LEARN from these Images #2
photo credit: Richard.Fisher
Just as we advised in the post ”Learn Through Images: Photographic Memory” make sure you also commit these following images to your memory.
By doing this the next time you play, you will have an OnCourt Advantage. This will be because you will be able to recall these images at will. This type of recall makes it much easier for you to reproduce these movements in your own game. Therefore, you will be able to accelerate your learning.
The photos we refer to below, are posted throughout the OnCourt Advantage website and have great value for your game. These 11 photos can be found by clicking on the underlined links:
- US Open 2009 The Women – The Favourites. The photo captures Venus Williams performing a 2 handed backhand on the run.
- So why didn’t Andy Roddick win #1. The photo shows Roddick in the waiting position ready to return a serve.
- How will Rafael Nadal’s knee tendinitis survive the hard courts? This photo displays Nadal’s extension through the hitting zone on his 2 handed backhand.
- Have the 20’s replaced the teens? This photo is fantastic and isolates Caroline Wozniacki’s beautiful preparation for the forward swing of her 2 handed backhand drive.
- Understanding the Women’s Pro Tour #1. This photo shows Sania Mirza moving in to strike a 2 handed backhand approach shot.
- Understanding the Men’s Pro Tour #2. The photo captures Andy Murray about to play a low forehand ground stroke.
- Understanding the Women’s Pro Tour #2. This photo is great because it shows the position of Svetlana Kuznetsova and her racquet when she plays her mighty inside out forehand. The inside out forehand is also known as an off forehand.
- Sign the GRUNTING in tennis petition #1. This photo is taken of Victoria Azarenka’s 2 handed backhand drive just after impact with the ball. Azarenka is illustrating how to drive the racquet head through the ball.
- Sign the GRUNTING in tennis petition #2. This photo is taken of Maria Sharapova attacking a forehand ground stroke.
- How to Concentrate and Achieve FOCUS. These 2 photos are amazing and capture Roger Federer executing his forehand drive at impact and immediately after impact with the ball.
Which photo do you think you can learn the most from? What did YOU learn? Who would you like to see next? Which stroke or moment in a stroke would you like to study an image of? Register for your free subscription and become a Fan on our Facebook page and we will post your requests on our website!
©OnCourtAdvantage.com 2009
WTA Major Tournament #8: Tokyo, Japan
photo credit: Spicks & Specks
The next major tournament on the Women’s Pro Tour is the Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, Japan. This event is celebrating the 25th consecutive year on the WTA Tour. The Toray PPO is the final Premier Five event held in 2009 and is one of the most prestigious events each year.
2 million US dollars is up for grabs. The event is held from Friday September 25 through to the final on Saturday October 3. The main draw begins on Sunday September 27.
This year 9 of the top 10 women are playing. Not surprisingly Serena Williams is shying away, citing an injury as her reason to withdraw. Serena is possibly trying to hide a little longer from the limelight after the chaos at the US Open.
Last year Dinara Safina won the Tokyo by defeating Svetlana Kuznetsova in the final 6-1 6-3. Kuznetsova beat Katarina Srebotnik whilst Safina defeated Nadia Petrova in the 2008 semi-finals. The quarter finalists were Elena Dementieva, Jelena Jankovic, Agnieszka Radwanska and Kaia Kanepi from Estonia.
Pictured above executing a great forehand volley at last years Japan Open is 38 year old Kimiko Date Krumm. The 1.63m is naturally a left hander but learned to play right handed to follow the Japanese custom.
Kimiko will turn 39 on Monday 28 September and will be hoping to celebrate with a great showing in from of her home crowd. Kimiko’s comeback has captured the imagination of her nation so she will receive great support.
Kimiko is currently ranked No.155 after commencing her comeback this time last year in Japan. Her career high ranking is No.4 and she has made the singles semi-finals of the Wimbledon, the Australian Open and the French Open.
The top 8 seeds have a BYE in the 1st round, with ONLY the top 16 ranked players being seeded. There were 44 direct acceptances, 3 Wild Cards awarded and 9 spots in the draw allocated to Qualifiers.
