Andy Roddick survives frighten in Shanghai

Andy Roddick

Roddick survived a second set wobble against qualifier Yen-Hsun Lu to move ahead to the second round of the Shanghai Masters on Monday.

The American, seeded 10th, lost his way midway through an enjoyable clash but recovered to register a 6-2 3-6 6-2 triumph in one hour and 52 minutes.

"He plays so high risk," said Roddick. "You know, In general I thought it was pretty good, save four games perhaps."

Andy Roddick will meet Grigor Dimitrov next after the Bulgarian saw off Turkish qualifier Marsel Ilhan 2-6 6-1 6-4.

Bernard Tomic move on courtesy of a 7-6 (7/5) 6-7 (4/7) 6-3 win against Kevin Anderson and will now meet fifth seed Mardy Fish.

"I'm happy I won against a player like Anderson since he can beat so many world class players on his day," said Australian Tomic.

"I'm happy I won that third set because his serve was too good the entire game. To enter tournaments like this, play main draws, is a way to make your ranking up even faster. It's actually tough to get there. I'm lucky I did it at a young age.

"I've acquire a long way to go, and a lot of things in front of me."

Spaniard Fernando Verdasco was also strong for Chinese wild card Zhe Li, winning 6-2 6-2, Nalbandian beat Ernests Gulbis 7-5 6-4 and former world no.1 Juan Carlos Ferrero edged out Mikhail Youzhny 7-6 (7/4) 6-2.

Maria Kirilenko makes semifinals in Guangzhou

Maria Kirilenko

Top seed Maria eased into the semifinals of the Guangzhou International Open in China with straight-sets win over Tetiana Luzhanska.

The 6-1 7-5 triumph took Kirilenko, the world number 28 from Russia, one step nearer to her sixth WTA title and fourth on Asian soil.

China's Zheng Jie defeated Croatia's Petra Martic in three sets as she fought back to beat the fourth-seed 1-6 6-4 6-3.

South Africa's Chanelle Scheepers also took three sets to defeat Poland's Urszula Radwanska, finally winning 4-6 7-6 (8/6) 6-3 in a tough match.

In the final match, second seeded Australian Jarmila Gajdosova was beaten 6-4 6-3 by Slovakia's Magdalena Rybarikova.

Kirilenko will currently play Scheepers as Zheng will face Rybarikova.

Hard times for Somdev in Davis Cup

Somdev has a heavy workload to shoulder as India take on hosts Japan in their bid to re-enter the elite Davis Cup World Group, beginning Friday.

India had lost 1-4 to top seeded Serbia in the first round to once again face the play offs, while Japan scored a influential 4-1 win over Uzbekistan to give themselves a opportunity to make the 16-nation World Group for the first time since 1985.

Back spasms have forced Paes to miss the flight to Tokyo and in his absence, the doubles rubber on the second day of the tie has now turn into a complicated issue.

Surprisingly, India has decided to field Somdev, or else of Rohan Bopanna, along with Mahesh Bhupathi in the doubles rubber against the home pair of Kei Nishikori and Go Soeda.

It means that 64th ranked Somdev will have to play on all three days, beginning with the opening singles of the tie against 174th ranked Yuichi Sugita on Friday and then the reverse singles against Nishikori on Sunday.

Seemingly, India's non-playing captain S P Misra wants Bopanna, another enormous doubles player, to concentrate on just singles.

Bopanna has done tremendously well in the singles in the Davis Cup and his real challenge will be against world number 55 Nishikori.

Somdev will start as favorite against Sugita and if Bopanna can turn the tables on Nishikori, India's job would turn easy.

Nishikori is coming into the tie following a hip and back injury, which he endured at the US Open.

David Nalbandian crashes out in Washington

Defending champion David Nalbandian dropped out of the Legg Mason Tennis Classic in Washington DC at the first hurdle as he was defeated by James Blake.

David Nalbandian, seeded eighth, never establish his rhythm as he lost 6-2 6-4 in the second-round clash.

The Argentinian was the only seed to lose as number 11 John Isner topped Tobias Kamke 6-1 6-3, 13th seed Kevin Anderson beat up to dispatch qualifier Chris Guccione 3-6 6-2 7-6 (7-0) and number 16 Jarkko Nieminen beat Igor Kunitsyn 7-5 6-4, all in second-round clashes.

David Nalbandian

The balance of the action was in the first round, and was highlighted by a lengthy battle between Grigor Dimitrov and Tim Smyczek, which finally saw Dimitrov come through 4-6 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (7-3).

Ryan Sweeting beat Alex Bogomolov Jr 6-2 6-4, Flavio Cipolla dispatched Marsel Ilhan 7-5 6-0 and Michael Berrer was a 7-5 6-1 winner over Paolo Lorenzi.

Wildcard Ryan Harrison advanced with a 6-4 1-6 6-1 win over Mischa Zverev, Somdev Devvarman beat Denis Gremelmayr 6-2 6-3 and Tommy Haas beat Amer Delic 6-2 6-3.

Russia's Alisa Kleybanova diagnosed with cancer

Alisa Kleybanova

Russian tennis player Kleybanova, who feted her 22nd birthday on Friday, has revealed she has been diagnosed with cancer.

Alisa, the world number 28, is suffering from Hodgkin's Lymphoma.

"It's my birthday today and I want to thank all of you for the wonderful messages. I haven't written anything for a long time about why I haven't been on Tour, so that's why I'm writing this today," she said in a statement.

"It's not an easy time for me right now. I've been a bit unlucky with my health. I have Hodgkin's Lymphoma, a form of cancer.

"I've been having treatment in Italy and it has been going well, but it takes lots of patience and I've had to be really strong to get through this. The good news is after I do treatment for a few more months, if I feel well, there's a chance I'll be able to play tennis again.

"I really miss playing - I miss seeing fans and friends Around the world, I miss hitting the ball, I miss everything. Tennis has been my life for the last 15 years."

The Moscow-based player reached a career high of 20 after the Dubai tournament in February, but illness pulled her out of the French Open and Wimbledon.

The Fed Cup team member is undergoing treatment in the Italian city of Perugia.


"Second, they have a really great hospital here that specializes in this problem; I've been going there since the problem started, so the doctors know me well. It's the best place for me to be - the surroundings help me stay strong.

"This is the toughest time in my life, and I hope it always stays the toughest time in my life. I'm sure I'll be able to overcome this - it's just a matter of patience and time. When this is over, everything will be even better than before.

"I won't be on tour for a little while, but I will see you all again soon."

The WTA praised Kleybanova's courage.

"The thoughts of the WTA and the entire tennis family are with Alisa and her family at this difficult time," said a WTA statement.

"Alisa is a very strong and optimistic person and we wish her a speedy and full recovery."

Fellow players also sent their best wishes to Kleybanova.

"Wishing Alisa Kleybanova all the best as she battles Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Will miss her on Tour, great player and lovely person," tweeted Britain's Laura Robson.

Germany's Julia Goerges also tweeted: "girl I wish u all the best."

Kleybanova has collected two WTA titles at Kuala Lumpur in 2010 and in Seoul in 2008 with her best Grand Slam performances coming at Wimbledon in 2008 and the Australian Open in 2009, where she attained the fourth round on both occasions.

Sania-Vesnina in Indian Wells doubles final

India's Sania Mirza and Elena Vesnina of Russia blasted past Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia and Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland 6-0, 6-4 in the semifinals of the $4.5-million Indian Wells WTA event late on Thursday.

In the title round on Saturday, the Indo-Russian pairing, who are yet to drop a set in the tournament, will play the American combine of Bethanie-Mattek Sands and Meghan Shaugnessy.

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