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Federer becomes $30m man with the rout of Ferrer
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It was nine years ago that an unassuming 17-year-old from Basle celebrated his first win on the main tour, a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Guillaume Raoux in a small tournament in Toulouse. After disposing of Richard Fromberg in the next round and losing to Jan Siemerink in the quarter-finals, he was asked what he would do with his cheque for $10,800. "Put it in a Swiss bank," he replied.

Federer and Nadal show dominance to reinforce status quo
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Roger Federer's two defeats at the hands of Guillermo Canas last month and Rafael Nadal's recent nine-month wait for a title might have left some doubting how long the world's top two players would continue to dominate.

Nadal resumes king of clay status
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A sea fret cast its shadow over an afternoon of glorious sunshine on the Côte d'Azur here yesterday but there was never any danger of Rafael Nadal losing his way in the mist.

Murray problem surfaces with switch to clay
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Andy Murray always bristles at suggestions that he is injury-prone. Until a back problem forced him to withdraw yesterday from the Monte Carlo Masters, he could point out that he had never pulled out of an ATP tournament through injury.

Administrators under fire as the players 'scream for help'
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A bar in the VIP area at the Monte Carlo Country Club was an unlikely setting for an uprising, but Rafael Nadal was wearing combat trousers, Roger Federer was happy to lead the charge and Nikolay Davydenko was in no mood to hold back his fire.

Murray's clay court entrance undermined by back injury
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The Monte Carlo Masters was one of the low points in Andy Murray's 2006 campaign and the season's opening clay court tournament is in danger of becoming a blot on his landscape again this year. The British No 1 injured his back last night playing doubles with his brother, Jamie, and may be forced to withdraw from his opening singles today against France's Marc Gicquel.

Murray 'in shock' as he cracks top 10 without hitting ball
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Hitting the jackpot here at 11.30 on a Friday night usually involves a roulette wheel or a pack of cards. Andy Murray, however, celebrated while watching a live scoreboard from a tennis tournament in Texas on a computer in his hotel room.

Britain face Croatia hurdle
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If Britain return to the top tier of the Davis Cup next year for the first time since 2003, they will have done so the hard way. Yesterday's draw for the World Group play-offs, which will be played from 21 to 23 September, paired Britain for the first time with Croatia, the top seeds.

Action to stop countries courting an advantage
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The International Tennis Federation is taking action to stop countries doctoring court surfaces to give themselves an unfair advantage in the Davis Cup.

Rusedski already relishing retirement
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Egg and bacon have never tasted better. Having announced his retirement immediately after securing Britain's Davis Cup victory over the Netherlands by winning his doubles with Jamie Murray on Saturday, Greg Rusedski was quick to take advantage of his new status as a former tennis player. "I had a nice full cooked breakfast this morning," he said yesterday. "I don't need to worry about training any more. I'm just getting on with my new life."

Lloyd upbeat over 'world-class' trio
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John Lloyd set his sights on rejoining the elite World Group after becoming Britain's Davis Cup captain last summer and after completing a second successive victory by beating the Netherlands at the weekend his team are now one win away from their goal.

Rusedski puts Britain back in mix with a farewell wave
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Greg Rusedski fashioned for himself the perfect farewell to tennis at Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre yesterday. He struck the sublime backhand volley which sealed Britain's winning 3-0 lead over Holland in their Davis Cup, returning them to the brink of the competition's World Group, and then announced his retirement, accompanied by one of his trademark grins, thanking his partner, Jamie Murray, "for carrying me today" in their 6-1 3-6 6-3 7-6 win over Rogier Wassen and Robin Haase.

Henman tightens Britain's grip on Davis Cup return
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The banner in the crowd here yesterday said it all: "Welcome back Tim, we missed you." The feeling was clearly mutual as Tim Henman was all smiles after making a winning return to Davis Cup competition after an absence of three years to help Britain take a 2-0 lead over the Netherlands on the first day of their Europe-Africa Zone tie.

Lloyd pick is clever mix of old and new
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He would not have won a prize - not even a cuddly toy - in a Bruce Forsyth impersonation competition, but John Lloyd must have felt like the host of the Generation Game when he announced his Davis Cup team yesterday. The British captain's squad for this weekend's Europe-Africa Zone tie against the Netherlands at the NEC in Birmingham comprises two of the game's more seasoned campaigners in Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski, plus the Murray brothers, 19-year-old Andy and 21-year-old Jamie, who are very much the future of British tennis.

