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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

Cilic Routs Nishikori To Win U.S. Open

Cilic Routs Nishikori To Win U.S. Open

New York (AFP) — Marin Cilic clinched his first Grand Slam title, shattering Kei Nishikori’s bid to become the first Asian man to win a major with a 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 victory in the U.S. Open final.

Cilic, the 14th-seeded 25-year-old, becomes the first Croatian man to win a major since Goran Ivanisevic, now his coach, at Wimbledon in 2001.

It also comes 12 months after he was forced to skip the tournament to serve out a controversial doping ban.

Cilic, playing in his 28th Grand Slam event, is the lowest-ranked champion since Pete Sampras, then 17th in the world, claimed the 2002 title in New York.

But victory was well-deserved with Cilic saving eight of nine break points, firing 17 aces and 38 winners past a weary-looking Nishikori who had defeated three top five players to make his maiden major final — Milos Raonic, Stan Wawrinka and world number one Novak Djokovic.

“There has been a lot of hard work in these last few years and especially this last year. I think my team has brought something special to me, especially Goran,” said Cilic who, like Nishikori, was making his debut in a major final.

“We’ve been working really hard but the most important thing that he has brought to me is joy in tennis and always having fun. I enjoyed my best tennis over here and played the best ever in my life.”

Cilic also told his fellow professionals that the likes of Djokovic, Roger Federer and 2013 champion Rafael Nadal, absent this year through injury, can be defeated.

“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,” he said.

Nishikori admitted he had been outplayed.

“Marin was playing really well today, I couldn’t play my tennis. It’s a tough loss but I am happy to get to my first final,” said Nishikori. “But I will get the trophy next time — it was a fun two weeks.”

Monday’s final was the first at a major not to feature either Djokovic, Federer or Nadal since the 2005 Australian Open — so long ago that it was pre-Twitter.

It was also a battle of contrasting styles between the 5ft 10in (1.78m), 150lbs (68kg) Nishikori and the bigger, heavier 6ft 6in (1.98m), 180lbs (82kg) Cilic who had knocked out five-time champion Federer in the semi-finals.

– Cool conditions –

Under overcast skies and on the coolest day of a two-week tournament marked by punishing heat and high humidity, the championship match began inside a half-full Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Once he had saved a break point in the first game, Cilic was comfortably the dominant player breaking for 4-2 and claiming the opening set in 33 low-key minutes when Nishikori, on the defensive and pinned behind the baseline, patted a meek backhand into the net.

The big Croat’s 11 winners to the Japanese’s two illustrated the one-sided nature of the contest.

The winner of 20 of the previous 21 men’s finals in New York had claimed the first set.

However, Nishikori had dropped the opener to both Raonic and Wawrinka in the fourth round and quarter-finals but still came out on top.

Cilic, finding the tightest angles, pounced again in the third game of the second set when his opponent sliced another apologetic backhand into the net.

He backed it up for 3-1 after Nishikori was unable to convert two break points.

Four successive aces helped Cilic to 4-2 which was soon 5-2 as he clinched his third break of the final.

Nishikori briefly rallied for a first break of the match but Cilic went to set point courtesy of a misdirected overhead by the 10th seed and sealed it 6-3 with a pinpoint forehand drive which found the corner.

The 24-year-old Japanese player, who had spent more than 16 hours on court to make the final, cracked again to fall 1-3 down in the third set off a wild, wide backhand.

Cilic then saved three more break points for a 5-2 lead before Nishikori clung on with a hold.

Moments later, it was all over as Cilic went effortlessly to three match points.

He double-faulted on the first but claimed the title after one hour 54 minutes with a sweet backhand crosscourt.

AFP Photo/Stan Honda

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Williams Downs Wozniacki For Sixth U.S. Open Title

Williams Downs Wozniacki For Sixth U.S. Open Title

New York (AFP) — World number one Serena Williams won her 18th Grand Slam title at last, overpowering Caroline Wozniacki 6-3, 6-3 on Sunday to capture her sixth U.S. Open crown.

The world number one, shut out in the first three majors of the year, ended a year of waiting as she joined Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova on 18 majors — trailing only the 22 of Steffi Graf on the Open era list and six behind the all-time record held by Margaret Court.

Williams, who turns 33 later this month, said the goal of an 18th Grand Slam had hung over her “because I was joining Chrissy and Martina, someone I never thought me, Serena Williams, would be in that name group.

“Who am I?” said Williams, who grinned with delight as Evert and Navratilova presented her with a gold bracelet bearing an “18” charm.

“I never thought you would mention my name with such greats and legends.”

Williams lifted the trophy at Flushing Meadows for the third straight year, joining Evert as the only woman in the Open era to win three titles in a row, and matching Evert’s six U.S. Open triumphs.

She also offered words of encouragement to her beaten foe, her friend and confidant as both endured difficult months this year.

“Congratulations to Caroline, she knows the struggles I have had,” Williams said, adding to her friend: “You will win a Grand Slam title soon.”

But former world number one Wozniacki, owner of 22 WTA titles, still has that gaping hole on her resume.

The Dane was just 19 when she lost to Kim Clijsters in the 2009 U.S. Open final, and she hadn’t returned to a Grand Slam title match until Sunday.

With so much on the line for each woman, the first set was a tense affair with few fireworks.

After saving a break point in the first game with an ace, Williams made Wozniacki pay for a tight first service game, in which the Dane double faulted twice.

Williams seized the break and a 2-0 lead with a pair of stinging service returns.

“I was a little nervous going out there,” said Wozniacki, who found the noise in Arthur Ashe Stadium “overwhelming.”

“I just wanted to get a good start. I knew that against Serena, you have to have a good start, otherwise she starts going in and being even more aggressive. You know, you’re kind of done.”

Williams didn’t run off with it right away, but a run of five service breaks ended with the American holding for a 5-2 lead, heaping the pressure on Wozniacki to hold for the first time.

She did, fending off one break point to force Williams to serve it out.

With a set in hand, Williams was moving more freely. Even luck wasn’t going Wozniacki’s way, as a net cord bounce in Williams’ favor ended a 20-shot rally to give the American a break chance in the first game of the second — which she promptly converted.

– So much on the line –

Wozniacki’s vaunted defensive skills were on full display in the second set as she doggedly ran down balls, but she couldn’t match Williams’ power and ability to conjure winners from all areas of the court.

Williams finished with 29 winners to Wozniacki’s four, belting a forehand to give herself match point.

That was the first moment she felt sure of victory, Williams said.

“Other than that I was really tight and nervous the whole match,” said Williams, who didn’t drop a set in the tournament. “There was so much on the line.”

When Wozniacki’s last backhand went long, Williams dropped to her back onthe court, covering her face with her hands.

“I just felt so good,” she said.

Williams began the year boldly, with the possibility of achieving a rare calendar Grand Slam talked up by her coach Patrick Mouratoglou before the Australian Open in January.

That dream ended with a fourth-round exit at Melbourne.

An embarrassing second-round exit at Roland Garros was followed by a third-round departure at Wimbledon — where she also looked weak and disoriented in a bizarre exit from doubles.

Since then Williams had gone from strength to strength, winning two US hardcourt titles in the run-up to the Open.

Her strong showing on the hardcourts of America meant she claimed a $4 million jackpot on Sunday — $3 million for winning the title and a $1 million bonus as the winner of the U.S. Open Series points race.

“I think through this whole tournament I was really calm,” Williams said. “I practiced so hard. Not just this week, but for like six months. I think it’s now showing.”

AFP Photo/Stan Honda

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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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