DrTagnian

Masters in Hamburg!

Top seed Federer is advancing to the next round. He got rid of Lapentti in 2 sets, 6-3 ans 6-3.

The Brit Tim Henman doesn't advance ... he's out. Andrei Pavel ( yes, seriously! ) won with 6-2 and 6-2.

Australian Lleyton Hewitt is also through, a 6-4 and 7-5 victory over Haas.

WTA Rome

For those who adore the female tennis ...



#3 Seed Myskina (watch out for that lady on Rolland Garros and Wimbledon ) is already out. Lichovtseva ( damn, what a name ) won with 7-5, 1-6 and 6-3.

Serena (1) is through ... not such a susprise I think.

Mauresmo (2), same story as above.

ForeverInLoveWithJus

I am glad henman is gone. Go Serena!

ForeverInLoveWithJus

French world number three Amelie Mauresmo says the increasing physical demands of women's tennis are causing the alarming injury list that threatens to decimate the French Open.

The Paris clay tournament, which starts on May 24, has already been robbed of Kim Clijsters after she suffered a wrist injury, while Venus Williams and defending champion Justine Henin-Hardenne are both struggling to be fit.

Venus Williams sprained an ankle in Berlin last week - an injury that handed Mauresmo a walkover in the final - while world number one Henin-Hardenne is recovering from a virus.

Six-time Grand Slam winner Serena Williams has recently returned from an eight month break following surgery on her troublesome knee, but doubts still remain about her fitness after she withdrew from her third round match in Charleston last month when the old injury flared up again.

Mauresmo said fierce competiton and the WTA Tour's punishing schedule were taking their toll on the world's best players.

"I think the game is getting tougher and tougher," she told told AFP after beating Natalie Dechy to seal a place in round three of the Rome Masters.

"The level has improved a lot for the last few years. and we are asking a lot of our bodies - to practice and to play in competition.

"We are trying to adjust to the schedule, to have some time off and make sure that we recover well, but sometimes it's not easy."

Mauresmo said she was hopeful the WTA would ease the pressure by rearranging the calendar. The WTA tour ends in November, giving players just seven weeks rest before the Australian Open, without taking warm-up matches into consideration.

"The only thing that (WTA chairman) Larry (Scott) and the WTA are working on is to shorten the season - obviously it finishes a bit late," she said.

"That's what we've been talking a lot about lately, and he's there, actually trying to see how they can arrange that."

DrTagnian

The bigger the chance she'll be able, in her country, to take the title ...

Federer (1) - Moya 6-4, 6-3

The best male tennisplayer at the moment.

Semi-Finals:

Federer - Hewitt

This could be an amazing match, considering Hewitt is playing really well again lately.

Ljubicic - Coria (2)

WTA Rome:

For the fifth time in six years, Amelie Mauresmo is in the Semi-Finals.

S Williams - Capriati
Zvonareva - Mauresmo

Although Henin, Clijsters, V Williams are all not participating, this tournament could get a nice and exciting Final.

ForeverInLoveWithJus

Should set up a good final in the womens game.

DrTagnian

And there goes Hewitt ...

Federer is sending them back home in no time, 6-0 and 6-4. Hewitt: "This man is unstoppable".

Mauresmo defeated Zvonareva, not such a surprise.

ForeverInLoveWithJus

Federer is in some form at present!

DrTagnian

Pssst Emma, Serena Williams lost.

*pumps up the volume*

Yes people, Miss Williams didn't survive the Semi-Final. She was defeated by Jennifer Capriati with 6-4 and 6-4.

MMB

Meer dan een laatste stuiptrekking dus van Jennifer ...

Great win for her.

DrTagnian

Yep and hopefully we'll keep on seeing her in the tenniscircuit for some time. Good to see her being able to compete with the youngsters.