Wozniacki takes Tokyo

Quite a lot of tennis activity throughout the world in the past week, with ATP tournaments in Russia and France, and WTA events in Japan, China and Korea.

Recently crowned US Open champion Stan Wawrinka, was installed as top seed for the St Petersburg draw, and had little difficulty navigating his way through to the final four. He was joined there by third seed Tomas Berdych, fourth seed Roberto Bautista Agut and fifth seed Alexander Zverev.  Second seed Milos Raonic had been knocked out early by Russian Mikhail Youzhny, to the joy of locals.

The final will be fought out between Wawrinka and Zverev after Stan's straight sets victory over Roberto and Zverev's two set impressive elimination of Berdych - his latest top ten scalp.

The Metz semi finals were played between the four top seeds.  Top seed Dominic Thiem upset the French crowd when he defeated fourth seed Gilles Simon, after dropping the opening set.  He will meet third seed Lucas Pouille in the final following his successful semi win over second seed David Goffin.  So the Metz crowd will have a French player to cheer for with the title on the line.

In Tokyo, three of the top four seeds failed to make the semi finals - these included US Open finalist Karolina Pliskova and Roland Garros champion Garbine Muguruza.  Caroline Wozniacki continued her resurgence from New York by not only defeating fourth seed Carla Suarez Navarro in the second round, but rebounding from a set down against second seed Aga Radwanska in the semi finals to win in three and claim a spot in the final.

The other semi finalists were Elina Svitolina and Naomi Osaka.  The locals were rapt when Osaka won through to the final which featured two unseeded players, but Wozniacki proved too strong, and took home the trophy with her 7-5 6-3 victory.

The Seoul final featured fifth seed Monica Niculescu from Romania against unseeded Spanish player Lara Arruabarrena.  In a strange scoreline, Lara won her second WTA title, her first coming over 4 years ago.  The win was in three sets 6-0 2-6 6-0.

Completing the trio of unseeded champions this week is Guangzhou winner Lesia Tsurenko.  The Ukraine player's second career title came at the expense of tournament second seed Jelena Jankovic in three close sets.

Croatia to host Argentina in Davis Cup final

As tennis followers world wide took a collective deep breath once the final acts were played out at Flushing Meadows, male players from many nations had little time to rest, with Davis Cup commitments to be met the next week.

The semi finals for 2016 were held: Current Cup holders and top seeded Great Britain v sixth seed Argentina, and unseeded Croatia v fifth seed France.

While the ATP Tour took a back seat to these important team events, which were accompanied with World Group playoffs, including Australia v Slovakia and Belgium v Brazil, two WTA tournaments were held, in Japan and Canada.

Great Britain and Argentina opened with a replay of the Olympic Gold Medal match, and it was over five hours of riveting tennis between Andy Murray and Juan Martin del Potro in front of a keen Glasgow crowd.  Down two sets to one,  the Argentine leading light grafted his way back, taking the final sets and giving his nation the perfect start.

Great Britain was hopeful that its second singles player, Kyle Edmund, would continue his good US Open form and overcome resistance from Guido Pella. He did for one set, edging out his opponent in an opening tie breaker, but Pella outgunned the Brit from that point, and after Day One, Argentina was in a surprising prime position 2-0.

The Murray brothers brought Great Britain back into contention, first with a doubles victory, Andy joining his more renowned doubles playing sibling Jamie to defeat del Potro and Leo Mayer in four sets, and on the final day Andy far too accomplished for Pella, winning in straight.

The deciding singles match saw Mayer chosen ahead of a worn out del Potro to carry Argentina's fortunes, while Dan Evans received the nod instead of Edmund for the hosts.

Evans put his team ahead with a first set success, but it was the final joy for Great Britain, and with his four set victory, Leonardo Mayer became the hero of Argentina, propelling it into the Davis Cup final.

Argentina will face Croatia in an away final following Croatia's elimination of France 3-2 in the other semi final.

France was unable to call on Gael Monfils or Jo-Wilfried Tsonga due to injury, but Lucas Pouille and Richard Gasquet filled the opening day singles, illustrating the current depth of French tennis, especially on the men's tour.

