The New Nadal Alessandro MAstroluca
"As an artist," wrote Nietzsche, "a man has no other home than Paris." There is little doubt that what Nadal managed on the clay courts of Roland Garros this year was nothing short of artistry. Indeed, the Spaniard proved himself to be Nietzche’s Ubermensch incarnate, winning his tenth title at the French Open, a feat completely without precedent. As impressive as the fact that he won the title was how he did it: dropping only one set and losing a mere 35 games, just three more than Bjorn Borg’s incredible run in 1978. Nadal’s historic achievement is made all the more incredible by the fact that he appeared all but burned out as little as six months ago. But as he has proven so often in his career, once he hits rock bottom he can reach for the sky again very quickly. It was perhaps not the kind of dominant clay court season that he routinely pulled off in his prime – he did, after all, lose a match in Rome – but it was still spectacular in every way. He won 24 matches, the same number that Djokovic has managed to scrape together this whole season, and that success has propelled him to the top of the Race rankings. He also won four titles, including two Masters 1000 events and a Grand Slam. Not bad for a player that
started the season as an afterthought behind Djokovic, Murray and half a dozen other players. The past few years have been a dark time for Nadal, who has improved his form several times only to be struck down by injuries. Rumors of conflict within his coaching team started circulating, and it appeared as if he might fire all of his advisers and start afresh with the hope of turning things around. It never came to that, however, and Nadal says that the adversity he experienced recently only made him more focused and determined than ever. “I believe that having doubts about oneself is positive,” he said of his struggles. “Because it helps to work with more intensity, with more humility, and to accept that you have to work hard to improve the situation. If one has no
start to finish, and his aggressive forehand had much to do with it. He hit that shot at an average of 135 km/h, the highest speed he has ever maintained at Roland Garros. And even with the extra power, he still managed to keep the ball rotating at a breathtaking 3500 RPM. The shot gave Wawrinka fits, as he was unable impose his own powerful strokes on Nadal.
doubt, he is probably too arrogant. I think the doubts, and the fact that I do not consider myself the strongest, are among the reasons for all the achievements I have had in my career.” The path back to the top was a long and arduous one, which saw Nadal try various new things in his game. He seems to have realized that he can no longer play the way he did when he was 25, forcing every rally into 40-shot territory and putting defense above all else. While still playing to his defensive strengths, the Spaniard has put a lot of effort into flattening his forehand and consistently positioning himself aggressively on the court. The fruit of these labors were on full display in the final, which was an absolute masterclass from the now 10time champion. He was in control from
Yes, Nadal is a step slower than he used to be, but there was definitely a new energy in his legs, a new confidence in his shots. And with his aggressive positioning on the court he didn’t have to run and defend as much as he used to in the old days, nicely compensating for any slight deficiency in that area. In the first and third set of the finals, he won more than half of the points that lasted between three and eight shots. Traditionally an area where he was vulnerable – preferring to play longer rallies – he is now able to dominate even those short exchanges. Much of this progress can be attributed to his friend and advisor Carlos Moya, who has helped Nadal be less conservative on his backhand, and to use his forehand more aggressively. Being more aggressive on both wings has helped close off points of attack which opponents have exploited in recent years. Nadal often preferred to favor the backhand side of the court, expecting opponents to hit there and knowing that
he could chase down balls on the forehand side if they went there instead. As opponents grew bolder, and Nadal older, this became difficult, and he was often exposed on the forehand stretch. Aggressive positioning and ground strokes have removed that weakness, one which Wawrinka was hoping to take advantage of in the final. In fact, Nadal knew very well that he had to hit the ball harder against Wawrinka than anyone else, and this extended to his serve as well. In the championship match, he maintained his fastest average serve speed of the tournament, hitting his second serve especially hard. He pushed his second offering to 154 km/h, ten more than against Thiem in the semifinals. That serve will certainly come in handy during the grass court season, which Nadal has not participated in for two years. His last match at Wimbledon, in fact, was a loss to Dustin Brown, an encounter he would rather forget. But he may find the ultimate redemption at SW19 this year, since he has the chance to return to world number one if everything goes right. It’s a long shot, but it can happen, and illustrates just how quickly Nadal’s fortunes have turned around. With Murray
defending so many points and Nadal defending none, the Spaniard can overtake his Scottish rival if he reaches his first final in six years and the world number one goes out early. Nothing is a given, however, especially with Federer looming large. The Swiss has been building his entire season around Wimbledon, and has beaten Nadal three times in a row. Wawrinka, too, will pose a different challenge on grass, especially with Paul Annacone assisting him. Yet even if Nadal does poorly at Wimbledon and does not return to number one, winning a tenth French Open has been a huge vindication for him. Above all, it shows that the old guys on the Tour still have a lot of life left in them, despite the near-constant chatter about the “Next-Gen� stars, who are perpetually on the cusp of greatness but haven’t yet managed to break through. Whatever happens, Wimbledon promises to be more interesting this year than it has been in quite some time.
Rafael Nadal: The Champion of Adversities Akshay Kholi
Rafael Nadal has once more exhibited that he wasnʼt going to bow down so fast as he is no ordinary person. The truth is that the superstar has underwent and embraced multiple forms of pain – from being incapacitated by niggling knee tendinitis, the Former World No.1 had been escorted by Hoffaʼs Syndrome and had to devour the depressing news of being heavily punctured in his movement due to a partly tattered patella tendon. And if physical pain wasnʼt enough he had to endure emotional and psychological trauma as well as he bore to tears when his parents announced their separation in 2009. We present a timeline
of Nadalʼs struggle that surely makes him the ‘Greatest of Adversitiesʼ. Hereʼs a unique sneak-peek into how the genius has braved number of aches and has deposed the harsh situations to reappear with a fresh vigour. The First meeting with tragedy The World No.4ʼs first brush with calamity came in the year 2007, when a foot injury he sustained during his five set loss to Federer during the Wimbledon final, kept on bothering him throughout the next six months of the year. As the 2008 season
commenced, he erased all the doubts pertaining to his fitness as he breezed into the semifinals of the Aussie Open and then followed that act with his usual dominant run at Monte Carlo, Rome, Barcelona, Hamburg and Roland Garros. However, for the first time, he did something that no one else had achieved, that is, he toppled the 'Ruler of Centre Courtʼ Roger in the greatest match ever at the All England Club to become the first man since Bjorn Borg to complete the FrenchWimbledon double. When the knees hurt
His never rested knees appeared to have multiple punctures in 2009 before the news confirmed that a new set of tyres will be required for him to drive his body as his knee problems surfaced during defeat to Andy Murray at the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam. He pulled out of ‘The Championshipsʼ in London denying him his right of opening play on the hallowed lawns of SW19 as he was not able to make the trip to London for the defence of his Wimbledon crown. And though he returned
to the tour after a two and half month, he could not evoke the overriding form of old. The emotional trauma Nadal was forced to undergo immense emotional and mental trauma as his parents announced their separation that would ultimately lead to a divorce. Rafa was too close to his parents to not have a letdown once he received the information that the two persons that have meant everything to him will now be living in disconnect. He claimed in his autobiography ‘Rafa: My Storyʼ: "My knees
were the immediate reason, but I knew that the root cause was my state of mind. My competitive zeal had waned, the adrenalin had dried up. If your head is in permanent stress, you sleep little and your mind is distracted – exactly the symptoms I was showing at that time – the impact on your body is devastating." The Return of the King With pundits claiming the Spaniardʼs end, he answered his detractors in incredible fashion as he became only the seventh man in the gameʼs history to complete the career Slam by collecting three successive Majors - the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open in 2010. He won an amazing 5 French Opens in a row (2010-2014) along with a US Open Title in 2014. Rafaʼs story is nothing short of inspiring and we hope that his story motivates many more youngsters to pick up the sport and become superstars.
