2013/05/23

Nadal Rallies To Beat Del Potro for Record 22nd Masters Title

Rafael Nadal

(March 17, 2013) Rafael Nadal rallied past Juan Martin Del Potro to win his third BNP Paribas Open title 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 on Sunday. For Nadal it’s a record 22nd Masters 1000 title, one better than Roger Federer. Indian Wells is his 53rd ATP title as he notched his 600th win.

Nadal opened the match quickly taking a 3-0 lead in the first set. Del Potro found his game and rallied to take the set 6-4. Del Potro broke Nadal’s serve in the opening game of the second set and looked to take the title. The momentum switched to Nadal as the Spaniard came back from 0-2 to win the set 6-3.

“Then I think Del Potro start to play more aggressive and I lost a little bit my calm,” Nadal said.  “I didn’t make the right thing because I tried to change my direction against his forehand with my forehand in not the right ‑‑ in not a favorable position.  So that produces more mistakes than usual.

“For that reason, I was not able to keep winning games.  He was playing great.  He was playing solid.  I was playing with more mistakes and no chances.  Then I was lucky to have the break back in the second set because the first game of the second set was struggle for me.

“Four mistakes with my forehand, and the last ‑‑ when I had the break back in the second everything changed.  I found the way to win points another time, to be comfortable when the ball is in the middle of the point, know how to play.  And after that break, in my opinion, I played the right tactic another time.

“I waited for the right moment to change against his forehand.”

The third set saw Nadal put even more pressure on the Argentine, breaking him the third game for a 2-1. Del Potro saved three match points while serving  at 3-5, to hold for 4-5 but Nadal sealed the victory in the next game holding easily for a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 win.

“I think Rafa deserves to win,” said Del Potro. “He plays unbelievable for like an hour there.  The last hour of the match he didn’t make effort.  He played so solid and put me so far to the baseline and make winners from there.

“But I think I made a good tournament anyway, and Rafa played really well today the second and third set.  He broke me early in the third.  Play against him when the score is down is tougher, you know.  But I was fighting all the time but he won in the end.”

Del Potro was asked if he was tired after his three-set win over Novak Djokovic on Saturday.

“I played three sets against Murray then three sets Djokovic,” the Argentine said.  “But the finals are finals.  You know, they are special, and you get the energy from everywhere to play the finals.  I think of course if he had a day off between matches would be fantastic, but Rafa plays yesterday, also.  The conditions are the same for both players.

“I think my body was okay.  Just he played better in the end and he deserved to win.”

Nadal spoke about how emotional this victory was in light of he recent comback to the tour after a seven month hiatus due to a left knee injury:

“A lot of things happened last seven months, to be back here and to have this very heavy trophy with me is amazing, no?  I am winning three straight top 10s, beating the top 5 of the world and No. 4 and not be in the top 4 and you play quarterfinals, no?

“So beating three top 10, three very important players, and win title like this is just something unbelievable for me.  Very, very happy and very emotional.

“When, you know, when you have one comeback like I’m having is, you know, you remember all the low things, lower moments that you had during this seven months, doubts and all these things.

“Hopefully I passed, and just can remember all the people that really helped me a lot during all this time.”

Nadal is now leading the ATP with tournament titles at three and has 17-1 record this year. He is currently on a 14-match win streak. Nadal has withdrawn from the Sony Open in Miami and will be back on tour for the Monte Carlo Masters event in late April.

Nadal apologized about having to miss Miami: “I’m very sorry for the organization of the tournament and I’m very sorry for the fans, but we never thought we’d be able to play all matches possible since I came back.

“The doctors recommend me to be back home for a few weeks and rest a little bit and keep practicing the right way.  You know, I need more power on the left leg quadriceps, so I need to keep working hard.  The competition is hard for the body, so after four fantastic weeks I can’t go to Miami.  I need to prepare and rest for the next one.”

 

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Sharapova Crushes Wozniacki for Second Indian Wells Title

Sharapova 1

(March 17, 2013) Maria Sharapova defeated Caroline Wozniacki 6-2, 6-2 to win the BNP Paribas Open, her first title of the year. For Sharapova it her second Indian Wells title, the last one coming in 2006. It’s Sharapova’s 28th career title and first since winning the French Open last year.

Sharapova dictated the match from beginning to end in the 81 minute match. Sharapova compiled 33 winners to a mere two hit by her opponent.

