Tennis: Beyond the Court

The Tallest Players In The Sport

Hopewell Valley Student Podcasting Network  Show Name: Tennis Beyond The Court Episode Title: The Tallest Players of The Sport  You are listening to Tennis Beyond The Court, the podcast with your host __Bradley Deeds. In this episode of _Tennis Beyond The Court the Podcast we discuss: The History of Junior Tournaments I have played, The tallest players in the game today and another Amazing match of the Year! Segment 1: History: The History of the Junior Tournaments I have played: * When I first started playing, I began to play 12’s level 7’s and 6’s which are what the beginners of tournaments play when they are young. * As I started to train more and climb in the rankings, I entered myself into some level 4’s and 5’s to test my skill and my mental toughness. * Once I reached the top 10 in my section, I started to play the national tournaments that were local and I did very well in them. Some I even won which boosted my game and my confidence to play the best players. * The best advice I would give to any junior player would be not to rush the process and one bad tournament does not determine your skill level! SEGMENT 2: THE TALLEST PLAYERS TO PLAY CURRENTLY: ALEXANDER ZVEREV: STANDING AT 6 FEET 7 INCHES, HE IS KNOWN AS THE BEST MOVER ON THE TOUR FOR HOW TALL HE IS. HE GETS EXCEPTIONALLY LOW FOR EVERY SHOT AND HE MOVES AS IF HE WAS 5’11 AND AS IF HE IS 20 YEARS OLD. HIS HEIGHT AND HIS POWER MAKES HIS SERVE ABSOLUTELY AMAZING AND HE IS VERY VERY TOUGH TO BEAT WHEN HE IS ON POINT.  * Daniel Medvedev: Was the world number one for most of the year, he stands at 6 feet 8 inches and he is known as the octopus of the game. He moves like a bullet and he has got some of the nicest wingspan the game has seen. Him and Zverev have battles when they play and it is amazing to watch. Segment 3: Another Amazing Match Who - Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev What - Vienna Semi finals Where - Vienna, Austria When - 2022, June HOW - BOTH OF THESE GUYS BEAT 4 GUYS TO MAKE THE SEMI FINALS AND THEY BOTH HAD A VERY HARD DRAW TO REACH THIS POINT. AT THIS TIME, ALCARAZ SOARED IN THE RANKINGS AND WAS PLAYING PHENOMENAL. ZVEREV HAD THE EXPERIENCE EDGE OF COURSE, BUT THAT NEVER MEANS A THING WHEN YOU PLAY ALCARAZ. ZVEREV WAS THE NUMBER ONE SEED IN THIS TOURNAMENT, BUT MANY PEOPLE EXPECTED ALCARAZ TO PULL THE UPSET OFF. ZVEREV WON THE FIRST SET IN FINE FORM AND ENDING UP BEATING ALCARAZ IN STRAIGHT SETS TO CLINCH A HUGE WIN FOR HIMSELF AND THE WORLD!

The Predicted Grand Slam Winners Of 2023

Hopewell Valley Student Podcasting Network  Show Name: Tennis Beyond The Court Episode Title: 2023 Prediction Winners For Grand Slams You are listening to Tennis Beyond The Court the podcast with your host Bradley Deeds. In this episode of Tennis Beyond The Court the Podcast we discuss: The Upcoming tournaments for the year, the grand slam winner predictions, and another epic match of the new year already!. SEGMENT 1: THE UPCOMING TOURNAMENTS OF THE YEAR * Tennis resumed tournament play on January first 2023 * The United States Cup was the first tournament to come into play * The next big tournament coming up is the Australian Open after the United States Cup and Adelaide is over. * The other big tournament that happens after the Australian Open ends is Indian Wells and the Miami open. * These two tournaments are known as the Sunshine Double tournaments.  Segment 2: The Grand Slam Winner Predictions * Alex De Minar - Alex is 23 years old from Australian and known as the Aussie Demon * He is known right now as the fastest guy currently on the pro tour and chases down every single ball even if he does not get it. * He picked up his first win of the year against Rafael Nadal on his home courts in Brisbane. * Jannik Sinner - As I said in the last episode, this man is unbeatable at times. When he is feeling himself and striking that ball side to side, there is no stopping him. He has beaten all the top guys including Medvedev, Fritz, Nadal etc.  * Taylor Fritz - I truly believe that Taylor is capable of winning a grand slam this year. In 2022, he had 13 top 10 wins and his game has risen to the next level and most importantly his confidence has launched to what it has to be to compete with the big dogs. * Nick Kyrgios - Kyrgios came one match short of winning WImbledon last year as he lost to the Wimbledon master Novak Djockvic. Nick’s serve is top 3 best and he is super tough to beat when he gives his full effort and potential. SEGMENT 3: EPIC MATCH OF 2023! Pick 1 Epic Match: Who - Cameron Norrie vs Taylor Fritz What - United States Cup Where - Brisbane, Australia When - January 4th, 2023 How - USA vs GB Cameron Norrie and Taylor Fritz were both at 2-2 in the tie for the teams and once again, this was the deciding match for the Quarterfinals. Taylor Fritz had an 83% first serve percentage and went on to take the first set 6-3. Cameron Norrie is known for his effort and hsi consistency and fought back with his team and the crowd on his side and took the second set 6-4 with an ace to close the set out. After Taylor got broken at 2-1 in the third set, Norrie took initiative and ended up winning the match 6-3 in the third to advance GB to the semi finals of the United States Cup!

