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A Fortnight in Review: Federer’s Crisis and Some Welcome Returns to Form Elsewhere

By Al Warwick • Mar 12th, 2008 • Category: Featured Columns

The players that shined in the sunshine Down Under have had mixed results; an erratic Maria Sharapova came through in Qatar, and Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Justine Henin have all struggled to keep up their usual top level.



Consistency, fatigue or something more?

By Al Warwick • Mar 5th, 2008 • Category: Featured Columns, Lead Story

It’s becoming a regular pattern, and – for now at least – a small crisis for Andy Murray and his camp: a fine tournament win followed by a weak first round loss to a journeyman.



No chance for GB after Andy’s AWOL

By Al Warwick • Feb 11th, 2008 • Category: ATP Tour News

This weekend’s Davis Cup tie between Argentina and Great Britain was always going to be difficult. Since that glorious weekend in late September when Tim Henman bowed out of the game after sending his country back into the higher echelons of the competition, Argentina have been looming.
The joy soon turned to a knowing dread that [...]



Complacent Hantuchova Falls In Paris

By Al Warwick • Feb 10th, 2008 • Category: Daniela Hantuchova

After the fine form she showed in Australia - disregarding that wasteful semi final loss - even her biggest critics would have expected Daniela Hantuchova to continue such form at least in the short term. It was clear however that the Slovak has slumped back into the days of losing to players she really shouldn’t, [...]



No chance for GB after Andy’s AWOL

By Al Warwick • Feb 10th, 2008 • Category: ATP Tour News

This weekend’s Davis Cup tie between Argentina and Great Britain was always going to be difficult. Since that glorious weekend in late September when Tim Henman bowed out of the game after sending his country back into the higher echelons of the competition, Argentina have been looming.
The joy soon turned to a knowing dread that [...]



A Fed Cup Preview

By Al Warwick • Feb 6th, 2008 • Category: WTA Tour News

This weekend sees the opening round of the Federation Cup and unfortunately for the tournament, the weakest field of players in years. In newly crowned Australian Open Champion Maria Sharapova there is a controversial but much needed top ten player to liven up the competitions’ star-starved first round fixtures.
Defending champions Russia travel to Israel [...]



AusOpen: Final preview - Women

By Al Warwick • Feb 6th, 2008 • Category: WTA Tour News

Well, after a fortnight of some superb tennis in the women’s game and a fair slice of drama we have reached the final stage.Early predictions, despite her indifferent early form at the start of the year saw world number one Justine Henin as favourite to at least reach the last hurdle here, the tournaments form [...]



AusOpen: Men’s semi final wrap, final preview

By Al Warwick • Feb 6th, 2008 • Category: ATP Tour News

It is fitting that after so much drama in this year’s Australian Open that their should be a surprise line-up for the final stage of the men’s competition. The familiar sight of seeing the two best players in the world (yes, still and by quite a margin) Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal is to be [...]



A Fed Cup Preview

By Al Warwick • Feb 4th, 2008 • Category: Maria Sharapova Blog, WTA Tour News

This weekend sees the opening round of the Federation Cup and unfortunately for the tournament, the weakest field of players in years.  In newly crowned Australian Open Champion Maria Sharapova there is a controversial but much needed top ten player to liven up the competitions’ star-starved first round fixtures.
 
Defending champions Russia travel to Israel in [...]



One Not Quite, Daniela Throws It Away Against Ana

By Al Warwick • Feb 4th, 2008 • Category: Daniela Hantuchova

After the heroics of her quarter-final domination of Agnieska Radwanksa, Daniela Hantuchova nearly repeated the trick against her much tougher semi-final opponent Ana Ivanovic. After producing 45 minutes of yet more faultless tennis the Slovak had stormed to a 6-0 2-0 lead.

Rarely missing a first serve, and spilling winners from every area of the court [...]