TODAY sees the second round of matches take place in Group A of the ATP tour finals from the O2 Arena in London.
First up on court is the world number five Juan Martin del Potro taking on world number seven Fernando Verdasco . These two have never played each other on the ATP tour, their only one previous meeting was at the Segovia Challenger in Spain in 2006 which del Potro won in a third set tie break.
Both players are having their best ever seasons on the tour with del Potro capturing his first Grand Slam title at the US Open and Verdasco reached his first Grand Slam semi final at the Australian Open, an achievement that saw the Spaniard break into the world's top ten.
These two both lost their opening round robin matches in Group A and therefore both will be looking to get points on the board.
Verdasco gave Federer a scare by taking a set from the world number one in the opening round of matches, but he is coming up against an Argentinian who has one of the most powerful serves on the tour so I can see a victory here for del Potro
Verdict: Juan Martin del Potro 6-4 6-4
The second match sees what will probably be the most intriguing gamer of Group A as world number one Roger Federer steps on court with Britain's favourite,Andy Murray .
These two have met each other on nine previous occasions and Murray has an impressive record against the fifteen time grand slam champion winning six of their nine meetings. One of those wins came in the round robin stage of the season ender last year in Shanghai.
Federer has a 7-0 winning record in second round robin matches, however after putting in a below par performance against Verdasco in the first round, I think Murray will be a very tough test for the world number one.
Murray has solid ground strokes with a low error rate. Murray is one of the best tacticians on the tour with the ability to change his game in the blink of an eye in order to surprise his opponents. He has a really strong first serve, one of the best in this tournament and because of this I think he can cause an upset and win his second match to go top of the group.
Verdict: Andy Murray 2-6 6-4 7-5
Tuesday 24 November 2009
Monday 23 November 2009
ATP Tour finals- DAY 2 PREVIEW
THE second day of the ATP tour finals sees the opening games from Group B as world number two Rafael Nadal and world number three Novak Djokovic are both in action in the 02 arena.
Nadal, one of the favourites to take the season ending crown goes up against Sweden's ,
Robin Soderling and no doubt the Spaniard will be looking for revenge against the man who is the only player to beat Nadal at Roland Garros.
Nadal had a 3-0 winning record against Soderling before their fourth round meeting at the French Open this year. This will be their fifth meeting and it comes on a stage that Nadal has played on only twice (2006 and 2007) where on both occasions he reached the semi finals.
Soderling is playing at the ATP final for the first time and has had a tremendous season thus far, although he only qualified due to Andy Roddick 's injury, he deserves to be there in my opinion and will put up a stern test for the world number two.
The Swede is known for his powerful game hitting both hard forehands and serves which makes it very difficult for opponents to break. He is one of the only players on the tour whose backhand is as strong as his forehand so with a variety of shots to select from I think Soderling will take Nadal to three sets, although in the end I think Nadal will come out on top
Verdict: Rafael Nadal 6-4 4-6 6-2
The second match from Group B sees Novak Djokovic taking on world number six, Nikolay Davydenko .
These two met most recently at last months Shanghai masters where Davydenko edged out the Serb in the semi finals. They have an even head to head record going into today's game with two wins apiece.
Djokovic is the in form player going into this tournament having won 18 of his last 19 matches since the US Open, with his only loss coming against Davydenko.
Djokovic won this tournament last year and is one of my favourites to reach the final this year, although I don't think he'll win it. However he comes up against a Russian who he hasn't had the best success against.
Davydenko employs an offensive baseline game, using hard, penetrating ground strokes on both wings. He hits the ball extremely early which generates immense power and depth resembling former World No. 1 Andre Agassi. Davydenko's best shot is his backhand which he can hit down the line, cross court or with extreme angles.
However Davydenko's main weaknesses are his serve and his inability to close out games which is why I think Djokovic will have a comfortable victory here.