The wild cards were awarded to 3 Japanese players: Ayumi Morita, Ai Sugiyama and Date Krumm. Kimiko is 1 of 4 players in this years event that have won the title before (in 1995). The other 3 are Safina in 2008, Dementieva in 2006 and Sharapova in 2005.
Sugiyama turned 34 this year and is retiring after playing this event in her home country. The 1.63m former World No.1 doubles player achieved a career high ranking in singles of No.8 and twice made it to the quarter finals in singles at Grand Slam events.
Sugiyama holds the record for playing the most consecutive Grand Slam tournaments played by any male or female player in the history of the game with 62, which is a span of 15.5 years.
The seeding and draw for the top 16 players, if they all win through to the round of 16 are:
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(1) Safina versus (16) Razzano
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(12) Stosur versus (6) Zvonareva
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(4) Wozniacki versus (13) Petrova
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(11) A.Radwanska versus (5) Kuznetsova
…which completes the head-to-head play-offs in the top half of the draw. In the bottom half of the draw, the players seeded to meet are:
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(8) Azarenka versus (10) Ivanovic
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(15) Li Na versus (3) Dementieva
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(7) Jankovic versus (9) Pennetta
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(14) Bartoli versus (2) V. Williams
Kimiko had drawn Aleksandra Wozniak in the 1st round and has the chance to save us from a real mouthful, a Wozniacki versus Wozniack 2nd round match up! Sugiyama drew No.13 seed Petrova and Morita plays Kleybanova in the 1st round.
Today’s POST is dedicated to Serena Williams. Serena was born on this day in 1981. The American has won 11 Grand Slam singles titles: 4 Australian Open titles (2003, 2005, 2007 & 2009), 3 Wimbledon Championships (2002-’03 & 2009), 3 US Open crowns (1999, 2002 & 2008) and the French Open in 2002. She first achieved her highest career ranking of No.1 on 8 July 2002.
© OnCourtAdvantage.com 2009
WTA Top 10 Rankings: Part 2
photo credit: Melodie Mesiano
In this 2nd post about the updated WTA women’s singles world rankings including the 2009 US Open results we continue to help you to learn more about the top 10 women.
To see part 1 click here-> WTA Top 10 Rankings.
No.6 - Svetlana Kuznetsova from St.Petersburg, Russia is 24 years old, plays right handed and uses a double handed backhand. The 1.74m Russian has 5,580 WTA ranking points from the 20 tournaments she has played in the past 12 months. Kuznetsova’s career high ranking is No.2. She turned pro in 2000 and 2,000 of her points are from winning the French Open this year. Kuznetsova has won 2 Grand Slam singles title and was a runner-up twice.
A picture of Kuznetsova can be found by clicking this link: Understanding the Women’s Pro Tour #2.
No.7 – Vera Zvonareva (pictured above) is from Moscow, Russia is 25 years old, plays right handed and uses a double handed backhand. The 1.72m Russian has 5,330 WTA ranking points from the 23 tournaments she has played in the past 12 months. Zvonareva’s career high ranking is No.5. She turned pro in 2000 and 2,950 of her points are from, winning Indian Wells, making the final of the WTA end-of-year championships in 2008 and making the Australian Open semi-finals, which is her best result in a Grand Slam singles event.
No.8 – Jelena Jankovic from Belgrade, Serbia is 24 years old, plays right handed and uses a double handed backhand. The 1.77m Serbian has 5,300 WTA ranking points from the 21 tournaments she has played in the past 12 months. Jankovics’s career high ranking is No.1. She turned pro in 2000 and 1,660 of her points are from winning Moscow last year and Cincinnati this year. Jankovic’s best result in a Grand Slam singles tournament is being the runner-up at the 2008 US Open.
Pictures of Jankovic can be found by clicking these links: Women’s Results at Cincinnati, USA and Women’s Top 10 Rankings & Racquets.
No.9 – Victoria Azarenka from Minsk, Belarus is 20 years old, plays right handed and uses a double handed backhand. The 1.8m Belarussian has 4,592 WTA ranking points from the 17 tournaments she has played in the past 12 months. Azarenka’s career high ranking is No.8. She turned pro in 2003 and 2,000 of her points are from winning Miami this year and her quarter final results at the French Open and Wimbledon, which are her career best results in Grand Slam singles events.
