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  • Johan Kriek on Character in Tennis

    Johan Kriek on Character in Tennis

    As an owner/operator of an elite tennis academy in Charlotte, NC, I would like to talk about character. It matters the most in my book. We all make mistakes, but it is the person with character who realizes they have made a mistake and can fess up and truly feel sorry, say so, and apologize and try not to make the same mistake again. That is a person with good character.

    Character also plays a huge role in becoming successful in tennis. It is so refreshing to see our kids listen and truly try new things which we coach all the time because tennis coaching is a step-by-step process with ever increasing demands in “execution” of shots as well as the building of maturity in the mental side of the game. Needless to say, there are so many “boxes” to check off to learn to play this game at the best of our ability, it takes a lot of time, huge effort, and dedication coupled with a limitless “thirst” to do better every day. It would be easy for me to try and focus on getting a “player” from the top ranks in the world. Would be a great “feather in my cap”, however, I truly enjoy seeing a kid start to bloom from a very early age and create their own “look” and build their tennis character. That, to me, is by far the most satisfying aspect of the academy business. I can’t wait to see where some of these 8-16 year olds will be in the next decade, etc.

    So how does one break out of the “pack” of all these boys and girls playing ITF Futures and Challenger events, such as the older boys we are working with the past few weeks? There are thousands of very good players out there, all trying to make it on the ATP or the WTA tours. It takes one tough character to “stand out”. Having talent and weapons is great, but if you are not one tough character, talent will only take you so far. It is the person with a strong character who will leave no stone unturned to achieve their goals. Setbacks will be there, no doubt. Failures will pop up aplenty. Losing will make one feel like a failure. But it is the person with a strong-willed character, a never-say-die attitude, even if the odds seem overwhelming, that eventually makes it.

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  • Facing Federer: Dominik Hrbaty’s Take

    Facing Federer: Dominik Hrbaty’s Take

    Scoop Malinowski, who contributes to the Tennis Frontier, has released his new book “Facing Federer“.

    Here is the third of three excerpts:

    Dominik Hrbaty

    “Roger is different. He’s the new generation. He was comparable to Marcelo Rios, very talented, he has great hands, but the difference was Roger had the big serve, big return. He could make winners out of anything basically. And even out of defense. And Roger is just one of a kind. It’s always a special feeling to play Roger or any No. 1 in the world. Because he’s the best player in the world and you want to be at your best. If you can beat him you become a part of the history of tennis. Because you don’t often meet a No. 1 in the world. And if you beat him, everybody says Wow, congratulations. You make the news. All the friends suddenly text you. It’s just such a good feeling. Also you can do it for yourself because you can prove that your own tennis can play against the top player in the world. And this is the point of tennis. If you can prove, not only to yourself, but also to the other people that you are learned on the level, you’re really playing at the top. And people are looking to you, that you are the one that can play tennis.”

    Question: What was your most memorable match against Federer?

    Dominik Hrbaty: “Probably in Cincinnati when I beat him as the No. 1 in the world. But there was also one in Wimbledon that was our last meeting. Because it was after my surgery, I didn’t play well and this was the only time that he beat me. Because I beat him two times before. We were very good friends with Roger and he was always joking about when he was going to beat me. And in Wimbledon, that match, we sit on the bench together, which is very unusual. On the last changeover I came over and sat with him. And I told him, ‘Roger, finally you beat me. So this is the day.’ And we had a good laugh. It’s not only about competition, sports and tennis is about friendship and also about, you know, making the thing that you will remember for the rest of your life.”

    2000 Paris Masters, Round of 64, Hrbaty: 4-6, 6-2, 6-2
    2004 Cincinnati Masters, Round of 64, Hrbaty: 1-6, 7-6, 6-4
    2008 Wimbledon, Round of 128, Federer: 3-6, 2-6, 2-6

    The first “Facing Federer” excerpt was with Dmitry Tursunov.

    The second “Facing Federer” excerpt was with Gilles Muller.

    You can purchase the whole book at Amazon:

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    Cover Photo: Carine06 (Creative Commons License)

  • The Blue Shift

    The Blue Shift

    Beijing, Final

    (1) Djokovic d. (2) Nadal, 6-3, 6-4

    Until yesterday, the only hard-court tournaments that Rafael Nadal hadn’t won this year were ones he didn’t enter. It doesn’t take much to mar a perfect record – just one loss to a rampant Novak Djokovic – though falling short of perfection hardly precludes greatness, and Nadal’s 2013 season is nothing if not great. It isn’t done with yet; weeks remain in which it can become greater still.

