Friday 25th November
Djokovic and Berdych were fighting for their places today as wins were the name of the game for this pair. Djoko took on Davis Cup team mate Tipsarevic in the day match and Berdy fought for his place against so far unbeatable Ferrer in the evening match.
Djokovic and Tipsarevic are good friends off the court but there was little evidence of this as the pair battled it out in the O2. Djokovic came out all guns firing and quickly wrapped up the first set 6-3. He looked to be drawing on unknown reserves and making a fight for the finals of the last tournament of what has been an incredible year for the world number 1. Tipsarevic, a reserve for Andy Murray who lost his opening match, had nothing to gain by winning this match in terms of progression in the competition, and surely would want to see his good friend go through to have a chance of another title? Sportsmen, however, do not think this way. A match is a match and no player would go into one not wanting to win, or not caring whether they won or not. Tipsarevic was not about to bow out of his first Tour End Finals without a show.
He rallied in the second set and hit huge groundstrokes to take it 6-3 and set up a decider. Djokovic was broken in the very first game of the third set and never quite recovered as Tipsarevic hit clever shots and then booming groundstrokes to beat Djoko for only the 6th time this year (in 76 matches).
Djoko had to hope that Ferrer beat Berdych in straight sets to go through to the semis.
Ferrer is on a winning streak. He defeated a crook Murray in straight sets on Monday and then destroyed Djokovic on Wednesday. He is already sure of a place in the semis but a victory today ensures he will play the second place player in the other group, a far better prospect than Federer who he has not beaten in 11 meetings. He should have had no fear, then, of Berdych - a lower ranked player than himself and one who has a 1-1 win/loss ratio in the tournament so far.
He didn't look like he feared Berdy as he won the first set 6-3 and was twice a break up in the second and seemingly cruising to victory. This fearlessness, however, didn't last. He suffered a dramatic collapse and lost the second set 7-5, then the third 6-1. Berdych played well and took full advantage of his opponents loss of form, but Ferrer basically handed Berdych the win and as such the right to play Tsonga instead of Fed in the semi finals.
Ferrer said of his match against Federer that he would fight and acknowledged he's never beaten Federer before but will try his hardest to do so.
I'll keep you blogged...
Wednesday, 30 November 2011
Monday, 28 November 2011
ATP World Tour Finals - Day 4
Thursday 24th November
Today Federer took on Fish in a dead rubber match on day 4 of the ATP World Tour Finals. Fish doesn't have a good record against Federer but in a contest like this - his first tour end finals, Federer already through after two stonking performances, Fish's parents in the audience - he had nothing to lose. He started poorly, however, and soon found himself a set down with only one game on the board.
He rallied in the second set and produced some beautiful serving to gain some momentum. He then rushed Federer into a couple of mistakes and found himself a break up and cruising to the business end of the set. Federer looked edgy as Fish continued to hit the ball early and find the lines with his booming groundstrokes. He was also showing his metal at the net and served out confidently for the set to take it to a decider.
The third was a very tight affair and Federer himself said afterwards that he was worried and that he thought he was going to lose. He quickly gained a stranglehold on the set, however, as he broke Fish to go 2-0 up. Fish held on and the two men put on quite a show until Federer's trademark backhand ensured a 37th career victory in the competition - putting him second on the list and two behind top dog Ivan Lendl (39).
Fish can go home a happy man having completed his best year ever on a fine performance this Thanksgiving day.
The other match was Tsonga v. Nadal, a must-win match for both players. Nadal has had a relatively weak competition so far and would have wanted to come out all guns blazing against the in-form Frenchman. Tsonga, on the other hand, was looking to reach his first Tour Finals semi-final.
The two men commenced battle from the very first point and neither admitted defeat until Tsonga sunk Nadal and sent him home nearly three hours later. It was a great match. Two hard-hitting scrappy players fighting tooth and nail. Tsonga won a tough first set on the tie-break and Nadal took the second on a single break.
Here was another third set decider. Nadal, famed for his resilience and ability to close out tough matches was now surely firm favourite. It was Tsonga, however, who responded best to the crowd's cheers and the pressure. He played brilliantly to break Nadal in the third game, held to love, then broke the Spaniard again to secure a 5-2 lead and a chance to serve for the semi-finals. With his superb shot-making and athleticism it was hard to see how Nadal could find a way back into the match but Tsonga choked when serving for the match and three double faults kept Nadal in contention.
Nadal was a broken man though and Tsonga, no doubt annoyed with his poor display in the previous game, broke him to love with an inside-out forehand that wrapped up an awesome performance.
Tsonga - through; Nadal - gone.
I'll keep you blogged...
Today Federer took on Fish in a dead rubber match on day 4 of the ATP World Tour Finals. Fish doesn't have a good record against Federer but in a contest like this - his first tour end finals, Federer already through after two stonking performances, Fish's parents in the audience - he had nothing to lose. He started poorly, however, and soon found himself a set down with only one game on the board.
He rallied in the second set and produced some beautiful serving to gain some momentum. He then rushed Federer into a couple of mistakes and found himself a break up and cruising to the business end of the set. Federer looked edgy as Fish continued to hit the ball early and find the lines with his booming groundstrokes. He was also showing his metal at the net and served out confidently for the set to take it to a decider.
The third was a very tight affair and Federer himself said afterwards that he was worried and that he thought he was going to lose. He quickly gained a stranglehold on the set, however, as he broke Fish to go 2-0 up. Fish held on and the two men put on quite a show until Federer's trademark backhand ensured a 37th career victory in the competition - putting him second on the list and two behind top dog Ivan Lendl (39).
Fish can go home a happy man having completed his best year ever on a fine performance this Thanksgiving day.
The other match was Tsonga v. Nadal, a must-win match for both players. Nadal has had a relatively weak competition so far and would have wanted to come out all guns blazing against the in-form Frenchman. Tsonga, on the other hand, was looking to reach his first Tour Finals semi-final.
The two men commenced battle from the very first point and neither admitted defeat until Tsonga sunk Nadal and sent him home nearly three hours later. It was a great match. Two hard-hitting scrappy players fighting tooth and nail. Tsonga won a tough first set on the tie-break and Nadal took the second on a single break.
Here was another third set decider. Nadal, famed for his resilience and ability to close out tough matches was now surely firm favourite. It was Tsonga, however, who responded best to the crowd's cheers and the pressure. He played brilliantly to break Nadal in the third game, held to love, then broke the Spaniard again to secure a 5-2 lead and a chance to serve for the semi-finals. With his superb shot-making and athleticism it was hard to see how Nadal could find a way back into the match but Tsonga choked when serving for the match and three double faults kept Nadal in contention.
Nadal was a broken man though and Tsonga, no doubt annoyed with his poor display in the previous game, broke him to love with an inside-out forehand that wrapped up an awesome performance.
Tsonga - through; Nadal - gone.
I'll keep you blogged...
Saturday, 26 November 2011
ATP Tour Finals - O2
Wednesday 23rd November
Today Tipsarevic stepped into the fray as Andy Murray's replacement and the lucky number nine. He played Berdych who, after Monday's disappointment against Djokovic, had to win in order to have a chance of going through. Tipsarevic, I would imagine, was just pretty happy to be there. He can, however, go through if he wins both his matches.
Tipsy, with his trademark glasses, embraced the stage from the get-go. He won the first set 6-2 and had Berdy flustered on the other side of the net. He was looking very dangerous in fact. Berdy was going to have to step up his game if he was going to progress and beat a man obviously relishing his chance at being in this tournament for the first time.
Berdych was up for the challenge and battled in the second set to take it to a third. Tipsarevic's form didn't waver as he took Berdych to a tie-break - the third third set tie-break of the tournament. It was amazingly close with both players stretching to the limit. Tipsarevic was the first to gain that vital mini-break which brought up match point but he missed his shot and then served a double to hand Berdych a match point. He wasn't about to give that up as he had against Djokovic two days earlier, and the match ended on a rather dramatic note as Tipsarevic stretched to return a booming serve from Berdy and then slipped to the ground, tried to struggle up, slipped again, and ended up flat on the ground, face down. Great stuff.
Djokovic and Ferrer contested the evening match, both needing victory to ensure a place in the semis. Djokovic, of course, started as favourite but Ferrer had carved an admittedly crook Murray in half on Monday and would no doubt be feeling good about his chances against the world number 1.
And well he might as under 90 minutes later he had beaten the unbeatable 6-3 6-1. A rather emphatic score and an equally emphatic performance. Yes, Djoko looked absolutely knackered and in the second set could hardly find the court but Ferrer's form never wavered. He hit good clean winners in the second set and scampered about returning every Djoko ball in the first. Djokovic, tired and flat in his post-match interview, conceded that Ferrer deserved the match. Djoko will go home to some well-deserved time off. Three slams and 75 matches won to five lost is a pretty decent year, I'd say.
I'll keep you blogged...
Today Tipsarevic stepped into the fray as Andy Murray's replacement and the lucky number nine. He played Berdych who, after Monday's disappointment against Djokovic, had to win in order to have a chance of going through. Tipsarevic, I would imagine, was just pretty happy to be there. He can, however, go through if he wins both his matches.
Tipsy, with his trademark glasses, embraced the stage from the get-go. He won the first set 6-2 and had Berdy flustered on the other side of the net. He was looking very dangerous in fact. Berdy was going to have to step up his game if he was going to progress and beat a man obviously relishing his chance at being in this tournament for the first time.
Berdych was up for the challenge and battled in the second set to take it to a third. Tipsarevic's form didn't waver as he took Berdych to a tie-break - the third third set tie-break of the tournament. It was amazingly close with both players stretching to the limit. Tipsarevic was the first to gain that vital mini-break which brought up match point but he missed his shot and then served a double to hand Berdych a match point. He wasn't about to give that up as he had against Djokovic two days earlier, and the match ended on a rather dramatic note as Tipsarevic stretched to return a booming serve from Berdy and then slipped to the ground, tried to struggle up, slipped again, and ended up flat on the ground, face down. Great stuff.
Djokovic and Ferrer contested the evening match, both needing victory to ensure a place in the semis. Djokovic, of course, started as favourite but Ferrer had carved an admittedly crook Murray in half on Monday and would no doubt be feeling good about his chances against the world number 1.
And well he might as under 90 minutes later he had beaten the unbeatable 6-3 6-1. A rather emphatic score and an equally emphatic performance. Yes, Djoko looked absolutely knackered and in the second set could hardly find the court but Ferrer's form never wavered. He hit good clean winners in the second set and scampered about returning every Djoko ball in the first. Djokovic, tired and flat in his post-match interview, conceded that Ferrer deserved the match. Djoko will go home to some well-deserved time off. Three slams and 75 matches won to five lost is a pretty decent year, I'd say.
I'll keep you blogged...
Wednesday, 23 November 2011
ATP Tour Finals - O2
Tuesday 22nd November
Mardy Fish has had a stella year. He's reached his highest ever ranking, ousted Roddick as America's number 1 and saw a quarter final of a Slam for the first time. He's playing in the World Tour Finals for the first (and, dare I say it, possibly the last...) time and he's not let himself down. He was brilliant against Nadal, only missing out by a point or two. Some of his shots were breathtaking.
Today he played Tsonga and needed to win to have any chance of going through to the semi finals. The first set was a tight affair, with momentum swinging this way and that. It went to a tie-break and Fish made one too many mistakes as Tsonga wrestled the set into submission. Fish seemed to lose faith after that and apart from a couple of flashes of his previous brilliance he was beaten easily by the hard-hitting and very smiley Frenchman.
Fish will have a last hurrah against the mighty Fed on Thursday and then he goes home for Christmas and training for the new season. Tsonga, meanwhile, will play Nadal - winner takes all.
The night match was a masterclass. A look back into the past where one man was absolutely unbeatable. He was graceful, elegant, stylish, unplayable, incredible and astonishing. I know, too many verbs, but it was that good. Federer's destruction of Nadal was a match that will go down in the history books. Federer himself said of the match that it was highly ranked because it was against one of his biggest rivals and that he was excited about the way he played. The 30-year-olds 26th meeting with Nadal was set up as THE match of the tournament so far. The fans were looking for some brilliance, especially after the news of Murray's withdrawal, but nobody could have predicted the level of play Federer brought.
He beat a confounded Nadal 6-3 6-0, and hit 28 winners to Nadal's 4. He won 85% points off his first serve and afforded Nadal not a single break point. He was, as Nadal graciously pointed out afterwards, 'too good'.
I'll keep you blogged...
Mardy Fish has had a stella year. He's reached his highest ever ranking, ousted Roddick as America's number 1 and saw a quarter final of a Slam for the first time. He's playing in the World Tour Finals for the first (and, dare I say it, possibly the last...) time and he's not let himself down. He was brilliant against Nadal, only missing out by a point or two. Some of his shots were breathtaking.
Today he played Tsonga and needed to win to have any chance of going through to the semi finals. The first set was a tight affair, with momentum swinging this way and that. It went to a tie-break and Fish made one too many mistakes as Tsonga wrestled the set into submission. Fish seemed to lose faith after that and apart from a couple of flashes of his previous brilliance he was beaten easily by the hard-hitting and very smiley Frenchman.
Fish will have a last hurrah against the mighty Fed on Thursday and then he goes home for Christmas and training for the new season. Tsonga, meanwhile, will play Nadal - winner takes all.
The night match was a masterclass. A look back into the past where one man was absolutely unbeatable. He was graceful, elegant, stylish, unplayable, incredible and astonishing. I know, too many verbs, but it was that good. Federer's destruction of Nadal was a match that will go down in the history books. Federer himself said of the match that it was highly ranked because it was against one of his biggest rivals and that he was excited about the way he played. The 30-year-olds 26th meeting with Nadal was set up as THE match of the tournament so far. The fans were looking for some brilliance, especially after the news of Murray's withdrawal, but nobody could have predicted the level of play Federer brought.
