Well, I'm not the only person to be taken by surprise by this: Tickets for the 2011 Aegon International are ALREADY on sale! The 2010 event saw the move to a centralised box office - which was by no means universally popular, shall we say? - and the distribution of tickets wasn't announced until around three months before the tournament.
I received my first free text alerts regarding the 2011 event on Friday (hopefully I'll be involved in sending them out again, come the event), from eastbournetennis.com and eastbournetennis.net. More info on ticket availability is now on the aforementioned websites.
If you're in the Eastbourne area, there's still a couple of hours left to buy your tickets on site this afternoon (open till 5pm at the International Tennis Centre, Centre Court Building, Devonshire Park). The ONLY other dates you'll be able to buy tickets ON SITE before Saturday 11th June next year, according to the letter sent out by tournament director Gavin Fletcher, will be next weekend (Saturday 30th and Sunday 31st October, 10am - 5pm, both days). The other options, of course, are online or by telephone. There's a slight reduction (generally around £1 for a daily ticket, £5 for a weekly one) if you purchase before 4th January 2011.
I know there've been problems submitting comments to these blogspot pages, but if you are able to submit comments or experiences regarding buying tickets, they will of course be very welcome.
Sunday 24 October 2010
Monday 19 July 2010
Everyone's a Critic...
One of my favourite writers is actually Alison Graham, TV editor of the Radio Times. If you don't know the publication, that isn't an oxymoron - the magazine was founded in the 1920s to cover the fledgling BBC radio service. Still run by the BBC, it now covers all British TV and radio. Her funniest work was the now sadly erstwhile "Soap and Flannel" coverage of the top British soap operas, but her previews and weekly TV column are brilliantly written, entertaining and often thought-provoking. Of course, you're never going to agree with everything a critic says. And, as befitting someone who's TV preferences I feel tend to veer more towards style than substance, I sometimes wonder if she spins a roulette wheel to decide which opinion she's going to have, before wrapping her wonderful writing style around it. Ah, the curse of having those empty column inches to fill!
This week, she's gone for the particularly contentious, rejoicing at the axing of Where the Warm Heartbeat Practice Is - or is it just called Heartbeat? - the zenith of those cosy Sunday night dramas. A few years ago she remarked on the torrent of disagreement she received when criticising the show.
Oh, and there's a little aside about Wimbledon: "Tennis commentary is the most pointless of all sports' commentaries. What's to say about two people who thump a ball with metronomic tedium, to and fro, across a net?"
As pointless as writing millions of words about a few moving pictures on the front of a box, perhaps?
This week, she's gone for the particularly contentious, rejoicing at the axing of Where the Warm Heartbeat Practice Is - or is it just called Heartbeat? - the zenith of those cosy Sunday night dramas. A few years ago she remarked on the torrent of disagreement she received when criticising the show.
Oh, and there's a little aside about Wimbledon: "Tennis commentary is the most pointless of all sports' commentaries. What's to say about two people who thump a ball with metronomic tedium, to and fro, across a net?"
As pointless as writing millions of words about a few moving pictures on the front of a box, perhaps?
Friday 16 July 2010
Reasons To Be Cheerful?
So, it was an even bigger "must-win", and "should-win", tie than team GB's previous few Davis Cup match-ups; but this time they obliged. Britain is safe from relegation - for now - to the lowest possible tier of the competition. With a perfect 5-0 win last weekend, they're free to continue playing at the dizzying heights of Euro-Africa Zone Group Two. If things go well, they could play, at the end of next year, for promotion to Euro-Africa Zone Group One.
Which means it's hardly a cause for spectacular celebration. Accordingly, the festivities were a little subdued - from the team and the crowd - as Colin Fleming and Ken Skupski secured the tie victory by winning the doubles rubber on Saturday. They knew they'd done what they had to do, hopefully part of a building block.
With no south stand or additional rows to the east stand - those temporary seats are taken away at the end of the Aegon International - the remaining seating never looked more than sixty percent full, and that was probably a generous estimation. BBC local radio was told that around 2000 of the 5000 available tickets had been sold.
