Thursday 1 June 2017

Think Global, Act Local - DRAFT

And another phrase or philosophy we at LineBallTennis - Clpahma like is "Everything Is Connected". So we join-the-dots for these global and local thoughts and actions:

> Eventually and actually "Brexit"
>Manipulated electoral  populism of Trump victory
>Le Pen defeated but Macron is more Hollande
>Corbyn victory possibility & implications:
>Re-Nationalisation of Railway & Utilities in UK
> Green Economy From Climate Change Actuality
>40 years of right-wing agenda changes cycles (neoliberalism or Friedman / Hayak economics)
>Celebrity fashion & popular culture fostered to sell globalisation

So we write about "over-crowding in turnover-economies" in broader or global meaning, and then relate that to a local context - even possibly a tennis one, as per the blog!

For instance principals at LineBallTennis supported "Brexit". LBT supported "Leave" campaign due to over-crowding in numerous aspects of everyday life; as an instance, the London Underground's Northern Line, is filth of an old line with assortments connecting north and south of the Thames. As one of the earliest tube-lines it was not built to accommodate such commuter traffic. Yet regionalisation of the UK into Europe means UNLIMITED Europeans. Where in fact there have always been European moving to London to live work and make home, but not on the scale of movement or influx since the EU membership. This was not in the capacity considerations when the tube-lines were planned. Aboriginal UK citizens never bought-in to idea that you were a "racist" for abandoning the European Union project, particularly to find national identity and not be lost and crowded-out, in a forever and faster changing England. But that, "State of the Nation" demands more nationalism and socialism, and less globalist expansion by countries and companies - i.e. massive "commercial  and land grab", via Freedom of Movement (which Britain will test-case via triggering Aricle 50 to Brexit). As if the exit process is not as simple as saying to EU: "This is not your "Treasure Islands" mate "F*** O**!"

Of course that distinct European countries are heading towards a Federal States of Europe via EU, exactly like the mess of American states, other wise known as U.S.A; a diaspora populous all heralding from somewhere and nowhere! If we are that mixed and lost in identity already, so soon may that end.  Lets fix an abode and address, at least for the sake of addressing the elephant in the room, climate change, and the other irreversible damage to the environment as we know it by a few "stupid white men" - title of book by Michael Moore. Then think of the USA / America as an example of a migrant society and what federalism had done for it! Think of States such as Illinois, and ghetto cities such as Detroit. Is this the role model we want to follow in the 21st century, one which has been badly re-enacted from old bad Europe days of imperialism?

A gathering and grouping of anything is a "regionalisation", just as "nationalisation" remotely meant nation-wide railway and utilities networks. Language is dynamic and meanings associated to words change. "Nationalisation" more probably means business operating within the remit of the national government, as British Railways once was.
If you are still following the train-of-logic: the regionalisation of areas and powers of Europe into countries, while fighting over them, was pre-occupation in pre-War era. In principal, togetherness unity and love of differences and cooperation without wars is INDEED the ideal; but all it actually exploitatively and effectively means is Lidl Aldi Starbucks MacDonalds and other multi-national companies - MNCs. Commercial expansion is the much less publicized essence of the EU and other multilateral groupings and organisations. For instance Virgin Trains is partly owned by DeutscheBahn, which is the government owned German highways authority. The EU membership facilitated such sovereign-state cross-border deals.

LBT are not cynical or hesitant about ideals, but for when it is a mere facade of propaganda we are strongly "anti-globalist", in context of what it in fact means. UKIP, Le Pen, Trump and Gert Wilders etc are such figure-heads for dissent against status-quo establishment; anti-sentiment by populism not often aired or voiced in multi-cultural secular societies. For instance, "America First" as President Trump calls his campaign is "nationalism". In one respects it is supposed to mean "put American interests first" eg bring back jobs offshored in globalisation, including tax-haven tax-dollars / loot. Or in that double-speak of lexicon it maybe interpreted as "lets shut shop to Chinese expansion interests".

Whether we like it or not the sentiment of the voting public are grass roots of long-term trend reversals. Conservatives' and Margaret Thatcher's ideal of capitalism has run its course in entirety to "excessive capitalism", since 1977. To balance and bring equilibrium, Jeremy Corbyn's opposite doctrine of socialism is a certainly the order of the day; better than more of the same as practised by New Labour and the Tories themselves over last last 40 years to 2017. All this excess in capitalism is highlighted more so in cities, and especially in vogue cities like London with its great history and a magnet for businesses.

