http://www.yardbarker.com/rss/sport/10 Recent Yardbarker articles: Tennis en-us What happens when you’re an attractive Danish woman who reaches the U.S. Open as a relative unknown? If you’re Caroline Wozniacki, you suddenly have paparazzi staking you out in far-flung locations like the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius. The occasion was a girls-only holiday with her teenage friend Angelique Keber and sisters Urszula and Agnieszka, reported by [...] Sun, 08 Nov 2009 18:00:40 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Caroline_Wozniacki_8217s_Bikini_Leads_Paparazzi_Nowhere/1525802 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Caroline_Wozniacki_8217s_Bikini_Leads_Paparazzi_Nowhere/1525802 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Caroline_Wozniacki_8217s_Bikini_Leads_Paparazzi_Nowhere/1525802 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/7/e/7e7ead9d3ac3db562e5e046c312c34ceab3348fb/small/Sony_Ericsson_Championships_45d5.jpg BASEL, Switzerland (AP) -- Top-ranked Roger Federer lost his hometown tournament on Sunday, falling 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 to Novak Djokovic in the Swiss Indoors final. Sun, 08 Nov 2009 13:34:00 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Federer_loses_to_Djokovic_in_Swiss_Indoors_final/1524439 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Federer_loses_to_Djokovic_in_Swiss_Indoors_final/1524439 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Federer_loses_to_Djokovic_in_Swiss_Indoors_final/1524439 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/4/5/4542853ebd0bd9a805e75cf8106789b2111e6ee3/small/Davidoff_Swiss_Indoors_5a4f.jpg Top-ranked Roger Federer has lost his hometown tournament, falling 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 to Novak Djokovic in the Swiss Indoors final. Sun, 08 Nov 2009 12:09:33 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/tennis/article_external/Novak_Djokovic_beats_Roger_Federer_in_Swiss_Indoors_crown/1523926 http://www.yardbarker.com/tennis/article_external/Novak_Djokovic_beats_Roger_Federer_in_Swiss_Indoors_crown/1523926 http://www.yardbarker.com/tennis/article_external/Novak_Djokovic_beats_Roger_Federer_in_Swiss_Indoors_crown/1523926 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/4/5/4542853ebd0bd9a805e75cf8106789b2111e6ee3/small/Davidoff_Swiss_Indoors_5a4f.jpg Novak Djokovic took Roger Federer's hometown title Sunday, winning 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 in the Swiss Indoors final to claim his fourth title of the season. Sun, 08 Nov 2009 11:51:00 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/tennis/article_external/Federer_foiled_by_Djokovic_in_Swiss_Indoor_final/1523851 http://www.yardbarker.com/tennis/article_external/Federer_foiled_by_Djokovic_in_Swiss_Indoor_final/1523851 http://www.yardbarker.com/tennis/article_external/Federer_foiled_by_Djokovic_in_Swiss_Indoor_final/1523851 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/d/8/d8aaa5c8219252318e784ca0b61e39679b841c58/small/Davidoff_Swiss_Indoors_af8d.jpg REGGIO CALABRIA, Italy (AP) -- Italy won its second Fed Cup title in four years on Sunday, completing a shutout of a U.S. team playing without Venus and Serena Williams. Sun, 08 Nov 2009 11:45:13 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Italy_rips_Williams_less_US_team_to_win_Fed_Cup/1523872 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Italy_rips_Williams_less_US_team_to_win_Fed_Cup/1523872 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Italy_rips_Williams_less_US_team_to_win_Fed_Cup/1523872 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/d/2/d221af4e34efa926c5342d43ce93a6059be8ff92/small/Sony_Ericsson_Championships_1d4e.jpg Andy Murray won his sixth title of the season, beating Mikhail Youzhny 6-3, 6-2 in the Valencia Open final. Sun, 08 Nov 2009 11:44:55 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Andy_Murray_tops_Mikhail_Youzhny_in_Valencia_Open_finale/1523779 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Andy_Murray_tops_Mikhail_Youzhny_in_Valencia_Open_finale/1523779 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Andy_Murray_tops_Mikhail_Youzhny_in_Valencia_Open_finale/1523779 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/0/f/0f000edab657857b1e61cd77a45c31c8e4de4bfe/small/GettyImageProxy.ashx_requestUrl_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f90980855.