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Federer, Djokovic suffer Shock Losses at US Open semis
Federer stunned by Cilic after Djokovic suffers shock loss against Nishikori
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| Marin Cilic (R) acknowledges Roger Federer after winning his semifinal match. |
Earlier 10th seed Kei Nishikori stunned top seed Novak Djokovic in the first semi-final winning the contest 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-3. He thus became the first Asian man ever to reach a Grand Slam singles final & the first Japanese to reach the semi-finals of the US Open since 1918. The 24-year-old's earlier best effort was reaching the quarter-finals of Australian Open 2012.
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| Japan's Kei Nishikori reacts after beating Novak Djokovic in the US Open semifinal |
Rafael Nadal pulls out of US Open
Unable to recover from Wrist injury, defending Champion withdraws
Nadal also said he expected to be able to return for the US Open itself. But on Monday, he issued a statement on his Facebook page, saying he is "very sorry to announce" he would not play in New York.
"I am sure you understand that it is a very tough moment for me since it is a tournament I love and where I have great memories from fans, the night matches, so many things," Nadal's posting read. "Not much more I can do right now, other than accept the situation and, as always in my case, work hard in order to be able to compete at the highest level once I am back."
The second-ranked Nadal plays left-handed, but he uses a two-handed backhand.
The other US Open men's singles champions who did not return to the field the following year were Ken Rosewall in 1971, Pete Sampras in 2003 and Juan Martin del Potro in 2010.
Nadal won his second championship at Flushing Meadows in 2013, part of a run of reaching the final in each of his last three appearances in the US Open. He beat Novak Djokovic to win the titles in 2010 and last year and lost to Djokovic in 2011.
But Nadal will be skipping the tournament for the second time in three years. He did not enter the US Open in 2012, part of an extended absence because of a problem with his left knee.
This will be the second time Nadal failed to try to defend a Grand Slam title. A year after winning Wimbledon in 2008, he chose to not enter that tournament, citing knee tendinitis.
Nadal is 44-8 with four titles in 2014, including his record ninth French Open trophy.
He hasn't competed since losing in the fourth round of Wimbledon to 19-year-old Nick Kyrgios in four sets on July 1.
Nadal's 14 major titles are tied with Sampras for the second most in the history of men's tennis, trailing only Roger Federer's record of 17.
With Nadal out, five-time US Open champion Federer -- now 33 but coming off a runner-up finish at Wimbledon last month and a hard-court title in Cincinnati on Sunday -- will join the No. 1-ranked Djokovic as a favorite in Flushing Meadows.
source: http://espn.go.com/tennis/story/_/id/11369850/rafael-nadal-withdraws-us-open-right-wrist-injury
Tsonga beats Federer for Rogers Cup title
The 13th seed Jo-Wilfred Tsonga defeated 2nd seed Roger Federer to win the Rogers Cup title in his 4th consecutive victory over a higher ranked opponent.
He defeated Djokovic, then Murray & then Grigor Dimitrov before overcoming the odds yet again in the final against Federer by 7-5, 7-6 (3) .
The quality of the match picked up late in the first set when the score was tied at 5-5 but soon Federer launched a ball well long to give Tsonga the opening set within 44 minutes.
Tsonga kept the pressure on Federer in the second set & had a break point on 3-2 but could not capitalize.
He also had 2 break points at 4-3 but Federer answered with 2 straight points to make it a deuce.
In the tiebreaker, Tsonga picked up a mini-break at 4-3 and took the next three points for the victory.
Related:
Rafael Nadal recovering fast from Wrist Injury
Novak Djokovic Set to Marry, After Wimbledon Triumph
World number 1 Novak Djokovic and his longtime girlfriend Jelena Ristic are due to wed in the luxurious Adriatic resort of Sveti Stefan on Wednesday 9 july 2014, in a closed ceremony.
The couple, who are expecting their first child later this year wanted to have a private ceremony only with the closest friends and family present.
Reporters at the scene said Sveti Stefan, as well as the nearby upmarket Kraljicina beach -- where the wedding banquet would be held -- were closed off for public by discreet but efficient security, to prevent possible intruders or paparazzi.
Novak Djokovic regains No. 1 ranking
Djokovic at the Top
After defeating a sharp Roger Federer in 5 sets to win his 1st Wimbledon in 3 years, Novak Djokovic regained the No. 1 ranking in men's tennis, swapping places with Rafael Nadal atop the ATP Tour.
