Tag: roger federer
Djokovic Shatters Federer Dream To Win Third Wimbledon

Djokovic Shatters Federer Dream To Win Third Wimbledon

By Dave James, AFP

London — Defending champion Novak Djokovic won a third Wimbledon title and a ninth Grand Slam crown on Sunday, ruthlessly shattering Roger Federer’s bid for a record eighth All England Club triumph.

World number one Djokovic won 7-6 (7/1), 6-7 (10/12), 6-4, 6-3 to add this year’s Wimbledon title to the Australian Open he captured in January. It was a cathartic moment for Djokovic just a month after his heartbreaking French Open final defeat against Stan Wawrinka — a loss that denied him the only major title he has yet to win.

“It’s a big challenge playing against Roger. A lot of players of my generation have looked up to him and followed his lead,” said Djokovic who now has the same number of Wimbledon titles as coach Boris Becker who won his first 30 years ago.

“I knew coming on the court that Roger is going to play like he always plays, at his best when it matters the most. He makes you work hard every single point.”

For 33-year-old Federer, it was a bitterly disappointing end to his bid to become the oldest Wimbledon champion of the Open Era. The 17-time major winner has now gone three years since his last Grand Slam triumph, at Wimbledon in 2012.

“Novak played not only good today but the whole two weeks, the whole year, last year and the year before that,” said Federer.

“I had my chances in the first set. I got lucky to win the second, had chances in the third.

“But he was better on the bigger points. He was rock solid, I didn’t play badly myself. That’s how it goes.”

Federer had his opportunities but he could only convert one of seven break points in the match and as he pressed, he committed 35 unforced errors to Djokovic’s 16.

In a rollercoaster rematch of last year’s final, Federer was 4-2 up in the first set and had two set points. He then had to save seven set points in the second set before bravely leveling the contest.

However, Djokovic, five years Federer’s junior, stepped on the gas and raced away to the title. Sunday’s final was the pair’s 40th career meeting and 12th in the Grand Slams. Djokovic was playing in his 17th major final compared to Federer’s 26th.

Seven Set Points

But despite Federer’s majestic triumph over Andy Murray in the semi-finals, which suggested he was not ready for the retirement home just yet, Sunday’s reality check looks certain to leave the Swiss thwarted in his quest to add to his record 17 Grand Slam title collection.

In front of a Royal Box crammed with tennis and Hollywood A-listers, including Bjorn Borg, Rod Laver, Benedict Cumberbatch, Hugh Grant, and Bradley Cooper, Federer was in the early ascendancy.

He broke for a 4-2 lead but Djokovic hit straight back condemning the Swiss to just his second lost service game in 94 served up at the tournament. Federer then saw two set points disappear in the 12th game, both saved courtesy of back-to-back 120-mph serves.

Djokovic capitalized on his escape, racing through the tiebreaker with six consecutive points to claim the opener when Federer served up a double fault. The Serb committed just three unforced errors in the first set, a key statistic in what would always be a tight encounter. By contrast, Federer hit 11, the same as he suffered throughout his semi-final win over Murray.

Federer wasted two break points in the fifth and 11th games of the second set having saved a first set point in the 10th. That paved the way for a titanic tiebreak where the 33-year-old saved six more set points before leveling the final on his second set point.

At 12/10, it was the longest tiebreak in a Wimbledon final since 2000 when Pat Rafter faced Pete Sampras with the set taking 65 gripping minutes to complete. To his credit, Djokovic swiftly recovered, breaking for a 2-1 lead in the third set which became 3-2 when rain forced them off for 20 minutes.

The world No. 1 confidently wrapped up the set 6-4 with just two unforced errors even if the brief stoppage had dampened the fireworks of the second set. Djokovic was strangling the life out of Federer’s game and another break gave him a 3-2 lead in the fourth set.

The title was his on the stroke of the third hour with a sweeping forehand into an open court. As has become the Serb’s tradition, he celebrated by pulling out a piece of Centre Court grass and eating it.

