Gulbis beats Haider-Maurer at Kitzbuehel

Posted on 10 months ago

KITZBUEHEL (Agencies): Ernests Gulbis of Latvia saved a match point before beating Andreas Haider-Maurer of Austria 2-6, 7-5, 6-1 Tuesday in the first round of the Bet-at-Home Cup.
The seventh-seeded Gulbis was 5-2 down in the second set before winning 11 of the next 12 games. He hit an ace to hold off the Austrian's match point at 5-4.
Jan Hajek of the Czech Republic pulled out because of dizziness while trailing Rogerio Dutra Silva of Brazil 4-1 in the opening set.
Philipp Oswald of Austria won his first match on the ATP tour after rallying to beat Daniel Brands of Germany 4-6, 6-2, 6-3. Oswald next plays defending champion Robin Haase.
Pavol Cervenak of Slovakia double-faulted 12 times but still defeated Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo of Spain 4-6, 7-6 (1), 6-3.
Williams sisters target Wimbledon double
LONDON: Venus and Serena Williams have opted for the comfort of a Wimbledon hotel over the athletes' village and might miss the opening ceremony but the tennis siblings were still able to soak up some of the London Olympic experience on Tuesday.
Soon after arriving in the English capital, the Williams sisters and their United States team mates got a taste of Olympic traffic gridlock, delaying their pre-Games news conference.
Everyone then had a good chuckle at the expense of doubles partners and brothers Bob and Mike Bryan, who were denied entry into the Olympic media centre for not having validated credentials.
Serena, still basking in the glow of her fifth Wimbledon singles title, quickly made it clear, however, that she was not back in London for a few laughs, but for medals. If the 14-times Grand Slam winner can claim the women's gold she would become the only player to win all four slams, plus singles and doubles gold.
"It's exciting to be back so soon, usually we have to wait 12 months to walk back on to centre court," Serena, who will set up camp with her sister and the rest of the U.S. tennis team at a hotel near Wimbledon, told the news conference.
Watson wins singles spot after Bondarenko pullout
LONDON: Britain's Heather Watson won a place in the main draw of the Olympic women's singles on Tuesday after Ukraine's Alona Bondarenko withdrew due to a right knee injury. Bondarenko has not played since October 2011 because of the injury. Former US Open junior champion Watson was the first reserve in singles following her rise up the world rankings to 67 after reaching the third round at Wimbledon -- also the venue for all the Olympic tennis tournaments -- where she lost to runner-up Agnieska Radwanksa of Poland. Watson is the third British woman in the London Olympics singles event, alongside Anne Keothavong, Elena Baltacha and is also playing in the doubles with Laura Robson.

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