From the ATP site:
5. Andy Murray d. Philipp Kohlschreiber 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 12-10, Roland Garros third round
Talk about late-night drama. With the score level at 7-7 in the fifth set, breaks squandered and cramp taking hold, the light finally went at Roland Garros. Andy Murray and Philipp Kohlschreiber both went to sleep that night pondering a spate of missed opportunities to have closed it out sooner.
Murray, still searching for top form on the comeback from back surgery, looked to have the match all but won when he led 4-2 in the fourth set. But Kohlschreiber would not give in, imposing his game with a tenacious attacking display off his backhand wing, reeling off four straight games to steal the fourth set and force a decider.
Murray relinquished another lead in the fifth set, before finding himself staring down the barrel of defeat as Kohlschreiber went up a break. The Scot fought back to level, though, before play was suspended overnight due to darkness.
Resuming Sunday, the level of tennis was back to its best and Kohlschreiber rose to the occasion to thwart Murray on a match point chance at 8-9. Murray saved a break point himself a game later before taking his chance in the 22nd game of the set. With two match points, Murray rifled a backhand return winner to clinch victory in four hours and seven minutes.
“I was disappointed obviously that I wasn't able to finish in four sets,†said Murray, who went on to reach the semi-finals (l. to Nadal). “But at the same time, stopping the match probably helped me a little bit, because if I had played seven or eight more games, it probably wouldn't have been great.â€
4. Roger Federer d. Gael Monfils, 4-6, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5, 6-2, US Open quarter-finals
Gael Monfils was a man on a mission at the US Open. After reaching the Roland Garros quarter-finals, the Frenchman had endured an indifferent summer, but found his form at Flushing Meadows, sweeping through the first four rounds without dropping a set, including victories over Richard Gasquet and Grigor Dimitrov.
He made it 14 sets in a row to have Roger Federer on the ropes in the quarter-finals. But the Swiss is no stranger to drama on the Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The pair had contested a thrilling third-round match in Cincinnati just two weeks earlier and Monfils looked set for revenge as he took a commanding lead over five-time US Open champion Federer. However, with the likes of Lindsey Vonn, Gwen Stefani, Thierry Henry, Hugh Jackman and Anna Wintour in his corner, Federer mounted his comeback.
A break at the start of the third set got Federer back into the match, and the momentum looked to have shifted firmly in the Basel native’s direction as he broke at the start of the fourth. But there was more to come from Monfils. The flamboyant Frenchman broke back and found himself with two match points after a pair of unforced errors from Federer in the 10th game.
“I thought, 'This is it. This is last point, man. Just go down fighting, don’t miss an easy shot and let him have it. It’s fine,'†Federer revealed later. “But I served well and stayed in the match and somehow turned it around. I felt great in the fifth, though. I was really starting to play better and better as the match went on, and that’s a great feeling.â€
Indeed, after fighting back to clinch the fourth set, Federer stormed through the fifth in just 27 minutes, allowing Monfils only 11 points, to book his semi-final spot.
3. Kei Nishikori d. Stan Wawrinka, 3-6, 7-5, 7-6(7), 6-7(5), 6-4, US Open quarter-finals
It was arguably the making of Kei Nishikori. Two nights earlier, the 24 year old had tied for the latest-ever US Open finish as he edged Milos Raonic in five sets at 2:26am. But he found the strength he needed to win another five-setter, this time against Australian Open champion Stan Wawrinka, to make history as the first Japanese man since 1933 to reach a Grand Slam semi-finals.
Pretty impressive for someone who only decided to play the US Open at the last minute, having missed Toronto and Cincinnati with a toe injury.
Wawrinka capitalised on a slow start from Nishikori, but the Japanese found his rhythm in the second set and a break in the 12th game levelled the match. He nearly blew the third set, though. Serving at 5-3, 15/30, Nishikori attempted a ‘tweener off a Wawrinka lob. As his shot landed in the net, coach Michael Chang watched on despairingly as Wawrinka subsequently broke back.
Nishikori regrouped in time to save a break point in the 11th game and went on to claim the tie-break. After rallying from a 0-4 deficit in the fourth set tie-break, Nishikori found himself two points from victory at 5-5, but it was Wawrinka whose nerve held, winning the next two points to force a decider.
