Laurie's Tennis articles

There has been a lot of talk about Novak Djokovic’s association with Boris Becker since his appointment as coach in December 2013. At the time of the appointment, fans on tennis forums and social media expressed surprise, many ex tennis players and pundits expressed surprise.   If appears that even Boris Becker was surprised that he was asked and then appointed to the job.   The main focus has been what exactly Becker has brought to the table in terms of improvement.   When I watch interviews involving Novak the focus tends to be on Becker being there, knowing what it is like at key moments in a grand slam final, and can provide positivity to him. Before Boris’ appointment at the end of 2013, Novak lost three grand slam finals, two semifinals and his number 1 ranking to Rafael Nadal in a twelve month period.   However, Becker must provide much more than what they let on in the media and what the press tend to report (we know the Press love to simplify thin...

Last Sunday we witnessed an exhilarating end to a great French Open, one of the best for many years.    The focus will be on Novak Djokovic and his missed opportunity to win the French Open and join the elite club of guys to win all four major championships in their career.   But for me, what made this the best tournament of the last decade was the champion being dethroned at a relatively early stage; with the remaining players thinking this is their best chance to win the title which eluded them for so long.   It is inconceivable that one player could win a tournament nine times at grand slam level, so when he loses early, it really is up for grabs.    The way Wawrinka was able to win the tournament was truly remarkable, and is rather fitting that he won the tournament in such a manner a day after Barcelona beat Juventus in the champions league final, a triumph for attacking risk taking sport over efficient if unspectacular play. Although it...

Novak Djokovic wins Monte Carlo Back in 2012 I wrote an article for Eurosport asking whether some Masters finals on the ATP tour should be restored to best of five sets.    I think Masters tournaments are in need of a shake up. The dichotomy is that if I were to contact the ATP now, they would tell me how well the tournaments are doing, how much success they have had and how much money they generate, and there would be no need to change anything.   They would also think I am out of my mind but would probably be too polite to say it. But precisely the reasons why the ATP do not think there needs to be change, are the reasons there needs to be change.   There is no doubt in my mind that Masters finals exclusively becoming best of three sets has stifled competition and kept those at the top, at the top.   Why? There are a host of reasons for this.   The first thing to say is when best of five sets were jettisoned in 2007, it coincided w...