US Open Results Day 5 Friday September 3rd

US OPEN
New York, NY-USA
August 30-September 12, 2010
$22,668,000/Grand Slam
Hard/Outdoors

Friday, September 3, 2010

Singles – Third Round
(2) Kim Clijsters (BEL) d. (27) Petra Kvitova (CZE) 63 60
(5) Samantha Stosur (AUS) d. Sara Errani (ITA) 62 63
(12) Elena Dementieva (RUS) d. (24) Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) 75 62
(20) Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) d. Gisela Dulko (ARG) 61 62

Doubles – Second Round
(6) King/Shvedova (USA/KAZ) d. Groth/Zakopalova (AUS/CZE) 75 46 62
Hercog/Martic (SLO/CRO) d. (11) Kleybanova/Makarova (RUS/RUS) 63 67(1) 63
Dulgheru/Rybarikova (ROU/SVK) d. Gallovits/Jans (ROU/POL) 62 63

Video: Maria Sharapova and Jelena Jankovic training at IMG Academies for US Open

Enjoy some footage of Maria Sharapova, Jelena Jankovic, Kei Nishikori and Sabine Lisicki training at the IMG Bollettieri Tennis Academy before the 2010 Us Open…

2010 US Open: Kim Clijsters overwhelms Kvitova to advance

Kim Clijsters crushed Petra Kvitova 6-3 6-0 to secure her spot in the fourth round of the US Open 2010 Tennis Championships.

Since the moment she stepped out onto centre court, Clijsters was cheered by all the tennis fans enjoying the match.

The defending champion started slow by going down 3-0 against her Czech opponent but she started to play aggressive and accurate tennis while Kvitova didn´t have the consistency to keep the momentum.

Clijsters showed her potencial, greater power and precision and won 12 straight games to advance.

During the match, the former world number 1 was let down by her serve as she stepped off court with a first-service percentage of just 59 percent.

“My serve has been causing me some problems in the last few weeks but, once I came back from 3-0 down, I was able to be more aggressive,” she said during an on-court interview..

Clijsters raced to victory in just 62 minutes, advancing to a potentially fourth round match with Ana Ivanovic, like Clijsters a former No. 1 in the world

Match Facts

- Clijsters had 15 unforced errors compared to 29 for Kvitova

- Clijsters takes a 17-match winning streak at the US Open into the 4th round

- Only previous meeting was a landslide, Clijsters winning 6-1, 6-1 in Miami earlier this year

- Kvitova’s best Grand Slam result was the semifinals at this year’s Wimbledon, which she reached despite never having previously played a match on grass

Source Reuters/usopen.org
Photo Getty Images

Photos: Kim Clijster US Open 3rd Round Match

Kim Clijsters beat Petra Kvitova at theirs women’s third round singles match on day five of the 2010 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center… Here we have some tennis pictures of Clijsters for you to enjoy….

Photos from Getty Images/AP/Reuters

Dementieva vs Stosur in US Open 4th Round

Samantha Stosur beat Sara Errani 6-2, 6-3 and set up a 4th round meeting with Elena Dementieva at the US Open.

Dementieva crushed Daniela Hantuchova 7-5 6-2.

During her match, Stosur produced seven aces and 37 winners. Last week the Australian defeated Errani in New Haven where the Italian had four match points.

“It definitely helped to have a battle like that,” Stosur said. “Who knows what it did for the match today but it was nice to get a win and move on.”

Stosur looked strong in dominating from the start. The players exchanged breaks in the second and third games but Sam broke for a 4-2 lead and broke again to close the first set.

Errani was able to break her opponent in the fifth game of the second set but the Australian broke back to level at 3-3. Stosur broke again to lead 5-3 and held to seal the win.

Dementieva started the match in better form, she broke and held for a 2-0 lead but things changed when Hantuchova raced away with five consecutive games and even served for the first set.

When it looked like Daniela was going to take a 1 set to love lead, Dementieva broke back to pull within 5-4 and again to lead 6-5. The Russian finally held to win the set.

“I was trying to find my rhythm out there and I finally did late in the first set. That was the key to the match,” Dementieva said. “In the second set I was more comfortable.”

Both players broke each others´serve as the second set opened with three consecutive breaks but Dementieva was the first to hold thanks to Hantuchova’s faltering play, which enabled her rival to round off the third-round contest with ease.

