Tennis Frontier

Category: ATP Tour

Tennis Frontier News from the ATP Tour.

  • Djokovic Outlasts Wawrinka in the Semifinals; Sets Up Nadal Rematch

    Djokovic Outlasts Wawrinka in the Semifinals; Sets Up Nadal Rematch

    Novak Djokovic overcame an overall lackluster performance, and an onslaught from Stanislaw Wawrinka to prevail in a thrilling 5-set match, 2-6, 7-6(4), 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

    It was a roller-coaster ride of a semifinal.  Wawrinka, the still-but-perhaps-not-for-long Swiss No. 2 came out strong and broke Djokovic three times in the first set.  He went up a break in the second, but Djokovic broke back, and sent the set into a tiebreak, which the world No. 1 snatched up.  The Swiss took the third set on one break, and Djokovic the fourth via the same.  Also in the fourth set, Wawrinka had a medical timeout for an injury to his upper-thigh, and did seem to be hampered the rest of the match.

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    Click here to discuss the Nadal/Djokovic final in our discussion forum.

    Click here to discuss the Nadal/Gasquet semifinal in our discussion forum.

    Click here to discuss the Djokovic/Wawrinka semifinal in our discussion forum.

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    The stakes were raised in the fifth set.  At 1-1, with Wawrinka serving, they played a nearly 21-minute, 30-point game.  It was taken to deuce 12 times, with Djokovic having five break chances.  In the end, Wawrinka held, but it seemed to be all he had left.  Djokovic broke at 2-2 and ran away with it.

    After the match, Djokovic said:  “I think it was obvious Stan played more aggressive; he played better tennis over all,” adding, “I was glad I was able to find my best tennis when I needed it.”

    In the second semifinal of the day, Rafael Nadal beat Richard Gasquet with his B-Game, 6-4, 7-6(1), 6-2.  While Gasquet came up with some showy tennis at times, and Nadal was having trouble finding the lines, the best Gasquet can say is that he broke Nadal’s serve for the first time in the tournament.

    The win assures Djokovic that he holds his No. 1 ranking for the time being, and sets up his 37th match with his rival Nadal — an Open Era record for most matches played.  The Spaniard currently leads the head-to-head 21-15.  They will play for the trophy on Monday.

  • US Open Men’s Semifinals Schedule of Play: Saturday, Sept. 7

    US Open Men’s Semifinals Schedule of Play: Saturday, Sept. 7

    [Scores added as known.]

    Arthur Ashe Stadium — 12:00 P.M.

    Men’s Singles – Semifinals
    Novak Djokovic (SRB) (1) d. Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) (9) — 2-6, 7-6(4), 3-6, 6-3, 6-4

    Not Before: 2:50 P.M.

    Men’s Singles – Semifinals
    Rafael Nadal (ESP) (2) d. Richard Gasquet (FRA) (8) — 6-4, 7-6(1), 6-2

    Women’s Doubles – Final
    Andrea Hlavackova (CZE) (5) / Lucie Hradecka (CZE) (5) d. Ashleigh Barty (AUS) (8) / Casey Dellacqua (AUS) (8) — 6-7(4), 6-1, 6-4

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    Click here to discuss the Nadal/Gasquet semifinal in our discussion forum.

    Click here to discuss the Djokovic/Wawrinka semifinal in our discussion forum.

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  • Djokovic Into Semifinals

    Djokovic Into Semifinals

    World #1 Novak Djokovic booked his place in his 18th consecutive Major semifinal by beating Mikhail Youzhny under the lights in New York tonight, 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-0.

    The Russian Youzhny, who was coming off a long and valiant 5-set win over Lleyton Hewitt, came up with break points in the first game of the match, but failed to capitalize.  Djokovic then broke immediately on Youzhny’s first service game.  The Russian tried to hang close, but looked under-inspired, and never found a way into the Djokovic serve, either in the first, or the second sets.

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    In the fourth game of the third set, however, after a fantastic get on a drop volley at 1-2 on Djokovic’s serve, Youzhny energized both himself and the crowd.  He finally converted his 8th break point chance for a 3-1 lead.  The fans in the stadium, clearly wanting to see a real match, got behind the Russian, which seemed to rattle the Serbian favorite, who began to spray errors.  Djokovic broke back from 0-40 down, for 3-4 in the 7th game, but then double-faulted away his hold game for 3-5.  It was a surprisingly passive and  poor game from Djokovic that gave Youzhny the third set on his serve.

