tennis gut

The case for Bjorn Borg   The case for Bjorn Borg as GOAT will always be interesting because the last half or third of his career didn’t happen.   But what he accomplished in the short time he played was remarkable.     He became the youngest man ever to win a grand slam title (to that time) when he did it within days of his 18 th birthday at the French Open in 1974.   No man has won more pro matches, titles, or grand slams by age 24 than he did.   He also has the best match winning percentage at the slams, with Nadal and Federer a distant 2 nd and 3 rd .   In addition to 5 consecutive Wimbledon titles, he only ever lost twice at the French Open, winning there 6 times, 4 times consecutively, and 3 times consecutively he followed up his French victory with the Wimbledon title 4 weeks later – the French-Wimbledon double.   No one else has done that.     His head to head record is top notch.   In the pool of all men who have won a grand slam title in the open

Jul 2010 I started writing an imaginary book in my head as I was trying to fall asleep two nights ago – a brief historical overview of tennis.   I was thinking of women’s tennis in the open era and when I got to the transition from the 70’s to the 80’s I realized what an incredibly exciting time it must have been.   Even more interestingly, there are some possible parallels to the big 4 today in men’s tennis. The 70’s and 80’s tend to get cast in the long shadow of the Chris-Martina wars.   They played 80 times in professional play and each nabbed 18 grand slam titles.   There just didn’t seem room for much else.   But as I thought about it I realized that’s really an oversimplification. After Billie Jean King (3 slams in 1972) and Margaret Court (3 slams in 1973) seemed to have vanquished the latest pretender to the throne, Evonne Goolagong, who had won the French and Wimbledon in 1971, the King and Court show seemed finally to close with the dawn of Chris Evert in 1974.  

Australian Open 2013 – Men’s Preview   The big question awaiting the draw was which side #3 Andy Murray would land in.   It’s probably some sort of cosmic justice that the #1 seed Djokovic gets the (apparently) easier draw with #4 Ferrer on his side.   But Roger Federer at #2 certainly has his work cut out for him.   The draw feels unbalanced without Nadal. Top Quarter Djokovic has lost only one match since the US Open 5 months ago – to Sam Querrey at the Paris 1000.   He owned the fall.   Can he continue that down under?   His draw does not look overly challenging – for him.   Querrey (20) or Wawrinka (15) could hit hot streaks and cause trouble in the 4 th round, but the odds are certainly with Novak. Berdych (5) in the quarters could be more problematic.   But with a head to head of 11-1 in favour of Djokovic, there would seem little obstacle between a healthy Novak and the semis First-rounder to watch Goffin vs. Verdasco (22) Djokovic d. Berdych Seco

Australian Open 2013 – Women’s Preview Can Serena Williams be stopped?   Top seed Victoria Azarenka may have a cakewalk to the semis, but things look to get significantly more frightening there with Serena in her half.   Certainly second-seeded Sharapova will quake less to face Agnieszka Radwanska (4) as a potential semi opponent, but she may not escape unscathed from Williams wrath – Venus lurks as a possible 3 rd round opponent.   But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. Top Quarter Azarenka (1) looms large in her half of the section.   Nearby seeds Urszula Radwanska (31), Varvara Lepchenko (21), and Roberta Vinci (16) are not particularly awe-inspiring, although Vinci has had some fine results of late from her well-crafted, if limited, game. The other side is a little more interesting with Wozniacki seeded 10, a rededicated (?) Pavlyuchenkova (24), and Sara Errani (7).   Wozniacki is not nearly the competitor she was a few years ago, but her latent talent should not