British No.1 Andy Murray has spoken to those interested in tennis tickets about the need for compulsory heart tests for tennis players following Bolton footballer Fabrice Muamba collapsing at White Hart Lane on Saturday.
The 23-year-old fell to the floor during an FA Cup quarter-final tie against Tottenham and he is now showing positive signs of recovery, although it is unknown what long-term damage there will be.
Part of the reason Muamba survived was the quick medical attention he received at the ground and Murray is convinced Tennis players should have their health assessed more regularly.
The Scotsman said: “I was actually watching the game when it happened and I was head in hands. You just can’t believe it. It’s an amazing fight from him and hopefully he’s going to make a safe recovery.”
“I think it’s time in almost all sports everybody should have screenings before they can compete. This has happened too many times. Here in the States it’s happened in high school and college basketball games and, of course, it’s happened a few times in football.”
“With all the pressure and stress of modern sport you have no idea how much you are pushing yourself on the pitch or court, I think it’s something that’s just got to be done.”
Murray then spoke about the own tests he undertakes, saying that his medical team always keep a close eye on things and he hopes this is the same across the sport before long.
He continued: “I do my tests independently. I’ve been doing my tests for three years now so I have heart scans, heart monitors and other tests. I started when these things seemed to be happening more often.”
“But it’s not something that’s done within tennis. But I just think it should be. Everyone should have a medical or a check-up before you’re allowed to compete because it’s such a horrible thing for people to witness.”
“The reality is if something doesn’t happen about it, it’s likely to happen again at some stage, and it’s just so, so horrible. You don’t wish something like that to happen to anybody.”
“It’s clear to me that all the teams should be checked. I’m not sure if they do, but I know in tennis we don’t.”
It will be interesting to see how things develop in this field. Hopefully Muamba will make a full recovery and it can have a positive effect on sport across the world.
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Andy Murray appeared to have shaken off the early season rust that dogged his game in the early rounds of the Dubai Championships as he made his was safely past Marco Chiudnielli to take his place in the tournament’s quarter finals.
Those assessing Bookmaker Bonuses note how the British number one dispatched his Swiss opponent 6-3 6-4 in under an hour and a half to set up a showdown with Thomas Berdych, who beat Lukas Lacko to secure his place in the last eight.
Murray, the number three seed for the tournament, appeared to be moving more freely than in earlier rounds where he struggled to get going, particularly in his first round match against German qualifier Michael Berrer that marked his first appearance since losing in the final of the Australian Open last month.
The Scot, who has traditionally struggled in tournaments following the first Grand Slam of the year, admitted he was pleased to be making progress in Dubai, although only went as far as saying he played a ‘bit better’ against Chiudnielli.
"I played well throughout today," he said. "I played a little bit better, so that's progress. Now I just need to keep that going."
World number one Djokovic is still in the tournament and is a potential final opponent of Murray’s having eased past Ukraine's Sergiy Stakhovsky.
While temperatures soared in Dubai, Muuray batted away suggestions that the heat may be a defining factor in the outcome of the tournament, saying conditions in the United Arab emirates were ‘perfect’ for him.
"Conditions in Miami (where Murray has been training) are hotter than this," he said. "I find the conditions here almost perfect. I'd been practising my serve quite a lot there and I think that went well today."
Even those over at Poker Genius note how Murray came close to ending his pursuit of his first ever Grand Slam title as he made his second consecutive appearance in the Australian Open final last month, only to miss out to Djokovic.
The 24-year-old recently appointed former Grand Slam winner Ivan Lendl as his full time coach in a bid to end his pursuit for a major title, although with the French Open the next Grand Slam tournament he may struggle to break that duck with Rafa Nadal expected to return from injury to defend the titles he has won at Roland Garros in the last two years.
no commentsGreat Britain beat Slovakia 3-2 in their Davis Cup tie, with Dan Evans holding his nerve to win the deciding rubber.
Those studying in play betting note how Evans (21) beat Martin Klizan, a player ranked 156 places higher than him in the world, 6-1, 6-1, 4-6, 3-6, 6-3.
Before hand, James Ward was beaten 6-7 (9-11), 1-6, 3-6 by Lukas Lacko, leaving the tie level at 2-2 in the Europe/Africa Group I.
