Summary of ATP world tour events (2012)

The 2012 Atp season can be described as one of the most thrilling seasons in the history of the ATP. This season was one of the few where anything was expected to happen. As a fan of the tour, one would have expected the restart of the rivalry between Djokovic (who was outstanding in 2011) and Nadal who was likely to seek some revenge against the Serbian. With Roger Federer fighting to remain in the picture and Andy Murray still struggling to match up against the top three seeds, no one could have predicted the outcome of this season..

The top 4 seeds

Novak Djokovic

2011 proved to be an amazing year for the young Serb and he sought to carry the momentum into a new year. After enduring one of the longest grand slam finals of all time, he claimed his first major of the year. The French clays at Roland Garros however did not favour Novak as Nadal swept past him to win a record breaking 7^th title. With Federer Building enough steam to win at Wimbledon and regain number 1 ranking in the world, Djokovic was left with the option of redefining his game or fading into the background. Nole however, managed to win  the end of year ATP tournament to regain the top spot in tennis.

Roger Federer

The year begun somewhat slowly for Federer who was suffered an injury scare. Making it to the finals either the Australian Open or French Open seemed almost impossible as both Djokovic and Nadal were on top form. When Wimbledon finally arrived however, Federer was back to his winning ways and managed to overcome Djokovic in the semis and Murray in the finals. The Swiss maestro shot back to world number one and a record setting 17 Grand Slam titles.


Rafael Nadal
After suffering at the hands of Novak Djokovic throughout the 2011 season, most “Rafans”(a nickname for Rafael Nadal fans) expected a huge comeback from the king of clay this season. All seemed to be going well as Rafa managed to win a routine Roland Garros final against Novak and was looking to send that confidence unto the grass at the All-England tennis court. This dream was short lived when the Spaniard suffered an unbelievable loss to Lukas Rosol in the second round of the championships. His season ended with that loss and a knee injury scare which cost him the almost 6 months off the tour.

Andy Murray
“Finally people can stop asking me that stupid question!” This statement from Murray summed up his year, and ended the long 76 year wait for a Grand Slam trophy. Defeat to Federer on home soils this year was treated differently by the Brit and we saw an even more determined Murray. He return to centre court at Wimbledon to win gold in the Olympics and in similar fashion, the US Open against his good friend, Novak Djokovic.

6 Grand Slam Finals you shouldn't have missed

The debate of who the greatest tennis player is one that might continue till the likes of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic retire. Until then, the fans of these players will continue to throw jabs at each other, pointing to the mistakes of some of the greatest players we have come to know. Looking back now, what was that point in time where everything changed? I mean, quite seriously, we know it takes a lot of effort, time and consistency to break into the top 3 (who are more or less, the unstoppable bunch) but what exactly does it take to go past the point of being in the shoes of Andy Murray?
Well, one could say, it would be just one career defining match. You might disagree with me on some of my choices but all these matches were ones that turned around the fortunes of the players involved, and in a major way. Check this out;


                Andy Murray at the Australian Open 2011

#6. Serena Williams- 2002 French Open final
Final  results;  7-5 6-3                                          against;  Venus Williams
This was my first pick for a career defining match mainly because this was that point in Serena’s career where she first made an incredible stride against her elder sister. There is no doubt the battle of the siblings continues but that match seems to be the one that gave the upper hand to the more athletic of the two sisters.   She has gone on to win six out of their last seven grand slam finals and at this point in history, we could say that she defined her future successes by the belief and confidence from that match.

#5. Juan Martin del-Potro – 2008 US Open final
Final results; 3-6, 7-6,4-6,7-6,6-2                    against; Roger Federer
Despite his recent ups and downs and the wrist injuries he suffered after what could be described as his best season ever, del Potro managed to thrill his way unto our list with his win over Roger Federer in the finals of the US Open. This was around the time Federer had lost at Wimbledon and he was not looking forward to any more disappointments in a Grand Slam final, let alone at the US Open. You needed luck, or even better, talent and loads of it to win. Delpo wasn’t going to leave the Argentinean fans unhappy. He dug deep within himself to produce the classy finish. That win set him apart from the rest and threw him right unto our list.

