Just like his coach Lendl, Andy Murray won a Slam final at his fifth attempt. When Djokovic pulled it back to two sets all, was there a tiny part of the Scot that thought 'there's no way i want to become the first man to lose five major finals in a row' ?
It was Djokovic though, the marathon man who beat Nadal in Melbourne in just under six hours, who faded in the fifth set.
Many commentators are predicting start of a new era of dominance by the two finalists. Two massive assumptions are behind this. Firstly that Nadal will not be able return to his former level before the injury lay-off. Second that Federer is on the decline now at the age of 31. I'm not so sure.
Some have even suggested Murray can reach the world no. 1 ranking. Possibly at some point in a season he will, but in the past he hasn't been able to match the consistency of the rest of the 'Big Four' on clay courts, so i can't see him finishing as a year-end no. 1.
Fred Perry will probably still be mentioned until Murray wins Wimbledon.
Performance of the Month
Murray, breaker of a 76 year hoodoo.
Honourable Mentions:
Europe Ryder Cup team. They produced one of the great sporting comebacks and overturned a four point deficit on the final day, despite the traditional strength of the USA in singles.
Laura Robson, who continued her rise up the rankings by reaching the Guangzhou final-the 1st Brit to play in a WTA final since Jo Durie.
Showing posts with label Laura Robson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Laura Robson. Show all posts
Wednesday, 3 October 2012
Sunday, 2 September 2012
MF Simply Brilliant
A brief, post-Olympic, August round-up.
Performance of the Month
Mo Farah (see last blog).
Honourable mentions:
The South African Test cricket team. Their series win over England meant they deposed them as the world no. 1 Test side.
Rory McIlroy, who won the US PGA by eight shots, his 2nd major at a younger age than Tiger Woods achieved it.
Laura Robson, who beat two former Slam champions, Clijsters & Li Na, to become the 1st British woman since Sam Smith in '98 to reach the fourth round of a Slam.
Performance of the Month
Mo Farah (see last blog).
Honourable mentions:
The South African Test cricket team. Their series win over England meant they deposed them as the world no. 1 Test side.
Rory McIlroy, who won the US PGA by eight shots, his 2nd major at a younger age than Tiger Woods achieved it.
Laura Robson, who beat two former Slam champions, Clijsters & Li Na, to become the 1st British woman since Sam Smith in '98 to reach the fourth round of a Slam.
Monday, 5 July 2010
The German Mentality
Germany arguably do not have more talented players than England, but they consistently outperform us in the big tournaments. If only England had their mentality. Players like Klose are of the same generation as Lampard & Gerrard, but they have delivered when it matters. Everyone knows Germany’s World Cup record is awesome, but their recent tournament record is exceptional. Apart from Euro 2004, where they didnt get out of the group stage, they over-achieved to reach the 2002 final; then semis in 2006 (though with home advantage) ,runners-up at Euro 2008 & now semis again. Their 4-0 win over Argentina makes the English defeat look slightly better. Once again they were able to soak up pressure & were devastating on the counter.
I expected Brazil to beat Spain in the final, but they self-destructed against Holland. Still no African team has reached a WC semi-final.
No-one could have predicted both France, & the holders Italy, going out at the group stage, & both finishing bottom of their groups.
Wimbledon
In November I was at the O2 for the Masters & saw Djokovic comfortably take care of Nadal. In fact Rafa lost all his matches in straight sets. So it’s quite incredible how he has regained the no. 1 spot & again done the French-Wimbledon double. At the moment, it;’s difficult to see anyone challenging him (maybe Del Potro, if he can regain his previous level after wrist surgery)
, & assuming his knees hold up, he can set his sights on Federer’s record no. of Slams, he’s already half-way there with 8 majors.
Many commentators are wondering whether its time to start writing Federer's obituary. His incredible streak of 23 consecutive Slam semis having been broken, he's now made two Slam QF exits in a row. I'm not writing him off though, & am expecting to bounce back at the US hardcourt season & the US Open.
Andy Murray came up short in the semi v Rafa. Nadal played the big points better- taking the only break point in the 1st set, but he also benefited from a net cord in the 2nd set tiebreak. Murray is very close to winning a Slam but i do wonder if his groundstrokes are big enough.-he can’t blast opponents off the court like Soderling or Berdych. The latter is someone whose low ranking i always found a puzzle, considering he has wins over Roger & Rafa. But this year he's finally broken into the top ten, reaching the French semis & the final here at SW19.
Laura Robson, ranked 234 prior to Wimbledon, again put up a good fight against a much higher ranked opponent (no. 4 Jankovic) but lost in straight sets. I was surprised to read an article in the Guardian that Wozniacki is the only teenager currently in the top 25. The WTA top 20 average is 26, 5 years older than it was in 1990. Many prodigies in the womens game have won slams/cracked the top ten at an early age-Capriati, Seles, Graf, Hingis, Sabatini, Sanchez-Vicario, the Williamses etc. But lately with the Williams sisters, the Belgians coming out of retirement, the top players are extending their careers into their late twenties & beyond. With her talent I think Robson can make top 50 at the least, & with the higher average age of the top players, has time on her side.
I expected Brazil to beat Spain in the final, but they self-destructed against Holland. Still no African team has reached a WC semi-final.
No-one could have predicted both France, & the holders Italy, going out at the group stage, & both finishing bottom of their groups.
