Australian Open: Wawrinka crashes the Big Four

Online Sport Editor Matt Bugler offers his thoughts on Stanislas Wawrinka’s maiden Grand Slam championship.

Wawrinka’s forehand is one of the biggest on tour. Photo: zimbio.com

The ranking system in tennis has its peculiarities; as of Monday Andy Murray is ranked number six in the world and a resurgent Roger Federer languishes in eighth. However, based on his magnificent Australian Open triumph, Stanislas Wawrinka is not at all out of place as the new world number three.

Just over a year ago, the idea would have been inconceivable. Coming into last year’s Australian Open, Wawrinka was a solid top twenty player with just three career titles to his name, and at 27 years old running out of time to leave a real mark on the game.

An epic defeat to Novak Djokovic in the fourth round seemed to have a similar effect as Andy Murray’s defeat to the same man a year earlier, in providing an injection of belief that he could go the distance with the top players and reach the latter rounds of the slams. A clay court season where he was arguably the best player behind Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, and a straight sets demolition of Murray at the US Open, where he lost another epic to Djokovic in his first Grand Slam semi-final, confirmed that he was having by far his best year on tour.

None of this compares to winning the Australian Open by beating the top two players in the world en route. The final was somewhat disappointingly a farcical affair in the end, with Nadal never previously experiencing back problems, but allowing his reputation of blaming injury in his defeats to get the better of him.

At a set and a break down he was being blown off the court yet moving freely, and a possible attempt to play mind games with his opponent worked for the third set, where Wawrinka fell to of the hardest challenges in tennis; staying focused against a player playing at a slow, restricted pace.

Federer may be playing well but he has been replaced as the Swiss No. 1. Photo: zimbio.com

There are two ways to beat Nadal; one is to be Novak Djokovic and win at his own baseline attrition game. The other is to power past him in Lukas Rosol-esque fashion by smashing winners and denying him the time on the ball that he so desires. Nadal may have been complaining this tournament about the increased speed of the courts, but for the spectators it is incredibly refreshing seeing a new face win a major playing a different style of tennis to the customary long rallies at the back of the court.

Indeed, for the first set and the start of the second, Wawrinka was zoning, taking the ball extremely early and neutralising the looping topspin of Nadal. His single-handed backhand is one of the best in the game, but is forehand is almost equally damaging, and countless times he took the ball on the rise from close to the baseline to fire past the Spaniard. With a potent serve that struck 19 aces in the final and a solid volley, he boasts a fine all round game that is as effective on his favourite surface clay as it is on a fast hard court.

He proved against Djokovic that he is also happy to duel from the baseline, and the numerous break points he saved in long rallies against the four-time Melbourne champion was testament to his refusal to lie down. If the return is a slight weakness, where Wawrinka has the tendency like his compatriot Federer to just chip the ball back into play, then he suffered no similar travails against Nadal on Sunday. The return game at the start of the second set was sublime, where he completed a love break with a backhand return winner off the sliced leftie serve that has troubled Federer so much over the years.

The display of strength and skill must come down partly to the influence of coach Magnus Norman, who has been as effective as Ivan Lendl is to Murray. The difference is that Murray was always expected to win Grand Slams, while Wawrinka was always in the shadow of another Swiss. He may be two months shy of his 29^th birthday, but with the average age of the top 100 much higher than it was a decade ago, he still has a few years to potentially add to his Grand Slam collection and confirm his place as third best player in the world.

Dimitrov and Bouchard lead a new generation

Li Na’s backhand in motion. Photo: india.com

Li Na is a merited winner of the Australian Open, having lost in the final twice before, and carrying the burden of the whole of China’s expectations on her back. Her smooth technique and backhand which may be the best in the women’s game complement her ebullient personality and sense of humour, which she displayed in the victory speech at the expense of her jovial husband.

Like Wawrinka, she was a late bloomer, winning her first Slam at the French Open in 2011 at the age of 29, and with fellow veteran Serena Williams leading the women’s game, the pattern of experience triumphing over youth seems to be translating equally to the WTA tour.

This may give hope to 24 year old Agnieszka Radwanska, who missed another huge opportunity to win her first Grand Slam. Like Wimbledon last year, she saw top players around her dropping like flies, only to blame fatigue on her semi-final defeat to Dominika Cibulkova, just as she did against Sabine Lisicki at SW19. Radwanska can be the most entertaining player on the tour, and her bageling of Victoria Azarenka was a delightful mix of artistry and disguise, but if she can’t last seven best-of-three matches in a fortnight then drastic changes need to be made to her training regime.

Along with the likes of Sloane Stephens and Laura Robson, Eugenie Bouchard leads the new generation of female players, and on the evidence of this tournament, she boasts the biggest chance of becoming the first major winner of the group. The Canadian feels at home on the centre stage, and her physical and mental prowess only needs to be put through more matches to finish developing. Bouchard should be top ten by the end of the year, and has all the potential to be the new face of the game.

In the men’s game, fans have been waiting patiently for a long time for Grigor Dimitrov to really break through. He threatened to at times last year, most notably in his victory over Djokovic at the Madrid Open, but repeatedly found his lack of stamina in the best-of-five matches to be his downfall.

A run to the quarters of Australia this year, where he won the first set against Nadal and probably should have gone two sets to one up, has hopefully announced his arrival on the main stage. At 22, “Baby Fed” is comparatively young to the top ten players, and will have plenty of time to turn into the player that L’Equipe predicted would be world number one by 2018.

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Where do Laura Robson and Heather Watson go from here?

Photo: tennis.si.com

With both Laura Robson and Heather Watson dropping out of the Australian Open in the first round, Online Editor Matt Bugler takes stock of the careers of Britain’s two pre-eminent female tennis players.

