Novak Djokovic has set another milestone in his fantastic year of 2011 – he beat Rafael Nadal in the Wimbledon 2011 final and justified his new #1 ranking.
Novak Djokovic wins the Wimbledon 2011 (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images
Let’s see what happened in match and where Nole got the better of Rafa…
First set
Djokovic started his service games with extra special care when he was bouncing the ball before the serve. It seemed too deliberate too me – since that’s not his usual rhythm.
And when you ‘re not looking to find your usual rhythm, you’ll also have troubles finding the zone. (more…)
Rafael Nadal won his second Wimbledon title against Tomas Berdych today and his 8th Grand Slam title.
Rafael Nadal beats Tomas Berdych for the Wimbledon 2010 title / Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images
I watched the whole match and here are some of my thoughts that I wrote down during the match…
I knew that Nadal would play solid tennis at the start of the match. So my focus was on Berdych as I was looking to see any signs of pressure.
I was looking at the rhythm of shots from the baseline, how clean was Berdych hitting the ball and whether he’d go for the shots when he had an opening and whether he would be successful. (more…)
John Isner won the longest match in tennis history at Wimbledon yesterday when he beat Nicolas Mahut 6-4, 3-6, 6-7, 7-6, 70-68.
John Isner, Nicolas Mahut and the unreal score - Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images
The match was full of records but one key question remains: why did this tennis “anomaly” happen?
John Isner said in his interview that he doesn’t know really why. He thought that both players served really well and that perhaps it was meant to happen.
Nicolas Mahut also said that he didn’t know why the match lasted so long. (more…)
Tommy Haas started the first set against Roger Federer with his usual tactic at this year’s Wimbledon; serve & volleying on almost all first and second serves.
But even in the first game it was evident (to me at least) that this will not work against Federer.
Roger Federer winning against Tommy Haas in Wimbledon2009 / Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images
Federer was hitting returns early and cleanly and putting them low to Tommy’s feet. Tommy held his service games thanks to first serves which he nicely varied between forehand and backhand sides of Federer.
Haas was too emotional on a couple of missed shots and that’s not a good sign. Being so tense prevents a player from playing in the zone and that’s what’s needed to win a semifinal match in a Grand Slam…
Luckily for Haas, Federer lost his feel for a few games and made a few unforced errors that allowed Haas to win his service games. Very high first serve percentage helped too.
Tommy served very well throughout the first set even on his second serves. He forced the serves, played very aggressively and prevented Federer from getting into the return rhythm. Perhaps Tommy felt the power and control of Federer’s returns from the first two games and decided to up the risks a little bit. (more…)
Roger Federer and Robin Soderling met again after the Roland Garros final in the fourth round at Wimbledon 2009. Here are some thoughts on the match…
Soderling played the first set exactly the way he should have played the final of Roland Garros; he played very aggressively, hitting close to the lines and he didn’t give Federer enough time to get into an attacking position.
Federer was constantly in defense and barely got a chance to force the game with his forehand. In fact, Federer seemed to play more defensively intentionally because he had time (just a few times) to force with his forehand but he chose just a solid rally forehand deep to Soderling’s backhand.
The same thing happened at 4:4 on Soderling’s serve with one exception; Soderling was unable to keep the same level of play. He committed a double fault and missed a few shots – just barely out which he didn’t miss in the previous 8 games.
Roger didn’t do much for that break of serve except forcing Soderling to play every ball. Federer hung in there defending with backhand and even forehand slices and Soderling missed them.
Federer committed only 3 unforced errors in the first set and Soderling made 9. Roger also served better with 7 aces to 4 and was most of the time winning service games pretty easily.
Soderling played extremely well again in the second set, serving aces and winners and forcing the game from the baseline. Roger Federer’s plan – in my opinion – was to disrupt the rhythm of Soderling and he started to incorporate a few more drop shots and short slices in the game. (more…)
I just wanted to congratulate the 3 players from Slovenia who managed to enter the main draw in Wimbledon. This is the first time that Slovenia had 3 players in a Grand Slam main draw in singles.
Maša Zec Peškirič, ranked currently #98 in WTA, lost to Urszula Radwanska 6-3, 6-3 and it was her first Grand Slam main draw appearance so Maša will definitely learn from this and gain more experience and confidence.
Grega Žemlja, currently ranked #218 on ATP, managed to win 3 qualifying rounds at Wimbledon 2009 and came across Albert Montanes, ranked #33. Grega fought well and lost with 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 score with only one break of serve in each set. (more…)
Wimbledon has been struck a with bad weather curse this year. The organizers are 177 matches behind the schedule at the time of this writing.
It’s not only tough for the Wimbledon organizers and visitors; it’s mentally draining for the players too.
(AP Photo/Sang Tan)
Lleyton Hewitt for example started his third-round match against No. 22 Guillermo Canas of Argentina on Saturday, but rain and darkness delayed the 2002 champion’s 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 win until three days later. (more…)
