Write off Rafael Nadal at your peril.
Just four months after his career looked to be in jeopardy after another injury at the Australian Open, the Spaniard is back at the top of the world rankings following Sunday's French Open triumph.
Five titles at Roland Garros puts Nadal one behind Bjorn Borg and the joy for tennis fans was the sight of the Spaniard close to his best once again.
His opponent Robin Soderling could not have done much more in the first set and early in the second. But Nadal's incredible defence eventually wore the Swede down. Time and time again, Nadal extended the point for an extra shot or two and turned defence into attack.
It sets things up perfectly for Wimbledon, the one slam Nadal missed last year. Roger Federer will be waiting but a revitalised Nadal will push him all the way.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Friday, May 7, 2010
NBA: Suns ready to lay Spurs ghost to rest
Goran Dragic's spectacular fourth quarter on Friday night put the Phoenix Suns one game away from the Western Conference Finals - and one big performance away from finally overcoming the San Antonio Spurs in the Playoffs.
After all the pain of previous eliminations against the Spurs, Steve Nash and company are now in a position to exorcise those demons, taking a 3-0 lead with a 110-96 win in Texas.
San Antonio are sure to bounce back in Game 4 but Phoenix will not be stopped. And there is plenty for the LA Lakers (assuming they see off Utah) to worry about ahead of the next round.
Nash and Amar'e Stoudemire have got the pick and roll working to perfection, Grant Hill is playing relentless defense to go with his lethal pull up jumper and Jason Richardson is red hot from three-point range.
Then throw in the Suns' bench, which is their true X-factor. Dragic has proved an able back up for Nash while Jared Dudley and Channing Frye are shooting the lights out from downtown. The group's overall intensity means that Phoenix do not skip a beat when the starters take a breather.
For so many years, the Spurs have been the unmovable obstacle but Phoenix is about to change all that.
After all the pain of previous eliminations against the Spurs, Steve Nash and company are now in a position to exorcise those demons, taking a 3-0 lead with a 110-96 win in Texas.
San Antonio are sure to bounce back in Game 4 but Phoenix will not be stopped. And there is plenty for the LA Lakers (assuming they see off Utah) to worry about ahead of the next round.
Nash and Amar'e Stoudemire have got the pick and roll working to perfection, Grant Hill is playing relentless defense to go with his lethal pull up jumper and Jason Richardson is red hot from three-point range.
Then throw in the Suns' bench, which is their true X-factor. Dragic has proved an able back up for Nash while Jared Dudley and Channing Frye are shooting the lights out from downtown. The group's overall intensity means that Phoenix do not skip a beat when the starters take a breather.
For so many years, the Spurs have been the unmovable obstacle but Phoenix is about to change all that.
Cricket: Australia dismantle India, send out message
The T20 World Cup is in full swing and it is no surprise to see Australia rising to the occasion. A 49-run win over India in Barbados confirmed that the Aussies have finally cracked this format of the game.
Much had been made of India's powerful batting line-up but, after David Warner's 72 sparked a total of 184-5, the Australian attacked ripped the Indians to shreds.
Dirk Nannes and Shaun Tait bagged three wickets apiece as India slumped to 42-6 and then 135 all out.
While the Aussies are playing impressive cricket, they are not the only side excelling in the Caribbean. Michael Clarke and company will face stern opposition from South Africa, Sri Lanka and perhaps even England, who earned a big win over Pakistan on Thursday courtesy of a timely half century from Kevin Pietersen.
Much had been made of India's powerful batting line-up but, after David Warner's 72 sparked a total of 184-5, the Australian attacked ripped the Indians to shreds.
Dirk Nannes and Shaun Tait bagged three wickets apiece as India slumped to 42-6 and then 135 all out.
While the Aussies are playing impressive cricket, they are not the only side excelling in the Caribbean. Michael Clarke and company will face stern opposition from South Africa, Sri Lanka and perhaps even England, who earned a big win over Pakistan on Thursday courtesy of a timely half century from Kevin Pietersen.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Soccer: United, Chelsea going to the wire
Wins for Chelsea and Manchester United took the Premier League title race to the final weekend of the season.
