Archive for April, 2008
April 30th, 2008 -- Posted in Story |
This may seem like the most bizarre piece of information you’ve ever heard, but let’s just back things up a little bit.
Let’s think about what happens when you playing a game.
You get yourself into the point with a great return off a good wide serve by your opponent. You are moving (each other) all over the court building the point nicely when all of a sudden your opponent attacks by deciding to come to the net. You attempt a pass which they volley into the opposite corner and you head off to play a stunning running single-handed backhand pass down the line that a certain Mr Federer would be proud of.
Let’s think about what just happened there.
You may have hit the ball maybe 6 or 7 times but what did you do for the majority of the point?
MOVE!
You moved to all of your tennis shots and you moved to recover.
The fact remains that the time spent hitting shots, never mind the actual time the ball spends on the strings is only a tiny fraction of the time spent moving to and away from your shots.
If this is the case, why do people spend so little time working on their tennis footwork and movement if it is the one thing you spend the most time doing?
FACT! The ATP tour stats on unforced errors are that over 70% of them are down to poor footwork.
Which means……?
If you really want to improve your game, it’s very simple – you need to improve your movement and therefore your footwork.
And here is what you need to do!
When we look at footwork in tennis, the first thing you need to do is stop running so much on the court.
You should only run if you are a long way from the ball and it is the only way to get there quickly. Apart from that most of your movements around the court should be made using side shuffles and cross over steps (basically short step movements).
By having good footwork you get the flexibility of choice. You get to choose open or closed stance, cross court or down the line, backhand or inside out forehand, deep or short, passing shot or lob to name but a few. Without it you will have fewer choices available and the choices you do have may well suffer from poor execution.
You improve your agility, balance and co-ordination which are all vital components for high level play.
The type of footwork drills you should be using include cone drills like zig zags and drills that use ladders as a training aid.
My recommendation is that you start incorporating footwork drills into every one of your lesson/practice times. If your coach is not up to speed with all of this then do it on your own or find another coach!
You know that saying – what came first the chicken or the egg?
Well in the case of tennis it is without doubt the movement before the shot ‘ so try leaving your racket in the bag, work on your footwork and movement and discover how well you hit the ball when you finally do pull your racket out.
I have put together a special report on tennis footwork which goes into a bit more detail and includes 10 pages of drills to be used.
Paul Gold has a Masters degree in Sports Sciences and is a Performance Enhancement Specialist and Speed Agility Quickness trainer. For information about products and services contact via http://www.tennis-training-central.com He has just released a special report on tennis footwork, go to http://www.footwork4tennis.com for more details. Copyright 2007
April 29th, 2008 -- Posted in Story |
I’m really pumped now. Thanks to Bobby’s generosity, this extra event, the doubles exhibition, has brought out 2,500 fans to watch some of Aspen’s top men tennis players play doubles against Bobby. When I went into my office at the Club my secretary informed me that we have had hundreds of resident and non-resident membership applications for the Club and that people are swarming through the new condos. There might be a couple of sales already. We’re cooking. The event has really touched the pulse of the town. The atmosphere is just electric. If Sally can string him along to make a match out of it, we’ll get some national press from this. It’s really taken on a life of it’s own, thanks to Bobby! No matter what happens now we will be huge winners!
As Bobby and I walk down to the court I try to tell him how much I appreciate what he has accomplished in a few short days. But he just smiles and says, “Let’s just have fun, OK?” As we walk onto the court the fans all stand and cheer, “Bobby, Bobby, Bobby!” I found myself cheering too.
While I start hitting with our two opponents, both fine club players and much better than I, Bobby works the crowd — walking the entire first row of the length of the stadium, shaking hands and signing autographs. Then he greets our opponents and goes back to the base line and gently hits a few practice groundstrokes. “Hey, I’m ready. Let’s play!”
