Along comes '15

The year gone by was one that sported headlines galore and was host to a number of highlights on both sides of the line. It boasted of as many superlative performances as it did underwhelming and on the barometer of excitement, it stood out as the one that pressed all the right pressure points. We had four different grand slam winners on the ATP tour and the coming of age of a few new names provided relief that the game stands in good hands with the top four slowly entering the dusk of their hegemony. Germany showed Brazil a trick or seven in the world cup semi final and then followed it up with their fourth title against the fancied Argentinians. Christiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi continued to dazzle for their mighty clubs but fell aside when leading the charge for their countries. New Zealand transformed itself into a redoubtable force on the cricket field with Mcculum's exploits helping the black caps surge. Let's have a look at the way this year unfolded and what the new one has in store for us. A word for Kidambi Srikanth who shot to world number 4 after suffering debilitating illness in the year. To beat Lin Dan in China was undoubtedly the highlight for the indomitable Indian and with age on this side, expect to see him scorching the badminton charts in the coming year. Saina and Sindhu maintained their competitiveness with another World Championships bronze for the latter. With a sparkling year for the Indian shuttlers, Rio prospects look brighter than ever.

Stan Wawrinka and Maran Cilic broke through the firm of Novak, Roger, Rafa and Andy to land the first and last grand slam titles of the year. While these epoch making titles were sandwiched Nadal's historic ninth title at the Roland Garros and Djokovic's second at the greens of Wimbledon, the arrival of a new brigade was certainly announced. Grigor Dimitrov dazzled as much on the field as off it ( Sharapova is no mean hand candy) and the Japanese Kei made sure that tennis lovers could look forward to an appetizing new year. Novak finished the year at the top of the heap by some margin and with the other members of the elite club struggling with either age or injury, he remains the flag bearer for the old guard. On the WTA tour, Serena continued to dominate but had only the US Open to to show for her efforts. Li Na scored in Australia but retired later and the Europeans in Maria and Petra lifted the French Open and Wimbledon respectively. It was again an up and down year for women's tennis that we have got used to seeing. Not much seems to be changing in the near future with trophies changing hands regularly being the norm. New names seem difficult to come by and the younger Williams will remain the woman to beat on the tennis courts.

The FIFA world cup in Brazil was supposed to be the celebration of the beautiful game in its spiritual home. The Samba thrilled everyone till the brutal shock of the semi final. The reigning champions were subjected to a Spanish inquisition and were abject in their defense of the title they won so convincingly in Germany. Joachim Leow led his boys to a fantastic title with a blend of attacking and holding football. While the major football leagues in the world don't muster the Bundesliga amongst them, the German structure shone through at the highest stage. Neuer was the architect of the great win with some saves that would go down in history. Thomas Muller scored a hat trick against the Portuguese and with their talisman in Miroslav Klose in fine fettle, there was no stopping the Mannschaft. It was an efficient yet memorable performance that paves the way for a young team to go ahead and emulate the Spanish on both the world and European stages.

Lewis Hamilton ran away with the championship with an incredible 11 wins out of the 19 grand prix. Mercedes were a class apart in bringing to an end the superiority of the Red Bulls. Sebastian Vettel moved to the Scuderia and a few teams like Caterham and Marussia needed to wind up mid season. Nico Rosberg played catch up whole season but still went into the Abu Dhabi race with a chance to upset the marauding Hami. There were a few incidents on the track with the top two confronting each other regularly and Jules Bianchi suffering severe head injuries at the Japanese grand prix. Honda return to the fold for 2015 and with some new pairings being formed, the new season should hopefully provide a more competitive racing scenario for the aficionados. The year also saw the shocking accident that befell its most visible figure in Michael Schumacher. Having suffered head injuries while skiing, he remains in a convalescent state with the world praying for a hero's recovery.

Rory McIlroy emerged as the top player of the year on the golfing greens bagging the Open and the PGA Championships. Bubba Watson and Martin Kaymer triumphed at the Masters and the US Open respectively. Tiger continued to struggle for the next major title which remained elusive this year as well. With younger men upping the ante, it looks like the erstwhile champion may well have seen the last of his chances to add to his tally pass by. Europe extended its dominance over the USA in the Ryder cup with a third consecutive title. Rory would gun to add a few more titles in the coming year to make sure he earns his stripes to be counted amongst the greatest to have played the game.

2015 would host the cricket world cup with the defending champions looking good in the shorter format of the game while appearing jaded at the test level. It should be an enchanting tourney down under with a few challengers and dark horses in the midst. The Proteas would look to break their duck while the Aussies would be confident of starting another string of successes at home. The jokers in the pack should be the black caps who are enjoying a good patch of form and will also like the home conditions. For a game being dogged by a slew of negative occurrences not limited to the match fixing clouds and the financial conditions of a few boards, the competition should come as manna from heaven. Here's wishing all the sports connoisseurs a very sporting new year 2015.

