tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43604552078728777172024-03-05T09:53:14.589-08:00Oh, I Say!An irreverent look at the world of tennis by a deranged, obsessive fan. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09539237412844815571noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360455207872877717.post-25405811431380696892013-07-16T07:19:00.001-07:002013-07-16T07:19:05.923-07:00The Poster-Boy for Perseverance<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Andy Murray had to do
it the hardest way</b></span></div>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgslvOLEuwfQ5doenOVceCaysXZ3My_EAwz_xHD3KeP0UvAOvEfQd09Zg38sysbQR_pbdCy6EvkcBDhNRO6k-JCK0KbNmu23DQIf_HlQ0SGKieNBDzW_f8cqsMzzxCC_DvLz0QTKUM5lEs/s1600/o-ANDY-MURRAY-570.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgslvOLEuwfQ5doenOVceCaysXZ3My_EAwz_xHD3KeP0UvAOvEfQd09Zg38sysbQR_pbdCy6EvkcBDhNRO6k-JCK0KbNmu23DQIf_HlQ0SGKieNBDzW_f8cqsMzzxCC_DvLz0QTKUM5lEs/s320/o-ANDY-MURRAY-570.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">It's so easy, after the
fact, to imagine it was all so inevitable, that we were always going
to get here, and many pieces have been written that see the hand of
destiny giving extra oomph to Andy Murray's shots in that Wimbledon
final while coaxing Novak Djokovic's into uncharacteristic error.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">This does Andy a little
bit of a disservice.
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">There was nothing
inevitable about any of this.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Those of us who have
supported Andy Murray from early 2005, when he made his Davis Cup
debut, successfully, against Israel, or even earlier than that, have
known for a long time that Andy had the talent to get very near the
top of tennis and hang around for a while.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">This realisation may
have come quickly for some, emerging into full-blown certainty. For
others, it was a steady levelling up of belief, as he passed test
after test, though I think in for many, the display against Rafael
Nadal at the Australian Open in 2007 was a key marker.
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Changing his game style
to one of hitherto unseen levels of aggression, Andy dragged Rafa, by
then already twice Roland Garros champion and Wimbledon finalist,
into a 5 set battle before ultimately fading. At this point, even
many who felt Andy had no weapons with which to hurt Rafa, conceded
that he might have a few tricks up his sleeve, although not the
stamina to use them all.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Indeed, 2007 was a
notable year in the story of Andy Murray.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Consider this: Until
2007, Andy and his friend and rival Novak Djokovic, had followed
pretty similar career paths. They burst into the top 100 in 2005 -
Novak in July, Andy in October. They chased each other up the
rankings in 2006, Novak usually slightly ahead, and ended the season
one place apart - Andy at 17 and Novak one place higher at 16.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">They were both poised
in 2007 to make an assault on the top 10, and at the Australian Open,
both met similar fates - Andy, as described, falling to Nadal in 5,
while Djokovic was handed a lesson by reigning world number one Roger
Federer in 3, both at the fourth round stage. Both had a solid
February swing, with Andy defending his San José title, while Novak
posted some solid wins in Europe and Dubai.
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Novak kept his nose in
front of Andy when they met up in both Indian Wells and Miami. Both
made the SFs and played each other, Novak won both rather easily,
cementing his reputation as the best of the coming players, with
Murray close behind. Indeed, Novak won his first Masters title in
Miami, beating surprise finalist Canas. This rankings trend seemed
destined to continue, with Novak's clearly greater comfort on the red
dirt of Europe likely to give him a rankings edge over Murray. So it
proved through Monte-Carlo and Rome, until an random event happened
in Hamburg that caused a major divergence in the career paths of
these two young men.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Novak made the QFs in
Hamburg, but Andy didn't make it out of R1. Playing Filippo
Volandri, and slapping him quite handily, Andy went for a topspin
forehand, yelped in pain and dropped the racquet. An injury timeout
made no difference, and he was forced to retire.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisVg-lIbtfS4c2OZE1wcxs1rtF4l24eXD2GsCOcYY9WH22xTzCQQoBna4xTJxupdu8Fxz2Ct6s-4IHKNSPwh1_cmZ69gg8S24BAEgbFYw1wHGtZBll07zUaSMDpkxKeP1zPc9G93Wpolg/s1600/murraywrist_802400c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisVg-lIbtfS4c2OZE1wcxs1rtF4l24eXD2GsCOcYY9WH22xTzCQQoBna4xTJxupdu8Fxz2Ct6s-4IHKNSPwh1_cmZ69gg8S24BAEgbFYw1wHGtZBll07zUaSMDpkxKeP1zPc9G93Wpolg/s320/murraywrist_802400c.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">While Novak made the
SFs of Roland Garros and Wimbledon, tendon damage would keep Andy
from competing in either event. Novak had risen to #3 in the world as
a result of his excellent year. Andy, unable to play, had slipped
back to #13 by the end of Wimbledon. While Novak went on to score
his first win over Roger Federer in winning the Canada Masters, Andy,
back from injury but deeply distrusting of his wrist, could only win
a round in which he hit his forehand with slice 75% of the time,
before being crushed by Fabio Fognini. While Andy, slowly rebuilding
confidence, struggled to a R3 showing at the US Open, Novak capped
off an excellent summer by reaching the US Open final, where he fell
to Federer in an extremely tight match. While Novak had a solid end
to the season and appeared at his first Tennis Masters Cup, Andy
rebuilt his confidence, added another tour title, but narrowly missed
out on a Masters Cup place by losing to Gasquet at the Paris Masters.
It would prove to be a fitting metaphor for the season, but perhaps
even more fitting a marker of the divergence was the start of 2008,
when Andy, primed for a run in Melbourne and expected to go far,
slumped to a R1 defeat to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who himself would go on
to the final where he would be beaten by Novak Djokovic, lifting his
first major in the process.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">This is not to conclude
that, had Andy's wrist injury not happened, he would have kept pace
with or surpassed Djokovic - that is to assume far too much. It was
already clear that Djokovic's great prowess on clay would give him a
potential rankings edge, and while it was argued that Murray had a
greater feel on the ball and more tactical choices at his disposal,
Djokovic was felt to have the edge mentally and to be, generally
speaking, a better match player in his ability to cope with the
pressures of the ebb and flow of match circumstances.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">What is evident,
though, is that by the time Andy Murray regained the ground he lost
due to his wrist injury (and that did not come until mid 2008 in
rankings terms), he now had three serious obstacles to the top
instead of two. Federer and Nadal owned the top spots, but Djokovic
was firmly entrenched just behind them, had one major under his belt,
and was slowly but surely getting even better. Andy, once again, was
playing catch-up.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Andy was relentless in
pursuit of his goal to win a major. He'd seen his friend and rival
achieve this ambition and establish himself as a force to be reckoned
with. Andy hired a team of people to make him as physically fit as
possible, worked with this coach and that coach, consulted a sports
psychologist, but nothing seemed to make that tiny bit of difference
needed. He continued to battle with inconsistency in his results,
and when he did reach major finals, he couldn't find a way to release
his best tennis. The first final at the US Open in 2008 was a bit of
a non-event. Andy, tired from seeing off Rafa the day before in the
SFs, was put to the sword pretty efficiently by Roger Federer, who
repeated the feat at the 2010 Australian Open. This time Andy was
physically ready but mentally unable to take the few chances that
came his way. Despite having several chances to extend the match to
4 sets, he ultimately lost in 3, and did the same 12 months later to
Djokovic, who added his second major. This was Murray's worst slam
showing of the lot, his utter frustration at not being able to
produce his best preventing him for getting anywhere near producing
his best. It was an abject display, and perfectly highlighted the
gulf that had grown between these two players. Murray's consistency
would keep him in or around the top 4 throughout this period, but in
terms of ability to deliver on the biggest stages, The Big 4 clearly
had a junior member.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">In 2011, while Djokovic
elevated his game to even greater heights and went on a tear that saw
him lift three of the four majors and ascend to the number one
ranking, Murray couldn't seem to find his way past a certain Rafael
Nadal, who stopped him in the SFs of Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the
US Open - at the latter two losing to Djokovic in the finals.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The expectation on
Murray to win a Grand Slam had been high since before he made his
first major final in 2008. 4 years had gone by, 3 major finals had
come and gone, and not a set had been won. Djokovic was on high,
Nadal was almost as formidable as ever, and Federer still could
produce tournaments of incredible quality. Increasingly it was
wondered if the window had closed. Surely, with that much talent at
the top, and new talent sure to emerge from the next generation, and
with Del Potro managing to snatch a major in 2009, Andy's moment had
gone?</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">If others were starting
to wonder, Andy's own self-doubts were beginning to rise too. He
continued to work hard, but the weight of those three major finals
and no sets won hung heavy upon him. What's to say that the same
wouldn't happen again next time? Murray had had to play Federer
twice and Djokovic once in his finals. Federer beat the equally
slamless Philippoussis in his first final, Nadal had the equally
slamless Puerta in his, and Djokovic had had the equally slamless
Tsonga in his (albeit after Djokovic beat Federer in the SFs). The
route to that first slam always seemed to have a major-winning
obstacle in his way in the final. Still, he persevered, and made a decision that
proved in time to be a stroke of genius.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Rumours of Ivan Lendl
linking up with Andy Murray in a coaching capacity had first surfaced
early in 2011. It was an intriguing notion at the time, but nothing
seemed likely to come of it, and at that point, nothing did. Ivan
Lendl had been away from the game of tennis since his retirement,
working on his golf and his family, not necessarily in that order.
It wasn't until the off season at the end of 2011 that moved were
made, conversations were had, and Lendl was hired.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Lendl brought many
qualities to the partnership. Though untested as a coach, he was a
perennial hard worker who would demand the same of his charge. He
would be honest - he didn't need the money and thus had no concerns
about keeping his job, he could afford to be motivated only by the
greater good. He and Andy's personalities clicked quickly, an
important element of a relationship as close as this. He was a major
winner, and thus immediately worthy of Andy's respect. Andy's
problem with his earlier coaches was that, ultimately, none of them
had won a major and thus a part of him could not believe that the
advice they were giving would make the difference. Even Corretja, a
player Andy respected and admired, had never managed to capture a
major from his two final appearances. 'How do you know?', always
seemed to be the unspoken question.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Lendl, however, HAD
also been in a similar situation in his own career, losing the first
four slam finals he played back in the 80s. He then turned it around
and went on to win 8 majors. Here was an authentic voice of
experience that could help Murray get over that final hurdle, as he
himself had once done.
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">After a promising
start, with Andy pushing Djokovic to the brink in the 2012 Australian
Open SF, things seemed to stagnate a little, in spite of Lendl saying
it would take 6-9 months to show genuine results. Indeed, when Murray
lost in the first match at Queens to Nicolas Mahut, some commentators
(who rapidly changed their tune) were suggesting that the
Murray-Lendl partnership was doomed from the start and had a very
short shelf-life remaining.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Andy reacted as he
always had - put his head down and carried on working hard. He
strolled through the draw at Wimbledon, and, not finding a Rafa in
the SFs, was able to get past Tsonga in a nervy 4 sets and reach his
first final. Great Britain, already ramping up for a summer of
Olympic sporting madness, promptly went crazy. Andy put up a good
fight against Federer, showing at last some of his best tennis in a
slam final, winning the first set and staying very close in the
second. Then Roger stepped up, snatched the second set with some
superb tennis, the rains came, the roof closed, and the rest is
history.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">'I'm getting closer,'
sniffled Andy as he tearfully thanked his box, the crowd and the
country for the support. The words, at the time seen almost as a
plea for people to keep the faith with him, would in retrospect seem
to be prophetic.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis1y85wwMbCdUe-Z1Fj8GxvzL-Ar4xgaK9PA7H4NkPl0_IDRAzotcwa0akf3r_6Oh9yv1TlFIoYKjfkY6OFJvqPjvx1pOz7IKGQSM2L5tSaxoVMa77g_MYcfP324fsFZ6lhqcNpjYi46M/s1600/_61442304_mmtenwimmurraytears.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis1y85wwMbCdUe-Z1Fj8GxvzL-Ar4xgaK9PA7H4NkPl0_IDRAzotcwa0akf3r_6Oh9yv1TlFIoYKjfkY6OFJvqPjvx1pOz7IKGQSM2L5tSaxoVMa77g_MYcfP324fsFZ6lhqcNpjYi46M/s320/_61442304_mmtenwimmurraytears.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Forced to recover
quickly from what Andy described as the most difficult loss of his
career, Andy had no time to wallow if he wanted to do come back to
the same location and play well at a tournament he really cared about
- the Olympic Games. Held in London for the first time since 1948,
with the tennis played at a Wimbledon decked out in pink, the
country, and Andy, wanted to seize this historic opportunity to do
well on home soil. His previous Olympic experience in Beijing was a
bitter memory for him - arriving late from winning Cincinnati in
brutal conditions and then standing for hours on a humid day for the
opening ceremony, Andy was dehydrated and had lost kilos of muscle
mass from skipping meals. The result was a dreadful performance in
his opening match to Yen-Hsun Lu, losing in straight sets, and then
another rapid loss in the doubles. It was a wretched tournament and
one Andy was desperate not to repeat.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">In the event, Andy,
riding a wave of patriotic fervour, and feeling inspired himself by
the Team GB performances on the athletics field, progressed smoothly
through the draw, dismissed Djokovic in the SF in straight sets, and
played a match of poise, control and maturity to dish out a straights
defeat to his Wimbledon bogeyman Federer in the Gold Medal Match.
Andy was Olympic champion. While not a major, it was a huge deal for
him and for his fellow players, and it proved to add a vital patch to
Andy's leaky roof of self-belief in the toughest weather.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Rolling up at the US
Open, a little under-done on hardcourts due to his punishing early
summer, Andy wasn't looking in the best shape. He seemed to be
struggling with the humidity in his day matches, and stumbled through
to the second week courtesy of some very up and down performances and
at least one helpful choke on the other side of the net. Still, he
was battling hard, and finding a way through, persevering you might
say, and this quality proved extremely helpful in the semi-final.
Played in a howling gale, patience was the key. Berdych ultimately
lost patience with the way the ball kept moving around erratically,
while Andy adjusted, and persevered, and adjusted. He prevailed in
4, and all he needed to do to win his first major was to beat the
world #1, Novak Djokovic, the guy whose career path he had once
tracked so closely, before 2007 and the spring of divergence.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">We all know how that
went down. Murray battled to a two sets to love lead, was pegged back
double quick, but after a bathroom break and a stern talking to, Andy
took Djokovic's legs from under him, took the title and lifted it
above his head. Finally Andy had a Grand Slam title.
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoQvLEAKcDbYyTfFAtSeLXzIAGPiq2pq4mO7VzLl6miAfPUg8w6uw_U2YWPnX2W_p5apC3MNEiKqU66E-XgaqwmKpCHvKUv36Ou3gsxC-AQoEvHz0SenhwLTd7VN5EKRk_GSKIRmUEnhg/s1600/Andy-Murray-of-Great-Britain-lifts-the-US-Open-championship-trophy-2038033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoQvLEAKcDbYyTfFAtSeLXzIAGPiq2pq4mO7VzLl6miAfPUg8w6uw_U2YWPnX2W_p5apC3MNEiKqU66E-XgaqwmKpCHvKUv36Ou3gsxC-AQoEvHz0SenhwLTd7VN5EKRk_GSKIRmUEnhg/s320/Andy-Murray-of-Great-Britain-lifts-the-US-Open-championship-trophy-2038033.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Here in the UK, the
achievement was noted and celebrated, but if anything, this increased
the pressure on Andy. He's good on grass, the reasoning went, and now
he has a major. Surely, now, at last, he can win Wimbledon?</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The omens going in were
mixed. Having lost the Australian Open final to...Novak Djokovic,
Andy had a solid US spring season, with a QF in Indian Wells and then
winning Miami, beating Ferrer in the final in a gruelling encounter.
Then during the clay season, indifferent results were followed by a
back injury-related withdrawal from Rome, and the difficult decision
was made to skip Roland Garros too.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">This was a difficult
decision for Andy, as he loves to compete for majors, and his
ambition is not lessened by the knowledge that red clay is beneath
his Barricades. Still, the medical advice was clear, and the gamble
was that missing the clay, and getting some extra time on the grass,
would help with the assault on the ultimate prize - Wimbledon.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Andy made his return at
Queens, and though both Tsonga and Cilic proved a handful in the
final two rounds, Andy lifted the title for the third time, and went
into Wimbledon on an 11 match winning streak on grass, feeling
physically good, and as mentally ready as he ever had been.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Landing in the same
half as Federer and Nadal, Andy could expect a tough route to the
title, having to take on the winner of that QF, and then likely
Djokovic in the final. But the first job is to survive the first few
rounds, and as both Federer and Nadal found, you can't take that for
granted. Andy kept his head down, focused hard, and made his first
several matches seem pretty easy, as all around him names fell or
withdrew. Federer, Nadal, Tsonga and other threats all were cleared
out of the draw in a week of shocks, and Andy found himself the heavy
favourite to make the final out of the bottom half. In the event,
the unlikely figure of Fernando Verdasco pushed Andy to the brink of
the defeat in the QFs by playing his best tennis in 4 years. Andy
put his head down and survived the onslaught, and then battled past
the determined challenged of the equally surprising semi finalist
Jerzy Janowicz. Andy had booked his place into the final, and
admitted later that the pressure of being expected to get there
easily had weighed on him a few times.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Djokovic, as a former
winner of Wimbledon, went into the title match as slight favourite,
but grass was probably his weakest surface, while it was arguable
Andy's best, the home crowd would bring pressure to Andy but also
massive support, and while Murray's SF was tough, Djokovic had had to
squeak past the almost superhuman challenge imposed by the towering
figure of Juan Martin Del Potro, and needed nearly 5 hours to do so.
The match was pretty evenly poised.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">In the event, the
temperature was high, the rallies were long and brutal, but the
stronger of the two was Murray. In a match that ebbed and flowed,
rose and fell in quality, and demanded huge patience to watch as well
as to play, Murray just managed to handle the big situations that bit
better. He took the first set after a tense battle, but promptly
fell behind in the second by a break. Andy did what he is so used
to, and has become so good at - persevering. He stuck his head back
down and re-focused on the task. He got back to work, recovered the
break, and then broke again to take a 2 set lead. He broke at the
start of the third, and looked to be coasting home against a wilting
Djokovic - until it flipped once again. Djokovic took 4 games in a
row to lead by a break, and a fourth set seemed imminent. Yet again,
Murray, in spite of his frustrations, persevered, re-applied himself
to the job, and recovered the break. He broke again and found
himself serving to end that hideously irritating losing streak that
British players have been beaten over the head with for decades.
Quickly 40-0 up, the job looked done, but even now Djokovic refused
to let it go so lightly, and reeled off four points to get to break
point.
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The danger was clear.
Murray was looking weary in the brutal heat, and had let 3 match
points slip, the pressure of the moment undoubtedly telling. If
Djokovic could get it back to 5-5, all bets were off. The likelihood
had to be that Djokovic would capitalise and win the third set - and
then could Murray recover physically and mentally to put himself in
that position again? Though still technically in the driving seat,
the pain of missing that moment could have been too much of a mental
load for Murray to shake off. It was all to play for.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Murray was working on
instinct, concentrating on every ball, trying to shut out any
extraneous noise from within and without. He and Djokovic traded
back and forth, working the ball around all areas of the court, but
neither could claim the run of points they needed. Once, twice,
three time, Djokovic got to break point, only for Murray to find the
right play to pull it back to deuce. One Murray shot clipped the
back of the baseline on the break point - had it sailed just a couple
of millimetres longer, the course of British tennis history could
look very different right now. Instead, Murray persevered, pulled it
back to deuce, battled to his fourth match point, and stood tall on
the baseline. Slingshotting a huge serve out wide, Djokovic could
only parry it back deep, and Murray took a big cut at his forehand
into Djokovic's backhand corner. Djokovic attempted to slap the ball
away down the line, but it instead crashed into the net 3/4 of the
way up, and died on the court on his side. The crowd, already
struggling to contain itself throughout the last epic game, went into
raptures. Murray spent the first couple of minutes as Wimbledon
champion almost wandering around in disbelief, as he celebrated up at
the assembled press, shared a hug with the gallant and gracious
Djokovic, shook the umpire's hand, and crumpled to the court.
Eventually he gathered enough wits about him to sit down, and
belatedly decided to go up to his player's box to share a touching
moment with the people who mattered - and helped - the most.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Unlike at the US Open,
where the overriding emotion Andy clearly felt was relief and
capturing one major, ANY major, this time Andy was - in shock, yes -
but clearly overjoyed at what this meant to him, his team, his fans,
the crowd, and the British sporting world at large.
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKSBNDY3Vk8mV0TqrGOPR-L-zzNOXa9eXa7y_jJySmOpbuRk4xDe4vVqeSBFDo2Bz4LKNz-7fjHsbSrkTiW9twoouXG2POITAktOg3UZSnC0ZYPUjYlVA3V-gnSd7cnVjbk-mB3or6wlE/s1600/Andy-Murray-Novak-Djokovic-Wimbledon-final_2969932.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKSBNDY3Vk8mV0TqrGOPR-L-zzNOXa9eXa7y_jJySmOpbuRk4xDe4vVqeSBFDo2Bz4LKNz-7fjHsbSrkTiW9twoouXG2POITAktOg3UZSnC0ZYPUjYlVA3V-gnSd7cnVjbk-mB3or6wlE/s320/Andy-Murray-Novak-Djokovic-Wimbledon-final_2969932.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Right now, Andy sits at
#2 in the ATP rankings, behind Djokovic, and when it comes to future
majors away from clay in the next couple of years, conversations will
start with these two. Nadal is still clearly a factor, although how
much remains unclear, and Federer's powers, while on the wane, do not
ever deserve to be written off - he's been discounted too many times
already. However, having battled 3 of the last 4 major finals,
there's a new rivalry at the top of men's tennis at the moment, and
that is Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">In 2007 their career
paths diverged sharply, due to Murray's injury, but perhaps also due
to differences in maturity, temperament, and self-belief. There was
nothing inevitable about Andy recovering that lost ground, and
finally lifting majors - tennis history is littered with names of
very good players who, in majors terms, ended up also-rans. What
made Andy ultimately overcome that hurdle, not to mention the very
real pressure of British tennis history, was his abilities, but also
his willingness to work as hard as he possibly could, and leave no
stone unturned in pursuit of his goals. Novak made his rise to the
top look pretty effortless, although it was of course anything but.
