Showing posts with label final. Show all posts
Showing posts with label final. Show all posts

Monday, 9 September 2013

US Open - Djokovic, Nadal set up blockbuster final

Monday's U.S. Open championship showdown will be the third in four years for Djokovic and Nadal at the U.S. National Tennis Center after they advanced in contrasting fashion.

Top seed Djokovic sealed his berth first by overtaking gutsy ninth seed Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland in a heart-pounding 2-6 7-6(4) 3-6 6-3 6-4 victory over four hours.

Nadal conserved his energy, dismissing eighth-seeded Richard Gasquet 6-4 7-6(1) 6-2 to improve his career record to 11-0 against the Frenchman and his 2013 hardcourt record to 21-0.

The Spaniard, winner of 12 grand slam titles, won his only U.S. Open crown in 2010 against Djokovic, who claimed his Flushing Meadows title the following year against Nadal. Last year Djokovic was runner-up to Briton Andy Murray.

"Last year I didn't have the chance to play on this court," said Nadal, who was sidelined seven months due to a knee injury.

"To have the chance to play in the final Monday is just a dream for me. It has been two amazing weeks for me."

Djokovic and Nadal are the most familiar of rivals and will be playing against each other for a tour record 37th time. Nadal leads their series 21-15.

"Novak is an amazing competitor," said the reigning French Open champion. "His results say he is probably one of the best players I have ever seen. He's a great champion and will be a tough final for me, but I hope to be ready for that."

While Nadal took apart Gasquet in his semi-final, Djokovic got off to a slow start against an inspired Wawrinka and relied on his stamina to wear down the Swiss.

The tumultuous match included a warning for courtside coaching from Djokovic's box, the mangling of a racket by a frustrated Wawrinka and a medical timeout for the Swiss for a strained thigh muscle.

It reached a crescendo at 1-1 in the fifth set on Wawrinka's serve.

The combatants locked into a marathon duel that lasted 21 minutes and featured a series of fierce rallies and brilliant shot-making.

Wawrinka fought off five break points among 12 deuces before closing out the game on the 30th point with a service winner, and players earned warm ovations for their desire and skill.

"These matches are what we live for, what we practise for," Djokovic said after reaching his fourth successive U.S. Open final.

"All the credit to (Wawrinka) for being so aggressive and playing so well. I'm just fortunate to play my best tennis when I needed to."

Djokovic said he had to regroup after that epic game.

"Twenty-one minutes. Wow," said the Serb. "I was thinking whoever wins this game is going to win the match. I told myself I was going to have to fight again."

The Herculean effort seemed to sap the last bit of energy from Wawrinka, who had earlier left the court for treatment of a thigh strain during the changeover when trailing 4-1 in the fourth set.

Djokovic held serve, then broke Wawrinka in the next game for a 3-2 lead and served out to win another classic encounter between the pair following their five-set struggle in the fourth round of the Australian Open, where the Serb closed out the decisive set 12-10.

"It was a great tournament for me," said Wawrinka after his first grand slam semi-final. "Tough match, tough loss. I gave everything. I fought until the end. With this crowd, it was an amazing experience."

Czech pair Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka capped off Saturday's programme by winning the women's doubles title with a 7-6(4) 6-1 6-4 win over Australians Ashleigh Barty and Casey Dellacqua.

World number one Serena Williams will take on number two Victoria Azarenka for the women's singles title on Sunday in a tantalising rematch of last year's championship decider.

That will follow the men's doubles final with Austria's Alexander Peya and Brazilian Bruno Soares facing Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic and India's Leander Paes.


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UPDATE 1-Tennis-Azarenka sends final against Serena to third set

(Adds second set)

NEW YORK, Sept 8 (Reuters) - A battling Victoria Azarenka won a second-set tiebreaker 8-6 over Serena Williams to send the U.S. Open women's final to a third set.

After losing the first set 7-5 on a windblown Arthur Ashe Stadium court, Azarenka found herself down 4-1 with defending champion Williams serving.

The determined Belarussian, who had double-faulted three times in losing her serve in the fifth game, broke the big-serving American three times to take the set to a tiebreaker.

Williams, who twice served to win the match, double-faulted on the last point of the game that made it 6-6 and forced the tiebreaker.

World number one Williams rushed out to a 3-1 lead in the decider, but the second-seeded Azarenka won five of the next six points to take charge at 6-4 before taking the tiebreaker when Williams belted a backhand too long.

