Who let the brats out

Niceties make an appearance on the tennis courts every season in the English summer. An almost indignant white dress code, curtseys of yore and the draw in the name of "gentlemen" and "ladies" are the hallmark of SW19. You almost feel this anachronism in the days of fluorescent dressing and heckling crowds at the other show piece tennis grand slams. However, Wimbledon remains a first amongst equals, the crown jewel cherished  more by those who take the green lawns than any other title on offer. While history is something that embellishes the tourney, a few players, champions and otherwise have gone against the norm of keeping the peace. "You cannot be serious" made its way into the tennis lexicon when a certain John McEnroe squealed that line on a contentious line call. That he followed it up with "You guys are the absolute pits of this world" is stuff of folklore. McEnroe's rants help provide that tinge of color to the absolute white fabric that defines Wimbledon. Then there was Jeff Tarango who forfeited his match after walking out on being denied an ace followed by a warning and a penalty point. "You are the most corrupt official in the game" is something that you will not hear in ages on a Wimbledon court. Then there are assorted tantrums from the likes of the Romanian great Ilie Nastase and the defending champion Djokovic. The rarity of these outbursts and melt downs is what makes them stand out in a competition known for being a stickler for the manners. Will we see an entertaining chapter being added to this list starting Monday? Its  statistically improbable but certainly not impossible.

Shooting from the racquet and the mouth

We have Murray, Nadal and Federer in the same half of the draw with Murray slated to meet the Spaniard in the quarters. Novak should have a free run to the finals if he negotiates a tricky first few rounds without a stutter. He has been drawn to play the dangerous Kohlschreiber in the first round and his ranking of 33 does not bear out the quality that the German can display. A third crown for Nole would be the perfect healing touch after the despairing loss in Paris. He still remains the man to beat and with Becker at his side in the stands, he would not be lacking in motivation to match his mentor's title wins. All of the "big four" are prior champions and so the biggest incentive would have to be for the Swiss master to own the record of the maximum number of singles titles just for his own. An eighth has been in the beckoning for some time and the loss in last year's title match in the final set after doing a Houdini in the fourth would still rankle. The watching masses would again get behind the man who gave them reason to celebrate after eons of disappointment. Andy's play has been assured in the season and his steady rise in the rankings is testament to that. Nadal started off with a win in Stuttgart but followed it up with a shock loss to the Dolgopolov at the Queens. He has a nightmarish draw with a possible match against all the other three in line to win the title. But that is the price to pay when you slide down the rankings. Stan Wawrinka would want to land another blow in his now burgeoning career and if he can string together a set of impeccable matches, he can be the dark horse to look at again. Last year's revelations, Raonic and Dimitrov don't come in the tournament looking good for an encore but the former's serves and the latter's touch play are suited to the grass and if they do manage a run deep into the second week, it won't be entirely unfathomable.

Serena, Sharapova and Kvitova would be the names to contend against on the ladies' side of the competition. The two time champion Czech would want to bag a third title after running away with the final last year. Serena would want to put the drama aside to erase some bitter memories from recent performances on her favorite surface. Her booming serves are the most potent in London and unless she self destructs, (another game with 4 double faults on the trot should certainly not be on show) number 21 would not be a surprise. The usual challengers in Lucie Safarova, Simona Halep and Bouchard may find it a tad difficult to breach the aforementioned trio's power on the grass. A fortnight of grass court marvel is about to unfold and if that's not fodder for thought, what is.

The World hockey league semi-finals is a qualifying tournament for the Rio Olympics. While the Indians have already qualified, a match against arch rivals Pakistan is always a coveted one. The change in hockey's face has been so dramatic over the years that the two traditional super powers now bow to European and Australian hegemony. 4 quarters of 15 minutes each, no offside and TV referrals mean a fast paced slick game with very little leeway for error inside the D. Defensive techniques have improved tremendously leading to a stark decline in the number of penalty corners and poached goals are a common sight. All good for the viewing public. The match ended dutch with 2 goals a piece with both for Pakistan coming from set pieces while India getting theirs from field moves. Sardar Singh remains India's talisman marshaling his troops from the midfield.  While it was an exciting contest, both sides showed deficiencies before the goal and that is something they would need to rectify soon to be able to mount a challenge for the likes of the Aussies, Netherlands and Spain.  The game looks to be on the upswing for the two Asian giants and that is worth celebrating.

WOWrinka!

