STARS
Serena Williams beat Marion Bartoli 7-5 6-1 to win the Bank of the West Classic in Stanford, California, USA
Ernests Gulbis beat Mardy Fish 5-7 6-4 6-4 to win the Farmers Classic in Los Angeles, California, USA
Marcel Granollers beat Fernando Verdasco 6-4 3-6 6-3 to win the Crédit Agricole Suisse Open in Gstaad, Switzerland
Alexandr Dolgopolov beat Marin Cilic 6-4 3-6 6-3 to win the ATP Studena Croatia in Umag, Croatia
Nadia Petrova beat Shahar Peer 7-5 6-2 to win the Citi Open in College Park, Maryland, USA
Mikhail Kukushkin beat Sergei Bubka 6-3 6-4 to win the President’s Cup men’s singles in Astana, Kazakhstan
Vitalia Diatchenko beat Akgul Amanmuradov 6-4 6-1 to win the President’s Cup women’s singles in Astana, Kazakhstan
SAYING
“Coming back and hearing the claps when I walk out there are moments that I truly missed. It’s so awesome to be back and to be a part of those moments. Not everyone can be a sports – I don’t know if ‘star’ sounds full of myself, but I’ve worked hard for that title. So, yes, I say it and I take pride in it.” – Serena Williams, after winning her first title since the 2010 Wimbledon.
“Serena, she already can improve from one day to the other. So you can imagine from one match to the other. I knew before the match started it was different than Wimbledon.” – Marion Bartoli, who beat Serena Williams at Wimbledon.
“I feel like a kid again. When I was younger I had the goal of being in the top 100, then qualifying for a Grand Slam without a wild card. I have those goals again.” – Serena Williams, following her semifinal win over Sabine Lisicki at the Bank of the West Classic.
“I’m sure she’s going to tell you that she can play even better. And I’m sure that she will.” – Marion Bartoli, on Serena Williams.
“I have never played her before so I did not know what to expect. I’m not used to having the ball come back at me so hard. It was a new experience, a learning experience.” – Sabine Lisicki, after losing to Serena Williams.
“When I had chances to change things around, I couldn’t do it. Her biggest strength is her power and you don’t see so much of that in the top 10. It really makes her dangerous.” – Maria Sharapova, after losing to Serena Williams at Stanford, California.
“You both develop as people and players, and have great moments as well as tough ones … but at the end of the day she has 13 Grand Slams and I have three.” – Maria Sharapova, on the differences between her and Serena Williams.
“A lot of people say that (they don’t mind losing if they play well). I lie when I say that.” – Serena Williams, admitting that winning is more important to her than satisfaction with her performance.
“I’m really pleased with the way things went this week. We haven’t had a Croatian in the final here for 21 years and it was a relief I think for all the tournament organizers and also for me to reach the final and be playing well at home.” – Marin Cilic, who lost the final at Umag, Croatia.
“I have been waiting for this one patiently and I’m very happy to come away with my 10th title. It’s a good achievement.” – Nadia Petrova, after winning her first tournament in nearly three years when she beat Shahar Peer in the Citi Open final.
“Last week was bad for me because I felt a lot of pain in my arm, which I had felt since Wimbledon. I went home and rested for five days without any practice, and I came here on Sunday and started to feel better and better. Now I have won the tournament and so it’s amazing.” – Marcel Granollers, after beating Fernando Verdasco to win the Crédit Agricole Suisse Open.
“Of course it’s better to lose in the final than before the final. You always want to win, so it’s not easy to lose the final.” – Fernando Verdasco.
“The second set was quite difficult as the conditions were pretty windy. Everybody was a bit nervous at the end and I am just happy we won it.” – Filip Polasek, who teamed with Frantisek Cermak to win the doubles in Gstaad, Switzerland.
“It was painful when I played Marina (Erakovic), but I was able to get through that match. I thought it would be better in the morning, but I saw a doctor and he recommended not playing since the injury could worsen…” – Dominika Cibulkova, who withdrew from the Bank of the West Classic semifinal with a strained abdominal muscle.
“Serena’s a great champion. She has won so many tournaments and has a huge amount of experience. She didn’t play for a year and comes back and is winning again. You have to be so tough to do that.” – Maria Kirilenko, before losing to Serena Williams at Stanford, California.
