August 2009 Archives

Weather pending, the US Open is set to begin opening round play on Monday; much to the delight of us tennis fans.  This is by far the best time of year for us, and the time when our sports truly shines on the International spotlight.  Unfortunately, Rafael Nadal isn't in great shape, leading into the event, but he could pull off a magical run, deep into the second week.  All signs are leading to a Federer repeat victory, but ONE stat is leading me to believe that he could get upset:  His loss to Jo Wilfried Tsonga 2 weeks ago.  Fed was up two breaks and 5-1 in the third set, only to lose to the big hitting Frenchman.  This proves that Roger is still vulnerable, and players such as Murray, Roddick, Tsonga and Del Potro have more than enough fire power to record an upset.  Can't wait for the action!  I'll be there the whole two weeks, announcing on World Feed for the USTA, so stay tuned for reports from Flushing Meadows.  GO TENNIS,  HC

A reliable source told me that Todd Martin may start coaching Novak Djokovic soon.  Stay tuned.

Harry C.

Federer continues to dominate on hard courts

RESULTS - SUNDAY, 23 AUGUST, 2009

Singles - Final
[1] R Federer (SUI) d [4] N Djokovic (SRB) 61 75

Doubles - Final
[2] D Nestor (CAN) / N Zimonjic (SRB) d [1] B Bryan (USA) / M Bryan (USA) 36 76(2) 15-13 - Saved 8 M.P.


FINAL REVIEW - FEDERER WINS 16TH ATP WORLD TOUR MASTERS 1000 TITLE

• Top-seeded Swiss Roger Federer captured his fourth ATP World Tour title of the year and his third trophy at Western & Southern Financial Group Masters in Cincinnati on Sunday, after defeating fourth seed Novak Djokovic 6-2, 7-5 in one hour and 31 minutes. It was Federer's eighth win in 12 meetings against Djokovic, but his first win against the Serbian since the 2008 US Open.
• Federer, who has already qualified for the prestigious Barclays ATP World Tour Finals at London in November, collected $443,500 and 1000 South African Airways 2009 ATP Rankings points. World No. 4 Djokovic further strengthened his chances of qualifying for the season climax, earning $222,000 and 600 rankings points at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 hard-court tennis tournament.
• The 28-year-old Federer is the fourth player to win at least three titles at the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters in the Open Era (since 1968). He has now won 16 ATP World Tour Masters 1000 titles (16-9 overall), second only to Andre Agassi's 17, and 61 tour-level titles during his career (61-22 lifetime).
• Federer cruised through the 33-minute first set, which included a 13-minute second game. Djokovic saved six of seven break points but Federer made the breakthrough and went on to secure a second service break in the fourth game. Federer won 16 of 19 service points, while Djokovic clinched his third service game to avoid a 6-0 set. 
• But Djokovic, who finished runner-up to Andy Murray in the 2008 Cincinnati final, bounced back by storming into a 3-0 second-set lead, courtesy of a service break in the second game. Federer, a titlist in 2005 (d. Roddick) and 2007 (d. Blake), regained his composure and almost won four games in a row but at 3-3, the World No. 1 could not convert two break point opportunities.
• Federer saved one set point at 4-5, 30/40 and crucially converted his fourth of 15 break point opportunities in the 11th game, before serving out his 47th win of the 2009 ATP World Tour season (47-7 record) with a love service game.  Federer won 43 of 60 total service points, including seven aces, in the final.
• The Swiss superstar has a 202-60 match record since playing his first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament at the 1999 Sony Ericcson Open in Miami. He trails only Agassi (209 wins). 
• Federer, who has been No. 1 in the South African Airways ATP Rankings for 244 weeks - fourth all-time behind Pete Sampras (286), Ivan Lendl (270) and Jimmy Connors (268), has captured three titles this year at ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Madrid (d. Nadal), Roland Garros (d. Soderling) and Wimbledon (d. Roddick).
• The 22-year-old Djokovic falls to 4-6 in ATP World Tour Masters 1000 finals and 13-11 in tour-level finals overall.
• Djokovic, who has ranked in the Top 4 every week since 9 July 2009, was appearing in his seventh ATP World Tour final of the year (2-5 record). A titlist at Dubai (d. Ferrer) and Belgrade (d. Kubot), the Monte-Carlo resident dropped to 53-16 match record on the season (28-8 on hard courts).

