Top Tens: Modern Male Tennis Players

The premise of this top 10 is simple; the greatest players since the end of the last great era with Sampras fading out, and Agassi beginning a downward slide. Therefore this list is from around 2001 onward, and will no doubt spark some serious discussion. 

10. Tomas Berdych

(Grand Slam x1 Runner Up, Davis Cup x2 Winner)

Its unfortunate for Berdych that he plays in this era, as in any other he would be a lot more successful. He has however had an incredible career - reaching the semi finals or better at all four slams (incredible) and winning the Davis Cup twice. He was also runner up at Wimbledon.

9. David Ferrer

(Grand Slams: 1x Runner Up, Davis Cup Wins: 3, WTF: Final 2007)

Ferrer holds the amazing distinction of having the most ATP tour wins, without having won a Grand Slam. That all but sums his career up; a consistent members of the top 10 in the world, Ferrer was always around to pick up the pieces when the so called "big 4" faltered. He has won tournaments at every level barring GS level, and has the 7th highest career prize money of all time.
Ferrer

8. Andy Roddick

(Grand Slam: US Open 2003 & RUx3 Wimbledon + US Open 2006, World Number 1)

The big serving, forehand smashing American Roddick has left his markl on the game in the time he played. It's a case of what might have been for Roddick, losing to Roger Federer in 4 Grand Slam finals, including a heartbreaking Wimbledon 2009. Roddick retired early for players of his era in 2012, with injury concerns. However he will be fondly rembered by fans for a long time to come.

7. Juan Martin Del Potro

(Grand Slam: US Open 2009, 1x Olympic Silver, WTF Runner up 2009)

Everyones favourite injured plagued Argentine power-house. Del Potro is a truly sad case of injury, as he would have undoubtedly won at least 2-3 more 'Slams had he not suffered long term injuries. His 2016 comeback has been nothing short of amazing, and he is still relatively young... so if he keeps fit he still may fulfill his potential.

6. Stan Wawrinka

(Grand Slam: 1x Australian Open & 1x French Open *pending final of US Open vs Djokovic this Sunday, Olympic Doubles Gold Medal, Davis Cup: 2014)

The man with the greatest backhand of all time, Wawrinka under Magnus Norman has been a late-bloomer, but boy did he bloom. His matches with Novak Djokovic as the Australian Open now the stuff of legend, Wawrinka has the chance to add a 3rd 'slam to his collection this Sunday.

5. Andy Murray

(Grand Slam: Wimbledon x2 & 1x US Open + x8 Runner Up, 2x Olympic Singles Gold, 2015 Davis Cup)

The 4th member of the "big four" Murray has constantly come up short on most occasions in his career. Despite this, he is an incredible 11 time grand slam runner up, and is the only man to defend olympic gold. His next target will be to become world number one, having lead Britain to a famous Davis Cup win in 2015.

4. Lleyton Hewitt

(Grabd Slam: 1x US Open & 1x Wimbledon + 1x US Open Doubles / 2x Singles Runner Up, 2 Years World Number One, Youngest World Number One, WTF: 2001 & 2002 Winner, Davis Cup x2)

The great Australian with his legendary cry of "come on" and sheer passion is one of the greats of modern tennis. He has won and achieved pretty much everything there is to achieve in the game. Hewitt is extraordinary because his only real weapon is himself and his incredible attitude. His send off at the 2016 Australian Open shows the mark he left on tennis. Roger Federer even attributs Hewitt with making him a better player, and changing tennis to the baseline game it currently is.

3. Novak Djokovic

(Grand Slam x12, World Number One, Davis Cup x1, WTF x5)

The best player of the last few years, Djokovic is super-human with some of the things he can do on court. Whuilst he may not get the love of the next two players, he is truly incredible like him or hate him. Djokovic has taken tennis to new levels.

2. Rafa Nadal

(Grand Slam x14, World Number One, WTF Runner Up x2, Olympic Doubles Gold, Davis Cup x4)

The King of Clay, Nadals achievements above speak for tehmselves. He is incredible, and took the fight to Roger Federer better than anyone. Sadly imjuries have blighted Nadal in recent years, but never count out the great Spaniard.