It was a title rematch between Williams and Azarenka, won last year by the American 7-5 in the third set. (Reporting by Larry Fine, Editing by Gene Cherry)


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WRAPUP 1-Tennis-Serena Williams beats Azarenka in US Open final

* Williams wins 17th grand slam singles crown

* Azarenka says better player won

* Paes and Stepanek win men's doubles title

* Croatian sweep of the junior championships (Adds details, quotes)

By Larry Fine

NEW YORK, Sept 8 (Reuters) - Serena Williams repeated as U.S. Open women's champion by holding off a battling Victoria Azarenka of Belarus 7-5 6-7(6) 6-1 in a windblown final at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Sunday.

Williams bounded in a series of joyous jumping jack leaps after Azarenka's backhand sailed long on the second match point of a thrilling, two-hour 45-minute final that earned her a fifth U.S. Open singles title that took her total to 17 grand slams.

The big-hitting American, who turns 32 later this month, became the oldest U.S. Open women's winner since tennis turned professional 45 years ago, eclipsing Australian Margaret Court, who was 31 years and 55 days when she won the title in 1973.

The triumph moved Williams to within one grand slam singles crown of Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova for a tie for fourth place on the all-time list behind Court (24), Steffi Graf (22) and Helen Wills Moody (19).

It had looked like it was going to be plain sailing for Williams after she won a difficult first set, boosted by a late break in the 11th game for a 6-5 lead and then served out a love game before racing to a 4-1 second-set lead.

Williams, who earlier looked confounded by the gusty wind that affected service tosses and the direction of bounces off groundstrokes and was muttering to herself between points, finally settled into a rhythm in the second set.

"The wind was unbelievable," said the champion. "And it just got worse and worse and it never let up. But at this point you have to play under any circumstance."

She claimed the 4-1 lead after Azarenka double-faulted three times in the fifth and her U.S. Open repeat looked a certainty as she begun to find her range on her imposing service game that saw her serve broken only twice in six previous matches.

But Azarenka was not ready to capitulate.

"I think it was raising from the first point, the tension, the battle, the determination," the second seed said about the quality of the match. "It was really kind of like boiling the water. It felt from every point, it was rising the level."

'GREAT MATCH'

The Belarusian showed her fight and took advantage of a string of Williams errors to break right back for 4-2 and rode that momentum.

Twice Williams served for the match, at 5-4 and again at 6-5, but Azarenka rose up to break the American's serve and force a tiebreaker.

Williams took a 3-1 lead but Azarenka won five of the next six points to seize a 6-4 advantage and sent the match to a third set when Williams belted a backhand long to lose it 8-6.

"I think I got a little uptight," Williams said about squandering her chances. "I wasn't playing smart tennis. (But) you have to keep fighting for everything."

The third set stayed on serve until the fourth game when another double fault, her seventh of the match, sank Azarenka and handed Williams a 3-1 lead.

With the stadium crowd roaring their support for the home favorite, the American broke Azarenka two games later for good measure to make it 5-1 before she claimed victory when the Belarusian sent a backhand long on the second match point.

Williams blasted 36 winners in the match against 17 for Azarenka, and blasted nine aces against just two for the Belarusian, who won an impressive 10 of 15 points at the net when she stepped up the pressure on Williams.

"Victoria, you played unbelievable," said Williams at the trophy ceremony.

"What a great match and what a great person. Vika is such a great opponent, she's such a great fighter. It was never over until match point," added Williams.

The top seed collected the $2.6 million top prize and pocketed an addition $1 million bonus for having won the U.S. Open run-up series of tournaments.

Azarenka said she had been beaten by the better player.

"It is a tough loss. But the best player deserves the win today. I gave it all again this year," said Azarenka, who lost 7-5 in the third set to Williams in last year's final.

"We gave it everything we got."

In the men's doubles final, Leander Paes and Radek Stepanek were convincing winners over Alexander Peya and Bruno Soares.

The India-Czech pairing of Paes and Stepanek dominated the title match to record a 6-1 6-3 victory over their Austria-Brazil rivals.

Paes, 40, won his third U.S. Open doubles title and eighth major doubles title of his career. It was Stepanek's second major doubles win after claiming the 2012 Australian Open with Paes.

Stepanek, 34, said the win enabled them to qualify for an important goal.

