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Roger Federer

Novak Djokovic Wins Finals When Injured Roger Federer Withdraws – Mondays with Bob Greene

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Mondays with Bob Greene

 

 

STARS

Novak Djokovic won the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London, England, when Roger Federer defaulted with a back injury

Alexandra Dulgheru beat Kimiko Date-Krumm 6-3 6-4 to win the Al Habtoor Tennis Challenge in Dubai, United Arab Emirates

 

SAYING

“Unfortunately I’m not match fit to play a match tonight. Clearly I wish it wasn’t this way. You try all year to be ready for the ATP World Tour Finals and I didn’t want to end this way. – Roger Federer, announcing he was unable to play Novak Djokovic in the final of the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals.

“I’m sure that if he could have come out and played, he would have.” – Novak Djokovic, responding to Roger Federer’s decision to withdraw from the title match.

“I’m not the kind of player to celebrate these wins, but I have to celebrate the whole season, and this trophy is the crown on the season.” – Novak Djokovic.

“I’ve lost slam finals, which have been very tough. But in terms of the way the match went it was not ideal from my side of the court – far from it.” – Andy Murray, after losing to Roger Federer 6-0 6-1.

“I think he’s getting better every time. Actually I never feel that he’s 33. He looks still young and is playing amazing tennis. I think age doesn’t matter right now.” – Kei Nishikori, after losing to Roger Federer.

“You know, obviously I can’t speak in the name of the other players, so I don’t know how they feel on the court. I know that I’ve been playing very well this week and hope that I can continue this way. Now, of course, since it’s the tournament of the best eight players in the world, people, fans, the crowd expect to see a little bit more excitement and longer matches.” – Novak Djokovic, when asked why the round-robin matches were all so one-sided.

“You need to hit a lot of great shots, if it’s not working well for you, to have an impact. You have to work extremely hard. I think if you then look at the way Novak or Stan has played here, I think they both played very well, which made it very difficult for the other guys.” – Roger Federer, also asked why the round-robin matches were all blowouts.

 

SAY IT AIN’T SO

After the semifinals produced the two best matches of the week, the title match was a fizzle. Actually, there was no final at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals because Roger Federer defaulted with a back injury suffered in his three-set semifinal thriller over fellow Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka.  “I’m sorry I’m here in a tracksuit,” Federer told the disappointed crowd which was expecting a battle between the world’s top two players. “I wish it weren’t so.”  With Federer sidelined, Djokovic was awarded the Finals title for the third straight year, the first player to do so since Ivan Lendl in the 1980s. Still, he wasn’t happy with the way the tournament ended. “Obviously not the way I’d like to win this,” the 27-year-old Serb said. The injury came in Federer’s hard-fought 4-6 7-5 7-6 (6) win over Wawrinka. “I hurt my back late in the match yesterday against Stan,” Federer told the crowd. “I am very disappointed and I hope to be feeling better soon.” Chris Kermode, the ATP’s executive chairman and president, said Federer told him of the injury right after the Wawrinka match. “I tried everything I could last night and today – painkillers, rest – until the very end, but I can’t compete at this level with Novak. In a final like this and at my age, it would be too risky. I hope you understand.” The withdrawal was only the third walkover of Federer’s career. “I feel sorry for Roger,” Djokovic said. “I’ve been in tennis 10 years and I know Roger and Rafa (Nadal) have been the biggest competitors and always give their 100 percent. If Roger could have come out and played, he would have played.”

Djokovic did play on the final day in London – a one-set exhibition against local favorite Andy Murray. Murray also played a legends doubles exhibition, teaming with John McEnroe against Tim Henman and Pat Cash.

 

SUPERB SWISS SEMI

Stanislas Wawrinka could have, should have beaten Roger Federer and grabbed a spot in the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals tile match against Novak Djokovic. Instead, the 33-year-old Federer was victorious in the all-Swiss semifinal, 4-6 7-5 7-6 (6). It was Wawrinka who had four match points. It was Federer who closed out the night on his first match point. Wawrinka served for the match at 5-4 in the third set. “I clearly got lucky tonight,” Federer said. “There’s no doubt about that. But you’ve got to keep believing that maybe there is a slight chance that you are going to be able to turn it around somehow.” Wawrinka has beaten Federer only twice in their 16 career meetings. But this time he was the better player for most of the evening – until it came time to wrap up the match. “I had some big opportunities in the third set,” said Wawrinka, the reigning Australian Open champion. “I should have taken them, especially serving for the match with three match points. But when you play Roger, it’s never easy for me, for anybody. He’s been in that situation so many times.”

Close friends, Federer and Wawrinka hope to team up this weekend as Switzerland takes on France in the Davis Cup final. The Swiss were heavy favorites to win their first Davis Cup title, but that was before Federer withdrew from the ATP World Tour Finals with a back injury and Wawrinka began cramping in his semifinal match against Federer. Novak Djokovic said Federer might not be able to play Davis Cup. “I spoke to him and it’s a question mark for the Davis Cup final. He doesn’t know yet,” Djokovic said.

 

STILL NUMBER ONE

Novak Djokovic made sure he would finish the year atop the Emirates ATP Ranking for the third time. By winning all three of his round-robin matches, Djokovic piled up enough points to clinch the number one ranking. He had previously finished at the top in 2011 and 2012, and becomes the seventh player to be ranked number one at the end of the year on three or more occasions. The others are Pete Sampras (6), Jimmy Connors and Roger Federer (5), Ivan Lendl and John McEnroe (4) and Rafael Nadal (3). This is the 11th straight season the year-end number one ranking has been held by either Djokovic, Federer or Nadal. “Being world number one is probably one of the most difficult and biggest challenges that a tennis player can have, so it’s incredibly fulfilling and I’m very happy with this achievement,” Djokovic said.

 

SUCCESSFUL TEAM

American twins Bob and Mike Bryan have done it again. For the fourth time in their career they have captured the ATP Tour Finals doubles title, rallying from a set down to beat Ivan Dodig of Croatia and Brazil’s Marcelo Melo 6-7 (5) 6-2 10-7 in a match tiebreak. It was the 103rd title the Bryans have won as a team. “Looking back at the year we’re very proud of the way it went,” Mike Bryan said. “This is considered the fifth slam, with the top eight teams in the world. To lose our first match and bounce back, barely qualifying for the semifinals, win today was a great feeling.” The winners recovered from a near knockout blow in the first set when Bob slammed a first serve into the back of his brother head. After Dodig and Melo captured the first set, the Bryans dominated play.

 

SMASHING WIN

Even Roger Federer was happy Andy Murray won a game. When the two met in a round-robin match at the ATP World Tour Finals, Federer put on a clinic. The Swiss master won the first 11 games and was leading 0-30 when he missed a routine volley. Murray then dug in to hold serve for first game of the match. Federer closed out the rout on his next serve to seal the top spot in his group. “At the end I was happy I didn’t win the second to last game, to be quite honest,” Federer said. “I wouldn’t want to be in that position.” Federer’s victory broke an 11-11 tie in his career head-to-head with Murray. “It wasn’t what I was looking for when I went on the court,” Murray said. “Everything he tried tonight came off. He has the ability to do that.” Federer is the only player to win 6-0 6-0 in the history of the season-ending tournament. He did that against Gaston Gaudio in Shanghai in 2005. It tied Murray’s record for worst loss in his career. He also lost to Novak Djokovic 6-1 6-0 in the 2007 Miami Open. “I had the upper hand from the baseline, which hasn’t always happened against him,” Federer said. “But I definitely was able to play on my terms. For me, things went very well.”

 

STEM CELL TREATMENT

Rafael Nadal will undergo stem cell treatment to alleviate the back problems he has had all year. “It’s stem cell treatment, and doing it properly requires five weeks, Nadal’s uncle and coach, Toni Nadal, told the DPA news agency. Currently ranked third in the world, Rafa hurt his back at the Australian Open and it has plagued him most of the year. But the player also suffered a wrist injury in July which sidelined for three months. Then he had appendicitis and recently underwent surgery for that ailment. Asked why the player didn’t undergo back treatment during the time he missed between July and October, his uncle said: “Because we all thought that he’d play at the US Open, we were more focused on the wrist injury, which looked to be healing well.” Even while missing so much time, the 28-year-old Nadal won a record ninth French Open and three other tournaments this season. It is hoped Nadal can return to training in December.

 

SET FOR AUSTRALIA

Irina Falconi and Denis Kudla have earned wild-card berths into January’s first Grand Slam tournament, the Australian Open. Falconi and Kudla won the USTA Pro Circuit Australian Open Wild Card Challenge by earning points at two of the three selected USTA Pro Circuit hard-court events this fall. The United States Tennis Association (USTA) and Tennis Australia have a reciprocal agreement in which wild cards into the 2014 US Open and the 2015 Australian Open are exchanged. If Falconi’s ranking is high enough to gain her direct entry into the Australian Open women’s singles main draw, then Jennifer Brady would earn the wild card. Falconi has played in every Grand Slam tournament at least twice, and this will be her fourth appearance in the main draw of the Australian Open. Kudla has earned a spot in the main draw in Australia for the third time in the last four years. Kudla is currently ranked 125th in the world.

 

SIGHTING RECORDS

Roger Federer is closing in on more records. The 33-year-old Swiss maestro won 72 matches this season – the sixth time he has won 70 or more matches in a year – and now has 995 career victories. He now needs only five more victories to join Jimmy Connors, who had 1,253, and Ivan Lendl, with 1,071, as the only men to have broken the 1,000 barrier. With victories in seven Wimbledons, five US Opens, four Australian Opens and one French Open, Federer has put a stamp on being one of the sport’s top players. But he said reaching the 1,000 match mark would be especially significant because it is a tribute to a player’s longevity at the very top. “I played only the big tournaments this year. Basically, again, I chased all the Masters 1000s, Grand Slams, so forth,” he said. “It’s not easy to win matches there, as we know, because guys are always very good, margins are small. More importantly for me is getting closer to the thousand number. I would obviously be cool to get there. I think it’s a great number.”

 

SIDELINED BY INJURY

An injury to his right thigh caused Milo Raonic to withdraw from the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals during the round-robin portion of the season-ending event. “As badly as I wanted to play, you’ve got to be at the top of your game here and I couldn’t be close to that today,” the Canadian said when he withdrew with an 0-2 round-round record. “It wouldn’t have been fair to the fans if I had played a mediocre match or had to stop.” And there was another reason. “If I was to step out on court, I could lose up to six to eight weeks,” Raonic said. “That was a significant factor in my decision.” The 23-year-old posted 49-20 match record this year and won the Citi Open in Washington, DC. He also had two runner-up finishes, at the Rakuten Japan Open in Tokyo and the BNP Paribas Masters in Paris. “I’ve had a great time here,” said Raonic, who was making his debut at the season finale. “It’s been a great experience. It motivates me a lot to come here next year and do better than I did.”

 

SIGNED

The French sportswear brand Lacoste will provide the official tennis apparel for the Miami Open. Lacoste signed a five-year deal to become Official Partner of the Miami, Florida, USA, event, which will be held March 23-April next year. Lacoste also sponsors the Australian Open, the French Open and the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals. The sportswear company was founded in 1933 by tennis champion René Lacoste. His “Crocodile” nickname was picked up for the brand’s logo.

 

SHARED PERFORMANCES

Dubai: Vitalia Diatchenko and Alexandra Panova beat Lyudmyla Kichenok and Olga Savchuk 3-6 6-2 10-4 (match tiebreak)

 

SURFING

Toyota: www.dunlop-tennis.jp

 

Davis Cup: www.daviscup.com

Sao Paulo: www.challengerfinals.com.br/

 

TOURNAMENTS THIS WEEK

(All money in USD)

MEN

$220,000 Challenger Tour Finals at Sao Paulo, Brazil, clay

 

WOMEN

$75,000 Dunlop World Challenge Tennis Tournament, Toyota, Japan, carpet

 

DAVIS CUP

World Group Final

France vs. Switzerland at Lille, France, clay

 

Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic

IPTL Tennis To Air Live on Pay-Per-View In United States Via Integrated Sports Media

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The International Premier Tennis League (IPTL), the inaugural international city-based professional tennis league featuring legendary players such as Roger Federer, Serena Williams, Novak Djokovic and Maria Sharapova, will be available for live viewing via TV and on-line pay-per-view in the United States by Integrated Sports Media beginning November 28th through the conclusion of the season on December 13. All 24 matches of the highly anticipated inaugural season will be available on both cable and satellite pay-per-view – live and for replay – via iN DEMAND, DirecTV, DISH and Vubiquity and online at www.GFL.TV starting at $9.95 per match and $69.95 for packages.

The International Premier Tennis League (www.iptlworld.com) is the first international city-based professional tennis league played across four countries. Created to for fill the increasing demand for top-level tennis in Asia, the IPTL features teams based in India, Singapore, the Philippines and the United Arab Emirates featuring current champions, tennis legends and up-coming talent in a unique format of team matches to determine a team champion. Seventeen-time-major tournament champion Federer, 18-time major winner and current world No. 1 Serena Williams, current world No. 1 and seven-time major champion Djokovic and five-time major champion and former world No. 1 Sharapova headline the players competing in the inaugural season of the IPTL. The league also features past champions such as 14-time major champion Pete Sampras and career Golden Grand Slam winner Andre Agassi and other top current players including 2013 Wimbledon champion Andy Murray, 2014 Wimbledon finalist Genie Bouchard, 2010 Wimbledon finalist Tomas Berdych, and former world No. 1s Ana Ivanovic and Lleyton Hewitt among others. In all, the league will feature 21 Grand Slam tournament champions and 14 current or former world No. 1 players competing in 24 team matches from November 28th through December 13.

“There has been a lot of anticipation and curiosity about the inaugural season of the IPTL and we are thrilled to provide it for American audiences to view via pay-per-view on TV along with access online,” said ISM President Doug Jacobs. “The IPTL is going to showcase a very unique and never seen before brand of professional tennis, with players like Roger Federer, Serena Williams, Andre Agassi, Maria Sharapova, Novak Djokovic and many other legendary tennis champions all competing on co-ed teams representing Asia in fast-growing emerging tennis markets. These are events that no tennis fan is going to want to miss.”

Team rosters are as follows:

 

Manila Mavericks – Maria Sharapova, Andy Murray, Joe Wilfried Tsonga, Kristen Flipkens, Daniel Nestor, Carlos Moya, Treat Huey

Singapore Slammers – Serena Williams, Andre Agassi, Thomas Berdych, Lleyton Hewitt, Nick Krygios, Daniela Hantuchova, Patrick Rafter, Bruno Soares

Micromax Indian Aces – Roger Federer, Pete Sampras, Gael Monfils, Ana Ivanovic, Sania Mirza, Rohan Bopanna, Fabrice Santoro

UAE Royals – Novak Djokovic, Caroline Wozniacki, Goran Ivanisevic, Genie Bouchard, Malek Jaziri, Nenad Zimonjic

 

Each IPTL match will consist of five sets played by different players that will include men’s singles,  women’s singles, men’s doubles, mixed doubles and former champions singles. Each game won counts as one point for the team points total and the team that wins the most games overall across the five sets wins the match. The IPTL matches will feature live entertainment, a running shot clock and many more features to ’Break the Code’ of the traditional etiquette of tennis to attract a new audience to the sport across the world. The team with the most accumulated points during the season are declared league champions and are awarded the IPTL Challenge Trophy in Dubai on December 13.

The IPTL season begins November 28 in Manila, Philippines. The November 28-30 matches will be played in Manila, Philippines. The December 2-4 matches will be played in Singapore. The December 6-8 matches will be played in New Delhi, India and the December 11-13 matches will be played in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The full schedule of matches are as follows:

 

Dates and times from Manila, Philippines

November 28th

Aces vs. Slammers (3:00 am ET/12:00 Midnight PT)

Mavericks vs. Royals (6:30 am ET/3:00 am PT)

 

November 29th

Royals v Slammers (3:00 am ET/12:00 Midnight PT)

Mavericks vs. Aces (6:30 am ET/3:00 am PT)

 

November 30th

Royals vs. Aces (3:00 am ET/12:00 Midnight PT)

Mavericks vs. Slammers (6:30 am ET/3:00 am PT)

 

 

Dates and times from Singapore

December 2nd

Aces v Royals (3:00 am ET/12:00 Midnight PT)

Slammers v Mavericks (6:30 am ET/3:30 am PT)

 

December 3rd

Mavericks v Royals (3:00 am ET/12:00 Midnight PT)

Slammers v Aces (6:30 am ET/3:30 am PT)

 

December 4th

Mavericks v Aces (3:00 am ET/12:00 Midnight PT)

Slammers v Royals (6:30 am ET/3:30 am PT)

 

Dates and times from India

December 6th

Royals v Slammers (5:30 am ET/2:30 am PT)

Aces v. Mavericks (9:00 am ET/6:00 am PT)

 

December 7th

Aces v Slammers (5:30 am ET/2:30 am PT)

Mavericks v. Royals (9:00 am ET/6:00 am PT)

 

December 8th

Mavericks v. Slammers (5:30 am ET/2:30 am PT)

Aces v. Royals (9:00 am ET/6:00 am PT)

 

Dates and times from UAE

December 11th

Aces v Slammers (7:00 am ET/4:00 am PT)

Royals v Mavericks (10:30 am ET/7:30 am PT)

 

December 12th

Mavericks v Slammers (7:00 am ET/4:00 am PT)

Royals v Aces (10:30 am ET/7:30 am PT)

December 13th

Mavericks v Aces (7:00 am ET/4:00 am PT)

Royals v Slammers (10:30 am ET/7:30 am PT)

 

About Integrated Sports Media:

Integrated Sports Media: North America’s leading distributor of International Pay-Per-View and Closed Circuit sports events has presented World Championship and world-class mixed martial arts shows featuring Fedor Emelianenko, Tim Sylvia, Bobby Lashley, Mirko Filipovic, Bob Sapp, Jeff Monson and Roy Nelson, in addition to World Championship and world-class boxing matches featuring Gennady Golovkin, Erik Morales, Vitali Klitschko, Ricky Hatton, Cristian Mijares, Evander Holyfield, Roy Jones, Jr., Tomasz Adamek, Paulie Malignaggi, Ivan Calderon, Rocky Martinez, Nicolai Valuev, Amir Khan, Marco Antonio Barrera, Arthur Abraham, David Haye, John Ruiz, Wilfredo Vasquez, Jr., Brian Viloria, Giovani Segura and Ruslan Chagaev. In addition, Integrated Sports Media has distributed numerous International soccer matches featuring teams like Real Madrid, Club America of Mexico and the National Teams of Argentina, Honduras, El Salvador and the USA. For more information on upcoming Integrated Sports events visit www.integratedsportsnet.com or follow on Twitter @IntegratedPPV.

