Anderson makes SA proud
WHEW! What a weekend of sport . And the cold weather added to sitting in front of the telly, taking in all the action.
Big names have all fallen by the wayside, and it’s good to see the socalled ‘underdogs’ coming to the fore and taking their rightful places in sporting history.
It all started last Wednesday evening when South African Kevin Anderson carried one gun too many for Roger Federer. Being two-love down and then with a match-point against him in the third set, Anderson rallied to eventually take out Federer. As if that was not a feat in itself, the South African repeated his form against John Isner in a marathon duel that lasted six hours and thirty-six minutes, the second longest men’s semifinal at Wimbledon.
As Anderson said in the post-match interview that the rules in Grand Slam tennis have to change so that the tiebreak can be played, especially if the game goes to a five-setter. And I agree that we have to see some rules change. He eventually took out Isner 26-24.
That match took it all out from Anderson, and the pendulum swung heavily in favour of Novak Djokovic, who made a sparkling return to form to beat the more fancied Rafael Nadal.
At five hours and 15 minutes, Djokovic’s semi-final victory against Nadal was the fifth-longest men’s singles match in Wimbledon history.
But you have to agree that the final was an anti-climax of note. Losing the first two sets 6-2 6-2 showed how physically fatigued Anderson was. He offered some resistance in the third set, but Djokovic, given his experience in Grand Slam finals, was just too good for the South African.
So will we see a change to the rules? Only time will tell. And while they are at it, the Slam organisers should look at the time that is wasted by players like Nadal and Djokovic when they start to serve.
Nadal touches just about every part of the left-hand side of his face, then repeat for the right-hand side, then he tucks in his hair under his headband, adjusts his shorts, smells his fingers, blows on them then serves. And he does this when he is on the receiving end as well. Djokovic is none the better. I counted that he bounced the ball no fewer than 17 times before service and even the commentators mentioned that he takes way too long.
And what about Angelique Kerber’s win against Serena Williams? Kerber claimed her first Wimbledon title with a more than convincing 6-3, 6-3 win over the seven-time champion. The German signalled her intentions right from the get-go when she broke Williams serve in the very first game. Let’s face it. It was a one-sided affair that most tennis fans around the world did not see coming, including Williams and her entourage.
VIVE la France! on winning the World Cup. But I really hoped that Croatia would win. Luka Modric was just not in the game. The Croats lacked organisation in defence, their midfield play was non-existent, and they had no cohesion in attack. I am certainly going to miss the World Cup.
THE Sharks made it through the Super Rugby play-offs by the skin of their teeth. While they beat the Jaguares 20-10 at Kings Park stadium, they had a helping hand from the Highlanders, who beat the Rebels. So, it’s pack your bags time once again as the Sharks fly out to Christchurch in New Zealand to tackle the Crusaders this Saturday, the defending champions who have won 14 of their 16 games this season.
By their own admission, this has not been a good season, let alone great, for the Sharks and coach Robert du Preez has admitted that there is lots more to be done to return arguably one of the best brands in world rugby and in world sport to its former glory. Maybe next season. Maybe.
The Lions are also in the play-offs after they out-classed a valiant and gritty Bulls team. A win against the Jaguares this weekend will see them have home ground advantage for their semi-final clash, which will see the Lions smiling all the way to the bank.
I INTERVIEWED both Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi for BBC Sports recently ahead of the Proteas tour of Sri Lanka. Both spinners spoke of the arduous challenge of playing abroad, but for the Proteas to succumb to 73 all out, their lowest total since re-admission to international cricket, in just 28.5 overs leaves a lot to be desired.
The Proteas were annihilated by the Sri Lankans, who went on to win by 278 runs without raising much of a sweat. Maharaj returned with figures of 4/58 as only one of the positives from this game, but take nothing away from Sri Lankan off-spinner Dilruwan Perera, who ended with an impressive 10-78.
The Proteas top-order batsmen crumbled, again showing their inability to play spin. Only three of their batsmen got into double figures and only one, Vernon Philander, scored more than 20. They lost wickets at intervals of between five and nine minutes between lunch and tea and lost the game inside eight sessions.
Dimuth Karunaratne on his own scored more runs – 218 – than South Africa over both innings – 199. Captain Faf du Plessis admitted that they have lots to learn and lots to do.
The second and final Test starts this Friday.