Source Reuters/Ap/Yahoo
Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images
AFP PHOTO / TIMOTHY A. CLARY

Photo: Jelena Jankovic with Stuart Weitzman in New York

Jelena Jankovic updated her facebook page with a new picture from ther visit to Stuart Weitzman´s showroom in New York…

Weitzman is an international shoe designer and Jelena was more than happy to pay a visit to his store because she got something she really loves… SHOES!!!

“On Wednesday I did something really cool! You know I love fashion so I went to the showroom of Stuart Weitzman. They had reached out to my manager and set up a visit with Stuart Weitzman himself. He was incredibly nice, showed me the new collections, gave me some shoes (WHICH I LOVED) and played some ping-pong with me:). What a great way to spend a Wednesday afternoon in NYC.” Jelena wrote.

US Open: Elena Dementieva Interview Day 5 September 3rd

Q. Can you just talk about the way you felt you played today.

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: Um, I feel I had a very slow start, and I have feeling that the center court is a bit faster than the outside courts. Even with the warmup today on the center court, it really took me some time to get used to the surface. So, yeah, I was able to come back after 5 2, and that was the key to the match. I started to play more aggressive match, and much better, started to play much better tennis.

Q. You have Sam in the next round. You’ve beaten her more times than she’s beaten you in the past. Do you take that into consideration going forward? Just talk about the matchup ahead.

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: Well, it’s always good to have, you know, positive experience against a player, but I think it’s gonna be different match. We haven’t played for a long time, and Samantha really improve her game a lot. She’s playing very well this season, you know, finalist in the French Open. You know, she’s a very solid player with a huge serve, and, yeah, I expect a tough match against her.

Q. How much relief is it when, with the bad weather forecast, to get your match done and know that you’re done and probably by Sunday the weather will be good again and you don’t have to deal with delays or anything?

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: It was so strange, because like since last evening we all were talking about how bad it’s gonna be today. You know, coming to the stadium, I was like looking at the window, expecting where is the rain? Where is the wind? You know, playing in absolutely perfect conditions this morning, you know. (Laughter.) Even with two drops that we had in the first set, you know. I talked to Daniela after the match, and I was like, It was like sunshine. We didn’t expect any rain there. So, yeah, it always feels good to be first on and be able to finish the match just before the rain.

Q. You had this incredible streak of slams prior to Wimbledon of nonstop slams, not missing any. How differently do you approach the slams looking back compared to when you were first breaking in on tour?

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: Well, I have a great experience playing in Grand Slams, some good results here in New York and also the French Open. But every time it comes, every time it’s exciting, every time it’s different. Sure, I do remember every time I was playing, you know, here and any other Grand Slams. But, I mean, every year it’s a different challenge, so it’s hard to compare it. It’s all new. It’s all different.

Q. Is there more of a sense of urgency now, or do you not think of it that way?

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: No, I don’t put any pressure on myself. I have very successful career so far, and I definitely looking for the big title, but, you know, I’m just trying to just trying to work on my game. This is the most important, because there’s always something to improve. There’s always something to work on. You know, if it comes, it comes.

Q. We see your mother as a coach, but how do you work physically?

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: You mean fitness?

Q. Yes, fitness.

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: Yeah, I do have — well, I don’t have a fitness coach. I have some other people working with me, but my mom, she’s definitely the one who’s traveled with me. That’s the person that I feel more comfortable with. So fitness is a big part of my game, and, you know, physically I feel pretty good playing all these years on the tour. So I always take, you know, lots of time during the offseason to get ready physically before I start my practice.

Q. To what degree do you think you’re sometimes overlooked? Even here with Serena out, other players are talked about so much as contenders for the title. Do you think some people might be missing you?

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: Um, I don’t really think about that. I’m sure that people — fans in New York really miss Serena because she’s always, you know, one of the favorites to win this title, and people love to watch her here. I think even for the players it’s so much better when she is playing. Just a great experience, great challenge to play against her. So I just feel sorry for her that she’s not here.

Q. How bad as far as the respect for you and your game and the accomplishments you’ve had? Do you think sometimes people sometimes overlook you?

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: I don’t think about that at all. I don’t care.

Q. Do you ever ask your mother to be a little more calm when she’s watching, or…

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: I always ask her, but I realize it’s very difficult to watch and not be able to help. She’s very emotional, and she really wants me to win. So it’s kind of hard, because she’s not only my coach, she’s my mom. Well, I guess it’s just very emotional for her.

