Great Tennis Photos

ATP Kuala Lumpur: 02. October Schedule

cgacesa@blic.net (Lana) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 08:40:00 +0000

Friday, 2 October, 2009

Singles - Quarter-finals
[1] N Davydenko (RUS) d [5] G Monfils (FRA) 63 63
[3] R Soderling (SWE) d [6] T Berdych (CZE) 62 62
R Gasquet (FRA) vs [2] F Verdasco (ESP)
M Youzhny (RUS) vs [4] F Gonzalez (CHI)

ATP Thailand: 02. October Schedule

cgacesa@blic.net (Lana) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 08:38:00 +0000

Friday, 2 October, 2009

Singles - Quarter-finals
[6] J Melzer (AUT) d A Beck (GER)
[1] J Tsonga (FRA) vs [Q] M Chiudinelli (SUI)
E Korolev (RUS) vs [2] G Simon (FRA)
[4] V Troicki (SRB) vs [8] J Isner (USA)

Doubles - Semi-finals
[3] J Knowle (AUT) / J Melzer (AUT) vs E Butorac (USA) / R Ram (USA)

WTA Tokyo: 02. October Results

cgacesa@blic.net (Lana) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 08:32:00 +0000

Friday, October 2, 2009

Singles - Semifinals
(7) Jelena Jankovic (SRB) d. (15) Li Na (CHN) 64 63
Maria Sharapova (RUS) d. (11) Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) 63 26 64

Novak Djokovic Qualifys For Barclays ATP World Tour Finals

cgacesa@blic.net (Lana) — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 12:46:00 +0000

Novak Djokovic became the fourth player to qualify for the prestigious season finale following his US Open quarter-final victory on Wednesday. Novak will return to defend his title at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals from 22-29 November at The O2 in London.

Nole currently has the most match wins (58) to his name this season. He joins Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray among those players already qualified for the elite eight-man event in the English capital. That means the ‘Fab Four’ at the top of the ATP World Tour have now all qualified.

This will be third straight appearance for Nole at the season ending climax. Last year in Shanghai, he captured the title by defeating Nikolay Davydenko in the final.

“It’s only eight players and I think all the tennis world and tennis attention is directed to this event. The role of defending champion has quite a lot of expectation. Yet again it’s a big challenge and hopefully I can repeat the success from last year.”

The Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, the world’s biggest-ever indoor tennis event, will feature the world’s top eight singles players and eight doubles teams competing to be officially crowned 2009 ATP World Tour Champions. Each of the top eight players and doubles teams will be drawn to play a minimum of three round-robin matches to determine which four players and teams advance to the knockout semi-finals.

(via atpworldtour.com, photo/novakdjokovic.rs)

Video: Novak Djokovic visited the NYSE with representatives from Tuesday’s Children

cgacesa@blic.net (Lana) — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 12:05:00 +0000

On the eighth anniversary of September 11th, Novak Djokovic visited the New York Stock Exchange. He joined Tuesday’s Children child Christopher Quakenbush and his mother Traci Viklund on the podium. They rang The Closing Bell in remembrance of September 11th and loved ones lost. Djokovic is major supporter of Tuesday’s Children and he has been supporting the families of victims from the very beginning of the US Open. He hosted a Tuesday’s Children child in each match he played at the tournament.

Video: Serena Williams' US Open semis post match press conference

cgacesa@blic.net (Lana) — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 11:45:00 +0000

Serena was defeated 6-4, 7-5 by Kim Clijsters in the semis of the US Open. She verbally attacked line judge for calling foot fault at the match point. Here is what Serena said at the press conference after the match.

Video: Serena vs. Line Judge

cgacesa@blic.net (Lana) — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 11:34:00 +0000

Ok...What really happened here??? What did Serena say to the line judge?? Wow she was angry!!!!!!! I'd be too. It's ridiculous to call foot fault at match point! Kim would win anyway, she was playing great. But Serena overreacted, she just crossed the line.

US Open: Caroline Wozniacki's 12. September Interview

cgacesa@blic.net (Lana) — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 11:24:00 +0000

C. WOZNIACKI/Y. Wickmayer
6-3, 6-3

Q. Now you're in the first Grand Slam final of your life at 19 and you're playing Kim Clijsters, which, of course, is one of the best players ever even after two and a half years' break. Do you think she plays as good, in my opinion at least as before? So what do you want to comment about that?

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: I mean, I'm in a Grand Slam final. I mean, I'm in the US Open final. I cannot describe it with words. I'm so excited. I'm so happy I pulled it through today.

I'm really looking forward to it. It's a dream come true to play the finals of a Grand Slam, and now I'm here. So I mean, I have absolutely nothing to lose.

Q. Playing in that stadium where it was maybe 300, 400 people in there and it was empty, was that easy or hard for you?

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: Maybe actually it was easier, because, you know, you didn't really feel the thing that you're in the semifinals. You didn't feel the pressure too much that actually you're so close to being in a finals. Only two matches away.

So I mean, I understand the people. We were waiting all day to get to play, and the weather really didn't want everything like we wanted it today. But we got to play, and I'm very happy.

Q. Could you just take us through your day, what time you got here, how long you waited, and what you did to keep yourself busy?

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: I was here around 11:30 in the morning. I got a hit in before it started raining, and then I just, yeah, hang out, read a book, was talking to my friends and my family who's here. I warmed up, cooled down, warmed up, and then, yeah, waited till the court was getting dry. Then I a got a little bit of a nap, and then I was ready to go after that.

Q. What do you know about the other semifinal?

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: I don't know actually anything. I was so focused on my own match. I just know Kim won, and I'm happy for her. She's playing amazing. You know, I'm just looking forward to play tomorrow.

Q. Was it difficult for you to remain focused mentally with this delay all day, the rain, everything, and to make sure you were in prime shape for when the match actually began?

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: Um, for me it wasn't too hard, because I looked outside and I could see that it was getting gray. I think I'm really good to just relax and not think too much about the match.

But then when I saw they were drying the courts, then I started to focus again and get mentally prepared. But then when I saw it started raining, I relaxed again. So it wasn't too difficult.

Q. How important was your defense tonight? She actually moved around pretty good, but you were able to put the ball in play long enough to wait for her to make a mistake.

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: Yeah, I mean, today was very important. I knew it was tough to be out there, and we started around 9:00. We'd been waiting all day, so it was just about getting the feet going and to get as many, many balls back as possible.

Today was really difficult, different circumstances.

Q. I know there was a long break there right after the first point. What was the court like?

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: Yeah, it was a little bit slippery, and I didn't want to risk anything. Didn't want to risk to get an injury because the court was a little bit slippery, so we agreed to wait a little bit until it dried out.

Q. Have you ever hit with Kim? Have you ever played against Kim?

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: Actually, me and Kim played an exhibition together in Hong Kong back in 2006, I think it was, and we played the doubles together. I don't remember ‑‑ I mean, we played together back then. She's such a sweet girl. She's such a nice person, and I'm so happy that she's back on tour.

Q. Denmark never had really famous tennis player, not male and not female, so how has this changed in Denmark now? Danish people are very much into tennis? Do they really appreciate having a top 10 player now?

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: I think so. I mean, I don't really spend too much time in Denmark, because I also live in Monte‑Carlo. But I think it's very big that I made the finals. Yeah, I'm sure that the people in Denmark are really excited and very happy.

I know I already got a ton of messages congratulating me, and I'm sure that this will be a big step for the tennis in Denmark. Hopefully we can get more players going. Hopefully there will be other players on tour together with me in the future.

Q. On that same line, do you think at 19 that reaching this stage of the Grand Slam there is going to be an influence in Denmark to encourage young folks to practice the game of tennis and maybe play some kind of role model?

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: Yeah, I'm sure. I think that it helps a lot, and I think a lot of especially young girls looking up to me and the way I'm playing and wants to practice hard. Now when they see it can really happen, I think they will get to believe as well and they're willing to practice.

Q. Could you hear noise from the stadium next door? Since that match ended first, were you curious in any way? Did you know that Kim had won? I mean, in what way did the noise serve as a distraction or...

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: Actually, I was just so focused on my own match, I didn't really think about the other match.

Actually, I saw the score in the back that Kim had won. But, I mean, afterwards I was just so focused on my own match that I didn't really, yeah, think about the noise or anything.

Q. Speaking of being focused, now you have a bigger challenge, which is facing Kim. You say you played an exhibition game with Kim so far. You say she's a nice girl in all ways. But I don't think she's going to pity you tomorrow. How much of her game do you know? How much of her style of play do you know, and how much mentally are you prepared to face a player of her caliber?

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: Of course I think we're both nice girls off the court, but when we're on the court, we want to win. That's normal, and we're both fighters. We want to win. We want to, you know, win this Grand Slam, and it's going to be a tough match.

I haven't really thought about any strategies yet or anything. I mean, I'm just so excited to be in the finals. It's a first final in my career. I'm just, yeah, looking forward to play tomorrow, and I have a whole day tomorrow just to relax, just to enjoy that I'm in the finals.

When it gets close, I'm going to talk to my dad who is also my coach about the tactics. Hopefully it can pay off, but there are no guarantees. I just want to go out there and enjoy that I'm in the finals.

Q. During the delay, did you hear the little boy run up and profess his love for you? He ran out and said, I love you Caroline. Did you hear him?

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: Yeah, I heard him.

Q. Did you smile or anything? I was behind him.

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: Yeah, I smiled. I mean, what else can I do?

Q. Having played Melanie, sort of like the supporting player for the bigger star in that regard, whether that happens tomorrow or not, did that help you or does that help you going into tomorrow's match on the big stage again?

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: Yeah, definitely. I think two night matches has really helped me. I mean, it's the world's biggest stadium we're going into, and it's different.

But now I've tried it twice this year and I won two times. I won it one time against Melanie where the whole crowd was behind her. So I think I got some experience there, and hopefully that can help me tomorrow.

(via ASAP Sports, photo/Getty Images)

US Open: Fernando Gonzalez's 12. September Interview

cgacesa@blic.net (Lana) — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 11:19:00 +0000

R NADAL/F. Gonzalez
7-6 (7), 7-6 (7), 6-0

Q. Can you tell us what happened?
FERNANDO GONZÁLEZ: I don't know. Today or the other day?

Q. No, today, because, I mean, you were almost...
FERNANDO GONZÁLEZ: I can't tell you, because I don't have the answer.

Q. You were injured? You were feeling bad? You had some problem with concentration?
FERNANDO GONZÁLEZ: No, I didn't feel the ball like I really wanted, you know. I feel that my shot doesn't make the same damage than any other day. I get like afraid maybe in the tiebreakers. I went for it. I think I did a good play, miss one. The next play I mis another one, then I miss another one.
What else can I do? I try my best.

Q. Did you decide after the second set that there was no worth to fight for the third, because you couldn't recover or you were depressed?
FERNANDO GONZÁLEZ: I mean, in the beginning of the third set he did a break, and then another one, you know. After that, I mean, it's tough, because he was hitting many balls to my backhand really high.
I feel that I cannot do damage after that, after the first break, you know. I didn't know what to do.

