Unlocking Word Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
1. overwhelm (v.) – to defeat
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
1. overwhelm (v.) – to defeat
Example: With their best players, the team was
able to overwhelm the defending
champion.
2. feat (n.) – a
remarkable achievement usually gained in an extraordinary way
Example: Writing a book at a young age is a feat.
3. par (n.) – status of
being at same level or standard as another
Example: After years of practice, his skills are
now on par with his mentor’s.
4. accomplished (adj.)
– having the skills of an expert
Example: Accomplished
artists create great works of art.
5. bag (v.) – to
achieve or gain
Example: People congratulated the pianist who bagged awards in the international
competition.
Article
Read the text below.
For the first time since 1968, a male
Japanese tennis player made it to the quarterfinals of the Australian Open.
On January 23, 2012, Kei Nishikori,
22, was able to accomplish this new record after overwhelming Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France in a five-set match
that lasted three and a half hours. Although Nishikori later lost to the UK’s
Andy Murray in the quarterfinals, the Japanese player still proved to be
worthy of Japan’s pride.
Nishikori’s entry into the
quarterfinals equaled the achievement of Japanese player Shuzo Matsuoka, who
reached the quarterfinals of Wimbledon in 1995. Before Nishikori, Matsuoka
had been Japan’s most accomplished male
tennis player.
Additionally, Nishikori’s
qualification was a great feat for
Japanese male tennis players, who have not had successes yet on par with those of Japanese female
players. Even though Matsuoka was Japan’s best, he only reached no. 46 in
men’s world rankings. In comparison, Japanese female tennis players Kimiko
Date-Krumm and Ai Sugiyama were able to reach the top ten of women’s world
rankings during the height of their careers.
But hard work allowed Nishikori to
become one of the world’s top tennis players. Even without knowing any
English, the 14-year-old future tennis star went to the Nick Bollettieri
Tennis Academy in Bradenton, Florida. Because of his goal to top Matsuoka’s
no. 46 rank, Nishikori was nicknamed “Project 45”. At 18, he became the
youngest man to win an Association of Tennis Professionals title since
Australian and former world no.1 player Lleyton Hewitt bagged the title at the age of 16.
After hiring Brad Gilbert as one of
his coaches at the end of 2010, Nishikori became even stronger and passed
Matsuoka’s record, reaching the no. 24 world rank in 2011. At present,
Nishikori is world no. 17 in men’s tennis rankings. He still aims for a Grand
Slam title, which if he can achieve, will be another first for Asian males.
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Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
·
What
factors drive you to excel in what you do?
·
What
do you think is the best motivation for winning? Please explain your answer.
Discussion B
·
How important is it for athletes to
start young in playing their sports?
·
What
are the advantages and disadvantages of playing professional sports at a young
age?