Q. Does she know that she’s very good on television? Because she looks so…

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: She hates when, you know, the camera goes on her. (Laughter.) She hates it.

Q. But did you notice the new camera in Ashe at all today, the new playing camera that’s above the stadium?

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: Yeah, I saw that when I was tossing the ball. I was kind of… I was kind of not ready for this, because when you have like few balls on your serve, it can be a little bit distracting.

Q. Also, you’re aware that that’s considered a permanent fixture, apparently, so if you should strike that you lose the point?

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: No, but I think, you know, it’s gonna be beautiful view from this camera, and for sure people will enjoy it to watch, you know, from this point of view to the stadium. Well, if it’s gonna be nice, then that’s okay.

Q. Back to Sam, her serve obviously is a big part of her game. Has she got the best serve in the women’s game, except for maybe Serena?

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: Right, I agree. Samantha, Serena, they both have a very powerful serve, and especially second serve. They have such a good kick. The women don’t usually have this. Yeah, it’s always very difficult to play against her. She puts a lot of pressure on you when she’s serving. But also, I think she’s very solid on the baseline, and, you know, very experienced player, singles and doubles. She covers the court very well and, you know, can finish the point at the net. She has a great variety to her game. It’s never easy to play against her.

Q. Caroline Wozniacki, do you think she’s a different player now compared to the last year?

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: Yeah, I’m sure she has more experience now, and more comfortable, you know, in her game. Um, I think she improve her game a lot. Her serve is much better now. She puts, you know, more spin on the second serve. So she’s very difficult to play with because moving very well, playing everything back, but also waiting for the opportunity to attack the ball. Very solid player.

Q. You’ve had some injuries this year. Are you feeling right now injury free?

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: Yeah, I feel much better now, yeah.

Interview from usopen.org

Samantha Stosur US Open Interview Day 5 September 3rd

Q. How do you feel after that win?

SAMANTHA STOSUR: Yeah, really good. Really happy with that win. Since my first round I think I’ve played two really good matches now. Yeah, couldn’t ask for much more.

Q. You said if you lasted a week you’ve got your teeth in the tournament. Is that how you feel now?

SAMANTHA STOSUR: Yeah, absolutely. I think I played a good first round, and to get through that, you never know what’s gonna happen if you tough it out. So now to come through and have two matches the way I have, I’m really pleased.

Q. Given the previous years, did you book your hotel just for a couple of days, or did you go straightaway through the two weeks?

SAMANTHA STOSUR: You always book it all the way through and hope for the best. I’m booked in for the long haul this time. I made the mistake a few years ago. I made the doubles final and nearly had to move out of hotels halfway through. I don’t do that anymore.

Q. You have been working on your movement? You were talking the other day that you were moving better. It was really evident today.

SAMANTHA STOSUR: Yeah, yeah. Again, like you just said, I think I moved really well. It’s always something I work on, and I guess it was something I paid a lot more attention to the couple of weeks I wasn’t able to play. All I could do is footwork stuff and strength and really work on that. I think I’m seeing the benefits of that hard work now.

Q. You’re getting around the court better and running balls down. Do you think that might be helping you eliminate some of the errors?

SAMANTHA STOSUR: Yeah, I think that always helps. If you can move easily, better shot selection, and come up with better decisions at those times. Yeah, whether or not it’s doing that today or it’s just, you know, one of those things where everything kind of flows from there, I don’t know. But I think so far it’s going all right.

Q. How do you like your matchup with Dementieva?

SAMANTHA STOSUR: Well, I think it’s not a bad one. We’ve had some good matches in the past. I’ve beaten her once or twice, and then she’s obviously beaten me, as well. So I think it’s gonna be whoever can, you know, execute the game plan better on the given day. But I know what I’m gonna want to do against her. If I can do that, I think I have a chance.

Q. You were down today. It seems really lower ranked women have beaten higher ranked women. What is it about the women’s game that allows for that sort of, I guess you can call it depth, but allows for that even playing field for players that are lower ranked in the world?

SAMANTHA STOSUR: I think the women’s game is — I think it’s in a good spot right now, because, yeah, if someone ranked 100 or the American wildcard, Capra, can go through and beat Rezai in matches like that, I think it shows that anyone does have a chance. Maybe there is a good amount of depth there to be able to go out there and beat top 20 players if you’re not in that position yourself. I don’t know why. I guess it’s good for the game that players lower ranked can step up and beat the seeds and keep it interesting.

