2013 Tennis Thread

[Smallville22]

Heartbreak for Hewitt as Youzhny wins five-set thriller

Russia's Mikhail Youzhny ended Lleyton Hewitt's magical run at the US Open and advanced to the quarter-finals with a 6-3 3-6 6-7(3) 6-4 7-5 victory over the Australian veteran.
Hewitt, who stunned sixth seed Juan Martin Del Potro in the second round, squandered a 4-1 lead in the fourth set, and a 5-2 advantage in the fifth as Youzhny battled back to seal victory in three hours and 58 minutes.
"It was a great atmosphere," said Youzhny, the 21st seed at Flushing Meadows. "Finally, I was lucky. The crowd was great and gave me the power to beat Lleyton today."
The 32-year-old Australian had looked headed for his first US Open quarter-finals berth since 2006 after he ran through the third-set tiebreaker against an error-prone Youzhny.
Hewitt then broke Youzhny's serve in the opening game of the fourth set and had all the momentum. But the Russian fought back to break Hewitt in the seventh game, then repeated the feat to be serving for the set at 5-4.
Hewitt and Youzhny traded breaks to start the deciding set. The Australian fell heavily on his left elbow, drawing ***** and requiring a medical timeout in the fourth game but still managed to get himself to within two points of clinching the match.
But Youzhny showed his resolve and won five consecutive games to seal the match and secure a quarter-finals showdown with top seed Novak Djokovic.

 

[Smallville22]

Djokovic reaches quarters in emphatic style

Top seed Novak Djokovic demolished unseeded Spaniard Marcel Granollers 6-3 6-0 6-0 to charge into the quarter-finals of the US Open.
Djokovic, the 2011 US Open champion and runner-up last year, won the last 13 games to finish off the fourth-round match in 79 minutes.
The 26-year-old Serb was dominant in every phase and excelled particularly from the service line, winning the first 25 points of the match on his serve.
"I played one of the better matches I've ever played here in my life," the world number one, who has yet to lose a set in the tournament, said on court. "I had everything working, every part of my game and that's a great encouragement."
Djokovic advanced to a quarter-finals clash against Russia's Mikhail Youzhny, a 6-3 3-6 6-7(3) 6-4 7-5 winner against Australian Lleyton Hewitt.
"Today, the second and third set have been some of the best tennis that I've played on Arthur Ashe in my career," said Djokovic, who has flashed some wondrous form on the centre court over the years.
"I was wishing to be more aggressive as the tournament progresses and to be able to stay committed to play every point, to win every point, regardless of what's the score."
Djokovic was sublime from the service line, winning the first 25 points on his serve despite notching only two aces in the whirlwind victory.
The world number one cracked 34 winners, dividing them almost evenly between both wings and won a remarkable 28 of 30 points he contested at the net.
Djokovic said he has been spending a lot of time on varying his ****** and improving his net play.
"I know I can defend well and I have a good transition, but also it's obvious that my game is based on a baseline," he said.
"I have many opportunities during the match to come to the net and finish out the point earlier.
"That's one of the things on the practice agenda that we have with our team. We are working on the serve, getting more precise, efficient, and using the opportunities to just make a winner and come to the net.
The new-look Djokovic, rushing to the net to finish off quick points, could prove to be an undeniable ***** as he takes aim on a second US Open title.
"It's a great joy. It's a fantastic feeling when you're playing this well," said Australian Open champion Djokovic.
"You love spending time on the court and experiencing such great zone where you are at that moment."

 

[Smallville22]

Women's quarters show fitness key to longevity

Victoria Azarenka paid tribute to the old brigade at Flushing Meadows after she joined five players over the age of 30 in the women's quarter-finals of the US Open.
The second-seeded Belarusian withstood a stern challenge from Serbia's Ana Ivanovic to post a 4-6 6-3 6-4 victory and ensure a last eight meeting with unseeded Slovakian Daniela Hantuchova on Wednesday.
Quarter-finalists Hantuchova, Serena Williams, China's Li Na anbd Italians Roberta Vinci and Flavia Pennetta are all 30-plus, and the 24-year old Azarenka said their lengthy careers were a reward for their high levels of fitness.
"Everybody's taking much more care of their bodies to be able to play longer," said Azarenka. "So much more fitness has been introduced, nutrition, all those components that women and men are paying so much more attention to.
"It's a great thing if we have longer careers."
Azarenka was unconcerned by having to play on consecutive days after rain ****** her fourth round match, originally set for Monday, to be postponed.
Rather, she was focused on advancing to a second consecutive US Open final against reigning champion Williams thanks to improved serving and her renowned fighting spirit.
"I have never aced so much in my life," said Azarenka, who has recorded nine aces through four rounds. "I'm not a big server, but I think it's getting better.
"Daniela is playing incredible tennis right now, so it's going to be another tough battle of taking your chances, playing your game and being in control.
Wednesday's other quarter-final will be the all-Italian matchup between Vinci and Pennetta.
"It is going to be a really tough match for both of us," Pennetta said. "I've known her since 20 years or more because we live almost in the same place. It was just 35 to 45 kilometres, my house from her house.
"I'm supposed to lose because she is better than me in this moment. I don't have nothing to lose."