Verdict: Novak Djokovic 6-2 6-3
Nadal, one of the favourites to take the season ending crown goes up against Sweden's ,
Robin Soderling and no doubt the Spaniard will be looking for revenge against the man who is the only player to beat Nadal at Roland Garros.
Nadal had a 3-0 winning record against Soderling before their fourth round meeting at the French Open this year. This will be their fifth meeting and it comes on a stage that Nadal has played on only twice (2006 and 2007) where on both occasions he reached the semi finals.
Soderling is playing at the ATP final for the first time and has had a tremendous season thus far, although he only qualified due to Andy Roddick 's injury, he deserves to be there in my opinion and will put up a stern test for the world number two.
The Swede is known for his powerful game hitting both hard forehands and serves which makes it very difficult for opponents to break. He is one of the only players on the tour whose backhand is as strong as his forehand so with a variety of shots to select from I think Soderling will take Nadal to three sets, although in the end I think Nadal will come out on top
Verdict: Rafael Nadal 6-4 4-6 6-2
The second match from Group B sees Novak Djokovic taking on world number six, Nikolay Davydenko .
These two met most recently at last months Shanghai masters where Davydenko edged out the Serb in the semi finals. They have an even head to head record going into today's game with two wins apiece.
Djokovic is the in form player going into this tournament having won 18 of his last 19 matches since the US Open, with his only loss coming against Davydenko.
Djokovic won this tournament last year and is one of my favourites to reach the final this year, although I don't think he'll win it. However he comes up against a Russian who he hasn't had the best success against.
Davydenko employs an offensive baseline game, using hard, penetrating ground strokes on both wings. He hits the ball extremely early which generates immense power and depth resembling former World No. 1 Andre Agassi. Davydenko's best shot is his backhand which he can hit down the line, cross court or with extreme angles.
However Davydenko's main weaknesses are his serve and his inability to close out games which is why I think Djokovic will have a comfortable victory here.
Verdict: Novak Djokovic 6-2 6-3
Saturday 21 November 2009
ATP Tour Final- DAY 1 PREVIEW
THIS season’s ATP tour final in London begins on Sunday and Britain's Andy Murray will open the event as he takes on Argentina’s Juan Martin Del Potro .
Murray is the ATP tour titles leader with six trophies this season and having won sixty four of his seventy four matches this season, the Brit will no doubt me the favourite against this seasons’ US Open Champion.
These two have played each other on five previous occasions with Murray winning four, the last meeting was in the final of the Montreal Masters, one of Murray’s six tournament triumphs.
Del Potro, despite being six foot six inches tall, is one of the best movers on the tour. He is an offensive base-liner with a powerful serve and flat ground stroke. His main strength is his forehand but also has a very consistent two handed backhand. I think Del Potro will put up a good fight against Murray, I can see this match going the distance with a couple of tie breaks, but Murray will come out on top.
Verdict: Andy Murray 7-6 6-7 6-4
The second match on the opening day also comes from Group A as Roger Federer takes on Fernando Verdasco , a player Federer has never lost to.
Federer has won this tournament four times and is facing a Spaniard who he has a 3-0 winning record against.
Verdasco, who reached the Australian Open semi final in January has had a pretty impressive season with a 52-22 winning record in 2009, however he is up against a player who has won a record fifteen Grand Slam titles.
I expect nothing other than a Federer win. I can’t see Verdasco winning a set but with the hard court being his best surface he won’t lie down without a fight. Verdasco is a left handed player whose serve shows the characteristics of a left hander with the majority being sliced with a lot of spin. This type of serve will help him win a few games but Federer should come through pretty comfortably
Verdict: Roger Federer 6-4 6-3
Murray is the ATP tour titles leader with six trophies this season and having won sixty four of his seventy four matches this season, the Brit will no doubt me the favourite against this seasons’ US Open Champion.
These two have played each other on five previous occasions with Murray winning four, the last meeting was in the final of the Montreal Masters, one of Murray’s six tournament triumphs.
