The Australian Open once again got the tennis year off to a great start and whetted out appetite for the forthcoming season. The master they call Ro...
The Australian Open once again got the tennis year off to a great start and whetted out appetite for the forthcoming season. The master they call Roger Federer once again lifted that famous trophy, sending out a warning to all his opponents that he’s still the man to beat.
There again, it’s still very early in the season, and way too early to write anyone off yet. Look at the surprises last year threw up, a prime example being Juan Martin Del Potro winning the US Open title by beating Federer in the final.
Melanie Oudin, the 18 year old American, had a terrific 2009 and could really break through this year. Reaching the semi final in the US Open was the highlight of last year, who’s to say she won’t do even better this year?
On the women’s tour there is the young American Melanie Oudin, she as the surprise package at the 2009 US Open by beating some very big names to reach the semi final stage.
A young man with the aspirations to take Federer’s crown is Marin Cilic. A top ten player at only 21, he has started this year with 15 wins and only 1 loss. Watch out for him this year to really rattle the top players. The depth of his game at this young age is staggering, and he can only get better.
Nikolay Davydenko is no newcomer, but at 28 seems to be finally getting the recognition he deserves as a great player. In their last three meetings he has beaten Federer twice, which will no doubt be a thorn in Federer’s size.
The next player has been around for quite a while but is enjoying a great resurgence in his career. 28 year old Nikolay Davydenko is in the form of his life and has risen to #6 in the world.
Finally these are behind him and he is enjoying his tennis again. Currently ranked no.6, his recent form against Federer in particular has been very impressive. On form both physically and mentally, watch out for some great results from Davydenko in the coming year.
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August 12th, 2009 was a beautiful, sunny Wednesday morning in Montreal. Because I was working at the Rogers Cup, I got admission to the grounds and had specifically asked for Wednesday off so I would be able to go check out all the players’ practices. It was really a loaded draw with the most talented ten competing during the day.
At 11 that day, a friend and I walked over to Court four where the world’s No.1, Roger Federer, was expected to get there at 11:30am. Already jam packed with about a few hundred people, there was barely any room to move.
As the time neared, the place was packed with fans who enthusiastically waited to get a glimpse of the Swiss Maestro. With the sun soaring at 95 degrees fahrenheit, we watched him warm up and start hitting balls. To be frank, it was quite uneventful and was supposed to last 2 hours.
So, slowly, we squeeze out of the crowd and come to an open space. I look up at Court four on the other side to see a tall, lanky player dressed in a pink Nike T-shirt and white shorts hitting a few balls. I try to look closer and indeed came to see it was Juan Martin Del Potro.
As he came to the exit gate, there were 6 fans waiting for him to earn his signature and he did sign. As he signed my picture and proceeded to my pal, I told him “I wish you the best of luck in your competition today.”
He turned around and had a huge grin on his face and claimed “Thank you so much for your support.” He seemed like he was extremely pleased about what I had said to him.
As he won yesterday, the irony of this situation just came to my thoughts. The fact that essentially nobody was at hand to root for him and Federer had a ton of fans. Sometimes, it is better to be let alone than to be constantly followed.
Del Potro played a fabulous match this week and is totally worthy of his championship. Vamos!
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One of the many definitions of insanity is that you do the same thing again and again but want a different outcome each time; this would also apply to playing tennis.
Playing tennis is very strategic, and if you find your self losing in quite spectacular fashion, is it time to change your tactics.
So why don’t people change their style of play to give themselves a better chance? You know that what you are doing isn’t working, so why stick to it?
A change of strategy should be included in your game plan, if something isn’t working it’s time to change it. There are players who you expect to lose to, changing tactics may surprise them and you end up the victor.
If you play from the baseline and are facing a player who plays as the net you need to play them at their own game and try to get to the net first.
These are attacking kind of players and if you take that away from them they will struggle. Forcing an attacker to defend is a great tactic that should earn you a good few points.
If your opponent is slow around the court and relies on ball placement, do everything you can to run them ragged. From the baseline make them run after the balls, in they come the net, make them have to run backwards very quickly.
Once you’ve volleyed and make them run backwards to return it, confuse them even more by playing a drop shot. By mixing it up and keeping them running they will be so exhausted they won’t even be able to think about their own strategy.
Build these strategies into your game plan, so if things go wrong and you start to fall behind, you are mentally equipped to change your tactics without having to think about it.
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There are qualities which are vital to any great tennis player and as the world of tennis progresses on, these qualities are debated over by fans and players alike.
It can be fun considering the different perspectives and opinions of the many arguments that evolve from the different aspects of the game.
Some very important aspects are listed. Are there any that you would find most important?
Is it volleying? After all, a well rounded net game can pose a threat to any opponent and easily end a point. Look at the past success of players like John McEnroe, Stefan Edberg, and even Pete Sampras to a degree.