Rafael Nadal and Toni Nadal: The Success Story
biggest factor in his battle of overcoming the fears of his injuries, his classic rivalries and a fight-untilthe-end approach towards
Taking Rafael Nadal under
has made sure that Rafa takes his own decisions and this has led to an exponential growth of the Majorcan as a player.
Akshay Kholi
his wings at a very tender age, Toni Nadal has molded the World No.2 into the player he is today. His dogged trust in this tennis prodigy has resulted in one of the most respectable on and off court relationship between him and his nephew and his relentless support in training the Spaniard has been the
enough and we leave, or be prepared to suffer and keep going. The choice is between enduring and giving up.”
his game. The relationship that this pair shares is that of a father and a son and Toni
Toni has revealed in Nadal’s biography, “I say to him (before every match): ‘Look, you’ve got two roads to choose from – tell yourself you’ve had
Considering Nadal’s style of play which is both mysterious and deadly for the 14-time Major winner, whose creaking knees have always been a cause of concern, Toni Nadal does not meddle much with the mechanics of his playing as he only encourages Rafa to put in his 100% while playing every point whether it be from the baseline or the net or while serving. Toni’s philosophy is: “First hit the ball hard and then
This upbringing showed in his never say die attitude
then no power in the world can stop you from
during the Australian Open 2014 final against Stanislas
achieving your dreams but if the requisite efforts
Wawrinka, as despite an ailing back, he never
haven’t been put in, failure is most likely.
disgruntled during the points and barring a few extended time-outs and on-
Rafa, owing to his submissive nature never
court therapies, gave an almost unflustered fight till
rebelled against his uncle. In Rafa’s biography written
the end before losing the match in four sets, but still maintaining the highest dignity on court.
by John Carlin, who has rightly described how the pair has lasted for so long “Toni was hard on Rafa because he knew Rafa could take it and would
To make sure Nadal was we’ll see about keeping it in.” Not only does Toni bring out the ‘Charging Bull’ title in Rafael Nadal, he is the mentor who is responsible for making Rafa one of the nicest individuals on court. Toni has always worked hard to keep up with the family’s ideologies of hard work, humility and respect for others. From an early age Toni taught Rafael to never throw his racquet after a bad point telling him about how disrespectful it is for the people who could not afford to buy proper tennis equipment or blaming external factors for the defeat.
as grounded as any human being at his age, Toni made him clear the court after practice sessions, something that he never made any of the other boys do. ‘Mummy’s boy’ as Rafael was often taunted by Toni whenever he faltered, instilled a stronger belief in the young Nadal that he could one day make his uncle and coach the proudest man on the planet. Moreover, Toni has never accepted excuses from Nadal to justify his losses. Believing in the cause and effect relationship, Toni knows that if you work well
eventually thrive. He would not have applied the same principles with a weaker child. This argument prevailed in the family at least to the point that no one, not even Rafa’s mother, ever really confronted Toni and told him to ease up on the child. They understood that spending so many hours with Toni in the extreme; but that the two of them had reached a point where they could not live, much less succeed in tennis, without each other.” This dynamic duo has endured a lot in the recent past owing to Rafa’s long
stint with his troublesome knees and his hazardous style of play but with Toni’s unremitting trust on the highbrowed tennis player, Nadal who has surely come a long way is certain that his future owing to his erudite coach would never, ever be in the dark. Though the two do not work together anymore, their success story is an inspiring one for many coaches and students around the world.
Back On Home Soil Marco Di Nardo
When Roger Federer announced that he would skip the entirety of the European clay court season this year, including the French Open, it raised quite a few eyebrows. However, it’s quite understandable that Federer wanted to skip the most physically grueling portion of the season and focus instead on the grass and hard court seasons. After all, grass is Federer’s favorite surface and the scene of his most famous victories. It was on the grass of Wimbledon where, in 2001, Federer beat the 7-time champion Pete Sampras in the fourth round. Sampras had won 7 of the previous 8 years at SW19, and Federer’s win presented a huge sea change for the men’s game. The Swiss had proven his mettle on grass prior to 2001, of course, having won the junior title way back in 1998. Since that time his legacy has largely
been tied to the short grass court season, which occupies only a tiny portion of the tennis calendar. It is precisely for this reason that Federer has decided to skip the clay and focus on grass. These are the courts he is most comfortable on, and since he has to limit his playing time due to his age, it only makes sense that he cherry-picks the tournaments he has the best chance of winning.
Australian Open, as well as Indian Wells and Miami. This was a physical challenge, and it meant that he needed more rest than last year. It also meant that he was in a strong position in the rankings, and by carefully choosing his remaining tournaments he might be able to get back to number one in the world.
He skipped the French Open in 2016 as well, for much the same reason. He simply does not have much to gain at
One could argue, of course, that he would have been better served playing at least a few clay events. Going into the clay court season, he was number one in the Race Rankings by some margin. If he
Roland Garros. His chances of winning the tournament are slim, and the wear on his body would be significant, affecting his chances at Wimbledon. This year his avoidance of clay was even more extreme, and had everything to do with his strong start to the season. He won the
picked up some points in these events it would have given him a buffer to work with. By skipping all of the tournaments, he has let Nadal take the lead in the Race by 3000 points, with Federer himself occupying second place. In theory, this argument might hold, but the
reality is that by playing on the clay courts Federer might very well have injured himself, putting himself out of the running entirely. So the decision to stay on the sidelines was a risk, but it was a calculated one. Thanks to his long absence, Federer will immediately be feeling the pressure to win. Indeed, if he has any chance of becoming the year-end world number one, he will have to probably win Wimbledon, or at the very least reach the final and lose to someone other than
Nadal. But the Swiss has always dealt well with high pressure situations, and historically he has done well at Wimbledon when coming off a positive start to the year. His year certainly has gotten off to a positive start, and if he can win the title in Halle going into
Wimbledon, he will definitely be feeling confident about his chances of victory there as well. His confidence would have been even greater had he won the title in Stuttgart too, but he lost there to Tommy Haas in his first match. It was an ugly affair, with Federer wasting a match point and several other opportunities to take control of the encounter. That being said, Halle is much more important, as Federer has played as well there as at any other tournament in his career. It will be crucial
to find his game in Germany, and in doing so win his 1100th match. If he manages to dominate there and head into Wimbledon with the familiar feeling of having won in Halle, another title at SW19 might very well be within his reach.
