I don't know about you, but the 2010 season seems to be a bit of a disappointment for Andy Murray.
It almost doesn't seem right to use a word like disappointment when you reached a Grand Slam final, have captured a pair of Masters titles, and are currently standing at No. 4 in the world.
But expectations were high, very high, for the 6-foot-3 Scotsman heading into '10. After all, he was the No. 2 player on the planet in August of last year.
AM started off in pretty fine fashion this season, landing in his second career major final, at the Aussie Open. But after many had picked him to win his first career Grand Slam title, the Dunblane native fell to the great Roger Federer in straight sets in Oz.
He would not reach another major final the rest of the year.
Note: When Murray landed in the Aussie Open finale, he became only the second British man to reach at least two Grand Slam finals in 72 years.
Murray, who also lost to the amazing Federer in the 2008 U.S. Open title tilt, was also considered to be a favorite to capture his first Wimbledon title back in July. But current world No. 1 superstar Rafael Nadal prevented that from happening by beating the talented Brit in straight sets in the semis. It marked the second straight year that Murray fell in the round of four at the storied All England Club.
A few weeks before Wimbledon commenced, Murray tapped out earlier than expected at the French Open, falling to eventual Wimbledon runner-up Tomas Berdych in straight sets in the fourth round on the famed red clay at Stade Roland Garros.
But his biggest Grand Slam disappointment probably came in New York, where Murray was toppled by the other Swiss slugger, Stanislas Wawrinka, in four sets in only the third round at the U.S. Open. It marked the second straight year he failed to reach the quarters in the Big Apple after soaring into the final there in '08.
And in his four Grand Slam losses this season, Murray went 1-12 in 13 sets.
Where's the clutch?
If the 23-year-old Murray wants to give Britain its' first male Grand Slam champion since 1936, he's gonna have to find another gear, and, perhaps, some more (hate to say it) heart. He seems to go belly up when all the chips are on the big table.
Did You Know?: Murray attended Dunblane Primary School and was there the day of the "Dunblane Massacre," a multiple murder-suicide that occurred March 13, 1996. Sixteen children and one adult were murdered that day by Thomas Watt Hamilton, who also shot himself dead.
Back to tennis (somehow).
Okay, so Murray is a quality 41-14 this year and has qualified for the season- ending ATP World Tour Finals for a third consecutive year, but he's tallied only two titles (as the No. 4 player in the world) this season. Granted, both titles are of the prestigious variety as Masters ones, but no one remembers who wins Masters titles, do they? They tend to remember only the major the ones...which Murray has yet to manage.
Back in August, Murray became the first player in 15 years to win back-to-back Canadian Masters titles since Andre Agassi turned the trick in 1994-95. And en route to the fancy title in Toronto, AM became only the fifth different player to upend both Nadal and Federer in the same tournament.
How 'bout that.
And Murray spanked Federer 6-3, 6-2 in 85 minutes in the Shanghai Masters finale just two weeks ago, so things are certainly not all bad for the athletic Scot (even though he failed to reach quarterfinals at half of the majors in 2010).
Note: Murray is 8-5 lifetime against Federer, including wins in those Canadian and Shanghai Masters finals this season, but he's only 4-8 all- time versus Nadal and 3-4 lifetime against Novak Djokovic, the only other player currently ranked ahead of him.
In short, Murray is a fine, fine player...one of the best on the globe to be sure. And I believe he has the ability to win a major. But he has to figure out a way to play his best tennis under the brightest lights, and I'm not talkin' about Toronto or Shanghai. I'm talkin' about Melbourne, Paris, London and NYC.
Can he do it?
Courtesy: Miami Herald
Thursday, 28 October 2010
Wednesday, 27 October 2010
Rafa Nike Hoodie video
I know this is old but he looks soooooo cute in this video, especially when having a haircut!
Courtesy: slamxhype
Courtesy: slamxhype
Serbia - " A trip to hell"
France can expect a hostile reception from Serbian fans at the Davis Cup final in December, captain Guy Forget has said.
"It will be hostile, there could be bad surprises," Forget said at the Open Sud in Montpellier, southern France.
"We have already seen in various sporting events involving Serbian fans that with a dozen idiots things could turn nasty.
"None of my players have experienced nasty atmosphere. We have to get ready for a trip to hell."
Violent Serbia fans forced their national football team's Euro 2012 qualifier in Italy to be abandoned this month, two days after angry protesters clashed with police during a gay parade in Belgrade.
Forget asked the French fans not to provoke their Serbian counterparts.
