2012 is for all of the Big Four

Neutral Omes:

2011 has been the year of Novak Djokovic - and with the results of recent months lest we forget. Of course it wasn’t long ago that we’d crowned Rafael Nadal king of 2010. With the great era of tennis we currently find ourselves in - the likes of the best of the best all competing in such rich form at the same time - monopolies may come as a shock, as it’s often points here and there that determine results. But because with so little, in terms of skill and will to separate the best, confidence has become the most coveted and necessary weapon; and confidence is the fuel for monopoly. 

We are lucky to have a top four that is literally - in the literal sense of the word - a top four. They may shift amongst each other but it will be a huge ask for any outsider to penetrate that inner circle with audacity. Still it must be said that the remaining top ten is indeed worth boasting about and hardly comes as a surprise. But as long as Novak, Rafa, Roger and Andy are willing, it will be difficult to imagine a no.5 or higher next to any of their names.

It’s been Novak’s year, but it’s also been Rafa’s clay season, Andy’s Asian swing and Roger’s end of year. Even with the dominance of Novak this year, the rest of the big four never failed to remind everyone that they were still in the picture. I think 2012 will be a leveller. All have proven they have what it takes to take it. Novak’s gotten himself out of Rafa and Roger’s shadow, Rafa has shown everyone that in amidst of adversity, he still owns the clay, Andy has shown more of the kind of play that everyone wants him to adopt (remember 6-0 in the final set of Tokyo against Rafa?) and Roger has once again proven he’s not a decrepit old man descending into mediocrity. 

So as we hit the reset button and look ahead to the new season once again, we need be aware that there is plenty to prove for the big four. Each knows what can happen when one man’s confidence is allowed to overflow and all will be looking to stem that flow should it begin. Competitiveness in 2012 may just reach unprecedented levels; and with the Olympics being a welcome addition to the year, should certainly make for nail-biting 12 months.

(Pic: Getty)

Djokes

Fanatic Omes:

So Head and Nole did this commercial - yes, I know you've seen it - just humour me. Head and Nole did this commercial whereby Nole brung that Masha impression we know he's capable of. It is HIGHLAIR. I don't get bored of Nole's impressions. (I get bored of his winning streaks, but that's a different matter.)

Brava Head! Brava Nole!

Highlights:

The annoyed fist shake at 0:10.

The laughing fit at the end.

Choice quotes:

"It makes me feel beautiful on the court."

"Fanatastic. It's just great, yeah."

I snokered (snorted+ snickered) big time when I watched this. Seriously Nole, NEVER stop showing this side of you. Never ever ever.

(Vid: Head Tennis on YouTube)

Readme

Fanatic Omes:

Hello friends. Sorry I  haven't been blogging much lately - I spent last week in the middle of the Mediterranean sea. They should really put some telecom masts in there.

Now, read.

• Mardy Fish's Open opportunity.
• Pete Bodo talks about dubious retirements (*cough Tsonga* *cough Nole*) and their effects on the sport. And it's reeeaaallly hard to argue with him.
• Chris Chase's Serena seeding sentiments before and after he found out her seeding. Let's just say he wasn't thrilled, as I'm sure plently of people won't be.
• Holy Swiss! Fed has actually apporached Hingis about the Olympics. Come on guys stop tennis flirting and just pair up already.
• Going to the US Open? Well that means I don't like you :P. But anyway here are tips to make your stay that much more US Openy.
• Lovely jubbly article on Masha. (Gist: she's still here. Ahem.)
• A picture of Rafa's burns. Egadz. Hope he feels better soon!
• Great article on Caro's state right now and what she can do to silence her 100000000000+ critics and win a major.

