Mens Final

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is a men’s final to end all finals between Rafael Nadal with a French open record of 68 wins and one loss against Novac Djokovic, a legend as he has won all 4 grand slams in one calendar year they face of in what should be a very close encounter today. Djokovic was here last year when he lost to Andy Murray.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Djokovic did seem to settle better but Nadal did get the first break point at 1-1 and he got the break to lead by 2 games to 1 all games went on serve so Nadal was leading by 5 games to 2 and knew he would serve for the set as he broke a second time and had a firm grip on this match. Nadal took the set by 6 games to 2 and there were some good shots in it but not amazing one.

 

The second set went on serve for the first 5 games In the second set Djokovic hits an amazing shot on Nadals back line and was in my opinion the best shot so far and a brilliant rally with a simple slow shot Djokovic then gets the break with a 54 shot rally incredible how he has this in him.  Nadal then breaks straight back and put pressure on Djokovic.

Djokovic broke again to leave the score 5-3 directly after but the man was going to loose the point about 10 times from being 40-15 down to Nadal having so many advantages you would think he would know how to kill off a game but Djokovic never gave up and on the game.

 

Djokovic then won the next game and won the set but he did not have complete control of this one either but Nadal did hit a shot too long which gave Djokovic set pointand what a shot down the line he hit to win it. Djokovic wins the set 6-3 and we are level 1-1 in sets

 

 

 

Djokovic then breaks to love in the first game in the third with a few quality shots.  The next 4 games go with serve. In the 6^th game Djokovic gets into the air to hit the ball down and you would thing do they get training with that. Nadal then breaks back and you wonder how Djokovic made these mistakes with the form that he is in. 

 

After 2 quality points by Djokovic,  Nadal gets point of the match so fas as there were quality shots everywhere going from the backline to coming in for the short pass to going slightly wide what a point and what a game. Another poor error from  Djokovic but to be fair Nadal did hit an awesome return. Djokovic then hits a long shot and looses the set 6-4 Nadal had the advantage again.

 

 Djokovic then pulls out a miracle shot from a 54 shot rally incredible but looses this game which I feel is very hard. As Nadal breaks early to lead 3-0 in the fourth it looked like Djokovic was out of this match. Nadal then breaks again to lead by 5 games to 1 and to serve for the set. Nadal then had the serve and led 40-15 he had 2 chances and only needed 1 winning the set by 6 games to 1 and winning the us open.

 

Womens Final

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The final of the US Open was between American Serena Williams and Belerus Victoria Azarenka. Serena broke early by winning the first game and the only point Azerenka would get was her perfect serve. Azarenka broke back in a poor game for Serena as she had made errors we had not seen from Serena. The wind did seem to be a bit of a problem at the start. Azerenka was then able to hold serve as this does look at this stage like it might be an interesting match. Each player did hold serve until Williams got ahead 6-5 but there were some quality shots both from Serena and Victoria in that game. Serena won the set after what I would call a poor game from Victoria Azarenka. Serena only needs one more set now to win. Serena won 7 games to 5

 

Serena got the early break in the second but both had mistakes and quality in the first game. Serena looks quality at this stage as she is able to hold and lead the set 2-0 and looks very impressive. Everything then went on serve to make Serena lead by 5 games to 4 and serve for the championship. Serena then seemed to have a bit of a mental crisis as she lost her first and second points on double faults.

 

 Azeranka fought her way back to 5-5 with a quality shot especially as she was 4-1 down her courage to get back is quite impressive.

 

Serena then hit a quality shot to give her a triple break point and Azarenka gets a little bit of luck with a shot being called in by millimetres but Serena does again get the chance to serve for the match and starts with an ace. Serena then has a double fault and looses the game which puts it into a tie break.

 

Azarenka was a lucky girl. At the start of the tie breaker Serena seemed to be taking control but a quality point that Serena defended for her life put Victoria back into it and she did it again to make the scores level. Azarenka then got the lead in this tie break for the first time. And Serena made an error to give Azarenka set point. But Serena does not give up she fights to bring herself back level in the set and what a point to get. Azarenka was then able to win the set by 8 points to 6 and put us into a final set.

