AFP/Houston


Kevin Anderson survived a five-hour rain delay to clinch a berth in the semi-finals of the US Clay Court Championships with a gruelling 7-5, 6-7 (6/8), 7-6 (7/3) win over Jeremy Chardy.
The 28-year-old South African didn’t wrap up Friday’s marathon quarter-final match until 11 hours after he stepped on court to face France’s Chardy.
“They were incredibly tough conditions,” Anderson said. “I could have made it a little easier on myself, but it’s something I can improve on going into the next match.
“I have to give myself credit, I think I did a great job sticking it out.”
Anderson now seeks to reach the 10th ATP Tour final of his career and his second this season when he faces world number 46 Jack Sock, of the US, in the semis. He also made the final earlier this year in Memphis.
Anderson served for the match at 5-4 in the second set before Chardy rallied to win the tiebreaker.
Anderson served for the victory again at 5-3 in the third set, only to get broken for a third time. He would need a deciding tiebreak to seal the match.
Sock followed up his upset victory over second seed Roberto Bautista Agut with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Santiago Giraldo.
It is the third time he has reached the semi-finals at an ATP event with each coming on a different surface, comprising the hardcourts in Atlanta, grass in Newport and now clay courts in Houston.
American Sam Querrey defeated top seed Feliciano Lopez 6-4, 6-1 and Fernando Verdasco, of Spain, toppled the Russian Teimuraz Gabashvili 6-2, 6-3.
Querrey blasted seven aces in the 64-minute match as he makes his third appearance in the Houston semi-finals.DPA
Barcelona: Andy Murray’s post-marriage training debut next week with newly hired “second” coach Jonas Bjorkman will take on a special significance after the Scot’s head coach Amelie Mauresmo revealed that she is expecting a child in late summer.
Mauresmo revealed no details of the situation, which could complicate Murray’s regime after returning to a world number three ranking thanks to a place in the Miami final last weekend against Novak Djokovic.
“Baby will be here in August! #pregnant So happy,” she tweeted.
Murray’s handlers confirmed he was aware of the situation.
The status of Mauresmo, 35, a two-time grand slam winner, will now raise questions as to how long she can carry on from the sidelines for Murray. The birth could come only weeks after the mid-July end of Wimbledon.
And the new mother would certainly be an unlikely presence at the US Open which begins in late August.  
Suddenly, last month’s hiring of former Swedish ace Bjorkman falls nicely into place.
The new mentor and Murray are due to work on clay in Spain after the Scot’s weekend wedding to girlfriend Kim Sears; Murray is missing next week’s Monte Carlo Masters to start his clay preparation.
His first clay event is the Munich ATP tournament from April 27.
French media report that Mauresmo will travel at the weekend to Ostrava in her role as French Fed Cup captain to prepare for next weekend’s tie against the Czech Republic.
Murray has taken pains in recent months to praise Mauresmo, who joined his team this season, at every opportunity.
“You can talk about Amelie’s accomplishments, she won a lot. She was number one in the world, she won multiple Grand Slams, she had a creative game style,” said Murray.
“As a person, she is very nice, very easy to communicate with, but she is firm as well. So those are the reasons I wanted to give it a shot.”
Monte Carlo: While Andy Murray celebrates his weekend marriage, the rest of the ATP elite are girding for battle on the clay, with Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal leading the field as the Monte Carlo Masters begins today.
Murray, who moved back to third in the world after a Miami final last weekend against in-form number one Djokovic, will delay the start of his clay campaign as he misses the European opening. Djokovic is riding a massive wave of form, with the Serb having already won the Australian Open and completing an historic third trophy double at Indian Wells and Miami.
With his newborn son now on the road with the family and his tennis firing perfectly, the 27-year-old is totally content.
“It’s just the beginning, I don’t want to predict anything. I don’t want to put some additional unnecessary pressure on myself,” the Monte Carlo-based player said.
“There is already a lot of expectations of course. Everywhere I go I have to deal with it.
“I could not ask for a better start of the season winning three big titles. Hopefully I’m able to use this for the claycourts.
“That’s extremely important for me, obviously, leading up to French (the only Grand Slam he has never won). I feel good about myself right now on the court, and just going to take it slowly, one tournament at a time.”
Last year’s finalist Federer is back after skipping Miami as a strategic move and getting in a training block at home with Austrian Dominic Thiem.
Federer was beaten a year ago by compatriot Stan Wawrinka, who won the title but has failed to emerge as a consistent top five contender.
The Swiss takes the seventh seeding at the seaside Country Club.
A major question mark has to hang over eight-time winner Rafael Nadal, the third seed who has not lifted the title here since 2012.
Since winning his ninth Roland Garros ten months ago, the Spaniard’s only title was a small South American clay event in February.
Nadal, his battered body now a constant issue, is trying to bounce back after poor hardcourt showings in the US, exiting in the Indian Wells quarters and third round in Miami.
The 28-year-old has been back on the familiar clay at home in Mallorca and needs a deep run in the Principality to help cement his fragile confidence. Canadian Milos Raonic takes the fourth seeding in a draw where the top eight seeds have first-round byes.
The big server is trailed by number five David Ferrer of Spain, Czech Tomas Berdych in sixth seeding, and with 2014 Grand Slam winners Wawrinka and Marin Cilic closing out the elite grouping. Missing will be Argentine Juan Martin del Potro, whose right wrist surgery comeback in Miami lasted for only one match.
Japan’s fourth-ranked Kei Nishikori is also absent, while Frenchman Richard Gasquet is missing as he battles more back problems.
But the French will have Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Gael Monfils and Giles Simon in the mix.
Seedings:
Novak Djokovic (SRB x1), Roger Federer (SUI x2), Rafael Nadal (ESP x3), Milos Raonic (CAN x4), David Ferrer (ESP x5), Tomas Berdych (CZE x6), Stan Wawrinka (SUI x7), Marin Cilic (CRO x8), Grigor Dimitrov (BUL x9), Gilles Simon (FRA x10), Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA x11), Roberto Bautista-Agut (ESP x12), Ernests Gulbis (LAT x13), Gael Monfils (FRA x14), John Isner (USA x15), Tommy Robredo (ESP x16)