Q. Can you talk about what it was like leaving here the other night in the middle of a tiebreak after the match was finally called, and what you did yesterday?
FERNANDO GONZÁLEZ: Yesterday I hit the ball for 15 minutes maybe, half hour at the gym, and seven hours waiting, I think. But it's not the reason, you know. It's really boring, because you get prepared for one day and then the next one.
But nothing. It was really a boring day yesterday.

Q. Nadal said he was happy that they sent you home at 6:00 last night. Did you feel the same, or would you have wanted to stay longer last night?
FERNANDO GONZÁLEZ: No, I was happy as well, because we had been many hours. It was like seven hours. But that's not the reason. I come here to talk about the match, and it was in two parts. I mean, I don't want to talk about the day off.

Q. Did you feel in your head like you had to win that second set tiebreak to be in the match?
FERNANDO GONZÁLEZ: Yeah. But it was so quick, you know. And after that, I mean, I have three sets ahead, but it was like a new match. It wasn't that bad, because normally if you lose the first two sets, I mean, you already have past like one hour, two hours on court.
Today it was like three minutes, so...

Q. We saw that you withdraw from Davis Cup. That has nothing to do with an injury? There was no reason? Why did you decide not to play Davis Cup?
FERNANDO GONZÁLEZ: I answered that question maybe after my first match here, and like journalists have to know about it, you know. That's your work. I mean, there is a lot of information about that.

Q. What are your thoughts on Nadal's chances to win this tournament for the first time and complete the career Grand Slam?
FERNANDO GONZÁLEZ: Well, he have a lot of experience. He's a great player, good competitor, and of course he have chances. I mean, he play Del Potro now, and then the other side is Djokovic and Federer.
But, I mean, today I feel his ball maybe faster. Maybe I was slower than the first day, but I think he I mean, he have the good mentality, so he always going to have a chance.

Q. Do you expect him to win this tournament?
FERNANDO GONZÁLEZ: I don't know. You always expect that Federer plays the finals against Nadal because good for the game, it's good for the fans, I think.

Q. Do you feel he's injured? He talk a lot about his stomach injury.
FERNANDO GONZÁLEZ: If he say that, he must have a pain. I don't think it's going to be a really huge injury, because, I mean, if you have a really huge injury you're not able to play on the court.
With the abdominals, normally you have trouble to serve, and he was putting many first serves in. That give me a little trouble. He was serving really far away from my backhand.

Q. You said that Federer against Nadal is good for the sport, and you always kind of expect it. If that is the final, who do you think will win here?
FERNANDO GONZÁLEZ: Seriously? I don't know, because I haven't watched many matches. But today, I mean, Federer is playing better than Nadal. Today, I mean, if you look at the stats.
But you never know, I mean, because I don't think Federer likes to play Nadal. He's a lefty, and with one hand backhand, it's really tough to play against him.

Q. How do you think the tournament handled the situation with your match the other night, yesterday, et cetera?
FERNANDO GONZÁLEZ: There is nothing that you can do. I mean, maybe it's not really good for the players that they scheduled to play Saturday semifinals and Sunday finals. I mean, that's why I mean, we have one day less, you know.
Sometimes you play first round on Wednesday, second round on Friday. Normally, I mean, you play Monday or Tuesday, and you never know. You get here six days in advance, and you're thinking like maybe too much in the first round if you play Wednesday.

Q. Did you notice that he returned some of his balls shorter than usual? That can indicate that his abdominal muscles may be injured.
FERNANDO GONZÁLEZ: I don't know. The court is big, and I only tried to put the ball in. I don't know what's his case. I don't really know.

(via ASAP Sports, photo/Reuters Pictures)

US Open: Rafael Nadal's 12. September Interview

cgacesa@blic.net (Lana) — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 11:15:00 +0000

R. NADAL/F. Gonzalez
7-6 (7), 7-6 (7), 6-0

Q. Does the prospect of playing two more days in a row given your physical condition give you any pause?
RAFAEL NADAL: Everybody plays today, no? For me, the match of today wasn't important physically, no? That doesn't matter to play two days in a row.
Well, the condition for me will be the same for the four.

Q. You're very used to having to play very long matches over considerable number of days. How difficult was this one to cope with all the stops and starts?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, important thing is be calm, be ready to come back. And, you know, when you come back in one situation like today, anything can happen, no, because it's a little bit lottery depends of the first two points.
And this is not play well or play bad. You feel good in these two points or not. Important thing is to be ready to accept everything, and try to arrive there knowing what to do, no?
Later you can put the ball outside or inside, but...

Q. Last year when you lost, you seemed very weary, very tired here. Are you better rested now?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, sure, I'm more fresh than last year, 100% sure. We will see how I am physically tomorrow. But mentally, the last year was totally destroyed mentally. Mentally this year I am perfect, no?

Q. How different are you now than when you played Del Potro last time? Were you very rusty last time? Are you a better player, fresher now?
RAFAEL NADAL: I played in Montreal, no? The same fresh. Was first week, and right now it's the third tournament. So fresh is the same.
We will see. We will see what's happen tomorrow, no? I have to play very well if I want to have chances to win. We will see what happen. I don't know.

Q. Last night, did you want to wait longer to play, or were you happy that they canceled it at 6:00?
RAFAEL NADAL: I'm very happy to cancel it at 6:00, yeah. That's good for the players. Just can say thanks to the organization, because you know how tough is be here from 9:00 in the morning to 8:00 of the afternoon.
The tournament was very, very good yesterday with the players, no, very good consideration.

Q. You were only out there about 34 minutes today. Was that enough of a workout for you? Will you even practice more today?
RAFAEL NADAL: I am done. I am done today, yeah.

Q. What would you say is the best thing that Del Potro does? What is the biggest challenge he presents to you?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, everything. I think he's very complete player, no? In the past, he didn't serve like he is doing right now. He has an unbelievable serve right now. From the baseline, he is very solid. He don't have mistakes.
He is very big, so, anyway, if the movements is not 100% perfect, he very long and he arrive to every play.
So for his altitude, his movements is okay, no? He's good. I think he's a complete player, and is always the same thing, no? Try to be ready to put one more ball than the rest.

Q. Did you practice yesterday at all?
RAFAEL NADAL: No. I didn't practice.

Q. As a very prominent player in the game, do you ever have conversations with the authorities here about the scheduling? Are you able to talk to them about the schedule and whether you think it's fair or not fair?
RAFAEL NADAL: For when?

Q. For everybody. Are you able to talk to them and ask them...
RAFAEL NADAL: You can talk. (laughter.) Sure, you can talk. But I think if they listen to you, they listen, yes, sure. In the end, the television is decisive in these cases. So I don't know, no?
I think the players prefer don't play Saturday and Sunday in a row, because for example, that's my feeling, no? If I have for example the match, one player have the same match like I had in semifinals of Australia this year, you lose the final. It's impossible win the final, believe me.
So depends how is the match in semifinals, you lose a lot of chances to play the final, no? But it's everything the same, so that's fair.

Q. How would you describe your physical condition right now compared to when you began the tournament?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, I am okay, no? I have only a little bit problem in the abdominal. That's it.

Q. Would you prefer the early match tomorrow or the later match?
RAFAEL NADAL: I prefer early.

Q. Have you told them that?
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, I told. (laughter.) I asked.

Q. At 4 5, breakpoint, you were sort in control of the point and then a bag went flying across the court and called a let. Were you cursing that bag? The other night, you were in control of the point and a bag came across. You slapped your racquet. You were mad. Were you cursing that bag that night?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, I know how important was that point, no? Two sets two sets up is not the match, but almost, because I feeled I was playing better than him in that moment in that second set. I had more chances than him.
He was serving very good in the important moments where I had chance, Love 30 on breakpoint, and in that point I had a very good return. I have the match in a good position, the point in a good position, so that's a reaction.

Q. You were hitting a lot of short balls. Does this have anything to do with your stomach muscle?
RAFAEL NADAL: What?

Q. Hitting short balls, does the stomach affect that?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, no. Guys, well, sorry, but I prefer not to speak the stomach. I don't know if I lose tomorrow, but if I lose, I can speak about the stomach, no?
But today, having a match tomorrow, I prefer only talk about the game, no? If I am playing short, it's because I don't want to play short. I prefer to play long.
But, you know, I'm not perfect, and so I put I play how far, how long how I can. I really would love to play two meters longer sometimes.

Q. How would you describe what the career Grand Slam means to you?
RAFAEL NADAL: Career Grand Slam? Ah, okay.
Well, sure, it is important goal for me, no? But I am 23 years old, so I expect to have a lot of years to be here fighting to win this tournament, no?
I going to try all my life. This is special, that, but that's very difficult. Right now I focus on the match of tomorrow. That's it.

Q. Was your worst rain experience two years ago in Wimbledon?
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, sure.

(via ASAP Sports, photo/Getty Images)

US Open: Kim Clijsters' 12. September Interview

cgacesa@blic.net (Lana) — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 11:11:00 +0000

K.CLIJSTERS/S. Williams
6-4 7-5

Q. Welcome back to women's tennis. This has got to be the most shocking end to a match you've ever had.

KIM CLIJSTERS: Yeah, I mean, it's unfortunate that a match that I was playing so well at to end that way. You know, obviously, yeah, I still ‑‑ to this point I'm a little confused about what happened out there, and, um, just because I was so focused. You know, just trying to win that last point for me.

So then things ended up ending a little bit different than I expected.

Q. Your comeback has really given a lot of joy and pleasure to a lot of people watching. Does the way this ended take the joy out of tomorrow's match potentially?

KIM CLIJSTERS: Out of tomorrow's match?

Q. Yeah.

KIM CLIJSTERS: No, not at all. Maybe a little out of today's match just because, you know, you want to finish that last point, kind of, especially when you hit ‑‑ like I was seeing the ball really well, I was hitting well, and I was really focused.

I think, yeah, that's what ‑‑ just trying to be focused on that last point. And to win it, that's a great feeling to have. It's a little bit unfortunate that I didn't have that, but it's not going to take anything away from tomorrow's match or how special that would be for me, and for both of us.

Q. Congratulations, Kim.

KIM CLIJSTERS: Same colors, right? (laughter.)

Q. Ah, where are we here? (Laughter.)

KIM CLIJSTERS: Sorry.

Q. Oh, my. Goodness gracious. You had only beaten her once out of eight tries.

KIM CLIJSTERS: Yeah.

Q. Did you have a feeling during the match, my God, I am playing well?

KIM CLIJSTERS: Not at the time, but, you know, again, I was just so focused on trying to just play well each point and not worrying about when she started lifting her game a little bit or when she started hitting a lot more first serves in or a few more aces.

Trying not to let it get to me and trying to focus on making the next return and working your way into the point and into the game a little bit.

