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With such a deep and rich history, Wimbledon has played host to some of the greatest tennis matches in history. It would be a difficult task to name the greatest matches of Wimbledon history without ignoring some of its best contests. After all, should favor be shown to historic matches over recent matches? Or have recent matches surpassed the greatness of historic matches?

For the sake of modern tennis fans we’ll look at the five greatest battles at Wimbledon in the 21st century. These contests featured some of the greatest names in tennis in the last two decades and represent the changes the game has gone through over time.

#5. Roger Federer vs. Pete Sampras, 2001 4th Round
Pete Sampras was in the twilight of his career at Wimbledon in 2001 when he met Roger Federer in the 4th round. Sampras was a seven time Wimbledon champion already and the four-time defending champion heading into the tournament. Federer was the man many assumed would ascend to the tennis throne currently held by Sampras.

Sampras wouldn’t go quietly though as the two exchanged victories running to a fifth set. Federer needed at least 12 games in four of the five sets, along with two tiebreaks, to defeat Sampras. Federer would go on to win Wimbledon in five consecutive years from 2003 to 2007 to match Sampras’ record for all-time titles at Wimbledon.

#4. Goran Ivanisevic vs. Patrick Rafter, 2001 Final
Ivanisevic is one of the most unlikely Wimbledon champions of all time. He entered the 2001 tournament coming off a bad shoulder injury and was the 125th ranked player in the world, needing a wildcard to even make it into the field. In a stunning final, Ivanisevic and Rafter exchanged sets over the course of three hours until Ivanisevic pulled out a 9-7 victory in the fifth set.

#3. Roger Federer vs. Andy Roddick, 2009 Final
Andy Roddick and Roger Federer had met plenty of times prior to their 2009 final showdown, but this was the first time Roddick appeared poised to defeat his foe in a major tournament. Roddick was unable to put away Federer with two tiebreak chances, and Federer managed a 16-14 win in the fifth set.

More than the contest itself was the importance of the victory to Federer. His victory was his sixth at Wimbledon, moving him within one of tying Sampras for all-time titles at Wimbledon. Also on that day, Federer claimed his 15 major title to surpass Sampras’ record of 14 career titles.

#2. Venus Williams vs Lindsay Davenport, 2005 Final
It might be easy for many tennis fans to overlook the impact of women at Wimbledon, who have not allowed the men to dominate the field of epic matches on the traditional grass courts of Wimbledon. Williams versus Davenport was a match-up that featured power against power. Williams defeated Davenport 9-7 in the third set to claim the title.

The match went down as the longest final in women’s history at Wimbledon and marked the final appearance of Lindsay Davenport in a final.

#1. Roger Federer vs. Rafael Nadal, 2008 Final
Seven years and five Wimbledon titles after knocking Pete Sampras from the throne of tennis, Roger Federer faced his own challenge in the form of Rafael Nadal. The younger Spaniard had fallen the year before to Federer in the 2007 Wimbledon final, but he returned the following year to attempt to dethrone the five-time defending champion.

In an epic match that saw two rain delays and five sets, Nadal was able to overcome a blown two set lead to defeat Federer in the fifth set 9-7. The victory ended Federer’s dominance at Wimbledon and gave Nadal victories at the French Open and Wimbledon in the same season, a feat achieved by only two previous tennis players.

Assessing the greatness of any given match is largely a matter of opinion. By in large there are few that would argue that the matches listed above fall into the category of great matches at Wimbledon. While matches from previous decades, even centuries, at Wimbledon may have been better, these are some of the greatest matches witnessed by 21st century crowds at Wimbledon.
]]> http://www.tennisearth.com/teforum/posts/preList/2699/4204.htm http://www.tennisearth.com/teforum/posts/preList/2699/4204.htm GMT I thought it was time to call my friend as I usually do after any tennis match as we both were tennis freaks. The phone conversation:
Myself:Hey!What an awesome match!
Friend: Pity that Murray had to lose after he fought back bravely
Myself:Yeah,Just like a warrior!
Friend:This is the match that is going to turn Murray’s life man!!He might have lost this but he is going to really rock the next matches with a new found confidence
Myself: Tomorrow exam dude!!!Bye
Friend:LOL!As usual!Bye
As i kept the phone down, I thought again,Wow,What a match!!
Murray did get his revenge back for this match beating Novak Djokovic in the Dubai open semi finals but lost in the finals to Federer and things were a bit decent with Murray until he started losing his touch in the Rome Masters
It was not about Murray losing in the semi finals that really bothered me because that was how it always happened and Murray has always been in the 4th rank. What I saw in the final set of Australian open 2012 semi finals was a Murray, a very different Murray ready to take up his career to the next level and be an actual competitor and bring games to close finishes or actually reach finals in big games and win trophies. But he was back to his old style of play or worse after that epic treat he gave us.
He lost to Richard Gasquet in the third round itself of the Rome masters and looked shaky throughout French open but we can understand that any player apart from Nadal in today’s play hasn’t looked very comfortable in a clay court except in very rare instances. He eventually lost to David Ferrer in the semi finals. I didn’t expect Murray to pull up a great show in the French open. He even got thrashed by world number 65 Nicolas Mahut in the Queen’s championships. He lost in very early rounds of the Warm up round for Wimbledon.


