Roger Federer iguala récord de triunfos de Agassi de Grand Slam
El suizo derrotó al colombiano Santiago Giraldo en la primera ronda del US Open y alcanzó al estadounidense con 224 victorias. Roger Federer tuvo un arrollador debut en el US Open al imponerse al colombiano Santiago Giraldo por parciales de 6-4, 6-3 y 6-2.
Con esta victoria, el cinco veces campeón de este torneo, igualó la cantidad de victorias en Grand Slam que tenía Andre Agassi (224) y quedó a tan sólo 9 partidos de Jimmy Connors.
"Estoy feliz de cómo está saliendo todo", dijo Federar tras un fin de semana marcado por el huracán "Irene" que amenazó el inicio del torneo lunes.
"No me importa cómo ganar, no es necesario que sea bonito. Nunca he jugado mi mejor nivel en la primera ronda, pero es importante ganarlos y salir de ahí con una buena sensación. Y eso es lo que hice anoche. Hice un buen ejercicio y gané confianza. La superficie es mucho más lenta este año y las pelotas se desgastan rápido", indicó.
"Me llevó un par de juegos acostumbrarme a las condiciones, tuve que adaptarme y Santiago me mantuvo al filo", confesó.
En la próxima ronda, Federer tendrá como rival al israelí Dudi Sela, que eliminó al brasileño Thomaz Bellucci en cinco sets.
Djokovic necesitó 44 minutos para pasar a segunda ronda del US Open
El serbio se impuso al irlandés Conor Niland, quien se retiró por lesión cuando perdía por 6-0 y 5-1.
El tenista serbio Novak Djokovic, primer cabeza de serie del Abierto de Estados Unidos, sólo necesitó 44 minutos de trabajo para alcanzar la segunda ronda del torneo, después de que su rival, el irlandés Conor Niland, se retirara lesionado en el segundo set.
Djokovic apenas encontró resistencia en Niland, 197 del mundo que había accedido al cuadro final desde la fase previa, y se impuso en la primera manga por un rotundo 6-0 en apenas 21 minutos de juego.
En el segundo set, con 5-1 a favor del balcánico, Niland se acercó a la red y le tendió la mano al número uno mundial para dar por zanjado el partido.
En segunda ronda, Djokovic se medirá al vencedor del partido entre el español Pere Riba y el argentino Carlos Berloq, que jugarán también en esta segunda jornada.
Victorias de Djokovic y Nadal destacaron en la jornada de US Open
Ambos tenistas avanzaron a la siguiente ronda del último Gran Slam de la temporada.
El serbio Novak Djokovic, primera raqueta del tenis mundial, debutó sin sobresaltos en el Abierto de Estados Unidos, en el que el español Rafael Nadal, defensor del título, sufrió como pocas veces esta temporada para avanzar a la segunda ronda.
Djokovic se impuso el martes al irlandés Conor Niland, procedente de la clasificación y 197 del ranking, por 6-0, 5-1 y abandono después de 44 minutos de juego por un malestar estomacal.
Por su parte, Nadal, número dos del mundo, se impuso al kazajo Andrei Golubev por 6-3, 7-6 (7-1) y 7-5 en dos horas y 49 minutos tras recuperarse de siete set points en el segundo parcial y de una desventaja de 5-2 con el saque de su rival en el tercero.
Su compatriota David Ferrer, quinto preclasificado, superó al ruso Igor Andreev por 2-6, 6-3, 6-0 y 6-4. Después de perder el primer set, el español se recuperó para quedarse con el partido tras dos horas y media, sacando ventaja de los más de 50 errores no forzados de su rival.
El francés Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, undécimo favorito, se deshizo sin mayores dificultades del taiwanés Lu Yen-Hsun por un triple 6-4. De esta manera, el francés regresó con éxito al torneo del que no pudo participar en 2010 por una lesión en su rodilla.
En cambio, el argentino David Nalbandian sufrió para avanzar a la segunda ronda. Nalbandian, 76 del ranking mundial, se impuso al estadounidense Bobby Reynolds por 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 y 6-3 y se enfrentará en el siguiente partido al croata Ivan Ljubicic.
Para el resto de los argentinos la suerte en su debut este martes fue dispar: Juan Chela y Carlos Berlocq siguen en carrera en Nueva York, mientras que Máximo González se despidió rápidamente del torneo.
Chela venció fácilmente al australiano Marinko Matosevic, quien se retiró cuando perdía 3-1. Berlocq se impuso al español Pere Riba por 7-5, 6-0 y 6-1, mientras que González cayó ante el suizo Stanislas Wawrinka por 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 y 6-3.
Por su parte el campeón de Los Angeles, el letón Ernests Gulbis, celebró su 23 cumpleaños derrotando al ruso Mikhail Youzhny, 16 sembrado, por 6-2, 6-4 y 6-4.
En otros resultados de la jornada destacó:
Rogerio Dutra Da Silva (BRA) venció a Louk Sorensen (IRL) , por 6-0, 3-6, 6-4. 1-0 (retiro).
Robin Haase (HOL) venció a Rui Machado POR (POR), por 6-0, 6-4, 6-4.
Diego Junqueira (ARG) venció a Karol Beck (SVK), por 6-2 (retiro).
Vasek Pospisil (CAN) venció a Lukas Rosol (R. Checa), por 6-1, 6-2 y 6-1.
Feliciano Lopez (ESP) venció a Tatsuma Ito (JPN), por 6-2, 6-4 y 6-4.
Julien Benneteau (FRA) venció a Nicolas Almagro (ES), por 6-2, 6-4 y 6-3.
Victorias de Djokovic y Nadal destacaron en la jornada de US Open
Ambos tenistas avanzaron a la siguiente ronda del último Gran Slam de la temporada.
Djokovic necesitó 44 minutos para pasar a segunda ronda del US Open Federer iguala récord de triunfos de Agassi de Grand Slam
El serbio Novak Djokovic, primera raqueta del tenis mundial, debutó sin sobresaltos en el Abierto de Estados Unidos, en el que el español Rafael Nadal, defensor del título, sufrió como pocas veces esta temporada para avanzar a la segunda ronda.
Djokovic se impuso el martes al irlandés Conor Niland, procedente de la clasificación y 197 del ranking, por 6-0, 5-1 y abandono después de 44 minutos de juego por un malestar estomacal.
Por su parte, Nadal, número dos del mundo, se impuso al kazajo Andrei Golubev por 6-3, 7-6 (7-1) y 7-5 en dos horas y 49 minutos tras recuperarse de siete set points en el segundo parcial y de una desventaja de 5-2 con el saque de su rival en el tercero.
Su compatriota David Ferrer, quinto preclasificado, superó al ruso Igor Andreev por 2-6, 6-3, 6-0 y 6-4. Después de perder el primer set, el español se recuperó para quedarse con el partido tras dos horas y media, sacando ventaja de los más de 50 errores no forzados de su rival.
