Stan Wawrinka, Angelique Kerber Are US Open Champions - Mondays with Bob Greene

Mondays with Bob Greene

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US Open

Men’s singles: Stan Wawrinka beat Novak Djokovic 6-7 (1) 6-4 7-5 6-3

Women’s singles: Angelique Kerber beat Karolina Pliskova 6-3 4-6 6-4

Men’s doubles: Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares beat Pablo Carreno-Busta and Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 6-2 6-3

Women’s doubles: Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Lucie Safarova beat Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic 2-6 7-6 (5) 6-4

Mixed doubles: Laura Siegemund and Mate Pavic beat Coco Vandeweghe and Rajeev Ram 6-4 6-4

Junior Boys’ singles: Felix Auger-Aliassime beat Miomir Kecmanovic 6-3 6-0

Junior Girls’ singles: Kayla Day beat Viktoria Kuzmova 6-3 6-2

Junior Boys’ doubles: Juan Carlos Manuel Aguilar and Felipe Meligeni Rodrigues Alves beat Felix Auger-Aliassime and Benjamin Sigouin 6-3 7-6 (4)

Junior Girls’ doubles: Jada Hart and Ena Shibahara beat Kayla Day and Caroline Dolehide 4-6 6-2 13-11 (match tiebreak)

Men’s Collegiate Singles: Thai-Son Kwiatkowski beat Austin Smith 6-2 6-2

Women’s Collegiate Singles: Danielle Collins beat Ronit Yurosky 6-2 6-4

OTHERS

Jerzy Jankowicz beat Nicolas Almagro 7-6 (5) 6-4 to win the Aon Open in Genova, Italy

Kristyna Pliskova won the Dalian Women’s Tennis Open in Dalian, China, when Misa Eguchi retired while leading 7-5 4-6 2-5

SAYING

“All the dreams came true this year.” – Angelique Kerber, after becoming the number one player in the world and winning her second Grand Slam tournament of 2016.

“I’m so proud of myself. If someone would tell me (two weeks ago) I’m going to play finals in this tournament, I would take it. No sadness.” –Karolina Pliskova, after losing the women’s singles final to Angelique Kerber.

“Honestly, this is amazing. I came here without expecting, without setting a goal to win it, but every time I stepped on the court I was trying to win every match. I think I played quite a lot of tennis these two weeks. I’m completely empty; I had to bring everything I had today against Novak.” – Stan Wawrinka, winning the US Open for his third Grand Slam tournament title.

“You know, in the matches like this, if you don’t use the opportunities, the other guy comes and takes it. And that’s what he did. That’s why I said he was more courageous, because he stepped in and played aggressive where I was kind of more waiting for things to happen.” – Novak Djokovic, after losing to Stan Wawrinka in the US Open final.

“It’s amazing to be back here. It is the best feeling ever.” – Caroline Wozniacki, acknowledging her run to the semifinals.

“Caroline likes New York, this city and this court.” – Piotr Wozniacki, Caroline’s father.

“I play tennis because I have fun. I play tennis because I love the sport. If not, I won’t wake up every morning to train.” – Gael Monfils.

“America probably hates me because I beat Venus and Serena.” – Karolina Pliskova, who became the fourth singles players to beat both Williams sisters in the same Grand Slam tournament.

“Honestly, I didn’t know him before. I had never seen him or heard his name.” – Laura Siegemund, talking of Mate Pavic, with whom she won the mixed doubles title.

“It’s the best win of my career.” – Lucas Pouille, on his five-set upset of Rafael Nadal in the fourth round.

“My belief in myself is growing.” – Angelique Kerber.

“I was born in Denmark and feel Danish, but I have some Polish blood in me. It’s nice I can take the best of both worlds. Also, I have a big part of the New York crowd with me. It’s a great combination.” — Caroline Wozniacki.

“It’s something that very few people in the world have ever achieved. I mean, how crazy is it to say that you’re the best in the world at something? Doesn’t matter if it’s tennis, football, being a lawyer, whatever it is. It’s really special.” – Caroline Wozniacki, a former world number one.

“I love watching Gael. He’s one of the few players that I will definitely pay a ticket to watch. He’s very charismatic. Plays with a smile.” – Novak Djokovic on semifinal opponent Gael Monfils

“Trophies, fame, money, influence – all these kind of things I don’t believe they are the best values that we all should share. I think happiness is intrinsic, belonging to something and really being fulfilled doing something.” – Novak Djokovic.

“I’m very honored to be on the ballot for International Tennis Hall of Fame induction. The women who have been inducted into the Hall of Fame are great champions who I have always admired. It’s an honor to be considered to be part of that incredible group of athletes, and I’m grateful for this acknowledgement of my career.” – Caroline Wozniacki.