Considering July weather is as unpredictable as the rest of the year in Britain, the weather was the same as the last Davis Cup tie to be held in Eastbourne (July 2006) - far hotter than the June tournament's been in the last twenty years. In '06 I was in the east stand, and a slight lack of sun lotion on my wrist led to my first sunburning in Britain since I was a child! This time I was in the west stand, and later in the afternoon, given all the empty seats, was able to move up into the shade.
The "tennis village" of shops also wasn't as large in terms of number of stalls as during the Aegon International, but there was still some decent memorabilia on sale.
So, a pretty good weekend for all who attended. And the few Turkish supporters, who were barely visible in the crowd, probably didn't have too many expectations of a tie win. Though they might have harboured realistic hopes Turkish no. 1 Marsel Ilhan would beat James Ward in the second rubber. Although he'd lost to Ward in two close matches earlier this year, he's ranked 200 places higher than the Brit, and recently qualified for Wimbledon and reached the second round. But Ward showed some of the great form that saw him beat Feliciano Lopez and Rainer Schuettler at Eastbourne three weeks before.
The criticism of British tennis goes on, of course, and justifiably. Brit Richard Bloomfield, who had a terrific run to the semi-finals of the ATP tournament in Newport last week, has joined the seemingly endless number of people to question the LTA's running of the British game.
But Ward, Fleming, Skupski and Jamie Baker look like impressive late bloomers, albeit at a modest level. It was particularly cheering to see Baker play his first Davis Cup since the World Group match against Argentina in early 2008. Although Britain lost the tie, Baker impressed with his wholly unexpected victory in the dead rubber, defeating Agustin Calleri on clay in Buenos Aires. But his progress was shockingly derailed by life-threatening illness. Now thankfully recovered, he's risen back up from 1000 in the world to just outside the top 250.
Right now, and in the immediate future, Britain of course need Andy Murray if they're to do anything noteworthy in the Davis Cup. And there's no chance of being back in the World Group before 2013. But at least there are tiny signs of some back-up for Murray in big ties, providing he plays.
Which means it's hardly a cause for spectacular celebration. Accordingly, the festivities were a little subdued - from the team and the crowd - as Colin Fleming and Ken Skupski secured the tie victory by winning the doubles rubber on Saturday. They knew they'd done what they had to do, hopefully part of a building block.
With no south stand or additional rows to the east stand - those temporary seats are taken away at the end of the Aegon International - the remaining seating never looked more than sixty percent full, and that was probably a generous estimation. BBC local radio was told that around 2000 of the 5000 available tickets had been sold.
Considering July weather is as unpredictable as the rest of the year in Britain, the weather was the same as the last Davis Cup tie to be held in Eastbourne (July 2006) - far hotter than the June tournament's been in the last twenty years. In '06 I was in the east stand, and a slight lack of sun lotion on my wrist led to my first sunburning in Britain since I was a child! This time I was in the west stand, and later in the afternoon, given all the empty seats, was able to move up into the shade.
The "tennis village" of shops also wasn't as large in terms of number of stalls as during the Aegon International, but there was still some decent memorabilia on sale.
So, a pretty good weekend for all who attended. And the few Turkish supporters, who were barely visible in the crowd, probably didn't have too many expectations of a tie win. Though they might have harboured realistic hopes Turkish no. 1 Marsel Ilhan would beat James Ward in the second rubber. Although he'd lost to Ward in two close matches earlier this year, he's ranked 200 places higher than the Brit, and recently qualified for Wimbledon and reached the second round. But Ward showed some of the great form that saw him beat Feliciano Lopez and Rainer Schuettler at Eastbourne three weeks before.
The criticism of British tennis goes on, of course, and justifiably. Brit Richard Bloomfield, who had a terrific run to the semi-finals of the ATP tournament in Newport last week, has joined the seemingly endless number of people to question the LTA's running of the British game.