El francés Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, undécimo favorito, se deshizo sin mayores dificultades del taiwanés Lu Yen-Hsun por un triple 6-4. De esta manera, el francés regresó con éxito al torneo del que no pudo participar en 2010 por una lesión en su rodilla.
En cambio, el argentino David Nalbandian sufrió para avanzar a la segunda ronda. Nalbandian, 76 del ranking mundial, se impuso al estadounidense Bobby Reynolds por 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 y 6-3 y se enfrentará en el siguiente partido al croata Ivan Ljubicic.
Para el resto de los argentinos la suerte en su debut este martes fue dispar: Juan Chela y Carlos Berlocq siguen en carrera en Nueva York, mientras que Máximo González se despidió rápidamente del torneo.
Chela venció fácilmente al australiano Marinko Matosevic, quien se retiró cuando perdía 3-1. Berlocq se impuso al español Pere Riba por 7-5, 6-0 y 6-1, mientras que González cayó ante el suizo Stanislas Wawrinka por 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 y 6-3.
Por su parte el campeón de Los Angeles, el letón Ernests Gulbis, celebró su 23 cumpleaños derrotando al ruso Mikhail Youzhny, 16 sembrado, por 6-2, 6-4 y 6-4.
Defending Champion Rafael Nadal off to rocky start in US Open defence; all-conquering Novak Djokovic found the going even easier than expected …
Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal celebrates after winning against Kazakhstan's Andrey Golubev.
Rafael Nadal got his US Open title defence off to a rocky start Tuesday, but found plenty to be pleased about after a tough straight-sets victory over 98th-ranked Andrey Golubev.
Nadal, who admitted being nervous on his return to the Arthur Ashe stadium where he completed a career Grand Slam last season, saved seven set points in the second set and came back from two breaks down in the third.
"It's a positive start, winning in straight sets -- even if it was unbelievable that I won straight sets," Nadal said.
He finally wrapped up victory after two hours and 49 minutes, taking a first step towards what many tennis fans hope will be a final with Serbia's Novak Djokovic.
Meanwhile Djokovic, who has seized the world number one ranking with two Grand Slam victories and nine titles overall this season, eased into the second round when qualifier Conor Niland retired from their match with food poisoning.
Djokovic led 6-0, 5-1 at the time, and in 44 minutes had fired an array of service winners and baseline bombs that showed his right shoulder, which forced him out of the final in Cincinnati this month, was no longer a problem.
"Today I didn't feel any pain... so I have no concern," said Djokovic, who improved to an incredible tally of 58-2 for the season and was happy to work a short shift.
"This year has been a very long year. So I really don't mind that I spend less time on the court," he said.
Nadal has lost all five of his matches against Djokovic this season, most recently in the final at Wimbledon.
While might have hoped for a more straightforward start, he said he was pleased with his attitude, even if he needed to improve a few aspects of his game.
"The mental part was positive tonight," Nadal said. "The tennis for sure can improve. I have to play a little bit more inside the court. But I am confident I can do it."
Golubev, serving for the second set at 5-3, took a 40-0 lead, only to see Nadal save five set points in that game and two more in the next.
Nadal edged ahead with a break for 6-5, giving himself a second break point in that game when he raced forward to scoop a Golubev drop shot over the net a fraction of an inch before it bounced a second time.
Golubev argued in vain -- and incorrectly -- that the ball had bounced twice.
Having taken the lead, Nadal dropped his own serve, and had to go to the tiebreaker -- in which he won the last six points.
Nadal had to battle back again in the third, falling behind two breaks before winning the last five games to seal the victory.
"I had a few good passing shots in important moments and to save set points in the second," Nadal said. "In the match point, I had a very good passing shot, too... I think I hit a good shots but not enough."
French Open champion Li Na was the biggest casualty of the day, the sixth-seeded Chinese stunned by Romanian teenager Simona Halep.
Halep, ranked 53 in the world, triumphed 6-2, 7-5 to hand Li her second straight Grand Slam disappointment -- after a second-round exit at Wimbledon.
"I really wanted to do well after Roland Garros," said Li, who has struggled since becoming the first Grand Slam champion from Asia. "But it's not easy to do. Now I lose all the confidence on the court."
Li's exit left the women's field without all three of this year's Grand Slam champions.
Australian Open champion Kim Clijsters, winner of the last two US Opens, is absent with a stomach muscle injury. Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova lost on Monday.
Their absences have left the women's draw wide open, and top contenders Caroline Wozniacki and Serena Williams wasted no time moving on.
World number one and top seed Wozniacki defeated 125th-ranked Nuria Llagostera Vives of Spain 6-3, 6-1.
Williams, seeded 28th after her near year-long layoff, took less than an hour to dispatch 54th-ranked Serbian Bojana Jovanovski 6-1, 6-1.
While Williams is trying to claim a 14th Grand Slam title -- and her first since Wimbledon 2010 -- Wozniacki is trying to earn a first.
Fourth-seeded Victoria Azarenka of Belarus also advanced with ease, beating Sweden's Johanna Larsson 6-1, 6-3.
Azarenka drew the short straw among the top women's seeds when she was put on a path to a possible third-round clash with Williams, who returned to tennis in June and has won two titles in her first four tournaments.
Novak Djokovic built a 6-0, 5-1 lead in the first round before Conor Niland retired
NEW YORK -- Heading into this U.S. Open -- Novak Djokovic's first major as the No. 1-ranked player -- one statistic loomed larger than any other: 57-2.
But that extraordinary won-loss record, one of the best starts on record, came with a qualification -- a big, ugly asterisk.
For a few weeks ago, his success finally caught up with him; Djokovic imploded after playing too many matches in too few days. The fulcrum, the right shoulder that has been skittish all season long, gave out and he was forced to retire from his finals match in Cincinnati against Andy Murray. One suspects there was some mental exhaustion involved as well.
It was an awkward moment as the 24-year-old Serb sat in his changeover chair, gingerly rotating his shoulder and grimacing. It was a glimpse of the ghost of Djokovic past, when his retirements from big matches raised doubts about his intestinal fortitude.
Ah, not to worry. Make that 58-2 -- and you can take the asterisk off the board.
Djokovic annihilated ailing Irish qualifier Conor Niland, who turned out to be an expert in the sport of hurling in his 30-minute warm-up. Djokovic took the first set 6-0 in 21 minutes and the match 6-0, 5-1 when Niland was forced to retire.
Novak Djokovic could not have asked for a better first-round match.
Djokovic won the last 16 points, and 46 of 60 in the match. Later, Niland said he was battling food poisoning.
"I don't think I'm lacking any time on the court or matches," Djokovic said. "This year has been a very long year. So I really don't mind that I spend less time on the court."
So, how is the shoulder?
