The season’s third Grand Slam is here. Excitement is at fever pitch in Australia for the chances of new world number one Ash Barty, but this will be no easy task for the Queenslander to win two Slams in a row. The big W has made the grass slower than Mr. Magoo’s driving but we’ll go with it and hope for at least some serve and volley. Continue reading Wimbledon Preview 2019
Genuine, humble and respectful are the words coach Craig Tyzzer used to describe the new World Number 1 Ash Barty. They are exactly what you’d like to hear about any sporting champion. Last night in defeating Germany’s Julia Georges in the Birmingham final Barty became the first Australian women to ascend to the top ranking since Evonne Goolagong Cawley did it in 1976. Continue reading The rise of Ash Barty
Lets get down to the nitty gritty. I love that phrase. Rafa Nadal has never lost a French Open Final and this will be his 12thfinal in Paris. That’s a crazy number. His only two losses at Roland Garros were to an out of this world performance from Robin Soderling in 2009 and a locked in Novak Djokovic in 2015. Continue reading French Open Mens Final Preview 2019
I tweeted this a few months back that it was just a matter of time before Ash Barty would win a Singles Grand Slam event, well now the Queenslander has a chance as she’ll take on the Czech lefty Marketa Vondrousova who hasn’t dropped a set this whole tournament. Continue reading French Open Womens Final Preview 2019
It’s the dream matchup we didn’t dare possible before this French Open started, we didn’t think we’d see it again on the dirt of Paris. Tomorrow nights’ semi final between two champions who have pushed each other since they first met in Miami in 2004 will play for the 39thtime. Rafa leads the head to head 23-15, although Federer has won the last five but Rafa leads their French Open matches 5-0. This will be tasty. Continue reading Federer vs Nadal 39
The big 3 cruise
Federer, Novak and Rafa have all looked good in their opening rounds; only Rafa has dropped a set, last night to David Goffin, the Belgian roadrunner. Federer was tested in the 3rdround by Casper Ruud, who took him to a tiebreak in the 3rdset but came through in straight sets, hitting 11 aces and 52 winners, the Swiss plays Leonardo Mayer next who he leads 3-0 in the head to heads. Continue reading French Open Thoughts Week 1