WHAT THE PLAYERS SAID

Federer: "I think the special part [is] winning for the first time as a dad. It's a great thing. [It] gets me going emotionally a little bit, because I know it's been a wonderful summer.

"I really had the feeling today I could mix it up the way I wanted to. That then gives me a lot of confidence. I was playing great from the beginning to the end.

"It's good to know that when I need a good serve I can hit it, whereas maybe last week [at the Rogers Cup in Montreal] I still had some muscle pain just from coming back on tour. I got the muscle pain out and got used to hitting big serves again. I have no back problem and pain, so that allows me again to play freely and focus on the way I want to play and not the way I have to hit the shot. That's a big difference today than a few months ago."

Djokovic: "That second game helped him to get into the rhythm, and he gained more confidence, played more relaxed from that point on. He was just too good in the first set. I didn't start very energetic, and my body language wasn't [what] it was last night [against Rafael Nadal].

"I found the rhythm [at] the start of the second set. I thought I would be able to hold on, but he just put too much pressure on my service games. If you play against Roger without the first serve, I don't think you have a lot of chances.

"Overall, it's [a] final and it's been [a] great week for me, and I got a lot of matches in before the US Open. I'm satisfied. I didn't start that great the tournament. I had some slow starts, but I had some big servers for opponents. I will try to work in these seven days before US Open on things, on a better approach to the match and being aggressive from the start. If I manage to do that, I think I can get far."

Rafael Nadal is far from ready for the US Open....is it possible that Rafa didn't get enough rest prior to making his comeback to the courts?

 

RESULTS - SATURDAY, 22 AUGUST, 2009

Singles - Semi-finals
[1] R Federer (SUI) d [3] A Murray (GBR) 62 76(8)
[4] N Djokovic (SRB) d [2] R Nadal (ESP) 61 64

Doubles - Semi-finals
[1] B Bryan (USA) / M Bryan (USA) d [8] L Kubot (POL) / O Marach (AUT) 06 64 10-4
[2] D Nestor (CAN) / N Zimonjic (SRB) d [4] M Bhupathi (IND) / M Knowles (BAH) 64 63


ORDER OF PLAY - SUNDAY, 23 AUGUST, 2009

CENTER COURT start 12.30 pm
[1] R Federer (SUI) vs [4] N Djokovic (SRB)
[1] B Bryan (USA) / M Bryan (USA) vs [2] D Nestor (CAN) / N Zimonjic (SRB)  

   Hello friends and Tennis Talk Colleagues.  This week, I have been spending a lot of time at the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island; considering the Outback Champions Series event is taking place on the historic grass courts.  It's amazing to see how talented many of those past ATP Champions are.  

Serena Williams is heading to Doha, but first thing's first:  Will she have the goods to prevail at the US Open?

Based on Roger Federer's performance today against Tsonga at the Roger's Masters Series, I don't think he is going to win the US Open.  I have never seen Fed throw away a third set after being up two breaks....something is brewing!  Congratulations to Roger on having twins though.  Andy Roddick played a great match against Djokovic, and it's safe to say Rafael Nadal will have enough steam to go deep at Flushing Meadows.... GO TENNIS

It's GREAT to see Rafael Nadal back on the courts!  It is very ironic that he beat countryman, David Ferrer, due to a knee injury for Ferrer.  Firstly, because Rafa is the one with injured knees, and secondly, because Nadal almost had to retire against Ferrer two years ago at the US Open, due to knee pains.......

 

RESULTS - WEDNESDAY, 12 AUGUST, 2009

Singles - Second Round
[2] R Nadal (ESP) d D Ferrer (ESP) 43 ret. (knee)
[5] A Roddick (USA) d I Andreev (RUS) 61 76(3)
[6] J Del Potro (ARG) d [Q] J Hernych (CZE) 62 75
[7] J Tsonga (FRA) d R Schuettler (GER) 46 63 64
[9] G Simon (FRA) d [Q] A Falla (COL) 46 62 62
[10] F Verdasco (ESP) d L Mayer (ARG) 61 61
[11] F Gonzalez (CHI) d T Haas (GER) 76(2) ret. (hand blisters)
[Q] J Ferrero (ESP) d [13] G Monfils (FRA) 63 76(7)
P Petzschner (GER) d [15] T Robredo (ESP) 76(3) 76(4)
S Wawrinka (SUI) d [LL] A Golubev (KAZ) 75 64
M Youzhny (RUS) d J Isner (USA) 67(8) 61 63
V Hanescu (ROU) d P Kohlschreiber (GER) 63 46 75