"After Cincinnati, I took some time off," he said, "and I did everything in order to recover the shoulder. Today, I didn't feel any pain."
Thus, Djokovic -- who is trying to become only the sixth man to win three Grand Slam singles titles in a single season -- moves back into the role of clear-cut favorite.
2. Rafa always takes his time: No, even if his pants were on fire, the defending champion would never be in a hurry.
You know the routine: Rafa works his way through three or four balls and, at length, comes up with two, putting the slightly fuzzier one in his pocket. He bounces one ball, adjusts his, uh, shorts in the back, wipes his face, tucks his hair over his ear, bounces the ball several more times, rocks back and forth and finally delivers the serve. The whole process often exceeds the ATP 25-second limit rule.
Tuesday night's match against Andrey Golubev was vintage Rafa. Golubev would seem to be the ideal candidate for a swift departure. He was a dismal 6-24 for the season and recently suffered a 0-18 losing streak. Oh, and he had lost nine of his past 10 Grand Slam matches.
Naturally, Rafa turned this into a protracted science project, winning in three creeping, gnarly sets, 6-3, 7-6 (1), 7-5. Golubev broke Nadal's serve an astonishing six times, pushing the match to 2 hours, 49 minutes.
3. Early storm warning? The path of Roger Federer through the first few rounds here at the Billie Jean King national tennis center is easier to predict than Hurricane Irene's:
Smooth sailing.
The No. 3-ranked seed was pleased with his opening match Monday night, a straight-sets win over Santiago Giraldo.
"Couldn't be better," Federer said. "Overall, I'm very happy."
Next up, Thursday, is 26-year-old Dudi Sela of Israel. They have met only one previous time, at the 2005 French Open. Sela got all of five games in three sets.
4. The Pride of India The causal tennis fan may have never heard of Somdev Devvarman, but in India he is a household name.
On Wednesday, the 26-year-old meets No. 4-ranked Andy Murray in the second match on Arthur Ashe.
Devvarman has some game. He's ranked No. 64 among ATP World Tour players and is 18-17 for the year. He won two NCAA titles in 2007 and 2008, beating Georgia's John Isner and J.P. Smith of Tennessee, respectively, in the finals.
Back in February, Devvarman and cricket star Sachin Tendulkar were named co-Sports Persons of the Year by Sports Illustrated India.
Devvarman and Murray have ever played each other.
Rafael Nadal squeaks into second round at U.S. Open 2011
Rafael Nadal's first match as defending U.S. Open champion was hardly a tour de force.
He would fall behind in a set, then come back. Fall behind, then come back.
His serve was broken six times — one more than it was in seven matches during his run to the title at Flushing Meadows a year ago. His shots didn't have their normal depth. He needed to save seven set points during the second set.
•Li Na upset at U.S. Open
•Ana Ivanovic honours grandfather with win
•Djokovic advances when opponent retires
Tuesday's U.S. Open results Locked in a struggle for nearly three hours, the second-seeded Nadal eventually got past 98th-ranked Andrey Golubev 6-3, 7-6 (1), 7-5 on Tuesday night to reach the second round of the U.S. Open.
“Well,” Nadal conceded, “I was a little bit lucky to win today in straight sets.”
An Interview With Novak Djokovic
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Q. You're in here a little earlier than expected. It was kinda quick.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yes. Well, I don't think I'm lacking any time on the court or matches. This year has been a very long year. So I really don't mind that I spend less time on the court. I think I've played well for these 45, 50 minutes that we had on the court. It's unfortunate for my opponent, obviously. He had food poisoning he told me after the match. But I felt great on the court, and that's something that's really important for the start of the tournament.
Q. How tired are you at this point in the season, playing so much?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I'm not really tired, you know, because I switched to the mode of Grand Slam focus, you know. Not really caring about what happens, it's just I'm trying to be in the present, trying to prepare well, and be 100% mentally and physically fit for the matches that are about to come here. You know, today was great opening performance. I know it has been long year, but it's not the first time that you know, I've played many matches in the past, as well, but, you know, you've got to adjust to it. I think, you know, right now with my time I'm doing a quite good job to stay fit.
Q. How would you describe how your shoulder felt in Cincinnati and how it felt today?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, the shoulder in Cincinnati didn't feel good obviously, and throughout the whole week I was carrying the, you know, kind of pain and discomfort in my shoulder. But after Cincinnati I took some time off, and I did everything in order to recover the shoulder. Today I didn't feel any pain. I served well and I played well, so I have no concern.
Q. Have there been any times this year where you just didn't want to go out on the tennis court, didn't want to get up in the morning and just wanted to...
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: There is always those days, you know, where you don't want to get up and, you know, you don't feel like playing. It's normal, you know. Everybody has those days. Bad days in the office, if you want to call them. But, you know, in the end it's yours job. It's your profession. You have to do it. You go on the court especially if you're playing big tournaments, big matches, you have to try to play your best. That's something that, you know, always keeps me motivated, the will to win.
Q. When you think back on your performance here last year in the finals, do you primarily feel pride of your achievement of getting that far, or is there any disappointment? How do you think back on that?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: No, I actually have great memories from New York and from the US Open. Last four years, two semifinals, two finals. I played great, you know, throughout my whole career on these courts. That, you know, gives me enough reason to believe I can play well. This year, I think this year more than ever, you know, I have a good chance. I'm playing the best tennis of my life and I have a great confidence. Yeah, the conditions are suitable to my game. I love the entertainment. I love the crowd.
Q. Speaking of entertainment, for years you were trying to pass Roger and Rafa. In terms of entertainment, Rafa is almost like a rock star. He's so appealing. And Roger is beautiful and perfect and graceful. How do you think you're taken and received here in North America?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: What about me?
Q. You're No. 1. Just don't hit me when we're doing an interview.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: You spent all your words already on that. (Laughter.)
Q. What do you think your image is like here? How do you think it's changing?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, you know, it's equally important, of course, to play well on the court and to do your job to win, you know. As much as you're successful and as much as you win, you get more attention from the media and from the people, and you get more respect, obviously, from your colleagues. But I think it's really important as well to carry yourself off the court in a good way. I have been learning that throughout my whole career, and last couple of years I have experienced some good and bad situations on and off the court. But I accepted that all as a big lesson in my life and, you know, something that can serve me well for my future. You know, I'm aware of the responsibility that I have as a present No. 1 to, you know, represent the sport as well in some ways off the court. So I need to do that in a best possible way. You know, I'm trying. You tell me, how am I doing?
Q. And the maturing process, how critical was that for you for your breakthrough this year? Do you put that as the No. 1 reason?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yes. I think everything in general just came together. And as I said, you know, I think progress is a slow process. It takes a while to really understand the game, understand the life that I'm having, and you learn from your mistakes obviously. You know, you try to get better as a person and as a player each day you wake up. I think maturing this year, you know, helped me a lot on and off the court.
