Domination

Dominance is today’s theme.

Jordan Spieth, having already won two majors this year, finished only one shot behind the winner at the Open.  Currently he sits three shots off the lead of the US PGA.

Depressingly for her rivals, Serena Williams can win majors even with a bad case of the flu, as she did at the French. A calendar year Grand Slam is still on the cards.

Djokovic brings to mind a Skynet Terminator.  The Serb is as relentless & indestructible as the  T-1000. Arguably he is the best athlete & toughest mentally on the ATP tour. The crop of young talents such as Coric, Zverev, Thiem and the special Ks look to have a long way to go to be capable of challenging. The world no. 1 will play Chardy today in the Montreal semis.

Chris Froome looked to be totally dominant in Le Tour, but his winning margin was trimmed to just over a minute when Quintana dropped him on Alpe d’Huez, the penultimate stage. It‘s incredible that Robert Millar’s 4^th place (1984) was the best British finish until Wiggo in 2012, & now British riders have won it in three of the last four years. This must be a sickener for the French, their last winner being Hinault in 1985.

Manning & The Vets

Andy Murray had intended to have more rest after the US Open. When qualification for the O2 season-ending tournament looked in doubt, he changed his schedule to chase ranking points.  It worked out brilliantly. After 14 months without a title, he won three tournaments in five weeks (Shenzhen, Vienna & Valencia).

The resurgence of Roger Federer continues, he won two Masters titles & Basel. He matched Djokovic by reaching the SFs in NY and looks certain to finish at least as world no. 2.

Results last year had suggested the Swiss great was in decline. Similar questions had been posed of Serena Williams with her Major record in 2014. Australia 4^th round, 2^nd round in Paris & round 3 Wimbledon.  Her finish to the season, with US & WTA Championship titles which confirmed her no. 1 ranking, was an emphatic answer.

Bradley Wiggins benefitted from fresh legs-no Grand Tours this year, finally getting the better of Tony Martin in the world time trial championship.

Peyton Manning broke yet another NFL record, this time for touchdown passes. Once again the Broncos & the Patriots are leading the AFC standings, and the Manning Brady rivalry will resume tomorrow in Foxborough.

It Was a Very Good Year

Year in Review

2012 was a brilliant year for British sport with Wiggo winning Le Tour, Team GB’s sensational performance in the Olympics & Chelsea upsetting the odds to win the Champions League.

Bolt & Phelps underlined their legendary status with standout performances in the summer. Rudisha’s 800 metre win was even better.

In football, Spain showed they’re still a class above the rest, winning Euro 2012 with style. Aguero’s injury time winner for Man City capped the most exciting finish to a top flight title race since 1989. Leo Messi broke Gerd Muller’s record for goals in a calendar year, with an astonishing 91, helping Barcelona to a nine point lead in La Liga.

Europe pulled off one of the great comebacks in the Ryder Cup.

It was another vintage year in tennis.  The marathon Aussie Open final, record-breaking  wins for Nadal at the French & Federer at Wimbledon. Murray breaking his grand slam duck & the winning the Olympic title. Serena, when fit & focused, proved to be a class apart from the rest, but it seems Azarenka may be getting closer.

Alistair Cook scored 562 runs & broke the English record for most Test centuries, captaining the side to a rare Test series win in India. He will surely break many more batting records.

Uefa Champions League round of 16

A tough draw for the Britsih clubs. Both Man U & Celtic are favoured to go out by the bookies. (Arsenal’s chances are rated 50-50) Madrid v United should be closer than the odds suggest, but I think all the British sides will go out.

Performance of the Month

England’s great upset win over the All Blacks, ending their 20 match unbeaten streak.

Honourable mention: Juan Manuel Marquez getting his revenge for being on the wrong side of some questionable points decisions with a brutal one-punch knockout of Manny Pacquiao.

The Wonder of Wiggo

Wimbledon

When Djokovic & Nadal were hoovering up all the major titles, I & many experts, thought Federer might not win another Slam. However, since losing in the US Open his form has been unmatched, winning eight titles. In the semi he overturned a three-match losing streak against Djokovic, & in the final showed touches of genius to thwart Murray. He regained the world no. 1 ranking from the young bucks to boot, at the age of 30.

Serena Williams is of similar vintage to Federer, but was even more dominant, proving to be a class apart on the SW19 grass. Her serve in particular was awesome over the fortnight with 90 aces.