The first 3 games went on serve until Serena got another break but this game did have its beautiful shots also with a pass shot to give Azaranka a point and another great one from Williams. Williams then comes back with a beautiful lob shot that makes you think she may have a this game. As Williams hits consecutive aces to lead 4-1. Serena does get the double break to lead 5-1 and it looks like curtains for Azarenka. Serena then goes to make a beautiful instinctive shot that makes you think this is her game now and no one can beat her abd she has her match points. She had 2 and she needed 2.

 

Serena Williams US Open champion 2013 and for me she deserves it for one match where she won 6-0, 6-0 and that tells me that she is ready for anything she wins 7-5 6-7 6-1 as she jumps into the air you know that she can not believe the performances she has given to win this title.

day 11 us open

WOMENS

The first game of my day was between Russian Etaterina Makarova and Chineese sensation Li Na, in  the first set Li Na broke in the 7^th game and held Maracova to love to win the set by 6 games to 4. In the second set Makarova had never had the lead in the set until the 10^th game  even though she served first and she did get the game back to 3-3 before Na broke again ands she broke back in the next game. After the 10^th game she was able to hold and keep  Li away but this was a very interesting set with some very good shots from Li and Makarova but no one  seemed to want control of the set with all the breaks. The game did go into a fie break and you would think that would mean that there would be a good shot or 2 there wasn’t and Makarova won the second set by 7 points to 5.

Li gets the break in the 6^th game to lead by 4 games to 2 but Makarova had a couple of shots that went long in this game again Makarova hit a few bad shots in the next which put Li 5-2 up and in a very strong position but Li was getting better at this stage winning the set 6-2. Li gets better and deserves to get through to the semi finals and be the first Chinese woman to do so in their history to reach the US open semis and for this reason I can not see her reach the final

My final Williams vs Azarenka

MENS

 

 

The first match of the day was between Scotsman Andy Murray and Swiss player Stanislas Wawrinka. The set was going with serve except for the final one that went for Wawrinka who was much the stronger player but the final game went on for 12 minutes as Murray had a few game points and  Wawrinka had 8 deuces and Wawrinka could not kill of the set as he had 8 set points.

In the sixth game Wawrinka broke Murray to love and serve holds throughout this set to leave Wawrinka needing just one more game he gets it with Andy only having 30  and looks like he here that he can beat Andy well at this point as he is not showing his quality

Wawrinka had an early break in the third to make the score 3-1 and Murray does not seem to be here at all Wawrinka broke again to make the score 5-2 but Andy Murray did have a few quality shots in this game. Wawrinka gets the third by 6 games to 2 getting himself from 30 love down and hitting some amazing shots to ensure a semi final position. Andy Murray does have a lot to look at from this match. This would be his first semi final appearance and because of this I can not see him go any further

 

The last match of the day was between Serb Novak Djokovic and Russian Mikhail Youzhny. Djokovic saved himself a couple of breaks in the first game and got a break in the second. Youzhny won a quality rally in the final game but Djokovic won a quality rally to win the set by 6 games to 3 and looked quite impressive.

Djokovic got an early break in the second to lead the set by 2-1 and then 4-1and 5-1 and this set looks completely in Novac’s control. Novac does win the set 6-2 and looks like he is in complete control.

In the third set Youzhny managed to get his break after so many times trying it looked a little like Djokovic had beaten him mentally but this break put him 4-2 up and was very lucky with a double bounce in the 7^th gameand then in the next point playing out of his skin but Djokovic broke back in the 7^th with 5 points in a row to leave the match back in his control. Youzhny managed to get the break back and outplay Djokovic in the 7^th game that made you think where was Djokovic.In the final game of the set Youzhny held his serve to win the set by 6 games to 3. But with the breaks that Youzhny had has he got the strength Im not sure

In the fourth Djokovic took complete control to lead the set 5-0 and at this stage looks awesome but if there is one thing Youzhney will remember about this set its his shot jist in from wide in the 6^th game. Djokovic won the final match in a close game with an amazing shot to win the set by 6 games to 0. I think that he is showing the form here to possibly win this

My final Nadal vs Djockovic

day 10us open

Day 10

MENS

 

The first match of the day was between 2 Spaniards Tommy Robredo and Rafael Nadal. Nadal got 2 early breaks in the first set to get him 5-0 up in the first set. And at this stage is looked like it was like the master teaching the student how to play. Nadal won the final game 40-15 and you think if Robredo plays like this he can’t win.