"There is one thing we would like to achieve, and that's winning the world championships at the end of the year, because that's the trophy which is missing in Leander's showcase," the Czech said.

Croatia made a clean sweep of the junior singles titles when Borna Coric and Ana Konjuh posted victories at Flushing Meadows.

The fourth-seeded Coric beat Australia's Thanasi Kokkinakis 3-6 6-3 6-1 in the boys' final before second-seeded Konjuh beat U.S. wildcard Tornado Black 3-6 6-4 7-6(6).

Coric, 16, said the U.S. Open would be his last junior tournament.

"I've won the slam" he said about his Sunday victory. "That was the goal at the beginning of the year."

Coric has been named to Croatia's Davis Cup team for the tie next week against Britain at Umag. (Reporting by Larry Fine, Editing by Gene Cherry/Peter Rutherford)


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US Open - Djokovic, Nadal set up blockbuster final

Monday's U.S. Open championship showdown will be the third in four years for Djokovic and Nadal at the U.S. National Tennis Center after they advanced in contrasting fashion.

Top seed Djokovic sealed his berth first by overtaking gutsy ninth seed Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland in a heart-pounding 2-6 7-6(4) 3-6 6-3 6-4 victory over four hours.

Nadal conserved his energy, dismissing eighth-seeded Richard Gasquet 6-4 7-6(1) 6-2 to improve his career record to 11-0 against the Frenchman and his 2013 hardcourt record to 21-0.

The Spaniard, winner of 12 grand slam titles, won his only U.S. Open crown in 2010 against Djokovic, who claimed his Flushing Meadows title the following year against Nadal. Last year Djokovic was runner-up to Briton Andy Murray.

"Last year I didn't have the chance to play on this court," said Nadal, who was sidelined seven months due to a knee injury.

"To have the chance to play in the final Monday is just a dream for me. It has been two amazing weeks for me."

Djokovic and Nadal are the most familiar of rivals and will be playing against each other for a tour record 37th time. Nadal leads their series 21-15.

"Novak is an amazing competitor," said the reigning French Open champion. "His results say he is probably one of the best players I have ever seen. He's a great champion and will be a tough final for me, but I hope to be ready for that."

While Nadal took apart Gasquet in his semi-final, Djokovic got off to a slow start against an inspired Wawrinka and relied on his stamina to wear down the Swiss.

The tumultuous match included a warning for courtside coaching from Djokovic's box, the mangling of a racket by a frustrated Wawrinka and a medical timeout for the Swiss for a strained thigh muscle.

It reached a crescendo at 1-1 in the fifth set on Wawrinka's serve.

The combatants locked into a marathon duel that lasted 21 minutes and featured a series of fierce rallies and brilliant shot-making.

Wawrinka fought off five break points among 12 deuces before closing out the game on the 30th point with a service winner, and players earned warm ovations for their desire and skill.

"These matches are what we live for, what we practise for," Djokovic said after reaching his fourth successive U.S. Open final.

"All the credit to (Wawrinka) for being so aggressive and playing so well. I'm just fortunate to play my best tennis when I needed to."

Djokovic said he had to regroup after that epic game.

"Twenty-one minutes. Wow," said the Serb. "I was thinking whoever wins this game is going to win the match. I told myself I was going to have to fight again."

The Herculean effort seemed to sap the last bit of energy from Wawrinka, who had earlier left the court for treatment of a thigh strain during the changeover when trailing 4-1 in the fourth set.

Djokovic held serve, then broke Wawrinka in the next game for a 3-2 lead and served out to win another classic encounter between the pair following their five-set struggle in the fourth round of the Australian Open, where the Serb closed out the decisive set 12-10.

"It was a great tournament for me," said Wawrinka after his first grand slam semi-final. "Tough match, tough loss. I gave everything. I fought until the end. With this crowd, it was an amazing experience."

Czech pair Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka capped off Saturday's programme by winning the women's doubles title with a 7-6(4) 6-1 6-4 win over Australians Ashleigh Barty and Casey Dellacqua.

World number one Serena Williams will take on number two Victoria Azarenka for the women's singles title on Sunday in a tantalising rematch of last year's championship decider.

That will follow the men's doubles final with Austria's Alexander Peya and Brazilian Bruno Soares facing Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic and India's Leander Paes.


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Allenby ready for 'massive' final

Jim Allenby says winning a trophy this season will be a huge achievement for Glamorgan after they moved into the YB40 final by beating Hampshire.

