2012 Tennis-X Awards: Djokovic Named Best Of The Best; Baghdatis, Melzer, Tomic Take Home Honors

by Staff | December 20th, 2012, 7:04 pm
  • 85 Comments

You’ve read the rest, now read the…other rest.

Sure Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams enjoyed lay-up years, but who wins for most donkey cheese, or crying most on the court, or for thinking they’re great clothing designers or yelling at umpires? Why should these players go unrewarded? Here are the latest and the greatest of award winners from the long slog that was 2012 on the men’s and women’s professional tours.

It’s your Christmas come early:


MEN’S PLAYER OF THE YEAR — Novak Djokovic
No one thought he could follow-up that incredible 2011 season, but he did, establishing himself again as far and away the top player. And the most gluten free. And the guy with the most donkey cheese. With Roger Federer the old man of the tour, Rafael Nadal and his bad knees, and Andy Murray unable to take two steps forward without taking one step back, the Djokovic reign could go on for years.
Honorable Mention: Andy Murray, Roger Federer

WOMEN’S PLAYER OF THE YEAR — Serena Williams
Again she played a limited schedule due to injuries, accidents, what have you, but again she decimated the competition. She didn’t lose all year against world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka or No. 2 Maria Sharapova, and won two Slams and the singles and doubles at the Olympics. Finishes No. 3 in the world but voted Player of the Year by the WTA, that’s Serena. The only thing that can stop her is retirement.
Honorable Mention: Victoria Azarenka, Maria Sharapova

MATCH OF THE YEAR — Novak Djokovic d. Rafael Nadal (Australian Open)
They play long. They play reeeeeaaaaaaal long. And that’s just what happened when Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal clashed in Australian Open final. Checking at just under six hours (or flying time from London to New York), the Serb outlasted Nadal in five sets to win 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7(5), 7-5 and capture his third Australian Open title. In addition to both players taken an excruciatingly long time between points, bouncing balls and adjusting their backsides, the play between the two was jaw-dropping and at times breathless. There were moments were it felt like you weren’t watching tennis, but something else. More remarkably, Djokovic had just endured a similar slugfest in the earlier round beating Andy Murray, and now showed off his world-class fitness against Nadal.
Honorable Mention: Djokovic d Murray (Australian Open), Isner d Federer (Davis Cup), Azarenka d Stosur (US Open), Serena d Azarenka (US Open), Federer d De Potro (Olympics)

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR — Jerzy Janowicz
No one really killed in this category this year, but the towering, emotional powder keg from Poland stood out among the up-and-comers as a player who can immediately do some damage. And he did just that, powering his way to the Paris final to end the season. Among his victims that week were Andy Murray, Janko Tipsarvic, Marin Cilic and Gilles Simon. Hell, he even beat Dimitry Tursunov in the qualifying. Not bad for a kid who ranked No. 221 to start the year.
Honorable Mention: Laura Robson, Heather Watson, Martin Klizan, David Goffin, Sloane Stephens, your mom

COMEBACK OF THE YEAR — Tommy Haas
No one does a comeback from surgery or injury quite like the determined German, who has now won multiple ATP Comeback of the Year titles, and for good reason. The oft-injured former world No. 2 was left for dead following right elbow surgery in 2011. But this year he claimed 184 ranking spots to improbably finish on the brink of the Top 20 at No. 21. Someday they might rename the award after him!
Honorable Mention: Venus Williams, Slava Shvedova, Paul-Henri Mathieu, Brian Baker

SHOT OF THE YEAR — Grigor Dimitrov behind the back winner
Watch the video. Enough said.

Honorable Mention: Roger Federer between the legs, Novak Djokovic between the legs, half the players on tour and your mom between the legs.

BEST MELTDOWN — Marcos Baghdatis, Australian Open
The tennis racquet is a player’s most important tool — which is why when things start going wonky in a match, it’s best to smash the shit out of not only the one you’re using, but the rest of your racquets in the bag. Baghdatis’ racquet sponsor got some unique pub in January as the ESPN cameras caught the Cypriot up close making some adjustments to his sticks. Watch the video and enjoy.

