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• Foot faults will continue to be determined by line-judge• Fears technology would interrupt flow of matchesThe ITF said today that it had no immediate plans to fast-forward any technology that would determine whether a player was guilty of committing a foot fault in the wake of Serena Williams's record fine for a foul-mouthed outburst at the US Open.Williams, the 11-times grand slam champion, went into meltdown towards the end of her semi-final against Belgium's Kim Clijsters at this year's tournament over a foot-fault call, and she received a record fine of around £50,000.A spokeswoman for the governing body of world tennis agreed that camera technology made it possible to determine foot faults, but that it might interrupt the flow of a match for too long. So the baseline judge will continue to be the sole arbiter, even though it remains the most contentious call in tennis now that Hawk-Eye can be used by players to challenge line calls, and that service lets are, for the most part, judged electronically.The youngest of the Williams sisters will effectively remain on probation over the next two years and should she transgress again in a major way the fine would be increased to £106,000, together with the real probability of a ban. Bill Babcock, the grand slam administrator, determined the punishment and at a meeting of the grand slam committee in London last Saturday it was endorsed without a dissenting voice. "The reason the decision seemed to take so long was simply down to protocol," said Babcock.The server must stand behind the baseline and fault is called if he or she touches the line, or is in front of the line, while serving. Players avoid transgressing instinctively and usually have to enquire of the linesperson which foot was to blame if they are called. It inevitably has an unsettling effect, as happened to Argentina's Juan Martín del Potro in Sunday's Barclays ATP World Tour Finals when he was foot-faulted a split second after he had served what he thought was an ace and Russia's Nikolay Davydenko, who won the title, went on to break serve. "I don't know if I did it or not," he said later.Williams had been rather more certain, and began an expletive-riddled rant that saw her docked a penalty point which lost her the match against Clijsters. Given the nature of her tirade, and the threats made against the female line-judge, she might be deemed to have got off lightly, though her previous record was taken into account as, no doubt, were the legal implications of any ban. The previous highest fine at a slam was imposed on Jeff Tarango in 1995, who was also suspended from Wimbledon for a year, after walking off court and describing the French umpire, Bruno Rebeuh, as "corrupt".Serena WilliamsUS Open TennisTennisSteve Bierleyguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/nov/30/serena-williams-foot-fault-technology
• The World No1 fined £50,000 but avoids a possible ban• Fine relates to abuse of a lineswoman during semi-finalSerena Williams has been fined a record $82,500 (£50,000) for her tirade at this year's US Open and could be suspended from the tournament if she commits another "major offence" in the next two years, according to Associated Press.Though she avoided a possible ban grand slam administrator Bill Babcock told AP today that the World No1 faces a "probationary period" at grand slam tournaments in 2010 and 2011.If Williams has another incident at a major championship in that time, the fine would increase to $175,000 (£106,000) and she would be barred from the following US Open.During the third set of Williams' semi-final defeat to Kim Clijsters at Flushing Meadows this year the American launched a foul-mouthed tirade at a lineswoman who foot-faulted the defending champion. The one-point penalty Williams received from the umpire for the outburst handed Clijsters the match.Babcock said the previous highest fine for a grand slam offence was about $48,000 to Jeff Tarango, who was suspended from Wimbledon for a year after walking off court and describing French umpire, Bruno Reuh, as "one of the most corrupt officials in the game" in 1995.TennisSerena WilliamsUS Open Tennisguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/nov/30/tennis-serena-williams
Britain's US Open junior champion, who is turning pro, talks about the poignancy of her move to Florida and explains why she prefers Del Potro to NadalHeather Watson stretches out on court and closes her eyes. Lying flat on her tummy, her chin resting on her hands, the new US Open junior champion sighs blissfully in the week she officially launches her professional career. After five years of sacrifice, having left her family in Guernsey at the age of 12 for a lonely life as an aspiring tennis player in America, Watson has finally reached an exhilarating new world. "I'm thinking nice thoughts now," she murmurs as a husky little chuckle curls around her words. "I'm thinking Del Potro thoughts here."On a cold morning in Roehampton, at the Lawn Tennis Association's lavish headquarters on the south-western fringes of London, the 17-year-old sounds warm and fuzzy as she dreams of the tall and powerful 21-year-old Argentinian who was an equally surprising winner at the US Open last month. Juan Martín del Potro crushed Rafael Nadal in the semi-finals, and then overwhelmed Roger Federer to win his first grand slam title.Watson, in less celebrated circumstances, was equally decisive in sweeping aside the reigning Wimbledon girls' champion, Noppawan Lertcheewakarn, 6-2, 6-1 before beating her doubles partner, Yana Buchina, in straight sets. When she was ushered in to meet the press afterwards, just before Del Potro headed out to centre court, Watson exclaimed: "Isn't this cool!"That same sincere enthusiasm lights up gloomy old Roehampton. Watson opens her eyes wide when asked about her fascination with her fellow US Open champion. "I love Del Potro! I was so happy when he won. He's very cool. I like his game because he's different to the other men. He hits the ball very flat. And I like the way he walks. It's very confident. I also like [Jo-Wilfried] Tsonga. He's very cute too. I like his aura on court." Watson laughs breezily. "But Del Potro's something else …"Has she met him? "Nope. But, when I was in the cafeteria at Flushing Meadows he was there, eating, with his hood up and his head down. I walked very slowly then, just staring at him to see what he was eating and stuff. And then he looked up and saw me. I carried on walking then, fast, but on the inside I was going, 'Yesssss! He looked at me!'"Watson, alongside the 15-year-old Laura Robson, who won junior Wimbledon last year, represents a new kind of young woman in British tennis. Today, at a £25,000 tournament on the senior Challenger tour, in Glasgow, Watson will be hoping to qualify for the main draw – having achieved her best result outside of junior tennis earlier this month when she beat the British No4 and world 142, Mel South, at another minor tournament in Barnstaple.After years of miserable failure, Watson and Robson look set to change the face of the women's game in this country. In contrast, Andy Murray cuts a solitary figure at the head of an otherwise paltry line of British men. Has she at least met Murray who, as world No4, is one place higher in the rankings than Del Potro? "Yesterday," Watson blurts out. "It was here, in the players' lounge. I was faffing round in my bag, trying to get my gear together, and I knew someone had come in but I didn't look up. He was, like, 'Hi, how are you?' I thought 'Oh my God, Andy Murray!' But I played it cool and said, 'I'm good, thanks. And you?' And then he was gone. I was impressed. He didn't have to say hello to me."As a former junior US Open champion, Murray realises the significance of Watson's win. But he almost certainly did not know the pressure the Guernsey-born teenager faced. Having lost in the opening round of the girls' tournament at Wimbledon, for the second successive year, Watson's dream of playing professional tennis was slipping away."It really was," she concedes. "It was looking likely I'd go to college instead. I was actually playing well but you need the results. I kept trying to think logically and see what was best for my future. I couldn't ruin my college option if I wasn't going to make it on the circuit. But if I'd gone to college it's unlikely I would ever make it. If I'd lost early in New York I might have given myself one more year playing tournaments as an amateur. And if that hadn't worked I would have just gone to college – to study business. But I like art and maths. The only subject I don't really like is English. I can't write to save my life. I never have any thoughts in my head."Watson laughs; but that last statement is obviously untrue. She is bright and thoughtful, and buoyed by an inner confidence that explains why, since 2004, she has flourished at Nick Bollettieri's notoriously tough academy in Florida."I ended up playing my quarter- and semi-finals on the same day. It was the best I'd ever played. I concentrated on every point and didn't get tight. I was so switched on. But at the start of the final I was 3-1 down before I knew it. I thought, 'Oh God, I really want to win this!' In the end, I won pretty clearly [6-4, 6-1]."Watson might have played Robson in the final – only for the younger Briton to flag in a draining semi against Buchina. "We played at the same time and, even though I told myself not to do it, I couldn't resist peeping at her score. It would have been great for British tennis if we had both made it to the final but it was probably easier to play Buchina. I'd beaten her before while I'd never played Laura – who's also a left-hander."In the same way that Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin drove each other on, and Jelena Jankovic and Ana Ivanovic's Serbian background shapes their rivalry, so Watson and Robson should compete alongside each other for years. Yet the British teenagers are far friendlier than their Belgian and Serbian counterparts. "We're good friends," Watson says, "and it helps there are two of us. It's not healthy if all the focus is on one player."Watson is too candid not to admit her natural ambivalence when, at the age of 14, Robson won junior Wimbledon. "I definitely had mixed emotions. You think that could have been me – but she did so well at a young age. In the end it gives you so much motivation. You think, 'If she can do it, so can I.'"Earlier this month, in Barnstaple, she and Robson played doubles together. "Our pairing was really good. We both have solid volleys and our games complement each other so I hope I play more with her." Do they discuss their joint ambition to rise to the top of the singles ratings and win grand slams? "Yeah, but in jokey ways. We understand each other."Robson is described as the more gifted player, and likelier to emulate Murray, but Watson shows her steel. "I've got a lot of talent too. We're just developing at different times. When I was 15 I was small and kind of chubby."Watson flashes another endearing smile, which can't quite obscure her resilience. Unlike Jankovic and Maria Sharapova, who cried themselves to sleep most nights during their earliest years at Bollettieri's Academy, Watson adapted easily to a testing regime. "I'm lucky because I'm not the homesick type. I'm very good on my own. So it was easy for me to get stuck in straight away." She has also been helped immeasurably by her mum and dad, Michelle and Ian. Apart from funding her in America for five years, they have avoided the usual junior tennis trap of exerting parental pressure. Unlike many "tennis dads", Ian Watson has a serious job outside his daughter's world, as the managing director of Guernsey Electricity. Her mother, Michelle, comes from Papa New Guinea, and is the antithesis of the pushy parent."It's hard for my dad," Watson suggests, "and he did have tears in his eyes about 18 months ago when they decided it would be best for me if mum came to live with me in Florida. I was starting to travel a lot and it would have been hard for me to go to all these different countries on my own. So I moved out of the academy to live with my mum. It's a step we needed to take and my dad's been great about it. He misses us loads, but we get to talk every day on Skype. He also comes over to the States when he can and we spend about three months a year as a family. It's another sacrifice but we're still a very close family."This time next week she will be back at Pendleton High in Florida, and will play two further professional tournaments between her schooling and the Christmas break. "It's quite a normal school – even though we're all athletes. We're allowed to go to school either in the morning or the afternoon and fit it around our training schedules. I really like it."Watson, with a cheeky grin, revels in the fact that "the ratio is about seven boys to one girl. That's quite nice!" Yet, rather than falling for an archetypal high school sports jock, Watson has more rarefied tastes in slightly older men. "I'm thinking Del Potro again," she warns, before casting her net a little wider. "Nadal's quite good-looking off court. On court he's a bit … sweaty! Del Potro's much more elegant."Asked to close her eyes again, for a last photograph, the young woman dreaming of a brand new life in professional tennis, can't resist a final quip. "I'm thinking of the moment me and Del Potro made eye contact back in New York. Maybe, one day, he might even know who I am."Heather WatsonTennisUS Open TennisDonald McRaeguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2009/oct/20/heather-watson-turning-professional-donald-mcrae
Clive Brunskill/Getty ImagesHe later turned to Federer and said: "I had two dreams this week. One was to win the US Open and the other one is to be like Roger. One is done, but I need to improve a lot to be like you"
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/gallery/2009/sep/15/us-open-mens-final-del-potro-federer
When Serena Williams verbally attacked a lineswoman, her punishment was swift and stiff. When Eduardo was accused of diving, on the other hand ...You might be broke in Glasgow, unemployed in London and abandoned by your loved one in Belfast. It may be raining frogs, relegation may already be certain, life may seem bereft of reason or purpose. Yet no matter how bad things are, console yourself with this: when you get out of bed in the morning you don't have to watch breakfast television in America. Watching breakfast TV in America is like being drowned in a vat of syrup. It is the place where irony goes to die, where context and intelligence are on a holiday that never seems to end. But like the proverbial monkey pecking at a typewriter, even the most mind‑numbing television show occasionally illuminates the human experience with Shakespearean clarity.The appearance of Serena Williams on Good Morning America this week, in the aftermath of her tantrum at the US Open, was one such occasion. You can find it on YouTube but be warned: it is a deeply uncomfortable experience watching this proud, strong and intelligent women humbled as time and again she tries to talk about her new book only to have the host redirect the conversation back to her profanity-laced tirade against a line judge.It is hard not to feel sorry for Williams, although there will be plenty who are disinclined to do so. After all, she has only herself to blame. She was the one who committed the original foot fault, the one who lost her temper, the one who when asked shortly thereafter if she would apologise to the lineswoman said: "An apology for ...? From me?"What a difference a couple of days and an avalanche of public opprobrium makes. Suffice to say, the lineswoman in question has been in receipt of more apologies from Williams than she could possibly need. Indeed, the player has even offered to give her a big hug. As for Williams, she can only hope that people have short memories or that YouTube, where every embarrassing moment lives forever, goes out of business.Alternatively, she could sit at home and quietly fume at her misfortune in participating in a sport where the line between conduct acceptable and unacceptable has not become blurred, there being others where the fortitude of those who make and enforce the rules lasts as long as it takes a football club to send a lawyer's letter.If that sounds over-wrought, contrast the treatment of Williams with that of Eduardo da Silva of Arsenal, who, like Williams, brought his sport into disrepute with a very public flouting of its rules during last month's Champion's League qualifier against Celtic.You could argue – as some of our myopic friends have – that Eduardo didn't dive, that he was brought down by Artur Boruc. Likewise, some have said that Williams was the victim of a bad call by a lineswoman with a "look at me" complex. Maybe all of the above is true, but even if it was the case that Eduardo and Williams were "innocent", this is hardly the point.The point is the integrity of rules, the enforcement of the rules and the consequences should those who enforce them lack both consistency and courage.In the case of Eduardo, Uefa has shown itself to be spineless as, first, it promised to "investigate" the accusations of diving against the Arsenal player, then imposed a two-match ban and then overturned the ban on appeal.Contrast this with the conduct of the US Open's tournament referee, Brian Earley, who stepped on to the court last Saturday night knowing that Williams's immediate future in the tournament was at stake but that so