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The Friday Five

Tennis Can Be A Big Earner For You Too

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Nowadays, there’s a tennis tournament happening somewhere or the other almost the entire year through. Now that makes it a great sports betting option. For you see, there never really seems to be a down time for it. And it is a lively market. Giving you incredible opportunities both pre-match and in-match to attain maximum gains. And some long-set marathons create price fluctuations that can sanely only be described as wild! This in-play betting, being one with great popularity, is what live betting is all about. Here’s where you can read more about live betting.

And like all betting there are some tricks of the trade to make the most of your money when you are betting on tennis. Some of these tricks may seem obvious and similar to other sports, but it is still a prudent thing to keep them in mind when you are sitting down in front of your online table.

Interpretation is key
Player statistics and form play key roles in determining who to back. But you must be careful in choosing just how detailed you want the information to be. There really is not point in backing a player getting on in years who may have had a great stint some decades back. Interpreting the knowledge available and then choosing the right player can take you a long way in securing the best returns. Generally the market isn’t too happy with an out-of-form player but great money can be made by backing such a one if the gamble pays off. Sometimes injuries can take a toll on even the best of players. It is very important then to keep abreast of the goings-on even when doing background study.

Go against the crowd
Momentum is a big thing and effects price movements significantly. But sometimes these movements can point you to a wrong direction driving prices that end up too big or too short. Sometimes the best value can be found in a player who has won the first set but dropped the second. While the crowd may be setting things up betting on an illusion that the player will be too tired to perform in the third, you can bet on a comeback and win big if you have been reading the player’s actions better than the crowd did.

Stay on top of the game
Value in tennis can sometimes exist in seconds. It is therefore imperative that you choose to watch the game being broadcast by the best and the fastest of broadcasters. Slow speeds and bad presentation can take your eyes off the game and make you miss the vital clues that are played out on the field. Great streaming speeds when online are extremely important and here’s a podcast that tells you all about how the entire streaming phenomenon is changing the game on the field for everybody.

These are but three things to consider when going about betting online on tennis. There are other tips and strategies that you can come up with as you go along. But whatever you decide to follow, ensure that you have studied it out in detail so that you get the best returns.

Roland Garros
Roland Garros

Let Rafael Nadal's tennis do the talking; US Open prize money increase — The Friday Five

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By Maud Watson

Rafael Nadal at the BNP Paribas Open

Cut the Bull

Rafael Nadal’s fans had plenty to celebrate last weekend (and rightfully so) as their man won the prestigious Indian Wells title. But count me among the number of fans that were left feeling a little frustrated at how things unfolded. It wasn’t that Nadal won. He thoroughly deserved it. He played phenomenal tennis, chasing down balls that would have been winners against most players, and he moved around that backhand beautifully to bully his opponents with his legendary forehand. The problem is, we were constantly told he couldn’t do that yet. Leading up to and throughout Indian Wells, Nadal and his camp harped on the knee and his layoff, insisting that he wasn’t capable of producing such a high level of tennis even as match after match proved quite the opposite. It was particularly annoying to hear him essentially use the knee as a preemptive excuse should he lose to Federer in their quarterfinal clash, even though it was obvious Federer was the more hobbled of the two. This brings us to Toni Nadal’s most recent controversial comments. Nadal’s uncle and coach felt the need to insist that his nephew has been in more pain in losses he’s suffered to Federer than Federer was in his loss to Nadal last week. (How would Toni know?) Then there was his ludicrous notion that Ferrer was not only more of a favorite to win Roland Garros than Federer, but a favorite at all. (Ferrer himself doesn’t believe he can win a major.) One can only assume Toni’s comments are meant to make Rafa’s most recent victories over these opponents seem bigger than they were, but none of this is necessary. Nadal is one of the greatest to have played the game. Deflecting the pressure by bringing up injuries is nothing but a copout. It’s a disservice to the fans that can clearly see how he’s playing, and judging by the comments of some of his fellow peers, they’re also getting a little tired of the injury talk. That’s why just once, it would be nice if Nadal and his team would cut the bull and let Nadal’s tennis do the talking. They’d find it more than sufficient.

Knocking at the Door

Lost in the hullabaloo of Nadal’s title run was the respectable tournament that Juan Martin del Potro put together at the year’s first Masters. The Argentine defeated Murray and Djokovic back-to-back to reach the final and very nearly did the same to Nadal in the championship match. Del Potro showed signs of returning to his 2009 form at the end of last season, but it’s looking more and more like he’s ready to make another move with his play at Indian Wells. He still isn’t able to go after the backhand as much as he’d like thanks to a suspect wrist, but it’s getting better. He’s also using more variety, as he recognizes that it will take more than just brute force if he’s to break up the Big 4. If Del Potro can continue is upward trend, men’s tennis is about to get even more interesting with the Argentine’s game a tough matchup for any of the guys ranked ahead of him.

Progress at Last

It’s taken a lot of grumbling, patience, and “spirited discussions”, but it seems that the USTA is ready to listen to the demands of the players. The USTA has finally come to accept that the “Super Saturday” format is no longer compatible with the modern game, and beginning in 2015, the US Open’s scheduling will fall more in line with that of the other three majors. In order to make this possible, the USTA has also agreed to stage the opening rounds of the men’s event over the course of just two days, instead of three. Equally important to the scheduling is the welcomed news that the USTA plans to increase their prize money to $50 million by 2017. This should go a long way towards appeasing the players’ complaints that they don’t currently receive a satisfactory share of the profits. Now, if only we could get a roof over Ashe Stadium – something unlikely to happen any time soon due to cost, but something the USTA is starting to realize may be a possibility down the road. One can dream!