“Of course she was putting pressure on me from the start, ” said Wozniacki.  “She was serving very well.  You know, I felt like everything that she wanted to do today was going in.  I mean, she was making very few errors, and if she did, then it was really at the times where it didn’t really matter.

“You know, I have to say she just played too well today.  You know, I tried.  I tried to do my best out there, but, yeah, it just wasn’t good enough today.”

“The scoreline, you know, looks a lot easier than I think the match actually was, ” Sharapova said.  “I think it was a tough match, a tough battle, and there were a lot of games that went to deuce and a lot of long games.

“You know, they could have easily swung the other way, especially some opportunities she had in that second set.  I always felt like I was always a foot ahead, especially with the breaks.  I was able to serve well today, and that helped me.”

During her run in the tournament Sharapova dropped a total of only 28 games.

Sharapova is now 14-2 on the year and will move up to No. 2 in the world when the rankings come out on Monday, dropping Victoria Azarenka to No. 3. Serena Williams remains at No.1.

 

More to follow after the news conferences…..

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Third Time’s the Charm: Bryan Brothers Capture First Doubles Championship in the Desert

By Jennifer Knapp

Bryan Brothers

(March 17, 2013) – Top seeds Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan of the U.S. won their first BNP Paribas Open title on Saturday, defeating the first time pairing of Treat Huey (PHI) and Jerzy Janowicz (POL) 6-3, 3-6, 10-6 in 69 minutes in yet another thriller under the lights at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.

 

Competing in the desert for the 15th time, the 34-year old twins, needed a super tiebreak to close out the match as Huey and Janowicz proved to be formidable opponents. Each team was only broken one time but in the end, the cohesiveness, experience and advanced skill level of the journeymen Americans proved to be the deciding factor.

 

After celebrating their 86th title together with a trademark chest bump, the brothers embraced.  Despite all of their success over the years, it was clear to see how much this championship meant to them.

 

The Bryans, who previously lost the 2003 and 2006 finals, praised Huey and Janowicz, who were playing in their first tournament together as a team,   ”We’ve played 3,000 tournaments,” Bob Bryan joked, “and we barely clipped you guys.”

 

With this latest win, the brothers secured their 22nd Masters Series 1000s and have increased their championship match winning percentage to 66% (86 of 130 finals).

How sweet it is.

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Del Potro Upsets Djokovic and Will Meet Nadal in BNP Paribas Open Final

 

DelPotro 5 228

(March 16, 2013) Juan Martin Del Potro rallied from 0-3 down in the third set to end the 22 match win streak of  No. 1 Novak Djokovic 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 to move into his first BNP Paribas Open final on Saturday.

Serving for the match, Del Potro clinched the victory with an ace to defeat the Serb for only his third time in 11 career meetings in two-hours-and-49-minutes – the longest match of the tennis  tournament. The win also ended a 4 match losing streak to Djokovic.

The last Argentine to reach the Indian Wells final, was Guillermo Vilas in 1977.

Del Potro will be playing No. 5 Rafael Nadal in the final on Sunday at Indian Wells. Nadal defeated Tomas Berdych 6-4, 7-4 earlier in the day.

Del Potro credited his third set comeback to the fans. “I think the crowd help me to keep fighting and to come back in the 3rd set,” Del Potro said on court after the match.

“I was doing a very good match until the third set, but Novak had the chance to beat me when I was 3‑Love, Del Potro said later in a post-match news conference.

“But I come back soon, and that give me a little confidence to come back in that set.

“Then also the crowd want to watch more tennis and help me to play my best tennis in the end, and I think it was my best match in this tournament, for sure.”

 

“His fighting spirit and my lack of concentration,” Djokovic told media were the reasons for the turnaround after leading 3-0 in the final set.  “I just ‑‑ I didn’t deserve to win today.  You know, whenever I had chances, second, third set, I throw them away with some unforced errors.  My movement was poor, and I congratulate to my opponent.”

“I never think about my yesterday match, Del Potro said about his win over Andy Murray in the quarterfinals.  Djokovic is completely different player.  He’s the No. 1 and always is a big challenge against him.

“I was so close to lose because he got the chance to beat me, but I think I got lucky in very important moments, very important points when I made a fantastic winners on my forehands.

“Also good aces, and that’s help me to go through.