He beat a confounded Nadal 6-3 6-0, and hit 28 winners to Nadal's 4. He won 85% points off his first serve and afforded Nadal not a single break point. He was, as Nadal graciously pointed out afterwards, 'too good'.
I'll keep you blogged...
ATP Tour Finals - O2
Monday 21st November
Today saw the second group - Murray, Djokovic, Ferrer and Berdych - take the spotlight. Murray played Ferrer in the early match and Djoko took on Berdych in the evening session.
I was very excited about the Murray match. I've been plugging him to everybody who asks as the winner of this tournament. With such a great build-up - winning three tournaments on the tour of Asia - I have been expecting big things from him. What I hadn't expected was a groin injury that would see him first lose meekly to Ferrer - a player who has never beaten him on anything but a clay court - and then withdraw from the tournament two days later. Bummer.
He was beaten 4 and 5 to a solid Ferrer who looked ecstatic to have won. Murray, however, looked miserable. Even for Murray. All of that work and effort in the latter part of this year to reach number 3 in the world, one Slam final and three Slam semis, and a real opportunity to win his first year end finals and he has to pull out because of a groin strain. He must be bitterly disappointed.
The other match saw Djokovic take on Berdych. Another three setter and tie-break decider was to follow. A friend of mine was at the match and said the atmosphere was incredible. Berdych powered into a 4-0 lead in the first set, eventually taking it 6-3 against a struggling Djoko. The second set was a role reversal as Berdych's forehand went astray and Djoko found his rhythm to go 3-0 up in a blink of an eye. Some breathtaking rallies followed but Djoko took the set to the same score as the first. The tension mounted in the third as both players tried to get the upper hand. Berdych was the first to pounce when he made two unstoppable forehands in game six to afford him the break. Djoko responded immediately and broke back a tight Berdych. The topsy turvy match continued as Djoko served a double to hand Berdych a match point but he couldn't capitalise and the match went to a tie-break. Here Berdych lost his nerve. Djokovic came through the tough tough match 7-3 on the tie-break and it was a relieved world number one who shook Berdych's hand.
More drama and great matches to come tomorrow as Tsonga takes on Fish in a must win match and Nadal takes on his old foe Federer in the night session.
I'll keep you blogged...
Today saw the second group - Murray, Djokovic, Ferrer and Berdych - take the spotlight. Murray played Ferrer in the early match and Djoko took on Berdych in the evening session.
I was very excited about the Murray match. I've been plugging him to everybody who asks as the winner of this tournament. With such a great build-up - winning three tournaments on the tour of Asia - I have been expecting big things from him. What I hadn't expected was a groin injury that would see him first lose meekly to Ferrer - a player who has never beaten him on anything but a clay court - and then withdraw from the tournament two days later. Bummer.
He was beaten 4 and 5 to a solid Ferrer who looked ecstatic to have won. Murray, however, looked miserable. Even for Murray. All of that work and effort in the latter part of this year to reach number 3 in the world, one Slam final and three Slam semis, and a real opportunity to win his first year end finals and he has to pull out because of a groin strain. He must be bitterly disappointed.
The other match saw Djokovic take on Berdych. Another three setter and tie-break decider was to follow. A friend of mine was at the match and said the atmosphere was incredible. Berdych powered into a 4-0 lead in the first set, eventually taking it 6-3 against a struggling Djoko. The second set was a role reversal as Berdych's forehand went astray and Djoko found his rhythm to go 3-0 up in a blink of an eye. Some breathtaking rallies followed but Djoko took the set to the same score as the first. The tension mounted in the third as both players tried to get the upper hand. Berdych was the first to pounce when he made two unstoppable forehands in game six to afford him the break. Djoko responded immediately and broke back a tight Berdych. The topsy turvy match continued as Djoko served a double to hand Berdych a match point but he couldn't capitalise and the match went to a tie-break. Here Berdych lost his nerve. Djokovic came through the tough tough match 7-3 on the tie-break and it was a relieved world number one who shook Berdych's hand.
More drama and great matches to come tomorrow as Tsonga takes on Fish in a must win match and Nadal takes on his old foe Federer in the night session.
I'll keep you blogged...
Monday, 21 November 2011
ATP Tour Finals - O2
Sunday 20th November
Federer and Tsonga kicked off this years World Tour Finals at the O2 and what a match it was. Fed cruised the first set 6-2, dropping only three points on serve, and it looked to be a masterclass from the master until Tsonga kicked into gear in the second set and beat a suddenly below-par Federer to the same score. The third set was tense and pretty even until Tsonga made fatal errors in the final game and Fed capitalised. He eventually squeezed through 6-2 2-6 6-4. He said afterwards that this is the best he's played all year and the time off before Basel and Paris has helped.
Nadal v. Fish was the evening match and the one I was lucky enough to attend. After buying our foot long hotdogs and chips (the chips were just normal sized...) we found our skyscraper seats in the incredibly warm arena and settled in to watch first a great doubles match then an even better singles.
It was the best match I've seen at the O2. Full of pace, great rallies, incredible gets and not without some drama and emotion. Nadal is not at his best - hence running to the toilet when 2-0 up in the deciding set - but neither is Fish. The feel around the place as we waited for the players to come out was that Fish didn't have a chance. Yes, he's had the best year of his career but beating Nadal at the O2? No way. And after the first set was won easily by the Spaniard it looked as if the crowd had it right.
I, however, was not convinced. Fish hits a beautiful clean, flat, hard backhand which is exactly the kind of shot that Nadal hates. In the second set Fish stepped up his game and we were treated to a brilliant display on how to play Nadal. It reminded me of Soderling beating Nadal at the French. He took the set 6-3 and roared out a 'come on!' in true American style. He was well and truly back in the game.
Nadal started the third very well and was quickly 2-0 up. After playing a great point to take the break early in the set, Nadal ran off court for a toilet break. Fish looked perplexedly up at the umps who merely watched Nadal's retreating form. It was all a little odd, I have to say. When he came back in, pale and shaking his head, he apologised to Fish and promptly lost three games in a row. Fish was a break up in the decider against a crook Nadal and looking on course for a shock win.
Nadal, however, decided, sickness aside, that he was not going down without a fight and preferably not at all. What followed were beautiful beautiful points. That set is going to be hard to beat. It came down to a very tense tie break in which Fish made one too many mistakes and Nadal made none.
After the players shook hands we had a crazy mad-scramble to get the last tube back to Waterloo and then a bizarre round-a-bout train/bus/car journey to get home, but it was all worth it. I would do it again tomorrow and the next day and the next.
I'll keep you blogged...
Federer and Tsonga kicked off this years World Tour Finals at the O2 and what a match it was. Fed cruised the first set 6-2, dropping only three points on serve, and it looked to be a masterclass from the master until Tsonga kicked into gear in the second set and beat a suddenly below-par Federer to the same score. The third set was tense and pretty even until Tsonga made fatal errors in the final game and Fed capitalised. He eventually squeezed through 6-2 2-6 6-4. He said afterwards that this is the best he's played all year and the time off before Basel and Paris has helped.
Nadal v. Fish was the evening match and the one I was lucky enough to attend. After buying our foot long hotdogs and chips (the chips were just normal sized...) we found our skyscraper seats in the incredibly warm arena and settled in to watch first a great doubles match then an even better singles.
It was the best match I've seen at the O2. Full of pace, great rallies, incredible gets and not without some drama and emotion. Nadal is not at his best - hence running to the toilet when 2-0 up in the deciding set - but neither is Fish. The feel around the place as we waited for the players to come out was that Fish didn't have a chance. Yes, he's had the best year of his career but beating Nadal at the O2? No way. And after the first set was won easily by the Spaniard it looked as if the crowd had it right.
I, however, was not convinced. Fish hits a beautiful clean, flat, hard backhand which is exactly the kind of shot that Nadal hates. In the second set Fish stepped up his game and we were treated to a brilliant display on how to play Nadal. It reminded me of Soderling beating Nadal at the French. He took the set 6-3 and roared out a 'come on!' in true American style. He was well and truly back in the game.
Nadal started the third very well and was quickly 2-0 up. After playing a great point to take the break early in the set, Nadal ran off court for a toilet break. Fish looked perplexedly up at the umps who merely watched Nadal's retreating form. It was all a little odd, I have to say. When he came back in, pale and shaking his head, he apologised to Fish and promptly lost three games in a row. Fish was a break up in the decider against a crook Nadal and looking on course for a shock win.
Nadal, however, decided, sickness aside, that he was not going down without a fight and preferably not at all. What followed were beautiful beautiful points. That set is going to be hard to beat. It came down to a very tense tie break in which Fish made one too many mistakes and Nadal made none.
After the players shook hands we had a crazy mad-scramble to get the last tube back to Waterloo and then a bizarre round-a-bout train/bus/car journey to get home, but it was all worth it. I would do it again tomorrow and the next day and the next.
I'll keep you blogged...
Wednesday, 2 November 2011
Kvitova Clinches Final Title of the Year
If you'd told me at the beginning of the year that four different women would win the Slams and Victoria Azarenka would play Petra Kvitova in the final of the WTA Championships I would have laughed. I was convinced after Clijsters' performance in Australia that she would do the Grand Slam this year. Victoria Azarenka was winning some impressive matches but was too emotional and too much of a Sharpova wannabe with that irritating scream. Petra Kvitova was 30+ in the world and very inconsistent. With Clijsters out injured after the Aussie Open, Li Na becoming the first Chinese player to win a Slam (French), Kvitova surprising everyone by playing a sublime tournament to win Wimbledon and then the resurgent Sam Stosur powering to the US Open title, the women's game has had quite a year.
Many people say this is a sign of how terrible women's tennis is. The fact that they don't have one or two stand-out champions somehow belittles everyone else's achievements, they say. If Serena had worn shoes or Kim had not danced at that wedding, the year would have been a different story. I agree with the latter statement - it possibly would have been Kim's year. It certainly felt like it was going to be at the beginning of the season. But things happen and athletes get injured, it's just the way sport goes. Does the absence of two players render this year redundant for tennis' women? Of course not. How outrageously offensive. I think 2011 has been one of the most exciting for women's tennis. I love that so many people won tournaments. I love that we had four different Slam winners. Variety is the spice of life and variety in tennis is priceless. As much as I love The Fed, tennis became a much more exciting place when Nadal came along. The rise of Djoko has been fascinating. The tantalising form of Murray in the past few weeks has added more sauce to the mix. No one wants to see one person winning every competition. That is boring. Women's tennis is poorly compared to men's but after this year I can't see why. They have fantastic rallies, amazing shots, are athletic, quick, emotional, (sometimes) loud, thoroughly captivating and often the matches are longer and more interesting than men's. (Maybe not longer in the Slams but only because of the five to three set ratio.)
Watch women's tennis. Appreciate it. It really is good.
Kvitova pile-drove her way through her opponents at the WTA Championships in Istanbul. Azarenka - apart from an odd lacklustre game against stand-in Bartoli - also streaked her way through the top players in the world. The two tall, leggy blondes, who look remarkably similar, especially in practically matching Nike outfits, had a hell of a final match of the year.
Kvitova raced into a 5-0 lead hitting winners all over the place. It looked like a whitewash was on the cards as Azarenka struggled for form and ideas. Then all of a sudden, as oft happens in sport, it all changed. Kvitova started missing and Azarenka started hitting. She fought her way back to 5-5 but couldn't hold onto Kvitova who finally took the set 7-5. The second set saw Azarenka take control and she levelled the match at one set all.
Kvitova looked down and almost out at 0-40 in the opening game of the decider but rallied back to win it, break Azarenka in the next and never look back. After nearly two and a half hours of gruelling tennis Kvitova - who is, arguably, unplayable when on her game - won the final title of the year 7-5 4-6 6-3.
She finishes the year 2nd only to Wozniacki, with the same number of tour wins (6). Azarenka moves up to 3rd, pushing Screamy Shara down to 4th. The new breed of women are well and truly on their way now.
Things to look forward to: Murray-ray winning at the O2 (beating GoNads at some point) and the Masters at the Royal Albert Hall. I love the Masters. Never watched it? Do. It'll make you smile and love tennis all the more.
I'll keep you blogged...
Many people say this is a sign of how terrible women's tennis is. The fact that they don't have one or two stand-out champions somehow belittles everyone else's achievements, they say. If Serena had worn shoes or Kim had not danced at that wedding, the year would have been a different story. I agree with the latter statement - it possibly would have been Kim's year. It certainly felt like it was going to be at the beginning of the season. But things happen and athletes get injured, it's just the way sport goes. Does the absence of two players render this year redundant for tennis' women? Of course not. How outrageously offensive. I think 2011 has been one of the most exciting for women's tennis. I love that so many people won tournaments. I love that we had four different Slam winners. Variety is the spice of life and variety in tennis is priceless. As much as I love The Fed, tennis became a much more exciting place when Nadal came along. The rise of Djoko has been fascinating. The tantalising form of Murray in the past few weeks has added more sauce to the mix. No one wants to see one person winning every competition. That is boring. Women's tennis is poorly compared to men's but after this year I can't see why. They have fantastic rallies, amazing shots, are athletic, quick, emotional, (sometimes) loud, thoroughly captivating and often the matches are longer and more interesting than men's. (Maybe not longer in the Slams but only because of the five to three set ratio.)
Watch women's tennis. Appreciate it. It really is good.
Kvitova pile-drove her way through her opponents at the WTA Championships in Istanbul. Azarenka - apart from an odd lacklustre game against stand-in Bartoli - also streaked her way through the top players in the world. The two tall, leggy blondes, who look remarkably similar, especially in practically matching Nike outfits, had a hell of a final match of the year.
