{"id":975,"date":"2014-09-07T15:23:35","date_gmt":"2014-09-07T15:23:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mariabueno.org\/indextemp.php\/?p=975"},"modified":"2014-09-11T21:46:17","modified_gmt":"2014-09-11T21:46:17","slug":"semi-final-shocks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.mariabueno.org\/indextemp.php\/semi-final-shocks\/","title":{"rendered":"Semi final shocks!"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Maria<\/a>

Maria Bueno talks about the shock results<\/p><\/div>\n

Maria Bueno\u2019s thoughts on the final line-ups in the men\u2019s and women\u2019s singles at the US Open after some semi final shocks.<\/p>\n

\u201cWho would have thought that we would get a men\u2019s final without [Novak] Djokovic, Roger [Federer] or Rafa [Nadal],\u201d comments Maria.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut that\u2019s what we\u2019ve got! A final between a Japanese and a Croatian!<\/p>\n

“It’s the first Grand Slam final without any of the big four since 2005, I think…<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought Kei Nishikori played an amazing match against Djokovic on Saturday.<\/p>\n

\u201cConsidering he had played very late into the night to win in five against [Milos] Roanic and almost didn\u2019t play at all because of an injured toe, he has done extremely well.<\/p>\n

\"Japan's<\/a>

Japan’s first time finalist, Kei Nishikori<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cIt is the first time a Japanese has reached a major final and he deserves to be there.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe seemed to have an answer for Djokovic\u2019s game and, surprisingly, he appeared to be the fitter in the brutal conditions.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt has been unbelievably hot and humid here so it has been a case of survival of the fittest!
\n\u201cThat turned out to be the case for Andy Murray, who had Dojokic on the ropes before he ran our of steam.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think Djokovic has been at his very best but that\u2019s tennis, you have to find a way to win however you are feeling and he couldn\u2019t do it on Saturday against a player who was on top of his game.\u201d<\/p>\n

The match finished just minutes ahead of a sharp thunderstorm that delayed play for about an hour and improved the playing conditions, dropping the temperature by about 10 degrees before Federer and Marin cilic took to Arthur Ashe Stadium.<\/p>\n

\u201cCilic was a man on a mission,\u201d continued Maria. \u201cHe was full of purpose, served extremely well and never really let Roger into the match.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe silenced the crowd by dominating play and Roger struggled to find his rhythm or to make any impact on Cilic\u2019s serve.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a remarkable performance and although, of course, I am sorry Roger isn\u2019t able to win his 18th Grand Slam title here, I think it is good for the game that we have two fresh faces in the final.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s going to be an interesting match, I think.\u201d<\/p>\n