The dark horses of the Coca-Cola IPTL

The Coca-Cola IPTL was conceived to bring together a galaxy of stars playing in a mixed team format. The Hopman cup is perhaps the closest it gets to this exciting and novel format but then it’s played along country lines precluding some delicious pairings as Djokovic-Wozniacki or Federer-Ivanovic. While the front line of all the teams boasts of superlative names like Federer, Novak, Murray, Serena, and Sharapova, there have been a few stellar performances from unexpected quarters as well. These are players who are stars in their own right but in a field this glittering, need to take a back seat in the popularity stakes. That has however not translated to a muted show from the relatively unknown faces in this part of the world. Mingling in with the supernovas are these quarks that have shone bright on this exalted stage and added that big dash of delight to the "happiness open". Given that the games won is the prime metric of a player's performance within the set of rules, we look at the average number of games won per set by some of the unexpected stars of the Coca-Cola IPTL. They are the ones who have beaten their reputation to take center stage on the court.

 

Mark Philippoussis

The "scud" has not lost any of his fire power and looked in prime touch in all the matches that he has played so far for the Manila Mavericks. With Carlos Moya struggling, the mavericks got a shot in the arm with the Aussie icon in their fold. With a perfect record of winning all the five matches that he has played and an average of the best possible 6 games per set, Mark has truly lived up to his billing as a legend. He may not have landed a grand slam title in his hey-day but has got better of more fancied opponents in Andre Agassi, Cedric Pioline and Goran Ivanisevic. He has looked in fine fettle and his single handed passes have been nothing short of astonishing. That he looks as fit as he did at the two slam finals he reached is testimony to the fact that tennis still sits easy on this icon's broad shoulders. The Philippines based team would look to him to take them closer to the coveted top slot.

Fabrice Santoro

Another legend has punched above his weight. The Indian Aces owe their top position at the moment to the "magician". The two handed forehand was something that pulled a few tricks from the Frenchman as an active player on the ATP tour and it seems the sleight of hand has not waned. Fabrice matches Philippoussis at the incredible average of 6 games per set and has proved his worth with the other legends on the Aces' team in Cedric Pioline and Pete Sampras falling short of expectations. His agility and ground strokes have been phenomenal and the longevity he showed on the professional circuit having played in grand slams in four different decades is evident for everybody who saw him trade shots at the Coca-Cola IPTL. His smile remains one of the hallmarks of the table toppers scintillating run.

Rohan Bopanna / Sania Mirza

The Indian pair is accomplished in doubles play with multiple grand slam titles to their name, albeit with different partners. However, not many would have expected them to light up the courts against bigger names. Their mixed doubles combination has played 7 out of the 8 matches played so far for the Aces and won 5 of them, losing one in the shoot-out. Their average games per set is a remarkable 5.28 which is proof of how well the duo has played in tandem. Their net coverage has been exemplary and with the traditional quick hands that doubles play asks for, the Indians have been a source of joy to the crowd and team alike. Bops has had a slightly lower rate of success at the men's doubles but has combined well with Monfils to rake in some important victories. His average of 4.12 games per set for the 8 sets played pales in comparison with the number for the mixed doubles but is nevertheless a respectable achievement given that he has had to play two sets for all the matches. To top it all, both Sania and Rohan combined today with Federer to slam the slammers 6-0, 6-1 in the mixed doubles and men's doubles respectively. If nothing else, those last two matches make the pair worth a mention in this list.

Kristina Mladenovic

I have to admit that i had not heard much of the French girl of Serbian descent before she took the Coca-Cola IPTL by storm. She has had some success on the WTA tour rising to 36 in 2013. Her claim to fame however are the two grand slam titles in mixed doubles at the 2013 Wimbledon and the 2014 Australian open with the more established Canadian Daniel Nestor. Her 5 games won on average per set in 12 sets played across singles and mixed doubles is a tremendous achievement given the stature of the more fancied ladies in the fray. She has combined well with Nenad Zimonjic to have the UAE Royals in the second spot. Kristina has been a consistent out-performer for the middle-east based team and would count as the chief architect of a possible top of the table finish. A shooting  star by every stretch of the imagination.

Nick Kyrgios

The slammers are languishing at the bottom of the table. In spite of their twin wins at home in Singapore, some other poor results have had them struggling. Standing out for them has been the effervescent Nick. He has been the anchor of the team with some stalwarts like Serena Williams, Tomas Berdych and Andre Agassi. Having played all of men's singles, mixed doubles and men's doubles for the Slammers with regularity, he has been the face of the faltering team. Some of his losses have been close fights with the teenager losing out in the shoot-out. His return of 4.08 games per set may not set the charts on fire but does impart an air of respectability to his team's fortunes. That he has been egging on his mates with a fervor reserved typically for Davis cup events has projected him out like a beacon. He has given it his all and stands out as one of the most likeable participants of the "happiness open".

