Aegon Tennis news,Sharapova suffers semi-final

Sharapova suffers semi-final loss

Former Wimbledon champion Sharapova was unseeded

Maria Sharapova's hopes of a third grass-court title in Birmingham came to an end as she lost in the semi-final of the Aegon Classic to Na Li.

The former Wimbledon champion, who won this title in 2004 and 2005, went down 6-4 6-4 to the Chinese fourth seed.

Sharapova, who was unseeded after injuries hit her world ranking, had her serve broken six times in the match.

Li faces Magdalena Rybarikova in the final after her 3-6 6-0 6-3 win over Sania Mirza in the other semi-final.

"My return of serve was so good," said Li. "I broke her many times so it did not feel like a grass court match.

"I lost to her so many times before, so I thought if I lose again then I should not worry. That made me very relaxed."

Sharapova, the 2004 Wimbledon champion, was content with her week's work on her return from nine months out after shoulder surgery.

"After such a long lay-off, every match and every situation is a different test to the body," said Sharapova, the 2004 Wimbledon champion.

"I still felt like I had many chances in this match, but I have played five matches in the last six days and I wasn't playing with the same intensity as I did in my previous matches.

"Against an opponent like her, the intensity has to be there the whole match. I just wasn't able to come through."

The Russian will spend next week making final preparations for Wimbledon.

Aegon Tennis news,Djokovic crushes Melzer

Improving Djokovic crushes Melzer

Djokovic has lost his previous two matches against Olivier Rochus

World number four Novak Djokovic appeared to be finding his feet on grass as he brushed aside Jurgen Melzer 6-1 6-4 to reach the Halle semi-finals.

The Serb saved five match points against Florent Serra in his previous match but had a much easier time of it on Friday, winning 6-1 6-4.

The second seed now meets Belgian qualifier Olivier Rochus, who beat Benjamin Becker 6-7 (4-7) 6-3 6-3.

Tommy Haas meets fellow German Philipp Kohlschreiber in the other semi-final.

Djokovic has lost his two previous matches against Rochus, both in 2005.

"It's going to be interesting to play him again," said Djokovic.

"He has a great game on grass, he's got a great touch and he moves very well. He played the qualifying rounds so he's got a few matches on grass already.

"I felt I was in control most of the match (against Melzer), I moved better.

"Maybe on paper I am the favourite to win this tournament, but the other guys are also playing great tennis and I don't want to put myself under extra pressure."

Rochus was delighted to reach the last four after battling back from losing the first set.

"I had surgery on my shoulder last October and I only came back in February," said the world number 136.

"I haven't been in the semi-finals of an ATP tournament for a long time and so I am very, very happy. I have had a bit of luck in the draw, but I just want to go out and enjoy the occasion now."

Haas and Kohlschreiber both beat German opponents in their quarter-finals.

Former world number two Haas saw off Mischa Zverev 7-6 (5) 6-2, while Kohlschreiber came from a set down to beat Andreas Beck 3-6 6-3 6-3.

Having hit 10 aces past Dmitry Tursunov in round two, last year's runner-up Kohlschreiber smashed 17 past Beck, who lost his nerve in the second set and allowed his compatriot to take control.

"He (Beck) was the better player in the first set and I really had to regain my composure, so I am happy with the win," said Kohlschreiber.

"I am just glad we have an all-Germany semi-final now."

Aegon championship,Murray v Garcia-Lopez

Murray v Garcia-Lopez as it happened

Live video - Aegon Championships from Queen's Club

Andy Murray speaking to BBC Sport: "Today was good, he started off very well, he served well and was hitting the ball big on the forehand. After I got the first break I felt more comfortable and from then on it was good. I feel good. You want to come away from the tournament feeling you hit the ball well and moved well. I've felt good the first two matches and I hope to feel the same against Mardy. We know each other well and it will be a tough match. It's nice to have to whole crowd supporting you, it doesn't happen at too many tournaments. I expect a lot of myself and I'll try and do well over the next few weeks."

1540: Standing between Murray and a place in the semi-finals is Mardy Fish of the United States. Murray has won two and lost one of the pair previous three meetings but all of those were on the American hard courts. Both players are bang in form so their first grass-court meeting could be a belter.