Photo: Serbia’s Novak Djokovic celebrates beating Switzerland’s Roger Federer during their men’s singles final match at Wimbledon on July 12, 2015. AFP/Adrian Dennis

Federer In Great Escape, Sets-up Cilic US Open Semi-Final Duel

Federer In Great Escape, Sets-up Cilic US Open Semi-Final Duel

New York (AFP) — Roger Federer saved two match points to defeat Gael Monfils 4-6, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5, 6-2 and reach his ninth U.S. Open semi-final, keeping alive his dream of a sixth title.

The 33-year-old Swiss second seed, bidding to become the oldest winner of a Grand Slam title in more than 40 years, was staring down the barrel of a demoralising exit when French 20th seed Monfils had two match points in the 10th game of the fourth set.

But once they were saved, the lifeblood was suddenly sucked out of the flamboyant but unpredictable 28-year-old Frenchman whose notoriously fickle stamina failed him in a one-sided fifth set.

The victory was Federer’s 26th in 27 night-time matches in New York and put him just one win away from a career 600 victories on hard courts, a landmark he can reach if he defeats Marin Cilic to make the final.

Croatian 14th seed Cilic toppled sixth-seeded Czech Tomas Berdych 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) earlier Thursday to reach his first U.S. Open semi-final.

Federer’s win was his ninth from two sets to love down and first at a major since he had to engineer a similar Houdini act against another Frenchman, Julien Benneteau, at Wimbledon in 2012 on his way to his 17th and most recent major title.

“Gael played great tennis but even when I was two sets down I knew the finish line was still far away for him,” said Federer after the three-hour 20-minute duel put him in his first semi-final since 2011.

“I knew I could play better tennis but on match point I wasn’t feeling so great anymore. I just thought this could be the last point, don’t give it away on an easy shot, make him work for it.”

– Lost composure –

As Monfils opened-up a two-set lead, Federer was in danger of falling to pieces with two uncharacteristic losses of his famed composure when he berated umpire Carlos Ramos and smashed his racquet on the net.

But eventually it was Monfils, playing in his first U.S. Open quarter-final since 2010, who suffered the most serious power loss with his failure to convert his two match points in the 10th game of the fourth set leading to a brief final set which saw Federer sweep to victory.

Monfils shrugged off his two missed match points.

“I think he hit two big serves, a good forehand volley and then a good forehand down the line. I did my best, so it was okay,” he said.

Cilic, who missed last year’s U.S. Open as he sat out a doping ban, pounded 19 aces past Berdych, recovering an early break in the third to force the tiebreaker.

“It was very tricky with the conditions,” Cilic said.

“Very gusty — for both of us. We are big guys, it’s not easy to deal with the wind and the ball moving in the air. I felt that I was using the wind a bit better today.”

Cilic has matched his best Grand Slam performance — a semi-final run at Australia in 2010.

“I had tough times the last couple of years and I’m really happy that things are working out with my team,” he said.

Berdych, a semi-finalist in 2012, said he served “horribly” nor could he make many inroads on Cilic’s.

“Today was definitely not the day I wanted to have,” Berdych said.

AFP Photo

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Federer Set For U.S. Open Test Against Eccentric Monfils

Federer Set For U.S. Open Test Against Eccentric Monfils

New York (AFP) — In-form Roger Federer faces a searching test of his title credentials against unpredictable Frenchman Gael Monfils in the U.S. Open quarter-finals on Thursday as he chases a sixth title at Flushing Meadows.

The Swiss 17-time major winner leads Monfils 7-2 in career meetings, including victory in their most recent clash in Cincinnati last month.

But 33-year-old Federer, who has not won a Grand Slam since Wimbledon in 2012, is aware that Monfils can be a dangerous opponent.

“It was a tough three-setter in Cincinnati,” said Federer, referring to his clash with Monfils, which he won in three sets. The Swiss world number three went on to win the tournament, his third title of 2014.

“Gael has been playing some great tennis, he’s always very entertaining. I’m sure we’ll see lots of retrieving by him and attacking by me.”

Second seed Federer reached his 10th U.S. Open quarter-final in the past 11 years with a comfortable 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 win over Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut on Tuesday.

Monfils, the 20th seed, made it to his second New York last-eight with a hard-fought 7-5, 7-6 (8/6), 7-5 success against seventh-seeded Grigor Dimitrov.

“For me tennis is a sport. It’s not a job,” said the 28-year-old when asked why he gave up a point to Dimitrov, making no effort to get ball over the net.