[b]The Rise of the Warrior – Circumstances played a role?[/b]
Wimbledon started and any hopes on Andy Murray was lost already for a major revolution in his career. I being a Nadal fan faced a big heart break when Nadal lost in his second round itself and it took me some weeks to actually believe that!So,coming back to where we are, Murray didn’t need to face a Nadal who recently won the French open and was in an awesome form. Murray Played hard and was showing signs of being a finalist. Djokovic was tied in the other set with Federer and Federer defeated Djokovic after more than a year and reached the finals. Murray won against Tsonga and became the first British male after 74 years to reach the finals of Wimbledon finals! He did rise his standard here even though he didn’t have to face Nadal. But I would consider it as a rise from the fall because he had been losing badly in the previous tournaments and had even been thrashed by world number more than 50!He would have been less on confidence and wouldn’t have had the thought that he would rock this tournament! But he played against all odd’s, fought hard and the warrior reached a respectable runner up in the Wimbledon!

[b]Confirming the Rise:[/b]
Wimbledon was over and now a grand chance to make his country proud in the Olympics. The same venue as Wimbledon but had to play Djokovic in the semi finals. Even though Djokovic had lost his peak form, he was still dangerous and would give a comeback at the earliest chance possible! The warrior within Murray roared this time with the greatest confidence he had! He played brilliant and won against Djokovic in two straight sets! He met Federer again in the finals on the same venue but this time he was playing for his country! He gave the biggest shock by just not winning but thrashing the maestro in three straight sets without mercy and it looked as though he was the Federer playing against a Andy Murray a few years back! The warrior rose and won a prestigious gold medal for his country! He had his revenges too and gave a brilliant comeback !it just shows how unpredictable each player is or as a whole how unpredictable tennis is!So,what’s the verdict of the last grand slam yet to be played?
]]> http://www.tennisearth.com/teforum/posts/preList/2689/4189.htm http://www.tennisearth.com/teforum/posts/preList/2689/4189.htm GMT I thought it was time to call my friend as I usually do after any tennis match as we both were tennis freaks. The phone conversation:
Myself:Hey!What an awesome match!
Friend: Pity that Murray had to lose after he fought back bravely
Myself:Yeah,Just like a warrior!
Friend:This is the match that is going to turn Murray’s life man!!He might have lost this but he is going to really rock the next matches with a new found confidence
Myself: Tomorrow exam dude!!!Bye
Friend:LOL!As usual!Bye
As i kept the phone down, I thought again,Wow,What a match!!
Murray did get his revenge back for this match beating Novak Djokovic in the Dubai open semi finals but lost in the finals to Federer and things were a bit decent with Murray until he started losing his touch in the Rome Masters
It was not about Murray losing in the semi finals that really bothered me because that was how it always happened and Murray has always been in the 4th rank. What I saw in the final set of Australian open 2012 semi finals was a Murray, a very different Murray ready to take up his career to the next level and be an actual competitor and bring games to close finishes or actually reach finals in big games and win trophies. But he was back to his old style of play or worse after that epic treat he gave us.
He lost to Richard Gasquet in the third round itself of the Rome masters and looked shaky throughout French open but we can understand that any player apart from Nadal in today’s play hasn’t looked very comfortable in a clay court except in very rare instances. He eventually lost to David Ferrer in the semi finals. I didn’t expect Murray to pull up a great show in the French open. He even got thrashed by world number 65 Nicolas Mahut in the Queen’s championships. He lost in very early rounds of the Warm up round for Wimbledon.


