US Open 2014 – Serena Williams: “I've had three tries to get to 18. Hopefully I'll get there one day” - UBITENNIS
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US Open 2014 – Serena Williams: “I've had three tries to get to 18. Hopefully I'll get there one day”

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TENNIS US OPEN 2014 – 28th of August 2014. S. Williams d. V. King 6-1, 6-0. An interview with Serena Williams

 

Q. How do you do it?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Do?

Q. Singles, doubles, setting the house on fire.

SERENA WILLIAMS: You just got to do it. I’m ready, fit and feeling good.

Q. You and Venus don’t play doubles that often. Is it hard to find the rhythm initially?

SERENA WILLIAMS: It is hard sometimes to find the rhythm. But today I felt like we found the rhythm well. They played well. But I think in general we found it pretty good.

Q. In your singles match earlier, do you ever recall double-faulting three times in one game?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, I have done that before. But it’s not so often that it happens. I really had to adjust my toss today. It was just flying so far. I just should have stopped it instead of hitting it.

Q. There’s been TV and whatnot debate about you playing the doubles as well as the singles in terms of saving yourself for the singles. Talk about why you do it. Pursuit of more titles?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, to be honest, doubles helps me in my singles game. If it comes to a point where I don’t feel good, then I probably wouldn’t play. But it really helps me make better returns, know what to do better. So that’s why I’ve always actually played doubles.

Q. How great is it to play with your sister after all these years?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, it feels good. We really enjoy playing, you know, together. We really embrace being role models. We think it’s a great opportunity, and we almost feel honored and pleasured to have that label.

Q. There have already been quite a few upsets with seeded players losing, 10 women in the second round. What do you make of that?

SERENA WILLIAMS: I was a casualty before, so I don’t know. I can’t make anything of it. At this point I’m trying to stay alive.

Q. Stosur and Ivanovic are out of your side. How do you feel about that?

SERENA WILLIAMS: I didn’t know that actually. I know they had a wonderful summer, so that’s surprising. But, you know, again, I promise you, I’m trying to make it through a few rounds in a Grand Slam this year. I’m really not too much concerned about the later seeds because I haven’t made it there this year. So hopefully this year I can do something.

Q. Are you changing your practice regimen to make sure you make it further?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Actually, no, I’m not. I’ve been working really hard. The results just hadn’t been coming in the slams. I started to get some really good results this summer, and that’s given me a lot of confidence going into this last Grand Slam of the year.

Q. Do you have a Grand Slam number in mind for when it’s all said and done?

SERENA WILLIAMS: No. I never even thought I would have as many as I even have. Who am I? I’m just an average person. I never thought this would be me. So for me it’s incredible. I never really had a number. Obviously now that things are reachable, I do think of different things. But in the big picture, it’s just all an amazing, amazing ride.

Q. If you get to 18, you’re tied with Chris Evert. That’s a significant number, significant name. What would that mean to you?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, like I said, I’ve had three tries to get to 18, and it hasn’t happened, so… We’ll see, you know. Hopefully I’ll get there one day. I’m kind of stuck right now at 17, which to be honest is not a bad number to be stuck at. It’s better than 16. I honestly am really proud of everything I’ve been able to accomplish in my career. I can’t really be upset about anything.

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Dominic Stricker cruises past Luca Nardi at the Next Gen ATP Finals in Jeddah

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Third seed Dominic Stricker cruised past Luca Nardi 4-1 4-1 4-2 in 54 minutes in the fastest match in the history of the Next Gen Finals at the Next Gen ATP Finals at the King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah bouncing back from his defeat in the first match against Flavio Cobolli on Tuesday. 

 

Stricker converted four of his six break points and hit 13 winners, including 3 aces. 

Stricker came back from 15-40 down in the first game after two double faults from Nardi and broke serve with a return winner on the deciding point to take a 1-0 lead. The world number 94 saved three break-back-back points in the second game from 15-40 down before breaking for the second time in the fifth game to win the first set 4-1. 

Stricker broke serve at 30 in the second game of the second set and held serve at love in the third game to race out to a 3-0 lead. Stricker served it out on his second set point. 

Stricker earned an early break in the first game of the third set on the deciding point and held his next service games. Nardi saved the first match point but he hit his backhand into the net on the second match point after the longest rally of the match. 