Roger Federer: Beyond the Tennis Court Akshay Kholi
Swiss Maestro Roger Federer has his name on almost every relevant record that stands in men’s tennis. Apart from records, Roger’s reputation is not only of a remarkable tennis player but also of a great human being whose life is an inspiration to others. We take a look at the impact Federer has had on tennis besides the normal playing talent that he possesses. President of the ATP Player Council Roger Federer was elected to the ATP Player Council for three terms (2008 – 2014) and since then has served as the Council’s President, indicating the image he carries on the ATP Tour. Under his leadership, the Council has voiced the opinions of professional tennis players and brought about path breaking reforms in the organisational structure of various tournaments. Federer played an influential role in increasing the prize money being awarded to tennis players losing out in the early rounds of the Grand Slams. He played a key role in organising his fellow tennis players into a coherent lobbying force which led to USTA (management behind the US Open) and The All England Club (organizer of The Championships, Wimbledon) announcing
a significant hike in prize money. A Tennis Ambassador Federer has always been vocal about giving back to the sport in every possible way. This can be confirmed by him playing numerous exhibition matches in different parts of the world. Though, the proceeds of such matches go to a charity or a foundation yet one of the reasons why he participates in such activities is to help popularize the sport or give it a new lease of life. The kind of popularity and affection Roger receives helps elevate tennis to a higher pedestal. People idolize him and want their loved ones to become like him.
selected local organizations. A Corporate Icon, a Brand’s dream! Along with Sachin Tendulkar and Tiger Woods, Roger Federer has started the trend of corporate multi nationals hiring sports persons as their brand ambassadors at a global level. The connection established between the maestro and his fans has showered him the iconic status of an international celebrity which is being fully utilized by companies like Moet and Chandon, Gillette, Mercedes Benz and Rolex who give millions of dollars to him as part of their annual endorsement deals. In 2016 alone, Roger is expected to earn around 60 million dollars from his off court activities.
A Philanthropist Federer is a philanthropist at heart, traveling out of his way to countries such as South Africa and India to provide charity and support to those who live in poor health conditions, poverty, or victims of natural disasters. Since his establishment of the Roger Federer Foundation in 2003, he has helped “promote access to education, sports and play, and improve the quality where there are no or only insufficient funds available.” This charitable Foundation’s work is primarily concentrated in countries in Africa and Switzerland, where long-term partnerships are made with carefully
In the words of Fabien Ohl, a sports sociologist “Federer’s nationality has little significance abroad, where people attach other values that are closer to their own culture. It’s his personality that created the difference. In India, China, Japan and Pakistan for example he’ll be seen more as the ideal of the Western man who succeeds”. His demeanour towards the sport both on and off court has greatly helped the game gain major importance in the global sports industry today. Excellent tennis skills and a humble character have made the Basel native the perfect idol and ‘just what tennis needed after Agassi and Sampras’ in today’s world.
Roger Federer: Reliving his maiden victories at each Grand Slam Akshay Kholi
It has almost been 14 long years (Wimbledon 2003) since Roger Federer won his first Grand Slam. Intrigued to further dig into this matter, I decided to write a piece on the Swiss’ First Title Runs at all the Majors. It was 2001 when Federer officially announced his arrival on the big stage, defeating Pete Sampras in the Fourth Round of Wimbledon. 2 years hence, the Swiss won the First Major of his career at the very same venue, outclassing Mark Philippoussis in straight sets 7-6(5), 6-2, 7-6(3). Later on in his career he went on to add 6 more Titles at the hallowed surface of the All England. We also know that he has already won the Australian Open 5 times, French Open once and the US Open 5 times. But to accomplish what he has till date, he had to start from the bottom and there was a first time at all Grand Slam. So walk down the memory lane with me to relive those magical moments that most of us have forgotten about! Wimbledon (2003): No. of appearances before winning the First Title: 4
Sets Lost en route to First Title: 1 Finals Opponent: Mark Philippoussis Finals Score: 7-6(5), 6-2, 7-6(3) ATP Ranking: 5 Federer opened his Grand Slam account at the Oldest Grand Slam Event by defeating the Australian, who was ranked No.48 then. Coming into this match after an impressive straight sets victory over Andy Roddick, Federer was duly tested in the First Set by the Scud. The Swiss adopted the serve and volley game plan which worked out very well for him. Australian Open (2004): No. of appearances before winning the First Title: 4 Sets Lost en route to First Title: 2 Finals Opponent: Marat Safin Finals Score: 7-6(3), 6-4, 6-2 ATP Ranking: 2 The Title that helped Federer start his reign as the World No.1 came in Melbourne when he defeated Russian Marat Safin in straight sets. He played some amazing tennis throughout the 2 weeks dropping just a set each to Lleyton Hewitt and David Nalbandian. The Russian had to be tired as he had played 3 five set matches along with 3 four setters and Federer made the most of it. US Open (2004): No. of appearances before winning the First Title: 4 Sets Lost en route to First Title: 3 Finals Opponent: Lleyton Hewitt Finals Score: 6-0, 7-6(3), 6-0
ATP Ranking: 1 By far the most dominating victory in a Grand Slam Final for Federer proved to be his First US Open victory. Absolute annihilation was something that comes to mind if someone tries recollecting the 2004 US Open Final. French Open (2009) No. of appearances before winning the First Title: 10 Sets Lost en route to First Title: 6 Finals Opponent: Robin Soderling Finals Score: 6-1, 7-6(1), 6-4
ATP Ranking: 2 After 10 tries, it was lucky eleven for Federer as he completed his Career Grand Slam by winning the French Open after reaching his Fourth Consecutive Finals in Paris. He took on Robin Soderling, the man who took out Rafael Nadal in the Fourth Round that year. This was probably Federer’s easiest chance for the Title and made the most of it as he overwhelmed the Swede in straight sets to become the 6th Man to win all the Four Majors.
A Crocodileʼs Tale Stefano Semeraro
René Lacoste never seemed to promise much. Not at first, anyway. Thin, almost frail, not very tall and with dark eyes, he seemed more like a nerd that a sportsman. He played tennis for the first time in Paris in 1905, when he got a racket from his older sister, who always refused to take him to the club. Beardless, but already with an adult
stubbornness, René, like many other champions who would come after him, started learning the sport by hitting against the wall of his parents’ house in Bois de Colombes. Lacoste senior, a former swimmer who later became an engineer, then CEO of the French subsidiary of HispanoSuiza, enrolled his son at some of the most prestigious clubs in Paris. He enjoyed a life of luxury – including racing and skiing – and was constantly begged
by the members of the club for a workout or a match. His first good results came in social and junior competitions, but his coach, Henri Darsonval, was not encouraged. Then after a series of bad losses, René’s father wondered if he should stop supporting his son. The youngster begged and pleaded, making a bet with his father: if he was not the best player in the world within three years, he would quit tennis.
A wall of books "To become a champion, you need two things,” Lacoste later wrote in his autobiography. “A complete collection of books on the court, and a wall." His quest for greatness started at the Lycee Carnot. He read, watched and experienced everything the club had to offer. He practiced as much as he was allowed. His opponents, of different styles, strengths and weaknesses, were cataloged by Lacoste in a series of notebooks – he recorded everything, from their greatest strengths to their worst weaknesses. He used his endless supply of opponents to carefully tweak his shots – passes, lobs, forehands and backhands, and soon learned to master all of them.
"He never tired of training,” his friend Gianni Clerici once said. “I always got tired first, and ran away with the excuse of business. But he always chose to stay on the court.” His hard work and long hours of practice paid off, and he was soon recruited to join the “Three Musketeers,” also known as Cochet, Borotra and Brugnon. Lacost joined the team in 1923, and together they formed perhaps the strongest Davis Cup team of all time. They were all characters, each with a different background and vocations, blended to perfection. Borotra was the extrovert, eternally divided between business and sports, and sublime from the baseline and at the net. Cochet, a champion at a prestigious tennis club in Lyon, played tennis more by instinct than anything else, and was capable of
some brilliant improvisation. Brugnono was the oldest, the team’s intellectual. The son of a great lawyer, he was born ten years before Lacoste. René knew he had a natural talent, and combined that with an incredible sense for tactics and strategy, to make himself an indispensable member of the team. Pierre Gillou was the glue that held the gang together. An enlightened and wise leader, he was the heart of the tennis federation at the time. The four met for their first meeting at Wimbledon in '22, with both Brugnon and Cochet losing in the third round, while Lacoste fell in the first. They debuted in Davis Cup play in '23 against Ireland, and the following year at Wimbledon inaugurated what they called "the French years." For five years, from '24 to '29 – with the exception of '26 – there were always two
four match points in the fourth set. Every time during a changeover, Tilden would stare at Lacoste like Captain Hook stared at the crocodile of Neverland.