Having built her game around success in the big events, it was surprising and disappointing to see Laura Robson fade out of the Australian Open first round on Monday. Having reached the third round last year, which included an epic three hour win over Petra Kvitova, she could find no such battle in her 50 minutes on court with Kirsten Flipkens, becoming the first player to be knocked out the event.

The rankings would suggest that 18th seed Flipkens should be comfortably beating the 48th ranked Robson, but the Brit has made such a habit of overcoming higher ranked players in the Slams that she was almost equal favourite in the national optimist’s eyes. Robson’s run to the Wimbledon fourth round last year had people talking about her winning the event in the future, and it was certainly a nice change to have another home prospect accompanying Andy Murray in the second week.

However, since then she has won just six matches on tour and is starting to slide down the rankings. Although she didn’t play her best tennis at the US Open last year, her good form in the summer meant she was seeded for the first time, and she capitalised on that opportunity by beating some lower-ranked players en route to the third round. Having failed to back up these results in recent months, she was always vulnerable to a tough draw in Melbourne, and the Wimbledon semi-finalist Flipkens was no slouch.

It was not the result that disappointed but the manner of the loss; 32 unforced errors in 50 minutes is a dreadful statistic, and losing the last eight games is not much better. She has always been hit and miss in the winners to unforced errors ratio, but with a scoreline as one-sided as 6-3 6-0, perhaps she needs to find a Plan B to simply hitting the ball as hard as she can. When she’s playing well she strikes the ball as well as anyone on tour, but when she’s a bit off her sluggish movement and difficulty at dealing with slice and variety is all too evident.

Eugenie Bouchard in action. Photo: thestar.com

Robson may have failed to complete a match this season after being hampered by a wrist problem, but if she says it isn’t an issue then you wonder what is. It is discouraging to see players picking up injuries before the season has really started, and questions must be asked about her off-season training schedule. She recently teamed up with Nick Saviano, but the American can’t commit to being a full time coach as he focuses on Robson’s friend and rival Eugenie Bouchard.

Bouchard’s success has been slow and steady compared to the rollercoaster of Robson’s junior Wimbledon triumph at 14 and subsequent highs and lows. However, it is the Canadian who goes into round two at Australia having won her first match as 30th seed. It seems that Robson is playing second fiddle at the moment to Bouchard, as she is only being part-time coached by Saviano, and is encountering a difficult time in her career as her ranking fluctuates. Bouchard’s ranking is gradually increasing, but Robson’s may go down some more before she cracks the top twenty.

Heather Watson may have plummeted down the rankings in the last year, but she seems to be putting her glandular fever-disrupted 2013 quickly behind her. It is better for her confidence to be winning three rounds of qualifying in Australia rather than gaining direct entry whilst low on confidence, and her close encounter with the skilful veteran Daniela Hantuchova showed signs of promise.

Watson may not be as naturally talented as Robson, but her determination to put up a fight is second to none. If she is to make a success of her career, it will be in the vein of a Marion Bartoli or Jelena Jankovic, players who maximise their potential against physically and technically superior opponents. The key for Watson this season is to play as many matches as possible, possibly add to her sole tournament win in the 2012 Japan Open, and work her way back into the top fifty. She hits a good ball and must believe she can be competitive with the best players.

It is essential for both players to pick up wins in the next couple of months, before the season turns to clay. Their early exits will give them time to practise more on hard courts, and perhaps adjust their schedules to play an extra event. Moreover, as they team up in the Fed Cup to represent Great Britain next month they will perhaps take stock of how far they have to go in their respective careers.

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Australian Open 2014: Who will start the season with a bang?

The first real test of the new tennis season gets underway next week, but who will be the main contenders? Alex Bonner assesses the top players’ chances:

Men’s Section

 

Djokovic is no stranger to success in Melbourne. Photo: edition.cnn.com

Novak Djokovic – (Seeded 2nd)

The Serb should be expected to challenge again for this year’s title, following his superb end to the 2013 tennis season, which ended with victory at the ATP World Tour Finals. Having won the tournament a joint record four times previously, Djokovic is no stranger to coping to the demands of this particular tournament. Djokovic’s style of play suits the hard courts of Melbourne well, with the Serb having dominated this Grand Slam tournament in recent years.  His rivalry with Rafael Nadal is legendary, with both these fierce competitors ending the 2013 season as the top two players in the world. Expect another gripping final between these two greats, with Djokovic likely to overcome the challenge from the Spaniard.

Prediction – (Winner)

Rafael Nadal – (Seeded 1st)

Following Nadal’s dominance last season, many have tipped the Spaniard to continue with that form, starting with the first Grand Slam tournament of the year. Nadal’s record in Grand Slams puts him amongst the tennis greats, meaning he should never be discounted as a potential contender. Having won the Australian and US Open, Nadal has excelled on hard courts, placing him among the favourites for this year’s tournament.  The key for Nadal is to remain fit until the tournament begins, as knee injuries last season hampered his chances in some major tournaments, including Wimbledon. Nadal will be looking to add to his one previous win in Australia, in 2009, with the Spaniard looking good for the title following his form last year.

Prediction – (Finalist)

 

David Ferrer has a good chance this year at Australia. Photo: sportsillustrated.cnn.com

David Ferrer – (Seeded 3rd)

Ferrer will be looking to add another Grand Slam final appearance to his already impressive record at the Grand Slam tournaments this year. Having reached the semi -final of the Australian Open two times previously, Ferrer will be expected to challenge at the tournament’s latter stages, with another semi-final possible for the Spaniard. Despite being known as a clay-court specialist, Ferrer has performed well on hard courts, with his dogged style of play well accustomed to such a surface. Despite not boasting a direct challenge to the likes of Djokovic and Nadal, a semi-final place beckons for the third seed.

