Here at Loveall Sport its time to reflect on a year of highs and lows for the Brits from the lows of Davis Cup relegation to the highs of Anne Keothavong and Ross Hutchins breaking into the top 50s, and Elena Baltacha, Katie O’Brien, Colin Fleming and Ken Skupski breaking into the top 100. Heather Watson winning the junior US Open and of course Andy Murray reaching World No 2. Wimbledon was one to forget with only two singles players getting past the first round, but Jamie Murrayreached the Mixed Doubles Semi-Final and a few months later battled his way back into the top 100 doubles rankings. Well done to Heather Watson who won the Junior Title in New York. Almost at the end of 2009 Great Britain have 9 singles and doubles players in the top 100s, that is something to be proud of and of course build on in 2010.
British Tennis - 2009
November 18th, 2009SEPTEMBER 2009 - UPTODATE RANKINGS AND GOSSIP
September 30th, 2009ATP RANKINGS
1. Roger Federer, 2.Rafael Nadal, 3.Andy Murray, 4.Novak Djokovic, 5. Juan Martin Del Potro, 6.Andy Roddick, 7. Jo
Wilfrid Tsongo, 8.Nikolay Davydenko, 9.Fernando Verdasco, 10. Gilles Simon.
W.T.A
1.Dinara Safin, 2.Serena Williams, 3.Venus Williams, 4.Elena Dementieva, 5.Caroline Wozniacki, 6.Svetlana Kuznetsova, 7.Vera Zvonareva, 8.Jelena Jankovic, 9.Victoria Azarenka, 10. Flavia Pennetta.
HENIN BACK IN TENNIS
Henin has announced that she will be returning to competition very quickly hardly weeks after her country woman Kim Clijsters stamped her comeback with a US Open title. She will be officially back in the ring starting 2010.
FEDERER VS NADAL
Switzerland have been drawn to visit Spain in the !st round of next years Davis Cup. Federer said after leading Switzerland to victory over Italy”I truly enjoy playing for my Country but i will have to see where my priorities lie for next season” In their 6 year rivalry Switzerland have never faced Spain in Davis Cup competition.
NADAL TO MISS DAVIS CUP FINAL
Nadal will miss the Davis cup final on November 21st due to right knee tendinitis. The Spanish team doctor said Nadal would need 3-6 weeks to fully recover.
COACHING TIPS - DO NOT NEGLECT THE SERVE
July 14th, 2009It is very easy to neglect the serve during a practise or hitting session, especially if you have endured a hefty session hitting of the ground. Players often only hit a few token serves at the end of a practise session without too much focus. Make time to practise the serve, start off some sessions hitting serves or devote a full session to serving. Practise hitting a full basket with a goal for each serve. Do not make it too complicated or you may lose your rythm. Work on 1 point at a time :-
1. Improving the height of contact - Try to make contact at the top of the ball toss, often players let the ball drop too low and therefore hit it too late. Try and hit the ball at the top of the ball toss just as it is about to stop. This should also help you avoid an excessively high ball toss and should encourage you to generate good racquet head speed.
When the above becomes natural you could try point 2
2. Try working on more of a knee bend, bending your knees as you get ready to strike the ball, then push up with your legs as you go up to swing thus directing all your bodys energy upwards and explode up towards the ball.
Good luck
WIMBLEDON 2009
July 3rd, 2009MENS SEMI-FINALS -
Andy Murray Vs Andy Roddick & Roger Federer Vs Tommy Haas
If the match is played under the roof it would probably help Murray as the slower indoor conditions would take some of the pace off Roddicks serve. While Murrays serve does not have the speed of Roddicks, it has so far this Wimbledon been a weapon on his run into the semi-final. Murray is arguably the best returner on the mens tour but Roddick has twice been in the final losing in 2004-2005 to Roger Federer so he definitely has more experience. Murray has more all-round variety on court than the American so hopefully the Centre Court crowd will pull him through!
Federer remains in pursuit of that record 15th Grand Slam title, and his performances so far this year have suggested that onlyan outstanding Scottish player, perhaps can stop him !!
Good luck also to Jamie Murray in the Semi-Finals of the Mixed.
WIMBLEDON UPDATE
June 25th, 2009
Day 3 saw Giseko Dulko overcome her Centre court nerves to beat Sharapova in 3 sets, meanwhile Federer breezed past Spains Guillermo Garcia Lopez in straight sets with another “near perfect” performance.
DAY 4 - First up on Centre court today is Lleyton Hewitt playing the 6ft 6 Argentinian Juan Martin Del Potro, should be a great match with Hewitt showing signs of the form that won him many titles. British fans will have to wait a little longer as Murray strives to keep Bristish hopes alive when he steps out third on Centre Court against a tough opponent Ernest Gulbis who he only just managed to beat 6-4 in the third set at Queens last year. The press havemade quite a story claiming that Gulbis accused Murray of faking a wrist injury at 4-4 in the third at Queens and then proceeding to take the next two games and the match! Murray will definitely have to step it up a gear as Gulbis is a tough opponent! Also later the last British girl Baltacha is playing on Court 4 against Kirsten Flipkons.
The Court One crowd will see Venus Williams up first against Kateryna Bondarenko and she will be hoping just like Serena did yesterday that she can power her opponent off the court.