By Bob Greene
STARS
Serena Williams beat Coco Vandeweghe 7-5 6-3 to win the Bank of the West Classic in Stanford, California, USA
David Ferrer beat Nicolas Almagro 6-2 6-2 to win the SkiStar Swedish Open in Båstad, Sweden
Janko Tipsarevic beat Juan Monaco 6-4 5-7 6-3 to win the Mercedes Cup in Stuttgart, Germany
Marin Cilic beat Marcel Granollers 6-4 6-2 to win the ATP Vegeta Croatia Open in Umag, Croatia
John Isner beat Lleyton Hewitt 7-6 (1) 6-4 to win the Campbell’s Hall of Fame Championships in Newport, Rhode Island, USA
Sara Errani beat Barbora Zahlavova Strycova 6-1 6-3 to win the XXV Italiacom Open in Palermo, Italy
Romina Oprandi beat Mandy Minella 7-5 7-5 to win the 10ème Open GDF Suez de Biarritz in Biarritz, France
SAYING
“I still managed to overcome some adversity, win a gold medal, win some Grand Slams and stand at the podium at the Hall of Fame. This is one milestone I thought I’d never achieve.” – Jennifer Capriati, whose journey to induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame included arrests for shoplifting and drug possession.
“I definitely think I survived. I don’t think I played my greatest, but I do think I was mentally there, and that helped me out a lot.” – Serena Williams, after winning her 43rd career title.
“There’s happiness that I’m in the final and there’s sadness that I lost. I just have to kind of put it on the back burner and move on.” – Coco Vandeweghe, a “lucky loser” who reached the final in Stanford before losing to Serena Williams.
“I’m so happy I’m at the age I am right now, because I had such a great run and I know there’s still more possible. To enjoy it right now, it’s very different than when I was 20 or 25. I’m at a much more stable place in my life. I wouldn’t want anything to change. So this is very, very special right now.” – Roger Federer, who at age 30 has been ranked number one in the world for a record 287 weeks.
“It’s huge for me. It’s the first time I’ve ever defended a title. I’m very happy to come through today against a great opponent – in my opinion one of the greatest ever. It’s a big win for me.” – John Isner, following his win over Lleyton Hewitt to win at Newport, Rhode Island, USA
“A lot of positives have come out of this week. Grass is a tough surface to come back on after any kind of surgery, and especially foot surgery, where my movement is such a big thing, because on grass you’re in the wrong positions a lot of the time. You’ve got to have that confidence in your footwork.” – Lleyton Hewitt, who reached the final at Newport, Rhode Island, USA.
“It wasn’t completely easy, as it might seem from the result. (Barbora) Zahlavova Strycova is a very difficult player. If you don’t keep your game up you risk being entrapped by her tennis. In fact, if you let your guard down, you won’t get out of it.” – Sara Errani, who beat Zahlavova Strycova in the Italiacom Open final.
“I feel great. I honestly still don’t believe I won the title, considering that in almost every match I was hanging to lose. There were a lot of ups and downs. I think my mental attitude was the key for me – fighting from the first to the very last point. I think that is one of the reasons why I managed to win the title.” – Janko Tipsarevic, following his win in Stuttgart, Germany.
“Marcel is a really dangerous player, so it was not easy in the beginning. He was playing really well and not giving me too much. After I found some solutions, I kept with him and played great tennis. It was maybe my best match of the week. I had a streak of winning nine games in a row, so that was amazing.” – Marin Cilic, after beating Marcel Granollers in the final to win the SkiStar Swedish Open.
“I think Marin was much better than me. He played a very good match,” said Granollers. “I was up 4-2 in the first set but I did not close out the set. Marin started to play better and better. The second set, I didn’t know how to win a point.” – Marcel Granollers.
“It would mean a lot to me, but I can’t lay all my hopes and dreams on just that. But it would mean a lot. I would like to try to get one.: — Serena Williams, when asked about winning an Olympic gold medal in singles.
STREAKIN’ SERENA
While she prepares to head back to Wimbledon for the London Olympics, Serena Williams took time to catch up with older sister Venus. Serena beat “lucky loser” Coco Vandeweghe to win his second straight Bank of the West Classic title, the 43rd in her career, tying Venus with the most titles of active players. A week after winning her fifth Wimbledon singles crown – tying her with Venus – Serena brought in some help to cheer her on: her father. Richard Williams flew from Europe to California to watch Serena’s last two match. “I haven’t won a tournament without him or my mom here,” Serena said. “I just felt like I didn’t want to go out (without him). Plus, he’s going to be at home watching everything here anyway.” Vandeweghe lost in the qualifying, but gained a spot in the main draw when Bojana Jovanovski withdrew with an injury. She broke Serena’s serve twice and was serving for the opening set at 5-4. Twelve games later Williams was collecting the winner’s check after posting a 7-5 6-3 victory. The last player to successfully defend her title at Stanford was Kim Clijsters in 2005-06. At the Olympics, Serena and Venus will be seeking their third doubles gold medal, while Serena is going for her first gold medal in singles. Venus won gold in 2000.
