Category Archives: Singles Matches

Singles matches that are not top world news but worth a mention.

Australian Open 2016

The first Major of 2016 starts on Monday January 18, 2016 with the qualifying. Are you ready for this? Some of the top women players starting the tournament with injuries that may lead to their exiting early. Serena Williams left knee, Maria Sharapova left forearm, Simona Halep left Achilles heel injury. Others like Lucie Safarova with a chronic virorous already withdrawing. Stay tuned for more updates.

In the first round my two favorite players were defeated, Rafael Nadal and Simona Halep. Rafa played against Fernando Verdasco and went five sets. It was a back and forth match however Verdasco was pounding  the ball in the last two sets with serves in the mid 130s mph and returning vicious lefty forehand winners and playing one of the best matches of his life.

Winning Ugly and More

Winning Ugly: Mental Warfare in Tennis By Brad Gilbert">Winning Ugly Bur Brad Gilbert After reading the book and highlighting many paragraphs I wanted to see if there was any improvement in my tennis strategy. I decided to play a buddy of mine that had improved his game and had bludgeoned me in three recent matches. He was a grinder and would move side to side and return shots that had previously been winners from my side of the court. Well the book gives many tips and does so specifically for that kind of player. The match wound up being a complete reversal of the previous three and finally I left the court a winner. I want to add that my physical game had not improved for that match and that it was only the strategy used in Brad Gilberts book that made the difference. Give it a read and raise your mental tennis game.

Rafael Nadal, The Long Road Back!

A lot of people are saying Rafael Nadal is no longer a competitive giant. That may or may not be true. The real question is "WHY"? Many say it's his confidence, others say well he's 29 now and got old due to his method of play. A major issue that seem's to be overlooked or ignored is the possibility of the long term effects of his appendectomy. In rare cases there is a higher risk for diseases including Crohn's disease. Any avid tennis fan that watches the tennis channel has heard about the effects Crohn's disease can have on a professional tennis player. In a recent medical study the  appendix has shown to be an organ needed to bring back the balance of good bacteria for digesting food and other issues the body has. I wonder has the Nadal family considered this if Rafael is not feeling like he should. Whatever the reason I hope Rafa has another huge comeback!

 

Rafael Nadal on the Come Back ???

The year has been a lean one for Rafael Nadal. Losing in the quarter final at Roland Garros and then an early exit at Wimbledon during the grass court season. Trying to get back on track before he begins the hard court season he took a wild card to enter the Bet at Home German Open Championship at Hamburg. Today he defeated Pablo Cuevas of Uruguay currently number 31 in the world 6-3, 6-2. To look at the score you would think Nadal rolled over Cuevas, however that was not the case. Rafa was broken a couple of times and seemed to be playing to far back in the court on serves. As usual Rafa came up with some nice moves like when he slipped and fell to the clay surface getting up to do a pirouette returning the ball and then after a few more returns won the point. Nadal needs a confidence booster and this tournament with 500 ATP points for the champion might just do the trick. Vamos Rafa!!!