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General news journalist living in Bristol, England. Huge tennis fan, but also partial to rugby union, cricket, football, cycling and the Olympics. If you are not good enough to play sport, the next best thing is to write about it. @RichieMills2
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It’s taken 32 years and seven months, but on January 27, 2019, Rafael Nadal was made to look old.
“To my team, thank you for everything. But mostly, thank you for sticking with me, even we didn’t know if I would be able to hold a racquet again.”
In the grand scheme of things, how important is doubles in tennis today?
He has a “talent that no other player has”. A “different dimension of tennis”.
Is a stronger tour one where a handful of players dominate or is it if the highest ranked stars can be beaten by pretty much anyone?
How on earth do you replace Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic?
Wave upon wave of controversy is crashing down onto the white sandy beaches of Australian tennis at the moment.
“I can’t believe there’s people watching us at like 3:15am. I mean, who cares?”
Heart pounding, pulse racing, yet trying to remain calm. No easy task.
If at the age of 19 someone had beaten Rafael Nadal, at 20 ousted Roger Federer, and at 21 Novak Djokovic, that person would be highly rated.
“He’s writing cheques that you only hope his body can cash.”
When Roger Federer is singing your praises you can be pretty confident that you are doing the right thing on the court.
In recent years, tennis obituaries have been written for Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic – arguably the three greatest players of all time.
“I have nothing to lose, because I lost everything.”
Twenty minutes. That is all it took. The two-week long 2018 US Open will be remembered for all the wrong reasons, because of 20 minutes.
Novak Djokovic once said: “This is a crisis. A large crisis. In fact, if you got a moment, it’s a twelve-storey crisis with a magnificent entrance hall, carpeting throughout, 24-hour portage, and an enormous sign on the roof, saying ‘This Is a Large Crisis’.”
“If the greatest writer of the written word would have written that story, no-one would have believed it.”
Roger Federer will not win this year’s US Open as age, it seems, is finally catching up with him.
In 1998 Google formed, Sex and the City came to our televisions, Frank Sinatra died and Serena and Venus Williams began one of the most remarkable sporting tales when they did battle for the first time at the Australian Open.
Wherever Nick Kyrgios goes, controversy is not far behind.
I believe the case has been postponed until later this year, Frank.
Apologies for the late reply – only just saw!
Guerrilla, not gorilla, warfare: Fired tennis analyst who nearly died to have his day in court
Thanks Ribena!
I am trying to find updates on it this week. No luck so far.
Guerrilla, not gorilla, warfare: Fired tennis analyst who nearly died to have his day in court
Hi CJ.
I think she is a fantastic talent. She hits big off both sides, although her backhand, imo, is the better shot. She serves big and moves well, which is key.
I thought Kvitova would win a lot more slams but she is too hit and miss. I think she will win a few slams at least!
Has there ever been a more eventful grand slam?
In this day and age, it really is uncommon. You say it is not uncommon but you’ve listed three people that spanned from Chang (1989-today). That is pretty uncommon.
Nishikori has not had Ferrer’s consistency, Hewitt stopped being a slam contender when he was 23/24 in 2005. He was then blown out the water as he could not compete with the power players and was crippled by injuries.
I am not saying he was an all time great, I don’t even think he was the greatest player to not win a slam but he deserves a lot of respect.
Diminutive David Ferrer will forever stand tall
You are not comparing apples to apples though, re the first two.
The average height back then was around that height whereas now it is 6’2 or so.
The game back then was about touch and skill and now it is so power dominated.
Rios was an insane talent but his consistency really was not there.
Diminutive David Ferrer will forever stand tall
Ha! Maybe pitch it to them and tweet Polansky!
The greatest inadvertent record in tennis?
Good post CJ. The serve was key in his win vs Rafa but I still don’t think it is as good as it was during 2015 and the first half of 2016.
It is a strange one with Rafa. In 2010 at the US Open he was serving between 130-135 mph! I heard that he could only do it for that fortnight because it led to shoulder problems. He clearly has that capability but it is maybe a long term risk, especially as he is 32 now.
If he could find those extra % points, the tour would be in big trouble!
Why Wimbledon was Novak Djokovic's greatest triumph
I am not saying his talent is overrated. He is an unbelievable talent. But there is more to tennis than just talent.
The bookies always put him as one of the outsiders for slam wins.
He shows his brilliance in flashes. If you are highly talented and people rate you highly, but you consistently underperform, is that not being overrated?
Is Nick Kyrgios the most overrated player in world tennis?