For Andy, the rise has been a longer, harder road, but it remains a
triumph of hard work, dedication, a continual process of
self-improvement, and above all perseverance. If Andy's career
stands for anything, it is that triumph of perseverance over all
doubt and all doubters, and for that triumph he deserves every ounce
of respect that comes his way - he has earned it the hardest way.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09539237412844815571noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360455207872877717.post-15642324582134926862013-06-02T13:19:00.003-07:002013-06-02T13:19:54.918-07:00The Bloody Equal Prize Money DebateYes, I *am* going there, once and for all.<br />
<br />
Once again, as mens matches go 5 long sets and the ladies play best of 3 and get done in half the time, the ever-present debate about equal prize money rears its head - this time we can thank Julian Knowle, but if not him, someone would have done so. It's part of the scenery now, every slam, without fail.<br />
<br />
1) Why, they contend, should women get equal prize money for less work? <br />
<br />
2) Or, womens tennis is less popular so they should get less revenue.<br />
<br />
Either, or both, of these contentions are made to support inequality of prize distribution.<br />
<br />
I will take the second point first<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Mens Tennis is More Popular</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Maybe it is - overall - maybe not - what objective measures are you using? TV audience share? Ticket sales of ATP events vs WTA? What? You can't just assert it without having some credible, and agreed-upon objective standard.<br />
<br />Otherwise it's just YOUR opinion. And you don't speak for the silent majority, nobody does, no matter how we might cite them from time to time. Your opinion is no more valid than mine. Facts please or go home.<br />
<br />
And it may be so, NOW - but what about in 5 years? 10 years? Tastes change as heroines rise and heroes fall and interests fade in and out accordingly.<br />
<br />
Anyway, in the case of Grand Slams, where you pay for entrance and a seat on a court (or the grounds) regardless of who is playing what matches on that court, how do you quantify this popularity? If Centre Court shows 2 ladies matches and 1 mens match for the cost of your ticket, how can you determine the popularity of one vs the other? And how are you sure it's not just the particular players as opposed to the gender in general? You can't, of course.<br />
<br />
Until Grand Slams sell tickets at market value PER MATCH, you cannot objectively say that a crowd coming in to see both men and women prefer one or the other. Again, that's your opinion only and it doesn't make it fact.<br />
<br />
Slams may sell a womens day ticket for less than the equivalent round for the mens' tournament. E.g. I believe the SF ticket for CC at Wimbledon for Ladies SFs is less than for Mens SFs. But that is as much a function of the fact that ladies are best of 3 and men are best of 5 - on balance, you are likely to get less actual play on Ladies SF day than on Mens SF.<br />
<br />Which brings me nicely on to point 1) above.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Equal Money for Equal Work</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Let's look at our history shall we? Back in the day, men played best of 5, but insofar as ladies should be playing tennis at all, (such vigorous activity), these poor inferior lambs were physically incapable of the rigours of best of 5 sets, and they needed to stick to best of 3. Besides, perspiration is so unfeminine.<br />
<br />
This is exactly how it became at the Grand Slams, and that format has persisted through the Open era, through womens lib and equal rights, and right now into the equal prize money era.<br />
<br />
The Equal Money issue is completely the wrong issue to be focused on - it is incidental. In any case, it's not the responsibilities of the ladies. They play the format the tournament specifies. Ladies are perfectly capable of handling the rigours of best of 5 set tennis. The finals of the WTA Championships was played over best of 5 from 1984 to 1998 and nobody died, everyone survived, and there was even some good tennis played in matches going 4 and 5 sets. <br />
<br />
The ladies are not, so far as I have seen, even been OFFERED the chance of "equal money for equal work". And why not? Not because it's physically impossible for these ladies to this - they are physiologically as capable of men of the endurance, stamina and concentration required to play 3, 4, or 5 hours if necessary - some better than others, sure, but not incapable as agender.<br />
<br />
No, it's because the reality is the Slams have become rather comfortable in their scheduling, tournament durations, and there is no way best of 5 in Ladies Singles could be accomodated - at ANY slam - without either expanding the number of courts or the length of the event. On that basis, it is a non-starter.<br />
<br />
However, is that the fault of the ladies? OF COURSE NOT. They are were they are because of the history of the game, because of sexism and outmoded ideas and conservatism and complacency.<br />
<br />
If the Slams turned around and told the ladies they needed to play best of 5 and the Slams would find a way to make that work, would they say no? I doubt it. Some might protest but the sheer double standard would make such a position extremely difficult to sustain.<br />
<br />
But the Slams don't do this. So the ladies previously had to put up with the injustice that they played less through no fault of their own but were also rewarded less.<br />
<br />
They made fuss, and in the end all the Slams decided to pay male and female players equal prize money in their events.<br />
<br />
Up went the cry that the men were now being discriminated against because they have to do much more for the same money - in terms of sets, 50% more per match.<br />
<br />
And they have a point in that sense - they do have to play more to get the same money.<br />
<br />
But that is not the fault of the ladies. Your beef is with the Grand Slams. Go moan at them, get them to change their format. In correcting a historic inequality, the Slams chose the easiest path for them, that solved one problem and created a different one.<br />
<br />
Andy Murray made the point that the ladies have more chances to earn money in Slams by playing doubles - men generally can't because of the best of 5 format, it's too much for them to add doubles and even mixed too.<br />
<br />
This is true, but again misses the underlying point. The ladies playing best of three is OUT OF THEIR CONTROL. Why should they have to be the ones entering doubles and mixed to top up their income because the Slams can't treat male players and female players equally in terms of prize money AND in terms of what they're expected to do for it.<br />
<br />
As has also been eloquently pointed out, the ladies have to invest as much in themselves and their careers as the men do - in time, in effort, in money. It's not like they can play part time and hold down an office job with the extra hours they don't spend on the court compared to the guys. It's the same travel costs, the same coaching costs, the same clothing, equipment, physios, etc. The only thing that differs is court time, and, again, that is out of their hands and solely in the hands of the Grand Slams.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>So What's To Be Done?</b><br />
<br />
My solution is simple - to fix this, make it equal work for equal pay.<br />
<br />
Absolute equality in the way the events are played.<br />
<br />
Best of 3 sets at Slams for both men and women in R1, R2, R3, R4.<br />
<br />Best of 5 sets for the QF, SF, and F for both men and women.<br />
<br />
Equal prize money.<br />
<br />
Equally fair match scheduling, without the sexist overtones of putting the hot girls on the big showcourt.<br />
<br />
This could be accommodated at all the slams with minimal disruption to the existing schedules - I don't see extra courts or days being needed, indeed it would relieve pressure on the Slams in the early rounds when all courts are packed out from Ready - Play to the final Game, Set and Match.<br />
<br />
This wouldn't shut all the whiners up, the ones who argue on point 1 about the nebulous popularity question which they cannot back up. But it would close down the argument on point 2 though - the Slams created this situation, they need to be bold to resolve it, and it would flush out those who simply believe ladies don't deserve equal pay for equal work, and can hide behind the messy compromise the Slams themselves instituted.<br />
<br />
It may be a radical step for the Australian Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open, but it's one I believe they should seriously consider taking.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09539237412844815571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360455207872877717.post-62808305459041464802013-04-02T03:55:00.001-07:002013-04-02T10:34:34.057-07:002013 - The Story So Far - WTA<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What Have We Learned?</span></h2>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://images.tvnz.co.nz/tvnz_images/tennis_news/2013/03/williams_trophy_sony_open_N2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://images.tvnz.co.nz/tvnz_images/tennis_news/2013/03/williams_trophy_sony_open_N2.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Serena is werqing these days</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ladies First</span></h3>
<div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It took her until the age of 31, but Serena Williams is finally playing a full schedule. She has 17 tournaments on her ranking as of 1st April</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Serena is not quite at her 2012 highs, due to injuries or other reasons, but she's still pretty damn near untouchable when she's dialled in, and deserves to be ranked #1.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The ladies top 10 is an interesting place, more so now that Vika has scored a win over Serena to win the Doha title, and Maria competed much better against Serena in the Miami final for a set and a half, although her eventual collapse was sobering. However, the possibility of matches between these three being less of a foregone conclusion is a welcome one for the rest of the season. Also, although players like Aga, Li, Angie, Petra and Sam are not at the level of the top 3, they can sometimes push them or even score the occasional upset, which lessens the predictability of it all. May it continue for the rest of 2013.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Australian Open was wild, if a tad injurious. The final was full of drama, with a hostile crowd, twice twisted ankles and a banged head to boot. Vika did well to deal with all these distractions to lift her second major.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Vika-Sloane controversy was way overblown, and demonstrates that, for whatever reason, many people automatically assume the worst about Vika. Maybe it's her pugnacious attitude, her unwillingness to fit into some sort of 'ladylike' mould, or something else, but it's real. Not much benefit of the doubt for her. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Serena is not invincible but it may require an enormously swollen ankle to bring her down.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We're on a bit of a roll with Grand Slam finals - 3 fairly dramatic ones in a row, with Serena taking down Aga in 3 sets at Wimbledon, Serena passing Vika in a tough 3 setter at Flushing Meadowns, and the wild ride that was Vika defeating Li in 3 in Melbourne. Only Roland Garros hasn't seen a 3 set final lately, last one was Jennifer vs Kim in 2001, so we're overdue.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wozniacki is playing with more confidence and focus since the coaching experiments ended and she returned to her father exclusively, but the game hasn't improved either and she no longer has the aura of the #1 ranking - players know it will be tough and they will have to be patient, but they *can* beat her.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The youngsters are coming - sort of. Sloane, Laura, Yulia, Lara, Garbine and others - younger names are starting to announce their presence once again, a healthier state of affairs than in the current mens game perhaps. No enormous breakthoughs aside from Sloane reaching the Australian Open SF, but they're starting to establish themselves.</span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now we move onto the clay, which, with no one dominant clay player any longer, could be anyone's game. Since Justine retired (the first time), the Roland Garros trophy has tended to be lifted by somewhat surprising names - Ivanovic, Li, Schiavone all took their chances to win their first and so far only majors, while Sharapova, last year's winner, was long felt to lack the movement and defensive skills to lift this trophy.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Serena has won it once but has failed to make it back to the final since, and her boundless confidence in herself seems just a little less certain once it gets slippery underfoot. She has been the dominant player since hooking up Patrick Mouratoglou as her coach, but the Australian Open showed that, well, shit happens. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This clay season is wide open once again. While I doubt she will be pushing excessively hard for the warm-up tournaments, I would put money on her to win the big one this year. Just not a lot of money.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09539237412844815571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360455207872877717.post-50128087227456985532013-02-07T15:10:00.000-08:002013-02-08T01:25:53.945-08:00The ATP Top 5 Have a Pull-Up Competition<h3>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Disclaimer: This never happened (as far as I know)</span></h3>
<div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://articles.elitefts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/chinup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://articles.elitefts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/chinup.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
Roger gazed dully at the picture on TV screen in the locker room. Some jaunty woman was pointing at a satellite map of...well...presumably London, but since the entire region was covered in blue, who could be sure?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"I'm bored," he whined. "I hate rain delays."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Rafa looked over from where he was jumping up and down on the spot, but said nothing.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Irritated, Roger turned to him and said:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Why do you do that? You won't be playing for hours yet, you're wasting energy. Stop jumping!"</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Rafa pulled a face.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"You moody Milka today."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"I eat Lindt, not Milka."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"So go stick one in your mouth, and let me jump."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Andy looked up from his fascinating perusal of the latest fantasy football results.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"I have an idea - why don't the 5 of us have a competition?"</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Roger glanced at him.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"I'm not playing PlayStation."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Of course not - you'd lose - I rule. Anyway, that's not what I meant."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Rafa piped up:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Coming second means ruling in English, Andy?"</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Andy scowled.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"ANYWAY, see that pull-up bar over there?" He pointed over the locker-room where there was a smattering of gym equipment that players used to warm up with before their matches. A pull-up bar hung from the ceiling above their heads.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"So?" Roger said.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"I challenge you all to do 20 pull-ups on that bar. Time them. Fastest one to do 20 wins."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Roger sneered. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"That's boring."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Is that you talking or your left bicep?"</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Nole looked up from his Facebook page and giggled, raising a hand to high-five Andy for the burn.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Okay!" Roger said. "I'm in!"</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Me too," said Rafa.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Go on then," agreed Nole.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Good," said Andy. He paused, and looked at David expectantly.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"I don't know..."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Come on....please....?"</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
David sighed. "Okay. I do it."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Okay, " said Andy, as they gathered around the bar looming above them, each perhaps contemplating the uncomfortable experience ahead, "now my phone has a stopwatch, so we'll use that. Roger, you go first."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Fine. Oh, and Andy, I know it's Wimbledon but when you lose, try not to cry this time."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Rafa butted in before Andy could angrily respond: </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"You can talk, Mr 'it's killing me'...."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Andy, Nole and David creased over laughing while Roger glared at his friend and rival.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Without another word, Roger positioned himself under the bar and held up his hands. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And waited.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Nothing happened.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"You may have to jump," advised Andy sarcastically.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"YOU may..." said Roger.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
He continued to stand under the bar, arms outstretched...and then, slowly, smoothly, his feet rose off the floor, levitating him, lifting him higher, higher, until his open hands clutched the bar.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The other four below gaped at him in astonishment.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
He winked.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"GOAT. Now start timing me."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Andy dutifully pressed the button on his phone, and Roger levitated himself up and down in a mockery of the pull-up motion, until he had completed 20 with ease. As Roger gently floated back to the ground, Andy pressed Stop and said:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"36 seconds but that's cheating. Levitation is not allowed!"</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Nobody said that beforehand," said Roger smugly.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"I will next time," said Andy sulkily. "Rafa, you're up."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Rafa walked away from the bar.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"What are you doing?" asked Andy, puzzled. "Oh...Rafa...you don't need to RUN at the bar...."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
With a leap and a lunge, Rafa grabbed onto the bar and began noisily pulling himself up. 1...2...3...each pull-up accompanied by a noisy grunt of physical exertion and strength. Completing his 20, he dropped to the floor.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"No fistpump?" asked Roger.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Rafa scowled.<br />
<br />
"41 seconds," said Andy.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"I'm surprised he didn't need to pick his shorts after each one," muttered Nole, which set Andy off laughing again. David maintained a stony face in solidarity with his comrade.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"You're up Nole," said Rafa. "Do you need a ball to bounce 27 times beforehand?"</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Nole shot Rafa an 'I'm pretending to be amused by that but really I'm not' smile and positioned himself under the bar.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"3...2...1...go!" said Andy.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Nole reached up and stretched his legs...but instead of going on tip-toes and reaching the limit of the stretch, he just kept on stretching up, up, up, the arms grew longer, the legs grew longer, and he was holding the bar with his feet still on the ground. Smirking, he mimicked the motion of a pull-up 20 times while his feet remained planted on the ground, then contracted his body to normal length and stood in front of the others, who looked gobsmacked.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Amazing what yoga can do. You should try it," he deadpanned.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"That little trick is also cheating," Andy whined.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Time?"</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"31 seconds. As if it matters."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"He probably needs a medical timeout now," Roger said sotto voce. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Nole shot him a poisonous look, and took the phone from Andy.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Your turn, Braveheart."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Andy stood under the bar, looked up, and jumped. He grabbed the bar with both hands but yelped in pain and let go with his left to grab at his knee.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Some things never change," said David. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Roger giggled.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Andy continued his pull-ups one-handed, alternately switching hands to grab his left knee and his right hip. Halfway through he started shouting and swearing.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Why are you shouting at the corner of the locker room, Andy?" asked Roger.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Habit..." Andy grunted in exertion. "Can't....help....(F**KING SO PATHETIC WHY CAN'T YOU FOCUS FOR FIVE MINUTES?!?!?? SO POOR!!!!!)...it...bad...habit....19....20...."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
He dropped down and bent over, panting, trying to work out what was most sore.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"47 seconds," said Nole.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Yes, but one-handed," said Andy, breathing hard.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Only cos you're a hypochondriac," said Roger.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"A hypochondriac who has a winning Head to Head against you."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Who won the bigger matches, answer that?"</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Guys, guys," Nole cut in. "Save it, it's boring."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Andy took back his phone from Nole and looked at David, and said, shaking his head at how his nice little idea had unravelled:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Your turn, let's get this farce over with."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"I do it, I do it...but..."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"But what?"</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"But...it's high...can one of you give me a boost?"</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09539237412844815571noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360455207872877717.post-16914701920956747082013-01-18T08:06:00.001-08:002013-01-18T09:59:40.256-08:00Slip, Slap, Drop<br />
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Does someone have to become seriously ill before sensible heat rules are developed?</span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://d.yimg.com/i/ng/sp/empics/20110120/08/439839283-tennis-2011-australian-open-day-four-melbourne-park.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="http://d.yimg.com/i/ng/sp/empics/20110120/08/439839283-tennis-2011-australian-open-day-four-melbourne-park.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So often in best of five set tennis, winning that 5th and final set is as much about heart and guts than it is about shotmaking and tactics. In Melbourne more so than the other slams, it's also about physical conditioning. These matches are often played in uncomfortable, not to say brutally hot conditions, and can last up to five hours. At the end, winner and loser alike share the sensation of exhaustion that comes from such prolonged exertion in conditions the body does not handle well.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And yet, most of the time, both players walk off court, and the winner is able to take to the court for his next match, perhaps with an empty tank, but reasonably ready to go under the circumstances.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">However, weather conditions in Australia this year have been particularly challenging for the natives, and during the Australian Open, temperatures on court reached 40C during the period of play. Spare a thought then for Australia's James Duckworth and Blaz Kavcic of Slovenia, who played for nearly 5 hours in these draining conditions. Kavcic would take the victory in the end, and stagger off court, but in the locker room he went into full body spasm and needed to be treated by medics. Blaz seems to be okay, and he will no doubt take to the court on Saturday against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga but his ability to compete has to have been badly affected. Meanwhile, tennis has dodged another bullet.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BAzB0adCcAA6ZT5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BAzB0adCcAA6ZT5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Part of this is just the nature of the beast - survival of the fittest has always been an aspect of tennis, and if Jo won his match much more easily than Blaz, and hence starts at a physical advantage, then tough. The problem here is that the heat policy that the tournament employs is not fit for purpose - it fails at the very moment it is most needed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The policy is, in a nutshell:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No new matches can start on outside courts for at least an hour after the policy is implemented</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All matches in progress must be completed</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Tournament referee may suspend matches if deemed dangerous</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The roofs of both the Rod Laver and Vodafone Arenas can be closed, but only after current matches have been completed</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There is provision for the breaks between games and sets to be made longer than usual during the heat-affected matches</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It comes into effect when the temperature hits 35C and the heat stress level reaches 28 - heat stress level being a measure of various factors to determine the intensity of the heat and light.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In spite of this policy, we have seen in the past how it is inadequate to protect the health of players. The famous Sharapova-Pin match of 2007 is a case in point. Pin later said her feet burned and her legs were shaking due to the radiant heat coming back off the court. Sharapova spoke of being delusional. In another match, Tipsarevic retired in the fifth set against Nalbandian due to the conditions. Nalbandian himself suffered headaches and dizziness following the match - classic symptoms of heat stroke.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The problem here is the combination of factors - that "all matches in progress must be completed" combined with the long final set in play in Melbourne means that players, like Kavcic and Duckworth, can be out there for hour after draining hour until the match is won by one of them. There's no provision for the players to agree the conditions are too taxing. There's the vague provision that the tournament referee may suspend matches if conditions are deemed dangerous - but what does that mean in practice? What factors determine that the match is now officially "dangerous"? Kavcic basically collapsed in the locker room after his victory. Does that mean that match was officially dangerous and should really have been suspended?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The rules right now do little to stop the players avoiding serious health risks. They have the option to retire, but it is surely wrong to make protecting their health from the extreme conditions a decision solely down to the player - let's keep in mind that for many players, reaching a Grand Slam main draw is a huge deal for them, and it's hard to expect them to throw in the towel under those circumstances - many will choose to try and fight on, and risk health damage in the process. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Surely with some tweaking of this heat rule policy, some more robust criteria can be used to determine the safety of the conditions - introducing mandatory longer breaks in a cooler, shaded area to give the body's core time to cool before resuming the match?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am all for the gladiatorial nature of the tennis combat. I do not want to see tennis made "easy", or lose the thrill of watching two players fight tooth and nail for a place in the next round. I'm just not sufficiently down with the Romans to want to see a death at the end of it. I worry, though, that it will take that, or at least a serious health outcome for one or more players, to make them see that these rules need to be changed to protect the players better than they do right now. Tennis authorities have an unfortunate strain of complacency about this and other matters - they would do well to think in terms of prevention rather than risk having to apologise ex post facto for failing to protect their players.