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Monday 13 July 2015

Indian Tennis Golden Moments Sania and Leander Are Champs

#Wimbledon 2015

India witnessed glory on 12th and 13th July 2015 at Wimbledon.

Women's Doubles - Amazing Fightback
Tennis star #Sania #Mirza teamed up with Swiss legend #Martina #Hingis to become the first Indian woman to win a tennis Grand Slam on Saturday, 11th Jul 2015. What a feeling!!

In a three set edge-of-the-seat thriller, the duo beat Elena Vesnina-Ekaterina Makarova 5-7, 7-6, 7-5. What made the victory more sensational was that these two came back remarkably from 2-5 down in the third set to drawl level and eventually win the contest under the covered roof. Absolutely sensational! Sania dedicated her win to India's women and urged them to dream and pursue it. Wonderful feeling.
 
Mixed Doubles - Walk in the Park
On 12th evening, just after the men's singles final, India's tennis legend #Leander #Paes teamed up with #Martina #Hingis, yet again to win the mixed doubles crown.

The pair drubbed a hapless combination of Peya/Bohosh 6-1, 6-1 in under 40 minutes. Just amazing tennis from the two superstars to provide a master-class to newbies on tour. Lee is 42 and Hingis 34, both veterans (and old by tennis standards) but their skill and overall ability showed on Centre Court.

Leander has now won the mixed doubles crown 4 times, each time with a different partner
1999 - with Lisa Raymond
2003 - with Martina Navratilova
2010 - with Cara Black
2015 - with Martina Hingis

#ProudOfYou - Lee and Sania.
Well done Martina!!

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Djoker Reigns Supreme, Fedex Age Showing Up


#Djoker mesmerizes #Federer. Wins Clash of the Titans to lift the Wimbledon crown a third time! Who's going to stop him...
Posted by Who Will Win The Cup? on Sunday, July 12, 2015

Sunday 12 July 2015

Its SerenaSlam! Watch out CalendarSlam

#Serena #Williams completed #SerenaSlam by winning Wimbledon 2015 yesterday.
This was her 21st Grand Slam crown, just one shy of #Steffi  #Graf's 22, to become holder of the record in #tennis   #open #era. This was also her 8th Grand slam crown after age of 30, another record. Whats next for Serena? The #CalendarSlam is next with US open in a few weeks time! Way to go Serena....


Here's how she completed the #SerenaSlam
US Open 2014 bt. Caroline Wozniacki 6-3, 6-3
Aus Open 2015 bt. Maria Sharapova 6-3, 7-6
French Open 2015 bt. Lucie Safarova 6-3, 6-7, 6-2
Wimbledon 2015 bt. Garbine Muguruza 6-4, 6-4

Apart from the French Open final last month where she was really challenged by Lucie Safarova in a three setter, she seems to win these finals pretty easily. Just that champion instinct probably. She ups the game couple of notches in finals of tournaments to down her hapless opponents.

Her Grand Slam record now reads 21 - 4 (25 finals played, 21 victories, 4 losses) which is phenomenal. Her only final losses include

US Open 2001 lost to Venus Williams 2-6, 4-6
Wimbledon 2004 lost to Maria Sharapova 1-6, 4-6
Wimbledon 2008 lost to Venus Williams 5-7, 4-6
US Open 2011 lost to Samantha Stosur 2-6, 3-6 

Interestingly all her final losses have been straight-set losses as well. Twice to her elder sister Venus and more recently to the unfancied Samantha Stosur in US Open 2011. Since then she has won all US Open titles and the 2015 title will give her the CalendarSlam! You wouldn't bet against her to complete it with that kind of a record.

Overall titles of Serena in Grand Slams
Australian Open - 6
French Open - 3
Wimbledon - 6
US Open - 6

At 33, she has a couple of years definitely to push that record beyond everyone's reach you'd say?

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Wednesday 8 July 2015

Two Great Matches One Classic While One Houdini Escape

#Wimbledon 2015

The Championships of 2015 have produced some exciting tennis and results over the last 10 days. Seeds have tumbled, stumbled and mumbled along the way. However, two matches have caught imagination of the crowd and media alike. Both stunners ... one an absolute classic and the other one a lesson in resolute stubbornness!

The Classic
Without doubt, the greatest tennis match at this year's ‪#‎Championships‬ by a distance and we dare say this could go down as an all time classic too! Unfancied Heather Watson pushed top seed and World No.1 Serena Williams to the limit in their Round 3 match at Wimbledon.
After an easy first set to Serena, the match looked dead and buried for Heather. But the second set saw a major turnaround as she started stroking the ball beautifully, chasing every ball down and catching Serena completely off guard. She broke Serena and tied the score at 1 set apiece.
The decider began in favor of Heather again. She raced to a 3-0 lead and Serena for once didn't look like a multiple grand slam champion - tired, frustrated and clueless! But the true champion that she is, she hung on and brought all her experience into play breaking Heather in the next game and the next and tying at 3-3. Momentum shifting towards the champion.
Heather managed to hold her next game and then broke Serena yet again to go 5-4 up! Serving for the match, she needed nerves and temperament to put it past the top player but class of Serena showed as she broke her back and tied things and served beautifully to surge ahead 6-5.
Serving to stay in the match, Heather gave her absolute everything but Serena's overall ability and champion skill broke through her resilience and won an incredible match (Serena admitted this being one of the toughest matches of her career) 6-2, 4-6, 7-5 in over 2 hours of breathtaking tennis from the youngster challenging the champ.
Everyone in the crowd was supporting Heather and Serena was feeling that heat throughout. She had words for the chair umpire about crowd behavior distracting her during play.
Nevertheless, Heather will be the talk of tennis for years to come owing to this performance. Well done Heather and she'll definitely come back stronger in other tournaments. Serena marches on to her dream of the calendar grand slam!










