source:http://www.ausopen.com/
Friday, January 29, 2016
Thursday, January 28, 2016
Novak downs Roger to make final.
Novak Djokovic has advanced to his sixth Australian Open final after beating Roger Federer 6-1 6-2 3-6 6-3 in their semifinal at Rod Laver Arena on Thursday night.
source:http://www.ausopen.com/
Kerber ends Konta's fairytale to reach maiden final.
Germany's No.7 seed proves too strong for unseeded Brit Johanna Konta, setting up a final clash with Serena Williams.
Angelique Kerber will face No.1 seed and defending champion Serena Williams in her first major final, having ended the fairytale run of unseeded Brit Johanna Konta, 7-5 6-2 at Rod Laver Arena.
Kerber proved too steady from the baseline, committing just 11 unforced errors to Konta's 36 during the clash that lasted one hour and 22 minutes.
The German No.7 seed's relief and joy was palpable after she closed out the match but she must now prepare for the daunting task of unseating the reigning champion, who was ruthless in beating No.4 seed Agnieszka Radwanska 6-0 6-4 in the earlier semifinal.
Angelique Kerber will face No.1 seed and defending champion Serena Williams in her first major final, having ended the fairytale run of unseeded Brit Johanna Konta, 7-5 6-2 at Rod Laver Arena.
Kerber proved too steady from the baseline, committing just 11 unforced errors to Konta's 36 during the clash that lasted one hour and 22 minutes.
The German No.7 seed's relief and joy was palpable after she closed out the match but she must now prepare for the daunting task of unseating the reigning champion, who was ruthless in beating No.4 seed Agnieszka Radwanska 6-0 6-4 in the earlier semifinal.
Kerber blasts past Azarenka
Germany's No.7 seed overpowers the in-form Belarusian to book her first Australian Open semifinal.
Seemingly out of nowhere, Kerber set the scene early, cracking a couple of blistering forehands past her opponent on the way to a 4-0 lead. Azarenka was clearly a little shell-shocked, offering up two meek double faults, and as Kerber again threatened her on serve, the first set looked all but over.
To her credit, Azarenka began a spirited fightback, getting herself on the scoreboard and steadying the match, as both players traded blows from the baseline with neither willing to give up any significant space.
When the No.16 seed pulled off a difficult drop volley to earn herself a break back, it appeared she might find a way to claw back into the contest.
However, Kerber rose to the occasion, forcing three sets points on the Azarenka serve at 5-3. Despite managing to stave them all off, it wasn’t enough for the two-time Australian Open champion, as a deep return down the line from Kerber caught her off-guard and forced the error. A simple error from Azarenka then gave the German the opening set in 48 minutes.
It was a pivotal moment considering Azarenka’s 2016 record thus far – she had not lost more than four games in a single set.
Despite closing it out, the pressure was clearly mounting on Kerber. A strong challenge from Azarenka appeared a given – and the body language from Kerber suggested she too knew it was imminent.
As if on cue, Azarenka broke in the opening game and maintained the upper hand, rushing out to a 5-2 40-0 lead.
With a deciding set almost set in stone, the German lifted, and a huge double fault from Azarenka eventually gave the game to Kerber. With increased aggression, she continued to surge, but Azarenka valiantly held her at bay, again standing at multiple set points. Kerber refused to yield, and after Azarenka went the wrong way off a pop-up netcord, she took advantage of the open court to level at 5-5.
Continuing to ride the wave, Kerber drove hard to the line, and after one hour and 45 minutes, the match was ultimately hers.
It was a tough day out for Azarenka who, along with Serena Williams, was the hot title favourite this year. She hit an uncharacteristic 33 unforced errors and squandered six of her 13 break point opportunities.
The only lefty remaining in draw – the last to win the title was Monica Seles in 1996 – Kerber will now face British semifinal debutant Johanna Konta, a straight sets winner over Chinese qualifier Zhang Shaui, in an attempt to reach her first major final.
source:www.ausopen.com
Seemingly out of nowhere, Kerber set the scene early, cracking a couple of blistering forehands past her opponent on the way to a 4-0 lead. Azarenka was clearly a little shell-shocked, offering up two meek double faults, and as Kerber again threatened her on serve, the first set looked all but over.