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09539237412844815571noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360455207872877717.post-11850483664781612632013-01-17T15:40:00.001-08:002013-01-17T15:42:35.876-08:00Sleepless Seeing Battles<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL0-5PKHpbXvQpU7Ro69Sn_2R0DuSlceeO0ejfmy5NAbCk8YqHeNbWBULubTu6XlzFJTPW5shsjWO8QH_URK2gIpKmmJM0wFSMpmnma0A55VU21E-jRGtFev4gRvOU_TTSAvAIheqOwiM/s400/sleepless1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL0-5PKHpbXvQpU7Ro69Sn_2R0DuSlceeO0ejfmy5NAbCk8YqHeNbWBULubTu6XlzFJTPW5shsjWO8QH_URK2gIpKmmJM0wFSMpmnma0A55VU21E-jRGtFev4gRvOU_TTSAvAIheqOwiM/s320/sleepless1.jpg" width="290" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As any serious tennis fan in a sensible timezone will tell you, January can be a difficult month. You emerge from the long black tunnel of the December off-season, blinking into the light of Middle Eastern exos and a tennis overload from the other side of the world. Having been deprived for so long, literally WEEKS, the temptation to over-indulge can be a difficult one to avoid. This is when you find yourself awake at 3am watching Vesnina in Auckland and you're actually having fun.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">However, by the time the Australian Open itself rolls around, the sleepless shenanigans begin to take their toll - just as the biggest endurance effort of all is required. You approach this time with an unsettling combination of near hysterical excitement and lurking dread at the physical toll that will be exacted.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You know full well that you'll find yourself, within a few days, sleeping and eating at deeply inappropriate times - sometimes at the same time. You'll be glued to your TV, tablet or other tennis source while the rest of your nation slumbers, watching something crazy unfold while mainlining artificial stimulants and trying to ignore that insistent feeling from your thalamus telling you that if you continue to ignore it, it will exact a painful revenge at a time of its choosing. We all know that feeling, like someone attached a bowling ball to each eyelid and forming a cogent thought requires almost conscious manipulation of the appropriate axons and dendrites. You type things that seem to make sense, but on later re-reading seem to have emerged from the imagination of David Lynch with a temperature of 104. In short, the spirit is willing but the body is weak, and it gets worse with each passing year.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yes, January is tough. But is it worth it?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The thing with tennis is, there's nothing like watching it live - if not right there, then live on TV. Especially these days when you can share the moment over the internet with fellow nutcases, the whole experience is elevated into a communal bonding experience. Watching the reruns gives you the script, but it really only comes to its fullest life if you watch it in the moment. So you might be awake at 4am and know that you still have a day's work ahead of you, but suck it up. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the first four days we've had Janowicz having a meltdown yet prevailing, we've had Lacko battle bravely before falling to Tipsarevic, we've had Monfils demonstrate his full repertoire of crazy in beating Lu 8-6 in the fifth. We've seen Roger, Andy and Novak put on masterclasses of efficiency. We've had the new Crown Prince, Tomic, talking a much better game than he's playing, but still winning. We've had dreadfully compelling spectacles like Robson being less worse than Kvitova, 11-9 in the third. We've had Serena dropping 2 games in 2 matches yet still providing enough drama to power a telenovela for 2 seasons. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We've had the Shakespearean tragedy of Stosur's painful-but-inevitable fall into the pit she dug for her enemies. Heather Watson showing that even with winning ugly there can be too much of a good thing. Cibulkova losing to someone with even more obnoxious on-court behaviour than herself. Sharapova selling sweets and playing sour. We've even had Kuznetsova winning without drama; every type of human drama you can imagine has already been on display somewhere, on a showcourt, on an outside court, it's all going on. It's a Grand Slam, baby, and there's nothing else like it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So my advice to you? Pop those matchsticks in the eye sockets, mainline caffeine, firmly sit on those strung out sensations, and give your cerebellum a good talking to. We're not even halfway in yet and it's gonna get good. Sleep is for the weak and we have 11 months to be weak in. In January, we must be strong. It's too much fun to miss.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/incoming/article8455889.ece/ALTERNATES/w380/laura-robson-61.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://www.independent.co.uk/incoming/article8455889.ece/ALTERNATES/w380/laura-robson-61.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09539237412844815571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360455207872877717.post-78952947701236911882013-01-16T12:14:00.001-08:002013-01-16T12:14:03.953-08:00What will 2013 Bring? Part 10 - WTA #1-10<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: #cccccc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">With 2012 over and 2013 underway, I'm reviewing the 2012 season of the top 50 ATP and WTA players, and notable others, and making an informed guess (quiet at the back) at what 2013 is likely to bring. Final installment - WTA top 10 ladies.</span><br />
<div>
<span style="background-color: #cccccc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#10 - Caroline Wozniacki (DEN)</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2012 was pretty disastrous for Caro, considering she started the year ranked 1 and ended it struggling to hold on to a place in the top 10. She briefly experimented with 2 new coachings setups, involving Ricardo Sanchez and later Thomas Johansson, but neither arrangement stuck for very long at all. In the end, Caro has returned to the safe familiarity of having Piotr as her sole coach - he never really went away anyway, and it seems these experiments are over.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The year started okay, with a QF in the Australian Open, SF in Dubai and SF in Indian Wells, and a loss in the final in Copenhagen. On paper this sounds good but she was defending huge points from tour events due to a lack of good results in the slams - her #1 ranking was largely driven from WTA events. Things tailed off further with an indifferent clay court season and a worse grass season, including a bad loss in Eastbourne to McHale and a similar one in Wimbledon to Tamira Paszek. Summer hardcourts wasn't bad but lost in R1 at the US Open. She won her first title all year in Seoul and a second in Moscow, suggesting a return to form, but lost in the final of the WTA's Tournament of Also Rans in Sofia.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here's Caro's problem - she's definitely more comfortable with her father as coach, but that arrangement has not helped her game develop to where it needs to go. She's been on tour several years now, and her weaknesses are well known. The forehand is a liability and it needs to get better, along with her serve, and she needs to structure her game to release her backhand, which is a more effective and powerful shot. However, her coaching setup has caused her to retreat to the comfortable way of playing - it got her to #1 but everyone is wise to it now, and she doesn't exactly intimidate anyone anymore. Her game needs rebuilding and taking on other sources of coaching was a step towards doing that. In any rebuilding works, the noise and confusion is often more disruptive and difficult than the original state, but you have to endure that, expecting the final state to be a better one than you started with. Caro started the process, encountered the disruption, and sacked the builders, deciding to put up with what she's currently got. I fear this was a mistake, and I can't see 2013 being any better than 2012. She has a lot to offer the game and with some basic improvements she could be much more of a force, but she has decided to throw this away, and I see it as a great shame.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#9 - Samantha Stosur (AUS)</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Having unexpectedly won the US Open in 2011, 2012 was always going to be a fascinating one for Sam. All eyes were on the Australian Open, but nerves once again got the better of her, and she fell comfortably to Sorana Cirstea in R1 in Melbourne. Getting out of Australia seemed to help Sam, and she made the finals of Doha, SF in Charleston, QF in Madrid, and SF in Roland Garros, where she lost another turbulent match to Sara Errani. As is customary, the grass season was disappointing, but she made QF in Cincinnati and put up a battle defending the US Open title, ultimately losing in the QF to Azarenka in a very tight 3 set match, one of the matches of the year. Sam ended 2012 with SF in Tokyo and Osaka and a final in Moscow, finishing just outside the top 8. She played Istanbul as an alternate, but lost to both Sharapova and Errani.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sam is a bit of an enigma. She has a strong game with some limitations. The forehand is excellent and powerful, yet she can lose control of it easily. The serve is good, especially the very effective kick second serve. The backhand can be a bit of a liability but it's better than it used to be. It's a strong enough game to be consistently top 5 - the problem is mental. We've seen at the Aussie Open and at Wimbledon how she sometimes just struggles to cope with situations, and no amount of help in that area has cleared these mental blocks. She finds herself in a specific, flustered mindset, and once she does, the match is almost certainly over. At this stage in her career, I can't see this changing. Sam is likely to hang around inside the upper top 10 or just outside, and there may be a few more decent runs at slams, or tour titles in her, but rather than removing limitations, I expect her to work within the well-established ones.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#8 - Petra Kvitova (CZE)</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Finishing inside the top 10 is hardly an awful year, so why does 2012 feel like such a disaster for Petra? Purely expectation. Having stormed to the Wimbledon title in 2011 and backing it up with wins over 5 top 10 opponents to win the YEC in Istanbul too, people could be forgiven for thinking that the future was Petra. A few wiser voices cautioned that her inconsistent gamestyle made it dangerous to build up expectations, but many expected good things that largely failed to materialise.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It started pretty well, although with an omen of things to come - Aussie Open SF, losing to Sharapova in a topsy turvey affair where Petra ultimately seemed to struggle with the situation and couldn't keep her game under control. Indian Wells and Miami were both a bust, and though she added a SF in Stuttgart and a QF in Rome, this wasn't exactly world-beating. She made SF at Roland Garros, losing easily to Sharapova here, and the signs were that she was too brittle to hang with the likes of Maria, Serena and others. She fell in the QFs at Wimbledon to Serena and the QF at the Olympics to Kirilenko. She bounced back by winning Montreal and New Haven, with a SF in Cincy, but then was bundled out of the US Open in R4 by Marion Bartoli. The fall season was grim, with losses to Martic, Suarez Navarro, Ivanovic and Radwanska - this last at the YEC in Istanbul where she was defending champion. She subsequently withdrew from the tournament citing a viral infection. She did assist the Czech Fed Cup team to defend their title, though.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Health problems have been cited as a reason for Kvitova's 2012 issues - including asthma. Sophomore blues is another cause - coming to terms with 2011 success, and backing it up. And it's not like she fell far. Still, Petra failed to grab the WTA by the scruff of the neck - and perhaps she was never going to. As for 2013...I predict more of the same - not sure I see a slam in her for this year - but then again, she could ignite at any moment, and tear through a draw like it was crepe paper. She's so unpredictable that inevitably I have to hedge my bets. Her game is huge when it's on, so I don't really see her falling out of the top 10, at least.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#7 - Sara Errani (ITA)</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2012 was spectacular for the diminutive Italian - all the more so for being totally unexpected. The difference? Apparently, a racquet with a longer handle, increasing her reach by 2 inches or so. As most women would testify, an extra 2 inches in the right place can make all the difference. It did for Sara. The signs were there in Australia, when she reached the QF in Melbourne, with an admittedly kind draw, losing to Kvitova. She won Acapulco, Barcelona and Budapest, before the dream run to the final of Roland Garros, seeing off Ivanovic, Kuznetsova, Kerber and Stosur before losing to Sharapova. R3 at Wimbledon was nothing special, apart from conceding a Golden Set to Shvedova, but she bounced back to win Palermo. The hardcourt season was average, until the US Open, where she reached the SF, ultimately losing to Serena. At the YEC in Istanbul, she beat Stosur but lost to Radwanska and Sharapova, leaving at the RR stage.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I doubt I'm the only one who finds it unlikely that Sara will back up this stellar season in 2013. While I expect her to have a decent clay season and linger in the top 20, I don't see the hardcourt results keeping pace. Still, she'll always have 2012. Plus, her doubles career continues to impress. Look out for more slams there.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#6 - Li Na (CHN)</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">By hiring Henin's former coach Carlos Rodriguez, Li signalled in 2012 that she's not going anywhere, thank you very much, and wants to continue to improve. Result-wise, 2012 wasn't bad, although the slam-winning ways of 2011 were not repeated. Beginning with a final in Sydney, she lost in R4 in Melbourne to Clijsters, who beat her in the final the year before. QF in Indian Wells, Miami, Stuttgart and Madrid, and then a Final in Rome, where lost to Sharapova in a crazy, epic, waterlogged match. She fell in R4 at the French Open to Shvedova, a disappointing result, and grass was not kind to her - R2 at Wimbledon and R1 at the Olympics. She rebounded in the USA, with a final in Montreal and a title in Cincinnati, but again flunked at the US Open, losing in R3 to upcoming Laura Robson. She lost in the SF in Beijing and beat Kerber in Istanbul but lost to Serena and Azarenka.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, all things considered, Li did very well at tour events, but slumped at the slams. In 2013 I can see Li hanging around the #6 spot - she may get higher if she can post some runs at the slams - perhaps the Rodriguez effect can help here? Just don't talk of retirement - she isn't.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#5 - Angelique Kerber (GER)</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Angie first burst into our lives when she made the SF of the US Open in 2011, one of a crop of German ladies making their mark on the top 20. In 2012 she backed it up and set herself apart from the likes of Lisicki, Goerges and the rest, but questions remain as to how much further she can go. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">SFs in Auckland and Hobart were followed by a R3 loss in Melbourne to Sharapova. She won Paris indoors, and reached the SF in Indian Wells but crashed in Miami to Zheng Jie. She won Copenhagen, and had a solid clay season, with a SF in Rome and a QF at Roland Garros, losing to Errani. She lost to Paszek in the final of Eastbourne but went through to the SF in Wimbledon, losing to Aga Radwanska. QF at the Olympics, then a final in cincinnati, nit she fell at the US Open in R4 to Errani again. The season ended with a SF in Tokyo, QF in Beijing and she lost all her matches in Istanbul, to Li, Serena, and to Azarenka in a 3 set thriller that was one of the matches of 2012.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Kerber is a very good counterpuncher, and she has been trying to add more aggression to finish points off more quickly, with variable results. A big problem can be her attitude - she has a Petrova-like strain of self-criticism, which can lead her into fits of petulant behaviour on court that rarely helps her form. I see her roughly holding her position in 2013 in the top 10, but is she ready for a big breakthrough? I'm not sure I see it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#4 - Agnieszka Radwanska (POL)</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Another extremely solid year for Radwanksa, including a first Grand Slam final. She's a wily competitior but can she make the ultimate step up? In 2012 she reached the Australian Open QF, losing to Azarenka (a streak that would continue throughout the year). SF in Doha, Won Dubai, QF in Indian Wells and won Miami, beating Sharapova in the final. More losses to Vika in Stuttgart and Madrid, won Brussels but lost in R3 to Kuznetsova, looking distinctly jaded and overplayed. However, she bounced back quickly, reaching the final at Wimbledon, taking Serena to three sets. The summer hardcourt season was indifferent, with QFs in Montreal and Cincy, and a R4 loss to Vinci at the US Open. In the fall she reached the final in Tokyo and QF in Beijing, and in Istanbul she lost to Maria but beat Sara and Petra before losing pretty easily to Serena in the SFs.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So what can Aga do in 2013? She's pretty good at making up for her lack of power, but she does over-schedule herself, and she is vulnerable to the biggest hitters, and I don't see that changing. Still, it sure is fun to have her around.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#3 - Serena Williams (USA)</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2012 started very uncertainly for Serena - coming back off her myriad injury problems, and it sure didn't start off great. She withdrew from Brisbane after 2 matches, then lost to Makarova in R4 in Melbourne, and then fell to Wozniacki in straight sets in Miami. Was she finally in decline? Was the juggernaut finally stopped? She's been written off more times than the banking system's debts and she loves to prove people wrong. She won Charleston, no sets dropped, she won Madrid, she reached the SF of Rome before withdrawing, but then suffered a shocker as she lost to Razzano in R1 of Roland Garros - her first ever R1 loss at a slam. From that low, things would turn dramatically. Though she dropped sets to Jie Zheng and Yaroslava Shvedova, and to Radwanska in the final, she won the title, her first Grand Slam since Wimbledon 2010. She followed up by winning Stanford, and breezed through the Olympics to take Gold, demolishing all comers, dropping no more than 3 games in any set and giving Sharapova just 1 game in the final. Though she lost to Kerber in the QF of Cincinnati, she smashed through the US Open draw until she ran into Azarenka in the final. It was a fascinating, competitive match that Serena ultimately won, perhaps vanquishing some of her recent US Open demons. Serena took the fall off, returning at the YEC in Istanbul, which she won again, without dropping a set again. The dominance seemed back, more dominant than ever.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For a woman who's been everywhere and done everything, and been through enough trials and tribulations to send three people into long-term therapy, predicting her next move has always been a gamble. However, if she can stay healthy and motivated (THE two big Ifs) then she can continue to dominate the Slams. For my part, I see her winning at least two more this year, take your picks which ones - the only one I tend to discount is the French - though I suspect this is the one she wants most so she might just prove us all wrong again. In the end, Serena is a level or two above all the other players on tour, and what happens is largely dictated by her.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#2 - Maria Sharapova (RUS)</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In 2012 Maria finally got back in the Grand Slam winning circle, pulling off a Career Grand Slam at Roland Garros that once seemed HIGHLY improbable. She made the Final of Melbourne, but was hammered convincingly by Azarenka, and lost to her again in the Final at Indian Wells, and in Miami she lost in the Final to Radwanska. Things picked up on clay, winning Stuttgart but losing in the QF in Madrid comfortably to Serena. She bounced back to win Rome, and then rattled through the draw at Roland Garros, dropping only 1 set en route to the title. She was a little jaded going into Wimbledon and lost to Lisicki in straight sets in R4. She reached the Final at the Olympics but had to settle for silver, being manhandled once again by Serena, only enhancing the lopsided head to head. Still, Maria has a great capacity not to let disappointment linger. She reached the SF at the US Open, and had a strong tussle with Azarenka before losing in 3 sets. She lost to Azarenka again in Beijing and reached the final in Istanbul before losing once again to Serena in a less one-sided affair that has usually been the rule.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Maria has been around for 9 years, bagged 4 slams, and built a fortune, and is now building a business empire. Yet her hunger for more success seems as strong as ever. I still see her game as being a bit brittle, and she's always likely to struggle against the likes of Azarenka and Williams, who have more fluid games. However, nobody can doubt her mental strength and if she can stay injury free, she can no doubt be a factor at the back end of the majors in 2013. Will she win one? I'm going to say no, purely because she always wins her slams in even years... :)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#1 - Victoria Azarenka (BLR)</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well, it was an excellent season for Vika, winning that first slam and ascending to the #1 in the rankings, going on a 20 match + win streak that didn't end until the end of March. She won Sydney and then the Australian Open, beating Clijsters in the SF and Sharapova in the Final. She won Doha and Indian Wells, before falling in the QF in Miami to Bartoli, looking totally jaded. She reached the Final in Stuttgart, losing to Maria, lost in the Final of Madrid to Serena, and fell in R4 at Roland Garros to Cibulkova. At Wimbledon she made SFs, losing to Serena in a tough 2 set match, and repeated this at the Olympics, though this time Serena beat her in a more one-sided encounter. She reached the Final at the US Open, with good wins over Stosur and Sharapova before losing to Serena 7-5 in the third. She won Beijing and Linz but ended the season losing to Sharapova in the SF of Istanbul.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Great consistency, couple of injury-related w/o's aside, with numerous titles and playing the other top 10 ladies hard. So where in 2013? She needs to continue to improve her game - she could do with a bit more offensive power to shorten points and more willingness to move forward, but she's on top of the tree, at least in the rankings, and has proved she can beat Sharapova more often than not. The H2H with Serena is lop-sided though, and she needs to work on ways to beat her - a challenge for all the other ladies on tour, too. Perhaps Vika can win her second slam in 2013, perhaps at the US Open, but I feel like a lot of that will be down to what Serena does, or does not do. Vika's destiny may not be in her own hands.</span><br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09539237412844815571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360455207872877717.post-11012862475106651212013-01-16T02:43:00.000-08:002013-01-16T02:44:03.555-08:00What will 2013 Bring? Part 9 - WTA #11-25<br />
<span style="background-color: #cccccc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">With 2012 over and 2013 underway, I'm reviewing the 2012 season of the top 50 ATP and WTA players, and notable others, and making an informed guess (quiet at the back) at what 2013 is likely to bring.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#25 - Hsieh Su-Wei (TPE)</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hsieh has always had great promise but has been hit by injury early in her career, and has struggled to progress, but after working with Paul McNamee and focusing on singles, her ranking has skyrocketed. She won Kuala Lumpur and Guangzhou as well as some ITF titlesm and made R3 at Wimbledon. With an unorthodox style, with 2 hands and flat hitting, creating wicked angles but prone to inconsistency, Hsieh on her day can cause anyone a headache. If she can stay fit and focused, she can be top 20 in 2013.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#24 - Venus Williams (USA)</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Venus has been around so long and done so much, been through so much, it's hard to know what to expect now. Even though her singles slam days seem behind her, and at times her struggles with health have made watching her on court a tad painful to watch, she seems as focused and dedicated as she ever has been. Her 2012 was difficult and she only qualified for the Olympics by sheer force of will, dragging herself through the clay season to accumulate points in a way she never used to have to. Her schedule was spotty, and her loss to Vesnina at Wimbledon was particularly disappointing - not for the first time, people wondered if she was just running on fumes now, and her battles with Sjögren's Syndrome were proving too much. Nevertheless, she bounced back with some top 10 wins in the fall, and won a title in Luxembourg, her first in over 2 years.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So what about 2013? Well, she seems fit, she seems focused, and she seems to be managing her energy and fitness better. I think she can get back into the top 20 but with a relatively light playing schedule and a relative vulnerability these days, more than that may be too much to expect. On her day though, Venus is a joy to watch and a menace to play against, and she still has some more virtuoso moments in her. Let's enjoy her while we can.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#23 - Yanina Wickmayer (BEL)</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2012 started pretty well for the talented if a bit moody Belgian. A final in Hobart, SF in Paris indoors, QF in Doha and R16 in Miami gave her a platform to build on for the season. Unfortunately, on clay she struggled badly, until reaching the final of Bad Gastein post-RG. Aside from a SF in stanford, though, the rest of the season was a bust, with too many early losses. Now that both Justine and Kim are once again retired, presumably for good this time, perhaps it's Yanina's time to shine. She has a strong game, but the mental frailty seems still very much in evidence. She can be top 20 if she can quiet her demons, but I wonder if she's too much of a headcase.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#22 - Jelena Jankovic (SRB)</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In 2008 she was World #1 and a US Open finalist. Life was good and perhaps the best was yet to come. 2009 dawned and her results went down the toilet, where they have, relatively speaking, remained ever since. The pattern since then has been a results wasteland, with the odd mirage of a good week, making you wonder if she's coming back. At this point, though, I suspect not. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2012 started fairly promisingly, with a R16 in Melbourne, SFs in Dubai and Kuala Lumpur, but Indian Wells and Miami were a disaster, clay was a bust, and a Final in Birmingham was followed by a loss in R1 at Wimbledon to Clijsters (tough draw, to be fair). She made the final in Dallas pre-US Open but that's all of note. Her once-pinpoint groundstrokes are too unreliable these days, and while she might edge back into the top 20, she seems to have settled back into the pack and her days of flying at the top of the game with only the best as her rivals are gone. She had her moment, and the game has passed her by.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#21 - Varvara Lepchenko (USA)</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lepchenko's emergence in 2012 was something of a surprise to me. Having seen her previously I felt she was not much better than top 50, but she made a real virtue out of consistency, with numerous R16 and QFs in the early part of 2012, a R16 at Roland Garros, and R3 at Wimbledon and the US Open.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If she can stay injury-free, then she can repeat this sort of form in 2013 and hang around the top 20-30, for sure - I think she has less flash about her game than many, but equally, less to go spectacularly wrong. In a womens game where the ladies bounce around the rankings wildly, it's quite nice to see someone who makes a virtue out of solidity.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#20 - Ekaterina Makarova (RUS)</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Makarova, a talented Russian with a laid-back, not-very-aggressive style that favours longer points, started 2012 in style, with wins over Zvonareva and Serena Williams en route to the QF of the Australian Open before losing to Sharapova. The rest of the year was less spectacular, but it still usually took a very good player to beat her, except perhaps on clay where she seems less comfortable.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Her game style does leave her vulnerable to the top ladies, who can hang in the rallies and eventually overpower her, but she can hang around the top 20, and her game does mean that if a higher ranked player misfires, she can take full advantage of that.