Novak Djokovic is looking more impressive with each win this year. His win over Rafael Nadal in the final of the Madrid Masters on Sunday was the most eye-catching performance on a tennis court in quite a while. In an almost Davis Cup atmosphere Djokovic not only stood up to the pressure but was the aggressor throughout against a man deemed unbeatable on clay. Nadal had of course gone 38 matches without defeat on clay, a streak that spanned two years and began after the Spaniard's loss to Robin Soderling in the fourth round of the 2009 French Open. But Djokovic, with his unshakeable backhand in tow, wasn’t too bothered and delivered the most outstanding sporting feat of the weekend.
2. Manchester United’s win
Man United buried any hopes of a Chelsea miracle in emphatic fashion. In short, United showed Chelsea who’s boss. It was one of the finest performances by a team in such a high-profile game in recent memory and was certainly United’s best this season. And it’s easy to forget that Sunday was a bit of an awkward situation for United. How in the world had they had allowed Chelsea to come back from the dead? Would United now be embarrassed by a Chelsea team in top form? The short answer was no. United were superb. On another note it maybe shows how even the English Premiership has been this season and how there is truly no exceptional side in the league. Chelsea are not a special side yet they were a win away from taking pole position in the title race with two games to go. What sets United apart though is their insatiable hunger, whenever the business end of the season arrives United step up.
3. Sebastian Vettel
Is Sebastian Vettel the new Michael Schumacher? Well, he’s German, so he ticks that one box. Vettel’s form has been stunning so far this season and his current domination of Formula One is reminiscent of the great Schumi. Last year’s championship win seems to have lifted Vettel to the realms of true champions, he knows he’s good and he fears nothing. As early as it is, it is hard to see who will stop Vettel from winning his second successive Formula One title. The Red Bull car is clearly superior; Vettel and his teammate Mark Webber went out for a little drive in qualifying on Saturday, set the fastest laps and put their feet up for the whole afternoon while the rest of the field desperately tried to match them... which they couldn’t. And at Vettel’s age a second championship could be the first of many more to come.
4. NBA Finals – Lakers outThe Los Angeles Lakers are kings of basketball no more after they were mauled 122-86 by Dallas Mavericks on Sunday, to be dumped 4-0 in the best of seven series. It’s been an up and down season for the Lakers as is usually the case in the NBA’s long regular season before the top 16 teams qualify for the post-season. However, and worryingly, the Lakers by all accounts put on another shabby display lacking teamwork and energy, and maybe it's a sign the team is now long in the tooth.
The Lakers’ loss also perhaps illustrates this is a golden era for the NBA. The legendary Kobe Bryant is the next megastar to go out joining Dwight Howard, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul amongst others on the sidelines, yet there is still plenty of star-power and storylines left in the season. The Heat, probably fuelled by emotion more than any other team, are still there, and the Chicago Bulls whose owner Jerry Reinsdorf in March said can win four championships, still have MVP Derrick Rose. Sadly for the Lakers, the glamour side of basketball, they’ll be watching from the comforts of their living rooms like the rest of the world. Earlier this season Lakers great Jerry West laid into the team saying: “The reason you ‘can’t play defence’ is because you can’t”. Even Lakers coach Phil Jackson grudgingly agreed and the Lakers’ shoddy defence has finally caught up with them.
5. Crusaders beat Stormers
Ok, this match was hyped up, mostly by the South African media, as the game of the Super Rugby season so far. It certainly lived up to the billing in terms of the tension it dished up but in the end the Stormers, at home, couldn’t get the win. The Crusaders’ win instead sent out a strong message and was another indication of their obvious credentials this season. In the grander scheme of things, with one always searching for markers and pointers ahead of the rugby World Cup later this year in New Zealand, the win was an ominous sign of New Zealand’s strength. Its not just the Crusaders, with their explosive backs and sound all-round play, who are impressing, the Blues have been outstanding too this season.
6. Bantu still hanging on
Bantu are still in with a chance of winning the Lesotho Premier League and as each week passes it is more remarkable how they remain in the picture. On Saturday A Matšo Matebele were able to travel to Khukhune and claim an impressive 2-1 win over Maduma, a side that has surprised all this season and has been an extremely tough nut to crack at home. Although Bantu have played a game more than their rivals LDF and LCS, they are firmly in the hunt, still in with a chance of being crowned Vodacom Premier League champions at the end of the month - and that would be a fairytale story.
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