James Blake rallies to advance at Shanghai Masters, Robredo, Ferrer, Safin win

October 12th, 2009 SHANGHAI - American James Blake survived 27 aces from Ivo Karlovic Monday to post a 3-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-3 victory into the second round of the Shanghai Masters, where he faces a test against top seed Rafael Nadal. Blake, who parted ways with his coach of nearly two decades recently, needed just under two hours to hold off the biggest server in the game, advancing into his showdown with top seed Nadal as towering Croatian Karlovic double-faulted for the third time on a drizzly afternoon.

October 11th, 2009 SHANGHAI - Argentine culinary creature of habit Juan Del Potro won't bow to local sensitivities as he plays as third seed at the Shanghai Masters, with the new US Open champion insisting he'll stick to his habitual Italian diet while competing in one of the world's great Asian food cities. "I always eat Italian, Italian food," said the South American Sunday after training as the new event got underway with a handful of first-round matches.

October 7th, 2009 SHANGHAI - World number three Andy Murray could spring a Shanghai surprise if he withdraws from next week's tennis Masters after reports that his recent wrist injury is still posing a fitness problem. The Scot had been due to take his decision on flying to China after pulling out of this week's Japan Open with the complaint.

September 30th, 2009 Safin beats Petzschner to advance at Thailand OpenBANGKOK — Marat Safin of Russia defeated fifth-seeded Philipp Petzschner of Germany 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 Tuesday in the opening round of the Thailand Open. Safin avenged a loss to Petzchner in the opening round last year.

September 25th, 2009 Federer pulls out of Japan Open, Shanghai MastersTOKYO — Roger Federer withdrew from the Japan Open and Shanghai ATP Masters 1000 on Friday, citing the need to rest after a physically challenging year. The Japan Tennis Association said the top-ranked Federer was withdrawing from the Oct.

September 25th, 2009 TOKYO - Roger Federer Friday withdrew from next month's run of ATP Asian events in Tokyo and Shanghai, saying he needed to rest after a gruelling season. The Swiss world number one had complained of fatigue after helping his nation last weekend to remain in the Davis Cup World Group with a 3-2 victory over Italy.

August 22nd, 2009 CINCINNATI - India's Mahesh Bhupathi and Mark Knowles of The Bahamas continued their winning run, entering the semi-finals of the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 for the second successive time, with a 7-6(6), 6-3 victory over Frenchmen Michael Llodra and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. The fourth-seeded Indo-Bahamian pair, who last week won their first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title at the Rogers Cup in Montreal, converted two of three break opportunities and saved four of their five break points to close the match in 83 minutes here Friday.

July 25th, 2009 Mathieu beats Cuevas to reach German Open finalHAMBURG — Paul-Henri Mathieu of France has beaten qualifier Pablo Cuevas from Uruguay 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 to advance to the final of the German Open. The 13th-seeded Frenchman will play either Nikolay Davydenko or David Ferrer in Sunday's final of the clay-court tournament.

July 18th, 2009 Monaco beats Robredo to reach Swedish Open finalBASTAD, Sweden — Juan Monaco has routed two-time defending champion Tommy Robredo 6-0, 6-2 to reach the Swedish Open final. Monaco broke the third-seeded Robredo three times in the opening set on Saturday and raced to a quick 5-1 lead in the second after securing two more breaks of the Spaniard's serve.

July 12th, 2009 Croatia beats US in Davis CupPOREC, Croatia — Croatia has eliminated the United States from the Davis Cup after Marin Cilic beat James Blake for an insurmountable 3-1 lead in the quarterfinals. Cilic defeated Blake 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 on Sunday to help Croatia reach its first Davis Cup semifinal since winning the competition in 2005.

July 10th, 2009 Croatia takes 1-0 lead over US in Davis CupPOREC, Croatia — Ivo Karlovic has rallied from two sets down to beat James Blake 6-7 (5), 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (3), 7-5 and give Croatia a 1-0 lead over the United States in their best-of-five Davis Cup quarterfinal series. Karlovic served 47 aces on the indoor clay court on Friday for his first career five-set victory.

July 10th, 2009 Germany ties defending champion Spain 1-1MARBELLA, Spain — Philipp Kohlschreiber beat Tommy Robredo 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 on Friday and Germany tied defending champion Spain 1-1 in their best-of-five Davis Cup quarterfinal matchup. Kohlschreiber converted three of his five break chances to beat Robredo, who failed to convert either of his two chances.

June 30th, 2009 Spain leaves Nadal off Davis Cup lineupMADRID — Top-ranked Rafael Nadal will miss Spain's Davis Cup quarterfinal against Germany next month. Nadal, struggling with tendinitis in his knees that forced him to skip Wimbledon, was left off the Davis Cup team announced Tuesday for the matches in Marbella in southern Spain July 10-12.

June 29th, 2009 Roddick, Blake, Bryans on US Davis Cup teamWHITE PLAINS, N.Y. — James Blake is joining Andy Roddick and the Bryan brothers on the U.S.

June 12th, 2009 Roddick to face Blake in semis at Queen's ClubLONDON — Andy Roddick stayed on track for his fifth title at Queen's Club by defeating Ivo Karlovic 7-6 (4), 7-6 (5) Friday, advancing to the semifinals of the Aegon Championships. In Saturday's semifinals, Roddick will face James Blake, who downed Mikhail Youzhny 7-6 (5), 6-3.