Honorable Mention: Berdych-Almagro kerfuffle (Australian Open), Madrid’s blue clay controversy

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT — Rafael Nadal’s Left Knee
Whether it’s patella tendinitis or the myriad other problems Rafa has had with his knees, his left one in particular kept him off the tour for much of the latter quarter of the year. While he is scheduled to make his return at some high-profile (read: high dollar) exhibitions in January, there’s no running around the fact (ha!) that Rafa needs to cover a lot of miles with his style of play, so are his problems destined to return, even if he cuts back his schedule (which he’s never been good about doing)? Stay tuned.
Honorable Mention: Milos Raonic, Caroline Wozniacki, Gael Monfils, Bernard Tomic, Robin Soderling

BIGGEST UPSET — Lukas Rosol d Rafel Nadal (Wimbledon)
The biggest upset of the year occurred at Wimbledon this year when then-26-year-old unknown Czech Lukas Rosol slapped 65 winners to 29 unforced errors, adding 22 aces in manhandling former champ Rafael Nadal in the second round in five sets. Perhaps the funniest part was the days after the upset when various Czech players and coaches said you’ll probably never hear from this kid again due to his inconsistent go-for-broke style — and they were right. Since then he has had some good results on the challenger circuit, and at the US Open lost in the qualifying. But what a wild one-day ride for the Czech who on that day could do no wrong in his first (and last?) Wimbledon main draw appearance.
Honorable Mention: Razzano d Serena (French Open), Isner d Federer (Davis Cup), Robson d Clijsters (US Open)

BIGGEST CHOKE — Lucie Safarova blows 5-1 final set lead to Li Na in Montreal semifinals
There was rain in Canada. Then there was pain in Canada. Poor Lucie. The darling young Czech led the French Open champion by a commanding 5-1 score in the final set, just three points from her place in the biggest championship match of her career. But lefty Lucie couldn’t hold it together and the nerves took over. She lost the next six straight games from that position to lose the match. Ouch. We still love ya Lucie.
Honorable Mention: Nadal loses to Verdasco (Madrid), Benneteau loses to Federer (Wimbledon), Cilic loses to Murray (US Open), Venus/Kerber (US Open), Kanepi/Wozniacki (French Open)

BEST HOT TUB INCIDENT — Bernard Tomic
Fine year for the Aussie hope Tomic, who tanked a high-profile match against Andy Roddick at the US Open, was told his Davis Cup services wouldn’t be needed by Aussie captain Patrick Rafter (who could probably still beat Tomic if his senior tour play is any indication?), was cited four times for wild driving by Aussie police, then got into a public naked hot tub fight. “Police were called to a Surfers Paradise high-rise apartment building after residents saw two men, one of them naked, wrestling and fighting in a hot tub on the balcony. One of the men was later identified as Tomic,” said a news report. Keep them coming kid, this is a train wreck we can’t stop watching.
Honorable Mention: Hot Tub Time Machine

BEST HOOK-UP — Jurgen Melzer marrying Iveta Benesova
Jurgen outdid his ranking again this time, permanently landing the Czech vixen Benesova. The two were married in Austria just after the US Open. And that makes Benesova and Melzer, who had previously been linked to Nicole Vaidisova, Dominikova Cibulkova, Anastasia Myskina and Fernando Verdasco, officially off the market! Sorry Nando.
Honorable Mention: Tomas Berdych and Ester Satarova, Serena Williams and Grigor Dimitrov, Serena Williams and coach Patrick Mouratoglou, Serena Williams and your mailman

QUOTE OF THE YEAR — Tomas Berdych
Players, captains, trainers, everyone likes to drop a little smack entering into a Davis Cup weekend, but the Czech Republic’s Tomas Berdych took it up a level when he dropped the “You Suck” card on Spain’s Nicolas Almagro before the Czech-Spanish tie. Berdych told the media, “I played Almagro many times this year and won most of them. If he’s nominated [for the singles], he will be the weak point on which we can build our victory. He’s missing that little something that distinguishes great players.” Wow. And maybe the smack helped, as he was right, and the Almagro losses were big in the Czech victory.
Honorable Mention: Andy Roddick on why he refused to sign a women’s offered breast when he was 17 years old: “I had just never seen a boob before, to be honest.” Rafael Nadal after losing to Lukas Rosol at Wimbledon: “It’s not a tragedy, it’s only a tennis match”.

