Grand Slam Wimbledon Prize will be $1.8 million for singles winner

WIMBLEDON, England - The singles champions at Wimbledon this year will each receive $1.8 million.

The All England Club chief executive Ian Ritchie announced Tuesday the total prize fund for the 125th championships will increase to $23.8 million.

“Leading international sports events, such as Wimbledon, are all about the quality of the players on show,” All England Club chairman Philip Brook said. “It is important that we offer prize money which suitably rewards the players both for the box office appeal they bring to the event and for their supreme performances on court.”

Last year, prize money for the singles champions was $1.54 million.

Ritchie said tournament organizers had not heard from Serena Williams on whether she intends to defend her singles title. Williams hasn’t played competitively since winning the tournament last year because of complications following two foot surgeries.

Ritchie said the All England Club has been asking the British government to relax tax rules to make the tournament more attractive to competitors.

Athletes visiting Britain for team sports such as soccer are not taxed on earnings and endorsements for their time in the country, but individuals are.

Ritchie said the All England Club had also spoken with Formula One chief Bernie Ecclestone, who is also making a presentation to the government for the change.

“If Lionel Messi comes here for a Champions League final, he does not get taxed, but Roger Federer does,” Ritchie said. “We don’t believe it is an impediment to Wimbledon in terms of people coming here. But it is on their radar screen, let’s put it that way.

“It’s the same with golf. There are certain international golfers who don’t come and play here, as I understand it, for that reason.”

The 2011 tournament will also feature a new 2,000-seat No. 3 court featuring the same Hawk-Eye technology used on the other show courts.

With a new No. 4 court also open for the first time, the total number of courts will be back up to the traditional 19 following several years of redevelopment.

Ground capacity will increase this year from 37,500 spectators to 38,500.

The All England Club will host the tennis competition at the 2012 London Olympics, but Ritchie said spectators expecting the tradition and pomp of the Wimbledon tournament may be disappointed.

“It will look and feel different to the championships,” Ritchie said. “And that is entirely right and proper.”


My Comment : "Instant millionair"

The King of Clay Court (Nadal) wins The Monte Carlo Masters for the 7th time



Nadal and Ferrer (image by AP)



MONACO, April 17 - Rafael Nadal continued his extraordinary love affair with the Monte Carlo Masters by sealing his seventh straight title on the Monaco clay after a 6-4 7-5 win over fellow Spaniard David Ferrer on Sunday.

The top seed, whose victory here last year made him the first man in the professional era to triumph in the same tournament six times in a row, showed few signs of letting his grip on the trophy loosen despite a generally scrappy display.

“King of Clay” Nadal first broke in the third game when his compatriot netted but Ferrer struck back immediately with his own break of serve thanks to an exquisite drop shot in the final of the first claycourt event of the European season.

However, Ferrer’s joy was short-lived with Nadal breaking next game and winning the first set before seizing the initiative in the second with a superb passing shot only to be broken in the eighth game and then hitting back for 6-5.

He leapt into the air with delight when Ferrer hit the net to seal his victory in one of the world’s most glamorous spots.

“It’s perhaps the best tournament in the world,” Nadal beamed after picking up a trophy he virtually owns.

“I congratulate David on his good start to the year and wish him well. For me today is very special, to win here seven times is much more than a dream. I could never have imagined it.”

My Comment : "Hail to King of Clay Court Rafael Nadal"

Nadal bet Murray to meet Ferrer in Final

Nadal celebrate victory over Murray

Clay king Rafael Nadal shook off a dogged Andy Murray 6-4 2-6 6-1 to set up a Monte Carlo Masters final against fellow Spaniard David Ferrer.

World number one Nadal, who lost to Ferrer in the Australian Open quarter-finals, broke for 3-1 in the first set when shaggy-haired Murray sent a booming shot long but the Briton hit back in the seventh game only to lose the set's final act.

Murray uncertain

Determined third seed Murray refused to lie down and a superb crosscourt backhand gave him the fourth game of the second set after nearly 20 minutes of slugging before breaks of serve were exchanged three times and the Scot took the set.

Nadal though raced to a 4-0 lead in the third as Murray tired and needed treatment on an arm injury before succumbing.

What happen to federer ? (lost in quaterfinal Monte Carlo)

Federer lost in QF Monte Carlo

Roger Federer refused to panic or blame the blustery conditions after Friday's defeat by Juergen Melzer in the Monte Carlo Masters quarter-finals threatened to blow his career further off course.