So at the time, you don't think ‑‑ obviously you know, okay. I'm having good feeling out there tonight. That's a great feeling to have, but you're not constantly telling yourself, like, It's going good.

Because if you keep saying that, then I think then you can start to like lose that focus a little bit early. You just have to really stay positive out there, and just, yeah, like I said, fight for each point and try not to have those dips that I maybe had, you know, in Cincinnati, Toronto, where you played ‑‑ where I played some good tennis, but then also a few against a few players I lost a few games here and there because I lost focus a little bit.

That's something that today I just really tried to, yeah, just to keep doing, was that I just stayed in there even when I was down breakpoints. I really just took my time and just, you know, played one point at a time.

Q. It seems as if there is a little something, that it's taken a little off of what you should be feeling right now because of this win. But you played so well. Do you think it will be a short time until you can finally say, Hey, I probably would have won the match anyway?

KIM CLIJSTERS: Well, I'll never say that, because a match is never played ‑‑ well, you can write it, but...

Q. I'm radio, but...

KIM CLIJSTERS: Oh, sorry. (laughter.)

No, but that feeling, again, like I just said before, when you play that last point, whether it is a winner or by mistake from your opponent, you know, it's a great feeling to have, especially that's how it usually goes.

So, yeah, the normal feelings of winning a match weren't quite there. But, um, I think afterwards when everything kind of sunk in a little bit and got explained to me about what happened, yeah, you kind of have to put it all in place, and then it becomes a little bit easier to understand and to kind of not celebrate, but at least have a little bit of joy after a match like that.

Q. You've always been an excellent player, but you've got to be at least a bit surprised that you reached the final of your first Grand Slam?

KIM CLIJSTERS: Yes, very much so.

Q. Can you talk a little bit about that?

KIM CLIJSTERS: Yeah, I mean, again, I've spoken before about what for me was really important in Cincinnati and Toronto and those tournaments was knowing that I was capable of competing with those top girls.

I think that's where I kind of made a click, but I never really excited to be beating Venus and beating Serena. You try and you try to bring your best tennis, but, no, I mean, you don't expect things to be going this well this soon.

That's why I, knock wood, just try to really stay focused and not lose, yeah, not lose my rhythm that I've been having over these last two and a half, almost three weeks that we've been here. Just trying to keep that going until the whole tournament is finished.

Q. She was very clear that she felt that you were playing better and that you were going to win that match. Did she say anything like that when she came over to you? Does that make you feel better about it at all?

KIM CLIJSTERS: She just said, Good luck. I hope you win. You know, we always got along well, and I think just unfortunate that a battle like that has to end like that. So, again, yeah, just unfortunate.

Q. This is the second time you're sort of an innocent bystander when she has a sort of controversial moment out there. Did that flash in your mind?

KIM CLIJSTERS: Not at the time, but, yeah, when I was upstairs and, you know, doing ‑‑ you know, running afterwards and stretching, yeah, I mean, you kind of wonder, you know, what is it with our matches?

Yeah. But then again, I mean, it's a completely different situation.

Q. Despite the fact that you were focused and you played your exceptionally well, but how much of what happened on the court today, were you surprised by any of it at all? Did you hear anything that Serena said? Were you also surprised by the extent by which the decision was made to like end the game?

KIM CLIJSTERS: To be honest with you, I didn't even want to be involved, just because in my mind I was still focused. Okay, Kim, don't lose focus. You still need to win this last point here. I just tried to stay away against the back of the court and tried to stay away from everything.

Then all of a sudden, I didn't even hear, you know, anybody talking or anything or them talking to each other. I just, like I said, tried to stay away and tried not to lose focus or not to lose my concentration on trying to finish that match.

Q. But were you taken aback by her body language and her frustration, especially in the first set when she broke her racquet?

KIM CLIJSTERS: I didn't see it. I heard it.

Q. You didn't see it?

KIM CLIJSTERS: No, I didn't see her break the racquet, obviously, but I heard it. I heard the racquet being cracked. It's not like I'm looking at her doing it.

No, because you're so focused. You're kind of in your own bubble when you're out there. So you don't, yeah, you don't see it. I mean, I heard the racquet break a couple of times. (laughter.)

But, yeah.

Q. You're playing now the final against Caroline, a player which when you took your break two and a half years ago was not very well known. Now she's top 10 player even before the tournament, and she's played unbelievable, great, solid. She's 19 years old and in her first Grand Slam. So give your memories when you played your first Grand Slam, and what do you think about her?

KIM CLIJSTERS: To be honest with you, when I played an exhibition game in Hong Kong, I think it was the start of 2006 in my last year, she was ‑‑ you know, we played doubles together. She was like the ‑‑ she got a wildcard into the event as a new upcomer, young girl, so she must have been 16 at that time.

Just by the way she was hitting the ball, by the way that she was doing everything I think around the tennis was ‑‑ you could just tell, you know, that she was going to be, you know, a rising star. You know, she's shown that in her results. She's very consistent. You know, she's a super nice girl, as well. I've been able to get to know her a little bit better. I knew her a little bit from the past, but then got to know her a little bit better over these past couple of weeks. She's a very sweet girl.

Going back to your question about my first Grand Slam was at the French Open. Yeah, when you're so young, I mean, I can only speak for myself, but thinking back of the Jennifer Capriati final, I still can't remember a lot of things about it. I must have just been ‑‑ yeah, it was so much to take in all of a sudden, and it happened so fast.

So it was, yeah, again, I mean, just by watching the video and everything I can kind of remember situations, but I mean, it was very ‑‑ it's a very special moment that first, you know, Grand Slam final.

Q. You've mentioned the good relationship you've always had with Serena, but what do you make of threatening language that she apparently used toward the linesperson?

KIM CLIJSTERS: Again, I didn't hear it, so I can't sit here and comment on what she said or what she didn't say. So again, I don't think it's my place here right now to be commenting on that, just because I didn't hear it.

If she would have been talking to me it would have been a lot easier to comment on it.

Q. What do you feel for her, having concluded the match this way?

KIM CLIJSTERS: I mean, the timing is unfortunate, you know. To get a point penalty at the time, it's unfortunate. But there are rules, and you know, like I said, it's just unfortunate that it has to happen on a match point.

Q. Is there any time when you were just about coming back that you thought, am I doing the right thing, or is this going to work or am I going to embarrass myself or maybe I shouldn't be doing this?

KIM CLIJSTERS: No, I never ‑‑ once I decided that I was going to really go for it, it was already in my mind for like ten days or so, so it's not that feeling or that idea came up, and I immediately like took it, like took it and started working on trying to get back.

I mean, you know, I tried to push it aside a few times just to see, Is that feeling coming back and is the motivation just to play exhibitions, is that going to be enough for me? And just, you know, ten days or even two weeks, I just tried to keep hitting and...

But then, yeah, that feeling just became stronger. So then I knew, Okay, this is what I'm going to try to do.

But then again, not at that time obviously. Then a couple months went by just to see, Okay, what is possible? What's not possible? And I didn't know if there were limitations by the tour or anything. So I just kind of had to work my way into just getting a lot of things explained to me and everything.

To me, it was really clear, Okay, this is going to be our plan and the schedule for this year. So it took a little while.

Q. Did you hear the umpire say game, set and match, Kim Clijsters?

KIM CLIJSTERS: No, I didn't even hear anything. I was just so surprised and shocked all of a sudden to see Serena walking over to me, and it just ‑‑ yeah, again, I just tried to stay out of it, so that ‑‑ you know, because in my mind I was still focused on trying to finish the match there, and so I really didn't want to get into any, you know, I didn't want to get to let anything into my mind. So sorry.

Q. Japanese player who used to play doubles with you is going to retire, so could you give any comments on her?

KIM CLIJSTERS: I know. Ai told me actually a few weeks ago already that she was going to ‑‑ this was going to be her last Grand Slam. It's sad. She's been such a mentor for me in a lot of different ways. Her mother, as well.

I think it was, you know, when my dad and I were traveling and everything, you know, we got along so well with them. Went out to dinner together. Just very, very special. Very warm people. She really helped me make my game better, just by at a young age being able to play with someone who had so much experience.

I was able to practice with her. She's a girl who will always give 200% even if she's not feeling well or if she injuries or anything, she'll always give 200%. Some of my best practice sessions have been with her.

Over the years, even still now, to my coach now, I still talk about that, how special it was to be able to hit with her when I was 15, 16 and to be able to play doubles with her. And then doing so well in doubles and winning a couple of Grand Slams, you know, was really special.

Just you kind of become a little family on your own when you're out there on tour. So it was, yeah, when I heard it, I was like, Oh, no, because I'm back now and you kind of want to enjoy it a little bit together.

But, you know, she's had a really, you know, very consistent and a very, professional career. I think she's been ‑‑ I mean, I know that she does a lot of things outside of tennis, as well. She has her, what do you call it? Rubber bands for the hair and everything. Like she has that going for her and she has a lot of stores.

But she likes to really just do a lot of different things. She's going to be missed. I think she always is laughing, as well. That's something that was nice to see on tour with her.

Q. First of all, are you feeling a little strange that you're an underdog in the semis and you're a favorite in the finals? And second of all, do you think retirement would be this exciting?

KIM CLIJSTERS: Ah, um, again, I think answering the underdog question, when you're out there, you don't think about that at all, actually. You just try to focus and try to just play each point, because you know out there every match has to be played and every match can be won.

So I'm sure that she's, my opponent tomorrow Caroline Wozniacki, is going to think the same way. So again we start out there 50/50. We'll see what happens then. What was the second part?

Q. Retirement being this exciting.

KIM CLIJSTERS: Yeah, I'm very happy with the way that everything has been, you know, because a lot of things changed for me in those two years when I was absent.

I'm super happy that I was able to do a lot of those things that happened that year. So, yeah, I'm just glad that, you know, I'm doing well now. Just, you know, I'm thinking today and then whatever is next tomorrow, not look back too far.

(via ASAP Sports, photo/Getty Images)

US Open: Serena Williams' 12. September Interview

cgacesa@blic.net (Lana) — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 11:05:00 +0000

K. CLIJSTERS/S. Williams
6-4 7-5

Q. To the best of your knowledge, what did you say to the lineswoman out there?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, I said something that I guess they gave me a point penalty. Unfortunately it was on match point.

Q. What did you say?

SERENA WILLIAMS: What did I say? You didn't hear? Oh.

Q. What is your consideration of what the linesperson did? Obviously you had a problem with it.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, yeah. Clearly just ‑‑ in all year I don't ‑‑ I've never been foot faulted, and then suddenly in this tournament they keep calling foot faults.

I'm not saying I don't, but like ‑‑ I don't know. You know, I'm not going to sit here and make an excuse. If I foot fault, I did. It was what it was, and that's basically all it was.

Q. Do you think that the lineswoman had any reason to feel threatened? Apparently she says she felt threatened.

SERENA WILLIAMS: She says she felt threatened? She said this to you?

