Tennis

Topic started by Sanguine Sridhar on Mon Jan 16 7:40:00 2006.

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• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Mon Jan 16 7:41:02 2006.

  Former world No.4 Jelena Dokic has described her first-round loss at Australian Open 2006 as one of the most disappointing of her career but is satisfied with the progress of her comeback.
  
  Playing for the first time at Melbourne Park since 2001 after returning to her native Serbia, Dokic came within centimetres of making a triumphant return against Frenchwoman Virginie Razzano before losing in three sets 6-3 6-7 (6/8) 1-6.
  
  Dokic held three match points on Razzano's serve at 6-5 during the second set, coming tantalisingly close to converting the first one when a baseline call went against her.
  
  The Australian then lost the tie-break 6/8 before Razzano breezed through the final set in 26 minutes to deny Dokic a fairytale comeback in front of a vocal and supportive crowd at Margaret Court Arena.
  
  "I would have to say one of the most disappointing losses probably in my career so far," Dokic said. "I was already really happy, and then half an hour later I was, you know, the most disappointed that I've ever had."
  
  Plagued by groin and elbow problems during the past two years, Dokic, now ranked 370 in the world, said it was her inability to overcome the line call on match point rather than a lack of match practice that contributed to her poor third set and subsequent defeat.
  
  "It was more the fact that I was already, you know, pretty much with my hands up winning the match. Then it puts you down mentally," she explained.
  
  "If it was a normal point and I lost it, I would have been in a much better position. But coming so close, it was a different story."
  
  "I knew I would struggle after that point, and I did have another match point. I had my chances. I was just unlucky. And once the third set got on, just couldn't focus mentally. It just was hard after that point."
  
  Dokic was pleased with the reception given to her by the crowd but disappointed she could not repay the support with a victory.
  
  "I was confident that, you know, the people would understand what happened and the circumstances that I left under. I did regret that, and I wanted to make up for that," she said.
  
  "It was great. I don't know if I even got that much support when I was here before. I think they also led me to be in that position to be able to win. It was great to play in front of that crowd."
  
  "You know, that's why I'm disappointed as well not to be able to do it again. So it was great. I couldn't have asked for anything else. It's been definitely a good two months and a great decision to come back."
  
  Not entered for the doubles, Dokic will now turn her sights to the Pattaya Open in Thailand starting in three weeks and hopes she can continue her quest to regain a position in the top 50 by year's end.
  
  "The match today shows that I need to be able to finish a match off and win a match like this. So that's something I think that's the difference between a top 10 player and some other players," she said.
  
  "That's something that I used to do very well. You know, I had a little bit of that today. I came back in the second set when I was down. I just should have finished the match off."
  
  "So I think I'm definitely on the right track and, you know, confident that I can do well."
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Mon Jan 16 7:42:55 2006.

  No.4 seed David Nalbandian has survived a scare from Thai qualifier Danai Udomchoke to win through to the second round of Australian Open 2006 on Day One at Melbourne Park.
  
  In the second match for the day on a muggy Rod Laver Arena, Nalbandian eventually prevailed 6-2 6-2 1-6 7-6 (4/7) 6-1 in a dour, 211-minute struggle that took the Argentine longer than it should have, bearing in mind that he withdrew from a warm-up event at Kooyong last week because of illness.
  
  Udomchoke, ranked No.121 was making an overdue debut appearance at Melbourne Park after having failed to qualify on six previous occasions. But he came through last week as the No.3 seed in the qualifying event after his opponent defaulted with cramp in the final round.
  
  Nalbandian has been a quarter-finalist at Melbourne Park for the last three years.
  
  
  Current Match on Rod Laver Arena
  Rod Laver Arena - MS - 1st Round
  
  
  
  
  Match Statistics
  
  
  
  
  Danai Udomchoke THA 2 2 6 7 1
  
  
  David Nalbandian ARG (4) 6 6 1 6 6
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Tue Jan 17 7:08:04 2006.

  Day-2 Important results
  
  Sania moves to second round
  
  India's tennis sensation Sania Mirza progressed to the second round of the Australian Open, beating Victoria Azarenka of Belarus 7-6(8), 6-2 in Melbourne on Tuesday.
  
  The 32nd seed needed 81 minutes to brush off the challenge from qualifier 16-year-old Azarenka, who was making her maiden appearance at the Australian Open.
  
  Sania will next take on The Netherlands' unseeded world No. 43 Michaella Krajicek, who beat Puerto Rico's Kristina Brandi 6-4, 7-6 (7-1) in another first round match.
  
  Sania, the lone Indian in the singles, started the match well, and raced to a comfortable 5-3 lead in the first set after breaking Azarenka in the eighth game. However, the Belarus teenager shot back, winning the next three games as errors started to creep into Sania's game to take the set into a tie-breaker.
  
