Novak Djokovic's remarkable year continued on Sunday as he won the Wimbledon title for the first time, conquering defending champion Rafael Nadal 6-4, 6-1, 1-6, 6-3. In the process, he confirmed his status as the world's number one player, a ranking that will be official on Monday.
Nadal simply had no answer to Djokovic. The Serbian was able to take control of the longer rallies and find timely winners to frustrate his opponent time and again. He also demonstrated his psychological edge, having now beaten Nadal in five consecutive finals this year.
Though his wobble in the third set suggested a five-set classic might be on the cards, Djokovic quickly recovered to trouble Nadal's serve once again and clinch the decisive break in the eighth game on the fourth set. When the Spaniard fired long in the following game, Djokovic could celebrate the most significant victory of his career - and he had no shortage of family members in attendance for the post-match party.
And so we now enter the Djokovic era. With Roger Federer stuttering and Nadal hitting a brick wall against the Serbian, the men's game has taken another gripping twist. Roll on the US Open.
Sunday, 3 July 2011
Cricket: Sri Lanka Take 2-1 Series Advantage
Sri Lanka's top order batsmen trumped England for the second straight game on Sunday en route to successfully chasing a target of 247 and moving into a 2-1 series lead. Mahela Jayawardene led from the front with 79 while youngster Dinesh Chandimal completed the job with an unbeaten 105.
After choosing to bat first, England relied heavily on captain Alastair Cook, who made a gritty, patient 119 from 143 balls with 13 fours to anchor the hosts' innings and bring a defendable total within reach. Kevin Pietersen made a breezy 41 but England's hopes of posting 275+ were rattled by the early dismissals of Craig Kieswetter (3) and Jonathan Trott (2). A total of 246-7 left the door open for the Sri Lankans.
Tim Bresnan pegged back Tillakaratne Dilshan's off stump early in Sri Lanka's reply but Jayawardene and Chandimal played with real confidence, taking on the short ball and exploiting the powerplay. Stuart Broad again and Jade Dernbach made few inroads as the tourists sauntered past the 100-mark in the 17th over. Well ahead of the rate and with nine wickets in hand, it was theirs to lose.
Even the lose of Jayawardene could not derail the Sri Lankans. Sangakkara steadied the ship alongside Chandimal and England never looked like a sparking the kind of collapse that was required for a comeback. The Sri Lankans created a little late drama as Angelo Mathews went into ultra-defensive mode to allow Chandimal to complete his ton but the tourists wrapped up the win with ten balls to spare.
The series now shifts to Trent Bridge on July 6 - and the England camp have some tough decisions to make over the coming days. The bowling attack has floundered since the first ODI and fresh legs and minds might be the only way to wrestle control back from the Sri Lankan batsmen.
After choosing to bat first, England relied heavily on captain Alastair Cook, who made a gritty, patient 119 from 143 balls with 13 fours to anchor the hosts' innings and bring a defendable total within reach. Kevin Pietersen made a breezy 41 but England's hopes of posting 275+ were rattled by the early dismissals of Craig Kieswetter (3) and Jonathan Trott (2). A total of 246-7 left the door open for the Sri Lankans.
Tim Bresnan pegged back Tillakaratne Dilshan's off stump early in Sri Lanka's reply but Jayawardene and Chandimal played with real confidence, taking on the short ball and exploiting the powerplay. Stuart Broad again and Jade Dernbach made few inroads as the tourists sauntered past the 100-mark in the 17th over. Well ahead of the rate and with nine wickets in hand, it was theirs to lose.
Even the lose of Jayawardene could not derail the Sri Lankans. Sangakkara steadied the ship alongside Chandimal and England never looked like a sparking the kind of collapse that was required for a comeback. The Sri Lankans created a little late drama as Angelo Mathews went into ultra-defensive mode to allow Chandimal to complete his ton but the tourists wrapped up the win with ten balls to spare.
The series now shifts to Trent Bridge on July 6 - and the England camp have some tough decisions to make over the coming days. The bowling attack has floundered since the first ODI and fresh legs and minds might be the only way to wrestle control back from the Sri Lankan batsmen.