was the credibility of the sport. It was a big moment and he didn't flinch: she was out.You might think that this was a punishment too far, but look where we are today – the United States Tennis Association is being held up a model of good sporting governance while Uefa, once again, is the target of ridicule. Eduardo, meanwhile, is "relieved" or, to put it another way, free to do the same thing again. As for Serena, you just have to watch her bowing and scraping on breakfast TV to know her swearing days are over for good.Hicks' puts the 'offensive' into 'charm offensive'In the great landscape of human emotions nothing jars the consciousness as much as the presence of the words "Tom Hicks" and "charm offensive" in the same sentence – which meant reading Tuesday's newspapers was a painful experience. Apparently, Liverpool's co-owner had embarked on a "charm offensive" proclaiming that an era of prosperity is upon the club after it signed a new shirt sponsorship deal worth £80m over four years. "Our debt levels are at a comfortable level and we are going to continue bringing it down. Our goal is to have less debt than any of the top clubs," said Hicks. "We are seeing for the first time the real power of the brand and the power of a well-managed club. I feel very good about the entire club. The total sponsorship contracts should probably bring in £25m-£26m of incremental revenue a year. It's a huge development for the club." Maybe I have a misplaced view of what constitutes charm? Or maybe there really is nothing more charmless than a sales pitch from a highly-leveraged Texan? Which is the case? Well, we didn't have to wait long to find out – 24 hours, in fact, or as long as it took to discover that Hicks is trying to sell 25% of the club for £100m. Charming indeed.Murray missed his chance but might yet have anotherUltimately, the drive and desire that makes an athlete world class comes from within, but just in case Andy Murray needs a little extra motivation he should know there are already some who have written off his prospects of ever winning a grand slam title. It is all a question of timing. The Scotsman, who at the age of 22 is now positively ancient, had his best opportunity this year when Roger Federer was "fading" (bear with me please), Rafael Nadal was injured and Juan Martín del Potro was learning how to serve properly. Well, as the Argentinian proved so brilliantly in beating Federer the other day in New York he can now serve properly. He can also return serve with power from both sides, hit outlandish winners, volley with touch and has the tenacity of an F1 driver in pursuit of a supermodel. Murray will never beat this guy, goes the thinking – except that life, and tennis, is never quite as simple as that. Injury, bad luck and off-court distractions might all set the Argentinian back. The Scot might also continue to improve. Let us wait and see. In the meantime, anyone who has already written off Murray should know he his lifetime record against the new god of tennis currently stands at 3-1 in his favour.Top dollar + bottom drawer = an unbalanced equationIn American sport they call it the "regular season"; that lengthy period of time before the proper games – the play-offs – start. In the regular season, matches are about as compelling as domestic dramas of Pete and Jordan. There are no surprises and no purpose either, except to fleece the paying public by asking them to pay top dollar for bottom-drawer sport. In Europe, the regular season is called the group phase of the Champions League – another non-event which, as has happened in the NBA and in major league baseball, serves only to undermine the sport itself and to illuminate the greed of those in charge.Serena WilliamsUS Open TennisUefaChampions LeagueArsenalCelticTennisLawrence Doneganguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2009/sep/17/serena-williams-us-open-eduardo-uefa
David Gray/REUTERSJuan Martin del Potro of Argentina kisses the US Open trophy after defeating Roger Federer at the US Open tennis championship. Photograph: David Gray/REUTERS
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/video/2009/sep/15/juan-martin-del-potro-us-open-champion
Andy Murray has some catching up to do as the only man in the top six without a grand slam titleIf ever there was an example of how quickly things can change in sport then it came at the US Open on Monday night. A year that began with Rafael Nadal winning the Australian Open and which saw Andy Murray come within a couple of wins at Wimbledon of being world No1 ended with the emergence of a new star, Juan Martín del Potro. The Argentinian broke Roger Federer's monopoly on the US Open by winning his first grand slam title at the age of 20.The parties in his home town of Tandil lasted well into the night after he overcame crippling nerves to beat the man many feel to be the greatest player of all time in five mentally exhausting sets. Suddenly there is a new man in the grand slam winners' circle and unfortunately for British tennis, it is not Murray.If he did not stay up late to watch the final as he prepares for Davis Cup duty this week, Murray will undoubtedly have seen it by now and it would be interesting to know just what he thought about it all. The Scot has had the better of Del Potro in four of their five meetings and would have fancied his chances had they met again in New York. But in his forehand, the Argentinian has a weapon that, when it is fully firing, is a match for Murray's guile.In two of his four grand slam defeats this year, Murray ran into someone playing out of his skin and was eventually overpowered and the Scot is now the only man in the top six yet to win a grand slam title. It is hardly time to panic but it will be interesting to see what effect the manner of Del Potro's triumph has on him. The Argentinian's power means he is playing a new brand of tennis, smashing the ball from way behind the baseline and if Murray is to compete, he may have to become more aggressive.The 6ft 6in Del Potro is now as big a national hero as Guillermo Vilas, the only other Argentinian to win the title, back in 1977. Vilas was there to watch Del Potro dethrone Federer on Monday and the new champion can now walk tall alongside the country's best footballer, Lionel Messi, who just happens to be Del Potro's favourite player.For the best part of two sets on a warm, breezy evening, it looked as if Del Potro would suffer the same fate as Murray had done against Federer a year ago when the emotional and physical effort of reaching his first grand slam final got to the Scot. But unlike Murray, Del Potro shook himself out of his slump and bludgeoned forehand after forehand to break Federer's resistance with a 3-6, 7-6, 4-6, 7-6, 6-2 triumph. In a stunning turn of events, the Swiss had to resort to hacking as the match wore on and on this form Del Potro will be a threat at each of the other three grand slams."I have new opportunities in the other grand slams to win, because if I did it here, if I beat Nadal [in the semi-finals in New York] and Federer and many good players, maybe I can do it one more time," Del Potro said. "I have many things to improve on. Of course I would like to be in top four, top three, or top one in the future. But I have to play like today many, many weeks in the year. If I still work and still go in the same way, maybe in the future I can do it."It is a remarkable transformation for a man who at last year's Wimbledon was ranked No65. Four consecutive hard court titles last summer propelled him inside the top 20 and it took Murray to stop him in a tough quarter-final at Flushing Meadows. Another quarter-final appearance in Australia was followed by a semi-final showing at the French Open, where he pushed Federer to five sets. Since an early loss at Wimbledon, he has been beaten just once."At the beginning of the match I was so nervous, I didn't sleep last night," Del Potro said. "I didn't take a breakfast today. But when I broke his serve for the first time [to level at 5-5 in the second set], I started to believe in my game. It's difficult to explain this moment. Since young I have dreamed about taking the trophy with me. I did my dream and it's an unbelievable moment. It's an amazing match, amazing people. Everything is perfect. I can't believe it."The worrying thing for Federer, Nadal, Murray, Novak Djokovic and the rest is that he has plenty of room for improvement. He already moves well but he can become more comfortable at the net and as he becomes stronger, his stamina will improve. Federer left New York vowing to bounce back quickly but with Del Potro's confidence sky high, Nadal expected to be 100% fit again soon and Murray champing at the bit to break his grand slam duck, winning a 16th major may not be that easy.Juan Martín del PotroUS Open TennisAndy MurrayTennisSimon Cambersguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/sep/15/juan-martin-del-potro-us-open-andy-murray
Julian Finney/Getty ImagesKim Clijsters of Belgium and daughter Jada pose with the championship trophy after Clijsters defeated Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark in the women's singles final. Photograph: Julian Finney/Getty Images
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/video/2009/sep/14/kim-clijsters-us-open-tennis
Clive Brunskill/Getty ImagesThe youngster, who hails from Guernsey but trains in Florida, is congratulated by her mother Michelle. She later says of her achievement: "I still want to be able to play the junior grand slams next year because I really enjoy playing them but I'm going to start trying to climb the women's ladder now."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/gallery/2009/sep/14/heather-watson-us-open-girls-title
Tennis star won the US Open after having a baby, but many mothers find resuming career dauntingThis was not, Kim Clijsters acknowledged with some understatement, the plan. When the Belgian agreed to play an exhibition match at Wimbledon in May, she was two years out of the game, having been forced by injury to retire at 23, when most people are barely starting their first job. Her daughter, Jada, was just over a year old and she had no intention of returning to competitive tennis, though having begun practising again, she thought she may as well compete in a couple of tournaments that had offered her wildcard entries.On Sunday, in one of the most remarkable sporting comebacks in recent times, Clijsters won the US Open, posing for photographs with the heavy silver cup in one hand and Jada, now 18 months, perched on the opposite hip. The player and her partner, the American basketball player Brian Lynch, had moved the toddler's nap time to allow her to stay up late enough to watch Clijsters, now 26, become the first mother to win a tennis Grand Slam since 1980. As Evonne Goolagong Cawley, the last person to do so, put it yesterday: "Go moms!"While the simple fact that Clijsters is a mother may not be the most remarkable thing about her victory – the Open, astonishingly, was only the third tournament she has entered since her return – the player herself seemed to consider it so as she struggled to take in her giddy return from domestic anonymity to sporting stardom."As a woman, I came to a stage in my life, too, where I wanted to get married," she told reporters. "We wanted to start a family, and I was glad. I feel very lucky that I got this chance to be back here now and that I made that decision, because it's obviously been a good choice. Being a mother is obviously my first priority and being a wife … I'm just very lucky that I'm able to combine both and that my family supports me in doing this."Clijsters is far from the first sportswoman to excel after having a child – Paula Radcliffe won the New York marathon in 2007 10 months after having a child, the Kenyan runner Catherine Ndereba broke the world records at 5k and 15k in 1998 a year after giving birth, and last month, the golfer Catriona Matthew won the British Open when her second daughter was just 10 weeks old.But success in tennis has broadly eluded mothers, a comparative paucity perhaps explained by the punishing tournament schedule that requires players to travel the globe amassing points to qualify for the major championships. Asked for her immediate plans, Clijsters said: "It is the greatest feeling in the world being a mother and I just can't wait to spend the next few weeks with [Jana] back in routine schedule with her at home again."Roger Federer is a proud new father of twins, but it would seem more of a surprise if he were to announce a few weeks off. There is plenty of data to back up an apparent gender disparity outside the narrow field of tennis. In Britain, for example, there remains a deeply ingrained divide between the working patterns of mothers and fathers. According to an Equality and Human Rights Commission report earlier this year, 36% of the former work part-time, while fathers are most likely to work 40-49 hours a week. While more than two-thirds (68%) of working-age women are in employment, according to the Office for National Statistics, for those with under-fives that figure drops to 57%. The same study found that the age of a man's children has no impact on his likelihood of being in work. Only 4% of men with dependent children work part-time.While their own returns to work may not have been quite so precipitous, working mothers yesterday said they recognised some aspects of Clijsters's situation, most notably perhaps her own and others' surprise that she should excel once again having given birth comparatively recently."People definitely have much lower expectations of you when you go back after having a baby," says Naomi Thompson, 31, a charity campaigner from Belfast who has three children aged three, two and four months. Though she returned to work full-time after her first two children, eager to perform at the same level as before, she said: "I think they just assumed that I would just produce less work for myself, and work to a lesser level. Some people might see that as an advantage, but I resented that a bit. I was interested in my job and I wanted to do it well. I didn't want my identity to be completely changed: now you're a mum, that's your career."Lizzie Bishop, 33, a statistical analyst from London, accepted voluntary redundancy while on maternity leave after her employer questioned how ambitious she would be after having her first child, now 14 months. "I think if you are a woman and have family responsibilities, without question you are viewed differently," she says. "There was an immediate assumption that I would have a different attitude to my work because I was a woman and had a child. Whereas there is absolutely no reason why, being a mother, you can't excel."She has escaped negative expectations since starting to work on a consultancy basis with new employers who know she is a mother, but deal with her as a professional. Clijsters, similarly, prefers to refer to her latest tennis successes as a "second career" rather than a comeback, arguing that comparisons with her younger self are irrelevant.But the feminist writer Natasha Walter, who recently gave birth to her second child, cautions against attempting to extrapolate from Clijsters's remarkable tale to the experiences of ordinary women. "The last thing we want is for one woman's experience of keeping all the balls in the air to be turned into a model into which we expect all women to fit. But the fact that we are so interested in how quickly after giving birth a woman goes to a political meeting or wins a tennis tournament does show us how difficult these issues still are. There is a constant sense that this should mean something for all women after childbirth, whereas in fact everyone is an individual and we all react to motherhood in a different way."Julia Hobsbawm – the businesswoman and mother of three who has written a book, The See-Saw, about balancing work and family – argues that there are many variables that determine whether a woman, after a pregnancy, finds herself in a position where she is able to return to competing at a high level. "I think there is a huge spectrum of resilience rates among women and their families. Some women really do fall apart with lack of sleep, I am one of them, whereas other people just manage it. I think you cannot prescribe a successful formula because parenthood is inherently unpredictable and so is your work."The most intriguing question is whether Clijsters's experiences as a mother made her more likely to win. Could a broader focus have been a help? On days off, the player would take her daughter on carriage trips around Central Park rather than knocking balls around the practice courts. Both Bishop and Thompson talk of being better at focusing since having their children.It is a possibility that appeared to intrigue Serena Williams, pondering on her rival. "Seems like she's even faster than what she was before. I was thinking that maybe I should have a baby and then I'll come back faster."Going back to workCherie Booth QC went back to work only weeks after her son Leo was born in 2000. With an eight-week-old baby and three teenagers, trying to juggle family life with her career was like walking on a "tightrope", she said.Catherine Zeta-Jones capped a remarkable rise in Hollywood, winning best supporting actress for her role in the film version of the stage hit Chicago in 2003, soon after the birth of her first child, Dylan. "I knew I couldn't be superwoman, so hey-ho, I don't get to put Dylan to bed a few nights. That doesn't make me a bad mother. You have to juggle," she said.Marathon runner Paula Radcliffe, left, was still racing while six months pregnant. She resumed her career by storming to victory in the 2007 New York marathon, 10 months after the birth of her daughter, Isla. Paula Radcliffe now has her sights set on Olympic glory at the 2012 London Olympics.Catriona Matthew became the first Scottish woman to clinch a major golf title earlier this year when she won the Women's British Open. She had given birth to her second child 11 weeks earlier.Business titan Nicola Horlick, 48, has had six children and confounded her doubters in the City by quickly returning to work each time. In 2004 she proved she still had the golden touch by setting up consultancy group, Bramdean Asset Management.Rachida Dati, the former French justice minister, returned to work in January, five days after giving birth to a girl. by caesarean section. Photographs of her rushing back to the ministry were flashed around the world. She told a French newspaper: "You mustn't believe I wasn't tired," she said.Jason RodriguesKim ClijstersUS Open TennisTennisWomenPregnancyChildrenEsther Addleyguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/sep/14/kim-clijsters-us-open-win
