Wildcard Ward Progresses In Dubai

James Ward fully exploited his wildcard entry to the Dubai Tennis Championships with a first round victory over World number 60 Teymuraz Gabashvili.

In a topsy-turvy match, Ward battled from a set and a break down to eventually win 2-6 6-4 7-6(6). This was Ward's second impressive upset of the year after defeating American Sam Querrey in a five-set thriller during the Davis Cup.

The match did not start well for Ward who quickly found himself a set down after being broken twice. Gabashvili then broke early in the second set to leave Ward staring at a first round exit.

However the British number three rallied, breaking twice to take the second set 6-4 and force a decider.

By this point the momentum was firmly in the British corner, Ward racing to a 3-0 lead before Gabashvili took a medical time out. At 5-1 and with two opportunities to serve the for the match the victory looked to be sealed.

However Gabashvili refused to buckle, winning the next five games to leave Ward serving to stay in the match. Ward successfully held serve to force a tie-break decider.

At 6-4 Ward had two break points but failed to convert either of them. It was a case of third time lucky though as he sealed victory moments later.

In the second round Ward will face the veteran Mikhail Youzhny for a possible quarter--final date with Novak Djokovic.

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Cilic Continues Rankings Rise

Marin Cilic continued his fine run of form with his second title in three weeks as he claimed victory at Delray Beach. The Croat added this victory to his Zagreb title two weeks ago and a runner's up spot in Rotterdam last week to rise four places in the rankings to 25. Cilic will be looking to push back into the top 20 following a disappointing second half of last year.

Elsewhere Ernest Gulbis rose to a career high eighteenth following victory in Marseilles this weekend. Gulbis claimed his fifth ATP title with a 7-6(5) 6-4 victory over local favourite Jo-Wilfried Tsonga who did not move this week.

In fact it was a quiet week at the top of the men's rankings with no movement inside the top ten. Kei Nishikori was a big loser though, dropping five places to twentieth whilst a strong showing from Pablo Andujar reaching the Rio Open semi-final sees him rise six places to 34th. Andy Murray will be wary of Andujar's form after being drawn against him in the opening  round of this week's tournament in Acapulco.

A first round appearance in Marseilles pushed promising young Brit Kyle Edmund into the top 300, whilst it was a quiet week elsewhere for the British boys. The girls also had a quiet week with neither Laura Robson or Heather Watson taking part in any competitions. Nor will they be playing this week as Robson continues to recover from a wrist injury whilst Watson retired in a qualifying match in Brasil.

The women's rankings saw more change at the top than the men. Despite losing in the first round to Ana Ivanovic, Angelique Kerber rose two places to 6th whilst Simona Halep followed her in rising two places to 7th. Petra Kvitova's lack of action meant she dropped from 6th to 9th whilst a quarter-final showing from Jelena Jankovic was not enough as she fell one place to eighth.

The Dubai champion, Venus Williams celebrated a fantastic week with a fifteen place rise to move back inside the top 30 at 29th; only her second WTA title in four years. The other big mover inside the top 100 was the Japanese first seed, Kurumi Nara. Her maiden WTA victory in the Rio Open catapulting her fourteen places to 48th.

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Li Na Breaks Rankings Record

By moving up to second in the world, Li Na has become the highest ever ranked Asian player after rising above Victoria Azarenka. Despite only reaching the third round in Doha, Azarenka's absence meant that Na was guaranteed to move into second before the tournament had even started.

Agnieszka Radwanska also rose above Azarenka into third after a strong tournament in Doha, reaching the semi-final. Doha champion Simona Halep rose just one place to ninth whilst beaten finalist Angelique Kerber also rose one to eighth. The other semi-finalist Jelena Jankovic rose to seventh as Sara Errani dropped three places to tenth.

One of the biggest movers this week was Britain's Heather Watson who moved up 39 places to 122nd after claiming the Midland title. Yanina Wickmayer also moved up 14 places to 58th after a strong quarter-final showing in Doha.

In the men's draw, David Ferrer's victory in Buenos Aires combined with Juan Martin Del Potro's poor display in Rotterdam meant that Ferrer moves above Del Potro to fourth in the World. Tomas Berdych ended his 16 month barren run by winning the Rotterdam title, moving him above Andy Murray to sixth as Murray slips to seventh, his lowest position for six years.

Promising youngster Kei Nishikori continued to move towards the top 10, successfully defending his Memphis title and moving up to fifteenth. The largest mover in the top 50 was Marin Cilic who continued his fine run of form by reaching the Rotterdam final, moving him up eight places to 29th.

