My nerve failed me, says beaten Djokovic

NEW YORK -- Novak Djokovic admitted Sunday that his nerve failed him as he slipped to a 6-7 (1/7), 6-4, 7-5, 6-3 defeat to Stan Wawrinka in the US Open final.

The 29-year-old world No. 1, who was chasing a third New York title and 13th career major, suffered his ninth loss in 21 Grand Slam finals.

In a final which lasted almost four hours, Djokovic converted just three of 17 break points.

"I lost my nerve in the important moments. He kept his cool," said the 2011 and 2015 champion. "I think that's what decided the match. I guess sometimes it happens, even though you have the experience and know what to do.

"Just the heat of the moment and importance of the match, I guess, you know, was too strong for me at certain periods of the match. Just if you lose your cool, the match can go away."

The Serb star also admitted that he came close to skipping the tournament as a serious wrist injury threatened to compromise his assault on a third major title of the year.

Physical problems plagued the world No. 1 throughout the two weeks, a right shoulder injury giving way to problems with his toes as his hopes of a third US Open slipped away.

"Some other injury was very serious at the time. I really didn't know whether or not I'm going to come, to be honest," said the 29-year-old Djokovic who ended the Grand Slam season with a sixth Australian Open and a maiden Roland Garros.

Djokovic caused controversy at 1-3 and 2-5 down in the fourth set when he was allowed a medical timeout for treatment on his feet.

Wawrinka was angry that Djokovic had been granted permission to call the trainer and doctor while he was about to serve.

Serve not there

Djokovic apologized to his opponent as he sat courtside, claiming he couldn't stand as a consequence.

"It was just the toenails were off and bleeding. Yeah, it was quite painful to move around," he said later.

But he insisted that he was not trying to gain an advantage by forcing Wawrinka to wait to serve at a crucial part of the final.

"Why would I be surprised if I was allowed?," he snapped at a reporter, adding that it was medical necessity.

Djokovic refused to pin the reason for his loss on the toe injury but he did admit that regular difficulties with his right arm did little to help his cause.

"I made a lot of double faults throughout this tournament. I was struggling with the motion, with the movement and on the serve, with the technique.

"I was working a lot on it and trying to find that rhythm, but my body has kind of compensated and made some different things to protect the problem I had with the arm.

"Unfortunately the serve wasn't there when it was needed."

Djokovic refused to get too downcast with his season despite a shock third round loss at Wimbledon.

His French Open victory allowed him to complete a career Grand Slam while victory in Paris also meant he held all four Slams at the same time.

"Winning four Grand Slams in a row for me was an incredible achievement. I'm very proud of it, so this loss today cannot overshadow the great moments I have had in Australia and especially in Paris," he said.

The world No. 1 hailed Wawrinka who also beat him in the French Open final last year, also having lost the first set.

"He loves to play in the big matches. He comes up with his best game. He's a very complete player. Sometimes if he feels right he doesn't miss much and makes a lot of winners and it's hard to play him. That's what happened today."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Kerber begins reign as No. 1 with U.S. Open win

NEW YORK -- Germany's Angelique Kerber began her reign as world No. 1 in imperious style battling past a determined Karolina Pliskova, 6-3 4-6 6-4, to win the U.S. Open final on Saturday and claim her second grand slam title of the year.

Kerber, who officially takes over from Serena Williams as the world's top ranked player on Monday, underlined her No. 1 status displaying the heart of a champion as she fought off a fierce challenge from Czech 10th seed Pliskova on a steamy afternoon at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The 28-year-old began the grand slam year beating Serena Williams to lift the Australian Open title and celebrated again on Saturday when she became the first German to win the U.S. Open in 20 years.

Kerber recovered from a break down in the third set, pouncing on her wilting opponent with two breaks in the third set to end a compelling, high-quality battle of attrition that stretched for two hours and seven minutes.

"It's just amazing," a beaming Kerber, told an adoring crowd after being handed the winner's check of $3.5 million. "I won my second grand slam in one year. That's the best of my career.