[b]The Rise of the Warrior – Circumstances played a role?[/b]
Wimbledon started and any hopes on Andy Murray was lost already for a major revolution in his career. I being a Nadal fan faced a big heart break when Nadal lost in his second round itself and it took me some weeks to actually believe that!So,coming back to where we are, Murray didn’t need to face a Nadal who recently won the French open and was in an awesome form. Murray Played hard and was showing signs of being a finalist. Djokovic was tied in the other set with Federer and Federer defeated Djokovic after more than a year and reached the finals. Murray won against Tsonga and became the first British male after 74 years to reach the finals of Wimbledon finals! He did rise his standard here even though he didn’t have to face Nadal. But I would consider it as a rise from the fall because he had been losing badly in the previous tournaments and had even been thrashed by world number more than 50!He would have been less on confidence and wouldn’t have had the thought that he would rock this tournament! But he played against all odd’s, fought hard and the warrior reached a respectable runner up in the Wimbledon!

[b]Confirming the Rise:[/b]
Wimbledon was over and now a grand chance to make his country proud in the Olympics. The same venue as Wimbledon but had to play Djokovic in the semi finals. Even though Djokovic had lost his peak form, he was still dangerous and would give a comeback at the earliest chance possible! The warrior within Murray roared this time with the greatest confidence he had! He played brilliant and won against Djokovic in two straight sets! He met Federer again in the finals on the same venue but this time he was playing for his country! He gave the biggest shock by just not winning but thrashing the maestro in three straight sets without mercy and it looked as though he was the Federer playing against a Andy Murray a few years back! The warrior rose and won a prestigious gold medal for his country! He had his revenges too and gave a brilliant comeback !it just shows how unpredictable each player is or as a whole how unpredictable tennis is!So,what’s the verdict of the last grand slam yet to be played?
]]> http://www.tennisearth.com/teforum/posts/preList/2688/4186.htm http://www.tennisearth.com/teforum/posts/preList/2688/4186.htm GMT
"If have any interest in making a living playing tennis, you should probably read this first.

I've always been one of the elite players at my club, on my team, and in my town. When I heard that every ranked player on the ATP has at one point played an ITF event as a junior or adult I took the leap and played some tournaments on the International Tennis Federation'sprofessional circuit.

[b]An introduction to the ITF.[/b]

Very little is known about the ITF circuit. It has only been a couple of years now that scores became easily available to the public,and scores can’t really tell the story of who these players are, what their journey is like, and what the ITF circuit life is all about. And believe me, it is a world that exists at the opposite end of the tennis spectrum. It's the entry level of professional tournaments, with prize money of $10,000 or $15,000, and over 220 tournaments held yearly worldwide. Anyone can enter, but you'll have to win 3 or 4 consecutive matches just to enter the main draw of 64, where only the top 8 typically get any prize money.

[b]Who are these players?[/b]

The Futures are mainly interesting because of the mix of players you can find at one single event; from future prodigy teenage players trying to break into the ATP World Tour, to thirty year old journeymen who are still out there grinding it out, and everything in between.

[b]Who pays?[/b]

In most cases, the player does: the flight, the hotel, and the food. It is easy to spot which players have some outside financial support (many have wealthy families...a lucky few have endorsements) and which players are out there on their own. Most players on the ITF circuit travel in teams in order to share expenses such as hotel and travel. Players in Futures events do not have many of the benefits that the top professional players enjoy. They do not have free accommodations, and there is seldom free transportation from the hotels to the tennis venues; there are no fans flocking to their practice sessions, no sponsors chasing after them for big endorsement deals, and no big stages to showcase their talent. Nearly all players at ITF events do not travel with a coach, a physical therapist, or even family members, because that just means added expenses.

[b]Can you make money?[/b]

There's virtually no money to be made at these events; most players are doing this for the love of the game and the chance to accumulate enough ITF points to qualify for a chance to qualify for an ATP event. ITF Futures events are either $10,000 or $15,000 in prize money, with 80% of that distributed to singles and only 20% to doubles. A regular qualifying draw at a Futures event consists of sixty-four players, with eight of them making it into the main draw after three matches. Unlike Challengers and ATP tournaments, where players earn ranking points and/or prize money after the first round of qualifying, the only thing players earn in a qualifying draw of a Futures event is the chance to compete in the Main Draw. And even then, if you played three tough matches and managed to get into the Main Draw, there are no ranking points for losing in the first round of the tournament. There is, however, the pay check for approximately $150.00 which should be enough to cover one night at a hotel and three meals...after spending almost a week near the tournament! For those who are on their own and have little or no sponsorship, this lifestyle becomes a race against time. They have limited funds, and thus limited time to break through to the next level, where they can at least break even.