Q. I'm just repeating what has been said that she told the chair umpire.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, I've never been in a fight in my whole life, so I don't know why she would have felt threatened.

Q. Is it your impression that the chair umpire called her to get her side of it, or did she volunteer her side of it to the chair umpire?

SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't know. I think she volunteered and went over there and said some things. I don't know. I wasn't there. I was getting ready for the next point.

Q. How devastated are you that a match of this caliber had to end that way?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, you know, I'm just clearly not happy, but it was ‑‑ I don't know. Like, I mean, obviously I wanted to fight.

I always fight when I'm down and keep going. I planned on hitting a couple of aces, but I guess it didn't work out.

Q. Kim looked absolutely stricken, too.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, I don't think she understood maybe. I don't think she actually understood it was a point penalty, which meant that I lost that point, which meant that I lost the match.

So that was kind of the whole thing. And I think maybe the umpire should have said something.

Q. Did you say something to the umpire to be misconstrued as a threat? Did you say something to the linesperson that could be construed as a threat?

SERENA WILLIAMS: No, I didn't threaten. I didn't say ‑‑ I don't remember anymore, to be honest. I was in the moment. And, you know, everyone's fighting for every point. It was a really crucial point, 15‑30, actually.

And, you know, at that point you just kind of keep going.

Q. Did you realize when the linesperson went to the net and went to the chair umpire that you already had the violation from the first set and that this could mean a point penalty in the end of the match?

SERENA WILLIAMS: No, I didn't think I would get a point penalty. I didn't think about it. So, you know, I've been more positive on the court lately.

You know, today was a tough day. I didn't play my best. I kind of felt like I had more errors today I think than all my matches combined.

And it was just ‑‑ it was just really tough for me out there.

Q. What degree do you think this taints defeat?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, I don't think it does. I think that Kim played really well, and I think she came out with a really big plan. I think that, you know, the next time we play I'll know a little bit more about her game, what to expect, and, you know, what to do.

Q. Do you regret losing your temper though both after the first set and after the foot fault?

SERENA WILLIAMS: I haven't really thought about it to have any regrets. I try to ‑‑ I've done ‑‑ you know, I try not to live my life saying, I wish, I wish. But, you know, I was out there and I fought and I tried and I did my best.

Q. To what extent do you think maybe the weather and maybe uncertainty of the matches contributed to you maybe losing your temper?

SERENA WILLIAMS: What? That's like the craziest question I ever heard. Weather make you lose your temper? Usually if it's hot you lose your temper, not when it's cold. Come on.

Q. Did it affect your focus?

SERENA WILLIAMS: No, it didn't necessarily affect my focus. I'm a really, really intense player, and I always have been. I mean, my idol is John McEnroe and Martina Navratilova, so ‑‑ and Monica Seles, actually. It's kind of a big mixture.

But I just am a really intense person, and I give 200% in everything I do, whether I'm playing tennis or whether I am doing something else. I just go for it.

Q. You've always prided yourself on being an extremely forthright player, and with us here in the press room. Could you tell us what you said on court, please?

SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't think that's necessary for me to speak about that. I've let it go, and I'm trying to better ‑‑ to, you know, to get ‑‑ to move on.

Q. On court it was picked up where you said, I would never say such‑and‑such to you.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Because I think she said I would kill you, and I was like, What? I was like, Wait a minute.

But then I had misheard. She had never said that. So that was just something ‑‑ I was like, Whoa. Because I was like, Wait a minute. Let's not ‑‑ because I'm not that way. So.

She was like, No, I didn't say that. She said something else. I said, Oh, okay. I get it. And I was totally fine, because at that point I realized I got a point penalty and it was match point.

What can I do? I'm not going to complain. It was what it was.

Q. What did she say you said?

SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't know. Like I said, I wasn't there. I was actually at the baseline preparing my serve, and I think maybe she went to the umpire at that point. Actually I didn't even see her walk over to the umpire, so I have no idea what she did.

Q. Are you surprised what a high level Kim plays after being out of the game for two and a half years? You know her from before.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, no, I think that ‑‑ I mean, I wasn't surprised, because I saw her play I think in Cincinnati, and she played incredible. I thought, wow, you know, this is someone to watch out for.

I think it's really good to have her back on the tour. Maybe we can get together and have some calming lessons.

Q. Kim seemed not to want the match to end that way. What did she say to you when you went up to shake hands?

SERENA WILLIAMS: She said she was sorry, and I was like, it wasn't her fault. It was just a point penalty, just at a bad time, basically.

So I just said, Good luck.

Q. What did Venus have to say for you after the match?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Oh, you know, I don't ‑‑ that was between me and V.

Q. Do you feel like others have been more angry in tennis matches and not lost them on a code violation?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Absolutely. You know, I'm not ‑‑ I feel like there's been ‑‑ you know, I was watching lots of matches just because of all the rain coverage. There have been a lot of things out there, a lot of arguments in the past. And, you know, they unfortunately ‑‑ well, fortunately didn't lose the match.

But, you know, I just ‑‑ like I said, you know, things always ‑‑ I don't know. It's fine. I'm moving on.

Q. How will you look back on this, Serena? How will you look back on this match and the way it ended?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Um, I haven't had a chance to think about it. I feel that I could have played better again. I feel that Kim played an incredible match, and, you know, she definitely came out with a plan. I'm glad I got a chance to play, because now I know what to expect and what to do and what to work on.

I think there's so many things that I can do on the court to actually do better, so that's why I can think about what I can do better and learn from it, which I think is actually exciting.

Q. Just to follow on this, how much of your body language on the court, you know, played a part in her thinking otherwise on what happened out there today?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Honestly, I don't understand your question, and I'm sorry. I just didn't... I couldn't relate to it.

Q. Let me ask the question like this: If you were to do anything different than what happened out on the court, what would you do?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, I think I would come to the net a little bit more. I think I didn't play aggressive enough tennis, and I would try not to make any errors. I didn't ‑‑ I wasn't at my A game or B game today, so that's what I would do different.

Q. Your book talks so much about how you've learned from different experiences and really advanced your life. Aside from the X and is Os of strokes, what do you think you'll learn from this situation?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, I think that I'll learn that, you know, it pays to always play your best and always be your best and always act your best no matter what.

And I think that I'm, you know, I'm young and I feel like in life everyone has to have experience that they take and that they learn from, and I think that's great that I have an opportunity to still be physically fit to go several more years and learn from the past.

I like to learn from the past, live in the present, and not make the same mistakes in the future.

Q. Who actually informed you? Was it the umpire who informed you of the point penalty?

SERENA WILLIAMS: No, it was ‑‑ is it ‑‑ it was Brian Earley who said I had a point penalty. I was like, Okay, wait. That means the match. And so it was him that informed me.

Q. Do you think it was an unfair decision apart from when it happened?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Um, the system ‑‑ the system goes if you have a code violation, then I guess the next one ‑‑ well, usually goes warning, then ‑‑ I don't know. Whatever.

So I guess I was at the next stage, and I just think it was at a bad time.

Q. You seemed to let go very quickly right after the match. Being the last point, match point, does that have anything to do with if it wasn't the match point you still would have been able to let go of it so quickly? That was pretty impressive when you think about it.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Absolutely. And I appreciate you saying that. But if I ‑‑ you know, it was a situation where ‑‑ I lost my train of thought. Can you repeat that question?

Q. You were able to let go of the emotions. You're very calm now. It was, Hey, you know, you lost.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I try to be really professional. I think Kim played a wonderful match, and I think I played good, too. I think I could have played better, and I actually feel like I can go home and I can actually do better, which I'm really excited about.

There's someone out there that makes me want to go home and makes me want to work out and makes me want to run and do better. I can't wait to do that. I think that when I was down, you know, what was I ‑‑ I'm not the beggar, like, Please, please, let me have another chance, because it was the rules, and I play by the rules.

If I get hit, I say I got hit, you know. I play by the rules. That's what it was.

Q. How do you think Kim is playing in comparison to how she played before she retired?

SERENA WILLIAMS: I, um, live in the moment a little too much. I don't quite remember how she played before she retired, but I think now she's playing incredible. I remember her being a wonderful mover, and she's moving really well now, as well. So I think she's ‑‑ I don't know.

Q. Do you think the lineswoman deserves an apology?

SERENA WILLIAMS: An apology for?

Q. From you.

SERENA WILLIAMS: From me?

Q. For the yelling and what you said.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, how many people yell at linespeople? So I think, you know, if you look at ‑‑ I don't know. All the people that, you know, kind of yell at linespeople, I think it's ‑‑ kind of comes sometimes. Players, athletes get frustrated. I don't know how many times I've seen that happen.

Q. How does this compare to seeing the tiebreaker count get lost at Wimbledon?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, this is no comparison to that. That was completely absurd. It wasn't Venus at fault at all. This was a point where I had a point penalty just on match point.

Q. If you could say something now to that linesperson, what would you say now that you've calmed down and had a chance to think about what happened?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, yeah, I haven't quite thought about that yet, and, you know, maybe I'll see her.

Q. Have you ever had a point penalty before?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Um, I'm not quite sure. Have I, do you think?

I used to have a real temper, and I've gotten a lot better. So I know you don't believe me, but I used to be worse. Yes, yes, indeed.

Q. How many times were you called for a foot fault during this tournament?

SERENA WILLIAMS: A lot. I mean, compared to all year? A lot. I haven't been called for a foot fault all year until I got to New York, so maybe when I come to this tournament I have to step two feet back.

Q. Would you be interested to see if you actually foot faulted?

SERENA WILLIAMS: I'm pretty sure I did. If she called a foot fault, she must have seen a foot fault. I mean, she was doing her job. I'm not going to knock her for not doing her job.

(via ASAP Sports, photo/AP Photo)

US Open: 13. September Schedule

cgacesa@blic.net (Lana) — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 10:57:00 +0000

Sunday, 13 September 2009

Arthur Ashe Stadium 12:00 Start
1. Men's Singles - Semifinals
Rafael Nadal (ESP)[3] v. Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG)[6]

Arthur Ashe Stadium Not Before:16:30
2. Men's Singles - Semifinals
Roger Federer (SUI)[1] v. Novak Djokovic (SRB)[4]

Arthur Ashe Stadium 21.00 Start Time
1. Women's Singles - Finals
Caroline Wozniacki(DEN)[9] v. Kim Clijsters(BEL)

Louis Armstrong Stadium 12:00 Start Time
1. Women's Doubles - Semifinals
Samantha Stosur (ZIM)[1]/Rennae Stubbs (USA)[1] v. Cara Black (AUS)[3]/Liezel Huber (AUS)[3] To Finish 7-5

Not Before:14:30
2. Men's Doubles - Finals
Lukas Dlouhy (CZE)[4]/Leander Paes (IND)[4] v. Mahesh Bhupathi (IND)[3]/ Mark Knowles (BAH)[3]

US Open: 12. September Results

cgacesa@blic.net (Lana) — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 10:53:00 +0000

Saturday, September 12, 2009

WTA Singles - Semifinals
(WC) Kim Clijsters (BEL) d. (2) Serena Williams (USA) 64 75
(9) Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) d. Yanina Wickmayer (BEL) 63 63

ATP Singles - Quarter-finals
[3] R Nadal (ESP) d [11] F Gonzalez (CHI) 76(4) 76(2) 60

ATP Doubles - Final
L. Dlouhy(CZE)/L. Paes (IND) vs. M. Bhupathi (IND)/M. Knowles (BAH) - Postponed till Sunday at 2.30 p.m. ET.

