The Star Online: Sports
The Star Online: Sports |
- Djokovic and Nadal game to serve up another classic
- Dyson wins third Dutch Open title in six years
- Monza win moves Vettel closer to second title
| Djokovic and Nadal game to serve up another classic Posted: 11 Sep 2011 06:50 PM PDT US OPEN NOVAK Djokovic and Rafa Nadal will meet in the US Open final for the second year in a row after winning their semi-finals on a day of unrelenting drama and precision tennis at Flushing Meadows on Saturday. Djokovic showed why he is the hottest player in the game right now when he saved two match points to roar back from the brink of defeat and beat Roger Federer in a five-set thriller that whipped the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd into a frenzy of excitement. Then Nadal, his form and confidence soaring with each match he plays, powered past Britain's Andy Murray 6-4, 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 and set up a mouthwatering rematch between the top two players in the world. Nadal beat Djokovic 12 months ago to complete his collection of Grand Slam titles but the Serbian has had his measure this year. "I've lost my last five matches against him, five finals," Nadal said. "He's obviously the favourite for the final, and I know I have to do something better than those other matches to try and change the situation. For Djokovic, who has already won two Grand Slam titles this year, at the Australian Open and Wimbledon, there was just relief that he made the final after he survived a pulsating contest with Federer that could have gone either way. Federer won the first two sets then regained his composure to lead 5-3 in the fifth. The Swiss maestro, a five-time champion at Flushing Meadows served for the match and had two match points, but Djokovic saved them both and won the last four games to complete an incredible comeback. "It's a sport where one wins, one loses," Djokovic said. "We have a saying, 'what doesn't kill you makes you stronger." Djokovic also hailed his epic five-set US Open semi-final triumph over Federer. "This is my greatest victory of 2011 and one of the greatest of my career," "I managed to play better, to switch gears, and I managed to play two incredible sets - third and fourth. Then I felt it's the moment when I should step in and show what I got, and it paid off." For Federer, it was a heart-breaking loss. He may have won more Grand Slam titles than any other man that has played the game but his last was at the 2010 Australian Open. Now on the wrong side of 30, he doesn't move as fast as he once could and hit a string of ugly shanks. "Sure, it's disappointing, but I have only myself to blame," said Federer. "I set it all up perfect, but I couldn't finish it." "It hurts, but it's fine. It could be worse. It could be a final." Murray, 24, never really threatened Nadal although he had the consolation of taking a set off him, a feat that none of his other opponents have managed at the US Open this year. He played aggressively, cracking 44 winners, 13 more than Nadal, but his 55 unforced errors were more than twice his opponent's total. The Scotsman still has time on his side but he carries the added burden of 75 years of British frustration. The world number four made the semi-finals of all four Grand Slams this year but is still searching for his first major win. "It's something I want to try and achieve, but if you want to judge someone's whole career based purely on Slams, I would have had a terrible career," he said. "I've still got hopefully three or four more years where I'm playing the tennis in my peak. I need to stay healthy and improve." — Reuters RESULTS MEN'S SINGLES MEN'S DOUBLES WOMEN'S SINGLES |
| Dyson wins third Dutch Open title in six years Posted: 11 Sep 2011 06:47 PM PDT HILVERSUM (Holland): Simon Dyson claimed his third Dutch Open title in six years with a one–shot win over fellow Briton David Lynn yesterday. A closing four–under 66 for a 12–under 268 over an Hilversumsche course saturated by week–long heavy rain earned the 33–year–old victory. Another former winner, US Open champion Rory McIlroy, was two strokes behind. Dyson, the winner of the event in 2006 and 2009, began the final round two strokes adrift of another Briton, Gary Orr and South African James Kingston. However, a three–birdie run from the 12th took him past early frontrunner Orr and to the top of the leaderboard. A birdie finish by Dyson was then just enough to hold off Lynn, who picked up a shot on the last to go past McIlroy. Orr's bogey on 18 relegated the 44–year–old to fourth place, three strokes in arrears of Dyson. Dyson's win, worth US$427,000, was his second of the season following success in the Irish Open and sixth of his career, taking him to ninth on the European money list, into the world's top 50 and second on the European Ryder Cup points table. His third success in Holland equalled the feats of Seve Ballesteros