Source: http://feeds.tennis.com/~r/tenniscom-news/~3/lkRkNZspIPw/
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Not sweet for Caroline
NEWS FILE SPORT AROUND THE WORLD
Source: http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/more-sport/tennis/2011/02/27/not-sweet-for-caroline-115875-22954013/
Cricket: Metson sets demanding summer targets to new Glamorgan skipper Petersen
GLAMORGAN managing director Colin Metson has revealed the demanding targets he has set new South African captain Alviro Petersen.
Rafa Nadal, Novak Djokovic face little resistence
Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic both cruised into the quarter-finals of the Sony Ericsson Open with straight sets victories today.
Three to See: Australian Open, Day 7
Before each day's play Down Under, TENNIS.com editor Ed McGrogan will pick his three must-see matches.
Na Li [9] vs. Victoria Azarenka [8] (Rod Laver Arena, second day match)
?Li leads head-to-head 2-1
Li is into the second week of the Australian Open for the second consecutive year. With two more wins, she'll reach her second consecutive semi. I think she'll get one of them tonight. Li hasn't dropped a set thus far and seems inspired by the scene of her last significant triumph. Azarenka has been just as dominant so far, but I prefer Li's consistent yet powerful shotmaking to Azarenka's highs and lows?she's shown nothing but positives so far, but rarely does a tournament go by without a dip in her play. Even a slight one could be damaging against Li.
The pick: Li in three sets.
Nicolas Almagro [14] vs. Novak Djokovic [3] (Hisense Arena, second match)
?Djokovic leads head-to-head 1-0
Upset alert? Almagro is certainly the type of player who could oust a huge name, but he could just as likely be subdued in straights. I don't think either will happen. Almagro is playing well and fresh off a three-set swatting of Ivan Ljubicic. Today, he should be able to take advantage of the many short balls that will come his way?Djokovic can hit deep, but he has his lulls. But thinking about the match as a whole, the Serb should do more of the former than the latter.
The pick: Djokovic in four sets.
Andy Roddick [8] vs. Stanislas Wawrinka [19] (Rod Laver Arena, second night match)
?Wawrinka leads head-to-head 2-1
The players who've recently defeated Roddick at majors?Teymuraz Gabashvili, Yen-Hsun Lu and Janko Tipsarevic?did so unexpectedly. A loss to Wawrinka, who looked like a Top 5 player in crushing Gael Monfils, wouldn't surprise anyone. Peter Lundgren has helped Wawrinka become substantially more aggressive; we saw this at the U.S. Open and there's been more evidence in Melbourne. Roddick will have to match that tenacity. While he can, of course, do it with his serve, doing so on the ground seems like a stretch.
The pick: Wawrinka in five sets.
Source: http://feeds.tennis.com/~r/tenniscom-features/~3/UVrh03uYs98/
Andy Murray will bounce back insists his old coach
Andy Murray's former coach, Brad Gilbert, has backed the Scot to come out of his slump sooner rather than later.
A Lesson for the Ages
Can size, power and experience be enough to propel a 4.0-rated player to victory against a gifted 11-year-old? Andrew Friedman puts his tennis skills to the test against a rising junior star.
I knew it was a losing enterprise when I realized that the best outcome required me to defeat an 11-year-old girl.
Nonetheless, there I was, on the main show court at the IMG Bollettieri Tennis Academy, facing off against Mary Beth Hurley, a junior then ranked 101st nationally, in a best-of-three-set showdown. The purpose of this absurdist confrontation? To see what can be learned when the brain and brawn of a 40-something hacker is pitted against the superior technique of a professionally trained player one-quarter my age.
Mary Beth arrived at the court, a slight, 4-foot-9 kid with braces on her upper teeth and a visor with Melanie Oudin?s autograph scribbled in one corner. The Novi, MI, native looked harmless enough and sounded unthreatening. Her polite speech punctuated with nervous giggles. Heck, she was precious. But I have to admit: I was afraid. A late bloomer, I?ve only been playing roughly as long as Mary Beth had been alive, and I?ve never received anything like the instruction she gets on a daily basis.
