Section: US Open

kei nishikori, marin cilic, Tennis, US Open

US Open: Marin Cilic clinches his 1st Grand Slam

Is Cilic just another one slam wonder?

Marin Cilic might have crushed Kei Nishikori in the US Open final – but will he ever win another Grand Slam?

Cilic beat Nishikori in straight sets, 6-3 6-3 6-3, but the crowd was relatively scant and muted from the off – partly because of the 5pm local time scheduled start, but also because they were expecting that the final would be a chance to see one of the big names of men’s tennis.

Instead, the match was the first time since the 2005 Australian Open that at least one of Novak Djokovic, Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer were not playing for the title; and only the third time in a decade that the title hadn’t been won by one of that trio.

Andy Murray won the US Open in 2012, and followed that up with a Wimbledon win in 2013.

Juan Martin Del Potro, who beat Federer in five sets at Flushing Meadows in 2009, is the only other man to have clinched the title – and since that day, the injury-ravaged Argentine has not been back to a grand slam final and only once made it to a semi-final.

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caroline wozniacki, serena williams, Tennis, US Open

US Open: Serena Williams wins 18th Grand Slam title

Serena Williams beat Caroline Wozniacki in straight sets to win her sixth US Open and 18th Grand Slam title.

The American, ranked one in the world, won 6-3 6-3 at Flushing Meadows in New York.

After a poor start from both players, Williams steadied herself to take the first set and found something approaching her best form to dominate the second.

The victory moves her to joint-fourth in the all-time list of major winners, alongside Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert.

Williams, 33, has now won three successive titles at the US Open, the scene of her first Grand Slam triumph 15 years ago.

“It was a really wonderful feeling,” said Williams, who was joined by Navratilova and Evert for the trophy presentation, when she also collected US$4m in prize money.

“I couldn’t have finished things in a better way. It is a pleasure for me to win here, I am really emotional. I couldn’t ask to do it at a better place.”

Wozniacki, a close friend of Williams, said: “Congratulations to Serena. She really deserved it today and played better than me.

“She is an inspiration to me on and off the court and an unbelievable friend – and you definitely owe drinks later!”

Williams arrived in New York having failed to make it past the fourth round of a Grand Slam in 2014, but the American looked a class apart throughout the two weeks at Flushing Meadows.

Her dominance was such that she won the title without dropping a set, or more than three games in a single set.

The case for Wozniacki heading into the final centred around the Dane’s improved form this summer, which saw her push Williams to three sets twice before reaching her first Grand Slam final for five years.

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andy murray, novak djokovic, US Open

US OPEN: Novak Djokovic beats Andy Murray to reach US Open semi-finals

 

Novak Djokovic saw off Britain’s Andy Murray in a gripping late-night contest to reach the US Open semi-finals.

The world number one came through 7-6 (7-1) 6-7 (1-7) 6-2 6-4 in a match that lasted three hours and 32 minutes, and finished at 01:17 local time (06:17 BST).

Djokovic will play Japanese 10th seed Kei Nishikori in the last four on Friday.

Murray could take encouragement from his best performance since beating Djokovic to win Wimbledon last year, but the Serb proved relentless in their 21st meeting.

Defeat means that Murray has failed to get past the semi-finals of any tournament after undergoing back surgery in September 2013.

I played well,” said Murray. “Especially the first couple of sets was some good tennis.

“I played a poor tie-break in the first set definitely. I was down in the first set and I fought back. I was down in the second set and a break and I fought back.

“So I fought hard, I played some good tennis, but it wasn’t enough.”

The pair extended each other to the limit once again, and repeatedly had the 22,000 spectators in Arthur Ashe Stadium on their feet as brutal rallies were followed by roars of delight.

In a contest of numerous opportunities, it was the more clinical Djokovic who prevailed, winning seven of 10 break points while Murray converted just four of 16.

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belinda bencic, peng shuai, US Open

US Open: Peng Shuai beats Belinda Bencic to reach semis

China’s Peng Shuai reached her first Grand Slam semi-final with a dominant 6-2 6-1 victory over Swiss teenager Belinda Bencic.

The 28-year-old world number 39 played a superb opening set, breaking her 17-year-old opponent twice.

She broke Bencic, ranked 59 in the world, again in the second game of the second set as she eased to victory.

Peng will face either 10th seed Caroline Wozniacki or 13th seed Sara Errani in the last four.

Bencic, who beat sixth seed Angelique Kerber and ninth seed Jelena Jankovic on her way to the last eight, had two break points in the third game of the match.

But Peng saved those, broke for the first time to go 3-1 up and continued to put pressure on her opponent with better serving and movement.

Bencic was broken twice in succession at the start of the second set and was also given a violation for coaching.

As the Swiss player’s composure left her, Peng continued to play solidly and another error by Bencic allowed her to wrap up the match in 64 minutes.

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rafael nadal, Tennis, US Open

Tennis: US Open: Nadal withdraws

Rafael Nadal will not defend his US Open title in New York after failing to recover from a wrist injury.

The 28-year-old Spaniard sustained the injury in practice last month and had been training with a cast on his right wrist, forcing him to miss the Rogers Cup in Toronto and last week’s Cincinnati Open.

“I am very sorry to announce I won’t be able to play at this year’s U.S. Open,” the world number two said on Facebook on Monday.

“I am sure you understand that it is a very tough moment for me since it is a tournament I love and where I have great memories from fans, the night matches, so many things.

“Not much more I can do right now other than accept the situation and, as always in my case, work hard in order to be able to compete at the highest level once I am back.”

The 14-times grand slam winner also triumphed at Flushing Meadows in 2010.

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Tennis, US Open

Tennis : Rafael Nadal faces three weeks on sidelines with wrist injury

Rafael Nadal has suffered a wrist injury less than a month before the start of the US Open in New York.

rafael_nadal

The Spaniard, the reigning champion at Flushing Meadows, will be out of action for two to three weeks after hurting his right wrist in training on Tuesday.

Nadal, 28, has pulled out of defending his titles in Toronto and Cincinnati as he targets a return to fitness in time for the US Open, starting on 25 August.

“I’m extremely disappointed that I am unable to defend my titles,” he said.

Nadal has not competed since his shock defeat by Australian teenager Nick Kyrgios in the fourth round at Wimbledon on 1 July.

The defence of his crowns in Toronto and Cincinnati were key hard-court season warm-ups ahead of the US Open, where Nadal will go in search of a 15th career Grand Slam crown.

“Unfortunately I injured my right wrist on Tuesday during practice,” the world number two confirmed.

“After the tests I have undergone in Spain, including an MRI and checking with my doctors, I will have to stay out of competition for at least two to three weeks.”

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