TWEET OF THE YEAR — Yaroslava Shvedova: “Today I laid a golden egg.”
The was the Khazak after beating Sara Errani at Wimbledon in which she took the first set by winning all 24 points, a feat umatched in women’s pro tennis, and just the second known. Again, that’s 24-0. Try to do better than that, Mr. Federer.
Honorable Mention: Anything by Ivo Karlovic

To the winners, to receive your Isner-sized trophy please email us with your address along with a paypal money order in the amount of $15,536 USD for shipping, handling, insurance and money toward the year-end Tennis-X Christmas party.

Thanks for reading. Have a happy holiday and assuming the World doesn’t really end tomorrow, see you in 2013!


You Might Like:
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Serena Collects Three WTA Awards; Clijsters, Oudin Also Winners
Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams Win Laureus Awards Monday [Video]
Right Or Wrong? Kvitova Bumps No. 1 Wozniacki For WTA Player Of Year Award
ATP Awards: Djokovic Wins Player Of Year, Federer Named Fan Favorite

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85 Comments for 2012 Tennis-X Awards: Djokovic Named Best Of The Best; Baghdatis, Melzer, Tomic Take Home Honors

Wog boy Says:

Staff,

Really nice article, thumbs up:)

Happy holiday to you too.


the DA Says:

Interesting list, it’s that time of the year for all sorts of lists.

Jon Wertheim’s ‘My favorite tennis stories of 2012’ is also good:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/tennis/news/20121220/tennis-year-in-review/index.html

And Sports Illustrated have a ‘112 best Sporting Moments in 2012’. The Summer of Andy is the highest ranked tennis moment:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/specials/best-sports-moments-of-2012/index.html


dari Says:

Serena and your mailman LOL!
Nice one, guys
Very excited for your tournament coming, up Wog Boy!


Wog boy Says:

dari,

Me too, if we are talking about AO. I got my tickets, booked hotel and plain, booked boarding for the cat;) and now I cannot wait for it:) Lucky, Hopman cup is coming then Brisbane then Sydney one, so I can kill some time watching them until Melbourne.

BTW, I think Baghdatis can disarm everybody with his smile. I just like him, he could do better then he did so far:( If you listen the video you can hear how many Greeks were in the stands cheering like it was football game, Melbourne is the second biggest Greek city after Athens:)


Wog boy Says:

“plane” and not “plain” … I did it again, sorry:(


jane Says:

Cheers Tennis-X staff – nice wrap. If you get that money, can we come to the party too??


skeezer Says:

Great job and fun reading Tennis X staff, waaaayyy better than the bias of guys like Tignor. Love the humour and fun, and all in all it was spot on!. All the best during the Holidays……

da skeeze


RIPTENNIS Says:

How many times did Federer beat Djoke in a G/S or Olympics

How many weeks was Fed at #1

Did Djok win 3 G/S this year. At that age Federer had

Who won their 17th G/S and a silver medal.

‘Far and away’. Please, your bias is showing


Margot Says:

Congrats to Nole, another brilliant year.
@ the DA
Thanx for posting those links. Andy’s Summer is actually my “Best Ever” tennis story :)


alison Says:

Yeah nice article from staff reviewing the year,congrats to Nole,i think its unfair that David Ferrer didnt get a mention there who actually won more titles than any other male singles player this year,womans player of the year should have included Laura Robson in there too,liked Rafas quote after losing to Rosol at wimby its not a tragedy,its only a tennis match,well said Rafa,shame Rosol didnt build upon that Rafa result,as ive not seen or heard from him since,and what a fantastic year for Andy Murray,looking forward to 2013,merry christmas and a happy new year to all tennis x posters.


the DA Says:

@ margot – yes and hopefully it’s a never ending story ;). BTW, you might be interested in a short interview Andy gave to local Miami TV station CBS4. He seems more relaxed these days and he even talks about Dunblane, which is rare:

http://news.yahoo.com/video/cbs4s-jim-berry-tennis-pro-232900756.html


Wog boy Says:

the DA,

Thanks for that, very nice article alltogether, though they made one mistake, Nole has 13 masters not 12. I didn’t realise how big they are and all the tournaments they are running.
Good on Nole, he is getting there, step by step and he is maturing nicely.


alison Says:

Nice interview from Andy,very happy and relaxed,somethings changed in him after winning that 1st GS,THE 1ST of many of which im sure,im sure he will have a terrfic year again next year,im probably alone in my thinking but this is an open forum and im allowed an opinion so ill say it anyway,the whole celebrity endorsement and charity foundation thing is all rather irritatingly twee IMO,ive never understood why theres such a need to make a big issue regarding these things,and i would say that regarding any player be it Nole/Rafa/Roger/Delpo /Andy whoever,just overkill sometimes,sorry JMO.


alison Says:

Have to agree with Wogboy though whatever my feelings are on celebrities and charities,Noles really matured into a well rounded individual,i hope he never loses that sense of fun in him though,that would be a shame,dont change a thing Nole you are great just the way you are.