Gasquet gave France the ideal start, convincingly defeating Borna Coric in straight sets.  Marin Cilic then placed his stamp on the semi final, levelling the tie with a win over Pouille, before teaming with Ivan Dodig on the second day to knock over favoured French doubles pair Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut, who happen to be ranked the world's best.

Leading 2-1, Croatia wrapped up the semi final in front of a rapturous home crowd, with Cilic finishing it off via a straight sets triumph over Gasquet.

The final match was played as a best of three sets affair, due to its result having no bearing on the overall tie.  For the record Lucas Pouille defeated Marin Draganja in two sets.

The 2016 final in Croatia will either be a first ever Davis Cup title for Argentina or the second win for Croatia.  When Croatia broke through for its debut victory in 2005, it was unseeded, as it is again this time round.

The successful nations in the World Group play-offs were: Switzerland, Belgium, Australia, Canada, Russia, Spain, Germany and Japan. 7 of the 8 were the seeded nations involved.  So players such as Wawrinka, Nishikori, Raonic, Nadal and Federer could potentially be playing for Davis Cup spoils in 2017.

While the cameras were concentrating on Davis Cup, American Christina McHale was achieving a significant personal milestone, winning her first WTA title - the Tokyo International - with her final victory over the Czech Republic's Katerina Siniakova.

Although France lost its Davis Cup semi, 19 year old Oceane Dodin provided her nation with some joy, also winning her first WTA title - in Quebec - defeating American Lauren Davis in the final.  Oceane becomes the first teenager to win a WTA tournament this year, and now is a top 100 ranked player.

Stan Wawrinka wins US Open

Stan Wawrinka has definitively taken over as Switzerland's number one tennis player.  Sadly that has been pronounced by the extended absence of Roger Federer through injury.  However,  apart from Novak Djokovic, no one has won multiple majors over the past three years other than Stan, and he added the 2016 US Open to his trophy cabinet in fine style earlier today Australian time.

Despite the head to head record between Novak Djokovic and Stan Wawrinka, which is skewed heavily in Novak's favour, the Swiss ace has proved a big headache for the world number one at Grand Slam level.  En route to his debut major in Melbourne 2014, Stan knocked over Novak in the quarters, and in the Roland Garros final last year Stan cost Novak a chance of a Calendar Year Grand Slam.

In NYC, and on the final day, Novak gained the initial service break and led 3-0 after a solid consolidation.  At 2-5 and 15-40 Stan fought off 2 set points before holding serve with backhand and forehand winners.  In hindsight this could well have been the turning point of the match.

Novak suddenly threw in a brace of errors to be 0-40.  He saved two break points, one with an ace, but a double fault handed the service break to Stan and eventually a tie break was required.

Djokovic raced through to a 7-1 win thanks mainly to a string of Swiss mistakes, and took the set 7-6.

Stan was not as generous for the remainder of the match.

In the fourth game of set two Novak let a 40-15 lead slip, helped by a loose backhand and a double fault.  The break point was converted with a typically destructive Stan backhand.

Novak was clearly under pressure and seeming unlikely to recover, but out of the blue he struck back in the seventh game.  A backhand winner of his own set up a break point which was converted into a 3-4 game score, then 4-4 after a comfortable hold.

That was it for set two as far as Novak was concerned.  At 4-5 he lost serve on the second break point and the sets were one apiece.

14 unforced errors from a normally so tidy Djokovic was a telling second set stat.

Set three saw Stan leading 3-0 pretty smartly following a service break in the second game - a winning forehand set up break point and Novak obliged with another error.

In game 5, Stan hit two backhand winners and a forehand volley winner and had 40-15.

Then a mixture of forced and unforced errors eventually gave Novak a break back point which was converted and 3-3 the score.

At 5-6, Novak led 40-30 and a tie break seemed assured, and appropriate given the evenness of the set.  However the Serb backhand was broken down, losing him the final three points of the game and set.  Stan led 6-7 6-4 7-5.

Novak was suffering in a scarily similar way to Roland Garros 2015 where he won the opening set, only to lose the rest.

