World Tennis Ratings

5 Reasons The U.S. Open Cannot Compete With Wimbledon

admin — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Here are five reasons why the US Open in New York will never be able to compete with Wimbledon:

1. Grass court tennis always better to watch then hard court tennis. Maybe it’s just the fact that the idea of playing on grass is more interesting then playing on hard court. Whatever the reason is, the fast grass court is always a lot more interesting to watch.

2. The crowd’s at the All England Club always seems to be a bit more into it then the crowds at Flushing Meadows. With possibly the exception of the nighttime crowds at Arthur Ashe Court, the crowds at Wimbledon always seems a bit happier to be there.

3. The best tennis out of the most exciting players. While winning a US Open is great, the chance to win Wimbledon (or another Wimbledon) just seems to bring the best out of players who seem to play their best tennis on the grass courts.

4. The history. You cannot compete with the history that you find on the hallowed Wimbledon grounds. From Court to Borg, this is where the true Champions ruled the tennis world.

5. The outer courts. If you think that Centre Court may be a bit stuffy, take a trip out to the outer courts, where fans camp out all day to see the “lesser players” play the best matches.

Has Nadal Officially Taken The Crown From Federer?

admin — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0000

In some ways you kind of have to feel sorry for Roger Federer. Here you have arguably the best tennis player in the history of the men’s game who has won more Grand Slam’s then anyone else. And while he may not be as dominate as he once was, he still finds himself in the Semi’s and Final’s of most tournament. With all of that, though, all anyone seems to want to talk about is whether or not Rafael Nadal has overtaken him as the best player on the tour. The problem with that kind of questions is that it’s unfair. It’s like comparing apples to oranges and does a disservice to each player.

If you want to get technical, yes, Nadal has played better the last couple of years. Nadal won three Grand Slams in 2010 while Federer won one. But Nadal is also five years younger then Federer. In men’s tennis, that’s a big difference. Will Nadal ever break Federer’s record of 16 Grand Slam’s? Nadal currently has nine so it’s possible. The problem is, Nadal has been proun to injuries in past years, and they both have to deal with Novak Djokovic who has quitely become a force on the tour. There is a good shot that Federer has another couple of titles in his back pocket, so you just have to keep watching.

Replay System In Tennis Is Best In Pro Sports

admin — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Replay systems in sports are starting to play a much bigger role. Tennis has embraced technology and use a replay system that is better than any other sports. The Hawk-Eye system has been used with great results in some of the biggest tournaments possible since 2006.The tennis replay system involves a complex computer system that visually tracks the movement of the ball. It uses mathematics and other scientific systems to determine the most likely path the ball is moving. This system then can be used to determine if a ball was in or out which is one of the most important calls that need to be made in any match. What makes this system so great is that it does its best to eliminate human error. Even the NFL’s system of replay involves referees interrupting the rules and then visually looking to see what the correct call should be. Not all referees would agree on how the call should be made, and human errors happen in these situations. Tennis uses math and science to get the calls right. This helps to eliminate any bias that could be there from officials, and helps eliminate any mistakes humans can make. Using technology to get calls correct should be used in all sports.

Wozniacki Wins Her Way to 1

www.worldtennisratings.com — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0000

It takes a look back over the course of the year to see how quickly the tennis landscape can change. It may have only been months ago, even those in the know could sit back and wonder to themselves, “what in the world is a Wozniacki?” Now as we enter a fresh slate of tennis for 2011, Caroline Wozniacki is the hottest name on the women’s tennis circuit, whether a casual fan or all-out tennis addict with the direct tv package to prove it. Though Wozniacki has yet to hoist the hardware of a Grand Slam tournament, no player, male or female, racked up W’s quite like the Danish 20-year old to close out the year.When the final dust cleared at December’s end, not only is Wozniacki well entrenched in tennis vernacular, but it is also synonymous with ITF Women’s Singles World Champion and Year End Number One, among the elite honors the sport has to offer. Winning six WTA singles titles in 2010, Wozniacki paced all women, with Kim Clijsters following in close pursuit with 5. No other woman, however, won more than two.Yet Grand Slam tournaments have still posed a relative problem for the youngster, even as she plays better tennis on a regular basis than any peer. Wozniacki has only advanced to the finals in one such event in her still early career, losing to Clijsters in the 2009 U.S. Open by a score of 7-5, 6-3. Not to say she performed poorly, Wozniacki advanced to the Quarterfinals in the 2010 French Open, while advancing all the way to the semis in the 2010 U.S. Open. All in all, Wozniacki posted a 15-4 record in Grand Slam tennis on the year, though for 4 losses are ample to leave one trophiless. It’s far too early for such a talented young woman to begin to fret for her future. The Grand Slams will come in due time.

