A month on from the breathless Wimbledon final the world is 'treated' to a typically boring and tiresome display from Ivo Karlovic - that guy with the big serve.
The 6ft 10in Croatian sends down rocket serve after rocket serve at his opponent and the majority are left flailing aimlessly as the ball flashes past their racket.
The latest big name to suffer at the hands of 'Ivo the Giant' was current world number one Roger Federer as Karlovic triumphed in trademark fashion - a bucket load of aces and relying solely on tie-breaks.If Karlovic's serve is firing on all cylinders then even the best have trouble against a player possessing a very low level of technical ability overall.
In the third, and decisive, set between Karlovic and Federer in the third round of the Cincinnati Masters the big Croation took just two points - that is not a misprint - off the five-time Wimbledon Champion. However, frankly ridiculously, he also won the setas it finished in a tie-break - a part of the game that Karlovic was born to revel in.
Therefore Karlovic advanced to meet Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber in the fourth round. Have a guess how that match finished!
Yes, well done, congratulations you guessed correctly...Karlovic emerged victorious in a torturously tedious match in straight sets 7-6 7-6.
Well done Ivo, another opponent bullied into submission. Next, next, next...
For once I will find myself cheering for the impetuous Andy Murray in the semi-final with the hope that he can restore faith in 'traditional tennis'.
COME ON ANDY!!!!
Friday, 1 August 2008
Wednesday, 9 July 2008
GRIPPING SPORT AT IT'S BREATHTAKING BEST
In modern sport events struggle to live up to the hype - the FA Cup Final between Man Utd and Chelsea at the New Wembley comes to mind - but on Sunday afternoon there was no need to worry.
Roger Federer versus Rafael Nadal. The two best players of their generation taking each other on in the final of the greatest tennis tournament anywhere in the world. It had the makings of a classic, but we always say that, thankfully this one exceeded all expectations.
The ingredients:
Roger Federer versus Rafael Nadal. The two best players of their generation taking each other on in the final of the greatest tennis tournament anywhere in the world. It had the makings of a classic, but we always say that, thankfully this one exceeded all expectations.
The ingredients:
- Rafa's Revenge - Federer had triumphed over Nadal in the last two Wimbledon finals
- Fed's Fury - Nadal lost just four games to Federer in a spectacular French Open final win a month earlier
- Nadal's forehand - Arguably the finest shot in the game today, the Spaniard can do anything with it, from anywhere
- Roger's Record - Going into the match Federer was an unbelievable 66 grass court matches unbeaten
- Iberian Improvement - Nadal's ability on grass has increased dramatically in the last two years
Centre Court was packed to the Pat Rafter's (excuse the pun) as the players entered the cauldron. The fans' took no sides and cheered every winner, by either player, as if Tim Henman was taking on Andy Murray for the title at SW19.
Nadal was out of the blocks quicker than Usain Bolt - 100m world record holder - and cruised through the opening set 6-4 with a series of trademark forehand cross-court winners. Five-time champion Federer was struggling to find his form against the barrage of ground strokes coming from the other end and the world number one made unforced error after unforced error as he lost the second set by the same score.
Nadal was, almost literally, on fire by this point and Federer will be eternally grateful for the showers that haulted the Spaniard's march to the crown.
Upon the resumption of play Federer found renewed fight and vigour and, like the true champion he is, battled though the third set tie-break to ensure some respectability in the scoreline.
All of a sudden the man from Switzerland was quicker to pounce on the short ball and punish it. However, Nadal remained unbreakable and the fourth set headed for a tie-break.
The world number two was back to his destructive best at the start of the breaker and found himself with two championship points, on his own serves. Thankfully for all of us who wanted the match to go on and on and on and on the first chinks appeared in Nadal's armour as he tightened up and double faulted away his second chance.
Undeterred the Spaniard came back for more and hit the forehand of the tournament to give himself another point for the title. Federer struck a penetrating forehand onto the baseline but as he advanced to the net awaiting a comfortbale volley, Nadal somehow stretched to whip the ball around his rival from a virtually impossible position. Cue the trademark Nadal fist-pump...cue Federer's riposte.
This time Nadal didn't freeze, this time he looked odds on to win as he clipped a forehand deep into the corner and advanced to the net, only to see Federer smash a delightful backhand beyond his reach...the second best winner of the competition.
Minutes later, the fourth set was Federer's and Nadal looked a little shellshocked - could the greatest comeback of recent times be on the cards?
