It’s been a shameful few weeks for British tennis.
Since the Davis Cup defeat by Lithuania, barely a day has passed without one media outlet or another revealing a new twist in the story.
First, it was the ritual analysis of the work of the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA). Before long, John Lloyd resigned from the worst job in tennis, and began to cast his vitriol in assorted directions.
Eventually, attention turned to Roger Draper, the chief executive of the LTA since 2006, who has commissioned an internal review following the Lithuania tie.
Draper himself also had some explaining to do to a group of MPs and peers chaired by Baroness Billingham. He was been summoned to explain how the LTA spends the £27 million of public funding it receives from Sport England for grass-roots projects.
But never far away from the war of words that breaks out after each Davis Cup tie is the name of Andy Murray.
One moment he is pilloried for deserting the Davis Cup team in its hour of need, and the next he is being consulted on what needs to happen to turn things around.
Well it’s time to call a halt and face a few home truths. The mire in which British tennis finds itself is not of Murray’s making. Indeed, it might be argued that, without his presence, this furore would all have come to a head far sooner.
Who is Responsible for Great Britain's Poor Performance in Davis Cup?
Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have met 20 times since 2004.
The root of the rivalry between Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer began in Miami when the Spaniard was a teenager with a huge reserve of self-belief.
As the 2010 Sony Ericsson Open begins in earnest this week, it might be interesting and informative to examine the tournament that set the bar for their future encounters.
Early on, playing practically perfect tennis against Federer evolved into an art form for Nadal. Nothing seemed to inspire him more or engage his senses more completely than striving to match his considerable strengths against the man many proclaimed then and now as the best player ever to wield a tennis racquet.
The quixotic mission to overtake Federer drove Nadal for 4½ years, finally propelling him into that vaunted No. 1 spot in August 2008.
But let us harken back to March 2004 when newly dominant 22 year-old Roger Federer, feeling ill and stripped of strength, struggled past Russian Nikolay Davydenko during the round of 64 at the NASDAQ-100 Miami Masters.
His next opponent was newcomer 17-year-old Rafael Nadal, ranked No. 36 in the world. Nadal was a hard-hitting left-hander from Spain, a country renowned for its prowess on clay. This, however, was a hard court event.
Anointed No. 1 a month earlier, Federer arrived in Miami having won 28 matches during the previous nine months, including his first Wimbledon crown in 2003 and his first Australian Open title in 2004. Even weakened, Federer expected to win this match.
BNP Paribas at Indian Wells provided upset after upset. Photo by Rajat Jain
How many of you picked Ivan Ljubicic to win at Indian Wells? Jelena Jankovic? Northern Iowa to upset Kansas in the NCAA Basketball Tournament?
Just as I thought. That is why I am a little reluctant to put my neck on the line when discussing the ATP top seeds’ chances at the Sony Ericsson Tennis Open this week in Miami.
That does not mean that the wins this past weekend were not significant or joyful each in their own way with the wily veteran Ljubicic finding a way to win against the stiffest competition the tour could throw at him.
It had to be a resounding vote of confidence, moreover, for the seasoned counter-puncher Jankovic to overcome the newly inaugurated No. 2 ranked player in the world, Caroline Wozniacki, also a counter-puncher.
The Northern Iowa victory, however, will be discussed in another venue.
Heading into Miami are all the top ranked women minus No. 1 ranked Serena Williams and No. 3 Dinara Safina, both suffering from lingering injuries. For the men No. 5 ranked Juan Martin del Potro is still out as is No. 6 Nikolay Davydenko, again both with lingering injuries.
In looking at the men’s draw, some interesting match-ups highlight a splendid field.
Underway this week in Sunrise, Florida, the BMW Tennis Championship Tournament enjoys “double” the normal excitement. In addition to providing superlative singles matches, some exciting top-ranked doubles duos are on hand to add another layer of exhilarating tennis.
Doubles play offers tennis aficionados with a real taste of full-scale tennis action. Although “doubles” often finds itself overlooked, wicked serving coupled with fast-paced net play and subtle, yet aggressive, team-play tactics make these matches true fan favorites.
Lukas Dlouhy and Leander Paes accept the trophy after winning the 2009 French Open Championship in doubles.
At Sunrise this week expect to see some first-rate doubles action provided by teams whose credentials have been built by winning the big events on tour:
#1 Seed –– Dloughy/Paes
Lukas Dloughy and Leander Paes are seeded No. 1 at BMW. Individually ranked Nos. 5 and 6 respectively in doubles play, while owning the overall world No. 5 team ranking in doubles, this two-some leads the pack of talented teams taking the court this week at Sunrise.
In 2009 they won two Grand Slams––the U.S. Open and the French Open. So far this year Dloughy and Paes have made it to the finals at Dubai, the quarterfinals of the 2010 Australian Open, the quarterfinals at Sydney and the finals at Brisbane. They are seeking their first win of the season at Sunrise.
Frenchman Gael Monfils who won the BMW in 2007 is known for his pure athleticism on court.
The French love it in Sunrise, Florida. Since the tournament’s inception in 2004, a dozen top-ranked Frenchmen have participated in the BMW Tennis Championship Tournament, some coming back year after year.
The reasons they keep returning –– great competition, outstanding hospitality, appreciative crowds and hope for a great springboard into the rest of the season.
In 2007 a young up-and-comer Gael Monfils of France won the BMW Tennis Championship trophy, defeating Andreas Seppi of Italy in the final 6-3, 1-6, 6-1. Monfils’ pure athleticism and power made him a crowd favorite as he worked his way through the draw.
Monfils followed this triumph in Florida with a trip to the finals of the Hypo Group Tennis International Tournament in Poertschach, Austria where he lost to Argentine Juan Monaco. During the semifinals at Poertschach, Monfils upset Lleyton Hewitt, seeded No. 4, having previously dismissed the No. 2 seed Andy Roddick in the 3rd round of this French Open tune-up event.
Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal resume competition in Indian Wells.
Finally play gets underway this week for the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells with a lineup that includes almost all the usual suspects. Who will survive the test of time and layoffs to take the title this year? That is the question lingering on everyone’s lips.
Roger Federer’s Quarter
There are some very intriguing match-ups possible in Federer’s quarter of the draw including a potential 3rd round clash with the No. 27 seed Marcos Baghdatis. The Cypriot who found his way out of the deep freeze and into the semifinals at Dubai is well on his way to a legitimate comeback after spending much of 2009 on the injured reserve list.
Seeded players hoping to advance to week two of the tournament include Tommy Robredo, seeded No. 18 and the always dangerous Radek Stepanek who has been known to throw wrenches into the plans of many a higher seeded player. Stepanek lives to wreak havoc with the draw and could meet Federer in the 4th round.
Louie Dampier’s name might not resonate as widely as other basketball legends, but the Sports Then & Now Vintage Athlete of the Month’s impact on the game, particularly during the American Basketball Association (ABA) era, is undeniable. Known for his pinpoint shooting, exceptional ball handling, and relentless work ethic, Dampier enjoyed a stellar basketball career that saw him thrive in both the ABA and NBA. As one of the most consistent and prolific guards of his time, Dampier left a lasting legacy, and his role in the ABA’s history solidified his place in the annals of basketball greatness.
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