Sports | Daily Update: Watch

Monday, November 29, 2010

Nadal and Murray the ones to watch in ATP World Tour Finals

This year, men’s professional tennis appears to be headed for a finale that will end the year with a bang instead of a whimper. Instead of battle weary veterans limping towards a well deserved rest, it seems that there are eight eager competitors and teams vying for the 2010 Barclays ATP World Tour Finals.

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Group A Singles

The best year of Rafael Nadal’s phenomenal career has not yet come to a close. He has publicly vowed to improve on his performance at year’s end, and as he’s been true to his word so far there is little reason to doubt him. Of course, that’s also an easy boast, considering how poorly his tired body performed last year (0-3). Having rehabilitated his shoulder instead of competing in Bercy last week, he should be more than ready to defeat, once again, those players he faced in Grand Slam finals.

After losing to Nadal in the US Open final, Novak Djokovic has claimed the Beijing title, posted losses to Roger Federer twice and was routed in the round of sixteen of the Paris Masters by a surging Michael Llodra. He still has the fire of competition coursing through his veins, as well as a thirst for vengeance, plus he has previously won this event.

Tomas Berdych is having the best year of his career as well, reaching the final eight and breaking into the top 10. He has nothing to lose and everything to gain by competing at his best.

Andy Roddick qualifies for the eighth consecutive time, withdrawing last year with a bad knee. After teetering on the brink of the top ten throughout the year, he has a lot to prove to himself and his fans in what could be his final appearance at this hotly contested event.

Group B Singles

Roger Federer’s final months of 2010 have been a definite improvement over what has been heretofore a mediocre year for the Swiss superstar. He’s rested and happy to be on the courts again, with two titles and a Masters final giving him confidence. Roger has also won this event 4 times, more than anyone else competing.

Coming on strong is Robin Soderling, who, by winning the BNP Paribas Masters edged past Andy Murray in the rankings, and still seems hungry for more.

Playing in front of a home crowd with high expectations, Andy Murray returns to the O2 with the Shanghai Masters title still gleaming in his collection, and the proof that he can defeat Federer in a final. He, too, professes to be looking forward to doing well, and has the added boost of his country’s hopes spurring him on before his brief vacation.

David Ferrer qualified three years ago, and made it to the final, losing to Federer. He has several titles and final appearances to his credit this year, and has won more clay court matches than anyone else on the tour, including Nadal. With everything to prove, there’s no reason he shouldn’t give it his best for the entire week.

Group A Doubles

In much the same way as Nadal, the number one ranked twins, Bob and Mike Bryan, have been setting records for titles and wins throughout 2010. They’ve won 11 titles this year and have won this event three times. This will be the eighth appearance for them, so they should find this stage very comfortable.

Mariusz Fyrstenberg and Marcin Matkowski will be making their fourth appearance at this event in five years. They have had good results lately, reaching four successive finals in Kuala Lumpur, Beijing, Shanghai and Vienna before heading to London.

Lukas Dlouhy and Leander Paes will be appearing at this year ending event for the third time, and like Nadal, if they win one match, they, too, will improve their record.

For winning Wimbledon and finishing within the Top 20 doubles teams, Jurgen Melzer and Philipp Petzschner are making their team debut.

Group B Doubles

This will be the final appearance as a team for Daniel Nestor and Nenad Zimonjic. As the second seeds and top contenders in Group B, the pressure will be on them. Their play has been up and down since making the decision to split, but they’ve seemed to have turned it around lately. They won this event in 2008, so they know how to get the job done.

Another team debutante is Wesley Moodie and Dick Norman, this year’s Roland Garros and Wimbledon semi-finalists. With no record at this event, they can only do better than they ever have by playing well.

Lukasz Kubot and Oliver Marach qualified for the second straight year, making it to the semi-finals last year. So, they know how to get through the round robin and what to expect when they arrive.

For the third time (2003, 2004) Mahesh Bhupathi and Max Mirnyi make a year ending appearance. Having just won the BNP Paribas Masters, they should be match tough and ready to excel as well.

Whether these participants are rested, excited, primed, eager or just plain ready, they still have to execute their respective plans. This year, it seems, the Barclay’s ATP World Tour Finals is off to a better start than many a year’s closing event.

If all the upsets and close matches splattered throughout the European indoor season are any indication, this tournament should be a good seat whether one has a ticket or is just in front of the electronic device of choice.

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Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Rookie Watch 2010

The 2010 rookie draft had all the twists and turns and surprising choices that this year’s National Football League season has had. But how are the first years getting on?

Sam Bradford – number 1 overall pick – St. Louis Rams

The St. Louis Rams picked Sam Bradford out of Oklahoma as the man to turn their fortunes around. Turn it around they have. From the 1-15 season last year they are already on 4-5 and second in the NFC West and Bradford played no small part in that.

Passing for just shy of 2,000 yards and for 12 touchdowns, he has excelled behind a poor offensive line. If the Rams upgrade the line and give him proper protection, Bradford has the potential to be an excellent NFL quarterback.

Sam Bradford in his Oklahoma Sooners days

Ndamukong Suh – number 2 overall pick – Detroit Lions

The behemoth was bandied about as the number one pick for months before the draft but fell to the Lions at number two. And they should be glad.

Leading all NFL Defensive Tackles on sacks, with 6.5, Suh also has 33 combined tackles and an interception. Add this to a fumble recovery for a touchdown, a rookie of the week award and the destruction of Jake Delhomme in the video below and you have a complete player.

Ryan Mathews – number 12 overall pick – San Diego Chargers

Picked as the man to step into LaDainian Tomlinson’s over-sized cleats at the Qualcomm, Mathews has stepped up to the plate in a pass-heavy offensive unit.

Being a solid rusher for Philip Rivers to turn to, he has posted up decent rookie stats and done himself no harm in building an NFL reputation. He has fumbled the ball a couple of times, however, and his injury problems could see the Chargers regret trading up to get their man in the long run.

Ryan Mathews in his Fresno State days

Rob Gronkowski – number 42 overall pick – New England Patriots

The Patriots selected two tight ends in the draft, Aaron Hernandez and Gronkowski, and both have proved their worth already this year. But Gronkowski has already broken records, and looks to smash more in his time in the NFL.

This weekend he became the youngest rookie in the NFL to catch three touchdown passes in a game. He is also leading all rookies, including wide receivers, in receiving touchdowns this year. Add to the fact that Gronkowski is 6ft 6 and 265lb and can block like a tackle, and Belichick looks to have picked up another outstanding player in the draft.

Rob Gronkowski following a touchdown reception against the San Diego Chargers

Mike Williams – number 101 overall pick – Tampa Bay Buccaneers

With the Buccaneers having a disappointing year last season they looked to strengthen in the draft. Picking up Gerald McCoy in the first round, they left it to the fourth to pick up a wide receiver. But Mike Williams has outshone all other rookies, with 627 yards receiving with an average of 15.7 yards a catch. Giving Josh Freeman a decent outlet to throw to, Williams has helped the Buccs improve immediately as they already sit at 6-3, tying in the NFC South with the current Super Bowl Champions, the New Orleans Saints.

Other rookies have helped to make this year an unpredictable season in the NFL with twists, turns and massive upsets (think the Jaguars beating the Colts with a massive last-second field goal). The rookie draft is what makes the League special, with teams able to turn their fortunes around within a season with an impressive draft or they could be cursed and pick up an expensive bust.

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