What Court My Attention...

F1 Countdown: Man cannot live alone
on just one sport-hurry up March!

As a predominantly biased Sports fan towards Football and Motor Sport, it is with regret that I find the start of the calendar year hard to come to terms with; considering that my Motor Sport fix has to subside until about March time. So, what's a guy to do on a Saturday besides following football religiously? Well, flicking around the Sport TV listings on my Virgin Media box seems to always be the safest bet- watching the repetitive course of Sky Sports News maybe, or even dare I say it: Cricket. Gulp.

True Grit: Djokovic (pictured) and Nadal
went way past their last reserves in the final

 This weekend was pleasantly different though, as the beaming light of world class sport shone on Melbourne, Australia- where the Australian Open held host to the world of Tennis for the years first Grand Slam competition. Despite having no degree of infatuation with Tennis (although I did go to Wimbledon a few years back, simply because I could), I do follow the sport closely enough to be aware of the basic rules and big names, beyond 'hitting the ball over the net' and 'Andy Murray'. I was wallowing around Fourth round FA Cup tie's if im honest, looking for an exciting game in to tune into/look forward to. However, the wonderful world of Twitter kindly intervened, with a raft of trends arising and reoccurring under the titles of 'Djokovic vs Nadal', and 'Andrew Castles' so to speak. Out of pure curiosity, I edged my bets and decided to find out what all the hype surrounding the mens singles final was all about...

...I wasn't disappointed. It took me under five minutes to engage with what I was watching: two athletes in the form of Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic , in the prime of their sporting careers, doing battle at the very top of their game. It was half way through the final set when began to watch, and I sure as hell didn't move my focus from the laptop screen until Novak Djokovic delivered the final blow to Nadal's war effort; a calmly placed forehand strike ending what has been mooted one of the all time great Grand Slam contests, in an era of the sport which has been hailed as 'golden' by critics, competitor managers, fans, and players alike.

Famous: I have hunch this
may be one of sports most
iconic images in years to come

 It's the context of the contest between Nadal and Djokovic that really captures the imagination; 5 hours and 53 minutes of combat, in-between Tennis' two topped rank competitors, in the first of four Grand Slam events to grace 2012.  Nadal arrived on court prior to the game having lost his last five showdowns with Djokovic in all competitions, obviously keen to put such a record in tatters and avoid it's elongation. His efforts within the confines of the final certainly echoed this, with an awe-inspiring set of returns and audacious backhands, especially in the 5th game during the final set, putting a physically conveyed exhausted Djokovic under immense pressure. However, as the memorising, spell binding demonstration of competition between two of Sports most exemplary figures came to an eventual end, it was the Serbian who came out on top, having displayed unfathomable desire and an unbelievable will to win, that I for one can say have never witnessed before across any platform of Sport.   Come the end of the game, I have a feeling that the scene of Djokovic ripping his sweat soaked shirt open and magnified groan of satisfaction (please, hold yourself together and remain mature), may well become of Sports greatest visual clichés and advertisements

Watch & Learn: Yes Jose, even you could
learn a thing or two from Nadal and Djokovic

 So what have we learn today then? A number of things. Firstly, to strike down with great displeasure at the manager in football who is next to 'rest' a player after playing a hectic schedule of something like two games in five days. Seriously, such a Mancini or Mourinho should be tied to a chair and forced to watch the physically draining and committed Mens Single final between Djokovic and Nadal should they be such culprits. It really put's 90 minutes on a football pitch against a endurance ridden 6 hours on a tennis court into perspective, not to even mention the wages involved at the highest level in football... Secondly, respect. I'd be astonished and displeased to meet someone, anyone who can't help but be awe-struck by such a performance by two players who display such an out-pouring of emotion and pure sporting class throughout such a prolonged period of time doing what they do best. But finally, and most valuably I feel: To maybe start counting the days down until it's Formula One's turn to visit Melbourne in March for the season opener a little less, and instead to open my eyes and exploit the many avenues and alleys of sport events and programming that make the physical activity such a cocktail of diversity/togetherness, natural talent, and most importantly: entertainment.

 Feel free to leave comments below!

Match Report: Nottingham Forest 0-0 Leicester

Dedicated Danns: The former Crystal Palace
put in a stand-out performance for the Foxes'.

Local rivals Nottingham Forest and Leicester City face an F.A Cup third round reply after an exciting 90 minutes at the City Ground yielded a goalless draw.

The opening stages of the game were of two great contrasts: prior to kick-off Leicester's huge following engaged in the Poznan celebration dance, with 8,000 fans creating a truly spectacular spectacle. However, minutes into the game, Foxes' striker Jeffrey Schlupp was forced off the pitch with what appeared to be a nasty knee injury, after landing awkwardly on his right leg after challenging for a header just outside of the centre circle in his own half.

Despite the eventual scoreline, the match was one that threatened to be a goal filled classic throughout, with Forest taking advantage of a shakey Leicester defence from the first whistle; close range strikes efforts from Lewis McGugan and Andy Reid aswell as headed attempts from Marcus Tudgay and Joel Lynch forced a number of world class saves from the Foxes' shot-stopper Kasper Schmeichel. The balance in power soon shifted however, with the away team well and truly finding their feet and causing headaches for Forest's organised back four. David Nugent without doubt squandered the best chance of the half, after a pounding a header against the crossbar of Lee Camp's goalmouth, after an accurate cross found the former England International's head. Nugent would then again lay waste to another effort on goal, after his chipped effort on the cusp of half time broke just wide of the post.

Leicester started the second half as they ended the first, by instantaneously dominating the home team in terms of possession and attempts on goal, as the 8,000 strong travelling support bombarded the City Ground with verbal support to the team in Blue. Matt Mills   was unlucky to see his trademark headed bullet saved by Forest keeper Camp, before Paul Gallagher shot wide of the mark from acres of space just outside of the 6 yard box. Leicester continued to push their opponents throughout the half, with the joint introduction of Ritchie Wellens and Lloyd Dyer on 60 minutes being fruitful in terms of creating chances. Dyer would go on to sum up the afternoon for Pearson's men, after missing what can only be described as an open goal from well within the confines of the 6 yard box, after Nugent's header forced Lee Camp into a Parried save, setting up the former MK Don's man.  Foxes' striker Jermaine Beckford had little input in the game since his introduction on the back off Schlupp's injury induced departure, to ensure that his run of poor form in a City shirt continues.

It goes without saying that a draw in the grand scheme of things is a bad result for both sides. With a jam-packed Championship campaign ahead for both both rival sides, any extra,potentially avoidable FA Cup action is not desired. Many may have been surprised in the original fixture in fact, with the decision by both the opposing managers Nigel Pearson and Steve Cotterill to field such strong sides, with names such as Nugent, King, Mills for Leicester and McGugan, Tudgay and Gunter for Forest, all included in the starting XI's.

Not to be completely down heart from the clash at the City Ground, City can take great pleasure in witnessing Neil Danns and Aleksandar Tunchev both put on stellar performances throughout the 90 minutes, with Danns consistently terrorising the Forest defensive lines and Tunchev ensuring Leicester's remained largely unbreached.  At the final whistle however, neither of these two stand out players could help push City into a lead, meaning that Leicester City will face Nottingham Forest at Home on the 18th of January in an FA Cup third round replay.