Kvitova raced into a 5-0 lead hitting winners all over the place. It looked like a whitewash was on the cards as Azarenka struggled for form and ideas. Then all of a sudden, as oft happens in sport, it all changed. Kvitova started missing and Azarenka started hitting. She fought her way back to 5-5 but couldn't hold onto Kvitova who finally took the set 7-5. The second set saw Azarenka take control and she levelled the match at one set all.
Kvitova looked down and almost out at 0-40 in the opening game of the decider but rallied back to win it, break Azarenka in the next and never look back. After nearly two and a half hours of gruelling tennis Kvitova - who is, arguably, unplayable when on her game - won the final title of the year 7-5 4-6 6-3.
She finishes the year 2nd only to Wozniacki, with the same number of tour wins (6). Azarenka moves up to 3rd, pushing Screamy Shara down to 4th. The new breed of women are well and truly on their way now.
Things to look forward to: Murray-ray winning at the O2 (beating GoNads at some point) and the Masters at the Royal Albert Hall. I love the Masters. Never watched it? Do. It'll make you smile and love tennis all the more.
I'll keep you blogged...
Sunday, 23 October 2011
Commentary Comment of the Week
"The French, what can you say? The All Blacks, what can you say?"
Rugby World Cup Final, 2011
Rugby World Cup Final, 2011
Sunday, 16 October 2011
Ray-ray reaches no. 3 spot
Andy Murray has moved up to number 3 in the world rankings with a victory today over Ferrer at the Shanghai Masters.
Ray-ray fought his way to a 7-5 6-4 win against the Spaniard who pushed Murray all the way in the first but after an early break in the second couldn't keep up with the Scots ever more impressive quality.
Murray is not guaranteed to finish the year in 3rd - his highest year-end ranking - but if he continues with this form I don't see The Fed coming back from injury and fatigue and claiming his place back. It's the first time Fed has been out of the top 3 since before his first Grand Slam win at Wimbledon 2003. That is an incredible run.
Of the top four, Ray-ray is definitely the on form player right now and the O2 Finals will be the perfect place to step up and prove to the world that he can beat the top players (Djoko, GoNads and The Fed) on the big stages.
Bring on November.
In RUGBY the All Blacks put on a brilliant display to crush Australia and advance to the World Cup finals. They won 20-6 and were a class above the Aussies throughout. They move a step closer to ending their 24 year wait to be World Champions.
In FOOTBALL Arsenal have finally won a game. They beat Sunderland 2-1 today thanks to a couple of beautiful goals from Robin Van Persie.
I'll keep you blogged...
Ray-ray fought his way to a 7-5 6-4 win against the Spaniard who pushed Murray all the way in the first but after an early break in the second couldn't keep up with the Scots ever more impressive quality.
Murray is not guaranteed to finish the year in 3rd - his highest year-end ranking - but if he continues with this form I don't see The Fed coming back from injury and fatigue and claiming his place back. It's the first time Fed has been out of the top 3 since before his first Grand Slam win at Wimbledon 2003. That is an incredible run.
Of the top four, Ray-ray is definitely the on form player right now and the O2 Finals will be the perfect place to step up and prove to the world that he can beat the top players (Djoko, GoNads and The Fed) on the big stages.
Bring on November.
In RUGBY the All Blacks put on a brilliant display to crush Australia and advance to the World Cup finals. They won 20-6 and were a class above the Aussies throughout. They move a step closer to ending their 24 year wait to be World Champions.
In FOOTBALL Arsenal have finally won a game. They beat Sunderland 2-1 today thanks to a couple of beautiful goals from Robin Van Persie.
I'll keep you blogged...
Saturday, 15 October 2011
Rugby Semi Final - Wales/France
Absolute heart ache for Wales as they lose by one point to a stubborn but largely lifeless French side - 9-8.
The major talking point of the game, and perhaps the World Cup so far, was Sam Warburton's sending off in the first quarter of the match. His tackle on winger Vincent Clerc - whom he lifted off the ground but let go of in mid-air to prevent slamming him to the ground - in the 18th minute was considered dangerous and referee Alain Rolland had no hesitation in pulling out the red card. Commentators, pundits, players and the crowd were left stunned as Warburton walked calmly to the bench to watch the rest of game in agonising separation.
France's Parra's three penalty kicks were, in the end, enough to see them to the final but Wales's creative play, heart and stubborn resistance pushed them all the way to the final whistle. They missed four vital kicks - three penalties and one a conversion, two of which that would have almost certainly won the game for them.
As he did against Ireland, Phillips grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck when he found a gap through the two French locks and scored a great try to take the score to 9-8 (to France), however Jones then missed the conversion to take Wales into the lead. It was an agonisingly close kick that hit the left post.
Six minutes from the final whistle Wales were given a chance again when prop Nicolas Mas strayed offside. The kick was a huge straight punt from the halfway line and out of Stephen Jones's range so Halfpenny stepped up. His kick had the direction but dropped heartbreakingly short of the goal bar and despite a last charge to the try line that consisted of 26 phases, Wales's fate was sealed.
Elsewhere, Lewis Hamilton has pipped Vettel to pole in Korea. Murray-ray is still drinking the delights of Asia and has moved into the semis of the Shanghai Masters. England have lost the first of a five-match One Day series in India by 126 runs.
I'll keep you blogged...
Monday, 10 October 2011
Ray-ray rampage in Asia
Murray-ray is romping his way through the Asian part of the tour. He won last week's Thailand Open and yesterday beat GoNads in three excellent sets of tennis to clinch the Japan Open.
Nadal won the first 6-3 and Ray-ray's misfiring serve did not spell out a happy ending for the Scot. However, he found his range in the second set, taking it 6-2 with some great play. The quality was only going to get better as Ray-ray broke GoNads three times in the third to take the set 6-0 and his first win against the Spaniard in six matches, including semi-final defeats at the French and Wimbledon.
He's set himself a target to finish the year as world number 3 (in doing so shoving The mighty Fed down to fourth) and is doing a damn convincing job of getting there. If he can take this form into the end-of-year tournament at the O2 he will be a very real threat. Djoko, GoNads and Fed, watch out!
I'll keep you blogged...
Nadal won the first 6-3 and Ray-ray's misfiring serve did not spell out a happy ending for the Scot. However, he found his range in the second set, taking it 6-2 with some great play. The quality was only going to get better as Ray-ray broke GoNads three times in the third to take the set 6-0 and his first win against the Spaniard in six matches, including semi-final defeats at the French and Wimbledon.
He's set himself a target to finish the year as world number 3 (in doing so shoving The mighty Fed down to fourth) and is doing a damn convincing job of getting there. If he can take this form into the end-of-year tournament at the O2 he will be a very real threat. Djoko, GoNads and Fed, watch out!
I'll keep you blogged...
Thursday, 8 September 2011
US Open and Rain
The US Open enjoyed a splendid first week. Against all odds, the hurricane that everyone predicted would bring doom to New York passed by with a little wind and rain but nothing like the damage it had caused elsewhere in the world. Opening Monday woke up to blue skies and blazing sunshine. The first week floated by on a few white fluffy clouds, watching match after match of tennis's biggest names going through, getting beaten (Kvitova, Wimbledon Champion only a few short weeks ago, fell at the first hurdle) and breaking records (Stosur v Kirilenko saw a 17-15 second set tie-break finally won by Kirilenko - the longest tie-break in a Grand Slam Ladies singles match - Stosur went on to break early in the third set and seal the match).
The week was not without its dramas, however, as no less than 18 players withdrawed through injury or illness; 14 of them retirements during matches which is a grand-slam record in the Open era - among them Venus Williams and Robin Soderling. This had players and press alike up in arms about the punishing schedule and fears falling on deaf ears. Schedulers, however, had more to worry about than players dropping out.
Ray-ray had been due to play his fourth round match against Donald Young, the young American wonder-kid-turned-mediocre who beat Murray during his bad patch in the first round of Indian Wells earlier on in the summer, on Tuesday at 4pm (BST). It is now Thursday at 12:30pm and they have played a total of three games, with Young 2-1 on serve. These three games, according to Murray, Nadal, Roddick and others, should not even have been played, such was the condition of the courts. It's been raining in New York for nearly three straight days and for all Brian Earley's (tournament referee) confidence that the tournament will finish on time (Sunday), I just don't see it happening. The US Open has finished on the third Monday for the last three years and I can't imagine 2011 will be any different. Even finishing on Monday will be a push with the weather reports for the next few days. Rain, rain and more rain; and when it's not raining it'll be windy and muggy. IF the rain miraculously clears and the weather is beautiful for the remainder of the tournament, yes, the final will be on schedule, but it will also have meant the (male) players will have played four five-setters in four days. Ouch.
Roof, anyone?
I'll keep you blogged...
The week was not without its dramas, however, as no less than 18 players withdrawed through injury or illness; 14 of them retirements during matches which is a grand-slam record in the Open era - among them Venus Williams and Robin Soderling. This had players and press alike up in arms about the punishing schedule and fears falling on deaf ears. Schedulers, however, had more to worry about than players dropping out.
Ray-ray had been due to play his fourth round match against Donald Young, the young American wonder-kid-turned-mediocre who beat Murray during his bad patch in the first round of Indian Wells earlier on in the summer, on Tuesday at 4pm (BST). It is now Thursday at 12:30pm and they have played a total of three games, with Young 2-1 on serve. These three games, according to Murray, Nadal, Roddick and others, should not even have been played, such was the condition of the courts. It's been raining in New York for nearly three straight days and for all Brian Earley's (tournament referee) confidence that the tournament will finish on time (Sunday), I just don't see it happening. The US Open has finished on the third Monday for the last three years and I can't imagine 2011 will be any different. Even finishing on Monday will be a push with the weather reports for the next few days. Rain, rain and more rain; and when it's not raining it'll be windy and muggy. IF the rain miraculously clears and the weather is beautiful for the remainder of the tournament, yes, the final will be on schedule, but it will also have meant the (male) players will have played four five-setters in four days. Ouch.
Roof, anyone?
I'll keep you blogged...
Thursday, 18 August 2011
Fourth Test, Day 1
England are 75-0 on a rain-delyaed first day of the final Test at the Oval. Strauss and Cook batted out a largely undisturbed morning in overcast conditions. India's bowlers, once again, lacked depth, accuracy, pace and any sting, swing or energy. Aside from Ishant Sharma producing some decent deliveries - one bouncer whacking Strauss on the helmet and breaking the peak - Cook and Strauss couldn't have had an easier bat on the first day of a Test.
It is rather an anticlimax to what had looked like being a corker of a Test series on that first day at Lord's in the sunshine. Here were the top two teams in the world (technically 1 and 3 but who's counting?) competing for the the top spot in the top form of their sport - nothing could be more important; more competitive; more tense, right? In England's eyes, yes. The uber professional and slick unit that has become the England team, players, coaches, and backroom staff alike, have been nothing but the pinnacle of professionalism. India, on the contrary, have been a motley crew of old and young, training in kit that looked like it had come from 'the garage!' (thanks Freddy) and generally appearing fatigued and like they could care less about this series.
They have lost their number 1 ranking, can they at least regain some dignity and fight in the remaining Test or is a whitewash on the cards? Not seen since 1974.
I'll keep you blogged...
It is rather an anticlimax to what had looked like being a corker of a Test series on that first day at Lord's in the sunshine. Here were the top two teams in the world (technically 1 and 3 but who's counting?) competing for the the top spot in the top form of their sport - nothing could be more important; more competitive; more tense, right? In England's eyes, yes. The uber professional and slick unit that has become the England team, players, coaches, and backroom staff alike, have been nothing but the pinnacle of professionalism. India, on the contrary, have been a motley crew of old and young, training in kit that looked like it had come from 'the garage!' (thanks Freddy) and generally appearing fatigued and like they could care less about this series.
They have lost their number 1 ranking, can they at least regain some dignity and fight in the remaining Test or is a whitewash on the cards? Not seen since 1974.
I'll keep you blogged...
Tuesday, 16 August 2011
Cricket Top Spot
England are the number 1 Test side in the world. We hold the Twenty20 title and are the number 1 Test team. In the world. We are better than the West Indies, Sri Lanka, India, AUSTRALIA. We are numero uno. We're number wang.
I will write more on this, obviously, but for now this is enough.
More than we could ever hope.
I'll keep you blogged...
I will write more on this, obviously, but for now this is enough.
More than we could ever hope.
I'll keep you blogged...
Monday, 15 August 2011
Friday, 12 August 2011
3rd Test, Day 3
There is talk of England making 1000 runs. Exaggerated giddy hyperbolic talk, for sure, but talk nevertheless. And why is this? Because England are amazing at Test cricket. This, my dear readers, is fast turning into FACT.
They are currently on 468-3 - Morgan on 50 and the magnificent Cooky on 188. I have had the pleasure of being sick for the last three days so have been able to listen to the Test in its entirity (in between bouts of sleeping/throwing up) and it has been a joy to hear. England bowled India out for 224 in 64.4 overs. And save for Dhoni's impressive 77 it would have been a lot less. Memories of England's first innings at Trent Bridge and Broad's heroic innings. Could India now do an England and bowl us out for less than 300 to keep themselves in the game? Ahem, in a word, no. Strauss made a scintillating 8 7before being bowled by a beauty of a ball from little Mishra. Bell made a majestic 34 before being bowled by the insatiable (well, for India anyway...) Kumar and walking off looking very peeved indeed. Methinks he was interested in a little century himself. Pieterson came in a heeved the ball around for striking 63 off 78 balls but became a little cocky in the end and Kumar again managed the break-through with a plum lbw. In came Morgan and in stays Morgan. Bopara is up next and will want to prove his place with a substantial bat on this seemingly easy pitch and against this lifeless bowling team.