The win for Evans means it is five triumphs on the bounce for coach Leon Smith in the Davis Cup, and means Great Britain will now face Belgium in Glasgow later this year in the second round.
Smith said: “While Dan is the hero of this tie, it is about the group. I am so proud of the boys and back room staff.”
Despite this set of players serving the team so well, Smith insisted that should world number four, Andy Murray be available for selection in the next round, he would be an automatic choice for the team.
He added: “We would welcome him back at any time, but we want selection issues for the other places.”
Before this weekend Evans had not won a Davis Cup runner, but will certainly have done his chances of playing in the Belgium tie no harm.
The world number 276 broke Klizan in the opening game before racing into a 5-0 first set lead. He then broke twice in the second set to take charge of the match.
But Evans soon gave Klizan a foothold in the game with a double fault in the ninth game of the third set to give the Slovakian the advantage.
In the fourth set Klizan broke again to level the scores at 2-2, and it appeared his extra experience and momentum would be enough to carry him to victory.
Coach Smith stopped Evans ahead of the fifth set to give him something of a pep talk which seemed to do the trick.
The Birmingham based youngster then broke in the third game and held serve before a double fault from Klizan at match point handed him the victory.
After the match, Smith said: “Leon has to take quite a bit of credit, he kept me calm in the chair. I didn't really snap once throughout the whole weekend, which probably would have been odds-on to happen at the start.
“I was enjoying it because it was a good match. Both players were playing good tennis and there is nothing better when everybody in the building, bar a few, is behind you.”
Smith admitted that he was really pleased with the atmosphere and how the week had gone overall, and was already looking forward to the next round.
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Judy Murray says it is an honour to be able to represent Great Britain as the new captain of the Fed Cup team.
Even those over at pokernet will be interested to note that she will take charge of the British team in February next year, as they aim to climb into tennis' World Group II.
The mother of Scottish stars Andy and Jamie Murray revealed that it was the possibility of a reunion with Leon Smith that convinced her to take up the role.
“Leon contacted me a few weeks ago to say he was taking over the women's side and asked if I would be interested in a role,” Murray told the BBC.
“I'm really excited to get started.”
Murray accepts that it is going to be a big challenge for Britain to qualify from the Europe/Africa Zone Group I, but say it is one she is very much looking forward to.
She added: “It is very difficult because there's 15 teams in the group and only two will go through.
“You have to win three matches to get out of your group, and then you need to win another one in the play-off, and there are some very strong teams in there.
“If our girls are playing well and we have a favourable draw, then I really think anything is possible.”
She says one of her main aims will be to tackle the prominent issues of sexism that seem to be surrounding British tennis at the moment.
Currently there are no Britons in the Women's Tennis Association's (WTA) top 50, with Elena Baltacha just outside it in 51st.
She said: “I think we're pretty much outnumbered about 10 to 1 male coaches to female coaches on the performance side of the game and it's something I'd very much like to try to rectify.
“So that is another part of my role beyond the Fed Cup is to try to help develop a female coaching workforce.”
That may be the case at the higher end of the game, but one report suggested that 24 per cent of the 1,652 licensed tennis coaches in the UK were female.
British number one, Baltacha has offered her support to Murray, and believes she will prove to be a wise appointment.
She said: “I think the decision is absolutely fantastic.
“I think he (Leon Smith) couldn't have picked a better person for the job. She brings so much experience to it, so much knowledge, and it will just be so nice to have her there.”
The 28-year-old who has worked alongside Murray for a number of years now added: “I remember Judy taking me on some trips at under-14, under-16 and under-18 tournaments.
“She was a great captain then and she will be now. She's a tough cookie and she won't put up with any nonsense.”
The Fed Cup ties will take place between 1 and 4 February, with only two teams from the 15 entries qualifying.
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There were no shocks at the ATP Tour Finals yesterday as Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal came through their opening matches unscathed.
Those looking at betting offers note how Federer had to work hard for his victory over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga though, with the former World No.1 eventually coming through to win 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 in one hour and 28 minutes.
Federer dominated the first set before Tsonga hit back. An upset then looked like a distinct possibility, but Federer showed his experience to come through in the third set.