The play began. Naturally our opponents tried to hit as many balls to me as possible, but if Bobby could reach a ball he would hit some off-speed shot, a junker, to set up a weak return and then he’d put it away. At five games all he stopped the match and asked our opponents, “I know you guys are going to beat us because we are really struggling here. But just to make it interesting Marv and I want to press the bet and make it $500 at corner. How does that sound?”
Without hesitation, they both smiled and agreed. They were clearly out playing me, but I hung in and the points got longer. The more I could stay in the point, the longer it got. The crowd loved it. Point after point I hung in just long enough for Bobby to get his racket on the ball and do something spectacular. My heart was pounding. Then after some wild points, Bobby ends up putting away a high lob and we took the set 8-6. Our opponents were dumbstruck. I was thrilled, even though I had not won a thing.
We sat on the side of the court, our opponents opened their billfolds and peeled off $500 each and handed the money to Bobby. By the look on their faces you knew they felt that this had been money well spent. One of them added his special appreciation, “Thanks, Bobby. Wait till we tell our grandkids!”
The second match was almost the same, except they were even stronger players and quickly had us down 2-5, within one game of losing, again Bobby stopped the match and wanted to press the bet to $500 for each corner. Our opponents smiled and gave a ‘thumbs up’. The crowd went wild. They were in on it. To my amazement Bobby kicked up his efforts a notch. His racket wizardry and court savvy were extraordinary from drop shots to topspin lobs he used it all. We won the match 7-5. All I could think was that Sally was going to have her hands full. There would be no walkover here.
After the match Bobby waved to the crowd. The mayor and his buddies were waiting with a car ready to whisk him away for a round of golf. I just shook my head in disbelief. He had just pocketed $2,000. The losers were happy to have played a tennis legend. He was definitely stronger, maybe too strong.
The town is bustling. Shops are full, restaurants full, bars full, streets crowded, people everywhere. Banners announcing the ‘Battle of the Sexes’ cross the main streets. Posters are in every window. Everybody was looking for Bobby Riggs. I’ve never seen any celebrity buzz quite like this and over one wizened up little, old man.
Sally and I were already in the Terrace Dining Room sitting with Andy. I was having a hard time controlling my enthusiasm. Friends and strangers were stopping by our table to express their pleasure in the happenings and wishing Sally well in her match tomorrow. Bobby was running a little late because of the golf game, but a roar from the crowd let us know he had arrived. He’s laughing, glad-handing everyone as he makes his way through the crowd to our table. I remark to Andy, “I’ll bet he got his money back from the sharks.”
Overhearing my remark, Bobby tells a different tale, “Don’t I wish. Those friends of the mayor’s are not that friendly. I’m into them for $3,000. Can’t wait for tomorrow. I really need the money!”
As sad as he speaks of his money woes, he puts on a different face to the crowd of well-wishers. He is the life of the party. Everyone wants meet him, greet him and to bet him – anything. He bets one man $100 that the next person to walk through the door at the hotel will be a woman. And most certainly it was!
Off to the side Andy lets me know, “We’ve got most of his money covered. Only a thousand dollars left. Sally’s still a sure bet.”
I felt she was too. “I’ll take it. Put me down for the $1,000,” I said. I too was caught up in the moment. A rush of adrenalin had passed through me and I could see the finish line ahead – the Club brimming with new members, condos all sold, everyone in town happy we were there and Sally floating to net shaking Bobby’s weary hand and collecting the prize money. “Well, Andy, call me in the morning after your hit with Bobby. He was playing some crafty tennis today, but then again Sally’s something else!”
The big day has finally arrived. Andy walks into my office sweating profusely and slumps down in a chair. “Marv, we’ve got a problem. Rather Sally’s got a problem.”
“What’s the problem? Is it his elbow? Has he pulled a muscle? What?!” I had to know. Things were going so well. At least so well until I told Sally that I had bet on her. She was a free spirit and had to play freely. She had played for money on the Slims Tour, of course, but now she would be playing to not lose money. Definitely not a gambler. So, I already had a problem. I didn’t need more.
