The Final Analysis

Underdogs shine but class tells in the end

Serena, upset by Muguruza at Roland Garros, made another early exit at Wimbledon. She will still start as favourite & no. 1 seed for the US Open, and needs just one slam to draw level with Navratilova & Evert.

In the final Kvitova was awesome, beating Bouchard in less than an hour. The challenge for the Czech now is to get the consistency that she’s lacked in the past with her high-risk game style. Bouchard will contest more Slam finals.

There were big wins for young pretenders.  Krygios had swagger & nerves to take out Nadal, Dimitrov beat Murray in straights. The old pecking order was still intact for the final though. The previous dominance of the Big Four is evidenced by it being the 1st Slam final since the 2009 US Open not to feature either Nadal or Murray.

Many experts, including this blogger, wanted Federer to retire last year after early Slam exits to Stakhovsky & Robredo. This year has been a welcome return to top form. It took Djokovic to stop him in a final of the highest quality. As long he can continue to perform at a high level he will keep playing. As the saying goes, you’re a long time retired.

It was the most exciting World Cup since 1986 for my money. Spain & Italy didn’t make the  knockouts, but unfancied Costa Rica won their group. Holland’s 5-1 spanking of Spain seemed like it would be the shock result of the tournament, until Brazil’s astonishing capitulation to Germany in the semi.

Froome & Contador were the pre-race favourites for Le Tour, but both had to abandon after a series of heavy crashes. Vincenzo Nibali took full advantage. He won by more than seven minutes, with four stage wins, & was never put in difficulties.