ATP World Tour Finals: Tsonga Beats Fish To Keep Himself In Race

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga met Mardy Fish in the match of Sunday’s losers in Group B with the day’s loser almost definite to go out of the tournament.  Stakes were high for both players.

Mardy Fish was lucky with the toss and elected to serve.  He looked jaded to start with and gave double break point to Tsonga with sloppy play at the net. His intent was right but the body was moving slowly. He saved three break points but could not save the fourth to surrender the advantage of serving first. However, Tsonga could not stomach the gain and gave the break immediately back. Now it was Fish’s generosity to drop the serve in the very next game after committing a double fault at 15-30. The quality of play was not up to the standard from both ends. It was the Frenchman who steadied himself first and started playing with consistency. Fish was finding it difficult to replicate the form he showed against Nadal on Sunday. He not only looked slow but was actually slow. To compound his difficulties, his serve too was not the one that has given him many free points in recent times. But he woke up in the seventh game and took the game at love through good serve and determined play. But by this time, Tsonga had gone in another zone. Both the players were playing their best game and unlike at the beginning, were going through their service games with plenty to spare. At 5-4, it was crucial for Fish to do something to prevent Tsonga from serving out the set. With sheer grit and determination, he brought the set to level terms. And then he surged ahead with a love game. Tsonga had started committing errors on crucial points, as he did against Federer on Sunday. But he managed to take the set to the tie breaker through accurate serves.  He continued precision on serve and sent in four first serves to go up 5-2. Fish too was playing his heart out and keeping pace. Tsonga continued his first serve and took the tie break 7-4. He did not have to serve a single second serve in the entire tie breaker.

In the reversal of the first set, Fish broke in the very first game of the second set. But his fortune was short lived as he gave the advantage back in the very next game. He was not getting the type of short balls that Nadal gave him on Sunday. He saved two break points in the fourth game with brilliant net play but could not save the game since Tsonga was playing with full confidence now. While Fish smashed his racquet on the ground to give vent to his frustration, Tsonga cruised. At 1-4, time was passing fast for Fish. Try as he did, he could not save the third straight service game and with score line at 5-1 on Tsonga serve, the writing was on the wall. Tsonga opened the crucial game with a double fault and followed it up with a long stroke. Fish was running like possessed to save every point. He could not do much however and the set was over 6-1 in Tsonga favour.

Fish did everything and lost. Tsonga winning in straight set has opened up the group and much will depend on the night match between Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.

ATP World Tour Finals: Andy Murray Pays Price For Complacency And Reckless Bravado

The local hero Andy Murray met the underdog David Ferrer in the first match of Group A in Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London. Expectations always run high when Murray plays in U.K but he disappointed the viewers losing to Ferrer in straight sets 4-6 5-7.

Andy Murray won the toss but surprisingly elected to receive. Ferrer opened the proceedings and went through the first game without dropping a point, though courtesy Murray who committed four consecutive unforced errors.  When Ferrer committed double fault to go down 15-30 in the third game, Murray sensed opportunity and got a double  break point. He squandered them but made amends later in the game to draw the first blood going up 2-1. Casual play in the next game saw Murray giving back the advantage. Murray was making uncharacteristic unforced errors without Ferrer making any contribution to it. To the dismay of the local fans, the errors were coming in pairs making it difficult to undo the mistake once committed. It was mostly the net that was coming in between. Through the middle of the first set, Murray served at 33%, putting undue pressure on himself to win through the ground strokes. But he was not succeeding in that too. In the first seven games, Murray had committed 17 unforced errors.  It was a struggle. One was not sure what strategy, if at all, had he come out with in the first match of the tournament. Ferrer was going through his routines and that was enough to keep him in the race. He got the opportunity when Murray gave set points on his serve twice to Ferrer and Ferrer got home on the second set point when Murray committed another unforced error. Electing to receive after winning the toss had clearly proved to be Murray’s undoing.

Murray called the trainer at the close of the first set with problem in his left hip joint. On resumption, Murray broke Ferrer in the very first game and consolidated the break when Ferrer committed consecutive unforced errors. But a number of errors in the fourth game by Murray gave the break back at love. Was it nervousness or pressure of playing before the home crowd that was hampering Murray’s game. But he got a double break point in the seventh game and it was Ferrer who committed unforced error by hitting the ball beyond the baseline to give a crucial break to Murray.  Murray continued erratic play and gave back the break by committing a double fault on the break point. Pressure visibly mounted on Murray when he came out to serve to stay in the match at 4-5. Murray could not put a single first serve in to go down 15-30, but still managed to stay alive. Impatience was doing him in and in his anxiety to score a winner, he was committing abnormally high unforced errors. Ferrer continued to play within his limits with occasional overzealousness. His opportunity came in the twelfth game on Murray’s serve when he dug in to return all balls without aiming to hit any risky winner. He got a match point and was content on returning the ball one more time. Murray chose wrong shots to let Ferrer get open court and the match was over 6-4 7-5 in Ferrer’s favour.

