Tag Archives: Grass Court Tennis

The International Tennis Hall of Fame

10 Jul

The International Tennis Hall of Fame is hosting its annual 25o level event on the ATP tour.  It is the only grass court event held on US soil.  It is also the only grass court ATP tour event held after Wimbledon concludes.  I attended the tournament in 1999 and watched Chris Woodruff win the title.  Watching professionals play on grass was a real treat.  The day prior John McEnroe was inducted into the Hall of Fame.

I have toured the museum three times.  It is a special place for a tennis fan to see.  I would encourage all fans who are near Rhode Island to make a stop and see the museum.  I would love to one day visit the museum and also rent a court for an hour and hit on grass.  It is not a surface that many of us get to play on unless we were really elite junior players or know someone with a cool backyard.

Beyond that, the displays on the Battle of the Sexes match, Steffi Graf’s racquet from the 1988 US Open final, the Real/Royal Tennis Court on the grounds, the show court, the US-Germany Davis Cup display from 1937 and the antique racquets are all great treats for tennis fans.

This week’s event takes on a bit of added importance because the London Olympics are holding the tennis events on grass.  It is nice to see a stronger than average field battle for a title on what I consider to be hallowed grounds.

Post Script

If I could make one suggestion, it would be for the USTA to include this event in the US Open Series.  The US Open and US Championships were held on grass at Forest Hills until the 1975 switch to har-tru.  Holding the opening event of the US Open Series on grass would be a nice tip of the hat to history as well as an act of solidarity by the USTA that might help this tournament attract one or two more top 30 players every year.

Trivia

The International Tennis Hall of Fame was used during the tennis scene of The Royal Tenenbaums.

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Who is the Greatest Male Grass Court Player of the Open Era? (POLL)

9 Jul

Martina Navratilova seems to have locked up the female honor here.  Consider the following cases before voting and of course comment below.

  • Bjorn Borg – 5 consecutive Wimbledon titles, 1 Wimbledon runner-up finish, 6 consecutive Wimbledon final rounds reached, 2 Wimbledon quarterfinal finishes
  • Pete Sampras – 7 Wimbledon titles, 7-0 in Wimbledon finals, 1 Wimbledon semifinal finish, 1 Wimbledon quarterfinal finish, 2 Queen’s Club titles, 2 Queen’s Club runner-up finishes
  • Roger Federer – 7 Wimbledon titles, 5 consecutive titles, 6 consecutive Wimbledon final rounds reached, 1 Wimbledon runner-up finish, 3 Wimbledon quarterfinal finishes, 5 Halle titles, 2 Halle runner-up finishes

Does Pete’s 7-0 record out pace Roger’s slightly deeper run on grass?  Does Borg’s success on grass despite not being an all-court player or serve an volley player boost him to the lead?  Are Roger’s 12 titles on grass too much to overcome?

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Who Will Win the Wimbledon 2012 Gentlemen’s Final? (Poll)

6 Jul

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Who Will Win the 2012 Wimbledon Ladies’ Final? (POLL)

5 Jul

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Wimbledon 2012 Ladies’ Semifinal Predictions

4 Jul

Predicted Winner in BOLD

SEMIFINAL MATCH-UPS

[6] SERENA WILLIAMS (USA #6) vs. [2] VICTORIA AZARENKA (BLR #2)
Williams leads 7-1

I think Serena has made it past a couple of dangerous matches already.  Vika is capable of winning this match.  Her tough loss to Serena at the 2011 US Open propelled Vika to her great start in 2012 (imho).  Still, Serena may be looking at one of her last and best opportunities to win a major title.  I think Serena can play at a level Vika cannot (as of yet ?) reach so Williams has more paths to victory in what could be a great match.

While I am picking Williams to win, I should note that an Azarenka title run at Wimbledon would give her clear control of the women’s game.
[8] ANGELIQUE KERBER (GER #8) vs. [3] AGNIESZKA RADWANSKA (POL #3) Series tied at 2-2

I kept picking against Kerber, but she has made a believer out of me.  If Kerber can limit her error total, she has a great chance to be the first German since Steffi Graf in 1999 to compete for a Wimbledon singles crown.  Make no mistake, the error total will be the defining factor in this match.

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Finally, I want to say that the WTA website has a great feature known as “Match Notes.”  The ATP website would be well served to either have a similar feature or to make their existing feature easier to find.

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Wimbledon Ladies’ Quarterfinal Predictions

3 Jul

Predicted Winner in BOLD

QUARTERFINAL MATCH-UPS (Listed in order of seeds)

TAMIRA PASZEK (AUT #37) vs. [2] VICTORIA AZARENKA (BLR #2) Azarenka leads 2-0

I like Vika to win this match and maybe the tournament.  Off of clay, Vika has been the most consistent player on the WTA Tour this year.

