Novak eyes Masters super 6
Source: Agencies |
August 22, 2011, Monday
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WORLD No. 1 Novak Djokovic looks to make it an unprecedented six out of six in Masters series titles when he takes on Britain's Andy Murray in the final of the Western & Southern Open in Mason, Ohio, but both players say their bodies are feeling the strain.
Djokovic, who has a 57-1 record this season, has already claimed nine tournaments in what has been a remarkable year of dominance in the sport and he is the clear favorite for the US Open, starting in New York next Monday.
The Serb booked his place in the final with a victory over the Czech Republic's Tomas Berdych, when his opponent had to retire with a shoulder injury having lost the first set 5-7.
Despite only spending 52 minutes on court, Djokovic, who has some shoulder problems of his own, said that he was not in peak condition ahead of the final.
"To be honest, I am definitely not 100 percent but I'm getting out there and trying to give my best to win every match I play on. I know that I felt better last week.
"But I'm in another final. It's a great achievement. Tomorrow I'll try to get another title."
Murray beat American Mardy Fish 6-3, 7-6 (8) in his semifinal on Saturday but said he was hampered by fitness problems
"I was struggling physically. That's frustrating for me, because that's something I haven't struggled with for quite a long time," said the Scot.
The pair met in the final of the Australian Open in January with Djokovic winning in straight sets and the Serb came out on top again in the Rome semifinals four months later.
But Djokovic also recalled that Murray beat him here in the 2008 final - one of seven Masters triumphs for the Briton.
"This is a surface that he plays well on, I think," said Djokovic.
In the women's bracket, Russia's Maria Sharapova will face Serbian Jelena Jankovic in the final after the pair enjoyed solid victories in their semifinals on Saturday.
Fourth-seeded Sharapova recovered from a poor start to beat fellow Russian and world No. 2 Vera Zvonareva 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 to reach her fourth final of the season while Jankovic beat Germany's Andrea Petkovic 7-6 (4), 6-1.
"It is going to be a tough match, she is playing very well," Jankovic said of Sharapova, who holds a 5-1 record in their career meetings. "I feel good the way I am playing though and I hope I can play like that again in the final." Sharapova, ranked seventh in the world, will play for her 24th career title and second of the season following her victory in Rome but she had to come back from dropping the opening set against Zvonareva.
"I had a slow start, to say the least," said Sharapova. "I needed to get my energy back and when I did that I started to make some shots and was able to turn it around."
Djokovic, who has a 57-1 record this season, has already claimed nine tournaments in what has been a remarkable year of dominance in the sport and he is the clear favorite for the US Open, starting in New York next Monday.
The Serb booked his place in the final with a victory over the Czech Republic's Tomas Berdych, when his opponent had to retire with a shoulder injury having lost the first set 5-7.
Despite only spending 52 minutes on court, Djokovic, who has some shoulder problems of his own, said that he was not in peak condition ahead of the final.
"To be honest, I am definitely not 100 percent but I'm getting out there and trying to give my best to win every match I play on. I know that I felt better last week.
"But I'm in another final. It's a great achievement. Tomorrow I'll try to get another title."
Murray beat American Mardy Fish 6-3, 7-6 (8) in his semifinal on Saturday but said he was hampered by fitness problems
"I was struggling physically. That's frustrating for me, because that's something I haven't struggled with for quite a long time," said the Scot.
The pair met in the final of the Australian Open in January with Djokovic winning in straight sets and the Serb came out on top again in the Rome semifinals four months later.
But Djokovic also recalled that Murray beat him here in the 2008 final - one of seven Masters triumphs for the Briton.
"This is a surface that he plays well on, I think," said Djokovic.
In the women's bracket, Russia's Maria Sharapova will face Serbian Jelena Jankovic in the final after the pair enjoyed solid victories in their semifinals on Saturday.
Fourth-seeded Sharapova recovered from a poor start to beat fellow Russian and world No. 2 Vera Zvonareva 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 to reach her fourth final of the season while Jankovic beat Germany's Andrea Petkovic 7-6 (4), 6-1.
"It is going to be a tough match, she is playing very well," Jankovic said of Sharapova, who holds a 5-1 record in their career meetings. "I feel good the way I am playing though and I hope I can play like that again in the final." Sharapova, ranked seventh in the world, will play for her 24th career title and second of the season following her victory in Rome but she had to come back from dropping the opening set against Zvonareva.
"I had a slow start, to say the least," said Sharapova. "I needed to get my energy back and when I did that I started to make some shots and was able to turn it around."
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