The form book (and the draw) suggested a Serb and a Swiss would be on court Philippe Chatrier come the third Sunday of the Roland Garros tussle this year. While the Serb kept his date with destiny, the man flying the white cross did not bear the Federer name. Instead, it was the man who has stepped out of his illustrious compatriot's shadow for good. Stanislas Wawrinka may come across as an unassuming proponent of tennis when compared to the flamboyance of some of the other leading lights but when he unleashes that single handed backhand, its poetry on the court. His Aussie triumph last year was in many ways the proverbial flash in the pan. He won it at an age considered ripe for retirement in these days of power tennis and then went back to being the usual casualty in the second week of grand slams. A first round exit at the clay courts of Paris last year was drowned at a popular coffee joint. Keeping his head down for a string of matches proved as difficult as it was easy showing flashes of brilliance. In the meantime, the child of war carried on with his all conquering ways. Another five setter in the Melbourne semis  this year against Djokovic ended in heart break for the pink tinged Swiss. Even a collision course with the indisputable king of clay was not enough to stop the Serb's march to the finals. His cabinet misses this one trophy that would consummate the career grand slam and the stars seemed aligned to write another chapter in this glorious era of men's tennis. Nadal was at his vulnerable worst and proved no match to the world number one's consistent and probing aggression. A straight set hiding on clay is not a regular occurrence for the man from Mallorca. Till the man who goes by the moniker of Stan, if you may pardon my attempt at rhymes turned up with a weapon good enough against the top seed's arsenal. Roger was blasted off the court in the quarters and while many saw that as a result of the higher ranked Swiss being off color, Stan's game was indomitable. As creditable as the win was, he still entered the finals a firm under dog and things seemed routine when the first set went along expected lines. A break of serve for Novak and he seemed on his way to the last leaf of glory to be added to his crown. And then came the assault. Watching those back hands slice the court with the efficacy of an adept knife through butter was as much exhilarating as it was satisfying. Here was a man who fought with one hand against an armada of two handed backhands and aced them all. That he did not flinch in the face of a determined effort from Nole is testimony that the mind was in as good a place as the game was. Following up on last year's break through and a Davis cup triumph, this would have tasted all the more sweet for the genial Swiss. Would he carry on and do an encore on the Wimbledon lawns? If the back hand fires like it did in Paris, i won't bet against the "Stan gun".

All in the head and the back hand

Serena Williams fought against grueling three setters, an unsettling illness mid way through the tournament and came up with number 20. She is the grand old lady in the times of teens but carries on with her feats in a way only she can. She was down and out at least a couple of times but rose like a phoenix to land a chance at winning only a third title on the coveted red dirt. While three may sound like a dear accomplishment for most, Serena's triumphs at the other slams made her performances on clay pale in comparison. She made sure she took a step in correcting that record. Lucie Safarova is a late bloomer and is the nice girl on tour. Though that belies her determination on court and her fight back after being a set and couple of breaks down would have stirred the imagination of many a connoisseurs. It proved to be a bridge too far to take the fight to the trophy but it certainly provided the watching public an engrossing battle. Grass is the American's favorite surface and with just a couple of more trophies to be hoisted to meet the incredible Steffi's record, a grand slam at Flushing Meadows in August would crown her the greatest of all time.Watch out for some fireworks.

Barcelona completed the anticipated treble with the La Liga, Copa del Rey and most importantly the Champions League titles. A strike force of Neymar, Messi and Suarez would instill fear in any team and the old lady proved to be no match to the onslaught at Berlin's Olympic stadium.Two of the three aforementioned stars got on the score sheet and the fact that all the three who scored including Rakitic have been signed in the last two years shows that the money has been well spent. While compact and precise passing is a hall mark of the continental giants, it was the counter attacks that earned them their fifth European title. Unsurprisingly, the biggest casualty of Barca's exploits was Carlo Ancelloti who had go make way for Rafa Benitez at the Bernabeau. Real Madrid ended the season empty handed in the wake of their bitter rivals' incredible showing and for the galacticos faithful, a change of guard was inevitable. Their talisman remains with them for another season but can Ronaldo lift them to some silverware before he moves on is a question only the football turf would answer.

It's clay time

There's a coup in the air and the pretenders to the crown are sliding their feet in glee. None more so than the man who currently wields the tennis racquet as a magic wand. The wizardry has not borne fruit on the Parisian red dirt yet but each passing year takes Nole that little bit closer to completing his impeccable collection. Not many would stand against Novak's place among the pantheon of greats but he certainly won't like to end up a la Lendl who conquered everything but never bit the grass. With just a single Argentine triumph at an ATP250 event, the emperor looks the most vulnerable he has ever been in his remarkable career on his beloved surface. A tenth title at Roland Garros is certain to provide the much needed fillip Rafael Nadal needs to jump start his lack luster return after getting that troublesome appendix removed. Losses to the Italian Fognini and the humbling he had to face against the blissfully married Murray on his home turf would certainly put a dent in the indomitable Mallorcan's confidence. Having dropped out of the top 5 in the rankings is not going to make the draw any easier and an early meeting with either the world number one or Murray is a real possibility. The normal whipped forehand has proved troublesome and the movement far from the tip toeing we are accustomed to. Whether its just rustiness or a physical niggle lingers is anybody's guess but the second grand slam of the year may see a seismic shift in the balance of power in men's tennis this year. Novak has been swamping aside anything that has come his way and with the Aussie open already under his belt and an ATP1000 title at his current home in Monte Carlo, a career grand slam should dominate the Serb's dreams. In Boris, he has someone who carries the burden of not having taken the clay home. While the German may not be able to tell him how to win the holy grail but he can surely let him know how not to lose. Andy Murray has been climbing back at the same rate as Rafa has been sliding and his form makes him a good bet to go all the way. If he can turn marital bliss into that calming influence, he could be the man to throw the spanner in the works of the firm of Djokovic and Nadal.