 

[Smallville22]

Awesome Serena doles out double bagel to reach semis

Defending champion Serena Williams walloped Spain's Carla Suarez Navarro 6-0 6-0 to race into the semi-finals of the US Open.
Top seed Williams served up the dreaded "double-bagel" in a quick-fire 52 minutes to set up a clash with fifth seed Li Na, who earlier became China's first US Open semi-finalist by beating Russian Ekaterina Makarova.
"Honestly she's a great player," said Williams, blaming windy conditions for the Spaniard's plight on her 25th birthday.
"The conditions today were so tough. It was not her best tennis today."
The outcome may have been more about the world number one being at something close to her best, however.
Williams won 88 percent of her first serves, rifled in four aces, smacked 20 winners to three for her opponent, and won 53 points to just 18 for the 18th seed.
"I played really good. I was just more focused than anything," she added, stopping short of calling it her best. "I like to believe there is room for improvement."
It was only the second love-love victory in a US Open women's quarter-final dating back to 1968, and first since Martina Navratilova subjected Manuela Maleeva of Bulgaria to the same embarrassment in 1989.
At 31, Williams is campaigning to become the oldest US
Open women's winner since tennis turned professional in 1968.
She has lost just 13 games from her five matches so far and said she has been balancing fun with work at Flushing Meadows.
"I'm having a blast this week," said Serena, who is also still alive in women's doubles with older ****** Venus.
"I have just really been enjoying my matches. For me, I have to stay in that moment of fun, but intensity, but calm. If I can try to do those three things, it works out."
Suarez Navarro's consolation was a $325,000 check for being eliminated from her first US Open quarter-final.
"I just want to go there and enjoy, but Serena was playing really, really good. I do everything I can," she said.
The Spaniard, who had ousted eighth-seeded Angelique Kerber of Germany in the fourth round, said the blustery conditions had made her task even more difficult.
"Serena is a strong player. When I play with the wind against me, I have no chance," said Suarez Navarro, who had hoped to rebound after the lightning-quick, 19-minute first set.
"I was thinking the situation can change, another set is a new set. But obviously, no."

 

[Smallville22]

Hewitt learning losses not the end of the world

Lleyton Hewitt's five-set loss to Russian Mikhail Youzhny at the US Open still stung, but the Australian veteran said having his ****** around him lessened the pain of defeat and helped him get his priorities right.
Hewitt's wife, Australian actress Bec Cartwright, and his three ******** were all at Flushing Meadows during his magical run to the fourth round.
After losing to Youzhny 6-3 3-6 6-7(3) 6-4 7-5 on Louis Armstrong Stadium, Hewitt said defeats had become easier to stomach since he became a ****** to seven-year-old Mia, four-year-old Cruz and two-year-old Ava.
"Every loss still hurts, but it puts everything in perspective," he said. "Your priorities have changed.
"I still get in and prepare for matches as well as possible, but obviously you don't dwell on matches quite as much because you have other things to worry about."
Hewitt led 4-1 in the fourth set and 5-2 in the fifth before letting Youzhny off the hook. He said the physical exertion required to beat Argentina's sixth seed Juan Martin Del Potro in the second round two was still taking a toll.
"It's great to come into the tournament and have a tough draw against a quality player in second round, and beat him," the 32-year-old said.
"It was always going to be hard physically to keep coming out match after match, because in the second round that obviously took a lot out of me to get through del Potro.
"I left it all out there this week, week and a half."
Hewitt was closing in on his first quarter-final berth in New York since 2006 when he had Youzhny on the ropes in the fourth and fifth sets. He was two points from the match in the fifth.
"It could have gone either way," he said. "There was a lot of momentum changes, right from the start. It's disappointing to lose but there's not a whole lot more I could have done."
Hewitt turned his attention to the Davis Cup tie between Australia and Poland in Warsaw from September. The winner will earn a place in the world group next year.
Hewitt expected Jerzy Janowicz to play despite Poland's number one complaining of a back injury after his first-round singles loss at Flushing Meadows.
"Janowicz is a quality player," Hewitt said. "If he was that injured he wouldn't have played doubles here. It was one of the silliest things I have seen."

 

[Smallville22]

Wawrinka powers into quarters with win over Berdych

Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka powered through a high-quality match against Czech Tomas Berdych to reach the quarter-finals of the US Open.
The ninth seed beat Berdych 3-6 6-1 7-6(6) 6-2 in two hours and 47 minutes on Louis Armstrong Stadium.
Wawrinka, who has had to live in the shadow of compatriot Roger Federer back home, was blown off the court by Berdych in the first set, but in a match featuring superb ball striking and a combined 68 winners, Wawrinka's consistency proved the difference against the fifth-seeded Czech.
He closed out the match by breaking Berdych's serve for the sixth time to move into a quarter-final against Britain's defending champion Andy Murray or Russia's Denis Istomin.
"It's always tough to play against Tomas," Wawrinka said.
"He always puts you under pressure. I'm just really, really happy. Tonight is a night I will never forget."

