Top 5 Tennis Matches of 2014

What a year 2014 has been in the world of tennis, we fans have seen it all happen with our own eyes, witnessing two Grand Slam shocks in Melbourne and New York from hard working underdogs from Switzerland and Croatia, Stanislas Wawrinka and Marin Cilic.

 

We’ve been proven that the age of 33 is just a number from the Grand Slam King, Roger Federer, grabbing two ATP Masters Titles and coming so close at the Wimbledon final.

 

Serena Williams kept her cool at the top of the ladies rankings sealing another Grand Slam title on home turf against the improved Caroline Wozniacki.

 

So much to look back at in the last 12 months but there is just not enough time to talk about it all.

 

After many hours of short listing the top 5 matches played from present back to when the 2014 season started…

 

We have our best 5 out of the hundred games recorded.

 

5) US Open Semi-Finals – Cilic (CRO) bt Federer (SUI)

 

 

On September 6^th earlier this year was the US Open men’s semi-finals with the first game out of the two caused huge drama. Kei Nishikori handled off Novak Djokovic in four sets booking a place into a Grand Slam final for the first time.

 

Moments after the match saw Marin Cilic and his opponent Roger Federer entering the Arthur Ashe Stadium.

 

Cilic’s run of form was a dangerous threat against the Swiss maestro including his powerful serves that picked up many aces.

 

Federer had no answer against the Croatian throughout the match; he couldn’t even win a set.

 

In the final game of the match, Cilic saved his unstoppable serves until the end to complete a shocking day to be remembered in the history books.

 

 

4) Wimbledon Gentlemen’s ¼ Finals – Dimitrov bt Murray (GBR)


 

 

 

This match was probably noted as the shocking result of this year’s Wimbledon tournament.

 

Murray was unbeaten after two competitions that took place at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, winning Olympic gold and his second Grand Slam.

 

The man from Dunblane reached the quarter finals and was expected to at least make an appearance in the semi-finals but Dimitrov played to disappoint.

 

 

3) ATP World Tour Finals Semi-Finals – Federer (SUI) bt Wawrinka (SUI)

 

 

Two players representing the same country of Switzerland had to fight scrappy for a place in the season ending final.

 

Wawrinka had displayed his potential by winning his first ever Grand Slam against a 14 time winner back in January while Federer was still finishing high in the tournaments on the calendar.

 

The match took place less than a week before the Davis Cup final with both players set to work together to win their country the world cup of tennis.

 

 

2) Valencia Open Final (ATP 500) – Murray (GBR) bt Robredo (SPA)

  

This year’s Valencia Open finale was staging a second battle between Andy Murray and Tommy Robredo within a month from the Shenzhen final which was won by Murray.

 

Robredo was hoping for sweet revenge in front of his fellow Spaniard fans and the 32 year-old had one hand on the trophy. 5 times the man from Spain was just a point away from claiming glory but Murray spoiled the party denying each chance.

 

Both players used up all their energy in the three hours and 20 minutes that was played breaking sweat in the indoor court.

 

After displaying the never give up attitude, Murray had won the tournament dropping to the floor showing how tired he was, Robredo showed his feelings by jokingly giving the 27 year-old two middle fingers.

 

 

 

1) Wimbledon Gentlemen Singles Final – Djokovic (SER) bt Roger Federer (SUI)

  

 

In the 2012 semi-finals of Wimbledon, Roger Federer gave Novak Djokovic a big challenge by attempting to overcome one of the best players that had entered the grass courts.

 

Unfortunately for the Serb, he had failed the challenge resulting in missing out on the final.

 

Two years on they both met in the grand final which would be noted as one of the most thrilling finals we had seen on Centre Court.

 

 

 

 

Written by and all credits to: Jamie Davis.

Andy Murray ready for Wimbledon!

Andy Murray begins defence with Amelie Mauresmo in his corner

Andy Murray’s audacious move to appoint Amelie Mauresmo as his coach faces its first test of reckoning on Monday when the Scot steps onto the turf of Centre Court as a defending Wimbledon Champion for the first time.

Since the announcement of the Scot hiring the 2006 Ladies’ Singles Champion during last month’s French Open, huge interest has centred on how the trial partnership would pan out.
The Frenchwoman returns as a defending champion of sorts herself. She was called in to Marion Bartoli’s camp and helped guide her countrywoman to an unlikely Wimbledon triumph last year.
And while not renowned as a heavyweight in handling the weight of expectations on home soil, Mauresmo knows what it is like to step onto Wimbledon’s Centre Court as a defending champion.
“I think tomorrow when I sort of go out on the court, I need to enjoy that moment when I walk back on the court. But as soon as I start playing the match, yeah, it's about trying to win,” Murray said. “I'm aware when I walk out on the court tomorrow I'm going to be nervous. I know there's going to be pressure. Yeah, that's why today when I woke up there's butterflies there. You're one day away from starting the tournament.”

Despite his Queen’s Club title defence on the eve of The Championships hitting a snag against veteran Czech Radek Stepanek in his first match on the grass this season, the Murray-Mauresmo camp was not losing sleep over the setback.

Murray was adamant the former women’s No.1 had a better understanding of the psychological elements of the game, in part due to her own struggles. She was, after all, not brought in to fine-tune the technical aspect of his game.

