Tag Archives: Nadal
Increasingly Global
Isn’t morning television wonderful? I’m especially fond of those variety-type breakfast shows: the forced badinerie, the practiced solecisms, the brutally jolly weather segments. Their commitment to safeguarding the English language is especially commendable. One story this morning featured the delightful … Continue reading
Unforgettable Memories
ATP World Tour Finals, London The ATP World Tour Final redeemed itself at the eleventh hour – of course it would – and a hasty re-relocation to Shanghai probably won’t be necessary. That’s the good news. Actually, it’s all good … Continue reading
Filed under ATP Tour
A Seductive Metonymy
Nadal d. Djokovic, 7/5 6/2 When the draw for the ATP World Tour Finals was released last week, and we shyly confessed our relief that the Big Four were evenly split between the two groups, there was immediate anticipation of … Continue reading
Filed under ATP Tour
Against All Odds
Federer d. Ferrer, 6/1 6/4 There’s an especially tiresome variety of Roger Federer fan who finds it impossible to reconcile their unshakeable faith in his greatness with an overwhelming dread that he’ll blow it every time he steps on the … Continue reading
Memories of Moya
34-year-old Carlos Moya this week announced his retirement from professional tennis, citing a lingering right foot injury as the main culprit, although surely being 34 is reason enough. He leaves the game with a single Grand Slam title (1998 French … Continue reading
Filed under Players
Luck of the Draw: World Tour Finals
Group A: Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Tomas Berdych, Andy Roddick. Group B: Roger Federer, Robin Soderling, Andy Murray, David Ferrer. The draw for next week’s World Tour Finals is out. Both groups seem pretty even, with Group B perhaps slightly … Continue reading
The Curious Case of Robin Soderling
Robin Soderling has now qualified for the ATP World Tour Finals – the unfortunately acronymed WTF – for the second year in a row. He is the world No.5, and his name is invariably in the mix when the big … Continue reading
Shanghai Masters 1000 Quarterfinals, 15 October 2010
Well, it was men’s quarterfinal day, and three of the Big Four were in action, as was the man who’d vanquished the fourth the night before. Djokovic d. Garcia-Lopez 6/2 6/3 It looks on paper like an easy win for … Continue reading
Filed under ATP Tour
Shanghai Masters 1000, 13 October 2010
Enter the Big Four The tournament proper got underway today, with the top 8 seeds in action following their first round bye. This included the four best tennis players on the planet. Nadal d. Wawrinka 6/4 6/4 Steady (though not … Continue reading
Filed under ATP Tour
Ninety Percent Mental
Tokyo Open, Final Nadal d. Monfils, 6/1 7/5 The thought occurred to me, whilst watching Rafael Nadal wallop Gael Monfils earlier, that maybe we over-analyse why tennis matches are won or lost, or why certain players do the things they … Continue reading
Filed under ATP Tour