Wawrinka would later lament not being the braver player in the fifth set. It was a tiring Nishikori who went for his shots and was rewarded with a decisive break of serve in the 10th game to clinch victory in four hours and 15 minutes.
“I started a little bit tight, but my play was okay,†said Nishikori, who went on to stun Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals to reach his first Grand Slam final. “As the match went on, I was feeling more and more confident, especially in the third set. I don't know how I finished the game, but I'm very happy. I feel amazing.â€
2. Stan Wawrinka d. Novak Djokovic, 2-6, 6-4, 6-2, 3-6, 9-7, Australian Open quarter-finals
One year ago, we featured a thrilling five-set victory for Novak Djokovic over Stan Wawrinka in the Australian Open fourth round in our Best of 2013 breakdown. In 2014, it was time for Stan The Man’s revenge.
Putting behind him the heartbreaking Melbourne defeat of 2013, that saw Djokovic prevail 12-10 in the fifth set, not to mention a subsequent five-set semi-final defeat at the US Open and two straight-sets losses to Djokovic at the back end of the season, Wawrinka recorded the biggest win of his career over the Serb en route to lifting his maiden Grand Slam trophy at the Australian Open.
It took a near-perfect performance and nerves of steel from Wawrinka to end Djokovic’s three-year reign at Melbourne Park, which had seen the Serb win 25 matches in a row. Indeed, the Belgrade native had gone into the match on a 28-match winning streak, having not lost a match since the US Open final against Rafael Nadal the previous September.
With the match poised at two-sets-apiece, it was Djokovic who drew first blood in the decider as he broke for a 2-1 advantage. His lead was short-lived, though, as Wawrinka immediately struck back. The Swiss then held his nerve to save break points in the fifth and seventh games to stay ahead of Djokovic.
In the end, it was Djokovic who blinked. Serving at 7-8, 30/30, the Serb chased down a short ball but placed his forehand wide. Down match point, he came in behind his serve, but skewed the forehand volley wide.
"I'm really happy. I'm excited," said Wawrinka. "It was more or less the same feeling as during the match last year. The beginning was not that easy, but then I started to play really well. It was important to stay with me. After losing two times against him in Grand Slam in five sets, I'm really happy to take that one. It's great for me."
1. Novak Djokovic d. Roger Federer, 6-7(7), 6-4, 7-6(4), 5-7, 6-4, Wimbledon final
Djokovic was bidding to regain the World No. 1 spot in the Emirates ATP Rankings. Roger Federer was chasing an unprecedented eighth Wimbledon crown. It was never going to be boring.
DjokovicFederer possibly spied an opportunity, with Djokovic having lost five of his past six Grand Slam finals, most recently the Roland Garros championship match against Rafael Nadal. But despite a late surge from Federer, who was bidding for his first major title since lifting the Wimbledon trophy two years earlier (d. Murray), Djokovic held on to claim his second title at the All England Club.
The 27-year-old Djokovic looked set to wrap up victory in four sets. Having edged the third set in a tie-break, he strode out to a commanding 5-2 lead in the fourth. The right-hander served for the match at 5-3, but could not close it out as 17-time major champion Federer fought back.
The Serb was then denied on a match point in the following game as Federer hit an ace, and five straight games for the Swiss forced a deciding set, to the delight of the Centre Court crowd and HRH The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, who were cheering from the front row of the Royal Box.
Djokovic did not let Federer build momentum, though. The Serb missed three break point chances in the eighth game of the decider, but when presented with two more match points in the 10th game, he did not falter. He won the dramatic match in four minutes shy of four hours.
"I was hoping Roger was going to miss the first serve [on match point]. It didn't happen,†said Djokovic, remembering the fourth set. “That's why he has 17 Grand Slams and is the most successful player ever. In the important moments, he comes up with his best tennis. I had to regroup and find the energy to win the fifth set."
"It was a great final," said Federer, as his twin girls waved from the player box. "I can't believe I made it to five. It wasn't looking good there for a while. You know going into a match with Novak it's always going to be tough; we play athletic points. I can only say congratulations today for an amazing match, amazing tournament and well deserved."
