Federer downs Ferrer to reach semi-finals

Updated November 09, 2012 07:11:41

Roger Federer clinched a place in the semi-finals of the ATP Tour Finals on Friday morning (AEDT) as the defending champion ground out a 6-4, 7-6 (7-5) win over Spain's David Ferrer in London.

Federer required a straight sets win over the fourth seed to seal his spot in the last four with one Group B match to spare and he reached that goal despite a scrappy performance that included 39 unforced errors.

While Federer was some way from his best, the world number two displayed his priceless knack of elevating his game on the big points as the 31-year-old extended his winning run at the Tour Finals to 12 matches.

As well as securing his semi-final berth, Federer also achieved a notable personal landmark by recording his 70th match win of the year - the first time he has done that since he was at the very peak of his form in 2006.

It was a familiar story for Ferrer, who has now lost all 14 of his meetings with Federer, and the Spaniard will need a victory over Janko Tipsarevic in his final match on Saturday to have any chance of qualifying for the semi-finals.

"It was a long match and I'm extremely happy to win," Federer said.

"I played a great match. I've qualified and I'm obviously relieved and thrilled that that's the case.

"David's been on a great run and he is so respected by his fellow competitors. I enjoy playing against him, not because I've got a good record, but because he's a great guy and a great competitor."

Going into this match Ferrer had won only three of 30 sets against Federer and, although he walked on court on an 11-match unbeaten run that brought him titles at the Valencia Open and Paris Masters, the 30-year-old was soon playing second fiddle to the Swiss yet again.

Presented with a golden chance to secure a vital break in the first game, Ferrer was unable to convert as Federer wriggled out of trouble three times.

With Ferrer still cursing that missed opportunity, Federer went for the kill and pressured the Spaniard in a crucial mistake, an off-balance backhand that sailed long, to break for a 2-0 lead.

This was Ferrer's 12th match in 16 days and he could have been forgiven for waving the white flag when three more chances to break slipped through his fingers during a marathon third game.

To his credit he refused to surrender and earned two more break points in the Swiss star's next service game, finally converting one at the eighth attempt when Federer pushed a backhand wide.

But, despite struggling badly on his first serve, Federer was still able to wrestle the set away from Ferrer with a ruthless break to love at 5-4.

That burst of brilliance from Federer was followed by another dip and he had to stave off two break points in the first game of the second set.

Ferrer remained a nuisance for Federer, who was throwing in enough unforced errors to keep the Spaniard in with a chance, and it needed a tie-break to decide the set.

However, Federer, shrugging off his inconsistent spell, finally saw off the dogged Ferrer with a pair of brilliant forehand winners to settle the contest.

AFP

Tags: tennis, sport, england

First posted November 09, 2012 07:01:06

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Djokovic downs del Potro to reach final

Updated November 12, 2012 07:48:36

Novak Djokovic cut giant Argentine Juan Martin del Potro down to size as the world number one battled into the final of the ATP Tour Finals with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory on Monday morning (AEDT).

Djokovic will play defending champion Roger Federer or third seed Andy Murray in the final after coming from a set and a break down to topple the former US Open champion in a gruelling semi-final clash lasting two hours and 11 minutes in London.

After another impressive season, which will end with Djokovic the world's top ranked player for the second successive year, the Serb now has a chance to cap his campaign by taking the title at the season-ending event for the second time.

The 25-year-old won the Tour Finals in 2008 in Shanghai and he looks in the mood to emulate that success after moving into the final with four consecutive victories - the only unbeaten run of the eight competing players - taking him to 74 match wins in 2012, a record that only David Ferrer has equalled over the last 11 months.

Djokovic had won six of his previous eight meetings with del Potro, but the reigning Australian Open champion had to draw on all his remarkable reserves of energy and determination before finally seeing off the big-hitting sixth seed.

"He was the better player in the first set but I managed to turn it around," Djokovic said.

"I just told myself to stay out there fighting. It's a step forward because it's my first final in London.

"I'll watch the match this evening and whoever I play it will be tough. It will be an amazing final."