Coca-Cola IPTL: How brands are leveraging niche events to inspire youngsters to take up sport

One of the most visible and exuberant proponents wielding the tennis racquet at the Coca-Cola IPTL is Nick Kyrgios. All of 19, the Australian star of Greek heritage has the boys' singles event at the Australian Open to his name but more importantly, made the quarters at this year's Wimbledon championships after defeating the indomitable Rafael Nadal and Richard Gasquet en route. The man Nick conquered on grass made a splash himself on the Parisian red dirt bagging the French Open title on his first attempt; Rafa had not gone past his teens either when he started his clay domination.

We have just seen the "Mozart" of chess Magnus Carlsen retain his world championship in the classical format to add to his rapid and blitz titles he won earlier this year. With an ELO rating that is shooting through the roof, his achievements only buttress his claim of being an all-time great. The Norwegian is all of 24 now; he made the GM norm at 14 years, and was the world number one at 19. If you get my tilt, sport is increasingly being dominated by young champions at ages where adolescence has not yet let go.

Popular commercial brands have had a major role to play in this phenomenon. Teenagers are increasingly getting access not just to live telecast of sport at its pinnacle but also watching the superstars in flesh and blood. All of this courtesy a number of sports leagues getting a foothold around the globe.

Global brands have been the principal pillars of support for these tournaments, which are still in their infancy. A wide-eyed youngster walking out on the court hand in hand with Roger Federer to the adulation of thousands of fans at the Coca-Cola IPTL is sure to be inspired beyond the regular pep talk from her local coach. The ball boy who watches from close quarters, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Gael Monfils fight it out is bound to dream of matching the Frenchmen’s shots and charisma.

Seeing top flight action at such close quarters certainly goes a long way in producing young champions. Crucially, these events also lend the youngsters a perfect opportunity to understand the mindset of these athletes who are at the summit of their game. Listening to them talk about the work, dedication and sacrifice they needed to put in since they were at the same age is a lesson no book can impart.

After all, what can be better than hearing it from the horse's mouth? With youngsters walking out on the pitch for every big match in every big event, dreams take wing and carry some of those walking alongside their heroes to sporting greatness.

Then there is the aspect of reaching out to the young sporting audience. Events like the football World Cup and the Coca-Cola IPTL leave no stone unturned in ensuring that every person in the world follows the action and gets to witness the incredible athletic feats that are performed by the stars.

Ahead of the football showpiece event in Brazil this year, Coca-Cola had launched the “World’s Cup” campaign to unite people from all over the world in the name of football. The campaign worked like a charm, as youngsters and aspiring players facing hardships in different parts of the globe got the opportunity to come into the spotlight. “Everyone was invited” to participate in the celebration of football, and everyone did indeed accept the invitation.

With the IPTL, Coca-Cola is trying to make use of another opportunity to reach out to the youngsters, this time through tennis. Brands like Coca-Cola use occasions like these to replace naiveté with steel, leading to the birth of champions. Sporting master-classes from icons, a spin trip with Shane Warne or a kick around with Lionel Messi are regularly organized around niche events and the tender ones learn a few things about precision, application and fair play in the company of these greats.

There are sponsored complimentary tickets for juniors to watch matches live, and witnessing a game from inside a stadium is an experience that gives every prodigy the sense of awe and grandeur and pushes him toward realizing his talent. With television and live telecasts making inroads into the remotest corners of the globe, commercials are being used by brands not just to further sales but also to bring sport closer to the youngsters.

Business promotion is sometimes looked at with skepticism, but brands leveraging global sport and its legends to inspire teenagers to take up sport is certainly a welcome development.

Coca-Cola IPTL : A league of extraordinary gentlemen (and women)

 The league of happiness

The Coca-Cola International Premier Tennis League adds another dimension to the burgeoning interest in top flight tennis in Asia. The novel format brings together elements of competition, fun and glamor to the game that is typified by the staid whites of the Wimbledon lawns to the boisterous yet appreciative crowds of the Flushing Meadows. The juxtaposition of entertainment with sport is something that leagues around the world have exploited but what makes the Coca-Cola IPTL stand apart is its endorsement in a geography that has traditionally not been a power house in tennis. Lets look at a few factors that make this tourney fit the tag of the "Happiness Open" to the T.

Tennis magic, new and old.

A gathering of 21 grand slam champions and 14 current and former world numbers ones is an event that should chart its own course in tennis history. With names like Federer, Djokovic, Murray on the men's side and Serena Williams, Sharapova and Ivanovic on the women's, the league is bound to catch the fancy of any tennis connoisseur. Add to that the element of nostalgia that the legends will bring in. Sampras, Ivanisevic, Agassi, Rafter, Moya and the magician Santoro will be trading a few shots against each other and an era gone by should flash in front of our eyes once more. And then there are the dream pairings that one only fantasized about till now. Where else would you expect to see Andy Murray partner Maria Sharapova in a mixed doubles match or the two claimants to the all time great spot, Federer and Sampras taking the court together on the same side. If that does not "open happiness", not much else would. The legends would want to make sure, they live true to their names and with professional rivals on the tour egging each other on in a novel team play format, new partnerships should be forged. All in all, a recipe for a wonderful fortnight of tennis mixing the old with the new in front of mammoth and discerning crowds that rarely get to see a field as rarefied as this.