Andy Murray lost by serving only 46% first serves in and committing 44 unforced errors. Ferrer won by playing a percentage game within his limits.  Fortune favours the brave but not a reckless bravado. Murray tried uncontrolled aggression and paid the price.

ATP World Tour Finals: Nadal Less Than Impressive Against Fish

Rafael Nadal edged past a fighting Mardy Fish in his opening match at Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in three sets. It was a less than impressive performance. Those who were hoping for a rejuvenated Nadal after days of rest found their hopes belied. With families of both the players in the box, the fight was more of a battle. Nadal overcame Fish 6-2 3-6 7-6.

It was Fish who came out rusty in the first set. His serves were not befitting his recent serving capabilities. If he put in 57% of first serves in, he could take solace in that his rival put in just 48%. That Nadal won even after not finding his first serve more often than not, is a reflection of the game Fish played. All the usual weaker points were on view in Nadal’s game. The short balls, the impoverished back hand shots, less than penetrating serves etcetera. His defence however was good and the occasional miraculous shots lifted his morale from time to time. Fish committed a number of errors and when the set ended, all the signs were there of an impending straight sets win.

The things turned in the second set. Fish started on a pro-active strategy. He would attack at the first opportunity. He improved his serves and attacked the net. His soft touch at the net was delicate enough to prevail over a charging Nadal. On his part, Nadal continued the same game and suffered. His vacant forehand corner gave numerous opportunities to Fish. More and more players are learning the wisdom in attacking the forehand side of Nadal. There were no indications that Nadal camp has been successful in plugging the gaps in that corner. Fish won the set 6-3 to push the match into the final set.

Nadal earned break in the very first game of Fish to go up 2-0 and the signs were there that the second set could have been a practice set for Nadal. That was not to be. Fish won three consecutive games attacking Nadal and baring his defences. In crucial moments, Nadal was not able to find his first serve. Fish was attacking the second serve with vigour, determined that attack is the best defence against Nadal. He was able to save match points in the tenth game to push the match into the tie breaker. When Nadal won the first four points, the tie break was virtually over. Fighting as well as he did, Fish could not reverse the momentum in the tie breaker and lost 3-7.

All the three players in Nadal half are attacking players. He will have to be more attacking himself to ward off the opponents from the net.

ATP World Tour Finals: Federer Passes Tsonga Test In The Opener

Roger Federer continued his mastery over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the opening match of Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London defeating him in three sets 6-2 2-6 6-4. 

Federer raced through the first set riding  on his characteristic first serves which Tsonga found difficult to return effectively. Tsonga was playing big points poorly, not pacing his game to be effective in the crucial situations.  Federer was dominating the ground rallies too. The set was over in no time with spectators yearning for a gripping opener.  The score read 6-2.

And their prayers were answered. Tsonga upped the strength in his serves and ground strokes. More than that he started remaining in the rallies a bit longer. Many a time, Federer’s backhand gave clues to Tsonga how to win the crucial points. Tsonga takes risks and it paid off. Winning ordinary points in spectacular manner which brought him cheers from the stands raised his morale and at the same time lowered that of his rival.  There was no hesitation in Tsonga’s mind when he served for the set at 5-2 and the match went into the decider. 

The third set gave no early clues to the end result. Both the players were playing their own game well. Federer had brought more defence into his strategy. The crucial game came at 4-5 for Tsonga when he served to stay in the match. The better match player that he is, Federer seized the moment when Tsonga buried an easy volley into the net and double faulted to go down 0-30. When Tsonga failed to set his first serve in, Federer literally jumped into the second serve to hurry Tsonga into a poor shot to set up a triple match point. He did not falter on the second and wrapped up the set 6-4.

U.S. Open 2011: Novak Djokovic Lifts His Maiden U.S.Open Trophy

Novak Djkovic lifted his maiden U.S Open trophy when he defeated Rafael Nadal in four demanding sets 6-2, 6-4, 6-7, 6-1. He has cemented his place as the top player of the world and one of the tennis greats.

It was a familiar script in the end. The most anticipated match culminated in the most expected end. The plot was familiar as if a replay from the last Grand Slam event played earlier this year. Novak Djokovic takes the first two sets, Rafael Nadal fights back in the third and then surrenders meekly in the fourth. Djokovic has achieved super stardom now and it will not be long before he will be talked as one of the all time greats. He has shown no signs of fading away for the next season.

