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Flavia Pennetta gives Italy 1-0 lead in Fed Cup final
Flavia Pennetta beat Alexa Glatch 6-3, 6-1 on Saturday to give Italy a 1-0 lead over the United States in the Fed Cup final.
The 11th-ranked Pennetta used her consistent baseline game to wear down the 132nd-ranked Glatch, breaking early in the first set to set the tone, then cruising in the second set.
Francesca Schiavone faced U.S. Open quarterfinalist Melanie Oudin in the second singles on the outdoor clay court at the Rocco Polimeni club.
Reverse singles and doubles were scheduled for Sunday in the best-of-five series.
The United States is without both Serena and Venus Williams, who opted not to play after meeting in the season-ending tour championships final last weekend.
Glatch routed Pennetta 6-1, 6-1 in the first round of this year's French Open, but she was never in control this time on a cool and overcast day in southern Italy.
"She definitely played better than last time," Glatch said. "The conditions were also different. It was much quicker and hot that day and very dry, and I served extremely well. I was more aggressive in that match, and I probably should have tried to be in this match."
Glatch managed to break Pennetta in the opening game of the second set but then the Italian took control.
"After I broke her, the next two games she really stepped it up," Glatch said. "She hit a couple great shots."
Pennetta finished with 33 winners to Glatch's 14 and broke the 20-year-old American five times. Glatch struggled with her mobility, watching several winners whizz by her within reach.
"She has a pretty varied game," Pennetta said. "She can slice the ball, hit it hard, topspin. You need to move her around because once she starts moving she has trouble."
The 6-foot Glatch likes to rely on her serve, but she won only won 43 percent of the points on her first serve.
"My serve kind of let me down," she said. "I didn't win a lot free points off my serve, so it made it very difficult to hold serve."
One of the few things Pennetta struggled with were low balls, with the heavy clay hardly providing any bounce.
"There was a bit too much clay on the court but that's what we asked for," Pennetta said.
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Pressure on Italy in Fed Cup final, says Mary Joe Fernandez
United States team captain Mary Joe Fernandez insisted the pressure was on Italy ahead of this weekend's 2009 Fed Cup final here.
With both Williams sisters, Serena and Venus, having pulled out, the underdog Americans are lining up with a teenager ranked 49 in the world and a 20-year-old who has never been in the top 100, against a team with two players in the world's top 20.
Italy's world number 11 Flavia Pennetta will open the final against Alexa Glatch following Friday's draw.
That will be followed by Italian number two and world number 16 Francesca Schiavone against 18-year-old Melanie Oudin, the top seeded American.
The pairings will then reverse for Sunday's singles matches and if a decisive fifth rubber is needed Roberta Vinci and Sara Erani will play Liezel Huber and Vania King in the doubles.
"I always think the home country feels the pressure a lot more. In a final, there's an added dimension," said Fernandez.
"I think when you play for your country, it's a different sort of tension, (a different) sort of nerves. It's hard to describe, but you definitely feel it a lot more.
"Even though we're the underdogs, we'll feel it too. There's definitely pressure on both sides.
"But from experience, when you're at home and you're the favorites, it definitely adds to it."
Italian coach Corrado Barazzutti said his players would simply have to be more focused.
"We understand that this match is different because we are the favourites, because of this we have to play with more attention," he said.
"We must be focused on this match and play with a lot of concentration. Just focus on this match and try to play the best we possibly can, there's no other way."
Pennetta will be looking for revenge having been thrashed by Glatch in the first round of the French Open this year, but she says that game is behind her.
"I've played her once before, it didn't go well, it could have gone better," she said.
"It was difficult but this time I will be more decisive and play with a clear idea of my gameplan.
"I'm prepared for tomorrow and the fact that I played her before doesn't enter into it."
Schiavone also played Oudin a few years ago and won easily but neither player thinks that will have any bearing on this match.
"Last time I played Schiavone was like three years ago at Indian Wells. That means I was only 15. She was very experienced and she handled me pretty easily," said Oudin, who has had a break-out season, reaching the quarter-finals at the US Open and the last 16 at Wimbledon and beating former world number ones in both tournaments.
"But I think I've improved a lot since then. She's been playing amazing as well. We've both had good years, so I think it's gonna be a really good match tomorrow."
Schiavone certainly isn't expecting things to be easy.