• Nick Bollettieri looks to build on Heather Watson's success• 'I am going to give her more of my time now'Nick Bollettieri, who helped guide Heather Watson to become the first British girl to win the junior title at the US Open, has said that he would like the Lawn Tennis Association to build a closer relationship with his academy in a bid to bring through more domestic players."What we're hoping is that Roger Draper [the chief executive of the LTA] and Performance England bring some of their coaches and players over to us and learn from where Heather is," Bollettieri said. "I am going to give her more of my time now because we think she can be a role model for your country, and your country could do with some more top girls right now."At 78, Bollettieri is a legend of the sport, having helped bring through a succession of world No1s, including Andre Agassi, Monica Seles and Maria Sharapova. His boot-camp approach has been hugely successful and there seems little question that if the LTA were to work more closely with his legion of coaches, it would benefit.Watson, who Bollettieri described as "a super girl and a pleasure to coach" has been full-time in Florida since the age of 12 when she decided she wanted to pursue tennis seriously. "Because I live on a small island, Guernsey, and there aren't many places to train, we decided that I'd go to a tennis school," Watson said. "We started to look around in England and France and Spain, and also we went to Bollettieri. When we went there, I decided that's where I wanted to go. The weather is very convenient and I liked that there were a lot of people, a lot of competition, and just the structure of how things worked."There will be many who say that Watson's progress is another damning indictment of the LTA's failure to bring players though. Like Andy Murray, who chose to train in Spain as a teenager instead of remaining in Britain, much of Watson's formative training has been outside of the country. Her parents have invested a small fortune in their daughter's tennis education and her mother lives with her in Florida when she is with Bollettieri and without that, it is questionable if she would have come through, at least at such pace.However, Watson receives funding from the LTA, which allows Andrew Fisher, her coach, to travel with her to tournaments on a trial basis and she also receives significant help from Sportingbet.com, a gambling firm based on Guernsey. Without any of them, she would have struggled to come through, but now she has, she has set her sights on bigger and better things.Bollettieri said he plans to work more closely with Watson himself. "We're going to add to her game now," he said. "We're probably going to start developing a defensive shot – a slice – and also help her come forward a bit more because she hits a lot of good shots that bring defensive replies. If she continues improving she can be a very good professional. By that I mean not just 150 or 100 but to make a good living. With her discipline and her movement, which is very good, she can be very good."US Open TennisTennisSimon Cambersguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/sep/14/heather-watson-us-open-junior-champion
• Federer happy with amazing summer of tennis• 'This will be in my mind forever,' says Del PotroRoger Federer said his five-set defeat by Juan Martín del Potro will not linger long in his memory, saying his French Open and Wimbledon wins made it "an amazing year". The world No1 was beaten 3-6, 7-6, 4-6, 7-6, 6-2 by the Argentinian in a superb final at Flushing Meadows but said he would quickly move on."This one, I think, is easy to get over just because I've had the most amazing summer," he said. "I tried everything, you know. It didn't work. I missed chances, he played well and in the end it was a tough fifth set."It's acceptable. But life goes on. No problem. It was tough luck today, but I thought Juan Martín played great. I thought he hung in there and gave himself chances, and in the end was the better man."I've had an amazing summer and a great run. I'm not too disappointed just because I thought I played another wonderful tournament. Had chances today to win, but couldn't take them. It was unfortunate."Federer ranted at umpire Jake Garner late in the third set when he thought Del Potro had taken too long to challenge, and reiterated his distaste for the Hawk-Eye system. "You know what I think about Hawk‑Eye," he said."Shouldn't be there in the first place. [As for the rant], it is what it is."Federer reached all four grand slam finals in 2009, winning his first French Open title and his sixth Wimbledon crown. "It's an unbelievable run," he said. "Being in all major finals and winning two of those, I'm losing the other two in five sets. Sure, I would have loved to win those two as well. Being so close, I think I was two points from the match today."That's the way it goes sometimes. But the year has been amazing already and it's not over yet. I got married and had kids [twins], so I don't know how much more I want."Del Potro said: "I had two dreams, the first one to win the US Open and the second one to be like Roger. One is done, but I need to improve a lot to be like [Federer]."This is amazing for South America, especially for me, and I'm very happy to be here with this crown – with these people, on this court – and I think this will be in my mind forever."US Open TennisRoger FedererTennisSimon Cambersguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/sep/15/roger-federer-us-open
• Del Potro twice comes from a set down to beat Federer • Argentinian claims first grand slam title at age of 20Roger Federer's five-year domination of the US Open title came to a stunning end late last night when he was beaten 3-6, 7-6, 4-6, 7-6, 6-2 by Argentina's Juan Martín del Potro after a pulsating five-set battle at Flushing Meadows. The 20-year-old Del Potro had been struck dumb by nerves in the early stages but, from somewhere deep within, he found a performance of immense courage and class to claim his first grand slam title and deny Federer what would have been a 16th major crown and his third of the year.A year that began with floods of tears after defeat by Rafael Nadal in the Australian Open, hit the highs of a first French Open title and a sixth victory at Wimbledon, ended in huge disappointment for Federer as his hopes of a sixth consecutive US Open title ended after more than four hours of incredible tennis. Del Potro became only the second Argentinian to win the US Open, following in the footsteps of Guillermo Vilas, who triumphed at Forest Hills in 1977. It was a win that confirmed the potential many saw in him as a teenager but one that had not looked likely when he came out stricken with nerves for the first set and a half.Federer, looking to equal the American Bill Tilden's record of six straight US Open titles set back in the 1920s, served for a two sets to love lead but Del Potro hit back to snatch it on a tie-break. Federer's serve was malfunctioning badly but he still moved ahead by taking the third set, but after Del Potro won the fourth, the 20-year-old broke in the second game of the decider and held his nerve superbly to claim the title.In warm but breezy conditions, Federer cruised through the first set and when Del Potro double-faulted in the opening game of the second, it looked as if the world No1 would be unchallenged by the man who pushed him to five sets in the semi-finals of the French Open in June.At 5-4 and 30-0 in the second, he was just two points away from a two sets to love lead. But the Argentinian suddenly stepped it up and, after getting back to 30-30, he ripped a brilliant forehand pass down the line to set up a break point. The ball was initially called wide but looked good to the naked eye and Hawk-Eye agreed as Del Potro won the challenge. An angry Federer pointed to what he felt was a mark wide of the sideline and the call seemed to rattle him for when he approached the net on the next point, his backhand volley was timid and Del Potro curled another forehand to break back for 5-5.Both men held to force a tie-break and a shanked forehand long from Federer gave Del Potro the mini-break at 4-3. Two well-played points took him to three set points but the nerves showed as he missed a straight forward smash on the first. Federer saved another to reduce the deficit to 6-5 but the Argentinian held at the third time of asking to level the match.Federer was rattled. The power of Del Potro's groundstrokes was forcing him deeper and deeper and at times the man many feel to be the greatest ever to play the game was reduced to hacking the ball back into play. At 3-3, an enormous forehand return gave the sixth seed a break point and Federer thumped a wild forehand long to give Del Potro a 4-3 lead.Just when he needed to remain calm, though, the situation caught up with Del Potro and he fell 0-40 down. Though he saved two break points, he could not save the third as he sent a backhand pass well long. The intensity was ramped up and when Federer held for 5-4 it spilled over in the most unlikely fashion.Angry that Del Potro had challenged a call on game point in the previous game having first discussed it at length with the umpire, Jake Garner, Federer launched a tirade at the American. "No, it's too late," an angry Federer said. "I wasn't even able to challenge after two seconds and he takes 10 seconds every time. Do you have any rules in there?" Garner then gesticulated with his hand, to which Federer said: "Don't do that with your hand. Don't tell me to be quiet." Responding to Garner's comment that Del Potro was talking to him throughout the period before eventually challenging, Federer said: "I don't give a shit what he said. Don't fucking tell me the rules."Maybe that sparked Federer into life or surprised Del Potro for at 30-30 in the following game, the Argentinian double-faulted twice to hand Federer the set, prompting a big roar from the Swiss. That should have been the signal for the vastly more experienced Federer to put his foot down but Del Potro would not go away and, after snatching the tie-break, he broke in the second game of the decider and held his nerve brilliantly to win the title.US Open TennisRoger FedererTennisSimon Cambersguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/sep/15/juan-martin-del-potro-us-open
• Apology to line judge, Kim Clijsters, the USTA and tennis fans• Further punishment possible for world No2Serena Williams has issued an apology to the line judge she verbally abused during her US Open semi-final defeat to Kim Clijsters. Williams had issued a statement on Sunday night regarding her controversial exit from the women's singles grand slam 24 hours previously, but it had not contained any form of apology for her actions which had led to a second code violation for unsportsmanlike conduct.The violation resulted in a point penalty and, coming on a match point against her, handed victory to Clijsters, who went on to succeed Williams as US Open champion.The initial statement issued by Williams came in the wake of being handed the maximum permissible on-site fine of $10,000 (£6,035) by US Open officials.Yet there was widespread dissatisfaction with the world No2's lack of contrition or a flat-out apology towards the female line judge she had verbally threatened after being called for a foot fault on a second serve that handed Clijsters match point."I want to amend my press statement of yesterday," the new release by Williams began, "and want to make it clear as possible – I want to apologise first to the lineswoman, Kim Clijsters, the USTA and mostly tennis fans everywhere for my inappropriate outburst. I'm a woman of great pride, faith and integrity, and I admit when I'm wrong."I need to make it clear to all young people that I handled myself inappropriately and it's not the way to act – win or lose, good call or bad call in any sport, in any manner. I like to lead by example. We all learn from experiences both good and bad, I will learn and grow from this, and be a better person as a result."The new statement was released as Williams and her older sister Venus prepared to play in the US Open women's doubles final back at Arthur Ashe Stadium, against Cara Black and Liezel Huber.In her singles semi-final with Clijsters, her tirade at the line judge had come following an earlier code violation for racket abuse at the end of the first set. That violation also earned Williams a $500 fine, although the second seed and defending champion earned $350,000 as a losing semi-finalist.Williams could be in for further sanctions, possibly a suspension from future grand slams or the loss of her prize money from this year's US Open, as the matter has been passed on for further investigation."The grand slam rule book also allows for an investigation to be conducted by the grand slam committee administrator to determine if the behaviour of Ms Williams warrants consideration as a major offence for which additional penalties can be imposed," the statement read. "This investigation has now begun."Williams had been unrepentant about the incident in her post-match press conference, claiming not to remember what she had said to the line judge and saying her actions were not unprecedented.She was later seen entering the referee's office before leaving the Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre.According to the grand slam rule book cited in the statement, unsportsmanlike conduct when referred to the grand slam committee can treated as "aggravated behaviour", which "is flagrant and particularly injurious to the success of a grand slam, or is singularly egregious".The rule book states that such a violation if proven: "shall subject a player to a fine of up to $250,000 or the amount of prize money won at the tournament, whichever is greater, and a maximum penalty of permanent suspension from play in all grand slams and/or the Tennis Masters Cup."Serena WilliamsUS Open TennisKim ClijstersTennisguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/sep/14/serena-williams-us-open-kim-clijsters
• Williams sisters win 6-2, 6-2 at Flushing Meadows• Serena earlier apologised for outburst in the semi-finalHaving apologised for her actions during the US Open women's singles semi-final, Serena Williams put her troubles to one side as she and sister Venus claimed the women's doubles title at Flushing Meadows.The Williams sisters, seeded fourth, defeated the defending champions and top seeds, Cara Black and Liezel Huber, 6-2, 6-2 in 89 minutes. The doubles final came just 40 hours after Serena had been knocked out of the singles by Kim Clijsters, with the Belgian winning when the American was punished with a point penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct on match point, her second code violation of the match.Before the doubles final got under way, Serena had issued an apology to the line judge she verbally abused during her semi-final defeat, amending a previous statement in which she had pointedly not made any such gesture.Williams had been fined $10,000 (£6,000) for her tirade and could face the loss of her $350,000 prize money as a losing semi-finalist or a possible suspension from future grand slam events after the grand slam committee began a further investigation into the incident.The former champion went some way to compensating for that potential financial loss as she and sister Venus picked up a $420,000 winners' cheque after claiming their 10th doubles career grand slam title together and third of the year, following success at the Australian Open and Wimbledon.US Open TennisSerena WilliamsVenus WilliamsTennisguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/sep/14/serena-williams-venus-us-open