5. Andy Murray d. Philipp Kohlschreiber 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 12-10, Roland Garros third round
Talk about late-night drama. With the score level at 7-7 in the fifth set, breaks squandered and cramp taking hold, the light finally went at Roland Garros. Andy Murray and Philipp Kohlschreiber both went to sleep that night pondering a spate of missed opportunities to have closed it out sooner.
Murray, still searching for top form on the comeback from back surgery, looked to have the match all but won when he led 4-2 in the fourth set. But Kohlschreiber would not give in, imposing his game with a tenacious attacking display off his backhand wing, reeling off four straight games to steal the fourth set and force a decider.
Murray relinquished another lead in the fifth set, before finding himself staring down the barrel of defeat as Kohlschreiber went up a break. The Scot fought back to level, though, before play was suspended overnight due to darkness.
Resuming Sunday, the level of tennis was back to its best and Kohlschreiber rose to the occasion to thwart Murray on a match point chance at 8-9. Murray saved a break point himself a game later before taking his chance in the 22nd game of the set. With two match points, Murray rifled a backhand return winner to clinch victory in four hours and seven minutes.
“I was disappointed obviously that I wasn't able to finish in four sets,†said Murray, who went on to reach the semi-finals (l. to Nadal). “But at the same time, stopping the match probably helped me a little bit, because if I had played seven or eight more games, it probably wouldn't have been great.â€
4. Roger Federer d. Gael Monfils, 4-6, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5, 6-2, US Open quarter-finals
Gael Monfils was a man on a mission at the US Open. After reaching the Roland Garros quarter-finals, the Frenchman had endured an indifferent summer, but found his form at Flushing Meadows, sweeping through the first four rounds without dropping a set, including victories over Richard Gasquet and Grigor Dimitrov.
He made it 14 sets in a row to have Roger Federer on the ropes in the quarter-finals. But the Swiss is no stranger to drama on the Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The pair had contested a thrilling third-round match in Cincinnati just two weeks earlier and Monfils looked set for revenge as he took a commanding lead over five-time US Open champion Federer. However, with the likes of Lindsey Vonn, Gwen Stefani, Thierry Henry, Hugh Jackman and Anna Wintour in his corner, Federer mounted his comeback.
A break at the start of the third set got Federer back into the match, and the momentum looked to have shifted firmly in the Basel native’s direction as he broke at the start of the fourth. But there was more to come from Monfils. The flamboyant Frenchman broke back and found himself with two match points after a pair of unforced errors from Federer in the 10th game.
“I thought, 'This is it. This is last point, man. Just go down fighting, don’t miss an easy shot and let him have it. It’s fine,'†Federer revealed later. “But I served well and stayed in the match and somehow turned it around. I felt great in the fifth, though. I was really starting to play better and better as the match went on, and that’s a great feeling.â€
Indeed, after fighting back to clinch the fourth set, Federer stormed through the fifth in just 27 minutes, allowing Monfils only 11 points, to book his semi-final spot.
3. Kei Nishikori d. Stan Wawrinka, 3-6, 7-5, 7-6(7), 6-7(5), 6-4, US Open quarter-finals
It was arguably the making of Kei Nishikori. Two nights earlier, the 24 year old had tied for the latest-ever US Open finish as he edged Milos Raonic in five sets at 2:26am. But he found the strength he needed to win another five-setter, this time against Australian Open champion Stan Wawrinka, to make history as the first Japanese man since 1933 to reach a Grand Slam semi-finals.
Pretty impressive for someone who only decided to play the US Open at the last minute, having missed Toronto and Cincinnati with a toe injury.
Wawrinka capitalised on a slow start from Nishikori, but the Japanese found his rhythm in the second set and a break in the 12th game levelled the match. He nearly blew the third set, though. Serving at 5-3, 15/30, Nishikori attempted a ‘tweener off a Wawrinka lob. As his shot landed in the net, coach Michael Chang watched on despairingly as Wawrinka subsequently broke back.
Nishikori regrouped in time to save a break point in the 11th game and went on to claim the tie-break. After rallying from a 0-4 deficit in the fourth set tie-break, Nishikori found himself two points from victory at 5-5, but it was Wawrinka whose nerve held, winning the next two points to force a decider.