    In the fourth, however, all the accumulated effort seemed to have left the Russian with nothing, and Djokovic appeared to have righted the ship.  Youzhny failed to win a single game.

    Djokovic will play Stan Wawrinka in the semifinals, who upset the defending champion Andy Murray earlier today.

  • Wawrinka Shocks Murray in New York

    Wawrinka Shocks Murray in New York

    Andy Murray’s reign as the US Open champion was brought to an abrupt end in New York by the Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka.

    Wawrinka dominated the encounter in Arthur Ashe stadium, prevailing in straight sets 6-4, 6-3, 6-2.

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    It was a lacklustre performance by the third seeded Scot.  He failed to earn a single break point opportunity on the Wawrinka serve throughout the entire match, and lost the first set after being 40-0 up at 4-5.  In a critical game, lasting over 15 minutes, the Swiss finally converted his sixth set point to take the opening stanza.

    Murray’s woes continued in set two, as Wawrinka got even better, hitting winners from both wings in an impressive display of controlled aggression that Murray seemingly had no answer for.

    Devoid of energy, the Scot found himself a double break down and could not recover as Wawrinka served out the set to take a comfortable lead.

    The third set continued in the same fashion. Murray’s game was littered with uncharacteristic errors and his second serve was being attacked with impunity by the Swiss.  Wawrinka secured another early break to jump out to a 1-3 lead.  A second break to go 2-5 all but ended the Scot’s title defense.

    After 2 hours and 15 minutes, Wawrinka wrapped the match up by first executing a powerful overhead to set up match point, and then a netted Murray return secured it. He won 107 points to Murray’s 78 — a clear reflection of his dominant display.

    Post-match, Murray stated: “He played exceptional tennis and served very, very well. He hit a lot of lines on big points, went for his shots, and they all went in today. He played too well.”

    Wawrinka, seeded 9, will meet the winner of Novak Djokovic and Mikhail Youzhny for a place in the final.

    Cover Photo: Marianne Bevis (Creative Commons)

  • Age Has the Edge (Mostly) at the US Open in the SF/QFs

    Age Has the Edge (Mostly) at the US Open in the SF/QFs

    Day 9 of the US Open featured more than a few 30-somethings in the mid-late rounds of men’s and women’s singles. Flavia Pennetta, 31, upset countrywoman Roberta Vinci, 30.  Pennetta, who had fallen down to being the fourth ranked Italian, behind Errani, the best Italian, and Vinci, one of her erstwhile doubles partners.  While Pennetta is currently ranked No. 85,  she dominated Vinci, 6-4, 6-1, to reach her first ever semifinal of a Major.

    The “youngster” of the day, Victoria Azarenka, 24, beat 30-year-old Daniela Hantuchova, 6-2, 6-3.  The hope is this sets up a meeting with Serena Williams in a final, the two women who are the greatest rivals at this point in the women’s game, though Azarenka still has to beat Flavia Pennetta.  For them to meet, however, Williams will have to beat the great Chinese star and fellow 31-year-old, Li Na.

    On the men’s side, Richard Gasquet emerged as the winner of a 5-set battle with David Ferrer, another 31-year-old.  Gasquet dominated the first two sets, in a surprise over the No. 4 seed, who has had a lackluster summer.  Ferrer evened the match to 2-sets a piece, but Gasquet fulfilled the aggression he brought to the beginning of the match, and closed it out for 6-3, 6-1, 4-6, 2-6, 6-3.

    The Frenchman Gasquet is 27 — on the younger edge of today’s players — and he will meet Rafael Nadal, also 27, who beat his countryman, Tommy Robredo, 31, the vanquisher of Roger Federer in the Round of 16.  Robredo went down without seriously troubling Nadal.  Final score:  6-0, 6-2, 6-2.  Nadal has yet to drop his serve the entire tournament.

    That so many 31-year-olds have lasted so long in this tournament, one has to say that 1981-82 must have been a great vintage for tennis players, if a somewhat late-maturing grape.