 New rules, to get you hooked and stay that way

The Coca-Cola IPTL will see far reaching changes to the way traditional tennis is played. The aim to make it viewer friendly both for television and live audience has driven novelties that should bring in an adrenaline rush reserved for the grand slam humdingers.  The advent of the shot timer for serves should keep the pace of the game brisk and with every game counting in the final evaluation,  any let ups in the intensity are ruled out. What marks the most interesting innovation for me is the "power point" that would let the receiver break at 30-40 with just one point. With no advantage play and a 15 second running counter, the margin of error should be minimal and serves would count for less making breaks a regular occurrence during the matches. With a 5 minute shoot out to decide a set at 5-all and a 7 minute super shooter to decide a tied match at the end of 5 sets, there ought to be less towels and more play. Drop shots should be in vogue to keep the points short and the players  forgiven for the number of double faults that would be considered sacrilege on the professional tour. With just one set to play for most players in a match and the tempo at break neck speed, mental agility would count for as much as tennis skill. Akin to a game of blitz chess when compared to the classical format. The one who keeps her wits around wins.

See these legends fly your flag high

 One does not see a blunting of the competitive edge in spite of the novel format given the teams would play for 4 separate nationalities and it won't be surprising to see a few current and former rivalries take center stage. Not often to Asian countries get to call icons as these their own. With 4 legs planned in each of the four countries of Philippines, Singapore, India and the UAE in that order, the round robin league should see all the players ply their trade fairly often. In a match of five sets comprising of men's singles, men's legends singles, women's singles, men's doubles and mixed doubles, a variety of combinations would be tried by the teams giving the audience a chance to watch as many as 20 champions, former and current in an afternoon's outing. In times of short attention spans and shorter leisure allocations, this is certain to entice not just the loyal followers but also fringe spectators into the tennis fold.

An enchanting schedule

One of the key factors to make the Coca-Cola IPTL successful is the scheduling. The last grand slam of the year finishes in August and with a 4 month void till the new year's Australian open, a league like this fits in perfectly. With exhilarating tennis compacted on one court and running for the same time as a grand slam, the tournament has the distinct air of watching a happiness slam. High octane sets in a jovial atmosphere serve as the perfect compliment to the grinds of the ATP and WTA tours that we see all year round. At a time when tennis lovers get ready for the year end celebrations, what could be a better Christmas present. If nothing else, joy should be the primary outcome of this cracker of an idea. Love all and lets get ready for a scorcher.

Another Sochi scorcher

The winter Olympics haven't really faded away from memory and Sochi gets ready to host another bout of sporting hostilities. Whatever happens in the encore of the one sided Chennai World Chess Championship match, the action should make for better viewing this time around. For one, the positions of the defending champion and the challenger have reversed. Vishy Anand comes in without an entourage of fans trailing him and the undisputed world champion across all formats in his usual cocky frame of mind. Anand has had a stupendous run this year and his win at the candidates surprised not just an army of cynics but also his die hard fans. Given the margin of loss that the former world champion suffered, not may thought him capable of mounting a challenge of this magnitude. With another Bilbao title that he bagged with a round to play, the form guide is certainly even if not slightly in favor of the Indian. Carlsen on the other hand followed up his massive victory last year in the classical format with championship claims in both the blitz and rapid versions as well. His form has been patchy leading up to this match when measured to his lofty standards but that can as well be a well disguised master stroke to hide his preparation. Grzegorz Gazewski of Poland is the only new face in Anand's seconds team and is someone who has a reputation of carving a niche for himself in less known positions. Carlsen has retained his team of the Dane Peter Heine and the Hammer Jon Ludvig. A betting man would undoubtedly put his money on the younger competitor but a better fight would certainly be expected out of the older head. They are like chalk and cheese in how they go about their business but once the board is laid out, chess would be the common denominator in another cold war.

Long live the new king...oh well not so new.

Novak is a family man now. With a baby boy vying for his attention, the tennis courts may not look as inviting as they used to but that didn't stop the world number one from defending his points from last year's Paris masters win. The way he tamed Milos Raonic in the finals a was rude reminder to his contemporaries that the Serb remains the best returner of serve in the game by a far distance. He would go into the season ending World tour finals as the clear favorite and it would take one of the other seven to play out of their skins to topple the defending champion. With Federer slated to take on France in the Davis cup finals for the Swiss and some ATP points on the line, Djokovic would want to make sure, he shuts the door on the year ending numero uno spot with an emphatic thud.

