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Nishikori stuns Djokovic
Coming through so many tough super-tiebreaks made us stronger: Sania
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India look to end England tour with Twenty20 success
Got no ODI captaincy assurances: Cook
Saina is short on confidence, says coach Vimal
Kumar
Hamilton beats Rosberg to Italian GP pole
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Nishikori stuns Djokovic
“It's just amazing, an amazing feeling beating the No. 1 player,” Nishikori said in an on-court interview. He had played five-set marathons in his last two matches totaling more than 8 1/2 hours, yet he looked far fresher than a player known as one of the fittest on tour. “I guess I love to play long matches,” he said with a grin. Under coach Michael Chang, the 1989 French Open champ, the 24-year-old Nishikori has sharpened his mental game to pull out victories like these. “We've been working super well,” Nishikori said of Chang and co-coach Dante Bottini. “That's why I'm here.”
Earlier, the midday sun beat down on Arthur Ashe Stadium and a thermometer on court showed the temperature nearing 100 degrees (37 Celsius), not counting the humidity of close to 70 percent. Djokovic, who had reached the last four U.S. Open finals, outlasted two-time major champ Andy Murray in four long, tough sets in the quarters. But he never looked comfortable Saturday and spent much of the match scrambling around the court as Nishikori dictated points. In the third-set tiebreaker, Djokovic had four unforced errors and a double-fault. Nishikori then broke him to open the final set, and Djokovic wasted three break points in the next game. Nishikori converted 5 of 7 break points, while Djokovic was just 4 for 13. Williams, Wozniacki in final
Serena Williams and friend Caroline Wozniacki arranged a get-together in the U.S. Open women’s final, winning their Friday semifinals in contrasting fashion on a stifling hot, humid day at Flushing Meadows. Top-seeded world No.1 Williams overpowered Russian left-hander Ekaterina Makarova 6-1 6-3, unleashing her daunting firepower against the 17th-seeded Russian. Wozniacki advanced when China's Peng Shuai broke down in scary distress due to heat illness and retired in the second set, while trailing 7-6(1) 4-3. The results delivered on a pre-tournament wish made by the buddies, who each entered the event longing for a victory to ease personal frustrations. “She’s a good friend of mine,” said former world No. 1 Wozniacki, whose gaping hole in her resume remains the lack of a grand slam title. “We were saying when the tournament started, ‘We’re in separate sides of the drawing, so hopefully we can meet in the finals. It would be great if that were to happen.” Williams said she had the same thought when the draw was made. “She obviously wants to win and go for her first grand slam, and I want to win and try to make a little history,” said Williams, who wants to end a disappointing Grand Slam season on a happy note by claiming her 18th slam singles to tie Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova for fourth on the all-time list. Scary moments
The opening semifinal produced some scary moments as China's Peng fell victim to the severe conditions during an energy-draining, groundstroke battle with Wozniacki. The match was still very much in doubt with Wozniacki serving at 4-3 and facing break point when the unseeded Peng suddenly grabbed her thighs and stumbled to the back wall of the centee court with what appeared to be severe cramping. In obvious distress, the 28-year-old doubles specialist was eventually helped off the court to be evaluated by doctors. A valiant Peng, playing her first career Grand Slam singles semifinal, refused to quit and returned in 11 minutes after a medical examination. Six points later, Peng curled up in agony on the baseline, and officials called the match and Peng was lifted into a wheelchair and taken from the court to a standing ovation after the abbreviated two hour four minute battle. Speedy advance
Williams, the two-times defending champion, came on the center court next and seemed determined to spend as little time as possible in the heat and succeeded, trouncing Makarova in 60 minutes. The American blasted 24 winners, including five aces. Makarova hit six. “I’m just really excited to be in the final. In the beginning of the week I definitely wasn't sure I would make it this long. So I'm just elated,” said Williams, who failed to reach the quarters in any of the year’s previous three slams. Makarova, playing in her first Grand Slam singles semifinal, praised the victor. “Serena, she’s a great, unbelievable player. Today she was so aggressive.” Friendship will be set aside in Sunday’s final between the players who earlier this year spent a beach holiday together in Miami with some serious chips on the line. “I'm in the finals, which is obviously great,” said Wozniacki. — Agencies
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Coming through so many tough super-tiebreaks made us stronger: Sania
NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 6 Can you talk about those five match points that went by and coming back? Bruno Soares: They went by fast. That’s all I remember. Sania Mirza: I got tight. He held his nerve. I needed that a little bit with my serve. I was serving well till then. You know, I was making a lot of first serves. It’s never easy. No matter how many you win, never easy to close it out. That’s when you need I think partners and that’s what helps when you partner up with each other. You’re happy to come through that. You dominated the first set, second set got away from you. There must have been some momentum swings going on. What was happening? BS: We had a really good start. Started playing really well from the beginning. Got an early break and managed to win the first set 6-1. Second set, first two games we both served well. On the third game we were playing a good game until 30-40 and Abigail came out with two aces under pressure on those two break points we had. I think that’s where it changed a little bit. SM: I mean, I think — you know, this format the margin of error is so small. You know, like if you, the break in the second set, the match was going to be a 1-and-3 or 1-and-4 match, but you don’t get that. The momentum swings when you play a super-tiebreak, no matter how far ahead you are. I think it does help — I don’t know. At least I believe that we came through so many tough super-tiebreaks that we had the advantage. I think that we get aggressive. I think that’s what really helps us. That’s what we did until 9-4. Could you guys tell me how long you have been a team and how you originally became a team? BS: We have been playing for two weeks (laughter). No, I tried to play with Sania for a long time. SM: What a lie. BS: She finally gave me a chance to play. I mean, my results before wasn’t good enough, so after a couple of weeks she accepted my offer. I’m just joking. She had another partner, and after Wimbledon she messaged and another conversation started. How does it work in terms of finding a partner? Is it scheduling? Availability? Do doubles teammates have to like each other? BS: In my case, yeah. There are a few guys that can do it business-only situation. I can’t. I mean, I have to get along well with my partners off court because I think it’s very important. You’re looking for someone that complements you, plays on the same side, other side that you like to play. I mean, we tried to keep the same point. I guess now Sania, she will accept my offer to play Australia. SM: We have to win. My standards are very high. We have to win a Slam. (Laughter.) I’m joking. What is special winning the US Open? BS: I always like to play in the States. I like hard court. Conditions here, I think it suits my game well. So that’s one of the reasons. But tennis-wise I feel really good in Paris, as well. I mean, you play well one year, and the next time it definitely helps, the good memories that you have, the positive energy that you get playing the same tournament that you won before. Do you think in mixed doubles that the guy tries to pick on the woman of the other team? SM: Oh, yeah, for sure. I think a lot comes down to how the girl holds her own, because of course the girl’s gonna play a lot more balls. The guys have to try and intercept. I think whoever does that better and tries to, you know, protect the girl at the volley a little bit, I think that's why we do — I think we did well together. You know, in tight situations he came up with some huge volleys and, you know, helped me out. And, you know, I mean, I have to basically put the return in, try to get it deep, you know, to the guy's feet or whoever is serving to the feet. I think that's how you combine really in mixed doubles. I think everyone goes all out for the girl. — Agencies
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India look to end England tour with Twenty20 success Birmingham, September 6 Having suffered a 1-3 defeat in the Test series, the Indians found their bearings in the One-dayers, clinching the five-match series 3-1 despite losing inconsequential final game by 41 runs at Leeds. After struggling to get going in the five-day format, the inclusion of fresh legs such as Suresh Raina for the One-day Internationals gave the team the much-needed impetus. Young batsmen such as Ajinkya Rahane, Shikhar Dhawan too fared better in the blue jersey though Virat Kohli’s woeful run of form remains a major cause for concern for the Indian think-tank. Considered the mainstay of Indian line-up till recently, Kohli’s run of poor scores continued in the shorter format and the batsman would be keen to at least end the tour on a decent note. Though they flopped in the inconsequential final ODI, both Rahane and Dhawan have had good outings in the penultimate game, with the former notching up a smashing century. Raina has been good on and off while Ambati Rayudu (53) and Jadeja (87) showed their ability with the willow on the Headingley wicket. As far as bowling is concerned, the Indians enjoyed greater success in the ODIs, with Mohammed Shami managing to impress even captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni with his effort in the death overs. Bhuvneshwar Kumar relishes bowling on seaming conditions and would be keen to extract something out of the Edgbaston track. Dhoni has another option in Umesh Yadav though it remains to seen whether the pacer is picked after a lacklustre outing in Leeds. — Agencies
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Got no ODI captaincy assurances: Cook
Birmingham, September 6 Cook took over the ODI captaincy in 2011 leading England to the top of the One-day rankings the next year but has since suffered loss in their last four ODI series on home soil. Former captain Michael Vaughan and ex teammate Graeme Swann have called for Cook to step aside and the 29-year-old said he has been offered no guarantees. “No I haven’t,” Cook told a press conference after England registered a much-needed 41-run victory in the final One-dayer. “While I still want to do the job and still believe I can do it then I will carry on doing it,” Cook added. “If they (the selectors) don't want to me to do it I'd take it on the chin.” — Agencies
