Novak Djokovic beat Andy Murray to win Australian Open 2011

 

MELBOURNE, Australia: Novak Djokovic gave his old friend Andy Murray a sympathetic hug and a few consoling words, then got on with the real celebrations. Djokovic walked to the middle of the court, tossed his racket into the crowd, then stripped off his shirt and shoes and hurled them, too.

The 23-year-old Serb had plenty to celebrate after his 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 win over Murray in the Australian Open final on Sunday night. Djokovic’s second Australian title made him only the fourth active player on the men’s tour to win multiple majors. Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer have had a lock on the men’s side, winning 21 of the previous 23, while Lleyton Hewitt has two titles—the last coming at Wimbledon in 2002.

“It’s been a fantastic tournament for me,” Djokovic said. “I don’t want to fly up to the sky and say, ‘I am the best,’ or whatever. I cannot compare to Rafa and Roger’s success.” He’s the most successful player so far in 2011, though, and that’s what counts right now.

“Certainly this will give me a lot of motivation for the continuation of the season, because to win a Grand Slam at the start of the season is the best start you can ask for,” he said. “It means a world to me. I’m still 23. I still have a lot of time to go.”

Federer beat Nadal in 3 sets of the ATP Barclays World Tour Final

London, November 28 : Roger Federer clinched his fifth season-ending championship with a 6-3 3-6 6-1 victory over world number one Rafael Nadal at the World Tour Finals at the O2 Arena in London. The 29-year-old won the opening set after sealing a single and decisive break, before Nadal hit back to level the match as he took the second set by the same margin.

But it was Federer who had the edge, and the Swiss broke his opponent's serve twice to sail serenely through the final set 6-1 and clinch a thrilling victory to end this year's campaign in the perfect fashion. Federer triumphed in one hour, 37 minutes when he looped a forehand on to the baseline. It was his 32nd winner of the match and the 16-times Grand Slam champion walked off with the £1 million jackpot.

Both players received rousing support from a capacity crowd, and the quality was typically high early on as each held serve under immense pressure. Federer seized his opportunity in clinical fashion at 4-3 to seal what proved a decisive break as Nadal faltered fractionally on serve, and two stunning backhand passes saw the Swiss assume a 5-3 advantage. The world number two closed out the opening set in just 32 minutes with an unerring service hold to stamp his authority on the encounter.

But Nadal was not denied for long, and the Spaniard slammed two sensational forehand winners to breach his opponent's defence and seize the initiative with a break at 3-1 in the second set. Federer could not muster a response despite throwing everything at the world number one, and Nadal held his composure to close out the second set in 34 minutes and set up a seemingly inevitable decider.

The final set was absorbing as the pair traded blows in breathtaking extended rallies, and it took until the fourth game for either play to force a breakthrough. Federer took control in the fourth game when he unleashed a staggering array of attacking shots from the back of the court to break at 3-1. The world number two consolidated his break of serve at 4-1, before moving to within a game of the match with a second assault on Nadal's serve .

Federer was utterly relentless and unwavering in his pursuit of victory, and a final service hold with a forehand which landed inside the baseline saw the Swiss end his season on a high.

Article by Dan Quarrell / Eurosport / Photo by Gettys Image

My Comment : congratulation to Roger Federer for a splendid game.

Federer down Soderling in straight sets

LONDON, November 25: Roger Federer of Switzerland celebrates after winning his men's singles match against Robin Soderling of Sweden during ATP World Tour Finals at O2 Arena. Federer beat Soderling 7-6, 6-3. Federer will join Murray in the Semi final of the ATP World Tour.

Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Murray celebrates winning against Ferrer

London, November 25 : Scotland's Andy Murray celebrates winning the first set while playing against David Ferrer of Spain in a singles match during the Barclays ATP World Tour Tennis Finals in London. Murray stormed into the semi-finals of the ATP World Tour Finals with a crushing 6-2, 6-2 win.

Photo by Glyn Kirk/AFP/Getty Images

Roddick frustrated over light and early exit

LONDON, November 24 : The advertising lights behind the baseline flashed and flickered, even while play was going on, and each time it made Andy Roddick more and more frustrated. Finally, after being broken for the second time in the match, Roddick snapped.

Or, actually, the rim of his racket snapped when he smashed it against his foot. “I was angry with myself and there wasn’t anybody else to talk to at that moment,” Roddick said wryly after losing to Tomas Berdych 7-5, 6-3 Wednesday at the ATP World Tour Finals. Roddick had been playing well through the first set, but shortly after wasting a pair of set points on Berdych’s serve while leading 5-4, the eighth-ranked American was broken and eventually dropped the set. In the second, Roddick held his first two service games relatively easily.

Then, at 2-2, the neon lights on the front of the boxes where the line judges stand started to change, flickering red sometimes and then back to the light blue that they’re supposed to be. With Roddick growing increasingly frustrated, Berdych took a 15-30 lead with a forehand winner. Roddick then dumped a forehand wide on the next shot and lost his replay challenge, giving Berdych two break points.

After saving one when Berdych sent a forehand return long, Roddick tried an overhead smash from the baseline but the ball landed out, giving Berdych a 3-2 lead. That’s when he let it all out. First, he whacked a ball high into the rafters—it eventually landed only three rows from the top of the lower section of the O2 Arena.

Then, when he was walking back to his chair for the changeover, he smashed his racket against his foot and drew a code violation from the chair umpire. “The neons in the back weren’t quite to the settled position. They were still advertising fun stuff,” said Roddick, who dropped to 0-2 at the round-robin tournament for the top eight players in the world.

“When you’re trying to track a ball, it’s kind of neon lights and stuff. Then Tomas noticed it. A couple of them just went out before we played a point.” The match finished with the lights off.

By CHRIS LEHOURITES :Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images