Nadal started very well in the second set also getting a very early break. Rafael Nadal has had 60 consecutive service holds in the US open an incredible record. Robredo got his first game to make the score 2-1 Nadal. The next 3 games went with serve. Then Nadal got another break to make it 5-2 in the second set and he looks impressive at this stage. Rafa serves to love to make the score 6-2 and Rafa looks very impressive.

Tommy Robredo with nothing to loose took the first game of the third set Nadal looked impressive in the fifth game as he broke in a very important part of the set as he looked to have complete control of this match. In my opinion Tommy Robredo got one of the points of the championship in the next game the ball was going absolutely everywhere on the court. Nadal broke in the 11^th to make the score 5-2 in a relatively close game Robredo only getting 30. Robredo hit a beautiful point to save himself but it was for nothing in a poor final game which puts Nadal through to the semi final winning the final set 6-2

If you are able to put a performance like that up in a quarter final it means that you can win this competition but I think that Murray or Djockavich will be his stumbling block but he is on fire

The second mens game of the day was between David Ferrer of Spain and Richard Gasguet of France. Gasguet was able to take the first break to lead 3-1 and taking control of a quality rally to make it 4-1. Serve was exchanged to make it 5-3 but in the 8^th Game Gasguet had his chances to win the set. Ferrer was very unlucky with one of his shots and Gasguet led 40 love Gasguet did win the next point to lead the set.

Richard Gasguet got an early break in the second set to make the score 3-1 and got another with some miracle shots that he has pulled out of the fire. He would not have been my pick for this match but not knowing the score I would still pick him on this form some of his shots here were incredible. He did pick up the second set but where is David Ferrer in this match he is supposed to be the best of the outsiders we haven’t seen any of that here yet.

David Ferrer took an early break in the fourth set to lead 3-1 and then 4-1 in a game Gasguet did not deserve to win. Gasguet got his just deserts as Ferrer won the set by 6 games to 4. David ferrer took a early break in the fourth and looks at this stage like the better player. After some amazing shots from Gasguet David Ferreer was able to get himself out of the hole and win the next 4-2. It now looked like Gasguet might be back Ferrer serves out the set 6-2 to leave the match level.

Ferrer double faults to give Gasguet the break that he needs to win the match as Gasguet at this point leads 4-2. Gasguet gets the match won with some great shots in the final game to put David Ferrer out of the competision and to go further than he ever had in the US open but when he plays one of the big three it will be a completely different task

WOMENS

 

The first of the women’s matches was between Roberta Vinci and Flavia Pennetta. Pennetta got out of the blocks fastest with an early break to leave the score 3-2 which became 4-2. But Vinci did come back by saving 4 break points to get the score back at 4-3 at least she was still in it.  Vinci broke with Pennetta at 30 to make it 4-4 but Pennetta broke straight back and is serving for the set . Pennetta was able to serve out the set but there were worries as Vinci made sure that this game would not be easy.

In the second set Pennetta broke twice early to make the score 4-0 when Vinci broke e thought that there might be a game here but Pennetta broke to 30 to put herself into the semi final.

The next tie was between Bulgerian no 2 seed Victoria Azerenka and unseeded Slovak Danella Hantuchova. Azerenka had an early break in the match to lead the match 4-2 but she did play a few good shots in the 5^th Azerenka broke to love in the 7^th game with a few good shots and wins 12 of the last 13 points to win the set by 6 games to 2

Again Azerenka takes an early break in the set to again lead 4-2 Azerenka has now won some big rallies in this math to make the score 5-2 with another break but Hantuchov does get one back at 5-3. Azerenka gets 2 match points in this match and only needs one of them to ensure a win and a place in the semi finals and if there is anyone that can beat Serena I think that it might be her

Day 9 US Open

MENS

In the first set between Scotsman Andy Murray and Denis Istomen of Uzbekistan, Istomen broke to leave the score from 3-3 to 4-3 but Murray got the break back to get the score to 5-4 which meant he was still in with a chance and it went to a tie break. Murray managed to take a mini break from 4-3 to 5-3 but Istomen hit a quality shot to make it 5-4. Murray then double faulted to make it 5-4 and then hit a bad shot to make it 6-5 against him, then he made another bad shot to loose the tie break 7-5 which means Murray had it all to do.

