Tennis Frontier

Tag: tennis

Italy Soars in Davis Cup; Argentina Risks Relegation from World Group

In a shock Davis Cup result in Buenos Aires this weekend, Argentina fell 3-1 to Italy and now run the risk of relegation from the World Group only one year after losing a tight semifinal to eventual winners Czech Republic.

Without world No. 4 Juan Martin del Potro and recently-retired David Nalbandian in the lineup, the hosts were forced to depend on world No. 44 Carlos Berlocq and No. 40 Juan Monaco to carry them forward to the quarterfinals for the thirteenth consecutive year.

Berlocq won his opening match against world No. 31 Andreas Seppi in four sets (4-6, 6-0, 6-2, 6-1), but Monaco was soundly defeated by an on-fire Fabio Fognini in the second rubber (7-5, 6-2, 6-2).

Fognini, world No. 15, is fresh off a fourth-round appearance at the Australian Open and showed a newfound level of confidence as he anchored the Italian team. He went on to secure victory with a 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 triumph over Berlocq after partnering with Simone Bolelli to win the doubles, 6-7(6), 7-6(8), 7-6(3), 6-4, on Saturday.

Italy will now host Great Britain in the quarterfinals held from April 4-6. The nation will be in search of its second ever Davis Cup trophy, after defeating Chile 4-1 to clinch the title in 1976. Italy only returned to the World Group in 2011 following a victory over the same opponent in a playoff.

Argentina has been playing in international tennis’s top tier since 2001, when it defeated Belarus 5-0 in Cordoba. The country then went on a phenomenal run that included finals in 2006, 2008, and 2011, although all three ended in defeats: first to Russia and twice to Spain. The South Americans will now face a playoff against one of the eight Zonal Group 1 qualifiers in September to stay in the World Group.

Perhaps the biggest influence in Argentina’s defeat was the failure to convince 2009 US Open winner del Potro to return to the team following a dispute with team captain Martin Jaite and officials from the Argentine Tennis Association (ATA). His last appearance was in the 2012 semifinal loss to the Czechs, where he won the opening rubber against Radek Stepanek in straight sets.

Del Potro is upset about the initial selection of Jaite as captain in 2011, and a lack of consultation in regards to surfaces and locations by the ATA. The Olympic bronze medalist also spoke in the open letter (see link above) to Jaite and ATA president Arturo Grimaldi about the hypocrisy of the organization for attempting to make him look bad in the public eye while awaiting his response for the Italy tie.

Tennis fans in Argentina are split over the stance of their top player, with a number of those inside the stadium during the Berlocq loss that clinched the Italian victory singing, “This is for you, del Potro, watching on TV.” Others displayed signs saying, “Volvé del Potro” — “Come back del Potro”.

Grimaldi was quick to hit the damage control button and released a statement saying that he would do anything within reason to get del Potro back on the team for the crucial playoff. He was followed by Berlocq, who also spoke about how vital his compatriot is to every tie and how much more potent Argentina is with him in the team.

Thus far, there has been no response from the world No. 4, who is currently undergoing treatment for an injury to his left wrist. But with the risk of sinking out of the World Group so soon after becoming the most dominant South American team in recent memory, all will be hoping that somehow del Potro and the AFA figure out a solution sooner rather than later.

February 4, 2014
Makarova Wins Pattaya Open

Ekaterina Makarova won her first title in nearly four years clinching the Pattaya Open in Thailand with a 6-3, 7-6 (7) victory over Karolina Pliskova.

The Russian took the match in 1 hour 36 minutes and fought off two set points in the second set tiebreak to take the championship.

“It was a nervous ending and a really tough match, and she was playing really great tennis today,” stated Makarova after the match.

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Cover Photo: angela n, Creative Commons License (Ekaterina Makarova)

February 3, 2014
Cibulkova Thrashes Radwanska in Australian Open Semifinal

Dominika Cibulkova dominated Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska en route to a 6-1, 6-2 victory and a place in the Australian Open final.

Radwanska, who had previously defeated defending champion Victoria Azarenka, struggled to negate the aggression and physicality of the Slovakian throughout the match.

Cibulkova was in control from the outset, dominating the exchanges from the baseline and attacking the Radwanska serve with impunity.

The first set was barely a contest as she ran out a convincing 6-1 winner, closing out the set with a monstrous backhand winner.

