Murray Ready for Break Out at 2011 U.S. Open

Murray is fit and ready to grab his first Grand Slam title.

2011 has been pretty good to me so far, correctly predicting the winners of 2 of the last 3 slams. I picked the Djoker to snag the Aussie and Nadal to capture the French. Rafa let me down at Wimbledon, but I'm obviously hoping to go 3 for 4 by picking the man that no one is really talking about – 4th-seeded Andy Murray.

Between Rafa and the Serb, Murray is really the forgotten man at the 2011 U.S. Open and that will come back to haunt the experts. The Scot has a tough draw with arch-nemesis and former U.S. Open champ, Juan Martin Del Potro possibly looming in the quarters. Murray and Del Potro have a mean-spirited history with each other dating back to the Italian Open in 2008, but should Murray prevail, the U.S. Open is his for the taking.

Murray is in the Nadal half of the draw and has had an amazing 2011 campaign reaching the finals in Australia and the semis at both the French and Wimbledon. Make no mistake, Murray’s best surface is the hard courts and he was a finalist at the U.S. Open 2008.

Djokovic is obviously the favorite, but like it or not, Djokovic proved once again during Cincinnati in August that he's still a quitter. Murray was giving him a good thumping in the final when Novak quit before Murray could finish him off.

It's not the first time Djokovic has called it quits while losing a match. This was actually the 8th time Djokovic has quit in the middle of match that he was losing, not to mention the fact he has defaulted a total of four times during Grand Slam play.

Going back to Murray – he has a long history of being his own worst enemy – but he is the only player on the circuit right now who has what is takes to knock Djokovic off of his perch.

The drought for the U.K. has to end some time – and it will be Murray who hoists the trophy in New York when all is said and done.

Ravenous Djokovic Pummels Murray, Claims Second Grand Slam Title

Djokovic overwhelms Murray in grand slam sleeper.

Novac Djokovic hammered Andy Murray in the 2011 Australian Open final, 6-4, 6-2, 6-3. Both players went into the match full of belief, but it became readily apparent that Murray was no match for the 23-year-old Serb, brimming with confidence after overwhelming Roger Federer in the semis.

The contest was shaping up to be a spirited affair until Djokovic broke Murray ‘s will towards the end of the first set. Murray was serving at 15-30, 4-5 in the first set when both players stretched each other out across the full length of the court with a phenomenal 39-shot rally.

Both players displayed superior defense chasing down sure winners until Novac charged the net and Murray dumped a forehand in the bottom of the net. That gave Djokovic a pair of set points and Murray appeared to be dead in the water after that rally. It stole his spirit and drained his confidence as Djokovic shifted into cruise control, winning the set and running away with the match.

Notice has been served to the tennis world, that Djokovic is now the greatest threat to Nadal’s tennis supremacy. His fitness, confidence and improved serve are the key ingredients that have pushed Djokovic from contender to champion.

Fit and Fiery Djokovic Poised to Punish Murray

Djokovic ready to claim another grand slam title.

Even before David Ferrer extended Andy Murray to four draining sets, third seeded, Novak Djokovic, was and still is the favorite to claim his second Aussie crown in 2011.

Fitness has always been the Achilles heel for Novak, but NOT at this year’s 2011 Australian Open. His fitness is the best of his career and he’s serving lights out getting 69% of his first serves in. This particular tournament has shaped up into a worse case scenario for Murray, who’s also playing top-notch tennis right now.

These two have never faced off before in a major, despite the fact that they have both played in three grand slam finals a piece.

It’s true that Murray has dominated their last three meetings in smaller tournaments, but a major is different. After knocking off Roger Federer in consecutive grand slam tournaments, Djokovic is locked into a world-beater mind set right now and he should be. Anybody not named Rafa, who takes apart Federer in straight sets, has to be the favorite here.

Djokovic’s improved fitness has led to a level of confidence that he hasn’t enjoyed since winning the Australian Open in 2008. He’s dropped only one set on the way to the final and has only had to play a total of ten sets since the third round.

On the flip side, Murray was forced to slug his way out of trouble in both the quarters and the semis, and his mental makeup is not positive. The frustration he displayed against Ferrer and Alexandr Dolgopolov underscores a crack in the armor -- a flaw that will likely be exploited by Djovovic again and again. Prediction: Djovovic in four sets.

Wozniacki Out, Critics Breathe Huge Sigh of Relief

Caroline Wozniacki: Just getting warmed up!

Caroline Wozniacki, squandered a match point against China's Na Li and finally succumbed to her critics, bowing out in the Aussie semis 3-6, 7-5, 6-3. But take notice, Wozniacki exits this grand slam as a stronger player with thicker skin.

"I believe if I keep working hard my time will come," Wozniacki said after the match and her critics should take note.

Tennis experts, sports journalists and the “haters” at the Australian Open spent the entire fortnight dogging the top seed and World’s #1 player, Caroline Wozniacki.