Both Djokovic & Nadal, who have split the last 2 major titles, are miles ahead of the rest of the field with second-place Nadal with more than double the points of Federer, who jumped back up to No. 3 with his runner-up at Wimbledon. The gap between Djokovic & Nadal, however, is less than 500 points (see the rankings here).
Nadal could have held the top ranking without Wimbledon had he survived a bit longer than he did but he was stunned, along with the rest of the tennis world, with his 4th-round loss to Australian wild card Nick Kyrgios.
The biggest upward move in the top 10 belonged to Milos Raonic. The big-serving Canadian moved up 3 spots to No. 6 after his semifinal run at Wimbledon. Meanwhile, Andy Murray plummeted after his straight-sets loss in the quarterfinals to Grigor Dimitrov. For Murray it was a lot of points lost given he won Wimbledon last year and gives him his lowest ranking(10th) in six years.
more: http://www.cbssports.com/general/eye-on-sports/24610353/novak-djokovic-regains-no-1-ranking-andy-murray-drops-to-10th
WIMBLEDON 2014: Novak Djokovic wins second title after beating Roger Federer in five sets
No.1 seed Novak Djokovic wins Wimbledon for the second time, beating Roger Federer 6-7(7), 6-4, 7-6(4), 5-7, 6-4.
Federer, seeking a record eighth Gentlemen's Singles Championship, won the first set tie-break 9-7but Djokovic calmly worked his way back into the match.
As tension mounted in the fourth, each player broke twice as the score moved to 5-5, Federer saving one Championship point on his own serve in the 10th game.
Djokovic was broken in the 11th game, however, and Federer held serve to make it two sets apiece.
The Serb received treatment for the second time in the match early in the fifth but, critically, Djokovic broke Federer's serve in the 10th and final game.
Wimbledon 2014: Djokovic, Federer prepare for Final clash
Novak Djokovic (L) and Roger Federer will face each other for the WImbledon 2014 crown.
London: Roger Federer can become the oldest Wimbledon champion in the Open Era on Sunday when he targets a record eighth All England Club title in his 35th career meeting with Novak Djokovic.
Federer, 32, won the first of his 17 majors at Wimbledon in 2003 and the most recent in 2012 but his failure to return to a Grand Slam final since has had his critics penning his career obituary. (Also read: It's Edberg vs Becker again in epic coach's battle)
However, in a remarkable turnaround, Federer will become the oldest Wimbledon winner if he prevails, beating the previous Open Era mark of 31-year-old Arthur Ashe in 1975.
"It's not so important," he said of the age factor. "I would know it if it would be really important to me, but it's not."
What is important for the great Swiss is that he never lost faith in his ability to return to a Grand Slam final.
"I played all the slams, 50 plus now (59 in a row). I think for that you need to be, first of all, healthy physically, but also mentally ready to do it," he said.
"You've got to love the game, because if you don't love it, then it's just going to be too hard. I think that's kept me going quite easily actually, because I know why I'm playing tennis."
Only once have the pair met at Wimbledon when Federer won their 2012 semi-final in four sets.
Only once before have they clashed in a Grand Slam final -- at the 2007 US Open where Djokovic, making his first appearance in a final at the majors, lost in straight sets as the Swiss captured a fourth successive title in New York.
- Mature Djokovic -
Federer appreciates that Djokovic has matured as a player and a person since then and their relationship, which was once fairly cool, has warmed to the extent that the two even exchange tips these days on fatherhood.
"He has a wonderful way of either redirecting or taking the ball early, taking pace from the opponent, even generating some of his own," said Federer.
"Novak can hurt you down the line or cross-court on both sides. His forehand, his serve, his movement clearly is what stands out the most. He's really been able to improve that and make it rock solid."
Djokovic has lost five of his last six Grand Slam finals and all of the last three -- to Andy Murray at Wimbledon in 2013, Rafael Nadal at the 2013 US Open and to Nadal again at this year's French Open.
Unlike Federer and Nadal, he is still without the career Grand Slam which every player craves having lost both his Paris finals to the world number one Spaniard.
"Losing three out of four last Grand Slam finals, it cannot be satisfying. I don't want to sound like I'm not appreciating to play finals of Grand Slams. It's already a huge result. We cannot take that for granted," said Djokovic.
"I know that I can win the title. I should have won a few matches that I lost in finals of Grand Slams in last couple years. But it's an experience. It's a learning process."
Both players have plenty of Wimbledon experience in their corners -- Federer has Stefan Edberg, the 1988 and 1990 champion as coach while Djokovic works with Boris Becker, the winner in 1985, 1986 and 1989.