(Pic: ffk8mediacenter.wikispaces.com)

How to Beat Novak Djokovic

Neutral Omes:

To reiterate that Novak Djokovic has had one of the most fantastic seasons in the history of men’s tennis is as useful as declaring the sun shines. So I’m not going to go there. I will go however to the fact that he’s managed to continue on this unprecedented run whilst making Rafa and Roger look like less than stellar players who haven’t won 26 Slams and 36 Masters titles combined. I mean these guys have done it before – they know how to win Slams; and they know how to win Djokovic (c.f. their combined winning record of 30 to Novak’s 21). But not anymore it seems. Ok Roger has been the first and only player to beat him in 2011 in that four-setter at Roland Garros, but it wasn’t like Novak was completely outgunned. It was a thriller of a match and the pressure from so much victory played a part in his defeat. Meanwhile Rafa has made no secret about the fact that his game simply isn’t troubling Novak.

But what’s interesting is that Rafa, Roger and Andy Murray all declared earlier this year that Novak has always had it in him; yes he is a lot more focused and yes maybe a lack of gluten helped him to get around the court that much quicker (come on, did you think I was going to write a piece about Novak Djokovic and not mention gluten?), but he’s always been one of the best defenders in the game. No, Rafa, Roger and Andy were adamant that he’d always played that way, with the notable difference being his insurmountable confidence.

And that confidence is so high that he gets visibly irate when a would-be winner against any other player isn’t blasted back into a corner of the court twice as fast and two millimetres inside the baseline. And therein lays the secret. A fine tennis tactic employed by many is to attack a player’s strong side to expose their weaker one. And since we can safely say Novak has not one weak shot in his game at the moment, the only way, aside from hoping he has a bad day at the office would be to shake that unparalleled confidence I was talking about earlier. And then shake it some more. Novak’s strength is his confidence – attack that and you expose a weaker Djokovic.

We saw Mardy Fish almost succeed in doing this in the Montreal Masters final. As soon as Mardy made Novak doubt himself, the errors crept up and the shouts became louder, and all of a sudden the second set was the American’s. But what Mardy failed to do was capitalise on that situation and Novak was allowed to get back to autopilot when Mardy was broken in the final set. And that’s what’s so important. If he gives you an inch you have to take several thousand miles. You must play him into submission. If you break him once, you try your darndest to break him again; breathe even for a second and let him back into the match and you’re toast. That’s not to take away Novak’s fighting spirit, which is obviously right up there with the best of them, hence the 1 loss this year; but since that confidence that he’s playing with is what’s responsible for elevating himself above the rest, you’ve got to go for it. I mean, really destroy it. In a strange way it’s not only his strength, it’s also his weakness.

And that’s how to beat Novak Djokovic. Good luck trying. 

(Pic: Reuters)

"But you're like, really pretty...so you agree, you think you're really pretty..?"

Fanatic Omes:

Tennis boys seem to have a type - sweet and stunning.

(Vid: ATPWorldTour on YouTube)

The Davis Cup Effect

Neutral Omes:

This year is Novak Djokovic’s year; there’s no question about that. Naturally with the emergence of a tennis monster like himself, there will be a plethora of theories surrounding who or what was responsible for its creation. Was it the cutting out of gluten? Marian Vajda stepping up? The fruits of labour finally paying off? Of course in however big or small a way these things all played their parts, but the monster himself attested that it was mostly due to his part in Serbia’s Davis Cup win last year. There’s no doubt that a small nation like Serbia, who’s been recovering from a tumultuous past, loves and needs their heroes (c.f. Novak Djokovic’s Serbian welcome after Wimbledon). And in the tennis world – they’ve found themselves with heroes-a-plenty. The Davis Cup is big for Serbia and therefore big for Djokovic. The win helped him to let go of his fear, which evidently was the only thing holding him back from being at the top of men’s tennis.

My theory is that Novak Djokovic paved the way for other top (but not quite at the top at the moment) players who are looking for inspiration in their careers. Andy Roddick, Andy Murray and Roger Federer all hadn’t competed for their countries since 2009. Call me a conspiracy theorist (if there is such a thing) but I don’t think it’s a coincidence that they’re all playing now (post Djokovic 2.0).