 

IPTL
IPTL

Big Loss Spurs Serena Williams To WTA Title – Mondays with Bob Greene

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Mondays with Bob Greene

 

STARS

Serena Williams beat Simona Halep 6-3 6-0 to win the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore in Singapore

Roger Federer beat David Goffin 6-2 6-2 to win the Swiss Indoors Basel in Basel, Switzerland

Andy Murray beat Tommy Robredo 3-6 7-6 (7) 7-6 (8) to win the Valencia Open 500 in Valencia, Spain

Timea Babos beat Oceane Dodin 6-3 4-6 7-5 to win the Internationaux Féminins de la Vienne in Poitiers, France

 

DAVIS CUP

Group 1 Second Round Playoffs, Asia Oceania Zone: New Zealand beat Chinese Taipei 4-1 in Christchurch, New Zealand; Europe/Africa Zone: Sweden beat Latvia 3-2 in Jonkoping, Sweden

 

SAYING

“I didn’t expect to end the year on this note. Like I’ve said this week, I was just happy to even be competing here. At one point I thought my last match would be against Genie (Eugenie Bouchard), and I was happy to win that match. It just makes everything much more sweet and satisfying, especially for me.” – Serena Williams, after beating Simona Halep to win the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore.

“She’s the best. She’s a great player. And she deserves to win the title.” – Simona Halep.

“Knowing she has the ability and capability to play so well, I had to step up my game. I knew I had to play a lot better, so I was expecting to be a much better player than I was in the earlier rounds.” – Serena Williams, noting the difference between her round-robin loss to Simona Halep and her victory in the title match.

“I won’t forget that I beat Serena this week.” – Simona Halep.

“Embarrassing describes the way I played today. Very embarrassing.” – Serena Williams, after losing 6-0 6-2 to Simona Halep in the round-robin portion of the WTA Finals.

“It was my best match of my life. I played unbelievable shots. It means a lot this match. At an important time I played really well, and after today my confidence will be more high.” – Simona Halep, after her round-robin victory over Serena Williams.

“I’m not going to play Paris and London. I’m not competitive enough.” Rafael Nadal, announcing he will undergo season-ending surgery for appendicitis.

“It is always such a treat to be in the final here, receiving a standing ovation from the crowd. It’s why I play tennis, why I play the tournament here in Basel. It will remain very special for me personally.” – Roger Federer, after winning his hometown tournament, the Swiss Indoors Basel, for the sixth time.

“It was a tough match, of course. Here in his hometown, he was in great shape and played too good for me today. At the beginning of the match I was a little bit nervous, especially a final against Roger. It’s not easy to return his serve. That’s why it was a nightmare for me today.” – David Goffin, after losing to Roger Federer in the Swiss Indoors Basel final.

“I know it was an incredible match. The tennis at the end and in the second set was high level. I played well at the right moments.” – Andy Murray, after saving five match points in his win over Tommy Robredo.

“It was an amazing match, and you have to enjoy it. Unfortunately someone has to win and it was decided by a few balls. It is what it is. Now I will be a bit out for a couple of hours, but I guess that when I finish the season next week and I watch today’s match against one of the best players we have right now, I will be very happy.” – Tommy Robredo.

“It’s unbelievable for me. I just want to enjoy the moment. I’m just so surprised and it’s an unbelievable feeling.” – Borna Coric, following his straight-set upset of Rafael Nadal in Basel, Switzerland.

“It is only a number, but it’s a special number.” – Tommy Robredo, after becoming only the seventh active player on the ATP World Tour and the 44th player in the Open Era to win 500 career matches.

“I didn’t want to offend any athlete with my words. I regret that this joke… has garnered so much attention. I don’t think this incident deserves so much fuss.” – Shamil Tarpischev, head of Russian tennis federation, after calling the Williams sister “brothers” and “scary.”

“You know sports are a microcosm of society, so it teaches you how the world still perceives gender inequality. It’s not fun. It’s really sad actually.” – Billie Jean King, in response to some male players complaining about women being paid equal prize money at Grand Slam tournaments.

“I feel like I have so much more to learn still and so much more to improve. Playing against the best in the world today, I got my butt kicked, but I had fun. It actually motivates me to try to get better.” – Eugenie Bouchard, after losing all three of her round-robin matches in her first WTA Finals.

 

SINGAPORE REVENGE

Simona Halep handed Serena Williams the worst defeat of her professional career. Four days later, Williams got her revenge in the title match of the WTA Finals. Halep pulled off the first service break in the finale, going up 2-1. Disgusted with her own play, Williams smashed her racquet on the court, drawing an “abuse of equipment” warning from the umpire. “She was playing so well and I was literally on the side of the court and I just laughed,” Williams said. “I said, ‘Serena, you have nothing to lose. Just relax. And then once I relaxed I just started playing better and kept making my shots.” A relaxed Serena went on a tear, winning the last eight games of the match to capture her fifth WTA Finals crown 6-3 6-0 in the year-ending event’s debut in Singapore. At the age of 33, Williams became the first player to win the season finale three consecutive times since Monica Seles pulled it off in 1992. It also was Serena’s fifth year-end title in four cities, tying her with Steffi Graf for second-most titles in the tournament’s history. Only Martina Navratilova has won more – eight. And Williams also received one of Singapore’s highest honors: the tournament named an orchid after her. “It’s been an unbelievable week,” she said.

In their first meeting in the round-robin portion of the week, Williams matched the record for the fewest games she had won in a completed match as Halep triumphed 6-0 6-2. The last time Serena was held to just two games in a match was in 1998 when she was a 16-year-old newcomer to the tour known as Venus’ little sister. “My forehand was off today,” Williams said after the loss. “It’s obviously gone on an early vacation. My serve was at best at the 10-and-under division of juniors. You got to step up to the plate. She did and I didn’t.” It was the first time the fourth-ranked Halep had beaten a player ranked in the top three in the world. “I have to forget this day, but it will be hard to forget,” Halep said. “I am so happy.”

 

SEASON-ENDING SURGERY

Following a surprising defeat at the Swiss Indoors, Rafael Nadal has decided to undergo a season-ending appendicitis surgery, meaning he will miss the Paris Masters and Barclays ATP Finals in London, England. Nadal announced his decision to undergo surgery after he lost to 17-year-old Borna Coric of Croatia 6-2 7-6 (4) in the quarterfinals in Basel, Switzerland. The Swiss Indoors was only the third tournament Nadal has played in since Wimbledon, when he suffered a wrist injury. Since returning, he lost to Slovakia’s Martin Klizan in Beijing and to fellow Spaniard Feliciano Lopez in Shanghai. The 28-year-old left-hander won his ninth French Open in June. He needed treatment for appendicitis earlier this month in Shanghai and has been treating his ailment with antibiotics before finally deciding to undergo the surgery.

 

SWISS MASTER

By winning the Swiss Indoors Basel for the sixth time in eight years, Roger Federer has narrowed the gap with Novak Djokovic in a battle he never really expected to be fighting. Federer is now less than 500 points behind the Serb in the battle for the year-ending number one ranking. “It would be very special to reclaim number one,” Federer said. “World number one is what it’s all about in our game. With the year I have had and the amount of finals I have played, the level of tennis I have played, I am pleased to see that I have a shot. But having a shot and being there is two separate things.” Federer’s latest title came on a 6-2 6-2 triumph over David Goffin. It was Federer’s 82nd tour-level trophy, his 12th straight match win and improved his ATP World Tour-leading mark in 2014 to 66-10. The Swiss master has won six titles or more at six different tournaments. Federer has won Wimbledon and the Gerry Weber Open seven times each, and has captured six trophies at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, the Western & Southern Open, Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships and the Swiss Indoors Basel.

 

SIGNIFICANT STEP

Andy Murray saved five match points and beat Tommy Robredo to win the Valencia Open 500 and take a significant step toward qualifying for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals. The two battled for three hours, 20 minutes, making it the longest final on the ATP World Tour this year. With the win, Murray is now fifth in the race for the elite eight-man season-ending event that will be played in London, England. “I like playing here,” Murray said of the tournament site, Valencia, Spain. “It’s a nice place to come this time of year. It’s extremely warm outside, which is good for the muscles, the joints and the mind as well. I came to train here earlier in the year. Good food, good weather and good people.” Murray staved off the first two match points in the second-set tiebreak to pull even. The eventual winner squandered a match point of his own in the 10th game of the third set, then fought off three more Robredo match points in the final tiebreak before finally sealing the win with a backhand passing shot. It was Murray’s second Valencia Open title, having also won in 2009, and his 31st overall. Robredo was seeking to become the ninth Spaniard to capture the tournament since it moved to Valencia in 2003.

 

SICK BAY

Rafael Nadal isn’t the only top player who will be missing the Paris Masters because of illness. US Open champion Marin Cilic pulled out of the event with a right arm injury. Also withdrawing from Paris is Ernests Gulbis, who cited a right shoulder injury for his absence.

 

SERVING ACES

Ivo Karlovic served 33 aces in a losing semifinal match against Roger Federer at the Swiss Indoors Basel. That brings him 10 aces shy of 9,000 for his career. Only fellow Croatian Goran Ivanisevic and Andy Roddick have achieved that feat in ATP World Tour history.

 

SPECIAL MILESTONES

Although he lost in the Valencia Open semifinals to Andy Murray, top-seeded David Ferrer became the fourth active player to win 600 matches in his career. A three-time champion in Valencia, Ferrer joined Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Lleyton Hewitt as the only players still competing on the ATP World Tour with 600 career match victories. The Spaniard joined the elite group when he beat Thomaz Bellucci 6-1 6-2 in the quarterfinals of the Valencia, Spain, tournament. “I’m most proud of all the years that I’ve been able to stay among the best players in the world,” said the 32-year-old Ferrer, who has won 21 titles and is currently ranked fifth in the world. “There have been important tournaments that I’ve won, and that I’ve been proud of, but what I’m most proud of is to have been able to maintain this stability for all these years.”

Tommy Robredo also reached a milestone when he won his 500th match at the Valencia Open. He is only the fifth Spaniard in the Open Era to win 500 career matches, joining Rafael Nadal, Manuel Orantes, David Ferrer and Carlos Moya. “If somebody told me I would win 500 matches at the beginning of my career, I would sign up for it,” Robredo said. “Now I will go for 600.” What makes the milestone even more precious is the fact Robredo was out of the game for a 14-month stretch in 2011 and 2012 with a leg injury. Other active players with 500 or more career match victories include Roger Federer, Nadal, Lleyton Hewitt, Ferrer, Novak Djokovic and Tommy Haas. Robredo and two fellow Spaniards – Nadal and Ferrer – are the only active players who have recorded more than 200 match wins on both hard and clay courts. He was ranked a career high fifth in the world in 2006.

 

SHOCKER

He’s called “Baby Djokovic” because of his similarities with the world’s top-ranked player, Novak Djokovic. Borna Coric, a 17-year-old from Croatia, showed the nickname might not be that far off when he stunned Rafael Nadal in straight sets in the quarterfinals of the Swiss Indoors Basel, 6-2 7-6 (4). True, Nadal was having an off-day, but the teenager took advantage with a power game that produced winner after winner. Coric broke Nadal’s serve three times in the opening set, racing out to a 5-0 lead. Ranked 124th in the world, Coric finished the day with six aces and 17 winners. Nadal, on the other hand, had 37 unforced errors. “Believe me, I’m a very nervous person,” said Coric, who entered the tournament on a wild card. “I (was) just trying to keep it inside of me. I didn’t have anything to lose. Because I never played against him, I wasn’t sure what I was going to get. Is he going to kill me or what? So I was under pressure.”

 

SEASON RANKING

Surprisingly, this is only the fourth time Serena Williams has finished a year ranked as the number one player on the WTA tour, and the first time she’s ever accomplished the feat in consecutive years. Being ranked number one at the end of the year for the fourth time ties her with Lindsay Davenport. Steffi Graf did it eight times, Martina Navratilova seven times and Chris Evert five. This also is the first time Williams has held the number one ranking the entire year, a feat that hasn’t been done since Graf did it in 1996.

 

SON FOR NOVAK

Novak Djokovic and his wife, Jelena, have a son. “Stefan, our baby angel, was born!” Djokovic tweeted. “I’m so proud of my beautiful wife Jelena! Thank you so much for your love and support. We love you all!!!!” RTS, Serbia’s state TV, reported that Jelena Djokovic gave birth in Nice, France, on October 21. The couple live in nearby Monte Carlo, Monaco. The two married on July 10, four days after Djokovic won Wimbledon by beating Roger Federer in the final. He said on his website that he intends to play at the Paris Masters this week where he will be defending his title and staff off Federer’s challenge for the year-end number one ranking.

 

SHE’S BACK

Li Na may have retired from playing tennis, but not from the sport itself. The Chinese star opened the WTA Finals in Singapore with a ceremonial first serve. Wearing high heels and a flowing black evening dress, Le hit the serve at the end of the opening ceremony. She had been expected to headline the elite eight-player event before she retired last month.

 

SEMIFINAL COLLAPSE

Maria Sharapova has been ranked number one in the world, but she has never finished the year as the top-ranked player. And she won’t be this year, either. Sharapova had a shot at overtaking Serena Williams to finish the year ranked number one in the world. But she lost her first two round-robin matches at the season-ending WTA Finals, falling to Caroline Wozniacki 7-6 (4) 6-7 (5) 6-2 and to Petra Kvitova 6-3 6-2. Perhaps unbelievably, she still had a chance to reach the semifinals by beating Agnieszka Radwanska in straight sets. Sharapova won the opening set 7-5 and had a 5-1 lead in the second. Three times she was at match point. But when she double-faulted to lose the second set 7-6 (4), any chance of her moving on was gone. “It would’ve been very easy for me to get down on myself,” Sharapova said after winning the third set and beating Radwanska. “I had so many chances being up, having match point, and just saying you know what? I’ve lost two matches. Just so easy to just let it go, but I didn’t. I got the job done. I know I’m not moving forward, but I’m proud of that effort and to finish the year off on this way.”

 

SPARKLING AMONG DIAMONDS

Monica Puig isn’t among the big stars who filled the draw at the season-ending WTA Finals in Singapore. At least not yet. The 21-year-old Puerto Rican was in Singapore, however, as part of a consolation event called the Rising Stars – four players picked in fan voting, two from Asia-Pacific and two from the rest of the world. Puig showed she belonged. She beat each of her three opponents – Zheng Saisai of China; Shelby Rogers of Charleston, South Carolina, USA; and Zarina Diyas of Kazakhstan – in the round-robin portion of the competition, then beat Zheng again 6-4 6-3 in the final. “When I found out that I was going to come here, I was just overwhelmed and so overjoyed that I have another chance to bring out my best tennis and compete as hard as I can,” said Puig, who pocketed USD $20,000 for winning the competition.

 

SAYS HE’S SORRY

Russian tennis chief Shamil Tarpischev sent written apologies to both Serena and Venus Williams after he called them the “Williams brothers.” Tarpischev was fined USD $25,000 and suspended from any involvement in the WTA tour for a year for his comments made on a Russian TV show, in which he also said the sisters were “scary” to look at. He said there was no malicious intent and that the quotes were taken out of context. In a statement, the WTA said “his derogatory remarks deserve to be condemned.” Serena said Tarpischev “has reached out to apologize to both myself and my sister,” adding “it was written. No, I did not speak to him.”

 

SENIOR MASTERS

Pat Cash, who won Wimbledon in 1987, and Sergi Bruguera, a two-time French Open champion, will join the all-star line-up in the Statoil Masters Tennis, a senior event that will be held at London’s Royal Albert Hall December 3-7. Cash will meet John McEnroe in an exhibition match. Bruguera will join the ATP Champions Tour field that includes Andy Roddick, Fernando Gonzalez, Tim Henman, Greg Rusedski and Thomas Enqvist. Australian Mark Philippoussis has withdrawn from the event. At 43, Bruguera will be the oldest player in the Champions Tour field.

Besides competing in the ATP Champions Tour event, Roddick, McEnroe and Henman will join Billie Jean King, Kim Clijsters, Sabine Lisicki and Sir Elton John for the Mylan World TeamTennis Smash Hits tennis charity event, which will be held during the evening session on December 7. It is the first time the event will be held outside the United States and will raise money for the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

 

SEARCHING STILL

The top-ranked doubles team of Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci will have to wait another year if they are to become only the third pair to win all four Grand Slam tournament titles and the WTA Finals. Only the season-ending trophy is missing for the Italians, and this year is no different. They retired from their match against Kveta Peschke and Katarina Srebotnik due to a right rib injury suffered by Errani. During a changeover, Errani requested a trainer. She lifted her shirt and revealed an abdominal support brace. After talking with the trainer, she unstrapped the support and retired. Prior to the Singapore tournament, Errani had contracted a cough that led her to pull abdominal muscles. “For us it is a very special tournament and I tried to do everything to be here,” Errani said. “A minimum percent to compete, but I couldn’t do it. It was not improving much and I’m sorry for (Roberta) but I tried and sometimes things happen.” The only teams to have won all four Grand Slam tournament titles and the season-ending WTA Finals during their partnership were Martina Navratilova and Pam Shriver and Gigi Fernández and Natasha Zvereva.

 

SEIZING THE MOMENT

Now you see them, now you don’t. Cara Black and Sania Mirza won the WTA Finals doubles title, losing the opening game of the match before crushing the defending champions, Peng Shuai and Hsieh Su-Wei, 6-1 6-0. It was the last match for both teams. “Sania is in the prime of her career at the moment and I just said to her at the US Open that I’m not too sure what I’m going to do next year and how much I’m going to play,” Black said. “I think it was fair for her to tell her to find somebody. I think she’s found a great partner. I wish them all the best.” Mirza will team up with Hsieh next year. It was the first time the team of Peng and Hsieh had lost a final, having won all 12 times they had reached a title match, including this year’s French Open and Wimbledon in 2013. At the age of 35, Black is not sure if she will continue to play in 2015. “I just want to wind down a little bit and see where the next step takes me,” said Black, who won the season-ending event for the third time, but her first since returning to tennis after taking time out to have a child.

