2015 Australian Open: Interviews, Results, OOP, Draws - UBITENNIS
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2015 Australian Open: Interviews, Results, OOP, Draws

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TENNIS 2015 AUSTRALIAN OPEN – Here you can find all the interviews, the results, the draws and the Order of Play for the first Grand Slam of the year.

 

Results

Order Of Play

Men’s singles draw

Women’s singles draw

Men’s doubles draw

Women’s doubles draw

Mixed doubles draw

Interviews

01.02.2015

Djokovic: “I had a crisis end of the second, beginning of the third. Just felt very exhausted and I needed some time to regroup and recharge”

Murray: “I have no idea what the issue was. He obviously looked like he was in quite a bad way at the beginning of the third set”

Paes and Hingis: “I was never really completely out of the picture, away from tennis. It was always part of my life one way or another”

31.01.2015

Bolelli and Fognini: “I have very good sensation Davis Cup, but this one, I mean, we won a Grand Slam title. Is a big thing”

S.Williams: “I was coughing so much. It was just forcing things out of me. So I was just trying to pull myself together”

Sharapova: “No matter how you played, well or not, whatever the scoreline is, it’s always tough. But it will be all right”

Murray: “I didn’t watch any of the match last night. I’ll watch some of it this evening and then chat to Amélie”

30.01.2015

Djokovic: “I’m proud of the fighting spirit that I had. But the level of performance was not where I wanted it to be”

Wawrinka: “I think my game is there. I’m playing great tennis. Physically I’m there. It’s going to be tough, but I need to take the positive from already being in the semifinal”

29.01.2015

Murray: “I sat in here the other day and got asked more questions about Dani than I did about the match I just played. So you wanted there to be tension”

Berdych: “There is no really big deal about anything what was happening today on the court. I mean, it was a great battle. Unfortunately with a bad end for me”

S.Williams: “I love going to the Olympics to trade pins. I think that’s my ticket in. I could definitely see me doing Fed Cup work”

Keys: “I’m really happy to have gotten this far in a tournament. It’s my first one. Just looking forward to having more”

Sharapova: “I usually stick to the same routines. The only difference is it’s only one more to go. You’re not saving yourself for anything else”

Makarova: “I hope so I will finally take the next step. It was a great two Grand Slams for me in my career”

Fognini & Bolelli: “I’m happy because I think we are a really good team”

Leconte: “The Davis Cup was difficult to swallow for everyone, for the players as well”

Court: “It’s not easy (for Serena to reach 24 Slam titles) everything has to be right”

28.01.2015

Djokovic: “Tonight there was not much I could complain about. From the first game till the last I played the way I wanted”

Raonic: “He just didn’t allow me to organize my game”

Wawrinka: “Now I’m going to enjoy a little bit, watch who’s going to win tonight and get ready for the semifinal”

Nishikori: “If I could get that one, might change the whole thing. But he was serving really well. So I think I have to give him credit”

S.Williams: “I’ve been sick the past few days. It’s just getting worse and worse. But hopefully it will start getting better”

Cibulkova: “Really pleased with the way the tournament went and with the way I played. I’m really happy to be on a good track again”

Keys: “Have had some problems with that part of my leg. So it was kind of an overwhelming moment. It was kind of scary”

V.Williams: “I think losses like this, even though they’re not fun they’re good, because I’ll learn a lot more from this”

27.01.2015

Murray: “My goal isn’t to beat Dani; my goal is to beat Berdych”

Kyrgios: “I wasn’t even sure I’d be playing the event. It just been a massive couple of weeks just trying to get fit”

Berdych: “We set up before the match the right tactics. Then I was able to execute that on the court. That’s what I’m really happy”

Nadal: “If” doesn’t exist in sport. That’s the real thing. If, if, if – never comes. The thing is, you have to do it. I didn’t have the chance to play the fourth; I lost the third, so that’s it”

Sharapova: “It was important to change some things around and just to come out with a little bit of a different perspective and play a bit better”

Bouchard: “I felt under pressure the whole time, a bit on my back foot. I mean, that’s not how I want to play”

Makarova: “I’m not shy on the tennis court. It’s different situation when I’m sitting here and you are asking me questions”

Halep: “Wasn’t my good day. I had a bad day. But she played well and everything was in for her. So she deserves this winning”

26.01.2015

Djokovic: “Courts or the balls, something out of these two elements have speeded up the game here in Australia”

Muller: “Think if you play like that, you’re going to play a good match, but you have no chance to win it”