Dozens of analysts made it clear, that the 20-year-old Dane doesn’t pack the gear to win a major. She came very close to proving them wrong, but fell short by the slimmest of margins.

Martina Navratilova, Pam Shriver and several other “tennis television personalities” had a field day criticizing Wozniacki for her style of play. She isn’t making a statement, she’s never won a grand slam and she isn’t hitting enough winners. Blah, blah, blah.

Wozniacki is a tough kid with an iron will and she will win a major – Whether the critics like it or not.

At 20-years-old, Wozniacki will continue to improve and at some point in the near future – she will have her grand slam title. What will the critics complain about then? I’m sure they’ll find something.

Dick Enberg: Miscalls, Errors & Non Sequiturs, Oh MY!!

Dick, Time to hang it up!

If you love tennis and know anything about it, you know in your heart of hearts that Dick Enberg needs to hang it up. For the love of Pete!! I have tried not to write this article for the better part of ten years, but I can’t take it anymore.

His commentary is outdated, inaccurate and mindless! Dick has the ability to detract from almost every point. How can we attract a younger crowd to the sport when we have the Crypt Keeper calling match after match?

They banned Bud Collins from calling matches years ago and the sport was better off without him. I’m not saying we have to get rid of him – he can do a few color stories now and again – but Pops has no place in the booth.

Try this for just one set:
Track the miscalls, errors and non-sequiturs and the sheet fills up quick! How about a Dick Enberg drinking game for every unnecessary “Oh My!”

I get it, he’s been calling tennis since the 1970’s and it’s comfortable for the networks to use him. But he brings nothing to the game, if he ever did to begin with. Calling tennis matches can use a bit of an edge.

Dick should stick with baseball, football, cricket or bocce ball, I don’t care, just give it a rest on the tennis. OH MY!!!

Recharged Henin Sets Sites on Career Slam

Henin begins comeback at the 2010 Australian Open.

Justine Henin didn’t let the suspense linger any longer; the world’s former top-ranked player will make her pro re-debut at next year’s Aussie Open in January 2010.

The rumors of Henin’s return have been swirling for weeks now. She says her primary goal is to capture the only Grand Slam title not currently on her resume – Wimbledon.

Henin’s best showing at Wimbledon was a 2007 semifinal loss to Marion Bartoli. Henin, a 7-time Grand Slam champion, left the game in May 2008 when she was the number player in the world.

At the time, she said tennis had taken too much of a physical toll on her and would not return to the game. Obviously, the 27-year-old changed her mind.

"A flame I thought was extinguished forever suddenly lit up again," Henin told a Belgian television audience on Wednesday.

Many wonder if that flame was rekindled earlier this month, when she watched countrywoman, Kim Clijsters, complete a comeback journey of her own – winning the 2009 U.S. Open Title.

Henin is slated to play multiple exhibition tournaments before trying to add another Australian Open to her resume next January.

Look for Del Potro to Derail Federer’s Win Streak

Del Potro ready to close the book on Federer at the U.S. Open.

The men’s semifinals on Sunday produced some unexpected results – but very little drama. Of course Serena’s meltdown was a tough act to follow.

Rafael Nadal suffered a beat down at the hands of 20-year-old Juan Martin Del Potro. Nadal is the guy who owns the winning record against Federer, but he had no answers for the young man from Argentina.

Del Potro is six-foot-five-inches tall, moves like a cat and serves like cannon. He wiped Nadal off the court 6-2, 6-2, 6-2. No one in recent memory has ever done that to such a fearsome competitor as Nadal.

In the other semi, the score was a little bit closer, but the result was never in doubt. Federer slammed the door on Novak Djokovic in straight sets, 7-6, 7-5, 7-5. Federer never looked the least bit concerned and Djokovic lacked the confidence to pull out the win.

This of course sets the stage for Federer versus Del Potro. Federer has won the last five consecutive U.S. Opens and hasn’t dropped a match here since 2003. That loss was against a different man from Argentina named David Nalbandian, who didn’t even play the tournament this year. Look for the Argentine curse against Federer to resume in the finals on Monday.

Once again, I’m flying into the face of the popular opinion. I think the 20-year-old Del Potro is just what the doctor ordered to bring down the U.S. Open reign of Roger Federer. I picked Del Potro before the tournament began and I’m sticking with him now. Article 8/31/09: Beware the Dark Horse from Argentina

Head to head, Federer owns Del Potro with a flawless record of six wins and no losses. The last time they played on hard court was at the quarters in the Australian Open. Federer humiliated Del Potro down under with a 6-3, 6-0, 6-0 win.

Hard to argue with stats like that, but Del Potro has found the confidence and the serve needed to win his first grand slam tournament. Forget the past, because the Argentine is ready to make his mark here and now. Watch out "just call me Roger" your incredible win streak will likely end in the finals.