The warm-up set me at ease. Under a potent Florida sun, I instantly found my form. But when I realized I was hitting the ball harder than Mary Beth, I felt uncomfortable. Should I have asked for an older opponent? Should I have requested a guy?
My sympathies were misplaced. She won the racquet spin and elected to serve first. As soon as the battle began, the shy, giggly kid was replaced by a focused competitor, one whose shots had more purpose, direction and topspin than they had a few minutes prior. And she had the disposition of a veteran: I?d look up from retrieving a ball between points to find her planted on the baseline, ready to serve, her gaze imperious, her ball bounce signaling impatience.
This fierce demeanor was matched by steely, steady play. I, on the other hand, was a study in uncertainty, committing four unforced errors to forfeit the first game. As we switched sides, her diminutive height came into high relief. I?d never been so conflicted onthe court: My instinct to fight to the death was mitigated by a question of what constituted fair play against a preteen, and of the opposite gender, no less. My first service game was a festival of errors into the net that found me down 0-2.
I silently scolded myself, resolved to be more aggressive. Who cares that she?s eleven? She?s a ranked player. And now she?s drawn first blood. It was on.
But after I went up 30-0 on her next service game, Mary Beth elevated: a quality approach to her backhand brought a pinpoint passing shot that dipped hopelessly out of reach. Peppering the corners harder didn?t help matters?she got to everything, then turned the tables and ran me side to side. Between points, I?d look up to see her collecting herself, her eyes trained on her strings, just like a pro. It was intimidating.
Clearly, the statistical truth that had seen me through so many recreational contests?more points are won at the club level with errors than winners?had no application against this future pro who wasn?t going to miss, at least not much, certainly not unless I forced her to, which seemed unlikely. I was left with a puzzle to solve, and fast: How do you beat somebody this much better than you when you can?t out-steady them?
Mentally, I found my game and had my moments?an ace, a lunge-volley winner, and a backhand down the line that she barely moved for. But those are just three points; a single game requires four. Even though the rallies grew longer?10 or 12 shots longer?most of them ended with her maneuvering me out of position and passing me with a devastating crosscourt backhand, or with me finally committing an error. She clobbered me, taking the opening set 6-0.
Reflecting at the changeover, I realized that I?d been playing a profoundly stupid match. I had abandoned my game plan of pummeling my own first serves, teeing off on my returns (most 11-year-olds can?t generate enough pace and rotation to threaten you with their delivery), and employing as many drop shot-lob combinations as I could muster to exploit her lack of height.
Wolfing down a banana, I wondered where that plan had gone. I couldn?t quite put words to the answer, but instinctually I knew that I?d have to go so outside my comfort zone, for such a sustained period of time, to win a game?let alone games?that if I followed that high-risk strategy, I might soon wind up in a spiral of unforced errors and mounting frustration. The score line might be the same, but the points would be shorter, without hope. It would be ugly.
For the second set, I came out with the simple goal of playing a little better. And for a moment, it nearly worked: In the first game, I got up 40-love on Mary Beth?s serve before putting two timid returns into the net on my way to blowing the opportunity. I blinked and was down 0-3, 0-40, but I got back to 30-40. The next point seemed like an endless corner-to-corner rally. My slice backhand kept me alive, my forehand pushed her wide. The prospect of pulling up to deuce seemed like a pi�ata of possibility. But the point had become a workout unto itself. Forced to end it, I unleashed a go-for-broke forehand six inches too long down the line. Game over.
Finally, at 5-0, I managed to hold serve. I glanced across the net and spied Mary Beth looking at her strings with what I perceived as even greater focus. Was this a late-breaking reprieve? A bit of charity? I?d seen my share of junior tennis and knew that closing out matches was a common Achilles? heel. Were things looking up for me?
The answer was an emphatic ?no.? She closed me out efficiently in the next game, and the match was over: 6-0, 6-1.
After we cooled off and rehydrated, I asked her a question: ?Did you learn anything playing against me??