and Bernhard Langer. "It was pointed out to me when I received the trophy; to be mentioned in the same breath as Seve Ballesteros and Bernhard Langer is such an honour," Dyson told reporters. "It's something I'll cherish all my life. "The last seven holes today were some of the best golf I've ever played." McIlroy, playing alongside Dyson, charged to within a stroke of the lead early on but intermittent mistakes dented the Northern Irishman's chances. His consolation was to edge past Germany's Martin Kaymer, who missed the cut, into the world number three position. "I should have made more of the fast start I had," McIlroy said after enhancing his finish by also closing with two birdies for a 67. "But two top threes in a row and maybe another move up the world rankings, it's not been a bad couple of weeks." World number two Lee Westwood's 66 took him up to fifth place, four strokes behind Dyson. Britain and Ireland's Seve Trophy captain Paul McGinley was unable to find the form that earned him a scintillating 64 in the third round and he finished five strokes adrift. – Reuters |
| Monza win moves Vettel closer to second title Posted: 11 Sep 2011 06:44 PM PDT ITALIAN GRAND PRIX DEFENDING drivers' world champion Sebastian Vettel moved within sight of retaining his title with ease yesterday when he drove to a comprehensive victory at a crash-hit and thrilling Italian Grand Prix. As the 24-year-old German steered his Red Bull car clear of the field, his nearest title rival and team-mate Mark Webber, 35, crashed out - leaving the dazzling Vettel to open up a luxurious 112 points lead with six races remaining. Briton Jenson Button finished second in the leading McLaren after a typically well judged drive. Two-time champion and local hero Fernando Alonso fought to hang on for a rousing third place for Ferrari, to the delight of the tifosi who invaded the circuit at the finish to cheer their famous team's colours on the elevated podium. Alonso is now second in the title race, albeit a massive 112 points behind, meaning Vettel is now likely to win his second title at the Japanese Grand Prix in early October providing he does not suffer any catastrophic setback in Singapore later this month. Lewis Hamilton, frustrated by Michael Schumacher and ultimately frustrated also by Alonso in the closing laps, came home fourth, just a few metres behind Alonso. Schumacher, a five-time winner at Monza, finished fifth for Mercedes thanks to another performance that stirred memories of his halcyon days as the supreme champion. Vettel's win was his eighth of the season and the 18th of his exceptional, if brief career, bringing him also his 31st podium finish in only his 75th race - a record that hoists him into the company of many of the sport's greatest. He won his maiden F1 race three years ago in torrential rain at the same Monza circuit for the Toro Rosso team and, perhaps signalling his feelings about that memory and his progress, he was close to tears as he acknowledged the hordes below on the circuit. "Well done Sebastian, you have won the Italian Grand Prix. Fantastic," said his team chief Red Bull on the team radio. "Yes! Yes! We did it," replied the driver. "Nobody can believe it. We did it! Thank you boys." At the start Vettel was slow to accelerate away from his 10th pole this year and the 25th of his career - allowing both Hamilton and Alonso, from fourth place, to draw alongside in the roaring run to the first chicane. There Alonso took command for Ferrari with great courage and aplomb ahead of Vettel with Hamilton third and, remarkably, Schumacher, who started eighth and swept through to fourth. Behind this cluster of champions, the first chicane claimed its usual bunch of victims as Italian Vitantioni Liuzzi of Hispania ran off on the approach and on to the grass and, out of control, slid sideways into the Renault of Russian Vitaly Petrov who, in turn, smacked into the Mercedes of German Nico Rosberg. This trio were eliminated and the safety car was sent out while the mechanical carnage was cleared. The field remained unchanged with Alonso in front until the safety car came in at the start of lap four when a sleepy Hamilton was passed by the alert and in-form Schumacher, making light of his age. One lap later, more drama erupted when Webber collided with Felipe Massa, his Red Bull losing the front wing which was stuck under his car. Inevitably, Webber crashed out at Parabolica shortly after Vettel had taken the lead with a bold attack around the outside of Alonso at Curva di Lesmo. As Vettel surged two seconds clear behind him there was a notable scrap between Hamilton and Schumacher. In one episode, Hamilton passed Schumacher who responded and regained his place. In another, as Hamilton - in the faster car - went by on the inside approach to Lesmo, Schumacher chopped across him and forced him briefly on to the grass. — AFP |
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