 

[Smallville22]

Murray grinds past Istomin into quarter-finals

Defending champion Andy Murray ground his way past Uzbekistan's Denis Istomin with a 6-7(5) 6-1 6-4 6-4 victory to reach the quarter-finals of the US Open where he will face Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka.
Murray's consistency in the top tournaments is such that he has now reached the quarter-finals in each of his last 10 grand slam tournaments.
But Istomin, ranked 65th in the world, pushed Murray hard and the Wimbledon champion was glad to have made it through without a major scare.
"I was just very happy to get it done because he had chances at the end of the third set to get ahead," Murray said.
"But I'm in the quarter-finals of a Slam. That is not an easy thing to do and the matches are going to get tougher. I'll have to up my game," he said.
The Briton struggled to get out of the blocks in the first set and trailed 5-3 after two forehand errors handed Istomin the break in surprisingly cool and slightly gusty conditions.
Although Murray immediately broke back, he lost out in the tiebreak, with a double fault and a slice into the net allowing Istomin to serve out the set.
Istomin, decked out in luminous orange with similarly garish yellow-rimmed glasses, proved to be a determined opponent.
After levelling the match, Murray displayed some clear signs of frustration in the third set but finally took control by breaking Istomin in a marathon seventh game after the enterprising Uzbek had saved three break points.
There was never any doubt about who would win from then and the Scot wrapped up the match in a little over three hours.
Murray said the weather and wind in Arthur Ashe Stadium had been a factor in his slow start to the night match.
"It was extremely cold on the court, very windy. Often when you sort of heat up and then in between sets or if you have quite a long break, you cool down pretty quickly," he said.
"It was very, very different conditions to the last few days where it's been very humid and you have been sweating a lot," he said.
Istomin's decision to play the ball between his legs on three occasions, once when he had a perfectly playable shot, may have pleased the crowd but raised some eyebrows and surprised his opponent.
"I think it was 5-4 in the first set when he had a pretty easy shot. I personally wouldn't try something like that at that stage, but he did, and yeah, it was a bit surprising," he said.
Wawrinka, who beat Tomas Berdych on Tuesday, is up next for Murray and he knows he is in for a test.
"He has improved quite a lot this year, he has less weaknesses and is more experienced.
"He has a very good backhand, serves well, he's solid at the net and makes a lot of returns. He makes it tricky for you.
"He is a top player and it will be a very tough match for me," he said.

 

[Smallville22]

Wawrinka carries Swiss hopes in absence of Federer

Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka spared a thought for an absent countryman after he powered through a high-quality match against Czech Tomas Berdych to reach the quarter-finals of the US Open.
The ninth seed beat the fifth seeded Berdych 3-6 6-1 7-6(6) 6-2 in two hours and 47 minutes on Louis Armstrong Stadium.
Wawrinka, the player constantly living in the shadow of 17-times Grand Slam winner Roger Federer in his homeland, was blown off the court by Berdych in the first set.
But in a match featuring superb ball striking and a combined 68 winners, Wawrinka's consistency proved the difference against the tall Czech.
He closed out the match by breaking Berdych's serve for the sixth time to set up a quarter-final against Britain's defending champion Andy Murray.
It is the first time Wawrinka has progressed further at a major championship that Federer, who was ousted by Spain's Tommy Robredo in the fourth round.
"It's a different situation, for sure," Wawrinka said. "I'm really happy for myself this year, with what I'm doing right now, but I would prefer to have him still playing in the tournament.
"I watched his match yesterday and it was not that good. I was sad for him, because he's a good friend and I like when he's winning grand slam titles. I hope he will come back stronger."
Wawrinka said he was in career-best form ahead of his clash with Murray.
"I think I play my best tennis ever," he said. "Andy is a really good player. We practice a lot together.
We have some really great battles when we play each other. I like to play him. I like his game. I think if I start well, if I stay with him, I have a good chance.
"I need to start well to show him I'm going to be there."

 

[Smallville22]