 

SHARED PERFORMANCES

Basel: Vasek Pospisil and Nenad Zimonjic beat Marin Dragonja and Henri Kontinen 7-6 (13) 1-6 10-5 (match tiebreak)

Poitiers: Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka beat Katarzyna Piter and Maryna Zanevska 6-1 7-5

Singapore: Cara Black and Sania Mirza beat Hsieh Su-Wei and Peng Shuai 6-1 6-0

Valencia: Jean-Julien Rojer and Horia Tecau beat Kevin Anderson and Jeremy Chardy 6-4 6-2

 

SURFING

Paris: http://bnpparibasmasters.billetterie.fft.fr/

 

Sofia: http://sofia-tennis.bg/en/home

Bratislava: www.stz.sk/

Fed Cup: www.fedcup.com

London: www.barclaysatpworldtourfinals.com/en/

Dubai: www.dubaitennis.com

Toyota: www.dunlop-tennis.jp

Davis Cup: www.daviscup.com

 

TOURNAMENTS THIS WEEK

(All money in USD)

MEN

$3,679,720 BNP Paribas Masters, Paris, France, hard

 

WOMEN

$750,000 Garanti Koza WTA Tournament of Champions, Sofia, Bulgaria, hard

 

TOURNAMENTS NEXT WEEK

MEN

$107,675 Ritro Slovak Open, Bratislava, Slovakia, hard

 

FED CUP

Final

Czech Republic vs. Germany in Prague, Czech Republic, hard

 

TOURNAMENTS Week of November 11

 

MEN

$6,500,000 Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, London, England, hard

 

WOMEN

$75,000 Al Habtoor Tennis Challenge, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, hard

 

 

TOURNAMENTS Week of November 17

 

MEN

$220,000 Challenger Tour Finals at Sao Paulo, Brazil, clay

 

WOMEN

$75,000 Dunlop World Challenge Tennis Tournament, Toyota, Japan, carpet

 

DAVIS CUP

World Group Final

France vs. Switzerland at Lille, France, clay

 

Billie Jean King with Serena Williams
Billie Jean King with Serena Williams

Triumphal Roger Federer Rules In Shanghai – Mondays with Bob Greene

by

Mondays with Bob Greene

 

STARS

Roger Federer beat Gilles Simon 7-6 (6) 7-6 (2) to win the Shanghai Rolex Masters in Shanghai, China

Alison Riske beat Belinda Bencic 6-3 6-4 to win the Tianjin Open in Tianjin, China

Samantha Stosur beat Zarina Diyas 7-6 (7) 6-3 to win the Japan Women’s Open Tennis in Osaka, Japan

Karolina Pliskova beat Camila Giorgi 6-7 (4) 6-3 7-6 (4) to win the Generali Ladies in Linz, Austria

Lukas Lacko beat Sergiy Stakhovsky 6-2 6-3 to win the Tashkent Challenge in Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Steve Darcis beat Nicolas Mahut 6-2 6-4 to win the Open de Rennes in Rennes, France

Sam Querrey beat John Millman 6-4 6-2 to win the First Republic Bank Tiburon Challenger in Tiburon, California, USA

 

SAYING

“I feel unbelievable prestige to win this event. Especially putting my hands on the trophy for the first time is a good feeling, I must say. I’m very happy with the way I’m playing.” – Roger Federer, after capturing the Shanghai Rolex Masters.

“It’s just a few points deciding it, and he was always really good on these points. He played some great shots.” – Gilles Simon, after losing to Roger Federer in the Shanghai final.

“It’s another great milestone. This week was full of them for us. To come and get in the title match, have a shot at winning the tournament that’s eluded us, complete the Golden Masters, is amazing.” – Bob Bryan, who with brother Mike won the Shanghai doubles title to complete the Americans’ goal of winning all nine ATP Masters 1000 championships.

“It’s very meaningful to finish the season as the number one team. This is always our top goal beginning the year, and to achieve this for a 10th time seems a little unreal.” – Mike Bryan.

“It could have been a little easier, but I’m still happy I won the title.” – Karolina Pliskova, who rallied from match point down to win the Generali Ladies Linz title.

“There are not that many secrets out there. We’ve played each other too many times at this point.” – Roger Federer, on playing Novak Djokovic.

“I have enjoyed playing this year with Carla and we are both excited about Singapore. Ever since reaching the final in Madrid, we set a goal to qualify for the WTA Finals. It will be an honor to compete against the best eight doubles teams in the world on the best stage in women’s tennis.” – Garbiñe Muguruza, after she and Carla Suárez Navarro qualified for the season-ending WTA Finals in Singapore.

 

STILL A MASTER

Don’t count “the old man” out just yet. At 33 years old, Roger Federer is going up in the rankings, not down. The Swiss master beat Gilles Simon to garner one of the few titles missing from his trophy room, the Shanghai Rolex Masters. And he had to come from behind in both sets to capture his 23rd Masters Series title and first in China. When Simon netted a return on match point, the 17-time Grand Slam tournament champion let out a huge roar and pumped both fists into the air. It was Federer’s fourth title of the year and the 81st of his career. “Well, it just makes me very happy winning here because this tournament means a lot to me,” Federer said. “I’ve always enjoyed coming here. I’ve come close a couple of times, but I’ve always wanted to win it as a Masters 1000.” This is the fifth year the Shanghai tournament has been a Masters event. Federer won in Shanghai in 2006 and 2007 when it was the year-ending Tennis Masters. Simon reached a set point in the first-set tiebreak, only to have Federer hit an unreturnable first serve and later a near-perfect backhand winner down the line to win the breaker 8-6. Federer held serve in the 12th game of the second set to send it into another tiebreak. This time he grabbed a 6-2 lead – four match points – winning the title on the next point. “He was just more opportunistic,” Simon said. “We had a close match. I had a set point in the first, two in the second. He’s putting a lot of pressure. He’s always showing you that he is ready to be really aggressive on every shot. So he keeps you under pressure.”

The victory moves Federer into the second spot in the world rankings, replacing Rafael Nadal. There is a mathematical chance that he could surpass Novak Djokovic and end the season in first place in the Emirates ATP World Tour Rankings.

 

STOSUR TRIUMPHANT

For the third time in her career, Samantha Stosur has come away from Osaka with the Japan Open trophy. Zarina Diyas of Kazakhstan, who was competing in her first WTA final, led 5-3 in the opening set before the top-seeded Australian fought back. Diyas held two set points in the tiebreak before Stosur once again rallied. The 2011 US Open winner, currently ranked 18th in the world, broke her opponent to start the second set and went on to capture her sixth career title and first of 2014. Stosur also won in Osaka in 2009 and last year. It was the first time the 20-year-old Diyas has reached a WTA semifinal.

 

SPECIAL SIBLINGS

Twins Bob and Mike Bryan have added another mark to their expansive record book. The Americans have become the first doubles pair to win all nine current ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournaments, adding the Shanghai Rolex Masters by beating Julien Benneteau and Edouard Roger-Vasselin. As a team, the brothers have now won 31 Masters 1000 titles. “To win here, it’s been a long time coming to Shanghai,” Mike Bryan said. “To finally get across the finish line as the winning team was extra special.” This year they reached 10 finals, winning seven, including their fifth US Open. The US Open win was very special, being their record 100th team title. Besides Shanghai, the twins won four other ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournaments: Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo and Cincinnati.

The Bryan brothers have clinched the year-end number one Emirates ATP Doubles Team Ranking for the sixth consecutive season and a record 10th time.

 

SWISS MAGIC

Playing nearly perfect tennis, Roger Federer knocked off top-ranked Novak Djokovic 6-4 6-4 in their Shanghai Rolex Masters semifinal, snapping the Serbian’s 28-match win streak in China. Playing in his 52nd ATP World Tour Masters 1000 semifinal, Federer raced through the opening set in 48 minutes, needing only one break point to take the lead. He then broke Djokovic’s serve again to start the second set and never trailed. Djokovic saved two match points on his serve in the ninth game before Federer served out the victory in one hour, 35 minutes. The Swiss master faced only one break point in the entire match and never lost his serve as he time and again went to the net and cut off Djokovic’s passing shots with clean volley winners. Federer won 20 of 35 points at the net.

Federer’s toughest match of the week came in the second round when he was almost knocked out of the tournament by Leonardo Mayer. The Swiss star got a little lucky. On Mayer’s first match point at 5-4 in the third, the Argentine aimed a backhand passing shot down the line. But the ball clipped the tape and fell back on his side of the net. Federer staved off four more match points to beat Mayer 7-5 3-6 7-6 (7).

 

SQUEEKER

In a close contest, Karolina Pliskova beat Camila Giorgi to win the Generali Ladies Linz title. Pliskova lost the first set in a tiebreak after leading 5-3. The big-serving Czech player won the first four games in the second set, which she won 6-3, then took a 5-1 lead in the third. But Giorgi roared back, fiving five games in a row to go up 6-5 and reach match point in the 12th game. Pliskova finally held and won the ensuing tiebreak 7-4 by taking the final three points. “After I was 5-1 up and she came back and had match point, I was already thinking I would lose and that I would cry afterwards,” Pliskova said. “But she was playing so well in that part of the third set. Before that she was making so many mistakes, but she stopped doing that and calmed down, and she played so much better there.” It was Pliskova’s third WTA title, including Seoul, South Korea, recently. Since the US Open, Pliskova has been one of the hottest players on the WTA tour, winning 16 of 19 matches. She also is the third player to win a title from match point down this year. The only other winner who saved a match point in the final was Alizé Cornet, and that was also against Giorgi.

 

SECOND-ROUND SHOCKER

Feliciano Lopez beat Rafael Nadal for just the third time in 11 years, ousting the second-seeded in a second-round shocker, 6-3 7-6 (6).  The loss for the world former number one came one day after he revealed that he has been diagnosed with the beginnings of appendicitis. “For sure (I don’t feel) perfect,” Nadal said when asked how he felt following the loss. “It’s the same way that I felt before. A little bit more dizzy now. But that’s it. Nothing that I have to worry about. When you lose a match, it is not the moment to talk about obvious things. I lost. Feli played better than me.” The 33-year-old Lopez trailed 3-5 in the second set and saved a set point at 5-6 in the tiebreak before claiming the victory. He slammed 15 aces and saved four of the five break points he faced.

 

SET FOR SINGAPORE

Both the singles and doubles fields are set for the season-ending BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global. Playing singles will be Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, Simona Halep, Petra Kvitova, Eugenie Bouchard, Agnieszka Radwanska, Caroline Wozniacki and Ana Ivanovic.

The doubles event was completed when Garbiñe Muguruza and Carla Suárez Navarro qualified for the elite field. Muguruza and Suárez Navarro didn’t begin playing together until Miami, yet made it into the WTA’s crown jewel event in their first try together. Also earning spots are the teams of Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci, Hsieh Su-Wei and Peng Shuai, Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina, Cara Black and Sania Mirza, Raquel Kops-Jones and Abigail Spears, and Kveta Peschke and Katarina Srebotnik.

 

STARTING POINT

Alison Riske can now call herself a champion. The 24-year-old American won her first WTA title by stopping Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic in the Tianjin Open final. “It’s a huge accomplishment for me to win my first WTA title,” Riske said. “I was here by myself, which made it even more special, just to know that I was able to do it by myself.” The 17-year-old Bencic, who reached the US Open quarterfinals last month, is still seeking her first WTA crown.

 

SICK BAY

A hip injury caused Ana Ivanovic to pull out of the Generali Ladies in Linz, Austria, before her scheduled second-round match against American Madison Brengle. The former world number one received medical treatment during her first-round win over Pauline Parmentier of France. “This injury has been plaguing me the whole summer, and it got worse during the recent tournaments in Asia,” Ivanovic said in a statement. “I am sorry but I can’t play on.” Ivanovic, currently ranked eighth in the world, won the Linz tournament in 2008 and 2010 and reached the final last year. She already has qualified for the season-ending WTA Finals in Singapore.

 

SEPARATING

For the past two years Hsieh Su-Wei and Peng Shuai have been one of the best doubles teams in the world, even taking over the number one ranking. They have never lost in 12 finals and won the WTA Finals a year ago. Yet they are splitting up after they defend their title in this year’s BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global. Hsieh, a native of Taiwan, will team up next year with India’s Sania Mirza. “I am very excited to make the WTA Finals in Singapore,” said Peng, who became the first native of China to be ranked number one in the world. “The last couple of years in China, tennis has become more and more popular. This is the first time the WTA Finals will be in Asia, and Singapore is a really interesting city. And last year we had a really good tournament.”

 

SHANGHAI DANCERS

Two ATP World Tour players – Tomas Berdych and John Isner – participated in a traditional Chinese “Dragon Dance” on the Bund in Shanghai’s city center. They received instructions on how to lead the Dragon Team before demonstrating their new skills in front of the assembled media. “I never imagined myself actually doing it,” Isner said. “I’d give myself about a C (grade). I started off pretty horribly, but as it went on I got a lot better. It was a lot of fun. By performing on the Bund, a wide walkway along the river, the players were in front of Shanghai’s famous skyline. “It’s a very signature view of this city,” Berdych said. “It’s like many pictures around the world. You can see this view and we are part of it. We’re here, we’re trying a new thing and had some fun. It’s been a really nice evening.”

 

SHE’S BACK

Kim Clijsters is returning to tennis, but this time as a tournament director. And also returning to the WTA tour is a Premier-level event in Antwerp, Belgium. “After seven years, world class tennis is coming back to Antwerp,” said Clijsters, a four-time Grand Slam tournament winner and former world number one. “The new BNP Paribas Fortis Diamond Games will not only become a high-level tennis event, but much more than that.” One of the unique traditions of the tournament is also returning. Any player who wins the tournament twice in three years will receive a special racquet made with 5.5 kilograms of gold and 2008 diamonds worth USD $1.5 million. “Believe me, that makes this tournament particularly attractive for the female tennis players,” Clijsters said. When the tournament was held between 2002 and 2009, the special racquet went to any player who won the tournament three times in five years. The only player to take the racquet home was Amélie Mauresmo, who won the event three straight years, 2005-2007. The tournament will be held the week of February 9, 2015.

 

SOFIA BOUND

Italy’s Flavia Pennetta has been awarded a wild card into the Garanti Koza WTA Tournament of Champions, the season-ending championships for the WTA’s International Series. The six highest-ranked International title winners and two wild card entries who are not competing at the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore will comprise the eight-player field at Sofia, Bulgaria. Pennetta won the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California, USA, this year – the biggest WTA title of her career – besides reaching the quarterfinals of the Australian Open and the US Open, falling to the eventual champions in both Grand Slam tournaments.

Three other players – Ekaterina Makarova, Dominika Cibulkova and Andrea Petkovic – were the first to qualify for the Sofia tournament, a USD $750,000 even that will be held October 28-November 2.  Makarova won her International-level title at Pattaya City; Cibulkova captured Acapulco; and Petkovic won Bad Gastein. All three will be playing the Garanti Koza WTA Tournament of Champions for the first time. Cibulkova was a finalist at the Australian Open, while Makarova reached the US Open semifinals and Petkovic was a semifinalist at Roland Garros.

Jelena Jankovic was to be the first wild card entry into the Sofia tournament, but the Serbian has been sidelined for the remainder of the season by a back injury. “My back injury has been bothering me and it’s not getting better quickly enough, so unfortunately my season has to come to an end after Tianjin,” Jankovic said in a statement. “I was looking forward to seeing my fans in Moscow and Sofia and playing both tournaments, but due to medical advice I must start my rehabilitation now to allow myself to properly heal for next year.”

 

SWEET CASH

Prize money at the 2015 Australian Open will rise 10 percent from this year’s payout. Because of the retreat of the Australian dollar, the payout will be USD $31.44 million, a rise of slightly more than USD $29 million when Stan Wawrinka and Li Na captured the men’s and women’s singles titles.

The Australian Open now has three covered show courts. The newly renovated Margaret Court Arena has a retractable roof to go along with Rod Laver Arena’s center court and the Hisense Arena. “I think it’s absolutely beautiful,” the 72-year-old Smith said after touring the 7,500-seat arena named for her. “Wouldn’t have minded something to play on like this in my day.” The refurbished arena gives the Australian Open three courts that can be covered in the event of rain or extreme heat.

 

STRUCTURE NAMED

A new tennis complex at California State Los Angeles University will be named for Rosie Casals and Pancho Gonzalez. Fellow International Tennis Hall of Famer Billie Jean King helped with raising the two-story, USD $5 million structure on the campus of the school King attended. For the last 17 years King has been returning to the university to host clinics and galas, helping raise money to boost the school’s sports facilities and teams. “Love this place,” said King, whose father was a firefighter in nearby Long Beach, California, USA.

 

SANIA STOPPED

It made no difference that Sania Mirza is India’s top women’s tennis player and a Grand Slam tournament doubles champion. Or that she had recently won a mixed doubles gold medal with Saketh Myneni at the Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea. Mirza arrived late so was stopped from taking a tour inside the Taj Mahal in Agra, India. She was in Agra to participate in a function at Jaypee Palace hotel. The following day she returned early enough to the Taj Mahal and toured the 17th century monument.

 

SET NEW RULES

The United States Tennis Association (USTA) will utilize the USTA Pro Circuit to award wild cards into next year’s Australian Open. The USTA announced the American man and American woman who earns the most ATP World Tour and WTA ranking points at two of three USTA Pro Circuit hard-court events this fall will earn the main draw wild cards into the first Grand Slam tournament of 2015. Only Americans who did not earn direct entry into the Australian Open are eligible. The USD $50,000 tournaments that will make up the new Australian Open Wild Card Challenge for women will be the Tennis Classic, Macon, Georgia, USA; John Newcombe Women’s Pro Challenge, New Braunfels, Texas, USA; and South Seas Island Resort Women’s Pro Classic, Captiva Island, Florida, USA. The men’s wild card winner will come from the Charlottesville Men’s Pro Challenger, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA; Knoxville 2014 Challenger, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; and JSM Challenger of Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, USA. The USTA and Tennis Australia have a reciprocal agreement in which wild cards into the 2014 US Open and 2015 Australian Open are exchanged.