The Houdini Escape
If the women produced a gem, the men weren't to be left behind.
Top seed and World No 1, #NovakDjokovic faced super serving #KevinAnderson (South Africa) seeded 13th in a 4th round match. 
Anderson started brilliantly. Much faster, supple and with intent. Although no serves were broken in the first set, Kevin looked stronger and deservedly won the tie breaker to go 1-0 up. Nothing to worry for Novak since he's master of long matches.
The second set began on the same note. Anderson breaking Novak and raced to a lead but Djoker caught up with him at the right time to force another tie-breaker. Once again, it was Anderson who looked better and he went 2-0 up. He was certainly welcoming thoughts of a great upset at Wimbledon. The crowd once again rallying behind the underdog.
But, champions are champions and it showed. Djokovic came out blazing in the third set to demolish Kevin 6-1. This shook up Anderson badly and the Serb No.1 was in his usual backs to wall recovery mode. He demonstrated similar clinical display in the fourth set to tie the match at 2-2.
Kevin was certainly out of it by the time fifth set began. The momentum and ability was with Novak and he kept powering his way through. Kevin hung on though before bad light forced play to stop.
When play resumed the next day, Kevin was hoping a change of momentum but Djokovic had nothing to with it. He powered and won the fifth set 7-5 to clinch a place in the quarterfinals.
Final score
Djokovic bt Anderson 6-7, 6-7, 6-1, 6-4, 7-5
A typical Houdini escape by Djoker!
Wonderful play from Kevin Anderson and he must have been dejected after being 2-0 up in the match. But, the masterclass he received from World No. 1 should stand him in good stead as he moves his way up in the rankings and future tournaments.

2 great games of tennis. 
Tennis, the winner all the way!

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Friday 3 July 2015

With Rafa Out And Seeds Falling It Gets Interesting

#WimbledonUnderway

If Day 1 belonged to the top players cruising through their first round matches, Day 2 saw some upsets in the women's draw to make things interesting. Top seeds #Serena and #Kvitova recorded easy wins though.

The upsets came in for 3rd Seed #Simona #Halep. Last year's semi finalist and seeded very high this year, Simona was expected to challenge the bigger seeds. What turned out was drab affair where she lost in straight sets.

Similar fate awaited last year's finalist Eugenie Bouchard losing again in straight sets.

In the men's draw, things were moving according to script with some casualties here and there until Dustin Brown decided to pull out something special against Rafael Nadal. Rafa is certainly not in his elements and with injuries he's moving a touch slow. Dustin took this opportunity to howcase his power and agility to outrun Nadal in four sets to cause the biggest upset of the Championships so far. 

Other casualties included Raonic going down to upcoming star Nick Kyrgios, Goffin beating Baghdatis, Krunic beating 19th ranked Errani from Italy, Matek-Sands beating Ana Ivanovic, 11th seed Pliskova going down to Vandeweghe.

Its all becoming very interesting as we approach Week 2 at the Championships!

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Monday 29 June 2015

Day 1 - Djokovic Signals His Intent With A Professional Win

#WimbledonUnderway

The wait was long and it was reaching impatient levels to get the #Championships underway. And so they did under wonderful and sunny #London skies!

Per #tradition, the Men's Singles #defending #champion opened proceedings on #Centre #Court. #Novak #Djokovic, looking in great shape to defend his crown but utterly disappointed by that final loss to #Warinka at #Roland #Garros two weeks ago, walked in to a huge ovation. 

His opponent, Phillip Kohlshreiber, seeded 33 was no easy push over. Phil is known for his stinging backhand and ability to stay in matches for long. He started well too. Although Novak broke him in the third game of the match, he broke back immediately in the next game to level scores at 2-2. The first set saw a see-saw battle and it was Phil who was looking sharper and fitter of the two.

As with champions, they know when to up the game and how to handle pressure situations. Novak did just that. He hung on and then brought in his tenacity and sublime skill to the fore. Game after game, he upped his ante on Phil and won the first set 6-4.

After that it was a matter of time really. Phil began to lose his sting and Novak was waiting for his opportunities to grab crucial points and surge ahead. Sets 2 and 3 went the same way.

