Oh I Say! - A Tennis Blog

Australian Open 2012 - Heroes and Zeroes

2012-01-30T13:57:00.001Z

Good tournament for…
Men

Novak Djokovic – Champion

Unbelievable resolve, and an ominous display throughout the fortnight. Murray and Nadal came oh so close, but with this self belief there really is no stopping the Serb. Amazingly, it is he who looks the favourite for Roland Garros in May if he keeps this up.

Andy Murray – Semi Finals

I am no Murray fan, but he should be heartened by this fourth straight slam semi-final appearance. He still has the best chance of usurping Djokovic. Unlike Nadal, you feel that Murray hasn’t been figured out by Djokovic, and the Scot can still improve with Lendl.

Lleyton Hewitt – Fourth Round

Was it his last Oz Open? Let’s hope not, Lleyton continues to turn back the clock when it matters and will be sorely missed once his retirement signals the snuffing of the flame of a bygone era of the game.

Roger Federer – Semi Finals

Federer’s disappointment at losing once again to Nadal after playing such a faultless tournament will be huge. So too will the realisation that barring a loss in form or niggling injury or six to his fellow ‘big 4’ members, he will perhaps never clinch a 17th slam. But his run at the end of last year proved he still has enough to play with, his loss to Nadal was as tight as you like.

Rafael Nadal – Runner Up

Rafa’s disappointment will eclipse even Federer’s, but during his planned break from the sport Nadal should reflect on his near-victory here. A brilliant result given his fitness woes pre-season.

Women

Viktoria Azarenka – Champion

Cool composed but a little crazy now and again, the Belarussian finally delivered the good after so much promise, you feel – unlike Safina and Wozniacki – that she can continue to beat the best instead of dominate the rest.

Maria Sharapova – Runner Up

Sharapova’s desire is such that she wont be satisfied, but in reality this was a fine triumph. The semi-final over Kvitova will keep her spirits high for a good few months.

Sara Errani – Quarter Finals

Errani’s breakthrough tournament? Well we have seen similar surprise names before, and early exits of seeds are always a factor. But Errani’s game is good enough to repeat such feats and refreshingly different to watch.

Petra Kvitova – Semi Finals

A surprise loss to Sharapova in the semi’s shouldn’t dent Kvitova’s confidence too much, there is a fear that she will ‘do an Ivanovic’ and crumble somewhat. However her form in 2012 is matched only by Azarenka so far.

Ekaterina Makarova – Quarter Finals

Unlike Errani, Makarova had plenty of seeds in her wake, but despatched them with ease, Kanepi, Zvonareva and (an admittedly below par) Serena were swept aside. Great foundation for the year.

Bad Tournament for…

Men

Andy Roddick

Bernard Tomic

Juan Martin Del Potro

Jo Wilfred Tsonga

With the exception of Roddick – who together with Mardy Fish offered up a woeful tournament for the Americans – these players despite reaching the latter rounds were definitely worthy of more. Must Try Harder.

Women

Serena Williams – Fourth Round

An awful match for the American saw errors flow freely from her racquet. Is this the beginning of the end? The romantics hope not, and certainly if she can improve the fitness and matchplay – a big ask- then she can never be discounted such is her experience.

Stosur – First Round

A torrid Australian season for the US Open champion, a meltdown is very possible for 2012 but the more likely outcome will be an immediate resurgence now that she is free from the pressure of her home nation. The Mauresmo syndrome if you like.

Australian Open 2012 – Demigod Djoko defies Rafa, Azarenka flies the flag for the new generation

2012-01-30T13:49:00.000Z

Another year and another classic opening Slam, I just hope that 2012 proves to be the first time in a while I am able to repeat my coverage of the Oz open to the other majors and premier tier events.

Novak Djokovic was simply superhuman in Melbourne

Sky Sports will certainly help with the ATP events.

Cutting to the chase then, it was another drama-filled fortnight down under. As with any sporting event taking place on the opposite end of the earth, there is that added level of excitement for us Brits, staying up into the early hours to watch the live action – the Ashes is another good example.

As usual my pre-tournament predictions were hopelessly inaccurate, my chosen ‘weak link’ of the top four in the men’s event, Rafael Nadal proved to be the fittest of them all, much to Roger Federer’s dismay. The pair’s semi-final and tenth Grand Slam meeting was another reminder for the Swiss that this new breed – when fully fit are just too athletic, elastic and consistent.

Novak Djokovic almost fell foul of Nadal’s power, but the Serb proved once again that he is made of sterner stuff, (indeed it may well be adamantium for all we know).

The victor’s incredible resolve in the final was matched only by his robotic mental strength. It is unnerving how strong Novak is mentally, even after a wayward opening set, he seemed so relaxed and confident in his own abilities that he remained the favourite until the inevitable tiredness took hold in the fifth.

Three years ago, it was the Serb’s physical stamina and mental game – not his talent or shot-making that was stopping his quest for major titles. Now he has the ‘awe effect’ that Federer possessed in his pomp of the mid 00s. Players step onto court with zero confidence of beating him, playing his aura as his athleticism.

This, and only this proved the difference on Sunday as Djokovic-1000 somehow found a 7th gear at 2-4 30-30 in the fifth to stun the Spaniard. Nadal looked crestfallen, not surprising as Djokovic’s record against him is beginning to echo his own against Federer.

She may have to supress the shouting, but
Azarenka is a worthy champion and will be a fine ambassador

Of the women’s champion, well Azarenka looked in super form in the early tournaments, and she is more experienced and relaxed on court than Kvitova. Sharapova, like Federer is already looking like a player from another generation, will she ever win a Slam again with these younger players around who play her game but better and with even more power?

Clijsters therefore, was never likely to defend her title, despite her undoubted power, it never did and never will be delivered with such ruthless consistency over the course of a match let alone a whole tournament. Yet after her own injury scares she should be satisfied with reaching the last four, taking out Wozniacki en route.

Serena, despite her poor Open can never be counted out for future titles – she will always have the awe factor until she retires. Despite the obvious fitness concern, it is her temperament and willingness to accept the new breed that stands in her way of success.

Back to Azarenka the new world number one (the first apart from Serena or Clijsters to hold a major title to her name since Ivanovic in 2008), who showed a typically fearless display in her match against Sharapova, the scoreline was flattering yes, but the result was no surprise. Like Wozniacki, she will be a fine ambassador for the game, how long could she hold on to the top spot? If this form continues, many a month, and many a major will follow.

Having ranted enough about the ‘grunting’ in the women’s game of which these two have led the way, well my opinions are well documented and wont be repeated here. If the issue does get looked at further by the WTA, it will be interesting to see what role Azarenka could play.

Finally a small shout out to two faves of mine – Svetlana Kuznetsova and Vera Zvonarva winners of the Ladies Doubles. After poor runs in the singles the team who haven’t paired up since RG 2011 showed their class.

Images courtesy of BBC Sport.

Oh i Say! Welcome Back!

2012-01-04T20:47:00.003Z

It's been far too long, my apologies...

When I last offered up my two cents on the sport of kings Novak Djokovic hadjust triumphed in both Indian Wells and Miami, the two big spring hardcourters.I predicted that the upcoming clay courts would halt the Serb's progress. Hefailed in Paris yes, but little else and 2011 was most definitely his.

Murray and Federer enjoyed fine ends to the year, the latter particularlystrong in London at the Tour Finals (I was lucky enough to witness hisdelicious demolishing of Rafa in the group stages), but they could enjoy asecond wind.

Will 2012 be more of the same? Despite Federer's form in the twilight of2011, it is difficult to imagine him causing any problems for Djokovic withboth players fully fit. The same applies to Murray who unlike the Swiss hasyouth on his side, but will need time with Lendl and perhaps a bit more fitnessto equal Novak's devastating game.

Nadal is something of a worry, his game more than the aforementioned is -despite his major triumphs on all surfaces - the least flexible and ripe foradaptation, it is also by far the most punishing on his body.

Of the rest? Tsonga and Berdych stand out as most likely to bully the elite quartetone for his sheer force, sublime serve and lethal dose of capable hands, theother for his guile, power and unpredictability.

Who knows, i certainly don't but I intend to watch more tennis this year(finally giving into Sky Sports thanks to BBC limply handing over F1 rights),and as always will find out with a grin on my face constantly.

The women's game is in the best shape it has been for some time, I say thisdespite the rankings telling a different story. Wozniacki continues the 'invogue' trend for the ladies game to have this enigmatic number one, creamingeveryone on tour week in, week out yet falling short (often to ignominiousopponents - see Hantuchova in Roland Garros 2011) at the majors. Unlike Safina,Wozniacki is at least endearing and media-friendly.

Yes the top spots are still occupied by some players who, despite theirundeniable talents represent the changing of the ladies game from grace, touchand finesse to power and grunting (Azarenka, Kvitova et al). But lookelsewhere, Li, Stosur (one dimensional yes but at least its slice oversledgehammer), Schiavone, Clijsters and Serena are still more than a match forthe game's best.

Will Wozza break her major duck this year? I predict she will, and Clijstersand perhaps Sharapova will add to their talents. With Serena looking doubtful afterher Brisbane rollover, Australia will once again offer up the most tantalisingfirst test.

Can't wait!

Djokovic Dominates and Daniela ‘doubles’ her title count for 2011 as Clay beckons

2011-04-06T09:49:00.003+01:00

Another huge tournament and another huge win for Novak Djokovic.

The big duo of Spring North American Harcourt premier’s followed triumphs in Dubai and of course the Australian Open. The Serb is just one win away from bettering Ivan Lendl’s 25-0 start to a season, it is an amazing achievement, more so when the player in question was looking to capitulate a few years back.

Of the top five players recently, it was generally regarded that alongside the Nadal/Federer rivalry, it would be Andy Murray or maybe even Robin Soderling who would really crash the party. After his 2008 Oz Open win, Novak Djokovic had come up short time and time again. He just didn’t seem to have the stamina or the concentration for large parts of the year especially in the bigger tournies.

This has evaporated – since Federer’s victory over the Serb in the ATP finals last November he hasn’t lost a match.

Imperious form, and as Federer flounders further, it is Djokovic who now represents Nadal’s biggest challenger.

Clay though will serve up a different challenge, the transition may be too great for the 23 year old, but by recent form it would seem rather doubtful to expect a collapse of old.

With Azarenka again taking the Miami title at the weekend, the transition in the women’s game from the older established names of even the mid 00’s continue to look older than their years when coming up against this new breed of youngsters.

Sharapova proved the exception to the rule this week, brilliantly coming back against Petkovic, but this is – for now at least – a rarity as the new blood continue to make a mockery of a generation of players who haven’t even reached their late 20’s let alone their 30’s.

Still the Russain screamer couldn’t beat Azarenka – someone who makes Maria’s screeches seem twee in comparison – who looks increasingly dangerous this year after a bit of a stutter in recent months.

She too may find herself in the prematurely past it bracket the way things are going!

Finally, a word for another Hantuchova triumph, doubles this time with Agnieska Radwanska. ‘Agniela’ as the folks at the Cocktail Party have dubbed the team look a sure bet to repeat the Sugiyama days from the mid 00’s. Either way success at such a big tournie is welcomed.

Red/Green earth awaits both tours – roundups to come.

Pics from Getty Images/BBC

February Roundup

2011-03-01T22:16:00.002Z

The 1st Major of the year has wrapped up by February 1st, and the majority of players have either found their early season form or gone back to the drawing board to assess what went wrong in that first month of the season.

A mixed bag of locales after the Oceanic month of January. Some tournaments in the US (which usually see native victors) Europe and the far east, but the main action happens in the midle east - a region of the world garnering considerable attention at the moment of course.

Form? well the results below on the men's side point to a refrehsing raft of different names on the trophies, but Soderling and Almagro both won two titles each in friendly territories. Andy Roddick showed he can still kick it with a Memphis triumph.

But the headlines on the ATP tour this month concern a comeback title for 77th ranked Del potro and - in the desert, the continuation of Novak Djokovic's quest for the top spot.

The WTA tour saw less tournaments due to an early bout of Fed Cup action. Two surprise winners at the start of the month saw Kvitova and Hantuchova take titles in Paris and the smaller Pattaya City tournaments. Oz Open victor Clijsters fell short in Dubai to Wozniacki as the pair traded the no.1 spot in a matter of days. The latter nearly repeated her win a week later in the empty Doha but was no match for a Vera Zvonareva who got her game back after two a fortnight in the doldrums.

SAP Open
San Jose, U.S.A. Indoor
Singles : Milos Raonic
Doubles : Rajeev Ram, Scott Lipsky

ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament
Rotterdam, The Netherlands Indoor
Singles : Robin Soderling
Doubles : Philipp Petzschner, Jurgen Melzer

Brasil Open
Costa do Sauipe, Brazil Clay $ 442,500
Singles : Nicolas Almagro
Doubles : Bruno Soares, Marcelo Melo

Open 13
Marseille, France Indoor
Singles : Robin Soderling
Doubles : Ken Skupski, Robin Haase

Regions Morgan Keegan Championships
Memphis, U.S.A Indoor
Singles : Andy Roddick
Doubles : Daniel Nestor, Max Mirnyi

Copa Claro
Buenos Aires, Argentina Clay
Singles : Nicolas Almagro
Doubles : Leonardo Mayer, Oliver Marach

Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships
Dubai, U.A.E Hard
Singles : Novak Djokovic
Doubles : Mikhail Youzhny, Sergiy Stakhovsky

Delray Beach International Tennis Championships
Delray Beach, U.S.A. Hard
Singles : Juan Martin Del Potro
Doubles : Rajeev Ram, Scott Lipsky

Abierto Mexicano Telcel
Acapulco, Mexico Clay
Singles : David Ferrer
Doubles : Horia Tecau, Victor Hanescu

Open GDF SUEZ
Kvitova, Petra
Mattek-Sands, Bethanie / Shaughnessy, Meghann

Pattaya City, Thailand
PTT Pattaya Open
Hantuchova, Daniela
Errani, Sara / Vinci, Roberta

Memphis, TN-USA
Cellular South Cup
Rybarikova, Magdalena
Govortsova, Olga / Kudryavtseva, Alla

Dubai, UAE
Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships
Wozniacki, Caroline
Huber, Liezel / Martínez Sánchez, María José

Bogota, Colombia
XIX COPA BBVA COLSANITAS
Domínguez Lino, Lourdes
Gallovits-Hall, Edina / Medina Garrigues, Anabel

Doha, Qatar
Qatar Ladies Open 2011
Zvonareva, Vera
Peschke, Kveta / Srebotnik, Katarina

Acapulco, Mexico
Abierto Mexicano TELCEL presentado por HSBC
Dulko, Gisela
Koryttseva, Mariya / Olaru, Ioana Raluca

Good things.....

2011-02-15T18:41:00.004Z

Come to those who wait - a saying perfectly apt for a pint of Guinness or my search for a job which allowed me to stick two fingers up at the idiots who run Odeon Chelmsford (and it's chavvy/up their own arse customers).

A saying equally apt for most of my sporting idols to triumph (Man Utd and Roger Federer side). Daniela Hantuchova is no exception - bags of talent and power coupled with grace and touch but with a mental state more fragile than a cobweb.

Only the fifth player in history to achieve the Career Grand Slam (in Mixed Doubles admittedly) and more than a couple of stints in the world's top ten her ability would suggest a title haul of significantly more than the paltry three (Indian Wells 2002 and 2007 and Linz 2007) amassed by the age of 27.

So raise a glass to title number 4 - on Sunday in Pattaya City, Thailand, beating World Number 3 Zvonareva and without dropping a set throughout.

Hopefully a return to the top ten or fifteen beckons.

Oz roundup

2011-02-05T10:05:00.002Z

And so to the end of what was probably the first Australian Open in 6 years or so that I didn’t manage to watch religiously after finally acquiring a permanent career. The January lull in temporary positions meant in the past I could merrily engage in the excitement of waiting up until the early hours to catch the first serious and always exciting and unpredictable tennis of the year.

The 2011 tournament - like 2008 - seemed to signify a change of the guard in the men's game, or at least a telling forebear of what was to come. Namely Roger Federer's years of dominance and indeed regular Slam final appearances was over, and that his successor would not be the injury prone Nadal but Novak Djokovic, who by winning the tournament in some emphatic style proved that he could, in fact beat the very best and hold his nerve. The Serbian's second major title is just the ticket to reinstate him amongst the world's elite three. A position that Andy Murray had looked the more likely to inherit long term.

However, as with last year's final, Murray showed in Melbourne exactly why he still remains on the cusp of greatness, but with significant hurdles to overcome.

Murray's mentality is poor, his attitude even worse - who, after reaching the final of a slam concedes the next day with 'oh I may never win a major'. PMA severely lacking...well he is a Scotsman.

Roger and Rafa? Well the former is waning, but his loss ten days ago was more down to 'a bad day at the office' and, all too often against the Serb, perhaps slightly underestimating his opponent. Nadal's injuries are a worry.

The ladies game, I saw even less of so I cannot wax lyrical. Kim was the favorite going in, and duly came away with the title, putting further proof that the new generation sitting very pretty at the top of the game do indeed have the weapons, power and stamina. But, like Murray, something seems to have been missed in the mentality, belief and respect for opponents that win you majors.

Oz 2011: Is it Caroline vs Kim as Raf and Rog rivalry continues

2011-01-16T09:52:00.005Z

You all know the drill by now - new year and a wave of enthusiastic posts for the first Slam after the break. Then inevitably things dry up around the US Open which i never get to see due to it being on Sky Sports.

Anyway, it is indeed an Australian Open preview...of sorts.

In a bid to offer shorter, more succinct posts I will be brief.

Obviously the men's game will be centering on the 'who will win' question between Fed and Nadal, but - more than ever due to the unpredictable nature of the opening major of the year, outsiders shouldn’t be ignored.

If you really can call the likes of Djokovic, Tsonga, Murray and Davydenko as 'outsiders' - all of which have either triumphed or come mightily close here in years gone by.

Elsewhere? Expect strong fortnights from the old guard and comeback bright flames - Roddick, Hewitt, Del Potro etc.

Indicators this year of early form point to the aforementioned Davydenko, David Ferrer (who won in Auckland) and Gilles Simon, now 41st in the world after knee misery last year, who triumphed in Sydney).

It's a case of familiar ground with the women's game: injuries for Serena and a still-rusty Justine Henin have left a blonde young thing who hits the ball harder than most men at the top of the rankings. And again, she sits here without having won a Slam.

Now this is neither a problem for the game nor is it a new phenomenon - but the regularity with which we see this today is slightly alarming.

Still Wozniacki looks as good as anyone else for the title here - it is unlikely that she too will herald Safina's unenviable record in Slam finals. So the Dane is to some the favourite, but Kim Clijsters remains the hot tip despite her disappointing loss to Li Na recently.

Can Vera Zvonareva continue her blistering 2010? I duly hope so but sense a downfall of sorts, this will be a good early indicator. It's questions marks abound elsewhere, the top ten looks shaky, Stosur and Schiavone in particular and the likes of Petrova, Sharapova and the detestable Azarenka are still either too rusty or inconsistent to confidently tip.

Kim triumphs as the tour bids farewell to a true great

2010-11-04T12:40:00.002Z

Well Doha and now the WTA tour has wrapped up for another year - Caroline was made the new numero uno and was subsequently beaten by Kim in the final. A tight and engrossing encounter, but the outcome provided both a fitting and indicatively frustrating outcome.

Wozniacki has been consistent this season and surely a slam isn't too far away (in any case she looks to be more capable on The Big Day than her fellow Slamless no 1's of recent years) but her game and her mentality still need honing to truly merit that number one ranking.

Anyway - petty jibes aside, it was a good quality tournament - against the odds too!

Sadly though, it should best be remembered as the arena in which the greatest player of her generation - realistically the last decade - never to win a Slam retired from the game.

Elena Dementieva - one of the most solid, consistent and wholly likeable players both on and off the court hung up her racquet after a limp loss to Sam Stosur.

Frequent wins over all her compatriots at the top of the game, some close (and others not so close) Slam finals contested, a raft of titles and that very special Olympic Gold. She even threatened the top spot herself a few times.

Still, rarely out of the top ten she was the epitomy of form and professionalism - sure there were some major tantrums and often some tears, but the memory of Dementieva will be of a fiercely competitive, patriotic and professional player who - that memorable serve aside - produced some of the best tennis seen in the last decade.

Always easy on the eye too! ;)

Doha underway

2010-10-26T18:06:00.002+01:00

Well it's a less than stellar field for this season's 'Fifth Slam' year-end championships - no Serena or Justine and yes, Sharapova who along with Clijsters represent the creme de la natural creme.

Just about.

No this is not an out of date hack still clinging on to the players of the last decade and refusing to embrace the current top crop. And the lack of these names shows a refreshing strength in depth in the womens game not seen for a notable period. But the on-off nature of some of these gals will mean a probable dip in quality for such an illustrious event.

Clijsters, Zvonareva and Wozniaki (although she becomes one of the latest Slamless no.1's) represent the best gifted here, and Vera has made a strong start. But it will be intriguing to see if the dogged but hardly reliable Shciavone and the unfit Jankovic and Dementieva can put up a real fight and give us the kind of season ending tennis Serena and co regulalrly provide.

I'm still here

2010-10-24T18:30:00.001+01:00

Yes, posts have been a little hard to find since the summer, - mainly owing to a new - almost journalistic - permanent job and all the committmenets that brings.

Formula Oneder, Oh I Say and a new Film blog will return later in the year - just in time for a season review ;)

Good luck to the rest of the season to Fed and Dani

Wimbledon 2010 – A tale of new faces, the changing of the guard and the longest match in history

2010-07-12T16:55:00.005+01:00

Food poisoning wrecked my plans for a ‘first week’ roundup of this year’s wimbles and subsequent computer breakdown’s since haven’t exactly helped. Still it is with fond memories that I look back at a tournament which represented many things, and also saw myself and long suffering twin sibling grace both centre and no.1 courts in one searing evening.

My experiences first I’m afraid – we visited on the opening two days of the tournament, the first of which was spent garnering photos of the many big names and sat sweating as Federer frequently found himself just points away from the most ignominious of exits in the first round of a tournament which represented his last real fortress. Somehow he made it through and a packed Henman Hill (yes, everyone still calls it that) ignoring all the live tennis on offer at the time, showed their appreciation for both the Swiss and his near conqueror – the little known Alejandro Falla a Colombian clay specialist.

The second day, we camped and watched our favorites lose – as always, first a sorry James Blake (to Robin Haase) and then Marcos Baghdatis only slightly more competent losing to Slovak Lukas Lacko. Then a splendid trip to the majestical Centre Court - if only to see the tail end of the impressive Robin Soderling against Robby Ginepri who could and should have done much better. Azarenka was next and you’d have to pay ME to watch that grunting dull baseliner slog away so I scarpered off to no.1 court to bury myself in some trademark Danieladrama.

Having watched Hantuchova play in the flesh twice with the surprisingly positive result of two wins from two I was confident that she could arrest our day two curse against the feisty but limited Vania King of the U.S a player Hantuchova has had no trouble with in the past.

