King and Queen of England
Wimbledon – walkers not yet needed for the elderly
In back to back days at Wimbledon, a tennis legend who was thought to be over-the-hill proved their critics wrong. Yesterday, the 30-year-old Serena Williams defeated Agnieszka Radwanska in a tight three set match. Then today, the great Roger Federer took care of hometown favorite Andy Murray in four sets, also at the age of 30. These two players have been dominating their respective opponents for the past decade at a record pace, and I find it unbelievably fitting that they were able to show their prowess once again as the top players in the world in the same tournament.
Roger, over and out with 7!
Federer’s victory today was his 7th overall Wimbledon win, tying Pete Sampras for the most all time. Federer also won his 17th Grand Slam title overall, building on the world record that he already owns. Federer captured his first slam title since 2010, which was an Australian Open victory also over Murray . In the past few years, it had been assumed the Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal had moved past the legendary Swiss. However, this tournament has served as a reminder to all that Roger Federer is the best ever and if he’s playing, it is never wise to assume he doesn’t have a chance to win.
No Murray Christmas for England.
I thought Djokovic would win the tournament as I predicted he would beat Federer in their semi final matchup. Roger got the best of the younger Novak, and as Murray found out today, even though Federer isn’t quite at athletic as he used to be, he is by far the smartest player on the planet. In today’s match, Murray jumped out to take the first set and had Federer on the ropes in the second as well. However, Roger never panicked, battled every point as he has always done in his career and fought to take control back from the Brit. I don’t think it is questionable at this point if Roger Federer is the greatest men’s tennis player of all time. We need to all appreciate his greatness because we may never see another player dominate in the fashion he has for the past decade.
Finally! The matching platter for Serena’s 4-place settings.
If you had to pick a player on the woman’s side who has most resembled Federer’s career, Serena Williams would be the obvious choice. She has been by far the most dominating player in the past ten years and the only woman who can even rival her is in her own family, Venus. Though Serena’s numbers are a little bit short of Federer’s accomplishments, her win yesterday gave her 5 Wimbledon Championships and 14 Grand Slam titles overall. The only two women to have more Wimbledon’s than Serena are Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert, the two women who are believed by all to be the gold standard of women’s tennis. It has been well documented that Serena Williams career was in jeopardy due to a number of injuries and medical conditions. However, she has battled back to the point that there is absolutely no woman on the planet who could play on the level she played the last week.
Serena Will-I-am one of the best!
Serena dominated the first set against Agnieszka Radwanska and then appeared to get a little fatigued. Radwanska played great in the second set and had Serena really frustrated as the more powerful Williams was unable to end points as quickly as she had in the first. Radwanska forced a third and deciding set, which would prove to be the end of the road. Serena pushed her game to another level, totally overpowering Radwanska. As a spectator, there were times I felt bad for the Pole because as good as she was, when Serena was playing to her utmost capability, there was not a damn thing that Radwanska could do.
Doubles match of the century. PLEASE HAVE CHILDREN so we can see what a monster tennis player can do in 2032!
For all the tennis experts who have written both Roger Federer and Serena Williams off, it is now time to eat your words. WIth his victory, Roger Federer jumped into the #1 spot he has been in for so many days in the past. Serena Williams showed that she is going to be a force for the next few years to come, as she has regained all her strength and may be as good as ever based on her massacre of the field this past tournament. Both players now have their sites on the Olympics and the U.S. Open and how could anybody bet against them heading into either? I picked Serena Williams and Novak Djokovic to win Wimbledon so I was half right, but going into the next tournament I will reassess my predictions. Serena and Roger have shown the tennis world that 30 is absolutely the new 20, and these two greats are not close to done padding their amazing resumes.
2012 Wimbledon Preview
Strawberries, cream, and white pants. Who says tennis is not everyone’s game!
Tomorrow afternoon, the most prestigious, oldest tennis tournament kicks off at the All England Club in Wimbledon, England. The grass on the courts has been prepared for the best men and women to showcase their incredible talent over the course of the next few weeks. For you tennis novices, Wimbledon is the third leg of the four major tournaments that take place each year, as the Australian and French Open’s have already been played, and the U.S. Open will follow in August and September. It is by far the most traditional of all the events, as you’ll find a dress code for players (white garments), the eating of strawberries and cream by the fans, and a pleasant lack of advertisements that we normally see all over the professional sports landscape. I have attempted to break down and predict all the major story lines heading into the tournament.