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    Click here to discuss the Nadal/Robredo quarterfinal in our discussion forum.

    Click here to discuss the Ferrer/Gasquet quarterfinal in our discussion forum.

    Click here to discuss the Azarenka/Hantuchova quarterfinal in our discussion forum.

    Click here to discuss the Vinci/Pennetta quarterfinal in our discussion forum.

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  • US Open Men’s Quarterfinals Schedule of Play: Thursday, Sept. 5

    US Open Men’s Quarterfinals Schedule of Play: Thursday, Sept. 5

    [Scores added as known.]

    Arthur Ashe Stadium – 12:00 P.M.

    Men’s Doubles – Semifinals
    Leander Paes (IND) (4) / Radek Stepanek (CZE) (4) d. Bob Bryan (USA) (1) / Mike Bryan (USA) (1) — 3-6, 6-3, 6-4

    Not Before: 1:30 P.M.

    Men’s Singles – Quarterfinals
    Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) (9) d. Andy Murray (GBR) (3) — 6-4, 6-3, 6-2

    Not Before: 8:00 P.M.

    Men’s Singles – Quarterfinals
    Novak Djokovic (SRB) (1) d. Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) (21) — 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-0

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    Click here to discuss the Murray/Wawrinka quarterfinal in our discussion forum.

    Click here to discuss the Djokovic/Youzhny quarterfinal in our discussion forum.

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    Louis Armstrong Stadium — Not Before: 12:30 P.M.

    Women’s Doubles – Quarterfinals
    Serena Williams (USA) / Venus Williams (USA) d. Sara Errani (ITA) (1) / Roberta Vinci (ITA) (1) — 6-3, 6-1

    Men’s Doubles – Semifinals
    Alexander Peya (AUT) (2) / Bruno Soares (BRA) (2) d. Ivan Dodig (CRO) (10) / Marcelo Melo (BRA) (10) — 7-5, 6-4

    Women’s Doubles – Semifinals
    Ashleigh Barty (AUS) (8) / Casey Dellacqua (AUS) (8) d. Sania Mirza (IND) (10) / Jie Zheng (CHN) (10) — 6-2, 6-2

  • US Open Quarterfinals Schedule of Play/Scores: Wednesday, Sept. 4

    US Open Quarterfinals Schedule of Play/Scores: Wednesday, Sept. 4

    [Scores added as known.]

    Arthur Ashe Stadium – 12:00 P.M.

    Women’s Singles – Quarterfinals
    Flavia Pennetta (ITA) d. Roberta Vinci (ITA) (10) — 6-4, 6-1

    Men’s Singles – Quarterfinals
    Richard Gasquet (FRA) (8) d. David Ferrer (ESP) (4) — 6-3, 6-1, 4-6, 2-6, 6-3

    Not Before 7:00 P.M.

    Women’s Singles – Quarterfinals
    Victoria Azarenka (BLR) (2) d. Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) — 6-2, 6-3

    Men’s Singles – Quarterfinals
    Rafael Nadal (ESP) (2) d. Tommy Robredo (ESP) (19) — 6-0, 6-2, 6-2

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    Click here to discuss the Nadal/Robredo quarterfinal in our discussion forum.

    Click here to discuss the Ferrer/Gasquet quarterfinal in our discussion forum.

    Click here to discuss the Azarenka/Hantuchova quarterfinal in our discussion forum.

    Click here to discuss the Vinci/Pennetta quarterfinal in our discussion forum.

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    Louis Armstrong Stadium — 11:00 A.M.

    Men’s Doubles – Quarterfinals
    Ivan Dodig (CRO) (10) / Marcelo Melo (BRA) (10) d. Treat Huey (PHI) (16) / Dominic Inglot (GBR) (16) — 7-5, 6-3

    Women’s Doubles – Quarterfinals
    Sania Mirza (IND) (10) / Jie Zheng (CHN) (10) d. Su-Wei Hsieh (TPE) (4) / Shuai Peng (CHN) (4) — 6-4, 7-6(5)

    Mixed Doubles – Semifinals
    Abigail Spears (USA) / Santiago Gonzalez (MEX) d. Anabel Medina Garrigues(ESP)(5) / Bruno Soares(BRA)(5) — 6-3, 6-1

    Not Before: 4:30 P.M.