SECOND STRAIGHT TITLE
John Isner bested a grass-court champion to win his second straight Campbell’s Hall of Fame Championships and join a select group. The American beat two-time Grand Slam tournament champion and former world number one Lleyton Hewitt, who was playing in his first final since June 2010 when he won his 28th career crown on the grass courts at Halle, Germany, defeating Roger Federer. Isner is the first player to win consecutive titles in Newport since Fabrice Santoro in 2007-08, and only the fourth player in history. Greg Rusedski won in 2003-04 and Bryan Shelton in 1991-92. Isner pounded 16 aces and gained the only break of the match in the third game of the second set. It was all he needed. Isner will play one more tournament, this week in Atlanta, as he tunes up for the London Olympics. “The best practice is match practice,” he said.
SWEET DEAL
When Janko Tipsarevic won the Mercedes Cup in Stuttgart, Germany, it came with a car of the same name. Tipsarevic pocketed the winner’s check and the ATP rankings points, but his wife got the Mercedes Benz. “I don’t want to call it a deal, but I have a pretty solid car at home, so I don’t need it,” the tournament’s top seed said. “But my wife (Biljana) and I had our anniversary a couple of days back. She also had her birthday. So I promised her the car if I won the tournament. The points go to me.” It was the third career title for Tipsarevic, who beat Juan Monaco in the final of the clay court tournament.
STEADY OPPONENT
David Ferrer ran his record against fellow Spaniard Nicolas Almagro to 11-0, and that was good enough for Ferrer to capture his fifth ATP title of the year, tying him with Roger Federer. It was Ferrer’s second title in Båstad, Sweden; ironically, the first came in 2007 when he beat Almagro in the final. Ferrer also was runner-up at the SkiStar Swedish Open last year after beating Almagro in the semifinals. Ferrer put on display his winning clay court game in Båstad, the same surface on which he won in Buenos Aires and Acapulco. He also won on grass in ‘s-Hertogenbosch and on hard court in Auckland.
SPECIAL WIN
This title was especially sweet for Marin Cilic, who became the first Croat to win the Umag, Croatia, tournament since 1990 when Goran Prpic beat Goran Ivanisevic in an all-Croat final. “It’s a real privilege to be among these champions,” he said. “It was really special this week. I played great tennis and I was enjoying every moment in my matches. I’m really glad I won for my supporters, my team and myself.” Cilic didn’t drop a set during his run to the title, beating Marcel Granollers in the final. It was the 23-year-old Cilic’s third title in his home country, having won the PBZ Zagreb Indoors in 2009 and 2010.
SWISS TIME
Roger Federer hasn’t played since winning his seventh Wimbledon men’s singles title a week ago. But that doesn’t keep the Swiss great from piling up more records. This week Federer was ranked number one in the world for a record 287th week. He had pulled even at 286 weeks when he wrapped up his record 17th Grand Slam tournament title on the grass courts of the All England Club. He regained the top spot after a two-year absence that saw him drop as low as fourth in the world. Federer holds a 75-point lead over Novak Djokovic and is guaranteed to hold the top ranking heading into the London Olympics later this month. He has won five tournaments this year and compiled a 63-6 match record since last year’s US Open. Federer first took over the world number one spot in February 2004 and held it until August 2008. He reclaimed it in July 2009, then was overtaken by Rafael Nadal after the French Open in 2010.
SARA CRUISES
It took just 75 minutes for Sara Errani to claim her fourth title of the year. The top-seeded Italian crushed Barbora Zahlavova Strycova 6-1 6-3 in winning the Italiacom Open in Palermo, Sicily. Ranked ninth in the world, Errani is the first Italian to win four tournaments in a season. “It’s a magical time for me,” said Errani, who alsowon in Palermo in 2008. “However I don’t aim for records. I only think about playing and improving, without looking at the numbers. Today, during the match I didn’t think much about the fact that I would be winning a fourth tournament this season. I only did so a big before the match. On court, I only thought about playing.” The finalist at the French Open earlier this summer, Errani has also won titles in Budapest, Barcelona and Acapulco.
