By wire sources
Radwanska defeats Goerges, wins Dubai title
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland won her eighth career WTA title, defeating Julia Goerges of Germany 7-5, 6-4 in the Dubai Tennis Championships final on Saturday.
Radwanska will rise one place to a career-best No. 5 when the world rankings are released Monday.
The fifth-seeded Radwanska led in both sets, but it took her almost two hours to overcome the unseeded Goerges.
The German rallied on her powerful forehand, but Radwanska patiently remained on the baseline to watch Goerges’ unsuccessful forays to the net, rushing her shots and returning them long and wide.
Radwanska led 4-1 in the second set. Goerges won three more games before Radwanska wrapped up the second win over her in a month.
Del Potro beats Tsonga in semifinal in Marseille
MARSEILLE, France — Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina defeated top-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France 6-4, 6-7 (9), 6-3 in an Open 13 semifinal on Saturday.
Del Potro will face 2010 champion Michael Llodra of France, who defeated third-seeded Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia 6-4, 7-6 (10). Llodra saved six set points in the tiebreaker and converted his first match point when Tipsarevic hit a forehand wide.
Tsonga outslugged del Potro with 26 aces to 15 but made too many unforced errors against the 2009 U.S. Open champion, who reached his second final in two weeks.
Del Potro broke for a 2-0 lead in the final set when Tsonga netted a backhand volley. He clinched the victory on a backhand from Tsonga that sailed wide.
Defending champ Almagro into Buenos Aires final
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Defending champion Nicolas Almagro will meet fellow Spaniard David Ferrer in the Copa Claro final.
No. 2 seed Almagro defeated Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 on Saturday, and No. 1 Ferrer cruised past local favorite David Nalbandian of Argentina 6-1, 6-4.
Almagro won the Brazil Open last weekend for his 11th ATP title — all on clay — and will go for No. 12 today.
Almagro and Wawrinka remained on serve in the final set until Almagro broke in the last game.
Ferrer’s victory was lopsided.
He won the first set in 20 minutes, with Nalbandian unable to find his stroke in front of his boisterous home fans.
The second set was stopped for 25 minutes during the fifth game when high winds and light rain swept across the outdoor venue in central Buenos Aires. At the time it was 2-2, and 30-30 with Nalbandian serving.
Nalbandian held serve but was broken in the seventh game, damaging his chances.
Raonic downs Becker in Memphis semifinal
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Canadian Milos Raonic needed only 75 minutes to beat Benjamin Becker of Germany 6-4, 6-4 Saturday in the semifinals of the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships and reach his second final in as many weeks.
Raonic won at San Jose last week and is 15-1 in match play this year. Ranked 35th in the world, the ATP World Tour’s first multiple winner this season will try to win his third title today against Austrian Jurgen Melzer, a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 winner over No. 3 seed Radek Stepanek.
On the women’s side, Sofia Arvidsson of Sweden won her second career title by defeating Marina Erakovic of New Zealand 6-3, 6-4 Saturday night in the Memphis International. Arvidsson’s first title came here in 2006, and she also was a runner-up to Maria Sharapova in Memphis in 2010.
By wire sources