Third seeded Novak Djokovic outsed world #10 Stanislas Wawrinka 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 for his fourth career Masters Series title, and 10th ATP championship. The Serbian is now 10-3 in career finals and leads the world with two Masters Series titles in 2008 - as he won Indian Wells earlier this season. Novak is 25-5 on the year, and has proven that he can win on any surface. Also, congratulations to Mike and Bob Bryan for winning their third title of the year.
WHAT THE PLAYERS SAID
Djokovic: “I tried to stay focused all the time, because the role of the favorite in these kind of big matches is not easy to cope with, you know. I didn't think that I'm going to play in the finals against a player who's unseeded, but obviously he deserved to be there. He showed his quality."
“I've been very satisfied so far, and that's what I will try to keep on doing. You know, being consistent on the major events with the results and, you know, that's the important thing if I really want to stay on the top."
“I'm very happy that I managed to win a major in this surface, because now I have more confidence approaching the big events on this surface, and on other surfaces as well. So this year has been like a dream for me, but I want to continue. I want to finish the year as the No. 1 on the race."
Wawrinka: "I was starting very well. The first set I was playing very well the first set. I was always before him; I was pushing him. But I think it change his game and he was coming more in at the net. In the second and the third set he was serving very well, too.”
(On his rankings leap): “I'm a little surprised, because in one week playing the final in Masters Series, and to be 44 and then Top 10 after the week is a big jump for me."
Singles – Semifinals
[3] N Djokovic (SRA) d R Stepanek (CZE) 60 10 ret. (heat exhaustion)
S Wawrinka (SUI) d [6] A Roddick (USA) 30 ret. (back)
Doubles – Semifinals
[1] B Bryan (
[2] D Nestor (CAN) /
STADIO PIETRANGELI start 2:45 pm
[3] N Djokovic (SRB) vs S Wawrinka (SUI)
[1] B Bryan (USA) / M Bryan (USA) vs [2] D Nestor (CAN) / N Zimonjic (SRB)
Singles – Semifinals
[3] N Djokovic (SRA) d R Stepanek (CZE) 60 10 ret. (heat exhaustion)
S Wawrinka (SUI) d [6] A Roddick (USA) 30 ret. (back)
Doubles – Semifinals
[1] B Bryan (
[2] D Nestor (CAN) /
STADIO PIETRANGELI start 2:45 pm
[3] N Djokovic (SRB) vs S Wawrinka (SUI)
[1] B Bryan (USA) / M Bryan (USA) vs [2] D Nestor (CAN) / N Zimonjic (SRB)
We have already seen a number of "wacky" results on the men's ATP Tour, but this afternoon the ladies side saw two of it's brightest stars knocked out of the Berlin Quarterfinals. Serena Williams and Jelena Jankovic both bit the dust at the hands of Dinara Safina and Elena Dementieva respectively. This is ultimately why players take part in these warm up events, to prevent such upsets on the Grand Slam stage. Needless to say, the losses will serve as a wake up call for Williams and Jankovic. Here are today's results in full:
Results - Friday, May 9, 2008
Singles - Quarterfinals
(7) Elena Dementieva (RUS) d. (4) Jelena Jankovic (SRB) 63 26 63
(13) Dinara Safina (RUS) d. (5) Serena Williams (USA) 26 61 76(5)
Victoria Azarenka (BLR) d. (15) Alona Bondarenko (UKR) 76(2) 62
Suspended due to darkness
(2) Ana Ivanovic (SRB) is tied with (10) Agnes Szavay (HUN) 36 64
Doubles - Quarterfinals
(1) Black/Huber (ZIM/USA) d. Peng/T.Sun (CHN/CHN) 76(4) 64
(2) Peschke/Stubbs (CZE/AUS) d. (6) Safina/Vesnina (RUS/RUS) 46 63 108 (Match TB)
(4) Azarenka/Peer (BLR/ISR) d. (5) Bondarenko/Bondarenko (UKR/UKR) 61 75
Order of Play - Saturday, May 10, 2008
Steffi Graf Stadium (from 11.00hrs)
1. Szavay vs. Ivanovic (tbc)
2. Safina vs. Azarenka (NB 13.00hrs)
3. Dementieva vs. [Szavay or Ivanovic]
4. Black/Huber vs. Azarenka/Peer
Court 1 (from 13.00hrs)
1. Llagostera Vives/Martínez Sánchez vs. Peschke/Stubbs
So Rafael Nadal finally lost his second clay court match after 105 consecutive battles; am I the only person who isn't surprised about this?! Juan Carlos Ferrero is a former French Open champion, he's a veteran, and one of the quickest players in the history of the sport. There are no excuses in pro tennis, either win or go home, but the fact remains that Rafa is still tired from a grueling
“Today when I woke up, I said it was impossible to play,” Nadal said. “I spoke to the doctor today and yesterday, and they put special protection on it and cream, but it was still tough.”
I wrote about the flaws in the ATP schedule during the Davis Cup, and will mention it again; players need more of an off season in order to be fully prepared for the intensive summer Grand Slams. Nadal is already feeling the beating, it's hard to imagine that he'll be able to sustain any sort of physical health after Roland Garros and
“The calendar is impossible.” Said the world #2 from
Here's a piece of advice for Nadal: take a full week off from competition, get the blister totally healed, and get fully focused/recharged for Roland Garros in two weeks. Winning
Three time defending champion Rafael Nadal is making a strong run for another Barcelona crown. Last week's Monte-Carlo title seems to have officially gotten the world #2 on track in 2008. Rafa will be facing his fellow Spaniard David Ferrer, which will be quite a baseline battle. Ferrer has solid results against Nadal on hard courts, including a US Open win at last year's Flushing Meadows event, but on clay, Rafa will be in good standing.
Singles – Semifinals
[1] R Nadal (ESP) d D Gremelmayr (GER) 61 60
[2] D Ferrer (ESP) d [14] S Wawrinka (SUI) 76(8) 63
Doubles – Semifinals
[1] B Bryan (USA) / M Bryan (USA) d F Lopez (ESP) / F Verdasco (ESP) 26 76(5) 10-4
[7] M Fyrstenberg (POL) / M Matkowski (POL) d [4] S Aspelin (SWE) / J Knowle (AUT) 61 76(5)
ORDER OF PLAY – SUNDAY, MAY 4, 2008
CENTRAL start 1:00 pm
[1] B Bryan (USA) / M Bryan (USA) vs [7] M Fyrstenberg (POL) / M Matkowski (POL)
Not Before 3:45 PM
[1] R Nadal (ESP) vs [2] D Ferrer (ESP)
About this blog
Harry Cicma tackles the hot topics in tennis, sharing his insight on the favorites, tournament news and players to watch. Harry was ranked for three years on the ATP Tour doubles circuit and played four years of NCAA Division-I tennis at Rutgers University. He now covers all sports as a TV producer/anchor on NBC in Southern New England.