

He plans to resume playing at next week’s China Open, before traveling to the Shanghai Masters, the Paris Masters and the ATP World Tour finals in London.

….a weekend with Andy and Sir Elton John!

Here is your chance to score a once in a lifetime weekend at the Andy Roddick Foundation Gala featuring a concert with Sir Elton John in Austin, Texas. This amazing prize includes an all expense trip for two, private tennis lesson with Andy himself, and three night’s hotel stay! Your tax liability is even paid for! Always wanted a chance to meet Andy? Now you can play tennis with him and sit at his table at the Andy Roddick Foundation’s 4th Annual Gala while Sir Elton John performs his legendary songs!

Entry deadline is this Monday, October 5th at 11:00 AM EST so buy your raffle tickets today! Tickets are only 2$ each and a minimum of 5 tickets per person. A winner will be drawn this Monday and it could be you!

To purchase tickets and view all the rules and prizes, visit Celebrities for Charity:
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Sharapova comes from behind to win 2-6, 6-2, 6-2.

Maria Sharapova managed to keep her serve percentage at close to 60% in her match with Alisa Kleybanova, and it was not her service game that was her weakness today. She came from a set down to win 2-6,6-2, 6-2 breaking her opp onent’s serve 3 times in the final set. The hard hitting Kleybanova forced Sharapova to play from behind the baseline in the first set often taking advantage of Maria’s sluggish footwork, but in both the second and third sets Maria seemed to find her range on the forehand side and turned the match in her favour.

Next up in the final eight is Iveta Benesova.

In other 3rd round matches, Jelena Jankovic had an easy win over Elena Vesnina, who retired at 1-6, 0-3. Na Li defeated Kateryna Bondarenko 2-6, 7-5, 6-3 and Marion Bartoli defeated Pavlyuchenkova 4-6, 6-2, 7-5.

Hewitt, Lopez and Ferrer gone in Malaysia Open.

Wild card Joachim Johansson eliminated Lleyton Hewitt 7-6 (7), 6-3 Tuesday in the first round of the Malaysian Open.

Neither managed a break in the first set, but Johansson opened up a 4-1 lead in the second after Hewitt double-faulted on break point.

The Australian struggled to hold serve in the fourth and sixth games. He forced Johansson to save four break points to maintain his advantage.

“I worked very hard to hold that service game,” said Johansson, ranked 446th.

Mikhail Youzhny of Russia also advanced, beating seventh-seeded David Ferrer of Spain 7-6 (3), 6-2.

Ferrer broke his opponent in the second game to take a 2-0 lead but Youzhny won three consecutive games, eventually taking the set to a tiebreaker. The Russian, ranked 52nd, held the serve to take the set.

Youzhny broke serve in the third and eighth games of the second set.

“I have been in Kuala Lumpur a few days, and I think it helps me that I am more used to the conditions,” Youzhny said.

Indian qualifier Rohan Bopanna defeated Jose Acasuso of Argentina 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic got by Igor Kunitsyn of Russia 6-1, 3-6, 6-2.

Also, Martin Vassallo Arguello of Argentina defeated Feliciano Lopez of Spain 6-3, 6-3, and Karol Beck of Slovakia defeated Mikhail Kukushkin of Kazakhstan 1-6, 7-6 (4), 6-3.

Jankovic should have a clear run at the title.

Jelena Jankovic is the highest seeded player remaining in the 2009 Toray Pan Pacific Tournamnet. In an almost empty stadium JJ defeated Sabine Lisicki 6-4, 4-6, 6-2. At times she looked like the Jankovic who finished 2008 as the #1 player in the world, but during the second set she lost her focus but was able to gather herself together and win the deciding set quite easily.

She was moving around the court with her old speed, serving well at over 70% and hitting the ball with authority. If only she could find a clothing sponsor with a sense of style, she would be a pleasure to watch. Next up for Jelena is Elena Vesnina, and if she survives that match she will go on to meet the only other top ten player left in the draw, Victoria Azaranka.

Masha is looking more like a winner everyday!

A very confident Maria Sharapova played her best game since her comeback began and easily defeated Samantha Stosur 6-0, 6-1. After today’s round at the 2009 Toray Pan Pacific in Tokyo the only top ten player to move on was Victoria Azarenka (9), with Jelena Jankovic(8) still to play. It was another day of upsets made more meaningful by the retirement of Caroline Wozniacki.

Kateryna Bondarenko defeated Elena Dementieva 6-2, 6-7, 6-1. Alisa Klebanova took out Vera Zvonareva 3-6, 6-4, 6-2, and Magdalena Rybarikova defeated Nadia Petrova 6-2, 6-2.

The Women’s game is in turmoil without any dominant players. The quality of play has plummeted downwards as the gap between the ‘top’ players and those far lower in the WTA rankings has narrowed or diminished entirely. On the one hand it adds a degree of unpredictable excitement to the matches, but in general tennis fans like to see a quality player that they can follow and relate to. The return of Kim Clijsters was timely, and the posssibility of seeing Justine Henin back in 2010 at the Aussie Open certainly adds a much needed attraction to the game.

Querrey out for 6 weeks after freak accident.

Sam Querrey needed surgery after badly cutting his right arm when he fell through a glass table in Bangkok.

The American world number 25, broke the table when he sat on it following a practice session at the Thailand Open.

The United States Tennis Association (USTA) said he is expected to be out of action for up to six weeks, effectively ending his season.

Californian Querrey, 21, who was seeded third for the ATP Tour event, said on his Twitter feed: “Worst day ever.”

He had enjoyed a good season prior to the accident, winning the Los Angeles Open in August and reaching the ATP Hall of Fame Championship final in Rhode Island in July.