Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
Djokovic Advances to Defend Open Title Against Murray
NEW YORK — What a difference a day made for Novak Djokovic.
One day after falling behind David Ferrer in pre-tornado weather on Saturday, Djokovic re-set his game and then cleaned Ferrer’s clock, 2-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 in the semifinals to reach his fourth U.S. Open final and notch his 60th match win of the season.
Awaiting the defending champion in Monday’s final is Andy Murray, the Scotsman who completed his semifinal match Saturday and is still seeking his first Grand Slam title.
“We all knew that he’s definitely a contender to win a Grand Slam title, you know, any year in last five years,” Djokovic said of Murray. “But it just wasn’t to be in the last four for him.
“Tomorrow I guess he’s going to be very motivated to win the title. But me, too. Also I will try to win the match.”
Djokovic, seeking his sixth career major title, is 8-6 all-time against Murray. But Murray beat the Serb in the Olympic semifinals, 7-5, 7-5, before crushing Roger Federer en route to the gold medal last month.
Murray had lost the Wimbledon final to Federer to fall to 0-4 all time in major finals.
“I think my results in the slams over the last couple of years have been very good,” Murray said Saturday after beating Tomas Berdych in four sets. “And obviously this year in the major tournaments, you know, along with the Olympics, it’s been my best year. Never made two Grand Slam finals in a year, so that’s obviously a good sign that I’m playing better and still learning.
“And the Olympics was the biggest win of my career by far. You know, it meant a lot to me, too. Whatever happens in the final, it’s been a great year. But, you know, all I want to make sure I do in the final is that I give 110 percent.
“I know how hard these opportunities are to come by, and, you know, I will give it everything.”
Murray will have the advantage of having had 48 hours rest entering the final, while Djokovic will have had just one day’s rest.
Still, Djokovic did himself a huge favor by playing at his best in eliminating Ferrer in less than two hours on Sunday after he trailed 2-5 Saturday.
“I don’t feel any problems physically,” Djokovic said. “It was good to have the job done in four sets today. I feel fresh as I can be at this stage of the tournament and looking forward for tomorrow.”
Playing in calm, sunny conditions, Djokovic lost the first game of the day and Ferrer took a one-set lead.
But Djokovic soon asserted control.
The Serb made 34 winners against 31 unforced errors and controlled the pace from the backcourt. Ferrer, the No. 5 player in the world who reached two major semifinals this year, spent much of the match eight to 10 feet behind the baseline and simply couldn’t get the ball past Djokovic. His serve wasn’t a weapon, either.
“We were all praying for less wind today,” Djokovic said of the calmer conditions that allowed him to assert control from the baseline.
Djokovic finished with seven aces and just one double fault, while Ferrer had one ace and three double faults.
“It’s definitely a huge relief to get through this match,” Djokovic said. “He’s a great competitor. I have lots of respect for him. He’s one of the fittest guys on tour and he never gives up so for me it was really a pleasure to play today.”
“He was better,” Ferrer said. “I don’t have to say nothing…I think he deserves to won the match.”
Murray and Djokovic have split four matches in 2012, including Djokovic’s five sets win in the Australian Open semis.
Now Murray gets another chance to break through the stranglehold that Federer, Rafael Nadal and Djokovic have had on men’s tennis in recent years. Combined, they’ve won 29 of the last 20 majors.
Can Murray finally win his first?
“To be in the final and get the chance to play for a Grand Slam is great,” Murray said. “You know, the year obviously is not over yet, but this is, you know, probably the last big match I will play this year. Looking forward to it.”
Photo: Darron Cummings/AP
Adam Zagoria is a Basketball Insider who covers basketball at all levels. A contributor to The New York Times and SportsNet New York (SNY), he is also the author of two books and is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker. His articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide. He also won an Emmy award for his work on the SNY mini-documentary on Syracuse guard Tyus Battle.
A veteran Ultimate Frisbee player, he has competed in numerous National and World Championships and, perhaps more importantly, his teams won the Westchester Summer League (WSL) championships in 2011 and 2013.
He lives in Manhattan with his wife and children.
NEW YORK — What a difference a day made for Novak Djokovic.
One day after falling behind David Ferrer in pre-tornado weather on Saturday, Djokovic re-set his game and then cleaned Ferrer’s clock, 2-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 in the semifinals to reach his fourth U.S. Open final and notch his 60th match win of the season.
Awaiting the defending champion in Monday’s final is Andy Murray, the Scotsman who completed his semifinal match Saturday and is still seeking his first Grand Slam title.
“We all knew that he’s definitely a contender to win a Grand Slam title, you know, any year in last five years,” Djokovic said of Murray. “But it just wasn’t to be in the last four for him.
“Tomorrow I guess he’s going to be very motivated to win the title. But me, too. Also I will try to win the match.”
Djokovic, seeking his sixth career major title, is 8-6 all-time against Murray. But Murray beat the Serb in the Olympic semifinals, 7-5, 7-5, before crushing Roger Federer en route to the gold medal last month.
Murray had lost the Wimbledon final to Federer to fall to 0-4 all time in major finals.
“I think my results in the slams over the last couple of years have been very good,” Murray said Saturday after beating Tomas Berdych in four sets. “And obviously this year in the major tournaments, you know, along with the Olympics, it’s been my best year. Never made two Grand Slam finals in a year, so that’s obviously a good sign that I’m playing better and still learning.
“And the Olympics was the biggest win of my career by far. You know, it meant a lot to me, too. Whatever happens in the final, it’s been a great year. But, you know, all I want to make sure I do in the final is that I give 110 percent.
“I know how hard these opportunities are to come by, and, you know, I will give it everything.”
Murray will have the advantage of having had 48 hours rest entering the final, while Djokovic will have had just one day’s rest.
Still, Djokovic did himself a huge favor by playing at his best in eliminating Ferrer in less than two hours on Sunday after he trailed 2-5 Saturday.
“I don’t feel any problems physically,” Djokovic said. “It was good to have the job done in four sets today. I feel fresh as I can be at this stage of the tournament and looking forward for tomorrow.”
Playing in calm, sunny conditions, Djokovic lost the first game of the day and Ferrer took a one-set lead.
But Djokovic soon asserted control.
The Serb made 34 winners against 31 unforced errors and controlled the pace from the backcourt. Ferrer, the No. 5 player in the world who reached two major semifinals this year, spent much of the match eight to 10 feet behind the baseline and simply couldn’t get the ball past Djokovic. His serve wasn’t a weapon, either.
“We were all praying for less wind today,” Djokovic said of the calmer conditions that allowed him to assert control from the baseline.
Djokovic finished with seven aces and just one double fault, while Ferrer had one ace and three double faults.
“It’s definitely a huge relief to get through this match,” Djokovic said. “He’s a great competitor. I have lots of respect for him. He’s one of the fittest guys on tour and he never gives up so for me it was really a pleasure to play today.”
“He was better,” Ferrer said. “I don’t have to say nothing…I think he deserves to won the match.”
Murray and Djokovic have split four matches in 2012, including Djokovic’s five sets win in the Australian Open semis.
Now Murray gets another chance to break through the stranglehold that Federer, Rafael Nadal and Djokovic have had on men’s tennis in recent years. Combined, they’ve won 29 of the last 20 majors.
Can Murray finally win his first?
“To be in the final and get the chance to play for a Grand Slam is great,” Murray said. “You know, the year obviously is not over yet, but this is, you know, probably the last big match I will play this year. Looking forward to it.”
Photo: Darron Cummings/AP