Pennetta triumphs in all-Italian quarter-final

Flavia Pennetta was the last Italian standing at a US Open that has celebrated experience after upsetting 10th-seeded compatriot Roberta Vinci in straight sets to reach her first grand slam semi-final on Wednesday.
The 31-year-old Pennetta's 6-4 6-1 triumph secured her spot in the last four of the year's final grand slam against either second seed Victoria Azarenka or Daniela Hantuchova, who are scheduled to playing later on Wednesday.
A US Open record five 30-somethings had reached the last 16, including 30-year-old Vinci, and Pennetta's victory made it at least a trio into the semi-finals.
"I think we just keep playing. Before the career of the woman was shorter, they retired early," Pennetta said about the rise of the 30-somethings at Flushing Meadows.
"It's good to stay physical, in a good way, and play this good tennis at this age. I'm proud of me now."
Hantuchova, 30, of Slovakia is another of the mature set with a chance to advance, while the other semi-final has already been set with defending champion Serena Williams going against fellow 31-year-old Li Na of China.
The good-natured match between the Italian friends who have competed against one another since they were 10 turned into a rout by the second set, which Pennetta raced through in 24 minutes against an error-prone Vinci.
"It was of course a special day for us," said Vinci, who is part of the world number one ranked women's doubles team with fellow Italian Sara Errani, who is still busy defending their US Open double title.
"Is a great chance to go to the semi-final. This time she won, but I think that I'm happy, too, about this tournament."
Following the all-Italian women's quarter-final was a men's last eight showdown between fourth-seeded David Ferrer of Spain and France's Richard Gasquet.
Rounding out the Day 10 schedule at the US National Tennis Center was a quarter-final tilt between second seed Rafa Nadal and his fellow-Spaniard Tommy Robredo, the 19th seed, following the Azarenka-Hantuchova match.
Pennetta, ranked 83rd as she works her way back from a wrist injury that curtailed her 2012 season and made her miss last year's US Open, has continued a strong history of success at Flushing Meadows.
After advancing the quarters in 2008, 2009 and 2011, Pennetta has not dropped a set in her march to the semi-finals, dropping just 25 games in her five victories.
Pennetta had no specific answer to explain her affinity for the US National Tennis Center.
"I don't know. I just enjoy to play here," she said.
Against her Italian Fed Cup team mate, Pennetta turned a close match into a rout as she induced 28 unforced errors from Vinci, who kept pressing the action without great success, winning just 18 of 34 points she contested at the net.
Their quarter of their draw was something of a festival for the Italians.
In playing Pennetta, Vinci was facing her third successive compatriot, having beaten unseeded Camila Giorgi and Karin Knapp in previous rounds.
Pennetta eliminated fourth seed Errani in the second round.
This marked the sixth year Italy has had a player in the quarter-finals, and second year in a row that two Italians had reached the quarters.

 

[Smallville22]

Gasquet upsets Ferrer to reach first Grand Slam semi-final since 2007

Frenchman Richard Gasquet reached his first grand slam semi-final in six years with a 6-3 6-1 4-6 2-6 6-3 upset win over Spain's David Ferrer at the US Open on Wednesday.
Playing in just the second grand slam quarter-final of his career, eighth-seeded Gasquet used his trademark backhand to near perfection as he closed out fourth-seed Ferrer in three hours and 23 minutes at Flushing Meadows.
"I thought he was a little bit nervous in the wind, so I played on that," said Gasquet. "I was a little bit tired but the last game was amazing for me. It's wonderful for me to be in the semis. It means a lot."
Gasquet will play either second-seed Rafa Nadal or 19th-seeded Tommy Robredo, both of Spain, for a place in Monday's final.

 

[Smallville22]

Pennetta proud of hard climb to last four in New York

The U.S. Open has been a stomping ground for Italian female tennis players in recent years but Flavia Pennetta's journey to the last four has been one of the more unexpected successes for the Azzurri.
Italy has had a woman in the last eight for each of the past six events at Flushing Meadows and this year it was unseeded Pennetta who beat 10th seed compatriot Roberta Vinci to reach the first grand slam semi-final of her career.
It was the fourth quarter-final appearance at Flushing Meadows for Pennetta but the first that she has won and comes a year after she needed major wrist surgery.
"These are the two most beautiful weeks of my life, I feel like a player again after all the problems that I've had," said Pennetta, who also had to deal with a hamstring injury in June.
"I feel great at the moment, New York is a place that is truly incredible for me, it is so full of good memories."
After struggling to get back to full form in the first half of this year, the 31-year-old entered Wimbledon ranked 166th in the world but a run to the fourth round indicated she was on the way back.
So far at the U.S. Open she has done enough to secure a top 40 spot in the rankings given straight-set wins over American Nicole Gibbs, compatriot and fourth-seed Sara Errani, Russia's Svetlana Kuznetsova and Romanian Simona Halep.
Next up for Pennetta is either Belarussian second seed Victoria Azarenka or Slovakia's Daniela Hantuchova but for a moment on Wednesday she was able to reflect on her hard road back, remembering how she spent last year's tournament, a week after the operation on her right wrist.
"I was at Brindisi, recovering from the operation and I was with my parents and watching some of the tennis on the television," said Pennetta.
"I was pleased that Sara was having an excellent tournament but on the other hand I was very unhappy that I wasn't here.
"I have to say that I only watched to see how the Italians were doing and then switched it off, I didn't follow all the matches and results."
She did, of course, wonder about her chances of getting back in the mix at a venue where she had reached the last eight in 2008, 2009 and 2011.
"I hoped I could do it. It didn't come so easy at the start of the year for me but of course I wanted to get back and I hoped I could," she said.
"I just try to keep working and working in the same way every day. I starting to feel more my forehand, my backhand. Everything starting to feel more normal in the way it was before the injury," she said.
"And I think I've played really good tennis here, especially with Sara and with Kuznetsova. Every day has felt much better," she added.
"I'm proud of myself now. I'm 31, and physically I feel good at last. I'm in my first semi-final in a grand slam. There is nothing else to say."