Nadal did not play badly except towards the end of the match in the fourth set. He played as well as he was allowed to play by Djokovic. The result was a confirmation of the fact that one dimensional game from the baseline can extend Djokovic but cannot topple him. This defeat of Nadal, in a way, refurbishes the importance of the all shot game of Roger Federer. It was not that Nadal did not try. One could see the deliberate change of pace in his shots, change of depth and change of spin. He tried all this to disturb the rhythm of his opponent, but this is only good enough to induce errors, not to win the points a sure way. Djokovic appeared confident that this was not the opponent who could topple him here or anywhere else, all the rest of the things remaining the same. It appears that Nadal has lost the mental strength against Djokovic. His successes through extra top spin against single backhanded Federer have made him a prisoner of a stereo typed game where he tends to attack the backhand of the opponent and his defensive stock shot is the cross court forehand. Djokovic is too familiar with this game and is able to send winners in vacant space even if the ball is heavy with top spin. Djokovic has one of the best backhands ever and that further negates what was the winning game of Nadal so far. Djokovic is usually in position to hit the ball with a swing that keeps the ball within the court even when travelling as if to land beyond the sidelines. His anticipation of Nadal’s serve is so good that the return places Nadal in a defensive posture from the third shot onwards. Djokovic is a supremely confident player this year, more so against Nadal. He does not have to do anything innovative to get past him. He plays his natural game and Nadal plays his all familiar game and the result is familiar in the end. In a way, team Nadal has many things to learn from the Djokovic machine, but it has failed so far.

Rafael Nadal would have been better off if he had just lost the match, but he appears to have lost a bit of stature too. The tennis world desperately needs a youngster to burst on the scene as Boris Becker did in the mid eighties.

U.S.Open 2011 Finals Preview: Rafael Nadal - Novak Djokovic Blockbuster

The top two players will vie for the trophy at the last Grand Slam event of the year when they meet on Monday at Flushing Meadows in the U.S. Open, 2011. Novak Djokovic is favoured to prevail over Rafael Nadal yet again. 

Djokovic has become so familiar with Nadal’s game that he was there where the ball was supposed to come, and the ball did come there. Nadal has found it difficult to add surprise element in his game. On his part, Djokovic shots are landing a yard from the baseline, forcing Nadal to go on the defensive all the time. Nadal is finding it difficult to score comfortably even when it is his service game. Djokovic shots land inches from the lines and with such speed that even a good mover like Nadal finds it difficult to regroup to run to the other side. The angle is so acute that he is taken far out of the court. 

The court positioning is all familiar. Nadal is yards behind the baseline and Djokovic is just at the baseline. Nadal is forced to play short when he is not able to place his entire body weight behind the shot. The ball is hit from so much behind the baseline that Djokovic has ample time to read it and reach it. The ball has lot of top spin and therefore, the parabolic trajectory has more length to be covered giving extra fraction of second to Djokovic. On the return, the ball comes back with greater speed bursting off the court like a canon ball. It is all power hitting with Djokovic excelling Nadal in the baseline exchanges. Nadal tends to move to the deuce court side of the midpoint and tends to convert backhand into forehand. This gives open space to the opponent in the ad court corner. Many hard hitters have scored winners on this side, though on a few occasions, Nadal is able to hit spectacular down the line forehand shot on the run. 

Nadal gets taste of his own medicine when Djokovic runs down every winner and returns it with greater strength. This is what Nadal used to do to others. His movement is fluid whereas that of Nadal is spontaneous. It comes from greater anticipation. Nadal is also a very good mover, but his speed is good in long steps. The short step adjustment to an incoming shot is better for Djokovic.  Secondly, familiarity with Nadal’s stock shots makes court positioning easier for Djokovic. The cross court forehand to the backhand of the opponent has succeeded against single fisted backhanders like Federer, but it is not devastating against double fisted backhanders. 

Djokovic now plays with lot of buffer. He has capacity to get out of break points with good one-two-three combination of shots. This was a typical Federer preserve in his prime. After a good serve, advance to the middle of the court and whack the return to the other side of court at an acute angle. Nadal was seen running from side to side and capitulating ultimately to the wide shot. Djokovic is now taking the ball on the rise as Federer or Agassi used to do. This further takes time away from Nadal. Nadal too plays angles or aggressive shot, but he waits for the short ball. Djokovic, on the other hand, can hit such aggressive shot from any position in the court. 

If Nadal plays above his capacity and Djokovic plays below his, Nadal will triumph. His motivation will be immense and his intensity will be very high. But what home work the team has done to counter Djokovic superiority will be seen only on the court. It does not appear to be cake walk for either of them. Nadal will do his best to turn the tide. It remains to be seen what toll the five setter against Federer has taken on Djokovic.