Can’t spell 2010 without two 0′s

www.worldtennisratings.com — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Another year will pass without a title for two of the more prominent names in Men’s Tennis, neither of whom has emerged victorious from a Grand Slam title. Nikolay Davydenko and Andy Murray are no stranger to winning. In fact, among active players on the ATP Tour, Davydenko and Murray rank sixth and eighth in terms of wins, respectively. Comparable players to Andy Roddick, Carlos Moya, Novak Djokovic and Juan Carlos Ferrero, both Davydenko and Murray are in danger of becoming what Dan Marino is to football and Charles Barkley is to basketball, just as talented as their peers but without the top level hardware to show for it. As the current contenders for the dubious honor of “Best Tennis Player Alive without a Grand Slam,” the question remains which play will break through first.For Davydenko, the issue is much more pressing. Just 1 year away from the 30 plateau, soon his best tennis days may be behind him. Some have already questioned whether Federer is on the downslope of his career, Davydenko is two months his senior. Murray, on the other hand is just 23 years old, having already racked up 14 titles to Davydenko’s 19, with plenty of tennis left to play. Though both still certainly have the time and talent to win on the biggest stage, perhaps the biggest obstacles facing both players are the two biggest names in Men’s Tennis. Just as Davydenko is nearly the same age as Federer, Murray is 11 months younger than the sport’s current top dog, Rafael Nadal. With similar total time on the ATP Tour, the combination of Federer and Nadal has taken home 22 total grand slams next to Davydenko and Murray’s collective goose egg. It’s plain and simple a tough time to be a male tennis player ranked anywhere below the top two. Though players like Lleyton Hewitt, Roddick, Moya, Djokovic and Ferrero have all managed to sneak a Grand Slam win, fate has not so smiled in their direction. Of this group, only Hewitt has more than the lone Grand Slam title with a lofty two. The bet here is both Davydenko and Murray realize their Grand Slam aspirations before their careers come to a close, however, it won’t be without a little luck. Here’s to hoping every dog has its day.

Has Federer Peaked?

www.worldtennisratings.com — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 16:03:58 +0000

Rafael Nadal is on a roll. Plain and simple. Winning three consecutive Grand Slam titles to assert himself atop the tennis ranks. Unfortunately for Federer fans, Nadals success has a direct correlation with Federer’s struggles each player has historically served as the major roadblock for the other’s succes. Now with Federer falling early in major tournaments, the ying to his yang has taken advantage, beating Federer head to head and lasting longer when other opponents got to him first.Currently, Federer has dropped to 3 in the world, after losing in the French Open, Wimbledon and US Open. However, he did win the Australian Open at the year’s onset, the fourth Aussie crown on his extensive resume. Mired in his current title drought, hardly a drought though by his terms it is indeed, is it time to write off the 29-year old Fed Express?Absolutely not, Federer is still under 30, and with tennis far less demanding than contact sports around the world, athletes can not only survive but thrive well into their third decade. Tennis is cyclical, in Federer’s string of dominance from 2005 to 2008, the same analysts wrote of Nadal, saying he wouldn’t return to peak form. Nadal will have his day in the sun, but like all sunny days, the clouds will once again come out. Bad luck, savvy adjustments by opponents, the reason for Federer’s recent fall from grace isn’t easily apparent, but don’t bet it’s because he simply doesn’t have the talent anymore. At some in the next 2 to 3 years, Federer will re-stake his claim as the top tennis player in the world. At the very least expect the same flip-a -coin competitive intrigue he had only a year or so ago with Nadal.

Women’s Wimbledon Preview

admin — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 17:30:17 +0000

Much like the men’s game, the women’s side of the sport is dominated by two elite players that shine above the rest, and in this case they are sisters. Venus and Serena Williams have dominated Wimbledon, and Women’s Tennis for that matter, like few before them. Venus won the tournament 2 years ago, for the 5^th time in her career, while Serena is the event’s defending champion, looking to defend her 2009 crown. Since Lindsay Davenport defeated Steffi Graf in 1999 to win the title, every Wimbledon women’s final has featured at least one of the Williams sisters, with the exception of 2006. While the sisters sit atop the seeding, the talent gap isn’t quite as large as in the men’s bracket. Here is a lot at a list of female competitors who could make the 2006 anomaly a repeat occurrence.

Samantha Stosur Coming off a victory over Serena at Roland Garros, Stosur is at least confident in her ability to best one of the dominant sisters. While she was upset in the finals by Francesca Shiavone, the 6^th seeded Strosur has shown promise in the singles game since switching her focus from doubles at the onset of the year.
Maria Sharapova Sharapova is one of few women in the field with a Wimbledon championship to her credit. While her 2004 title seems like ages ago, the Serbian bombshell is still only 23 years old with plenty of gas in the tank. After a disappointing second round defeat last year, her first Wimbledon since undergoing shoulder surgery, Sharapova looks to bounce back and leave the All England Club victorious for a second time.
Justine Henin Perhaps more of a nostalgia pick than a legitimate threat, Henin has come out of retirement this year, needing only a Wimbledon victory to complete the elusive Career Grand Slam. While grass has historically been her worst surface, Henin will surely be a fan favorite as she fights an uphill battle from her 17-seeded position.

