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.

SPOTY 2013: Can anyone stop Andy Murray?

December is upon us, signalling the imminent arrival of the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award (SPOTY). The 60^th anniversary award ceremony will be held in Leeds on the 15^th December and once again the public can vote for its ‘champion of champions’. Although the night can fall into trap of favouring glitz over genuine achievement, and the award continues to fail in recognising the achievement of women in sport, it is nonetheless a huge talking point of the sporting year.

The Pretenders:

AP McCoy. Photo: danheap77 (Flickr)

AP McCoy (Horse Racing): McCoy’s nomination echoes the shocking selection of Ryan Giggs in 2009. The selection committee seems to find it difficult to distinguish between what constitutes as notable achievements for the year and for a career. In November, McCoy, the 2010 SPOTY winner, rode his 4,000^th winner which is a remarkable milestone in his sport. This certainly warrants a lifetime achievement award in the future but not a nomination for this year.  To be honest, I don’t understand why the horses don’t get nominated; at least they do the hard work!

Verdict: I vote ‘neigh’ to McCoy’s nomination and instead would nominate Non Stanford. Stanford won the ITU World Triathlon Championships in London this year, proving that she is an incredible triple-threat athlete who truly earns her wins, rather than sitting on top of a horse.

Christine Ohuruogu (Athletics):Ohuruogu’s 400m gold medal winning performance at the World Athletics Championships is certainly worthy of a SPOTY nomination. However, Ohuruogo’s selection is uncomfortable because of her drug record. Ohuruogu never doped, but she did miss a string of drug tests between 2005 and 2007. This earned her a lifetime Olympic ban by GB athletics, which was subsequently overturned before the 2008 Beijing Olympics. After drugs scandals including Lance Armstrong, any athlete with a murky doping history should not be winning awards.

Verdict: My jaw would drop to the floor in shock if Ohuruogu gets 3rd. I would replace her nomination with Becky James, who won four medals at the World Track Cycling Championships this year. Considering how much we love cyclists why hasn’t James been nominated?

The Dark Horse Contenders:

Ben Ainslie. Photo: Dansk Sejlunion

Sir Ben Ainslie (Sailing): When it comes to British seafaring icons, Ainslie is held in the same category as Sir Francis Drake. He has a loyal fan base and has had previous SPOTY nominations. After leading Oracle Team USA to a miraculous comeback victory in the America’s Cup from an 8-1 deficit to a 9-8 win over Team New Zealand, Ainslie is riding a new wave of adulation.

Verdict: I don’t think he will make third but his place on the shortlist is deserved nonetheless.

Hannah Cockcroft (Athletics): When someone completely dominates their sporting field, they are entirely worthy of high praise and Cockcroft is no exception. She won the 100m and 200m T34 wheelchair sprint at the IPC World Athletics Championship, even breaking the Championship record, which follows on from her excellent performance at the 2012 London Paralympics.

Verdict: Unlikely to make third but, like Ainslie, should still be on the shortlist.

Leigh Halfpenny (Rugby Union): After a superb series win over Australia, it is no surprise that the British and Irish Lions have representation in SPOTY. As ‘Man of the Series’, Halfpenny is understandably the player to represent the efforts of the squad. He kicked a record 21 points in the third test and broke Neil Jenkins’ record for points scored on a Lions tour. He also contributed significantly to Wales’ Six Nations triumph.

Verdict: It would take a significant turnout from both Welsh voters and rugby fans to get Halfpenny third place.

Ian Bell (Cricket): Bell’s performance throughout this summer’s Ashes was simply outstanding. He amassed 562 runs in five tests, had a 62 run average and became the fifth Englishman to score three consecutive Ashes centuries. Bell truly silenced his critics and inspired England to a 3-0 series win.

Verdict: I believe that with a strong voting turnout from cricket fans, Bell could be in with a slight chance of third. I won’t be the one to rule him out.