[b]How good are these players?[/b]

Very. It important to point out that all of these players are incredibly talented, incredibly fit and work as hard as anyone on the tour. If you were watching a practice session during any of these tournaments and you were not familiar with the rankings or level of the tournaments, you could easily be fooled into thinking that you just watched a practice session between two guys who are about to play the first round at a Grand Slam. Just being able to obtain a single ATP ranking point is an incredible feat, so even the player who is ranked #1900 is already at a level that no recreational player can even imagine.

[b]See a grittier version of pro tennis: watch an ITF event.[/b]

There are ITF Futures events happening every week in as many as 16 countries in the world. And if you are a true tennis fan and want to get a glimpse into the making of a tennis player, I encourage you to attend one of these tournaments. Tickets are free of charge, you can interact with the players who are always happy to get some attention and share their stories, and more importantly, you will be introduced to a whole new side of professional tennis.]]> http://www.tennisearth.com/teforum/posts/preList/2678/4173.htm http://www.tennisearth.com/teforum/posts/preList/2678/4173.htm GMT
Here’s the “thinking man’s” way to win matches with the serve.

[b]Don’t hit every first serve flat.[/b]

Most of my opponents serve in a familiar pattern: Flat first serve, spinny second serve. Flat first serve, spinny second serve. It’s easy to read. But Matt randomly mixed in flat, kick, and slice serves on his first serve. He was very clever to set up off-speed serves with fast, flat ones. When he sensed I was expecting another bullet…and promptly served up a slow but high bouncing serve. The result: an early swing, an error, and another easy point for him.

[b]You probably serve to your opponent’s backhand TOO much.[/b]

This is probably the most predictable tactic I find at my level (4.0). And it does work for a while, but on the way to the end of the first set I’ve returned so many serves with my backhand (I usually slice them back) that it actually becomes MORE reliable than my forehand. Serving to the backhand is a fine tactic, but choosing that side any more than 66% of the time is too much.

[b]Disguise your intentions with a hard-to-read ball toss.[/b]

What good is a random serving pattern if your opponent can “read” it after a few games? Try to place your toss in the same spot each time regardless of how or where you’re hitting it. Here’s a great discussin on camouflaging your intentions:
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/archive/index.php/t-234289.html

Original article as posted on VolleyCam blog:
http://hdtenniscamera.com/tennis-serve-tips]]> http://www.tennisearth.com/teforum/posts/preList/2677/4151.htm http://www.tennisearth.com/teforum/posts/preList/2677/4151.htm GMT
[b]Take count of your strengths and weaknesses.[/b]
The first part might just be the most difficult. You have to take an honest account of your personal skill set. What are your strengths? What are the shots that you can count on day in and day out? Honesty is of extreme importance here. Are your opponent’s forced to adjust to these strengths you possess?

What are your weaknesses? What shots give you the most trouble? This account should go further than shots too. You need to assess other things as well. Is your movement good, or a weakness? Can you last through a hard three set match? How is your concentration? All these varied skill sets are important in constructing your personal game plan. Obviously a player with no endurance and little concentration will have trouble with a grinder type game plan, and on the same line, you will have great difficulty carrying out a good “first strike” game plan if you have no obvious weapon.

[b]Learn the 3 distinct parts of each point.[/b]
There is my lead in to the next consideration, the three parts of a tennis point. Understanding the construct of a point will help you devise a game plan that fits your personal skill set. Every tennis point starts with the obvious, the first exchange. One player is serving and the other is returning serve. This first exchange can often give one player control of the point. Many times the point won’t even get to the
next part.

The next part of the point is the rally, the true meat of every point. The higher the level the more important this part becomes. The serve is put in, the return is made, and then the point begins to take shape. This is the segment of any point that will most be determined by experience, or proper training. If you haven’t done your homework this part will be a challenge.

The third and final part of the point is the finish. While most points end with errors if you are 4.0 or better you must begin to WIN a percentage of points. Please don’t misunderstand, consistency permeates every level, right up to the very top, but there comes a time when you need to be willing to think offensively too. Now I will make a statement that is very important-you must affect your opponent’s decision making.

[b]Make your play.[/b]
So here we go, with those three parts of a tennis point in mind, with an honest account of your tennis skills, you can now think of creating your very own game plan!