“We had a long discussion yesterday evening about how to do it today. I think it was really good that we talked a lot after what maybe was not my best performance. Now to come out today like that, I think nobody expected that. I am just happy that I did it and now I am going to try my best to recover for the third group match”, said Stricker. Stricker is now 1-1 in Green Group. The Swiss player is aiming to reach his second consecutive semifinal at the Next Gen Finals. He is looking to crown a good year after reaching the fourth round at the US Open. 

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Jannik Sinner, Arnaldi End Italy’s 47-Year Wait For Davis Cup Title

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An in-form Jannik Sinner has secured Italy’s first Davis Cup title in almost half a century after crushing Alex de Minaur in straight sets. 

 

The world No.4 headed into the crucial match with his country boasting a 1-0 lead over Australia after Matteo Arnaldi won his clash against Alexi Popryin in three sets. Taking on a fiery de Minaur, a composed Sinner surged to a 6-3, 6-0, victory in Malaga to hand his country an unassailable lead and the title. The dominant performance saw Sinner produce a total of 25 winners with 18 of them coming from his forehand side. It is the sixth time he has beaten de Minaur on the Tour and he is yet to lose against him. 

“It helps a lot to play for the whole team,” Sinner said of his latest win. “It has been an incredible thing for all of us and we are really happy.”

Sinner first broke three games into his encounter with de Minaur after the Australian hit a lob shot that landed out. In control of proceedings, he rallied his way to 5-3 before opening up a 40-0 lead against his opponent’s serve. With three set points at his disposal, Sinner converted his second with the help of another unforced error coming from across the court. 

Closing in on the historic victory, the 22-year-old was in clinical form throughout the second frame as he raced to a 5-0 lead in under 30 minutes. Destroying whatever hopes Australia had of a shock comeback. Sinner closed out the match on his third attempt after a De Minaur backhand drifted wide, prompting an almighty smile on his face. 

Thanks to Australia. I know with the new format it is a little bit different to have to all come to one place. it means a lot.” Said Sinner.

In the first match of the day, Arnaldi ousted Popryin 7-5, 2-6, 6-4, in a two-and-a-half-hour marathon. The world No.44, who made his Davis Cup debut in September, held his nerve throughout a tense deciding set where he saved all eight break points he faced. Overall, he hit a total of 40 winners past Popryin and was visibly emotional afterward. 

“This match was very important and emotional for a few reasons,” Arnaldi told reporters. 
“This year for me was the first time playing for my country. I played when I was junior, but Davis Cup is just different.’
“And three weeks ago, an important person passed away. I think he gave me the power to try to stay there (in the match). It wasn’t easy to play, but they gave me the power at the end to try to win.”

It is the second time in history Italy has won the Davis Cup and the first since 1976. The triumph caps off what has been a memorable week for the team who 24 hours earlier beat Novak Djokovic’s Serbia in the semi-finals with Sinner saving three match points against the world No.1 in the singles. 

“I’m really thankful and proud to have these guys,” Italian captain Filippo Volandri commented.
“We have had to manage with a lot of emergencies during these past two years but we did it and we did it like a family.” He added.

Italy, who has become the 11th country in history to win Multiple Davis Cup titles, currently has six players in the ATP top 100 with four of those being in the top 50. 

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Alexander Zverev Deserves More Respect According To Boris Becker

According to Boris Becker, Alexander Zverev deserves more respect from tennis journalists.

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Alexander Zverev (@WeAreTennis - Twitter)

Boris Becker has claimed that Alexander Zverev deserves more respect despite Zverev failing to live up to his potential at Grand Slams.

 

Zverev has only reached one Grand Slam final in his career despite being a regular inside the world’s top ten as well as performing at regular ATP events.

This season Zverev played a limited schedule after recovering from an ankle injury but still managed to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals.

However most critics have been loud when judging Zverev’s career as it was looking likely that he would be a regular Grand Slam champion.

The German has failed to live up to expectations but former Grand Slam champion Boris Becker believes Zverev deserves more respect.

Speaking to Eurosport Becker also said that Zverev’s father being the coach is a more than successful approach when it comes to the former US Open finalist’s career, “In my opinion, he doesn’t get enough respect from the tennis experts internationally,” Becker explained.

“They’re all talking about the young three or four, but don’t give Zverev, Medvedev or Rublev enough respect. He’s playing with his fist in his pocket a little bit, wants everyone show that he is not a thing of the past, but that his best time is yet to come.

“Surely his father knows best what is good for his son, but if you look into the box at the competition, you can also see changes.”

Becker has followed Zverev for most of his career so knows that the best is yet to come from the German.

Alexander Zverev will look to prove himself next season when he starts his 2024 season when he represents Germany at the United Cup.

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