U.S.Open 2011 Semi-Finals Preview: Novak Djokovic Meets Roger Federer In The Most Anticipated Match Of The Year

Novak Djokovic will battle Roger Federer for a place in the finals today. Will Federer ride the momentum of his superb victory over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to achieve another victory over Djokovic or will the law of averages take over and give a win to Djokovic, would be anybody’s guess. The fact is that Djokovic has defeated Federer in all the three hard court matches this year. However, Federer has defeated Djokovic the last time they played, at the French Open in June, 2011.

The matches between them have mostly been keen contests. In last year’s semi-final at the U.S. Open, Federer could not convert his chances for victory over Djokovic and appeared to fade away towards the end after playing well rest of the time. This was one of the instances where he failed to serve out or convert numerous match points and after such failure, capitulated without much fight. Big hitters have succeeded in taking time away from him, making him shank the ball or barely reach it. But critics have pointed out that one-dimensional baseliners can not aspire to win over Djokovic these days since he has more speed, more precision and more power from back of the court. It is a game of variety that can upset Djokovic’s game. And Federer is known to have that kind of game. But then, one might have a game, one might prepare well to execute it only to see that he is not allowed to play as well as he wanted to play.

Federer has been accused of being stubborn by not changing his game when things are not working his way. He still wants to hit the opponent out of the court through winners. But he has slowed down and therefore, does not hit the ball from the sweet spot that often. The winners have dwindled and the unforced errors have mounted. He wins against journeymen like Juan Monaco and plays the same game against big hitters who can place him in wider position through speed or angles. In the match against Tsonga at Montreal last month, he hit 32 unforced errors against 31 winners whereas Tsonga hit 33 winners against 21 unforced errors. But he has turned tables as far as Tsonga is concerned in the previous round.

Djokovic is playing the best tennis of his career in 2011. He scores over everybody as far as speed, power, precision and the mental strength is concerned. He hits so many winning shots in a single rally that one of these shots is bound to go through as a winner or an error inducing shot. The bouncing board sends back balls at higher speed and acute angles. The opponent can not withstand such a barrage, except over a short period of time. He has to capitulate at some point or the other. This has been seen in his victories over Rafael Nadal in the five finals they have played this year. The baseline shots not only have power but have depth as well and they follow a straight trajectory to land where they are intended to land. He takes the ball as early as Federer is famed to do, and swings with all his might. He places top spin even when he swinging downwards and the ball goes like a guided missile. But he has to get the ball which tends to sit up or jump up a bit, not the ball that skids or keeps low. What shots he is going to get when he plays Federer is the key to today’s results.  

It is the most anticipated match of the year so far. The stands will stand for the underdog, for sure.

U.S.Open 2011 Quarter-Finals Preview: Nadal-Roddick, Isner-Murray

Quarter-finals in the bottom half are going to be played today at the Flushing Meadows.

Rafael Nadal meets Andy Roddick in the second match at the Arthur Ashe stadium today. Roddick is riding a better and better showing with each round, whereas Nadal is his usual self, fighting hard against all opponents. In some ways, David Ferrer is a poor man’s Nadal and he was defeated in four sets by Roddick yesterday. There will be a similar opponent today, but with higher skills. Nadal tries to reach the unreachable like Ferrer, but Roddick had answers to that. Ferrer has the same never say die spirit, but that was not enough to stop Roddick. Ferrer is fitter than Nadal at this stage this year, but he could not dent Roddick’s performance. However, that is only as far as comparisons go. Nadal is ten times champion who has capacity to shut his ears off to the deafening roars from the stands.  He is not that good a returner of serve and Roddick is not going to falter on serve. If the serve is returned, Roddick will try to capitalize on the short balls and put them out in one-two combination. Nadal will engage Roddick in longer rallies and induce errors ultimately.  In all probability, it is going to be Roddick’s offence versus Nadal’s defence. Dice is loaded in Nadal’s favour.

John Isner will provide a perfect foil for Andy Murray. He will be the pro-active player to the reactive Murray. His endeavour will be to take the set to the tie breaker and hope to land first serves in. Murray will run like hare and retrieve each and every ball. If the serve is returned and rally gets beyond the initial server’s advantage, Murray is likely to win the point. Isner has lasted the longest match in tennis and so, it is difficult to see him out of gas even if any match goes to the wire, but then he had a triple tie break four setter against Gilles Simon in the rain delayed fourth round schedule. Murray is a good returner and he has excellent anticipation. He will also send in a few aces, since Isner is not that good a returner. The extra mobility and doggedness gives Murray an edge over Isner.  

U.S.Open 2011 Preview: Fourth Round - Ninth Day

It almost looks like America versus the rest of the world on the ninth day at U.S.Open except for the tie between Rafael Nadal and Gilles Muller in the fourth round. 