Djokovic on Del Potro’s game:”He has a big serve; he moves around the court very well for his height; he uses that forehand as a great weapon, you know.  Great running forehand, so he’s opening that side.

“I didn’t use my backhand along the line as I usually do.  It’s one of my best shots.  Today I just wasn’t there.  My backhand generally wasn’t there.  It’s okay, you know.  It happens.  It’s sport, and I just didn’t make it this time.”

Del Potro’s use of the slice proved to be very effective in this match and in the tournament. “I use it a lot, because that help me to play more aggressive with my forehand and trying to do different things, Del Potro said.  “That help me to beat Murray yesterday; today Nole.

“I don’t know if I’m going to use tomorrow against Rafa because he’s lefty and he move really, really fast in the baseline.

“But what I know about him is playing more aggressive than today, trying to make a few winners with my forehands, coming a lot to the net, and I need to serve well also.”

Nadal in press 3 11

Rafael Nadal beat Tomas Berdych 6-4, 7-5 to gain his fourth berth in the BNP Paribas Open final. Nadal is now 16-1 in his comeback from a left knee injury since taking a seven month hiatus off the tennis tour, including a current 13 match win streak.

“It’s very, very difficult to imagine something like this. But here we are today, and very happy about all what happened the last month, especially last three weeks,” said Nadal, who took out No. 2 Roger Federer in straight sets in the quarterfinals.

“So coming back is certainly something amazing for me, totally unexpected, and I received more support than ever from the crowd every place that I played.  That’s always a very, very special feeling.  Thank you very much, all the people.

“I am enjoying, sure.  Every match means a lot to me.  Every time I am able to come back on court and play these kind of matches makes me very happy.”

“I don’t have nothing to lose after seven months. I did much more than what I dreamed.”

Nadal will be seeking his third Indian Wells title.

“He looks strong again,” Berdych said. “He still play very aggressive, and what he was missing in his first matches when he come back after the injury was maybe a bit of confidence in his game, but definitely not today and not anymore.”

“When it was 5-3 ( in the second set) since that time I serve only one first serve and he serve only one second serve,” Berdych said. “Actually, that was the difference.”

“I was very nervous at the end of the match to close the match and was lucky that my serve worked amazing in the last game in important moments,” Nadal  said. “Victories like today, like the other day, helps you a lot for the confidence and to remember all the things that you have to do in every moment.”

Nadal holds a 7-3 head-to-head record versus the Argentine.

In order for Del Potro to win Sunday’s final, Del Potro explained that everything has to be “perfect.” “ It’s the final against Rafa.  For sure I need to play better and better every day.  All finals are special to play.

“Also when you play the top guys, they are the favorites, but I will try to do my game like just like today and then see if Rafa give me a little chance to win.”

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BNP Paribas Open – Friday Results, Saturday Schedule

big bnp paribas open logo

BNP PARIBAS OPEN
Indian Wells, CA, USA
March 6-17, 2013
Hard/Outdoors

Results – Friday, March 15, 2013
WTA Singles – Semifinals
(2) Maria Sharapova (RUS) d. (13) Maria Kirilenko (RUS) 64 63
(8) Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) d. (4) Angelique Kerber (GER) 26 64 75

ATP Singles – Quarterfinals
[1] N Djokovic (SRB) d [8] J Tsonga (FRA) 63 61
[7] J Del Potro (ARG) d [3] A Murray (GBR) 67(5) 63 61

Doubles – Semi-finals
T Huey (PHI) / J Janowicz (POL) d A Peya (AUT) / B Soares (BRA) 75 16 12-10

SCHEDULE – SATURDAY, 16 MARCH, 2013

STADIUM 1 start 12:00 noon
[6] T Berdych (CZE) vs [5] R Nadal (ESP) – ATP
[1] N Djokovic (SRB) vs [7] J Del Potro (ARG) – ATP

Not Before 3:00PM
[3] N Petrova (RUS) / K Srebotnik (SLO) vs [4] E Makarova (RUS) / E Vesnina (RUS) – WTA

Not Before 4:00PM
[1] B Bryan (USA) / M Bryan (USA) vs T Huey (PHI) / J Janowicz (POL) – ATP

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Sharapova Makes Second Straight Indian Wells Final

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(March 15, 2013) Maria Sharapova reached her second straight BNP Paribas Open final by beating long-time friend and fellow Russian No. 13 seed Maria Kirlenko 6-4, 6-3. Sharapova will play Caroline Wozniacki on Sunday for the title. Each woman has won the championship once – Wozniacki in 2011 and Sharapova in 2006. This will be Sharapova’s first final of 2013.

