The Tennis Family ---Snap Snap

What a great start to the week with this clever Gif spoof on the Addams Family replacing them with the current top men from the ATP tour. Federer indeed makes a great Gomez and Agassi is perfect as Uncle Fester and Rafa as Wednesday .I found this on the web and would credit the maker if i had the details, but well done to the creator.

Federer Photo Shopped

I drop in from time to time to a message board that has the above thread, there are some very clever people that create funny pictures.Thought I would post a few for you to enjoy and get a laugh at.

And a couple more! Some people have gone to a lot of effort to make these.!

And the last one , lots of players in this picture can you guess? ATP University.!

Help With Your Tennis Game

With all the technology it makes it easier to help advise tennis players not just locally but to all parts of the Tennis World.So for advice on technique, what tournaments should you be playing ,the mental side or just about anything tennis you can email me.You can even upload your technique on video to YOUTUBE and send me the link for an honest analysis of your game.I look forward to hearing from you.

Stephen Dries has coached many Juniors to National Titles, ATP and WTA Players and has been Head coach at several World Academy's.He is with out a doubt one of the most Knowledgeable coaches around not just with the elite players but at grass route levels also.He has lead many junior players on oversea's tours with remarkable success.Team wise has won Gold,Silver and Bronze as Team coach at many National events.

Wimbledon -Day 1 Picks and News and a little Gossip

The grandest grandslam of them all kicks off today.I'll be keeping Daily posts over the fortnight .I'm sure as the championship unfolds we are in for high drama, laughs and tears.May the best Male or Female win!

Today's Picks

MEN
Roger Federer(SUI)[1] vs. Alejandro Falla(COL) -Roger will kick off the tournament and also kick Falla out of the tournament. Dam! someone has to play Roger 1st Round.

Novak Djokovic(SRB)[3] vs. Olivier Rochus(BEL) - Now this will be a good Match.Rochus has had a win recently over Djoker( hardcourt)....If hes in one of those moods Rochus can win.

Kevin Anderson(RSA) vs. Nikolay Davydenko(RUS)[7] - Never back Davydenko at Wimbledon! He has not been back that long and Anderson is 6'7 and built for grass.!However last event Anderson retired with a shoulder injury. Heads or Tails!

Rajeev Ram(USA) vs. Andy Roddick(USA)[5] - Roddick all the way ,will be interested to see his form.

Mardy Fish(USA) vs. Bernard Tomic(AUS) - Another great match up will the experience of Fish be too good for Tomic the youngster.You would think Fish but will go with the Aussie.

Maximo Gonzalez(ARG) vs. Lleyton Hewitt(AUS)[15] -C'MON!!!! I know he pixxxs a few off especially New Zealanders but there will be more C'MON'S to come.

Gael Monfils(FRA)[21] vs. Leonardo Mayer(ARG) Who knows with Monfils , fitness cloud but should get through.

Peter Luczak(AUS) vs. Tommy Robredo(ESP)[30] - I think Luczak will take out the 30th seed.Robredo as been terrible in his past few matches.

Ilija Bozoljac(SRB) vs. Nicolas Massu(CHI) - I am going for the qualifyer he has won three matches to get here and Massu hasnt played any of the Grass court lead ups.


Ramon Delgado(PAR) vs. Teimuraz Gabashvili(RUS) -This will be close , Delgado lost 2nd round of qualy's ....Gabashvili coming off a great Roland Garros but no Grass court Form.The russian to come out on top.

Igor Kunitsyn(RUS) vs. Viktor Troicki(SRB) -Troiki leads head to head so will go with that.

Juan Ignacio Chela(ARG) vs. Taylor Dent(USA)- A few years ago I would have no hesitation picking Dent. He has come through qualifying so should have the edge on grass.

Michal Przysiezny(POL) vs. Ivan Ljubicic(CRO)[17] - Ljubicic!

Michael Llodra(FRA) vs. Jesse Witten(USA) - With Mauresmo in his corner Llodra.

Karol Beck(SVK) vs. Santiago Ventura(ESP) -Beck

Igor Andreev(RUS) vs. Daniel Brands(GER) - Going for the German has some grass court form.

Eduardo Schwank(ARG) vs. Evgeny Korolev(KAZ) - Korolev

Horacio Zeballos(ARG) vs. Yen-Hsun Lu(TPE)

Dmitry Tursunov(RUS) vs. Rainer Schuettler(GER) - Another good match up .Could go either way.