[b]Tips for "First Strikers":[/b]
Let’s begin with a First Strike player. Obviously you need either a big serve or big return for this. By BIG I am not necessarily referring to pace. Spin can make a shot BIG. Accuracy can make a shot BIG. Sure, if you possess consistency, spin, accuracy AND pace that is great, but it is the first three elements that are most important. On the return side, a consistent return of serve can be a weapon. Every server hates to have to work for every point.

The goal of a first strike player is to get control of the point from the first shot. This is crucial to a
player that doesn’t move well. That first strike player puts you on the defensive immediately, making you chase the ball, so they don’t have to. This is the consummate big serve, big forehand player. Hit the big serve, get a short or inside return, and put you on the run with a big forehand. This is also an important play for a player with an obvious weakness, like a broken backhand.

[b]Tips for "Rally Monsters":[/b]
For the player that wants to build around the rally part of a point that player needs a highly reliable
serve and return of serve. Obviously without that they may not get to the rally portion of a point. The rally focused player needs to be at a neutral status after the first exchange to be effective. This type of game plan demands a certain amount of fitness. Tennis players have become more consistent so if you are building a game built on consistency you need to have the fitness level to be able to carry out this plan, and have the mind set to do this.

[b]Tips for "Finishers":[/b]
Then there is the Finisher. This player needs a big shot, a finishing shot that will put fear into his pponent. The typical finisher has the big forehand, and typical to this player, he is more than willing to do a lot of running to hit as many forehands as possible. That is a key element. You must have the aggressive mindset to hit a lot of your big shot, and continue to hit it big! This player will not get flustered after missing a few. This player needs to go down swinging!

This should get you started. The next couple times on the court focus on assessing your skills. Try a few things, maybe play a practice set as a First Striker, another as a Rally Monster, and yet another as a Big Finisher. Which feels more comfortable? Which suits your personality, and skill set?

This article was originally published on the VolleyCam blog:
[url]http://hdtenniscamera.com/mental-toughness-in-tennis[/url]]]> http://www.tennisearth.com/teforum/posts/preList/2675/4147.htm http://www.tennisearth.com/teforum/posts/preList/2675/4147.htm GMT
I asked Burlingame, CA teaching pro Scott Perlstein: Just what does it take to make the discoveries we make in practice TRANSLATE into match play?

Scott’s response:

“As you add a new skill you must have a THREE prong understanding of the steps needed to master the skill.

1. Learning the skill.

This is the stage when the player is introduced to a new concept and will initially struggle with and even resist changing their habits. There are 3 tactics to help develop a more open mind to change:

New strokes become permanent when you learn to trust them.

a. Define specific terms for the new skill. I will often ask the student to explain to me what they are trying to do. If a player tells me he is looking for more depth from his two hand backhand, for example, simply having him repeat the word “extend” “extend” “extend” in his mind as he sets up the shot works as a mental cue to use a new way.

b. Encourage body awareness. A: an awareness of what your body is doing, and B: a comfort level. If the shot is not comfortable you will never use it. I often tell the student that they are not trying to make me, the instructor, happy. We are trying to make the student happy. So if you’re not using your new skill in a match, it’s because you’re not comfortable with it yet. Let your instructor know this! You haven’t corrected the behavior until it feels good doing it.

c. Visualization. The student must have a video in his mind of what he is trying to look like, and what the result of his shots look like.

During your work with your coach you need to be patient with yourself. Until you have a high comfort and trust level you need to have a “more please “ attitude.

2. Locking in the skill

Locking in the skill takes practice both on and off the court. I tell the students…off court I want them swinging in front of a mirror so they can get an instant video feed back of what the shot looks like. On the court in drills and practice matches you introduce the shot with some degree of stress. Trusting the shot will take time. The more it works for you the more you will want to use it. Introduce score keeping in practice to simulate the tension of match play. It’s nerves that cause tennis players to be defensive and react with trusted, proven instincts.

3. Owning the skill

Finally, ready for prime time. One of my tour coach friends, Dean Goldfine, told one of his pros not to use a certain shot during the match as it was not mastered enough to be productive. In matches you should only use shots that you have developed a trust for. Trust doesn’t mean making the shot 100% of the time, but that it works enough that you would use it when it counts.

Ultimately, it’s through repetition that we learn, but following the above tips can help to accelerate the process.”

