plath and bonofans pilgrimage into tennis (and how we converted our friends along the way)

'Oh God .... this is killing me'

2009-02-02T01:26:00.004+05:00

To state that Nadal defied logic is underestimating the phenomenon. To marvel at the speciemen which goes with the nick of 'El Toro - the bull' ... does not at all do justice to the outworldly talents of the man from Mallorca which he exhibited tonight in front of an astounded crowd at the Rod Laver arena, while asserting his place in the pantheon of tennis greats by winning his 1st Australian Open.

Therein lies the great conundrum i face as i type while wiping away my tears. Should i focus on the unbelievable feats of Rafa, or dissect what went wrong with Roger.

Roger didnt lose it all on his own. Rafa made it all possible with his tenacity and the ultimate never-say-die attitude you can ever find in a sportsperson. Yet, still, the blame rests with Roger for finishing where he did. This AO was his for taking. He created ample opportunities for himself. He played better 'tennis' than Rafa. He had more jaw dropping forehands, sick backhands, killer volleys and skiddy slices. Yet he failed when he had to deliver.

You dont expect to win a match if you waste a plethora of breakpoints, 19 to be precise, and still hope to come out on top, let alone in a GS final against ure greatest nemesis. You dont put in 50% of your 1st serves in and still hope to salvage something and come out as a winner. This just doesnt happen. Esp, when you play against Nadal in a grandslam final.

I have read over the course of last four years since rafa/rog rivalry has blossomed and has thrown up some of the greatest tennis matches EVER, the fact that people seem to focus on roger's mental fragility against rafa. Time and again, the subject being broached about is how weak roger is against rafa. How rafa has his number and the moment roger saw those msucular, bulging arms across the court, his brain goes for a ride.

After watching three sets of the final live, reading the post match reviews and then checking out the highlights of the last two sets - i hereby change the aforementioned theory and rephrase it slightly, albeit with a huge change in context.

We tend to focus lot more on Roger's mental state and its fragility than giving Nadal the due credit. In my opinion, and some may say that i am stating same thing with a different twist, Rafael Nadal's mental capabilities are the most unique that one can ever come across as a sportsperson. The fire in the belly , the thirst for success, the greed for glory, the hunger for survival, and above all ... putting aside all the compassion for a friend on verge of history, the ultimate will to excel against him and grind him to tears is Nadal's greatest strength.

He simply wants it MORE everytime he faces Roger. We all talk about how roger needs to reignite himself and push him against rafa - the fact remains that we all seem to overlook the desire of rafael who truly believes that roger is the greatest of all and yet he wants to prove himself against the Gold standard - and comes out on top again and again.

Dont blame roger for this, he has the better game. he is easy on eyes. he is purists' favourite. its really not his fault, simply his bad luck. Nadal is a freak of nature, with a heart of gold - and he came just when roger was ascending the ladder to be labelled as greatest of all time, only to run roughshod over roger to start his own climb.

The match was won and lost in third set when roger wasted six breakpoints and let slip the tiebreak with some sloppy play. Fourth set was merely delaying the inevitable, even then it was quite disheartening to see the lack of fight and mental fortitude shown by roger. It was remarkable, how one man's resolute will can break down and crush another man to complete rubble. Just when Roger yet again put himself in a position to make an opportunity for himself to win, Nadal came up with impossible-to-conjure stamina to assert himself on the proceedings, so much so that roger mental state was completely disintegrated and his well crafted, skilled game literally fell to pieces.

It was painful to see what roger had to endure, and the way he exposed his emotions to the 15000 at the rod laver arena and millions around the world, i doubt if anybody could have contolled their sobs. It just made me him more human, more frail .... more weak.

This AO might actually be the critical juncture in the career of two men. Rafa, in my opinion, will start getting his long overdue acknowledgement for being a valid contender for GOAT, and more obviously, for being the candidate to achieve Calendar Grandslam, a task out of reach of Roger till atleast YET ANOTHER YEAR.

May we see an 'interesting' year on the ATP Tour, and the lives of two men unfold in front of us.

2008-10-18T01:02:00.001+06:00

A quick update:

- rafa world number 1 and loving it
- roger world number two
- the nole era is yet to restart
- we still love marat, no strings attached

2008-08-27T14:46:00.004+06:00

Marat Safin vs Vince Spadea last night. while the match was a spat of vile near the end of the fourth set, when a triggerhappy linesmen thought he wasn't getting enough attention, and called a fault which four different commentators thought ridiculous, Marat held through and stayed strong to win at the end.

His presser was CLASSIC marat safin! very endearing, and i'm just reminded why i love this guy so much! how can you NOT love that!??!

http://www.usopen.org/en_US/news/interviews/2008-08-26/200808261219787009714.html

(watch the video, the VIDEO)

2008-07-25T18:45:00.001+06:00

I LOVE how Boris Becker had a thing for African-originated women ;) you go big B ;)

2008-07-07T02:51:00.003+06:00

2008 - OFFICIALLY MY

BEST WIMBLEDON, EVER!

Because we got Safin back.

Because we got to see Safin dismantle Djoko-bitch.

Because scum like Roddick underperformed (again).

Because the womens top seeds collapsed left and right, reminding us that its way more important to play pretty then look pretty.

Jheng Jie.

The ladies doubles final.

Santoro playing on Center Court, after 20 years of wimbledon.

Safin-Federer net embrace post-match.

Andy Murray being completely DEMOLISHED by nadal.

How the world found out about Janko Tipsarevic (whom we've loved for 3 years running)

Men's singles finals.

Because Roger came back from two sets down to rafael nadal, proving to us, that he can, can, CAN get over the rafa-dump.

Nadal-Federer embrace post-match.

Because of rafael nadal's victory speech.

Because of Roger Federer.

Because of Rafael Nadal.

wow wow!! what a match!!!!!!!

Safin on- court interview AO SF'05

2008-05-21T01:35:00.001+05:00

Interview post match after defeating Rog in the epic AO 2005 semi final.

Final Points Safin vs Federer AO'05

2008-05-21T01:09:00.001+05:00

Check this video to see what i mean when i say Safin was REALLY the 'real deal'

How can you NOT love this man, really ...

2008-05-21T00:38:00.004+05:00

I was going to make this post about alot of other stuff, above all, Henin's shock retirement and my sentiments towards perhaps aesthetically the most pleasing athlete on the WTA tour after the incomparable Graf.

Or i was going to talk about how the our be-hatred Jerk-o-vic was grounded into dirt by King Rafa, albeit with a stark reality that Novak really is out there to stay. Maybe i`d have talked about Rafa and his burgeoning skills on clay court and how i dont see him losing out on this particular surface for another three years atleast, health permitting. I`d have perhaps chosen to discuss the single most important worrying thought swirling in my mind , that of Roger Federer and his rotten 2008 and his inability to even remotely accept that he is unable to match up to the craptastic journeyman of tour. I mean, losing to Mardy Fish, then Radek Stapnek, both at Semi Final and then Quarter final of a MASTER SERIES event - its unbelievably shocking to see how lax Rog has been, BUT - despite all of that - i read a particular article by the ever erudite Peter Bodo and that compelled me to throw out all of my previous plans and write this blog about the ONE AND ONLY , Marat ...... Marat Safin.

Its hard to imagine that this tall, powerful, ultra-charismatic Russian will be a major force in tennis again. Balls just exploded off Safin's racket; he had/has one of the best, forehand-backhand-one-two punches of all time. He's the only guy who showed that, at this best, he could whip an in-form Roger Federer on hard courts.

(http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=3388372&name=bodo_peter) read for entire article

You see , regardless of my love for the old, yet lifetime heroes like Pete Sampras (my ALL TIME FAVOURITE PLAYER), or Goran Ivanenisvic, or lately Roger Federer (2nd to Sampras in my beloved players) there remains one special category which is owned by the charismatic, mercurial, phenomenally talented yet tragically flawed .... one and only - Marat Safin. I mean, i can go on and on and wax lyrical about this man who has driven me nuts over the years ever since his victory in 2000 Us Open. Here is the man who can, on his day, be the GREATEST tennis champion in contemporary era, vying for the top spot with Roger Federer, squashing the likes of Roddicks, DJerkovics, but like all the mortal, flawed heroes, he too is one who has left us fans craving for more, and more. How gut wrenching it is ( and i do not exaggerate ) to see him losing to ridiculously lame journemen players, one has no idea. But I, hereby again declare my undying love for this special player, who will always remain my eternal emotional favourite, and for whom i ll always hope for a replica of Wimbledoon 2001 ala Goran, when Marat would be able to rise from the ashes , summon all of his divine abilities and conjour up magic by winning ONE more grandslam .... and go down in glory. I truly, honestly, pray for that.

WHO let the Djoke out ! who , who, who !?!?!

2008-05-08T20:28:00.002+05:00

The title says all - the whiny, arrogant, brash and basically, a cry baby - who let him out ? really ?

atleast roddick is not 'THAT' brash, u know ... as our most hated serbian is - looking forward to somebody givig him a pasting in the next round and then do an imitation of a crying Djokovic. would make for good spectacle :)

2008-05-08T01:01:00.000+05:00

Great. I've gone ahead and jinxed Nadal. Sorry about that, eh, Rafa.

So Nadal, after a staggering 103 straight victories on clay (untouchable on a surface for 3 straight years, w00t!) lost in the Rome Open to Juan Carlos Ferrero, 7-5, 6-1.

To make matters worse I was actually routing for Ferrero-Rochers the first set... (how the hell did i know he'd actually WIN the damn thing!??!).

But in all honesty, I love Juanqui to death, and i'm glad that if Nadal had to be defeated, it was by El Mosquito. I kept on running through my head what a special player he was and how amazing it was that he kept on managing to keep up with the top players (note to marat) in the face of the 'spanish fever'. this 'spanish fever' being, that the only tennis player worth a hoot in spain, is ofocurse, Nadal (not his fault though). Juanqui has always felt saddened how he was the apple of the spanish eyes in his heyday, yet was dumped quickly by the crowds by his younger, fitter replacement (wham, bam, thank y- HEY LOOK, there goes Nadal!). He's been disheartened by the way his countrymen have left his side, and it affected both his tennis and his demeanor. We all know that there's not a more hardworking bloke that this feller, and it didn't seem fair that the media, journalists, sports writers, and tennis-watchers just forgot about him one day, in the haze of Nadalitis ("Juan Carlos? oh yeah that skinny bloke who is good on clay?"). Ofcourse his true fans have sticked with him, through the thin, and fans like me who weren't necessarily there to see him at him prime, but were definitely won over not only by his game, but his sheer determination, that head held high, fighting the Fight, and not giving in.

And like HELL he deserved the win. Though when it was the first set, 5-5 levelled, Nadal was certainly still on top. I just think fatigued kicked in the young 21-year old. Mental and physical, but mostly mental. I mean, he is human after all - four weeks of non-stop top-level competition (Monte Carlo, Barca, Rome and Hamburg next) is not something that is recommended. He just was tired, the poor boy. And it's good he got our early, and to a distinguished opponent, so that he can spend the next five days recuperating and building up that motivation.