And how has their quest for stimulation paid off? Well it definitely sparked something in Andy Murray who was in floods of happy tears after an emotional winning weekend in his hometown. Roger Federer has to be pleased that he’s lead Switzerland back into the World Group – his absence proves costly. That said we’ll keep an eye on their American seasons. Let’s hope for Andy Roddick that there are no adverse effects.

(Pic: be0grad.com)

In 2011 Everything Has Gone Right For Novak Djokovic

(Pic: AP Photo)

Neutral Omes:

Having taken three years following his debut to capture his maiden Slam, three years later Novak Djokovic realized his childhood dreams at The All England Club, in a matter of three days - becoming the world no.1 and then subsequently affirming his new status by capturing his first Wimbledon trophy.

For the poor sods of the ATP, Roger and Rafa’s dominance on the tour for the past eight years meant that, aside from perhaps willing one or both of them to be kidnapped by pirates, a superhuman performance was the sole prerequisite to even have a chance of capturing a big title.

But Novak’s managed to do just that. He’s had a superhuman year – and seeing as we’re halfway through the season and he’s pocketed 8 titles, including 2 Slams, lost a total of once this year; but not before maintaining a 41 match winning streak, you’d have to have been in deep hibernation under a boulder in the middle of the Bermuda Triangle all year to argue against him being a candidate for the best season of all time since Rod Laver’s Career Slam in 1969.

(Pic: AP Photo)

This year he’s not only managed to beat the game’s grittiest competitor and biggest threat i.e. Nadal, five times in a row five finals, but in doing so he’s planted himself firmly in the Spaniard’s head; which is exactly where you’d want to be. (You know, staying ahead of competition and all.) And this vantage point, he can gleefully add to his already overflowing lists of strengths.

They say confidence and momentum are everything in tennis. They also say confidence breeds confidence. Novak is living and breathing proof of this. He’s currently playing tennis that you can only fantasize about. There are no obvious weaknesses in his game and no one has figured out how to beat him yet apart from trying to beat him at his own game (c.f. Roger Federer at Roland Garros).

He’s made no secret of the fact that the turning point was at Davis Cup in 2010 where he “let go of the fear”. And it’s this fearless approach allowed him to enter into the Wimbledon final knowing he had a serious shot at it. He took the confidence he’d received from beating his opponent four times prior and it turned out that was all he needed really (well, that and excellent play). 

(Pic: Getty Images)

So all he had to do was wait till Nadal’s self doubt crept in, and unlucky for the Spaniard that happened when he was serving to stay in the first set. With a puffed chest Novak made Nadal look ordinary in the second, managing to break him twice. It looked like it was going to be a quick and painful one.

But then this was Wimbledon and this was Rafael Nadal after all. Something had to give, even if just for a moment. Nerves had to creep in and the 10 time Grand Slam title holder had to lift his game -hence set three was Rafa’s.

However the fourth set reminded us just how much Djokovic had matured mentally. He kept his resolve and fortunately for him Nadal doubts resurfaced again in the nick of time to give Novak the break and serve for his first Wimbledon championships. 

(Pic: Getty Images)

He's firmly a member of the champion’s club now. He’s won big on more than one surface. He’s overcome an in form world number one in a Grand Slam final for the first time. He beat the best to be the best. Now he is going into the season on which his favourite surface lies – knowing that not only has he only lost once this year but he’s a head and shoulders above the rest of the field. 

Yes in 2011 everything has gone right for Novak Djokovic.

In case you doubted Novak Djokovic's National Treasure Status in Serbia... (gosh that was a mouthful)

Fanatic Omes:

Wow that is literally every man, woman, child and dog in Serbia. I suppose I should write something about Nole right? I'll let Neutral Omes handle this one.

(Vid: telegraphtv)

Along Came Nadal.

Neutral Omes: 

(Pic: AP Photo)

On the 1^st of July 2011 Andy Murray prepared to take on Rafael Nadal - 10 time Grand Slam champion; a record 19 Masters 1000 titles; Wimbledon defending champion and firm candidate of the ‘greatest of all time’ discussion. The Scotsman had had by far his best season to date, making a final and two semi-finals out of the Grand Slams that'd gone by. 