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#19 - Kaia Kanepi (EST)</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Kanepi has a huge game and when she's confident, it can hurt anyone else in the game, but she struggles to maintain confidence, and is also injury prone. 2012 started well with a win in Brisbane and another title in Estoril, and run to the QF of Roland Garros, running into eventual champion Sharapova. A heel injury ruined her summer, and a return to the court in Septmber saw her reached the final in Seoul. Since then, however, she has been injured once again, heel problems returning, and is not playing in the Australian Open in 2013.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When she does return, the process of rebuilding her confidence and ranking will begin again. No doubt she can be top 20 again but it could take a long time to get back there.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#18 - Julia Goerges (GER)</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of a crop of recent Germans who emerged into the upper echelons of the game in the past few years, with a big, powerful game that has a few technical issues that can cause it to go wrong in a hurry if she's not feeling it. In 2012 Julia performed okay on big stages, with a R16 in Melbourne, Final in Dubai, and R3 at RG, Wimbledon, and a final in Linz. Solid top 20 stuff but not good enough to move you higher. She has a career high of 15 and I can see her sneaking up to 11-12 perhaps but I feel there's something slightly lacking and top 10 seems unlikely to me. She's slightly too unreliable to get there on consistency and not quite epic enough to do it by going on a huge tear at a slam, in my opinion.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#17 - Lucie Safarova (CZE)</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lucie has a decent serve, a huge leftie forehand, a serviceable backhand and moves pretty well. So you explain to me how she can lose to Madison Keys 62 61 cos I got nothing. All between the ears, of course. She can get confident, do some real damage, then the belief drains away and the shots start punching holes in the back fence. QF in Doha, Final in Charleston, SF in Montreal stand out from 2012, but she did help the Czech ladies defend the Fed Cup on home soil in the final, which was a great achievement for them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lucie is in the prime of her career and I've always thought she could be top 10, but she has to get more consistent and employ that big game to greater effect at the big point tournaments in order to get there. I'm not sure I see that happening, to be honest. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#16 - Roberta Vinci (ITA)</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Though no doubt overshadowed by her more storied compatriot Errani in 2012, Vinci had a career year in 2012. The trend was solid performances, rarely losing to players below her, punctuated by some good runs, such as R4 at Wimbledon, QF at Montreal, winning Dallas and reaching the US Open QF, not to mention the even more successful doubles career with Errani with 2 Grand Slams out of 3 finals in 2012.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I think that's going to be very tough for Roberta to maintain this ranking in singles in 2012 - doubles might be a different story. I expect a slide back down to between 20 and 40, but perhaps her stickability will prove me wrong. I do expect more doubles success though - she and Errani seem to gel very well.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#15 - Dominika Cibulkova (SVK)</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I do find her inconsistency frustrating, not to mention the irritatingly overdone Pome, but given her height, she is a very impressive player - she smacks everything hard and when it's on, her brand of tennis is compelling - her match against Azarenka in Miami last year was once of the best all year. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2012 started fairly inauspiciously, losing 10-8 in the third in R2 in Melbourne to Greta Arn. A series of R1 losses followed - with her gamestyle inconsistency is baked right in. She had Vika by the throat in Miami in R4 before letting the world #1 get away, but reached the Final in Barcelona, QF in Rome, Brussels and Roland Garros. She won Carlsbad in the summer and had a relatively solid end to the year, but she's still capable of throwing in ugly losses.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I can see Cibulkova cracking the top 10, albeit briefly, but her inconsistent go-for-broke style, perhaps necessary given her height, is too high risk to see her really threaten the best for long.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#14 - Maria Kirilenko (RUS)</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Maria put together a very nice 2012, with a final in Pattaya, QF in Indian Wells, R4 in Miami, and, following an indifferent clay court season, a QF in Wimbledon where she pushed Aga Radwanska all the way in a very tough, very good match. She backed that up at the Olympics, with a SF placing and then a final in New Haven. She's more solid than she used to be, and more mentally resiliant within matches, which explains why she's ended 2012 on the verge of the top 10.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Can she break in? I'm not so sure, but I wouldn't mind if she did. She has a solid yet attractive game and is better at the net than most. We could do worse.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#13 - Ana Ivanovic (SRB)</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Where next for this miss? World #1, Roland Garros champion, world #60-odd, no confidence whatsoever. Slowly rebuilding, getting in shape, perhaps too much so, and on the verge of the top 10 once again after several years. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2012 was characterised by going fairly deep in events then falling to the higher ranked ladies. She lost to Kvitova in R4 in Melbourne, Wozniacki in Dubai, Sharapova in Indian Wells and then Venus in Miami. Errani at the French, Azarenka at Wimbledon, Clijsters at the Olympics, Serena at the US Open. And so on. And this is what's holding Ana back now - she doesn't seem to have the belief that she should be among this cast list and so she loses to them when she has to face them. Her game is perhaps less reliable than theirs - especially that painfull balltoss, and the backhand is still much more vulnerable than the forehand.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In 2013 Ana may yet sneak back into the top 10 but I don't see any significant breakthroughs occuring - she needs to start beating the best to be among the best, but the confidence and execution to do so continues to prove elusive.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#12 - Nadia Petrova (RUS)</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's a long time since that Petrova was world ranked 3 and after years in the relative wilderness, in 2012 Nadia found herself back on the cusp of the top 10. Very talented, with a good serve, big game, and decent net play, Nadia's problems have mostly been between the ears - a confidence-sapping perfectionism that causes her to chastise herself out of matches - how very Russian. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After a slow start to 2012 Nadia had a solid enough clay season - what used to be her best part of the year, but she got going by winning 's-Hertogenbosch, reaching SF in Carlsbad, R4 at the US Open and winning the big tournament in Tokyo, beating 3 top 10 players en route. Big points on offer there. She then finished the year winning the Tournament of Also-Rans in Sofia, demolishing Wozniacki in the final.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So where next? Now 30, and having split with Ricardo Sanchez, who unquestionably helped her rediscover some form, I predict another nosedive for Nadia, given her capacity for self-sabotage. Given most of her points came in the second half of 2012, her ranking may float for a while, but then it could well crash through the floor, unless she can pull herself together.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#11 - Marion Bartoli (FRA)</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Marion had a very solid, if unspectacular 2012 - she stuck around in tournaments but never lifted the trophy. R3 in Melbourne, Final in Paris indoors, SF in Doha, QF in Indian Wells, SF in Miami. A poor clay season (it's not good for her, ever) followed by a SF in Eastbourne, then a very bad loss at Wimbledon to Lucic, who was outside the top 100 at the time. She rebounded by reaching the final in Carlsbad, and the US Open QF where she tussled well with Sharapova, and then the SF in Beijing to end the year.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This chick's weirdness is well documented, from the 2 fisted strokes off both sides, to the endless bouncing around on court, the serve quirks, the disputes with the FFT. In 2013 she may bounce back into the top 10 for a bit, or lurk around outside - that seems to be her level, but while she may win smaller titles and make life tricky for the top ladies, she's definitely second tier in my book, and will remain so in 2013.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09539237412844815571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360455207872877717.post-56392746719789332042013-01-10T15:50:00.000-08:002013-01-10T15:50:41.999-08:00What will 2013 Bring? Part 8 - WTA #26-50<br />
<h3>
<div class="separator" style="background-color: #c7c7c7; clear: both; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px;">
<span style="background-color: #cccccc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With 2012 over and 2013 underway, I'm reviewing the 2012 season of the top 50 ATP and WTA players, and notable others, and making an informed guess (quiet at the back) at what 2013 is likely to bring.</span></div>
<span style="background-color: #cccccc; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ladies Night - #26 - 50</span></span></h3>
<div>
<span style="background-color: #cccccc; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#50 - Anabel Medina Garrigues (ESP)</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The now veteran Spaniard has had a solid, if fairly unremarkable singles career, and 2013 was little exception. Nothing much stands out for her in 2012 either, beyond reaching R3 in Melbourne before being forced to retire with injury - she racked up the sort of win one, lose one record that keeps you in the top 50 but not much more.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Though she has started 2013 brightly, I suspect AMG's best chances of notable success these days remain in the doubles.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#49 - Heather Watson (GBR)</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2012 was something of a breakthrough year for Miz Watson. Starting outside the top 100, it was all about getting established in main draw events. The year started pretty slowly but she qualified and reached R2 at Roland Garros, reached R3 at Wimbledon, and ended the year winning her first WTA title at the smaller event in Osaka. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She has improved aspects of her game, but to kick on, the gritty Watson will need to continue to add more offense to her serve and patterns of play, which can be a bit too grinding and expose her to being hit off the court. If she can do this, then she may even be worth a top 20 spot - she is a fighter and that counts for a lot.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#48 - Lourdes Dominguez Lino (ESP)</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Another unmemorable year for another Spanish veteran, a win at the ITF in Marseille being the standout. She beat who she should most of the time, and rarely lost to who she shouldn't. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At 31, nearing 32, I have to feel that her ranking in 2013 will end south of the top 50, though possibly a few decent runs in the clay season will keep her around.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#47 - Simona Halep (ROU)</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This diminutive Romanian is still young, and has steadily improved for the last couple of years, scoring some top 20 wins in 2012. Her standout result was in Brussels, where she reached the final and pushed Aga for a set before losing 75 60. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I can see Simona getting into the top 30 in 2013 but I fear that at 5'6" and perhaps lacking in the same amount of power as, say, Cibulkova, she's got a hard road to get much higher, especially as she also seems to struggle with consistency.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#46 - Lucie Hradecka (CZE)</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No doubt Lucie's best results in 2012 came in doubles with fellow Czech Hlavackova, but she did have some singles highlights too, including a final in Quebec City, and a run to the SFs in Madrid, beating Kvitova and Stosur before losing to Serena. However, the rest of the year was fairly poor, with many R1 losses. With a truly excellent record in doubles, including 2 slam finals and Olympic silver, in 2012, it's likely 2013 will again be more profitable on the doubles side.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#45 - Flavia Pennetta (ITA)</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A tricky year for Flavia - with finals in Auckland and Acapulco, but then an injury keeping her out for the US Open Series, from which she has not yet returned. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Her career has always been turbulent, with some good highs, like breaking into the top 10, followed by equally notable downturns, as her confidence drops off. 2013 may be her last chance to push back to the top 20 and make some noise, but we'll see how she responds to her comeback in Bogotá in February</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#44 - Alize Cornet (FRA)</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Alize is just 22, nearly 23, and if she's going to do something, it's getting to the time where she needs to start. She made a bit of a splash as a teen, but it's been turbulent and the results have not flowed since. 2012 saw an ITF final in Nassau and the final in Strasbourg, and a title win in Bad Gastein, but she underperforms at the high ranking events, generally speaking, and this is what holds her back.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She reached 11 in 2009, and in 2013 I think she can push back towards the top 20, but it's time she started performing on the bigger s</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#43 - Aleksandra Wozniak (CAN)</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Aleks has struggled a bit since her comeback from a protracted injury layoff. In 2012 she won ITF Nassau, and made the QFS in Montreal.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If she can stay healthy, in 2013 she can get back into the top 30. She has a powerful game, and hits a heavy, yet inconsistent ball. At 25, Wozniak needs to take advantage of her prime and fulfil the earlier promise that saw her winning Stanford.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#42 - Tsvetana Pironkova (BUL)</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The 25 year old Bulgarian looks smaller than she actually is because her frame is so slight, but she's actually 5'11" and is quite an unpredictable force. She'll beat Kerber in Doha but lose to Tatishvili in Budapest. She made R16 at the US Open, losing to Ivanovic, and the SFs in the also-rans tournament in Sofia. She had a memorable match with Sharapova at Wimbledon too.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As far as 2013 goes, I can't predict much change for Tsveti. She may go on a tear with sliced forehands and flat backhands, but a lot of the time she'll lose disappointingly. It is the way of things.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#41 - Sofia Arvidsson (SWE)</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sofia is another player whose confidence seems very brittle. She won Memphis and reached the SFs in Moscow but seems unable to build on these sorts of results and really get on a roll.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Perhaps 2013 will be different, but I doubt it. I don't recall Sofia having any major weapons and is bedevilled with the same inconsistency that seems to hurt many players at this level - you just never know what to expect from one week to the next.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#40 - Shuai Peng (CHN)</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Once seen a successor to the likes of Li and Zheng, Peng hasn't been able to kick on quite like that. She had a decent run to the R16 at Wimbledon, but otherwise it was fairly slim pickings in terms of stand-out results. There was more week-in, week-out consistency, though - less R1 flame-outs.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Peng started 2012 at #17 and I think she can get back to the top 20 in 2013. She has started brightly, with a SF in Shenzhen, so let's be optimistic.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#39 - Mona Barthel (GER)</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The young German looked like one to watch in 2012 after some results in 2011 that made you sit up and take notice, but instead it rather became a case of sophomore year blues. She won Hobart, reached the QFs at Paris indoors, but the rest of the year was rough, with only SF in Quebec City and Bastad to break through the gloom of numerous first round losses.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I think 2013 will see Mona getting back to winning ways as she adjusts to the tour at this level and finds her feet again. I expect her to get into the top 20, and at 21, she could be around there for quite a while.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#38 - Sloane Stephens (USA)</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Given the USA is a country that has desperately looking for signs of the NextBigThing, as the Williams retirements begin to seem possible in the coming years, Sloane Stephens has handled it pretty well. The 19-year-old started 2012 at #96 and ended in the top 40. Not Williams-style breakout, but great progress in a game that is in general seeing less breakout moments and more evolutionary rises to the top. Things started to take off on the clay, with a SF in Strasbourg and then a R16 run at Roland Garros, and there were solid results thereafter.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sloane has started 2013 brightly, and gave Serena quite a match in Brisbane. I see top 20 here, she seems to have bit more fire than her languid demeanour would suggest. Can she go higher? Not sure, but she's still very young and she's on the right track.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#37 - Sabine Lisicki (GER)</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2012 was a bit of a wash-out for the likeable yet injury-prone German. A R16 run in Melbourne and QF run in Wimbledon are the stasndouts from an otherwise forgettable season.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2013 has to be about more consistency and staying injury-free. Sabine has a big game, and never seems to be able to channel it effectively enough. Now 22, perhaps the time has arrived, to get back into the top 20 and look towards the top 10?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#36 - Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS)</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The most promising of the younger Russians, Ana seemed to take a step back in 2012, slipping from 16 to 36. Indeed, reaching the Washington final is the only bright spot - the rest of the year is R1 losses or one win, one loss situations.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nastya is a good height, has great weight of shot, and is still young at 21. In 2013 she should reverse this slide and get back into the top 20. She started the right way, with a final in Brisbane. May it continue.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#35 - Francesca Schiavone (ITA)</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2012 was a poor year by the standards of Fran's recent years, with only brief flashes - winninG Strasbourg, making the R16 in Wimbledon. It's been a drastic decline from ending 2011 just outside the top 10. Indeed, the second half of the year was a virtual write-off. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now 32, Fran seems to be running on fumes and it's hard to be sure what she's still hoping to achieve - perhaps she still competes for the love of the game, but if so, you'd be hard pushed to see it on court. Her unexpected Roland Garros triumph is her career triumph, and the joy with which she seized the moment was wonderful - it makes this inept drift back into irrelevance harder to watch.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#34 - Carla Suarez-Navarro (ESP)</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This young Spaniard seemed to promise much a couple of years ago, but she seems to have settled into the same erratic pattern of many of her contemporaries. Estoril Final, Barcelona SF, Beijing QF and a R3 at Roland Garros doesn't seem a huge amount to show for a year. She has a glorious one-handed backhand but at 5'4" she's perhaps a throwback to an earlier era, one that struggles to compete in the glamazon power-game stakes of the modern WTA.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I think Carla is perhaps ranked about where she should be - she can bounce up if she gets on a roll and pulls off some decent wins - it's happened before, like thw QF run in Melbourne, but otherwise, she'll hang around where she is.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#33 - Christina McHale (USA)</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">McHale showed steady progress in 2012, but perhaps will be looking to kick on a bit in 2013. A solid but unspectacular year, R3 at 3 of the slams, and many R16s on the main tour, there's a consistency here that many of her peers lack, but then there are few peaks either.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To get higher, Christina is going to have to lose less matches against opponents she should beat, and that might mean dealing with her nerves better in tight situations - there were some memorable matches in Eastbourne against Wozniacki and then Pavlyuchenkova that stand out. Not yet 21, this should come in time for the New Jersey native.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#32 - Daniela Hantuchova (SVK)</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Daniela has been around FOREVER - I mean, I remember them discussing her being too thin way back in 2002, and yet she's only 29. However, the promise of a couple of years ago, when she made the SFs in Melbourne, seem distant, and she seems past her prime now. She won Pattaya City and reached the finals in Luxembourg but otherwise it was slim pickings for the willowy Slovakian.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She might experience a slight rankings bounce in 2013 but it seems like Daniela's lot now is to cause the occasional upset and then get out of the way. A shame - it once seemed like she had more promise. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#31 - Urszula Radwanska (POL)</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The younger Pole has lagged behind her sister all along, and was sidetracked by some injury issues, but in 2012 finally looked ready to push on. Ula won ITF Birmingham, then reached the final in 'S-Hertogenbosch from qualifying before losing to Petrova. From there she had a solid summer, posting consistent R16s at tour events, then SFs in Tashkent and Guangzhou.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ula tends to play with a bit more power than her sister and is a bit more erratic, but I think she can join Aga in the top 20 at least. She's now 22 and this would be a good time to make her move.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#30 - Tamira Paszek (AUT)</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tamira is another poster-girl for inconsistency, yet she's still younger than you think, at 22. It was all about that Wimbledon, wasn't it. The amazing Wozniacki match, and the run to the QFs before losing to Azarenka. But there was also the Eastbourne win, and a QF in Montreal. However, that was it for the notable achievements as the inconsistency took over once again.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I think Tamira is top 30 quality but may struggle to get much higher consistently with her small stature - she has to take a lot of risks, and sometimes they pay off - and sometimes they don't. If I were a share rating agency, I would rate Tamira as a Hold. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#29 - Yaroslava Shvedova (KAZ)</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The funky one, who plays for Kazakhstan, had a terrific run back into the top 30 in 2012. A bunch of early ITFs and then a run through qualifying to the RG QF, and a R16 at Wimbledon (+ golden set) helped to drag her back into contention from an injury plagued 2011. Things fizzled out a bit after the US Open, but she's well placed to begin 2013.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I think Slava can hang around 20-25 in the rankings with maybe the odd burst into the top 20, which would beat her career high so far.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#28 - Klara Zakopalova (CZE)</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Klara was in decent form in 2012. Nearly 30 now, she was extremely solid throughout the season, with SF in Paris indoors, Final in ITF Prague, R16 at the French, SF in Eastbourne and numerous QFs. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She's started 2013 in good form so maybe she can have another great year? She's now at a career high, can she break the top 20?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#27 - Sorana Cirstea (ROU)</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At the risk of over-using a word, Cirstea is erratic. However, 2012 was less so for the Romanian. She made a number of QFs and SFs throughout the season, and a couple of R3s at slams helped to hold her ranking up.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sori has a big game but can be inconsistent within matches, but she's still only 21. She can kick on, and with her good looks, perhaps she can join the ranks of the poster girls in 2013.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#26 - Jie Zheng (CHN)</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Again, an inconsistent 2012 (are you seeing a pattern yet?). Won Auckland and made R16 in Melbourne, then did nothing until the SF in Birmingham from qualification. The rest of the year was also unspectacular. A shame - the tiny Chinese has a fun game and can get into some amazing battles - but it seems like she can't bring it consistently, and loses to some surprising players - Parmentier, for example.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She's nearly 30 so I think the progam is unlikely to change now. More of the same - she may create some surprising upsets, have some incredible battles, but then she'll flame out for several weeks thereafter. </span><br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09539237412844815571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360455207872877717.post-73416813823754237392012-12-30T14:08:00.001-08:002012-12-30T15:19:33.037-08:00What will 2013 Bring? Part 7 - ATP #1-2<br />
<div class="separator" style="background-color: #c7c7c7; clear: both; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">
<span style="background-color: #cccccc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With 2012 over and 2013 rushing towards us, I'm reviewing the season of the top 50 ATP and WTA players, and notable others, and making an informed guess (quiet at the back) at what 2013 is likely to bring.</span></div>
