tennis roundup | Monday’s events

Cincinnati Open

MASON, Ohio

Jelena Jankovic is hoping to get tournament-tough with a long string of matches. Kim Clijsters just wants to get back into the flow. Living up to their Cincinnati Open seeds will help both players reach their goals. The second-ranked Jankovic is the defending champion and No. 1 seed and the seventh-ranked Clijsters is seeded fourth in the $2 million Western & Southern Financial Group Women’s Open, which started Monday. Jankovic is coming off a first-round loss last week in San Diego, her first match since injuring her left ankle in the second round of a tournament in Slovenia in mid-July. “My ankle’s OK,” said Jankovic, who also had to retire from her fourth-round match at Wimbledon with lower back problems. “I’ve been able to practice the last couple of days. Now, it’s feeling good. I’m looking forward to getting back to playing.” The former No. 1 player, who got a first-round bye, is scheduled to play qualifier Vera Dushevina in the second round. The 71st-ranked Dushevina advanced in straight sets, beating Anastasia Rodionova 6-2, 7-6 (7) on Monday. Ana Ivanovic lost the first set and was down 2-4 in the second before charging back to win that set in a tiebreaker and go on to upset ninth-seeded Victoria Azarenka 2-6, 7-6 (6), 6-2 in a grueling first-round match that lasted 2:14 on Monday night.

Rogers Cup

TORONTO

Since his last competitive match, Roger Federer has fought off aches and illness, fallen from No. 1 in the rankings and hired a coach. Now his body feels better. Whether his game is improved will be seen starting today, when he begins play at the Rogers Cup in the second round. “Being ranked No. 3 in the world is something I haven’t been in a very long time,” Federer said. “I’m doing all the right things. It’s, to me, just a matter of time. But guys are getting good and it’s inspiring for me also to get better.” Federer has won 62 singles titles on the ATP World Tour, but only one this year. He took the Australian Open in January — his 16th Grand Slam title.

Associated Press