The Abu Dhabi grand prix would be a lottery with a bonus double points on offer. Lewis Hamilton remains in pole position to take home his second drivers' title but his partner at Mercedes would do all he can stop the Brit in his tracks. Nico Rosberg has had to play second fiddle for the last five races but has managed to keep the gap to reasonable proportions and a late charge in the two season ending runs can land the German a much coveted world title. There would be no dearth of competitive edge even though the two ride in the same colors. In another season dominated by one constructor, this may be of some succor to the fans who continue to stick with a sport that is struggling to find solutions to financial and organizational problems.

Carribean Collapso

A tour to the world's most powerful cricket board getting cancelled mid way is certainly an extra ordinary occurrence.  The impasse between the WICB and the players that led to this calamity is a storm that has been brewing for some time. Although, timely mediation has made sure, it remains inside the tea cup instead of spiraling out of control. At a time when a list of players from the islands ply their trade in the IPL, their returning home ruining a tour is bound to create flutters. With bilateral tours being suspended and a question mark over the player's participation in the cash rich league, its a melt down that could have been avoided if a few cool heads prevailed. But then, sensible negotiations is a quantity hard to tag in these days of chest thumping diplomacy. The whole episode is another strong indication toward crumbling international cricket. Players no longer put a premium on showcasing their skills for their countries. The burgeoning 20-20 leagues around the globe have become the main recourse for them. Its a carrot that is as easy to come by as its juicy. With just a handful of test playing nations clear of bankruptcy fears, time is nigh when only the clique of the top three that now control the ICC would really be playing any meaningful five day games. Times, they are a changing and most aficionados would not take heart from that. The gentleman's sport is now so much more closer to becoming the mercenary's gamble.

Serena Williams made sure she avenged her group stage defeat to Simona Halep in the finals of the WTA world tour final. She has been the dominant player on tour all year round, not without a few blips but has managed to round off the year in style. The challengers to her throne have been many including contemporary Sharapova and new comers like Halep. Most have dazzled like night flies without putting up a sustained fight. That she managed to get past Wozniacky in the semis after the Dane served for the match and led in the deciding tie break, is testimony to the fact that the competitive instincts remain intact within the American. One would like to call this the WTA rankings topper's twilight but the way she has blown opposition off the court, a few more years of winning majors is not out of the question. With 18 already in the bag, Margaret Courts' mind boggling all time record of 24 looks to be on the line. It would only be a question of hunger than anything else for the younger Williams as she fights forth for the highest laurel of them all.

Winner takes all

Rafael Nadal has had a few bad years with fitness issues. 2014 would count amongst one of them. With a glittering first half and a thundering 9th title on the Parisian clay, the season turned into a night mare for the Spanish matador. With back and wrist problems, he spent most of the time recuperating than competing and when it was time to return, that quite useless appendix made its presence felt. He has called time on the 2104 season opting out of the Paris masters and the world tour finals and whether the new year would bring him better luck is a question we all need to wait for an answer. With Rafa's withdrawal another slot opens up for the elite eight men season ending tourney. Murray did his chances no harm with a facile win over another man fighting for his place, David Ferrer at the Valencia open. The two men who would again be favorites to make the final and fight it out would be the top two seeds. Roger would have the additional incentive to go all out and finish at the top of the rankings should he land the title. By all means, that would be an achievement, few thought the Swiss was capable of after his troubles at the grand slams in recent years. Champions do have a way of making a mockery of popular opinion.

Real Madrid burst through two big games this week in getting past Liverpool in the Champion's League and then downing Barca at the Bernabeau. With Ronaldo in fine fettle, they are shaping up to be the team to beat this European season. With Man City losing out to the Hammers, Chelsea managed to consolidate their lead at the top. Man United and Liverpool continue to languish while the Saints occupy the second place behind the blues. Ronald Koeman's team have been a revelation this season and if they can hold their own till the Christmas games, a chance at playing Champion's League football next year is a distinct possibility.

Not the right formula

Racing circuits are supposed to get your adrenaline shooting, with competition and a good probability of magic happening. Formula one has been going from bad to worse in that department over the seasons and in spite of tinkering with the rules every year, is losing out on both on the television and the turnstiles. Racing on the water logged Suzuka track led to a sickening crash for the Frenchman Jules Bianchi and brought to the fore front safety issues plaguing the summit of motorsport. While one may argue that all protocols were followed in the wake of Adrian Sutil's crash and it was a freak accident, double yellow flags were probably not enough as coincidence showed us. In conditions where it was not possible to airlift a driver suffering from head trauma, the race still went ahead and a safety car wasn't deemed fit following a crash. There seems to be too much emphasis on getting on with the game even in the face of imminent danger. While this may be good for the coffers of the broadcasters and in turn the organizers, the lives of those who put the show together are put at stake and that certainly cannot be the right way to go. 