A few clip-its from nadal's post-match today:

Q. When did you first start feeling the problem with the foot?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, the Sunday in the night. When I wake up for 6:00 in the morning for come here, I put the foot on the floor and I can't put the foot on the floor. So I call the trainer for my trainer for come to the room and put something for can go to the airport, and I did.
I always went like this because I scared, no? So, you know, the calendar is impossible. Last week and in Barcelona everybody is talking about how you feel about the calendar and everything. I said for me going to be impossible four weeks in a row playing well, no? They told me, Yes, but you have already two playing very well. I said, Yes, but in a few days you going to see why it's impossible, and disappointing they going to see. Finally they see it's impossible, no? Just congratulate Juan Carlos, because this is an important win for him, I think. He's trying to go to Olympics, too, so important points for him. Just happy for him because he's a nice guy and a very good player. That's it, no? I just try to at home have some rest, and after try to go with my best feelings to Hamburg.
Q. You know that Etienne of the ATP is here. Are you going to talk to him and say the same thing you told us about the calendar, what you said in Barcelona? I know you have told him already, but do you think there is a chance that something can change, or you don't think anything will change?
RAFAEL NADAL: I don't have nothing to speak with this man, no? Not more.
Q. Don't trust him?
RAFAEL NADAL: Lose more time trying to fight for nothing it's very stupid, so I have it's stupid. Last year I have a lot of time lose a lot of time trying to understand why he doing these things, and he's impossible to understand. So right now it's not the moment for speak about that because I lose, and when I lose always the people think about it as an excuse for my lose. So I spoke about this in Monte Carlo and Barcelona when I win. When I lose I don't like to speak about these things.
RAFAEL NADAL: For sure it's very important tournament for me here. Lose here is very, very tough for me just for everything, no? For the crowd because the crowd support me a lot always. So I just can say thanks very much, because probably I won in 2005 and 2006 for the support of the crowd. So that's tough for me. Very nice for me coming back here, but at the same time, very disappointing for me to come here without my best preparation. That's true, no? Finally, I can't do more, no? I play my best and I am here. I try to prepare with my best motivation the first two days here practicing: first day twenty minutes; second day one hour but without move and without play points, without nothing.
So it's very difficult to prepare for a tournament like this, no?
RAFAEL NADAL: The feeling is, well, normally I know more than you how tough is win a lot of the matches on clay and in every surface, so I am prepared for this moment because I know already when I go on court everything can happen and I can lose every day. Right now for sure I'm disappointing because it's very important tournament for me and important because I have chances for improve in the ranking and for don't lose points and continue to improve in the race. Disappointing for me I can't be 100% and I can't win, so it was tough.

2008-05-05T00:40:00.003+05:00

We head into Rome tomorrow!

clay, clay, clay! yours truly has a clay fetish that drives her through May in a very positive, embracing, warm self.

So kids, what have we learned these last two weeks of Monte Carlo and Barcelona/Munich?

- Nadal, a clay centurion, looks right about unbeatable on clay this season.

- Federer has yet ANOTHER 1-up on Nadal (Monte Carlo final) yet chose to give into instinct and CHOKE in typical clay-finalesque fashion.

- Marat got to a quarterfinal! yaaaaay!

- Gasquet lost to rising-lone-star Sam Querry, in a very disappointing showing. Querry, after years of underperforming on the Big-Boy circuit, might be showing signs of fitting in. With the stagnant state of american tennis (that kinda sorta' gave up growing with the Willamses and Roddick) might have a new star.

- Federer's new coach Higueras, the dude who saw the likes of Chang and Connors lift the French, seemed to have affected our Swiss the first 5 days of MC. But its amazing how, when facing Rafa on a red floor, Federer seems to lose all hope/belief that he can possibly win. Thats the only thing keeping him back now: this mental block that has him convinced that Rafa's "got his number" on clay. And sadly, the block strengthens with each passing lost. As much as i think the GOAT deserves a french, i highly highly doubt he's getting one this year. Unless a miracle happens.

2007-12-05T13:33:00.000+05:00

Monsieur Safin is training hard in Valencia, after not being called in for the Davis Cup squad this year (BIG mistake, tarpi), and Russia shamefully losing out to that pompous Yank Roddick and his undercut crew, Monsieur Safin looks fit and ready to play the traditional season en route exhibition-before-Oz-open.

Rafael Nadal is somewhere amongst the Mummies of Eygpt on a well-deserved break.

Roger must be, i dunno, minting money out of recording his snores for a nasal pill - who knows!

But we're still hoping Murray and Djokovic fall into some ditch. Hard. Preferable together, so they can finish each other off.

2007-12-05T13:24:00.000+05:00

We plan to be up and running next season! We're hanging up our tennis shorts until then!

Moved!!!!

2007-02-15T22:40:00.000+05:00

People now you can catch us on http://tennism.wordpress.com

2006-12-05T21:47:00.000+05:00

Kolya, Mika, Mitya, Marat, Tarpi - We Did It!

2007 is ours, Safin baby!

Russia - Winners of Davis cup !

2006-12-04T11:29:00.000+05:00

Yes - people, Marat Safin really does know how to keep his head when it matters. Jose Acasuso got a reality check and finally lost his winning record. Knowing Safin and his famous meltdowns in big matches, this one was a cracker of a boiler - davis cup final in FRONT OF his hometown fans, with a country watching, resting their hopes on your (massive) shoulders - Pressure doesnt come bigger than this. And what a resounding win my man came up with :D 4 sets pasting, Russia won it for the 2nd time ! Yaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhooooooooooooooooooo !!!!!!!

Sad bit, though, no more tennis for another 40 days as Plat reminded me of this fact. Sad, but true. See you all come January with more tennis updates and HOPEFULLY, start of ANOTHER year where Roger will dominate the circuit and remind everybody of who REALLY is the boss.

2006-12-02T15:59:00.000+05:00

Davydenko weds!

TMS CUP - Starts tomorrow !

2006-11-11T19:09:00.000+05:00

Here we go. Tomorrow is the start of the year end championships. King Fed got worse possible draw ( which plath doesnt necessarily agree with) . He plays Nalbandian first up and then have to face ivan luby and roddick. I have noticed this the whole year, and even before between sampras and agassi rivalry. For some reason or the other, sampras used to get the tougher draw of the 2 and now the same story is being repeated with Federer. I dont know whats up with the atp/tournament drawing system but it always throws up something like that. Take example of this year's french and wimbledon both. Fed got the toughest one, and his chief rival got a halwa on their plates !

Kher, back to the ch`ships ... Roger will be gunning for this third masters cup and he WOULD HAVE had it already last year, only for the ugly Argentinian he is playing tomorrow, defeated an injured fed in a 5 set final last year.

Anyways people ... keep ure fingers crossed and lets all hope and pray that King Fed picks up his third TMS final by the next weekend.

till then, tao tao !

2006-11-05T17:39:00.000+05:00

Sit tight folks, with the end of the tennis season rearing it's ugly head, we plan to review the most important tennis tournaments/matches in the upcoming weeks of desolate blackness and fading images of a certain swiss raising one chunky trophy with shahgai written all over it :)

2006-11-05T17:35:00.000+05:00

We can all gear up for what is likely to be...

THE most boring master series final in history:

Davydenko versus Hrbathy.

(Davydenko who i must admit, is in superb form - ousting Ancic and settling into the third ranking).

Yawn. How's about that movie Nacho Libre?

2006-10-19T19:09:00.000+05:00

a tennis pop-rock band!? now we've heard it all...

John Macom and Binge present to you, your very own songs based on those lovely jovely smashers of greens:

"Anna Kournikova" (album preview)
"Hey, It's Andy Roddick" (preview)
"Grand Slam Man" (preview)
"Maria Sharapova" (preview)
"Vamos Rafa" (lyrics)

sing about them piratas, kids - and we'd even bear emo rock!

2006-10-17T19:12:00.000+05:00

Folks, just the few last weeks left before we're moaning and groaning about the off-season and have to make do with monstrocities like, phessh, golf on the telly - so get your fill while you still can!

Madrid, Madrid, here we come!

2006-10-09T15:53:00.000+05:00

arriveth he who descends upon us from the milky blue heavens of coffeedrops and lemon spongecakes - this greek adonis, adorn with mighty bulk of will and a chaste soul of trying - with the might of two goliaths and a half, a sepuchral spectre of male evaluation, the clearity of a river, the carefully chiselled features of an italian hand atop the lilt of a spanish accent.

we present to you, dear, sweet, innocent people of the world, the one that we've waited all year for: the marat safin blog.

2006-10-05T14:31:00.000+05:00

Marat Safin has revealed he will retire from tennis in 2010. The mercurial Russian is a two-time Grand Slam winner, but has plummeted down the world rankings this season as a result of injury and a loss of form.

"2010 will be my last season," said Safin. "I will be 30 years old and it will be time to move on to something different."

A serious knee injury has contributed to his slide to 63rd in the world, and he also split with coach Peter Lundgren in August.

"The season has been very tough for me. If I had won half the games I should have won, I would be in a completely different position."

Safin's career highlights came with his victories in the 2000 US Open and 2005 Australian Open, and he has also topped the world rankings.

However, he has been notoriously inconsistent, and missed most of the 2003 season because of injury and a lack of mental focus.

Source: Eurosports

In Dmitry, We Trust.

2006-10-03T21:15:00.000+05:00

what a week, if your name happens to be dmitry tursunov! stuck knee-deep in controversy and getting the sharp edge from a few tennis journos here and there (oh dima, they're just JEALOUS) and coming out of the week with a title win (a first), right after seeing off your country to the davis cup final on your weakest surface (what, he had won just one match this whole clay season?!)

but lets kick off with the truly essential: the tursunov blog!

he's churning out the entries, folks! he actually enjoys the process of penning down bon mots and tall tales with that edgy russian humor! just my kinda' man! head over there quick and make sure you bookmark it: ATP's resident blogger is not someone your going to want to miss.

Which brings us to the ahem, controversy aspect. right after the davis cup win (yeah that humongo one where he kicked himself some andy-asphalt) - it all happened so fast: the russian team went to hug, smoulder and cherish to death their blonde hero, and igor andreev ending up giving our dima a smacker, right on the lips. ofcourse it was all fast and in a rush of emotion and most probably, igor wanted to kiss the cheek (a european commonality amongst men and women) but accidentally ended up hitting the pucker, ahem. so yes, now the whole tennis world thinks he's gay and it's quite an uproar really. and it's all they showed on tv the davis cup weekend ;) sly sportscenter peeps ;)

ahem!

but dmitry made sure he let people know that controversy was the last thing on his mind the week he made it all the way to the trophy in mumbai! his first ATP tittle!

he's happy, he's loved and he's popular. what more could dima want?

and here, folks, is our international moment of zen:

Question: If you had your own cologne, what would it be called?

Dmitry Tursunov: That would depend on the smell. For a strong and woodsy fragrance, The Communist. For a light and lemony fragrance, The Traitor.

2006-09-11T21:44:00.000+05:00

A few pointers on the final:

- I hated the fact that the presenter start Roger's ceremony speech by asking him how it felt to have Tiger Woods in his corner, about how great it is to have a Champion of that calibre in his box blah blah blah blah blah. LISTEN, mate, this guy has just won a Grand Slam after two weeks of grueling it out against the top tennis players of the world, not counting the hours of practise on the courts - and he just snagged the trophy after an epic battle and you start by asking him HOW IT FEELS TO HAVE SOME PERSON IN HIS BOX????? IF IT WAS GOD, THEN IT WOULD HAVE BEEN OKAY TO ASK!!! BUT ONLY GOD, OKAY???????

- And then the presser is FULL of questions by drooling tennis journos asking "How it feels" to be sitting in farting distance of Tiger Woods, and whether he got an autograph from him. PEOPLE PEOPLE, STOP. I know Woods is great and all, and most American think he is God, but hes not, and it's Rogers night for God's (not Tiger's) sake! Blasted hate golf anyway.

- Mr. Roddick is very mistaken if he thinks he can get away with making statements on the line that he is not too behind Federer. And what up with always being bitter and rude in the press conferences? Not cool, rod-dick. Ever heard of being gracious in defeat?

- Roger, is always at his finest in grandslam final pressers! The happiness factor take sover and he sounds just like a regular, funny guy! In fact, this years US Open presser has to be my favorite =) am posting below:

- Also, I love that fact that Roger always mentions Marat when ticking off potential threats/greats in the game =D See, he identifies the genious in Marat! And he ALWAYS mentions him =) go youuu!

ROGER FEDERER: Thanks for the patience (applause).

TIM CURRY: Questions, please.

Q. Playing golf with Tiger Woods?

ROGER FEDERER: Putting contest, yeah (smiling).

Q. Do you ever surprise yourself at how well you play this game?

ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I do. I thought, you know, today was gonna be extremely tough. I had to make sure that, you know, I get his serves back and everything. So there's never a guarantee for, you know, the way you feel out there and everything in a moment like this, especially against an American here at The Open. It's so hard. So I'm really, really happy how it went. You know, I thought I played again fantastic, all the way through. The entire tournament was great. Whereas in Australia I struggled and everything. It was more like Wimbledon when I dominated from the start there.