Doubles - Second Round
[3] M Bhupathi (IND) / M Knowles (BAH) d J Coetzee (RSA) / J Melzer (AUT) 76(2) 64
L Dlouhy (CZE) / P Petzschner (GER) d [4] B Soares (BRA) / K Ullyett (ZIM) 64 63

Doubles - First Round
R Lindstedt (SWE) / M Melo (BRA) d T Parrott (USA) / F Polasek (SVK) 63 76(4)
[WC] F Dancevic (CAN) / P Duclos (CAN) d N Davydenko (RUS) / I Kunitsyn (RUS) 75 57 14-12
F Lopez (ESP) / F Verdasco (ESP) d S Aspelin (SWE) / P Hanley (AUS) 63 67(1) 10-6


ORDER OF PLAY - THURSDAY, 13 AUGUST, 2009

CENTRAL start 11:00 am
M Youzhny (RUS) vs [4] N Djokovic (SRB)
Not Before 13:00
[5] A Roddick (USA) vs [10] F Verdasco (ESP)
P Petzschner (GER) vs [2] R Nadal (ESP)
Not Before 19:00
[1] R Federer (SUI) vs S Wawrinka (SUI)
[WC] F Dancevic (CAN) / P Duclos (CAN) vs [8] L Kubot (POL) / O Marach (AUT)

BN COURT start 11:00 am
[6] J Del Potro (ARG) vs V Hanescu (ROU)
Not Before 13:00
[3] A Murray (GBR) vs [Q] J Ferrero (ESP)
[11] F Gonzalez (CHI) vs [8] N Davydenko (RUS)
D Ferrer (ESP) / T Robredo (ESP) vs [2] D Nestor (CAN) / N Zimonjic (SRB)
Not Before 19:00
[9] G Simon (FRA) vs [7] J Tsonga (FRA)
[1] B Bryan (USA) / M Bryan (USA) vs R Lindstedt (SWE) / M Melo (BRA)

COURT 9 start 5:00 pm
[5] W Moodie (RSA) / D Norman (BEL) vs F Lopez (ESP) / F Verdasco (ESP)
L Dlouhy (CZE) / P Petzschner (GER) vs [7] M Mirnyi (BLR) / A Ram (ISR)

Andy Roddick rebounded well at the Legg Mason.  I wasn't expecting him to be as sharp as he was, due to taking nearly 1 month off, and suffering from an injury during Wimbledon.  The recent result in Washington proves that Roddick could win the US Open, or atleast be a major threat.  Can't wait for Flushing Meadows.

Singles - Final
[2] J Del Potro (ARG) d [1] A Roddick (USA) 36 75 76(6)

Doubles - Final
M Damm (CZE) / R Lindstedt (SWE) d [5] M Fyrstenberg (POL) / M Matkowski (POL) 75 76(3)
   

