ATP ranking movement
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga entered in the Australian Open tournament unseeded and ranked #38, but the Frenchman’s loss to Novak Djokovic in 27 January 2008 final means he is now #18 ATP ranking. Tsonga said he feels “pretty good” after reaching the final of any tournament for the first time. “Not everybody can beat the players I beat,” he said after knocking off four men in the top 14, including second-ranked Rafael Nadal. “Of course I’m confident now.” – Tsonga said. The top six men remain unchanged, with #1 Roger Federer, who lost in the semifinals to #3 Novac Djokovic, retaining his top-ranking and Nadal at #2. Nikolay Davydeno stays at #4, David Ferrer at #5 and Andy Roddick at #6 ATP ranking. Mikhail Youzhny, who lost in the quarterfinals to Tsonga, jumps from #14 to 8 while James Blake, who lost to Federer in the quarters, moves up from #15 to #9 ATP ranking Andy Murray, knocked out in the first round by Tsonga, drops from #9 to #12, while Fernando Gonzalez, who lost in last year’s final to Federer, falls from #7 to #24 after losing in the third round.
ITF hires police officers
Tennis’s governing bodies hired two former London police officers who investigated corruption in cricket and horse racing to assess the threat of gambling and potential match-fixing in tennis. Jeffrey Rees and Ben Gunn will advise the International Tennis Federation (ITF), the men’s and women’s tours and the four Grand Slam tournaments on setting up a tennis-wide integrity unit, the governing bodies said in a joint statement.Rees established and still runs an anti-corruption unit for the Dubai-based International Cricket Council, while Gunn led a group examining integrity in the British horse racing industry and is a commissioner for the U.K. Gambling Commission. “This independent review by experts in the field will give us a more comprehensive understanding of the issue at hand and allow us to take specific measures to protect our sport now and for the future” Bill Babcock, the ITF’s executive director, said in the statement. Tennis is assessing the threat posed by gambling after suspicious betting on a matnvolving fourth-ranked Nikolay Davydenko in August 2007 sparked an investigation. More than a dozen players said publicly last year that they were approached to throw matches and the men’s ATP Tour suspended three Italian players for betting on matches.In August 2007, betting exchange Betfair nullified all $7 million in wagers on a loss by Davydenko to Martin Vassallo Arguello, who was then ranked 70 places lower. As the match in Poland progressed, more bets were placed on Davydenko to lose, even after he won the first set, Betfair said.The ATP has interviewed Davydenko, who has denied wrongdoing, and reviewed telephone records. No findings have been announced.“Integrity of competition is the essence of all sport” said ATP Executive Chairman Etienne de Villiers. “That is why we remain fully committed to meeting the global challenge posed by gambling face on”
Nadal will go into Chennai open final
Rafael Nadal (21 years) defeat his compatriot Carlos Moya (31 years) in three sets 6-7 7-6 7-6 in the Chennai Open (India) . Moya had 4 chances to win the match. He earned three match points at 6-3 in the second set tie-break, but Nadal saved the first match point with a backhand winner and Moya hit wide returns on the next two. Moya’s next opportunity came at 7-6 following a forehand winner, but Nadal saved the match with a great pass and proceeded to win the tie-break, 10-8.
With Moya serving for the match at 5-4 in the decisive set, Nadal finally succeeded in breaking the veteran on his eighth break point opportunity of the third set. Nadal rolled out to a 5-0 lead in the tie-break and converted on his first of five match points to seal the win in 3 hours and 54 minutes of splendid tennis.
Na Li beat Patty Schnyder to reach the Gold Coast final
Sania Mirza took India to a 2-1 victory over Australia
Sania Mirza inspired
“We are really happy that we are back in the running,” Mirza said. “I think we played really well, especially Rohan in the first set and a half, he was all over the place. I think they were a bit surprised by him.”
World #31 Mirza came out firing on all cylinders, smashing winners on both sides to take the opening set in 30 minutes. Molik picked up her game, especially her serve, in the second set and as Mirza’s concentration dipped, the Australian leveled the match. Mirza then stormed to a 5-1 lead in the decider, only to falter as Molik saved three match points in the seventh game before hitting back to 5-4. But the Indian held her nerve to serve out at the second time of asking for victory.