"I hope they will be discreet because the goal is not to annoy 18,000 Serbs because we know how patriotic they are," he said. "I know we will face a hostile, even maybe hateful crowd."
Courtesy: Yahoo
A decade of Grand Slams - Part 2
The French Open is the second Grand Slam event of the tennis calendar held sometime between late May and early June - a clay court tournament; it is played at the Stade Roland Garros.
The winner at the turn of the century was the Brazilian professional Gustavo Kuerten, who defended the men’s singles title against the Spanish Alex Corretja. This was Kuerten’s 3rd and last Grand Slam win. The same year, Jennifer Capriati defeated the Dutch Kim Clijsters for her 2nd Grand Slam win of the year and her first French Open title. In 2001, also, the Indian team of Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi defeated the Czechs - Petr Pala and Pavel Vizner to win the doubles title. It was their first doubles Grand Slam win of the year. The year 2001 also saw the team of Spanish Virginia Pascual and Greek Paola Suarez winning the women’s doubles title.
In 2002, Spanish Albert Costa defeated compatriot Juan Carlos Ferrero to gain his first and only Grand Slam title win. The women’s singles title was bagged by rising star Serena Williams as she defeated her sister, Venus Williams in the final, that year. 2002 also, saw the team of Paul Haarhuis and Yevgeny Kafelnikov, and the team of Virginia Pascual and Paola Suarez win the men’s and women’s doubles titles, respectively.
Juan Carlos, the runner up in 2002, returned the following year and won the title defeating Dutch Martin Verkerk in the final. The twin brothers, Mike Bryan and Bob Bryan won their first career Grand Slam title that year in the men’s doubles. Also, Belgian Kim Clijsters and Japanese Ai Sugiyama bagged the women’s doubles title that year.
In 2003, Justine Henin won the title for the women’s single and retained it till 2007 with the exception of 2004 when she lost the title to Russian Anastasia Myskina. In 2008 she lost the title to Serbian Ana Ivanovic. It was Ana’s first ever Grand Slam title win. The following year the title was bagged by Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova; her first ever French Open win. 2010 saw another champion in Italian Francesca Schiavone. Schiavone was a first time Grand Slam finalist that year and it was also her first ever Grand Slam win.
2004 saw the return of Pascual/Suarez, when they upset the team of Clijsters and Sugiyama to win the women’s doubles title. The pair retained the title for the following year as well. The team of Lisa Raymond (U.S.A)/Samantha Stosur (Australia) took the title in 2005 only to lose it to the team of Alicia Molik (Australia)/ Mara Santangelo (Italy). In 2006 Pascual and Suarez again returned to reclaim their lost title. They won and defended the title the following year, making it their sixth French Open title win. The pair however lost the title in 2010 to the William sisters.
2004 also saw the last time the men’s singles title changed hands when Argentinean professional Gaston Gaudio won his first ever Grand Slam title. In 2005 Gaston was dethroned by rising legend, Spanish Rafael Nadal who retains the title to date with the exception of 2009 when he lost the title to Swiss phenomenon Roger Federer.
Swede Jonas Bjorkman and Belarusian Max Mirnyi won the doubles title in 2005 and retained it the following year. They lost the title to doubles phenomenon Daniel Nestor and Mark Knowles in 2007. One half of the 2001 doubles winning team, Leander Paes returned to win the title in 2008 with a new partner in the form of Czech Lukas Dlouhy only to lose it to Daniel Nestor who returned with Nenad Zimonjic to secure the 2010 title win.
Courtesy: Bettor
A decade of Grand Slams - Part 1
It was only yesterday that the world was panicking over the Y2K scare. We all believed the electronic world was to end as we knew it. Now ten years have passed since the turn of the century. The world has gone through a lot. Even the world of sports and similarly that of tennis has seen many ups and downs. Professionals have retired to join the ranks of “the Old Ones”. New blood has entered and outshone on number of occasions. We’ve seen new champions crowned and champions dethroned.
As in any sporting event, tennis has its own prestigious events. In tennis there are four every year; Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and United States Open, collectively known as the Grand Slams. Here at bettor.com we take a closer look into the decade of Grand Slams.
1. Australian Open
The first Grand Slam in the tennis calendar is the Australian Open. Initially played on grass, the tournament shifted to hard court in 1988 and has been so ever since. The venue for the event has been the Melbourne Park since the shift.