“Sometimes if I’m fed up, I just leave it. For me, it’s like, you know, don’t give a shit.”

That easy-going demeanor has often been used by his critics as evidence of unwillingness to put in the hard yards.

For the past 18 months or so, Monfils hasn’t even bothered with a coach.

“It’s better to have someone to help you. I need it. But that person has to be good, first of all, but has to be hard and also understand my personality. Because I don’t think I’m easy, but I think I’m quite a good worker,” said Monfils.

Federer, the oldest U.S. Open quarter-finalist at Flushing Meadows since Agassi (35) reached the final in 2005, has won all three previous Grand Slam meetings against Monfils, all at Roland Garros.

In Thursday’s other quarter-final action in the bottom half of the draw, sixth seed Tomas Berdych takes on 14th seed Marin Cilic.

Top seed Novak Djokovic on Wednesday advanced to his eighth consecutive U.S. Open semi-final, where he will play Japan’s Kei Nishikori.

AFP Photo/Peter Parks

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Nishikori Upsets Federer, Djokovic Ousts Murray

Nishikori Upsets Federer, Djokovic Ousts Murray

Miami (AFP) – Novak Djokovic eliminated defending champ Andy Murray in straight sets and fifth seed Roger Federer was sent crashing out of the ATP Tour’s Miami Masters tournament in the quarter-finals.

Federer lost 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 to Japanese 20th seed Kei Nishikori who booked a semi-final showdown with former world number one Djokovic, who defeated Murray 7-5, 6-3 on the hardcourts at Crandon Park.

“Kei did well to stay with me and not allow me to hold my serve,” Federer said on Wednesday. “He was more consistent in the second and third set and those are the ones he won. At the end it’s his credit.”

Nishikori reached his second Masters semi and first in two and a half years by winning the two hour, nine minute night match.

“I thought I really played well, especially in the third,” Nishikori said. “I was hitting both deep and striking well. Everything was going well.”

“There was couple of tough moments, but I was fighting through and happy to win today.”

Nishikori next faces Djokovic, who is going for back-to-back Masters titles after his triumph at Indian Wells.

They split their only two previous matches with Djokovic winning 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 at Roland Garros in 2010. They also played on the hardcourts three years ago in Switzerland where Nishikori won in three sets, 2-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-0.

Nishikori blasted six aces and won 64 percent of his first serve points against Federer. He has now won two of three career meetings against Federer. He also won their last encounter on clay in Madrid in 2013, 6-4, 1-6, 6-2.

Nishikori was broken twice in the second set but managed to break right back. He tried to take advantage of Federer’s poor serving on Wednesday.

“He wasn’t making a lot of first serves today,” Nishikori said. “Maybe because of the wind.”

“I was trying to step in his second serve, and my return was going well. That was the key for the game today.”

Federer, the recent Dubai champion, has previously won in Miami in 2005 and 2006. He had three double faults and seven aces against Nishikori.

The 26-year-old Serbian Djokovic recovered from an early break in the second set to notch the victory in one hour and 29 minutes.

It was the first meeting between the two since Murray defeated Djokovic in the Wimbledon final.

“I tried to move him around, change the pace of the ball, mix it up with the slice, with different depth, angles and just stay tough out there,” Djokovic said.

The second seeded Djokovic also won this title in 2011 and 2007. He was runner-up in 2009.

Djokovic hammered seven aces and broke Murray three times and is now 12-8 lifetime against Murray, including a 3-1 record in Miami.

Djokovic settled into the match quickly, and when he did lose his concentration, he used his strong serve to rescue the points.

In the second set, Murray broke Djokovic in the fifth game to take a 3-2 lead. In the next game he double faulted twice and Djokovic went on to win four straight games to wrap up his ninth consecutive win.

Murray, who underwent back surgery on September 23, struggled for consistency sometimes on his backhand in the windy conditions. Other times, he moved well enough to keep Djokovic on his back foot.

“I had many opportunities today like 30-all games and love/30s on his serve, and I didn’t serve so well when I went ahead in the second set,” said Murray.

“I would have liked to have done that better, but I was hitting the ball better from the back of the court. I was playing aggressive. I was taking the ball early. I was trying to come forward a bit. My game is not far from where I want it to be.”

©afp.com/Al Bello