Djoko eyes success on hard courts
TORONTO: World No 1 Novak Djokovic is looking forward to playing on his favoured hardcourt surface at the Rogers Cup in Toronto, but the Serb urged caution as he returns to action for the first time since his shock Wimbledon exit. “I don’t expect anything. I just try to get myself ready for performing as best as I can,” Djokovic said. “I had a bit more time because of the early loss at Wimbledon to spend some quality time with family, regroup a little bit and start training on hard court, which I enjoy. So I look forward to it.” KONTA TOPPLES VENUS FOR FIRST WTA TITLE
SAN FRANCISCO: Britain’s Johanna Konta captured her first WTA title in style on Sunday, beating former world No 1 Venus Williams 7-5, 5-7, 6-2 at the WTA hardcourt tournament in Stanford, California. “Quite honestly you’d expect nothing less of a champion that she is,” Konta said. “That’s what great champions do. They raise their level. They definitely don’t give away a match,” she added.
MONFILS RALLIES
PAST KARLOVIC WASHINGTON: France’s Gael Monfils saved a match point and battled back with sharp returns in sweltering heat to defeat Ivo Karlovic 5-7, 7-6 (6), 6-4 in Sunday’s Washington Open final
He took his sixth ATP title, his first since 2014 at Montpellier, first outside of Europe and first outdoor trophy since Sopot in 2005.