[3] AGNIESZKA RADWANSKA (POL #3) vs. [17] MARIA KIRILENKO (RUS #19) Radwanska leads 5-2

Kirilenko’s error total will dictate who wins this match.  Radwanska will likely advance and keep her opportunity to attain the number one ranking alive.

[6] SERENA WILLIAMS (USA #6) vs. [4] PETRA KVITOVA (CZE #4) Williams leads 2-0

This is the hardest match for me to pick.  Both players have incredible grass court talent and know what it is like to win the title.  I am picking Kvitova because I think Serena has become a bit less mentally tough as her career has advanced.  She had a meltdown in Paris.  I think as a player gets closer to retiring nerves can be harder to control.  Serena is not alone, Roger Federer went off the grid in his 2011 US Open and 2012 French Open semifinal matches.

[15] SABINE LISICKI (GER #15) vs. [8] ANGELIQUE KERBER (GER #8) Kerber leads 4-0 (2-0 in tour level main draw matches)

Lisicki is ranked lower than Kerber and has a lousy head-to-head versus Kerber.  She may have a letdown after pulling a huge upset.  Berber clobbered Clijsters.  I probably should pick Kerber, but I think Lisicki’s success at Wimbledon last year combined with her win over Sharapova mean she will advance at least one more round.

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Wimbledon Has Been Stingy Over the Past 20 Years

2 Jul

Historical Context

In a real numbers sense, 20 titles have been handed out at each of the Grand Slams over a 20 year period of time.  Of course, the Australian Open was held twice in 1977 and was not held in 1986.  In 1967, Wimbledon held a professional tournament 2 weeks after the amateur event concluded.  This Wimbledon Professional tournament helped to dampen fears that professionals would not compete honorably, and Open Tennis was born in 1968.  Still, from 1992-2011 each slam has awarded 20 titles.  I am leaving out the 2012 Australian and French Open results as 2011 was the last completed Grand Slam season.

Here is the numerical breakdown:

Australian Open Men’s Champions 1992-2011

  1. Jim Courier 1992, 1993
  2. Pete Sampras 1994, 1997
  3. Andre Agassi 1995, 2000, 2001, 2003
  4. Boris Becker 1996
  5. Petr Korda 1998
  6. Yevgeny Kafelnikov 1999
  7. Thomas Johanss0n 2002
  8. Roger Federer 2004, 2006, 2007, 2010
  9. Novak Djokovic 2008, 2010
  10. Rafael Nadal 2009

French Open Men’s Champions 1992-2011

  1. Jim Courier 1992
  2. Sergi Bruguera 1993, 1994
  3. Thomas Muster 1995
  4. Yevgeny Kafelnikov 1996
  5. Gustavo Kuerten 1997, 2000, 2001
  6. Carlos Moya 1998
  7. Andre Agassi 1999
  8. Albert Costa 2002
  9. Juan Carlos Ferrero 2003
  10. Gaston Gaudio 2004
  11. Rafal Nadal 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011
  12. Roger Federer 2009

Wimbledon Men’s Champions 1992-2011

  1. Andre Agassi 1992
  2. Pete Sampras 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000
  3. Richard Krajicek 1996
  4. Goran Ivanisevi 2001
  5. Lleyton Hewitt 2002
  6. Roger Federer 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
  7. Rafael Nadal 2008, 2010
  8. Novak Djokovic 2011

US Open Men’s Champions 1992-2011

  1. Stefan Edberg 1992
  2. Pete Sampras 1993, 1995, 1996, 2002
  3. Andre Agassi 1994, 1999
  4. Patrick Rafter 1997, 1998
  5. Marat Safin 2000
  6. Lleyton Hewitt 2001
  7. Andy Roddick 2003
  8. Roger Federer 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
  9. Juan Martin del Potro 2009
  10. Rafael Nadal 2010
  11. Novak Djokovic 2011

Quick Math: It Is Hard to Join the Wimbledon Club

The numerically typical Australian Open champion of the past 20 years won 2 titles.  The French Open champions of the past 20 years averaged 1.67 crowns.  The composite US Open champion of the past two decades collected 1.82 titles.  At Wimbledon, the titlists averaged 2.5 titles.  That leaves less oxygen and opportunities for players attempting to that elite circle.

Deeper Look: Federer and Sampras Skew the Numbers

Having two players collect 65% of the Wimbledon titles over the past 2 decades makes winning a Wimbledon title appear more rare than the other 3 slams.  If by 2021, another great clay court champion emerges winning 5-6 French Open titles, the 30 year numbers will undoubtedly make Roland Garros titles appear to be more rare.

Conclusions?

  • Wimbledon Could Use These Numbers to Say, “Yes, We Are the Most Prestigious Title.”
  • Someone Skilled at Math Might Retort that the 1992 Starting Date Dictates the Outcome i.e. not including 1991 (Michael Stich) helps Wimbledon’s case, 2012′s results help the French and Australian Open case yet they are not included, 1978-1987 saw only 3 men win the US Open …
  • Rain Delays Make Tennis Writers Ponder Odd Things that May or May not be Indicative of Something Significant

 

 

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Wimbledon Gentlemen’s Round of 16 Predictions

1 Jul

Predicted Winners in BOLD

Monday, 2 July, 2012

Singles – Fourth Round

[1] N Djokovic (SRB) vs V Troicki (SRB)

Nole should reign supreme in this battle of Serbian contenders.

