This is a little late but I have a few thoughts on the the Australian Open.
Men's - What a great result for Stanislas Wawrinka to bust out of Federer's shadow and claim his first Grand Slam title. He had never even won a set of Rafa before the Aussie final and he held his nerve and won after letting his concentration lapse in the third set. Rafa tweaked his back, but even before that Stan was crushing the ball and moving extremely well. I do not think that this is the start of the Wawrinka era of men's tennis, because I do not think that the will win another major, but it is always good to see hard work rewarded on the big stage.
Women's - Honestly, I would not have Li NA even as a dark horse pick. After losing the final twice, I did not think she had it in her. But, it was inspiring to see another player over 30 pulling off a win like that. She was tenacious in her preparation and her desire to win was incredible. She also had the funniest winner's speech that I can remember.
In other news this week Michael Russell, Detroit native, has made it to his third career semi-final on the big tour, in Memphis. Yesterday he beat former #1 Lleyton Hewitt. He has to play Nishikori this afternoon to try to get his first tour final at the ago of 35. Nishikori is on the cusp of becoming a great player and working his way into the Top 10. He got to #11 recently, but then fell back due to some injuries. He is the #1 seed in Memphis, which is the first time he has entered any ATP event as the top seed. He seems to be handing that extra pressure well. It is great to see a Japanese male player doing well. I have visited Japan many times and it is a very sport-crazy country. Japanese women have faired well over the years, but a good Japanese male player comes along about once every 20 years. It could be because the same hand/eye coordination that is required to hit a tennis ball comes in handy when playing baseball, which is a far more popular sport in Japan. Anyway, I am looking forward to following the match online.
Saturday, February 15, 2014
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
I Love the Australian Open
I love the Australian Open. I go to bed at midnight and they are playing the early matches. I get up in the morning and they are still playing the evening matches. This is awesome!
Thursday, January 9, 2014
All Mixed Up 2013
Last year I was so inspired after playing mixed doubles that I developed a ranking for professional mixed doubles players that did not take gender into account. For 2012, Leander Paes from India was the #1 ranked mixed doubles player according to my ranking system.
In 2012 there were 5 mixed doubles tournaments because along with the four majors, the Olymics also staged a mixed doubles event.
For 2013 there were the standard four major tournaments, Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open. I think that the Olympics added bit of spice to the 2012 mixed doubles calendar last year as teams from each country used the majors to get practice together in advance of the Olympic event.
So lets get to it, here is the 2013 Top Ten Non-Gender Specific Mixed Doubles List.
T1. Daniel Nestor/Canada, 3920 Points. Daniel is the oldest member of our top ten list at 41 years old. He has long been one of the top doubles players on the men's tour having won 81 doubles titles thru the end of 2013 (which puts him #3 all time). Daniel has reached the #1 ranking in men's doubles on many occasions. In 2013 Daniel partnered exclusively with Kristina Mladenovic of France. Together they won Wimbledon, were runners-up at the French Open and semi-finalists at the US Open. The win at Wimbledon was Daniel's third mixed doubles trophy.
T1. Kristina Mladenovic/France, 3920 Points. Kristina has won 7 WTA doubles events and has been ranked as high as 15 in doubles. In 2013 Kristina partnered exclusively with Daniel Nestor of Canada. Together they won Wimbledon, were runners-up at Rolland Garros and semi-finalists at the US Open. It was Kristina's first major tournament victory.
T3. Frantisek Cermak/Czech Republic, 3650 Points. Frantisek is also one of the top doubles players on the men's tour, having won 29 doubles events in his career. He partnered with Lucie Hradecka also of the Czech Republic for all of the mixed doubles majors. Their partnership paid major dividends as they won the French Open and were runners-up at The Australian Open. The French Open was Frantisek's first major victory
T3. Lucie Hradecka/Czech Republic, 3650 Points. Lucie has won 17 WTA doubles titles in her career and been ranked as high as #22. He partnered with Frantisek Cermak also of the Czech Republic for all of the mixed doubles majors. Together they won the French Open and were runners-up at The Australian Open. The French Open was also Lucie's first major victory
5. Bruno Soares/Brazil, 2460 Points. Bruno made the list by pure perseverance. He entered all of the mixed doubles majors and his best effort was a runner-up finish at Wimbledon with Lisa Raymond. Bruno has won doubles 16 events on the men's tour. In 2012 Bruno won the US Open mixed doubles trophy.
T6. Max Mirnyi/Belarus, 2270 Points. Although now 36 years old, Max 'The Beast' Mirnyi is still one of the best doubles players on the men's tour. He was won 48 career doubles titles. In 2013 he partnered with Andrea Hradecka of the Czech Republic to win the US Open mixed doubles title. It was Max's 4th major mixed doubles title, coming 15 years after his first mixed doubles victory with Serena Williams at the 1998 Wimbledon Championships.
T6. Andrea Hlavackova/Czech Republic, 2270 Points. Andrea has has plenty of success on the WTA Tour having sown 14 career doubles titles that include 2 majors. She partnered with Max Mirnyi and together they won the US Open mixed doubles title. It was Andrea's first major mixed doubles title.
T8. Matt Ebden/Australia, 2000 Points. Matt won the mixed doubles trophy at his home country's major event. It was the only mixed doubles event the Matt played during the year. He has won 3 other titles in his career on the men's tour. Matt has reached a career high of #57 in doubles.