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Likely contenders for second and third:

Justin Rose (Golf): Initially I had Rose listed as a dark horse. However, after remembering the nomination of three golfers in 2011, with Darren Clarke coming second, I realised that golfers generally do very well in SPOTY. Therefore, I believe that Rose has a real chance of reaching third. Rose played some excellent golf to win the US Open, becoming the first Englishman to win a Major since Nick Faldo in 1996 (the 1989 SPOTY winner).

Verdict: Rose deserves to be on the shortlist and is in with a decent shout of taking home third.

Mo Farah (Athletics): Arguably the most likeable athlete in Britain, Farah had a tremendous summer, becoming the second man in history to achieve a ‘double-double’. Only Kenenisa Bekele has also won gold in the 5000m and 10,000m in both the Olympics and World Athletics Championships. What’s more, Mo also broke Steve Cram’s 1500m GB record.

Verdict: Farah could very well be doing the Mobot on stage with either the second or third place award.

Chris Froome (Cycling): Britain seems to love its cyclists. Chris Hoy won SPOTY in 2008, with Mark Cavendish in 2011 and Bradley Wiggins in 2012 also winning. After winning the jewel in cycling’s crown, the Tour de France, Froome is automatically in serious contention for a SPOTY award.

Verdict: Highly favoured for second or third. The only thing stopping Froome from winning is a certain tennis player from Dunblane.

Andy Murray. Photo: Marianne Bevis (Flickr)

The Nailed-on Favourite:

Andy Murray (Tennis): Some say that Murray is Scottish when he loses and British when he wins. After winning Wimbledon he is most certainly British and is expected to receive an overwhelming proportion of votes from the public. Greg Rusedski won SPOTY in 1997 after losing the US Open Final, proving that the British public are willing to adore anyone who plays tennis at an above average level. Now that we have a world-class Wimbledon winner, I don’t see how Murray can lose. I’m expecting a lot of tears from Judy Murray, Kim Sears and Sue Barker to add to a lengthy standing ovation as he accepts his prize.

George Knight

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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

Another British sporting summer to remember

Just as it seemed that the summer of 2012, when Team GB did the country proud at the London Olympics, would prove the zenith of British sporting success for the foreseeable future, Britain’s best athletes have excelled themselves once more. Here, we look back at some of the most memorable achievements in another incredible summer for British sport.

Novak Djokovic congratulates Murray on his Wimbledon triumph. Photo credits: Tim Schofield (via Flickr)

Andy Murray

Murray laid to rest the biggest cause for embarrassment in British sport – the fact that no male player had won the home tournament Wimbledon, the most prestigious event in tennis for 77 years.

Despite breaking his Grand Slam duck at the US Open last year, it felt as if his Wimbledon triumph was the moment his career had been leading up to so far. Aged 26, Murray has had to deal with an amount of pressure and setbacks that most sporting teams would struggle with, let alone one individual.

When he announced his arrival on the tennis scene in 2005 as a scrawny teenager full of talent but struggling to cope with the physicality of playing best-of-five sets and not all popular with the English fans, few would have imagined his transformation into an imposingly strong and quick athlete capable of powering through opponents on a wave of Centre Court support.

His straight sets win over the world number one Novak Djokovic was a convincing display of all-round modern day tennis, and an announcement that this finished article has much more to come.

Chris Froome

No British rider had won the Tour de France in the first 98 editions of the race, and now, like buses, two have come at once. Bradley Wiggins’ ride last year was more exciting for his off-bike interviews and charisma than his fairly defensive riding style.

His team-mate and rival Froome looked the stronger climber last year and proved in the centenary race that he is head and shoulders above nearly the entire field, leaving his predicted main challenger Alberto Contador to dust and only being tested by the exciting young Nairo Quintana.

Froome built his year around the Tour, comfortably winning a number of races in the spring before executing his Tour plan to perfection, claiming the yellow jersey on stage eight and never looking back. He showed  a willingness to ride with dominance and build on his time gap, with his acceleration of the feared Mont Ventoux one of the iconic moments in recent Tours. Time is also on his side, with a potential rivalry with Quintana set to dominate the Tours to come.