Topsy turvy stuff in the first set as it went to a breaker - despite her high ranking throughout the years the sense that the Slovak gets taken aback by the big show courts is evident even today. Eventually Lucy’s endless clapping and ‘c’mon Dani’s had inspired a second set comeback and it ended 1 set a piece after poor light.

As we sat there burnt and satisfied with the day’s play a certain match on court 18 was just about to enter it’s fifth set.

Little were we to know the significance that first round encounter between John Isner and Nicolas Mahut would have on the sport, at least for the fortnight of Wimbledon. A truly astounding feat of endurance and will power let alone energy , commitment and concentration.

The only blip on the story was the rather amateurish manner in which the BBC team conducted the post match congratulations (so Nicolas you’ve just lost the longest match in history, please tell us how you feel and stay on the court for as long as possible for some excruciating photo opportunities).

Despite this historic moment, this Wimbledon must be seen as the stage on which the guard has finally begun to make a permanent switch. Roger Federer’s dominance has of course long passed. Gone are the days where he would lose just a handful of matches all year and every player from 4 in the world to 400 would quake in their tennis shoes at his very mentioning. His losses are now more frequent and his opponents less illustrious. His game – one of skill technique and finesse is quickly losing its relevance in this age of superhuman athletes who simply run everything down. Nadal has begun a playing style and approach to the game in terms of fitness that has changed the very way it is played.

A couple of years ago I wrote a similar article asking if it was then the case that Federer had indeed entered a decline – that has since proved to be correct. The bare facts do not support a continued streak where Roger has confidently been the best of the best, despite more slams won and records beaten.

Roland Garros 2009 – Nadal lost to Soderling thus route for Federer arguably easier

Wimbledon 2009 – Nadal injured, Roddick (a player seen as comfortable for Federer) eventually succombed

US Open 2009 – lost to Del Potro

Aus Open 2010 – Nadal not back to fitness, Murray tired and nervous

Roland Garros 2010 – Lost to Soderling

Wimbledon 2010 – Lost to Berdych

I am a huge Federer fan, this is not happy reading for me either, but the facts here are just that, and the future is undeniably one of a few more lucky breaks leading to two or maybe three more slams.

We have to expect a Borg-esque early retirement for the Swiss who with children now to look after and that magic 15 Slam record as well as his Roland Garros duck vanquished will look to hang up his racket with the same grace with which he swings it.

Back to Wimbledon itself, and Nadal was solid and sometimes spectacular in his title triumph. A worthy champion and a player who posses both unthinkable fitness and power but with the best touch and feel for some shots in the game. He has everything and even though his tennis isn’t a joy to watch per se the man himself is a jewel in the crown of the sport. Tomas Berdych is no journeyman, this tournament perhaps represented the first time the Czech finally performed like we all know he can on the big stage – so many times he has underperformed against the top 4 when it matters.

The Ladies tournament was the usual mix of shocks and bores. Serena was serene yet again, power, tactical nous and an unbeatable serve proved enough for the American to edge ever higher on the all time leader boards. Now above the great Billie Jean King in terms of Slams, Williams – who continues to mature and improve like a fine wine has plenty of tennis left in her.

Sister Venus, once fancied much more than lil sis on the green lawns was way below par all tournament and just doesn’t convince anymore as a worthy challenger for a major title – despite her very good year so far and subsequent number two ranking. Instead, thanks to some gaping holes in the draw (Roland Garros starlets Schiavone and Stosur were both dumped out in their openers) names such as Kvitova, Pironkova and old stalwart Vera Zvonareva would be joining Serena in the last four. One hopes that this wont be Zvonareva’s last Slam final, an accomplished doubles player (although she lost her second final of that second Saturday) she has the game - and now mental strength – to make mincemeat of Azarenka et al.

The Belgians were poor, but only by the supremely high standards that their talents demand – their fourth round encounter lacked both skill and conviction at times with Clijsters only marginally better coming through to win. Henin in particular will need a bit more time to hone her reputation and comfort zone, she didn’t have that surprise factor that undoubtedly aided Kim in her dream US Open victory.

Roland Garros: Schiavone shocks everyone and Nadal reigns supreme once more

2010-06-06T16:34:00.002+01:00

What a refreshing change to see a high quality ladies final at Roland Garros after so many recent years of non-events. When Eastern Europe has featured in the women’s flagship match here the result has nearly always been a disappointing match of one dimensional baseline slogging. Back and forth until someone makes an error.

It was thus a special treat to be transported back to the days of yore, where skill and tactical nous, not power could seal the title. With an off form Justine still not quite ready to dominate on the clay again, and Serena perhaps a little complacent on a surface she least enjoys it was Samantha Stosur – conqueror of both who entered yesterdays match as clear favourite.

Playing powerful yet varied tennis the Australian has seemingly pushed aside those nervy demons once and for all.

No matter, her opponent had quietly scythed her way through the field and through the even without the loss of a set – and for Francesca Schiavone just reaching the final was a monumental achievement and frankly, overdue. Consistently a quality player who has remained comfortable in and around the top twenty for the last decade, the Italian loves the clay.

Slight in stature and as wily as a fox, Schiavone showed us that precision and intelligence, as well as self belief can overcome power and hard court tactics.

In a fine match at last worthy of the final, the Italian triumphed in a tactically and visually pereect display which denied Stosur any sort of foothold. Even at 1-4 down in the second set, where before she may have wilted, Schiavone persevered and came through 6-4, 7-6 (7-2).

It will be exciting to see where if these two can now consolidate their new found positions amongst the elite – given the relative rut the Ova’s are currently in, I would fancy a prolonged stay in the top ten.

The men’s title despite the heroics of a certain Swede and the connotations of last year, really only had one name on it this year once the Fedex took a major wrong turn in the quarter finals. Robin Soderling was again in inspired form these two weeks, his brutal game suiting the red clay to a tea. The Swiss was thoroughly outplayed.

On final day it was Rafael Nadal – the man he so famously and admirably dumped out of the tournament last year – who would stand in the way of a first Slam for the Swede. This time though, as was clear from the very first ball hit in Paris, that Nadal was back to his devastating best and the memories of last year instead of haunting him, would inspire him with a fiery self belief that is terrifying in its ability to galvanise his play even further.

Imperious, impossible, inspiring, Nadal was nothing short of unplayable today – yes the 5 set marathon against equally impressive Berdych would have left Soderling a little spent, but even at his best, now that the conditions once again suited the Spaniard – there was nothing he could do.

Hopes of a repeat of the classic the two men shared last year were dashed early on, everything the tired Soderling threw at Nadal was batted back – balls relentlessly returned at awkward angles and with more pace and spin than an ashes throw at lords.

It was all over in straight sets – Nadal having dropped none in two weeks.

With his fifth Roland Garros title, Rafa also takes the number one spot once more – it will be fascinating to see him, Federer and all the other finalists and form players adapt to the green grass of Wimbledon – there may well be some surprises this year.

Pics from BBC

Roland Garros: Week One roundup

2010-05-31T11:50:00.002+01:00

Although the high seed count in both draws going into the second week is high, there have been plenty of shocks, upsets and master tennis in the most intimate of Slams.

The men's competition has seen confident displays from both the top seeds as Federer and Nadal continue to see off some very tough competition without the loss of a set. Okay Hewitt (Rafa's 3rd round victim) is not a huge stretch nowadays especially on clay but never an easy foe for a nervy comeback Spaniard.

And Federer has had to deal with dogged resistance in the early rounds and then a potentially disruptive hurdle in Stanislas Wawrinka in the last 16. The Swiss, seemingly more confident tenfold on the clay after last years triumph, advanced in straight sets.

Elsewhere, the biggest casualty by far is Andy Murray after a straight sets loss to Tomasz Berdych who despite his opponents rust, was truly as good as the 6-4, 7-5, 6-4 scoreline suggested. Andy Roddick continued to disappoint on the red stuff limping out to Russia's unseeded dangerman Gabashvili in round 3. Gael Monfils can also be filed under the 'underperformed' tab after allowing the diminutive Fabio Fognini back from the brink in the dusk of the second day before falling 9-7 the next morning.

If anything - unlike previous years, the men's draw has favoured the clay court specialists - nice to see amidst the impending time where every tournament will play the same, such is the fitness of the top 100 nowadays, tactics and preferences will mean little.

Almagro, Verdasco, Melzer and Soderling are all still alive and kicking as of the fourth round or later at the cost of higher ranked Tsonga, Cillic, Ljubicic Gonzalez and Ferrer.

The Women's event is shaping up nicely too and thanks to several comeback kids not yet reaching the lofty heights of the top 16, - like in Australia - we have enjoyed some tasty early matchups. The first big name to fall was undoubtedly the finalist of the last two years Dinara Safina, who is still struggling with a back problem, but undoubtedly some confidence issues are hounding her too.

Such names as Radwanska, Zvonareva, Azarenka and poor Svetlana Kuznetsova also waved goodbye by the third round - a tournament that has threatened to make a mockery of the eastern European dominance of the tour in recent years.

Tasty encounters included Justine Henin seeing off a fighting Maria Sharapova in round 3 over two days (the rain has been more of an issue this year than in recent memory).

Nadia Petrova is my pick for a place in the final, having already seen off the much imporoved but still flaky Venus in straight sets. Petrova does have both Dementieva and possibly Wozniacki to get past, but I feel she is more than up to the task.

Elsewhere, it is tough to concentrate on anything but that mouthwatering quarter final between Serena and Justine – but they have to get past Shahaar Peer and Sam Stosur respectively first of all.

Lastly, a little note for Daniela Hantuchova, who after beating Yanina Wickmayer en route to a faultless run to the last 16 can enjoy a relatively quiet sector of the draw after the departures of Radwanska, Zvonareva, Ivanovic and Kleybanova.

Jelena Jankovic stands in the Slovakian’s way however (and my kiss of death support of course).

So there you go, much more mouthwatering encounters to savour on the grey skied clay courts of Paris.

Au revoir to the following seeds after the first week:

Men

Andy Murray
Andy Roddick
Jo Wilfred Tsonga
David Ferrer
Marin Cillic
Fernando Gonzalez
Gael Monfils
Ivan Ljubicic
Juan Carlos Ferrero
John Isner
Sam Querrey
Stanislas Wawrinka
Tommy Robredo
Ernest Gulbis
Marcos Baghdatis
Juan Monaco
Alberto Montanes
Lleyton Hewitt
Feliciano Lopez
Phillip Kohlschreiber
Victor Hanescu
Guillermo Garcia Lopez

Women

Venus Williams
Svetlana Kuznetsova
Agnieska Radwanska
Dinara Safina
Viktoria Azarenka
Na Li
Maria Sharapova
Marion Bartoli
Flavia Pennetta
Aravine Rezai
Yanina Wickmayer
Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez
Vera Zvonareva
Lucie Safarova
Jie Zheng
Dominika Cibulkova
Alona Bondarenko
Alisa Kleybanova
Anastasia Pavlyunchenkova
Maria Kirilenko
Alexandra Dulgheru
Kateryna Bondarenko

Catchup Time

2010-05-16T19:21:00.002+01:00

As with the F1 sister blog, I have been a little sloppy with my posts of late – April brought the clay and with it, a return of the master – Rafael Nadal.

Victories in Monte Carlo and Rome were huge for Rafa who needs a good clay build up to boost the confidence before Roland Garros where the memories of last year where his season fell apart will be all too strong.

Big scalps yes, but there were also clay court tournament wins for Stanislas Wawrinka (Casablanca), Fernando Verdasco (Barcelona) and old stalwart Juan Ignacio Chela (Houston).

Right now, Nadal faces Roger in the Madrid masters final – the last real pointer before Paris. Fed has been a little poor on the red/green stuff this year, he needs this title just as much as Nadal.

The women’s events have seen victories for the season’s in form players such as Wozniacki (Florida), Stosur (Charleston) and Henin (Stuttgart) as well as the clay specialists – Schiavone (Barcelona) and Martinez Sanchez (Rome). There was also a second career title win for Iveta Benesova in Morocco.

Roland Garros preview follows people – exciting stuff!

March Roundup – Surprises all round as the favourites fall in the Big Two.

2010-04-05T09:52:00.000+01:00

The month of March sees two of the biggest tournaments outside of the Slam and the year end championships. The double dose of Indian Wells and Miami – played back to back and simultaneously on both tours consistently offer high drama, atmosphere and more often than not a few surprises in the latter rounds.

This year was no exception, with the much fancied form players again coming up short – but at these events this is as much due to the 128 player draws for both competitions which cranks up the quality from the offset. Former champions Federer and Nadal fell in the third round and semi finals respectively in Indian Wells with Murray, Djokovic and Davydenko also failing to make serious headway.

The road was left for Ivan Ljubicic to take along overdue first masters series title beating Andy Roddick in a decent final. Jelena Jankovic’s victory continued to encapsulate the unpredictability of the WTA – the Serbian it is fair to say, has been regarded as still very much on the long road to recovery after some erratic form at best.

Miami saw an early loss again for last years champion Murray – still yet to re-ignite his season after that Australian Open which he believed he would win. Federer too lost to eventual finalist Berdych and the aforementioned players faltered also. Andy Roddick secured another Miami title and will be full of confidence after some consistently better tennis in the last twelve months. Kim Clijsters dominated the women’s event with the crucial win coming over compatriot Henin in the semis – a must win match especially as the lay season draws near and Clijsters loses any advantage over Henin in the red dirt formbook. Venus Williams was a bit off-colour all tournament and never looked like matching an in-form Kim.

ATP TOUR

BNP Paribas Open – Indian Wells, Florida – Ivan Ljubicic def Andy Roddick
Sony Ericsson Open – Miami – Andy Roddick def Tomas Berdych

WTA TOUR

BNP Paribas Open – Indian Wells, Florida – Jelena Jankovic def Caroline Wozniaki
Sony Ericsson Open – Miami – Kim Clijsters def Venus Williams

Lloyd, Draper, Murray? Whoever's to blame GB's Davis Cup mess needs sorting

2010-03-09T13:29:00.003Z

Lithuania....we all thought it couldn't get more embarrassing but last weekend's 3-2 defeat by the tennis minnows has fuelled the fire for heads to roll. John Lloyd was an inspired choice, and my belief for his suitability for the role over anyone else remains forthright - but something just isn't working with this current set-up.

Bringing in Rusedski - as an assistant coach or something similar, working in conjunction with the experienced hand of Lloyd would work best. As football repeatedly shows us, churning through gaffer's doesn't do anything to meld a relationship and strong group bond between the core players and the maestro.

Greg would bring some youth, a focused and fresh injection of competition and determination - keeping Lloyd would assure experience and discipline is maintained amidst the gun-ho mentality Rusedski might (unintentionally) encourage.

And what of Roger Draper? He has presided over the LTA for a while now and, Murray aside, the men's GB contingent remains poorly represented, the core problems still remain. That, and the game itself is suiting a different mentality and culture that the Brits perhaps have yet to fully gel with.

The girls have faired much better, and there is frequent promise in the GB women's results - ok some of the big scalps to have fallen to the likes of Baltacha and Keothavong are on the long road to recovery - but big names nonetheless.

Lastly, the importance of the Davis Cup itself to Great Britain's players must be in doubt - Henman was often wayward in his commitment, and Murray has only joined such sentiments focusing - perhaps rightfully - on main tour preparations.

Of all the names, it will likely be Lloyd to exit, but if it has to be anyone at all, then Draper should step aside or look to make some serious changes to the set-up and culture of the sport in this country.

February Roundup - Home wins and old rivalries as Big Four sit the month out

2010-03-01T22:07:00.002Z

February’s winners and losers

Although the fact that nobody reads this or the sister blog Formula oneder renders itc continuation almost pointless, it helps me to flirt with the idea of sports journalism.
February always seems a quiet tennis month for me, as more often than not the drama of the Australain Open takes a while to fully wriggle from my consciousness.

But there were plenty of winners in such prestigious tournaments as Paris (WTA) Rotterdam (ATP) and Dubai (Both). Incidentally the Australian Open winners and finalists were mostly absent this month – leaving the door open for the consistent form players of 2010.

Dependables Djokovic, Dementieva, Soderling and Venus (2) all triumphed, and there welcome comeback tournaments for Maria Sharapova and Juan Carlos Ferrero who won two titles.

The winners and finalists in full:

ATP TOUR

SA Tennis Open – Johannesberg – Feliciano Lopez def Stephane Robert
PBZ Zagreb Indoors – Zagreb – Marin Cillic def Michael Berrer
Movistar Open – Santiago – Thomas Belluci def Juan Monaco
SAP Open – San Jose – Fernando Verdasco def Andy Roddick
ABN AMRO Tennis Tournament – Rotterdam – Robin Soderling def Mikhail Youzhny
Brasil open – Costa de Saiupe – Juan Carlos Ferrero def Lukasz Kubot
Open13 – Marseille – Michel LLodra def Julien Benneteau
Regions Morgans Keegans Championships – Memphis – Sam Querrey def John Isner
Copa Almex – Buenos Aries – Juan Carlos Ferrero def David Ferrer
Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships – Dubai – Novak Djokovic def Mikhail Youzhny
Abierto Mexicano – Acapulco – David Ferrer def Juan Carlos Ferrero
Delray Beach Championships – Delray Beach – Ernests Gulbis def ivo Karlovic

WTA TOUR

Open GDF – Paris – Elena Dementieva def Lucie Safarova
PTT Pattaya Open – Pattaya City – Vera Zvonareva def Tamarine Tanasugarn
Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships – Dubai – Venus Williams def Victoria Azarenka
Regions Morgans Keegans Championships – Memphis – Maria Sharapova def Sofia Arvidsson
XVIII Copa – Bogota – Mariana Duque Marino def Angelique Kerber
Abierto Mexicano – Acapulco – Venus Williams def Polona Hercog
Malaysia Open – Kuala Lumpar – Alisa Kleybanova def Elena Dementieva

Australian Open Finals – Serene Serena offers no fairytale comeback for Justine as Federer outshines a dangerous Murray in three.

2010-01-31T13:28:00.007Z

Serena Williams bt Justine Henin 6-4, 3-6, 6-2

Roger Federer bt Andy Murray 6-3, 6-4, 7-6

So that was that, another stunning fortnight of tennis from the most reliable of the majors – relentless tennis of the highest calibre, and few formalities. The first of the finals saw two great rivals trade momentum and breaks of serve at will as Justine Henin’s Kim-inspired comeback Slam quest was quashed by old rival and current queen of the women’s game Serena Williams. That remarkable US Open aside, Serena continues to stamp her authority on the WTA tour and the history books by collecting her 5th Australian title (an open era record) and her 12th Major victory equalling Billie Jean King’s record. The American proclaimed that Justine can be number one in the world again, with sister Venus continuing to flounder it may just be up to Serena herself and a certain Kim Clijsters to try and stop Henin.

In a high quality match it was ultimately Henin’s still rusty service that proved her undoing, a woeful execution of break point chances didn’t help either. A stunning comeback for a remarkable player, just not perfect enough to match the formidable, irrepressible Williams when it mattered.

The men’s final was eagerly anticipated – during his dark 18 months it was Federer who struggled again and again when facing Andy Murray. The Scot has played phenomenal tennis all week, only dropping one set in his campaign (to the brave Cilic in the previous round), and rightfully fancied his chances against Fedex. But it has been quite clear that apart from a bad-tempered uncharacteristic loss in New York last year – this is the Federer of old. All encompassing, effortless, and fully confident with himself and his game again after regaining that number one spot. This was not the beatable Federer and there were few cracks in his performance to allow Murray in and dig under the Swiss’ nose. Instead Murray, who had looked unflappable and brimming with energy throughout the tournament, was silenced and subdued - hardly error strewn but often just a tad too conservative and uncomfortable.

The magic was nowhere, giving way instead to the sponge-like counter punching that makes up the Briton’s game-plan. A tense tiebreaker finished off the high quality encounter with Murray wasting some golden opportunities to take the set and change the entire story of the match. A wide volley here, a tired backhand into the net there, it was tantalisingly close and for all the ugly roaring of the Murray camp led by lioness Judy it wasn’t to be.

A tearful Murray was gracious in defeat, a surprisingly transparent moment for the Scot who has endeared himself ever so slightly to this fan with some humility. His time will indeed come, but Federer will have to be back in the doldrums to be easily conquered.

All Pics from Australian Open Official Site

Australian Open Day Ten - Venus is shocked and Novak is sick but Serena and FedEx fight-back to win

2010-01-27T15:18:00.001Z

Match of the Day: Jo Wilfred Tsonga bt Novak Djokovic 7-6, 6-7, 1-6, 6-3, 6-1

Jo Wilfred was again involved in an encounter filled with drama and high quality play. See-sawing momentum shifts with every game, it should have been Djokovic’s match having been up a break in the first set only to then miss out in the breaker. The second set was much the same only this time the Serb manage to close it out. A divine third set should have been enough – Tsonga looked all at sea with no answers and seemingly no gameplan of his own. Then, at the start of the fourth, Djokovic fell ill and was reportedly sick in the locker room – he never fully recovered and despite a brief reprieve in the final set it was always the Frenchmans’s match. Will Tsonga have enough to challenge Federer in the semi’s well, it’s doubtful but anything and everything has happened in this exceptional major so far. Djokovic’s fitness must again be brought into question however.

Federer himself was in serious trouble against the unbeaten Davydenko in the earlier match on Rod Laver Arena. An error-strewn and indifferent Swiss quickly dropped down 2-6, 1-3, 15-40 and it all looked to be a challenge too far after the cakewalk against Hewitt. But, much like at Roland Garros against Del Potro it was one superb winner which changed the match and gave the worlds number one the belief to win. Davydenko was hapless to resist the charge, dropping the next 13 games in a row before a re-focus ensured a tightish finish to the inevitable outcome, losing 6-2, 3-6, 0-6, 5-7. Lets hope that the likeable Russian can maintain his early form throughout the year and continue to be a threat at the summit.

The expected ‘all Williams semi final’ failed to materialise today as Venus Williams lost out to surprise package Li Na in an equally inconsistent match with neither player finding their rhythm at the same time. Like Federer, the Chinese looked down and out at 2-6, 4-5 but as, in her fourth round match, Venus’ serve deserted her at crucial times. It was break-city in the decider with no less than nine games going against the serve – the last two unbelievably to love. Sister Serena proved why she is the world’s best player with a stirring comeback to silence Victoria Azarenka. Again, it was seemingly curtains for the eventual winner, the American was 4-6, 0-4 down and just three points from defeat before wrestling the match into her hands and enforcing the devastating, powerful and at times scintillating shotmaking that makers her such a hard nut to crack for most.

It’s now two Chinese women in the final four of a slam for the first time but against arguably the best player’s of the last decade, it’ll be tough for either to make the final.

Seeds to have fallen today

Novak Djokovic
Nikolay Davydenko
Venus Williams
Victoria Azarenka

Pic from BBC Sport

Australian Open Day Nine – Different fortunes for the Andy’s as Rafa’s injury makes unwelcome return.