Q. You've now played Andy Roddick. Do you notice any differences since he's worked with Jimmy Connors?

ROGER FEDERER: I definitely think his serve picked up again. The last time I played him, he was playing well in Cincinnati and Wimbledon, as well. So I didn't play him in that stretch when he had kind of a phase where he didn't play so well. I think the key to his game is always his serve. He seems more steady off the backhand side than in the past. He maybe plays the percentage a little bit better now. When he comes to the net, his approach shots and everything are a bit better and everything. So I do feel a bit of an improvement since he's been with Jimmy maybe, yeah.

Q. You got nine Grand Slam titles now. You passed Agassi, Connors, Lendl. What does it mean to you?

ROGER FEDERER: I mean, am I the only guy who won nine? I don't know.

Q. Yes.

ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, it's nice (laughter). I don't want to stop here, I mean...But I remember being in great company, you know, like when I reached six and then seven and eight, the same. There's always such great players on that level. Now I'm left alone at nine, you know. So feels a bit strange, obviously, because I'm still going. It's been a fantastic season. Winning three Slams, it's unbelievable. Something I've done in '04, but I was in the finals of the French, so it's really incredible.

Q. You were asked yesterday about the accomplishment of winning three consecutive Wimbledons and US Opens. You said you really can't think of it in that context, because there was still work to be done, you had to stay in the moment, think about the match ahead.

ROGER FEDERER: Hmm.

Q. Can you now put it in that context and think about the totality of that accomplishment?

ROGER FEDERER: Well, you know, it's funny because I think I came here first time as a Wimbledon champion in '03 and people were telling me like, Yeah, it's hardly ever happened, a guy winning Wimbledon and the US Open back to back. Even in the women's game, it hasn't happened that often. I was like, Really? You know. I don't care really, I'm gonna try to win the Open anyhow. Look what happened, I've been on a roll since '04. Of course, you know, I am surprised how well it went. But at the same time, I know I've given myself the best possible chance. And every time I enter a Slam, I'm so well prepared, I'm playing so well, that in the end, maybe I'm not that surprised because the hard work is paying off, and the shot selection usually is always the right one. I come through the matches, I don't play so well, convincingly, it ends up that I arrive in the finals just feeling great, you know, so...

Q. Four years ago you hadn't won a Grand Slam title. In four years' time, you have nine. You're out on the court today during the ceremony and described as the greatest player to have ever played the game on the PA system. That's remarkable to have that mantle in four years' time.

ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, no, I totally agree. That's where you see how much I struggled, too, you know. Early on in my career, I couldn't win the Masters Series, couldn't win the Slams, was struggling to win other titles. Needed a change of attitude towards the game, you know, to kind of turn the corner. I did that so well that it paid off incredibly, you know. I always knew that I was talented, I had potential and everything. But I think, you know, that's maybe sometimes there for like a Slam or so, but after that, it just is a different league, you know, winning so many. I'm shocked myself how well it's been going the last three, four years, because being not only compared to former great tennis players, but now especially also other great athletes all over sports, it's just really nice.

Q. He made a big push at the end of the second set. At the end of the third, it seemed like you rose a little bit. You liked the moment, you liked being push. You wanted to see how well you responded. Then you break him nicely and soar. Just like you did against Andre. ROGER

FEDERER: It's very similar, yeah.

Q. Describe being in those moments when you're pushed, being able to bring it a level up.

ROGER FEDERER: Well, I mean, I was definitely, you know, under pressure in the third set. I felt like Andy was starting to play better, serve better. I had to wait for the moment when he had a game where he wasn't quite on. Up until that moment, I had to make sure I held my serve. That's why that game at Love 40 was crucial. I knew that could kind of hurt him mentally a little bit maybe. Then also I knew that that gave me another chance, you know, a look at his serves. Then go ahead. That's exactly what happened towards the end of the third. He had a terrible game. I took advantage of it. From then on, didn't look back. I started to feel better, play more freely, and in the end I played unbelievable. So I was very happy with the game in total because the start was great; the finish was great. What was in between, it doesn't really matter, so...That's what was great about it.

Q. At the end of it, you flopped down on your back. You seemed elated, but maybe also a little bit relieved. Could you describe, you know, why that reaction, and maybe was it because Andy really pushed you in the middle two sets?

ROGER FEDERER: I think this is a huge Grand Slam, you know (smiling). Just felt like this is a great moment, once again, in my career. I deserved to lie down (laughter). Kind of give myself a break. From standing up, sitting down and everything, I just thought lying down would be more comfortable. Thank God I didn't injure myself (laughter). I haven't seen it yet in replay, but one thing's for sure: I felt great, you know, lying there on the floor alone. It was good. Good feeling.

Q. Back a couple years ago there was so much talk about how Tiger was so far ahead of his competitors, and now, of course, he was watching you here today. Do you feel like the gap between you and perhaps No. 2 and No. 3 is closing? Andy said perhaps the gap was closed a little bit today when he played you. Do you feel like the gap is closing?

ROGER FEDERER: I don't know. I mean, as long as I'm on top, I guess it doesn't really matter. No, I felt like after the great clay court season, you know, of Raf, I was under pressure, you know, for sure to do well in Wimbledon because he proved that, again, how well he plays on clay. He put the pressure on me for the grass court season to do it all over again, myself, too, like he did on clay. This is really when I felt the pressure. After winning Wimbledon, I sort of said, Okay, whoever wins the US Open I guess is really better. So came here and won, so it's fantastic. Now I totally deserve to be No. 1 for the rest of the season, and hopefully I can back it up again next season. But I think, you know, with guys like Hewitt and Agassi sorry, Roddick and Safin playing better, I think you always got to give these guys also a bigger chance of coming back, you know, stronger. A new guy like I don't know who but you could say the gap is closing.But at the same time, I'm playing so well and so consistent that it's going to be hard for them to pass me at the moment. That's for sure.

Q. You had the wonderful privilege to chat with Tiger, and of course most of that was private.

ROGER FEDERER: Tried to come in, didn't you (smiling)? Were you the only guy or no?

Q. I did speak with Tiger.

ROGER FEDERER: You did? Well done.

Q. He said you got to work on your backhand.

ROGER FEDERER: Oh...

Q. Anyway, kidding aside, we all would have loved to have been in there. Could you just share a little bit of your sense of him as a man and also as an athlete.

ROGER FEDERER: Well, I mean, for me, of course, it's very nice to get to meet him finally after all the time we've been trying to get to see each other in Shanghai. I remember I was there in Dubai when he was there. He plays so much in the States, that when I'm here, you would think that we would get a chance to see each other. Our schedules, they collide. More and more often, you know, over the last year or so, I've been kind of compared to Tiger, what he's doing on the golf tour, me doing on the tennis tour. So today was kind of the day where finally we got to meet and chat a little longer. I asked him how it was for him. It's funny, you know, because many things were similar. He knew exactly how I kind of felt out on the court. That's something that I haven't felt before, you know, a guy who knows how it feels to feel invincible at times and, you know, when you just have the feeling like there's nothing going wrong any more. In the fourth set, for instance, it's, I guess, for him on the final round, he knows exactly how it feels. That's what was so interesting to talk to him about. Of course that's not all we talked about. We talked about other things, but it was just really great fun to get to meet him. My parents are great golfers, so he was nice enough to talk to them, as well, over the phone. They're not in bed yet, so it was great. He's very nice, and much nicer than I expected. I thought him to be nice, but he's really, really nice, so that's nice.

Q. He didn't give you his hat, did he?

ROGER FEDERER: No. I tried. I tried to get it, but... (laughter). He didn't even want to sign it for me (smiling). It was tough, you know. Signatures and interviews these days.

Q. He's a tough customer.

ROGER FEDERER: Yeah (smiling).

Q. How do you handle, day by day, the pressure and the expectations after all you've done?

ROGER FEDERER: I don't have pressure walking through the streets, I tell you that, no. It's okay, you know. I've gotten used to it. No, it's okay by now, you know. I used to feel pressure when I was young and people were saying, This guy's got some talent, but he can't get his mind right, he's not fit enough. This stuff hurt me, you know, back then. I was at a junction, I don't know how to say, which road do I want to take, the talented road or the hard working road. I chose for the hard working road and it paid off. The pressure for me now, it's what I enjoy. I like getting goosebumps walking out on center court and serving for the match. These are the moments which you dream for. It's not like it's I guess eventually once I retire, it's kind of like, Finally, it's gone. But at the moment, I enjoy it.

Q. How many more tournaments will you play this year, do you think?

ROGER FEDERER: The plan is to play Davis Cup, Tokyo, Madrid, Basel, Paris and Shanghai. That's the plan. For the moment, I feel good. I'm not injured yet. I've been a little bit unlucky at the end of the years the last two, three years. Hopefully, this time it will work out for me.

Q. You mentioned after Paris that you felt pressure because of what Rafa had done. How much sort of satisfaction does it give you now to finish the US Open, know that you've proved to yourself that you are the No. 1?

ROGER FEDERER: I mean, it's now, what I look at actually is winning three, being in the finals of one. That's what I look at. That's what it comes down to, I think. It's funny, because in the beginning of the year, you know, I was especially after the Australian Open as it's so early, I was hoping, Maybe I can win the Slam. Tony said I'll come to The Open if you win Wimbledon and the French, too. He's not here, so... (laughter).Still worked out. Still get so close to the Slam, it's fantastic. I'm happy the Slams are over because it's hard work. You know, like you said, a lot of pressure. But I'm happy to kind of sit back a bit and relax. It's just not thinking of any rival at the moment, it's just really the wins, you know, the great season I've had so far. Four Slams are over and I played fantastic in all of them, so it's all good.

Q. What goals have you set for next year?

ROGER FEDERER: I haven't decided yet.

Q. You haven't?

ROGER FEDERER: No.

Q. You said during the ceremony when it was pointed out that Tiger Woods was in your corner that, Yeah, I had some pressure. I did notice that when they flashed him up on the board there, everybody applauded, that you had four or five points that you lost.

ROGER FEDERER: I don't remember.

Q. Did you feel any pressure having him there? Was there any moment where you might have thought the guy's watching you?

ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, no, you get that feeling. It's like I don't know how you can relate to it, but, you know, it's like maybe the first time your parents see you do something special, or somebody comes to you, you really maybe look up to, or maybe in the game I don't know. Like if the best ever journalist would be looking at you guys asking every question, you would go like, I make sure it's a good question. For me, it's like when I go out there and I see, you know, Tiger sitting there, it's like, you know, I try to play well, you know? I try to, you know, kind of get my act together and focus and get off to a good start, you know. I remember having this many, many times in my career where, you know, like in the very beginning, Marc Rosset would come watch me play because he was the No. 1 tennis player in Switzerland. When you get to guys coming over to watch your matches, you kind of look over in the box and go, Okay, I know you're here and I hope I do well. It's extra pressure. That's why I try not to go to see the Swiss guys too much, because I know what it could do for them, you know. They look in the box and say, Oh, shit, Roger's here (laughter). So I'd rather watch them on TV. But I can handle it by now, you know. But, still, it still hits me, yes, it does.

Q. When you're old and gray, you can help the younger guys out.

ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, maybe then (smiling). Got to be a good question, rest of the guys watching you.

Q. Are you surprised at Rafael's loss?

ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, little bit. We all knew that Youzhny had his chance, but I still would have picked him to come through. So a bit of a surprise, yes.

Q. Second quick question.

ROGER FEDERER: Uh hmm.

Q. Your English, did you learn it back in your country or pick it up on tour?

ROGER FEDERER: Give you a little hint now. My mom's South African, so I got it from her, yeah.

Q. You know when you go to the supermarket, they give you two products for one

ROGER FEDERER: Okay. This is gonna be funny now, I think (laughing).

Q. Next year, say two Slams for Roland Garros, or five Masters Series for...

ROGER FEDERER: I think you always ask me questions like about the French, try to put me...

