2013/05/24

Serena Williams fights past Shvedova to reach Wimbledon Quarterfinals

WIMBLEDON – On Court No. 2, Serena Williams moved past “Golden Set” Yaroslava Shvedova 6-1, 2-6, 7-5 to reach the Wimbledon quarterfinals on Monday. Shvedova won a perfect set capturing 24 straight points in her last match against Sara Errani.

Williams controlled the windy conditions in the first set blasting past the Kazakh 6-1.

Shvedova turned things around in the second set dictating points and breaking Williams twice.

“I felt, like, my opponent played really good today,” Williams said. “I definitely felt like I let her back into the match.  She’s a great player and she’s been doing really well. “

In the tight third set, Williams finally broke Shvedova in the 11th game after failing to capitalize on three break points at 4-4 against the 65th ranked player.

“I just felt like today I was sluggish out there, just pulling myself together mentally.

“But, like I said, I feel like I can do a lot better, which is very comforting, because if this is my best I’m in trouble.

“I think my opponent particularly today didn’t hesitate.  I thought she really went for the glory, as my opponent in the last round went for the glory.

You know, I just feel like everyone is trying to do their utmost nowadays.  And why not?”

Williams knocked 22 aces and 35 winners past Shvedova for the victory.

Williams will face Petra Kvitova, the defending Ladies’ champion in the quarterfinals.

She last played Kvitova two years ago at Wimbledon.  “I don’t remember that., “ said Williams. “I’m sure she does.  She played unbelievable.  I know she served well.  Then she went on to win the title the next year, so she’s obviously a great grass court player ‑ as well as I am.  I’ll be ready.”

 

Getting to know Emiliano Redondi

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Getting to know Emiliano Redondi

 

WIMBLEDON – Yaroslava Shvedova, delighted the media with her calm demeanor, sincere comments, humbled and happy attitude, after beating French Open finalist Sara Errani in straight sets in the third round. She has been working with tennis coach, Emiliano Redondi from Argentina for the past several months.

 

She made history at Wimbledon after playing a perfect first set in fifteen minutes, winning 24 points – a Golden set. She received a wild card into the main draw after reaching the fourth round of the French Open, where she showed raw talent, great determination and hard working skills. On Monday, she will face Serena Williams (USA) the number six seed in the fourth round on court 2. “I always dream of playing on Centre Court.” So for her dream to come true this year she will have to survive at least one more round.

 

Shvedova has been blooming under the tutelage of experienced Argentinian tennis coach Emiliano Redondi, who has worked with many players before including Juan Pablo Guzman, who was a top 100 player and Leonardo Mayer. Emiliano was very pleased that Yaroslava followed their game plan. “Now we spoke a lot before the match, but she played very good. grass is the harder of all other surfaces, than clay,hard. You need to know if you go ten times to one spot and win six points, keep going, because you are playing well, the court is fast, the ball bounces very low.” said Redondi.

 

Tennis Panorama News: What are Shvedova goals this year?

Emiliano Redondi: When she was ranked No 200 in the world she worked a lot and now she is still working the same.

 

TPN: Tell me about the match today. The stats showed she got 100 % of points in the first set, Golden set.  I rarely see that. Incredible don’t you think?

ER: Yes in this case they told me that this is the first time at Wimbledon that this happened. I think also, especially Wimbledon is a little bit of luck, because here at Wimbledon you can make a good serve, play a good point. Another good thing about her is that she used the tactics, she played exactly the way we agreed before the match. And she went 100% there, and she won and she was totally focused on the match, not wondering what was happening in the match.

 

TPN: Was it difficult for Yaroslava to play in such windy conditions today?

ER: Yes it was windy. But about the wind, sometimes, it is difficult to serve because the ball moves everywhere. We spoke a little bit where to serve because it was a little bit windy. It is not easy to follow the ball when it’s windy. In the beginning she was a little bit nervous but it’s good that she won.

 

TPN: When did you start working with Yaroslava?

We started last year, in September after the US Open, and then in the Asian tour, we started there In Seoul, Korea. We didn’t know each other, so, that tournament was for us to try, to get to know each other, to see how we both feel, and we started to work a lot there. But the most important thing there, was not about the tennis but to see if she liked the way that I live, if I like her way of living, working, and she played good. Then we started to have some ideas, on how she play, then we started officially in November in Buenos Aires. She came to Buenos Aires to make the off season. We practice there like a month, we build our team, fitness coach, physios,doctor. Just to keep her close and to know what every step to do on her career.

