Author Archives: Jesse Pentecost

An Effect So Poetic

Davis Cup, Final Until last year the tiny proportion of the Czech Republic concentrated in its Davis Cup team had not won the Davis Cup since 1980. They’ve now won it for the second year in a row, by fielding … Continue reading

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Direction and Magnitude

World Tour Finals, Final (2) Djokovic d. (1) Nadal, 6/3 6/4 Novak Djokovic tonight defeated Rafael Nadal in the final of the World Tour Finals, an appropriately forgettable match  with which to conclude a tournament that one suspects is already … Continue reading

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A Madman’s Dream

World Tour Finals, Round Robin. As innovations in sports coverage go, the two tendencies with the patchiest success rate have typically entailed attempts to introduce more technology into proceedings and vain efforts to bring viewers closer to the players, or … Continue reading

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The Measure of Defiance

Paris Masters, Final (2) Djokovic d. (3) Ferrer, 7/5 7/5 David Ferrer didn’t quite defend his first Masters title at the Paris Masters this week, falling in the final to Novak Djokovic. But he wasn’t far off, and came considerably … Continue reading

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Small Miracles

Paris Masters, Quarterfinals It is rare at any level of professional tennis for the top eight seeds to populate the quarterfinal stage of a tournament, a result that was guaranteed the moment Rafael Nadal defeated Jerzy Janowicz in the last … Continue reading

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The Eternal Wonder of Nature

Basel, Final (1) Del Potro d. (3) Federer, 7/6 2/6 6/4 Roger Federer this afternoon enjoyed the unusual sensation of entering Basel’s St Jakobshalle as the underdog, although perhaps ‘enjoyed’ isn’t the word. In truth he probably enjoyed it about … Continue reading

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Living In A Blue World

Stockholm, Final (7) Dimitrov d. (1) Ferrer, 2/6 6/3 6/4 It is consistent with the ATP’s belated commitment to greater coherence that the European Indoor season, which began this week in Moscow, Vienna and Stockholm, now wastes so little time … Continue reading

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Keeping Track

Shanghai Masters, Final (1) Djokovic d. (6) del Potro, 6/1 3/6 7/6 Novak Djokovic this evening won his second straight Shanghai title, and fifteenth Masters title over all. It was also his twentieth consecutive victory in China. He was understandably … Continue reading

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Deeper Blue

Beijing, Final (1) Djokovic d. (2) Nadal, 6/3 6/4 Until yesterday, the only hardcourt tournaments that Rafael Nadal hadn’t won this year were ones he didn’t enter. It doesn’t take much to mar a perfect record – just one loss … Continue reading

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Interesting Times

Kuala Lumpur, Final Sousa d. Benneteau, 2/6 7/5 6/4 “I took my chance, it didn’t pay off and it’s hard, it’s hard, it’s very hard. But it’s sport.” Not immediately but surprisingly quickly, Julien Benneteau grew philosophical about his loss … Continue reading

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