The Swiss is widely regarded as the greatest player of all time thanks to a male record of 16 grand slam titles but the winds of change are gusting through men's tennis.

His 6-4 6-4 loss to the Austrian was his first by anyone other than world number one Rafael Nadal or world number two Novak Djokovic since his Paris Masters defeat by Gael Monfils in November, but since then he has only won two tournaments.

The world number three was slightly unlucky against Melzer, who turned almost everything he hit into gold, but Federer also uncharacteristically missed several easy shots.

"Things didn't go my way. All those things accumulated to make it hard," Federer told a slightly tetchy news conference.

"(The wind) always has an effect on both players but being down in the score it didn't help. It was hard."

The second seed, who has never won the Monaco tournament on his least favoured clay surface, had looked imperious in his previous two matches but never got going against the seventh seed on the breezy shores of the Mediterranean.

Melzer broke for 3-2 in the first set when Federer netted the first of a number of forehands and the Austrian then immediately saved a break point on his own serve before taking the set and similarly sealing the second.

The Austrian, keen to reject comparisons with compatriot and former claycourt specialist Thomas Muster, was overjoyed but cautioned against writing off 29-year-old Federer just yet.

"You always have to respect Roger," left-handed Melzer said having shrugged off a back problem in the first game to win.

"For him to be three in the world is a downgrade and if you think about that it's stupid. For me he's the greatest player ever. Every time he loses it's tragic."

Melzer has now beaten Federer, Nadal and Djokovic but acknowledged he would boast about beating the Swiss more than the Spaniard when regaling tales to his children.

"It started to be difficult conditions because the wind picked up. I played a really good match with no mistakes," the world number nine added.

"I'm climbing to the top of my game on clay and it's not Roger's favourite surface."

My Comment : Don't give up yet Federer.

Shame on you Andy Murray !!!

Andy Murray (image by AP)

MONACO, April 14 - Andy Murray was booed by the mainly French crowd at the Monte Carlo Masters for using drop shots in his 6-3 6-3 third-round win over France’s injured Gilles Simon on Thursday.

Simon twisted his ankle at the start of the second set and had heavy strapping applied before gingerly carrying on.

Murray showed no mercy and after the first drop had a struggling Simon stranded, the Briton regularly used his favourite shot with the boos for the world number four and cheers for Simon intensifying after each attempt.

“I wasn’t bothered at all. I was doing what I had to,” Murray, who a day ago was saying how the Monte Carlo Country Club was one of the best venues in the world, told reporters.

“Every player on the tour would have done exactly the same thing. I wasn’t doing anything wrong. We’ll see the reaction tomorrow,” he smiled.


Giles Simon (image by AP)

 Simon backed his opponent saying :”You play to win.”

Murray earlier told Sky Sports: “You know you are in the driving seat and you want to put the foot down and finish the match as efficiently as possible. Drop shots were winning me virtually every single point, I had to keep moving him.”

Before Tuesday’s second-round win over Radek Stepanek, third seed Murray had not won a match in almost three months since his Australian Open final defeat by Novak Djokovic.

The 23-year-old, whose public image in the past suffered from occasional teenage strops, could face more grief from the crowd when he plays Frederico Gil in the quarter-finals on Friday after the Portuguese beat another Frenchman Gael Monfils.

“I don’t know a lot about him (Gil) but I watched his game,” Murray added. “He did well in Estoril and can play well on clay, he’s proved that by getting to the quarters here this week. I’ll have to be on my game tomorrow.”

Asked if he could win the tournament featuring world number one Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer, Murray added: “Yeah, why not?”

My Comment : I understand, "do whatever it takes to win"

Nadal and Federer cruise to Quater final in Monte Carlo Masters

Rafael Nadal (image by AP)

MONACO, April 14 : Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer continued on a collision course towards the Monte Carlo Masters final after easily winning their third round matches in contrasting conditions on Thursday.

Nadal braved unusually chilly temperatures on the sun-kissed Cote d’Azur to seal a quarter-final spot against Ivan Ljubicic with a straightforward 6-2 6-4 victory over Richard Gasquet.

While the crowd huddled for warmth deciding whether to cheer six-times champion Nadal or local favourite Gasquet, the Spaniard had already broken the Frenchman in the first game as his sheer power on clay again overawed an opponent.