A picture of Azarenka can be found by clicking this link: Sign the GRUNTING in tennis petition #1 .
No.10- Flavia Pennetta from Brindisi, Italy is 27 years old, plays right handed and uses a double handed backhand. The 1.72m Italian has 3,490 WTA ranking points from the 25 tournaments she has played in the past 12 months. Pennetta’s current ranking is her career best. She turned pro in 2000 and 970 of her points are from winning Los Angeles this year and making the quarter finals at the US Open. The quarter finals of the US Open is Pennetta’s best result in a Grand Slam singles tournament, which she has achieved at the past 2 US Open’s.
© OnCourtAdvantage.com 2009
Justine Henin to make a Comeback!
NEWSFLASH:
Justine Henin (pictured above), has announced she is going to make a comeback to playing on the WTA Tour in January 2010.
More details to follow…
Today’s POST is dedicated to Juan Martin Del Potro. Del Potro was born on this day in 1988. The Argentine won his first Grand Slam singles title at this year’s US Open by defeating Roger Federer in 5 sets. He 1st achieved his career high ranking of No.5 on 6 April 2009.
WTA Top 10 Rankings: Part 1
photo credit: mauricedenbosch
The latest WTA rankings as at 21 September 2009 have Dinara Safina as the WTA World No.1 for her 23rd consecutive week. Safina (pictured above), was the 19th and latest player to be ranked No.1 on the WTA Tour.
Seven other WTA Tour players have achieved the World No.1 ranking and they are: Serena Williams 72 weeks, Amelie Mauresmo 39, Kim Clijsters 19, Maria Sharapova 17, Jelena Jankovic 18, Ana Ivanovic 12 and Venus Williams 11. This week the rankings are:
No.1 - Dinara Safina from Moscow, Russia 23 years old and is the World No.1 ranked player on the WTA Tour because she earned the highest total number of ranking points of all players over the past year.
The 1.82m right hander’s total number of WTA ranking points is 8,340 for the 19 tournaments she has played in the past 12 months. 2,800 of her points are from being the runner-up at the Australian Open and French Open this year. Safina turned pro in 2000 a uses a double handed backhand, she has been a runner-up 3 times in Grand Slam singles tournaments.
A picture of Safina can be found on this tennis website by clicking this link: The World No.1 Women’s Ranking Goes To?
No.2 – Serena Williams from Michigan, USA is 27 years old, plays right handed and uses a double handed backhand. The 1.75m American has amassed 7,8o7 WTA ranking points from the 17 tournaments she has played in the past 12 months. Serena’s career high ranking is No.1. She turned pro in 1995 and 4,000 of her points are from winning the Australian Open and Wimbledon this year. Serena has won 11 Grand Slam singles titles.
Pictures of Serena can be found by clicking these links: US Open 2009 Women’s Singles, How to make the WTA rankings work and Wimbledon 2009 Ladies Singles Final.
No.3 – Venus Williams from California, USA is 29 years old, plays right handed and uses a double handed backhand. The 1.85m American has 6,645 WTA ranking points from the 18 tournaments she has played in the past 12 months. Venus’s career high ranking is No.1. She turned pro in 1994 and 2,900 of her points are from winning the WTA Championships in 2008 and from being the runner-up at Wimbledon this year. Venus has won 7 Grand Slam singles titles and has been the runner-up on 7 occasions.
Pictures of Venus can be found by clicking these links: US Open 2009 Women’s Qualifying and US Open 2009 The Women – The Favourites.
No.4 – Elena Dementieva from Moscow, Russia is 27 years old, plays right handed and uses a double handed backhand. The 1.8m Russian has 6,015 WTA ranking points from the 21 tournaments she has played in the past 12 months. Dementieva’s career high ranking is No.3. She turned pro in 1998 and 1,800 of her points are from making the semi-finals this year at both the Australian Open and Wimbledon. She has been a runner-up twice in Grand Slam singles tournaments and won the singles gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Pictures of Dementieva can be found by clicking these links: Women’s Results in Toronto, Canada and US Open 2009 The Women – Best of the Rest.