"Actually just incredible.

"When I was a kid I was always dreaming to be the number one player in the world and win grand slams and today is the day I won my second grand slam here, especially in New York. I'm the number one player on Monday.

"All the dreams came true this year."

Pliskova, who arrived at Flushing Meadows with a reputation of grand slam under-achiever having never before been beyond the third round of the major, shed that label by making it all the way to the final and taking on back-to-back world number ones.

After beating top ranked Serena Williams in the semi-finals to end the American's record-equaling 186 consecutive weeks stay at the top of the rankings, the big-hitting Pliskova, who has led the WTA Tour in aces the last two season, attacked her successor in the final but could not break down the tireless German's defense.

"You cannot compare those two (Serena Williams and Kerber)," explained Pliskova. "The game is totally different. The persons as well. Serena is going for every shot.

"With Angie, you cannot wait for mistakes. She doesn't give you anything. I have to be the one who is aggressive.

"I beat very good players. It was always my goal to pass the third round and I made it to the final."

Kerber admires compatriot Steffi Graf, but is blazing her own trail.

Comparisons, though, are inevitable after Kerber became the first German to win the U.S. Open since Graf claimed the last of her five Flushing Meadows crowns in 1996.

"She was always my idol and I told her so many times," said Kerber, adding that Graf had sent her a text wishing her luck. "For me it's really important to go on my own way."

The match opened with Kerber breaking a jittery Pliskova and ended the same way, though for most part it was a very even contest.

Kerber's loss of the second set was the first time the entire championship that she had dropped a set.

But she fought back in the third set and wore down the towering Czech, who started to wilt in the punishing conditions, hunching over her racket at the end of almost every point.

Kerber, sensing an opening, stepped up the pressure and pace getting triple break point at 5-4 and closed out the contest on the first match point.

"I think I was just believing in myself in the third set and just going for it," said Kerber.

"I think that was the key at the end of the third set, that I was trying to take the chance, just go for it."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Djokovic on course to be greatest

NEW YORK -- Novak Djokovic may never be the people's champion, but with a 10th Grand Slam title wrapped up and his rivals flagging, the Serb is on course to be the sport's greatest player.

The 28-year-old became only the eighth man in history to reach double digits in totals of Slams won and now stands just seven behind the record of Roger Federer, the man he vanquished in Sunday's US Open final.

It may seem a huge target to chase, but Djokovic is six years younger than Federer.

His second title in New York was his third major of the year to add to the Australian Open and Wimbledon victories.

Only a third defeat in four years at the French Open final prevented him from celebrating what would have been the first calendar Grand Slam since 1969.

It was also a major psychological boost for Djokovic who had lost four finals in New York before Sunday's 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 win.

It was the second time after 2011 that he had won three of the four Grand Slams in the same season.

Djokovic has now won nine of the last 20 Slams and finished runner-up in six others.

By contrast, 34-year-old Federer has not added to his 17 Grand Slams since Wimbledon in 2012 and has lost five of his last seven finals at the majors.

World number three Andy Murray is still stuck on two with the most recent coming at the All England Club in 2013.

Rafael Nadal, meanwhile, is the equal second best of all time alongside Pete Sampras with 14 Slams but outside of the French Open, his last major came in New York in 2013.

Djokovic is also the model of consistency. The last time he failed to make at least the quarter-finals of the majors was when he slipped to a third round loss at the 2009 French Open.

- Borg and Laver -
"I'm so flattered and honoured to be a part of an elite group of players, legends of our sports to manage to win this many Grand Slam trophies," said Djokovic who is just one shy of going level with Bjorn Borg and Laver on 11 majors.

"So to be just mentioned alongside them is truly something special.

"I'm 28. I have always valued the care for my body, and my mind and had this holistic approach to life.

"I always thought this is utmost importance for my tennis. I will continue on with the same kind of lifestyle, same kind of approach.