Glamorgan batted first in Saturday's semi-final at the Ageas Bowl and made 234-4, with Allenby scoring 74 runs.

He then took 2-18 to restrict Hampshire to 203-8 and secure a 31-run victory.

Hampshire 2012: Hampshire beat Warwickshire (lost fewer wickets, pictured) 2011: Surrey beat Somerset by five wickets 2010: Warwickshire beat Somerset by three wickets

The tournament was known as the CB40 from 2010-2012, but is now known as the YB40.

"It's massive for these supporters. You can see the smiles on their faces and the players' faces, it means the world," said the Australian.

"We've got to Lord's now and it's one more win towards our goal of winning a trophy.

"I've been lucky enough to play in a few [T20] finals days a few years ago and that was great, but this is a different level again. This is tradition as well as the atmosphere and we can't wait.

"To be honest we were probably a bit distracted this week in the County Championship game [where they lost by seven wickets at home to Kent] and that showed in our poor performance.

"But I think everyone will forgive us because we had this win."

Glamorgan will now face the winners of Monday evening's second semi-final between Nottinghamshire and Somerset in the final at Lord's on 21 September.

The Welsh county have not won any silverware since 2004, when Robert Croft captained Glamorgan to the one-day league title, and it will be their first Lord's final for 13 years.

Allenby was modest about his man-of-the-match performance and stressed the win over defending champions Hampshire was because Glamorgan operated as a strong unit.

County Championship: 1948, 1969, 1997 Sunday / National League: 1993, 2002, 2004 "Three or four guys chipped in with the bat and the bowlers did a good job," added Allenby, as he shared an unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 84 with Ben Wright, who scored 47 not out off 28 balls.

"It was my day in the end to get the most runs but you can't overlook Ben Wright.

"Murray Goodwin came in and changed the tempo and the bowlers chipped in throughout the innings.

"We did what we've been doing all year and it came off, which was magnificent."


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Monday, 2 September 2013

Final fair of season set to begin

Summer may be fading fast, but the county fair season isn't quite over just yet.

The 110th Will County Fair begins Wednesday and continues through Sunday at Peotone. It is the last of the local county fairs held annually, and offers one more chance to enjoy a tractor pull, a demolition derby, a corn dog or an elephant ear.

While those traditions continue, one thing will be missing from this year's fair. Milbert Johnson, who was a contestant in the fair's baby show as an infant and later spent many years as the fair board president, died last January at the age of 90. He farmed 90 acres near Peotone, and further showed his devotion to agriculture through his volunteer work with the fair.

Read more on Johnson and the fair, and the schedule of events.


View the original article here

India take title in one-sided final

Russell's sixes, Shakib's 6 for 6

ESPNcricinfo presents the top five moments from the inaugural Caribbean Premier League

Australia's era of decline

Fundamental issues remain with how the game is run in Australia, although the country's sporting problems are not restricted to cricket

Signs of development but much to do

Australia's Ashes performance wasn't far off what was expected: a wholehearted, often impressive, bowling attack but an inconsistent batting order, although there are signs of promise

Swann's swag, and Smiths' success

Also, Bradman's nemesis, most runs in a Test without a century, hundreds in final ODIs, and double-oh partners

Not their best, but good enough from England

ESPNcricinfo assesses the performances of the England players who appeared in the Ashes series


View the original article here

Saturday, 31 August 2013

Azam, Qadir take Pakistan to final

Russell's sixes, Shakib's 6 for 6

ESPNcricinfo presents the top five moments from the inaugural Caribbean Premier League

Australia's era of decline

Fundamental issues remain with how the game is run in Australia, although the country's sporting problems are not restricted to cricket

Signs of development but much to do

Australia's Ashes performance wasn't far off what was expected: a wholehearted, often impressive, bowling attack but an inconsistent batting order, although there are signs of promise

Light fades on Oval party

It was a celebration of England. A celebration for Test cricket. It was loud. It was fun. It was nonsensical.

Swann's swag, and Smiths' success

Also, Bradman's nemesis, most runs in a Test without a century, hundreds in final ODIs, and double-oh partners


View the original article here

India take title in one-sided final

Russell's sixes, Shakib's 6 for 6

ESPNcricinfo presents the top five moments from the inaugural Caribbean Premier League

Australia's era of decline

Fundamental issues remain with how the game is run in Australia, although the country's sporting problems are not restricted to cricket

Signs of development but much to do

Australia's Ashes performance wasn't far off what was expected: a wholehearted, often impressive, bowling attack but an inconsistent batting order, although there are signs of promise

Light fades on Oval party

It was a celebration of England. A celebration for Test cricket. It was loud. It was fun. It was nonsensical.