No.5 – Caroline Wozniacki from Odense, Denmark is 19 years old, plays right handed and uses a double handed backhand. The 1.77m Dane has 5,850 WTA ranking points from the 27 tournaments she has played in the past 12 months. Wozniacki’s current ranking is her career best. She turned pro in 2005 and 1,400 of her points are from being the runner-up at this year’s US Open, which is her career best result in a Grand Slam singles tournament.
Pictures of Wozniacki can be found by clicking these links: Have the 20’s replaced the teens? and US Open 2009 Women’s Quarter Finals.
© OnCourtAdvantage.com 2009
ATP Top 10 Rankings: Part 2
In this 2nd post about the updated ATP men’s singles world rankings including the 2009 US Open results we continue to help you to learn more about the top 10 men.
There are 5 players in the top 10 who are Grand Slam singles champions and 3 who have been ranked as the World No.1. These rankings are as at 14 September 2009.
To see part 1 click here -> ATP World Top 10 Rankings: Part 1.
No.6 – Andy Roddick from Nebraska, USA is 27 years old, plays right handed and uses a double handed backhand. The 1.88m American has 5,310 ATP ranking points from the 22 tournaments he has played in the past 12 months. Roddick’s career high ranking is No.1. He turned pro in 2000 and 1,200 of his points are from being runner-up at Wimbledon. Roddick has won 1 Grand Slam singles title the 2003 US Open and has been a runner-up on 4 occasions.
A picture on this tennis website of Roddick can be found by clicking this link: So why didn’t Andy Roddick win? #1.
No.7 – Jo-Wilfried Tsonga from Le Mans, France is 24 years old, plays right handed and uses a double handed backhand. The 1.88m Frenchman has 3,950 ATP ranking points from the 25 tournaments he has played in the past 12 months. Tsonga’s career high ranking is No.6. He turned pro in 2004 and 1,000 of his points are from winning the Paris ATP Masters tournament. His best result in a Grand Slam singles event is runner-up at the 2008 Australian Open.
A picture of Tsonga can be found by clicking this link: How to WIN Tennis Matches .
No.8 – Nikolay Davydenko from Severodonezk, Ukraine is 28 years old, plays right handed and uses a double handed backhand. The 1.78m Russian has 3,535 ATP ranking points from the 24 tournaments he has played in the past 12 months. Davydenko’s career high ranking is No.3. He turned pro in 1999 and 800 of his points are from being the runner-up in the 2008 year-end championships. His best result in a Grand Slam singles is making the semi-finals on 4 occasions.
A picture of Davydenko can be found by clicking this link: US Open 2009 Men’s Qualifying.
No.9 – Fernando Verdasco from Madrid, Spain is 25 years old, plays left handed and uses a double handed backhand. The 1.88m Spaniard has 3,430 ATP ranking points from the 23 tournaments he has played in the past 12 months. Verdasco’s career high ranking is No.7. He turned pro in 2001 and 720 of his points are from making the semi-finals of the Australian Open this year, which is his best result in a Grand Slam singles event.
A picture of Verdasco can be found by clicking this link: Men’s Top 10 Rankings & Racquets.
No.10 – Gilles Simon pictured above is from Nice, France is 24 years old, plays right handed and uses a double handed backhand. The 1.8m Frenchman has 3,090 ATP ranking points from the 27 tournaments he has played in the past 12 months. Simon’s career high ranking is No.6. He turned pro in 2002 and 700 of his points are from being the runner-up in the Madrid Masters in 2008. His best result in a Grand Slam singles is making the quarter finals of the Australian Open this year.
© OnCourtAdvantage.com 2009
ATP Top 10 Rankings: Part 1
Now that the results of the US Open have been included in the latest ATP rankings (as of 14 September 2009), Roger Federer has now been the World No.1 for a total of 248 weeks during his career.
Federer (pictured above) holds the record for the most consecutive weeks ranked as the world No.1, at 237 weeks. Pete Sampras holds the record for the highest total number of weeks ranked as the ATP World No.1 with 286.