#4.Li Na -2011 French Open final
Final results; 6–4, 7–6^(7–0)   against;Francesca Schiavone

Being up 4-0 in the second set tie break, Li Na had the upper hand and had no intention coming second best. In her post match interview, she said all she was thinking at the tie break was “Trust yourself, believe in yourself, you can do this”. That’s a feeling you get rarely in life and if it’s at a grand event like the French Open, you know you’re making history. Being the first Asian ever to win a major, she stands among the greats to have won the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen.

Learn how to play tennis, read this; Master the tennis volley

#3.Rafael Nadal- 2008 Wimbledon final
Final results; 6–4, 6–4, 6–7(5), 6–7(8), 9–7          against; Roger Federer
Regarded as one of the greatest matches of all time, Rafael Nadal faced his biggest opposition at the time in Roger Federer. From the very beginning of the match, both players kept on going at each other with Nadal winning the first set on a Federer backhand error. After taking the first two sets however, he faced some stiff resistance from the 5 time defending champion who came back to level the match by winning the third and fourth sets. If there was ever a time in tennis where Federer lost just a little bit of confidence, this would be that moment. Defeating Federer on the Swiss Maestro’s favorite surface was definitely what established Nadal as a threat to Federer’s reign. It ended up being the first time the Spaniard won another Grand Slam event besides the French Open.


 
Wimbledon 2008 final

#2 Novak Djokovic- 2012 Australian Open
Final results; 5-7,6-4,6-2,5-7,7-5                           against;  Rafael Nadal
For a very long time to come, this could be the biggest match played at the Australian Open. Djokovic was to defend his title and prove that his previous win was not a fluke and he was to do this against the fiercest opposition he could face in Nadal. Entering the match, the commentators said “Nadal has clearly nothing to lose.” It was Djokovic who had to be the tenser of the two despite his winning streak against the Mallorcan at the time. After hearing “Vamos!” the first time in the match, I knew we were in for a treat. The pair did not disappoint and set new Grand Slam final records in their encounter.
 With just one more error from Nadal, Djokovic served out the match and proved himself a true champion ready to stay in the top three. 
 

#1 Roger Federer- 2009 French Open
Final results; 6–1, 7–6(1), 6–4     against; Robin Soderling
Believe it or not, this is number 1. In 2009, Federer was back. He knew he had to make the most of his opportunities before they slipped away. This was a guy who had won the Australian Open, Wimbledon and US Open on separate occasions. All he needed was a win on the French clays to end a life-long quest of winning a Career Grand Slam, and he found that break. Robin Soderling of Sweden was on an incredible run and kept Nadal at bay from making the finals. Knowing the likes of ‘Pistol’ Pete Sampras and the great John McEnroe among others were unable to ever win this championship, all that remained was for Soderling to repeat his feat against Federer but at that time, there was no denying FedEx. All the hard work finally paid off and with just this one win on the most difficult surface to master, the talks of Federer being quite possibly, the greatest tennis player ever, begun.

If you found this interesting; Check out the list of top earners in tennis by clicking on this link

Tennis Drills you might have taken lightly- exercise your wrist and forearm

For sports like tennis where the wrist of the player is constantly used, it becomes important that the wrist and for that matter, the entire arm be strengthened. One sure result you can achieve by increasing the strength in your wrist is an increase in power of your forehand shots. A stronger wrist will also give you the necessary control needed when returning fast paced balls.
It is unfortunate that although this remains one of the greatest contributing factors to a player’s game, it is not discussed even by most experts as much as other parts of the sport. For this reason we have taken the responsibility of tackling a few of the techniques by which you can do this. You are however advised to do these exercises within the limits your body allows. If you have any qualms concerning these exercises, consult your physician.

