Showing posts with label US Open. Show all posts

Wednesday, 26 August 2015

Heather Watson has a stunning new look as Britain's No 1 female heads to the US Open

Heather Watson has a stunning new look as Britain's No 1 female heads to the US Open aiming to secure return to the world's top 50

Britain's No 1 Heather Watson is going to US Open in confident spirits after almost beating Serena Williams
Watson was 3-0 up in the final set before world No 1 Williams fought back to win 6-2, 4-6, 7-5 at Wimbledon
The 23-year-old from Guernsey finds out her first-round opponent at Flushing Meadows on Thursday

PUBLISHED: 22:33, 26 August 2015 | UPDATED: 23:44, 26 August 2015

Britain's No 1 female tennis player is eyeing up a pair of fabulous £525 Sophia Webster shoes with a four-inch heel.

Heather Watson’s trusted team have spent more than an hour straightening her hair and doing her make-up at a west London hotel for an exclusive photo-shoot with Sportsmail ahead of the US Open, which starts on Monday — and the 23-year-old from Guernsey seems to be enjoying herself.

‘This doesn’t happen too often but I love it,’ says Watson. ‘I absolutely love it.

Heather Watson (centre) said she enjoyed the chance to get dressed up for an exclusive Sportsmail photoshoot

Watson is gearing up to compete in the US Open at Flushing Meadows, which starts in New York on August 31

Watson won the US Open girls' title aged 17 in 2009 but has never got past the first round of the proper event

HEATHER WATSON'S PHOTOSHOOT

Clothes and Styling by Three Floor

Shoes by Sophia Webster

Location: Royal Garden Hotel, London

‘I’m all right in heels — when they fit. I’ve got big feet. I’m a size nine.

‘I do struggle because they normally stop at a size seven so you don’t get much choice. I should be taller with my big feet but I’m not. I wouldn’t say I’m a fashionista or anything but I do have a unique style and it changes day to day. I’ll be a tomboy one day and then really girlie with a tutu dress and high heels the next.’

Watson is still buzzing after her successful run at Wimbledon, where she led Serena Williams, arguably the greatest female player of all time, 3-0 in the final set of their third round clash on Centre Court. Williams, says Watson, was just ‘too good’ though she eventually won 6-2, 4-6, 7-5 after two-and-a-quarter hours of intense action.

Now the 5ft 7in Briton will use her performance for inspiration as she looks to impress at Flushing Meadows next week.

Watson won the US Open girls’ title aged 17 in 2009 and is looking forward to returning to the hard courts of New York in a ‘super cute’ new playing outfit she has been involved in designing.

She said: ‘Wimbledon was a big positive. It wasn’t meant to be against Serena but I don’t think I did much wrong.

‘She was just too good. I will definitely use it for future confidence. I hadn’t had a great Australian Open or French Open but Wimbledon was decent for me. I had some good wins, so now I’m super motivated and I feel like I’m playing really well.

Watson is targeting a successful spell at Flushing Meadows in order to propel her into the top 50 in the world

Britain's No 1 female tennis player will find out who her first-round opponent is when the draw takes place on Friday

Watson (right) is buoyed by her impressive display in the third-round defeat by Serena Williams at Wimbledon last month

'I love the US Open. The people in New York and the crowd are so loud and enthusiastic and it makes it so fun for us as players. It’s why you play tennis; to be supported like that.’

In reference to her new outfit, she added: ‘Honestly — and I was talking to another player about this — if you feel good in what you’re wearing on the court you’ll feel more confident anyway.’

Watson will find out on Thursday who she plays in the first round and she’ll be hoping for a kind draw.

The US Open is the only Slam in which the British No 1 has failed to get past the first round but she’ll be confident of ending that drought as she continues her climb up the rankings.

The top 50 is back in her sights. And she’s No 1 in the fashion stakes now too.

Tuesday, 11 September 2012

Grand slam glory for Andy Murray after one of history's greatest matches

Major Murray! Grand slam glory for Andy after one of history's greatest matches

By MIKE DICKSON

PUBLISHED: 02:04, 11 September 2012 | UPDATED: 06:17, 11 September 2012

It was a celestial wind that blew Andy Murray to a magnificent victory in the US Open, perhaps blown from Fred Perry somewhere on high down on the country he ended up calling home.