“I knew Shahar wasn’t able to hurt me with her serve, especially her second serve, so even though I was broken early in each set I knew I could turn it around. I’m happy with my record against her. And today was an important match, going for the title – all I had in my mind was to fight for every point and at the end of the day walk away with the trophy.” – Nadia Petrova, who beat Shahar Peer to win the Citi Open.
“It was a great wedding! It was the best wedding I’ve ever been to. Elena and her husband were always with the guests, talking to us a lot, singing and dancing … Normally at weddings the pair just sits and watches, and it’s kind of boring. But Elena and Maxim were interacting with us. They even sang a song together – I wish I could listen to them one more time! I think they practiced a lot for that. It was a Russian song, about love and being together – I don’t remember all the words. I was surprised, she sang well!” – Maria Kirilenko, about Elena Dementieva’s wedding.
SERENA POWER
She’s back – and with a vengeance. Serena Williams captured her first tournament title since Wimbledon in 2010 when she pounded Marion Bartoli to win the Bank of the West Classic. The victory was doubly sweet, since Williams had missed 11 months with two foot operations and blood clots on her lungs. And the win over Bartoli was sweet revenge since she had lost to the Frenchwoman in the fourth round at Wimbledon this year. Bartoli led 4-2 in the opening set and served for the set at 5-4 before Serena reeled off eight straight games. Williams became the first American woman to win on home soil since she captured the 2008 US Open. Serena entered the tournament unseeded and ranked 169th in the world, but the victory will vault her into the top 80. “I hated those triple digits,” Serena said. “Now I’ve got to get to single digits.”
STREAKY GULBIS
Ernests Gulbis continued his brilliant play at the Farmers Classic in Los Angeles, California, USA, by besting top-seeded Mardy Fish and winning his second career ATP World Tour title. It was only the second time Gulbis has reached a final; the first time was in February 2010 in Delray Beach, Florida, where he also was victorious. The first Latvian to win at Los Angeles, Gulbis is the first European and the first unseeded player to annex the title since Radek Stepanek in 2007. His victorious run was even more noteworthy considering Gulbis entered the Farmers Classic carrying a five-match losing streak. Three Americans – Fish, Ryan Harrison and Alex Bogomolov Jr. – reached the semifinals for the first time since 2002 when Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick and Jan-Michael Gambill reached the penultimate round.
SMOOTH SAILING
Marion Bartoli of France had smooth sailing to the Bank of the West Classic final, where she fell to Serena Williams. Ranked ninth in the world, Bartoli won her quarterfinal match when Ayumi Morita of Japan withdrew with an ankle injury while trailing 6-1. Bartoli advanced to the title match when her semifinal opponent, eighth-seeded Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia, withdrew with a left abdominal muscle strain. Cibulkova said she had been troubled by the injury all week. “This has never happened to me but there’s not much I can do about it,” Bartoli said. “It’s a shame Dominika had to be put out.”
SINGULAR PERFORMANCE
Aleksandr Dolgopolov of Ukraine won his first ATP World Tour title and handed home favorite Marin Cilic his second defeat of the week at the Croatia Open. It was only the second time the second-seeded Dolgopolov had reached a final. Earlier this year he lost to Nicolas Almagro in Costa do Sauipe, Brazil. “I feel great after winning my first title,” the 22-year-old Dolgopolov said. “I hope more victories are to come.” Cilic lost his serve to open the match and Dolgopolov was in charge most of the way after that. Cilic was the first Croat to reach the Umag final since Goran Prpic defeated compatriot Goran Ivanisevic in 1990. “Dolgopolov was better tonight and deserved to win,” said Cilic, who also was on the losing team in the doubles final.
SHARING THE SPOILS
In just the second time they have teamed up, Simone Bolelli and Fabio Fognini won their first ATP World Tour doubles title, defeating home favorites Marin Cilic and Lovro Zovko 6-3 5-7 10-7 (match tiebreak) in the final of the ATP Studena Croatia Open. The winners squandered three match points when they were up 4-5 15-40 in the second set on Cilic’s serve. In the match tiebreak, the teams were tied 7-7 when Bolelli and Fognini took the first three points for the victory. “Every match was tough … the last three went to a match-tiebreak, so we are happy,” Bolelli said. “This is my second title this year and in my career. The doubles this year has given me a lot of confidence, even for the singles.” With the defeat, Zovko dropped to a 0-5 record in doubles title matches, including his third defeat in Umag.