Big serving Croat Ivo Karlovic was the biggest mover in the top 100 after reaching the final in Memphis, ascending 24 places to 56th. However, it was a poor week for Julien Benneteau as he fell 28 places to 67th in the world.

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Watson Wins Midland Title

Britain's Heather Watson claimed her first trophy of the season as she won the Dow Corning Tennis Classic, brushing aside Ksenia Pervak 6-4 6-0.

The Guernsey-born youngster continues her fine start to 2014 as she failed to drop a single set in the second-tier event in Midland.

The victory sees her continued her ascent back up the rankings as she attempts to break back into the top 100 to ensure she avoids having to qualify for Grand Slams. This week she rose nearly 40 places from 161st to 122nd.

During the first set it looked as though nerves may get the better of the youngster as she found herself 4-1 down to a dominant Pervak. However Watson regained her composure, winning the next eleven consecutive games to claim both the first and second set in quick succession.

Her strong start to 2014 will come as a welcome relief, after spending much of 2013 off the court following a long battle with glandular fever. The illness saw her plummet down the rankings, narrowly avoiding dropping out of the top 200.

It was a weekend to remember for Watson as she followed up on her singles success with a hard-fought victory in the doubles finals as well. Alongside her partner Anna Tatishvili, she won the title after a nervy Championship tie-break decider in the third set against Sharon Fichman and Maria Sanchez.

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Watson Storms Into Semis

Heather Watson secured a place in the Dow Corning Tennis Classic semi-final after a convincing 6-3 6-2 victory over fourth seed Olga Govortsova.

Watson has looked in impressive form in Midland having not dropped a set so far. She came into the tournament on a high after a number of impressive victories in the Fed Cup.

Before this match Govortsova had played British opponents on ten separate occasions, never losing a match. However she was outclassed today by Watson, who never looked troubled by her Belarusian opponent.

After a number of early breaks in serve, Watson emerged with a break advantage at 4-2. From there she held serve twice to claim the first set 6-3.

In the second set Govortsova had no reply to the dogged Brit and quickly found herself 5-1 down. Despite saving one game she succumbed to Watson in the next game, losing the second set 6-2.

Watson will be pleased with her progress in Midland and a victory in the tournament could see her rise almost 40 places to 122 in the world rankings.

The Guernsey born star is looking to recover after missing a large portion of last season through glandular fever left her a long way ourside the top 100.

In the semi-final Watson will play the experienced Sofia Arvidsson. The Swede has proved she can tackle young opposition as she eliminated promising American Lauren Davis 6-3 7-6(6) in the quarter-finals.

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Stuttering Murray Scrapes Into Quarters

Andy Murray survived a second round scare in Rotterdam as he narrowly beat young Austrian Dominic Thiem 6-4 3-6 6-3.

After breezing through his opening round match 6-3 6-3 against Edouard Roger-Vasselin, Murray struggled against the World number 113.

He started strongly, breaking twice to take a 3-0 lead in the opening set. The tenacious youngster then broke back, giving Murray only a single break advantage. This was all he needed though, taking the opening set 6-4.

Much to Murray's annoyance, Thiem refused to go quietly, the 20-year-old swinging freely as he pegged Murray back. The frustration showed after Thiem got the desired break, Murray smashing his racket into his foot. The Austrian showed no sign of nerves as he took the second set 6-3.

Murray rediscovered his rhythm in the third set, battling to break early. From there it was simply a matter of holding serve, as the Scot eventually ground out a 6-3 victory to progress to the quarter-finals.

Playing in his first tournament since his Australian Open defeat to Roger Federer, Murray is aiming to replicate his Rotterdam experience in 2009 when he overcame Rafael Nadal in the final. In order to do that though he will have to overcome Marin Cilic in the next round.

Fresh off the back of claiming his 10th ATP Tour title last week in Zagreb, Cilic is in imperious form, unbeaten in seven matches and seeking vengeance after his Queen's final loss to Murray last year.

Cilic overcame fifth seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-4 6-4 on his way to the quarter-final.

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Sports Ladder (4th - 10th February)

UP - Jenny Jones - This week Jenny Jones became the first Briton in Winter Olympic history to win a medal on snow and only the 23rd ever to win a medal full stop. In fact, she won a medal quicker at the Winter Olympics than Team GB managed at the Summer Olympics two years ago. Her bronze came in the Olympics sexy new sport, Snowboard Slopestyle, in which Britain have actually turned out to be surprisingly good!