Del Potro, despite being six foot six inches tall, is one of the best movers on the tour. He is an offensive base-liner with a powerful serve and flat ground stroke. His main strength is his forehand but also has a very consistent two handed backhand. I think Del Potro will put up a good fight against Murray, I can see this match going the distance with a couple of tie breaks, but Murray will come out on top.
Verdict: Andy Murray 7-6 6-7 6-4
The second match on the opening day also comes from Group A as Roger Federer takes on Fernando Verdasco , a player Federer has never lost to.
Federer has won this tournament four times and is facing a Spaniard who he has a 3-0 winning record against.
Verdasco, who reached the Australian Open semi final in January has had a pretty impressive season with a 52-22 winning record in 2009, however he is up against a player who has won a record fifteen Grand Slam titles.
I expect nothing other than a Federer win. I can’t see Verdasco winning a set but with the hard court being his best surface he won’t lie down without a fight. Verdasco is a left handed player whose serve shows the characteristics of a left hander with the majority being sliced with a lot of spin. This type of serve will help him win a few games but Federer should come through pretty comfortably
Verdict: Roger Federer 6-4 6-3
Wednesday 4 November 2009
Serena wins all Williams final
SUNDAY saw the final of the Sony Ericsson Championships take place in Doha. The match saw Venus Williams , last year's Doha champion, taking on her sister Serena Williams who, having done better in the competition than Dinara Safina , was the new world number one.
Serena went into the final having not lost a game yet. She comfortably beat Elena Dementieva and Svetlana Kuznetsova and saved a match point against her sister in the round robin stage. Venus on the other hand did struggle a little in the group stages. She suffered a shock defeat in her opening game losing to Dementieva and when she lost to Serena, it looked as though the reigning champion might not qualify for the semi finals.
Venus beat Kuznetsova in her final group game, but she had to rely on other results to determine whether or not she would advance in the tournament.
Venus can have Kuznetsova to thank for her place in the semi as the French Open champion defeated her compatriot Elena Dementieva to deny the Russian a place in the semis and send Williams through along with her sister.
The semi finals turned out to be comfortable for the Williams sisters, more so for Serena as she raced to a one set lead against the 19- year old Dane, Caroline Wozniacki . Wozniacki broke Serena in the first game of the second set, but was then forced to retire with an abdominal injury, her retirement handed Serena a place in the year end final.
Venus, although advanced, struggled a little against long term rival Jelena Jankovic losing the first set. The match went to three sets but the American came out on top, just as she did against Jankovic at this stage last year.
The match between these two in the final, was their twenty third meeting. Serena led the head to head 12-10 and had won the last three encounters.
The match didn't turn out to be the classic we all expected as both women practically hobbled on to court both with their legs heavily strapped. Serena got off to the better start of the two racing into a 6-2 lead in only thirty minutes. The new world number one only dropped four points in her four service games and managed to break Venus' serve twice in what was a one sided first set.
The second set was a serving masterclass as two of the most powerful women in tennis history produced a serving display that will not be matched on the WTA tour for years to come. As a result of the quality serving, the second set saw no breaks and barely any deuces and went to a tie break.
Serena took control of that tie break as she rushed to a 5-1 lead. Venus managed to fight back a little reducing the deficit to 5-4 but with Serena serving Venus looked in a lot of trouble. The world number one served a powerful ace and hit a huge forehand winner to record the points she needed to confirm victory taking the tie break 7-4.
This victory was her second Sony Ericsson Championship, as she won the title back in 2001. Venus, who was the reigning champion now loses the head to head record between the two 13-10.
No doubt Venus will look to exact revenge against her sister in January's Australian Open. A tournament where her sister is the current champion. I don't see an all Williams final in Melbourne, but should they meet in the semis I think Venus can upset Serena.
Final Score:
Serena def Venus 6-2 7-6
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