Category: Tennis

The sudden-death tie break to end prolonged sets and matches was first advocated by the Van Alen Streamlined Scoring System, developed by James ‘Jimmy’ Van Alen in 1958. The tie break was finally introduced in 1970, partly in response to a match between Pancho Gonzales and Charlie Pasarell at the Wimbledon Championships the previous year, which had required a total of 112 games – at the time, the highest number of games played in a singles match – to complete. However, at the time of the longest recorded tennis match in history, also played at the Wimbledon Championships, in 2010, the tie break did not apply to the fifth set.

The so-called ‘endless match’ between John Isner and Nicolas Mahut started uneventfully enough, with the players completing the first four sets, 6-4, 3-6, 6-7, 7-6, in a little under three hours before play was suspended due to fading light. Play resumed the following afternoon and continued for the next seven hours until it was suspended again, for the same reason, with the players tied 59-59 in the final set. Play resumed again the following afternoon and, in just over an hour, Isner finally prevailed 70-68 in the final set, which had last 8 hours and 11 minutes in total. All told, the match lasted 11 hours and 5 minutes and involved 183 games, making it far and away the longest record tennis match in history, in terms of elapsed time and the number of games played.

The 2023 US Open brought the curtain down on another epic grand slam season in the world of tennis. Over the course of the last year, we have seen Novak Djokovic cement his legacy as perhaps the finest player to have ever picked up a racket. We also saw his newest rival emerge in the form of talented Spanish youngster Carlos Alcaraz.

Slam season started back in January when the aforementioned Djokovic returned to the Australian Open. He was unable to compete in 2022’s installment of the tournament due to a visa discrepancy and as such, his streak of three straight tournament victories Down Under was snapped by Rafael Nadal. This year however, the Spaniard was stunned in the second round by Michael McDonald, allowing the Serbian star to romp to victory and claim a record-breaking tenth Australian Open crown.

Nadal’s absence was also felt on the clay courts of Paris at the French Open. the King of Clay had to withdraw from the tournament before a ball was served due to a hip injury. That once more opened the door for Djokovic, who proceeded to bulldoze his way through. He managed to defeat Alcaraz in the semifinals before toppling Casper Ruud in the finale to claim victory for just the third time in his career.

The Rise of Carlos Alcaraz

It was clear that young Alcaraz was becoming a force to be reckoned with. He had topped the ATP Rankings all year long and was primed for his breakout moment. However, no one could have anticipated that it would come on the lush grass courts of Wimbledon, were Djokovic reigns supreme.

In a repeat of the French Open semifinals, the Serbian GOAT and the up-and-coming Spaniard would meet once more, this time in the Centre Court showpiece. If you were betting on tennis games throughout the tournament, you’d have noticed that the reigning champion was a 1.50 favorite to win and match Roger Federer’s all-time record of eight titles at the All England Club. However, this proved to be Alcaraz’s breakout moment. The El Palmar-born star would rally after dropping the first set 6-1 to win by three sets to two, toppling Djokovic where no one thought it would be possible.

As all great champions do though, the Serbian returned vigorously. He took full advantage of Alcaraz falling at the semifinal stage in the US Open to defeat Dimitry Medvedev in New York to claim the trophy. And it is with the famed hard courts where we will stay.
Over the years we have seen some shocking results at the US Open. As this year didn’t serve up too many surprises, we decided to take a look at the most shocking upsets at the famed tournament.

Novak Djokovic vs. Stan Wawrinka – 2016 Final

Novak Djokovic was the heavy favorite to win the 2016 US Open final against Stan Wawrinka. The Serbian star was at the beginning of a run that would see him enter the greatest of all-time conversations and was ranked number one in the world, winning in New York City twice before. However, on the day of the final, his Swiss opponent played some of the best tennis of his career to defeat his more illustrious rival in four sets.

Rafael Nadal vs. Lucas Pouille – 2016 Fourth Round

Just as Djokovic was starting his record-breaking run, Rafael Nadal was also being considered one of the greatest tennis players that’s ever lived. However, where Djokovic has provided consistency in abundance over the years, the King of Clay has not. And that was the case once more in the fourth round of the 2016 US Open

There, the Spaniard was defeated by Lucas Pouille in five sets. The Frenchman was ranked 24th in the world and had never made it past the third round of any Grand Slam before. Nadal was such a huge betting favorite going into the match, but the Dunkerque-born star proved to be too strong.