V.Williams: “I think I played well when it mattered. Her style of game was completely different than the first three players I played”

Radwanska: “In important moments I didn’t really take my chances. Slipped very quickly, especially the third set”

Raonic: “Overall I can’t complain too much. I fought my way through”

Lopez: “For me was difficult to hold serve all the time, knowing that he’s going to win his serve pretty easy all the time”

Nishikori: “Florida nobody talk to me. In Japan, yes, it’s little bit different. Lot of people recognize me. Not easy to walk on the street”

Ferrer: “I began the season winning a lot of matches. I won Doha. I did here four rounds. I am positive”

Wawrinka: “I’m not focused to win a major. I’m taking match after match. I know it’s difficult to do it. It’s amazing I already did one”

S.Williams: “I think I caught that bug. I’ve just been sick. I’ve been fighting it with vitamin C”

Muguruza: “I can say, okay, I lost to Serena. Okay, I did a good tournament. I improve a lot”

Cibulkova: “I have to compensate my height with something, so I just put a lot of energy in my tennis”

Azarenka: “I take it as a progress. I think there are a lot of the positive things to take from here”

25.01.2015

Murray: “I asked my box why they were making the noise. They said that Kyrgios had just finished”

Dimitrov: “I’m not going to hide my disappointment. I’m pissed”

Kyrgios: “I think I’m just managing my emotions a bit better out there. I thought I was pretty composed for the whole match”

Seppi: “He served well in important moments. That was the key. That’s why he won”

Halep: “A lot of confidence I have now because I didn’t lose a set”

Berdych: “Well, I’m feeling very good. It’s been a great, great run so far”

Tomic: “I spoke to a few people about it. Lleyton as well. I think the scheduling was like ridiculous this year”

Nadal: “I changed completely the position on the return. I was returning very close to the baseline”

Sharapova: “When I step on the court, I have a great sense of feeling and power”

Bouchard: “It’s disappointing for me because I want to play so well and I want to be perfect”

24.01.2015

Keys: “I just tried to stay solid and consistently keep doing what I was trying to do”

Kvitova: “Don’t know what happened, but I couldn’t put a serve in. So it was the main issue, for sure”

Djokovic: “I thought I served very well, allowed myself to have a lot of free points in the first serve”

Nishikori: “I was hitting to only his backhand, especially first set. He was playing really solid actually”

Azarenka: “I don’t think I’ve changed as a person. I think I grew as a person”

S.Williams: “I wasn’t very happy, to be honest. I was rooting for Roger”

V.Williams: “I always believe in my ability, but sometimes you don’t get results for whichever reason”

Wawrinka: “When Roger make double- fault, that mean he not in a big day. Was a big surprise for everybody”

Lopez: “Milos is one of the greatest players in the game right now. I think is going to be very close”

Raonic: “I don’t think Hisense and Margaret Court are that quick. They’re much slower than the outside courts”

Muguruza: “I’m really happy. Three victories in a Grand Slam”

Radwanska: “Of course Navratilova is also commentating, but she’s always there when I’m practicing or playing match”

23.01.2015

Seppi: “To beat Roger first time, especially in a Grand Slam, best-of-five, is a special moment for me”

Federer: “I guess I won the wrong points. I felt for some reason yesterday and this morning it was not going to be very simple today”

Murray: “Some of the stuff that was said about me I thought was completely unfair. Yeah, the other night kind of proved it”

Sharapova: “I did lefty, two hands on both sides. Like at the circus, I do everything”

Halep: “Last year I played great in Grand Slams. I did my first final. So that gave me more confidence”

Bouchard: “I’m not offended. No, I think it was an in-the-moment thing and it was funny”

Dimitrov: “Didn’t really feel comfortable on the court. Thought Marcos was playing dominating tennis early on in the match”

Kyrgios: “Obviously I’d rather play Seppi than Federer. But, I know it’s going to be a really tough match”

Nadal: “I wake up in the morning better than what I thought. I was still a little bit dizzy yesterday”

22.01.2015

Hewitt: “He definitely raised his level. The first two sets I felt like I was dictating play”

Vandeweghe: “I was playing out there. I enjoyed my time. So I had a lot of fun”

Stosur: “I didn’t feel like I did much wrong”

Raonic: “I’ve put in a lot of good work, I believe. I’m just very sort of by the book in the things I want to do”

Azarenka: “She had such an incredible end of last season so I knew I had to step up my game”

Wozniacki: “At the end of the day she played better than me today and hats off to that”

Kvitova: “I think it was quite warm today and I think I handled quite well”

S.Williams: “I had no other option but for things to click. I just had to start playing better”

Djokovic: “I executed the game plan. Everything I intended to do, almost 100%”

Wawrinka: “Condition wasn’t easy today. Quite hot. Really fast on the court. And he was playing great”

V.Williams: “I’m hitting the ball a lot like how I want to”

Radwanska: “Short, good match. So, it’s better, especially that it’s really hot today. Be fresh for the next one.”