The same patterns of play continued in the second set with Radwanska repeatedly defending way behind the baseline as Cibulkova dictated proceedings with pure power tennis.

Radwanska had three break points at 0-2 down in the second set but failed to capitalize and only managed to finally break at 0-4. She held serve in the next game but it was a temporary respite as Cibulkova regained her poise and closed out the set 6-2 to take the match in convincing fashion and book her place in the final.

Her opponent for the championship decider is China’s Li Na, who defeated young Canadian Eugenie Bouchard 6-2, 6-4.

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Cover Photo (Creative Commons License): robbiesaurus

January 23, 2014
The Wave of New Coaches on the ATP Tour: A Breath of Fresh Air for 2014

It is with lots of interest in all media especially social media that we read of the new additions on the men’s side. What is striking is the fact that all of the coaches that are hired were superstars from the 80′s and 90′s. It started with Murray hiring Ivan Lendl and we can clearly see the improvement since Lendl joined the Murray camp. Now Roger Federer has hired Stefan Edberg, former number 1 serve and volley expert from Sweden, and Boris Becker is hired by Novak Djokovic, another specialist at the serve and volley game. Connors was hired some years back by Roddick and lately Connors briefly worked with Sharapova.

As a former Top 10 player, I have firsthand knowledge of all of these guys since I played them many, many times. In fact, I predicted that Boris Becker will win Wimbledon in 1985 after he beat me in the finals of Queens in London. He did. I beat Stefan Edberg at Wimbledon when he was making his debut from the juniors, although that win was in five sets and one of my best ever comebacks from two sets down. I lost to Lendl in the 1986 semis at the French Open so I have intimate knowledge of their games and being around them for decades, one gets to know their thinking…

You may ask yourself, why are these top guys hiring guys who played totally different styles than them? Here are my answers:

1. Besides a new fresh pair of eyes, it is exciting to have a new guy at your side, which brings the desire up to perform and that is hugely important. Desire is a must!

2. The men’s tour has become so brutally physical that players are thinking about how to shorten points. These coaches played 90% of their points “short”. Meaning serve and volley, chip and charge, etc. That was their state of mind. Roger and Novak are looking for some of that. (More on this aspect later in this blog.)

3. Publicity for the “team” brings a whole new flavor to their camp. It is all good! Their sponsors like it, the fans like it, and with the explosion of “immediate news” on social media, it is all good!

I will break down the different “celebrity” coaches here from Connors to the sudden hiring of Edberg and Becker.

Connors is an absolute icon in our sport. A tough guy, with a very hard edge, who won more ATP tournaments than any man on this planet! It was the perfect “American story” for Andy Roddick to have hired Jimmy when Andy was on the verge of being more dominant. The heartbreaking final against Roger at Wimbledon was perhaps the moment that extinguished that “flame”. None of us will know when it happens but I suspect that match really affected Andy. That type of relationship has very little to do with a new “technical improvement” rather the player is looking for that extra mental boost that may help them reach a little higher. No guarantees that would happen.

Ivan Lendl joining Andy Murray was the perfect fit in my opinion. Andy Murray was “bridesmaid” to Roger and Rafa for a number of years, and it was beginning to look like he would not be able to get “over the hump” mentally at Majors in particular.

Ivan was in that same position for years. He was in the finals of eight Majors before he won his first! Remember Brad Gilbert, who coached Andre Agassi with great success and was hired by Murray via the LTA in England to help Murray? It did not work! Why? Murray did not have the same respect for Gilbert as he has for Lendl. It was so obvious that it was embarrassing at times at tournaments and the relationship ended shortly after that. Lendl helped Murray understand what it will take mentally to get his first Major win and he did! Now Murray has a US Open, an Olympic gold medal, and a Wimbledon title under his belt. Murray also just came off back surgery so he has issues physically. He may have to start thinking about shortening points…

Federer hiring Stefan Edberg is another smart move after a long stint with another serve and volley expert, Paul Annacone. But since Roger slid in the rankings to No. 7, it was the right time for a change of scenery. It happens all the time. Edberg is the consummate gentleman of our sport. An eight time Grand Slam champion, he knows how to move forward to the net and is a very cool cucumber. A perfect mental fit to help Roger understand how to shorten points and what it takes to perhaps serve and volley a little more. It is all about finding that “little edge”. None of these coaches are hired for a new forehand or backhand, but certainly could be of great assistance in the volley area, movement, and reading skills at the net, and how to be a little smarter about attacking at the right time and the surprise effect of coming to the net. This is a great fit for Roger. I think Roger bends his elbow too much on his backhand volley and gives it too much “chop” at contact. It would be interesting to see if Edberg helps him shorten his backhand volley preparation to be more solid. There, I criticized Roger!… 🙂

Djokovic hiring Becker was another surprise! I was with Becker and Edberg at Richard Branson’s fundraiser on Necker Island a few weeks ago, and had a conversation with both of them. None of them let on what they were up to for 2014.

