2008 in tennis

:"See also; 2007 in tennis, 2008 in sports, 2009 in tennis."This page covers all the major events in the sport of tennis in 2008.

News

=January=

:"See: 2008 ATP Tour, 2008 WTA Tour"

1 - World No. 3 Jelena Janković was forced to withdraw from her Hopman Cup tie against Tatiana Golovin, putting a question mark over whether she will be fit enough to play the Australian Open.

2 - Lindsay Davenport survived a second set scare to edge past Anabel Medina Garrigues, while Xavier Malisse and Mikhail Youzhny both won in the men's event in Chennai.

3 - Andy Murray, Nikolay Davydenko, Ivan Ljubičić and Stanislas Wawrinka all advanced into the Qatar Open semi-finals, while Rafael Nadal continued his run in Chennai. Over on the WTA, hometown wildcard Marina Erakovic stunned Vera Zvonareva in Auckland, while defending champion Dinara Safina wasted five match points to lose to Shahar Pe'er in Gold Coast.

4 - Former world number one Martina Hingis was banned for two years when the verdict over her drugs case was reached. Hingis had dropped the bombshell in October that she had tested positive for cocaine, and retired immediately after.cite news|url=http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/04012008/3/hingis-given-year-ban-failed-dope-test.html|title=Hingis given two-year ban for failed dope test|publisher=Yahoo! Eurosport|date=2008-01-04|accessdate = 2008-01-21]

5 - Li Na defeated Victoria Azarenka to win the Gold Coast, while three-time Grand Slam champion Lindsay Davenport won her third tournament since her comeback in Auckland. On the ATP, Michaël Llodra beat Jarkko Nieminen to win Adelaide, Andy Murray won the Qatar Open and Rafael Nadal beat Carlos Moyà to reach the Chennai final. United States team Serena Williams and Mardy Fish defeated Serbia to win the 2008 Hopman Cup. Finally, Venus Williams beat Maria Sharapova 6-4, 6-3 to win the JB Group Classic, an exhibition tournament, in Hong Kong.

6 - World No. 2 Rafael Nadal was thrashed 6-0, 6-1 by Mikhail Youzhny in the Chennai Open final. Amélie Mauresmo announced her withdrawal from the following week's Medibank International tournament. Three time French Open champion Gustavo Kuerten announced that he expected 2008 to be his final year of play.cite news|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/01/06/sports/LA-SPT-TEN-Kuerten.php|title=Report: Brazil's Kuerten to play his last season in 2008|publisher=International Herald Tribune|date=2008-01-06|accessdate = 2008-01-08]

7 - Roger Federer withdrew from exhibition event the AAMI Kooyong Classic due to illness, while at the joint tournament in Sydney, Anna Chakvetadze, Elena Dementieva and defending men's champion James Blake all suffered shock defeats. Jelena Dokić won her first WTA main draw match in two years by defeating Martina Müller at Hobart.

8 - The ITF, ATP, WTA and organisers of all four slams announced that they would come together and review their anti-corruption policies, in light of recent events.cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/7176539.stm|title=Tennis launches corruption review|publisher=BBC News|date=2008-01-08|accessdate = 2008-01-08] Former British police officers, Jeffrey Rees and Ben Gunn, who have helped stamp out corruuption in cricket and horse racing, have been hired.

9 - Lleyton Hewitt suffered another blow in his preparations for the 2008 Australian Open, making a second early exit in as many weeks; this time in Sydney. Nicole Vaidišová earned a shock victory over third seeded Jelena Janković on the women's side.

10 - The women's final of the Medibank International took shape - Justine Henin defeated Ana Ivanović in three sets, whilst Svetlana Kuznetsova completed a tight two set victory over Nicole Vaidišová.

11 - The singles draws for the Australian Open were announced. WTA chief Larry Scott released a statement highlighting the threat of organised crime, in particular, the Russian mafia, in the corruption of the sport.cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/7179695.stm|title=Tennis boss warns of mafia threat|publisher=BBC News|date=2008-01-11|accessdate = 2008-01-12] Justine Henin defeated Svetlana Kuznetsova 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 to win the women's Medibank International tournament. Eleni Daniilidou won in Hobart.

12 - Dmitry Tursunov won the Medibank International 7-6(3), 7-6(4); ending Chris Guccione's dream run. Philipp Kohlschreiber triumphed in Auckland, defeating Juan Carlos Ferrero; and Andy Roddick won the Kooyong Classic exhibition, taking down Marcos Baghdatis.