The world's best players played out a dramatic final set throwing punch after punch, counter-punch after counter-punch matching each other blow for blow, step for step.
As soon as one took the initiative the other stepped up their game to a new level and fought back.
As darkness fell over South-West London the two giants of the modern game continued to fight it out for the title of 'King of Grass'.
Finally, after more than four hours of playing time Nadal found himself with a fifth match point and this time Federer could not deny him. The Swiss sent a forehand long and Nadal dropped to his knees, then his back and raw emotion took over. Bursting into tears of joy he clambers to his feet before climbing the scoreboard to reach his family in the player's box. With flashbulbs and cheers coming from everywhere inside the arena the Spaniard too a treacherous walk over the scoreboard to reach the Royal Box before eventually jumping back to the relative safety of the court.
To cap it all both players showed extraordinary levels of sportsmanship throughout the presentation ceremony. If this match does not go down as the Elite Sporting Event of 2008 then whatever does will have to be something truly spectacular.
What do you think? Was Nadal v Federer the match of the year?
Sunday, 6 July 2008
Lady Laura! The next Queen?
by guest blogger Callum Sparrowhawk of footymad.net
Yesterday, English tennis finally had something to cheer about as Laura Robson, 14, clinched the Wimbledon Girls’ Title on Court One. What a day for young Laura, who seems to have the world at her feet…
Taking the first set 6-3, Robson seemed in complete control when a break up in the second but the pressure showed for the first time as she lost it 6-3 and the Briton’s challenge was again in the balance. However, an uncharacteristically un-British ability not to cave in when the going got tough shone through in the end. Robson overpowered the third seed Lertcheewakarn with a display of superb baseline winners to take the final set 6-1 and seal the Championship.
So, finally things could be on the up for British tennis and in the post-match press conference Robson said: "It was so good today as all the crowd were behind me and it was an overwhelming experience."
Unfortunately for Robson, she now has the pressure of performing again, and with all the media attention and we just all have to hope that it doesn’t affect her game. Do we have the new Virginia Wade at last, some 31 years since the last time a Brit won a women’s singles title at SW19 in 1977.
Good Luck Laura, we’re all behind you!
Yesterday, English tennis finally had something to cheer about as Laura Robson, 14, clinched the Wimbledon Girls’ Title on Court One. What a day for young Laura, who seems to have the world at her feet…
Taking the first set 6-3, Robson seemed in complete control when a break up in the second but the pressure showed for the first time as she lost it 6-3 and the Briton’s challenge was again in the balance. However, an uncharacteristically un-British ability not to cave in when the going got tough shone through in the end. Robson overpowered the third seed Lertcheewakarn with a display of superb baseline winners to take the final set 6-1 and seal the Championship.
So, finally things could be on the up for British tennis and in the post-match press conference Robson said: "It was so good today as all the crowd were behind me and it was an overwhelming experience."
Unfortunately for Robson, she now has the pressure of performing again, and with all the media attention and we just all have to hope that it doesn’t affect her game. Do we have the new Virginia Wade at last, some 31 years since the last time a Brit won a women’s singles title at SW19 in 1977.
Good Luck Laura, we’re all behind you!
Saturday, 21 June 2008
BIG MISTAKE RETIEF
Why do people do it? Why question Tiger Woods? All you do is give him even more motivation to come out and beat you next time. So what was Retief Goosen thinking on Tuesday morning?!
In the aftermath of Tiger Woods' dramatic US Open play-off win the usually friendly and sensible South African announced that he thought Tiger was, to all intents and purposes, 'faking it'. That his knee was not as bad as he was making out and that the world number one was searching for sympathy and excuses.
Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear, how wrong could he be? Well, actually, an absolute mile off!
Just a matter of hours later Tiger Woods tells his website that he is having to go under the knife again to repair a badly damaged knee ligament and also that he had not only won the US Open with a dodgy knee, but he had a double stress fracture of his left leg too.
How's that for 'milking it' Retief?
It is sad that a talented and clever man such as Goosen should fall into such a trap of criticising and questioning Woods.
The bad news for the rest of the golfing world, apart from the lack of interest that will now ensue as a result of Woods' absence, is that Goosen has provided Tiger with all the ammunition he needs to add to his major tally upon his return.
In the aftermath of Tiger Woods' dramatic US Open play-off win the usually friendly and sensible South African announced that he thought Tiger was, to all intents and purposes, 'faking it'. That his knee was not as bad as he was making out and that the world number one was searching for sympathy and excuses.
Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear, how wrong could he be? Well, actually, an absolute mile off!
Just a matter of hours later Tiger Woods tells his website that he is having to go under the knife again to repair a badly damaged knee ligament and also that he had not only won the US Open with a dodgy knee, but he had a double stress fracture of his left leg too.
How's that for 'milking it' Retief?
It is sad that a talented and clever man such as Goosen should fall into such a trap of criticising and questioning Woods.
The bad news for the rest of the golfing world, apart from the lack of interest that will now ensue as a result of Woods' absence, is that Goosen has provided Tiger with all the ammunition he needs to add to his major tally upon his return.
ANYONE FANCY THE RUSSIANS?
Holland are now second favourites to win Euro 2008, behind the Germans, but must get past the Russians tonight in order to progress to the semi-finals. Personally, I feel this will be their greatest test to date!
Guus Hiddink’s side 'turned it on' in their final group game against Sweden and looked a class act. In fact, if Pavluychenko had been able to finish then it could well have been five or six. The Zenit playmaker Andrei Arshavin also looked like a truly world class player, scoring and making chances at will. Should these two perform tonight, I don’t know if the Dutch defence will be able to deal with them.
So far, Holland have played both France and Italy, and destroyed them both. Sure, a team of trained chimps could have beaten France, and Italy were far from their best but they still scored 9 goals in the group stages. Defensively they have looked comfortable to date but the Russian's roaming full backs and clever front men could carve them apart.
So tonight, I expect lots of goals, lots of excitement and plenty of fast, flowing and entertaining football. The Dutch have looked strong but I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Russians cause an upset!
Guus Hiddink’s side 'turned it on' in their final group game against Sweden and looked a class act. In fact, if Pavluychenko had been able to finish then it could well have been five or six. The Zenit playmaker Andrei Arshavin also looked like a truly world class player, scoring and making chances at will. Should these two perform tonight, I don’t know if the Dutch defence will be able to deal with them.
So far, Holland have played both France and Italy, and destroyed them both. Sure, a team of trained chimps could have beaten France, and Italy were far from their best but they still scored 9 goals in the group stages. Defensively they have looked comfortable to date but the Russian's roaming full backs and clever front men could carve them apart.
So tonight, I expect lots of goals, lots of excitement and plenty of fast, flowing and entertaining football. The Dutch have looked strong but I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Russians cause an upset!
Monday, 16 June 2008
THE BEST MAJOR OF ALL TIME?
Exactly what it says on the tin, was the US Open the best major championship that the golfing world has ever seen?
Personally...yes, an enequivocal and definitive yes at that.
Torrey Pines gave us everything we wanted this week, and more on top of that for good measure.
For the first two days the USGA decided to make the world's top three players - Tiger Woods, Phil Mickleson and Adam Scott - go head-to-head by grouping them together. Woods and Mickleson do not get on, as we all well know, and on day two in particular the drama and excitement surrounding the trio was immense.
Elsewhere, there were qualifiers and unknown quantities firing themselves to the top of the leaderboard, before falling away dramatically moments later...all except the new household name, Rocco Mediate.
The weekend arrived with great anticipation adn a billion questions to be answered, most of which surrounded Tiger Woods. How was the knee? Will the knee hold up any longer? Will he have to pull out? Is what he is doing really possible? Oh, and an Englishman - Lee Westwood - was in contention and looking strong.
Naturally Tiger took all the headlines away from the man from Worksop on Saturday evening by treating the 50,000-plus spectators to a collection of trademark 'Tiger Moments'.
A winding eagle putt the length of the 13th green brought him back into contention after a sloppy opening nine, the cheer that greetedthe sight of the ball dropping into the hole was almost deafening. Then, having wasted the momentum he gained there, the world number one slam dunked a chip shot at the 17th into the cup on its second bounce.
That moment clearly embarassed Tiger, not that he was going to request it not be counted, but the eagle he followed with on the 18th was vintage Woods. Clearly in tremendous pain he somehow smashed a driver and a 5-wood to the middle of the green. The stage was set, the grandstands full of anticipation and Woods duly guided the ball into the cup - it was almost as if he sent it in by radar.
Suddenly Woods was in the lead and, as we all know, he does not lose majors when he leads after three rounds.
It was by no means plain sailing on Sunday though, and everyone had forgotten about Mediate. As Woods and Westwood matched each other birdie for birdie, bogey for bogey the 45-year-old American cruised into the lead.