Serena Williams vs. Roberta Vinci – 2015 Semi-Finals

Serena Williams always enters the US Open with plenty of pressure on her broad shoulders. Being an American, the home faithful always pine to see her come out victorious, and that was no different in 2015. At the semifinal stage that year, she was on track to complete the calendar Grand Slam, but Roberta Vinci had other plans. The Italian ranked 43rd in the world, defeated Williams in three sets, shocking the tennis world, who had expected the female GOAT to come out comfortably on top.

Roger Federer vs. Tommy Robredo – 2013 Fourth Round

In the late 2000s, Roger Federer was the undisputed top dog in the tennis world. He had claimed five straight US Open victories as well as a plethora of other Grand Slams. However, as the clock ticked into the 2010s, his stranglehold was challenged by Djokovic, Nadal, and Britain’s Andy Murray. Those three played a game of hot potato with the trophy in 2010, 2011, and 2012, trading it between themselves, each lifting taking their turn in winning the trophy.

In 2013 though, Federer was looking to reclaim his throne. The Swiss superman was in the midst of a career resurgence after claiming success at Wimbledon the year prior, and he was hoping that would propel him to glory at the 2013 US Open. However, he was humbled by Tommy Robredo in the fourth round, with the experienced Spaniard dominating en route to a straight-sets victory.

The Miami Open might not be considered one of the Grand Slams, however it is still a relatively respected competition and one that features prominently on the tennis schedule as an event that the biggest of players all want to win.

 

Indeed, previous editions of the ATP Tour event have seen some of the world’s best Men’s singles tennis players all win the competition, with some of them to have been able to enjoy multiple successes when playing on the hardcourt in Florida.

 

Individuals including Andre Agassi (6 victories), Novak Djokovic (6), Rodger Federer (4), and Andy Murray (2) have each enjoyed success on more than one occasion, whereas other stars including John Isner and Hubert Hurkacz have lifted the trophy once, with the latter the current defending champion.

 

The 2022 Miami Open has been as star-studded as previous editions of the event, though, despite the fact that three players who can perhaps be considered tennis royalty – Djokovic, Federer, and Rafael Nadal – all missed the competition due to various factors.

 

Nonetheless, there are still a number of exceptional players to be competing, with this article taking a look at those that are still left and taking a look at what could happen!

 

The Round of 16

 

Unsurprisingly, there are still a number of top players still competing in the competition at the time of writing, with individuals including Daniil Medvedev which is one of the favourites according to this Thai news site, Alexander Zverev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, and Nick Kyrgious all still involved.

 

How do the Round of 16 matches look:

 

• (1) D Medvedev vs J Brooksby
• L Harris vs (8) H Hurkacz
• (3) S Tsitsipas vs (14) C Alcaraz
• (11) T Fritz vs M Kecmanović
• (WC) N Kyrgious vs (9) J Sinner
• F Cerúndolo vs (28) F Tiafoe
• (6) C Rudd vs (10) C Norrie
• (Q) T Kokkinakis vs (2) A Zverev

 

What should we expect to see happen?

 

It can be relatively easy to look at the player’s seed/rankings when looking at each fixture and picking the individual who has the lowest number, as this will typically be determined by their performances on the court over a period of time.

 

However, we all know that tennis does not always work in that way and that there can be a number of different upsets that can take place over the course of an event.

 

Nonetheless, with that said, it would be hard to predict that there will be major shocks when looking at how the Fourth Round of the 2022 Miami Open has been set up.

 

Indeed, you would fully expect the top three players – Medvedev, Zverev, and Tsitsipas – to each overcome their matches, whilst defending champion Hurkacz will be favored to continue to progress in an attempt to retain his title.

 

What interesting things could happen at the 2022 Miami Open?

 

The match between Kyrgious and Sinner could be an interesting watch, as the Australian has been able to blow his opponents away in straight sets – aside from the First Round – whereas the Italian has had to utilize three sets in order to progress since entering the competition in the Second Round.

 

Moreover, those who follow what Medvedev does on the court might be able to see the Russian become the World’s No. 1. With Djokovic not competing, he can do this by reaching the semifinals.