Part II

So from this "overcrowding of interests" in a global world "geopolitics" contextuality,  we get to a local interest Clapham Westside context. So Europeans  Antipodeans provincials northerners and others moving to London's fashionable "gateway to the south", Battersea and surrounding wards, Balham and Clapham, wish to send their children or themselves for local tennis courses. They the diaspora of Clapham come across a uppermost name in their search-engine. They then enquire and send their children or themselves to that particular tennis business not aware of local knowledge or other options. The popularity of that singular tennis-vendor inevitably results in stiflingly overcrowded tennis participants - a clue to that maybe 12 to 32 players on just 2 tennis courts! This can be off-putting to the enjoyment of tennis. What can an enthusiast do about it once they have paid in advance and subscribed for a set course of 6 or so group lessons? But unwittingly parents and those adult enthusiasts of tennis are then loyally committed to that business as point of attention for their local tennis interests. All started from a reflex reaction from a 5-minute internet search. This has been the case since late 1990s.

Do they know local tennis clubs and their membership details like Grafton, Wigmore, Telford, Spencer and Magdalene? They don't even know of Krishna as the local tennis coach, operating under the sole proprietor banner of LineBallTennis, who has been living and playing in the local clubs for over 40 years? Is this not a symptom of overcrowding of a locality that everyone is in blissful ignorance and not knowing their neighbour perhaps an don't even care?






 






Tuesday 4 April 2017

A Sort of Older Order of Tennis Restored


One commentator on tennis has simply summized the change in tides
of the rivalry between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal this year as
“Rafael Nadal is thinking. Roger Federer is playing.” More on that later.

The Tennis Handshake Between Nadal & Federer at Miami Open Apr'17 (Source: Twitter.com)
LineBallTennis's principal tennis coach at Clapham Common Krishna, has written about the fortunes of Federer so much, that a serialization publishing and TV rights must be on its way to him! The last speculation and observation on Federer's fate from the “local tennis coach” was in July 2015. When Federer was in the final round at Wimbledon, against Djokovic and watched on Centre Court by LineBallTennis & friends, is entitled “Revolution By The Deposed King Federer”. Even after watching the sad defeat of the “King”, Krishna offered this on that blog:

"I do not believe it is fantasy wishful thinking that Federer can win another grand slam, especially on grass; or that he has just blown his last chance losing to Novak Djokovic in the final of Wimbledon. But moreover, that the chance and opportunity may prevail again". Krishna, 22-July-2015

We told you so! Returning to the now and after April Fool's Day, the incredulous reversal in competitive fortunes between the older protagonists of international tennis, which this coach at LineBallTennis of Clapham Common well understands from experience of tennis-playing adversaries, is worthy of exposition here. A story of surprise which has seen Federer “the deposed King” clawing-back to number four in the men's world ranking (behind leading troupe of Andrew Murray, Novak Djokovic and Stan Warwinka). 


"Roger" had initially been at similar world ranking on his way to his first visit to the summit of world tennis in 2002. Federer is only half the story in this "Older Order" restoration story. Following injuries, Nadal has also climbed back to number five in the world, after their latest and recent finals encounter at the Miami ATP Masters, yesterday Sunday on 2nd April 2017. This report follows the west coast USA hard court season peak  dubbed "Sunshine Double", the Indian Wells and Miami Open ATP Masters.

In the space of three months, a sort of older order has been restored to the world of men's tennis, in that of Federer and Nadal are competing in the finals of tournaments, both big and small and back-to-back. That last happened with regularity between 2007-2010 (see their head-to-head table below). Since then to end-2016 they have rarely both met in tournament finals. Only thrice in the final round of French Open 2011, Rome Masters 2013 and Basel 2015. In that six year period the domination of men's tennis has mostly been Djokovic; interspersed with Murray and Warwinka et al winning. 


Throughout 2016 there was a changing of guards in the top flight of mens tennis. A year which incredibly saw our own British Murray become world number one; taking the spot from long-reigning new King of tennis from Serbia, Djokovic.


The Old King Is Alive!

LineBallTennis said “a sort of older order has been restored” because prior to the three months of this year February to April 2nd, Federer had only defeated Nadal in the final of Basel 2015. Their last encounter. And before that, in a semi-final in 2012 at the Indian Wells Masters. A win Over Nadal which Federer repeated last month in March. So in their eight head-to-head matches since 2012 Federer had only won 2 of them coming into this year. A situation of scant joy against a what we local Clapham Common tennis players and fans of LineBallTennis discuss, as Federer's “ultimate nemesis and foe”. And as if to underlie that head-to-head contest, which saw the Spaniard dominate the one who we worshipfully refer to as “The King Of Tennis”, the statistics are 23-14 in favour of Nadal. More telling is their head-to-head in grand slam encounters, in which Nadal is winning 9-3 and only 4 grand slams less than Federer's total haul of 18, including this year's Australian title.