Chelsea grabbed a crucial victory over Liverpool at Anfield, helped in part by Steven Gerrard's horrendous backpass that allowed Didier Drogba to open the scoring.
Though United kept up the pressure with a 1-0 win at Sunderland, the Blues remain a point clear heading into a home clash with Wigan on the final day.
United take on Stoke at Old Trafford but know a victory may still not be enough.
Chelsea grabbed a crucial victory over Liverpool at Anfield, helped in part by Steven Gerrard's horrendous backpass that allowed Didier Drogba to open the scoring.
Though United kept up the pressure with a 1-0 win at Sunderland, the Blues remain a point clear heading into a home clash with Wigan on the final day.
United take on Stoke at Old Trafford but know a victory may still not be enough.
NBA: Nuggets in need of a summer trade
When the season began, the Denver Nuggets had aspirations of improving on last year's trip to the Western Conference Finals. The core of the team was still intact and there was every chance that Carmelo Anthony, JR Smith and Nene would take their games to a new level.
Denver made a flying start and outmuscled Utah, Portland and the Lakers in the early stages of the season. Anthony was playing like a man possessed, leading the league in scoring and showing incredible focus, while Chauncey Billups was continuing to pull the strings.
At the All-Star break, the Nuggets looked the likeliest number two seed, even when Dallas made the big trade for Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood. But then news broke of George Karl's cancer battle, rocking Denver to the core. With influential forward Kenyon Martin going down with a knee injury around the same time, the Nuggets were suddenly in disarray.
A disastrous five-game road trip brought just a single win - in the final second in Toronto - and interim head coach Adrian Dantley struggled to pull the temperamental Nuggets into line. From a number two seed, Denver slipped to fifth before recovering to at least claim home court advantage in the first round of the Playoffs.
Not that it did them much good. Facing a depleted Utah team, the Nuggets were heavy favourites. They won Game 1 behind an Anthony masterclass but lost the next three with lazy defense and limited offense outside Anthony and Billups.
Nene was supposed to exploit the Jazz's lack of size down low, JR Smith had a clear advantage against Utah's Kyle Korver and Denver seemed to have enough guards to counter Deron Williams.
None of the above materialised. Nene went missing on the road, Smith sulked his way through Game 6 after an underwhelming series and Williams ran riot, carvering the Nuggets defense to pieces. The undermanned Jazz won in six games and thoroughly deserved it.
So where does Denver go from here? Clearly, the hopes that the 2008/09 roster would mature and progress this year were misplaced. The Nuggets cannot win with the current group, despite Anthony's solid play and the savvy leadership of Billups, who showed his big game nerve with 30 points in Game 6.
That means a trade is necessary to keep pace with their Western Conference rivals. After a summer of rest and recovery, you can be sure that Houston, Portland and New Orleans will be better next season - so even making the Playoffs cannot be taken for granted for Denver.
In an ideal world, the Nuggets will find a new home for Smith. His lack of maturity and questionable shot selection make him more of a liability than an asset. While he is great when he catches fire and pours in 20 or 30, if his shot is off he becomes a non-factor due to his poor defense.
There are plenty of options for Denver and one of them is Toronto's Chris Bosh. Sending Smith, Martin and a reserve might be enough to tempt the Raptors. Smith and Martin seem to be the best trade chips that the Nuggets have to play with and finding a healthy big man who can contribute at both ends is the number two priority this summer, after getting a healthy Karl back on the bench.
The Championship window is closing fast for this group, particularly with Billups entering the last few years of his career. Anthony is a free agent in the summer of 2011 and, unless there is more evidence of progress, he might seek greener pastures.
So, without doubt, the time is ripe for the Nuggets to make a headline-grabbing move this summer.
Denver made a flying start and outmuscled Utah, Portland and the Lakers in the early stages of the season. Anthony was playing like a man possessed, leading the league in scoring and showing incredible focus, while Chauncey Billups was continuing to pull the strings.
At the All-Star break, the Nuggets looked the likeliest number two seed, even when Dallas made the big trade for Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood. But then news broke of George Karl's cancer battle, rocking Denver to the core. With influential forward Kenyon Martin going down with a knee injury around the same time, the Nuggets were suddenly in disarray.