  But Sania kept her cool and never really had any problems in the tie-breaker, which she won 8-6, after taking a 4-1 lead.
  
  The tie-breaker seemed to have revitalized Sania, who broke her opponent in the first game of the second set. The 19-year-old consolidated on the good start in the second set to romp to a 5-2 lead after breaking Azarenka for the second time in the seventh game. She promptly served out in the next game to take the set 6-2 and progress to the next round.
  
  Sania had advanced to the third round of the Australian Open last year, where she went down to Serena Williams.
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Tue Jan 17 7:08:52 2006.

  Local hope Lleyton Hewitt has come from two-sets-to-one down and a break against him in the fourth set to tame much-improved Czech Robin Vik in a marathon five-setter and keep alive his hopes of becoming the first Australian in 30 years to win the Australian Open.
  
  On a difficult Day Two for seeds at Australian Open 2006, Hewitt needed nearly four hours to beat Vik 6-4 2-6 5-7 7-6 (7/4) 6-3.
  
  It was in stark contrast to his main rival for the title, world No.1 Roger Federer, who could not have been more impressive in cruising through his first-round match against Uzkbekistan wildcard Denis Istomin 6-2 6-3 6-2 in less than an hour and a half.
  
  But Federer was one of the few stars in the top half of the draw to have an easy time of it on Day Two as No.6 seed Guillermo Coria was also taken to five sets before progressing as was No.5 seed Russian Nikolay Davydenko.
  
  However it was Hewitt's struggle on Rod Laver Arena that dominated Day Two as the rusty two-time Grand Slam champion, who was playing only his sixth match following groin and toe injuries - which have sidelined him since September - so nearly bowed out of the tournament.
  
  Against the second most improved player on tour last year - Vik cut his ranking 362 places to 62, an effort only bettered by Scot Andy Murray - Hewitt was constantly run around by Vik's clever drop shots.
  
  And when Vik broke Hewitt in the first game of the fourth set and had break points on Hewitt's serve in the fifth game to go two breaks up, Australia's great hope looked set for an embarrassing early exit.
  
  But Hewitt broke back in the eighth game and won the fourth set in the tiebreaker and despite his calf needing treatment in the final set, he yet again displayed his renowned fighting qualities to prevail in a classic match.
  
  Afterwards Hewitt said he hoped the long match would hold him in good stead for the rest of the tournament.
  
  "There was a lot of long rallies from the baseline, we are both not big servers so there was not a lot of cheap points," Hewitt said.
  
  "But's that what you do your off season work for and hopefully it is going to pay off over the next couple of weeks."
  
  Hewitt now faces another potential epic in round two against old foe Juan Ignacio Chela of Argentina, who was involved in a fiery match against Hewitt at Melbourne Park in 2005.
  
  Chela was impressive in defeating Scot Andy Murray 6-1 6-3 6-3.
  
  In contrast, Chela's fellow Argentine Coria struggled against Romanian Victor Hanescu before winning 6-4 1-6 4-6 6-2 6-1 as did Davydenko against big serving Croatian Ivo Karlovic before he progressed 7-5 4-6 3-6 7-5 6-3.
  
  No.12 seed Dominik Hrbaty of Slovakia also needed five sets before quelling Austrian Oliver Marach 3-6 4-6 6-2 6-1 6-3.
  
  And Peruvian Luis Horna pulled off a major shock, downing French No.22 seed Gael Monfils 6-4 7-5 6-1. It was a disappointing day for the French after No.14 seed Richard Gasquet was also beaten by Germany's Tommy Haas, who continued his good lead-up form when he was runner-up to world No.2 Andy Roddick at Kooyong, by winning 6-2 7-5 6-2.
  
  But it was a good day for the Aussies after all six locals went down on Day One.
  
  Melburnian Peter Luczak was the first local to progress to round two after eliminating Czech Ivo Minar in straight sets 7-6 (7/4) 7-6 (7/5) 6-4 and was soon joined by New South Welshman Nathan Healey, who upset No.29 seed Filippo Volandri when Volandri was forced to retire hurt when trailing 2-6 3-6.
  
  But veteran Wayne Arthurs didn't join in the party, losing to Serbia's Boris Pashanski 6-3 6-4 4-6 7-6 (7/2).
  
  Earlier all eyes were on Federer on Day Two as he began his campaign for a seventh Grand Slam title and a second crown at Melbourne Park to go with his 2004 title win.
  
  Afterwards the reigning US and Wimbledon champion said despite the scoreline it had been a difficult first-up match against a player who was making his Grand Slam debut and who impressed the capacity crowd with his 200kph plus serve and big forehand.
  
