RELATED TENNIS ARTICLES

• Top-ranked Azarenka withdraws from Italian Open

  May 16, 2012

  ROME (AP) - Top-ranked Victoria Azarenka has withdrawn from the Italian Open because of a right shoulder injury.Tournament organizers say Azarenka made the decision after routing Shahar Peer of Israel 6-1, 6-2 in the second round Wednesday night.Azarenka has won four titles this year, including the Australian Open. She lost the Madrid Open final to Serena Williams on Sunday.

• WTA Championships seeks host city for 2014, beyond

  May 16, 2012

  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) - The women's tennis tour is opening the bidding process to find a host city for its season-ending WTA Championships starting in 2014.In a statement issued Wednesday, WTA Chairman and CEO Stacy Allaster calls this ``a chance for some city somewhere to step up on the world stage.''

• Federer, Serena Williams advance in Rome

  May 16, 2012

  ROME (AP) - Fresh off a title in Madrid and back at No. 2 in the rankings, Roger Federer defeated Carlos Berlocq 6-3, 6-4 in his opening match at the Italian Open on Wednesday.Seeking to win one of only three Masters 1000 events he's never claimed, Federer dealt with the swirling wind inside the 10,500-seat stadium at the Foro Italico, coming to the net often to finish points.