“Well, he’s hitting the ball not only on the lines, but I can’t handle his pace. I can’t stay with him. He’s able to hit every shot in the book — drop shots, topspin lobs right on the baseline, slices that die, loopers that float and junk, all kinds of junk. He’s not the same man. I’m thirty five and he wore me out in just 30 minutes. She’s going to have her hands full today. But the crowd should love it.”
It’s a three-ringed circus-carnival atmosphere and all created by Bobby Riggs. He walks onto the court amid the roar of the fans. It’s more like a rowdy bullfight crowd than a group of sedated tennis fans. “Bobby! Bobby!” they shout. He is decked out in his yellow Sugar Daddy, T-shirt, but now his pot belly is gone. He carries a sack of Sugar Daddy suckers and hands them out to the audience as he walks along the front row of the stands all the way around the court. He even gives one to the chair umpire and one to Sally. They meet at the net to decide by the flip of a coin who will serve first.
Sally looks fit and lovely in a new Michelle Palmer outfit, scarf around her head. But, I can see she’s uneasy and not feeling steady. I hope once they start she will forget everything and play.
The match begins. The first few games are made up of long rallies, back and forth, up and back, nothing dramatic, just solid tennis. The crowd is appreciative and roars with every point Sally wins. She’s a hometown gal now and has been touted as the favorite. She goes ahead 4-2 and looks in command of the match. Some of those who have bet on her yell the loudest. I’m included. As the match goes into the seventh game it is like a horse race when the horses turn for home. I look over to Andy and nod, what do you think? He shrugs, could go either way.
At 4-all Andy frowns. His face says it all. Look out, he’s ratcheting up. Sally’s got her hands full now! Doesn’t look good. Sure enough he pulls ahead and wins the first set 6-4. Now Sally looks over at me as if to say this is the real Bobby Riggs! I give her a warm smile for she and I know this is exactly what I had hoped for — the perfect ‘Grand Opening’ event — one that is going to put the Club on the map of this little town.
The second set starts with Bobby kicking into high gear. There is no question he is an artisan. He wields his racquet like a paintbrush on a grand canvas, mixing shots, pace and angles at will. He smoothly glides and slides around the court, pulling Sally as if on a tether. Then at just the right moment he opts for a soft drop shot. The crowd goes wild. Sally shows a little fatigue and soon it is 5-2 and match point. The crowd is mesmerized. They would like to see a third set, but it is not to be. The absolute last shot of the match finds Bobby at mid-court after a long rally. He winds up as if to hit a wedge shot out of a sand trap. Sending the ball straight up, then arching over the net, landing well in front of Sally and then with such reverse spin returning back over the net to Bobby without her even touching it. It was right out of the Harlem Globetrotters bag of tricks.
There was dead silence. Even Sally couldn’t believe what she had seen. Then the crowd erupted in cheers.
We all knew we had just witnessed one of the world’s greatest tennis players demonstrate, even in his late 50′s and at 8,000 feet why he had won Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. Probably because he was known first and foremost as a hustler he would never receive the recognition he deserved. But on that day in Aspen the crowd knew, I knew it and Sally knew it.
Bobby made a sweeping gesture to the crowd, ran up to the net, gave Sally a big hug and a kiss, then quick as a wink headed for the mayor’s car in the parking lot. As he passed me he said, “Marv, I really need your help. One last favor, please. Nancy has us all packed, but the mayor’s boys are into me for some serious money and I promised them one more shot before I leave. I have a flight at 5:00 p.m. If you could have the van at the 18th green by 4:30 p.m. with the motor running, I think w can make it. Can you do that for me?”
I just shook my head, unbelievable. “Bobby, whatever you need. I’ll be there for you. You did an extraordinary job for us. Thank you so much.”
Andy grabs Bobby’s arm before he gets in the car and hands him a very fat envelope. They shake hands and Bobby jumps in the car along side the mayor’s cohorts, both eying the envelope.