Sebestian Vettel has decided to leave the Red Bulls and enter uncharted territory with Ferrari. While his reasons for switching teams for a change may be true, a down swing in fortunes seemed to have played a bigger role. Having won four consecutive titles, the German has had to play second fiddle to the Mercedes duo of Hamilton and Rosberg this season. That should have hurt a bit for the ultra competitive Seb and the change looks like a step to jump a slow car. Who would his team mate be come March next year is a moot question. Fernando Alonso would surely be the one and that means new avenues beckon Kimi Raikkonen again.  The Mercedes team wrapped up the constructor's title at the inaugural Russian grand prix amidst much fanfare but the fight between the two white draped men is still on. Lewis Hamilton became only the fourth driver to win nine races in a season starting from pole and with Nico winning four more for the Brackely based outfit, only three of the sixteen races have gone to another team. Tellingly, even all of those three have been won by the defending champions. In summary, it has been another one sided season, albeit with a different car leading the points table. Red Bull has been found wanting and would surely want to strike back sooner than later. Hami has opened up a seventeen point lead over Rosberg and with just three races to go and just 100 points up for grabs, the driver's title is for the Briton's to lose. 

In pole position

The Shanghai masters had proved elusive for Federer over his career. That changed today with a hard fought win over Giles Simon. Having beaten Novak in the semis, the Swiss ace was the favorite to land his second masters 1000 title of the season and it surely didn't come easy. It took two tie breaks to settle the final and with a busy end to the season beckoning, a jump in the rankings is a welcome result for the now world number two. He would certainly play his home tourney in Basel followed by the Paris masters. The ATP world tour finals and an enticing Davis cup final is all in line for the great. Its lining up to be a strong show leading to the new season and another fight to add to that tally of seventeen.

One for the victors

The Indian contingent returned from Incheon with fewer medals when compared to 2010 and an 8th position on the medals tally. While the downturn was not catastrophic, the number of yellow metal performances left a lot to be desired. The shooters disappointed massively with just Jitu Rai living up to his reputation. Given that the guns have boomed for India at multi-sport meets as well as world championships, this would be considered a massive let down. The wrestlers and boxers only managed a few bronze finishes with Yogeshwar Dutt being the exception. The Haryana lad surely stepped out from the shadow of Sushil Kumar and the determination and grit that he wore on his sleeves was found missing in most of his compatriots. The other Punia made sure that the track and field events would not go bare. Seema Punia has been outperforming the more celebrated Krishna Poonia for some time and should surely be one of the few medal hopefuls in Rio. The 4x400m relay has been an Indian stronghold for some Asiads and the quartet of Priyanka Pawar, Tintu Lukka, Mandeep Kaur and Machettira Poovamma Raju made sure of the continuing hegemony with a games record. While she was made to fight it out to qualify for the Asian games, Mary Kom was the only pugilist to stand up and deliver. She has stood up against all odds and this gold certainly puts that extra shine on an already exemplary CV. The Sarita Devi episode is one that led to much heart burn and given that dubious decisions are part of boxing judgement, her meltdown on the podium left a sour taste in the mouth. 

There were a few pleasant surprises in the team events other than the wins in the traditional gold mines of Kabaddi. Though trailing for a significant part of the final, the men's team did manage to stage a smart come back and make it to the top. Two golds did lend an iota of respectability to the final position that India finished with. A gold in the mixed doubles tennis, squash and compound archery were welcome given that the expectations were low from these events. Sourav Ghoshal did make some amends for his upset loss in the single's finals by helping win the team event. The one gold that brought the most joy was that on the hockey field. The team led by Sardar Singh brought back the top finish after a gap of 16 years. A direct entry to the 2016 Olympics is a shot in the arm for the team that has been relegated to also rans in most events lately. That should provide some much needed boost to the sport in the country and also a chance for the team to prepare for the marquee event against stronger teams without having to worry about qualification. That they beat both Korea and Pakistan en route to the gold was heartening to watch. Some cheer to end what was largely an underwhelming performance by the athletes. There is a lot of work to be done and the euphoria of this performance should not drown the hard yards needed to even make the top 8 at the Olympics. 

Rio needs an encore

Rafael Nadal's return to the hard courts did not pan out as expected. After having lost the doubles in the opener, his comeback ended short in the quarters at the China open having lost to the qualifier Martin Klizan. With the ATP world tour finals fast approaching, things are not looking sunny for the Spanish matador. The question of whether he can bag another four grand slams to be crowned the undisputed king of all time should be answered next year. With Roger more a miss than a hit at the majors these days, the ball is certainly in Rafa's court to eke out a few more before the dodgy knees and wrists make it a bridge too far.

