Wednesday 18 November 2015

'DON'T BLAME YOURSELF'

I have seen the highlights of the Novak/ Roger Tour Finals match which saw the great man from Switzerland halt Novak's unbeaten run of twenty something matches. It came as no surprise that Novak said he had an off day, Novak does that many times when he loses. But here's the thing.
Novak did not play another baseline 'robot' who keeps putting the ball right back into the slot for him so he can get himself into a rhythm. He actually played someone who is smart enough to mix up the play so he is always guessing as to what is coming next.
I have always stated that most coaches know how to volley yet they don't teach it to pupils for one reason or another as they simply teach the robotic style of play that sends boredom to a whole new level. No guts, no glory.
Novak blamed his own game for the loss to Roger yet he should be the first to admit that he hates playing someone who does not play a conventional style of game. I believe Roger has beaten Novak three times this year in a best of three sets match as it suits Rog to play over three as opposed to five. Novak wears all of his opponents out over five with few exceptions.
A fair player will admit defeat and admit to being out thought when he gets beaten by a better player on the day and I also believe guys like Novak should set an example to others. If you read the transcript of the press conference it hints of arrogance and little else. These two champions would not go to dinner together.
It is such a shame Roger is as old as he is, he can't play forever, he's almost 35, tough sport to keep getting up for physically at that age yet he aint leaving quietly. I love it when Roger beats Novak with artistry, like a chess player who has all the right moves at all the right times. Rushing a baseliner has merit and history will show that it pays dividends.
Learn a slice, learn a volley, learn a chip return, learn to be a little different. Mixing play up can beat the best baseliners. The robots of the game can be confused, it just takes someone who is willing to take the game on and not sit back and wait for something to happen........

Sunday 1 November 2015

'GOOD BLOKE'

The following is a story from 'TENNIS WORLD USA' and is a remarkable show of sportsmanship from a veteran of the sport of tennis. Paul -Henri Mathieu is no real house hold name yet he is a man of substance. The tennis world needs more guys like him on tour looking after the future of the game....

Strange choice for Paul-Henri Mathieu. The Frenchman has decided to play the qualifications at the Masters 1000 Paris Bercy so that the organizers could give the wild-card for the main draw to Pierre-Hugues Herbert. Today Mathieu faces Albert Ramos Vinolas. Had he decided to play in the main draw, he would have gained 12.125 euros and would have earned 10 points. If he loses against Ramos, he will gain 1.370 and zero ATP Points.

He has won four singles titles; reached the semi finals of the 2005 Montreal Masters and achieved a career-high singles ranking of World No. 12 in April 2008. In 2005, he achieved his best result in an ATP Masters Series event, knocking out Andy Roddick on his way to the semi finals at Montreal.

2006 saw him reaching his best result at a Grand Slam tournament with the fourth round at the Australian Open. In May he peaked a career best ranking of no. 32. In the third round of the French Open, he lost to eventual champion Rafael Nadal in a gruelling encounter which lasted 4 hours and 53 minutes, but amazingly only saw 42 games played (Nadal won the match 5–7, 6–4, 6–4, 6–4, with the first set lasting 93 minutes and each of the following sets longer than an hour).


Paul Henri has won around $5.5 million US dollars in his time on the pro circuit and he is 33 years old, in the twilight of his career. He can see that it is not a necessity for him to play now days especially when a younger player can earn some much needed dollars and ranking points.
Stories like this are not mentioned enough in tennis as it's usually about Novak or Rodger winning a million here and there and living in a palace. It's not how most players live and not what most players earn yet the life of a tennis professional is glamourized to the extremes most of the time.
The Frenchman shows the tennis world that the human spirit is still alive and well, after all what's another $12,000 Euros when you are a millionaire five times over ey ?? Well done Champ......