Challenger Tour Updates: Banja Luka & Istanbul

Top seeds triumph in Banja Luka

The four top seed had no troubles to win their matches and book a place in the second round.

Filippo Volandri (1) 7 – 6 6 – 2 Danilo Petrovic

Aljaz Bedene (2) 6 – 1 7 – 6 Laslo Djere

Julian Reister (3) 6 – 0 2 – 1 ret. Michal Konecny

Diego Sebastian Schwartzman (4) 6 – 1 6 – 2 Djordje Djokovic (W)

Istanbul: Philipp Petzschner and Flavio Cipolla survive early scare while Somdev Devvarman falls

The Indian Somdev Devvarman was surprised by Konstantin Kravchuk in his debut at Istanbul. The Russian won 6 – 2 6 – 3 not losing his serve during all match with a very solid performance.

Petzschner has faced several physical problems this season, but was able to pull off a three set victory over Nikoloz Basilashvili 6 – 3 2 – 6 6 – 1. Cipolla had to come back from one set down to overcome Uladzmir Igantik 4 – 6 6 – 4 6 – 3

The home favorite Marsel Ilhan had chance to serve for the first set, but wasn’t able to close it and Aldin Sektic took advantage of that to get a place in the next stage

The other Turkish player in action today, Baris Erguden who received a wild card, had no chances against first seed Garcia-Lopez. The Spanish won easily 6 – 0 6 – 2

WTA Quebec - Tuesday Analyze

This Tuesday some of the favorites of the tournament will be in action, the defending champion Kirsten Flikpens faces Polona Hercog, Lucie Safarova tries to overcome Anna Tatishvili and Bethanie Mattek-Sands has a contest with Stephanie Dubois.

Flikpens loves to play in fast surfaces where her serve and offensive tennis is more effective. Hercog prefers to play in clay, has a good top spin forehand and a kick serve, but in Indoor those weapons don’t harm her opponents. This will be the first meeting between the two and I expect a good victory from the first seed and defending champion.

Safarova knows very well how to play in Indoor and she showed last year in Fed Cup’s final against Serbia. Her powerful strokes are very hard to deal with and when Safarova is confident turns almost unstoppable. Tatishvili has been in awful form this year and lost her last six games in WTA main draws tournaments. The player from Georgia comes from US Open where she lost against Ivanovic 2 – 6 0 – 6. I predict an easy win for Safarova in this match against Anna Tatishvili.

The Canadian Stephanie Dubois will take on Bethanie Mattek-Sands and the American’s offensive game with good net skills make her a very good competitor in Indoor Hard Court. Dubois has a very weak serve and Mattek-Sands should be able to take advantage of that to take this match to her side. Mattek-Sands has played very good tennis this year and has everything to get a victory here.

There are other two interesting games today:

Melanie Oudin vs Kristina Mladenovic

Camila Giorgi vs Lauren Davis

This should be a good game at Quebec with plenty of action!

Novak Djokovic: “Rafael Nadal was too good”

Both players praised each other after the US Open final

Novak Djokovic: “I want to congratulate Rafaand his team, he was too good and deserve to win this trophy.  Disappointing to lose, but again, was a huge privilege and honor to be fighting for this trophy, one of the most valuable in our sport. I’ll be back next year and thanks for your support”

Rafael Nadal: “Playing against Novak is always a special feeling, probably no one brings my game to that limit like him, congrats Novak you’re an amazing player”

Nadal overcomes Djokovic in four sets to become US Open Champion

Rafael Nadal keeps unbeatable this year at Hard Court and conquers second US Open title 

Nadal was the first to have break points at 1 – 1 and converted his second opportunity after a forehand inside out winner.  Djokovic tried to get the break back, but Rafa saved a 0 – 30 situation to confirm the break. Rafa seemed to be in control and got a double break for a 5 – 2 lead and the chance to serve for the set. The Spanish closed the set 6 – 2 after a forehand unforced error by the Serbian. Djokovic was struggling to find his best tennis and had to improve his level after 14 unforced errors and only 6 winners.

Djokovic raise his game in the second set closing his service game with an outstanding backhand down the line winner. Nole was looking to break Nadal for the first time and had two chances for it, but El Toro saved both.  On the sixth game Djokovic finally got the break after a monumental 54 shots rally, but the Serbian seemed to be a little tired after that huge rally and was broken back. Despite losing his serve, The World No. 1 wasn’t going down without a fight and got another break after a tough game hitting the ball very deep and taking good advantage of his forehand.  With another backhand down the line winner the 2011 winner claimed the second set. Djoko was much more aggressive this set with 15 winners / 11 unforced errors and winning 9 of 10 points around the net.