Q. Do you think that we're past a time in tennis where we're gonna see 17, 18, 19 year old Grand Slam champions? Is it just not possible anymore?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: It's really hard to say, you know. It's hard to predict if that's possible, but maybe I'm wrong. In my opinion, it's much harder to have, you know, teenagers as, you know, Grand Slam champions or No. 1s nowadays because it takes time for a body to develop and to get stronger and to get experience. It's so competitive nowadays physically much more than it used to be.
Q. Last year Jack Sock hit with you during the rain and before the final, and now he's out here and he belongs to CAA like you do. What do you think of his future and what's to come for him?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I was saying last year that, you know, I'm really impressed by his game. His professionalism on the court, I think he has a bright future, you know, if he continues on being determined and focused on this sport. I've practiced with him quite a lot last year, actually, and during the tournament he has won the US Open juniors, so I have to give credit for that. And, yeah, he's a really nice guy off the court, as well. I wish him the best.
Q. Roger last night said he felt the conditions were a bit slower. Did you feel that too, or do you think that's because he played at night?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, there is difference I think in the night sessions and matches during the day. I think, you know, during the day the ball travels through the air faster than in the night. So maybe that's why it was a bit slower. I don't know. I didn't spend that much time on the center court, but I still I don't feel any big difference from last year. I think it's more or less the same surface.
Q. To clarify a subject you touched on in the press conference yesterday, what importance has this egg, the hyperbaric chamber had in its therapy for you? How much have you used it in the last year? Is there any sort of controversial aspect to it in your mind?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, look, you know, I said yesterday, and I'm gonna repeat it I think for the last time, you know, because I really wouldn't like to speak about it anymore because I don't there is no reason to open the subject. I have used it a couple of times, very few times last year just to test it and see how it is, and since then I haven't used it at all, you know, this year. So I cannot really say what's the effect. It doesn't have any influence on my success that I had in last 10 months, so that's really all I can say.
Q. Is there something controversial about it, for those of us that aren't that familiar with it?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I really don't know. There is nothing controversial. As I was aware, you know, many athletes, successful athletes, have been using that in the past. But as I said, I haven't used it for 12 months so I really don't know. I didn't keep track with its technology.
Q. I don't know if you remember Gaston Gaudio the Argentinian player. He's confirmed today officially that he's a retired player. What do you remember about him? What do you remember about his game?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, he's a Grand Slam champion, you know. He won Roland Garros and he had I think the year when he won French Open and the year before, year after, he had couple of best years in his career. He was the player to beat on the clay courts, you know, next to Rafa, Coria. You know, those guys were ruling the clay court season. Yeah, he's very talented. One of the nicest one handed backhands. Very relaxed guy off the court. Very nice.
Q. It's very rare actually that we ever talk to someone who has their dream come. Wimbledon, obviously, you became No. 1. Is it something that actually since you were a little kid you were thinking about it? Did it change your life? Did it change how people are around you, or were you surprised nothing changed? Did you think something like that would really change things for you, or in the end it hasn't changed much?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, I wasn't thinking about, you know, the period after achieving my dream and winning Wimbledon and becoming No. 1 what's gonna happen. You know, I really try to, you know, take things lightly and see how it would work for me. But after that I have won Wimbledon I took some time off and I got to think about everything that I've been through. And to be honest with you, I even have more motivation to play and to win more Grand Slams now more than ever that I know that I can actually, you know, perform equally well on any surface, that I have equal chances on any Grand Slam that I play. So this is something that gives me a lot of desire to come back to the game.
Q. Do you see and read things about people are saying if you win here you might complete the greatest season in the history of men's tennis? Does that sound real?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Sounds big. (Laughter.) No, this year has been tremendous, best so far in my career, and there has been a lot of talks about history making and this incredible run. No doubt I'm extremely honored and privileged to be part of the elite of the players that have made, you know, the history of the sport in some ways. But my main focus is really on the court. I need to take one match at a time. That's the only way I can really perform well.
Q. Next year the season will get two weeks shorter. Do you think that that would be a good length of the season for you, or would you still want the season to...
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, we were all really engaged in the schedule issue. I mean, top players and most of the players will have been, you know, kind of complaining about the length of the season. I think it's good. It's really good for all of us to have a bit shorter season. You know, it's not an easy thing to do. It's not an easy process of changing the schedule because there is many things involved. It's not just ATP. It's ITF, it's Grand Slams. So can't always look at it from the players' perspective. You have to look at it from the tournaments' perspectives as well, what's good and what's not. So the intensity is gonna be I think the same, if not higher, next year because of the same commitment tournaments. But at least it's two weeks shorter and we're going to have a bit longer of off season.
Q. You'd be happy with that, or still need more time off?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah, of course.
Li Na upset at U.S. Open
The last of the reigning women’s grand slam champions was shown the door at the U.S. Open Tuesday when error-prone French Open winner Li Na succumbed to unseeded Romanian teenager Simona Halep 6-2 7-5.
Li sprayed the ball long and wide throughout the one-hour, 34-minute first-round encounter, committing 54 unforced errors on a sun-drenched day at Flushing Meadows.
The 29-year-old Chinese said her May victory on the red clay at Roland Garros seems like a long time ago.
“Before I came to the court, I never think like I was a grand slam champion,” she said. “The French Open is like three months (ago) already. It’s enough time to forget.
“Now is the hard court season. You have to focus on hard court. You can’t only think about what you do on a clay court.
“If you think about clay, you have to think about next year, not this year.”
Last year’s U.S. Open winner and current Australian Open champion Kim Clijsters did not defend her title because of injury, while Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova was beaten Monday.
Li has stumbled badly in the Paris aftermath, losing confidence with each early-round setback.
“Before the match, (I) talked to my coach,” she said. “I said I didn’t have good timing to hit the ball. He tells me everything is perfect, everything is fantastic.
“I say, ‘Yes, everything is fantastic, but I always lose first round.’ I mean, this is not fantastic. We need to change something.”
Li could not rely on the rest of her game against Halep, landing only 61 percent of her first serves and failing to fire an ace. She had only 22 winners in the match.
Halep, who played with an ankle injury she suffered in Toronto earlier this month, called the win “unbelievable.”
“It’s not easy to play against a grand slam champ because it’s very top level,” she said. “I had emotion. I was nervous before the match.
“But I wanted just to enjoy the match, to feel the ball good, and to play my best... I am happy that I beat her.”
Li called her hardcourt breakdown “a terrible feeling.”
“Two years in a row, first round here. First round Indian Wells, Miami,” she said, shaking her head. “I mean, normally I like hard court a lot.
“I really wanted to do well after Roland Garros. But it’s not easy to do. It’s always easy to say, ‘I want to do, I would like to do.’ But I always lose early.