Lewis Hamilton en route to pole position at Silverstone. Photo credits: Mary Waudby (via Flickr)

Lewis Hamilton

Many were sceptical of Hamilton’s decision to leave McLaren – where he had raced since the start of his F1 career in 2007 – in favour of Mercedes at the end of last season. But, this summer was when the new partnership really began to gel.

The British Grand Prix at Silverstone saw Hamilton take the first of four successive pole positions, with the Stevenage-born driver on course for a memorable home victory until he was removed from contention due to a tyre blow-out. The Mercedes lacked race pace at the German Grand Prix, Hamilton fading from pole position to fifth, but it was a different story three weeks later in Hungary.

In sweltering temperatures, Hamilton dominated the race, only losing the lead after his pit-stops and making incisive passes at a circuit where overtaking is notoriously difficult. The win put Hamilton back in title contention, albeit temporarily, as well as making him the first Brit to win a race for Mercedes since Sir Stirling Moss back in 1955.

Justin Rose 

Prior to the US Open in June, the last Englishman to win a golf major had been Nick Faldo at the Masters all the way back in 1996;  a virtuoso performance on the tricky Merion course by Rose brought an end to the agonising 17-year wait.

Succeeding where the likes of Luke Donald, Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter have so far failed during their careers, Rose brought himself into play on the second day of the tournament by carding one of only six sub-par rounds throughout the entire field, and kept himself within striking distance on the third day despite a round of one over par.

The contest on the final day boiled down to a fight between Rose and perennial US Open runner-up Phil Mickelson. A double bogey from the American gave Rose a share of the lead, which he duly consolidated with back-to-back birdies on the sixth and seventh holes. Another pair of birdies on the twelfth and thirteenth effectively sealed the deal for the 32-year-old, who can now count himself among golf’s elite band of major champions.

England’s Jonny Bairstow plays a shot at Trent Bridge. Photo credit: Nic Redhead (via Flickr)

England Cricket Team 

The England cricketers had a triumphant summer after retaining the Ashes with a comprehensive 3-0 home victory over Australia. The scoreline does not tell the whole story though as the tourists had chances to win three of the five Tests and will be confident of bouncing back in the return series this winter.

England just edged the first match at Trent Bridge by 14 runs with James Anderson returning the match-winning figures of 10 for 160. This was followed by a more comfortable victory at Lord’s as Darren Lehmann’s team were dismissed cheaply after Joe Root’s impressive century. Bad weather saved the hosts in the third match of the series before they re-affirmed their dominance with a Stuart Broad inspired win at Durham.

Bad light prevented England from rubbing salt into Australian wounds in the final Test, but they can reflect on a summer that has seen them beat New Zealand 2-0, reach the Champions Trophy final and record their biggest victory over the ‘Old Enemy’ since 1979.

British & Irish Lions

The Lions completed their first series victory since 1997 with a 2-1 triumph over Australia back in July, sealing the win in the last game of the series with an emphatic 16-41 win at Sydney’s ANZ Stadium thanks to tries from Alex Corbisiero, George North, Jonathan Sexton and Jamie Roberts.

This is only the fifth time that the Lions have won a tour since 1962, with previous series wins coming in 1997 (South Africa), 1989 (Australia), 1974 (South Africa) and 1971 (New Zealand).

24 year old Welsh fullback Leigh Halfpenny excelled throughout the tour, ending up as Man of the Series having amassed 49 points in the three Test Matches.

The Lions had to wait until the last match of the tour to seal the series win, having lost the Second Test 16-15, where a win would have given them an unassailable 2-0 lead. They had won the First Test in equally dramatic fashion, 21-23, with Australian utility back Kurtley Beale slipping over and missing a penalty in the last minute.