But Ward, Fleming, Skupski and Jamie Baker look like impressive late bloomers, albeit at a modest level. It was particularly cheering to see Baker play his first Davis Cup since the World Group match against Argentina in early 2008. Although Britain lost the tie, Baker impressed with his wholly unexpected victory in the dead rubber, defeating Agustin Calleri on clay in Buenos Aires. But his progress was shockingly derailed by life-threatening illness. Now thankfully recovered, he's risen back up from 1000 in the world to just outside the top 250.
Right now, and in the immediate future, Britain of course need Andy Murray if they're to do anything noteworthy in the Davis Cup. And there's no chance of being back in the World Group before 2013. But at least there are tiny signs of some back-up for Murray in big ties, providing he plays.
Wednesday 7 July 2010
Davis Comes To Town
So, Eastbourne isn't quite done with world class tennis events this year. Just three weeks after the Aegon International, and the Davis Cup has come to town. It's the first time the prestigious men's team event has been hosted in the town since Great Britain faced Israel in a Euro/Africa Zone Group One tie in July 2006. GB needed to beat Israel to avoid a relegation play-off. They lost.
Four years on, if they lose to Turkey, Britain will be relegated to the lowest possible tier: Euro/Africa Zone Three. It's scarcely believable that the country that gives the world Wimbledon - and, of course, makes considerable money from the Grand Slam event - should be in such a position.
The Davis Cup is more low-key in its preparations than the Aegon International. Devonshire Park was still open to the public yesterday, as both the British and Turkish teams practised ahead of Friday's opening rubbers.
There isn't the buzz surrounding the event that there was in 2006. Much of it surrounded Andy Murray, whose singles rubber win against renowned Israeli doubles specialist Andy Ram was not only his first career win from two sets down, but also his first ever five sets triumph.
This time there aren't the star names to excite the crowds, and there's louder disappointment at the continued stagnation of the British men's game below - well below - Mr Murray. But Colin Fleming and Ken Skupski are becoming quite a useful doubles pairing - 2 ATP titles and the Eastbourne final among their highlights in the last year - and James Ward played way above expectations at the Eastbourne singles event. But, even though few fervent tennis fans outside Turkey can tell you much about the Turkish players, British fans know only too well that no opposition can be written off.
Four years on, if they lose to Turkey, Britain will be relegated to the lowest possible tier: Euro/Africa Zone Three. It's scarcely believable that the country that gives the world Wimbledon - and, of course, makes considerable money from the Grand Slam event - should be in such a position.
The Davis Cup is more low-key in its preparations than the Aegon International. Devonshire Park was still open to the public yesterday, as both the British and Turkish teams practised ahead of Friday's opening rubbers.
There isn't the buzz surrounding the event that there was in 2006. Much of it surrounded Andy Murray, whose singles rubber win against renowned Israeli doubles specialist Andy Ram was not only his first career win from two sets down, but also his first ever five sets triumph.
This time there aren't the star names to excite the crowds, and there's louder disappointment at the continued stagnation of the British men's game below - well below - Mr Murray. But Colin Fleming and Ken Skupski are becoming quite a useful doubles pairing - 2 ATP titles and the Eastbourne final among their highlights in the last year - and James Ward played way above expectations at the Eastbourne singles event. But, even though few fervent tennis fans outside Turkey can tell you much about the Turkish players, British fans know only too well that no opposition can be written off.
Friday 18 June 2010
Practise Makes Perfect?
For the first time this week, the practise courts weren't in use much today. It was a different story earlier in the week, as many players vanquished in the early rounds remained at the tournament, presumably considering the courts good preparation for Wimbledon. They included James Blake, Caroline Wozniacki, and Shahar Peer. And there was the great experience of seeing the retired Amelie Mauresmo hitting tennis balls again - and playing football -with Julien Benneteau and Michael Llodra.
The happiest sight of all had to be Nicolas Almagro yesterday, a day after being stretchered off court with a suspected groin injury. Hopefully the injury wasn't nearly as serious as first feared. He seemed to be swinging and moving unhampered. Obviously a practise is very different to a proper match, but the chances of him making Wimbledon looked a lot more promising than 24 hours earlier.