Chileno Paul Capdeville reingresa al grupo de los 100 mejores de la ATP
Tras ganar el título en Binghamton, el de Vitacura escaló al puesto 98º. Aguilar está 232º, Rivera 280º, González 295º y Massú 433º.
Capdeville gana en Binghamton y retorna al Top 100 del ATP
Paul Capdeville afianzó esta semana su condición de mejor jugador chileno del circuito ATP luego de ganar este fin de semana el challenger de Binghampton, lo que le permitió aparecer en el puesto 98º del ranking mundial.
El tenista de Vitacura alcanza así su mejor ranking desde octubre de 2009, cuando estuvo 95º, llegando en un buen momento de su carrera a la serie de Copa Davis que se disputará en septiembre, donde Chile enfrentará a Italia en Santiago.
Quien le sigue en el escalafón es Jorge Aguilar que se mantuvo 232º, luego viene Guillermo Rivera que bajó seis puestos para quedar 280º. Luego aparece Fernando González 295º, quien viene volviendo de una larga ausencia por lesión, para que le sigan Cristóbal Saavedra 343º, Hans Podlipnik 392º, Guillermo Hormazábal 427º y Nicolás Massú 433º.
En lo que respecta a los primeros puestos del ranking, Novak Djokovic se mantiene sólido en el primer puesto seguido por Rafael Nadal y Roger Federer.
On Sunday at Uniprix Stadium, world no. 1 Novak Djokovic of Serbia extended his extraordinary streak by winning the Rogers Cup presented by National Bank.
In a match that wavered far more than expected, he defeated world no.8 and 6th seed Mardy Fish of the US in three sets (6-2, 3-6, 6-4).
Djokovic racked up his 53rd win in 54 matches this year and fifth Masters 1000 trophy - a record.
To bank the 1000 ranking points and US$450 000 awarded to the winner, Djokovic had to overcome a few slowdowns and some improbable forehands from Fish.
In the first set, the battle was heated until the 6th game. Then, Djokovic won two consecutive games thanks to his perfect consistency from the backcourt. After 38 minutes, the set was over.
The winds change
A few scares were in store for the Serb in the second set. At 2-2, he was broken for the first time since his second round match against Nikolay Davydenko. Looking more erratic and nervous than he had earlier on, he lost his serve again in the 9th game, giving the set to Fish on a silver platter after 54 minutes of play.
Djokovic had to dig deep to regain control of the final set and secure the deciding break. He did so at 3-3 as Fish seemed to be tiring. With three championship points at 5-3 and under stress, the world no.1 let his rival come back to deuce before making his move.
The match ended after 2 hours, 23 minutes of intense rallies to the roar of the crowd.
Lifting the Rogers Cup, his ninth title in ten events this year, Djokovic reasserted his dominance at the top of the rankings.
STARS
Novak Djokovic beat Mardy Fish 6-2 3-6 6-4 to win the Rogers Cup men’s singles in Montreal, Canada
Serena Williams beat Samantha Stosur 6-4 6-2 to win the Rogers Cup women’s singles in Toronto, Canada
Potito Starace beat Martin Klizan 6-1 3-0 retired to win the San Marino CEPU Open in San Marino
SAYING
“I am human – I can definitely assure you of that. I guess it’s just all about having a positive attitude on the court every day, waking up every day wanting to improve, wanting to win, being determined, being professional. It’s that desire and motivation that keeps me going. Every match I play, I try to win, regardless which match is it or whoever is across the net.” – Novak Djokovic, after winning his record fifth ATP Masters 1000 title of the year, the Rogers Cup in Montréal, Canada.
Novak Djokovic
“I’m so excited. I never expected to do this well. I’m just so happy to be playing again, let alone winning. It’s really cool. I’ve always wanted to hold up this particular trophy. It’s so cute.” – Serena Williams, after winning the Rogers Cup in Toronto, Canada
“I thought that we played really well as a team, which is very important against such a team like the Bryans because you cannot win only by individual skills. They’re great competitors. They have great hands. They help each other a lot. That’s what we had to do today.” – Nenad Zimonjic, who teamed with Michael Llodra to win the doubles, beating twins Bob and Mike Bryan in the final.
“I don’t think I played bad but I can’t be happy because when you’re up 3-1 in the second set and 5-3 in the third, you should win the match.” – Rafael Nadal, after losing his first match at Montréal to Ivan Dodig 1-6 7-6 (5) 7-6 (5)
“I’m disappointed losing my match here, especially first round. Not many people enjoy that, I think. But I do put it in perspective. I think about where I was a year ago and how far I’ve come. I don’t want to sound egotistical when I say this, but I’m very proud of myself and how far I have come. I’m disappointed, but a long as I stay positive about it I can move forward and hopefully do better next year.” – Rebecca Marino, Canada’s top player, after losing in the first round at Toronto.
“It was one of those days where nothing was working.” – Marion Bartoli, after being upset by Galina Voskoboeva at Toronto.
“I would have liked to have won that one and especially after leading 5-1 in the second. It’s not fun to lose this, but there’s nothing really I can do about it now, just practice, and try to do better.” – Caroline Wozniacki, after her 6-4 7-5 second-round Rogers Cup loss to Roberta Vinci.
“But all the players keep improving… I believe that no player can be spared. Look at Rafa (Rafael Nadal) who lost, and (Andy) Murray. The only one remaining above everybody else is (Novak) Djokovic.” – Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, after upsetting Roger Federer at Montréal.
“It’s expected from them and from all of us top players to advance, you know, to the last stages of a tournament. But it happens. This is tennis. Both of their opponents have played great matches, and that’s it. You move on. You have to forget about what you’ve done, there is already next week another tournament.” – Novak Djokovic, commenting on the upsets of Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Andy Murray. “It makes for an exciting story because at the end of the day it doesn’t matter what you’re ranked or seeded, the reason we go out and play the matches is to know who’s going to be the winner on that day.” – Maria Sharapova, after losing to Galina Voskoboeva at Toronto.
“At the beginning of the match I was like – I didn’t even know what I should do on the court, not like during the clay court season. … I was feeling like a junior on the court.” – Li Na, who lost her first match at the Rogers Cup in Toronto to Samantha Stosur.
“It is sad for her. Always tough when you’re playing same-country player. We train together, we know much (about each other). Always tough.” – Li Na, after her second-round opponent, Shuai Peng, withdrew from the Rogers Cup with a left hip injury in what would have been a meeting between China’s top two players.
“I am not saying I am done after the Olympics, but that’s where so far I have set my schedule towards, and what I am building towards, and we’ll see what happens from there. I might choose to end in a smaller tournament just to have it a little more personal and where I can really enjoy it with my family, my friends and coaches.” – Kim Clijsters, backing off her earlier suggestion that she would end her career at the 2012 London Olympics.