Andy Murray did get an early break in the second to lead 3-1 and he did not loose any of his next 3 games and was starting to look good again as he managed to take complete control of the second set but it is like looking at 2 different players.

Andy Murray managed to break in the third game of the third set Istomen broke back to make the score 3-3 but Murray got his break back to make the score 4-3 and hit an awesome shot in the  shot of the championship so far 10^th game no more games were broken so Andy Murray won the second 6-4    

The ninth game was the big break in this match as Murray got the break to win the set 6-4 winning the game against 30 and I am not to sure how far it is that Andy Murray can go. In this game he has showed both his quality and his poor form but his opponent unseeded or not did give him what he needed.

 

Serbian Novac Djokovic picked up the first break of the match against Marcel Granollers to lead the set 4-2 and cruised into the lead with a perfect scoring set winning every game that he served with to win the first set 6-3  

Novac got 2 early breaks in the second set to make it seem like this set belongs to him as Marcel Granollers is not making any of his volleys and loosing the set by 6 games to nil this set seemed to be too easy for Novac and the final set was similar as the Serb got complete control to lead it 5-0 and got over the line to reach the next round

Novac Djokovic did not drop a game on his own serve and looked very impressive at this stage and I think that he needs a harder task to see where exactly he stands as a player because from this I can not say but in my opinion he does look like the favourite.

In my opinion Leyton Hewit seemed to be the favourite for the next match.  The first set belonged to Mikhail Youzhny and the second belonged to Lleyton Hewitt as they were both won by 6 games to 3 but in the third there was a point at 4-4 that deserved to win any set 46 shots long and it went to Hewit which he deserved to win. Youzhny got himself out of a giant hole loosing the game 30-0 and 40-15 to come back level at 5-5 in the tie breaker. Hewitt managed to out rally Youzhny to take the tie breaker by 7 points to 3 and go into a 2 sets to 1 lead

Youzhny managed to get his set back as he got the break required and did very well to get his required break Hewitt broke in the final set but Youzhny broke back to make the score 5-5 with some absolutely brilliant shots as he broke to put the pressure on Hewitt big time Hewitt makes the error at the end to put Russian Mikhail Youzhney through to the quarter final and I think that a match like this will help him massively but I think the semis is as far as he can go.

In the first set of the Berdych Wawrinka match Tomas Berdych won 6-3. The second was total domination by  Wawrinka as he controlled the set and won 6-1 the third was on a close tie break as it was level at 4-4, 5-5 and 6-6 but Wawrinka took the set and won by 8 points to 6 but this set was a little bit too close for comfort. Wawrinka got the break to lead by 4 games to 2 as he picks up the next his service game both with Berdych only picking up one point. He puts in a heroes performance to win the final game on Berdychs serve and secure his quarter final spot I am not sure hore that he can reach the semi finals

 

WOMENS

In the women’s draw Serena Williams was completely dominant in the first set not allowing Suarez Navarro to get a single game and in the second she could not get a game either and with a performance like this I think she can play ands beat anyone

 

In the first set of the match between SerbAnna Ivanovic and Bulgerian Victoria Azerenca Ivanovic took control of the first set and won it by 6 games to 4 in the second got the break required in the second by winning the game 4 points to 2. Victoria Azerenca broke to love to get the 6^th game and win the second set by 6 games to 3. Azerenca breaks in the final set to make the score 3-1 and takes that advantage through to 5-3 in the match she needs one more game to win Ivanovic gets the break back in a bit of a thriller of a game as there were 4 deuces 2 match points and 2 break points in it. Azerenca though does win the match as the game goes to deuce and Azerenca gets 2 match points against serve but doesn’t win them she does though get the third.

Day 8 US Open

Day 8

Men’s

At the start of the match we did not know if Swiss player Roger Federrer wanted to be there as Tommy Robredo took control of the first 2 games. Federer did get his game up to scratch though after that as he broke back and throughout the set but I think when Robredo got the fifth game in a break of serve it wore Federer out. He did get the game that he needed but when it came to the tie break there was no sense of the great one as Robredo took control and won the tie break 7-3 but I think that that there is more in Federrer.