To her credit, Azarenka began a spirited fightback, getting herself on the scoreboard and steadying the match, as both players traded blows from the baseline with neither willing to give up any significant space.
When the No.16 seed pulled off a difficult drop volley to earn herself a break back, it appeared she might find a way to claw back into the contest.
However, Kerber rose to the occasion, forcing three sets points on the Azarenka serve at 5-3. Despite managing to stave them all off, it wasn’t enough for the two-time Australian Open champion, as a deep return down the line from Kerber caught her off-guard and forced the error. A simple error from Azarenka then gave the German the opening set in 48 minutes.
It was a pivotal moment considering Azarenka’s 2016 record thus far – she had not lost more than four games in a single set.
Despite closing it out, the pressure was clearly mounting on Kerber. A strong challenge from Azarenka appeared a given – and the body language from Kerber suggested she too knew it was imminent.
As if on cue, Azarenka broke in the opening game and maintained the upper hand, rushing out to a 5-2 40-0 lead.
With a deciding set almost set in stone, the German lifted, and a huge double fault from Azarenka eventually gave the game to Kerber. With increased aggression, she continued to surge, but Azarenka valiantly held her at bay, again standing at multiple set points. Kerber refused to yield, and after Azarenka went the wrong way off a pop-up netcord, she took advantage of the open court to level at 5-5.
Continuing to ride the wave, Kerber drove hard to the line, and after one hour and 45 minutes, the match was ultimately hers.
It was a tough day out for Azarenka who, along with Serena Williams, was the hot title favourite this year. She hit an uncharacteristic 33 unforced errors and squandered six of her 13 break point opportunities.
The only lefty remaining in draw – the last to win the title was Monica Seles in 1996 – Kerber will now face British semifinal debutant Johanna Konta, a straight sets winner over Chinese qualifier Zhang Shaui, in an attempt to reach her first major final.
source:www.ausopen.com
Defending champion Serena Williams overpowers Maria Sharapova in straight sets to book semi against Agnieszka Radwanska
The six-time Australian Open champion struggled early on against Sharapova before stamping her authority in the second set to extend her lopsided head-to-head record against the Russian to 19-2 with the one-hour, 31-minute result.
In a worrying omen for the contenders still standing between the 34-year-old and a 22nd major, in each of the six times Williams has won her Australian Open quarterfinal she has gone all the way to the title.
And of the three previous times she has faced Sharapova in a tour quarterfinal she has also gone on to claim the title.
“It was super intense. She’s an incredibly intense, focused player who was No.1 and who’s won so many Grand Slams for a reason,” Williams said. “You have to come out with a lot of fire and intensity … I think I didn’t start out that way.”
Until today, Sharapova had not lost in eight previous quarterfinals at Melbourne Park and started the better of the two.
After edging ahead 5-4 on serve, the American piled the pressure on the 28-year-old’s serve, bringing up set point with a heavy crosscourt forehand drawing the error.
Sharapova would save three set points, including one with a monster forehand return flattened down the line, but Williams would prevail on her fourth attempt, breaking with a forehand volley winner for 6-4.
source:www.ausopen.com
Monday, January 25, 2016
Four-time Melbourne champion produces top-shelf tennis in runaway win over David Goffin.
It was a match-up more David and Goliath than David and Roger. Goffin faced deficits in every quantifiable area, from physical size and power to career earnings, accolades and experience.
Clinical, swift, ruthless, overwhelming … all of these words aptly described Federer’s approach to the match and execution of his tactics. He completely suffocated the Belgian, standing up on the baseline and cracking the ball definitively and early to keep long rallies at bay. It was a tactic that begat 15 forehand winners alone among 39 in total, compared with Goffin’s total tally of 17. When he wasn’t swatting winners from the baseline, Federer was charging the net, advancing 22 times with an excellent success rate of almost 90 per cent.
