Novak Djokovic Archives

2014 World Champions as seen by me

Posted on January 8, 2015 by mattbristow

2014 World Champions as seen by me. With 2015 under way pretty much everyone looks back over the year that has just passed.

I wanted to take a slightly different look back. Not that long ago I had a conversation about world champions with somebody, which got me thinking. Just how many World Champions pass infront of my lens in 12 months? Because I don’t particularly specialise in any sport photography it took me a little time to actually work this out. So here goes in the order that I took pictures of them and not in the order of winning.

1. Petter Solberg – Secured the inaugral FIA World Rallycross Championship title. The first person to win two FIA world titles in different diciplines. Pictured here at round 2 which was held at Lydden Hill Race Circuit in Kent.

2014 World Champions – Petter Solberg, FIA World Rallycross Champion

2. Jessica Fox – Who won the K1 and C1 Canoeing titles in 2014. Pictured here at the ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup held at the olympic Lee Valley White Water Centre, London.

2014 World Champions – Jessica Fox who won the K1 and C1 world titles

3. Sir Bradely Wiggins – Who took the UCI Road World Championship Men’s Time Trial title held in Spain in September by a huge margin of 26 seconds. Pictured here at the start of the time trial on stage 8a of the Tour of Britain held in London.

2014 World Champions – Sir Bradely Wiggins. UCI Road World Championships – Men’s time trial

4. Novak Djokovic – OK not strictly called a world champion, but he was crowned as world number 1 which is good enough for me. Pictured here at the ATP World Tour Finals held at the O2 in London.

Novak Djokovic who was crowned the world number 1 at the ATP Tour finals in London

So my total tally for the year was 4, not bad but this year I plan on making it more. Happy new year everyone.

ATP World Tour Finals 2014

Posted on November 18, 2014 by mattbristow

ATP World Tour Finals 2014 were once again played at the O2 in London. Which saw the very best from the world of professional tennis battle it out for one of the most coveted awards of the tour.

The annual return to the O2 and as a Sports Photographer I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. I started out with Marin Cilic against world number 1 Novak Djokovic.

Novak Djokovic plays Marin Cilic in their opening matches – Barclays ATP World Tour Finals 2014 – 10th November 2014

Novak Djokovic plays Marin Cilic in the group B opening games. Barclays ATP World Tour Finals 2014. London O2 Arena. (c) Matt Bristow

Djokovic started out as he meant to go on winning in straight sets.

I then had Djokvic again this time against Stanislas Wawrinka. A game I was looking forward to and expected a drawn out affair. However, Djokovic had other ideas and beat Wawrinka in straight sets. It was starting to look like nobody could get anywhere close to Djokovic.

World Number 1 Novak Djokovic serves for the match. (c) Matt Bristow

Stanislas Wawrinka world number 4 eyes up a forehand return. (c) Matt Bristow

Novak Djokovic reaches to make a low return on his way to beating Wawrinka. (c) Matt Bristow

My next game was in the other group and was a real crowd puller. GB’s own Andy Murray playing the ever popular Roger Federer. Federer had already qualified for the knockout stages. What followed was difficult to watch if you were a Murray fan as Federer systematically destroyed Murray in straight sets. Infact Murray only took one game all match! From where I was sitting it looked like Federer gifted him that as well!

Andy Murray was never allowed a look in

Roger Federer kept his cool and barely broke sweat.

For Andy Murray it must have been lonely sat in the break being 1 set down not having won a single game

Andy Murray sprints to return a drop shot.

Unfortunately the showdown between the world number 1 Djokovic and Number 2 Federer never happened as unusually Federer pulled out of the final moments before it was to start due to a back injury.

Which left Djokovic the winner of the 2014 ATP Tour Finals with hitting a ball in the final.

Novak Djokovic celebrates after dismissing Stanislas Wawrinka in straight sets and ultimately winning the tournament

Here are a few of my favorites from the week. To see full galleries and for license information please visit SportsPix

: Thats for letting me have that game Rog!

: Andy Murray the face says it all

: Novak Djokovic digs out a return.

: Roger Federer

: World Number 1 Novak Djokovic from Serbia plays World Number 4 Stan Wawrinka from Switzerland in the group B. Barclays ATP World Tour Finals 2014. London O2 Arena. (c) Matt Bristow

: Novak Djokovic

: Stanislas Wawrinka serves.

: Roger Federer

: Novak Djokovic focused on the shot.

: Novak Djokovic. To be world number 1 you need to have your own custom shoes!

: Novak Djokovic serving

: Andy Murray

: Andy Murray

: Andy Murray

: Novak Djokovic serving

: Novak Djokovic

: Stanislas Wawrinka serves.

: Novak Djokovic

: Novak Djokovic

: Andy Murray

: Stanislas Wawrinka at the net

: Andy Murray

: Marin Cilic

: Roger Federer

: Marin Cilic

Events like this always attract celebrities this year I saw Alan Carr, Pippa Middleton and José Mourinho

José Mourinho has his picture taken with a fan.

ATP World Finals 2013 – O2 Arena, London

Posted on November 12, 2013 by mattbristow

What not to like about working indoors at Londons O2 Arena covering the ATP World Finals 2013. Especially when the weather is truly dreadful outside.

So at the beginning of November I was covering the ATP World Finals at the O2. I have not covered top level tennis before so I was looking forward to it. First game was a Group B singles match between Argentinian Juan Martin Del Portro and Frenchman Richard Gasquet.

Barclays ATP World Finals- Juan Martin Del Portro serves

Barclays ATP World Finals- Richard Gasquet

Juan Martin Del Portro come out winner in three sets. The following day I had another Group B match this time between Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer. At this point I want to point out that the Swiss are fanatical supporters of tennis. Not surprising as they had two players at the ATP World Finals Stanislas Wawrinka and of course Roger Federer.

With the strong support of the crowd Roger Federer was the clear crowd favorite. Which lifted him to pull back the second set by winning a tie break.

Barclays ATP World Finals – Roger Federer focused and driven

Barclays ATP World Finals – Roger Federer in between games

However, it was the tanasity and sheer athleticism of Novak Djokovic that won the day. It was clear he was the man to beat and indeed he went on to win the final and lift the trophy.

Barclays ATP World Finals – Novak Djokovic makes a dramatic return

Barclays ATP World Finals – Novak Djokovic drops a shot just over the net.

Barclays ATP World Finals – Novak Djokovic victorious

My third match was the deciding match in Group A between Rafael Nadal and Stanislas Wawrinka. Where Rafael Nadal would win in just two sets but both were taken to a tie break.