The top seed, bidding to be the first man to win the same tournament seven times in a row as he warms up for next month’s French Open, almost lost the next game but held serve thanks to a stunning backhand down the line and hardly looked back.

“I think I played better than yesterday. In general I think it was a very positive victory against a very difficult opponent,” Nadal told reporters.

“I feel when I’m playing well with the forehand, it’s a very important shot for me. So I can have the control of the point most of the time with the forehand. That’s my style always, no?”

Gasquet broke for 4-4 in the second set to reveal a chink in Nadal’s armour, offering pretenders to his crown a glimmer of hope that the Spaniard is beatable on his favourite surface.

Second seed Federer staked his claim with a 6-4 6-3 victory over Croatia’s Marin Cilic after the sun had broken through.

SUPERB WINNERS


Federer (image by AP)

  The Swiss barely got out of first gear but unleashed some superb winners and next meets Austrian Juergen Melzer on Friday.

“I’m mixing it up well (with the serve). Today was another solid performance which I was happy about,” Federer said.



Murray (image by AP)


World number four Andy Murray outwitted France’s Gilles Simon 6-3 6-3 to build on his opening victory over Radek Stepanek—his first win in two and a half months.

Simon had lengthy treatment after turning an ankle but then went on to break the Briton in the first game of the second set only for Murray to storm back using drop shots which the booing crowd felt were unfair given the Frenchman’s injury.


My Comment : Clash of the TITANS

Andy Murray moves on in Monte Carlo



Murray (image from AP)

 Andy Murray ended his three-month losing streak with a 6-1 6-4 victory over Radek Stepanek in the second round of the Monte Carlo Masters.

The Scot booked a third round match against France's Gilles Simon with a much-improved performance on Centre Court, storming past the Czech Stepanek with a variety of sensational shots.

Defending champion Rafael Nadal dazzled Finland's Jarkko Nieminen with a florescent yellow shirt and his all-round game in a comfortable 6-2 6-2 win.

The world number one, bidding for a record seventh straight title by the turquoise sea in Monaco, broke straight away and the Finn received ironic cheers from the packed crowd when he finally won a point but Nadal was still not quite at his best.

Spain's Nadal, playing his first match of the year on his favoured surface after receiving a first-round bye, will meet France's Richard Gasquet in round three on Thursday after the 13th seed beat Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 6-2 6-1.

Fourth seed David Ferrer trounced Feliciano Lopez 6-2 6-0 but sixth seed Fernando Verdasco surprisingly lost 6-4 6-3 to Tommy Robredo in another all-Spanish tie.

Gael Monfils, Gilles Simon, Frederico Gil and Viktor Troicki went through.

Roger Federer won on Tuesday to set up a meeting with Marin Cilic but world number two Novak Djokovic has skipped the first men's claycourt tournament of the year in Europe with a knee problem.


P/S : What's wrong with Andy Murray's hair ?

Djokovic beat Federer and Nadal to win ATP BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.

INDIAN WELLS, California : Novak Djokovic beat top-ranked Rafael Nadal 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 to win the BNP Paribas Open title on Sunday, keeping the Serbian undefeated this year. Djokovic improved to 18-0, including victories at the Australian Open and in Dubai last month.

He will move into the No. 2 spot when the ATP Tour rankings are released Monday, having bumped Roger Federer down to third after he lost to Djokovic in the semifinals. Nadal will remain No. 1 with a 14-3 record. After Nadal’s forehand hit the net on match point, Djokovic threw his head back and let out a prolonged yell while pumping both arms.

Djokovic became just the third player to beat Nadal and Federer in the same tournament twice, having last done it at Montreal in 2007. That year, Djokovic lost to Nadal in the final here, then won in 2008. Nadal had beaten Djokovic in all five of their previous finals meetings, and he broke him twice to win the first set.

Djokovic broke to lead 5-3 in the second set, then survived a five-deuce game on his serve to take the set, winning when Nadal’s backhand went wide.

Article by Beth Harris

My Comment : Novak Djokovic was truely awesome. I think he would become the next number 1 before the end of 2011, hey ! it's about time he deserve it. This could be Djokovic year indeed.

Beginners : Returned Serve in Double

Returning serve in doubles is a complicated animal. Not only do you have to get the ball in play, but you have to direct it to a spot that will neutralize your opponents and hopefully make your partner at net a factor.

