In Women's tennis after the Fed Cup excursions last week, there wasn't much going on. Anna Chakvetadze beat Agnes Szavay in three sets on Sunday afternoon for the Open Gaz de France crown. The Russian is now 7-0 lifetime in Sony Ericsson WTA Tour singles finals, an incredible achievement in itself and moved back up to the 6th seed position in the world.
In men's tennis the three events taking place this week (Marseille, Costa De Sauipe and Delray Beach Open) there were a couple of notable results. Diego Hartfield pulled out a big surprise by defeating seeded Tommy Haas by 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 with unknown quantity Bobby Reynolds beating 2-time Swiss champion Xavier Malisse 6-2, 4-6, 6-3.
Meanwhile in Marseille in 5the big firts round clash between Robin Soderling and Jarko Nieminen the Swede came out on top in a close encounter 6-3, 5-7, 7-5.
Lastly last week in the Davis Cup 1st round games, Murray-less Great Britain suffered a defeat at Buenos Aires by Argentina at 4-1. Jamie Baker provided the only surprise win for team GB against Calleri. In other ties in the first round Russia beat Serbia in the big matchup by 3-2, while France Spain and USA qualified easily by beating Romania, Peru and Austria respectively.
Germany, Sweden and Checz Republic completed the quarte final line-up with narrow 3-2 wins against Korea, Israel and Belgium. More details on those ties will be up on my blog shortly
Tuesday, 12 February 2008
Tuesday, 5 February 2008
Tennis 5/2/2008
In women's tennis there is activity with the Federation Cup first round games taking place. The federation cup is the women's equivalent of the Davis Cup.
Russia, the current Fed Cup champions, with the contribution of Australian Open champion Maria Sharapova brushed past Israel winning them 4-1. The USA team also won, demolishing the German team by the same scoreline. The american team will now face the strong Russian team in what should be a thrilling encounter with brilliant matchups including high-seeded players such as the Williams sisters, Lindsay Davenport, Maria Sharapova, Nadia Petrova and Svetlana Kuznetsova.
The other semi-final includes surprise package China who surprisingly beat France 3-2 and Spain who beat last year's finalists Italy by the same scoreline.
In Men's tennis there is the beginning of the Davis Cup on the cards after 3rd seed Novak Dkokovic ended the Roger Federer domination and won the Australian Open with some impressive displays throughout. Serbia, with Djokovic in their ranks will face the strong Russians while current champions USA should have an easy first round test against Austria.
Othe first round ties include France vs Romania, Israel at home to Sweden, germany with the up an coming talent Philip Kohlschreiber at home to South Korea, Argentina at home to the Great Britain team, newcomers Peru against Spain and Chech Republic against Belgium
There are three minor tournaments being played this upcoming week as well with the Marseille open being played indoors, Delray Beach International Tennis Championships being played outdoors in America and Brazil Open played on clay , which should be a good preparation for athletes for the French Open. Information on those tournaments will be posted here next week.
Russia, the current Fed Cup champions, with the contribution of Australian Open champion Maria Sharapova brushed past Israel winning them 4-1. The USA team also won, demolishing the German team by the same scoreline. The american team will now face the strong Russian team in what should be a thrilling encounter with brilliant matchups including high-seeded players such as the Williams sisters, Lindsay Davenport, Maria Sharapova, Nadia Petrova and Svetlana Kuznetsova.
The other semi-final includes surprise package China who surprisingly beat France 3-2 and Spain who beat last year's finalists Italy by the same scoreline.
In Men's tennis there is the beginning of the Davis Cup on the cards after 3rd seed Novak Dkokovic ended the Roger Federer domination and won the Australian Open with some impressive displays throughout. Serbia, with Djokovic in their ranks will face the strong Russians while current champions USA should have an easy first round test against Austria.
Othe first round ties include France vs Romania, Israel at home to Sweden, germany with the up an coming talent Philip Kohlschreiber at home to South Korea, Argentina at home to the Great Britain team, newcomers Peru against Spain and Chech Republic against Belgium
There are three minor tournaments being played this upcoming week as well with the Marseille open being played indoors, Delray Beach International Tennis Championships being played outdoors in America and Brazil Open played on clay , which should be a good preparation for athletes for the French Open. Information on those tournaments will be posted here next week.
Thursday, 31 January 2008
Tiger Woods Royal Liverpool Open article
Tiger Woods is back in England to defend his Royal Liverpool Open title. A relaxed and emotional Tiger talked about the course, his progress in the last year, the death of his late father Earl Woods and the impact it had on him as well as the Darren Clarke’s situation
He seemed very understanding and compassionate towards his opponent using the word ‘draining’ a few times in his press conference. There was also an emotional link on his late father’s first experience on watching Tiger play at Carnoustie in the Scottish Open stating that ‘they both loved it very much’.
Tiger Woods described the Royal Birkdale course, just down the road from Hoylake where the Open is taking place, as one of the fastest one around and spoke at length about the choice of gear and tactical approach leading to the tournament. Speaking of his inactivity in the weeks leading to the Open and said he looked forward on defending his title.