Q. He likes that.

ROGER FEDERER: He likes that, huh? I always say the same thing, you know. Wimbledon counts more for me.

Q. At this point?

ROGER FEDERER: Look, I don't know. It's like so nice to win the US Open, so why would I want to try for the French?

Q. To prove that on clay you're the best.

ROGER FEDERER: I know I'm good on clay.

Q. You are the best.

ROGER FEDERER: Not the best at the moment, yeah. But if Raf wouldn't be in a round, maybe I would have won it by now. No, I don't know. All I can try to do is give myself the best chance, you know? That's what I've been doing really the last especially two or three years. And before that, I just was not good enough, I think. I lost early a few times. This time around, I really believe I can win, you know. Whereas before, I thought it's too tough, too long, too hard and everything. I doubted myself from the early rounds on. But now, being so dominant in all the other Slams, I know I can win the French, you know. Nadal here or not, I know I could beat him, too, because I was so close.

Q. Perhaps one of the most remarkable things about your run is that you've done a lot of it without a coach. I know Tony comes in and out. There are times during matches where you get in trouble. Do you ever think, Maybe I should have brought someone along? You've learned to think through things pretty clearly, like the switch, how you returned the serve today from blocking it. Do you ever doubt that in a match, Maybe I should have had someone go out and scout?

ROGER FEDERER: Never had that feeling. Never. I mean, when I split with Peter at the end of '03, I knew the decision was tough and everything, but of course I was a bit worried going into the Australian Open. But after winning that, becoming No. 1 in the world, I kind of told myself that it's still the right decision to take because I can still play well. I remember looking up in the box and best friend of mine was there and my girlfriend was there. They were giving me, you know, a good feeling about what I'm doing. I remember never looking up into the box going, I wish whoever was there, best coach in the world. Because I have such unbelievable belief in my own game and understanding about my shot selection and everything that I always need to look up there (sic). That's why I'm against coaching on the tour, you know, on court. Because I think the work is done beforehand and not during a match. And if you try to change it up, I always believe it doesn't work. It's the instinct in the end that takes over. That's how it is for me. In the fourth set, total instinct took over, and I dominated Andy. That's what I'm talking about.

Q. Does it surprise you, then, that Maria has her father in the box telling her when to drink and when to eat a banana when you don't need a coach to tell you that?

ROGER FEDERER: (Smiling). What do you think I think when I see this?I mean... Yeah, look, telling you when to drink and eat a banana and stuff, it's like, you know, seriously, is that gonna make the backhand go in on breakpoint and stuff in, no. So, I mean, I smile at it because...

Q. Just in case the banana means not only a banana, I guess.

ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, who knows. You're smart, actually (smiling).

Q. Tiger and Annika have a friendly rivalry where they call each other after they win a major. Do you have anything like that with him?

ROGER FEDERER: Not yet. He says I'm three behind, so, he's going...

Q. Two behind, I think.

ROGER FEDERER: Is he two behind? He's got 12. I wish. Who knows? I wouldn't be surprised if I get a message next time when he wins, yeah. I wouldn't be surprised at all.

Q. Winning for the third straight year here in New York, do you think it will help raise your profile in America in terms of the popularity, and maybe in endorsements, too?

ROGER FEDERER: I guess so (laughing). I don't really care, honestly. I cared four years ago if I was more famous here or not. I mean, I have great fans here in the States. I've had an unbelievable run here in this country, and I feel they really support me a lot. You know, I would like to thank them, because it's not the ordinary, you know, that they always support you being from somewhere else. So I definitely think, you know, it helps. But, look, in the end, I just love this game. If I get more endorsements, that's nice. But in the end, it's about this and not about the rest, so...

Q. Do you feel you had more support tonight than you did when you played Blake?

ROGER FEDERER: Oh, yeah, absolutely.

Q. Would you attribute that to the way you play?

ROGER FEDERER: Don't know. It's hard to answer. It's up to you to find out why.

Q. I'm going to start looking into it.

ROGER FEDERER: Please do (smiling). Maybe the finals, maybe they start to appreciate, you know, my way of being on the court, you know. Obviously, with the success, you know, you gain more and more fans. Just the way maybe the match turned out to be, I don't know. It's just they never got into it like they did against Blake or Agassi last year, so...

Q. So Tiger shows up today, puts extra pressure on you showing up at the US Open finals. Next year will you go to the Masters?

ROGER FEDERER: I'm going to go to each Masters, each Grand Slam he plays and get him back, you know (laughter). I'm gonna tell him, I'm gonna come when you're about to win a major, when you're out on the 18th green, I'll be standing there. He knows he has to be in the winning position. That's how I felt, you know, like when he told me he's gonna come for the finals. I was like, Oh, nice. Let me first do the dirty work getting there, you know. So, no, we spoke about it, you know, trying to go to a major. I hope I can do it next year, yes.

Q. Think you'll be as happy if you ever lose here at The Open? If you come to a press conference after a loss at the US Open?

ROGER FEDERER: You never know. I wouldn't be surprised (smiling).

Hail the King - 9th time !

2006-09-11T11:14:00.000+05:00

Alright fellas - I have to tell all of you what it felt like staying up late night, past 2 am and watch the greatest player EVER who graced a tennis court won is 9th major. Yes, ladies and gentlemen - Roger Federer scorched the mojo yankee, Andy Roddick 6-2 4-6 7-5 6-1 in close to 2 hours and 30 minutes and secured his 3rd US open.

Now as far as records, facts and figures go - i find it useless to say much because with every single victory he achieves, he is basically wrapping up more and more accolades and admiration - not from his peers, but as we saw lastnight, from athelets who are from entirely another sport.

Tiger Woods, the single most dominant golf player of the current generation and pretty much a lock for the greatest player of all time was there in the players box with ROGER FEDERER ( and not in his compatriot, roddick's) to witness his dominance being stamped. Woods have made the game his own in pretty much the same manner Rog is doing to tennis. Now two masters met each other and how well roger must have impressed tiger with his flawless brand of tennis. I mean, in every sigle grandslam final, he just seems to raise the bar and inventing shots, angles, power that the racket manufacturers never thought their equipment was capable of.

I saw very few women's game and quite alot of men's matches and i saw this VERY clear difference among them that in all of them - there is absolutely no finesse. No 'touch' shots, its just crash bang wallop scream routine going on there. 2 biggest example i can cite is Blake vs Berdych and Nadal vs Youzhuny. But with Rog, its unbelieveable. I mean, the guy plays BEAUTIFUL game and actually wins it. Besides, whats up with swiss and aesthetics ? Rog, Hingis, Shanyder, all of them are considered to be more tactful, intelligent players than power bangers like the usual crop we have these days.

Anyhow, point being. Roger has won his 9th and he is 25. Sampras record should be broken by 2009 september - he have 8 more grandslams to play in 2 years time and Godwilling, injuries and such keep away, he can win 6 of them atleast after which you can do the maths.

Lets hope and pray that Roger raises the bar his idol set in next 2 years and keep us fan breathless with his exhilirating brand of phenomenal tennis.

One by One ...

2006-09-05T10:13:00.000+05:00

Right .... its one match at a time and we have reached the round of 16 stage. I believe anybody who reads this blog, knows that aside from Federer (me) and Nadal (plath) , we have ONE favourite, who, at some level, is perhaps a bigger favourite than both the top 2 men is MARAT SAFIN from Russia.

The giant is making a bit of comeback, knowing him, we just dont know yet how long this resurgence will last but comeback it is nonetheless. 4th round is here, he has played some GOOD tennis, his laser guided backhand is coming back, his booming forehands are painting the lines and his precise serves are kissing the T. But above all, his MIND is working the right way, yet. Up next is Tommy Haas, who defeated the american ginepri in a tough 5 setter and he MUST be tired, atleast to an extent, when he faces Safin. Can we see the loveable russian in Quarters ?? We shall find out today. God be with you, Safin.

Salute to Andre !

2006-09-04T14:02:00.000+05:00

Allow me to join what all other tennis afficinados are doing of late, appreciating, saluting, recalling the memories which Andre Agassi left for us in the wake of his retirement after losing (eventually his last match) to german Benjamin Becker in US Open 3rd Round. 21 years of service to tennis with countless, literally, highlight reel fodder for us to savour. I ll confess it here, the fact that he was sampras was ultimate rival, till pete's retirement i never ONCE had any sympathy or liking for his man, despite sampras's respect for this man and the friendship they shared off the court. But, i guess i was a slow bloomer, kindda agassi type.

Actually, upon close inspection, agassi was anything but a slow bloomer. Joined pro tour in `86, he won SIX TOURNAMENTS in his first full year. Thereafter, agassi was almost always there on the circuit. In one way or the other, he was always in the headlines. His antics, his image, his relationships, his game, his talent, his potential, .. the list is just long. The way he went spiralling south in rankings, the way he climbed back up where he belonged, the conditioning he recieved on his aging body which resulted in 4 grandslams after the age of 29. One can just marvel at this supremely gifted athelete's satmina and his faith in his own abilities. Right down till the end, as recent as 2nd round match at US Open, he defeated 8th seeded Marcos Baghdatis, who ironically, was dubbed the new Agassi when he reached Aussie open final earlier this year, and what a match he played against agassi. 3 hours 50 minutes, 5 set affair - with out of this world shotmaking, the intense drama, nighttime crowd . I mean, it had just about everything one could imagine.
One can just keep on writing about agassi, for he gave SO much to the game and so much off the court. His tennis foundation for at-the-risk children in Las Vegas shows his philanthropic side too.

In short, i can keep writing my memories i have related to Agassi (obviously, almost all of them are from sampras/agassi matches) and i think i ll take this moment to bow and salute the last of Great American champion for serving up a brilliant career. All the best for future !

2006-09-03T23:02:00.000+05:00

LiveScore is being terribly unpredictable.

Marat Safin is one of those few people who can lose a match being two sets up and in a good place.

Agassi is one of those people who will win in the fifth see, if he gets into it.

We need two miracles right now.

Marat, marat, please...

2006-09-01T12:59:00.000+05:00

Perhaps one of the more enlightened posts on Nadal i've read in ages. Bodo nails the head on this one!

2006-08-30T22:08:00.000+05:00

He's backkkkkkk!!!!!!

So all the blasphemous emails i sent to ATP worked some how! :P

Dmitry Tusonov, folks, is from now on, a regular blogger on the ATP circuit! Praise the baby jesus!!!!

Despite the late start (it's Day 3 of the Open already) - lets shift over to some highly important tennis news:

- Marat Safin was involved in a car accident. I know, i know, when i read about it in the newspaper you will not imagine the terror - but the writer quickly mentioned that it was a minor accident, and he'd be playing in a tennis match the next day. So after quickly logging on to a few haunts: yes, Marat was involved in a car crash, the car's front was destroyed and our russian was saved by the miracle of the air-bag . Apparently a lady driver had crashed into Safin's car headlong. Yeah.. he kinda has that effect on women :)

- Nadal failed to defend his Cincinnati title, losing to a resurgent Juan Carlos Ferrero (YAYY! for Juanqui!) - whose been the talk of the town along with Andy Roddick (bleh).

- Agassi's and Navitilova's last US Open! Agassi will retire after this tournament. I'm sure you've all heard aplenty about that though.

- Day 2 was crammed with rainclouds and on-and-off-again play and Agassi repeats (bleh... am getting tired of the re-plays, frankly..)

More action, as it comes. God has blessed us with four sports channels here, and all of them are showing cricket at the moment, which has SEVERLY PISSED ME OFF and has made me resort to livescore. All dark moments, somewhere, always seem to involve a cricket bat for me...

UPDATE: AND YES! MARAT WINS HIS FIRST MATCH AGAINST ROBIN VIK =D one at a time, my man - one at a time :)

2006-08-17T01:11:00.001+05:00

Maybe it's just fatigue really. He played a horrible week last week, Roggie - tested and shaken against Tursunov, Gasquet. But thats what our Roger does - not play his day at times and STILL win. Oh, to anyone, anyone but Murray...