STARTING OUT
Two players made their ATP World Tour main draw debuts at the Farmers Classic in Los Angeles, California, USA. Both Daniel Kosakowsi, who lives in Los Angeles and Lithuania’s Laurynas Grigelis came through qualifying to gain spots in the main draw. Grigelis lost to Alejandro Falla of Colombia in the opening round, while Kosakowski beat fellow American Tim Smyczek, who also was a qualifier, before losing a second-round match to eventual champion Ernests Gulbis 6-2 6-4.
SINGLED OUT
Tracy Austin, Brad Parks and Pam Shriver are the latest to receive their rings from the International Tennis Hall of Fame. They were presented the rings at the Bank of the West Classic in Stanford, California, USA. The rings are given to honor their induction into the Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island, USA.
Peter Fleming was honored in a special ceremony at the Farmers Classic in Los Angeles, California. Better known for his doubles play, Fleming won the Farmers Classic singles title in 1979 and the doubles crown in 1983. In his career, Fleming won 66 career doubles titles, teaming with John McEnroe to capture four championships at Wimbledon and three at the US Open.
SUSPENDED
The International Tennis Federation (ITF) has banned Robert Kendrick for one year after he tested positive at the French Open for a banned stimulant. The 31-year-old Kendrick said the stimulant got into his system because of a capsule he took to combat jet lag, and denied that he was trying to enhance his performance. The ITF accepted the American’s explanation, but said a player is responsible for any banned substance in his body. The ITF backdated the beginning of Kendrick’s suspension to the date of his test, meaning he will be able to return to tennis on May 21, 2012. Kendrick tested positive for methylhexaneamine, which has been at the center of several doping cases in recent months. Two South African rugby players recently tested positive for the stimulant, while last year a dozen Indian athletes – including wrestlers, weightlifters and swimmers – tested positive for methylhexaneamine just prior to the Commonwealth Games.
SELECTS COACH
Guillermo Canas, who once was ranked in the top 10 in the world, is the new coach of Latvia’s Ernests Gulbis. Canas agreed to work with Gulbis at Wimbledon and also trained him during a three-week mid-summer break. Gulbis returned to tennis by snapping a five-match losing streak when he beat Xavier Malisse in the opening round at Los Angeles. He continued his winning ways, capturing his second WTA World Tour title. Hernan Gurny stepped down as coach for Gulbis to spend more time at home with his family. Canas once was suspended for two years after testing positive for the banned substances, but was acquitted of all charges after taking his case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
SOCK TURNS PRO
Jack Sock, last year’s US Open junior boys champion, has decided to skip college and turn pro. The 18-year-old native of Nebraska went 80-0 in singles competition during his high school career, including four individual state championships and three straight team titles. He signed a multiyear deal with adidas and immediately began training with fellow adidas-backed players Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Juan Monaco. “I feel like I’m ready to turn pro,” said Sock, who was close to joining his older bother Eric on the tennis team at the University of Nebraska. “Ultimately, it was my decision and what I feel like is best for me. It’s sad that I won’t get the chance to play college tennis and won’t be able to see my brother play or be on a team with him one more time, but I just felt like my game was ready.” Sock who turns 19 in September, has played a number of professional events already, but forgoing the money so he could keep his amateur status. “I’ve been playing Futures events for a year and a half now,” Sock said. “I’m used to the competition. The only difference is accepting the money now. It’s no different in terms of the mind-set.”
SCHOLARSHP
Pakistan’s top woman player, Sarah Mahboob Khan, has received an athletic scholarship from the University of New Mexico where she will play tennis. She made history when she became Pakistan’s youngest national tennis champion at the age of 14 and has gone on to win 59 national titles in her country. The university has agreed to allow Khan the freedom to represent Pakistan in Fed Cup competitions.
SISTERS RADWANSKA
Sisters Agnieszka and Urszula Radwanska are no longer coached by their father, Robert. In recent months there had been tension and several arguments between the sisters and their father. “On court he’s still dad and coach, and then sometimes he brings tennis off the court and it’s too much,” Agnieszka said. “That’s why we are trying to have a break.” Into the breech has stepped Poland’s Fed Cup captain Tomasz Wiktorowski, who began working the sisters at the Bank of the West Classic in Los Angeles, California, USA. Agnieszka has not won a WTA title in three years.