 

[Smallville22]

Gasquet reflects on his Nadal win, as a **********

Frenchman Richard Gasquet joked about his only victory against Rafa Nadal, his likely next opponent, coming at the tender age of 13 after he marched into the last four of the US Open.
asquet, 27, reached the second Grand Slam semi-final of his career with a tough 6-3 6-1 4-6 2-6 6-3 victory over Spain's fourth-seeded David Ferrer.
The Frenchman appeared fatigued when Ferrer levelled the match at two sets all but his scintillating groundstrokes, especially his renowned one-handed backhand, gave him the upper hand in an entertaining match lasting three hours 23 minutes.
Gasquet moved into a semi-final against either second-seeded Nadal or fellow Spaniard Tommy Robredo and he fully expected to face Nadal, against whom he has a 0-10 head-to-head record.
A YouTube clip titled 'Rafael Nadal 13 Years Old,' featuring the Spaniard playing against Gasquet as a junior, has attracted more than 600,000 viewers. Gasquet has been one of them.
"I saw on YouTube that video sometimes," the Frenchman said.
"People are talking about that video when I played against Rafa. On YouTube I can see I'm winning against him, so I don't believe it sometimes.
"It was a match in Tarbes, one of the biggest tournaments for the younger ******** under 14. It's good to win at under 14, but it is better to win as a pro."
Gasquet had clear memories of that junior match against Nadal.
"I didn't know him when I played him, when I was 13 years old," he said. "But he was already fighting a lot already. He was already running so much. I remember I won a set 6-4, and I told my ****** he's a big fighter.
"I didn't lie. I was true. In the future, this one is the biggest player in the world."
Gasquet's semi-final appearance will be his first at a major since he lost to Roger Federer at Wimbledon in 2007. Fatigue could be an issue for the Frenchman, following his back-to-back five-set wins against Canadian Milos Raonic and Ferrer.
"Right now, for sure, I'm a little bit tired," Gasquet said.
"But I have two days to recover. That makes a difference for me."

 

[Smallville22]

Azarenka punishes Hantuchova to reach last four

Second seed Victoria Azarenka punished a series of errors by Daniela Hantuchova to win 6-2 6-3 and set up a US Open semi-final clash with Italy's Flavia Pennetta.
Belarusian Azarenka, the beaten finalist at Flushing Meadows last year, took control after breaking the Slovak with a superb backhand to go 5-2 up in the first set.
Hantuchova, ranked 48th in the world, made a determined start to the second set though, holding her serve and then going 2-0 up, breaking thanks to well-placed volley.
But Azarenka, who has reached the quarter-finals or better in eight of the last 11 Grand Slams, hit back immediately with a break which rattled her opponent, who proceeded to make a series of unforced errors.
Azarenka had three break points in the fifth game but lost them all, only for Hantuchova to double-fault twice at deuce and gift her the game and a 3-2 lead.
The Belarusian had service struggles of her own and gave Hantuchova a glimmer of hope with a double-fault that gave up a break to make it 5-3, but again the Slovak was unable to capitalize and Azarenka ran out the comfortable winner.
"It was a little bit tricky out there with the wind and Daniela is the kind of player who doesn't give you much rhythm," said the former world number one.
"So you really have to try to make it happen in one or two shots in the beginning, so that's what I was trying to do."
It was a disjointed game in many respects, which Azarenka said hampered her ability to find her flow.
"There weren't many long rallies and that sometimes makes it more difficult to get into the match. But I felt like I was really good in the important moments," she added.
"In the first set, towards the end, I really raised my level to where I wanted to and that was the key to this match."
Hantuchova, who was in her first US Open Grand Slam quarter-final since 2002, knows she will need to find greater consistency and limit her errors if she is to go further next time.
"I didn't feel like I played my best tennis today, which is unfortunate because I had many chances and didn't hold my serves when I needed to," she told Reuters.
"Throughout the whole tournament my serve was working great but just not tonight.
"I am very disappointed with the performance, because I know what I can do and how I can play. I came into the match feeling confident, it just didn't work out today."

 

[Smallville22]

Dominant Nadal steamrolls Robredo to reach semis

Rafa Nadal steamrolled compatriot Tommy Robredo 6-0 6-2 6-2 to move into the semi-finals of the US Open at Flushing Meadows.
The second-seeded Spaniard needed just an hour and 40 minutes to get the job done on Arthur Ashe Stadium against Robredo, who had upset Swiss master Roger Federer in the fourth round.
However, he was no match for Nadal, receiving an ironic cheer when he finally won a game at 0-2 in the second set.
Nadal will play Frenchman Richard Gasquet in the semi-finals on Saturday.
Robredo won the first point with an unreturnable serve but that was about as good as it got for the 31-year-old, who was constantly on the back foot as Nadal dictated play with heavy forehands and only 15 unforced errors for the match.
Nadal has yet to lose his serve in the tournament and did not face a break point against Robredo.
Robredo showed glimpses of form early in the third set but when Nadal broke in the fifth game the writing was on the wall.
Nadal broke serve for the seventh time before sealing the lopsided affair when Robredo sent a forehand long.
"I think I played my best match in the US Open this year," Nadal said. "Playing a little bit better every day is great. I am in the semi-finals and very happy to be here."
Earlier on Wednesday, Gasquet, who has a 0-10 record against Nadal, had recalled beating the Spaniard when they were 13-year-olds.
"I think I lost 6-4 in the third," confirmed Nadal.
"It was one of the first tournaments for me to play internationally, under 14. Richard was unbelievable. He's a nice guy and a good friend. We started together as **** and it's great to see him in the semi-finals in the US Open."