US Open: 13. September Schedule

cgacesa@blic.net (Lana) — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 10:03:00 +0000

Saturday, 12 September 2009

Arthur Ashe Stadium 12:00 Start Time
1. Men's Singles - Quarterfinals
Rafael Nadal (CHI)[11] v. Fernando Gonzalez (ESP)[3]
This match may be moved to Armstrong Stadium. To Finish 7-6(4) 6-6(3)
2. Men's Doubles - Finals
Lukas Dlouhy (CZE)[4] v. Mahesh Bhupathi (IND)[3]
Leander Paes (IND)[4] Mark Knowles (BAH)[3]
This match may be moved to Armstrong Stadium.
3. Women's Singles - Semifinals
Yanina Wickmayer (BEL) v. Caroline Wozniacki (DEN)[9]
Not Before:20:00
4. Women's Singles - Semifinals
Kim Clijsters (BEL) v. Serena Williams (USA)[2]

Louis Armstrong Stadium 12:00 Start Time
1. Women's Doubles - Semifinals
Cara Black (ZIM)[1] v. Samantha Stosur (AUS)[3]
Liezel Huber (USA)[1] Rennae Stubbs (AUS)[3]

Ana Ivanovic and Rafel Nadal have been voted Ambassadors of the Year 2008 by the ITWA

cgacesa@blic.net (Lana) — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 09:41:00 +0000

Ana Ivanovic and Rafael Nadal have been voted Ambassadors of the Year for the 2008 tennis season by the ITWA membership. ITWA is an Association of around 120 tennis journalists from all across the globe, who travel both the WTA and ATP tour all year long.

Both Ana and Nadal will receive solid-silver hallmarked letter openers, engraved with their name and 'ITWA Ambassador 2008.'

ITWA past president Neil Harman said: "We understand that the players can't grant every interview request, but Ana and Rafa have been exemplary in their professional dealings with the media. Rafa is always scrupulously polite, while Ana always seems to have a smile on her face, even when talking to the media after a defeat. They are great role models for their fellow players, and we hope their engraved letter-openers can find a small but proud place in their trophy cabinets."

(photo/AP Photo)

Rain in New York...

cgacesa@blic.net (Lana) — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 08:46:00 +0000

Friday, 11 September 2009

Note: No play has been possible Friday due to rain. Stay tuned for updates.

Rain ruined everything....Maybe organizers should consider getting a roof!

(photo/AP Photo)

US Open: 10. September Schedule

cgacesa@blic.net (Lana) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 20:32:00 +0000

Friday, 11 September 2009-Revised Starting Times after Rain Delay

Arthur Ashe Stadium 12:30 Start Time
Not Before:17:00
1. Women's Singles - Semifinals
Kim Clijsters (BEL) v. Serena Williams (USA)[2]
This match may be moved to Armstrong Stadium.
2. Men's Doubles - Finals
Lukas Dlouhy (CZE)[4] v. Mahesh Bhupathi (IND)[3]
Leander Paes (IND)[4] Mark Knowles (BAH)[3]

Louis Armstrong Stadium 11:00 Start Time
Not Before:17:00
1. Men's Singles - Quarterfinals
Rafael Nadal (CHI)[11] v. Fernando Gonzalez (ESP)[3]
To Finish 7-6(4) 6-6(3)

Grandstand 11:00 Start Time
Not Before:17:00
1. Women's Singles - Semifinals
Yanina Wickmayer (BEL) v. Caroline Wozniacki (DEN)[9]

US Open: 10. September Results

cgacesa@blic.net (Lana) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 20:30:00 +0000

Thursday, September 10, 2009

WTA Doubles - Semifinals
(4) Williams/Williams (USA/USA) d. (13) Kleybanova/Makarova (RUS/RUS) 76(4) 36 62

ATP Singles - Quarter-finals
[3] R Nadal (ESP) leads [11] F Gonzalez (CHI) 76(4) 66(3-2) - to resume Friday afternoon
[6] J del Potro (ARG) d [16] M Cilic (CRO) 46 63 62 61

ATP Mixed Doubles - Final
C Gullickson (USA) / T Parrott (USA) d [2] C Black (ZIM) / L Paes (IND) 62 64

Ana Ivanovic's Interview for Eurobasket 2009

cgacesa@blic.net (Lana) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 09:51:00 +0000

Ana recently gave an interview to the organizers of the Eurobasket 2009. Ana talked about her love for basketball, about her support of Partizan Belgrade. Here is the interview:

"There are few countries in Europe as basketball crazy as Serbia.

In 2009, storied club side Partizan Belgrade shattered attendance records when 22,527 fans showed up at Belgrade Arena to watch their team take on Panathanaikos in the Euroleague Top 16.

It was the type of crowd not seen since EuroBasket 2005, when nearly 20,000 fans streamed into the same arena for the final despite the fact that the host team had long ago been eliminated.

In recent years though a new sport has been taking the country by storm, thanks in large part to the efforts of one very big basketball fan.

In 2008 a young Serbian named Ana Ivanovic vaulted the country on to tennis' world stage with a straight sets win over Russian Dinara Safina to capture her first-ever Grand Slam title at the French Open.

The win made her number one in the world and the darling of her home country, where she stood on a balcony overlooking Belgrade's parliament square and hit tennis balls into a crowd of 10,000 adoring fans.

She had become tennis royalty, but that was only one of the sports that competed for her attention as an aspiring athlete.

"My family has always loved sport, especially basketball," says the 21-year-old.

"My father used to play semi-professionally in Belgrade, so I've known the sport ever since I was a young kid."

As with most fans of basketball in Belgrade, Ana the burgeoning fan had a choice to make; the black and white of Partizan or the red and white of their rivals Red Star.

"My family has always supported Partizan." She says.

"I have been to quite a few games at Pionir Hall. The atmosphere is just amazing. It's the best I have ever experienced in any sport. The noise that Partizan fans make is deafening."

Though Ana's love for basketball was partly inherited it also mirrors many of the things that appeal to her about her own sport.

"I'm a very competitive person so what I love the most is the competition.

"I especially enjoy watching basketball when it's unpredictable regarding which team is going to win. Sometimes the last few seconds can be extremely exciting."

It's something Ana doesn't get to experience all that often. The life of a professional tennis player means traveling across the globe, but she does her best to keep up to date on the trials of both her favorite club and the national team.

"My Dad keeps me informed about what's going on, and I watch them on TV if I have a chance, but it isn't often these days, unfortunately."

Being Serbia's most famous sportswomen means Ana has gotten the chance to meet some of her basketball heroes over the years. When asked which one she would pick as a doubles partner she doesn't think long before going with a point guard.

"I had the opportunity to meet Sasa Djordjevic a few times, because we are both UNICEF ambassadors. He is one of the greatest players we ever had. I always admired his style, and the level of confidence he had at the most important moments in the game. He would definitely be a great doubles partner."

Unfortunately for Serbia the days of Djordjevic are long gone, but despite their struggles at EuroBasket 2007, Ana is upbeat about her national team's chances in Poland.

"At the moment we have a very young team, a new generation that is extremely motivated to do well, "she says.

"I believe it's a good combination for success."

Success is something Ana Ivanovic knows plenty about."

(via anaivanovic.com)

US Open: Caroline Wozniacki's 09. September Interview

cgacesa@blic.net (Lana) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 09:38:00 +0000

C. WOZNIACKI/M. Oudin
6-2, 6-2

Q. You took out sort of the giant slayer of this tournament. I would have to think about the way you played tonight, you feel pretty good tonight and the way you're playing?

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: Yeah, thank you. It was really tough match for me against Melanie. I mean, she's had such a great run, such an amazing tournament. It's always tough to play against a home favorite.

And I knew how I was going to feel to be out there and the crowd, but I just used the energy and tried to covert it into some good tennis. I'm just so happy that I fought so well today and that I managed to pull the match out.

Q. She's sort of been the crowd favorite this year, but it seemed like there was a lot of support for you out there. I think people have embraced you and your style of play. Did you feel it from the crowd?

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: Yeah, I feel like playing here at New York is almost like playing at home. Also when I played Kuznetsova, the crowd was cheering for me a lot. I really love it out there. And playing on the center court, it just feels amazing.

Q. You're going to be playing Yanina Wickmayer next round. What do you know about her? Have you followed her? Have you seen her play?

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: Actually, I've tried not to watch too much tennis while I was here. I mean, I watched Melanie's matches because they were shown a lot. I mean, she was ‑‑ I mean, she's a young player coming up, so I wanted to see her play.

But I haven't seen Yanina playing too much this tournament, but I know her really well from the juniors and we've played each other growing up.

So, I mean right now I'm just so happy I'm in the semifinals. I'm just going to enjoy a day off tomorrow, and I'll talk to my dad who is also my coach about the strategy. But right now, I don't really have any.

Q. In the on‑court interview, when Pam spoke of her, she almost spoke of it like it was a foregone conclusion, like, Who is she? She sort of said, you know, you'll be the overwhelming favorite. She said her name in a way that sounded a little bit belligerent. Do you think there is a danger in taking a girl like this for granted? She's not here just by good luck and chance.

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: No, I don't take her for granted at all. She's played great tennis to make it this far. You don't make a Grand Slam semifinals without playing great tennis. So, I mean, I'm going to go out there and fight for every point. I'm not going to give you mean.

I'm just going to try to do my best. There's nothing else I can do. Hopefully I can pull it out. But, I mean, you never know. It's a 50/50% chance when you get out on the court.

Q. What do you make of what Melanie Oudin did during this tournament?

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: I think she had an amazing run. I mean, she's only 17 years old. She has been playing some great tennis. I think that, you know, she had a lot of attention here, and I think the way she handled all the attention, I think she did very well. I think she has a great team around her, and I'm sure that she'll win many, many more matches in the future, as well.

Q. What was your strategy going into the match?

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: My strategy today was just to ‑‑ I don't know, to try to ‑‑ I knew that she had a great forehand and that she's good on the defense, as well, that she's running well.

So I just wanted to keep her mostly on her backhand side, but also make her run to her forehand.

Q. You said you played Yanina in juniors. Can you remember your first match against her?

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: Um, I remember ‑‑ I don't remember my first match. I just remember that ‑‑ I think we met each other when we were we were both under‑12. So, I mean, that's many years back.

We're friends off the court, as well, and she's had an amazing run and I'm happy for her, as well.

