Showing posts with label Rafa Nadal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rafa Nadal. Show all posts

Thursday, 18 February 2021

Australian Open - so far

 Well I didn’t manage to do my daily blog like I had planned, but what a tournament it has been!it has started of really positive and I was super happy as my personal favourites Venus and Serena Williams and Heather Watson all did really well to reach round two. 

Then both Heather Watson and Venus Williams went out in the first round and that was very disappointing to say the least, however I was still enjoying have Serena Williams and Rafa Nadal in the tournament.

Serena had been doing really well and seemed super fit and was serving well and chasing down incredible balls. Then yesterday she had a semi final match with Naomi Osaka and she started of reasonably well. 

Then all of a sudden her serve started to fail to her and then she started making all these unforced errors. It was all rather painful to watch and across the court their stood Naomi Osaka the younger and fitter version of Serena. 

In my heart in knew it would be a big stretch for Serena to win this tournament. As really and truly age is not on her side at 39, she fitness level is different and as I have watched her for over 20 years I know she cannot be at the top forever I don’t want to stop believing that shed can still win Grand Slams. 

Rafael Nadal was two sets up and ended up losing it in five sets! That too was a super shock but I am also confident that Rafa will come back and do better next time.

So  Naomi Osaka will take on American Jennifer Brady in the final and I wish her well. Naomi is working hard and showing all the traits of a champion.

Monday, 31 August 2015

US Open - Preview 2015

The US Open starts today and as usual it promises to be the best ever.. In the Women's draw Serena Williams is going for the Grand Slam record and vying for her 22nd Grand Slam..

This is not going to be easy and she is up against history and the burden of expectation and only time will tell if she can overcome the pressure and burden of expectation to win this 22nd Grand Slam. 

Another challenge for the title would be Petra Kivitova and after winning the New Haven this weekend she is now fully fit and could contend for title. 

Simona Halep is another contender for the title and she is yet to win a Grand Slam so she may win her maiden title. 

Garbine Murgurza is another contender for the title and after getting to the final Wimbledon, I would not be surprised if she made it to this final 

From a British prespective I am really hoping that Heather Watson can at least make it third round of this would be great from ranking points of view as she has never been past the first round. Which is a surprise as she won junior US Open. 

Johanna Konta has also made the main draw and I think she can realistically make it to the second round. 

Laura Robson is also in the main draw but she has been out so long with injury and has not played any warm up tournaments so should be interesting to see how well she does. 

The men's draw is more competitive and any of the top four men can win the title. I am hoping that Rafa Nadal will get his act together and get back to his winning ways. 

Roger Federer would love to win his 18th title however I don't believe that these days he can consistently win five set matches. 

Novak Djokovic is the firm favourite to win his 10th Grand Slam title and I personally would not bet against him but anything can happen. 

From a British prespective Andy Murray has a real realistic opportunity of winning his second US Open title. Hopefully he will overcome his semi -final problems  to make it to the final and win. 

Sunday, 31 May 2015

French Open - First week review

So it's been an eventful first week at the French Open and in the ladies draw Eugene Bouchard and Simona Halep have both been beaten. 

To be fair neither of them was a major surprise and I personally don't think either of them are top ten and they will both be lucky to still be in the top ten by the US Open. 

Heather Watson made to the second round before she was beaten by Sloane Stephens. By all accounts Heather was a bit of a disappointment and her serve and game was way off. 

I hoping she will turn this around for the grass court season and get back to being healthy and competitive on the court. 

Another surprise exit first round exit was Venus Williams and with her health problems and advancing age it was always going to be challenge.

 However Venus still believes she has a chance of winning and her best results have come in both the grass court and hard court season so we just have to wait to see. 

Venus's sister Serena Williams has had an up and down week. She has struggled both her second and third round matches, however would not bet against her reaching at least the final. 

The men's has been less eventful with all the favourites still in there. I am hoping Rafa Nadal can really turn his season around by winning this title. 

Andy Murray has been having a good clay court season so I would not bet against him making to to the final. 

Novak Djokovic has been really consistent so I would not bet against him making it to the final either. 

Then there is Roger Federer who has sailed through the first three rounds but I suspect when he comes up a better player it will be a real challenge for him to beat a better player in five sets. 

So both the men's and women's draw is looking exciting we should know by this time next week who the champions are.