Following Suit

Shortly after the announcement pertaining to the US Open’s prize money increase, Roland Garros also came out with the welcomed news that they, too, intend to increase their prize purse. Though not as much as the $50 million put forth by the USTA, Roland Garros Tournament Director Gilbert Ysern assured everyone that they will increase prize money “spectacularly” between 2013 and 2016. It’s unclear if players are happy with the extent of the change. Justin Gimelstob, an ATP Board Member, stated the players would review the increase along with the French Open’s expansion plans, as they may feel that some of the money being directed towards expansion should instead be going into players’ pockets. Of course, money may not need to be directed towards expansion any time soon, with a Paris judge putting the current plans on hold over concerns that they don’t meet environmental regulations. So, this isn’t over, but at least as far as the prize money is concerned, it’s a step in the right direction.

History Repeating

It’s no secret that Jennifer Capriati had a troubled childhood, and now it seems those problems have carried well into adulthood. On Wednesday in Florida, the 2012 Hall of Fame Inductee was charged with stalking and battery. She allegedly punched her ex-boyfriend, Ivan Brannan, on Valentine’s Day while he was working out at a gym. In addition to punching him, Brannan is claiming that she has stalked him since they broke up in 2012. If the charges prove to be true, they will mark another sad chapter in the American’s life. Depending on how it all shakes out, it may also be interesting to chart whether or not there are calls to revoke her place in the Tennis Hall of Fame.

Ernests Gulbis Storms Back; Grunting Still an Issue — The Friday Five

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By Maud Watson

Stuttering Finish

With many of the world’s top-ranked female stars in attendance, the BNP Paribas Open started off so promising. It’s losing steam as it heads to the finale, however, thanks to a couple of key upsets and unfortunate withdrawals. Kirilenko upset both Aga Radwanska and Kvitova to set up a semifinal clash with Sharapova, which is a matchup the World No. 3 likely prefers with the No. 2 ranking up for grabs should she advance to the final. On the opposite side of the draw, Kerber and Wozniacki find themselves in the semis after both Stosur and Azarenka withdrew with leg and ankle injuries. All four women are accomplished players, but with only one of the top-four-ranked women present in the semis, the tournament no longer possesses quite the same level of excitement. It’s a shame for the tournament organizers, but if one person can take these lemons and turn them into lemonade, it’s Sharapova, who is now the strong favorite to take home the title.

Ernests Gulbis in his match against Rafael Nadal at the BNP Paribas Open.

Just Won’t Die

Just when you thought that ugly issue would go away, the topic of grunting is once again making tennis headlines. This time, it’s actual grunting, with the latest complaint coming from Murray against ATP pro Berlocq. Murray was moved to complain about the Argentine’s long and loud grunts after his opponent complained to the umpire that he thought Murray was taking longer than the permitted 25 second between points. Irrespective of what prompted the complaint, it was legitimate. But Berlocq isn’t the only loud competitor on the ATP World Tour. Granollers has long been touted as having one of the most distracting grunts, and others, like Nadal, Djokovic, and Ferrer, have also been known to get a little too vocal. Federer hit the nail on the head when he said it’s all about respecting your opponent and suggested that there is such a thing has being too loud. Unfortunately, the ATP players are less likely to pursue a solution to the grunting problem, but with any luck, perhaps they will. Pursuing a solution might then have a spillover effect to the WTA and force the governing bodies to do something now. There are too many positives in the sport for it to be hounded by this issue, but there’s no denying its impact on the sport is growing, and not for the better.

One to Watch

Okay, Ernests Gulbis has been “one to watch” on more than one occasion throughout his career, but after a thirteen match win-streak and a near upset of Nadal in the Round of 16 in Indian Wells, maybe this time, the label will stick. The Latvian may lack the looks and some of the charm of Marat Safin, but he’s definitely the closest thing tennis currently has to the charismatic Russian. He’s unabashedly confident and honest, from declaring he didn’t fear Nadal and had the goods to beat the Spaniard, to his calling out his peers for what he perceives to be fake congratulations. Love him or hate him, he calls it like he sees it. He’s also always had the talent to pull off a plethora of shots to flummox his opponents and thrill the crowds, but the consistency has been lacking. After winning a title in Delray Beach and nearly booking a quarterfinal berth in Indian Wells, however, things could be turning around. At 24, Gulbis is starting to mature. He’s starting to make strides at controlling his temper and keeping the bad patches of play short and to a minimum over the course of a match. We’ll have to wait and see how he fares in the coming weeks, but if this guy has truly put it together, the rest of the field better be on alert.

Bated Breath

Mardy Fish fans will be anxious as the Miami Masters approaches, as the second Masters of 2013 may ultimately turn out to be the American’s last tournament as a professional. Fish has in no way committed to anything, but he made it clear that he hasn’t ruled out walking away from the game after just his second event this season. After Miami, he plans to assess where he is, if he feels comfortable competing and can do so at a high level. After his stint at Indian Wells, things certainly look dicey. He did win a match, and if you just saw the score line, you’d be impressed that he took a player of Tsonga’s caliber to two tiebreak sets in the third round. But Fish blew a 4-0 lead in the second, and he also served for it at 5-4. That may haunt him as he takes to the court in Florida, which given all that he’s dealing with, will make competing there all the more difficult. Hopefully Fish won’t be ready to throw in the towel. Even if he opts to skip the clay court season, it would be nice to see him give it one last go on the lawns of Wimbledon or see if he can rediscover some magic during the US Open Series. But he’s got to feel comfortable with it, and based on the statements he’s made of late, his fans would be well served to hope for the best but prepare for the worst.

