Drug suspension to US Open finals in 1 year: Meet Marin Cilic

By Marc Berman
Availiable HERE - all rights reserved to NYPOST and the Author
http://nypost.com/2014/09/07/drug-suspension-to-us-open-finals-in-1-year-meet-marin-cilic/

Goran Ivanisevic, the outspoken coach of U.S. Open finalist Marin Cilic, said one item served up in Monday’s no-name U.S. Open men’s finals is “justice.’’

One year ago, Cilic missed the Open because he was serving a four-month suspension for allegedly using Nikethamide, a banned stimulant the Croatian claimed he unknowingly ingested. It was found in his urine sample after a tournament in Munich in May 2013.
Now he’s in the Open finals after obliterating Roger Federer in Saturday’s semifinals to set up a showdown against the other Cinderella story, Japan’s Kei Nishikori. Both are making their Grand Slam finals debuts in an event that won’t move the CBS ratings needle but can be viewed as a breath of fresh air for those weary of the Big Four of Federer, Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic. At the tournament’s start, Nishikori was a 50-1 choice to win it according to Bavada.lv, which had Cilic’s odds at 100-1.
“You can say there is justice,’’ said the always candid Ivanisevic. “Somebody up there must be watching. [Cilic] was accused for nothing. He was sitting for five months for nothing. This is justice. It was not easy but he stayed mentally focused.’’
Cilic was suspended from June to October 2013.
“It was not easy time,’’ Ivanisevic said. “He was angry. He didn’t do anything wrong. We were practicing one week, stopped two weeks. Then practice another week, then what are we practicing for? He wasn’t injured but had to stay home for five months and you’re No. 11 and you come back you’re 37.’’
The projected Wimbledon final rematch of Federer-Djokovic didn’t materialize in Flushing because of Saturday’s heroics by Cilic, 25, and Nishikori, 24, the first Japanese player to make a Grand Slam final. Nishikori took out Djokovic in four sets.
Cilic’s beating of Federer was more thorough — a straight-set demolition in which the 6-foot-6 big server closed the match with three straight aces and a clean backhand winner.
“It was beautiful,’’ Ivanisevic said. “It was just like watching myself.’’
Ivanisevic, the last Croatian to make a Slam final, first met Cilic when he was 14.
“I’ve always told him he should be top 10 in world and why stop now,’’ Ivanisevic said. “It will be a tricky final — both guys first time, both will be nervous. But whoever wins will be top of the world — Mount Everest.’’
While Cilic watched the 2013 Open from home, Nishikori was bounced in the first round by a British qualifier. Days later, Nishikori’s agent offered former American great Michael Chang the coaching job. He accepted in December. There’s been a great bond and Nishikori has taken on Chang’s fighting spirit.
“He’s helping mentally,’’ Nishikori said. “I feel my tennis is changing, little more aggressive, and playing [with] more confidence.
Some people can push me well. It’s been working really well.’’
Nishikori leads the head-to-head, 5-2, and whipped Cilic twice this year. They’ve also met twice before at the U.S. Open, with Nishikori winning in 2010 in a five-setter in the second round. Cilic won a four-setter in 2012 in the third round.
Cilic overpowered Federer with his serve. Nishikori battered Djokovic with his baseline power.
“I’m more surprised with Cilic, to be honest, because he’s older,’’ Federer said. “He’s been around for longer, but he’s really been able to make a nice transition in the last few years in his game. Whereas with Kei, I always thought unbelievable talent way back when I played with him for the first time when he was 17.’’

Roger Federer's newest Nike tennis shoe looks just like classic Air Jordans

Availiable Here : http://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/08/roger-federer-michael-jordan-nike-us-open

 

The tennis star collaborated on them with MJ himself.

By: Chris Strauss August 26, 2014 6:45 pm ET Follow @chris_strauss

 

There’s going to be plenty of attention on Roger Federer’s footwork when he kicks off his 2014 U.S. Open against Marinko Matosevic Tuesday night, but it won’t be for the usual reasons.

 

The 17-time Grand Slam winner will be debuting his new shoe, the Nike Zoom Vapor 9 Tour AJ3, which will certainly look familiar to classic sneakerheads or anyone who happened to be an NBA fan in the late 1980s.

 

Federer’s latest model channels the Air Jordan 3, which debuted in 1988. Federer told For The Win via email through a Nike rep that he really got into basketball, soccer and tennis when he was seven years old, the same year the Jordan 3 was released. When he was looking to do a collaboration with the brand’s most legendary pitchman, those were the model of Jordans he liked the most.
Legendary Nike designer Tinker Hatfield, who crafted a bulk of the Air Jordan shoes and has worked on some of Federer’s previous signature models, designed both the Air Jordan III and Zoom Vapor 9 Tour AJ 3 as well.

Also involved in the collaboration process? Michael Jordan himself.

The NBA Hall of Famer said that he was intrigued when he heard about Federer’s interest in wearing a Jordan tennis shoe.
 

"About a year ago, I heard that Roger wanted to design and wear a Jordan shoe on the court. I have followed Roger’s career and have been a big fan for some time now,” Jordan said via a Nike rep. “I definitely thought this could be a really unique and special collaboration and when I heard that Roger wanted the shoe to be modeled after the Air Jordan 3, I was in. To me, this collaboration is not just about style. I really wanted Roger to get involved and understand what he needed from the shoe itself to perform at his best while still having the look and feel of a Jordan sneaker.”

Jordan, who posed for a selfie with Federer during a meeting Monday night in New York City, will be in attendance at the Billie Jean King Tennis Center for the on-court debut of Federer’s new shoes.
It will actually be the first professional tennis match Jordan has ever attended in person.
 