The first winner of the new century in the men’s singles was the American superstar and former world number one Andre Agassi who defended his title against the French Arnaud Clement. It was Agassi’s seventh Grand Slam title and his third Australian open title. In the women’s singles final match American Jennifer Capriati, also a former world number one, defeated the Swiss legend Martina Hingis to win her first ever Grand Slam title. The men’s doubles title was bagged by the team of world number 4 Jonas Bjorkman from Sweden and the Aussie Todd Woodbridge. The William sisters from America, Serena and Venus won the doubles title for women. It was their first doubles win at the Australian Open.
In 2002, Swede Thomas Johansson won the title for the men’s singles since Agassi did not play in the tournament to defend his title. Capriati again defended her title against Hingis, and in an exciting match of 4-6, 7-6, 6-2 managed to retain it. This was her 3rd and last Grand Slam title. The Canadian Daniel Nestor along with his successful partnership with Mark Knowles from the Bahamas won the doubles titles. Tennis legends Martina Hingis and Anna Kournikova dethroned the William sisters for the doubles titles though they did not play each other in the tournament.
2003 saw the last ever Australian Open title win for Andre Agassi. The two year consecutive winning streak of Capriati was also broken by the then rising star, Serena Williams. That year she also along with her sister, Venus bagged the doubles title. The French team Michael Llodra and Fabrice Santoro won the doubles title that year and also managed to defend and retain their title, next year as well. The following year the title was won by the Zimbabwean team of Wayne Black and Kevin Ullyett who defeated the American twins, Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan. Ironically next year the Bryan brothers won the title and to date retain it with the exception of 2008 when they lost it to the Israeli team of Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram.
2004 saw the rise of a new tennis superstar, Roger Federer who won the title four times to date with the exception of 2005, 2008 and 2009. He retained the title for the year 2006-2007. He was defeated by the now retired professional, Marat Safin in 2005. World number three, Novak Djokovic wrested the title from Federer in 2008 for his first ever Grand Slam title win. In 2009 the Spanish phenomenon, Rafael Nadal defeated three times champion, Federer to win his 1st Australian Open.
The American winning talent, Serena Williams alternated a win at the Australian Open between the period 2003 and 2010. She lost the title to Belgian Justine Henin in 2004; French Amelie Mauresmo in 2006 and Russian legend Maria Sharapova in 2008. She has however been the reigning champion in the Australian Open for the last two years.
The dynamic duo of Spanish Virginia Pascual and Greek Paola Suarez won the doubles title in 2004, and lost it to Svetlana Kuznetsova (Russian) and Aussie Alicia Molik next year. 2006 saw a Chinese win when the team of Yan Zi and Zheng Jie won the title. The Ukrainian Bodarenko sisters, Alona and Kateryna won the title in 2008. For two years now the William sisters have managed to retain the title taking their tally to a total of four Australian Open wins.
Courtesy: Bettor
Roger or Pete?
On Sunday, Roger Federer tied Pete Sampras with 64 ATP tournament titles, the most by a player whose career began in the last 30 years. Though most tennis writers have all but ceded the crown of "greatest ever" to Federer, Busted Racquet decided to look in-depth at the 64 wins of Sampras and Federer to see whose resume was more impressive.
First, we broke down the victories for both players:
Sampras was mediocre, at best, on clay. The only good tournament win he had on the surface was in Rome in 1994. He only made it past the quarterfinals at the French Open once. Federer, on the other hand, won at Roland Garros and has bested Rafael Nadal twice in clay-court finals. Both men were weakened by the slow pace of play on clay, but Federer was able to adapt better. That alone gives Federer the edge in the discussion of who's the greatest complete player of the Open era. (Nadal will certainly have something to say about that in the coming years though.)
But there are other things that go Pete's way. In his prime, Sampras had to play a much deeper top 10. In his first 30 victories, Sampras beat the likes of Jim Courier, Boris Becker, Ivan Lendl and Andre Agassi in finals. Federer's toughest were Agassi, Andy Roddick, Lleyton Hewitt and Marat Safin. Nadal was the toughest challenge of all, but don't forget that he didn't come into his own off the clay courts until 2008.
Sampras may have had to work harder for his 64, but Federer earned his with a better all-around game. So what would have happened if the two played in their primes on their favorite court? Let's say it'd be 1994 Pete Sampras vs. 2005 Roger Federer on Centre Court at Wimbledon?