With Friday’s win, Sharapova will move up to the No. 2 ranking, moving past Victoria Azarenka. Serena Williams is No.1.

“I think I made the first set a bit more difficult than it should have been.  You know, I felt like it could have been up 4‑0,” Sharapova said.

“And she’s someone who has had a few comebacks in this tournament and really good results.  I think this is her best tournament yet.

“So, yeah, I stepped it up in the second set, you know.  First set was a little shady; second set was much better.”

“Still she had some double faults, like few in a row, and still I wasn’t able to break her, Kirilenko said.

“Well, I think the game was quite solid today, you know, from both of us.  Just, you know, she was maybe get a little bit more lucky today somewhere.”

Kirilenko is expected to move up to No. 13 in the world as of Monday, a spot away from her career high of No. 12. “I can say only the positive stuff for this tournament, she said. “ I’m happy the way I’m playing, and so it’s mean that I’m moving to the right direction.”

On Wozniacki, her opponent in the final Sharapova said: “She’s always a tough opponent.  You know, she’s a grinder.  She makes you work really hard on the court and gets a lot of balls back, you know, and has a lot of different variety.

“You know, I certainly don’t want to give her that time or those opportunities, because she’s a really good player.”

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Wozniacki Grinds Past Kerber To Reach BNP Paribas Open Final

Caroline Wozniacki

(March 15, 2013) Former No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki rallied to upset No. 4 seed Angelique Kerber 2-6, 6-4, 7-5 to advance to the final of the BNP Paribas Open, her third time in the finals in the past four years.

Wozniacki, seeded eighth won Indian Wells in 2011 after being a losing finalist in 2010, held off a late surge by Kerber to eke past the German in  two-and-a-half hours, despite at one point being down 2-6 0-2.

The match was flooded with service breaks – 14 in total.

The critical game in the match came in the second set at 3-3, when Wozniacki survived five break points going on to win the set and even tha match. “Somehow I managed to come back and hold my serve,” Wozniacki said. “We had a really long game there… but I managed to turn it around.”

“I actually don’t remember right now really, because it was so close match and I was just focusing on every point each, “Kerber said of the seventh game of the second set.  “There was a lot of points like close ones.”

“I led 4-1 in the third and should have finished it off there but she’s a great fighter,” said a joyful Wozniacki courtside, after the match. “I played a bit short and she was all over it.”

“It was a tough match from the beginning,” Kerber said.  “I start very well, but, yeah, she find to her game in the second set.

“And it was not easy for me, but I think it was a close and good match.

“At the end I think she won important points, and, yeah, and won the match.”

Wozniacki implemented the use of hitting high balls also known as “moonballs” beginning in the second set.

“I just took it as it came, “ Wozniacki said.  “I was trying to figure out a way to win.  And it doesn’t really matter how, you know.  It’s just important to win the points basically.

“I felt like I got some nice points out of it, and I felt like I could go from defense to offense that way, as well.”

Wozniacki will do battle for the title on Sunday against the winner of the Maria Sharapova- Maria Kirilenko match.

“Both great competitors, both fighting for every point,“ said the Dane commenting on her potential opponents. “Sharapova playing very aggressively and trying to take every ball on the rise and plays very flat.

“Kirilenko plays with a bit more spin; comes to the net a bit more; mixes it up.  She runs well, as well.  So it’s a little bit of a different opponent, really.”

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Del Potro Moves Past Murray to Earn Spot in BNP Paribas Open Semis

Juan Martin Del Portro

(March 15, 2013) Juan Martin Del Potro came back to stop No. 3 Andy Murray 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-1 to move into the semifinals of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells on Friday. The match, ending on a Murray double fault, reflected on the large number of unforced errors Murray committed – a total of 49 to Del Potro’s 27.

It was the first time Del Potro has beaten Murray on a hard court.

“I was close to beat(ing) him in 2009 in Montreal finals, but I did today, “ Del Potro said.  I played my best match of the tournament.  I was positive all the time, even when I lost the first set, tough first set.

