Djokovic out to spoil the party in London

It seems that Novak Djokovic can spoil anyone’s party right now. Not content with defeating hometown favourite Roger Federer in the Basel ATP finals last week – the Serbian has added another title to his name, and ignored the wishes of the thousands of fans in attendance in the process.

Djokovic won the Paris Indoor Masters Series event, after defeating Rafael Nadal in the semi-finals, and then outlasting Gael Monfils – a Paris favourite himself - in the final. The Serb prevailed 6-2, 5-7, 7-6, and in doing so, won his first Masters title of the season.

Would anyone be surprised if Djokovic finishes the year by beating another local player for another indoor title? It would take a brave man to bet against the world number three right now, who is unlikely to be fazed by the prospect of ‘Murray-Mania’ as the tennis season reaches its climax in London for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals. Indeed, Djokovic – the defending champion in London - seems to be thriving on such an occasion.

In a gruelling season, where the amount of tennis being played is being put under increased scrutiny, you feel Djokovic won’t want his season to end. In his 94th match of the season, the Serbian showed no signs of fatigue, and was quickly dominating from the baseline. He quickly raced into a 6-2 lead against Monfils, who, appearing in his first Masters final, had no answer to the world number three.

Djokovic was soon 3-0 up in the second set, sealing his second break with an unbelievable on the run passing shot. Sensing defeat, and faced with the prospect of disappointing the thousands of French fans in attendance, Monfils decided to make a game of it. He duly won three successive games to level the set, and with a second set tie-break looming, produced a crushing forehand of which Djokovic had no answer. One hold later, and it was Monfils forcing an unlikely final set - to the delight of the crowd.

The final set was predictably tight, with both players beginning to tire – helped in no small part thanks to an incredible 43 shot rally at the beginning of the set. In the end, it was a tiebreak that settled things, and that’s what did for Monfils. The number 15 seed hit a forehand long, handing Djokovic a 4-2 lead from which he never looked back. A double fault from the Frenchman ended the contest, causing Djokovic to let out a mighty roar, which he later attributed to “letting his emotions out.” Certainly, it wasn’t the behaviour of someone using this tournament as a warm up exercise for next Sunday’s climax in London. Such behaviour is blasphemy to the 22 year old, who, since the US Open, has lost only once to Russian Nikolay Davydenko.

The Serbian now has the chance to end the season as the world No 2, should he defend his title successfully in London. On such form, Djokovic is the man to beat, though, luckily for Britain’s Andy Murray, there is no chance of being randomly selected in the same group as the Serbian, since the world No 3 and the world No 4 are kept separate.

Then again, Djokovic may want to save such a scalp for the big occasion. Now that would really spoil the party.

Nadal survives Paris thriller

Paris used to feel like a second home for Rafael Nadal. However, it’s clear to see that ever since that quarter final loss at Roland Garros to Robin Soderling five months ago, nothing has been quite the same in the Spaniard’s world.

Indeed, it’s been 28 weeks since Nadal last won a singles title – back in May at the Rome Masters. Injury has had a lot to do with that but, since coming back from his two and a half month layoff, it’s clear to see that Nadal is far from his imperious best.

Of course, traditionally, the Paris Masters is a tournament that can provide the odd shock, with the big players usually opting to rest up in preparation for the season-ending finale - the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, which will be staged in London this year. It was Tim Henman who claimed the biggest win of his career six years ago by beating, among others, Roger Federer, Andy Roddick, Gustavo Kuerten and Nikolay Davydenko on his way to the title.

Nadal had long ago reserved his place in the elite eight-man field for the finals, which begin at the O2 Arena in 11 days' time. And he may have had one eye on that tournament yesterday. His match with fellow Spaniard, Nicolas Almagro lasted a grueling three hours and 15 minutes, and, after losing the first set, was a match that ultimately Nadal could count himself lucky to win.

In their previous four encounters, Almagro had failed to take a set. It came as a surprise, then, to see Nadal being bullied around the back of the court by his countryman, ranked 25 places below him, for the first set. There was no rhythm with Nadal’s serve, and it was a double-fault in the fifth game that set the tone for the rest of the set.

If Almagro was by far the better player in the first set, then the second set was a lot tighter. It was Nadal who had the first chance to win the set, at 4-5, but the Majorcan conspired to blow his three set points and allow the world number 27 a route back into the match at 5-5.