A handy question

What do Roger Federer and Nicholas Almagro have in common? Lets add Stan Wawrinka and Tommy Robredo to the club and make it two a piece for the Spanish and the Swiss. If you guessed it already, the next won't be a surprise but if you didn't, here is another trio, two former legends and  one in the making. Justine Henin, Pete Sampras and Grigor Dimitrov also make excellent additions to that list. For the befuddled, the aforementioned tennis professionals belong to the clique of one handed backhand exponents. If there is one thing that i find amiss on a tennis court, its the two handed backhand. Oh well, shrieks from a few fair maidens would top that but we shall not indulge ourselves in the dichotomy of screams and tennis. The flair of the single handed backhand has become increasingly difficult to appreciate in modern tennis. The endangered art though has made a smart come back after some of the names lined above have increased its visibility in the latter stages of major tourneys. What is it that two hands on a tennis racquet provide that one can't? Control is the first word that springs to mind and in a world that has a surfeit of baseline grinders, that is an invaluable arrow in the quiver. In an age where serve and volley ruled roost and power took a back seat to finesse and grace, there was little need to paint the lines with an accuracy we see today. With the advent of taut strings high on tension that rival guitars, an army of double handed backhands invaded the tennis scene in the new millennium and not without reason. Too many unforced errors and a pummeling on the weaker side led generation after generation of tennis comers to start using both upper limbs on the racquet. It was an obvious effort to stem the onslaught by owning the same weapon as the aggressor. What got lost in the transition was the thing of beauty that is a single handed backhand. If one were to draw an analogy, the former would be a hammer to the latter being the proverbial knife through the butter. A screaming back hand down the line from one hand is something that can be a source of pure ecstasy, not just to the one who executes the shot but to the one who watches the ball whistle past the net like a dream as well. Its a thing of joy as much as pure technique and confidence. And just the fact that the man who still owns the highest number of grand slam titles wields the racquet with just one hand is succor enough for souls who find guile and grace a better watch and a higher art than thumping ground strokes.

There is a new sensation on the swimming blocks. The Japanese youngster Kosuke Hagino bagged seven medals at the ongoing Asian games, four of which being gold. He won a stunning 200m freestyle and followed that up with the 200m individual medley, 4x200 freestyle relay and the 400m individual medley. At 20, he is one of the stars to look forward to post the Phelps era at the Rio and possibly the Tokyo Olympic games. His scraps with the Chinese star Sun in the 200m and 400m freestyle races won't be the last of a rivalry that should have a few more chapters written. An honorable mention for Sandeep Sejwal for landing a rare bronze in the 50m breaststroke. While the pool may have gone silent, the track and field events should continue to generate interest in the Asiad. Though there  may not be a Bolt or a Farah to light up the track, the marquee athletics events always throw up intriguing stories and glittering champions. There have been a few world records broken in the weightlifting arena and with the Chinese and the North Koreans doing bulk of the heavy lifting, the discipline should be a fruitful one for Asians at the world stage. The Indian performance has been tepid at best with most gold hopefuls in shooting settling for bronze or bowing out before the finals. A compound archery gold in addition to Jitu Rai's exploit are the only bright spots that the contingent can boast off till date. A top ten finish looks out of bounds at this point in time unless there are pleasant surprises in store.

Alpine Frost

Beyond banks, watches and milk, the Swiss flag had another reason to cheer last week. Back in 1992 when Switzerland first competed in the Davis cup finals, Marc Rosset and Jacob Hlasek could do precious little to make a dent in the firm of Sampras and Agassi. Though Rosset came through in a five setter against Jim Courier, the eventual result was never in doubt. Fast forward to 2014 and the two journey men have been replaced by a duo who have achieved stupendous success on the tennis courts. They have fought on opposite sides of the net but have also combined together to land laurels for the chocolate factory of the world. Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka have led the Swiss guard into another Davis cup title tilt and for a change, they would be favorites against their alpine neighbors. Their yellow metal winning performance at the Beijing games may be a tad in the past but their performance remains as superlative. Up against the Italians, Roger sliced through both of his singles and Stan accounted for the dangerous Andreas Seppi to leave the last semi final rubber inconsequential. They will be up against France who along with Spain boast of the best pool of players in the men's ATP rankings. In Jo who throws all the punches, La Monf and Richard Gasquet, the Gallic have a strong team that made mincemeat of the powerhouse Czech Republic. Even Tomas Berdych and Nadal slayer Rusol could do little to stop the French juggernaut. As comeuppance, we now go to Lille where the French will host the Swiss to decide who raises the toast. If current form is used as the yardstick for prediction, the white cross should be seen flying high in the north of France. Can Tsonga, Gasquet and Monfils play spoil sport to land a tenth title for the French? Bon Appetit, mes amis.

 

Conspiring to be champions

Incheon is not a name that springs to mind when one thinks of global cities. The opening ceremony of the 17th Asian games however dazzled the onlookers and skeptics alike. The Asiad is the second largest gathering of athletes after the summer Olympic games and a medal here is coveted as one of the biggest prizes in sport. As always, for India, the shooting stars and the wrestlers will hold forte. Gone are the days when PT Usha would light up the athletics arena and the track and field events hold little hope for the Indian contingent. A certain Vikas Gowda may have something to say about that. At the time of writing this, the up and coming star of Indian shooting, Jitu Rai has already bagged a gold in the 50m pistol and if this is a harbinger of things to come, he is in line to double the number of individual Olympic gold winners for India. Rio can't wait. Badminton is another discipline that can add to the medals kitty. With Saina, Sindhu and Kashyap leading the charge, one can hope that the shuttle falls India's way against the traditional powerhouses of China, Korea and Japan. The pugilists would also want to turn around the ignominy being faced by the Indian Boxing administration. Can they beat the haul of 14 golds from 2010. Hope lives eternal.