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d77BFBA49EF878921CC759DF4EBAC47D0D9CA41A62A68E3C02DEBF14A68392ED965043110762C77AF.jpg James Blake of the United States beat French veteran Fabrice Santoro 6-4, 6-3 in the first round of the Paris Masters on Sunday. Sun, 08 Nov 2009 11:44:00 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/tennis/article_external/Blake_tops_outbound_Santoro_to_open_Paris_Masters/1523853 http://www.yardbarker.com/tennis/article_external/Blake_tops_outbound_Santoro_to_open_Paris_Masters/1523853 http://www.yardbarker.com/tennis/article_external/Blake_tops_outbound_Santoro_to_open_Paris_Masters/1523853 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/e/4/e4c91c6a8441cca82a1e2bfdff096d2f4ec753bb/small/Davidoff_Swiss_Indoors_43ad.jpg Andy Murray has won his sixth title of the season in his first tournament back from a wrist injury, beating Mikhail Youzhny of Russia 6-3, 6-2 in the Valencia Open final. Sun, 08 Nov 2009 11:42:00 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Murray_routs_Youzhny_in_Valencia_for_sixth_title_of_09/1523852 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Murray_routs_Youzhny_in_Valencia_for_sixth_title_of_09/1523852 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Murray_routs_Youzhny_in_Valencia_for_sixth_title_of_09/1523852 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/9/8/987600b302fb83772f587cff5022f481377f6291/small/Valencia_Open_500_e44f.jpg Andy Murray has won his sixth title of the season in his first tournament back from a wrist injury, beating Mikhail Youzhny of Russia 6-3, 6-2 in the Valencia Open final. The fourth-ranked Briton hadn't played since the U.S. Open in September. Murray broke twice in each set on Sunday and served eight aces to improve to 2-0 against the 23rd-ranked Youzhny. Sun, 08 Nov 2009 11:39:50 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/tennis/article_external/Murray_beats_Youzhny_6_3_6_2_to_win_Valencia_Open/1523845 http://www.yardbarker.com/tennis/article_external/Murray_beats_Youzhny_6_3_6_2_to_win_Valencia_Open/1523845 http://www.yardbarker.com/tennis/article_external/Murray_beats_Youzhny_6_3_6_2_to_win_Valencia_Open/1523845 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/6/a/6a2d970c41745aba3c4ad457d1cacf716677e5b5/small/Valencia_Open_500_eb23.jpg James Blake of the United States has beaten Fabrice Santoro of France 6-4, 6-3 in the first round of the Paris Masters. Sun, 08 Nov 2009 11:30:58 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/James_Blake_beats_Fabrice_Santoro_in_opener_at_Paris_Masters/1523735 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/James_Blake_beats_Fabrice_Santoro_in_opener_at_Paris_Masters/1523735 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/James_Blake_beats_Fabrice_Santoro_in_opener_at_Paris_Masters/1523735 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/6/7/67e449231ec15afd816a55b75a086bb83b08935d/small/James_Blake_of_863d.jpg PARIS (AP) -James Blake of the United States beat French veteran Fabrice Santoro 6-4, 6-3 in the first round of the Paris Masters on Sunday. Sun, 08 Nov 2009 10:12:16 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/tennis/article_external/Blake_beats_Santoro_in_Paris_Masters_1st_round/1523697 http://www.yardbarker.com/tennis/article_external/Blake_beats_Santoro_in_Paris_Masters_1st_round/1523697 http://www.yardbarker.com/tennis/article_external/Blake_beats_Santoro_in_Paris_Masters_1st_round/1523697 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/1/1/11960b4158662a5ee422b1172ccf1d487b43c278/small/Davidoff_Swiss_Indoors_0278.jpg Aravane Rezai has won the Commonwealth Bank Tournament of Champions after top-seeded Marion Bartoli retired from the final with a thigh injury after losing the first set 7-5. Sun, 08 Nov 2009 08:37:00 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/tennis/article_external/Bartoli_bails_injured_Rezai_takes_home_Indonesia_title/1523342 http://www.yardbarker.com/tennis/article_external/Bartoli_bails_injured_Rezai_takes_home_Indonesia_title/1523342 