Rafael Nadal will play Gilles Muller for a place in the quarter-finals. Gilles Muller boasts of a victory over Nadal at Wimbledon in 2005 when Nadal was fresh from his first Grand Slam title at French Open. A lot of water has flown down the Thames since then. Earlier this year, Nadal bested Muller in straight sets at the same Wimbledon, though Muller can take credit for extending Nadal to tie breaks in the first two sets. Muller has a good serve and Nadal is not the best returner in the game. Muller is tall enough to negate the extra bounce on the top spin ball, but he will find it difficult to deny Nadal an entry into quarter-finals unless Nadal is still down with the press conference cramps.

 

When Donald Young defeated Andy Murray in the Indian Wells earlier this year, Murray served below 50% and his second serves were so easy for Young that Murray won only 28% of points on his second serves. Murray’s service deserts him in tight situations. American crowd support for Young can damage Murray’s psyche. When Murray is down, he almost suffers from Downs Syndrome and turns himself into a retrieving mode. This succeeds against those who are prone to unforced errors but fails against safe hitters like Novak Djokovic. Young does not have the hitting power of Djokovic, but he will thrive on the support from the stands. It will be interesting to see how Murray negotiates Young. Long rallies will be the order of the day.

John Isner has the capacity to topple Gilles Simon. Both have confidence coming into this round. Simon had an improbable victory against Juan Martin Del Potro in the previous round and Isner has stepped into U.S. Open with a victory at the ATP event at Winston Salem a week before.  If Isner serves as well as he is capable of, Simon can find his consistency and returning power eroded. He will also have to contend with the crowd support for the local lad.

If Andy Roddick can tame the Spanish bull dog David Ferrer, no place would be better than the Flushing Meadows. He has to avenge his defeat in the Davis Cup played earlier this year in the United States. Ferrer goes on coming back and back and refuses to go away. He is not that susceptible to the crowd pressure too. Roddick does not boast of a great net game and it might be suicidal to engage Ferrer in long rallies. Tie breakers will favour Roddick. It should be Roddick’s endeavour to serve well enough to take his games on serve and hope to take the set to the tie break.

On this day, ENT specialists will have a field day since three Americans figure in the four matches to be played and each of them is an underdog.

U.S.Open 2011 Preview: Eighth Day - A Drab Day!

The eighth day at U.S.Open 2011 promises to be a drab day since results are, by and large, going to be on expected lines.

There is no upset on cards when Juan Monaco takes on Roger Federer. Federer’s losses have come more against big hitters; those who can take time away from him. Monaco is a clay court specialist where he retrieves every ball thrown at him. He waits for mistakes from the opponents or for short balls. With this type of play, even if he is inspired to play at double his capacity, he can not put out Federer. He can win if Federer self destructs or is blindly complacent or makes tons of unforced errors.

There is no upset apparent in Novak Djokovic - Alexandr Dolgopolov match. Djokovic can not be upstaged by a raw talent like Dolgopolov even though the latter does play an unorthodox game. Barring serve, he does not have enough power or consistency to win break points on Djokovic serve. If he were to engage in rallies, he can not stand the barrage beyond a few shots. He does not have the serve and volley variety. Slices may keep the ball out of the comfort zone of Djokovic, but he has an excellent defence to wait for the ball to land in his strike zone. Any excessive use of drop shots would be suicidal since Djokovic has tremendous anticipation and speed. If Dolgopolov has put in a good performance so far, it could be due to the fact that he was allowed to play his best game by opponents who were not in the same category as a top ten player.

In the fight between the highest American seed Mardy Fish and the entertainer Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, the higher ranked player might prevail. Tsonga is not impervious to crowd pressure. He benefits a great deal when stands support him and fails when crowd favours his opponents. If Queens Club ATP tournament was played not in London in June, he could have defeated Andy Murray. He faded against Murray in Wimbledon 2010 too. Mardy Fish is playing solid tennis. He is playing on his home soil. Tsonga will find it hard to produce his best. He is an entertainer and the crowd will be entertained most if he loses.

Janko Tipsarevic and Juan Carlos Ferrero will have equal chances. Tipsarevic will hit more aces and more winners, but Ferrero will commit less unforced errors. Tipsarevic can be sublime one day and ordinary the next day. Ferrero plays the same game over and over again. Tipsarevic sometimes goes for the spectacle whereas Ferrero mostly sticks to the percentage game. One player likes complexities and the other likes simplicity, as far as tennis is concerned. One likes innovation, the other likes robotics. It is difficult to see one player totally overpowering the other.

U.S.Open 2011 Preview: The Sixth Day Cometh

The sixth day promises to be like “Sixth Day” of U.S.Open 2011. The script is full of drama and uncertainties. Unpredictable contests are in offing where interest lies not only in the winning but also in the manner of winning.