“Our goal is to mark this very solemn occasion in a dignified and respectful manner. There’s a balance here that one wants to maintain. You don’t want to go over the top and you don’t want to be too understated, and I think we’re striking that balance.” – Jon Vegosen, chairman of the board and president of the United States Tennis Association, saying the US Open will paint “9-11-10” on the court for the men’s and women’s singles final to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks that brought down the Twin Towers.
SETTING RECORDS
Novak Djokovic wants everyone to know he’s human. He’s just not playing that way. In capturing the Rogers Cup in Montréal, the world’s top-ranked player won his ninth tournament title of the year and record fifth in a season in an ATP Masters 1000 event. “History making, of course it’s special,” Djokovic said after beating Mardy Fish 6-2 3-6 6-4 in the final. “Of course it’s an honor and privilege to be part of the history of the sport that I love and that I play.” And play extremely well, it might be added. The 24-year-old Serb is 53-1 overall this year, having won both the Australian Open and Wimbledon titles. “I am human. I can definitely assure you of that,” Djokovic said. The Serb was playing his first tournament since winning Wimbledon, while Fish has been the hottest player on hard courts this summer, reaching his third consecutive final. Fish was the only player to take a set off Djokovic in the tournament.
SMOOTH SAILING
Serena Williams was ranked number one in the world when she stepped on some glass and cut her foot right after she won Wimbledon in 2010. Her ranking dropped only because she didn’t play for 11 months, no so much because what had happened on a court. At Toronto, Serena won the 39th WTA singles title of her career and second since her return to the tour after nearly a year out with injury and illness. She also won at Stanford, California, USA, two weeks ago, in her third tournament back. It has been awhile since she lifted the trophy in Canada. Williams beat Jennifer Capriati in the 2001 final at Montréal. The 29-year-old Serena is now third among active players for singles titles behind her sister Venus Williams, who has 43, and Kim Clijsters, with 41.
SHOCKERS
What a week it was for upsets at the Rogers Cup in both Montréal and Toronto.
In Montréal, second-seeded Rafael Nadal was ousted by Ivan Dodig of Croatia, the first time Nadal had lost his first match in a tournament since the Italian Open in 2008. Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga upset third-seeded Roger Federer, just as he had at Wimbledon. And South African Kevin Anderson knocked out fourth-seeded Andy Murray, the defending Rogers Cup champion.
It wasn’t any better in Toronto at the women’s event.
Italy’s Roberta Vinci shocked top-ranked Caroline Wozniacki; second-seeded Kim Clijsters withdrew with a stomach injury while leading China’s Zheng Jie; and Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska knocked off third-seeded Vera Zvonareva.
In the end, the two favorites – top-ranked Novak Djokovic in Montréal and unseeded Serena Williams in Toronto – came away with the titles.
STREAKING GALINA
Galina Voskoboeva is a 26-year-old from Kazakhstan who is ranked 135th in the world. She also was a one-person wrecking crew at the Rogers Cup in Toronto. A qualifier, Voskoboeva began her rampage through the draw by beating ninth-ranked Marion Bartoli of France. Then came a victory over Italian veteran Flavia Pennetta before Voskoboeva reached the quarterfinals by downing fifth-seeded Maria Sharapova. “Whether you’re number one in the world or you’re facing someone that’s 100 or so, you still have to go out and win. That’s what the sport is all about,” said Sharapova, who has 23 career singles titles. Voskoboeva finally was beaten in the quarters by Victoria Azarenka of Belarus.
SUCCESS FINALLY
It took awhile, but Liezel Huber and Lisa Raymond, for a long time two of the best doubles players in the world, have finally won a WTA title together. It was their 11th tournament as a team. Huber, who won the Rogers Cup in 2008 when she played with Zimbabwe’s Cara Black, has now won 45 doubles titles. Raymond, a veteran who first played the Rogers Cup in 1993 but had never been past the quarterfinals until now, has won 71 doubles crowns.
SENIOR PROBLEM
John McEnroe hurt his hamstring during a Rogers Legends Cup match in Toronto and had to be helped off the court. McEnroe was playing Michael Chang when he stretched fir a shot late in the second set and collapsed to the ground in pain. Chang and two medical officials tended to the 52-year-old McEnroe as he lay on the court for nearly 10 minutes. They finally helped him to his feet and he left the court with his arms wrapped around the two medics.
SERENA TO PLAY FED CUP
Serena Williams says she will suit up for the United States Fed Cup team in two series next year, enough to qualify her to play in the 2012 London Olympic Games. “After being physically unable to participate in the last few ties, I am eager to compete in Fed Cup and help my country return to the World Group,” Serena said in a statement. The Americans will be at home for Belarus on February 4-5 at a site yet to be determined. That winner will advance to a playoff in April that gives the winner s spot in the top-level World Group and compete for the 2013 Fed Cup title. The loser will also play in April with that winner remaining in World Group II.
SHARAPOVA PHILOSOPHICAL
Just because she lost to Galina Voskoboeva in the third round in Toronto, Maria Sharapova isn’t panicking. “We have a pretty long summer, and it all starts in the clay season – you gear up for that,” Sharapova said. “Then it’s a pretty short turnaround from the French to Wimbledon. All of us give ourselves a bit of vacation after that. It takes a little bit of time to get the rust off again and to get going. Obviously we want to win every tournament, but we also have to be realistic. Sometimes it’s not going to go our way or we’re not going to feel great.” She said with another month of hard court tennis still to come, she is confident she can regain her game. “I guess you could say that (I lost) because I haven’t played too many matches since Wimbledon,” Sharapova said, “but at the end of the day it doesn’t really matter.”
STEFFI AND ANDRE GIVE BACK
It will be interesting to see how much the winning bid is for the top prize at the MaliVai Washington Kids Foundation’s live auction. The winner will get a three-day, two-night trip to Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, staying at a hotel on the Vegas strip. And it also includes a one-hour private tennis lesson for one or two with Hall of Famers Steffi Graf and her husband Andre Agassi. The auction will be held during the Merrill Lynch/Bank of America Gala Dinner on Monday, September 12, at the Sawgrass Marriott Resort & Spa in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, USA. The Gala includes a tennis pro-am at Deerwood Country Club on September 12 and a golf pro-am at Marsh Landing Country Club on September 13. The MaliVai Washington Kids Foundation provides after-school youth development programs in the urban core of Jacksonville, Florida, the closest big city to Ponte Vedra Beach.
STILL HURTING
The stomach injury that forced Kim Clijsters to withdraw from the Rogers Cup in Toronto, Canada, is also keeping her out of this week’s Cincinnati Open. Clijsters won Cincinnati a year ago before going on to capture her third US Open title. The 28-year-old Belgian was leading Zheng Jie 6-3 1-2 in Toronto when a partial tear of her left stomach muscle caused her to stop play. Clijsters says it is too soon to know if she will be able to defend her US Open title. The year’s final Grand Slam tournament begins its two-week run on August 29 in New York City.