<span style="background-color: #cccccc; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Time to consider the top 2 male players in the world...</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cccccc; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">All images remain copyright of their respective owners.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cccccc; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: #cccccc; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">#2 - Roger Federer (SUI)</span></span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://img.bleacherreport.net/img/images/photos/002/012/329/hi-res-148271257_crop_exact.jpg?w=650&h=440&q=75" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="http://img.bleacherreport.net/img/images/photos/002/012/329/hi-res-148271257_crop_exact.jpg?w=650&h=440&q=75" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Considering this year, Roger won his first Grand Slam since the 2010 Australian Open, 17th in total for those still counting, and won another 5 titles besides, including 3 at Masters 1000 level, and on top of all that returned to the #1 ranking for a spell, besting Pete Sampras's mark for most weeks spent overall at the #1 spot, you'd have to chalk 2012 up as a successful year for the Swiss maestro. And if it had some setbacks too then, well, it's not 2006 anymore. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">The year starting a bit unevenly, with a rare walkover withdrawal from Doha in the SF, then a somewhat lacklustre display in losing to Rafa in the SF of the Australian Open after having won the first set. Eyebrows were raised when he lost to Isner on clay in the Davis Cup in a disastrous tie for the Swiss side at home. Nevertheless, he rebounded well, winning Rottedam, Dubai and Indian Wells on the trot, including wins over Murray and Nadal. A slightly surprising loss to Roddick in Miami followed, but perhaps less so considering his energy levels at that point. Again, he bounced back quickly with a title in Madrid on the slippery blue clay, but in Rome Djokovic asserted his credentials, dismissing Roger in the SF. At Roland Garros, Roger survived a 2 set deficit to a resurgent Juan Martin Del Potro, who was clearly starting to believe he could tangle with the best once more. In the end, though, it took Novak to stop Roger again, this time in straight sets, some vengeance for Djokovic for the SF surprise loss the year before. Roger reached the final in Halle but lost to Tommy Haas there, one more of those occasionally surprising losses Roger throws in these days.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">At Wimbledon, however, Roger was ready. Disappointed by his 2 QF exits the last two years, he had a point to prove, and although he was 2 sets down to Benneteau in R3, he fought through, survived a tussle with Malisse, humbled Youzhny, and then handed a surprisingly easy 4 set defeat to Novak Djokovic, who seemed well below par. In the final he would face Andy Murray, who he had beaten in 2 previous Grand Slam finals. Murray was in his fourth, and still yet to win one, and in front of a home crowd to boot. Nevertheless the Scot started brightly, winning a tight first set, and coming very close to winning a second. Roger had other ideas though, and rolled back the years with some vintage grass-court tennis and levelled the match. Rain intervened early in the third set, and the roof was closed. If anything, Roger's level rose even more under the canvas, as the elements of wind and variable light were taken out of the equation. He took a vice-like grip on the match. Murray continued to play well, and tried to find solutions, but it wasn't to be. Roger played the occasion like a virtuoso, knowing exactly what play to use and when, and though it was a tight four sets, Roger played the better tennis on the day, lifted his 7th Wimbledon crown (matching Sampras and Renshaw for all-time highest number of titles), and with it, secured a return to the #1 ranking and guaranteed he would also break the Sampras #1 longest duration record too. Naturally he was overjoyed to recover the Wimbledon crown that had been his first Grand Slam win, and he went into the Olympics high in confidence. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">He shook off an early loss in the doubles, and an early blip against Falla in R1, and reached the SFs relatively comfortably. There he met Juan Martin Del Potro, who had taken him to 5 at the French. This time, over best of three but with a long final set, Delpo came even closer, as they passed 6-6 in the final set, and kept going. The match wore on for over four hours, with nothing to separate them, until at last, Roger, perhaps drawing on the memories of his epic 17-15 5th set win over Roddick in 2009, prevailed 16-14 in the third. There's no question the length and difficulty of Roger's SF aided Murray, who, relatively speaking, breezed past Djokovic in 24 games total. Nevertheless, nothing should be taken away from Murray's performance - he came out full of confidence, displayed mental resolve like never before in a big match, and never gave Roger an opening to really exploit. Roger was flat, and many tactics he had previously employed against Murray weren't working - a combination of Murray's better play and Roger's own jadedness. Roger had to settle for the singles Silver medal, Murray winning Gold in 3 straight sets, dramatically reversing the Wimbledon final result of four weeks earlier. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Roger professed himself satisfied with his Olympic efforts, and moved on to Cincinnati, where he lifted the title, handing Djokovic a very rare bagel in the final as part of a 6-0 7-6(7) win. Djokovic failed to medal at the Olympics, losing the Bronze match to Del Potro, and seemed to have a bit of a hangover from that. Going into the US Open, Roger, as #1 seed once again, must have been feeling good about his chances. 3 straight sets wins and then a walkover as Mardy Fish withdrew with medical problems that killed his season, and Roger was in good shape for his QF against Berdych. And then one of those inexplicably flat performances happened, where Roger just seemed to have little command over all the weapons at his disposal. Berdych played an excellent match, his hard, flat hitting taking a lot of options away from Roger, and even though the Czech flinched and lost the third set, he reset and hit back decisively in the fourth. Roger played a poor match by his standards, out of nowhere, and he seemed rather shell-shocked by the loss - it seemed to hurt more than usual.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">He won his two Davis Cup playoff matches against the Netherlands, and then headed out to Shanghai, where he lost to Murray in surprising fashion in the SFs. He seemed irritable, out of sorts, and his game, particularly his serving, was off, including the bizarre spectacle of him serving three double faults consecutively to hand over a break of serve, and a bizarre interlude where he seemed to gently pressuring the umpire to suspend player longer than necessary due to a few drops of rain. Murray's game has always irritated Roger, but rarely has this irritation been given such visible expression. Back in Switzerland, Roger made the finals of his beloved Basel event, but Juan Martin Del Potro, who had been running Roger increasingly close all season, finally got the better of him, though it needed a final set tiebreak to do it. At the World Tour Finals, Delpo struck again, handing Roger another 3 set defeat in the RR stages, but Roger won against Tipsarevic and Ferrer, and then defeated Andy Murray in the SFs before losing a tight match to Novak Djokovic in the finals.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">As said earlier, 2012 must be considered a successful year for Roger, and at 31 he's still been competing with the very best, getting to the latter stages of virtually every big event he has played. Will 2013 bring more of the same? In my view, yes and no. I expect him to continue to threaten at the Slams and Masters 1000s - losses against all but the best at these tournaments are likely to continue to be rare. But I don't see him winning another slam in 2013 - indeed I feel the 7th Wimbledon title in 2012 will bookend his slam career with the first one won there, back in 2003, and he will win no more. My feeling is, as Roger begins to reduce his playing schedule slightly, that while he wants to continue to Rio, he has absolutely nothing left to prove now, and as his twin girls get older, his focus might become more split. Though it may take a few years, in 2013 I expect to see Roger slowly beginning the disengagement process from the hectic lifestyle of pro tennis. A few more weeks off, less worry about where the ranking is and more focus on being ready for a select handful of tournaments. At these, he will still be dangerous, but younger, and perhaps hungrier, players now seem regularly capable of having the measure of him. We shouldn't feel sad about that, it is the cycle of things, and he's already had more wonderful years than one mortal has any reason to expect. That should be celebrated.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">#1 - Novak Djokovic (SRB)</span></h3>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://images.supersport.com/Novak-Djokovic-scream-121229R300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://images.supersport.com/Novak-Djokovic-scream-121229R300.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">2012 was a genuine mixed bag for Novak Djokovic. It began with an amazing feat of sustained endurance, hit some very slippery patches in the middle, but ended with a feeling that equilibrium had been restored, which augurs well for the coming season.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">It began, of course, at the Australian Open, where he beat Ferrer in 3 sets, Murray in a 5 hour 5 set marathon, and then Nadal in another 5 setter that ran closer to 6 hours - an extraordinary display of mental and physical fitness. This was his 5th Grand Slam win, and he now held 3 concurrently - only the French Open eluded him for the Career Grand Slam, and if he won it in 2012 he would become the first since Laver to hold all 4 majors at the same time, albeit not in the same calendar year. Much was now on the line.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Djokovic lost to Murray in the SFs in Dubai - not necessarily a major surprise since Andy seemed better against Novak over best of 3 than over best of 5. Novak surprisingly lost to Isner in the SFs in Indian Wells, albeit it took a final set tiebreak, which can be something of a lottery. In any case, he bounced back by winning Miami, beating Murray in the final and didn't drop a set all tournament. On the clay in Monte Carlo, he faced Rafa in the final, but lost comfortably in straight sets, halting a run of wins over the Spaniard since Indian Wells 2011 at seven. He lost in the QFs of Madrid, deploring the slippery blue surface, and then fell again against Rafa in the final of Rome - closer this time but same result. The 2011 situation, where Novak really seemed to be in Rafa's head, had clearly unwound. Novak pressed on at Roland Garros, defeating Tsonga and Federer en route to the final, albeit not without drama. He was 2 sets down to Andreas Seppi in R4, and Tsonga had him on the ropes in the fourth set in the QF, but Novak escaped both situations, his mental strength once again proving a decisive factor. Nevertheless, in the final, which was ultimately completed on Monday due to rain, Nadal once again took the spoils - he needed 4 sets to do it, but he completed the sweep over Novak on the clay in 2012.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">This was disappointing by the highest standards Novak was now compared to, and matters didn't improve at Wimbledon. Although the defending champion made it to the SFs, he played a disappointingly flat match, seemed to lack belief or conviction, and ultimately was handled more comfortably than anyone would expect by Roger Federer. Novak's ability to take a disappointment and bounce back quickly would be tested a number of times in 2012, but perhaps no time more so than the Olympic Games. A proud Serb, who no doubt wanted to bring home the Gold for his nation, he nevertheless seemed to succumb to the overwhelming pressure of hope and expectation that he somehow had not felt as severely in Davis Cup - perhaps due to the team nature of that competition. In any case, though he made it to the SF match, he played a somewhat nervy match against Murray, who handled the occasion with great aplomb, and advanced to the Gold Medal Match 7-5 7-5, with Djokovic faltering at the end of both sets in uncharacteristic fashion. This must have been deeply disappointing, and he was unable to find solace in a Bronze medal, as Del Potro claimed this honour for Argentina, leaving the Serb empty-handed. </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">And yet, Novak did rebound quickly, with a Masters 1000 win in Toronto the following week, and a Cincy Final, where he was handed a bagel by Federer but only just failed to take it to a third set. He seemed back to his imperious best in New York at the US Open, avenging himself upon Del Potro in straight sets in the QFs, and after a very slow start, dismissing Ferrer in 4 sets in a SF match that was completed on the Sunday. This put Novak at a disadvantage, as Murray's SF had finished on Saturday, and in the end this might have had more impact than has generally been acknowledged. The US Open Final began in extremely blustery conditions, which Murray handled better. Though the first two sets were turbulent, torrid affairs, Murray mentally remained stronger more consistently, and won them both. But as the wind calmed slightly and Djokovic dug in for the fight, Murray hit a physical wall, and Djokovic claimed the third and fourth sets quickly relative to the first two. However, the match was now 4 hours old, and Djokovic seemed physically spent by his efforts to get back into it. Murray took a double break lead, and while Djokovic briefly looked like he might get back into it, cramping visibly set in, hampering his movement. Murray tasted blood and liked it, and calmly snatched the set, and the title, from the defending champion.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">At this point in the season, things were looking a tad grim for Novak, relatively speaking. Pushed back to #2 by a resurgent Federer in the mid-season, he had endured a steady series of losses against the other big combatants - Nadal on the clay, particularly Roland Garros, Federer at Wimbledon, Murray and Del Potro at the Olympics, and Murray again at the US Open. It seemed like his capacity to win the big matches was not what it had been. However, he quickly dispelled this myth. In Shanghai, he saved 5 match points in the final against Murray, to come back and win in 3 sets. Though he lost early in Paris, he handed defeats to Tsonga, Murray, Berdych, Del Potro and Federer to lift the title at the O2 arena, his second season-ending championship, and re-establish some authority over his fellow top 10 players. In doing so, he recaptured the #1 ranking, and though his year was a turbulent one, he started and ended it on top.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Here's what I expect in 2013. With Nadal's prospects very uncertain, and anno domini increasingly likely to impact Federer, common wisdom suggests Murray will be Djokovic's great rival in the coming season. I would concur with this, although I think there's a chance that Del Potro and someone else, perhaps Berdych, might muscle their way in at one or more of the biggest events. I do expect Djokovic to maintain the #1 ranking, provided he avoids any injury concerns, which he has largely been able to do since the end of 2011. Djokovic is much more consistent when compared to Murray, and he is at least one level above Murray on clay, and this is likely to prove decisive in the rankings battle. When it comes to the majors, I would expect Djokovic to lift at least 1, more likely 2, and perhaps it's time for him to win Roland Garros and complete his own Career Grand Slam. It should be another stellar year for the brightest current star of the tennis sky.</span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09539237412844815571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360455207872877717.post-89840338356419006192012-12-30T02:42:00.001-08:002012-12-30T02:46:03.013-08:00What will 2013 Bring? Part 6 - ATP #3-5<br />
<div class="separator" style="background-color: #c7c7c7; clear: both; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: #cccccc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With 2012 over and 2013 rushing towards us, I'm reviewing the season of the top 50 ATP and WTA players, and notable others, and making an informed guess (quiet at the back) at what 2013 is likely to bring.</span></div>
<span style="background-color: #cccccc; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Time to consider the players ranked between 3 and 5 in the current rankings...</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cccccc; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">All images remain copyright of their respective owners.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cccccc; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">#5 - David Ferrer (ESP)</span></span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://blogbruguera.squarespace.com/storage/usando-um-sombrero-mexicano-david-ferrer-recebe-o-trofeu-do-torneio-de-acapulco-1330953880191_1024x768.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1331398086145" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://blogbruguera.squarespace.com/storage/usando-um-sombrero-mexicano-david-ferrer-recebe-o-trofeu-do-torneio-de-acapulco-1330953880191_1024x768.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1331398086145" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Anybody writing the story of David Ferrer's career has a fine line to walk, because it can be hard to tell, depending on how you look at it, whether he is underrated or overrated. It goes without saying that he has had a career that a huge amount of his fellow players would kill for. He's spent a long time in the top 10 over the last several years, he's been in 4 Grand Slam semi-finals, he's been in the final of the World Tour Finals, and he's won a Masters 1000 title, and been in the final several other times. It's because of these achievements that you can see Ferrer as underrated, given how little publicity and respect these have tended to get - when the commentators refer to him at all, it's often a touch patronisingly, referring to his small stature, and his appetite for hard work, grinding opponents down, and fighting. He rarely earns respect for the underlying talent and drive that make all of this possible. And yet, he's world #5, but never been in a Grand Slam final, and at age 30, seems unlikely ever to do so. In that sense, people can see him as overrated, given that though world #5 and a very tricky opponent, the tennis world at large expect him to get out of the way when the big guns show up in the latter rounds. For what it's worth, my take on it is that he should be given credit and respect for what he has been able to do in the game, and if he isn't <i>quite </i>good enough to topple the Big 4 in the latter stages of big events, then there's no shame in that - neither can most players.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Ferrer spent almost the entire year in the fifth spot in the rankings, apart from brief stretches where he fell to sixth. Beginning with a win at the tournament in Auckland, he fell to Djokovic in the QFs in Australia, but added two more titles in Buenos Aires on the clay. An unexpected loss to Istomin in Indian Wells was followed up with a QF run in Miami, where he again lost to Djokovic. He lost to Bellucci in Monte Carlo, but then went on a run where he only lost to the very best - Nadal in Barcelona, Rome and Roland Garros, and Federer in Madrid. He won Den Bosch on grass and was stopped by Andy Murray in the Wimbledon QFs. He won Bastad, lost unexpectedly to Nishikori at the Olympics and Wawrinka in Cincinnati, but then made the US Open SF, where Djokovic once again proved too strong. A forgettable Asian stretch (losses to Lu and Benneteau) was forgotten, after winning Valencia and his first Masters 1000 title in Paris Bercy, beating newcomer Jerzy Janowicz in the final. At the WTFs he beat Del Potro and Tipsarevic, but lost to Federer, and his final act was to win the two singles rubbers in the Davis Cup Final, though Spain eventually lost 3-2 to the Czechs. With 7 titles in 2012, including a Masters 1000, 2 SFs and 2 QFs at the slams, it was Ferrer's best year - and this at age 30.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">So what does 2013 have to offer him? It's hard to see him backing up this season in full or improving on it, so I expect his results to slip back a little bit - not out of the top 10, but perhaps ceding the #5 position in the rankings. With a game that relies on speed, the ability to hang in rallies, defend superbly and attack when circumstances allow, age is likely to hurt Ferrer's game more than perhaps those who have built their game around their height and power advantage. What more does he still want to get out of the game? How much desire will be left? Only he can know.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">#4 - Rafael Nadal (ESP)</span></span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://larrybrownsports.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/rafael-nadal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://larrybrownsports.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/rafael-nadal.jpg" width="247" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">2012 was undoubtedly a year of two halves for Rafa. He started the year ranked 2, and remained there while actively playing, but wound up at 4 by the season end. Already guaranteed legend status in the game at the age of 26, Rafa would add a few other records to an already burgeoning list before injury struck and closed down his season very early.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">The year started much as 2011 had gone, with a Grand Slam final appearance, at the Australian Open, which he lost to Novak Djokovic - making it three in a row - in a near-six-hour epic, Novak winning 7-5 in the 5th set. Even early on in the season, however, there were signs of the trouble to come. Rafa lost to Federer in the SFs of Indian Wells, and reached the SFs of Miami, only to hand Andy Murray the walkover, citing tendinitis in his left knee. This did only delay him a couple of weeks, and he was back to winning ways on the clay, winning his record 8th consecutive Monte Carlo title, and beating Djokovic in the final, reversing a series of 7 straight losses dating back to Indian Wells 2011. After winning the now-customary Barcelona title, he suffered a blip on the troubled smurf-turf of Madrid, losing to Verdasco in R3 and panning the surface in the most blistering terms. However, he restored equilibrium in Rome, adding a second win over Djokovic, and adding a third when he lifted his 7th Roland Garros weeks later, the most won by any one player since the tournament went International in 1925. It had been a triumphant reversal of his recent trend against the Serb.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Yet, behind the scenes, under the surface, trouble was already brewing. The QF loss to Kohlschreiber in Halle raised few eyebrows, but the R2 loss to Lukas Rosol in 5 sets sent shockwaves throughout the tennis world. Although he looked fine on the match court, speculation immediately started that there was a physical problem. In the weeks that followed, detail dripped out that knee problems were to blame, although the story seemed to change numerous times as to the nature of the issue. He withdrew from the Olympics, citing it as one of the saddest moments of his career, and then from US Open extremely early. At this point it seemed likely that his season was over, and though it took a while for this to be confirmed, he didn't pick up a racquet competitively for the rest of the year. A half-year of renewed hope was brought to a crashing halt by further injury concerns that seem a step-change in seriousness compared to previous episodes. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">As for 2013, speculation is rife. Training was underway and expectation was that he would resume competitive play at the Abu Dhabi exhibition event, but this was stymied when he withdrew late in the day, due to a stomach virus. He shortly thereafter withdrew from the Australian Open citing the same problem, even though this event was still over 2 weeks away. The suggestion is that he would not be ready to play best of 5 matches without some tournament preparation and he would not be in a position to get any, so the best approach would be to come back on the South American clay. This may or may not make sense, according to taste, but what it has done is reignited speculation that all is still not well with the knees, and they're just not ready to say so yet. The Nadal camp is not the most forthcoming with the facts at its disposal, and there may yet be more to this story than we're currently being told. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">In any case, the new plan is that he will return in the spring, and all eyes will be on whether he can hit the ground running and return to his peak form quickly - he will have little time to do so. The way things are unfolding, the only thing on his ranking soon will be his clay court points, and if he fails to defend a significant chunk of these, his ranking will plummet. Already likely to drop out of the top 4, the climb back could get that much steeper. For my part, I think Rafa can get back to his peak form, but I think it will be a slower process than in the past, and 2013 will be a year of slow rebuilding - he may not be part of the biggest conversations all year. As for the speculation that this is it - and he's actually done for good - while I think this is an understandable fear, given the unfolding events, I still think that's way too premature. I guess I won't believe that until I hear it from the horse's mouth, and I still think there's a couple more years in him, if he manages his schedule better than he has thus far in his career.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 18px;">#3 - Andy Murray (GBR)</span></span></h3>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02336/murray3_2336538b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02336/murray3_2336538b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">This was the year when it all changed. This was the year when the question was answered. This was the year when doubt was finally silenced, and the year that Great Britain's wait ended. Yes, that silly, ever-increasing number thrown in his face week-in, week-out for years, can finally be consigned to the ash-heap of history where it belongs. Andy Murray, Great Britain from Dunblane, Scotland, won his first Grand Slam, fulfilling the promise he showed from a young age, and the burdensome expectations of a nation and a tennis punditry that rarely failed to insist it should happen, and simultaneously explain why it wouldn't.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">It all started with the decision to hire Ivan Lendl, which will go down in history as one of the most prescient picks ever, whatever comes next. Andy needed a coach to fine-tune his game. More, he needed someone who'd been where he was, on the cusp of glory but unable to touch it. He needed someone who understood what that felt like - and what it felt like when glory was finally in his grasp - and how to go from the one to the other.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">They started work in Australia in 2012 and after a bumpy start, Andy lifted the Brisbane title immediately. He looked imperious in Melbourne against an admittedly pretty comfortable draw, until running into Djokovic in the SFs. Andy lost in 5 sets, but it was a war. A 5 hour, no prisoners taken, no quarter given, war. In the fifth, Novak was comfortably ahead and the thing looked done, but Andy fought back, and had break points to leave him serving for the match. He failed to convert and Novak broke to win. Djokovic would go on to even greater feats in the final, while Andy was left to rue the loss - though all involved were comfortable that he had left it all out on the court.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">A turbulent period followed. He reached the final in Dubai, beating Berdych and Djokovic but losing to Federer, but then threw in an inexplicable 64 62 loss to Guillermo Garcia-Lopez in Indian Wells in the first match. GGL is a handy player and he played well, but this was odd, and confirmed a pattern of the last few years in Indian Wells, where Andy has been poor. He bounced back to reach the final of Miami, helped by 2 walkovers, one of which was Rafa in the SF. There he lost to Djokovic. The clay season was forgettable, with losses to Berdych in Monte Carlo, Raonic in Barcelona, and Gasquet in Rome. Andy made the choice to skip Madrid and given the troublesome nature of that event in 2012, I doubt he regretted it for a moment. Roland Garros was unremarkable also, dropping in the QFs to David Ferrer in 4 hard-fought sets. Then on the grass, he lost his first match to Nicolas Mahut in a final set tiebreak. Again, Mahut is a good player, especially on grass, but this was unexpected.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">At this stage, the knives were beginning to come out for the Murray-Lendl partnership. Born in optimism and seeming to bear early fruit in Australia and Dubai, the results had dried up a bit, and the punditocracy was beginning to question whether Lendl, inexperienced as a coach, was leading Murray into confusion rather than clarity. Some were predicting the partnership was nearing its expiration date. Seldom have events proved them so spectacularly wrong.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Andy's Wimbledon draw was tricky. Opening against Davydenko was tougher on paper than in reality, the veteran Russian no lover of the turf. But Karlovic is always a risky proposition, and then Baghdatis, who had a win over Andy before at Wimbledon. Cilic followed, and then David Ferrer, who beat Andy at Roland Garros. This was grass, though, and while Ferrer was more competent on the surface than he's given credit for, having won titles on grass in the Netherlands, it was still advantage Andy, and he battled through 4 very tough sets to get the win. Tsonga, who came through the bottom quarter after Rafa's loss, awaited, but Andy was able to overcome the occasion and the opponent, and became the first British male to contest the Wimbledon singles final since 1938. Federer lay in wait, and though Andy started brightly, and played much better than in his 3 previous Slam finals, Roger rolled back the years with some of his best grass court tennis, and denied Andy in 4 sets. Roger lifted the title but Andy won some hearts at least, with an emotional, choked-up post-match speech, telling us that he was getting closer.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Closer he was, perhaps closer than even he realised. It's always darkest just before dawn, they say. The days following his fourth Slam final defeat were bleak ones. He now shared with Lendl the record of losing his first 4 slam finals. No man had lost his first 5. In the meantime, Andy had to get up off the canvas quickly, as he would be back on the Wimbledon lawns in short order for the Olympics, back in the UK for the first time since 1948. Olympic tennis has gone from strength to strength in terms of the desirability of winning a medal among the players, and this year promised to be the most competitive since it returned as a full medal sport in 1988. Andy was looking for Gold - team GB had gone on a tear after a slow start, and Andy felt, and wanted to add to, the momentum. He breezed through to the SF with one set dropped, and then dismissed Novak Djokovic in straight sets to reach the Gold Medal Match. Federer once again lay in wait, 28 days after breaking his heart on this very court. Yet, in a storyline the script-writers would never dream of writing, knowing they'd never get away with it, Andy handed Roger a straight sets defeat on Centre Court for the loss of 7 games. No doubt, Roger was jaded from his epic 19-17 win over Del Potro in the SFs, but Andy found the perfect antidote to a Wimbledon final loss, and finally he had a big title. Not a Grand Slam, something different, something that doesn't fit comfortably into the delineated annual tennis schedule, but something special nonetheless.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">No time to celebrate, as ATP schedules wait for no man. The quicker than usual transition to hardcourt bothered Andy's bothersome left knee, and he pulled out of Canada after winning one match, then lost to Chardy in R3 in Cincy. He arrived in New York a bit jaded, and didn't seem to be handling the heat well in his first match against Bogomolov. Things became torrid in R3 when, on another hot day, he needed deep reserves of fight to overcome a lively Feliciano Lopez. A masterclass against Raonic under the lights followed, but it was back to the wars in the QF, where Cilic led 63 51 before choking magnificently. The SF was played under very tricky windy conditions. Berdych, who had despatched Federer with surprising ease in the QF, lurked. He's a player who Andy struggles against - when Berdych's flat, hard hitting is on song, he is deadly. However, the wind stymied Berdych, and Andy was able to get it done, surviving a late challenge from the Czech. Another final, then, and the spectre of surpassing Lendl's "first 4 finals lost" record loomed large. Djokovic was the opponent, and the wind was the third player on court in yet another Monday final. Andy went two sets up, handling the conditions better, but then hit the wall as Djokovic resurged and the wind calmed, and at 2 sets all the situation looked desperate. However, there was one more twist in store, as Andy ran out to a 3-0 double break lead,Djokovic beginning to physically wilt. Though broken once, Andy rebroke to restore the 2 break advantage, and, looking calm, stepped up to the line and served out for his first Grand Slam title.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Relief was the overriding emotion, he said, finally getting that monkey of history, of expectation, of self-imposed pressure off his back. He walked like a man for the first time able to stand tall. It took some time to sink in, and it needed some adjustment. The Lendl partnership had spectacularly borne fruit - but what next? Not to mention the rest of the season to be played. Andy headed out to Asia as scheduled but success was a bit elusive. He lost to Raonic in the SFs in Tokyo, and to Novak in the Shanghai final, having had 5 match points. He slumped to newcomer Jerzy Janowicz indoors in Paris, and ended the year at the World Tour Finals, beating Berdych and Tsonga, but losing to Djokovic in the RR and then Federer in the SFs.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">So what is next? Well, the partnership with Lendl seems to be one they're both happy to talk about in the long term. They've worked hard together in the off-season for a sustained block for the first time, and Andy's sights are set on more slams and the #1 ranking. Can he do it? My prediction is that there's another slam coming - possibly in Australia, possibly at Wimbledon, but the #1 ranking will remain out of reach. Andy is, at times, impressively inconsistent, and to get to #1 these days, you need consistency, and you need at least good results on clay, if not great. These two factors lead me to think Andy will struggle to ascend the rankings mountain to the very top, but it's going to be fun watching him try.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09539237412844815571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360455207872877717.post-49666944867734202932012-12-24T10:06:00.001-08:002012-12-24T10:06:29.582-08:00What will 2013 Bring? Part 5 - ATP #6-10<br />