Quoted from my recent article on [url=http://hdtenniscamera.com/tennis-practice]tennis practice habits.[/url].]]> http://www.tennisearth.com/teforum/posts/preList/2661/4012.htm http://www.tennisearth.com/teforum/posts/preList/2661/4012.htm GMT
[b]How it all started becoming worse for Nadal?[/b]
2011 started with a positive note of defeating federer at the Abu Dhabi championship but the outset of Nadal started from here where he lost to his countrymen David Ferrer in the quarter finals in straight sets due to his hamstring injury.The only positive at the early of 2011 was the Laureus world sportsman of the year award and Nadal was honoured.The difficulty of his hamstring problem started haunting him from the Indian wells where his losing steak to the serb started and Novak won the title.He started playing the Sony Ericson open with an injured right shoulder and defeated all opponents with swift actions and destroyed federer in the semi finals but again lost oDjokovic in the finals.This was the second straight loss to Djokovic.He started playing in the clay tournaments with a win over Ferrer in the finals of the Monte Carlo in which Djokovic did not play.Then came the Barcelona open ands he won the 7th consecutive title and with 2 straight titles little did his confidence improve as he didn’t meet his new jinx Djokovic.Now Nadal started playing his 3rd clay tournament which was the Madrid open and he lost to Djokovic in the finals in straight sets which was his 3rd consecutive loss to the serb.Then came the rome master finals where he lost again to Novak in straight sets and which marked his 4th consecutive loss to Novak and at this point he looked so unbeatable.Novak was on a high with 42 consecutive win and it looked like someone had to stop him soon.Now came the living legend Roger Federer as he kicked Djokovic out of the major tournament French open but eventually lost to Nadal in Finals.So,Nadal still hadn’t defeated Djokovic even though the serb has been finally defeated and his winning streak had ended.

So,the verdict seemed to be like Nadal was still a top player and Djokovic seems to have got better of him and whenever he plays Djokovic he loses.Otherwise he seems to go on to win the tournament despite his injuries.Then the next major tournament came WIMBLEDON.It was clear that Nadal was suffering from injuries and he had to play so hard and he reached the finals and lost the 5th time to the serb who won the Wimbledon in easy 4 sets.

This was a Major set back for Nadal as he strived hard but lose to Novak Djokovic in the 4 previous finals and He lost his rankings and got dropped to no.2 and Djokovic went to the first rank for his first time in life.
This was a point at which Nadal failed to Djokovic in 5 finals and one had been a major tournament and he lost his 1st rank and sustained a foot injury too that he acquired during Wimbledon.after rest,Nadal contested in a few tournaments like rogers cup and Cincinnati masters where he lost to Ivan dodig in the 3rd round and to mardy fish in the quarters.
2 consecutive early exit in the tournaments by lower ranked players dampened his spirits badly and wanted to give a comeback.This time it was the US open which was the final major tournament of the 2011.After defeating Nalbadian in the 4th round,Nadal obtained severe cramps and even fell during the post match presentation and lost in 4 sets to Djokovic in the finals which was his 6th consecutive loss to the Serb and more misery to Nadal after having only one major tournament of the year and losing 2 of it to the same player in the finals.

Nadal reached the Japan open Finals after the US open upset and was Shocked by Andy Murray in the finals and lost another tournament and this time to the 4th rank.

2011 ended in a horrendous fashion as he struggled more after this

[b]THE 7TH STRAIGHT LOSS TO DJOKOVIC WHICH WAS THE COMEBACK:[/b]
2012 began for Nadal and since 2009,his best in the major tournament Australian open was the quarter Finals and this time he wanted to break it.He played brilliant and reached the semi finals in a jubilant manner where he met Roger Federer and in a deciding 4 setters,he finalised with Djokovic who almost lost to Andy Murray in the semi Finals.
Rafael Nadal won the first set and looked in good condition before Djokovic played his brilliant stuff of winning 2 consecutive sets.The Spaniard seemed to have almost lost when he gave a comeback in the 4th set winning the tie breaker and making the 5th set as the decider.He broke Djokovic but was broken back immediately and eventually lost the finals
It marked the come back of Nadal and it showed that Djokovic was going down a bit with his game.Then there was the sony Ericson where Nadal pulled of during semi finals due to injury.It looked like another 2011.But nadal came back very strong defeating Djokovic at last in the morle santos open and then again in the rome master finals.