Marin Cilic(CRO)[11] vs. Florian Mayer(GER) - You would think Cilic

Tomas Berdych(CZE)[12] vs. Andrey Golubev(KAZ) - Berdych ....he beat Hewitt in an exhibition last week so I think form is good.

Feliciano Lopez(ESP)[22] vs. Jesse Levine(USA) - Lopez , but wont
be easy

Philipp Kohlschreiber(GER)[29] vs. Potito Starace(ITA)

Paolo Lorenzi(ITA) vs. Albert Montanes(ESP)[28] - Going to be brave here Lorenzi and he leads Head to Head 1-0 and at least has played a lead up event.

Ryan Sweeting(USA) vs. Benjamin Becker(GER)

Brendan Evans(USA) vs. Jesse Huta Galung(NED)

Janko Tipsarevic(SRB) vs. Arnaud Clement(FRA) Never bet on Tipsarevic ...but seeing Im not betting money on him will pick him to win.

Ricardas Berankis(LTU) vs. Carsten Ball(AUS) - go the Aussie

Marsel Ilhan(TUR) vs. Marcos Daniel(BRA)

Dustin Brown(JAM) vs. Jurgen Melzer(AUT)[16]

Denis Istomin(UZB) vs. Stanislas Wawrinka(SUI)[20] - Could be an upset here but will go with the seed.

Victor Hanescu(ROU)[31] vs. Andrey Kuznetsov(RUS) Will go for another upset here.

LADIES

Laura Robson(GBR) vs. Jelena Jankovic(SRB)[4] - You have to go with Jelena but the crowd will be pulling for Robson!Will be closer than what Jelena thinks.

Rossana De Los Rios(PAR) vs. Venus Williams(USA)[2]

Kim Clijsters(BEL)[8] vs. Maria Elena Camerin(ITA)

Francesca Schiavone(ITA)[5] vs. Vera Dushevina(RUS)

Tatjana Malek(GER) vs. Nadia Petrova(RUS)[12]


Regina Kulikova(RUS) vs. Melanie South(GBR)

Alisa Kleybanova(RUS)[26] vs. Sandra Zahlavova(CZE)

Tsvetana Pironkova(BUL) vs. Anna Lapushchenkova(RUS) - Pironkova leads head to head 2-0

Stefanie Voegele(SUI) vs. Maria Kirilenko(RUS)[27]

Kateryna Bondarenko(UKR)[34] vs. Greta Arn(HUN)

Polona Hercog(SLO) vs. Yaroslava Shvedova(KAZ)

Sania Mirza(IND) vs. Angelique Kerber(GER) - Another toss of the coin, the Germans have been firing so will go that way.

Yung-Jan Chan(TPE) vs. Patty Schnyder(SUI)

Sofia Arvidsson(SWE) vs. Alla Kudryavtseva(RUS)


Eleni Daniilidou(GRE) vs. Aleksandra Wozniak(CAN)

Ekaterina Makarova(RUS) vs. Agnes Szavay(HUN)

Lucie Hradecka(CZE) vs. Varvara Lepchenko)(USA - Toss the coin again USA

Petra Martic(CRO) vs. Elena Baltacha(GBR)

Justine Henin(BEL)[17] vs. Anastasija Sevastova(LAT)

Noppawan Lertcheewakarn(THA) vs. Andrea Hlavackova(CZE)

Yanina Wickmayer(BEL)[15] vs. Alison Riske(USA)

Shenay Perry(USA) vs. Anastasiya Yakimova(BLR) - what a draw both came through qualifying!.Could go either way .Perry beat Erakovic( nz) 2nd round.

Renata Voracova(CZE) vs. Jarmila Groth(AUS) - hope the Aussie has an on day!

Karolina Sprem(CRO) vs. Bethanie Mattek-Sands(USA) A TOIN COSS FOR SURE!

Zuzana Kucova(SVK) vs. Alicia Molik(AUS) - RETIRE ALICIA

Stephanie Dubois(CAN) vs. Kirsten Flipkens(BEL)

Julia Goerges(GER) vs. Marion Bartoli(FRA)[11]

Anna-Lena Groenefeld(GER) vs. Melanie Oudin(USA)[33]

Nuria Llagostera Vives(ESP) vs. Vera Zvonareva(RUS)[21]

Kristina Barrois(GER) vs. Mariya Koryttseva(UKR)

Shahar Peer(ISR)[13] vs. Ana Ivanovic(SRB) - WILL never tip
Ivanovic!

Alona Bondarenko(UKR)[28] vs. Katie O'Brien(GBR)

Wow thats it!!!!!!

CONTEST!!!!!