<div class="separator" style="background-color: #c7c7c7; clear: both; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: #cccccc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With 2012 over and 2013 rushing towards us, I'm reviewing the season of the top 50 ATP and WTA players, and notable others, and making an informed guess (quiet at the back) at what 2013 is likely to bring.</span></div>
<span style="background-color: #cccccc; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Time to consider the players ranked between 6 and 10 in the current rankings...</span></span><br style="background-color: #c7c7c7; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: #cccccc; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">All images remain copyright of their respective owners.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cccccc; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: #cccccc; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></span>
<h3>
<span style="background-color: #cccccc; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">10 - Richard Gasquet (FRA)</span></span></span></h3>
<div>
<span style="background-color: #cccccc; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.open13.fr/upload/actus-interviews-videos/richard-gasquet--je-veux-faire-plaisir-au-public-264.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="190" src="http://www.open13.fr/upload/actus-interviews-videos/richard-gasquet--je-veux-faire-plaisir-au-public-264.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: #cccccc; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">A year of good progress for the mercurial Frenchman. Starting 2012 at 19, he ended at 10 - perhaps, at 26, Richard has realised he has been wasting his talents? Then again, he seems shy of the limelight and found the pressure of living up to a top 10 billing to be too much, reverting to the role of spear-carrier in the French attack force. He has, however, posted a worthy season, with R16 performances at all 4 slams, a final at the 1000 is Toronto, a title in Bangkok and a SF in Basel. He has performed consistently all year under the tutelage of Ricardo Piatti and Sebastien Grosjean. However, I do not expect him to kick on higher into the top 10 - there have been too many predictions that he is finally ready to embrace the highest echelon of the game, and each time, these predictions have been hollow. I still believe he is more comfortable when he is not the Frenchman expected to be pushing for the slams, and something in him will continue to keep him his own worst enemy.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">#9 - Janko Tipsarevic (SRB)</span></span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://nimg.sulekha.com/sports/original700/janko-tipsarevic-2011-10-29-7-40-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="http://nimg.sulekha.com/sports/original700/janko-tipsarevic-2011-10-29-7-40-10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Having crept into the top 10 at the end of 2011, Janko has held the spot for the entire season, spending most of it ranked 9, creeping up to 8 for a spell mid-year before returning. The Serb was relatively disappointing at the slams, epic QF loss to David Ferrer at the US Open aside, however he posted two Masters 1000 SFs, in Toronto and Madrid, Won the Stuttgart tournament, and was runner up in Gstaad and Chennai. QF or better at six additional tournaments speaks of a very consistent year, impressively backing up his top 10 credentials. My instincts suggest he will continue to be dangerous in 2013, although perhaps from just outside the top 10, rather than just inside it. I struggle to see Janko kicking on higher than his best of 8, in any case - he can be very dangerous in "occasion" matches but can be vulnerable to odd losses to players he should handily beat. If he is going to push higher, it probably has to be now - time is not on his side.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">#8 - Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA)</span></span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://gototennis.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/tsongasmiles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="http://gototennis.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/tsongasmiles.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Jo set up camp in the top 10 of the ATP rankings in mid 2011, and he hasn't left since. Reaching a high of 5 in mid 2012, he has drifted slowly down to 8 throughout the rest of the year - an early loss to Klizan at the US Open not helping matters there. Still, he posted a SF at Wimbledon, losing relatively comfortably to Andy Murray, and a QF at Roland Garros, where he had Novak Djokovic well and truly on the ropes before letting the wily Serb off the hook. No better than QF a Masters 1000 level, at least he made 5 of them, and he added titles in Metz and Doha, as well as finals in Stockholm and Beijing. It's all very worthy, but somehow the mercurial warrior who slashed his way to the Aussie Open final in 2008 seems to have his sword blunted a little bit. A promising H2H vs Djokovic in the early goings has been turned right around, and I fear the self-belief against the Big 4 is not as strong as it needs to be. To crack open that little club requires a lot of self-assurance that you belong there, and as good as he is, I don't think Jo has that. He has become more of a baseliner as his career has developed, and this has probably made him a more consistent player, but also a slightly less unpredictable, exciting specimen. Still, watching Jo in full flow on a grass court is a modern tennis treat. I can't predict he will be the guy to threaten the hegemony of the top 4, but I think he'll provide us with another entertaining, close-but-no-cigar sort of a year.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">#7 - Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG)</span></span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.open13.fr/upload/actus-interviews-videos/juan-martin-del-potro--je-serai-pret-pour-la-finale-ang-289.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="190" src="http://www.open13.fr/upload/actus-interviews-videos/juan-martin-del-potro--je-serai-pret-pour-la-finale-ang-289.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">It has been a long...LONG...road back for Delpo. Losing most of the 2010 season to a right arm injury, the progression up the rankings since his return in 2011 has seemed at times a little lacklustre. However, in 2012 he quickly regained the top 10, and ended the season at 7. Perhaps more importantly, there has been a growing sense that his game and his belief is returning to the levels he found in 2009, when he lifted that maiden Grand Slam - and now it seems at le</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">ast possible that he can add to that solo outing. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Del Potro vs Federer is one of the tales of 2012 - which started with a convincing Federer win in the QF of the Australian Open, and another soon after in the Rotterdam final. Following a title in Marseille, Delpo fell again to the Fed in Dubai in the SFs, but a close 76 76 loss for the Argentinian suggested he was getting more comfortable in these highest matchups. He lost to Roger again in Indian Wells, fell to Berdych in the SF of Madrid in 2 tiebreaks, but at Roland Garros in the QF, Delpo went two sets up on Federer before a heavy schedule and some battles en route to that round, including revenge on Berdych, saw the big man run out of gas, and lose the next three sets pretty quickly. Still, it was another sign of progress. At Wimbledon, Delpo finally showed some signs of coming to grips with the green, falling to Ferrer in R4. However, at the Olympics 4 weeks later, the Argentinian did his nation proud, battling to a 36 76 1917 loss against, AGAIN, Federer, but rebounding brilliantly to dismiss Novak Djokovic 75 64 and capture the Bronze in mens singles. Novak found some handy revenge in the US Open QF, though, beating Delpo in straight sets. Undeterred, Juan Martin finished the season strongly, with a win in Vienna, and then a long-awaited win over Roger Federer in the final in Basel, to lift that title too. He beat Roger again at the O2 arena in the World Tour Finals RR stages, before falling to Djokovic in 3 sets in the SF.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Del Potro, and indeed his supporters, have to be heartened by the way 2012 unfolded, and he must take into 2013 the growing belief that he has the tools smash open the Big 4 and force the tennisocracy to coin a new term for the world's best group of players. Out of all the players, Delpo is the most likely to do so - he's done it before, and was unable to reap the benefit, cruelly stopped by injury almost immediately. Maybe 2013 will be kinder to him than 2010 was in that regard. His forehand is massive, yet a safer shot than you might expect, with more spin and less tendency to aim for the line than some of his rivals. The backhand is a strong backup, and he moves surprisingly well for a big man. The serve is still not as effective as it could be, for his height, but at least it rarely hampers him. I do not predict a Grand Slam for Delpo in the coming season, though I wouldn't be stunned if he pulled one off, but I suspect he will be deep in the second week nearly every time, and anyone in his quarter of the draw will do well not to assume the SF berth is theirs. They will have to earn it the hardest way. Also, look out for him to really make a challenge on the grass at Wimbledon. It felt like the big man put the pieces in place on that surface at last, and should be ready to really challenge there from now on.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">I do predict watching Delpo's story unfold will be one of the fascinating tennis stories of 2013, so you'd be well advised to watch as much of him as you can.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">#6 - Tomas Berdych (CZE)</span></span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.gannett-cdn.com/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/11/13/11-13-tom-berdych-4_3_r560.jpg?f061b7ce9937c38b702e6f308816ac2a14e2a4ec" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="http://www.gannett-cdn.com/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/11/13/11-13-tom-berdych-4_3_r560.jpg?f061b7ce9937c38b702e6f308816ac2a14e2a4ec" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Currently sitting at his career high ranking of 6, one higher than where he started the year, Berdych has found a lot of consistency in his 2012 results - something that had previously held him back. Playing an integral part in the Czech Republic's Davis Cup win has no doubt elevated the season in Berdych's mind to a very memorable one. Yet on tour and at the slams, it was the consistency that shines through, rather than memorable wins. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">He started the season strongly, losing to Rafa in the Australian Open QF, and won Montpellier. March was solid rather than spectacular, the losses to Almagro and Dimitrov in Indian Wells and Miami somewhat surprising, but his clay season was excellent, SF in Monte Carlo, losing to Nole, but beating Murray, a tough 3 set loss to Federer in the Madrid final, and QFs of Rome, before losing to Del Potro in the fourth round at Roland Garros. The real blot on the copybook was the R1 loss to everyone's favourite nutjob, Ernests Gulbis, in three straight tiebreak sets. Gulbis was on one of his rare 'on fire' days but even so, that was a shocker, and he followed it up with a loss to Darcis at the Olympics in R1. It seemed like the season was starting to unravel, but he pulled it back together quickly, reaching the final of Winston-Salem, and then beating Federer in the US Open QF, before losing to Murray in a tricky SF in tough conditions. He added a SF in Shanghai, and won the Stockholm tournament, beating Tsonga, and beat him again at the World Tour Finals, ultimately losing to Murray and Djokovic to keep him out of the semis. In the Davis Cup final he battled to a 5 set win over Almagro, and though he lost to Ferrer, Stepanek won the deciding rubber to hand the Czechs the cup.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Overall, a very good year then - but I suspect Tomas would have been wanting to get to another slam final, and be more competitive against the big 4. He scored a win over Murray on clay, and beat Federer at the US Open, but he took many more licks than he handed out against this group, and was rarely competitive against Djokovic. Additionally, he showed himself vulnerable against Del Potro and Ferrer at times.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Tomas should come into 2013 riding a wave of confidence, with the Davis Cup triumph on the slate - but can he capitalise on it? His power is awesome, and he can make the game look brutally easy sometimes, exposing space on the court to power the ball into, and picking off at the net anything weak that comes back. Yet his game is inherently risky, and while the desire to control his own destiny is admirable, at times it leads him into impetuous decisions, especially down the line, on big points. Additionally, there's really not much of a B game there - either it works, or he goes home. Given this, I can't quite picture him as the guy who cracks the conundrum of the top 4, or wins a Grand Slam - I just feel too many things have to work in his favour - this assumes all involved have a healthy season. I do, however, predict that Berdych will be worthy opposition to his fellow top 10 players, and won't be dismissed easily. As top 5 gatecrashers, between him and Delpo, I would give JMDP the edge, though.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09539237412844815571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360455207872877717.post-12115268840062528502012-12-23T10:38:00.001-08:002012-12-24T08:32:42.338-08:00What will 2013 Bring? Part 4 - ATP #11-20<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: #cccccc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">With 2012 over and 2013 rushing towards us, I'm reviewing the season of the top 50 ATP and WTA players, and notable others, and making an informed guess (quiet at the back) at what 2013 is likely to bring.</span></div>
<span style="background-color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Next stop is the players ranked between 11 and 20 in the current rankings...</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 18px;">All images remain copyright of their respective owners.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<h3>
<span style="background-color: #cccccc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">#20 - Phillip Kohlschreiber (GER)</span></h3>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.vavel.com/files/Philipp_Kohlschreiber_2_299474800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.vavel.com/files/Philipp_Kohlschreiber_2_299474800.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: #cccccc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Kohli started 2012 ranked 43, ended it ranked 20, and had a career high of 16 back in July. He booked a Wimbledon QF, beating Nadal-killa Rosol en route with some superb tennis, won a title in Munich and reached another final in Kitzbuhel. Yet his participation in Kitzbuhel on clay right on the eve of the Olympics raised some eyebrows, which disappeared in peoples' hairlines when he subsequently withdrew from the Olympics at the last minute, citing a nagging leg injury, even though he had played right through to the final. This ultimately led to a dispute with the German tennis authorities and Kohlschreiber declining further Davis Cup participation as a result. At this stage of his career, Phillip is unlikely to be knocking on any top 10 doors - if he wanted to try, some better Masters 1000 results to go with his good year at the slams would be a good starting point. However, I suspect Herr Kohlschreiber will hang around between 20 and 35 in the rankings in 2013. At 29, it maybe feels too late to expect something bigger.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">#19 - Kei Nishikori (JPN)</span></span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://nickspicks1.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/on-court-practicing3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://nickspicks1.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/on-court-practicing3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">It feels like Kei Nishikori has been around forever. After announcing himself as an 18 year old, winning his first tour title at Delray Beach, beating James Blake in the final, Kei had a couple of somewhat fallow years, with injury and other struggles keeping him back. In 2011 he began to climb up the rankings steadily and he started 2012 ranked 25. He ended 2012 ranked 19, with a career high of 15 coming off the back off becoming the first Japanese winner of their home tournament in Tokyo, a tremendous achievement. He also impressed back in Australia, with a win over Tsonga en route to the QF, where he fell to Andy Murray. In 2013 Kei is definitely capable of pushing towards the top 10. He likes a good fight and he is mentally tough enough to win his share of them. His game is strong, and he is showing greater willingness to take the ball on, especially down the line off both wings. He is a great mover on the court and is very tough to put the ball past. The issue, as it has been all along, is his conditioning and fitness. He has tended to look a bit fragile in the past but he has been working hard in this area. He does, however seem more prone to injury than most - 2012 saw another 2 month break between Barcelona and Wimbledon, and a nagging leg injury bothered him in the Asian swing, so he needs a full, strong season and a sensible schedule. If that works out for him, he could prove a big handful this coming season.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">#18 - Alexandr Dolgopolov (UKR)</span></span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.tennisworldusa.org/Editor/Img/Dolgopolov-img6758_668.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="186" src="http://www.tennisworldusa.org/Editor/Img/Dolgopolov-img6758_668.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">2012 was a turbulent year for Dolgo - but why would you expect anything different? With an unorthodox style that refuses to fit the mould, predictability is never likely to be on the menu. Indeed, over half Dolgopolov's 2012 points come from just 4 events - a QF in the Madrid 1000, winning Washington, reaching the final in Valencia, and the final in Brisbane. The rest of the year was fairly unremarkable. Starting the year at 15 and ending it at 18, credit is due to the Ukrainian for holding his position in the pecking order, although he hasn't made any further advances - he briefly hit a career high of 13 back in January following the Brisbane final but top 10 feels quite a mountain climb away. With continued problems from Gilbert's Syndrome, a liver condition that can cause him severe fatigue, and a split from long-time coach Jack Reader, off-court wasn't lacking in drama, either. Given his limitations - health, and unorthodox skills that are too inconsistent to hurt the best for long enough, I can't see him climbing higher than he has already, unless he goes on a major tear at a high ranking event. He may hold his own in the top 20 in 2013 but that's about the best I would expect - there's no sense that he knows how to kick on further.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">#17 - Stanislas Wawrinka </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18px;">(SUI)</span></h3>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://static1.purepeople.com/articles/4/31/67/4/@/217531-stanislas-wawrinka-a-joue-contre-637x0-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://static1.purepeople.com/articles/4/31/67/4/@/217531-stanislas-wawrinka-a-joue-contre-637x0-2.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Stan the Man clearly started 2012 as he meant to finish it - ranked 17. Another solid, if unspectacular year for the man who dutifully carries the burden of being called the Swiss #2. A couple slam fourth rounds, a SF in Cincy, QF Monte Carlo, and a few more SFs at the lower levels round out his year - rarely performed terribly, but when the bigger guns showed up, he vacated the field. He had Federer on the ropes in Shanghai but blew his chance, lost the second set, and then the third at love - everyone, including him it seems, knew the moment had gone. We've seen similar against Nole - it's a bit of a theme for Wawrinka, who has never been quite able to consistently master holding his nerve when the stakes are highest. It's a shame, because his backhand is a stunning shot, a more stylish one-hander than his fellow countryman. Stan spent time in the top 10 a few years back but it does feel like 11-20 is more his speed, and all other things being equal, I suspect he'll hang around there in 2013 too. He makes a great living, hanging in the shadow of Federer, and at this point in his career, I suspect he's made his peace with that not being likely to change, even if he is a bit more critical of Roger than in times past.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">#16 - Gilles Simon </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18px;">(FRA)</span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.sportsgrindent.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/97076_Gilles-Simon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.sportsgrindent.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/97076_Gilles-Simon.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Gillou is another player who largely held his own in 2012 compared to 2011, but made no great leap forward. Starting the year ranked 12, he ended at 16, and never fell below 20. His ranking mainly held up due to SFs at the 1000s in Paris and Monte Carlo, and a tour title in Bucharest. Simon has not added much to his game as the years have gone by - content to rally, junkball, and occasionally up the attack as a surprise tactic, players know what they will get from him - they will have to work hard, perhaps, but he can be hit through eventually. With his slight build and average height, Gilles was never going to be a powerhouse, anyway. The French players have enjoyed colonising the spots between 11 and 20 in the past several years, and Simon seems another one who is good enough to get that high but not consistently higher, spell in the top 10 in 2009 notwithstanding. 'Expect more of the same' is a bit of a boring prediction, but it's all I have to work with here.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">#15 - Marin Cilic (CRO)</span></span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://takemetocourt.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/marin-cilic-aus08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="187" src="http://takemetocourt.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/marin-cilic-aus08.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">What's the deal with this guy, anyway? He came along several years ago, looked like a worthy successor to the likes of Ivanisevic and Ljubicic and Ancic, got to #9 in 2010, but it's felt like he's stalled for the last few years now. He began 2012 at 21 and improved to 15 over the year, but at 24, I think many expected him to have done a bit more by now, Coach Bob Brett has said Cilic would take a few years to fully come into his own - but that was a few years ago now. So is this it? If so, I think many would be disappointed - it seems like he is capable of more than this. Then again, given his choke against Murray in the US Open QF, leading a set and *5-1, perhaps he's not destined to do more than make the odd appearance in these big matches and ensure that bigger names book their appointed spots in the semis and the finals. Who knows. In any case, 2012 was hardly bad for Marin - 2 titles - Umag and Queens (the beneficiary of Nalbandian's legendary kick that was felt around the world), other SFs and QFs. But, to harp on a theme, it feels like it should be better. Will 2013 prove to be? I'd like to predict so, but I wouldn't do so with any confidence. I've done so before with him, and once bitten, twice shy.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">#14 - John Isner </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18px;">(USA)</span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://cbsnewyork.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/john-isner1.jpg?w=300" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cbsnewyork.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/john-isner1.jpg?w=300" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Although Big John started ranked 18, he quickly got up to the top 10 and spent most of the season at or around that mark, with a high of 9. A solid year, with a notable scalping of Roger Federer in Davis Cup, 2 more tour titles, and a final in Indian Wells. However, he had a poor year in the slams with R3 the best mark. Given his R2 exit at Roland Garros in an 18-16 fifth set reversal to Paul-Henri Mathieu, it's probably best to forget quickly the silly talk back in April that had Isner winning the clay court Grand Slam. Indeed, Isner rolling up flat at the Slams after performing relatively well on the tour was a recurring theme in 2012, and his scheduling is something he needs to sort out for the coming season, if he wishes to kick on into the top 10. There's also just a feeling that, for all the improvements, his backhand is still a bit too flaky, and if he finds himself up against a good returner, who can get a read on the serve, then he's in a lot of trouble. I can see Isner spending more time in the top 10 next year, but I'm still not sure he's a mainstay.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">#13 - Milos Raonic (CAN)</span></span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i2.listal.com/image/4236516/936full-milos-raonic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="http://i2.listal.com/image/4236516/936full-milos-raonic.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">After bursting onto the scene in a big way in early 2011, Milos<span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span>had a lot to prove, and a lot to defend, in 2012. That he was able to do so suggests he is one of the game's ones to watch in the next couple of years. Starting 2012 at 31, he ended at a career high of 13, having defending his title in San Jose, added one in Chennai, and recorded wins over Tipsarevic, Berdych, and Murray twice throughout the season. The serve is massive, the ground game is better than you might expect, and getting better, and he's showing more willingness to get up the court behind a strong play and finish at the net. The concern is that he can be a bit brittle mentally - when big moments come, he can get very tight and make poor tactical decisions. Still, he is only 21, and has gained a lot of experience over the last two seasons. In 2013, it's time to take the next step, crack the top 10, and dare the rest to displace him. This should be achievable, and the rest will struggle to dislodge him, I believe.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">#12 - Juan Monaco (ARG)</span></span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.tennisperspective.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Juan-Monaco-AFP-Miami.