Wrap - These Three Kings

1. Bernard Tomic and his dad v Hewitt. Not sure why Lleyton Hewitt feels he even has to talk about Tomic. He needs to invest in media training. It was unnecessary and silly to front the media about a player who means so little to every Australian - and be so poorly prepared. Poor management. Don't you know Tomic is worth 10 million? He needs to be ignored and make it back into the top 200 players before he is even discussed. As for his father's legal threats...please...


2. Federer (20), Nadal (17) and Djokovic (14). They could almost call the whole show off and fast forward to the final few days next weekend with these three kings. Those numbers of Grand Slams - 20, 17, 14...They are the most awesome players that we have ever seen... and that includes McEnroe, Connors, Borg, Lendl, Agassi, Wilander, Edberg, Becker, Sampras, Evert, Navratalova, Hingis, Sharapova, Seles.... (maybe Graf aside). Djokovic has won the last two Grand Slams (Wimbledon and US), Nadal won the French and Federer last year's Australian Open. Djokovic (14) is equal with Sampras (14). The only players above that are these other two - Federer and Nadal.


3. Serena Williams. Much maligned and a big mouth often, however how talented? She looks a little unfit this year however...needs to drop some pounds but her power has increased. Her showdown with Simona Halep will be tough, but if she beats Halep she may just get her next Grand Slam and be the equal greatest Grand Slam winner of all time. At present she has 23. Margaret Court has 24.


Ash Barty is looking strong. She remains composed and calm and is into the final 8. A great effort...and now in the top ten of world tennis. She is a really hard worker too. Great reward.




4. EPL - Liverpool. They are on fire and only need Man City to slip up and they will skip clear. A fair few weeks to go as yet however with the comp finishing in May. ManU continue to win as well and are within striking distance of the Champions League top four finish. Arsenal and ManU are only four points behind Chelsea now. A stunning result really after the mess of the great moron, Mourinho.


5. Australian XI Game v Sri Lanka. Kurtis Patterson is an unusual case. He actually averages over 40, 6 tons, hs of 157...and then back to back tons v Sri Lanka this weekend! He is scoring runs, but evades the selectors! That can't hurt your chances of joining the Ashes tour. Renshaw was appalling - soft even. 'Carpet' Burns is loose and Labuschagne earnest, but limited. Pucovski looks good... maybe we have the seeds of talent right there with Patterson. Hope springs eternal. Maybe throw in a bloke called Stoinis and see how England like that.... he is a risk, but so much better than Mitchell Marsh.


6. ODIs - Australia. Finch looks cooked, but stubborn Langer keeps him there and lets D'Arcy Short wither. Khawaja is not a ODI player. Carey better start making runs too or he will be banished. The bowling of Siddle was awful. How can he even be on the radar? Hopeless. We also need a leggie who spins the ball - not Zampa. Tremain continues to be ignored when he is our most prolific wicket taker. Honestly...


7. NRL. Big Pappi Scandal... on it goes. Paul Carter was pointed at. Kane Evans is being pointed at. Parramatta also have to manage Blake Ferguson whose thirst for cash is rising. The NRL also seems incapable of managing anything. Their clubs need to be really placed under pressure with penalties for this nonsense. Not cash...points. This ultimately becomes a cash penalty too. Hearing that Shane Flanagan will never step back near Cronulla either. They are over his autocratic ways. Brad Arthur will do well to have his contract renewed too. His roster is hopeless. They are firm spoon winners.


8. Women's BBL. Great article in the Saturday Sydney paper re Elyse Perry. A number of the Wrap know her dad Mark 'Pez' Perry well, who was a Maths teacher back in the day. Have a read at: https://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/why-elite-perry-is-destroying-bowling-attacks-and-her-father-s-shins-20190118-p50s85.html She was player of the match in Saturday's BBL semi final as well. Amazing end with a great Sixers save on the boundary, a superb run out and a powerful six to win the game in the super over.