World No. 1 superstar Roger Federer, Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic and former top-ranked American Andy Roddick led the charge into the quarterfinals at the $3.5 million Italian Masters, a clay-court French Open tune-up.
For the second time in two days, Dinara Safina knocked off a top-10 superstar, as the Russian ousted previously red-hot American Serena Williams on Friday to reach the semifinals at the $1.34 million German Open, a clay-court French Open tuneup.
Roger Federer lost again, falling to 27th-ranked Radek Stepanek 7-6 (4), 7-6 (7) Friday in the Rome Masters quarterfinals.
Rejecting pleas from its players and coach, the Spanish tennis federation chose Madrid's bullring Friday as the venue for the Davis Cup semifinal series against the United States.
World No. 1 superstar Roger Federer suffered a quarterfinal setback Friday at the hands of gritty Czech Radek Stepanek at the $3.5 million Italian Masters. Meanwhile, Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic and former top-ranked star Andy Roddick avoided upsets in order to reach Saturday's semifinals at this clay-court French Open tuneup.
SPOTLIGHT | ON TENNIS
Maria Sharapova is miffed at the WTA tour for trying to force her to do a pre-tournament photo shoot in Rome early next week, and she lashed out on her website. She was asked to do a promotional shoot Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday of next week to promote the Rome Open, and she's in no mood to say, ``Cheese.''
Three-time champion Justine Henin, reigning titlist Ana Ivanovic and 2007 runner-up Svetlana Kuznetsova were among Wednesday's second-round winners at the $1.34 million German Open, a clay-court French Open tune-up.
With the 2008 French Open set to get underway in less than three weeks, the clay-court master that is Rafael Nadal is still in the process of tuning up to claim a fourth straight title at the Parisian Slam.
Berlin, Germany (Sports Network) - Surging American Serena Williams posted a third-round win, while top-ranked star Justine Henin went by way of the upset Thursday at the $1.34 million German Open, a clay-court French Open tuneup. Also, second-seeded and defending champion Ana Ivanovic snuck into the quarterfinals here on Day 4.
For only the second time in his last 105 matches on clay, Rafael Nadal came up a loser Wednesday at the $3.5 million Italian Masters, a French Open tune-up.
Rafael Nadal lost for only the second time in his last 105 matches on clay, falling to Juan Carlos Ferrero 7-5, 6-1 Wednesday in the second round of the Rome Masters.
Several seeds, including Hungarian Agnes Szavay and Russian Nadia Petrova, won first-round matches Monday at the $1.34 million German Open, a clay-court French Open tune-up.
Ninth-seeded Frenchman Richard Gasquet and former world No. 1 Russian Marat Safin went by the way of first-round upsets Monday at the $3.5 million Italian Masters, a clay-court French Open tune-up.
Gisela Dulko edged top-seeded Anabel Medina Garrigues of Spain to win the $145,000 Moroccan Grand Prix tennis event on Sunday.
Second-seeded Fernando Gonzalez of Chile outlasted Simone Bolelli to win the clay-court BMW Open on Sunday.
Clay court specialist Rafael Nadal defeated countryman David Ferrer to win the $1.29 million Open Sabadell Atlantico tennis event for the fourth straight time.
Top-seeded Russian Vera Zvonareva cruised to a straight-set victory Saturday and advanced to the $145,000 Prague Open.
Top-seeded Russian Vera Zvonareva dispatched of third-seeded Belarusian Victoria Azarenka to win the $145,000 Prague Open on Sunday.
Top seeds Paul-Henri Mathieu and Fernando Gonzalez were a pair of quarterfinal winners Friday at the clay-court BMW Open.
Top seeds Anabel Medina Garrigues and Gisela Dulko both won on Saturday to advance to Sunday's final of the $145,000 Moroccan Grand Prix tennis event.