If England win this Test, need I remind you, they move to number 1 in the Test rankings. Number 1. That would be a sweet day indeed for English sport.
A little word on tennis:
Defending champion Andy Murray has fallen at the first hurdle in the Montreal Masters where he's won for the last two years - beaten in straight sets by South Africa's Kevin Anderson 6-3 6-1. A slow, soggy, sad performance by Ray-ray. GoNads also went crashing out with a shock defeat by Ivan Dodig of Croatia - 1-6 7-6 7-6. Will Djoko or The Fed take advantage of their missing counterparts or will we see a new champion?
Back to cricket:
Cook is on 198...
200!!
Beautiful beautiful innings. Well done Mr Cook. Well done.
I'll keep you blogged...
They are currently on 468-3 - Morgan on 50 and the magnificent Cooky on 188. I have had the pleasure of being sick for the last three days so have been able to listen to the Test in its entirity (in between bouts of sleeping/throwing up) and it has been a joy to hear. England bowled India out for 224 in 64.4 overs. And save for Dhoni's impressive 77 it would have been a lot less. Memories of England's first innings at Trent Bridge and Broad's heroic innings. Could India now do an England and bowl us out for less than 300 to keep themselves in the game? Ahem, in a word, no. Strauss made a scintillating 8 7before being bowled by a beauty of a ball from little Mishra. Bell made a majestic 34 before being bowled by the insatiable (well, for India anyway...) Kumar and walking off looking very peeved indeed. Methinks he was interested in a little century himself. Pieterson came in a heeved the ball around for striking 63 off 78 balls but became a little cocky in the end and Kumar again managed the break-through with a plum lbw. In came Morgan and in stays Morgan. Bopara is up next and will want to prove his place with a substantial bat on this seemingly easy pitch and against this lifeless bowling team.
If England win this Test, need I remind you, they move to number 1 in the Test rankings. Number 1. That would be a sweet day indeed for English sport.
A little word on tennis:
Defending champion Andy Murray has fallen at the first hurdle in the Montreal Masters where he's won for the last two years - beaten in straight sets by South Africa's Kevin Anderson 6-3 6-1. A slow, soggy, sad performance by Ray-ray. GoNads also went crashing out with a shock defeat by Ivan Dodig of Croatia - 1-6 7-6 7-6. Will Djoko or The Fed take advantage of their missing counterparts or will we see a new champion?
Back to cricket:
Cook is on 198...
200!!
Beautiful beautiful innings. Well done Mr Cook. Well done.
I'll keep you blogged...
Monday, 1 August 2011
Things I screamed out whilst watching the cricket on Sat/yesterday (and into today)...
(NB: Largely to myself as I was with three men who do not understand/care about cricket.)
"6-46!! 6-46!!" This was accompanied by me getting up and dancing around the livingroom.
"First hat-trick for England in a Test since Sidebottom in 2009!"
"Best batters in the world bowled out for under 300 for the third time in a row!"
"I LOVE BROAD!!"
"5-0 in 16 balls!"
"Cook out for 5 - what happened to the Cooky of the Ashes? The immovable object? The run-machine?"
"Strauss again gone for a start but not a score. Merde. Both opening batsmen out again..."
"I LOVE BELL!"
"Come on Bell!"
"What? He's out? But that's... he wasn't... he was half way off the field! The umpires called for tea! Boooo!!"
"That's not cricket!"
"Is that Bell? He's back? What the deuce? Dhoni withdrew his appeal... for the good of the spirit of cricket? Oh good man, Dhoni."
"Look at those scores... Bell - 159; Pieterson - 63; Morgan - 70; Prior - 73; Bresnan - 90; Broad - 44 (from 32 balls). Beautiful stuff."
"England finish the innings with 544. That's 478 for India to win the match - the highest second innings run-chase in Test history!"
Granted, these last few were screamed in my head as I'm at work but WHAT an amazing couple of days of cricket. England now have a day and half to bowl an uninspired, nay crushed, Indian side out. Best batsmen in the world? With a tail like that, Tendy not on any form, and their spirits crushed (perhaps giving Bell his place back in the interests of the spirit of cricket sapped the Indian players dry of their team spirit), I'm predicting victory tomorrow morning at the latest.
Who cares about the football season starting or Arsenal's predicted placement gloom? I have this beautiful Test series between the two best teams in the world and the US Open to get my teeth into. I am in sporting heaven.
I think we're going to win this series 3-0 (with a draw at Edgbaston). I have thought this from the beginning but was too afraid to write it. Not because I didn't want to be wrong, but because usually when I say things like that the opposite happens and I always feel responsible. I am being brave and it is written. We shall see, eh?
Oh my Lordy... Just screamed this in my head also:
"Broad strikes again! Dravid (danger man) edges a beauty that is caught neatly and as ever by Matty Prior. HOWZAAAAA!!"
I'll keep you blogged...
"6-46!! 6-46!!" This was accompanied by me getting up and dancing around the livingroom.
"First hat-trick for England in a Test since Sidebottom in 2009!"
"Best batters in the world bowled out for under 300 for the third time in a row!"
"I LOVE BROAD!!"
"5-0 in 16 balls!"
"Cook out for 5 - what happened to the Cooky of the Ashes? The immovable object? The run-machine?"
"Strauss again gone for a start but not a score. Merde. Both opening batsmen out again..."
"I LOVE BELL!"
"Come on Bell!"
"What? He's out? But that's... he wasn't... he was half way off the field! The umpires called for tea! Boooo!!"
"That's not cricket!"
"Is that Bell? He's back? What the deuce? Dhoni withdrew his appeal... for the good of the spirit of cricket? Oh good man, Dhoni."
"Look at those scores... Bell - 159; Pieterson - 63; Morgan - 70; Prior - 73; Bresnan - 90; Broad - 44 (from 32 balls). Beautiful stuff."
"England finish the innings with 544. That's 478 for India to win the match - the highest second innings run-chase in Test history!"
Granted, these last few were screamed in my head as I'm at work but WHAT an amazing couple of days of cricket. England now have a day and half to bowl an uninspired, nay crushed, Indian side out. Best batsmen in the world? With a tail like that, Tendy not on any form, and their spirits crushed (perhaps giving Bell his place back in the interests of the spirit of cricket sapped the Indian players dry of their team spirit), I'm predicting victory tomorrow morning at the latest.
Who cares about the football season starting or Arsenal's predicted placement gloom? I have this beautiful Test series between the two best teams in the world and the US Open to get my teeth into. I am in sporting heaven.
I think we're going to win this series 3-0 (with a draw at Edgbaston). I have thought this from the beginning but was too afraid to write it. Not because I didn't want to be wrong, but because usually when I say things like that the opposite happens and I always feel responsible. I am being brave and it is written. We shall see, eh?
Oh my Lordy... Just screamed this in my head also:
"Broad strikes again! Dravid (danger man) edges a beauty that is caught neatly and as ever by Matty Prior. HOWZAAAAA!!"
I'll keep you blogged...
Friday, 29 July 2011
Test 2, Day 1
Merde.
England are currently 118-7. Bell and Broad at the crease. A record 8th wicket pair? This is what we need. Bell needs to keep going and Broad needs to carry on his scintillating form from the previous Test.
Horrible wicket to bat on. So much movement.
My nerves are a-jangling.
I'll keep you blogged...
England are currently 118-7. Bell and Broad at the crease. A record 8th wicket pair? This is what we need. Bell needs to keep going and Broad needs to carry on his scintillating form from the previous Test.
Horrible wicket to bat on. So much movement.
My nerves are a-jangling.
I'll keep you blogged...
Wednesday, 27 July 2011
Cricket - Test 1
England beat India by a massive 196 runs to go 1-0 up in the four-match series.
Pieterson's 202 not out in the first innings and Prior's match-saving 103 not out in the second allowed England to declare twice and charge India with a mighty total (a record total, should they have achieved it) to reach. It was down to the bowlers to back up the great work of the batsmen. They bowled India out for less than 300 in their first innings, with Stuart Broad looking especially potent, and Tremlett not far behind. India's second innings though, surely, would be a far sterner test?
It was Broad who once again took the initiative to make the first break-through late on Sunday afternoon after his fine batting display aided and abetted Prior his unbeaten century and added much needed runs and a healthy partnership just when we needed it most. Broad was in fine song, could the other bowlers follow suit? India finished the day only one batsman down and definitely fancied their chances for at least a draw. Magic Monday, drawing a record number of fans (25,000+) to Lord's on a bright sunny day, saw India off to a good start with Dravid and Lazman going along nicely and looking dangerous. Anderson, until then a quiet, frustrated figure, bowled a beautiful delivery that Dravid couldn't avoid and snicked on to Prior to take a clean catch. The danger man of the first innings was out. There followed hours of tense, momentum swinging agony as England seemed on top, then India, then England...
For long horrible periods it seemed India would stick in and hold out for a draw, thus rendering all of England's work with both bat and ball null and void. Anderson, however, had other ideas, and after capturing the prize wicket of Sachin Tendulkar for just 12 (he was out of sorts after a virus had kept him bed-bound for most of Sunday and was reported to have been feeling dizzy during and after his innings on Monday) - a few balls after Broad's legitimate lbw appeal against Tendulkar and a snick had been dropped by Captain Strauss - in the session after lunch, England were back on top and went through the tail-enders in no time to secure the victory.
Broad finished the match on figures of 7-94, Anderson 7-152, with Swann and Tremlett taking the remaining wickets between them for very few runs. It was a great performance by the batsmen, no doubt, on what Dhoni considered a tricky batting pitch (hence his decision to put England in when he won the toss), but the greater performance came from the bowlers. To bowl india, the team considered by most to have the best batting line-up in the world, out for less than 300 in both innings is a remarkable thing.
Ultimately, England out-batted, out-bowled, out-fielded, out-thought and out-played the Indians. They will not take India for granted for the remaining matches - they are, after all, only a quarter of the way through - but they can afford to pat themselves and each other on the backs for a Test well played and a gauntlet well and truly thrown down.
Who says England can't be the best in the world at a sport they invented?
I'll keep you blogged...
Pieterson's 202 not out in the first innings and Prior's match-saving 103 not out in the second allowed England to declare twice and charge India with a mighty total (a record total, should they have achieved it) to reach. It was down to the bowlers to back up the great work of the batsmen. They bowled India out for less than 300 in their first innings, with Stuart Broad looking especially potent, and Tremlett not far behind. India's second innings though, surely, would be a far sterner test?
It was Broad who once again took the initiative to make the first break-through late on Sunday afternoon after his fine batting display aided and abetted Prior his unbeaten century and added much needed runs and a healthy partnership just when we needed it most. Broad was in fine song, could the other bowlers follow suit? India finished the day only one batsman down and definitely fancied their chances for at least a draw. Magic Monday, drawing a record number of fans (25,000+) to Lord's on a bright sunny day, saw India off to a good start with Dravid and Lazman going along nicely and looking dangerous. Anderson, until then a quiet, frustrated figure, bowled a beautiful delivery that Dravid couldn't avoid and snicked on to Prior to take a clean catch. The danger man of the first innings was out. There followed hours of tense, momentum swinging agony as England seemed on top, then India, then England...
For long horrible periods it seemed India would stick in and hold out for a draw, thus rendering all of England's work with both bat and ball null and void. Anderson, however, had other ideas, and after capturing the prize wicket of Sachin Tendulkar for just 12 (he was out of sorts after a virus had kept him bed-bound for most of Sunday and was reported to have been feeling dizzy during and after his innings on Monday) - a few balls after Broad's legitimate lbw appeal against Tendulkar and a snick had been dropped by Captain Strauss - in the session after lunch, England were back on top and went through the tail-enders in no time to secure the victory.
Broad finished the match on figures of 7-94, Anderson 7-152, with Swann and Tremlett taking the remaining wickets between them for very few runs. It was a great performance by the batsmen, no doubt, on what Dhoni considered a tricky batting pitch (hence his decision to put England in when he won the toss), but the greater performance came from the bowlers. To bowl india, the team considered by most to have the best batting line-up in the world, out for less than 300 in both innings is a remarkable thing.
Ultimately, England out-batted, out-bowled, out-fielded, out-thought and out-played the Indians. They will not take India for granted for the remaining matches - they are, after all, only a quarter of the way through - but they can afford to pat themselves and each other on the backs for a Test well played and a gauntlet well and truly thrown down.
Who says England can't be the best in the world at a sport they invented?
I'll keep you blogged...
Saturday, 23 July 2011
Cricket Cricket Cricket
Pieterson scores a majestic double century to put England in front in the first Test.
Pieterson, after being dropped, saved and dragged through his first hundred in Test cricket for three years decided the second hundred wouldn't be so dramatic - he made it in just 110 balls with the fluency and aggression we used to be used to. He was helped along by Trott (70), a beautiful but all too brief innings by Bell (45) and Matt Prior (71), who steadied the ship after Morgan had gone for a duck and India were fancying themselves back in the game. Swann then put in a typical slog fest, getting 24 from 28 balls, to help Pieterson bring up his double century and get England to 474 before Strauss declared, wanting to put India in for a tricky few overs before close of play. India survived a couple of early lbw scares and ended the day on 14-0.
What a day of cricket. What an amazing time for Pieterson to scrape back his form. What a great opportunity for England to get some good bowling in, find that swing that the weather will be providing, and oust India for a meagre total. Can we get them all out today? Row says no - he fears us bowling - but I am more optimistic. Anderson to find some devastating pace and swing, Tremlett to bowl hard and high, Broad to find his form, and Swann to be the best spin bowler in the world. Oh wait...