No.1 - Roger Federer from Basel, Switzerland is 28 years old and is the World No.1 ranked player on the ATP World Tour, as he earned the highest total number of ranking points of all players over the past year.
The 1.85m right hander’s total number of ATP ranking points is 11,240 for the 17 tournaments he has played in the past 12 months. 4,000 of his points are from winning the French Open and Wimbledon. Federer turned pro in 1998 and uses a one-handed backhand, he has won 15 Grand Slam singles titles to date and has been a runner-up 6 times.
Pictures of Federer on this tennis website can be found by clicking these links: US Open 2009 Singles Update, Federer Eyes His Birthday Cup, Champion in Focus: Roger Federer, Learn Through Images: Photographic Memory, How to Concentrate and Achieve FOCUS and US Open 2009 The Men.
No.2 – Rafael Nadal from Mallorca, Spain is 23 years old, plays left handed and uses a double handed backhand. The 1.85m Spaniard has amassed 8,845 ATP ranking points from the 17 tournaments he has played in the past 12 months. Nadal’s career high ranking is No.1. He turned pro in 2001 and 2,000 of his points are from winning the Australian Open this year. Nadal has won 6 Grand Slam singles titles to date and has been a runner-up twice.
Pictures of Nadal can be found by clicking these links: US Open 2009 Men’s 1st Semi, US Open 2009 Men’s Seeding, How will Rafael Nadal’s knee tendinitis survive the hard courts? and Understanding Men’s Tennis Rankings #1.
No.3 – Andy Murray from Dunblane, Scotland is 22 years old, plays right handed and uses a double handed backhand. The 1.90m Scot has 8,390 ATP ranking points from the 19 tournaments he has played in the past 12 months. Murray’s career high ranking is No.2. He turned pro in 2005 and 3,000 of his points are from winning 3 ATP Masters tournaments in the past 12 months. His best result in a Grand Slam singles event is runner-up at the 2008 US Open.
A picture of Murray can be found by clicking this link: Understanding the Men’s Pro Tour.
No.4 – Novak Djokovic from Belgrade, Serbia is 22 years old, plays right handed and uses a double handed backhand. The 1.88m Serbian has 7,840 ATP ranking points from the 22 tournaments he has played in the past 12 months. Djokovic’s career high ranking is No.3. He turned pro in 2003 and 1,300 of his points are from winning the 2008 year-end championships in Shanghai, China. Djokovic has won 1 Grand Slam singles title, the 2008 Australian Open, and was a runner-up once at the 2007 US Open.
Pictures of Djokovic can be found by clicking these links: US Open 2009 Men’s 2nd Semi and Understanding the Men’s Pro Tour #1.
No.5 – Juan Martin Del Potro from Tandil, Argentina is 20 years old, plays right handed and uses a double handed backhand. The 1.98m Argentinian has 6,825 ATP ranking points from the 23 tournaments he has played in the past 12 months. Del Potro’s current ranking of No.5 is his career best. He turned pro in 2005 and 2,000 of his points are from winning the 2009 US Open, which was his first Grand Slam singles title.
Pictures of Del Potro can be found by clicking these links: US Open 2009 Men’s Quarter Finals and ATP Masters Events: Montreal & Cincinnati.
© OnCourtAdvantage.com 2009
US Open 2009 Singles Update
photo credit: Richard.Fisher
The following is an update on the results at the 2009 US Open. More detailed coverage will follow soon…
Men’s Singles Final:
No.1 seed Roger Federer is pictured above once again striving to achieve lofty heights. In the men’s singles final at the US Open however, he was served some of his own medicine as Juan Martin Del Potro played streaks of, as Federer often says “unbelievable tennis”.
Del Potro defeated Federer in his bid to win a 6th consecutive men’s singles title at the US Open. The 1.98m inspired 20 year old Argentine Del Potro won in 5 sets after being 2 sets to 1 down 3-6 7-6 (7-5) 4-6 7-6 (7-4) 6-2.
Federer served for a 2 sets to love lead in the second set when he was leading 5 games to 4 after breaking Del Potro’s serve. Federer was close to taking a huge lead but the No.6 seed’s fighting spirit was a delight to watch. From 1 set all the players put on a fantastic display with the world being treated to another great 5 set Grand Slam final.