In fact, Woods and Westwood needed to birdie the final hole in order to force a play-off on Monday. Somehow you knew only one of them was going to do it, and you also knew it would be Tiger. Again he sent the crowd wild as his 12-footer for birdie dropped into the side of the hole.
So it was Woods v Mediate in an 18-hole Monday playoff...many believed it was to be a huge anti-climax to a superb tournament. Would it?
Yeah right! No chance!
For a start, Woods finally managed to NOT double-bogey the first hole. Actually it was rather ominous as Mediate missed short putt for par and Woods lead.
However, Mediate came within inches of a hole-in-one at the par-three 3rd hole and, as Woods bogied, he suddenly lead.
Back came Woods, for two holes Tiger played like we all know he can as he birdied two of the toughest par-4's on the course to storm ahead. Could it be all over? Not a bit of it!
Mediate completed a devastating hat-trick that put him in pole-position as the final furlong approached. Birdies at the 13th, 14th and 15th gave him a one shot lead. Woods gave himself opportunities at 16 and 17 but both birdie putts came up just an inch short of the hole, could the Woods record in majors be coming to an end?
Unfortunately for Mediate, the 18th plays right into Woods' hands. The world number 158 does not have the length required to get to the green in two...Woods does.
Of course Tiger made the birdie he needed to force a sudden death playoff hole and suddenly a sense of destiny arrived.
The first extra hole, the 91st of the week, was to be the long par-4 7th - that would be the one Tiger birdied earlier in the day then.
Woods had the honour and blasted his drive 307 yards down the centre of the fairway. The pressure was on Mediate, and for the first time it actually proved too much. The likeable American pulled his tee-shot into a fairway bunker and did the same with his second to find the grandstand left of the green.
Tiger floated an 8-iron onto the front edge of the green - the only thing wrong with the finish was that Woods left the winning putt a fraction short, so Mediate had a 15-footer to force another extra hole.
However, it was not to be for Mediate as his putt rolled past the right edge of the cup. It was over. Woods was the champion. Did we expect a different result? Really?
Woods' fourteenth major may well turn out to be his best. He had not played in the two months since the Masters. He was still carrying a knee injury. This is not good preparation for any tournament, let alone the US Open. What those writing him off forgot is...this is Tiger Woods, he is not like the rest of us, he is - as Butch Harmon describes - Superman!
The next question we want answered is will he be at the Open? You have to think he will try, but whether he physically can is another matter. What we do know now though is that even if he is so much better than everyone else that not only does he not need to play well to win anymore - he does not have to even have two legs.
Scary isn't it!
Personally...yes, an enequivocal and definitive yes at that.
Torrey Pines gave us everything we wanted this week, and more on top of that for good measure.
For the first two days the USGA decided to make the world's top three players - Tiger Woods, Phil Mickleson and Adam Scott - go head-to-head by grouping them together. Woods and Mickleson do not get on, as we all well know, and on day two in particular the drama and excitement surrounding the trio was immense.
Elsewhere, there were qualifiers and unknown quantities firing themselves to the top of the leaderboard, before falling away dramatically moments later...all except the new household name, Rocco Mediate.
The weekend arrived with great anticipation adn a billion questions to be answered, most of which surrounded Tiger Woods. How was the knee? Will the knee hold up any longer? Will he have to pull out? Is what he is doing really possible? Oh, and an Englishman - Lee Westwood - was in contention and looking strong.
Naturally Tiger took all the headlines away from the man from Worksop on Saturday evening by treating the 50,000-plus spectators to a collection of trademark 'Tiger Moments'.
A winding eagle putt the length of the 13th green brought him back into contention after a sloppy opening nine, the cheer that greetedthe sight of the ball dropping into the hole was almost deafening. Then, having wasted the momentum he gained there, the world number one slam dunked a chip shot at the 17th into the cup on its second bounce.
That moment clearly embarassed Tiger, not that he was going to request it not be counted, but the eagle he followed with on the 18th was vintage Woods. Clearly in tremendous pain he somehow smashed a driver and a 5-wood to the middle of the green. The stage was set, the grandstands full of anticipation and Woods duly guided the ball into the cup - it was almost as if he sent it in by radar.
Suddenly Woods was in the lead and, as we all know, he does not lose majors when he leads after three rounds.