Professional Perspective

With 2012 finalist Isner being bounced out of Indian Wells early (and projected to fall out of the top 20 as a result), Sam Querrey will become the new No. 1 for the United States next week. It’s a great achievement for Querrey, who has had his ups and down with injuries and mental attitude. But what was even better was Querrey’s response to becoming the top American. He recognized it for the honor that it is but was quick to point out that with tennis being such a global sport, what really matters is the world ranking. On that front, Querrey still has plenty of work to do, but with a Round of 16 showing in Indian Wells, he’s moving in the right direction. He’ll be looking to post a respectable result in Miami, and if he can continue to grow and improve, he could be poised for a big summer.

The Return of Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic Still on Top — The Friday Five

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By Maud Watson

Rafael Nadal at the BNP Paribas practice courts

He’s Baaa-aack

Rafael Nadal couldn’t have asked for a better start in his return from injury. He picked up his second title in three tournaments with his win in Acapulco, and what an emphatic win it was, too. In his last two matches, he took out his fellow countrymen Almagro and Ferrer in straight sets, and the win over Ferrer in the final was particularly brutal. He was moving around the court like a jack rabbit, and, when the opportunity presented itself, appeared to be growing more and more confident in his ability to take the ball on and dictate the point. His impressive win in Mexico doesn’t suddenly make him the favorite for Roland Garros as some overzealous fans and analysts have suggested, but it’s clear by what we saw coming off his racquet last week that he’s already starting to resemble the Nadal of old. We’ll see how Nadal’s clay court success translates onto the hard courts at Indian Wells, but it’s safe to assume that even at this early stage in his comeback, he’s going to be a tough out on the dirt.

Status Quo

While Rafael Nadal was busy showing the tennis world he’s firmly in the thick of it, Novak Djokovic was busy showing everyone why he’s World No. 1 and has no intention of giving up his perch anytime soon. Playing in his first event since winning the Australian Open, Djokovic barely showed any signs of rust as he claimed his fourth Dubai title and second of 2013. He waltzed through the tournament without the loss of set, though he was pushed to a tiebreak on two occasions. His ability to raise his level just that little bit, however, is what separates him from the majority of the pack. He enters Indian Wells as the top favorite, and after bowing out last year to Isner in the semis, you can be certain he’s going to be extra hungry to reclaim that title and keep his perfect record for 2013 intact. It’s going to take something special to stop the Serb, because right now, he’s in a league of his own.

Moving Forward

Apparently the governing bodies of tennis are capable of coming to a unanimous decision as evidenced by the news that the ITF, ATP, WTA and the four Grand Slams are giving their full support to the new biological passport program that will take effect on both tours yet this year. The passport program also will come with more blood tests as well as an increased number of out-of-competition testing. This new endeavor will be made possible by the increased funding that all of the governing bodies have pledged to provide to the program. This will undoubtedly make the players happy as well as the fans. It’s important that tennis be able to back up the assumption that it is a clean sport, with the cheaters being more the exception than the norm. It’s encouraging to see how quickly everyone is moving on this, and with any luck, any nasty doping accusations leveled at the players will soon be a thing of the past.

Red Flag

Earlier this week, both Wozniacki and McIlroy, who have suffered some recent setbacks in their respective sports, came out to squelch rumors that they had ended their relationship. The takeaway from Wozniacki’s press conference, however, wasn’t her commentary regarding the status of her relationship with Rory, but rather her comments concerning where she is with her game. The Dane insisted that she wasn’t slumping due to the relationship and that she didn’t have a problem. She rationalized that “When you are No. 1, there is only one way and it’s down and you can’t go further up. I feel like I am playing well.” She’s living in a fantasy world if she thinks she’s playing well and that her trajectory as a former No. 1 is acceptable. She needs to take a look at players like Azarenka, Serena Williams, and Sharapova. All three women have been at t he top, but they continue to work to get back to the top and at least remain close to top to seize an opportunity to pounce when one is presented to them. They don’t frequently suffer shock losses and drop out of the Top 10 unless an injury or illness is the culprit. Someone needs to get a hold of Wozniacki and help her right the ship, because it’s clear she doesn’t have a realistic grasp of where she is with her game or her spot within the sport.

Head of the Class

Earlier this week, the International Tennis Hall of Fame named their incoming class for 2013, and it’s a pretty decent slate of inductees. The Class of 2013 is headed by the sole Recent Player Inductee, Martina Hingis. The Swiss Miss was one of the craftiest players to ever pick up a racquet. In addition to the numerous awards she received over the course of her career, she garnered 15 major titles. She still holds the record for being the youngest woman to ever win a major – winning the Wimbledon Ladies’ Doubles in 1996 just three months shy of her 16th birthday – and she was also the youngest woman to reach the No. 1 singles ranking at 16-and-a-half years of age. Furthermore, she was one of those rare top players that excelled in both singles and doubles and is one of only five female players to have simultaneously held the No. 1 ranking in both. Hingis will be joined by Master Player Inductee, the great Australian Thelma Coyne-Long, whose induction is long overdue. Rounding out this year’s class in the Contributor category are three former players who have continued to serve the sport through providing television commentary and tournament administration. They are Cliff Drysdale, Charlie Pasarell, and Ion Tiriac. It’s a well-rounded and deserving class, and they should make for an enjoyable induction ceremony later this summer.