A disastrous five-game road trip brought just a single win - in the final second in Toronto - and interim head coach Adrian Dantley struggled to pull the temperamental Nuggets into line. From a number two seed, Denver slipped to fifth before recovering to at least claim home court advantage in the first round of the Playoffs.
Not that it did them much good. Facing a depleted Utah team, the Nuggets were heavy favourites. They won Game 1 behind an Anthony masterclass but lost the next three with lazy defense and limited offense outside Anthony and Billups.
Nene was supposed to exploit the Jazz's lack of size down low, JR Smith had a clear advantage against Utah's Kyle Korver and Denver seemed to have enough guards to counter Deron Williams.
None of the above materialised. Nene went missing on the road, Smith sulked his way through Game 6 after an underwhelming series and Williams ran riot, carvering the Nuggets defense to pieces. The undermanned Jazz won in six games and thoroughly deserved it.
So where does Denver go from here? Clearly, the hopes that the 2008/09 roster would mature and progress this year were misplaced. The Nuggets cannot win with the current group, despite Anthony's solid play and the savvy leadership of Billups, who showed his big game nerve with 30 points in Game 6.
That means a trade is necessary to keep pace with their Western Conference rivals. After a summer of rest and recovery, you can be sure that Houston, Portland and New Orleans will be better next season - so even making the Playoffs cannot be taken for granted for Denver.
In an ideal world, the Nuggets will find a new home for Smith. His lack of maturity and questionable shot selection make him more of a liability than an asset. While he is great when he catches fire and pours in 20 or 30, if his shot is off he becomes a non-factor due to his poor defense.
There are plenty of options for Denver and one of them is Toronto's Chris Bosh. Sending Smith, Martin and a reserve might be enough to tempt the Raptors. Smith and Martin seem to be the best trade chips that the Nuggets have to play with and finding a healthy big man who can contribute at both ends is the number two priority this summer, after getting a healthy Karl back on the bench.
The Championship window is closing fast for this group, particularly with Billups entering the last few years of his career. Anthony is a free agent in the summer of 2011 and, unless there is more evidence of progress, he might seek greener pastures.
So, without doubt, the time is ripe for the Nuggets to make a headline-grabbing move this summer.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Soccer: Important summer for Manchester United
This season's title race is not over just yet. The Blues must still visit Anfield, ensuring plenty more drama in the final two weekends. United have not given up hope just yet.
However, it does not take a genius to realise that all is not well at Old Trafford. Even overlooking the tense situation regarding the Glazers, United have issues to address. And you can be sure that plans for next season are already being drawn up.
The truth of the matter is that this season's title race has been different from recent years. The top teams have slipped up more often - to the credit of the likes of Aston Villa, Manchester City, Burnley and others - and no team has consistently dazzled. This was a year that a good team, not a great one, would lift the trophy. And yet United may let the prize slip away.
As predicted last summer, this United squad has its limitations and is too dependant on a handful of key players. For stretches during this campaign this fact was hidden, largely by the brilliance of Wayne Rooney. Yet the lasting impression will be that United have not had enough quality to call upon.
So expect an interesting summer, regardless of the outcome of the title race. It remains to be seen how much money Ferguson will have to spend but there are obvious holes to plug. Three areas spring to mind as the United boss plots a mini revamp of his squad.
First, the champions need a reliable right back. At present, Rafael Da Silva is still maturing, Wes Brown is injury riddled and Gary Neville has been exposed against quality opposition. Rafael's lack of experience cost United in the Champions League against Bayern Munich and Ferguson cannot afford such lapses. The rest of the back four - Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Evra - is up there with the world's best but the right back slot needs attention.
While Rafael appears to be the long-term answer, a couple of names jump out as useful additions for the present in this position, though their availability is unclear. Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos would be a high end option – and might be tempted to leave the Bernabeu after several disappointing years – while Bayern Munich’s Philipp Lamm is another top drawer performer.
Next, a cultured midfielder capable of scoring ten goals a season is a real necessity. As Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs near the end of their careers, United must provide fresh legs to complement them. Darren Fletcher had an outstanding season and will remain a regular for years to come but Michael Carrick's form was patchy and his prowess in the last third remains limited.