Murray 6-4 6-4 Garcia-Lopez
With an ability to up the ante seemingly at will, Murray cruises through to the quarter-finals with what the simplest of service holds. A couple of groundstrokes took the breath away and to finish with an ace was the icing on the cake. Game, set and match Murray.

Murray *6-4 5-4 Garcia-Lopez
Down but not yet out, Garcia-Lopez sends down his third ace of the match to keep the score respectable. Murray will surely now serve out for victory.

Murray 6-4 5-3* Garcia-Lopez
Murray moves to with a break of the match with another ruthless service game that leaves Garcia-Lopez chasing shadows. At times these two look as if they're putting on an exhibition match - both have aesthetically pleasing all-round games while there is a complete lack of edge out there on Centre Court.

Murray *6-4 4-3 Garcia-Lopez
Touche. Garcia-Lopez delays the inevitable with a hold to love. He continues to work Murray from side-to-side, vary things up with the odd drop shot and unleash that rasping forehand when possible. Unfortunately for the Spaniard, he seems incapable of making an impression on the Murray serve.

Murray 6-4 4-2* Garcia-Lopez
A hold to love. Bish, bash, bosh. You can't ask for much more than that. Murray's first serve is immense these days. His second is still a little scratchy and he will no doubt work hard on it before Wimbledon. But, all in all, the British number one looks in sensational form and fitness.

Murray *6-4 3-2 Garcia-Lopez
This could be over sooner than expected after Murray decides to turn the screw and break to love. The reaction of his entourage suggests they know the match is now their man's for the taking. Murray moves to break point with a blistering backhand return down the line which Garcia-Lopez can get nowhere near. He then dictates a fairly lengthy rally from the baseline and finished with an inside-out forehand that Garcia Lopez fails to return.

Murray 6-4 2-2* Garcia-Lopez
For those of you who watched Murray beat Seppi on Wednesday, you will remember his wonderful backspin lob that landed just inside the baseline and almost stopped dead. The 22-year-old produces another against Garcia-Lopez and you get the feeling that the early round of this tournament are just one big training session for Britain's finest.

Murray *6-4 1-2 Garcia-Lopez
But faltering does not appear high on the Garcia-Lopez agenda and he holds just as comfortably as Murray. The world number 52 has a poor record against the top 10 but he has all the attributes to improve his ranking. That said, at 26 his career maybe on the way down rather than the way up.

Murray 6-4 1-1* Garcia-Lopez
BBC Two commentator Mark Petchey tells us not to worry about smoke billowing out of the main Queen's Club building. Apparently a dishwasher has exploded... but everything looks to be ok. Meanwhile, Murray saves comfortably. Similarly to the opening set, it seems like Murray's keeping the service games ticking over and waiting for his opportunity to pounce if and when Garcia-Lopez falters.

Murray *6-4 0-1 Garcia-Lopez
A set down against the top seed on home soil, it would be easy for Garcia-Lopez to crumble. But he continues to play positively and with aggression, wrapping up the first game of the second set with an ace.
* Denotes next to serve

Murray 6-4* Garcia-Lopez
There are a few oohs and aahs on Centre Court as Murray slips to 0-30. Surely we're not going to see an immediate break back? Murray scrambles his way to 30-30 and Garcia-Lopez nets tamely to give his opponent set point. Murray saves the best for last, producing a magnificent forehand cross-court to wrap up the first set.

Murray *5-4 Garcia-Lopez
As Murray has shown so often in recent times, he has an ability to stick with his opponent while not necessarily playing his best tennis but then pounce like a lion when he gets a sniff. The Scot gets an opening when Garcia-Lopez gifts him a 0-30 lead and, although the Spaniard fights back to go 40-30 up, Murray levels at deuce. The world number three forces his first break point of the match and when Garcia-Lopez goes long we have our first break. Murray to serve for the first set.

Murray 4-4* Garcia-Lopez
Murray is beginning to advance to the net more regularly, but with mixed results. The top seed goes 15-0 up by racing in and passing his opponent but then is out-thought during a terrific exchange at the net. He stays back to reassert his authority and the game is soon his.

Murray *3-4 Garcia-Lopez
It is fair to say the Garcia-Lopez camp looks the more content from their court-side seats. They cheer enthusiastically as their man keeps his nose in front of the home favourite with a lovely hold. Garcia-Lopez is very pleasing on the eye, he has a super all-round game.

