Tennis: Djokovic resumes 18th Slam chase on US Open day five

World number one Novak Djokovic is in action on day five of the US Open Friday, when he seeks to progress to the last 16 at Flushing Meadows.

The Serbian goes up against 28th seed Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany in the first evening match at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Djokovic is 4-0 against Struff and defeated him in four sets in round one on the way to winning the Australian Open earlier this year.

Djokovic is chasing an 18th Grand Slam title at the Billie Jean King US National Tennis Center.

He is looking to close the gap on Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, both absent from the tournament, in the race for the all-time men's Slam singles title record.

Djokovic is on 17, with Nadal on 19 and Federer on 20.

Also Friday, Naomi Osaka, a two-time Grand Slam winner, returns to the court for a third-round matchup against unseeded Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine.

Sixth seed Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic is also in action, taking on 63rd-ranked American Jessica Pegula.

In the men's competition, fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas plays 27th seed Borna Coric of Croatia for a spot in the fourth round.

Elsewhere, seventh-seed David Goffin from Belgium goes head-to-head with Filip Krajinovic of Serbia, who is ranked 26th.

Friday will also see the resumption of four singles matches which were postponed due to rain late Thursday.

Unseeded Frenchman Corentin Moutet leads Britain's Dan Evans, seeded 23rd, 4-6, 6-3, 6-5 in their second-round game.

While in the women's draw, Elise Mertens, seeded 16th, will resume 6-3, 1-0, ahead against Spain's Sara Sorribes Tormo.

Agence France-Presse

Hingis, Mirza end perfect U.S. Open with doubles title

NEW YORK - Top seeds Martina Hingis and Sania Mirza beat Casey Dellacqua and Yaroslava Shvedova 6-3 6-3 to win the U.S. Open doubles title on Sunday and cap off a perfect visit to Flushing Meadows.

Switzerland's Hingis, the former singles world number one and her Indian partner Mirza, tore through the doubles tournament without dropping a set to claim back-to-back grand slams after their victory at Wimbledon.

It has been a productive and busy visit to New York for Hingis who also captured the U.S. Open mixed doubles title with India's Leander Paes.

Having only joined forces in March, Mirza and Hingis have enjoyed a successful partnership reaching six finals in 12 events and winning two majors.

"We started playing in March, obviously in America, and we won three out of three. That rarely happens," said Mirza. "We hit it off and obviously we have become more friends now.

"I think we trust each other on and off the court. I think that helps us through a lot of tough moments on the court.

"Obviously our games match, kind of complement each other, you know, with her at the net and from me at the back. I think that's the best combination."

After easily taking the first set Hingis and Mirza broke to open the second and apart from a late wobble were never really threatened by the Australian Dellacqua and Kazakhstan's Shvedova.

For Hingis it was her second U.S. Open doubles title coming 17-years after she won her first in 1998 with Jana Novotna.

"I won the doubles in '98, and that was like finishing off the Grand Slam," recalled Hingis. "I won all four in that same year. It was just like incredible.

"We all felt like there was a little bit of nervousness, definitely, especially today because... it's been a while.

"I know I have the support and the trust that I have for her (Mirza) shots and for her game. It's even building up every time we step out together." (Editing by Martyn Herman and Pritha Sarkar)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Federer Express ready to roll on after U.S. Open loss

NEW YORK - Unlike the women's U.S. Open final there was no centre court retirement announcement on Sunday with Roger Federer putting aside the disappointment of losing to Novak Djokovic in the men's final to tell fans he will be back.

After winning the U.S. Open on Saturday, 33-year-old Flavia Pennetta said she would not be back in Flushing Meadows and the crowd might have been concerned that 34-year-old Federer was harbouring similar thoughts.

While the Swiss is constantly asked how much longer he plans to play and the media on high alert for any hints of his imminent retirement, Federer made it clear he will return to New York next year still chasing grand slam glory.

"I'll see you guys next year," Federer told an adoring crowd following his 6-4 5-7 6-4 6-4 loss. "I'm very pleased with where my game's at. I feel like it's moving in the right direction."

And that direction is full speed ahead for the Swiss maestro who continues to defy age and predictions of his demise by remaining near the top of the world rankings, piling up wins and titles.

While it has been three years since Federer celebrated the last of his record 17 grand slam titles, he has threatened to add to his total this season reaching the finals of both Wimbledon and the U.S. Open while losing both time to his nemesis Djokovic.

Federer may have lost the U.S. Open but the Swiss has not lost his smile, grace or hope that somewhere down the road there are more major wins.

"I am playing a good year. I'm playing good tennis," said Federer. "I am happy with where my level is at. I'm able to be consistent, very consistent.

