dediche

This is a typical question most tennis players would ask. In fact, tennis shoes is one of most important equipment a player should have (apart from the racket of course). So, what characteristics should one be looking for when buying a pair of tennis shoes? As an amateur player, I would normally based my review on the following criteria:

1. Flexibility - I prefer a shoe which has good arch support but yet flexible and not rigid. I enjoy a shoe which is able to fit snugly to my foot and yet lends the necessary ankle support. Test flexibility by bending the shoe.

2. Durability of the sole - this is the area of the shoe which wears off the fastest. Try to go for one which has a better quality and durable sole. There are different kinds of new man-made materials all the time to enhance the durability of the sole of the shoe. Do try to ask the names of such new materials. I am no chemist but do keep abreast of new and revolutionary materials.

3. Stable and fitting - I like a tennis shoe which is overall stable and yet fitting. A good tennis shoe needs to be firm in order to protect your ankle and the sole of your feet. It has to be fitting so that it will not feel clumsy.

4. Light weight - Do try to get a pair of tennis shoes which is fairly light. As tennis requires mobility, you do not wish to be weighed down by your shoes! Having said this, tennis shoes should be still firmer in order to protect the feet, especially the ankles.

5. “Airiness” - I call this the ability to allow your foot to breathe and not to be cooped up. Make sure the shoe you select has some kind of openings in its design to allow air flow.

6. Comfort - Overall, you will know if the pair of shoe suits by just sensing your overall comfort level when you wear it. Make sure you have a pair of socks on as well and do move around and jump around when trying the shoe out. You must have that feeling of being able to move swiftly and being nimble. The pair of tennis shoes which allows you to feel this way would be the one for you!

7. Check out the shoes the top 10 players are using. Although, there could be a sense of bias as the players are sponsored, I am sure there is also a level of quality exuded by these shoes that the players endorse.

As someone who enjoys the game of tennis, I wish to share some of my tennis experiences with everyone. I hope my reviews which are a reflection of my thoughts would come in handy. For more tennis thoughts from me, check out http://learningtennis.wordpress.com Hope you will enjoy it and come back for more tennis thoughts

In the 2007 French Open we saw Roger Federer once again denied by Rafael Nadal as the Spaniard claimed French Open title no. 3. In the women’s tournament the world no. 1 player Justine Henin dominated her Serbian opponent to defeat Ana Ivanovic 6-1, 6-2.

Before making predictions about the French Open for 2008, one thing that will not happen is that Justine Henin will win the women’s title. Henin shocked the tennis world with her recent immediate retirement from the sport she has dominated over recent years.

Looking at the current women’s tour rankings we see Maria Sharapova is in the no. 1 spot vacated by Henin. Sharapova has a slender lead over world no. 2 Ana Ivanovic. This pair faced each other at the Australian Open earlier this year with Sharapova coming out on top.

You would have to say that one of the top two players will be a good chance to lift the women’s trophy on finals day. Ivanovic is of course the losing finalist from last year and is expected to improve on that result. Sharapova if fit should also go close to winning the title. The current no.1 was troubled by a calf injury in the Rome tournament.

Looking at other players likely to challenge for the women’s title are Jelena Jankovic who won in Rome, Serena Williams the 2002 champion and Svetlana Kuznetsova the 2006 runnerup.

So far I have only spoken about the top five players on the WTA rankings. It is hard to see anyone outside of this group breaking through for a French Open title. If I had to pick an outsider it would be world no. 12 Vera Zvonareva. The Russian has shown some good recent clay court form and could be ready to take on the top 5.

My prediction for the women’s 2008 French Open tennis title is that Jelena Jankovic will get her breakthrough grand slam title.

Moving over to the men’s tournament it is hard to go past the three time defending champion Rafael Nadal. No surprises here, the two most likely to dethrone the king of clay are world no. 1 Roger Federer and world no. 3 Novak Djokovic.

Djokovic as the Australian Open winner will be looking to take the next step towards a Grand Slam. He does have some chance of being crowned champion at Roland Garros however Nadal will be tough as usual. The recent early round loss for Nadal at the Rome Masters event would have freshened the champ up as we head into the French Open.

It is hard to see anyone but the top three winning the French Open men’s title for 2008. Maybe local hope Richard Gasquet could step up for the occasion or perhaps David Nalbandian will grab his first grand slam title. He surprised all by making the Wimbledon final in 2002. If he is to win he will need to improve on recent form as he has not impressed so far this year. My other dark horse is David Ferrer who at no. 5 in the world should be ready to take the next step.

My prediction for the 2008 men’s French Open title is Novak Djokovic. I see Nadal being surprised in the quarterfinals.

To read more tennis articles or just keep up with the world of sport visit http://onemansportsnetwork.com

Men’s tennis has three players at the peak of their powers who would be dominant in a nother era: Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. Federer is perhaps the most talented player ever, yet that he is not favourite for Roland Garros says everything about the prowess of his rivals. Djokovic famously ousted Federer on his way to winning the Australian Open in January, but is Nadal who is the man to beat in the second grand slam of the season.

The Spaniard lost only his second match in 105 clay matches when he was overcome by Juan Carlos Ferrero in this month’s Rome Masters but we should not think that his powers are on the slide. He has complained of the crowded tour schedule and has been hampered by blisters, but he is sure to be fit and raring to go when he opens his bid to win a fourth consecutive French open title at the end of the month.

Nadal and Federer have had some epic grand slam battles, but it is telling that the closest have come at Wimbledon, the Swiss player’s favoured venue; Nadal is closer to breaking Federer’s grass dominance than the number one is to breaking Rafael’s clay superiority.

Nadal is sure to have short odds in the tournament betting, but he might have his opponents due to his uncharacteristic recent slip-up. Men’s tennis is on the up at the moment due to the prominence of its three star players, although Nadal remains in a class of his own on clay.