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

10 things you should know about Wimbledon and its traditions

Wimbledon and its traditions

As compared to the other Grand Slams-Australian, French and US Open, Wimbledon has a unique name and tradition associated with it. Here are 10 interesting facts about the lawn-tennis tournament.
Almost all tennis players have a dream of playing on Wimbledon's Centre Court and winning the trophy there. Here's probably why they harbour this ambition:

10 Wimbledon facts

1. Wimbledon is the is the oldest tennis tournament in the world and has been played since 1877. It is considered to be the most prestigious of all the four Grand Slams.
2. This is the only tournament that is still played on the sport's original surface-grass. Earlier, the Australian Open and US Open that are played on hard court now and French Open that is played on clay were played on grass. Hence, tennis is called lawn tennis.
3. Player have to strictly wear white at the tournament. The rules state, "No solid mass of colouring; little or no dark or bold colours; no fluorescent colours; preference towards pastel colours...and all other items of clothing including hats, socks and shoes to be almost entirely white."Roger Federer who sported orange soles to his shoes during his first round match was pulled up by the organisers as they saw the shoes as flouting the rules. This shows how strict the organisers are about the all-white apparel rule.
4. Spectators and players are offered strawberries and cream as the typical stand food at the tournament. The New York Times reported that a librarian for the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum once told them that the strawberries date back to the first Wimbledon tournament in 1877. She said strawberries and tennis both signalled the arrival of summer.
5. Players are referred to as Mr, Miss and Mrs as per their marital status especially in the case of women. For men, the chair umpires sometimes just say their names instead of Mr. But using Miss for all female players is still practised today at Wimbledon.
6. At Wimbledon, the ball boys and girls are known as BBGs and play a crucial role in the smooth running of the tournament, with a brief that a good BBG "should not be seen. They should blend into the background and get on with their jobs quietly."Since 2005, BBGs work in teams of six, two at the net, four at the corners, and teams rotate one hour on court, one hour off for the day's play. Teams are not told which court they will be on so as to ensure the same standards across all courts.
7. The Centre Court has survived a War World II bombing and now boasts of a roof that prevents rain delays from causing scheduling problems during the tournament.
8. This is the only Grand Slam which is patronised by a Royal Family. The Queen of Britain often visits Wimbledon and meets the players. The Royal Family seated in the Royal Box and players earlier had to courtesy al members of the family. But the tradition has been discontinued since 2003 by the Duke of Kent who is the President of the All England Club. Now only if the monarch or the Prince of Wales are present, players are expected to courtesy them.
9. Wimbledon does not have any sponsor advertising around its courts.
10. The tournament has a 'day of rest'. The middle Sunday of the Wimbledon fortnight is always a day off.

Also interesting to read:

French Open 2014 Predictions

French Open 2014 Prize Money

Wimbledon

Dear Tennis players of the UK,


Please see below a small piece of literature I came across in a blog, I was horrified until I read the last line when the greatness and high esteem Wimbledon is held in was finally clarified.

" By now the holy grass is damaged and in dire need of repair. All the ball boys and girls can go home and The All England Lawn Tennis and The Croquet Clubs can start next year’s preparations. Andy didn’t win, nor did Roger.

Maybe next year all the players should stay home.

Allow me to clarify.

I’ve been told (by a confidential source) that tennis is only played on grass in the UK. That’s weird, isn’t it? It seems the ball makes weird curves when being played with on grass. That’s why the organizers in Australia and the United States, who once upon a time played on grass, changed to hard courts. I think a guy; a certain Ivan L once said ‘Grass is for cows.’

And why is there still a rule that everyone has to play in white tennis clothing? That has to be an outdated idea. Maybe 25 years ago it was a popular idea, but this is 2011. Or maybe they don’t use a calendar in the All England Club.

We should start only watching the French Open or the US Open. Isn’t it nice to see the players in a new outfit every few months? Especially Maria Sharapova. When Wimbledon comes up, the only question I ask myself is: will they play in white or white?

I think I have given a fairly reasonable number of arguments to stop with these silly English traditions. By the way if there are by any chance some tickets left for next year’s final, just let me know."