While United are unlikely to lure Xavi or Andres Iniesta away from Barcelona, it is this type of player they are so badly missing. A central midfielder with vision, quick feet and a good engine would make a huge difference alongside Fletcher. In short, they need Scholes in his prime.
Assuming United can throw around £25M at this problem, the likes of Lyon’s Miralem Pjanic, Bordeaux’s Yoann Gourcuff and Roma’s Daniele De Rossi look attractive options and would take some of the pressure off the strikers with their knack of finding the net. Valencia’s David Silva is another playmaker who has long been linked with United.
The third area to address is even more glaring and that is finding a partner for Rooney. Ferguson still loves the 4-4-2 formation but Dimitar Berbatov's low confidence and often feeble contributions have made that unworkable.
Instead, the 4-5-1 system has regularly been employed. This helps protect the weary legs of Scholes but a reliable strike partner for Rooney would relieve some of the burden on the England man's shoulders. United swooped for talented Mexican Javier Hernandez this month but the feeling remains that a proven front man is required, especially as the Michael Owen gamble failed to bear fruit.
Without breaking the bank, United could pursue Gabby Agbonlahor or even Robbie Keane. And of course, in an ideal world, they could table an offer for Valencia’s prolific striker David Villa. The addition of a predator like Villa would, in itself, push Ferguson’s side closer to matching Barcelona.
Of course, the United boss may well have considerably less to spend than the £70-80M or so required to address these three problem areas. But he could add to his transfer kitty by offloading Berbatov or even temperamental winger Nani.
It should be noted that after losing Cristiano Ronaldo last summer, United have exceeded expectations in pushing Chelsea all the way. But until they find the weapons to support Rooney, the Red Devils will struggle to match Europe’s finest.
ENDS
However, it does not take a genius to realise that all is not well at Old Trafford. Even overlooking the tense situation regarding the Glazers, United have issues to address. And you can be sure that plans for next season are already being drawn up.
The truth of the matter is that this season's title race has been different from recent years. The top teams have slipped up more often - to the credit of the likes of Aston Villa, Manchester City, Burnley and others - and no team has consistently dazzled. This was a year that a good team, not a great one, would lift the trophy. And yet United may let the prize slip away.
As predicted last summer, this United squad has its limitations and is too dependant on a handful of key players. For stretches during this campaign this fact was hidden, largely by the brilliance of Wayne Rooney. Yet the lasting impression will be that United have not had enough quality to call upon.
So expect an interesting summer, regardless of the outcome of the title race. It remains to be seen how much money Ferguson will have to spend but there are obvious holes to plug. Three areas spring to mind as the United boss plots a mini revamp of his squad.
First, the champions need a reliable right back. At present, Rafael Da Silva is still maturing, Wes Brown is injury riddled and Gary Neville has been exposed against quality opposition. Rafael's lack of experience cost United in the Champions League against Bayern Munich and Ferguson cannot afford such lapses. The rest of the back four - Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Evra - is up there with the world's best but the right back slot needs attention.
While Rafael appears to be the long-term answer, a couple of names jump out as useful additions for the present in this position, though their availability is unclear. Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos would be a high end option – and might be tempted to leave the Bernabeu after several disappointing years – while Bayern Munich’s Philipp Lamm is another top drawer performer.
Next, a cultured midfielder capable of scoring ten goals a season is a real necessity. As Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs near the end of their careers, United must provide fresh legs to complement them. Darren Fletcher had an outstanding season and will remain a regular for years to come but Michael Carrick's form was patchy and his prowess in the last third remains limited.
While United are unlikely to lure Xavi or Andres Iniesta away from Barcelona, it is this type of player they are so badly missing. A central midfielder with vision, quick feet and a good engine would make a huge difference alongside Fletcher. In short, they need Scholes in his prime.
Assuming United can throw around £25M at this problem, the likes of Lyon’s Miralem Pjanic, Bordeaux’s Yoann Gourcuff and Roma’s Daniele De Rossi look attractive options and would take some of the pressure off the strikers with their knack of finding the net. Valencia’s David Silva is another playmaker who has long been linked with United.
The third area to address is even more glaring and that is finding a partner for Rooney. Ferguson still loves the 4-4-2 formation but Dimitar Berbatov's low confidence and often feeble contributions have made that unworkable.
