rewardman
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Post by rewardman on Nov 21, 2016 12:41:32 GMT 1
A fabulous achievement by Andy Murray.
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Post by LittleChristmasTurkey on Nov 21, 2016 14:28:52 GMT 1
Brilliant achievement. He has got to world #1 as a result of hard work, sheer bloodymindedness, and genuine skill. Although Nadal and Federer have faded, Djokovic is still a force, so no one can claim that he became the world's best by default. 2016 will probably be Andy's best year - winning Wimbledon, the Olympics and the World Tour Final, and getting to #1. But 2012 or 2013 will be the years everyone remembers, because of the emotion of the home Olympics on the back of reaching the Wimbledon Final for the first time, or that incredible first Wimbledon title. To be fair, Djokovic is suffering from poor form currently - he's not won a title since July. I'm certainly not saying Murray became no1 by 'default', but he's certainly been helped by the fact his 4 major competitors for the position are all suffering - some more than others.
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Tom
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Post by Tom on Nov 21, 2016 18:22:54 GMT 1
Brilliant achievement. He has got to world #1 as a result of hard work, sheer bloodymindedness, and genuine skill. Although Nadal and Federer have faded, Djokovic is still a force, so no one can claim that he became the world's best by default. 2016 will probably be Andy's best year - winning Wimbledon, the Olympics and the World Tour Final, and getting to #1. But 2012 or 2013 will be the years everyone remembers, because of the emotion of the home Olympics on the back of reaching the Wimbledon Final for the first time, or that incredible first Wimbledon title. Excellent post.
I said to someone yesterday that 2016 will go down as the best year of his career. I don't see him achieving all 4 in the same calendar year again, I'm not sure he'll win the Olympics again for a start. Agree about 2012/2013 though, given what he's gone on to achieve since, winning Wimbledon this year doesn't feel as significant as it did at the time, seems like its been overshadowed, so his first Wimbledon title will hold greater memories for people, and 2012 Olympic title will also be more special for me as I was able to watch it!
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Post by rubcale on Nov 22, 2016 19:06:11 GMT 1
Ivan Lendl should receive an honorary Knighthood.
I don't believe there's any question he played a major role in the 2012/13 breakthrough.
Maybe it's just co-incidence fo r 2016 of course but Andy's year suddenly blossomed once he came on board again..............................................
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Tom
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Post by Tom on Nov 22, 2016 21:01:59 GMT 1
Ivan Lendl should receive an honorary Knighthood. I don't believe there's any question he played a major role in the 2012/13 breakthrough. Maybe it's just co-incidence fo r 2016 of course but Andy's year suddenly blossomed once he came on board again.............................................. Jamie Delgado has to take some of the credit this year as well. He's been there week after week, don't think Lendl has been around much since the US Open, but then he hasn't really needed to be as Delgado has given him plenty of feedback. I'm not sure Murray's had that from an assistant coach before. When Lendl was coaching him before and wasn't around it had a noticeable effect.
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Tom
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Post by Tom on Dec 1, 2016 18:29:16 GMT 1
Some interesting news. Judy Murray's replacement as Fed cup captain will be Anne Keothavong.
But that's been overshadowed by bigger news which I'll post in a bit...
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Tom
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Post by Tom on Dec 1, 2016 19:23:51 GMT 1
Probably a good time to round up the end of Konta's year.
Reached the final in Beijing which enabled her to break into the Top 10 for the first time. Then won a match in Hong Kong before having to withdraw due to injury. Through not playing the following week as a result she was overtaken by Cibulkova and Kuznetsova in those two weeks after the respective players won titles so didn't make the tour finals in Singapore (though Serena's absence meant she had done enough to be first reserve). But she did play in China in the secondary event the following week for those players who just missed out, in another round-robin event. Getting to the semi-finals meant she finished the year at #10.
Then news today that she's split from her coach Esteban Carril after two and half years Maybe the reasoning behind it will come out in the end but I can't understand it at all.
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Tom
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Post by Tom on Dec 1, 2016 21:27:01 GMT 1
Also just discovered that Naomi Broady has split from her coach Andrew Fitzpatrick. I did think this may happen when Naomi had her mid season slump, but still sad as Fitzy made Naomi into a top 100 player I'm guessing he feels he's taken her as far as he can.
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Post by rubcale on Dec 3, 2016 11:48:30 GMT 1
Then news today that she's split from her coach Esteban Carril after two and half years Maybe the reasoning behind it will come out in the end but I can't understand it at all. Big mistake - Kerber and Bouchard went the same route in similar circumstances. Look where Bouchrd is now and Kerber faded only to come roaring back when she returned to her former coach!
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Tom
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Post by Tom on Dec 4, 2016 17:34:04 GMT 1
Then news today that she's split from her coach Esteban Carril after two and half years Maybe the reasoning behind it will come out in the end but I can't understand it at all. Big mistake - Kerber and Bouchard went the same route in similar circumstances. Look where Bouchrd is now and Kerber faded only to come roaring back when she returned to her former coach! I've just re-read the BBC article which maybe makes the split more understandable. Her mental coach died suddenly a few weeks ago and he was a friend of Carril. Whoever her next coach is, given how James Ward has struggled since his coach died last year (although IIRC he's had injury problems as well), I can see next year being difficult for Konta. Hopefully she stays amongst the seedings but it wouldn't surprise me if she doesn't.
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Tom
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Post by Tom on Dec 22, 2016 8:09:42 GMT 1
Dreadful news on Tuesday that Petra Kvitova was attacked in her home and has had to have surgery on her left hand, her playing hand. She'll be out for at least 6 months, but wouldn't be surprised if she was out for the whole of 2017.
It reminds you of Monica Seles' stabbing on court in 1993, but actually it's more similar to Anna Chakvetadze in 2007, when her and her family were tied up by armed robbers at her home. Neither player was really the same afterwards.
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Post by rubcale on Dec 22, 2016 11:37:05 GMT 1
p Dreadful news on Tuesday that Petra Kvitova was attacked in her home and has had to have surgery on her left hand, her playing hand. She'll be out for at least 6 months, but wouldn't be surprised if she was out for the whole of 2017. It reminds you of Monica Seles' stabbing on court in 1993, but actually it's more similar to Anna Chakvetadze in 2007, when her and her family were tied up by armed robbers at her home. Neither player was really the same afterwards. Dreadful and somehow most players never reach the same level when they return from a long-term absence. Kvitova disappoints me somewhat. She really should be a permanent top 5 player at the very least. I believe she suffers from asthma which could explain why her form is very erratic. At her best as she showed at the two Wimbledons she won she is virtually unplayable but then she loses just too many matches to players she should have no trouble beating.
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