I'll keep you blogged...
Pieterson, after being dropped, saved and dragged through his first hundred in Test cricket for three years decided the second hundred wouldn't be so dramatic - he made it in just 110 balls with the fluency and aggression we used to be used to. He was helped along by Trott (70), a beautiful but all too brief innings by Bell (45) and Matt Prior (71), who steadied the ship after Morgan had gone for a duck and India were fancying themselves back in the game. Swann then put in a typical slog fest, getting 24 from 28 balls, to help Pieterson bring up his double century and get England to 474 before Strauss declared, wanting to put India in for a tricky few overs before close of play. India survived a couple of early lbw scares and ended the day on 14-0.
What a day of cricket. What an amazing time for Pieterson to scrape back his form. What a great opportunity for England to get some good bowling in, find that swing that the weather will be providing, and oust India for a meagre total. Can we get them all out today? Row says no - he fears us bowling - but I am more optimistic. Anderson to find some devastating pace and swing, Tremlett to bowl hard and high, Broad to find his form, and Swann to be the best spin bowler in the world. Oh wait...
I'll keep you blogged...
Thursday, 21 July 2011
Cook is out!
For less than 100! A lot less. 12, if I'm honest.
Merde. Come on Strassy and Trott.
I'll keep you blogged...
Merde. Come on Strassy and Trott.
I'll keep you blogged...
India refuse lbw appeal
India have said NO to using the appeal system for lbw's as they don't believe the system is 100% accurate. So it's appeals for catches only... Could that bite India in the proverbial somewhere down the line? People are predicting Tendy to get to 99 and then ousted for a dodgy lbw that he can't appeal. Juicy.
India win the toss and put England in to bat. Heavy conditions. India will be loving the prospect of their spinny spin spinners wreaking havoc with England, especially a certain left-arm spinner to a certain England captain who has appeared vulnerable to such bowling in recent times. Will his practice pay off?
Broad is in instead of Bresnan despite his poor, injury-riddled season thus far. Come on Broad. Come on the boys!
I'll keep you blogged...
India win the toss and put England in to bat. Heavy conditions. India will be loving the prospect of their spinny spin spinners wreaking havoc with England, especially a certain left-arm spinner to a certain England captain who has appeared vulnerable to such bowling in recent times. Will his practice pay off?
Broad is in instead of Bresnan despite his poor, injury-riddled season thus far. Come on Broad. Come on the boys!
I'll keep you blogged...
Could not be more excited about the Test...
I have been biting my nails all week, waiting for Thursday to come. Today the four-match Test series against the number 1 side in the world, India, starts. It is also the 2000th Test match in cricket history. Sachin Tendulkar, who Strauss hailed yesterday as the greatest Test player of all time, is looking for his hundredth hundred and his first at Lord's. If England beat India by two Tests they be the new world number 1s in Test cricket. If they win or draw they will climb to second in the rankings, knocking South Africa down a spot.
So much to see, so little to lose, so much to gain...
It has begun!!
I'll keep you blogged...
So much to see, so little to lose, so much to gain...
It has begun!!
I'll keep you blogged...
Wednesday, 6 July 2011
Cricket
YES Alaistair Cook!
England destroy Sri Lanka by 10 wickets to draw the series level at 2-2. That's more like it. That's the England I know we can be, even in ODI cricket. Not only did we win by 10 wickets, we had nearly half our overs left in order to reach the target of 171 runs (reduced from 174 and to 48 overs after a brief rain delay). Cook batted like a man out to prove what a great opening batsmen he can be not only for Test cricket but for the shorter versions of the game as well, scoring 12 in the first over alone. He reached a magnificent 95 and Kieswetter a sublime 72 as England strolled to victory. The scorecard makes for happy reading as all of the bowlers but Swann got 2 or more wickets and their economies were very respectable.
Bring on Old Trafford. My little brother was worried about this series when we went 2-1 down - how do you feel now, Row?
I'll keep you blogged...
England destroy Sri Lanka by 10 wickets to draw the series level at 2-2. That's more like it. That's the England I know we can be, even in ODI cricket. Not only did we win by 10 wickets, we had nearly half our overs left in order to reach the target of 171 runs (reduced from 174 and to 48 overs after a brief rain delay). Cook batted like a man out to prove what a great opening batsmen he can be not only for Test cricket but for the shorter versions of the game as well, scoring 12 in the first over alone. He reached a magnificent 95 and Kieswetter a sublime 72 as England strolled to victory. The scorecard makes for happy reading as all of the bowlers but Swann got 2 or more wickets and their economies were very respectable.
Bring on Old Trafford. My little brother was worried about this series when we went 2-1 down - how do you feel now, Row?
I'll keep you blogged...
Monday, 4 July 2011
Wimbledon Finals
Kvitova beats Sharapova in straight sets to become Wimbledon champion for the first time at the age of 21.
Sharapova did not play a bad match - she returned well, her serve, although not devastating, was not a liability, she ran around that court like a bat out of hell and although she's never been the quickest on court, she was looking pretty fit and slick... Kvitova, however, was just better in every way that a player can be. Her groundstrokes were something to be seen to believe as she continuously pummelled the corners with frightening accuracy; her serves were fast and devastating and her quiet concentration was louder than any Shara scream as she beat her - and comfortably so - in straight sets - 6-3 6-4.
The tennis world has a new champion in Kvitova. The fact that she is Czech and left-handed sends the media into a frenzy of comparisons with Navratilova, but I think Kvitova has some way to go before she can boast 59 Grand Slam titles (18 singles, 31 ladies doubles, 10 mixed doubles) and 167 titles all-told (the record for any man or woman in the sport).
Saying that, she is an exciting talent and if she is able to build on her success at Wimbledon and to continue improving her game, great things could lie ahead for her. The new ear of women - Kvitova, Lisicki, Azarenka - are coming and the veterans and champions of old - Sharapova (she's 24, I know) and the Williams sisters - should watch out. As for the maybes, the so-near-and-yet-so-fars, the will-she-evers? - Wozza, Zvo, Janko and Ivano - they better step up because with Kvitova's win and the others all appearing in the semis, ladies tennis looks to be shifting and the maybes could become what ifs?
Djoko beats GoNads in four sets to make his 'dream' come true and win his first Wimbledon title.
Playing as good as he's ever done on grass, and probably as good as anyone could ever do on grass, Djokovic's scintilating pace and aggression was largely too much for Nadal.
Djoko took a tight and tense first set when Nadal was serving at 4-5. The crowd were restless waiting for the inevitable tie break where most of them, I'm sure, thought Nadal would step it up and outplay his Serbian opponent. It was Djoko, however, who stepped it up, and long before a tie break was even necessary. He hit deep and hard and accurately and GoNads found himself a break and then a set down to the man who would take his world number 1 spot the following day, no matter what the result.
The second set, where the commentators were calling on Nadal to 'push' and get it to one set all and even pegging, was a masterclass from Djoko. His defense was remarkable and GoNads got a real taste of his own medicine as he saw ball after ball coming back to him. Nadal made 15 unforced errors in total in the final, which is more than double how many he made against Ray-ray in the semis. He won only 44% of points behind his second serve and hit a mediocre 21 winners compared to Djoko's 27.
Something had to change in the third but when Djoko threatened to break again early on, the crowd, the commentators, and the viewers at home all suspected a straight sets annihilation. Nadal was not about to let that happen and he rallied himself admirably (as Djoko's level dropped) and broke Djoko twice on his way to a 6-1 third set victory.
The fourth set started shakily for a shocked Djoko and he was break points down in his first game. Now, the pundits were saying, this has the makings of a classic five-setter. Djoko is rattled and Nadal's on the hunt - final set shoot out here we come. Djoko managed to cling on to those early games and grew in confidence with every forehand cross court and backhand down the line, whilst Nadal, failing to capture that early break, started again with the unforced errors we'd seen in the first and second sets. He did not play the big points well which is something I've never said or even thought about GoNads before. His forehand, so often a weapon feared and revered in the tennis world, was misfiring long and into the net and his serve and backhand - his most improved shots - were not finding the placement or power consistently enough to trouble Novak. He got the break and found himself serving for the Championship at 5-3. A nervy few points got him to 30-30 and with a beady GoNads at the other end of the court Djoko needed some inspiration to see him win his fairytale Slam... and he served and volleyed for the first time in the match. Now that, my friend, is balls. On his first Championship point he sent a crushing serve down the tee, powered a beautiful forehand to the corner and flopped to the ground as GoNads could only push a desperate backhand wide and long.
Djoko becomes the first man other than Nadal or The Fed to win Wimbledon since 2004. And as his world number 1 ranking is confirmed today, have we stepped into a new era of a Djoko/GoNads rivalry? Can The Fed find his way back to winning ways? Can Ray-ray find any winning ways? Will the return of Del Potto tear the top four open?
We shall see, Mr Bumble.
I'll keep you blogged...
Sharapova did not play a bad match - she returned well, her serve, although not devastating, was not a liability, she ran around that court like a bat out of hell and although she's never been the quickest on court, she was looking pretty fit and slick... Kvitova, however, was just better in every way that a player can be. Her groundstrokes were something to be seen to believe as she continuously pummelled the corners with frightening accuracy; her serves were fast and devastating and her quiet concentration was louder than any Shara scream as she beat her - and comfortably so - in straight sets - 6-3 6-4.
The tennis world has a new champion in Kvitova. The fact that she is Czech and left-handed sends the media into a frenzy of comparisons with Navratilova, but I think Kvitova has some way to go before she can boast 59 Grand Slam titles (18 singles, 31 ladies doubles, 10 mixed doubles) and 167 titles all-told (the record for any man or woman in the sport).
Saying that, she is an exciting talent and if she is able to build on her success at Wimbledon and to continue improving her game, great things could lie ahead for her. The new ear of women - Kvitova, Lisicki, Azarenka - are coming and the veterans and champions of old - Sharapova (she's 24, I know) and the Williams sisters - should watch out. As for the maybes, the so-near-and-yet-so-fars, the will-she-evers? - Wozza, Zvo, Janko and Ivano - they better step up because with Kvitova's win and the others all appearing in the semis, ladies tennis looks to be shifting and the maybes could become what ifs?
Djoko beats GoNads in four sets to make his 'dream' come true and win his first Wimbledon title.
Playing as good as he's ever done on grass, and probably as good as anyone could ever do on grass, Djokovic's scintilating pace and aggression was largely too much for Nadal.
Djoko took a tight and tense first set when Nadal was serving at 4-5. The crowd were restless waiting for the inevitable tie break where most of them, I'm sure, thought Nadal would step it up and outplay his Serbian opponent. It was Djoko, however, who stepped it up, and long before a tie break was even necessary. He hit deep and hard and accurately and GoNads found himself a break and then a set down to the man who would take his world number 1 spot the following day, no matter what the result.
The second set, where the commentators were calling on Nadal to 'push' and get it to one set all and even pegging, was a masterclass from Djoko. His defense was remarkable and GoNads got a real taste of his own medicine as he saw ball after ball coming back to him. Nadal made 15 unforced errors in total in the final, which is more than double how many he made against Ray-ray in the semis. He won only 44% of points behind his second serve and hit a mediocre 21 winners compared to Djoko's 27.
Something had to change in the third but when Djoko threatened to break again early on, the crowd, the commentators, and the viewers at home all suspected a straight sets annihilation. Nadal was not about to let that happen and he rallied himself admirably (as Djoko's level dropped) and broke Djoko twice on his way to a 6-1 third set victory.
The fourth set started shakily for a shocked Djoko and he was break points down in his first game. Now, the pundits were saying, this has the makings of a classic five-setter. Djoko is rattled and Nadal's on the hunt - final set shoot out here we come. Djoko managed to cling on to those early games and grew in confidence with every forehand cross court and backhand down the line, whilst Nadal, failing to capture that early break, started again with the unforced errors we'd seen in the first and second sets. He did not play the big points well which is something I've never said or even thought about GoNads before. His forehand, so often a weapon feared and revered in the tennis world, was misfiring long and into the net and his serve and backhand - his most improved shots - were not finding the placement or power consistently enough to trouble Novak. He got the break and found himself serving for the Championship at 5-3. A nervy few points got him to 30-30 and with a beady GoNads at the other end of the court Djoko needed some inspiration to see him win his fairytale Slam... and he served and volleyed for the first time in the match. Now that, my friend, is balls. On his first Championship point he sent a crushing serve down the tee, powered a beautiful forehand to the corner and flopped to the ground as GoNads could only push a desperate backhand wide and long.
Djoko becomes the first man other than Nadal or The Fed to win Wimbledon since 2004. And as his world number 1 ranking is confirmed today, have we stepped into a new era of a Djoko/GoNads rivalry? Can The Fed find his way back to winning ways? Can Ray-ray find any winning ways? Will the return of Del Potto tear the top four open?
We shall see, Mr Bumble.
I'll keep you blogged...
Wednesday, 29 June 2011
Claws
The fed loses to Tsonga after being two sets up and cruising.
Well well well.
Tsonga wins 3-6 6-7 6-4 6-4 6-4
Very weird. Federer didn't even look like he was trying in the fifth set. Really sluggish and careless and way way too casual. That is not what I expect to see from Federer. I'm disappointed. Can feel the claws of unhappiness squeezing at my heart. Hum.
Djoko beat Tomic in four tight sets (well, three tight sets - the first was a bit of a walkover as I suspect Tomic gave in to a few nerves at the big occassion and Djoko capitalised) - 6-2 3-6 6-3 7-5.
So Djoko will face Tsonga in the semis - a repeat of the US Open final that Djoko won easily. What will come of Ray-ray/Lopez and GoNads/Fish? I don't think I can handle anymore shocks.
