Mondays with Bob Greene
STARS
Australian Open
Men’s Singles: Novak Djokovic beat Andy Murray 6-1 7-5 7-6 (3)
Women’s Singles: Angelique Kerber beat Serena Williams 6-4 3-6 6-4
Men’s Doubles: Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares beat Daniel Nestor and Radek Stepanek 2-6 6-4 7-5
Women’s Doubles: Martina Hingis and Sania Mirza beat Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka 7-6 (1) 6-3
Mixed Doubles: Elena Vesnina and Bruno Soares beat Coco Vandeweghe and Horia Tecau 6-4 4-6 10-5 (match tiebreak)
Junior Boys Singles: Oliver Anderson beat Jurabeck Karimov 6-2 1-6 6-1
Junior Girls Singles: Vera Lapko beat Tereza Mihalikova 6-3 6-4
Junior Boys Doubles: Alex De Minaur and Blake Ellis beat Lukas Klein and Patrik Rikl 3-6 7-5 12-10 (match tiebreak)
Junior Girls Doubles: Anna Kalinskaya and Tereza Mihalikova beat Dayana Yastremska and Anastasia Zarytska 6-1 6-1
Men’s Wheelchair Singles: Gordon Reid beat Joachim Gerard 7-6 (7) 6-4
Women’s Wheelchair Singles: Jiske Griffioen beat Aniek Van Koot 6-3 7-5
Men’s Wheelchair Doubles: Stephane Houdet and Nicolas Peifer beat Gordon Reid and Shingo Kunieda 6-3 3-6 7-5
Women’s Wheelchair Doubles: Marjolein Buis and Yui Kamiji beat Jiske Griffioen and Aniek Van Koot 6-2 6-2
Quad Wheelchair Singles: Lucas Sithole beat Andrew Lapthorne 2-6 6-1 6-0
Quad Wheelchair Doubles: David Wagner and Lucas Sithole beat Andrew Lapthorne and Dylan Alcott 6-1 6-3
SAYING
“No doubt that I’m playing the best tennis of my life in the last 15 months. Everything is going well privately, as well. I became a father and husband, have a family, so I feel like I’m at the point in my life where everything is working in harmony. I’ll try to keep it that way.” – Novak Djokovic, after winning the Australian Open for a record-tying sixth time.
“I feel like I’ve been here before.” – Andy Murray, accepting his fifth runner-up trophy at the Australian Open.
“She had an attitude that I think a lot of people can learn from: just to always stay positive and to never give up. I was really inspired by that. So, honestly, she’s a really good girl. If I couldn’t win, I’m happy she did.” – Serena Williams, on losing to Angelique Kerber.
“I’m extremely honored to be named alongside legends of the game like Rod Laver. Roy Emerson is not with us, it’s a great privilege to match the record of one of the greatest players to play the game.” – Novak Djokovic
“To my wife Kim, who I’m sure is watching back home now. You have been a legend for the last two weeks and thank you for all your support. I’ll be on the next flight home.” – Andy Murray,
“I look to be the best I can be. Like I keep saying, I don’t look at myself in the mirror and say, ‘You’re number this in the world.’ That’s not how I view my career and my life. I just will go back, keep working hard, keep improving the things that I want to improve and keep enjoying what I’m doing.” – Johanna Konta, after losing her semifinal match to Angelique Kerber.
“I mean, she’s had a great month. She got to the finals in Brisbane. She won here. So, yeah, I was surprised and really happy for her. I’m like, whoa, number two. What’s after two is one, so I guess I better be careful.” – Serena Williams, noting Angelique Kerber’s Australian Open win moved Kerber to number two in the world behind Williams.
“I’ve already played seven matches. Before today I was thinking, ‘OK, today is the final.’ When somebody wins six matches at a Grand Slam, it’s already the final, right?” – Zhang Shuai, after winning her fourth-round match against American Madison Keys.