    Consider this: Nadal has just reclaimed the No. 1 ranking despite accruing zero points at two Majors (Melbourne and Wimbledon), three Masters (Shanghai, Paris, and Miami), and the World Tour Finals. Staggering, indeed, and it suggests that the gap between him and his nearest rivals will widen to a chasm before it begins to close. Djokovic is already making the right noises about regaining the top spot, but he’ll need to win Shanghai, the World Tour Finals, and the Australian Open merely to maintain the points he has. Barring catastrophe or a precipitous waning of interest, Nadal will be No. 1 in the world for a long while yet.

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    Last week was Djokovic’s 101st at No. 1, which strands him one week short of Nadal at equal-eighth on the all-time list, though not for long. This week will be Nadal’s 103rd. (Next week will be his 104th. I think you grasp the sophisticated mathematics involved.) I do wonder how many men have lost the No. 1 ranking by winning a tournament, in the final defeating the very man who would supplant them. It cannot be that common. (Still, if it was going to happen, this would be the pair to manage it. They’ve now faced off something like fourteen thousand times. The ATP made a desultory effort to drum up some interest for yesterday’s final with yet another historical retrospective, but given that their previous encounter was a Major final, and that the new survey mostly reprised the last one, it was hard to get too worked up.)

    Nor, however, is it particularly significant. Rankings are based on twelve months’ of results, not two hours’ worth, and Djokovic in Beijing is coming to feel like Djokovic in Melbourne. Just arriving there lofts his form into low orbit. There’s no shame at all in losing to him, no matter what you’re ranked. This week he looked better than he has since January, savaging Richard Gasquet in the semifinals, and comprehensively shutting Nadal out of the final. Much has rightly been made of his serving, which was superb. But his returning was typically accomplished – Nadal won twenty-five percent of points behind second serve in the first set – and his groundstrokes reflected a boldness that is unfortunately atypical in this rivalry. The swift, low bounce didn’t hurt.

    Meanwhile, Nadal wasn’t overly convincing. Generous souls suggested he was experimenting with aspects of his game this week. Perhaps they’re right. He did take time to test just how far behind Fabio Fognini he could fall without looking in real peril of losing. It turned to be quite a long way: a set and 1/4. Conditions also did not favour him, though rather too much was made of this: conditions don’t favour most players most of the time. Whatever the cause, level-headed types had predicted Djokovic would take the final, though few predicted straight sets. The Serb has looked all tournament like he did in the second set of the US Open final, which is to say like the best hard-court player going around.

    But in order to be ranked as the best player one must sustain it for longer than a set, or even a week. Djokovic hadn’t won a tournament since April, and was on borrowed time. Those level heads were correct this week, but they’ve also been predicting losses for Nadal all year, and so far none had gotten it right. Broken clocks have a better rate of success. To be fair Nadal’s losses have been as unpredictable as they’ve been rare, and as curious. Who realistically believed that the third man to defeat Nadal in a clay court final would be Horacio Zeballos, contesting his first tour final, outmuscling the Spaniard in a deciding set? Or that Nadal’s only loss on European clay would come in Monte Carlo in straight sets, the first of which was very nearly a bagel? Or that Steve Darcis would remove him from Wimbledon in the first round? Or that . . . Or that there wouldn’t be any others, and none on a hard court?

    As much as the scarcity of the defeats, the comprehensiveness and plenitude of the victories have been telling. Nadal’s more ardent fans can fan themselves into orgasmic dread whenever he steps on court, and afterwards are eager to peddle the conceit that his victories are testament to an ineffable warrior spirit, but realistically there have been barely a handful of matches this year in which he has looked at all like losing. Mostly he wins because he’s better than everyone else. This is precisely as it should be for the world No. 1.

  • Serena Williams Beats Jelena Jankovic for China Open Title

    Serena Williams Beats Jelena Jankovic for China Open Title

    Serena Williams overcame some back troubles to best Jelena Jankovic 6-2, 6-2 for her 10th title of 2013, the 56th of her career.  While Williams looked in discomfort in the second set, it was Jankovic who received treatment for hip pain.  Despite the loss, the Serbian is having her best year since 2009, and will raise her ranking to world No. 8 come Monday.

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  • Djokovic Wins Beijing, but Nadal Regains No. 1 Ranking

    Djokovic Wins Beijing, but Nadal Regains No. 1 Ranking

    Novak Djokovic lost his spot atop the ATP World Rankings, but played a nearly flawless match to beat Rafael Nadal for the title in China, his fourth, 6-3, 6-4.   He broke the Spaniard at the start of both sets, and never dropped his own serve.

    Nadal, however, will retake the No. 1 slot when the rankings come out on Monday.  This is his third climb to the top, since he lost it to Djokovic in July of 2011, and caps off an amazing return-from-injury season, when he came back at No. 5, his lowest ranking since 2005.