I'll keep you blogged...
Well well well.
Tsonga wins 3-6 6-7 6-4 6-4 6-4
Very weird. Federer didn't even look like he was trying in the fifth set. Really sluggish and careless and way way too casual. That is not what I expect to see from Federer. I'm disappointed. Can feel the claws of unhappiness squeezing at my heart. Hum.
Djoko beat Tomic in four tight sets (well, three tight sets - the first was a bit of a walkover as I suspect Tomic gave in to a few nerves at the big occassion and Djoko capitalised) - 6-2 3-6 6-3 7-5.
So Djoko will face Tsonga in the semis - a repeat of the US Open final that Djoko won easily. What will come of Ray-ray/Lopez and GoNads/Fish? I don't think I can handle anymore shocks.
I'll keep you blogged...
Magic Monday and Thunderstorm Tuesday
Hmm, may need to work on the title a little. In my head 'Thunderstorm Tuesday' sounded great but written down it looks a little... well, rubbish.
MONDAY was a mind-blowing day of tennis. So many three-/five-setters; so many upsets. The biggest casualties? I guess it's a toss-up between world number 1 (not to mention my tip for the title) Caroline Wozniacki crashing out to Diminutive (because she's only 5'3"...) Cibulkova, and both Williams sisters being beaten - Serena to Bartoli and Venus to Pironkova. Who'd have thunk it? Well, actually, I have to point out that I did think that from the get go. No further than the third or fourth rounds. You can see it in writing a few blogs down. proof that occassionally I know what I'm talking about.
Bartoli was brutal in her demolition of Serena, winning in straight sets 6-3 7-6. Serena's fighting instincts saw her pushing through to a tie break in the second set, after being a break down with Bouncy Bartoli serving for the match at 5-4, but she was unable to withstand the accurate and powerful hitting from the double-handed Bartoli. Or perhaps she was mesmerized by Bartoli's bizarre pre-point-post-point bouncing and swishing and running around. I know I was distracted. As Alistair McGowan quipped, 'She seems to be playing two matches at once - one against her opponent and one against an imaginary friend.' (NB: NOT an accurate quote.)
Pironkova is becoming something of an achilles heal for Venus. She beat her at Wimbledon last year, didn't do a lot of anything in between, and now comes back to SW19 only to beat Venus again. And comfortably at that - 6-2 6-3. Perhaps Venus was reeling from the shock of her sister losing but I suspect her defeat, and the defeat of Serena, has more to do with the inevitable decline of the sisters. They've been unbeatable for over 10 years but with Venus turning 31 and Serena 30 in September, surely their time has passed?
The men's draw fared much more predictable results as all four of the top four got
through, although that isn't to say there were not some tricky matches. Ray-ray found his best form of the Championships so far and beat a dangerous Gasquet 7-6 6-3 6-2, whose challenge all but crumpled after losing a very tight first set. Dojoko creamed Llodra 6-3 6-3 6-3 and never looked threatened. The Fed and GoNads both dropped sets against their opponents - Youzhny and Del Potro respectively - but the Swiss came through far more comfortably than GoNads, who required treatment before the first-set tie break on his heel. He put in a typical gritty performance and eventually over came old Potty but it was not an easy win and I sense he'll be feeling the repurcussions of it going into his quarter final.
The other quarter finalists are Tomic (that's ICK not ITCH) who continues his amazing run and becomes the youngest player - at 18 - to go into the quarters since Boris Becker in 1986 by beating Malisse 6-1 7-5 6-4. He'll now play Djoko in the next round. Tsonga beat Ferrer in rather convincing fashion and will become The Fed's dangerous quarter-final opponent. My tennis coach reckons Fed will win in four with Tsonga squeezing a tie break, I countered with straight sets to Fed but close all the way. We shall see. Ray-ray's opponent will be one Feliziano Lopez who beat Kubot in 5 nail biting sets - 3-6 6-7 7-6 7-5 7-5. That is one close match. Last but not least we have GoNads who will be playing America's number 1 male and only remaining American player in the torunament, Mardi Fish.
BRING IT ON!
Yesterday the women's semi finalists were decided:
Screamy Shara v wildcard Lisicki
Annoying Azarenka v Kvitova.
What do I want? A Lisicki/Kvitova final. I'll leave it at that.
I'll keep you blogged...
MONDAY was a mind-blowing day of tennis. So many three-/five-setters; so many upsets. The biggest casualties? I guess it's a toss-up between world number 1 (not to mention my tip for the title) Caroline Wozniacki crashing out to Diminutive (because she's only 5'3"...) Cibulkova, and both Williams sisters being beaten - Serena to Bartoli and Venus to Pironkova. Who'd have thunk it? Well, actually, I have to point out that I did think that from the get go. No further than the third or fourth rounds. You can see it in writing a few blogs down. proof that occassionally I know what I'm talking about.
Bartoli was brutal in her demolition of Serena, winning in straight sets 6-3 7-6. Serena's fighting instincts saw her pushing through to a tie break in the second set, after being a break down with Bouncy Bartoli serving for the match at 5-4, but she was unable to withstand the accurate and powerful hitting from the double-handed Bartoli. Or perhaps she was mesmerized by Bartoli's bizarre pre-point-post-point bouncing and swishing and running around. I know I was distracted. As Alistair McGowan quipped, 'She seems to be playing two matches at once - one against her opponent and one against an imaginary friend.' (NB: NOT an accurate quote.)
Pironkova is becoming something of an achilles heal for Venus. She beat her at Wimbledon last year, didn't do a lot of anything in between, and now comes back to SW19 only to beat Venus again. And comfortably at that - 6-2 6-3. Perhaps Venus was reeling from the shock of her sister losing but I suspect her defeat, and the defeat of Serena, has more to do with the inevitable decline of the sisters. They've been unbeatable for over 10 years but with Venus turning 31 and Serena 30 in September, surely their time has passed?
The men's draw fared much more predictable results as all four of the top four got
through, although that isn't to say there were not some tricky matches. Ray-ray found his best form of the Championships so far and beat a dangerous Gasquet 7-6 6-3 6-2, whose challenge all but crumpled after losing a very tight first set. Dojoko creamed Llodra 6-3 6-3 6-3 and never looked threatened. The Fed and GoNads both dropped sets against their opponents - Youzhny and Del Potro respectively - but the Swiss came through far more comfortably than GoNads, who required treatment before the first-set tie break on his heel. He put in a typical gritty performance and eventually over came old Potty but it was not an easy win and I sense he'll be feeling the repurcussions of it going into his quarter final.
The other quarter finalists are Tomic (that's ICK not ITCH) who continues his amazing run and becomes the youngest player - at 18 - to go into the quarters since Boris Becker in 1986 by beating Malisse 6-1 7-5 6-4. He'll now play Djoko in the next round. Tsonga beat Ferrer in rather convincing fashion and will become The Fed's dangerous quarter-final opponent. My tennis coach reckons Fed will win in four with Tsonga squeezing a tie break, I countered with straight sets to Fed but close all the way. We shall see. Ray-ray's opponent will be one Feliziano Lopez who beat Kubot in 5 nail biting sets - 3-6 6-7 7-6 7-5 7-5. That is one close match. Last but not least we have GoNads who will be playing America's number 1 male and only remaining American player in the torunament, Mardi Fish.
BRING IT ON!
Yesterday the women's semi finalists were decided:
Screamy Shara v wildcard Lisicki
Annoying Azarenka v Kvitova.
What do I want? A Lisicki/Kvitova final. I'll leave it at that.
I'll keep you blogged...
Sunday, 26 June 2011
Wimbledon, Days 4, 5 and 6
So the first week of the Womble is over and there have been some juicy juicy matches, some great wins, some crushing losses, and some big names on their planes home already. The highest casualty in the men's draw so far is 8th Andy Roddick who lost in straight sets to an outrageously inspired performance by Lopez. He looked smooth as galaxy chocolate as he annihilated Roddick's game piece by piece. There's no doubt he deserved the win and an always humble Roddy acknowledged this as they shook hands. Elsewhere Monfils and The Sod suffered 3rd round losses to two up-and-coming players - Tomic and Kubot; names to watch out for. Melzer also went out to an inspired Malisse.
In the women's draw 2nd seed Vera Zvo crashed out to Little Pironkova who looked muy impressivo as she took apart Zvo's game and booked her place for the second week. Wozza progressed serenely through and looks on course for her maiden Slam, even if Screamy Shara is the bookies favourites. Bartoli had a brute of a match against Pennetta but squeezed through eventually, 9-7 in the decider. Scary Schia did not fare as well in her equally epic match against Paszet, 3+ hours of hard-fought slogging which Paszet came through 3-6 6-8 11-9. Great match.
Of the top four men, only The Fed has progressed with grace and ease. GoNads has continued to look tired and sometimes ragged against opponents he was crushing on his way to his second Wimbledon trophy this time last year. Djoko seems to have reverted back to his old ways of looking dead on his feet and staring up at his box in disbelief as he struggles for form, energy and concentration. Ray-ray is, as ever, giving us a hell of a ride as he flirts with brilliance and rubbish from one shot to the next.
My pick of the up coming matches:
Has to be GoNads/Del Potty. What a match that could be. If Potty plays as we all know he can, it could be one hell of a humdinger. Bring it ON.
Also, Ray-ray plays Gasquet. Will it be a repeat of their 2008 first round encounter? I don't think my nerves could take it.
I'll keep you blogged...
Wednesday, 22 June 2011
Wimbledon, Day 2 & 3
ATTACK OF THE KILLER BEES!
Okay, so attack is not really the right word, it was more they were mass-moving and we were getting in their way, and there wasn't a lot of killing going on either. But still, hiding under my coat and my boyfriend whilst thousands of bees swarmed overhead was not how I was expecting to spend my time on Henman Hill. Pretty interesting though.
The tennis seemed to tie seamlessly with the warm, breezy, changeable day - a sedate match or period of play in the sunshine for The Fed and Djoko and a tumultuous emotional storm for Serena Williams, playing in her first Slam since she injured her foot after winning Wimbledon last year. But she came through against a dangerous first-round opponent (Rezai) and made it clear for all the world to see that she was more than happy to be back. After the year she's had, a win at Wimbledon - nothing major for the Serena of old - must feel like a mountain climbed.
There have been few shocks so far but some amazing tennis. My matches of the Championships so far:
Stepanek v Verdasco - Verdasco the eventual winner in five scintillating sets. A match I would have seen had the rain not come early on the opening day...
Kimiko Date-Krumm v Venus Williams - absolute peach. Exactly why I like tennis.
Roll on tomorrow, hopefully with less swarms.
I'll keep you blogged...
Monday, 20 June 2011
Wimbledon, Day 1
I had the pleasure and the privilege of going to Wimbledon today. My Dad and I had Court 2 tickets and enjoyed a better than expected day as the weather held off for a good five hours of tennis. We saw a resurgent Venus Williams beat giant, 6'3" Uzbekistan, Akgul Amanmuradova, 6-3 6-1. A very entertaining and impressive Gael Monfils defeated Germany's Matthias Bachinger 6-4 7-6 (7-3) 6-3 in a great and sometimes highly competitive (especially in the second set) match. Next up was number 4 seed Victoria Azarenka against Rybarikova. They scrapped and screamed through a tight first set, Aza eventually claiming it 6-4, and it was on serve in the second at 3-2 when the rain started. I haven't been at Wimbledon where rain stops play for a significant amount of time for a number of a years so it felt a little alien at first. But then the brollies went up and the cloudy sky turned that solid wet blanket of grey... and I knew I'd seen that before. My Dad waited for half an hour with his restless leg jiggling up and down before he turned to me and suggested we go home. I have to say, I'm glad he convinced me as it's still raining now (at 8pm) and play has been suspended on all courts apart from Centre until tomorrow. Phew. So we popped into the incredibly packed shop, bought some lovely tea towels and oven gloves, new grips for my raquet (in pastel shades - very pretty) and three Wimbledon dampeners and a sweatband, and trekked across the soggy golf course to the car and drove home.
A great day all round, despite the rain.
Ray-ray, fresh off his Queens title (the second British man to win two since 1914), is playing under the roof on Centre Court right now and after a shaky start - losing his first set - he's looking very much in command at one set all and 4-0 up. Make that 5-0.
Ray-ray is the only one of the top four to have won a competition on grass this season. GoNads was knocked out in the quarters of Queens and neither Djoko nor The Fed played their pre-Wimbledon grass competition due to injury/fatigue. Does this bode well for Andy Murray?
Time to bite the bullet and commit my predictions to computer screen:
Men's final - Ray-ray v. The Fed and The Fed to win in four.
Djoko/Fed semi with Fed to come through a tight tight match. And Ray- ray/GoNads in the other with Ray-ray to beat a fatigued and sluggish Nadal.
Women's final - Wozza to win in three tight sets and get that first Slam she's been dreaming of. Serena and Venus to get nowhere past the quarters as they are both under fit and over hyped.
GOLF
Rory McIlroy won the US Open and became the youngest major winner since Tiger Woods won at the masters in 1997. Watch out for this guy - he's going to become a golfing great.
Day 2 of the womble tomorrow and I'm dragging the anti-sports boyfriend for a day of fun in the (fingers-crossed!) sun!
I'll keep you blogged...
Wednesday, 8 June 2011
Alastair Cook
How I love thee.
He is a fine wine; a good cheese; Richard Geer... Just gets better the longer he's around.