Nurse Nancy and I drive through the parking lot at Snowmass over to the 18th green, near the clubhouse. I get out and walk to the edge of the green, checking my watch. Sure enough a foursome was just preparing to hit up on the green. Suddenly four balls land in rapid succession, plop, plop, plop, plop. Bobby’s was the closest to the pin, but still some 20 feet away. No one spoke. Nobody was kibitzing. The match was obviously not over. I was wondering what was riding on it. The mayor and his friends putt out. Bobby stands over his 20 footer, then backs off to realign the putt. He stands over the ball again and again he backs off. Finally he stands over it and smoothly strokes the ball, dead center into the cup! Like the last point of the tennis match, you could hear a pin drop.
“Well, guys, like I told you I’ve got a 5:oo o’clock flight to catch. Gotta run.”
One by one, the mayor included, each player steps up and begins peeling off $100 bills into Bobby’s hands. I don’t know how many, but a lot. Then he quicksteps into the van, shouting over his shoulder, “Hey guys, it’s been fun. I hope we can do this again sometime — soon! Thanks again Mr. Mayor.” They wave. We leave.
I don’t know how much he won on the golf course, but now knowing what he was capable of he must have pressed the bet and pressed the bet and pressed the bet. His pockets were stuffed when he left, but we all got our money’s worth in the end.
“Marv, let’s get out of here quick. I’ve got to make that flight!” At the airport the passengers were all on board as I helped carry my guests’ bags to the plane. Bobby was the last to board. He turned as he stepped inside and gave me a wink,
“Marv, I’ve had a wonderful time. Lot’s of fun. I knew it would be. Anytime you want me back, anytime. You just call.”
And he was gone!
Copyright 2008 Marv Huss
Marv Huss graduated from the University of California, Berkeley. Captain Huss served in the USMC as a fighter pilot in the South Pacific. After his military service he rose through the corporate ranks at Hallmark to corporate Director of Advertising, responsible for the Emmy-award-winning “Hallmark Hall of Fame” television series. Retiring from corporate life he helped develop a world-class resort, The Aspen Club in Aspen, Colorado.
In the 90′s, Marv focused his marketing skills on his wife – considered one of the leading artist/writers in the country. Together they have licensed her art on clothing, purses, books and even baby bibs. Their most recent creation, Happy Musings, is a newspaper feature combining her charming art with a whimsical life thought syndicated by King Features. Happy Musings are now available as e-cards at http://www.happymusings.com or through http://www.sallyhuss.com
Marv now lives and writes full-time in his home in La Jolla, California while overseeing his wife’s artistic endeavors.
April 18th, 2008 -- Posted in Story |
June 30, 2008
As the women’s draw in the year’s grand slam tournament at Wimbledon enters the last 16 on Monday, it can’t have escaped many tennis fans’ attention just how many Russian players are still left in the competition.
World number two and darling of many a centre court Maria Sharapova might have made an untimely and unexpected early exit in the second round and Roland Garros finalist, Dinara Safina, may have followed her a round later, but there are still six of Russian women left in play as the tournament enters its second week.
Alla Kudryavtseva, the relatively unknown outsider ranked just 103 in the world, who unceremoniously dumped Sharapova out of the competition in that second round match will square up against fellow countrywoman and 21-seeded Nadia Petrova on court number three on Monday. So at least one Russian is guaranteed of making her way through to the quarterfinals.
And in the day’s other matches there’ll be four more Russian women vying for a place in the last eight – Svetlana Kuznetsova, Anna Chakvetadze, Elena Dementieva and Alisa Kleybanova.
Kuznetsova probably has the best chance of going furthest in the competition. Ranked fourth in the world and in the tournament, the 23-year-old is by far the most successful of the sextet.
Just a couple of weeks ago she made it as far as the semi-finals of Roland Garros, before going out in a slugathon to Safina. And she has made it to the final of a grand slam tournament three times, winning once against Dementieva in the 2004 US Open.