Swann's swag, and Smiths' success

Also, Bradman's nemesis, most runs in a Test without a century, hundreds in final ODIs, and double-oh partners


View the original article here

Wednesday, 28 August 2013

India take title in one-sided final

    Being Monty

Rob Steen: There have been many players before Panesar who had to deal with prejudice of all sorts. One way to counter it is to celebrate your difference

    Cooky's mistake, and the turning points of the Ashes

Plus the inevitable obligatory urine jokes, by Dave Podmore

    Swann's swag, and Smiths' success

Ask Steven: Also, Bradman's nemesis, most runs in a Test without a century, and double-oh partners

A tale of two Ashes books

Samir Chopra: Two college professors, of politics and philosophy, in two different continents, connect through their common love of cricket


View the original article here

Azam, Qadir take Pakistan to final

    Being Monty

Rob Steen: There have been many players before Panesar who had to deal with prejudice of all sorts. One way to counter it is to celebrate your difference

    Cooky's mistake, and the turning points of the Ashes

Plus the inevitable obligatory urine jokes, by Dave Podmore

    Swann's swag, and Smiths' success

Ask Steven: Also, Bradman's nemesis, most runs in a Test without a century, and double-oh partners

A tale of two Ashes books

Samir Chopra: Two college professors, of politics and philosophy, in two different continents, connect through their common love of cricket


View the original article here

Tuesday, 27 August 2013

Azam, Qadir take Pakistan to final

Russell's sixes, Shakib's 6 for 6

ESPNcricinfo presents the top five moments from the inaugural Caribbean Premier League

Australia's era of decline

Fundamental issues remain with how the game is run in Australia, although the country's sporting problems are not restricted to cricket

Foreign flavour in Caribbean fest

For an inaugural season, the Caribbean Premier League has managed to pull in some of the biggest names in cricket and their impact on the league has been impressive

When Atherton's men broke the hoodoo

The Ashes were long gone and England were in disarray, but a young captain and a greenhorn bowling trio produced a victory to remember

Light fades on Oval party

It was a celebration of England. A celebration for Test cricket. It was loud. It was fun. It was nonsensical.


View the original article here

India take title in one-sided final

Russell's sixes, Shakib's 6 for 6

ESPNcricinfo presents the top five moments from the inaugural Caribbean Premier League

Australia's era of decline

Fundamental issues remain with how the game is run in Australia, although the country's sporting problems are not restricted to cricket

Foreign flavour in Caribbean fest

For an inaugural season, the Caribbean Premier League has managed to pull in some of the biggest names in cricket and their impact on the league has been impressive

When Atherton's men broke the hoodoo

The Ashes were long gone and England were in disarray, but a young captain and a greenhorn bowling trio produced a victory to remember

Light fades on Oval party

It was a celebration of England. A celebration for Test cricket. It was loud. It was fun. It was nonsensical.


View the original article here

Monday, 26 August 2013

India take title in one-sided final

'I wasted the first four years of my career'

The New Zealand great recalls his tours to India, his battle with depression, and speaks of the challenges facing modern-day allrounders

Foreign flavour in Caribbean fest

For an inaugural season, the Caribbean Premier League has managed to pull in some of the biggest names in cricket and their impact on the league has been impressive

Best of the rest

A look at some players who missed out on Test cricket because they came from Associate-member countries. (One from each nation.)

When Atherton's men broke the hoodoo

The Ashes were long gone and England were in disarray, but a young captain and a greenhorn bowling trio produced a victory to remember

Australia's era of decline

There have been signs in the Ashes of Australia improving, but some fundamental issues remain with how the game is run although the country's sporting problems are not restricted to cricket


View the original article here

Saturday, 24 August 2013

Azam, Qadir take Pakistan to final

'I wasted the first four years of my career'

The New Zealand great recalls his tours to India, his battle with depression, and speaks of the challenges facing modern-day allrounders

Foreign flavour in Caribbean fest

For an inaugural season, the Caribbean Premier League has managed to pull in some of the biggest names in cricket and their impact on the league has been impressive

Why Ryan Harris should play at The Oval

He and Chris Rogers have been Australia's sole positives in the latter half of this Ashes series

Best of the rest

A look at some players who missed out on Test cricket because they came from Associate-member countries. (One from each nation.)