"Stefan is clearly a piece of the puzzle," said Federer.
In the Djokovic camp, Becker shares duties with Marian Vajda, who has been at the Serb's side since his early days.
"We have a much better understanding now, and it shows on the court."
source:- http://sports.ndtv.com/wimbledon-2014/news/226546-preview-wimbledon-2014-roger-federer-faces-novak-djokovic-in-title-clash
Novak Djokovic reaches Wimbledon 2014 final
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| Novak Djokovic returns to Grigor Dimitrov |
Novak Djokovic, who had to work harder than the other three semi-finalists to reach the closing weekend of Wimbledon, went into the trenches again on Friday against the flickering genius of Grigor Dimitrov but he is through to his third final.
The Serb will need to find more consistency to replicate his championship form of 2011, after taking just over three hours to beat the 23-year-old Bulgarian 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (7-2), 7-6 (9-7).
For the first couple of hours, their semi-final was not one of the great encounters; once it got to the business end, however, it morphed into a tense, close and occasionally rousing contest.
“I was playing against a future star,” Djokovic said. “He’s already a top player, winning against [Andy] Murray in the quarters, he deserves respect.
“It was a tough match. Like last match against Cilic I allowed my opponent to come back into it. He has quality shots, great touch. His transition game has improved immensely the past eight months.
“But, overall, I’m happy to be in the final. I have lost the last couple of grand slam finals, and could have won. It’s a big challenge, the biggest event in our sport.”
Dimitrov, so impressive in beating Murray in three sets on Wednesday, looked less certain against the world No2 and tournament favourite and was not helped by his inability to stay upright on a surface that looked dusty and slippery towards the end of the championship fortnight.
source: http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/jul/04/novak-djokovic-wimbledon-final-grigor-dimitrov
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Wimbledon: Roger Federer Overcomes Stanislas Wawrinka to Enter Last Four
Roger Federer dropped a set for the first time in this year's tournament, but eventually emerged unscathed on Wimbledon's showpiece arena just hours after defending champion Andy Murray had walked off stunned by his quarter-final defeat against Grigor Dimitrov.
London: Roger Federer avoided joining Wimbledon's Centre Court casualty list as the Swiss star hit back to reach the semi-finals for the ninth time with a 3-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-4, 6-4 victory over compatriot Stan Wawrinka.
Federer dropped a set for the first time in this year's tournament, but eventually emerged unscathed on Wimbledon's showpiece arena just hours after defending champion Andy Murray had walked off stunned by his quarter-final defeat against Grigor Dimitrov. (Murray Crashes Out)
Murray's loss was the latest in a long line of shocks on Centre Court over the last nine days, with world number one Rafael Nadal and former Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova also among those bowing out.
But fourth seed Federer ensured his name wasn't added to the list with a come from behind victory in the last eight to secure his 35th Grand Slam semi-final appearance. (Djokovic Beats Cilic in Five-Setter)
via: http://sports.ndtv.com/wimbledon-2014/news/226376-wimbledon-roger-federer-overcomes-stanislas-wawrinka-to-enter-last-four
Wimbledon: Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic braced for young and restless
London: Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic face young and restless Milos Raonic and Grigor Dimitrov for places in the Wimbledon final on Friday as men's tennis reaches a potentially game-changing moment in its history.
In the space of 24 hours at the All England Club, the big four of the game were reduced to the big two following the shock exits of Rafael Nadal and defending champion Andy Murray.
Suddenly, Dimitrov and Raonic have the opportunity to tip the balance in favour of the next generation by breaking down the door which has been frustratingly ajar for a decade.
But the odds are stacked against them.
Federer is a seven-time Wimbledon champion, the holder of a record 17 majors and will be playing in his 35th Grand Slam semi-final and ninth at the All England Club.
Djokovic's 2011 Wimbledon title was just one of his six majors and he will be playing in his 23rd last-four at a Grand Slam and fifth in a row in London.
Dimitrov and Raonic, both 23, score nought on all of the above.
Federer, who was stunned in the second round last year 12 months after winning his seventh title, has a 4-0 career lead over Raonic, the first Canadian man in the semi-finals in 106 years.
Despite his desire to lift what would be a record eighth title, Federer insists he is happy to see a new breed coming through, even of they are already edging towards their mid-20s.
"It's just hard breaking through. The points, you fetch them from semis on, not really quarters anymore like it used to be," he said.
"So it's hard I think for a youngster to win or be consistent over three, four, five matches in a row where the big points are."