Prediction – (Semi – Finalist)

Juan Martín del Potro – (Seeded 5th)

Del Potro’s recent form has been excellent of late, with the Argentinean performing well in the latter half of 2013. Having reached the semi-final stage in three of the four Grand Slam tournaments in his career, del Potro will be looking to reach at least the semi-final stages of this tournament. At the age of 25, del Potro still has the best years ahead of him, with the Argentine tipped to have a very good 2014. With none of the top players injured for this particular tournament, del Potro will have a very difficult task challenging for this year’s title, with a semi-final place  looking the most likely outcome for the World no. 5.

(Prediction – Semi – Finalist)

Other potential contenders

Andy Murray, having reached the final of the Australian Open three times previously, should not be ruled out for this particular tournament. Indeed the Brit looks well conditioned to the hard courts of Melbourne. However, Murray’s recent run in with injury has been well documented, and will likely have a significant impact on his chances for further Grand Slam success at the Australian Open. Roger Federer, having won the coveted Australian title four times previously, should be expected to reach at least the quarter-final stages at this year’s tournament. However, despite a resurgence in evidence for Federer, a fifth title looks unlikely for the veteran Swiss. Stanislas Wawrinka, following his excellent performances in the 2013 tennis season, should be expected to challenge, with the Swiss needing a favourable draw to challenge in the tournaments later stages. Expect a strong challenge from Wawrinka, who will be a potential dark horse candidate.

 

Women’s Section

Serena Williams – (Seeded 1st)

Williams’s dominance in recent years has been remarkable, with the American finishing successive years as world no.1.  Having won this tournament five times previously, Williams will be expected to challenge again for an unprecedented sixth Australian Open title. The 2014 tennis season will mark Williams’ 20^th season since turning pro, a remarkable achievement for the American. Having dominated women’s tennis for a considerable period, Williams has been tipped to produce another year of dominance, which will likely start at this year’s Australian Open.

(Prediction – Winner)

Agnieszka Radwańska – (Seeded 5th)

Known for constructing points and making intelligent use of the court, Radwańska’s style of play seems ideally suited to the hard courts of Melbourne. A model of consistency, Radwańska has been a consistent top five player of late, with the Pole having a strong season in 2013. Following Radwańska’s appearance in the 2012 Wimbledon final, many predicted a bright future for the young Pole. Expect a strong 2014 for Radwańska, which may begin with a final appearance at the Australian Open.

(Prediction – Finalist)

 

On her day, Lisicki’s serve is unplayable. Photo: commons.wikipedia.org

Sabine Lisicki – (Seeded 15th)

2013 marked a very strong season for the young German, with a final appearance at Wimbledon a notable achievement for her. Expect Lisicki to perform well in this tournament, with her dominant serve and strong groundstrokes likely to trouble the toughest of opposition. Despite being at the young age of 24, Lisicki has displayed incredible maturity and attitude towards the game, with these traits likely to benefit her when performing in this particular tournament. Expect Lisicki to go far in Melbourne, with a semi-final place looking a realistic goal for the German.

(Prediction – Semi – Finalist)

Ana Ivanovic – (Seeded 16th)

Having re-discovered some of her best form in 2013, Ivanovic will be expected to challenge the very best players in 2014. Winning the 2008 French Open means Ivanovic is no stranger to coping with the pressures of a Grand Slam tournament, with her aggressive style of play and impressive forehand likely to benefit her in Melbourne. A seeding of 16^th suggests Ivanovic won’t be among the favourites to take the title at Melbourne, but her rediscovered form in 2013 should put her in the running for a place in the semi-finals.

(Prediction – Semi – Finalist)

Other Potential Contenders

Li Na’s consistency in the big tournaments has been in evidence in recent years, meaning she should never be ruled out, with the Chinese player reaching the final of this tournament in 2013. Na’s style of play also suits the hard courts of Australia well, putting her in the running for her first victory at this tournament. Victoria Azarenka’s performances on hard courts in recent years have been exceptional, with the Belarusian taking the Australian Open title in 2012 and 2013. Azarenka exerts an air of confidence when playing at Melbourne, meaning those ruling her out will do so at their peril.

Top 10: Tennis players of the year

Nadal at Indian Wells this year. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

1. Rafael Nadal

Nadal’s already illustrious career has scaled even greater heights following an incredible season in 2013. This year has seen the Spaniard rack up an incredible 75 wins on the ATP tour scene, with just seven defeats. Nadal’s performances in this season’s grand slam tournaments have been equally impressive, with two victories coming in the French Open and US Open. Though Nadal’s loss in this year’s ATP World Tour Final may have taken some of the gloss off this season’s achievements, his performances since his comeback from injury merits him taking the top spot on this list.

2. Novak Djokovic

Djokovic will look back at his year with both disappointment and optimism. The Serb’s victory at the Australian Open signaled an excellent return to form, but subsequent disappointments at Wimbledon and the US Open had severely undermined his overall season. That said, Djokovic’s recent run of form, remaining unbeaten since his US Open final defeat to Nadal, has been nothing short of brilliant. Triumph in this year’s annual ATP World Tour Finals also marks a strong return for the Serb following grand slam final defeats at the hands of Murray and Nadal.

3. Andy Murray

From a non–British perspective, Andy Murray has had a fairly average year, as his recent run with injury since his US Open quarter-final defeat has left him out of action. However, to all British tennis fans, Murray’s season has been far from average – his triumph at Wimbledon, following last year’s unsuccessful attempt at the hands of Federer, has cemented his name in British sporting history. The gravity of this triumph, despite incurring disappointment in other grand slam tournaments as well as his recent injuries, merits Murray’s position at number three on the list.

