Mondays with Bob Greene
STARS
Roger Federer beat Novak Djokovic 6-3 7-5 to win the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships in Dubai, United Arab Emirates
David Ferrer beat Kei Nishikori 6-3 7-5 to win the men’s singles at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel in Acapulco, Mexico
Lucie Safarova beat Victoria Azarenka 6-4 6-3 to win the Qatar Total Open 2015 in Doha, Qatar
Rafael Nadal beat Juan Monaco 6-4 6-1 to win the Argentina Open presentado por Buenos Aires Ciudad in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Timea Bacsinszky beat Caroline Garcia 6-3 6-0 to win the women’s singles at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC in Acapulco, Mexico
SAYING
“We get the best out of each other.” – Roger Federer, after beating Novak Djokovic to win the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
“He didn’t miss much. I think he missed one or two volleys the entire match. Some second serves and coming in I played some really good returns very low. He managed to play always a volley and make me play an extra shot. I thought he played a terrific game.” – Novak Djokovic, following his loss to Roger Federer.
“My game improved a lot throughout the last couple of years. It took me quite a few years to get to this point. I hope it’s not a finish point and I can still improve that.” Lucie Safarova, after winning in Doha, Qatar.
“I felt like every player I’ve played, she’s played literally at the top of her game. It’s just one of those weeks where everybody plays amazing, so I’m hoping that in the next coming weeks it won’t be like that or it will be a long year.” – Venus Williams.
“I’ve won three tournaments this year and we’ve only began the season.” – David Ferrer, after winning the Argentina Open.
“For me it’s more important for (people) to remember me as a human being, as somebody that has carried himself in the right way in every aspect of his tennis career. There’s more to it than just winning a trophy.” – Novak Djokovic.
SEVEN FOR ROGER
With a remarkable display of tennis, Roger Federer overcame Novak Djokovic and won the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships for a seventh time. With precision efficiency, Federer broke the world’s top-ranked player twice – once in each set – while staving off all seven break points Djokovic had. “I’m pleased I did some good serving when I had to,” said Federer, who finished with 12 aces. “I definitely won the big points tonight. Federer trailed 15-40 on his serve in both the eighth and 10th games of the second set, the latter with Djokovic holding two set points. Both times the Swiss master held serve. In the 11th game, Djokovic jumped out front 40-0, only to lose his serve. Federer then held to close out the match. “If you don’t use these opportunities against Roger, then, you know, he fires back,” Djokovic said. Federer now leads their rivalry 20-17. And the 12 aces gives the 33-year-old more than 9,000 for his career.
Roger Federer is the fourth player to serve 9,000 aces record-keeping began in 1991. He joins a group that includes Ivo Karlovic, former world number one Andy Roddick and Goran Ivanisevic, who leads with 10,183 aces. “I think I remember which one it was because I was even counting a little bit,” Federer said on reaching the mark. “I think it was one of the swinger wides maybe. I’m not sure. But I think it happened in the second set at some point. But clearly it is nice to get past that so now I don’t have to think about it ever again for the next 9,000 or so.”
SAFAROVA A WINNER
Lucie Safarova snapped Victoria Azarenka’s 14-match winning streak in Doha, stopping the Belarusian’s attempt to clinch a record third Qatar Open title. Instead, Safarova wound her with her sixth career title and first since Quebec City in 2013. It also was Safarova’s first Premier-level crown. “It’s an amazing feeling,” Safarova said. “I’m really excited and I’ve been working towards this for a long time. I’m happy at the way the season has progressed. The eventual winner broke Azarenka to begin the match. Although Azarenka pulled even in the sixth game, Safarova broke right back in the ninth, then held serve to capture the set. In the second set, Azarenka was broken in the third and ninth games and Safarova finished with seven aces, including the final three points of the match. “It’s the first Premier WTA win of a tournament, so I’m really excited,” Safarova said. “I think it’s like I’m playing more consistent.”
STOPPING VENUS
Victoria Azarenka failed to win the Qatar Open, but she came away from the tournament with one achievement. Azarenka beat Venus Williams for the first time in her career, 2-6 6-2 6-4 in a thrilling semifinal. Williams had no problem capturing the first set. Then Azarenka won seven consecutive games in the second and third sets to topple Venus after losing to the American in their previous four meetings. Azarenka mixed up her game, coming to the net on several occasions, something she later said was her game plan. “I had to change something and I wanted to stay aggressive,” she said. “I think that is something that is helping me. My net game is becoming stronger and stronger. I want to be an even more all-round player.” After falling behind 5-1 in the final set, Williams won three consecutive games, pulling to 5-4 before Azarenka closed out the victory.