Murray 3-3* Garcia-Lopez
Murray showed flashes of sheer brilliance against Andreas Seppi in round two and, while he is so far yet to scale such heights today, he is varying his game nicely. Murray is a physical power house these days and he overwhelms Garcia-Lopez with a couple of outstanding passing shots to stay on level terms. And the umpire's microphone is working again!

Murray *2-3 Garcia-Lopez
Murray seems a little subdued and a couple of unforced errors, allied to Garcia-Lopez's sharp work both at the baseline and the net, prevent him from having a look-in on this occasion. There is a worrying moment from the Spaniard when he slips on the grass and appears to have hurt his knee, but he quickly recovers to see out the game.

I made a mistake with the previous score so refresh your page if you haven't already.

Murray 2-2* Garcia-Lopez
Rather comically, the umpire's microphone has stopped working and he is having to shout rather loudly to make himself heard. Anyway, back to the action. Murray's fourth ace of the match contributes to a comfortable hold. Both men are impressing so far. This could be a cracker.

Murray *1-2 Garcia-Lopez
Garcia-Lopez has a rather special forehand on him and it helps him race into a 40-15 lead. Murray unleashes a trademark forehand cross-court passing shot but out comes the Spaniard's laser-guided forehand once more to see him over the line.

Murray 1-1* Garcia-Lopez
In the words of Mark Petchey on BBC Two, opening service games don't come much better than that. Two aces put Murray on track for a hold to love and it's a confident start from both men.

Murray *0-1 Garcia-Lopez
A couple of sweetly-struck forehands take Garcia-Lopez to 30-0 but Murray takes his first point of the match with a volleyed backhand passing shot which lands just inside the baseline. The Spaniard volleys wide to make it 30-30 but Murray goes wide and then nets to concede the opening game.
* Denotes next to serve

1421: Garcia-Lopez to serve first.

1420: Whoever wins this match will play Mardy Fish after the American beat Feliciano Lopez 6-1 6-4.

1416: The pair have never met before but Garcia-Lopez, currently ranked a career-high 52 in the world, is having a good year and should provide his Scottish opponent with a decent work-out.

He only has one tour title to Murray's 11 but that came this year in Kitzbuhel. The 26-year-old Spaniard has a game suited to grass and his second-round victory over Gilles Muller suggests he's no slouch.

1412: Getting excited about Wimbledon yet? The third Grand Slam of the season is almost upon us but as a warm-up act for SW19, the Aegon Championships at Queen's will do nicely.

Headlining today is Britain's Andy Murray, the world number three and top seed. Murray continues his bid for a first grass-court title against Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain and the players will be on Centre Court in not too long at all.

Aegon championship,Monfils and Safin out of Queen's

Monfils and Safin out of Queen's

Monfils beat Golubev in three sets despite the injury

France's Gael Monfils and Russian Marat Safin have withdrawn from the Aegon Championships at Queen's Club with back and wrist injuries respectively.

Monfils' injury, picked up in his second-round win over Andrey Golubev, means Belgium's Steve Darcis will progress to the last eight on a bye.

The world number 14 has decided to rest the injury ahead of Wimbledon.

Safin had already received a bye in the first round and was due to play Xavier Malisse on centre court on Wednesday.

The world number 20, who was ranked number one in late 2000 and early 2001, became the first Russian to reach the semi-finals of Wimbledon, in 2008.

South Africa's Rik de Voest, a lucky loser from qualifying, replaces Safin.

The Russian who has won the US and Australian Open Grand Slam titles, plans to retire at the end of the season.

Aegon championship,Keothavong beaten in Birmingham

Keothavong beaten in Birmingham

Keothavong overcame Sofia Arvidsson in the last round

Anne Keothavong bowed out of the Aegon Classic in the second round, but fellow Briton Naomi Cavaday produced a surprise win over Tamarine Tanasugarn.

British number one Keothavong, seeded 11th for the event, was beaten 6-1 7-6 (7-5) by India's Sania Mirza.

Cavaday made light of the 250 places separating her and Tanasugarn in the rankings to win 7-6 (7-5) 2-6 6-4.

She will now face Stefanie Voegele, who caused an upset of her own in beating Russia's Ekaterina Makarova.

After losing the opener, Tanasugarn, a Wimbledon quarter-finalist last year, seemed to have wrestled back control of the contest in the second set.

But Cavaday produced a break in the seventh game of the decider and clung on to her own serve to claim a memorable victory.

