Third force Djokovic wins second Australian Open

Novak Djokovic of Serbia speaks during a news conference after his victory over Andy Murray of Britain in their men's singles final match at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne January 30, 2011

Photo: Reuters

Novak Djokovic brilliantly dominated a listless Andy Murray to claim his second Australian Open title on Sunday to confirm the arrival of a genuine third force at the top of men's tennis.

The 23-year-old bid farewell to the 'one slam wonder' club with 6-4 6-2 6-3 humbling of Murray to join Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal and Lleyton Hewitt as the only multiple grand slam winners active in the men's game.

Seemingly condemned to being 'the best of rest' behind Nadal and Federer in a golden era, Djokovic's dominant performance suggested he was ready to carve out a chapter in the annals of the game for himself.

"I'm living the dream of a tennis player, definitely," he said.

"To be able to win in straight sets against a player like Andy Murray in the final of grand slam, it makes my success even bigger.

"I don't want to stop here... I'm only 23 and hopefully will have more chances to win grand slams. It really gives me a lot of motivation. It's a huge confidence boost."

There were no tears for Murray as there were here last year when he lost to Federer but the Briton, who had again been hoping to end his country's 75-year wait for a major men's champion, had to admit he had been well beaten.

"He played great, I would have liked to have played better," said the 23-year-old, who has now played three grand slam finals without winning a set.

"But I think he would have beaten every other player on the tour if he played like that tonight. He served well. He didn't make many mistakes from the back of the court. He moved really, really well. He hit the ball very clean. That was it."

Djokovic's impressive three-set victory over Federer in the semifinals had set up a first grand slam final without the Swiss or Nadal since Djokovic beat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga for his first title here in 2008.

 

Novak Djokovic (3rd R) of Serbia pops the champagne to celebrate his win against Andy Murray of Britain, in the locker room, after their men's singles final match at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne January 30, 2011

Titanic struggles

After the evening cool had brought relief from the first fiercely hot day of the tournament, a close contest between two well-matched players -- born a week apart -- was anticipated on Rod Laver Arena.

The pressure was etched on Murray's face and he started to struggle with his first serve -- he executed just 44 percent in the opening set -- paying the price with some titanic struggles to prevent the Serb breaking him.

The rangy Murray hung in scowling, however, and an intense set looked destined to be decided by a tiebreak until Djokovic edged a 39-shot rally to grab a break point and his remorseless pressure won him the set when his opponent slapped the ball into the net.

Murray gestured to his retinue to calm down but if it was supposed to be reassuring, his lethargy and lack of aggression against an on-fire Djokovic was not.

"I had a tough match in the semi," said Murray, who beat David Ferrer over 226 minutes on Friday. "I felt like I could have moved a bit better tonight. And against someone like Novak you need to be firing on all cylinders."

Djokovic pounced on a Murray drop shot to take a 2-0 advantage in the second and the fifth seed then simply folded as the rampant Serb raced to a 5-0 lead.

A break back restored some dignity to the score-line but only delayed the inevitable and Djokovic duly summoned up another powerful forehand to take a two-set lead.

Murray, who showed only glimpses of his superb shot-making, had said before the match he was going to attack Djokovic's serve and he did get a couple more breaks in the third set but his opponent was now surging with confidence.

 

Andy Murray of Britain looks as Novak Djokovic of Serbia speaks while holding his trophy after their men's singles final match at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne January 30, 2011

Djokovic continued to defend like a demon with one running forehand winner at full stretch summing up the difference in skill execution and fighting spirit between the two players.

That the Serb's name would be etched on the Norman Brookes trophy for the second time was now beyond doubt and the two-hour 39-minute contest was brought to a close by Murray's 47th unforced error.

Djokovic had credited leading Serbia to a first Davis Cup title in December with giving him a big confidence boost and his country was foremost in his thoughts straight after the match.

"There has been a tough period for our people in Serbia but we are trying every single day to present our country in the best possible way, so this is for my country Serbia," he said on court.

Another Serbian-born player had his name inked on to the Melbourne Park honor role on the final Sunday of the tournament when Daniel Nestor teamed up with Katarina Srebotnik of Slovenia to win the mixed doubles title.

Nestor, who moved to Canada when he was four, and Srebotnik edged Australia's Paul Hanley and Chan Yung-jan of Taiwan 6-3 3-6 (10-7) after a super tiebreak on Rod Laver Arena.

 

Novak Djokovic of Serbia throws his shoe to the crowd after winning his men's singles final match against Andy Murray of Britain at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne January 30, 2011

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Murray subdues Ferrer to get third crack at slam

Andy Murray of Britain celebrates his victory over David Ferrer of Spain at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne January 28, 2011

Photo: Reuters

Andy Murray bludgeoned his way through a brick wall named David Ferrer on Friday to reach the Australian Open final and give himself a third crack at ending Britain's interminable wait for a men's grand slam champion.