• Win over Carloline Wozniacki completes stunning comeback• Melbourne and Wimbledon now in Belgian's sightsThe face of Kim Clijsters was plastered all over the television networks here on Monday as the Belgian celebrated her incredible US Open triumph with a dizzying round of media appearances. After only three hours' sleep, the 26-year-old was up and about, smiling broadly at the memory of what will forever go down as one of the most remarkable stories in grand slam history. Four years after her only previous grand slam win in New York, her victory over the Dane Caroline Wozniacki completed a stunning return for Clijsters, who only began her comeback to the tour last month after two years away and the birth of her daughter, Jada.The messages of congratulations will surely keep coming for many days yet because Clijsters' march to the title was a stunning triumph and a rare heart-warming story. Even before she quit in 2007, no one connected with the sport, from players to tournament organisers, would sanction a bad word about her and since she returned the tennis world has hardly stopped smiling in her presence. Maybe good things do happen to nice people after all.Clijsters entered the tournament as a wild card, having not played the requisite three events to even earn a ranking. Winning the title propelled her from the wilderness to No19 and, whatever the debate about what her victory says for the depth of women's tennis, few will begrudge her a second grand slam title.Now, though, the hard work really begins for having beaten both Venus and Serena Williams – the latter win overshadowed in an expletive-laden ending when the American, already facing match point, was penalised a point for abusing a line judge and duly lost the match – Clijsters' own expectations of her performances and those of others are sure to grow. It would be almost inevitable should she suffer a let-down when she makes her next appearance, in Luxembourg next month, but on the evidence of the past fortnight she will be among the favourites again for the Australian Open in January. She wants to win Wimbledon more than any other grand slam title and on current form few would bet against her."I don't know how I'm going to top this, but it's a challenge," she said. "It's a challenge now at each tournament you play to try to show your best tennis and to stay in good shape. Something that I'm going to be really focusing on is to try to think wisely about my schedule and pick my tournaments and whenever I play really try to peak. Definitely Australia is a part of the schedule. I will train hard again at the end of this year and then on to Australia. That's something that I really look forward to. To really look further is something I don't want even want to do yet, because so many things can happen. I just want to take it one period at a time and just see what happens after that and what I learn from those trips."Whether it be motherhood, marriage or simply her time off the tour, Clijsters seems to be playing with a perspective she did not have first time round. Whereas in the past she was guilty of tightening up under pressure on the big occasion – she lost four grand slam finals – now she seems to be playing carefree tennis, which could spell real trouble for the rest. "I'm more capable of adjusting on the court and adjusting my emotions a little bit better," she said.In beating Venus and Serena Williams, Clijsters belied the notion that the game moved on while she was away for she was never off the pace against two of the biggest hitters in the sport. Even more impressively, she was mentally strong enough to cope when things got close and in the final she managed her nerves well to see off one of the best retrievers in the game in Wozniacki.Clijsters said she felt there were more players capable of upsetting the big names now than when she quit. "Maybe they're still missing that consistency a little bit but on any good day, they can beat a lot of top players and a lot of players who have been in the top 10 now for a few years," she said. "I don't think women's tennis has, you know, anything to worry about."A contrite Serena Williams, meanwhile, has apologised for her behaviour towards the lineswoman in her semi-final with Clijsters. "I need to make it clear to all young people that I handled myself inappropriately and it's not the way to act, win or lose, good call or bad call in any sport, in any manner," she said. "I like to lead by example. We all learn from experiences both good and bad. I will learn and grow from this, and be a better person as a result."US Open TennisKim ClijstersTennisSimon Cambersguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/sep/14/us-open-kim-clijsters-caroline-wozniacki
There are lots of ways of screwing up your kids. I don't think hanging on to your sense of self is one of them. Do you?Hurrah for Kim Clijsters. Just that: hurrah. She played a great game of tennis – a series of great games – and she won. Except of course it can't just be that, because Clijsters is not only a woman but she is a mother. And mothers only appear in sports stories when they're making a scene on the sidelines.Clijsters' great victory in Flushing Meadows last night has rebooted the enduring, engrossing debate about what mothers do and about what our culture says mothers are. She is ready ammunition for both sides of a very polarised argument. On one side are those who see her as confirmation that motherhood need not interrupt a woman's career even when it requires supreme athleticism, tactical skill and above all a fierce competitive instinct. On the other, those who see an awful reproof for those kilos of extra weight we carried for months after the birth, before sacrificing all prospect of a life outside the home and reconciling ourselves to the cry of traitor to the cause of creating a gender-blind world.Well, maybe.First, Clijsters was always an exception. It is a tautology to suggest that someone who gets to the top of any career is anything else. Clijsters was a world number one before she dropped off the tennis circuit a couple of years ago to marry.Even so, most women athletes do not return to the very top post-parturition, and Clijsters only entered the US Open for practice after giving birth to a daughter 18 months ago. The last tennis player to do that was Evonne Goolagong Cawley, in 1980. The only other time a mother won Wimbledon was in 1914.So yes, Clijsters is extraordinary. But she is no more an admonition to the rest of us than Paula Radcliffe who won the New York marathon 10 months after having her baby, or the incredible Alison Hargreaves, posthumously pilloried for leaving her two small children to climb and die on K2 in 1995. Or the Olympic horsewoman Mary King who, also in 1995, won a European gold medal in the immensely challenging three-day event when she was five months pregnant. (Not surprisingly, competing in a dangerous sport in a deeply conservative world, she kept this fact a secret until afterwards.)And while we stroll round the pantheon of physical achievement, let's hear it for the millions of mothers in Africa or Asia or South America, women who work in the fields with a baby on their back and another strapped to their chest, women who have the luxury of choice neither over having a family or working afterwards.It has been observed that there is some evidence that so-called supermums are overrated, that increasing numbers (although not a majority) feel that working mothers damage their families, even though most mothers work because they have to. But it is true that many of us also work because if we don't, we fear becoming entirely one-dimensional, to ourselves and to the rest of the world. We become defined by our relationship with others.Mothers are supposed, according to headline writers at least, to lose every shred of autonomy and individual identity along with the afterbirth. That's the message of every story that makes motherhood the most exceptional part of Clijsters' achievement: mothers don't do this. It is selfish not to be devoted exclusively to one's offspring, and by extension they will suffer from our selfishness.The truth, as ever, lies somewhere else. Somewhere between maintaining an identity and making motherhood part of it. Between the pride the entrancing Jada Klijsters will always have for her mother and the regret both of them might experience in the future at special occasions missed.There are lots of ways of screwing up your kids. I don't think hanging on to your sense of self is one of them. Do you?TennisParentsUS Open TennisAnne Perkinsguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/sep/14/kim-clijsters-motherhood
• Belgian beats Caroline Wozniacki 7-5, 6-3 in New York final• 'I just wanted to get a feel for it again,' says championIt was a late night in New York for 18-month-old Jada Clijsters and a wonderful one for her mother, Kim, the former world No1 who completed one of the most remarkable comebacks in modern sport when she won the women's US Open.Clijsters, who only recently returned to the sport after a two-year break during which time she got married and started a family, beat the 19-year-old Dane Caroline Wozniacki 7-5, 6-3 in a hard-earned, hard-hitting victory that earned the 26-year-old a place in history as the first mother to win a grand slam since Evonne Goolagong at Wimbledon in 1980.This was only the third tournament Clijsters had entered since coming back in Cincinnati last month and, as she revealed afterwards, it was meant to be a practice exercise and not a tilt at history."I can't believe this happened. It still seems so surreal that, yeah, in my third tournament back I won my second grand slam,'' she confessed. "Because it wasn't in the plan. I just wanted to come here and get a feel for it all over again, to play in a grand slam so at the start the next year, I didn't have to go through all the new experiences again. It feels great, obviously, but it's confusing in a lot of ways as well."Confused she may have been but Clijsters was a worthy winner of a tournament that after an initial spate of upsets, many involving the 17-year-old American Melanie Oudin, took on an air of inevitability when she beat the two most dominant figures in the game.After defeating Venus Williams in the fourth round, the unseeded Belgian then beat Serena Williams in Saturday's semi-final – a tumultuous occasion that will be remembered for the controversy surrounding the American's unruly behaviour but one that Clijsters dominated and established her as the clear favourite for the title.She lived up to the billing under the Sunday night lights, but her victory was not the walkover many had expected. The No9 seed Wozniacki, who was playing in her first grand slam final, is a good player in her own right and was in no mood to accept her designation as an innocent abroad.Despite losing her first service game of the match, the Dane broke back twice to take an early advantage. She served for the set at 5-4, only to lose the next three games in a row and the set by seven games to five.Even so, the final seemed destined to be a meeting of equals, but gradually Clijsters' experience, as well as her superior strength and range of shots, began to tell. The crucial break of the match came in the sixth game, when a series of forehand winners from the Belgian and an unforced error from her opponent, won her an advantage she would not lose.After two weeks during which she maintained her composure amid all kinds of provocation, the new champion greeted the winning point by falling to her knees in tears, then made her way into the crowd to embrace her family. She was then joined on court by her daughter, Jada."This means the world to me and I'm just so glad that I am able to share it with my husband,'' she said afterwards. "And with our daughter, of course – that is the greatest thing ever."For Wozniacki, a night of ultimate disappointment was also the moment when she established herself as one of the premier players in the women's game. It is one thing to win three regular-season events on tour, as she has done this year, but quite another thing to play with such distinction in a grand slam final."I wasn't too nervous. I just thought, I'm playing a grand slam final. I have nothing to lose. I just need to go out there and try to do my best, and that's what I did,'' she said, flashing a trademark smile. "Kim just played a great match, and that's why she won."Obviously I don't like losing. I'm a competitor and I love winning. But I think I've had some great weeks here. I'm only 19 years old. My ranking will go up again, and I'm just happy the way I'm playing and the way I've been progressing so far."US Open TennisKim ClijstersTennisLawrence Doneganguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/sep/14/kim-clijsters-wins-us-open
• Watson follows Robson in winning junior grand slam title• 'They've got the work ethic to go higher,' says Roger DraperThe chief executive of the Lawn Tennis Association, Roger Draper, has predicted that Heather Watson and Laura Robson will soon break into the world's top 100 and then "go a lot higher".Watson won the girls' singles title at the US Open yesterday and Robson, who won the junior Wimbledon title in 2008, reached the semi-finals in New York.Draper is convinced both players have the hunger required to move up from the junior ranks and make an impression in the senior game."Both Laura and Heather have won their first senior events at a lower level which is a good step," he said. "Heather's 764th in the world rankings; Laura's a bit higher. They've got to pick and choose their schedules carefully but there's no reason they can't go on to reach the top 100 at least."They've certainly got the work ethic and the commitment to go a lot higher as well."With Watson, 17, and 15-year-old Robson making the early steps in their careers, Draper says the next stage of their progression is crucial."For players like Heather and Laura Robson, they know what they've got to do," he added. "They've got good teams around them. Now it's about making sure they make the transition from the junior game to the senior game."Things happen a little bit quicker on the girls' side to the boys' side. The boys tend to need a longer transition to be a top-100 player."Hopefully players like Heather and Laura, and some of our young junior boys who are coming through and will be playing at the US Open next year, will come through and be top-100 players like Andy Murray in the senior game. I think the future is looking bright for British tennis."TennisLaura RobsonUS Open Tennisguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/sep/14/heather-watson-laura-robson-us-open
• Argentinian, 20, humbles injured Spaniard in straight sets• World No1 sees off Djokovic with 'best shot of his life'Juan Martín del Potro will have the chance to cement his reputation as the coming man in world tennis today when he faces Roger Federer in the final of the US Open. Meeting the world No1 is his reward, if it can be so described, for performing a rare double at the semi-final stage yesterday by not only beating Rafael Nadal but in doing so crushing the spirit of the hitherto indefatigable Spaniard.The Argentinian, whose No6 world ranking has looked more absurd with every passing day of this championship, swept aside the No3 seed in a 6-2, 6-2, 6-2 victory that was as short as it was shockingly one-sided. He was followed into the final shortly afterwards by Federer, who produced an equally emphatic performance in dismissing Novak Djokovic in three sets.The seedings might suggest otherwise, but there can be little doubt that today's meeting is a contest between the best two players in the game. Federer has never lost to Del Potro but he has come close, most notably in the semi-final of the French Open this year, which he won in five sets."Juan Martín has emerged as a real contender in the grand slams. It should be a good match'' said the Swiss, who is attempting to win a sixth successive US Open. Del Potro will be trying to win his first grand slam title, although he was more inclined yesterday to bask in the euphoria created by his victory over Nadal. "This is the best moment of my life,'' he said.For Nadal, it was humbling occasion, a reminder that tennis waits for no man, not even a great one. The Spaniard, who was out of the game for over two months during the summer with a knee injury and who suffered an abdominal injury during this tournament, has never been beaten so comprehensively at a grand slam. Typically, he refused to cite either his relative lack of match practice or his injury as an excuse for the result. Del Potro has won the last three meetings between the two."He played really well today, much better than me," the Spaniard said. "The first two sets were 6-2, but I had a lot of chances to keep the score tighter. You have got to take your chances to play well against these players, top players. If I had done that you never know what would have happened."Today will be Del Potro's first appearance in a grand slam final, but it will not be his last. With the trend in the men's game heading towards the more physically imposing players – the generational exception of Federer excepted – the Argentinian is perhaps the most physically imposing of the new breed.For a long time he and Andy Murray have vied for the title of "man to watch". Both have progressed rapidly over the season, but it could be that Del Potro has gone further. Still, he will have to play the match of his life to overcome Federer, who beat Djokovic 7-6, 7-5, 7-5 in a devastating performance that was highlighted by the penultimate point of the match. The No1 seed won it with a winner hit between his legs. "They never work," joked Federer. "That's why, I guess, it was the greatest shot I ever hit in my life."The prospect of playing him is daunting for Del Potro. "It will be difficult for me because I have never played in a grand slam final before,'' the Argentinian said, "but I will try my best." He will have to.US Open TennisRoger FedererRafael NadalTennisLawrence Doneganguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/sep/13/us-open-del-potro-nadal