 

TPN: She has won two Grand Slams title in doubles and in Roland Garros this year, working with you, she made it to the quarters. How did it all come together?

ER: In the French Open everything just matched in the right moment, the right place. In her case specially, because she is very talented, very emotional. Also as a matter of fact, in every player, when they are happy with everything that they do they are happy, they play better. That’s what happened in Paris. The week before she was sick. We went to Barcelona, and I stayed there with my family and she felt more relaxed that she had some place. Then in Paris, she started to feel very good.

 

TPN: Do you find that grass is a good surface for her game?

ER: Yes we spoke a lot before the match. I told her that she can played very good on grass. I told her that the problem how she play, the tactics, here in grass, is the most average way of play, more than clay, more than hard courts. You need to know if you go, let’s say ten times to area, and you win 6 points, keep going there. If you are playing well that ball is difficult to change its going fast. Its slow after the bounce, the ball is very low.

 

TPN: Can you tell us about yourself?

ER: I am from Argentina, all my life I worked, I come from a family of workers.

 

TPN: How did you get involved in tennis?

ER: I used to play, but i was not good. I was ranked about No. 200, not so good, not this level. I had a lot of injuries in my career, three operations, two in the shoulder, one in the hand.

 

TPN: When did you transition to coaching?

ER: I did it when i was 26, 25 year old because I need to have one more operation, then I said, ‘No, that’s it, I don’t want to do it anymore because it is too tough to come back, I would have to suffer.’

 

TPN: Do you find that being more mature helps the players on the tour?

I think that now the average or the age is older. They go a little bit further because, now all the players are more trained, they have physios, they have trainers. They have a fitness coach, So that makes them in better shape .If you go like, 30 years ago, the players didn’t travel, just travelled with a coach and nothing else. And the fitness that they did was just running. Now everything is so specific that’s why i think that helps also.

 

TPN: About American player, Bryan Baker, it is quite an achievement on his part to come back and do so well after his injuries, don’t you think?

ER: Yes, great, because it is very tough to come back from injuries. That shows for players not to give up. He is not young, he is already  playing great. In my case it was different because I had a few operations already and had to have another one and go two years without playing, I got married, but Baker is playing really well, really good.

 

TPN: Did you think closing the roof affected Nadal’s performance on the fifth set?

ER: I think the roof was not a problem, but waiting more than half hour to changed the court. But if Rosol hadn’t play that level of tennis he would have not won. But the most important thing to talk about is the high level of play of Rosol, not Nadal.

 

TPN: How supportive is Argentina with its players?

ER: Yes, they support all the players. I think they could do a little more.

 

TPN: Have you worked with many players so far?

ER: Yes, many players like Juan Pablo Guzman, who was top 100.

 

TPN: Is the Federation open to suggestions?

ER: Yes they follow it, sometimes they do, sometimes they don’t. But I think they work ok.

 

TPN: How important is motivation?

ER: That’s my point. The player must love the game. If they dont love, they should find something they love to do.

 

TPN: Do you have tennis roles models?

ER: I always like players like Sampras, Agassi, Thomas Muster, the way he plays. Jana Novotna is here, I like her game.

 

TPN: If would have to build the perfect tennis player, how would he look like?

ER: That’s tough, but Sampras serve, Agassi return, Federer forehand…

 

TPN: it is better for you to travel with your family as well, right?

ER: Yes, sometimes it’s very difficult because when you are apart just with the player, you are away from your family, sometimes is difficult because you missed them, you want to be with them. You want to go home.

 

TPN: How does being away from your family affect your work?

ER: Yes, in this case with Slava, she always says yes to my family, and we travel together. Because sometimes is not easy. Also, sometimes Slava, she must live with the life of my son, and sometimes he needs to sleep, he needs to eat, and she is ok with it, it’s very nice of her.

 

TPN: This might help to take her mind out of tennis for a while?

ER: Yes, take her mind out of her.

 

TPN: How does having a child change your life on the tour?

