Eastbourne

Venus Williams lost to Daniela Hantuchova , 6-2, 5-7, 6-2, in the quarterfinals at Eastbourne, England, on Thursday, exiting a day after her sister, Serena , was defeated but still pleased with her Wimbledon preparation in her return to tennis. Both sisters are back after lengthy injury breaks. Venus was playing her first event in five months since retiring because of hip and abdominal injuries during the Australian Open in January. Venus said she heads to Wimbledon with plenty of confidence as she targets a sixth title at the All England Club.

NEW YORK - Andy Roddick, who turned 30 on Thursday, announced that whenever he is finished playing in this U.S. Open, his tennis career will be over. Roddick, who won his only major title at the U.S. Open in 2003 and who was a finalist at the Open in 2006 as well as being runner-up three times at Wimbledon, said he made his decision after winning his first round here. Roddick, seeded 20th, is scheduled to play Australian teenager Bernard Tomic on Friday night at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Chris Evert, who pulled out of the French Open tennis tournament less than two weeks ago, hinting at imminent retirement, will play at Wimbledon later this month. The Women's International Tennis Assn. said that Evert, 34, would go to Wimbledon after competing in a grass-court tournament at Eastbourne in southern England, used by many players as a warm-up for the Grand Slam event. The Eastbourne tournament starts June 19, Wimbledon June 26. Evert flew back to the United States after losing to Austrian teen-ager Barbara Paulus in the European Open at Geneva last month and said she would reconsider her schedule for the rest of the year.

Andy Roddick's confidence was boosted by winning the Eastbourne Championships on the eve of Wimbledon when he beat defending champion Andreas Seppi of Italy, 6-3, 6-2, in the final in England. Tamira Paszek of Austria fought off five match points to defeat fifth-seeded Angelique Kerber of Germany, 5-7, 6-3, 7-5, in the women's final. Roddick entered the event as a wild card after losing his opening match at Queen's Club last week, a defeat that stretched his losing streak to six matches dating to mid-March.

Albert Pelissier, a 68-year-old Frenchman, shot a 28-over par 97 at the Monte Carlo Open golf tournament. It was the most on the European circuit in recent memory. Said Pelissier: "I never lost a ball today, but my putting let me down." Just bad timing? No. "I lost my putting in Mexico City in 1953." Which way to Centre Court? Skip Bayless of the Dallas Times Herald is in London to watch Wimbledon. Wrote Bayless: "Ever look at a map of London?

NEW YORK - Andy Roddick, who turned 30 on Thursday, announced that whenever he is finished playing in this U.S. Open, his tennis career will be over. Roddick, who won his only major title at the U.S. Open in 2003 and who was a finalist at the Open in 2006 as well as being runner-up three times at Wimbledon, said he made his decision after winning his first round here. Roddick, seeded 20th, is scheduled to play Australian teenager Bernard Tomic on Friday night at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Patrick Rafter, the two highest seeded players in the tournament, were defeated Saturday in the semifinals of the Gerry Weber Open at Halle, Germany. Sweden's Thomas Johansson defeated Kafelnikov, 6-3, 5-7, 6-2, his seventh consecutive victory over the Russian. France's Fabrice Santoro downed Rafter, 7-5, 6-4, at the $1-million Wimbledon tuneup. Today's title match will pit Santoro, ranked 29th in the ATP Champions Race, against Johansson, ranked 32nd.

Serena Williams , who hasn't played a tennis tournament since winning Wimbledon in 2010, announced Monday that she plans to play Wimbledon, which begins June 20, and a tournament in Eastbourne next week as preparation. "I am so excited to be healthy enough to compete again," Williams said in a statement. "These past 12 months have been extremely tough and character-building. I have so much to be grateful for. I'm thankful to my family, friends and fans for all of their support.

It's been three years since Monica Seles played at Wimbledon and on Saturday she finished her preparation for grass-court tennis' most important fortnight by defeating Mary Joe Fernandez, 6-0, 6-2, in 45 minutes in the finals of the Eastbourne tournament in England. Seles won the first 11 points and 20 of the first 22. Though she has an ailing shoulder and is not in the best of shape, Seles swept through this tournament without losing a set.

Martina Navratilova, who retired in 1994 after winning a record 167 singles titles, received a wild card Friday to play in next week's Eastbourne tournament. "I'm very excited," she said. "It should be a whole lot of fun." Navratilova was already in England practicing for the doubles draw with partner Natasha Zvereva when she learned of her singles berth. The grass-court event starts Monday.

