TheSportsCampus

January was a race for the number one spot across sports, whether it was Manchester United chasing Liverpool at the head of the Premier League, or South Africa closing in on Australia's Test and ODI ranking. It began with an Indian wildcard making it to the Chennai Open final and ended with a bang. South Africa's march to be the best ODI team, Nadal's first win at the Australian Open, India's first mixed doubles title at a Grand Slam, the Padma Shri awards debate, Manchester United's clean sheet record and Barcelona's fine form in La Liga. Read on.

The rise of the Proteas; India keeps winning

When the fortress begins to crumble, you know the king's rule is in danger. In the decade betwee n 1998 and 2008, in twenty tests and ODI's, Australia had lost just once at Perth. India hammered on the walls with a test win last year, South Africa widened the cracks with another test victory in December, and took the ODI throne by clinching the last match of the series on January 30th. A crown and three matches at Perth lost in a twelve month period. The recession hasn't spared the Kangaroos either.

South Africa have been clinical on the tour Down Under, and in January, despite losing the third test and both the T20's, they stitched together a seamless 4-1 victory in the ODI series, without the inspirational Graeme Smith.

Entering the series as underdogs, they finally beat the mental boogey that has haunted them in rubbers against Australia. Albie Morkel slashed a couple of quick 40's to chase down big totals in the first and third matches, Hashim Amla, AB De Villiers cracked consecutive half centuries in the fourth and fifth matches and Lonwabo Tsotsobe picked up four wickets on debut in the last match to ensure a satisfied flight back home.

With series wins over Australia, England and Pakistan and a draw against India away from home in the last two seasons, South Africa is on the rise. Having missed the opportunity to become No.1 in the series gone by, they'll be licking their lips for their home series against Australia in three weeks.

An era ended for Australia. The last time they lost two consecutive test series was 20 years ago, losing to Pakistan and West Indies away. West Indies in 1993 was also their last series loss at home. It's a testament to their excellence, but with a team reeling from the loss of their most successful opening pair and two of their greatest bowlers, the road ahead seems daunting. They're still No.1 in the Test rankings, mind you, and a win over New Zealand will hand them their numero uno ODI status as well, so there's more than hope. Knowing how they respond to challenges, next month will be an intriguing stage of their season.

Elsewhere, India registered victories in their first two ODI's in Sri Lanka, taking their winning streak to seven. Three more matches beckon and the odds on India completing two series whitewashes have never been better. Stay tuned to your cricket channels this February.

 

Rafa and Serena: Grand performances

It was the thriller it promised to be. Well, maybe not quite Wimbledon 2008, but that would probably be impossible to match anyway. The first five setter in the Australian Open final for twenty one years, and Rafael Nadal sealed his place as the first Spanish winner in the history of the tournament. After four hours and twenty three minutes against 14th Grand Slam seeking Roger Federer. It's probably an indication of how the race for No.1 will progress this year as well.

Both started out strong, and while Federer was a joy to watch in his demolition of Del Potro and Roddick in the quarters and semis, Nadal came through the longest match in Australian Open history (5hr 14 min) against Fernando Verdasco in the semifinals.

The run up to the Australian Open suggested that there might be a surprise or two. Andy Murray clinched the title at Doha, beating Federer in the semifinal and Roddick in the final while Gael Monfils eliminated Nadal in the quarters. But Murray couldn't reproduce his form at the Open, losing out to Verdasco, and it was a Nadal-Federer delight for the fans for the 19th time.

On the women's side, Serena Williams did what she does best. Win the Australian Open every alternate year. And it is pre destined that she'll do it in situations from where no tennis player should win. In 2005, she came from 1-5 down in the third set to beat Kim Clijsters. Maria Sharapova had match point in 2007, but couldn't convert. This year, Svetlana Kuznetsova, served for the match in the quarters, but Serena just wouldn't lose.

She got to the final, walloped the other favourite Dinara Safina 6-0, 6-3 and is back to where she belongs, no.1 on the WTA tour.