When Atherton's men broke the hoodoo

The Ashes were long gone and England were in disarray, but a young captain and a greenhorn bowling trio produced a victory to remember


View the original article here

Thursday, 22 August 2013

Final fair of season set to begin

Summer may be fading fast, but the county fair season isn't quite over just yet.

The 110th Will County Fair begins Wednesday and continues through Sunday at Peotone. It is the last of the local county fairs held annually, and offers one more chance to enjoy a tractor pull, a demolition derby, a corn dog or an elephant ear.

While those traditions continue, one thing will be missing from this year's fair. Milbert Johnson, who was a contestant in the fair's baby show as an infant and later spent many years as the fair board president, died last January at the age of 90. He farmed 90 acres near Peotone, and further showed his devotion to agriculture through his volunteer work with the fair.

Read more on Johnson and the fair, and the schedule of events.


View the original article here

Thursday, 25 July 2013

Tennis - Serena brushes aside Zakopalova to make Bastad final

Williams’ early dominance was total as she rattled off the first eight games to bagel her Czech opponent and open up a two game advantage in the second set.

Zakopalova did manage to fashion a break of her own to tie the second set at 2-2 but Williams, who lost to Sabine Lisicki in the last-16 of Wimbledon, broke back to take the set and the match just shy of an hour and ten minutes.

Williams will face home hope Johanna Larsson in Sunday’s final.

The Swede came from behind to overpower her Italian counter-part Flavia Pennetta 2-6 6-3 6-4.

WTA Bastad semi-final results

1-Serena Williams (US) beat 3-Klara Zakopalova (Czech Republic) 6-0 6-4

8-Johanna Larsson (Sweden) beat Flavia Pennetta (Italy) 2-6 6-3 6-4

WTA Bad Gastein semi-final results

Andrea Hlavackova (Czech Republic) beat Elina Svitolina (Ukraine) 7-5 6-7(1) 6-4

Yvonne Meusburger (Austria) beat 8-Karin Knapp (Italy) 6-4 6-3


View the original article here

Wimbledon - Lisicki still smiling after final meltdown

The German clearly found her first Wimbledon final a difficult experience and she looked to be heading for an embarrassing 6-1 6-1 defeat before winning three games in a row to bring some respectability to the scoreline.

She sobbed on court during her second set meltdown but recovered her composure in time to face the world's media.

"I felt fine this morning but it's an occasion that you don't get every day," she told a news conference. "So it's something completely new for me.

"The walk on court is different. You walk on with the flowers. You walk on together. Everything is a little bit different. The feeling, the atmosphere is different."

Lisicki beat defending champion Serena Williams and last year's runner-up Agnieszka Radwanska on the way to the final and, on her favourite surface, was favourite to beat the 15th-seeded Bartoli.

But she was never able to produce consistently the booming serves and thumping forehands which took her to the final and made a string of costly unforced errors.

"I will learn and take away so much from it," Lisicki, seeded 23rd, said after her first Wimbledon final, having reached the semi-final in 2011.

"I've done that in the past. Experience has always helped me so much.

"When I was in the quarters here the first time, when I was in the semis for the first time, and now in the final for the first time. I've always gained my experience here, which is good.

"I hope that next time it will help me to do that one step further."

Lisicki, 23, agreed that the 28-year-old Bartoli, who did not drop a set in the tournament, had more energy left for the final after an easier run.

"Having so many hard matches is draining in the end of the day. I think Marion was fresher today. I think that made a big difference too," she said.

Lisicki was taking plenty of positives from her performances at Wimbledon.

"It's still been a great tournament," she said. "It's been an amazing two weeks.

"I've played my best tennis here. I had to take out the champion and runner-up from last year, so I think that's pretty big. This tournament definitely made me a better player."


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Wimbledon - Murray goes two sets up against Djokovic in final

Follow the match HERE!

Murray, who took the first set 6-4, came from a break down to clinch the second, breaking Djokovic's serve again at 5-5 before holding to love.

The world number two would be the first British male to win the Wimbledon title in 77 years.

Murray won his first Grand Slam title at the US Open last year.


View the original article here