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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If tennis is your game you’ll have to work hard to play your best. As with any sport, it requires a great deal of commitment and dedication. You have to practice as much as possible to be successful.
First and foremost, you need a good court to play on. The surface and nets should be well maintained. It also is helpful to have a storage area for your personal items.
Before you begin practicing you should always stretch your muscles. By stretching you will prevent injuries. Spend about 15 minutes before working out and you won’t pull or cramp your muscles.
When you decide on what you’re going to wear to practice make sure it’s comfortable as well as attractive. You’ feel better and will be able to play your best if your clothes aren’t scratchy or ill-fitting. The more comfortable you are the less distracted you will be by your clothes.
Do you practice with a partner? If so, start by volleying at the net. Gradually move to the baseline. As you get warm you should try to make harder shots so that you can improve your reaction time.
You may want to treat your practice matches like real ones. Ask a friend to keep score to chart your performance. This way you can keep your competitive edge before a real match. Scrimmages are great for preparing for tournaments and maintaining your mental sharpness.
If you practice with out a partner try placing orange cones on either side of the net. Then try to aim your shots to hit the cones. To start, place the cones in areas you find easy to hit. Then move them farther away and to more hard to reach places. This will help improve your game.
It’s a good idea to use the same tennis racket in practice as you do in matches. This will help you play on a consistent level. Switching rackets when going to play actual matches can make you uncomfortable and interrupt your quality of play.
These suggestions should help you get make the most out of your time on the court. If you want to play better there’s no substitute for hard work and dedication.
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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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If you are a follower of Tennis, you will realize that a lot of changes have occurred since the great days of 30 years ago. The racquets are a lot different for starters, and the style of playing has altered dramatically.
Why don’t we just go back to the Eighties for a moment and try to remember some of the great Tennis players that showed us their talents back then.
The 1980’s has to be synonymous with undoubtedly the greatest ever player to have graced the Tennis courts, that is until his retirement at an early age. This could only be the one and only Bjorn Borg.
Another great Swede to entertain us all on the Tennis courts had to be none other that Stefan Edberg. This man could serve and volley for fun, and it was this talent that eventually got him to the number one spot in Tennis, but that was more to the end of the Eighties.
Another excellent player of the Decade had to be the German Maestro, none other than Boris Becker. Another great talent who is probably best remembered for his Wimbledon win when he was only a teenager.
Then there was the Great Czech, Ivan Lendl. Lendl won a few grand slams and quite a few more tournaments in his time, but his baseline play was probably his greatest feature.
I suppose the most memorable player of the Eighties had to be the American bad boy, John McEnroe. Not only was he a brilliant player at singles but he was a mean doubles player as well, and when things did not go all his own way, he always used to shout at the line judges “you cannot be serious, the ball was in!” – unforgettable and fun.
All of these played a major contribution to Tennis in the Eighties, along with many others, but when I think of Eighties Tennis, these are the ones I remember the most.
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If you are a tennis fan and actually play yourself, you may well have experienced a game on a clay court. This is the very old, red surface that has been used in countries like France and Spain since the game originated.
If you ever have the opportunity to play on clay; grab it with both hands! It really is a unique experience and one you will never forget. Just stepping on that stunning red surface is a thrill!
We are all fascinated by both its appearance and the way that red clay changes the game of tennis. Here are a few snippets of information that you may not already know.
This surface lends itself more to those that play from the baseline, as opposed to those who serve and volley. A great clay court player must have impeccable ground strokes.
If you do ever see a player approach the net while playing on clay, it is a very rare thing indeed. Those who rely on their booming serve will also find that it hasn’t the effect on this surface as it does on others.
So why is the strategy for this game so different? Well, it is very simple, the clay is a thick and heavy surface which sticks to the ball and therefore slows it Down considerably.
You won’t see the ball speeding up after it has hit the clay, as you would on a hard court. The thick clay will have the opposite effect.
As the ball has been slowed down; it will bounce a lot higher than on other surfaces, so the players have more time to get to the ball and return it. It is due to this that clay can claim to have some of tennis’ longest matches played on it.
The rallies are obviously longer and shots easier to reach than they would be on the fast courts. A sure fire winner on grass is probably reachable on clay.
Although the ball is easier to reach, the faster player will always have the advantage over their slower opponents.
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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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