"She's improved, she's young. We're prepared, I'll try to use my experience, my conditioning and my game to come out on top."
The two sides have plyed nine times before in the Fed Cup with the US winning every time.
The US are the most successful team in Fed Cup history, winning 17 titles and reaching 27 finals.
Italy won their only title in 2006 and reached their second final a year later, losing to Russia.
Play starts at 1100 local time on Saturday although rain is forecast which may disrupt the programme on the outdoor clay court at the Rocco Polimeni stadium.
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Carlo Ancelotti: Chelsea in perfect form to face United
Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has warned Manchester United that his side are in the mood to deliver a substantial blow to the champions' bid to retain the Premier League title.
The Blues can move five points clear of United with victory at Stamford Bridge on Sunday and Ancelotti believes the leaders' impressive recent form and formidable home record provides the perfect foundation to claim a crucial win.
Ancelotti's team have won all eight of their home matches under the Italian and haven't conceded a goal in front of their own fans since the opening day of the season when Stephen Hunt struck for Hull.
They are also unbeaten in their last five matches in all competitions and have scored 19 goals in the process.
"We are happy to play this game at this moment. I think we are doing very well, we are in good condition and we have a very good mental attitude at this moment," Ancelotti said.
"It's a very important game. We will play against the second team in the Premiership, but I think that it's just a game that carries three points like the other games.
"It's important because we play against a fantastic team, but we know very well that it will be a very difficult match but also a very interesting match. Psychologically, it will not mean more."
Ancelotti can also take heart from United's slightly unconvincing form so far this season. Their defence has been a particular cause of concern for United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who will be without England centre-back Rio Ferdinand on Sunday due to a back injury.
The former AC Milan coach knows that even a team as strong as United has weaknesses that can be exploited.
"I think Manchester United have a very good team. Like us, they are doing very well because they have qualified in the Champions League and have done very well in the Premiership. But every team is vulnerable. There is not a team that is invincible," he said.
With 12 goals in his last 13 games, Didier Drogba will be key to Chelsea's hopes of extending United's run without a win at the Bridge to seven years.
Ancelotti is well aware that the Ivory Coast striker is capable of terrorising any defence, but he is keen to focus on the need for the rest of the team to support their talismanic targetman.
"He's doing very well for the team, but not only Didier is doing well," Ancelotti said. "At this moment, all the squad are in good condition and doing very well.
"To win against Manchester United, we cannot win only thanks to Didier's work. We can only win if we play like a team."
Ancelotti, who has already overseen a penalty shoot-out win against United in the Community Shield this season, has little reason to fear a clash with the Scot after enjoying a notable success against United during his time in Italy.
In the 2007 Champions League semi-final second leg, Milan completely outclassed United 3-0 at the San Siro to book their place in a final against Liverpool that the Italians won to secure Ancelotti's second European Cup.
"Sometimes against Ferguson I've won. Sometimes he's won. But it's not a match between Ancelotti and Ferguson. It's Chelsea against Manchester United," Ancelotti added.
"I have a very good relationship with Ferguson. I think that he's one of the best coaches in the world. He won a lot of trophies. I have respect for him."
A victory on Sunday would leave Chelsea as firm favourites to win the title for the first time since 2006 as well as keeping the Blues well ahead of Arsenal, whom Ancelotti rates as potential challengers.
"I think Arsenal have good possibilities to arrive in first place," Ancelotti added. "We can't think about Liverpool at this moment because they are behind, but Arsenal have a very good team and a very good chance to win."
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Ruling on Serena Williams' US Open tirade expected soon
A ruling on Serena Williams' U.S. Open tirade is expected in the next two weeks.
"It's in the hands of the Grand Slam administrator, who I believe has now completed his investigation and will be making a ruling within the next two weeks," United States Tennis Association President Lucy Garvin said on Friday. "That's what we have been told — that Serena would hear, we would hear."
The Grand Slam administrator is Bill Babcock.
Williams was fined $10,000 after her profanity-laced outburst at a lineswoman during her semifinal loss to Kim Clijsters in September, and she could face a more severe penalty in the coming weeks.
"We really have not gone down that path of making a judgment as to what would be right or wrong at this point," Garvin said. "She was defaulted out of the singles and she has apologized sincerely. So we'll just have to see what the Grand Slam administrator comes to the Grand Slam committee chairs with. I think Serena is very anxious to hear."
