Wimbledon, 2016

[Sysop3]

Serena Williams beats Angelique Kerber in final, gets milestone win



WIMBLEDON, England — In her pursuit of one of the most elusive records in tennis, the third time proved the charm for Serena Williams at Wimbledon on Saturday, beating Angelique Kerber 7-5, 6-3.

With the victory, her seventh singles title at Wimbledon, Williams claimed her 22nd Grand Slam singles title, equaling the Open Era record held by Steffi Graf.

Williams had lost her previous two Grand Slam finals earlier this year, falling to Kerber at the Australian Open and Garbine Muguruza at the French Open.

Williams had also lost in shocking fashion to unseeded Roberta Vinci in the semifinals of last year's U.S. Open, where she was attempting to equal Graf's record as well as complete a calendar year Grand Slam.

Williams' coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, said the loss to Vinci had taken longer for Serena to recuperate from than he initially expected.

"She missed once and because so many things were on the line — like the calendar Slam, the 22nd, the fact that it was in New York, I mean all those things together — this hurt her much too much," Mouratoglou said. "And then after, the other losses were a consequence of this one."

Williams downplayed the impact of that loss, saying reaching the finals of the next two majors showed her continued ability to persevere.

"I think if anything, I was able to show resilience," Williams said. "No, that's not going to shake me, you're not going to break me, it's going to make me stronger."

Still, she admitted the stress of falling just short so many times had weighed on her.

"I have, yeah, definitely had some sleepless nights, if I'm just honest," she said. "With a lot of stuff: coming so close, feeling it, not being able to quite get there."

The slow starts she had in those matches were nowhere to be found on Saturday, as Williams played with newfound purpose and power. She did not face a break point on her serve until late in the second set.

Kerber again proved a ferocious fighter, as she had in Melbourne. With her world class counterpunching, she routinely extended rallies, and defended her often vulnerable serve with tenacity. But Williams' serve was untouchable. Kerber only managed one break point opportunity in the entire match, and it was quickly erased by a Williams ace, one of the 13 she struck in the match.

"This is how Serena is playing," Kerber said. "I had one break point, and I couldn't do nothing."`

For Mouratoglou, who said he was more relieved to have discovered the "true Serena" than that she finally won a 22nd major, it was a glimpse of his player back at her best.

"This is Serena," he said. "Today, when she's in trouble, 15-30: boom, boom. This is Serena. When she needs to lift her level, to close: boom, she does it. This is Serena. I didn't see that for eight months."

Williams, dogged by slow starts in her two previous major finals this year, had started the match particularly well, putting Kerber under immediate pressure, though she was not able to break until the final game of the set.

Williams secured a final break in the eighth game of the second set, and then served out the victory with a forehand volley winner, fittingly the same stroke which she had flubbed against Kerber down match point in Australia.

Williams, who had friends Beyonce and Jay-Z watching from her player's box, then collapsed to the court in joy.

Williams said that the peace and focus which she had harnessed for this tournament came from self-acceptance. Despite high-profile losses, she reminded herself, she was still a champion who had reached the final at six of her last seven Grand Slam events.

"I had to start looking at positives, not focusing on that one loss per tournament — which really isn't bad, and anyone else on this tour would be completely happy about it," she said. "Once I started focusing more on the positives, I realized that I'm pretty good. Then I started playing a little better."

pictures and video
www.usatoday.com/story/sports/tennis/2016/07/09/serena-williams-beats-angelique-kerber-steffi-graf-record/86892482/

[ladylinda]

Andy Murray won in the men's final!

[beth]

Thanks Lin, he was my pick.


Andy Murray, local favorite, snatches 2nd Wimbledon title

LONDON - After Britain famously endured a 77-year wait between Wimbledon men's champions, Andy Murray has given the host country a pair of titles in quick succession.