Brando Says:

I’m surprised IMG had Berdych and not nole before this.


the DA Says:

@ Brando – Berdy was signed while Roger was on the roster. There was a spot to fill when Federer left IMG.


Humble Rafa Says:

As my left knee explained in an interview with future Pulitzer prize winner, Peter Bodo, it’s complicated. The knee needs rest, cuddling and make drama every few months. But I am still in love with it.


jane Says:

The DA, thanks for all of the links / updates! I’d almost forgotten about Maria’s career slam until I read the mailbag link.


rogerafa Says:

There are some strange picks in the biggest disappointment and biggest choke categories.

“And that makes Benesova and Melzer, who had previously been linked to Nicole Vaidisova, Dominikova Cibulkova, Anastasia Myskina and Fernando Verdasco, officially off the market! Sorry Nando.”

This should have been constructed more carefully especially after what happened due to an inadvertent typo on the other thread.


Brando Says:

@the DA: did not know that. So nole’s taking Feds spot then?hope IMG has done this with Daves permission!


courbon Says:

@Brando:That’s funny…


skeezer Says:

Re; Nole/IMG.

Great! Now can we see Nike on him with his own branding and dump Uniugly, I mean Uniglo?


Wog boy Says:

Skeezer,

I don’t think we will ever see Nole in Nike or Adidas. I personally think that signing with Uniqlo was best thing business and otherwise for Nole. Once again Goran and Srdjan (uncle and father) proved that they are running business side of brand called Nole in the best possible way, same as they did with Tacchini (BTW I like them since I was a kid and use to travel overnight to Italy, Trieste or Venice, just to by Tacchini or Fila and good shoes back in 70s). Now, I am not saying Uniqlo is better than Nike, just that by signig with Nike he would be one of many and always behind Federer and Nadal, we Nole fans are not kidding ourselves when it comes to popularity, Roger and Rafa are well ahead of Nole. With Uniqlo he is one and only, I know Nishikori is with them but he is not there yet, Asian market is huge, they probably bought the rights for Eastern Europe like they did with Tacchini, the owner of Uniqlo is the richest man in Japan (methinks) and I bet there is far more insentives for Nole with Uniqlo than Nike. I think enough reasons to say that we will never see him in Nike outfits;)

Merry Xmas and Happy New year to all of you … I woke up this morning and left 21st, the doomsday, behind me, I feel good and heading for Irish coffee to celebrate 22nd of december:)
Cheers


jane Says:

I agree Wog Boy: Uniqlo (uniqueness!) and Nole all the way.

Cheers to you too – thank goodness the world is still turning – woot!


Wog boy Says:

One more thing before I go, UNIQLO fits nicely with Nole since he is UNIQUE ;)
I couldn’t resist, it was in my head for a long time, I had to spit it out;)


Wog boy Says:

jane,

You beat me…again (unique),it takes while for me to put everything on the paper.


Ben Pronin Says:

I liked Tacchini on Djokovic because they had cool designs but Uniqlo is so boring. Too uniform, especially for Djokovic.


jane Says:

Maybe Nole will spice it up. ;)


Wog boy Says:

Ben,

They just started, they will work something out, nicer and more colourfull. I am sure they will come out with something different for AO, though I have to admit I liked what he had this year, specially the top of the tracksuit, the shorts is a bit to tight for my liking.


Wog boy Says:

jane,

I am giving up:)


dari Says:

I think uniqlo does well for novak in the trim lines, like at USO. it was not very exciting but the cut was very nice for a tall trim guy like novak. Add some more interesting colors/designs and he will be fantastic.


dari Says:

Fine Wog boy, they can let out the shorts a touch ;)


mat4 Says:

Hi, you all fine connoisseurs! Glad you’re all on this thread.