It remains a mystery why Tomas Berdych falls to Janko Tipsarevic who is short in stature, both physique wise and seeding wise. Berdych defeated Roger Federer at Wimbledon in 2010 with his powerful game and lost to Tipsarevic a few months later in the Davis Cup. At Rogers Cup in Montreal last month, Tipsarevic defeated Berdych in straight sets when Berdych was sixth seeded and Tipsarevic was unseeded. Infact Berdych has never defeated Tipsarevic in any of the ATP events or Grand Slams or Davis Cup ties though they have met three times. It is time for Berdych to reverse the history today lest Tipsarevic should be called his true nemesis. Tipsarevic’s game is not as complicated as favourite Dostoyevskian characters but he has a penchant for creating complications. He took the then defending champion Roger Federer to 10-8 in the fifth in the Australian Open 2008. Infact, he plays best when he is underdog. Every dog has his day, but whose it will be on the sixth day is not known.

Ivo Karlovic doused the hopes of the thirteenth seed Richard Gasquet and now faces a ten year younger Alexandr Dolgopolov who is seeded at twenty two. They have never played each other before. Dolgopolov is as much unpredictable as Karlovic is predictable. Karlovic will serve and come to the net, point after point, serve after serve. Dolgopolov will hit down the line when he is supposed to hit cross court or will slice when he is expected to hit top spin. If Dolgopolov is able to return Karlovic serve and move him around, he will win. Otherwise, Karlovic is likely to assume seedings killer status.  

Fernando Verdasco will be a thorn in Jo-Wilfried Tsonga’s flesh. He too plays best when he is an underdog. He has come down from the lofty heights of a top ten player to becoming a journey man within a period of just six months. But he has the capacity to rise to the occasion if the cliché that class is permanent and form is temporary is to be believed. Tsonga is in good form and hard courts are his favourites too. But he is a rhythm player and his mood will remain good as long as his game remains good. Prolonged focus is not his forte and doggedness is a less tested familiarity. On his day, he can beat the very best and on other days, he will fold up sooner than later. Crowd is likely to favour him over Verdasco and this might be immaterial to Verdasco but not to Tsonga. In any case, Tsonga has to keep the French flag flying after the untimely demise of the other three French seeds.

Kevin Anderson is enjoying career high ranking this year and has captured his first ATP World tour title in his home country earlier this year. But he meets a hot Mardy Fish in the latter’s home country today. Mardy Fish too is playing his best and is the highest seeded American in the tournament. Anderson is the taller of the two at 6’8” but Fish is the quicker and more experienced. It will require a monumental effort from Anderson to beat the home crowd favourite in their first meeting.

 Battle will be equally intense in Juan Monaco - Tommy Haas match. Haas has the uncanny habit of springing surprises even at 33 years of age and recovery from multiple injuries. His game is versatile, often reminding of Federer’s game. Juan Monaco is a clay court specialist who puts one more ball in play than his opponent. He has defeated Haas at Cincinnati a fortnight ago in three closely contested sets. It appears to be advantage Monaco.

Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic will both face tough opponents. Marin Cilic might have had a poor form in recent past, but he is young and hungry. He will be no toss over for Federer. Nikolay Davydenko might be looking old and jaded after return from injury, but he is like old wine. He will present a tougher challenge to Novak Djokovic.

U.S. Open 2011: Fifth Day Preview - Second Round

There are interesting battles on card on the fifth day of the U.S Open. It also features some unpredictable matches involving native players.

James Blake will go back to wall practice days when he meets David Ferrer “The Wall” in the second round. Blake will be wary of the fact that wall never loses. There are many similarities between the playing style of Ferrer and Nadal. One of them is the never say die spirit. James Blake will have to hit numerous winners when Ferrer attempts to draw him into endless rallies. Can Blake do this without committing many errors? He has defeated Ferrer at Indian Wells last year in the second round in straight sets. Ferrer has never won in the two meetings between the two. But there is a difference. Ferrer is seeded at five and is in good form. On the other hand, Blake will have massive crowd support. Blake can hope for maintaining his invincibility over Ferrer and if he loses, he loses nothing since he lost to a top ten player.

In a clash of the two veterans who have been in the top four a few years ago, Ivan Ljubicic takes on David Nalbandian. Ljubicic has had the better of exchanges having defeated Nalbandian five times against three. Both are much slower having gone through several injuries and that would present a level playing field. Ljubicic has more aggression in his game and Nalbandian has better consistency. Perhaps the better serving power might tilt the scale in Ljubicic favour a bit.

An upset can not be discounted when the American young hope Donald Young meets the fourteenth seed Stanislas Wawrinka. Wawrinka is susceptible to crowd pressure. It will also be a battle between experience and inexperience. If Young plays a percentage game, he should attack the single fisted back hand of Wawrinka with his forehand cross court shots. The slender advantage of being a left hander should be exploited to the full. Wawrinka will draw upon his experience and the prominent victories he had over some great players in the past.

