Federer takes ATP World Tour glory at O2

ROGER Federer beat Rafael Nadal to take the ATP World Tour Finals title at the O2 arena last night.

The world number two beat his younger arch-rival 6-3 3-6 6-1 in the match which lasted just over an hour and a half.

A jaded looking Nadal was unable to offer up much resistance in the final set, perhaps not surprising since he had defeated Andy Murray in a thrilling three hour duel just 24 hours earlier – probably the match of the tournament.

Spanish and Swiss flags were held aloft and shouts of “We love you Roger!” and “Vamos Rafa!” could be heard around the packed arena.

Federer said after the match that “beating Rafa in the finals makes it extra special because of the year he had.” His  undefeated run through the year-end championships scoops Federer prize money of $1,630,000.

Earlier in the afternoon, Daniel Nestor & Nenad Zimonjic were crowned doubles champions.

This was the second time that the year’s top eight players have assembled at the O2 for the World Tour Finals, with the event due to remain in Greenwich for at least the next three years. Next year’s Barclays ATP World Tour Finals begin November 20th 2011.

If the tennis has inspired you to pick up a racquet, check out our guide to tennis courts in Greenwich.

The courts in Chesterfield Walk and Eltham Park South are my personal favourites, although as the Kidbrooke Kite notes, not all parts of the borough have such great facilities.

Cutty Sark Gardens revamp gets go-ahead

Greenwich councillors have approved plans to give Cutty Sark Gardens a makeover.

The designs from Dutch firm, OKRA, include  6,540  sq m of new stone covering, less steps to make it more pedestrian friendly, and an interactive “wet floor” feature designed to mirror the tide of the River Thames.

Five new green planting area will be established and there will be a clear route for cyclists.

The plans came in for sharp criticism from World Heritage Site Executive. They said the “soft landscaping” was at odds with their preferred “dockside” character and criticised the “flower beds” and “pond” for having no relationship with the river and its industrial setting.

The Planning Board gave their unanimous support to the new designs at a meeting on Thursday night at Woolwich Town Hall.  The project is expected to be completed in time for London 2012 but a programme of archaeological work must take place on the site before the redevelopment can begin.

Darryl from 853 posted photos this week showing latest illustrations of how the restored Cutty Sark will look.

Murray to face Nadal in tennis semi finals

Andy Murray will  play world number one, Rafael Nadal, at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals at the O2 arena in North Greenwich this afternoon.

Nadal secured top position in Group A after beating Wimbledon finalist, Tomas Berdych, in an impressive straight sets win yesterday afternoon.

Murray and Nadal have already met three times this year with the Scot winning two of those encounters – notably both times they played on a hard surface.

The second semi final will take place tonight between Group B winner, Roger Federer, and Group A runner-up, Novak Djokovic.

The winners of the semi finals will play on Sunday, when the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals 2010 Champion will be crowned.

Find tickets for ATP World Tour Finals at the O2

Daily Photo: 26/11/2010 – Christmas arrives at Greenwich Market

Father Christmas was the star guest at Wednesday afternoon’s Christmas “Light’s On” event at Greenwich Market. Kids from local schools took part in a lantern parade followed by Christmas carols in the covered market. Here’s a selection of official photographs from the event.

Something, or someone, seems to have caught Santa’s eye in this. Feel free to volunteer your own captions!

Edward Hill comments on CPS decision to drop prosecution

The protestor who had charges against him for damaging London 2012 course markers in Greenwich Park abandoned has claimed a “moral victory”.

Prosecutors dropped their case against Edward Hill last Friday. They had previously described him as “anti-Olympics” – a tag he is keen to reject in a written response provided to Greenwich.co.uk.

Mr Hill says his actions were intended to prevent “further damage to Greenwich Park” and he calls for the equestrian events to be moved to Windsor.

Edward Hill’s full response to the CPS’s decision

With regard to the statement of the Crown Prosecution Service that my actions were ‘anti-Olympics’, I wish to make clear that I in fact share the educational and health ideals of the Olympic Charter. My actions were not in any sense generally ‘anti-Olympics’, but were solely aimed at preventing further damage to Greenwich Park from the works that are taking place due to the decision to hold the Olympic Equestrian Event there.