Set four was the start of celebrations for Stan as he broke serve in the second game once again.  It was the only service break for the set in which there were 12 crisp winners from the Swiss racquet, and only a handful of hand made errors.

Novak was almost resigned to the result, as he struggled to handle the quality being delivered from the other side of the net.

Stan Wawrinka won the match 6-7 (1) 6-4 7-5 6-3 and joined Andy Murray as a three time major winner.  Novak maintains a fine record of course, although his return from US Open finals is annoying - 2 titles from 7 appearances.

Stan has won his 3 Grand Slam titles from 3 finals.  In fact he is a safe bet whenever he makes any final.

Clearly he is the number three ranked player in the world now, and hopefully he is more consistent on tour following his latest big triumph.

Angie Kerber's US Open Title

The women's singles final at the 2016 US Open was well worth the two week wait as two players at the top of their form, with very different games, clashed in Arthur Ashe Stadium in NYC.

Not surprising was the nervous start from Karolina Pliskova.  The Czech 10th seed, appearing in her first final at this level, was first to serve, and began with a double fault.  A volleying error presented Kerber with two break points - an ace saved one, but a poor forehand gifted the second seed a break of serve straight away.

Pliskova attacked the Kerber forehand, forcing errors and creating a break back point, but the same forehand was responsible for three winners in the game, one which saved the break.  

The next six games went with serve, and not many opportunities were provided for the receiver.  Pliskova had settled and was hitting several winners, while Angie was doing what she does so well, keeping her mistakes to an absolute minimum, while still penetrating with her lethal forehand.

At 3-5 , Karolina needed to at least hold on and force Angie to serve for the set - at 30-30 though she delivered a double fault, the first since the opening point of the match.  Kerber had a set point which she used enthusiastically, belting a typical forehand winner for a 6-3 lead.

Set one was good - not as good as the second where the standard rose, and Karolina Pliskova proved that she belonged in the elite class. The Czech serve was on song, and even Kerber could hardly win a point once the first delivery hit the mark.  No break chances came the German way.

Angie came to the net once without success - Karolina was there 14 times, only once losing the point while visiting.

Two break chances materialised, and in the seventh game, those trips to the net realised dividends, two winners key to the only break of serve in the set.

Pliskova served out a 6-4 gem to level the match, and send a real challenge to Kerber.

The first two games of the decider were comfortable holds of serve, but it was Pliskova who made the first significant move in the third game.  A Czech backhand winner and two forced errors from the German backhand, formed the basis of a service break, coming after the first break point had been saved.  2-1 to Karolina

Angie struck back as most thought she would.  After two relatively simple holds, one by each player, Pliskova at 3-2 could not maintain her advantage. In a game where every point was decided by an errant final shot, the final shot of the game was a Czech mistake, deleting the hard fought early edge.

Kerber seized the situation, and held serve to take the numerical lead 4-3, although the games were on serve.  Pliskova equalised at 4-4 and in her attempt to do likewise for 5-5, she was welcomed with a sizzling Kerber forehand winner.

The rest was a trio of unforced errors from the Pliskova racquet, the final forehand misfire confirming a 6-3 4-6 6-4 victory to Angelique Kerber.

The first US Open win for Angie gives her the first and last majors for 2016, and the legitimacy sought by anyone displacing Serena Williams from the number one ranking spot, which will become official on Monday.

Karolina Pliskova performed admirably in her Grand Slam debut final, and with her weapons - the first serve is extremely intimidating, and may well have blown any other player off the court in this final - she is poised to play a major role in Grand Slam tournaments in the future.  This was a huge step forward from someone who had in the past never progressed beyond the third round.

Kerber is the real deal and is intimidated by no one, safe in the knowledge that she has a game which suits all surfaces - clearly hard courts are best, but grass is also ok, as evidenced by the Wimbledon final, lost to Serena Williams but not without a decent contest.

Djokovic v Wawrinka blockbuster awaits

Novak Djokovic played in all four Grand Slam tournament finals in 2015 and in three of them his opponent was Swiss.  He defeated Roger Federer at Wimbledon and in New York, but fell to Stan Wawrinka in Paris.

This year he has waited until New York to be challenged in another major final by Switzerland, and Stan will be the man this time.