The usually reliable Nadal was rattled, and it was his serve that let him down again in the following game, giving Almagro the chance to serve for the biggest win of his career.

At 40-0, an unlikely win looked to be on the cards. Nadal is a fighter, though, if nothing else and it was his battling qualities that saw the world number two deny three successive match points, and force an unlikely tiebreaker, which Nadal won in some style.

With an immediate service break, the momentum looked to be with Nadal in the third set, but Almagro – showing some battling qualities of his own, broke straight back.
With the match level at 3-3 in the final set, Almagro was forced to take an injury timeout for thigh cramping. It would prove to be a pivotal moment in the match. An early hold of serve, followed by a break gave the world number 27 hope, but as the cramping continued to worsen, Nadal began to take a firm grip of the match.

He broke Almagro twice more, before serving out the match to deny his fellow countryman victory, who by this point, could hardly move.

Of course, falling foul of injury is something Nadal cannot help but sympathise with. Only five months ago his own knees finally gave away after a gruelling clay-court season, and with it, his aura of invincibility disappeared. Next Sunday could mark the first steps towards reclaiming it.

Moore returns to bring the good times back at Rotherham

The Chuckle Brothers may be honorary presidents at Rotherham United, but for Millers fans, the departure of former manager Mark Robins to Barnsley was no laughing matter.

Not that the Millers have had much to chuckle about in recent years. From points deductions to administrations to relegations - two of them in total - times have been tough. However, with Robins at the helm, that was all set to change. Indeed, Rotherham were sitting pretty second in the League Two table before Barnsley swooped for the talented 39 year old. Millers fans hadn’t had it so good since Ronnie Moore managed the club.

That would go some way to explain why the popular Moore was brought back then. Returning after a four year absence, after spells with Oldham and Tranmere - it’s the 56 year old Moore who has been charged with bringing the good times back to Rotherham.

And many of those good times were of Moore’s own making. Back to back promotions surprised many, but it was the way the Millers established themselves in the second tier of English Football that really grabbed people’s attention.

And they stayed there for four seasons too. Under Moore, Rotherham seemed to be beating the system, showing that small town teams can compete in the higher leagues with a combination of good management and ambition.

Of course, it didn’t last. Rotherham were paying beyond their means, spending money that they didn’t have. The Millers former home of Millmoor was sold to Ken Booth - who to this day, refuses to give the ground back, a decision which has forced Rotherham to play their matches at the Don Valley Stadium.

Moore was soon on his way, and almost inevitably, relegation and administration followed for Rotherham. And while the Millers struggled, he made strides to move on from the club he loved.

A spell at Oldham followed, and the Latics were immediately saved from relegation. His second season brought a mid-table finish, but with ticket sales down and fans deriding his long ball approach, Moore was on his way - but wasn’t unemployed for long.

Eight days later, his old club Tranmere came calling. Three seasons at Prenton Park appeared to bring slow and steady progress - but Rovers fans saw it differently. After cruelly missing out on the playoffs on the final day of last season, and with attendances falling by 19% - Tranmere saw fit to dismiss Moore.

Now, Moore finds himself back at the stage of his biggest success. They say never go back - but who can blame Moore, a man who has never truly been appreciated by his previous employers, for returning to a club where it pained him to leave in the first place.

And who better to get Rotherham back in the third tier? Consistently in and around the playoff picture during his spells with Oldham and Tranmere - Rotherham - and Moore - will want to go one better than that, and achieve automatic promotion.

Now that would really give Millers fans something to smile about.

Allen goes that extra mile for Robins

Have you heard the one about the manager who cycled 76 miles, from Berkshire to Cheltenham, all to raise money for transfer funds? It's a crazy notion, but when it comes to Martin Allen, it seems the more unorthodox, the better.

It’s usually players, not the manager, we expect to go that extra mile for the cause. Then again, Allen has never been the most conventional of managers. Be it his jumps into the freezing River Tees, or bike rides to raise funds for his club. Indeed, "Mad Dog" has earned his nickname, and his antics outside of the dugout do little to shed the mantle.

Of course, we shouldn't be too fooled. There is method behind the madness. After all, the bike ride raised nearly £15,000 towards the playing budget. And when it comes to matters on the pitch, Allen has a history of achieving success on a modest budget, more so at clubs with lower expectations.