Henman desperate to perform leading role in Davis Cup
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Tim Henman is ready to ride to the rescue of Great Britain's Davis Cup squad if Andy Murray is forced to withdraw from this week's Euro-African Zone tie against the Netherlands, which starts tomorrow in Birmingham.

Injuries leave Murray doubtful for Davis Cup tie
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Andy Murray cast serious doubt on his participation in Britain's Davis Cup tie against the Netherlands in Birmingham this weekend when he admitted yesterday that the groin injury he suffered in Miami last week was "not too good".

Davis Cup hope for Murray
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John Lloyd, Britain's Davis Cup captain, is confident that Andy Murray will be fit to play in this weekend's tie against the Netherlands in Birmingham.

Murray crashes out of Miami
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Andy Murray failed in his bid to make his first Masters Series final when he was trounced 6-1 6-0 by fellow teenager Novak Djokovic in the semi-final of the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami.

LTA unveils £32.1m national centre
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A remarkable event took place in the tranquil south-west London suburb of Roehampton yesterday. One of British sport's major governing bodies opened its new national centre - on time and on budget.

Roddick limps out as Murray waltzes into semi-finals
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Andy Murray booked his place in the semi-finals of the Sony Ericsson Open after injury forced Andy Roddick to retire from their match here last night. The first set was going with serve at 5-3 when Roddick, the 2004 champion, withdrew with a strained left leg.

Federer marches on but Clijsters bows out
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Defending champion Roger Federer served poorly but still beat Nicolas Almagro of Spain 7-5, 6-3 to reach the fourth round of the Miami Open here last night.

Murray crushes Kendrick
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Andy Murray coasted into the fourth round of the Sony Ericsson Open with a 6-3, 6-1 victory over the American Robert Kendrick yesterday. Murray comfortably won the opening set 6-3 against Kendrick, who gained entry into the tournament as a lucky loser after Lleyton Hewitt pulled out with a back injury.

Injury the fear after Murray win
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Andy Murray admits he is still feeling the effects of an ankle injury despite his victory over the American Paul Goldstein in the second round of the Sony Ericsson Open here.

Henman searching for form ahead of Davis Cup return
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Tim Henman's return to Davis Cup competition was confirmed yesterday, but the former British No 1 is continuing to struggle to find his form. Henman was named in an initial six-man British squad for next month's Davis Cup tie against the Netherlands in Birmingham, less than 24 hours after losing to Guillermo Canas in the first round of the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami.

Murray expects short rest to boost chance of top-10 finish
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Andy Murray is banking on four days' rest being enough to give him a fighting chance of success when he begins his Sony Ericsson Open campaign here today. The Scot limped out of Indian Wells after his battle against ankle and hip injuries came to an end in a one-sided semi-final defeat by Novak Djokovic.

Club culture meets the game in riot of fluorescent light
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Tennis is turning up the volume and turning off the lights. In a stark white building in downtown Miami, models strut about in outfits that glow under the black lights, a DJ spins club classics and tennis players blast backhand shots across the darkened court.

Henman faces tough test against rejuvenated Canas
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Tim Henman must overcome a significant obstacle in the resurgent Argentine Guillermo Canas if he is to continue his comeback in the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami today.

Murray brothers join forces for Davis Cup
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Jamie Murray's progress as a doubles player will be rewarded this week with a Davis Cup place alongside his brother, Andy, when John Lloyd names Britain's squad to meet the Netherlands in Birmingham next month.

The quiet champion: Return of the enigma
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It was as though the intervening four months had never happened. The Women's Tennis Association's updated world rankings were published on Monday, with Justine Henin sitting proudly on top of the list, just as she had in November, when the 24-year-old Belgian crowned the most successful year of her life by reclaiming her No 1 spot with victory in the season-ending WTA Championships in Madrid.

Djokovic steals march as injured Murray limps out
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Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic were born within a week of each other and have been friends and rivals since they first met on a tennis court at the age of 11. Both 19-year-olds have made huge strides in their first three years on the senior tour, but it was the Serb who stole a march on the Scot in their semi-final at the Pacific Life Open at Indian Wells in California on Saturday night.