2010-01-26T12:10:00.002Z

Match Of The Day Marin Cillic bt Andy Roddick 7-6, 6-3, 2-6, 3-6, 6-3

It was a mightily impressive display from the 21 year old Croatian. After already defeating Bernard Tomic and the substantially more difficult Juan Martin Del Potro in two five set marathons, Marin Cillic did the same to Andy Roddick. The American had no answer and no rhythm in the early stages and a shoulder injury in the second set looked to have spelt the end for the big serving American old-skooler. But a surging comeback (now a welcome trademark of this much improved Roddick) forced the match in to a decider after two quick sets pummelled the Croat in to submission. To rise again after such a beating and turn the tables around once more was a superhuman task. Can the Croat overcome an Andy Murray high on confidence? Well there have been so many shocks this tournament I wouldn’t like to say but my instinct says Cillic is just that bit too green to take on the Scot.

Murray himself had a much easier ride to his first semi-finals in Australia. Rafael Nadal never really looked in control or up to speed in the match. The first three or four games saw the Spaniard play phenomenal stuff, but it wasn’t enough and Murray stayed strong to maintain his own rhythm and enforce a gameplan that was perfect in its execution and tactical nous. A tight second set culminated in a tiebreak which seemed to knock Nadal’s right knee into a relapse of last year’s problems – at 3-0 down in the third the warrior uncharacteristically called it a day.

Maria Kirilenko’s dream run at this years open came to a sudden halt against arguably the most accomplished of her opponents this fortnight. Zheng Jie is an extremely solid top 15 player, but not as illustrious or spectacular as Sharapova. Yet her consistent match play was enough here, with undoubtedly a degree of exhaustion creeping into the young Russian’s mental and physical psyche. In the other quarter final, Justine Henin played well enough to conquer an oddly floundering and erratic Nadia Petrova. A frustrating display from the Russian produced none of the rampant consistency shown against Clijsters and Kuznetsova, Henin just had to hang in there and play some percentage shots to win. That and some trademark winners, which always help and come as easy as you like for the Belgian star.

Seeds/noteworthy players to fall today

Rafael Nadal
Andy Roddick
Nadia Petrova
Maria Kirilenko

Picture courtesy of Australian Open Official site.

Australian Open Day Eight – Vocal Victoria wins but Local Lleyton loses out as Davydenko faces Fed.

2010-01-26T11:45:00.000Z

Match Of The Day – Jo Wilfred Tsonga bt Nicolas Almagro 6-3, 6-4, 4-6, 6-7, 9-7

Proof again that the OZ Open consistently spits out thrilling matches at will – another five set spectacular saw the exuberant Frenchman conquer one of the men’s tour’s most underachievbing talents. Spain’s Nicolas Almagro has all the weapons to pose a threat to the top ten, his huge serve and excellent mix of grinding defence and brave shotmaking are enough to consistently worry the best – but this breakthrough has yet to happen. He was close here against the popular Tsonga but just lost out when it came to the crucial crunch points near the cusp. Tsonga should fancy his chances against Novak Djokovic in a rematch of the 2008 final where the Serb achieved his first major title.

Djokovic himself has been a little wayward so far this year, but looked solid against the unseeded Lukasz Kubot of Poland, coming through in three: 6-1, 6-2, 7-5. Nikolay Davydenko was (unsurprisingly) pushed for the first time as last years semi finalist Fernado Verdasco looked to have sealed the winning momentum fighting back from two sets down only to then lose out once more in five gruelling and at times inspiring sets of tennis. The Russian will be a huge test for Federer in the quarters. The Swiss world number one was only real;ly challenged by Lleyton Hewitt in the third set where the Aussie veteran managed to break back and hold points for 5-5.

Amidst the expected Serena onslaught (ousting Stosur in two easy sets) and equally expected Venus wobble (fighting past Schiavone in three) there were shocks as the latest Sharapova-clone Caroline Wozniacki lost out to Li Na of China in straight sets. It was disappointing for the Dane who’s big if graceless game should have been enough to power through. Later on it was an entertaining three way battle on Rod Laver Arena as the rather unlikeable Victoria Azarenka had to face both Vera Zvonareva and a hostile Melbourne crowd still hurting from the loss of Lleyton the previous match. The early exchanges saw the lively supports hound the Belorussian and humorously mimic her overdone ‘WOoh’ exhale with every shot. It mattered little as, just like at Roland Garros last year Azarenka ignored the justified criticism to win in three – her first victory over the brittle 9th seed.

Seeds/noteworthy players to fall today

Lleyton Hewitt
Fernando Verdasco
Nicolas Almagro

Samantha Stosur
Caroline Wozniacki
Vera Zvonareva
Francesca Schiavone

Picture from BBC Sport

Australian Open Middle Weekend roundup

2010-01-25T11:39:00.001Z

Certain events this weekend hindered the daily reports but nevertheless it was an eventful three days. The women’s competition saw a gutsy display from the darkest of horses in Justine Henin fighting back against the super-qualifier Wickmayer whilst it was more heartbreak for Dinara Safina who limped out of the tournament. The obligatory ‘darling’ of the tournament Maria Kirilenko benefited most from the second seed’s misfortune. Elsewhere the Williams sisters and the strong looking Petrova marched on. It’s always sad for me to see Hantuchova lose, especially as – once again – it was against a beatable player in Na Li of China.

There were more high profile retirements in the men’s competition as both Marcos Baghdatis and Mikhail Youzhny withdrawing thanks to injury, the latter never making it to the court after a suspected broken wrist. The seeds all progressed however with Murray, Nadal, Djokovic and Roddick powering through to the quarters. Five setters are so frequent here and Marin Cillic and Juan Martin Del Potro treated the crowds to one such thriller, the Croatian the surprise winner.

Seeds/noteworthy players to have fallen over the middle weekend:

Tommy Haas
Marcos Baghdatis
Alberto Montanes
Juan Monaco
Mikhail Youzhny
Fernando Gonzalez
Stanislas Wawrinka
Juan Martin Del Potro
Gael Monfils
Ivan Ljubicic
Phillip Kohlschreiber
Ivo Karlovic

Dinara Safina
Yalina Wickmayer
Shahar Peer
Agnieska Radwanska
Casey Dellacqua
Daniela Hantuchova

Aussie Open Official site for the original pics

Australian Open Day Five – Clijsters crumbles as Nadal is tested

2010-01-23T09:54:00.002Z

Some issues at home will render these posts fairly short. Today saw one of the biggest shocks of the tournament so far with Kim Clijsters – many peoples favourite for the title and certainly Justine Henin’s quarter final opponent – was dumped out by Nadia Petrova 6-0, 6-1. Yes it really was that bad from the Belgian who never found her feet, rhythm or basic game. More importantly it really was that good from the Russian, who is playing better and moving stronger than at any time in her solid top 15 career.

On a quietish day for the seeded women, Henin herself had a little wobble before overcoming Alisa Kleybanova in three sets whilst Alona Bondarenko and Dinara Sfaina both came through their matches with relative ease, ousting the poor Jelena Jankovic 6-2, 6-2 and Elene Batacha 6-1, 6-2 respectively. Svetlana Kuznetsova advanced as did the unseeded pair of Maria Kirilenko and Jie Zheng who beat Marion Bartoli. The danger player for Henin now is giant-killer Yanina Wickmayer.

Andy Roddick and Rafael Nadal both had to fight through tough matches against Felicano Lopez and Phillip Kohlschreiber at either ends of the days play. Both came through in four gruelling sets. Ivo Karlovic and Marin Cillic both came four setters themselves to advance. It was easier elsewhere though with Andy Murray, Juan Martin Del Potro (who faces Cillic) and Fernando Gonzalez all going through in straight sets.

Seeds/noteworthy players to fall on Day 5

Ivan Ljubicic
Feliciano Lopez
Stanislas Wawrinka
Gael Monfils
Phillip Kohlschreiber

Kim Clijsters
Alisa Kleybanova
Jelena Jankovic
Marion Bartoli
Elena Baltacha

BBC Sport supplied the Image

Australian Open Day Four – The gals have a swagger as the guys slog it out

2010-01-21T14:12:00.003Z

Match of the Day – Marcos Baghdatis bt David Ferrer(17) 4-6, 3-6, 7-6, 6-3, 6-1

The fourth day saw the majority of the seeded ladies breeze through their matches with the loss of a handful of games. The men’s competition saw another five matches go the distance. The highlight of these, for sheer emotion as well as – on paper at least – a considerable upset, was Marcos Baghdatis fighting back from the brink to beat David Ferrer. The Spaniard seeded 17th does have an unfortunate habit of under performing or choking in far too many Grand Slam matches whatever the stage. Yes his Cypriot opponent is one of the toughest challenges on any day (particularly here in what is essentially Baghdatis' home tournament), but Ferrer should be closing these ones out if he is to get back to the top ten. A two set deficit is familiar ground for Bagdhatis, especially here in Melbourne where drama frequently comes guaranteed with any match featuring the 2006 finalist. An actual home-grown hero looms next for the sparkling Cypriot – if the match is even half as good as their 2008 fourth round brawl then it will be a thriller.

Men
Tommy Haas and Janko Tipsarevic also sweated over a five set duel full of power, precision and gusto – the German finally prevailing 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 and still looking as polished and pristine in these twilight years. Juan Monaco defeated Michel Llodra in five engaging sets offering the always fascinating spectacle of a serve and volleyer pitched against a baseliner. Nicolas Almagro is no stranger to long matches and was given just that from promising and progressively consistent youngster Benjamin Becker finally coming through 6-3 in the fifth. Elsewhere it was more comfortable for the aforementioned Hewitt and the big boys Davydenko, Tsonga and Roger Federer, the latter of which sailed through a tough encounter with Romanian Victor Hanescu. Novak Djokovic laboured slightly in his four set win over Switzerland’s Marco Chiudinelli, but still looks good enough to stake a serious title claim.

Women
Some of the girls had to play again in less than 24 hours today to allow the schedule to return to order by the fourth day’s play. It made little difference as a horde of seeds posted comfortable wins in the ever increasing Melbourne heat. Serena and Venus looked ominous in their straight set victories over Petra Kvitova and danger player Sybille Bammer respectively. There were also impressive straight set wins for Vera Zvonareva, Victoria Azarenka, Agnieska Radwanska, Daniela Hantuchova and Francesca Schiavone. Caroline Wozniacki was again strong setting up a third round meeting with the in-form Shahar Peer of Israel – the pick of the third round match ups in this half. The shocks were few and far between but still significant – the quickly falling Ana Ivanovic looked all at sea against a fiery and greatly impressive Gisela Dulko as the Argentine came through an up and down encounter to win in three. It was a case of going down before fighting back into a winning position, only to then ultimately lose with a whimper. Casey Dellacqua (surprisingly picked over the higher ranked Aussie Stosur) was given the night match on Rod Laver – the recovering local girl triumphed over a resurgent Karolina Sprem in two tight sets 7-6, 7-6.

Seeds/players of note to have fallen today

David Ferrer
Donald Young
Janko Tipsarevic

Sabine Lisicki
Ana Ivanovic

Picture from Australian Open Official site

Australian Open Day Three – Justine and Elena deliver the goods on a day of five setters

2010-01-20T19:17:00.002Z

On another thrilling day at this years Open it was a case of fulfilled promise as the highly anticipated meeting between white hot 5th seed Elena Dementieva and comeback queen Justine Henin lived up to the hype. True it was far from dramatic – for that you could take your pick on a third day full of five set epics – but the level of quality shown by both players was both devastating and unbelievably consistent. There are few players who can match Dementieva for current form at the moment and it showed with a typically gutsy display that now has real substance and variation. But Justine looks evergreen and back to her best which unfortunately for the Russian Tsarina, is far too good for anyone. During two close sets played over almost three hours there was zero let up in quality, alertness and concentration from the two. The respect given and deserved from the two veterans was just the icing on the cake.

Men
An angry Andy Roddick hissed and spat his way through an otherwise comfortable straight sets victory over Thomaz Bellucci after a match point was called wrong by the umpire. He now faces Feliciano Lopez after he came through past Rainer Schuettler the battle of the veterans. There were solid wins for Fernando Gonzalez, Stanislas Wawrinka, Gael Monfils and the Croatian pair of Karlovic and Ljubicic, who meet in round three. Hot tips Nadal and Murray eased through their respective matches. But the drama was supplied in full force from two 5 set epics. First, as Henin and Dementieva wowed the crowds Juan Martin Del Potro and the ever-impressive James Blake fought it out in a four hour tussle finishing 10-8 to the Argentine in the fifth. Finally 17 year old local wunderkid Bernard Tomic pushed the nu-Ivanisevic Marin Cillic all the way into the night. After a tight but – from Cillic’s point of view surely disappointing – match it was the tall Croat who came through in the early hours of the morning.

Women
A case of some comfortable wins for the seeds today as the second half of the draw (Henin aside) has followed suit with seeds meeting seeds. Kleybanova, Kirilenko, and Svetlana Kuznetsova all advanced for Russia and will be joined in the third round with Safina, Bartoli and Jelena Jankovic. Kim Clijsters meets Nadia Petrova after they both advanced. The main news today for the ladies is delightful for us Brits, with Elena Baltacha keeping the fairytale down under alive dumping out 30th seed Kateryna Bondarenko in straight sets. In the delayed matches from Day one there were wins for Vera Zvonareva, Na Li, Agnieska Radwanska, Caroline Wozniacki and Daniela Hantuchova…just.

Seeds/noteworthy players to have fallen today:

Men
Tomas Berdych
Viktor Troicki
Jarkko Nieminen

Women
Elena Dementieva
Elena Vesnina
Kimiko Date Krumm
Flavia Pennetta
Aravine Rezai
Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez
Kateryna Bondarenko

Australian Open Day Two: Gasquet gutted by magical Mikhail as Soderling slips out

2010-01-19T16:07:00.002Z

It was a quieter second day at Melbourne Park as order resumed and the schedule began to take shape as the warm weather returned. True it has yet to reach the 35+ of recent years – that is forecast for Thursday –but it did allow for matches on the outside courts to continue into the night. It was here that the first classic match of the 2010 Open was played.

Match of the Day: Youzhny bt Gasquet 6-7, 4-6, 7-6, 7-6, 6-4
Richard Gasquet, still on his way back from the cocaine accusations and suspension last year looked to have booked hi place in the second round with a commanding and at times magical display against Mikhail Youzhny. Despite going two sets up, a break up in the fifth and on many occasions being just two points away from victory, Gasquet was vanquished by the valiant Russian in a match lasting just shy of five hours. With Mexican waves between changeovers from the passionate fans, delayed and in some cases disallowed injury time outs and both men playing through leg cramps the match had it all. Gasquet’s flair was in abundance but so too was some conservative nervy play, and the iron will of his opponent, one of the last great practitioners of the serve and volley game.

Men
Elsewhere Roger Federer survived a little early rust against a quality opponent before advancing past Igor Andreev 4-6, 6-2, 7-6, 6-0 and Fernando Verdasco last years semi finalist survived a similar challenge from Aussie Carston Ball also going through in 4. There were confident and altogether comfortable first round wins from Jo Wilfred Tsonga, Tomas Berdych, Gael Monfils, and many peoples’ dark horse for the title Nikokay Davydenko. Local hero Lleyton Hewitt cruised through and James Blake set up a mouthwatering second round encounter with Jaun Martin Del Potro. But it was a different story for last years’ French Open semi finalist and one of 2009’s form players Robin Soderling who fell to unseeded Spaniard Marcel Granollers after, like Gasquet going ahead two sets to love before losing in five 5-7, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-2.

Women
In what was overall a bad day for the male seed, the women fared much better with few shocks. Francesca Schiavone survived a topsy turvy game with French starlet Alize Cornet finally coming through 0-6, 7-5, 6-0. Elsewhere things were more comfortable as Serena Williams began her defence of the title with a comfortable win over the younger and more fiery of the Radwanska’s; Ursula 6-1, 6-2. There were good wins for Ana Ivanovic, Marion Bartoli, Jelena Jankovic Venus Williams (over a tough Lucie Safarova) and local favourites Samantha Stosur and Casey Dellacqua. Katie O Brien completed a fine first round for Britain’s ladies after defeating Austria’s Patricia Mayr 6-3, 6-3. She will face Jankovic next providing a tough test and invaluable experience.

Seeds and noteworthy players to have fallen today:

Men
Robin Soderling
Tommy Robredo
Juan Carlos Ferrero
Sam Querrey
Jeremy Chardy
Jurgen Melzer
Richard Gasquet
Fabrice Santoro

Women
Virginie Razzano
Dominika Cibulkova
Annabel Medina Garrigues
Alicia Molik
Alize Cornet
Melanie Oudin

Picture from Australian Open Official Site

Australian Open Day One

2010-01-18T17:40:00.005Z

For years I believed Wimbledon to be my favourite of the majors - it is, after all the quintessential tennis event and the one most coveted by players and respected by history.

But all too often it is marred by the British public. The majority of us Brits know little of the game or its players resulting in dumbed-down BBC coverage focusing on the lacklustre home-grown efforts. And let’s not mention the excruciating Murray Mania!

The Australian Open is the purest of the Slams – Roland Garros has it’s infamously ruthless crowds and the unique challenge of the clay, Flushing Meadows is glitzy and impersonal.

The heat-waves aside, the talk is always about the tennis at Melbourne Park and the fans are appreciative, highly knowledgeable and passionate – both of their fellow countrymen and any underdog willing to show some fight.

The action itself always takes centre stage – and for the last decade, it is here where the best matches of the year usually occur.

The 2010 event has already shunned the rulebook however with a cold and rainy first day resulting in a Wimbles-esque jumbled schedule. No talk of the crippling heat then, but the tennis remained true to form.

On a typically dramatic opening Monday the story of the day still goes to the battle fo the Maria’s with Sharapova the surprise loser.

Good friend and fellow pin-up Maria Kirilenko has had spells in the top 20 and once looked to be a frequent troubler of the rankings as well as teenagers walls. A journeywoman status is more appropriate of late however and few expected the diminutive Russian to topple Masha.

Sharapova still isn’t firing on all of her loud cylinders however – and an error strewn performance led to a three set defeat.

Some are saying that this is the end for the screamer, far from it. Instead it looks like a slower, more gradual road to the top, and one made all the harder by the return of a certain duo from Belgium.

Both Kim and Justine were in action today and both posted comfortable wins with the latter looking impressively comfortable against the stern test of compatriot Kirsten Flipkens. Form player Elena Dementieva now faces the unseeded Henin in what is undoubtedly the pick of the second round matches.

Elsewhere it was business as usual with Dinara Safina, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Flavia Pennetta all advancing whilst two women who caused so much hullabaloo last year fared somewhat differently.

2009’S Williams’ killer Maria Martinez Sanchez enjoyed a double bagel over Russia’s Evgeniya Rodina but Australia’s darling-once-again Jelena Dokic failed to repeat her heroics of last year, bowing out 6-1, 7-5 to Alisa Kleybanova also of Russia.

It was at times a real challenge to watch the hapless Dokic fight with her personal demons and far-from match ready form to try and conquer her big hitting 4th round victim of 2009.

Kleybanova who judging by the way she plays should be renamed Clubanova simply had to much power and impressive brick wall defence. Jelena was superb one minute and woeful the next.

She deserves to be back in the higher echelons – but after failing to defend those QF points here, will go down in the rankings before she can rise.

The men’s action was more muted, if no less impressive. Andy’s Roddick and Murray both looked more than solid in their easy first round wins whilst Fernando Gonzalez, Ivan Ljubicic and veteran Florian Mayer all advanced.

Juan Martin Del Potro muscled past the equally formidable Michael Russell of the USA and Ivo Karlovic yet again found himself in a five setter – seeing off Radek Stepanek 5-4 in the decider.

Finally Rafa Nadal looked in trouble early on against the useful Aussie Peter Luczak recovering from 3-5 in the opening set before prevailing 7-6 (7-0), 6-1, 6-4. With a gameplan that will be punished by more illustrious opponents, the defending champion still looks beatable here, but as always it will be an epic test.

A final mention for Britain’s Elena Baltacha who battled past France’s tricky Pauline Parmentier into round two and will now face 30th seed Kateryna Bondarenko.

Seeds and noteworthy players who fell today

Radek Stepanek
Mardy Fish

Maria Sharapova
Jelena Dokic

Thanks to BBC Sport for the pic

Oh I Say! – Tennis in 2010 looks like something special!

2010-01-18T15:45:00.005Z

A new tennis year and many reasons to be cheerful for both the men and women's games.

The Belgians are Back!

· Kim’s return to the tour last year and subsequent US Open fairytale was nothing short of a revelation. To now have the only woman who can repeatedly provide a challenge to Clijsters and bring from her the best tennis return too, is nothing short of a miracle.

· Look no further than that Brisbane final for proof of a revitalized WTA with the return of these two as well as a slowly recovering Sharapova and Williams duo.

· Say Goodbye to the muddled Safina/Jankovic/Ivanovic period at the summit.

Fed’s rivals old and new are getting back to form

· Leaner yes but no less mean, Rafa is back and looking in fine fettle again after a torrid 2009 both on and off the court. I’d be surprised if he successfully defends Australia but elsewhere this year he will once again be feared.

· Nikolay Davydenko has had a storming start to 2010, finally looking like the Federer/Nadal beater we all knew he could have been. Grand Slam success this year? Perhaps as the Russian is comfortable on hard and clay courts - but a return to the top 3 looks the more likely.

· The young crop are maturing and piling on the muscle – we know what Slam winners Djokovic and Del Potro can do, whilst Murray, Soderling, Wawrinka, Cillic and Simon will all be looking to improve on their 2009’s.

The old boys still have it – the above names are the future of the sport – but to see Roddick, Hewitt, Haas and Ferrerro sitting pretty in the top 30 is great to see. Blake, Lopez and Grosjean may be slipping, and the world awaits the much touted return of Gasquet to the top, until that happens, these guys can still mix it with the best of them.

Anything you can do I can do better... eh Justine?

2009-09-25T12:36:00.002+01:00

Rejoice! After what seems like forever the WTA is receiving a much needed shot in the arm – and it smells like waffles.

Just weeks after Kim Clijsters truly sensational comeback Us Open victory then her great rival and arguably the greatest player of her generation Justine Henin announces that she too wants to get it on the action.

Clearly Henin saw Clijsters brilliant victory in New York and in particular the relative ease with which she dispatched nemesi Serena and Venus en route and fancies herself to do as well.
Who could blame either of them?

Yes the Williams are still the most talented, brutal and dominant players of the last decade, and when Sharapova and the better flock of the Russians get back to winning ways such repeats of Kims storm to the title will be tough. But there’s no guarantee that either the Venus and Serena or the Russians will ever regain their dominance, and the Wozniak(i)’s, Radwasnka’s and Bondarenko’s (not to mention a certain Oudini) still have some maturing to do.

Thus, the path is open for the Belgians to reinstate their own invasion on the top spots.