It was by no means plain sailing on Sunday though, and everyone had forgotten about Mediate. As Woods and Westwood matched each other birdie for birdie, bogey for bogey the 45-year-old American cruised into the lead.
In fact, Woods and Westwood needed to birdie the final hole in order to force a play-off on Monday. Somehow you knew only one of them was going to do it, and you also knew it would be Tiger. Again he sent the crowd wild as his 12-footer for birdie dropped into the side of the hole.
So it was Woods v Mediate in an 18-hole Monday playoff...many believed it was to be a huge anti-climax to a superb tournament. Would it?
Yeah right! No chance!
For a start, Woods finally managed to NOT double-bogey the first hole. Actually it was rather ominous as Mediate missed short putt for par and Woods lead.
However, Mediate came within inches of a hole-in-one at the par-three 3rd hole and, as Woods bogied, he suddenly lead.
Back came Woods, for two holes Tiger played like we all know he can as he birdied two of the toughest par-4's on the course to storm ahead. Could it be all over? Not a bit of it!
Mediate completed a devastating hat-trick that put him in pole-position as the final furlong approached. Birdies at the 13th, 14th and 15th gave him a one shot lead. Woods gave himself opportunities at 16 and 17 but both birdie putts came up just an inch short of the hole, could the Woods record in majors be coming to an end?
Unfortunately for Mediate, the 18th plays right into Woods' hands. The world number 158 does not have the length required to get to the green in two...Woods does.
Of course Tiger made the birdie he needed to force a sudden death playoff hole and suddenly a sense of destiny arrived.
The first extra hole, the 91st of the week, was to be the long par-4 7th - that would be the one Tiger birdied earlier in the day then.
Woods had the honour and blasted his drive 307 yards down the centre of the fairway. The pressure was on Mediate, and for the first time it actually proved too much. The likeable American pulled his tee-shot into a fairway bunker and did the same with his second to find the grandstand left of the green.
Tiger floated an 8-iron onto the front edge of the green - the only thing wrong with the finish was that Woods left the winning putt a fraction short, so Mediate had a 15-footer to force another extra hole.
However, it was not to be for Mediate as his putt rolled past the right edge of the cup. It was over. Woods was the champion. Did we expect a different result? Really?
Woods' fourteenth major may well turn out to be his best. He had not played in the two months since the Masters. He was still carrying a knee injury. This is not good preparation for any tournament, let alone the US Open. What those writing him off forgot is...this is Tiger Woods, he is not like the rest of us, he is - as Butch Harmon describes - Superman!
The next question we want answered is will he be at the Open? You have to think he will try, but whether he physically can is another matter. What we do know now though is that even if he is so much better than everyone else that not only does he not need to play well to win anymore - he does not have to even have two legs.
Scary isn't it!
Friday, 13 June 2008
MORE MIRACLES FROM TIGER WOODS, UNBELIEVABLE!
Not exactly a revelation I know but Tiger Woods has shown exactly why he is the best golfer of all time.
After the disappointment of losing out at the US Masters in April the world number one underwent knee surgery. In the two months since he had not completed 18 holes until the opening day of the second major of the season, the US Open at Torrey Pines.
Clearly still struggling with his injury, shown by the grimaces and winces after a number of shots, Tiger battled through a tough first day and an unusually inconsistent front nine on Friday. However, all hell broke loose after that!
Woods pushed a tee-shot at the 1st, his 10th, and had to play his second shot from a cart path. After impant Woods' damaged left leg slid and clearly the injured knee was tweaked. He limped his way up the fairway before promptly putting all concerns about the injury to one side and draining a twisting 25-footer for a birdie three.
The blue touch paper had been lit...
At the next Woods secured his second successive birdie with another superb putt, before being unfortunate not to be left with a tap-in at the tricky par three third, his 12th, before leaving a 20-footer in the jaws of the hole.
Not to worry though for Tiger, the next yielded yet another glorious birdie as all thoughts of his left knee trouble diminished and he continued his run of successive three's by adding a fifth immediately with another monster putt down the slope at the fifth.
Even the driver seemed to working properly by this point and the quality of golf on show all around the San Diego course was becoming completely and utterly enthralling. The enigmatic home-town favourite Phil Mickleson was finding a few birdies of his own as he tried to keep up with a charging Woods.
Inexplicably Woods failed to make a birdie at any of his next three holes as putts began to slide by the edge of hole rather than into the centre of the cup but the par-five 9th was to come.