Murray defies pain and his own belief
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A bruised and weary Andy Murray was at a loss to explain an epic victory over Tommy Haas in the quarter-finals of the Pacific Life Open here yesterday.

Murray ready to rise to Haas' challenge
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Andy Murray, British No 1, is well aware of the threat posed by his quarter-final opponent, Tommy Haas, in the Pacific Life Open. Haas is one of this year's most in-form players, winning 20 and losing just three of his matches in 2007.

Murray downs Davydenko to ease into quarter-finals
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Andy Murray progressed to the quarter-finals of the Pacific Life Open in Indian Wells last night with a straight-sets victory over world No 4 Nikolai Davydenko. The 19-year-old British No 1 did not have things all his own way, particularly in a tight first set but emerged as the victor, 7-6, 6-4.

Comfortable win for Murray
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Andy Murray comfortably discarded Frenchman Nicolas Mahut to reach the fourth round of the Pacific Life Open tonight.

After 41 straight victories, Federer starts at zero
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Roger Federer had won seven consecutive tournaments and was favoured to break Guillermo Vilas' 30-year-old record of 46 straight victories.

Bogdanovic falls at the final hurdle
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Alex Bogdanovic was knocked out of the Pacific Life Open in Indian Wells, California, last night.

Hawk-Eye makes debut on grass as Queen's abandons round robin
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The pre-Wimbledon tournament at Queen's Club will become the first grass court event to use the Hawk-Eye line-calling system. Several events are now using the computerised video technology, although Wimbledon has yet to decide whether it will become the third Grand Slam tournament to take the plunge following the lead taken by the US and Australian Opens.

Federer 'disappointed' over Las Vegas round-robin farce
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It says much about Roger Federer's standing that the most powerful administrator in tennis phoned him here last week to explain the farcical goings-on in a tournament on the other side of the world.

Streak of genius sees Federer pass old masters
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Roger Federer began his week by beating Jimmy Connors and ended it by matching Bjorn Borg. Having overtaken Connors' record number of consecutive weeks at the top of the world rankings, the Swiss won his 41st match in a row when he beat Mikhail Youzhny 6-4 6-3 in the final of the Dubai Duty Free Open here last night, thereby equalling Borg's longest unbeaten streak.

Haas makes searing point but Federer is still master
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Tommy Haas consoled himself with the fact that he had played the point of the tournament, but if the world No 9 won that battle there was no doubting who had won the war. Roger Federer beat him 6-4, 7-5 in their semi-final in the Dubai Duty Free Open here last night and will go in search of his 41st consecutive victory when he meets Mikhail Youzhny in the final tonight.

Nadal's wings clipped as Youzhny hits the heights
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The Aviation Club here was where Rafael Nadal started to reach for the skies 12 months ago, but last night the Spaniard found himself grounded in his attempt to launch another challenge to Roger Federer's supremacy. Nadal, whose victory over Federer in last season's Dubai Duty Free Open was the first of four in succession in finals against the world No 1, was beaten 7-6, 6-3 in the quarter-finals by Mikhail Youzhny.

Federer feasts on victory with 'hot dog' winner
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Not much surprises you any more about Roger Federer's brilliance but last night the world No 1 came up with a shot that left a packed centre-court crowd here at the Dubai Duty Free Open wide-eyed with disbelief. Daniele Bracciali, his opponent, went down on one knee in mock deference and Federer himself could not wipe the smile off his face as the shot was replayed on the big screen during the subsequent changeover.

Nadal summons up renowned spirit to see off Baghdatis
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Rafael Nadal has been below his best for many months now, but the world No 2 is nothing if not a fighter. The draw for the Dubai Duty Free Open gave Nadal the trickiest of first-round challenges against Marcos Baghdatis but the Spaniard came through it in spirited fashion last night, clawing his way back from a poor start to win 3-6, 6-2, 6-3.

McEnroe hails Murray ability
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Only a nightmare clay-court season can prevent Andy Murray from being in the world's top five players come Wimbledon, according to John McEnroe.