Caroline Wozniacki's Woes; Mardy Fish Testing the Waters — The Friday Five

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By Maud Watson

Woz Woes

Caroline Wozniacki’s career hit another snag earlier this week when she was surprisingly bounced out of the Malaysian Open in her opening match by qualifier Wang Qiang. The loss completes a trio of disappointing weeks for the Dane, but being dismissed as top seed after holding a match point against a qualifier ranked 186 was definitely the bottom of the barrel for the former World No. 1. Wozniacki attributed the defeat to a lack of energy and focus, but there were apt to be other factors at work here, with the most likely culprit being a need to change coaches and subsequently revamp her approach to the game. She’s no longer spinning her wheels. She’s virtually stalled and in danger of going fully in reverse. She must take a page out of Radwanska’s book and commit to replacing her father with a new coach (and give that coach a fair trial run) and make adjustments to her game, or else she’s very likely to go by way of players like Safina and Jankovic. She has too much potential to let that happen, but that’s what’s going to unfold if she fails to get out of her own way.

Testing the Waters

Mardy Fish fans have reason to rejoice as the American announced that he is planning to make his return to tennis at the upcoming BNP Paribas Open after a six-month layoff due to heart issues. Fish has already twice had to postpone his return to competition, pulling out of both San Jose and Memphis, but his agent reports that Fish has been practicing and working out for three to four hours a day and feels confident about getting back out on the courts. If all goes well with his heart, Fish is optimistic that he’ll be able to play a full schedule for the remainder of 2013. Fingers crossed that this is the case. Not only would it be great for him personally, but with the recent struggles of John Isner, American tennis could use some good results from Mardy.

Asked and Answered

Or, at least plans are being formulated. After an increased amount of chatter from the players – including the Big 4 – asking that more measures be put in place to test for PEDs, the governing bodies of tennis seem to be preparing to take action to meet those demands. The slams and both tours announced their respective commitments to contribute more funding to the ITF anti-doping program, with reports coming out that Wimbledon and the US Open are set to double their annual contribution. The increased funding would mean that the ITF could soon look into providing more out-of-competition testing, blood testing, and possibly even funding a biological passport program. The bureaucratic machinery of tennis tends to move slowly, but it’s encouraging to see that matters on this particular front appear to be moving forward. It would be nice to squelch the baseless doping allegations that have hit tennis the last couple of years.

Perfect Prep

If there was one tournament victory last weekend that could potentially prove pivotal, it was Petra Kvitova’s win in Dubai. Granted, with Serena, Azarenka and Sharapova all absent, it wasn’t quite the star-studded field that had contested Doha a week earlier, but there was still plenty of talent in the pool vying for Dubai. In the end, it was Kvitova who built on her performance the previous week, all but taking the match out of the hands of her opposition by producing the kind of lights out tennis we know she’s capable of playing. The win couldn’t have come at a better time either with both Indian Wells and Miami looming. The Czech has historically struggled to produce her best at the big North American events (though she did manage a title in Montreal last summer), but with her victory last week, she should be feeling confident about her game irrespective of where she’s competing. The game needs her back at the top, and perhaps her run in Dubai will propel her to bigger and better things this coming spring.

Desert Delight

On the heels of the news that the ATP Board of Directors approved the 2013 prize money distribution at Indian Wells comes word that BNP Paribas has extended its sponsorship of the prestigious event through 2018. At a time when a number of other tournaments are struggling to find title sponsors, this is welcomed news but by no means a surprise either. BNP Paribas began its sponsorship of Indian Wells in 2009, and in that time, it has seen the tournament blossom into an event that in various aspects, rivals the majors. Hopefully, with the continued support from BNP Paribas, we’re likely to continue to see the year’s first masters evolve and encourage other tournaments to follow suit.

Serena Williams Back on Top; Sweet Success for Rafael Nadal — The Friday Five

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By Maud Watson

Back on Top

Similar to Roger Federer last season, Serena Williams defied the odds by reclaiming the No. 1 ranking by virtue of her run in Doha last week. In doing so, she became the oldest woman to hold the coveted spot. With the way the ranking system works, Serena likely would have clinched No. 1 before Wimbledon anyway, but that doesn’t make the achievement any less remarkable. She put herself in that position with her fantastic second half of 2012, playing a more complete schedule and generally winning whatever she entered, and now she’s rightfully benefited from the fruits of her labors. With Azarenka’s withdrawal from Dubai earlier this week, the American is guaranteed to hold on to No. 1 through Miami. She’ll have her work cut out for her if she’s to hold on to that ranking and ultimately finish the season there, but for now, she can bask in the feeling that comes with accomplishing what seemed an impossible goal.

Bigger Picture

Victoria Azarenka may have lost her No. 1 ranking in Doha, but she arguably left with two things more important – the title, and a win over Serena Williams. By successfully defending her title, she also defended all of her points from that event. And with less to defend than Williams in the second half of the season, she’ll likely have plenty of opportunities to leapfrog the American in the rankings. But the bigger takeaway was the win she garnered over Serena. She came into that final with a clear game plan that more often than not, she executed to perfection. And while Serena didn’t play her absolute best, she was certainly better than the “two out of ten” she claimed, and it’s also safe to say that what Azarenka was doing on her end of the court had something to do with taking Serena out of her comfort zone. At the end of the day, Azarenka handled the majority of the big moments better, and that’s why she earned the victory. She’s got plenty of work ahead of her to even up the score with Williams, but Azarenka is steadily building a case that this may evolve into the rivalry the WTA so desperately needs today.