Wawrinka returning serve. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

4. Stanislas Wawrinka

Wawrinka has really come to prominence on the tennis scene following his excellent season in 2013. The Swiss’ performance in the recent ATP World Tour Finals, culminating in an entirely respectable semi–final loss to Novak Djokovic, tops off a superb year for the Swiss number two. Wawrinka’s grand slam performances have also been excellent, with a semi–final appearance at the US Open being the most significant and noteworthy. This kind of form means it is only a matter of time before he becomes Swiss number one.

5. David Ferrer

Ferrer in previous seasons has typically languished behind the ‘big four’ (Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and Murray) in terms of performances at the grand slam tournaments. The 2013 tennis season disproves such an assessment, as this season has advanced Ferrer’s case as a challenger for the grand slam titles. The Spaniard’s final appearance at this year’s French Open justifies such a claim, as well as semi–final and quarter-final appearances at the Australian Open and Wimbledon respectively. His disappointment at being knocked out at the round–robin stage at the ATP World Tour Finals however sees him placed at number five on this list.

6. Tommy Haas

The 2013 season has seen something of a resurgence for the 35 year-old Haas, whose incredible resilience was on full display in this year’s French Open third round match with John Isner. Such displays have seen the German climb the rankings to number 12, while his results this season, most notably a superb victory at the BMW Open in May, see Haas placed at number six on this list.

7. Richard Gasquet

Gasquet’s excellent performances in the latter part of the 2013 season have seen him retain his top 10 ranking. At the US Open, Gasquet made it to the semi-finals, his best run at a grand slam event since his semi–final appearance at the 2007 Wimbledon championships, symbolising an excellent return to form for the Frenchman. A slightly limp showing at the ATP World Tour Finals was perhaps the low point, but this shouldn’t detract from what has been a very good year for Gasquet.

Milos Raonic. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

8. Milos Raonic

Raonic’s performances throughout the 2013 season have marked something of a breakthrough for the young Canadian, his fourth round exit at the US Open being the first appearance for a Canadian in the fourth round of this tournament since Martin Laurendeau in 1988. Raonic’s 2013 season also saw his first appearance in a Masters series final, at his home tournament in Montreal, helping him to finish the season at a career high ranking of 11.

9. Juan Martin Del Potro

The Argentine has had an excellent end to his 2013 tennis season, culminating in a final appearance at the Shanghai Masters and victory at the Swiss Indoors. A semi–final appearance at Wimbledon this year has only enhanced Del Potro’s excellent record at grand slam tournaments, meaning he has now reached at least the semi–final stage of three of the four grand slams. Disappointment at this year’s Australian Open and the ATP World Tour Finals has taken some of the gloss away from Del Potro’s year, however, though his consistency should be applauded.

10. Roger Federer

A pick that is likely to generate some controversy, the Swiss has had an up-and-down year to put it mildly. A semi–final appearance at the Australian Open showed something of a return to form for Federer, but subsequent early exits at the French Open and Wimbledon undid much of this progress, a fourth–round defeat to Tommy Robredo at the US open topping off a poor year in terms of grand slam performances. Subsequent form however has been promising, culminating in a semi-final appearance at the ATP World Tour Finals, meaning there is still some hope for Federer fans going into 2014.

Alex Bonner

The World Tour Finals: 4 talking points

Photo: reuters.com

As the season ended with Novak Djokovic winning in style, Online Sport Editor Matt Bugler raises a few topics to discuss.

There was only one appropriate ending to the 2013 tennis season; a final between the two best players in the world, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. It was Djokovic who ended up dominating the Spaniard to end the season on a 22 match winning streak, stretching back to a reverse in the US Open final.

Undoubtedly the fittest player on tour, his reflex and defensive skills proved insurmountable against the season’s outstanding player, as one outrageous scrambling lob to break in the first set highlighted. The Serb rules at the start and end of the calendar year, and will be hungry to reclaim his number one spot as soon as possible (although having missed the start of last season, Nadal’s lead can only increase).

With two-thirds of the group stage matches going to three sets at the Tour Finals, the best players in the world put on a real show. As the players, bar Djokovic and Tomas Berdych, who are on Davis Cup Final duty this weekend, head into the off season, here are a few talking points that the tournament raised:

Federer still has it

Photo: dailystar.co.uk

2013 has been a series of new lows for the once-great Swiss maestro. If seeing him meekly lose to Kei Nishikori on the clay of Madrid was bad, then seeing him respond to a second round Wimbledon defeat to Sergiy Stakhovsky by losing to two more players outside the top 50, in mildly irrelevant clay court events in Gstaad and Hamburg, was an abomination.

However, in the closing month of the season he seemed to rediscover his mojo as the tennis headed to the faster indoor courts in Basel, Paris and London. Having not beaten a top ten player since January, he pulled off wins over Juan Martin Del Potro (twice) and Richard Gasquet to affirm his status amongst the elite.

Only the top two players were able to beat him, and Djokovic was taken to three sets both times, with Federer’s performance in the first half of their Paris encounter particularly encouraging. Interestingly, Federer admitted that he messed up his scheduling this year, and with a more thought-out choice of events next season, there is no reason why he shouldn’t achieve his ambition of winning five titles.

Will Del Potro win another major?

Del Potro is certainly a better player than he was in 2009 when he won the US Open as a twenty year old. He can generate more power, stay in the rallies longer and mix up his heavy hitting with displays of touch and verve. He’s also more popular than the man who shocked Federer in 2009; his Wimbledon epic with Djokovic this year won him many fans in England, and he appeared to have more support than the Serb in their rematch at the O2.

Unfortunately for him, the field has got significantly tougher in the last four years, both at the top where Djokovic and Andy Murray are multiple Slam winners, around him where the likes of David Ferrer, Berdych, Stanislas Wawrinka and Richard Gasquet are jostling for position, and lower down where the calibre of male players means consistency is hard to achieve. In the latter department, Del Potro has done remarkably well, winning four titles this year and usually only coming up short against the few players above him in the rankings.