Novak opened his semi final against Gael Monfils in workmanlike fashion, which was more than sufficient to leave the French 10th seed floundering at 0-5 and 0-30.  The embarrassment of losing a set to love was avoided in the sixth game thanks to three aces and a couple of winning forehands, one of the aces saving a set point.

The momentum of finally registering on the scoreboard flowed into the next game for Monfils when he broke the Djokovic serve.  Strictly that is incorrect - the top seed did it all himself.  At 40-0 with three set points,  Novak capitulated, mostly thanks to a treble of double faults and his lead was trimmed to 5-2.

A second attempt to serve out set one was more successful for Djokovic, but only after two break points were saved through donations of backhand errors from Monfils.

First set to Djokovic, a shakier version at the end than the sharp one who had begun.

Set two was a chance for Djokovic to stamp his authority on proceedings which is a popular phrase to use but an action never literally undertaken.  Gael assisted by at times contributing possibly the most disinterested, uncompetitive displays of tennis I've witnessed at this stage of a major tournament.

The pressure placed on Djokovic towards the end of set one was released, allowing the Serb to hit 10 winners and hardly make a mistake, while breaking the Monfils serve seemingly at will.  Trailing 6-3 6-2, the apparent lack of 100% effort from Monfils during parts of the set was not lost on the crowd, sections of which voiced the disapproval.

As if shamed into action, the tenth seed played a third set which worried the defending champion, enough to turn a 0-2 deficit into a 5-2 lead.  Djokovic even had to save a set point which would have meant losing six straight games.  

Monfils himself overcame 0-40 when serving for the set, and he won back the crowd, and won 6-3.

In highly humid conditions, Monfils wilted first in set four, but at 3-1 Djokovic failed to consolidate the break, a double fault dissolving any advantage.  However, Monfils was pretty much spent, and the final three games of the set went to Djokovic, errors flowing from the French racquet, not forgetting some sublime stuff from Djokovic in readiness for yet another US Open final.

A win to the top seed 6-3 6-2 3-6 6-2.

Kei Nishikori, the tournament's sixth seed, continued his impressive US Open with a first set consisting of quality ground strokes and a first serve percentage sufficient to prevent the powerful game of third seed Stan Wawrinka from taking control.

There was little between the two, and it was just the fifth game, where a double fault from Wawrinka, plus some effective working over by Nishikori of the Swiss backhand, resulted in the only service break for the set.

At 6-4, the money would have been slightly with Nishikori to reach the final.  That perception was confirmed once Kei broke Stan in the opening game of set two, then held for 2-0.

Enter a new Stan Wawrinka.  Hitting plenty of winners, and taking toll of a far less effective Japanese serve, the Swiss number one broke back immediately, and kept the pressure on Nishikori to play catch up, waiting patiently until the twelfth game to pounce again. Serving to stay alive in the set, Kei was the victim of a winning Wawrinka forehand more than once, and coupled with a few of his own mistakes, he surrendered 5-7.  The match was level.

Stan raced to 4-1 in the third but Kei wasn't done with, fighting back for 4-4.  At 4-5, and as in set two, serving to stay in the set, Nishikori saved one break point, but Wawrinka forced a second volleying error and grabbed a 4-6 7-5 6-4 lead.

That was the tipping point, and Stan motored through what would be the final set, winning almost twice as many points as Kei, and breaking the Nishikori serve three times, while dropping his own just once.  The sixth seed only managed one clean winner for the fourth set, but 12 unforced errors assisted him in his demise.

Stan Wawrinka earned a chance to win his third Grand Slam title and first US Open, winning the semi final 4-6 7-5 6-4 6-2. 

His final against Novak Djokovic promises to be a thriller.

Pliskova to meet Kerber in Final

There will be a new number one in the women's rankings come Monday, and on Saturday a first time winner of the US Open Women's Singles will have been crowned.  It may very well be the same person.

Angelique Kerber will become the latest number one, displacing Serena Williams, and ironically she can thank the very same player who denied her from taking the top spot just a few weeks back in the Cincinnati final.