Frenchman in the final of the event. In '24, Lacoste reached the final at both the French Open and Wimbledon, but lost both to his countryman Borota. However, a year later he was the number one in France, and took his revenge against his friend’s "Basque hopping," as Borotra’s dances at the net were known, by beating him in the Wimbledon final. In '24, there were some complications with the team’s Davis Cup
participation, but in '25 they made the final against the United States. Lacoste, according to Wallis Myers, "had fantasized about his first match against Tilden since the first time he had set foot on a court." Big Bill engaged Lacoste in an epic match. Unfortunately for the Frenchman, however, his fantasy quickly became a nightmare, as a Tilden clawed his way from two sets and 0-4 down to eventually win the contest. He even saved
"I made a bet with the captain of our team,” Lacoste remembered later. “He promised me a crocodile skin suitcase if I won a big match, and gave me a nickname that stuck – the crocodile. It was because of my intensity in each match. So my friend Robert George drew me a crocodile, which I embroidered on my blazer." The anxieties of the reptile continued in '26, when the French were again humiliated by Americans in the Challenge Round. There was one consolation for Lacoste, however, as he handed Bill Tilden his first loss in six years of Davis Cup play. 1927 was the year that it
all started gelling for the French team. Before that edition of the event, the Davis Cup had been won only by Australia, Britian and the Unite States. But this was the start of a French dominance that nobody had seen before that, and we haven’t seen since. The team bulldozed Romania, Italy, South Africa and Japan en route to the Challenge Round. Then it was back to America and Tilden. The French took lodging at Greenhill Farms, a hotel just outside of town where Lacoste, who before important matches fell into a kind of trance solipsistic, refused a room that shared a bath with Gillou, demanding total isolation. He even ate alone in his room. Performance anxiety regularly sank the Crocodile, and he trained harder than he ever had. As a sparring partner he used Jean Washer, the champion of Belgium,
and a left-hander with a style similar to that of Tilden. But Lacoste did not just train on the court. One evening Borotra, who had the room adjacent to that of his younger companion, was alarmed by some strange thuds in Lacoste’s room. He forced his way in to find his friend trying out his serve against the back of the couch.
who was obviously overmatched agianst the Frenchman. But they lost the next two, and things were looking grim. Yet at the traditional banquet on the Friday, Lacoste was unusually optimistic. "I'm sure it will be a good match tomorrow,� he said.
Lacoste won his first match against Bill Johnston, a 34 year-old
As Gianni Clerici recounts in "500 Years of Tennis: "The Crocodile
Sure enough, he was right.
played in the center to prevent Tilden from using his long arms. He moved back and forth, varying the length of his shots, and was finally driven to be more aggressive. When Bill, a little mad after losing the first set, came back to play, he was more intense, and won the second. But Lacoste, with inhuman precision, brought Tilden to the net, feeding him dizzying lobs that he couldn’t handle." Tilden, who later confessed that during the match he had felt so impotent that he wanted to smack the Crocodile in the face, finished the match at the net, and complemented his opponent like a true genteleman. "RenÊ, bravo! You did exactly what you had to do to beat me." The two then sat down next to each other to watch the decisive match. Despite the heat, Lacoste continued to wear his sweaters as he watched Cochet overcome
Johnson. France had won the Davis Cup. In 1927, Lacoste again found himself in the final of the French Open, and once again lifted the trophy after a tough final against Tilden, which ended 9-7 in the fifth set. Lacoste continued his dominance over Tilden at the US Championships later in the year, beating the home favorite in straight sets. A year later, a new stadium was built in Paris, in large part to host the matches of the
Musketeers. Tilden would get his revenge there, beating Lacoste in the first match of the Challenge Round. The French still won the competition, but Tilden went home feeling just a little better about their rivalry. Lacoste triumphed again at Roland Garros in '29, but a severe form of chronic bronchitis forced him to sit out the next Challenge Round. His team did just fine without him, however, beating the Americans once again (3-2).
In '31 he joined the Cup again, this time as captain, and also returned briefly in '32. But after three rounds in Paris, he knew he could not do it. He married an enthusiastic spectator of his matches, the golfer Simon Thion de la Chaume, who won the Women's British Open. In '33, teaming up with the largest French textile producer of the time, Andre Gillier, Lacoste founded a clothing company and found substantial success. The
logo for his brand? A crocodile. "There are things that have no real explanation,” he said later. “If I had chosen a Screech Owl, maybe nothing would have happened. I could have chosen a rooster…it would have been French, but probably it would not have had the same impact." Friends and colleagues had recommended that he not put his name on his creations. It seemed vulgar at first. But René
did not listen. He understood that every Tshirt worn by a celebrity, an athlete or even a simple client, would be transformed into an advertising slogan. It was the first sportswear to ever really set any kind of trend. During his youthful travels in America, a country that he loved, Lacoste met Henry Ford, who in '28 made him visit his study center. He also visited the the laboratories of General Electric in Menlo Park, in New Jersey, where he
attended one of the first television transmissions. As a mature businessman in the '30s, he took care of cars and aircraft engines, joined the board of directors of the shipyards of the Loire and founded the company Air Equipment, which would eventually go on to create the Concorde and Airbus.
invented a "pad" for racquet vibration, and in '67, using his patent, Wilson started incorporating metal into racket frames. The first of these was the T2000, which was used by the likes of Jimmy Connors and Billie Jean King, who won more than 46 Grand Slam titles between them.
He had three children, including a golf champion. In 1950, he was awarded the Legion of Honor. In '60 he
Lacoste never really aged, and worked on new designs right up until his death.
"In 1994,� remembers Christian Bimes, the former president of the French tennis federation, “he called me to show me a prototype, and I found him on the porch of his house testing a ball attached to a rubber band. I will never forget that scene." In 1996, at the age 92 years, the crocodile decided enough was finally enough, and died. Tennis has never been the same since.