FINAL REVIEW - DEL POTRO EDGES RODDICK TO CLAIM TITLE DEFENCE

• The eagerly anticipated final between top seed Andy Roddick and defending champion Juan Martin del Potro did not disappoint Sunday in Washington, D.C., as second seed del Potro successfully defended his Legg Mason Tennis Classic title with a thrilling 3-6, 7-5, 7-6(6) victory over the American in the final of the ATP World Tour 500 tennis tournament.
• Del Potro is the first back-to-back champion in the U.S. capital since Andre Agassi won consecutive titles in 1998-'99. Last year, he captured his fourth straight ATP World Tour title at Washington (d. Troicki) amidst a 23-match winning streak that began with his maiden title in Stuttgart (d. Gasquet) and culminated in a quarter-final showing at the US Open (l. to Murray).
• As winner, the Argentine received 500 South African Airways 2009 ATP Ranking points, strengthening his bid to qualify for the year-end Barclays ATP World Tour Finals. The World No. 6 qualified for the elite eight-man event for the first time last season, when it was held in Shanghai.
• The victory for del Potro also holds significance in the Olympus US Open Series Bonus Challenge standings. The Argentine will now move into joint-second position with Robby Ginepri. Sam Querrey currently holds the No. 1 spot after reaching the Indianapolis final and winning the Los Angeles title.
• It is the second straight tour-level final loss that Roddick has been forced to endure. The American was contesting his first event since losing a heart-breaking Wimbledon final to Roger Federer, 16-14 in the fifth set.
• As runner-up, Roddick put 300 South African Airways 2009 ATP Ranking points towards his bid for qualification at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals - to be held at the O2 Arena in London for the first time this season. The No. 5-ranked Roddick has made five previous appearances at the season finale.
• Throughout the tournament, Roddick had declared he did not feel he was playing at his best, but the American looked to have found his form at the right time as he broke in the sixth game of the fourth set - courtesy of a del Potro double fault - before going on to clinch a one-set lead after 37 minutes with his fifth ace.
• Del Potro hit back strongly in the second set and was rewarded as he broke to lead 5-3. However, the Argentine was not able to immediately level the match, instantly dropping his serve to allow Roddick to draw level at 5-5. Del Potro quickly regained his focus though and, after holding for a 6-5 lead, earned a set point at 30/40 on Roddick's serve - which he was quick to convert and seal the second set.
• Roddick looked to have regained control of the match as he took advantage of another del Potro double fault - one of six the Argentine committed in the match - to break and lead 2-1 in the final set. The American could not maintain his lead though and allowed the defending champion back into contention as he surrendered his serve to love in the sixth game.
• In the eventual tie-break, del Potro was quick to take the initiative and earn a 4-1 lead with a mini-break. The 20 year old built on his lead and created three match points at 6-3, but squandered his opportunities - including one on his own serve as he fired a forehand long - to allow Roddick to draw level at 6-6. As had been the case in the second set though, del Potro refused to ponder his missed opportunities and his 19th ace brought up a fourth match point, which he converted after two hours and 30 minutes with a rifling forehand cross-court winner.
• Del Potro captured his sixth ATP World Tour title as he improved to a 38-10 mark on the season. The Tandil native also added to his title tally at the start of the season, defeating Sam Querrey to claim victory in Auckland.
• In a year where he has pressed on from the breakthrough he made in 2008, the right-hander also advanced to his first Grand Slam semi-final at Roland Garros (l. to Federer in five sets) and on 6th April reached a career-high No. 5 in the South African Airways 2009 ATP Rankings - a position he relinquished to Roddick following Wimbledon.
• The 26-year-old Roddick was contesting his 44th tour-level final and dropped to a 27-16 record. It is his third runner-up finish this season, having also lost out to Andy Murray in Doha in January.
• The Austin, Texas resident, who reached a career milestone during the week as he recorded his 500th tour-level win in a third-round victory over Sam Querrey, was bidding for a fourth Washington crown. He captured the title previously in 2001 (d. Schalken), 2005 (d. Blake) and 2007 (d. Isner) and holds a 29-5 lifetime tournament mark

WHAT THE PLAYERS SAID

Del Potro: "I'm very happy to win another title and defend this championship."

On Roddick: "[He is in] much better condition this year. His game as improved a lot. I beat him, but the difference was so close."

On playing in the heat: "It was so difficult for me. I broke his serve and that made me keep trying...If you run, you die."

Roddick: "I'm not far off from where I was after Wimbledon. This is the start of preparation leading up to the US Open. I feel better about my game now than when I got here. The serve will come around with matches.  It's tough to get the shoulder [up to speed]."

On the summer heat: "To be honest, it hasn't been a typical Washington summer. And let's call a spade a spade, I've played at night [all week]. Today was brutal. To play [2:30] was tough. Credit to him for winning. The guy has been a solid Top 5 player for over a year now."

Despite a series of rough Grand Slam losses; Dinara Safina became the first player to qualify for the year end WTA Championships in Doha.

DINARA SAFINA QUALIFIES FOR SONY ERICSSON CHAMPIONSHIPS - DOHA 2009

 

• Top ranked Russian first to secure spot at prestigious year-end Championships in Doha, Qatar

 

ST. PETERSBURG, FL, USA - World No. 1 Dinara Safina is the first player to qualify for the season-ending Sony Ericsson Championships, set to take place for the second year in a row at the Khalifa International Tennis Complex in Doha, Qatar, from October 27-November 1, 2009.  The world's top eight singles players and top four doubles teams from the 2009 Sony Ericsson WTA Tour season will compete for the coveted Sony Ericsson Championships title and a share of the record Championships prize money of $4.45 million. 