That’s why it’s a more pressurized situation than returning serve in singles and is a key to your success as a team. Here are some things to consider that will increase your chances of making an impact on your opponents’ service games.

BEGINNER OBJECTIVE 1
Get into the point. The most important thing on the return is to keep it simple. Try to make solid contact and put the ball in play. One of the biggest booby traps for beginners is the tendency to worry too much about the opposing net player. This causes your concentration to waver and makes a successful return more difficult.

Pick a big target area crosscourt that gives you plenty of mar-gin for error, and don’t con-cern yourself with whether the net player poaches. If he does, so be it. Hit a good re-turn and he’ll have trouble with the volley anyway. Once you can get the ball back crosscourt consistently, you can start to get a little more creative. Hit down the line to keep the net player honest or toss up a few lob returns for a change of pace. Much of this will revolve around the movement and activity level of the opposing net player. If he’s stationary, you can focus on getting the ball back to the server.

BEGINNER OBJECTIVE 2
Put your net player in the right position. In a perfect doubles world, the returning team’s net play-er would look to cut off as many balls as possible. But with less-skilled players the role is a less intrusive one, as you should focus primarily on protecting your side of the court and preparing for any potential volleys. It’s impor-tant to make sure you give your partner the best chance to return.

If that means mov-ing back to the baseline so there’s less pressure on him to keep the ball away from the net man, then do it. If you’re going to be up at net, stand on the service line halfway between the singles sideline and the center line. That puts you in a good position to cover your side of the court. It also allows you to move forward if your partner hits a strong return or retreat to the baseline if it’s a weak one.

Article by Paul Annacone

My Comment : very informative

Murray dump Soderling straight sets in first round match

Andy Murray made a solid start to the ATP World Tour Finals in London as he thumped Robin Solderling 6-2 6-4 in his opening match at the imposing O2 Arena. Murray, the world number five, came into the match a spot below Soderling in the world rankings after the Swedish player's success in winning the Paris Masters last week, but he made a mockery of those standings in the opening set.

Soderling could not live with Murray's court coverage, movement, pace of shot or, indeed, the consistency of his serving as the opening set turned into what could be described as a 'tennis clinic' on how a Tour professional should play the game. "I think tactically it was a great match.

I think I played very smart tennis today," commented Murray, who completed his win in one hour and 20 minutes. "Obviously it was getting tough in the second set with a lot of long rallies, but I stuck to my tactics well and managed to come through.

" He broke to move 2-1 ahead with a lovely backhand winner down the line before letting out a huge yell of "c'mon".

(Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Federer beat Ferrer straight sets in Barcleys ATP World Tour Opener

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 21: Roger Federer of Switzerland (R) and David Ferrer of Spain pose for press on court after their men's singles first round match during the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals at O2 Arena on November 21, 2010 in London, England. Federer won 6-1,6-4 against David Ferrer.

(Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Federer calls to shorten tennis calender

Roger Federer has backed calls to shorten the tennis calendar to protect players from burnout by creating a six week off-season. World number one Rafael Nadal, who has also said the season is too long, and top French player Jo-Wilfried Tsonga are among the high-profile absentees due to injury at the Paris Masters this week.

"I think it's time we shifted back a bit and we get a proper off-season really," Federer, who has never got further than the quarter-finals, told reporters. The ATP is to finalise its proposed calendars for the 2012 and 2013 seasons at a series of board meetings in London during the World Tour Finals in November.

The governing body has said it was looking at a "meaningful way" to reduce a punishing schedule. "Four weeks is just not enough off-season really," Federer said. "Six weeks I think is much better as already you can take two weeks off...practise three, four weeks which is a lot for us in our world."

Several top players are behind the appeal for a tour overhaul including world number three Novak Djokovic, who sits with Nadal on the Players' Council. Federer, who meets Frenchman Richard Gasquet in the second round on Wednesday, said it was in the "best interests" of tournaments which are often hit with a series of withdrawals towards the end of the tennis calendar year.

World number nine Fernando Verdasco attributed his recent poor form to the heavy schedule. The Spaniard, who came through a tough three-setter against veteran Frenchman Arnaud Clement on Tuesday, had only won one match since the U.S. Open in September.

"Yes, maybe I am a little tired," the sixth seed said. "The year is very long and for me personally it's been an extremely long three years. "In 2008, there was the Davis Cup final ... I had just three days holiday and last year we were again in the Davis Cup final."