Yes, Karolina Pliskova defeated Angie in that match, and the Czech big server this time upset Serena Williams and several million Americans by eliminating the 6 time champion at the semi final stage of her home major, just as Roberta Vinci had last year.  A US Open final appearance was the prize for Karolina - the side effect was Kerber's ascent to the top of the tree.

Pliskova has become stronger each match of the tournament, and not even the might of Serena held any fears for the woman who has overtaken Petra Kvitova as the number one tennis star in her country.

Set one of the first semi final in front of an expectant night crowd turned into a nightmare for the favourite - Pliskova hit twice as many winners as Williams, was in complete control of her own serve, not having to save a single break point, and derailed the best serve on tour in the third and seventh games.   Down 6-2, a Serena comeback was required, and for many simply assumed.

The first few games of the second stanza were notable for a slight drop in the standard of Pliskova's tennis and Williams appearing to handle the Czech shots with a degree or two more comfort. Until 2-2 30-15 that is, where a couple of American forehand errors produced a break point, dutifully converted by Karolina, thanks to her forcing an errant Serena backhand.

A Williams backhand winner precipitated a double fault and two forehand clangers from Pliskova and Serena vocalised her joy at the immediate break back.

Serving first in the set, the top seed forced the tenth seed to play catch up, which Karolina did, all the way to a tie break.

Both players had advantages at various stages in the tiebreak, and both served double faults to lose the edge.  4-4, and Serena with a backhand winner was just two points for the set.

Pliskova was donated points on her next two serves with poor shots from Williams and it was match point, but with Serena at the line 5-6.

Sadly a double fault ended the semi final and Karolina Pliskova entered the 2016 US Open Women's Singles Final with a great victory 6-2 7-6.

Safe in the knowledge that she will soon be officially installed as the new world number one, Angie Kerber stepped out next to do battle with Caro Wozniacki in the second semi, this to decide the Pliskova opponent in the Saturday final.

A much different affair than the first semi - instead of two big servers with points often settled quickly, here we had two exquisite shot makers, with a propensity to partake in long rallies, waiting for a mistake from the other end.  Error free, highly watchable tennis, but it could be awhile to determine the winner.

Maybe not, considering the start of this semi final.  Caro was broken to love in the opening game, and didn't register her first success until the fifth game of the match.  There must have been more mistakes made in those four games than Wozniacki had made in total for the whole tournament.

Angie was the one to throw in a few winners here and there to spice up things, but the crowd were hoping for more from the Dane.  She provided one service break before the end of the set, but the lead was too much to drag back, and Angie led 6-4.

If one key area was the difference, it would be return of serve - Angie was winning half the points from the Caro serve in the opener.

The writing was probably already on the wall, but when Wozniacki was broken in the first game of set two after her forehand failed on a second break point, the message was splashed in red paint across all of Queens.  Kerber was steady and Caro could not find a method to break back.

Serve was held for 1-2, but Kerber shattered any remaining hopes in the fifth game with another assault on the Wozniacki delivery,  set up by two German forehand winners and concluded with Danish two backhand failures.

Angie suffered a nervous moment when serving for the match at 5-2, and Caro deserves credit for hanging in there, breaking the second seed to love.

However, the inevitable was delayed by only a game, with Angie Kerber entering her third Grand Slam tournament final of 2016, defeating Caro Wozniacki 6-4 6-3.

Before we experience a unique major women's singles final - one without Serena - there are 2 terrific men's semis to enjoy:

(1) Novak Djokovic v (10) Gael Monfils

(3) Stan Wawrinka v (6) Kei Nishikori 

Of the 4, only Djokovic has won the US Open (2011, 2015) and Nishikori has been a finalist (2014)

Nishikori defeated Djokovic in the semis to reach the 2014 final, and I believe that the two could meet again here, but in the final.

Nishikori ousts Whinging Murray

For someone who had previously never made it past the third round of a Grand Slam tournament in singles, Karolina Pliskova has certainly made up for lost time in this year's US Open, and on Day Ten, she progressed to her first semi final, with a convincing victory over 18 year old Ana Konjuh, who looks every bit a star of the future, a not too distant future.