SISTERS RODIONOVA
Arina Rodionova has successfully applied for residency in Australia, pending a physical clearance. The younger sister of Anastasia Rodionova, Arina will be able to represent Australia in International Tennis Federation (ITF) events. Two years from now, she will qualify for citizenship. Anastasia is now an Australian citizen after living Down Under with partner Lorne Padman since 2005. The elder sister has represented Australia in both Fed Cup and Commonwealth Games play. The Rodionovas were born in Russia.
SO PERFECT
World TeamTennis history was made when the Washington Kastles completed the first undefeated 16-0 record in the league’s 36 seasons. Because of three rain delays, the Kastles needed nearly eight hours to overpower the St. Louis Aces 23-19 in the WTT Finals in Charleston, South Carolina, USA. Anastasia Rodionova was named the WTT Finals most valuable player after winning her singles and teaming with Rennae Stubbs to capture the doubles. Stubbs made history by becoming only the fourth player in WTT history to be on five championship teams. The others were Martina Navratilova, Richie Reneberg and Craig Kardon, whose fifth title came as coach.
SET FOR A DAY
National Basketball Association star Carmelo Anthony will join with defending champions Rafael Nadal and Kim Clijsters and well as Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic to participate in the annual Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day at the US Open. Also taking park in the tennis and music event on the eve of the year’s final Grand Slam tournament will be former Open champion Andy Roddick. Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day will be held on August 27.
SALUTED
Mark Miles, the former chief executive officer and president of the ATP Tour, will be inducted into the USTA/Midwest Section Hall of Fame in December. Miles, who headed the men’s tour from 1990 to 2005, served as president of the Indianapolis Tennis Championships – formerly known as the RCA Championships – from 1985 to 1989. He also was the volunteer tournament director of the Indianapolis Tennis Championships in 1988 and 1999. The induction ceremony will be held December 3 in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.
SHARED PERFORMANCES
Astana (men): Konstantin Kravchuk and Denys Molchanov beat Arnau Brugues-Davi and Malek Jaziri 7-6 (4) 6-7 (1) 10-3 (match tiebreak)
Astana (women): Vitalia Diatchenko and Galina Voskoboeva beat Akgul Amanmuradov and Alexandra Panova 6-3 6-4
College Park: Sania Mirza and Yaroslava Shvedova beat Olga Govortsova and Alla Kudryavtseva 6-3 6-3
Gstaad: Frantisek Cermak and Filip Polasek beat Christopher Kas and Alexander Peya 6-3 7-6 (7)
Los Angeles: Mark Knowles and Xavier Malisse beat Somdev Devvarman and Treat Huey 7-6 (3) 7-6 (10)
Stanford: Victoria Azarenka and Maria Kirilenko beat Liezel Huber and Lisa Raymond 6-1 6-3
Umag: Simone Bolelli and Fabio Fognini beat Marin Cilic and Lovro Zovko 6-3 5-76 10-7 (match tiebreak)
SURFING
Segovia: www.teniselespinar.com
Kitzbühel: www.bet-at-home-cup.com/de/
Washington: www.leggmasontennisclassic.com/
Vancouver: www.vanopen.com
Carlsbad: www.mercuryinsuranceopen.com/
San Marino: www.atpsanmarino.com
Montreal: www.rogerscup.com/men/english/home.php
Toronto: www.rogerscup.com/women/english/home.php
TOURNAMENTS THIS WEEK
(All money in USD)
MEN
$1,165,500 Legg Mason Tennis Classic, Washington, DC, USA, hard
$563,400 Bet-at-Home Cup, Kitzbühel, Kitzbühel, Austria, clay
$122,323 ATP Open Castiolla y Leon, Segovia, Spain, hard
$100,000 Odlum Brown Van Open Presented by Ivesco, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, hard
WOMEN
$721,000 Mercury Insurance Open, Carlsbad, California, USA, hard
$100,000 Odlum Brown Van Open Presented by Ivesco, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, hard
TOURNAMENTS NEXT WEEK
MEN
$2,430,000 Rogers Cup, Montreal, Canada, hard
$122,323 San Mario CEPU Open, San Marino, clay
WOMEN
$2,050,000 Rogers Cup, Toronto, Canada, hard