"The biggest thing today was my belief. I never stopped believing in myself and that's what got me through during the tough times in the match," said Cavaday.

"This is my best win in rankings terms as she is 47 in the world. I just love it here."

Mirza wrapped up the first set of her match against Keothavong in emphatic style as the Londoner managed to hold just one of her four service games.

The 25-year-old Briton recovered in the second set and seemed poised to level at 5-2.

There are plenty of things for me to work on before Eastbourne and Wimbledon Anne Keothavong

But Mirza successfully defended two set points which, combined with nine saved break points throughout the second, carried the match into a tie-break.

The unseeded 22-year-old, who has sunk to 98th in the world from a career-best of 27th two years ago, then held her nerve to set up a possible meeting with Britain's Elena Baltacha in the third round.

"I didn't expect to play my best tennis at this tournament because it's my first grass-court tournament," said Keothavong.

"You can't guarantee a good performance every day unfortunately and there are plenty of things for me to work on before Eastbourne and Wimbledon."

Switzerland's Voegele ended sixth seed Makarova's campaign with a 6-3 3-6 6-2 win in a match that lasted just over two hours.

But there were no such problems for number three seed Aleksandra Wozniak who progressed to the next stage with a 6-4 6-4 victory over Belarussian Olga Govortsova.

Aegon championship,Confident Murray eases

Confident Murray eases past Seppi

Highlights - Murray comfortably beats Seppi (UK users only)

British number one Andy Murray brushed aside Italy's Andreas Seppi 6-1 6-4 to open his Aegon Championships campaign at Queen's Club with a victory.

The Scot justified his status as top seed as his serve pinned the world number 48 back in the opening set.

Seppi claimed his first break in the third game of a more even second set as he fought his way back into the match.

But a beautifully disguised forehand from Murray set up a decisive break in the final game and sealed his progress.

Seppi was victorious in the pair's only previous encounter on grass, but there seemed little chance of him repeating his 2006 success as he initially struggled with an off-kilter ball toss and tentative serve.

Murray was content to pick off his opponent from the baseline and had the 25-year-old on the run as soon as any rallies emerged.

But, after surrendering just two service points in the opener, the second set proved more testing for the world number three.

Seppi responded to losing an early break with one of his own as Murray's concentration waivered and he sent a forehand flopping into the net.

Murray pleased with transition to grass

The pair then traded solid service games, but Murray brought the encounter to an end inside an hour with a clinical step up in quality in the 17th game.

"The first set was very good - but I played one poor game to let him back in and after that he started playing better. It was tricky conditions - windy and very heavy - so it's good to come through in two sets," Murray told BBC Sport.

Murray will take one Spain's Guillermo Garcia-Lopez in Thursday's third round as he hunts a first major title on grass.

Garcia-Lopez saw off Luxembourg's Gilles Muller 7-6 6-3.

Australia's Lleyton Hewitt survived an early scare against Frederico Gil of Portugal, losing the first set but eventually winning 3-6 6-2 6-2.

Hewitt will play American Andy Roddick in the next round - both men having won the tournament four times.

Nicolas Mahut of France pulled off a shock by defeating Croatia's Marin Cilic 7-6 7-6.

His reward is a meeting with another Croat, Ivo Karlovic, who hit 33 aces on his way to a 7-6 (9-7) 6-7 (4-7) 6-2 win over France's Julien Benneteau.

Russian 14th seed Mikhail Youzhny ousted Marcos Baghdatis in a 6-4 7-6 (7-3) straight-sets win and will face France's Gilles Simon who beat promising Bulgarian teenager Grigor Dimitrov, 7-6 (9-7) 7-6 (7-5).

Former French Open champion Juan Carlos Ferrero beat 11th-seeded Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu 6-4, 6-4 and will face qualifier Xavier Malisse after the Belgian's 7-6 (8-6) 7-6 (10-8) win over Marat Safin's replacement Rik de Voest.

Meanwhile, unfancied English doubles pair Ken Skupski and Colin Fleming reached the last eight of the tournament with a shock win over world number one American brothers Mike and Bob Bryan - winning 6-4 6-4.

Aegon tennis match,Andy Roddick demolishes Kristof

Andy Roddick demolished Kristof Vliegen in the 2nd round of the AEGON championships at the Queens Club in London 6-4, 6-2 on Tuesday.