Of these, Henin is the better player, at least the more accomplished and with a far superior head to head record against Kim you would fancy Justine to fulfil her wishes with more slams.

But Clijsters US Open win will only further her own improving mental strength (undoubtedly her frailty when the Belgians reigned), she will be a much tougher cookie (or waffle) if the two meet again in a latter stage.

Thank you womenstennisblog.com for the pic

Quick US Open Review – Fumes and Fairytales

2009-09-15T16:57:00.004+01:00

A refreshingly short post this time – it is impossible for me to lay down some trademark waffle about this years’ US Open as I haven’t been able to watch one full match live.

What with a dour schedule on Europsort when the tournament reaches the final rounds coupled with my evening shifts returning I have been sorely deprived of any action.

But what a tournament it has been this year.

True to form, the players I tipped to go far largely struggled; Safina, Venus, Sharapova and especially my ‘dark horse’ Elena Dementieva – arguably the form player of the women’s event going in. Andy’s Roddick and Murray were disappointing whilst my Djokovic bating was answered by the Serb’s excellent run to the semi finals, beaten narrowly by Federer and his hotdog masterclasses.

The story of the tournament? Well despite Melanie Oudin’s super run to the quarter finals defeating four top Russian’s en route, and even Juan Martin Del Potro’s maiden Slam, this was Kim’s tournament.

Just four weeks into her shock comeback, the endearing Belgian showed us all just why her retirement over two years ago was such a loss to the game. Her fearless yet attractive game plan is a joy to behold and her bubbly, honest and fair persona both on and off the court is such a breath of fresh air amidst the sadly stoic and robotic nature of the current top crop of the WTA.

Sure, it was a diminished field after some shock exits early on, but Clijsters victims this last fortnight still included the tricky Marion Bartoli, dangerous Li Na and both Williams siblings. The win over Venus typified the tournament – a bagel apiece as the momentum shifted violenetly between the two great rivals before a sense of belief mixed with a greater freedom allowed the Belgian to triumph. Venus is still mentally blurred and hardly super confident after that Wimbledon loss, never helped by the partisan crowd and the emotional cauldron of the show courts at Flushing Meadows.

But the pressure was on Kim just as much and she persevered. The semi final with Serena was a similar scenario yet the pressure, rewards and of course emotions were magnified. Serena’s outburst is an ugly stain on her (recent) spotless record. Since the wilderness years, Serena’s comeback has been both impressive in it’s quality and most of all mature professionalism. The manner of her loss last week will not be forgotten in a hurry.

No-one really expected Roger Federer to fail in his bid for a 16th Grand Slam and a sixth straight US Open title, and why should they? With Murray out early, it was the (so far) rusty Nadal, indifferent Djokovic and arguably ‘still developing’ talent of Del Potro standing in the world number one’s way come the business end of the fortnight.

The warning signs must have been clear after the young Argentine’s swift dispatch of Nadal in the semi-finals. Maybe it was merely proff that once the Spaniard met some top 5 pedigree his steady progress would be halted and his incomplete playing levels exposed. However it would take a fearless approach to sweep aside Nadal 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 as Del Potro did such is the on court presence of the former number one in the world.

Federer grabbed the headlines with his penultimate winner against Djokovic but Del Potro had a steely determination that defied his years.

Was Roger too relaxed? Did he perhaps not give enough credit to his opponent whom he had comfortably beaten in recent meetings? Was it too easy even for someone as wise and intelligent as the Swiss master to assume that – with this being Del Potro’s first Major final, at some point his opponent would crack or at least tense up allowing Fed to break through.

Who knows, but after a thrilling five set encounter it was Federer who had succumbed to the truly awesome Del Potro forehand.

Vibrant, fearless and fizzing with pulsating youth Del Potro’s performance reminded me of Federer’s first Grand Slam defeat at the hands of Nadal in Roland Garros accompanied by whispers of a new era at the top of the men’s game.

Thanks to BBC and Getty for the original pics

US Open Series review/US Open predictions

2009-08-25T14:05:00.001+01:00

Roger Federer – Becoming a father hasn’t affected the master’s play since Wimbledon. A few hiccups on the way to that Cincinnati win merely reflect the lack of complete dominance by any of the world’s top men at the moment. It is this that will help Federer; with the exception of Murray none of the top players are playing anything near to their consistent best. It is times like this when Roger should rack up those Grand Slam titles.

Andy Murray – By far the main threat to Federer at the US Open. His win in Montreal and his regular appearances in the latter stages of the other tournaments suggest he is full of confidence. Such self belief will only be boosted further by Murray’s recent elevation to the number two spot. Whilst his bullish claims of reaching number one very soon are still unrealistic – a fair shot at the US Open is very reachable.

Novak Djokovic – He said it himself: “I was born in the wrong era”. Whilst the Serb may have been half joking after losing to Roger Federer in the final in Cincinnati his words are beginning to look worryingly ominous. Perhaps not so much at the moment with Nadal still getting back to speed, but certainly this year Djokovic has done nothing to trouble the top three this season. If anything the still rather erratic Del Potro has shown greater reason to be ranked at 4 in the world.

Rafael Nadal – Right now we are witnessing the kind of scenario that will make or break Nadal’s career and will determine his future as a possible Federer-beater. The strain the Spaniard’s game places on his body and his knees of course in particular has been clear enough by his absence and inability to defend his Slams. But the slow and steady progress Nadal is making to be back at his very best further points that this isn’t a little niggle of an injury. It will take months to properly heal and such a recovery time will only get longer as Nadal ages. I predict poor Rafa will go backwards again before returning to the summit.

Juan Martin Del Potro – Consistent since Wimbledon brilliantly taking the title in Washington and only narrowly losing to Murray in Montreal. Del Potro is still very young and his game can still (excitingly) grow and evolve. Along with Murray, he must be confident of reaching at least the final in Flushing Meadows.

Andy Roddick – Since Wimbledon Roddick has been solid enough only coming unstuck against Del Potro twice in the Washington final and the semi’s at Montreal. The home support at the US will always be a factor but a repeat of his Wimbledon heroics suddenly doesn’t seem as sure-fire as they did a month ago.

Sam Querrey and Robby Ginepri – have also been playing well in the Series with a title each. Ginepri is still frustratingly prone to confidence and concentration dips whilst Querrey’s early strong form in the last month is beginning to peter out. Should both deliver and go far in New York.

Dinara Safina – Apart from a low key title in Potoroz it has been a quiet US Open Series for the World Number One. A disappointing loss to a Jelena Jankovic still finding her form in the Los Angeles final, having beaten comeback princess Clijsters proving the only highlight. Deserves a Slam title during such a period of dominance in the past year but will need to approach the big matches differently to do so.

Venus Williams – As with Safina, it seems that defeat in a tour final has shattered the confidence in Venus. Marion Bartoli is a tricky customer and this year has been very Jeckyll and Hyde. Venus probably expected to wipe the floor with the Frenchwoman. Since that loss in Stanford it has been horror show stuff for Williams Snr. Needs the US Open title more than anyone.

Serena Williams – An unremarkable lead up to the Open for Serena, never really hitting the heights of her game and apart from Dementieva her victors have been players she should be beating.

Elena Dementieva – Until the win in Toronto it had been a case of the nearly woman that has defined Dementieva’s career. Always up there with a shot but never delivering that killer blow. Well, she looks better and better as she matures and I fancy Elena as an outside bet for the Open.

Svetlana Kuznetsova – Not a happy bunny, the 2004 Us Open champion is having a torrid US Open series. Never really convincing against Clijsters in Cincinnati and a loss to SeedKiller Stosur in the opening round in Toronto. A generous draw at the Us Open may allow the Russian to play herself into form and confidence but it will be tough.

Kim Clijsters and Maria Sharapova – are two comeback players hitting their stride. Clijsters has of course been away for longer and as such is still adjusting to the new level of the WTA tour which has changed so much in her short two year absence. Like Hingis though, Kim will find her range and be back to title contention. Maria has been playing some brutal tennis and if she can withstand a fortnight of Slam level play then she will go far. The title itself is still too big a task for the grittiest competitor.

Wimbledon 2009 Finals: A tale of dermination, belief and history being made

2009-07-06T13:05:00.010+01:00

The 2009 Wimbledon Championships were blessed with two finals which despite being very different – offered a fitting degree of emotion, awe-inspiring tennis and yet more new entries in the record books.

On Saturday the ladies’ final was for the fourth time contested by the Williams’ sisters: rightly back at the business end of the rankings and - for the past fortnight especially – showing exactly why they are so ahead of the pack when it comes to the Slams.

Venus a five time Wimbledon champion went into the match as favourite despite her younger Serena arguably displaying the more impressive performances over her own route to the final. Venus had been solid, and at times her power game truly sparkled as she brushed aside the challenges of Agnieska Radwanska et al.

This however proved to be the crucial factor – or at least a major one. Whereas Venus had indeed been impressive in her play up to the last stage she had never truly been tested. Nowhere was this better encapsulated than in her match immediately Saturday’s encounter with her sister. In Dinara Safina we have a player who can play devastating tennis over a considerable amount of time – it is this consistency that has rightfully earned her the number one ranking. However, at the highest level of the sport the Russian has repeatedly crumbled. The occasion must get into her head and – as with so many of the eastern Europeans – when things go awry there is no plan.B.

A semi-final against the defending champion proved to be one of those insurmountable moments for Safina as she was swept aside 6-1, 6-0.

Serena of course had to battle past a Russian who has shown consistency in a different way. Elena Dementieva has stayed consistent not just in the last six months but six years. Solid groundstrokes, an improved serve and some ever increasing belief in herself have made Dementieva a true Grand Slam contender. She did not choke in her 7-6, 5-7 6-8 loss to Serena, she was simply beaten by a champion who is back to her very best.

Serena has shown an unparalleled level of intensity and determination at this year’s Wimbledon. For so many years she has struggled with off court distractions, family tragedies and fitness.

With such factors quelled – the ruthless, immensely powerful and most importantly clever tennis player who has returned to the women’s game.

I haven’t been the biggest fan of the Williams’ over the years, but they are hard to resist with their emotional, determined and smart-thinking gameplan. They are so much more than just powerful senseless hitters. True they can hardly be described as graceful and despite their doubles success their net-play is far from the best.

But they have every shot in the book and on grass, they are unstoppable.

Despite her loss on Saturday, Venus is still the better grass-court player than Serena, but she simply couldn’t match her sister’s intensity after a comfortable semi-final. Ultimately, when that first set tiebreaker went to the younger Williams sibling, Venus never truly believed in herself.

If Saturday’s final was a tale of one player’s raw belief proving the catalyst for victory then Sunday’s contest was the exact opposite.

Further cementing a fine (and welcome) return to form for American tennis it was Andy Roddick and not the much fancied Andy Murray who faced the shoe-in Federer.

The American has been the player of the tournament coming through the tough tests of a resurgent Lleyton Hewitt and then Murray himself (as well as 14,000 Brits in the Centre Court throes). He had achieved this – and by doing so confounded his many doubters and critics – by improving his all round game.

Larry Stefanki’s influence has really begun to show as A-Rod’s game now possesses a full repertoire. Double backhand passing shots and a tricky one handed backhand slice have now joined that booming forehand and impossible serve. Mentally too, the American has learned to relax and once again have faith in his game in times of crisis.

Against Murray he outthought his opponent – a renowned tactician – and against Federer he almost outplayed him – a renowned outplayer!

With an 18-2 head to head deficit against the Swiss and two previous defeats at the same stage in 2004 and 2005 any other player would be lacking in belief.

Indeed the Roddick of as little as 12 months ago would have seriously questioned if there was any point in even turning up. But this is a man who now knows he can compete with the young wave of power hitters and ultra-fit teenagers.

This view was hard to find elsewhere however amongst fans, pundits and former players: the talk was all about Federer winning his 15th Grand Slam title and becoming the greatest of all time.

With Pete Sampras - returning for the first time since his last match in 2002 – joining the other greats of Borg, Laver and Nastase, the stage was truly set for an historic final.

But Roddick wasn’t phased either by the lack of belief of those around him (a partisan underdog-loving Centre Court not included) or by such legends of the game adding expectation. He started –as always- in top form and was dripping with confidence as much as sweat. His opponent, majestic and seemingly relaxed was nevertheless denied any chance to dictate the match.

Federer – who later admitted he in fact was affected with nerved after Pistol Pete’s arrival – never reached 5th gear let alone 6th.

This was not a ‘bad day at the office’ for the Swiss either – he simply wasn’t allowed to play his game. Surely too, the multi-champion struggled to come to terms with this new and improved version of an old foe.

It was Roddick who looked more comfortable in longer rallies whilst it was the Swiss master pulling aces out of the bag with terrifying ease.

After four tense sets and two breaks of serve – both by the American – it was another five set thriller – the third in a row at SW19. Both players had wowed the nation – Roddick with his revelatory all-round confidence and game-plan mixed with a fervent and justified belief, and Federer with his inhumane mental strength and assuredness.

To come back from 2-6 down in the second set tiebreaker was all the proof needed to see that Federer’s confidence in his own abilities remained the highest.

As the fifth set progressed it was Federer though who looked the more fragile – he would repeatedly lose the first or second point on his own serve and his groundstroke’s were tight and soft. Roddick remained focused despite coming so close earlier in the match. Ultimately it was both physical and mental exhaustion that defeated the number 6 seed.

It had taken him over four hours, but Roger had finally found some rhythm on the return of serve and managed to hit some shots with interest. The slight shift in momentum was too much for Roddick and it was suddenly all over 5-7, 7-6, 7-6, 3-6, 16-14.

Crushed and choked with emotion Roddick was graceful in defeat, apologizing to Sampras for not stopping the inevitable end of his 14-Slam record.

Federer was graceful too as he rightfully congratulated his opponent for a great match – no tears this time though.

Maybe he too knew that this was a match where the best man on the day had lost.

A short word on the ‘Greatest of All Time’ discussion; Federer has statistically proven he is the most successful. But it is disrespectful to rank the Swiss higher than any of those three players who watched from the royal box. Even after summarising the different factors:

Laver’s two calendar Slams, his many years spent banned from winning even more against the fact that those slams were won on just two different surfaces.

Borg’s lack of overall titles against his young age of retirement and incredible feat of winning multiple back to back clay and grass slams.

Sampras’ number of total Slams against a more competitive tennis profession which echoes that of Federer’s today.

Simply treat these players with respect and say that they were truly the best of their respective generations.

Thanks to BBC for the pics.

Murray takes Main stage on Middle Monday

2009-06-30T15:17:00.008+01:00

The ‘Middle Monday’ remains the highlight of Wimbledon besides the finals themselves. A day’s rest for all the players means that all fourth round matches are played in one day – thus a packed schedule.

It is perhaps fitting that the first match to be started under the new Centre Court roof would not only feature a British player, but that the match would be a five setter.

The first spots of rain to fall on this years’ Championships arrived a few hours earlier during Amelie Mauresmo’s present to Dinara Safina (a set and a break up – then 3-0 up in the third before crumbling like a French baguette). Although only a few spats of rain came down – the roof remained on as a precaution – for the rest of the evening.

The multi-million pound structure complete with several floodlights would ensure play would continue right into the night if needed – unheard of in Wimbledon’s 132 year history.

With the look and atmosphere resembling the great night matches in Australia at the start of the tennis season – Murray’s impressive 2-6, 6-3, 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 victory over the Swiss number two Stanislas Wawrinka – finished at 10.38pm BST.

The always dangerous power hitter Wawrinka – whose backhand is bettered only by his fellow Swiss in the top twenty – played a perfect first set before succumbing – partly due to an inability to consistently enforce his game plan, partly due to the pressure.

Most of all though, it was a master class in percentage tennis that won the match for the Scot.

After being blown away in the first set – Murray employed his game plan which never really looked like faltering despite his opponents glorious risk taking – entertaining groundstroke’s and serve.

A few impossible, insane yet identical passing shots (always hit crosscourt from the forehand side while on the run) aside – it was the samey, safe grinding play from Murray which soaked up Wawrinka like an ugly sponge.

Clearly effective (especially when blended with Murray’s incredible speed around the court), but hardly admirable in the same way once marvels at the Federers, Santoros, Henmans and Hewitts of the game.

With SW19 bathed in moonlight, the last quarter final was decided as Murray joins some stellar names in the last 8.

Federer fought past his Roland Garros victim Robin Soderling in three tight sets dictated by serves – something the maestro will be thankful to have practised as he now faces the much lamented Ace machine Ivo Karlovic.

A shy man, Karlovic is very likeable – it is a great shame that his game is so dull.

One man that cannot be described as dull however is Lleyton Hewitt (or indeed his fourth round victim Radek Stepanek). Seemingly down and out at two sets and a break behind – the Aussie Rotweiller scampered his way to a five set victory of his own. He now faces Andy Roddick who powered past the tricky Tomas Berdych in straight sets – impossible to call that one.

Tommy Haas and Novak Djokovic continue to impress as they meet each other in the other quarter final in Federer’s half.

Murray has the easiest match – facing a Juan Carlos Ferrero who despite looking rejuvenated just doesn’t possess the game to hurt the British Number one.

The Women – playing their quarter finals as I type, failed to produce such drama and quality across the field. Daniela Hantuchova decided not to turn up against Serena Williams wilting weakly 6-3, 6-1 whilst sister Venus had an equally tough ride through the fourth round when poor Ana Ivanovic tearfully retired after losing the first set 6-1.

Elena Dementieva looks very strong however after another blink and you’ll miss her performance beating fellow Russian Elena Vesnina 6-1 6-3. Ridiculous screecher Viktoria Azarenka fought back against a disappointing Nadia Petrova (who had her blood pressure taken in the mid-afternoon heat), whilst there were wins for Francesca Schiavone and Agnieska Radwanska – the latter conquering ‘Oudini’.

Safina’s strong willed battle with Amelie remained the highlight – and the Russian deserves another shot at a major final.

Thanks to Official Wimbledon site for pics.

Grunts in the Sun – Wimbledon First Week Review

2009-06-30T09:55:00.002+01:00

After just about managing to give you a day 1 round-up on time, I consequently failed to keep up such a feat. A bit of overtime at work, getting down to the courts to play myself or indeed attending the championships themselves (On the first Wednesday – pics and report soon) – it’s all been a bit hectic.

Anywho, it has been a fine, fine tournament so far – plenty of shocks, five set epics and Murray aside – some remaining British interest in the doubles events.

Just as well after one of the most dismal performances by the home nation here in decades. All the more painful regarding the vast improvement – particularly from the ladies – from British tennis in the last year.

There were tears and tantrums as Anne Keothavong, young Laura Robson, Georgie Stoop, Alex Bogdanovic, Josh Goodall and co all bowed out over the first two days.

Only perennial fighter Elena Baltacha and the given Murray made it through to the second round – two Brits from Eleven starters.

Unpleasant stats but British tennis is not in the crisis of previous years: we do have two current top 100 women and elsewhere from the Slams the lads are performing much more consistently.

As ever it is the pressure of these two weeks – where the whole nation suddenly pretends to give a damn, sees our lot come unstuck to the crème de la crème and assume that is the case week in week out. You have to feel sorry for our players – true they are not good enough, but this is down to coaching and the still very backward attitude towards the game in this country.

Still, it is obvious now that these players would only benefit from a few rounds of tennis before the championship begins – a bit of qualifying will help settle their nerves and find some rhythm before the biggest tournament of their year. Wildcards should be left for the younger contingent that are making the headlines for all the right reasons.

At the business end of discussion – the men’s singles saw some excellent matches and a few shocks scattered throughout the week. Crucially though, the already depleted entry list has remained healthy – especially on the top half which saw the loss of Nadal and then Del Potro.

The latter’s conqueror Lleyton Hewitt is looking like his old self here once again, whether that is now good enough against the new breed of Murray and co is doubtful. The Aussie will have to fight off Roddick in the quarters before he can even contemplate a match with the Scot.

Roddick himself has not yet found his best form here, but even when he is playing poorly, that big serve, improved fitness and renewed desire will see him through.

Tommy Haas is playing well, a highlight surely his five set battle against the dangerous but still young Cillic – a modern day mix of Goran and Ancic if ever there was one.

The Women’s’ side has seen some welcome trends – the one dimensional ‘Ova’s’ (Sharapova not included) have been losing out to some new names from the established tennis nations. Indeed a lot of the younger players are losing out here to the old hands. The biggest upsets so far only confirm this fortnightly decline of eastern Europe – American Melanie Oudin’s (Oudini surely) victory over a lacklustre Jelena Jankovic and Kuznetsova’s loss to young German Sabine Lisicki remain the highlights.

I must keep this short as the above distractions are rearing their ugly heads and I must return to looking at Ford Fusion data – still here’s a list of all the Seeds that departed in the first week:

Men:

Juan Martin Del Potro
Jo Wilfred Tsonga
Fernando Gonzalez
Marian Cillic
Nikolay Davydenko
Tommy Robredo
Marat Safin
David Ferrer
James Blake
Rainer Schuettler
Dimitry Tursunov
Phillip Kohlschreiber
Feliciano Lopez
Jurgen Melzer
Mardy Fish
Victor Hanescu
Igor Andreev
Victor Troicki
Alberto Montanes

Women

Svetlana Kuznetsova
Vera Zvonareva
Jelena Jankovic
Nadia Petrova
Dominika Cibulkova
Marion Bartoli
Flavia Pennetta
Jie Zheng
Samantha Stosur
Na Li
Annabel Medina Garrigues
Alize Cornet
Alexandra Wosniak
Maria Sharapova
Patty Schnyder
Kaia Kanepi
Virginie Razzano
Alisa Kleybanova
Sorana Cirstea
Sybille Bammer
Agnes Szavay
Anastasia Pavlunchekova
Anna Chakvetadze

Day 1 Round-up: Federer cruises as Benneteau bruises

2009-06-23T13:21:00.012+01:00

It was business as usual on the first day of the Championships: some five set marathons, tense edgy thrillers and the obligatory bagel or two as the majority of scheduled matches were completed.

Early on, it was Great Britains very own junior 2008 Champion Laura Robson stealing the limelight on the new court no.2. Still just 15, 'Robbo' (as she was affectionately referred to by BBC's Caroline Cheese) played a sensational first set against former world number 5 Daniela Hantuchova. Despite the most daunting of occasions it was the experienced Slovak and not the teenager who whowed signs of nerves. When Robson did inevitably realise her achievements (a set and a break up) she lost her concentration, her serve and eventually the match 3-6, 6-4, 6-2.

As she should have been Hantuchova was full of praise after being severaly tested by someone almost half her age, little consolation for the Brit who felt she had thrown away the match.

Elsewhere it was Roger Federer opening up on centre in Nadal's absence. The Swiss, looking dapper as always (in a rather fetching military style jacket which has divided opinion - but gets my thumbs up!) showed enough brilliance to get past an impressive Yen Hsun - Lee.

Serena came through easily in her match on Centre - but doubts must remain if she will ever take the title again here - her loss to Sharapova in 2004 proving something of a psychological hindrance. The younger sibling doesnt share Venus' Wimbly vibes.