Nadal seems to have at last read Djokovic..Yes,Djokovic still seems stronger and has been playing brilliant with the other players.But Nadal seems to have at last developed a strategy for Djokovic to be more aggressive and he is fitter than ever.With the French open coming next week,if Nadal can defend his title and win the remaining major tournaments this year,Nadal will be on top again and be unstoppable again.
So,it all depends on these crucial wins that will decide the future of Nadal.So,Nadal fans ~ Continue to hope for the same form as of now and he will be on top soon


Eashwar Sriram
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What many people don’t understand about tennis is that it is indeed intensely physically demanding. It’s not like football, no one is being tackled dozens of times over the course of a 60 minute game. But a tennis match is three to five sets, each comprised of a minimum of six games, but usually closer to ten. That’s a lot of running and a lot of wear on the arm. Before you can even think about becoming an excellent player, you have to get in the proper shape. Tennis is a game of endurance. No doubt about it. So a majority of the exercises you should focus on should be intended to increase your endurance. These exercises could be as simple as running three to five miles a day three times a day. Pyramid sprints are very popular in the world of professional tennis. You should also do exercises that will improve your arm strength. No one wins tennis tournaments with a 60 mph serve. Again, there’s nothing complicated here. Even doing ten pull-ups and ten push-ups a day will start to have a noticeable effect on your arm strength.

Apart from getting in shape, it is important to hone your technique. Just like with any other sport, there is a proper form to maintain while playing tennis. One of the best ways to improve your technique is to simply improve your posture. To improve your posture, fitness experts recommend a regular routine of demanding stretches. Such a regiment will do wonders for loosening your muscles. When picking up anything, whether it be a tennis ball or a pencil make sure to use your knees and arms, not your back and waist. This is not only a good tip for improving your tennis posture, but for reducing injury in all walks of life. The best posture to have when playing tennis involves standing on the balls of your feet, and limiting your stance to no more than shoulder width apart. Practice this posture at home so that it comes naturally to you on the court.

One thing many young tennis players overlook when it comes to improving their tennis game is the power of positivity. Winning a tennis game becomes much harder if you place yourself in the mental doldrums. Many young players get severely frustrated, and take to fits of swearing after a series of bad plays. While this may be the natural instinct, it serves no useful purpose. All it does is reinforce your own thought process that you are incapable. Sure, John McEnroe was able to win games despite his penchant for profanity laced tirades and brutal emotional outbursts, but he is most definitely the exception, not the rule. There’s nothing wrong with being competitive; you should be competitive. But don’t be too hard on yourself. Focus on the next rally, not the bad ones you just had.

Obviously, different methods are going to work for different players. Some of the great tennis players rely on exceptional speed, others rely on forceful serves and backhands. Despite that, these tips will help any beginning tennis player learn the ropes, or the net in this case as it were.

Author bio: Jerome Manson is a sports enthusiast who enjoys both watching games and writing about them. When he is not cheering on his team from the stands, Jerome is blogging about 2012 US Open tennis for selectaticket.com.
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[b]Learn the pros' strokes on YouTube.[/b]
A month ago I committed myself to learning the two hand backhand. I was not looking forward to the awkwardness and frustration of learning something new . And where would I find the time? You have to hit around 10,000 balls to feel confident in a new stroke. But with video analysis, I think I've cut that number in half. Here's how.

[b]Step 1: Identify a technically "perfect" stroke on YouTube.[/b]

We'll call this the "control" video. It should be of a pro hitting in slow motion with a good view of the player from head to foot. This video of Thomas Berdych's 2 hand backhand is perfect:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/KvBVFDozccQ?rel=0

[b]Step 2: Film 3-5 of your sessions on a ball machine.[/b]

Set up a camera on the baseline. It doesn't need to be my VolleyCam, or anything expensive, but high definition will be a big help. Hit a few hundred balls at a time and return home to compare your stroke to your "control" video (in my case, Berdych hitting backhands). Identify one thing to work on during your next session (ie, shoulder turn, extension of left hand into court, etc.). Keep it simple, and focused: you can't learn it all in one session. With each session, compare videos and "check off" each element (shoulders, knee bend, footwork) until you have a fundamentally solid and repeatable stroke.

[b]Step 3: Real world testing. More video.[/b]

Find a partner or instructor good enough (and patient enough) to isolate your new stroke. You're about to find out the vast difference between "ball machine" confidence and "real world" confidence. The ball will be coming at a varied pace, angle and height. You will struggle. It will be frustrating. At this point, some players give up and return to their flawed but familiar strokes. But if you're diligent about filming, comparing to the test video, and working on just one thing at a time, you're reducing a large problem into a series of smaller, more manageable problems. And you have the benefit of video to verify your progress.