Saturday, 2 July 2011
Football: Flashback to Nigeria at World Cup 1994
The 1994 World Cup final has gone down in history as one of the worst of all-time but the tournament itself was anything but dull. Legends of the game lived up to their billing and minnows sprung surprises at every turn. From Romario and Roberto Baggio to Gabriel Batistuta and Hristo Stoichkov, there was no shortage of heroic performances.
But Nigeria's emergence still stands out as one of the tournament's highlights. Here we look back on the Nigerians' run at the 1994 World Cup -
But Nigeria's emergence still stands out as one of the tournament's highlights. Here we look back on the Nigerians' run at the 1994 World Cup -
Basketball: Chandler, Nene, West Likely to Hit Free-Agent Market
The NBA lockout has made the free agent process that bit tougher for this summer, with teams unsure of the salary cap that will be imposed and therefore unwilling to overcommit on big money contracts. It is just another area of uncertainty in the NBA world at present.
While the 2011 free agent class is not a patch on the star-studded 2010 group - featuring LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Amar'e Stoudemire and Joe Johnson - there are still several players up for grabs who could transform a franchise from also-ran to contender.
The Dallas Mavericks have a tough decision to make on Tyson Chandler, the imposing presence credited with improving the team's defense and instilling a new toughness within the locker room. Chandler will attract huge interest from a range of teams - including contenders like the Miami Heat and basement dwellers with money to spend like the Toronto Raptors - but the Mavericks appear reluctant to offer a new contract until seeing where the salary cap falls, given that they have a number of other free agents to tie down to new deals too.
Chandler has given every indication that he would prefer to stay in Dallas but the contract he is offered might not match up to other offers that come his way. The Mavericks are committed to re-signing JJ Barea, Carun Butler and potentially DeShawn Stevenson and Brian Cardinal too.
Meanwhile, the Denver Nuggets risk losing skilled Brazilian Nene, who has opted to test free agency rather than sign an extention. He is expected to command offers of more than $13 million a year but again there will be hesitation in terms of committing to a big deal. The fear is that a hard salary cap emerges and teams get trapped in hefty deals agreed prior to the verdict.
Nene has won his battles with injury and cancer and has produced strong numbers over the past two seasons. He was a key part of the Nuggets' run to the Western Conference Finals in 2009, alongside Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups, and has earned a spot among the top centers in the game today. He has a solid jump shot, he rebounds well and his field goal percentage is always among the league's best.
The New Orleans Hornets' power forward David West is another intriguing talent available this summer. He has been an integral part of the Hornets team for several seasons and a real fan favourite but, while his comments suggest he would like to remain in Hornets colours next season, he is committed to winning and that may be tough in New Orleans, especially with Chris Paul having one foot out the door in 2012.
West could provide a real lift to a contending team and has provided consistent numbers throughout his career. His agent, like Chandler's and Nene's, will be receiving a barrage of calls over the weeks and months ahead.
No team wants to make a foolish move prior to the new salary cap - and other considerations - being agreed. But for some, the opportunity to snap up a proven big man might prove too tempting to resist. In a league increasingly dominated by small, quick guards, talented 6"9 to 7" presences are a rare commodity and tough to pass on.
While the 2011 free agent class is not a patch on the star-studded 2010 group - featuring LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Amar'e Stoudemire and Joe Johnson - there are still several players up for grabs who could transform a franchise from also-ran to contender.
The Dallas Mavericks have a tough decision to make on Tyson Chandler, the imposing presence credited with improving the team's defense and instilling a new toughness within the locker room. Chandler will attract huge interest from a range of teams - including contenders like the Miami Heat and basement dwellers with money to spend like the Toronto Raptors - but the Mavericks appear reluctant to offer a new contract until seeing where the salary cap falls, given that they have a number of other free agents to tie down to new deals too.
Chandler has given every indication that he would prefer to stay in Dallas but the contract he is offered might not match up to other offers that come his way. The Mavericks are committed to re-signing JJ Barea, Carun Butler and potentially DeShawn Stevenson and Brian Cardinal too.
