TENNIS in DEPTH.

Bethanie Mattek-Sands is currently ranked 59 in singles, and 17 in doubles, which places her as the third ranked American female behind the two Williams sisters. She was a member of the USA Fed Cup Team in 2010 winning both a singles and doubles rubber against Russia in the semi-final to help Team USA to victory and a place against two-time Champions Italy in the Final. In 2010 she also won her 8th WTA Tour Doubles title.

Mattek-Sands, one of the colourful characters on the WTA Tour, has been known for her quirky tennis outfits, which often include wearing knee-high socks. She will partner John Isner to represent the USA in Perth.

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Gisela Dulko and her boyfriend Fernando Gago, a Real Madrid soccer player, participated in a photoshoot for Gente Magazine in Argentina.

The couple,seen here, were walking around the beautiful neighborhood of Tigre, where Dulko lives where she is not in Spain.

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Andy Murray has claimed he would go into a probable semi-final against Rafael Nadal at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals on Saturday with little chance of beating the world number one. The 23-year-old’s extraordinary comments came after a 6-2 6-2 win over David Ferrer in the final Group B match on Thursday night booked his place in the last four at the O2 Arena in London as runner-up to Roger Federer. Murray’s opponent will not be decided until Group A is concluded today but Nadal is in pole position to top the table and face the Scot next after winning his opening two matches.

Fifth seed Murray said: “I’ll try to win but I’m not sure I’ve got a whole lot of chance if I play against him. He’s obviously the best player in the world. I’ve watched his matches here, he’s been playing unbelievably well. “I don’t seem to beat those guys in the big matches. So I’m going to have to play my best tennis against him to win. I need to do it in a big match, in the semis.” Murray’s attitude is even more baffling given he has won four of their last five meetings on hard courts, including on his way to retaining his Masters title in Toronto in August. However, the comments may be more about his displeasure with the reaction to his 6-4 6-2 loss against Roger Federer on Tuesday, when his performance was heavily criticised and his ability to win big matches against the best was questioned again. Murray, who missed out on the semi-finals last year by one game, went into the match with Ferrer knowing he needed only to win a set to qualify after Federer’s 7-6 (7/5) 6-3 victory over Robin Soderling. He promptly lost the opening two games and admitted the unfamiliar scenario had affected him.

“It does change your mindset a little bit,” Murray said. “It’s very easy to say you’ve just got to win the match. But when you know what’s at stake, you want to get off to a good start. It’s just very different to anything we’re used to normally.” Federer had the luxury of knowing things were entirely in his hands, with the world number two needing one set to be sure of topping the group. There were a few wobbly moments from the four-time champion but he won fairly comfortably in the end against Soderling to ensure he qualified for the last four without dropping a set.

The Australian Open winner is now hoping to finish the season as he started it by lifting a trophy on the big stage. Federer, 29, said: “Starting the season great in Australia, finishing the season great in London, the circle would be sort of closed. Then again, I’m still two matches away, two really tough matches.” Nadal will be confirmed as Murray’s semi-final opponent if he beats Tomas Berdych on Friday afternoon, but the group situation means the Czech, Novak Djokovic and Andy Roddick – who meet in the evening – are all still in contention

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Roger Federer became the first singles player to book his semi-final spot at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals with a 7-6 (7/5) 6-3 victory over Robin Soderling at the O2 Arena in London on Thursday. The result was also good news for British number one Andy Murray, who now knows he needs only to win a set against David Ferrer to make the last four on home soil at the end-of-season showpiece for the first time. Federer said: “Playing against Robin’s never easy, he’s a big hitter, but I played really well against a player who’s in great shape also so I’m really pleased.”

Soderling knew that realistically he needed to win the match to stay in contention for a last-four spot and he came out with all guns blazing, troubling Federer early on. The Swede was struggling to find first serves, though, and that was to cost him in his second service game as he just overcooked a volley to give Federer the first break. Just how well the world number two played in his demolition of Andy Murray had got a little lost amid the criticism of the Scot’s performance, and Soderling must have feared the first set was already out of his reach. But this time Federer blinked and a couple of forehand errors allowed Soderling to break back for 4-4. Despite the close nature of the match, it lacked a certain intensity that developed only during the first-set tie-break. The Swiss made the first move to lead 3-2 after a brilliant rally but on his first set point he played an uncharacteristically sloppy forehand, letting Soderling right back into the game. And he looked set to level at 6-6 when he took charge of the rally and came to the net but, instead of putting away Federer’s scrambled backhand, he left it, and then watched in horror as the ball dropped well inside the line.