By Matt Bugler, Jamie Klein, Simon Dewhurst & Will Kelleher 

Murray saves match point to end Masters drought

Photo Credits: The Slice (Twitter)

Andy Murray is serving to stay in the match deep in the third set against his relentless opponent David Ferrer. One point away from defeat, he finds a first serve which is instantly neutralised and another gruelling rally in the slow, humid conditions begins. He holds nothing back on a series of forehands before Ferrer stops play to challenge a shot deep on the baseline.

If the ball is out, Ferrer ends his miserable record against the top four in ATP finals and claims the title. If it’s in, Murray wins the point and Ferrer must recompose himself after two and three quarter hours of the most physically and mentally draining match. Hawk-eye proves Murray’s shot clips the line and the match is effectively over. Ferrer is a broken man after his error, dropping to the floor with cramp in the tiebreak and only winning one more point.

For the Spaniard, this will be one of the toughest losses of his career. He recently turned 31 and time is running out to make his mark on the top events. Although he won his first Masters tournament in Paris last November, his draw had opened up considerably and he had the talented but inexperienced Jerzy Janowicz to defeat in the final.

The match against Murray was a chance to prove that he belongs with the top four, but defeat meant he has now lost all 13 of his finals against the elite group. He may take heart in the fact that he was so close to winning, particularly after suffering bagel defeats against Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal earlier this year. However, Ferrer’s status as a tennis player seems to be in limbo, consistently better than all players below him in the rankings but frequently coming unstuck against the higher ranked men.

On Sunday he was on the verge of dispelling the claims that he is too lightweight to beat the best, and showed remarkable mental strength to come back from a break down four times in the final set. Ultimately though, his apology to his Spanish fans for falling at the final hurdle was a poignant reminder that this was a golden opportunity missed.

As for Murray, great confidence will be taken from the fact that he won his first Masters event since September 2011. Although last year was by far his most successful, he was relatively inconsistent in tournaments below Grand Slam level, an aspect he needs to work on to realise his goal of becoming world number one. With Roger Federer absent from Miami, Murray capitalised on the Swiss’ dropped ranking points to take the world number two spot, which if retained would be a significant advantage going into the French Open.

The Miami final was in many ways an echo of his US Open triumph, wherein adverse weather conditions and his own self-doubt were needed to be overcome as much as the guy on the other side of the net. The wind and humidity accentuated the slowness of the court, meaning winners were at a premium and the number of unforced errors the deciding factor. The tennis may not have been spectacular, but to outlast the man whom Boris Becker described as “the Duracell Bunny” proved that these days there are no limits to Andy Murray’s physical and mental capabilities.

Attention now turns to the clay season, and Ferrer will be hoping to recover on his favoured surface. Murray acknowledged after the Miami final that he would need to work on his serve, after being broken eight times and only serving two aces all match. On the slower surface of clay, it’s even more important to be able to interrupt the long rallies with quick points on serve, something Murray will need to be in better form than last year, when he failed to go beyond the quarter finals of all four clay events he played.

Although Murray doesn’t produce his best tennis on clay, he will see the next two months as an opportunity to pick up a lot of ranking points and keep his position of world number two. With a rested Federer, rejuvenated Juan Martin Del Potro and resurrected Nadal amongst his competition, the run in to the French Open promises to be full of drama.

Matthew Bugler, Online Sport Editor

Djokovic and Azarenka retain Australian titles

Novak Djokovic took his third consecutive Australian Open and his sixth major in total. Photo credits to Marianne Bevis

It may have been a new year, but the 2013 Australian Open had a sense of déjà vu with both Victoria Azarenka and Novak Djokovic retaining their titles from last year. For Azarenka, it was a victory fraught with controversy after her 10 minute medical timeout towards the end of her semi-final win over Sloane Stephens, while Djokovic displayed another stunning show of athleticism in completing his Australian hat-trick.

In terms of British interest, it was further proof of the emerging talent on the women’s side, with both Heather Watson and Laura Robson reaching the third round. Watson’s two wins were both impressive comeback victories, especially the second round in which she saved three match points against Ksenia Pervak. However, she never really convinced that she was a threat to the top order; Watson should be beating these opponents comfortably, and it was a little alarming how quickly her match against the fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska ran away from her. She will certainly rise up the rankings this year, but may struggle to impose herself on the best without any significant power.