The happiest sight of all had to be Nicolas Almagro yesterday, a day after being stretchered off court with a suspected groin injury. Hopefully the injury wasn't nearly as serious as first feared. He seemed to be swinging and moving unhampered. Obviously a practise is very different to a proper match, but the chances of him making Wimbledon looked a lot more promising than 24 hours earlier.
Wednesday 16 June 2010
Let the Music Play!
"Please don't stop the music," trilled Rihanna on one of the tracks played on Centre Court today. Not everyone's sentiment. "Too Americanised," is how some have described the atmosphere between matches.
Of course, many American tournaments play music each changeover. Personally, I love it, I feel it adds to the entertainment and emotion of a match. But I appreciate it isn't everybody's cup of tea, and wouldn't quite suit the ambience of many tournaments, including Eastbourne.
But I feel the idea of music between matches works fine. Okay, as you'd expect there are song choices as obvious and cheesy as a Richard Curtis film soundtrack - how many times do you hear "The Power" by Snap at a sporting event? But already this year there's been a wider range of music than the automatic rock classics. I wouldn't've bet on Norah Jones' "Sunrise" cropping up, but it did.
Of course, many American tournaments play music each changeover. Personally, I love it, I feel it adds to the entertainment and emotion of a match. But I appreciate it isn't everybody's cup of tea, and wouldn't quite suit the ambience of many tournaments, including Eastbourne.
But I feel the idea of music between matches works fine. Okay, as you'd expect there are song choices as obvious and cheesy as a Richard Curtis film soundtrack - how many times do you hear "The Power" by Snap at a sporting event? But already this year there's been a wider range of music than the automatic rock classics. I wouldn't've bet on Norah Jones' "Sunrise" cropping up, but it did.
Ticket Prices
One of the talking points around the grounds this year has been the increase in ticket prices, and the new system for buying them. Many people have been dissatisfied with the new system, and the prices have dissuaded some regulars from buying tickets.
An Eastbourne resident wrote to the local newspaper in March to say that, having been notified of the new prices, neither she nor her friends who regularly travelled to the tournament would be attending this year. I met people today who usually buy tickets but are only here this year via spare tickets from friends.
The grounds seem as busy as ever, but the Centre Court not so.
I know some people have had problems posting comments on this site, but if you can, it would be good to hear your own comments and experiences.
An Eastbourne resident wrote to the local newspaper in March to say that, having been notified of the new prices, neither she nor her friends who regularly travelled to the tournament would be attending this year. I met people today who usually buy tickets but are only here this year via spare tickets from friends.
The grounds seem as busy as ever, but the Centre Court not so.
I know some people have had problems posting comments on this site, but if you can, it would be good to hear your own comments and experiences.
Sunday 13 June 2010
Men's Main Draw Begins
The men's main draw got underway today. Although it was mostly qualifying matches, there was a smattering of first round ties and even a doubles match.
Guillermo Garcia-Lopez has significant rankings points to defend, having reached the semi-finals here last year. He narrowly avoided an upset, overcoming 33 year old Frenchman Marc Gicquel 7-6 in the third, after over two hours. In that decisive tie-break, Gicquel was persistently complaining a la Andy Murray. Not quite sure what about - my guess is he may have felt, at nearly 7pm, that the grass was becoming slippery; or it may have been line calls. The absence of hawk-eye was noticeable last year, as it was earlier this year in the similar Brisbane tournament.
Due to the late-finish to this match, the doubles -originally scheduled for Centre Court - had already been moved to Court 1.
British pair Colin Fleming and Ken Skupski have surprisingly risen up the rankings in recent months, and won ATP titles in Metz and St Petersburg towards the end of last season. They took on Israel's Andy Ram and Austria's Julian Knowle.
Accomplished doubles player Ram has also made an impact in singles in Eastbourne before. In the 2006 Davis Cup tie, he won the first two sets against Andy Murray, before the Brit came back to record his first ever five-set victory. Ram received some vocal support from a few in the crowd this evening, but it was the British pair who recorded another impressive win - 6-4, 7-6.