Lendl-McEnroe Roland Garros 1984
An Unlikely Comeback Remo Borgatti
Good morning everyone. I am Joseph Malden and none of you know me. It is natural: I do not exist. I've been deleted, as all those who have found themselves on the wrong side of history. But it is not arguing about my insignificant life with which I intend to bore you. Instead, I'll talk about a man and the lengths to which Big Brother has undergone to devour his soul and transform his heart. 1984 was the end, and Winston Smith was my best friend. We were colleagues at the Ministry of Truth, though we had different jobs and our meetings occurred mostly out of sight. But more about that later. To Smith and those like him, the Party had entrusted with the task of rectifying reported news…to manipulate it so that the Party came out looking good. The truth is a lie. And vice versa. That time, however, Winston tried to rebel, because it seemed too much for his soul. But in the end, after visiting the infamous Room 101, he recanted. The incident dates back to June 10 of that year, and the Times had reported it the next day. The following is the text that you will find
in the archives of the Party, duly corrected by Winston. Paris, June 10 At the end it was genius, imagination and class – qualities that have always characterized our athletes – that prevailed over brute force. The final of the prestigious French Open was contested in Paris yesterday, pitting the American John McEnroe against Ivan Lendl. Mr. Lendl, who was born in the former Czechoslovakia, knew what lay in stored for him. He and Lendl had played five times already this season, with McEnroe winning each encounter. But apart from his trouble against the American, Lendl has been enjoying a fantastic year. In fact, he has only lost to McEnroe, prevailing against everyone else who dared cross his path. At one
point, he even enjoyed a 44-match winning streak. For the few people unfamiliar with John McEnroe, a short summary is in order. He first exploded onto the scene with an incredible run to the Wimbledon semifinals at the age of 18, after having started from qualifying. Known for his outbursts of anger and frustration on court, McEnroe has become a delight to fans and a nightmare for organizers around the tennis world. SuperMac, as he has become known to his fans, is the complete opposite of Lendl. The latter is cool on the court, and never betrays any of his emotions, even though they must be bubbling away in there somewhere. This was particularly true on the red clay center court at Roland Garros yesterday. When the final was two hours old, Lendl had been suffering at the American’s
expense with almost no respite at all. There was, seemingly, a huge gap in class between the two. McEnroe was showing off his entire repertoire, with each shot hitting its spot exactly. The first two sets had been barely contested. McEnroe raced through them with a score of 6-3 and 6-2, and it seemed as if the trophy would soon be his. Lendl, however, could not suffer such an injury to his pride, and fought back with all he had in the third set. To the surprise of many, he managed to gain some traction, and even managed to win the set 6-4. Was there some life in this contest yet? It did not seem so, when Lendl went down an early break in the fourth and the path seemed finally clear for McEnroe to seal his victory. The final was not being played just between McEnroe and Lendl, of course. It was a clash of two powerful states, two ways of life. The democratic West versus the communist East, or at least so it had been portrayed in the media. It helped that the two players did not seem to like each other at all. But McEnroe was the overwhelming favorite. He was riding a 42-match winning streak, breaking records all along the way. Never had a player seemed more confident and unstoppable. Lendl was but a poor challenger, a good player who crumbled under pressure, especially during big moments. He had been in Grand Slam finals before – four times, in fact – but every time he melted under the glare of the spotlight.
Nobody in their right mind believed that the class and unpredictability of McEnroe would come second to the power and consistency of Lendl. It simply seemed unthinkable. The weather was perfect – 82° Fahrenheit and humidity of just over 50%. The buzz of the 17 000 spectators that crowded the stands added a little something to the atmosphere as well, though there is no numerical measure for that. The final started at 15:26, and immediately the contrasting style and tactics of the two players were evident. McEnroe was moving his opponent around, waiting for any opportunity to come to the net – and he found many. Lendl, on the other hand, preferred to grind matters out on the baseline, never wanting to surrender an inch of his territory. McEnroe was like a dancer, taking care with every single movement, gracefully moving towards the net to end the point with a classy volley. He did so at 30-0 in the third game, and again thirty seconds later, when he followed his serve in to the net and brushed a volley to a part of the court where Lendl could only reach it with his sad eyes. But Lendl did not always lose these exchanges. At 40-15 in the fourth game, he managed to hit an incredible running forehand pass that McEnroe could only stare at as it zipped by. For the most part though, it was McEnroe coming out on top in these battles early on.
The serve that McEnroe so liked to follow in was an anomaly – one of the strangest strokes on the Tour. No coach would ever teach it to a student he wished to succeed, but somehow McEnroe managed to hit clinically accurate serves more often than not. Placing his right foot parallel to the service line and the left foot at an angle of 65°, before throwing the ball in the air, twisting his torso while smoothly swinging both arms upwards. From there, his motion was quick and harmonious, arching his back and shifting his weight on his bent knees. It was a powerful serve, and an accurate one, designed to get him the kind of return he could put away with a volley. Lendl seemed to struggle with the serve from the start, and McEnroe never struggled to keep it. Lendl, on the other hand, had difficulty imposing his own serve on his opponent, and at 3-2 in the first set, he lost his serve. McEnroe refused to let Lendl get any kind of rhythm, keeping pace with him at 15-15 and 30-30 until, after two points that ended with a volley and a smash respectively, McEnroe had the first break of the match. Lendl fought back hard the next game, and some incredible rallies resulted. He even had a few chances to get the break back, but the advantage for the lefthander against a righty is that he can serve his favorite serves on break point – to his opponent’s backhand. Fighting off the challenge from Lendl, McEnroe
managed to hold serve, emphasizing his dismissal of opponent’s attack with an ace down the line on game point. Another interesting difference in the philosophy of play between McEnroe and Lendl is how they make contact with the ball. The former likes to take the ball early, so that he can rush his opponent into action while he attacks the net. Lendl, on the other hand, is more patient and waits for the ball to drop, so that he can more carefully place it and hit it with maximum power. On the second point of the eighth game, the umpire made a call that Lendl wasn’t happy with. Normally unflappable on the court, he asked the umpire if he is scared of McEnroe. It was an incredible outburst for the usually calm Lendl, and an indication of how nervous he was himself. Despite the incident, he recovered from 0-30 down to move to 3-6.
McEnroe wasted no time closing out the set, showing off some magnificent ground strokes from back court as well as his prowess at the net. On set point, he stretched to intercept a pass attempt from Lendl, putting the ball away for a winner. At the beginning of the second set, at 40-0 in his favor, Lendl committed a cardinal sin of luring McEnroe to the net with a drop shot. The American, sensing the tactic before the ball even left Lendl’s racket, is on it in a flash, and easily put it away. It was the start of a landslide, and four consecutive points later McEnroe had yet another break of serve. McEnroe looked unstoppable, with the ball obeying his every command. In the third game, he even turned Lendl’s tactics against him, luring him to the net with a drop shot before hitting a blinding passing shot. In every phase of the game, McEnroe was dominating, and after yet another break of serve to go up 3-0, Lendl looked lost and bewildered. Another easy service game from McEnroe followed, with Lendl not even winning a point. A short while later, after Lendl finally managed to hold serve twice, the second set was suddenly over. The score was 6-3, 6-2, and the French crowds were getting restless. They were hoping for a more exciting match than this, but it seemed as if Lendl’s nerves were once again getting the best of him. Lendl looked up to the sky, but there was not a single cloud to be seen. He would not be given respite by the weather today. All he could do was try and play
the best tennis he was capable of, and at least make the scoreline respectable. Somehow, he knew, he had to get under McEnroe’s skin and upset his rhythm. Luckily for Lendl, he didn’t have to do anything himself, a least not at first. The third set started off evenly, with McEnroe again showing off some awesome shots. But for some reason it seemed as if he was slightly less comfortable than he had been in the second set. Though Lendl’s reputation for choking was much more prominent, McEnroe himself had a tendency to surrender to his nerves and his anger. So it was that, early in the third set at 15-30, McEnroe netted an easy shot. He walked up to a cameraman, who he claimed had distracted him with noise from his headset. The American, it seemed, had finally lost his cool. Lendl took advantage of this drop in concentration, finally getting the better of his opponent and holding onto his own serve, which elicited wild applause from the crowd, happy to see some real signs of competitive life for a change. Changing sides at 2-1, Lendl’s fans sense that there might be some hope after all. Suddenly, Lendl’s movement was a little crisper and more assertive, and McEnroe’s volleys missed their mark more often. McEnroe saw off a break point with his usual class a little while later, but it was not with the swagger that