Both players are masters of the power game and a bruising start saw del Potro survive an early scare as he saved two break points in the second game before Djokovic fought off a break point at 3-3.

Few players can out-hit Djokovic in baseline rallies, but del Potro has the size and power to overwhelm anyone with his booming groundstrokes and he pressured the Serb into a pair of hurried errors to break for a 5-4 lead.

Djokovic had no answer as del Potro easily held serve to take the opening set and it needed the Serb's supreme battling qualities to stave off three break points in the first game of the second set.

But the Argentine would not be denied. He was hitting with such a lethal combination of poise and power that even Djokovic was unable to stop him breaking for a 2-1 advantage.

At that point del Potro, who celebrated the break by clenching both fists above his head, was in complete control, but he may have started dreaming of the final prematurely.

Djokovic had no intention of surrendering and, aided by the suddenly rash of del Potro errors, he recovered from squandering three break points to convert at the fourth attempt in the next game.

Another break for the Serb opened up a 5-3 lead and he held his nerve to serve out the set and send the tiring del Potro back to his chair with shoulders slumped.

The momentum was with Djokovic now and he raced through the final set, shattering del Potro with breaks in the third and seventh games.

AFP

Tags: tennis, sport, england

First posted November 12, 2012 07:44:16

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Murray downs Djokovic to win US Open

Updated September 11, 2012 14:12:13

History-making Andy Murray ended Britain's 76-year wait for a men's Grand Slam champion when he beat 2011 winner Novak Djokovic 7-6 (12-10), 7-5, 2-6, 3-6, 6-2 in an epic US Open final on Tuesday (AEST).

Murray became Britain's first major champion since Fred Perry claimed his third American title in 1936, the year the Spanish Civil War started and Franklin D. Roosevelt was re-elected US president.

In a roller-coaster final, which witnessed a 54-shot rally, numerous 30-stroke exchanges, as well as a record-setting tie-breaker, the 25-year-old Murray held his nerve in a knife-edge final set.

The Olympic champion led 3-0 in the decider, dropped serve but broke again for 5-2 when Djokovic called a medical time-out.

Murray was not to be denied, taking the historic crown when Djokovic went long with a forehand on a second match point in what was, at four hours and 54 minutes, the equal-longest US Open final of all time.

Murray had lost all of his four previous Grand Slam finals - to Roger Federer at the US Open in 2008, the 2010 Australian Open and this year's Wimbledon, as well as to Djokovic in Australia in 2011.

But cheered on by fellow Scots Sir Sean Connery and Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson, he survived a thrilling fightback by Djokovic, a five-time major winner who had defeated Murray in an epic five-setter in the Australian Open semi-finals in January.

"I proved that I can win the grand slams," a relieved Murray said.

"And I proved that I can last four-and-a-half hours and come out on top against one of the strongest guys physically that tennis had probably seen, especially on this surface.

"(I learned) to not doubt myself physically and mentally from now on. I'm sure that would have a positive impact in the future."

It was Murray's 24th career title and his win denied Djokovic the chance to claim the biggest pay-day in the history of the sport, $US2.9 million ($2.8 million) for winning the trophy as well as having the best record in the lead-up tournaments.

Djokovic had spent five hours fewer than Murray on the court in reaching his fourth US Open final, but fitness was not an issue in the opening exchanges.

It was a battle to see who could master the vicious wind that suddenly whipped up inside Arthur Ashe Stadium as play got underway.

Both players were broken in the first two games before Murray nipped ahead 3-2 with a break courtesy of Djokovic's third double fault in just three service games.

Murray went to 4-2 despite Djokovic coming out on top in a 54-shot rally.

The Serb retrieved the break for 4-4 before serving two love games going into the tie-break.

The 24-minute tie-breaker, a record for a men's championship match at the tournament, featured a 30-shot rally and a 33-shot exchange before Murray took it on a sixth set point after a marathon 87-minute set.

Murray, sensing his place in the history books, raced to a 4-0 and 5-2 lead in the second set before Australian Open winner Djokovic, a five-time Grand Slam champion, clawed back to 5-5.