I'd give the slightest of edges to Sampras. Andre Agassi once said the difference between Federer and Sampras is that Federer could dominate the best players for an entire match, while Pete would sit back and trade the first few service games of a set before unloading on a huge return point to swing things in his favor. He meant that as a compliment to both, but more so to Sampras. He knew when to turn it on and was the best big-point player I've ever seen. In this theoretical meeting, that would be the difference. Sampras would win his serve more easily and would be able to score one or two key breaks of Federer during the match.
Give me Federer's career, but Sampras for one match in his prime. Or give me Sampras' career, but Federer for one match in his prime. Six of one, half-dozen of the other. The only thing we know for sure is that Pete Sampras and Roger Federer are the two greatest players of our generation.
Courtesy: Bleacher Report
Can Rafa win all 4 in 2011?
Of course, Rafael Nadal has the capability of winning each major. As of September 7, 2010, he’s captured the singles titles of the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open at least once. However, winning all four majors in the same year is well nigh impossible for Nadal or any other male tennis player.
The top players’ off court commitments are too numerous, and their schedule balancing so delicate that the odds of winning that quartet within a calendar year are whittled down to nearly nil. Meanwhile, within those nine months spanning the Australian Open and the US Open, the chances that someone else will get hot, believe totally in himself, or just get plain lucky for two weeks increases the odds against any favorite.
As it stands now, whoever wins the Australian Open is instantly pressured from without and within, and the expectations only intensify geometrically as the year advances.
The term Grand Slam was nicked from the game of bridge well after Don Budge captured all four major titles in 1938. When he actually won the fourth and final singles championship at Forest Hills no one noticed it as any special feat, any more than the first horses who won the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes were awarded the Triple Crown, until a journalist coined the term.
The last time a male player snagged all four successively was forty-one years ago in 1969, when Rod Laver swept all of them into his pocket, repeating what he did in 1962. That was at the dawn of the open era when three of those tournaments were contested on grass.
So the entire men’s list of tennis greats who have managed this incredible feat stands at two, and it’s very unlikely that it will ever become a crowd.
This paltry amount of Grand Slam champions is not due to any lack of ability or drive. It’s just due to the fact that almost everyone on the Tour is working hard, being coached proficiently, following a strict regime of both diet and exercise, and is just as hungry for each and every major singles title as the guy at the top of the heap.
An actual Grand Slam is so rare that the term itself, rather than withering from lack of use, has been continuously misapplied to each of the four historic and ranking point laden major championships that it’s become acceptable to all but the purists.
So, the bar is now so impossibly high that a career Grand Slam is considered the acme of tennis achievement. That list is not much longer, consisting of Andre Agassi, Roger Federer and, most recently, Rafael Nadal in the modern era.
2010 has been a year for Nadal to gather an impressive bouquet of titles since his volcanic re-emergence at Monte Carlo in April. However, it must be remembered that he retired from his quarter-final match at the Australian Open. He didn’t lose it; he quit because he couldn’t continue to play. He also failed to defend his Wimbledon title in 2009 because he was physically unable to do so.
Rafael Nadal is now at the top of his game, and his results since April have been stellar, but he still has not won every tournament he has entered. By the time 2011 begins, there’s just as a good a chance that Roger Federer could re-emerge with a new burst of energy. Novak Djokovic may capture his second major title, or Juan Martin Del Potro do the same.
Then there’s Andy Murray, whom the tennis prognosticators see as snagging a major title as well, not to mention some determined player lurking in the shadows and poised to flash into prominence.
In this day and age, it’s theoretically possible that a pig could be genetically altered with wings, and it might be able to fly. It’s just as likely that any male tennis player will win all four major singles titles and earn a legitimate Grand Slam, no matter who that player may be.
Courtesy: Sportingo
The top players’ off court commitments are too numerous, and their schedule balancing so delicate that the odds of winning that quartet within a calendar year are whittled down to nearly nil. Meanwhile, within those nine months spanning the Australian Open and the US Open, the chances that someone else will get hot, believe totally in himself, or just get plain lucky for two weeks increases the odds against any favorite.
As it stands now, whoever wins the Australian Open is instantly pressured from without and within, and the expectations only intensify geometrically as the year advances.
The term Grand Slam was nicked from the game of bridge well after Don Budge captured all four major titles in 1938. When he actually won the fourth and final singles championship at Forest Hills no one noticed it as any special feat, any more than the first horses who won the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes were awarded the Triple Crown, until a journalist coined the term.
The last time a male player snagged all four successively was forty-one years ago in 1969, when Rod Laver swept all of them into his pocket, repeating what he did in 1962. That was at the dawn of the open era when three of those tournaments were contested on grass.