SUPERMAN
It’s becoming habit-forming. Novak Djokovic won his third straight Grand Slam tournament title, capturing his record-tying sixth Australian Open by beating Andy Murray in the Down Under final for the fourth time. “It’s an incredible feeling, especially because of the fact that I managed to make history tonight and equal Roy Emerson’s record of six Australian Opens,” Djokovic said. It also was Djokovic’s 11th major title, tying him with Rod Laver and Bjorn Borg. Roger Federer leads, having won 17 Grand Slam tournament singles titles, while Rafael Nadal and Pete Sampras are second with 14 each and Emerson with 13. Murray’s defeat was his fifth in five finals at the Australian Open. “This trophy is even more unique for me tonight and when you have an opportunity to make history it adds to the motivation and incentive before you come out on the court,” Djokovic said. He proved just that when he won the first five games of the match and went on to dominate the world’s second-ranked player. Djokovic also extended his major winning streak to 21 matches. He has not lost a Grand Slam tournament match since being upset by Stan Wawrinka in last year’s final at Roland Garros. The 28-year-old Serbian won 24 more points than Murray – 123-99 – while the Scot committed 65 unforced errors.
STUNNER
Angelique Kerber is a believer. She’s also now a Grand Slam tournament champion. “You must be relaxed and you must really believe in yourself,” Kerber said. “This is actually the biggest thing I learned also in these two weeks, to go for it.” It paid off as the Germany shocked overwhelming favorite Serena Williams to win her first Grand Slam tournament title. “The mental part, it’s really big,” the 28-year-old German said. “I was able to see it also.” Until now, Kerber had never gone past the semifinals in a major. The left-hander’s confidence soared when she beat two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka in the quarterfinals. “When I won against Azarenka, that showed me that I really am a good player and I can show it as well on the big courts,” Kerber said. Williams had marched the through year’s first major tournament by not only not dropping a set, but dominating her opponents, including five-time major winner Maria Sharapova. When Williams won the second set to level the match at one set apiece, it appeared the world’s top-ranked woman was reading to tie Steffi Graf’s Open Era record of 22 Grand Slam tournament titles. Instead, it was Kerber winning her first major. “With this win, you have not only fulfilled your big dream, but 17 years after Steffi Graf, also the millions of tennis fans hoping for a German win at a Grand Slam tournament,” said German Chancellor Angela Merkel. The upset also moves Kerber to second in the world in the WTA rankings, just one spot below Williams.
SIBLING SUCCESS
Five times Andy Murray has reached the Australian Open final only to lose. Not so his brother, Jamie, who teamed with Brazil’s Bruno Soares to win the men’s doubles by knocking off Czech veteran Radek Stepanek and Canadian Daniel Nestor. It was the first doubles title for the newly formed team playing in its first Grand Slam tournament. In the stands watching his brother was Andy Murray, who filmed the trophy presentation on his cell phone. “Andy, you should be in bed, I don’t know why you’re here taking photos,” Jamie Murray said in his acceptance speech the night before Andy lost to Novak Djokovic in the singles final. The result marked the fifth straight year that a different doubles team had won the title. American brothers Bob and Mike Bryan were the last team to successfully defend the title in 2011. This year’s Australian Open was the first time brothers played in both the doubles and singles finals.
STELLAR PLAY
Martina Hingis and Sania Mirza are proving to be a winning combination. The two won their first Australian Open women’s doubles title together with a straight-set victory over Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka. Hingis is no stranger on the victor’s stand. It was the 12th Grand Slam women’s doubles title for the Hall of Famer, while the third major for India’s Mirza, all with her Swiss partner in the last year. The pair have now won 36 consecutive doubles matches, including Wimbledon and the US Open. “Thanks to my partner, we have had an incredible year,” Mirza said. “We keep going and it’s great to have all these records with you.” Bothered by her right shoulder, Hingis took a medical timeout at the end of the first set to undergo treatment. The ailment did not appear to bother her in the second set.
STREAKING HOME
Andy Murray wasted no time getting out of town after losing for the fifth time in the Australian Open final. But it wasn’t the loss to Novak Djokovic that sent the world’s number two-ranked player scurrying back to Great Britain. Murray’s wife is expecting their first child. He had said that he would pull out of the year’s first Grand Slam tournament if she went into labor. Murray also was rocked midway through the tournament when his wife’s father, Nigel Sears, collapsed at Rod Laver Arena and was rushed to the hospital. Sears is the coach of Ana Ivanovic and was watching her match when he collapsed. He has since recovered and returned home to Great Britain.
