Weekend Special

Sharapova and Djokovic career grand slams

History beckons this weekend for two players who’ve had rather different trajectories in the tennis game but who’ve consistently shown hearts of steel, fostered undoubtedly by their unique journeys.

With her father pushing her like an army sergeant from an early age, then having to move to a foreign country at 13, mental toughness was perhaps always going to be a striking trademark of Sharapova’s. And when the Russian damsel became the youngest ever Wimbledon champion in 2004, aged 17, it seemed a dominant force had been born.

It was. For a while.

Maria Sharapova after beating Petra Kvitova 

Sharapova won the US Open in 2006 and then the Australian Open in 2008. But her early success was hampered, and then curtailed, by injuries to her shoulders and problems with her service action. Sidelined for almost a year from May 2008, it seemed the Steffi Graff-esque Maria some had predicted would never materialise.

However, since her comeback in 2009, Sharapova, in typical fashion, has fought back with vigour, winning seven singles titles to bring her career total to 26. And after her French Open semi-final win over Petra Kvitova on Thursday, Sharapova is top of the women’s rankings once again. An even bigger prize awaits today. This afternoon she faces surprise Italian Sara Erani in the final looking to become only the tenth woman to achieve a Career Grand Slam – winning the Australian, French and US Open as well as Wimbledon.

Women’s tennis is still crying out for a leader of the pack and consistent rivalry at the top, something which hasn’t been seen since the gradual fall-off of the Williams sisters.

I have never been Sharapova’s biggest fan because of her screaming, but you can’t discredit her heart. And a firing world number one can only be good for the women’s game.

Djokovic also had to leave home very young moving to Germany at 14 for his tennis apprenticeship. Djokovic also briefly considered representing Great Britain instead of his native Serbia. Good thing he didn’t, he might not have won half the grand slams he has now… just ask Andy Murray.

Djokovic has developed into the most complete player in tennis, indeed famed tennis coach Nick Bollettieri even goes as far as to say Nole is the most complete player of all-time. I believe Djokovic could have won the French Open last year. I believe, however, that he had done a bit too much leading up to Roland Garros, winning epic finals in Rome, Madrid, added all the incredible success he had enjoyed at the beginning of 2011. He then left himself too much to do in last year’s semi against the venerable Roger Federer, going two sets down, and that was that. He was just too tired.

This year is slightly different. Yes, he has had some marathons at this Roland Garros championship but he will be fresh, especially after a relatively easy clash, for a grand slam semi-final, yesterday against Federer. He will have to be. He is going up against the greatest clay court player of all-time and the greatest competitor tennis has ever seen.

Rafael Nadal knows how to win on any given Sunday, and on clay he is in his element. It’s a very tough final to call. But I don’t see Djokovic winning though. The King of Roland Garros won’t be dethroned this year.

Miami Heat v Boston Celtics, Game 7

Miami versus Boston is the game everyone is talking bout in the basketball world. And it should be a cracker. I remember Kevin Garnett saying after a Boston comeback win over the Orlando Magic in January that the game had been a “bar fight”, and basically that the Celtics loved it. He was very pumped. And that is what the Celtics are all about.

They are warriors, they know the battle and they love the battle. Their record, thus, over the last five years has been truly phenomenal.

Rajon Rondo, Superstar

Rajon Rondo has elevated himself, I believe, to true superstar status in these playoffs. Not just flash but numbers, like guys such as Kobe, Durant, Rose and of course a man he’s facing tonight, LeBron James... or just LeBreezy.

James is the most freakishly talented athlete there’s probably ever been, even though Usain Bolt might have something to say about that. He’s been producing some seriously crazy numbers in these playoffs. And yet there will always be doubts over his big-match temperament until he captures that first ring.

My problem with Miami has always been that they haven’t won enough battles. In the regular season they were regularly losing the games I considered to be big games, with a notable exception being a 98-93 home win over the Oklahoma City Thunder in April.

Having one of the league’s best regular season records is all well and good, but at the end of the day its winning when it matters that counts.

Euro 2012

Euro 2012 kicked off with a bang last night, with a drama filled opener between co-hosts Poland and the always plucky Greece, and then an exhibition by Russia, against the Czech Republic, that has some touting Dick Advocaat’s team as a serious dark horse for the whole thing. Certainly they will progress from this group. But beyond that it is hard to say. Perhaps the weather and the conditions may favour them in a way; they are used to the Eastern Europe breeze, so you can’t count them out. And these are the Euros after all – a competition known for its surprises. Nevertheless, for the big prize I would still favour Spain; they are always the safe choice if I’m putting my house on the line.

Germany are the other serious contender in my book, Die Nationalmannschaft – the team that is always there or thereabouts at big tournaments.

Bafana Bafana…

Bafana Bafana post-Mosimane starts today against Botswana. Somehow many South Africans still believe they can beat the Zebras easily. That’s certainly what the press was saying last week before the Ethiopia game; six points were the minimum requirement from Bafana’s first two 2014 Fifa World Cup qualifiers. 