At 26 years of age, Dementieva is the oldest of the Russian women in the fourth round and in spite of two appearances in Grand Slam finals has never made it beyond the quarterfinals at Wimbledon. She’ll face Safina’s conqueror in the previous round, Israel’s Shahar Peer.
Meanwhile world and tournament ranked number eight, Anna Chakvetadze, who has already gone further than on all her previous Wimbledon appearances, takes on Nicole Vaidisova of the Czech Republic. The two women have met just twice before – back in 2006 – with Vaidisova winning both times.
With many of the favourites already out – at least in the women’s draw – this could be the chance for one of the less fancied Russian players to make her mark, such as the 18-year-old Alisa Kleybanova.
Without doubt though Kleybanova, ranked 42 in the world, faces the toughest task of all the Russian women as she takes on the might of none other than defending champion and four-times Wimbledon winner, Venus Williams.
Once again the older of the Williams’ sisters is on a roll, playing her usual mix of hot-and-cold tennis after coming back from a third round defeat at the French Open.
And let’s face it, with Serena in the other half of the draw, who would bet against seeing at least one of them – if not both, reaching the final?
But if either of them, or the top-ranked player still left in the competition, Serbia’s Jelena Jankovic, wants to hold that trophy aloft come the weekend, they’ll probably have to get past a Russian woman or two on the way.
Johnny Summerton is a Paris-based broadcaster, writer and journalist. For more on what’s making the headlines here in France, log on to his site at http://www.persiflagefrance.com
April 12th, 2008 -- Posted in Story |
This morning, I awoke to find the Nadal/Fish match being replayed on USA, after I stayed up ’til 2:15 AM to watch it. I decided to check over on The Tennis Channel, as if I’m not getting enough tennis lately, and they were showing the finals of the Mexican Open, between Chela and Horna, 2 South Americans. They looked quite at home on clay. Flipping back and forth between the 2 channels made it clear how different the games are. On clay, from right up on the baseline in the middle of the court, a player can hit a very sharp angle, to just behind the service line on the sideline, and not have an outright winner.
At the US Open, Fish was hitting winners from the baseline, middle, by hitting much less angle, deep near the corners, against Nadal, maybe the best defender on the tour. That is why the aggressive player must get up on the baseline against a great topspinner like Nadal. Fish really did it in the first set. I didn’t count, but he hit lots of outright winners because he was standing up at the baseline. Standing up at the baseline has another big advantage, which Fish also made clear. You are that much closer whenever Nadal hit short, which he does quite often because of his spin. There is tremendous advantage to being closer to short balls.
When you get in to a short ball faster, you get to hit bigger angles. On a surface like the US Open, those are winners. Second, if you are hitting an approach shot you usually catch the ball higher and have many more options. There is another important reason to get to a short ball before it falls below the net: you avoid telegraphing your approach. If you are forced to hit an approach shot off a low ball, while you are running forward, you must prepare for your backswing by moving your feet out of the way, so your opponent knows 2 steps earlier, where you are aiming.
Watch a Roddick match. If he approaches from his usual spot, many feet behind the baseline, he catches the ball very low. Watch his opponent. He is already running into position before Roddick strikes the ball. In today’s game, giving away your approach is fatal. Watch an early Federer match (HINT: Roger, you are playing deeper now!). When he hits a short ball, he closes fast, reaches it up high, and freezes his opponent by not revealing his approach. Then, half the time, his opponent guesses wrong or moves early and Roger just hits a winner. The rest of the time, because he has caught the ball up high, he drives it with pace, and gets an easy volley back. Off course, all this is contingent upon your willingness to stand at the baseline and be willing to hit many more balls on the rise. It takes guts. It takes confidence. On clay it is more difficult because of the uneven bounces, and frankly it isn’t even worth it. At the US Open, on a hard court, against someone like Nadal, that is where the advantage lies.