Speaking before the Fed Cup final between the United States and Italy that starts Saturday, Garvin said she has discussed Andre Agassi's recent drug revelations with some board members, but that "nothing official" has been decided.
"It definitely was surprising to all of us," Garvin said. "Andre is a very open individual now — he's older, he's matured, he's been a wonderful ambassador the sport. I'm not sure of his reasoning as to why he felt he wanted to disclose that, but that's his personal business and he chose to do it."
In his book "Open," which goes on sale Monday, the eight-time Grand Slam champion said he used crystal meth in 1997 and failed a drug test — a result he says was thrown out after he lied by saying he unwittingly took the substance.
"Back in that time we didn't have the anti-doping set up like the ITF has it setup now," Garvin said.
Serena and Venus Williams opted not to play the Fed Cup final after meeting in the championship match of the season-ending WTA Tour championships last weekend. Garvin suggested the schedule is too tough on the top players.
"It is (upsetting), and this is something that has happened in Davis Cup also," she said. "After Wimbledon we played a Davis Cup match and Andy (Roddick) was not able to play. But we have to understand that. The schedules are very taxing. At all times we should be looking at the schedule and seeing if we can improve it, and talking with the ITF as to what could be done to make it easier for the players."
Without the Williams sisters, 18-year-old Melanie Oudin — the surprise U.S. Open quarterfinalist — is the top singles player for the Americans this weekend.
Oudin was asked about Williams' outburst.
"I'm a player as well and when you're on the court playing, emotions are going crazy and anything can happen," Oudin said. "I have no idea how she was feeling that day, but I heard she apologized and I think that was definitely the right thing to do."
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Tennis ace Novak Djokovic clinches career-best 'double-bagel' victory
Novak Djokovic clinched the most comprehensive victory of his career on Thursday when he humiliated Czech journeyman Jan Hernych 6-0, 6-0 to reach the Swiss Indoors quarter-finals.
The 52-minute "doule-bagel" was the first for the Serb at the elite ATP level, bettering his 6-1, 6-0 win over Argentina's David Nalbandian in the Queen's Club semi-finals in 2008, a rout which took four minutes less.
Djokovic also defeated Britain's Andy Murray by the same scoreline in Miami two years ago.
"I've never had one ("double bagel") before. It's really tough to analyse the match," said the world number four.
"I played enough to win, I had great service games and on his serve I never felt pressure. He didn't put up much of an effort. Anytime you win like this the opponent has to be playing really poorly.
"I know the crowd wanted him to win the last game, but I felt the need to win every game. There's no room for sympathy, we are professionals."
Second seed Djokovic saved three break points in the first set before stepping on the gas against a 59h-ranked opponent who had claimed his first victory since the US Open in the first round here.
Hernych's cause was not helped by committing 40 errors in the loss.
Djokovic improved to 68-18 on the season and now faces Swiss sixth seed Stanislas Wawrinka who defeated Finn Jarkko Nieminen in three sets.
"I'll try to go all the way. Since the Cincinnati final (against Roger Federer) I've been playing really well. I'm getting better and better," added Djokovic, the winner of last month's Beijing title.
Evgeny Korolev will line up against Roger Federer in the last eight after defeating Jeremy Chardy 6-4, 7-6 (7/1), a day after the Frenchman fired 24 aces to humble James Blake.
Meanwhile, compatriot and good friend Marco Chiudinelli kept national hopes high as he beat qualifying compatriot Michael Lammer 2-6, 6-3, 6-3, firing eight aces and breaking three times.
The result marks the second quarter-final in six weeks for the Swiss after a similar performance in Bangkok.
Chiudinelli improved to 9-11 this season and will face France's Richard Gasquet.
Croatia fourth seed Marin Cilic maintained his pace in his chase for one of two places open in the season-ending ATP finals, taking out Serb Victor Troicki 7-6 (9/7), 6-7 (8/10), 7-6 (8/6) in three hours.
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Japanese fans celebrate Hideki Matsui's MVP performance
Japan nearly came to a standstill as millions watched on TV while Hideki Matsui, the man they know as Godzilla, stomped around New York to lead the Yankees to the World Series title.