 

Somdev's promise, a Slam each for Sania, Mahesh and Yuki

Indian tennis probably never had a better start to the year than in the past month. First, Somdev Devvarman accepted a wild card at the Chennai Open and almost did a Goran Ivanisevic. He stunned former world no.1 Carlos Moya in the second round in three sets before shocking big serving Ivo Karlovic in the quarter finals. Rainer Schuttler's retirement in the semis allowed him a shot at the trophy, but he fell short losing to Marin Cilic in the final. He then beat Prakash Amritraj in the first round of the qualifying tournmanent for the Australian Open, but couldn't progress further. Regardless, his ranking shot up from 202 to 156 and the year ahead should be interesting for the two-time NCAA championships holder.

What do you do when people question your ability as a tennis player? Easy. Win a Grand Slam. Sania Mirza probably had the roughest year of her career in 2008, falling out of the top 100 in the singles ranking, but any queries in 2009 about form and caliber will be satisfactorily answered by pointing towards the mixed doubles title at the Australian Open. Like Ivanisevic said after winning Wimbledon in 2001, "I'm a Grand Slam Champion and no one can take that away from me" And even though Sania has a girl's doubles title at Wimbledon, this first major win on the professional circuit will be especially sweet.

No less credit to Mahesh Bhupathi, who made it to both the men's doubles and the mixed doubles finals, and swallowed the defeat to the Bryan brothers on Saturday to focus and bring home India's first mixed doubles title at a Grand Slam.

Indian seeded No.1 and winning a Grand Slam? You heard right. Say hello to Yuki Bhambri, younger brother to the Bhambri sisters, Ankita and Sanaa, and Australian Open Junior Boys Champion. A trainee at Nick Bollettieri's Academy, Bhambri has been quietly working his way into the limelight. He won the Orange Bowl, the top junior tennis tournament in the USA, last year and led India to the Junior Fed Cup semifinals with Saurabh Singh. Beginning his Australian Open campaign with a hard fought three sets win over Mexican German Sanchez Deflin, Yuki breezed through the next three rounds before beating seventh seeded Adrien Puget of France in the semifinals.

He reserved the best for last though, beating Alexandrous Gergoudas in the final without conceding a single break point opportunity. With Leander Paes also making the semifinals of the Men's Doubles, it was accolades aplenty for Indians at the Australian Open. Bring on Roland Garros.

The Padma Shri awards debate

On field excitement is fine, but controversy and Indian sport are attached with an umbilical cord. After India's best performance at an Olympics, this year's Padma Shri awards for sports should have been easy picks. One each for the medal winners. There have only been seven of them since Independence anyway and they deserve to be honoured. But while Abhinav Bindra got his due with the Padma Vibhushan, boxer Vijender Singh and wrestler Sushil Kumar were left out of the list that included Pankaj Advani, MS Dhoni and Harbhajan Singh. While Advani and Dhoni's inclusion is still understandable, Harbhajan, despite being the highest wicket taker last season, was an odd choice considering the controversies he was involved in. Saina Nehwal would also have fit the bill, but the Beijing heroes have good reason to be miffed. An Olympic medalist in India should be worthy of a Padma Shri. The Government missed a trick there.

Man U, Barcelona: Sitting pretty

Manchester United began the New Year five points behind Liverpool but those are long gone memories as United rattled up four consecutive victories beginning with a 3-0 destruction of Chelsea at Old Trafford while Liverpool slipped up at Stoke City. United followed it up with a narrow win against Bolton, a 5-0 masterclass at West Brom and another 1-0 victory against Everton at home. In the process, they created a new Premier League record for most time played without conceding a goal: 12 matches and 1194 minutes!

It was a fitting reply to the challenge thrown down by Liverpool this season and though Liverpool beat Chelsea at Anfield on the 1st of February, they are still 2 points and a game behind United. Aston Villa has been a revelation this season as well, and they picked up three wins and a draw in January to remain tied on points with Chelsea.

In La Liga, FC Barcelona continued their pre Christmas Real Madrid thrashing form with four more wins in January to go twelve points clear of Real Madrid with seventeen games left. They are currently on a streak of eight away wins and are looking good to regain the crown they conceded two seasons ago.

The Champions League knockout round begins in the second week of the coming month, and with the Premier League battle intensifying, February should be a good month for football. Also watch out for Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur in the Carling Cup final on March 1.

 

Photograph Credits: Andy & Anna Kelk (South African team), Tidalist (Rafa), Gordon Flood (Man United)