Both the all American battles will provide entertainment. Robby Ginepri will not go down without fight to John Isner, but it is the ace power of Isner that is likely to prevail in the end. Andy Roddick will find the going tough against Jack Sock, but with the crowd support not in his exclusive favour, Sock will find himself in a familiar and yet unfamiliar surroundings. Whether he can conquer the fear of the unknown is yet to be seen.    

U.S Open 2011: Preview Of First Round

U.S Open draw is in the open and the street fight begins on Monday. There being no Americans in the list of favourites for the title, the stands will cheer for any good contest. Native players have usually played to their potential here and as such, their opponents will be wary of upsets in the first week.

One such encounter would be between Ryan Harrison and Marin Cilic. Marin Cilic has not been in the best of form of late. He was supposed to go places just a year ago and then came the slump. He lost form, confidence and easy matches. He has been susceptible to pressure and Monday will be a pressure cooker day for him when he faces American teen Ryan Harrison. Ryan Harrison is tipped to be a future hope for American tennis and the crowd would not let that get spoiled on the first day.

At least one Russian between Mikhail Youzhny and Nikolay Davydenko might fall in the Russian roulette on Monday. Youzhny has to contend with unpredictable Ernests Gulbis who, on his day, can trouble the very best in the world. Davydenko has to dodge Ivan Dodig, who upset Rafael Nadal in Montreal earlier this month. Davydenko has a glorious past but his current form has been patchy.

A keen contest is likely between Radek Stepanek and Philipp Kohlshreiber. Stepanek is a tactician who had a late bloom in his singles career. He has the capacity to change his game according to the needs of the day. Kohlshreiber plays a constant game in which he thrives on angles through cross court shots. Stepanek has taken a few breaks due to injuries in the last two years, but his tenacity has remained intact.

Marcos Baghdatis can give a tough challenge to John Isner. Isner is peaking at the right time whereas Baghdatis’ best years are over. He has battled through injuries since 2008 and is a shadow of the player who gave good fight to Roger Federer in the finals of the Australian Open 2006.

A quality match will be between Gael Monfils and Grigor Dimitrov. Gael Monfils has reached his best ranking this year and has displayed good form. Dimitrov was thought of as a future prospect in 2009 but has not since shown corresponding results. His single fisted backhand is likely to be a stumbling block in his ambition to become a top player.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga can get a hiccup or two from Yen-Hsun Lu. The other seeds are expected to have a cleaner path.

Wimbledon Has A New Champion In Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic became the new Wimbledon champion defeating Nadal in four sets 6-4 6-1 1-6 6-3 .

Djokovic played the same game with which he had defeated Nadal in the four ATP Masters finals played this year. In the rallies, it was Nadal who was made to play a defensive retrieval which Djokovic was able to smash to the other corner easily. Djokovic was returning Nadal’s serve better. The second shot after serve which is the winner shot from Nadal, was infact becoming a defensive shot sometimes. Djokovic was able to create more acute angles since he was standing nearer the baseline and taking the ball early. He was making Nadal run from corner to corner and creating gaps.

It was Djokovic who got the first break as was looking imminent. Since Nadal had chosen to receive serve after winning the toss, it became the set point at 4-5. Nadal could not put his first serves on crucial points in the game which showed his state of mind. He then committed unforced error to give the set to Djokovic 4-6.

No winners from Nadal were passing the racquet of Djokovic and Nadal was committing errors, especially from the forehand. Djokovic was clearly in ascendancy.

Superlative shots in the first service game of Nadal gave Djokovic the break in the second set. Nadal was nonplussed. His body language became defeatist. Djokovic was drawing all the applause from the stands. His court coverage and footwork was better than that of Nadal. It was looking as if Djokovic had magnet on his racquet. He was always in proper position to play his shots. His victory shouts were eating into the confidence of Nadal. There was no way Nadal could win even a set in this match if the same pattern continued. He continued to hit more winners and commit fewer errors. His shots were landing so close to the lines that nobody could have taken them. Djokovic got the second break playing so acute angles that Nadal looked shattered. In between points, Nadal was walking in such a dejected way to the other side of the court that he appeared mentally out of the match. Djokovic served out the second set 6-2 with ease.

There was more power and more safety in Djokovic shots. The first two sets had taken such a little time, that both players were very fresh physically, though mentally Nadal appeared jaded. Nadal’s lifting action which has imparted extraordinary top spin was sending the shot out of the court. Pace of the game and power on the shots were working in favour of Djokovic. Dampening the game and shots was the need of the hour but it was not in Nadal’s plan perhaps. It was in the second game of the third set that Nadal earned his first break point. A netted backhand from Djokovic gave Nadal first thing to cheer about. Dejected as he became, errors crept into Djokovic game from this point. Nadal continued with his same game and found himself winning riding on Djokovic errors. He was seen hitting more to the forehand of Djokovic than his usual inside in forehand from the deuce court. Djokovic who was anticipating Nadal’s stock shots well started giving gaps on his forehand side. A double fault on break point gave opportunity to Nadal to serve out the set. Djokovic appeared now to let this set pass and mount his aggression in the fourth set. Nadal got the last game of the third set at love. It was clear that there would be a no holds barred battle in the fourth set. 