Matsui became the first Japanese-born player to win the MVP trophy for the Most Valuable Player of the World Series with a record-tying six RBIs in the clincher to lead the Yankees over the Philadelphia Phillies 7-3 on Wednesday.
Matsui homered, doubled and singled in Game 6, highlighting a Series in which he hit .615 with three home runs and eight RBIs.
Japanese workers crammed into downtown electronics stores to watch the final few innings on giant TVs. The game ended just before 2 p.m. local time Thursday, giving workers an excuse to take an extended lunch break.
"All the news recently has been about Ichiro Suzuki," said office worker Hiroyuki Takeuchi, who took the morning off to watch the game. "But Matsui's presence is huge. He overcame injuries and came through with the performance of a lifetime. As a Japanese, I'm very proud today."
Matsui was a three-time MVP for the Yomiuri Giants in the regular season in 1996, 2000 and 2002, his last year in Japan. He also won the MVP award in the 2000 Japan Series, Japan's version of the World Series.
Earning the nickname "Godzilla," Matsui hit 50 home runs in 2002. The No. 55 on his uniform is a tribute to Sadaharu Oh's single-season home run record.
"As the first Japanese to win an MVP in the World Series, this is a great accomplishment for Matsui and will have a huge impact," said former San Francisco Giants pitcher Masanori Murakami, the first Japanese player to play in the major leagues, who watched at his Tokyo home.
Matsui always has been popular in Japan, but his decision not to play in the World Baseball Classic drew criticism from some fans. Matsui always said he was passing over the WBC to prepare for the season with the Yankees.
The 35-year-old designated hitter is in the final year of a $52 million, four-year contract. And every baseball fan across Japan wants to know this: What will the Yankees do with Matsui?
"He's a very hard worker and is serious about his career," Murakami said. "I hope he stays with the Yankees. I know he wants to stay, and the Japanese fans want him to stay."
Japanese sports dailies have speculated about his future, some even saying he might return to Japan to play for the Hanshin Tigers, the fierce Central League rivals of the Giants.
"I hope he stays in New York," Takeuchi said. "He looks good in pinstripes."
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Ecstasy in the Bronx! New York Yankees win title No. 27
The New York Yankees bolted from the dugout even before the last grounder was scooped up. After waiting nine years for championship No. 27, no one would dare hold them back.
"It feels better than I remember it, man," captain Derek Jeter said. "It's been a long time."
Hideki Matsui tied a World Series record with six RBIs, Andy Pettitte won on short rest and New York beat the Philadelphia Phillies 7-3 in Game 6 on Wednesday night, finally seizing that elusive title — the most in all of sports.
Paint the town in pinstripes! Nearly a decade after their dynasty ended on a blooper in the desert, the Yankees are baseball's best again.
Matsui, the Series MVP, powered a quick rout of old foe Pedro Martinez. And when Mariano Rivera got the final out, it was ecstasy in the Bronx for George Steinbrenner's go-for-broke bunch.
What a way for Alex Rodriguez and Co. to christen their $1.5 billion ballpark: One season, one World Series crown — the team's first since winning three straight from 1998-2000.
"The Yankees won. The world is right again," team president Randy Levine said.
The season certainly ended a lot better than it started — with a steroids scandal involving A-Rod, followed by hip surgery that kept him out until May.
"My teammates, coaches and the organization stood by me and now we stand here as world champions," said Rodriguez, who admitted using steroids from 2001-03 while with Texas. "We're going to enjoy it, and we're going to party!"
For Chase Utley and the Phillies, it was a frustrating end to another scintillating season. Philadelphia fell two wins short of becoming the first NL team to repeat as World Series champions since the 1975-76 Cincinnati Reds.
Utley tied Reggie Jackson's record with five home runs in a Series. But Ryan Howard's sixth-inning shot came too late to wipe away an untimely slump that included 13 strikeouts, also a Series mark.
Meanwhile, Phillies pitchers rarely managed to slow Matsui and the Yankees' machine.
"I told them that I loved the way they played. We're fighters and never quit," Philadelphia manager Charlie Manuel said. "We want to keep what we got as far as attitude and chemistry."
For second-year manager Joe Girardi, a three-time Yankees champion as a player, it was the fulfillment of a mission. When he succeeded Joe Torre in October 2007, Girardi chose uniform No. 27, putting his quest on his back for all to see. His tenure didn't start out so well, with New York missing the playoffs in its final season at old Yankee Stadium following 13 consecutive appearances.