So hence ends the winning reign in the United States for Roger. He last lost in the US two years ago, exactly around this time (Cincy Open, 1st round, Hrbaty). Incindentally that was the fortnight he had won Toronto and played Cincy. Last year, Roggie did mot play Montreal (the Canadian Masters shifts home between Toronto and montreal, every year).

Yeah.. maybe he was just... i don't know... tired...

2006-08-17T01:10:00.000+05:00

1 minute and 13 seconds ago Roger Federer lost to Andy Murray in his second round Cincinnati Masters Open.

Oh. My. God.

rolling, rolling, rolling - keep your aces rolling, ree-kard!

2006-08-13T19:02:00.000+05:00

Guess who just watched Richard Gasquet deliver the most delightful win over that overbearing, overhyped, snoty-nosed irratating Andrew Murray! GOSH, it's good to see Reekard back in action, dancing those toes away all over the court, driving them balls at impeccable angles, swooshing his follow-through and decidedly meeting it in the other hand - it's so GOOD to see the kid's finally found himself. Gasquet, being one of the three promising untouched fruits of 2005 (apart from Monfils and That Spanish Kid, Whats His Name), and unfortunately being the least of the trio to live up to the drill (Monfils might have taken a while to find his place, but let's not forget his wonderful clay and hardcourt run that FINALLY saw him break through last year, after some, shall we say, dissapointing starts).

But shove all that in a Penn can, Gasquet has found his rhythm: his backhand is his heavy artillery, and his footwork is his shield - the kid is pure shot-making class (and is great to watch on on-days like the Toronto Semi). The serve, as awkard and painful as it looks, is magum opus. The nose goes tartar red and the cheeks stay drained - he doesn't grunt like an Andreev - he rarely smiles at a sweet shot (except when it's really, REALLY sweet), and you prolly won't hear many words from him during a match - and my, he's so pretty! GO REEKARD!

Just too bad he plays You Know Who in the final.

Aww, it's just ALWAYS fun to see Murray lose :D

The Original One - Pistol Pete

2006-08-09T20:28:00.000+05:00

You know guys ... I love Federer. i mean, 'LOVE' him. I think he is going to be the greatest tennis player ever. most elegant, most graceful, most awe-inspiring, and alot of other MOSTs ... but there is a thing called loyalty, attachment, and as much as i crave to watch roger producing his sublime wizardry on court, for me ... there is only one champion. Pete Sampras. All Hail the King, the original one.

Sampras never dominated the tour as consistently as Roger is doing, and frankly, roger's overall game is 'SLIGHTLY' better than sampras; although i am out to argue that sampras's forehand was something divine. as was his over head , trademark slam dunk smash. and his serve and volley. see .. i started it off and now i am all singing how sampras was the original magician, the original mid court - mid match shot inventor, the mantle roger has taken with such effortless ease and aplomb.

Kher, i can go on and on about this, the reason i am posting is that Sampras decided this year that he will make a comeback - of sorts. Not professional, hard grind of ATP, but one exhibtion here, other there , playing in World Team Tennis tournament and such. Last night he played an exhibition to open up the women's JP Morgan Chase tennis open by playing against his long time rival and friend, Jim Courier and what a pasting it was for courier ! 6-1, 6-4 !! I stumbled upon this article in cnnsi. Have fun and all of those old schoolers, 3 cheers to pistol Pete ... Irreplaceable champion, i tell you.

Guess whose back !

2006-08-05T15:40:00.000+05:00

Yes people, guess whose back ! forget bono-fan, forget plath, that is all trivial - yes folks .. its the mericural russian both me and plath are crazy about! he is back and with some venegence! just check out his scores at the legg mason classic with Safin holding onto this rather volatile temperment and coming out with 4 tie breakers in 2 matches and waiting to play arnaud clement who defeated hewitt for the first time in their career.

Safin is going great guns and let us ALL pray for the sake of good in world of tennis , let the rivalry at the top becomes a 3 road affair rather than what we have. I like nadal, i really like the kid, but he pales in comparison to My marat ! go baby GO !!!

2006-07-10T23:48:00.000+05:00

It's been quite slow here, yes, but i guess there's just too much going on right now, and let's leave it to that. But onwards we go - the US Open Series begins, and there's nothing like seeing the hood ole' hardcourts again!

(Marat, maybe this time, eh?...)

2006-07-02T03:42:00.000+05:00

Day 6: Andy Beats Andy
A. Roddick Interview - Day 6 - Saturday, 1 July, 2006

Q. Bit disappointing for you unfortunately.
ANDY RODDICK: Is that a statement or a question?
Q. It's a question.
ANDY RODDICK: Yes, it was. It was very disappointing.
Q. It was almost like San Jose in some ways, even though it was grass, with a lot of how he was constructing points.
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, you're comparing a slow indoor court to a grass court. That's interesting.
Q. Point construction was...
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, no, I agree with you. Uhm, you know, there's not much more I could ask for than, you know, positional advantage. You know, 70% of the points today, you know, it's tough when I feel like I'm, you know, inside the court, hitting an aggressive forehand deep to a corner and getting beat consistently from six to eight feet behind the baseline. It's pretty frustrating. It was to the point where I'm literally asking myself if a ball is three feet in front of the service line do I put it in and go back. I mean, you're laughing, but that's honestly the thought crossed my mind, you know. So, yeah, it's disappointing, but I played a lot better today than I did in San Jose, and I think he did, too.
Q. He doesn't look like he's the fastest guy out there, but his movement is pretty extraordinary, too.
ANDY RODDICK: His movement's good, but he's great at hitting on the move. You know, picking a ball up an inch off the ground, he can still find something to do with it without going for broke. You know, there are guys who are faster, but there are also guys who are faster and freak out once they're on the run and try to do something kamikaze.Similar to I'm not sure who to compare him to but he's a very deceiving mover. He hits really well on the run.
Q. What would you be most disappointed about in your game today?
ANDY RODDICK: In my game today? Uhm, you know, I volleyed terribly, which is disappointing because I've been doing it real well. I mean, it's just really frustrating. You know, that probably lost me the first set alone. You know, and then that's a different ballgame. I can't say I didn't make him play on breakpoints. You know, credit to him, he stepped up and pretty much went for broke on some forehands in the first set, when he really hadn't made one to that point. So, uhm, you know, I returned better than I did the first day. But, you know, there's just that intangible quality right now, you know, that edge that's not there. That's what I'm searching for. But, you know, just got to try to have some faith.
Q. You've gone to the hard court season with a lift from here before. Obviously, this is going to be a different story going into it this time, I guess. Are your spirits dampened going into it? Are you able to put this behind you now? Obviously, we're coming off the court.
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, you're asking me a half hour coming off the court. Are my spirits dampened? Hell, yeah, they're dampened. I just lost third round of Wimbledon after making it to the semis, final, final the last three years. So, yes, I'm very disappointed. I'm not happy. I'm mad. Disappointed, whatever other adjectives you want to throw out there. I'm not that smart, so you think of them. You know, but it's too early to tell, you know. I'm sure, you know, right now I'm not thinking about it, to be honest. But, you know, we'll see. It's not like me to lay down. So, you know, I'll just keep on trying to truck along. That's what I've been trying to do this year. Just kind of have to have faith that something good is going to happen sometime.
Q. Are you surprised at how well he handled that occasion, Centre Court?
ANDY RODDICK: Not really. He's been out there a bunch. You know, probably, what, his fifth or sixth match out there. So it's not anything new for him. Uhm, I don't know if he had a lot to lose, you know. The way I see it, it was pretty much all gravy for him.
Q. How far do you think he can go then?
ANDY RODDICK: I don't know. I think he has a shot in his next match. I think Lleyton would be tough. But he beat him before, so who knows.
Q. Do you miss that feeling of having nothing to lose and just having this great upside to when you walk on a court?
ANDY RODDICK: Dude, I have nothing to lose. What do I have to lose, besides just disappointing myself? I really don't have much to lose, you know.
Q. Seems to ride very heavy on your shoulders.
ANDY RODDICK: Sorry?
Q. Seems to ride heavy on your shoulders?
ANDY RODDICK: What seems to ride heavy on my shoulders?
Q. The fact that you're not doing well.
ANDY RODDICK: Early in the match? You saw that?
Q. Hmm. Did you feel that?
ANDY RODDICK: You're the best reporter I've ever seen. No, no, I don't feel that. I'm out there trying to win a tennis match. If anything, I didn't get pissed off out there until later on, you know. I thought I was pretty composed through the first set. I didn't really go nuts when I lost it. I tried to bounce back. I fought till the end. If you ask me is it frustrating not playing at your best, then yes, it is. It's very frustrating. But, uhm, you know, I'm just disappointed, you know, that I couldn't go further.
Q. The other day you said that you and John talked about trying to err on the side of aggression. What was your mindset coming into today? Same thing?
ANDY RODDICK: The same thing. I mean, I was consistently, like I said, in the points with the best court position. You know, it's tough 'cause three hard forehands to three corners in a row used to work. Now it sits up and you get passed from six feet behind the baseline. You know, I mean, that's what I asked when I came in. I said, is that not the right play, you know, for me? You know, we were both, you know, a little irritated.
Q. Why is it sitting up, you think?
ANDY RODDICK: I don't know. Your guess is as good as mine.
Q. Feels different than last year, too?
ANDY RODDICK: I don't know. I think it's a gradual process. I think if you did your due diligence and asked some players that have been around for a while, I think the sentiment would ring true. I don't think I'm just sucking it out of my thumb.
Q. In Paris when the Americans don't reach the second week, it's not the biggest shock to anyone. But to have you, Andre and Venus all go out at Wimbledon on one day is pretty surprising. Just your thoughts on that?
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, it sucks, you know. Pretty much gotten used to that press conference where you're asking me how much we suck on clay in Paris every year. You know, I say yadda, yadda, yadda, think of a new story. But, you know, obviously, I think it is a lot more surprising/disappointing when it is here, a place that we've all had a lot of success. It is surprising. I'm going to have to probably agree with your thoughts on that one.
Q. Are the court conditions here different to those at Queen's?
ANDY RODDICK: I don't know. Uhm... possibly. But, you know, it's the same for everybody, so...
Q. When you walk through the door here, do you now get the feeling that the odds are against you rather than perhaps two or three years ago the odds were more in your favor?
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, I mean, the last thing I want to do is make a whole big stink. That's not me. But if you ask me a question, I'm going to give you an honest answer. I feel like you're having to work a lot harder to win points on a grass tennis court.
Q. Where do you look to try and get the edge back?
ANDY RODDICK: Sorry?
Q. You said you're missing that edge.
ANDY RODDICK: Probably under my dresser, you know. I don't know. What kind of question is that (smiling)? I don't know. I wish I had a better answer for you 40 minutes off the court, but, you know, we'll see.

2006-06-29T03:01:00.000+05:00

Q. The fact that you cut your hair, does it give you more strength?

MARAT SAFIN: I'm faster (smiling).

2006-06-29T02:04:00.000+05:00

Day Three: Kiss My Ace

With bonofan on decided withdrawal symptoms, it seems I'm the only hand manning the deck right now. A few friendly hints have no effect on him. Am most scorned.

Oh but what a day at wimbleville! Results, you can all check out here, what i really want to talk about today is the fashion.

Some fifty or odd years ago men were still carousing 3-inch shorts with their dandy wood rackets, and air-hair like Agassi's was considered "quite the something". Women wore frumpy old excuses of bags (er, apologies to any readers who still do), and, as much as I love her, even Steffi Graff must regret those horrendous oversized shirts she wore back in her "the day".

Three days into wimbledon, and you could almost feel a visible change in the course of the tides - and mind you, we're not complaining - we like the new Nike air-vented range and the smug splash of color that attempts to defy the wimbledon code of all white, bring it on, we say.

