DAILY TENNIS NEWS - BRIEFS

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Djokovic is Ready for Monte Carlo

Novak Djokovic is ready for his return to the Monte Carlo Masters, with the No. 1 keen to play the event he missed a year ago as he rested.

"It feels good to be back, and to be back on clay," said Djokovic, who lives in Monaco. "But it's the surface that I grew up on, in Serbia that's all we had until a few years ago. And I like to slide as well."

Federer Taking His Time to Begin the Clay Court Circuit

Roger Federer won't start his clay season for another three weeks, when the No. 3 plays the Madrid Masters. And while the rest of the ATP elite are arriving in rainy Monte Carlo the first Masters 1000 of the spring clay season, the Swiss has sent along a few holiday snaps taken during his current time off.

Kvitova Wants to Stop Her Ranking Drop When She Plays Fed Cup This Week

Petra Kvitova has been trying to stop the drop in a WTA ranking which has fallen to fifth in the world by completing a fortnight of training in Turkey. The Czech who broke through with a 2011 Wimbledon title admits that she has work to do as she tries to catch leader Victoria Azarenka and No. 2 Maria Sharapova.

Ljubicic To Call it a Career at Monte Carlo

Ivan Ljubicic will wrap up his tennis career at age 33 this week as he plays at home in the Monte Carlo Masters. The Croatian ranked 41st, who now has two small children and is getting tired of the travel, will end his career on the clay of the principality.

Player-Coach Knowles Transitioning With Fish

Doubles standout Mark Knowles is pleased to be his friend Mardy Fish's new coach, but given that he is still playing, it's not an easy transition. Some days, the former doubles No. 1 can focus on his own game, but every day he has to put his coaching lenses on and keep his mind on what Fish needs.

"It's totally different experience," the 40-year-old Knowles told Daily Tennis. "Tennis is a very selfish world, even when you are playing doubles because you are intent on focusing on what it will take to play your best. It's been biggest adjustment for me as I have to have my coaching hat on all times, whether scouting other players and practicing with Mardy, and then keeping it in a time frame for me to be also able to work on my game. It's like working two jobs and working overtime and hopefully that's as close as I'll get to it in my lifetime. But I felt it was a transition I was comfortable doing during."

Tryout s Have Begun for Madrid Ball Boys and Girls

The auditions for ball boys and girls has begun. In front of the official jury Friday the 43 ball boy and girl candidates for the Mutua Madrid Open took part in the first test.

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RESULTS - MEN

SUNDAY
Casablanca
Singles - Final
(3) P Andujar def. (7) A Ramos 6-1 7-6(7-5)

Houston
Singles - Final
(4) J Monaco def. (2) J Isner 6-2 3-6 6-3

Monte Carlo
Singles - First Round
(9) G Simon def. (WC) B Balleretired6-3 6-2
V Troicki def. (WC) J Lisnard 6-3 6-1
I Dodig def. I Ljubicic 6-0 6-3

RESULTS - WOMEN

SUNDAY
Barcelona
Singles - Final
(7) Sara Errani def. (3) Dominika Cibulkova 6-2 6-2
Doubles - Final
(1) Errani/Vinci def. Pennetta/Schiavone 6-0 6-2

Copenhagen
Singles - Final
(2) Angelique Kerber def. (1) Caroline Wozniacki 6-4 6-4
Doubles - Final
(3) Date-Krumm/Fujiwara def. Arvidsson/Kanepi 6-2 4-6 10-5 (Match TB)

Today's tennis results can be found at www.tennisnews.com

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