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5 things at Wimbledon: Djokovic, Federer, Bouchard

By WTOP Staff

HOWARD FENDRICH
AP Tennis Writer

LONDON (AP) — Novak Djokovic called his five-set victory over Roger Federer at Wimbledon the “most special Grand Slam final I’ve played.”

Not merely because it earned Djokovic a second title at the All England Club, and seventh major championship overall.

And not simply because it was a back-and-forth struggle against Federer, owner of 17 Grand Slam trophies, including a record-tying seven at Wimbledon.

That all made the moment worth relishing, of course. Still, what really made Djokovic so enthusiastic about getting past Federer 6-7 (7), 6-4, 7-6 (4), 5-7, 6-4 was that it proved again — to others, yes, but mainly to himself — that he can come up big on the biggest stages.

Before Sunday, Djokovic had lost three consecutive Grand Slam finals, and five of his most recent six.

“Started doubting, of course, a little bit,” Djokovic acknowledged. “I needed this win a lot. I’m going to try to use it in the best possible way and for my confidence to grow for the rest of my season — and the rest of my career.”

Here are five things we learned at Wimbledon:

DJOKOVIC IS BACK: The 27-year-old Serb is once again a major champion — it had been 18 months since his 2013 Australian Open title — and he’s also once again No. 1 in the ATP rankings, moving up a spot to overtake Rafael Nadal on Monday. The other time Djokovic won Wimbledon, in 2011, he also rose to No. 1 the next day.

FEDERER CAN CONTEND: This, truly, is something most of the tennis world already knew. But Federer, who turns 33 on Aug. 8, had gone two years without getting to a Grand Slam final. For six matches, he was at his best, playing an attacking style and serving phenomenally well. In 2013, he left Wimbledon a second-round loser, part of a stretch in which he failed to get past the fourth round at three out of four majors. Other early exits followed for Federer, who was plagued by a bad back and had trouble settling on the proper racket. “I’m very happy to see that with feeling (healthy), I can produce a performance like I did the last two weeks,” he said. “That clearly makes me believe that this was just a steppingstone to many more great things in the future.”

THE KIDS ARE COMING: Yes, Djokovic’s win means he, Federer, Nadal and Andy Murray — tennis’ “Big 4” — have won 36 of the past 38 Slams. But this fortnight showed that the next generation is on its way, from semifinalists Grigor “Baby Fed” Dimitrov of Bulgaria and big-serving Milos Raonic of Canada, to 19-year-old Nick Kyrgios, who not only beat Nadal but also wowed with a nonchalant, behind-the-back, between-the-legs winner.

BOUCHARD IS HERE TO STAY: Women’s tennis might have found its next star in 20-year-old Eugenie Bouchard, the first Canadian to reach a Grand Slam singles final. She lost meekly to Petra Kvitova — who, by the way, is only 24, now owns two Wimbledon titles, and seems ready to be a consistent challenger at other majors, too — but is 16-2 in Grand Slam matches on three surfaces this season.

KEEP AN EYE ON WILLIAMS: First, No. 1-ranked Serena Williams lost before the quarterfinals in singles for the third consecutive major. Three days later, she pulled out after three games of a doubles match with what she called a “bug” and the tournament referee’s office said was a viral illness.

___

Follow Howard Fendrich on Twitter at http://twitter.com/HowardFendrich

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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