Pretenders to end the nation's embarrassing 75-year drought have come as close before but few can have shown the skill, persistence, and self-belief that Murray summoned up to beat the inspired Spaniard 4-6 7-6 6-1 7-6 on Rod Laver Arena.

"He's an unbelievable athlete, and unbelievable competitor, it was an unbelievably tough match and I managed to come through," said Murray, who will meet fellow 23-year-old Novak Djokovic in Sunday's final -- only the second of the last 23 men's grand slam finals not to feature either Roger Federer or world number one Rafa Nadal.

The Scot will hope the victory does not turn out to be pyrrhic as there can be little doubt that Serbian third seed Djokovic would have been delighting in every second of the energy-sapping three hour, 46-minute duel as he lounged in his hotel room eating popcorn.

Murray lost his previous two grand slam finals to Roger Federer, including tearfully here last year, and came perilously close to kissing goodbye to his chance of a third as an inspired Ferrer moved to within a point of a two-set lead.

Afterwards, Murray admitted he was oblivious to his precarious position but he saved the set point at 4-5, 30-40 with a thumping serve to keep alive his hopes of becoming his country's first winner of a major since Fred Perry in 1936.

 

Andy Murray of Britain celebrates his victory over David Ferrer of Spain at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne January 28, 2011

Spaniard Ferrer had reached his second grand slam semifinal at his 33rd attempt after beating an injury-hit Nadal in the quarters but began as if to prove a point.

For most of the first two sets the 28-year-old seventh seed proved a formidable barrier to Murray's more cunning game, scurrying from side to side to send back everything Murray could throw at him with some interest and no little skill.

After coming off second best through a few lengthy, leg-buckling rallies, Murray's nadir in the match came when he was serving to stay in the 73-minute second set and Ferrer had a grabbed a set point.

Incredibly, Murray was blissfully unaware of quite how much trouble he was in.

"You are probably not going to believe this but I actually thought it was 4-3, I didn't know until the umpire called five all at the end of the game, he said.

"I was so focused, I was pretty wrapped up in it and lost track. I hope it doesn't happen again."

Aggressive approach

The Briton knew he had to change something and, having chuntered at his entourage including mum Judy and dispatched a bunch of rackets off to be re-strung, he altered his tactics to a more aggressive approach.

"I felt I was able hit through the ball better, came into the net a lot, finished a lot of the points quicker because from the back, he's like a brick wall, he never misses," Murray, who dominated the second set tiebreak, said.

Ferrer's resistance crumbled in the third set and he kicked an advertising hoarding over in anger after being given the run-around by Murray who produced one exquisite lobbed half volley that soared over the Spaniard's head.

Murray broke early in the fourth set but the match had another twist with Ferrer changing his shirt, saving double break points, and roaring back to lead 5-4 and 6-5, only for his opponent to snuff out any danger with some deadly first serves.

"He started to play better and my level dropped, which happens a bit towards the end of a five-set match but I managed to find it at the end of the set when I needed it," said Murray who again called the shots in the tiebreak.

Job done, Murray played down the historical importance of Sunday's showdown with Djokovic despite the growing sense of hope taking hold on the other side of the world.

"The historical thing, it's not something that I've thought about that much, but it's something that obviously for me personally I want to try and win, he said.

While Murray, described by Ferrer as a "very, very great player", faces an anxious day counting down the hours to his third grand slam final, one piece of Australian Open silverware has already been inscribed.

Argentine Gisela Dulko and Italy's Flavia Pennetta also came from behind to beat Belarus and Russian duo Victoria Azarenka and Maria Kirilenko 2-6 7-5 6-1 to win the women's doubles.

 

David Ferrer of Spain reacts during his semifinal match against Andy Murray of Britain at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne January 28, 2011

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Fourth seed Murray limps out of US Open

Murray won the first set before surrendering in four

Photo: AFP

NEW YORK - Andy Murray hobbled out of the U.S. Open Sunday, beaten 6-7 7-6 6-3 6-3 in the third round by Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka after his ailing body let him down.

Struggling to run at full speed after requiring treatment to his legs, elbow and neck, a clearly frustrated Murray appeared powerless to stop Wawrinka, who was battling his own injury problems but still played superbly, from pulling off the biggest upset of the championship.

"I was struggling physically and I got frustrated with that," Murray said.

"Maybe I felt like my chance of doing well here was slipping away. I've worked very hard to give myself a chance of winning tournaments.

"It happens to everyone in life at different points."