ER: Yes, your priorities changes completely. You want them grow up healthy and learn, and it is tough these days to teach them to go with good ideas.

 

TPN: What did tennis bring to your life?

ER: It changed it completely, because I have been in this sport all my life, and to me, it brings happiness. Because you have to deal with a lot of upsets, but also teaches that you need to work, you need to practice and do a lot of things to play good tennis.

 

Lucia Hoffman for Tennis Panorama at Wimbledon

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Shvedova gets “Golden Set” in defeating Errani

WIMBLEDON – Yaroslava Shvedova of Kazakhstan became only the second known player in the Open Era to record a ‘golden set’ (winning all 24 points in a set) in the first set of her 6-0, 6-4 third round win over Sara Errani of Italy.

“I had no idea,” said Svedova.  “I was just playing every point and every game.  Like I didn’t feel like it was every game was 40‑Love, only in the second set.

“Like I remember like first or second ball of the second set she won.  All the people start to like clap and scream.  I was like, What’s going on?  I even smiled.  I was, like, Okay, they want to see a good match.  I was like, Okay.

“And then in the gym after the match, when I was cooling down, my coach came, and he’s like, Did you know like someone told me like the stats about you and not losing a point.  I was like, Really?  Like not making unforced errors or not losing points?  Not losing a point.  So it was incredible.”

The only previous player to record a golden set was American Bill Scanlon, who won all 24 points in the second set of his 6-2, 6-0 first round win over Marcos Hocevar of Brazil at Delray Beach in 1983.

“Like I still cannot believe,” added Shvedova, “and I was like probably maybe they made the mistake or something until like I went to have a bit of food before the mixed.  My manager came, and she’s said like, They checked the stats.  They said it’s really true.  You won 24 points in a row.”

Shvedova held the previous women’s record for the most consecutive points won, winning the first 23 points of her match against American Amy Frazier in the second round at Memphis in 2006, but went on to lose the match 1-6, 6-0, 6-0.

Shvedova will play Serena Williams on Monday for a place in the quarterfinals.

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Sharapova and Kvitova to meet in French Open Semifinal

Maria Sharapova

Maria Sharapova continued her quest to complete a career “Grand Slam” by defeating 23rd seed Kaia Kanepi of Estonia with a straight forward 6-2, 6-3 win while Petra Kvitova eked out a 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 victory over qualifier Yaroslava Shvedova on Wednesday in Paris at the French Open to set up the last of the semifinal pairings.

The victory for Sharapova moves her into her third French Open semifinal and should she win her match it would vault her back to No. 1 in the world.

“It’s my third time in the semifinals,” Sharapova said after defeating Kanepi. “After a tough match in the previous round, you know, I’m happy with the way I improved in this match.

“I thought that was really important, because she’s someone that always competes and plays really well against top players especially.  She has that extra motivation.

“Yeah, the return is very important because she can serve very well, has a big first serve, so that was a big key today.”

“I think she played very well,” Kanepi said.  “Yeah, she was attacking all the time, and I didn’t have much time to do my shots.  She played very well.

“She puts the pressure on when she returns.  It’s not very comfortable to serve because you know you have to serve well

“I think she can win the tournament.  I think, yeah, any who will be in the semis have a chance, but I think she’s in very good form right now.”

The Russian talked about her next opponent Kvitova: “Yeah, she’s an extremely tough opponent, someone that I have had good success in our last couple of previous meetings.  But always tough matches.

“The last one in Stuttgart was a tough two‑setter for me.  She had opportunities in that second set to win it, so yeah, she seems to be playing really well.  When she’s confident when she’s hitting the ball she’s quite dangerous, so, yeah, obviously it’s going to be another level, as well.

“I hope that I can raise my level, as well, too.”

Sharapova won Wimbledon in 2004, the U.S. Open in 2006 and the Australian Open in 2008.

 

 

Petra Kvitova

The Wimbledon champion Kvitova ended Shvedova’s run to the quarterfinals having to rally in three sets. In the end, fatigue got to the Kazakh whose tournament began in the qualifying.

“I was just super‑tired.  In the first set I still had the energy and I played well, Shvedova said. “ She was doing mistakes.  I took the advantage I wanted, and then I had just loss of energy.