1. Roger Federer

(Grand Slam x 17, Record World Number One, Davis Cup 2014, WTF x 6, Olympic Doubles Gold)

Without a doubt the greatest player of all time, Federer is a joy to watch and has one of the most elegant games of all time. He took tennis to another level and at 34 can still battle with Djokovic and the rest of the tour. His dominance in the first years of his success is like nothing tennis has even seen, and he has won all 4 grand slams.

WWE Booking #1 - Balor's Return & Brock Lesnar up to Summerslam 2017 (inc. Owens, Rollins, HHH, Nakamura, and more).

Every fan of professional wrestling has a moment where you try to be a booker from your own couch. This does not stop us dreaming about such an idea, and even agonising when wrestling promotions fail to lead their current story lines in the directions we want.

I have been discussing with friends how Brock and Finn should be booked going forward, and have came up with an amazing idea for both, leading to Summerslam next year.

People requested that I post this, and make it available for discussion over Twitter (link in the header of this site). Feedback is appreciated, as we as an online fan community always have a lot to say.

Finn Balor & Brock Lesnar:

At the earliest point, Balor could return at the Royal Rumble. Currently, we have Kevin Owens as champion on RAW, with Seth Rollins challenging him before diving into a storyline with HHH. The main part of this booking leading into the Royal Rumble is Kevin Owens retaining and alligning more and more with HHH (w/without the authority in full). At the Rumble, Steph brings back Brock Lesnar from suspension to challenge Owens, because she really didn't know HHH was going to screw Rollins on the RAW where Owens won the title. In the meantime, Rollins has been working his way up from the bottom of the card thanks to HHH. 

At the Rumble Owens & Lesnar have a great match, fairly dominated by Brock. Toward the end of the match, the ref takes a bump and goes down, and Brock takes an RKO from Randy Orton thanks to a distraction from Shane McMahon. After the match Finn Balor comes through the crowd to a huge pop, and goes face to face with Owens before doing the Bullet Club esque point and shooting the gun, as Gallows and Anderson attack Owens leaving him laying.

Brock and Orton have a rematch program for the pre-'Mania PPV. Meanwhile Balor declares he is obsessed with regaining his title, and he will do anything to do it. The Club and Owens go to war with Owens, with The Club generally getting the upper hand at first, but as the weeks go by, Finn becomes more and more erratic. At the PPV, Finn ends Owens long title reign by summoning the Demon King, but taking his lengths to win more than usual by using a chair after a ref bump and with help from his lub members, turning fully agressive and paranoid Demon heel. Also at the PPV Brock beat Orton, again, and Shane McMahon is still trying to get back at Brock for his attack. Rollins meanwhile has earned his match against HHH in a now heated and personal feud. 

Balor proclaims his destiny has been fulfilled on RAW, and has fully gone over the edge. Owens gets his rematch on RAW... but Balor loses it and completely destroy Owens with a chair, despite Gallows and Anderson telling him it was too much.The next week, Owens confronts Balor whilst still feeling the effects of the beatdown, but is attacked by Jericho, now jealous of Owens continuous spotlight hogging and forgetting of their friendship. Meanwhile on Smackdown, Shane McMahon is trying tio find someone to take out Brock. The Rock comes back to save the honour of his brand, Smckdown, and create the big marquee match for 'Mania. Meanwhile Roman Reigns becomes the number one contender for Balor as WWE are still trying to push him as an edgy face.

At Wrestlemania the main matches are; Brock-Rock, HHH-Rollins, Balor-Reigns. Brock beats Rock in one of his most competitve matches as the Beast. Rollins beats HHH, and Balor beats Roman, showing even more disturbing and desperate tendencies. The next night on RAW, Gallows & Anderson leave Finn, citing that this is not what The Club is about. They reveal they have asked to be traded to Smackdown, where they join with AJ Styles the next night. Shinsuke Nakamura debuts on the Smackdown after Wretlemania as the unbeaten NXT Champion, and with insane hype (as is niormal with him) and goes on to beat most of the roster including Cena, and Orton while being unbeaten still. 