The Marked Man
Unless he Chjoks, Novak should be a shoe-in.
Novak Djokovic is the defending champion from 2011, as he used Wimbledon to launch a historic run that unfortunately came to an end a few weeks ago in Roland Garos at the French Open. He had won three Grand Slam tournaments in a row going into France, and even with that recent loss to Rafael Nadal, Djokovic has managed to win 4 out of the last 6 majors tournaments. Djokovic is the easy favorite to win again this year, as the grass plays into his favor as he can over power his opponents. Djokovic will take on Juan Carlos Ferrero, who used to be a star in his own right, in a fairly exciting first round that shouldn’t be too much of a problem for Novak. He shouldn’t have much of a challenge at all until the Semi Finals where he might have a chance of seeing the great Roger Federer, who has won the tournament 6 times and is as comfortable on the WImbledon court as LeBron James is on a breakaway dunk. However, I believe the younger and current #1 player in the world will take care of the aging star, setting up the finals that everyone hopes and expects, a rematch of last year’s Final. Last July, Djokovic took down Rafael Nadal in the finals in a easy four sets and I believe the tournament is shaping up for the exact same result this year.
The Two With a Chance
Rough as hell for Nadal, and most likely it will be Roger, over and out.
Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are two most recognizable names in men’s tennis and are both serious contenders to Djokovic in this tournament. Though I have already stated I see Djokovic beating each man on his way to the repeat, I wouldn’t be shocked to see any of these three guys prevail at the end of the two weeks. Nadal is a two-time Champion at Wimbledon and is coming off a victory over Novak in the French open. He has made the Finals in each of the past five Wimbeldons, and has won 87.5 percent of his career matches at Wimbledon. The only legitimate test Nadal will have in reaching the Finals will be Andy Murray, who Nadal has beaten in 13 out of 18 career match ups. In contrast Djokovic and Federer stand in each others way to the make the championship match. Even though I believe Djokovic will win that heavy weight matchup, I do feel that Roger Federer will show the Wimbledon faithful glimpses of his brilliance over the next few weeks. Federer has won a career 16 grand slams and I believe he’ll be the crowd favorite as many people will want to see his return to glory. His 6 Wimbledon titles are second only to Pete Sampras’s 7 and he has three more than Djokovic and Nadal combined. He will be by far the most comfortable player on the lawns, but we need to keep in mind that Djokovic has beaten Roger in 3 out of the last 4 major matchups, including a straight set victory at the French Open a few weeks ago. If Roger can somehow squeak by Djokovic, it would set up an awesome title fight with Nada. Even though I’ll be rooting for Roger to make it to the last day, I don’t see it happening.
American Pride
Roddick is second to none – more likely third or fourth.
Serena will be serene by the time Wimble done.
Both the men and women American players underperformed at the French Open. Andy Roddick was beaten in the first round on the clay and the player who was once considered among the world’s elite has for a while been forgotten in the conversation of contenders. Traditionally, Rodick plays well on grass and he is coming off a win at the tune-up for Wimbledon, AEGON International Men’s Singles Tournament. I expect Roddick to play well, show pride but ultimately fall short of the ultimate prize as he is no longer in the same league as the top players in the world. Serena Williams is another American who was quickly eliminated from the French Open field. However, in her career she has always played her best at the All England Club. Serena is still one of the best player’s in the world, even though Maria Sharapova has gotten most of the recognition as the world’s best after her recent French result. Serena and her sister rewrote the manner in which women’s tennis is played and she still has the ability to be the most dominating force in the game. I think she finds her form and captures her 5th Wimbledon tournament, as she will take advantage of the same comfort level that Roger Federer will enjoy on the men’s draw.
Parity in the Women’s Side
The most beautiful sound I ever heard – Maria, Maria, Maria, Maria …
Say it loud and there’s tennis playing,
Say it soft and it’s almost like praying.