In terms of the actual golf course it self and the weather conditions he stated; “The weather since I have been here, it’s blown out of three different directions. So you have to adjust your game plan…. But also it’s a little bit of fun” he concluded, showing he is full of confidence.
Talking about his form on British courses he dismissed his superb display at St. Andrews at 2000 as “there was almost no wind there”.
There was talk of tactics and clubs talking about his potential use of the 2-iron he stated that the last time he used it was “probably Dunlop Phoenix” and dismissing using the 5-wood as it would not roll in this kind of course. “I hit a few other shots with either a 3-iron of the tee or a 3-wood, but the majority of time it is the 2-iron.”
Speaking of his failure in the U.S Open he said “it was nice to get back out and practice, and work on things I did not do well at that tournament” at which point the joked about the Claret Jug saying “I just filled it up with beverages of my choice”
He looked pleased of the atmosphere and reception here in Liverpool stating “People have been really nice. They have been out there early in the morning watching me and my partners play. They have been very respectful of us in preparation for the Championship.”
He looked bemused when there was mention of his grudge with Nick Faldo stating that “I have only played with him twice since I have been a pro. There wasn’t a lot of talking there either”. He said he would be surprised if Faldo were to talk to him and wanted to make clear that he is as ready as ever to win yet another title in his illustrious career.
Tiger sounded clueless when there was mention of the French British amateur champion Julien Guerrier who was supposed to play alongside him stating that his understanding was that the player playing alongside him should be Shingo.
When he started talking about his family, although he was relaxed everyone in the press room could tell that he was feeling vulnerable and quickly identified with fellow player and friend Darren Clarke facing a tough, if not inevitable situation with his wife, Heather, going through the painful state of having breast cancer. He mentioned “It’s draining, it’s very draining…. Hats off to him, just to be out here playing”.
*Quotes and information were taken by his original press conference on the 7th of July 2006
He seemed very understanding and compassionate towards his opponent using the word ‘draining’ a few times in his press conference. There was also an emotional link on his late father’s first experience on watching Tiger play at Carnoustie in the Scottish Open stating that ‘they both loved it very much’.
Tiger Woods described the Royal Birkdale course, just down the road from Hoylake where the Open is taking place, as one of the fastest one around and spoke at length about the choice of gear and tactical approach leading to the tournament. Speaking of his inactivity in the weeks leading to the Open and said he looked forward on defending his title.
In terms of the actual golf course it self and the weather conditions he stated; “The weather since I have been here, it’s blown out of three different directions. So you have to adjust your game plan…. But also it’s a little bit of fun” he concluded, showing he is full of confidence.
Talking about his form on British courses he dismissed his superb display at St. Andrews at 2000 as “there was almost no wind there”.
There was talk of tactics and clubs talking about his potential use of the 2-iron he stated that the last time he used it was “probably Dunlop Phoenix” and dismissing using the 5-wood as it would not roll in this kind of course. “I hit a few other shots with either a 3-iron of the tee or a 3-wood, but the majority of time it is the 2-iron.”
Speaking of his failure in the U.S Open he said “it was nice to get back out and practice, and work on things I did not do well at that tournament” at which point the joked about the Claret Jug saying “I just filled it up with beverages of my choice”
He looked pleased of the atmosphere and reception here in Liverpool stating “People have been really nice. They have been out there early in the morning watching me and my partners play. They have been very respectful of us in preparation for the Championship.”
He looked bemused when there was mention of his grudge with Nick Faldo stating that “I have only played with him twice since I have been a pro. There wasn’t a lot of talking there either”. He said he would be surprised if Faldo were to talk to him and wanted to make clear that he is as ready as ever to win yet another title in his illustrious career.
Tiger sounded clueless when there was mention of the French British amateur champion Julien Guerrier who was supposed to play alongside him stating that his understanding was that the player playing alongside him should be Shingo.
When he started talking about his family, although he was relaxed everyone in the press room could tell that he was feeling vulnerable and quickly identified with fellow player and friend Darren Clarke facing a tough, if not inevitable situation with his wife, Heather, going through the painful state of having breast cancer. He mentioned “It’s draining, it’s very draining…. Hats off to him, just to be out here playing”.
*Quotes and information were taken by his original press conference on the 7th of July 2006
NBA 31/1/08
In another eventful evening the Cleveland Cavaliers led by their talisman Lebron James brushed past the Potrland Trail Blazers 84-83 to stay in 4th in the East as the Toronto Raptors demolished the Wizards 122-83 to get in 5th ahead of the latter with 25-20.
In the west the Warriors beat the Hornets by 116-103 at New Orleans to stop their wonderful run as the Sacramento Kings with Mike Bibby firing in all cylinders back from injury continuing their run to make the playoffs by getting easily past the Bobcats by 105-81
In the west the Warriors beat the Hornets by 116-103 at New Orleans to stop their wonderful run as the Sacramento Kings with Mike Bibby firing in all cylinders back from injury continuing their run to make the playoffs by getting easily past the Bobcats by 105-81
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