Venus Williams lost to Daniela Hantuchova , 6-2, 5-7, 6-2, in the quarterfinals at Eastbourne, England, on Thursday, exiting a day after her sister, Serena , was defeated but still pleased with her Wimbledon preparation in her return to tennis. Both sisters are back after lengthy injury breaks. Venus was playing her first event in five months since retiring because of hip and abdominal injuries during the Australian Open in January. Venus said she heads to Wimbledon with plenty of confidence as she targets a sixth title at the All England Club.

Serena Williams , who hasn't played a tennis tournament since winning Wimbledon in 2010, announced Monday that she plans to play Wimbledon, which begins June 20, and a tournament in Eastbourne next week as preparation. "I am so excited to be healthy enough to compete again," Williams said in a statement. "These past 12 months have been extremely tough and character-building. I have so much to be grateful for. I'm thankful to my family, friends and fans for all of their support.

Justine Henin tuned up for Wimbledon by beating Germany's Andrea Petkovic , 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, to win the UNICEF Open on Saturday at Den Bosch, Netherlands, for her first grass-court title in three years. Petkovic broke the top-seeded Belgian in the second game of the final set before holding serve for a comfortable 3-0 lead. But Henin held serve and blasted a forehand winner on her way to breaking the German in the fifth game. Henin, who did not drop a set or face a tiebreak heading into the final, completed a stunning rally by breaking Petkovic in the ninth game.

Martina Navratilova, who retired in 1994 after winning a record 167 singles titles, received a wild card Friday to play in next week's Eastbourne tournament. "I'm very excited," she said. "It should be a whole lot of fun." Navratilova was already in England practicing for the doubles draw with partner Natasha Zvereva when she learned of her singles berth. The grass-court event starts Monday.

Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Patrick Rafter, the two highest seeded players in the tournament, were defeated Saturday in the semifinals of the Gerry Weber Open at Halle, Germany. Sweden's Thomas Johansson defeated Kafelnikov, 6-3, 5-7, 6-2, his seventh consecutive victory over the Russian. France's Fabrice Santoro downed Rafter, 7-5, 6-4, at the $1-million Wimbledon tuneup. Today's title match will pit Santoro, ranked 29th in the ATP Champions Race, against Johansson, ranked 32nd.

Jana Novotna completed her preparations for Wimbledon by defeating Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, 6-1, 7-5, Saturday to win the Eastbourne grass-court title at Eastbourne, England. It was her 21st career title, her second of the year and--most importantly--her first on grass, meaning she has now won titles on every surface. "If I do well at Eastbourne, I do well at Wimbledon," said the top-seeded Czech, who received $79,000 for her victory.

Battling gusty winds, Martina Navratilova avenged one of her rare losses Saturday. The top-seeded Navratilova defeated fifth-seeded Helena Sukova of Czechoslovakia, 6-4, 6-3, to win the $175,000 women's grass court tournament at Eastbourne, England, for the fourth straight year. Sukova, a 20-year-old Czech, was the last player to beat Navratilova on grass, defeating her in the Australian Open last December.

Martina Navratilova, queen of grass-court tennis, fought off another young pretender to her throne Saturday, rallying from an early deficit to defeat Arantxa Sanchez Vicario. Navratilova won, 6-4, 6-4, for her 10th championship at the $350,000 Eastbourne tournament, a tuneup event for Wimbledon. It was the 156th singles title of her career, leaving her one behind Chris Evert's record.

It's been three years since Monica Seles played at Wimbledon and on Saturday she finished her preparation for grass-court tennis' most important fortnight by defeating Mary Joe Fernandez, 6-0, 6-2, in 45 minutes in the finals of the Eastbourne tournament in England. Seles won the first 11 points and 20 of the first 22. Though she has an ailing shoulder and is not in the best of shape, Seles swept through this tournament without losing a set.

For Martina Navratilova, it was a familiar first step. First Eastbourne, then Wimbledon. Seven of Navratilova's nine Wimbledon crowns have followed triumphs on the grass courts at Eastbourne, England. On Saturday, the top-seeded Navratilova captured a record 11th singles title in this warm-up tournament, defeating Miriam Oremans of the Netherlands, 2-6, 6-2, 6-3. It was the 164th title of her career. Now it's on to Wimbledon, where Navratilova is seeded No.