The Best Servers

Hopewell Valley Student Podcasting Network  Show Name: Tennis Beyond The Court Episode Title: The Best World  You are listening to Tennis Beyond The Court, the podcast with your host __Bradley Deeds. In this episode of _Tennis Beyond The Court the Podcast we discuss: The Top five people who held the world number one spot the longest, The top 5 best servers of all time and One epic match of the century!. SEGMENT 1: HISTORY World Number 1 Spots the longest: * Roger Federer - Back in 2008, Federer remained world number 1 for the longest time which was 316 weeks straight until Novak Djockivic won the US Open at the end of the year which bumped him down to world number 2.  * Rafael Nadal - In 2010, he had the highest world number one rank for a total of 308 weeks and he had won 5 titles back to back until the Paris Masters one thousand tournament came along and he ended up losing the second round to David Nalbandian and he got bumped to 3 behind Federer and Nalbandian.  * Novak Djokivic - In 2019, he had the highest world number 1 rank for a total of 325 weeks winning 12 titles during the year and he held it even after the U.S. Open. He ended up losing his world number 1 spot to Nadal when Nadal won the Nitto ATP FInals at the very end of the year and took his spot. * Andre Agassi - In 1994, he held the world number 1 spot the longest for a total of 295 weeks in a row. He was undefeated coming off of a 49 match win streak meaning he won 16 tournaments in a row. * Pete Sampras - in 1997 he took over Agassi’s world number one spot after winning the Australian Open and after winning both Miami Open and the Indian wells tournament completing what is known as the Sunshine Double.  SEGMENT 2: THE BEST SERVERS OF ALL TIME * John Isner - John holds the record on the tour for the most aces in history and is known as the most powerful server on tour. He stands at 6 feet 11 inches and bombs serves like no other human to ever play the game * Ivo Karlovic - Karlovic also stands at 6 feet 11 inches and could beat the top players back then in tiebreaks each set just because of his serve. His serve completed his whole game and that is why he made it into the top 5 in the world in 2011.  * Reily Opelka - a current player now on the tour, who stands at 7 feet tall is the best server on the tour right now and it is nearly impossible to break his serve unless you simply guess the right side and you poke the return back at his tall feet.  * Ivan Gorsanvenic - not only was he the best server back then, but he was the best lefty server who could hit any serve with the same ball toss. His serve you could not guess where it was going and he would win so many free points just with his serve and volley technique and strategy back then.  * Nick Kyrgios - the best and most talented player on the tour right now with the absolute most raw talent up there with Roger Federer. He has simply the best flick of the wrist and can hit any serve and his ball toss is known as the best on the tour right now.  SEGMENT 3: EPIC MATCHES Pick 1 Epic Match - Kyrgios vs Federer Who - Nick Kyrgios vs Roger Federer What - Semi finals of a master 1000 Where - Indian Wells California When - 2020 How - They both advanced to the semi finals after winning 5 matches a piece and we all knew this was going to be a battle. Roger ended up winning the first set 7-6 in a brutal tiebreak which finished as 13-11 and in the second set, Nick was serving even better than he was and he took the second set 7-6 saving 2 match points in the tiebreaker with 2 ridiculous passing shots to clinch the tiebreak. In the final set it also went to a tiebreak and Nick was up 5-4 2 points away from victory and ended up losing 7-5 in the final set tiebreak!

