Tennis: Medvedev halts Murray heroics to take Qatar title

DOHA, Qatar -- Daniil Medvedev beat fellow former world number one Andy Murray 6-4, 6-4 in the Qatar Open final on Saturday to win his second ATP title in a week.

The 27-year-old, who won in Rotterdam last Sunday, convincingly ended his 35-year-old opponent's comeback heroics that saw Murray fight four three-set battles and overcome eight match points to reach the final in Doha.

Medvedev broke Murray's first serve in each set as he remained unbeaten in three encounters between the two. His 17th career title should see him move up one place to seventh in the new world rankings.

Medevedev said both players struggled to find their rhythm in the wind but also complained about new match balls used on the tour,

"Honestly now I can say this now that the tournament is over, and also I won, I think that these balls are not good for hard courts," said the Russian.

"They changed something this year and I don't like them. I heard a lot of other players are struggling with shoulders, elbows and wrists.

"Myself I had wrist problems in Australia. Generally I think I was struggling all week to find the perfect rhythm with these balls, but I am happy to win."

Medvedev fired down five aces but also committed six double faults. 

Murray repeatedly shouted at himself and his support team after errors.

Medvedev had seemed to be cruising to victory in the second set until he was serving at 3-2 up with two game points. Murray fought back and produced a brilliant backhand winner to surge back into the clash at 3-3.

At 4-4, Murray was leading 40-0 in a bid to produce another shock, but the Scot let Medvedev get back into the game for the key break that decided the title.

"Daniil is one of my favorite players to watch and one of the best on the tour," said Murray, who acknowledged he had been through an "amazing week".

Murray is expected to rise from 70th to 52 in the world rankings. But he said that after his grueling week he would speak with his team before deciding whether to compete in the Dubai tournament this week. 

Murray saved three match points in his first round game and five against Czech challenger Jiri Lehecka in his semi-final. 

He spent more than 12 hours on court during his week in Doha and conscious of his 2019 hip replacement surgery and will see what toll that has taken.

"All were pretty tough matches physically so at my age and with the conditions I do have to be mindful of those things," he said.

"Definitely there are some things to work on but I am proud of my week and the work that me and my team have put in to get me back to this stage."

Medvedev said he would fly to Dubai on Sunday to prepare for an event boosted by his second straight title but wary of the fact that he could meet world number one Novak Djokovic in the semi-final.

"It is all about confidence and as it can come really fast it can go away really fast with one loss. I feel really great right now but next week is a new challenge."

Agence France-Presse

Djokovic admits concerns after friend becomes Federer coach

World number one Novak Djokovic admitted Sunday it will be bizarre to see his friend Ivan Ljubicic helping coach one of his greatest rivals, Roger Federer, this season.

“Yes! Honestly, yes,” said Djokovic, when asked if he would find it strange to see the Croat as part of the Swiss legend’s coaching staff. “But you know, again, we are professionals.”

It was announced in December that Ljubicic, a former world number three, would be hired in a move widely interpreted as Federer trying to find a way to defeat a dominant Djokovic, who won three Grand Slams last year and was also a finalist at the French Open.

“He (Ljubicic) knows my game, he knows the game of all Roger’s opponents, and I think that’s one of the reasons why Roger has hired him to be with him on the team,” said Djokovic, speaking in Doha, ahead of his first tournament of the season, the Qatar Open, which begins on Monday.

“Whether it’s going to work or not, that’s something to see for all of us, but I wish them all the best. He’s a great guy, very calm, very composed, and I am sure Roger knows why he hired him.”

Federer has denied that the Croat has been hired just to help him overcome the Serb.

Djokovic also said he was well-rested from his winter break and was “very excited” to start again on the tour.

Given his performance last season there has been speculation that Djokovic could become the first player since Rod Laver in 1969 to win all four Grand Slams in a single season.

There is also the extra prize of a “fifth major” this season, with an Olympics gold medal up for grabs in Rio de Janeiro in August.

The Serb said he would play to win every match.

“Grand Slams and Olympic Games are the priority of the season, but it’s a long season, so I can’t really predict what’s going to happen or guarantee if I am going to win any of the Grand Slams or all four.

“Of course, I am going to try to win every tournament and every Grand Slam that I play in, that’s kind of the mindset that I have.”

Djokovic kicks off his season on Monday against Dustin Brown in the first round of the Qatar Open after the German came through the qualifiers.

Doha last year represented one of his rare failures as Ivo Karlovic beat Djokovic in three seats in the quarter-finals.

Also playing in Doha this year is Rafa Nadal and defending champion David Ferrer.

Djokovic added money was not a “priority” after it was revealed he and Federer were in a race to become the first $100 million earners in tennis.

“Money is not really why I am playing this sport,” he said.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Tennis giants Nadal, Serena fall

Defending champion Rafael Nadal was ushered to the exit, while top-seeded Novak Djokovic cruised through his first match of the season at the Qatar Open on Tuesday.

Across the globe to Australia, world number one Serena Williams complained of tiredness after being trounced by Canadian Eugenie Bouchard at the mixed teams Hopman Cup.

The second-seeded Nadal, showing desire but displaying a rusty game, was upset by German qualifier Michael Berrer 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the first round.

This was Nadal’s first match since losing in the Basel quarterfinals to 17-year-old Borna Coric of Croatia in October. The Spaniard spent much of the autumn suffering from appendicitis and underwent an appendectomy on Nov. 3.

“These things happen after long time without being on the road, being on rhythm, being in competition,” Nadal said. “I was playing with more nerves because after long time (away) I wanted to win.

“When you are back from an injury, that takes time.”

The 127th-ranked Berrer broke Nadal to go ahead 3-1 in the second set, and then in the first game of the third set.

Berrer had never before beaten a top five ranked player. The 34-year-old father of two has already announced he’s retiring at the end of the year.

“It’s really unbelievable,” Berrer told the crowd after his win. “It’s my last season so I’m just going for it. Why not?”

Top-ranked Djokovic started off his 2015 season with a 6-2, 6-1 win in a 59-minute match against fellow Serbian Dusan Lajovic.

Djokovic put 72 percent of his first serve in play and was successful on five of six break point opportunities.

Djokovic is making his first career appearance at the Doha tournament. Historically, he doesn’t play a sanctioned tournament the first week of the year.

Meanwhile, Williams was humbled by the sixth-ranked Bouchard in straight sets as Canada upset the tournament favorites 2-1.

Williams went down one set against 12th-ranked Flavia Pennetta in her first outing in Perth on Monday but was rejuvenated by a mid-match coffee and went on to beat the Italian.

However, there was to be no coffee-inspired miracle against the sixth-ranked Bouchard, who doubled-faulted five times in her first two services games and yet cruised to an emphatic 6-2, 6-1 win over the 18-time Grand Slam singles champion.

Errors flowed off the Williams racquet during her match with Bouchard and the 33-year-old said she hadn’t been feeling at her best since arriving in Perth on Saturday.

“I don’t know what’s wrong with me, I am so tired, it’s so weird,” she said when asked if she was suffering from jet lag.

In beating Williams for the first time, Bouchard rebounded strongly from the disappointment of Canada’s opening tie, when she was beaten 6-0, 6-4 by the Czech Republic’s in-form Lucie Safarova.

The 20-year-old was delighted with the rapid improvement in her game.

“My goal was to be more active with my feet, try and go for my shots a bit more and be more aggressive,” she said.

“I think I did that well, I know she (Williams) definitely didn’t play her best but I am happy I stayed with it.”

source: sports.inquirer.net