21.01.2015

Nadal: “I practiced a lot. Should not be that tired after 40 minutes. That’s obvious, no?”

Smyczek: “I started to believe that I really had a chance. But he turned it up to another gear”

Tomic: “I served very well, and that’s what helped me a lot throughout this match”

Kyrgios: “The crowd was really good. I remember it from last year”

Bouchard: “I was happy with the way I was able to step in and control the points”

Federer: “I don’t know if it’s a blister. I don’t know what that thing is”

Sharapova: “It’s always nice to come through a challenge like that. That’s the biggest positive out of the match”

Murray: “(I) managed to take the crowd out of it a little bit by starting that quickly”

Dimitrov: “Before you get to the final, you need to go through quite a few players that are the top right now and playing their greatest tennis”

Troicki: “I want everyone to know that I never refused anything. I just asked for permission and I was allowed by the doctor that day not to give a blood test”

Berdych: “The tough condition again today. He was playing very smart”

20.01.2015

Djokovic: “It hasn’t been an ideal couple of weeks in terms of health and preparation”

Wawrinka: “I play some good tennis and I have confidence with my game in general”

S.Williams: “It’s never super easy to be the one that everyone wants to beat”

Hewitt: “Tomic, Kyrgios and Kokkinakis have big futures. All three like playing on the big stage”

Radwanska: “I think with her (Martina Navratilova) experience that help me also win a Grand Slam”

Li Na: “If I have next life, I will still choose tennis”

Stosur: “I had to be patient to make sure I worked the point enough before I’d come in”

V.Williams: “Everyone has different kind of issues. I deal with my own the best way that I can”

Azarenka: “There is still a lot to build from here”

Nishikori: “Was a little bit windy, so we both didn’t play maybe 100%”

Raonic: “It was what I needed it to be, especially with how well I served”

Wozniacki: “It was a tough match. You saw yesterday how many seeds went out”

Kvitova: “I made a little bit of troubles in the second. But I’m glad I won”

19.01.2015

Kyrgios: “It was my first win in 2015. I’m really pleased I got through.”

Kokkinakis: “I was thrilled with that win. Best win of my career.”

Sharapova: “I think I’m in a much more comfortable situation than I was last year”

Federer: “I think the most important thing in taking risks is that you actually believe in what you’re trying to do”

Hradecka: “It’s two hours after match, and I’m still smiling.”

Ivanovic: “It’s really disappointing. You know, it’s probably the worst thing could happen.”

Nadal: “Most important thing when you are coming back is accept all the challenges”

Murray: “When you’re playing you tend to say things that you don’t really mean”

Dimitrov: “It was pretty windy today, so, yeah, I think overall it’s been a good start for me.”

Berdych: “It was a good test for me for the first round. I’m glad to handle it the way I did”

17.01.2015

Federer: “I think I’m serving more consistent and stronger than I ever have”

Nadal: “I am confident about my knees because are working very well”

Sharapova: “I was happy to be in one place for the whole month of December”

Ivanovic: “I really want to take it one step at a time and enjoy”

Murray: “My preparation and training over in Miami and then in Dubai went very well”

Halep: “I’m moving better than last year. I’m working hard every day”

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ATP RANKINGS UPDATE: Novak Djokovic, No.1 once more

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After the US Open the Serbian champion reclaims top spot. Alexander Zverev is back in the Top 10

 

By Roberto Ferri

Don’t ever underestimate the heart of a champion”

Rudy Tomjanovich coined this maxim just after his Houston Rockets won the NBA championship in 1995. He was paying homage to Akeem Holajuwon. It perfectly suits the heart of Daniil Medvedev, who proved 99% of tennis fans in the world to be wrong, convinced as they were that he would lose the semifinal to former No 1 Carlos Alcaraz.

But his dream to win a second US Open, after his triumph in 2021, was shattered by another champion, whose heart and class is even greater: that’s Novak Djokovic, who affixes his seal on his return to No.1, equalling Margaret Court Smith’s record of 24 majors.