Can’t spend much time with (and I regret it), so, just a few words.

I don’t agree with WB that Novak’s family took good care of his business. Quite the contrary. Examples: the Serbia Open, Sergio Tacchini (although I liked some of his outfits), his shoes, perhaps even Uniqlo. Anyone with some sense would have signed IMG first, and let IMG choose the sportwear.


Wog boy Says:

dari,

Thanks;)


mat4 Says:

About Uniqlo: honestly, I prefer Lacoste. That was the company for Novak.


mat4 Says:

Lacoste… pure elegance for the tennisplayer. Even Roddick didn’t look bad in Lacoste.


Wog boy Says:

mat4,

You again, you stab me in back on the other thread and now you are coming here to do the same thing again, when did you see Federer fans doing that to each other, who needs enemies with friends like you (at least that is what I thought) I am out of here … my brandy is getting warm and I like it cold;)


mat4 Says:

BTW, I opened yesterday a bottle of whiskey I kept in a cupboard for at least… ten years, and discovered it is not as bad as I tended to believe. So, how do you say it? Zhiveli! Santé!


mat4 Says:

But seriously, I really believe that they could have done better.


Wog boy Says:

Don’t forget, Federer was with IMG, you cannot negotiate best deal when you have GOAT to compete with, makes sense? Same with Nike or anything where Federer is already in. Lacoste doesn’t have nowhere near enough money to compete with Uniqlo or Nike and Adidas but you are French, so it is forgiven, I just saved one match point, didn’t I?;)

“Živeli” but older one iz “Nazdravlje” , I know you know meaninig of both of them, so ŽIVELI …hmmm not a bad drop!


jane Says:

I like the Uniqlo mat4. Some Lacoste is good, but some is damn tacky. Did you see that awful striped shirt they put Raonic in – egads! Hurt me eyes.

Wog boy, don’t ever give up!

dari – what? You no like tight shorts? What about short shorts, a la 70s players, and Tommy Robredo? What about baggy Basketball shorts a la La Monf? Just a happy in-between for you then? Above the knee, semi-relaxed?


jane Says:

^ ;) dari, just teasing you. Hope all is well.


Wog boy Says:

jane,

“Giving up” was because you said twice few minutes before I posted same thing, you are to fast for me:) no other giving up !

dari did that for me, I said the shorts is a bit to tight for my liking so she agreed to let out the shorts…just a touch, very kind of her.


skeezer Says:

Talk about the class fashion of Tennis clothes, what about Fila?

Borg was hot in those outfits so the ladies say, and the shorts were…..errrrr….SHORT!

____________

mat4 re 6:20

exactly my point. IMG is gonna merchandise Novak, he is hot property now. Nike is the forerunner of Tennis fashion, with big $ and power in the Industry,,,,,,and Nole can get a branding specifically for him. I am confident once they(NIke) made stuff for Nole, Jane would buy the Nole/Nike poster for her wall, irregardless of Ugligo……lol ;)

Guess will all see what IMG brings to the Novak camp, my gut tells me it will be a big positive for him..


skeezer Says:

Wog boy,

I think Nole is a big enough star now to carry is own mark and brand with Nike. If his performance on the court continues(it will), its only going to get better. Bottom line he doesn’t have to worry about popularity, Fed and Rafa have a few years left at best, and he is coming on strong. Who will be left standing? IMG sees this, and that is why I beleive he was brought on board. I hope he cashes in on the sponsors ad merchandising, he has earned it!


Wog boy Says:

If Nike wanted Nole they could get him this year when he started having a problems with Tacchini not paying bonuses from contract. I am pretty sure Nike was aware of that long before we were, and he was hot property then. They probably thought they can get him cheep. I told you before, Djokovic familiy prefers old testament and you know why ! That was the case with Adidas and they just dumped Adidas when they found out that they are giving better deal to Murray than to Nole. Nike could come up with better offer than Uniqlo if they wanted him, why wait until later but trust me even then Nole wouldn’t go with them, I already stated the reason, who knows maybe they made an offer. Nole will not wear Nike, let us bet:)


Wog boy Says:

Skeezer,
@10:36pm

I missed your post while I was doing mine, sorry, you are right but Nole and his team like freedom and to feel free that they are in charge, and to be involved in making decision about future, not just to take a money and p$ss off, maybe that is what Uniqlo gave them, better opportunity for a future deals, you cannot have that freedom with Nike. This is Asian company that want to crack European and western market, they don’t even have their shop in Sydney. I had to ring in Belgrade ta ask my friends to get me Uniqlo things from Novak shop in Belgrade. Nole’s father proved that he can see things happening in future and tha he is willing to take a risk … look at Nole, His unvle is even sharper but he prefers to take back seat.
They fon’t like to play second fiddle and with Nike they would be third fiddle, with Uniqlo they are first one and likely to remain so for a long time.


