Nadal return a welcome sight

Posted by Alex Livie on 22/03/2010

Rafael Nadal was unable to defend his title at Indian Wells, going down to a surprise defeat to Ivan Ljubicic, but it was a fantastic sight for tennis fans to see the Spaniard back on court.

It was his first appearance on court since retiring injured against Andy Murray at the Australian Open in January. At that time it looked grim for Nadal, as the recurrence of his knee injury looked serious. Nadal’s camp played down the severity of the problem and it would appear they were justified by his appearance at Indian Wells.

He breezed through the first few rounds and looked primed to defend his title, but came up short against Ljubicic. It was a surprise to see Nadal slip to defeat to a player he should have been well equipped to beat, but there were positives to be gleaned from his trip to California.

The hard courts of America are not the ideal surface for Nadal’s suspect knees, but he scampered round the courts without any signs of weakness and provided he comes through unscathed at Miami he can look forward to the clay court season with relish.

Nadal is the king of Roland Garros and with as many doubts about his rivals as his own knees, the stage could be set for the Spaniard to make a quite stunning return to the top of the sport.

Beckham loss not savage for England

Posted by Alex Livie on 15/03/2010

David Beckham has got his mug on the back pages once again, but for once in his superbly-managed career I bet he wishes he hadn’t. A ruptured Achilles tendon has left Beckham facing an operation and his World Cup dream in tatters. It is a savage blow for a player seeking his fourth appearance at a World Cup finals and almost certainly ends his hopes of overtaking Peter Shilton’s record of 125 caps for England.

Beckham is a great ambassador for British sport, he has been a great servant to a game that has made him an immensely wealthy man, but sentiment aside it is not a disaster for England’s World Cup hopes.

He did well to work his way back into the England squad, after being wrongly discarded by Steve McClaren following the 2006 World Cup finals, with his dedication and commitment winning over Fabio Capello. He took loan moves from LA Galaxy to Milan to further his claims and was almost certain to be on the plane to South Africa, fitness permitting.

Injury has intervened, but it is not a crippling blow to England’s hopes. At 34, the Beckham legs had seen him restricted to the role of impact player. Capello favours a speedy player on the flank, a player capable of beating his marker with a turn of pace. Beckham does not possess that quality, he never did if truth be told, and as such he would only have been called on in a time of crisis.

Beckham is one of the finest crossers of a ball in the game, he can deliver a wicked free-kick and corner, but if Capello had to summon him from the bench in South Africa, it would have meant England were in bother.

It would have been nice for Capello to have had the Beckham string to his bow, but he does not and should England fail at the World Cup finals it will not be because Beckham was not there.

Aaron Lennon is Capello’s first choice for the right-wing berth and it is of bigger concern to England that the Tottenham man is struggling to shake off his groin injury. Tottenham have said they have no idea when Lennon will be fit and if given the choice it is and if Capello had to choose between the two, I know which one the Italian would have rather have with him in South Africa.

Take a bow Graeme McDowell

Posted by Alex Livie on 06/03/2010

In a sporting era when the rewards for success are huge and penalties for failure severe, moments of genuine honesty are increasingly rare. Graeme McDowell handed us one on the 18th hole at the Honda Classic on Friday.

McDowell stood on the 18th tee a shot behind the leader, but sent his tee shot flying towards the water on the right-hand side of the fairway. McDowell reached his ball to find it part-submerged but still playable. Rather than take a penalty drop, he elected to try and advance the ball up the fairway – which he did.

The problem for McDowell is that the water is classed as a hazard and as such you are not allowed to ground your club prior to impact. Upon taking his backswing, the sole of McDowell’s club feathered the water. It was such a minor touch that it was not spotted by any of the commentators at the time and later replays had to be scrutinised to show the offence.

McDowell knew though, the vast majority of sportsmen do in such instances, and before he had stepped back on to the fairway he had informed the TV commentator following his game that he felt he had touched the water. A two-shot penalty resulted, sending McDowell back into the pack, and it could result in him losing the tournament. That may be the case, but he has won much more than money: respect.

Too often we see footballers take a chunk out of an opposing player and say ‘never touched him ref’. The last time I played football, granted it was just past the time when there were laces in the ball, but a leg did not feel much like the ball and you knew when a foul had been committed.

Cricket is the same, it is sickening to see cricketers claim catches they know full well have not carried. About 99% of the time, you know whether the ball has carried or not but time and again you get the claim of a catch followed by a ‘I think it might have carried’.

It is highly likely that McDowell’s shot would have been scrutinised and a two-shot penalty resulted in any case. He could have shrugged the shoulders and said ‘wasn’t sure’ but he knew what had happened and held his hands up.

The rewards in sport are huge, but it is nice to see that a player has the decency and respect for himself and the game to call himself for a penalty.

Well done Graeme McDowell.