Masha is out of the U.S. Open. Below is her post-match interview after losing to Flavia Pennetta, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4. in the third round.

Q.  How are you?

MARIA SHARAPOVA:  Good.

Q.  Where was your A Game today?  What happened?  Seemed hitting you were in the back court, you were hitting double faults.  Did you lose your concentration or your focus?  What was going on with you?

MARIA SHARAPOVA:  Um, yeah, I made way too many unforced errors.  I fought back to get myself back in the match in the third set.  I think the first three, four games on every game I had a chance to win that game, whether it was a breakpoint or it was a game point on my serve, and I didn’t win those games. When you’re done 1 4 and you get yourself back in a position where can you win again and start making errors, it’s just too inconsistent to win the match against her.

Q.  Did you feel like you could rely on your forehand in this match at any point?  Did you ever feel comfortable with it?

MARIA SHARAPOVA:  Um, I didn’t feel comfortable with most of my game today. Read more »

An Interview With Novak Djokovic (after his US Open semi-final victory over Roger Federer)

Q. First of all. That was an absolutely remarkable match.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Thank you.

Q. You should be extremely proud of yourself. I imagine you are. The emotions on the court after the match, can you just talk about that moment and reflect?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: As I said on the post?match interview, it’s one of those matches that you will remember for the rest of your life, not just because you won against one of the best players that ever played this game at that occasion, but as well, you know, coming back from match points down and under the circumstances playing good tennis and winning in the end, the thriller, you know. Read more »

An Interview With: Roger Federer (after his US Open victory over Robin Soderling to reach semis)

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Q. Is it possible that you actually enjoy playing in the wind?

ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I think by now I do, yeah, because I see it as a challenge and I see it as an opportunity to play differently. It’s not easy, you know. It’s cold. Everywhere it’s blowing. You feel like it’s blowing through your ears and into your eyes. But I think I used to dislike it so much that I’m on the other side now. I was able to turn it around and kind of take enjoyment out of playing in the wind, actually.

Q. Everybody was complaining about how the wind affected their games, ruining their concentration. Why were you able to serve, you know, that accurately painting the lines like you did? Read more »

An Interview With: Kim Clijsters (after her US Open semi-final 4-6, 7-6, 6-4 victory over Venus Williams)

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Could you talk about the backhand topspin lob and your decision to hit that shot there?

KIM CLIJSTERS: Um, I mean, I thought as long as I try, keep trying, I’ll have to make one. Because I think all of the ones I tried before she got to, so I think there were two there that were really important, which was the one where, the one she got to, the one that dropped in and I finished off with the forehand winner down the line. Then the next one was obviously the probably most important one where I broke. Yeah, I mean, you know, I don’t know. I mean, it’s instinct when you decide to do that, and it worked. I mean, it worked. It was an important point, and I’m happy to get through.

Q. Were you thinking about the wind on that shot? Were you thinking it might sit up in the wind a little bit? Read more »

An Interview With Vera Zvonareva (after she reached her US Open final with a 6-4 6-3 victory over the top seed Caroline Wozniacki. She will meet Kim Clijsters in the final).

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. What was the key to your victory today?

VERA ZVONAREVA: Um, I think it’s the same probably as the previous match, very similar. It’s the right balance between being patient and being aggressive. You know, with those windy conditions you have to play sometimes ugly, you know. You don’t have to expect to play your best tennis. That’s what I did well. I was not expecting to play my best tennis, but, you know, I was trying to be patient when I needed, and step up when I got the chance. Read more »

Check out Serena William’s tweets during the last 24 hours. You be the judge! What do you think?

 After Serena Williams yesterday’s theatrics, her name was one of the top ten trending topics in Twitter land. Here are some of the comments that I overheard on Twitter.

1) Feeling very “Serena Williams” this morning, so watch out.

2) Serena Williams should have chanted, “Serenity now!”

3) Serena Williams the next John Mcenroe? One can only hop.

4) My tennis geek head is still reeling from that Serena Williams bitchfest last night. 

5) Serena Williams screams “You lie!” loses a point, and lots of money. Why are tennis players held to higher standards than legislators?

6) Can’t wait to see Serena Williams & Joe Wilson in the same anger management class. I smell sitcom!

7) From USTA: All future Serena Williams matches to be line judged by John McEnroe

“If I could, I would take this f… ball and shove it down your f… throat,” a statement that resulted in a point penalty on match point at the US Open where Serena Williams lost her semi-final match against Kim Clijsters. 

You can’t say this to ANYONE, Serena, no matter who you are!

I am not surprise.

When asked if she should apologize to the lineswoman, Serena said, “An apology? For what? How many people yell at linespeople? “Players, athletes get frustrated. I’m sorry, but a lot of people have said a lot worse.”

True indeed. “Can’t spell DYNASTY without NASTY.” A message Serena communicated “through” her T-shirt which she wore  at her media conference after her third round win.

Lost in the Serena’s drama was Clijsters’ significant victory. It was only her third tournament after 2½ years in retirement. The 26-year-old Belgian became the first mother to reach a Grand Slam final since Evonne Goolagong Cawley won Wimbledon 1980. She will be playing against Caroline Wozniacki for the US Open title.

Ana Ivanovic knows how to enjoy life, AND how to take a vacation when you don’t have any vacation time. The solution is simple–lose in the first round of US Open and VOILA!!! Now you have two weeks of free time to enjoy New York City with your boyfriend golfer Adam Scott.

WHAT? It is not OK to kiss Rafa Nadal? Apparently not! 23-year-old Noam Aorta was arrested at the U.S. Open after running on the court at Arthur Ashe Stadium and giving Rafael Nadal  a nice smooch.“For me, it wasn’t a problem. The guy was really nice,” Nadal said. “He said, ‘I love you,’ and he kissed me.” The kiss might not come cheap to the fan. He faces one year in jail and $5,000 fine for rushing the court. Check out the video here.