As for Robson, a lack of power was no problem as she ousted another Grand Slam winner in the shape of Petra Kvitova in an impressive display of mental fortitude. However, it was an ugly match fuelled with double faults, and Kvitova needs to seriously consider how to rediscover the form that brought her the Wimbledon crown two years ago.

Robson’s defeat to Sloane Stephens marked the beginning of what could become a dominant rivalry in the women’s game. The 19 year old American’s win over favourite Serena Williams could prove a potential passing of the baton at the top of the sport, although for Serena she will be glad to see the back of an injury-ravaged fortnight. Injury became the overriding influence in the latter stages, with Li Na suffering two falls in the final following Azarenka’s semi-final antics. We won’t ever know the extent of her rib injury after failing to convert five match points against Stephens, but Azarenka will have a hard task in rebuilding her reputation after many believed she left the court purely to regain composure after a mammoth choke.

The biggest surprise in the men’s draw came in the form of Jeremy Chardy’s win over 2009 US Open winner Juan Martin Del Potro. Chardy must be congratulated for his tactical nous in disturbing the Argentine’s flat rhythm with a series of undercut slices, but this was nevertheless a major disappointment for Del Potro, who has never really threatened to repeat his breach on the top four’s stranglehold on the majors. The Frenchman was no contest for Murray in his route to the final, along with the physically ruined Gilles Simon after his farcical match with Gael Monfils, which included a 71- shot rally of bemusing caution.

Murray has come a long way in the last year, and he can now enjoy entering matches with Roger Federer as the favourite. His body is perfectly formed to cover the range of the court over five sets, and it is an intriguing spectacle to see him out-powering Federer from the baseline after years of being criticised for being too passive in rallies. However, Djokovic’s defensive skills are even more impressive, and one scrambling backhand lob which landed on Murray’s baseline epitomised his iron determination to remain in the point.

The world number one is in no mood to relinquish his position at the summit of the game, and his demolition of David Ferrer must be one of the most one-sided semi-finals in recent history. Stanislas Wawrinka contributed to undoubtedly the best match of the tournament in the fourth round, spraying winners off both flanks in a performance which would have beaten anyone bar the human wall that is Djokovic.

It was another great Slam, although perhaps there was a feeling of something missing. Williams’ failure to continue her great winning streak was almost anti-climatic, with the uncertainty of whether it was one bad tournament disrupted by injury or a sign that, at 31 years of age, she may be starting to slow down. In the men’s, there was a clear absence of the fourth member of the ruling quartet, and it remains to be seen if a certain Rafael Nadal will be the player he was before his career-threatening injury. If he is able to storm back into contention then 2013 promises to be another amazing year of tennis.

Matt Bugler

2013 in Sport: Preview

Andy Murray will be hoping to build on his meteoric success of 2012 this year. Photo credits to Wikimedia Commons

It’s hard to foresee how, after the deluge of spectacular sporting moments we witnessed in past twelve months, 2013 could even come close to matching up. Like returning to a diet of mouldy Sainsbury’s Basics cheddar after a Christmas holiday of gastronomic delights, it’s quite imaginable that this year won’t rival 2012. But, if we scrape away the mould, we might find something to nourish us. Here’s a look ahead of what 2013 has got in store:

The odd-shaped ball

The Six Nations kicks off on February 2,  and after Wales’ woeful autumn it seems unlikely that they’ll achieve their fourth grand slam since 2005. The Scots will be desperately trying to avoid another Wooden Spoon, whilst England, if they don’t slip up, could run away with it. Come June we’ll see the British & Irish Lions, a team steeped in history but with a very empty trophy cabinet, touring to Australia. If however, Warren Gatland and his coaching team put together cohesive squad, they have every chance of success down under.