Many tennis buffs would argue that the modern game favors baseline play over the net. After all, look at the dominance of Rafael Nadal from the back of the court. Even players like Andy Roddick, who once spent more time at the net, are recently favoring the baseline and opting for ground strokes.
Any player with a powerful serve can easily take control of the court if their opponent is unable to break them and this will give them an overall advantage. Take Roddick as a good example of a big serve.
How about speed though? Guys like Nadal can get to just about every ball, making it extremely difficult for their opponents to win points. The harder your opposition has to work for a point, the more unforced errors you’ll ultimately cause.
I think that the x-factor wins over all others. Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer have a mental attitude that goes with winning. The type of ‘no lose’ attitude which, I think gives them an edge over their opponents.
With the ability to rarely be rattled, their stoic composure and never say die attitude wins them so many more matches than the stats would indicate.
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There are qualities which are vital to any great tennis player and as the world of tennis progresses on, these qualities are debated over by fans and players alike.
It can be fun considering the different perspectives and opinions of the many arguments that evolve from the different aspects of the game.
Some very important aspects are listed. Are there any that you would find most important?
Is it volleying? After all, a well rounded net game can pose a threat to any opponent and easily end a point. Look at the past success of players like John McEnroe, Stefan Edberg, and even Pete Sampras to a degree.
What about baseline play, is that important? Many experts would say that it is the more modern approach as opposed to playing at the net. Take Rafael Nadal for example, he spends a lot of time hanging at the back of the court rather that up at the net. And other players such as Andy Roddick have changed tactics in favour of the baseline play.
Any player with a powerful serve can easily take control of the court if their opponent is unable to break them and this will give them an overall advantage. Take Roddick as a good example of a big serve.
Players have a hard time winning points if their opponent is fast at reaching the ball. Players like Nadal manage to reach almost every ball coming their way. If your opponent has to play hard to get a point then you will be causing them to make unforced errors.
What I think is the most important aspect is the x-factor, as in the mental game. Rafael Nadal knows how to play a tough mental game and as a result has some of the toughest in the history of tennis.
With the ability to rarely be rattled, their stoic composure and never say die attitude wins them so many more matches than the stats would indicate.
One of the more prestigious surfaces in the world of tennis is that of red clay. It’s right up there with grass when it comes to tradition and history, and it’s commonly used throughout Europe and South America today.
While these courts are common in other parts of the world, they’re far more rare in America. Still, they do exist, and you should consider yourself lucky if you have the opportunity to play a match on this surface.
If you’ve never played on red clay courts before, I’d like to share a few pieces of knowledge that you may find informative about them.
First of all, the most effective strategy on this surface has always been one from the baseline. Players traditionally rely on powerful ground strokes as a means of winning their matches.
Unfortunately, players with big serves and proficient net games simply won’t find as much success on clay courts. The impact of a hard hit serve or a quick rush to the net simply doesn’t have the same effectiveness.
You might be wondering why it would matter, but there’s a good reason for this. The makeup of the clay lends itself to a ball that bounces high and slowly off the ground, giving your opponent a lot of time to get to it.
Unlike hard courts, you’ll seldom see the ball skipping off the surface and bouncing up at an increased speed. In fact, you’ll see just the opposite.
On clay, your opponent will have more time to get to each shot that you hit. This is why the points and matches are generally longer on clay than they are in other settings.
This results in very long rallies, since balls that ordinarily couldn’t be returned are gotten to on this surface. This makes things interesting, but they’re also more challenging.
As a result, anyone who moves quickly during the course of a match will definitely have an edge.
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Tennis fans around the world are rejoicing as the grand slam season has kicked off. Things are most definitely exciting on both sides of the tour, leading many to speculate as to who will dominate the sport this year. Let’s take a look at the men of the sport.
Things will certainly be interesting in men’s tennis this year. It’s one of the first years in recent memory where fans legitimately believe that more than just two players have a chance at finishing on top.
Though Federer and Nadal occupy the top two spots in the world, there are a few players who could end up the year ranked at number one. Let’s take a look at the most likely finishers now.
No article like this would be proper without calling Federer the most likely person to rank atop the world. After all, he’s held a pretty firm grasp on the position for over eight years now. On the other hand, he’s getting older and others are catching up.
If Rafael Nadal can stay healthy, there’s no reason to believe that he can’t finish there. In fact, many believe that he would have finished there in 2009 had he not been forced to miss Wimbledon due to his knee injury.
On the rise is the young 20 year old Juan Martin Del Potro, whose incredible win at the US Open shocked many tennis fans. To knowledgeable ones, the Argentine’s emergence wasn’t such a surprise. The kid is incredibly talented and has what it takes to capture the world’s top ranking this year.
Then, there are two final players who will both have a go at the throne.
Novak Djokovic is one of those guys who everyone thought would be number one at some point, yet he hasn’t quite gotten there yet. He’s more mature at the age of 23, and could finally have both the physical and mental game to get there.