Goffin admitted that he struggled to adapt to the conditions at Rod Laver Arena, his first appearance on one of the world’s biggest tennis stages. By the time he did, in the third set, it was simply far too late.
Federer broke serve immediately in the third set and opened a 2-0 lead – the match was still yet to tick over the one hour mark. Goffin got on the board in the third game and at least pushed the third seed thanks to more steady, aggressive play. But with the break in hand, Federer never relinquished more than two points in any of his subsequent service games, and confidently served out the match to 15 to complete the rout.
source: www.ausopen.com
Goffin admitted that he struggled to adapt to the conditions at Rod Laver Arena, his first appearance on one of the world’s biggest tennis stages. By the time he did, in the third set, it was simply far too late.
Federer broke serve immediately in the third set and opened a 2-0 lead – the match was still yet to tick over the one hour mark. Goffin got on the board in the third game and at least pushed the third seed thanks to more steady, aggressive play. But with the break in hand, Federer never relinquished more than two points in any of his subsequent service games, and confidently served out the match to 15 to complete the rout.
source: www.ausopen.com
Williams, Sharapova will meet in the quarterfinals in a rematch of the 2015 final after the No.1 seed's easy fourth-round win.
With such a straightforward progression, and Court sitting nearby, it was only natural that the conversation would turn to Serena’s potential of reaching the record 24 Grand Slam titles that the Australian collected.
“Obviously 24 is close but it’s still so far away,” said Serena. “There are so many wonderful players that are playing tough and want to be able to win some Slams too. Honestly, I just focus on each game at a time.”
It’s an approach that’s working superbly for Williams, who registered three aces and 19 winners in a dominant fourth-round performance that she described as more complete than her previous matches.
“Hopefully I can keep going forward,” she said. “I made a few errors, but it was a different game ... my serve wasn’t as good today. There’s always room for improvement.”
Another level may in fact be required in the quarterfinal, where Serena meets Maria Sharapova in a rematch of the 2015 women’s final.
The single-minded world No.1 claimed to be unaware that the Russian was her opponent – although she’s well aware of the challenge that Sharapova could present, even after winning their past 18 matches.
“Every match is new,” Serena reasoned. “You know, she always brings in something new and something special. She’s very consistent, as well ... one player that’s always consistently winning and training hard and working hard and winning matches.”
Maria Sharapova moves into the quarterfinals at the expense of Swiss teenager Belinda Bencic
The Russian was out to make a statement early, setting up break points in the first two Bencic service games, but the No.12 seed hung tough, and after a double fault and a simple error from Sharapova, it was the Swiss who was first to draw blood, breaking Sharapova against the run of play. However – with the returning from both players a standout – it was followed by a run of four consecutive breaks
As the match steadied, Sharapova’s experience gave her the edge when she needed it, plucking the first set from Bencic’s grasp after forcing a crucial error from the 18-year-old’s racquet as she served to force the tiebreaker.
With an incredible amount of pressure mounting up behind their serves in the second set, it was still Sharapova who was creating the most opportunities, but Bencic showed maturity well beyond her years to stick with her opponent as the score line once again reached 5-6 in the Russian’s favour.
Serving to stay in the match for the second time, a long wait to see a challenge ultimately proved the youngster’s undoing, as she faltered and gave up a match point. A tight Sharapova was unable to capitalise though, dumping a backhand into the bottom of the net.
A second match point came shortly after, and a Sharapova return that whipped past Bencic was called out. A challenge from Maria was successful though and, as a forlorn Bencic looked hopefully at the umpire for a replay of the point, the match was over.
A replay of the 2015 final now looms on Tuesday when Sharapova faces No.1 seed Serena Williams after she defeated unseeded Russian Margarita Gasparyan 6-2 6-1.
source:http://www.ausopen.com/
Friday, January 22, 2016
Roger wraps up another record
After amassing his 300th win at Grand Slam level on Friday, Roger Federer was in a reflective mood.
Fans' favourite Hewitt memories
Throughout his 20-year career, Lleyton Hewitt has won the hearts of fans worldwide. Here's how they will remember him.