13 - World No. 1 Roger Federer announced that he would play an exhibition match against Pete Sampras, to follow up the three in Asia during November 2007; this time at Madison Square Gardens, New York City. Outside of tournament play, it was reported that the Australian Open could be at risk due to Chinese ambitions of their own Grand Slamcite news|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/tennis/article3216821.ece|title=Chinese ambitions could kill off Australian Open|publisher=The Times Online|date=2008-01-20|accessdate = 2008-01-25] , something that Roger Federercite news|url=http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080113/sp_wl_afp/tennisopenauschnslams|title=Australia, not China, deserves Grand Slam: Federer|publisher=Yahoo! News|date=2008-01-13|accessdate = 2008-01-25] and Serena Williamscite news|url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/sports/2008/01/15/139180/Grand-Slam.htm|title=Grand Slam must stay Down Under, says Serena Williams|publisher=The China Post|date=2008-01-15|accessdate = 2008-01-25] have publicly spoken out against.

14 - The 2008 Australian Open begins, with the singles matches. Jelena Janković, the women's no. 3 seed, survived a first round scare against Tamira Paszek, saving five match points. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga sent men's no. 9 seed Andy Murray packing with a 7-5, 6-4, 0-6, 7-6 win.

15 - After the ATP match-fixing scandal, the WTA Tour announced that several female tennis players had been approached about throwing tennis matches. Sofia Arvidsson caused the first big upset on the women's side, knocking out tenth seed Marion Bartoli. Gustavo Kuerten announces that he will officially retire after the French Open.cite news|url=http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080115/ap_on_sp_te_ne/ten_kuerten_retirement;_ylt=Ak38ttzcX6STtwaJ1Cy2.EdNz7QF|title=Kuerten will retire after French Open|publisher=Yahoo! News|date=2008-01-15|accessdate = 2008-01-25]

16 - Play at the Australian Open was disrupted for the second year in a row by crowd riots, between Cypriot and Greek supporters in the match between Fernando González and Konstantinos Economidis, forcing the police to intervene.cite news|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/tennis/aus08/news/story?id=3198133|title=Police use pepper spray to calm crowd trouble at Australian Open|publisher=ESPN|date=2008-01-16|accessdate = 2008-01-24] Maria Sharapova beat former winner Lindsay Davenport in the women's second round. In men's second round action, Tommy Robredo lost easily to Mardy Fish.

18 - Taiwanese player Hsieh Su-wei reached the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time in her career, having never made it past the first round before. Home favourite Casey Dellacqua stunned 2006 champion Amélie Mauresmo 3-6, 6-4, 6-4. Andy Roddick lost in a five-set thriller, going down to Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-4, 3-6, 7-6, 6-7, 8-6.

19 - No. 2 seed Svetlana Kuznetsova was sent crashing out by Agnieszka Radwańska, while No. 6 seed Anna Chakvetadze lost to Maria Kirilenko in two shocking upsets in the women's draw. Roger Federer and Lleyton Hewitt wowed the Australian crowds, both pulling out two thrilling five set wins. Federer beat Janko Tipsarević 6-7, 7-6, 5-7, 6-1, 10-8, while Hewitt outlasted Marcos Baghdatis 4-6, 7-5, 7-5, 6-7, 6-3. Fernando González lost to Marin Čilić in four sets.

20 - Jo-Wilfried Tsonga reached his maiden Grand Slam quarterfinal with a win over eighth seed Richard Gasquet. Mikhail Youzhny upset fourth-seeded compatriot Nikolay Davydenko in an all-Russian clash. In the women's draw, the favourites all moved through with ease.

21 - The quarterfinal line-ups were set in both the men and women's draws, with Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Ana Ivanović and Venus Williams being just a few of the eight players who moved through with wins.

22 - Maria Sharapova snapped world No. 1 Justine Henin's 32-match winning streak with a crushing 6-4, 6-0 defeat, while Jelena Janković stunned defending champion Serena Williams with a 6-3, 6-4 victory in the women's quarterfinals. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga continued his incredible run in the men's quarterfinals, beating Mikhail Youzhny to set up a meeting with No. 2 Rafael Nadal.

23 - Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic set up a men's semifinal clash, while Ana Ivanović beat Venus Williams for the first time, to go on to meet Daniela Hantuchová, who beat Agnieszka Radwańska in straight sets.

24 - The women's final was set as Maria Sharapova beat Jelena Janković 6-3, 6-1; she will now meet Ana Ivanović who came from losing the first eight games of the match to beat Daniela Hantuchová 0-6, 6-3, 6-4. In the men's play, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga reached his first Grand Slam final with a titanic upset over No. 2 seed Rafael Nadal 6-2, 6-3, 6-2.

25 - Sisters Alona and Kateryna Bondarenko won the women's doubles tournament by defeating Victoria Azarenka and Shahar Pe'er 2-6, 6-1, 6-4 in the final. Novak Djokovic beat world number one Roger Federer in straight sets to advance to his second Grand Slam final, where he will face Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

26 - Maria Sharapova defeats Ana Ivanović to win the 2008 Australian Open women's singles title.

