As another scintillating Australian Open wraps up, it shows us how good a year 2013 could be for tennis.
A new year also brings with it some new faces and the emerging newcomers, with the potential to take the game by storm.
But who will be tennis’ next generation of shining lights?
Well here are our top tips for the year ahead.
Australia’s Lleyton Hewitt and bad boy Bernard Tomic are off to a great start in 2013 with their preparation for the Australian Open, which starts tomorrow, with both capturing trophies in the first fortnight of play.
Veteran Hewitt defeated Juan Martin del Potro 6-1, 6-4 for the Kooyong Classic crown with his young family watching on. Hewitt is enjoying a great start to what could be his final year on the tour.
Clearly comfortable with his current form, Hewitt appears at ease with yet Read more
US Open champion Andy Murray has successfully defended his Brisbane title, claiming his first trophy of the season, beating Grigor Dimitrov 7-6, 6-4.
For his efforts Dimitrov will rise to a career high ranking of 39 in the world tomorrow.
Murray continued his gesture to the skies after winning, something that has appeared in his game over the last 6-7 months. Andy dedicated the win to a sick friend back home, signing the camera lens ‘For you…’ Read more
Posted in Andy Murray, Australian Open, Brisbane, Grigor Dimitrov, Illness, Media, Olympics, US Open, Wimbledon
It’s no secret that there is an “eye candy” component to tennis as a sport. By that we mean that there are plenty of players that even non-fans of the actual game will tune in to check out.
Often the players at the very top of the game are making huge sums of money but those lower down, even in the top thirty, can struggle to make ends meet by the time they’ve paid coaches and trainers as well as covering travel and accommodation costs. There are a huge number of lower ranked players who make most of their money through sponsorship/appearance deals of various kinds. Read more
Posted in Ana Ivanovic, Anna Kournikova, Australian Open, Daniela Hantuchova, Dominika Cibulkova, Feliciano Lopez, Fernando Verdasco, Goran Ivanisevic, Injury, Jan Michael Gambill, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Mandy Minella, Marat Safin, Maria Sharapova, Media, Rafael Nadal, Roland Garros, US Open, Vera Zvonareva, Wimbledon
When asked if he plans to participate in the Barclays World Tour Finals or the Davis Cup finals in what would be his first matches since Wimbledon, Rafael Nadal has said “Impossible, no. But difficult, yes.”
For the first time in some weeks Nadal has said that he’s starting to feel the positive effects of all the work he’s been putting in to his rehabilitation from Hoffa’s disease and a tear of his patella tendon. Read more
Posted in Davis Cup, Injury, Media, Rafael Nadal, Wimbledon, World Tour Finals
Tomas Berdych has done it again, ending the run of Roger Federer in a Grand Slam, beating him 7-6, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3. Berdych also beat Federer in the quarterfinals of Wimbledon in 2010 where he had his best career result as a runner up in the tournament.
Federer came unstuck due to combination of his own errors and the spectacular power and flat hitting of Tomas. Federer has seemed the favourite after securing extra rest when Mardy Fish withdrew with a health issue from their fourth round match – a walk over never seeming to impact Federer negatively before. Read more
Posted in Andy Murray, Mardy Fish, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Tomas Berdych, US Open, Wimbledon
The 2012 US Open has quickly become the stage of two high profile retirements. Kim Clijsters has long been expected to retire for the final time at this years USO. Unfortunately for Kim fans that day came all too soon when she was beaten by Laura Robson 6-7, 6-7.
Clijsters has struggled with almost constant injuries over the last 12 to 18 months as she tried to enjoy the twilight years of her career before leaving to grow her family. Having 3 USO grand Slam titles under her belt and a 22 match winning streak in New York, it seemed only appropriate that Kim retire in NYC. Read more
Posted in Andy Roddick, Bernard Tomic, Injury, Laura Robson, Media, US Open, Wimbledon
The issues Rafael Nadal has had with his knees, and his treatments and injury time outs, have been well documented over the years. It seems with each injury period the media starts talking retirement – but I have to say it is an unusual situation and even Federer has said it’s “big surprise, these two pullouts. I’m sad for him. I hope he’ll be back for the Open.”
Nadal made no secret that his goals for the 2012 season were Roland Garros and the Olympics. Ultimately, after losing early at Wimbledon, Rafa went home for some R&R – and apparently another PRP injection. Read more
Posted in Body Watch, Cincinnati Masters, Injury, Media, Olympics, Rafael Nadal, Roland Garros, Toronto, US Open, Wimbledon, Xisca Perello
This is where Andy Murray wins. Perhaps not where he’d like to have won but it always helps to have a few more people behind you.
Posted in Andy Murray, Media, Wimbledon