From some source - who knows what? - Murray found the momentum to take a dramatic deciding set with a monumental display of guts when it had looked like his legs were going to buckle.

Just champion: Andy Murray has made history with victory in the US Open final over Novak Djokovic

Epic: Murray sealed his glory with a kiss after a match which fell a minute short of the longest ever US Open final

Epic: Murray sealed his glory with a kiss after a match which fell a minute short of the longest ever US Open fina

Epic: Murray sealed glory with a kiss after a match which fell a minute short of the longest ever US Open final

This time he was too tired to cry, he could barely walk. History will record it as a minor detail that the 25-year-old Scot, like Perry something of an outsider, just about handled the prevailing gusts better than his old rival Novak Djokovic to win his first Grand Slam title.

Far more important is the fact that Perry’s ghost may have exhaled its last breath in its haunting of British tennis, with the 76-year wait to find his successor as a major winner finally at an end.

That finally came to pass as New York was brought to its feet when Djokovic blasted a final return long, the two men embracing at the net. It concluded a wildly undulating, gripping 7-6, 7-5, 2-6, 3-6, 6-2 victory that took four hours and 54 minutes.

Disbelieving: Murray's reaction was one of wonder and amazement as he dropped to his haunches

Welcome to the club, pal: Djokovic was gracious in defeat and hailed his old friend's achievement

Murray said: ‘It was incredibly tough conditions. After the third and fourth set it was tough mentally. Novak is so strong, he fights until the end in every match. I don’t know how I came through in the end.

‘Ivan Lendl has been one of the greatest players that ever played, it has been great to have him helping me in the tense moments, not just him but everyone who has been here from the start .’

In front of Scottish knights Sir Alex Ferguson and Sir Sean Connery, Murray met with the destiny that had been denied him four times before, and there will be those who believe the younger man now deserves the same prefix.

Stunning: Both players had to contest with high winds early on, but Flushing Meadows still looked beautiful

The biggest set of Murray’s life, the fifth, began with the momentum in the defending champion’s favour, but Murray, who in sets three and four had drifted into the back court, showed new purpose and secured the break.

The Djokovic fightback further had its sting drawn when Murray consolidated the break for 2-0, the athleticism of the two players belying the the four-and-a-quarter hours they had played.

Suddenly the Serb started to miss again and, when a forehand was sent limply into the net, Murray was two breaks to the good.

Reaching for the top: At times Djokovic seemed out on his feet but he kept on fighting for each point

Eyes on the prize: Murray, too, wobbled when seemingly comfortable, but regained his full focus

But then that jaw-jutting, proud Djokovic pout returned, skidding around the court to pull back to 3-2 down. When the Scot easily held for 4-2 to deafening acclaim, we started to see the Serb crack physically, his legs going into cramp.

Djokovic called the trainer on for a rub of his thighs while the crowd booed and Murray waited to serve. The legs went again, though, and Murray’s path to glory was cleared, serving it out superbly, courageously to 15.

Anyone who saw the opening-set tiebreak would have been glad they did, not that the passages before it were shabby in view of the conditions.

Famous faces: There was no shortage of interest from the usual, and not so usual, suspects

With the wind cascading down the steep banks of the Arthur Ashe Stadium, Murray’s gale force win against Berdych was proving perfect preparation, but even when he wriggled ahead to 4-2 Djokovic kept snapping away.

With risk management to the fore, one rally took a staggering 54 strokes to complete before Murray capitulated. By the time the tiebreak was forced it was the British player holding on, as he was obliged to do at 5-3 down in the shootout, with American umpire Jake Garner demanding the boisterous crowd calm down.

Then came the first five set points, the loss of which would have been a spear to the heart. Three of them were spurned with nervous jabs either wide or, on the easiest first one, a backhand driven into the net. The two others were purely down to the Balkan warrior, with an ace taking it to 10-10.

Tit for tat: There were occasions when both players seemed to let the occasion get to them

But another groundstroke from the world No 2 went long and this time Murray, steadying himself as the breeze ruffled his shirt, pulled out a first serve which Djokovic sent beyond the baseline.