So the entire men’s list of tennis greats who have managed this incredible feat stands at two, and it’s very unlikely that it will ever become a crowd.
This paltry amount of Grand Slam champions is not due to any lack of ability or drive. It’s just due to the fact that almost everyone on the Tour is working hard, being coached proficiently, following a strict regime of both diet and exercise, and is just as hungry for each and every major singles title as the guy at the top of the heap.
An actual Grand Slam is so rare that the term itself, rather than withering from lack of use, has been continuously misapplied to each of the four historic and ranking point laden major championships that it’s become acceptable to all but the purists.
So, the bar is now so impossibly high that a career Grand Slam is considered the acme of tennis achievement. That list is not much longer, consisting of Andre Agassi, Roger Federer and, most recently, Rafael Nadal in the modern era.
2010 has been a year for Nadal to gather an impressive bouquet of titles since his volcanic re-emergence at Monte Carlo in April. However, it must be remembered that he retired from his quarter-final match at the Australian Open. He didn’t lose it; he quit because he couldn’t continue to play. He also failed to defend his Wimbledon title in 2009 because he was physically unable to do so.
Rafael Nadal is now at the top of his game, and his results since April have been stellar, but he still has not won every tournament he has entered. By the time 2011 begins, there’s just as a good a chance that Roger Federer could re-emerge with a new burst of energy. Novak Djokovic may capture his second major title, or Juan Martin Del Potro do the same.
Then there’s Andy Murray, whom the tennis prognosticators see as snagging a major title as well, not to mention some determined player lurking in the shadows and poised to flash into prominence.
In this day and age, it’s theoretically possible that a pig could be genetically altered with wings, and it might be able to fly. It’s just as likely that any male tennis player will win all four major singles titles and earn a legitimate Grand Slam, no matter who that player may be.
Courtesy: Sportingo
Courier to lead the US
Former world number one Jim Courier will take over as coach of the United States Davis Cup team.
The 40-year-old will replace Patrick McEnroe, who resigned last month after 10 years in the post, and will take charge for the first round match against Chile in March.
Courier was a two-time winner of both the US Open and the French Open while also reaching the final at Wimbledonand in the Australian Open, ending 1992 as the top ranked player.
He also helped the United States win the Davis Cup in 1992 and 1995, and finished with a 16-10 record in singles, 1-0 in doubles.
Courier, who has spent much of the last 10 years building a career in the media, immediately put his name forward for consideration for the captaincy role following McEnroe's sudden decision during this year's US Open.
He will be officially unveiled by the USTA later on Wednesday.
Courtesy: Sky Sports
The 40-year-old will replace Patrick McEnroe, who resigned last month after 10 years in the post, and will take charge for the first round match against Chile in March.
Courier was a two-time winner of both the US Open and the French Open while also reaching the final at Wimbledonand in the Australian Open, ending 1992 as the top ranked player.
He also helped the United States win the Davis Cup in 1992 and 1995, and finished with a 16-10 record in singles, 1-0 in doubles.
Courier, who has spent much of the last 10 years building a career in the media, immediately put his name forward for consideration for the captaincy role following McEnroe's sudden decision during this year's US Open.
He will be officially unveiled by the USTA later on Wednesday.
Courtesy: Sky Sports
Hewitt not trying to profit
Response from Lleyton Hewitt to the story I carried a few days ago about the name for his 3rd child being announced first via a pay subscription service.
I can see his point but why not just use his own website. Make the announcement first there for members then the public. Anyway his choice. I am not really interested in what people call their children.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUSTRALIAN tennis star Lleyton Hewitt denied trying to profit from his newborn baby on Wednesday by encouraging fans to pay for a text service revealing the child's name.
Hewitt, 29, accused media of putting a 'spin on reality' by criticising his use of the Text A Star service to announce the name of Ava Sydney, his third child with actress wife Bec.
'Some sections of the media have, as usual, found it opportune to place some spin on reality by suggesting we have taken this approach just to make money,' he wrote on his website, www.lleytonandbechewitt.com.
'Certain media people believe that (they) are the only ones who should have an exclusive,' he wrote. 'In this instance we made a decision that my fans deserve to know first, and the general public second.' Text A Star charges subscribers two dollars (S$2.57) per text to receive two messages a week from their favourite sports stars, mainly Australian Rules footballers, promising 'real messages from real stars in real time'.
It is unclear how much Hewitt, the former US Open and Wimbledon champion, profits from the venture. Text A Star says most of its earnings go to telecoms providers, not the service or its clients.