After what might just be a palatable summer of sport, England plays host to the Rugby League World Cup, where the hosts are likely to have a tough time in Group A with favourites Australia. With student tickets from £10 for most games, including the final, you could even grab a bit of the action yourself.

The properly-shaped ball

Starting on January 19, the 29th African cup of Nations provides us with the first major fix of sport this year, with 2012 runners up Ivory Coast expected to beat strong rivals Ghana and Nigeria to the title. May will see the Champions League final played at Wembley; English interest however is questionable, with Manchester United and Arsenal having to get past Barcelona and Bayern respectively to earn their way to Wembley. In the meantime, England will attempt to qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Rio, with the decider likely against Ukraine in September.

Fluffier Balls

After an eternity of waiting, Andy Murray finally delivered in 2012 with an Olympic gold and a US Open title, and with any luck his form will continue into this year. He faces tough competition at the top though, with Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal (pending a return from illness) all providing serious competition. Expect some electrifying five-set finals and maybe, just maybe, the first British man to win Wimbledon since before the Second World War. In the ladies’ game, 18 year old Laura Robson, after a consistent rise in form since winning the Wimbledon Junior title in 2008, will have her sights set on a Grand Slam quarter-final, or perhaps better.

A wicket summer

Fifteen one-day-internationals will be held around the country in June for the ICC Champions Trophy, a title that South Africa are suspected to take home. But if that’s all too fast paced for you, fear not, the Ashes are just around the corner to provide some dragged out entertainment, where England will hope to retain their firm grip on the sacred earn.

Hurdles, Putts and Gears

At the end of the summer Jessica Ennis’ six-pack will be back on show, where she, ‘The Mobot’ and ‘The Weirwolf’ will all be hoping to come home with medals from the World Athletics Championships.

Whilst it’s unlikely we’ll see a repeat of the spectacle that was last year’s Ryder Cup, Rory McIlroy is sure to have his eyes on the green Jacket at the Masters in April.

His Royal Highness Bradley Wiggins will be trying to defend the yellow jersey in July as the Tour de France gets underway, whilst Brits are expected to dominate at the World Cycling Championships in February despite the absence of Victoria Pendleton and Chris Hoy.

Jenson Button will no doubt be aiming for a second Formula One world title with McLaren, whilst how Lewis Hamilton fares after his unexpected switch to the underperforming Mercedes team will provide an intriguing subplot to proceedings this season.

Nic Craig (Editing by Jamie Klein)

Australian Open Preview

Melbourne’s famous Rod Laver court. Photo credits to Paolo Rosa

The first Grand Slam of the year is upon us, and after a brief winter break the players are ready to push their bodies through the physical and psychological suffering necessary to go the distance.

The Australian Open is unique in that there is little to judge the players on beforehand, with only a handful of warm up tournaments in the weeks leading up to the tournament. For many, it is a chance to implement a rigorous winter training regime and hit the ground running in a fresh start to the season, when the toils of months on tour have yet to kick in. Therefore we could witness a few surprises in both singles draws, with a few dark horses eyeing up the opportunity to make a breakthrough in the early stage of the season.

After the draw on Thursday night, it is clear that the audience is in for a treat with several mouth-watering clashes in the early stages. In the women’s draw, tenth seed Caroline Wozniacki faces Sabine Lisiscki in an opening match neither of them would have wanted – both players have slipped down the rankings, with Wozniacki having to face questions over the possible distraction of her fiancé Rory McIlroy, and the hard-hitting German suffering from injury and failure to defend ranking points from 2011. It should be a thrilling affair, and could be the first upset of the tournament.

There is also a clash between Grand Slam winners Francesca Schiavone and Petra Kvitova in the first round, with the winner possibly facing Laura Robson. While the Brit may struggle to repeat her US Open heroics, her compatriot Heather Watson has received a very favourable draw, and if she overcomes a minor elbow injury could fancy her chances of reaching the fourth round.