• Clijsters beats Danish teenager Caroline Wozniacki 7-5, 6-3• Win achieved in third event since coming out of retirementWith the silver trophy tucked under one arm and her daughter Jada cradled in the other, Kim Clijsters completed her incredible return to tennis as she was crowned US Open champion overnight.Never before had a curly-haired, blonde, 18-month-old toddler stolen the show at the Arthur Ashe Stadium but this was no ordinary day at Flushing Meadows. It was a day when the Belgian wild card Clijsters beat the Danish teenager Caroline Wozniacki 7-5, 6-3 to become the first mother to win a grand slam title since Evonne Goolagong achieved the feat almost three decades ago – at Wimbledon in 1980."We tried to plan her naptime a little bit later so she could be here today. It's the greatest feeling in the world, being a mother," a glassy-eyed Clijsters told the crowd after her remarkable comeback victory.Wozniacki, who was trying to become the first Danish woman to win a grand slam singles title, said: "She's such a great girl. Unfortunately she beat me today. She played a great match and deserved this trophy."A journey that began with the Belgian taking baby steps back into top-flight tennis only last month – following a two-year sabbatical – came full circle in just 35 days as she claimed her second US Open prize."Amazing. For her to have this incredible run is fantastic. This is a great story for women's tennis, that's for sure," said Roger Federer, who as the new father of twins will try to prove that dads too can rule the world when he takes on Juan Martín del Potro in the men's final later.The contest was not a classic – with fortunes wildly fluctuating in a first set that featured seven breaks – but the tension was still palpable in a windy arena as almost 23,000 fans roared on Clijsters. Wozniacki took an early 4-2 lead in the first set but she surrendered the advantage with a double fault in the eighth game.From them on, it seemed that the 26-year-old Clijsters could not be denied. At 5-3 in the second set, a driving a forehand into the corner brought up match point. On the next point, Clijsters narrowed her eyes as she saw the ball spin high into the air and raised her right arm to smash it over the other side of the net. Match point over, a tearful Clijsters sank to her knees in celebration, before heading into the stands to celebrate with family and friends."I don't have words for this. I'm just glad I got to come back and defend my title from 2005. It's so exciting for me," said Clijsters, who still does not own a ranking as her comeback is only three tournaments old."I have to thank the USTA for giving me the wild card to come back here. Just coming back here meant so much to me and seeing how warm everybody welcomed me and embraced me, just to be back was a great feeling."It definitely helped me to keep fighting and stay focused out there. Especially in the last few matches where the opponents became a lot more tougher."No one can accuse Clijsters of having an easy ride at the Open as her road to the final included victories over both Venus and Serena Williams.Job done and Jada was allowed to join her mother on one of the most famous tennis stages and complete the feel-good factor of the past fortnight as she played with the trophy before running helter-skelter on court.US Open TennisKim ClijstersTennisguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/sep/14/kim-clijsters-comeback-us-open-win
• Williams out after arguing with line judge• Clijsters to meet Caroline Wozniacki in finalKim Clijsters moved into the US Open women's singles final in controversial circumstances as the defending champion Serena Williams picked up a point penalty for a second code violation on match point.Williams was a set and 6-5 down when she foot-faulted on a second serve to hand Clijsters match point. Replays indicated the call had been a harsh one and an incensed Williams unleashed a verbal tirade and waved her racket at the line judge. "I swear to God I'm ... going to take this ... ball and shove it down your ... throat, you hear that? I swear to God," Williams was reported to have said. After the line judge reported her to the umpire for verbal abuse, Williams added: "I never said I would kill you, are you serious?"Williams had picked up a first code violation for smashing her racket at the end of the first set and this time the tournament referee, Brian Earley, was called to the chair. After discussing the situation with Williams, the line judge and umpire, Williams was handed a second code violation, the resultant point penalty handing victory to a bemused Clijsters, 6-4 7-5."I said something that I guess they gave me a point penalty. Unfortunately it was on match point," Williams said after the match. "I didn't threaten. I was in the moment and everyone's fighting for every point."As for the call that sparked her tirade, Williams said: "I've never been foot-faulted [all year] and then suddenly in this tournament they keep calling foot faults. I'm not going to sit here and make an excuse. If I foot-fault, I did. It is what it is and that's basically all it was."Williams, though, said she did not regret losing her temper. "I haven't really thought about it to have any regrets. I try not to live my life saying, 'I wish, I wish', but I was out there and I fought and I tried and I did my best."Clijsters, playing just her third tournament since coming out of a 27-month retirement during which time she became a mother for the first time, will now face Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark, who beat Yanina Wickmayer 6-3, 6-3 in the other semi-final.For much of the match Clijsters outplayed Williams, whose usually dominant serve deserted the American. Williams also saw her second serve exploited, her unforced error count hit 31 and she had been unable to build on her breaks of serve by allowing Clijsters to break back immediately at crucial moments.US Open TennisSerena WilliamsTennisguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/sep/13/serena-willliams-us-open-semi-final
Serena Williams has suggested that the reaction to her US Open semi-final tantrum was overblown. Is she right?Serena Williams's fiercely competitive nature has brought her 11 grand slam titles, and she has not been shy to question the desire of her fellow professionals, but her intensity on the court has cost her the chance of bringing that number to 12 this week.The reigning US Open champion was two points away from defeat against Kim Clijsters in last night's semi-final when she was called for a foot fault on her second serve. An enraged Williams turned on the unfortunate line judge and started waving her racket in an extraordinary outburst, reportedly yelling: "I swear to God I'm ... going to take this ... ball and shove it down your ... throat, you hear that? I swear to God."Williams had earlier been warned for smashing her racket into the ground and then hurling the mangled wreck at the net post, and this latest tantrum earned her a penalty point, giving Clijsters the match and a place in the final.Afterwards Williams was unrepentant, saying plenty of players shouted at line judges and even questioned the umpiring at Flushing Meadows, saying that she had nott been called for foot faults all year but had been pulled up several times over the past two weeks.Williams may not have earned much sympathy from the country club set but others may feel her treatment was harsh, particularly as replays showed the call to have been dubious. What do you think? Was Serena punished where others would have escaped, or did she get her just deserts?US Open TennisSerena WilliamsTennisguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2009/sep/13/open-thread-serena-williams-us-open
• Nadal and Del Potro open Arthur Ashe court• Heather Watson's singles final on Court 7Order of play for Sunday 13 September, all times BSTArthur Ashe5pm: (3) Rafael Nadal (Spa) v (6) Juan Martin Del Potro (Arg), (1) Roger Federer (Swi) v (4) Novak Djokovic (Ser), (9) Caroline Wozniacki (Den) v Kim Clijsters (Bel)Louis Armstrong5pm: (1) Cara Black (Zim) & Liezel Huber (USA) v (3) Samantha Stosur (Aus) & Rennae Stubbs (Aus), (4) Lukas Dlouhy (Cze) & Leander Paes (Ind) v (3) Mahesh Bhupathi (Ind) & Mark Knowles (Bah)Court 75pm: Junior Girl's Singles Final: Yana Buchina (Rus) v (11) Heather Watson (Gbr)Court 11Wheelchair Quad Doubles Final: Nick Taylor (USA) & David Wagner (USA) v Johan Andersson (Swe) & Peter Norfolk (Gbr)Court 13Wheelchair Quad Singles: Nick Taylor (USA) v Peter Norfolk (Gbr)US Open TennisTennisguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/sep/13/us-open-order-of-play
The statistics stack up for the Swiss master, who has put the travails of 2008 well and truly behind himAt the time of writing, it is impossible to know if Roger Federer has won, or even played, his semi-final against Novak Djokovic. But if, as the odds heavily suggest, he has won his 22nd consecutive grand slam semi-final, it will be an unprecedented achievement. From Wimbledon 2005 to the end of 2007, Federer competed in 10 straight finals. If he prevailed/prevails in New York he will have racked up another seven consecutive Grand Slam finals and counting. You have to go back to 2002 to find a Wimbledon or US Open final in which he did not play. There is greater strength in depth than ever before on the men's tour and, yet, Federer continues to make history.Among all of these outstanding figures, it is his recent achievements that are the most astounding. This is because there was a moment when it seemed he was finished: 2008 was, by his standards, poor. There was the loss to Djokovic in the semi-final in Australia, perhaps down to him suffering from mononucleosis; a first-round defeat by Andy Murray in Dubai; a 6-1 6-3 6-0 drubbing by Rafael Nadal in the French Open final; the ending of his magnificent Wimbledon run and first defeat on grass for 65 games in that match, again against Nadal; and losing to James Blake, for the first time, in the Olympic quarter-final.Normal order was resumed with a US Open victory over Murray. But, then, Nadal beat him again in Australia at the start of 2009 and Federer burst into tears. This, it appeared, was his "Bjorn Borg moment". It was when John McEnroe defeated the Swede for a second time that he jacked it in. The Wimbledon defeat he could just about live with, but not being outwitted again in New York. There was no way back for Borg.Federer, meanwhile, had been beaten three times in a row on three different surfaces by Nadal. He was losing to Murray on a regular basis. He smashed his racket when losing again to Djokovic. He couldn't even get far enough to confront his nemesis. The most sublime talent the game had seen appeared exhausted. If you have reached the heights Federer has reached, you don't come back.Usually, the greats go fast. Like Borg, McEnroe's end was quick. In 1984, perhaps his greatest season on the Tour, he racked up an 82-3 record which included a 6-1, 6-1, 6-2 victory over Connors in the Wimbledon final and a 6-3, 6-4, 6-1 win over Ivan Lendl in the US Open final. He appeared invincible; he never won another slam. The lesson seemed to be that you can't be that good and return to being as good again. Except that is exactly what Federer has done, completing a career grand slam by winning the French and then picking up his sixth Wimbledon title after the marathon against Andy Roddick. Not only was his game back, but so was his grace and charm. Instead of niggling about Murray, he was back to praising him to the skies. He was at ease once again in his terrible clothes.There is just one cloud. These recent victories have been achieved in the absence of Nadal, who has now returned to action. If Federer fails to become the first player since Rod Laver to win the French, Wimbledon and the US in the same year it will probably be because the Spaniard has completed a victory over him in the final of each of the four slams. The stakes could neither be higher nor rarer.Roger FedererUS Open TennisRafael NadalAndy MurrayTennisWill Buckleyguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2009/sep/13/roger-federer-us-open
• Spaniard prevails after match delayed 36 hours by bad weather• 11th seeded Chilean plays woefully in 6-0 final set defeatRafael Nadal eased smoothly into final four of US Open after brushing aside the challenge of Fernando González in a quarter-final match delayed 36 hours by bad weather and stripped of any sense of occasion by an ultimately woeful performance by the 11th-seeded Chilean.In a tournament already wrought by organisational difficulties, and with the paying public short-changed as play was wiped out on Friday, the last thing needed when it resumed was a walkover. Clearly, González, whom many felt might be able to topple the world No3, did not get the memo.Typically, Nadal, who is carrying an abdominal injury that is clearly restricting his serve, played as if his life depended on the outcome. One set up, and tied at 6-6 in the second set, when play resumed, the Spaniard was gifted the tie-breaker by his opponent, who hit his first three forehands long and could not return on set point. The mood was set.Nadal broke serve in the first game of the third set and did not look back, not even when González tried to upset his rhythm with a medical break. That silly episode lasted five minutes, but even so the No3 seed took 31 minutes to win the set 6-0 and with that his place in the semi-final against Juan Martín del Potro."Lucky for me I won the first four points and that was decisive. It was tough waiting for one and a half days. I am very happy,'' the Spaniard said.Popular though Nadal's victory was with the public, it would be fair to say joy was not universal around Flushing Meadows over the organisation of the year's final grand slam. Obviously, there is nothing the US Tennis Association can do about the weather, but it does have some control over how best to protect the courts from the rain and – more to the point – how to make them playable as quickly as possible after the rain. Currently, it employs industrial blowers and hand towels to dry the courts; an absurd system that causes unnecessary inconvenience to the players and paying public.By all accounts, the sheer size of the Arthur Ashe stadium preludes the idea of affixing a roof. But surely covers would help. They might even have allowed Nadal and González to finish their match on Thursday night, which in turn would have kept the tournament on schedule. As it is, the men's final will now be staged on a Monday for a second successive year.As for the identity of the finalists – that will be decided tomorrow, with the semi-finals due on court before the women's final. Both matches are eagerly anticipated, to say the least, with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic pitted against each other in the top half of the draw. In the bottom half Nadal will face the No6 seed Del Potro in a match many believe will test the Spaniard, or rather his injury, to the very limit.Even a fully fit Nadal might struggle to beat the young Argentinian, who is fast coming up on Andy Murray in the race to claim the mantle as the man to end the long-time dominance of Roger and Rafa. Certainly, Nadal was under no illusions about the challenge he faces against Del Potro. "I think he's a very complete player, no?" he said of his next opponent. "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 doesn't make mistakes, he is very big. Even if his movement is not 100% perfect, he's very long and he arrives to play."Meanwhile, in the women's junior event, Heather Watson and Laura Robson progressed into the semi-finals after impressive victories. Watson, in particular, raised eyebrows with 6-2 6-1 win over Noppawan Lertcheewakarn, who won the girls' singles title at Wimbledon earlier in the summer.Robson, who was beaten in the final round of qualifying for the women's singles, has been a fitful presence on the junior circuit this year. That meant the powerful young Londoner was unseeded in the juniors – an anomaly that has proved unfortunate for a succession of opponents, all of whom she has brushed aside with relative ease.Again, weather delays have affected the junior events, with matches being moved to another venue. However, tomorrow's final will be played here and it would represent a huge boost for women's tennis in this country if there was a Briton on either side of the net.US Open TennisRafael NadalTennisLawrence Doneganguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/sep/12/rafael-nadal-us-open-quarter-final
• Nadal finally finishes match that started on Thursday• Spaniard reclaims world No2 spot from Andy MurrayRafael Nadal needed only 34 minutes today to complete a 7-6, 7-6, 6-0 win over Chile's Fernando González in their rain-interrupted US Open quarter-final.Nadal was 7-6 and 3-2 up in the second set tie-break when showers halted play on Thursday and with Friday's proceedings completely washed out, the Spaniard was in no mood to hang around.He won four successive points to wrap up the tie-break 7-2 and from then on González's game fell apart, allowing Nadal to wrap up the win which took over 40 hours to complete because of the bad weather.Nadal, whose victory allowed him to reclaim the world No2 ranking from Andy Murray, will next face Argentine Juan Martín del Potro for a place in his first final at Flushing Meadows. The US Open is the only grand slam title Nadal has not yet won.The women's semi-finals - which should have been played yesterday - both take place later. World No8 Caroline Wozniacki and unseeded Belgian Yanina Wickmayer will contest their first grand slam semi-final, before the mouth-watering clash between Serena Williams and Kim Clijsters.US Open TennisTennisRafael Nadalguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/sep/12/rafael-nadal-fernando-gonzalez-us-open