SET FOR INDIAN WELLS
Venus Williams will join her sister Serena at Indian Wells, California, USA. The older sister is ending her 14-year boycott of the hard-court event. She has not played the Southern California tournament since 2001, when she defaulted a semifinal match to Serena. Fans booed Venus and her father, Richard, when they entered the stadium to watch Serena in the final. The sisters and their father said fans also made racial remarks, the reason for staying away. Serena Williams ended her boycott of the event last year, saying it was time for forgiveness. “We are thrilled that Venus Williams, one of the greatest women’s players in the history of the game, is returning to play,” Indian Wells tournament chief executive Raymond Moore said. “Our fans embraced Serena last year and we expect nothing less for Venus when she returns to compete at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.” Also in the field will be defending champion Simona Halep of Romania, Spain’s Garbiñe Muguruza, Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska, Russia’s Maria Sharapova and Czech Petra Kvitova.
SEEKING SLAM SUCCESS
Now that she’s reached the semifinals of a Grand Slam tournament, Great Britain’s Johanna Konta is hungry for more success. Konta became the first British woman to reach the final four of a Grand Slam event in more than 30 years and only the third in Australia in the Open Era after Virginia Wade and Sue Barker. She began her remarkable fortnight by upsetting Venus Williams, and also knocked out last year’s semifinalist Ekaterina Makarova. Konta lost to eventual champion Angelique Kerber. “I don’t think I missed an opportunity,” Konta said after falling to Kerber. “I played against a better player today who earned her right into a Grand Slam final. … But I’m really taking a lot of positive things from it. I’m really hungry to keep improving and keep enjoying what I’m doing. So that’s where I’m at.”
Konta will skip this week’s Euro-Africa Zone Fed Cup competition because of an intestinal issue. Konta had been due to lead Great Britain’s team in Eilat, Israel. “I have been advised by the doctors that playing there would jeopardize an ongoing intestinal issue that got progressively worse through the Australian Open,” Konta said in a statement. Britain will play Georgia and South Africa in the round-robin phase, with the group winner then having a playoff.
SHUAI’S SONG
Zhang Shuai became the fourth Chinese player to reach the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam tournament when she upset American Madison Keys. After almost losing in the last round of qualifying – her opponent, Virginie Razzano, served for the match in the third set – Zhang began her amazing run by shocking the world’s number two player, Simona Halep, 6-4 6-3. Zhang joins Australian Open winner Li Na, Zheng Jie and Peng Shuai as Chinese players who have played in a Grand Slam tournament quarterfinal. Her remarkable run guaranteed Zhang of being China’s new number one player. Prior to this year’s Australian Open, Zhang was 0-14 in Grand Slam tournaments and had lost 20 straight sets at the majors. And she was considering retirement. Things have changed dramatically. “Right now, after this tournament, I need a long break,” she said.
STARTING NEW EVENT
Roger Federer’s management firm and a Brazilian businessman are planning to establish the Laver Cup, a Ryder Cup-style team event that will pit the top players from Europe against the best players from the rest of the world. The first event will be held over three days in September shortly after the US Open, except in Olympic years. Laver said he was honored to put his name on the new competition. The Hall of Famer also said he didn’t think it would detract from the Davis Cup, an international men’s team event. “The Davis Cup format was country to country. This is Europe against the rest of the world,” Laver said. “Hopefully the best players will want to participate.” The Brazilian businessman is Jorge Paulo Lemann, who played Davis Cup for Brazil and Switzerland.
SITE PROBLEMS?
Gael Monfils has problems with the French Davis Cup team playing a home tie in Guadeloupe. That doesn’t worry French Davis Cup captain Yannick Noah. The former French Open winner pushed for the first-round tie to be played on the Caribbean island, a French possession. “We decided to play on clay for technical reasons. We are going there to try and win,” Noah said. “After that comes the moods of each other, on the court and off it. To go and play in Guadeloupe, for me, is fantastic. People who do not say this is great do not understand. I do not understand the problem.” Monfils, whose father is from Guadeloupe, claimed 80 percent of players “initially did not want to play,” but said he supported Noah. “He is the captain, he decides and we follow,” Monfils said. “I want to play for France and for the shirt, and I will make the effort to go.”
