A lot was made about the recent Australian Open match between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. Notable tennis observers even called it a career defining match. Sometimes reality works out in ways that tennis analysts would not predict. Federer lost to Nadal again, but Rafa getting to 17 majors seems like a more uphill affair…
Tag: Tennis History
Is Tennis too Predetermined?
Although Baker was a prodigy at Center Parcs, he didn’t seem to be anything special at Loughborough at first. Even at that age, you could see the game beginning to stratify. Andy Murray won the prestigious Junior Orange Bowl tournament in Florida at the age of 12; the year before, Baker had played an overseas…
44 Majors since 1990 by the Numbers: Roland Garros
Prologue Part 1 of this series looked at how Pete Sampras, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have won 44 of the 96 majors held since 1990. If Rafa, Roger and Pete don’t add any majors in 2014, they will have won 44% of the Grand Slam events held since 1990. That is a remarkable accomplishment…
Counterpunch – This is Not the Golden Era
As a fan, I have never enjoyed a period of tennis as much as I have from 2004-present. 2003 was a generational shifting year in which the New Balls players won 3 of the 4 majors. In 2004, Roger Federer gave a dominating and aesthetically pleasing game to this new era. 2005 saw Marat Safin…
44 Majors Since 1990 by the Numbers: Australian Open
Pete Sampras won his first Grand Slam at the 1990 US Open and eventually broke a long standing record for the most Grand Slam titles in men’s tennis in 2000. Sampras added one more slam in 2002 to set his total at 14. Roger Federer broke Pete Sampras’ record in 2009 and tallied an additional…
2013 US Open: Men’s Championship Prediction Djokovic vs. Nadal
2013 US Open Men’s Championship 1 Novak Djokovic vs. 2 Rafael Nadal The top two seeds meet in the final of the US Open just as happened in the 2013 Wimbledon championship match. Novak Djokovic has won 24 matches in Grand Slam play in 2013, and Rafa has won 13. Yet, they each have 1…
2013 US Open Women’s Final Analysis
The First Set: Windy Start Serena and Vika both struggled early with the windy conditions, but through the first 10 games of the match Vika seemed more comfortable. The trouble for her was that she was tied at 5-5. With Serena serving at 4-5, Vika forced two deuces, but could not generate a break point/set…
Serena as the GOAT? Depends
Serena Williams has won so many big prizes and played tennis at such an exceptionally high level that GOAT questions arise whenever she is close to adding another major title. I recently, tried to clarify some of the issues surrounding the men’s GOAT debate by offering three lenses for viewing the problem. I think these categories…
US Open 2013 Weekend Quick Hits
Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer have met at every slam except for the US Open. That seems apt to change as both men are in good to frightening form. Sloane Stephens has a lot going for her in terms of mobility, power etc. I like her chances to make big strides over then next 18…
2 out of 3 in Men’s Slam Play?
I have seen a number of columns pop up discussing the possibility of switching Grand Slam play to 2 out of 3 sets for men. Here are two of them: Billie Jean King’s take and Drew Franklin’s take First, I Disagree Having tournament of 2 out of 3 sets matches with a day off between matches…
Tennis Abides: Dan Martin on Tennis and Life 