Wog boy Says:

his “uncle” and not “unvle” there is few more mistakes, blame Irish coffee and brandy… and very hot day;)


skeezer Says:

Wog boy,

How do you know that NIke tried to bring him on but Daddy said no?

I hope for his and your sake the risk is worth it( re; Uniqlo ). However, I find it very hard to believe that the Father/Nole would sign a contract with IMG and not relinquish some of that decision power. That is not how IMG operates in regarding sponsorship strategies, and IMG wants to make as many dollars as possible too with their clientele. Why not?

Its not that I am all hot on Nike( well, maybe I am, lol ), it could be another well known global brand, but being with IMG he will have his marketing opportunities greatly expanded. Uniqlo may very well be Nole’s long time partner and sponsor, but with IMG he has an agent that has big time relationships with the marketing and sponsorships moguls in a very global sense. There record is proven, reliable and experienced and bring big bucks to the athletes they represent.

Nike was just an example of the power that IMG can negotiate, and take in mind Nike has not just clothing but world class shoes and accessories( they actually have signed athletes help design there performance shoes at the factory design center at Nike HQ ), and unmatched advertising of an athlete.

As DA says “Nole signs with IMG. I expect there’ll be some big endorsement deals coming his way soon…”

Totally agree.


mat4 Says:

WB:

Once again, I do have to disagree. Nole did not dump Adidas. It was the opposite, if I remember well. Then, if I remember well, K-Swiss was perhaps the best opportunity for Nole himself – complete apparel and some good money. But it was not an opportunity for his family.

When we see his business choice, he left Wilson, was dumped (or left, the result is the same) Adidas. The first change was disastrous for his results (although he finally got a convenient HEAD racquet in 2011). ST was without any doubt the wrong choice. Uniqlo, although a powerful brand, has no connections with tennis.

And don’t tell me that after winning three GS in a row, IMG wouldn’t obtain 10 M from Nike for Novak.


mat4 Says:

Or from Adidas, who probably regrets his decision. Especially since Novak is two years already at the very top (it doesn’t mean he will stay there), speaks English quite well, and is more and more a real international star.

And it is not only the question of endorsements that matters. IMG is also very influential in the world of tennis to change Nole’s status. We have to think now why Roger was so easy going and Novak so focused in Abu Dhabi last year.


Wog boy Says:

mat4,

Are you sure you don’t have Serbian blood?
Only my people can do that to me, what are you doing now:(
It is and it was a right choice, time will prove me right, but who cares anyway, if he only can get to double digit GS and one FO, with or without Uniqlo.
All what I need now is Courbon to pop up and to join you and Skeezer about Nole’s dad. Courbon , don’t you dare !
Back to Crown Lager, you upset me so much that I need another one;)


alison Says:

After reading again the article at the top of this thread,i had a good laugh with something i didnt notice before shot of the year Grigor Dimitrov behind the back winner,honourable mention Roger Federer between the legs,Novak Djokovic between the legs,half the players on tour and your mom between the legs,lol hilarious.


alison Says:

Just loving the back and forth exchanges of conversation between Wogboy and Mat4,sorry for coming across all Mrs Grinch in my post at@8.12am December 21st,i misunderstood The DAs link,endorsements are one thing and thats fine,and TBH they couldnt pick anyone better than Nole,whos worked hard for his sucess and fully deserves all the endorsements and acolades coming his way,the celebrities and charities whole thing is the only thing i find irritating thats all ill leave it at that,sorry again.


Daniel Says:

Nike all the way! For work out, running, bike and tennis. Their fabric and fit is just better. I am 6’1″ and tried other stuff, but just can’t addapt.


mat4 Says:

WB:

When I first came to Caledonia… sorry, to Yugoslavia, I was astonished by the level of eduction and the critical spirit of the communist inhabitants of that country.