And here are our models for the day:

Here we have Janko Tipsaravic, a tennis player i've been following for quite a while now, and am most dismayed to see him fall out in the earlier rounds of the grandslams to higher ranked players by the smallest of margins, being the best junior in the world at one time. Now the thing i love about Tipsy here is one glance, and you can feel the old matrons in wimbledon choking on their tea: Tipsy is covered in tats (tattoos for the older lot of you)! His underarms, biceps, etc. (basically everything, when you notice during a shirt change) is dotted with tattoo. I was trying to decipher the arm-code of his today, while he smaashed in a set to Roddick, but i'm guessing it's Serbian. And how about those piercings on the face, eh? He Got Jazz.

Bethanie Mattek from the U.S. looked like she gave quite a few gasps to the All-England Board herself: in knee-high football socks and micro-shorts, you could pretty much guess the FIFA theme. Plus those HUGE earrings (not very comfortable to play with, i assume) and a bandana atop! She started with amazing energy in her match against Williams, but unfortunately couldn't keep it throughout the duration of the match. Full marks on the dress though.

such... a.. pretty... so.. much... pretty...

AHEM. Sorry, how'd he get here...

Kirilenko! Hers has to be the most talked about dress this wimbledon: A Stella McCartney design that shows it in the details. Loved, loved it. The double-strapped top down to the layered skort - Heck, kirilenko is rather giving Sharapova a run for her money: do try to get a glimpse of kirilenko's australian open outfit this year, and you'll see that fashion is something that tends to take priority of comfort in the case of the young russian. Too bad we didn't get to see much of this dress though, Kirilenko was outsed in the first round.

Venus Williams, with what seems like beads or glitter glue or just something sparkly on her shoulder. Flower power.

Switching back and forth from Tipsy being tipped over in the third to Nalbandian versus Clement, i thought i noticed something different about clement today - and BAM - he was wearing sunglasses!!??! In a tennis match!??! Whaaa!??!

I sat through a whole set just watching those sunglasses stay on, and ocassional pop off to give the eyes some breathing space, i assume, and then being diligently popped on. So maybe he had, i don't know, an eye infection, a sudden increased sensitivity towards the sun, a new sponsor? Wimbledon News gladly writes how it was, indeed, just a fashion thing, er along with the frequent changes of the bandana from white to red to orange. Yep. All very hip. AND he has a tat on his lower back! AND has grown a goatee (though those are pretty much out of style now). AND he's out in the first round :P

I didn't like sharapova's outfit, for a change. Yes, the australian open "nightie" took a little getting used to, but it grew on us all - but this wimbledon outfit, could have.. been... better? I'm sorry, but do those two cuts in the front of the dress irritate you as much as they do me? And am definitely not "with" the new hairstyle. We still love you, maria.

pretty.... so... much.... pretty....

AHEM.

We must call it a day. Tommorrow's matches include Safin versus Gonzalez (not again!), so please take a minute or two and just, oh i dunno, mutter a little something for the russian. We are much obliged.

2006-06-28T03:16:00.000+05:00

Day Two: Bring The Pirates Back!

Ofcourse, as predicted, when two days worth of first round matches (in a grand slam of all places!) are squeezed into one, it means missing alot of the action. And i'm most insulted that Nadal versus Bogdanovic got a warm-up coverage while all we got to see of Safin versus Rusedki was the match point. Just a few jottings:

Justine Henin-Hardenne ripped through her first round. So the rumors speak true: we do have a serious Wimbledon contender on our hand. Meng Yuan hadn't a chance, but it's great to see Chinese women emerging so.
Federer, federer, federer. How do you do it. He breezed by a shaky Richard Gasquet, who looked like a tough contender on paper, but the poor kid is just having a rough year. One wonders whatever happened to the young frenchmen (who apart from Nadal and Monfils, were supposed to set the tennis world on fire circa 2005) to see his ranking plummet to where it is right now. All french eyes are on Monfils, but just you wait, Gasquet will most definitely prove his sorts in a couple of years. On the other hand, Federer played magistically! A bit too magistically, one might add, causing fears of 'peaking' too early in the tournament and running out of gas in the later stages. Or something.
Andre! The old dog gave us a scare in the first set, losing 2-6 to a certain Mr. Pahanski (whom i have never heard of before, hmpff), but thank God he didn't pull a pete and have to lose in the first round as a retirement gift. No worries, it was just a lack of match play that rusted the edges a bit. Too bad he has that Swiss dude for the fourth round, though.
Henman had a five-setter against the very talented Soderling. Still, throughout the match, you just knew Henman had it bagged. He just likes to give himself a hard time with all them five-setters. I'd love to see him go far this year (with that brilliant result in Stella Artois this year!) but dang, he's playing that Swiss in the second.
Is it just me or do these new shorts on Nadal just seem two sizes too big? God, we've grown up watching them pirates whizz through the court. Bring The Pirates Back! No Baggy Rags Please. And did anyone spot our *special* friend in the player box? ;)
Mathieu lost to the volatile Philoppoussis in four sets. So that's four frenchmen down today: Mathieu, Gasquet, Serra and, yes, Monfils. (well, atleast they beat Spain today.. *sniff*)
MARAT SAFIN IS THROUGH! WOHOO! Straight Sets, Baby! I know, i know, i know, he might be out in the next round, knowing him but - can a girl not dream! =D Also, Juanqui has beaten fellow spaniard Fernando Vicente to make it through to the second round! Jubilation, i tell you!
It's sad to see Scrichaphan lose in the first round, for the fourth time in a row.

Tommorrow's Matches to look out for:
David Nalbandian (ARG)[4] vs Arnaud Clement (FRA)

Viktoria Kutuzova (UKR) vs Kim Clijsters (BEL)[2]

Roger Federer (SUI)[1] vs Tim Henman (GBR)

Tommy Robredo (ESP)[11] vs Novak Djokovic (SCG)

Fabrice Santoro (FRA) vs Tomas Berdych (CZE)[13]

Ivan Ljubicic (CRO)[5] vs Feliciano Lopez (ESP)

Mark Philippoussis (AUS) vs Max Mirnyi (BLR)

We leave you with peace, love and Puyol (keep him.)

2006-06-27T01:08:00.000+05:00

Day One: Bloody Hell, Its Raining! It Must Be Wimbledon!

Yes, yes, rain rain and not barely 40 minute sof play. Which means all the matches get squezzed for tommorrow. Which means one can not multitask to watch all at the same time. HMPFF.

The Bryans brothers are blogging this week. I don't know about you kids, but i prefer me my european bloggers. ahem.

note: keep a lookout for the Nadal player box - we might spot a new friend ;)

2006-06-25T02:06:00.000+05:00

You MUST check this out! Gott bless them europeans!

Federer and Sharapova

2006-06-25T00:11:00.000+05:00

Ahh! Beautiful people of the world (yes, all three of you who read us), we come laden with FIFA paraphernalia, sleeplessness and wimbledon reports. Ofcourse, the worldcup is here, and our priorities had temporarily shifted from all them Stella Artois’, Ordinas, ‘s-ertogenbosches any other greek mythology based tennis tourneys, to questions such as how many tries before Micheal Ballack finally slams one in.

Ahem. But I am back, and it’s early morning (which is actually late, late night) and the draws are a day old and wimbledon only a day away (yay yay!).

See, this is why I love the french open so much. Two weeks of clay bliss, wait another two more and BAM, another grandslam. Wimblebon might not be the most favorite (it comes second on my list) but we certainly get full blow-by-blow coverage, infact, more then any other slam in the calendar, on this side of the planet. Thank you, Sania Mirza. (though we haven’t quite forgiven you for those audacious sprite ads just yet)

Right, back to business, the serious stuff:

- Marat Safin is single. Again. I think he wants to ahem, beat a certain record Nastase set, ahem, in his prime AHEM.
- Agassi has announced he will be retiring after this year’s US Open. I’ve been perpetually sad ever since I’ve read that news, though I knew it going to be his last year on tour, but still… I was hoping something’d change his mind, you know… but the way Federer and Nadal are dominating the game in turns at the moment, I guess king agassi see it best to retreat quietly
- Federer Saab has a tough, TOUGH, tough draw. Richard Gaquet in the first round. Most probably Henmen in the second. If there was ever any pressure on him, it’s now. He’s coming out of a Roland Garros final he shouldn’t have lost but did anyway without seeming to ‘mind’ much. And he nearly gave us that Ollie Rochus scare in Halle. While Henman and Hewitta dn Ancic grow in confidence. (include nadal too, splendid job in Stella Artois!)
- Speaking of Nadal, he might have a sore foot.
- And I think I read somewhere that Fed might be injured too (someone’ll have to check that)
- Sigh, safin plays rusedski of all people in his first rounder.
- Well, atleast he’s gotten rid of that obnoxiously bun!
- Watch out for: Ancic.
- A safin fan was saying somewhere, that even if marat loses early in wimby, it won’t matter much because he’s got no more points to defend (he was ranked 83 last time I checked. And this is precisely around the time he fell to injury. I remember the in-form match he played was 3rd round, wimby, against Feliciano “Whose A Pretty Boy? I Am! I Am!” Lopez.
- And ofcourse, you’ve prolly heard of the sportscenter ads Roggie recently did. Oh how we love him: Click here and here.

Right. That's it for the night, er morning. See you on Day One!

SO Close, yet so far !

2006-06-20T13:31:00.000+05:00

After a long delay, my tennis update is here and it is a rather sad one. Though, i ll start with the good ones. Roger Federer tied the record for consecutive victories on grass, 41. He is now tied with Bjorn Borg when the swede went on to win 5 straight wimbledon titles from 1976-80. Rog won against Tommy Berdych at Halle 'Gary Webber Open' and fine tuned his game for grass.

On the other hand, the more famous Stella Artois 'Queen's tournament provided another regular winner, Hewitt who won firsttime in 18 months by beating James Blake. If anybody notices it, its very surprising for some reason that Queen's tournament always gave regular winners, roddick was on a 4 time spree, hewitt managed it 3 straight, and things like that.

Now onto the sad news, only got to find out yesterday but there is another grass tournament taking place, ORDINA OPEN and Mario Ancic, baby croat with a HUGE serve was playingfirst round match against a qualifier from Pakistan , Aisam ul Haq qureshi !!! By the scoreline, it must have been some phenomenal match ! 7-6 6-7 7-5 for ancic and he barely survived. Aisam sahab has always been a phenomenal player on grass and it was just plain bad luck he had to put up with mario. I hope he manages to appear for wimbledon by qualifiying.

Note from plath: apparently, aisam ul haq will only respond to the name aisam qureshi now :P and lets not forget how nadal made it to the semi's of Stella Artois, being one set all to Hewitt, and having to pull out due to injury (of which, latest news says, he has fully recovered)

AND interestingly enough, i've been checking if Aisam has qualified for Wimby. Second day of qualification and still no news of him playing qualies.

2006-06-12T15:39:00.000+05:00

2006-06-10T12:51:00.000+05:00

Sourpuss

Day 13 - An interview with Ivan LjubicicFriday, June 9, 2006

Q. Was there anything that you were unhappy about with Rafael's play today? You looked a little bit unhappy with things at the end of the match.
IVAN LJUBICIC: Oh, no. I was just disappointed that I lost the match.
Q. You weren't worried about the amount of time he was taking between points?
IVAN LJUBICIC: That's not my issue. That's umpire's problem. I am surprised how much they let him do it, because, you know, they give him one time violation, but didn't seem like change something. I think the umpire should be more aggressive on that because it's ridiculous how much time he takes between points.
Q. He was only warned once.
IVAN LJUBICIC: My feeling is that the umpire does it just that he can say he did it and then, you know, nothing anymore, because it's not like something change after that. He just kept doing what he was doing.

Baby Bull
Day 13 - Interview with R.NadalFriday, June 9, 2006

Q. Obviously, Ljubicic is not a big fan of you because he said he would love that Federer beat you on Sunday.
RAFAEL NADAL: Okay. Is okay. I don't have any problem.