[3] R Federer (SUI) vs X Malisse (BEL)

Malisse is a tricky veteran.  The youthful Federer lost to Tommy Haas when he last faced a similar older player.  Still, the six-time champion should advance.

[16] M Cilic (CRO) vs [4] A Murray (GBR)

This match could be tricky for Murray.  Cilic beat him at the 2009 US Open and played Murray reasonably tough at the 2010 Australian Open.  Cilic won Queen’s Club.  Still, Murray has to be favored here.  I give Cilic a 35% chance of shocking the world.

[5] J Tsonga (FRA) vs [10] M Fish (USA)

Fish lost  heartbreaking match vs. Tsonga at the 2011 US Open.  He could get payback here, but I think Tsonga is co-favorite along with Murray in the bottom half of the draw.

[7] D Ferrer (ESP) vs [9] J del Potro (ARG)

Delpo seems to have figured out grass his solid outing vs. Rafa in 2011 and his form to this point.  JMDP could be a dark horse to take the title.

[18] R Gasquet (FRA) vs [31] F Mayer (GER)

Florian Mayer has played quite well over the past 18 months.  He could win this match.  Gasquet seems to have found the consistency that his career has generally lacked.  I will take Mr. Backhand to advance.

D Istomin (UZB) vs [26] M Youzhny (RUS)

This is a 50-50 match in my mind.  Youzhny’s variety is why I am picking him to advance.

[Q] B Baker (USA) vs [27] P Kohlschreiber (GER)

I am tempted to take Baker here as he is playing great tennis.  Kohlschreiber is one of the players who benefits most from a shift to grass courts.  His game has so much variety that he could be a threat for the final four due to Rafa’s early exit.  I think Kohlschreiber’s 2011 title at Halle helps him hold his nerve a bit better in the second week of a slam that Baker.

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Wimbledon Ladies’ Round of 16 Predictions

1 Jul

My Projected Winner will be placed in BOLD

ROUND OF 16 MATCH-UPS (Listed in order of seeds)

[1] MARIA SHARAPOVA (RUS #1) vs. [15] SABINE LISICKI (GER #15) Sharapova leads 3-0

Lisicki is capable of winning, but Sharapova is on a great roll and should win this match.

[14] ANA IVANOVIC (SRB #14) vs. [2] VICTORIA AZARENKA (BLR #2)  Series tied 2-2

Ivanovic is playing well enough and is obviously talented, but Vika is the clear favorite here.

[3] AGNIESZKA RADWANSKA (POL #3) vs. [Q] CAMILA GIORGI (ITA #145) First meeting

It is a great story to see a qualifier in the second week at Wimbledon.  I think the story ends here as Radwanska advances.

[24] FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE (ITA #26) vs. [4] PETRA KVITOVA (CZE #4) Kvitova leads 2-1

The defending champion should win, but this could be an upset in the making as Schiavone is not apt to implode.

[6] SERENA WILLIAMS (USA #6) vs. [WC] YAROSLAVA SHVEDOVA (KAZ #65) S.Williams leads 1-0

Serena avoided elimination in the 3rd round.  Shvedova hung a golden set on the French Open runner-up.  I’ll take the 4 time champion to advance.

KIM CLIJSTERS (BEL #47) vs. [8] ANGELIQUE KERBER (GER #8) First meeting

Clijsters is going to make her final Wimbledon more memorable than a round of 16 loss.

[17] MARIA KIRILENKO (RUS #19) vs. [30] PENG SHUAI (CHN #34) Series tied 1-1

Kirilenko is one of my favorite players on either tour so it is hard to pick against her, but she has not had a great 2012.

TAMIRA PASZEK (AUT #37) vs. [21] ROBERTA VINCI (ITA #23) Paszek leads 1-0

A lot of Italian players have done well at majors since the 2010 French Open.  I think the trend continues.

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Rafael Nadal is Out?!?!?!

28 Jun

I will have more on this later, but what an upset.  If Fed or Nole lost, the the other would still impose some order on the top half of the draw.  Andy Murray becomes the favorite to reach the final in the bottom half, but things open up for a lot of other players.  Milos Raonic and Andy Roddick could benefit a great deal.  Juan Martin del Potro and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga strike me as the two biggest winners today.

Nadal’s string of 5 consecutive Grand Slam finals reached is over.  This was the third best streak of slam finals in the Open Era.  Nole could tie Rafa’s mark by reaching the final here at SW19.  Roger Federer is likely to enter the US Open as the #2 seed now as well.  This is a seismic upset with aftershocks to impact the tour for the rest of the 2012 Grand Slam season.

 

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