Swiatek, Nadal win in Rome
The events WTA-1000 and ATP-1000 are of the prestige after the four Grand Slam in the professional tennis calendar. In the European clay circuit, Barcelona, Madrid and Rome are ‘1000’ category events. Final of these is not beginner meeting place but two big names playing for a title. As such, 6/0, 6/0 is not a score expected as the outcome.
At 18 years of age, unknown Iga Swiatek [Shi-on-Tek] of Poland won the French Open title last year. Now 19, she is in the top 20 of the world. Her tennis came to being on European red clay courts. She lost in Madrid two weeks ago, well before the final. Last week, impressively, she reached the final in Rome. Her opponent was former world number one Carolina Pliskova of Czech Republic. It was their first meeting. The match was over in less than one hour and the scores were of embarrassment. Swiatek beat Pliskova 6/0, 6/0. Never a professional tennis final was won at 6/0, 6/0. This will remain unexplained.
Iga’s Classic match temperament
Iga Swiatek is a second-generation sports person. Her parents were Polish Olympians [rowing]. Iga’s match play temperament defies experts. For the last one year, I have been following her after the phenomenal French Open title win in 2020. Her ability to play a point without influenced by previous unfavourable scores is nearly unknown in tennis. In the mould Kipling’s words, ‘she meets triumph and disaster and treats the two imposters just the same’. Iga’s match temperament is sports psychologist’s dream come true. French Open begins in the last week May, world will watch Iga closely.
Foro Italico – Rome
This is the event for the Italian national title. Djokovic and Nadal, these two are effective but not consistent in winning recently. In Rome last week, they came to the final. As expected, a tactical game manifested. A mixture of skill and resilience, all court display along with mental strength. When Nadal won the first set in a closely contested game, Djokovic came up with innovative game by placing himself on and around the base line in the second set and won it. Accommodating Nadal’s pace from that position means taking many risky adjustments in stroke-making. Djokovic has such abilities to play from all three positions of the court. He can play way behind the base line like Nadal, around the base line and at net.
In the third set Nadal too got closer to the base line abandoning his closer-to-the-linesmen playing position. This reduced time availability to Djokovic. With both equally tired Nadal out lasted Djokovic in the third set, a typical red clay court eventuality. Red clay tires the feet first then the calves and arms having to execute thousands of shots. The first to feel this will have to concede the match. In terms of tennis quality expected, these two players delivered it.
Italian Cluster
Rome also saw the Italian cluster appearing ever so strong and consolidating. For a considerable time Fognini was the lonely warrior from Italy. His lengthy appearance has encouraged many and now they have Matteo Berrettini in the top 10, three youngsters Jannik Sinner, Lorenzo Sonego and Lorenzo Musetti in top 100. They belong to the New-Gen players of ATP, like Tisitipas, Shapolov, Karatsev and AliAssime.
Barty withdraws
Ashleigh Barty, who won Barcelona title, gave away the match with arm and thigh injuries. Of all the strokes in tennis, service has the most potential to place an injury to the playing arm and the upper thigh. That is exactly what happened to Barty. She appeared for the match with arm covered with a tubular support and was leading one set up and 2/1 in the second set against Coco Gauff of USA. At the 2/1 side changeover, she decided to withdraw in the quarter-final round. It must have been a difficult decision to make.
Mega Madrid event
Madrid gave away the biggest slice of prize money outside the Grand Slam so far this year. With the prevailing situation and with so many playing in other locations to avoid travel did not get the best into the draw. In men’s event the title went to Zverev, he produced his hat trick win over Nadal in the quarterfinal round in Madrid. He is the only one to beat Nadal thrice consecutively in recent times. Theim appeared tired in the final and could not hold Zverev in many departments.
Women’s event went to Sabalenka of Belarus. Her formidable power and movement dominates the women’s tennis. She got her revenge for losing the final in Barcelona for the title to Ashleigh Barty. Sabalenka won the first set easily. In characteristic style, Barty won the second set. A pattern Barty often exhibits before winning in three sets. This time she lost the third set to Sabalenka. Coming to think of it, Barty’s physical restriction was that has made to go slow into a match. It is that much difficult to win a match after losing the first set. Barty’s physical build and style is ‘made to last’ image for tennis. These have given her the top position in women’s tennis. Her withdrawal with physical breakdown remains difficult to fathom.
- George Paldano, Former international player; Accredited Coach of German Tennis Federation; National coach Brunei and Sri Lanka, coached ATP, WTA and ITF top 200 ranked players,
Davis-Cup, Federation-Cup coach.
geodano2015@gmail.com