The second set was determined by one disaster game by Federrer on love to make the score from 4-3 to 5-3 but Robredo did get himself out of a hole to win the final game of the match.  Robredo was 40-15 down and came back to win the game and the set to lead 2-0. The exact same thing happened in the third to put Robredo into the next round. I think that Robredo may be able to get to the quarters but when he has to play a big time player I think he will find it difficult.

The legend is out. One of the greatest players put in a very disappointing performance yesterday in certain bits and through analysing this match I am sure that there are things that Federer can take out of the match. Is the great ones age catching up with him? And can he beat a great or is it time for him to retire. I think he should be thinking about it or getting in people that can help because in his prime this wouldn’t happen

 

A tiebreak was what settled the first set as Phillipp Kohlscriber during the tie break was never actually behind and he looked good for it and when he got it did not help him as Nadal got the required break needed and one the set 6-4 to leave the match tied. Rafa then broke at 2-1 to make it 3-1 and he never dropped his break he hit some amazing shots during this set and looked like he was starting to control the match. In the fourth it was like  as Phillipp Kohlscriberwasnt there as Rafa took a 5-0 lead and took complete control with 2 breaks but the German did get a game before the inevitable happened 3 hours and 12 minutes after the start of the match and that is that Rafa is through to the next round but I do wonder how fit he is if he is fully fit I think he can win it but if not the next round or the round after he will definitely be one I am looking at.  

Spaniard David Ferrer got through  after beating Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia on a rather week performance on his behalf as every set he won was close winning the first 7-6 loosing the second 6-3 winning the third 7-5 and the fourth 7-6 he is not someone  you would want to draw at any stage of a competition but he is battle ready

Women’s

Camellia Georgio led the first set 4-1 before loosing the set 6-4 she must have very disappointed in herself. In the second Roberta Vinci took control of her own fate as she won the second set 6-2.  I like Vinci for the semis but beyond that I am not sure

 

Itilian Flavia Pennetta had got control of the first set as she got 2 breaks and did not allow Simona Halep to get into the match at all but in the second she made it her mission to take Pennetta on and she did to get a break up 6-5 in the second set but Pennetta  came right back to put the game into a tie break. Halep got the first point Pennetta got the following 6 loosing the next 2 to win on Haleps serve to reach the next round which is an all Italian tie with Vinci national rivalrys mean that anything can happen in the next round but I am going Vinci

Day 7 US Open

DAY 7 us open

Andy Murray cruised into the last 16 of the US Open beating Germanys’ Florin Mayer in straight sets. In the first set he found it difficult as he had to win a tie break by 7 points to 2 in the second and third it became easier as he won both sets by 6 games to 2

 

Leton Hewit got through to the last 16 after beating Evgeny Donskoy of Russia. The first was quite easy as he won 6-3 then he won the following set in a tie break but began to loose a grip of the match as he lost the third by 6 games to 3 but destroyed him in the fourth as he took control and  won 6-1

Serb Novac Djockavic showed us today why he is seeded no 1 in the world as he cruised past Portuguese player Juao Sousa in straight sets 6-0 6-2 6-2 and during the match he was only broken once. I think when it gets to the quarters we will see what he is made of but not before then

German Tommy Hass could only win one set in this match he was expected to win. Russian Mikhael Youzhny pulled of a great shock and won the first 2 sets 6-3 6-2 but Hass managed to get one set back as he won the third 6-2. The Russian came back and controlled the match as he won the fourth 6-3 to go into the last 16 draw.

In the women’s side of the draw Spaniard Suaraz Navaro defeated Angilic Kerver but this game was very close as in the first set Suarez Navaro took control to win it 6-4 in the second Kerver had control of the set as she won by 6-3 and it all came down to the tie break which Suraez Navero won by 7 points to 3  

Serena Williams cruised through to the last 16 with a 6-4 6-1 win over fellow American Slone Stevens and she looks like she can beat anyone at this point

No 24 seed Ekaterina Makarove of Russia pulled a big shock out of the bag as she defeated no 2 seed Agniszka Radwanska of Poland 6-4, 6-4. Results like this come rarely in your lifetime lets all hope that she reaches the quarter finals

 

 

Na Li of china cruised Serb Jelena Jankovich to go into the last 16 after beating 6-3 6-0 and she looks like one of the stand out players for this tournament