End of an era

The last time it happened was in early 2005 at the Australian Open. A decade has gone by since a grand slam final will not feature at least one of Federer, Nadal, Novak or Murray. As staggering as that piece of stat is, it puts in perspective the dominance of the quartet that ushered in the golden era in men's tennis. As with all good things, the end of this hegemony seems near and the gong has been beaten. And how. Not many saw Maran  Cilic and Kei Nishikori upset the top two seeds in a day and the way Cilic blasted Roger off the court was a sight to behold. We will have four separate grand slam champions on the men's side this year and two of them would be outside the big four. The open era should truly be open very soon but the proponents of a rivalry that amazed us over the last few years can stand proud in what they have achieved. As for the prediction for the champion, Kei may have the legs but Maran should comfortably pull the rug from underneath those with serves that remind one of his coach's exploits.

When you part ways, you play your part better. Rory McIlroy and Caroline Wozniacki may have called it quits but it certainly aint showing in their games. Rory shot down the field to bag the Open Championships and is now widely considered to be the man to beat on a golf course. He is the numero uno in the standings and the front runner to top the birdie and eagle charts when it comes to the majors. His erstwhile fiancee, Caro the Dane did not live up to her billing while she was number one on the WTA rankings. Having not won a grand slam, she was always considered to be at the top by the design of her fellow players rather than her own doing. She will have a good chance to undo that blot today. She goes up against the indefatigable Serena Williams for the US Open crown and while she will be the underdog, reputations count for little on this grand stage as a couple of fighters showed on the men's side of the draw. Serena would try to blast her off with her serves but if the number 10 seed can get a reasonable number of returns back, we may have a game on our hands.

Louis van Gaal's initiation has been stiffer than expected. Many believed he would be the rainmaker for the struggling devils in the new season but has not been able to hit the ground running. With two losses and a draw in the first three games, a repeat of last season's horror show raises its ugly head in the minds of the Old Trafford faithful. He has roped in the charismatic Di Maria to inject some much needed boost at front but whether the Argentine can prove to be an "Angel" for the Dutchman is a question only time will answer. Chelsea and Liverpool have started well, the former buoyed with Diego Costa's form and the latter untroubled with the departure of Luis Suarez. Swansea have been the surprise table leaders with three wins out of three but with the season in its infancy, the listings will change quickly. Liverpool have drawn Real Madrid in the Champion's League group fixtures and while both will hope to qualify for next round, a hiccup for either side may mean early curtains at the European stage.

Grappling pride

Sushil Kumar is one of my favorite athletes. In a land of sporting mediocrity, he shines like a lone star. A double Olympic medalist, he is a beacon to the burgeoning flock of wrestlers that form the mainstay of Indian hopes at any sporting meet. The mat has brought laurels to others like Yogeshwar Dutt and Amit Kumar who have followed in the steps of this soft spoken champion. What is remarkable about Sushil is that he steals the limelight only in the arena. Once he is off the mat, there are no flash lights, no shenanigans till the next available opportunity to ply his trade. The Glasgow games brought him another gold following up on his yellow metal performance in New Delhi. For someone to have performed at the biggest stage consistently, he is surprisingly short of the tantrums that most other famous Indian sportsmen throw. The Indian wrestling community looks in fine fettle and Rio should bring in more podium finishes than London if they grapple true to form under the leadership of this deserving fighter. Enjoy the adoration this Canadian wrestler shares with me for the Haryana lad.

Sri Lanka is generally a fortress. To win a test series on the dust bowls of Colombo and Kandy takes more than just cricketing skill. That Dale Steyn bowled the Proteas to thrilling series win over the tigers is testimony to the genius of the fast bowler. The grit shown by the South Africans to draw the second test after winning the first should put to shame another team that drowned in ignominy trying to protect its thin lead. Hashim Amla has had a cracking start to his test captaincy and has shown that he is not averse to taking a few bold decisions to win tests unlike a lot of the current crop of skippers. He also got a fine ton to prove that he certainly is going to lead by example. The Saffas are back to the numero uno position in the test rankings and if this recent performance is anything to go by, they are not going to let their grip loosen any time soon.

King Kallis bid adieu to cricket while being with the rhinos. Jacques boasts of numbers that would put any batsman or bowler worth his salt in green envy. Is he better than Sobers? I would say so. The great West Indian didn't have to push his body as much as South African needed to. Kallis scored runs in seaming conditions and took a bundle of wickets on the flat decks of Asia. There are few better slip fielders and some of his catches in the outfield are stuff of legend. He would hang his boots with just one regret, that of not leading his side to a major ICC trophy. He gave up on his dream to play one final world cup and in that showed honesty and courage that most sportsmen cannot muster. He has been the leading light for a generation of all rounders and will always find a place in the pantheons of greats.