Guillermo Garcia-Lopez has significant rankings points to defend, having reached the semi-finals here last year. He narrowly avoided an upset, overcoming 33 year old Frenchman Marc Gicquel 7-6 in the third, after over two hours. In that decisive tie-break, Gicquel was persistently complaining a la Andy Murray. Not quite sure what about - my guess is he may have felt, at nearly 7pm, that the grass was becoming slippery; or it may have been line calls. The absence of hawk-eye was noticeable last year, as it was earlier this year in the similar Brisbane tournament.
Due to the late-finish to this match, the doubles -originally scheduled for Centre Court - had already been moved to Court 1.
British pair Colin Fleming and Ken Skupski have surprisingly risen up the rankings in recent months, and won ATP titles in Metz and St Petersburg towards the end of last season. They took on Israel's Andy Ram and Austria's Julian Knowle.
Accomplished doubles player Ram has also made an impact in singles in Eastbourne before. In the 2006 Davis Cup tie, he won the first two sets against Andy Murray, before the Brit came back to record his first ever five-set victory. Ram received some vocal support from a few in the crowd this evening, but it was the British pair who recorded another impressive win - 6-4, 7-6.
Saturday 12 June 2010
First Day
So it's here! After 51 weeks, it's that time of the year again, and the gates to the Aegon International are open.
The first day was sunny but cool. The most high profile names on the match courts - as opposed to the practise courts - were probably last year's semi-finalist Alexandra Wozniak versus former world no. 7 Alicia Molik. Wozniak won in straight sets. All qualifying today. More tomorrow, but also the first matches in the men's main draw.
Don't forget that both days this weekend you can see all matches -including those on Centre Court - with a ground pass.
Kim Clijsters struggled momentarily with her daughter's buggy and the bumpy pavement as she left the grounds after her practise session this evening. And that reminds me to warn you, if you don't already know, that parts of the pavement all round the outside of Devonshire Park - College Road, Blackwater Road, etc - are uneven in places.
The first day was sunny but cool. The most high profile names on the match courts - as opposed to the practise courts - were probably last year's semi-finalist Alexandra Wozniak versus former world no. 7 Alicia Molik. Wozniak won in straight sets. All qualifying today. More tomorrow, but also the first matches in the men's main draw.
Don't forget that both days this weekend you can see all matches -including those on Centre Court - with a ground pass.
Kim Clijsters struggled momentarily with her daughter's buggy and the bumpy pavement as she left the grounds after her practise session this evening. And that reminds me to warn you, if you don't already know, that parts of the pavement all round the outside of Devonshire Park - College Road, Blackwater Road, etc - are uneven in places.
Saturday 5 June 2010
Wozniacki's ice creams, Devonshire Park preparations, and The Sound of Music!
Hot weather is back again in Eastbourne! After a week of more familiar coolness, the last couple of days have been a bit of a scorcher by UK standards.
The proof? Last night it was still warm enough at 7pm to eat an ice cream in the sun on the seafront. I got the ice cream from the parlour opposite Devonshire Park so raved about by Caroline Wozniacki.
At the famous "a star is born" press conference after her breakthrough win against top seed Kuznetsova during Eastbourne 2008, she commented: "There's a great ice-cream place just across the road from here!"
After her run to the title at last year's event, the cafe's been displaying a newspaper cutting, from a national broadsheet by the looks of it, reporting on Wozniacki's love of their Casablanca ice cream, declaring it one of her favourites in the world.
Devonshire Park is now closed to the public as the preparations for a world-class tennis event hit their stride.
Meanwhile, despite scaffolding covering the entrance to the adjacent Congress Theatre, this is no deterrence to all the eager fans entering to see the touring production of The Sound of Music. It stars reality-TV winner Connie Fisher, and former Dynasty star - and Eastbourne college pupil - Michael Praed. The show runs until Eastbourne finals' day. No Sharapova or Kirilenko on the entry list, but there is Martinez Sanchez, so maybe there will be a problem like Maria to solve! Ba-boom!