My memorable moment of Lleyton Hewitt goes back to 1998 when at 15 years old he became one of the youngest winners of an ATP tournament in Adelaide, defeating Jason Stoltenberg in the final, after having defeated Andre Agassi in the semi-finals. For me, this signalled his emergence on the scene and set up his career which has been remarkable ever since.
Greg Woodward, Thornleigh NSW, Australia
My best memory was his Davis Cup semifinal performance back 1999 and his interview afterwards where he said: ‘we’re gonna bring home the cup, I tell you’. It really shows his fighting spirit.
Rick, Germany
I saw Lleyton play in San Jose, California. My daughter was in the hospital fighting with a brain injury. At one point my husband said, ‘Go watch tennis. Lleyton is synonymous with fighting and never giving up’.
Mary Jolley, San Francisco, USA
The moment that I think defines Lleyton Hewitt’s career is also one of my favourite rallies of all time. It is from Indian Wells in 2005 against Roger Federer. The variety of shots from both guys is extraordinary as this was probably the year for us to see the best match possible between these two during their careers.
David Grice, UK
My best memory of Lleyton Hewitt was when he beat Sjeng Schalken 7-5 in the fifth set at Wimbledon 2002. I think the Dutchman was up 4-2 in the fifth set. I remember Hewitt ended the match with the running pass and fell to the ground as he hit the shot.
Vaibhav, Netherlands
My husband and I regularly attend the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati. Back in 2007 or 2008
(not sure which) we went to the complimentary breakfast at our hotel and were stunned and thrilled to see Hewitt come into to the breakfast area. He was alone and dressed in a t-shirt and shorts and backwards cap, and proceeded to fix himself a bowl of raisin bran and sit quietly and eat his rather meagre breakfast, considering it was a match day. No one approached him and he didn't speak to anyone. It was just so cool seeing him there so subdued in the middle of an ordinary breakfast. Later that day, we saw him play with his usual energy and abandon, and couldn't believe it was the same man who ate a simple bowl of cereal.
Mary Matzen, USA
Lleyton is a champion both on and off the court. My mum was Lleyton’s biggest fan and her greatest
wish was to watch him play live. She got to do it at a Davis Cup match in Brisbane about five years ago, by which time she was in an advanced stage of leukaemia. Lleyton surprised my mum and spent some time with her straight after a singles win. All her dreams came true that day thanks to this remarkable man. Mum died of leukaemia a few weeks later and Lleyton sent a lovely message to my dad. Lleyton is a champion on the court with a killer defensive lob but a bigger champion off the court and a truly remarkable human being.
Anita Wheatley, Australia
I met Lleyton and Tony Roche during the 2012 US Open while on holidays with my brothers. His second-round match against Gilles Muller was an out-of-body experience for me as a Lleyton fan which I will never forget. It came at a time when I was losing my dad to cancer, and Lleyton and his team inspired me more than I can say. I am very happy for him that he has the chance to call the end of his career on his own terms.
Darragh Kelly, Ireland
My most memorable moment of Lleyton Hewitt would have to be when he was competing in the UK
(either Wimbledon or Queens Club). After a long match, his son came down onto the court. Seeing them both sat next to each other, both of them sitting on the players bench this will be how I will remember Lleyton’s tennis career.
Simon Davidge, Buckinghamshire, UK
Lleyton Hewitt has a massive heart and always be known as the five-set king.
John, Queens Park WA, Australia
About Hewitt’s legacy, I would add relentlessness, extra attention to fitness, and charisma, plus the fact he is a bit nuts.
Tom, Warsaw, Poland
I refuse to see him as retired. His strength is my best memory of him.
Alex, Romania
source:http://www.ausopen.com/
My memorable moment of Lleyton Hewitt goes back to 1998 when at 15 years old he became one of the youngest winners of an ATP tournament in Adelaide, defeating Jason Stoltenberg in the final, after having defeated Andre Agassi in the semi-finals. For me, this signalled his emergence on the scene and set up his career which has been remarkable ever since.