“I think she was someone who struggled with nerves and conquered them later in her career, which I think when you start to coach someone, I think you can help more than someone that hasn't had those issues before,” Murray said. “She understands the psychological part of the game maybe more than some because of that. And in terms of what she's like, her game style, she had quite a creative game style. She used a lot of spins, slices, she came to the net, good variety in her game. That's something that I've always tried to use during my career. So I think she can help with that.
“And then in terms of what she's like as a person, she's a very, very nice person. She's very easy to speak to. She's very easy to communicate with. She listens well. She's firm, as well.”
Murray’s 2014 comeback from back surgery has been steady if not extraordinary. He has not beaten a player in the top 10 this year, with only one top 20 scalp to his name, but will be buoyed in part by a run to the semi-finals at Roland Garros, typically his weakest of the four majors.
Wimbledon is the slam where the world No.5 feels most comfortable. He has reached the semi-finals or better for the past five years and has arguably the most favourable draw of the top four seeds. He opens his defence against David Goffin and has not left his homework on the bus when getting an understanding of the Belgian’s credentials.

“He's played some very good tennis on the big stages before. I think he played Roger [Federer] a few years ago at the French Open and pushed him close in four sets. I think he also played Novak [Djokovic] in one of the slams on the hard courts before and had a tight three-set match with him,” Murray said. “He's a solid player in all parts of the court. It will be a tricky match.”
Murray will receive a welcome unlike any he has experienced on the opening day at Wimbledon on Monday and his teaming with Mauresmo enters new territory. Both arrive having tasted Wimbledon success last year. It is up to Murray whether both will taste that success again.

Also interesting to read:

• Wimbledon Facts
• French Open 2014

Andy Murray survives his two day match

Murray survives epic final set to reach last 16

Andy Murray found his second wind to finally get the better of Philipp Kohlschreiber, needing 40 minutes on Sunday to complete a 3-6 6-3 6-3 4-6 12-10 win and reach the French Open fourth round.

The match was suspended at 7-7 in the fifth set on Saturday because of fading light.

Murray crouched down and clenched both fists after hitting a two-handed backhand winner on Kohlschreiber's second serve with the score at 15-40 in the 22nd game.

"I was cramping yesterday. My muscles were obviously fatigued," Murray said. "I actually woke up [feeling] okay ... the nice thing about this surface, compared with the hard court, is when you have a tough match on the hard courts you wake up the next day and your hips are sore, your knees are sore."

Marathon man Murray faces clay-court veteran

After his two-day epic against Philipp Kohlschreiber, will Andy Murray have enough left in the tank against Fernando Verdasco in the Round of 16?

Verdasco, the 24th seed here, also survived a five-set scare of his own against Pablo Cuevas in the second round where he dug out of a two-sets-to-love hole against the Uruguayan. Amazingly, it was the 33rd five-setter of his career and his 17th win over the distance – more than Murray (16-6) and also Rafael Nadal (16-5). The Spaniard’s third round was a more routine 1 hour and 58 minutes against Richard Gasquet, although that too was also carried over to Sunday.

Verdasco had failed to win more than two matches in a row at seven of the nine events he had entered in 2014 prior to coming to Paris. The lone bright spots came at the ATP 1000 event in Miami where he made the fourth round and the 250 event in Houston which he won, defeating compatriot Nicolas Almagro in the final.

Murray’s 2014 on the other hand has been one long return from the back surgery he had in late 2013, but he has nevertheless compiled a 24-9 record with nine wins on clay (three in the Davis Cup). He played Rafael Nadal tough in the quarters of Rome, winning the first set 6-1 and leading in the third before the Majorcan came back to win 7-5.

Murray is a commanding 9-1 against Verdasco, though the two have never met on clay. The man from Madrid will be looking to make Murray run during this one...and maybe push it to a familiar fifth set.

Also interesting to read:

• French Open 2014 Predictions
• French Open 2014 Price Money

Who will be Andy Murray's next coach?

Andy Murray: Coach will come from list of 'seven or eight' candidates

Andy Murray is still looking for a new coach after his split from Ivan Lendl last month. Asked when he would like to get the man in place, Murray told BBC Scotland: "Or woman... there's seven or eight people I've got down on a list just now.' The British number one, whose mother Judy is herself a tennis coach, wants to appoint a successor to Ivan Lendl before defending his Wimbledon title. 

Brad Gilbert told BBC Scotland: "Andy will have no shortage of offers. He can take time to figure his next move. I'd say don't rush it." However, Gilbert believes Murray will rediscover his best form again and has plenty of time to mount a challenge for more of the game's top prizes. In two years with Ivan Lendl, Murray won the US Open, Wimbledon and Olympic titles. 

When Andy Murray sits down with his team to sift through the candidates to replace Ivan Lendl as his coach, Bob Brett;s name should be near the top of the list. Ideally, Murray would like to make the appointment before the French Open, which starts on 25 May.

Other candidates include Brett's Australian compatriot Darren Cahill, who still has extensive media obligations and training duties with Adidas, Paul Annacone, who was part of Roger Federer's coaching team until last year, Roger Rasheed (who now looks to be doing a great job with Grigor Dimitrov) and Bob Brett, the former coach of Boris Becker and Goran Ivanisevic. 

Any future coach also should be able to share Murray's sense of humour, and most curcially to understand the very exclusive world he inhabits. That would not have to be another former Grand Slam champion, although of the few who have not been snapped up, Mats Wilander would be an excellent choice. 

An appointment is not urgent, but Andy Murray is well aware that life at the top of professional sport can be brutally short.