"To be able to deliver this to the Boss, the stadium that he created and the atmosphere he has created around here is very gratifying for all of us," Girardi said.
This championship came eight years to the day that the Yankees lost Game 7 of the 2001 World Series in Arizona on Luis Gonzalez's broken-bat single off Rivera.
Steinbrenner spent billions trying to win another Series. At long last, his team did.
Fittingly, it was dedicated to the 79-year-old owner, who has been in declining health and didn't make the trip from his home in Tampa, Fla.
Still, his presence was felt.
"Boss, this is for you," the giant video screen in center field flashed during postgame ceremonies while his son, Hal, the team's managing general partner, accepted the championship trophy.
For the Four Amigos, it was ring No. 5.
Jorge Posada, Jeter, Pettitte and Rivera came up together through the minors and were cornerstones for those four titles in five years starting in 1996.
Now, all on the other side of age 35, they have another success to celebrate. And surely they remember the familiar parade route, up Broadway through the Canyon of Heroes.
"It's an honor for me to win a championship with those guys. They are Yankee legends," Mark Teixeira said.
But, hey, Babe and Yogi, Mr. October and Joltin' Joe — you've got company. Teixeira, CC Sabathia and a new generation of Yankees have procured their place in pinstriped lore.
Moments after second baseman Robinson Cano fielded Shane Victorino's grounder and threw to first for the final out, Joba Chamberlain and Nick Swisher led a victory lap around the warning track, carrying flags that read "2009 World Series champions."
Players high-fived fans, then sprayed bubby behind the mound — the same sort of celebration Philadelphia enjoyed last year after beating Tampa Bay.
"We think we can be back here again and again. We have a great squad," Phillies closer Brad Lidge said.
New York wasted its chance to wrap things up in Game 5 at Philadelphia, then set its sights on clinching the World Series at home for the first time since 1999.
While nine years between titles is hardly a drought for most teams, it was almost an eternity in Yankeeland.
New York's eight seasons without a championship was the third-longest stretch for the Yankees since their first one, following gaps of 17 (1979-95) and 14 (1963-76).
Jackson's three homers in Game 6 against the Los Angeles Dodgers made the Yankees champs in '77. On this November night, Matsui delivered a sublime performance at the plate that made Mr. October proud.
"It's awesome," Matsui said through a translator. "Unbelievable. I'm surprised myself."
Playing perhaps his final game with the Yankees, Matsui hit a two-run homer off Martinez in the second inning and a two-run single on an 0-2 pitch in the third.
A slumping Teixeira added an RBI single in the fifth off reliever Chad Durbin, and Matsui cracked a two-run double off the right-center fence against lefty J.A. Happ.
A designated hitter with balky knees, Matsui came off the bench in all three games at Philadelphia. Still, he had a huge Series, going 8 for 13 (.615) with three homers and eight RBIs. His go-ahead shot off an effective Martinez in Game 2 helped the Yankees tie it 1-all.
Bobby Richardson was the only other player with six RBIs in a World Series game, doing it for the Yankees in Game 3 against Pittsburgh in 1960. Richardson had a first-inning grand slam and a two-run single in the fourth.
Matsui's big hits built a comfortable cushion for a feisty Pettitte, who shouted at plate umpire Joe West while coming off the field in the fourth. Still, Pettitte extended major league records with his 18th postseason win and sixth to end a series.
The 37-year-old left-hander, pitching on three days' rest, became the first pitcher to start and win the clincher in all three postseason rounds. He beat Minnesota and the Los Angeles Angels in the AL playoffs.
Pettitte lasted 5 2-3 innings, allowing three runs, four hits and five walks. Chamberlain and Damaso Marte combined for 1 2-3 innings of scoreless relief before Rivera secured the final five outs.
"You don't look at it as a failure," Howard said. "We had a great season. We just got beat by the better team."
It had been nearly a half-century since players had won five titles with one team. The last to do it? Of course a bunch of Yankees: Yogi Berra (10 titles), Mickey Mantle (seven) and Whitey Ford (six) in 1962, according to STATS LLC.
NOTES: Jeter batted .407 in the Series. ... It was the fourth time Rivera got the final out of a World Series. ... Yankees LF Johnny Damon left after three innings with a strained right calf.
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