US Open - Djokovic, Nadal aiming for US Open showdown

US Open - Djokovic, Nadal aiming for US Open showdown

Novak Djokovic and Rafa Nadal can set up a delectable US Open final between the top two players in the world with 2013 Grand Slam bragging rights at stake by posting victories in Saturday's semi-finals.

 

Australian Open champion Djokovic and French Open winner Nadal have designs on adding a second Grand Slam to their honours this year but first must get past familiar foes in Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka and France's Richard Gasquet, respectively.

Top-seeded Djokovic, who advanced to his 14th successive Grand Slam semi-final with a four-set victory over Mikhail Youzhny, and Nadal, a straight-sets winner over fellow-Spaniard Tommy Robredo, have both lost only one set in the tournament.

The darkhorse challengers, however, are at the top of their games, both wielding lethal one-handed backhands as a key part of their arsenal.

Nadal said there was no danger of him looking past longtime friend Gasquet and at a possible marquee clash with Djokovic.

"I hope to be ready to play a good match against Richard. If not, I will not have the chance to play the final," the second-seeded Spaniard said.

"If I don't play great match against Richard, I will see the final on TV. I am focused only to play great match in semi-finals against Richard."

The eighth-seeded Gasquet went five sets to beat big-serving Milos Raonic of Canada in the fourth round, and went the distance again to eliminate fourth-seeded Spaniard David Ferrer in the quarters.

Wawrinka caused an even bigger splash as he improved his 2013 record to 41-15 by ousting Wimbledon winner and defending US Open champion Andy Murray of Britain in three breezy sets in his quarter-finals tilt.

The Swiss said he was most proud of how he dealt with the pressure of playing against Murray, since in the past he has often been plagued by nerves.

"My level of tennis right now is quite good. I'm really confident with myself, with my game," said 28-year-old Wawrinka, whose victory over third seed Murray lifted him to his first Grand Slam semi-final.

Djokovic knows first-hand how dangerous Wawrinka can be, having gone through a titanic five-set struggle against him in the fourth round at the Australian Open that he clinched 12-10 in the final set of a superb contest.

"It's definitely one of the most exciting matches I have played in my life on this surface, that was played on a very, very high level," the Serb said about that hard court encounter in Melbourne on his way to winning a third straight Australian crown.

"In the past we all knew that he has the quality to play that well, but not in a consistent basis.

"He's a very complete player. He can play equally well on any surface. He had one of the best seasons in his life."

Wawrinka said the contest against Djokovic was a turning point for him.

"It's one of the keys of the season, for sure," the Swiss said. "That was a really tough moment, but at the end, I was really positive with that match because all Australian Open my level was quite good and was better than ever."

Djokovic said he was bracing for Wawrinka's best after his impressive performance against Murray.

"That was quite impressive," he said. "I'm sure he's very confident and he has nothing to lose now. He's going to go for the win."

Djokovic leads their head-to-head series 12-2, with wins in their last 11 meetings.

Nadal is a perfect 10-0 against Gasquet, who he has competed against since their junior days.

The Spaniard said he had great respect for his opponent and was pleased to see him make it to the last four at Flushing Meadows.

"He's a nice guy, very nice person, one of the players on the tour that I feel closer (to) because we are from the same age. We always had a good feeling," said Nadal.

"So it's great, no? When you see a player like Richard that we grow up in similar ways and we played when we were kids. We have the chance to be in the semi-finals of the US Open, so is great."

Even Djokovic felt good about Gasquet's advance to his second Grand Slam semi-final following his maiden journey six years ago at Wimbledon.

"Richard was always one of the most talented players that played the game with one of the most beautiful and also most efficient backhands that we have seen," said Djokovic.

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US Open - China's Li laments stage fright in semi-final loss

US Open - China's Li laments stage fright in semi-final loss

A disappointed Li Na admitted to an attack of stage fright in her humbling US Open semi-final loss to Serena Williams and said she would have lost to any opponent she faced on Friday.

 

The first Chinese to reach the last four at Flushing Meadows, a shell-shocked Li crumbled to a 6-0 6-3 loss in 87 minutes on Arthur Ashe Stadium's centre court.

The 31-year-old has long been accustomed to the glare of the Grand Slam spotlight, winning a French Open two years ago and reaching her second Australian Open final this year, but was already overwhelmed by the occasion before hitting a ball.

"It's not about the technique," Li said. "It's about the problem with myself.

"First time in the semis, I was thinking about the situation. Today, it doesn't matter who the opponent is. The problem is myself."

Asia's first Grand Slam singles winner, Li lost the first set in 29 minutes and despite taking an early break in the second set, slumped to 5-2 and the brink of defeat.

