Novak Djokovic to turn the switch for the hardcourt season

The Serb, 29, cut his ties with tennis for a while following his early-exit at Wimbledon.

During the first half of 2016 season, all the highlights regarding tennis achievements were mostly related toNovak Djokovic. His consistency over the various tournaments whether it was hardcourt (Doha, Australian Open, Indian Wells, Miami), or clay (Monte-Carlo, Madrid, Rome, Roland Garros) brought him lots of trophies and also worldwide recognition. Then, it followed Wimbledon Championships, a syncope that few saw it coming. Still the Serb remains the leader of the ATP ranking in both rankings ( ATP Tour and ATP Race). One thing needs clearing: Djokovic played only big tournaments, namely Masters 1000 and Grand Slam with one sole exception- Doha.

Rio Olympics detour.

There are many players who chose not to play in Rio due to the inappropriate date.The Olympics cuts the American hardcourt season right in two. The organisers tried to please the vast majority by choosing also a hardcourt surface to play on. On top of this Zyka virus remains a major concern. The other days, top players like Milos Raonic or Tomas Berdych officially announced that they`ll not compete in Rio. On the same page is also Simona Halep. Though, Djokovic is expected to make a glorious run in Rio. It might be his best chance to clinch the golden medal in men`s singles. As he is already heading to 30, in 4 years from now, he might be too old to accomplish something big. The Serb`s best result at the Olympics occurred back in 2008 at Beijing when he finished the third winning the bronze medal. For Djokovic, 12 times Grand Slam winner, this fact is rather unsatisfactory.

Djokovic has few things to worry about in the near future.

When it comes to future of the ATP ranking, some majors changes are unlikely to occur throughout this season. Djokovic has around 5000 points ahead of Andy Murray. Still, there is one scenario which might bring in some extra heat. In the late August, the last Grand Slam of the year will catch the attention. Although it sounds unlikely, if Djokovic will suffer one more early exit as at Wimbledon happened andAndy Murray will win the gap will come down to less than 1000 points. Last year, the Serb won at the US Open by beating Roger Federer in the final rubber thus having to defend 2000 points. Murray lost in the 4th round, so the pressure is something easier to fight with.

Overall, Novak Djokovic dominated the past years on the ATP tour like no one did. If Wimbledon was just a syncope, it`s something to be seen over the following months. The Serb has both mental and physical strength to move forward and also to win other Masters ,Majors, gold medals and so on.

John Isner, Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic among Paris winners

PARIS -- Roger Federer finally cracked under the unrelenting serve of John Isner, losing 7-6 (3), 3-6, 7-6 (5) to the 13th-seeded American in the third round of the Paris Masters on Thursday.

Federer, a 17-time Grand Slam champion, looked as though he might grind out a win, saving all six break points and fighting back from 6-2 down in the decisive tiebreaker. But the Swiss star's resistance ended when Isner -- who had 27 aces -- hit a looping serve to his backhand.

"It's tough going out of a tournament without losing your serve," the third-seeded Federer said.

Fourteen-time major winner Rafael Nadal, seeded seventh, almost followed him through the exit door, saving a match point in a 4-6, 7-6 (6), 6-2 win against 11th-seeded Kevin Anderson of South Africa.

"Very tough match -- he served amazing. I feel very lucky to be through," Nadal said. "This type of match a couple of months ago I would not have had chances to win. In terms of mentality I [am] more calm."

Top-ranked Novak Djokovic was not at his best, either, advancing to the quarterfinals by beating 14th-seeded Gilles Simon 6-3, 7-5.

But Federer's defeat came as a genuine surprise.

Having won his sixth title of the season and 88th of his career at the Swiss Indoors on Sunday, and after racing past Italian Andreas Seppi in just 47 minutes on Wednesday, he was full of confidence.

Federer held a 5-1 record with Isner, beating him in the US Open fourth round this year.

"I thought he did very well today when he needed it," Federer said. "I thought he served great."

Federer briefly needed treatment at the start of the second set because of a sore arm but quickly recovered, insisting "it didn't affect me in the third set and it's not serious."

Isner called it one of the "top five" wins of his career.

"He's an incredible player, obviously. My favorite player and the greatest of all time," Isner said. "It was a huge win for me. I'm very proud."