Brock continues to appear now and then to destroy people on RAW and Smackdown because he doesn't care, the biggest of his matches being against Cesaro in an unfortunate squash match, and vs The Club via order from Shane at Battleground. Meanwhile Balor defends his title against various opponents in the PPVs leading up to Battleground (MITB, Extreme Rules etc) including Sami Zayn & Seth Rollins. At Money in the Bank, Balor loses his title to Seth Rollins and Sami Zayn wins MITB match. In the weeks leading to Battleground, Balor is showing even more signs of paranoia and falling more and more into disturibng obsessive territory. Gallows and Anderson confront Balor backstage at Battleground, trying to talk sense into Finn, saying his obsession has consumed him. They thought losing the title would help but Finn snaps at them for leaving him, and promises to win his title back later vs Rollins. Gallows and Anderson tell Finn that they want to help him, even if it means making a deal with the devil, before wishing Finn luck and leaving.

Later in the PPV Brock lesnar confronts Shane McMahon in ring, and threats violence against, before Shane says he has an opponent that will defeat Brock. Brock laughs before the music hits and Nakamura comes out to face off with a serious looking Brock, to hyped fans. The match is built as two great warriros with strong styles, who are legends in Japan. Brock and even Heyman acknowledge the challenge Nakamura poses. 

In the battleground main event, Balor and Rollins face off. during the match the ref goes down and Balor gets a chair ready to destroy an already beat down Rollins. The lights go out and the graphic flashes, as Bray Wyatt appears and hits Sister Abigail on Finn. Rollins retains. Over the next few weeks Wyatt talks about how lost Balor has become, he talks about slaying the Demon, how Wyatt is the devil, and the usual Wyatt amazing creepy and supernatural stuff. Finn's rage has built thanks to Wyatt costing him his title, and the two face off many times, Balor even destrying the face of fear before Summerslam. Steph allows the crossover due to Brock running rampant lately, this one time.

Summerslam - Balor vs Wyatt, Lesnar vs Nakamura, Rollins vs Zayn. Zayn beats Rollins for his emotionl and long awaited first title (cashing in as he won MITB, even announcing his intention to have a full match like RVD and Cena, in true Zayn good-guy style). Nakamura beats Brock, taking the streak/monster rub from Brock, cementing him as a mystic and incredible force. Bray Wyatt beats Finn Balor and defeats the Demon in Finn, saving Finn from himself. 

Top Tens: Wrestling Matches

This is perhaps the strangest top ten I've ever done. Not because of the subject matter, but because I know im missing matches that are some of my favourite from TNA and WWE that I cant remember. This list is basically "these are matches that are amazing and I love, and most would be in a top ten im just missing maybe 1 or 2". Catchy name right?

The main point of this ten is still there, and these are mostly accurate which is why I am still doing this list due to high demand. Lets get into it;

First some honourary mentions to HBK vs Shelton Benjamin, Styles vs Cena, HBK vs Undertaker, and some of Eddie Guerrero's matches.

THE 10

10. CM Punk vs Samoa Joe II

(ROH)

My first, and one of my only tastes of ROH so far, this match is incredible, its a pure wrestling clinic by two great wrestlers. If this is the kind of product ROH puts on then I need to watch it more. 

9. Jeff Jarrett vs Kurt Angle

(Bound For Glory IV)

Whilst this isnt as much of a classic as the rest of the matches on this list... this match was still amazing in its own right, and a very well recevied and exciting one too. A very personal feud, as a Jeff Jarrett it's one of my favourites. Everyone needs to watch this at least once, just to see how good it was. 

8. The Shield vs The Wyatt Family 

(Elimination Chamber 2014)

A dream match that we all got much quicker than expected, the hype for his was off the charts even when teasing it mionths before in the U.K. The sheer electricity in the air from the crowd even pre-mach showed just how much we were all invested. The match itself was an increible war. It also included this Seth Rollins moment of awesomeness...

7. Chris Jericho vs Shawn Michaels

(Wrestlemania XIX)

The first meeting of two icons who would go on to have a better program in 2008, this match was off the scale good. Wrestlemania XIX had a stacked card and this more than held its own. It was also the first match to get me more into the wrestlign side of the business from a "smark" viewpoint. It also contains my favourite Sweet Chin Music ever, out of nowhere as seen below.