    Most weeks at No. 1:

    Roger Federer – 302

    Pete Sampras – 286

    Ivan Lendl – 270

    Jimmy Connors – 268

    John McEnroe – 170

    Bjorn Borg – 109

    Rafael Nadal – 102 (103, as of tomorrow)

    Andre Agassi – 101

    Novak Djokovic – 101

    Lleyton Hewitt – 80

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    Juan Martin Del Potro beat Milos Raonic to take the Rakuten Open in Tokyo, his third title of the year, and 16th career trophy. The win raises his ranking to #5.

    Credits: Cover Photo: Marianne Bevis (Creative Commons License)

  • David Nalbandian – Career Highlights

    David Nalbandian – Career Highlights

    The Argentine press is in a swoon over the announcement that David Nalbandian, “King David,” as he is known there, is retiring.  Nalbandian has undergone several surgeries in the last few years, so it’s not actually a shock, but the popular player with the magnificent backhand and the sharp angles of a physicist will be missed.  Local press mentioned some of his career highlights:

    Sept. 1988:  At 16, he won the US Open Juniors title, beating Roger Federer, the reigning Wimbledon Juniors champ: 6-3, 7-5.

    March 2000:  Made his ATP debut in Key Biscayne.  Made it through the qualifying rounds, only to fall to Jim Courier.

    April 2002:  Won his first ATP title in Estoril on clay over Nieminen, beating Coria and Moyà along the way.

    July 2002:  After a great fortnight, lost in the Wimbledon final to then-world No. 1, Lleyton Hewitt.

    Sept. 2002:  Made his Davis Cup debut.  Nalbandian beat (along with Lucas Arnold) Safin/Kafelnikov in doubles, and Safin in straights in his singles tie, though Argentina eventually fell to Russia.

    July 2005:  Again in Davis Cup, Nalbandian beats Hewitt on grass in Australia to give Argentina the win over the Aussies.

    November 2005:  Wins Shanghai Masters

    March 2006:  Reaches No. 3 in the world rankings, behind Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.  He is the third Argentine to do so, after  Vilas and Coria.

    December 2006:  In a losing effort against Russia, Nalbandian beats Davydenko and Safin.

    October 2007:  A career high.  At the Paris Masters 1000, he beat Federer in the quarterfinals, then Nadal in the final to take the title.  He was the first player to beat both champions in one tournament.  And two weeks later, he won the Madrid Masters by beating Nadal in the quarterfinal, Djokovic in the semifinal, and Federer in the final.

    August 2010:  Wins his last professional title in Washington, over Marcos Baghdatis, 6-2, 7-6.

     

  • David Nalbandian Retires from Tennis

    David Nalbandian Retires from Tennis

    David Nalbandian

    David Nalbandian has retired from the ATP Tour. The 31-year-old Argentine announced it at a press conference Tuesday, citing long-term injuries as the main reason.

    Nalbandian is a former world No. 3 who won 11 ATP singles titles and represented Argentina in three Davis Cup finals.  He also reached the semifinal of all four Majors, and won the runner-up trophy at the 2002 Wimbledon championships.

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    Cover Photo: Carine06 (Creative Commons License)

  • Facing Federer: Gilles Muller’s Take

    Facing Federer: Gilles Muller’s Take

    Scoop Malinowski, who contributes to the Tennis Frontier, has released his new book “Facing Federer“.

    Here is the second of three excerpts:

    Gilles Muller

    Gilles Muller: “Well, it’s always a nice feeling Roger because it’s what you work for, those moments to play on the stadium, big court, against a guy like Roger. It’s always an amazing feeling. It’s actually nice to play him because you go on court and you know you have nothing to lose, you have everything to win. And if you lose 0 and 0 it’s not a bad thing actually. It’s not the end of the world. If you beat him or you get a close match with him, it’s fun. I enjoy those moments. I’ve always been one of those guys who loved to have those big matches and I always played well in them. So I’m always looking forward to have those matches.”

    Question: Is Roger very hard for you to play against?

    Gilles Muller: “Of course. He’s one of the greatest of all time, if not the greatest. And obviously he’s a very good player. To be honest, I prefer to play him than to play Nadal, for example, or Djokovic. Because they make you suffer on the court. They make you physically suffer on the court. And Roger’s more the guy who hits winners. So it’s not as hard physically to play him. That’s what I felt. Of course, in tennis, of what he’s able to do with the ball – it’s just amazing.”

    Question: What is your most memorable match with Roger?