"Cincinnati obviously was a great feeling beating world number one (Djokovic) and world number two (Andy Murray) in the same week. I don't think I have done that before.

"Then of course it's also disappointment. Lost too many times in finals. But at the same time, I did win my tournaments, the ones I was supposed to.

"Year's not over yet. I usually do have strong finishes to the season, and I hope I can do that again."

Having beaten Djokovic in Cincinnati, the second seeded Swiss had his chances again against the 28-year-old Serb but could only convert four of 23 break chances.

Even so Federer left the National Tennis Center more encouraged than discouraged by his performance.

"There were a lot of opportunities lost, I know why I lost," assured Federer. "Yeah, surely I am very disappointed. I had my chances on my racquet. I should never been down in the score the way I was.

"But Novak did a great job of fending them off, and, you know, all of that.

"It was a tough night, but still, I don't know, thrilling at the same time.

"So something I will work on, and keep moving forward, you know. It's no problem for me." (Editing by Sudipto Ganguly)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Williams upset has Djokovic, Federer on high alert

NEW YORK - On high alert after a day of upsets during which Serena Williams was sent packing from the U.S. Open, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer made sure their names were not added to the list of shocks on Friday as they posted emphatic semi-final victories.

The tremors started early at Arthur Ashe Stadium with Flavia Pennetta crushing second seed Simona Halep 6-1 6-3, before Roberta Vinci rocked Flushing Meadows delivering one of the biggest upsets in tennis history with her semi-final win over Williams that punctured the American's calendar Grand Slam dream.

Two victories from becoming the fourth woman to win all four majors in one year, a brittle-looking Williams crumbled as unseeded Vinci, playing in her first grand slam singles semi-final, battled to an improbable 2-6 6-4 6-4 win.

The results set the stage for an equally improbable all-Italian final on Saturday.

"I don't want to talk about how disappointing it is for me," a grim-faced Williams told reporters. "I told you guys I don't feel pressure. I never felt pressure.

"I never felt that pressure to win here. I said that from the beginning."

With the National Tennis Center buzzing over the exit of Williams, world number one Djokovic and second seed Federer restored order to the year's final grand slam.

Djokovic needed just 85 minutes to secure passage to his fourth consecutive grand slam final, crushing defending U.S. Open champion Marin Cilic 6-0 6-1 6-2.

The demolition was the worst ever in a U.S. Open semi-final, the three games lost one fewer than the four Yevgeny Kafelnikov managed against Lleyton Hewitt in 2001.

Federer, a five-times U.S. Open winner, was equally efficient as he beat Swiss compatriot Stan Wawrinka 6-4 6-3 6-1.

The all-time grand slam singles king with 17 titles, Federer heads into Sunday's final gunning to add to his record haul. He has not won a grand since since 2012 Wimbledon.

The final will mark the 42nd meeting between the two great rivals, with Federer holding a wafer 21-20 advantage.

"Novak it's been more straightforward, my opinion," said Federer. "That's what I like about the rivalry.

"I think it's just a straight shootout and I think that's the cool thing about our rivalry. It's very athletic.

"We both can handle ... whatever we present to one another, and I think our matches, it's very even."

VINCI 300-1 SHOT

Vinci, a 300-1 shot to win the U.S. Open when the tournament began, pulled off one of the most remarkable ever tennis upsets by ending Williams' streak of 33 consecutive match wins in the grand slams.

A five-times doubles grand slam winner, the 32-year-old Vinci had never been beyond the quarter-finals in singles play at 43 majors.

In the other corner stood Williams, a 21-times grand slam champion who had lost only two matches all season and had not dropped a set against Vinci in their four previous meetings.

Forced to wait a day after rain wiped out Thursday's semi-finals schedule, the weight of expectation appeared to take its toll on a 33-year-old who was chasing the first calendar Grand Slam since Steffi Graf in 1988.

Everything was going according to script as Williams easily took the opening set but things began to unravel after a composed Vinci registered a key break in the fifth game of the second that allowed her to even the match.

With the contest slipping away, Williams tried to will herself back into the match, screaming and fist-pumping after each point and feeding off the support of the crowd.

But with nothing lose, an undaunted Vinci continued to pressure Williams, who could not match previous great escapes.

While a stunned Vinci celebrated, a scowling Williams quickly departed a stunned stadium.

"This is an incredible moment for me," Vinci said. "It's amazing. It's like a dream. I'm in the final. I beat Serena."

Lost in the drama of the Williams match was a brilliant performance by Pennetta, who needed less than an hour to deal with Romanian Halep.

Pennetta, was a clear underdog but the 26th seed tapped into her vast experience and was not overwhelmed on the big stage.