SET TO REMEMBER
The US Open winds up its two-week run on September 11 – 10 years to the day the Twin Towers came tumbling down from terrorist attacks. A white “9-11-01” will be painted next to the court for the men’s and women’s singles finals at America’s premier tennis event. “If you think about it, everybody knows where they were on 9-11,” said Jon Vegosen, the United States Tennis Association’s chairman of the board and president. “And by putting that … date, it’s going to trigger memories for each of us – personal memories – and that’s a factor that went into this. Rather than imposing what 9-11 means, it allows it to be a much more personal moment for people.” The display will be placed near the net across the court from where the chair umpire sits and players rest during changeovers. It will be added on the tournament’s second Friday night, when there are no matches scheduled to be played.
SEEKS BAN REDUCTION
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) will hear Robert Kendrick’s appeal of a 12-month sanction issued against him for doping. The 31-year-old American is seeking a reduction of the sentence to three months, which would allow him to play this year’s US Open. Kendrick tested positive for methylhexaneamine (MHA) at the French Open. He claimed he took a capsule called Zija XM3 to help his jetlag, not realizing it contained a banned substance. The International Tennis Federation (ITF) tribunal wrote in its summary it did not believe Kendrick took the drug as a performance enhancer. However, under the Tennis Anti-Doping Program, it is a player’s responsibility to ensure than no prohibited substance enters his body unless he holds a valid therapeutic use exemption. MHA is considered to be a stimulant that is sometimes used by body builders, among others. CAS recently reduced the length of Australian rugby player Kurt Foggo’s suspension for MHA from two years to six months.
STRAIGHT IN
Jack Sock and Lauren Davis won the USTA 18s, which gives them direct entry into the singles draws at the US Open. Sock successfully defended his USTA Boys’ 18s national title at Kalamazoo, Michigan, defeating second-seeded Mitchell frank 6-3 6-0 in the title match. Sock is the first back-to-back Boys’ 18s champion since Donald Young in 2005-06. Davis outlasted fourth-seeded Nicole Gibbs 7-6 (3) 1-6 6-4 to win the Girls’ 18s in San Diego, California. The USA Open will be her second appearance in a Grand Slam tournament main draw. She won a UST playoff in December to earn a wild card into the 2011 Australian Open, where she lost to Samantha Stosur in the first round.
Sock teamed with Jackson Withrow to win the Boys’ 18s doubles, earning a main draw doubles wild card into the US Open, which begins August 29. Sock is the first player to sweep both the singles and doubles titles at the USTA Boys’ 18s nationals since Young in 2006. Samantha Crawford and Madison Keys won the Girls’ 18s doubles to earn a US Open main draw doubles wild card.
SHARED PERFORMANCES
Montreal: Michael Llodra and Nenad Zimonjic beat Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan 6-4 6-7 (5) 10-5 (match tiebreak)
San Marino: James Cerretani and Philipp Marx beat Daniele Bracciali and Julian Knowle 6-3 6-4
Toronto: Liezel Huber and Lisa Raymond beat Victoria Azarenka and Maria Kirilenko, walkover
TOURNAMENTS THIS WEEK
(All money in USD)
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$2,430,000 Western & Southern Open, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, hard
The US’ Serena Williams holds the WTA Rogers Cup winners trophy after defeating Samantha Stosur of Australia during their match on Sunday in Toronto.
Serena Williams won her second straight tournament and proved her mettle ahead of the US Open with a convincing 6-4, 6-2 win over Australia’s Samantha Stosur in the Toronto Cup final on Sunday.
The former world No. 1, playing in just her fourth tournament since returning from an 11-month layoff in June, capped the victory in style with an ace and then raised her arms in the air before jumping up and down repeatedly.
Williams, who won the Stanford Classic last month, held her serve throughout the 77-minute match and called her game solid despite acknowledging there is room for improvement for the US Open, which begins on Aug. 29.
“My game is here and I feel like there are a lot of improvements I want to make — being able to close out big points and winning on big points, and capitalizing on that and still returning a little bit better,” Williams told reporters. “But overall it’s solid, I want to definitely keep it up and not go down.”
Stosur went toe-to-toe with Williams in a first set that went with serve until the 13-times Grand Slam champion broke in the ninth game with a forehand volley to the empty side of the court. She served out in the next game.
Williams had sent a screaming backhand winner down the line one point previously, which she said was when the match turned in her favor.
“I definitely think that’s when the match started changing, but for the most part I was really fighting until that point,” Williams said.
Williams broke Stosur in the opening game of the second set with a cross-court winner.
And after dropping a 12-point game to Stosur, Williams captured 12 of 14 points during a three-game stretch to go ahead 5-1.
The 10th-seeded Stosur held serve in the next game, but tournament organizers, perhaps unknowingly, showed little faith in her ability to mount a comeback.
During a change of sides before Williams had her first chance to serve for the match, they squeezed in a short clip on the main scoreboard thanking fans for attending the tournament and asking them to buy tickets for next year.
Williams followed that with a solid final game, firing four of her nine aces past a helpless Stosur, who saw only one break point during the match.
“For me, to be able to win, I had to play close to my best tennis, and I wasn’t quite at that mark,” Stosur told reporters. “She makes it look very easy and it’s not that easy just to come back on tour and win two events in your first four tournaments.”
Williams, who next plays the Cincinnati Open, improved to 11-0 in hard-court matches this year and is looking like the dominant player who captured the Wimbledon title last year before her layoff.
She entered the tournament as the world No. 80, but was projected to go as high as 31 when the rankings were scheduled to be released yesterday.
Despite that, Williams considers herself an underdog for the year’s final Grand Slam.
“I never go in as a favorite, I feel like I’m still the underdog,” she said. “I went through a lot of things physically, mentally and emotionally, and going through so much, so I am just taking it one day at a time and kind of like one match at a time.”
Victoria Azarenka withdrew from the doubles final with an injured right hand, clouding the world No. 4’s participation in the US Open.
Azarenka, who lost in straight sets to Williams in Saturday’s semi-final, withdrew from the doubles match along with playing partner Maria Kirilenko before taking the court.
On Sunday at Uniprix Stadium, world no. 1 Novak Djokovic of Serbia extended his extraordinary streak by winning the Rogers Cup presented by National Bank.
In a match that wavered far more than expected, he defeated world no.8 and 6th seed Mardy Fish of the US in three sets (6-2, 3-6, 6-4).
Djokovic racked up his 53rd win in 54 matches this year and fifth Masters 1000 trophy - a record.
To bank the 1000 ranking points and US$450 000 awarded to the winner, Djokovic had to overcome a few slowdowns and some improbable forehands from Fish.
In the first set, the battle was heated until the 6th game. Then, Djokovic won two consecutive games thanks to his perfect consistency from the backcourt. After 38 minutes, the set was over.
