Tennis
Isner Wins Longest Match in History
June 25, 2010 by Ryan Krane · Leave a Comment
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Sports announcers at Wimbledon were left scrambling for words as the longest match in history finally came to end on Thursday between John Isner and Nicolas Mahut. The three-day match, suspended twice due to darkness, clocked in at a mind-boggling 11 hours and 5 minutes. The longest match before this one lasted 6 and half hours, less time than it took Isner and Mahut to battle out the fifth set of their record shattering match.
Could there ever be a match this close again??? The stats speak for themselves:
Isner landed 74% of his first serves. Mahut landed 67%. Isner had 112 aces. Mahut had 103 (both totals trampling the previous high of 78) Isner had 11 fewer double faults (10-21) Mahut had 13 fewer unforced errors (52-39) Isner won the match (6-4, 3-6, 6-7 (7), 7-6 (3), 70-68 … even though Mahut won more overall points (478-502)
Four times Isner had match point, but each time Mahut defied the odds and won back the point. When the players broke at dusk for the second time, unable to see the ball anymore after over 7 hours of back-and-forth battling on Wednesday, the crowd gave Isner and Mahut a standing ovation.
On Thursday, the crowd roared once more as the players walked onto the court, tied at 59-all. Can you BELIEVE IT?? For about an hour, both players dominated with their serves. The level of focus and physical endurance it took for both players to be acing each other three days in a row is nothing short of inspirational.
In the final game, Mahut gave Isner an opening after netting a drop shot on consecutive points. With his fifth match point, the first of the day, Isner ended the historic occasion with an up-the-line backhand. He collapsed on the grass. Perhaps more amazed by what just happened than anyone else, Isner suddenly sprang to his feet and started applauding with the crowd. |
We’ll Miss You Coach Wooden…
June 11, 2010 by Ryan Krane · Leave a Comment
On June 4th the world lost not only one of the best coaches of all time, but a man of integrity and humility; a man on a mission to inspire those who knew him, those who played for him, and those who read his books, to face their fears and discover their own potential.
Last week, Coach John Wooden passed away. A sports legend by any standard, Wooden was the first to be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame as both a player and a coach. In only a 12 year period, he led UCLA to 10 NCAA championships-a record unmatched by any basketball coach since (and will in all likelihood remain unmatched).
Called the “Wizard of Westwood,” Coach Wooden preferred to stick to his down to Earth Indiana roots. The only magic he knew of came about through old-fashioned hard work and determination. His maxims are now used by coaches of just about every sport out there: Failing to prepare is preparing to fail. … Flexibility is the key to stability. … Be quick, but don’t hurry…
He lived his life according to a Seven Point Creed given to him by his father when he graduated from grammar school. Among the points are timeless perils of advice, such as:
-Be true to yourself
-Make each day your masterpiece
-Help others
-Make friendship a fine art
Coach Wooden was a man who stayed true to his core beliefs. He never earned the big bucks. He married his high school sweet heart and stayed married for 53 years until she passed on. And now, the legendary coach and role model has passed on at 99 years. May his countless insights continue to inspire and challenge us all to better ourselves, and uplift each other.
Federer, what happened? Seriously, the Quarterfinals?
June 4, 2010 by Ryan Krane · Leave a Comment
At the 2010 French Open on Tuesday, Roger Federer’s streak of 23 Grand Slam semifinal appearances came to an end. That’s right, let it sink in. For the first time in six years, there will be a Grand Slam semifinal without the Swiss champion there to stand his ground.
So, who is responsible for defeating Federer in the quarterfinals? In no more than four sets? Keeping Federer on the defensive, dominating him from the baseline like nobody’s business? None other than the big swinging Robin Soderling…
Before Tuesday, Soderling had a 0-12 record against Federer, so in one sense the victory was long overdue. Last year in Paris, Soderling ended the reign of four-time champion Nadal in the fourth round, clearing the way for Federer to take his first French Open title-narrowly beating Soderling in the finals. But this year, Soderling returned with his power shots polished-ready to finally have his day with Federer.
At 6-foot-4, Soderling’s serve has always been a force to be reckoned with, but on Tuesday, he matched the power of his serve with thunderous returns. On several points, Soderling took Federer’s second serve and aimed the return about a foot inside the baseline! To possess the skill and confidence to pull off those shots is astonishing. Again and again, Soderling’s powerful and precise returns (and serves!) threw Federer off his game, forcing him to try to play catch up … ultimately finding himself unable to do so.
Through sheer talent and a focused mentality-never appearing nervous, scared, or anxious-Soderling earned his victory over Federer. One champion outplayed the other. As Federer said to the press, “I’m disappointed to a certain degree. I didn’t think I played a bad match. He came up with some great tennis. It’s much easier to digest this way.”
Unfortunately for Federer’s unbelievable streak, the match couldn’t wait for the semifinals.
The Life Coach Advantage!
May 28, 2010 by Ryan Krane · 1 Comment
Work, family, friends, chores, errands, traffic, favors, deadlines … and underneath it all … invisible pressures, fears, feelings of inadequacy, resentment, regret, stress, hidden insecurities, superficial insecurities, deep-seeded issues that few really make the time to heal….
Keeping so much bottled up inside can have devastating effects on your psychological and physical well being, including stress headaches, exhaustion, depression and anxiety, chemical dependency (most commonly caffeine), insomnia, nightmares, and a jeopardized immune system….
Personal empowerment begins by admitting you need a change in your life–But where do you start? What will be your strategy? How will you change today? … Jump-starting palpable change in your life can feel almost impossible when your body and mind are already overwhelmed.
Most people need more than admitting they need change … they need support for that change … some one who can offer strategies for a balanced, healthy life … some one with a fresh perspective you can trust … in other words, a Life Coach!