Tellingly the Scot had stepped up the power and cut his margin for error in the last few points.

Though he would never show it, old stoneface Lendl will have been doing cartwheels inside. The tiebreak’s duration would have taken you much of the way to half-time in a football match, the whole first set had taken 87 minutes and the points tally in it was 46-44.

Tricky times: Murray and Djokovic had to find that little bit extra as they teetered on the brink of despair

There was going be a psychological backdraft from it, and this time Murray was able drive on, as we have only seen him do in the Olympic final among the biggest matches of his career.

With Djokovic starting to wear a rueful grin the first four games were won, and even after ceding a break it was 5-3. A horrible, error-strewn bid to close it down came to nothing and the Serb was believing again with the purpose that has seen him win five Grand Slams.

Murray was now intermittently grabbing his thigh, signalling tension-induced cramp. With the two and half hour mark looming after less than two sets that was an ominous warning with the threat of an attritional war coming on.

Court coverage: The athleticism of both men was awesome, with rallies lasting more than 30 shots

Drama to the last: With one game to go, Djokovic, who had seized up, called for a medical time out

But a difference between this year and last for Djokovic is his shifting focus and at 6-5 he pulled out a hideous wide smash, which was followed by a dragged forehand to give Murray the biggest break of his career.

What he has not forgotten is how to fight and, cutting his error count to virtually nothing and serving better, came back ferociously to take the third and fourth sets, before the strain of pulling level led to a sensational conclusion.

WHY MURRAY'S WIN WAS NEVER IN DOUBT

The omens were good. Fred Perry (below) was the last British man to win a major, the 1936 US Open, and three years earlier broke his Grand Slam duck at the tournament... on September 10.

The only other British winner of the US Open was Laurence Doherty in 1903 - after winning Olympic gold at the 1900 Paris Games, just as Murray did in London.

Saturday, 8 September 2012

Murray blows Berdych away in windswept New York to breeze into US Open final

By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER

PUBLISHED: 21:24, 8 September 2012 | UPDATED: 21:48, 8 September 2012

Andy Murray overcame Tomas Berdych and 'some of the hardest conditions I've ever played in' to reach his fifth grand slam final at the US Open.

A storm delayed the start of play and, although the rain cleared, an extremely strong wind blew the whole way through the match, disrupting play on numerous occasions and making life extremely tough for both players.

Roaring success: Andy Murray reached his second US Open final and fifth grand slam showpiece

But, although Murray lost a tight first set, it was he who coped with the conditions better, surviving a fightback in the fourth set from Berdych to win 5-7, 6-2, 6-1, 7-6 (9/7) in three hours and 58 minutes.

It will be the 25-year-old's second consecutive grand slam final after his Wimbledon loss to Roger Federer and his second US Open final, with his first experience of a major showpiece coming here in 2008, when he also lost to Federer.

Beaten: Berdych lunges in vain as a shot from Murray whizzes past him

Talking about the conditions afterwards to CBS, Murray said: 'You have to focus for every point. The chairs were flying onto the court, it was hard to serve.

'It's some of the hardest conditions I've ever played in and I come from Scotland so that's saying something.'

Cool it: The umpire appeals for calm as Murray and Berdych argue at the net after the Scot's hat was blown off his head

He added: 'From the end of the first set I was in control. At 3-0 in the fourth I had three break points, but from the far side of the court it was very tough so I got broken in the next game. I just tried to hang in there and I did a good job at the end.'

The result also means Murray will overtake Rafael Nadal to become the new world number three, but most importantly it gives him the chance to claim his first grand slam title.

Nice finish: Murray wins a point with a cool shot at the net

Murray will meet either defending champion Novak Djokovic or Spain's David Ferrer in the final and, asked if he feels this is his time after winning Olympic gold, Murray said: 'I hope so. You can never say for sure, I know how hard these tournaments are to win. David and Novak are top, top players.

'When the conditions are like this, anything could have happened. I'll give everything in the final.'