Murray dulled booming serves with quick-reflex returns, played impressively mistake-free tennis while coming up with daring passing shots and beat Milos Raonic 6-4, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (2) on Sunday for his second trophy at the All England Club since 2013 and third Grand Slam championship overall.

When he sat in his sideline chair after it was over, Murray wiped away tears with a tournament towel.

"Last time, I was so relieved. I felt ... just so much stress and pressure and didn't really get the chance to enjoy it as much," Murray said. "So I'll make sure I enjoy this one tonight, for sure."

The second-seeded Murray was playing in his 11th major final, but the first against someone other than Novak Djokovic or Roger Federer.

He didn't need to face either of those rivals this fortnight: The sixth-seeded Raonic eliminated Federer in five sets in the semifinals Friday, and also defeated the player who stunned Djokovic in the third round, Sam Querrey.

Those wins helped Raonic become the first man representing Canada to reach a major final.

He did it, primarily, with speedy and intimidating serves, averaging 25½ aces. But on a breezy afternoon, at a Centre Court filled with nearly 15,000 partisan fans, Murray shut down that integral part of Raonic's game.

"This one's going to sting," said Raonic, who recently brought John McEnroe aboard as a coaching consultant.

It's been a rough few weeks for Britain, what with its vote to leave the European Union, the resulting drop of the pound's value, and the subsequent resignation of Prime Minister David Cameron, who was seated in the front row of the Royal Box on Sunday, several seats over from Prince William and his wife, Kate.

Murray was even asked by a reporter during Wimbledon how it felt being Britain's "last hope," a question he dismissed by wryly replying, "It's not that bad, is it?"

During the on-court trophy presentation Sunday, Murray clutched his golden reward and joked: "Playing in a Wimbledon final's tough, but I certainly wouldn't like to be a prime minister. It's an impossible job."

Murray, a 29-year-old from Scotland, long dealt with the expectations that accompanied being the locals' best chance to find a champion to succeed Fred Perry, who won the tournament in 1936. But Murray has thrived, with a counter-punching, defensive game and sublime returns of serve.

In a testament to Murray's ability as a returner - a combination of timing and dexterity - it took Raonic 36 minutes and five service games to record his first ace. Over and over, Murray managed to get the ball back, even one that came in at 147 mph.

Raonic was limited to eight aces, only one more than Murray.

And while Murray only broke Raonic once, to lead 4-3 in the opening set, that was all it took, because the tiebreakers were surprisingly one-way traffic. Raonic came in having won a tour-leading 20 tiebreakers this season, dropping only six.

Murray also took 50 of 65 points he served across the first two sets, not only never facing so much as a break point in that span but only once being taken to deuce.

Finally, at 2-all in the third, Raonic got to 15-40 for his first - and, it turned out, only - break points, thanks to a forehand return winner off an 82 mph second serve. But Murray stood tall, taking the next four points to hold, then wheeled toward his box, pumping his right fist and yelling.

According to the official statistics, Murray made only 12 unforced errors, including two in the second set. While that's a subjective accounting, anyone watching and listening could plainly tell that he was striking the ball cleanly and confidently, a crisp thwack resonating as racket strings hit ball, much more often than not putting shots right where intended.

"Really good stuff," Murray said.

He had lost his most recent three Grand Slam finals, all to Djokovic, including at the Australian Open in January and French Open last month, as well as the Australian Open in 2015. He avoided becoming the first man in history to be the runner-up at a season's first three majors.

Those three recent setbacks came without Ivan Lendl by his side, though. They worked together when Murray won his first two Slam trophies, including at the 2012 U.S. Open, then split up, before reuniting last month.

Once again, the partnership paid off, and at Wimbledon, no less.

"This is obviously the most important tournament for me, every year," Murray said. "I'm proud to have my hands on the trophy again."

www.cbsnews.com/news/andy-murray-local-favorite-wins-2nd-wimbledon-title/

[ladylinda]

Heather Watson won the mixed doubles so it was a 'double' whammy for Britain!