Wawrinka would later lament not being the braver player in the fifth set. It was a tiring Nishikori who went for his shots and was rewarded with a decisive break of serve in the 10th game to clinch victory in four hours and 15 minutes.
“I started a little bit tight, but my play was okay,†said Nishikori, who went on to stun Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals to reach his first Grand Slam final. “As the match went on, I was feeling more and more confident, especially in the third set. I don't know how I finished the game, but I'm very happy. I feel amazing.â€
2. Stan Wawrinka d. Novak Djokovic, 2-6, 6-4, 6-2, 3-6, 9-7, Australian Open quarter-finals
One year ago, we featured a thrilling five-set victory for Novak Djokovic over Stan Wawrinka in the Australian Open fourth round in our Best of 2013 breakdown. In 2014, it was time for Stan The Man’s revenge.
Putting behind him the heartbreaking Melbourne defeat of 2013, that saw Djokovic prevail 12-10 in the fifth set, not to mention a subsequent five-set semi-final defeat at the US Open and two straight-sets losses to Djokovic at the back end of the season, Wawrinka recorded the biggest win of his career over the Serb en route to lifting his maiden Grand Slam trophy at the Australian Open.
It took a near-perfect performance and nerves of steel from Wawrinka to end Djokovic’s three-year reign at Melbourne Park, which had seen the Serb win 25 matches in a row. Indeed, the Belgrade native had gone into the match on a 28-match winning streak, having not lost a match since the US Open final against Rafael Nadal the previous September.
With the match poised at two-sets-apiece, it was Djokovic who drew first blood in the decider as he broke for a 2-1 advantage. His lead was short-lived, though, as Wawrinka immediately struck back. The Swiss then held his nerve to save break points in the fifth and seventh games to stay ahead of Djokovic.
In the end, it was Djokovic who blinked. Serving at 7-8, 30/30, the Serb chased down a short ball but placed his forehand wide. Down match point, he came in behind his serve, but skewed the forehand volley wide.
"I'm really happy. I'm excited," said Wawrinka. "It was more or less the same feeling as during the match last year. The beginning was not that easy, but then I started to play really well. It was important to stay with me. After losing two times against him in Grand Slam in five sets, I'm really happy to take that one. It's great for me."
1. Novak Djokovic d. Roger Federer, 6-7(7), 6-4, 7-6(4), 5-7, 6-4, Wimbledon final
Djokovic was bidding to regain the World No. 1 spot in the Emirates ATP Rankings. Roger Federer was chasing an unprecedented eighth Wimbledon crown. It was never going to be boring.
DjokovicFederer possibly spied an opportunity, with Djokovic having lost five of his past six Grand Slam finals, most recently the Roland Garros championship match against Rafael Nadal. But despite a late surge from Federer, who was bidding for his first major title since lifting the Wimbledon trophy two years earlier (d. Murray), Djokovic held on to claim his second title at the All England Club.
The 27-year-old Djokovic looked set to wrap up victory in four sets. Having edged the third set in a tie-break, he strode out to a commanding 5-2 lead in the fourth. The right-hander served for the match at 5-3, but could not close it out as 17-time major champion Federer fought back.
The Serb was then denied on a match point in the following game as Federer hit an ace, and five straight games for the Swiss forced a deciding set, to the delight of the Centre Court crowd and HRH The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, who were cheering from the front row of the Royal Box.
Djokovic did not let Federer build momentum, though. The Serb missed three break point chances in the eighth game of the decider, but when presented with two more match points in the 10th game, he did not falter. He won the dramatic match in four minutes shy of four hours.
"I was hoping Roger was going to miss the first serve [on match point]. It didn't happen,†said Djokovic, remembering the fourth set. “That's why he has 17 Grand Slams and is the most successful player ever. In the important moments, he comes up with his best tennis. I had to regroup and find the energy to win the fifth set."
"It was a great final," said Federer, as his twin girls waved from the player box. "I can't believe I made it to five. It wasn't looking good there for a while. You know going into a match with Novak it's always going to be tough; we play athletic points. I can only say congratulations today for an amazing match, amazing tournament and well deserved."