UP - Dan Evans - British tennis has been dominated in recent years by Andy Murray as well as the rise of Laura Robson and Heather Watson. But could there be a new kid on the block? At only 22, Evans has time on his side and this week rose to his highest career ranking of 123rd in the World. After upsetting Philipp Kohlschreiber and pushing Tommy Haas to three sets the Birmingham born star will be looking to push into the top 100 to cement a regular place at Grand Slams.

UP - Yulia Lipnitskaya - Sometimes sport just makes me sit and wonder what i've done with my life. Watching 15 year old Yulia Lipnitskaya produce two stunning figure skating routines was certainly one of those moments. The young Russian oozed class and maturity as she glided elegantly across the ice. Her two displays helped Russia win the team figure skating event, becoming the youngest Russian gold medalist in the history of the games in the process.

UP - Katarina Johnson-Thompson - In amongst all the Sochi madness, a new British star emerged on the athletics circuit. Johnson-Thompson made a name for herself after an enigmatic display at London 2012, finishing 15th in the Heptathlon at just 19 years of age. This week she took the British Indoor Championships by storm, collecting Gold in both the long jump and the high jump. More impressively, she broke the British high jump record, held by Debbie Marti since 1997. The next Jessica Ennis?

UP - Dama Schmieg - Now i'm sure a lot of you, like me, have got swept up by the Winter Olympic excitement. Now I doubt any of you have got quite as swept up as Dama Schmieg though. Schmieg has created an 150 yard luge course in his own back garden, which takes 45 seconds to get from start to finish. He has certainly become the coolest man in his neighbourhood after his creation, as many have flocked to have a go at the course.


DOWN - Johnny Quinn - They say lightning doesn't strike twice. Quinn would probably dispute that saying after a seriously unlucky opening few days in Sochi. First, Quinn got stuck in one of the toilets without a phone or any way of getting out. So naturally the American bobsled participant smashed his way out, breaking a hole through the door. But it gets worse, as today Quinn and his teammates got stuck in an elevator and had to be rescued. Is Sochi trying to tell him something?


DOWN - Joe Kinnear - The least surprising news in football occurred this week when Jo(k)e Kinnear left Newcastle at the start of last week. Asking people to judge him on his signings and then making not a single permanent signing wasn't a great start. Failing to pronounce the players names didn't help either. Attempting to sign one of his own players who was out on loan also wasn't a bright moment. The list of stupidity goes on. Newcastle fans will be counting their lucky stars that he is anywhere but at St James' Park.


DOWN - Anna Gasser - Poor Anna Gasser. The final woman left to run in the final of the Snowboard Slopestyle final. The only woman left who could get in the medals. Yet she managed to take all the tension out of the occasion with a seemingly unheard of false start. Tumbling down the hill before she was meant to, before comically failing to get back up it. Then when she did get going she crashed out. It just wasn't her day.


DOWN - David Moyes - Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. The pressure is building on the United manager as they conceded a last gasp equaliser to bottom-of-the-league Fulham at the weekend. The signing of Mata looked to be the rejuvenation  that Moyes needed but it has not had the desired impact and the strange tactic of sending in cross-after-cross was extremely unsuccessful. Moyes needs time, there is no doubt about that, but regardless, beating the bottom side in the League is pretty much a must for the new United boss.


DOWN - Kevin Pietersen - The curtain closes on a wonderful England career but not how anyone would have wanted. Pietersen was told by the ECB that he is no longer wanted in the team as his teammates do not trust him. He was also criticised for some of his dismissals during the recent Ashes tour, despite being the highest run scorer in the squad. It is a shame his England career has ended in such controversy as he had the potential to go down as one of the all time greats. Hopefully he still will.

Jenny Jones - A Star in Sochi

So the Winter Olympics have returned. Normally they come, then they go and we’re just grateful to take home any sort of medal. Last time out in Vancouver we had to wait eight days for Amy Williams to surge home with a gold medal in the skeleton. Our only medal as it turned out. This time though, something is different.

This time we’ve travelled to a Winter Olympics with a number of genuine title contenders. Ranging from curling to speed skating to the skeleton, we have a number of competitors at the top of their sport. Yet, prior to the games, few could have predicted that Jenny Jones would win a bronze medal in the Women’s Snowboard Slopestyle.

After watching her male compatriots Jamie Nicholls and Billy Morgan both make it to the final of the men’s competition, finishing 6^th and 10^th in the process, it was time for Jones to make her own mark. She took the lead after a second run of 87.25 but then had to wait anxiously as ten athletes aimed to topple her.