The Scot held for 6-5 and carved out two set points when the Serb sent a wild overhead wide.

Djokovic saved one but handed the second set to his opponent with a misguided forehand which also sailed away on the breeze.

But the world number two was not going down without a fight.

A year ago, he came back from two sets and two match points down to beat Federer in the semi-finals and on Tuesday he took the third set 6-2 on the back of a double-break.

Murray wilted under the barrage as the once-uncertain Djokovic became a sure-footed shot-maker, levelling the final by taking the fourth set 6-3.

Djokovic said he gave it everything but was unable to stop Murray winning his first grand slam title.

"He deserved to win this grand slam more than anybody because over the years he has been a top player, he has been so close, lost four finals," Djokovic said.

"Now he has won it so I would like to congratulate him. Definitely happy that he won it."

Djokovic, world No. 1 Roger Federer and Spain's Rafael Nadal had won 29 of the prior 30 Grand Slam titles with Murray the only rival who had consistently challenged the top trio and repeatedly reached grand slam finals.

"Us four, we are taking this game to another level," Djokovic said. "It's really nice to be part of such a strong men's tennis era."

AFP

Tags: tennis, sport, united-states

First posted September 11, 2012 11:04:13

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Kvitova downs Li for Montreal title

Updated August 14, 2012 14:08:30

Petra Kvitova overcame a mid-match slump to claim her first title of the season with a 7-5, 2-6, 6-3 victory over China's Li Na in the Montreal Cup on Tuesday (AEST).

In an entertaining but erratic encounter between two former major winners, the fifth-seed's first tournament win since last October's WTA Championship will lift the Czech's confidence ahead of the US Open starting at the end of the month.

"It is great to have a good result in the Montreal Cup before the US Open. Finally I have played well," the world number six told reporters.

"It is a great preparation. I have played some good matches here and I hope that I can continue that."

The 22-year-old's maiden victory on North American soil pocketed last year's Wimbledon champion $385,000 but it was not without drama.

The momentum shifted several times during the match but none more evidently than when Li won the first 16 points of the second set to race into a 4-0 lead after the 30-year-old 10th seed had dropped the opener.

Li, who remains without a title in 2012 after losing finals in Sydney, Rome and now Montreal, had started well before Kvitova eked out a 5-3 lead.

The 2011 French Open champion, who will return to the top 10 in the world rankings, fought back to level at 5-5 but was unable to covert a further four break points before suffering a bout of nerves on her next service game to drop the set.

Li responded immediately, aided by some wayward play from her opponent, winning the first four games of the second set without dropping a point as Kvitova lost focus and struggled to land in the ball in the court.

That Kvitova made 16 unforced errors while hitting just one winner indicated just how off-target the Czech had become during the second set.

However, the 22-year-old regrouped at the start of the third and regained the advantage when Li overhit a forehand while trailing 2-3 to drop serve and Kvitova held her nerve to seal a much-needed victory.

Reuters

Tags: tennis, sport, canada

First posted August 14, 2012 13:41:21

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Vinci downs Jankovic for Texas title

Updated August 25, 2012 15:58:39

Italy's Roberta Vinci completed her warm-up for the US Open with a straight-sets victory over former world number one Jelena Jankovic in the final of the WTA's Texas Open.

Vinci, seeded third, won the last six games of the second set to complete a 7-5, 6-3 victory.

Vinci, making the most of second-seeded Jankovic's five double faults, claimed her seventh career WTA title and her first of 2012.

It was a morale-boosting victory with the US Open -- the final Grand Slam of the season -- due to start on Monday at Flushing Meadows.

Serbia's Jankovic, meanwhile, missed an opportunity to lift a trophy for the first time since 2010.

It was her second appearance in a final this season. She lost to American Melanie Oudin on the grass courts of Birmingham in June.

Vinci, who had booked her spot in the final with a dominant 6-0, 6-0 semi-final win over Serbia's Bojana Jovanovski, found the going tougher against Jankovic, needing just over two hours to triumph.