 

SAD NEWS

One of the world’s top tennis teaching professionals, Vic Braden, is dead at the age of 85. He died at his home in Trabuco Canyon, California, USA. After leading Kalamazoo College to the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association championship in each of his four years there, Braden turned pro and eventually joined Jack Kramer’s tour. Among those he played against were Jimmy Evert, father of Hall of Famer Chris Evert, and George Richey, the father of future pros Cliff and Nancy Richey. Braden and Kramer later co-founded the Jack Kramer Club in Rolling Hills Estates, California, USA, where future Hall of Famer Tracy Austin learned to play tennis as a child. In 1971, he opened the Vic Braden Tennis College in Coto de Caza, California, USA, an instructional facility for tennis players of every range of ability, from beginners to pros. He became known for his innovative teaching methods and his application of technology to the basics of tennis instruction. Braden wrote several books and articles on tennis instruction and was a licensed psychologist in California. Besides his wife of 43 years, Melody, Braden is survived by his children, Kory Braden-Hittelman, Kristen Paul, Troy Davis and Shawn Davis, as well as four grandchildren. His daughter, Kelly, died 12 years ago.

Rochelle “Shelly” Solomon, who played on the WTA Tour in the early 1980s, fell 15 stories to her death from the top of a Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA, condominium. An on-site supervisor for a construction company claimed Solomon had jumped off the roof. Born in Washington, DC, Solomon had lived in Florida since she was 11 years old. The sister of former ATP pro Harold Solomon, Shelly – as she was known – was an All-American tennis player when she won both singles and doubles to lead UCLA to a national collegiate title in 1981. She immediately turned pro and in 1982 was runner-up at the Borden Classic in Tokyo, Japan, and a semifinalist at the Wells Fargo Open in San Diego, California, USA. She had career wins over Kathleen Horvath, Pam Casale and Betsy Nagelsen. Solomon served on the WTA Board of Directors in 1983-1985. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from UCLA with a bachelor’s degree in political science, then graduated Magna Cum Laude from Nova University Law School. After being admitted to the Florida Bar in 1992, she became an assistant state attorney for Broward County. The mother of four children – Lexi, Jake and twins Adam and Ashley – Solomon ran unsuccessfully for Broward County School Board in 2012.

 

SHARED PERFORMANCES

Linz: Raluca Olaru and Anna Tatishvili beat Annika Beck and Caroline Garcia 6-2 6-1

Osaka: Shuko Aoyama and Renata Voracova beat Lara Arruabarrena and Tatjana Maria 6-1 6-2

Rennes: Tobias Kamke and Philipp Marx beat Frantisek Cermak and Jonathan Erlich 3-6 6-2 10-3 (match tiebreak)

Shanghai: Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan beat Julien Benneteau and Edouard Roger-Vasselin 6-2 7-6 (3)

Tashkent: Lukas Lacko and Ante Pavic beat Frank Moser and Alexander Satschko 6-3 3-6 13-11 (match tiebreak)

Tianjin: Alla Kudryavtseva and Anastasia Rodionova beat Sorana Cirstea and Andreja Klepac 6-7 (6) 6-2 10-8 (match tiebreak)

Tiburon: Bradley Klahn and Adil Shamasdin beat Carsten Ball and Matt Reid 7-5 6-2

 

SURFING

Moscow: www.kremlincup.ru/

 

Stockholm: www.stockholmopen.se/

Vienna: www.erstebank-open.com/de/

Luxembourg: www.bglbnpparibas-open.lu/

Valencia: www.valenciaopen500.com/

Basel: www.swissindoorsbasel.ch/de-de/

Singapore: www.wtafinals.com/

 

TOURNAMENTS THIS WEEK

(All money in USD)

MEN

$776,620 Kremlin Cup by Bank of Moscow, Moscow, Russia, hard

521405 If Stockholm Open, Stockholm, Sweden, hard

521405 Erste Bank Open, Vienna, Austria, hard

 

WOMEN

$644,900 Kremlin Cup, Moscow, Russia, hard

$226,750 BGL BNP Paribas Luxembourg Open, Luxembourg, hard

 

TOURNAMENTS NEXT WEEK

MEN

$1,887,980 Valencia Open 500, Valencia, Spain, hard

$1,841,900 Swiss Indoors, Basel, Switzerland, hard

 

WOMEN

$6,500,000 BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global, Singapore, hard

 

Roger Federer
Roger Federer

Roger Federer’s First-Ever ATP Singles Match Victory

by

by Randy Walker

@TennisPublisher

 

The date September 30, 1998 is a hallmark day on the calendar in the career of Roger Federer. It was the day when the future all-time great in tennis history won his first main draw match on the ATP Tour.

The match is documented on page 404 of the day-by-day Roger Federer career compilation “The Days of Roger Federer” available here on amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1937559378/ref=cm_sw_r_pi_dp_S-Skub0XACFFP or where ever books are sold

The excerpt from the book, detailing Federer’s historic first win – and also quoting Rene Stauffer’s Federer book “Quest for Perfection,” can be found below:

September 30

1998 – Seventeen-year-old Roger Federer defeats Guillaume Raoux of France 6-2, 6-2 in the first round in Toulouse for his first ATP singles match victory. Rene Stauffer, in his book Roger Federer: Quest for Perfection, summarizes Federer’s achievement, “Yet, before the chase for the year-end No. 1 junior ranking reached its decisive phase, the unexpected happened. Federer achieved his first great breakthrough on the ATP Tour. With a ranking of No. 878, he traveled to Toulouse, France at the end of September and, to his own surprise, advanced through the qualifying rounds to progress into the main draw of the tournament. In only his second ATP tournament, the 17-year-old registered an upset victory over No. 45-ranked Guillaume Raoux of France—his first ATP match victory—allowing the Frenchman just four games. In the next round, Federer proved this win was not a fluke by defeating former Australian Davis Cup star Richard Fromberg 6-1, 7-6 (5). In the quarterfinals—his sixth match of the tournament including matches in the qualifying rounds—Federer lost to Jan Siemerink 7-6 (5), 6-2, with a throbbing thigh injury hampering him during the match. The Dutchman was ranked No. 20 and went on to win the tournament two days later, but Federer was also handsomely rewarded. He received a prize money check for $10,800 and passed 482 players in the world rankings in one tournament—moving to No. 396.”

"The Days of Roger Federer"
“The Days of Roger Federer”

Petra Kvitova Wins Wuhan, Qualifies For Singapore – Mondays with Bob Greene

by

Mondays with Bob Greene

 

STARS

Petra Kvitova beat Eugenie Bouchard 6-3 6-4 to win the Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open in Wuhan, China

Kei Nishikori beat Julien Benneteau 7-6 (4) 6-4 to win the Malaysian Open in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Andy Murray beat Tommy Robredo 5-7 7-6 (9) 6-1 to win the Shenzhen Open in Shenzhen, China

Sergiy Stakhovsky beat Thomaz Bellucci 6-2 7-5 to win the Open d’Orléans in Orléans, France

 

SAYING

“I’ve had a great second part of the season. It all started a little bit at the French Open, and from there I just kept improving. I think early on I was expecting too much of myself, and it was really difficult to take the loss in my first round in Australia, but I kept working hard, and now I’m here.” – Petra Kvitova, after beating Eugenie Bouchard to win the Wuhan Open.

“She’s beaten me in two finals this year, so I will have to figure out what to do to beat her now.” – Eugenie Bouchard.

“Today was obviously an incredibly tough match … and I got lucky at the end of the second set. I fought hard and I tried my best, and thankfully managed to turn it around.” – Andy Murray, after staving off five match point to win in Shenzhen.

“It’s tough to accept when you are so close.” – Tommy Robredo, after losing to Andy Murray.

“It wasn’t my best tennis, but it’s good to win like this.” – Kei Nishikori, following his Malaysian Open victory.

“Kei was simply too good in the key moments, especially at the end of the first set. I had some chances, but against these kinds of players they are small chances and you have to take them. I tried to play my best and I almost did it.” – Julien Benneteau, after losing to Kei Nishikori in Kuala Lumpur.

“I think I always allowed her to get another ball back and to make me play another ball. Then obviously that didn’t help me, because I was making more mistakes.” – Maria Sharapova, after being ousted by Timea Bacsinszky in Wuhan, China.

“I saw Maria’s match. She tried very hard. Unfortunately she lost, but it’s the tennis. At this time a lot of girls are playing so well, and the level, it’s so close, and just a few points make the difference.” – Petra Kvitova, on Maria Sharapova’s loss to Timea Bacsinszky.

“Li Na has been the most influential tennis player of this decade.” – Stacey Allaster, WTA chairman and CEO, before an on-court ceremony at the China Open in Beijing honored the recently-retired Li.

 

STRONG PERFORMANCE

Just like the Wimbledon final, Petra Kvitova dispatched Canada’s Eugenie Bouchard in straight sets to capture the inaugural Wuhan Open. The Czech left-hander needed just 80 seconds to capture her third WTA title of the year and 14th of her career. In July, she beat Bouchard in the title match to claim her second career Wimbledon title. This is turning into the season Kvitova has been hoping for, but hadn’t expected after she suffered a first-round loss at the Australian Open in January. “From the beginning my season was really tough,” she said. “If somebody told me at the Australian Open that I would win Wimbledon and still be fighting for Singapore, I’m not sure I would have believed them.” Despite the loss, Bouchard was not too unhappy with her performance. “I felt like I played really well this week and the crowd really made me feel at home,” the Canadian told the crowd. “Also, this was the first year of this tournament, but it felt like you’ve been doing this for 100 years.”

The Wuhan tournament was held in Li Na’s hometown, but the Chinese superstar announced her retirement from the sport just before the tournament began. It was a no-show that Kvitova noticed. “I know everybody wished to have Li Na here standing with us,” she told the audience after capturing the title, “but we will remember her with this trophy. I’m just glad she’s happy now, I hope she’s going to be happy for the rest of her life.”

 

SO LONG

It had been a long time between titles for Andy Murray. The Brit won the Shenzhen Open in China, his first trophy since capturing Wimbledon more than a year ago. And it was far from being an easy victory over Spain’s Tommy Robredo. The two-time Grand Slam tournament winner trailed 6-2 in the second-set tiebreak – quadruple match point – before reeling off four straight points to pull even. Robredo reach his fifth match point before Murray eventually took the tiebreak 11-9, sending the match into a decisive third set. There, it was all Murray, who broke Robredo three times in the set. The Spaniard also appeared to be slowed by injury as he failed to chase down balls. “Tommy had a great tournament, he probably deserved to win the match today,” Murray said. “He had the opportunities in the second set, but sometimes that happens in sport. I just tried to fight to the end.”

 

SLAM NO FLUKE

Playing in his first tournament since reaching the US Open final, Kei Nishikori showed that his Grand Slam tournament results were not a fluke. The top seed became the first Asian to win the Malaysian Open by stopping Frenchman Julien Benneteau in two tightly fought sets. “It was a really tough start because he was playing so aggressive,” Nishikori said of Benneteau. “I was waiting for my opportunity. I had so many break points and I couldn’t take them. In the last game, he got a little bit tight and I took my chance. After that, I played much better and I think he was getting a little bit tired in the second set.” Benneteau was seeking his first ATP World Tour title. Instead, he lost his 10th consecutive final, including at Kuala Lumpur for the third consecutive year. “I’m disappointed with the loss, but very happy with the level of my game,” Benneteau said. “It’s hard to keep that level of intensity in every point and every game. I need to improve this to be more consistent.”

 

SEEKING PLAYING TIME

After missing more than three months with his latest injury, Rafael Nadal has returned to the ATP World Tour, playing at the China Open. Pain in his right wrist forced Nadal to the sidelines after he suffered a fourth-round loss to Australian Nick Kyrgios at Wimbledon. At the time, Nadal was ranked number one in the world. “I am fine,” the 28-year-old Spaniard told reporters when he arrived in Beijing. “I am much better. The thing is the injury, the evolution of the injury, was a bit slow and took a little bit of time. But that’s it. I just feel the wrist a little bit when I am starting, when I start to play every day, but then it disappears. I’m in good conditions to compete again.” Nadal won the Beijing tournament in 2005, and is playing the China Open for the fourth time. Because of the injury, he was unable to defend his crowns at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 events in Toronto and Cincinnati, as well as the at the US Open.

 

SUPERSTAR TRIBUTE

Chinese fans are showing their deep appreciation for the exploits of recently retired superstar Li Na. Her hometown fans in Wuhan paid tribute to her last week, and this week she is being honored at the China Open in Beijing. “This will be a great opportunity for the fans in Beijing to pay respect to a tennis legend who has inspired a nation and done so much for the game around the world,” said WTA chairman and CEO Stacey Allaster. Li won nine WTA titles, including two Grand Slam tournaments. She became the first Chinese player to win a WTA title, the first to win a Premier-level title, the first to compete in singles at the WTA Finals, and the first to crack the Top 20, the Top 10, and the Top 5 on the WTA Rankings. A three-time Olympian, Li played Zheng Jie in the first all-Chinese WTA singles final at Oeiras, Portugal, in 2006.

 

SERENA SICK

Serena Williams had to be helped from the court when she retired because of illness during her second-round match at the inaugural Wuhan Open. Spectators watched as the world’s top-ranked player had her temperature and blood pressure checked on the court before she retired while leading Alizé Cornet of France 6-5 in the opening set. It was Serena’s first match since she won her 18th Grand Slam tournament title at the US Open. “I’m sorry to all the fans in Wuhan that I had to retire from my match against Alizé today,” Williams said. “I felt dizzy and nauseous in the first set and unfortunately couldn’t continue. The tournament organizers have done an amazing job preparing the facilities for this year’s event and I really hope to come back to the Wuhan Open in 2015.” The retirement meant Cornet becomes the first player to win three matches against Serena in a season since Justine Henin did it in 2007. Cornet also beat Williams at Dubai in February and in June at Wimbledon.

The new WTA tournament in Wuhan – Li Na’s hometown – attracted almost all of the top 20 women players. But Li retired just before the tournament began and five of the seeded players lost on opening day, including fifth-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska and ninth-seeded Ana Ivanovic.

 

STUNNED

Why should Maria Sharapova be any different? The reigning French Open champion was bounced from the Wuhan tournament by a qualifier, Timea Bacsinszky of Switzerland. The Russian was just joining a number of other top players who made early trips to the sideline of the Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open, including Serena Williams, Simona Halep, Agnieszka Radwanska and Ana Ivanovic. Li Na, the local favorite, never began the tournament, announcing her retirement just days before the event began its one-week run. Bacsinszky was ranked 37th in the world in 2010 before a series of injuries saw her ranking tumble to 578 two years ago. Currently she is 61st in the world. Sharapova fell 7-6 (3) 7-5. “There were a lot of, you know, times in the match where I did everything right for the first few balls and then didn’t execute in the points,” Sharapova said. It was the biggest win of Bacsinszky’s career.

 

SINGAPORE QUALIFIER

With her victory at the Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open, Petra Kvitova became the fourth player to qualify for the season-ending BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global. Players who qualified earlier for the select field include Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova and Simona Halep. The eight top singles players earn berths in the unique field. It is Kvitova’s fourth trip to the season finale. She won the title in 2011, fell in the round-robin stage of the event in 2012 and last year reached the semifinals. “It was really difficult to take the loss in my first round in Australia, but I kept working hard, and now I’m here,” Kvitova said.

 

SENIOR TEAM

Having to play only half the court is working wonders for Martina Hingis. The Hall of Famer returned to the WTA tour this season, but HAS limited her play to doubles only. Hingis, who turns 34 this week, teamed with 32-year-old Flavia Pennetta of Italy to win their first WTA doubles title as a team, capturing the Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open by beating Cara Black and Caroline Garcia. The winners led 6-4 5-3 and had four match points in the second-set tiebreak, but Hingis and Pennetta rallied to take the tiebreak 12-10 and force a third set. Hingis and Pennetta weren’t to be denied, however, capturing the crown 6-4 5-7 12-10 (match tiebreak). “We got a little bit tight in the end of the second set, but that’s normal in a final,” Pennetta said. “It was just amazing to play doubles with Martina again. She’s a great partner and a great person.” It was the fifth time Hingis and Pennetta have played together this year, but the first time they have wound up with the winner’s trophy. It was Hingis’ 39th individual WTA doubles title and Pennetta’s 16th.

 

SNIT OVER COACH

Rafael Nadal’s coach has stirred up a storm of protests by criticizing the selection of a woman as captain of Spain’s Davis Cup team. Toni Nadal, Rafa’s coach and uncle, told a radio station: “It is preferable that (the captain) is someone with a background in the world of men’s tennis. Gala Leon, who once played on the WTA tour, was named Davis Cup captain to replace Carlos Moya. Toni Nadal’s comments have been labeled sexist by Spain’s leading political parties. “The truth is that the men’s game isn’t the same as the women’s game on the tactical level, not that one is better than the other,” Toni Nadal said. “I have nothing against her, I don’t know what her capabilities are, and I hope she does her job well, but in theory she is a person that doesn’t know men’s tennis, because men’s tennis isn’t the same as women’s tennis.” Feliciano Lopez, who has been a member of Spain’s Davis Cup team for years, defended Toni Nadal from charges of sexism, but said that he and the other players would adapt to having a woman as a coach. “What Tony wanted to say is that it would be strange having a woman in the changing room, but that won’t be a problem since it will only mean getting used to it, just like when men coach women’s teams,” Lopez told Spanish state television. While Spain has never had a female as Davis Cup captain, the Spanish Fed Cup team had a male captain, Miguel Margets, from 1993 until 2011, when Arantxa Sanchez Vicario took his place. Margets led Spain to four Fed Cup titles from 1993-1996.

 

SIGNPOST

No longer ranked in the top 10 in the world, Juan Monaco is still racking up victories. The Argentine claimed his 300th ATP World Tour-level win at the Shenzhen Open when he downed Vasek Pospisil 7-5 2-6 6-3. “It’s amazing, 300 victories is a lot,” Monaco said. He won his first match on home soil in Buenos Aires in 2004 against Nicolas Lapentti. Monaco is the seventh player from Argentina to win at least 300 matches. Guillermo Vilas leads the Argentine players with 929 match wins. Monaco is the 26th active player – and the sixth this season – to win at least 300 career matches on the ATP World Tour. The leader is Roger Federer with 979.