STAN THE MAN

Stan Wawrinka used his big ground game to batter top-ranked Novak Djokovic into submission and win his third career Grand Slam tournament title, the US Open. The Swiss right-hander is now 11-0 in his last 11 finals, and added the US Open to his 2015 French Open title and 2014 Australian Open championship. He also bested Djokovic on the red clay in Paris. Djokovic jumped out front on the hard court of Arthur Ashe Stadium, grabbing a 4-1 lead. Although Wawrinka eventually forced a first-set tiebreak, Djokovic ran away with extra session 7-1. It was his last hurrah as Wawrinka’s big game kept Djokovic running from side to side, unsuccessfully trying to come up with an answer. The Serb failed to convert 14 of 17 break points as Wawrinka controlled the play and the key points. “I had plenty of them, break points,” Djokovic said. “It was a terrible conversion of the break points. Just terrible from my side.” A volley winner gave Wawrinka his second championship point, and he converted this one when Djokovic sailed a backhand long.

STOP AT THE TOP

In her first match as the world’s top-ranked player, Angelique Kerber proved she was by winning the US Open women’s singles. “It’s just amazing,” the German left-hander said. “I won my second Grand Slam of the year and it’s the best year of my career.” Kerber capped off her Grand Slam run – she was a finalist at Wimbledon – by beating Karolina Pliskova, whom she had lost to in Cincinnati just three weeks ago. “Here, five years later, I’m standing here with the trophy,” Kerber said. “All the dreams came true this year.” Kerber becomes the first German to win the US Open since Steffi Graf in 1996, and the first German to be ranked number one in the world since Graf. Pliskova took the second set to level the match and grabbed the early break in the third set, going up 2-1. But Kerber broke Pliskova twice, the last time at love, to wrap up the title.

SISTER’S STRANGE WIN

Karolina Pliskova’s twin sister, Kristyna, won her first WTA title when her opponent was forced to retire while just two points away from victory. Misa Eguchi of Japan was leading 5-7 6-4 5-2 and was up 0-30 on Pliskova’s serve in the Dalian Women’s Open final when she fell heavily while chasing a ball. She received medical attention and had her leg heavily strapped. Eguchi attempted to continue, but buckled under the pain of her injury and was taken off the court on a stretcher, giving Pliskova the title.

STRONG RALLY

Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Lucie Safarova rallied from the brink of defeat to capture the US Open women’s doubles title. The top-seeded French team of Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic were broken when they served for the match in the second set. The eventual champions won the tiebreak 7-5, then broke serve to begin the third set. They winners held serve the rest of the way to collect their third major doubles title, having won the Australian Open and French Open last year.

SUCCESSFUL PAIRING

Laura Siegemund had no idea who Croatia’s Mate Pavic was before they signed up to play mixed doubles together. Now they are champions, beating Coco Vandeweghe and Rajeev Ram. “It’s really kind of a blind date,” Siegemund said of her partner. “Honestly, I didn’t know him before. … I have never seen him or heard his name.” It was the first Grand Slam tournament title for either Pavic or Siegemund, who were unseeded in the 32-team event. “It turned out quite well in the end,” Siegemund said. The US Open also was the first time Vandeweghe and Ram had teamed up. Vandeweghe lost in the Australian Open mixed doubles final in January playing with Horia Tecau.

SERENA’S RECORDS

Serena Williams may have left the US Open without her number one ranking or a 23^rd Grand Slam tournament title, but she continued to add to her numerous records. By reaching the semifinals, Williams ran her career match winning total to 309. During the year’s final major, Williams moved past Martina Navratilova’s mark of 306 to become the winningest woman, then eclipsed the men’s record of 307 held by Roger Federer.

SELECTED FOR HALL

Kim Clijsters of Belgium and American Andy Roddick lead the Class of 2017 nominated to be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame (ITHoF). One of six women to be ranked number one in the world in both singles and doubles, Clijsters won four Grand Slam tournament singles – three US Opens and one Australian Open – and two in doubles. She was unseeded in 20099 when she came out of retirement and won the US Open. Roddick’s lone major title came in the 2003 US Open. Others nominated are Monique Kalkman, a Paralympic gold medalist, journalist and historian Steve Flink, and the late instructor Vic Braden.

SPORTSMANSHIP AWARDS

Kei Nishikori of Japan and German’s Angelique Kerber were awarded the US Open Sportsmanship Awards by the USTA. The honors go to the players who best demonstrate excellence in sportsmanship throughout the Emirates Airline US Open Series and the US Open. Eligibility requirements for winners include participating in at least two Series tournaments as well as the 2015 US Open. ”Angelique and Kei each set an incredible standard of professionalism every time they take the court,” said Katrina Adams, USTA chairman, CEO and president. “They’re both class competitors whose success is matched only by their tact, and so we couldn’t be happier to honor each of them with US Open Sportsmanship Awards.” The USTA Sportsmanship Award selection committee is composed of Todd Martin, Lars Rosene, Jon Vegosen, Mary Carillo, Mary Joe Fernandez, Chanda Rubin, Joel Drucker, Steve Flink and Matt Cronin.

