Tennis News Headlines

NEW YORK, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Serena Williams was hailed as the greatest women's tennis player ever on Saturday before reacting angrily to criticism of her exuberant Olympic celebrations. Two days before the start of the U.S. Open, Williams was testy with reporters, agitated by repeated references to her post-match dance …

NEW YORK, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Twelve months ago, Roger Federer went into the U.S. Open with doubts, perhaps for the first time in his career. A year on and the Swiss is back on top of the world rankings, the Wimbledon champion and chomping at the bit for a sixth title at Flushing Meadows. "I felt good last year but probably …

Former World No. 1 Venus Williams, battling a back injury and an auto-immune disease, enters the US Open pleased that she can take the court after having to withdraw last year.

Somehow, it seemed so easy for so many people to write off Roger Federer.

NEW YORK, Aug 25 (Reuters) - They have five grand slam titles between them, one each this year and one of them is the world No 1. Yet on the eve of the U.S. Open, both Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka find themselves in the shadows, almost forgotten as contenders for the final grand slam event of the year. That's because …

Reigning US Open champion Novak Djokovic was disappointed in the doping downfall of American cyclist Lance Armstrong, whose seven Tour de France titles have been stripped by the US Anti-Doping Agency.

Roger Federer, who went two and a half years without a Grand Slam title before winning the record 17th major of his career last month at Wimbledon, said he never doubted he would return to the top.

NEW YORK, Aug 25 (Reuters) - It would be a fairytale ending to a glittering career and Kim Clijsters believes she can do it. "My goal is to try and win the U.S. Open," the Belgian told reporters at Flushing Meadows on Saturday, two days before the opening of the year's final grand slam tournament. "I've trained hard. I'm …

Andy Murray, his confidence for the US Open bolstered by an Olympic gold medal, knows what it feels like to win a Grand Slam title in his dreams even though he has never done so in real life.

Serena Williams played down the praise of her rivals as the best player in women's tennis history and the US Open favorite, saying she feels no pressure coming off Wimbledon and Olympic titles.

NEW YORK, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Australian Samantha Stosur vowed on Saturday to prove her stunning victory over Serena Williams in last year's U.S. Open final was no fluke. The unpredictable Stosur played the match of her life to defeat Williams on the tenth anniversary of the September 11 attacks on the United States. But …

Three-time US Open winner Kim Clijsters will conclude her career on the Flushing Meadows hardcourts where she enjoyed her greatest glory and she intends to go out as a champion.

Because he's a player who has spent more time watching Roger Federer on TV than trying to beat him, it's safe to say Rhyne Williams will not win the U.S. Open this year.

Czech second seed Tomas Berdych and US seventh seed Sam Querrey advanced to a semi-final matchup at the ATP Winston-Salem Open with three-set victories on Thursday.

Reuters sports schedule at 0600 GMT on Friday (times GMT): - - - - CYCLING Seven-times Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong said onThursday he would no longer fight doping charges by the U.S.Anti-Doping Agency, which said it would strip him of his titlesand ban him from competitive cycling. (CYCLING-ARMSTRONG/DOPINGmoved …

Li Na believes her decision to hire Carlos Rodriguez, the man who steered Justine Henin to the 2003 and 2007 US Open titles, could be her New York gamechanger after enduring two successive first round failures.

NEW YORK, Aug 23 (Reuters) - Defending champion NovakDjokovic could barely conceal his delight on Thursday afteravoiding the elephant in the room - Olympic champion Andy Murray- in the draw for the U.S. Open. The Serb, who will be chasing his sixth grand slam title andsecond of 2012, landed in the bottom half of the draw …

* Defending champion Djokovic could face Ferrer in semis * Serena Williams to face fellow American Coco Vandeweghe (Adds quotes and details) NEW YORK, Aug 23 (Reuters) - Andy Murray's hopes for amaiden grand slam at the U.S. Open may require him to beat worldnumber one Roger Federer for a second time in five weeks afterthe …

Aug. 23 (Reuters) - Reuters U.S. sports schedule at 2 p.m. EDTon Thursday: - - - - The duty editor is Steve Ginsburg, 202-898-8427 - - - - Major League Baseball CHICAGO - The Chicago White Sox are riding phenom ChrisSale, who further legitimized his Cy Young candidacy by stiflingthe New York Yankees, just as the Washington …

NEW YORK, Aug 23 (Reuters) - Andy Murray's hopes for amaiden grand slam at the U.S. Open may require him to beat worldnumber one Roger Federer for a second time in five weeks afterthe duo were placed in the same half of the draw on Thursday. Top seed Federer beat Murray last month to win his seventhWimbledon crown and record …

Reuters sports schedule at 1400 GMT on Thursday (times GMT): - - - - GOLF PGA Tour: Barclays Classic, Farmingdale, New York (to 26) World number three Tiger Woods and top-ranked Rory McIlroyhave been paired together in an enticing high-profile groupingfor the opening round at Bethpage Black in the first of the PGATour's …

American tennis, once the envy of the world, is now propped up by Serena and Venus Williams on the women's side and mired in the longest US Grand Slam men's singles title drought.

Police have arrested Lois Goodman, a professional tennis referee set to work at the US Open, on charges she killed her late husband with a coffee cup, the New York Times reported on Wednesday.