How Sweet It Is

It isn’t the biggest title he’s ever won, nor was it worth many points. It didn’t come against a stellar field, and there was very little fanfare. But despite all of that, Rafael Nadal’s tournament win last week in Brazil will likely rank among one of his most cherished memories. Playing in his second tournament in as many weeks since after returning from a seventh-month layoff, Nadal once again reached the final, and this time, he came up with the goods. It wasn’t an easy path to the title match, but it was one-way traffic in the final against Nalbandian. Even down a double break in the second, the Spaniard reeled off six straight games against the Argentine to earn his 51st title. The victory should give him a boost of confidence heading into Acapulco, where he should be more tested. But for now, Nadal can savor the moment. He’s not where he wants to be, but he’s squarely moving in the right direction.

Crisis Averted

With things threatening to turn ugly in a hurry, the ATP Board of Directors finally came around and approved the BNP Paribas Open’s proposed prize money distribution. The proposed distribution passed when one of the three tournament directors who had previously opposed it, changed his vote. The ATP’s decision should make both the players and officials at Indian Wells happy, and it’s a decision that also looks destined to initiate changes down the road. The matter has forced the ATP to review the rules regarding potential deviations from the conventional prize money breakdowns and create parameters to deal with similar scenarios in the future. It was the lack of a clear rule on the subject that led to the near-fiasco with Indian Wells this year. Hopefully the ATP won’t drag its feet in establishing parameters to deal with this type of scenario, as such a scenario only results in bad publicity and unnecessary headaches.

Hitting Her Stride?

Could it be that Petra Kvitova is finally ready to once again begin producing the kind of tennis that wins championships? The Czech had a good showing last week in Doha, nearly upending Serena in the quarterfinals. She’s continued to build on that momentum this week in Dubai, reaching the semifinals at the expense of World No. 4 Radwanska in the process. She hasn’t exactly played pretty tennis to reach that stage. In fact, much like Serena, she tends to litter the stat sheet. But if two good back-to-back showings are any indication, Kvitova may at last be starting to find her range. If that’s the case, and she proves able to balance those errors with winners, the rest of the field should be on alert. Kvitova possesses easy power and deceptive touch, making her a dangerous opponent capable of blowing most anybody off the court. The women’s game would greatly benefit from such a talented player back in the mix vying for the biggest titles, so with any luck, these last two weeks are a sign that we’ll continue to see Kvitova’s star rise as the season progresses.

Rafael Nadal's Mixed Bag; WTA Re-evaluates Rule — The Friday Five

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By Maud Watson

Mixed Bag

Rafael Nadal made his return to tennis last week in Chile, and his comeback left mixed results as to where exactly he is with his game. He moved relatively well, tracking down drop shots and hustling to chase lobs, but he also got wrong-footed more than we’re used to seeing. Up until the singles and doubles finals, he was able to shake off the nerves and rust to routinely dismiss the opposition, but it was the kind of opposition that even a subpar Rafa always dismisses in the early rounds of any tournament. The fact that he reached the finals of both events after a 7-month layoff was something to be proud of, but his loss in the singles final likely did further damage to his clay court aura. Zeballos, who had a great record in clay court challengers coming in, deserves his due. He played the match of his life and handled the bigger moments better, but Zeballos was still the heavy underdog in that final. The Argentine had never won a singles title, had never been ranked inside the Top 40 or even won 40 career singles matches at the main tour level. This marked a stunning loss for Nadal that just goes to show there’s no substitute for match play. But, all in all, it was a good showing by the Spaniard. Plus, the great thing about tennis is there’s always next week. A good showing in Brazil should wipe away any bad memories from Chile and move him one step closer to being ready for the European clay court swing.

Inspirational Legend

On Tuesday, the sport of wheelchair tennis said good-bye to one of its greatest competitors and ambassadors as Esther Vergeer decided to call it a career. The Dutch woman lost the use of her legs at the tender age of 8 due to a surgery to repair blood vessels around her spine. Instead of getting down about her situation, however, she began to playing wheelchair sports, and eventually wheelchair tennis. Her prowess on the court has made her the greatest to play that sport, and the numbers speak for themselves. Ranked No. 1 from 1999 until the end of her career, she amassed 21 singles and 23 doubles major titles, 4 singles and 3 doubles gold medals at the Paralympics, 148 career singles titles and 136 in doubles. She won 470 consecutive matches over the course of the last decade, with her last loss coming in January, 2003. Her ability to generate these phenomenal statistics has helped put her sport on the map, and she’ll be greatly missed. Hearty congratulations on such an accomplished career are in order, as well as a big thank you to Vergeer for demonstrating that even the bleakest situations can be turned into something positive.

Rule Review

The 2013 Australian Open may be over, but the remnants of the infamous medical time out taken by Azarenka has forced the WTA to take a harder look at the medical timeout rule to ensure it cannot be used for gamesmanship. It’s refreshing that the WTA is reviewing the rule to right potential future wrongs, but this is something that should have been done some time ago. It shouldn’t have to wait for a situation like what we saw in Melbourne to occur before action is taken. Hopefully the ATP will learn from the WTA and not wait until things hit the fan before conducting a similar review of the rule on its books. After all, neither tour, nor the governing body of the majors, the ITF, is going to be able to completely eradicate the possibility of gamesmanship occurring under the rules for a medical timeout, but it’s about time they devise a plan to at least curb it.