 

SWITCHEROO

When Rafael Nadal withdrew from the inaugural International Premier Tennis League (IPTL), Roger Federer stepped up as a replacement. Nadal, who had been scheduled to play for the Indian franchise, cited “health problems” as the reason he will not play. “When you are talking of profile as high as Rafa Nadal, there was probably only one name that could have helped ease the pain, and for us fortunately Roger was available and we made it happen,” said IPTL founder Mahesh Bhupathi. Federer joins retired American Pete Sampras, winner of 14 Grand Slam tournament titles, in the Indian franchise of the four-team event, scheduled to be played from Nov. 28 to Dec. 13. The Philippines, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates are home to the other teams in the league. Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams, Andy Murray, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Maria Sharapova, Ana Ivanovic and Caroline Wozniacki have also confirmed their participation.

 

SHARED PERFORMANCES

Kuala Lumpur: Marcin Matkowski and Leander Paes beat Jamie Murray and John Peers 3-6 7-6 (5) 10-5 (match tiebreak)

Orléans: Thomaz Bellucci and Andre Sa beat James Cerretani and Andreas Siljestrom 5-7 6-4 10-8 (match tiebreak)

Wuhan: Martina Hingis and Flavia Pennetta beat Cara Black and Caroline Garcia 6-4 5-7 12-10 (match tiebreak)

Shenzhen: Jean-Julien Rojer and Horia Tecau beat Sam Groth and Chris Guccione 6-4 7-6 (4)

 

SURFING

Beijing: www.chinaopen.com.cn/en/index.shtml

Tokyo: www.rakutenopen.com/

 

Mons: www.ethiastrophy.be/fr/accueil

Sacramento: www.sacchallenger.com/

Shanghai: www.shanghairolexmasters.com

Rennes: www.openderennes.org

Tashkent: www.tennis.uz/

Tiburon: http://tiburonchallenger.com

Linz: www.generali-ladiefs.at

Osaka: www.jw-open.jp

Tianjin: www.tianjinopen.com

 

TOURNAMENTS THIS WEEK

(All money in USD)

MEN

$2,500,470 China Open, Beijing, China, hard

$1,228,825 Rakuten Japan Open Tennis Championships, Tokyo, Japan, hard

$137,895 Ethias Trophy, Mons, Belgium, hard

$100,000 Sacramento Challenger, Sacramento, California, USA, hard

 

WOMEN

$4,720,380 China Open, Beijing, China, hard

 

TOURNAMENTS NEXT WEEK

 

MEN

$3,849,445 Shanghai Rolex Masters, Shanghai, China, hard

$125,000 Tashkent Open, Tashkent, Uzbekistan, hard

$107,793 Open de Rennes, Rennes, France, hard

$100,000 First Republic Bank Tiburon Challenger, Tiburon, California, USA, hard

 

WOMEN

$226,750 Generali Ladies Linz, Linz, Austria, hard

$226,750 Japan Women’s Open Tennis, Osaka, Japan, hard

$226,750 Tianjin Open, Tianjin, China, hard

Petra Kvitova
Petra Kvitova

Record Gap Between Titles for Mirjana Lucic-Baroni – Mondays with Bob Greene

by

Mondays with Bob Greene

 

STARS

US Open

Men’s singles: Marin Cilic beat Kei Nishikori 6-3 6-3 6-3

 

OTHER

Mirjana Lucic-Baroni beat Venus Williams 6-4 6-3 to win the Coupe Banque Nationale in Québec City, Quebec, Canada

Sabine Lisicki beat Karolina Pliskova 7-5 6-3 to win the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open in Hong Kong, China

Karin Knapp beat Bojana Jovanovski 6-2 7-6 (4) to win the Tashkent Open in Tashkent, Uzbekistan

 

DAVIS CUP

World Group Semifinals

France beat Czech Republic 4-1 at Paris, France

Switzerland beat Italy 3-2 at Geneva, Switzerland

 

World Group Playoffs

(Winners will be in World Group in 2014)

Serbia 3, India 2, at Bangalore, India, hard

Brazil beat Spain 3-1 at Sao Paulo, Brazil

Argentina beat Israel 3-2 at Sunrise, Florida, USA

Canada beat Colombia 3-2 at Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

United States beat Slovakia 5-0 at Chicago, Illinois, USA

Australia beat Uzbekistan 5-0 at Perth, Australia

Croatia beat Netherlands 3-2 at Amsterdam, Netherlands

Belgium beat Ukraine 3-2 at Tallinn, Estonia

 

Group 1 Playoffs

Americas Zone, 2nd Round: Uruguay beat Venezuela 4-1 at Caracas, Venezuela; Asia/Oceania Zone, 1st Round: South Korea beat Chinese Taipei 3-1 at Kaohsiung City, Taiwan; Europe/Africa Zone, 1st Round: Romania beat Sweden 3-1 at Bucharest, Romania, clay; Austria beat Latvia 4-1 at Valmiera, Latvia; Europe/Africa Zone, 2nd Round: Russia beat Portugal 4-1 at Moscow, Russia

Group 2 Playoffs

Americas Zone, 3rd Round: Barbados beat Mexico 3-2 at St. Michael, Barbados; Asia-Oceania Zone, 3rd Round: Thailand beat Pakistan 4-1 at Nonthaburi, Thailand; Europe/Asia Zone, 3rd Round: Lithuania beat Bosnia/Herzegovina 3-2 at Sarajevo, Bosnia/Herzegovina; Denmark beat Moldova 3-2 at Kolding, Denmark

 

SAYING

“It was so long ago, I don’t even remember what it’s like to hold a trophy in my hands. It’s just incredible.” – Mirjana Lucic-Baroni, after beating Venus Williams to win the title in Québec City, her first title in a WTA-record 16-year, four-month span.

“She swung as hard as she could on every shot and hit so many lines. It’s not typical that when you go for every shot they almost all go in. I think I played pretty well, but she just played better than me. She just had the magic today.” – Venus Williams, on Mirjana Lucic-Baroni’s game.

“I’m so happy I can’t really find the words right now to explain how happy I am.” – Mirjana Lucic-Baroni, after beating Venus Williams to win the title in Québec City, Canada.

“It’s fabulous to share in this moment.” – Roger Federer, after clinching a tie that put Switzerland into the Davis Cup final for only the second time.

“I always fight for every single point, no matter what the score is.” – Sabine Lisicki, after rallying from a 1-5 deficit in the first set to win the Hong Kong title in straight sets.

“I’ve had five surgeries, so many months of layoffs in the last six years, in and out of tennis the last two years due to bad knee problems. But I knew it was possible for me to win a WTA event one day, and I’m so happy I could do it here in Tashkent.” – Karin Knapp, after winning her first WTA title six years after undergoing heart surgery.

“I mean, it seems completely unreal to be called Grand Slam champion. I was dreaming about this all my life, and suddenly last four, five days everything started to change. And with my tennis especially. I started to play absolutely unbelievable starting with the fifth set with Simon. After that I had unbelievable run of the matches against these top guys. And what it means to me, it means everything. … This is just the peak of the world.” – Marin Cilic, after winning the US Open men’s singles title.

“I just could never have imagined that I would be mentioned with Chris Evert or with Martina Navratilova, because I was just a kid with a dream and a racquet.” – Serena Williams, after winning her 18th Grand Slam tournament singles title, tying her with Evert and Navratilova.

“We were mentioning that. They were saying 13 years passed since he (Goran Ivanisevic) won his Wimbledon title, and that happened on Monday, and now none of the Croatians can lose at the final on Monday.” – Marin Cilic, responding to Ivanisevic, his coach, telling him no Croatian player has ever lost a Grand Slam tournament final played on a Monday.

“I’m more surprised with (Marin) Cilic, to be honest, because he’s older. I think he is, anyway. He’s been around for longer but he’s really been able to make a nice transition in the last few years in his game. There is a significant difference in how he plays. Whereas with Kei I always thought unbelievable talent way back when I played with him for the first time when he was 17. Just wasn’t quite sure that in a best-of-five-set tournament if he could get all the way to the back end of the tournament. But he’s beaten myself twice already, other top guys before. He was destroying Rafa in the finals of Madrid. He’s shown what he can do, and that’s why with Kei I’m not surprised, really.” – Roger Federer, on the surprising US Open men’s singles finalists.

“You’re making it sound like I went through, I don’t know, that I almost died and there was 10 sharks and I got attacked and I survived. And I saved a dolphin, as well. It’s not that complicated, really. You know, what I enjoy is to play tennis.” – Victoria Azarenka, saying she is tired of being asked questions about her recent injuries.

 

SURPRISE

Playing some of the best tennis of her career, Mirjana Lucic-Baroni upset Venus Williams to win her first WTA title in 16 years and four months. That’s the longest gap in WTA history between titles. Before her surprising run in Québec City, Lucic-Baroni fashioned a sensational run to the fourth round at the US Open, including a victory over second-ranked Simona Halep. She did not drop a set as she reached her first WTA semifinal since Wimbledon in 1999. It was her first final since Bol, Croatia, in 1998. “I’m so happy I can’t really find the words right now to explain how happy I am,” Lucic-Baroni said. “I played such a great match today against one of the best players in the world, such a champion. It’s been so long. I’m finally playing the great tennis I always knew I could play, but it had been so long that I kind of lost a little bit of the belief in myself.” Williams began the match by winning three of the first three games. But Lucic-Baroni then won 11 of the next 15 games to capture the crown. “Now, after starting with my new coach, Julian Alonso, winning matches and really getting that belief back, I’m just so ready to keep going,” Lucic-Baroni said.

Lucic-Baroni’s day got even better. After winning the singles, she teamed with Lucie Hradecka to capture the doubles, beating Julia Goerges and Andrea Hlavackova 6-3 7-6 (8). It was Lucic-Baroni’s first WTA doubles title since the Pan Pacific in Tokyo, Japan in 1998 – a gap of 16 years and seven months.

 

SITTING ON TOP OF THE WORLD

There’s something about Monday finals at Grand Slam tournaments and Croatian men. Goran Ivanisevic won Wimbledon on a Monday in 2001. Marin Cilic became the second Croat – behind Ivanisevic – to win a major when he captured the US Open on a Monday, stopping Japan’s Kei Nishikori 6-3 6-3 6-3. Cilic’s coach? Ivanisevic. “There has been a lot of hard work in these last few years and especially this last year,” said Cilic, who missed the US Open last year while serving a controversial doping ban. “I think my team has brought something special to me, especially Goran.” Seeded 14th in this year’s final major, Cilic is the lowest-ranked champion since Pete Sampras won in 2002 while ranked 17th in the world. Not only was it the first Grand Slam tournament final for either Cilic or Nishikori, it was the first major title match not to feature either Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal since the 2005 Australian Open. Nadal was injured and didn’t play this year’s US Open. Nishikori beat Djokovic and Cilic beat Federer in the semifinals. Cilic wasn’t surprised at who reached the title match. “I feel that for all the other players that are working hard, I think this is a big sign that if you’re working hard things are going to pay off,” the champion said.

 

STANDING TALL

When Kei Nishikori returned to Japan after losing in the US Open final, more than 200 fans were there to welcome the first Asian man to reach a Grand Slam tournament title match. “It was obviously hugely frustrating to lose the final,” Nishikori said. “But in terms of my tennis career I’ve taken a very important step. It feels like I’ve moved a little bit closer to realizing my dream of becoming the world number one.” With his run to the final in the year’s final major, Nishikori is not ranked sixth in the world. “This is the most amazing welcome I’ve ever had,” he said. “To have so many well-wishers come out like this is really gratifying and really underlines the scale of what I did. It doesn’t guarantee I will win a Grand Slam – and it’s too late this year now of course – but I’ll train hard to get there.” On his way to the title match, Nishikori posted victories over three players ranked in the Top 10 in the world – Milos Raonic, Australian Open champion Stan Wawrinka and top-ranked Novak Djokovic. “Getting through those tough matches and beating three players in the top 10 is the stuff I can draw confidence from,” he said. “It’s important I gained the confidence that I could deal with the physical demands and still play my style of tennis. The goal now will be for me to win a major next year for sure.”

 

SAYING SAYONARA

Doubles specialist Ross Hutchins has retired from tennis at the age of 29. The native of Great Britain returned to the sport in January after recovering from Hodgkin Lymphoma. “After much deliberation I feel it is the right time for me to stop playing professional sport and pursue new goals as I enter the next phase of my career,” Hutchins said. “I feel strong and healthy and I look forward to moving on to the next chapter of my life.” He won five ATP World Tour doubles titles in his career – the last with Colin Fleming at Eastbourne in 2012 – and reached the US Open mixed doubles semifinals this month with partner Chan Yung-Jan of Chinese-Taipei. “Tennis has enabled me to do something which I love every day, to travel the world and along the way form some incredible friendships,” Hutchins said.

 

SECOND TO QUALIFY

Daniel Nestor and Nenad Zimonjic are the second doubles team to have clinched a spot in the 2014 Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, to be held in London, Great Britain, Nov. 9-16. The Canadian-Serbian tandem will be seeking their third season finale trophy, having won in both 2008 when the event was held in Shanghai, China, and in London in 2010. The two ended their doubles partnership after the 2010 season, but reunited at the start of this year. American twins Bob and Mike Bryan were the first to qualify for the season-ending event. Six doubles spots remain up for grabs at the 2014 Barclays ATP World Tour Finals.

 

SABINE SUCCESSFUL

After falling behind 1-5 in the opening set, Sabine Lisicki rallied to win seven straight games and beat Karolina Pliskova in straight sets to win the Hong Kong Open. It was the German’s fourth WTA title, but her first in more than three years. “After being in three finals last year and losing them closely, this is a big step forward for me,” Lisicki said. “I’ve won titles in doubles, but obviously the main goal is to play well in singles and get these trophies.” The champion was a last-minute entry into the Hong Kong Open, grabbing a wild card berth after China’s Peng Shuai and Canada’s Eugenie Bouchard pulled out of the tournament. “Coming here was a spontaneous decision – we literally decided three or four days before the tournament – and I felt very well all week in Hong Kong.” Not that she overwhelmed the field. Lisicki rallied from 6-3 4-2 down to beat Monica Niculescu in the first round and rallied from a break down in the third set against Francesca Schiavone in the semifinals. But her poor start in the final provided her biggest escape of all. She finished by winning 12 of the final 15 games.

Pliskova did come away with a title, however. She teamed with her twin Kristyna to capture the doubles, defeating Patricia Mayr-Achleitner and Arina Rodionova 6-2 2-6 12-10 (match tiebreak). The Pliskovas are the only twins in the history of women’s tennis to win a WTA doubles title together – and now they have three, Linz, Austria, last year and Bad Gastein, Austria, and Hong Kong this year.

 

SWEET VICTORY

Six years ago Karin Knapp underwent heart surgery and feared her tennis career was over. Now the Italian is a WTA champion, winning the Tashkent Open with a 6-2 7-6 (4) victory over Serbia’s Bojana Jovanovski. “I can’t say how happy I am right now,” the 27-year-old Knapp said. Knapp was ranked 35th in the world in 2008 when she had surgery for a longstanding heart condition. Later, knee injuries and other problems caused her ranking to plummet to 616. Last year she got back into the Top 40. And now she has the first WTA title of her career. She did it by not dropping a set all week, although she needed 65 minutes to win the second set in the title match. “I was up 4-2 in the second set and I was feeling a little stressed after she got back to 4-all,” Knapp said. “But I decided to stay mentally tough and keep going for my strokes, and it worked.”

 

SEETHING

Tournament organizers of the Moselle Open are seething over Stan Wawrinka’s withdrawal from this week’s event. The 29-year-old Australian Open champion was to be the top seed. Instead, he pulled out of the event, citing tiredness. “The tournament directors did not welcome the news at all of the withdrawal of Stan Wawrinka,” the organizers said in a statement. “He notified us simply by email that he would not be competing as he is fatigued. The directors are extremely disappointed and angry. They won’t take this lying down.” Wawrinka’s image was liberally used in advance publicity for the tournament after he agreed right after he won the year’s first Grand Slam tournament to play in the Metz, France, event.

 

SPECIAL AWARD

Two former Grand Slam tournament champions – Lleyton Hewitt of Australia and Gustavo Kuerten of Brazil – are among the latest group of players to be presented with the Davis Cup Commitment Award. The award was conceived as part of the International Tennis Federation’s (ITF) 2013 Centenary celebrations and is presented to Davis Cup players who have shown long-standing dedication to representing their country in the prestigious international team competition. Each award recipient will have competed in a minimum of 20 home-and-away ties or 50 ties at any level of the competition during their career. The latest presentations were made during Davis Cup ties last weekend.   Besides Hewitt and Kuerten, others honored were Carlos Kirmayr, Luiz Mattar, Cassio Motta and Jaime Oncins, all of Brazil; Frank Dancevic, Canada; Ti Chen, Chinese Taipei; Pierre Darmon, France; Rohan Bopanna, India; Victor Hanescu, Romania; Andrei Chesnokov and Andrei Olhovskiy, Russia; Sanchai Ratiwatana, Sonchat Ratiwatana an Danai Udomchoke, Thailand; and Sergiy Stakhovsky, Ukraine. A total of 320 players have already qualified to receive the award.

 

SINGLES AND DOUBLES

Despite retiring with cramps and heatstroke in her US Open semifinal singles match, China’s Peng Shuai says she still plans on playing doubles as well as singles in future tournaments. But she did admit that she needs to improve her fitness. “What I learned at the US Open was that in future I have to take care of my body,” Peng said. She has won two Grand Slam tournament doubles titles, Wimbledon in 2013 and Roland Garros this year. But this year’s US Open was her best showing in singles in a major. She is ranked 21st in the world in singles, and had previously become the first Asian ever to be ranked number one in the world in doubles. “You know I was asked after the French Open if I’m just a doubles player, but I’m still really focused on both,” Peng said. “I’ll definitely play both next year.”

 

STILL SIDELINED

Juan Martin del Potro still isn’t ready to return to the ATP World Tour. The 25-year-old Argentine is still sidelined after undergoing wrist surgery in March. He says he will miss tournaments in China, Japan and Malaysia over the next two months. The 2009 US Open champion has played just four matches at two tournaments since losing in the second round at the Australian Open in January. “I would like to take this opportunity to tell you, my fans, that although the recovery of the wrist is progressing very well, I need a little more time to reach the competitive level necessary to compete week after week,” del Potro said on his Facebook page. “I worked hard to be ready to make my comeback in Asia, where I had great results last year, but unfortunately it was not possible. I’m going to miss my fans in Malaysia, Tokyo and Shanghai who always gave me tremendous support. I will keep working hard on my recovery to play the European season at the end of the year.”