27 - Novak Djokovic defeats Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to win the 2008 Australian Open men's singles title.

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

eptember

October

November

=ITF=

=Grand Slam events=

*Australian Open (January 14 – January 27)
**Men's singles: flagicon|SRB Novak Ðoković def. flagicon|FRA Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, 4–6, 6–4, 6–3, 7–6(2)
**Women's singles: flagicon|RUS Maria Sharapova def. flagicon|SRB Ana Ivanović, 7–5, 6–3
**Men's doubles: flagicon|ISR Jonathan Erlich & flagicon|ISR Andy Ram def. flagicon|FRA Arnaud Clément & flagicon|FRA Michaël Llodra, 7–5, 7–6(4)
**Women's doubles: flagicon|UKR Alyona Bondarenko & flagicon|UKR Kateryna Bondarenko def. flagicon|BLR Victoria Azarenka & flagicon|ISR Shahar Pe'er, 2–6, 6–1, 6–4
**Mixed doubles: flagicon|CHN Sun Tiantian & flagicon|SRB Nenad Zimonjić def. flagicon|IND Sania Mirza & flagicon|IND Mahesh Bhupathi, 7–6(4), 6–4

*French Open (May 26 – June 8)
**Men's singles: flagicon|ESP Rafael Nadal def. flagicon|SUI Roger Federer, 6–1, 6–3, 6–0
**Women's singles: flagicon|SRB Ana Ivanović def. flagicon|RUS Dinara Safina, 6–4, 6–3
**Men's doubles: flagicon|URU Pablo Cuevas & flagicon|PER Luis Horna def. flagicon|CAN Daniel Nestor & flagicon|SRB Nenad Zimonjić, 6–2, 6–3
**Women's doubles: flagicon|ESP Anabel Medina Garrigues & flagicon|ESP Virginia Ruano Pascual def. flagicon|AUS Casey Dellacqua & flagicon|ITA Francesca Schiavone, 2–6, 7–5, 6–4
**Mixed doubles: flagicon|BLR Victoria Azarenka & flagicon|USA Bob Bryan def. flagicon|SLO Katarina Srebotnik & flagicon|SRB Nenad Zimonjić, 6–2, 7–6(4)

*Wimbledon Championships (June 24 – July 6)
**Men's singles: flagicon|ESP Rafael Nadal def. flagicon|SUI Roger Federer, 6–4, 6–4, 6–7(5), 6–7(8), 9–7
**Women's singles: flagicon|USA Venus Williams def. flagicon|USA Serena Williams, 7–5, 6–4
**Men's doubles: flagicon|CAN Daniel Nestor & flagicon|SRB Nenad Zimonjić def. flagicon|SWE Jonas Björkman & flagicon|ZIM Kevin Ullyett, 7–6(12), 6–7(3), 6–3, 6–3
**Women's doubles: flagicon|USA Serena Williams & flagicon|USA Venus Williams def. flagicon|USA Lisa Raymond & flagicon|AUS Samantha Stosur, 6–2, 6–2
**Mixed doubles: flagicon|USA Bob Bryan & flagicon|AUS Samantha Stosur def. flagicon|USA Mike Bryan & flagicon|SLO Katarina Srebotnik, 7–5, 6–4

*U.S. Open (August 25 – September 7)
**Men's singles: flagicon|SUI Roger Federer def. flagicon|GBR Andy Murray, 6–2, 7–5, 6–2
**Women's singles: flagicon|USA Serena Williams def. flagicon|SRB Jelena Janković, 6–4, 7–5
**Men's doubles: flagicon|USA Bob Bryan & flagicon|USA Mike Bryan def. flagicon|CZE Lukáš Dlouhý & flagicon|IND Leander Paes, 7–6(5), 7–6(10)
**Women's doubles: flagicon|ZIM Cara Black & flagicon|USA Liezel Huber def. flagicon|USA Lisa Raymond & flagicon|AUS Samantha Stosur, 6–3, 7–6(6)
**Mixed doubles: flagicon|ZIM Cara Black & flagicon|IND Leander Paes def. flagicon|USA Liezel Huber & flagicon|GBR Jamie Murray, 7–6(6), 6–4

=Davis Cup=

World Group Draw

*S-Seeded
*U-Unseeded
* * Choice of ground

16TeamBracket

RD1=Round One
RD2=Quarterfinals
RD3=Semifinals
RD4=Final

RD1-seed01=S
RD1-team01=davis|RUS *
RD1-score01=3
RD1-seed02=U
RD1-team02=davis|SRB
RD1-score02=2

RD1-seed03=S
RD1-team03=davis|BEL
RD1-score03=2
RD1-seed04=U
RD1-team04=davis|CZE *
RD1-score04=3