Greg Woodward, Thornleigh NSW, Australia
My best memory was his Davis Cup semifinal performance back 1999 and his interview afterwards where he said: ‘we’re gonna bring home the cup, I tell you’. It really shows his fighting spirit.
Rick, Germany
I saw Lleyton play in San Jose, California. My daughter was in the hospital fighting with a brain injury. At one point my husband said, ‘Go watch tennis. Lleyton is synonymous with fighting and never giving up’.
Mary Jolley, San Francisco, USA
The moment that I think defines Lleyton Hewitt’s career is also one of my favourite rallies of all time. It is from Indian Wells in 2005 against Roger Federer. The variety of shots from both guys is extraordinary as this was probably the year for us to see the best match possible between these two during their careers.
David Grice, UK
My best memory of Lleyton Hewitt was when he beat Sjeng Schalken 7-5 in the fifth set at Wimbledon 2002. I think the Dutchman was up 4-2 in the fifth set. I remember Hewitt ended the match with the running pass and fell to the ground as he hit the shot.
Vaibhav, Netherlands
My husband and I regularly attend the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati. Back in 2007 or 2008
(not sure which) we went to the complimentary breakfast at our hotel and were stunned and thrilled to see Hewitt come into to the breakfast area. He was alone and dressed in a t-shirt and shorts and backwards cap, and proceeded to fix himself a bowl of raisin bran and sit quietly and eat his rather meagre breakfast, considering it was a match day. No one approached him and he didn't speak to anyone. It was just so cool seeing him there so subdued in the middle of an ordinary breakfast. Later that day, we saw him play with his usual energy and abandon, and couldn't believe it was the same man who ate a simple bowl of cereal.
Mary Matzen, USA
Lleyton is a champion both on and off the court. My mum was Lleyton’s biggest fan and her greatest
wish was to watch him play live. She got to do it at a Davis Cup match in Brisbane about five years ago, by which time she was in an advanced stage of leukaemia. Lleyton surprised my mum and spent some time with her straight after a singles win. All her dreams came true that day thanks to this remarkable man. Mum died of leukaemia a few weeks later and Lleyton sent a lovely message to my dad. Lleyton is a champion on the court with a killer defensive lob but a bigger champion off the court and a truly remarkable human being.
Anita Wheatley, Australia
I met Lleyton and Tony Roche during the 2012 US Open while on holidays with my brothers. His second-round match against Gilles Muller was an out-of-body experience for me as a Lleyton fan which I will never forget. It came at a time when I was losing my dad to cancer, and Lleyton and his team inspired me more than I can say. I am very happy for him that he has the chance to call the end of his career on his own terms.
Darragh Kelly, Ireland
My most memorable moment of Lleyton Hewitt would have to be when he was competing in the UK
(either Wimbledon or Queens Club). After a long match, his son came down onto the court. Seeing them both sat next to each other, both of them sitting on the players bench this will be how I will remember Lleyton’s tennis career.
Simon Davidge, Buckinghamshire, UK
Lleyton Hewitt has a massive heart and always be known as the five-set king.
John, Queens Park WA, Australia
About Hewitt’s legacy, I would add relentlessness, extra attention to fitness, and charisma, plus the fact he is a bit nuts.
Tom, Warsaw, Poland
I refuse to see him as retired. His strength is my best memory of him.
Alex, Romania
source:http://www.ausopen.com/
Bosnia's big Grand Slam break
Bosnian pair Damir Dzumhur and Mirza Basic have created history with their first-round wins at AO 2016.
All tennis players must deal with adversity but when you learned to play the game in a former morgue in a war-torn country, knocking a yellow ball over a net a few times is the easy part.
Damir Dzumhur and Mirza Basic made history for Bosnia-Herzegovina on Day 1 at the Australian Open, their first-round wins putting two players from their country into the second round of a Grand Slam for the first time.
Their victories – Dzumhur beat Britain’s Kyle Edmund 1-6 7-6 4-6 6-3 6-1 while Basic outgunned Dutchman Robin Haase 7-6 6-4 6-4 – is headline news at home, where they are becoming sporting heroes.