Hewitt said he had been using Text A Star for several months and 'really enjoyed giving my fans a special insight'.
Courtesy: Straits Times
I can see his point but why not just use his own website. Make the announcement first there for members then the public. Anyway his choice. I am not really interested in what people call their children.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUSTRALIAN tennis star Lleyton Hewitt denied trying to profit from his newborn baby on Wednesday by encouraging fans to pay for a text service revealing the child's name.
Hewitt, 29, accused media of putting a 'spin on reality' by criticising his use of the Text A Star service to announce the name of Ava Sydney, his third child with actress wife Bec.
'Some sections of the media have, as usual, found it opportune to place some spin on reality by suggesting we have taken this approach just to make money,' he wrote on his website, www.lleytonandbechewitt.com.
'Certain media people believe that (they) are the only ones who should have an exclusive,' he wrote. 'In this instance we made a decision that my fans deserve to know first, and the general public second.' Text A Star charges subscribers two dollars (S$2.57) per text to receive two messages a week from their favourite sports stars, mainly Australian Rules footballers, promising 'real messages from real stars in real time'.
It is unclear how much Hewitt, the former US Open and Wimbledon champion, profits from the venture. Text A Star says most of its earnings go to telecoms providers, not the service or its clients.
Hewitt said he had been using Text A Star for several months and 'really enjoyed giving my fans a special insight'.
Courtesy: Straits Times
Rafa 15th. My God some people have no taste!
2010 is indeed the year of the Spaniard in sports, and one of the primary reasons is World No. 1 Rafael Nadal, who won three Grand Slams this year, including his first U.S. Open, and did it all while looking completely delicious, even when sweaty. Who else can pull off hot pink and electric yellow, and wallop Roger Federer on the regular?
Courtesy: AskMen.comhttp://uk.askmen.com/specials/2010_top_49/15-rafael-nadal.html
2010 is indeed the year of the Spaniard in sports, and one of the primary reasons is World No. 1 Rafael Nadal, who won three Grand Slams this year, including his first U.S. Open, and did it all while looking completely delicious, even when sweaty. Who else can pull off hot pink and electric yellow, and wallop Roger Federer on the regular?
Courtesy: AskMen.comhttp://uk.askmen.com/specials/2010_top_49/15-rafael-nadal.html
Wednesday preview
The tour continues in Montepellier, St Petersburg & Vienna. Here are today's previews.
Montpellier - ATP
Really looking forwad to the all French affair of Mahut v Simon. If you can find a link i highly recommend that you watch this match. I can't see any upsets today.
St Petersburg - ATP
Not been following the play in St Petersburg but i hope that Viktor can carry on his good run and that Mikhail keeps picking up the points in his push for London.
Vienna - ATP
Likewise with Vienna, not really been following the results but good luck to Mayer today.
Montpellier - ATP
Really looking forwad to the all French affair of Mahut v Simon. If you can find a link i highly recommend that you watch this match. I can't see any upsets today.
St Petersburg - ATP
Not been following the play in St Petersburg but i hope that Viktor can carry on his good run and that Mikhail keeps picking up the points in his push for London.
Vienna - ATP
Likewise with Vienna, not really been following the results but good luck to Mayer today.
Tuesday, 26 October 2010
Leander the actor
Move over, Vijay Amritraj. There's a new tennis player-turned-actor in town. According to reports, Leander Paes, the 37-year-old doubles specialist from Calcutta, India, is set to star opposite actress Ameesha Patel in a film by Ashok Kohli called Rajdhani Express. The filmmakers are being hush-hush about the movie's plot, just saying that Paes will be playing "a common man in a face-paced [sic] plot." Personally, I can see him fitting into a romantic lead role. Just check out how he interacts with Serena Williams when he interviewed her for NDTV last year. Charisma and chemistry! I also can see Paes doing his own action stunts. He's never been afraid to dive for shots on court.
According to an IndianExpress.com article, Paes is taking his big-screen debut seriously: He's enrolled in a three-month acting program to prepare. Of course, Armitraj can help his young prodigy (Paes developed his game at Amritraj's academy in Madras) with his acting. Who can forget Amritraj's turn as James Bond's sidekick in Octopussy?
Speaking of Armitraj, his foundation is holding two big charity events this weekend in Calabasas, Calif., one honoring Jimmy Connors on Oct. 29, and a Beach Boys concert on Oct. 30. For information on tickets and details, go to vijayamritrajfoundation.org.
Courtesy: Tennis.com
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