Djokovic dethroning Alcaraz is not the only change in the top 20: Sascha Zverev is back in the top 10 after almost one year and Ben Shelton, great protagonist of the Us Open, debuts in the top 20 best players in the world.

TOP 20

PositionPlayerCountryPts+/-
1DjokovicSerbia117951
2AlcarazSpain8535-1
3MedvedevRussia7280
4RuneDenmark4710 
5TsitsipasGreece46152
6RublevRussia45152
7SinnerItaly4465-1
8FritzUSA39551
9RuudNorway3560-4
10ZverevGermany30302
11TiafoeUSA2690-1
12de MinaurAustralia26851
13PaulUSA26601
14Auger-AliassimeCanada23401
15KhachanovRussia2135-4
16HurkaczPoland20351
17NorrieGB1985-1
18MusettiItaly1925 
19SheltonUSA173528
20DimitrovBulgaria1735-1

A few comments:

Stefanos Tsitsipas, Andrei Rublev and Alexander Zverev gain 2 positions.

Ben Shelton devours 28 positions.

Sinner, Tiafoe, Norrie and Dimitrov lose one.

Casper Ruud and Karen Khachanov, runner up and semi-finalist respectively  at the 2022 US  Open, drop 4 positions.

One step forward for Fritz, de Minaur, Paul, Auger-Aliassime and Hurkacz.

ATP NITTO FINALS

From 12 to 19 November the 8 best players of the ranking based on the points earned in the ongoing solar season will be playing the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin.

Will Novak Djokovic succeed in winning a second straight title? He appears to be heading in the right direction.

RankPlayerCountryPts+/-
1DjokovicSerbia89451
2AlcarazSpagna8175-1
3MedvedevRussia6590 
4SinnerItalia4365 
5RublevRussia36401
6TsitsipasGrecia3570-1
7RuneDenmark3055 
8ZverevGermania3030 
9FritzUSA3010 
10RuudNorway2625 

Thanks to his triumph at the US Open the Serbian overtakes Alcaraz also in the Race to Turin.

Jannik Sinner holds fourth spot while Andrei Rublev overtakes Stefanos Tsitsipas and is now fifth.

The eighth position is occupied by Alexander Zverev.

Last year runner up, Casper Ruud is currently 10th. This means he would feature in Turin as a reserve.

ATP NEXT GENERATION FINALS

The Next Gen Finals, dedicated to the best under 21s, (8 effectives and 2 reserves) of the season will take place this year in Gedda, Saudi Arabia.

The 2022 winner, Brandon Nakashima, will not be defending his title, since he was born in 2001.

PositionPlayerCountryPtsYOB ATP rank
1AlcarazSpain817520032
2RuneDenmark305520034
3SheltonUSA1455200219
4MusettiItaly1300200218
5FilsFrance953200444
6Van AsscheFrance597200469
7StrickerSwitzerland576200290
8MichelsenUSA4922004117
9MedjedovicSerbia4852003121
10CazauxFrance4552002130
11CobolliItaly4052002132
12Llamas RuizSpain3702002133

Taking for granted that Alcaraz and, most likely Rune, will be playing the ATP Finals, we have included in the chart the 12 current top under 21s.

BEST RANKING

Besides Ben Shelton, other 11 players have achieved their career highest this week.

We tribute a double applause to the four players who are making their debut in the top 100.

The 25-year-old Croatian Borna Gojo, 22-year-old Australian Rinky Hijkata and the Swiss next gen Dominic Stricker all reap the reward for their brilliant runs at the US Open. Seyboth Wild, the Brazilian who stunned Medvedev in the first round of Roland Garros leaps to No.76 after winning the Challenger in Como last week.

PlayerPositionCountryProgress
Shelton19USA28
Jarry22Chile3
Baez28Argentina4
Fils44France4
Arnaldi47Italy14
Altmaier49Germany4
O’Connell53Australia16
Seyboth Wild76Brazil30
Gojo77Croatia28
Watanuki78Japan7
Mmoh81USA8
Hijkata83Australia27
Stricker90Switzerland38

Translated by Kingsley Elliot Kaye

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COMMENT: Novak Djokovic Proves His Greatness At US Open

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Love him, or hate him. But respect him.

 

No tennis player has ever been better than Novak Djokovic.

Even Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer have to take their hats off to Novak, and admire him.

Now that Rafa and Roger have left Djokovic on his own stage at least for now, tennis fans love Novak.