His match against Djokovic in the group stage was a fine example of his troubles; his power was often so strong that Djokovic could do nothing to repel it, yet with the third set poised to go either way he threw away his serve with a horror game of unforced errors. Aged 25, now is the time to start winning majors and find that extra component to break through, for it would be a disappointment if he ended with just the one Slam.

When will we see Nadal and Murray play each other?

It’s been too long… Photo: news.ladbrokes.com

It’s been a remarkable two years since the last time Andy Murray played Rafa Nadal. So much of this era has been dominated by talk of the ‘Big Four,’ and while this may have been appropriate for 2011, when they monopolised the semi-finals of the Slams, since then it has been a case of Djokovic holding fort, with Murray and Nadal interchanging positions and Federer flitting in and out.

It’s been almost uncanny how Murray and Nadal have never been fit and on form at the same time; this year Murray was anonymous as Nadal tore up the clay season, before the Brit made history at Wimbledon while the Spaniard was limping off on the first day. On the American hard courts Murray normally prospers while Nadal starts to feel the season’s excursions, but this season the reverse was true.

This year has also been dominated by rivalries; Federer-Nadal, Djokovic-Murray, and for unbelievably the 39^th time on Monday, Djokovic-Nadal. In comparison, the absence of matches means that Nadal-Murray just sounds wrong as a rivalry. It should be a tantalising prospect when it does finally happen, since in the last two years both have become more aggressive and even better defensively.

Nadal’s unrelenting presence tended to drive Murray insane when he was repeatedly denied at Wimbledon, but with that burden lifted this matchup has the potential to be the greatest in the men’s game. Djokovic’s style is too similar to Nadal’s to be truly compelling beyond the athletic view, so we can only hope that the Murray-Nadal curse is broken in 2014.

Is it time for the World Tour Finals to leave London?

Novak Djokovic was leading the calls for the World Tour Finals to be moved somewhere else in light of the sport’s massive global appeal. In many ways this does ring true; perhaps China would be a suitable destination as the sport gathers momentum there and they attempt to create a fifth Grand Slam.

However, for now the positives of keeping it in London at least until 2015, when its contract runs out, are too good to change destination. The O2 is a spectacular venue, offering something completely different to Wimbledon. The 17,000 capacity is nearly sold out for every match, and fans from all the players’ nations were in full support. Watching a tennis match here is real drama, with the lighting, music and thumping heartbeats building up to a true arena battle of physical performance. There is nowhere to hide on the court, but these top-eight players continually rise to the occasion and delight the darkness-covered mass of spectators.

The O2 finals is more than tennis, it is a gladiatorial battle of physical and mental strength. As the tournament’s slogan goes, “it all ends here,” and should do for the foreseeable future.

ATP World Tour Finals preview

Another dramatic tennis season finally draws to an end, and 2013 will definitely be known as the year a British man finally won Wimbledon for the first time since Fred Perry.  A bit of a mouthful, but I’m sure it’ll catch on.

This leads us to the biggest disappointment of the tour finals, that Wimbledon Champion Andy Murray will not be featuring due to an operation on a long term back injury – the Scot hopes to be back in action in time for January’s Australian Open.

With Jo-Wilfried Tsonga also out due after missing several months through injury, this year’s ATP World Tour Finals will feature the remaining eight of the top 10 players in the world:

Group A                        Group B

Rafael Nadal (1)           Novak Djokovic (2)

David Ferrer (3)             Juan Martin Del Potro (5)

Tomas Berdych (7)        Roger Federer (6)

Stanislas Wawrinka (8)       Richard Gasquet (10)

The tournament starts with a round robin split in to two groups of four. The top two seeds are split so they can’t meet in the round robin stage, but the rest are done in an open draw.

World No. 1 Nadal has been on scintillating form since his comeback from injury. Photo: Marianne Bevis (via Flickr)

Even at first glance, it’s obvious that Group A should be won by Nadal. Berdych doesn’t have the tactical awareness to consistently outmanoeuvre  Nadal, but Wawrinka could do damage in the three set form of the game. Ferrer doesn’t have usually the firepower, but after his win in the Paris Masters over Nadal, will have belief he can cause another upset.

Though the Swiss could do well in this tournament if he gets on a roll, the favourites to get through from Group A  on paper will be Nadal and Ferrer on ranking and recent games; Wawrinka is more likely to make an impact than Berdych.

Group B is going to be very interesting. Conspiracy theorists will point to the fact that Nadal always seems to get the kinder draw, but Djokovic will still be confident he can win this group without too much trouble.

Del Potro is in form and can be incredibly dangerous when he begins taking on his forehand with confidence, and he is probably slight favourite over Federer to take the second spot. However, Federer will take confidence from the fact he defeated the Argentinian in his recent run in the Paris Masters.

As harsh as it sounds, Gasquet is merely there to make up the numbers and would do well to notch up a single win against his more illustrious opponents. Had Tsonga been present, it would have made proceedings that much more interesting.

Predictions

Group A                     Group B

Nadal – 3 wins            Djokovic – 2 wins

Wawrinka – 2              Federer – 2

Ferrer – 1                     Del Potro – 2

Berdych – 0                Gasquet – 0

Djokovic will be looking to avenge his US Open defeat. Photo: Marianne Bevis (via Flickr)

As you can see, Group A is going to be a lot simpler than Group B. Nadal will win all his matches easily and Wawrinka will step up his game to take the second spot. Group B may well come down to how easily people win their matches and I think the ‘Djoker’ and Federer will scrape into the knockout rounds. This will leave Nadal vs. Federer and Djokovic vs. Wawrinka for the semi-finals.