STORIED STAGE

Louis Armstrong Stadium is no more – at least not until it reappears in 201. The stadium named for the legendary jazz trumpeter was the main court at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center from 1978 until Arthur Ashe Stadium was opened in 1997. Now the structure – first built for the 1964-65 New York World Fair and named the Singer Bowl – will be torn down and replaced by a 15,000-seat court with a retractable roof. The last tournament match to be played on Armstrong saw American twins Bob and Mike Bryan lose to Spaniards Feliciano Lopez and Marc Lopez 7-6 (2) 4-6 6-3. The United States Tennis Association (USTA) allowed fans to play on the court before it was shuttered for good.

SEASON ENDED

Former world number one Ana Ivanovic has called it a season. The Serbian right-hander said she will skip the remaining tournaments this year so that she will be fully fit for the 2017 season. Seeded 29^th at this year’s US Open, Ivanovic lost in the opening round to Czech Denisa Allertova 7-6 (4) 6-1.

SEASON FINALE

American twins Bob and Mike Bryan have qualified for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, which will be held in London Nov. 13-20. Five-time US Open champions, the Bryans this year were eliminated in the quarterfinals by Spaniards Fernando Lopez and Marc Lopez. They have won the season finale four times and are the second team to qualify for this year’s tournament, joining Frenchmen Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut.

The French team of Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic, who began playing together earlier this year, has grabbed a spot in the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global. “It was one of our goals when we started to play together to qualify for the WTA Finals,” Garcia said. “We are always improving and I am looking forward to competing in Singapore again.” Garcia and Mladenovic have reached six finals this year, winning four straight tournaments, including the French Open. They are the second doubles team to qualify for Singapore, behind Martina Hingis and Sania Mirza.

SEEKS CHANGE

The president of the International Tennis Federation (ITF) wants to change the way the Davis and Fed Cup competitions are played. “It’s time for a change,” David Haggery told USA Today. “There is real change intended. In the past the players felt like there was no response, like the ITF didn’t care. We need to make informed decisions. There will be positive change and we want to move this competition, the largest annual team competition in the world, ahead.” Players have complained for years about the international team competition schedules. If Haggery gets his way, the final four teams would meet at a neutral site. “You’re limited now with the two-month window as to the kind of stadium and its size that you can take over for a week,” Haggerty said. “We want to bring some clarity to it. Fans from nations can begin to plan. We don’t want to lose that atmosphere. It has to be the crazy fans with their faces painted, screaming and shouting. We want that.”

SWITCHING COACHES

Marin Cilic, who won the US Open two years ago, has begun training with a new coach, Jonas Bjorkman. The 27-year-old Croatian recently decided to stop working with Goran Ivanisevic. Bjorkman was known for his volleying skills as a player, winning several Grand Slam tournament doubles titles. The Swede previously worked with And Murray. “I felt that he might be really the person that could help me the most with that, as he was great in singles and also great in doubles and obviously knows the game,” Cilic said. “He’s been working with Andy as well, so that’s obviously another part that is a big plus.” Cilic, seeded seventh at this year’s US Open, was upset by American Jack Sock in the third round.

Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova currently is without a coach. The Czech left-hander ended her partnership with Frantisek Cermak, announcing the fact after she was a fourth-round victory of Angelique Kerber at this year’s US Open. In January, Kvitova fired coach David Kotyza.

SELECTED LEADER

Besides being the top-ranked player, Novak Djokovic is also president. At the players’ annual meeting, Djokovic was elected to head the ATP Player Council. “I gladly accepted it because it’s a calling,” Djokovic said of his new duties. “It’s a responsibility.” Also elected to the ATP Player Council were Kevin Anderson as vice president, Andy Murray, Lu Yen-Hsun, Rajeev Ram, Jamie Murray, Bruno Soares, Marcelo Melo, Sergiy Stakhovsky, Colin Dowdeswell and Claudio Pistolesi. Members of the Council will serve until June 2018.

SET FOR CHINA

Caroline Wozniacki is heading to China. The former world number one will play at the 2016 Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open along with Serena Williams, Angelique Kerber, Simona Halep and Petra Kvitova. Actually, tournament officials announced that all of the WTA’s Top 10 players have entered the field with Wozniacki entering the event on a wild card. The tournament will begin Sept. 23.