Del Potro is the 1st Argentinian and South American player to win the men’s singles at the US Open since Guillermo Vilas in 1977. JMDP succeeds his countryman Gaston Gaudio as the last Grand Slam champion from Argentina. Gaudio came back from a 2 sets to love deficit to also win in 5 sets in 2004 (at the French Open).
An interesting forecast from the OnCourt Advantage tennis website over 1 month ago: “Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina who is looking dangerously close to a big break through during the American summer’s hard court season. In 2009 he made his 1st ever semi-final of a Grand Slam at Roland Garros before losing to Roger Federer in 5 sets. Juan Martin is by far the youngest player in the top 10 at 20 years of age. He is achieving a number of firsts on tour.” Direct quote from ATP Masters Events: Montreal & Cincinnati.
Women’s Singles Final:
Kim Clijsters comeback Grand Slam event after retiring to start a family has produced her 2nd Grand Slam singles title. The wild card entrant defeated the defending champion Serena Williams in straight sets in the semi finals to book her spot in her 6th Grand Slam singles final.
The 26 year old Belgian accounted for the No.9 seed Caroline Wozniacki in straight sets in the final 7-5 6-3. The mother of 18 month old daughter Jada became only the 3rd mother in the open-era to win a Grand Slam singles title. The new US Open women’s singles champion was unranked on the WTA Tour but now enters the rankings as the World’s No.19.
The 19 year old Wozniacki from Denmark played a competitive match and seemed very happy to have performed so well at the US Open and improve on her previous best result in a Grand Slam and on her career best ranking which is now world No.6.
Wozniacki got off to a strong start by taking a 4-2 lead. Once the dual US Open champion levelled the 1st set her strong self belief and experience held the top ranked teenager at bay for the remainder of the match. Wozniacki dropped 11 of the last 15 games.
Both players displayed great sportsmanship. Their results are well deserved and players like this are great for tennis and the WTA Tour. The fresh faces who upset all of the top seeds was a perfect example of how interesting and varied the results can be in tennis.
See more OnCourt Advantage US Open news and related posts by clicking this link -> US Open 2009.
© OnCourtAdvantage.com 2009
US Open 2009 Men’s 2nd Semi
Roger Federer has been in great form, playing calmly, swinging freely and playing his “A” game – an aggressive all-court game style, ever since he won his 15th Grand Slam singles title at Wimbledon.
Switzerland’s Federer defeated Serbia’s Djokovic 6-1 7-5 in the last major tournament (the final of the Cincinnati Masters), leading into the US Open.
This was the 3rd straight year that these 2 players have squared off against each other at the US Open. Djokovic pictured above was looking to reach great heights so was hoping it would be 3rd time lucky for him.
The following is a selection of the most interesting things excerpted from Federer and Djokovic pre & post match interviews.
Federer’s comments about playing Djokovic: “Obviously a tough match. He’s done well against me in the past, but I beat him in Cincinnati and I hope I can build on that, and try to beat him again here.”
From Roger’s words it seems his plan was to focus on playing his own game, draw on the confidence and the strategy he used in their last big match in the Cincinnati final.
Former Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic shared great insight into what everyone needs to do in order to improve their game: “But, you know, all the times it’s ups and downs. In one period, forehand works and other, it doesn’t. So you always try ‑‑ it’s a mental game. It’s a mental challenge, and you obviously always have to be focused and try to work hard on the things and maintain that level of performance.”
The 22 year old Djokovic on what it all boils down to against Roger in their semi-final, “There is no secrets in each other’s game, so I just ‑‑ it’s a matter of good day. I hope I can have a good day and concentrate.” Djokovic’s mental state fluctuated throughout the match, his on court persona and body language did not project confidence and self-belief. He has the talent and the game, his mental toughness is the area he needs the most work on.
Federer went on to repeat his victory in straight sets in the men’s semi-finals of the US Open against Djokovic in 3 sets 7-6 (7-3) 7-5 7-5. The match was close but Federer produced the goods when it counted, including an amazing through the legs shot to bring up triple match point.