Only then did she produce her best and most aggressive tennis, saving six match points and forcing the defending champion Williams to serve out the match.

A sometimes reluctant standard-bearer for Chinese tennis, the world number six has blown hot and cold throughout her career, her seven WTA singles titles often bookended by wretched form slumps when her confidence deserts her.

"Even if today I was playing against (a player with) the ranking of 100, (there would) still (be) the same problem," she said.

"When I walked to the court, I was feeling like the court was so big. My side was feeling like a football court.

"I cannot focus. In the end, finally I can play tennis."

Williams will face Belarusian second seed Victoria Azarenka in Sunday's final, a mouthwatering re-match of last year's title-decider.

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US Open - Path to men's semi-finals

US Open - Path to men's semi-finals

The paths to the US Open men's semi-finals to be played on Saturday at the US National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York.

 

 

(Prefix denotes seeding, q-qualifier, wc-wild card)

1-Novak Djokovic (Serbia), world number one

First round - Ricardas Berankis (Lithuania) 6-1 6-2 6-2

Second round - Benjamin Becker (Germany) 7-6(2) 6-2 6-2

Third round - Joao Sousa (Portugal) 6-0 6-2 6-2

Fourth round - Marcel Granollers (Spain) 6-3 6-0 6-0

Quarter-finals - 21-Mikhail Youzhny (Russia) 6-3 6-2 3-6 6-0

Time on court: eight hours, 46 minutes

v

9-Stanislas Wawrinka (Switzerland), world number 10

First round - Radek Stepanek (Czech Republic) 7-6(2) 6-3 6-2

Second round - q-Ivo Karlovic (Croatia) 7-5 7-6(8) 6-4

Third round - Marcos Baghdatis (Cyprus) 6-3 6-2 6-7(1) 7-6(7)

Fourth round - 5-Tomas Berdych (Czech Republic) 3-6 6-1 7-6(6) 6-2

Quarter-finals - 3-Andy Murray (Britain) 6-4 6-3 6-2

Time on court: 13 hours, 12 minutes

--

2-Rafa Nadal (Spain), world number two

First round - wc-Ryan Harrison (U.S.) 6-4 6-2 6-2

Second round - q-Rogerio Dutra Silva (Brazil) 6-2 6-1 6-0

Third round - Ivan Dodig (Croatia) 6-4 6-3 6-3

Fourth round - 22-Philipp Kohlschreiber (Germany) 6-7(4) 6-4 6-3 6-1

Quarter-finals - 19-Tommy Robredo (Spain) 6-0 6-2 6-2

Time on court: 10 hours, 38 minutes

v

8-Richard Gasquet (France), world number nine

First round - Michael Russell (U.S.) 6-3 6-4 6-2

Second round - q-Stephane Robert (France) 6-3 7-5 7-5

Third round - 32-Dmitry Tursunov (Russia) 6-3 2-6 6-4 4-2 ret.

Fourth round - 10-Milos Raonic (Canada) 6-7(4) 7-6(4) 2-6 7-6(9) 7-5

Quarter-finals - 4-David Ferrer (Spain) 6-3 6-1 4-6 2-6 6-3

Time on court: 14 hours, 47 minutes

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US Open - Day 13 order of play

US Open - Day 13 order of play

Order of play for day 13 of the US Open, with semi-finals between Novak Djokovic and Stanislas Wawrinka, and Rafael Nadal and Richard Gasquet.

 

Arthur Ashe Stadium

12:00pm (17:00 UK time)

Men's singles semi-finals

1-Novak Djokovic (Serbia) v 9-Stanislas Wawrinka (Switzerland)

Not before 2:50pm (19:50 UK time)

8-Richard Gasquet (France) v 2-Rafa Nadal (Spain)

Not before 3:30pm (20:30 UK time)

Women's doubles final

5-Andrea Hlavackova (Czech Republic) and Luci Hradecka (Czech Republic) v 8-Ashleigh Barty (Australia) and Casey Dellacqua (Australia)

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US Open - Pennetta bows out after exceeding expectations

US Open - Pennetta bows out after exceeding expectations

Flavia Pennetta's dream of a first Grand Slam final was crushed by Victoria Azarenka's straight sets semi-final win but the Italian left the US Open still proud of her unexpected run to the last four.

 

Three times previously Pennetta has been beaten at the quarter-final stage at Flushing Meadows and few had anticipated doing better just a year after a serious wrist injury.

"It wouldn't be right to leave here feeling regrets. It has been a great tournament for me," the Italian said after her 6-4 6-2 loss.

"Sure, there is a little bit of a bitter taste in my mouth about losing but this has been a super and positive week.