 

[Smallville22]

Murray expects Wawrinka to cause headaches in quarters

Defending champion Andy Murray fears Stanislas Wawrinka has developed the confidence required to cause an upset in their US Open quarter-final at Flushing Meadows on Thursday.
Murray owns an 8-5 all-time record against the ninth-seeded Swiss but he lost to Wawrinka in their only meeting this year, a last-16 clash at the Monte Carlo Masters.
The British third seed said once a player of Wawrinka's calibre reaches a certain level of technical competence, confidence becomes the most important quality.
"If someone goes on the court not thinking they can win against you, then the match is as good as done," said Murray.
"When they believe they can win, in an individual sport when you're just playing against one person, then you can cause an upset. It's as simple as that.
"Stan has improved quite a bit this year. He hasn't changed any of his strokes, technically. You'd expect most of it to be confidence."
Murray and Wawrinka will meet in Thursday's day session on Arthur Ashe Stadium while the night session features top-seeded Novak Djokovic and 21st-seeded Russian Mikhail Youzhny in the day's other quarter-final.
Serbian Djokovic claimed he was in stellar form after he demolished Spaniard Marcel Granollers 6-3 6-0 6-0 in the fourth round on Tuesday.
"I had some great matches in the past that I can compare this one to," he said. "Definitely the second and third sets have been some of the best tennis that I've played on Arthur Ashe in my career."
"It all comes at a great time for me."
Wawrinka said his self-belief escalated when he pushed Djokovic to the limit in a five-set match at the Australian Open in January.
"Andy is a really good player and we practice a lot together," he said. "It's usually a tough match but I like to play him. I like his game.
"If I can start well, if I can stay with him, I have a good chance. I need to start the match well to show him I'm going to be there."

 

[Smallville22]

Bryan twins fall short in bid for calendar-year Grand Slam

American twins Bob and Mike Bryan had their calendar-year Grand Slam hopes dashed at the US Open and then said no duo will likely ever accomplish the feat again.
The top-seeded brothers, who won this year's Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon men's doubles titles, fell 3-6 6-3 6-4 to Czech Radek Stepanek and India's Leander Paes in the semi-finals of the men's doubles at Flushing Meadows.
The hype surrounding the brothers' attempt to secure the first doubles calendar Slam since Australia's Ken McGregor and Frank Sedgman in 1951 came to a halt after one hour and 51 minutes on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
"Realistically it will probably never happen again," Mike said. "The margins are just so fine in doubles. There are just too many great teams out there and too much can go wrong. A lot has to go right to be in that position."
The brothers, who became the most successful men's pair in Grand Slam history in January when they won their 13th doubles title together at the Australian Open, said they were anxious in the lead-up to the year's final Grand Slam.
"I don't know about Mike, but I have had a tough time ******** in the last couple of weeks," Bob said.
His ******* added: "It's been in the back of your mind the whole way. Once you get out there, you try to put it aside. You win a set and then you're seeing that, okay, you're three sets away from a Grand Slam.
"Every point just becomes a little bit bigger, every moment. It makes it a little tougher."
Bob denied the pressure got to them. After cruising through the first set, they fell behind 1-5 in the third set before a comeback started too late.
"Once you get on the court you're just boom, game plan, focus. It definitely didn't get to us," said Bob.
"It was just that they hit some great shots. In one sense we're disappointed. In another sense, we're relieved and we can start the next chapter.
"We're competitors and we **** to lose, and we knew what was riding on this match. But it's a little bit of a relief when you get to exhale for the first time in a few months.

 

[Smallville22]

Davenport heads list of Hall of Fame nominations

American former world number one Lindsay Davenport, a winner of three Grand Slam singles titles, headlined the list of nominees up for induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
Davenport was announced as a nominee along with two-times Grand Slam winner Mary Pierce of France and 1994 Wimbledon champion Conchita Martinez of Spain.
The 37-year-old Davenport produced 55 singles titles and a 753-194 record over a 17-year career that included Grand Slam titles at the 1998 US Open, 1999 Wimbledon, and 2000 Australian Open.
She also won a gold medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and had a 33-3 record in Fed Cup competition for the United States.
Frenchwoman Pierce, known for her hard-hitting game, won 18 singles titles while compiling a 511-237 record that included triumphs at the 1995 Australian Open and 2000 French Open.
She was also on France's Fed Cup team for 10 years, playing an important role in helping the nation win their two titles in 1997 and 2003.
She was also a member of the French Olympic Team in 1992, 1996, and 2004.
Martinez, 41, had 33 singles titles during her career, none bigger than her win over Martina Navratilova in the 1994 singles final at the All England Club to become the only Spanish woman to ever win the title.
Also nominated in the recent player category is Dutchwoman Chantal Vandierendonck, 48, who became the first ITF World Champion for wheelchair tennis in 1991.
Nominated in the contributor category for their work toward the growth and development of the sport are: tennis coach Nick Bollettieri, who has guided 10 players to world No. 1 status; Jane Brown Grimes, who has held executive leadership roles with the WTA, USTA, and the International Tennis Hall of Fame; and British tennis broadcaster and author John Barrett.
The Hall of Fame's 2014 class will be announced early next year and an induction ceremony will be held on July 12.
Located in Newport, Rhode Island, the International Tennis Hall of Fame has inducted 235 people representing 20 countries since 1955.