The proof? Last night it was still warm enough at 7pm to eat an ice cream in the sun on the seafront. I got the ice cream from the parlour opposite Devonshire Park so raved about by Caroline Wozniacki.
At the famous "a star is born" press conference after her breakthrough win against top seed Kuznetsova during Eastbourne 2008, she commented: "There's a great ice-cream place just across the road from here!"
After her run to the title at last year's event, the cafe's been displaying a newspaper cutting, from a national broadsheet by the looks of it, reporting on Wozniacki's love of their Casablanca ice cream, declaring it one of her favourites in the world.
Devonshire Park is now closed to the public as the preparations for a world-class tennis event hit their stride.
Meanwhile, despite scaffolding covering the entrance to the adjacent Congress Theatre, this is no deterrence to all the eager fans entering to see the touring production of The Sound of Music. It stars reality-TV winner Connie Fisher, and former Dynasty star - and Eastbourne college pupil - Michael Praed. The show runs until Eastbourne finals' day. No Sharapova or Kirilenko on the entry list, but there is Martinez Sanchez, so maybe there will be a problem like Maria to solve! Ba-boom!
Schiavone's stunner!
Well, who'd've predicted this? Francesca Schiavone, French Open champion!
29 years old, 5'5" tall, a one-handed backhand, a gritty competitor, and emotionally demonstrative on court - mainly in a positive way, when things are going well. Always good to watch, but usually overpowered by the top players, and never beyond the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam before.
True, she didn't have to beat Henin and Serena (Stosur did that), Dementieva pulled out injured in the semis, and Stosur didn't play as well as she can in the final. But Francesca played brilliantly to beat Caroline Wozniacki in the quarters, and her tactics and execution in the final were close to perfection. To play one of the best matches of your life in such a high-pressure situation is some achievement. Her adrenaline in the second-set tie-break, as she won the match 6-4, 7-6 (2), and right through the presentation ceremony, was infectious.
Hopefully tennis will get some overdue attention in her native Italy, despite most eyes being on the country's soccer team's attempts to retain the World Cup.
Her net play was exceptional, suggesting that she could be a force to be reckoned with at Eastbourne and Wimbledon. But Eastbourne organisers must be hoping she won't still be partying this time next week, and decide to pull out of the tournament.
29 years old, 5'5" tall, a one-handed backhand, a gritty competitor, and emotionally demonstrative on court - mainly in a positive way, when things are going well. Always good to watch, but usually overpowered by the top players, and never beyond the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam before.
True, she didn't have to beat Henin and Serena (Stosur did that), Dementieva pulled out injured in the semis, and Stosur didn't play as well as she can in the final. But Francesca played brilliantly to beat Caroline Wozniacki in the quarters, and her tactics and execution in the final were close to perfection. To play one of the best matches of your life in such a high-pressure situation is some achievement. Her adrenaline in the second-set tie-break, as she won the match 6-4, 7-6 (2), and right through the presentation ceremony, was infectious.
Hopefully tennis will get some overdue attention in her native Italy, despite most eyes being on the country's soccer team's attempts to retain the World Cup.
Her net play was exceptional, suggesting that she could be a force to be reckoned with at Eastbourne and Wimbledon. But Eastbourne organisers must be hoping she won't still be partying this time next week, and decide to pull out of the tournament.
Wednesday 2 June 2010
Could Eastbourne help Almagro breakthrough on the fast stuff?
As expected, Nicolas Almagro didn't have enough to beat his fellow Spaniard Rafael Nadal in the French Open quarter finals today. He lost in three close sets: 7-6(7-2), 7-6(7-3), 6-4. But with his big serve and aggressive groundstrokes - including a powerful one-handed backhand - it's surprising he hasn't had more success on faster surfaces.
The majority of Spanish players will probably always be best suited to clay, but the stereotypical view of a Spaniard thinking "Grass is for cows" seems to be firmly in the past. These days it's rare to find a Spanish player not wanting to develop an all-court game.
