"The Joker" is the King of the Deck: Australian Open 2013

Photo: AP

Melbourne, Australia --

Novak ("The Joker") Djokovic (No. 1, Serbia) defeated Andy Murray (No. 3, Great Britain) to claim the 2013 Australian Open men's singles Championship, 6-7 (2), 7-6 (3), 6-3, 6-2.

The match was played before a capacity crowd at Rod Laver Arena and a world-wide television audience in 3 hours and 40 minutes.

It was top-ranked Novak's 3rd straight Australian Open title, making him the first player in the Open Era to "three-peat" in Melbourne.

It was also Novak's 4th Aussie crown, and his 6th overall Grand Slam title.

"I love this court", exclaimed Djokovic. "It's definitely my favorite Grand Slam. It's an incredible feeling winning this trophy once more."

In the women's Championship Finals, Victoria Azarenka (No. 1, Belarus) defeated Li Na (No. 13, China) 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, overcoming a boisterous crowd in favor of her opponent. 

It was Azarenka's second Australian Open title. "This one is way more emotional. It's gonna be extra special for me, for sure," exclaimed Azarenka.

In the men's doubles Championship Finals, the Bryan Brother twins from USA, Bob and Mike, prevailed in straight sets over the Dutch pair Robin Haase and Igor Sjisling, 6-3, 6-4.

It was their sixth Australian Open title, and their 13th overall Grand Slam title, the most ever for any men's doubles team. 

"To be a part of history is pretty special," remarked Mike Bryan, cementing their place as the most winning doubles team of all-time.

Congrats to all the winners, players, fans and supporters of the Australian Open 2013.

It was a fantastic tournament . . . See you next year!
Gary

Tennis Quote of the Day on Footwork and Speed: Patrick McEnroe

"Tennis is a running sport, and always will be." 

-- Patrick McEnroe, ESPN TV Commentator

January 25, 2013

During the Australian Open 2013
Men's Semi Final Between 

Andy Murray and Roger Federer

Video: What is the Beauty of Tennis? From Andre Agassi . . .

Image By: Quwatha Valentine

Andre Agassi explains the beauty of tennis - and it's lesson for life: To strive, To adjust, To overcome.

Best,
Gary

Ready? Play! Australian Open 2013

Happy New Year 2013 to All!

A Video About Tennis Moments in 2012

Can Science Help You Serve like the Pros? . . . Welcome to "The Ghost"

 

Sport scientists working to improve athletic performance have engineered a training device called "The Ghost".

Originally developed to help blind athletes swim, it can be adapted to help tennis player performance, they say.

What is "The Ghost"? And how does it work?

It's literally a mechanized, bionic "vibrating sleeve" worn on your arm and intended to elevate your serve - perhaps to the level of the pros.

It's loaded with sensors to detect the flex and movement of your joints and muscles.

And it's programed to flash LED lights and set off vibrations, when appropriate.

Here's how it works.

The arm movement path of a top tennis professional is digitally recorded - let's say that of Andy Murray when he is performing a world-class serve.

The digital program is then uploaded into the bionic sleeve.

A practicing player wears the sleeve and tries to "ghost" or mimic the Murray serve.

Soft LED lights and gentle vibrations go off whenever the player's arm path even slightly misses the mark - namely, the path of the perfect Murray serve.

With careful and deliberate repetition by the user, the bionic sleeve smoothly guides the player's arm path into a professional level serve.

Can it work?

Benedict Topping thinks so. He's the engineer at Imperial College at London whose team developed the prototype of "The Ghost".

Referring to the serve of an Andy Murray or even the golf swing of a Tiger Woods, Topping comments: "People can train by literally copying the movements of elite athletes."

Topping and his engineers believe it can engrain "muscle memory" - unconscious precision movement through repeated practice.

Best,
Gary

Source Credit:
Vibrating sleeve could help teach Andy Murray's serve, The Telegraph, September 02, 2012