Looking ahead to Wimbledon 2010 – Corporate Hospitality Group

Wimbledon is once again on the horizon. This year, the expectations for a British Wimbledon champion will be as strong as ever.

There will be a lot of hype and speculation over Andy Murray's form or on Laura Robson's potential to cause a few upsets.

Whatever the story may be, we all know it's going to be an epic. After all, this is Wimbledon.

The tennis year started with everyone believing it would be Andy Murray's time to win his first Grand Slam.

Unfortunately, he came up against Roger Federer, who overwhelmed Murray with his exemplary shot-making and flawless serving. The tournament ended with Murray in tears and devastated, saying: “I can cry like Roger, it's a shame I can't play like him.”

Since then, Murray has been in stuck a rut, losing in the early rounds of Dubai, Miami, Rome and Indian Wells.

As a result, his form and ability has been put under scrutiny as well as being questioned on whether he has the nerve to win a Grand Slam.

In my opinion Murray's performances in the ATP events are irrelevant, it is at the Grand Slams where it counts.

Murray's recent results reflect how his intensity and motivation for the ATP events have fallen by the wayside, but I'm sure that at the Slams his desire will be turned on, and if he can have a great French Open it will help ignite confidence and boost his chances of winning Wimbledon.

The media will still make it their responsibility to elevate Robson and any players like South who manage to achieve any significant success. In contrast, South will hope to achieve similar heights as Murray and Robson by trying to reach the third round for the first time after failing in the last two years.

All the British tennis players have the opportunity of doing well this year but, realistically, there are a crop of talented players who can also win the much-coveted crown, such as Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Andy Roddick. Personally, I think if Nadal wins Roland Garros and then the Aegon Championships I wouldn't put it past him to win Wimbledon.

Considering the way Nadal is performing on the red stuff and the way he dismissed Federer clinically in the Madrid Masters, he is looking exceptional.

But this year's championship could feature for the first time in seven years a final without Roger Federer-if this does occur, this year's final will be doubly special.

So it's either going to be Murray, Djokovic or Roddick taking the other spot and whoever does get that place will have to do something out of this world to beat the machine (Rafa) because, at the moment, it looks like no one can find his off switch.

As for this year, Wimbledon have decided to increase this year's prize money to a million pounds for both men and women, While another thing to look out for will be the Queen's arrival to centre court.

The last time she visited was in 1977, when Virginia Wade won her first and only Wimbledon title. Since then 40 years have past, facilities have changed, champions have got stronger.

All in all, the game has changed for the better, and come what may in those two weeks, Wimbledon without a doubt will be a sunny affair.

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Tennis: Murray needs to get an Eiffel lot better

Rafa Nadal will be unstoppable at the French Open over the next fortnight.

But Andy Murray must find the momentum in Paris to bring to Queen's Club and Wimbledon next month.

The Spaniard became the first man to win all three Masters events on clay this season when he triumphed in Monte Carlo, Rome and Madrid while dropping only two sets.

He's the hottest favourite going into Roland Garros since he won his fourth French Open in 2008 without dropping a set. I will be shocked if he doesn't win.

After the knee problems which forced him out of Wimbledon last year, it is great for the sport to see him back to form and fitness. The key to his return this year has been better scheduling of his tournament appearances.

Previously he played far too much and tried to please everyone. He had played at Barcelona to support Spanish tennis, but this year he made the tough choice to rest and it was the right decision.

Roger Federer, who won his first French Open last year, has not played well since Australia but has the ability to step up for the Grand Slams. This is what Murray must do.

He suffered massive disappointment in losing the Melbourne final then fell to his first big opponent in David Ferrer on Madrid's clay last week.

There are still technical problems with his weak second serve. And he needs more depth on his forehand. These are the areas where he needs to improve to win a Major.

Reaching the quarterfinals in Paris like last year would be a good performance and his draw is favourable. Richard Gasquet will be tough in the first round with the home crowd, but I expect Murray to win.

He is then likely to face Marcus Baghdatis and John Isner before another Frenchman, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, in the quarters. Nadal and other dangerous Spaniards like Fernando Verdasco are in the other side of the draw.

The women's singles usually throws up surprise winners with Svetlana Kuznetsova beating Dinara Safina last year. But this year promises to be between the Williams sisters and the Belgians Justine Henin and Kim Clijsters.

I'll be at the LTA's National Talent ID Finals in London this week, the culmination of a nationwide search to find our best young players. Nearly 200 have made it to London and Bolton next week. It ensures the best youngsters go on to be supported by the AEGON FutureStar programme.

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Women Tennis: Russian women left in the shade

PARIS: Twelve months after Russia provided both finalists at the French Open, the country's female tennis players are experiencing a serious collective slump.
Svetlana Kuznetsova defeated compatriot Dinara Safina in straight sets in last year's decider but both have since failed to make any kind of impression at the major tournaments.

Golden girl Maria Sharapova reached the quarter-finals in 2009 following her return from a long-standing shoulder problem but injuries continue to plague her and the former world number one is currently ranked 13th.