Broken Record

Nadal made further headlines this week when he voiced his displeasure with the ATP and the number of hard court events on the calendar, as well as the stricter reinforcement of the 25-second rule. To be fair, Nadal is not the only one to take issue with the 25-second rule, and he did raise some valid points. But his notion that it will cut down on strategy is bogus, as is the idea that fans want to see a ton of long rallies (serve and volley anyone?). Nadal also needs to realize he’s one of the two biggest reasons for the stricter reinforcement of the rule, with the other being Djokovic, and the Serb has at least admitted to his slowness and has since sped up his overall pace of play. But the issue of the 25-second rule has taken a back seat to Nadal’s crusade against hard courts, and this is one area where Nadal needs to get off his high horse. Hard courts are tougher on the joints, but his rhetoric that essentially blames the ATP for his health issues is off base. Many players from previous generations played a significant number of hard court tournament and yet continue to enjoy competing on the various senior tours. There’s also been talk of the “greying of the field,” with many – despite playing numerous hard court tournaments in prior seasons – producing their best tennis in their mid-to-late 20s. His failure to fully recognize his own part in damaging his knees and insistence that he can’t (or won’t?) change his playing style does him no favors either. Bottom line, like him or hate him, he’s good for the game. His rivalries with the other top players are some of the most compelling in the sport. But if he’s honestly worried about his life post-tennis, he needs to accept that he’s going to have to play a limited schedule, or hang it up completely. This business of misplacing blame has to stop. It only comes off as whining, and he’s going to have a difficult time finding fans, and likely even some fellow players, who are going to sympathize with his plight when the guy can walk away now, financially set for life, and still go down as one of the greatest in history.

Gaining Momentum

In addition to recent comments by Murray, Djokovic and Nadal, Federer also continues to voice ideas to help ensure the sport of tennis is clean. In his most current comments, Federer pushed for biological passports. A biological passport serves as an electronic record for each athlete that collates the biological markers of doping and the results of the athlete’s doping tests. PEDs users could then potentially be caught via detecting variances in their established levels vs. actually identifying an illegal substance. In addition, Federer has advocated the use of blood passports, stating that while some drugs can’t be discovered now, it doesn’t mean that they won’t be in the future. Fear of such a discovery could deter potential cheaters. But like other ideas, the crux of the problem is funding. Federer has suggested the Grand Slams help foot the bill, as keeping the sport clean is in their best interest. Whether the majors will be happy with that line of thinking remains to be seen, but with all of the controversy surrounding PEDs and calls for more action to keep tennis clean, a solution needs to be worked out sooner rather than later.

Rafael Nadal Happy and in Charge — The Friday Five

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By Maud Watson

Happy Returns

Rafael Nadal’s comeback officially commenced earlier this week in Chile, and it’s already been a success with the Spaniard winning both his opening doubles and single matches by identical score lines of 6-3 and 6-2. There were a few anxious moments at the start of his singles match. Nadal had to shake off rust and nerves to bounce back after falling down an early break, but he quickly found his footing. It wasn’t his most dominant outing, but after seven months out of the game, only a fool would have expected him to put on a clinic. The important thing is that he got the win, and he’s moving beautifully. The only negative for Nadal this week is his own insistence, and even more so his Uncle Toni’s, on discussing the knees in too much detail. The narrative changed from the knees being 100% before the Aussie Open to now being a potential liability through the end of February. It’s the classic strategy of the Nadal camp to downplay his chances and lay the groundwork to explain away a loss, and it’s getting old and completely unnecessary. Few will be surprised if he suffers an odd loss in the initial stages of his comeback. Just once it would be nice if they would let Nadal’s tennis do the talking. He’s too talented and accomplished of a player to continually use such tactics.

Leading the Charge

Murray probably didn’t make too many friends in the locker room, but you have to applaud his willingness to take the helm regarding tennis and PEDs. The Scot has been very outspoken about keeping the sport clean and recently suggested players should consider donating some of their prize money to help the cause. Presumably he was referring to having the prize purses reduced in order to allow the ATP to provide additional funding to cover more frequent and various types of testing. Though it’s easy for a top player like Murray to make such a suggestion, it’s unlikely his line of thinking will be popular with his peers, especially the lower-ranked players who don’t rake in the big bucks. But Murray is right to keep the issue in the spotlight and demand greater efforts be made to keep the sport clean. The fallout from the Lance Armstrong scandal cannot be ignored, it’s naïve to think that such a thing could never happen (or isn’t ongoing?) in tennis.

Historic First

For the first time in its history, Canada has reached the quarterfinals of the Davis Cup, and the Raonic-led Canadian squad did so by knocking out powerhouse Spain. The win is much bigger on paper than in reality. Spain was missing many of its top players, but as the saying goes, you can only beat who’s in front of you. It’s a tremendous accomplishment for the boys from Canada. They’ll face Italy in the quarterfinals, which means they’re in with a real opportunity to keep the momentum going. Davis Cup also has a history of acting as a springboard for young talents, so perhaps the success from last weekend will help Raonic begin to realize his full potential and post better results.

Downward Spiral

John Isner continues to endure woes in 2013, with his latest coming in the form of a five-set loss to Belucci in the Davis Cup this past weekend. Querrey stepped in to save the US from embarrassment by coming through in the fifth and deciding rubber, but the victory must have felt a little hollow to teammate Isner. Not only did he fail to close out the tie, but his loss to Belucci marked his six consecutive five-set loss. Isner only made his situation worse when he complained about the Brazilian fans. He’s entitled to his opinion, and it’s refreshing when a player is honest. But really? It’s Davis Cup for crying out loud. There were undoubtedly plenty of American fans yelling and disrupting the Brazilian players, and even Bob Bryan got a little overzealous and upset the Brazilian bench. Isner’s complaints came off as nothing more than sour grapes. His issue is between the ears and lack of a return game. Until he addresses those two liabilities, it’s going to be an uphill battle.