"Hopefully this kind of approach will give me longevity and that I can have many more years to come, many more opportunities to fight for these trophies."

His confidence has been boosted by seeing his rivals flag in 2015.

Victory on Sunday took Djokovic to 63 wins for the year against just five defeats. He also has seven titles.

Federer has five titles and 51 wins against eight losses.

The Swiss was runner-up at Wimbledon and in New York but was a third round loser at the Australian Open and made just the quarter-finals in Paris.

Murray has 59 wins and 10 losses with four titles on the year.

After finishing runner-up to Djokovic in Melbourne, he was a semi-finalist at the French Open and Wimbledon and a fourth round loser in New York.

Nadal's season has been a catastrophe by his high standards, quarter-final runs in Australia and Paris followed by a second round exit at Wimbledon and third round loss in New York.

Djokovic is also becoming almost impossible to beat down.

On Sunday, he saved 19 of 23 break points against Federer and six of seven in his Wimbledon final victory over the Swiss.

Even in his French Open final defeat to Stan Wawrinka, he saved 11 of 15 break points and seven of 12 in Melbourne.

Federer believes that Djokovic is becoming an unstoppable force.

"Are you kidding me?," he barked when asked if his rival was going to keep adding to his tally.

"He's just really consistent. Seems like there are not many guys that can hang with him, don't have the tools or dare to go forward, or they don't dare to serve and volley against him because he's so good on the return.

"He has perfected his game on the hard courts, no doubt about it. He was always a great clay-court player, and because he moves as well as he does, he's solid and consistent now on the grass.

"He's having an unbelievable career. He already has a ton, so obviously he's got to stay healthy and hungry, but obviously you would think he will win more."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Williams beats Wozniacki for 18th grand slam title

NEW YORK - World number one Serena Williams swept past good friend Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark 6-3 6-3 in the U.S. Open final on Sunday to move into the record books with her 18th grand slam title.

The third straight and sixth overall U.S. Open crown for the 32-year-old American, her 18 career slams put her into a tie with Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova for fourth place on the all-time list.

Failing to get beyond the last 16 of the year's first three slams, Williams sailed through the U.S. Open without dropping a set, finishing off Wozniacki in a snappy 75 minutes.

"It was a pleasure for me to win my first grand slam here and then this is number 18. I am really emotional," Williams told the packed Arthur Ashe Stadium, her voice cracking as she tried to maintain composure. "I couldn't ask to do it at a better place."

For the 10th seeded Wozniacki, back in a grand slam final for the first time in five years, it was another frustrating end to a promising fortnight as she once again left Flushing Meadows empty handed, a major title still beyond her grasp.

The title came with a massive payday for Williams, who pocketed the $3 million winner's purse along a $1 million bonus for winning the U.S. Series.

As Williams was receiving her cheques she was joined on court by Navratilova and Evert, who presented her with an 18 carat gold Tiffany bracelet as the newest member of their grand slam club.

Margaret Court tops the list with 24 followed by Steffi Graf (22) and Helen Wills Moody (19).

The most difficult part of the match for Williams appeared to be beating a player she calls one of her best friends.

Williams and Wozniacki vacationed together this summer and the world number one said she texts the Dane daily.

But once the match began, Williams, who has often had to face off against her sister Venus, again proved there are no friendships on the court as she simply overpowered her 24-year-old opponent.

The showdown between the current and former world number ones was hardly a showcase of tennis excellence, particularly in a ragged opening set that featured five consecutive breaks.

Williams, dressed in the same leopard print tennis dress she wore to open the tournament, held her first serve before the two players struggled through the run of breaks with the American taking a 5-2 lead.

Not until the eight game did Wozniacki finally held serve but by then Williams had begun to settle into the match, clinching the opening set with a blistering backhand winner.

Williams would keep up the pressure with a break to open the second and by the end had an exhausted Wozniacki running from corner-to-corner. (Editing by Gene Cherry)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com