Then, there’s Andy Murray. At 22 years old, this British talent is on the rise and peaked as high as number two last year. With some big wins in 2010, he could be this year’s dark horse.
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Due to the Aussie Open marking the beginning of the new 2010 tennis year, the excitement is officially here again. There are several players making up a field that is now more up for grabs than it’s happened to be in quite a few years.
No longer are the days of Federer and Rafa Nadal dominating any tournament. There are some other players competing professionally with legitimate chances every instance a match commences.
Despite the fact that Federer and Rafa Nadal sit on the number one and two spots in the tour, there are two or three players that can potentially end up the year atop the field at number 1. Why don’t we get a look at the most likely heirs to the throne at this point.
Certainly, there is certainly Roger Federer. He may well at all times be considered the leading candidate to end up atop the the rankings, because he’s done this just about every season during the duration of the most recent decade. Nevertheless, his age of twenty nine reveals that he is getting up there in years.
If Rafa Nadal can stay in good health, there is no valid reason to that he can’t wind up there. In fact, plenty fans think that he may have ended up there in 2009 had he not been required to skip Wimbledon due to his knee condition.
Also in the mix is the burgeoning 20 year old Juan Martin Del Potro, whose incredible title at Flushing Meadows stunned lots of tennis devotees. To active ones, the young player’s win wasn’t such a shock. The kid is amazingly gifted and is good enough to seize the tour’s best ranking in 2010.
Finishing things off are a pair of additional possible men. Let’s take a glance at them both.
Novak Djokovic is among these guys who fans was sure might be the very best at some point, however he hasn’t exactly gotten there yet. He’s a bit more level headed at his age of 23, and may perhaps finally have both the physical and psychological game to get there.
Then, there’s Andy Murray. With youth on his side, this Scottish talent is still improving and found himself as high as the second spot in 2009. With a few big wins in 2010, he may well be 2010’s unexpected surprise.
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There are a handful of different tennis court surfaces. Each one has its own unique set of attributes, adding an interesting element to this already exciting sport.
The most popular surface in the world at the moment is the hard court. This is typically a green or blue court with painted lines and a concrete surface. You’ve likely seen it at the US Open and many other events.
As each court type has its own unique traits, I’d like to discuss some of the nuances of hard courts and the right strategies to deploy when playing on this surface. Let’s take a look at some.
The ball moves really quickly on hard courts, and you’ll be in for a surprise if you typically play on clay courts. Those who excel in the serving department always enjoy the advantages of this surface, as fast serves will be even harder to hit back.
As far as baseline play goes, hard courts don’t really work for or against people with this strategy. This is a good thing in many regards, as it won’t ruin your chances of winning a match should you choose to stay back. Hard hitting can be an asset here.
If you’re a fast runner, this never hurts in the sport of tennis, but it won’t be something you can exploit, so to speak. Your speed will be a bigger asset on hard courts than it is on grass, but it won’t let you get to as many balls as you can on clay courts.
Still, this isn’t to say that your speed won’t be an asset during a match, because it absolutely can and will. You’re far better off as a fast runner playing here than you would be on grass, and a speedy player is certainly difficult to defeat if there are other weapons that player possesses as well.
As far as net play goes, some of the best volleyers in the world have had great success on hard courts. This is because of the fact that a serve and volley strategy is a terrific way to take full advantage of this surface.
In light of the above, develop a strategy on these courts that lends itself well to your game. Most of all, have some fun in the process.
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Women’s tennis has evolved very much so over the course of the last 30 years or so. It continues to develop into an extremely competitive sport and the bar has been raised some more with each decade.
Women are faster, stronger, and harder working in the world of professional tennis and we’ve been lucky enough to see some absolutely great players. Here are the 7 best since 1980, in my opinion.
Venus Williams has been one of the best players in modern tennis, and it’s crazy to think about the fact that she finds herself at #7 here. With 10 grand slam wins, her career has been wildly successful. Perhaps the most impressive stat is her four Wimbledon titles.
After Venus is Justine Henin-Hardenne. I put her ahead of Venus because she was simply better, and won more slams in a shorter span. While she cut her career short, she’s on the way back up now as she’s returned to the sport.
The next player on my list is one who I do believe should have been ranked higher, if not for a very unfortunate event. Monica Seles was the best woman in the world in her young prime, even beating the likes of Steffi Graf with ease. Unfortunately, a fanatical lunatic decided to stab her during a match, which effectively ruined her career.
4. Chris Evert. She ruled the 1970s and part of the 1980s, and had a long, successful career. 18 grand slams says it all.
After Seles is the other Williams sister, as Serena now has more grand slams, not to mention the fact that she’s younger than Venus. The last few years have been dominated by Serena ever since Henin retired, and she still has a handful of good years ahead of her.
2. Martina Navratilova. What an outstanding career she had, and she just never seemed to go away. 18 grand slams and a shining career.
1. Steffi Graf. The queen of women’s tennis, she was the Roger Federer of the women’s game. 22 grand slams.
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