• World No1 has reached 22 successive grand slam semi-finals• Swiss proud of record but cautious ahead of meeting with SerbIn the glorious landscape of Roger Federer's tennis career the grand slam victories, all 15 of them, tower above everything but in the foothills of that astonishing feat there sits a litany of other records that testify to the great man's genius.Like eye-catching women in the life of James Bond, there is one for every occasion. Like buses in downtown Geneva, they come along with clockwork regularity. Yet there are there some records that speak to a Roger Federer most people hardly know: he is the grinder supreme.When the world No1 steps on to the court tomorrow at Flushing Meadows to play the No4 seed Novak Djokovic he will be appearing in his 22nd successive grand slam semi-final. How good is that? Well, the next man on the list, at 10, is Ivan Lendl, and he was supposed to be the most resilient grinder of all time.As for the current generation of players – the second longest streak of semi-final appearances is held by Djokovic and Juan Martín del Potro. It stands at one.Even Lendl, who for a long time was more resistant than most when it came to accepting Federer as one of the greatest players of all time, has been won over. "If you called me eight years ago and said, 'There will be a guy who comes along, and he'll be in 21 straight grand slam semi‑finals', well, I would be looking for a polite way to end the conversation as quickly as possible because I'd be talking to somebody out of their mind," the former US Open champion said before this year's tournament started. "It's just ridiculous. There is no other way to say it. You can't explain it to people, it's just absurd."Certainly, Federer himself found it difficult to explain exactly how he had sustained such a high level of performance over such a long period of time."I think it's just a wonderful record. It's not important, but it's nice to have, let's put it that way,'' he said after his quarter-final win over Robin Soderling. "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 career. It just shows how lucky I've been that I could stay healthy, you know, and always create opportunities."Opportunity will come knocking once again in his meeting with Djokovic with the No1 seeking to become the first man in almost 90 years to win six successive US Open titles. Early in the season, the Swiss would have been the overwhelming favourite, as opposed to a strong one, but the Serb has played some great tennis over the past 12 days, not least in his quarter-final against the dangerous Fernando Verdasco, whom he beat in four sets.Federer defeated Djokovic in the 2007 US Open final as well as in the final of the recent Masters Series event in Cincinnati but he is taking nothing for granted. "It is going to be a tough match. He has done well against me in the past but let's see what happens,'' the No1 seed said.Cautious optimism and a little humility; a record breaker's two best friends.US Open TennisRoger FedererTennisLawrence Doneganguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/sep/11/roger-federer-us-open-novak-djokovic
American coverage of Andy Murray's exit at the US Open raked up absurd, outdated stereotypes of UK journalistsTop of the list of things that hold no interest whatsoever for the average American sports fan is the conduct of the British tennis press, which has gathered in New York to follow the progress of Andy Murray in this year's US Open. I'm guessing readers of this blog don't care much about us either, and that is as it should be. The competition is about the competitors, right?My apologies if all of this sounds trite but sometimes the obvious is worth stating, if only to highlight that some people wouldn't spot the obvious if it hit them on the buttock with the speed of Andy Roddick's first serve. Which brings us to Patrick McEnroe, a former professional tennis player who now plies his trade as an analyst for American television.McEnroe was on the box the other night alongside his more famous brother, John, when the conversation turned to Murray's loss to the No16 seed Marin Cilic in the fourth round. The Croatian is a decent player but he is not a world-beater – not yet anyway – so it was hardly surprising the result was greeted by the American media as a big shock.Ditto, the British media, with the Daily Telegraph reporting that Murray had been "urged to play more aggressively" by Pat Cash. The Mirror hinted darkly that any more performances like that and Murray might come to be known as the Colin Montgomerie of tennis, while the Guardian speculated that Murray's humiliation was so abject that it may well have overshadowed his achievements during the past year.Some people may agree with all of that. Others may not. Patrick McEnroe clearly disagreed, as he made clear when he turned to his brother and suggested, in the kind of tone people usual reserve for those occasions when they find something unpleasant on the sole of their shoe, that "our friends from the other side" (ie the British press) had already started "taking shots" at Murray.This remark was odd for a number of reasons, not least that in analysing Murray's defeat many of the British papers had quoted these words of a prominent American television analyst. "It was a dismal performance from Murray. In the last two sets, he just went away mentally. He's proved everything in other tournaments but he's yet to prove it at the grand slam stage. This is a lot for him to have to think about now, because there are so many expectations. The guy has won five titles this year. Only Rafael Nadal has won as many. He comes in having won the most hard-court tournaments. He lost to Federer a couple of weeks ago but he'd beaten Roger four times in a row before that and then, all of a sudden, he gets here and just lays an egg, in the fourth round of the US Open."Thus spake – you've guessed – Patrick McEnroe, who was revealed to be sneering at British press for "taking shots" at Murray (using Patrick McEnroe's words to make their point), while simultaneously sneering at Murray for "laying an egg" in the fourth round of the US Open – an existential maze at the end of which most people would feel inclined to conclude that McEnroe was (a) pandering to an absurd stereotype of British tennis press as unthinking nihilists and (b) a hypocrite.Still, he was not alone. In the course of its press round-up, the New York Times tennis blog suggested that Murray must have felt he was "back home among the gritty tabloid press of London when he read the words that were used to describe his fourth-round performance against Marin: flat, lifeless and subdued were just a few ..."Or maybe he felt he was simply reading the truth?The last thing the sportblog needs is an essay straddling the disparate worlds of media studies and amateur psychology, especially on a subject as esoteric as the American media's bizarre obsession with the British media. But it's my blog, so here goes. I promise to keep it short.Sports journalism in America has long had a very high opinion of itself. This was justified in years past, when the likes of Jim Murray, Red Smith and, latterly, Rick Reilly established themselves as the finest sportswriters in the English language. That tradition has faded in recent years, although the self-regard has not. The upshot is a refusal of some – though not all – American sports journalists to face up to their own failings, the most grating of which is abject sycophancy towards those whom they cover. Rather than address this, and other, flaws, it is much easier to address what they perceive to be the flaws of others, not least because it reinforces their own sense of misplaced superiority.Hence, we arrive at the sneering of Patrick McEnroe and the NYT's dated references to the "gritty tabloid press" (as if the media world hasn't changed since the days of Kelvin MacKenzie).It doesn't help that such absurd stereotypes were reinforced earlier in the week by Murray himself when asked by one of McEnroe's sidekicks during a live television interview if he was enjoying his time in New York, given that he wasn't under as much scrutiny as he was during Wimbledon. Murray demurred, pointing out that there were a dozen or so British reporters covering the US Open and that dealing with them was "tricky".This was a bit rich coming from Murray. Admittedly, the Scot has smartened up his PR act over the 18 months, but then everything is relative. Once upon a time he was sullen, monosyllabic and immature. Now he's just, well, occasionally tricky.The truth is the media coverage Murray gets is the media coverage he deserves, which is to say a good one. He is a fine tennis player, who has come a long way in a short space of time. So what if he hasn't quite reached the promised land of a grand slam victory; he's still young.Yet recognition of the above does not preclude pointing out that his performance against Cilic was woeful. Indeed, less generous souls might have felt inclined to draw attention to the contrast between the Scot's capitulation and Nadal's victory over Gaël Monfils a day later. Like the Scot, the Spaniard lost the first set. Unlike the Scot, he did not let his head drop, but battled his way back into the match and eventually ground his opponent into submission. They might also have been inclined to say that Nadal showed a champion's guts, while Murray did not.Now that would have been "tricky", although perhaps not as tricky as yesterday's revelation on the website of Sports Illustrated magazine that the father of the 17-year-old American player Melanie Oudin had filed for divorce on the grounds that her mother was having affair with her tennis coach. Peyton Place indeed.As it turns out, SI.com's "exclusive" was based on documents that were a year old; documents that probably would have remained unnoticed by the press had Oudin not captured the public's imagination with a handful of victories over seeded players on her way to the quarter-finals. Did the teenager's freshly-minted celebrity justify the recycling of these court documents in a way guaranteed to maximise both the story's impact and her humiliation?You decide. What is beyond question, however, is that had the revelations appeared in the Sun or the Mirror the moral guardians of the American media would have been on their high horse, decrying the conduct of the British gutter press and their heartless destruction of a young girl's psyche.Needless to say, the story could not have come at a worse time for Oudin, who was emotionally fragile after her defeat to Caroline Wozniacki. Still, at least she has received a very quick lesson on the downside of celebrity and the hypocrisy of American media which, to paraphrase Patrick McEnroe, sure didn't wait long before their taking shots.Andy MurrayUS Open TennisTennisLawrence Doneganguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
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• Downpour brings premature halt to Thursday's action• Nadal leads Fernando González by one set at the closeRafael Nadal and Fernando González were held up by rain as they attempted to finish their US Open quarter-final at Flushing Meadows and book a semi-final against Juan Martín del Potro.Play was twice suspended last night as rain disrupted the tournament for the first time in 11 days of play. After nearly three hours of delays, with many fans having remained on site and even the ball boys lined up on court and ready to resume, officials announced that play had been called off for the night with Nadal one set up against the Chilean 11th seed and leading a second set tie-break 3-2.The opening set had been high-octane stuff as both men blasted forehands at each other, Nadal getting the better of the early skirmishes as he moved González from side to side on the baseline, but the match staying on serve. The No3 seed saved a set point at 6-5 to send the opener into a tie-break, which was something of a disappointment, strewn with unforced errors from both players. González came back from 4-0 down to 4-3 before both players gave away more free points in the next series of two serves apiece.It was Nadal who broke out of the cycle, moving into a one-set lead when González sent a forehand down the wrong side of the line.Nadal was still not without problems, though. In the third round against Nicolas Kiefer he aggravated an right abdominal muscle strain first suffered in Cincinnati as he came back from a two-month lay-off due to tendinitis in his knees.As the first set ended, the No3 seed called for the trainer and received a medical time-out, wincing repeatedly as he was treated before jogging out on to the court ready to serve at the start of the second set.There was a further disruption, though, at 2-2 as the rain began falling and play was suspended, the players unable to resume for 76 minutes.Nadal restarted best, earning two set points at 5-4, his first break points of match, but González responding with two big serves his rival could not return. The Chilean also saved a third set point and once again the issue went to a tiebreak, Nadal leading it 3-2 with González about to serve when play was suspended for what would the final time.US Open TennisRafael NadalTennisguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
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• Juan Martín del Potro beat Marin Cilic 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-1• Argentinian to meet either Nadal or Gonzalez in semi-finalJuan Martín del Potro came from a set down to beat Marin Cilic in four sets and advance to the US Open semi-finals. The Argentinian No6 seed was a set behind and 3-1 down to Cilic before turning the game on its axis to defeat the No16 seed Croatian 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-1. The victory, in 2hrs 33mins in windy conditions and under cloudy skies at the Arthur Ashe Stadium means Del Potro will play the winner of the No3 seed Rafael Nadal and the No11 seed Fernando González in Saturday's semi-finals.Cilic had begun well as he picked up from his dominant victory over a disappointing Andy Murray in the previous round, breaking Del Potro in the fifth game of the match for a 3-2 lead and then holding serve to take the first set.He continued to dominate the Argentinian by breaking the 20-year-old in the first game of the second set and then held to love. Cilic let his guard down in the sixth game as Del Potro got back on serve with a break to level the set at 3-3 and from then on the Croat was never in contention.The Argentinian continued to swing the momentum his way with another break to go 5-3 up and from there get back into the match at one-set all.The Del Potro bandwagon kept rolling into the third set as he broke Cilic in the opening game and again in the fifth to take a 4-1 lead, then serving to love to take set when the Croat netted an attempted backhand down the line.Cilic got off to another shaky start in the fourth set, Del Potro breaking his serve again in the opening game as the 20-year-old Croat was beginning to look out on his feet. Del Potro was in cruise control by now, breaking the twice more as he moved into a 5-0 lead. Cilic's unforced errors count hit 50 in the next game but the Croat still had sufficient fight left to break the Argentinian, only his third success from eight break-point opportunities in the match.The Argentinian was not be denied though and Cilic was broken a final time to cement Del Potro's victory.US Open TennisTennisguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