Tiger casually drove hs ball ovedr 337-yards straight down the fairway before flying his fairway metal all of 280-yards to leave himself with a makeable chip for eagle, and an inward nine of just 29. Surely not?
Believe it or not...he was in fact out of miracles and out of luck for the day as the ball came to rest a few feet left of the cup and he had to settle for a birdie and a round of 68.
However, the damage has been done. Woods is well and truly in contention, his name is on the leaderboard, everybody knows it and most of all, so does he.
After the disappointment of losing out at the US Masters in April the world number one underwent knee surgery. In the two months since he had not completed 18 holes until the opening day of the second major of the season, the US Open at Torrey Pines.
Clearly still struggling with his injury, shown by the grimaces and winces after a number of shots, Tiger battled through a tough first day and an unusually inconsistent front nine on Friday. However, all hell broke loose after that!
Woods pushed a tee-shot at the 1st, his 10th, and had to play his second shot from a cart path. After impant Woods' damaged left leg slid and clearly the injured knee was tweaked. He limped his way up the fairway before promptly putting all concerns about the injury to one side and draining a twisting 25-footer for a birdie three.
The blue touch paper had been lit...
At the next Woods secured his second successive birdie with another superb putt, before being unfortunate not to be left with a tap-in at the tricky par three third, his 12th, before leaving a 20-footer in the jaws of the hole.
Not to worry though for Tiger, the next yielded yet another glorious birdie as all thoughts of his left knee trouble diminished and he continued his run of successive three's by adding a fifth immediately with another monster putt down the slope at the fifth.
Even the driver seemed to working properly by this point and the quality of golf on show all around the San Diego course was becoming completely and utterly enthralling. The enigmatic home-town favourite Phil Mickleson was finding a few birdies of his own as he tried to keep up with a charging Woods.
Inexplicably Woods failed to make a birdie at any of his next three holes as putts began to slide by the edge of hole rather than into the centre of the cup but the par-five 9th was to come.
Tiger casually drove hs ball ovedr 337-yards straight down the fairway before flying his fairway metal all of 280-yards to leave himself with a makeable chip for eagle, and an inward nine of just 29. Surely not?
Believe it or not...he was in fact out of miracles and out of luck for the day as the ball came to rest a few feet left of the cup and he had to settle for a birdie and a round of 68.
However, the damage has been done. Woods is well and truly in contention, his name is on the leaderboard, everybody knows it and most of all, so does he.
THE DRAMA OF PENALTIES...IN TENNIS?
If Rafael Nadal performed incredibly last weekend then today he, somehow, managed to step up to an even higher level.
Up against the 'giant' that is Ivo Karlovic it was never going to be easy for the reigning four-time French Open champion. The Croatian is at his best on the grass, where his powerful serve is accentuated by the speed of the surface. Regularly hitting first serves at around 140mph, Karlovic smashed an unbelievable 35 aces past Nadal - that normally doesn't happen over an entire season.
Watching the coverage of the Artois Championships from the Queen's Club it became apparent to me that Karlovic's service games beared more than a passing resemblance to a penalty shootout. Karlovic the striker and Nadal the goalkeeper.
As soon as the 6'10" Croat looped the ball into the air, before spiking it - volleyball style - over the net, Nadal was on the move in an attempt to get even remotely close to the ball. Consequently the Spaniard was made to look a 'fool' for a spell but the longer the match went on the more he began to fire returns back across the net.
The first set went the way of Karlovic, after a Nadal double fault in the tie-break, but as the second set wore on the Spaniard started to predict the Karlovic serve. Nadal was battling to make every point into something resembling a tennis match - it was easier said than done.
You would think a game of tennis in which serve is never broken would be tedious and boring to watch...not this time! Nadal was under immense pressure to hold his own serve before trying everything in his armoury to give himself a chance on the Karlovic serve. On any other day, against any other player, both Karlovic and Nadal would have beaten their opponents - in straight sets to boot.
Unfortunately for the Croatian his movement is not the best and he gave Nadal opportunities to hit trademark forehand winners in the final set tie-break - when he hits these at almost 100mph, while falling backwards, it shows how special the shot is.
Ironically Nadal will now face another big server, Andy Roddick, in tomorrow's semi-final who was given a walkover after Andy Murray's withdrawal through injury.
Roll on more of the same! I for one will be glued to the screen and, in this form, my money is on Nadal, possibly even for Wimbledon too...