T8. Jarmila Gajdosova/Austrailia, 2000 Points. Jarmila also won her first mixed doubles major at the Australian Open with Matt Ebden in 2013. They were the first all Australian pairing to win the title since 2005 when Samantha Stosur and Scott Draper won the title. Jarmila was won 1 doubles title on the WTA tour and has been ranked as high as #31 in doubles.
10. Lisa Raymond/USA, 1740 Points. The veteran American is still competitive at 40 years old. She won her first mixed doubles major at the 1996 US Open and made it to the final of the 2013 Wimbledon Championships 17 years later. Lisa had had an outstanding career with 79 doubles titles that include 6 majors. She has also won 5 major mixed doubles crowns with the last win coming in 2012 at the Wimbledon Championships with Mike Bryan.
In 2012 the Top Ten was dominated by three Indian players. In 2013 there are three Czech players in the top ten. In 2013 six players won their first mixed doubles title. From the 2012 list, Lisa Raymond, Max Mirnyi, and Bruno Soares are the only repeat members.
That about wraps it up. The Australian Open starts next week and my picks are Djokovic and Serena.
In 2012 there were 5 mixed doubles tournaments because along with the four majors, the Olymics also staged a mixed doubles event.
For 2013 there were the standard four major tournaments, Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open. I think that the Olympics added bit of spice to the 2012 mixed doubles calendar last year as teams from each country used the majors to get practice together in advance of the Olympic event.
So lets get to it, here is the 2013 Top Ten Non-Gender Specific Mixed Doubles List.
T1. Daniel Nestor/Canada, 3920 Points. Daniel is the oldest member of our top ten list at 41 years old. He has long been one of the top doubles players on the men's tour having won 81 doubles titles thru the end of 2013 (which puts him #3 all time). Daniel has reached the #1 ranking in men's doubles on many occasions. In 2013 Daniel partnered exclusively with Kristina Mladenovic of France. Together they won Wimbledon, were runners-up at the French Open and semi-finalists at the US Open. The win at Wimbledon was Daniel's third mixed doubles trophy.
T1. Kristina Mladenovic/France, 3920 Points. Kristina has won 7 WTA doubles events and has been ranked as high as 15 in doubles. In 2013 Kristina partnered exclusively with Daniel Nestor of Canada. Together they won Wimbledon, were runners-up at Rolland Garros and semi-finalists at the US Open. It was Kristina's first major tournament victory.
T3. Frantisek Cermak/Czech Republic, 3650 Points. Frantisek is also one of the top doubles players on the men's tour, having won 29 doubles events in his career. He partnered with Lucie Hradecka also of the Czech Republic for all of the mixed doubles majors. Their partnership paid major dividends as they won the French Open and were runners-up at The Australian Open. The French Open was Frantisek's first major victory
T3. Lucie Hradecka/Czech Republic, 3650 Points. Lucie has won 17 WTA doubles titles in her career and been ranked as high as #22. He partnered with Frantisek Cermak also of the Czech Republic for all of the mixed doubles majors. Together they won the French Open and were runners-up at The Australian Open. The French Open was also Lucie's first major victory
5. Bruno Soares/Brazil, 2460 Points. Bruno made the list by pure perseverance. He entered all of the mixed doubles majors and his best effort was a runner-up finish at Wimbledon with Lisa Raymond. Bruno has won doubles 16 events on the men's tour. In 2012 Bruno won the US Open mixed doubles trophy.
T6. Max Mirnyi/Belarus, 2270 Points. Although now 36 years old, Max 'The Beast' Mirnyi is still one of the best doubles players on the men's tour. He was won 48 career doubles titles. In 2013 he partnered with Andrea Hradecka of the Czech Republic to win the US Open mixed doubles title. It was Max's 4th major mixed doubles title, coming 15 years after his first mixed doubles victory with Serena Williams at the 1998 Wimbledon Championships.
T6. Andrea Hlavackova/Czech Republic, 2270 Points. Andrea has has plenty of success on the WTA Tour having sown 14 career doubles titles that include 2 majors. She partnered with Max Mirnyi and together they won the US Open mixed doubles title. It was Andrea's first major mixed doubles title.
T8. Matt Ebden/Australia, 2000 Points. Matt won the mixed doubles trophy at his home country's major event. It was the only mixed doubles event the Matt played during the year. He has won 3 other titles in his career on the men's tour. Matt has reached a career high of #57 in doubles.
T8. Jarmila Gajdosova/Austrailia, 2000 Points. Jarmila also won her first mixed doubles major at the Australian Open with Matt Ebden in 2013. They were the first all Australian pairing to win the title since 2005 when Samantha Stosur and Scott Draper won the title. Jarmila was won 1 doubles title on the WTA tour and has been ranked as high as #31 in doubles.
10. Lisa Raymond/USA, 1740 Points. The veteran American is still competitive at 40 years old. She won her first mixed doubles major at the 1996 US Open and made it to the final of the 2013 Wimbledon Championships 17 years later. Lisa had had an outstanding career with 79 doubles titles that include 6 majors. She has also won 5 major mixed doubles crowns with the last win coming in 2012 at the Wimbledon Championships with Mike Bryan.
In 2012 the Top Ten was dominated by three Indian players. In 2013 there are three Czech players in the top ten. In 2013 six players won their first mixed doubles title. From the 2012 list, Lisa Raymond, Max Mirnyi, and Bruno Soares are the only repeat members.
That about wraps it up. The Australian Open starts next week and my picks are Djokovic and Serena.
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