“The third set is just like I was saying to myself to fight and just try to get all the balls and then we’ll see what happened.  Because I can win; I can lose.

“She was playing good and she was attacking, putting pressure a lot.  It was very hard for me to play.

“It was very good tournament.  I’m very happy, because with the previous win against Li Na I made enough points to qualify for singles Olympics.

“So like I made my goal, and that’s why I was pushing so hard.  I like I wanted it so much and it helped me to achieve it.”

As for Kvitova, “I expected it will be tough match and it was actually.  She start well and I was very nervous from the beginning.  The first set I did easy mistakes.

“Then I knew that I had to change my game and I have to be the aggressive one and going for the points.

“Yeah, I mean, the games was very close.  I’m happy that I won the big points for me.  Yeah, I couldn’t give up, so, yeah.”

 

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Notes and Quotes from Day 9 of the 2012 French Open

MARIA SHARAPOVA

 

On the controversial umpire calls:

The first one was the most questionable one, I guess, because she couldn’t find the mark.  I mean, I don’t know how to  like, she said that to me.  What do you say to that?  You can’t find the mark?  I mean, it was like, Well, isn’t that your job, is to find the mark?  I mean, we’re on clay courts.  Usually when there is no mark, it means it’s on the line.  Obviously that wasn’t her theory.

And then she said  I asked her to  I asked the line judge where the mark was.  She said, Well, I walked around that area; I might have stepped on the mark.

So I don’t know what to say to that, either.  She had an answer for everything out there.

Yeah, and then the second one, that was I don’t know.  I’d have to see the replay.  I don’t remember if I made a gesture that it was out or not.  Maybe that was the right call.  But in the moment it seemed like I was correct in both situations.

 

Glamour and diva.  Hmmm.  Yeah, that’s me.  (Smiling.)

I think a lot of it is perception, and the visual that people have of  it’s understandable, because what the outside world sees is you playing and doing press conferences.  And being on the red carpet and everything is just so glam and beautiful.

But at the end of the day, it’s all big one illusion, and then reality sets in.  And, you know, I don’t go to sleep with my makeup on or don’t wear makeup on the court.

I’m sure divas do that, right?  (Smiling).

 

What she did with car she won in Stuttgart: 

What do I do with it?  I pick a car.  Well, yeah, I guess I ship it to wherever they can ship it to.  Hopefully they can ship it to the States.  No, they said they would.

It might take a little bit longer, but, yeah, I’m excited about it.  Excited for a change.  I like my car, but maybe I’ll be driving another one, even though my dad sounds like he might steal it.

 

Asked about her “game plan” and who is in control of it: 

I’m useless with game plans.  That’s probably the one thing he just gets so frustrated with me about.  I don’t know.  I go out there and I do my own thing, and then he’s like, after the match, like, Really?  What’s the point?  I mean, what’s the point of having me?

But I apologized when I hired him in advance, so he’s okay.

 

YAROSLAVA SHVEDOVA

 

Yeah, after I did the quarters here in 2010, I had not success year of the singles.  But then I was focusing a lot on doubles, because then we qualified with Vania for Championships.

In the beginning of 2011 and after my first match, I had injury and I had surgery right after Australia.  After surgery I was recovering very long and I come back and my knee was bothering me for half year.

And then my coach left, and I had some tough periods mentally, as well, and I was very down and lonely.  Playing again doubles and couldn’t  like lost all my singles points.

Since like September I got a new coach, and he helped me out a lot.  For this year we set a goal to get my ranking back, and I was working hard.  I had a great team around me and working with psychologist and everything, fitness coaches, and I am very thankful to my team.  It’s not only my work, it’s teamwork.

 

 

No, I had the same plan.  It’s just it didn’t work in the first set.  She was playing very good.  I was very nervous and like making mistakes and, yeah, it’s like played a bit wrong.

But then I figure out it and change my game, and she like start to attack more.

And I knew also before the match she’s defending champion, and she have a pressure to hold.  I was relaxed.  I was from the equally and it was my seventh match singles.  So it was just come to enjoy and try my best.

Yeah, it’s the  for now the most incredible win, I think, for me.  I always have nice matches against top players, because it’s easier, as I said, because I have no pressure, and I always come to beat them.  I don’t need to defend something like if I play with lower‑ranked players.