It’s On!

The Indian Wells event and ATP are once again butting heads over a potential prize money increase, and this time, the folks at Indian Wells have issued an ultimatum – if the ATP doesn’t approve the desert tournament’s proposed increase, it will revert back to 2011 levels. The issue was previously voted on last December by the ATP Board of Directors, and it resulted in a deadlock 3-3 with ATP CEO Drewett opting to abstain. Not surprisingly, it’s the three tournament directors who voted against the increase, and Indian Wells Tournament CEO Raymond Moore has had less than kind words to say about those directors. In defense of the tournament directors, however, you can see where they’re coming from. Some tournaments could definitely afford to be more generous with the prize purses, but many don’t have access to the same kind of money that’s backing Indian Wells and never will. It’s only natural to want to avoid seeing one event substantially outdistance the rest of the non-majors. But if the players want it, Indian Wells is willing to pay, and the WTA Board also approved the increase, the ATP Board of Directors should seriously consider falling in line. They’re apt to have a bigger mess on their hands if prize money at the year’s first Masters event reverts to prize money levels lower than in 2012. We haven’t heard the last of this, and it’s likely to only get uglier before it’s resolved.

Li Na and Andy Murray on the Cusp of Breakthrough — The Friday Five

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By Maud Watson

Thrice as Nice
They call it the “Happy Slam,” and no one seems happier to compete in Oz than Novak Djokovic. The Serb became the first man in the Open Era to win three consecutive Australian Open singles titles, with his latest coming over Andy Murray. It was a classic match from Djokovic. He bounced back from the disappointment of losing a tight first set, scraped by in the second, and then found the confidence to play top-flight tennis to win the next two with relative ease and secure his sixth major singles title. As he did last year, Djokovic has announced his goal is to capture that elusive singles crown at Roland Garros, and just as was the case in 2012, his win in Melbourne has given him the perfect start to mount such a campaign. But unlike last season, he doesn’t have the 41-match win streak to defend, nor does he have the pressure of trying to maintain an undefeated streak against Nadal. He should be able to play with less pressure, which arguably makes 2013 his best chance yet to win Roland Garros. It may be months away, but many, perhaps none more so than Djokovic, are already gearing up for springtime in Paris!
Unsettling
That’s one of the ways to describe the feel of the Australian Open women’s final and ending result, as Victoria Azarenka defeated Li Na to successfully defend her 2012 crown. The crowd was always going to be in Li’s corner, but at after the controversy that followed Azarenka’s win in the semis, they were firmly entrenched in the Li camp. They let Azarenka know it, too. She entered the stadium to a chorus of boos, and the crowd was quick to jump on her if she so much as put a toe out of line. Ironically and fittingly, Azarenka also had to endure three delays – one for fireworks and two for medical timeouts for Li. But Azarenka overcame it all, and as she won the final point, she broke down in tears. The dream was realized, the nightmare over. She’ll likely never be a fan favorite, but the way she was made to earn that final victory helped with damage control. Many were impressed that she didn’t crumble under the media frenzy or lose her way after the extended breaks, and there was no denying that she had handled the bigger moments better than Li. Her genuine tears were also a nice touch. For her part, Azarenka stated she would always remember the court and hinted that she, too, had learned an important lesson that fortnight. Hopefully she does take away more than just a trophy from Melbourne and we can look forward to better things from the WTA No. 1.

Andy Murray

On the Cusp
They both fell short at the final hurdle, but Murray’s and Li’s deep runs in Australia bode well for their chances in 2013. Playing in his first slam since becoming a major champion, Murray handled the added pressure and expectations admirably. In the final, it was evident that Djokovic still has the edge in the mental department, but the days of Murray turning into a shrinking violet in the biggest matches are over. He’s firmly a member of the Big 4, and with the current landscape of the ATP, is also looking more and more likely to be the Serb’s chief rival for the sport’s grandest prizes. A trip to the Aussie Open championship match represented an even bigger breakthrough for Li, as it’s the first time she’s reached a slam final since winning at Roland Garros in 2011. She’s still struggling to play clutch tennis when it matters most, but with her fitness, game, and overall consistency improving since bringing Rodriguez onboard, it’s only a matter of time before she catches up in the mental toughness department, too. Another major title looks well within the realm of possibility for the endearing woman from China.
Double the Pleasure
It got overshadowed by the singles, but the doubles competition in Oz provided plenty of feel-good and historical moments. The wildcard pairing of Gajdosova and Ebden pulled off a string of upsets to give the home crowd something to cheer about by taking the mixed doubles crown, and the crafty Italian duo of Vinci and Errani blazed a path to the final – one that included a win over the Williams Sisters – to take their third major championship as a team. But the biggest story belonged to the Bryan Brothers. They defeated the unseeded pairing of Haase and Sijsling for their 13th major to break the tie they shared with Newcombe and Roche and become the most successful men’s doubles team in Grand Slam history. With the twin Americans announcing that they hope to play until Rio in 2016, it would be a stunner if we didn’t see them continue to add to their legacy.
Matters of the Heart
Tennis fans, and particularly American tennis fans, have anxiously been awaiting the return of Mardy Fish to the ATP circuit. Unfortunately Fish, who was supposed to compete in San Jose, has been forced to withdraw with the same heart issues that have kept him sidelined since he pulled out of his Round of 16 clash with Roger Federer at last year’s US Open. At age 30, Fish doesn’t have a lot of time left, but he also needs to exercise plenty of caution. Hearts issues are obviously more serious than blisters or joint pain. Hopefully his withdrawal turns out to be nothing more than a short, temporary setback, but if is something more, Fish may be forced to make his absence from the ATP World Tour into a permanent one.