 

[Smallville22]

Murray title defence ended by dominant Wawrinka

Defending champion Andy Murray was the latest Grand Slam winner to be bundled out of the US Open, thrashed in straight sets by Stanislas Wawrinka in a quarter-finals shocker.
Ninth-seeded Wawrinka dominated an out of sorts Murray 6-4 6-3 6-2 in just over two hours, winning the battle from the baseline and the net against the Wimbledon champion.
The victory on a wind-blown Arthur Ashe Stadium court lifted the 28-year-old Swiss to his first Grand Slam semi-final.
The surging Wawrinka, who raised his 2013 record to 41-15 with the upset win, raised both arms in triumph after third seed Murray dumped a second-serve return into the net on match point.
"It feels amazing for sure, especially here," the excited Swiss said. "He's defending champion, he's a tough opponent. It was a crazy match for me. To beat him in three sets is just amazing."
Wawrinka broke the Scotsman four times and never faced a break point against a player noted for his ability to return.
The Swiss cracked 45 winners past a listless Murray and won 31 of 42 forays to the net in the one-sided match.
The match turned in Wawrinka's favour at the end of the opening set, which was on serve at 5-4 to the Swiss but ended in an enthralling 10th game.
Murray made several errors but still managed to save five set points. He finally gave up the set when he sent a forehand long and responded by angrily smashing his racquet onto the court.
The frustration might have indicated a more aggressive Murray to come but his struggles extended to the second set where he allowed his opponent triple break point in the sixth game, which Wawrinka took advantage of with a superb backhand winner down the line.
Wawrinka held his serve to take the second set and his joyful reaction illustrated his belief that a first Grand Slam semi-finals appearance was within his reach.
A double fault on break point from Murray in the third game of the final set summed up his afternoon and the match was put beyond him with a brilliant forehand winner from the Swiss broke Murray again to go up 5-2.
For the Scotsman, the defeat marked his second loss to Wawrinka this year, having fallen in a last-16 clash on clay at the Monte Carlo Masters in April.
Murray admitted to something of a Wimbledon hangover after ending a drought of 77 years without a British men's winner since Fred Perry's 1936 triumph at the All England Club.
"When you work hard for something for a lot of years, it's going to take a bit of time to really fire yourself up and get yourself training 110 per cent," the Scotsman said.
"That's something that I think is kind of natural after what happened at Wimbledon. But I got here. I got to the quarter-finals of a slam, which isn't easy."
Much more was expected of Murray, as it was for the other Swiss player that factored at Flushing Meadows - Roger Federer.
Murray's loss was the second seismic shocker to strike the men's draw in the last two rounds following the straight sets dismissal of five-time US Open champion Federer in the fourth round by Spain's Tommy Robredo.
Robredo's rousing victory robbed fans of a quarter-finals match between Federer and Rafa Nadal that would have marked the first US Open meeting ever between the two champions, who have met 31 times elsewhere around the world.
Wawrinka's victory sank the possibility of a Murray semi-final against top seed Novak Djokovic that would have reprised their 2012 US Open and 2013 Wimbledon finals.
Djokovic was playing the last men's quarter-final against 21st-ranked Mikhail Youzhny of Russia in Thursday's night match. Murray complained about the breezy conditions, but credited Wawrinka for playing a brilliant match.
"He played great. He hit big shots. He ****** extremely well. He hit a lot of lines on big points. He served well. That was it," said Murray. "He played a great match."

 

[Smallville22]