Quality always first in Federer's quest to scale new peaks
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Roger Federer was back doing what he does best yesterday, winning his first-round match here against Kristian Pless in the Dubai Duty Free Open. For much of the last month he has been practising another art he has mastered putting his feet up.

Federer blames fast surface for sluggish start
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Before his first match in the Dubai Duty Free Open here last night Roger Federer was presented with a silver khanjar, a traditional Arabian dagger usually given to great warriors as a mark of respect, to celebrate his achievement in beating Jimmy Connors' record of 160 consecutive weeks as world No 1.

Murray falters but top 10 spot remains within sight
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Phase two of Andy Murray's season ended in defeat to Andy Roddick in Memphis on Saturday night, but, like phase one, it provided further evidence of progress.

Sloppy Murray hands Roddick his revenge
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Andy Murray failed in his attempt to reach a second successive final when he lost 6-3 7-6 to Andy Roddick yesterday in the semi-finals of the Memphis International here.

Henin makes herself at home
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Justine Henin was born in Belgium and lives in Monte Carlo but there can be nowhere in the world where she feels more at home on a tennis court than here. The world No 2 has played 16 matches in the Dubai Duty Free Open and last night preserved her 100 per cent record when she beat Amélie Mauresmo 6-4, 7-5 to claim the title for the fourth time.

Blistering Murray set to face Roddick again in semi-finals
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Britain's Andy Murray set up a potential semi-final meeting with top seed Andy Roddick after beating Stefan Koubek 6-3 6-2 in the quarter-final of the Morgan Keegan Championships in Memphis last night.

Mauresmo victory ensures resumption of Henin hostilities
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The rivalry between Justine Henin and Amélie Mauresmo was one of last year's highlights and hostilities will be renewed in the final of the Dubai Duty Free Open here tonight. Henin made a spirited comeback to beat Svetlana Kuznetsova in three sets yesterday before Mauresmo's semi-final ended when Jelena Jankovic retired with an ankle injury.

Age of equality bounces on to Centre Court
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When Maud Watson won the first Wimbledon women's singles title 123 years ago the 19-year-old vicar's daughter was presented with a silver flower basket worth 20 guineas. William Renshaw, the men's singles champion, received a gold prize worth 30 guineas.

Murray beats Pless for second time in week to reach last eight
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Andy Murray defeated Kristian Pless 6-3, 7-6 at the Morgan Keegan Championships in Memphis last night to book his place in the quarter-finals.

Wimbledon officials relent on equal pay
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Men and women tennis players at Wimbledon will earn equal pay for the first time this year, it was confirmed today.

Henin comes through tough test to maintain record
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Justine Henin has won the Dubai Duty Free Open on all three occasions she has played here. In her last two appearances, in 2004 and 2006, the Belgian won the tournament without even dropping a set.

Mauresmo attacks absentee culture
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The Women's Tennis Association has introduced measures to halt the flow of late withdrawals by leading players this year, but the early signs are not promising. Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams were major attractions at this week's Dubai Duty Free Open here, but both pulled out last week, citing a hamstring injury and flu respectively. It was the second successive year that Williams has withdrawn.

Murrays make mark with a rare win double
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Andy Murray called it the proudest day of his life. The 19-year-old Scot had just completed a successful defence of his SAP Open title in San Jose, though he was not referring to his hard-fought 6-7, 6-4, 7-6 victory over Ivo Karlovic.

Murray retains San Jose title
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British number one Andy Murray retained his SAP Open title in San Jose by beating unseeded Croatian Ivo Karlovic in an epic three-set match.

Roddick humbled by power of Murray
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Andy Roddick must be sick of the sight of Andy Murray. As if being humiliated in straight sets at Wimbledon last summer was not bad enough, on Saturday night the American suffered his second successive semi-final defeat to the 19-year-old Scot on what had been his own stomping ground.

An email conversation with Richard Krajicek: 'Maybe my serve and volley could give Roger trouble'
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You are tournament director of this week's ABN AMRO indoor event in Rotterdam, featuring nine of the world's top 20 male tennis players. Is recruiting players the most important aspect of your job? Probably, yes. The most important parts are assembling the field, dealing with the media and my relationship with the ATP. If you have a Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal or Andy Roddick in your field, life is much easier. If not, the relationship with the media becomes more important. Once the players have arrived, it's important to make sure they are happy and doing their job off the court as well as on it. My position as an ex-player helps. In a previous year, Lleyton Hewitt did more for the tournament than he was required to do, including making a long appearance with the main sponsor, ABN AMRO, after winning the final. He could not have been more helpful. I think it was partly because it was me asking him.