 

Safina, a Russian sensation from Moscow, will make her second appearance at the Sony Ericsson Championships, having previously qualified for the event last year.  Safina is enjoying a spectacular 2009 season during which she attained the World No. 1 ranking for the first time in her career on April 20, won back-to-back titles at Premier events Internazionali BNL d'Italia in Rome and Mutua Madrileña Madrid Open, a title win at the Banka Koper Slovenia Open, reached the finals of the Australian Open and Roland Garros, and the semifinals at Wimbledon.  Since becoming World No.1, Safina has a 34-4 match record and her 16-match winning streak is the best on the Tour this season.  Safina's 2009 season comes on the heels of a career 2008 year during which she won four Sony Ericsson WTA Tour singles titles, in addition to winning the coveted US Open Series presented by Olympus and a silver medal at the Beijing Olympics.  Since 2008, Safina's ranking has vaulted from No.17 to the current World No.1.  To date, Safina has won 12 Sony Ericsson WTA Tour singles titles, and is projected to pass the $9 million mark in career prize this year.  

 

"Dinara has achieved great results this year and earned her spot as the first player to qualify for the Sony Ericsson Championships," said Stacey Allaster, Chairman and CEO of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour.  "Dinara's impressive performance this year has included a terrific run which started in the spring and included winning three tournament titles and reaching the pinnacle of the sport as the World No.1 along the way."

 

"We congratulate Dinara on being the first player to have qualified for the 2009 Sony Ericsson Championships in Doha. We look forward to building on the excitement of last year's tournament," said Aldo Liguori, Corporate Vice President and Head of Global Communications & PR for Sony Ericsson.

 

"Qualifying for the year-end Sony Ericsson Championships is one of the goals I set for myself at the beginning of the year," said World No.1 Dinara Safina.  "I've accomplished a lot of milestones this season and am thrilled to be the first to qualify for the Championships. I look forward to returning to Doha and competing again for the Sony Ericsson Championships title."

 

Always at the forefront of innovation, Sony Ericsson is committed to bringing entertainment and glamour to tennis, and taking the sport to new places and new audiences. Sony Ericsson's style and technology has attracted a wider interest to women's tennis and provided unique opportunities to the stars of the Tour.

 

The Championships were first played in 1972 and since then the event has been held in such notable venues as Madison Square Garden, New York City; the Olympiahalle in Munich; Staples Center in Los Angeles; and the Recinto Ferial Casa de Campo in Madrid. Former singles champions include Tracy Austin, Kim Clijsters, Chris Evert, Evonne Goolagong, Steffi Graf, Martina Hingis, Martina Navratilova, Gabriela Sabatini, Serena Williams, Justine Henin and Venus Williams. Cara Black and Liezel Huber, defending champions in doubles, currently lead in the Doubles Race to Doha, followed by Anabel Medina Garrigues and Virginia Ruano Pascual. 

 

RACE TO THE SONY ERICSSON CHAMPIONSHIPS - DOHA 2009

(as of the week of August 3, 2009)

 

SINGLES			DOUBLES
PLAYER	POINTS	RACE STANDING (as of August 3, 2009)	TEAM	POINTS	RACE STANDING (as of August 3, 2009)
Dinara Safina	6881	1**	Cara Black & Liezel Huber	5950	1
Serena Williams	6077	2	Serena Williams & Venus Williams	4750	2
Svetlana Kuznetsova	4262	3	Nuria Llagostera Vives & Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez	3825	3
Elena Dementieva	4175	4	Anabel Medina Garrigues & Virginia Ruano Pascual	3642	4
Venus Williams	3925	5	Rennae Stubbs & Samantha Stosur	3472	5
Victoria Azarenka	3840	6	Kveta Peschke & Lisa Raymond	3206	6
Caroline Wozniacki	3700	7	Shuai Peng & Su-wei Hsieh	2815	7
Vera Zvonareva	2682	8	Daniela Hantuchova & Ai Sugiyama	2782	8
Marion Bartoli	2432	9
Virginie Razzano	2067	10
Jelena Jankovic	2011	11
Samantha Stosur	1953	12
Agnieszka Radwanska	1922	13
Ana Ivanovic	1881	14
Dominika Cibulkova	1799	15

 

** Denotes player/team has already qualified courtesy WTA tour

Andy Roddick is back on the court after suffering from a hip injury during Wimbledon.  Andy claims that he is feeling good, but clearly not 100%.  After Roddick's straight set victory over Benjamin Becker in Washington, he said : "If I have to have one thing that's rusty that I don't worry about it coming around, it's probably my serve."  After losing such a heart breaking match at Wimbledon, the recent injury break could end up being a positive for Andy, prior to the US Open; giving him a chance to regroup mentally.