Roar Guru
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When the crowd is chanting ‘Roger’ I hear ‘Novak’. The third man to arrive in a sport made for two, Novak Djokovic has had…
Novak Djokovic defeated Roger Federer in a blockbuster semi-final at the Paris Masters, 7:6, 5:7 7:6, in what was one of the matches of…
Roger Federer defeated Marin Cilic in five rollercoaster sets Sunday night, adding a sixth Australian Open and 20th major title overall. A nervous affair…
Roger Federer is tennis. That was known years ago. And now, Federer is greatness, true greatness, across all of sport, across all its titans.…
Roger Federer ran through an out-of-sorts Marin Cilic in straight sets early Monday morning, 6-3 6-1 6-4, to secure his eighth Wimbledon and 19th…
I'm writing this as Nick Kyrgios battles away against another future great, Alexander Zverev, in the quarter-finals of the Miami Masters. You wouldn't know…
It's only March, and the tennis season is an 11-month grind, but something unfathomable is building: Roger Federer is creeping, nay, charging, up to…
Seventeen majors is a big deal. 300 weeks at number one is a big deal. Winning all four slams, the Davis Cup, and an…
The Australian Open has delivered one of the most exciting fortnights of tennis in recent memory, with upsets and veterans resurging on both sides…
“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.” A more appropriate quote there could not be for a man on…
With the Rio Olympics finished, many athletes head home after competing at the pinnacle of their respective sports for their countries. Four years of…
Hardly have we had the time to dust ourselves off from the passing clay season, when Wimbledon sneaks up on us like an old…
Last Friday, Australian Olympic team boss Kitty Chiller ignited a war of words with tennis firebrand Nick Kyrgios, claiming "maybe he doesn't understand what…
It's been a cracking clay court season in the build-up to this year's French Open. Rafael Nadal found his forehand and belief in Monte…
What a difference a few weeks can make. Just last month I, and many other pundits, were writing off Rafa Nadal as a worn-out…
At the risk of ruffling many a feather, I can't help but put forth my opinion as honestly and logically as I possibly can.…
Over the last decade the trend in men's tennis has been that 30 is the new 20. Well, as always there are exceptions to…
Who is the most talented? It's a question even the most reasonable of sports fans argue with childish, stubborn ferocity. Across all sports, this…
It's a quiet time of the year for tennis. The dust has settled from the Australian Open fanfare and most news has revolved around…
Is there a harder thing to do in sport than the calendar grand slam? Winning the Tour de France looks nothing short of self-induced…
Madison Keys is a big dark horse for this event in my opinion. Big game suited to grass and did well in Rome recently. Could be hitting her straps at the right time
2016 French Open: Women's singles preview
agree Djoker still has all the pressure – the Rome final was a shamble – less than 24 hour turnaround for Djokovic and the court was mud. Murray was fresh as a daisy having won in straight all the way through against non-top 10 players. Thiem is good but won’t be a contender this year, the backhand needs work as does his serve.
Can’t see Murray winning I think whoever makes the final out of Nadal or Djoker and maybe Stan will beat him.
Nishikori could do it if he makes the quarters unscathed, Goffin is solid but his record against the top 10 is woeful 3-and 20-something so no chance for him to win but he could carve out a nice quarter-final.
Other dark horses – pablo cuevas, fabio fognini (talented), monfils, Kyrgios of course and someone else who could make a dash is tsonga.
Ferrer too old and injuries, Berdych is all over the shop after dropping his coach after being double-bageled last week.
If Monaco is not injured he can give trouble too. What a tournament coming up!
2016 French Open: Men's singles preview
He’s top 20 in the world with a third round french open appearance to defend. If he does well at the french he may well be top 10 by july.
Chill out Kitty, Kyrgios has improved
Cincinnati is historically very quick and low bouncing for a hard court, which is why Federer and Murray have excelled here. Djokovic is no slouch on quick courts either so it’s no surprise that he’s made the final five times. Novak’s goal is french open, that is clear. If he wins it he may struggle to refocus in time for Wimbledon and given that the US open is right before cincinatti i can;t see this tournament as his main goal depending on how fresh he is.
Cincinnati is Novak's second-last frontier
the altitude gives flat hitters a better chance on their day but it’s still hard to look past novak or rafa.
Madrid Open preview
As i pointed out Jim, I’m not arguing that women are not marginalised in other areas of society, it’s quite clear by the numbers that they are. In tennis, this is not the case – the figures clearly show who people are mainly turning up to watch – that Novak came out and said the men should fight for what they deserve, and get vilified for it, is ridiculous.
Advantage WTA: Why women's tennis really should thank Federer and Nadal
Becker improved djoko’s serve and encouraged him to approach the net more, Edberg definitely added more of a net influence to feeder’s game as well, a different mindset more than stroke correction. Coaches are usually a friend first and coach second for top tier players, but to say they don’t add anything at all is a little harsh.
For Rafa Nadal, a new coach would spell disaster
Safin was great, phenomenal talent and I guess that’s where a list like this will never be concrete, you could argue any of these guys as number 1.
The five greatest talents of the open era
Rafa’s game style is probably the most brutal and power-dependant the modern game of tennis has ever witnessed – to think he can kick on and do well into his 30’s is fiction. His forehand lacks enough racquet head speed as does his legs, both factors of age – something you can’t get back no matter how hard you try. Nadal is very likely done and there is nothing wrong with that – he has played at the very peak of the game for over a decade and his time is now given the miles in that body of his. Sorry but I have to respectfully completely disagree with this article – I hope I am wrong however, as I love watching the bloke play.