His 106 in England's draw against Sri Lanka at Lord's was his 6th century in 9 matches. Yes, he's not a very quick scorer, and yes, that could well be a problem in ODIs (although I have faith that he'll be able to adapt his game from one format to the other), but when he's in he's a rock and that's exactly what England, and any side, need. He's a big, beautiful, looks-of-a-Grecian-God rock that players like Pieterson and Bell and Morgan can anchor themselves to. Plus he's really good to watch - he has a beautiful technique and more often than not these days looks serene on the crease. He's been playing amazingly over the past 6 months (will his Ashes triumph ever be repeated/bettered?) and to all those nay-sayers out there I ask you: what do you want??
I'll keep you blogged...
He is a fine wine; a good cheese; Richard Geer... Just gets better the longer he's around.
His 106 in England's draw against Sri Lanka at Lord's was his 6th century in 9 matches. Yes, he's not a very quick scorer, and yes, that could well be a problem in ODIs (although I have faith that he'll be able to adapt his game from one format to the other), but when he's in he's a rock and that's exactly what England, and any side, need. He's a big, beautiful, looks-of-a-Grecian-God rock that players like Pieterson and Bell and Morgan can anchor themselves to. Plus he's really good to watch - he has a beautiful technique and more often than not these days looks serene on the crease. He's been playing amazingly over the past 6 months (will his Ashes triumph ever be repeated/bettered?) and to all those nay-sayers out there I ask you: what do you want??
I'll keep you blogged...
French Open Men's Final and Beyond
Well what a humdinger of a final it turned out to be.
When The Fed went 2 sets to love down people were dismissing him outright. Nadal in straights; same old same old. Nevermind that the first two sets had been more fiercely contested than I can remember at the French (since GoNads started winning), and that Fed had a chance in both sets to take them. It would have been a different story had Fed capitalised on his 5-2 lead in the first set and served it out, but GoNads produced some his best tennis of, lets face it, a pretty ropey (by his standards) torunament in order to claw his way back into the set and then break a rattled Fed, who, I'm sure, was wondering where the last few games had gone, to take the first set 7-5. In the second Nadal carried on his momentum and broke the Swiss early on but Fed is not a 16 time Grand Slam champion for nothing and he broke back to level at 5-5. The set was destined for a tie-break and we were all thinking Federer would get it and it would be game on... But he played an unusually bad (and poorly timed - although is it ever a good time?) breaker with weak shots to the middle of the court which GoNads' hungry forehand lapped up and soon enough the Fed was 2-0 down and when he went a break down early in the third the doom-sayers were toasting their predictions coming true.
Federer, however, had other ideas. He fought back to level the set and then had the audacity to break the 'King of clay' and win the third set with an assured service hold. It was a feat that, as my boyfriend's Dad said, 'raised the roof' on the Philippe Chatrier court. So we were into a fourth set in a French Open final for the first time since 2007 (which was another GoNads/Fed final) and rumblings of the five set epic at Wimbledon that these two shared in 2008 were in the air. Was it possible? On clay? Could Federer keep up with Nadal for five sets? Could he possibly push him all the way? Well, no. He lost the fourth set 6-1 and looked pretty slow and knackered by the end, but then, so did Nadal. When Federer pushed a tired forehand long on his first match point, GoNads flopped to the floor in tears (as is his way). His 6th Roland Garros is matched only by Bjorn Borg and with 10 Slams already, the 25 year old looks well on course to beat the Fed's record; a record many thought could never be surpassed.
From the glorious burnt orange of the clay to the bright green grass, Nadal will only have three days to recover from his historic win before his second round match against Australian qualifier and world number 168, Matthew Ebden. Ray-ray is also back in action today, after much talk of ankles and teeth, against Xavier Malisse who he has a 100% record against. He will look to make a bright and injury-free start to the incredibly short but all the more beautiful because of it grass court season. Also in action today are Arnaud Clement, Marin Cilic, and Juan Martin Del Potro. Roddick battled his way back from injury and a resistant Feliziano Lopez yesterday to win his second round match 7-6 6-7 6-4. Britain's James Ward pulled off a shock win against in-form Stanislav Wawrinka to progress into the third round of Queen's for the first time, 7-6 6-3.
Tennis quote of the week:
'There are few sights, in sport or life, as magnificent as Federer in full flow on a grass court.'
Rowan Emslie, June 2011
Here, here!
Elsewhere the CRICKET world has been alight with more England success and broken glass. The Test series against Sri Lanka started with a rain-delayed five days in Wales (what did you expect?) but ended in bright sunshine and inspired play. It looked set for a weather infested draw when Engand declared (after Bell had made his 100) on the last day with 50 overs to go. What followed was either a miracle or a complete Sri Lankan collapse, or a bit of both. England bowled Sri Lanka out in the fading light of that fifth day for a breath-taking 82; 10 wickets in 25 overs.
High expectations were carried through to Lord's and the second test, however a flat crease coupled with yet more rain delays brought about a similar situation on the last day - where England were ahead but short of another miracle a draw was all they could hope for. And this time a draw it was. An unusually obviously frustrated Strauss (perhaps due to being dismissed for two ducks) neither crtiticised or particularly praised his team, saying he could tell they had run their race when asked why he'd ended the match an hour before the scheduled close of play. This was only England's 2nd draw in their last 16 Tests. A Draw that Straussy, and probably the rest of the team, were none too pleased about, one senses. If England had won this series 3-0 they would have gone second in the ICC Test rankings, one step closer to their ultimate goal of becomming the number 1 Test side in the world. If that doesn't happen under Strauss's reign, it'll be a travesty.
I'll keep you blogged...
When The Fed went 2 sets to love down people were dismissing him outright. Nadal in straights; same old same old. Nevermind that the first two sets had been more fiercely contested than I can remember at the French (since GoNads started winning), and that Fed had a chance in both sets to take them. It would have been a different story had Fed capitalised on his 5-2 lead in the first set and served it out, but GoNads produced some his best tennis of, lets face it, a pretty ropey (by his standards) torunament in order to claw his way back into the set and then break a rattled Fed, who, I'm sure, was wondering where the last few games had gone, to take the first set 7-5. In the second Nadal carried on his momentum and broke the Swiss early on but Fed is not a 16 time Grand Slam champion for nothing and he broke back to level at 5-5. The set was destined for a tie-break and we were all thinking Federer would get it and it would be game on... But he played an unusually bad (and poorly timed - although is it ever a good time?) breaker with weak shots to the middle of the court which GoNads' hungry forehand lapped up and soon enough the Fed was 2-0 down and when he went a break down early in the third the doom-sayers were toasting their predictions coming true.
Federer, however, had other ideas. He fought back to level the set and then had the audacity to break the 'King of clay' and win the third set with an assured service hold. It was a feat that, as my boyfriend's Dad said, 'raised the roof' on the Philippe Chatrier court. So we were into a fourth set in a French Open final for the first time since 2007 (which was another GoNads/Fed final) and rumblings of the five set epic at Wimbledon that these two shared in 2008 were in the air. Was it possible? On clay? Could Federer keep up with Nadal for five sets? Could he possibly push him all the way? Well, no. He lost the fourth set 6-1 and looked pretty slow and knackered by the end, but then, so did Nadal. When Federer pushed a tired forehand long on his first match point, GoNads flopped to the floor in tears (as is his way). His 6th Roland Garros is matched only by Bjorn Borg and with 10 Slams already, the 25 year old looks well on course to beat the Fed's record; a record many thought could never be surpassed.
From the glorious burnt orange of the clay to the bright green grass, Nadal will only have three days to recover from his historic win before his second round match against Australian qualifier and world number 168, Matthew Ebden. Ray-ray is also back in action today, after much talk of ankles and teeth, against Xavier Malisse who he has a 100% record against. He will look to make a bright and injury-free start to the incredibly short but all the more beautiful because of it grass court season. Also in action today are Arnaud Clement, Marin Cilic, and Juan Martin Del Potro. Roddick battled his way back from injury and a resistant Feliziano Lopez yesterday to win his second round match 7-6 6-7 6-4. Britain's James Ward pulled off a shock win against in-form Stanislav Wawrinka to progress into the third round of Queen's for the first time, 7-6 6-3.
Tennis quote of the week:
'There are few sights, in sport or life, as magnificent as Federer in full flow on a grass court.'
Rowan Emslie, June 2011
Here, here!
Elsewhere the CRICKET world has been alight with more England success and broken glass. The Test series against Sri Lanka started with a rain-delayed five days in Wales (what did you expect?) but ended in bright sunshine and inspired play. It looked set for a weather infested draw when Engand declared (after Bell had made his 100) on the last day with 50 overs to go. What followed was either a miracle or a complete Sri Lankan collapse, or a bit of both. England bowled Sri Lanka out in the fading light of that fifth day for a breath-taking 82; 10 wickets in 25 overs.
High expectations were carried through to Lord's and the second test, however a flat crease coupled with yet more rain delays brought about a similar situation on the last day - where England were ahead but short of another miracle a draw was all they could hope for. And this time a draw it was. An unusually obviously frustrated Strauss (perhaps due to being dismissed for two ducks) neither crtiticised or particularly praised his team, saying he could tell they had run their race when asked why he'd ended the match an hour before the scheduled close of play. This was only England's 2nd draw in their last 16 Tests. A Draw that Straussy, and probably the rest of the team, were none too pleased about, one senses. If England had won this series 3-0 they would have gone second in the ICC Test rankings, one step closer to their ultimate goal of becomming the number 1 Test side in the world. If that doesn't happen under Strauss's reign, it'll be a travesty.
I'll keep you blogged...
Sunday, 5 June 2011
French Open Finals 2011
So Li Na becomes the first Chinese player to win a Grand Slam singles title. She beat defending champion, Scary Schia, in straight sets, 6-3 7-6; a performance full of mature play, quick thinking, class shots and nerveless resolve. She was imperious in the first set against a nervy Schia and looked on course for a straightforward victory when 4-2 up in the second before she visibly tightened and allowed Schiavone back into the game. That's not to say that Schia didn't deserve it; she'd been doggedly working her way into the match and came good as Li tightened. Li, however, conquered her no doubt fluttering nerves (thinking of the estimated 330 million possible viewers in China alone, perhaps?) to take the set to a tie break, which she then completely dominated and won to love to complete her historic victory. Is this the beginning of an Asian, and more specifically, Chinese, uprising in tennis?
A stat I enjoy - Li and Schia's combined age yesterday was 60 years and 79 days (Li: 29 years and 98 days; Schia: 30 years and 346 days), making it the oldest women's Slam final since 1998.
Meanwhile Roger and Rafa are on court, Rafa having just won a hard-fought first set 7-5. Fed was up 5-2 and had a set point but GoNads doesn't know when to give up and won 5 straight games to clinch the first set, much to the Fed's disgust. He's now floundering in the 2nd set, with a break and more break points against him. He looks peeved...
I'll keep you blogged...
Thursday, 2 June 2011
I have been away, now I am back.
The French Open has been ticking away nicely in my absence and is gearing up for an explosive last few days. Mixed metaphors but you get the point. The women's draw has seen seeds falling left, right and centre and we have been left with a rather surprising final four show down:
Li Na v. Screamy Sharapova
Scary Schiavone v. Beastly Bartoli
I need a nickname for Li Na but can't think of one right now. Screamy seems back to her crushing best after she annihilated German Petkova 6-0 6-4. Her injuries (shoulder/elbow) have all but gone and she can even serve again. (Do you remember her serves when she came back from her shoulder injury? Very very bad form.) She was moving brilliantly and the penetration and length she got on her shots was nothing short of majestic. Petkovic could do nothing in the first set and Shara could do nothing wrong.
Li na continues a wonderful couple of years of winning and very entertaining press conferences and speeches (particularly enjoy when she talks about her husband) with a straight sets defeat of in-form but never-been-past-a-Grand-Slam-quarter-final Victoria Azerenka whose shrieks could be heard throughout Paris (as could Shara's on the other court) - 7-5 6-2. Thank God it won't be an Aza/Shazza semi final; the noise would have been too much to bear. Li Na can bring a little decorum to Shara's silly screaming.
In the other half Scary Schiavone saw off a sublime Pavlyuchenkova, who crushed Zvo on her way to her first Grand Slam quarter final. The teenage Russian is a 2011 sensation and many predict her to go far. Watch this space for more Pavly . Schiavone eventually came through the match 1-6 7-5 7-5, having, at one stage, been a set and 4-1 down. The defending champion will meet Beastly Bartoli in the semi-final who defeated a resurgent Kuznetsova 7-6 (7-4) 6-4. The double-handed Bartoli (do not understand double-handed forehand and backhand players - how do they do it?) looks in pretty good knick and Scary Schia will have to up her game if she wants to carry on defending her title and stop Bartoli from reaching her first Slam final.
Where there are no seeded ladies left, in the men's half there are only seeds:
Djoko v. The Fed
GoNads v. Ray-ray
Yes indeedy; the top four men are the only four men left in the competition. Where there is a lot to be said for seeds going out and seeing people you may not know much about and seeing a new winner of a Grand Slam... It's also pretty tasty when the only four players left in a tournament are the top four players in the world (according to rankings, of course). Who could resist the pull of Djoko/Fed? The man of the moment and the 16 time Grand Slam winner. Djoko has got the better of The Fed the last few times they've played but The Fed has looked in fine fettle thus far, not dropping a single set on his path to his 28th Slam semi. If Djoko wins on Friday he'll chalk up his 44th win in a row (42nd in 2011), will take the number 1 spot from GoNads and will still be on course for a Grand Slam (winning all four majors in a single year). Can he do it? I think probably yes.