Looking at this match-up, there’s two definite favourites to get through to the final and most pundits would pick a Djokovic-Nadal final. To be honest, that has to be the case; they’re just a step above the competition at the moment. As much as I would love to see Federer extend his record at this level, it seems sadly that his best days are now behind him.

The entire tournament is going to culminate in a Nadal win over Djokovic, and it’s difficult to dispute the fact that such a result would reflect who has been the best player over the last 12 months. The Spaniard’s come-back from injury has been incredible and, although he didn’t play early in the year, his triumph in the US Open over Djokovic proves that he’s looking as good as ever.

Scott Johnson, Sports Team

Intensity soars in race to the O2

Richard Gasquet striking a backhand. Photo: mirsasha (flickr.com)

With the season approaching its climax, only one thing occupies the top players’ minds – who will be featuring in the ATP World Tour Finals in London? With Andy Murray confirming his absence from the end-of-season showpiece as he recovers from back surgery, an extra spot has opened up for the eight places available.

Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, David Ferrer and Juan Martin Del Potro have already booked their tickets to London, while Tomas Berdych’s place is all but confirmed. This leaves three spaces available for five main contenders in the form of Stanislas Wawrinka, Roger Federer, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Richard Gasquet and Milos Raonic, with only a couple more tournaments in which they can amass points; the Basel 500 and Paris Masters 1000 events. Currently only 380 points separate these five so there will be plenty of twists and turns over the next three weeks.

With the season heading indoors as cold and wind takes over outdoors, the conditions will favour Roger Federer, who has won his home tournament in Switzerland five times and favours a quick court. He hits fewer shanks in still conditions and can generate more speed on his lightning-fast forehand, ending matches quicker on his own terms.

However, this season has been anything but routine for the 17-time Grand Slam champion. Federer seems unable to string three good performances in a row together; his meek surrender to Tommy Robredo at the US Open after a promising start to the tournament epitomising his woeful inconsistency this year. Too many matches have gone by in a whirl of unforced errors, and he hasn’t beaten a top ten player since January. Federer’s supreme physical health usually allows him to enter the indoor leg with an advantage over his tiring mortal peers, and although age is catching up with him, he can hold on to this grain of comfort as injury strikes elsewhere.

The Swiss Maestro knows that all is not well, and parting with his coach Paul Annacone at such a crucial stage of the season either means he sees the last few events as a free hit before preparation for 2014, or he wants to qualify without any extra pressure from a coach. The timing is strange, and it would be unthinkable that the six-time winner of the Tour Finals would fail to qualify, but sadly in a poor season it would not be a surprise.

Wawrinka’s quarter-final showing in Shanghai moved him above Federer in the race by the slenderest of margins, with just five points separating them. However there’s been no doubt who the Swiss number one of 2013 has been, and a place at the O2 would be richly merited for Wawrinka. He has been involved in some of the most thrilling matches of the season, yet the only problem is that he continually falls just short of beating the world’s best, the first set loss to Nadal last week after creating three set points a prime example.

Tsonga’s season looked over after he pulled out of his Wimbledon second round match and missed the US Open. However, a late charge has resurrected his 2013 and a semi-final run in Shanghai moved him into the final qualifying position. A third consecutive appearance would be much appreciated for the London crowd, who have grown to love the Frenchman, along with his athletic dominance and victory danse des pouces.

Tsonga displaced his compatriot Gasquet in the race, and it would be a shame for the former junior number one to miss out after finally finding his inner strength this year. Consecutive five-set wins over Raonic and Ferrer at the US Open ended his run of 12 straight fourth-round defeats in Grand Slams and marked his first semi-final since 2007. Two titles this year have accompanied Gasquet’s new-found resilience, but a damaging loss in the first round of Shanghai to Vasek Pospisil means he will need all the home support he can get in Paris.

The final contender is Milos Raonic, who can perhaps worry the least about making the cut, with age and potential on his side. The big-serving 22 year old made the final of the Masters 1000 event in Toronto, but a poor display on the grass season means he is still searching for consistency.

One thing is for sure: the reign of Nadal on hardcourts is over. Recent defeats to Djokovic and Del Potro have proved that he is no longer unbeatable, and the typical cooling off his season is perhaps beginning later than usual due to his delayed start to the season. The thrilling final in Shanghai between Djokovic and Del Potro will hopefully be a sign of things to come as the heat goes up a notch in the battle to feature in London.

Matt Bugler, Online Sport Editor

Djokovic strikes back after ranking dethronement

Image: zh.wikipedia.org

Novak Djokovic versus Rafael Nadal. In any given era of tennis, a rivalry of such epic proportions arises- whether it be McEnroe and Borg, Sampras and Agassi, or indeed Rafael Nadal himself pitting his famous whipped forehands against the masterful grace of the Federer game.

After his emotional victory at Wimbledon this past June, the name of a certain Andrew Murray was tentatively prodded into the conversation, but that proposal has been gunned down, at least for the moment, in the style of a Nadal passing shot.

Why? There are two reasons: firstly, our emotionally-charged forgetfulness, as a tennis-loving and patriotic people, of Murray’s regretful inconsistency at the top level (as his loss to Stanislas Wawrinka in the US Open quarter-finals indicates), but more importantly the resurgent recovery of Nadal.

When the fatigued and hobbling Spaniard stumbled to defeat in the first round of Wimbledon in June, failing to lay his racquet upon yet another blistering ace from the unknown Steve Darcis, the tennis world was shocked. How could the man who had tortured the mighty Roger Federer for a decade be brought low so brutally?

However, we quickly moved on- our hero Andy Murray would ultimately lift the trophy and not even a whisper of the Spaniard’s name could be heard amongst the jubilation of the Brits, even when Murray emulated his post-match celebration of 2008 by climbing into the Top Box. This would prove to be a mistake.

