Tag Archives: Nadal
A Second Stamp
Australian Open, Final Djokovic d. Murray, 6/4 6/2 6/3 Channel 7 didn’t exactly redeem itself at the eleventh hour – we’re way beyond that – but it could have been worse. Of course there was the usual ear-jarring nonsense – … Continue reading
Filed under Grand Slams
The More Things Change
Australian Open, Quarterfinals Rashly, I started this article prior to the last men’s quarterfinal, in which a hamstrung Rafael Nadal was overwhelmed in straight sets by a sporadically inspired and always-solid David Ferrer. Of the four quarterfinals, that was the … Continue reading
Filed under Grand Slams
Triumph And Disaster
Australian Open, Quarterfinals Ferrer d. Nadal, 6/4 6/2 6/3 Of the four men’s quarterfinals being contested at this year’s Australian Open, there was only one whose result was almost utterly beyond doubt. Rafael Nadal’s record against nearly everyone has been … Continue reading
Filed under Grand Slams
Officially On Notice
Australian Open, Fourth Round Full steam into Day 8 of the Australian Open, where a titanic whirlpool of predictability threatened to suck us down. A still-recovering Rafael Nadal would be pushed by Marin Cilic, as would Andy Murray by the … Continue reading
Filed under Grand Slams
A Clear Way Forward
Australian Open, Third Round Nadal d. Tomic, 6/2 7/5 6/4 Bernard Tomic was not good enough to beat an out-of-sorts Rafael Nadal tonight, but there was no shame in it. It has been years since any teenager could have, the … Continue reading
Filed under Grand Slams
The Tomic Test
Australian Open, Second Round Tomic d. Lopez, 7/6 7/6 6/3 31st seed Feliciano Lopez today lost in straight sets to Bernard Tomic, who is ranked No.199 in the world. The Australian press has commemorated this result with characteristic composure. The … Continue reading
Filed under Grand Slams
Overload
Qatar Open Any hope that Doha might provide a clear form-guide ahead of the Australian Open was frustrated by Rafael Nadal’s illness. The tribal zealots are of course over-analysing it, which is a kind way of saying they’re incapable of … Continue reading
El guerrero imparable
Only 24 years of age, Rafael Nadal has for some years been marching inexorably towards greatness, and in 2010 his march gained pace. He is ranked No.1 in the world, and will remain there until at least the middle of … Continue reading
Filed under Players
Incomparable
Paul Annacone now coaches Roger Federer, who is 29 years old. Annacone originally coached Pete Sampras, who at one point was also 29. The parallel is uncanny, irrefutable, yet when Annacone is invited to compare Federer with Sampras – and … Continue reading
With a Bullet
More statistical shenanigans today. Here are the players who have gained the most points in the last twelve months. The usual caveat applies: tennis stats and socialising don’t mix. Rafael Nadal   -3245 pts Tomas Berdych   -2300 pts Robin … Continue reading
Filed under By the Numbers, Players