    Women’s Doubles – Round 3
    Serena Williams (USA) / Venus Williams (USA) d. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) (11) / Lucie Safarova (CZE) (11) — 6-1, 7-6(3)

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    Grandstand — 12:00 P.M.

    Women’s Doubles – Quarterfinals
    Andrea Hlavackova (CZE) (5) / Lucie Hradecka (CZE) (5) d. Nadia Petrova (RUS) (3) / Katarina Srebotnik (SLO) (3) — 4-6, 6-4, 7-5

    Not Before: 2:00 P.M.

    Women’s Doubles – Quarterfinals
    Ashleigh Barty (AUS) (8) / Casey Dellacqua (AUS) (8) d. Ekaterina Makarova(RUS)(2) / Elena Vesnina(RUS)(2) — 6-2, 6-3

    Not Before: 5:00 P.M.

    Mixed Doubles – Semifinals
    Andrea Hlavackova (CZE) (7) / Max Mirnyi (BLR) (7) d. Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) / Daniel Nestor (CAN) — 7-5, 6-7(4), 12-10

    Credits: Cover Photo: kbrinker (Creative Commons License)

  • US Open Day 9 Schedule of Play / Scores: Tuesday, Sept. 3

    US Open Day 9 Schedule of Play / Scores: Tuesday, Sept. 3

    [Scores added as known.]

    Arthur Ashe Stadium – 11:00 A.M.

    Women’s Singles – Round 4
    Victoria Azarenka (BLR) (2) d. Ana Ivanovic (SRB) (13) — 4-6, 6-3, 6-4

    Women’s Singles – Quarterfinals
    Na Li (CHN) (5) d. Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) (24) — 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-2

    Not Before: 2:30 P.M.

    Men’s Singles – Round 4
    Novak Djokovic (SRB) (1) d. Marcel Granollers (ESP) — 6-3, 6-0, 6-0

    Not Before: 7:00 P.M.

    Women’s Singles – Quarterfinals
    Serena Williams (USA) (1) d. Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP) (18) — 6-0, 6-0

    Men’s Singles – Round 4
    Andy Murray (GBR) (3) d. Denis Istomin (UZB) — 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-4, 6-4

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    Click here to discuss the Men’s matches in our discussion forum.

    Click here to discuss the Serena Williams vs. Suarez Navarro match in our discussion forum.

    Click here to discuss the Pennetta vs. Vinci match in our discussion forum.

    Click here to discuss the Na vs. Makarova match in our discussion forum.

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    Louis Armstrong Stadium — 11:00 A.M.

    Women’s Doubles – Round 3
    Su-Wei Hsieh (TPE) (4) / Shuai Peng (CHN) (4) d. Jelena Jankovic (SRB) (15) / Mirjana Lucic-Baroni (CRO) (15) — 6-4, 6-2

    Not Before: 12:30 P.M.

    Men’s Singles – Round 4
    Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) (21) d. Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) — 6-3, 3-6, 6-7(3), 6-4, 7-5

    Men’s Doubles – Quarterfinals
    Leander Paes (IND) (4) / Radek Stepanek (CZE) (4) d. Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi (PAK) (5) / Jean-Julien Rojer (NED) (5) — 6-1, 6-7(3), 6-4

    Not Before: 5:00 P.M.

    Men’s Singles – Round 4
    Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) (9) d. Tomas Berdych (CZE) (5) — 3-6, 6-1, 7-6(6), 6-2

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    Grandstand — 11:00 A.M.

    Mixed Doubles – Quarterfinals
    Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) / Daniel Nestor (CAN) d. Hao-Ching Chan (TPE) / Martin Emmrich (GER) — 7-6(5), 6-3

    Women’s Doubles – Round 3
    Sara Errani (ITA) (1) / Roberta Vinci (ITA) (1) d. Anabel Medina Garrigues (ESP) (16) / Flavia Pennetta (ITA) (16) — 6-1, 7-5

    Mixed Doubles – Quarterfinals
    Abigail Spears (USA) / Santiago Gonzalez (MEX) d. Liezel Huber (USA) (8) / Marcelo Melo (BRA) (8) — 2-6, 6-1, 11-9

    Women’s Doubles – Round 3
    Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) (2) / Elena Vesnina (RUS) (2) d. Cara Black (ZIM) (13) / Marina Erakovic (NZL) (13) — 5-7, 6-2, 6-4

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    Court 17 — 12:00 P.M.