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• Winner to meet Caroline Wozniaki or Yanina Wickmayer• Wimbledon champion praises Belgian's comebackThe US Open schedule calls for the women's champion to be crowned tomorrow night but there are few around Flushing Meadows who do not believe today's semi-final contest between Serena Williams and Kim Clijsters is the final by another name.If there was disappointment at the departure of Melanie Oudin there was genuine satisfaction at the progress into the semi-final stage of Belgium's Yanina Wickmayer and Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki, two 19-year-olds who have reached the last four of a grand slam event for the first time and the potential to compete at the highest level for years to come.Yet such satisfaction was tempered by reality, not to mention a little trepidation. This has been an era of one-sided grand slam finals in the women's game, albeit with a few notable exceptions ( the 2005 Wimbledon epic featuring Venus Williams and Lindsay Davenport springs to mind) and a Saturday final here featuring either teenager against the younger Williams sister or the resurgent Clijsters will almost certainly add to the litany. Good manners demands nobody countenance such a notion but it was obvious that both considered today's meeting as the crucial moment in their fortnight.Equally obvious was the mutual respect. Williams watched Clijsters defeat her sister in three sets in the fourth round and, like everyone else, was mightily impressed by the Belgian, who is playing in her first grand slam event after a two-year break from the sport, during which time she got married and had a daughter."I just saw how well she moved. Seems like she's even faster than what she was before. I was thinking that maybe I should have a baby and then I'll come back faster," said Williams, laughing. "She [has always] played hard. Now she is at a totally different level because she has absolutely nothing to lose. Ultimately, I think that's when you can play your best tennis."Clijsters, too, was gushing about her opponent, not least because of Williams' knack of producing her best tennis on the biggest occasions. "I think she's always been able to step it up at the grand slams. I've seen her play here and she has that face where she's like, 'OK, I'm here to do business'," she said. "She's someone who plays with a lot of power, and is still a great mover. So the combination of those two things she really has going for her."Yet if the former No1 was quick to highlight Williams' qualities, she was also quick to swat away the notion that the three-times US Open winner was a clear favourite. "Every player always has a moment in a match where, whether it's either one or two games, where they just kind of lose that aggressiveness a little bit or just lose focus."So I think I will get chances. Something that I'm going to be really focused on is obviously play aggressive tennis and try to dominate a lot of points. I think the one who keeps the unforced errors down I think is going to get through here."The pair have meet seven times before, with Williams holding a 6-1 advantage, including an epic three-set victory here in 1999 when they were both 16-year-old protégés with the tennis world at their feet.The world has turned since then, but clearly some things have not changed. After 10 days during which the women's tournament has had as much profile as the men's tournament, largely thanks to the prominence afforded Oudin and Clijsters, a one-sided final would be a rotten anti-climax. Far better that the world remembers another epic showdown by two players at the peak of their powers.Speaking of Another youthful protégés, Britain's Laura Robson, continued her steady progress in the junior event, beating the No12 seed Tamaryn Hendler 6-4, 6-1 to reach the quarter-finals.US Open TennisSerena WilliamsTennisLawrence Doneganguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
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• Laura Robson beat Tamaryn Hendler 6-2, 6-1• Heather Watson beat Annika Beck 6-4, 7-5The British juniors Laura Robson and Heather Watson advanced to the quarter-finals of the US Open junior girls' singles at Flushing Meadows with straight-sets wins today.Robson, the 15-year-old 2008 Wimbledon girls' champion, defeated the 12th seed Tamaryn Hendler of Belgium 6-2, 6-1. She was followed onto Court Eight by 11th seed Watson, who took care of Germany's Annika Beck 6-4, 7-5."I liked her game style," Robson said of Hendler. "I liked how she hit it hard, it was easier for me. I was looking to hit percentage shots rather than going for the lines so I think that's why it seemed a bit more fluid."It was a lot harder than the score suggests because there were a lot of games that went to deuce and she had a couple of break point chances."So it wasn't a routine match but I thought I played well."Robson will now face the American wild card Lauren Davis for a place in the last four of the junior grand slam.Watson's last-eight opponent will be the No2 seed, Noppawan Lertcheewakarn of Thailand, who was beaten by Robson in last year's Wimbledon girls' final.US Open TennisLaura RobsonTennisguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
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• World No1 forced to work for 6-0, 6-3, 6-7 (6-8), 7-6 (8-6) win• Top seed now faces Novak Djokovic in the last fourRoger Federer celebrated reaching a 22nd consecutive grand slam semi-final but only after being made to work for his US Open victory by the 12th seed, Robin Soderling. Soderling took a set but Federer continued his unbeaten streak against the Swede with a 6-0, 6-3, 6-7 (6-8), 7-6 (8-6) victory in two hours 33 minutes to march into a semi-final against the fourth seed, Novak Djokovic.Federer had a 11-0 career record going into last night's match, their most recent two meetings coming at Wimbledon and in the French Open final. The world No1 made it a round dozen in victories over the Swede, reaching the last four after extending his unbeaten run at Flushing Meadows to 39 matches."This feels great," Federer said. "It was so close towards the end and it's just a great relief to come through because Robin just got better and better as the match went on. I knew it was going to be tough but the beginning was a bit too easy and all of a sudden he found his way into the match and showed what a great player he really is."Federer could not account for the way the match had shifted away from him having taken a two-set lead in just 59 minutes with some crisp, clean-hitting tennis."I don't know, I had a really good start, it was cold so I felt at home being from Switzerland but then it got even cooler and him being from Sweden I think that played in his favour," Federer joked. "I thought it was a great match towards the end. I got off to a flyer but I'm happy I still got through in the fourth."Of stretching his record of consecutive grand slam semi-final appearances, Federer added: "It's not [a record] I aimed for, that's for sure, but it's probably one of the greatest records for me in my personal career. I'm just happy it keeps on going. I'm healthy and I guess that's most important because that's what has allowed me to play well at majors and I'm in for a shot again to defend my title so that's fantastic."Of his forthcoming meeting with Djokovic on Saturday, the third year in a row they have met at Flushing Meadows, Federer said: "We've played each other the last two years, semis last year, finals the year before and we've seen what a great player he is on hard courts. I'm sure it's going to be a tough match, I'm looking forward to it."US Open TennisRoger FedererTennisguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
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• Marin Cilic fourth on Arthur Ashe• Laura Robson first on Court EightOrder of play for Thursday 10 September, all times local -5hrs BST:Arthur Ashe11:00 (4) Serena Williams (US) & Venus Williams (US) v (13) Alisa Kleybanova (Rus) & Ekaterina Makarova (Rus); Carly Gullickson (US) & Travis Parrott (US) v (2) Cara Black (Zim) & Leander Paes (Ind); (6) Juan Martín Del Potro (Arg) v (16) Marin Cilic (Cro); (11) Fernando González (Chi) v (3) Rafael Nadal (Spa)Court 6Wheelchair Quad Singles: Johan Anderson (Swe) v Peter Norfolk (GB)Court 8Girls' Singles 3rd rd: (12) Tamaryn Hendler (Bel) v Laura Robson (GB), Annika Beck (Ger) v (11) Heather Watson (GB)US Open TennisLaura RobsonTennisguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
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Emmanuel Dunand/AFP/Getty Images... while Nadal celebrates after winning 6-7, 6-3, 6-1, 6-3
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/gallery/2009/sep/09/us-open-day-nine-gallery
Justin Lane/EPAJohn Isner of the US bites his towel in frustration after being defeated by Fernando Verdasco of Spain during the eighth day of the tournament
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/gallery/2009/sep/08/sport-24-hours-in-pictures
• British No1 wins 6-3, 6-2 in 64 minutes• No11 seed now faces Germany's Annika BeckBritain's Heather Watson has reached the US Open junior girls' singles last 16 with a straight-sets victory over the US qualifier Courtney Dolehide.The No1 ranked Briton from Guernsey, seeded 11th, won 6-3, 6-2 in 64 minutes and set up a third-round meeting with Germany's Annika Beck, who got into the girls' singles as an alternate.Watson, 17, will play Beck tomorrow, following the former Wimbledon junior champion Laura Robson – who plays the No12 seed Tamaryn Hendler of Belgium – on to court eight.Stephanie Cornish's US Open has come to an end, however, after she and Katerina Pallivets of Canada were beaten in a super tie-break by the Slovakian pair Jana Cepelova and Chantal Skamlova, 6-4, 0-6 [10-5].There were also defeats in the boys' doubles for Leicestershire's Ahmed El Menshawy – beaten 6-4, 7-5 alongside the American Harry Fowler by a US duo, Matthew Kandath and Jack Sock – and the Republic of Ireland's John Morrissey, the Dubliner and his Indian team-mate Sudanwa Sitaram going out 6-4, 3-6 [10-4] to Hungary's Marton Fucsovics and Cheng Peng Hsieh of Taipei.US Open TennisTennisguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
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• No4 seed defeats Spaniard Fernando Verdasco• Serbian may face Roger Federer for third straight yearNovak Djokovic reached the US Open semi-final for a third consecutive year when he moved past the No10 seed Fernando Verdasco in four sets at Flushing Meadows. The No4 seed from Serbia beat his Spanish rival 7-6, 1-6, 7-5, 6-2 and could play the world No1 Roger Federer for the third year in a row.Djokovic reached his first grand slam final at the 2007 US Open before going down in straight sets to Federer and the pair met in last year's semi-final, with the Swiss winning in four sets.Federer will have to beat Sweden's Robin Soderling first, with the No12 seed due to face the five-time defending champion on Wednesday night local time.Djokovic, through to the last four of a grand slam event for the first time this year, edged a tight first set on a tie-break only for Verdasco to storm back in the second set as the Serb struggled on first serve. Having got back on track in the third, Djokovic then turned his game up in the fourth, breaking Verdasco to go 2-1 up.At that point the Spaniard called in a trainer for attention on an abdominal muscle strain. Yet Verdasco rallied and almost broke back in the next game only to lose his break point and then the game after a rally which Djokovic clinched with a fierce backhand down the line.The No4 seed promptly sealed a double break to go 4-1 up before racing to 40-0 in his final service game and securing victory with a delightful drop volley at the net.US Open TennisRoger FedererTennisguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
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• Former great worries that Murray is overtrained• 'You don't need to work as hard as he does between matches'The biggest events define the greatest champions. It's the oldest adage in sport, both inescapably true and occasionally unfair, and it is one that will prey on Andy Murray in the aftermath of a fourth-round US Open loss to Marin Cilic that ended the world No2's efforts to win a grand slam title this year.Defeat is never a good thing but some defeats are worse than others. This was one such occasion – a three-set annihilation at the hands of a decent but hardly outstanding opponent that in its immediate aftermath threatened to overshadow the highlights of what has been a great season for the Scot. World No2; five tournament wins around the world; a semi-final at Wimbledon, where only the performance of a lifetime by Andy Roddick cost him a place in the final.These are not insubstantial achievements, especially for a player so young, but even so one has to wonder if Murray would trade them all away for a US Open title. Certainly, there are plenty in the game who would gladly make the swap, including the current US Davis Cup captain, Patrick McEnroe, who suggested yesterday that the Scot was something of a flat-track bully; a player capable of great things but one who stumbles when the pressure is most acute."It was a dismal performance from Murray. In the last two sets, he just went away mentally," McEnroe said of the capitulation against Cilic. "He's proved everything in other tournaments but he's yet to prove it at the grand slam stage. This is a lot for him to have to think about now, because there are so many expectations. The guy has won five titles this year. Only Nadal has won as many. He comes in having won the most hard-court tournaments. He lost to Federer a couple of weeks ago but he'd beaten Roger four times in a row before that and then, all of a sudden, he gets here and just lays an egg, in the fourth round of the US Open."McEnroe, a television pundit, had a fairly modest career, which might cause some within the Murray camp to wonder why anyone in their right mind would listen to, or care about, what he has to say. But they would be foolish to ignore the advice of his brother, John McEnroe, who also wondered aloud about the Scot's performance. "Murray had a couple of set points in that opening set against Cilic and then the wheels came off completely."I want to know what happened to his energy?" he said. "Murray has worked hard on his game but my concern is that he is overtrained at this point. He has his own routine and needs to be in great shape, no doubt about that. Roger Federer has it worked out in terms of what he does on his days off and Murray would be better slacking off. You don't need to work as hard as he does between matches."It was an interesting suggestion given the margins are tiny at this exalted level. Every little helps. Murray understands this, as he has shown by his Stakhanovite efforts in remodelling and reshaping his game after the Brad Gilbert experiment. He has the work ethic and the talent to win a grand slam. Now he needs the timing."I don't think there is anything huge," he said yesterday when asked where he was looking to improve. "My strokes are good and I move well. I have to make sure I play my best tennis when I need to at the slams. That has been the case this year but apart from this match. I have to keep finding my way back into matches because I was not able to do that."As for the rest of the year, Murray has already committed to next week's Davis Cup match against Poland in Liverpool but was vague beyond that. "I will have to see if I take a break or start focusing on the next tournaments as I don't want to burn myself out before the start of next season," he said. "Rankings-wise, I got to my highest this year. But the next step is to win a grand slam and unfortunately there are no more left. I will go and work on my game and not worry too much about my results at the end of the year and make sure I am ready to win a slam next year."US Open TennisAndy MurrayTennisLawrence Doneganguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
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• Federer concerned about Soderling despite record• Novak Djokovic faces Fernando VerdascoHe may have defeated him 11 times out of 11, but Roger Federer will take nothing for granted when he meets Robin Soderling in today's US Open quarter-finals.His winning streak against the Swede stretches back five years, but Federer says Soderling, a former top junior who has struggled to fulfil his potential on the senior stage, is a changed player this year."He has become mentally and physically stronger. And then he knows the game better today than he used to," the top seed and defending champion said. "These are already three amazing improvements. That's what makes him a great player today."On paper, though, the Novak Djokovic-Fernando Verdasco quarter-final is a much more evenly balanced encounter with the fourth-seeded Serb going up against the 10th-seeded Spaniard, who has broken through this year with a run into the Australian Open semi-finals.Djokovic, with his new American coach Todd Martin in his corner, agreed that Verdasco was playing the best tennis of his career, but feels his own game is improving too."I have had some ups and downs this year, but I believe I can get far in the tournament the way I was playing in the first two rounds and today was very satisfying," he said after his straight-sets demolition of Radek Stepanek in the fourth round.US Open Order of play, Wednesday 9 SeptemberArthur Ashe11:00 (1) Bob Bryan (US) & Mike Bryan (USA) v (4) Lukas Dlouhy (Cz) & Leander Paes (Ind), Yanina Wickmayer (Bel) v Kateryna Bondarenko (Ukr), (4) Novak Djokovic (Ser) v (10) Fernando Verdasco (Sp), Melanie Oudin (US) v (9) Caroline Wozniacki (Den), (1) Roger Federer (Swi) v (12) Robin Soderling (Swe)Louis Armstrong(1) Cara Black (Zim) & Liezel Huber (US) v (6) Nuria Llagostera Vives (Sp) & María José Martínez Sánchez (Sp), (11) Zi Yan (Chn) & Jie Zheng (Chn) v (4) Serena Williams (US) & Venus Williams (US), (3) Mahesh Bhupathi (Ind) & Mark Knowles (Bah) v (5) Max Mirnyi (Blr) & Andy Ram (Isr)Court 7Girls' singles 2nd rd: Courtney Dolehide (US) v (11) Heather Watson (GB)Court 10Boys' doubles 2nd rd: Matthew Kandath (US) & Jack Sock (US) v Ahmed El Menshawy (GB) & Harry Fowler (US)Court 13Girls' doubles 2nd rd: Jana Cepelova (Svk) & Chantal Skamlova (Svk) v Stephanie Cornish (GB) & Katarena Paliivets (Can)Roger FedererUS Open TennisTennisguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
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• Male fan rushed on to court and embraced shirtless Nadal• Nadal: 'The guy was really nice. He was a great fan'Rafael Nadal was unruffled after being kissed by a "really nice" fan who invaded the Arthur Ashe Stadium court after the Spaniard had beaten Gaël Monfils of France in four sets to reach the US Open quarter-finals on Tuesday.Nadal was returning to his chair having removed his shirt when the male fan ran over, put his arms around the former world No1 and planted a kiss on his cheek.Flushing Meadows security staff bundled the fan away quickly while a smiling Nadal appeared unconcerned by the incident.A United States Tennis Association official Tim Curry said: "The man has been arrested and it is now in the hands of the NYPD. We will be reviewing the footage to see whether security needs to be strengthened."Asked about the kiss, Nadal said: "For me it wasn't a problem. The guy was really nice. He was a great fan. He said: 'I love you'."It is the second time this year at a grand slam that a fan has made contact with a player on court following an incident in the French Open final where a spectator rushed on and tried to put a hat on world No1 Roger Federer.Rafael NadalUS Open TennisTennisguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/sep/09/rafael-nadal-us-open-kiss
