Roger Federer can win Wimbledon: Wally Masur

Former Top-20 Player Wally Masur said that it is hard to count out Roger Federer from any Major Event and that the Swiss has a really strong chance of winning Wimbledon next year.

Australian Wally Masur recently joined the bandwagon of people that believe that Swiss Roger Federer can win another Major. In a recent interview, Masur commented, 'It's very hard to say no. I think Wimbledon is the one,' he said.

'I honestly thought that year he beat Murray, to win another major was beyond him. But when he beat Andy Murray at Wimbledon last year he was in all sorts of trouble in the third or fourth round against Julien Benneteau, he wasn't quite there.'

'A week later and he was holding the trophy. I'd be loath to say he can't because he may be stung into action after he lost to Tommy Robredo at the US Open. He was visibly dejected in the press conference and said that it's not good enough and he has to change the way he goes about things.'

'So maybe he has been stung into action. You can never discount someone with that ability if he has that desire to prove himself one more time. Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi did it late in their career and there's no reason why Federer can't do that.'

Federer is gunning to win his 18th Major Title and will be trying to set the record for winning the maximum number of Australian Open with 5 Titles. He is currently the joint leader with Novak Djokovic and Andre Agassi at 4 Titles.

Matthew Kelly as Widow Twankey in the New Wimbledon Theatre's Aladdin ...

Matthew Kelly as Widow Twankey in the New Wimbledon Theatre's Aladdin (Picture: Craig Sugden)

Review: Aladdin at New Wimbledon Theatre

Dictionary compilers may have decided that 'selfie' was the word of 2013 but across panto land, the most remarked-upon cultural happening of the past 12 months has surely been twerking.

The phenomenon certainly gets a mention in director Ian Talbot's Aladdin, which you can still catch at the New Wimbledon Theatre, although the plentiful dance sequences steer clear of Miley Cyrus-style bottom-wiggling in favour of more vigorously athletic and unimpeachably wholesome routines.

These are delivered with real style by acrobatic, body-popping Britain's Got Talent survivors Flawless and regularly draw 'oohs' and 'aahs' from the audience.

Wimbledon has a tradition of big-name casting. This year, Jo Brand tops the bill. Her lugubrious stage persona ought to be an incongruous treat in the context of the relentlessly upbeat world of panto but she's curiously underpowered as the glum, quick-quipping Genie of the Ring.

Fortunately, Matthew Kelly, decked out in surreally elaborate costumes, makes a splendid Widow Twankey.

The first half can feel too slick and coolly soulless but things warm up after the interval.

Another Britain's Got Talent graduate, Shaheen Jafargholi, is wittily deployed as a Genie of the Lamp who just can't stop singing.

The big numbers impress: top musical-theatre talent in the shape of Oliver Thornton and David Bedella demonstrate major vocal chops on the likes of The Rolling Stones' Sympathy For The Devil - not the most obvious bit of seasonal song selection but it proves a real show-stopper.

Until Jan 12, New Wimbledon Theatre, www.atgtickets.com/wimbledon

Matthew Kelly as Widow Twankey in the New Wimbledon Theatre's Aladdin ...

Matthew Kelly as Widow Twankey in the New Wimbledon Theatre's Aladdin (Picture: Craig Sugden)

Review: Aladdin at New Wimbledon Theatre

Dictionary compilers may have decided that 'selfie' was the word of 2013 but across panto land, the most remarked-upon cultural happening of the past 12 months has surely been twerking.

The phenomenon certainly gets a mention in director Ian Talbot's Aladdin, which you can still catch at the New Wimbledon Theatre, although the plentiful dance sequences steer clear of Miley Cyrus-style bottom-wiggling in favour of more vigorously athletic and unimpeachably wholesome routines.

These are delivered with real style by acrobatic, body-popping Britain's Got Talent survivors Flawless and regularly draw 'oohs' and 'aahs' from the audience.

Wimbledon has a tradition of big-name casting. This year, Jo Brand tops the bill. Her lugubrious stage persona ought to be an incongruous treat in the context of the relentlessly upbeat world of panto but she's curiously underpowered as the glum, quick-quipping Genie of the Ring.

Fortunately, Matthew Kelly, decked out in surreally elaborate costumes, makes a splendid Widow Twankey.

The first half can feel too slick and coolly soulless but things warm up after the interval.

Another Britain's Got Talent graduate, Shaheen Jafargholi, is wittily deployed as a Genie of the Lamp who just can't stop singing.

The big numbers impress: top musical-theatre talent in the shape of Oliver Thornton and David Bedella demonstrate major vocal chops on the likes of The Rolling Stones' Sympathy For The Devil - not the most obvious bit of seasonal song selection but it proves a real show-stopper.