Q. Would you like to tell us how you practiced with adidas team and how the organization of this team?

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: Yeah, the adidas team is very ‑‑ it's very nice. We have Darren Cahill, Sven Groeneveld, Matts Merkel as a hitting partner, and Gil Reyes is the fitness coach.

So it's a great team to have, and it's nice to have someone there to hit with during the tournaments, as well. My dad is my main coach, but it's nice to get some input from the outside, as well. It's great that adidas has made such a great effort to do such a program, and it also makes us a team. The adidas players have a great connection with each other, and I think that's great.

Q. How crucial was it to not fold up like the Russians did before you? How much was that part of the strategy?

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: I mean, Melanie, she beat some great players. No doubt about it. I knew that it was going to be tough and I knew that she was going to fight to the last point. I just ‑‑ yeah, I just thought about one point at a time, one ball at a time, and tried not to think too much about the score, even though it's difficult.

I'm a fighter, so I don't give up. I fought to the last point.

Q. Melanie said that you played a very consistent game. Was that your game plan going in, is to make sure, limit your mistakes?

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: Yeah, today definitely I was like, I have to get as many balls back as possible and try to make her run. Keep her on her backhand, but also, you know, make her run on her forehand.

That was my goal, and I think it was a good way to play the match today.

Q. Your body language was positive the whole time. Was that part of the deal, too? Never show her that you were frustrated even if you were?

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: Yeah, today especially today it was important for me just to keep positive, try to just fight for every point. Because I knew if I show her too much emotions she will pick it up straightaway. I've seen that before in her matches. I mean, the crowd helped her through, as well.

So today was just important, just to keep positive, keep fighting for every point.

Q. Going into the semis, you're highly the favorite. Isn't it a frightening here to have a final ahead of you?

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: Um, I still actually cannot believe that I'm in the semifinals, so it's going to be great to play that match. I'm looking forward to that.

But right now I just want to enjoy this moment. And to be in the semifinals for the first time here in New York, it's incredible.

Q. You have played a lot of matches for the past three weeks because you won New Haven and now. I was wondering, how are you feeling about your body, like fatigue or are you tired?

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: No, I feel great. I feel really good. I feel like I've played a lot of matches. I've been playing some great tennis. I'm really happy, and I like playing matches. I have to practice, anyways, so to me I like to compete. I love to compete. Playing matches just makes it more fun, and I don't really feel tired at all.

Q. No injury?

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: No injuries. I'm fit for fat. I'm okay.

Q. For people just getting familiar with you as a tennis player, how would you describe yourself as a player, what your strengths are?

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: I think I have a ‑‑ I'm thinking well on the court. I think that I make the right decisions. I think that I'm a fighter. I run well, but I'm also capable of changing the rhythm, be aggressive. I think I'm an all‑around player.

Q. Are you going to change your game plan against Wickmayer?

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: I really don't know yet what I'm going to do. I haven't thought about it. You know, I go out there and I will try to stay aggressive. I think that's the way to play.

Q. You come from a small country. Wickmayer, too. Yet this afternoon she has 2,000 boyfriends. How many do you have in Denmark now?

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: I don't know. I haven't read the newspapers in Denmark, but I'm sure they can find a boyfriend for me. (laughter.)

Q. And real boyfriends, how many do you have?

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: I don't have any real boyfriends right now, so ‑‑ and usually I keep to one (laughter.)

Q. When you walk into center court, such a big center court, when you walk into the center court, what sort of feeling you get?

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: It's an amazing feeling, especially when you're playing at night. Playing on Arthur Ashe Stadium, 23,000 people watching you going on the court, I mean, it's ‑‑ you cannot really describe the atmosphere. It's just ‑‑ it's magical. It's amazing.

Q. Your box was very loud today, the box of people. Do you think they just try to unite to be against the whole stadium?

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: That my box was loud? I think that they're trying just to encourage me and trying to make me stay positive and try to give me energy.

Q. Do you have any special plans for celebrating tomorrow, day off?

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: No, not really. I don't have any plans. I just want to enjoy my time with my family and friends who are here.

(via ASAP Sports, photo/Reuters Pictures)

US Open: Melanie Oudin's 09. September Interview

cgacesa@blic.net (Lana) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 09:29:00 +0000

C. WOZNIACKI/M. Oudin
6-2, 6-2

Q. So what happened out there tonight?

MELANIE OUDIN: You know, um, Caroline played a really good match. I think I started off slow. I wasn't able to come back. She's such a strong player. She doesn't give you anything for free.

She plays incredible defense. Makes me hit a thousand balls and really is a really great player. I mean, I don't know what else I could have done. I could have been more consistent and been more patient, but she really made me think out there and made me have to hit a winner on her to win the point.

I was missing some. I was a little too impatient, I think. But overall, I think she played a great match.

Q. Has the totality of what you've been able to accomplish at this tournament sunk in yet? If show, how transformative has that been in your career?

MELANIE OUDIN: I've had a great run this tournament. For me, I'm a perfectionist, so losing today was a disappointment. I mean, I wanted to win. Losing isn't good enough for me.

But, you know, the whole experience here that I've had is going to take me a long way, I think. Just I'm going to remember this for a long time. I've gained a lot of confidence through this tournament, and I think I can only get better.

Q. Your theme throughout, Melanie, was "believe." Do you now believe even more than when you came or...

MELANIE OUDIN: I think so. Yeah, I mean, coming into the tournament I hadn't done well last year, so believing was my key thing going into these matches, and knowing that I could compete with these women and beat them.

Now I realize that ‑‑ I mean, I got to the quarterfinals of the US Open, so I know that hopefully I can do it again and again.

Q. What were you able to draw on either within you or your game to do so well here?

MELANIE OUDIN: It mainly was being able to fight when it got close and under pressure. And even when I was down being able to come back and just knowing, in all of these matches. Getting tons of experience with getting down, a set down in all of these matches, that I knew that I could come back and I could do it.

And now I can compete with ‑‑ I've played top 10 former No. 1 players this tournament, I've played any kind of player, and I've been able to do well.

So it gives me a lot of confidence.

Q. Did you surprise yourself at all with how strong you were mentally here?

MELANIE OUDIN: I think I did sometimes, but I've always been strong mentally. That's been one of my like key strengths, and I think that I can still get stronger mentally. Today I was a little bit fragile, I think.

But Caroline made me like that. You know, she made me frustrated that I had to hit a winner on her. And before, you know, I would get some free points because the girls went for more, and Caroline was extremely consistent.

Q. What are you most proud of?

MELANIE OUDIN: Probably the way I fought through these matches. Getting to the quarterfinals, I did not expect to get to the quarterfinals coming into the tournament. You know, it's just ‑‑ it's a huge accomplishment for me, and to do it at the US Open really means a lot.

Q. Was there any chance everything you went through this week was way more than tennis, that in retrospect you might look at tonight and say, Maybe it all was kind of cumulatively a little too much, you maybe were emotionally tired? You said you were mentally fragile because of the match, but was there anything else like that going on?

MELANIE OUDIN: It was a lot. These past two weeks have been have been really different for me. I've gone from being just a normal like tennis player to almost everyone in the United States knowing who I am now.

So it's definitely different, but ‑‑ I mean, I enjoyed it, but I don't think that affected my tennis game tonight at all. Because when I get on the court, I don't think about anything but the ball and where I'm playing and myself, how I'm going to play.

Q. Top tier athletes do have to put up with living in a fish bowl. The bigger you get, the more people analyze everything you do and everything that you say. It invades your privacy and so forth. You had just a little sampler, maybe little appetizer of what that life could be like. Is that a life that you see, that you think you could be prosperous in?

MELANIE OUDIN: I think so. The thing for me is I love to play tennis, and that all comes along with it if you do well and if you win. And I mean, I'm ready for that if that's what you have to do to do well in tennis, because I'm not going to stop playing just because of that.

I want to do well, and I love playing. That's what I'm going to do.

Q. Did you find that though to be a little bit offsetting, or did you find it enjoyable?

MELANIE OUDIN: There's ups and downs I think to all of it. It's just different for me, because I haven't had to handle anything like that before. So I'm sure that I'll get used to it. I just need to ‑‑ this was a good starting point for me, though, like learning about it and seeing how it will be like if you keep doing well and what it's like for the top players right now.

Q. What tournaments do you have lined up, and are you going to take any time off?

MELANIE OUDIN: I'm scheduled to play in Quebec City, and then playing Tokyo and Beijing.

Q. Will you play in Quebec City next week?

MELANIE OUDIN: I'm hoping to probably, yeah. (laughter.)

Q. You said you're a perfectionist.

MELANIE OUDIN: Yes.

Q. Do you have any concerns that you might put too much pressure or emphasis on your results as an outgrowth of this and that you'll have to try to temper that a little?

MELANIE OUDIN: Well, I came off and I was pretty disappointed, so my coach was like, You've had an incredible two weeks. You should not be as hard on yourself. I'm like, Well, I was disappointed with I thought I could have played better tonight. I thought I played better than in my past matches.

So, for me, I wanted to win more than anything. Losing isn't good enough. But then, I mean, that was right after I had come off. I really think about it, and I really have had an incredible two weeks I should be proud of myself.

Q. Young girls watching you and looking up to you, they see you also as just a 17 year old girl. So what things do you do outside of tennis that help you relax? Do you like going to concerts? Movies? What's on your iPod?

MELANIE OUDIN: I'm basically a normal 17 year old kid. I still go to movies and go to the mall. Like to shop. Here we've saw a couple of plays. I just like going back and watching TV. Playing ‑‑ I have a wii at my house. I love playing that.

Just different things, like board games and cards with my grandma. I mean, I just love doing all of that stuff, so basically I'm just a normal kid.

Q. Earlier in the year you had your first Fed Cup experience, which was a positive and you did very well. Are you hoping to make the team in the final? What would that mean for you? What was that Fed Cup experience like?

MELANIE OUDIN: I'm definitely looking forward to playing in the Fed Cup in November if I get to be picked on the team, because I had so much fun being on the past two teams.

We did such a great job, and playing was such a great experience. You don't get to do the team atmosphere very often, only for Fed Cup and a couple other things. Mainly you're playing individually.

So I think it's really great. I can't wait to be on the team again if I get invited.

Q. Has Mary Joe talked to you at all?

MELANIE OUDIN: Not yet. Not yet.

Q. What do you think you learned about yourself or need to do to actually win a championship and compete, you know, in the finals, semifinals and finals of these Grand Slams? You've beaten a number of Russian women who play the same, and bumped into Caroline today and she was very consistent. What do you think you need to do to beat Caroline next time?

MELANIE OUDIN: Well, I've never been to the quarters of a Grand Slam. I've never been this far, so for me, I have to learn how to handle the grueling two weeks in a Grand Slam. And mentally, physically, I mean, my body has had a lot of matches and a lot of time on the court. Mentally, it takes a lot to fight through those matches three sets three times in a row.