Up against the 'giant' that is Ivo Karlovic it was never going to be easy for the reigning four-time French Open champion. The Croatian is at his best on the grass, where his powerful serve is accentuated by the speed of the surface. Regularly hitting first serves at around 140mph, Karlovic smashed an unbelievable 35 aces past Nadal - that normally doesn't happen over an entire season.
Watching the coverage of the Artois Championships from the Queen's Club it became apparent to me that Karlovic's service games beared more than a passing resemblance to a penalty shootout. Karlovic the striker and Nadal the goalkeeper.
As soon as the 6'10" Croat looped the ball into the air, before spiking it - volleyball style - over the net, Nadal was on the move in an attempt to get even remotely close to the ball. Consequently the Spaniard was made to look a 'fool' for a spell but the longer the match went on the more he began to fire returns back across the net.
The first set went the way of Karlovic, after a Nadal double fault in the tie-break, but as the second set wore on the Spaniard started to predict the Karlovic serve. Nadal was battling to make every point into something resembling a tennis match - it was easier said than done.
You would think a game of tennis in which serve is never broken would be tedious and boring to watch...not this time! Nadal was under immense pressure to hold his own serve before trying everything in his armoury to give himself a chance on the Karlovic serve. On any other day, against any other player, both Karlovic and Nadal would have beaten their opponents - in straight sets to boot.
Unfortunately for the Croatian his movement is not the best and he gave Nadal opportunities to hit trademark forehand winners in the final set tie-break - when he hits these at almost 100mph, while falling backwards, it shows how special the shot is.
Ironically Nadal will now face another big server, Andy Roddick, in tomorrow's semi-final who was given a walkover after Andy Murray's withdrawal through injury.
Roll on more of the same! I for one will be glued to the screen and, in this form, my money is on Nadal, possibly even for Wimbledon too...
Thursday, 12 June 2008
BOWLING WITH THE TIMES...
by guest blogger Callum Sparrowhawk of footymad.net
Cricket faces a revolution. Playing international test cricket will always be the pinnacle of any player’s career, but the domestic game needs to become more appealing.
In 2003 the ECB introduced twenty20 cricket and it quickly became the most watched form of county cricket. Since then, the format has gone worldwide and every major cricketing nation acknowledges the revolution in the sport. Now, 50 over one-day games are facing extinction within the county game.
It’s not just the 50 over format that appears to be being scaled back; the English counties play more games - in all formats - than any other country. Unfortunately, attendances are decreasing at a frightening rate and, it seems, the time is right for the twenty20 format to become the foremost competition in the domestic calendar.
Current players appreciate the need for change and see the twenty20 revolution as being nothing but great for the game. However, there are those who see twenty20 as battling against cricketing tradition - but I imagine they are the same people who would ban the internet, because libraries are traditional.
Get with the times!
Everything evolves and now cricket has the opportunity to capitalise. Bring on the revolution and bring in the crowds!
Cricket faces a revolution. Playing international test cricket will always be the pinnacle of any player’s career, but the domestic game needs to become more appealing.
In 2003 the ECB introduced twenty20 cricket and it quickly became the most watched form of county cricket. Since then, the format has gone worldwide and every major cricketing nation acknowledges the revolution in the sport. Now, 50 over one-day games are facing extinction within the county game.
It’s not just the 50 over format that appears to be being scaled back; the English counties play more games - in all formats - than any other country. Unfortunately, attendances are decreasing at a frightening rate and, it seems, the time is right for the twenty20 format to become the foremost competition in the domestic calendar.
Current players appreciate the need for change and see the twenty20 revolution as being nothing but great for the game. However, there are those who see twenty20 as battling against cricketing tradition - but I imagine they are the same people who would ban the internet, because libraries are traditional.
Get with the times!
Everything evolves and now cricket has the opportunity to capitalise. Bring on the revolution and bring in the crowds!
Wednesday, 11 June 2008
WHAT DOES SIMAO DO?
I'm not sure about you but I am struggling to see what Simao Sabrosa brings to the Portugal lineup.
The Benfica wideman has done little to justify the alleged interest in him from some of Europe's top clubs in the European Championships so far and I, for one, am wondering why Luiz Felipe Scolari picks him.
So far I have Simao take two free-kicks away from the 'best player in the world' Cristiano Ronaldo only to promptly lift each of them tediously over the cross bar. Simao is by no means a novice, in fact he scored a wonderful effort at Old Trafford a few seasons ago, but when Ronaldo is alongside you it only makes sense to let him have a go.