 

SIGNED

Eugenie Bouchard will play in the Hopman Cup in Perth, Australia, in January. The 20-year-old will partner Vasek Pospisil for the Canadian team in the January 4-10 event. “I had a great time this year and I think it’s a great event to kind of transition from the off-season to competitive playing,” Bouchard said of the mixed teams event. Bouchard reached the semifinals at the Australian Open and Roland Garros before gaining a spot in the final at Wimbledon this year. Others who have already have announced they are playing the Hopman Cup include Great Britain’s Andy Murray and Australia’s Nick Kyrgios. The round-robin event will include teams from Australia, Czech Republic, Italy, Poland, United States, France, Great Britain and Canada.

 

SELECTED

American Todd Martin is the new CEO of the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum. The former top-five player has been serving as CEO-designate since April of this year. Martin succeeds Mark Stenning, who had been with the Hall of Fame for 35 years, serving as CEO since September 2000. Unanimously elected to the position at the Hall of Fame’s annual meeting, Martin also is a member of the United States Tennis Association’s (USTA) Board of Directors. In addition to serving as CEO, Martin will be the tournament director of the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships.

Ten new individuals were elected at the annual meeting to serve on the Hall of Fame’s Board of Directors. They are: Chris Combe, Phil de Picciotto, Russ Fradin, Anthony Godsick, Anne Hamilton, Hall of Famer Peachy Kellmeyer, Hall of Famer Monica Seles, Lee Styslinger, Kristian Tear and Todd Martin.

 

SHARED PERFORMANCES

Hong Kong: Karolina Pliskova and Kristyna Pliskova beat Patricia Mayr-Achleitner and Arina Rodionova 6-2 2-6 12-10 (match tiebreak)

Québec City: Mirjana Lucic-Baroni and Lucie Hradecka beat Julia Goerges and Andrea Hlavackova 6-3 7-6 (8)

Tashkent: Aleksandra Krunic and Katerina Siniakova beat Margarita Gasparyan and Alexandra Panova 6-2 6-1

 

SURFING

Guangzhou: www.guangzhouopen.org/

 

Moselle: www.moselle-open.com/

Metz: www.moselle-open.com/

Tokyo: www.toray-ppo.com/

Seoul: http://html.gethompy.com/servicestop.html?id=izec9050

Kuala Lumpur: www.malaysianopentennis.com/2014/

Shenzhen: www.shenzhenopen.com/

Wuhan: www.wuhanopen.org/

 

TOURNAMENTS THIS WEEK

(All money in USD)

MEN

$531,123 Moselle Open, Metz, France, hard

$137,895 Izmir Challenger, Izmir, Turkey, hard

 

WOMEN

$876,900 Toray Pan Pacific Open, Tokyo, Japan, hard

$426,750 Guangzhou International Women’s Open 2014, Guangzhou, China, hard

$426,750 Kia Korea Open 2014, Seoul, South Korea, hard

 

TOURNAMENTS NEXT WEEK

MEN

$910,520 Malaysian Open, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, hard

$590,230 Shenzhen Open, Shenzhen, China, hard

$137,895 Open d/Orléans, Orléans, France, hard

 

WOMEN

$2,139,320 Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open, Wuhan, China, hard

 

Mirjana Lucic-Baroni
Mirjana Lucic-Baroni

A Laundry List of Firsts For 2014 U.S. Open Champion Marin Cilic

by

By Randy Walker

@TennisPublisher

 

Marin Cilic did a few thing he had never done before at the 2014 U.S. Open.

It started in a sparsely-attended round of 16 match on Louis Armstrong Stadium on Tuesday, September 2 when Cilic broke through to beat Gilles Simon of France for the first time in four previous meetings in the round of 16 in five sets in four hours, 13 minutes. In the quarterfinals, he then won consecutive matches against Tomas Berdych in the quarterfinals for the first time. In the semifinals came his first career win over Roger Federer – a straight-set throttling to move him into his first career Grand Slam tournament final. He then capped his miraculous run to his first major title with a 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 win over Kei Nishikori to become the first man from Croatia to win the U.S. Open singles title.

He won his quarterfinal, semifinal and final-round matches in straight sets – becoming to the first man since Stefan Edberg in 1991 to sweep their last three U.S. Open matches.

Cilic, at 6 foot 6, is the tallest man to win the U.S. Open – equaling Juan Martin del Potro, also at 6 foot 6, who won the title in 2009.

The eight-inch height discrepancy between Cilic and Nishikori, 5 foot 10, was the biggest height difference among Grand Slam men’s singles finalists in the Open Era, the previous being at the 1999 U.S Open – 6’6” Todd Martin was 7 inches taller than the 5’11” Andre Agassi – and at the 1971 U.S. Open – Stan Smith (6’4”) was 7 inches taller than the 5’9” Jan Kodes.

Cilic played the U.S. Open one year after missing the event in a drug-suspension when the tested positive for a banned stimulant that he claimed when he accidently indigested a glucose tablet.

In his last U.S. Open appearance, he blew at 6-2, 5-1 lead in the 2012 quarterfinals against Andy Murray, who went on to win the title.

It marked the first straight-set US Open men’s final since 2008 when Federer defeated Murray 62 75 62.

Cilic becomes the first Croatian to win a major title since Goran Ivanisevic, his coach, won Wimbledon in 2001. Seeded No. 14, Cilic is the lowest seeded man to win the U.S. Open since No. 17 seed Pete Sampras won the 2002 U.S. Open in his career finale.

The No. 10 seeded Nishikori, who defeated No. 5 seed Milos Raonic and No. 3 seed Stan Wawrinka in five sets in the fourth round and quarterfinals respectively, and No. 1 seed Novak Djokovic in four sets on a 90-degree afternoon in the semifinals, was the first Asian man to play in a Grand Slam singles final.

The final was the first US Open final between two players making their Grand Slam final debut since 1997 when Patrick Rafter defeated Greg Rusedski in what was also the last US Open final that did not feature a Top 10 player. Rafter was ranked No. 14 and Rusedski No. 20.

Marin Cilic
Marin Cilic

Serena’s Historic U.S. Open Title – And Almost Full Tournament Review – Mondays with Bob Greene

by

Mondays with Bob Greene

 

STARS

US Open

Women’s singles: Serena Williams beat Caroline Wozniacki 6-3 6-3

Men’s doubles: Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan beat Marcel Granollers and Marc Lopez 6-3 6-4

Women’s doubles: Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina beat Martina Hingis and Flavia Pennetta 2-6 6-3 6-2

Mixed doubles: Sania Mirza and Bruno Soares beat Abigail Spears and Santiago Gonzalez 6-1 2-6 11-9 match tiebreak

Boys’ singles: Omar Jasika beat Quentin Halys 2-6 7-5 6-1

Girls’ singles: Marie Bouzkova beat Anhelina Kalinina 6-4 7-6 (5)

Boys’ doubles: Omar Jasika and Naoki Nakagawa beat Rafael Matos and Joao Menezes 6-3 7-6 (6)

Girls’ doubles: Ipek Soylu and Jil Belen Teichmann beat Vera Lapko and Tereza Mihalikova 5-7 6-2 10-7 (match tiebreak)

Wheelchair men’s singles: Shingo Kunieda beat Gustavo Fernandez 7-6 (0) 6-4

Wheelchair women’s singles: Yui Kamiji beat Aniek Van Koot 6-3 6-3

Wheelchair men’s doubles: Stephane Houdet and Shingo Kunieda beat Gordon Reid and Maikel Scheffers 6-2 2-6 7-6 (4)

Wheelchair women’s doubles: Yui Kamiji and Jordanne Whiley beat Jiske Griffioen and Aniek Van Koot 6-4 3-6 6-3

Wheelchair quad singles: Andrew Lapthorne beat David Wagner 7-5 6-2

Wheelchair quad doubles: Nicholas Taylor and David Wagner beat Andrew Lapthorne and Lucas Sithole 6-3 7-5

 

OTHER

Albert Ramos-Vinola beat Mate Delic 6-1 7-5 to win the AON Open Challenger in Genova, Italy

Anna-Lena Friedsam beat Duan Ying-Ying 6-1 6-3 to win the uangcangyu WTA SS

Huangcangyu WTA Suzhou Ladies Open in Suzhou, China.

 

SAYING

“It means a lot to me. I just could never have imagined that I would be mentioned with Chris Evert or with Martina Navratilova, because I was just a kid with a dream and a racquet. Living in Compton (California, USA), you know, this never happened before.” – Serena Williams, on winning her 18th Grand Slam tournament singles title, tying her with Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova.

“I am thinking about 19, which I’m kind of disappointed. (It) hasn’t even been three hours and I’m already – I have already mentioned 19. Oh, gosh. So, yeah, but not 22. I’m taking it one at a time.” – Serena Williams, knowing that Helen Wills Moody has won 19 major singles titles, behind Steffi Graf with 22 and Margaret Smith Court with 24.

“When you walk into the stadium and people are screaming so loud you can’t hear what you’re thinking yourself, it’s kind of overwhelming/” – Caroline Wozniacki, who lost to Serena Williams in the women’s singles final.

“Today, she was just too good. Unfortunately, I was the one on the other side of the net today.” – Caroline Wozniacki.

“Everybody who gets to this stage of this kind of a competition deserves to be there because they have put in the work and they hoped for the break and this is it for both of them.” – Roger Federer, on Kei Nishikori and Marin Cilic meeting in the US Open men’s singles final.

“Other than that second set, my game today was not even close to what I wanted it to be. A lot of unforced errors, a lot of short balls. Just wasn’t myself.” – Novak Djokovic, after being upset in the semifinals by Kei Nishikori.

“It was one of those matches like old school tennis. It was just like full swing from all sides: forehand, backhand, serve, return.” – Roger Federer, after losing his semifinal match to Marin Cilic.

“The margins are so, so slim at that point that it’s not really in your control anymore. He needs one net cord or something so silly. When guys wish you good luck before the match, that’s when you hope it’s gonna kick in.” – Roger Federer, after staving off two match points to beat Gael Monfils.

“I think he took the opportunity. Like, you know … because he had match point (against him), he came forward. He never is tired. I think he took it.” – Gael Monfils, when asked if he felt Roger Federer took the victory away from him.

“I have proven people wrong so many times. I was told when I was younger there is no chance I will make the Top 100, Top 50, Top 30. Every time I have proven them wrong. It’s kind of nice.” – Caroline Wozniacki, on whether she’s answered her critics with her run to the 2014 US Open semifinals

“It was just a bad match for me. I didn’t play as close to the way I wanted to, and I think it was a great stage for me to come out on there on the center court and perform my best. But everything went the opposite way today.” – Grigor Dimitrov, following his fourth-round loss to Gael Monfils.

“I’m serving much better That sort of allows me to have more opportunities in the match on the return service, return of serve, as I can be more aggressive. I can play more risky, as I can, you know, rely on my serve that I’m going to win those service games comfortably. That puts a lot of pressure on the guys so I can, in the return games, play very differently from one to the other and change up my game.” – Marin Cilic, following his fourth-round win over Gilles Simon.

“I’m not going to make excuses for myself. You can ask me 20 times the same question. I’m not going to make any excuses. As I said, I did the best I could. I want to give full credit to my opponent. She deserves to win. She played much better than me today. That’s it.” – Victoria Azarenka, after losing to Ekaterina Makarova.

 

SERENA AGAIN

Serena Williams proved once again that she’s number one in the world, and in so doing captured her 18th Grand Slam tournament singles title, tying her with two of the greatest players of all-time, Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova. The American right-hander was never in trouble as she bashed Denmark’s Carolina Wozniacki 6-3 6-3 in a match that wasn’t as close as the score might indicate. Williams won her third consecutive US Open women’s singles title, becoming the second woman to win it six times. At the age of 32, Serena became the oldest woman to win the year’s final Grand Slam tournament and has won more titles in her 30s than any other woman. She became the first woman to win the title without dropping a set since she did it herself in 2008. She also did it in 2002. She won her first US Open some 15 years ago, in 1999 when she was 17 years old. “It means a lot to me,” she said. “I just could never have imagined that I would be mentioned with Chris Evert or with Martina Navratilova because I was just a kid with a dream and a racquet. Living in Compton (California, USA), you know, this never happened before.” Her close friend, Wozniacki, was no problem this day. She claimed her second runner-up trophy, the first coming in 2009 when she lost to Kim Clijsters in the final.

 

SATURDAY SHOCKERS

The final Saturday at the US Open used to be called “Super Saturday,” the day the women’s final was sandwiched between the men’s semifinals. But now America’s premier tennis event has joined the other three Grand Slam tournaments by giving the players a day off between the semifinals and final. This year, it was “Shocker Saturday” as both Novak Djokovic, the world’s top-ranked player, and Roger Federer, going for his record 18th Grand Slam tournament title, were sent home one round early. Japan’s Kei Nishikori denied Djokovic a fifth straight trip to the US Open final, 6-4 1-6 7-6 (4) 6-3 before Croatia’s Marin Cilic stunned Federer 6-3 6-4 6-4. Nishikori became the first man from Asia to reach a Grand Slam tournament final. And Cilic was his opponent just one year after sitting out the US Open because of a doping ban. The Monday final will be the first major title match since the 2005 Australian Open that didn’t feature either Rafael Nadal, Federer or Djokovic. “I think it’s exciting for the game to have different faces from time to time,” Federer said when asked about the Nishikori-Cilic final. “At the same time, I think people still enjoy seeing the guys they have seen for a while or often in the big matches. But I think it’s definitely refreshing to some extent.”

 

SMASHING MARKS

The Bryan brothers – Bob and Mike – are the first doubles pair to win 100 titles together as they captured the US Open by besting Spain’s Marcel Granoller and Marc Lopez 6-3 6-4. “We’re obviously ecstatic,” Mike Bryan said. “To win it her5e in front of this crowd makes it all the more special, but we had to play our best match of the tournament to win today.” It was the first Grand Slam tournament title of the year for the 36-year-old twins, who have not won at least one Grand Slam tournament title together for 10 consecutive years. “We’re not going to rest on our laurels,” Mike Bryan said. “We’re having a lot of fun playing together, we’re going to keep pushing and we’re not stopping any time yet.” The victory was their fifth US Open title and their 16th Grand Slam tournament crown.

 

SEMIFINAL SURPRISE

China’s Peng Shuai had to be carried off the court in a wheelchair after she ignored the advice of tournament doctors and tried to complete her women’s semifinal match against Caroline Wozniacki. The Dane was leading 7-6 (1) 4-3 when Peng clutched at her thighs and stumbled to the back wall of the Arthur Ashe Stadium court with severe cramping. She was helped off the court where she received treatment. Eleven minutes later she returned to the court and played six more points before tumbling to the ground and curling up in pain. In tears, the 28-year-old was lifted into a wheelchair and taken to an onsite medical facility. “The doctor, she said to me, ‘You are not able really go out to fight, compete, because your look is not really well,’” Peng told reporters after recovering from her ordeal. “I said, ‘No, no, no, I don’t want to give up. I want to try one more time.’ Then I come back. I know I’m not going to stay maybe too long but I just want to try. I just wanted to challenge her one more time.” Better known for her doubles play, Peng had a remarkable US Open. In 36 previous Grand Slam tournaments, she had never gone past the fourth round. This time was different. She upset three seeded players – number four Agnieszka Radwanska, number 28 Robert Vinci and number 14 Lucie Safarova – on her way to the penultimate round. “It’s really good two weeks,” she said. “It is a lot of new experience to me. A lot of challenges. This almost two weeks I feel like I play really good and then I just maybe need to believe more in myself and then give me a lot like energy. Keep going, fight, work and then look forward.”

 

STAKING CLAIM

Two unseeded players captured the US Open junior titles, showing they may be the next champions on the main tours. Seventeen-year-old Omar Jasika of Australia beat fifth-seeded Quentin Halys of France 2-6 7-5 6-2 to win the junior boys crown, while 16-year-old Marie Bouzkova of the Czech Republic won the girls title by stopping ninth-seeded Anhelina Kalinina of Ukraine 6-4 7-6 (5). It was the first time for both Jasika and Bouzkova to reach the final in a Grand Slam junior event. Jasika also took home the junior doubles trophy, teaming with Japan’s Naoki Nakagawa to stop the Brazilian pair of Rafael Matos and Joao Menezes 6-3 7-6 (6) in the title match. The girls’ doubles crown was won by Ipek Soylu of Turkey and Jil Belen Teichmann of Switzerland, who beat Brazil’s Vera Lapko and Slovakian Tereza Mihalikova 5-7 6-2 10-7 (match tiebreak).

 

STAYING HOME

Because of illness China’s Peng Shuai and Canada’s Eugenie Bouchard have withdrawn from Hong Kong’s first WTA tennis tournament in more than 20 years. Shuai reached the US Open semifinals before collapsing with heat-related illness and being taken off the court in a wheelchair. Bouchard, who reached the final at Wimbledon earlier in the summer and was to be the top seed at this week’s event in Hong Kong, also sought medical treatment at the US Open because of the heat during her fourth-round loss to Ekaterina Makorova. Tournament officials were upset because she didn’t announce her withdrawal until the last moment. “If Bouchard was injured we could understand and would wish her well. But she is simply tired,” Hong Kong Tennis Association president Herbert Chow Siu-lung said. “To say she is tired and cannot turn up because she is fatigued is poor form.” Although Peng will not be playing, she said she will be at the Hong Kong tournament and participate in all other activities, including promotional appearances.

 

SECOND SLAM TITLE

Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina rallied from a set down to capture the US Open, their second Grand Slam tournament title, by stopping Martina Hingis and Flavia Pennetta 2-6 6-3 6-2. Having won nine Grand Slam tournament doubles titles in her career, the 33-year-old Hingis was in her first major final since the Australian Open in 2002. “It was an incredible journey,” Hingis said. But it wasn’t to be a victory. The Russian pair had beaten sisters Serena and Venus Williams in the quarterfinals. Makarova lost to Serena Williams in the singles semifinals, but said the younger Williams sister was hoping she and her partner would win the doubles. “She looked straight at me in the eyes and said, ‘Go for it because you really deserve it.’” Makarova and Vesnina won Roland Garros in 2013. Hingis returned to competition last year, teaming with Daniela Hantuchova and Vera Zvonareva. She and Pennetta had played in three tournaments together leading up to the US\. Open.

