Novak Djokovic Stops Rafael Nadal To Win ATP World Tour Finals - Tuesday with Bob Greene

By Bob Greene

STARS

Novak Djokovic beat Rafael Nadal 6-3 6-4 to win the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London, Great Britain

Alison Van Uytvanck beat Yanina Wickmayer 6-4 6-2 to win the OEC Taipei WTA Ladies Open

Victor Estrella Burgos beat Thomaz Bellucci 6-3 3-0 retired to win the Seguros Bolivar Open in Bogotá, Colombia

SAYING

“This can serve as a great platform for 2014 season. I’m extra motivated and inspired to work and get myself, first of all, rested and recovered in the off season, and then work on my game and get ready for Australian Open.” – Novak Djokovic, after beating Rafael Nadal to win the ATP World Tour Finals.

“One thing that made the difference in today’s match was the serve. I didn’t serve well, he served well. On this kind of court, the first shot is very important and he hit that first shot much better than me.” – Rafael Nadal.

“All in all, (when) you get down to a match tiebreak, which we’ve been playing all week, you’re dancing with the devil. It didn’t go our way there at the end.” – Mike Bryan, who with twin brother Bob lost the doubles title match to Spain’s David Marrero and Fernando Verdasco.

“I was a bit nervous in the beginning, and I think she was as well, with two Belgians playing against each other in a final. But I broke her in the first game of the match, which was a great start for me because I was serving well all week and I knew it would be hard for her to break me. Then I got two breaks immediately in the second set, which was even better.” – Alison Van Uytvanck, after beating fellow Belgian Yanina Wickmayer to win a tournament in Taipei, Taiwan.

“I did what I could, but she was just too good. She played too well for me today and she’s a great up-and-coming player.” – Yanina Wickmayer.

“I feel I am at my place. I think that I deserve where I am and what I got this year. … I still think that I can improve. I just need to find the way to do it for next year.” – Stanislas Wawrinka, who finished the year a career-high eighth in the world.

“Clearly Grand Slams are going to be part of my highlights, hoping to sort of make sure I play my best there with some selective other events that I consider important to me, some of the Masters 1000s. Then hopefully I have something left for the World Tour Finals at the end of next year because that’s clearly a goal.” – Roger Federer, looking forward to 2014.

“It’s always tough playing against a qualifier – they have already played two or three times, they have already played on the surface and played with these balls, too. So it took me a little bit of time to adjust to all these things, but when I did find my rhythm, it was going well for me. I had my chances in the third set, but I think I wasn’t focused enough – and she played very well too. – Kimiko Date-Krumm, after losing her first-round match at the OEC Taipei WTA Ladies Open to qualifier Valeria Solovyeva 6-2 2-6 6-4.

“We are 35 and keep working hard. It doesn’t get old.” – Bob Bryan, after he and brother Mike received the ATP World Tour Doubles of the Year award for the fifth consecutive year.

“I went for it when I had a chance for a breakpoint in the first set. Maybe I shouldn’t have, but I did. No regrets there, I guess. I just struggled to stay consistent enough throughout the match, and that’s why he deserved to win. He was better today.” – Roger Federer, who missed long when he had a break point in his loss to Rafael Nadal.

“For this year, my goal was trying to play in the same level (as) the top guys. I think I beat all of them. I am the only player who beat all of them in this season, which means something for me.” – Juan Martin del Potro, who in 2013 had victories over the top five players in the world: Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and David Ferrer.

“When I was young there weren’t so many Asian players in the world, and people never thought we could be number one or get a Grand Slam title. She already has a Grand Slam title, and many, many years she’s been in the Top 10 and Top 5. And now she’s number three. It’s a big success and I really want to congratulate her. – Kimiko Date-Krumm, on Li Na, who surpassed Date-Krumm as being the highest-ranked Asian player.

SERB-PERB

Novak Djokovic put an exclamation point on the end of his season and a question mark on Rafael Nadal’s. Oh, the Spaniard finished year ranked number one in the world, and deservedly so. But Djokovic showed once again that his big game put him at number one-A, or something closer than that. The Serbian right-hander crushed Nadal 6-3 6-4 to retain his Finals title, while continuing Nadal’s frustration, the Spanish left-hander having never won the ATP season-ender. Both players had entered the title match with perfect 4-0 records, having perfectly run through the round-robin portion of the elite eight-player even, then knocking off Swiss foes in the semifinals. But Djokovic quickly made sure their 39^th career meeting was one-sided – the Serb’s side. “I think at the beginning he was playing much better than me, the first three games no doubt,” Nadal said. “After that I didn’t see the difference.” He apparently hadn’t looked at the scorecard. Djokovic finished with 19 winners, Nadal only nine. The Serb committed fewer unforced errors and served much better than his Spanish foe, who had some costly double faults when he was broken early in the second set. “We push each other to the limit (and) we make each other better,” Djokovic said. “We make each other work harder on our games, especially when we play against each other. It’s always a huge challenge.” Nadal saved a match point at 5-3 and another when he chased down a drop shot at 5-4. But Djokovic blasted his sixth ace of the night, and then thrust his arms victoriously into the air when a Nadal forehand sailed just wide.