The winds change
A few scares were in store for the Serb in the second set. At 2-2, he was broken for the first time since his second round match against Nikolay Davydenko. Looking more erratic and nervous than he had earlier on, he lost his serve again in the 9th game, giving the set to Fish on a silver platter after 54 minutes of play.
Djokovic had to dig deep to regain control of the final set and secure the deciding break. He did so at 3-3 as Fish seemed to be tiring. With three championship points at 5-3 and under stress, the world no.1 let his rival come back to deuce before making his move.
The match ended after 2 hours, 23 minutes of intense rallies to the roar of the crowd.
Lifting the Rogers Cup, his ninth title in ten events this year, Djokovic reasserted his dominance at the top of the rankings.
Djokovic derrotó a Monfils y espera a Tsonga en semis de Montreal
El serbio aplastó al francés y obtuvo su 51º triunfo en el año y avanzó en el torneo canadienseLa marcha triunfal del serbio Novak Djokovic, número uno del mundo, continuó con la victoria número 51 en lo que va de temporada después de ganar por 6-2 y 6-1 al francés Gael Monfils, quinto cabeza de serie, en los cuartos de final del torneo de tenis de Montreal (Canadá).
Djokovic, de 24 años, que sólo ha pedido un partido esta temporada en las semifinales del Roland Garros ante suizo Roger Federer, tendrá como rival en las semifinales a otro francés, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, decimotercer cabeza de serie, que venció por 6-4 y 6-4 al español Nicolás Almagro.
El número uno del mundo se ha enfrentado anteriormente ocho veces con Tsonga, de 26 años, y el jugador francés tiene ventaja al lograr cinco triunfos por tres derrotas.
El último duelo entre ambos tenistas fue en las pasadas semifinales de Wimbledon, que ganó Djokovic en cuatro sets.
El serbio volvió a confirmar que se encuentra en un momento de forma excepcional tanto física como mentalmente y frente Monfils no le dio ninguna opción para ganarle por séptima vez en los enfrentamientos que ambos han sostenido.
Djokovic sólo necesitó una hora y 14 minutos para conseguir la victoria que le mantiene como gran favorito a conseguir el título del torneo correspondiente a la Serie Masters 1.000, que se disputa en cancha dura y reparte premios por valor de 2,4 millones de dólares.
Despite a close first set, Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina proved too powerful for his Finnish rival Jarkko Nieminen.
After battling it out for just over an hour, Del Potro left Centre Court to the applause of conquered fans, pocketing a 6-4, 6-0 victory.
Del Potro posted an early break in the first set and Nieminen, though tenacious, was never able to mount a serious threat.
Del Potro, the 2009 US Open champion, was sidelined for several months after wrist surgery but seems to have regained much of his fire.
In the second set, Nieminen could only watch. Del Potro hit 13 aces (3 for Del Potro), earned 4 service breaks (0 for Nieminen) and had a first serve percentage of 79% (45% for Nieminen) and a second serve percentage of 63% (41 for Nieminen).
With 62 points (36 for Nieminen), Del Potro blew through the match with a mastery he hadn't demonstrated in quite a while.
Tsonga wins over the crowd
Wimbledon semi-finalist and 13th seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga put on a great show on Monday night at Uniprix Stadium to reach the second round of the Rogers Cup presented by National Bank, beating Fabio Fognini (64th) of Italy in two close sets of 6-4 and 7-6 (7-0).
Though Fognini gave a solid performance, Tsonga managed to deliver the returns that made the difference in a match that kept fans glued to their seats for just over 90 minutes.
Though Fognini racked up 42 service points versus Tsonga's 40, the Frenchman dominated the return game with 33 points versus 17 for Fognini.
Fognini broke Tsonga in the first game of the second set, holding on until 5-3 and coming close to forcing a third set.
But Tsonga stood in his way, breaking Fognini before the ultimate tiebreak.
A win for Tomic
In the last match of the evening, the young Australian wildcard Bernard Tomic reached the second round, defeating Yen-Hun Lu of Taïwan 7-6 (5), 6-3.
Chvojka doesn't fall without a fight
Erik Chvojka, one of the two Canadians in the main draw, fought for 2 hours and 13 minutes before falling 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 to Alexandr Dolgopolov of the Ukraine in the first round of the Rogers Cup presented by National Bank.
With only 29% of second serves in and seven double faults, Chvojka was unable to get the upper hand in the match. The Canadian gave away seventeen break points, but Dolgopolov was only able to convert three.
Vasek Pospisil, who received a wildcard from tournament organizers, is now the only Canadian left in the main draw.
Wawrinka starts things off with a bang
Today, fourteenth seed Stanislas Wawrinka had the privilege of inaugurating Centre Court at Uniprix Stadium during the first round of the Rogers Cup presented by National Bank.
The Swiss player put on a great show, ousting David Nalbandian of Argentina in two sets of 6-1 and 6-4 and qualifying for the second round of the tournament, at which a total of $2 430 000 in prize money is up for grabs.
In another day match, Kevin Anderson of South African defeated Pablo Andujar of Spain in two identical sets of 7-6.
In doubles, the Serbian team of Novak Djokovic and Janko Tipsarevic fought hard and disposed of Mark Knowles of the Bahamas and Philipp Petzchner of Germany in three sets (5-7, 6-3 and 12-10).
Gulbis survives
Ernests Gulbis of Latvia came from behind to defeat 31-year-old former no.1 Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain in three sets of 3-6, 6-1 and 7-5.
The exciting match lasted 2 h 14 min and played out in the 11th game of the third set, when Gulbis finally managed to break Ferrero.
Gulbis racked up 13 aces and Ferrero only 2.
From the red carpet to the blue hardcourts
Before hitting the blue hardcourts at Uniprix Stadium for the Rogers Cup presented by National Bank, the ATP's brightest stars sauntered down the red carpet at the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Hotel on Sunday night as they made their way to the traditional Player Party.
Celebrities, businesspeople and current and retired players all took part in the exciting event.
Rogers Cup spokesperson Geneviève Brouillette, tennis legend Jimmy Connors, business leaders, celebrities and tennis aces all sat down to a dinner prepared by the chefs of the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Hotel.
Guests were then treated to a fashion show organized by Chiccane.com featuring the creations of several Québec designers, including Barilà, Anne-Marie Chagnon, Dimitri Chris, Denis Gagnon, Eve Gravel, Harricana, Charlotte Hosten, Melissa Nepton, Rudsak, Second Clothing and Nadya Toto. The multitalented Misstress Barbara provided the music for the show and after-party. Some of the braver players even took to the catwalk to model the clothes and, in some cases, their best body parts...to the great pleasure of those in attendance!
It was a fantastic evening from start to finish - a great sign of things to come at the Rogers Cup!
