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WORLD OF TENNIS: Mid-term report - Fab Four and grunts galore

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As tennis heads into its unofficial mid-term recess, time to consider the best and worst of a frantic three-month period that took in the French Open and Wimbledon...

THE BEST

1. From the clay of Monte Carlo to the lawns of Wimbledon the so-called Fab Four did not disappoint, with Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic cleaning up all the big titles between them, supported by Andy Murray (winner at Queen's) and Roger Federer.

If you were to pick out one aspect it is the quartet's astonishing athleticism that most impresses, something it is impossible to tire of wondering at.

No Djok! Wimbledon was illuminated by the world's top four this year

2. All hail the showmen. In an age when tennis has to compete with other sports to provide thrills and spills how great to see Andy Murray producing the 'Tweener' or 'Hot Dog' shot, most memorably against Ivan Ljubicic in the third round at Wimbledon.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga also proved a massive crowd favourite by flinging his giant frame around like Jurgen Klinsmann. Forget those who bang on about it being 'disrespectful' to opponents, we need more, please.

3. Some criticism of women's tennis at this point in its history is valid, but let it not be said that it is predictable. Roland Garros and Wimbledon threw up two very different and unexpected champions in Li Na and Petra Kvitova.

The top players of the game, an eclectic and interesting bunch, also showed they were easily good enough to see off the rusty, returning Williams sisters, contrary to what some believed.

Ladies' day: Wimbledon has a new heroine following Kvitova's victory

THE WORST

1. Timewasting is the curse of the modern game, and the sport's leaderless administration looks too weak to act.

Too much time between points, far too much unnecessary towelling down, too much bouncing of the ball between serves, too much summoning on of the trainer, too many dubious toilet breaks. So many of the good things going on are being diminished by all this. Time to put a clock on the court.

2. Grunting is the curse of mainly, but not exclusively, the women's game. What a turn-off to those watching live and television alike. Apart from being deeply customer unfriendly it also stretches the boundaries of gamesmanship.

Ignore the nonsense about it being a necessary part of breathing technique, the likes of Sharapova and Azarenka need to be told to stop their constant shriek-grunting forthwith or face the consequences.

Making a racquet: Azarenka is one of those culpable

    More from Mike Dickson...   World of Tennis: Gulbis may be right that the top four are boring and polite... but no sport has the characters of 30 years ago 02/06/13   The tune has been changed: The ITPL launch will finally end the tedious annual complaints over the length of the calendar 26/05/13   World of Tennis: Nadal looks as good as ever... hopefully Murray will be fit to test him in Paris 19/05/13   World of Tennis: Slams need to help smaller events pay the way for Future stars 13/05/13   All England Club can't find members who saw Bunny's big day 08/07/12   Mike Dickson's World of Tennis: Jack's not court short 01/07/12   Mike Dickson's World of Tennis: Confounding stereotypes 17/06/12   World of Tennis: Like her parents before her, Baltacha deserves Olympic spot 10/06/12   World of Tennis: Watson has no issues with new Brit Konta 03/06/12   VIEW FULL ARCHIVE  

3. Beyond Murray there is no getting away from the fact that a sustained revival in British fortunes remains way off. Women's head coach Nigel Sears became the latest senior figure to flee the beleagured Lawn Tennis Association.

Junior singles results at Wimbledon were particularly dismal, bar LTA refusenik Liam Broady. So much money, and still so little to show for it.

CURIOUS CASE OF COURT COWBOY

Trawling through readers' emails post-Wimbledon one question kept recurring (apart from those asking when grunting will be banned).

Curiously, it was concerning the identity of the bearded, blazered man in a cowboy hat who always si ts in the competitors' box on the Centre Court at Wimbledon.

After some research I can tell you that his name is David Shearing, one of the Al l England's longest- serving voluntary stewards. He is English, apparently, and lives for much of the year in the Gulf. And he has one of the best jobs at The Championships.

AGASSI'S ACCOLADE

Andre Agassi was inducted into tennis's Hall of Fame at Newport, Rhode Island, over the weekend, joining his wife Steffi Graf in the exclusive club.

The honour is subject to a vote among various parts of the tennis world, including journalists, and not everybody who casted their ballot was in favour of him being included.

For sure Agassi was a magnificent player and three dimensional character, but is it right that someone often mired in controversy and involved in such a scandalous drugs cover-up (as revealed in his autobiography) gets to receive this enormous accolade?

It seems the sport's traditional heroworship of its biggest stars has overridden concerns that putting him in the Hall of Fame sends out mixed messages about the sport's attitudes to banned substances.

Hall of fame: Agassi has a long and illustrious record in the sport, but should he qualify for such a high award

ROBSON BACK IN THE HUNT

Professional tennis in the UK does not entirely stop right here, with lower level tour events coming up in places like Frinton, Wrexham, Chiswick and Roehampton. This week sees a $25,000 (£15,500) women's tournament at Foxhills in Surrey, and among the participants is Laura Robson, fresh from giving Maria Sharapova a scare at Wimbledon.

BRIT OF THE SUMMER (AN ANDY MURRAY-FREE ZONE)

Taking in all the frenetic activity of the last eight weeks, it has to be Elena Baltacha, winner of matches at the French Open and Wimbledon, and titleist at the women’s tournament in Nottingham.






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