A set was all Federer needed to be sure of winning Group B but there was still a match to be won, and he showed he was not about to let his opponent off the hook by saving two break points in the opening game of the second set. Soderling thought he had taken the second one with a searing forehand down the line but Federer challenged the call and the replay showed the ball to be a fraction wide. History was certainly not on the Swede’s side, with his victory over Federer at this year’s French Open his only one in 15 attempts, while their most recent meeting in Shanghai last month saw Soderling thrashed 6-1 6-1. The fourth seed dug deep to save two break points in the fourth game but four games later he was staring down the barrel again as Federer came out on top of a stunning rally, and this time the world number two took the break with a backhand pass that was just too good for his opponent. That left the 29-year-old serving for the match, and he sealed victory with the minimum of fuss when Soderling netted a return.

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Kimiko Date Krumm is targeting the Grand Slams in what is set to be the 40-year-old’s final season on the WTA Tour in 2011. The former top-10 ranked player returned to the tour this year following a 12-year absence, proving herself to still be a force as she ended the season as world number 46. However, the Japanese veteran admitted the efforts have taken their toll and she intends to play a more selective schedule next season. “I’m not a robot, I’m only human,” said Date Krumm, after losing in the semi-finals of the Asian Games in Guangzhou. “It’s been a good season but I’m exhausted now. “I’m not sure whether or not I can manage to play until the end of next season. I need to recharge before I can think of competing next year. “Hopefully I can have some good results at the Grand Slams.” Japan’s most successful player produced a number of fine efforts this year, including a first round victory at the US Open against former number one Dinara Safina.

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David Ferrer has promised Andy Murray a fight as the battle for semi-final places at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals comes to a head at London’s O2 Arena on Thursday night. The combination of results so far in Group B means all four players still have a chance to qualify, although only a thrashing for Roger Federer at the hands of Robin Soderling this afternoon could deny the 29-year-old Swiss a last-four spot. Murray, who is looking to bounce back from his hugely disappointing 6-4 6-2 loss to Federer on Tuesday, will at least know what he needs to do when he takes to the court against Ferrer. A win for Soderling would eliminate Ferrer and mean Murray must beat the Spaniard and then hope things work out in his favour. Defeat for the Swede against Federer, meanwhile, would leave the home hope needing only to win a set against Ferrer to qualify for the semi-finals for the second time in his career. Ferrer has yet to win a set at this year’s tournament but the Spaniard is renowned for his dogged determination and Murray has lost three of their four previous matches. His defeats have all come on clay, though, with the world number five claiming victory in their only previous meeting on hard courts.

Ferrer said: “I have a good record (against Murray) on clay, not on hard court. But I am confident. I finished the season in the top 10 and I don’t have any problems, physical or mental. “I know it will be a very difficult match. But it’s the same with all the players, we are the eight top players of the world. I will give everything, I will fight.” Murray will certainly need to up his game following his performance against Federer, when he was particularly let down by his serving and returning. The Scot said: “It’s a very tough match. He’s a really tough player. He makes many, many balls and he’s incredibly consistent. “I’ll have to try to use my weapons well. I have to serve well against him and get some free points.”

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Defending champion Serena Williams has pulled out of January’s Australian Open because of a longstanding foot injury. Williams had surgery after cutting her foot on glass in a restaurant while celebrating winning Wimbledon. “As I recently learned, pushing myself back into my intense training too early only caused further injury,” Williams said in a statement. “It is imperative for my health that I continue to work with my doctors to ensure my foot heals.”

The 29-year-old American, who has not played competitively since winning a fourth Wimbledon crown in July, has also withdrawn from the Hopman Cup, which acts as a warm-up event for the year’s opening Grand Slam event. “The decision, though heavy on my heart, is the right one,” added five-time Australian Open champion Williams. “I am praying for a healthy recovery and I promise my Aussie fans and my fans around the world that I will be back better than ever as soon as I can be. Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley said: “Serena is a great champion and we will miss her. “We send her our very best wishes for a speedy recovery.”

The 2011 tournament begins on Monday 17 January.

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Rafael Nadal put himself in pole position to qualify for the knockout stage of ATP World Tour Finals with a victory over Novak Djokovic that was aided by the Serb suffering from an eye problem. The world number one prevailed 7-5 6-2 in one hour 51 minutes to go top of Group A on two wins, while Djokovic is level with Tomas Berdych on one win after he beat Andy Roddick in the afternoon match. Nadal broke serve in game five of the first set but Djokovic hit straight back before requiring treatment for a complaint related to his right contact lens. The world number three looked far from comfortable as Nadal broke again for 6-5, served out the opener, and then struck two decisive blows at the start of the second set to help him ease home. “It was a very good match for me,” the Spaniard said. “I’m very sorry for Novak. I wish him all the best for his eyes. This was my best match in London. The first 10 games were very level but I’m just very happy with the two victories.”

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