Uncategorized

FEDERER BREEZES THROUGH

admin

Roger Federer breezed past his second round opponent at Wimbledon on Wednesday, taking just one hour and fourteen minutes to demolish Fabio Fognini. The Italian is not known for his grass court play, and struggled to get anything against Federer who showed the same fantastic form as in his first match against Albert Ramos two days before. The final score was 6-1 6-3 6-2, and Fognini never looked as though he expected the result to be otherwise. Despite playing the occasional great winner he failed to get into the match in any competitive sense, and had to admire the stunning display put on by the Swiss veteran.

The 6-time former champion was pleased with his own form, and was typically generous towards his opponent after the match. “I thought he tried hard,” said Federer. “On grass, it’s tough to get into the match when you are down. I was serving well. You’re not going to get many chances throughout a set against me when I’m serving like that. You have to be patient. On clay, if you play well you will get your chances. On grass, that is not automatically the case.” Only a few players have to class to sympathise with the defeated player and not seem arrogant but of course in Roger’s case there are 16 Grand Slam titles backing up his argument.

It was also Federer’s first appearance on Centre Court this year in London, and it was obvious that the world number 3 was happy to be back on the court that must seem like home to him after all his success there. “It was great to be back on Centre Court,” he said, “and a great feeling walking out with Prince Charles and Camilla in attendance. I’m serving well, forehand, backhand, concentration, it’s all going well.” Next up is Julien Benneteau, the world number 32 who will need to play the match of his life to challenge Federer who has looked imperious so far this championship.

Novak Ready for Wimbledon Defence

admin

Defending Wimbledon champion, Novak Djokovic, has insisted that he is heading into this year’s tournament full of confidence and form. The Serbian star got his grass-court campaign underway at the Boodles exhibition event, beating Andy Murray 6-4 6-4 in his first appearance since his defeat to Rafael Nadal in the final last month’s French Open.

The world number one will now head to the All England Club looking to replicate his stunning triumph from last year. Djokovic swept aside his rivals for much of 2011, claiming three of the four Grand Slams, and cementing his place at the top of the rankings.

While 2012 has not seen Djokovic able to dominate the game like he did last year, the Serb has already collected the Australian Open title, as well as reaching the final of the French Open. Continue reading →

Murray looking forward to French Open

admin

Japanese Tennis Professional Tatsuma Ito has promised to take the game to British number one Andy Murray in their French open first round clash in Paris. The twenty four year old Japanese player has made a impressive start to the year as he moved up the world ranks significantly moving into the top 100 players for the first time in his career and currently sits at his all time highest point of 68 as he comes into the French Open championship at Roland Garros.

His Tie against Murray is his first main draw match up and although many would see Murray as a Comfortable victory, the Scot may find his opponent difficult to break down as he adopts a free flowing attacking game. Murray admits that he is expecting a tough match and aims to fight fire with fire by operating an attacking and aggressive style of play in an attempt to dominate the game. Murray who has struggled on clay, admits that he knows very little of his opponent but has observed his attacking style and his flat hitting style and believes he has more than enough to overcome his Japanese opponent.

Murray is yet to advance beyond the quarter finals of any tournament played on clay this year, which the world number four believes is because he struggles with the pace of the court and movement, has been in hard training to improve his game on this surface and to eclipse last year’s performance where he was knocked out in the semi-finals against Rafa Nadal after Murray suffered a ankle injury in the previous round. Rumours of a ongoing back injury have surrounded the Scot who fiercely denies any issues and is hoping to prove his fitness with a comprehensive first round victory.

FOCUS ON FEDERER

admin

The Olympic Games has always interested sportsman from various sectors and avenues. They have always preferred making a chance to participate at the Olympics as they feel it will earn them a lot of brownie points and improve their ranking and status. Most of the tennis players are no exception to this rule and they feel that it is a sense of pride to have won a medal at the Olympics.

However, Roger Federer himself has actually thought of it and has realized that  winning the ATP events like that of the Indian Wells which he recently accomplished, can actually go on to improve his popularity among the tennis circuit. Earning fame from these events is equally strong as those of the Olympics. People need to realize the importance of their game play and no matter whichever avenue o tournament they participate in, the end result is always good if one can remain focused.

Roger Federer is a six times Wimbledon champion and hence to go about [proclaiming that the legacy of Federer is more crucial than that of a Wimbledon tournament is highly non-sensical and illogical. One avenue which Roger Federer needs to improve in is the fact that he has not yet scored a single gold at the singles event and this would actually help him improve his ratings and career ranking if he wins this achievement.

Trying to come to agreement to the terms that a single Olympic Event is enough to state that Roger Federer gains the best ever label is highly uncertain. A player’s worth is not decided by just a single huge event. It might help him to get a little higher for a while, but if there is no consistency in the performance all the fame dies down.

FEDERER ON A HIGH

admin

The world number 3 Roger Federer is back in form again after defeating British Andy Murray in the finals of Dubai Duty Free ATP Tour Tennis Tournament. The former world number 1 is back amongst winning streak, and won his fifth title in Dubai on Saturday. His upcoming Tours includes Indian Wells and Miami and he wants to focus one at a time. He refuses to think about Wimbledon, Olympics or the US Open which is due in August. The Swiss star is in great form after winning 5 out of the 7 ATP s he has played in. His last titles coming within a week and he has not even dropped a set and 8 of the top ten players made the starting line-up.

Federer believes that once you are on a winning note then all the problems begins to vanish. There are no criticisms and the confidence comes back. He claims that he has played well in the Dubai series and also the one he played at Rotterdam a week before.

When he was asked by the scribes on why he refused to play an exhibition match with Rafael Nadal in Spain, he looked a bit hesitant. He says that he did not refuse the match but it did not match his dates. The match did not work out because of the tight schedule. The match was supposed to be held somewhere between the Wimbledon and the Olympics, he said. . He feels that in the coming future there can be an exhibition match, if the dates tally.

MURRAY WANTS GRAND SLAM

admin

Top British tennis player Andy Murray is hungry for a Grand Slam success this season and is willing to go to any extent to fulfill his Grand Slam ambitions and become the first British player to win a Major title in singles in the last few decades.

Murray has always faced criticism from the media and former players in his homeland for not getting his hands on the coveted Grand Slam title despite being in the top five in the ATP world rankings for the last few years on a consistent basis.

Murray even lost in three Grand Slam finals and has almost become the ‘nearly man’ of world tennis for reaching three finals and semi finals of the Major events without winning a single title. He even appointed former Grand Slam winner Ivan Lendl ahead of the Australian Open last December with the aim to improve his game and according to the world number four, the former world number one has already improved his game drastically with his approach.

Speaking to the media about the impact of Ivan Lendl, Andy Murray said that they only had five days ahead of the first Grand Slam of the year and in spite of the little time span, he helped a lot in his techniques and approach. One thing that Murray has in common with the Czech Maestro is that Lendl lost his first four Grand Slam finals before he turned it around to win eight Major titles in his career and Murray hopes that Lendl will be able to help him psychologically about his mindset in the final of a Major event.

It now waits to be seen whether Andy Murray can reach the heights that were expected of him when he burst on to the scene as a fresh youngster almost 6 years back now.