Spanish delight

Garbine Muguruza is a bit of a tongue twister. But her game is far from being complicated. It follows the time tested method of serving hard and hitting the ball harder. It's not a game of touch and finesse on grass as it used to be when the Everts, Navaratilovas and Grafs ruled roost. The one who packs a punch goes far and she who hits the best gets crowned queen. The Spaniard had a facile win over her finals' opponent at last year's French Open and while that created a flutter, her performance against the indomitable Serena last Sunday marked the coming of a new star on the WTA tour. Her scalps to the road to the final included Wozniacki and Agniezka Radwanska, wins over opponents far above her seeding or experience. Her garrulous demeanor on and off the court did not betray the confidence and free flowing shot making that she displayed in her stellar run. The center court crowd loves underdogs and if she is young and trying to make a dent in the armor of a champion, they root for her with all their might. That the 21 year old was able to get two service breaks back in the second set of the final against probably the best server of all time is testimony not only to her determination but also the power of the spectator's voice. Her showing comes with an entry to the top ten in the rankings which would ensure slightly more benign draws at majors and if the Venezuela born star can keep up the good work, bigger feats await.

The Serena slam finally materialized. She huffed and puffed like only she can, especially against the home favorite Heather Watson but got cracking when it really mattered. At an age where her contemporaries are playing invitational tennis or basking in domestic bliss, she has raised the bar one more time and it doesn't feel like the dominance is going to fade away anytime soon. With an all time record for grand slams including the amateur era well within sight, the American needs no additional motivation to continue her winning streak. Also, with her home slam at the Flushing Meadows beckoning, a calender slams is up for the taking. History being made and obliterated in such quick succession makes the younger Williams the best ever to have played tennis if not the best ever athlete. Her exploits will take a life time to equal and if she continues her all conquering ways, it may well be out of reach of mere mortals. A serve that booms like thunder and an all round game to build on that first shot makes Richard's girl a force that looks impossible to tame. Whats the only thing left  to be achieved? The golden slam with an Olympic top spot.Wouldn't 2016 be the icing on the cake?

We had a repeat of the 2014 final on the men's side on all counts (if you disregard  the number of sets played). The top two seeds made it past some stiff competition, some from expected quarters and some from not so. While Roger served up a masterclass against Murray in the semis, Novak had to come back from 2 sets down against the big serving South African Kevin Anderson. It was a battle of the old master against the current indisputable number one. The question was whether the seven time champion can keep his potent serves at the same level against probably the best ever returner the game has seen. The first two sets were close and it felt like the dramatic second set win took its toll on the aging warrior. There was a perceptible drop in intensity and the match ended in a bit of a damp squib with Federer being broken twice in the fourth set.  Djokovic never really looked out of control and his own serve survived the grueling test. The  defending champion took home his third crown and a ninth major in total and if Stefan's papa continues to be in the form he has been in for the last few years, we will have three 10-time major winners playing together. If that's not the golden age of tennis, there will never be one.

The Welsh were not thought of charitably when the latest duel for the Ashes began in Cardiff. The pitch looked low and slow, something only the sub continent is accused of serving. However, the denouement would have delighted the English faithful with the three lions turning the tables on their more formidable opponents. Joe Root's dual innings earned him a well deserved "Man of the Match" but it was the absence of patience from their antipodean rivals that led to their undoing. It has been an unexpected start to the series and a lot of words said in the build up have now become hollow hoots. The Aussies will need to pull themselves together if they want to retain the ashes in the old blighty. Lords so far has been a run glut and they may need to look to the third test to level the scores. The careers of a few good men may well be defined when we get to the end at the Kennington Oval, none more so than captain Clarke.