The state of British tennis

The lack of success in this country has been discussed over and over again as each dire year of British tennis comes to an end. This year is different, or is it?

Right now the country is crazy about tennis; more so than ever before. From Andy’s heartbreak at Wimbledon to his heroics at the Olympic Games and then the US Open,  sport lovers have been behind him all the way.

Current British number one Laura Robson

And with the fourth Grandslam event of 2012 over, the tennis season moves into its latter. Yet Laura Robson continues to keep people talking tennis after she reached her first WTA final at the weekend.

Despite her loss, the state of women’s tennis on the circuit does seem to be improving.

It is hoped that the events of the summer will see record numbers of young people giving tennis a go. Yet the problems in British tennis don’t lie with participation. In July former British number one Tim Henman made it clear to The Standard Online that tennis is the fastest growing sport in primary schools with the fastest growing links from school to club development.

In this case, it is hard to believe that an Olympic Legacy alone is the answer to producing a future Grandslam Champion.

£69.5m was  spent on British tennis in 2011 and Henman suggested that the majority of this funding would be worth spending on eight, nine and 10 year olds in order to identify the few individuals that have the talent to go on and succeed.

This was backed by former world number one Boris Becker, who said to the Guardian Online in July:

“When you are searching for talent you have to know what you are looking for.

“You have the LTA, a long standing professional organisation and you have a country that is crazy about tennis”.

If there are the many youngsters playing the game across the country, then the LTA must have the best methods set up in order to identify the few players that have the potential.

Chief of British Tennis, Roger Draper, insists however, that things are improving and all is in place to see results in the coming years.

In reply to Henman’s worries Draper said: ” Despite Sport England’s funding cuts, we have worked with them to identify the gaps and we are now plugging those gaps”.

Andy Murray after winning the US Open

He went on to highlight the success of British Juniors at current, something that must not be ignored. Great Britain have recently won the Junior Davis Cup and have the highest ranked European player U14.

Despite Murray’s recent success, for another year he remains the only British player at the very top of the game.

Something has to change in order to see players follow in Murray’s footsteps in the near future but for now lets just relish in his triumphs.

The US Open beckons…

Wimbledon and Olympic champion Serena Williams(USA)

Just when fans begin to digest a seventh Wimbledon title for the elusive Roger Federer, followed by  the heroics of Andy Murray at the Olympic Games, the final Grand Slam of the year is about to unfold.

All eyes will soon cross the Atlantic to New York’s Flushing Meadows which has seen both Roger Federer and Serena Williams emulate their Wimbledon success at the first time of asking more than once in the last decade.

This would suggest that, having both triumphed at the All England Club earlier this year, they would be firm favorites to dominate in the states.

In must be noted however, that the six Grand Slam titles this year have been won by six different players, with the likes of top seed Victoria Azarenka and former world number one Novak Djokovic hungry for major success after falling short at both Wimbledon and the Olympics.

Like many times before, some are tipping Brit Andy Murray to steal the show, yet the Scot’s first Grand Slam title still alludes him at the age of 25.

Murray did show the tennis world that he does have what it takes to beat the best under pressure, as he powered his way to Olympic glory on home soil at the hands of Federer and Djokovic.

Rafael Nadal will again miss out on the action. His knee injury will only boost Murray’s chances of reaching the final weekend.

Serena has been tipped by many as the greatest female singles player that ever lived, yet she will feel she has a few more Grand Slam titles to win in order to be considered anything of the sort.

The main draw commences on Monday.

Murray’s finally done it!

Men’s singles Olympic champion Andy Murray

Britain’s Andy Murray shook of his four previous major final defeats to overcome Roger Federer and become the new Olympic champion yesterday.

The Scotsman was reduced to tears when he lost to Federer only a month ago in the Wimbledon final, missing out on his most desired title at the final hurdle.

Many had doubted whether he was to become just another British tennis player not to win a grandslam, but the world n.o4 showed he has what it takes to beat the best players at the latter stages of a major tournament.

After defeating the former world n.o1 Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals, Murray went on to make light work of  Federer in the final, winning in straight sets 6-2 6-1 6-4.

And as the extended grass court season comes to a end, the US Open beckons for Murray who will hope to use the confidence from his recent heroics to propel himself to grandslam success.

Murray has admitted the US Open to be his favourite tournament in the past, with the winter hard court season seeing Murray produce his best tennis.

As Olympic champion and the man in form, there is certain to be many more British eyes on the States come the end of August.

Nadal out of London 2012

Nadal gutted to withdraw from London 2012

Spanish superstar Rafael Nadal has pulled out of the London 2012 olympic games with a knee injury.

The world n.o3 is suffering from tendinitus, the same knee problem that saw him miss most of the 2009 season.

The last  match Nadal played was in round two at the All England Club when the world number 100, Lukas Rosol beat the Spaniard in five sets to cause one of the biggest upsets in Wimbledon history.