She had reached the quarter-finals at Flushing Meadows in six of the previous seven years, but the final will be uncharted territory.

(Editing by John O'Brien/Andrew Both)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Federer cuts down Isner to reach US Open quarters

NEW YORK -- Persistence finally paid off for Kevin Anderson as the towering South African prevailed in a slugfest with Andy Murray to reach the quarter-finals of the U.S. Open on Monday while another tennis giant John Isner was slain by Roger Federer.

Two David v Goliath matchups, however, ended all too predictably as 97th ranked British qualifier Johanna Konta saw her Flushing Meadows joy ride ended 7-5 6-3 by fifth-seeded Czech Petra Kvitova and 68th ranked American Donald Young ran out of comeback magic in a 6-4 1-6 6-3 6-4 loss to fifth-seed Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland.

Tomas Berdych's time in Flushing Meadows also came to an end with the sixth-seeded Czech falling 2-6 6-3 6-4 6-1 to 12th seeded Frenchman Richard Gasquet.

Seven times before the 6-foot-8 Anderson had progressed to the fourth round of a grand slam but never beyond until his 7-6(5) 6-3 6-7(2) 7-6(0) victory over third seeded Scot Murray.

Murray had battled his way back from two sets down in the second round against France's Adrian Mannarino, but could not work another miracle against the 14th-ranked, 29-year-old, who swept the final tiebreak 7-0.

"That's obviously something that is disappointing to lose," said Murray after watching his run of reaching 18 consecutive grand slam quarter-finals come to an end. "That's many years' work that's gone into building that sort of consistency.

"Also to lose a match like that, that was over four hours, tough obviously after a couple of tough matches earlier in the tournament, as well. It's a hard one to lose, for sure."

Second-seed Federer also came face-to-face with one of the ATP Tour's biggest hitters and coolly defused 6-foot-10 Isner's booming serve to claim a 7-6(0) 7-6(6) 7-5 victory.

Federer held his own from the service line to thwart Isner, never losing his serve, and used his returning skills to derail a pair of long streaks enjoyed by the American.

The 34-year-old Federer closed out the two hour, 39 minute fourth-round match by breaking Isner's serve, ending the American's string of 108 consecutive service holds at the U.S. Open.

His perfect scoreline in the opening set tiebreak snapped an even longer Isner streak. In 429 tiebreakers played by Isner, he had never dropped one 7-0.

"Seven-love obviously is a pretty good score against John," said Federer.

Second-seed Simona Halep overcame a thigh injury, baking heat and finally big-hitting German Sabine Lisicki to also reach the U.S. Open quarters for the first time.

It was Labor Day in the United States but it was certainly no holiday for Halep who had to work for her spot in the last eight, needing two hours and 38 minutes under a broiling sun to dispatch Lisicki 6-7(6) 7-5 6-2 and reach the U.S. Open quarter-finals for the first time.

Waiting for the Romanian in the last eight is two-time U.S. Open finalist Victoria Azarenka, who advanced with a comfortable 6-3 6-4 win over American Varvara Lepchenko.

After a couple of days of relief, the heat returned to Flushing Meadows turning the fourth round clash between Halep and Lisicki into a test of survival.

After dropping the opening set Halep called out the trainer to have treatment on her left thigh and at the end of the second the players left the court when the heat rule came into effect, but through it all the exhausted Romanian was able to gut out a victory.

Her left leg heavily strapped, a wounded Halep sensed her opportunity when Lisicki began to cramp in the third set and stretch between every point.

Halep, who converted 10 of 11 break chances, claimed the most crucial one to go ahead 4-2 and then held serve to break her 24th seeded opponent again and clinch a spot in the last eight.

Italy's Flavia Pennetta returned to the quarter-finals for the fourth consecutive year easing past 2011 U.S. Open winner Samantha Stosur of Australia 6-4 6-4.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Djokovic and Cilic through to U.S. Open fourth round

NEW YORK - Top seed Novak Djokovic and defending champion Marin Cilic took different routes into the fourth round of the U.S. Open as the upsets and searing heat at Flushing Meadows both eased off on Friday.

After a week of punishing heat that saw a record 13 players retire, cooler temperatures and order returned to the year's final grand slam as world number one Djokovic eased to a third round 6-3 7-5 7-5 victory over Italian Andreas Seppi.

Cilic also kept his title defence on track but not without a scare as the ninth seed needed over four hours to put away Kazakhstan's 56th-ranked Mikhail Kukushkin 6-7(5) 7-6(1) 6-3 6-7(3) 6-1.