    Gilles Muller: “The one I remember the most is the one at the U.S. Open when I lost in three close sets in quarterfinals. The first time I played him was pretty amazing too. I played him the first time in Indian Wells. That was back in 2005. And he had his long hair [laughs]. That was a pretty nice moment also because it was only my first year at the high level playing the big tournaments. So that was a nice moment. I like to remember the time we played at the U.S. Open because that was a close match, at least close to winning one set. So far, I’ve never won a set against him. So I was very close there.”

    Question: How are your relations with Roger off court?

    Gilles Muller: “Well, he’s very laid back. I mean, he’s always friendly to everybody, so that makes him special. Because you have a lot of those guys you barely see and they barely talk to you. And that’s probably also because we speak the same language. He speaks French-German like me too, so it’s easy to communicate with him. He’s a pretty nice person. He’s laid back. You don’t feel like he’s mad at stuff all the time. He seems like…I’ve never seen him in a bad mood. That makes him a pretty good person I think.”

    Question: Can you share a lasting memory on or off court, maybe a conversation or an anecdote?

    Gilles Muller: “I spoke to him the day before we played in the quarterfinals at the U.S. Open. And I was just surprised. Because, for me, it was the first time I was at that stage in the tournament. All the press work with all the interviews and everything. And because I’m coming from a country where they’re not traveling to the tournaments so I have to make calls all the time and speak and give interviews in three or four different languages. So that’s always tough for me. At that point, that was the first time that happened to me, so it was very tough for me. On the other hand, I just saw him and he was doing the same thing. And I guess he was doing that everyday. I was just asking how he does it. It was pretty nice to speak with him. I mean, he could have not answered to me, because we played each other the next day. I think there’s a couple of guys who would not like to do that – speak to the guy or be nice to the guy you play the next day. But he was just very relaxed and he told me, ‘Yeah, you get used to that. And it’s tough, but…’ But it was nice. It was a nice memory.”

    Question: Your first memory of Roger Federer?

    Gilles Muller: “I think…I can’t remember against who he was playing but I’m pretty sure it was at the Basel tournament and I watched it on TV. And everybody was talking about this Federer guy being the next No. 1 and being a very good junior. And I just remember that the racquet flew everywhere on the court [laughs]. He threw his racquet like almost every point he lost. And then people said that’s one of his problems, he used to be crazy on the court, and very emotional. It’s amazing how he developed in that manner. He’s so calm on the court now, you barely see him say a word on the court now. That was pretty funny. I remember watching that match. I can’t remember who he played but the guy hit a winner against him and he just threw the racquet from the baseline to his bag. I thought that was pretty funny because when you see him now he’s a totally different person.”

    2005 Indian Wells Masters Round of 32 Federer 3-6, 2-6
    2005 Bangkok Quarterfinal Federer 4-6, 3-6
    2008 U.S. Open Quarterfinal Federer 6-7, 4-6, 6-7

    The previous “Facing Federer” excerpt was with Dmitry Tursunov.

    You can purchase the whole book at Amazon:

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    Cover Photo: The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas (Creative Commons License)

  • Petra Kvitova Wins the Pan Pacific Open

    Petra Kvitova Wins the Pan Pacific Open

    Czech star Petra Kvitova defeated Angelique Kerber of Germany 6-2, 0-6, 6-3 to secure the Pan Pacific Open title in Japan.

    The former Wimbledon champion earned it the hard way. It was a roller-coaster ride of a match that featured several momentum swings before Kvitova sealed the contest with a rapier-like crosscourt forehand winner.

    Kvitova dropped six straight games en route to a second set bagel before recovering her poise and going on to win the deciding set.

    “Angie came back at me but I tried to stay focused and it’s amazing to win such a big tournament,” stated the champion after the match.

    It was Kvitova’s first title success since Dubai in February.

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    Cover Photo: Piotr Drabik (Creative Commons License)

  • Milos Raonic Wins the Thailand Open

    Milos Raonic Wins the Thailand Open

    Milos Raonic defeated the top seed Tomas Berdych in straight sets 7-6, 6-3 to secure his fifth ATP tour title in Bangkok at the Thailand Open.

    The first set went with serve, although Raonic had to fend off a set point at 5-6 before taking it into a tiebreak that he won 7-4.

    The Canadian broke early in the second set and protected his lead with a display of serving excellence, thundering down 18 aces in total.

    “I knew I had to play slightly more aggressive, not just put the ball in play. I did that and was able to take control, I got some insight into what I needed to do to beat him,” stated the 22-year-old Canadian after the match. His approach paid dividends in securing the title and improving his personal head-to-head with Berdych to 2-0.

    Jamie Murray of the UK and Australian John Peers won the men’s doubles title with a 6-3, 3-6 [10-6] victory over Tomasz Bednarek and Johan Brunstrom.

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