Ok readers lets play a Mini Wimbledon . You need to pick a winner in either the Mens or the Womens draw ,you cant swap once you chose the genre in future selections.You need to put forward a winner from the days play!Now to stay in the competition your selection needs to win.The catch is you can not pick that player again if you progress.So choosing Fed or Nadal early for example will probably catch you out in the end! So my pick today is in the Men's and thats where I have to pick from in the future ......is Philipp Kohlschreiber(GER)[29].Now to enter all you have to do is leave your selection in the comment section of this post with a nick next to your selection if you post anonymous like Philipp Kohlschreiber(GER)[29](fed express) and that is to recognize you in future rounds!!Entry's have to be in an hour before 1st matches are scheduled for each day!

Roland Garros Day 11 - picks

Nicolas Almagro(ESP)[19] vs. Rafael Nadal(ESP)[2]
Nadal will work over Almagro's backhand big time. Rafa will do what Federer could not do WIN.

Jelena Jankovic(SRB)[4] vs. Yaroslava Shvedova(KAZ)
This match excites me as much as watching sheep graze in a paddock of grass.
Jankovic should win but stranger things have happened.

Jurgen Melzer(AUT)[22] vs. Novak Djokovic(SRB)[3]

Talk of a resurgence of Djokovic and some are saying a title contender , I still think pretender but will probably win this match.

MATCH OF THE DAY


I guess I will be rooting for Stotsur being Australian an all, she made a comment after she defeated Henin that people might now start taking her recent tennis serious.Ok well i have been burnt watching her matches before ...you know the commentators start talking up her serve as being the best in the women's game and guess what sure enough as soon as they start straight away Stotsur gets broken.Serena is not going to let Stotsur dictate play as much as Henin did.For a start Stotsur wont be able to push Williams back behing the baseline as much with her topspin.The high Kick serve to Henin's one hander payed dividend.Serena wont be pushed around the court and Stotsur is going to have to execute like she has never done before.Stotsur was also able to attack the Henin second serve and this wont happen as much with Serena, she was able to get a round on her forehand side a lot also but with Serena's power this will not be as easy and in trying will lead to errors.

As much as I would like to see an Aussie victory I have my doubts and lean towards Serena.

In hearing Federer's press conference and watching his defeat it appeared to me he just rolled with the loss ....to the outside world it really looked like he had moved on from the match very quickly.In fact the picture belows shows a very relaxed Federer( its a tongue in cheek picture and of course photoshoped :))



Finally I said yesterday that Soderling had something in his eyes a look of determination showing how much he wants it. It sort of was a little scary at times.Some of his looks reminded me of Jack Nicholson in the shining so I did a little work and the below picture shows how Soderling would of just fitted the part well.Have a look closely and there is a special appearance also by his next opponent.

Lord of the Dance-Federer and Nadal

Footwork is a key component for any one that wants to reach the top.
Juniors need to work hard and keep improving in this area.Here is a small presentation with a little fun added,make sure you subscribe to new articles, with Wimbledon approaching this is where the news will be.

New Edition Hits the Stands

The French Open Tennis draw is out with no major first round clashes.Click on this LINK for the official website .Four-time champion Rafael Nadal finds himself in Andy Murray’s half of the draw, while No2 seed Roger Federer is set to face clay specialists in the early rounds. In the women’s draw, the Williams sisters are in seperate sides of the draw, while world No1 Dinara Safina seems to be in the slightly easier half .If it goes according to plan 4th round matchups will look like this
Possible Round of 16
Men’s singles
Nadal (No1) – Ferrer (No14)
Davydenko (No10) – Verdasco (No8)
Murray (No3) – Cilic (No13)
Gonzalez (No12) – Simon (No7)
Del Potro (No5) – Tsonga (No9)
Robredo (No16) – Djokovic (No4)
Roddick (No6) – Monfils (No11)
Blake (No15) – Federer (No2)

Women’s singles
Safina (No1) – Zheng (No15)
Azarenka (No9) – Ivanovic (No8)
V. Williams (No3) – Mauresmo (No16)
Petrova (No11) – Zvonareva (No6)
Jankovic (No5) – Wozniacki (No10)
Bartoli (No13) – Dementieva (No4)
Kuznetsova (No7) – A. Radwanska (No12)
Pennetta (No14) – S. Williams (No2)

The french Open will however provide upsets Blake,Murray and Roddick may be earlier casualties as this is not their favourite surfaces.In the ladies it sometimes depends on how they feel on the day and look for a lot of even contests here with no standout at this stage.