SOUTH AMERICAN KING
Rain only delayed the inevitable at the Argentina Open. “All titles are special, but I’m really happy because I have not been a champion for a long time,” Rafael Nadal said after surviving multiple rain delays and home favorite Juan Monaco to win in Buenos Aires, Argentina. “Against Monaco I played my best of the week. That is great news for me because I’m trying to gain more confidence.” The title was Nada’s 65th in his career, giving him sole possession of fifth place on the pen Era list and breaking a tie with Pete Sampras and Bjorn Borg. While not facing a break point on his own serve in the match, Nadal broke Monaco’s serve four times. At one point, Nadal won eight of 10 games to dominate his opponent. Nadal also extended the Spanish reign in the Argentina Open. At Spaniard has won the title the last seven years.
STOPS NISHIKORI
David Ferrer won his fourth Abierto Mexicano Telcel men’s singles title by besting top-seeded Kei Nishikori in the final. It was Ferrer’s third ATP World Tour crown this year, having also captured the titles at Doha and Rio de Janeiro. In his 19 games this season, Ferrer is 18-1. Despite the loss, Nishikori advances to a career high fourth in the world. “To win here a fourth time is a dream,” Ferrer said. The top—seeded Nishikori helped his opponent, making 40 unforced errors. “There were too many unforced errors,” Nishikori said. “I tried to be aggressive, but I was missing too much. Especially with this slower surface, he gets everything. I knew I had to step in a little more, but it wasn’t my day.”
Ferrer is the first player to reach ATP World Tour-level finals in consecutive weeks on clay and hard courts since Andres Gomez did it in 1988. He is the first player to win titles on clay and hard courts in consecutive weeks since Ivan Lendl in 1985.
SICK CALL
Maria Sharapova pulled out of the Abierto Mexicano Telcel in Acapulco, Mexico, because of a stomach virus. “I’m really sorry to have to withdraw,” the top-seeded Russian said. “I had a great start to the event and was hoping I could recover in time for tonight’s match, but unfortunately it was not enough time.” Sharapova was scheduled to take on Caroline Garcia of France in the semifinals when she withdrew.
SLIPPIN’ AGAIN
Andy Murray has had trouble winning matches, let along tournaments, lately. In the quarterfinals of the Dubai Championships the world number three player was ousted by 18-year-old Borna Coric of Croatia 6-1 6-3. “I made way too many mistakes from the beginning of the match right through to the end,” Murray said. “Early in rallies, (I was) rushing points. (It was) quite similar to the match I played against (Gilles) Simon in Rotterdam, which is disappointing.” Coric was in the main draw as a “lucky loser.” Murray never had a break point against Coric and won just five points on the teen-ager’s serve.
SWISS TIME
Timea Bacsinszky is back. The Swiss miss won her first WTA title since 2009, capturing the women’s crown at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel in Acapulco by stopping Caroline Garcia 6-3 6-0. Once one of the rising stars on the women’s tour, Bacsinszky suffered a series of injuries in 2011, 2012 and 2013. She fell as low as 578th on the WTA rankings in April 2012. Going into the Acapulco tournament, she was ranked 37th in the world.
STAR-STRUCK
Not only did Victoria Azarenka defeat Venus Williams for the first time in her career and reach the final in Doha, Qatar, she met soccer megastar David Beckham. “It was amazing. I think every girl in the world is a bit jealous of my moment,” Azarenka said. “I really admire him. He’s such an amazing athlete. He’s just so beautiful as well, so it definitely made me blush. But he was so nice. He congratulated me and said he was impressed with my play.” Until the Doha win, Azarenka had never taken a set off Williams. And she did it with Beckham in the stands. “I didn’t feel any pressure with him watching, but I really wanted to do well,” Azarenka said. “I even did a little dribble with the ball hoping he would see it. But I think it was entertaining to have him there, and it was great for the crowd. I really appreciate him coming and watching. It’s definitely great for women’s tennis to have that kind of support.”