 

SAYS YES

Martina Navratilova used the big screen on Arthur Ashe Stadium to propose to her girlfriend between the US Open men’s semifinals. “I was very nervous,” the 57-year-old Navratilova said. “It came off. She said yes. It was kind of an out-of-body experience. You’ve seen people propose at sporting events before, in movies, in real life. Here it was happening to me. It was like I was watching myself do it.” When the tennis great popped the question to Julia Lemigova, the crowd roared its approval. The left-hander said somebody suggested she propose during a changeover in the first match between Kei Nishikori and Novak Djokovic, but she said she didn’t want to disturb the players. Navratilova was later scheduled to play a “Champions” doubles match with Jana Novotna against Tracy Austin and Gigi Fernandez. The Nishikori-Djokovic match ended in four sets and the proposal was shown on the big screens. Navratilova said she and Lemigova would prefer to get married in Florida, where they live, and a federal judge ruled last month that the state’s ban on gay marriage is unconstitutional. However, Florida officials are appealing that ruling. Gay couples can legally marry in 19 states.

 

SELECTED

Two Frenchwomen, Amelie Mauresmo and Mary Pierce, are among four former players who have been nominated for entry into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Also nominated were Sergi Bruguera of Spain and Yevgeny Kafelnikov of Russia. All four won two Grand Slam singles titles. David Hall of Australia was nominated in the Recent Player Category for Wheelchair Tennis, while longtime tennis industry leader Nancy Jeffett has been nominated in the Contributor Category. The Class of 2015 nominees were announced by Hall of Fame president Stan Smith. Voting for the 2015 ballot will take place over the next several months, culminating with an announcement early next year. Since 1955, 240 people from 21 countries have been enshrined into the Hall in Newport, Rhode Island, USA.

 

SPECIAL AWARD

Hall of Famer and broadcaster Pam Shriver received the Eugene L. Scott Award at The Legends Ball, an annual social event hosted by the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum that celebrates tennis and honors some of the sport’s greatest champions and contributors. The Eugene L. Scott Award is given for extensive contributions to the sport. Shriver played on the WTA Tour for more than 15 years and is considered one of the best doubles players of all time. She won 112 doubles titles, including 22 Grand Slam tournament victories. Since 1990 she has been on television as an analyst, play-by-play commentator and sideline reporter. The evening also paid tribute to the International Tennis Hall of Fame Class of 2014 – Lindsay Davenport, Nick Bollettieri, Jane Brown Grimes, John Barrett and Chantal Vandierendonck – as well as the presentation of the Joseph F. Cullman 3rd Award to Fila.

 

STANDOUTS

Two former world number ones – Roger Federer and Caroline Wozniacki – were recipients of the third annual US Open Sportsmanship Awards, presented to the male and female professional tennis players who best demonstrate excellence in sportsmanship throughout the Emirates Airline US Open Series and the US Open. “With Roger and Caroline, it is incredible to see that two of tennis’ greatest competitors also share similar positive sportsmanship qualities even in the heat of battle,” said USTA Chairman, CEO and President Dave Haggerty. “Their sportsmanship and class both on and off the court make Roger and Caroline very deserving of this year’s US Open Sportsmanship Awards.” Each US Open Sportsmanship Award winner receives a trophy and a USD $5,000 donation to the charity of his or her choice. Last year’s winners were Li Na and David Ferrer, while the 2012 winners were Bob and Mike Bryan and Samantha Stosur.

 

SIGNED

Roger Federer will be heading to the Brisbane International in January. The Swiss master will start his 2015 season at the warm-up event for the year’s first Grand Slam tournament, the Australian Open. Federer reached the final at Brisbane this year, only to lose to local favorite Lleyton Hewitt. “The conditions are very similar to Melbourne, so I think it’s an ideal preparation (for the Australian Open),” Federer said. “It’s an important tournament on my calendar, a tournament I’m very happy to go back to and I was very excited to go there for the first time this year.”

 

STOPPED AGAIN

Cici Bellis became an overnight sensation when she upset 12th-seeded Dominika Cibulkova in the opening round of the US Open. Her stay in the women’s draw was over quickly, however, as she lost in the second round to Kazakhstan’s Zarina Diyas. The 15-year-old Bellis returned to the court for the junior girls’ event, only to again lose in the second round, this time to 17-year-old Russian Natalia Vikhlyantseva 7-6 (9), 2-6, 6-1. Top-seeded in the junior girls’ tournament, Bellis frequently shrieked at herself after bad shots, at times saying, “Where’s your game?” and “That is so lame.”

 

SALUTE FOR MARY JOE

Mary Joe Fernandez, captain of the United States Fed Cup squad, was presented the 2014 United States Tennis Association’s (USTA) President’s Award, which is given for extraordinary service to the sport. Since its inception in 1999, award recipients have included Billie Jean King, Lindsay Davenport, Mike Bryan and Bob Bryan and former New York City Mayor David Dinkins. Ranked as high as fourth in the world in both singles and doubles, Fernandez won seven WTA singles titles and 19 doubles titles in her career, including two Grand Slam doubles titles – at Roland Garros in 1996 and the Australian Open in 1991. She also won three Olympic medals including two gold medals in women’s doubles (1992 and 1996) and one bronze medal in women’s singles (1992).

 

SHARED PERFORMANCES

Genova: Daniele Bracciali and Potito Starace beat Frank Moser and Alexander Satschko 6-3 6-4

Suzhou: Chan Chin-Wei and Chuang Chia-Jung beat Misa Eguchi and Eriz Hozumi 6-1 3-6 10-7 (match tiebreak)

 

SURFING

Davis Cup: www.daviscup.com

 

Hong Kong: hongkongtennisopen.com/

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

Tashkent: www.tashkentopen.uz/en/

Guangzhou: www.guangzhouopen.org/

Moselle: www.moselle-open.com/

Metz: www.moselle-open.com/

Tokyo: www.toray-ppo.com/

Seoul: http://html.gethompy.com/servicestop.html?id=izec9050

 

TOURNAMENTS THIS WEEK

(All money in USD)

WOMEN

$250,000 Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open, Hong Kong, China, hard

$250,000 Coupe Banque Nationale présentée par Bell, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada, hard

$250,000 Tashkent Open, Tashkent, Uzbekistan, hard

 

DAVIS CUP

World Group Semifinals

France vs. Czech Republic at Paris, France, clay

Switzerland vs. Italy at Geneva, Switzerland, hard

 

World Group Playoffs

(Winners will be in World Group in 2014)

India vs. Serbia at Bangalore, India, hard

Brazil vs. Spain at Sao Paulo, Brazil, clay

Israel vs. Argentina at Sunrise, Florida, USA, hard

Canada vs. Colombia at Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, hard

United States vs. Slovakia at Chicago, Illinois, USA, hard

Australia vs. Uzbekistan at Perth, Australia, grass

Netherlands vs. Croatia at Amsterdam, Netherlands, clay

Ukraine vs. Belgium at Tallinn, Estonia, hard

Group 1 Playoffs

Americas Zone, 2nd Round: Venezuela vs. Uruguay at Caracas, Venezuela, hard; Asia/Oceania Zone, 1st Round: Chinese Taipei vs. South Korea at Kaohsiung City, Taiwan, hard; Europe/Africa Zone, 1st Round: Romania vs. Sweden at Bucharest, Romania, clay; Latvia vs. Austria at Valmiera, Latvia, hard

Group 2 Playoffs

Americas Zone, 3rd Round: Barbados vs. Mexico at St. Michael, Barbados, hard; Asia-Oceania Zone, 3rd Round: Pakistan vs. Thailand at Nonthaburi, Thailand, hard; Europe/Asia Zone, 3rd Round: Bosnia/Herzegovina vs. Lithuania at Sarajevo, Bosnia/Herzegovina, hard; Denmark vs. Moldova at Kolding, Denmark, carpet

 

TOURNAMENTS NEXT WEEK

MEN

$531,123 Moselle Open, Metz, France, hard

$137,895 Izmir Challenger, Izmir, Turkey, hard

 

WOMEN

$876,900 Toray Pan Pacific Open, Tokyo, Japan, hard

$426,750 Guangzhou International Women’s Open 2014, Guangzhou, China, hard

$426,750 Kia Korea Open 2014, Seoul, South Korea, hard

 

Serena Williams
Serena Williams

US Open Begins, Year’s Final Major – Mondays with Bob Greene

by

Mondays with Bob Greene

 

STARS

Petra Kvitova beat Magdalena Rybarikova 6-4 6-2 to win the Connecticut Open in New Haven, Connecticut, USA

Lukas Rosol beat Jerzy Janowicz 3-6 7-6 (3) 7-5 to win the Winston-Salem Open in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA

 

SAYING

“I’ll enjoy this title today, but from tomorrow I have to think about the US Open.” – Petra Kvitova, after winning the Connecticut Open.

“Losses happen. This is not my first final – and hopefully will not be my last. I’m looking forward to the next tournament. I am playing well. I had a great week here in Winston-Salem.” – Jerzy Janowicz, after losing the Winston-Salem Open final.

“I think it’s a very nice thing to play in front of thousands of people. For me it doesn’t matter if they are loud up there, because when I’m on court I’m very focused, so I don’t care about that they are screaming sometimes or during the points. It’s normal. Everyone can do what they want. But sometimes as a player, you need some quiet during the points. But, you know, every player it’s different, so for me that doesn’t matter.” – Simona Halep, on the notoriously noisy New York crowd.

“This year I played a lot of good matches. Not just Toronto and Cincinnati, but really from the first week on I have always played really nice tennis. Then you come into this US Open just knowing – well, you remember how it feels to win tournaments. You remember and you get used to that. You almost forget how to lose to a point and confidence rises. You’re back to winning ways again and everything seems so simple, you know. It’s nice feeling that way.” – Roger Federer.

“New York has its own character. You know, I love the fans here. They are very honest and I love that. You know, they like you. They love you. They’ll cheer. If they don’t like something, they’ll boo. That’s what makes it very passionate and exciting. Plus, I have been dreaming to play here even as a kid to be on the big stages. Every time I come here it feels special.” – Victoria Azarenka, on playing at the US Open.

“Brad realizes that it was a stupid and dangerous decision. We’re somewhat relieved because two years would have been devastating. But we still feel the penalty is severe.” – Craig Mousley, father and coach of Brad Mousley, an Australian junior player who was given a one-year suspension for taking the party drug ecstasy.

“He made everybody feel special. He brought the best out of everyone. He was probably the most impactful man in the history of college tennis as a coach. It’s a sad day for all of us lettermen.” – Manuel Diaz, University of Georgia tennis coach, speaking about his predecessor, the late Dan Magill.

“Coach Dan Magill, it was an honor to have known you and learned from you. Undoubtedly the Greatest Bulldog Of All Time.” – John Isner, tweeting after the death of his college coach, Dan Magill.

 

SECOND TITLE

Lukas Rosol staved off two match points before capturing the Winston-Salem Open, his second career ATP World Tour title, stopping Poland’s Jerzy Janowicz. “I just focused on my games, especially while I was serving,” the 29-year-old Rosol said. “I waited patiently to see if he would give me a chance on his serve, and he did.” Janowicz reached match points twice while Rosol was serving in the 10th game of the final set. But Rosol held, then broke his opponent as he won the final three games of the match. “I didn’t start out well, but I finished strong,” the winner said. He ended the triumph with his 13th ace of the match.  “(Players) can make a comeback, whatever the score,” Janowicz said. “(Rosol) served well.” Rosol has reached the quarterfinals or better in his last five tournaments. He won his first title last year in Bucharest, Romania. Janowicz was seeking to become the first player from Poland to win an ATP World Tour title since Wojtek Fibak captured the Chicago trophy in 1982.

 

STRONG PERFORMANCE

Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova didn’t drop a set during the week as she won her second WTA title of the year, besting Magdalena Rybarikova. The Connecticut Open crown was the 13th of the left-hander’s career. Kvitova blasted 31 winners in the final, including a huge cross-court backhand return winner on match point, the same shot she pulled off at match point at Wimbledon when Eugenie Bouchard was on the other side of the net. “From the first match I played here, I played really solid,” Kvitova said. “That’s important for me going into the US Open.” The Czech jumped out to a 5-2 lead to begin the match, and then saw Rybarikova take the next two games. “Serving at 5-3 I knew I was serving for the set, so it’s always a little bit difficult,” Kvitova said. “I was a little bit hectic. It was quite new balls as well. There were a few times where I was pushing her, but then I would miss the last shot. I think I just lost my concentration a little bit at times in the first set. But the most important thing was I broke her for the set, and then kept my concentration.” While Kvitova came away with the big trophy and biggest paycheck, Rybarikova had plenty to smile about too. She had the best win of her career in the New Haven tournament when she knocked off second-ranked Simona Halep on her way to her first Premier final.

 

STOP AT THE TOP

Three different women have a shot at being number one in the world when the US Open completes its two-week run at New York’s Flushing Meadow. Currently, the top ranking is held by Serena Williams. But, others who could wind up with the top spot include second-ranked Simona Halep and fourth-ranked Petra Kvitova, depending on how the draw unfolds.

 

STAYING HOME

Rafael Nadal will not be defending his US Open crown this year. The Spaniard withdrew from the year’s final Grand Slam tournament because of an injury to his right wrist. “I am very sorry to announce I won’t be able to play at this year’s US Open,” Nadal said in a statement. “I am sure you understand that it is a very tough moment for me since it is a tournament I love and where I have great memories from fans, the night matches, so many things… (There is) not much more I can do right now, other than accept the situation and, as always in my case, work hard in order to be able to compete at the highest level once I am back.” The 28-year-old Spaniard has not played since losing to Nick Kyrgios in the fourth round at Wimbledon in July. It is the second time in three years that Nadal has missed the US Open because of injuries. In 2012 he was out with a knee injury. That means he has been in the final of America’s premier tennis tournament in the last three times he has played the event. Nadal won the US Open in 2010, lost in 2011 and won again last year. Each time, he faced Novak Djokovic with the title hanging in the balance.

 

SICK BAY

Seeking his third title at the event, John Isner withdrew from the tournament just before his quarterfinal match at the Winston-Salem Open. The American was due to play Lukas Rosol, who went on to win the US Open tune-up event. “I am extremely disappointed to have to withdraw from the Winston-Salem Open, one of my favorite stops of the year,” said the 29-year-old Isner, a native of North Carolina and the local favorite.

 

STATISTICS

Four former champions are in the men’s singles draw at the US Open this year, even with the withdrawal of last year’s winner, Rafael Nadal. Andy Murray won the year’s final Grand Slam tournament in 2012, Novak Djokovic in 2011, Lleyton Hewitt in 2001 and Roger Federer from 2004 through 2008.  They also are the only four men playing this year who have been in a US Open final. Besides Nadal, who won in 2010 and 2013, also missing this year’s competition because of an injury is the 2009 champion, Juan Martin del Potro.

There are 19 active players who have reached a Grand Slam tournament women’s singles final, including Serena Williams, who has won the most titles – 17 – and appeared in the most finals, 21. Of the 19, only Vera Zvonareva is not playing this year’s US Open. Zvonareva was runner-up at both Wimbledon and the US Open in 2010. Besides Serena Williams, other Grand Slam tournament winners in the field include Venus Williams, Maria Sharapova, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Victoria Azarenka, Li Na, Ana Ivanovic, Petra Kvitova, Francesca Schiavone and Samantha Stosur. Others who have reached the final at majors include Eugenie Bouchard, Dominika Cibulkova, Sara Errani, Simona Halep, Jelena Jankovic, Sabine Lisicki, Agnieszka Radwanska and Caroline Wozniacki.

 

SECURITY CONCERNS

The Davis Cup World Group playoff between Ukraine and Belgium will be played in Tallinn, Estonia, next month. The event had been scheduled to be held in Ukraine, but the International Tennis Federation (ITF) said the fighting going on in the country meant the Davis Cup tie had to be played at a neutral site. Tallinn, Estonia, was proposed by the Ukrainian Tennis Federation, who retained choice of ground.  The tie will be played on an indoor hard court. Another World Group playoff, between Israel and Argentina was moved to Florida because of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Eight World Group playoff ties will be held September 12-14 along with two World Group semifinals, pitting France and the Czech Republic in Paris, and Switzerland and Italy in Geneva. Davis Cup by BNP Paribas is the largest annual international team competition in sport, with 122 nations participating this year. The competition is 114 years old.

 

STAR TURN

Colombians Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah weren’t even seeded when the Winston-Salem Open draw was completed. Then they played the matches. Cabal and Farah ended up toppling the third-seeded due of Jamie Murray and John Peers to wind up with the winner’s trophy. “It was a great tournament for us. We played very well from the start,” Farah said right after the match was over. “Today was a great match. We served very well, returned well. Sebas returned very well, and that’s why we came away with the big trophy.” The Colombians broke their British-Australian opponents four times during the 64-minute match as they remain undefeated against Murray and Peers. They also won their previous encounter in the second round at Roland Garros in 2013.

 

SUSPENDED

Brad Mousley will have a year to think about his experimenting with the drug ecstasy. The 18-year-old Australian was suspended for 12 months after he tested positive for the drug in March. Australia’s top-ranked junior player admitted taking the drug at a party in March. He tested positive two days later following a qualifying match for a Futures tour event in Melbourne, Australia. He faced a two-year suspension but told the independent Tennis Australia tribunal that he had not taken the drug to enhance his performance. The beginning of the suspension was backdated to May 30, 2014.

 

SAD NEWS

Dan Magill, who as coach led the University of Georgia’s men’s tennis team to two NCAA championships, has died at the age of 93. Manuel Diaz, who played for Magill and succeeded him as coach of the Bulldogs, said Magill passed away after declining health in recent years. He was living in an assisted living facility in Athens, Georgia, USA, home of the university. Magill became Georgia’s men’s tennis coach in 1955 and remained in that job until after the 1988 season. His teams compiled a 706-183 record with 13 Southeastern Conference outdoor titles and eight indoor titles, along with NCAA national championships in 1985 and 1987. Even after retirement, he was active. He ran the Collegiate Tennis Hall of Fame situated next to the Dan Magill Tennis Complex at the university. He still played doubles tennis until 2012 when his health finally slowed him down. Among the many who played for Magill at the University of Georgia were Sweden’s Mikael Pernfors, who was NCAA singles champion in 1984 and 1985; Mathias Boeker, NCAA singles champion in 2001 and 20002, and John Isner, who currently is ranked 15th in the world. Survivors include his wife, Rosemarie, and three children: Hamilton III and daughters Shannon and Mollie.