AFP

Tags: sport, tennis, united-states

First posted August 25, 2012 15:58:39

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Clijsters downs Wozniacki to reach semis

Updated January 24, 2012 22:48:38

Defending champion Kim Clijsters reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open after beating Caroline Wozniacki in straight sets on Tuesday, ending the Dane's stay at world number one.

Clijsters held off a determined fight-back from the 21-year-old top seed to win 6-3, 7-6 (7-4) in just under two hours and set up a semi-final date against Victoria Azarenka.

By failing to reach the semi-finals, Wozniacki is guaranteed to lose her number one ranking to either Azarenka, Petra Kvitova or Maria Sharapova when the new standings are released next Monday.

And the top seed will face inevitable questions over how she managed to hold onto the number one spot for 67 of the past 68 weeks without winning a grand slam.

Wozniacki played her usual counter-punching game on Tuesday with plenty of retrieving from the baseline, but she did not have a weapon to damage Clijsters.

The Belgian played much better than in her fourth round win over China's Li Na, and showed no ill-effects from the ankle injury she suffered during that match.

Clijsters broke Wozniacki four times in the first set as she dominated her younger rival on both her forehand and backhand sides.

And although Wozniacki broke twice herself, she was always playing catch-up and never looked like taking the set.

The second set followed a similar pattern, but Clijsters faltered while serving for the match at 5-3.

The tie-break went with serve until 4-4, when Clijsters stepped up to win the next three points and seal victory with a simple put-away into the open court.

"It didn't feel like being up a set and 5-2," the Belgian said.

"I really had to work at it. Caroline changed her tactics (in the second set) and became a bit more aggressive."

In the new rankings to be published next Monday, French Open champion Li Na, who fell to Clijsters in the fourth round, will slip to ninth in the world, WTA projections show.

China's Li will lose the points she earned for finishing as runner-up to Belgium's Clijsters in 2011, resulting in a drop of three places from number six.

US Open champion Samantha Stosur's first-round loss has not done her significant harm, with the Australian set to stay at number five.

And former world number one Ana Ivanovic of Serbia, who lost in the fourth round to Czech second seed Kvitova, is projected to return to the top 20. She is currently ranked number 22.

Despite her long reign at the top, Wozniacki has failed to win a grand slam, with critics saying she could not be considered the best player in the world until she takes one of the sport's major prizes.

Tennis great Martina Navratilova weighed into the debate on Monday, saying the women's game was crying out for a new star and the rankings were weighted too much towards quantity of matches, rather than quality of opposition.

"Clearly nobody feels that Wozniacki is a true number one," she said.

"If we still had the same ranking system we were using six years ago when they were giving bonus points for beating players, Kvitova would have ended up number one because she had beaten more top players than Wozniacki."

Azarenka also reached the semi-finals on Tuesday after beating Agnieszka Radwanska, while Sharapova and Kvitova play their last-four matches on Wednesday.

AFP

Tags: sport, australian-open, tennis, melbourne-3000, vic, australia

First posted January 24, 2012 16:33:46

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Tomic downs Querrey in four tough sets

Updated January 19, 2012 08:04:17

The brain of Bernard Tomic overcame the brawn of America's Sam Querrey as Australia's teenage tennis genius booked an Australian Open third round berth for the second straight year.

It was not quite of the magnitude of the 19-year-old's first-round fightback from two sets down against Spain's Fernando Verdasco.

But Tomic still needed plenty of nerve to withstand power-serving Querrey's early heroics and triumph 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-3), 6-3.

Querrey, 24, stands an imposing 198-centimetres and serves with a venom to match his physique.

He made full use of that weapon and his powerful forehand in the opening set in a packed Rod Laver Arena on Wednesday night.

Querrey gave up just four points on serve for the set, closing it out with two aces.

He needed just one break, handed to him in fortunate style when Tomic fell over mid-point, the only time for the set he was down a break point.

But the 19-year-old showed typical composure to mix up his pace and shot style and work his bigger opponent around the court, as well as varying his position on return.

The tactics worked well, as Querrey gradually lost his early rhythm.

A Querrey double-fault gave Tomic the pivotal break of serve in the sixth game.