And as for the former Barcelona wingers corners, well I am sure Pepe and Ricardo Carvalho would rather someone such as Deco or Joao Moutinho was curling the ball onto their head, rather than Simao finding the defender at the near post time after time after time after time.
So far this seems to be a bit of a rant - okay its a lot of a rant - predominantly about the quality of Simao's set-pieces but this is not the only part of his game that has irked me.
Unlike some England's poor excuse for wingers - Aaron Lennon and Shaun Wright-Phillips take note - Simao has a good first touch but having controlled the ball nicely he seems to, as Lennon and SWP also do, spend the majority of his time running down blind alleys.
By the way, his finishing and composure in front of goal are not exactly brilliant either - the rushed attempt agains the Czechs being symptomatic of this problem.
Oddly the Portuguese are in the enviable position of possessing a proverbial monopoly over the world's most exciting wide men. Obviously they have Ronaldo, who is a guaranteed starter, who is backed up by Simao, Porto's Ricardo Quaresma and Ronaldo's Manchester United team-mate Nani.
Both Nani and Quaresma have superb quality with their delivery, in fact Nani has become known as one of the Premier League's finest corner takers.
Each is considerably younger than Simao and possess very similar characteristics to the Benfica man. However, they seem to be better exponents of these abilities than their national team-mate.
Personally I would prefer the Portuguese to line-up with an attacking trio of Nani, Quaresma and Ronaldo interchanging positions providing a deadly attacking triumvate. However new Chelsea boss Scolari is intent on avoiding using Ronaldo as a central striker so that leaves Nani, Quaresma and Simao competing for a spot alongside Ronaldo and Nuno Gomes.
With the Portuguese already qualified for the quarter finals as winners of Group A I expect Scolari to experiment against Switzerland. Nani and Quaresma should both start this match and I would bet that if either was to display the level of ability we already know they possess then Simao could be edged onto the bench by the time the business end of the tournament approaches.
What do you think, is Simao Portugal's weak link?
The Benfica wideman has done little to justify the alleged interest in him from some of Europe's top clubs in the European Championships so far and I, for one, am wondering why Luiz Felipe Scolari picks him.
So far I have Simao take two free-kicks away from the 'best player in the world' Cristiano Ronaldo only to promptly lift each of them tediously over the cross bar. Simao is by no means a novice, in fact he scored a wonderful effort at Old Trafford a few seasons ago, but when Ronaldo is alongside you it only makes sense to let him have a go.
And as for the former Barcelona wingers corners, well I am sure Pepe and Ricardo Carvalho would rather someone such as Deco or Joao Moutinho was curling the ball onto their head, rather than Simao finding the defender at the near post time after time after time after time.
So far this seems to be a bit of a rant - okay its a lot of a rant - predominantly about the quality of Simao's set-pieces but this is not the only part of his game that has irked me.
Unlike some England's poor excuse for wingers - Aaron Lennon and Shaun Wright-Phillips take note - Simao has a good first touch but having controlled the ball nicely he seems to, as Lennon and SWP also do, spend the majority of his time running down blind alleys.
By the way, his finishing and composure in front of goal are not exactly brilliant either - the rushed attempt agains the Czechs being symptomatic of this problem.
Oddly the Portuguese are in the enviable position of possessing a proverbial monopoly over the world's most exciting wide men. Obviously they have Ronaldo, who is a guaranteed starter, who is backed up by Simao, Porto's Ricardo Quaresma and Ronaldo's Manchester United team-mate Nani.
Both Nani and Quaresma have superb quality with their delivery, in fact Nani has become known as one of the Premier League's finest corner takers.
Each is considerably younger than Simao and possess very similar characteristics to the Benfica man. However, they seem to be better exponents of these abilities than their national team-mate.
Personally I would prefer the Portuguese to line-up with an attacking trio of Nani, Quaresma and Ronaldo interchanging positions providing a deadly attacking triumvate. However new Chelsea boss Scolari is intent on avoiding using Ronaldo as a central striker so that leaves Nani, Quaresma and Simao competing for a spot alongside Ronaldo and Nuno Gomes.
With the Portuguese already qualified for the quarter finals as winners of Group A I expect Scolari to experiment against Switzerland. Nani and Quaresma should both start this match and I would bet that if either was to display the level of ability we already know they possess then Simao could be edged onto the bench by the time the business end of the tournament approaches.
What do you think, is Simao Portugal's weak link?
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