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.
“It’s nice to still be sort of achieving new things and reaching new goals at this stage of my career.”
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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.”