His time at Brentford was no exception. After saving the Bees from relegation, Allen launched two consecutive assaults on the League One playoffs, only to go down twice at the semi-final stages. There was plenty of success in the FA Cup, too, with two consecutive appearances in the 5th round putting Brentford, and himself, on the map. It was no coincidence that when he left, the Bees went on the decline, and eventually found themselves relegated.

Allen clearly seems to thrive as the underdog. However, at Milton Keynes Dons, this was far from the case. Expectations were big, and the wage budget was even bigger. Charged with the task of achieving promotion from League Two, the Dons could only make the playoffs, eventually going down in the semi-finals to Shrewsbury.

Despite this, Allen's stock was still high. The eccentric Milan Mandaric, chairman of Leicester City, came calling for his services. Unfortunately, relations between the two quickly deteriorated, and his contract was terminated by mutual consent after just four games in charge.
It seems the bigger the club, the harder Allen finds it to cope. Now, at Cheltenham he finds himself up against it once again. And you suspect that this is how he prefers it.

True to form, during pre-season, he went against the grain. A week long trip to an army camp was hoped to raise spirits and fitness ahead of the new season. A 'night out' was also promised - though you can be sure a night camping under the stars was not what the players had in mind.

Of course, money is tight at Cheltenham. Financial problems, which nearly resulted in administration, put waste to any chances of survival last season. The squad is small and lacks depth, but the likes of Drissa Diallo and Barry Hayles will add some much needed experience, and former Tottenham youngster David Hutton will add a touch of quality.

Competing with the likes of Notts County, with all the riches at their disposal, is bound to be tough. But with Allen at the helm, they won't run out of ideas on how to narrow that gap as much as possible.

Stimson out to prove the doubters wrong once again

Mark Stimson is no stranger to proving people wrong. After all, it was just months ago that he was a man under enormous pressure. After relegation from League One and an indifferent start to the season in League Two, Stimson's Gillingham side were feeling the fan's wrath - and it was the manager feeling the brunt of the criticism.

At Priestfield, the fans were becoming more and more vocal in expressing their frustrations. Petitions were signed, demanding his dismissal. But Stimson refused to be forced out. He wouldn't budge.

Of course, his persistence eventually paid off. A strong end to the season saw Stimson guide the Gills into the playoff picture, and to Wembley. A last-minute Simeon Jackson header saw the Gills defeat Shrewsbury - bringing Gillingham back into the third tier of English football after a one year absence.

It was a victory in which Stimson took great pleasure. His transfer policies and man-management skills were often the focus of severe criticism from the Gillingham fan-base. Then again, when it comes to management, Stimson isn't averse to taking a risk - or doing things his way.

Take his time at Grays Athletic. After overseeing the most successful period in the club's 116 year history, with a Conference South title and successive FA Trophy successes to his name, Stimson took a gamble. Harbouring dreams of managing in the Football League, he decided to resign from his post. And eventually, the gamble paid off, though not immediately. After a productive spell at non-league Stevenage, a spell which brought another FA Trophy success, Gillingham came calling.

He couldn't arrest the slide immediately, however. Despite arriving in early November, Gillingham were in trouble, and Stimson was unable to save the Gills from relegation. At first, fans and players alike struggled to grasp his management style. Former players went as far to describe his man-management as "shocking". To combat this, the decision was made to bring in young and hungry players from his days in Non-League days, and the players who "only cared about picking up their pay cheques" were let go.

And that policy was no more vindicated than at Wembley. It was fitting that Jackson, a £150,000 signing from Rushden and Diamonds, scored the winner that secured promotion. He, along with the likes of club captain Barry Fuller and John Nutter, all played their part, and showed they were more than Football League castoffs. These boys could play.

The future is certainly bright for Gillingham. Simon King is seen as seen as one of the hottest defensive prospects in the lower leagues. And the aforementioned Jackson has already attracted the interests of various Premier League clubs, though with 20 goals to his name last season, it's not hard to see why. Indeed, Stimson's young side have built themselves quite a reputation, combining attractive and ambitious football with impressive results.

And this season, they get to prove themselves further. With trips to Leeds, Norwich and Southampton to come, the odds will be stacked against Gillingham from the start. You feel Stimson, and indeed his squad, wouldn't have it any other way.

Safin ending career with a whimper

Marat Safin seldom does things quietly. In a career which has seen the former World Number One win 15 career titles, including two Grand Slams, it's recently been his words off the court making the headlines, on what is his last year on the ATP tour.