    Men’s Doubles – Quarterfinals
    Alexander Peya (AUT) (2) / Bruno Soares (BRA) (2) d. Jamie Murray (GBR) / John Peers (AUS) — 6-4, 6-7(4), 6-4

    Mixed Doubles – Quarterfinals
    Andrea Hlavackova (CZE) (7) / Max Mirnyi (BLR) (7) d. Kveta Peschke (CZE) (4) / Marcin Matkowski (POL) (4) — 6-1, 6-2

    Mixed Doubles – Quarterfinals
    Anabel Medina Garrigues (ESP) (5) / Bruno Soares (BRA) (5) d. Lucie Hradecka (CZE) / Frantisek Cermak (CZE) — 6-4, 6-7(3), 13-11

    Credits: Cover Photo: bausmus (Creative Commons License)

  • Federer Stunned by Resurgent Robredo

    Federer Stunned by Resurgent Robredo

    Day 8 of the US Open was marred by a long rain delay, and suffered further from the five-time champion Roger Federer being upset by Tommy Robredo in straight sets:  7-6(3), 6-3, 6-4. The loss by the former No. 1 and 17-time Slam winner deprives the fans of what was hoped would be a quarterfinal meeting between Federer and Rafael Nadal, the sport’s great rivals.  They have never met at the US Open.

    Robredo, the 31-year-old Spaniard, younger than Federer by one year, has been coming back from injury.  Once as high as No. 5 in the world, he was at No. 545 just over a year ago, but a run back has put him currently at No. 22.  Of the number of things that were surprising about the upset today, their previous head-to-head was 10-0 in favor of the Swiss, with Robredo having only won 2 sets.  Today he won three, without dropping one.

    An irritatingly consistent rain most of the afternoon caused the match to be moved to Louis Armstrong Stadium from Arthur Ashe, in order for the schedule not to fall behind.  Federer started sluggishly, in the high humidity, and dropped his first service game, while Robredo was going for the fast start.  Federer broke back for 2-2, and it seemed that that would be the beginning of setting things to rights, but instead, it seems that the sloppy start was the portent of what was to come.  The Swiss champion lost the first set in a tiebreak, and never recovered from breaks of serve in the subsequent 2 sets.  In fact, the break point statistic was telling:  Federer was 2/16 on conversions (13%,) while Robredo was 4/7 (57%.)

    In an understandably somber press conference, Federer called it a “frustrating” performance.  He felt his “rhythm was off,” and, while giving credit to great play by Robredo, he said, “I beat myself.  I kind of self-destructed.”

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    Click here to discuss the Roger Federer loss in our discussion forum.

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    Credits: Cover Photo: Marianne Bevis (Creative Commons License)

  • Federer Crashes Out of the US Open

    Federer Crashes Out of the US Open

    Roger Federer crashed out of the US Open in a stunning straight sets upset at the hands of veteran Tommy Robredo in their 4th round clash at Flushing Meadows.

    Federer was defeated 7-6(3), 6-3, 6-4 by the Spaniard who sealed victory with a thumping ace down the middle.

    Robredo took the first set tie break 7-3 and then broke Federer at 4-3 in the second set to move within a game of establishing a two set lead. Federer had two break points to restore parity but 19th seed Robredo held firm to take the set. In all, the Swiss squandered 12 break points in the second set.

    Robredo seized the opportunity in the third set breaking Federer to love, and held onto take the set and match to confirm his place in the quarterfinals.

    Federer, a five-time former champion, had never lost any of ten previous encounters with Robredo. It is also the first time in a decade that he has failed to make the quarterfinal stages in New York, thwarting a potential showdown with Rafael Nadal.

    Robredo will now meet the winner of the Nadal and Philip Kohlschreiber match.

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    Cover Photo: asterix611 (Creative Commons License)