The other semi involves the all-time great (especially at the French), world number 1 (for now) GoNads and the battling Briton, Andy Murray. Neither one of these players has had a straight-forward route to the semis - GoNads was given a scare in the very first round against John Isner who took him to five sets, and has openly admitted to struggling for form and confidence in his bid to retain his title and win it for a sixth time to match Bjorn Borg's record. His quarter-final performance against Soderling went a long way to settling his nerves, however, as he emerged a comfortable winner in straight sets - 6-4 6-1 7-6. Ray-ray, on the other hand, has had nothing but a torrid time of it. He rolled his ankle in the third round (against Berrer) and has been drugged up to the eye-balls and, except when on court, seems to have had a permanently frozen foot ever since in order to keep him fit, mobile, and, most importantly, on court. He has, perhaps miraculously, reached the semis of the French for the first time in his career. He says he feels good, is confident that he can beat GoNads if he plays tactical tennis, and is happy to have reached the semis now in all four Slams.
The time is 1300 hours; Ladies semi-finals here I come!
I'll keep you blogged...
The French Open has been ticking away nicely in my absence and is gearing up for an explosive last few days. Mixed metaphors but you get the point. The women's draw has seen seeds falling left, right and centre and we have been left with a rather surprising final four show down:
Li Na v. Screamy Sharapova
Scary Schiavone v. Beastly Bartoli
I need a nickname for Li Na but can't think of one right now. Screamy seems back to her crushing best after she annihilated German Petkova 6-0 6-4. Her injuries (shoulder/elbow) have all but gone and she can even serve again. (Do you remember her serves when she came back from her shoulder injury? Very very bad form.) She was moving brilliantly and the penetration and length she got on her shots was nothing short of majestic. Petkovic could do nothing in the first set and Shara could do nothing wrong.
Li na continues a wonderful couple of years of winning and very entertaining press conferences and speeches (particularly enjoy when she talks about her husband) with a straight sets defeat of in-form but never-been-past-a-Grand-Slam-quarter-final Victoria Azerenka whose shrieks could be heard throughout Paris (as could Shara's on the other court) - 7-5 6-2. Thank God it won't be an Aza/Shazza semi final; the noise would have been too much to bear. Li Na can bring a little decorum to Shara's silly screaming.
In the other half Scary Schiavone saw off a sublime Pavlyuchenkova, who crushed Zvo on her way to her first Grand Slam quarter final. The teenage Russian is a 2011 sensation and many predict her to go far. Watch this space for more Pavly . Schiavone eventually came through the match 1-6 7-5 7-5, having, at one stage, been a set and 4-1 down. The defending champion will meet Beastly Bartoli in the semi-final who defeated a resurgent Kuznetsova 7-6 (7-4) 6-4. The double-handed Bartoli (do not understand double-handed forehand and backhand players - how do they do it?) looks in pretty good knick and Scary Schia will have to up her game if she wants to carry on defending her title and stop Bartoli from reaching her first Slam final.
Where there are no seeded ladies left, in the men's half there are only seeds:
Djoko v. The Fed
GoNads v. Ray-ray
Yes indeedy; the top four men are the only four men left in the competition. Where there is a lot to be said for seeds going out and seeing people you may not know much about and seeing a new winner of a Grand Slam... It's also pretty tasty when the only four players left in a tournament are the top four players in the world (according to rankings, of course). Who could resist the pull of Djoko/Fed? The man of the moment and the 16 time Grand Slam winner. Djoko has got the better of The Fed the last few times they've played but The Fed has looked in fine fettle thus far, not dropping a single set on his path to his 28th Slam semi. If Djoko wins on Friday he'll chalk up his 44th win in a row (42nd in 2011), will take the number 1 spot from GoNads and will still be on course for a Grand Slam (winning all four majors in a single year). Can he do it? I think probably yes.
The other semi involves the all-time great (especially at the French), world number 1 (for now) GoNads and the battling Briton, Andy Murray. Neither one of these players has had a straight-forward route to the semis - GoNads was given a scare in the very first round against John Isner who took him to five sets, and has openly admitted to struggling for form and confidence in his bid to retain his title and win it for a sixth time to match Bjorn Borg's record. His quarter-final performance against Soderling went a long way to settling his nerves, however, as he emerged a comfortable winner in straight sets - 6-4 6-1 7-6. Ray-ray, on the other hand, has had nothing but a torrid time of it. He rolled his ankle in the third round (against Berrer) and has been drugged up to the eye-balls and, except when on court, seems to have had a permanently frozen foot ever since in order to keep him fit, mobile, and, most importantly, on court. He has, perhaps miraculously, reached the semis of the French for the first time in his career. He says he feels good, is confident that he can beat GoNads if he plays tactical tennis, and is happy to have reached the semis now in all four Slams.
The time is 1300 hours; Ladies semi-finals here I come!
I'll keep you blogged...
Thursday, 12 May 2011
Reign of Djoko?
Djoko is rampant. He is dead set on toppling GoNads off the number 1 spot and looks well on his way to doing just that. He clocked up his 33rd straight win of the season by beating Lukasz Kubot at the Rome Masters 6-3 6-0. He took just over an hour to see off the Polish qualifier and goes into the third round with that number 1 spot if not likely, then at least achievable – if he wins and GoNads doesn’t make it past the quarter-finals, he’s world number 1.
GoNads not making it past the quarters? Impossible! Jog on, Djoko, there’s no way that’s… What now? He nearly went out to a qualifier ranked 148 in the world? This doesn't sound like the Nadal we all know but for the third consecutive match GoNads lost the first set and had to play some rather unattractive, desperate tennis to fight his way back into the game. He eventually beat Paolo Lorenzi 6-7 6-4 6-0 but the scoreline doesn't reflect the story. Only in the third set did Nadal find anything close to his clay-court best, a fact that Djoko will relish. For most of the match Nadal played short, slow balls which his delighted opponent dealt with admirably as GoNads missed smashes, hit shot long and wide and generally looked a little tired and hugely beatable.
Could tennis see the first world No1 player that is neither The Fed or GoNads since 2003? I think by the time Wimbledon rolls out its beautiful green grasses that will be the case.
There have been two sad deaths in sport this week:
The great Seve Ballesteros died, aged 54, after a long battle with cancer. Seve won three Opens and two Masters amongst his 87 career titles. He also played a huge part in many Ryder Cups, winning 22 1/2 points from 37 matches as well as captaining the European team in its 1997 victory.
Belgian cyclist Wouter Weylandt died after crashing during Monday's third stage of the Giro D'Italia. The 26 year-old is thought to have died instantaneously although paramedics worked on him for more than half an hour. His death has, inevitably, led to a look into safety in Cycling.
I'll keep you blogged...
Friday, 6 May 2011
Grammar
Have just re-read my post earlier today and feel sick at all the grammatical errors. That's what you get for sneaking in a post at work. Egads!
I'll keep you blogged...
Making a come back...
A few weeks ago, after the Spurs/Arsenal game (3-3 draw, excrutiating to watch if you're an Arsenal fan), I was asked whether I was a football fan, or an Arsenal fan. Initially poo-pooing the question as moot I spat out a speedy reply insisting they were one and the same - how could I like Arsenal if I don't like football? On reflection, however, I've come to understand the deeper meaning of that question; the subtleties.
So I've been asking myself these past few weeks; am I a football fan or a team fan? I want to say I'm a football fan. I want to revel in the purity of the game itself. I want to be able to sit back and appreciate a great game between Stoke City and Birmingham, or Reading and QPR, or Lancaster FC and Witton Albion and think 'Yes, what a brilliant game - definitely not a total waste of two hours that I'm never going to get back.' But, you see, the problem is... I don't feel that way. I find the majority of football games exceedingly dull. I couldn't watch one of those matches and not get itchy feet, even if it was a brilliant, enthralling, end-to-end stuff. Does this make me a team fan only? I'm not sure. Because I have seen entire matches that don't involve Arsenal (or England) that have captured my full attention. They just happen very rarely.
Also, I'm not convinced about how much of an Arsenal fan I am. I know people who are willing to die for their team. People who travel all over the country to watch them lose 5-0 in the pouring rain and freezing cold. People who can't sleep for fear of their teams being relagated, or joy at them being promoted. People who would never wash again should their favourite footballer happen to spit in their direction.
I've never seen Arsenal live. I probably never will. The idea of going to an Arsenal game scares me. I will watch cricket and tennis all day long - I wish I could watch cricket and tennis all day long - I dream of watching cricket and tennis all day long... I've never, not once, dreamed about Arsenal.
I feel wretched and throw things if they lose, especially when they throw away major opportunities (Carling Cup final... Countless times this season where Man U have given them an opening and they've lost feebly to a Wigan or a West Ham...), and I would be incredibly happy if they ever decided to win anything again, but my life would not change, my world would not rock, and I would most definitely not lose any sleep over it. I doubt I would even have sweaty palms.
Must I conclude, then, that not only am I not a football fan, I am also only a fair-weather Arsenal fan?
Elsewhere in sport Ray-ray is not having a good time of it. Having lost in the first round of all three of his tournaments post Aussie Open final drubbing by wonder-boy Djoko, he finally made an impression in Monte Carlo where he pushed eventual winner GoNads in the semi-final all the way. This was, we predicted, his come-back. His path back to winning ways and the majestic tennis we know he can play. He then had to pull out of Barcelona with an elbow injury and made his competitive return in Madrid this week by beating dangerous Giles Simon in three ragged sets. With Nadal's prediction of Ray-ray doing well on clay and being a threat to him, we once again thought, 'Ok, great, here we go' only for Ray-ray to limp out pathetically to world number 36, Brazillion Thomaz Bellucci, 6-4 6-2. Ho hum. He still has no coach and who knows how much that, as well as all the media attention it attracts, is affecting him?
English cricket has had a re-shuffle and a great furore it has caused! Personally, I think it could work out beautiful. The basis is this:
*Strauss will be Test captain
*Cook will be ODI captain
*Broad will be Twenty20 captain
They will work together, with Strauss as the McDaddy, but will be individually in charge of their format of the game. Three seperate captains has not been attempted before and sports journalist everywhere are panicking and predicting doom and gloom. Yes, Cook hasn't actually played in an ODI match since early last year and Broad hasn't captained a team since he was at school, but everyone has to start somewhere, right? Strauss was once a young, inexperienced captain and now look at him - poised, eloquent, confidence exuding from every pore, and with many a success to back up that belief in himself and his team. I think Cook and Broad deserve their time to shine and with Strauss acting as advisor and the three of them sharing their ideas, England could become a formidable team in all three areas of the game.
That, my dear dear readers, is that.
I'll (I promise!) keep you blogged...
So I've been asking myself these past few weeks; am I a football fan or a team fan? I want to say I'm a football fan. I want to revel in the purity of the game itself. I want to be able to sit back and appreciate a great game between Stoke City and Birmingham, or Reading and QPR, or Lancaster FC and Witton Albion and think 'Yes, what a brilliant game - definitely not a total waste of two hours that I'm never going to get back.' But, you see, the problem is... I don't feel that way. I find the majority of football games exceedingly dull. I couldn't watch one of those matches and not get itchy feet, even if it was a brilliant, enthralling, end-to-end stuff. Does this make me a team fan only? I'm not sure. Because I have seen entire matches that don't involve Arsenal (or England) that have captured my full attention. They just happen very rarely.
Also, I'm not convinced about how much of an Arsenal fan I am. I know people who are willing to die for their team. People who travel all over the country to watch them lose 5-0 in the pouring rain and freezing cold. People who can't sleep for fear of their teams being relagated, or joy at them being promoted. People who would never wash again should their favourite footballer happen to spit in their direction.
I've never seen Arsenal live. I probably never will. The idea of going to an Arsenal game scares me. I will watch cricket and tennis all day long - I wish I could watch cricket and tennis all day long - I dream of watching cricket and tennis all day long... I've never, not once, dreamed about Arsenal.
I feel wretched and throw things if they lose, especially when they throw away major opportunities (Carling Cup final... Countless times this season where Man U have given them an opening and they've lost feebly to a Wigan or a West Ham...), and I would be incredibly happy if they ever decided to win anything again, but my life would not change, my world would not rock, and I would most definitely not lose any sleep over it. I doubt I would even have sweaty palms.
Must I conclude, then, that not only am I not a football fan, I am also only a fair-weather Arsenal fan?
Elsewhere in sport Ray-ray is not having a good time of it. Having lost in the first round of all three of his tournaments post Aussie Open final drubbing by wonder-boy Djoko, he finally made an impression in Monte Carlo where he pushed eventual winner GoNads in the semi-final all the way. This was, we predicted, his come-back. His path back to winning ways and the majestic tennis we know he can play. He then had to pull out of Barcelona with an elbow injury and made his competitive return in Madrid this week by beating dangerous Giles Simon in three ragged sets. With Nadal's prediction of Ray-ray doing well on clay and being a threat to him, we once again thought, 'Ok, great, here we go' only for Ray-ray to limp out pathetically to world number 36, Brazillion Thomaz Bellucci, 6-4 6-2. Ho hum. He still has no coach and who knows how much that, as well as all the media attention it attracts, is affecting him?
English cricket has had a re-shuffle and a great furore it has caused! Personally, I think it could work out beautiful. The basis is this:
*Strauss will be Test captain
*Cook will be ODI captain
*Broad will be Twenty20 captain
They will work together, with Strauss as the McDaddy, but will be individually in charge of their format of the game. Three seperate captains has not been attempted before and sports journalist everywhere are panicking and predicting doom and gloom. Yes, Cook hasn't actually played in an ODI match since early last year and Broad hasn't captained a team since he was at school, but everyone has to start somewhere, right? Strauss was once a young, inexperienced captain and now look at him - poised, eloquent, confidence exuding from every pore, and with many a success to back up that belief in himself and his team. I think Cook and Broad deserve their time to shine and with Strauss acting as advisor and the three of them sharing their ideas, England could become a formidable team in all three areas of the game.
That, my dear dear readers, is that.
I'll (I promise!) keep you blogged...
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