next »

[Aileen]

Thanks for posting these articles flowerpower.  Personally I can't wait to see Andy the Beast being unleashed in Oz!  But Lendl's right - Andy does need to develop that killer instinct more.  It's always been there but somehow got subdued (maybe after the 2010 AO?).  There have been signs of it returning recently but now's the time to let it rip.

[Fiverings]

Anyone like to join me in contributing to the debate in the Bleacher Report as to which player will have the best 2013?


http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1453636-debate-who-will-have-the-best-2013?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=tennis

I've voted with you Aileen, but I'm keeping my data away from Facebook, thanks very much!

[Aileen]

Thanks both of you for voting.    I see I've notched up 11 votes so far and am equal with the Fed fan!  Meanwhile the other Andy fan (Cathrene) is on 10.

[Aileen]

Nadal; tennis owed Andy something...

nice!

http://www.sportsmole.co.uk/tennis/news/nadal-murray-deserved-grand-slam-title_60548.html

Thanks for posting.  Nadal has always been gracious towards Andy, as has Djokovic, which is always lovely to see - and I do think their sincerity is genuine.

I liked the comment - "If you really believe in yourself, it doesn't matter if you were leading by two sets to love and the opponent comes back."  Well Andy proved once and for all that he does have that belief, even if his fans were reduced to nervous wrecks by the 5th set!

[Aileen]

   

Very nice indeed. Quite a philosopher. Just read the full Times article and Rafa is clearly still very unsure of how his knee will hold up in AbDab - any serious twinges and he's off, apparently. Lovely guy, but I wonder what the future holds for him.

I read this in the Bleacher Report - and it does not sound good.    Apart from the fact that he's bound to be nervous, how can he focus on his game if his mind is worrying about his knee?  I suppose he elected to play in AD because it's an exhibition and therefore not so stressful.

Nadal 'prepared to accept' his knee 'may not respond well at the beginning'

MADRID (AP) — Rafael Nadal says he is nervous about his return to tennis after a seven-month layoff and believes it may be some time before his injured knee is completely healed.
 
Nadal told Canal Plus television Friday that "I'm prepared to accept that my knee may not respond well at the beginning." He has considered playing off and on during the first three months of 2013.

The 26-year-old Spaniard is set to play in Abu Dhabi on Dec. 27. It will be his first match since he was sidelined with tendinitis in his left knee after a second-round loss to 100th-ranked Lukas Rosol at Wimbledon in June.

Nadal says his goal is to be back in top form for Monte Carlo in April.

http://bleacherreport.com/tb/d9ctG?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=tennis

[Ruthie]

Good to read so many positive end of year reports about Andy. And also what he says about his successes motivating him to achieve more.  I did have a teeny fear at one point that perhaps he was so focused on winning a GS that his motivation might then falter.  But I don't think there's any fear of that at all now.
Sorry tried the Bleacher link Aileen but it froze my pc so won't try again right now

[ProdigyEng]

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/4711175/Double-Olympic-champ-Mo-Farah-is-set-to-be-given-a-CBE-in-the-New-Years-Honours-list-from-the-Queen.html

Wonder what gong Andy will receive? I'll be happy with a whateverletterBE and the knighthood will come when Andy retires a 5 TIME Slam winner!