Q. You doesn’t see it that much in the men’s side. For women, is it the power of the men that makes it more difficult?

SAMANTHA STOSUR: I don’t know. I mean, it still definitely happens. But, yeah, maybe we don’t have the massive serves that can get people out of trouble in service games or, you know, have that big power base for a lot of the players. So maybe it is that.

Q. Do you think you have to work on something in particular? Because you looked frustrated a couple of times, banging your racquet. Is there anything you need to work on more than anything else?

SAMANTHA STOSUR: No, I don’t think so. Um, I mean, there’s always that little element of frustration when you get up in games and you don’t consolidate 40 15s or stuff like that. But I don’t think I played the games really horribly then to lose them. You just want to win that point and to get that break and, um, really get ahead more than anything. So, yeah, there’s nothing that I’m gonna have to go out and work on or think that I need to drastically improve. It’s just keeping everything going well and, you know, the usual things, serve well, return well. If you can do those, then I think you’ve got a good chance.

Q. That service game really seemed to spur you there. Did you tell yourself to get really angry having done that?

SAMANTHA STOSUR: Yeah, I got a little frustrated, but I think maybe part of that was knowing what happened when we played each other last week. I was really dominating that first set in New Haven, and then lost the second. I didn’t want that to happen again today. I knew I really wanted to stay tough. She’s not gonna give up. She definitely makes you work for nearly every single point. So I think that was more of the reason for a little frustration today. I didn’t want to go down that same path as I did last week.

Q. How were you feeling after your first round match? Beyond just relief getting through, did you feel you could get to the fourth round, or did you have concerns at that point?

SAMANTHA STOSUR: Um, no. I mean, it’s one match at a time. But, yeah, I think maybe a little bit of relief to get through the first one. First rounds are always that little extra bit of nerves and a little tricky. Vesnina had been playing well recently, so it certainly wasn’t easy first round you could’ve got. So to battle through that, I guess I have a chance now to get to this point. And, yeah, I’ve played well the quite well the past two matches. I’m pleased to have given myself the opportunity to now be in the fourth round.

Q. Considering your success at Roland Garros and a good run at Australia this year, do you feel right now you are as poised as you’ve ever been in your career, both mentally and physically, to get to semis, to get to a final, and to actually contend for this championship?

SAMANTHA STOSUR: Yeah. Why not? I think I’ve had a pretty consistent year, and now to get through — I’ve never been past the second round here, so now to be in the fourth round is a big jump. I think it’s just the kind of following on from the year I’ve had. It’s pleasing to now back it up in another Grand Slam and to be playing well. Yeah, once you get to this point, you never know what can happen. So if you keep playing well, then, yeah, can you find yourself in maybe semis or finals. If I’ve been there once, I definitely want to try to be there again.

Q. Do you feel as confident as you’ve ever felt in this particular campaign where you are right now, as confident as you’ve ever been in your career?

SAMANTHA STOSUR: Yeah, absolutely. Like I said, I never had a good US Open. If I wasn’t feeling as confident as what I’ve ever been here, then I think there’s something wrong. So I think I’m playing well and hitting the ball well. Yeah, I think I have a good chance.

Q. Does it spur you on with the Aussie boys, Oi, Oi up in the stands? Does that spur you on, as well?

SAMANTHA STOSUR: Yeah, they definitely got the crowd involved, and it was a great atmosphere out there today. I knew I had the crowd support. To play well and to have them cheering for me was a good feeling.

Q. Does that put more pressure on you that you’re the only Aussie singles left standing?

SAMANTHA STOSUR: No, no, I don’t think so. It’s just the way it is. I’m glad I’m still in. If I can keep that flag flying for a little while longer, I’ll probably be really pleased.

Interview from usopen.org

Photos: Maria Sharapova US Open Second Round Match

Enjoy more than 40 tennis photos of Maria Sharapova during her second round win over Iveta Benesova on day 4 at the 2010 US Open tennis championships in New York….

Photos from Getty Images/AP

Caroline Wozniacki Photos at US Open Second Round

Enjoy some tennis pictures of Caroline Wozniacki during her Women’s singles second round match against Kai-Lung Chang on day four of the 2010 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center…. Caroline destroyed her opponent with a double bagel score….

Photos from Getty Images/AP