 

Yeah, I felt she (Li Na)was nervous a little bit.  She didn’t play maybe like she was playing last year.  She was doing some mistakes.  But I don’t know.  Maybe she was thinking a lot or maybe she’s not in the best shape.  Like I cannot tell for her.  Like you have to ask her.

LI NA

 

Nothing wrong the second set.  I mean, this is tennis.

I mean, I really want to say I was a professional tennis player.  This, I mean, only I can answer.

The weather for me is nothing special.  The weather couldn’t killing me.

I will find the why.  I will find out.  But not ..not in today.  Otherwise for sure I can win the match.

On the court, I can’t find why.  I couldn’t put the ball back on the court.

I mean, just like normal.  Tennis, only two player on the court.  Only win or is lose.  For me is nothing special.  If today I lose the match, lose.  If I win, just win.  If I lose the match, I have to find the reason why I lose the match.  I have to try working hard next day and even come working hard next week.

I mean, you say I win last year.  I mean, is already last year.  So one year already.

Is one year already.  How can against for today, I mean, I don’t know why.  I just lose one match.  So don’t try to push me down.

 

I mean, of course I have to take off.  Right now I feeling  especially after losing match, I mean, I can’t pick up the racquet next day to training harder as I can.

So of course I will take some days off to totally forget tennis.  Then try to come back in next week.

The next tournament for me is Wimbledon.

 

Hopes for Wimbledon:

Wish better than last year.  I mean, this is only I can think right now, because of course I was sad when I lose the match.  I mean, of course after losing match, I couldn’t think about what I should do in the next day.

For me, right now, I want totally relax, and the mind and body, as well, because I think I didn’t play bad in the clay court season.

I need some time to recover.  I’m not machine.  So, yeah.

RAFAEL NADAL

 

Yeah, I feel good, no?  After the beginning I started, when I had the first break, I started to play very well.

Before I didn’t play fantastic, but it’s true that he started the match playing aggressive, having good shots.

In my opinion, he was unlucky, unlucky in the first set.  That’s my feeling, no?  6‑2 was too much.

Later, sure, very happy the way I played.  I feel very, very sorry for him.  I think he’s playing probably the best tennis of his career, but probably not today after, especially the last set, no, when he start to miss, you know.  I saw him a little bit, you know, suffering a little bit on court at the end.

He’s one of my best friends on tour.  I feel very sorry for him.  But same time, you know, he’s playing great.  He’s having fantastic results.  He’s No. 14 or 15 in the world today.

I wish him all the best for the rest.  If he continues like this, he will have good chances to keep going.

 

Well, I think that now he’s in the locker rooms.  I’m very sorry for him.  What can I say?  Well, I would tell him, Don’t you worry.  It’s going to be better afterwards.  You’ll feel better afterwards.

For me, a seventh Roland Garros win is not more important than No. 2, No. 3, or No. 4.  What really is important is what it brings me personally.  If I win this one, and it’s the seventh one, is it more important than 2006 or 2005?  I don’t know.

It’s a personal feeling, a personal sensation, and, you know, records are all very important.  But that’s when you’ve finished playing tennis.  When you finished that, you’ll think about this.

But, otherwise, when you’re playing, you think about what you have to do daily.

RICHARD GASQUET

 

 

I start better than the finish, for sure, the finish.  6-2, not incredible, but, yeah, I start well.  I played well.  It was tense.  Yeah, I start well, I start well.

But after I think the key was the second set.  Playing good.  I was feeling confident.  No, he’s a big player.  Some points he can turn the match, because he’s doing everything good.  You have to work on every point.

He’s serving well, returning well, he’s clear in the court.  That’s the problem.

If I’m not lucky in the second set, I have two break points, he’s playing well, and I’m not lucky with this game, even the same at 5-4.  But I think I can play better in the start of the third.

But after I start when he’s feeling confident, he has a lot of experience, and so after he play very well.

Well, I wanted to do more, so I’m disappointed to stop now, round of 16.  Last year it was closer than with Djokovic last year, so, okay, disappointed, I usually stop there, the round of 16, when it’s a Grand Slam.  It’s been many, many times, but each time I play against very tough players, and they last long, they have long rallies, they don’t make many mistakes, they have a lot of experience.  It’s difficult.  It’s up to me to continue.

