ROME (AP) — Masasabing nasa alapaap sa labis na kasiyahan si Andy Murray na nagdiwang ng kanyang ika-29 kaarawan bilang kampeon sa Italian Open nitong Linggo (Lunes sa Manila).
Ginapi ng British superstar si Novak Djokovic sa kauna-unahang pagkakataon sa clay court, 6-3-6-3, at naiganti ang kabiguan sa Madrid Open may isang linggo na ang nakalilipas.
“The finals of a Masters series on clay is something that’s a new experience for me,” pahayag ni Murray.
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“It’s nice to still be sort of achieving new things and reaching new goals at this stage of my career.”
Sa trophy ceremony, binigyan ng organizer si Murray ng isang birthday cake, at sa kanyang mensahe, inialay niya ang panalo sa kanyang three-month-old daughter na si Sophia Olivia.
“I feel like that’s what I’m playing for now so that in a few years hopefully she can be proud of what I have achieved,” aniya.
Sa ladies open class, tinuldukan ni Serena Williams ang siyam na buwang pagkabokya sa titulo nang gapiin si Madison Keys sa All-American finals, 7-6 (5), 6-3.
Huling nanalo sa WTA event si Williams noong Agosto sa Cincinnati – isang buwan matapos mabigo sa kanyang kampanya na Grand Slam nang matalo kay Roberta Vinci sa semi-finals ng U.S. Open.
“It feels great,” pahayag ni Williams.
“So it’s not like I was playing every week. So that’s kind of how I look at it. But it feels great to win a title, especially on clay.”
Hiniling ni Djokovic kay chair umpire Damian Steiner na pansamantalang itigil ang laro at magsagawa ng ilang pagsasaayos sa clay court na aniya’y lumambot dulot ng pag-ulan, ngunt hindi ito naganap.
“I didn’t ask to postpone the match,” pahayag ni Djokovic.
“I asked to have a little break where we would give a little more time, maybe five more minutes, to people to arrange the court.”