DJOKOVIC WENT ONE STEP FURTHER

Djokovic’s performance on Sunday evening in the U.S. Open final was simply amazing. Daniil Medvedev also played his heart out, but Djokovic went one step further. He was sensational.

It was a thrill-a-minute three-set match. It lasted well into the night after starting at mid-afternoon. The second set alone lasted 104 minutes.

Djokovic was the winner, 6-3, 7-6 (5), 6-3, but New York still loves 2021 champion Medvedev.

A FOURTH AND 24TH TITLE, AND A 24 TRIBUTE

At 36, the oldest U.S. Open men’s champion ever, Djokovic obviously has a special place in his heart for the number four. It’s the number of times he has won this tournament and the 24th time he has won a Grand Slam title.

The number 24 also was displayed prominently on the white jacket. Novak, his team members and family wore for the victory celebration as a tribute to the No. 24 jersey of deceased friend Kobe Bryant.

Djokovic lost his footing at least three times in the tight second set, stumbling to the surface once, apparently due to the length of the rallies.

Djokovic could look like he was almost completely wiped out of it physically one minute, and then play like Superman the next minute.

THREE POINTS MAY HAVE BEEN DECISIVE

Both men played great tennis, especially in the thrill-a-second second set in which Medvedev gained one set point in the 12th game before Djokovic recovered to force a tiebreaker.

Medvedev appeared to be in charge after out-playing Novak to win one of his drop shots to take a 5-4 lead in the tiebreaker. The match may have been decided on the next three points, all won by Djokovic on errors by the 6-6 Russian.

The big question now is what happens next January in the Australian Open. Right now, Djokovic probably wants to play . . . and win what has been his favorite tournament as far as success. But things can change quickly for players in their mid-30s. Just ask Roger or Rafa.

James Beck was the 2003 winner of the USTA National Media Award. A 1995 MBA graduate of The Citadel, he can be reached at Jamesbecktennis@gmail.com.

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Alcaraz Fell Victim To Unbeatable Medvedev

Carlos Alcaraz was no match for Daniil Medvedev in the US Open semi-finals.

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A star had to fall. There was no other way.

 

This time, Carlos Alcaraz was the victim. Daniil Medvedev was unbeatable.

The 6-6 Russian was everywhere, playing almost perfect tennis in a 7-6 (3), 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 win over Alcaraz.

So, one former champion went down while one advanced to Sunday’s final at the U.S. Open.

And then there was Novak Djokovic, another former champion headed for the title match.

U.S. OPEN WAS THE BIG WINNER FRIDAY

The U.S. Open couldn’t lose once Djokovic dominated young American Ben Shelton, 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 (4).

Djokovic appeared to be content with just winning while getting the preliminaries over with. He seemed to be a little miffed by Shelton’s cockiness. There were no hugs or embraces when the match ended. Just a handshake.

Shelton has huge potential, but it’s going to take some time before he’s ready to join the likes of Djokovic, Medvedev and Alcaraz. He’s a better athlete than he is tennis player.

Novak is ready to go for a record 24th Grand Slam title.

Believe it or not, Medvedev will be playing in his fifth Grand Slam final.

Sunday should be a great day in Arthur Ashe Stadium, with two former champs, Djokovic and Medvedev, going against each other.

CAN COCO HIT WITH SABALENKA

The women’s final will be interesting. Can Coco Gauff compete with Aryna Sabalenka?

Sabalenka looked helpless against Madison Keys’ big strokes and serves in the first set of their semifinal on Thursday.

Sabalenka couldn’t win even one game in that set. She looked helpless.

But she obviously felt all along that she could beat Keys anytime she wanted. Or why else would the powerful Sabalenka go for broke on almost every shot? And it almost cost her.

Amazingly, Sabalenka waited almost to the final moments to decide to play within her game and stop the wildness.

Once Sabalenka decided to settle down and play to win, Keys went just the opposite way, similarly to her one-sided loss to Sloane Stephens in the 2017 U.S. Open final.

Keys appeared ready to win this time as she held a 6-0, 5-4 advantage over new world’s No. 1 Sabalenka, who seemed to be stumbling all over the court as she repeatedly hit wild shots in every direction.

Just like that, everything changed. Sabalenka started hitting winners everywhere as Keys reversed roles with Sabalenka. Not only did Sabalenka win the second set while dropping just one point in a tiebreaker, she stormed through a decisive 10-point third-set tiebreaker to win the match.

James Beck was the 2003 winner of the USTA National Media Award. 1995 MBA graduate of The Citadel, he can be reached at Jamesbecktennis@gmail.com.

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