Ok he was outplayed in Australia, but that happened to be the scene of Novak Djokovic’s winning expedition; and yes he suffered a lull after the loss, but that was only to be expected. The fact that he was able to produce enviable clay court results – clay being a surface that he has wrestled with in the past; and transition onto the grass with a trophy in his pocket, was enough evidence to show that his game had indeed enjoyed some non-trivial growth. And it’s not only his physical game that matured, but his attitude and mental strength. The shouts and complaints became more and more channelled into self-encouragement.

Taking all that into consideration there did seem to be a cloud of increased optimism surrounding the British number one going into the match; seizing a semi-final win from the defending champion seemed...well, doable. And what’s more, having now made his third semi-final at Wimbledon, he could add experience to his list of strengths.

And all that game, mentality, optimism and experience – he succeeded in transporting into the first set and three games. Quite emphatically.

But then along came Nadal.

(Pic: Reuters)

Somewhat assisted by an inexplicable slump in Murray’s form, the defending champion rose to play that brutal, exhausting, relentless game that he inevitably brings to the big stage. Andy became another one of Nadal’s mignons. Once the Spaniard became alert to the tiny crevice of opportunity that presented itself, he pried it open with a few forehands and produced the gob-smacking type of tennis that we’re now accustomed to seeing him do on grass.

From then on, he kindly reminded us why he’d been in four previous finals; why he’d kissed the trophy twice; and why the only man to deny him his gold in the other half of those finals was a man who for the majority of his career literally couldn’t lose at SW19.

Nadal will now face the only other player who has matched and indeed surpassed his level this season. Both have the uncanny ability to produce magnificence on a court. Novak Djokovic has already achieved one half of his childhood dream by becoming the new no. 1. 

The other awaits him; but so does Nadal.

Round One at Wimbledon

Neutral Omes:

Nadal and Murray both fought off slow starts – Murray from a set down – to seal some emphatic victories, and keeping their semi-final hopes alive. The world no. 1 was very appreciative of opening proceedings at the All England Club – something he couldn’t do so as the defending champion in 2009 as he had to pull out of the tournament after suffering from tendonitis in his infamous knees. Nadal d. Russel 64 62 62; Murray d. Gimeno-Traver 46 63 60 60

Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer both fought off early opposition and then sailed through their opening matches. Both are more than looking the part to reach the latter stages of the tournament. Djokovic d. Chardy 64 61 61; Federer d. Kukushkin 76 64 62

Venus Williams cruised into the second round defeating Akgul Amanmuradova 63 61. It was a tougher and more emotional journey to the second round for sister Serena as she fought to win her first Slam match in three sets against a tough, hard-hitting Arvanne Rezai 36 63 61. The 4 time Wimbledon champion, overcome with emotion due to the tumultuous battle she’s had with illness and injury, broke down, much to her surprise with tears of joy; showing the world just how appreciative she is to be alive and to be competing again.

Other favourite Sharapova looked in commanding form, winning her match against Chakvetadze 62 61.

Gentleman’s thriller: Fernando Verdasco engaged in a 5 set battle with in-form Radek Stepanek, in the first competitive gentleman’s tussle. The Spaniard took it 97 in the fifth.

Gentlemen’s shock: Former world no. 3 Nicolay Davydenko losing in straight sets to spunky Aussie Bernard Tomic.

Ladies thriller: Francesa Schiavone and Jelena Dokic engaged in a very competitive match from start to finish, with a point here and there determining a victory for the Italian French Open winner.

Ladies shock: World no. 10 Sam Stosur going down to Melinda Czink, the lowest ranked player (262) in the championships.

Click on "Read more" for my fanatic musings.

