Posts Tagged ‘tennis’

Trusting an Instinct

Monday, August 24th, 2009
by Christian Oakley

We loved our experience with the Head Liquidmetal Instinct. Maybe a little too much. You know it's too much when you find yourself wishing you still had one (as opposed to your current racquet, which you happen to love) after you've sent back your demo.

At a very light weight of roughly eleven ounces, the racquet was very easy to maneuver, but wasn't flimsy like other racquets at that weight might be.

We loved the way the racquet connected with our strings, and we were able to place the ball around the court as well as any racquet lets us. While it's light and it has a bigger head, in no way will it limit your game.

We loved the power too. We found ourselves swinging at 80% of our usual racquet speed, and there was a little more oomph in our shots than usual. Serving was phenomenal, especially our second serves. They fell somewhere in between the speed of our usual second serves and our usual first serves.

Ground strokes using the Head Liquidmetal Instinct were easy to perform, but those used to a heavier racquet might need to adjust a little before letting forehands rip. The ball will most likely take off on you the first few times.

Not to worry though, just apply some extra spin, as the structure of the racquet's strings is very conducive to this.

The natural power this racquet gives is a great thing, but may be a little confusing at first. While the power is certainly there on full swings, it gives a little back when you're attempting to block or chip a shot. You'll need to get accustomed to swinging a little harder in these situations, but the light weight should make it easier to do than with other racquets.

This is an excellent racquet for any player with an advanced game. While the light weight of the racquet is still somewhat rare when it comes to racquets in this class, a little tape to weigh it down can definitely ease any concerns about that. We liked it so much we wanted one, so we'd definitely suggest you check this out.

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French Open Tennis

Wednesday, August 19th, 2009
by Angela Jones

It is highly unimaginable that people will not know of the French Open tennis championship, because it is a competition which is a regular topic of conversation. In French the name of the competition is 'Les Internationaux de France de Roland Garros' or 'Tournoi de Roland Garros'. This tournament, which lasts for roughly a fortnight is held in Paris at the Roland Garros Stadium, from which it got its name.

The French Open is one of the most advertised and broadcast sports events in the entire world of sport and lots of VIPs go to it. The attendees are fanatics who wait with baited breath on every stroke, especially when there is a tight battle between the two teams, doing|trying| their best to win. Even TV viewers actually get a feeling of being there live.

The French Open tennis championship comes in second on the annual schedule of the Grand Slam tournaments and its history goes back to the year of 1891 when it became an international competition. At that time it was called the 'International Championship of Tennis of France' or 'Championat de France International de Tennis' in French.

Initially, only players that were registered or licensed in France were permitted to participate in this competition, but things took a different turn in 1925, when the French open tennis tournament finally became accessible to foreign players. In 1912, the court the participants used was made of red brick dust. Actually the crushed brick was formed into red clay that covered the ground, which until then would have been a green lawn.

The public popularity of the French Open tennis tournament held at the Roland Garros stadium, dates back to a competition between the Philadelphia Four (Rene Lacoste, Jean Borotra, Henri Cochet and Jacques Brugnon) who won the Davis Cup in 1927. It was the trigger of the desire in the French to defend their cup in future competitions. This new tournament was designed to bring back home the cup and was held at a stadium named after the World War I pilot Roland Garros. Since then the name has stuck.

The word 'open' became has been used since 1968, when the tournament allowed|was open to| both amateurs and professionals alike who wanted to test their skills at tennis. Since then the French Open tennis tournament has also brought in some novel prizes.

Apart from the usual winners' prizes, they also award a 'Prix Orange' for the most correct and press-friendly player, a 'Prix Citron' for the player with the strongest personality and a 'Prix Burgeon' for the one the best new-comer of the tennis year.

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Roger Federer Bio

Tuesday, June 16th, 2009
by Denise I Smithson

Roger Federer is a name sure to become legendary in the tennis world. He has won four Tennis Master's Cup titles, thirteen Grand Slam singles titles, fourteen ATP Masters Series titles and an Olympic Gold Medal, all by the age of 27! Federer has won 19 Grand Slam singles titles (a record which still stands), 10 of which were won consecutively between Wimbledon in 2005 and the US Open in 2007. Federer is currently ranked second in the world, having held the number one rank between February 2004 and August 2008; he was also the winner of the Laureus World Sportsman award for four consecutive years between 2004 and 2008.

Born in Basel, Switzerland, he grew up in the suburb of Munchenstein. He played several sports as a youth and continues to spend much of his time in the Basel area.

Even at the age of six it was obvious that Federer was a born athlete. He begun tennis lessons at the age of nine, working under the tutelage of a private coach by the time he was ten. Federer also played football and cricket as a teenager; both of which he also showed great potential for. However, he ultimately decided to make his career in tennis, though he continued to play cricket in the off-season. He had won all of the national championships open to him at the age of fourteen, being awarded with the opportunity to train at the Ecublems-based Swiss National Tennis Center. Feder joined the ITF junior tennis circuit in 1996, turning pro by 1998; this year saw him winning the ITF Junior Tennis championship as well as the junior WInbledon and the Orange Bowl.

While most tennis players are more at home on one type of court or another, Federer's versatility has made him famous. One sportswriter has said that tennis players can be clay court specialists, grass court specialists, hard court specialists; or they can be like Roger Federer. He is best known for his powerful groundstroke, as well as for being a skilled volleyer and baseliner. Federer uses a hybrid grip which takes elements from the semi-western and eastern strokes.

In his career, Roger Federer has won a whopping 57 singles titles. He was named by Time magazine as one of the most influential people of the year 2007. Federer is engaged in charity work outside of his tennis career. He founded the Roger Foundation in 2003, to promote sports to young people and to help disadvantaged persons. At only 27 years old, we may have not yet seen the best of Roger Federer yet.

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