he had displayed in the first two sets. But Lendl’s comeback faced a massive challenge at 2-2, and McEnroe suddenly had three break points at 0-40. Virtual match points, the American played tentatively, making silly mistakes on each one. Lendl held on, finally prevailing to go up 3-2. With every minute that passed, it seemed as if Lendl was getting fresher while McEnroe was getting wearier. The next game, the dam finally broke. McEnroe lost his serve, and Lendl suddenly found himself in a position that he hadn’t been
in at all in the match: leading with a break in a set. It was 4-2, and McEnroe was talking to himself, visibly upset at letting his opponent back in the match. Lendl, on the other side of the net, was the picture of calm. His early nerves disappeared, he looked determined and focused. McEnroe, however, who had always been able to draw energy from his anger, suddenly caught fire, winning the next two games to even the set at 4-4. With a combination of blistering forehands, clever drop shots and crisp volleys,
McEnroe had seemingly taken the wind out of Lendl’s sails. But the Czech held on to his serve, and at 5-4 dared to hope that McEnroe would get nervous again, having to serve to stay in the set. His prayers were answered, as McEnroe was clearly not himself in that game. With aggressive play forcing the American back, Lendl managed to get two set points at 15-40. The prospect of extending the contest was becoming reality. With McEnroe misjudging an approach, Lendl hit the ball straight at him, forcing the American to give up the
point. After more than two hours of tough tennis, Lendl was finally on the board with a set in his name – 6-4. Now it was no longer simply a matter of hoping to salvage his pride. Lendl had genuine hope of winning at least one more set, and maybe the match. Both men were nervous early in the fourth, testing each other to see how well they would hold up under the strain. It was Lendl who cracked first, as the energized McEnroe broke. He knew he had to finish the match sooner rather than later, as the fitter Lendl would benefit from the match dragging out for longer. Lendl knew this, and was desperately trying to hold on for as long as he possibly could. But he was clearly in distress, knowing that unless he broke back soon the match was over. The most important moment in the match was at hand in the seventh game, when McEnroe had an easy volley at 30-30. It hit the net cord and bounced back to SuperMac’s feet. He couldn’t believe it. Soon, the set was on serve again, and all bets were off. The crowd was in hysterics on almost every point now, as the match suddenly had “classic” written all over it. The set seemed headed for a tie-break, with both players greedily holding on to their serve. But just as everyone was starting to accept that as an inevitability, the 12th game took an ugly turn for McEnroe. Lendl honed in on some poor serving from McEnroe, who was left vulnerable at the net. On the second break point, the Czech converted,
sending the 17 000 spectators into a frenzy. After three hours of play, it was two sets each, but the momentum was now clearly on Lendl’s side. Truly in control for the first time in the match, Lendl played with control and aggression. McEnroe was not giving up by any stretch of the imagination, but he was clearly rattle by what had happened over the past two sets. Though many thought the contest perfectly balanced in the fifth set, a trained eye would have noticed what we have already discussed: Lendl was fitter. He enjoyed that the match was going on so long, and was showing no signs of fatigue. McEnroe was doing a lot less running than his opponent, but he was also starting to tire. As a result, his serve started to show signs of fraying. Having to rely on his second serve more
and more, McEnroe was at a constant disadvantage. He couldn’t keep his volleys deep enough on the back of those serves, and Lendl soon started racking up break points. But McEnroe held on at 2-1, when he faced two of those break points, with Lendl’s nerves forcing him into some bad mistakes. More break points came and went, with both men desperately trying to seal the winning break of serve. In the seventh, it was McEnroe who had two, but squandered both. Almost on his knees and looking upward, the American was looking for a final burst of inspiration to get him across the finish line. But it would never come. Lendl, soothed by his many miraculous escapes, could smell blood. The killing blow would finally come after fourth hours of breathtaking drama. At 5-6 and down match point, McEnroe raced to the net as he had done so many times in the match. But this time, he was just half a step slower than he had been three hours before, and Lendl pounced. It was over. We are confident that there will be opportunities for McEnroe to avenge this loss, but it will surely take a big mental toll on the popular American. So that's what you would have read in the aftermath of that game. I was there and I can confirm. Winston knew and did not want to hide the truth, however bitter it may be. He tried to rebel but the system has manipulated him and forced his surrender.
We talked often in those days, him and me. He told me he had two passions: Julia and tennis. He would have given anything to meet me in Paris, that Sunday in June. That's why he did not want to rewrite that article. He was right, Winston. Although McEnroe was his idol, he said that it was necessary to accept the verdict of the court, and the future would tell how they went down in history. But, I wonder, what future? Who controls the past controls the future. And who controls the present controls the past. Winston knew that Big Brother would not have forgiven him, but he tried to rebel anyway. And he lost. If by chance you happen to meet him at the Bar del Castagno, do not avoid him, he does not deserve it. But do not ask about that match in 1984 in Paris. He is now convinced that McEnroe must have won. But it is not true. Lendl won in five sets and it was a great match. Perhaps the most beautiful of all time.
When Sam Querrey wins a third round match at a Slam, it’s not usually headline news. But when he defeated Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon last year, the tennis world shook on its foundations. The collective shock came not just from the fact that Querrey, constantly in and out of the sport with injuries, had defeated the world number one. The bigger issue was that Querrey had robbed the tennis world of a longstanding dream, one that it had fully expected to be fulfilled in 2016: a calendar Grand Slam.
The Djokovic Problem Federico Mariani
It has been almost 50 years since Rod Laver won the first and only calendar Grand Slam of the Open Era in 1969. But with Novak Djokovic utterly dominating the ATP Tour and no real rival in sight, it was widely assumed that he would cruise to the calendar Slam without any problems. The biggest question in most people’s minds was whether he would be able to get past the traditional stumbling block of the French Open. Roger Federer won three Slams a year several times in his career, only to have Nadal crush his hopes of a calendar Slam at Roland Garros. The one year Federer did win the
Fast forward a year, and things are looking very different indeed. This time last season, Djokovic had just come off his triumph in Paris and was as confident as he had ever been in his career. Today, he is licking his wounds after an embarrassing 7-6, 6-3, 6-0 loss to Dominic Thiem at Roland Garros. In one of the most bizarre matches of his career, Djokovic showed little fight against a player whom he had soundly defeated 6-1, 6-0 just a few weeks earlier in Rome. The loss at the French Open numerically confirmed the crisis that fans had known was there for months: the Serb lost two ranking spots and dropped to 4th in the world. It is the first time in 325 weeks that he is not a member of the Top 2. The last set against Thiem was especially telling. Critics have for some time pointed to Nole’s lack of fight and hunger as a main reason for his poor form, and the 6-0 drubbing seemed to confirm their theories. It was such a poor showing that even John McEnroe lamented Djokovic’s lack of effort from the commentator’s booth. Andre Agassi, who had joined Nole’s team just before the French Open, was apparently unable to affect change in his student quickly enough. The tame loss to the Austrian youngster was a microcosm of the past twelve months, where the former world number one has just not displayed the same grit as in his glory days.
French Open, he had already missed out in Australia, dooming his chances. Djokovic himself had also struggled in the French capital, losing year after year to either Nadal or, on one memorable occassion, Stan Wawrinka. But in 2016, he had finally completed his career Grand Slam by beating longtime rival Andy Murray in the French Open final. He had also triumphed in Melbourne, leaving only Wimbledon and US Open. So dominant had the Serb been leading into the Championships, it was essentially unthinkable that he would lose. Nobody could touch him, and the Tour was his plaything.