?Not really,? she said. ?It was kind of an easy match for me.?
?Well, what could I learn from you??
?Hit more up and backs, more angles, and then a loopy ball. Mix it up more.?
Schooled by an 11-year-old. As if to make me feel better, she pointed out that she?d be 12 in just a month.
Back home, I became obsessed with the match. I had allowed Mary Beth to win our mental battle by becoming afraid to take the risks necessary to win. I was going to lose that day in Florida, but I could?ve at least altered my strategy. I promised myself that I would strive to win every match until the end.
In my next contest, at 4-4, my opponent went up 30-0 on my serve. Normally, I would?ve played conservatively, but I unloaded my two biggest first deliveries of the day, holding, then playing even more aggressively to break for the win. Afterward, I realized I?d done something I never had before?between each of those crucial points, I had gazed down into my strings, finding my focus there. Just like Mary Beth.
Originally published in the March 2011 issue of TENNIS.
Source: http://feeds.tennis.com/~r/tenniscom-features/~3/bMRM3yk4yWE/
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Fish passes Roddick as No. 1 US player (AP)
Mardy Fish talks trash with Andy Roddick about basketball and golf, but not tennis. The topic of Fish's new ranking will be off limits, he said. Fish claimed the top U.S. spot for the first time Wednesday by reaching the semifinals of the Sony Ericsson Open when he beat No. 6 seed David Ferrer 7-5, 6-2.
Venus Williams can't stomach Miami Open
VENUS WILLIAMS has withdrawn from next week’s Miami Sony Ericsson Open.
Not sweet for Caroline
NEWS FILE SPORT AROUND THE WORLD
Source: http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/more-sport/tennis/2011/02/27/not-sweet-for-caroline-115875-22954013/
Davis Cup: James Ward helps restore GB national tennis pride
SHATTERED James Ward was the star as Great Britain took another step to restoring national tennis pride.
Lendl's in frame to coach Andy Murray
Andy Murray will begin interviewing potential new coaches after parting company with Alex Corretja.
Ice hockey: Cardiff Devils book place in play-offs
CARDIFF Devils made sure of a place in the English National League play-offs with a home win in front of one of their best attendances this season.
Visa hitch holds up new Glam coach Mott
GLAMORGAN are expecting new coach Matthew Mott to arrive from Australia next Monday following a delay with his visa application.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Maria Sharapova yet to set a wedding date
Maria Sharapova says that she and her fiancée, New Jersey Nets guard Sasha Vujacic, have not set a wedding date.
"In the beginning I was really, really excited, and all my friends were giving me like wedding magazines and wedding books," she said. "That was like the No. 1 gift for Christmas for me. But I was quite overwhelmed with it, and then I just put them down and said, 'Okay, I have plenty of time.' We're still very young. The only thing that really changes, you just know that when you come home or when you're done with your travels you have somebody to come home to. It's always really comforting and nice."?Matthew Cronin
"In the beginning I was really, really excited, and all my friends were giving me like wedding magazines and wedding books," she said. "That was like the No. 1 gift for Christmas for me. But I was quite overwhelmed with it, and then I just put them down and said, 'Okay, I have plenty of time.' We're still very young. The only thing that really changes, you just know that when you come home or when you're done with your travels you have somebody to come home to. It's always really comforting and nice."?Matthew Cronin
Source: http://feeds.tennis.com/~r/tenniscom-news/~3/U_yXwBQMQYs/
Roddick ousted in Miami opener; Nadal, Federer win
KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. (AP)?Facing match point and feeling lousy, Andy Roddick bent over behind the baseline with his hands on his thighs, looking like someone desperately needing to take a seat in the shade.
That?s where he was headed one point later. An ailing Roddick lost his opening match Saturday at the Sony Ericsson Open to Pablo Cuevas of Uruguay, 6-4, 7-6 (4).
Two-time champion Roddick requested three visits from a trainer in the second set and said he had trouble breathing because of chest congestion. He has struggled to shake a bronchial infection he contracted last month and plans to see a doctor when he returns home to Austin, Texas.