The momentum was all in Djokovic’s side and the Serbian opened the third set with a love break of serve and had chance for a double break lead, but Nadal saved the break point opportunity. When serving at 3 – 2, Djokovic fired two forehand unforced errors and gave Rafa the break back. Nadal confirmed the break, however he was 0 – 40 down in his next serving game, but the 8 times Roland Garros champion found his best tennis to dig himself out of this situation. Djokovic was serving to stay in the set with 30 – 0, but Nadal fought back, won 4 straight points and took a 2 – 1 lead.

Nadal was just too strong at the time for Djokovic and got an early break with a remarkable forehand down the line winner. The Spanish got a double break lead and served for the championship at 5 – 1. With a forehand error from Djokovic the 27 years old from Mallorca claimed his second US Open title

WTA Quebec City Preview

Kirsten Flikpens aims for second straight title in Canada

After last year’s win, Kirsten Flikens returns to Quebec in search of her second career title. The 27 years old loves to play in fast surfaces and she proved that this season at Wimbledon reaching semi-finals. Flipkens considers herself an all court player: “I am an all court player. I like to do everything a bit. I would say my serve and all round game is my strength”.  Last year she defeated Dominika Cibulkova, Mirjana Lucic, Anna Tatishvili, Mona Barthel and Lucie Hradecka to get the title. With this year’s performance at Wimbledon, the Belgian climbed on WTA ranking and is the first seed in Quebec. 

The third seed Lucie Safarova is always a dangerous player, the 2009 finalist possesses a high top spin forehand and capable of hitting clear winners with her powerful groundstrokes. The Czech is not having a good momentum and only got one victory in her last six games, however Safarova isn’t a player known for her consistency and can pull off a perfect week with her powerful tennis.

Bethanie Mattek-Sands is the fifth seed and returns to Quebec after a two years absence. In her last appearance Mattek-Sands reached the final losing against Tamira Paszek in three tough sets. The American was also finalist in 2008 and has a 10 – 3 record at this competition.  The World No. 46 is known for her unique style and outfits and is able to produce very good tennis in Indoor Hard Court with powerful strokes and tremendous skills around the net.

The other player to keep an eye during the competition is the Canadian’s number one Eugenie Bouchard. After last year’s second round loss against Lucie Hradecka in a very close match where the Czech won in a third set tie break, the young Canadian is determined to improve her game level and claim her first career title. Bouchard’s aggressiveness with powerful groundstrokes and good baseline movement makes her a very good player in these conditions and with the support of Canadian crowd she can go far in this tournament.

In the main draw there are other two players who can produce very good tennis on Indoor, I’m talking about Lucie Hradecka (2012 finalist) and Tamira Paszek (2010 champion).

The first round starts today with the following games:

Christina McHale vs Tamira Paszek

Mallory Burdette vs Marina Erakovic

Ajla Tomljanovic vs Maria Sanchez

Aleksandra Wozniak vs Caroline Garcia

Serena Williams: “It’s never over until match point".

Serena Williams praised her opponent’s fighting spirit after fiery contest

Serena Williams’s words after winning 5^th US Open career title: “Thank you all for supporting me is always an honor to play in New York. Victoria you played unbelievable, you’re such a great opponent and fighter and against you things are never over until match point”.  

Victoria Azarenka lost her second straight US Open final do Serena Williams and said after the match: “It’s such a tough loss, but being in a final with a player who deserves is incredible. I gave it all this year, we left our heart, we fought hard and congratulations Serena”.

Rafael Nadal looks for perfect end on US Open Series against World No. 1 Novak Djokovic

After being undefeated all US Open Series with two Masters Titles, Rafael Nadal faces Novak Djokovic in their 37^th meeting

Nadal hasn’t lost a single match this year on Hard Court, but Djokovic is ready to rumble and to end the Spanish’s undefeated streak. Nole reaches this final after a great comeback against Stanislas Wawrinka, the Serbian was 1 – 2 down, but manage to recover and book a place in Monday’s final. Djokovic admitted that Wawrinka was the better player after the match and he was fortunate for getting this victory. About the game with Nadal, the World No.1 said that “He is playing his best tennis on Hard Court and is the better player at the moment.  It’s going to be my biggest challenge, but I know how to play against him and what I need to do”

Rafa has cruised into this final without big resistance. Only lost a set for Philipp Kohlschreiber on R16 and the first time he was broken on serve was against Richard Gasquet in the semi-final after 73 consecutive holds of serve.  Nadal knows this will be a very tough and physical battle: “We’re both playing at good level and the matches become very intense with long rallies. We push ourselves to the limit and I hope to be prepared. I need to play aggressive to have my chance on this contest”.

Nadal won the two previous meetings on Roland Garros and Cincinnati and like it happened in those matches, this one should be once again a very tough match. Nadal is playing at an outstanding level, but he wasn’t really tested so far. Djokovic on the other hand, comes from a difficult test where he passes although not playing his best.

I expect this match to be decided only in the fifth set and Nadal maybe has more chances to win in a very close and physical contest.