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://www.tennisperspective.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Juan-Monaco-AFP-Miami.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Pico finally cracked a career milestone in 2012, breaking into the top 10 for a while. This looked pretty unlikely after he fell and injured his ankle in Monte Carlo, but he was able to recover quickly and push on, finally achieving the mark in July. He started the year at 26 and ended at 12, so by any standards, it was a very good year for the Argentinian. A SF in Miami, R16 at Roland Garros, a win at the 500 in Hamburg, and more titles in Kuala Lumpur, Houston and Vina del Mar make this a career year for the 28 year old - one I suspect he will struggle to repeat in 2013. Alas, I expect the likeable workhorse to side back towards 20 as the season progresses - wouldn't mind being proved wrong though.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">#11 - Nicolas Almagro (ESP)</span></span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://sportchalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/7df6f_Nicolas-Almagro_2705024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://sportchalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/7df6f_Nicolas-Almagro_2705024.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nico has had a remarkably consistent year, beginning 2012 ranked 10, and ending it at 11. He posted a QF at Roland Garros, a SF in Hamburg, and won titles in Nice and Sao Paulo. Beyond that, he was solid everywhere, posting only 1 R1 or equivalent loss, in Tokyo. Better on hardcourt than he used to be, yet Almagro has struggled to make an significant step up, and I'm reluctant to predict one at this stage - he seems happiest on the Golden Swing in South America, does averagely well at the spring clay events in Europe, and again after Wimbledon, but he is too mentally brittle to dominate these event like he should. I suspect he will slip back slightly in 2013, but look to him to add a few more clay titles and give some top guys a short headache here and there, before making his own head hurt more. It's what he does best.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09539237412844815571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360455207872877717.post-13205776457587846552012-12-19T14:45:00.000-08:002012-12-19T14:48:10.848-08:00What will 2013 Bring? Part 3 - ATP #21-30<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With 2012 over and 2013 rushing towards us, I'm reviewing the season of the top 50 ATP and WTA players, and notable others, and making an informed guess (quiet at the back) at what 2013 is likely to bring.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Next stop: ATP #21-30</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: #cccccc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 12px;">All pictures remain property of their respective copyright holders.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 12px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#30 - Martin Klizan (SVK)</span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://images.supersport.com/MartinKlizan120923TrohyGbg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://images.supersport.com/MartinKlizan120923TrohyGbg.jpg" width="262" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A breakthrough year for the talented Slovakian. Still young at 23, he made huge strides into the ATP tour's upper echelons, starting the year at 117 and finishing at 30, with a first career title in St Petersburg en route, and a very useful run to the fourth round at the US Open. It's quite a turnaround from losing fairly ignominiously in the fifth rubber of a Davis Cup tie to an unfancied Brit. Watching Klizan in 2013 should prove interesting, to see how he handles the sophomore pressures, and whether he can kick on towards the top 20. For me, he might be top 20 material, but top 10? I have my doubts at this point, but 2013 should provide some more useful evidence as he plays a full schedule of Slams and Masters 1000 events. He knocked over Tsonga at the US Open but can he pull off these kinds of upsets more regularly - and how will he cope with becoming the hunted? Time will tell.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#29 - Jurgen Melzer (AUT)</span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://resources3.news.com.au/images/2010/10/15/1225939/237759-jurgen-melzer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://resources3.news.com.au/images/2010/10/15/1225939/237759-jurgen-melzer.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Being over 30 in tennis doesn't necessarily seem to be the barrier it once was, but when you have 13 years of pro tennis in the experience bank, it's likely that making improvements and climbing the rankings gets harder and harder. For Melzer, 2012 was fairly static, climbing from 33 in January to 29 by the end of the season. A somewhat unspectacular year overall, with the exception being the stellar run to the Memphis 500 title in February, where he was at his formidable best on the slick indoor surface, using great play and clever court smarts to engineer wins over Isner, Stepanek and Raonic en route to the trophy. A run to the SF in Valencia remains the only other decent high point. A year where Melzer won a match, lost a match, won a match, lost a match most of the time. This helps maintain the ranking but is not good for social climbing. The now-married Mr Melzer, who took the hand of his paramour Ms Benesova a few months back, is likely to have another fairly solid year in 2013 in both singles and doubles, but I forecast his ranking slips back some.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">#28 - Florian Mayer (GER)</span></span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7b/Florian_mayer_is_playing_a_forehand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7b/Florian_mayer_is_playing_a_forehand.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Funky Flo plied his trade with a less success than in 2012 than in 2011, but it was hardly a terrible year - he started at 23 and ended at 28, and enjoyed a Wimbledon QF appearance, falling comfortably to Novak Djokovic. He made a SF in Beijing too, where he also took a beating by Djokovic. Other than that, he consistently won a round or 2 throughout the year before falling to someone he probably should. Few great upsets to his credit, but few to his debit too. At 29, this seems to be Mayer's modus operandi - solid, occasionally dangerous, but rarely a big threat to the very best. Expect more of the same in 2013 and enjoy that funky forehand every chance you get.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#27 - Mardy Fish (USA)</span></h3>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/images/stories/large/2012/09/03/Fish151130979.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/images/stories/large/2012/09/03/Fish151130979.jpg" width="222" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For Mardy Fish, 2012 was worrying - in more than tennis terms. His ranking slid from 8 to 27 over the course of the year, which was punctuated by 2 prolonged absences from the game due a troubling heart condition, one between Houston and Wimbledon and the other post-US Open. When he could play, Fish has been playing some of the best tennis of his career, continuing where he left off in 2011. Unfortunately, he hasn't played since pulling out of the US Open with a recurrence of the health concerns, and these are set to disrupt his 2013 too, with a withdrawal from Australia already confirmed. No predictions, then, just best wishes to Mardy and the hope he is able to overcome these health worries and return to tennis in full health and fitness.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#26 - Jerzy Janowicz (POL)</span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2012/1101/espn_pod_nov2_12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2012/1101/espn_pod_nov2_12.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jerzy Janowicz was 2012's thunderbolt - a late late Raonic-style emergence at the Paris Indoors. Janowicz started the year ranked 221 and playing futures in Great Britain. By November he was beating the US Open champion, playing a Masters 1000 final and winding up the year ranked 26. Meteoric has nothing on this lanky Lodz-ite. He's tall, he has a massive serve, he moves surprisingly well, his dropshot is astonishingly dangerous, and he seems to have calmed down his high-strung emotions - at least during matches. That may be the key to his sudden emergence - the ability to cope better with match situations and keep his weapons firing. As a tennis fan, it was humbling and moving to see how much his success meant to him, as he starkly explained how much the money would help, having missed Australia in 2012 because he simply couldn't afford the trip. So what next? Well, he's earned a pass into all the major events of 2013, Australia included, he can afford the ticket this time. Question is, can he handle the pressure, put on him by himself and from external sources? People will expect big things now, and he may expect them himself. Is he a one-hit wonder? I doubt it - but I forecast a somewhat bumpy ride in 2013. There may be some highs, but expect some "inexplicable" losses too. He's got to find his feet, and he's now got a big target on his back - an emergence like this is often just a signal to the tour that there's fresh meat on the field of battle. Watching him deal with this is going to be fascinating, tennis fans should stayed tuned closely to this story.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#25 - Mikhail Youzhny (RUS)</span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2012/0602/ten_g_youzhny_sy_600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2012/0602/ten_g_youzhny_sy_600.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mischa modestly improved his ranking in 2012, from 35 to 25, but the highlights were sparse. A Wimbledon QF, losing to Roger Federer, and winning the Zagreb 250 in February catch the eye among a season of win one, lose one - he posted a 33-21 overall. Indeed, his most memorable moment might have been using his racquet to write "Sorri" on the clay during the drubbing David Ferrer was dishing out to him at Roland Garros. Famous for trying to trepan his own skull with his racquet, Youzhny is not lacking in entertainment value, at least. Youzhny cracked the top 10 a couple of years back, but I fear the best is behind him and there's a slight going through the motions now. I'm not sure what it is he's still trying to achieve, but I predict his ranking will slip back to the 40 region by the end of next year. He'll have moments of danger, but whether they'll be to himself or his opponents is debatable.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#24 - Fernando Verdasco (ESP)</span></h3>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www2.pictures.zimbio.com/gp/Fernando+Verdasco+Dafne+Fernandez+dating+RAsykIYlM1dl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www2.pictures.zimbio.com/gp/Fernando+Verdasco+Dafne+Fernandez+dating+RAsykIYlM1dl.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Off the top of my head, I can't remember a single notable thing Fernando Verdasco did on the tennis court in 2012, beyond beating Nadal on the infamous smurfturf of Madrid. Why so blue, Rafa? I do remember Fer experimenting with various configurations of hair and facial hair, with no more success than he experienced on the tennis court. Verdasco ended 2012 exactly where he started it, at 24, and this serves as a useful summary of his year - no strides forward, but at least he stopped the backward slide that comprised 2011. Hard to believe he was in the top 10, Aussie Open SF and giving Nadal all sorts of trouble a couple of years back. He showed what talent he did have back then, when paired with hard work, but in 2012 the application and focus just did not seem to be there much at all. Off season evidence suggests he's training hard, but we'll see if that means 2013 sees a march back up the rankings. He's a solid top 20 player, he doesn't have too many years left in his career, and he needs to stop wasting time and make more of what he's got. Let's see if he can in 2013. I'm not convinced.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#23 - Andreas Seppi (ITA)</span></h3>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4yf2dmHNt1qguymuo1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4yf2dmHNt1qguymuo1_500.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's been another career year for Seppi, building on the title in 2011 with 2 titles out of 4 finals in 2012, on hard, grass and clay - he's versatile. He's moved up from 38 to 23 in the rankings over the year, hitting a best-ever 22. A good, unspectacular player, who doesn't tend to beat himself, Seppi nevertheless tends to lose to who he should lose to - he rarely threatens the very best players for long, and often loses to them comfortably - a 5 set epic loss to Djokovic at RG this year is a notable exception to this trend. Looking into my crystal ball, I predict a fairly solid but less successful year for Seppi in 2013, and he'll probably slide back in the rankings a tad. Not too far if he stays free of injury - the opponent that stalks all players - but I can't see him making so many finals in 2013 so the points will be tough to defend.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#22 - Sam Querrey (USA)</span></h3>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www4.pictures.gi.zimbio.com/Sony+Ericsson+Open+Day+4+298x6E45ZcPl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www4.pictures.gi.zimbio.com/Sony+Ericsson+Open+Day+4+298x6E45ZcPl.jpg" width="246" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For Querrey, 2012 was about rebuilding his ranking from the injury layoff caused by falling through a glass table in 2011 and slashing open his arm. From 93 to 22, not far from his career high of 27. He had a decent summer, making 3 SFs and winning a title in Los Angeles (unfortunately, the last edition of this event), and he made the QFs of the Paris Indoors. So he's pretty much back to his best. The big question is, can his best get better or is this it? He's at his physical peak. He has a great base to build from in 2013. His game has improved in some areas over the last few years. Is a solid spot in the top 20 or 15 possible? I think it is, but I do worry about his temperament. At times he has got tired of the demands of the tour and his focus has not been what it needs to be. Unless he has resolved that, there's no way he can cope with the rigours of holding on to a top 20 ranking. It will be interesting to watch.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#21 - Tommy Haas (GER) </span></h3>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://guestofaguest.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/tommy-haas-e3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://guestofaguest.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/tommy-haas-e3.jpg" width="232" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What a legend this guy is. Like him or loath him, but respect how he keeps coming back for more, no matter what time or injury throws at him. Now 34, and a career injury list longer than the credits of a Lord of the Rings film, he converted a 205 ranking in January 2012 to a 22 by year end, when many of his peers would have taken it as a sign that it's time to pack the racquets away. Highlights? Many, though perhaps the biggest was beating Roger Federer to win Halle. Not bad. So what does 2013 bring? More success, I think, and no reason he can't get back into the top 20 - he has the game - if - and it's a big IF - he can stay healthy. And that is the great question. Will his body even let him continue to perform the way he did in 2012? We should all hope so. Haas brings a certain Ich weiß nicht to the tour, we should enjoy him while we still can.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09539237412844815571noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360455207872877717.post-84567169384796129962012-12-18T14:19:00.003-08:002012-12-18T14:29:17.842-08:00What will 2013 Bring? Part 2 - ATP #31-40<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With 2012 over and 2013 rushing towards us, I'm reviewing the season of the top 50 ATP and WTA players, and notable others, and making an informed guess (quiet at the back) at what 2013 is likely to bring.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We continue our journey with the ATP #31-40</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">All pictures remain property of their respective copyright holders.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#40 - Feliciano Lopez (ESP)</span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.diariofemenino.com/images/galeria/5000/5531_feliciano-lopez-presume-de-cuerpo-al-sol.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.diariofemenino.com/images/galeria/5000/5531_feliciano-lopez-presume-de-cuerpo-al-sol.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2012 proved to be a year of slight decline for the supermodel Spaniard. As his 30th birthday recedes further and further over his shoulder, the highs of his game can be just as high, but the lows perhaps a little lower, and a little more often, than when he was in his prime. He started the year at 20 and ended at 40, though he did hit a career high of 15 back in February following the Aussie, which saw him stopped by Rafa in R4. Hardcourt proved to be his best surface, with a good run at the US Open, giving eventual champion Andy Murray a big scare in R3 before falling in four tight sets, losing three tiebreaks. I can see Lopez lingering around the top 30 or 40 mark in 2013 but I suspect that's as good as it gets. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#39 - Andy Roddick (USA)</span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://siusopen.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/157303629b.jpg?w=610&h=439" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="http://siusopen.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/157303629b.jpg?w=610&h=439" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Unless he watches the Aussie Open and has a complete case of retirerer's remorse, the prediction for Andy Roddick in 2013 is a very easy one - lots of relaxation. You've earned it dude. Enjoy.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#38 - Viktor Troicki (SRB)</span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://tennisaddict.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/viktor-troicki.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://tennisaddict.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/viktor-troicki.jpg" width="206" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After a career high #12 in 2011, Troicki suffered a slow slide in the rankings in 2012, beginning at 22 and ending at 38. His most notable result in 2012 was also perhaps the least memorable - helping Serbia to win the World Team Cup, now defunct. Beyond that, a R16 at Wimbledon is standout in a year of pretty slim pickings for him. He's still relatively young, though I'm not sure he's added much to his game in the several years I have now watched him. He seems perhaps relatively content with his lot, or at least resigned to it, not believing he's got what it takes to really challenge the top of the game. His career 3-43 vs the top 10 suggests there's something in that. I can see Vik climbing back to near the top 20 again in 2013 but getting back anywhere near #12 seems implausible.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#37 - Kevin Anderson (RSA)</span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www3.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Kevin+Anderson+YuRaGyCYquXm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://www3.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Kevin+Anderson+YuRaGyCYquXm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Kevin seemed to hit a plateau in 2012. Starting at 32 and ending at 37, with a brief high at 28, his ranking remained remarkably consistent all year. Perhaps he's found his level, or is there still time to push on a little higher? At 26 there is time, if there is sufficient belief and application. Kevin seems to have his best results at 250 level, adding another title in Delray Beach, but struggling to produce at the tournaments that would fire him even higher up the rankings. He showed what he can do in Paris indoors this past fall, beating Gasquet and giving Berdych a first set spanking, demonstrating some terrific skills and tactical sense, which alas deserted him as the match wore on and Berdych started to compete better. 2-18 against top 10 players, Kevin needs to improve that ratio a bit, and avoid relatively poor losses to lower ranked guys like Blake and Mannarino. In 2013 I think Kevin will move inside the top 30 but I see top 20 as unlikely unless he gets on a hot (or lucky) streak at a major points event.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#36 - Marcos Baghdatis (CYP)</span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.rogerfedererfans.com/forum/uploads/monthly_07_2012/post-2-0-70185300-1342738103_thumb.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.rogerfedererfans.com/forum/uploads/monthly_07_2012/post-2-0-70185300-1342738103_thumb.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Who can forget when cheeky Marcos announced himself in style, in 2006, when he reached the Aussie Open final? Injury, lack of fitness, and at times lack of application, has prevented him for getting anywhere close to that level since. He has hovered in the 20 - 50 rankings range for several years now and 2012 saw only a modest rise from 44 to 36. Now 27, he unfortunately seems to have got stuck in a rut, and is too comfortable, or too unsure of how, to get out of it and make a last push at the promise he demonstrated way back when. He's a great guy to watch and an entertainer, the smile is never far from his face - it's just a shame the steely determination isn't hiding behind it. Much as I'd like to predict a dramatic resurgence as he realises time is running out, I predict more of the same in 2013. Expect some fun, some smiles, some laughs, just don't expect startling results.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#35 - Julien Benneteau (FRA)</span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://img843.imageshack.us/img843/6092/boner2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="185" src="http://img843.imageshack.us/img843/6092/boner2.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Julien had a good year in 2012 by his standards, getting back into the top 50 from just outside it in 2011, and ending the year at 35, with 2 ATP finals on the slate and a career high of 25. All this in spite of some nasty injuries picked up in Monte Carlo. As he turns 30 in a couple of days, he can look back on 2012 with some satisfaction, though perhaps tinged with a little regret that he couldn't turn one of those finals into a career title at long last. Very much a product of the French system, Benneteau is not lacking in flair and panache and all that other good stuff, and is plenty entertaining to watch when he's on. Now working with Mauresmo's old coach Loic Courteau, I see 2013 as a stable year for him, rankings-wise, and he may get another crack at a 250 title - perhaps his last. If he does, it would be nice to see him take it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#34 - Marcel Granollers (ESP)</span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://cdn.20minutos.es/img2/recortes/2012/11/12/84183-944-550.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="186" src="http://cdn.20minutos.es/img2/recortes/2012/11/12/84183-944-550.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Steady on course for the oft-overlooked Spaniard in 2012 - maybe that's why he started with that awful, and suspiciously inconsistent, grunt? Anyway, a pretty static ranking situation, dropping 9 places over the year, his most notable result in singles was a final berth in Umag, losing to Cilic, and a QF at the depleted Masters 1000 in Toronto right after the Olympic Games. One of the few who regularly plays singles and doubles, perhaps Marcel's memories in 2012 come more on the doubles court, where he reached a ranking of 10, winning the WTF doubles title with partner Marc Lopez, with many more finals and titles in addition. So in 2013, I expect Marcel to continue to apply himself to singles and maintain this ranking level about where it is, but perhaps his focus may continue to shift towards doubles, where he and Marc Lopez clearly combine and compete well, and the prospect of some Grand Slam titles is not out of the question?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#33 - Thomaz Belluci (BRA)</span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://d.yimg.com/i/ng/sp/reuters/20110527/17/1118146001-27052011174230.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="http://d.yimg.com/i/ng/sp/reuters/20110527/17/1118146001-27052011174230.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Trying to predict whither Tomaz Bellucci is basically an exercise in frustration. I doubt he knows from one minute to the next what he's going to do, so what hope do we have? Barely moving in the rankings over 2012 (up 4 overall), as he comes into his prime, it was a disappointing season for the Brazilian. He has a lot of game in the arms and legs, but so much of tennis is played in the mind, and his goes off to the beach with scant notice in the middle of matches. He can go from pushing Roger Federer all the way in Basel to losing to Volandri in Sao Paulo. He added another title in Gstaad and should have done in Moscow against Seppi, pulling off an absolutely epic choke in the second set to throw the Italian a lifeline. This is the conundrum - the mental strength is there - but it's not reliable. The iron will can turn into a pile of ironing. If someone can harnass his talents, he can be top 20, but I'm not going out on that limb. 2013 will be more of the same - sometimes dangerous, often entertaining, but too frustrating for words.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#32 - Jeremy Chardy (FRA)</span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.daviscup.com/media/47116/47116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://www.daviscup.com/media/47116/47116.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2012 has to be considered a success for Chardy - emerging from a miserable 2011 in which a coaching situation turned badly sour, leaving him struggling mentally, he rebuilt his ranking from 103 to 32, helped by scalps like Andy Murray in Cincy and Tsonga in Toronto. Chardy brings a lot of power and drama to his tennis, though not much in the way of tactical thinking - here's a guy that farts in the general direction of the percentages game. On good days, more lands in than lands out and he's tough to stop. On bad days, or if the opposition shows willingness to live with this and stick with him, the ball can land literally anywhere within a five mile radious of his baseline, and planes should be diverted to safer flightpaths. Chardy is just off his career high of 30 and the question is - is there more in there? He's 25 and should be at or near the peak of his powers? I think he can spike higher than 30 in 2013, but the problem is, his game is not predicated on consistency, within matches or week in, week out, so it's tough to see him staying there long if he does.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#31 - Radek Stepanek (CZE)</span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://gototennis.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Radek+Stepanek_Davis_Cup_Shirtless.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://gototennis.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Radek+Stepanek_Davis_Cup_Shirtless.jpg" width="260" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Was 2012 Stepanek's best year ever? The old man of Czech tennis held his own in rankings terms (dropping 3 places over the course of the year overall), though on the tour little memorable happened beyond a QF in Shanghai, SF in Memphis and QFS in Halle and Brisbane. However, Stepanek played an integral part in the Czech Davis Cup team all year, finally winning the decisive rubber against Nico Almagro to help his side to its first Davis Cup title as an independent nation. On that basis, I suspect Radek would take this season over all the others. So what next? I'm sure a lot of effort will go into defending that Davis Cup, but on the tour, I suspect anno domini will begin to tell in the end, and I would expect to see him end 2013 closer to 50 than 20, perhaps even lower. His unorthodox, and irritating, style of play mean he's less prone than some to age-related drop-off, but it happens to the best of them. Radek is known in the past for doing the worm post-match. 2013 may just have the worming tablet.</span><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09539237412844815571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360455207872877717.post-52471765119082074902012-12-17T10:47:00.002-08:002012-12-18T14:19:57.039-08:00What will 2013 Bring? Part 1 - ATP #41-50<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With 2012 over and 2013 rushing towards us, I'm reviewing the season of the top 50 ATP and WTA players, and notable others, and making an informed guess (quiet at the back) at what 2013 is likely to bring.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We begin our journey with the ATP #41-50</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">All pictures remain property of their respective copyright holders.</span><br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#50 - Albert Ramos </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">(ESP)</span></h4>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4f/Albert_Ramos_(7161290411).jpg/220px-Albert_Ramos_(7161290411).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4f/Albert_Ramos_(7161290411).jpg/220px-Albert_Ramos_(7161290411).jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2012 was a solid year for the Spanish leftie, consolidating the rankings gains of 2011. He started the year at 66 and ended at 50, reaching a high of 38 in the process. He showed he can live at tour level, if not necessarily excel. To improve in 2013 he must do better on hardcourts than the 9-15 he posted in 2012, and some Grand Slam wins wouldn't go amiss either - R1, R1, R1, R2 was the inauspicious outcome of 2012's efforts, and to go higher, this must improve. I suspect 2013 will wind up similar to 2012; he may crack the top 40 and stay there, but top 20 looks like an unrealistic ambition for the Barcelona native on current evidence.</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#49 - Marinko Matosevic (AUS)</span></h4>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.brisbaneinternational.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Marinko-Matosevic-and-John-Millman-30122011-3515-Mark-Riedy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://www.brisbaneinternational.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Marinko-Matosevic-and-John-Millman-30122011-3515-Mark-Riedy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The new #1 Aussie had a stand-out year in 2012, his coach commenting that he'd done some growing up and improve his work ethic and attitude. It paid dividends. Having started the year ranked 203, the improvement is self-evident. A tour final in Delray Beach was a just reward for beating the likes of Karlovic and Gulbis, and won a notable scalp against Gasquet in Eastbourne. Mixing challengers with main draw events, he was consistent enough to reach a high of 47. The problem is going to be backing this up in 2013 - temperamentally, there's a danger that after a career year, he might rest on his laurels a bit and slide back down towards the top 100 exit chute, particularly if he fails to defend most of his Delray points, which constitute about 30% of his total rankings. With no wins at Slams in 2012, he has plenty of scope to take some pressure off, but performing in Melbourne at home may be asking too much. If he can get on another roll at some smaller events or win a couple of rounds at a Slam he could hang around the top 50, but I suspect a slide down to 70 or 80 is more likely.</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#48 - Grigor Dimitrov (BUL)</span></h4>