Isner saved a break point in the fifth game of the third set with a deft backhand volley.

"That arguably saved the match for me," said the 30-year-old, who next faces No. 8 David Ferrer of Spain after he rallied to beat Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov 6-7 (4), 6-1, 6-4.

On Wednesday night, Anderson finished his second-round, three-set match against Austrian Dominic Thiem at 12:26 a.m. after spending 2 hours, 45 minutes on court.

This time he finished just as the clock struck midnight after 2 hours, 27 minutes on court.

But it could have been over quicker.

At 6-5 up in the tiebreak, and with Nadal on second serve, Anderson failed to finish a long rally concluded by Nadal's risky yet brilliant forehand winner into the top left corner.

The Spaniard celebrated with a yell and a fist pump, clinched the set when a rattled Anderson sent a forehand into the net and immediately broke Anderson in the third set before holding for 2-0.

Anderson fought back, however, and Nadal needed to save six break points in a grueling fourth game lasting 12 minutes.

That proved to be the end of Anderson's resistance.

After Nadal broke him again for 5-2 and clinched victory with a crisp forehand winner, the relief was evident as he tilted his head back in relief before shaking hands with the South African.

Nadal next faces No. 4 Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland, who beat Serbian Viktor Troicki 6-4, 7-5.

Earlier, Djokovic extended his winning streak to 19 matches despite dropping his serve five times.

"In sport there are days when you just lose your rhythm. You're trying a bit too much and you lose a bit of confidence," Djokovic said. "It was frustrating. ... It hasn't happened to me for a long time."

The 10-time Grand Slam champion now plays No. 5 Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic, who beat No. 9 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France 6-3, 6-4.

No. 2 Andy Murray had the easiest path to the final eight, routing David Goffin 6-1, 6-0 in a prelude to the Davis Cup final later this month.

Murray, who lost only eight points on his serve and broke the 16th-seeded Belgian five times, opens Friday's quarterfinals against No. 10 Richard Gasquet.

The Frenchman advanced when Kei Nishikori of Japan retired while trailing 7-6 (3), 4-1.

Tennis-U.S. Open finalist Novak Djokovic

Sept 12 (Reuters) - Factbox on Serbia's Novak Djokovic, who

will meet Swiss Roger Federer in the U.S. Open men's final on

Sunday.

GRAND SLAM TITLES (Nine): Australian Open: 2008, 2011, 2012,

2013, 2015; Wimbledon: 2011, 2014, 2015; U.S. Open: 2011

MAKING HIS NAME

* Born: Belgrade, May 22, 1987

* Began playing tennis aged four.

* His father was a professional skier and wanted his son to

be a skier or professional soccer player but changed his mind

when Djokovic excelled at tennis from an early age.

PLAYING CAREER

* First full year on tour in 2005: Made grand slam debut as

a qualifier at the Australian Open, losing to Russian Marat

Safin in the first round. Finished as the youngest player (18

years, five months) inside the top 100.

* In 2006, he won his first ATP tour title at Amersfoort.

* He retired in the 2006 French Open quarter-finals against

Spaniard Rafael Nadal when trailing by two sets, and again a

year later due to blisters in the Wimbledon semi-final against

the same opponent.

*In 2007, he won five titles (Adelaide, Miami, Estoril,

Montreal and Vienna) and reached his first grand slam final at

the U.S. Open, losing to Federer 7-6 7-6 6-4.

* Beat Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in four sets to win his

maiden grand slam title at the 2008 Australian Open.

* Failed to successfully defend his title in Melbourne the

following year after controversially pulling out of his

quarter-final against American Andy Roddick citing heat

exhaustion on a sweltering day.

* Led Serbia to their first Davis Cup title with victory

over France in Belgrade in December 2010.

* Began 2011 by winning the Australian Open, beating Briton

Andy Murray in the final, to end his three-year wait for a

second grand slam title.

* Won his next six tournaments in Dubai, Indian Wells,

Miami, Belgrade, Madrid and Rome. Did not lose again until June

3 when Federer ended his 41-match winning streak in the French

Open semi-finals.