As an Eastbourne entrant, the tournament provides the perfect opportunity to take his game to the next level. Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, another Spaniard with a one-handed backhand, had a surprise run to the semi-finals last year, and his game isn't nearly as big as Almagro's.
The majority of Spanish players will probably always be best suited to clay, but the stereotypical view of a Spaniard thinking "Grass is for cows" seems to be firmly in the past. These days it's rare to find a Spanish player not wanting to develop an all-court game.
As an Eastbourne entrant, the tournament provides the perfect opportunity to take his game to the next level. Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, another Spaniard with a one-handed backhand, had a surprise run to the semi-finals last year, and his game isn't nearly as big as Almagro's.
Monday 31 May 2010
Bad News: Henin out of French Open; Good News: Eastbourne awaits??
As much as I like Sam Stosur - and admire how she's starting to fulfil her game's massive potential - I'm devastated Justine Henin's out of the French Open. I know I'm far from the only person who finds her the most thrilling player to watch from this generation, man or woman. Her return to the sport's been my greatest joy of the tennis year so far.
"The female Federer" is the familiar description for her creativity, but the difference is the visual "triumph against adversity" factor that always adds extra spice. Unlike Federer, her great shots do not look effortless, and her arrival at the top level of the game when it was appearing that talent might count for nothing if you weren't 6ft tall, was inspirational. Her sudden, shock decision to retire as world no. 1 in 2008 left a gaping hole in the women's game, that only her return has filled. Mixing old school flare with the modern style ("go for your shots, hit huge forehands and backhands, murder any weak second serve") has seen her become both a happy throwback and a pioneer. I'm gutted she won't be winning her fifth Roland Garros crown and eighth Grand Slam title this week.
But there may -and it's only a may - be a good side to this for Eastbourne tennis fans. Although I thought it quite likely Henin would make a late entry to Eastbourne even if she won the French, there's been suggestions that playing Eastbourne so soon after winning in Paris in '06 and '07 hurt her Wimbledon chances. Both years she won the Eastbourne final 7-6 in the third, but lost winnable matches at SW19 - to Amelie Mauresmo in the '06 final and Marion Bartoli in the '07 semis. Both times she suggested that she didn't have enough energy left.
Yet Justine is a player who generally needs more match play than some to acclimatise to a new surface. Winning the one Grand Slam to so far elude her has been her biggest stated goal for her second career. So she'll no doubt be thinking carefully about how best to prepare for her Wimbledon assault. Here's hoping a wildcard at Eastbourne is part of her plans.
"The female Federer" is the familiar description for her creativity, but the difference is the visual "triumph against adversity" factor that always adds extra spice. Unlike Federer, her great shots do not look effortless, and her arrival at the top level of the game when it was appearing that talent might count for nothing if you weren't 6ft tall, was inspirational. Her sudden, shock decision to retire as world no. 1 in 2008 left a gaping hole in the women's game, that only her return has filled. Mixing old school flare with the modern style ("go for your shots, hit huge forehands and backhands, murder any weak second serve") has seen her become both a happy throwback and a pioneer. I'm gutted she won't be winning her fifth Roland Garros crown and eighth Grand Slam title this week.
But there may -and it's only a may - be a good side to this for Eastbourne tennis fans. Although I thought it quite likely Henin would make a late entry to Eastbourne even if she won the French, there's been suggestions that playing Eastbourne so soon after winning in Paris in '06 and '07 hurt her Wimbledon chances. Both years she won the Eastbourne final 7-6 in the third, but lost winnable matches at SW19 - to Amelie Mauresmo in the '06 final and Marion Bartoli in the '07 semis. Both times she suggested that she didn't have enough energy left.
Yet Justine is a player who generally needs more match play than some to acclimatise to a new surface. Winning the one Grand Slam to so far elude her has been her biggest stated goal for her second career. So she'll no doubt be thinking carefully about how best to prepare for her Wimbledon assault. Here's hoping a wildcard at Eastbourne is part of her plans.