6. CM Punk vs Brock Lesnar

(Summerslam 2013)

In 2013 this match was truly amazing. The build alone was of legendary proportions, with the crowd reactions at underdog Punk trying to overcome the beast, throwing his body across announce tables during all out brawls and verbally sparring with Paul Heyman. It also gave us Lesnars best WWE match, and one of Summerslams greatest. It was an all out fun brawl, and an example of how to book Lesnar like a beast whilst still keeping it competitive and exciting. 

5. Bray Wyatt vs Daniel Bryan

(Royal rumble 2014)

A feud that gave us some truly amazing moments as Bray tried to turn Bryan into a Wyatt (including the now legendary stereo YES chants whilst in a cage), it culminated in an incredible match at the 2014 Royal Rumble. Wyatt can put on truly amazing matches with smaler and faster opponents, and this is his best match and in my opinion one of Bryans top 5. Wyatt actually won as well!

4. Motor City Machine Guns vs Beer Money Inc.

(Victory Road 2010)

If you want to watch tag team wrestling at its finest, look up some MMMG vs Beer Money matches. These two had a hell of a run together in 2010, one of the final tiems I fully watched TNA before it slumped. The chemistry of these 4 great stars was off the charts, and one day i hope we see a rematch... perhaps in NXT. 

3. AJ Styles vs Samoa Joe vs Christopher Daniels, 2

(Turning Point 2009)

The sequel to an already incredible match, this triple threat was a big part of why i loved 2009 TNA. 2 of my all time favourites in AJ & Joe, as well as an incredible Daniels put on what I consider to be the best triple threat match of all time. 

2. Dolph Ziggler vs Daniel Bryan

(Bragging Rights 2010)

A match that for me, will be remebered in years to come as an abolsute clinic, this match kickstarted my already huge love for Ziggler. Both Bragging Rights PPVs may not have been up to much, or be remebered overly well, but this match stands out above the rest like a ray of light in WWE. In fact... I'd say this may even be Ziggler's best match with the company, and is definitely up there for Bryan. 

1. Kurt Angle vs Shawn Michaels

(Wrestlemania 21)

Without a doubt, by a long way, my favourite match of all time. Also the greatest ever Wrestlemania match EVER in my opnion. These two legends put an an absolute classic. This match had everything, and Angle rising from the dead to catch HBK in an ankle lock by surpsiign and the crowd popping like hell still gives me goosebumps. 

An Open Letter In Tribute To Felipe Massa: The Ultimate Underdog

Today the announcement came that Felipe Massa would retire after his 250th Grand Prox. A mainstay of Formula One in recent years, Massa has rose through the sport from Sauber, to Ferrari where he had his greatest successes, and finally on to the Williams team becoming one of the most popular drivers on the grid along the way.

Whilst the news may not come as a shock to many, the little Brazilian will leave a large hole when he vacates his seat at the end of the season. As a fan of the Brazilian since I was a young boy, I can say he will be sorely missed, not just for his race craft but for the magnetic and innately lovable personality he brings to the paddock. Massa can be be a great example for any young driver on the grid today - Massa started his career in F1 with Sauber, where it was very obvious he had electric pace in a generally lacklustre car. However his occasional erratic style lead to him not being signed for Sauber in 2003, instesd he went on to test for Ferrari before eventfully being re-signed by Sauber where his performances gained him a drive with the Ferrari team as number 2 driver behind the great Michael Schumacher. Massa gained undoubtedly his biggest success with the Italian stalwarts finishing runner up in the 2008 Chanpionship being pipped at the final corner by eventual champion Lewis Hamilton. Given Massa was not even favourite in his own team for a title challenge that year, Massa showed us all his copious amount of talent.

However his career would soon be effected by a life threatening injury after his helmet was struck at the Hungarian Grand Prix. This near tragic accident would not stop Massa however, it would only fuel him more to get back into the car once again, which he did after a far shorter recovery period than expected. Many expected Massa to be less competitive, however he showed the world why he was so determined to overcome this immense challenge, providing many good drives for both Ferrari and Williams after this time.

Proving himself more than capable of matching some of the greats of the sport, Massa will go down as a great of a sport loved the world over, which is fitting; because Massa himself is loved the world over.