She slipped down to second, Finland’s Enni Rukajarvi scoring 92.50. Then she was beaten again, American Jamie Anderson scoring 95.25 to push her into bronze. With two competitors still to race it was out of her hands. The first competitor came and crashed out. One left. It was nail-biting stuff and probably wise that Jenny kept her gloves on. Anna Gasser, the last competitor, then also crashed out. It was a long and tense wait, but Jones had done it! She had won Britain’s first medal in Sochi and the first British medal ever won on snow at the Winter Olympics.

But who is Jenny Jones? Well Jenny was born and raised in Bristol, and didn’t get into snow sports until she was 17 when she undertook lessons at the dry ski slope in Churchill, Somerset. Her passion for snowboarding stemmed from a job working as a chalet maid in France the following year. Throughout her childhood she had actively engaged in both Athletics and Gymnastics so was naturally fit. This natural fitness combined with her raw talent meant that at just 19 she stormed to victory in her first British Snowboard Championship.

After this victory Jones’ knew she wanted to form a permanent career in snowboarding but struggled with funding due to the lack of support for winter sports in Britain. To fund her career Jones has held many part-time jobs including as a fencing instructor and cardboard inspector.  Yet hours of arduously examining cardboard paid dividends as Jones ended 2006 second in the World Snowboard Tour Rankings.

From here she was determined to cement her legacy, regularly competing in the Winter X Games, one of the most prestigious annual events in winter sport. She claimed the gold medal in both 2009 and 2010 and was unlucky not to complete the hat-trick in 2011 where she narrowly lost out to Enni Rukajarvi. A victory close to her heart occurred at the European Winter X Games in 2010 where she claimed a gold medal in Tignes, the town she had worked in as a chalet maid when she was younger.

And now here we are. The 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics and a bronze medal wrapped gleefully around her neck. A feat made more impressive by the discovery that she considered retiring from the sport a few years ago before it was announced that Slopestyle would make its Olympic debut in Sochi and also that just three months ago she suffered heavy concussion after a huge fall in training.

She may not have won a Gold medal, but she is currently our Golden Girl. So rare is it that we can celebrate and enjoy Winter Olympic success and yet Jenny has delivered it after just two days. It is probably the first and last time we will see her at an Olympic games but she has left a lasting legacy. She will go down in the history books and perhaps more importantly, as Jenny herself said, she’ll be the answer to a few pub quiz questions from now on.

Evans Defeated in Zagreb

Dan Evans fell at the final hurdle on his quest for a maiden ATP Tour final as he lost in three sets to World number 12, Tommy Haas.

Having already upset Philipp Kohlschreiber and Jan Hajek on route, the British number two was aiming to add Haas to his list of scalps.

After claiming the first set 7-5, it looked like Evans had a real chance of advancing to the final in Zagreb. However experience ultimately conquered, the veteran German winning the next two sets 6-4 6-3 to progress.

Nevertheless, Evans will be extremely pleased with his performance in Croatia, which will see him rise around 20 places in the rankings to 124 after becoming the first British man in three years, aside from Andy Murray, to advance to the semi-finals of an ATP Tour tournament.

His upwards movement in the rankings comes just a week after James Ward also increased 19 places to 156th.

In the final Haas will meet Marin CIlic after the Croatian overcame qualifier Bjorn Phau 6-3 6-4 to reach his fourth final in Zagreb.

Published on SEaT Capital.

Evans Advances to Semi-Final

British number two Dan Evans battled through a three set match with German Philipp Kohlschreiber to cement his place in his maiden ATP Tour semi-final.

After being dropped from last week's Davis Cup, Evans was eager to prove himself and has taken full advantage of his lucky loser spot at this weeks Zagreb Indoors.

After losing in the final round of qualifying to Bjorn Phau, Evans was reinstated into the tournament after Radek Stepanek withdrew from injury.

Evans made the most of his lucky break, defeating Jan Hajek in his first round match before overcoming Michael Berrer in a third set tie-break in the next.

His quarter-final upset of Philipp Kohlschreiber is one of the finest results in his career so far and sets him up on a semi-final date with the 35-year-old veteran, Tommy Haas.

Evans successfully overcame Kohlschreiber in three sets, winning 6-4 2-6 6-4 and the victory will see him rise as high as 124th in the rankings.

In the other semi-final Marin Cilic will take on qualifier Bjorn Phau as both completed easy two set victories to progress.

Published on SEaT Capital.

Sports Ladder (28th January - 3 February)

UP - Team GB - For the first time since 1986 Great Britain have made it through to the quarter final of the Davis Cup after an outstanding display on the clay courts of San Diego. Despite a loss in the doubles the British contingent won all three singles matches to claim an unassailable 3-1 lead. The highlight was inevitably a superb five set victory for James Ward over Sam Querrey.