It was another disappointment for the Scotsman, who arrived at Flushing Meadows seeded fourth, in great form, and holding genuine hopes of ending Britain's 74-year wait for a men's grand slam singles champion.

"I'm very disappointed, obviously, but I think I've been more disappointed," Murray said.

"In other Grand Slams, when you get closer to winning the tournament, it becomes a lot harder to take."

Wawrinka, seeded 25th, advanced to play American Sam Querrey in the fourth round although the big winner could well be Rafa Nadal, who was drawn to face Murray in the semi-finals.

Nadal, playing before Murray's defeat, had sent an ominous warning to his rivals about his intentions to win the U.S. Open and complete his collection of grand slam titles but Murray was looming as one of his biggest obstacles.

The Spaniard, getting better with each match on the back of a new and improved serve, overpowered France's Gilles Simon 6-4 6-4 6-2 to steam into the fourth round without dropping a single service game in three matches.

"It was important not to lose without dropping a set," Nadal said. "Every day I seem to play much better which is good for my confidence."

Venus advances

Venus Williams and Kim Clijsters passed their first real tests of the championship with flying colours to safely book their places in the women's quarter-finals.

The pair could hardly have been more impressive as they swept past tricky opponents to remain on course for a blockbuster semi-final showdown when the last grand slam of the season enters the second week.

Williams, the champion at Flushing Meadows in 2000 and 2001, defeated Israeli 16th seed Shahar Peer 7-6 6-3 in an ideal test for the more difficult matches ahead of her.

"It's always good to have a tougher match, a kind of a match where you have to challenge yourself against your opponent and the conditions," Williams said.

"We always have had very competitive matches, so I know it's not going to be something I just walk through when I play against her.

"I have to stay focussed and ready to take every point or else she will. It was a good challenge."

Clijsters, who won the title in 2005 and again last year, thrashed Serbia's former world number one Ana Ivanovic 6-2 6-1 in just under an hour. Like Nadal and Williams, she is yet to drop a set in the championship.

"You always want to do well at tournaments where you've done well, and obviously, the U.S. Open is a special tournament for me," Clijsters said.

"Tennis wise, I feel that I've been improving every match. I want to try and keep it going."

Schiavone cruises

Italy's Francesca Schiavone, brimming with confidence after winning her maiden grand slam title at this year's French Open, also cruised through to the last eight, beating Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-3 6-0.

Schiavone will play Williams in Tuesday's quarter-finals while Clijsters will face the winner of Sunday's late match between Australia's Samantha Stosur and Elena Dementieva of Russia.

"I feel better than when I was in French Open, but just because I know how to do it and how to win a match like this," Schiavone said.

"So I'm very curious, I'm interested to see write a new history."

Spain are already assured of at least one men's semi-finalist after Fernando Verdasco, David Ferrer and Felciano Lopez joined their countryman Nadal in the same section of the draw.

Nadal will face Lopez next with the winner to play either Ferrer or Verdasco.

Another two Spaniards, Albert Montanes and Tommy Robredo, are also through to the last 16, giving Spain a total of six, easily the most by any one country this year.

"It's always nice to see all the Spanish winning and being in the last rounds," said Verdasco, who advanced with a four set win over Argentine David Nalbandian.

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Murray breezes on, Hurricane Earl a no-show

Andy Murray of Britain hits a return to Dustin Brown of Jamaica during the US Open tennis tournament in New York, September 3, 2010

Photo: Reuters

Andy Murray need not have worried. The forecasters got it wrong on both fronts at the US Open on Friday.

While the wind picked up and there were a few fleeting drops of rain that caused a stoppage in play, Hurricane Earl never quite made an appearance at Flushing Meadows.

But Murray's second-round opponent, an unorthodox Jamaican he knew little about and was warned to expect the unexpected, did show up on center court but also ran out of puff.

With his dreadlocked hair, sleeveless shirt and baggy short, Dustin Johnson was an instant hit with the Arthur Ashe crowd but apart from a few fleeting moments in the first set, he was blown away, the Briton winning 7-5 6-3 6-0.

Murray, fearing the heavens might open at any time if the predicted wild weather arrived, did his best to finish the match as quickly as he could but ended up hitting the practice courts again because he wanted another workout.

"(There were) probably two rallies in the match that went past eight, nine shots," Murray said. "So I just went out and hit for 45 minutes just to get a bit of a rhythm, hit a lot of balls."

Friday was not a day for the underdogs. They gave the seeds moments of trouble but the big names in action all prevailed.

The defending women's champion Kim Clijsters recovered from a slow start to reel off 12 games in a row in her 6-3 6-0 third round win over Czech Petra Kvitova.

The Belgian struggled with her serve but still proved too much for Kvitova, the 27th seed, to handle.