Murray: It was hard to get fired up after Wimbledon glory

Andy Murray, who suffered a surprise straight sets loss to Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka in the US Open quarter-finals, conceded he has struggled to fire himself up after his Wimbledon triumph.
The two-times Grand Slam winner has not looked at his best since his emotional win over Novak Djokovic at the All England Club in July and he conceded that he has since found it tough to get motivated.
"When you work hard for something for a lot of years, it's going to take a bit of time to really fire yourself up and get yourself training (at) 110 per cent," the British third seed said after his 6-4 6-3 6-2 loss to ninth-seeded Wawrinka.
"That's something that I think is kind of natural after what happened at Wimbledon. But I got here. I mean, I have been here nearly three weeks now.
"I practiced a lot, and played quite a lot of matches, as well. So I gave myself a chance to do well because I prepared properly."
It has been a breakthrough year for Murray who has won Olympic gold, the US Open and Wimbledon, in the past 13 months.
"I have played my best tennis in the slams the last two, three years. I lost today in straight sets, so that's disappointing. I would have liked to have gone further," said Murray.
"But I can't complain. If someone told me before the US Open last year I would have been here as defending champion having won Wimbledon and Olympic gold, I would have taken that 100 per cent."
The Scotsman's victory at Wimbledon was amplified by the pressure of ending Britain's 77-year wait for a men's winner in their own tournament and the celebrations and accolades it brought.
But while it would be going too far to suggest Murray is burnt out there is no doubt that his recent form has been well below his own lofty standards.
He lost to Latvian Ernest Gulbis in the third round at Montreal and was beaten in straight sets by Czech Tomas Berdych in the Cincinnati Masters event last month.
While he reached the quarter-finals at Flushing Meadows without any major scare there looked to be a clear lack of sparkle about his play.
Murray said winning Wimbledon had been a physically and mentally draining experience.
"It's been challenging both ways for different reasons. I mean, physically I played some extremely tough matches in that period," said Murray.
"Mentally, as well, it was very challenging for me to play Wimbledon. The last few games of Wimbledon to you guys may not seem like much, but to me it was extremely challenging."
Murray has been extremely consistent in Grand Slams, having reached the last eight in each one he entered in the past three years and his most recent four have produced two wins and two runners-up spots.
But it is clear that brings increased expectation which Murray suggested might not be fair.
"Well, I don't know; if I'm meant to win every Grand Slam I play or be in the final, it's just very, very difficult just now," he said. "With the guys around us, it's very challenging."

 

[Smallville22]

Serena, Azarenka one step from title rematch

Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka are one step away from booking a tantalising championship rematch at the US Open heading into an intriguing set of women's semi-finals on Friday.
Williams, the top-seeded defending champion, will look to extend a dominant run through the women's draw against fifth-seeded Li Na of China, who became the first Chinese to reach the last four at the US Open.
Second seed Azarenka will face Italy's unseeded Flavia Pennetta, whose brilliant run at Flushing Meadows has carried her to her first Grand Slam semi-final.
Should form prevail, Williams and Azarenka would set up the first repeat final at the US Open since Serena Williams played her ****** Venus Williams for the prize in 2002.
Azarenka, 24, joined the trio of 31 year olds with a last-eight victory over 30-year-old Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia in a women's draw that has underlined the fitness and ferocity of the old guard.
Should they lift the trophy on Sunday, Williams, Li or Pennetta would become the oldest US Open women's winner since tennis turned professional in 1968, supplanting Australian Margaret Court, who was 31 years and 55 days old when she triumphed in 1973.
Williams has been on fire, losing only 13 games and spent the least time on court although she has done double duty playing with ****** Venus in the women's doubles.
The American aced her quarter-finals test against Spain's Carla Suarez Navarro by delivering a 6-0 6-0 double bagel win.
Williams later offered a shuddering thought.
"I like to believe there is always room for improvement," she said.
Against former French Open winner Li, current French Open champion Williams holds an 8-1 advantage in head-to-head meetings, but has had some hard battles along the way. She won their last encounter in Cincinnati 7-5 7-5 in the semis.
Williams holds the Chinese player in high regard.
"She's a great challenge," Williams said. "She moves really well. She does everything well.
"We've always played really close. Maybe next time we play she might want to go from close to a win."
Li has been on a revenge tour, beating Briton Laura Robson to avenge a 2012 US Open loss, and Serb Jelena Jankovic, who had enjoyed a four-match winning streak against her.
"It's a good challenge to play against her, because I think we always have tough match, even in Cincinnati," said Li.
"There are only four players at end of the tournament, so nothing you can worry about. Just play the tennis. Just enjoy the time."
Azarenka and Pennetta have split their two previous matches, missing a crack at a rubber match when the Belarusian withdrew from their second-round Wimbledon contest this year because of a knee injury.
Pennetta, like Williams, has not dropped a set during her US Open run and is back to playing at her best level after having her 2012 season curtailed by a wrist injury that kept her out of the US Open and required surgery.
"I'm confident because I'm here," said Pennetta, who ousted fourth-seeded compatriot Sara Errani, former champion Svetlana Kunznetsova and red-hot Simona Halep along the way.
"I really don't feel this pressure. In Italy we already have one champion in Grand Slam," she said, referring to 2010 French Open winner Francesca Schiavone.
"I really don't feel this pressure right now."
Azarenka, who overcame former number one Ana Ivanovic 4-6 6-3 6-4 in the fourth round, said she would not underestimate the Italian despite her ranking of 83.
"Flavia is such an amazing person," said Azarenka. "To see her go through the injuries and coming up with the best results she has right now, it's really amazing.
"She's a very good player, an all-around player. She can do anything. She has great touch, great variety. She can create power, create spin. She's also very experienced and has been in the top 10.
"Her ranking doesn't matter. It's about the moment right now, and she's playing terrific tennis."