Botswana, however, are a resolute team and will sense an opportunity to create some history this afternoon. Beating South Africa is still a major fillet for African teams, especially Southern African teams, as they are regarded as the undisputed powerhouse in this region. South Africans don’t seem to realise this, and expecting park walks, especially away from home, is a very fanciful if not naïve notion.

I thought Pitso Mosimane had done a super job with Bafana Bafana until the 0-0 fiasco against Sierra Leone. Even then he deserved another chance, I thought. South Africa generally played well throughout the campaign. And as I always say, there are few teams I’d rather watch for entertaining football. Spain, Argentina, the old Brazil, the orange Netherlands, Bafana… and Egypt, those are my international benchmarks.

The problem with Mosimane, from my point of view, was some of the pronouncements he made which got him in trouble in the end. The tone prior to the Ethiopia game was certainly quite worrying, almost dismissive of the East African side as an opponent. This perceived arrogance to me was his downfall as it heightened the already unrealistic expectations placed on Bafana. And this attitude will continue to Bafana Bafana’s downfall unless it is curbed, or least matched by swagger on the field of play.

The Mighty Boks

Better late than never they say. Heyneke Meyer finally is the Springbok coach.

We could be talking of South Africa as the double World Champions right now, such is the strength and depth of talent in this generation, and the confidence and respect the Boks had generated after winning the 2007 World Cup. Let’s make it clear that this is the finest generation of top-class rugby athletes South Africa has had, certainly since re-admission, and by all evidence it is getting better.

Today’s game against England is the start of the Meyer era and as expected he has by and large gone with the most experience he could have.

I am very excited to see François Steyn at inside centre though. I believe that it is his best position – he is a bit too crazy for flyhalf or fullback… long range drop-kicks and all that. I furthermore believe Steyn is the finest inside centre in the world, even better than Ma’a Nonu and Sonny Bill Williams, and Jamie Roberts. The big boys in that position; no pun intended. He has been since so South Africa won the 2007 World Cup.

Frans Steyn at last year's World Cup

The only slight disappointment for me personally in the 15 chosen by Meyer is Lambie not starting at fullback, especially with the game being played at his home stadium. He was outstanding at fullback during the World Cup last year and I believe this is his best place for the Springboks for the time being. He seems the heir-apparent for the 10 jersey, but at Test rugby I still prefer a 100 percent kicker. That’s the only area Lambie is lacking, his goal-kicking. It’s good, but it’s not Morne Steyn good.

Eben Etzebeth is a beast-child. With the old Bulls duo of Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha gone, you would think the Springbok lock combination of the future will be that of the Stormers’ Etzebeth and Andries Bekker. However, with Bekker ruled out of this series with injury, it is a chance for Juandre Kruger to stake his claim for serious consideration.

Heinrich Brussouw out of the 32-man squad completely is a bit of a surprise for me. The man is phenomenon. His Cheetahs teammate Coenie Ootshuizen has also superb at tighthead prop in Super Rugby and he may be slightly aggrieved to only be on the bench. Nevertheless it is a great team.

My favourite rugby coach in the world, Nick Mallet, said England will be organised and very dangerous, pin-pointing their scrum and ‘pressure defence’ as two of their main strengths. England, Mallet said, will also try to frustrate South Africa, making discipline imperative.

This is an England team that has made massive strides under new boss Stuart Lancaster after a lacklustre 2007 World Cup. There is a fresh belief and a breath of fresh air after the dictatorships of the last five or six years.

It always interesting how the referee officiates the contact point, the breakdowns, rucks and mauls, but even with that, the mighty Springboks should be too strong for England.

Finally, Lesotho v Sudan…

We sign off on a sour note. Yes, Likuena. After a 7-0 loss to Ghana last week Likuena are back in Lesotho and looking for the reprieve of home comforts as they welcome Sudan. The weather it is has been pointed out could aid Lesotho in today’s World Cup qualifier at the Setsoto Stadium. It has been bitterly cold in Maseru – as is the norm in Lesotho at this time of the year – and rainy too. We will need much more than the weather though. This is a top Sudan team, as I have pointed out before; in my opinion, certainly a top 15 side on the African continent. Sudan were superb at the recent Afcon – athletic, quick, physical, skilful – and it was just naivety on that sort of stage which cost them in the end.

Sudan, we should also realise, has one of the top domestic leagues on the continent while several of their players are now plying their trade overseas.

If Sudan can beat Lesotho tomorrow, I would go as far as to say that I can see Sudan topping this group of death, ahead of Ghana and Zambia (and Likuena), and making it to the final round of World Cup qualifying.

But Lesotho is at home and after the shenanigans of last week it is a chance to restore pride. Plus there’s celebratory mood in Lesotho after the smooth elections we had. And like that old Madiba magic for South Africa, it would be great if we had some Tom Thabane magic.

Anyway, we are at home, and at home we should always win.

- Malome Thabiso, Mokhotlong