It may have been the ATP World Tour season finale, but Djokovic has one more battle to fight. He will compete for Serbia against the Czech Republic in the Davis Cup final this weekend. The tie will be held in Belgrade, Serbia. “This is definitely the best possible way that I can finish the season. Of course, the official ATP season, not including the Davis Cup final that I have in a few days’ time, where, of course, I hope that we can bring another title to our country,” Djokovic said.

SPANISH GOLD

By the time Rafael Nadal took to the court against Novak Djokovic, Spain had already captured the winner’s trophy at the Barclays ATP World Tour Final. That’s because David Marrero and Fernando Verdasco beat top-seeded American brothers Bob and Mike Bryan 7-5 6-7 (3) 10-7 (match tiebreak) in the doubles final. “It was a special victory,” Verdasco said. “You don’t win a tournament like this every day.” Marrero and Verdasco became the third Spanish pair to win the ATP season-finale. Juan Gisbert and Manuel Orantes pulled it off in 1975, while Marcel Granoller and Marc Lopez captured the crown a year ago. When Verdasco hit a kick serve to Bob Bryan’s backhand at 9-7 and the returned went wide, Verdasco celebrated by falling to the ground. “It shows how much they value that win and how big it was for them,” Mike Bryan said. “I thought it was pretty good tennis. We didn’t play poorly. They came up with the goods, especially when it mattered.”

SWEEPING THE AWARDS

There’s something about Rafael Nadal and ATP World Tour awards. The Spaniard received the Comeback Player of the Year award at the same time he was crowned the year-end world number one in the Emirates ATP Rankings. It just continues how Nadal’s career has been as he became the first to clinch awards in all the player-voted categories. The 27-year-old left-hander won Newcomer in 2003, Most Improved in 2005 and Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship in 2010. He also was named the Arthur Ashe Humanitarian in 2011. Plus this is the third time he has ended the year as number one in the world, which he also earned in 2008 and 2010. Nadal missed seven months because of a left knee injury, then returned to win 10 tournament titles going into the season-ending Barclays ATP World Tour Finals.

SERVING NOTICE

Alison Van Uytvanck – the other Belgian – came out on top when Belgium’s top two players battled for the OEC Taipei WTA Ladies Open title. Begin her big serve – she never faced a break point in her nine service games – Van Uytvanck beat second-seeded Yanina Wickmayer to win her first WTA tournament. Until now, the 19-year-old has been starring on the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Women’s Circuit, where she won nine titles. “For the moment I’ve played a lot of ITF tournaments, and WTAs are more points to win, so this title will for sure help me get my ranking up to play more WTAs,” the winner said. “I’m looking forward to 2014.”

While Van Uytvanck had no problems with Wickmayer, the same wasn’t true with her semifinal opponent, Germany’s Dinah Pfizenmaier. Van Uytvanck led the opening set 5-1 before losing five straight games. She regrouped and took eight of the next 11 games for a 7-6 (5) 6-3 win. “I was up two breaks but didn’t finish the set 6-2 or 6-4, which was tough. But mentally I was able to get into it again in the tiebreak,” Van Uytvanck said. “I was up a break again in the second set and she broke back, but I’m happy I managed to get ahead again and that I could reach my first final.”

STARING INTO THE FUTURE

Although 2013 may have been a disappointing year for Roger Federer, the former world number one has his eyes firmly set on 2014. “I think something is possible for next year,” Federer said after losing to Rafael Nadal 7-5 6-3 in the semifinals of the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals – the first time he had ever lost to the Spaniard on an indoor hard court. “I think it was a stronger finish than I thought it was going to be in Basel, Paris and London. I’m more positive now looking ahead than I would have been a few months ago, when I wasn’t quite sure what to expect after the US Open.” This year Federer lost in the second round at Wimbledon, the fourth round at the US Open and fell to seventh in the world rankings. He said the latter didn’t matter as long as he felt he was capable of winning big matches and big tournaments. “It’s important to stay within a certain ranking,” Federer said. “But after that I need to make sure I stay competitive, I can hang with the best, and particularly beat the best.” Not so this year, when he won only four times against top-10 opponents, beating Juan Martin del Potro twice, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Richard Gasquet. His only tournament title in 2013 came at a grass-court tournament in Germany in June. Saying tennis is part of his DNA, Federer brushed off the possibility of his retiring. “The thing is that when you stop, you’re still so young that why stop so early? Why just walk away from it because, I mean, I have many other things to do in my life than play tennis, but because I can still choose, I pick to play,” he said. “As long as I have this choice, I’ll keep on playing.”