So for me, I think I'm going to need to learn how to handle that, and I need to improve. I think I need to get quicker and even stronger and I definitely can improve a lot of things in my game.

Q. So you think a lot of that is going to come from experience, like you'll just have to play through it and eventually get to those levels being mentally tough?

MELANIE OUDIN: I think it's going to be experience and working hard. I'm going to have to go back home and just keep training like I do. I'm sure that, you know, if I keep working hard, hopefully I can do this again.

Q. A lot of people were saying, The sky is falling; there's no one in women's tennis after Venus and Serena. It's not so great on the men's side, either. What do you think your incredible run here, what impact you'll have, and are you aware of what the impact has been already?

MELANIE OUDIN: I think it gives a lot of hope to the other Americans, especially the American junior girls, because I've gotten a lot of support from them. I've heard they've all been cheering for me in the junior indoor courts over there.

And just the fact that I'm ‑‑ I'm the same age as a lot of them playing the juniors, a lot of my fellow Americans, so I think that it gives ‑‑ it's inspiring to them that I'm doing well. It tells them that they can do as well as me if they keep working hard, and, you know, and they want it enough.

Q. And the most strange, most odd thing that's happened during this whole run that was a little surprising to you?

MELANIE OUDIN: Well, I never thought that I'd play Maria Sharapova on Arthur Ashe Stadium at the US Open this year. Definitely did not see that coming. So that whole match, just getting to play her and beating her, I've never met her before, so shaking her hand after the match was the first time I met her. It was crazy. The whole thing, though, I loved it.

Q. We heard Roger Federer introduced himself to you. What was that like?

MELANIE OUDIN: It was really nice. His agent actually introduced us, and he told me congratulations. I was going to tell him congratulations too, and I totally forgot about that he just had, you know, twin girls and all that stuff. My mind just kind of froze getting to meet him.

He told me good job at Fed Cup and everything. He knew how I did here and everything. It was pretty cool getting to meet him.

Q. Do you think of yourself as a celebrity now?

MELANIE OUDIN: I don't think of myself as a celebrity at all. Just because it's me, like I've never like thought of myself like that. I just love to play tennis. That's it, you know. Just playing tennis. My love of the game and going out there, I love playing in front of people. I love people watching me, but I just ‑‑ and people know who I am, but I don't really ‑‑ I guess, people knowing who I am would make me a celebrity and people would want to be like me and they admire me and stuff, but ‑‑ I think that's really nice, but I just don't see myself as being that kind of, like, star, you know.

Q. Can you just talk about the school aspect? I guess you take classes online. Do you feel you're missing the traditional high school experience and have friends in school and stuff like that?

MELANIE OUDIN: Sometimes I do think about that before I did well at Wimbledon. Wimbledon kind of set my mind that I knew I was doing the right thing. My twin sister, she goes to a normal school, so I get to hear a lot about the homecoming and proms and all of that.

But I think what I'm doing is definitely worth it. It's what I've always wanted, so I don't really regret going to school.

Q. What will be your biggest memory from the 2009 US Open?

MELANIE OUDIN: I can't really pick any specific thing from it. The whole experience of being here has been a whirlwind. There's been so many great things I've learned from here, and the experiences, the matches I've played, I'll remember all of it.

(via ASAP Sports, photo/Reuters Pictures)

US Open: Roger Federer's 09. September Interview

cgacesa@blic.net (Lana) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 09:21:00 +0000

R. FEDERER/R. Soderling
6-0, 6-3, 6-7, 7-6

Q. It was kind of a tale of two different matches out there from the beginning, and as things progressed, his game certainly got much stronger. Talk about your feelings on how things changed, where the transition was, and being pushed so hard by him toward the end there?

ROGER FEDERER: Well, I think as a player you always like it to go the other way. Like against Robredo, for instance, you have a close beginning and then you sort of start dominating instead of the other way around just because spectators kind of, you know, get a little bit quiet when one guy starts dominating in the beginning and they actually get excited when it gets closer.

That then can make it difficult to play by going through, let's say, two hours of calm conditions, and all of a sudden the crowd goes crazy. You know, you haven't had that for the entire match, and he takes it as a positive sign for himself. And you know, well, let's try to close him out.

It's a difficult thing to go through. Doesn't happen very often. Especially I think night session here people really get into it. It made it difficult. From my side, I think I played a great match. I had dream tennis there for a while in the beginning. I was able to dominate like I've never done that before against him.

Then, you know, he started to get better, started to serve better. He got -- you know, he got better, sort of more confidence from the baseline, and then it was more difficult to stay with him.

But I'm very happy to have still come through, because it was close.

Q. Obviously you would have liked to have continued the way the first two sets went, but do you think in a way there are dividends when you're facing what's likely to be a tough match against Novak to go in there and have a guy pound against you and sustain that and come through?

ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I mean, look, we'll see how it goes against Djokovic, I guess. That's what will really answer the question. At the same time, Djokovic plays differently to Soderling, and Soderling plays differently from Robredo, and Robredo plays different to Hewitt.

Every match is different. Conditions today I thought were very difficult. It was very breezy down on the court. I was quite worried going into the match seeing how much wind was on the court that I was actually going to hit good the ball, and all of a sudden I'm 6-Love 1-Love up.

I don't know what happened, but it's one of those days where everything kind of goes right for you. It was good that I had maybe a bit of a test, but it's not something I'm really looking for. The hoped I could close him out in three. I should have.

In the end, I'm lucky to be through in four.

Q. Your serve was never broken, you hit 28 aces. I think you were pretty consistent anyway.

ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I mean, I was playing great. There's not much more I could do. I guess I could have taken maybe the first breakpoint opportunity I had in the beginning of the third, and I should bring it home being up 4-Love in the breaker in the third.

Those are the missed chances I had. You see how quickly tennis can change around if you don't take those. I think he did well to hang in there, because it wasn't easy after what he had to go through in the first two sets.

So I have to give him a lot of credit for hanging there and playing so well in the end.

Q. When it was getting really close in the end, did you feel like the match could go to a fifth?

ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I mean, sure. I was serving twice against the set at 5-4 down and 6-5 down. In the tiebreaker I wasn't leading either I think a whole lot.

So I had to come up with some good serving to go ahead a couple times, and he right away answered himself, as well. So, sure, you're ready to go five, but it wasn't a very long match yet, so I knew it wasn't going to come down to fitness, but more to who's going to play better.

It would have been hard, because he would have had momentum on his side. Not having been broken and being in the fifth set it's a tough thing to go through, so I'm happy I was still able to come through.

Q. How hard was it to get the ball away from his forehand the last set and half of the match? Seemed like he was trying to hit a forehand any time he could hit the ball, basically.

ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, well, I mean, I tried to actually go into his forehand sometimes because he has a tendency to spray there a little bit at times. Unfortunately, he didn't do that anymore towards the end.

I just think he started to feel much better. He had nothing to lose anymore at the end, so obviously that kind of sometimes makes it a bit more easy to play.

Whereas maybe the beginning I was making great shots at 30-All, 15-30, he was coming up with those shots. That's why I couldn't make the difference, you know, in the third and fourth set.

But, you know, I think his backhand is a more solid shot. He can direct the ball really well. I think also on his forehand he has the same capabilities, but just there he sometimes has a tendency to hit a few more unforced errors.

Q. How close were you to thinking, oh, this could be the time he actually beats me?

ROGER FEDERER: Well, I was playing great, you know. There was no reason to panic, really. Because I was, I think, making, you know, great progress in the match and offering myself many opportunities, you know. I just knew I had to hang tough and, you know, keep pushing him. That he had to come up with great shots over and over again and try to break him that way.

It wasn't happening, so I was ready to go five, but, you know, mentally I was feeling great. I thought I was moving excellent, as well. I came up with some awesome shots, and I couldn't ask for more, really. I was just trying to stay calm, because, you know, we went through like what I explained before, like two completely different phases.

In the beginning it was quiet. People wanted him to come back in the match, and all of a sudden it gets super exciting. So it was a tough match to get through.

Q. You've said in the past how much this streak of 22 in semifinals means to you. Could you explain a little bit why that's so...

ROGER FEDERER: Well, I didn't really say that. I think it's just a wonderful record. It's not important, but it's nice to have, let's put it that way.

It's something I never ever aimed for, that's clear, but it's probably one of the greatest records that I've created in my own personal career.

Just this year again reaching semis in all four Slams, if not finals, we'll see about that on Saturday. But it just shows how lucky I've been that I could stay healthy, you know, always create opportunities, and here again I am in the semis and have a chance to hopefully win the tournament again.

Q. Next year the World Soccer Cup will be held in South Africa. I know your mother is from there. You also have a foundation there.

ROGER FEDERER: Uh-huh.

Q. Can you say how important is the event for the country and about your foundation.

ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I mean, I think it's wonderful that South Africa got the World Cup, first of all. I remember seeing them win into the World Cup for rugby. It was a great thing for the nation, as well. Of course I hope that Switzerland is going to be there too so I can support Switzerland and South Africa, too.

The foundation is something that's very close to my heart with my mom. I mean, I still have the South African passport. But it's something that I enjoy doing. I wish I had more time, but after that I still -- I know I'm going to have plenty of time after my playing days are over.

But, you know, we try to generate as much money as we can. And it's not only South Africa that we are, you know, helping kids, but also in other countries in Africa. So obviously the continent is very close to my heart.

Q. Can you just look ahead to Novak for the semifinals. What kind of a match are you expecting?

ROGER FEDERER: Obviously a tough match. I mean, obviously I think he's done well to come through. I mean, there's no reason to impress, I think. You know, getting through to a semifinal stage of a Slam it's just getting there, and then hopefully saving your best for last.

I think he's put himself in this position. I think today he played a solid match. I didn't see a whole lot of it, but what I saw I thought it was good from his side. He's done well against me in the past, but I beat him in Cincinnati and I hope I can build on that, and try to beat him again here on Saturday.

Q. How surprised were you to lose the second seed last night, and does it go back to what you said about Murray, that he doesn't have what you have, which is 22 consecutive semifinals and dig yourself out of the business end of a tournament?

ROGER FEDERER: Well, I mean I don't think -- it's just not easy to win Slams. I mean, it's just that simple. (laughter.)

Okay, you might think I have a lot, but I played many before where I didn't win, as well. And semis or finals just doesn't give you the win yet. It's a tough road, and you have to finish the deal and it's a hard thing to do.

I mean, now I've played great, but if I crash out in the semis, it's a pity, you know. I think that's what he went through. He had a great summer, and leading into the US Open he was one of the favorites. Of course it's disappointing I think for himself that he didn't come through. I think he definitely has the game to do much better than losing yesterday against Cilic in, what is it, the fourth round.

It's tough. It happens like that. You have to move on from it, get stronger, and give yourself opportunities. That's exactly what I've been doing, you know. There's many good guys out there right now, Cilic is one of them, Del Potro. They're making a name for themselves. It's not that simple right now to dominate, I think.