On the attack: Berdych won the first set, but Murray's nous won through

On the attack: The powerful Berdych won the first set, but Murray's nous won through

Serving up a treat: Murray's craft and guile was there for all to see across four compelling sets

All smiles: Ivan Lendl shares a joke with Murray's girlfriend Kim Sears

Blustery: Berdych observes as chairs and debris are sent in all directions by the wind

Windswept: Ball boys rush to pick up players' paraphernalia as strong winds take hold

Keeping cool: Sean Connery was an involved spectator

Thursday, 6 September 2012

Pippa Middleton starts early birthday celebrations by cheering Andy Murray to victory in a summery yellow dress

Happy birthday Pippa! Miss Middleton starts early birthday celebrations by cheering Andy Murray to victory in a summery yellow dress

The Duchess of Cambridge's sister wore a vibrant yellow dress and nude wedges
Took seat next to Spencer Vegosen for second day running
Socialised with Roger Federer's wife after watching him lose in the semi-finals

By BIANCA LONDON and SADIE WHITELOCKS

PUBLISHED: 08:51, 6 September 2012 | UPDATED: 12:09, 6 September 2012

Pippa Middleton celebrated her 29th birthday in style last night, by cheering Andy Murray to victory in the US Open quarter-final.

The Duchess of Cambridge's sister donned a vibrant lacy yellow dress, nude wedges and carried a straw handbag at the match.

Once inside the courts she promptly took a seat next to dark-haired, 6ft 3in Spencer Vegosen - a Harvard graduate and accomplished tennis player - before watching the men's quarter final game unfold.

Pippa Middleton and Spencer Vegosen watched Andy Murray play in the men's quarter finals

Avid tennis fan Pippa looked like she was enjoying the game, it was her second day at the tennis

Pippa wore a lacy yellow dress and had her hair in loose curls as she took her seat next to Harvard graduate Spencer

It is not the first time that Pippa has taken a seat next to Mr Vegosen, they both cheered Roger Federer to glory just a day ago on day nine of the competition.

Mr Vegosen, who now resides in New York but is originally from Illinois, Chicago is a familiar face on the sporting scene and he was once one of the top junior tennis players in the U.S, winning 11 sportsmanship awards. His father Jon is also president of the U.S.Tennis Association.

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It is believed Mr Vegosen received a BA in East Asian studies and mathematics from Harvard University and spent last summer working in Hong Kong as an analyst for Goldman Sachs. However it is not known where he currently works.

The pair laughed and joked together at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre in Flushing, Queens, New York.

Pippa smiled as she watched Murray play and was joined by a brunette friend

Pippa was also joined by a brunette friend and the two seemed in high spirits as they clapped and cheered on the Scottish player who, from the dire straits of 6-3, 5-1 down when he could barely get the ball in the court, fought back to win 3-6, 7-6, 6-2, 6-0 in three hours to keep his Grand Slam dream alive.

After finishing he was able to relax and see who his next opponent would be in his second straight semi-final at Flushing Meadows — whether it would be a rematch of his epic two clashes with Roger Federer at Wimbledon this year or a less expected contest with Czech powerhouse Tomas Berdych.

In the end Berdych shocked Federer in four sets and Murray now has two days to compose himself after making what was an awkward assignment against the 6ft 6in Croat look exactly that.

Avid tennis fan Pippa also attended the match between Tomas Berdych and Roger Federer, as his guest of honour in his box.

Pippa, who turns 29 today, watches the men's singles quarterfinal match between Roger Federer of Switzerland and Tomas Berdych of Czech Republic

Pippa Middleton attended the US open quarter final and took her seat in Roger Federer's private box and cheered on the Swiss player

Roger Federer cut a disconsolate figure as he tried to come to terms with his shock quarter-final exit against an inspired Tomas Berdych at the US Open.

Not since 2003 had Federer lost before the semi-final stage at Flushing Meadows, winning five titles in that time, and he went into the tournament on a high after a stellar summer.

Pippa was spotted after the match bonding with Federer's wife Miroslava Vavrinec Federer as they left the stadium.

Since landing in the metropolis on Saturday to attend meetings about her upcoming book, Celebrate: A Year of Festivities for Families and Friends, Pippa has been snapped with a number of men while sampling some of New York's finer delights.