One more?

Serena starts a firm favorite in any tournament she plays. Her contemporaries have long disappeared either into domestic duties or slipped into the stream of time. She, however stands tall bearing the torch of a generation most teens today wouldn't identify with. What they certainly would be acquainted to is the Canadian Eugenie Bouchard. While she has been able to scorch the courts with her looks and play, her cabinet does not boast of a grand slam title yet. She has Simona Halep for company when it comes to boasting stakes and the Romanian would like desperately to get her name on the Suzanne Lenglen trophy. Maria Sharapova may be the defending champion but she may find it a tad difficult to defend her title with the years on the roll. But the lady who once described her play on clay akin to "a cow on ice" may still have a few tricks up her sleeve to surprise. A scintillating fortnight awaits with a hegemony on the line and history in the waiting. Bon Apetit.

Steven Gerrard says good bye to Anfield today against Crystal Palace. His has been a career that legends are made of. Its hard to see players today sticking to a club for as long as he has and while he may be past his glory days, the Liverpool faithful will miss the spark he provided. The high point of his stay has to be the incredulous come from behind win at the Champions League final against Milan at Istanbul. in 2005. After trailing by 3 goals at half time, a Gerrard inspired reds turned the tables on the fabled Maldini's team. The low has to be not winning the league even once over his 17 year stay at the Merseyside. Another grudge would be to have been part of some underwhelming performances at the world cup manning the famous midfield along side Frank Lampard and David Beckham. All in all, Steven Gerrard played with distinction and his inclination to return back to where he started, possibly in a coaching role would be well received by the club. As always, you will never walk alone.

Djoko hi-fier

Stefan should get ready for some more time in the limelight. Papa Novak hasn't let domestic bliss affect his game and with a rollicking start to the season, the toddler with Djokovic as his last name may well be ahead of the two sets of twins with the Federer moniker in the rolling stakes. The Serb was always the favorite to land a record fifth title on the Rod Laver arena and barring a slug fest against Stan a third year running, he never seemed to be out of cruise control. The limping stunt against Murray in the final was something Boris would not have masterminded but what counts in the final evaluation is that the Djoker now stands unparalleled on the sultry courts down under. Each of the top three now have their stamps of supremacy on one of the four grand slams and having them all play at the same time is a coincidence tennis is more than fortunate to witness. Whether the current world number one can break his Parisian duck will be clearer in a few months, but his place in the annals of the greats is beyond debate now. He is at the peak of his physical and mental abilities and a couple of productive years on the courts should certainly make sure he enters his name in the GOAT debate as well. Andy has bounced back splendidly and his back seems to be in good shape to take the load of top tier shot making. A third loss in the Aussie Open final would pinch, especially with the way he let that little mischief from Novak affect him. He is back in prime form now and should carry on challenging his conqueror in Melbourne for the biggest spoils right throughout the year. The other two of the quartet seem to have taken a few steps back and a way to the coveted titles would need to go through a Serbian confrontation.

Serena has had the measure of Maria for some time now. Sharapova's shrieks don't trouble her and neither do the Russian's forehands. That is because the American has a serve that stands in a league of its own and when that weapon fires, its impossible to get past her. With an 18th grand slam title, she is now just behind the legend of Graf in the numbers and getting there just looks a matter of when than if. The new brigade of the likes of Eugenie and Simona will need to find another gear to get past this old firm of ladies and going by the way the dice has rolled for the start of the season, it looks like experience will stand the test of youth for another year. It is difficult to look past the big four and the two ladies who competed in the final as contenders for the slams and that in itself is an ode to the longevity of these champions. We go into the break between the year's first two grand slams where the masters series take over with the favorites firmly in place.

The cricket world cup kicked off with a format as unpredictable as the rising of the sun. An extended group play to decide the quarter finalists is as much a drawl for the competition seeker as its a dream for the advertisers. A few needle games (how dearly would Pakistan want to change history tomorrow) should light up the otherwise soporific proceedings during the initial month of cricket. While the format may be designed to make sure the test playing nations have the best chance of progressing to the knock outs, it precludes the possibility of a fantastic run from one of the associates. Afghanistan have been the cricket story of the last few years. A war torn nation has managed to dilute some if its strife from it's cricket team's performances. Whether they kindle a miracle on the biggest stage is  in the realms of doubt but an upset or two should make sure they make the governing body realize that the sport is played on the field and not in the boardrooms. The black caps along with their trans Tasman rivals started off in style with huge victories and the two co-hosts certainly look like ensembles that would go far in the competition. The Proteas come in with their talisman DeVilliers in fine fettle and would look to break the series of unfortunate circumstances befalling their team in the quadrennial show piece.  Of the remaining five, who can make the last four is a betting man's game but its certainly not Russian Roulette. With their consistent ways of making the sporting ends of big tournaments only to play the bridesmaid too often, i would put my money on the Lankans to make the grade.

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.