Such has been the swiftness of his recovery that Nadal’s shock loss at Wimbledon has been consigned to the back page of the history books, as defunct and irrelevant as the dust that covers it. 26 matches had since passed in a blur of frenzied snarls, endlessly tweaked shorts and furious forehands- 26 matches that have all ended with the ‘W’ inevitably inscribed by the name of the Spaniard.

The hard courts have replaced the Wimbledon grass, and the hard courts are where he sets the foundations for an impassable Spanish fortress, where the arrows of the invaders are repelled with a swish of the Babolat strings. One of those victories was at the expense of Novak Djokovic himself, with the US Open title on the line.

The Serbian might seem to have been enjoying his lengthy reign (almost a year) at the top of the rankings- ever since his symbolic dethroning of Federer on November 5, 2012. However, his mentally-guided ruthlessness in the lead-up to the latter stages of tournaments has deserted him against the world’s best.

The losses must be difficult to swallow; since his Australian Open victory over Murray in January, Djokovic has fallen in five sets to Nadal in an exhausting French Open semi-final thriller, in straight sets at Wimbledon under a barrage of incisive bullets from the Murray racquet, and in four to Nadal at the US Open, where he wearily faded in the last set.

He has endured, then, a difficult few months. Certainly, he was able to parade his ranking and Australian Open title in a gesture of defiance, but he has taken a step back as of late to cower in the shadow of the shorter giant of current men’s tennis. How much longer would he be able to brandish that ranking with pride?

This brings us to the China Open. Both men were successful in dispatching their early-round competition- Djokovic with his usual efficiency, Nadal competently until his quarter-final challenge against Fabio Fognini, in which he endured a substantial scare.

Djokovic ousted Lukas Rosol in the first round with the loss of only three games in a majestic display of Serbian prowess. The first set score of 6-0 did not perhaps reflect the gutsy performance of the plucky Czech, but Djokovic’s renowned athleticism and accuracy were in top nick as he stretched his flexible frame to turn lost causes into winners.

Fernando Verdasco was far more resilient, taking a set away from the Serb, but his quarter-final opponent Sam Querrey faded rapidly in a 6-1 6-2 pounding. The in-form Frenchman Richard Gasquet, who seems to have added a steely edge to his masterfully artistic stroke-play style (he has recorded consecutive Grand Slam victories over the impressive David Ferrer), failed to pull off an upset and deny Djokovic another final, his fluid artwork torn into shreds of figurative canvas in a 6-4 6-2 loss.

Nadal, meanwhile, was extending his winning streak by easing out Santiago Giraldo 6-2 6-4 in the first round (his movement especially impressive) and Phillipp Kohlschreiber in the second, whose ferocious serve-and-volley approach threatened, but eventually fractured in a respectable 6-4 7-6 (7-3) loss.

However, the most troublesome battle would come from an unexpected source; the fiery Fognini proved to be far more than just a pretty face, racing into a 6-2 4-2 lead in the quarters. The assault would ultimately crumble, but Nadal was on the ropes.

On the other hand, his semi-final clash with the ever-dangerous Tomas Berdych ended prematurely. The top seeds have all wilted upon occasion before the cold blue eyes of the towering Czech, who backs up a lightning-bolt serve with heavy and reliable groundstrokes, but on this occasion he retired early with a back injury.

The final marked an incredible 38^th meeting between the two in all competitions- a record that they will surely extend over the coming years. Once again, the most prominent figures of world tennis (Murray is injured, and forget about the ageing Federer) would clash with spoils to be claimed.

The pressure was unbalanced; the immense burden of dignity was on the shoulders of the dethroned Serbian. Not only are his failures mounting, but a defeat to Nadal would only further his humiliation- given the way that tennis rankings work, the Spaniard assumed the top position upon reaching the final, regardless of Djokovic’s performances.

So their bout saw Djokovic arrive with his top ranking already lost, and Nadal with another title to gain. Nadal had the edge in the head-to-head statistics (22 wins to Djokovic’s 15). The Spaniard was yet to lose in the hard court season (in fact, he has only lost 3 times this year). Djokovic’s last major victory was all the way back in January.

The momentum appeared to be in the Nadal court, but the situation is more complex than this; Nadal’s struggles against Fognini appear to be linked to a niggling leg injury, possibly weakening him ahead of the final.

Was this complexity key to the eventual result? It was a spirited and fierce display that won the match, one fuelled by destructive forehands and impenetrable service games- not from the Babolat but the black Head racquet. A strategy of ceaseless aggression immediately paid off for the sleek Serb, who broke quickly in a high quality first set, chomping in shark-like fashion through the error-strewn assault of Nadal, and proceeded to lead from the front, obtaining a 6-3 6-4 win to claim the title.

It seems a small consolation for losing the top ranking, but a victory in straight sets over the World No. 1 immediately diverts the pressure back onto the Spaniard. Suddenly, their situations have been reversed; the ‘king of the hard courts’ has seen his winning streak obliterated in crushing fashion- he was thoroughly outplayed. With the Australian Open beckoning, it is ironic that the newly-crowned top player is so swiftly under the cosh.

However, the concept of these tennis giants grappling in the final was something to relish, even for the 38^th time. More epic contests await, and the tennis world is quivering with expectation.

Emmott Leigh, Sports Team

Can anyone stop Nadal and Williams at the French Open?

Can Federer win another French Open? Photo Credits: perfect-tennis.co.uk

The sun is finally starting to emerge and the peak of the tennis summer season commences this week at Roland Garros. After a series of clay court Masters tournaments where we’ve learned who is in form and who can’t stand the slippery clay, the biggest test of a tennis player’s endurance and mental fortitude will be undertaken in the second grand slam of the year, the French Open.