Sharapova herself - still rusty after ten months away -rallied to beat blonde, grunter clone number 16543.2A. Viktorya Kutuzova's only distinguishable factor is that she is Ukranian not Russian. It is good to have the greatest competitor of them all in Maria back on the tour - she at least has some mystery behind her one dimensional game.

Some other big names werent so successful - James Blake was beaten in straight sets by the in form Andreas Seppi becoming the first seeded casualty. He was later joined by the inconsistent duo Feliciano Lopez and Rainer Schuettler. Nathalie Dechy also packed her bags early on.

Novak Djokovic survived a stern challenge from French journeyman Julian Benneteau, who made the most of the Serb's erratic play in a match which lasted over 3 1/2 hours. The young Serb's conviction, confidence and fitness have all been talking points for the last year or so - and there was precious little last night to suggest that is going to change anytime soon.

In the dying light on centre, with the British crowd's underdog support ever present - Benneteau was matching Djokovic as the fourth set went with serve all the way to 4-5. Another long-fine quality rally ended as the Frenchman - running back towards the wall after retrieving an overhead - slipped and crashed knee first into the courtside wall.

Despite a brave match point save Djokovic sensed his opportunity and broke to win.

The 4th seed is through, but cannot be regarded a serious contender unti he himself begins to believe.

A special mention for Georgie Stoop who fought back with the last few shots of the day to level a set all with the cat's cradle of emotions Vera Zvonareva.

Seeds out:

James Blake (17)

Feliciano Lopez (21)

Patty Schnyder (21)

Alexandra Wozniak (23)

Thanks to Wimbldeon official site and WTAWorld for the pics

Wimbledon - a celebration and preview

2009-06-21T18:41:00.007+01:00

It’s the last week of June, (more or less) and for millions of people worldwide that means only one thing: The Championships.

Forever seeped in history, the green courts of Wimbledon have effortlessly produced drama, emotion, elation and despair in equal measure. With every passing year, as each generation of players with some truly great champions set foot on the hallow grounds of SW19 one thing remains consistent.

The atmosphere.

The Australian open, placed so near to the beginning of the new tennis season, has the intense heat, passionate and knowledgeable (if sometimes a little boisterous) crowd and a frequent flurry of surprise packages as lower ranked players pull of some world beating shocks after a hard graft off-season.

Four months later and the hard courts of the first third of the season are long gone – replaced by the unique challenge of the slow, sapping clay surface. In Paris the grand showpiece of the red stuff is at Roland Garros where the world’s best have to deal with a notoriously partisan crowd - who can turn on a contender with great speed and conviction – as well as the punishing dirt.

August sess the glitz and glam of New York crammed onto a tennis court. The US Open at Flushing Meadows offers some of the sport’s most impressive and intimidating arenas with a patriotic spectatorship who let their presence be known amidst the superfast hardcourt surface.

With each of these events and the many Tier 1/Premier/Masters events the guarantee of truly world class action is delivered. But nothing quite compares to those two weeks in south west London where it is an overriding sense of tradition and (as with so many British sporting events) an unparalleled sense of history.

It remains the ultimate prize for the players, and has done throughout the eons. It is here that the idols and icons of the sport would have been broadcast all over the world and for two weeks would inspire fans, and future professionals alike.

This hasn’t been the case for everyone of course. Some foreign players find the all white dress code and unfamiliar surface a real problem. Mary Pierce once claimed the championships was not “ very player-friendly” citing that ‘there are a lot of things which make it different to other tournament sand it isn’t one I look forward to”. Former world number one and (criminally only) two time Grand Slam winner Marat Safin has notoriously been anti-Wimbledon despite his semi final run last year: “Let’s not talk about Wimbledon…It’s not really the place for me”.

There are other- more understandable reasons why many players haven’t embraced the event: the prize money only became equal for men and women in 2008 after a lengthy campaign by the leading names of the WTA. The surface itself has caused many current women to act indifferently when they lose at Wimbledon knowing that in a week’s time, the grass season will be over and the infinitely more familiar hard courts will return. Current world number one Dinara Safina echoes her brother sentiments: “I’m always arguing with my coach, who tells me I can play there…I don’t understand this surface…I’m fighting badly with it”.

In 2001 the unique seeding strategy (where a players tournament rank can be influenced by past grass court results) led many of the Spanish clay specialists to boycott the tournament altogether: Juan Carlos Ferrero, Albert Costa and Gustavo Kuerten all asked for a fairer reflection. A lengthy battle ensued an today we have 32 seeds instead of 16, but the All England club still reserves the right to alter the order of those 32 based on grass court form.

Some players haven’t even bothered to turn up at all and this includes high profile names such as Ivan Lendl and (for a time) Andre Agassi.

Yes, Wimbledon still hinders rather than helps the attempt to bring tennis to the masses in the UK (something that Andy Murray’s youthful self-assurance and rags to riches image has done much to change). Unlike the other Slams, the exclusivity and air of the upper classes still hangs in the air. But the pomp and ceremony only intensifies the whole occasion and in some eyes restores some sense of intimacy and grace to a game now dominated by the modern world’s obsession with athleticism, technology and celebrity that every modern sporting event is expected to deliver.

True, the face of the Championships has changed since it was first held in 1877. In 1980 service line monitor ‘Cyclops’ was first used, with service speed guns introduced eleven years later. A new broadcast centre and the stunning new No.1 court were opened in 1997 whilst most recently giant television screens and the Hawk-Eye ball tracking device have ensured the tournament remains technologically fresh-faced.

This year, the final stage of the ‘Long term plan’ (drawn up in 1993 to ensure Wimbledon continued to represent the very summit of the sport) will be showcased – a retractable roof.

2009 will be the first year whereby the elements will not affect proceeding on centre court – an occurrence that has arguably decided many a great match as players’ momentum shifts to and fro with every delayed intermission.

So what of this year? Technological advancements aside, one thing we are not promised is a repeat of the truly epic men’s singles final from last year where the very core of the shift in the modern game was showcased in the sports greatest stage. Rafael Nadal the very encapsulation of today’s power game defeated five time champion Roger Federer, a stalwart of the classic tennis makeup; success won through tactics, technique and fluidity.

Nadal’s absence leaves a rather empty feel to this years event, as despite his godlike but ultimately unattractive way of playing may not necessarily be missed, the loss of the defending champion is always damaging.

Federer of course remains favourite to triumph. Full of confidence from his superb win at Roland Garros and now fully rested both physically and mentally after skipping his usual grass court warm-up event in Halle – the Swiss maestro remains the most complete player on grass by some margin.

Andy Murray will too be brimming with self-belief after winning at Queens (albeit against a significantly depleted field), and with a playing style similar to Nadals but perhaps just that bit more suited to the green stuff he is very capable of taking the title. Add to this the tremendous home support (not quite at Henmania levels just yet as the Scot’s on court brashness hasn’t endeared him to all) and a winning record against Federer and you have a home grown talent who has never been better equipped succeed.

Elsewhere, my picks in the men’s game remain with the grass court specialists despite the courts themselves playing all too similarly to their hard court cousins as the years have gone on. Roddick, Simon, Wawrinka and at a stretch the 2002 champion Lleyton Hewitt all have the game for grass.

Such is the inconsistency of the women’s game at the moment, that it is only the Williams sisters who really shine out as a safe bet. Elsewhere it really could be anyone, as the new breed of yet more baseliners continue to sine one week and then crumble the next. Of them Victoria Azarenka, Caroline Wozniaki and Agnieska Radwanska will do well whilst the recovering Maria Screamapova is always dangerous despite never repeating her success of 2004.

Thanks to http://www.parkfield.co.uk/, Wimbledon Official Site and BBC for the pics.

Roland Garros relief for Roger – But for how long will he be ‘the best ever’?

2009-06-14T20:28:00.005+01:00

June 7 2009 saw tennis history being made once more, as Roger Federer finally achieved his destiny of winning the French Open and deservedly becoming the sixth man in history to have won all four Grand Slam finals.

Yes, it wasn’t the dream final against Nadal – surely the Swiss would have enjoyed this milestone that much more if it came over his arch-nemesis.

Some payback for that Wimbledon final last year, where millions of hearts (rewarded so richly in Paris last week) were broken as Roger’s bid for a truly unprecedented sixth straight title faded along with the light in the British summer evening gloom.

The former world number one - who with this title equalled Pete Sampras’ astounding record of 14 Grand Slam titles – had already done more than enough prior to Paris to be considered as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport.

Now, with the complete set and (unlike the last man to achieve the same feat; Andre Agassi), multiple titles in three of the four majors Federer really does deserve the accolade of ‘Greatest of All Time’.

Some would argue that the great Rod Laver, still the only man in the open era to have won the calendar Grand Slam statistically holds this honour. However the unprecedented level of quality that has oozed through the entire top 100 and beyond in the modern game makes the achievements of Wilander, Sampras, Agassi and Federer that much more significant.

Add to this, the jaw-dropping set of records the Swiss maestro holds in addition to his Grand Slam wins and you have a man who is still unrivalled in consistent quality.

But it is one man, and despite the aforementioned deep pool of new talent flooding the ATP ranks right now – just one man who is threatening to eclipse Fed-Ex’s accomplishments.

Already owning a 5-2 head to head advantage in Grand Slam finals against Federer, and having himself already won majors on all three of the different surfaces, world number one Rafael Nadal is poised to spoil the party and rewrite the history books once more.

At 23, the Spanish superhuman and ‘King of Clay (and Grass/Rebound Ace?) has four years on his rival to amass similar title glory.

This time last year, without yet transferring his clay court Major successes to any other surfaces there was still question marks on whether ‘Rafa’ could ever truly be as great as Federer and not just a one Slam pony/stallion.

Nadal has answered such questions in emphatic fashion, he remains the number one player by some margin and if his knees stay firm, he is likely to cause Federer big problems at Wimbledon regardless of Roger new found confidence after Roland Garros.

Whatever happens in the years to come, it will be fascinating to savour this ongoing rivalry that is the best the sport has ever paid witness.

As with the loss of Henman and the last great practitioner of the serve and volley game, the eventual retirement of Federer will see the last great all-round champion to use natural technique and not muscles to achieve such god-like feats.

Thanks to ontennis.com and tennis.com for the pics

How times have changed – Refresh and Recap

2009-06-13T17:50:00.006+01:00

Hello again!

I’m glad to announce the re-birth of this blog which it is fair to say has been somewhat forgotten over the past couple of years bar a few posts at the beginning of 2008. This has been down to a number of factors including a six month period working 65+ hours between two jobs and a lengthy and very intense relationship with someone who despite being a competent if inexperienced player was ultimately uninterested in the sport.

‘Henman is shit cos he never won anything did he!’….that sort of thing.

Private distractions aside, it is important to admit that I had become a little disillusioned with tennis, and yes rather disheartened too. I didn’t want to accept that my favourite players were fading away or retiring altogether as the game continued to move at a blinding rate in terms of fitness, power and mental toughness. The men’s game has seen a real generational shift as the great names from not so long ago are quickly plummeting down the rankings by injury and the new standards required to compete at the top: Safin, Hewitt, Ferrero, Blake, Robredo, Haas, Nalbandian are all players that have featured in the sports elite for a long time just a few years ago.

It is hard to imagine any of them reaching or certainly maintaining a spot in the top ten now, which is very sad.

I will touch more on this ‘changing of the guard’ in a future post.
With the WTA the case is more drastic, with big names not just slipping away, but retiring altogether!
In a year that saw Kim Clijsters leave the tour there was also Martina Hingis’ (re)retirement late in 2007 which will forever be marred by the controversy surrounding the Wimbldeon 2006 cocaine tests. Capriati and Davenport have all but left the sport, and last year of course saw the biggest loss of all to the women’s game with Justine Henin hanging up her racquet in May ranked at no.1

It was this which really left a void in the WTA – that number one spot left so dramatically by the Belgian was duly swapped between a number of players for the remainder of the year. Sharapova (inheriting the summit automatically from Henin, Ana Ivanovic, Jelena Jankovic, Serena Williams and finally Dinara Safina who still stands (not so) pretty at the top of the world at the time of writing.

The still too inconsistent Williams duo aside, the above list is a little embarrassing for the sport. Yes, the likes of Ivanovic and Jankovic are fine players and certainly top 5 material, but the best?
It was always going to be a year of transition, and with the aforementioned new crop of players swarming into the top 20 there was always going to be change.

But apart from Ivanovic’s 2008 French Open triumph over Safina the Grand Slam haul from these new names has been non existent. Partly this is due to such heights being reached far too early, not so much in terms of age although the eastern European girls are still in their early twenties. Rather in terms of the transition from top ten stalwarts (just about) to the very height of the profession.

It simply proved too much.

As a result we have seen upsets aplenty in the Slams and major tournaments, and while this does indeed show a real strength in overall quality within the top 100 and certainly the top 40 ladies – sometimes sport needs a champion or a recognisable elite few who can be relied upon to produce masterful and formidable tennis at the worlds biggest stages. Surely that is what a top ten of anything should deliver.

Nowhere is this better demonstrated than in the current men’s game – we have an established band of players both young and old producing consistently quality tennis. Of course the likes of Federer, Murray and even the great Nadal (as seen most spectacularly in Paris recently) are still losing, but they remain the dominant forces and thus offer credibility to the sport.

To finish this patchy recap - and as a precursor to my top twenty profiles piece – lets just look at how the top ten has changed from this time last year with the ATP and WTA.

ATP Rankings 9 June 2008 ATP Rankings 8 June 2009

1.Roger Federer 1. Rafael Nadal
2. Rafael Nadal 2. Roger Federer
3. Novak Djokovic 3. Andrew Murray
4. Nikolay Davydenko 4. Novak Djokovic
5. David Ferrer 5. Juan Martin Del Potro
6. Andy Roddick 6. Andy Roddick
7. James Blake 7. Gilles Simon
8. David Nalbandian 8. Fernando Verdasco
9. Stanislas Wawrinka 9. Jo Wilfred Tsonga
10. Richard Gasquet 10. Fernando Gonzalez

WTA Tope Ten Wimbledon Seeds 2008 WTA Rankings 8 June 2009
1. Ana Ivanovic 1. Dinara Safina
2. Jelena Jankovic 2. Serena Williams
3. Maria Sharapova 3. Venus Williams
4. Svetlana Kuznetsova 4. Elena Dementieva
5. Elena Dementieva 5. Svetlana Kuznetsova
6. Serena Williams 6. Jelena Jankovic
7. Venus Williams 7. Vera Zvonareva
8. Anna Chakvetadze 8. Victoria Azarenka
9. Dinara Safina 9. Caroline Wozniaki
10. Daniela Hantuchova 10. Nadia Petrova

Thanks to glediator for the pic.

Daniela hit again by a bout of Sharapovitis

2008-03-20T13:54:00.006Z

Having just come back from suffering a rather nasty sounding virus, Daniela Hantuchova was looking most impressive whilst attempting to retain her Indian Wells title this fortnight.

Downing players such as Sania Mirza and Jie Zheng in straight sets the Slovak was playing herself back into the sort of form that justifies her top ten ranking.

However, as predicted, she came unstuck in the quarter finals against a player who, like a virus infects the Slovak to a degree where she has become too much to overcome over the course of a match.

The loss is not surprising, nor is it a cause for concern for Hantuchova, who was rightfully satisfied with her week after some time away: “I feel good about my game right now and am happy to have come back and played well after being sick.”

Ever since the world number 8 defeated a teenage Sharapova in the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo 2004 the Russian has been a real bogey player. Owning a similar game style - the Slovak owning the much greater touch and feel yet still frustratingly reluctant to show it - matches between the two have often been evenly matched until a crunch moment, where Sharapova’s far superior mental toughness always wins through.

Despite some signs in Australia that such mental fragility was a thing of the past for Hantuchova, it was alas the case again in Miami. Up 5-2 in the first set Hantuchova just didn’t convert the chances, and Sharapova as is usually the case never allowed her opponent too.

A slow start from the Russian was quickly transformed into another commanding display of power tennis which has stretched her unbeaten record this year to an impressive 18-0.

Along with Ana Ivanovic, Hantuchova and Sharapova were the form players in the tournament, I fancy the Russian to repeat her 2006 success.

Hantuchova quote: http://www.pacificlifeopen.com/1/news/newsarticle_778.asp

Hantuchova hits the court running in Indian Wells

2008-03-17T10:22:00.002Z

It has been an encouraging and slightly uncharacteristically fine start for Daniela Hantuchova as she attempts to defend her Indian Wells crown.

On Sunday she sailed into the fourth round with a comprehensive display against the tricky Zheng Jie of China 6-4, 6-2 in the evenings’ women’s night match on centre court, a happy hunting ground for the two time winner who proudly called the blue and green main arena surface ‘my court’ after her third round triumph.

The win comes after an equally dominant victory over American Angela Haynes in the second round. It was a match which once again saw some formidable and consistent Hantuchova serving and a significant lack of unforced errors.

Such wins are admittedly expected of the number 5 seed and number 8 in the world but this is a player who despite such a fine return to form, is undeniably a question mark with every match.

More than any other player in the current top ten, Hantuchova is the most unpredictable in terms of match to match form. At the best of times consistency has let her down and more often than not, the pressure of being expected to win a match has resulted in her downfall.

All this remains true even now, but here in Indian Wells there is also the added fact that the Slovak has endured a three week absence from the tour with a virus - her longest period away for many years.

Sterner tests lie immediately ahead.

The impressive Sania Mirza is up next in the fourth round and the ever present cipher of Maria Sharapova - surely one of Hantuchova’s least preferred opponents with a horrid 1-6 head to head record - continues to be a likely quarter final match-up.

Image courtesy of Getty, from the Official Pacific Life Open website.

Crunch time for Hantuchova

2008-03-11T11:49:00.001Z

After two long overdue tournament wins and a return to the top ten it was a stellar year for Daniela Hantuchova in 2007.

The year so far has been encouraging.

The revelatory and at times world beating form she showed at the Australian Open was ultimately spoilt by a poorly played semi-final. It was essentially a wasted chance. The following weeks saw some surprise and disappointing results as Hantuchova’s form receded to indifferent at best.

Then, in Antwerp she retired due to a recurring ‘respiratory illness’ which resembles a form of asthma. With Indian Wells looming, and with a title to defend for the Slovak, has this period proved a blessing or a hindrance?

Certainly a break from the tour would seem welcome for a player who among the most active participants. It is true also that the post Australia form was far from encouraging - illness or not.

Seeded fifth at Indian Wells and scheduled to meet her first real test in Sharapova in the quarter finals it will be interesting to monitor her level and condition.

Image from AFP

A fortnight in review: Federer’s crisis and some welcome returns to form elsewhere

2008-03-11T11:43:00.003Z

It has been a period of relative surprises in the weeks after the Australian Open and Davis and Fed cup opening ties.

The players that shone in the sunshine down under have had mixed results, with an erratic Maria Sharapova coming through in Qatar whilst the likes of Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Justine Henin have all struggled to keep up their usual top level.

None more so that Roger Federer who has yet to even make a dent on the ATP 2008 race after indifferent form in the first slam and some rank displays since then.

It is further proof perhaps that the worlds best player can say farewell to the years of absolute dominance particularly 2004 and 2005 over which he lost just ten matches.

This of course is due in part to his opponents growing wiser to his game and vastly improving their own styles and fitness to something resembling his own level. In the cases of the Nadal’s, Murray’s and Djokovic’s there is also the added bonus of youth.

This aside, the Swiss master has evidently lost his own sense of invincibility.

An illness over the opening months (Federer was diagnosed with a fever inducing virus mononucleosis in January) resulted in a muted Federer; a man never enjoying his tennis and becoming easily and therefore uncharacteristically frustrated over the course of a match. This was most apparent after the shock loss to Murray in Dubai, before the tournament the Swiss proclaimed himself ‘refreshed and relaxed’ at the Laureus Sports Awards in February.

After being comprehensively beaten by the Scot - Murray never faced a break point in his 6-7, 6-3, 6-4 victory - Federer resorted to criticism of the Scots style. However true it may be that Murray simply waits for his opponents mistakes it isn’t very professional and thus very Federer, to make such observations publicly.

Something clearly isn’t right in the Federer mentality despite some recent words of defiance after yet another exhibition match against Pete Sampras: “Honestly, losses like this motivate me more than anything…trying to come back, trying to prove I’m still the one to beat, I just want to prove I can do it all over again”.

Only a fool would bet against Federer doing well at the next big tournaments, but it has been a long time since he has been in the position of having to prove himself as the world’s best.

Elsewhere there has been some welcome returns to form, the most satisfying of which came at the aforementioned Dubai championship with Andy Roddick triumphing after beating the likes of Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic in a week which saw the American play his best tennis since 2003.

In the women’s game it was former top-ten regular Elena Dementieva who lifted the trophy. The Russian has been on something of a wilderness after injury and a loss of confidence, but after comeback wins against Ana Ivanovic and Francesca Schiavone - who herself enjoyed an excellent win over Justine Henin - Dementieva played herself into blistering form to beat Svetlana Kuznetsova in the final.

Henin, like Federer has had a slow start to 2008, but for unclear reasons, she will be targeting the big two in the coming weeks to stamp her authority on the year.

Thanks to BBC Sport for the Fed pic.

Consistency, fatigue or something more?

2008-02-21T09:09:00.002Z

It's becoming a regular pattern, and a - for now at least - small crisis for Andy Murray and his camp: A fine tournament win followed by a weak first round loss to a journeyman.

Last weeks display in Marseille was typical of the Scot, some gritty, at times awkward wins (Stanislas Wawrinka, Nicolas Mahut Mahut) and some dominant displays (Jesse Huta Galung and a recovering Mario Ancic. Of course his triumph was aided by the early exits of Jo Wilfried Tsonga, the dissapointing Richard Gasquet and Australia's new darling Novak Djokovic.

Such luck is commonplace in todays game however and Murrays second title of the year indicates a prosperous 2008.

Freshly returned to the top ten and surely brimming with confidence, Murray then joins Marcos Baghdatis in exiting the first round of Rotterdam; losing tamely to Robin Hasse.

Murray insisted fatigue was not a factor: "I wasn't tired physically or mentally, i felt decent", but even after beefing up somewhat since his gangly early years Murray's physical form can still be improved majorly to help his stamina.

Instead Britain's number one used a rather tired excuse of a differing court (this never really washes when practice time on said courts should surely eradicate any issues for a pro player).

Perhaps his dismissive view of the loss, coupled with his recent title suggests that committments lie predominantly with the more glamourous, and rewarding trio of upcoming tournaments: "This is just one of those matches you can afford in tournaments like this...now I will have some days off before I start preparing for Dubai and the Indian Wells and Miami stretch. It still has been a good start of the year."

The above comment shows a still-young attitude towards the game, that may well change as he matures, either way it has indeed been a fine start to Murray's third full year on the ATP circuit.