Kuznetsova, Safina and Olympic champion Elena Dementieva continue to fly the Russian flag in the world's top 10 but the Williams sisters Serena and Venus are now ranked first and second respectively and arrive at Roland Garros with proven Grand Slam pedigree.

Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki, currently ranked third, is the new rising star in the women's game and Belgian comeback queens Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin have returned from retirement with silverware in their sights.

Safina's fall from grace has been perhaps the most alarming.

Her 6-4, 6-2 defeat to Kuznetsova in Paris last June meant she had lost her first three Grand Slam finals in straight sets and after being thrashed by Venus in the Wimbledon semi-finals she lost in the third round at the US Open.

A painful back injury sustained at the Australian Open forced her out in the fourth round and her subsequent absence has seen her fall to ninth in the rankings, having risen to first last year.

Her return to action saw her reach the last eight at Stuttgart but she fell in the first round in both Rome and Madrid and insists her focus now is on keeping free from injury.

"My back injury is the worst you can get, because if things go wrong again, that might be it for my professional career altogether," said the 24-year-old, who was diagnosed with a double stress fracture and a ruptured muscle in her back in January.

"With a broken arm or leg, you can rest it, but with your back it is almost impossible. It has made me realise how much I love tennis.

Defending champion Kuznetsova, meanwhile, followed up her Roland Garros triumph with a third-round exit at Wimbledon and defeat to Wozniacki in the fourth round at the US Open.

She got no further than the fourth round at the Australian Open and a serious of early exits culminated in a shock first-round loss to Israel's Shahar Peer in Madrid earlier this month.

"It's frustrating, because I know I have the game," said Kuznetsova after a second-round defeat at Indian Wells in March.

"I feel great. I do practice, play unbelievable, and then get to the match and I don't do much."

Sharapova was another first-round casualty in the Spanish capital, losing in straight sets to Lucie Safarova on her comeback from a two-month lay-off with an elbow injury.

Sharapova last tasted success in Memphis in February and her countrywomen Dementieva, Vera Zvonareva, Alisa Kleybanova and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova have also won titles in 2010.

The big guns, however, have fallen quiet, and with the Williams sisters on the warpath, Russia's women look uncharacteristically exposed.

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Women Tennis: Andy Murray in French Open to play Richard Gasquet

The first round in the French Open could be a difficult match for Andy Murray when he meets up with   the French player Richard Gasquet.

Andy Murray won his last match against the French player when they met in Wimbledon in 2008 and gave everyone a glorious five set thriller to be entertained by although he had lost their previous two encounters.

Richard Gasquest who is presently ranked at number 68 could give Murray a far harder match than his ranking would suggest as he is a very talented player.

Gasquest who is 23 has had some problems to overcome with injuries and a positive test for cocaine last year which got him banned from the game.

His ban for the drugs test was later dismissed as it was accepted that he had inadvertently consumed the substance when kissing a woman who said she had taken it while she was at a party.

Roger Federer will be in the same half draw as 23 year old Murray and his game will be against Peter Luczak.

Round one for the women will see the number one women’s player, Serena Williams, playing against  Stefanie Voegele.

Presently seeded at number 22 women’s player Belgian Henin has the possibility of facing Maria Sharapova in the third round and then the even more daunting task of playing the quarter finals against Serena Williams.

Three British women players will be in the main draw on ranking which is a first since 1992 however each will have a difficult match in the opening round.

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We take care, women tennis players say

PARIS - Just because you spend hours sweating on tennis courts all year round does not mean you cannot take care of yourself.

Serena Williams and Svetlana Kuznetsova reminded everyone on Friday that tennis players had a life away from the courts.


The world number one has been going to nail school, while the defending French Open champion is into tattoos and diamonds.

Serena got the idea earlier this season when she was sidelined with a knee injury, twiddling her thumbs in boredom.

Well, I was injured, and then I was twiddling my thumbs at home. I had nothing to do. I was just working out and just trying to get better," the American told reporters two days before the French Open starts.

"I was bored, and that's how I got into nail school kind of. First day was fun. It was easy. I'm really advanced, so I've had a lot of experience."

While Serena is seen as somehow coquettish, often wearing skintight outfits, including a leather-looking 'catsuit' she wore as a 17-year-old at the U.S. Open, Kuznetsova does not enjoy the same reputation.

The women's singles usually throws up surprise winners with Svetlana Kuznetsova beating Dinara Safina last year. But this year promises to be between the Williams sisters and the Belgians Justine Henin and Kim Clijsters.

The Russian, however, shares a few hobbies with Frenchman Gael Monfils.

"I think we're alike," she saud.

"We do like similar things, we like similar music. We like tattoos, cars, diamonds."

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Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu receives ‘ambassador’ accolade at tourism awards – York Ebor Horse racing Festival

TOURISM chiefs hailed the Archbishop of York the answer to their prayers when they presented him with the top award at a major ceremony.