Since I am in the field education, the system is long gone, and the “coup de grâce” is the recent changes dictated by the western countries.

But it isn’t something characteristic only for ex-Yugoslavs. It was the same in Bulgaria, Romania, it is the same in Ukraine. And the changes are almost the same, with perhaps one exception, Slovenia. But it is not for this site.

Finally, I indeed do have a lot of ties with your country, but I also have bounds with Macedonia, Montenegro, Bulgaria.

Finally, if I give you a small edge in my heart, it is because I love sljivovica (or kleklovatcha, even vilyamovka) much more than I love mastika or lozovaca.

Perhaps the most poignant moment I had in Serbia was when I climbed the hill to see the fortress of Maglich, and compared it to Carcassonne, or the fortress in my hometown in the northern Alps. Nothing is left, everything has been destroyed of a flourishing medieval civilization. A hunder miles south was an important Slavic trade city in the early middle-age, with about 100 tousand inhabitants, destroyed by Michael VI Stratiotikos. Not a wreck behind has left (to misquote). Not even the roads, to quote Andric.


alison Says:

Happy holidays Mat4,and hope you have a great new year too.


Wog boy Says:

Williams pear was brought to Serbia from England not long ago in the region of Gornji Milanovac, my mothers birth place, The only way in Serbia to find out if the fruit is good or not is whether or not you can make good brandy out of it:) if you can you keep planting if not forget about that. It turned out that Williams pear gives a really, really good brandy and the Serbs fell in love with new sort of pear from England ;) If we ever meet in Serbia I will take you overthere, I still have holiday house in Rudnik mountain. My Australian friends loved it, mountains, forests, piglet or lamb on the spit (sorry vegeterians) brandy and local people who kept bringing us home made white cheese and “kajmak” and smoked meat. I had a problem to keep moving them to our next place, “Zlatibor” traveling further south to Montenegro to see Kotor and beautiful Boka bay,

I read your post about education before and I cannot agree more, I finished one of those old “gimnazija” high schools that don’t exist any more. All what i can say about those new eastern european governments to compare them with Lucifer.

Andric, we spoke about him on TX not long ago. Check what Emir Kusturica, famous movi director, made in Visegrad and near by Mokra Gora?

BTW, Uniqlo fits nicely on No1E, hehehe;)

Yes, and I am going to visit New Caledonia, they speak English too, not only ” the language of Gods” ;)


dari Says:

Hi, Jane I do like the tight shorts on novak. He is thin enough to pull it off. Rafa (and Andy, for that matter) have too much in the thighs and rear for them to wear them and I like roger how he is, so those slim shorts will be just for novak ;) and yes, all is well, Jane and I hope the same for you.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS to all at tennisx, I have laughed many times out loud in the library from the funny posts (most likely suspect is Wog Boy) and enjoyed some new tennis knowledge here and there as well ;) enjoy Christmas and here is to a fantastic new year!


Wog boy Says:

dari,

I was suspect quite a few times in my young;) life but they couldn’t prove me guilty, but in this case there is hard evidence against me so this time I cannot getaway.

Happy holidays to you too, see u in the New Year.


jane Says:

Happy holidays to all at Tennis-X! :) Give love and time, and of course be and make merry. ;) Let’s hope 2013 rocks the courts.


Brando Says:

Just quickly wishing everyone here at Tennis- X a merry Christmas, happy holidays and hopefully a joy filled new year.

Hope you have a brilliant and glad time as all deserve to do at this time of the year with your loved ones.

Very much enjoyed everyone’s posts in 2012 and look forward to doing more of the same in 2013 with some brilliant tennis to feast upon!

Lot’s of good wishes and love

Brando :-)


Margot Says:

Happy mid-Winter festival greetings and best wishes for 2013.
Let’s Go Andy! :)


Sienna Says:

Lets hope Nole can in future dedicate his winnings to all people who were done wrong by tiranny and racism.

Lets hope Nole can look beyond his own culture and upbringings in future to unite people instead of divide them.

I hope his remarks in future will be shared by more then one people or more the 1 site of the story. Hatred in that region of europe is to great at the moment. He could be a katalysator to unite. At the moment I feel he is a instigator but hopefully his example in Roger Federer can give hom some insights and self reflection to become a better person.

