The Switch

Photo courtesy of zimbio.com. Serena Williams (pictured above) put on a vintage performance yesterday in dismantling Petra Kvitova.

By Josh Kramer

Yesterday, tennis fans across the globe felt like it was 2002 again.  At least for a couple of hours.  It was a vintage Serena Williams performance on Centre Court as she dismantled the defending Wimbledon champ, Petra Kvitova in straight sets.  I know that a few days ago, I mentioned a “major changing of the guard” in regards to the tennis world we once knew.  I still fully believe that the times are changing.  But yesterday demonstrated to me something I have known all along but never pieced together.

No athlete in our generation has the ability to flip on the “Switch” the way that Serena Williams can.  It is truly a fascinating phenomenon.  She also has the ability to turn off the “Switch” at any time as well unfortunately.

Wimbledon 2012 Preview

Photo courtesy of zimbio.com. Novak Djokovic (left) and Maria Sharapova (right) are the favorites to take home the third Grand Slam of the year.

By Josh Kramer

We are less than a day away from the best tournament in all of tennis.  London is the place to be in sports these days.  First there is Wimbledon.  Then there is the Olympics.  Out of the four major tennis tournaments, Wimbledon holds the most historical significance and is widelyy considered the most prestigious tournament of them all.

Men:

The last nine Grand Slams have been won by one of two men.  They also happen to be the current number one and number two ranked players in the world.  Ironically, the last player not named Nadal or Djokovic to take home a Grand Slam championship has won at the All England Club on six different occasions (Federer).  Lastly, 28 of the last 29 Grand Slam titles have been captured by Djokovic, Nadal, or Federer.

Champion:  Novak Djokovic

2012 Sony Ericsson Open – Miami, FL

Photo courtesy of zimbio.com. Our tennis expert Toni Headley expects Rafael Nadal (pictured above) to flex his muscles in Miami as he takes home the Sony Ericsson Open title.

By Toni Headley

Toni Headley is a tennis expert who worked at ESPN for 10 years and has been a freelance writer there for the past 2 years.  She also previously worked at CBS Sports and has covered every major tennis tournament in the world multiple times.

Tournament Preview:

From the California desert to the beaches of Miami, tennis continues to dominate North America for two more weeks. As the players try to deal with the Indian Wells – Miami double, which is one of the toughest stretches in the tennis season, I am reminded how hard it is to win both. Victoria Azarenka, a two-time champion and the current champion is trying to do just that. She won her first title in 2009 when she defeated Serena Williams. After a dominating win at Indian Wells, Azarenka is the favorite to win here in Miami. She is perfect on the year at 23-0 and has won four titles.  She has become the convincing number one player on the women’s tour.

Roger Federer has won two titles in Miami, defeating Rafael Nadal in 2005 and Ivan Ljubicic in 2006. Federer is the definite favorite to win here after his red-hot start to the year.  He is currently on a 16-match win streak, winning three titles in Rotterdam, Doha, and last week in Indian Wells.  This was his 19^th Master Series 1000 title tying Rafael Nadal for the most all time. Since a semifinals lost to Novak Djokovic at the US Open last year, Federer has won 39 of his past 41 matches. Could Roger Federer become the number one ranked player again this year? If he can continue his hot play at the Grand Slam, he very well could.

2012 BNP Paribas Open – Indian Wells, California

Photo courtesy of zimbio.com. Our very own Toni Headley is picking the current number one ranked player in the world Victoria Azarenka (pictured above) to stay hot and take home the title at Indian Wells.

By Toni Headley

Toni Headley is a tennis expert who worked at ESPN for 10 years and has been a freelance writer there for the past 2 years.  She also previously worked at CBS Sports and has covered every major tennis tournament in the world multiple times.

Tournament Preview:

As the biggest and brightest stars descend on the picturesque town of Indian Wells, California for the BNP Paribas Open, I am excited to see how newly minted #1 Victoria Azarenka will fare in her first big test since winning her maiden Grand Slam title in Australia.  Also, can Novak Djokovic maintain his dominant form that carried him to his fifth Grand Slam title in Australia and defend his title here in the desert?