Some pundits place the blame squarely at the feet of Pepe Imaz, a peace and love guru whose teachings Djokovic has embraced. Indeed, reports have linked his role in the team to Djokovic’s firing of longtime coach Marian Vajda as well as other trusted advisers. Can philosophical musings about the importance of peace, love and harmony be counterproductive for an athlete who needs a killer instinct on the court to survive? Many think it has not only had a counterproductive effect on Djokovic’s game, but has utterly destroyed his competitive fire. Towards the end of Roland Garros, there were rumors that Djokovic was considering a coaching relationship with Radek Stepanek. It appears he wants a young coach who can stay with him on
the road permanently, something which Agassi can’t do. While Stepanek was certainly a wily player and may be able to give the Serb good advice, one wonders how Djokovic can balance all these different personalities on his coaching team. Will such a seeming clash of ideas and attitudes create an environment in which he can get back in form? It’s hard to imagine what it’s like in Djokovic’s shoes at the moment. Many journalists and coaches have encouraged him to take some time off, away from his coaches and advisers. They point to Federer and Nadal’s time off last year, and how it has helped them reach incredible heights in 2017. That is, however, a difficult course to recommend. Djokovic is younger than Federer and Nadal and not injured, as they both were last year. To take time off for no real reason while he is, in theory, still in the prime of his career, seems criminal. It might just be that after completing his career Slam last year he has lost some passion for the game. His most ardent wish fulfilled, he might be struggling to summon the kind of motivation and inspiration that kept him going all these years. If that’s the case, there may be no coming back for Nole. The main contributing factor to Pete Sampras’ retirement was that he just didn’t want to play tennis anymore. Djokovic may be suffering from the same problem, though he might not quite realize it yet. He
recently accepted a wild card to the Eastbourne tournament, his only warmup event before Wimbledon. This at seems to indicate he has no intention to take time off, at least now. Whether a win at an event with little in the way of high-end competition will give him a fighting chance a Wimbledon, however, remains to be seen.
The Queen Of Paris Giorgio Perri
It does not happen often, but when it does it is special. The memory of these moments tends to stick in one’s head. When Gustavo Kuerten won his first title – not Grand Slam title, but first title of any kind– at the French Open in 1997, and he drew a heart on the court, everybody who witnessed it knew they would always remember that image. When Jelena Ostapenko stunned the world by defeating Simona Halep in the final of this year’s French Open, one could not help but draw comparisons with Guga. She was ranked slightly higher coming into the event than Guga was in 1997 – just inside the Top 50 compared to just outside the Top 50 – but she was every inch the outsider the Brazilian had been. Both were huge underdogs to the point that they were barely given a chance by anyone, and like Guga, it did not bother Ostapenko one bit. Her victory was also the first title of her career, and it represented the first time since 1933 that an unseeded player won the women’s trophy at the French Open. Hers is an incredible story befitting of an incredible tournament. In both the men’s and women’s events, there were surprises aplenty and, ultimately, wonderful endings. On the men’s side, Nadal won his tenth title, an unprecedented achievement that crowned an unexpected comeback for the oft-injured Spaniard. On the women’s side, Osapenko came out of nowhere to lay a claim to the vacant throne of women’s tennis.
Indeed, Ostapenko’s victory confirmed once and for all that the women’s game is without a dominant player, and that each and every tournament is essentially up for grabs. Defending champion Muguruza could not even reach the last eight, and both Angelique Kerber and Simona Halep wilted when opportunity presented itself with a weak draw. These days, anyone can come from any spot in the rankings to win anything, a fact that Ostapenko’s fellows in the class of ’97 – Ana Konjuh and Daria Kasatkina – will be glad to hear. If the current crop of top players cannot cement their place as dominant competitors, then surely these youngsters can take a stab at claiming that honor? In that respect, of course, Ostapenko has a significant lead on them. What is perhaps most encouraging about Ostapenko’s victory, at least for her fans and admirers, is that she can still improve – a lot. Throughout her relatively successful clay court season, questions arose about her
mental toughness, as well her ability to keep pace with her opponents in long rallies and matches. Particularly concerning, some pundits pointed out, was her onedimensional forehand and inability to improvise on that wing. All of this, of course, mattered little as the Latvian fought her way past opponent after opponent in Paris. If she keeps working hard on her game and remains motivated, the sky is the limit. Incredibly, clay isn’t even her favorite surface, as she likes to compete on faster courts. In fact, she won the junior title at Wimbledon in 2014. If she can perform this well on a surface she doesn’t even like that much, just think what she can do on her favorite courts with a fine-tuned game. It
might still be very early to think along these lines, but it is certainly possible that women’s tennis has found its future number one. And at just 20 years of age, her reign may be very long indeed. Yet we must remember that many pundits predicted the same thing when Muguruza won the French Open title last year, and now she is languishing at number 14 in the world. So we should perhaps stop short of crowning young Ostapenko when she has not proven herself over the long run. That being said, the fact of the matter is that the women’s game is so desperate for a new champion that we are willing to convince ourselves of just about anything at the moment. We just hope that this time we are right.
Tennis is one such sport that hasn’t had its fair share of on-screen time but with several stories probably brewing in the pipeline, directors and producers would want to popularize and fictionalize this sport as well. With the movie “Battle of the Sexes” coming out this year, we take a list at some movies made on Tennis starting from the 1990s Nobody’s Perfect (1990) is the story of a tennis player who plays tennis for school and falls for a female tennis players played by Gail O’Grady. In order to get
Tennis and Movies Akshay Kohli
close to her, he pretends to be a female tennis player. In the end they partner each other to play a doubles match which they eventually win with a third set tie-breaker. Mr. Deeds (2002) – in this Adam Sandler starrer, John McEnroe makes a cameo and inspires the titular character to take up tennis. Wimbledon (2004) – is a rom com and the only on-screen portrayal of the famous English tennis Grand Slam. Paul Bettany plays the role of Peter Colt, an English professional tennis player in his
thirties whose rankings have considerably slipped (from 11th to 119th in the World). He gets a wildcard entry to Wimbledon where he bumps into Lizzie Bradbury played by Kirsten Dunst, the American rising star of female tennis. He falls in love with her which changes his entire outlook on life and even gives him a desire to win. With plenty of court action and a thrilling climactic match, this movie even features on Andy Murray’s girlfriend’s (Kim Sears’) top movies list. Andy apparently himself hasn’t seen any tennis flicks. Tennis, Anyone…? Made in 2005 is the story of two friends who attempt to find redemption, revenge and meaning in their lives through celebrity tennis tournaments. However, the only saving grace of the film is the role played by Jason Isaacs (Lucius Malfoy in the Harry Potter movies) who plays a deceitful, arrogant and hypocritical movie star. Turn Around (2007) and Overcome (2008) have almost the same storyline of a promising young tennis player who meets with an accident and along with that her
future comes crashing. However, towards the end, she achieves her goal by training hard, rehab and help from one of the guys responsible for her injury. Unstrung (2008) – was a documentary made about seven rising stars in the Junior circuit in the year 2005. It features comments from Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick, John McEnroe and Nick Bollettieri. It featured lots of tennis action and was largely produced by Jim Courier.