Instead, the 4-5-1 system has regularly been employed. This helps protect the weary legs of Scholes but a reliable strike partner for Rooney would relieve some of the burden on the England man's shoulders. United swooped for talented Mexican Javier Hernandez this month but the feeling remains that a proven front man is required, especially as the Michael Owen gamble failed to bear fruit.
Without breaking the bank, United could pursue Gabby Agbonlahor or even Robbie Keane. And of course, in an ideal world, they could table an offer for Valencia’s prolific striker David Villa. The addition of a predator like Villa would, in itself, push Ferguson’s side closer to matching Barcelona.
Of course, the United boss may well have considerably less to spend than the £70-80M or so required to address these three problem areas. But he could add to his transfer kitty by offloading Berbatov or even temperamental winger Nani.
It should be noted that after losing Cristiano Ronaldo last summer, United have exceeded expectations in pushing Chelsea all the way. But until they find the weapons to support Rooney, the Red Devils will struggle to match Europe’s finest.
ENDS
NBA: Deng and Bulls ready for bright future
Luol Deng and the Chicago Bulls may have crashed out of the NBA Playoffs in five games against the Cleveland Cavaliers but the GB star could not be faulted.
Charged with spearheading the Bulls offence and guarding Cleveland dangerman LeBron James, Deng rose to the challenge and cemented his standing as a talented small forward.
Though James, this season's MVP, averaged more than 31 points in the series, Deng played gritty defence on the Cavaliers' number 23. Despite giving up 30 pounds, he pushed James all the way.
Deng also chipped in consistently at the offensive end. With his trademark jump shot looking smooth, he scored 18.8 points in the series.
The Cavaliers are many people's favourites to win the NBA Championship this season. Yet the Bulls were not disgraced and, believe it or not, they can a lot of heart from that.
Now Deng must wait patiently to see how the summer unfolds in Chicago. The Bulls cleared enough cap space just before the trade deadline to chase a top free agent, such as the Miami Heat's Dwyane Wade, who is a Chicago native, or Chris Bosh of the Toronto Raptors.
With a strong, young core, which includes Deng, point guard Derrick Rose and center Joakim Noah, Chicago should be better equipped to make an impact in next year's post season, depending on their success in wooing a top free agent.
There could be a coaching change too. Head coach Vinny Del Negro's position has been the subject of speculation for the bulk of the season, even though he guided a solid but not spectacular Bulls roster into the Playoffs.
So there is plenty for Deng to digest as he enjoys a well earned rest this summer. After an injury hit year, the GB talisman is rediscovering his best form and it is perfect timing because next season promises to be the most exciting for Bulls fans since the great Michael Jordan left town.
Charged with spearheading the Bulls offence and guarding Cleveland dangerman LeBron James, Deng rose to the challenge and cemented his standing as a talented small forward.
Though James, this season's MVP, averaged more than 31 points in the series, Deng played gritty defence on the Cavaliers' number 23. Despite giving up 30 pounds, he pushed James all the way.
Deng also chipped in consistently at the offensive end. With his trademark jump shot looking smooth, he scored 18.8 points in the series.
The Cavaliers are many people's favourites to win the NBA Championship this season. Yet the Bulls were not disgraced and, believe it or not, they can a lot of heart from that.
Now Deng must wait patiently to see how the summer unfolds in Chicago. The Bulls cleared enough cap space just before the trade deadline to chase a top free agent, such as the Miami Heat's Dwyane Wade, who is a Chicago native, or Chris Bosh of the Toronto Raptors.
With a strong, young core, which includes Deng, point guard Derrick Rose and center Joakim Noah, Chicago should be better equipped to make an impact in next year's post season, depending on their success in wooing a top free agent.
There could be a coaching change too. Head coach Vinny Del Negro's position has been the subject of speculation for the bulk of the season, even though he guided a solid but not spectacular Bulls roster into the Playoffs.
So there is plenty for Deng to digest as he enjoys a well earned rest this summer. After an injury hit year, the GB talisman is rediscovering his best form and it is perfect timing because next season promises to be the most exciting for Bulls fans since the great Michael Jordan left town.
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