Meanwhile, the Denver Nuggets risk losing skilled Brazilian Nene, who has opted to test free agency rather than sign an extention. He is expected to command offers of more than $13 million a year but again there will be hesitation in terms of committing to a big deal. The fear is that a hard salary cap emerges and teams get trapped in hefty deals agreed prior to the verdict.
Nene has won his battles with injury and cancer and has produced strong numbers over the past two seasons. He was a key part of the Nuggets' run to the Western Conference Finals in 2009, alongside Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups, and has earned a spot among the top centers in the game today. He has a solid jump shot, he rebounds well and his field goal percentage is always among the league's best.
The New Orleans Hornets' power forward David West is another intriguing talent available this summer. He has been an integral part of the Hornets team for several seasons and a real fan favourite but, while his comments suggest he would like to remain in Hornets colours next season, he is committed to winning and that may be tough in New Orleans, especially with Chris Paul having one foot out the door in 2012.
West could provide a real lift to a contending team and has provided consistent numbers throughout his career. His agent, like Chandler's and Nene's, will be receiving a barrage of calls over the weeks and months ahead.
No team wants to make a foolish move prior to the new salary cap - and other considerations - being agreed. But for some, the opportunity to snap up a proven big man might prove too tempting to resist. In a league increasingly dominated by small, quick guards, talented 6"9 to 7" presences are a rare commodity and tough to pass on.
Baseball: Usual Suspects Well-Placed at Halfway Stage
At the halfway point in the 162-game MLB regular season, familiar names are sitting comfortably as division leaders. While few expected to see the San Francisco Giants and Texas Rangers contesting the World Series last year, the perennial contenders are back and making compelling cases thus far in 2011.
In the American League, the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox both look post-season bound. The Yankees hold a slender lead atop the American League East division and are closing in on the 50-win mark. Boston are 2.5 games back. Elsewhere, the Cleveland Indians and the Rangers are leading their divisions in the AL.
Meanwhile, in the National League, the Philadelphia Phillies are confirming their status as the best team in baseball. Already past the 50-win mark, the Phillies hold the best winning percentage in the league and boast a pitching rotation that suggests a spot in the World Series is theirs to lose. But the Giants and the St. Louis Cardinals are also making noise in the NL, occupying first place in their divisions.
However, the majority of optimism is coming from New York, Boston and Philadelphia. On current form, it looks odds on that the Phillies will face either the Yankees or Red Sox in the World Series...but given the length of the baseball season, there is plenty of time for the rest of the contending pack to force their way into the discussion.
In the American League, the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox both look post-season bound. The Yankees hold a slender lead atop the American League East division and are closing in on the 50-win mark. Boston are 2.5 games back. Elsewhere, the Cleveland Indians and the Rangers are leading their divisions in the AL.
Meanwhile, in the National League, the Philadelphia Phillies are confirming their status as the best team in baseball. Already past the 50-win mark, the Phillies hold the best winning percentage in the league and boast a pitching rotation that suggests a spot in the World Series is theirs to lose. But the Giants and the St. Louis Cardinals are also making noise in the NL, occupying first place in their divisions.
However, the majority of optimism is coming from New York, Boston and Philadelphia. On current form, it looks odds on that the Phillies will face either the Yankees or Red Sox in the World Series...but given the length of the baseball season, there is plenty of time for the rest of the contending pack to force their way into the discussion.
Tennis: Kvitova Powers to Women's Title
Maria Sharapova was supposed to have the edge in the 2011 Women's final - she was the most senior player and had one Wimbledon title already under her belt. But on Saturday afternoon, it was all about Petra Kvitova, who powered past Sharapova to win 6-3, 6-4.
This was Kvitova's first Grand Slam title and she became the first Czech to lift the winners silverware at SW19 since Jana Novotna 13 years ago - and Novotna and Martina Navratilova were both in attendance on Centre Court to witness Kvitova's heroics.