“Right now it’s night in Bosnia but already all the newspapers, the magazines are writing about us,” Dzumhur said after setting up a clash with 16th seed David Goffin of Belgium.
“First time ever in tennis history of Bosnia that two players are not just in the main draw, but they are past the first round. I’m really happy that we both made it through.”
Dzumhur has been flying the flag for Bosnian tennis for a while now. Two years ago, he made the third round in Melbourne and now, ranked 81, he is a familiar figure on the Grand Slam stage.
Basic, ranked 135 and, at 24, a year older than Dzumhur, came through qualifying to make his first Grand Slam main draw where he upstaged the far more experienced Haase.
“I am very happy to win,” said Mirza, who has spent most of his career on the Challenger circuit, where the lower prize money means he’s been travelling on a shoestring, booking cheap flights and staying with friends or in hostels.
Guaranteed AUD $67,000 for reaching round two, it is the biggest pay-day of his career, something that he hopes will spur him on.
“The money’s good, but I just want to focus on my game, so that I can improve and get to the top 100 as soon as possible,” he said. “Then I can play all the Grand Slams without qualifying.”
Friends since they were five or six, both men were born in Sarajevo, a city bombed by the Serbians from 1992 to 1996.
Basic, whose parents were both doctors, was advised to take up tennis when he was five because it was “the best way to get off the streets”.
Learning to play tennis in a sports centre that was a morgue during the war, their story is one of hardship, friendship and a desire to succeed forged out of a horrific situation.
Unlike players hailing from established tennis powers, Dzumhur and Basic grew up with little or no support from their country’s federation, making their achievements in Melbourne even more impressive.
“It’s always tough when you don’t have facilities like you have in Australia or the other countries. You have to fight,” Basic said.
The achievements of both men have made tennis increasingly popular in Bosnia but Basic said it was still tough to succeed.
“It’s becoming bigger and bigger now but it’s quite expensive,” he said. “Even if you can play up to (age) 14 or 16, after that you have to invest a lot of money and it’s really tough because your parents have to take care of it.”
For Dzumhur, the arrival of Basic on the main stage could not have come at a better time.
“It’s perfect,” he said. “Most of my career I didn’t have anybody who’s going to be beside me, to give me competition.
“I’m really happy that Mirza passed first round, he passed qualies, this is really good for Bosnian players.”
“I really hope that next generations are going to get the support that we couldn’t.”
source:http://www.ausopen.com/
All tennis players must deal with adversity but when you learned to play the game in a former morgue in a war-torn country, knocking a yellow ball over a net a few times is the easy part.
Damir Dzumhur and Mirza Basic made history for Bosnia-Herzegovina on Day 1 at the Australian Open, their first-round wins putting two players from their country into the second round of a Grand Slam for the first time.
Their victories – Dzumhur beat Britain’s Kyle Edmund 1-6 7-6 4-6 6-3 6-1 while Basic outgunned Dutchman Robin Haase 7-6 6-4 6-4 – is headline news at home, where they are becoming sporting heroes.
“Right now it’s night in Bosnia but already all the newspapers, the magazines are writing about us,” Dzumhur said after setting up a clash with 16th seed David Goffin of Belgium.
“First time ever in tennis history of Bosnia that two players are not just in the main draw, but they are past the first round. I’m really happy that we both made it through.”
Dzumhur has been flying the flag for Bosnian tennis for a while now. Two years ago, he made the third round in Melbourne and now, ranked 81, he is a familiar figure on the Grand Slam stage.
Basic, ranked 135 and, at 24, a year older than Dzumhur, came through qualifying to make his first Grand Slam main draw where he upstaged the far more experienced Haase.
“I am very happy to win,” said Mirza, who has spent most of his career on the Challenger circuit, where the lower prize money means he’s been travelling on a shoestring, booking cheap flights and staying with friends or in hostels.
Guaranteed AUD $67,000 for reaching round two, it is the biggest pay-day of his career, something that he hopes will spur him on.
“The money’s good, but I just want to focus on my game, so that I can improve and get to the top 100 as soon as possible,” he said. “Then I can play all the Grand Slams without qualifying.”