Contact: Beth McCaskill
Phone: 678-622-3708
Email: BethMcCaskill@TennisPlayersNetwork.com
URL: http://www.TennisPlayersNetwork.com
April 7th, 2008 -- Posted in Story |
During my freshman year at Cleveland State University, our team traveled to Florida to play a series of matches against teams down there. During one particular match, I encountered a player who literally defined the term ‘Pusher’.
This guy was quick and had endurance. He had decided early on that he was in no hurry to get off the court, and would run down every shot I threw at him; and believe me, I was throwing heat. After losing the first set, I made up my mind that I was not going to let this guy beat me. After all, I was the ‘better’ player with ‘better’ strokes, right?
Just as I was about to walk back onto the court to start the second set, a thought occurred to me: How was I losing points? I hadn’t spoken to my coach (he was coaching another player at the time of the changeover), but that’s the first question I knew that he would’ve asked me.
I asked myself this question and the answer came back: “Unforced errors.” Okay, so now I had something I could grasp. Fine. What was causing the unforced errors? Impatience, and a lack of a good plan.I eventually decided that I had to come up with a plan on the fly. I did, and coupled with being just a little more patient, I came back to win the match in three sets.
In order to understand what I did and how to apply it to your game, you need to first understand the pusher’s mind set. This is really easy. The pusher is telling himself to just get every ball back over the net, no matter what. When playing a baseliner, the pusher is not too concerned about placement, and will usually end up putting the ball into the smack dab center of the court, right on the ‘T’. When faced with a serve-and-volley player, the pusher will try to run down every ball and lob constantly, hoping you either miss a volley or blow the overhead. When faced with an all-court player, the pusher will combine the two above mentioned tactics.
What do you do? Well, now that you know how the pusher thinks and plays, it’s time to figure out where his weakness is, and exploit it. The pusher has A LOT of weaknesses in their game – or they wouldn’t just ‘push’ the ball back every time! I want you to think long and hard about that, and really let that sink in. Okay, now let’s see where the pusher is weak.
First of all, pushers do not have a command of ‘power’ ground strokes, if they have anything resembling good ground strokes to start with. From this alone, we can gain insight into several weaknesses:
• Pushers have a hard time generating power and combining it with accuracy, which is a requirement of having ‘good’ ground strokes.
• Pushers have a hard time hitting passing shots, for the same reasons just listed.
• If a pusher has weak ground strokes, they probably have a weak serve as well.
• Pushers have a hard time with high balls, again for the reasons listed above.
• Pushers hate for points to end quickly, because those are points they probably lost!
Now that we know the pusher’s weaknesses, we can come up with a plan to exploit them. The first thing you need to do when playing a pusher is to make them do what they don’t want to do; and one of the things that pushers HATE to do is generate their own ‘pace’, or power when hitting the ball, because they can’t control it. One way to make the pusher do this is by hitting your ground strokes deep, about ¾ speed with A LOT of topspin. This forces the pusher back off the baseline and makes the pusher generate their own power, rather than just using the power from a hard shot you hit to them.
Another way to get the pusher ‘out of their game’ is to serve and volley, because they can’t hit passing shots very well. (Again, if they could, they wouldn’t be a ‘pusher’). If they try to lob you, put the ball away; if they are lobbing you well, hit the overhead anyway and stay at the net. Constant pressure will make the pusher buckle. If they are hitting you lobs over and over, and you can’t do anything about it, than you need to improve you serve before you attempt this tactic.
Yet another way to beat the pusher is to ‘chip-and-charge’; take advantage of every short ball the pusher hits you, and get to the net. Don’t just get to the net for the sake of being there, or the pusher will just lob you all day long. Get there on a short ball, make a good approach and be ready for the pusher’s response.