SUCRE BLEU
The early-round losers at the US Open will be pocketing more money this year. The United States Tennis Association (USTA) announced US Open prize money will jump by more than USD $2 million when the year’s final Grand Slam tournament is played later this summer. First-round losers will receive 21 percent more than they did last year, while second-round prize money will jump 19 percent. “We recognize the mounting financial pressures associated with competing on the global professional tennis circuits and especially for those who do not reach the second week of the US Open,” said USTA president Jon Vegosen. “We believe the additional prize money, as well as how it will be strategically distributed, will help alleviate some of the pressure.” The winners of the two-week event aren’t being left out. The women’s and men’s singles champions will each take home a record USD $1.9 million and could earn up to USD $1 million morfe in bonus money. In 2007, Roger Federer collected USD $2.4 million. Kim Clijsters had the biggest women’s paycheck, USD $2.2 million in 2010.
SIX IS NOT TO BE
Five times Anabel Medina Garrigues has left the Countryt Time Club in Palermo, Sicily, as champion of the Italiacom Open: in 2001, 2004-05-06 and 2011. This year was different. The Spanish right-hander was ousted in the opening round by a wild-card entry. Medina Garrigues was bounced 6-1 6-3 by Italy’s Maria Elena Camerin.
SUPREME SPOT
Jennifer Capriati, a three-time Grand Slam tournament winner, and Gustavo “Guga” Kuerten, a three-time French Open champion, and three others are the latest inductees into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island, USA. Also inducted into the shrine were former player Manuel Orantes, tennis industry executive Mike Davies and wheelchair champion Randy Snow, who was honored posthumously. “It’s been quite a journey,” Capriati said. “Here I look back at all those really great things I’ve accomplished and the achievements I’ve had and those achievements I overcame.” She won a gold medal in women’s singles at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992.
SPOTLIGHTED COLLEGIANS
Nicole Gibbs, a junior at Stanford University, and Steve Johnson, a senior at the University of Southern California, were honored as 2012 Campbell/ITA National College Players of the Year during the induction weekend at the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum in Newport, Rhode Island. The Campbell/ITA National College Player of the Year award is given to the women’s and men’s singles player who has had the most outstanding year in college tennis and finishes number one in the Campbell/ITA National Rankings.
SHARED PERFORMANCES
Båstad: Robert Lindstedt and Horia Tecau beat Alexander Peya and Bruno Soares 6-3 7-6 (5)
Biarritz: Severine Beltrame and Laura Thorpe beat Lara Arruabarrena-Vecino and Monica Puig 6-2 6-3
Bogota: Marcelo Demoliner and Victor Estrella beat Thomas Fabbiano and Riccardo Ghedin 6-4 6-2
Newport: Santiago Gonzalez and Scott Lipsky beat Colin Fleming and Ross Hutchings 7-6 (3) 6-3
Stanford: Marina Erakovic and Heather Watson beat Jarmila Gajdosova and Vania King 7-5 7-6 (7)
Stuttgart: Jeremy Chardy and Lukasz Kubot beat Michal Mertinak and Andre Sa 6-1 6-3
Palermo: Renata Voracova and Basrbora Zahlavova Strycova beat Darija Jurak and Katalin Marosi 7-6 (5) 6-4
Umag: David Marrero and Fernando Verdasco beat Marcel Granollers and Marc Lopez 6-3 7-6 (4)
SURFING
Hamburg: http://bet-at-home-open.com
Atlanta: www.bbtatlantaopen.com
Gstaad: www.creditagricolesuisseopengstaad.ch/
Carlsbad: www.mercuryinsuranceopen.com
Båstad: http://women.swedishopen.org
Bucharest: www.bcropen.ro
Kitzbühel: www.bet-at-home-cup.com/de/
Los Angeles: www.farmersclassic.com/
Baku: www.bakucup.az/
Astana: www.alau.info
Olomouc: www.itscup.cz
TOURNAMENTS THIS WEEK
(All money in USD)
MEN
$1,114,000 bet-at-home Open – German Tennis Championships, Hamburg, Germany, clay
$477,900 BB&T Atlanta Open, Atlanta, Georgia, USA, hard
$451,250 Crédit Agricole Suisse Open, Gstaad, Switzerland, clay
WOMEN
$740,000 Mercury Insurance Open, Carlsbad, California, USA, hard
$220,000 Sony Swedish Open, Båstad, Sweden, clay
$100,000 BCR Open Romania, Bucharest, Romania, clay
TOURNAMENTS NEXT WEEK
MEN
$557,550 Farmers Classic, Los Angeles, California, USA, hard
$451,250 bet-at-home Cup Kitzbühel, Kitzbühel, Austria, clay
$125,000 Astana Challenger, Astana, Kazakhstan, hard
WOMEN
$220,000 Baku Cup, Baku, Azerbaijan, hard
$100,000 ITF Astana Women’s $100,000, Astana, Kazakhstan, hard
$100,000 ITS Cup, Olomouc, Czech Republic, clay