Exercise #1-   5 balls, 15 balls, 20 balls
This is one of the simplest drills you can indulge in to increase the strength in both your wrist and forearm.

What you need; A squash wall, tennis balls and tennis racket

How it’s done; You start by playing a single tennis ball to hit the squash wall. Let the ball bounce once then hit it again against the wall. Try repeating this for 5 hits against the wall before you quit. Next, you try doing this for 15 hits against the wall. You gradually increase the number of times you want to return the ball till you feel you’ve had enough of the drill. This simple drill helps most beginners to improve their timing and concentration as well. This is one drill that even club level players can use to increase the length of their rallies and their stamina.

Exercise #2- Bouncing along the path
This is a drill that is pretty new but produces the effect you seek. It reminds me of the good old saying, “No pain, no gain”.

What you need; The rectangle of the doubles court, Racket, tennis balls

How it is done; You begin on the baseline and with your racket, bounce the tennis ball as you walk. Try to keep the ball within the confines of the extension of the double’s court. Also, try to keep your racket from moving too much. Rather, what you want to do is to make the racket control the bounce of the ball so you can walk without stopping from the baseline towards the net. The process is repeated in the opposite direction. You may perform this drill as many times as you are physically capable. An additional advantage of this drill is that it improves the eye and ball coordination of the player.

Exercise #3- Wrist curls with barbells
This final drill is centered mainly on increasing your forearm strength. I watched this video and knew it had the perfect description of the drill so I have chosen to embed the video below.
What you need; Barbells, workout bench
How it is done; Watch video

If you found this topic interesting, you might also want to read my article on; TIMING THE BALL IN TENNIS. All your questions and queries are humbly welcome. Subscribe to receive all our upcoming updates on how to improve your tennis. Have a great day.

Improve your tennis ball timing

My game is a lot about footwork. If I move well - I play well. Roger Federer 

Roger Federer

               
    Timing is a very important concept in all sports. Mastering the correct timing in tennis can be the deciding factor whether or not you become the player you want to be not. Timing plays a vital role in how many balls you can return, the efficiency with which you return them and the amount of reaction time you may possibly have on the next ball. Different coaches and coaching programs use various techniques to help their students get the right timing on the ball. After reading this article, you can check out some of the links to some of the techniques listed at the bottom section of the page. We’re going to tackle one of the easy timing techniques in tennis that particularly, beginner tennis players will find useful. I choose to name this technique the One-Two-Go technique.

One-Two-GO! It’s pretty simple, before you hit any ball, you count in your head, one-two then on your third count, play the ball. Try to repeat this for as many balls as you can before you start missing. This is one of the first few mental techniques every player must master. If you are playing with your coach, he/she might want to feed you about 30 to 50 balls while you practice this. It will also be good if they can feed you about 15 balls each time you start a training session so that you become well adapted to the method. In case it is with a sparring partner you are doing this, you may have to take turns to try it. The true essence of repeating this procedure is to get the player enough time to get prepared for each ball so that they can put in the right footwork and thereafter, play the ball all within the possible 3 seconds they will be making the mental count. How it improves your game After practicing the One-Two-GO for some time, you will realize the improvement in your game when you rally with a sparring partner. Now, as you play longer rallies, you would come some points where you would notice how your body cannot respond fast enough for certain shots the way you would desire. This is the point where most coaches recommend jogging or running their students. Your inability to get all the balls in a rally when you start to use the one-two-go would mean that you may lack the stamina for such rallies. You therefore have to start taking a few drills to increase your stamina and speed in a game. We’ll be addressing these topics later on. If you have found this topic helpful, you may as well try it out the next time you get on court. Practice it continuously till you perfect your timing. This way, you will easily pick up other techniques and improve your play the way you want.

Predictions of the Atp world tour final

Video that shows my prediction of the finals between Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Roger Federer at the 02 arena, London. I predicted that Federer would win even though he may not have an easy match. You may want to watch. Subscribe to my youtube profile for all my future predictions and discussions. We have a great interview with a top tennis player coming your way soon. Enjoy.