Since the pusher’s mentality is one of “I’m gonna run down every shot you hit”, make him do just that – on YOUR terms. Hit a ¾ speed, well placed shot that angles off to the side; then hit a long, deep shot. This forces the pusher out of their ‘moving-side-to-side’ game (which they love to do) into moving up and back at awkward angles. When you finally get an opening to hit a winner, don’t force the angle or the speed; just hit another well placed, ¾ speed shot toward your intended target. More often than not, even if the pusher gets the ball, the reply will be weak or a lob at best.
Use these techniques the next time you are on the court – and watch the ‘pusher’ fade away!
Kyril Popoff is a former NCAA Div1 All-Conference Tennis Player, Instructor, Coach and Author.
His books include THE TEN LAWS OF TENNIS SUCCESS and FOCUS & WIN: WHY YOUR TENNIS GAME ISN’T WHERE YOU WANT IT TO BE, & WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT!
You can sign up for Coach Kyril’s Tennis Lessons, Tips & Tricks newsletter at: http://www.coachkyriltennis.com
April 1st, 2008 -- Posted in Story |
The 2008 US $2,450,000 French Masters Series event played in Monte Carlo, Monaco has just began. This senior championship first started back in 1897 and throughout the years has gathered the best male tennis players from around the globe.
Amongst some of the major clashes that have already taken place are the Murray vs Lopez game which brought lots of expectation; specially on the young Britton who was an unknown option to advance to a second round due to his retiring from the Valencia Open previously due to injuries. Despite the odds Murray was able to pull off a relaxing victory over the Spaniard Feliciano Lopez 7-6, 6-4.
Other clay surprises were those of Volandri vs Mahut match which finished 6-2, 6-3 in favour of the Italian player; followed by the ousting of the ninth seeded Frenchman Mathieu who lost to Serbian Janko Tipsarevic 6-4, 2-6, 6-4.
From what we have witnessed until now it is very likely this year’s tournament will bring plenty of action and interesting matches as the big names in the ATP top ten begin to appear on the scheduled list. 2008 Australian Open and Indian Wells winner Novak Djokovic could be a possible rival for Murray in a third round match. Djokovic has made it clear to all of us that he is in active pursue of the number one position as he possesses all the tools and skills to achieve such goal. Nevertheless; the Serb is very aware of the fact he will encounter the man who has dominated the red surfaces over the past years; Spaniard Rafa Nadal and who is not willing to surrender his crown any time soon.
Nadal is the 3-in-a-row Monte Carlo King since his first win back in 2005 over Argentinean Coria 6-3, 6-1, 0-6, 7-5 followed by two consecutive defeats over world number one Roger Federer in 2006 and 2007 respectively. Nadal holds a 93-1 clay-court record which he persistently kept to 81-0 previously to his loss at the German Open to counterpart Federer last year. Nadal’s record also includes three French Grand Slam titles besides wins in Rome and Hamburg. But this year, the Spaniard will have to juggle a new trick in order to continue his reign due to the regular European clay tournament schedule changes because of the Beijing Olympic Games next month of August.
The Spaniard made a statement regarding the current situation … “The calendar is completely crazy,” Nadal said yesterday in Monte Carlo. “I think it’s not fair to the European players and the clay-court players, too. Three Masters in four weeks, it is too much. They [the ATP] say this is an Olympic year, that is very nice, but the truth is they put Indian Wells and Miami back [actually forward] because of the college [basketball].”
It will be very interesting to see whether the Nadal era will prevail if he is able to win his fourth uninterrupted title; a win-streak which had not been witnessed since 1971 when Ilie Nastase won three consecutive times.
However; there are plenty of factors to take into account; to begin we have a recovered Federer who has just won at the Estoril Open in Portugal; then there are Spaniard David Ferrer whose game is most aggressive on clay and he seems to be going through the best time in his career; just this weekend he grasped the crown at the Valencia Open winning over fellowman Almagro in three sets.
As a tennis fan I must admit this tournament is a tough call as more players keep lining up to take the trophy home and get on course to the French Grand Slam at Roland Garros next month.
Claudia Beckford provides outstanding Tennis Masters Series content as well as information in the sports betting industry.