Clijsters, who won the US Open in 2005 and 2009, has not lost a set in this year's tournament and is steadily improving aspects of her game.

"I think it's only a matter of a few little details I think in my game that I just want to improve," she said. "I'm trying to achieve the perfect match but a match like today gives me more satisfaction because I beat a good player without even playing my best tennis."

Clijsters will play unseeded Serb Ana Ivanovic in the round of 16 with Samantha Stosur or Elena Dementieva lurking in the quarterfinals.

Building momentum

Stosur, runner-up at the French Open in June and seeded fifth at Flushing Meadows, turned in an impressive display to defeat Italy's Sara Errani 6-2 6-3 in one hour 20 minutes.

The Australian came into the tournament under an injury cloud but is slowly building momentum and confidence.

"Once you get to this point, you never know what can happen," she said. "So if you keep playing well, you can find maybe the semis or finals.”

“If I've been there once, I definitely want to try to be there again."

Dementieva, a finalist at the US Open six years ago, booked her passage into the fourth round with a 7-5 6-2 victory over Slovakia's Daniela Hantuchova with 7-5 6-2 win.

The Russian won the Olympic gold medal in Beijing but has never won a grand slam singles title.

"I don't put any pressure on myself,” she said. “I have had a very successful career so far.”

"I'm definitely looking for the big title, but I'm just trying to work on my game."

French Open champion Francesca Schiavone replicated Roger Federer's stunning between-the-legs shot during her 6-1 7-5 third round victory over Alona Bondarenko of Ukraine.

John Isner and Sam Querry raised American hopes of a local winner in the men's draw when they both won.

Isner fired down 24 aces on his way to a 6-3 3-6 7-6 6-4 victory over Marco Chiudinelli but there were times during the match when he grimaced, still feeling the effects of turning his ankle trying to hit a jumping return off a serve into his body from David Nalbandian in Cincinnati.

Querry defeated Marc Granollers 6-2 6-3 6-4 and they almost had a third with qualifier only going down in a fifth set tiebreaker to Sergiy Stakhovsky.

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Murray and Nadal labor into Cincinnati quarters

Andy Murray hits a return to Ernests Gulbis of Latvia during their third round match at the Cincinnati Masters tennis tournament in Cincinnati, Ohio, August 19, 2010

World number one Rafael Nadal battled back to defeat Frenchman Julien Benneteau 5-7 7-6 6-2 at the Cincinnati Masters Thursday while Andy Murray needed a final set tiebreak to beat Latvia's Ernests Gulbis.

Third seed Roger Federer, coming off a runner-up finish in Toronto last week, enjoyed a free pass into the quarterfinals after his opponent pulled out of their match with an injury.

The top-ranked American, Andy Roddick, produced one of his better performances in some time to overcome Swedish fifth-seed Robin Soderling.

Nadal, who struggled to find his rhythm against a confident Benneteau, lost the first set and was then forced to save match point in the second.

With his French opponent struggling physically in the final set, Nadal showed his excellent fitness and cruised to victory and booked his spot in the quarterfinals.

Next up for Nadal is Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis who pulled off an impressive victory over Czech Tomas Berdych.

Murray also looked far from his best in the opening set against an occasionally inspired but often erratic Gulbis.

But Murray fought back in the second with the Latvian missing out on break point in the third game and hurling his racket to the ground three times before it was disfigured.

Gulbis had another good chance to get control of the match when he had break point in the eighth game of the third set but skied a shot high into the air and Murray held to make it 4-4.

With both players looking tired in the early afternoon heat, another decisive moment went against Gulbis when, at 3-1 down, he had a straightforward smash opportunity but was dazzled by the sun and could only tap the ball into the net.

Murray gathered himself and won 4-6 6-3 7-6, setting up a quarterfinal match with American Mardy Fish.

Federer, who could set up a repeat of last week's Toronto final with Murray, sauntered into the last eight despite not having played a single set of tennis.

Less than 24 hours after his previous opponent trailing 5-2 in the first set, Federer's third-round opponent Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany pulled out with a shoulder injury.

Since the Swiss maestro also had a bye in the first round, he will be well rested when he faces Nikolay Davydenko -- a three-set winner over Spaniard David Ferrer.

In a match that featured two big servers, Roddick squeaked by Soderling 6-4 6-7 7-6 to set up a match with Serb Novak Djokovic on Friday.

After taking the opening set, Roddick came up short in a thrilling second set tiebreak during which he criticized the umpire for allowing what he considered a late challenge from Soderling.

Roddick looked close to losing his temper but kept his composure and went on to take the match.

Djokovic dominated his first set against Argentine David Nalbandian, winning 6-1, but then looked a little short of breath as he labored in the heat, winning the second on a tiebreak.

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