Halep, Djokovic win Roger’s Cup
View(s):US- OPEN SERIES 2016
Players’ alternative to the Rio Olympics is the US Open series. Hard courts were born in the USA. In an effort to revive Tennis in North America, the US Open series has been established with new incentives. These events span over 7 weeks with the US Open as the finale in North America. Rio is smack in the middle of it.
There will be two awards at the end of the US Open finals. One for winning the US Open title and the other for winning the US Open 2016 series. It is a well organised circuit with 80 hours of TV, media coverage and other attractions. Roger Federer once bagged US$ 2.4 million, performing well in both. Currently, in the Tennis world, the US Open series is the main attraction. The Olympic Gold rush is losing its attraction in Tennis.
Halep- is this 2nd coming
Fast and high bouncing hard courts are paradise for speed in Tennis. It takes super athletes to have rallies here. One of the effective tactics for the surface is outpacing opponents. That is using whatever possible and squeezing out the time available to the opponents. At that speed, players will have to sense the rectangular court from very difficult positions. Rushing into the shot, players tend lose their court orientation and direct the ball out of court, especially the sidelines. Rallies will be short but speed will be hectic.
Last Sunday, in the Women’s, Romanian Simona Halep won the Roger’s Cup, the Canadian championships in Montreal, beating Angelique Kerber in the semi-finals, in a thriller and going onto win the title, beating Madison Keys of the USA. Then, with countrywoman 29-year-old Monica Niculescu ranked 56, she reached the finals in Doubles. Is Halep in the ring to take the No.1 spot?
Although Halep has been sustaining her position in the top 5 in the rankings, this is the first time in years, she is able to repeat the skills and ability that took her up. Halep doused the on/off fire of Kerber and Keys with speed of movement, sensing the court angles, comfortably changing direction to hit winners, playing an all court game, serving big and returning with deadly venom. Mentally, she hanged in tough, she engaged her opponents until the end. These were her formulas to win, and now it is back. The final in Montreal is her 9th straight Singles win and takes her to No. 3 in world rankings.
Djokovic prevails
This is Novak Djokovic’s first appearance after his infamous loss to USA’s 6′.6″ Sam Querrey in the 3rd round of Wimbledon. Winning the Rogers Cup made his personal history better. This is his 4th Rogers Cup and that is one more than Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal and Andre Agassi. He still trails Ivan Lendl’s 6 title wins.
Djokovic played a prudent game than his high end performances he is known for. From what I saw, he slowed down the game. This is not his style, but it worked. It gave him more time to recover and cover court. He tactically delayed giving the ball back to the opponent, with sliced backhand and looping forehand, but well placed to have his opponent behind the baseline. It gave him time to reposition tactically and that ‘time’ do it came from his own shots. To do this at that level of competition, one has to be a genius, cool nerved and arch tactician. He beat Frenchman Gail Monfils in the semi finals. Monfils beat Canadian favourite Milos Raonic in the previous round.
Djokovic’s opponent in the finals was Japan’s Kei Nishikori. He beat Stanislas Wawrinka in the semi-finals. The Tennis was great there. In the world rankings, Nishikori still lurks in the top 10, while in 2015, he was No. 4. He was injured in this year’s Wimbledon and this is his first appearance since then.
The top end of Men’s Tennis is played on the threshold of physical exertion. This leads to injuries, easily. Nishikori is certainly in the ring for No.1 position of the world. The ability to move and to react well are the signature signs of a would-be No.1 in the world, and Nishikori has them. All he has to do is to hang in there without dropping out. This is easier said than done.
Olympic week
For Halep, Milos Raonic and few others in Tennis, Olympic week is going to be holiday at home, as they have decided to stay away from Rio, for their own reasons. After the Olympics, this will have an impact on the application and approval of future venues by IOC. Tennis will be there to be of interest to countries in their medal count, than in the exhibition of the game. This should not have happened. Tennis got into Olympics after a long process. IOC contributes a lot to the promotion of Tennis, not only for the Games, but all the time. Lesser Tennis playing.
countries are the beneficiaries of the IOC’s benevolence. In their interest, Tennis in Olympics is a critical issue.
George Paldano, Former int. player; Accredited Coach of Germany; National, Davis-Cup, Federation Cup coach–. georgepaldano@yahoo.com