Q. Ljubicic said that it's ridiculous the amount of time you take in between points and that the umpire only warned you once because he had to do something. But then he let you do that, and he would love Federer to win and that everybody wants Federer to win.
RAFAEL NADAL: Is that what he said, that everybody wants Federer to win? Well, great. Great. That's not a problem, you know. Everybody is free to say whatever they want. They'll make friends in the course.
No, I know that everybody does not want Federer to win. I know that. You've got to learn to control yourself when you lose a match, not after you lose a match you can just go about saying anything. I get on well with Ljubicic. I don't want to lose that good relationship with him. I don't think that will be the case.
Now I think that we'll have to put pressure on the umpires so that he puts pressure on me if there's a problem with time. The umpire maybe didn't manage the situation properly, because I was going much faster than the other days. Carlos Costa said, "C'mon, Rafa," when his coach was also calling.
I don't know, you know. Each person does what they want. I realize that there are a lot of people who want me to win, and I'm very relaxed and I'm playing well. I've been on the circuit for many years, probably more than him, and I've never had any problems with anybody. I've always behaved properly. So I'll go on behaving the way I behave, and I'm very happy the way I relate to other people. I also get on very well with all the umpires, so maybe, I don't know, he just had something against me this one.
I'm just relaxed, just as relaxed as I've always been. That sort of statement doesn't really affect me. I have never spoken badly about him. I thought he was a nice guy, and so all I'm saying is that, you know, when you lose, you've got to control yourself and not just go on to say anything. That's what I try to do when I lose, you know, just keep under control.

Q. Do you still play with your PlayStation? I've seen this is something that you do.
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, I play from time to time, you know. When I've got a bit of free time in my hotel room, I play, yeah, my PlayStation.
I can see that some players drop out, so you've got to end up playing on your own. It's a bit complicated.

Q. If you don't have rivals to play PlayStation with, maybe you can ask Federer to play with you?
RAFAEL NADAL: I don't know whether I will go that far (smiling).
But, nah, I don't think so. I don't think he can beat me in the PlayStation. I don't think he trains enough for that.

:P

2006-06-09T23:26:00.000+05:00

Day 13: Clash of the Titans

Well, we waited patiently for thirteen days, and it's finally come true: a dream lineup of nadal and federer in the french open final!

I haven't been this torn since my first day of cable: I really want rafael to win, because, well, i adore the guy to death basically - yet I want roger to win because I want him to complete his grand slam (that's winning four grand slams in a row, which only two other men in history have done).

Plus, I think federer deserves it in some surreal way - hes not run away from clay like sampras did - he fought his brick-red demons face on: he's played all the right tourneys, has put in all the right practice hours and has shown all the resilience that makes him 3000+ points ahead of the nearest competitor.

And Rafa's not had a great week - these past few matches he's not played like the Oh-Yeah-Baby-This-Thing-Is-What-I-Was-Waiting-For tennis we've gotten used to - it's as if these past few days he's played to "not lose" instead of "to win". He's been more vulnerable then I can ever remember and that scares me!

An important factoid: both of them have played three times this year, with the Spaniard coming out the better all three times. Roger just has a huge mental hurdle overcoming Nadal. In my opinion, the recent Rome Masters final, one of nadal's best performance ever, pretty much showed that federer's just that tiny bit hesitant when it comes to nadal. And mind you, ONLY nadal. The rest of tennis players of the world, he can handle. The thing is, if federer doesn't win this time either - big occasion, the one grand slam he has never won before, the grand slam he needs to complete all four in a row - I don't think he'll ever figure the kid out.

In the previous matchups - it was always federer who'd had to win these thing - you had the feeling it was all up to him. This time, I think it's all up to Nadal.

notes from today's semis:

- nalbandian is an idiot. and he pulled a hennin. Hah. and only shortly after he stated in a recent conference that even if he was 5-0 down in one of the most mportant grand slams of the calander - no amout of pain would shoo him off the court. ofcourse, the journos kindly reminded him of his quote :P

- ljubibitch, ahem, opps, i meant ljubicic played his match in the most mean-spirit I have ever seen. Whining to the chair umpire that nadal was taking too long between point and the umpire should tell him off (even though the umpire saw nadal playing within the rules (except that one time violation warning, meh)) - most prolly a tactic to distract the kid. But then ivan goes complaining of converation between toni nadal and rafa! even though the only conversation we saw on tv was both of them muttering 'vamos' to each other in turns (which is always quite funny, really). but the last straw was when he nearly didn't shake hands with the kid! he walked directly to the umpire, shook hands and was about to walk to his bench, with the kid (a little taken aback that he hadn't met him at the net), rushed up to ljubibitch, ahem, sorry again, and forced a semi-shake out of him. That tells you alot about someone.

vaidisova, we wanna get to know ya'!

2006-06-09T02:19:00.000+05:00

Women's Semifinals

We'll keep this short and simple, since it's getting pretty late.

I don't know whether to be happy for Vaidisova, or just terribly angry. You get into the semfinals of a grandslam for the first time, at just 17, and you lose a match your never supposed to, being just four points away from the finish line.

Vaidy's serve is about as good as it gets, very similar to Sharapova on most ways: power game, good serve (Vaidy's technique is much better), a powerful forehand that will work wonders when the day is right, and a highly marketable face.

But Vaidisove did what Sharapova did not do at 17: choke near the end. I was reather pining over Vaidy winning Roland Garros this time around, no really, i was. And the way she was playing Kuzne in the first half of the match, you kinda though, hey, wow, maybe we have something here - but, alas, just our luck. She lost her first serve at the wrong time, and rushed the points at the wrong time - and the player we had seen beat Mauresmo, despite losing the first set, and beating Venus, who demolished her in the second set (and you'd think she'd carry the momentum with her in the third) - loses to good ole Svetlana Still Surviving Kuznetsova, who barely made a mark circa 2005.

Anyway.

Justine cruised by a Kim, who seemed to want to contribute to Justine's cause. A more lackluster performance, there was none. Baah. Someone shake Kim by the neck and ask her to concentrate and bring the killer instinct back on board. This Oh-I-Don't-Care-Much-No-Really attitude will always leave her one step away from the Slams she SHOULD be winning.

Right. the boys play tommorrow. Federer versus Nalbandian up first: In Federer We Trust, as the saying goes - but this might be a five-setter - if there's any guy who can beat Federer, and he's not wearing clam-diggers or if his first name isn't Marat - it has to be this guy.

Nadal versus Ivan up second. Not much difficulty for our Baby Bull there.

I can feel a Nadal-Federer final!! =)

Mathieu, eat my shoes!

2006-06-06T21:34:00.000+05:00

It's the third set, and 15-15, with Rafael Nadal serving. He suddenly stops playing and walks up to his bench and signals for the trainer to come on. So at this point you go, "Oh crap, an injury!" and you worry a bit. The commentator's are hypothesizing ankle pains, knee joints, back aches, et al.

And what do you know, he's got a banana stuck in his throat! No seriously!! He ate it in such a hurry in the changeover, that it went down the wrong way - so now the poor kid's ashamed since he has two highly qualified tournament doctors diagnosing his injury :P

Ofcourse, the french crowd started jeering and the commentator's said he did it on purpose to slow the tempo of the match (yeah, sure, since he was winning anyway..) - but all of those who've known the kid longer for three weeks know he doesn't play you like that.

So, in the conference room, this is how they start:

Q. A banana stuck in your throat?
RAFAEL NADAL: (Nodding head.)

Q. How many bananas have you eaten in your life?
RAFAEL NADAL: A billion. Is the most easy question.

Q. What happened?
RAFAEL NADAL: I take a little bit banana like this. I feel slip in the mouth and stay here (pointing to his neck).

Q. You peeled it first?
RAFAEL NADAL: (Untranslated answer in Spanish.)

I wonder why they didn't translate him :P

Note: and thank you insiya, for watching :)

2006-06-03T11:11:00.000+05:00

Day 5: The heavens a'restin'

Like bono-fan has most graciously recapitulated, the previous two-three days have been the most atrocious weather at RG. Most of the tennis players have been complaining of the breeze that tends to sweep away the clay from the court and leave behind a harder concreter surface where it's harder to slide, while in other cases rain has cancelled so many matches. Nadal and Clisters played today and must do the same tomorrow, since both their matches were delayed by a day.

So some of the results for the day:

- Gaudio beat Juanqi in a three-setter - the scoreline tells of a close battle, 7-5 7-5 7-6(7), but ofcourse it has summed up ferrero's career this past year, now, hasn't it? Even since being out from the tour with chickenpox a couple of years ago, juanqi's never really come back. and since federer and nadal have dominated the game in the way they have, it's sad that ferrero's going down without much of a fight. I still ADORE the guy. wimbledon, here we come?

- Elena "Serve? Huh?" Dementieva beat kutuzova. what kind of friggin name is that, kutuzova, you ask? mind you - this 17-year old Ukrainian has got GAME. give her a year on the tour, a chance to grow stronger physically and mentally, and a maturity in her shot selection, and we'll have another sharapova on hand. gosh, she even looks like sharapova (and grunts like her too). bonofan, ofcourse, is most delighted with this :P

- Nadal annihilates the inconspicuous kevin kim the rather harmless american who looked as if swatting a fly might be asking too much of him. Nadal didn't play anywhere near his best, but come now, did he really need to? he got the job done, no? and a happy birthday to him for tommorrow! he turns 20 (thank you GOD) and takes on paul henri mathieu which will be the match of the day!

- Davydenko beats Moya. ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.

- Martina Hingis, beat Zuzana Ondraskova without breaking into a sweat. Hingis is in optimal form out there and all of us can't wait for the potential v. williams-hingis quarterfinal in the making. Venus, also, playing magnificently. overpowering sprem in a quick 2-setter.

- Wow! so the american men DO know how to play on clay! James Blake, hero of all heros, outs that nasty Almagro 6-7(5) 6-2 6-4 6-4. Nothing gives me more pleasure then seeing almagro go down. And yes, almagro is the same person who actually had a laugh with his box, during a Valencia semi, when marat rolled his ankle and was reeling in pain. Marat did not shake his hand at the end of the match.

- Robredo, Ferrer and Dinara going strong!! The three dark horses of the tourny so far.

- Kiefer retires to Berdych. Muahaha.

Tommorrow's cast: Hantuchova (abid's eyecandy :P), Nadal vs mathieu, blake versus monfils, Clijsters, Hewiit, Ljuby, and Hingis.

Sun, Atlast !

2006-06-03T01:37:00.000+05:00

Thankfully, there was some much needed sunshine at Roland Garros and normalcy resumed after couple of awfully gloomy days with 12 matches overnight which were to be finished. Most of favourites are marching along rather handsomely and the main contenders are showing that all of them are on fire and will be vying to run deep into 2nd week.

Roggie and Nadal yet again showed they are a class above others by racking up some impressive wins. Nadal was up against the penultimate american left in draw, lucky loser Kevin Kim who was smothered with much ease and ruthlessness which is now becoming hallmark of Nadal at clay, where he today notched his 55th victory.

On the other hand, Fed has had to play against a rather accomplished player, Massu from chile who is currently the Gold Medallist from Athens 2004 Olympics and has racked up most number of wins on clay this year, even more than the beast Nadal. First two set swere quite amazing, considering the way Rog was controlling thegame nad he absolutely rolled over the chilean but then late in 3rd set when he was serving to finish the match - a sudden spark in chilean lead him to a commendable fightback where he broke rog's service and eventually went on to win the tie break. Must be quite frustrating but later on Fed was back to his usual authorative self and finished off in 2 and a half hours. Good practice he got and hopefully will not be pushed by Thomas Berdych in next round, who btw, defeated him at Athens `04.

I am really not too interested in women's matches except for the fact that most of my eye candies are from tennis :p. today found one reasonably good one.. jelena jankovic who btw is not a bad player , unfortunately had to runinto a steaming mauresmo.

Anyhow , that was a little update about today's game .. hopefully tomorrow will throw up surprises !

Rain & Roggie at Roland Garros and Wimbledon 2001

2006-05-31T23:04:00.000+05:00

f_trophy0034
Originally uploaded by bono-fan.

Roggie Won, as usual. I ve been reading on few tennis sites and discussion forums that people find this boring. I ask WHY ? I ve heard same questions and such concerns back in 2005 when schumi won everything in F1 . Or when Aussies win in cricket. I dont know, but i think if you`re winning just about everything you particiapte in - its sign of greatness and above all, consistency than anything else. Whats bad in that ? Why cant people accept that ? I mean, if Godforbids, Rog fails to win French this will be like a stigma for the rest of his life , just like sampras. But no one will look at the fact that he has lost less than 10 matches in 3 years.