Final Scoreline
Novak Djokovic bt Phillip Shreiberger 6-4, 6-4, 6-4

Other key games on Centre Court today involve 
#Glam #Doll #Maria #Sharapova
French Champion #Stan #Wawrinka

Important results so far on Day 1
Samantha Stosur beat Daniella Kovinic 6-4, 6-4
Radwanska beat Gallovits-Hall 6-2, 6-1
Nishikori and Bolelli have shared 1 set each
Lleyton Hewitt is fighting to stay in the championship against Nieminen in a gruelling 5 setter.

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Wednesday 24 June 2015

World Number 1 Who Never Won At Wimbledon

#WimbledonAwaits

There have been great Wimbledon champions over the years and some glorious matches too. But how many have made headlines for not winning #Wimbledon?

#Ivan #Lendl​ - will forever remain etched in the annals of Wimbledon​ history as the greatest #tennis player never to win #TheChampionships.

He dominated the men's scene through the mid and late eighties, winning every tournament and #grand #slam along the way, except this one.
 
He still holds record for being ranked #1 for a stupendous 157 weeks!

During this same period he reached the Wimbledon finals twice, 1986 and 1987 losing to teen sensation #Boris #Becker​ and unseeded and unfancied #Pat #Cash​ respectively (both matches in straight sets).

Every top player dreaded playing Ivan because he was "robot" like on the court - precise, composed and never tired. Never a crowd favourite due to his almost emotionless demeanour on court and outside it but once he walked in to play, he just churned win after win.

The crowd started loving him once his die-hard ambition to win the Wimbledon crown became public. He even offered to exchange all his grand slams for that one elusive title he so cherished.
1987 was his best chance and he floundered against Cash. After that, he came and tried year after year but the gen next had taken tennis to next level of powerplay. He couldn't handle that and retired Wimbledon trophy-less!

He seeked redemption when his protégé, #Andy #Murray​ won the Wimbledon title in 2013. He partly lived his dream of being the champion here and the crowd saluted the hero of yesteryears who came so near, yet so far from the greatest triumph in tennis!

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Monday 22 June 2015

Golden Moments - Goran Wins In His 14th Attempt

#WimbledonAwaits

As we move closer towards start of Wimbledon 2015, we are sharing some really golden moments from the past glory that this venue has produced over the years.

#Goran #Ivanisevic, a young Croatian, burst onto the tennis stage in late eighties (carrying forward a legacy of booming serves set by Boris Becker) and skittle opponents through sheer pace of his serves. His #aces mesmerized opponents, crowd and every critic around. The speed, precision and timing on those serves were amazing. But, his serve also became his weak point at times. In the quest to serve aces, he faulted, double faulted many times to throw away crucial games and even matches. His volatile temperament didn't help either.

His raw talent saw him rising up the tennis ladder very quickly on world stage.
In 1992, he demolished another super server youngster #Pete #Sampras in Wimbledon semi final to setup an amazing finals clash vs the flambuoyant and colorful youngster #Andre #Agassi. It was a game of Goran's serves vs Agassi' returns. As luck would have it, Agassi prevailed in that clash to win his first Wimbledon. Goran reflecting on what could have been!
Scoreline: 6-7. 6-4, 6-4, 1-6, 6-4 

Again in 1994, Goran stepped up the gas to setup a finals clash with #Pistol #Pete.
Both matching serve to serve, the first two sets went into tie-breaks and Pete with better overall technique managed to win both of them. A demoralized Goran lost the third 0-6 to hand over the finals to Pete.
Scoreline: 7-6, 7-6, 6-0

By 1998, Pete vs Goran was becoming a great duel of big servers. The difference? Pete was winning grand slams while Goran was missing out on them. After a gruelling 5-set semi final against Richard Krajicek, Goran stepped on centre court to meet Sampras once again. This time he was ready to give it back. Both shared the first two sets (again in tie-breaks), Pete won the third, while Goran roared back to win the fourth. This one had the making of a great final. At the final stretch though, it was Pete, once again, who raced ahead and won.
Scoreline: 6-7, 7-6. 6-4,3-6, 6-2

With all those final losses and age catching up, Goran was running out of time but he hung on coming back year after year to try and win the elusive Wimbledon crown. In 2001, a teenage sensation Roger Federer pushed Pete Sampras (the king of Wimbledon - 7 titles) out in the fourth round. Goran heaved a sigh of relief and pushed towards the final. Both semis were classics. Goran beating home favorite Henman in 5 sets while Pat Rafter beat Andre Agassi in a nail biter 5 set match.

When the two met on centre court, it was a case of who wanted it more badly.
They matched serve to serve, stroke to stroke, set to set.
At 2 sets apiece, it was shaping into a colossal duel and it continued in the 5th too
5-5, 6-6, 7-7, 8-7 and then Goran did what he had dreamt as a child and all those heart breaking losses! He broke Pat to win his first Wimbledon crown in 14 attempts and 4 finals.
Scoreline: 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 2-6, 9-7 

The crowd went wild, Goran's celebrations after that game were amazing and his dream had come true ultimately!!

True Golden moment from Wimbledon!

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