</div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://awsassets.panda.org/img/grigor_dimitrov_march_2011_404443.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://awsassets.panda.org/img/grigor_dimitrov_march_2011_404443.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It already feels like the Bulgarian Babe has been around forever, but he's just 21. Now at a career high ranking of 48, having started 2012 at 76, progress might be defined as steady rather than spectacular - the problem is that so much has been expected of him for so long that steady progress seems a little disappointing in some ways. With 3 tour SFs to his name, he has started to impact the lower tournaments, but with no better than a R2 at any slam in 2012, this is where he must start to do some damage if he wishes to live up to the tiresome comparisons that have dogged him for much too long already. He has bags of talent but doesn't always seem to know what to do with it - court smarts and understanding how best he can win his points seems lacking too often, but he is still young, and has time to figure these things out. 2013 could be a breakthrough year for him, although I suspect more likely is steady progress will continue. I'd predict a top 25 finish for him in 2013 with at least one ATP final or win to his name. If he does ignite, it may come when we least expect it. These things don't follow a schedule.</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#47 - Benoit Paire (FRA)</span></h4>
</div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://wac.450f.edgecastcdn.net/80450F/tsminteractive.com/files/2012/07/Aw4og96CIAAi8HY.jpg-large.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="http://wac.450f.edgecastcdn.net/80450F/tsminteractive.com/files/2012/07/Aw4og96CIAAi8HY.jpg-large.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Even for a French player, Benoit is wacky. You never know what he will do next. Jaw-dropping brilliance and mind-bending awfulness can appear from one point to the next, from one shot to the next. Look in a dictionary for 'unpredictable' and his photo is next to it. Benoit has kicked on from the 95 he started the year at, with a useful R3 at Wimbledon and a F in Belgrade, SF in Den Bosch to his name - useful results on different surfaces. When he focuses he can be devastating, but the slightest thing can destroy his focus - for good. This is something he must improve on in 2013 if he wants to go higher - players know him better now, and know his concentration can be destroyed easily, and some will have no scruples at taking advantage of this. He also isn't necessarily the best fighter - when down in a match, he can be too keen to throw in the towel mentally, another area for him to work on. Unless he can show major improvements in these facets, I fear Paire is unlikely to go much higher than 35 or 40 in the rankings. At the expense of some of his unpredictable charm, he must gain consistency to go much further, or settle for less as too many French players have done.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#46 - David Goffin (BEL)</span></h4>
</div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www1.pictures.zimbio.com/pc/David+Goffin+mangOmQRGYQm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://www1.pictures.zimbio.com/pc/David+Goffin+mangOmQRGYQm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The diminutive (by tennis standards) Belgian was a minor revelation, commencing 2012 at 174, and hitting a high of 42 before dropping back slightly to end the year at 46. A talented 22 year old with a slight frame and a boyish aspect, Goffin nevertheless provided a memorable match with Federer at Roland Garros in the fourth round, having qualified for the event, before losing in 4 sets and sharing a touching moment with his idol. That pushed him into the top 100, which he admirably backed up with a R3 at Wimbledon. The rest of the year was solid enough, with a challenger win and QFs in Winston-Salem and Valencia. In 2013 comes the dreaded sophomore year, though, where backing up the previous season can be enough of a challenger without even worrying about improving further. Goffin has bags of ability but might be held back by his slight stature - ballbashing is unlikely to be his tactic of choice, or even much of an option. If he's working hard right now on his fitness and strength, 2013 could be another good year and cracking the top 30 is not out of the question. If he's not, or if the challenge of pushing on is adding pressure, we could see a confidence tailspin. I suspect he will push on, though, and hopefully will give us some more fun matches in the coming year.</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#45 - Fabio Fognini (ITA)</span></h4>
</div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www4.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Fabio+Fognini+2012+Open+Day+7+7CLV92oy3nBl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www4.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Fabio+Fognini+2012+Open+Day+7+7CLV92oy3nBl.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tennis is unfairly derided sometimes as lacking in characters. These malcontents have never seen Fabio Fognini, who has almost too much character on court for his own good sometimes. At 25, the Italian should be in the prime of his career, though his 2012 was less turbulent than his persona might imply - he started the season at 48 and ended at 45, with a low of 68 and a high of 44. Steady as she goes, then, yet a bit disappointing, perhaps. Fabio can get very hot, and when he does, his play is shockingly good. But it seems to burn his candle at both ends, and is unsustainable for even a three set match, never mind a five setter, which means his level of play can veer wildly from disinterested to amazing over the course of 20 minutes. He reached his first 2 tour finals in 2012 but lost them both, and is also prone to niggly injuries which lead to unexpectedly bad losses. His year was lacking in notable scalps, too. 2013 should be a big year for Fognini if he can stay injury free and motivation is high - 2012 was in many ways a year of little progress - ATP finals aside - it would be a shame for him if 2013 was similarly slim pickings. His career high is 32 and he is good enough to be top 30 - if the voices inside his head will let him.</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#44 - Nikolay Davydenko (RUS)</span></h4>
</div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Sport/Pix/pictures/2009/1/7/1231336167268/davydenko-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Sport/Pix/pictures/2009/1/7/1231336167268/davydenko-001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Are we witnessing the last season of the Russian workhorse? It would be easy to dismiss Kolya as a dour, uninspiring player, lacking in warmth and personality for the fans to latch onto - a Lendl without the slam success perhaps. This would seriously misread Davydenko, who is much funnier and more personable than at first reading, but perhaps lacks the strong English and dashing looks that the marketers like to think the fans only care about. A hard worker, yes, who owes much to that hard work, but talented too - few players have ever been as capable at taking the ball as early as he could in his prime. Alas, his prime is receding in the distance. Over 30, and a lot of miles in those whippet-like legs, 2012 was a grim year for the former top 10 mainstay. If 2011 was the annus horribilis, then 2012 didn't bring the mirabilis he might have hoped for. Starting the season at 41, he has remain pretty static all year, no higher than 30, no lower than 56. The halcyon days seem to be over, tennis has moved on and left him behind. He will keep playing until he's no longer able to get into ATP events, but unless he starts 2013 strong, that might come sooner rather than later - a good chunk of his points drop off before Roland Garros. My prediction that he drops out of the top 50 and ultimately calls time in St Petersburg or Moscow in the fall, and when he does, he will be missed by many tennis fans.</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#43 - Denis Istomin (UZB)</span></h4>
</div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www2.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Denis+Istomin+Pilot+Pen+Tennis+NpJeZtePPeyl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www2.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Denis+Istomin+Pilot+Pen+Tennis+NpJeZtePPeyl.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Uzbek had a good 2012, rising from 73 in January to 33 in August, before tailing off to 43 in the rankings by year end. A player who is solid on all surfaces except clay, hits a hard ball, has no astonishing strengths but no glaring weaknesses either, and a serviceable all-court game to boot, Istomin is capable of throwing in a few surprises here and there. Highlights of 2012 must be the win over Ferrer in Indian Wells, before losing to Delpo in a tough 3 setter in R4, and a R4 run at Wimbledon, where it took a spirited effort from Mikhail Youzhny to stop him in 5 sets and 4 1/4 hours. Since the R3 at the Olympics, it was a pretty mediocre run to the end of 2012. Istomin has perhaps hit his plateau and struggles to compete consistently against the other top 50 guys week in, week out. He can get on a decent run here or there, but backing it up might be an issue. He seems to make a decent living as a perennial risky floater,but in 2013, as it was in 2012, I feel that may be all he is destined for.</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#42 - Pablo Andujar (ESP)</span></h4>
</div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www4.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Pablo+Andujar+Championships+Wimbledon+2011+Z-L1m_VBd7wl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://www4.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Pablo+Andujar+Championships+Wimbledon+2011+Z-L1m_VBd7wl.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Spanish just keep churning them out like a tennis beefcake factory. Fresh off the production line in 2011 was Pablo Andujar, who established himself at or around the top 50 mark. In 2012 there was improvement, albeit modest, with a high of 33 achieved before dropping back to 42. With a title win on his beloved clay in Casablanca, defending the same title won in 2011, Andujar has kept up his level, and improved his results on hardcourt, a couple of R16 at Masters 1000 level doing him no harm there. Pablo won 8 matches on hard in 2012, which is a continuation on the improvements of 2011, before which his wins on surfaces other than clay were countable on one hand. At 26 Andujar is in his physical prime, and some good results on clay could see him crack the top 30 in 2013, but his lack of real affinity for other surfaces is likely to remain a limiting factor. It's too difficult to be a one surface player now - especially if that surface is clay, whose presence has slowly continued to decline. For Andujar, this may be as good as it gets?</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">#41 - Jarkko Nieminen (FIN)</span></h4>
</div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://is11.snstatic.fi/img/978/1288506106947.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="177" src="http://is11.snstatic.fi/img/978/1288506106947.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The likeable Finn has been around forever, getting knocked down and getting back up again, often entertaining, occasionally spectacular - and sometimes for the wrong reasons. Was he haunted by having Gasquet on the ropes in Bangkok SFs, a double break up in the second set, before being inhabited by the ghost of chokes past, present and future? He lost the set, and the next, and walked off court a man who knew it wasn't his opponent that beat him. All things considered, though, it was one of Jarkko's better years, ending it at 41 having started it at 77, and finally adding a second career title, right back in January in Sydney, which must make 2012 something of a career highlight. Nieminen remains a hard worker on and off the court, but he's now the wrong side of 30 and the better days are very likely behind him. In a career that has seen his ranking bounce around quite a bit in his 12 years as a pro, I suspect 2013 will see it take another downturn, especially if all does not go well defending his points in Sydney. It's not getting any easier for him.</span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09539237412844815571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360455207872877717.post-38309440326246952332012-12-13T11:08:00.001-08:002012-12-13T11:11:29.846-08:00Ain't No Cure for the Off-Season Blues...<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I mean, it's really dull, isn't it, when the season is over, and only the exhibition events can provide some kind, *any* kind, of comfort, tenuous and ephemeral as that may be.</span></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/OB-UR743_0923po_J_20120923181854.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/OB-UR743_0923po_J_20120923181854.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You could finally catch up on all that TV you've been putting off. Of course, all your normal, non-tennis-obsessive friends, assuming you have any left, have already watched it all and have no interest in discussing it with you now, tragically out of the loop as you are.</span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You could organise your life, at last. Plan all those New Year's resolutions and make bold, paradigm-shifting plans for how next year will be productive, sensational and somehow still full of tennis. Even though you know that it will fall at an early hurdle - definitely the Australian Open all-nighters, if not Sydney, Auckland, and Brisbane. Hell, it might even all fall apart *before* the New Year if you're really into the Hopman cup. As of course, you are.</span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You could go out, socialise, see oft-neglected people and do amazing things around town. Finally, take in a show, see that exhibition at the gallery, go to that restaurant you heard great things about. Finally, catch up with dear Bettina and Algernon, who have the disconcerting habit of calling when a good match is on, or inviting you to events smack bang in the middle of a Grand Slam when your attention absolutely must not be diverted, and as such normally get relegated to 'later, darling' fob-offs, which they take with more good grace than you really deserve. Although, with Christmas coming you're bound to have your fill of people, places and forced geniality, so maybe it's better to keep that powder dry?</span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But if all that sounds exhausting, or pointless, or just not fun enough, I suggest you do what I do. Go on YouTube and get stuck in tennis loops for hours on end. Remind yourself of old matches you never got to see, or haven't thought of in years. Or see some players from the days of yore, that plied their divine trade when you were just a twinkle in your father's eye. Or watch funny interviews, or press conferences that are often more memorable than the match that generated them. Go read up on some tennis history, brush up on your trivia. If you don't know who won the ladies doubles at the 1958 Wimbledon tournament*, why on Earth not? Rectify it immediately! Become an even greater tennis bore. In for a lob, in for a smash, I say!</span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's not a cure for those off-season blues, but it's better than going cold turkey, any day. Rage, rage against the dying of the light!</span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">*It was Maria Bueno and Althea Gibson</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09539237412844815571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360455207872877717.post-65148829002780002902012-06-27T20:16:00.001-07:002012-12-13T10:37:38.717-08:00Equal? Not Even Close<h4>
<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">It's
a Man's World</span></span></h4>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">It
is safe to say that in the history of the world prior to the 20<sup>th</sup>
Century, men held nearly all the cards. With few notable exceptions,
the male of the species has shaped the world in which we live. As
the 20<sup>th</sup> Century progressed, things began to change -
women began to agitate for, and ultimately gain, more and more rights
in the “western world”. The right to vote, to work, be treated
equally in the eyes of the law, anti-sexism laws and more ushered in
an age of liberties that women had simply never seen before. In
other areas of the world, unfortunately, women continued to be, and
continue to be, second class citizens – if even that. But in
democracies, the female was emancipated and became free to choose her
own destiny. The change has been dramatic.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Yet
in some areas, the march to equality seems to have barely even begun.
One of these areas is professional sports.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">There
any many sports where women and men compete in similar events for
personal and team glory – the “Olympic” sports, for example –
track, field, swimming, and many others, where women compete against
women and their achievements are lauded.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br />Yet,
take a look at the list of professional sports. One thing stands
out. They're virtually all dominated by men. Basketball, baseball,
soccer, American football, it's the men who play and who make the big
bucks, with very few notable exceptions. Pro sport is still a man's
world.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">And
sport is an area where you will still hear so-called enlightened 21<sup>st</sup>
century men make sweeping statements that, for example, women's
football is rubbish. All of it. Without exception. Must be. It's
women playing it. Duh.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">You
see, so the argument goes, men are genetically bigger, faster,
stronger. Male professional athletes represent the pinnacle of human
physical achievement. Females, just can't compete with that. It's
biology. Sports fans want to see the best – and that is men. So
men earn their livings and the women are nowhere to be found. Blame
evolution. Or blame God if that's your thing.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Except:
is that really the case?</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Some
key facts need to be recognised. Those with the power to make
decisions in sports have historically always been, and largely
continue to be, men.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Men,
who have created a sports industry, TV channels, and an events
calendar, even routes from school sport into the pro ranks, that have
targeted - yes, other men – and excluded women. Men decided long
ago the shape of the playing field and men have decided who gets to play
on it, back when women were still expected to keep house and raise
the rugrats. Little has changed since. </span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Well
women, we are told, are just not that into sports. Certainly not
anything like the numbers that men are, anyway. Of course, we were
once told that women had the wrong kind of brains for deep
thinking...</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Maybe
women aren't that into sports. Then again, maybe women in general
aren't that into seeing male-dominated macho-driven sports. Maybe
women would be more into sports if there were more women doing
professional sport on TV? Maybe not. But has that ever really been
tried?</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Maybe
women aren't that into sports. Then again, maybe women would be more
into sports if they had more opportunities as kids to play sports
that had a pro career as a dream they could achieve? Maybe not. But
again, it's never really been tried. The routes into most
professional sports for kids are largely for the boys.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Maybe
women aren't that into sports. Then again, maybe women would be more
into sports if female sports were judged on their own merits as a
separate entity rather than being compared, inevitably
unflatteringly, with the male version. Who knows? It's not like
it's ever really been tried.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The
whole pro sport industry has, like society in general, a strong bias
towards fulfilling the needs of the male of the species. Men remain
in control of sports, as they mostly remain in control of business,
government, economics, media, and so much more, and it follows that
they cater to their own interests.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">This
is why, for all the gains of the last 100 years or so, women are
still paid less in many employment fields for the same work. They
are still objectified by a media obsessed with how they look more
than what they can do. They are often patronised, treated with
casual contempt and sometimes outright misogyny, no less damaging for
being more subtly expressed than in the past. As in pro sport, in
many areas of life, the march to equality for women still has a long
way to go, however many glass ceilings have theoretically been
removed. The playing field was chosen by the opposition and they
still know how to control it.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Sisters
Are Doin' It For Themselves</b></span></h4>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">All
of which brings us to professional tennis. Female tennis players are
in a unique position in that they have a tennis tour that runs 10
months of the year. If they're good enough, they can earn their
living, compete around the world and win titles, glory, wealth and
even fame. The ladies of the WTA are in an enviable position when it
comes to female pro sports, and it is not a position that just
dropped into their laps. Pioneers like Billie-Jean King and others
shed blood, sweat and tears to establish what can be taken for
granted over 40 years later, but even that would not have been
possible without the precedence of the Grand Slams, established as
combined events by 1922, and the early interest in players like
Suzanne Lenglen and Helen Wills Moody that other female sports simply
lacked.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">It
was a difficult road but the WTA established itself, sometimes
uncomfortably by milking the “big babes” approach, playing the
male marketer's game of selling women's tennis as T & A. Yet it
has ultimately thrived with its own identity as a beacon for female
professional athletes – a powerful symbol of what can be done.
However, women's tennis does still get compared, often
unflatteringly, with the men's game.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">To
be sure, there are differences. At the Slams, men play best of 5
sets; women play best of 3. Women tend to have less powerful serves,
so there more breaks of serve in the women's game. To achieve higher
power, women tend to hit a flatter ball, which can lead to matches
where unforced errors are more of a determining factor than in the
men's game. Men tend to hit with more spin, thus more control,
meaning rallies can be decided more tactically. Both are still
tennis, but things are subtly different in how the matches can shake
out.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">And
yet, women's tennis is often wilfully described in more unflattering
terms than the men's game, demonstrating unacceptable double
standards. When 2 or 3 players dominate the women's game, it is
described as lacking depth. When this happens in men's tennis, it's
because these 2 or 3 players have “raised the game to a new level”.
When no one player dominates among the men, it's considered exciting
and shows great strength in depth. When no one woman dominates, it's
shows the women's game is chaotic and needs someone to take a firm
grip at the top.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Still,
that's the tennis journalists for you. Of course, tennis journalists
are largely male, too...</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">WTA
broadcast rights are less expensive than ATP rights, we are told.
But if men are deciding what's more valuable and are catering to a
male-dominated audience, is it a surprise that for sports value, the
men are regarded more favourably? Men hold all the cards, and even
people like WTA president Stacey McAllister feel they have to market
the WTA players as objects of desire to enhance their appeal. Female
sports executives have tended to play by the rules they found, rather
than trying to level the playing field.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Slamming
the Grand Slams</b></span></h4>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">A
few years ago, all four Grand Slams reached the point of agreeing
that the male and female players should receive equal prize money,
though not without years of tireless campaigning from the likes of
the WTA and Venus Williams. Now, if Serena Williams wins the women's
title, she gets the same prize money as Roger Federer does if he wins
the men's, and so on down the rounds. Equality arrived, and everyone
rejoiced at the dawning of a new age of peace, prosperity and mutual
support between men's and women's tennis.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br />Except
not.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">But
we play best of 5 sets,” cried the some of the men. “We're more
entertaining. They come to see us play.”</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Even
now, a couple of years later, the issue will still not rest –
Gilles Simon becoming the latest player to douse the issue in petrol
and set it triumphantly ablaze, in remarks on the state of tennis as
he was elected to the ATP Player's Council, providing an unwelcome
distraction to the great tennis at Wimbledon. One wonders if the ATP
powers that be have requested a period of silence on his part. </span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Sure,
men play best of 5. But nobody wants to make men play best of 3 sets
at Grand Slams. Equally, there's very little clamour to make the
ladies play best of 5, and the match schedulers would blench in
horror at the extra burden this would impose. Men may have to work
harder physically to play best of 5 – but then, apparently, they're
better suited to do so. The off-court work, the sacrifices and
commitment for the men and women alike are immense and worthy of
equal respect.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Besides,
tennis should not be judged on quantity alone. Entertainment value
is a nebulous concept, as is quality of tennis. The unpredictability
of women's tennis, which has seen no one truly dominant player since
perhaps Justine Henin in 2007, if not Serena William in 2002/3,
appeals to some fans more than the stoic predictability of the
current men's offering, where the same three players have taken 28 of
the last 29 major crowns. Other fans appreciate the ordered
rivalries that characterise the men's tour. It is difficult to try
to quantify these things, and determine whether the men or women are
providing “more entertainment” in order to distribute prize money
accordingly. And in any case, what might be true now might not be
true 5 years, 10 years down the line. The sport moves on. Rather
than continually picking at this issue, equal prize money is the
equitable and sensible thing to do. </span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">One
wonders why players like Gilles Simon are complaining? Why does he
feel so threatened? It's not like for the ladies to gain this
equality, the men had to lose something. It is not a zero sum game.
Is it purely because the men think they are working harder, or are
more entertaining? Or is it because they feel the women's game is
truly inferior to their own and believe there is some value in
comparing the two? Or is it because they think that females in
general are inferior? In 100 years of progress for gender equality,
have we really made much progress at all or have people just become
better at hiding their feelings behind other arguments?</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The
argument for equal prize money for the ATP and WTA tour events –
combined or not – is even more complex and not for the faint
hearted. The Grand Slams have settled this question. They are a
celebration of tennis – men's tennis and women's tennis, and a
small blow for equality in a professional sports world that still
very much remains a man's world. Men and women alike should accept
this – and let the matter drop and let their racquets do the
talking. In their different ways, they're usually very good at it.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09539237412844815571noreply@blogger.com0