[b]Conclusion: It isn't right, until it "looks right."[/b]

If you're going to learn a new stroke, or radically change a stroke, don't just practice until it "feels right" or the ball goes in reliably. Your work isn't done. If you make the extra effort to have the most mechanically efficient form possible, you're arming yourself with a major advantage on the court. You aren't working as hard, and you're working with far more margin for error. You become one of those players who wins without seemingly trying.

Full article on [url=http://hdtenniscamera.com/tennis-video-training]learning the backhand[/url] from my blog.]]> http://www.tennisearth.com/teforum/posts/preList/2654/3884.htm http://www.tennisearth.com/teforum/posts/preList/2654/3884.htm GMT
Benefits of Playing Tennis

Tennis is a great form or exercise and a good way to spend some time with your friends. You can even learn to play with your children or grandchildren so you have a fun group activity to do when the weather is nice. The American Medical Association, mild to moderate exercise can help seniors maintain bone density and stay healthy longer. Tennis doesn't have to be as vigorous as it is when players are going for the championship. Tennis is one of many sports that can be easily adapted for older players. Additional benefits of playing tennis as a more mature player include:

• Regular cardiovascular exercise
• Social interaction with friends and other players
• Improved flexibility that may prevent some joint and muscle issues
• Increased circulation
• Improved reflexes
• Better stability

Getting Started

Seniors, or anybody not used to playing sports on a regular basis, should start with some warm-up exercises to get the circulation moving. While tennis doesn't have to be all that vigorous, it does involve constant movement during an actual game. There are three basic types of tennis match competitions: singles, doubles and mixed doubles. Singles is a game between two people. Doubles is a game with four people with two players on each team. Mixed doubles is a pairing of teams with a man and woman making up each team. For retirees, this option could be fun if you are playing as couples. Doubles and mixed doubles matches tend to be less strenuous since you have a partner to pick up the slack. If you are a beginner, you might want to consider starting with a doubles or mixed doubles match.

Check with Your Doctor

Before even starting to play tennis, you should check with your doctor to make sure there aren't any physical issues that would prevent you from playing a game of tennis. Even after you start playing, it is good to have regular doctor's visits to make sure you do not have any physical issues. This doesn't mean you have to give up playing. Your doctor may recommend a more relaxed game or suggest certain exercises to help prepare you for playing tennis on a regular basis. As a precaution, check your pulse before and after a game. If your pulse rate doesn't return to normal within 10-15 minutes or you experience excess sweating or chest pains, seek medical attention immediately.

Start Slowly

You can be impatient at any age, but taking the time to learn the game and get used to some of the specific movements involved can prevent some common first time injuries. Before playing your first match, get in some practice time. You can do that at a local community tennis court or your local senior center might have a multipurpose area where you can practice before playing your first match. The key words when you're first starting are baby steps. There is no shame in taking your time to get ready before you start playing. When you actually play a game, you'll need to decide who serves first and who gets what side of the court. If you're playing with random players, a coin toss is a common way to decide who goes first and what side of the court belongs to which team.

Playing a Game

The goal of tennis is to keep the ball in play for the duration of a match. Points are won when your opponent double faults when serving, is unable to return the ball before it bounces twice, returns a ball that lands out-of-bounds or strikes the ball directly into the net. The player serving the ball is called the server. This player will serve for the duration of the game by starting at the baseline on the right side of the court. Tennis games can last just a few minutes or much longer, depending on the skill level of the players involved. A player or team must win by two points to win a game. If you are going to play a full set, you will need to win at least six games by two or more points. There are a few other technical terms, but you can learn that later.

After you play a game, take time to evaluate how it went and decide if tennis really is right for you. Tennis can be as strenuous or relaxing as you make it. Learning a new sport is a great way for you to enjoy your leisure time, get some exercise and socialize. If you start experiencing any physical issues, stop playing immediately. It is generally best to work your way up to more competitive matches. Once you master tennis, you may even consider trying some other sports or activities you didn't have time for before you retired. Don't forget that your main goal isn't to win, but to have fun.

Author Bio:
Tom writes for Assisted Living Today, a leading source of information on a range of topics related to elderly care and [url]Massachusetts Assisted Living.[/url]
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