Friday 17 June 2011

A Class Apart

Champions League final

Barcelona’s victory was the most convincing display I’ve ever seen in a final. A work colleague thought Man U would have been disappointed to lose it. Nonsense. Barcelona are so far ahead of anyone else it's no disgrace losing to them. If they carry this form on into next season, surely no-one can deny they deserve to be ranked among the all-time great teams: the DiStefano Real Madrid side of the 50's, Cruyff's Total Football Ajax team who won a hat-trick of titles in the 70's, or the Milan of Gullit, Van Basten, Rijkaard (winners 89,90)

Wimbledon


Despite just coming off a year-long injury lay-off, Serena Williams is the bookies' favourite for the title, which shows both what a great athlete & competitor she is, but also the poor state at the very top of the womens game. Serena has won a slam before in similar circumstances- 2007 Aussie Open when ranked 81 in the world. She’s in the top half with Sharapova, & I think the winner of that semi will lift the title.

On the mens’ side, Nadal & Federer are in opposite halves of the draw & I can see them meeting in the final, with Rafa triumphant.

What chances of British glory ? I was saying to a mate last week there was no strength in depth with the men. Then James Ward made the semis at Queens. Ward faces Llodra, an exponent of the dying art of serve & volley, in the first round. I think Llodra will come through in five tough sets.
Two of the women have been drawn together, apart from that I think Watson has a good chance of reaching the second round.
Murray has a tough draw, if it goes as projected, from r3 it would be Cilic, Gasquet(or Wawrinka), Roddick & if he gets past that lot in one piece then Nadal. I think he will do very well to get to the semi with Rafa.

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