With regards to the main contenders in the women’s draw, the question is can anyone stop the powerhouse that is Serena Williams? The American has lost just one match since the French Open, and many of those have been hugely one-sided affairs. Her main rivals Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka both suffered humiliating defeats at the hands of Williams last year, although Azarenka was very close to beating her in the US Open final. Those two should meet in the semi-finals, with the winner possibly facing Sharapova in the final. All we can hope for is that Williams’ rivals are competitive.

In the men’s draw, it is difficult to predict the winner when neither Novak Djokovic nor Roger Federer has played on tour since November. The Swiss legend has kept very much under the radar leading up to the tournament, and will have to answer nagging questions about his age through his tennis alone. If he meets Andy Murray in the semi-final, it may go down to fitness, with the younger Murray fancying his chances the longer the encounter goes on. Federer produced his best to defeat Murray in two sets at the ATP finals last November, but in a best of five match he has struggled to play consistently well, his defeat to Rafael Nadal in last year’s tournament a case in point.

In the soaring heat of Melbourne, Murray has an almighty task to win a consecutive major, likely having to play Juan Martin Del Potro in the quarter-final, a man who has the potential to outhit any of the top three. With Djokovic’s route to the final a far clearer path, he may encounter a physically and mentally exhausted opponent, and will start as strong favourite to defend his crown.

The home crowd will surely be willing their Australian hero Lleyton Hewitt on in the first round against eighth seed Janko Tipsarevic, and although he can be guaranteed to fight, his impact on the game has been minor for some years now. The Serb, however, will view this tournament as a major opportunity to reach a first Grand Slam semi-final, having been drawn in the same quarter as David Ferrer. This quarter has also presented the likes of Kei Nishikori and Jerzy Janowicz the chance to build on their autumn success, and there is no reason any of these players could not find themselves facing Djokovic on the final Friday.

The Australian Open commences on January 14 and finishes on January 27.

Matt Bugler

SPOTY 2012: Wiggins backed by bookies to triumph

The BBC SPOTY trophy – photo credits to Wikimedia Commons

2012 Tour de France victor Bradley Wiggins is the overwhelming favourite to land this weekend’s coveted BBC Sports Personality of the Year award.

With multiple bookmakers offering odds as short as 1/3, Wiggins – who combined his historic Tour win with a fourth career Olympic Gold in the men’s road time trial – is widely expected to follow in the footsteps of fellow cycling star and Team Sky teammate Mark Cavendish and scoop the coveted award in a field dominated by medallists from the London Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Of the other gold medallists in this year’s twelve-strong shortlist for the award, Heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis is the most fancied, with odds of 6/1 to become the first female SPOTY winner since Zara Phillips in 2006. Behind Ennis, many bookies are offering 7/1 for 5,000 and 10,000 metres gold medallist Mo Farah to scoop the prize, with Paralympics stars Ellie Simmonds and David Weir looking like outside bets at around 50/1.

2008 SPOTY winner Chris Hoy meanwhile has been given rather long odds of around 125/1, with Ben Ainslie – the most decorated sailor in Olympic history – looking an even less likely prospect at 200/1. Nicola Adams, who made made history by becoming the first woman to take an Olympic boxing title, and double gold-winning rower Katherine Grainger are both given odds of 250/1, whilst Paralympic cyclist Sarah Storey is considered the least likely recipient of the award with odds of 300/1.

In an ordinary year, the incredible success of Andy Murray, the highlight of which was becoming the first British Grand Slam champion for 76 years at this year’s US Open, would surely merit closer odds than the 12/1 that most bookies are offering; in spite of having also won two Olympic medals, it seems the relatively low profile of tennis within the Olympics has taken its toll on the Scot’s chances. Rory McIlroy, the only candidate in the shortlist not to feature in either the Olympics or Paralympics, is another rank outsider at 100/1 despite becoming the youngest golfer to win two majors since the late Seve Ballesteros this year.