Wimbledon 2011 Preview

Neutral Omes:

The tennis world seems to be in a slight state of confusion as to which of the men, or should I should say, gentlemen will lift the golden marvel that is the Wimbledon trophy – the 125^th edition. But who can blame them? Don’t get me wrong, the conversation isn’t whether outsiders, i.e. anyone outside the top four, will have a shot it; no this confusion is restricted to the likes of the Spaniard, the Swiss, the Serb and the Scot. Observe:

Novak Djokovic must be holding some record for the amount times people have referred to him as “unbelievable” or “incredible” thanks to his unbelievable and incredible streak. Surely a 41-match winning streak would be more than enough to go by for Djokovic to be considered a possible winner at the All England Club. But just in case we needed a reminder that he will from here on in be one of the world’s best, he kindly treated us to a frightful demolishing of Simon at an Exhibiton match in the Boodles, Stoke Park. However, you say, he’s just had a shot at number one and his first Slam outside of the Australian open against someone he’d beaten three times prior. But the occasion got to him, and he’s made no secret of the fact that a win at Wimbledon is a life-long dream of his. A final here would be the mother of all occasions.

Rafael Nadal is a man who benefits a lot from confidence. And red hot from winning his record-equalling sixth Roland Garros title, his confidence must be higher than sky high. You only have to look at his 2010 season to see what a big win on his favourite surface does for him. And as he's showed us, once again moving straight on from victory to practice at Queen’s - he’s more than willing. On the flipside his French Open ride had more turbulence than we’re used to seeing and he did reveal that schedule demands were starting to get to him. Lest we forget Wimbledon and Roland Garros overlap in June – how’s that for demanding?

Roger Federer silenced his critics – and let’s face it, a still, small part of all of us – when he ended Djokovic’s freak-streak to make yet another Grand Slam final. What’s more is that during those finals he showed some masterful signs (including a version 2.0 backhand) that would indeed work very well on the grass.  Nevertheless the Maestro is getting older, no matter how much his impeccable movement hides this fact. And he hasn’t held a Slam for a "Federer-while". That could definitely play a part.

Andy Murray seems to be a more relaxed, more focussed version of himself. It was this new attitude that allowed him a second win in Queen’s. And this combination of positivity and confidence gives him the best chance he’s ever had at Wimbledon; bearing in mind that he is an ever-present semi-finalist. But, for as long as he remains British, his shoulders will remain laden with British pressure. And contending with all of it could be just difficult as winning the darned thing.

So with their pros and cons in equal measure, it seems that the top four are all as favoured as each other. We wait with bated breath and sweaty palms.

Some have argued that the men’s draw won’t start to heat up till the semi-finals, but may I kindly remind them of the (my) pick of contenders: Tsonga – King of Queen’s, Kohlschriber – winner of Halle, and Baghdatis who’s showing some good form. It’s also worth keeping an eye on Roddick who always comes alive at this tournament (and by the way hasn’t retired yet!). And for the young guns: Milos Raonic who you’ll no doubt have heard about now. Otherwise...

Click "Read more" for my neutral take on the ladies.

Readme

  
Fanatic Omes:

• The draws doth arrive. Just like to point out – 1^st round: Isner vs. Mahut. Pahahahahahahahaha. I will now use Rotten Tomatoes’ review of the Hangover II which I believe will depict this impending encounter to a T: “A crueller, darker, raunchier carbon copy of the first instalment, [it] lacks the element of surprise -- and most of the joy -- that helped make the original a hit.”
  Rafa looks like he’ll be OK – we’ll talk at the semis. I won’t bet against another top four semi-finals. But maybe because I don’t bet period.
  Ladies-wise: we got a possible Serena vs MaSha – zoop!

• Tim Henman on the giant tennis players of the future. Quite true but a bit mean! Jeez.

• Anything on Time is worth reading; most things on Li Na are worth reading. Henceforth.
  

• Please please, oh pretty please! 

• Piece on Nole Mole. Very true that it took just one match for the tennis world to be silent on Nole after the 2^nd Slam and freak-streak - and very rapidly. What does a guy have to do be taken seriously? Win Wimbledon? Not yet darling Nole, you can have it in 2014 and then again in 2017.

(Pic: funnyandspicy.com) 

Rain, rain, don't go away...