The Drop Shot Federico Coppini
Today, we have a quick look at how to make the most of your opportunities when presented with a short ball by your opponent. What to do When a player hits a ball short it is an obvious opportunity for his opponent to end the rally with a winner. If you are on
the receiving end of a short ball, it is important to keep this in mind. However, you must also remember the following technical points:
• Disguise your intentions even more carefully than you usually do. Pretend that you want to hit the ball in a certain direction so that your opponent covers that part of the court, while you actually hit it towards the other side. • Hit the ball with a motion that goes from top to bottom. • You must not hit the ball flat, since this will almost certainly result in a loss of control. Hit is at an angle (a slice even), from top to bottom.
Technically speaking, the short ball is not overly complex, but the various simple motions that are required must be carefully executed to ensure that you win
the point. But is slightly more difficult to determine when you yourself should hit the ball short. When? So far we have talked about an unintentional short ball, when your opponent puts the ball short and gives you an easy, relatively high shot. But at certain times it is advantageous to hit the ball short yourself. Almost without exception, the right time to do this is when your opponent is far behind the baseline or outside the sidelines. If you try to hit a drop shot or otherwise put the ball short when they are not out of
position, your opponent will likely chase it down pretty easily and hit a winner. If you execute the shot properly when he is far behind the baseline, the chances are very small that he will get to it. Even if he does, his shot will be so weak that you can easily dispatch it for a winner. This tactic is very useful against defensive baseliners, who like to hang around far behind the baseline. You can use the short ball to throw them off their rhythm as often as possible, which will allow you to get the upper hand in many rallies.
How Important Are Tactics And Strategy? Federico Coppini
Before developing any tactics or strategies in tennis, you must already have a good grasp of all the basics. Here are a few basic things that you can do to your opponent from a strategic point of view: • Play to his backhand
• Play to his forehand • Hit a lot of high balls • Hit as close to his feet and the baseline as possible • Play into his body Coming up with a strategy means developing an approach that you can
successfully and practically implement on the court. The practical part is very important, and you must always remain realistic about your own abilities when coming up with strategies. For example, if you are a beginner, you might want to keep things simple and only focus on hitting deep up the middle of the court. This has the following benefits: • It keeps your opponent behind the baseline • The net is lower in the middle of the court, making errors less likely • If you hit to the middle of the court, your
opponent has fewer opportunities to hit diagonally The only downside of this strategy is that your opponent can usually run around his backhand and hit his forehand all the time (if that is his best short, else vice versa). While the above is a good strategy, the reality is simply that most beginners
cannot focus on a strategy while also focusing on their shotmaking. In most cases, it is better to worry about your shots than to fret over strategy during a point.
come to the net. He therefore has to focus extra hard to hit his balls deep.
Approach the net at the first opportunity If you follow the above strategy, it is particularly important to approach the net at the first available opportunity. Intermediate players are often hesitant of coming forward, but anticipation is a key element in the development of an
Play the percentages If you look at the stats after a match, even professional matches, you will often see that there were more errors that winners in the encounter. One of the most important things to remember as a beginner is that if you are the player with the fewest errors, you will likely also be the winner of the match. Keep mistakes to a minimum and play safely. This is why the strategy of hitting the ball deep down
advanced player. You must remain vigilant for when your opponent hits a short ball, which will then give you the opportunity of hitting a strong shot and coming to the net. It might not win you the point every time, but it often will, and will place extra pressure on your opponent because he knows you are willing to
the middle is so effective, since it is a safe tactic that still puts pressure on your opponent. It is important to play the percentages. If you attempt to hit a winner, you might make it and strike a spectacular blow, but there is a better chance that you will commit an error. Also, if one strategy or another is working
for you, stick with it until it stops working. If you find yourself losing, it is always a good idea to change tactics to try and turn things around. Play the right shot under pressure When you are under pressure during a point, it is extremely important to hit the correct shot. If you do not, you will either make an error or your opponent will easily hit a winner. A good strategy under pressure therefore is not to try and hit a fancy winner, but to hit a consistent and relatively safe shot that will allow you to
stay in the point. That being said, often under pressure our nerves fail us, and we completely mishit the shots we intended to hit. But the likelihood of that happening with low percentage shots is much greater than with safe shots. If you are under pressure, hit the ball
high If you are forced badly out of position during a point, the temptation is to simply try and hit a winner, even though it is almost impossible to do so from such a poor position. In such a situation, the best thing to do is to hit the ball high over the net. If your opponent stays back, a high ball with lots of top spin can be difficult to deal with, and if he tries to sneak in to the net you can hit it even higher as a lob. If you hit it well, your opponent will be forced to take a defensive position and basically restart the rally. This will also
hurt his confidence, since his best shot came back. Break your opponent’s rhythm If you are playing against an opponent who hits very hard and likes to play in a rhythm, it is a good idea to mix up the pace of your own shots. Hit slower balls,
for example, which will force him to generate his own pace instead of feeding off yours. Short slices and high topspin shots are also very effective in break such a player’s rhythm. Focus on your opponent’s weakness If your opponent has a very strong shot, such as his forehand, it is important to try and stay away from it. Do not let him use his best shot to dominate the game. Instead, do your best to engage his weaker shots, then once he is used to you focusing on his backhand, the court
will open up on his stronger side for you to hit winners into. Play cross-court It is often very tempting to hit down the line at the first opportunity. Granted, these shots look spectacular when they are successful, but they are also very
hard to pull off. In fact, it is much safer to hit cross-court for a number of reasons. Firstly, the net is much higher at the sides, meaning that you have to hit the ball much more precisely if you hit it down the line. It is also much easier to hit the ball back where it came from rather than to try and change its direction. If you try to change direction and are even a little early or late in your timing, you will most likely commit an error. Hit with purpose More experienced players know that mistakes are more important than winners. It is therefore important to hit safe and consistent shots, and always hit with purpose. At high levels of play it is always hard to find the open court for a winner. It is much more important to play the right shot at the right time, minimizing errors and taking advantage of poor shots when your opponent hits them.
PERFECT YOUR PREMATCH DIET Federico Coppini
Professional athletes and dedicated amateurs will extend their pre-match preparation to include the right food and drink before they take to the court. Adequate pre-match preparation will mean
that you are not unnecessarily stressed by matters off the court, allowing you to focus your mind and body on the actual match. As well as preparing their racquet bag with all of the equipment necessary to play, and researching their opponent’s strengths and weaknesses, the professional athlete and the dedicated amateur will extend their preparation to include eating and drinking sensibly, and avoiding foods or beverages
which might exacerbate stress on the body.
FOCUS ON FOOD Our diet can affect how we feel; certain foods can make us more or less anxious, typically by triggering certain chemicals in the body that influence the activity of our neurotransmitters and autonomic nervous system. Before matches, it is best to avoid certain foods, including: • those with high sugar content, like
sweets and cakes • those containing refined carbohydrates, like white bread These kinds of foods can create an imbalance in blood-sugar levels, exacerbating anxiety. Too much sugar produces a condition known as hypoglycaemia, which produces symptoms very similar to those experienced in an anxiety state. It is best to eat a healthy, balanced diet, containing vegetables, fruit and whole grains.
DRINK SENSIBLY Likewise, it is best to avoid certain drinks before a game, particularly coffee or other drinks – like tea and some soft drinks – containing caffeine. Caffeine blocks certain neuro-transmitters in the brain and is the most widely used mood altering drug in the world. It enhances alertness, concentration and
memory and is therefore a stimulant; but too much can produce overstimulation, especially if one is susceptible or has an already overstimulated nervous system. In experimental studies, caffeine has been shown
to induce panic-attacks, exacerbate stress and anxiety. It stimulates the body’s secretion of insulin, which lowers blood sugar, for which the body compensates by releasing adrenalin. Caffeine