Novak is an incredibly gifted athlete that has all the stuff physically and mentally. His volleys are not his stronger shots but again, I think him hiring Becker points to a “fresh” start with new excitement in trying to be more aggressive with a new team member. It is all about finding that extra mental edge at this high level. Novak is looking to be No. 1 again after Rafa snatched it back at the end of the season.

David Ferrer just fired his longtime mentor/coach. Perhaps the best player out there today who may never win a Major unless he adds a little more risk in coming to the net. Ferrer has all the stuff mentally. His serve has improved but I think he can still improve on his serve a little and coming forward will be necessary. Like they say, no risk, no reward. I am a huge fan of Ferrer. I certainly hope he can add a Major to his mantle. But it will require him to risk a lot more and to throw the “kitchen sink” at those moments in big matches where he used to play “not to lose” and then did lose. Perhaps play closer in to the baseline and risk blistering shots down the line from closer in and follow it in… Again, no guarantees but that is the only way to get the rewards.

Rafa needs no “celebrity” coach. He is a simple thinker, is perhaps the best “self-motivator” out there. Uncle Toni is there and I do not see any changes in the family set-up. They “tinker” with his game all the time, and I suspect that if the Nadal camp see improvements from Roger and Novak in shortening points, they will follow suit.

I, for one, will be watching closely in 2014. Adding these coaches will be interesting to see if any changes “sank in” and will bear fruit! Go at it, guys!

January 9, 2014
Learning Goals: Practice or Pressure

How do you approach practice?

My question in this article is, how do you practice and what goals do you set?

Most people I meet focus on technique, some on strategy, but all isolate a specific part of their game and work on it.

Is that the best way to improve? I feel it depends on what you want to achieve. If you just want good strokes and to look good on court, then great; but if you want to win matches, then I question this approach. I think you need to practice matches. Even learn to improve strokes and plays within matches.

The Reason: Pressure

I put it to you that any player in the Top 100 of the men’s or women’s tour is capable technically of beating any other player on their day. By that I mean that if you just got them to hit shots to a target and measured how well they did they would all be amazing. Many would beat the top players in certain stats: serve speed, amount of spin, or physical endurance.

The reason the top players are ranked where they are is generally down to how they handle the pressure of matches. The choices they make on the big points, how they hold a lead, or chase a leader. They aren’t the best at everything. The leading men are tall but not John Isner huge. Their serves are good to O.K., but they don’t lose their serve often. They don’t have the biggest shots on each wing.

O.K., Nadal has an amazing forehand but my point is that they have so much more. If Nadal were just a forehand, he wouldn’t have dominated Fed like he did. The top players have complete games and they don’t fold under pressure. They all face break, set, and championship points at times during tournaments. The top players deliver under that pressure. The others don’t. In the end that’s always the difference.

I could debate this forever, as I’m sure you could, too. The point was to question what your goals are in practice. Mine are now to learn what to do under pressure. Trust my game at all other times and learn to enjoy it. Build a belief in myself under pressure so that I’m free at other times to play what comes. At the same time I must compete enough that I have experience. Each opponent and match becomes a coach and a lesson on how to play against a certain opponent.

Learning From The Best

This is what my sports science studies taught me and also what the best in each sport has taught me. The best generally value matches simply because shots are just tools to them. Opponents and matches are the problem at hand. Figuring out how to solve the problems of the match is the focus of a champion. So they don’t see good technique as an end point but a start. They focus on putting that technique into practice.

When you do this you quickly discover that matches feature all types of shots. Not the static stuff you find in practice but perfection, junk, and randomness, too. Your technique has to be able to bend but not break in all these situations. Matchplay forces you to learn how to apply good technique on the fly to a ball and situation you have never met before and still give the opponent a ball they can’t attack.

