Novak Djokovic won the Miami Open over the weekend, breaking all kinds of records in the process. His 6th Miami Open title, 27th Masters title, and dangerously close to earning more prize money than the untouchable one… Roger Federer. Nobody can beat him, or even win a set off of him. He’s won 22 sets in a row without much resistance, and has rendered even the best servers unable to hold serve. What is he doing that’s so special? It begins and ends with the brain, duh. Mental tennis During
Read MoreIt’s January of 2009, and 21 year old Novak Djokovic has just retired from his 4th Grand Slam match in only his 17th appearance. While trailing American Andy Roddick in the 4th set, Djokovic complained of sickness due to the sweltering Australian heat. Were used to this sort of thing by now. Novak is not a fighter… yet. Many fans sadistically viewed this Aussie retirement as karma after an ugly verbal incident between the two men at the previous year’s U.S. Open. Roddick had flippantly remarked that Novak was always
Read MoreThe tennis grand slam calendar starts today, and there is reason to be pumped up. The men’s draw is interesting to say the least, so without further adieu, let’s break it down… 2014 Will Not Be Repeated I love Stan Wawrinka (recall my man crush article “How Stan Became Stan the Man”), but he will not win another Australian Open title this year. He made his breakthrough last year, played the tournament of his life, and accrued a major title. But this year, look for someone else to win. It
Read MoreThe finale of the 2014 Barclays World Tour Finals was won by Novak Djokovic. But there was no match, as Roger Federer dropped out of the tournament one hour before he was set to take the court. He made the announcement in an arena filled with stunned and disappointed tennis fans. People who had paid hundreds of dollars to see him play, and had traveled half way around the world. I was almost one of those people. I had traveled to London last week to see some of the tournament,
Read MoreFew things are completely certain, but the exception lies in the world of tennis. Fans have become accustomed to Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Rafael Nadal participating in every grand slam final. Well the waves of change are a flowin’. Kei Nishikori and Marin Cilic will face off in Flushing Meadows today. Significance This 2014 US Open Final will be a landmark occasion. Since the 2005 French Open, every grand slam final has included at least one of the big 3 (Fed, Djok, Nadal). That’s 9 1/2 years
Read MoreYesterday’s men’s quarterfinals featured unbelievable displays of physical ability by Novak Djokovic and Kei Nishikori. Djokovic notched a big win last night with his victory over Andy Murray. While earlier in the day, Nishikori defeated favorite Stanislas Wawrinka in 5 sets. But the score lines don’t explain these results very accurately. Anyone who saw last night’s match can attest to the obvious difference in physicality between Djokovic and Murray. By the fourth set, it was becoming pronounced. Murray opened his service game with a strange, 70 mph first serve using
Read MoreMen’s Final Novak Djokovic entered Sunday No. 2 in the world. His opponent for the French Open title was none other than the world No. 1 Rafael Nadal. On top of being No. 1, Rafa is an 8-time French Open champion. Djokovic was looking for his first title at Roland Garros. The first set went 6-3… Djokovic. The second… 7-5 Nadal. Rafa roared back for a hard fought second set win and brought that energy right into the third set taking five straight games in the stretch. The roles reversed
Read MoreNo. 1 and No. 2 in the world face one another Sunday at Roland Garros. Rafael Nadal is 22-19 in his career against Novak Djokovic. The reigning French Open champ will be facing the opponent with the best chances of beating him. The only other player to win double digit matches against Nadal is Roger Federer, and he’s won just 10 over Rafa. Current Wimbledon champ Andy Murray came close to the finals Friday in a tough straight set loss to Nadal at 6-3, 6-2, 6-1. Murray came out hot in the
Read MoreAfter the usual 5 month hiatus following the Aussie Open, springtime in Paris has arrived. But a breeze of intrigue and uncertainty has befallen this French Open. The perennial favorites are still the favorites, but where they will finish remains a mystery. Let’s examine these perennial particulars and make some fun predictions…. Roger Federer Whether the year is 2004, or 2014, Federer is always a favorite to win a tournament. If you type in ‘longevity personified,’ you will see his image next to Ron Paul and Jesus. And it is
Read MoreHave you ever dreamed you were hanging out with your favorite athletes? That you were essentially in their world? So close, you can feel their quickness, agility, and ungodly talent. So close you can see and hear their interactions with teammates and opponents. Use your imagination. Pretend there are 20 basketball courts lined up next to each other, and there are All-Star players practicing at each one. Lebron plays one-on-one with Paul Pierce. Next to them, Kevin Durant and Damian Lillard play some horse. Oh, and Blake Griffin is trying
Read MoreSpaniard man vs Swiss man in a tennis match. Without saying anything else, you’re thinking of Nadal vs Federer. Well sorry to disappoint…. because the Swiss man of the moment is none other than 28 year old Stanislas Wawrinka, beating Rafael Nadal in the Australian Open final, and breaking the stranglehold of the Big 4 who have dominated tennis the past several years. So, how did he get here? What makes him so good? What is in the drinking water in Switzerland that makes people such good tennis players? Okay,
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