SHARAPOVA NAMED
When Russia takes on the Netherlands in a first-round Fed Cup tie, Maria Sharapova will be ready to take the court. Under the rules, Sharapova is required to make one more Fed Cup appearance for Russia in order to be eligible to represent her country at the Rio Olympics in August. Others named to the team were Svetlana Kuznetsova, Ekaterina Makarova and Darya Kasatkina. The Dutch have named Kiki Bertens to the squad along with Richel Hogenkamp, Cindy Burger and Arantxa Rus.
SELECTED
When Rod Laver was appointed a companion (AC) Of the Order of Australia along with Lleyton Hewitt and sports administrator Davis Gallop, the only surprise was that Laver hadn’t previously been honored. The left-hander – the only player to win two calendar-year Grand Slams, in 1962 and 1969 – was made a Member of the British Empire in 1970. The Australian honor took much longer. The 77-year-old Laver was recognized for his “eminent service to tennis as a player, representative and mentor, at the national and international level, and as a role model for young sportsmen and women.” The Order of Australia voters should have noted the name of the Australian Open’s main stadium: Rod Laver Arena.
SURFING
Fed Cup: http://www.fedcup.com/
Quito: www.ecuadoropenquito.com/
Montpellier: www.opensuddefrance.com/
Sofia: http://sofiaopen.bg/en
Dallas: www.tennischampionshipsofdallas.com/
Midland: www.dowcorningtennisclassic.com
St. Petersburg: http://wta.formulatx.com/en/
Kaosiung: www.taiwanopen.com.tw/EN/
Buenos Aires: http://argentinaopenatp.com/
Rotterdam: www.abnamrowtt.nl/
Memphis: www.memphisopen.com/
TOURNAMENTS THIS WEEK
MEN
$485,760 Open Sud de France, Montpellier, France, hard
$485,760 Ecuador Open, Quito, Ecuador, clay
$485,760 Garanti Koza Sofia Open, Sofia, Bulgaria, hard
$100,000 Tennis Championships of Dallas, Dallas, Texas, USA, hard
WOMEN
$100,000 Dow Corning Tennis Classic, Midland, Michigan, USA, hard
FED CUP
World Group (First Round)
Romania vs. Czech Republic at Cluj-Napoca, Romania, hard
Germany vs. Switzerland at Leipzig, Germany, hard
France vs. Italy at Marseille, France, hard
Russia vs. Netherland at Moscow, Russia, hard
World Group II (First Round)
Slovakia vs. Australia at Bratislava, Slovakia, hard
Canada vs. Belarus at Québec City, Québec, Canada, hard
United States vs. Poland at Kailua Kona, Hawaii, USA, hard
Serbia vs. Spain at Kraljevo, Serbia, hard
Group I (Round Robin)
Europe/Africa Zone at Eilat, Israel, hard: Pool A: Sweden, Portugal, Ukraine; Pool B: Great Britain, Georgia, South Africa; Pool C: Croatia, Estonia, Israel, Turkey; Pool D: Hungary, Belgium, Bulgaria, Latvia
Americas Zone at Santa Cruz, Bolivia, clay: Pool A: Paraguay, Bolivia, Colombia, Mexico; Pool B: Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru
Asia/Oceania Zone at Hua Hin, Thailand, hard: Pool A: Japan, India, Thailand, Uzbekistan; Pool B: Kazakhstan, China, Korea, Chinese Taipei
Group II (Round-Robin)
Americas Zone, at Bayamon, Puerto Rico, hard: Bahamas, Costa Rica; Guatemala; Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Chile, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Uruguay
TOURNAMENTS NEXT WEEK
MEN
$1,500,755 ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament, Rotterdam, Netherlands, hard
$639,070 Memphis Open, Memphis, Tennessee, USA, hard
$567,760 Argentina Open, Buenos Aires, Argentina, clay
WOMEN
$685,900 St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy, St. Petersburg, Russia, hard
$426,750 Taiwan Open, Kaosiung, Taiwan, hard