Though I am picking Williams to win Wimbledon, the field is very close and the favorite coming into the tournament has to be Maria Sharapova. Sharapova recently won the French Open and came extremely close last year, losing in the finals to Petra Kvitova. Kvitota has to feel as confident as anyone also, as she beat Sharapova in straight sets and has been playing great tennis all season which has earned her the #4 spot in the women’s game. This year’s Australian Open champ is the current #2 player in the world, as Victoria Azarenka also made her first semi-finals in last year’s Wimbledon Tournament. Azarenka was disappointing in the French Open but she has the ability to put that result in the rear view mirror and build on last year’s success. Rounding out the field of contenders is the always dangerous Venus Williams who is at a veteran age of 32 but always capable of getting hot, 21-year-old Caroline Wozniacki who was recently the #1 player in the world and last year’s U.S. Open winner Sam Stosur, who has often struggled on the grass of Wimbledon. Though any of the women I have written about have a shot at this year’s title, I still believe Serena will be the eventual champion.
Yeah, that’s right. CRUMPETS! Call it an English muffin and I’ll kick your bloody ass!
If you are a tennis fanatic, enjoy the greatness of the next few weeks. If you are unfamiliar with the sport, I promise you that the competitiveness and athleticism of these athletes will captivate you if you just sit down and give it a shot. I’m personally very excited to sit back, brew some tea, butter my crumpets and get ready to watch some of the greatest athletes in the world perform at the top of their games on the biggest stage in the sport.
Meilleur Joueur de Tennis Jamais!
No Djok, Nadal is the best!
From 2005 thru 2007, Roger Federer was without question the most dominant tennis player in the world. His combination of professionalism on and off the court was something that the tennis world had not seen since the reign of Pete Sampras. During this stretch he won at Wimbledon and at the U.S. Open, then started the following year by outlasting the field at the Australian Open two years in a row. Both seasons, Federer went into the French Open looking to win four Grand Slam titles in a row, a feat that hadn’t been accomplished since Rod Laver in 1969. Both times, however Federer was denied history by one Rafael Nadal. Fast forward 5 years, and Novak Djokovic was presented with the same chance to make history. The only thing standing in his way was the 6’1, 190 pound Spaniard. Djokovic, like Fereder was just not up to the challenge.
All-o-Wet-a, gentille All-o-Wet-a …
Nadal triumphed over Djokovic in the French Open Final in a weird match that started yesterday and ended early this morning. Even though Djokovic was able to wrestle a set away from the reigning champion, the outcome of the match was never in real jeopardy. Nadal jumped out in front, taking the first two sets 6-4 and 6-3, and it looked like another easy French Open title for the Spaniard. However, rain caused a stoppage of play, halting all the momentum Nadal was able to build in the first two sets. When play resumed, Djokovic took advantage of the wet clay and overpowered Nadal in the third set. After the third set the weather worsened and play was suspended again until this morning. The grounds-crew spent the night working on the court, and when Nadal came back to play this morning, he appeared more comfortable and was able to slide, spin the ball and work all his clay tricks that he has mastered in Paris. The end result was a 6-4, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 victory over Djokovic. Djokovic actually double faulted the last point of the match, which was a fitting way for a bizarre tennis final to end. The only reason that Djokovic was able to win a set off of Nadal was because the elements neutralized the advantages that Nadal is able to garner on the clay court; there was no question who the superior player was.
The only one Rafael prays to is himself – when you are a god, it is appropriate
There is not much that can be written about Rafa Nadal that hasn’t already been mentioned. With the victory, Nadal won his 7th French Open title in the past 8 years, as the only year he didn’t win was 2009, when he lost to eventual Champion Robin Soderling in a shocking 4th round upset. Nadal has won every major at least once, and yesterday’s triumph has given him 11 overall. He has a stunning 52-1 record at the French Open, and passed Bjorn Borg for most French titles ever. Nadal’s career record is a masterful 581-120, and he has won over $48 million dollars in event earnings. Next up is Wimbledon, and even though Nadal got the better of Djokovic in their latest duel, there is no doubt the Nadal will be the underdog if the two of them find themselves in the final once again. Djokovic is very deserving of the status he has reached in the tennis world, as was Roger Federer during his reign as #1, though it will always be Nadal who is known as the master of clay and the records he has been setting for a decade at Rolland Garros will likely never be matched.
Has there ever been a more dominant player on any given surface than Nadal on clay? Leave us a comment and let us know what you think…
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