For Federer, defeating Nadal three times consequentially is an exceptional novelty feat, from studying their head-to-head statistics. In fact it is four consecutive wins in their personal battle, as Federer conquered Nadal last in 2015 at Basel, their previous meeting. Add to that that the feat was completed in the space of three months of this year between February to April 2017, including a grand slam win in the final of the Australian Open – Federer's 18th Grand Slam; and then striking-down his nemesis to win the ‘Sunshine Double’ (Indian Wells and Miami) titles, what a rejuvenation in fortunes indeed. Their contest for kings of tennis began from 2004, oddly enough at the Miami Masters round of 32, Nadal won that first encounter 13 years ago – unlucky number for some and lucky for others.

So what has brought about this surprising “novelty feat” from the older establishment of tennis. Aside of the marginal court surface preference, i.e., 10-9 on hard and 2-1 on grass to Federer, while an overwhelming 13-2 on clay for Nadal, we think it is a purely psychological change in the contenders. As also observed by Steve Tignore @tennis or tennis.com here: With Federer’s win over Nadal in Miami, a rivalry changes dramatically. There are also tactical changes that have been observed by other tennis analysts, but we don't believe these are unknown factors or revelations between giant gladiators who have met in 33 competitive matches. For example, Federer slice-serving wide to the left-handed Nadal into the deuce court, gains some clear advantage in the point.

To understand our opening statement, “Rafael Nadal is thinking. Roger Federer is playing”, is like knowing the difference and relationship between the power of "action versus words", or “vita contemplativa” or “vita activa”. Federer no longer has a crisis of confidence when he faces his arch rival Nadal. So he does not lose the game-turning points being on the defensive, or on the desperation to be offensive.


Nadal's "Bull" Vitalism

Equally contributory to Federer's success is that Nadal, who is 5 years Federer's junior at age 30, is now thinking more or conscience of the ebb-and-flow of the match, and perhaps feeling nerves after the exhuberance of youth and the formidable winning-streaks have both deserted him; in his bold youth he played by mechanically doing with absolute paramount belief; as a younger bulls tends to rage more
fiercely than an older one. As when we all produce our best standards of tennis play – some describe this feeling as "being in the zone" - playing without thinking, pure intuition and guts, seiing the ball as big and early as a balloon .

Nadal's invincible will-to-win
, whether against Federer or otherwise, has diminished – only slightly - since his return from injuries. As once happened to Federer's polished King status with the arrival of the Spanish bull Nadal - the Moriarty to Sherlock! Nadal would also inevitably have had the 3 successive defeats in their last encounters since 2015 in the back of his mind, so thinking and trying different tactical variations in this fourth encounter in Miami. For example, Nadal's unique revolutions-per-second devastating forehand was not so much in evidence, as observed here by www.ATPWorldTour.com

Finally, three further related points of note to this LineBallTennis tennis blog:

a) Warm congratulations to Australian-born Johanna Konta for becoming the first British-representation of any note to win a women's tennis title. She won the Miami Open women's title conquering Caroline Wozniacki in straight sets. This achievement has been compared to British women's tennis success of some nearly 40 year's ago, when Virginia Wade won Wimbledon in 1977; when the “Sex Pistols” and “punks” were roaming London!

b) The rest of the year's nine months predictions could envisage recently deposed world no.1 Djokovic not floor the pedal of his Ferrari brand in terms of tennis ambition to regain pole position. He sacked LineballTennis Krishna's idol Boris Becker as coach in November – there is more to life than tennis! We wonder if Murray will hold on to the very unique and long unacquainted British position of being at the summit of world tennis – it's lonely at the top (and after Brexit!). We expect, both the FAMILIAR AND RISING tennis players that Federer beat in his last 10 matches (see below table), including “Bad-Ass-Aussie” Nick Kyrgios, to be making shocks and possibly waves. Add to this mix Fabio Fognini of Italy.





Mostly, LineBallTennis being a joggle of social and environmental activism in passion with tennis pleasure (see our Tweets @LineBallTennis), seeks good bookmaker betting odds in restoration of King of tennis Federer, once again take his throne in the realm of world tennis.

c) Roger Federer's incredible statistics was that up until this 4-match head-to-head winning streak against Nadal, he HAD NOT EVEN a hat-trick of back-to-back wins against his bogey-man arch rival. A rivalry begun as noted before, in the Miami Open of 2004. Astonishingly his 20 out of 21 matches this year 2017 has seen him defeated by world No. 81-ranked Evgeny Donskoy. The smart money would take odds on Federer finishing the current year as world No.1.