BETHANIE MATTEK-SANDS, LUCIE SAFAROVA WIN LADIES DOUBLES TITLE AT THE 2016 U.S. OPEN TENNIS & DAY & AUGER ALIASSIME TRIUMPH IN JUNIORS & IT JUST WASN’T THE SAME WITHOUT ROGER FEDERER

Written by: Staff on 11th September 2016

BETHANIE MATTEK-SANDS, LUCIE SAFAROVA WIN LADIES DOUBLES TITLE AT THE 2016 U.S. OPEN TENNIS & DAY & AUGER ALIASSIME TRIUMPH IN JUNIORS & IT JUST WASN'T THE SAME WITHOUT ROGER FEDERER

epa05535483 A giant American flag is unfurled by US Marines during ceremonies before Novak Djokovic of Serbia plays Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland in the men's final on the final day of the US Open Tennis Championships at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 11 September 2016. The US Open runs through September 11. EPA/ANDREW GOMBERT |

By Ricky Dimon

Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Lucie Safarova captured the women’s doubles title on the final day of action at the 2016 U.S.Open, beating Kristina Mladenovic and Caroline Garcia-6 7-6(5) 6-4. The American-Czech duo survived a two-hour and seven-minute thriller to win their third career major as a doubles pairing.

This one almost didn’t happen. The French connection dominated the first set and even served for the championship at 5-4 in the second, but they could not get across the finish line. Mattek-Sands and Safarova broke back for 5-5, forced a tiebreaker, never trailed in it, and broke right away in the third set before consolidating it the entire way to clinch victory.

“It was a little bit of a slow start, but I’ve gotta give credit to our opponents,” Mattek-Sands noted. “They came out playing big, serving big, making all their rolls, (and) ripping returns. I think one of the things that we do really well is we don’t get too down no matter what the score is. We’re really positive…. It happens sometimes; you play a team that’s playing good or you might not be making all the shots, but any match can turn around in a couple of points. That’s just a matter of sticking to it.”

“It’s amazing,” Safarova said of winning three Grand Slam titles with Mattek-Sands. “I think the chemistry is great. We complement each other so well. Our games just fit.”

Bethanie Mattek-Sands of the US (R) and Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic (L) celebrate with the championship trophy after defeating Caroline Garcia of France and Kristina Mladenovic of France during the women’s doubles final on the final day of the US Open Tennis Championships at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 11 September 2016. The US Open runs through September 11. EPA/CJ GUNTHER

Sunday also saw the conclusion of the junior tournaments. Mattek-Sands was not the only American to triumph on September 11, as Kayla Day defeated Slovakia’s Viktoria Kuzmova 6-3, 6-2 in the girls singles final.

“It means so much,” Day commented. “It’s really great. I knew that coming into the match an American or somebody from outside of Europe hadn’t won–a girl hadn’t won a junior slam in like four years, so it means so much to me to be able to play for America and win.”

Both junior trophies will be staying in North America, as highly-touted Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime clobbered Miomir Kecmanovic of Serbia 6-3, 6-0 in the boys final for his first major title. It was especially sweet for Auger-Aliassime after he lost a brutal French Open final 1-6, 6-3, 8-6 to Geoffrey Blancaneaux despite having three match points.

“It’s obviously really great,” Auger-Aliassime assured. “I’m not gonna lie; I had some nightmares about this heartbreaking final. You don’t really want it to happen again. So I was really focused on going into this match. I really wanted that win. Yeah, it’s a great feeling.”

He was dominant, too. The 16-year-old needed only 58 minutes to get the job done–and a grand total of 18 in the second set.

“I think it was one of the best performances I have had,” Auger-Aliassime said. “In the final you never know what can happen. You don’t always play your best level because you’re a bit nervous and there is something big to go get. But I just stayed really steady…. In the second set I think I was really going through him and putting a lot of pressure on him.”

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand.

Editors Note: ok. So I got the men’s Finals Winner Right. Novak or “Jovak” as The Baseball announcer called him. He Is just off. He has been off. He is very private. He is sketchy about the physical issues. Ok.

But. It just wasn’t the same without the mighty Federer. It just wasn’t. It was just missing the Swiss Master. ROLEX. Mercedes. Wilson. Lindt chocolates. He was missed. By the sponsors. By me. Oh and I almost forgot – his tens of thousands of NYC fans. Who are all chasing down the “RF” hats.

“Stan the man”Great effort thru a lot of hours on the court.

Hope Novak sorts things out. [LJ]

Sun shining through a gap in the stadium hits fans as they watch Novak Djokovic of Serbia play Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland during the men’s final on the final day of the US Open Tennis Championships at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 11 September 2016. The US Open runs through September 11. EPA/DANIEL MURPHY

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