The Best Returners of All Time

HOPEWELL VALLEY STUDENT PODCASTING NETWORK  SHOW NAME: TENNIS BEYOND THE COURT EPISODE TITLE: THE BEST RETURNERS OF ALL TIME You are listening to Tennis Beyond The Court, the podcast with your host __Bradley Deeds. In this episode of _Tennis Beyond The Court the Podcast we discuss: The Different Game Styles of tennis, the best returners of all time and another epic match of the sport!! Segment 1: History: Game style of tennis back then vs now. * Back then, everyone played with a wooden racquet and they all liked to serve and volley since they did not understand the basic and proper movement around the court, so they tried to get to the net as quick as they could at every point.  * Once the pros started to pick up on this, they started to return earlier and closer to the baseline. This means they would take time away from their opponents so they could rush the net quicker and cut their time away.  SEGMENT 2: THE BEST RETURNERS OF ALL TIME * Novak Djockivic - he is absolutely known as the greatest returner of all time. His split step and balance is what allows him to have the best return and his ability to be so flexible is a gift from god that has allowed him to break everyone’s serves under pressure.  * Rafael Nadal - known as the greatest returner under pressure. Rafael Nadal always finds a way to break at the crucial moments based on his fighting spirit and never die attitude. He also sees the court differently than others which allows him to time the return so well.  * Nick Kyrgios - he has the most raw talent on the tour which allows him to have the most talented groundstrokes in the game. He has the cleanest backhand return which allows him to take it so early and dictate where he wants to hit it and how. * Roger Federer - known as the greatest of all time, his return was up there as well. He is known for his one handed backhand slice which was phenomenal and he aimed it at his opponents leg so it would always be difficult for them to scoop it up and do something with the next shot. Federer had one of the most clutch returns.  * Who - Jannik Sinner and Pablo Carreno Busta. * What - Semi finals of a master 1000 * Where - Miami Open, California * When - 2021, January How - They both advanced to the semi finals after winning 5 matches a piece and we all knew this was going to be a battle. Jannik lost the first set as Pablo was cruising and he took it 6-2. Pablo was serving for the match at 5-4 in the second set and Jannik would not let this opportunity slip out of his hands. He hit three return winners and ended up winning the second set 7-6(13-11). In the third set, he was down 5-2 but clutched it up for an insane comeback win which he won 7-6(9-7) to win the match and he and the crowd went wild! CONNECT WITH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA * @theHVSPN [https://twitter.com/thehvspn?lang=en]

The Toughest Mental Players

Hopewell Valley Student Podcasting Network  Show Name: Tennis Beyond The Court Episode Title: The Best Mentally Tough Players and Skills You are listening to Tennis Beyond The Court, the podcast with your host __Bradley Deeds. In this episode of _Tennis Beyond The Court the Podcast we discuss: The studies of mental toughness, the best mentally tough players and another amazing match in 2022! Segment 1: History: The Studies On Mental Toughness: * Many people believe that tennis is just a sport of physicality, but if you really sit down and ask yourself, are you mentally tough, it is many components that make you mentally tough * There are many players that could make it to the top, but they will never be able to switch their confidence and mental toughness around to be the top guys because that is the last step for success.  SEGMENT 2: THE BEST MENTALLY TOUGH PLAYERS AND TWO THAT ARE THE OPPOSITE  * Novak Djockivic - He is one of the most solid players on the tour both physically and mentally. You will never ever know if he is breaking down or not. This component is truly what makes him so good and unable to beat at most times.  * Rafael Nadal - he is absolutely the mentally toughest player on the tour and to ever play the game.He came up from nothing and worked harder than anyone to get to the top. He fights for every single point and that is a fact. You will never see him losing points on purpose and playing him is a marathon.  * Benoit Paire and Fabio Fognini - he is so talented as a player but everyone knows he will never reach his max potential due to his mental side of the game. He really plays amazing, but whenever things start to not go his way or Fabio’s, they both slam balls, yell at the line judges and they break down completely and end up losing no matter what the score is or who they are playing on the tour.  Segment Three: Amazing Matches of 2022 Who - Jannik Sinner and Felix Auger Allisasme. What - Davis Cup Final Where - Canada When - 2022, November  HOW - BOTH OF THESE GUYS BEAT NUMEROUS COUNTRIES TO MAKE IT HERE AND THEY PLAYED THEIR HEART OUT TO REACH THIS POINT FOR THEM AND THEIR COUNTRY AND TEAM ON THE SIDELINE. FELIX WAS PLAYING THIS MATCH TO WIN THE ENTIRE EVENT AND HE ENDED UP LOSING THE FIRST SET IN A HEARTBREAKING TURN AROUND FROM SINNER, 6-3 AFTER FELIX WAS UP 3-1. FELIX SAT DOWN WITH HIS COACH AND HE SAID, “ONLY FOCUS ON YOURSELF AND YOUR CHANCE GOES UP 50 PERCENT FROM THE START”. THIS QUOTE MADE FELIX PLAY EVERY POINT LIKE IT WAS HIS LAST AND HE ENDED UP CLINCHING THE TITLE 7-5 IN A THIRD SET AND IT WAS CANADA’S FIRST EVER DAVIS CUP TITLE!!