Djokovic saved a break point in the first service game which Nadal should have converted since the momentum was with him. This was the turning point. Confidence of saving the break point gave the fillip needed by Djokovic. He earned two break points in the very first service game of Nadal. He converted without difficulty to go up 2-0. Nadal too earned a break point in the very next game and was distinctly lucky to get it courtesy the net cord. But Nadal returns of serve were so poor that Djokovic was invariably going up 30-0 in his service games. The set appeared to be going the same was as the first set. Djokovic was serving first and the danger was always there with Nadal. It happened at 3-4 on Nadal’s serve. Nadal committed his first double fault and Djokovic sensed blood. He started playing his best tennis and got the crucial break. It was now on Djokovic racquet to serve out the match. He did so without any difficulty winning the set 6-3.

Nadal’s main difficulty was that his second shot after serve which is his winning shot was taken away when Djokovic return often fell at his feet, deep on the baseline. More than that, the choice to receive than serve first, was indicative of the confidence level with which Nadal entered the court. Wimbledon can celebrate a new champion. Tennis world can celebrate victory for the new number one.

Wimbledon 2011 Men's Singles Final Preview: Nadal versus Djokovic

When Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic play each other in the Wimbledon finals on Sunday, they would be looking through a mirror on both sides. The mirror however would have a bit of curvature, but on which side, is not known. Lately, both have been playing a similar game which relies on endless running, ferocious ground strokes and few unforced errors. Djokovic has ended up the better of the two in all the four ATP Masters finals they have played on hard courts and clay in 2011. Overall they have played each other 27 times with Nadal enjoying a 16-11 advantage. They are going to meet in the finals of a Grand Slam major for just the second time. In their first meeting, Nadal had prevailed in four sets at the U.S.Open 2010. But Djokovic is a different player today than he was nine months ago.

Nadal’s excessively spun forehand was a novelty and was the single shot that helped him decimate all opposition from the baseline especially at the French Open. After so many years, it has now lost its surprise value. It is still very effective, but does not vary in content. Djokovic has developed a multi-dimensional forehand where he uses different amount of spin at different points. Djokovic swing is more horizontal than Nadal which clears the net lower and falls nearer the baseline. Nadal continues to have an upper motion on his swing which makes ball travel a longer distance in the air with a higher net clearance. Djokovic has now found ways to absorb ferocity of Nadal’s forehand and he has been seen winning points in long rallies riding on his own brand of ground strokes.

Djokovic is displaying better athleticism than even Nadal. Gone are the days when he would retire midway on fitness and health grounds. He has made Nadal move from corner to corner whereas he himself was found nearer the Nadal return. With Djokovic, Nadal is getting a taste of his own medicine. Djokovic is putting the ball one more time in Nadal court forcing Nadal to go for the winner nearer the lines. A lot of running can be expected. It would be no surprise if we see the physio on court after an hour or two.

Nadal plays the percentage game to perfection. His first mantra is to keep the ball in play and wait for the right opportunity. If opportunity will wait for twenty shots, he is prepared for it. He rarely loses his focus. Djokovic however has managed to rattle him a few times in the four Masters finals played this year. Djokovic is practicing raw aggression these days and since he is in proper position to hit the ball, he whacks it with all his might. This is where Nadal finds time taken away from him to make a proper shot.

Djokovic has often attacked Nadal’s backhand unleashing down the line backhand shot. Since Djokovic has perhaps the best backhand, Nadal is forced to play a defensive return. It sometimes is easier to get error from Djokovic forehand than backhand, but Nadal’s stock shot is the backhand corner of a right hander. Nadal has the best inside out forehand from the deuce court. But against Djokovic, it sometimes tends to go beyond sidelines, since Nadal is forced to go finer.

Prolonged focus is Nadal’s forte. It is difficult to wish him away in straight sets. As the match progresses towards the fourth hour, Nadal’s stock rises even if he has run the greater distance in the match. Djokovic wins over Nadal this year have come in three set format. If Djokovic starts winning, Nadal will just hang in and strive to take the match into the fourth or fifth hour.

The big heart, never say die spirit, mental toughness, match temperament and tenacity will give an edge to Nadal. Overriding hunger, recent successes over Nadal, ambition, superior aggression, willingness to take risks and confidence against Nadal will give an edge to Djokovic. It will all reduce to who plays better on the day. It will be a worthy fight between the number one and the number one to be.