SEEKING RECORD

The European Open, an ATP World Tour 250 event in Antwerp, Belgium, will be going for a Guinness World Record. Maxime Braeckman, former coach of Xavier Malisse, Kim Clijsters and Kirsten Flipkens, will play 37 matches in a row in an effort to raise more than USD $28,000 for SOS Children’s Villages charity and to promote the sport of tennis in Belgium. SOS Children’s Villages is the tournament’s official charity and Clijsters is an ambassador for the organization. Braeckman will play 37 best-of-three matches in a row. The current Guinness World Record was set by Mike Mitchell of Great Britain, who played 36 matches over 34 hours last year. Braeckman’s record attempt will begin on Oct. 8.

SAD NEWS

Journalist Alan Trengove, founder of Australian Tennis Magazine and author of 16 non-fiction books, including half a dozen about tennis, is dead at the age of 87 after a long illness. Born in London to an Australian cobbler, Trengove convinced his family to move to Australia where he worked on a daily newspaper and trained as a professional athlete. Half a century later, he carried the Olympic torch ahead of the Sydney Games. In 1953, he became a sports writer on The Argus, the oldest of Melbourne’s three morning newspapers. Trengove covered Davis Cups and more than 130 Grand Slam tournaments from 1953 to 2010. He was awarded the ATP’s Ron Bookman Award for Media Excellence in 2008 and inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1990.

Ben Press, who coached Grand Slam champion Maureen Connolly in her youth and taught movie stars Errol Flynn and Charlton Heston how to play tennis, has died after a lengthy battle with prostate cancer. He was 92. While Eleanor “Teach” Tennant is credited with honing Connolly’s game to the level where she became the first woman to win the Grand Slam in 1953, Press taught “Little Mo” early in her career. He won three National Hard Court mixed doubles titles with Jean Doyle Garrett. The heyday of Press’ career came in the 1940s and ‘50s when he played exhibition tournaments throughout Southern California, often competing against legends Bill Tilden, Don Budge, Jack Kramer, Pancho Segura and Pancho Gonzalez. “My one claim to fame,” Press joked, “is that I’ve been beaten by every good player of my era.” Besides Connolly, Press coached Karen Hantze Susman, who won Wimbledon in 1962, and Brian Teacher, the 1980 Australian Open champion.

SHARED PERFORMANCES

Genova: Julio Peralto and Horacio Zeballos beat Aliaksandr Bury and Andre Vasilevski 6-4 6-3

Dalian: Lee Yan-Hsuan and Kotomi Takabata beat Nicha Lertpitaksinchai and Jessy Pompies 6-2 6-1

SURFING

Szczecin: www.pekaoszczecinopen.pl/2016/pl/

Tokyo: www.jta-tennis.or.jp/jwo/tabid/549/Default.aspx

Quebec City: www.coupebanquenationale.ca/en/home/

Biarritz: www.engie-open-biarritz.fr

Davis Cup: www.daviscup.com

Moselle: www.moselle-open.com/

St. Petersburg (men): www.spbopen.ru/

St. Petersburg (women): www.kamelzon.ru

Kaohsiung: www.oectennis.com/

Guangzhou: www.guangzhouopen.org/

Seoul: www.koreaopentennis.com/

Tokyo: www.toray-ppo.com/

TOURNAMENTS THIS WEEK

MEN

$119,582 Pekao Szczecin Open, Szczecin, Poland, clay

WOMEN

$226,750 Coupe Banque Nationale, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada, carpet

$226,750 Hashimoto Sogyo Japan Women’s Open Tennis, Tokyo, Japan, hard

$100,000 Engie Open de Biarritz Pays Basque, Biarritz, France, clay

DAVIS CUP

World Cup Semifinals

Great Britain vs. Argentina at Glasgow, Scotland, hard

Croatia vs. France at Zadar, Croatia, hard

World Cup Playoffs

Uzbekistan vs. Switzerland at Tashkent, Uzbekistan, clay; Belgium vs. Brazil at Ostend, Belgium, hard; Australia vs. Slovakia at Sydney, Australia, grass; Canada vs. Chile at Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, hard; Russia vs. Kazakhstan at Moscow, Russia, hard; India vs. Spain at New Delhi, India, hard; Germany vs. Poland at Berlin, Germany, clay; Japan vs. Ukraine at Osaka, Japan, hard

Group I

1^st Round Playoffs

Americas Zone: Dominican Republic vs. Colombia at Santiago De Los Caballeros, Dominican Republic, clay

Europe/Africa Zone: Sweden vs. Netherlands at Sweden, clay

2^nd Round Playoffs

Asia/Oceania Zone: New Zealand vs. Pakistan at Christchurch, New Zealand, hard

Europe/Africa Zone: Portugal vs. Slovenia at Viana do Castelo, Portugal, clay

Group II

Finals

Americas Zone: Venezuela vs. Peru at Barcelona, Venezuela, hard

Asia/Oceania Zone: Thailand vs. Chinese Taipei at Nonthaburi, Thailand, hard

Semifinals