• Murray loses to Croatian in straight sets, 7-5, 6-2, 6-2• World No2's quest for a first grand slam title goes onAndy Murray's hopes of winning his first grand slam, and ending Britain's 63-year losing streak in tennis's biggest events, were ended at the US Open last night when he was comprehensively beaten in straight sets by the No16 seed, Marin Cilic."Certainly," agreed the Scot when asked if his 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 defeat ranked as the biggest disappointment of his career. "Worse things have happened to me, for sure, but in terms of tennis, yes. The way the match went makes it so disappointing."There were few people inside the Arthur Ashe stadium who would disagree with that self-assessment, not least the phalanx of former champions, John McEnroe among them, who had argued the Scot, seeded No2, was the man to beat this week. Likewise those inside the arena who paid their money to watch one of the most vaunted players in the game, the successor to Roger Federer in the view of some, only to discover an impostor in his place.Murray had seven break points, two of which came in the 10th game of the first set and offered the chance to take the first set. He lost both of those, and the other five to boot."I had my chance in the first set and, then, after that I struggled and then the momentum went with him. I returned poorly and he served well," said Murray, who had not lost to the Croatian in three previous meetings. "That was the cleanest I have seen him hit the ball."McEnroe was not around to comment in the immediate aftermath of Murray's defeat. The American is a dab hand when it comes to the blunt art of criticism and he would not have been short of raw material. Listless, spineless, hopeless - these were just a few of the adjectives that might accurately have described the Scot's effort.Murray refused to blame a niggling wrist injury. Nor did he demur when it was put to him that he "went away mentally" in the second and third sets. "Over the last couple of years I have found ways to get back into matches. Today, I could have been better in pretty much every part of the game, whether it was mental, the serve or forehand and backhand returns," he said.For the Scot, there is next week's Davis Cup match in Liverpool to contemplate. For the 6ft 6in Croat, there is a quarter-final match against Juan Martín del Potro.US Open TennisAndy MurrayTennisLawrence Doneganguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/sep/08/andy-murray-marin-cilic-us-open
• Murray loses to Croatian in straight sets, 7-5, 6-2, 6-2• World No2's quest for a first grand slam title goes onAndy Murray's US Open campaign came to a surprise end in the fourth round this evening at the hands of Croatia's Marin Cilic. In the biggest shock of the men's tournament so far, the world No2 and last year's finalist succumbed in straight sets against the 16th seed, 7-5, 6-2, 6-2.Murray went into the contest having beaten the 6ft 6in 20-year-old in their three previous meetings, most recently at the French Open earlier this summer, but this time he had no answer to Cilic's power. The Scot arrived at Flushing Meadows before the match with his left wrist strapped, but it was unclear how much of a factor the injury was during the defeat. Apart from appearing to grimace in pain at one point, he simply looked flat.After missing two set points when leading 5-4 in the opening set, the momentum was always against Murray. Cilic went on to claim the next six games - taking the set 7-5 and racing into a 4-0 lead in the second. The Croatian was dictating from the back of the court and backing his big serve up with some impressive net play. In total, Cilic hit 35 winners compared to just 13 by Murray.Murray was struggling for ideas and although he recovered to register a couple of games on the scoreboard, lost the second set 6-2 and promptly went 2-0 down in the third. Cilic held his nerve on serve - he was never broken during the match - to complete the biggest victory of his career and leave Murray still searching for his first grand slam title.Cilic will now face Argentina's Juan Martin Del Potro for a place in the semi-finals. Del Potro, the No6 seed, eased past former world No1 Juan Carlos Ferrero 6-3, 6-3, 6-3.US Open TennisTennisAndy MurrayKaty Murrellsguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/sep/08/andy-murray-us-open-marin-cilic
• Robson beat Lauren Embree 4-6, 61, 6-4 • 15-year-old playing for place in girls' quarter-finalLaura Robson twice came from behind to beat the seventh seed, Lauren Embree, and reach the third round of the US Open girls' singles at Flushing Meadows.The former Wimbledon junior champion lost a tight opening set to the American 18-year-old before storming back to level the match and then rallying from 4-1 down in the final set to score a 4-6 6-1 6-4 victory on Court Seven.Robson, who reached the final round of qualifying for the main women's draw in the final grand slam of 2009, will next play either the 12th seed, Tamaryn Hendler of Belgium, or Russia's Yulia Putintseva for a place in the quarter-finals.The 15-year-old was set to return to action later in the day alongside Anna Orlik of Belarus in a first-round girls' doubles tie against Japan's Miyabi Inoue and Risa Ozaki.The leading British girl Hannah Watson, seeded 11th in New York, is set to play American qualifier Courtney Dolehide in her second-round match tomorrow.British and Irish boys were also scheduled to play today. Middlesex's Oliver Golding was due to be in doubles action with Sweden's Tobias Blomgren against the Argentinian second seeds, Facundo Argüello and Agustín Velotti, while the 16-year-old Dubliner John Morrissey was set to partner India's Sudanwa Sitaram against the US pair Gonzalas Austin and Bjorn Fratangelo.Laura RobsonUS Open TennisTennisguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/sep/08/laura-robson-lauren-embree-us-open
The Serb's impromptu hit with John McEnroe has won over the US Open crowds that booed him last yearDrastic problems require drastic solutions and with the host country bereft of a representative in the men's US Open quarter-finals for the first time in the history of the tournament it was John McEnroe to the rescue.Suit jacket off, shirt tail hanging out, the four-time former champion scampered down from the television commentary box to the court at the Arthur Ashe stadium after yesterday's play had been completed and took part in an impromptu knock-up against Novak Djokovic after the Serb defeated Radek Stepanek to progress into the last eight.With the late night crowd whooping and hollering, the old man – in professional tennis terms, at least – even managed to hit a terrific volley past the flailing Serb. It was beautifully comic moment and a reminder that whatever else McEnroe was, and is, he is a showman beloved by his hometown crowd.Djokovic, on the other hand, has a more ambivalent relationship with New York fans, who were not impressed when he got into an public slanging match with Andy Roddick last year and booed him roundly. Clearly, the Serb needed to repair his image in these parts so it was little wonder he did not put up much resistance when asked to do his McEnroe impersonation after the Stepanek match.Nor was he slow in buttering up the crowd. "It actually was quite funny and the crowd loved it. That was the most important thing. And Johnny, of course, made a small favour coming down. It wasn't easy playing in jeans and suit and collared shirt, but it was a lot of fun," he said, sounding like a second-hand car salesman working the customers. His public relations advisers, who have not always had the easiest of tasks, will have been delighted. Now comes the hard part; winning the tournament.This has been a disappointing year in the grand slam events for the Serb, who was knocked out in the third round at the French Open, and did not get beyond the quarter-finals at the Australian Open and Wimbledon. He has won two tour events, in Belgrade and Dubai, but there is a sense that he has not "trained on", as they say in the thoroughbred business.One plausible explanation was that he changed his racket at the start of the season – a decision taken for financial reasons, as he has conceded – and it took him a while to become comfortable with the new equipment. Another theory is that other leading players, not least Andy Murray, who has raced past him in the world rankings, have worked out how to play him.Wherever the truth lies, Djokovic has been something of an invisible man for the first 10 days of this tournament – unfancied by most experts, and anonymous to the casual fans until his antics alongside McEnroe.Hardly surprisingly, the Serb is disinclined to accept this downbeat view of his chances. "I think I have been winning against most of the top players, and I'm absolutely aware of my quality. Now it's just a matter of a good day and good self-belief at a certain day, certain moment, and if I can play the way I played tonight, I think I can win against anybody," he said after beating Stepanek in four sets, a victory that set up a quarter-final match against the dangerous Fernando Verdasco, who beat him in the third round at Flushing Meadows in 2005.The Spaniard will present a tough examination, but Djokovic is already looking ahead. "In the last couple of years where I have played my best tennis is in the grand slams. And that wasn't the case this year but, you know, I have been playing really well in some other events," he said."So I had some ups and downs but I believe I can get far in the tournament the way I was playing in the first two rounds and today was very satisfying. I need to have a lot of self-belief and confidence, obviously which plays a big role in the late stages of the grand slams. Verdasco has been playing maybe the tennis of his life this year. So it's not going to be easy. But I believe I can get through it."If he does beat the Spaniard, Djokovic then faces a potential semi-final meeting with Roger Federer – a rematch of the 2007 final, which the Swiss won in straight sets. If he wins that one then even John McEnroe might have cede him centre stage.US Open TennisTennisLawrence Doneganguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/sep/08/us-open-novak-djokovic-radek-stepanek
• Clijsters defeats China's Li Na in just 63 minutes• Former world No1 could face Serena Williams nextKim Clijsters advanced to the US Open semi-finals as she continued her astonishing run at her first grand slam in over two years. The former world No1, playing just her third tournament since coming out of retirement having become a mother for the first time, breezed past China's 18th seed Li Na in just 63 minutes, winning 6-2, 6-4.The victory was the 26-year-old Belgian's 100th career grand slam win in her first US Open since winning it in 2005. Clijsters, who had beaten third seed Venus Williams in three sets in the previous round, also secured her sixth straight semi-final appearance in a grand slam having retired in May 2007.It was a straightforward victory for Clijsters, who went a break up in the third game and did not look back as she wrapped up the opening set in 25 minutes.It took nine games for Clijsters to make the breakthrough in the second set but once she got it the wild card wasted no time in sealing victory, earning double match point in the next game. Clijsters netted a forehand on the first point but victory was hers when Li returned a second serve on the next one with a wild forehand.Either Serena Williams, the defending champion, or 10th seed Flavia Pennetta will be Clijsters' opponent in the last four, the American and Italian meeting in a night match at Arthur Ashe Stadium tonight.US Open TennisTennisguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/sep/08/kim-clijsters-last-four-us-open
• Serb follows win with hit against commentator John McEnroe• Won round New York crowd who turned on him last yearNovak Djokovic launched a charm offensive at the US Open on Monday, marching into the quarter-finals and then thrilling the late-night crowd with a hit against the former champion-turned commentator John McEnroe.Twelve months ago, the Serb incurred the displeasure of the New Yorkers by beating Andy Roddick, then upset the fans further with a prickly court-side interview, prompting loud jeers.On Monday, however, he won them over as he thrashed the Czech Radek Stepanek 6-1 6-3 6-3 before impersonating McEnroe, then playing some points against the four-time US Open champion, who had been commentating on his match."First of all I would like to thank all the crowd for staying late," Djokovic told the spectators. "New York is a big place and there have been many big matches here at night. It's a privilege for me to play at night. I hope I have more chances to do it."Djokovic has become well-known for his impressions of many players, including Maria Sharapova and Rafael Nadal, but has cut down on performing them in public of late.But as McEnroe made his way down from the commentary box, he gave an encore, sending down a serve in the American's familiar style before yelling "You cannot be serious" when his shot missed the line.When McEnroe arrived, in trousers and a full-sleeved white shirt, the two played a few points and Djokovic bowed in reverence as the 50-year-old McEnroe hit a winning volley."It actually was quite funny and the crowd loved it. And Johnny, of course, made a small favour coming down," said the Serb. "It wasn't easy playing in jeans and suit and collared shirt but it was a lot of fun."I like to entertain the crowd. That makes me happy as well. Playing with Johnny Mac and having fun, I think that's what the crowd want, and especially in this hour, these night matches make this tournament very special."He will get back down to the serious tennis on Wednesday when he plays the Spaniard Fernando Verdasco in the last eight."I think Fernando's been playing the tennis of his life." Djokovic said. "He reached the semis of the Australian Open and he is physically much stronger. He is fit and believes he can beat the other top players."But I think overall I played really well today. I played aggressively and I didn't allow him [Stepanek] to control the match: that was the key."US Open TennisTennisguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/sep/08/novak-djokovic-john-mcenroe-radek-stepanek
• Murray faces Cilic on main show court at Flushing Meadows• Rafael Nadal versus Gaël Monfils to follow in eveningAndy Murray heads in to today's US Open fourth-round clash with Marin Cilic prepared for whatever style the tall Croatian employs against him.Murray has overcome a variety of tests in reaching the fourth round with victories over Ernests Gulbis, Paul Capdeville and Taylor Dent, and believes he will be able to deal with the 16th seed Cilic."I played three pretty different players," Murray said of his journey to the last 16. "The first one was a big server who stayed at the back. The second one didn't hit the ball that big, but really had nothing to lose. Taylor is a serve and volleyer. I thought I dealt with the different tests that were put in front of me pretty well."Murray will play Cilic at the Arthur Ashe Stadium in the last day match on the main show court at Flushing Meadows and will be followed on court in the evening by Rafael Nadal as the Spaniard takes on France's 13th seed Gaël Monfils.US Open Order of play, Tuesday 8 SeptemberArthur Ashe11:00 (1) Bob Bryan (US) & Mike Bryan (US) v Carsten Ball (Aus) & Chris Guccione (Aus), (18) Na Li (Chn) v Kim Clijsters (Bel), (16) Marin Cilic (Cro) v (2) Andy Murray (GB), (10) Flavia Pennetta (It) v (2) Serena Williams (US), (13) Gaël Monfils (Fr) v (3) Rafael Nadal (Sp)Louis Armstrong11:00 (4) Lukas Dlouhy (Cz) & Leander Paes (Ind) v (7) Wesley Moodie (SA) & Dick Norman (Bel), (6) Juan Martín Del Potro (Arg) v (24) Juan Carlos Ferrero (Sp), (3) Samantha Stosur (Aus) & Rennae Stubbs (Aus) v (8) Bethanie Mattek-Sands (US) & Nadia Petrova (Rus), (7) Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (Fr) v (11) Fernando González (Chl)Grandstand11:00 (10) Maria Kirilenko (Rus) & Elena Vesnina (Rus) v (13) Alisa Kleybanova (Rus) & Ekaterina Makarova (Rus), Ivan Ljubicic (Cro) & Michael Llodra (Fr) v (3) Mahesh Bhupathi (Ind) & Mark Knowles (Bah), (5) Su-Wei Hsieh (Tpe) & Kevin Ullyett (Zim) v (2) Cara Black (Zim) & Leander Paes (Ind), (5) Max Mirnyi (Blr) & Andy Ram (Isr) v (2) Daniel Nestor (Can) & Nenad Zimonjic (Ser), (1) Liezel Huber (US) & Mahesh Bhupathi (Ind) v Carly Gullickson (US) & Travis Parrott (US)Court 7Girl's singles 2nd rd: Laura Robson (GB) v (7) Lauren Embree (US)Court 11Boy's doubles 1st rd: Tobias Blomgren (Swe) & Oliver Golding (GB) v (2) Facundo Arguello (Arg) & Agustin Velotti (Arg)Court 13Girl's doubles 1st rd: Anna Orlik (Blr) & Laura Robson (GB) v Miyabi Inoue (Jpn) & Risa Ozaki (Jpn)Andy MurrayTennisUS Open Tennisguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/sep/08/us-open-andy-murray-nadal
The best of the men's third-round action as Andy Murray eases past Taylor Dent and Rafael Nadal defeats Nicolas Almagro
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/video/2009/sep/07/us-open-highlights-andy-murray
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