Victoria Azarenka's Sticky Situation; Li Na Impresses — The Friday Five

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By Maud Watson

Just a Match

Victoria Azarenka

Defending champion Victoria Azarenka has once again reached the Aussie Open final, but unfortunately for her, that run is tainted by controversy thanks to a very questionable medical timeout taken by the Belarusian in her semifinal clash with Sloane Stephens. Odds were Azarenka was still going to win that match whether she did it in two or three. She’d outplayed the teenager throughout the bulk of the two sets, and Stephens has shown a tendency to play more poorly from ahead than behind against her higher-ranked opponents. But with no way to confirm the legitimacy of Azarenka’s claims, however, the decision to take the medical time out will always be labeled (and likely was) a dubious ploy. Azarenka at least had the brains to acknowledge the timing was bad, but she did herself no favors with fluctuating explanations for the time out, which partially explains why the media was so harsh with her. Part of the harsh treatment may have also stemmed from Stephens becoming the new media darling. And likely a chunk of the treatment was due strictly to the fact that it was Azarenka. After all, it’s not as though she’s the only high profile player from either tour to employ such tactics, and she’s certainly not the only one who has an established history of calling questionable medical time outs that appear to alter a match. But she’s not as popular as some of the other offenders, and so she paid a heavier price for it. It’s likely she really doesn’t care though, which is good, because when Azarenka walked off the victor Thursday night, she didn’t win any fans, just a tennis match.

The Forgotten One

What a difference a coach makes. Li Na has joked about how hard new coach Carlos Rodriguez has pushed her, but her results indicate that it’s been worth it. She’s been with the Argentine less than a year, and already she’s picked up multiple titles and is guaranteed of returning to the Top 5 in the rankings come Monday. Her trip to the Oz final is also a reminder to everyone that she’s still a major title contender. Even when it was down to the final four, many pundits only spoke of Azarenka or Sharapova winning the title, with a few over-excited analysts arguing Stephens was destined to go all the way. There was little mention made of the 2011 Roland Garros champion being the one to walk away with the trophy. But after an emphatic thrashing of Sharapova that saw the Chinese woman drop only four games, she’s forced everyone to take notice. She’s playing the better tennis than Azarenka as well, so perhaps Grand Slam title No. 2 is just on the horizon.

Leader of the Pack

Women’s tennis is definitely seeing a young crop of players poised to make a move up the rankings, and the undisputed leader of the next generation is Sloane Stephens. She didn’t necessarily have the most difficult draw at the Aussie Open, but it’s significant that she took out a number of young guns who will be her rivals over the course of the next decade. Her win over Serena was also huge, not just because it got her to the semis, but the manner in how she did it. Though Serena struggled with back spasms in the middle of the match, Stephens didn’t allow it to overly rattle her. Instead, she raised her level. Everyone kept waiting for her to crumble and Serena to step it up, but it was Stephens who proved the more composed and steady of the two. It was a watershed moment for the American, but she can’t rest on those laurels. The real test will be if she can now meet the increased expectations that come with her success Down Under, and with her game, variety, and personality, she looks equipped to do so.

Bubble Burst

Serena Williams’ impressive run at the majors came to a dramatic halt when she was felled by compatriot Sloane Stephens in the Australian Open quarterfinals. To say this loss was as monumental as her defeat to Razzano at the French would be a disservice to Williams. It was a quarterfinal, and unlike in Paris, she was carrying an ankle injury and was hampered by back spasms for a stretch of games in the middle of the match. But to chalk up the loss solely to those injuries would also be to shortchange Stephens, because along with the pain that Serena expressed on her face, we also saw some of that other “P” word – panic. Maybe it was the foot speed or power from her younger opponent. Maybe it was the knowledge that with a trip to the semis she could knock Azarenka out of contention for the No. 1 ranking. Maybe it was just the pressure of the old guard trying to keep out the new wave, or maybe it was a combo of things. Whatever it was, the veteran American began to press – something which more than one commentator suggested likely contributed to the flare of back spasms – and those winners that Serena seemed to crack at will in earlier rounds were suddenly flying long or catching the tape. Privately, Serena is apt to attribute the loss all up to injuries, but the rest of the field should take note. Serena also looked mentally vulnerable.

Unflappable

At the time of writing, we know who one of the men’s finalists will be, and that’s Novak Djokovic. The Serb was the odds makers’ favorite to make the final, so his presence there isn’t shocking. But the manner in how he got there was. There was nothing to indicate that his Round of 16 encounter with Stan Wawrinka would be anything special. He’d gotten the better of the Swiss No. 2 since 2006, so when he found himself down a set and 5-2, you could forgive him and anyone else for being shocked. But as he’s so often done, he dug deep, and when it came to those few crucial points that separate the men from the boys, it was Djokovic who came out on top. He refused to crack and managed to eek out a win 12-10 in the fifth. Questions about the impact of that five-hour epic on his chances for the title immediately followed, but Djokovic proved his fitness by winning six of his next seven sets, routinely defeating Berdych and then drubbing Ferrer en route to the final. He’s going to have to step up his game irrespective of it’s Federer or Murray he faces on Sunday, but battle tested and sufficiently recovered and rested, the odds still favor him.