      

Stars Of Tomorrow: Jack Sock

Availiable HERE :

http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2014/08/35/Emirates-ATP-Star-Of-Tomorrow-Jack-Sock.aspx

New York, U.S.A.

by Alison Kim - All Rights Reserved to ATP

 | 

25.08.2014

 

It's showtime for 21-year-old American Jack Sock, who returns to the US Open as a two-time Grand Slam doubles champion and at a career-high No. 55 in the Emirates ATP Rankings.
Jack Sock sees an opportunity. With the camera rolling on John Isner in the foreground, the young American sticks out his chest and struts across the grass. He does a 180 on his impromptu catwalk and pauses behind an unsuspecting Isner, donning his best Blue Steel look for the camera - his signature duck face - before continuing on his way.
That's just what you get from the 21-year-old Sock. He'll take a break from his lunch to whip out his camera phone and play reporter at Isner's press conference. He'll do his best Naked Gun dance impression on the mound of the Great American Ballpark. He'll envelop fans in warm hugs and spring silly faces for their selfies. He'll celebrate the night of his Grand Slam triumph at Wimbledon by playing Monopoly. He'll put on his game face while shooting tennis balls in a trash can in the hotel room with his coach.
“He’s full of life,” says coach Troy Hahn. “A lot of jokes, a lot of laughs. He enjoys being around the game, having fun, not taking things too seriously off the court, in a relaxed environment, and competing in certain things...
“Whether it’s cards, he and I are just messing around playing poker, we want to win; or mini-tennis game, warming up, we’re going to put something on it; soccer, juggling a soccer ball. Everything is a game or a competition, and having fun.”
In the midst of all the fun and games, Sock has had quite the summer to remember on the court, beginning with his incredible team debut with Vasek Pospisil at Wimbledon, where they unseated four seeded duos to lift the trophy.
When he arrived in Newport a couple days later, he shared what now seems like a modest target. “I usually don’t set number goals really much, but I’m thinking Top 50 by the end of the year,” he told ATPWorldTour.com. “I’d be pretty happy with that and put myself in position for the beginning of next year to hopefully make another jump. But [my goal is] mainly just trying to get better and focusing day in and day out on improving my game, improving everything I can do to put myself in position to win.”
Fast-forward six weeks, and Sock has already climbed 20 spots to a career-high No. 55 in the Emirates ATP Rankings on the back of his first two ATP World Tour semi-finals in Newport and Atlanta - each time losing to the eventual champion - and second-round runs in Washington and Toronto, both times giving Milos Raonic a run for his money.
His 20 match wins going into the US Open is already double his total for all of 2013, which marked the first time he'd even left the country. 
“Last year helped a lot,” Sock says. “For me it was my first full year of traveling and kind of really getting to know the tour, so this year I feel a lot more comfortable out there and maybe that’s also why I’ve had some success this year. I think it’s just kinda getting to understand everything that’s going on.”
This past March, Sock paid a visit to Isner following the Sarasota Challenger and experienced first-hand the benefits of training at Saddlebrook. It didn’t take long for him to uproot from Los Angeles - his home of the past couple years - and relocate to a condo in downtown Tampa.
A typical day at Saddlebrook starts at 8:30am and includes a couple hours of tennis, followed by an hour-and-a-half in the gym with fitness trainer Kyle Morgan. On days with longer training blocks, they'll get on the court a second time.
“The older tennis guys have been dominating, so we know it takes a lot of work,” says Sock. “I’ve put in a lot of work and my body’s kind of changed a lot. I’ve lost some weight and am in pretty good shape now, so I’m able to compete match-in and match-out and put myself in positions to win. I think it’s paid off this year.”
He also enlisted a new coach, Hahn, after spending some time on court with him during the second week of Wimbledon. Hahn calls Sock's forehand, serve and movement the strongest parts of his game, and plans to continue building on those strengths to make him a more complete all-around player.
“I definitely think the kid can be Top 10,” says Hahn. “I think he can put himself in position to compete for Grand Slams. I know one of his big goals is to play Davis Cup, as well, and be a fixture on the Davis Cup team for the U.S. I see those things happening for him 100 per cent. I think he wants it bad enough. When it comes to putting it on the line, I don’t think there’s too many people better.”
While singles will remain Sock's focus, his results on the doubles court have definitely played an integral part in his growth. He claimed the 2011 US Open mixed doubles title alongside Melanie Oudin - just one year after winning the junior singles title - before collecting his second Grand Slam crown at Wimbledon.
“It’s taken his confidence to a new level,” says Hahn. “It feels like he fits in among, not only the singles, but the best doubles guys in the world. He sees the respect they show him, not only from being a one-time Grand Slam champion, but two. It shows. He walks around, he feels he fits in. He’s comfortable. It’s just taken everything to a new level.”
Sock and Pospisil recorded a historic 14-0 start to their partnership before a runner-up finish to the Bryan brothers at the Western & Southern Open. Entering the US Open, they stand at No. 6 in the Emirates ATP Doubles Team Race To London and in prime position to qualify for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals.
“I’ve heard it’s an unbelievable event and an absolutely amazing job they do there, and kind of a special event to play in,” says Sock. “If we’re able to partake in that at the end of the year, it’ll be very special for us.”
Sock has the nickname “Showtime” for a reason. Walking out onto the court in front of 17,500 people underneath the lights and music at The O2 may provide that extra little bit of hunger for Sock to get back there one day – this time, as one of the Top 8 singles players.