(via ASAP Sports, photo/Getty Images)

US Open: Fernando Verdasco's 09. September Interview

cgacesa@blic.net (Lana) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 09:03:00 +0000

N. DJOKOVIC/F. Verdasco
7-6 (7/2), 1-6, 7-5, 6-2

Q. If I could just ask, at one point you seemed like you were ill. Were you feeling sick on the court today, or did you have any condition? Was there a turn in the match for you that you could attribute to physical problems?

FERNANDO VERDASCO: I think that the problems was there, and everybody knows about it. Just the thing that today I had Djokovic in front of me, and he's a great player, very good player, one of the best.

These problems that I have, you know, with one guy like him, there are bigger problems with another players. So, you know, I just try my best, but it was not enough to win today.

Q. Can you take positives out of this tournament? You've reached the quarterfinals here for the first time. I know it's very soon after the match, but can you take some positives out of the way you played the tournament in general?

FERNANDO VERDASCO: Yes, of course. I think that for me, so important to reach the quarterfinals here for first time. And also the way I'm playing I think is good. And also reaching the quarterfinals being injured the last two matches is important for me, no, to be able to win anyways don't feeling good and having like handicap in my game.

But, you know, of course you are sad when you lost, but for another part I am happy to reach the quarters feeling and having these problem since second round. So I'm happy for that.

Q. Is the abdominal, the stomach muscle, the reason you're not playing Davis Cup, or is that because of the foot?

FERNANDO VERDASCO: Both.

Q. You just decided you needed a bit of a rest?

FERNANDO VERDASCO: Yeah, of course I need to rest. First day abdominal, because I have micro tears, and tomorrow I have proof to know how long I need to rest, to recover. But I think it's going to take around one week or ten days.

So in that time, I will take that time also to have the surgery on my foot and take the problem I have in the foot also out and come back as soon as possible without any problems.

(via ASAP Sports, photo/Reuters Pictures)

US Open: Novak Djokovic's 09. September Interview

cgacesa@blic.net (Lana) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 08:57:00 +0000

N. DJOKOVIC/F. Verdasco
7-6 (7/2), 1-6, 7-5, 6-2

Q. How good is it to be back in the semifinal of a Grand Slam?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, it feels great. I mean, I haven't done that in the past three Grand Slams this year, so mentally was very important for me to overcome today's challenge and to be able to win quarterfinals and to get to the semifinals first time in the Grand Slams in 2009.

So now that I've done it I feel kind of a relief, and I hope I just can continue playing well and challenge eventually Federer if he gets to the semifinal.

Q. We saw Andy Murray yesterday come up a little bit flat. Didn't have much game to bring. Were you concerned about that in your game today? You struggled a little bit there in the second set today?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah, I don't think we had a great first set. First set quality of the match wasn't its best. I've made a lot of unforced errors, he's made a lot of unforced errors, and I was lucky to get through in the tiebreak.

And then second set I still wasn't able to find the great, you know, rhythm, especially in the forehand side, and he used it. He stepped it in. He played very aggressive, and he deserved that second set.

I managed to come back, and that's what it matters. You know, I just tried to focus myself in the third set and work on some things. I returned more balls in on his serves, and I think serving well was as well one of the key elements in today's win.

Q. When he's on one of those hot streaks and playing at his highest level, what is your philosophy? Do you sit back and wait, or do you feel you have to react to that and do something different?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: The dangerous thing about Verdasco is to let him take over the control of the match, because he's physically very strong and he's able to do a lot of things, especially from his forehand side, as we could see today. He improved a lot his backhand, so he stays much closer to the line.

He likes when the ball is coming a bit slower to him so he can, you know, do more things with it. That's why I tried to mix up the pace, you know, play some high balls and then fast balls to his forehand and try to just get him out of that comfort zone that he got in in the second set. I managed to do that.

Q. I understand you've been hosting children of 9/11 victims in your box. Can you talk about that, what that means to you, how it got started.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah, well, I mean, we had this idea before the tournament, and I didn't want to talk about it, obviously. I think it's ‑‑ well, it's a gesture that I hope it means for them. I've been meeting, you know, four different guys, you know, in these two weeks.

I have been giving them some presents after the matches. Obviously we don't want to talk about the past and what happened. It's something that I have been going through, as well, something similar in my past, you know, through the war and all these things.

So I know what it feels like, so I just try to bring some smiles and make them enjoy. I hope that's what I did.

Q. Do they know who you are and what you've done on the court? Do they know you for your impressions or more for your tennis?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, I haven't asked them that. (laughter.)

I think that's ‑‑ the main thing is that they enjoy it. I think that the guy I met today was first‑time watching live tennis match. It was quarterfinal of US Open, and certainly it was a fantastic feeling for him.

About the impressions, I don't know if they have seen it. But it's going on on the Internet for a while.

Q. When you say that you don't want to talk about it or you haven't wanted to talk about it, do you mean you don't want to make it seem like it's a publicity thing, make it genuine from the heart?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: About what?

Q. I think when you responded to that question you said, you know, I obviously haven't wanted to talk about it.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, just because this is something that is negative to talk about, and I think it's a sad story from their side and from my side. So I guess in this moment we have no reason to talk about sad things, because, you know, we are here. We're trying to enjoy. We're young. They're young. They're trying to enjoy their life, and they came to tennis.

So this is the positive message. We don't want to, you know, get back in the past. What already happened, happened. It's life.

Q. Maybe it's just from the outside, but you seem more relaxed in this tournament than you've been. Is there any reason, or do you feel more relaxed?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I like playing here. You know, starting from the surface, which is quite suitable to my game, the fans, you know, the atmosphere, the entertainment, the show, I like it.

And the results that I've made in the past three years show how much enjoyment I have playing here. I had a lot of success, so that's probably the big reason why I continue playing well this year.

Q. At the end of the match you pointed to your box. How important is having your coaches during the last few weeks?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, support is something that is always welcome, especially in the big events like this. My coaches and all the people that are there, my girlfriend, my uncle, family members, friends, you know, they all have been with me throughout the US Open and throughout the all of my life.

So this is something that has been created throughout the years, these relations, this relationship I have with Marian. We've been working for four years already, and now starting to work with Todd Martin, as well.

So I always try to have a bunch of people around me, because then I feel better, and I can get as much opinions and as much thoughts as I can in order to progress.

Q. With the boos that you heard here last year after the Roddick match and all that, have you made an effort this year to get the crowd on your side? Are you trying to work with them, like the McEnroe thing the other night, just trying to get them behind you this year?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, I obviously ‑‑ obviously the crowd is very important and plays a crucial role in big matches.

What happened last year I was saying many times this year already in the conferences was misunderstanding, and obviously something that we all learn from. I learned from my mistakes.

I mean, it's all right, as long as I realize the things that happen and try to take the best out of it, and then, you know, try to gain back the crowd. I hope that's what I did, because I feel that I'm enjoying it again much more. It feels like 2007, you know, when I played finals here and did all these crazy things, impersonating the players.

So it was really a lot of enjoyment playing with McEnroe the other night. It was something else. You know, it was unexpected. I promise it wasn't planned. It just came out. It was good.

Q. When you get deep into a Slam, how do you find that balance between the work you do between the matches? Who makes that call? Is it you? Is it Marian? Who makes the call about the amount of time you do spend preparing?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, depending on the matches that I play and depending how my body feels, then we make a plan together. You know, they're the bosses. I have to follow what they say, you know. That's why they're there. They're coaches. It's their job to try to improve my game and make me feel good, and obviously all it's compromise.

Now we have an extra day to the semifinals. I think we're going to play golf. Todd is a great golfer. Generally we will practice a little bit, not too much.

Q. My name is Angela Buxton, and I've written a book called 303 Tips For Successful Tennis Players, together with a Serbian tennis coach called Nesa Simic, who I believe you might know.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yes.

Q. It is due for publication, which includes Serbia as well as worldwide early next year. As the leading Serbian tennis player, I would be very grateful if you could say something encouraging to young Serbian players and worldwide that would encourage them that could be used in the book.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Wow. I should carefully choose my next words obviously in the book. If you want, we can do it later one on one? Better? I can dedicate my time to you more. You want me to do it now and embarrass myself?

THE MODERATOR: He can think about it and give you the stuff you need.

Q. You are playing so well in this time, and the way you're walking on the corridor seeing all these ex‑champion's photos, are you inspired by these photos?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I think that's why they're there, the photos just in the corridor before the match, before the tennis court, so they can, you know, kind of motivate the players and just kind of give players something to want, you know, before they come on the court.

They need to be very focused, and obviously the champions that have won here can be a great role models and great examples to us.

Q. You kind of joked the other night when someone asked you about your relationship with Todd. What, you don't think that we make a good couple? Can you just talk a little bit about how different your personalities are? I mean, he seems quite serious, at least with a dry sense of humor. What you have learned from him in the time you've worked with him?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah, I think it's obvious, and people can see that we're quite, quite different. You know, I like to speak and fool around, and he likes to take his time whenever he says anything to anybody. He likes to take his time.

He's a wiser man than me, absolutely, and more experience and had more intelligent. You know, I think we make a good combination. He's a great, great guy. What I like with him is that he's always looking for positives in anything we talk about, anything we work on.

He always tries to motivate me and find that confidence and prove to me that I have good quality and that I can improve more on the court. This is the person that I need, you know, with his ‑‑ you know, the facts are that he was top 5 player, played a couple of Grand Slam finals.

With that experience, obviously he can add up to, you know, the things that I can learn.

Q. Is there one specific area, besides the mental game, but one thing that perhaps even you're surprised he's helped with?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I don't think you can always ‑‑ you can ever get your game to the perfection, you know. Only if you're Federer. (laughter.)

I mean, you always try to improve on some things. You know, I play great from the baseline. You know, I have a solid serve, good return. But, you know, all the times it's ups and downs. In one period, forehand works and other, it doesn't.

So you always try ‑‑ it's a mental game. It's a mental challenge, and you obviously always have to be focused and try to work hard on the things and maintain that level of performance.

And serve and net play is something that I have been working with him lately a lot.

Q. Even though you won today, you looked sometimes frustrated by your game. Next round you may face the perfection of Federer. What do you wish to improve, would like to improve, between the two rounds?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah, look, I show my emotions a lot on the court. I'm very temperament, and everybody is different. Sometimes I get too hard on myself.

But well, that's what I have done all my life, and, you know, I think it's been working okay. You know, even if I'm hard on myself I try to ‑‑ in the way I try to push myself and really make a stroke or something that has not been working better.

Q. What do you wish to make better for the next round?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, I just need to be ‑‑ if I play with Roger, you know, we don't need to talk a lot about him. His records in US Open, we all know his style of the game. I have been playing against him many, many times and a lot of different kind of surfaces.

There is no secrets in each other's game, so I just ‑‑ it's a matter of good day. I hope I can have a good day and concentrate, and physically I'm going to have enough time to recover and be ready.

(via ASAP Sports, photo/Getty Images)