Roland Garros is unique from the other majors in its partisan French crowd who form their favourites early on and hold nothing back against their esteemed villains. Andy Murray revelled in silencing the crowd against home favourite Richard Gasquet last year, but there will be no repeat of his semi-heroic battles against his least favourite surface and broken body this year as he takes the sensible option of recovering to focus on Wimbledon.

A period of rest can do wonders for an ailing player’s body, as proven by Rafael Nadal’s record of reaching the final in all eight tournaments, winning six, after a seven month layoff. Roger Federer also took two months off earlier this year, recognising that at 31 years old he has to prioritise the main events and ensure he is in top fitness for the grand slams.

The results have been mixed; a rusty performance in Madrid followed by some fine tennis against lesser raked players in Rome before failing to make the final against Nadal a real contest.

The Rome final suggested that there is no real way for Federer to beat his nemesis on clay. The Swiss is well aware that he struggles to cope with Nadal’s huge topsin, especially on the exposed single-handed backhand, yet a change of tactics in Rome failed to pay-off, with a more aggressive approach only hastening his defeat.

However, the draw has been kind for Federer, and he will be secretly pleased at the possibility of avoiding Nadal at all in the tournament. He should navigate the unpredictable Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the quarter-finals before likely facing David Ferrer in the semi-finals.

Ferrer’s draw has opened up already, with the powerful but inconsistant Tomas Berdych already out at the hands of home favourite Gael Monfils. Berdych had the potential to build up a succession of wins and be the tournament’s dark horse but Federer will be no more pleased at having to break down an in-form Ferrer, who twice ran Nadal close in Madrid and Rome.

In the other half of the draw, it is hard to look beyond a Novak Djokovic- Nadal semi-final. Nadal may have to overcome Stanislas Wawrinka playing in the form of his life, but the Swiss player’s hopes will be hampered by a thigh injury which forced him to retire in Rome.

Djokovic’s form has wavered since his Monte Carlo triumph, so his potential rematches against Grigor Dimitrov, in the third round, and Nadal will be very intriguing. The best-of-five format may help or hinder the world number one’s chances. He should be too fit to avoid another defeat to the talented Dimitrov, but will find it far harder to dethrone Nadal in a grand slam than he did in Monte Carlo.

Serena Williams may not have won the French Open since 2002, but she enters the tournament on the back of a 24 match winning streak, one where she has rarely been troubled. The truth is there are very few players able to even make her matches competitive and there is an inevitability about her collecting her 16^th Grand Slam title, with only one of Victoria Azarenka or Maria Sharapova possessing enough weapons to beat her.

The women’s final may be the obvious choice for potential best match, but it is the semi-finals which may determine the overall outcome. Federer seems unable to beat Nadal on clay, but his game matches up well with Djokovic, as proven when he memorably ended the Serb’s 43 match winning streak here two years ago. If Nadal does exact revenge on Djokovic, there seems little stopping him collecting his eighth Roland Garros trophy.

Matthew Bugler, Online Sport Editor

Will tennis see an openly gay male player by 2014?

Openly gay ex-tennis star Martina Navratilova. Photo credits: drgullo.com

With the 2013 French Open underway, most tennis pundits have eagerly made their predictions as to who will take home the trophies; with others bewailing Andy Murray’s announcement of his withdrawal days before the event. Yet this article explores an issue related to tennis which is somewhat different: will the sport see an openly gay player by next year?

Homosexuality and sport have had a troubled and controversial history. In recent times, however, it has become obvious that gay and lesbian players do compete in professional sport, and this should prove to be no obstacle in them attaining success. Jason Collins, the NBA star, came out recently, which has surely proved to be inspirational for many struggling to know whether or not to be open about their sexuality that enjoy this particular sport.

Pundits have wondered for a long time, however, whether a gay player in the US from one of the biggest four professional sports (baseball, football, hockey or basketball) would come out. Although in the US it is not one of the biggest sports, to that might be added tennis.

Tennis has certainly experienced multiple lesbians on the women’s circuit, with 18-time singles Grand Slam champion (regarded by many as the greatest female player of all time) Martina Navratilova being an obvious example, and other high ranked lesbian players including Lisa Raymond and Rennae Stubbs. But there have been no notable male tennis players who have come out as gay or bisexual.

If one wants to look at this stereotypically, then the simple answer might be because sport is traditionally associated with masculinity. But this is a gross stereotype, implying that those who are not heterosexual are effeminate and do not wish to play sports, and cannot be said to be true, particularly nowadays. It is perfectly possible that there are gay male tennis players who play professionally, but some reason or another do not wish to disclose their sexualities.

Since there is increasing sexual liberation and equality in the Western World, it is possible that, if an openly gay player does emerge by 2014, he will come from somewhere in the west, perhaps the USA or a European country. However, an openly gay player has not come out in recent years, despite increasing tolerance within sport, so does it really seem likely that tennis will have one in just a year’s time?

On the face of it, no. Many of the top male players have stunningly attractive wives and girlfriends – just look at the women with whom Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and Grigor Dimitrov (with the women’s no. 2 player Maria Sharapova) are involved.

No top male player has brought along a boyfriend. It seems apparent that, if there are gay players (and there surely must be at least one or two), they are keeping their sexuality quiet.

From a different perspective, it might be a blessing if an openly gay male tennis player – particularly if they were highly ranked – did come out next year, for this would provide a welcome role model for many, particularly teenagers, who love and play sports and yet struggle with their sexuality within a stereotyped arena. Of course, a tennis role model should be many things besides – like Nadal, hardworking, intense, passionate, and gracious in defeat.

It seems unlikely, then, that an openly gay male tennis player will emerge next year. While it would certainly be beneficial for the sport if one did, it’s not good to raise one’s hopes.

Conor Byrne