Roger Federer defeats Kei Nishikori in Basel Final

TennisTV.com | Videos | Video

Hey guys so i found this link where you could watch the final of the Basel Final between Roger Federer and Kei Nishikori.Stunnign performance put up by both players, Federer beat his opponent (6-1, 6-3 )  hope you have a great time enjoying it! Also do well to check out a couple of our previous articles;  Another major blow for Federer fans and Amazing: List of the 10 most inflential tennis players of today
Subscribe for all your tennis updates right here on Tennismania.

The Art of The Forehand Part I

 Today's video is pretty self explanatory. I will definitely write a follow up article but try to understand the basic concepts discussed here. I know you will enjoy this one. If you have any problem understanding anything in this video, do well to leave a comment or send me an email (my address is below).Cheers!

My interview with Nam Nha Tho- Learn the basics

                         

Nam Nha Tho- Cathay Pacific Championships Slideshow: Tennismania’s trip from Accra, Ghana to Vietnam was created by TripAdvisor. See another Vietnam slideshow. Create a free slideshow with music from your travel photos.

If you’re a beginner looking for inspiration and a way to boost your tennis, this interview will certainly provide you with the key elements you require to get as good as you can be.
Here’s an interview granted by Nam Nha Tho, a promising contestant at the Cathay Pacific nationwide tournament that took place in Vietnam. He has played in quite a number of minor competitions over the past 3 years and hopes to continue playing in more tournaments in the future. He is a friend but most importantly, a good example of a knowledgeable tennis player willing to share his experiences with other upcoming tennis players. I believe you’ll enjoy the insights he shares with us today as you read along.

Q;  How long have you been playing tennis?

A; I've been playing for only 3 years, starting at the age of 12. My first tournament was the one I played last year and also the one in which I recorded my best performance that was, coming 6th citywide.


Q; What have been your major challenges during these three years of tennis?

A;   I’ve had many challenges. Arranging time for both school and tennis is perhaps the one of the most challenging things so far. Once you've been able to arrange time for these on your schedule, you also need to recover quickly from your training sessions fast enough to prepare for school. So for people who start playing tennis very early and want to take it up seriously, it is advisable to home school so that they can concentrate on their tennis.
There's another challenging issue which is the challenge of finding a good partner. Of course, when you're in the city team already, you have many players to play with, but if you're non-professional, it's usually hard to find a good partner to train with you.

Q; So do you have an official coach then?

A; Generally speaking, yes. As I earlier on said, I'm non-professional so I hire a coach who trains many other players, amateurs as well. He used to be a pro tennis player himself, so he understands my game. He and I combine all the drills we know into our training, but during the school year I don't practice with him regularly. We practice just about 1 or 2 hours a week only. I spend the rest of the time playing with friends.

Q; Do your friends also play in competitive tournaments with you?
What have been your best moments in the game so far?
And what keeps you motivated to play further?

A; Yes actually, there are 3 friends, including 2 junior pros, whom I play in tournaments. Besides this, I don't play with them a lot. My other friends are older, some are even adults, but I improve my game by just playing matches.
To your second question, the best moment of the game is of course, winning matches. My first competitive match ever was a win, and the feeling was ever-lasting with my fighting to come back after a rain delay.
Both wins and defeats keep you motivated. Obvious improvements in mental and technique encourage you too. Most of all, you need to have a passion. Enjoy the sport and you'll keep the fire burning.

Q; So which kind of drills do you perform with your coach to improve your mental techniques for these tournaments?

A; I read many articles on this so I know a lot. Mostly, I do drills which improve my techniques. About mental training, I'd suggest playing matches, or making practice as real as possible. Playing matches don't help you improve you weaknesses much, so playing points would be more advisable if you want to improve both techniques and mentality at a same time. Play as many tournaments as you can also.