But serving out the set was a huge struggle, Tomic needing six set points to clinch it, with Querrey producing some dazzling shots to deny the Australian on some earlier opportunities.

While former top 20 player Querrey, whose ranking has slumped to its current number 95 after an injury-hampered 2011, had the experience edge, it was Tomic who showed far more composure and poise as he raced through the pivotal third-set tiebreak.

From that point, he always looked the likely winner and he took the fourth set in less than half an hour, serving it out to love.

Tomic said it was a relief not to have been forced into another five-setter, after his tough Monday clash with Verdasco.

He said he was pleased with the way he had recovered after that match and with the way he weathered the early storm against Querrey.

"I did a good job to counter-punch in the second set and win it," Tomic said.

Tomic last year fell to then world number one Rafael Nadal in the third round.

He will next take on Ukrainian Alexandr Dolgopolov, who had to survive a five-set thriller against Tobias Kamke on Wednesday, his second five-setter of the tournament.

Tomic said his clash with Dolgopolov would be a huge challenge.

"Me an Alex always have tough matches," he said.

"He's a very good player and I'll have to play well to win."

ABC/AAP

Tags: sport, tennis, melbourne-3000, vic, australia

First posted January 18, 2012 21:40:54

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Live blog: Stosur downs Serena for first slam title

Raman Goraya

Updated September 12, 2011 10:41:13

Samantha Stosur has won her maiden grand slam title with an emphatic 6-2, 6-3 victory over Serena Williams at the US Open in New York.

- Game, set, match SAMANTHA STOSUR 6-2, 6-3! She does exactly that, punishing a short second serve for a cross-court forehand winner. Sam drops her racquet in shock and climbs into the stands to get to her box. What an amazing victory. A deserved victory.

- Another championship points to Stosur. Sam belts a forehand return on Williams second serve. Ready to pounce on another.

- Williams saves another on the back of a big first serve. Tense. Really tense.

- Williams saves one with a great smash under pressure. Sam running everywhere. Another chance awaits, though.

- Two championship points for Samantha Stosur.

- Sam two points away as Serena sends a forehand wide.

- 5-3 Stosur. Ice cool from Sam. She is just a game away from her first grand slam title.

- Stosur bringing Williams to the net now and passing her emphatically. Top tactics. The serve still doing the job, too.

- STOSUR BREAKS and leads a set and 4-3. Caught the sluggish Williams on her heals a few times in that game by changing up her ground strokes. To say the Aussie looks determined on her way to the change of ends is an understatement. Now comes the tough part.

- Break point Stosur. A massive forehand return winner and a Williams error gives Sam a window.

- First serve percentage has taken off for Williams and got her back in the contest.

- Good to see Sam hasn't gone into her shell after Serena was beating her chest early in the set.

- 3-3. Williams showing off some of her trademark power hitting but a few forehand errors means Sam can hang tough and hold to 30, finishing off with a passing shot winner.

- No outbursts from Williams this time. Somewhat disappointing.

- 3-2 Williams. Stosur with a few unforced errors that game after having only nine up until that point. Ominously, Williams' serve is back on track. Let's see what Serena and the chair umpire chat about this time...

- 2-2. Stosur with a massive hold of serve on second deuce. After all the controversy and crowd hysteria, games are still on serve and she slows the Williams' juggernaut in this second set.

- Two break points for Williams. Stosur saves one BP with a monster down the T and forces Williams into a corner to save the second and send to deuce.

- Serena Williams to umpire at change of ends: "If you walk past me in the hall you better look the other way because you are out of control... You're unattractive on the inside... I never complain... You give me a code violation for expressing my emotions, we're in America!"

- 2-1 Williams. Games back on serve in second set as Serena holds to 15. The American is clearly trying to harness the crowd's influence now and is moving and striking much better. A few deep breaths for Sam.

- 1-1 Williams. Serena break back. We have a match now ladies and gents. Umpire may have inadvertently sparked Serena into action. Stosur saved two of the break points but can't hold off as the crowd, like Williams, finally wakes up. Stosur a passenger in that game as emotion rises in New York.

