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US Open 2016: Angelique Kerber beats Karolina Pliskova in final

  • Posted: Sep 11, 2016

Germany’s Angelique Kerber backed up her status as the new world number one with a thrilling win over Czech Karolina Pliskova in the US Open final.

Kerber, 28, won 6-3 4-6 6-4 in New York to add the US Open to her victory at the Australian Open in January.

Pliskova’s semi-final win over Serena Williams had already ensured the German will top the new rankings on Monday.

“All my dreams came true today and I’m just trying to enjoy the moment,” said Kerber.

“It’s incredible. I’m standing here with a second Grand Slam trophy and it means so much to me.”

  • Women’s final as it happened

Kerber was appearing in her third Grand Slam final of 2016, and the German played with the authority of a world number one in waiting.

Pliskova, 24, went into the final with a WTA Tour-leading 447 aces this year and on an 11-match winning streak that included victory over Kerber in last month’s Cincinnati final.

The Czech had never been past the third round of a major before this tournament and made 17 unforced errors in the first set, but fought back with 17 winners in the second before powering 3-1 ahead in the decider.

It looked as though Kerber’s athleticism and defensive skills would not be enough, but the German levelled at 3-3 and then roared as a blistering forehand winner helped her move ahead once again.

At 4-4 in the final set it came down to a test of nerve, and Kerber’s was rock solid as she held impressively before Pliskova fell 0-40 behind and blazed a forehand wide on match point.

“It’s always tough to play against her,” said Kerber. “I was trying to stay in the moment, be aggressive, I was just trying to enjoy the final. It’s an amazing stadium.

“It means a lot to me. When I was a kid, I was always dreaming to be the number one player in the world and to win Grand Slams, and today’s the day.”

Pliskova said: “I found out I can play my best tennis on the big stages. She proved she’s the world number one. I knew it was going to be difficult, but I found myself some power in the second set.”

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Fans React To Wawrinka SF Victory At US Open 2016

  • Posted: Sep 10, 2016

Fans React To Wawrinka SF Victory At US Open 2016

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Jamie Murray & Soares win US Open doubles title

  • Posted: Sep 10, 2016

Jamie Murray became the first British man for 44 years to win the US Open doubles title as he and Brazil’s Bruno Soares dominated the final in New York.

Murray and Soares, seeded fourth, beat Spain’s unseeded Pablo Carreno Busta and Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 6-2 6-3.

It gives Murray and Soares a second major title after they won their first Grand Slam together at the Australian Open in January.

Scot Murray, 30, also held the number one ranking earlier this year.

Murray is the first British man to win the US Open doubles title since Roger Taylor, alongside South African Cliff Drysdale, in 1972, while Soares, 34, becomes the first Brazilian to win more than one Grand Slam doubles title.

“These tournaments are the hardest to win,” said Murray, who also won the Wimbledon mixed doubles title in 2007.

“I’ve got a great partner in Bruno who makes a lot of returns for me and long may it continue.”

Murray and Soares went into the final in confident mood after beating defending champions and top seeds Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut in the semi-finals, and they outclassed surprise finalists Carreno Busta and Garcia-Lopez.

The Spaniards broke serve in the opening game but Murray and Soares levelled immediately and went on a run of seven straight games to take a grip on the contest.

There was some concern for Murray when he called the trainer to work on his neck midway through the first set, but it did not have any visible effect on his performance.

An interception volley at the net by the British Davis Cup winner earned an early break in the second set and, with Soares dictating matters from the back of the court, they left little for Carreno Busta and Garcia-Lopez to attack.

Murray had failed to serve out the match at this year’s Australian Open, but he showed no nerves this time as he wrapped up victory after only 78 minutes.

“I am glad we got together,” said Soares. “It is our first season. To win in Australia and here is extremely special.”

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Roger Reflects Part VI: For The Love Of The Game

  • Posted: Sep 10, 2016

Roger Reflects Part VI: For The Love Of The Game

Swiss reveals why his passion for tennis is as strong as ever

In the sixth and final part of a special series of interviews with Roger Federer in Switzerland, the 35 year old discusses his burgeoning love for the game.

Federer reveals that it is this passion that makes him more determined and hungry to return to the ATP World Tour, as he looks forward to resuming his career at the start of the 2017 season.

You May Also Like: Roger Reflects Part V: A Very Big Decision

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Rips Happen! Novak On A Tear At US Open

  • Posted: Sep 10, 2016

Rips Happen! Novak On A Tear At US Open

The top seed rips his shirt, then moves into his seventh US Open final

There are competitive tennis players, and then there’s Novak Djokovic.

During his semi-final match on Friday at the US Open, Djokovic was leading Gael Monfils two sets to love. But the top seed had just lost three consecutive break points. So upset was Djokovic that he ripped his shirt.

“These things happen,” he said. “Sometimes you’ll see a thrown racquet here and there, a ripped shirt. It’s all in the heat of the battle.”

Djokovic would go on to beat Monfils 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 to advance to his seventh US Open final. But when he ripped his shirt, the match didn’t look so promising.

Monfils was serving at 5-3 in the third set and had momentum. The Frenchman had fallen behind 0/40 but climbed back to deuce. After he won the deuce point to gain the advantage, Djokovic, furious about the missed chances, ripped away.

“I can’t blame Uniqlo for that shirt,” he said of his clothing sponsor. “The quality is very good, by the way.”

The Serbian ripped his shirt a little and then tore away at the Uniqlo polo, exposing his chest to the humid air in Arthur Ashe Stadium. “I did rip it once, and then the second time just got out of hand,” he said. “But, you know, it felt nice, because my body could breathe a little bit more.”