Much has been made of the qualities that make up a star tennis player. Determination, drive, killer instinct, and incredible skill are all part of a world number one’s arsenal, but many people don’t talk about one of the most important jobs off the court: that of the commentator.

Without great commentary and insight, most tennis games wouldn’t be as interesting to sit through. The high drama of each point, each rally, and each deuce wouldn’t come across anywhere near as well without someone behind the microphone who really knows what they’re talking about. Here are some of the qualities we think that make up a great tennis commentator.

Love for the game

It should go without saying, but any great tennis commentator should adore the game of tennis in all its forms. No good tennis caster just wants to watch professional-level games; if you live and breathe tennis, you should be just as comfortable watching amateur games as you are watching major Open tournaments.

In an interview with sports betting platform Betway, commentator Andrew Castle said that it was “unbelievable” to return to tennis casting after a prolonged absence due to COVID-19 protocols. Legendary player and commentator John McEnroe reportedly felt the same. That’s the kind of dedication and adoration you need to be a tennis caster.

Insight and analytical skill

Of course, even if you love tennis, that doesn’t mean you know enough about it to be a great commentator. There’s a good reason many of the legends behind the microphone are former players themselves; it’s because they know tennis inside and out, and can analyse players’ performance and the ebb and flow of a game effortlessly.

Next time you watch a tennis game, pay attention to the way the commentators remark on the game. You’ll notice that they aren’t just discussing the score or each play in a banal sense. They’re always looking for what each point means, how players’ performances are changing, and how the overall game is being impacted.

A flair for drama

Even with incredible tennis knowledge and analytical skill, it’s important to have a flair for drama when you’re behind the microphone. Tennis games can be dramatic, especially when the score is close; straight sets are one thing, but deuce after deuce requires an understanding of just how tense the situation is.

There’s a difference, though, between a flair for drama and overstating the case. Tennis isn’t a contact sport and it’s not as constant as something like football; there are regular breaks between points, games, and sets, so you also need to know when to back off and let the game state speak for itself.

A thick skin

As a sports personality, a commentator is going to come under fire regularly for their perceived commentating style. There are many fans who don’t like particular commentators, and while the reasons for this can sometimes mask uglier truths, personalities clash, and that’s a fact of life.

If you’re going to be a sports commentator, you’re going to need a thick skin to weather the storm of criticism you’ll inevitably receive over the course of your career. Don’t let constant comments about your presenting style bother you; just accept that you are who you are, and nothing can change that.

Impartiality

Everyone has their favourite player, but rooting for Murray, Djokovic, or Raducanu while you’re commentating is a big no-no. Even if your nationality corresponds to the player you’re supporting, a commentator should remain completely impartial and simply comment on the game as it happens.

This is true in other sports as well, but it’s especially true in tennis, where nationality often plays second fiddle to individual personalities. As a tennis commentator, the drama of the game and the skill with which it’s played should be the most appealing aspects to you. Your personal opinion about players shouldn’t enter into the equation.

A head for statistics

Tennis games can be enhanced to no end by knowledge of the statistics in the background of the game. For example, if two players are facing off against one another, you should know their prior match history, their current standing in the world rankings, and what the outcome of the game could mean for each player.

Of course, nobody expects you to be an encyclopedia, but the more knowledge you have, the better you’ll be at your job. This means you should study the world of tennis outside of the games themselves in order to shore up your knowledge and be better-prepared for each individual match.

A good voice

Unfortunately, this aspect of tennis commentary is something you can’t really control. If you want to be a well-loved commentator, you’re going to need a voice that’s as smooth as honey. People should want to listen to you talk for protracted periods of time, so if your voice isn’t aesthetically pleasing, you might not get very far.

We say that you can’t control this element of your personality, and to a certain extent that’s true, but there are voice coaching services available that should help if you’re worried. These lessons can help you with diction, delivery, and tone, and while they won’t change the fundamental timbre of your voice, they will go a long way towards making your commentary style feel more professional.

These are just some of the qualities that go towards making a great tennis commentator. Of course, there’s much more to it than just this; there’s an indefinable quality that great commentators have. Still, if you put the work in and believe that you’re a great commentator, you’re bound to achieve success!