- Williams has three break points at 0-40.

- Crowd heavily involved now. Booing as Stosur tries to serve. Williams is... slightly annoyed. She wins the first point of the game, jogs to the chair and says something to the umpire (not G'day) and is hit with a unsporting conduct warning.

- 1-0 Stosur. STOSUR BREAKS. Controversy. Serena yells out c'mon on what she thinks will be a winner but Stosur makes contact on the ball. Stosur is awarded the point and game under the hindrance rule. Serena approaches the umpire (no death threats this time) but the chair stands her ground.

- You could hear a pin drop at Arthur Ashe Stadium. A boilover brewing? Let's not jinx it, yeah?

- GAME and FIRST SET 6-2 to Samantha Stosur. Took 31 minutes but seemed much quicker than that. Stosur literally serving herself to victory at the moment. The Aussie won the last 12 points of the set.

- Set points for Stosur at 0-40.

- Service stats: Stosur is landing 67 per cent of her first serves to Williams' 35 per cent. The telling stat so far.

- 5-2 Stosur. She has the DOUBLE BREAK and will serve for the first set! Amazing start. Stosur's composure to be put to the test in the next service game but Williams is hardly mustering a challenge at the moment.

- at 0-30 down the crowd (destined to play a part at some stage) tries to rally their home champion Williams. Doesn't help - three break points for Stosur.

- 4-2. Stosur holds to love and maintains the break. This is a dream start now. Sam's serve has been the platform for the early jump. Williams' serve to be put to the test again.

- 3-2 Stosur. Williams holds in deuce with a big ace but she trudges to her seat, head down. All the momentum still with Sam despite missing a few chances in that game.

- Another break point for Sam at 30-40. Serena relies on some heavy hitting to see it off and responds with a c'mon. That could snap the American into action.

- 3-1 Stosur. Fantastic game by Sam. Caps it off with a trademark overhead. This is a different Williams to the one we saw yesterday in the annihilation of Wozniacki. She is taking her time to find her range and VERY nervous. In contrast, Sam looks to have learnt from her defeat in the French Open final last year.

Stosur needs to make the most of this early advantage. Australia's last women's grand slam winner was in 1980 - Evonne Goolagong Cawley at Wimbledon. Our last women's US Open champ was the great Margaret Court in 1973. Lleyton Hewitt won the men's 10 years ago in 2001.

- 2-1 Stosur. STOSUR BREAKS. Sam continues to move much better than Williams, sending the American to all corners of the court. Williams also looks very nervous on this occasio, despite being a 13-time grand slam winner.

- Stosur has a break point at 30-40. Williams nervy in front of her home crowd.

- 1-1. Sam also holds to 30. One double fault at 40-0 but the Aussie is moving well and light on her feet despite a gruelling tournament.

- 1-0 Williams. Serena's opening service game is convincing enough. Holds to 30 including one ace and one double fault. Stosur striking the ball well early.

And we are off in the 2011 women's US Open final.

SAMANTHA STOSUR (AUS)

Age: 27

World ranking: 10, seeded 9

Born: Brisbane

Best grand slam performance: Finalist (2010 French Open)

SERENA WILLIAMS (USA)

Age: 29

World ranking: 27, seeded 28

Born: Saginaw, Michigan

Best grand slam performances: Champion.
Australian Open (2003, 2005 2007, 2009, 2010)
French Open (2002)
Wimbledon (2002, 2003, 2009, 2010)
US Open (1999, 2002, 2008)

- Players are warming up and unfortunately there is a little bit of rain in the air. Here's hoping it holds off.

- Welcome to our live coverage of the US Open women's final between Australian ninth seed Samantha Stosur and 13-time grand slam winner Serena Williams. Players are on court. Stay tuned.

Tags: tennis, sport, united-states, australia

First posted September 12, 2011 06:45:43

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Stosur downs Zvonareva

 Published:Friday, April 22, 2011 1:02 AEST

Samantha Stosur celebrates after winning her quarter-final against Vera Zvonareva on April 21, 2011 in Stuttgart, Germany.

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