Wimbledon lays foundations for brave new world
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For two weeks of the year it is the hottest ticket in town, but for most of this winter the local residents of Wimbledon have been enjoying a free view inside Centre Court.

Murray takes time to tame surface
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Andy Murray said yesterday that he was taking time to adjust to the new court surface at the SAP Open in San Jose as he prepares for the quarter-finals of the tournament, which he won last year.

Murray hits 145mph in fast start to title defence
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Andy Murray's movements in the world rankings list have been almost exclusively in one direction until now, but the 19-year-old Scot could be in unfamiliar territory after this week.

Young, gifted and British: Teenagers flourishing in Florida
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Naomi Cavaday is so tired at the end of each day that she goes to bed at 8pm and sleeps for 11 hours. Graeme Dyce lives in a dormitory, starts work in the gymnasium at 7.15am and trains all day, even in the full heat and humidity of the Floridan summer.

Injury forces Henman to put comeback on ice
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The British No 2 Tim Henman has been forced to withdraw from his comeback tournament in Marseilles next week as he looks to make a complete recovery from his knee injury.

Hingis hammers Ivanovic to take third title since return
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Martina Hingis is finding that winning the second time around is sweeter than ever.

Serena becomes the 'Rocky' of the women's game
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Serena Williams said it was like a scene from a movie. The day after losing to Sybille Bammer, the world No 56, in Hobart three weeks ago she was in tears and had locked herself in her hotel room. Her mother, Oracene, was in another room trying to phone her and send her e-mails.

Federer starts the quest for Grand Slam in sublime style
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The temperature was down to a chilly 16C here last night but there was rarely any danger of Roger Federer catching a cold. The modern game's supreme player continued his assault on the record books when he beat Fernando Gonzalez 7-6, 6-4, 6-4 in two hours and 20 minutes to claim his third Australian Open and his 10th Grand Slam title.

Ronald Atkin: Federer focuses on long road to Laver territory
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Amid the cascade of adulation threatening to engulf Roger Federer again as he moves relentlessly in pursuit of his 10th Grand Slam title was one highly significant endorsement. It came from Rod Laver, reckoned by many to have been the greatest male racket wielder of all, in the aftermath of the Amiable Alp's dismemberment of Andy Roddick in the Australian Open semi-finals.

Serena seals the comeback of all comebacks
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Serena Williams has been written off more times than a banana republic's national debt, but in winning the Australian Open here yesterday she proved that 25 is no age at which to condemn a seven-times Grand Slam champion to the history books.

Gonzalez faces speedy end to quest for glory
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Against anyone else Fernando Gonzalez would surely fancy his chances in tomorrow's final of the Australian Open. The 26-year-old Chilean, one of the game's most improved players, has reached the final of four of his last five tournaments and in his first Grand Slam semi-final swept aside Tommy Haas yesterday with a torrent of winners. Unfortunately for the world No 9, he has suffered nine defeats in his nine matches against his next opponent and won just two sets.

'I love proving the doubters wrong' says Williams
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Ever since she emerged with her sister, Venus, from a troubled suburb of Los Angeles to become a major figure on the world's tennis stage, Serena Williams has spent her professional lifetime defying the odds.

Federer blend of power and touch reveals greatness
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There is a little way to go before the statistics confirm Roger Federer as the greatest player in history, but anyone who witnessed his 6-4, 6-0, 6-2 dismemberment of Andy Roddick in the Australian Open semi-finals here yesterday would consider further debate pointless.

Federer races into final
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Roger Federer produced another awesome display to crush Andy Roddick and advance to the final of the Australian Open.

Defeat a pain in the backside for limping Nadal
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Andy Murray was not the only victim when he was beaten by Rafael Nadal in the fourth round of the Australian Open here on Monday night. The physical demands of their epic five-set match also took their toll on Nadal, who limped out of the tournament last night when he was brushed aside in three sets by Fernando Gonzalez.