Anyhow, Mr. Falla was no match to king fed, and he won quite easily, albeit with few weather related interruptions and man, they are so bad. I mean, we the audience hate the break, what would go in mind of a player ? Sidrah mentioned Nadal writing a blog which btw is quite an interesting read and gives an insight into the mind of world's no.2 player who is gunning to get his 2nd slam .. its great to see him take time out to write a blog. So yeah, point was, i ll expect to read something from nadal regarding the same that what does players do when they are on a rain break.

This reminds me one of the most cherished tennis memories ever, related to rain break. Back in 2001 Wimbledon, Goran Ivanesivic was playing his last wimbledon. For the past decade the giant croat was doing his level best to somehow win the slam he cherished most, Wimbledon. He was denied most of the time by Pete Sampras, or at times by some other random players but he was always there deep in the 2nd week. But in 2001, sampras lost to a certain, 18yr old Roger Federer and right then tournament was thrown open. Tim Henman was carrying british hopes and everybody thought THIS is his time. Semi final time, henman faced Goran and it was all Henman, infact 3rd set mein he wiped goran with 6-0. Fourth set, goran down 2-4 and staring at the barrel ....... and then came the rain ! It rained continously and the smie had to bde delayed for next day. With weather forecasting sunny and bright day, Goran came back, all guns blazing and roared back into the match. Broke henman right back , snatched the tie breaker and went onto win the match and wimbledon later on, making it 4th time lucky for him. It was among one of the greatest wimbledon stories ever !!

2006-05-31T07:14:00.000+05:00

The kid is too friggin cute: he thinks a blog post a day is called 'making a new blog'. Shhh, no one him tell him otherwise! :) Plus, abid thinks no different at the rate he updates :P

"I will come back to you and let you know."

Oh too CUTE! You do that!

2006-05-31T00:33:00.000+05:00

Day Three: .....

God dang you, Gonzo.

2006-05-31T00:28:00.000+05:00

Rafa's next opponent is American Kevin Kim, a qualifying tournament (not so) lucky loser. Kim has never even met Rafa let alone played him. He may be a bit unsure of his chances since he is quoted as saying "My mum got his autograph today. So I guess I'm going down already."

- VamosRafael.com

2006-05-30T01:11:00.000+05:00

Day Two: Fifty-Four

History begins from fifty-four! Yep, folks, we’ve done it.

Rafael Nadal has broken the thirty year old record of most consecutive clay court wins today, by demolishing off a broken-spirited Robin Sterling, winning fifty four matches in a row.

The commentators defined Nadal today, as a “most annoying player”: He’ll run for every drop shot you throw at him (and he usually gets there and cross-courts a return to your very shock), he’ll pump himself up even when he’s three games down in a final set to the point where he’s transformed into an enthusiastic five-year old, he’s one of the most focused players on the tour today – not breaking his rhythm and always, always dictating the pace of the game (which is why he is able to unsettle Roger Federer so much, I think – he gives Roger too much time to think – and we all know what happens to Roger when he thinks too much), and most of all, he never, God Forbid, gives up, our Rafa. Most annoying, how he has a strong defensive game that means the points he loses are usually more fun to watch then the ones he wins, since he’s throwing himself all over that floor. Most, most annoying how he angles his shots at the most impossible corners of the court, and just when you’re smugly patting yourself on the back for a lovely winner. Heavily annoying, how friggin good the kid is.

And he still has room for improvement in his clay game!

Back to the record – no one thought it possible to break Vilas’ record, no one thought that in the current stench of competition with all your Gaudios, Corias, Ferreros or Moyas could there come any player who would not only be three paces ahead of the current competition, but actually lead to the downfall of all the mentioned, just because he didn’t let you win. That’s just what he did, Coria is a non-existential factor who might regain momentum if only his serve hadn’t completely left him this season, Ferrero, no matter how much I adore him, has lost all firepower and magic, while Moya with the occasional upset, is past his prime. Gaudio needs to fix more then just that obnoxious bun on his head to get back into gear – but your know what – it still doesn’t matter. The next couple of years sees Nadal dominating the clay game well ahead of his colleagues. Hey, you might even see him actually challenging Federer for number one then, too (right now he has too many thing to work on to be any sort of a disturbance to numero uno).

So it was fifty four today. How long will Nadal’s record go up till? Will his record be broken? Is it really only his second year on tour? Has he really tied history with the likes of Borg, Vilas etc.? Is the kid REALLY nineteen?

2006-05-29T02:17:00.000+05:00

it has arrive-eth!

2006-05-29T01:22:00.000+05:00

Day 1: Just Getting Started

Ahh, the sight of the lascivious brick-red Parisian clay- nothing tops the start of your favorite grandslam event of the year. Another calm day in tennis-haven - no upsets, everything went well on paper and best of all Tommy Robredo is on fire!

Last year, this time around, me and a certain bono-fan were plotting death-threats to the young Spaniard, who had deminished our hopes of seeing Marat Safin clinch the cup (though I'm pretty sure Nadal would have stopped him any way). After 11 months and 2 weeks of extreme hate, we put last years match behind us and embraced the growing phenomenon that is senor Robredo. Maybe it was the ATP blog, or maybe just the heart-tugging way he breezed his path through to the Hamburg silverware- whichever, ladies and gentlemen, Tommy Robredo has landed. And the current form he's in, it seems like an easy ticket to week 2. Not only did he annihilate Zib to Zilch today, he did it without breaking into a sweat. Definitely the most effortless win of the day, easily getting 6-4, 6-2, 6-2.

Federer started rough, being 0-3 done the first set to lucky loser Diego Hartfield - and though it could be argued that Hartfield was hitting all his worth, having no expectations from the match, hence no tensing his hit sin the least - we tend to ignore the fact it could have gone the other way: big occasion, the world's, perhaps history's, best player staring down at you and playing your first ever grandslam match, and that on center court. Though, I must admit, at no point in the match did I ever believe Roger was in any trouble, the scoreline was a hefty 7-5 7-6(2) 6-2. Good job to Hartfield (but what is with all these hair-buns in the men's tour!? I want to sue!)

Sharapova, sans obsessive family member, seemed rather uncomfortable on court, breezing through the first set, but losing momentum in the second, and having to gruel it out to the third to Mashona Washington. She's still up to her mind games, I see, calling injury timeouts at crucial moments - but we won't be as unfair enough to associate her success today to a measly restrapping. No we'll give it to her, she won it on her own. Can't say I'm cahoots about the ballerina outfit, though.

tomorrow's matches of note:
Sebastian Grosjean (FRA)[21] vs. Andrei Pavel (ROM)
Robin Soderling (SWE) vs. Rafael Nadal (ESP)[2]
Venus Williams (USA)[11] vs. Sybille Bammer (AUT)
Michael Llodra (FRA) vs. Radek Stepanek (CZE)[11]
James Blake (USA)[8] vs. Paradorn Srichaphan (THA)
Xavier Malisse (BEL) vs. Nicolas Massu (CHI)[32]
Tomas Berdych (CZE)[20] vs. Feliciano Lopez (ESP)

Laureus and French Open - Bono Fan

2006-05-28T15:28:00.000+05:00

Well, first before beginning to update on French Open and everything else related to it, I will thank Sidrah for dragging me, literally pulling me back to blog sphere with her continued insistence and tutorials, which actually made me, sit up and get back to blog world. This time, with not one but TWO blogs to manage! Now that is a surprise itself because that’s coming from a guy who cannot manage a single blog! But anyways, now moving on to the more important matters which right now are

A) Laureus Awards
B) French Open draws and prediction.

Well, as mentioned in the previous blog, Tennis ruled supreme and King Fed won the award again and despite my failed attempt at convincing Sidrah that he deserved it again, I ll try it once more because what fed did last year was more than he achieved in 2004. First up we have to consider the fact that how laureus awards are given and what are the primary decisive factors and one thing for sure is that they always tend to be slightly biased towards solo sports than team ones, man powered than machine powered. That’s a very natural instinct sine the players are doing all they do without any outside help. Which is why I think Fed deserved the award more than anybody else and that is why he was the runaway favorite to win it despite a real strong competition. You don’t win 84 matches and lose 3 in an ENTIRE YEAR. Out of those 3 losses, two came when he was coming back from injuries! So technically, come to think of it, he was just at it all over. He is without a full time coach; he does not have an entourage following him EVERYWHERE unlike other players. His coach Tony Roche, a superlative player in his own time back in `70s does not travel all the time with him. Tennis is a most demanding game and the fact that you are doing it with your sheer skill and god gifted talent, I see no reason anybody else can beat him for that. Winning it 2 years in a row simply confirms the fact that we are living in an era of an all time great athlete, who is not only supremely talented and gifted; he is, above all, a humble human being and a role model. Bottom line; Roger Federer, Sir, You Rock.

Now, French open is starting from tomorrow and the first round draws are just so sumptuous, nothing more than a really good Chilean player, Fernando Gonzalez against mine and Sidrah’s favorite player, the mercicural, the afridi of tennis, one and only, MARAAAAAAAAAAAT SAAAAAAAAAAFIIINN ! Now that should be one helluva match I tell you. Two of the most unpredictable and most entertaining player on ATP tour are against each other and I am expecting some heavy, heavy artillery put out in paris.
King Fed was supposed to play charismatic Santoro but he pulled out with some injury and will be up against a lucky loser from argentina. Nadal, the ultimate favorite to win this slam is against Robin soderling, who despite being a decent enough player will be fodder for the beast from Mallorca and will end up as his 54th victim on dirt which will eventually make nadal as the most accomplished player on clay since Gullerimo vilas won 53 straight. There are quite a lot of other interesting matches pitted in this draw which predicts that fed and nadal should fight it out for the main thing a fortnight from now. Monfils is up against arrogant british snob murray whereas poor roddick, with a heavily strapped left foot will be against Spanish clay court specialist alberto martin !
So now then, wait for tomorrow and let the show begin ! :)

2006-05-27T21:43:00.000+05:00

Just a few pointers in celebration of tommorrow:

M. Safin versus F. Gonzalez in the first round. But ofcourse -we had to get Gonzo. But if Safin nicks the match (he has all the ability too) whose knows, he might even make it to the fourth round. Yeah, okay, you can laugh now.
Rafael Nadal will do the ATP Blog for the week!!!
Nadal has a relatively easy first-week pickings. R. Nadal versus R. Soderling match is a must-see: that's when he'll pick up his 54th consecutive clay-court win, and plus, his camera signoff will be most amusing.
Daniela Hantuchova, wherever are you? The poor lady has disappeared off the face of my television set since US Open 2005.
Roddick with an injured left ankle. Heh heh heh.
Lleyton Hewitt, another one you don't see knocking tennis balls around lately. Would love to see how he plays after weeks off from the tour. And whether his wife still wears those atrocious pair of tan sunglasses.
Right. Now down to some serious tennis tommorrow.

2006-05-25T20:41:00.000+05:00

Wow - what a week for tennis everywhere - first nadal and federer (who, i disagree with bono-fan, did not have a obvious clear-cut easy-as-a-aussie-draw victory - i mean comeon! he was up against ronaldhino, armstrong, rossi and fernando "Hate Me Please" alonso of all folks! PLUS, he won last year! is that even legal? winning two years in a row?) clinched the laureus (the oscars of the sporting world for all of you who don't know) respectively - second, we are just three days away from the best two weeks of tennis you can feast your soul on. And finally - STOP THE PRESSES - the much-awaited nadal-girlfriend pictures are out!!!

It was rumored for months and months now that she exists, and finally, after months of deligient digging by the eager mallorcan paparazzi (who actually took the pictures 10 minutes off a relatively isloated beach, a summer holiday resort for the Nadals - see, deligient!)

well good for you rafa, kiddo. though i can't say i'm entirely pleased, hmpff.

marat, you still single?