Becker said Andy Murray need to be Mature

Boris Becker has said that one of the reasons Andy Murray has not won a Grand Slam yet is down to his close relationship with his mother. Judy Murray, a tennis coach herself, is regularly seen with Murray at events, and Becker believes it shows a lack of maturity on the Scot's part.

"In many ways, Murray seems younger than 23," Becker is quoted as saying in the Mirror. "Like how close he still is to his mother, Judy. He has also been pretty much with the same girlfriend for the past three or four years. "That is something you don't usually do when you're 23, it's what you do when you're 19 or 20.

Maybe he is maturing a bit slower and that shows on the court. "On a tennis court, you are by yourself. You cannot ask anybody on important points what to do. "You have to be convinced yourself what is the right thing to do. That is called maturity.

I find he still hasn't matured enough to be able to make the right decisions in a Grand Slam." Becker won Wimbledon when he was just 17 but the German legend said there is still plenty of time for Murray to win one of the big prizes in tennis. "I think he is awfully close and one of these days he will break through," said Becker.

"He is like Arsenal because they look pretty and play good but haven't won trophies and their fans get impatient. But stick with the tactics and Wenger and Murray will do it!"

Nadal will be back in London for ATP World Tour Final

PARIS (AP)—Top-ranked Rafael Nadal said Monday the shoulder injury that forced him out of the Paris Masters won’t prevent him from playing at the ATP World Tour finals later this month. Nadal told a news conference he has a small case of tendinitis in his left shoulder and that he withdrew from the final Masters tournament of the season to avoid risking a serious injury before the London event and next year’s Australian Open.

Nadal said he will need one week of full training to be ready for the ATP Finals, which run from Nov. 21-28. “I’m fine. I went to the doctor and he told me the injury could worsen if I was playing,” Nadal said. “This is the end of the season and all those matches took a toll on my shoulder.”

After winning the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open this season, Nadal is guaranteed to finish the year at No. 1. He has played in 33 of the past 35 Masters 1000 tournaments. “It’s disappointing not to be able to play here,” said Nadal, who reached the finals in Paris three years ago.

“It’s the last Masters 1000 of the year and for sure one of my favorites in the world. It was not an easy decision but I played all others Masters 1000 and all Grand Slams this season.” The Spaniard added he is determined to “play well in London on the most difficult surface for me, where it will be difficult for me to win.”

Nadal was eliminated in the round robin phase at last year’s ATP Finals after losing his three matches without winning a single set. “I will have a special motivation, and I’m going to give everything I can to play well here,” Nadal said. “I want to improve the image of last year. I’ll try to win.”

“Playing less is almost impossible if you want to stay on top,” Nadal said. “After that, I think you can change a few things, but not many. It worked well for me in 2010 and I will more or less try to stick to the same program next year.”

By SAMUEL PETREQUIN, AP Sports Writer

Federer demolish Stepanek to meet Roddick in ATP Basel semifinal

BASEL, Switzerland - Roger Federer will face Andy Roddick for the first time since their epic 2009 Wimbledon final after both advanced to the semifinals of the Swiss Indoors.
 
The top-seeded Swiss and No. 4 Roddick set up the rematch by sweeping through their quarterfinals in straight sets on Friday. Federer eased past Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic 6-3, 6-2 in an hour and the American rode his big serve in a 6-4, 6-4 victory against Argentina’s David Nalbandian.
 
More than 16 months after a classic, 4-hour, 16-minute encounter ended with Federer taking the fifth set 16-14, Roddick pretended to have forgotten all about it. “What final?” he deadpanned to reporters, before acknowledging he relished the fresh challenge.
 
“I always look forward to playing (Roger),” said Roddick, who hit 11 aces in his win. “You want to play the best if you are an athlete and a competitor. You want to get out there and give it a go.” Federer said his 19-2 career record against Roddick was not a fair reflection of their rivalry.
 
“He is much better than the head-to-head record shows. We’ve had a lot of close matches,” Federer said.

Rafael Nadal got himself injured again

PARIS - Top-ranked Rafael Nadal withdrew from the Paris Masters on Friday because of a shoulder injury that will keep him sidelined for at least a week. Nadal said in an e-mail sent out by his management team that he was suffering from “a small case of tendinitis in my left shoulder which came about through forcing my serve too much during training this week.”