STAYING HOME
Nick Kyrgios won’t be available when Australia takes on the Czech Republic in first-round Davis Cup World Group match. The 19-year-old is suffering from a back problem. He had been expected to play singles for Australia. “I am totally gutted to have to pull out, but the medical advice is that my back is not ready to handle the workload required for a Davis Cup tie,” Kyrgios said. “I have been doing everything possible to get it right and I had convinced myself I could handle it, but the doctors tell me the risk is just too great. They say this simply cannot be rushed.” Kyrgios also sat out last month’s Hopman Cup with back trouble and has not played since reaching the Australian Open quarterfinals in January.
SPONSORSHIP
Novak Djokovic is on the cover of March 2015 issue of The Wall Street Journal Magazine. The issue is dedicated to Men’s Style. Tom Perrotta write a story for the magazine about Djokovic’s motivation, his dedication to tennis and how his new role as a father and husband fits into his fast-paced life.
SHARED PERFORMANCES
Acapulco (men): Ivan Dodig and Marcelo Melo beat Mariusz Fyrstenberg and Santiago Gonzalez 7-6 (2) 5-7 10-3 (match tiebreak)
Acapulco (women): Lara Arruabarrena and Maria Torró-Flor beat Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka 7-6 (2) 5-7 13-11 match tiebreak)
Buenos Aires: Jarkko Nieminen and Andre Sa beat Pablo Andujar and Oliver Marach 4-6 6-4 10-7 (match tiebreak)
Doha: Raquel Kops-Jones and Abigail Spears beat Hsieh Su-Wei and Sania Mirza 6-4 6-4
Dubai: Rohan Bopanna and Daniel Nestor beat Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi and Nenad Zimonjic 6-4 6-1
SURFING
Monterrey: http://abiertomonterrey.com/2015/
Kuala Lumpur: www.bmwmalaysianopen.com/
Davis Cup: www.daviscup.com
Indian Wells: www.bnpparibasopen.com/
TOURNAMENTS THIS WEEK
(All money in USD)
WOMEN
$426,750 Abierto Monterrey Afirme, Monterrey, Mexico, hard
$226,750 BMW Malaysian Open, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, hard
DAVIS CUP
First Round
World Group
Germany vs. France at Frankfurt, Germany, hard
Great Britain vs. United States at Glasgow, Scotland, hard
Czech Republic vs. Australia at Ostrava, Czech Republic, hard
Kazakhstan vs. Italy at Astana, Kazakhstan, hard
Argentina vs. Brazil at Buenos Aires, Argentina, clay
Serbia vs. Croatia at Kraljevo, Serbia, hard
Canada vs. Japan at Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, hard
Belgium vs. Switzerland at Liége, Belgium, hard
Group I
Americas Zone: Barbados vs. Dominican Republic at St. Michael Barbados, hard
Asia/Oceania Zone: Thailand vs. Korea at Nonthaburi, Thailand, hard; New Zealand vs. China at Auckland, New Zealand, hard
Europe/Africa Zone: Russia vs. Denmark at Urengoy, Russia, hard; Sweden vs. Austria at Örebro, Sweden, hard; Slovakia vs. Slovenia at Bratislava, Slovakia, hard; Romania vs. Israel at Sibui, Romania, hard; Poland vs. Lithuania at Plock, Poland, hard
Group II
Americas Zone: Venezuela vs. Costa Rica at Caracas, Venezuela; Puerto Rico vs. El Salvador at Humacao, Puerto Rico, hard; Mexico vs. Bolivia at Merida, Mexico, hard; Chile vs. Peru at Santiago, Chile, clay
Asia/Oceania Zone: Chinese Taipei vs. Lebanon at Kaohsiung City, Taiwan, hard; Philippines vs. Sri Lanka at Pasig, Philippines, clay; Indonesia vs. Iran at Palembang, Indonesia, hard; Pakistan vs. Kuwait at Colombo, Sri Lanka, clay
Europe/Africa Zone: Turkey vs. South Africa at Mersin, Turkey, hard; Ireland vs. Belarus at Dublin, Ireland, hard; Portugal vs. Morocco at Cruz Quebrada, Portugal, hard; Monaco vs. Finland at Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, Monaco, clay; Zimbabw2e vs. Bosnia/Herzegovina at Harare, Zimbabwe, hard; Hungary vs. Moldova at Gyor, Hungary, hard; Luxembourg vs. Madagascar at Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg, hard; Latvia vs. Bulgaria at Jurmala, Latvia, hard
TOURNAMENTS NEXT WEEK
MEN AND WOMEN
BNP Paribas Open, Indian Wells, USA (first week)
