Though he pulled it out in the end, Djokovic’s semi-final win against Grigor Dimitrov presented yet another example of the strange state of the Serb’s game. His movement clearly hampered by the unsure footing on Centre Court, Djoker looked to have come out on the court with a strategy that included mixing up the pace … Continue reading
A lot of attention was paid to 20-year-old Dominic Thiem yesterday. Before his match with Rafa, Darren Cahill noted that the Austrian and German players were talking about the kid in a very similar way to the players’ banter regarding Rafa when he was a teenager. That is, Look out for this kid–he’s the next … Continue reading
With Serena, Li Na, and now Aggie Radwanska eliminated from competition, most of the pundits are all but conceding the tournament to Maria Sharapova, which is certainly understandable. She’s a former champion, her nemesis (roadblock, really) in Serena has been inexplicably vanquished, and what looked like an awful draw for her at the beginning of … Continue reading
Andy Murray was not his Wimbledon-champion self. His back surgery still not completely in the rearview mirror, perhaps, he seemed a half-step slow and not quite as pure on his groundies as we’ve become used to seeing him. Now, Murray at 70% is still a better player than 99% of ATP professionals, which is something … Continue reading
For sure, we have a women’s final that includes the two players who belong there this go ’round–Li Na and Dominika Cibulkova. Li Na’s crosscourt backhand was electric all match, a thing of beauty and no doubt terrifying to Genie Bouchard who watched it zing by her again and again. The start of the match … Continue reading
The sweltering first week comes to a close with, as usual, some expected results and a handful of surprises. On the men’s side, most of the favorites have made it through to the fourth round, with the notable exception of Juan Martin Del Potro. Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut (if you’ve never heard of him before, … Continue reading
Much has been made of Judy Murray, mother of reigning Wimbledon champion Andy, and her well-publicized crush on ATP #27 Feliciano Lopez. Her Twitter feed has been the source of much tittering, leading son Andy, in a 2011 interview, to say only half-joking: ‘I think it’s about time she stopped that nonsense. It’s making me throw … Continue reading
Up and coming star and 11th-seed Simona Halep has looked strong in the early rounds, dispatching Katarzyna Piter 6-0, 6-1, and American Varvara Lepchenko 4-6, 6-0, 6-1. The diminutive Romanian has displayed surprising firepower from the baseline as well as the mental and physical fortitude to deal with the scorching heat, and she remains a … Continue reading
The record heat wave this week in Melbourne has left many a spectator sprinting for the shade or the indoors, and many a player in desperate straits, indeed. As on-court temperatures spiked at well over 140 degrees Fahrenheit, many players and commentators began to openly question whether it was safe for even rigorously-trained professional athletes … Continue reading
Welcome to Melbourne 2014. Among the many storylines that will unfold over the next two weeks… How is Rafa’s knee? He reportedly has a new training regimen that will minimize stress on the joint, but it’s hard to imagine that the toll his physically brutal style of tennis won’t be the same once he gets … Continue reading
looking forwards and back
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