After 35 years living and working locally, and as a previous Artist in Residence for Greenwich Park, I probably know it as well as anyone. I have studied its archaeology and history, enjoyed its landscape and tried professionally to visualize its future.

I certainly see the dropping of the charges against me as a moral victory for common sense, and it may even be a sign of the authorities’ anxiety about the evidence which could have been stirred up by a court case.

Ever since it was first proposed that Greenwich Park should host the Olympics Equestrian Event, very many people have pointed out that Windsor has always been a better choice in every way. Windsor is iconic, it is an established site for equestrian events, it is easier for security, it is accessible, it is a 2012 Olympic Borough and was used in 1948 for an Olympic event which had to be moved, it has plenty of accommodation and other facilities, it is cheaper to build, and a legacy could be left.

Most importantly, the local community in Windsor would welcome the event. This change of venue should now take place, in the same way as when the Montreal Olympic Equestrian Event was moved to another venue at a similar stage of preparations, when it became apparent that it was the right thing to do.

Thanks to Peter Grahame Woolf for sending me this photo showing one of the course markers in Greenwich Park.

Daily Photo: 24/11/2010 – Gridlock

A lorry accident in the Blackwall Tunnel this morning caused huge queues on the A102 with the gridlock spreading to other roads nearby. Fergal Spelman kindly sent me these photos he took of the traffic at a standstill.

Daily Photo: 23/11/2010 – Tennis at the O2

It was day three of the ATP World Tour Finals at the O2 today and I went along to see Andy Murray go up against Roger Federer. Notionally, Andy Murray was the home favourite but I’m pretty sure that it was Roger who got the loudest cheers from the near capacity crowd. Spectators, myself included, who expected a close match following Murray’s defeat of Federer at last month’s Shanghai Masters were left disappointed by a pretty one sided match, with the Swiss Maestro winning 6-4 6-2.

If you haven’t been to see the tennis at the O2 yet, it has a great atmosphere – players entering the arena to the sound of “London Calling” by the Clash and the heart thumping sound effect culminating in a chorus of “ooohs” as ‘Hawkeye’ decisions are revealed on the big screens both add to the excitement.

The tournament ends this Sunday so there’s still time to get yourself a ticket – and even non ticket holders can go and check out the “Fan Zone” at the end of the O2′s Entertainment Avenue which includes the players’ practice courts.

“First anti-Olympics case” dropped by CPS

The Crown Prosecution Service has abandoned its case against a protestor alleged  to have damaged course markers for the London 2012 equestrian events in Greenwich Park.

Edward Hill, 62, was accused of causing criminal damage to the white feather markers in Greenwich Park with a kitchen knife.

He pleaded not guilty when he appeared before Woolwich Magistrates Court last month and opted to be tried by jury at Crown Court. Dave Townsend, for the Prosecution had told magistrates: “This is our first anti-Olympics case.”

Prosecutors have now decided not to go ahead with the trial. A CPS London spokesperson said:

“During the life of a case the Crown Prosecution Service has a duty to keep cases under regular review.

“At a very early stage in the proceedings a review of this case concluded that it was not in the public interest to pursue a prosecution through the court as punishment in the form of a caution would be a suitable alternative.

“As such the case has been discontinued.”

Fire Brigade called to Greenwich High Road blaze

The Fire Brigade attended a blaze in Greenwich High Road last Thursday (18th) afternoon.

Four fire engines and 20 firefighters from Greenwich, Lee Green, New Cross and Lewisham stations were called out to the fire in a shop unit near to the junction with Blackheath Road.

The London Fire Brigade were alerted to the incident at 4.38pm and had the fire under control an hour later. Part of the building’s first floor was damaged by the blaze.

Darryl from 853 blog was passing and took this picture. The cause of the fire is still being investigated.

Daily Photo: 22/11/2010 – Greenwich Park

Many thanks to Emily Norton for sending me this photo taken in Greenwich Park on the 2nd November.

Here’s another one that Emily took on her walk around the park.

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