"I played the number two in the world and I had my chances," added the 31-year-old from Puglia.

Having returned from injury slowly, with some poor results in the first half of the year, Pennetta showed throughout the tournament a wide range of shots and an ability to mix them up.

But while her best ever performance in a Grand Slam comes just 12 months after missing the US Open while she sat at home recovering from wrist surgery, Pennetta rejected the notion that she was enjoying a second career.

"I don't think so. There are ups and downs in every career and each game only lasts for one day and you have to move on to the next one," she said.

"I really didn't expect to arrive at this level this year to be honest."

In the past Pennetta has had a tendency to be over-adventurous but she said against Azarenka she had reined in her attacking instincts.

"To beat these kind of players you have to play very aggressively, you have to try to find more winners and in that case you're going to miss more also.

"But actually today I think I didn't do it too much. I didn't go for a big, big winners all the time.

"She's stronger than me and in the end she was winning more points than me."

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US Open - Azarenka relishes chance to face Serena

US Open - Azarenka relishes chance to face Serena

A confident Victoria Azarenka will get a chance to avenge last year's US Open final defeat to Serena Williams after the pair came through their semi-finals to set up a re-match.

 

Second-seed Azarenka beat Italy's Flavia Pennetta 6-4 6-2 and will now face an opponent she has beaten just three times in 15 meetings.

Two of those wins have come this year, on hard courts in Doha and Cincinnati, but Azarenka isn't reading too much into those results.

"It's not that I don't care what happened in the past, but I don't think there is a need to pay so much attention to what happened," said the Belarusian. "It's always a new story.

"I don't even think that it's going to be close to the same as it was last year.

"We know each other pretty well. I know her strengths; she knows my strengths."

Last year's final went to three sets with Williams edging the final set 7-5 but Azarenka believes her game has improved in the past 12 months.

"It hasn't changed tremendously but there are aspects that got better physically," said Azarenka, who will be trying to add the US Open crown to her two Australian Open grand slam titles. "Mentally I felt like (this year) was a great turning point for me on some level for my career.

"I feel like I'm a better player. I'm a more complete player."

Azarenka didn't sparkle against Pennetta, grinding out a win in a match which saw her serve broken five times and she conceded that she struggled to find momentum.

"There are always things that can be better. I felt like the first set was a little bit tricky - the momentum wasn't there," she said.

"Just being able to pick up and raise the level in the important moments, that's what it's all about, to be able to do that."

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US Open - Williams sets up Azarenka re-match in New York

US Open - Williams sets up Azarenka re-match in New York

Defending champion Serena Williams slugged her way to a US Open title rematch against Victoria Azarenka with a 6-0 6-3 victory over Li Na in the semi-finals.

 

World number one Williams thrashed a rattled Li, overcoming some staunch resistance at the end, while Azarenka returned to the Flushing Meadows final with a 6-4 6-2 win over unseeded Italian Flavia Pennetta.

"Just to be able to defend a title for once would be really awesome," said French Open winner Williams, who will get her chance on Sunday after failing to go back-to-back following her 1999, 2002 and 2008 titles in New York.

Although overpowered in the opening set, Li battled valiantly in the second, saving six match points to hold serve before the top seed finally closed the deal on a seventh with an unreturned serve.

"It was a good match. It was tough at the end," Williams said. "I got a little nervous but I was able to close it out."

Former French Open champion Li, China's first semi-finalist at the US Open, admitted that she experienced a bout of nerves when she hit the Arthur Ashe Stadium court.

"I should not be, like, nervous because (it was) not (the) first time to play semis," said Li, twice an Australian Open finalist. "But when I walked to the court I was feeling the court (was) so big. I mean, even my side, it was feeling like a football court.

"In the end, finally, I can play tennis," she added with a smile.

Williams, hot off a 6-0 6-0 quarter-final win against Spain's Carla Suarez Navarro, had won 24 consecutive games before Li held serve in the second game of the second set.

"To hear constantly, 'go Serena, go Serena,' it is really a pleasure. I hear young voices and older voices and it really makes me feel so special," said Williams.

Williams and Azarenka's final will be the first back-to-back title clash at the US Open since Serena and her older sister Venus battled for the crown in 2002.

Belarusian Azarenka trails 12-3 head-to-head against Williams, but has won two of their last three matches, hardcourt finals in Doha and Cincinnati.

"When you play against Serena, you have to play your best," said Azarenka. "She makes me play my best."

Williams is bidding for a fifth US Open title and her 17th in Grand Slams.

At 31, she would become the oldest women's winner at Flushing Meadows since tennis turned professional in 1968, supplanting Australia's Margaret Court who won in 1973.

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