日 케이 니시코리 준결탈락
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케빈 앤더슨(남아공)이 2018 뉴욕오픈 테니스 단식 정상(頂上)에 올랐다.
톱시드의 케빈 앤더슨은 18일 뉴욕 낫소 메모리얼 콜리세움에서 열린 뉴욕오픈에서 2번 시드의 샘 퀘리를 맞아 2-1(4-6 6-3 7-6)의 짜릿한 역전극을 일구며 ATP 통산 네 번째 타이틀을 거머쥐었다. 이와 함께 세계랭킹도 9위로 톱 10안에 진입했다.
지난해 US오픈에서 깜짝 결승에 올라 라파엘 나달에 아깝게 무릎을 꿇은 그는 뉴욕에서 마침내 원하던 결과를 얻어냈다.
당시 그의 랭킹은 32위. 1973년 현재의 랭킹제가 도입된 후 US오픈 결승 사상 가장 랭킹이 낮은 선수였다.
그는 이번 대회에서 8강부터 결승까지 3세트까지 가는 격전(激戰)을 소화했다. 준결승에선 일본의 강호 케이 니시코리에 역시 2-1 역전승을 거뒀다.
그는 이날 1세트를 내준후 2세트에서 상대 서비스 게임까지 무력화하는 등 공격적인 투혼으로 5-0 리드를 잡으며 역전의 발판을 마련했다. 3세트에서 6-6으로 타이브레이크에 들어갔지만 엄청난 뒷심으로 선제 6포인트를 따낼 수 있었다.
이상 뉴욕오픈 홈페이지
앤더슨은 지난해까지 테네시 멤피스에서 열리다가 올해 처음 뉴욕으로 옮겨와 사실상의 초대 대회에서 우승해 기쁨이 더했다.
앤더슨은 “지난해 US오픈은 내게 엄청난 것이었다. 결승에서 진게 뼈아팠기 때문에 오늘 승리는 내게 너무너무 특별하다”고 말했다. 그는 케빈 앤더슨은 “정말 힘든 한 주였지만 결승에서 승리해 기쁘다. 그동안 준우승을 몇 번 했기 때문에 더 큰 성공을 하길 바랬다”고 말했다.
복식에서는 2번시드의 맥스 미어니(벨라루시)-필리포 오스왈드(오스트리아)조가 웨슬리 쿨호프(네덜란드)-아템 시탁(뉴질랜드)를 2-1(4-6 6-4 10-6)으로 역전 우승을 거머쥐었다. 올해 만 40세의 미어니는 복식에서만 96차례 우승을 포함, 통산 100회 우승의 금자탑(金字塔)을 쌓았다.
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<꼬리뉴스>
Kevin Anderson defeated Sam Querrey
4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (1)
Kevin Anderson
On today’s win:
“It feels really, really special to me to get today’s win as I was saying on the court, tennis is a tough sport and you know, you can play a lot of good tennis, win a lot of matches, and if you don’t win that finals match, it’s a pretty tough week.”
“I have been runner-up quite a few times in my career. One of my big goals that I had for this year was to try to be a bit more successful, and that final stage, I fell a little short earlier in this year in India, and it feels great to come through and get today’s win.”
“It gives me a lot of confidence for the year. I feel like I’m playing some really good tennis and I’m looking forward to what the season brings. I feel like I’ve got good goals. As I’ve been saying, it all starts with the process of what I’m doing day in and day out. I felt I did a terrific job of that this week and hopefully I’ll be able to continue with things.”
Comparison to last year:
“I had a very tough 2016 - had a few opportunities last year that fell a little bit short, and again, in India this year, so it definitely feels very good to clear that last hurdle and walk away with the title. I’ve had a lot of very close matches this week. I think my body has responded very well. [I’ve had] Aches and pains here and there, but that comes with just playing a lot of tennis. I definitely put in a lot of work off the scenes staying healthy. There were a couple of late night matches, especially that quarterfinal match, I had to play some very good opponents, but you need to beat the best in the world to win tournaments, and I was able to do that this week.”
Thoughts on the New York Open’s debut:
“I’ve said it all week, it’s really exciting to be here. It’s obviously a huge tennis market, obviously, you have New York, but to bring the ATP World Tour back to New York, I think that’s very special.”
“Often, when it’s your first week and the first time you put on an event, it can be quite challenging. I must say, not just saying it for the sake of it, but I feel like things went very smoothly. I think from a players’ standpoint, it didn’t feel like a first event at all.”
“I think everyone who was behind the scenes did a terrific job, and I’ve had two good outings in New York the last two times I’ve been here, so I’m definitely all for a tournament being back here and I definitely look forward to coming back next year.”
On being back in the Top Ten (No. 9):
“I was there at the end of 2015, in October, I was just there for a week and I’ve cemented my place in there a little bit longer. To be honest with you I have set my sights for a little bit higher as well, you know, finishing the year, making London is one of my biggest goals that I have. Anytime that you reach career milestones, it feels great, so I definitely can enjoy that for now before I have to reset and step onto a court again, but winning a tournament and [getting] a career-high ranking at the same time, that definitely feels good.”
On the tough matches leading to his win:
“Obviously, you go out there - the quicker and easier you can win, the better. But, I think I can take a lot of confidence in the way I was able to come through those close matches. I was tested, every single match went to three sets, three of the four matches went to 7-6 in the third and I played some of my best tennis when it mattered. I think if you can come through those matches, you can really take a lot of confidence. My body responded well, that is always a big positive.”
“I was able to keep on resetting and it was definitely a good testament to my attitude and my mindset which I work very hard on.”
Sam Querrey
Thoughts on the second set:
“He [Anderson] just broke me the second game in the second set there, and I kind of lost a little bit of momentum. He picked his game up, he started making a few more first serves, felt like he was hitting the ball a little bigger, making a few more. I kind of got the momentum back at the end of the second there, but it was kind of too little, too late.
On the New York Open’s inaugural year:
It was great. I mean, I’ve played a handful of tournaments where it’s their inaugural year, and this tournament probably did the best job. Everything ran smoothly, as it appeared from the players’ standpoint. It was really convenient with the hotel next door, the locker rooms were great, the crowds were great. The venue is really neat and really cool. I think every guy really liked it this week.
Thoughts on his next stop on tour:
“I feel good. I’m actually going to Delray next week, so I’m going to fly there tomorrow, and my first match is on Tuesday. There are no byes there, and I play Taylor Fritz. It’s a little bit of a difficult transition because it’s going from an indoor event to an outdoor event in Florida, which can be a little hot, so a lot of times you kind of have to work your way through the first couple of rounds there, but that’s my next event.”
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