Tennis Update: Europeans Playing Well In Australia
- January 15th, 2009
- Posted by Daniel Challis
Europe continues to show why it’s the number one producer of tennis stars in this year’s warm-up tournaments to the Australian Open.
Players from the Slovak Republic, France and the Czech Republic have all been involved in wins in the Hopman Cup and the Brisbane International…
EUROPEAN WINNERS
Czech Radek Stepanek won the Brisbane International just last Sunday (11.01.09), outsmarting his higher-ranked Spanish opponent Fernando Verdasco in a thrilling three set final.
The upset 3-6 6-3 6-4 victory gave Stepanek, ranked world no.26, his third ATP career title.
The Slovak Republic also joined the winners list when they ousted Russia in a tight struggle in the Hopman Cup final.
Both Dominic Hrbaty and Dominika Cibulkova won their single rubbers respectively against brother and sister combination Marat Safin and Dinara Safina in three sets.
SYDNEY INTERNATIONAL
The men’s quarter finals of the Sydney International began today and will feature six European finalists.
The finalists will include number three seed Jo Wilfred Tsonga, number one seed Novak Djokovic, and Australia’s very own Lleyton Hewitt (unseeded).
Tsonga was one player to come from the Brisbane International and continue his winning streak; where he took out the men’s doubles final in straight sets alongside fellow countryman Marc Gicquel.
Djokovic on the other hand will look to rectify his poor effort at the Brisbane; he was bundled out in front of a disappointed crowd in the first round.
In the women’s competition it will be an all Russian final on Friday after Dinara Safina and Elena Dementieva disposed of their opponents in straight set victories.
The mens final is set for Saturday (17.01.09).
OTHER MATCHES
Other pre-Open tournaments taking place include the Kooyong Classic in Melbourne, which features players such as Switzerland’s Roger Federer and Spain’s Fernando Verdasco who was runner-up in the Brisbane International.
The final of the Hobart International is also on tomorrow and will feature two Czech mates in Iveta Benesova and Petra Kvitova battling it out for the AU$37,000 (US$24,350, dcerates.com, 15.01.09) prize money.
Check for more tennis updates this coming weekend on the winners leading up to the Australian Open starting on the 19.01.09.
Reference:
Brisbane International official website: http://www.brisbaneinternational.com.au/ (15.01.09).
Hopman Cup official website: http://hopmancup.com/?id=1 (15.01.09).
Sydney International official website: http://www.medibankinternational.com.au/ (15.01.09).
Kooyong Classic official website: http://www.aamiclassic.com.au/Home (15.01.09).
Hobart International official website: http://www.hobartinternational.com.au/ (15.01.09).