For Sharapova, it was a disappointing end to an impressive run in this year's tournament. While she has clearly re-established herself as a leading contender in the women's game, question marks remain over her shoulder and her serve. Kvitova was able to capitalise and, in a final that featured eight breaks of serve, that proved to be the difference.
Attention now turns to tomorrow's showpiece final between Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, who will take over as world number one on Monday regardless of the outcome of the match.
This was Kvitova's first Grand Slam title and she became the first Czech to lift the winners silverware at SW19 since Jana Novotna 13 years ago - and Novotna and Martina Navratilova were both in attendance on Centre Court to witness Kvitova's heroics.
For Sharapova, it was a disappointing end to an impressive run in this year's tournament. While she has clearly re-established herself as a leading contender in the women's game, question marks remain over her shoulder and her serve. Kvitova was able to capitalise and, in a final that featured eight breaks of serve, that proved to be the difference.
Attention now turns to tomorrow's showpiece final between Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, who will take over as world number one on Monday regardless of the outcome of the match.
Boxing: David Haye v Wladimir Klitschko
The endless talking - mainly on the part of David Haye - is over. It's been years in the making, but tonight the differences of David Haye and Wladimir Klitschko, as well as the ownership of 4 of the World Heavyweight Boxing belts, will be decided in the ring in Hamburg, before a rapt crowd of more than 45,000 and many millions viewing proceedings on television.
It's been a busy week in Hamburg with the final pre-fight press conference unusually early on Monday, leaving David Haye, by his own assessment, kicking his heels somewhat for the rest of the week (although it's a mark of the relaxed nature of the man that even on the day of the fight he has the wherewithal to joke on twitter). A public training session followed in midweek with the unusual sight of Wladimir Klitschko in the front row watching David Haye sparring in a southpaw stance (more mind games from the orthodox Haye) as well as the sight of Haye's trainer, Adam Booth, bringing out the "glove on a stick" which was used both in the run in to this fight and Haye's earlier fight with Nikolai Valuev to mimic the great reach and height of both men with the jab.
Yesterday was the occasion of that great pre fight event, the weigh in, which has proved many exciting moments before so many great fights of yester year. It was a fairly calm, straightforward event on this occasion, though unsurprisingly David Haye claimed that he had again seen the fruits of his continuous trash talking in the demeanour of Klitschko. Haye's trash talking, having been pivotal in the procurement of the fight in the first instance, has been deployed in order to influence Klitschko's tactics on fight night. Haye's best chance of victory will come if he can encourage Klitschko to attack and he believes that an enraged Klitschko is more likely to do this. If Klitschko employs his usual, cagey tactics, behind his ramrod, debilitating jab then he will surely win on points or via a late stoppage. The fight simply cannot go to the judges cards from Haye's point of view and if there was any chance that Haye needed a reminder of this, it arrived in the shape of widely condemned split decision in favour of German Felix Sturm last weekend, fighting at home. Many respected observers had Matthew Macklin, the British challenger, winning by 2 or 3 rounds.
Both Haye and Klitschko looked in magnificent shape at the weigh in, which is totally in keeping with their reputations as well conditioned boxers and at odds with the heavyweight division as it is today. Klitschko weighed in at 243lbs and Haye, 30lbs lighter.
Many British boxing pundits, from the thoughtful and analytical Barry McGuigan, to the rabble rousing, jingoistic Ricky Hatton and Glenn McCrory, have called the fight as a David Haye win via knockout. Tellingly, however, many of the bookmakers have remained static in terms of the odds being offered for the fight and the assessments of British pundits and Haye's fellow British boxers should be taken with a liberal pinch of salt. Nevertheless the fight has the potential to be the most exciting in the division for 8 long years, since Lennox Lewis and Wladimir's brother, Vitali, went toe to toe in Los Angeles.
I call this fight in favour of Wladimir Klitschko, via stoppage at some point between rounds five and seven, as I expect him to resist Haye's attempts to influence his tactics and retain his usual cagey, stance behind his jab, forcing Haye to make the running and leaving himself exposed in the middle rounds to Klitschko's more offensive weapons.
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