Information provided to Exeposé Online by Prompt Communications reveals a somewhat different picture. In an analysis of nearly 10,000 Facebook and Twitter posts from November 20 to December 13, Weir was the favourite to win with the backing of 36% of social media users, giving the Paralympic wheelchair athlete a five percent advantage over bookies’ favourite Wiggins. Paralympic swimmer Simmonds was third favourite with a reported 20% share of popular support, ahead of Farah on 18%, Grainger on 17%, Murray on 14% and Ennis on 13%.

It is of course the public who will be voting for the winner of the SPOTY award, the recipient of which will be announced on Sunday evening. Who do you think is in with the best chance of scooping honours? Will you be voting for any of the twelve contenders? Are there any athletes absent from the shortlist who you believe warranted inclusion? Leave your answers in the comments box below.

Jamie Klein – additional reporting by Matt Bugler and Lucy Gibson

ATP World Tour Finals Review

Photo thanks to Paula Funnell

When we look back on the great years of men’s tennis, 2012 will surely be up there amongst the best. With four different Grand Slam winners this year, the Tour Finals served as a sort of tiebreaker – which player would rise above his exceptional rivals to be crowned the best player of 2012?

It was  a great shame to see Rafael Nadal unable to compete through injury, and his fans wait with baited breath to see if he can impose himself on the top three next year. He will know that he faces a great challenge against a much improved Andy Murray, as well as Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer playing at the peak of their powers.

The tournament did not suffer for the absence of Nadal however, with scintillating tennis provided from the outset in London’s O2 Arena. This was the fourth time the indoor arena had staged the culmination of the tennis calendar, and with the event’s popularity still growing the decision to renew the contract until 2015 was greeted with universal approval.

Certainly the world’s top two players will be pleased they will have more chances to play their best game on what is becoming an iconic court to match the grandeur and tradition of Wimbledon. Djokovic retains an uncanny ability to slide across the hard surface, retrieving his opponent’s aggressive shots deep into the court: as Federer observed: “even in defence he is somewhat offensive”. The Swiss is widely renowned as the world’s best indoor player, and the O2 allows his forehand to zip across the surface under a bubble of noise from his dedicated followers.

Indeed, it was this intense atmosphere which unsettled Murray in his attempt to round off his year in style. His semi-final with Federer may have been on home soil, but he was not treated to the patriotic support he received at the Olympics this year. It is testament to the international pedigree of the tournament that Federer’s fans drowned out those of Murray and provided a hostile atmosphere that aggravated the Brit as the match started to run away from him.

It was easy to presume that after Murray joined the Grand Slam club he would be blessed with unfaltering mental strength, but there is still considerable room for improvement in this department if he is to reach his goal of becoming world number one. Three consecutive tournaments ended in defeat after holding match points before the Tour Finals, and it was somewhat alarming how quickly he collapsed against Federer in the semi-finals, dropping serve from 40-0 up in the second set and never looking like recovering.

The other contenders in the top eight also provided some highlights, although there is perhaps some disappointment that Janko Tipsarevic was not fully fit and able to produce his best after the best season of his career. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga could not replicate his runner-up performance of last year, but his athleticism and delicate touch around the net still provided several entertaining moments for the crowd.

Tomas Berdych had a solid tournament in the tougher of the two groups while the uber-consistent David Ferrer was unlucky to depart in the group stage after he claimed a first Masters title in Paris just one day before the Finals commenced. Juan Martin Del Potro was close to causing a shock against Djokovic after seeing off Federer for the second time in two weeks indoors, and there is a sense that the 2009 US Open winner is returning to his best, with his shots carrying greater weight than ever.

As for the final, it was fitting that the top two players should slug it out for honours, and the spectacle was as immense as you could hope from two living legends on top form. The delayed flicked forehand that Federer struck to save set point in the tiebreak caused unanimous disbelief, and Djokovic raised the standards of defending even further than his Australian triumph while also finding some outrageous angles as he went on the attack.

The world number one fully justified his ranking, while the timeless Federer proved that he is still hungry for more major tournaments. With the Australian Open just two months away, we can look forward to more breathtaking tennis as a certain Spaniard eyes a return to the top of elite men’s tennis.

Matt Bugler