The 10th seed from the Czech Republic was irresistible as she took under an hour to dismantle the Croatian teenager in their quarter final, hitting as many winners as Ana, but 15 less unforced mistakes.  Karolina won 32 points from the 37 serves that she delivered, making it impossible for Ana to even contemplate a break.  Pliskova had several chances and used four of them in her 6-2 6-2 deposit on a booking with Serena Williams in the last four.

SW found her way into the semi final with Pliskova the long way.  After a dominant first set against Simona Halep, where she punished the 5th seed's first and second serves, and hit a number of aces and other clean winners, Williams was confronted by a far more settled and competent game from the Romanian racquet wielder in set two.

The set lasted twice as long as the opener, and only one break of serve eventuated - that from Halep.  Amazingly Serena could not convert any of the twelve break points that she had on the Halep serve.

Simona served it out 6-4 to level the match - 37 winners for the set, 27 from Williams.

A sloppy early service game in the decider cost Halep dearly.  Williams converted the first break point available to her, and held her own serve for the remainder of the match, winning the entertaining encounter 6-2 4-6 6-3.

Andy Murray survived three early break points against Kei Nishikori, then proceeded to take the sixth seed apart, winning the opening set 6-1.  Ahead in the second set with another service break, Murray appeared assured of sailing into the final four.  He then stumbled.  Nishikori changed his game plan just in time, and Andy blamed everything and everybody but himself for what was to follow.

It is difficult to warm to Angry Andy or Whinging Whining Moaning Murray.  His on court demeanour is unhappy at best, often petulant, the behaviour expected of a spoilt child.  And this is the second best male player in the world.  In a calm measured way, Nishikori broke down the Murray game which until now had been immune to all attempts, conventional and otherwise.

Andy had seduced drooling American commentators into making over the top pronouncements such as him being the current best player in the world, conveniently forgetting the hefty bankroll of credits amassed by a certain Mr Djokovic, whose Wimbledon loss to Sam Querrey apparently was of such proportions to remove his "best in the business" status.

From a break down, Nishikori broke twice to win the second set 6-4.

Angry Andy implored his box of supporters to assist him, but they stopped short of joining him on court to help return the attractive range of Nishikori ground strokes.  Both players had their serves questioned throughout set three, and Nishikori had one less answer, dropping his on three occasions, and handing the match advantage to the screaming Scot, two sets to one.

A five setter was guaranteed once Andy lost the plot completely in the fourth, winning just 10 points from his 23 serves while Kei captured 17 points from his 21.  6-1 was the scoreline, and Nishikori quickly had a 2-0 lead in the deciding fifth set.

To his credit, Murray broke back with Nishikori serving at 4-2 and took the lead 5-4, forcing the sixth seed to hold serve to stay in the tournament.  Nishikori not only held serve, but prevented Murray from winning another game.

The favourite lost, and Kei Nishikori reached the semi finals for the second time in three years 1-6 6-4 4-6 6-1 7-5.

He will play Stan Wawrinka, who took care of Juan Martin del Potro in four sets.  Del Potro started the better, but each time the Argentine crowd favourite gained an advantage, the Swiss number three seed would win the big points, and more, to take over the ascendancy.  The key to the match was the first set tie breaker, and Stan won a close tussle 7 points to 5 to grab the lead.

Although Del Potro secured the only break of set two, and squared the match, it was the eighth game of set three, when serving at 3-4, that cost him dearly.  

He saved three break points, but double faulted on the one game point he had.  Another double fault presented Stan with a fourth break point which the third seed converted with a winning backhand.

Wawrinka raced through the next section of the match, taking the third set 6-3 and leading the fourth 4-0.  The Delpo spirit had been broken.

Serve was held by both players for the last four games, giving Stan Wawrinka the solid victory 7-6 4-6 6-3 6-2.  Twelve Swiss winners highlighted the fourth and final set.

So the semi finals have been determined and first up are the women on Day Eleven:

(1) Serena Williams v (10) Karolina Pliskova 

(2) Angilique Kerber v Caroline Wozniacki 

Of the 4, only Serena has won the US Open (6 of them) and only Caroline Wozniacki of the others has made a US Open final (2 of them)

It could well be the third Williams v Kerber final this year at Grand Slam level.