“But in the end, I play my game.  I be aggressive all the time, I’m hitting all the time hard the ball with my forehands, and I play a few slices as well and dropshots.  I think I did a very good game today.”

Murray won a close first set tiebreak 7-6(5) but but could not break the Argentine’s serve throughout the match. Murray in turn was broken a total of four times during the two-and-a-half hour match.

“I thought the first set I was playing pretty decent,“ Murray said.  “I thought I hit the ball decent throughout the match, but I played better when I needed to in the first set; then obviously hadn’t managed to break him in the match.  I had some chances in the second set; didn’t manage to get them.

“He had a big second serve on to the back edge of the line.  Yeah, he played like someone that’s won a lot of matches recently.  Especially in the second and third set when the important moments came he played well.”

For the seventh seed Del Potro, it’s his second victory over Murray. Del Potro has lost only one set in his Indian Wells run. He’ll play Novak Djokovic for a place in the final on Saturday. Djokovic has an 8-2 record against Del Potro.

“But tomorrow against Nole I will need to play better than today,” said Del Potro.  “I remember the match in Dubai I was close to win the second set, but he takes all the chances to beat me.  He’s the No. 1.  You never know if he give to you a little chance to win, you know. “

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Djokovic Win Streak Up to 22 with Win Over Tsonga

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(March 15, 2013) No. 1 Novak Djokovic extended his win streak to 22 on Friday with a defeat of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga for 8th straight time, 6-3, 6-1 to advance to the semifinals of the BNP Paribas Open.

The last time Djokovic lost was back on October 31 to American Sam Querrey at the BNP Paribas Masters in Paris. The Serb is 17-0 this year with two titles including the Australian Open.

Djokovic broke Tsonga’s serve four times during the 54 minutes match. The Frenchman is now 0-11 against the world’s top 5 since November 2011.

“I served really well and used the shots around the court well, and that’s what matters for me,” Djokovic said.

“Things went well from the start.  You know, it was quite different conditions from that previous match when I played at night and was much slower.  Today was a hotter day obviously, and the ball’s going through the air much faster.  That required a big focus and adjustment steps before every point and every shot.

“I thought I did well.  I was in the balance.  I returned well when I needed to.  He made a lot of unforced errors, which obviously helped me to get in front.

“When it was important, I didn’t allow him to come back to the match.  I didn’t allow him to have an opportunity to believe that he can maybe have a break back and get back into the match.

“So that was very important for me to stay mentally, you know, committed throughout the whole match.

“Was tough for me to keep the ball in the court, said Tsonga.  “Not because he put me a lot of pressure.

“I don’t know.  Just because it was ‑‑ I don’t know.  I don’t know how to explain that, but it was a day for me without sensation.  Everything I tried to do, I missed it, and not about a point like this.  In the match you have many, many points.”

Djokovic will play the winner of Andy Murray versus Juan Martin Del Potro match.

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Bryan Brothers Advance to Their Third BNP Paribas Open Men’s Doubles Final

 

Bryan brothers-001By Jennifer Knapp

(March 15, 2013) The world’s No. 1 ranked and top seeded team of Bob and Mike Bryan (USA) are one step closer to their elusive first BNP Paribas Open trophy after their thrilling semifinal win over Santiago Gonzalez (MEX)/Scott Lipski (USA) 6-4, 4-6, 11-9 Thursday night at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.

Playing in front of a full capacity and very vocal crowd, the shot making on both sides of the court was absolutely amazing.   The match couldn’t have been any closer with both teams compiling identical first serve percentages of 67% and points on first service won of 75% along with only 2 breaks of serve per team.  The entire match was a display of agility, speed and simply incredible shot making and the enthusiastic crowd loved every moment of it – including the Bryan’s trademark flying chest bump right after match point.

The Bryans, who previously made the finals in 2003 (l. Wayne Ferreira/Yevgeny Kafelnikov) and 2006 (l. Mark Knowles/Daniel Nestor), are the winningest team in all of professional tennis with 85 titles (129 finals to date) and are now 19-2 for the season.  They will meet the newly formed team of Treat Huey (PHI) and Jerzy Janowicz (POL) in the final.  Huey and Janowicz who have had an impressive run in their first tournament together, saved two match points to defeat the Brazilian team of Alexander Peya and Bruno Soares 7-5, 1-6, 12-10 in the other men’s’ semifinal.

 

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