You know, I played several good matches here.  It was not easy to reach the round of 16, so I’m happy; yet disappointed, disappointed because I have to stop now.

I started well.  I thought I could do better than this.

 

KAIA KANEPI

 

 

Asked if she can beat Maria Sharapova in her next match:

If I play well, of course.  Why not?  But I have to play really well.

 

I think she is a very good player of course and a great fighter and she hits really hard.

I just have to be ready.

 

I don’t know her as a person.

ANDY MURRAY

 

Yeah, I think that was always going to be important today.  He obviously started the match well, but, yeah, I started to use the energy from the crowd in a positive way and obviously turned it around and played very well the last few sets.

I wouldn’t say it got too much.  I mean, yeah, it’s almost like playing a sort of a football match.  And I like football.  I enjoyed  I mean, I enjoyed myself on the court today.

It’s the most fun I’ve had on the court in a while, so I wasn’t so sort of shying away from the fact that the crowd wanted me to lose.

Everything.  It wasn’t I mean, I think some of the shots at the end, there was a lot of really good rallies.  I played some really nice tennis the last few sets.  And then, yeah, I mean, I haven’t really played in an atmosphere like that before in terms of I played Davis Cup a few times away from home, but that was probably one of the most hostile that I’ve played in.

 

 

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JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO

 

 

No, but I’m really glad to go through, to play quarters again.  I’m not thinking about my knee, as I want to play the best I can.  I’m looking forward for the next match.

Well, when I came to this tournament, the only thing that mattered was to play  well, forget about my knee.  And in the first round, I had to give it all.

Obviously I wanted to refrain from thinking about my injury or anything that had to do with my knee.

Now, this is the second week.  We have only eight players left.  Very good players.  All of them.

Obviously the level is very high.  But in spite of everything, maybe I will get a chance to play a beautiful match with Federer.  I’m going to prepare the best I can and seize every single opportunity.

 

 

Thoughts on playing Federer:

We play fantastic match three years ago.  It was close to him, but tomorrow is gonna be a different match.  He’s playing really well, and he’s looking to win again here.  So the match is gonna be really difficult for me.

But I will try to play aggressive, like every match, and trying to  if I have a little chance to win, trying to be ready for taking.

 

I play an unbelievable match, try to take my opportunities, serve 100%, trying to play winners with my forehand, with my backhand, and put him to raise his game.  I don’t like to run too much, so I will try to be more aggressive than his game and looking at unbelievable shots.

Well, when I came to this tournament, the only thing that mattered was to play  well, forget about my knee.  And in the first round, I had to give it all.

Obviously I wanted to refrain from thinking about my injury or anything that had to do with my knee.

Now, this is the second week.  We have only eight players left.  Very good players.  All of them.

Obviously the level is very high.  But in spite of everything, maybe I will get a chance to play a beautiful match with Federer.  I’m going to prepare the best I can and seize every single opportunity.

 

No, every match is a new match, and whether I win or lose for matters regarding tennis, that’s fine.  But I don’t want my knee to be a hindrance.  And it is not a hindrance.  It doesn’t bother me.  I cannot say I lost this match because of my knee.  Not at all.

I’m going to walk onto the court tomorrow prepared to play my best tennis.  And if everything goes well, all the better.  If it doesn’t, well, it means my opponent played better than I did.

 

Jo-Wilfred Tsonga at 2011 Sony Ericsson Open Players Party

JO-WILFRED TSONGA

Yeah, yesterday was tough.  It was dark at the end and tough to continue, so the umpire decide to play today.  I don’t know if it was great for me or not, but anyway, it was like that.

Today I came on the court with the good spirit.  You know, I had a good night.  I slept well.

This morning, you know, I was ready to play again.

Q.  I read just before the tournament that you said there’s no chance that a Frenchman could win the French Open this year.  What do you think now?

I mean, it’s still the same.  I mean, I just did maybe 30% of the way.  You know, the most difficult is coming.

Before the tournament, you know, I said, For the moment, nobody’s able to win this one for the moment because we never win a Tournament 1000 on clay.  That’s why I say that.

For the moment we’re not able to do that, but maybe one day it will happen, for sure.  (Smiling.)