Speaking just after defeating Ernests Gulbis, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 on Wednesday at the LA Tennis Open, Safin spoke of the emotional stress of twelve years on tour that has pushed him to retire.

"It’s getting tougher and tougher to play these kinds of matches, to fight when you’re struggling and not playing well," Safin said. "It’s difficult to motivate yourself and take care of your body. You have to spend much more time in a gym and practicing. There are so many other things to do. I need some vacation. At least half a year just to relax and realize that I’m not anymore a tennis player. And to understand that there is life afterwards. To relax because it’s too much stress throughout the years."

Of course, Safin is no stranger to saying exactly what he thinks, or, indeed, doing whatever he wants. The Russian is well known for his emotional outbursts during matches, and during the course of his career he's smashed numerous rackets - thought to be around 300 overall.

And that's part of the appeal with Safin. He's passionate, unpredictable, and it makes him all the more compelling. There's not many other players that could get away with dropping their pants to celebrate a spectacular point, as he did during the French Open in 2004. But behind the complicated exterior lies a supremely talented tennis player.

At his peak, he was considered one of the most talented and physically imposing players in the game. At 6"4, with a monster serve and powerful return, Safin could hang with the best of them. But a lack of consistency, along with an inability to keep his emotions in check has blighted his career. And as things stand, his career is ending with a whimper.

The same can not be said for Tommy Haas. On the face of it, both players are not too dissimilar. Both have played over a decade on tour, and Haas, too, wears his heart on his sleeve on court.

And that's where the similarities end.

At the tail end of his career, Haas is showing something of a resurgence. The German is motivated and focused, with good showings at Wimbledon and Roland Garros earning himself a spot in the Top 20. On the contrary, Safin has yet to beat a top 50 player this year. Until this week, he hadn't put together back-to-back victories since the Australian Open. And when asked about the upcoming US Open, the 29 year old gave himself “no chance” to win, instead preferring to talk about his plans after Tennis.

“There are so many things to do. As long as it’s not tennis.”

He may not miss Tennis, but Tennis is going to miss him.

Broad struggling to shoulder the burden

As the youngest member of England's Ashes squad, you could forgive Stuart Broad for feeling the pressure. But as the burden of The Ashes grow greater, is it all becoming too much for the 23 year old's slender shoulders to bear?

There's no doubting Broad's pedigree. His rise to the England set up was fast as it was impressive, with a growth spurt of nearly a foot at the age of 17 putting a stop to plans of becoming an opening batsman, just like his father. Instead, he had aspirations to becoming an all-rounder. And he didn't look back.

Indeed, comparisons with Andrew Flintoff are not too far off the mark. In time, Broad is seen as the the natural replacement for Freddie. And at 23, time is certainly on Broad's side. He is someone who the ECB have invested a lot of time and care in, being careful not to push him too hard, too soon.

He's showed maturity beyond his tender years, too, by shunning the IPL to ensure he was physically and mentally ready for a summer of cricket with England. It's a lesson Kevin Pietersen could learn.

But this is the here and now, and this is The Ashes. And it's clear to see his bowling lacks control and consistency. Indeed, Broad's bowling figures in this series are not too dissimilar to those of Mitchell Johnson. The Australian's series figures of 8/331 compare favourably with Broad's figures of 4/307. And there's no prizes for guessing who has been the liability, and who's place is not in doubt.

As things stand, Broad is proving himself to be an expensive option in the bowling attack, with wickets at a cost of 77 apiece in this series. There's no doubting his talent, and in time, he will develop into a very good bowler. But is he ready for an Ashes series?

There are other options. Ask any Australian if they would rather face Broad or Steve Harmison, and they'd be sure to go for the former. Harmison is hungry, and bowling with pace and menace. And what about Ryan Sidebottom? Just a year ago he was England's first choice bowler, now he finds himself lost in the shuffle. Both Harmison and Sidebottom are, fit, bowling well, and getting wickets. Which is more than can be said for Broad at the moment.

Of course, as long as England are winning the series, changes to the bowling attack become less likely. There's no need to change things if it's working, and it's certainly working at the moment for England. It's much easier to find fault when things aren't going your way - as Johnson's figures will testify to. However, with that being said, an Australian test win could see Broad's figures put under the spotlight.

A good performance in the remainder of the Third Test could put a stop to that.