http://www.yardbarker.com/tennis/article_external/Bartoli_bails_injured_Rezai_takes_home_Indonesia_title/1523342 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/9/b/9b4f370f11f7dcb8fadcd82a2d6bc8058695ef2e/small/The_Championships_69fc.jpg Mikhail Youzhny has defeated Nikolay Davydenko 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 to reach the Valencia Open final. Youzhny will face either top-seeded Andy Murray or Fernando Verdasco of Spain, who played their semifinal later Saturday. The 23rd-ranked Youzhny took advantage of several unforced errors by his fellow Russian to win the second set, then broke Davydenko's first two service games in the third. Youzhny reached his fifth final of the season when Davydenko netted on match point. Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:06:36 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/tennis/article_external/Murray_to_face_Youzhny_in_Valencia_Open_final/1520443 http://www.yardbarker.com/tennis/article_external/Murray_to_face_Youzhny_in_Valencia_Open_final/1520443 http://www.yardbarker.com/tennis/article_external/Murray_to_face_Youzhny_in_Valencia_Open_final/1520443 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/4/d/4dd04d2a0c90a87ef692a6960f86ce8303b16e6e/small/Valencia_Open_500_1061.jpg What's that old saying? Once is a mistake, twice is a coincidence, three times is a trend? If that's the case, then Yanina Wickmayer's one-year suspesnsion for thrice failing to report her whereabouts to drug testing officials is a fair and legitimate penalty.From the Associated Press:Wickmayer said last month she has had trouble with her password in the computerized system overseen by the World Anti-Doping Agency. She also said registered mail at her home could not be signed off... Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:26:20 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/After_Wickmayer_suspension_is_it_safe_to_say_tennis_is_still_clean/1520009 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/After_Wickmayer_suspension_is_it_safe_to_say_tennis_is_still_clean/1520009 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/After_Wickmayer_suspension_is_it_safe_to_say_tennis_is_still_clean/1520009 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/d/a/dacf29fc1c10235d8ec33fb2eb61de6227948a9d/small/US_Open_Day_6afc.jpg Mikhail Youzhny has defeated Nikolay Davydenko 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 to reach the Valencia Open final. Youzhny will face either top-seeded Andy Murray or Fernando Verdasco of Spain, who played their semifinal later Saturday. The 23rd-ranked Youzhny took advantage of several unforced errors by his fellow Russian to win the second set, then broke Davydenko's first two service games in the third. Youzhny reached his fifth final of the season when Davydenko netted on match point. Sat, 07 Nov 2009 15:26:04 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/tennis/article_external/Youzhny_beats_Davydenko_to_reach_Valencia_final/1519836 http://www.yardbarker.com/tennis/article_external/Youzhny_beats_Davydenko_to_reach_Valencia_final/1519836 http://www.yardbarker.com/tennis/article_external/Youzhny_beats_Davydenko_to_reach_Valencia_final/1519836 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/7/f/7fabd4cadc3f20d6a78b25e6a559bc59ad8baa2e/small/Rakuten_Open_2009_17d2.jpg Roger Federer will take on Novak Djokovic in the final of the Swiss Indoors as he tries for a fourth straight title in his hometown tournament. Djokovic saved three match points before rallying to beat Radek Stepanek 6-7 (4), 7-5, 6-2 in their semifinal Saturday. Federer then beat childhood friend and fellow Basel-native Marco Chiudinelli 7-6 (7), 6-3 in the other. Sat, 07 Nov 2009 13:58:15 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/tennis/article_external/Federer_to_face_Djokovic_for_Swiss_Indoors_title/1519414 http://www.yardbarker.com/tennis/article_external/Federer_to_face_Djokovic_for_Swiss_Indoors_title/1519414 http://www.yardbarker.com/tennis/article_external/Federer_to_face_Djokovic_for_Swiss_Indoors_title/1519414 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/4/f/4f85fa5a3fb411276ecfd0c3e31f49af3f538422/small/US_Open_Championship_067c.jpg Novak Djokovic saved three match points before