No chance for GB after Andy's AWOL

2008-02-08T11:00:00.000Z

This weekend's Davis Cup tie between Argentina and Great Britain was always going to be difficult. Since that glorious weekend in late September when Tim Henman bowed out of the game after sending his country back into the higher echelons of the competition, Argentina have been looming.

The joy soon turned to a knowing dread that all the hard work would ultimately be in vain against a squad boasting one of the most formiddable and compatible Cup teams.

Nalbandian, Canas, Chela and Monaco all ranked within the top 25 and all except Nalbandian clay court specialists the surface on which the tie would be played.

Of course, since then the Argentines have also been weakened after the injury/loss of form of Canas, Chela and most recently Monaco who sustained an ankle injury last week in the Movistar Open in Chile.

The revised South American squad now includes lower ranked players like Agusten Calleri (41), Jose Acasuso (50) and 31-ranked doubles player Sebastian Prieto.

As flimsy as this may be against any other team, the GB outfit, without the services of main talisman Andy Murray is now the least impressive set of players in the group. Yes doubles maestro and disgruntled sibling Jamie Murray will prove invaluable but it is Alex Bogdanovic who is ranked the highest of the UK's competitors. At 188 in the world Bogdanovic rests below no less than 19 Argentine players.

Jamie Baker and Davis Cup debutant Ross Hutchins will play some superb tennis despite being undoubtedly awed by the occassion and stature of their opponents, but the result is a foregone conclusion.

Once again the lack of commitment to an increasingly unimportant tournament and indeed the struggling state of British tennis when compared to every other nation in the world will be agonisingly exposed.

Heroes and Zeroes of the first Slam of the year

2008-01-27T16:06:00.000Z

Another great Australian Open (the most consistently entertaining major over recent years) is now over. Time to look at the players that, regardless of what stage in the tournament they reached made the last fortnight so special. A mention too for those that perhaps failed to deliver.

Heroes

Jo Wilfried Tsonga (Finalist) - The 22 year old has been a true revelation this fortnight. Showing no signs of nerves and fighting to the very end he displayed a maturity and quality of play that defied his youth and ranking. His list of victims included Murray, Youzhny, Nadal and Gasquet.

Novak Djokovic (Champion) - The number three seed justified his standing as the man to challenge the two top dogs. Held his nerve against some surprise packages (Tsonga) and dogged fighters (Hewitt). Oh and he outclassed Roger Federer. The most consistently solid player of the tournament.

Maria Sharapova (Champion) - I am not a fan of hers as is abundantly clear, but the level at which - during this fortnight at least- the Russian number one raised her level of play was simply too good for anyone and everyone. Unplayable.

Lleyton Hewitt (4th round) - A player who despite being only 26 is regarded already as a last generation player whose style of baseline play looks outdated and tired in todays era of superhitters and incredibly fit men. Once again the Aussie won the hearts of fans worldwide with his sheer willpower and determination. His match with Marcos, started just before midnight and lasting for over four hours, saw some small pockets of the Australian's Slam - winning form.

Casey Dellacqua (4th round) - A tough choice between the lady from Perth and the other seedkiller Agnieska Radwanska. What clinches it for Dellacqua is the fact that her opponents (Schnyder, Mauresmo) disn't quite crumble to the extent of Radwanska's. Brave and at times brilliant, becoming her country's number one is proof of her bright future.

Other worthy mentions: Phillip Kohlschreiber, Juan Carlos Ferrero, Agnieska Radwanska, Marat Safin, Maria Kirilenko, Jankko Tipsarevic and Daniela Hantuchova.

Zeroes

Roger Federer (Semi Finalist) - It'd be hard to find a bigger fan of Federer than me, but this was a tournament which he never looked like winning. To call the Swiss a 'zero' is a bit severe but the World number one never really clicked into even 4th gear let alone 5th or 6th. Arrogance? Probably more the case of just too many off days. A bit moody too.

Svetlana Kuznetsova (3rd round) - Losing to Agnieska Radwanska is no embarassment, but the really quite timid fashion in which the supposed number two in the world slumped out in the first week was unforgivable. The Russian needs to get back to her powerful best to stay in the top 5.

Venus Williams (Quarter Finalist) - For a main contender Venus never showed the kind of form that justified such a tipping. Struggling in most of her matches and incapable of holding onto any sort of momentum for a whole match the American was not impressive.

David Nalbandian (3rd round) - One of the few players regarded as someone who has the natural talent to beat Federer, David Nalbandian, like Kuznetsova lost to a worthy opponent but not in style. The Argentine looked despondant and a little bored throughout his trouncing by the 2002 French Open champion.

Justine Henin (Quarter Finalist) - Like her fellow top seed, Henin never really turned up to Melbourne. Her dominant 2007 form has not yet been rediscovered. After such a trouncing by Sharapova, even with the Belgian's mental strength it may take her some time to show that form again.

Lesser disappointments: Serena Williams, Rafael Nadal, Andy Roddick and Daniela Hantuchova (do i want to reach my first Slam final...nah!).

Images: BBC Sport

It’s a different Daniela!

2008-01-23T09:42:00.000Z

Daniela Hantuchova played possibly her most impressive match last night with a dominant victory over vastly talented seed-killer Agnieska Radwanska of Poland 6-2, 6-2.

The game itself was no classic; being the first match of the day the intense atmosphere and full capacity crowd were missing.

But a high quality level was evident from both players throughout.

The more experienced Hantuchova was playing her fourth Grand Slam quarter final (her last was exactly five years ago), but a first against an opponent other than a Williams sister and, crucially against a player ranked lower than her. Suddenly the mentality of needing to play out of her skin to win was not needed.

Knowing that her teenage opponent, despite such huge wins already in her career (Sharapova - US Open) and particularly in this tournament (Kuznetsova and Petrova) would probably be slightly more nervous Hantuchova just had to play her game, leave margin for error and try and stay calm.

She did just that.

A now considerably more bulky Hantuchova (reminiscent of her weighty look in summer 2004) displayed a level of control and composure that we have not seen in at any time in her career. It was a true master class of movement, power, precision and a near-faultless mental clarity resulting in a varied repertoire of shots (aggressive lobs, drop shots and THAT double-handed backhand down the line) all arriving at exactly the right moment.

There was no rushing, panicking or anything nearing emotion from the 9th seed. Never was this more clear than during the few nervy moments which, in the past would have caused wobbles. A warning for a time violation, five 1st set points unconverted (due to Radwanska’s often top-ten calibre shot-making rather than a Hantuchova error) and a long service game at the start of the second were all crises swiftly and deftly dealt with.

Yes, despite Radwanska’s undoubted talent, she is still a teenager and the scoreline would probably have been different against a top fifteen or top ten player, but the result would not have changed.

Radwanska, never one to display her feelings was realistic about the result and her tournament: “I tried my best, but it just wasn't my day…I made some mistakes, so next time…I reached my first Grand Slam quarterfinal - I beat two good Russian players, both seeded. So I'm happy.”

Hantuchova, who’s grace on court is matched by her delightfully down to earth, slightly shy persona was gushing and blushing after her win: “I think it means a lot - I guess I had to get through all the tough times and get experience to get to this stage…that's why I appreciate moments like this much, much more…it's going to be a new experience for me. Whoever I play, it's going to be a tough match”.

It was a revelatory performance, all without the screaming, shouting and stomping of Sharapova’s equally dominant quarter final.

Ivanovic will likely be a step up too far, but this match will provide a stepping stone for a stellar year for Hantuchova and one that will live long in my memory.

Image - and a good article from Australian Open Official site.

Au Revoir Justine as graceless yet glorious Sharapova advances

2008-01-22T23:32:00.000Z

Just a quick one this.

Although I was only able to watch small pockets of this 'classic match in the making', from what i heard it was a complete rout.

Not to mention a complete surprise.

Now, i know my dislike for Maria Sharapova and her man yclones is well documented - on this blog at least - but although I have in the last fortnight recognised her game to have vastly improved to its unstoppable best, I still fancied a struggling Justine to pip it in three.

A foolish prediction in hindsight.

Sharapova's improvement can be seen best within her new-found agility around the court to add to the speed that was already there. This, and a willingness to reserve the second serve to prolong the point (as opposed to gunning for a second serve ace) has added a consistency to the Russian's overall game.

It couldn't have at a beter time in terms of her opponents sudden weakness.

Justine has been THE undisputed queen of the game since Wimbledon, putting together a Federer-like winning streak of 32 matches since Bartoli's shock upset. But it was clear from the first point down under that this wasn't the Justine we know and the rest (including Sharapova) fear. A knee injury and, i think, perhaps a general lack of sharpness and maybe even desire had transformed the Belgian into a beatable player.

Lastly, and most importantly it was Sharapova's most impressive - if never beautiful - performance to date - winners screaming off the shreiking Russmerican's racket from every possible and impossible angle and position.

It still wasn't a joy to behold though, merely endless power and noise, not what the women's game encapsulates.

Nothing left to play for Amelie?

2008-01-19T16:40:00.000Z

Another article for Tennis Grandstand

For years the debate surrounding Amelie Mauresmo was whether she could ever conquer her nerves and win a Grand Slam. She undoubtedly had the talent to do just that; as early as 1999 at the age of just 19 the Frenchwoman reached the final of the Australian Open - beating then World number 1 Lindsay Davenport and two other seeds only to lose to second seed Martina Hingis at the last hurdle.

The years since then saw Mauresmo quickly become a household name and her silky smooth classic game style complete with a gorgeous one handed backhand was a breath of fresh air within a women’s game that was becoming more and more brutal and lacking in finesse with the rise of the Williams sisters style of baseline power.

Over the years Mauresmo had won many tour titles and was a consistent name within the throes of the games top five. That final down under was the closest she had got to winning a Grand Slam with many pundits, experts and ex-players sometimes very publicly stating that the woman from St Germains simply didn’t have the mental toughness to triumph in the games’ biggest theatres.

That all changed of course in 2006 when, after nine Grand Slam quarter finals and four semi finals Mauresmo reached another final, her first in seven years and at the Australian once again. It was to prove an anticlimax, her opponent; a troubled Justine Henin-Hardenne tamely withdrew early on. She had done it, the second longest wait for a major (32 attempts in all) had ended.

Mauresmo’s name would be engraved upon the Daphne Ackhurst Memorial Cup and her place in history was assured. But she didn’t feel like a champion. At Wimbledon of the same year Mauresmo won a Grand Slam the way she wanted to, by beating a field of fully fit players and fittingly a fully fit Henin in the final.

Suddenly, Mauresmo had gone from ’one of the best players to never win a major’ to one that had accomplished an awful lot. She has been number one in the world (briefly in September 2004 and for most of 2006) and in 2005 she won the Season Ending Championships. Add to these achievements those two Slams and it is easy to see how any player may feel satisfied with their career.

This is especially true of Mauresmo who has a renowned love of life outside the game and is as far from the Russian machine-like temperament of a Chakvetadze as you can get.

2007 signalled Mauresmo’s first year-end finish outside of the top-ten in seven years and was a year blighted by two separate two month lay offs with an emergency appendectomy and a right abductor strain respectively. Despite a third straight title win in Antwerp it was a year of disappointing major campaigns and latter stage finishes in smaller tournaments.

Her latest loss, a third round exit to new Australian starlet Casey Dellacqua was a big indicator that the passion for the game is beginning to leave Mauresmo. Completely out of sorts and on many occasions seemingly forgetting the games fundamentals, Mauresmo was a shadow of her former self. True she lacks match practice after a dismal end to 2007.

Never one for the public eye I fancy that if such results continue then we could be seeing a Clijsters-like early retirement and the loss of one of the games great ambassadors and finest talents.

Image from BBC Sport

The first classic match of the OZ Open 08

2008-01-19T13:39:00.000Z

Here's a (now almost redundant) piece i wrote a few days back for TennisGrandstand, well, it was relevant then but of course there have since been better matches (Roger and Janko we salute you!) and as i write this Marcos and Lleyton are slogging it out in the wee hours.

Still, here it is.

The Australian Open 2008 has - so far at least - been dominated by two talking points. A much publicized (but hardly revolutionary) surface change from Rebound Ace to Plexicushion, and an ever-present corruption hangover that is still causing the sport a few headaches.

The matches themselves have offered nothing too spectacular with Andy Murray’s first round loss to the ever improving Jo Wilfred Tsonga proving to be the highest profile surprise of the tournament. Some scheduled intriguing matches early on in the draw failed to deliver. Lindsay Davenport, despite two recent title wins was far from her fittest against a quicker, seemingly more agile Maria Sharapova and slumped rather disappointingly to a 6-1, 6-3 loss.

The much anticipated clash between Roger Federer and Fabrice Santoro also frustrated as the Frenchman’s usual sublime wizardry was never allowed to shine.

However, the tournament has enjoyed it’s first classic match, and it is no surprise as this second round encounter pitched Marat Safin against Marcos Baghdatis. It was a salivating prospect between two much loved figures down under. Safin, of course was the champion in 2005 (with that semi final win over Federer) and is a player who on his day really is capable of beating anyone.

He could have dominated the game for many years (Safin of course won the U.S Open in 2000 and was world number one briefly in November of the same year) but his much documented love of life outside the sport and a notorious temper led to an inconsistent career, not to mention a few injuries. His opponent, Marcos Baghdatis is one of the tours most colourful and popular characters.

Unlike fellow showman, Novak Djokovic, Baghdatis possesses a warm vibrancy that makes him immediately endearing and infinitely more charming than the impersonating, torso bearing Serb.

It was in 2006 of course that Baghdatis’ never say die attitude and sense of fun on the court that earned him a place in the Australian Open final and in the hearts of millions of fans worldwide.

It was the Cypriot Baghdatis who started Thursday’s night match as the slight favourite, and this was justified after the number 15 seed proceeded to take the first two close sets 6-4, 6-4 with just one break of serve in each. Safin then began to show us a glimpse of the majesty which earned him the title three years ago.

Scintillating ground strokes and a measured yet brutal power game left Baghdatis with no answer. Safin, who has never won a match from two sets to love down seemed to have the ascendancy as they entered the fifth set but soon looked groggy and seemingly mentally exhausted.

Errors crept back into the increasingly fuming former champion and as the rackets were once again flung and slammed to the floor, it was Baghdatis who rediscovered his consistency and his underrated first serve to wrap up the match 6-4,6-4,2-6,3-6,6-2 in three and a quarter hours.

Lleyton looms next.

Images from BBC Sport

New courts serving up alot of tiresome talk

2008-01-17T13:59:00.000Z

The much publicized resurfacing of the courts fresh for the 2008 Australian Open has caused a fervent if ultimately rather pointless debate amongst both the ATP and WTA elite.

Since the venue moved from Kooyong's grass courts to Melbourne Park in 1988 the surface of choice down under has been the much maligned Rebound Ace. The surface is made up from a rubberised series of underlayers half an inch thick. Often the surface varied in speed and bounce from court to court and particularly in higher temperatures, a single court would have varying response. In the hot summer months - when the Open is played, competitors would frequently complain that the ball reacted differently across the court - with shaded areas and sunlit ares providing different conditions.

This, and other more ridiculous claims made over the years (that the surface's bumpy layers resulted in frequent ankle injuries) resulted in the change to Plexicushion. This two-tone blue coloured material similar to that used in the US Open has a reportedly lower bounce due to a thinner underlayer of 4mm and will apparently offer a faster game.

Some players however have already voiced their concern or indifference to the surface amidst a rather overblown media furore in Australia's local press. Upon announcing his readiness for his title defence on Sunday Roger Federer was far from enthusiastic: "I think the surface is a little bit too slow...everything is already slowing down...everybody's already complaining that we're playing too much from the baseline...we'll only see more of that here in Australia, that's for sure."

Damning stuff, but interestingly players who thrive on the flat baseline game have no problems with the surface, Maria Screamapova commented: "I don't think it's as sticky as the Rebound Ace, definitely" and then "I think it's great for the body." Whatever that means.

Of course each player has their own preferred playing surface and conditions and while the majority of players, notably Rafael Nadal, Justine Henin and Serena Williams ("It's blue now, but I still like it...It's not as bouncy as last year. They all kind of feel alike to me") have found no real difference, some players (notably Marion Bartoli in a video interview with Eurosport) are using Plexicushion seemingly as an excuse, citing that it was too slow for their game.

As is already proving the case however it is now the sublime matches (Marcos and Marat thank you!) on these courts not the courts themselves that's getting everyone talking now.

Image and quotes: http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/01/13/sports/srtennis.php?page=2

Tim Recap

2008-01-17T12:08:00.000Z

To finish this duo of articles celebrating this blog's initial concentration upon Daniela Hantuchova and Tim Henman, here is an article about Tim which I wrote back in September for a sports website which has yet to launch.

Henman: Free at last from a nations under appreciation…on court at least.

Whatever the result it was fitting that the last on-court memory of Henman would be the arena in which the British public judged him for two weeks every year. It was fitting too that Henman’s successor was present, Andy Murray now has the burden of an even more expectant nation on his similarly built shoulders. Whether he can deal with this expectation with such maturity, grace and professionalism as Henman did remains to be seen, certainly his brittleness won’t help.

Henman’s gross mistreatment by the press (almost exclusively the British tabloids) and the consequent ignorant view of Henman as a failure from a nation of football fans has of course been well documented. On the announcement of his retirement it was fellow players past and present, genuine tennis enthusiasts and the few knowledgeable tennis writers that duly paid tribute to a career ended by injury and an emphasis on power in the modern game.

The question remains however; Where will Tim go now? Into the throes of the LTA? or the BBC? Most probably. A bigger question may be what effect will Tim’s background involvement have on a country’s youth who didn’t pick up their rackets during his playing peak: rejuvenating British tennis, indeed saving it from utter extinction? The hope of course is that the narrow mindedness of the populace will not hinder Henman’s chances whatever path he chooses.

Respected within the inner circles of the LTA, highly knowledgeable and critical of the current situation of British Tennis, and clearly passionate about the state of the British game (as revealed with some vigour in his last Wimbledon press conference) Henman’s ad ministerial and promotional skills would be highly valuable, but perhaps too ‘hands off’ a role so soon after playing.

First it will be family life with a third child to tend to, and the temptations of the senior tour may arrive faster than expected. A different kind of father figure role, either as Davis Cup captain or even as the tempestuous Murray’s coach, would be an ideal role for Henman, but I fancy for now if anything, he will be leaning more towards the comfy spot next to Sue and Johnny Mac for a fortnight in late June.

Either way, whatever Henman’s choice, when we hear his direct and erudite commentary or read about his strides in the revival of the sport we will remember the joy, drama and pride he gave us in his playing years. We will miss that feeling.

Of course, it has since been announced that Henman will indeed soon head into a coaching role in conjunction with the LTA. Currently the ambassador for a national under-14 championship launched on tuesday Henman revealed his intentions: "I could easily see myself doing some coaching...I've always had good communication with the LTA, they know where I stand...if and when I'm ready I'm sure we'll talk". This is great news for British Tennis and is exactly the right choice for a man clearly not ready to retire to the commentary box nor the quiet senior tour just yet.

Full story from BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/7190075.stm

Images from:http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/default.stm

Daniela Recap

2008-01-16T19:49:00.000Z

Seeing as this blog started life as a study of two players in particular it's high time to summarise the last year or so, starting with Daniela Hantuchova and an article i wrote for Sportingo: 'From breaking point to title glory – Daniela Hantuchova’s 2007'.

The former top-five youngster from Slovakia has shown more steady progress with wins at Indian Wells and Linz to banish the despair of recent years.

The career of Daniela Hantuchova has been well documented – a breakthrough year in 2002 , with that Indian Wells triumph, followed by the stark contrast of 2003. The sudden fame and fortune of being a star player forced the fragile 20-year-old to crumble, often in heartbreaking fashion.

The four years since have seen a very slow but increasingly steady comeback to the top flight. A series of progressively more steady seasons have banished (most) of the nerves that held her back for so long and, with it, the self confidence has flooded back, seen this year with her first titles since 2002.

The year started in much the same way as 2006 had ended – some solid wins, including victories which were anything but straightforward, providing further proof to herself that such matches were winnable. An uninspiring second- and first-round set of losses in January proved adequate build-up for the first Slam of the year. As has become the normality for Hantuchova, Australia 2007 was the usual fourth-round loss to a top 10 regular.

This time it was a determined and soon to be retired Kim Clijsters who would despatch the Slovak in straight sets. February offered more solid results in Japan and Dubai, but it was March where Hantuchova’s best results and high level of consistency first appeared. A semi-final appearance in Doha (beating Martina Hingis en route before losing tamely to Svetlana Kuznetsova) was followed by a long overdue tournament win.

Hantuchova’s second triumph at Indian Wells is ironic, considering the five-year hiatus and the enormity of the event. Arguably the biggest tournament outside of the slams and the season-ending championships, Indian Wells in California saw an impressive field in '07. With her rather paltry 14th seed placing, Hantuchova’s path to the title was far from straightforward. A fading Francesca Schiavone in the third round preceded hard-fought wins over several of the year's form players. A straight sets win over 2002 victim Hingis and then two tough three-set battles with rising star Shahar Peer and China’s Na Li were followed by a dominant straight sets win over Kuznetsova, who herself enjoyed a stellar '07.

Richly deserved plaudits followed.

A popular champion, the relieved Slovak was on a high: “I think its even sweeter, being able to win the same tournament again … I just went out there and enjoyed every moment on the court.” But three tournaments would pass before she would reach another semi-final in Rome on clay (by far her worse surface) beating Anna Chakvetadze on the way to a loss at the hands of Kuznetsova again. This period also signified two rare Federation cup losses for Hantcuhova at the hands of Nicole Vaidisova and Lucie Safarova.

A disappointing French Open was followed by the grass season and, with it, more steadiness – a quarter-final in Birmingham, losing to Wimbledon finalist Marion Bartoli, and a semi-final in S’Hertogenbosch, beating Ana Ivanovic in the quarters.

The green stuff also produced controversy.

At Wimbledon, the Slovak’s form was getting better with every round and an upset looked likely against a Serena Williams who, despite an amazing comeback victory at the Australian Open, was experiencing another frustrating year of injuries and lack of match play. After blowing away her opponent in the first set, Williams’ “spasm induced calf strain” was becoming visibly more painful to the point where the American collapsed dramatically on the grass of Centre Court. After trying to play through the pain, Williams was down 2-4 in the second set tiebreaker. The rain came, however, and saved the American who came out after the showers and wrapped up the third after Hantuchova seemingly allowed herself to be overwhelmed by Williams’ presence once more.

A rather tame American hardcourt season (including a poor first-round defeat by Julia Vakulenko at the US Open) was followed by Hantuchova’s strongest indoor season form of her career. September saw Lindsay Davenport’s comeback at its most impressive – in Bali the American would scythe her way through the field, including the Slovak in an entertaining final. Two tournaments followed Bali: a semi-final showing in Kolkata (losing to Maria Kirilenko in three) and a run to the final in Luxembourg (falling to Ivanovic, also in three). These were tournaments that Hantuchova should have and could have won.