 

On playing Novak Djokovic in next round:

You know, what is good in tennis, it’s always different.  You know, every match is different.  You never know how your opponent will feel.  You never know how you will feel.

I think, you know, it’s gonna be different because I will be in front of my crowd.  It’s three sets to win.  That’s it.

I think for him it’s tougher.  Yeah, for him it’s tougher, because he need to win.  Me, for the moment, you know, I did my best results for the moment, so for me, it’s everything’s gonna be positive now.

Of course, I will be free on the court because I have nothing to lose against this player who is No. 1 in the world.  And anyway, the pressure will be on him.

 

 

TOMAS BERDYCH

Even here you can play quite late.  We were finishing 9:30, and this is not usual that you can play that late.

Actually it’s definitely not about the scheduling, but it’s definitely about to do something with this place.  You know, as you see everyplace you have at least lights.

Okay, we don’t to have play like a night session, but at least to have decent lights that you can finish the match.  That would be all right.

JANKO TIPSAREVIC

I think the only change which I possibly see on this event is having lights on showcourt.  But I think 11:00 is also pretty early.  I had to wake up today at 7:00 a.m. in order to have breakfast and everything and get ready for the match.  So definitely not earlier.

I don’t think they should shorten referees are trying to be strict, but I mean, it’s long rallies.  It’s clay court.  The ball is not going anywhere.  It’s best‑of‑five, so it’s not really fair that the referees are speeding up the game too much.

If there is a possible change, maybe putting lights on showcourt.

 

NICOLAS ALMAGRO

 

Yes, of course I’m very happy.  I think I played great tennis today.  The day was a little bit cloudy, but now it’s really sunny for me.  (Smiling.)

Now that win is one of the best moments of my career, and I want to enjoy and I’m very happy with my tennis.

Do you think Nadal is even stronger and more impressive than four years ago, even two years ago?

I am stronger, too, than four years ago.  Is different.  It’s another match, and I’m ready to fight.

On falling into the flowers during the match:

Well, yes, I fell almost into the flowers.  I fell on my bottom, but I’ve got a big bottom so nothing happened.  (Laughter.)

It’s a slight thing.  You know, I’m sitting now, so no problem, no concern whatsoever.  It didn’t really hurt me.

Well, I wouldn’t say that I enjoyed this moment when I landed in the flowers, but nothing serious.

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Defending Champ Li Na Crashes Out, Sharapova Struggles at French Open

Li Na’s quest to defend her French Open title of a year ago ended with a 3-6, 6-2, 6-0 loss to qualifier Yaroslava Shvedova of Kazakhstan in the fourth round while Maria Sharapova dragged to three sets at the French Open in Paris on Monday.

Shvedova, known as a doubles specialist who won both the 2010 Wimbledon and US Open paired with American Vania King, became only the ninth qualifier to advance to the Roland Garros quarterfinals. The Kazakh made the French Open singles quarterfinals in 2010.

When asked about the loss Li said, “I have to find the reason why I lose the match.  I have to try working hard next day and even come working hard next week.

“I will find the why.  I will find out.  But not.. not in today.  Otherwise for sure I can win the match.

“On the court, I can’t find why.  I couldn’t put the ball back on the court.”

Li made 41 unforced errors in cool and windy court conditions.

“It’s the ..for now the most incredible win, I think, for me,” Shvedova said.  “I always have nice matches against top players, because it’s easier, as I said, because I have no pressure, and I always come to beat them.  I don’t need to defend something like if I play with lower ranked players.

“I was just fighting every ball, and I was trying to focus how to go and focus on what I need to do,” Shvedova said about playing the third set.  “And, believe me, I was thinking a lot  it was coming with the thought about some girls losing here from 5-1 and 5-2.  I was like, no, no, no, I have to focus.  I have to fight, fight, fight, fight.”

For Shvedova it’s been two years since she last made the quarterfinals of the French Open. She spoke about the road back.

“After I did the quarters here in 2010, I had not success year of the singles.  But then I was focusing a lot on doubles, because then we qualified with Vania for Championships.

“In the beginning of 2011 and after my first match, I had injury and I had surgery right after Australia.  After surgery I was recovering very long and I come back and my knee was bothering me for half year.