Q;So what would you have to say to beginner tennis players out there who want to improve their play

A; Most importantly, find yourself a good partner. Practicing with coaches can be helpful, but a partner who plays better than you will help you improve a lot. Play matches with him/her, and soon you'll find yourself fit for faster paced matches.
At that stage, reduce the number of matches you play, but, practice more to consolidate and improve your play. However, even Federer is ranked no 3 now. At all events, find yourself a better partner, as you can always improve no matter how good you are already.

Nam Nha Tho at the Cathay Pacific tournament

Q; How would you describe your style of play?
    Who is your favorite player and what should we expect to see from Nam Nha Tho in the next few years?

A; I'm a rather offensive player as I take after my idol Federer. I watch him play a lot so I try to be dominant like him on court, and that normally works.
I'm training hard every day for all tournaments down the road. I'm getting into the school team and hope to play tournaments for students only, avoiding all the junior professional tournaments. I know by myself that I started tennis rather late, so the chances of being a good pro are quite small, but if any chances come, I will welcome it!

Thanks very much for having this interview. It's been a pleasure having you and we hope your words encourage other players in their quests.

Sure thanks I had a great time. It'd be lovely to talk to you again in the near future!

         
              For tips on how to achieve some of the successes achieved by Nam Nha Tho you can view my article Amazing: 4 simple steps to help you start playing tennis

Another major blow for Federer fans

        Just when everyone started becoming comfortable with the World rankings, reports indicate we could be in for several other upsets these next few months. It could be the long awaited thriller expected in the tennis world and even better, we are sure to witness this, just before this year ends. 

       When Novak Djokovic started putting up his brilliant performances late last year, most people were expecting him to rise quickly through the ranks to his current World No.1 position. What we did not expect to see was Nadal’s sudden loss of form. Being one of the toughest competitors out on the court, most of his fans thought their hero would find a way of reclaiming his spot soon after his defeat to his Serbian counterpart. With all this activity going on, Roger Federer (then no.2) was pushed out of his position to the 3rd spot on the list. His defeat to Jo-Wilfred Tsonga sparked several remarks that the 16 time Grand Slam winner could be drawing near the end of his career. There was no doubt that match sent a cold chill down the spine of even his most loyal fans. What contributed to the media frenzy was the fact that it was at centre court and on his best surface at Wimbledon that he lost such an important match.

Roger Federer

        

        Just today, Federer seems to have stepped down one more spot to his current 4^th position. Another blow dealt to his fans who wish to see the tennis star’s comeback before a possible retirement. . After Andy Murray recently defeated struggling world no.2 Rafael Nadal, momentum seems to be on his side as he beat David Ferrer in a ferocious encounter a few days back. Talking with a couple of Federer fans reveals their disappointment although they remain quite optimistic that he would make a comeback after his recovery to reclaim his position among the top three.

Your comments are welcome. Subscribe to receive notification of my next article.

While you're here, you should also read; Amazing: List of the 10 most influential tennis players of today

KNUST tennis watch for beginners

We will begin our journey today by visiting one of the most vibrant tennis clubs in Kumasi,Ghana. The KNUST tennis club boasts of 2 courts and  2 more courts under construction. It has a sitting area for players on the court and also offers some considerable amount of seating for people who just want to watch an exciting match. This court also has just adjacent to it a squash wall where most beginner tennis players first practice before rallying.

There are a few coaches who may occasional come for training sessions but usually beginners have to put in extra effort to learn on their own.

As a beginner you may not need much to start playing tennis. Based on experience I would suggest that you find good sparring partner (you can also read this article for more information on the topic Finding a good sparring partner )who is eager to learn as you are. Find a good court, one that has all the basic facilities, a good racket, a coach who will guide you, a mentor (i.e a tennis player that you sincerely admire. For instance I admire Roger Federer's play style), a good outfit and some tennis balls.

It is important to remember that tennis is a game and is fun to play when you treat it as such. You may occasionally come across some very intense tennis players but never let their demeanor or their play style keep you from achieving your objective of playing the sport.Just remember to be true to yourself.

So go out there play your game, love the sport and enjoy yourself !
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