With news of his latest stint of the condition, it could be that the two-time Wimbledon champion was not at full fitness when he lost to Rosol, prompting his uncharacteristic five set defeat, only the fourth ever in his career.

Similarly in 2009,  the match prior to his first spell of tendinitus was the infamous defeat to Robin Soderling at Rolland Garros.

This still remains his only defeat on the french clay to this day.

In both of  Nadal’s shock exits mentioned above, the door was consequently left wide open for the likes of Roger Federer to win his first Rolland Garros in 2009, and then Andy Murray to reach his first Wimbledon final in 2012.

These are achievements that could quite possibly have never happened had the Spanish sensation’s unlucky knee problems  not let him down.

The ever hungry Nadal will have to wait another four years to win another Olympic gold medal, whilst the game’s top players will be a little happier to see the Spanish number one not arrive in London this week.

 

Nadal’s sublime seven

In 2005 a new face, and new style arrived at Rolland Garros.

19 year old Spaniard Rafael Nadal was the pre- tournament favourite after tearing up the clay court season prior to the slam, and was about to begin a clay-court legacy that would surpass any other.

His choice of clothing undoubtedly matched his playing style. The un-orthodox vests and three quarter sized pants had never been seen before on the tour, and neither had the vicious top spinning forehand and ‘bull like’ approach that saw the teenager set the clay alight in Paris.

After dismissing his soon-to-be rival Roger Federer in the semi-finals,  Mariano Puerta was the man left in the Spaniard’s way.

The Argentinian had overcome a two year drug ban to re-kindle his career on the highest stage, yet Nadal was too strong for him, winning in four sets.

A year later and Rafa’s Rolland Garros record was 14 wins, 0 losses. The Spaniard’s second consecutive French Open win in two attemps was a new feat in men’s tennis and saw Nadal deny Federer that elusive grand slam that would complete the world n.o1’s major title collection.

In the same year Rafa went on to reach the final at Wimbledon, only to lose out to the Swiss in four sets. This was a sign that the King of clay was beginning to challenge on the other surfaces, only time would tell if he would have what it takes to knock Federer off his Wimbledon throne.

By 2007 the story at Rolland Garros was becoming repetitive, the Spaniard equalling Bjorn Borg’s three consecutive French Opens whilst Justine Henin did the same on the women’s side. Once again Nadal denied Federer in the process, with people beginning to question whether the World n.o1 could ever beat the improving Mallorca native on clay.

2008 truly was Nadal’s year. Three became four in Paris, the reigning champion dropping only 4 games as he dismissed Federer in ruthless style. And whilst the tennising world was still digesting the Spaniard’s latest record, he was over in London on a rampage that would see him destroy Federer’s five year reign on the grass and go on to end the year as No.1.

2009 saw Robin Soderling of Sweden defeat Nadal for the first time at the French Open, leaving the door wide open for Federer to complete his career Grandslam.

Returning after an injury-stricken 2009, Rafa won his fifth Rolland Garros in 2010, closing in on Bjorn Borg’s record of six titles. He didn’t need to overcome Federer this time though, the Swiss losing out to the impressive Soderling in the quarter finals.

2011 was unarguably dictated by a certain Novak Djokovic, the Serb losing only once all year. The French Open didn’t reflect this however. Djokovic was beaten by the ever present Federer in the semi-finals. The now world No.3 was back to challenge Nadal in the final on Phillipe Chatrier once more.

He failed however, as Nadal took his sixth title in seven years.

Then there was seven.

The king of clay reached the final without dropping a set, destroying fellow clay court specialists  David Ferrer and Juan  Monaco on the way. Who was to doubt that he’d surpass Bjorn Borg’s ‘untouchable’ record?

He quashed Djockovic’s hopes of holding all four grandslams at the same time, and distinguised himself as arguably the greatest clay court player in history.

Yet at 26, there is still more to come.

Meet the Tomb Raider of women’s tennis

Whilst lucky loser David Goffin made his unprecedented mark on Rolland Garros last week, another qualifier has been quietly tearing her way through the rounds in the women’s draw.

In thrilling Lara Croft-like fashion, Kazakhstan’s Yaroslava Shvedova went on a Paris rampage, on the hunt for the form that had propelled her to the near summit of women’s tennis in 2010.

The doubles specialist found herself two games away from a place in the semi-finals on day 11 in Paris, and despite narrowly losing out to 2011 Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova, the world No.142 has undoubtedly out-stayed her welcome.

With her distinct black trainers and ankle straps, designer goggles and Tomb Raider style headband, the former world No. 29 trounced passed her previous opponents, including last year’s champion Na Li.

Like the athletic and ruthless Tomb Raider, Shvedova  planned her mission well, defying all odds whilst providing a refreshing twist to the women’s draw.

The 24 year old is one to watch out for when the grass court season starts and her achievements at this year’s Rolland Garros should guarentee her a place in the main draw at the All England Club in two weeks.

Angelina’s prodigy will then recommence her merciless hunt for singles success, and I’m already excited to see it unfold!

By Matt Millington