Will the weight of being the #1 player in the world finally get to Azarenka? It certainly has not so far. After winning the Australian Open and becoming the #1 ranked player, Azarenka continued her dominance by winning her next tournament in Doha. She is currently riding a 17 match winning streak. Azarenka has had a sizzling start to the year winning three titles which includes her first Grand Slam. Let’s see if Azarenka can win here for the first time, and continue her dominance on the women’s tour.

Weekly Nickel 1-23-2012

Photo courtesy of zimbio.com. Can Petra Kvitova (picturd above) rise to the top of Women's tennis by winning the Australian Open?

By Josh Kramer

After a “Monster Saturday” in College Hoops, NFL Championship Weekend, and the death of a legend, we head into what should be another great week in sports with heavy hearts.  Also, do not forget about a pretty big time tennis tournament occurring in Australia that is still going on despite the absence of any American men in the draw.  Here are the events to keep an eye on.

5.  The biggest game in American sports is set.  A rematch of Super Bowl XLII (42), pitting two of the biggest sports markets in the country (Boston and New York) against one another.  And you all know what that means.  Let the media blitz begin.  Though many get sick and tired of all of the hoopla and overly done analysis regarding the ultimate game in football, at least it is still fresh and new today.  All eyes will be on Indianapolis over the next two weeks.  And no, people will not be watching Peyton Manning. We will be watching Eli in the house that Peyton built..

Australian Open Preview

Photo courtesy of sportige.com. Roger Federer (pictured above) won in Melbourne back in 2007. Could it be deja vu five years later?

By Josh Kramer

Though you may find it hard to believe, the year’s first Grand Slam is set to begin tomorrow.  Doesn’t it feel like we just got done in Flushing?  But I digress.  Both the ATP and WTA Tours are as exciting and unpredictable as ever.  Sure the Women’s tour has turned into a Nancy Drew novel, but who doesn’t like a little unpredictability.  I remember last year at about this time, I was discussing how the “Tourney Down Under” had seriously lost some of its thunder.  You won’t hear me saying that this year.

Here are some questions to ponder as we head into the first Grand Slam of the 2012 season.

-Can Djokovic repeat his memorable run of 2011, or at least remain on top of the tennis world (70 and 6 record, 3 Grand Slams)?

-Will an American on the Men’s side bring the US its first Grand Slam title since 2003?

-Does Federer have a 17th Grand Slam Championship left in him?

-Can a player such as Tsonga, del Potro, or dare I say Mardy Fish break up the “Fantastic Four” party atop Men’s tennis?

-Will Caroline Wozniacki finally break though at a Grand Slam or will a dominant force of some sort emerge in the Women’s game?

-What do the Williams’ sisters have left in the tank?

Somebody please explain the current WTA tour to me?

Photo courtesy of zimbio.com. Petra Kvitova (pictured above) is your 2011 Women's Wimbledon Champion.

By Josh Kramer

I am a guy by all means that is for unpredictability, parity, and all of that good stuff.  As Andy Roddick recently said, “Sports would be just like watching a DVD,” if they were predictable.  But hands down, women’s tennis these days is the most unpredictable sport in the sporting world.  I feel like predicting a champion is like throwing darts or picking straws.  You better not have any rhyme or reason for your picks, because they most likely will not come true.

Earlier today, little known Petra Kvitova easily handled a heavily favored Maria Sharapova.  And for my non tennis die-hards out there, I can pretty much guarantee that you never heard of Petra Kvitova until the past couple of days, or perhaps even this morning.  Sharapova was my pick before the tournament started to take home the women’s title.  So when she got to the championship match and was taking on a much lesser known opponent, who was 21-years-old and had never been past the quarterfinals in a Grand Slam until this week, I thought that it was a no brainer.  There is no such thing as a no brainer in women’s tennis these days though.