Speaking afterwards, he said: “Jo-Wilfried served well in the second set and it was hard to control the rallies at the baseline.”
“But I think this is the best I've played all year. It helped that I had some good time off before playing great at Basel and Paris.”
Tsonga added: “I think he was a bit surprised because I played so bad in the first set, then I played correctly in the second, but it's always difficult because he's really quick.”
"Sometimes you think you will get the point but Roger is still there. That's why it's tough to play against him.”
As for Nadal, he had to work a lot harder for victory against Mardy Fish in a match that entertained the O2 arena crowd for two hours and 53 minutes.
Nadal eventually won 6-2 3-6 7-6 (7-3), with the game finishing at 11.30pm, meaning that several spectators had to leave before the match came to an end.
This raised questions about the start time – single matches are not to start before 8pm – something which event organisers might have to look at in the future.
Nevertheless, those assessing the best betting sites will agree that it was a thrilling first day of ATP World Tour Finals action at the O2 arena and spectators will hope that there is many more matches like the Nadal v Fish to come.
Speaking of Nadal, the Spaniard has reacted angrily to comments from former tennis player Yannick Noah who suggested that Spanish players can only be truly successful with a ‘magic potion’.
Nadal said: “What he said is completely stupid. This guy does not deserve to write in newspapers anymore.”
Action at the O2 arena continues this evening with Andy Murray in action against David Ferrer.
Ahead of the start of the ATP World Tour Finals this weekend, Andy Murray has spoken of his determination to show his top form from the very start of the tournament.
The British No.1 is hoping to finish 2011 on a high with victory at the O2 arena, something many placing free bets online believe he can do. It will not be easy though, all of the world’s top players are in action, and Murray knows he needs to be on top of his game.
Speaking ahead of the tournament, he said: “You have to be right on your game from the first match. Sometimes you work your way into an event. Here you have to play your best, simple as that.”
Murray – who faces David Ferrer on Monday – then spoke of the high calibre of which he holds the ATP World Tour finals, describing winning it as ‘one of the biggest’ achievements in tennis.
The Scotsman continued: “It's one of the biggest tournaments on the tour - you're competing against the top guys.”
“If you can win, it's a big achievement, one of the biggest. So there's a real incentive.”
“This is different from other tournaments because you have to play well - very good tennis - from the first match if you're to have a chance of going through.”
Murray clearly enjoys playing at the O2 too, having won 27 of his 29 matches at this venue.
“I am most comfortable playing indoors because that is what I grew up playing on. Last year I lost in the semis but played a great match against Rafa.”
“In some ways maybe losing that match gave me the drive to work harder and make sure things improved.”
"As long as I finish the year playing good tennis, that makes a difference going into the off-season.”
“None of the matches are easy and there's no group you're going to get that's going to be much better than the other one.”
“I've played well against Ferrer on hard courts in the past but he's made the final before [in 2007] and he has won tournaments on indoor hard courts.”
"Berdych played very, very well in Paris and obviously Novak, even though he's had some injury problems the last few weeks, has had an incredible year. It's going to be a tough draw, with long points and long matches.”
It should be extremely entertaining too. It is always faced paced tennis at this event, with the players interacting with the crowd and revelling in the excellent atmosphere.
Before Murray faces Ferrer on Monday, the tournament gets underway with Roger Federer playing Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Rafael Nadal up against Mardy Fish on Sunday afternoon.
Petra Kvitova has insisted she isn’t focusing on securing the world number one sport for herself after she claimed victory over Victoria Azarenka in the season-ending WTA Championships.
The Pole began the year ranked a lowly 34 but has battled her way up to second following a remarkable turnaround, culminating in victory in Istanbul over Azarenka which proceeded a one-sided win over world number one Caroline Wozniaki.
Kvitova marked her breakthrough year by winning her first ever Wimbledon crown while also making it to the quarters of the Australian Open and winning six tournaments that helped her become only the fourth woman ever to break the $5 million prize money barrier in a year.
Sports betting suggests she is on course to dislodge Wozniaki at the top of the pile before long but the 21-year-old insists ranking has never been a concern for her, even if she does feel as though she deserves to be on top.
"I'm not thinking about that at the moment, It's been a big year for me, I have improved everything." She said.