Pippa wore a bright yellow dress with nude wedges and carried a straw handbag as she left the match

Pippa was seen socialising with Roger Federer's wife Miroslava Vavrinec Federer at the US Open Tennis Center in New York City after the game

In an opulent welcome hotelier Andre Balazs, who is reportedly worth more than $450 million, flew her by seaplane - a trip that costs $525 for a single journey - to his resort, Sunset Beach, on Shelter Island on Sunday.

And later that evening the New York Daily News reported that she was spotted at the Electric Room at Dream Downtown in the Meatpacking district with former New York Ranger Sean Avery.

'She was only there for a short time,' a source told the paper, adding they were there with Mazdack Rassi, owner of photography company Milk Studios.

It has been suggested that Pippa is staying at the Carlyle Hotel located in the Upper East Side, where Roger Federer also has a suite, with two friends, where rooms start at $600 and reach $15,000 - without taxes.

Her trip, during which she is apparently courting the perks of fame, come despite her demands to remain out of the public gaze.

Pippa scored a style ace the day before when she watched Samantha Stosur of Australia play Victoria Azarenka of Belarus during the quarterfinals match

While newspapers have respected her request to be recognised as a private citizen, she still very much seems to be enjoying the high-flying life of a socialite.

Despite her request, U.S. news sites chose to publish photographs of her playing table tennis with Balazs over the weekend, but MailOnline has respected her wishes.

Pippa, who turns 29 today, is in town for meetings over her new book, which is out on October 30. She will not be holding an publicity events for the book while she is here, Viking publishers said.

Billed as a 'comprehensive seasonal guide to simple and creative entertaining', it is a book she hopes will cement her credentials as a party planner, and industry observers believe it could net her a small fortune in the process.

It is believed that Pippa is set to make an appearance at New York's Fashion Week, which kicks off on tonight.

Scrapper Murray recovers from slow start to beat Cilic and reach US Open last four

By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER

PUBLISHED: 01:01, 6 September 2012 | UPDATED: 06:46, 6 September 2012

Maybe it was the rare sight of Ivan Lendl taking his cap off and scowling, maybe it was the arrival of Pippa Middleton at courtside, but something happened to bring Andy Murray back from the brink.

The 25-year-old Scot was in desperate trouble in the second set of his US Open quarter-final when both these things came to pass, and they coincided with him roaring back to defeat world No 13 Marin Cilic.

From the dire straits of 6-3, 5-1 down when he could barely get the ball in the court, Murray fought back to win 3-6, 7-6, 6-2, 6-0 in three hours to keep his Grand Slam dream alive.

Made it: Andy Murray reached the last four with a tough win over Marin Cilic

In the end Berdych shocked Federer in four sets and Murray now has two days to compose himself after making what was an awkward assignment against the 6ft 6in Croat look exactly that.

Murray was bafflingly poor until his dramatic revival after the match was moved to the Louis Armstong Stadium following earlier rain. It is a court he has struggled on before and it doubtless did not help that it was not even half full at the start, his mood matching the flat atmosphere.

Troubled times: Murray struggled to get to grips with the court and his opponent in the early stages

The danger signs were immediate, especially the odd manic grin at his box and the curse that this surface was ‘10 times’ faster than that of the Arthur Ashe. The feet that moved so fluently in a brilliant fourth round performance were anchored to the floor.

Cilic’s early break was clawed back but when Murray was broken immediately again he hurled his racket into the concrete.

When two double faults saw him go behind early in the second you feared the worst, and so clearly did Lendl, who never shows emotion at courtside but now removed his headgear. At 1-5, another dismal break conceded, it looked a very long way back, but there was always the memory of the 2010 Australian Open semi-final, when he turned round another bad start against the same opponent.

Slumped: Cilic fell apart in the final two sets as Pippa Middleton cheered Murray on (below)

Cilic is utterly inscrutable but can get very nervous inside, and by the time Pippa arrived courtside, Murray was getting fired up and hauling him in.

Even then there were dramas as three unforced errors saw the world No 4 go 2-4 down, before a few errors from the other side helped him back and he ran away with it 7-4.

Slowly but surely, Cilic’s game began to collapse with Murray now darting around the back court and starting to work his backhand beautifully. Only two more games were conceded.

KATCHING MY I

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Wednesday, 26 August 2015