Friends since they were five or six, both men were born in Sarajevo, a city bombed by the Serbians from 1992 to 1996.
Basic, whose parents were both doctors, was advised to take up tennis when he was five because it was “the best way to get off the streets”.
Learning to play tennis in a sports centre that was a morgue during the war, their story is one of hardship, friendship and a desire to succeed forged out of a horrific situation.
Unlike players hailing from established tennis powers, Dzumhur and Basic grew up with little or no support from their country’s federation, making their achievements in Melbourne even more impressive.
“It’s always tough when you don’t have facilities like you have in Australia or the other countries. You have to fight,” Basic said.
The achievements of both men have made tennis increasingly popular in Bosnia but Basic said it was still tough to succeed.
“It’s becoming bigger and bigger now but it’s quite expensive,” he said. “Even if you can play up to (age) 14 or 16, after that you have to invest a lot of money and it’s really tough because your parents have to take care of it.”
For Dzumhur, the arrival of Basic on the main stage could not have come at a better time.
“It’s perfect,” he said. “Most of my career I didn’t have anybody who’s going to be beside me, to give me competition.
“I’m really happy that Mirza passed first round, he passed qualies, this is really good for Bosnian players.”
“I really hope that next generations are going to get the support that we couldn’t.”
source:http://www.ausopen.com/
Maria chalks up 600 wins, with plenty more to come
Some statistics can be misleading but when you’ve just won your 600th match, it is pretty clear that you have had a stellar career.
Maria Sharapova reached that milestone on Friday with a hard-fought 6-1 6-7(5) 6-0 win over American Lauren Davis, a match that encapsulated her almost unrivalled ability to shut out disappointment and turn it into success.
The Russian, five times a Grand Slam champion and a former world No.1, seemed surprised when told she had racked up win No.600, a mark only 16 women in history have managed.
“Oh, wow, I’ve won 600 matches?” she said with surprise. “Oh boy. Is this like a friendly reminder that I’m getting older? Might be?”
At 28, Sharapova is hardly old, her tennis still strong and her competitive instinct firmly intact, although her memory is a little shakier, unable to recall correctly the identity of the first opponent she beat (No.288-ranked American Teryn Ashley, in three sets at an ITF event in Columbus in February 2002).
When you’ve won 600 matches, some of them must merge into one but while Sharapova plans to play on for “many years”, when she does call time on her career it will be one of enormous highs, incredible fortitude and a never-say-die attitude which, if she could bottle it, would add to her millions.
The world’s highest-earning female athlete, Sharapova has won almost $37 million in prize money but that is dwarfed by her off-court earnings.
Entrepreneur, shoe designer, owner of a premium candy line in Sugarpova and a woman who has adorned countless magazine covers, Sharapova has become one of the world’s most recognisable brands while remaining at or close to the top of the game.
A Wimbledon champion at 17, US Open winner at 19, Australian Open champion at 20 and then four years later, having described herself playing on clay as “a cow on ice”, she won the French Open to complete the career Grand Slam.
In 2014, she won a second French Open title for her fifth major crown and she owns 35 career titles.
But Sharapova will never forget her roots, particularly the sacrifices her mother and father made to get her to this point, her father accompanying her to Florida as a seven-year-old, with her mother unable to get to America for two years.
That absence helped to build Sharapova’s inner strength, something that has been integral to her success on the court.
“My father paved this career for me that I just keep following,” Sharapova said. “He just really opened the door to my dream (and) I'm just kind of living it.
“My mother opened up the world to me culturally, educationally. So I got very different things from both of them."
As to the future, it begins with a fourth-round clash here against Switzerland's Belinda Bencic and Sharapova said she intends to stick around for a long time yet.
“When I was probably 18, 19 years old, I mean, first of all, I never thought that I'd miss a year when I'm 21 and thought that I was at the peak of my career, thought I was playing some of my best tennis,” she said. “That was kind of a big hurdle, a big question mark.
