Update Heaven!!

Just realised the last post was my one hundredth... feel like I should have celebrated or something. Maybe when I get to 500. Right folks, you read it, when I get to 500 posts I'm going to party hardy. Big time. With knobs on. Woop woop!

I have been seriously busy lately and as such have not had a chance to update for a while - and at such an exciting time! I was doing work experience at The Guardian (loved it loved it) on the Sports Desk so feel like I've been immersed in sport yet haven't had time to update my blog. So here goes.

TENNIS

So the Aussie Open has come and gone. Another fantastic competition, especially for player-of-the-moment Djoko who beat Berdy, The Fed and Ray-ray in crushing style on his way to a fine second Slam win. He is looking awesome at the moment. His movement is sublime and apart from the odd pesky eye problemo he doesn't even seem to be complaining about much anymore. Bring back the allergies and the aching limbs and the breathing problems. He does seem to enjoy the Australian Open as both of his wins have come there - he beat surprise-finalist Tsonga in the 2008 final. And as in 2008, he beat The Fed in the semi, although this time a little more convincingly. Fed looked a little sluggish but didn't play badly, Djoko was just too good for him. He defended like a mad man and whenever he had the slightest opening would send a winner fizzing past his bemused opponent. He out-played and out-classed Federer, simple as that.

On the other side of the draw Ray-ray had beaten newcomer Glop (I checked, that's what I called him. Not Dlog. Sorry. Inconsistency annoys me too) and faced a stiff Ferrer test in the semi-final. He lost the first set to a player who has enjoyed some of the best form of his life in the last year, and was set points down in the second before he found something of his former form and came back to take a tight four-setter.

For the second year in a row, Andy Murray of Great Britain was in the final of the Aussie Open. Hurrah! The final everyone wanted? Maybe not - I know a few sadists who wanted a repeat of last year's and for Ray-ray to crush (or, y'know, just win) him; the purists, who were looking forward to a GoNads/Fed final. But I for one was most happy with the final. I like both Djoko and Ray-ray, and I think their playing styles being very similar sets up a potentially intriguing match. They're both excellent receivers, both have big beautiful double-handed backhands, both run like the clappers, both vary their game... I was ready for epically long rallies with drop shots, huge backhands, lobs and a lot of running.

For much of the match, this is what happened. The first set was tight and not exactly flowing but still great to watch. There were some excellent points. Djoko came through after nearly an hour 6-4 the winner. Ray-ray was looking good and I had no doubt he'd step it up in the second set, attack attack attack, and get back on level terms. However, Ray-ray backed up his great first set battling performance with a woebegone passive stretch of play which saw him 0-4 down in a matter of minutes. This was the only time Ray-ray was truly disappointing in the match, indeed the whole tournament, but I think it's what sunk him. He did break back and win a game to lose the set 6-2 but after being so dull it's hard to find that excitement again and even though he tried in the third, and it was a much better set, Djoko was always going to be the winner - 6-4 6-2 6-3. I have said it time and time again - he cannot afford to slump like that. Yes, it happens, and yes, others do it - Djoko himself is not a stranger to going off the boil in matches, and The Fed is sometimes susceptible to a waver in concentration... but the difference is, the big difference, is that The Fed and Djoko have won Slams. They know they can do it. We know they can do it. They have the mental ability to come back into a Slam final match and win. Murray does not have that. He hasn't won a Slam and to be honest I don't think he thinks he can most of the time. If he slumps in a final, it's going to prey on his already frazzled nerves and he's not going to be able to come back from that. I don't think, mentally, Murray is ready to win a Slam yet. I think he has the game, we've all seen how amazing he can be - there's no doubt in my mind that, even playing as brilliantly as he was, Murray could have beaten Djokovic on Sunday - but I don't think he has the belief and the mental strength, yet, to get over that line. He's been in three Slam finals now, and lost every one in straight sets. That's got to effect you. That's got to make you think 'Maybe I can't do this...' It definitely would me.

I think he can do it - I don't want you to think I'm one of these 'He's British; he's never going to win anything!' kind of people. I'm not at all. I just think he's still really young and he's just not quite there. He needs someone new on his team to bolster his confidence and to make him believe in himself. Some fresh blood to change things a little and shake them up and give him that little sumthin sumthin that he's missing.

In the ladies final Kimmy (who beat a misfiring and thoroughly cross with herself Zvo in two easy sets in the semis) played Li Na (much tougher match against an ultimately tearful Wozza. Li saved match points to fight her way to a three-set victory. Wozza continues to wait for her first Grand Slam win and for the silverware to finally silence her critics) in a scintilating match that swung this way and that before Clijsters finally came through 3-6 6-3 6-3. Kim immediately burst into tears when she saw Li had missed her shot on match point and admitted to being overwhelmed by the 'intense' feelings of winning a Slam in a country she has loved and has loved her (they call her 'Aussie Kim' after her time with Lleyton Hewitt) for a long time. There is already talk of her doing the 'Grand Slam' (winning all four majors in a calender year) this year as she's admitted it'll be her last full-time year of her professional career. Poor Belgium have gone from having two Major winning champions to none at the start of 2012.

CRICKET

England, after a resurgence in form to claim the fourth ODI against Australia and keep their (slim) hopes of winning the Series alive, have been brought crashing back down to Earth as another poor batting display saw them lose the fifth match and therefore the Series. Strauss was none too pleased with his or any of the top order batsmen's batting displays and has said they will need to improve if they hope to go anywhere in the World Cup. Here here Straussy! It's funny, since The Ashes, peoples' opinion of the English Cricket Team has become rather rosey. Losing an ODI Series would have annoyed a lot of people I know - 'More of the same...' 'They're rubbish...' 'What did we expect, it's the Aussie's...' - but I've heard barely a word of complaint and absolutely no disgust. It's amazing how calm everyone about this World Cup; calm AND reasonably confident that England can go far into the competition. I don't think this has happened since I've been a cricket fan. Long live actually winning things and this feeling of assured confidence. This must be what Australia usually feel like...

FOOTBALL

Arsenal have reached a final! Could The Carling Cup be the answer to us long-suffering Arsenal fans' prayers? They are still involved in all major trophy hunts which is very exciting indeed. Could the drought be ending? Dare we dare to dream?

Oh yes, and Chelsea have bought Fernando Torres for £50m from Liverpool; a new record for a British transfer fee. Repugnante, no?

I'll keep you blogged...