Fanatic Omes: 

So it turns out that:

Rain = Boredom = Twitter

Our players had a twit-tastic day that would have made Roland Garros shiver with regret* having discovered the players’ readiness for karaoke.

I don’t think I could do justice to what went down, so I’ll let them tweet for themselves:

Nole:

Muzz:

Serena:

Gosh how we love our guys and gals.

In other depressingasIamatworkandcan’bbelievethepriceofthetickets news, Queens’s finals tickets cost a tenner. That’s £10 for you non-UK folk. Go on type that into Google and see how much it is in your currency. 

The online tickets sold out in an hour but the good people at Queen’s reserved 1000 more to be sold at the door. I understand that people had been queuing since 2.00am. (Uh guys, you know it’s a best of three right?)

So the final should begin in about half an hour. There’s no rain in sight, but as discussed earlier that may actually be a bummer.

*RG opted not to do players karaoke this year. Booo.

 (Pics: blueyed-cutzie.blogspot.com, artblog.hk, wildmind.org)

The Grass is Greener

Fanatic Omes:

It’s grass o’ clock! Which means tennis comes to London where I live. Which also means I get depressed that I can’t pack up and move into the tournament sites; – so tantalisingly close yet so far.

Anyway so here’s the 411 so far:

Rafa, looking all bicep-y, practices at Queens

Fed pulls out of Halle
Nole, Gasquet and Fish pull out of Queens
Roddick goes for the ankle-sock look....ok

Nalbandian and Roddick do doubles at Queens

Muzz was also there

Serena returns to the tour at Eastbourne (well rest of WTA, it’s been fun)

Would it be ridiculous to buy a grounds ticket and wonder around a tennis tournament by yourself?...No? Ok.

 

There there, darling.

(Pic:AP)

Fanatic Omes:

Now that Nole has lost, I feel bad and love him once again. Awww. Just one win from tieing the McEnroe winning streak record and becoming the world number 1. Bum out. Ah well, he's had an unbelievable one and there's no doubt that he'll be talked about in the same breath as Rog and Raf from here on in. Idemo Nole!

The Semi-Final of Dreams

Neutral Omes:

Roland Garros this year has looked the most competitive it has been for the last five years or so. Only fitting then that the best competitors – the best four in the world, have pulled through. With doubt being raised over the resident King of Clay’s dominance this year, the other rivals are surely feelinng that the crown is more within their reach than it ever has been; and are therefore looking to grab the bull (aka Nadal) by the horns.

Don’t take my word for it. Just ask them:

 “I can definitely win.” - Murray

Andy Murray has shown grit and determination all tournament even in the face of injury; fighting time and time again from break points down to close out matches, and now has made his first ever Roland Garros semi-final. He hasn’t come all this way just to be satisfied with getting to this point, and has the self-belief to pass the ultimate test in Nadal and go even further.

"For me, the plan is trying to get a step further and into the final of the French Open.” - Federer

Roger Federer has looked in impervious form all through this tournament and remains the only semi-finalist not to have dropped a set. He’s looking to get his revenge on Novak Djokovic who he has lost to three times this year, but the 16 time Grand Slam champion no doubt relishes the challenge.

“I’m ready...and eager to get more wins.” - Djokovic

What more can be said about 2011’s champion, Novak Djokovic? Winning against Federer would not only give the Serb his much coveted world no. 1 ranking, but would see him equal John McEnroe’s 42-match undefeated streak from the start of a season. And insistent that his recent four-day break hasn’t interrupted his rhythm, he most certainly has the confidence and form to do so.

“Today I was ready to beat the no. 5 in the world...we will see what’s going on [in the] next round.” - Nadal

Nadal has regained his confidence after an emphatic dismissal of Soderling his quarter-final match. The Spaniard was much happier with the form and attitude, but remains ever modest, understanding the difficult road that lies between him and victory. There is no doubt however that he will give it his absolute all in order to re-assert his authority on clay; and for any opponent that is a scary proposition.

Click "Read more" to view my silly, but unashamed thoughts.