Tennis

1ST LEAD: Azarenka outlasts Kuznetsova in tough Miami semi-final

1ST LEAD: Azarenka outlasts Kuznetsova in tough Miami semi-final Miami  - Teenager Victoria Azarenka reinforced this week's move into the Top 10 as she reached her third final of the season with a marathon 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 defeat of former champion Svetlana Kuznetsova at the Miami Masters on Thursday.

The 19-year-old, Arizona-based Azarenka spent nearly three hours and needed four match points to finally book her spot. She awaits the result of the clash later between sisters Serena and Venus Williams, who between them hold eight titles at their home event.

Azarenka outlasts Kuznetsova in hard-fought Miami semi-final

Victoria Azarenka Miami  - Teenager Victoria Azarenka reinforced this week's first-ever move into the Top 10 as she reached her first major final with a marathon 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 defeat of former champion Svetlana Kuznetsova at the Miami Masters on Thursday.

The 19-year-old, Arizona-based Azarenka spent nearly three hours and needed four match points to finally book her spot. She awaits the result of the clash later between sisters Serena and Venus Williams, who between them hold eight titles at their "home" event.

Italian Volandri gets back to business as doping ban reversed

Italian Volandri gets back to business as doping ban reversedMilan  - It's back to business in tennis for formerly banned Filippo Volandri after the Italian earned moral revenge as his three-month doping sanction was reversed on appeal.

The one-time number 25 clay-courter copped a three-month ban in January for a proscribed substance used in his asthma inhaler. But Volandri's lawyers successfully argued their case and got an overturn of the penalty by the international court of sports (CAS) in Lausanne.

Malmo slapped with five-year Davis Cup ban

Malmo slapped with five-year Davis Cup ban London  - Malmo has been banned from hosting a Davis Cup tie until 2014 after the Davis Cup Committee came down hard on the Swedish city following last month's closed-door tie lost to Israel.

City officials had ordered the tie be played without spectators due to mass protests against the Israeli bombing campaign against Gaza in January in which more than
1,200 died, mainly civilians.

The plan backfired as Israel took the victory over Sweden, 3-2.

Murray claims that he has rediscovered his winning habit

Murray claims that he has rediscovered his winning habitLondon, Apr. 2: British tennis star Andy Murray insists that he has rediscovered the habit of winning as he prepares for a Masters quarterfinal in Miami today.

The British No 1 will take on Fernando Verdasco — who beat him in the fourth round of the Australian Open in January — at the Sony Ericsson Open.

Plucky Djokovic fights off illness to overcome Tsonga

Plucky Djokovic fights off illness to overcome TsongaMiami  - Novak Djokovic turned the corner in his career matchups with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, winning 6-3, 6-4 on Wednesday to reverse a run of four straight losses to the Frenchman and book a semi-final place at the Miami Masters.

The 2007 champion also began turning around his reputation as a shirker, fighting through what he said was a stomach problem as he stayed on court to see out the victory.

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