As your Life Coach, I can help to jump-start change that will be sure to empower, inspire and rejuvenate your sense of possibility:
-Restore balance in your life
-Get your feelings off of your chest so you can perform at your maximum ability
-Carve out time for yourself
-Importance of setting goals and sticking to them
-Importance of FREE days/vacation
-How to invest in yourself and follow your passions…
Schedule an appointment today and discover for yourself the Life Coach advantage!!!
The King of Clay!
April 24, 2010 by Ryan Krane · Leave a Comment
Rafael Nadal is maybe the greatest clay court player of all time. In his first clay court tournament of the year in Monte Carlo he lost a total of 14 games and won the event for his 6th straight year. He is now tied with Andre Agassi for the most Master Series tournament wins with 16 and he will probably surpass Agassi next week when the men’s field heads to the Rome Masters.
What makes Nadal so great on clay?
-tenacity
-how he wears his opponents down
-never gives up
-grew up playing on clay
-his speed (lets him run down more balls)
-clay courts play slower, which allows time for his big looping groundstrokes
We will all have to wait and see how he finishes the clay court season. I believe Nadal will finish strong and win this years French Open.
What’s Roger Federer’s Story?
April 2, 2010 by Ryan Krane · 2 Comments
Give Your Adrenal Glands a Boost
March 27, 2010 by Ryan Krane · Leave a Comment
For example, let’s say it’s match point, and you need to win your next serve in order to bring the score back to deuce. A rally develops and you gain control over the point. Your opponent is sprinting down every shot until finally it seems you have fought your way back into the game. Your opponent’s shot looks like it’s headed into the net, but then, right as every muscle in your body starts to relax, the ball smacks into the top of the net with just enough spin to roll over the top. You have no time to think, but something in your body is saying “give up” … That something is likely your adrenal glands!
One way to help insure optimum adrenal function is to give those glands a dietary boost.
-don’t wait to long to eat once you’re up for the day
-combine healthy fat, protein and complex carbs in every meal for consistent energy
-avoid highly processed foods and sugary snacks so you don’t crash
-make sure you have enough salt in your diet (unless, of course, you have high blood pressure)
-eat plenty of vegetables
-minimize high-fructose fruits, especially if you have blood sugar problems
Tips for Building and Maintaining Shoulder Strength
March 21, 2010 by Ryan Krane · Leave a Comment
1. Strengthen your shoulder. The shoulder is able to move fluidly thanks to the synchronized correspondence between several muscles, the shoulder blade and the bicep tendon. Strengthening all of the muscles works to stabilize the shoulder, reduce the risk of injury, and increase the longevity of optimal performance.
2. Use proper posture. Bad posture only causes further stress on the shoulder. It doesn’t matter if you are on the court, in the gym, driving to work, or talking on your cell phone, always try to stay mindful of whether or not you are slouching.
3. Stretch out the stress. Stress will cause muscles to become sore and take longer to heal. As discussed a couple weeks ago, stretching is a great way to relieve pain, de-stress, improve posture, and prevent injury.
4. If injured, seek advice from a personal trainer or physician. Your gut may be telling you to strengthen your shoulder after an injury since it feels weak, but exercising too soon can do more damage than good. Bottom line: If you are experiencing any level of chronic pain or discomfort in your shoulder, play it safe and seek a professional!
Tennis Cardio Plus
February 26, 2010 by Ryan Krane · 1 Comment
Anyone interested in training for competitive tennis knows there’s going to be cardio involved. But what kind of cardio workout is best for tennis? If you want to get the most out of your workout, you need to focus on the three most important cardio conditioning factors in tennis: speed, endurance, and fast reaction time.
Speed. To improve speed, try simulating the side to side shuffle steps performed during matches. Combine that with interval running and sprints. In fact, one of Andre Agassi’s favorite training tips is to sprint uphill.
Endurance. To stretch out your peak performance time, make sure to get outdoors as much as possible. Your body needs to be readily acclimated to the outdoor conditions experienced during a match. Swim, bike, go for speed walks-just keep running to a minimum. Know in your mind when you are training for speed and when you are training for endurance.
Fast Reaction Time. To work on your reaction time, nothing is better than a personal tennis coach-someone who will force you to grow as a player through focused and intensive drills. Group clinics are sometimes even more effective as the players naturally form bonds, feel supported, challenge one another, and time after time rise to new heights on the court.
Keeping Up With The Speed of the Game
January 29, 2010 by Ryan Krane · Leave a Comment
Weight training and tennis haven’t always gone hand in hand. From the start of competitive tennis, there was a fear of becoming too bulky and having to sacrifice speed. No one wants to see their stroke ruined just for the sake of bulk! Of course, as history has shown, that’s not how the body works. Throughout the 20th century, the more professional tennis players incorporated sport-specific weight training-combined with lighter, wider-bodied rackets-the more the speed of the sport began to accelerate … and by all accounts continues to.
So, what’s the trouble? The faster the game, the better, right?
The trouble is that, by and large, training regimes are still struggling to keep up with the sport’s accelerating pace. Injury is never something a player means to risk, but that’s exactly what’s at stake with improper off-court training. No tennis player can play themselves into shape. It’s not enough to just run out onto the court and get some exercise-not if you want to keep up with the speed of the game: You need to be strong. And at the same time, it’s not going to help your performance if you pump iron every day because to be a competitive tennis player: You also need to be lean.
Be careful not to fall for style over substance in the sports training industry. It’s one thing to appear more athletic, it’s another thing to win more matches, diminish the risk of injury, and play with all your heart.
Are doing what it takes to keep up with the speed of the game?