UP - Seattle Seahawks - Not only did the Seahawks win this years Superbowl but they crushed the Denver Broncos 43-8 on a cold night in New Jersey. The pre-match discussion revolved largely around the Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning who once again choked in a playoffs match. He has now lost 12 of 23 post-season games. Inconsistant.

UP - Atletico Madrid - Has La Liga turned from a two-horse race to a three-horse race? It certainly seems so! Atletico Madrid are currently leading La Liga for the first time since 1996 and with both Barcelona and Real Madrid slipping up at the weekend Atletico now hold a three point lead at the top. The in form Diego Costa has arguably been the best player in Spain this year.

UP - Women's Tour de France - Good news for female cycling as they finally have an event in the Tour de France. On the final day the women will compete in a one day race to Champs Elysees. Described as a "game changer" for womens cycling who have not had a Tour de France even since 2008. Perhaps we could have a double British winner?

UP - Zac Purchase - Worth mentioning the retirement of double Olympic medalist Zac Purchase. Purchase, 27, won a silver medal during his home Olympics in 2012 as well as a gold medal four years earlier in Beijing. A fantastic rower and an outstanding Olympian I wish him well in the rest of his career.

DOWN - Kolo Toure - Oops. Not the finest game of Kolo Toure's career. A horrific moment as he single-handidly gifted West Brom a point by passing the ball straight to Victor Anichebe. A moment of madness which Liverpool cannot afford if they wish to get back into Europe. Toure has hardly set the world on fire since his move from Manchester City and will need to do a lot more to prove himself to the fans now.

DOWN - Andy Flower - Despite spending months claiming he would not step down Andy Flower has gone more or less full u-turn and resigned this week. Probably for the best after the 5-0 Ashes whitewash. The resignation came after new managing director Paul Dowton decided he wanted one coach to cover all formats instead of different coaches as it is at the moment. Looks like this flower hasn't blossomed.

DOWN - Kim Kallstrom - On Deadline Day in the summer Arsene Wenger signed Mesut Ozil to the delight of Arsenal fans. This January Deadline Day he signed Kim Kallstrom on loan to slightly less delight. This small quantity of delight completely disappeared the next day when it emerged he will be out for around a month after arriving at the club injured, even though he managed to complete his medical. Awkward.

DOWN - Barcelona and Real Madrid - It is extremely rare to find a weekend where Barcelona lose a League match. It is even more rare to find out where Real Madrid also fail to win. Yet that is exactly what happened this weekend as they collected just one point between them, leaving Atletico Madrid as the solo front runners. Could there be a new winner for the first time in ten years?

DOWN - Sebastian Vettel/Red Bull - You would be hard pressed to find anyone who would suggest Sebastian Vettel has not been the best driver in Formula One over the last few years. However, this weeks pre-season testing would suggest that perhaps his reign is coming to an end. Issues with the reliability of the car have left him and the team leaps and bounds behind their rivals before the season starts in March.

GB Advance To Davis Cup Quarters

Andy Murray's four set victory over Sam Querrey ensured Great Britain reached the quarter-finals of the Davis Cup for the first time since 1986.

GB needed only four rubbers to finish the tie, winning the three singles matches to hold an unassailable 3-1 lead.

By defeating America, Leon Smith's men have now ensured they will take part in the World Group First Round again next year and avoid the possibility of a play-off.

The tie started strongly as Britain won both of the opening singles rubbers. Andy Murray put Britain into the lead with a convincing win over debutant Donald Young. Young was drafted in to replace the injured John Isner but proved no competition for Murray. The Scot wrapped the match up quickly, winning 6-1 6-2 6-3.

The second rubber proved to be pivotal, as the 175th ranked James Ward upset America's Sam Querrey in a five set thriller. Ward battled back from two sets to one down and a break down to eventually win the final set 6-1.

The American team gave themselves a chance with victory in the doubles on Saturday. The Bryan brothers overcame Colin Fleming and debutant Dominic Inglot in a four setter. The American pair grabbed the opening two sets before Fleming and Inglot pulled one back. However, the British pair could not repeat the comeback of Ward, losing the final set 6-1.

This left Andy Murray the task of overcoming Sam Querrey, one he accomplished with relative ease. The first two sets were shared as each player won a tie-break but Murray stepped  up a gear in the third winning it comfortably 6-1. He then needed just one break of serve to claim the fourth set and book Great Britain's place in the quarter-finals.

The victory means that the British team will now face Italy in the quarter-finals after they overcame a dogged Argentinian side to claim a 3-1 victory.

Published on SEaT Capital.