“I never thought that I'd be playing at this age, honestly. (When ) I was born, my mother was very young. I thought I would, not have kids at 20, but I would have children at this point.
“(But) at 28 years old, I'm healthy and look forward to playing for many years.
"I really love what I do. Although I'd love to sit on the beach and read a book and drink margaritas, after a few days I get bored.
“I know, especially when I miss a couple of weeks, the feeling of hitting the ball, when that comes back to me, I'm like: this is what I love to do. There's no better feeling.”
source:http://www.ausopen.com/
Maria Sharapova reached that milestone on Friday with a hard-fought 6-1 6-7(5) 6-0 win over American Lauren Davis, a match that encapsulated her almost unrivalled ability to shut out disappointment and turn it into success.
The Russian, five times a Grand Slam champion and a former world No.1, seemed surprised when told she had racked up win No.600, a mark only 16 women in history have managed.
“Oh, wow, I’ve won 600 matches?” she said with surprise. “Oh boy. Is this like a friendly reminder that I’m getting older? Might be?”
At 28, Sharapova is hardly old, her tennis still strong and her competitive instinct firmly intact, although her memory is a little shakier, unable to recall correctly the identity of the first opponent she beat (No.288-ranked American Teryn Ashley, in three sets at an ITF event in Columbus in February 2002).
When you’ve won 600 matches, some of them must merge into one but while Sharapova plans to play on for “many years”, when she does call time on her career it will be one of enormous highs, incredible fortitude and a never-say-die attitude which, if she could bottle it, would add to her millions.
The world’s highest-earning female athlete, Sharapova has won almost $37 million in prize money but that is dwarfed by her off-court earnings.
Entrepreneur, shoe designer, owner of a premium candy line in Sugarpova and a woman who has adorned countless magazine covers, Sharapova has become one of the world’s most recognisable brands while remaining at or close to the top of the game.
A Wimbledon champion at 17, US Open winner at 19, Australian Open champion at 20 and then four years later, having described herself playing on clay as “a cow on ice”, she won the French Open to complete the career Grand Slam.
In 2014, she won a second French Open title for her fifth major crown and she owns 35 career titles.
But Sharapova will never forget her roots, particularly the sacrifices her mother and father made to get her to this point, her father accompanying her to Florida as a seven-year-old, with her mother unable to get to America for two years.
That absence helped to build Sharapova’s inner strength, something that has been integral to her success on the court.
“My father paved this career for me that I just keep following,” Sharapova said. “He just really opened the door to my dream (and) I'm just kind of living it.
“My mother opened up the world to me culturally, educationally. So I got very different things from both of them."
As to the future, it begins with a fourth-round clash here against Switzerland's Belinda Bencic and Sharapova said she intends to stick around for a long time yet.
“When I was probably 18, 19 years old, I mean, first of all, I never thought that I'd miss a year when I'm 21 and thought that I was at the peak of my career, thought I was playing some of my best tennis,” she said. “That was kind of a big hurdle, a big question mark.
“I never thought that I'd be playing at this age, honestly. (When ) I was born, my mother was very young. I thought I would, not have kids at 20, but I would have children at this point.
“(But) at 28 years old, I'm healthy and look forward to playing for many years.
"I really love what I do. Although I'd love to sit on the beach and read a book and drink margaritas, after a few days I get bored.
“I know, especially when I miss a couple of weeks, the feeling of hitting the ball, when that comes back to me, I'm like: this is what I love to do. There's no better feeling.”
source:http://www.ausopen.com/
Verdasco's stunner over Nadal..
The first round at the Australian Open served up a number of upsets that have set the tennis world aflutter. After just two days of competition at Melbourne Park, five of the men’s seeds and 12 of the women’s seeds had been been sent home. And not just any seeds…
By the end of Day 2, two of the top contenders for the title were out: No.5 seed Rafael Nadal and No.2 seed Simona Halep. Nadal lost to countryman Fernando Verdasco in what was their fourth meeting at a Grand Slam and Halep succumbed to qualifier Shuai Zhang of China, who registered her first main draw Grand Slam win in 15 attempts.
source:http://www.ausopen.com/
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