While Kvitova may have to wait for the number one spot there was progress made by British women’s number one Elena Baltacha, who is set to become the first British woman since Jo Durie in the 1980s to end the season inside the top 50 players in the world for two years running.
My big goal for the year was to defend the ranking points I had and keep my ranking up, so to have done that and got back inside the top 50 again feels like a really big achievement," Baltacha said. "This has definitely been the best year of my career, no question." The Briton said.
no commentsThe BBC has confirmed it has extended its live coverage deal of Wimbledon until 2017.
Doubts had been raised over the future of tennis on the BBC leading to free bets backing a switch to another channel after it confirmed its Formula 1 coverage would be shared with Sky in an attempt to cut costs, but the new deal ensures the famous tournament will remain on free to air television for at least another five years.
The three year extension to the current deal means the BBC wil have been broadcasting Wimbledon for 90 years and Ian Ritchie, chief executive of the All England Club, believes it is important to maintain that historical partnership.
"Wimbledon fans have been enjoying the BBC's broadcast coverage of The Championships since 1927 and we are delighted to be extending this enduring and successful partnership for a further three years." He said.
Formula 1 fans were outraged earlier this year when a new deal over television rights was announced that cut the amount of live races shown in half. The BBC pays around £40 million a year for the rights to exclusively screen the sport on TV and Radio as well as on its website, but has the target of making £600 million worth of savings by 2014 and it was rumoured that tennis would be next to feel the effects of the current economic climate.
However Barbara Slater, director of BBC Sport, believes the “special place” Wimbledon hold with the British public meant maintaining viewing rights was a must.
"The BBC's first ever live sport broadcast was from Wimbledon and we are proud that our new deal means the longest partnership in sports broadcasting continues.
"We know that Wimbledon fortnight has a very special place in the hearts of the UK public. We are delighted that our new agreement ensures coverage of The Championships remains free to air and available to licence fee payers."
ITV had been the free bet favourite to take over the rights had the BBC opted against extending its current deal.
Andy Murray displaced Roger Federer in the men’s singles world rankings after his Shanghai Master’s final win over David Ferrer took him above the Swiss star and into 3rd spot behind Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
The British number 1 successfully defended his Shanghai Masters title as he saw off the threat of world number five Ferrer, winning 7-5 6-4 to move ahead of the 16 time Grand Slam winner in the world rankings.
Even those paying more attention to the best mobile casinos will tell you that Murray has been in exceptional form of late and has won tournaments in Japan and Thailand in October, while also winning the Cincinnati Masters where he became only the second man to beat Novak Djokovic earlier this year when the Serb retired hurt in the final.
The Shanghai Masters win was the Scot’s 5th tournament victory of the year, and while he has previously occupied the world number two spot for a brief time in 2009, Murray believes it would a huge achievement to end the year in front of Federer.
"I'm still not guaranteed to finish at number three, I'm going to have to win some more matches.” He said after his win in Shanghai.
"But if you finish in front of Federer in a year, then there's not many people the last five, six, seven years that have been able to say that."
While he has previously ranked higher, Murray has never finished the year inside the top three, and is making that his goal for the remainder of the year having failed to break his Grand Slam duck in the last major tournament of the year, the US Open, in September.
Federer meanwhile hasn’t completed a year since his first ever Grand Slam win in 2003 at Wimbledon outside the top three and Murray believes it will be difficult to stop him continuing that run.
"For a lot of years everything went very right for Federer. He's had a few tournaments this year where maybe things could have gone his way and they didn't but I'm sure next year he'll be competing. He's still playing great tennis." He commented.
Federer has endured a poor year by his standards, and will finish the season without a Grand Slam to his name for the first time since 2002 after falling at the last hurdle against Nadal while making the semi-finals of the US and Australian Open and the quarters of Wimbledon. Federe set a new record having spent 237 consecutive weeks at number one before giving way to first Nadal then Djokovic, giving rise to theories that the 30-year-old is past his best.
The Swiss star pulled out of the Shanghai Masters along with Novak Djokovic, but will have the opportunity to claim back third spot in the remaining tournaments of the year, including the season-ending ATP World Tour Finals in London in November.
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John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg’s underwear selling competition has me wondering.