“I am very sorry not to be able to play the Paris-Bercy tournament this year,” Nadal said. The Spaniard said the injury wasn’t serious, but he had been advised by doctors that he needed six or seven days rest with intensive rehabilitation treatment.

Nadal is scheduled to play in the season-ending ATP World Tour Finals in London from Nov. 21-28. The ATP tour said Nadal would still make an appearance at the Paris tournament and would discuss his injury further at a news conference Sunday or Monday.

“It’s always a blow for a tournament to lose Nadal,” event director Jean-Francois Caujolle said. “We still have nine of the 10 best players in the world and I don’t think the tournament has been hampered by his withdrawal, even though it would have been better to have him.”

Nadal recently said he was feeling some fatigue from a successful season in which he won the French Open, Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. Nadal has not played since a third-round defeat to Jurgen Melzer at the Shanghai Masters on Oct 14.

With Nadal’s withdrawal, Roger Federer has been given the No. 1 seed and will start against the winner between Nicolas Mahut and Richard Gasquet.

Defending Champion Djokovic beat Nieminen in ATP Basel

BASEL, SWITZERLAND - NOVEMBER 04: Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates at match point after defeating Jarkko Nieminen of Finland (6-4, 7-6) in straight sets during Day Four of the Davidoff Swiss Indoors Tennis in Basel, Switzerland. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Elena Dementieva announcing her retirement

Olympic champion Elena Dementieva, who stunned the tennis world by announcing her retirement last week, said starting a family was one of the main reasons for her decision to quit the sport. "It is true that I expect changes in my private life in the near future," the Russian, who ended her playing career at the season-ending WTA Championships in Doha, was quoted as saying by local media on Wednesday.

"I don't want to give all the details because these are very private, intimate things," the 29-year-old said. "But I have to admit I've made a decision to quit mainly because I want to start a family, have kids."

The Muscovite has always been reluctant to discuss her private life but it has been widely reported that she is engaged to Russian ice hockey player Maxim Afinogenov. Dementieva also ruled out the possibility of one day making a comeback like Belgium's Kim Clijsters, who returned to the game in 2009 after more than two years off to start a family and in her third tournament back won the US Open.

"It was a very difficult and emotional but if I decided to quit that was it. I'm not coming back," Dementieva said

Federer to Quaterfinal and Roddick past first round in ATP Basel 2010

BASEL, Switzerland (AP)—Andy Roddick defeated fellow American Sam Querrey 7-5, 7-6 (6) while Roger Federer cruised into the quarterfinals at the Swiss Indoors on Wednesday. The fourth-seeded Roddick had 16 aces and dropped just six first-service points against the 22nd-ranked Querrey, who served 13 aces.

Roddick faces Andrey Golubev in the second round. Roddick has returned to Basel after seven years in hopes of claiming one of the last three berths in the eight-man ATP World Tour Finals in London this month. Roddick was eighth in the standings coming into the tournament.

Federer, the No. 1 seed, eased past Serbia’s Janko Tipsarevic, requiring a single break in each set to complete a 6-3, 6-4 win in St. Jakobshalle. Federer served even more efficiently than Roddick, conceding seven points in nine service games. He sealed the first set with an ace and clinched the match with a service winner.

Ninety minutes after leaving the court, Federer was seated alongside his parents at the soccer game as his Wimbledon conqueror Tomas Berdych was eliminated. The No. 3 seed slumped to a 6-4, 6-1 loss to 72nd-ranked Tobias Kamke, who made the main draw as lucky loser in qualifying.

Novak Djokovic to defend tittle in Davidoff Swiss Indoor

BASEL, Switzerland (AP)—Novak Djokovic made light work of his opening match at the Swiss Indoors with a 6-4, 6-2 win over big-hitting Ernests Gulbis on Tuesday.

Last year, Djokovic beat Roger Federer to win the title in his Basel debut, and made it six wins in six matches at the tournament on Tuesday. Djokovic will face Daniel Brands or Jarkko Nieminen in the second round, while three-time champion Federer will meet Janko Tipsarevic after the Serb beat Denis Istomin 6-2, 6-4.

Also Tuesday, Richard Gasquet beat Lu Yen-hsun 6-3, 6-1, Santiago Giraldo defeated Karol Beck 6-2, 6-1, and Viktor Troicki beat Michael Berrer 6-3, 6-0.