With time running out to secure a place in the season-ending championships and two lukewarm showings in Stuttgart and Zurich, Hantuchova produced a timely second title of the year. In Linz she recorded victories over Nicole Vaidisova and long-time nemesis Patty Schnyder in the semi-final and final respectively. The championships provided some of the year’s finest tennis and ended in a thrilling final which saw an inspired Maria Sharapova lose narrowly to 2007’s queen of the courts, Justine Henin. Hantuchova’s group, which contained Maria Sharapova, Ivanovic and Kuznetsova was never generous. Just one win over the tired Kuznetsova was all Hantuchova had to show for a season of comparative success after four years in the wilderness.

With some players returning stronger in 2008 – including Davenport, Vaidisova, Amelie Mauresmo and Elena Dementieva – plus a horde of young stars it will be interesting to see if Hantuchova can raise her game once more.

First image from: http://www.pacificlifeopen.com/

Second image from: mira12.over-blog.com/article-7214382.html

Federer makes more history and again, in such style

2007-07-10T18:20:00.000+01:00

Not since the truly memorably Monday final between Ivanisevic and Rafter six years ago has the tennis world seen such a memorable or high quality Wimbledon final as the one supplied by Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal on Sunday.

Of course, the similarities between the two epic matches would have been ever greater if not for some miraculous spells of sunshine in the latter half of the tournament which sealed a Sunday finish and spared the tournament and in particular its referees some embarrassment in the eyes of the next generation of fans and players.

So against the odds, the tournament finished on time, and against similar odds particularly in the first week, Venus Williams captured a stunning fourth singles title elevating the American into some prestigious company. Venus had the easier task of course, playing an inspired but hardly spectacular talent in Marian Bartoli. She took her victory in the typical Williams manner - a quick shake of the hand at the net followed by blind self indulgence and an all too knowing confidence that leaves a rather unpleasant taste in the mouth. After nearly four hours of awe-inspiring play, Roger took his fifth consecutive title with everlasting grace that the Williams sisters have never been capable of.

Federer respects his opponents both on and off the court.

Never does the Swiss taunt his rivals or use cheap tactics to throw them off guard (Serena and Andy Murray you know who you are!), and refreshingly neither does Nadal. The two men; both champions are in a different league, even from their immediate rivals in the lofty heights of the top ten. Roddick is still impatient and sometimes immature whilst Djokovic and Davydenko have yet to show the mentality and skill respectively to take them to a Grand Slam title.

The match was a glorious showcase of shots, worthy of any final even if it was another resounding reminder that the classic craft of the Serve and Volley game is fading quicker than its last great practitioner, Tim will return next year...so will Roger bidding for an historic sixth, and so will Rafa who for now will have to bide his time before his inevitable victory at SW19 for a few more years.

Fed image from the BBC

Shocks aplenty down under

2007-01-24T13:45:00.000Z

Firstly, let me begin by thanking the Anonymous (claire) poster below for her kind words, and to everyone else recently who has helped to rejuvenate this sorry work.

Alas, i didn't actually watch any tennis last night (was far too busy finishing Scarface and getting over a horrendous cold), but the highlights today were still a treat. Tommy Haas has always done well in Australia, but this year he really is playing much better than ever before and could very well make the final, certainly few expected the German to conquer Davydenko, the steeliest, and nerveless of opponents. If so i would suggest Roger ups his game somewhat to win.

Of course Federer has to get past an Andy Roddick who is looking and playing his best for years, will have to watch that one tonight i think. Elsehwere, it seems that everyone is surprised with Fernando Gonzalez' great run, well he has proven in the past that he is capable of the big wins (defeating Nalbandian, Roddick, Agassi and Ljubicic last year), and when the surface suits him (25-11 record on hard courts in 2006), he is dangerous.

New coach Larry Stefanki is no doubt bringing some Henman-esque touches to Gonzales' game, which will obviosuly pay dividends against such brittle hitters that dominate the modern game.

True to form, my wishes have gone unfulfilled with Martina

Hingis' exit in the quarter finals. I suppose, in hindsight, looking

at her performance against Na Li in the fourth, it was something of a big step up to play Kim, who has a fiery intent and will to win in her last year on the tour.

She will, - thankfully - tear Sharapova apart, which will be nice to see.

Images, again from BBC Sport

It's been a long time, Oz Open thrills again

2007-01-23T12:31:00.000Z

Well, it has been some time since I last ventured into the world of blogging, a lot has happened of course.

This post signals the end of this blogs' concentration on Tim and Daniela, focusing on issues within the sport and general commentary. It is worth a quick note however that 2007 will be a rich year for Tim if he stays fit. He clearly still possesses a top twenty game and will get there if he continues to secure the big wins he achieved with such class last year. Daniela however is badly in need of another title. Her won triumph at Indian Wells was now nearly five years ago and having just watched a typically tired and unoriginal display by Hantuchova in her fourth round loss to Kim Clijsters the evidence was plain to see.

Still, what a tournament the Australian Open has proven to be once again! Last year I was lucky enough to watch the tournament whilst working at Ace Tennis Magazine. I have fond memories of watching Daniela beat a horribly unfit Serena and the masterclass of Federer battling the surprise semi finalist Kiefer. This year it is a bit different; busy writing a dissertation all day to be rewarded with some tennis at 2am on a tiny television in a cold, increasingly damp flat.

My picks are still Roger and....Well Serena. At least that is the plan (of course, my plans very rarely play out). It would be perfect for the game if either Serena or Martina Hingis wins the women's competition. The two are very different in their qualities: Serena much criticised for her well-documented off-court exploits, has such on court emotion and desire to win, she is a PERSONALITY, and will always be more endearing and human than the Russian robots or Czech mannequins. Hingis plays the game how it should be played, with great tactical verve and a full range of variety. She can do anything with the ball and sacrifices her lack of power with an unmatched feel for the game.

Good too to see Andy Roddick back to playing his best, when his game is working he is second only to Federer.

I am a bit rusty, and hungover today so forgive the mistakes.

Images from the beeb

Bring on the Grass! Henman unsuprisingly strong at Queens, Daniela unsuprisingly retires from Birmingham

2006-06-15T14:54:00.000+01:00

Yes, it was a good French Open, a fitting end with Justine defending her title and the boys offering us a close finale...but Roger was denied and that breaks my heart!

I will readily confess that despite my admiration for Nadal and his two Grand Slam titles' at the age of 20, the clay court style that he encomapsses so well will never be as thrilling to watch as the super-quick grass court style that say...Tim Henman uses.

Federer, such is his overall talent, is always watchable whatever the surface, and it would have been truly inspiring if the world could witness REAL history in the Swiss taking the title and holding all four Slams.

Sadly, i really cannot see a different outcome next year, if anything Nadal will soon find his form on grass, carpet and hard courts and the Fed-Ex will be thwarted once more.

Moving on, a quick note with Daniela who after reaching the final of Roland Garros with Ai Sugiyama, has withdrawn from the DFS classic in Birmingham with a wrist injury. A real shame after being seeded 3rd it was an easy draw and with her own grass court capabilities Daniela would have made the final.

Much like she did at Eastbourne in 2004, early indications are that she will be present at this years tournament next week.

Finally, onto the main subject of the post, in that Tim Henman has clearly found his best form once again on the hallowed green turf of the Queen's Club. I was lucky enough to witness Britain's best player in action on Monday when he beat Andre Agassi comfortably (alas my enjoyment of this amazing spectacle was dampened by the realisation of Agassi's increasingly tired body swiftly limping to a career end). I also witnessed (and caught some snapshots of) James Blake, Mardy Fish, Greg Rusedski, Ivan Ljubicic, Feliciano Lopez, Gael Monfils and Dimitry Tursunov.

Incidentally, that particular thorn in henman's side could well halt his run in the Stella Artois Championships as it could be Tursunov who Tim meets in the quarters....

No thanks

Henman through in Roland Garros

2006-05-28T15:20:00.000+01:00

Tim Henman secured a typically hiccup - filled encounter in the first round of the French Open earlier today defeating Denmark's Kenneth Carlesn in four sets.

Henman looked to be back to his best in the first two sets in which he was in complete control over his opponent. Confident as ever at the net and making few errors from the baseline, the British number 3 broke his opponent once in both sets to take them 6-3, 6-4.

It looked to be a similar story in the third but Carlsen proved a stubborn enemy and kept his cool, holding serve and producing solid shots whilst several errors flew from Henman's forehand.

Elsewhere, Roger Federer survived an unexpected test against lucky loser Diego Hartfeld of Argentina, coming through two tough opening sets 7-6, 7-5, 6-2, there were more comfortable wins for clay courter Tommy Robredo thrashing Tomas Zib and the current hot property Dinara Safina who fended off former World number 9 Vera Zvonareva.

Tim looks solid here though.

Daniela (who SHOULD go far thanks to a fairly generous draw) plays tomorrow. Her clay court form has been a little shoddy in 2006 (in fairness, it has been a rather average year despite her consistent top 15/20 ranking).

There was more doubles joy however as the Slovak number one, together with regular partner Ai Sugiyama captured the doubles title in the Tier 1 event in Rome last week.

Daniela and Ai picture from WTAWorld.com

Hantuchova parts with coach, again!

2006-04-27T11:49:00.000+01:00

After a successful return to Fed Cup duties - steering the Slovak Republic back into contention for the World Group (by beating Great Britain!) - without coach Nigel Sears, Daniela Hantuchova has split from her long term British coach.
Bearing in mind it was Sears who steered Daniela to a career high world ranking of 5, to dispose of his services would seem foolish.

However, anyone who is familiar with the Slovak's career will see this as a decision that is long overdue. The two's relationship was understandably close during Daniela's Sharapova-like rise throughout 2002, indeed up to that peak ranking of March 2003, from then it was a love-hate situation at best.

Hantuchova, repeatedly losing matches against lowly ranked players, whilst struggling with weight (after her parents divorce) would often look up at Sears during matches with teary eyes, pleading for support, Sears would often respond by leaving the stadium in disgust.

The pair split in January in 2004 after a tame exit from the second round of the Australian Open, but after Hantuchova failed to gel with replacement Harold Solomon - a former coach of Jennifer Capriati and Monica Seles - after only two months, she asked for his services once more.

Since then, a gradually more consistent set of results together with a slow but steady rise back up the rankings has indicated the pair are back on track - no doubt helped by the new members of Hantuchova's camp including a fitness trainer and sports psychologist - but in 2006, after a fine January, results have dropped again.

No reasons for the split have yet been given.

Picture from danielafrenchsite

Comment is free..

2006-04-10T14:04:00.000+01:00

Decided against going on a rampage at a Sharapova 'blog' which holds nothing more but a quick sentence and off court photos with the clothing always a little lacking. Instead i commented on the very true words of Chris Evert in a letter to Serena Williams basically telling her to pull her finger out!

The blog is the brilliant Pro Tennis Fan.

Martina Hingis, your views

2006-04-10T12:36:00.000+01:00

Neil McIntosh and online journalism today

2006-04-03T18:10:00.000+01:00

On Friday March 31 I and my fellow student journalists were privileged to be visited by Neil McIntosh, deputy editor of The Guardian newspaper’s online resource: Guardian Unlimited.

Neil discussed with us the ever growing medium of blogging and the increasingly technological direction journalism is currently taking. Guardian Unlimited is by far the most extensive and rewarding UK news based websites although it wasn’t the first – that accolade goes to the now rather static Telegraph website.

Offering standard services such as up to the minute news and a fine range of links, there is also the rather excellent and still rather young Comment Is Free ‘superblog’. Importantly there also exists the still embryonic podcasts section - the newest of today’s new media which is fast becoming a phenomenon after such large successes as Ricky Gervais’ pioneering effort - which Neil also talked about, leaving us salivating at the prospect of a World Cup 2006 pod-cast to rival the Times’ proposed Skinner and Baddiel pod cast live from Germany.

It wasn’t all just shameless Guardian promotion however, Neil gave us his views on citizen journalism and bloggers vs the established media: “A lot of bloggers love the idea of attacking the big guns especially in the U.S where there is certainly a degree of pomposity. Over here journalism is much less respected, we’re more used to it”.

Of citizen journalism, Neil stated that he ”liked the notion” but that a lot of examples are either “formulaic rewrites of Reuters reports” or “gender pushed, often written by those with axes to grind, people who have been rejected or disaffected by the media”. The main difference between established and citizen online journalism McIntosh said, is that the latter is “producer focused as opposed to reader”.

The issue that I found most interesting however was the increasingly uncertain future of the traditional newspaper. Rupert Murdoch has recently given a number of much talked about speeches outlining what must be done for newspapers to survive in today’s world of technophiles and internet users primarily clicking rather than flicking pages for their news intake.

Neil hinted that the Guardian’s newly bought printing presses may well be the last they ever use and with a lifespan of about twenty years things are far from certain regarding the long – term lifespan of the very symbol of traditional journalism: the newspaper.

Neil was a real inspiration to me and my classmates and was a pleasure to listen to. Most refreshing in my opinion were his no nonsense answers and approachability and his reassuring view that the core elements of journalism are still respected even within the online industry.

Yet another reason to improve my woeful shorthand then….

What a day!

2006-03-27T13:36:00.000+01:00

Now that I have managed to find some free time away from my employer's forever eager claws at Odeon cinema, I can recap on a great experience last weekend. On Sunday 19 March I took part in Ace Tennis Magazine’s annual racket testing day.

The magazine holds the event every year in the springtime and publishes the results in three surveys for each level of play: Beginner/Improver, Club and Pro over the May, June and July issues. For each skill level there are about twelve different rackets all up for review. The tester’s verdicts contribute much to how each developer’s new product for the summer will fare.

During an invaluable work placement at the publication earlier this year in January, I met with Heather Purchase, the coaching editor for the magazine. She very kindly invited me to the event and I, after stressing that I only really play recreationally, duly accepted.

The event was held at the prestigious David Lloyd tennis centre in Hounslow, Middlesex. Boasting no less than five hundred courts, the complex oozed quality - as did some of the youngsters training there. Frequently during my trips to and from the outdoor courts I was in complete awe of some of the kids play - some as young as six or seven, hitting the ball so cleanly and with great power. It really was great to watch.

My unexceptional standard placed me in something of a predicament on the day. I wouldn’t say that I am an outright beginner, having played the game for nearly ten years. However, the 'improvers' within our group were hitting the ball clean, low and with pace at each other in half-court rallies, I prefer to go for outright winners, and to be running for balls, as opposed to just hitting the ball back and forth. Indeed when everything is working, I will freely admit that I am quite capable in all areas, especially my serve and forehand which could just about compete with club standard. Unfortunately, I am very rarely ’on song’ as it were.

I decided to introduce a competitive edge into the proceedings. Joined by three fellow testers - including a member of the Ace team who’s game rapidly improved over the course of the day - my day was spent mostly away from the pre-booked (and fantastic) indoor courts to the equally plush artificial outdoor courts.

Beautiful weather, great company and facilities to enjoy whilst playing the sport of kings, it was sheer bliss. Luckily, my game didn’t completely desert me either, check out the upcoming issue of Ace magazine to see what rackets agreed with me the most.

The inevitable Henman post

2006-03-24T14:06:00.000Z

Yes, it was a little obvious, but I must comment on Tim's great triumph in the first round of the NASDAQ 100 Open yesterday.

News for both my faves has been scarce lately, mainly due to Daniela missing Indian Wells, and me having a lot of things on my mind, and my workload, which has now mounted to a fearsome height.

Henman's 'breeze' (thank you BBC for a rare positive!) over Marat Safin 6-3, 6-3 is a great result. Yes the Russian is still recovering from a knee injury, which has sidelined him for the past eight months (of course denying him a chance to defend his Aussie Open title in January). However, on the only time I have had the pleasure of seeing Safin play this year, was even earlier in his comeback, and he was masterful in his win over compatriot and (then) world number five Nikolay Davydenko in Dubai.

Henman, who has always given Safin close games in the past, was simply too much and this result yet again proves that Tim is still a force on the tour and once the clay court season begins, and his points to defend are almost non existent, we can expect a resurgence up the rankings.

Hewitt lies next, he is of course Henman's nightmare opponent, but is way off his best form (exploited by Murray in San Jose last month). Should be an interesting one.

Elsewhere, in her absence Daniela was busy winning awards at the 'Stars for Stars' in Miami: the official award ceremony for the professional tours. In 2003 Daniela won a host of accolades including Best Newcomer and Most Improved Player. This year she, together with regular partner Ai Sugiyama won the Fans Favourite Doubles Team award with over a fifth of the total votes.

Tim picture from Getty Images and Daniela picture from Official WTA Site

Mainstream media enters the fray

2006-03-21T15:33:00.000Z

Now for the other side of the argument, we have seen how the blog is very much the tool of the 'little guy' with my last post and its tale of Scott Burgess now a reknowned figure down purely to his blogging heroics.

However, well established figures within the media are now blogging too; actors, playwrights, political commentators, musicians.....everyone! And this must be a good thing.

Biographer, television pundit and newspaper columnist Arianna Huffington is the pioneer of such 'star blogging' with her weblog: The Huffington Post. The site has attracted actors who can also write such as Alec Baldwin and Harry Shearer , which is obviously a good thing.

Then there are others, like playwright David Mamet.

Yes, Mamet is one of the best of his kind, but some of his blog entries are, to say the least a waste of time. Still, good or bad, it is all interesting and much like your average Joe blog, these starts are revealing so much about themselves especially to us in the UK.

This is being addressed, and in a big way by the Guardian's equivalent, and brainchild from Huffington's effort: Comment is Free. A little more accessible than its U.S equivalent, the ever growing blog archive is relentlessly entertaining and captivating.

Just because such stars are joining in on the craze of blogging doesn't reduce the significance of the comparatively 'little guy' and what he/she has to say. Huffington post prides itself on the unedited status of its posts resulting in the biggest names offering us their most honest opinion without hiding behind the mediation that is so ripe in other mediums.

Big Blogger is watching you

2006-03-17T11:51:00.000Z

The case of Dilpazier Aslam - the trainee journalist working for the Guardian whilst secretly a member of a radical muslim group - is an example of the blogging community or blogosphere' working together to expose figures within the mainstream media.

Aslam, a British Muslim and member of anti-Semitic Islamic group Hizb Ut-Tahrir had written an article for the Guardian entitled "we rock the boat" just six days after 52 people died in the July 7 London bombings. The piece's main theme was that the younger Muslim generations in this country "are without the don't-rock-the-boat attitude" unlike their forefathers.

The article was controversial and some readers began to recognize Aslam's writing as similar to an article he co-authored three years previous on London website khilafah.com (incidentally this 2002 article has since been removed).

The bloggers who acted as the driving force behind Aslam's eventual expulsion were interestingly from both ends of the political spectrum:

Pioneer Scott Burgess a conservative American blogger and very much a respected figure within the blogging community was the first to expose Aslam, simply by conducting a Google search (one wonders why the Guardian failed to do this themselves). In particular, Burgess brought up Aslam's choice of the word "sassy" to describe such extreme terrorist acts.

Burgess' closest ally who's blog Harry's Place complained of the Guardians choice to hire an Islamic extremist usually holds a more liberal viewpoint - but the outcome was the same, Aslam had to go.

Other newspaper columnists/parttime bloggers joined the debate, namely the Times' Stephen Pollard and the Mail's Melanie Phillips bringing an element of heavyweight support, and helping to broadcast the message to a wider audience .

The Guardian soon asked Aslam to leave Hizb Ut-Tahrir or lose his ties with the paper. Aslam remained a member and was duly asked to leave on July 22nd 2005.

Fauviau is the result of the mad dad’s of tennis.

2006-03-12T14:04:00.000Z

Last week the BBC reported a story about a French tennis coach named Christophe Fauviau who had admitted drugging a number of his children’s opponents before matches.

The 46 year old was sentenced to eight years in prison after being charged with manslaughter when one of the drugged players - Alexandre Lagardere died in a car crash after a match with Fauviau’s son, due to his intoxicated state.
Fauviau's children Maxime, 16, and Valentine, 13, were apparently unaware of their father's actions.

Valentine, who is in France's top 10 for her age group, pleaded with the court to show mercy to her father, saying he did what he did out of love.
"My father never wanted to do anyone any harm. Alexandre's death really destroyed him," she told Le Parisien newspaper. "There are many parents who push their children and go a little mad because of tennis."

An incredible story, and although this is an extreme case of the dreaded ’tennis parent’ it merely contributes to the growing list of insane actions from tennis relations to ensure the success of their children.

It is not a new phenomenon.

Legends of the game could not escape overpowering relatives: Suzanne Lenglen, whose father Chris frequently gave her strict training and Jimmy Connors’ mother Gloria, would frequently shout from the stands.

However, it is the modern game that has some real tyrants; the resurgent Mary Pierce’s father Jim frequently hurled abuse at his daughter's opponents. Once he even shouted: “Mary kill the bitch”. Jim Pierce also attacked the French star’s bodyguard in 1993 saying afterwards: “He ran away and then came back, so I put him down again and I kept on punching him. I tell ya, that guy must've liked being hit”.

There is Yuri Sharapov, Maria Sharapova’s father and probably the most hated man on the tour: I’ll be the first to say that the man is detestable, even more so than the screaming slogger Sharapova. It is a rumour that Yuri secretly coaches his daughter with hand signals during the match, and joins his daughter in shouting constantly during and after points and at opponents mistakes.

Sharapov is little more than a nuiscance however when we look at the worst of all, Damir Dokic (pictured). Jelena Dokic, former world number four and darling of the tour a few years ago, is now languishing at 416 in the rankings. Much of her recent slump has been due to off court issues, nearly all involving her father who has in the past, drunkenly accused officials of being Nazis, and Australian Open officials of fixing the draw deliberately to his daughter’s disadvantage.

Most recently, after his daughter reclaimed herself Australian as opposed to Serbian, Damir threatened to bomb the country and kill an Australian in protest:
“I have thought about dropping a nuclear bomb on Sydney since Jelena lost in the first round this week, for which Australia is to blame. I have even thought about killing an Australian in revenge, but I wouldn't gain anything from it.”

Thanks to the Guardian for the info and quotes.

Picture from Sportal.com, copyright Getty Images.

Off the baseline, and onto my blogroll!

2006-03-10T14:07:00.000Z

Our latest task in class was to briefly into the blogging community to look for others with similar interests and, subsequently similar blogs to our own.

I stumbled across a great blog: Pro Tennis Fan, a very well organised research blog. Pro Tennis Fan as well as some degree of discussion and comment, offers an exhaustive amount of tennis news stories, links to players official sites and even specific player sections containing news about that player alone.

The site looks like it is as much a service for others, as it is the owners personalised web browser, holding everything that they look for in one place.

This site was surpassed however by one of the blogs listed within its links section.

Off the baseline is a truly sublime tennis blog. Much like PTF, it offers up to the minute news, but combines this with humorous comment and discussion, links to the official live – scoring services from the ATP and WTA Official sites (very handy), pictures, video highlights and live streaming videos of some major tournaments.

It is clearly a full time project, well designed and complete with a lot of entertaining sub categories including clip of the week and “quote un-quote”

Will today’s youth ever respect again?