A decade ago, Mark was new to tennis as well as sport. He spent years avoiding the invites to participate; but his body didn’t avoid the weight-gain of sedentary mid-thirties’ life.
He was rarely on a court, course or field of any kind. “Maybe once,” he revealed, “and I was mildly annoyed – to my father’s glee. Dad did not want to be the cheerleading-coach-soccer/tennis-dad. He wanted an intelligent child who faced his battles with his mind – nothing lower than the clavicle.” His dad didn’t want messes. Mark, a boy born to please, was in his head more than his body most of his life.
On our first meeting, he arrived in black. T-shirt, backward baseball cap, basketball shoes, eyeglasses, wrist and head band, thin cotton socks and bathing suit. All black. He was focused – years of studying torts, property, restitution contract, litigation. Being tested almost daily came in handy. But that was his mental game. Within 5 minutes of hitting balls down the center of the court, he was keeling over: hot, panting and sweating.
An Ivy League graduate school sent him soaring into the high-priced lawyer world. “Yes, I have been in a court,” he spoke articulately and fast, “my father always reminding me, ‘Keep your head in your briefs.’”
A few weeks later, though he had hit significantly fewer shots than Malcolm Gladwell’s coveted 10,000, he had signed up and played a tournament. He’d only been on a tennis court about 10 times. His break-the-habit attitude: “I play well off the court when there are stakes – why should there be any difference on the court?”
A lawyer’s logic or the bliss of unawareness? Giving him a moment to breathe after a long rally, I asked, “How was your tournament?”
He lost in three hours and three sets to an opponent at his level. He spoke diplomatically, “Other than it being a long and incredible experience, it gave me a sense that I can play and I have a lot of room to grow.”
“Did you have fun?” I asked.
“Yeah,” he monotoned. Something was on his mind.
“What needs work? What was your worst shot?”
“I knew you’d ask that and I know!” he perked up. “My drop shots. They went high and deep and the guy got every one.”
“Where was he standing when you chose to hit the drop shot?”
“No idea,” he responded immediately.
“Where did you hit the shot just before the dropper?”
“It’s like I’m naked when I try them.”
“If you want a better drop shot, you’ll need more exposure. The circumstance of the shot -- before the technique.”
“OK. OK.” He sounded rushed to get somewhere else.
“Let’s hit some balls and when you have me out of position – either wide or behind the baseline – throw in the drop shot.”
With his momentary low expectations, he hit a perfect one. Then he popped up a few, missed a couple into the net, and another sweet one…. He exasperated quickly.
Mark cleared his throat. “I have a question.”
“I’m ready.”
“It’s a bit embarrassing.”
“Have you asked anyone else this question?”
He smiled, “No.”
We settled on the bench. “Now I’m really ready.”
“I hurt.” I looked at him. “I hurt after I play.”
“Could you be a little more vague?”
“Down there.” He looked into his lap. I understood.
“You pulled a groin muscle?”
He shook his head and said, “It’s not a muscle.”
“Chaffing?” I asked.
“Almost,” he offered with a smirk.
“What kind of underwear are you wearing?”
“None.”
I laughed louder, “I think a change in strategy is essential. And as your intuitive dad said, ‘Mark, keep your head in your briefs.’ Forget the drop shots; drop shorts and put on some briefs.”
Mark arrived to his next session walking taller, smoother and smiling.
“I’m in my briefs.”
“What color?”
“Multi. Red, white and blue. I think it’s a Union Jack. Bjorn Borg’s. He makes briefs now.”
Yes, underwear counts.
When asking about underwear, I hear words like: comfy, intimate, bikini, rubbing, tighty-whitey, necessary, clean please, sexy, hold me together, keep it safe, part of the ensemble, ew, are we allowed to talk about that? Iisn’t anything sacred?
Has anyone heard about the Borg/McEnroe Competition of 2011?
Two of the most high-profile tennis players of the Open Era – John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg – are riding under the radar. They initiated a current-day competition: Who can sell the most underwear? They each designed two styles of briefs for men. And who else would know better how to carry themselves than these two icons from opposite ends of the emotional cosmosphere. Four percent of the proceeds are going to charity. But since most people are concerned about score: As of this printing, John has a slight edge over Bjorn.no comments