Wiggins

Five years ago, the prospects of a Brit winning Le Tour looked remote. A British one-two GC finish, let alone a Brit winner, is totally staggering. Wiggins went in as the favourite having done the unique treble of the Dauphine, Paris-Nice & the Tour of Romandie. When he took an early lead, I feared the commentators were giving him the kiss of death by anointing him as the champion-elect, but the strength in depth of team Sky was a major factor in allowing him to keep control. On two of the mountain stages it appeared that Chris Froome could have taken some serious time out of his team-mate, but Froome responded to team orders to wait for his team leader. Wiggins, though, was the clearly the best time time triallist by some distance.

July Performance of the Month

I decided on this before the Olympics.

It’s not often that Federer is relegated to second place, but I have to give it Wiggins as he sustained his excellence over three gruelling weeks.

Next month

Tune in for the next enthralling instalment- Olympic review.

Operation Grand Slam

My pre-tournament tip, Wales, deservedly took their third Six Nations Grand Slam in eight years.With only three players over the age of 30, they could dominate for some years.
England, who I thought would end up in the bottom half, finished up as runners-up; & in Owen Farrell may have found a dead-eyed kicker in the Wilkinson mould.
France will look to rebound next year from a disappointing 4th place.

Federer back in Form

Roger Federer showed he is still a force to be reckoned with, winning Rotterdam, Dubai, and Indian Wells. Until he lost in Miami it looked like he was on track to regain the world no. 1 ranking, amazingly, at the age of 30. It's still possible, as Djokovic has a huge amount of ranking points to defend this season, but the Fed would need to win a couple of tournaments in the upcoming clay court swing. Also, I still think in the best of five sets matches at the Slams, he will come unstuck against a top eight opponent.

Performance of the Month (Feb & March)

Wales.
Honourable mentions:
Federer.
The GB women 4 x 400 m relay squad, who won the 1st ever GB gold in the event, at the World Indoors.
Brad Wiggins, who became the first Brit since Tom Simpson to win the Paris-Nice stage race.
Vika Azarenka, who lost her 27 match win streak to Bartoli in Miami this week.

Quote of the Month
　
There is no script in sports, you know. I think that's what makes it the best entertainment in the world.
Andy Roddick, after beating Federer for only the third time in 24 meetings.

Tour De Force

Tour de France

This is one of the most exciting tours for years. Recently drug scandals have sapped my enthusiasm, but this year was much anticipated with the return of Armstrong, and it hasn't disappointed. Armstrong is not in the same form as in his record seven tour wins but is certainly capable of a top ten finish. Contador remains the favourite. Mark Cavendish has demonstrated again he's clearly the best sprinter in the world, & if he can survive the Alps must be favourite to hold on to the green jersey. Bradley Wiggins has been a revelation, showing himself to be one of the rarest of species, a Brit who can live with the top contenders over the high mountain peaks. Wiggins is 5th in GC, if he can hang on in the Alps, he is excellent bet for a podium finish with his time-trialing ability.

Beijing 2008

I was discussing the Olympics with a friend this morning. He thought two weeks of it was mostly a bore, though he might catch some of the boxing & the football. I tried to convince him otherwise.

How can you not be excited by the Olympics? Michael Phelps will again be trying to match or better Mark Spitz's record haul of seven gold medals in a single games. In the mens 100 metres the current & former world record holders, Usain Bolt & Asana Powell (Jamaica) v Tyson Gay, who ran a wind-assisted 9.68 in the US trials. Nadal, Federer, Djokovic & the Murray brothers in the tennis. If you need the patriotic angle to stir your interest, prospects for a good haul of British gold medals are excellent. British cycling has never been stronger & will hope to match their superb performance from the worlds. Shanaze Reade & Vicky Pendleton will be the favourites in the BMX & sprint respectively. Rebecca Romero, previously a rowing medallist will try to medal on the track. Bradley Wiggins is the favourite for the Individual Pursuit. Mark Cavendish, fresh from winning four stages in Le Tour, will ride the Madison & possibly the IP. The coxless four rowers will try to retain their title. Triple jumper Philips Idowu has the world leading jump this year & won the world indoor title. Sailor Ben Ainslie is the favourite in the Finn class. Last but not least (except in stature) what a story it would be if 14 year-old Tom Daley could win a medal in the diving.

The new Premiership season could be boring if The Big Four monopoly can’t be broken. The only team who appear to have a chance of making the breakthrough this season are Spurs. Although they have sold Keane, & it’s rumoured Berbatov is on his way, they’ve bought Modric & Giovanni & have an outside chance of getting Arshavin.