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Saina is short on confidence, says coach Vimal
Kumar
Her loss in the quarters of the World Championship proved to be the last straw, which prompted her to relocate to Bangalore and train under Vimal Kumar. “I am trying to bring her confidence back. My job is to make her stronger before the Asian Games,” Vimal Kumar told The Tribune. “Some problems have crept into her game. I am working on specific areas such as defence, crosscourt shots and side movements. Her game has become little sluggish and at the academy here, we are trying to help her get back to winning ways,” the former national coach added. Vimal said for a player like Saina, individual attention is needed. “We need to help her. With Prakash Padukone also being here, it will help her become better at her game as Chinese have started understanding her strategy. They have been watching Saina's videos and planning their game accordingly. It always helps to bring changes to your game,” he said. “It also became tough on Gopichand. He has to give equal individual attention to both Sindhu and Parupalli Kashyap. Saina must be in need of individual coaching. That's fine as you always need small direction,” he added. Vimal, who worked with Saina as recently at the Uber Cup Finals where India won bronze for the first time in the women's event, also denied talks of any “rift” between Saina and Gopichand. “Her decision to train under me was taken at Copenhagen during a meeting which was attended by Gopi, Madhumita Bisht, Saina and myself. We discussed her game and thought its better if she trains under me for 15 days. There's nothing like split or rift between the two,” Vimal clarified. |
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Warriors survive a scare
Ludhiana, September 6 Determined to win their fifth match in a row, the Warriors immediately took the lead. The first half was all about the Warriors, who steadily consolidated their lead and after being 21-10 ahead at one point, they led 33-25 at the halftime. The Punjab Thunder players, though, reorganised after the break and waged a spirited battle in the next two quarters. They exhibited great agility and speed and pulled off cheeky raids that unsettled the Warriors’ rhythm. The Thunder wiped out the deficit and managed to catch up with their rivals in the dying moments of the nerve-wracking battle. The scoreboard reading 58-58, there was time left for only one more raid — by Jasmanpreet Singh of the Khalsa Warriors. The Thunder, for whom a draw would have been a huge result considering their spirited comeback, were left heartbroken at the end. The third umpire had to review the replays many times before declaring a double touch by a stopper. The match was awarded to the Khalsa Warriors much to the chagrin of the Punjab Thunder players. Devi Dyal and Gurpreet Singh, coaches of Punjab Thunder, contested the third umpire’s decision. They submitted a written protest to the organisers. Pargat Singh, Commissioner of the league, said that the conduct committee would take the final decision. Sultan Singh of the Punjab Thunder was adjudged the best raider. His tally of 26 points equalled the previous best, by teammate Talwinder Singh against Royal Kings last week in Delhi. He was also named the Man of the Match. Gurpreet Singh Gopi of the Warriors, with seven successful stops, was declared the best stopper. In the second match, California Eagles overpowered Vancouver Lions 58-52.
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Hamilton beats Rosberg to Italian GP pole
Monza (Italy), September 6 Mercedes-powered cars filled the top six slots after Saturday qualifying, with Williams drivers Valtteri Bottas and Felipe Massa together on the second row and McLaren’s Kevin Magnussen and Jenson Button fifth and sixth. The pole, on a sunny afternoon at the Monza circuit near Milan, was Hamilton’s fifth of the season and 36th of his career. Hamilton is 29 points adrift of Rosberg in the championship. Dominant Mercedes have taken pole in all but one of the 13 races so far this year, and Saturday marked the team’s seventh front row sweep of 2014. Ferrari’s long-suffering fans, without a win to celebrate for more than a year, saw Fernando Alonso qualify seventh and Kimi Raikkonen 12th. Red Bull also had a tough afternoon, with Sebastian Vettel only eighth on the grid while Australian team mate Daniel Ricciardo qualified ninth. — Reuters
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Shanghai, September 6 Devvarman overcame an indifferent start to beat Vanni 1-6 6-4 6-4 in a gruelling two hour and 14 minutes semifinal of the $50,000 hard court tournament. Devvarman will have a shot at two titles tomorrow as he has already reached the doubles final with compatriot Sanam Singh. Devvarman, world No. 143, will fight it out with Japanese Yoshihito Nishioka for his second title of the season. He had won the $100,000 Delhi Open in February. The doubles final will be an all-Indian affair as Sanam and Devvarman face Yuki Bhambri and Divij Sharan, who edged past the Taipei pair of Ti Chen and Hsien-Yin Peng 7-6(2) 7-6(2) in their semifinal. — PTI
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New York, September 6
Sania Mirza was excited and thrilled as she and her partner, Brazil’s Bruno Soares, discussed their win. Sania and Soares, the top seeds, had beaten American Abigail Spears and Mexico’s Santiago Gonzalez 6-1, 2-6, 11-9 in the US Open final on Friday night.
New York, September 6
The 10th-seeded Nishikori will face Roger Federer or Marin Cilic in Monday's title match, though rain was delaying the start of the second semifinal.
Bresnan ruled
out
Harare