 

SHARED PERFORMANCES

New Haven: Andreja Klepac and Sílvia Soler-Espinosa beat Marina Erakovic and Arantxa Parra Santonja 7-5 4-6 10-7 (match tiebreak)

Winston-Salem: Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah beat Jamie Murray and John Peers 6-3 6-4

 

SURFING

Winston-Salem: www.winstonsalemopen.com/

 

New Haven: www.ctopen.org/

New York: www.usopen.org/

International Tennis Federation: www.itftennis.com/home.aspx

ATP World Tour: www.atpworldtour.com/

WTA: www.wtatennis.com/

United States Tennis Association: www.usta.com/

 

TOURNAMENTS THIS WEEK

(All money in USD)

MEN and WOMEN

US Open, New York, New York, USA, hard (first week)

 

TOURNAMENTS NEXT WEEK

MEN

US Open, New York, New York, USA, hard (second week)

$112,537 AON Open Challenger Genova, Genova, Italy, clay

 

WOMEN

US Open, New York, New York, USA, hard (second week)

 

Arthur Ashe Stadium
Arthur Ashe Stadium

Serena Williams Wins First Title at Cincinnati; Roger Federer Wins His Sixth – Mondays with Bob Greene

by

Mondays with Bob Greene

 

STARS

Roger Federer beat David Ferrer 6-3 1-6 6-2 to win the men’s singles at the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

Serena Williams beat Ana Ivanovic 6-4 6-1 to win the women’s singles at the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

Lara Arruabarrena beat Johanna Larsson 6-1 6-3 to win the Seguros Boliva Open in Bogotá, Colombia

 

SAYING

“I’m really pleased with the week. Overall, it went from good to great. My game’s exactly where I want it to be.” – Roger Federer, following his victory over David Ferrer.

“I made the final. But I can never beat Roger, he’s too much for me. I’m still lucky to be playing with the best in the world. Roger deserved to win the title.” – David Ferrer.

“This is definitely a level that can take me to the (US Open) title. I still have a lot of work to do. It’s definitely a better level than I’ve played all year, to be honest.” – Serena Williams, after beating Ana Ivanovic to win the Western & Southern women’s singles title.

“I really felt she was really solid today. Not only on her serve, but on the groundstrokes I felt like she was dominating. I did have chances, especially when we started the rallies, but I just couldn’t get the serve back.” – Ana Ivanovic.

“When I finish my career and when I will be sitting at home and talking with friends, I will remember days like this.” – Tommy Robredo, after upsetting top-ranked Novak Djokovic at the Western & Southern.

“I didn’t play well in Toronto, didn’t play well here. Hopefully, it’s going to be different in New York (at the US Open).” – Novak Djokovic, after losing in Cincinnati.

“I had lost a few close matches – matches like that – over the last few months, so it was important for me to come through. You know, it was completely packed crowd from the first point right until the end, as well. So it was a really good atmosphere to get ready for the rest of the tournament, but also the US Open as well. It was very good.” – Andy Murray, after beating John Isner 3-6 (3) 6-4 7-6 (2).

“I knew it was going to be a good match. I mean, I didn’t imagine myself blowing him off the court, and vice versa, I didn’t imagine him blowing me off the court.” – John Isner, after losing to Andy Murray,

“I just kind of close my eyes and serve. When you think about it too much you get kind of crazy.” – Serena Williams, after slamming 12 aces in her victory over Ana Ivanovic.

“I think I got a lesson on how to serve today. Maybe after you retire you can give me some tips.” – Ana Ivanovic, at the post-match awards ceremony.

 

SWISS MASTER

There’s a love affair going on between Roger Federer and the Western & Southern Open. “I don’t know, I just really enjoy myself here,” Federer said after winning the Masters 1000 title for the sixth time. This time the Swiss star beat David Ferrer in a match that wasn’t as close as the score indicates. Federer improved his career record to 16-0 against his Spanish opponent, who took advantage of Federer’s lull in the second set. “The third set, he served unbelievable,” Ferrer said. “He played really good and I was a little bit tired. But anyway, with Roger it’s difficult, no?” It’s difficult yes, especially on the hard courts at Mason, Ohio, USA, a Cincinnati suburb. Every time Federer reaches the Western & Southern Open title match, he wins. It was his 22nd ATP World Tour Masters 1000 crown as he became just the third player in the Open Era to win 80 titles. Federer trails only Jimmy Connors, who finished his career with 109 titles, and Ivan Lendl, who had 94. He also increased his match-win lead this season on the ATP World Tour to 49 victories, five more than Rafael Nadal. It was Federer’s biggest title since he won Cincinnati in 2012, the same year he also won Wimbledon. “I finally got a big trophy for the kids,” said the father of two sets of twins. “I’ve been bringing home some smaller ones. I keep telling them they are still trophies, but this one should satisfy them.”

 

SPARKLING SERENA

Where Roger Federer has made Cincinnati his personal stomping ground, Serena Williams has had problems at the Ohio stop on the WTA tour. No more. The world’s top-ranked woman won her first Western & Southern Open on his sixth try, needing only 62 minutes to subdue Ana Ivanovic. “I love this moment,” she said. “I love holding up the trophy.” Williams played the best match of her summer in besting the much-improved Ivanovic. It didn’t show at the start as Ivanovic broke Serena’s serve to begin the match, then held to go up 2-0. The Serbian right-hander won just three more games as Williams started moving better and dominated with her serve, hitting 12 aces. “It felt like way more,” Ivanovic said. It was the fifth title of the year for the 32-year-old American, who also won in Stanford, Rome, Miami and Brisbane. But she has had problems at the Grand Slam tournaments this year, and Cincinnati is her final tune-up before the year’s final major, the US Open, which begins later this month. “Definitely my best performance of the summer,” Williams said. “Hopefully not the last.” Even with the loss, Ivanovic moved back into the top 10 in the WTA rankings for the first time in five years. “It’s been a great week for me in Cincinnati,” she said. “It’s the biggest final I’ve been in in a while. It feels good to be part of it. There are still a few points in my game that I feel I need to work on for the US Open and also for the end of season. Definitely exciting times.”

 

SIBLINGS STOP STREAK

After starting their partnership in record-breaking style, Vasek Pospisil and Jack Sock finally lost. In a highly-anticipated men’s doubles match, brothers Bob and Mike Bryan defeated Pospisil and Sock 6-3 6-2 to successfully defend their Western & Southern Open crown, their 99th team title in their 150th final. Pospisil and Sock had won their first 14 matches as a team, including beating the Bryan brothers in the Wimbledon final. That topped the 12-0 start by Christo van Rensburg and Paul Annacone in 1984-85. This time, the American twins dominated Pospisil and Sock in just 53 minutes.  “It was amazing to walk out to a packed house today,” Bob Bryan said. “It was an incredible atmosphere and once again the Cincy crowds have brought out the best in us. Mike and I were really sharp right from the first ball and are extremely excited about this victory.” The win gave the Bryan brothers a record 30 ATP World Tour Masters 1000 victories, including five at the Western & Southern Open. “Hats off to Jack and Vasek on their impressive run this summer,” Mike Bryan said. “It’s great for doubles to have another marketable team competing for the biggest titles and we look forward to having more competitive battles against them in the future.”

 

SHOCKER

It wasn’t the first time Tommy Robredo has knocked off the world’s number-one player. But it had been a while since it happened the first time. The Spaniard upset Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic 7-6 (6) 7-5 in the round of 16 at the Western & Southern Open, ending Djokovic’s bid to win the Cincinnati event for the first time and become the first player to win all nine ATP World Tour Masters events during his career. “It’s disappointing that I’m finishing Cincinnati again with a tough loss, but it’s the sport,” Djokovic said. The last time Robredo knocked off the world’s top-ranked player was in 2003, when he beat Lleyton Hewitt at the French Open. This time, the Spaniard snapped a six-match losing streak against her Serbian opponent. “I knew that if I wanted to win I had to go for it and try to hope that he will not play his best match,” Robredo said. “Both things happen and then I could win.” Both things happened.

 

STAYING HOME

Former champion Juan Martin del Potro won’t be at this year’s US Open. The Argentine is still recovering from surgery on his left wrist, which he underwent in late March. He also underwent an operation on his right wrist after winning the US Open in 2009 and missed much of the next season.

 

SEES BONUS AHEAD

For the third time in four years, Serena Williams has clinched the Emirates Airline US Open Series women’s title. That means that if she win the US Open singles title, she would get a USD $1 million bonus. That, of course, would be in addition to the USD $3 million purse that goes to the US Open champion. The world’s top-ranked woman won both the Emirates Airline US Open Series title and the US Open last year, taking home a record USD $3.6 million, including the USD $1 million bonus. Williams is the only woman to win the Emirates Airline US Open Series Bonus Challenge three times. No other woman has won it more than once.

 

SNAFU

When Elle Quebec ran a very flattering story on Eugenie Bouchard, they made a serious mistake. Accompanying the article on Canada’s newest tennis star were photos of Maria Sharapova. It was Genie Bouchard’s picture on the cover of the 25-year-old Canadian fashion magazine, fortunately, but not on the inside. In its September issue, the magazine admitted, “An error occurred in the publication of the photos accompanying the article about prodigious tennis player Eugenie Bouchard in our August issue. Here are the photos of the athlete that should have appeared in our pages. Our sincerest apologies.”

 

SKIPPING CINCINNATI

The record book is being revised seemingly every time Roger Federer steps onto the court. When Federer won his opening match at the Western & Southern Open, defeating Vasek Pospisil, he added another record to his long list of accomplishments. It was Federer’s 300th career victory in a Masters tournament, the first to do so. Rafael Nadal is second with 281 such wins. “It’s a nice, round number,” Federer said. “I’ve had some more important ones over the one today. Nevertheless, it’s nice to reach such milestones.”

 

SHORT DAY

Raquel Kops-Jones and Abigail Spears captured the women’s doubles title at the Western & Southern Open when their opponents had to retire because of a spine injury suffered by Kristina Mladenovic. The winners were leading 6-1 2-0 when Mladenovic and her partner, Timea Babos, stopped the match. “The few games that we played, we played well,” Kops-Jones said. “Unfortunately, one of our opponents was injured. It’s not fun to win that way, but we’ll take it.” Babos and Mladenovic were seeded sixth in the hard-court tournament, while the winning team had been seeded seventh. None of the top four seeded teams made it to the semifinals. “We had a few tough matches this week, even the ones where the scores didn’t appear close,” Kops-Jones said. “We learned a lot just playing a lot of matches. We love playing here. It’s really well-run and is one of the best facilities that we play at.” The winners now have 10 WTA titles as a team. Kops-Jones has won 12 WTA doubles titles and Spears has 14, including winning at Cincinnati in 2005 with Laura Granville.

 

SECURITY CONCERNS

The Davis Cup playoff tie between Israel and Argentina will be played in Sunrise, Florida, USA, in September. Because of security concerns linked to the conflict in Gaza, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) banned Israel from hosting the three-day completion on home soil. The neutral venue in Florida was proposed by the Israel Tennis Association (ITA) and will be played on an outdoor hard court. A total of eight World Group playoff ties will be held September 12-14, alongside the two World Group semifinals between France and Czech Republic in Paris, France, and Switzerland and Italy in Geneva, Switzerland.

Another World Group playoff – this one between Ukraine and Belgium – will also be moved to a neutral site because of security concerns. It was scheduled to have been held in Kiev, Ukraine.

STRAIGHT IN

Australia’s Bernard Tomic, Frenchman Michael Llodra and six Americans have been awarded wild card entries into the men’s singles main draw at this year’s US Open. Joining Tomic and Llodra with wild cards in the 128-player field will be Ryan Harrison, Tim Smyczek, 17-year-old Jared Donaldson, 2014 NCAA singles champion Marcos Giron, 2014 USTA Boys’ 18s national champion Noah Rubin and veteran Wayne Odesnik.

Eight others were given wild cards entries into the men’s singles qualifying tournament, which is being held this week at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. They are Americans Collin Altamirano, Ernesto Escobedo, Mitchell Frank, Taylor Fritz, Stefan Kozlov, Mackenzie McDonald and Francis Tiafoe along with Frenchman Mathias Bourgue.

Former world number one junior Taylor Townsend and 2011 US Open junior champion Grace Min head the eight wild card entries into the women’s singles main draw. Other Americans are Nicole Gibbs, Danielle Collins, Madison Brengle and CiCi Bellis. They will be joined by Australia’s Jarmila Gajdosova and France’s Amandine Hesse.

Entering the women’s singles qualifying tournament on wild cards are Americans Tornado Alicia Black, Jennifer Brady, Samantha Crawford, Asia Muhammad, Bernarda Pera, Maria Sanchez and Katerina Stewart, as well as France’s Fiona Ferro, who earned her qualifying spot through a reciprocal agreement with the French Tennis Federation.

 

SALUTED

Tony Trabert, a two-time singles winner of the US National Championships – now the US Open – and a long-time voice of the year’s final Grand Slam tournament is the 2014 inductee into the US Open Court of Champions. Trabert will be inducted during an on-court ceremony in Arthur Ashe Stadium prior to the men’s singles final on Monday, September 8. A panel of international print and broadcast journalists selected Trabert from the roster of US champions based on their performances at the tournament and their impact on the game of tennis. He won five Grand Slam tournament singles titles, including the US National Championships in 1953 and 1955, and was ranked number one in the world. He was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1970.

 

SENIOR TOPPER

Fittingly, Xavier Malisse of Belgium won his first ATP Champions Tour title at the Optima Open in Knokke-Heist on Belgium’s North Sea coast. Malisse defeated Fabrice Santoro 6-2 6-3 in the final. “This feels great actually,” Malisse said. “I’m very happy to win, and just to play Fabrice because he is a fun guy to play. It’s very different to being on the ATP Tour but I have really enjoyed my time here this week and seeing all the guys again. I am so grateful to the crowd who stayed to watch us and cheer for us today because it’s not the nicest weather to sit and watch tennis.” The Champions Tour, featuring John McEnroe, Ivan Lendl, Michal Chang and Goran Ivanisevic, will stage its next event in Italy in October.

 

SIDELINED

Eighteen-year-old Victoria Duval won’t be competing at the US Open later this month. But she is on target to return to training sometime in September. Duval has been undergoing chemotherapy treatment for Hodgkin’s lymphoma and is scheduled for two more treatments over the next four weeks. The young American was diagnosed earlier this summer by London doctors through biopsies with the form of cancer in its earliest, most curable stages. The finding was confirmed after her first-round qualifying match in Wimbledon, but Duval decided to continue to play, winning two more qualifiers and her first-round match in the main draw over seeded player Sorana Cîrstea. Currently ranked 88th in the world, Duval said in a statement: “I intend to put up my best fight and have a full recovery. I picture myself healthy, stronger and competing again soon with even more appreciation for the game I so love.” Her business representative, Ben Crandall, an IMG executive, said Duval’s timetable for her to return to competitive tennis will be decided after the chemo treatments are complete.

 

SHARED PERFORMANCES

Bogotá: Lara Arruabarrena and Florencia Molinero beat Melanie Klaffner and Patricia Mayr-Achleitner 6-2 6-0

Cincinnati (men): Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan beat Vasek Pospisil and Jack Sock 6-3 6-2

Cincinnati (women): Raquel Kops-Jones and Abigail Spears beat Timea Babos an d Kristina Mladenovic 6-1 2-0 retired

 

SURFING

Winston-Salem: www.winstonsalemopen.com/

 

New Haven: www.ctopen.org/

New York: www.usopen.org/

 

TOURNAMENTS THIS WEEK

(All money in USD)

MEN

$598,260 Winston-Salem Open, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA, hard

WOMEN

$644,900 Connecticut Open presented by United Technologies, New Haven, Connecticut, USA, hard

 

TOURNAMENTS NEXT WEEK

MEN and WOMEN

US Open, New York, New York, USA, hard (first week)

 

 

Serena Williams
Serena Williams

 

Roger Federer Snags 80th Career Title In Cincinnati; Sets Sights On U.S. Open

by

by Randy Walker

@TennisPublisher

 

Roger Federer won his 80th career title – and his sixth career title in Cincinnati – beating David Ferrer 6-3, 1-6, 6-2 Sunday at the Western & Southern Masters in Mason, Ohio.

With the win, Federer has established himself as the unlikely favorite to win the US Open that starts August 25 in New York, based on his title in Cincinnati and his runner-up showing in Toronto the week before, losing to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

Federer has reached at least the finals in his last four events – winning the grass-court title in Halle, Germany, reaching the final at Wimbledon and his summer hard court events in Toronto in Cincinnati. He has now won the title in Cincinnati for a sixth time.

“I enjoy playing here,” Federer said to Brad Gilbert on ESPN2 moments after his win. “I played some good tennis here over the years. This tournament has been good for me. I beat three players in the top 10. I played some good tennis so it is very encouraging for me.”

Federer’s two major rivals in New York – world No. 1 Novak Djokovic and world No. 2 Rafael Nadal – have had dormant summers since Wimbledon. Djokovic has won only two of four matches played since he beat Federer in the Wimbledon final and since his post-Wimbledon wedding. Nadal has sat out the entire summer season, attempting to heal an injured right wrist that may prevent him from defending his U.S. Open title.

“I know I didn’t beat Rafa or Novak. I can’t control who I am facing,” Federer said to ESPN2. “Clearly I can’t wait until the US Open.”

Federer’s 80th title is the third most in the history of men’s tennis, trailing only Jimmy Connors with 109 titles and Ivan Lendl with 94 titles.

His win over Ferrer increased his series domination over Ferrer to 16-0 in their careers.

To read of the early life of Federer and his march to his record-breaking 14th major singles title, pick up the book “Roger Federer: Quest for Perfection” by Rene Stauffer, the Swiss journalist who has covered Federer since he was a young boy, at www.RogerFedererBook.com. To read day-by-day anniversary match summaries and anecdotes on Federer, pick up “The Days of Roger Federer” here on Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1937559378/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_PKs8tb11DF8D6

 

Roger Federer
Roger Federer