2006-03-08T16:10:00.000Z

After the recent news that a 12 year old boy thought it a good idea to stick his used chewing gum onto a piece of abstract art worth nearly £1 million, the issue of respect amongst youngsters today is once again raised.

Apparently, when the child was being disciplined over his actions, the only way he could understand his crime was through likening the vandalism to disrupting the rhythm of a rap song (his favourite type of music naturally)

Although both my flatmate and my sister are keen artists, I myself have no specific fondness for modern art – especially abstract. However this pointless and terrible lack of responsibility and care for someone’s else’s effort is the normality with UK teenagers.

A fine article, again from the BBC describes in more detail the day to day lives of the youth community, or the ‘nothing to do generation’ as they are also known. Straight away we have a problem.
The article tries to find answers to the frequent theft, burglary and vandalism – cue the overused phrase: Anti social behaviour – that so many of our younger generations commit. The responses are all too easy to picture; a 15 year old complete with tracksuit, cheap gold jewellery clinging to every available digit or orifice and speaking behind a dozen scarves – probably in August – mumbles: “dunno”, and when asked if more activities being made available would perhaps distract him from crime he answers: “yeah probably”. Really! You think so?

These kids are bored, but instead of playing sports or videogames or watching television (the last two activities in themselves are hardly commendable for the young person supposedly full of life) it seems that breaking the law is the greatest fix. What a sorry state this country is in if the majority of the new generation are turning to crime through sheer boredom and ignorance.

The article also examines the ‘gang war’ culture that has been infecting Britain’s youth since I was a nipper. Back then it was all about the ‘townies’ and the ‘grebos’. It was at times quite a strong hatred, but truly trivial to today’s level: “They (grebos) just do your head in. They hang around in big groups. We don't respect them. They stand about our town thinking they're bad”. Thank you again to our interviewee with the BBC.

The word ‘respect’ is one that has quickly gained a complete lack of meaning. Used by today’s youth in every sentence, it now means anything and everything: “It's about taking away part of freedom. The freedom to hang out and be respected and to be individuals….People don't respect us. If they show respect for us we show respect. If they discriminate against us we are going to lose respect for them."
This quote, taken from 18 year old Lisa Gilbert at a youth group in Northampton (where the BBC focused its report) is just a mess of meaningless gangster phrases. What does she mean when she says ‘be respected’ or ‘discriminate against us’? From my personal experience, if you ‘give an evil’ to a chav today then you are discriminating against him/her and justifying a need for conflict.
Maybe if these kids decided to dress nicely and speak properly then not everyone would regard them as the social underclass they clearly are. Grebos may be scruffy but they wont try and steal your car because you looked at one of them. Of course the issue of parenting is huge here, is it the parents fault, or do we blame teachers or the government? The subculture of ‘Chavdads’ seems to indicate a lack of care and consideration from the carers, benefit scroungers and slackers.

Sky One recently aired a program called ‘Chav’s’. A study of the culture and, seemingly an attempt to sympathise or connect with them. The presenter and writer, Julie Burchill surprised me with her lack of professionalism and overall argument. A columnist for The Times and formerly of the Guardian, trying to stick up for chavs was entertaining stuff indeed. She fought losing battles with Vanessa Feltz, by no means an angel but someone who, on this subject is unquestionably sound, after Feltz argued that she doesn’t like paying for people to sit around all day and get drunk off the taxpayers money. There were other such ridiculous and totally hopeless arguments but none so absurd than the final curtain.

Burchill finished the programme with an almost ‘nobody likes us but we don’t care’ speech, her voiceover accompanying a montage of famous faces like David Beckham, Jordan and recent factory output Chantelle Houghton. Whatever you think of these figures, they couldn’t be more unlike chavs. Yes, they may wear the odd bit of Burberry or flash a bit of bling, but these people have worked hard to get to where they are. They are not saying that they cannot work because they have chronic asthma, and then lighting up yet another cigarette.

Hantuchova wins her seventh doubles title in Doha

2006-03-08T14:44:00.000Z

A poor tournament in singles, Daniela made up for it in style when she teamed up with regular partner (and doubles specialist) Ai Sugiyama to win the Tier 2 event doubles title. It is the pair’s first title this year and second overall as a team - they also made two finals last year in San Diego (above pic) and in Zurich.

The pair beat this year’s Australian Open champions Ti Ling and Tiantian Sun of China in straight sets 6-4, 6-4. “We are delighted to have won here. It was a good effort by both of us after we lost in the singles event. We are happy with the effort,” Hantuchova said after the final. Quote from ‘The Peninsula’.

This will sit nicely in Hantuchova’s trophy cabinet, alongside: six doubles trophies - including two from last year at Birmingham (w. Sugiyama) and Filderstadt (w. Myskina) and all four Grand Slam titles in Mixed Doubles (Daniela is only the fifth woman in history to achieve the career grand slam in this category).

There is one more trophy gathering dust in that glittering dresser; the 2002 Indian Wells trophy, Daniela’s first and only WTA tour title. It was a huge achievement: Daniela beat Justine Henin in the semi finals in straight sets and then demolished Martina Hingis in the final 6-3, 6-4.

Today is the first day of the 2006 championships, and Daniela isn’t there…..

Picture from danielafrenchsite

Tim’s on the way back, but Daniela’s just going backwards

2006-03-02T14:15:00.000Z

It’s another early end to the tennis week for my two favourites, but their progress and manner of elimination couldn’t have been more different.

Tim has just had a fine run in Dubai, beating two players who, although inferior to a fully fit Henman, are big scalps considering his current physical condition, and ranking. Beating Feliciano Lopez in straight sets, and then coming back brilliantly (from 2-5 down in the final set) to defeat Stepanek is just the kind of performance that gives credibility to a Henman comeback this year.

The fact that he has just lost to the number two player in the world: Rafael Nadal 7-6, 6-1 shouldn’t take anything away from a solid week which has shown progress. BBC Sport, so often a reliable source for tennis results and up to the minute news, does have a horrible tendency of using very negative terms when talking of Henmans’ results; win or lose.

Can the above result really be called ‘crashing out of the Dubai Open’ a phrase that should really be exclusive to top seeds, who aren’t expected to depart any earlier than the semi finals. The game by game commentary is even more absurd, but overall a loss is a loss, however you word it, and Tim certainly had chances in the first set to swing the match in his favour.

Still, he is looking determined to not only retain the British number one spot, but to achieve his goal of returning to the top twenty, I wouldn’t bet against it myself.

Daniela on the other hand, seems determined to run screaming from a return to the top.

As with Tim’s results, I was unable to see Daniela’s second round loss yesterday, and perhaps that was just as well. I had already decided to endure her first round horror show against the normally dangerous Kveta Peschke – I say normally because her form this year has been blighted by injury – which was a terrible match for the most part with Daniela finally prevailing 7-6, 5-7, 6-1 (after twice holding points for a double break in the second set). Her post match interview seemed to suggest a more relaxed and controlled situation: "I made the second set very difficult for myself, but I managed to turn it around in the third set. That was the best part of my match.How I turned around the match in my favour gave me a lot of satisfaction," the Slovakian added. "At the moment, I am pleased about my game."

Yesterday Daniela faced Na Li of China, a player who Daniela beat fairly comfortably the previous week in Dubai, after winning the first set 6-4 Daniela was broken at the start of the second to go 0-1 down. This was the point where I closed the Official WTA’s live scoring service to go to work, satisfied that Daniela would raise her game and win in two. She raised her game, she was winning 5-1 and had several match points within that game, before losing in spectacular fashion 4-6, 7-6, 6-1.

Her most devoted (and some obsessive) fans within her forum on WTAWORLD have called the result one of her biggest chokes in years, I really must agree.

This is unforgivable; after three strong tournaments at the start of the year, Daniela has fallen way short. After reaching the semi finals in Auckland, the quarters in Sydney, and that superb run in Melbourne reaching the fourth round and ousting defending champion Serena Williams, Daniela has lost consistently to players ranked lower than her. Such a trend is similar to the horror that was 2003, (the year if the weight problems and frequent emotional breakdowns) but now there is seemingly no real reason for such a decline.

Too much pressure after the Australian Open? Maybe, but the rot has to stop, or Daniela will find herself slipping back out of the top 20 after finally looking to be back to her best.

Daniela picture from danielafrenchsite
Tim picture from menstennisforums.com

A real fall from grace…

2006-03-01T14:38:00.000Z

Another change of tune with this post; one concerning the recent news of George Michael being arrested on Sunday morning in possession of Cannabis.

I am not ashamed to say that I am a fan of Michael’s music, both the retro Wham kitsch and the good quality pop he produced throughout the nineties. I agree with him when he explains his reasons for discontinuing his music career - saying that pop music has died.
What he means of course is that the pop music of the mid - nineties; somewhat safer, more varied and more melodic has succumbed to a mess of cheap and tacky tunes and empty, soul destroying cover versions of older classics. Michael’s recent output - ‘Sexual freak’ ‘Shoot the dog’ and the execrable ‘Go to the city’ showed his willingness to adapt to today’s market, and although they received plenty of controversy, they were far from the star’s best work.

Now, after months of anonymity (the only attention he has received has been unwanted paparazzi photos showcasing the singers’ declining looks and figure, out hunting for ice cream at four in the morning ) Michael finds himself in the headlines for all the wrong reasons again.
What angers me most about the scenario, isn’t so much that Michael was found with cannabis, in itself only a class C drug (which mustn’t be commended, nor treated as anything more) but the childish manner in which he has handled it as seemingly just another little mishap, making light of another embarrassment: “I promise that I won’t make a record out of this one - even though it is tempting”.

This is clearly a broken man, and the image of one of the UK’s most successful artists slumped over his steering wheel with drugs, pornography and a gimp mask in his possession is one I find very saddening when I think of the great artist Michael was and how much pop music would benefit from his return.

Tim catches me off guard!

2006-02-27T15:03:00.000Z

I wish i had the internet at home.

Just after I post an entry for today - after reading on the sometimes inept BBC Tennis section that neither Tim or Daniela would be playing until tommorow - and it is time for another.

It's good news too.

Details are scarce at the moment, but Tim has just beaten another fine player in Feliciano Lopez of Spain in straight sets 6-2, 7-6 in the first round in Dubai. This good result only shows that Tim can still compete with the top players and cannot be ruled out to retain the UK number one spot.

I must be realistic though, as next he could face the tricky Czech Radek Stepanek, who has become something of a bogus player to Tim, with Stepanek winning their last wto encounters at Vienna and Madrid last year. Stepanek is a fine player, and has hit a purple patch in the last week, after winning his (long overdue) maiden title in Rotterdam.

That will be an even tougher match.

Picture from BBC Sport.

Justine heals my wounds

2006-02-27T14:15:00.000Z

It’s been a bad week for my two players, with Daniela falling way short of her 2005 performance in Dubai, and Tim being replaced by Andy Murray as the British number one after seven years at the top.

Will he ever retain it?

He is still a better player than the 18 year old, who will have to wait a few years to hit the heights that Henman achieved, but this year has really shown to me that the great career of Britain’s best player for decades is nearly at an end.

The only consolation is that Tim’s career will be cut short to injury and not a loss of form, he’s still got it, and there is plenty of time left this year for Tim to crash the Andy Murray party.

However, as the title suggests, this post will be about another of my favourites after Tim and Daniela.

Justine Henin-Hardenne’s win over Maria Sharapova in the Dubai Duty Free Open final on Saturday (straight sets, 7-5, 6-2) signaled a rare break for my tennis following fortunes. The women’s game has in my opinion, been suffering from the onslaught of big hitting, graceless youngsters.
Ana Ivanovic, Vera Dusehvina, Maria Kirilenko, Nicole Vaidisova and, of course, Sharapova represent a bafflingly popular group of players who, as well as parading their bodies both on (Kirilenko) and off (Sharapova) the court, offer not one ounce of grace or finesse; the very element which makes the women’s’ game so attractive to watch.
Hingis, Henine-Hardenne and, despite her physique, Mauresmo all display a graceful, tactical game, slices drop shots and lobs replace flat baseline winners. The volley is used to great effect.

Sharapova plays ugly, boring tennis. Her Barbie doll looks must account for the sell out crowds, for it can’t be the tennis. A big serve, a big forehand or backhand winner. Nothing else. Don’t even get me started on the shouting……

Anyway, enough of my angry swipe at the robotic teenage hordes, Justine displayed on Saturday that this recent unwanted dynasty of Bolleteri princesses, may be stuttering to an early grave. What with Amelie’s long overdue world-beating form finally showing up, Kim and Justine playing back to their best and Martina proving a more than worthy adversary to the worlds elite, the women’s game can still be rescued.

Picture from Justine's forum within WTAWorld.com

More mixed fortunes.....

2006-02-23T15:23:00.000Z

Just a quick update, reporting much of the same...

Daniela continues to stutter after her impressive Australian Open, losing to former US Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova (Rus) who will now leapfrog Daniela in the rankings.
A member within the excellent WTAWorld forum has summed up their feelings about Hantuchova at the moment, to which I agree:

"She's capable of winning against anybody, she just hasn’t found that consistency and that nerve controlling factor the top players have. If she wants to be back on the top, like Rain said, she has to beat them eventually, and when it comes to that department, Daniela hasn’t really gone far enough."

Yes the english is hardly pefect but you get the idea.

The Dubai tournament is however, continuing to intrigue, with no less than five former Number 1 ranked players now in the quarterfinals, including the revelation that is Martina Hingis, a truly 'Missed Swiss'. Her comeback is nothing short of spectacular, this year she has already beaten some players in and around the top ten (Sharapova - thank god, Dechy, Pennetta).

The men's tour is a little quieter, with injuries again rupturing tournament line-ups. Rotterdam in particular has lost out heavily after Nadaal,Baghdatis and Grosjean all retired with rib, leg and personal reasons respectively.

Still this has opened the door for British players.

Arvind Parmar, ranked 230 in the world and who is currently the fifth ranked Brit, has really found his form; the reason being he says, after Andy Murray's inspiring run in San Jose. Parmar dumped out Paradorn Srichapan of Thailand in three gruelling sets in the first round before confidently swatting away fellow qualifier Dominik Meffert of Germany setting up a meeting with Christophe Rochus of Belgium.

With his confidence high, I wouldn't rule out another shock win for Parmar.

Tim is also playing well, beating another of my favourites: former Australian Open champion Thomas Johannsson of Sweden in straight sets yesterday 6-4, 6-4. A fine article on the pair can be found at BBC Sport.

Andy Murray's first title has understandably caused a real frenzy in the world of British Tennis at the moment, the British media has at last found a genuine excuse for its worship of Murray (not really justified after he beat Henman in Basle last year). This will no doubt strentgthen tennis in the UK amongst new generations, and is seemingly rubbing off on our experiecned pro's too.

Things are (for now) looking up.

Well done Mr Murray!

2006-02-20T15:55:00.000Z

Firstly, i must thank D. dee for her very kind comment.

Maybe it has been jealousy due to his recent greater success than Tim, or maybe it was his (until now) unnessecary on-court arrogance that made me dislike Andy Murray, but after logging on for the first time since Friday, and learning about his brilliant maiden ATP title in San Jose I really must correct myself.

Echoing Tim's last title run, Murray defeated some of the world's best to prevail battling hard to beat top seed Andy Roddick in the semi's in straight sets and then Lleyton Hewitt - who i must admit, i do not think is at %100 at the moment - from a set down in the final.

So, credit where credit is due. Murray moves into the worlds top 50 after this (at 47) sitting just seven places below Tim and just four below Greg. I must be honest here and say that, unless Andy suffers some sort of lapse in concentration after this acheivement and/or Tim suddenly finds his best form and has no back trouble in Rotterdam, then Andy will soon become British number one.

Elsehwere, Daniela is about to start her first round match (against the dangerous Na Li of China) in the star-studded Dubai Duty Free Open, a tournament in which she reached the quarters last year.

*Picture from BBC Sport, click on the image to go to the BBC's story of Andy's triumph.

Another good chance wasted...

2006-02-17T16:21:00.000Z

Yes....Daniela lost, and she lost once again to a player ranked much lower (99 places lower to be exact).

In the second round of the Proximus Diamond Games in Antwerp, after being gifted an easy draw, Daniela was dumped out of the tournament in the second round by relative unknown Olga Savchuk of the Ukraine in straight sets 6-4, 6-3.

According to those who had watched the match, her attitude was all wrong, that there were a few bad line calls and that generally, she just played poorly. Fair enough.

So, Daniela's form proves to be inconsistent, beating top tenners one minute and losing to players outside the top 100 the next, something clearly isn't right in the Hantuchova camp (coach Nigel Sears was again absent from the tournament), and lets face it, hasn't been for a couple of years now.

Still, in other news, the UK's new darling Andy Murray continues to do well, reaching the quarters in the SAP Open in San Jose, a tier 3 tournament. I guess I am warming to the young Scot, but he will never have the appeal of Henman or even Rusedski.

*Picture from danielafrenchsite

A look at Blogs as moneymakers

2006-02-17T14:04:00.000Z

Unlike this little upstart, some blogs can be used to generate money. A blog can become a business quickly, but the millions made by some can, it seems, only be achieved thanks to a biting, witty writing style about a niche interest, with some help from advertising.

The issue is discussed extensively by Clive Thompson in a New York Magazine feature transferred online: Blogs to Riches: The haves and have-nots of the Blogging Boom.

The article profiles several "A-listers" within the weblog community who have successfully created online empires through their blogs. Peter Rojas is one such clever clog. Editor of electronics review site Engadget, Rojas has made millions after AOL bought Jason Calacanis's Weblogs inc. - which Engadget was a part of - for $25 million.

Despite his wealth, Rojas reveals in the feature that although he doesn't really need to work again, he does through his love for the subject; regularly posting throughout the day, from dawn to dinner. Rojas prophesized with: "Anyone can start a blog, and anyone can make it grow...But to keep it there? I've never worked so hard in my life...Eighty hour weeks since I started".

The article usefully outlines three existing business models that act as gateways to blogging business success:

1. The accidental tourist
This is where a lone writer creates a blog just for fun, and soon finds out that he has a readership of thousands. A witty, cutting style, and frequent posting may well keep this up, but surely it is the use of advertising - through brokers Blogads for example - that will ensure a site, and an audience can be maintained.

2. The record label approach
Churning out dozens of different blogs aimed at very specific target audiences in the hope that one will hit big, obviously unlike the tourist, this should require a healthy amount of market research into somewhat obscure tastes. Jason Calacanis is in many ways the pioneer of this method.

3. The boutique approach
Similar to the record label, only more thorough in research and much larger in scale. Teams of writers are hunted for, all with unsurpassable knowledge on deluxe hobbies for high-spending, well educated audiences. The writers need to have the correct writing style to fit the audiences, then the owner of the blog empire can sit happy and reap the rewards while his/her employees make significantly less.

Does this spell the end of the blog?
I have only just discovered the phenomenon of blogs and already my dreams are being shattered by corporate sharks. The article argues whether this is indeed the beginning of blogs becoming mass media, or if the voice of the lone blogger will prevail.
There is room for both scenarios.

The Internet Community, who are we?

2006-02-17T11:26:00.001Z

The online world is changing, we now have many more users online than the amount of surfers active five or ten years ago.
A (fairly) recent Internet survey shows that over six hundred million of us are now online, with Europe as the continent with the greatest amount web users (190.91 million) . Fine. But what are we all looking at, and are their any interesting differences in what men and women or different age groups use the net for?

A 2005 study by Pew Internet gives a sweeping introduction to its study;

Internet users ages 12 to 28 years old have embraced the online applications that enable communicative, creative, and social uses. Older users are more likely to engage in online activities that require some capital: travel reservations and online banking.

All good, but even better is the in depth surveys discussing gender and age issues.

Focusing on the US, the findings include the fact that women are still lagging behind men in internet use overall, but black women and women under 30 "outpace their male peers".
Men are more intense users, logging on more frequently and for longer, also male users see broadband as a necessity more than women.

Interesting stuff.

Review of Salam Pax’s: Where is Raed?

2006-02-15T13:36:00.000Z

I recently studied my first blog in detail and found it to be a fascinating experience. It soon became clear that a web log is a personal thing, a medium for feelings to be expressed to the online world.
I visited Where is Raed?- Salam Pax’s web log. I read in detail Pax’s accounts over the period of March 2003 - the start of the Iraq ‘War’.
With an entertaining, honest and professional writing style, Pax is a joy to read, despite his subject matter - the day to day developments of a civilian’s life during a barrage of destruction. His personal, open writing style only strengthens the bond between himself and the reader and his accounts really reveal the hardship of life as an Iraqi during this pointless conflict. The blog is a mixture of showcase journalism and sheer feelings communicated to the world. In particular, the frequent tales of Salam roaming the smoking ruins every morning on his way for simple groceries both harrowing and absorbing.
In short, you really should check this out!

First Tim and Daniela Update

2006-02-15T13:11:00.000Z

A post full of mix fortune today, the ongoing trend of one of my favourite players doing well while the other struggles, is continuing.
While Hantuchova, playing in the Proximus Diamond Games in Antwerp swept aside the 83rd ranked Czech lucky loser Zuzana Ondraskova 6-1, 6-0 in the first round yesterday, Henman announced his withdrawal from the Marseille Open with the ongoing back trouble which last week he had apparently quashed.

I caught the last four games of the match and it was all very comfortable, good first serves and huge ground strokes were the order of the day for Hantuchova, with Ondraskova rarely able to keep up with the power and accuracy of her opponent. I saw just one good rally, the rest was too one sided to be truly enthralling.

Henman, languishing uncomfortably at 36 will next travel to Rotterdam; a tournament in which he has made the final twice, to try and continue the good form he has managed to show this year when fit.
Of course, while Tim wallows atypically in the mid ranks of the top 100, Daniela continues to soar up the rankings and will be knocking on the door of the top ten looking for a warm welcome back. At number 14 in the world she is currently at her highest ranking for well over two years but will have to maintain her solid form over the next few months with a decent amount of points to defend from 2005.

*Picture by danielafrenchsite.

Jim's blog

2006-02-10T12:57:00.000Z

Jim's unit website.

It begins

2006-02-10T11:37:00.000Z

Hello

My name is Al Warwick and this is my blog about all things tennis, the true sport of kings.
Everyone I know regards the sport/religion of football as their favourite. Fair enough, I myself enjoy football and have visited many games - mostly at Spurs (who together with Manchester United represent my favourite teams - yes I support two teams, in itself a big no, no in the sacred teachings of football fandom.)
What turns me off the sport though is the extent to which it takes over the country, the UK gets more patriotic during an England campaign than will ever be expressed over Remembrance day.
Enough, rant over. For now.

So yes, this is my little tennis centre, set to include tournament and match reviews, discussion over the main issues and talking points within the sport, and perhaps the odd insight into my own stuttering tennis career.
My favourite players (Tim Henman and Daniela Hantuchova) will recieve the most coverage I warn you now, but rest assured, all the main players will be discussed, not always favourably of course.

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