The Malaysian Insider :: Sports
The Malaysian Insider :: Sports |
| Kvitova upsets Sharapova for Wimbledon crown Posted: 02 Jul 2011 07:39 AM PDT  Kvitova celebrates after defeating Sharapova in the final, July 2, 2011. — Reuters pic Kvitova, who had never won a match on grass before reaching the semi-finals last year, served consistently and maintained a barrage of powerful, attacking ground-strokes to become only the third left hander to win the women's title after Anne Jones and Martina Navratilova. Kvitova, appearing in her first grand slam final, was in control of her emotions and her game throughout and deservedly becomes the first Czech to triumph since Jana Novotna in 1998.  Sharapova holds the runners-up trophy after being defeated by Kvitova July 2, 2011. — Reuters pic "I'm so happy," the tearful champion said in an on-court interview before blowing a kiss to Novotna and Navratilova watching from the Royal Box. "I was nervous but I had to focus on every point." The Czech looked understandably nervous as she was broken in the opening game but hit back immediately to level at 1-1. She continued to make the running throughout the set, out-serving and out-hitting the former world number one, who delivered consecutive double faults to lose her service and slip 4-2 behind. Kvitova, throwing in the occasional sliced backhand that caused Sharapova problems, served out to love. In her semi-final against Victoria Azarenka, Kvitova played a convincing first set but allowed the Belarussian back to take the second so everyone around Centre Court waited with bated breath to see how she dealt with the pressure of leading the final. They did not have to wait long as she broke Sharapova in the opening game after the Russian's fifth double fault gave her a break point that she took with a crashing forehand down the line. A break apiece had Kvitova on the brink when serving at 3-2 but she twice missed simple shots with the court gaping to allow Sharapova back into the match. However, it proved a false dawn for the 2004 champion, who was appearing in her first final since the 2008 Australian Open after missing long periods with shoulder problems. Kvitova, showing remarkable control of her nerves, broke back immediately and finished the match off in style by holding serve to love and signing the whole thing off with her first ace of the final. Sharapova, whose endorsements make her the highest-paid sportswoman in the world, said: "I'm very happy to be back here with the runner's up trophy but I wanted the "big one" and I will be back and I hope to get it again one day." — Reuters Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by USA Best Price. |
| Djokovic ready to cement Rafa rivalry Posted: 02 Jul 2011 07:15 AM PDT  Djokovic reacts after defeating Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in their semi-final match July 1, 2011. — Reuters pic The dream showpiece pits Djokovic, the man the ATP computers will show is the new No.1 in the rankings on Monday, against the bullish Spaniard who is showing every sign that he can chase down Federer's record of 16 grand slam titles. While Andy Murray briefly raised hopes that Britain would have its first Wimbledon men's finalist for 73 years by leading Nadal in the semis, there is no doubt that the final is befitting the sport's blue-riband tournament. Djokovic trails their series 16-11 but during a remarkable year for the Serb winning-machine he beat Nadal in consecutive finals in Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid and Rome. While the first two in that burst were on his favoured hardcourts the latter were on Nadal's beloved red dirt. Should he prevail on Centre Court's lawn on Sunday and become the first player to beat Nadal at the All England Club since Federer in the 2007 final, it would rubber-stamp Djokovic's lofty new status more effectively than ranking points. The 24-year-old has never beaten Nadal in a best of five set match, however, and he knows that the Mallorcan will be sweating blood to claim a second consecutive French Open/Wimbledon double. "I'm ready for long rallies, long points," Djokovic, who will fulfil his boyhood dream by playing in his first Wimbledon final, told reporters. "I need to be physically ready, which I am. I feel fit in this moment, and mentally obviously motivated. "The four times I won against him this year can probably help me in some ways mentally prior to this match." While iron-man Djokovic's 41-match winning streak from the start of the year to the French Open semi-finals has propelled him to the top of the rankings, Nadal remains the more feared warrior in head-to-head combat at grand slams. The 25-year-old will be appearing in his 13th grand slam final and so far he has lost just two, both against Federer at Wimbledon while he was still adapting his topspin game to the subtleties of grass. Against Murray yesterday he was out-played for a set but pounced on the first sign of weakness from his opponent before going on to pound the Scot into the baseline dust. Just seven unforced errors in three hours of combat underlines the task facing Djokovic tomorrow. When it matters most, Nadal's ferocious spirit and on-court presence is enough to make opponents crumble. Nadal though attempted to turn the tables when he said Djokovic will walk on court with a slight mental edge. "His mental position over me today is probably a little bit better because he won the last four finals against me," Nadal, who is playing in his fifth Wimbledon final in six years, said. "I will try my best. I have to play aggressive. I have to play with intensity, with rhythm. That's what I'm gonna try." Nadal's demotion to world No.2 would look rather odd if he retained his Wimbledon title tomorrow but the polite Spaniard will turn his thoughts to that in the months ahead. For the three, four or five hours he will be on court tomorrow, only victory over Djokovic will matter. "We will see when I finish my career where I am in the history of tennis," he said. "Right now for me, my history is I am in the final of Wimbledon. The history of tennis, we'll have time to talk about it another time." — Reuters Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by USA Best Price. |
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