|

Sport

Haas continues fine run at ATP event

Friday, August 03, 2012



WASHINGTON, USA (AFP) — Tommy Haas continued the run of form which has taken him from outside the top 200 to world No 36 as he beat Argentina's Leonardo Mayer, 6-4, 7-5, yesterday at the ATP/WTA event in Washington.

The 34-year-old German fourth seed is playing some of the best tennis of his career after finally regaining full potential following a hip operation last year.

He is playing for keeps this week in the US capital as he tries to bury the disappointment of missing the London Olympics after the German federation refused to nominate him for wild card tournament consideration.

Haas lined up a quarter-final clash with compatriot Tobias Kamke, who earned a revenge win over Marinko Matosevic, 6-4, 6-3. The Australian had beaten Kamke last week in Los Angeles.

Haas, who defeated Roger Federer to win at Halle in June, improved his 2012 record to 21-9 as he bids for a 14th career trophy.

He advanced over Mayer in just over 90 minutes, hammering eight aces including two in the 11th game of the second set.

The veteran, who came to Washington for the first time 15 years ago, then broke a game later to clinch the win.

"It was a good win, a very hard-fought match," said Haas. "He has a big serve and there was a lot of guessing on my part out there.

"We had tough, humid conditions and of course it's hot. But that's the beauty of tennis, you have to deal with it all.

"Playing Tobias in an all-German match will be good. I'm looking forward to it."

Kamke advanced into the last eight on his third match point against Matosevic.

Second seed Alexandr Dolgopolov continued his winning tournament debut week, beating Spain's Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo, 6-1, 6-3.

Crowd-pleaser James Blake, champion a decade ago in his prime, beat Swiss qualifier Marco Chiudinelli, 6-2, 6-4, to earn his first quarter-final since Stockholm last November.

The world number 116 winner is finally fit after a knee operation in 2011. He won his third match of the season, now lining up against Dolgopolov.

In WTA women's play in the newly combined event, Russian top seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova advanced over Melinda Czink 6-2, 2-6, 6-3.

American seeds Vania King and Coco Vandeweghe will clash after world number four King beat French qualifier Aravane Rezai, 6-2, 6-2, while Vandeweghe, a Stanford finalist against Serena Williams, defeated Irina Falconi, 6-2, 7-6 (7/5).

"The weather was not as hot for the match today, but I'm very glad to go through. I'm playing well so far," Vandeweghe said.

Junior Wimbledon winner Eugenie Bouchard of Canada upset eighth seed Olga Govortsova of Belarus, 1-6, 6-0, 6-3, returning to the scene of her first main draw win a year ago.

Slovakia's Jana Cepelova beat Edina Gallovits-Hall of Romania, 6-3, 6-4, while Magdalena Rybarikova defeated Greek Eleni Daniilidou, 6-3, 7-5.



Sadly, we've been down this road before

 

Juniors end Trials with world-leading performances

 

Murray crowned king of Queen's Club

 

Best of St Bess!

 

Reward for St Elizabeth cricket

 

North Gully shock Little Miami to book final spot

 

Ricketts saves Portland Timbers

 

Smith to lead Windies A in T20s against Sri Lanka A

 

Federer cops first title of the year

 

Five advance to African World Cup play-offs

 

Shabazz to approach US Embassy for travel clearance

 

England book Champions Trophy semi-final spot

 

Late Balotelli strike propels Italy to win over Mexico

 

Holmwood, C'bar, Jago medal at Toronto Games

 

Neymar inspires Brazil to 3-0 rout of Japan

 

Don't jump the gun!

 

Not our Veronica — VCB's dad say positive drug test hard to believe

 

O'Hara's world youth leading 100m run

 

Campbell Brown drug issue overblown?

 

Webb shoots for coaching education within Caribbean

 

Today's Cartoon