“And then my coach left, and I had some tough periods mentally, as well, and I was very down and lonely.  Playing again doubles and couldn’t like lost all my singles points.

“Since like September I got a new coach, and he helped me out a lot.  For this year we set a goal to get my ranking back, and I was working hard.  I had a great team around me and working with psychologist and everything, fitness coaches, and I am very thankful to my team.  It’s not only my work, it’s teamwork.”

Shvedova, who is ranked 142 in singles will face Petra Kvitova in the quarterfinals.

 

It took World No. 2 Maria Sharapova three hours and 11 minutes to knock out world No. 44 Klara Zakopalova 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-2 to keep her quest alive for the career Grand Slam.

“My opponent I thought played extremely well, the best that she’s played against me,” said the Russian of her Czech competitor.  “I have played her a few times already.”

“You know, she’s dangerous.  She can play well, you know, because, well, first of all, she’s had very good wins, so she’s confident.  On top of that, when she hits the ball, I think some days she goes out there and goes for it, and it seems like everything just goes in and stays so low over the net.

“I mean, a great example is when I was up in that first match point, I mean, she was just drilling the ball.  I’m sure some other days she goes out and makes mistakes.  And that’s probably why she came to this tournament not seeded.  But she’s certainly dangerous.

“Yeah, the conditions were difficult, so it was a good test for me.  You know, I had chances to finish it in two sets, and I didn’t.  But I came out strong in the third set, and I guess that’s, you know, really what matters and nice to be in the quarters again.”

There were 21 service breaks in the 30 games played in the match.

Sharapova will meet the winner of the Kaia Kanepi- Arantxa Rus match in the quarterfinals.

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King and Shvedova Complete Doubles Field for WTA Year-End Championships

Vania King playing Carlsbad

Vania King and Yaroslava Shvedova have clinched the final doubles spot in the TEB BNP Paribas WTA Championships, to be hosted at the Erdem Arena in Istanbul, Turkey from October 25-30, 2011.

King and Shvedova wil be returning to the year-end Championships for the second consecutive year. The rest of the field will be Peschke/Katarina Srebotnik, Liezel Huber/Lisa Raymond and Gisela Dulko/Flavia Pennetta.

“We are very excited and proud to be going to the Championships for the second time.  We didn’t think at the beginning of the year that we would be in this position but we’ve had a very solid season and hopefully cemented ourselves at the top.  We know that we still have to work hard and improve and hope that we can go far in the Championships,” said Vania King.

The WTA’s year-end tournament will feature the world’s top eight singles players and top four doubles teams competing for the title and a share of the $5 million in prize money.

 

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Shvedova Advances to Main Draw at Bronx Open

In the final round of qualifying, former Wimbledon and US Open Doubles Champion Yaroslava Shvedova rallied from losing the first set 4-6 before finding her form and taking the final two sets 6-3, 6-1 against American Allie Will. Awaiting Shvedova on Wednesday is American Amanda McDowell, who recently finished her career at Georgia Tech.

Ahsha Rolle stopped fellow American Zoe Gwen Scandalis 6-4, 7-5 to qualify for the main draw. Rolle, who reached the final of the 2007 EmblemHealth Bronx Open, will play 2009 Wimbledon Junior Singles Champion and sixth-ranked Noppawan Lertcheewakarn of Thailand tomorrow in the first round of the main draw.

Russian Elena Bovina claimed the third wildcard spot in the main draw, winning 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 against American Jacqueline Cako. Bovina will play veteran Anne Kremer [5] of Luxembourg on Wednesday. Tamaryn Hendler, Belarus, earned the fourth and final wildcard after defeating Alexandra Mueller, United States, 6-4, 7-6 (4).

All main draw first round singles and doubles matches were rained out.
Tuesday, August 9 – RESULTS
Singles – Final Round – Qualifying
Ahsha ROLLE [5], United States, def. Zoe Gwen SCANDALIS, United States, 6-4, 7-5,
Elena BOVINA [7], Russia, def. Jacqueline CAKO, United States, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4,
Tamaryn HENDLER, Belarus, def. Alexandra MUELLER, United States, 6-4, 7-6, (4),
Yaroslava SHVEDOVA[1], Kazakhstan, def. Allie WILL, United States, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1.

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