Thursday 27 May 2010
The Surprise Rezai Factor
When the entry list for the women's event at this year's Eastbourne tournament was announced a few weeks ago, the name "Aravane Rezai" wasn't exactly the first one that most of us noticed. But after her astounding win in Madrid - coming from a set down to dismiss Henin in the first round, right through to demolishing Venus in the final - she is certainly an eagerly anticipated arrival to the pre-Wimbledon event. Aged 23 and ranked 24 at the start of the Madrid tournament three weeks ago, it was stunning that her phenomenal power finally became consistent. "I don't think I've ever played someone that hits the ball so hard on every shot," said Jankovic, another of her victims that week. "If she keeps this up, she will be unplayable," said a commentator, adding that it's a major "if".
Personally, I'd be extremely surprised if she becomes a multiple Grand Slam winner, but out of almost nowhere she's arguably the most exciting "new" player in the women's game. How consistent she can be is the big question. More will be known after her big match against Nadia Petrova (another Eastbourne title contender) in front of her home crowd at the French Open tomorrow, but win or lose, she's a thrilling prospect.
Personally, I'd be extremely surprised if she becomes a multiple Grand Slam winner, but out of almost nowhere she's arguably the most exciting "new" player in the women's game. How consistent she can be is the big question. More will be known after her big match against Nadia Petrova (another Eastbourne title contender) in front of her home crowd at the French Open tomorrow, but win or lose, she's a thrilling prospect.
Eastbourne Gets Ready
I've just received an email from Eastbourne Borough Council, highlighting the town being recently confirmed the official sunniest place on mainland Britain, and Virgin Money Travel Insurance naming the town the UK's most holiday-friendly resort. Not the sunniest day today, but probably more brightness, and certainly less rain, than at the French Open. The legendary wind, so often commented on by the tennis stars who've played at the tournament, has been cold, a major contrast to last weekend and the summer's first mini heatwave.
But despite the predictable unpredictability of the British weather, it feels like the summer season is in full swing. The Borough Council's newsletter publicised the Bandstand Concerts, the tourist attractions and, of course, the "hugely exciting" tennis tournament returning to Devonshire Park. The photograph they show of the sun-drenched tennis courts isn't hopelessly unrealistic, given the dry and mainly sunny weather the tournament's been blessed with for most of the last decade. During tennis week in 2007, when most of the country was rained on, Eastbourne remained protected by the micro-climate from the surrounding downland for the entire tournament. Here's hoping we're blessed with the same good fortune this year!
As the first UK coalition government since the Second World War beds down, I reflect on going to cast my vote at my local church hall in the General Election just a few weeks ago, and then taking a walk round to Devonshire Park. Each May, with the Centre Court South Stand not yet erected, it's hard to imagine that it's just a few weeks before this quiet park is filled with thousands of people, picnics on the grass, the strawberry's and cream atmosphere of a mini-Wimbledon and, of course, some top class tennis.
But despite the predictable unpredictability of the British weather, it feels like the summer season is in full swing. The Borough Council's newsletter publicised the Bandstand Concerts, the tourist attractions and, of course, the "hugely exciting" tennis tournament returning to Devonshire Park. The photograph they show of the sun-drenched tennis courts isn't hopelessly unrealistic, given the dry and mainly sunny weather the tournament's been blessed with for most of the last decade. During tennis week in 2007, when most of the country was rained on, Eastbourne remained protected by the micro-climate from the surrounding downland for the entire tournament. Here's hoping we're blessed with the same good fortune this year!
As the first UK coalition government since the Second World War beds down, I reflect on going to cast my vote at my local church hall in the General Election just a few weeks ago, and then taking a walk round to Devonshire Park. Each May, with the Centre Court South Stand not yet erected, it's hard to imagine that it's just a few weeks before this quiet park is filled with thousands of people, picnics on the grass, the strawberry's and cream atmosphere of a mini-Wimbledon and, of course, some top class tennis.
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