Wimbledon
In November I was at the O2 for the Masters & saw Djokovic comfortably take care of Nadal. In fact Rafa lost all his matches in straight sets. So it’s quite incredible how he has regained the no. 1 spot & again done the French-Wimbledon double. At the moment, it;’s difficult to see anyone challenging him (maybe Del Potro, if he can regain his previous level after wrist surgery)
, & assuming his knees hold up, he can set his sights on Federer’s record no. of Slams, he’s already half-way there with 8 majors.
Many commentators are wondering whether its time to start writing Federer's obituary. His incredible streak of 23 consecutive Slam semis having been broken, he's now made two Slam QF exits in a row. I'm not writing him off though, & am expecting to bounce back at the US hardcourt season & the US Open.
Andy Murray came up short in the semi v Rafa. Nadal played the big points better- taking the only break point in the 1st set, but he also benefited from a net cord in the 2nd set tiebreak. Murray is very close to winning a Slam but i do wonder if his groundstrokes are big enough.-he can’t blast opponents off the court like Soderling or Berdych. The latter is someone whose low ranking i always found a puzzle, considering he has wins over Roger & Rafa. But this year he's finally broken into the top ten, reaching the French semis & the final here at SW19.
Laura Robson, ranked 234 prior to Wimbledon, again put up a good fight against a much higher ranked opponent (no. 4 Jankovic) but lost in straight sets. I was surprised to read an article in the Guardian that Wozniacki is the only teenager currently in the top 25. The WTA top 20 average is 26, 5 years older than it was in 1990. Many prodigies in the womens game have won slams/cracked the top ten at an early age-Capriati, Seles, Graf, Hingis, Sabatini, Sanchez-Vicario, the Williamses etc. But lately with the Williams sisters, the Belgians coming out of retirement, the top players are extending their careers into their late twenties & beyond. With her talent I think Robson can make top 50 at the least, & with the higher average age of the top players, has time on her side.
Sunday, 28 March 2010
Decline & Fall
UCL QFs
Its’ the UCL QFS this week, & the round of 16 saw a couple of shocks.
Real Madrid have now gone out in the last 16 for the 6th year in succession. In recent years they have been vulnerable defensively. The biggest mistake Real made in that time was not offering Claude Makele an improved contract. Since he left, they haven’t replaced him with a defensive midfielder of similar quality, & in fact since they sold him have never gone past the UCL QFs. Still, it defies belief to think a team with both Ronaldo & Kaka can’t get past the 1st knockout round.
Inter thwarted Abramovich's dreams of glory for another year. Once Inter had a first leg lead against Chelsea, if you were to bet on any side to keep a clean sheet, it would be a Mourinho team.
Barca & Man U, the betting favourites, are in opposite halves of the draw & I think will both get through, for a repeat of last year’s final.
Davis Cup Disaster
British tennis reached its nadir with the 3-2 Davis Cup loss to Lithuania. The contrast with the strength in depth of men’s tennis with the leading Euro nations (Spain, France, Germany) is obvious.
I don’t believe the common opinion that GB players fail as they tend to be middle class & so don’t have the hunger to succeed. Henman is from a comfortable middle class background & got to no. 4 in the world, & Murray is similar. British tennis is undoubtedly too elitist though. Two courts in the local park were taken over by the local tennis club (they can still be booked by the public through the club, but its hardly widely advertised). Widening the participation at grassroots level to reach more of those from less comfortable backgrounds cannot do any harm.
Apart from Murray, the womens side is healthier with both Baltacha & Keothavong reaching the main draw of Indian Wells this month; & the talents for the future of Laura Robson & Heather Watson (junior Wimbledon & US Open winners respectively)
Its’ the UCL QFS this week, & the round of 16 saw a couple of shocks.
Real Madrid have now gone out in the last 16 for the 6th year in succession. In recent years they have been vulnerable defensively. The biggest mistake Real made in that time was not offering Claude Makele an improved contract. Since he left, they haven’t replaced him with a defensive midfielder of similar quality, & in fact since they sold him have never gone past the UCL QFs. Still, it defies belief to think a team with both Ronaldo & Kaka can’t get past the 1st knockout round.
Inter thwarted Abramovich's dreams of glory for another year. Once Inter had a first leg lead against Chelsea, if you were to bet on any side to keep a clean sheet, it would be a Mourinho team.
Barca & Man U, the betting favourites, are in opposite halves of the draw & I think will both get through, for a repeat of last year’s final.
Davis Cup Disaster
British tennis reached its nadir with the 3-2 Davis Cup loss to Lithuania. The contrast with the strength in depth of men’s tennis with the leading Euro nations (Spain, France, Germany) is obvious.
I don’t believe the common opinion that GB players fail as they tend to be middle class & so don’t have the hunger to succeed. Henman is from a comfortable middle class background & got to no. 4 in the world, & Murray is similar. British tennis is undoubtedly too elitist though. Two courts in the local park were taken over by the local tennis club (they can still be booked by the public through the club, but its hardly widely advertised). Widening the participation at grassroots level to reach more of those from less comfortable backgrounds cannot do any harm.
Apart from Murray, the womens side is healthier with both Baltacha & Keothavong reaching the main draw of Indian Wells this month; & the talents for the future of Laura Robson & Heather Watson (junior Wimbledon & US Open winners respectively)
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