RD1-seed05=S
RD1-team05=davis|ARG *
RD1-score05=4
RD1-seed06=U
RD1-team06=davis|GBR
RD1-score06=1

RD1-seed07=S
RD1-team07=davis|SWE
RD1-score07=3
RD1-seed08=U
RD1-team08=davis|ISR *
RD1-score08=2

RD1-seed09=U
RD1-team09=davis|KOR
RD1-score09=2
RD1-seed10=S
RD1-team10=davis|GER *
RD1-score10=3

RD1-seed11=U
RD1-team11=davis|PER *
RD1-score11=0
RD1-seed12=S
RD1-team12=davis|ESP
RD1-score12=5

RD1-seed13=U
RD1-team13=davis|ROM *
RD1-score13=0
RD1-seed14=S
RD1-team14=davis|FRA
RD1-score14=5

RD1-seed15=U
RD1-team15=davis|AUT *
RD1-score15=1
RD1-seed16=S
RD1-team16=davis|USA
RD1-score16=4

RD2-seed01=S
RD2-team01=davis|RUS *
RD2-score01=3
RD2-seed02=U
RD2-team02=davis|CZE
RD2-score02=2

RD2-seed03=S
RD2-team03=davis|ARG *
RD2-score03=4
RD2-seed04=S
RD2-team04=davis|SWE
RD2-score04=1

RD2-seed05=S
RD2-team05=davis|GER *
RD2-score05=1
RD2-seed06=S
RD2-team06=davis|ESP
RD2-score06=4

RD2-seed07=S
RD2-team07=davis|FRA
RD2-score07=1
RD2-seed08=S
RD2-team08=davis|USA *
RD2-score08=4

RD3-seed01=S
RD3-team01=davis|RUS
RD3-score01=2
RD3-seed02=S
RD3-team02=davis|ARG *
RD3-score02=3

RD3-seed03=S
RD3-team03=davis|ESP *
RD3-score03=4
RD3-seed04=S
RD3-team04=davis|USA
RD3-score04=1

RD4-seed01=S
RD4-team01=davis|ARG *
RD4-score01=
RD4-seed02=S
RD4-team02=davis|ESP
RD4-score02=

Final

DavisCupbox
team1=Argentina
team2=Spain
venue=Argentina
date=November 21 - November 23, 2008
surface=
score1=
score2=
R1= TennisMatch |T1P1= | | | | | |T2P1= | | | | |
R2= TennisMatch |T1P1= | | | | | |T2P1= | | | | |
R3= TennisMatch |T1P1= |T1P2= | | | | | |T2P1= |T2P2= | | | | |
R4= TennisMatch |T1P1= | | | | | |T2P1= | | | | |
R5= TennisMatch |T1P1= | | | | | |T2P1= | | | | |
team1-var=
team2-var=|

World Group Playoffs

Date: 19-21 September

Group B

Final

WorldTeamCupbox
team1=Russia
team2=Sweden
venue=Düsseldorf, Germany
date=24 May 2008, 12:00 CEST (UTC+2)
surface=clay
score1=1
score2=2
R1= TennisMatch3 |T1P1=Mikhail Youzhny |3 |1 | |T2P1=Robin Soderling |6 |6 |
R2= TennisMatch3 |T1P1=Igor Andreev |2 |6 |6 |T2P1=Thomas Johansson |6 |3 |4
R3= TennisMatch3 |T1P1=Dmitry Tursunov |T1P2=Mikhail Youzhny |6 |6.05 |9 |T2P1=Robert Lindstedt |T2P2=Robin Soderling |4 |7 |11

=Sony Ericsson WTA Tour=

=WTA Tour Championships=

*Doha, Qatar (November 4 – November 9)
**Singles:
**Doubles:

=WTA Tier 1 Series=

Exhibition Tournaments

AAMI Kooyong Classic

: flagicon|USA Andy Roddick def. flagicon|CYP Marcos Baghdatis, 7–5, 6–3

JB Group Classic

: flagicon|USA Venus Williams def. flagicon|RUS Maria Sharapova, 6–4, 6–3

Tradition-ICAP Liverpool International

* Men's Singles: flagicon|USA Amer Delic def. flagicon|CHI Paul Capdeville, 6–7(3), 6–4, [10–7]
* Women's Singles: flagicon|DEN Caroline Wozniacki def. flagicon|USA Ashley Harkleroad, 4–6, 6–4, [10–5]

Boodles Challenge

: flagicon|GER Nicolas Kiefer def. flagicon|ESP Tommy Robredo, 6–3, 3–6, [13–11]

Copa Chile

: To be played in 18-21 December

References

External links

* [http://www.atptennis.com/1/en/home/ Official website of the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP)]
* [http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/1/ Official website of the Women's Tennis Association (WTA)]
* [http://www.itftennis.com/ Official website of the International Tennis Federation (ITF)]