The big-hitting Croat stepped onto the Grandstand court having won 16 straight sets at the National Tennis Center but that string quickly came to an end when Kukushkin took the opening set in a tiebreak in what was the start of a long and harrowing afternoon for the defending champion.

"I'm happy with the fighting spirit today, just accepting that I wasn't playing so well," said Cilic. "For sure (being defending champion) always has some weight to it.

"Playing on a big court with a full house, that's going to give you some extra motivation in the situations like today when I was a set and 5-2 down.

"I was in the thought process that I am going to stay on the court as much as necessary."

It had been a trouble-free visit to New York for Djokovic, the lanky Serb not dropping a set while losing just 10 games going into his match against Seppi.

But the 25th-ranked Italian at least made Djokovic work for his spot in the round of 16, the world number one needing a tiring two and a half hours at Arthur Ashe Stadium to secure his victory.

"Just hanging in there, trying to create my own pace and control the rallies," Djokovic said about dealing with the capable and aggressive game of Seppi.

"It was a tough three sets."

Venus Williams, who won the second of her two U.S. Open titles 14 years ago, struck a blow for the older set and stayed on course for a quarter-finals collision with Grand Slam-seeking sister Serena by taming Swiss teen Belinda Bencic 6-3 6-4.

Venus, 35, produced a vintage power-game performance to beat the up-and-coming 18-year-old in a match-up between the oldest and youngest players left in the women's draw.

Williams, who played her first U.S. Open in 1997, the year 12th-seeded Swiss was born, had battled to a pair of three-set wins and spent nearly five hours on court to reach the third round.

However, the American made quick work of Bencic, who beat 2015 Australian, French and Wimbledon champion Serena Williams on her way to winning in Toronto last month.

"I just wanted to stay aggressive and keep my errors down," said Venus, who had also beaten Bencic in straight sets in their three previous encounters.

Joining the seven-times grand slam singles winner in the fourth round was Russian 13th seed Ekaterina Makarova, who advanced with 6-3 7-5 victory over 17th seed Elina Svitolina of Ukraine.

(Editing by Mark Lamport-Stokes)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Fourth seed Wozniacki falls to Cetkovska

NEW YORK - Caroline Wozniacki became the highest seed to fall in the upset-filled women's draw at the U.S. Open when Czech Petra Cetkovska stunned the Dane 6-4 5-7 7-6(1) at Flushing Meadows on Thursday.

The upset left only three of the top 10 seeds still alive in the year's final grand slam - number one Serena Williams, who is seeking the fourth women's calendar-year Grand Slam, second seed Simona Halep and fifth seed Petra Kvitova.

Cetkovska, who has tumbled to a 149th ranking after missing seven months with a hip injury before returning in March, was playing in the Open thanks to a special injury exemption.

She rode a powerful forehand that produced 29 of her 61 winners to victory over Wozniacki, saving four match points held by the Dane - all on winners off her racquet.

"I said it's now or never, so I just went for it," she said in an on-court interview about her string of match point saves. "It's just amazing."

"So happy to be able to be back and to compete," said the 30-year-old Cetkovska, who will play Italy's Flavia Pennetta, a straight sets winner over Romanian Monica Niculescu.

Former world number one Wozniacki, a finalist last year, was naturally dejected.

"She played well. I let her play well," Wozniacki, 25, said. "She had nothing to lose and went for her shot.

"It could have gone my way. I'm just frustrated with the match," she added. "Not playing my best level, but still being so close, still having my chances, not closing it out. That hurts. That really hurts."

The Czech said she was spurred on by the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd. "The atmosphere, it's (like) nowhere else. It was just keeping me alive. I wanted to fight to the end," she said.

The three-hour match which closed Thursday's play at the U.S. National Tennis Center featured wild swings of momentum.

Wozniacki, a two-times U.S. Open finalist, won the first three games and led 4-2 before Cetkovska ran off seven games in a row to win the set, and took a 4-1 lead before the Dane won six of the next seven games to force a third set.

The last set featured intense rallies, with Cetkovska saving one match point to hold for 5-5 and three more in the 12th game to set up the tiebreaker.

From that point on, the Czech dominated, winning the last six points to complete the shock victory.

It was not the first time Cetkovska had upset Wozniacki. The Czech also beat her 6-2 6-2 in the second round at Wimbledon in 2013.

Cetkovska, who ranked as high as 25th in 2012, had hip surgery in September last year and wondered if she would ever play big-time tennis again.

"Those first months it was extremely difficult," she said. "Every day I was asking myself if I will be able to play tennis again, to play on such a big stadium, to play such a big match and win it.

"So for me, it's just an amazing feeling." (Editing by Amlan Chakraborty)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com