rallying to beat Radek Stepanek 6-7 (4), 7-5, 6-2 on Saturday in the Swiss Indoors semifinals. The third-ranked Djokovic trailed 5-4 in the second set and was 0-40 down before reeling off five straight points to win the game. He then broke the 14th-ranked Stepanek's serve for the first time before dominating the decider. Djokovic's ATP Tour-leading 70th win this year carried him into his ninth final, also best on tour. Sat, 07 Nov 2009 11:45:59 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/tennis/article_external/Djokovic_beats_Stepanek_in_Swiss_Indoors_semis/1518849 http://www.yardbarker.com/tennis/article_external/Djokovic_beats_Stepanek_in_Swiss_Indoors_semis/1518849 http://www.yardbarker.com/tennis/article_external/Djokovic_beats_Stepanek_in_Swiss_Indoors_semis/1518849 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/1/7/1712805e5b3f94bbd1ef6f2e01b7268daf67e4bc/small/2009_Shanghai_ATP_6ae4.jpg Flavia Pennetta posted a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Alexa Glatch to give Italy a 1-0 lead over the United States in the Fed Cup final on Saturday. The 11th-ranked Pennetta used her consistent baseline game to wear down the 132nd-ranked Glatch, breaking early in the first set to set the tone, then cruising in the second set. Francesa Schiavone of Italy faced U.S. Open quarterfinalist Melanie Oudin in the second singles on the outdoor clay court at the Rocco Polimeni club. Sat, 07 Nov 2009 10:53:14 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/tennis/article_external/Italy_takes_dominating_lead_in_Fed_Cup_final/1518745 http://www.yardbarker.com/tennis/article_external/Italy_takes_dominating_lead_in_Fed_Cup_final/1518745 http://www.yardbarker.com/tennis/article_external/Italy_takes_dominating_lead_in_Fed_Cup_final/1518745 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/3/8/38939cb7ae7d111d9cebcf4e45c382005cbb754c/small/Toray_Pan_Pacific_35c1.jpg Flavia Pennetta posted a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Alexa Glatch to give Italy a 1-0 lead over the United States in the Fed Cup final on Saturday. The 11th-ranked Pennetta used her consistent baseline game to wear down the 132nd-ranked Glatch, breaking early in the first set to set the tone, then cruising in the second set. Francesa Schiavone of Italy faced U.S. Open quarterfinalist Melanie Oudin in the second singles on the outdoor clay court at the Rocco Polimeni club. Sat, 07 Nov 2009 07:25:38 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Pennetta_gives_Italy_1_0_lead_in_Fed_Cup_final/1518162 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Pennetta_gives_Italy_1_0_lead_in_Fed_Cup_final/1518162 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Pennetta_gives_Italy_1_0_lead_in_Fed_Cup_final/1518162 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/3/8/38939cb7ae7d111d9cebcf4e45c382005cbb754c/small/Toray_Pan_Pacific_35c1.jpg Top-seeded Andy Murray reached the semifinals of the Valencia Open on Friday, beating Albert Montanes 6-4, 6-2, while fifth-seeded Gilles Simon crashed out, losing 6-4, 6-4 to Mikhail Youzhny. Murray looked comfortable throughout his 73-minute match and broke Montanes of Spain in the first game. Murray broke again in the ninth to help clinch the set before racing to a 4-0 lead in the second and securing a semifinal spot. Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:27:17 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/tennis/article_external/Murray_Davydenko_win_in_Valencia_Simon_out/1515707 http://www.yardbarker.com/tennis/article_external/Murray_Davydenko_win_in_Valencia_Simon_out/1515707 http://www.yardbarker.com/tennis/article_external/Murray_Davydenko_win_in_Valencia_Simon_out/1515707 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/c/5/c583de7784329bbce60afa85ae0cb7a5cfc1975c/small/Great_Britain_v_1054.jpg Novak Djokovic reached the semifinals of the Swiss Indoors on Friday with a 3-6, 7-6 (5), 6-2 victory over Stanislas Wawrinka. The second-seeded Djokovic trailed by a set and a service break before rallying against the sixth-seeded Swiss. The 22-year-old Serb had to work hard for this win, a day after breezing past Jan Hernych 6-0, 6-0 - his first double bagel in an elite tournament. Djokovic will play fifth-seeded Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic on Saturday. Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:04:41 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Federer_Djokovic_make_Swiss_Indoor_semifinals/1515632 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Federer_Djokovic_make_Swiss_Indoor_semifinals/1515632 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Federer_Djokovic_make_Swiss_Indoor_semifinals/1515632 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/e/2/e28cbba1957e985472f1be91432825c4f9f2e8ff/small/GettyImage.ashx_url_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f91934267.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d77BFBA49EF878921CC759DF4EBAC47D0893318411503F2A8DA636F85F774B3E6EAADCCF946F0A6FA.jpg Top-seeded Andy Murray reached the semifinals of the Valencia Open on Friday, beating Albert Montanes 6-4, 6-2, while fifth-seeded Gilles Simon crashed out, losing 6-4, 6-4 to Mikhail Youzhny. Murray looked comfortable throughout his 73-minute match and broke Montanes of Spain in the first game. Murray broke again in the ninth to help clinch the set before racing to a 4-0 lead in the second and securing a semifinal spot. Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:56:20 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Murray_through_in_Valencia_Simon_crashes_out/1513413 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Murray_through_in_Valencia_Simon_crashes_out/1513413 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Murray_through_in_Valencia_Simon_crashes_out/1513413 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/6/a/6a2d970c41745aba3c4ad457d1cacf716677e5b5/small/Valencia_Open_500_eb23.jpg US Open semifinalist Yanina Wickmayer voluntarily withdrew from the ongoing Commonwealth Bank Tournament of Champions on Friday after receiving a one-year suspension by a Belgian anti-doping tribunal. The 20-year-old Wickmayer was suspended Thursday for failing to report her whereabouts to anti-doping officials three times. She has denied any wrongdoing and said on her Web site she plans to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:43:07 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Wickmayer_pulls_out_in_Bali_after_year_suspension/1512934 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Wickmayer_pulls_out_in_Bali_after_year_suspension/1512934 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Wickmayer_pulls_out_in_Bali_after_year_suspension/1512934 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/d/a/dacf29fc1c10235d8ec33fb2eb61de6227948a9d/small/US_Open_Day_6afc.jpg Flavia Pennetta of Italy will open the Fed Cup final against Alexa Glatch of the United States. Glatch beat Pennetta 6-1, 6-1 in their only previous meeting in the first round of this year's French Open. Italy's No. 2 player, Francesca Schiavone, will face U.S. Open quarterfinalist Melanie Oudin in the second singles Saturday on the clay courts at the Rocco Polimeni club. Fri, 06 Nov 2009 07:39:17 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Pennetta_to_open_Fed_Cup_final_against_Glatch/1511473 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/Pennetta_to_open_Fed_Cup_final_against_Glatch/1511473 Tennis legend Andre Agassi reveals in his forthcoming autobiography "Open" that he used crystal meth during his playing career, Paul Bogaards, a spokesman for the book's publisher, confirmed to the New York Daily News on Tuesday. According to the Daily News, the eight-time Grand Slam champion admits using the illicit drug in 1997, the year he married Brooke Shields and went into a career slump that didn't end until 1999. After pulling out of that slump, Agassi went on to win... Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:45:10 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/tennis/article_external/Andre_Agassi_says_he_used_crystal_meth_during_playing_days/1447409 http://www.yardbarker.com/tennis/article_external/Andre_Agassi_says_he_used_crystal_meth_during_playing_days/1447409 http://www.yardbarker.com/tennis/article_external/Andre_Agassi_says_he_used_crystal_meth_during_playing_days/1447409 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/7/2/72a9bcb7db98e732471ab66d32b8201515ce3efc/small/82965136.jpg