Those are my 2013 wishes for Novak.


alison Says:

Posted this on the other thread,but ill also do it on this one too for good measure,heres to wishing all tennis x posters(even the ones i dont get along with) a merry christmas and a happy new year,heres to another great year of cracking tennis in the new year,whoever your favorite happens to be,or who knows maybe some new talent will make a major breakthrough,all will be revealed.


Kimberly Says:

Happy Holidays to all my tennis x posters and writers including but not limited to Margot, Skeezer, Contador, Jane, Kimmi, Daniel, Madmax, Tennis Vagabond, Humble Rafa, Mark, Rick, Lulu Iberica, Wog Boy, Mat4, Colin, Raquet, Ben Pronin, Sean Randall, Tom Gainey, Alok, Brando, Allison, Dari, Blank, Funches, Polo, Maso, Dory, Dave, Roger Federer Fan, the DA, WTF, Michael and Michael, I like Tennis Bullies and much much more.


Dan Martin Says:

http://tennisabides.com/2012/12/24/tennis-impersonations-a-history/ My most recent column. I have not been writing as much, but I hope to be back in form by the time the Australian Open starts. I hope you enjoy my history of tennis impersonations.


alison Says:

Merry Christmas all tennis x posters,i hope your all having a good one,and i have to say over the course of the year i have enjoyed the posts well mostly anyway,i would like to give a quick mention to abscent friends like Ajet,Swiss Maestro, Rave,Conty etc who are all great and much mmissed posters whom i would love to see posting again come the new year.


alison Says:

^Would like to add Lulu Iberica to that list too^.


Sandra Says:

Nadal out of abu dhabi. Stomach virus.


alison Says:

Its only an exo anyway,best to return when fully fit and healthy,get some practice for the AO at Doha,still dissapointed as i was finally looking forward to seeing him play again(sigh).


Dan Martin Says:

Alison thanks for the well wishes – I hope you are having a great day! I think 2013 will be a great year for tennis.


courbon Says:

@ Alison,Wog Boy,Skeezer,Jane,Brando,Magot,Mat4 and others-Merry Christmas and all the best in 2013.

P.S.-Regarding clothes-agree with Wog Boy.Everybody have Nikes-Uniqlo is more unique…


alison Says:

Dan Martin yeah very much looking forward to it,im keeping my fingers crossed for a healthy Rafa in 2013,having a great day yeah,hope you are too.
Courbon merry Christmas to you too,and all the best in the new year,to be honest ive ate too much,drank too much,spent too much,and slept it all off,as you do,still its been a great day though,back to work tomorrow as care for the elderly never stops,still i was lucky i was off today,so no complaints on that score.


alison Says:

Have to say about romantic love songs,Ella Fitzgeralds Everytime we say Goodbye,and Roberta Flacks The 1st Time ever i saw your face,are up there with the all time classics.


Wog boy Says:

alison,

Since we are in a jolly mood, what about “Nights in white satin” The Moody Blues, that was the best song to get close to girl you liked;)

Courbon,

I know you missed those times, you are too young, but I can tell you, they were good, very good times, just ask your parents:) That was just after Woodstok ans Isle of Wight festivals,, we were young and innocent.


Sienna Says:

The Nadal team is taking the Mickey out of tennis and fans all over the world.

I’m sure they will keep this going for a few more weeks just to keep it going until he cn feel the clay under his paws again.


Wog boy Says:

courbon,

All the best to you too, mate. I’ll get back to you on January the 7th.


alison Says:

Wogboy moody blues nights in white satin is just about my all time ever favorite song,my sister in yorkshire named her 1st born son Justin after Justin Hayward as the song forever autumn(another classic) is one of her favorite ever songs,hope you and your family had a lovely christmas.


the DA Says:

Happy holidays! Here’s to a fantastic 2013.

Nole and Andy are already in Dubai, hope to find a stream somewhere.

http://ww3.hdnux.com/photos/17/03/32/3946146/3/628×471.jpg


jane Says:

^ Awesome photo, thanks!! Let me know if you find a stream the DA. Can’t wait. :)


the DA Says:

Oops, of course I meant Abu Dhabi.

Jane – I’ll let you know if I find one.


jane Says:

^ Thank you! Looks like it’s at sport lemon too. :)

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