Djokovic, a two-time US Open champion (2011, 2015), will face Stan Wawrinka in Sunday’s final. It will mark the third time the two have met in Flushing Meadows. Djokovic won both prior meetings in New York and leads their FedEx ATP Head2Head series 19-4. But the third-seeded Wawrinka won their only previous meeting in a Grand Slam tournament final, 2015 Roland Garros.

So whatever happened to Djokovic’s shirt? Did it land in the garbage?

“I guess so,” he said. “I haven’t seen it ever since.”

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Fans' Take: Will Novak Defend Title, One Day Pass Roger?

  • Posted: Sep 10, 2016

Fans' Take: Will Novak Defend Title, One Day Pass Roger?

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Murray/Soares And Spaniards Vie For US Open Crown

  • Posted: Sep 10, 2016

Murray/Soares And Spaniards Vie For US Open Crown

Fourth seeds aim for second Grand Slam doubles title this season

A new team will be crowned US Open champion on Saturday when fourth seeds Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares square off against unseeded Pablo Carreno Busta and Guillermo Garcia-Lopez.

For the British-Brazilian pairing, it will be an attempt at a second Grand Slam doubles title of the season after winning the Australian Open. Murray/Soares saw off defending champions Nicolas Mahut and Pierre-Hugues Herbert in the semi-finals and should they triumph in the final, they would become the first team to win multiple Grand Slam titles in a season since Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan won three in 2013.

The Brit/Brazilian duo, who started playing together this season, won the first Grand Slam tournament they played, the 2016 Australian Open. But they lost in the third round  at Roland Garros and fell in the quarter-finals at Wimbledon.

Both have contested finals in New York before, however. Murray finished runner-up at Flushing Meadows last year (w/Peers) while Soares fell in the 2013 final (w/Peya). The Brazilian had previously tasted US Open success with mixed doubles titles in 2012 and 2014.

Their opponents, Spaniards Carreno Busta and Garcia-Lopez, have never progressed past the third round in a Grand Slam tournament. Coming into the US Open, they were 0-2 as a team this season (10-10 lifetime), although both had carried form over from the US hard-court swing. 

Carreno Busta won his first ATP World Tour singles title and Garcia-Lopez won the doubles trophy at Winston-Salem. It would cap a strong turnaround for Garcia-Lopez, who started the season 0-11 in doubles before reaching the semi-finals in Atlanta last month.

Carreno Busta/Garcia Lopez become the first unseeded duo to reach the US Open final since 2000 when Lleyton Hewitt and Max Mirnyi captured the title (d. E. Ferreira/R. Leach).

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Djokovic's Life To Become A Reality

  • Posted: Sep 10, 2016

Djokovic's Life To Become A Reality

Serbian to bring his private life to the small screen

Novak Djokovic is getting real.

The World No. 1 will star in a new documentary series about himself, set to air exclusively on Amazon Prime, it was announced Friday. The reality series, which will follow the Serbian on and off court, will be available in the United States, United Kingdom, Austria and Japan in 2017.

“My fans have been suffering and celebrating with me from the very beginning of my career on the tennis courts,” Djokovic said in a statement. “Now I want to share with them all my daily life and what’s important to me – my values, my beliefs, and my habits – and also introduce to them all the amazing people that are always next to me.”

You May Also Like: Djokovic Reaches Seventh US Open Final

 

“Novak” (working title), to be co-executive produced by former tennis player Boris Kodjoe, will reveal a behind-the-scenes look at Djokovic’s life. Based on a concept by Alberto Scarpetta and Djokovic, the series will explore his mental and fitness routines and meticulous dietary habits. It will also cover his personal life, including trips to his hometown of Belgrade, Serbia, and his work with the Novak Djokovic Foundation for early-childhood education and with charities such as UNICEF.

Moet and Chandon off-court news 

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Monfils Falls Short In First US Open SF

  • Posted: Sep 10, 2016

Monfils Falls Short In First US Open SF

French 10th seed bows out against defending champion

A sweltering New York summer’s day and an opponent now undefeated in 13 FedEx ATP Head2Head encounters combined to put an end to Gael Monfils’ hopes of reaching a maiden Grand Slam final on Friday. The flashy Frenchman fell 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 to top seed Novak Djokovic on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

“At the beginning I think Novak was playing good,” the 10th seed said. “I didn’t serve great. It was very quickly 5-0. I had to change a little bit … Why stay and lose 6-0 and not change anything? Definitely, I try to get in his head … try to create something new for him to see.

“When the guy is too good, playing clean and you’re playing … not that good you need to change … I almost get back in the first set.”

You May Also Like: Djokovic Reaches Seventh US Open Final

Monfils, who had reached the semi-finals without conceding a set, managed to lift to take the third set as both players struggled under the oppressive humidity. It was momentary reprieve as Djokovic would prove the steadier of the two in the end.

“I think it was hot and humid, but somehow I think also at one moment of the game it was very physical; was good rallies,” Monfils said of the topsy-turvy affair. “Whenever it’s like that it’s never easy to recover quick, like 25 seconds.”

It was only Monfils’ second run to a Grand Slam semi-final after he fell at the same stage at Roland Garros in 2008 (l. Federer). On top of claiming his biggest ATP World Tour title to date at the Citi Open in Washington, D.C, leading in, he ensured he would crack the Top 10 in the Emirates ATP Rankings for the first time since 2011, rising to No. 8. His best result at Flushing Meadows puts him well on track to qualify for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals where he currently sits at No. 6.

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