Wimbledon Way Back

admin — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 17:25:39 +0000

We’re only days away from the start of the most respected and well-known tournament in professional Tennis, so in preparation let’s take a moment to reflect on where this great game and championship came from.Lawn tennis was first created as a sport in the 1870s by Walter Clopton Wingfield, after which the famous All England Croquet Club added tennis to its club activities and renamed itself the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. This is the private club that hosts the Wimbledon Tournament every summer. The very first tournament was held in 1877, with a final that was attended by only about 200 people, each paying just one shilling. The grounds of this club have moved and grown over the last two centuries, and today it is located on Church Road in Wimbledon. This has been the club’s home since 1922. The famous Centre Court, where championships are played, gets its name from the unique layout of the grounds, with one main court surrounded by four other courts.It wasn’t until 1884 that a ladies championship was included in the annual Wimbledon tournament. Men’s Doubles was also included for the first time that year. As the tournament expanded and gained international popularity, Wimbledon experienced its first foreign champion when May Sutton won the ladies singles in 1905. During World War II the club remained open but was used for military and civil defense purposes. During the war a bomb hit Centre court, causing considerable damage. Another historical win came during the fifties when Althea Gibson became the first black champion of the tournament.The current facilities have undergone a number of changes and reconstruction, always with the goal of improving the tournament and experience for both players and spectators. A long term plan was laid out in 1993, which included a number of provisions for improvements and updates to be made to enhance the grounds. The ultimate goal has become to remain the top tennis tournament in the world.

The Ups and Downs of Andy Roddick

admin — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 17:21:41 +0000

For a player of his talent and someone who holds the record for the fastest serve in tennis history, many people feel that Andy Roddick‘s career doesn’t reflect just how incredible his game truly is. A losing streak early in his career, while he was still in the juniors, almost led Roddick to quit. After being convinced to give the game a little longer, he finally had a breakthrough in 2003 and became the number one player in the world, and he was only 21. Unfortunately for Roddick, Roger Federer jumped onto the scene just as Roddick was hitting his stride. The next few years were marked by a few big wins, but mostly mediocre performances as Federer and another rising star, Rafael Nadal stole the spotlight.Roddick’s game has also had a few setbacks due to injuries. On multiple occasions, Roddick had to remove himself from a tournament or play due to knee, hamstring, shoulder, and neck injuries. Roddick has also changed coaches several times. He has been with current coach, Larry Stefanki, since December 2008.Roddick has won a number of smaller, less known tournaments throughout his career, yet has only brought home one Grand Slam title, winning the 2003 US Open. There seems to have been a recent comeback for Roddick with strong performances in the last few years and his recent ranking of 8^th in the world, but one place that Roddick never seems to be able to conquer is Centre Court. He has lost in the Wimbledon final three times, having been defeated by Federer every time. With the start of this tournament only a few days away, many are wondering if maybe, just maybe, this year will finally be Roddick’s turn on that famous grass court.

Rafael Nadal”The King of Clay”

admin — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 17:16:00 +0000

Seven time Grand Slam single winner, 2008 Olympic gold medalist, eighteen time ATP World Tour Masters 1000 winner, five time French Open title winner, and the current No. 1 tennis player in the worldat age 24, Rafael ‘Rafa’ Nadal Parera‘s list of accomplishments is stunning. Ever since he turned pro in 2000, Rafael has earned his nickname as “the King of Clay” for being the greatest clay court player of all time. Born in Manacor, Spain on June 3, 1986, Rafael was introduced to tennis when he was 3 years old and has been coached by his uncle, Toni Nadal, ever since.Ever since 2004, Nadal has had a steady rivalry with previous No. 1 Roger Federer. Some critics even consider their rivalry to be the greatest in tennis historyand it’s easy to see why. Nadal was ranked World No.2 behind Federer for a record 160 consecutive weeks (from 2004-2008) before he earned the top spot in August 2008 in what has been called the greatest match of all time, only to lose it back to Federer in 2009. Nadal regained World No. 1 title on June 7, 2010, much to Federer’s dismay.Nadal’s playing style is a consistent mix of aggressive behind the baseline shots, heavy topspin on ground strokes, consistency, fast footwork, dropshots, and optimal court coverage. His serve, however, is considered a weak point in his game. His racket of choice is the Babolat AeroPro Drive GT Racquet, which has helped him enhance his already perfected shots. Though still considered a clay court specialist, Nadal aces any type court he steps on. He holds grand slam records on grass, hard courts, and clay courts alikeeven winning five Master series titles on hard courts and an Olympic gold medal.Be sure to catch Nadal in his next matches as he continues to improve and compete with Federer for the World No. 1 spot.