Roddick began limping at the end of the match and said he also had an injury, but he declined to elaborate.
?I have to get some stuff looked at,? a wheezy Roddick said.
Much more robust were No. 1-seeded Rafael Nadal and No. 3 Roger Federer, who easily advanced to the third round. In women?s third-round play, No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki beat No. 29 Daniela Hantuchova 6-1, 7-6 (7).
Roddick played with a mild case of mononucleosis last summer, and he?s wondering about the extent of his current malady.
?It?s deep in the chest,? he said. ?It?s not even so much nasally or throat or anything like that. It?s just when I laugh, I start sounding like a car trying to start.?
There was nothing to laugh about against Cuevas, a 25-year-old journeyman who beat a top-10 player for the first time. The defeat is expected to drop Roddick from eighth to about 15th in the next rankings, the lowest he has been since 2002.
Roddick said the way he felt, he wasn?t surprised to lose.
?I didn?t feel very optimistic throughout the day,? said Roddick, who won the Key Biscayne title in 2004 and 2010.
Nadal, seeking his first Key Biscayne title, held every service game and beat Kei Nishikori 6-4, 6-4. LeBron James and Dwyane Wade took part in the pre-match coin toss, then watched most of the first set from the front row behind the baseline.
Federer defeated Radek Stepanek 6-3, 6-3 for his 762nd victory, tying him with Pete Sampras for seventh place in the Open era.
?It?s nice tying Pete, but he could have played for many more years,? Federer said. ?He could still win some matches on tour now if he wanted to.?
Federer, who won Key Biscayne in 2005 and 2006, faced only one break point against Stepanek and has won 18 consecutive sets from the Czech.
?I was able to play solid and keep him moving and serve at a high first-serve percentage,? Federer said. ?All in all, I?m really pleased.?
He improved to 19-3 this year, with all three losses to Novak Djokovic. They could meet in the final next Sunday.
Six other seeded men lost: No. 10 Jurgen Melzer, No. 18 Marin Cilic, No. 20 Albert Montanes, No. 22 Marcos Baghdatis, No. 26 Juan Ignacio Chela, and No. 28 Ernests Gulbis. Melzer was beaten by friend and doubles partner Philipp Petzschner 6-3, 6-4.
No. 13-seeded Mikhail Youzhny drubbed Yen-hsun Lu 6-1, 6-0. No. 15 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga beat Teymuraz Gabashvili 6-3, 6-7 (3), 6-3.
In women?s play, No. 16 Maria Sharapova advanced to a fourth-round matchup against No. 4 Samantha Stosur by beating Sabine Lisicki 6-2, 6-0. No. 11 Svetlana Kuznetsova, the 2006 champion, lost to Peng Shuai 6-3, 6-1.
Roddick?s 16-4 this year despite his health issues. He won the Memphis final a month ago playing with what he thought was a bad cold he caught from his wife. He withdrew two days later from the Delray Beach tournament, then won two matches to help the U.S. Davis Cup team beat Chile in Santiago in early March.
Roddick said he felt fine at Indian Wells, where he reached the fourth round last week. When he arrived in Key Biscayne, his health worsened again.
?I have been coughing, but it hasn?t been affecting my breathing or energy levels until the last couple days,? he said.
He struggled from the start against Cuevas, lost serve to fall behind 4-3 in the first set and trailed the rest of the way. Cuevas never dropped his serve and hit 15 aces, with Roddick often slow to react on his returns.
Big first serves kept Roddick in the match?he reached 142 mph, then hit three aces in the tiebreaker to keep it close. But he was erratic with his backhand and volleys, and went 0 for 4 on break points.
?You don?t like going out there with less than what you got, and I feel like I have been doing that a lot,? Roddick said. ?It?s just frustrating.?
The defending men?s champion lost his opening match for the second year in a row. Andy Murray was beaten in 2010 by Mardy Fish.
Source: http://feeds.tennis.com/~r/tenniscom-news/~3/n3DWv3J5Et4/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)