Until Jan 12, New Wimbledon Theatre, www.atgtickets.com/wimbledon

Wally Masur tips Roger Federer to win Wimbledon

Former World No. 15 Wally Masur said that it is hard to say that Roger Federer cannot win Grand Slams any more

Roger Federer 22 Dec 2013 - 08:31 / by Vishal Gajaria / reads 415.Source: smh.com.au

Many tennis pundits have backed 17-time Grand Slam winner Roger Federer to win yet another major or so; and Wally Masur is also one of them adding him to the list.

In an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald, the former Australian Open and US Open semifinalist was asked if Federer can pull off another Slam. 'It's very hard to say no. I think Wimbledon is the one,' he said.

'I honestly thought that year he beat Murray, to win another major was beyond him. But when he beat Murray at Wimbledon last year he was in all sorts of trouble in the third or fourth round against (Julien) Benneteau, he wasn't quite there.

'A week later and he was holding the trophy. I'd be loath to say he can't because he may be stung into action after he lost to (Tommy) Robredo at the US Open. He was visibly dejected in the press conference and said that it's not good enough and he has to change the way he goes about things.

'So maybe he has been stung into action. You can never discount someone with that ability if he has that desire to prove himself one more time. (Pete) Sampras and (Andre) Agassi did it late in their career and there's no reason why Federer can't do that.'

Federer will bid for his 18th Slam, when he prepares for the Australian Open' warm up events, which start later this week.

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Newport County P

Frustration for Justin Edinburgh as weather halts the Exiles' progress

A deserted Rodney Parade earlier today after the game was postponed

With 11 points out of a possible 15 in his last five league games it was no surprise that Newport County manager Justin Edinburgh was the most frustrated man at a rainsoaked Rodney Parade.

The overnight downpour left the pitch in danger and referee Tim Robinson called-off the game more than two hours before kick-off to bring a halt to the Exiles recent momentum.

'It is extremely frustrating because we are in a good run of form and had some really good momentum. Form is key in football and after that great win at Portsmouth we were all looking forward to another game,' said Edinburgh.

'I was at the ground early in the morning and saw the referee. I knew he was going to have to call it off in the end.

'We had a lot of work done on the pitch in the summer, but we ran out of time to complete the job. It is nowhere near as bad as it used to be and we will do more work at the end of the season to find a solution. What we have to remember is that we have another 13 home games to go this season.

'We have a busy period coming up, so the break might benefit us a little bit. But we won't have to wait long because we are kicking-off at 12.30pm on Boxing Day at Wycombe Wanderers and then three days later we travel to Burton Albion.

'We are unbeaten in our last five league outings away from home and that is a huge achievement by the players. They are a really good group and the performance and result last week at Portsmouth was a real tribute to them.'

If Edinburgh has no fears about taking his team on the road he will certainly want to make the most of taking on a Wycombe team languishing in the lower half of the table. While he knows that an extra few days rest might do his team a little bit of good, the main objective is to keep up the pressure on the league leaders.

'I'd take points in the bag over games in hand and we want to keep the pressure on the top teams. We've adapted so well to this league and we want to keep on winning,' said Edinburgh.

After the two away games over the Christmas period, County have two games in four days in the New Year back at Rodney Parade. The first will be against high flying Oxford United on New Year's Day, while on 4 January Northampton Town will be the visitors.

Edinburgh's win picked up an excellent away point with a 0-0 draw at the Kassam Stadium when he met Oxford, while there will be a 3-1 away defeat to avenge when Northampton come to Rodney Parade.

Wimbledon game at Newport postponed

A general view of Rodney Parade. Photo by Ben Hoskins/Getty Images

Saturday, December 21, 2013 12:44 PM

AFC Wimbledon's trip to Newport County in League Two has been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

Heavy rain in south Wales had cast doubt on whether the fixture at Rodney Parade would take place.

After a pitch inspection ata 12.15pm it was decided that the game could not go ahead.

A new date is yet to be confirmed.

Tennis

Tennis - Wozniak peaked at no. 21 in the rankings but outside the top 200

Tennis Stories 21 Dec 2013 - 18:31 / by Prakash / reads 27.Source:

Tennis - Former world no. 21 Aleksandra Wozniak has hired former world no. 3 and Wimbledon finalist Nathalie Tauziat as her new coach as she attempts to make a comeback into the higher leagues in the game.

Tauziat , the 1998 Wimbledon finalist, was working with another Canadian - the 19 year old Eugenie Bouchard - until a few months ago.

Speaking to the website Open Court, Wozniak commented, 'I respect Nathalie a lot as a coach. She was No. 3 in the world, and no one thought she'd get to such a high level. On the physical side she wasn't extraordinary, and even as far as the tennis ... Her game evolved really well, but it was all about her.'

Wozniak has dropped out of the top 200 in the rankings from no. 43 at the end of the 2012 season. Here's hoping Tauziat can bring her back to the top 100.

READ TENNIS WORLD MAGAZINE

The issue 10 of the digital Tennis World Magazine is online now

To read it you can go to this page

** You can have FREE subscription: click here!!!!

If tennis is your passion and you find this article interesting, share it. We spread the passion for this wonderful sport.