TENNIS US OPEN – Our Giulio Gasparin has selected the best quotes from Day 5 at Flushing Meadows. Federer, Sharapova, Wozniacki, Venus Williams, Errani, Halep, Lucic-Baroni and Belinda Bencic
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Roger Federer won in straight sets against the holder of the fastest serve in the men’s tour (263km/h!), Sam Groth.
The Australian was more than serve though, and volleying gave a great show on Arthur Ashe stadium.
“Whenever somebody is at the net or you’re at the net, there’s always something of the unknown that’s going to happen a little bit more,” said Federer. “Whereas at the baseline you’re so far away from your opponent that you see it happening.
You have time to react to it. That can become sometimes a bit boring, I must say, as well. Like the big serving can be boring, as well.
“I like the mix of playing these kind of opponents and then totally different in the next match. But got to appreciate, you know, those kind of matchups, because we don’t have them very often anymore, unfortunately.”
In regards of the big weapon of his opponent, he said: “The difference between 142mph and 147, there’s none really in the racquet. I think once you pass the 135mph range everything is just really fast. It’s true, though (smiling).”
He is on a mission in New York, going for the 18th slam, likewise in the women’s draw Serena Williams is doing the same, but for the Swiss champion there is little in common between them two: “Probably serve about the same speed. That’s about it.”
Maria Sharapova had a tough night match against the women’s holder of world’s fastest serve, Sabine Lisicki, but managed to close in straight sets, proving to be one of the few big names surviving the last couple of days, when Simona Halep, Agnieszka Radwanska and Angelique Kerber all fell.
“Quite honestly, I have to follow my own path,” she said. “Of course, you know, I’m not someone that doesn’t look at the draw. I usually follow the draw. I enjoy watching matches occasionally when I have some time, some free time.
“I did see some of the results. Of course, that’s why we always play the matches. You always have favorites going into the tournament. The reason there’s so many players is because we have to go out and win those matches and compete.
“There’s a reason everybody puts the net up in the morning. It’s for us to go out and challenge ourselves. There have been a few upsets, and certainly happy that I got through today.”
The French Open champion will now play against Danish Caroline Wozniacki, who upset her in New York a couple of years ago.
“I’m happy I finished the match in two sets,” she admitted. “I had a very tough, physical, two and a half hour match a couple days ago, so I was glad I was able to finish this one a bit quicker and give myself more time to recover for the next one.”
A lot of tension, but also great quality were featured in the three sets match between Venus Williams and Sara Errani. The match finished with the bizarre score of 6-0 0-6 7-6 for the Italian, who found two of the best points of the tournament to finish the match.
“I think she played really well,” said Williams. “I think she just played one of the best matches of her life. You know, that’s pretty much what I can say.
“Everybody’s playing well these days. You have to be ready. I mean, the last two points in the tiebreaker she played really flawless tennis.”
Sara Errani was over the moon after this win, though in the tiebreak she was involved in a small incident as she pulled her finger to the lips silencing a very noisy crowd.
“In the 5-4 to go 5-All in the tiebreak I heard the crowd,” she said. “Never hear the crowd like that strong. I was shaking for the crowd. Was unbelievable good.
“I think I will remember forever that moment. Of course in the point after I was nervous. I was, ‘Now you don’t scream’, like if they didn’t scream. But of course the crowd was for her, totally for her. I don’t know why I did like that.”
It was not the day for Simona Halep, instead. The second seed got upset in straight set by Croatian veteran Mirjana Lucic-Baroni, who had to qualify to the main draw and now will compete in her first round 4 after 15 years.
“Everything was in for her,” said the Romanian. “It wasn’t my best day, but still I did everything I could on court. She was better than me today.
“I can say I’m happy for her, because she played and she deserves to win. I wish her good luck for the next rounds.
“She plays really well, and, you know, when you play well you deserve to win. So was her chance today, and she took it.”
The Croat showed up a while later in the press room being still shocked but what she had done, after all the injuries she suffered over and over in her career.
“I mean, it’s amazing. I finally been able to play the tennis that I love the way I love to play,” said the 32 year old. “You know, being really aggressive and consistent at the same time.
“I keep playing better and better each round. Today was against one of the best players in the world.”
She hardly kept the tears from coming when she finally let her emotions out.
“Well, I mean, I’m a little bit emotional now. Sorry. (Crying.)
“It’s been really hard. Sorry. After so many years to be here again, it’s incredible. I wanted this so bad.
“I feel goofy right now. I feel like I’m 15 now. I feel so excited. It’s crazy. I’m 32, but I don’t feel like that. My body is really great. That’s really important. I feel fit. I feel strong in my mind. I feel very excited, even after so many years on tour.”
From a former junior promise, to the current teenage-sensation. Belinda Bencic caused the second biggest upset of the day by beating German Angelique Kerber in straight sets.
The win felt nowhere as good as for the Croat for the young Swiss, who saw this as one more step in her promising career.
“Yeah, it motivates me even more to work harder,” she admitted. “And now not just to be satisfied with it, but I want more. I will do my best that I can reach in all the Grand Slams a good result.”