* Secured the number one spot on July 4 by beating Tsonga in

the Wimbledon semi-finals, then beat Nadal to clinch his first

Wimbledon crown, his first title on grass.

* Saved two match points to beat Federer in the semi-finals

of the U.S. Open then defeated Nadal in the final to become the

seventh man to win three grand slam titles in a year since

tennis turned professional in 1968.

* Won his third Australian Open title in 2012 by beating

Nadal in five hours and 53 minutes.

* Defeated by Nadal in the 2012 French Open final.

* Began 2013 by beating Murray to become the first man in

the professional era to win three successive Australian Open

titles.

* Loses to Nadal in the 2014 French Open final before

beating Federer in a five-set Wimbledon final.

* Reached all four grand slam finals in 2015. Began the year

by capturing a fifth Australian Open title, then missed out on

the French Open again after falling to Stan Wawrinka in the

final. Five weeks later draws level with his coach Boris

Becker's Wimbledon haul of three titles by defeating Federer in

the All England Club final. The U.S. Open final will mark his

42nd career meeting with Federer, who holds a 21-20 edge.

(Editing by Frank Pingue)

US Open 2015: Roger Federer & Novak Djokovic set for final

Roger Federer will try to cap a superb run of form with his first major title in three years when he plays Novak Djokovic in Sunday's US Open final.

The Swiss, 34, has not dropped a set since he lost to Djokovic in the Wimbledon final in July and has swept through the draw in New York.

But Djokovic, 28, is on course to win a third Grand Slam of 2015, having only missed out in the French Open final.

The final is scheduled to begin at 21:00 BST, though rain is forecast.

Djokovic expects 'aggressive' Federer

Roger Federer hit 29 winners against Stan Wawrinka

Serena Williams and her pursuit of the calendar Slam dominated the first 12 days of the tournament, but Djokovic is on the verge of bettering her year at the majors.

For the second time in his career, the Serb is within sight of winning three of the four Slams, and for the first time has has reached all four finals.

"Win or lose on Sunday, it still has been so far a great year, my best year alongside 2011," said Djokovic.

"But obviously I'm only thinking about winning that US Open trophy."

Djokovic, who thrashed the defending champion Marin Cilic in the semi-finals, will be up against a man in rare attacking form in Federer.

"I know that he's lately being very aggressive coming to the net, mixing up, and trying to shorten out the points," said Djokovic.

"I think also he improved his speed. His defensive game is better than it was."

Match stats
Djokovic won the US Open in 2011 but has lost four other finals
Victory would give him 10 major titles, one behind Bjorn Borg and Rod Laver
Federer leads their head-to-head 21-20, and 3-2 at the US Open
His last Grand Slam title came at Wimbledon 2012 against Andy Murray

Federer ready for 'shoot-out'

Federer will almost certainly have the backing of most of the 23,000 spectators as he attempts to win his first US Open in seven years, and his first major anywhere in three years.

"I definitely think if there would be more on my side that will give me a lift and extra energy and momentum possibly," said the Swiss, looking for his 18th major title.

Since losing to Djokovic in the Wimbledon final in July, Federer has won the Cincinnati title and reached the final in New York without dropping a set.

He beat Djokovic in the Cincinnati final but has not overcome the Serb at a Grand Slam in three years, despite still edging their head-to-head record 21-20.

"I think it's just a straight shoot-out, and I think that's the cool thing about our rivalry," he said.

"It's very athletic. We can both handle whatever we present to one another, it's very even."

Sneak Attack will be back

Boris Becker is not a fan of Roger Federer's new return tactic

"No, it's not disrespectful. Pretty simple."

Federer wasted few words in dismissing the suggestion from Boris Becker, Djokovic's coach, that his new tactic of taking service returns unusually early disrespects opponents.

The Swiss began employing the SABR ('Sneak Attack By Roger'), where he moves in while the server tosses the ball and hits his returns almost from the service line, during the American summer.

Djokovic fell victim to it in Cincinnati, and was not keen to discuss the issue after his semi-final win in New York.

"It worked a couple of times," said the Serb. "It's an exciting shot for him. For the player opposite side of the net, not so much. So I have nothing else to say about that."

So will Federer be deploying the SABR on Sunday?

"I will do it some more. No problem."