The annual York Tourism Awards, organised by Visit York, were held at the National Railway Museum last night, to celebrate excellence in the city’s crucial tourism industry.

Fourteen winners, picked from hundreds of entries, were presented with their awards at the event hosted by writer and broadcaster Gervase Phinn.

The award for Tourism Ambassador 2010 went to Dr John Sentamu for the role he plays both nationally and internationally in putting York on the map.

Since his arrival in the city in 2005, visitors have met the Archbishop offering open-air baptisms, he has visited flood victims in Cumbria and made visits overseas.

Visit York chairman John Yeomans said: “The Archbishop has contributed greatly to raising the profile of the city and we’re delighted he has accepted this award in recognition of the work he does both in York and across the globe.”

Last year he rode My Will, a Paul Nicholls horse, but could only manage 3rd. However, this year he’s on the favorite, Big Fella Thanks, who also happens to be trained by Nicholls. Big Fella Thanks had a great race last year as he finished 6th at the tender age of 7 so with Ruby Walsh in charge he might live up to his billing.

Tony McCoy, who this year is riding Don’t Push It, is one of the greatest jockeys of the modern era with over 3000 career wins which have brought him virtually every prize going except the coveted Grand National. Racing in the Aintree Grand National 2010 will mark the 15th time he has attempted the course so he is more than familiar with it but so far has only managed 3rd place.

Sam Twiston-Davies may not be a celebrated jockey but he’s making plenty of headlines for the Aintree Grand National 2010. At 17-years-old he’s competing to become the youngest winner since Bruce Hobbs won with Battleship in 1938. Hobbs was also aged 17 at the time. He’s riding a decent horse in Hello Bud, trained by his father Nigel, but his inexperience may take its toll.

Dr Sentamu, who was unable to attend the award ceremony in person, said it was a “great honour”.

He said: “York is one of the greatest cities in Britain. It’s not just the great tourist attractions we have here like the Minster, the Jorvik Viking Centre and the Railway Museum that draw people into the city – no, I put it down to the incredible people we have here in York. Yorkshire people may be famous for being straight talking, but they are also renowned for being warm-spirited, kind-hearted and very welcoming to our visitors. I think that’s the main reason people keep coming back – and also one of the main reasons I have won this award!”

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Paco Boy shines at Sandown – Glorious Goodwood Horseracing Festival

Richard Hannon jnr firmly believes Paco Boy will be hard to beat this season after he started the campaign in effortless style by sweeping away the opposition in the Bet365 Mile at Sandown.

Last year's winner of the Group Two event progressed to score in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot last summer but was roughed off after his mid-summer Sussex Stakes second in preparation for his five-year-old campaign.

The 11-10 favourite looked a cut above in the parade ring before the field headed to post and he cruised into contention on the outside under Richard Hughes.

After snatching the lead passing the furlong marker, Hughes was little more than an onlooker as his willing partner stretched over three lengths clear of international campaigner Pressing.

Hannon jnr, son and assistant to his father Richard, said: 'I just spoke to Dad on the phone and he agreed with me that the horse is definitely better this year.

'He will go to the Lockinge now and I wish that race had been today as he was so well. He's been gasping for a race for the last six to eight weeks and he kicked two windows out of his box as he's so fresh.

'I think he will struggle to find one to beat him after today.

'After the Lockinge there are races like the Queen Anne and the Jacques le Marios and connections are looking at all sorts of races in all sorts of places.'

The colours of Ballymacoll Stud were successful in the Bet365 Gordon Richards Stakes for the second year running as Glass Harmonium followed up stablemate Tartan Bearer's 2009 win under Ryan Moore.

Another to strike at Royal Ascot, the Michael Stoute-trained four-year-old made giant strides under the champion jockey - who was sporting a black eye after being hit by a piece of turf in the previous race - and the 11-1 chance displayed plenty of heart to hold the determined Redwood by a head.

Stoute said: 'He was a little bit behind schedule in early March so he will have needed the run and there may be more than normal progress from this.

'He's a horse we've always liked and I hope he can really go on and progress.

'He will stay a mile and a half but we won't go down that route at the moment and the Tattersalls Gold Cup is a race that springs to mind.'

Luca Cumani had jetted off to saddle Presvis in the Audemars Piguet QE II Cup in Hong Kong and missed his Mabait making it four wins on the bounce in the hands of Kieren Fallon in the Poker At bet365.com Handicap.

Cumani's son, Matt, said: 'This was a sighter to see how he had come on and he has obviously come on a lot.

'It looks like he will get further but a mile will be fine for him for now.'

Adam Kirby ensured the Flat riders were not beaten at their own game by lifting the Casino At bet365.com Flat v Jump Jockeys Handicap.

The annual clash between the stars of each code is always the subject of plenty of weighing room banter but Kirby had the right ammunition on his side in Halsion Chancer (8-1), a workmate of John Best's 2000 Guineas hope Inler.

Best's assistant Martin Smith said: 'It's a bit of a boost for Inler - the horse has worked with him two or three times.

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