Federer thought he got through these close sets because, “I think towards the end of the sets, you know, I got in some good returns, and that allowed me then to actually go after my shots a bit more. But then it’s hard. I got off a good start on many occasions towards the end, and so I’m very happy that, you know, in those important moments I was able to come up with the goods.”
Federer hit an amazing screaming winner past Djokovic at the net, that he hit through his legs, as he was running down a lob AND with his back facing the net! Federer’s agreed that it was the best shot he has played in his life.
“Well, I would think so. I mean, even though it’s I think the third or fourth time I hit it in a match now, the way I was able to hit it, you know, with pace and accuracy, it’s something that happens so, so rare.” See the shot on You Tube by clicking this link -> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVQhIEPbM0g
See more OnCourt Advantage US Open news, previews and related posts by clicking this link -> US Open 2009.
© OnCourtAdvantage.com 2009
US Open 2009 Men’s 1st Semi
The mens’ singles results at the 2 major tournaments leading into the US Open have proven to be a very good form guide for the US Open.
Besides Andy Murray’s below par performance at the US Open, the semi finalists at Cincinnati in the USA and the finalists at the Rogers Cup in Montreal, Canada have continued their form and now play off in tomorrow’s semi-final match ups.
On Sunday 13 September at 12 noon New York time (3) Rafael Nadal is pitted against (6) Juan Martin Del Potro. Del Potro came through (2) Andy Murray’s section of the draw. The winner of this match will play either (1) Roger Federer or (3) Novak Djokovic in the men’s singles final.
Nadal on his chances and if he can improve on his last result against Del Potro:
“I have to play very well if I want to have chances to win. We will see what happen. I don’t know. I think he’s very complete player, no? In the past, he didn’t serve like he is doing right now. He has an unbelievable serve right now. From the baseline, he is very solid. He don’t have mistakes. He is very big, so, anyway, if the movements is not 100% perfect, he very long and he arrive to every play. So for his altitude, his movements is okay, no? He’s good. I think he’s a complete player, and is always the same thing, no? Try to be ready to put one more ball than the rest.”
Del Potro on what he needs to do and his chances in the semi-finals:
“I need to be focus in the beginning of the match until the last point and do my game, and that’s it.”
“Then I always thinking of my chance, you know. If you fight until the final, of course you will have opportunities to do breaks or to do a better game, so…”
Juan Martin Del Potro made it to the final of the Rogers Cup after defeating Rafael Nadal in the quarter finals 7-6 (7-5) 6-1 in their last meeting. Del Potro has won their last 2 meetings which were both this year and on hard courts in the quarter final stage of Masters 1000 tournaments.
Overall Nadal lead their head-to-head battles 4wins to 2. On recent form and taking into account Nadal’s physical problems, the 1.98m Argentine is faced with a great opportunity to make his 1st Grand Slam singles final.
The 20 year old right hander was close to upsetting Roger Federer in the French Open semi-finals earlier this year. Del Potro lead Federer in that semi-final by 2 sets to love before being edged out 6-4 in the 5th and final set.
Leading into the US Open Del Potro was the runner-up result in Montreal after being the champion in Washington. Like Federer, Del Potro is on a winning streak. After losing in the 2nd rd at Wimbledon he has won 16 matches and only lost 1.
In Cincinnati Nadal’s formed picked up further before being defeated by Novak Djokovic 6-1 7-5 but his return of serve was nowhere near as effective as usual. The 23 year old Nadal will have to return serve very well against Del Potro, especially seeing his abdominal injury will restrict how forcefully the former World No.1 can be when he serves.
Pictured above is Spain’s Rafael Nadal demonstrating good racquet and body preparation for his forehand ground stroke. Nadal was expected to fold in the Australian Open men’s singles final following his marathon 5 set semi-final victory that lasted for 5 hours and 14 minutes combined with having far less rest than Federer for their final. Nadal outlasted Federer in the 5th set to win his 1st Australian Open and Grand Slam on hard courts.
Nadal appears up against it, but that is when he usually shines. It will be a fascinating match-up. Can Nadal manage another win to achieve his career best result at the US Open?
© OnCourtAdvantage.com 2009
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