World No. 2 Rafael Nadal of Spain is hoping to launch the new year with a title-winning performance at the ATP Tour’s Chennai Open as he strives to carry his impressive form into 2007. The Chennai Open is a US$416,000 (?315,000) hard-court tournament that will also feature World No. 8 David Nalbandian of Argentina and former tournament winners Carlos Moya of Spain and Paradorn Srichaphan of…

Nikolay Davydenko wants to use the Qatar Open to boost his confidence ahead of the Australian Open. “This is the first tournament of the year and I am just looking to play well and gain in confidence ahead of the Australian Open,” the 25-year-old Russian said. The Qatar Open starts Monday in Doha, while the Australian Open begins in Melbourne on Jan.

Martina Hingis beat Sybille Bammer 6-0, 6-2 Sunday at the Australian Women’s Hardcourt Championship, where she started her successful comeback year. The former top-ranked Hingis returned here last season after three years on the sideline and reached the semifinals. She later reached the quarterfinals at the Australian Open, an event she won three straight times beginning in 1997.

Martina Hingis beat Austria’s Sybille Bammer 6-0, 6-2 on Sunday at the Australian Women’s Hardcourt Championship to cap off a successful comeback year. The former top-ranked Hingis returned here last season after three years on the sidelines and reached the semifinals. Weeks later, she made the quarterfinals at the Australian Open, an event she won three consecutive years from 1997.

Alicia Molik and Mark Philippoussis won their singles matches Saturday and Australia upset top-seeded Russia 2-1 in the opening match of the Hopman Cup mixed team tournament. Molik, who has battled an inner-ear problem, started with a 6-2, 2-6, 6-2 win over sixth-ranked Nadia Petrova. Philippoussis then beat Russian Davis Cup star Dmitry Tursunov 6-4, 7-6 to clinch the win ahead of the…

Martina Hingis confirmed she became engaged to Czech tennis player Radek Stepanek last month, telling a news conference here Friday she was surprised it had taken so long for people to notice her ring. “I’m happy,” said the former No. 1-ranked Hingis, showing off a diamond ring. “I was surprised when it was spotted right away (in Australia) because in Switzerland I’ve been walking around for a month…

Among Roger Federer’s resolutions for the new year: Winning a first French Open title and a fifth-straight Wimbledon crown. “(Winning the) French Open will definitely be a dream come true but on top of the list there is always Wimbledon and staying No. 1,” Federer said. “These are the ones that changed my life and made me the player and person I am today.” Federer reached his first final at Roland…

Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic announced his retirement from the national team Friday and will not play against the United States in next year’s Davis Cup match. Josef Nechutny, secretary general of the Czech tennis federation, confirmed the decision of Stepanek to retire. Stepanek, ranked No. 19, is the country’s second best player.

Three-time French Open champion Gustavo Kuerten will play in next month’s Movistar Open. Kuerten, who played sparingly this year because of injuries, received a wild-card invitation from organizers to play in the tournament in Vina del Mar, Chile. He also is set to play in the Feb. 12-18 Brasil Open. The 30-year-old Kuerten played only two singles matches this year, the last in a Challenger Series…

The United States will play at the Czech Republic on an indoor clay court in the first round of the 2007 Davis Cup. “We’re looking forward to yet another challenge against a top European team on clay,” U.S. captain Patrick McEnroe said Friday. “Having to win an away match on clay has been a challenge for us.” The best-of-five series will be Feb.

Three-time major champion Lindsay Davenport is pregnant and will miss at least the start of the 2007 tennis season. Davenport and her husband, Jonathan Leach, are expecting their first child in early summer, according to a news release issued Wednesday by her agent, Tony Godsick. There was no indication in the release whether or not the 30-year-old Davenport plans to play professionally again.

Zina Garrison will stay on as the United States Fed Cup captain under a one-year contract extension, The Associated Press has learned. The U.S. Tennis Association said Tuesday that incoming president Jane Brown Grimes will announce the 2007 Fed Cup captain on Wednesday. A person who works at the USTA and has firsthand knowledge of the deal confirmed to the AP that Grimes will announce that Garrison…

Nigel Sears is the new captain of Britain’s Fed Cup team. Sears, who replaces Colin Beecher, will continue in his role as coach of women’s tennis at the Lawn Tennis Association. Britain will face Bulgaria in a Europe-Africa Zone Group I series starting April 18. “This is a period of massive change in British tennis, and I am excited to be a part of the new set up,” Sears said Monday.