Now that’s what I call practice. Putting it on the line and learning not to worry about it. What do you think? How do you approach practice? What is going through your mind and what goals do you have? Post your comments below.

January 9, 2014
France Overcomes Poland to Win Hopman Cup

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Alize Cornet clinched a maiden Hopman Cup triumph for France as they prevailed over the Polish pair Grzegorz Panfil and Agnieszka Radwanska 2-1 in a titanic tussle.

The final at Perth Arena lasted until the early hours of Sunday evening with France finally prevailing in the mixed doubles 6-0, 6-2.

In the earlier matches, Tsonga defeated Panfil 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, and Radwanska defeated Cornet 6-3, 6-7 (9-7), 6-2.

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Cover Photo: Yann Caradec, Creative Commons License

January 5, 2014
Hewitt Defeats Federer to Win Brisbane Title

32-year-old Australian Lleyton Hewitt ended a fine week at the Brisbane International by defeating old adversary Roger Federer in the final.

Hewitt prevailed 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 in 2 hours and 7 minutes.

An error-strewn opening set from Federer (22 unforced errors) helped Hewitt race out to an early lead.

Federer battled back in the second and crucially broke for a 5-4 lead before sealing the second set with a powerful forehand.

The Swiss maestro had chances in the deciding set but couldn’t capitalize on 7 break point opportunities, and Hewitt held on after breaking to 3-1 to secure the championship.

“I didn’t play great today which is a bit unfortunate, but also Lleyton was the best player I played this week,” stated Federer in the post-match assessment.

The victory secured Hewitt’s 29th ATP Tour title and first since 2010. He also moves back into the Top 50.

“A lot depends on draws and how I play,” Hewitt replied when queried about his chances at the forthcoming Australian Open in Melbourne.

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Cover Photo (Creative Commons License): Marianne Bevis

January 5, 2014
Ana Ivanovic Secures WTA Auckland Title

Former world No. 1 Ana Ivanovic continued with her excellent run of form by defeating Venus Williams 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 in a titanic battle to seize the WTA Auckland crown in 2 hours, 19 minutes.

Williams, also a former world No. 1, fought back strongly after Ivanovic had raced to an early lead by taking the opening stanza 6-2. The 33-year-old American won the second set to level proceedings having fought back from 3-5 down and facing a championship point. She held serve and then broke the Serb twice to send the match into a deciding set.

In the decider, Ivanovic broke Williams early and stayed in control, despite having to survive two break points when serving for the match.

It was Ivanovic’s 12th title and first since 2011.

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Cover Photo: NAPARAZZI (Creative Commons License)

January 4, 2014
Serena Williams Bags Brisbane

Serena Williams secured her first title of 2014 defeating Victoria Azarenka in the final of the Brisbane International.

Williams, the world No. 1, took the match 6-4, 7-5 in 98 minutes to send out a clear warning to her rivals in the build up to the Australian Open.

She took the first set without facing a single break point and capitalized on an unforced error from Azarenka to break in the seventh game. The Belarus World No. 2 was offered no opportunity to restore parity and could not get back into the set.

Azarenka raised the stakes in the second set, twice breaking Williams and was in pole position to level things up after jumping out to a 4-2 lead before Williams broke back.

At 5-5, the American broke again to edge out in front and then served out the match to take the title.

The win extended a run of successive victories to 22 and Williams didn’t drop a set during the entire tournament.

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Cover Photo (Creative Commons License): Francisco Carbajal

January 4, 2014
Federer and Edberg Hook Up (Now Official)

Stefan Edberg has officially joined the Roger Federer coaching team for the 2014 season. The Swedish legend will travel with the Federer camp for around 10 weeks during the forthcoming year.

Federer has described Edberg’s role in the context of providing inspiration and bringing a fresh pair of eyes to the camp rather than providing specific coaching.

“I am sure he can bring a different angle to my game which is interesting,” stated Federer.

Edberg, 47, is a former world No. 1 who won six singles and three doubles Majors, and has been described as a “childhood idol” by Federer during his formative years.

The appointment comes on the heels of Novak Djokovic hiring Boris Becker as head coach. A third legend of the period, Ivan Lendl, has already had considerable success coaching within the Andy Murray camp.

Edberg will join Federer initially in Australia. The appointment coincides with the Swiss maestro’s decision to try a racquet with a bigger frame at his first Brisbane International.

December 29, 2013