Why Rafa Nadal will rise in 2016
No issues with Gael – he is a real talent of today.
The five greatest talents of the open era
Yea apologies clipper I realised my last sentence lacked two crucial words ‘one of’ the greatest is how it should have read. I changed it on my blog but did not bother with here.
David and the Goliaths: A look at tennis’ Big Four gatekeeper
Yes but he has proven again and again he can deal with pressure. He is in a unique situation from Nadal and Federer, in that he has no rival close to his level at the moment, he’s just way ahead of everyone and doesn’t have an achilles heel like Federer had with Nadal at the French. Djokovic is playing better than last year in my opinion, and wawrinka seems to be the only man capable of stopping him in 5 sets these days.
Five reasons Djokovic will win the grand slam in 2016
Cheers rick – check out my blog www.thetennisreport.net if you ever want some news and views on the game. Much appreciated.
Federer, Nadal and the one who defied us all
By comparison to Federer from 10 years ago, his groundstrokes now couldn’t hold a candle to how he used to hit the ball. Do yourself a favour and watch any of his matches from 10 years ago and you will see how much better he was from the back.
Just how good is Novak Djokovic?
Mahut is a top ten doubles player in the world and winner of grand slams/multiple slam finals for doubles. he’s been on tour 15 years and has 5.5 mil before tax – so lets say 30% tax, plus the cost of a coach for those years which would cost 1 million for his career with conservative measures. Leaves him with about 2.9 million over 15 years, so 190 grand a year being generous. And he’s been top 40 in the world as well in singles.
Professional tennis: Fixing a broken sport
Have you seen what tournaments someone ranked 70-100 can enter? And what they pay? As I said – 100 ranked player last year made less than 350k BEFORE tax for the whole year. Travel and a coach is, on average, nearly 150k….
Professional tennis: Fixing a broken sport
How many players in baseball clear a million/year versus tennis? Tennis there wouldn’t be more than 30-40 players. With over 9000 registered. Baseball has hundreds of millionaires, tennis has ten’s
Professional tennis: Fixing a broken sport
Kevin, how are you going to survive when footy codes, soccer, cricket all offer players contracts in their first year and a support network of coaches, trainers, facilities, equipment? You’re kidding yourself if you think it shouldn’t at least be skewed more evenly, Federer’s numbers from Forbes might not be exact, but the point is that it’s definitely north of 50 mil a year. Tennis’ more system sounds awfully like Oxfams latest reports of wealth inequality of the world
Professional tennis: Fixing a broken sport
So that’s it sheek? Just accept its not fair and leave it at that? As a past player (who never made it past futures) I can tell you that if you lose in the first round of all four majors you aren’t making 200k. That’s a fact. You forgot to think about taxes – cost of flights in a sport that changes continents for tournaments month-to-month. The average cost of a coach and travel in 2010 was just under 150k in 2010 according to the USTA. Then food/accomodation/other expenses of life. You’re kidding yourself if you think someone even ranked 100 in the world makes a handsome living. If the prize for the winner was half of what it was this year (3.6 mil) – that 1.8 could go to first-round losers who actually need the money – and Novak still runs off with 1.8 mill plus massive endorsement bonuses. First round losers then have somewhere around 50k which helps with travel – maybe a coach part-time so they can compete better with the top dogs. It’s a no brainer.
Professional tennis: Fixing a broken sport
An ace from nadal seals the win for the world in what has been a very entertaining match! My MVP award goes to hewitt, showed class and fight all the way through!
Australia vs The world: Fast4 tennis live blog, updates
great serving gives world a match point – hewitt’s got them right where he wants them
Australia vs The world: Fast4 tennis live blog, updates
World break after a net exchange is lost by kyrgios to give World a 4/3 3/2 lead serving for the tie.
Australia vs The world: Fast4 tennis live blog, updates
kyrgios bricks a volley long to give world a chance to break here, POWERPLAY! AUSSIES Call for it here to try and get out of big trouble.
Australia vs The world: Fast4 tennis live blog, updates
Kyrgios is rubbing off on hewitt, as he goes for a between the legs volley
Australia vs The world: Fast4 tennis live blog, updates
Hmmm, i think given 99% of the rest of the ATP players manage to try through to the end of a straight sets drubbing, including that incredibly taxing and difficult final point, then perhaps Bernard is putting a target on his back. It was one more point, I’m sure the business class flights to the tournament, five-star hotel and guaranteed pay check were more than enough to off-set the ‘difficulty’ of trying one more point. At least hold the racquet the right way, professional player. I think the vast majority of people if placed in bernie’s shoes WOULD be different, and that’s the point. Sure you get some players like that, but as the tour represents, they are a minority Sam, and hence the drama and condemnation. This piece basically says ‘remove all standards and let players act how they want’ . Great. How much has tennis benefited from the class acts of Federer, Nadal, Murray and Djokovic? Who for the most part have battled hard till the end and been gracious in interviews. Tennis Australia has spent squillions on this kid, who in many eyes won’t amount to grand slam success. Kyrgios and Kokkinakis are both brighter prospects. And how does Tomic repay? tanking matches, breaking the law in his car, and acting like a self-absorbed teenager still. You really don’t expect people to say nothing for that? “your workplace, your neighbourhood, and general society. Does everyone live up to those expectations of being humble, gracious, responsible, kind, and overall ‘good’ people?” Of course not, and on some level they would, or should get pulled up for that, but it doesn’t make headlines because it’s not on TV silly.
Leave Bernie alone! Why we should lay off the Tomic bashing