SPECIAL TEAM

Seeing that it was the last tournament of the year, Caroline Garcia and Yaroslava Shvedova decided to team up in doubles. It was the perfect pairing as they won the OEC Taipei WTA Ladies Open title. Shvedova is one of the most in-demand doubles players around, having won eight WTA doubles titles, including Grand Slam tournaments with Vania King at Wimbledon and the US Open. “I felt like I had to book her one year before,” said Garcia, who had never won a title above the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Circuit level in either singles of doubles. “She was always asking me if we could play together, but I always had a partner,” Shvedova said. “But I was coming here and had this week open, so I got in touch with her and said we should try to play.” It wasn’t a cakewalk, barely escaping Misaki Doi and Hsieh Shu-Ying in the quarterfinals, 6-3 3-6 11-9 (match tiebreak). “We played very well ever6y match of the tournament,” Shvedova said. “We actually played better and better and better with each match, so I’m happy we could win the title, too.”

SUSPENSION CUT

The suspension of Viktor Troicki has been reduced from 18 months to 12 months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The Serbian player had been suspended for failing to provide a blood sample for testing. But the CAS decided that neither Troicki nor the anti-doping agencies were at fault for Troicki refusing to give a blood sample on the requested day. Troicki had provided a urine sample, but feared he may have fainted if he gave a blood sample. The player will be able to return to competition on July 15, 2014.

SAM’S NEW COACH

Samantha Stosur has found a new coach. The Australian announced she will soon be working with Miles Maclagan. A native of Zambia who grew up in Zimbabwe, Maclagan played for Great Britain on the ATP World Tour. As a coach he has worked with Andy Murray, Marcos Baghdatis, Philipp Kohlscreiber and Laura Robson. “I am really excited about the opportunity of working with Miles,” Stosur said. “I’ve seen him in action on the tour for many years and have always admired his professionalism and hard work. He has a lot of experience working with top players and I think we’ll work really well together.” The pair will begin working together next month in Sydney, Australia, before the 2014 season begins. Their first tournament together will be the Hyundai Hopman Cup.

STAN THE MAN

Switzerland’s Stanislas Wawrinka figures he belongs with the best I the game. “I always say that the rankings don’t lie,” the 28-year-old said. “Even when I was 17^th in the world I was saying that. Even thought I was playing great tennis, I was not good enough to have a higher ranking.” By reaching the semifinals of the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, where he lost to Novak Djokovic, Wawrinka completed a career-best 51-23 match record in 2013, including nine wins against Top 10 players. He finishes the season ranked eighth in the world. Despite his high ranking, Wawrinka is ranked second in his country, behind Roger Federer. “About Switzerland, I think it’s amazing to have two Top 10 players, for sure,” Wawrinka said. “Roger has been there since so long, so it was more about me. But I think it’s great for Swiss tennis, for Switzerland.”

SAYS GOODBYE

The night before he was to play his final match at the ATP World Tour Finals, Richard Gasquet learned that his coach Riccardo Piatti was ending their partnership. Gasquet said Piatti abruptly told the Frenchman he was leaving after more than two years working together. Gasquet will continue working with part-time coach Sebastien Grosjean until he finds a replacement for Piatti.

SUSPECTED IN LONDON

Four men were arrested by British police on suspicion of brandishing a gun at Andy Murray. The suspects’ car was stopped and “no trace of a firearm was found,” Scotland Yard said in a statement. According to a London newspaper, the men tapped on the window of Murray’s car seeking to get him to sign a tennis racquet. Instead the Wimbledon champion drove off and the men returned to their car. A bystander called police and reported one of the men had a weapon.

SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENT

Twin brothers Bob and Mike Bryan were victorious even before the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals doubles title match began. The Americans were presented with the ATP World Tour Number One Doubles Team trophy, presented by Emirates, and the ATPWorldTour.com Fans’ Favorite award, presented by Moët & Chandon. The Bryans finished as the top doubles team for the fifth consecutive year and for a record ninth time overall. “This is our biggest goal at the start of the year,” Mike Bryan said. “We have had the best season of our careers and we would like to thank the best coach in the world (David Macpherson) and the support of our wives.” This year the brothers won 11 titles, including three majors.

SMASH HITS

An all-star charity tennis event, the 21^st Mylan WTT Smash Hits presented by GEICO, will be held this coming Sunday at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. Co-hosting the event are Billie Jean King and singer Elton John. The event has raised more than USD $11.5 million for the Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) and Hope and Help Center of Central Florida since 1993. Among the players expected to participate are Venus Williams, Marion Bartoli, Andy Roddick, John Isner, Jean-Julien Rojer, Taylor Townsend, Vicky Duval and Robert Kendrick.

SHARED PERFORMANCES

Bogotá: Juan Sebastian Cabal and Alejandro Gonzalez beat Nicolas Barrientos and Eduardo Struvay 6-3 6-2

London: David Marrero and Fernando Verdasco beat Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan 7-5 6-7 (3) 10-7 (match tiebreak)

Taipei: Caroline Garcia and Yaroslava Shvedova beat Anna-Lena Friedsam and Alison Van Uytvanck 6-3 6-3

SURFING

London: www.barclaysatpworldtourfinals.com/

Davis Cup: www.daviscup.com

Dubai: www.dubaitennis.com

Toyota: www.dunlop-tennis.jp

TOURNAMENTS THIS WEEK

(All money in USD)

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