  "It was not easy, he was serving big and taking chances on my returns so there wasn't many rallies," Federer said. "That meant I didn't get any rhythm going so it was a good win."
  
  Federer will now meet German Florian Mayer in the second round after he progressed with a win over Korean Hyung-Taik Lee 6-4 6-1 4-6 6-4.
  
  In other results, Belgium's No.24 seed Olivier Rochus set up a second round meeting with Luczak after beating France's Michael Llodra in straight sets 6-4 6-2 6-2 while Germany's Nicolas Kiefer overcame an injury plagued build-up to score a great win against Thailand's highly-rated Paradorn Srichaphan 6-7 (7/5) 4-6 7-6 (7/5) 6-1 6-2.
  
  Italy's Federico Lizzi also booked his place in round two by beating Costa Rica's Juan Antonio Marin 6-1 6-4 7-5 as did Americans Paul Goldstein, who beat Serbian Novak Djokovic 6-2 1-6 6-3 6-2, and Amer Delic, who beat Italian Potito Starace 7-5 6-7 (7/3) 6-3 3-6 6-3.
  
  Other winners on Day Two were Belgian Dick Norman who beat American Zack Fleishman 6-4 7-6 (8/6) 5-7 0-6 6-3; No.23 seed Igor Andreev of Russia, who beat Spain's Nicolas Almagro 7-5 6-4 6-3; Kristof Vliegen, who won the all-Belgium battle against Christophe Rochus 6-3 6-1 6-4 and German Bjorn Phau, who needed five sets to beat Argentine Carlos Berlocq, 6-4 7-6 (7/3) 2-6 7-6 (7/4).
  
  American Kevin Kim had an easy passage to round two downing Israeli Harel Levy 6-4 6-4 6-0 while Argentine Juan Monaco downed Jene-Rene Lisnard 4-6 6-2 6-4 6-3.
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Wed Jan 18 7:24:12 2006.

  Day-3 Important Results
  
  Top Trio Advance in Women's Draw
  
  Lindsay Davenport, Justine Henin-Hardenne and Serena Williams - all previous winners of the Australian Open - have moved through to the third-round of the tournament on Day Three at Melbourne Park.
  
  World No.1 Davenport, the 2000 champion, was pushed all the way in the opening set at Vodafone Arena by Croatian Karolina Sprem but turned up the heat in the second on the way to a 7-6 (7/4) 6-3 triumph.
  
  2004 champion and No.8 seed Henin-Hardenne won 7-6 (7/2) 6-1 at Rod Laver Arena, establishing her superiority over Czech Hana Sromova in the first set tie-breaker before a rolled ankle limited Sromova's mobility in the second set.
  
  No.13 seed Williams, who has won the title in her past two visits to Melbourne Park in 2005 and 2003, needed just 49 minutes to see off the challenge of Frenchwoman Camille Pin 6-3 6-1.
  
  Russians Nadia Petrova and Svetlana Kuznetsova also advanced, No.6 seed Petrova making short work of German Martina Muller 6-4 6-1 and 2004 US Open champion Kuznetsova, the No.14 seed, beating Spaniard Arantxa Parra Santonja 6-2 6-7 (3/7) 6-2.
  
  Slovakian No.17 seed Daniela Hantuchova was behind after the early exchanges of her Margaret Court Arena battle with Akgul Amanmuradova but rallied to win 6-4 6-1 and set up a clash with Williams for a berth in the round of 16.
  
  Davenport will now play Russian No.25 seed Maria Kirilenko - who beat her compatriot Galina Voskoboeva 7-6 (7/1) 6-4 - while Frenchwoman Virginie Razzano awaits Henin-Hardenne.
  
  There were also a couple of upsets, with Spaniard Virginia Ruano Pascual stunning Russian No.18 seed Elena Likhovtseva 6-4 6-4 and Ukrainian Olga Savchuk causing a boilover when she sent Serbian No.23 seed Jelena Jankovic packing 6-3 6-4.
  
  Russian Elena Vesnina claimed a 6-0 7-5 victory over Elena Dementieva's first-round conqueror, German Julia Schruff, and Sprem's compatriot Jelena Kostanic conceded just three games in ousting Czech Zuzana Ondraskova 6-2 6-1.
  
  Italian Mara Santangelo overcame a lapse in the second set to win 7-6 (7/5) 5-7 6-3 against Slovenian Katarina Srebotnik, and Santangelo's countrywoman Maria Elena Camerin overcame Russian Ekaterina Bychkova 4-6 7-6 (9/7) 6-2.
  
  Razzano accounted for Spaniard Conchita Martinez Granados 7-6 (7/3) 6-3, and American Laura Granville burst the bubble of Bulgarian Tszvetana Pironkova - who shocked Venus Williams on Day One - 7-5 6-2.
  
  Down a break early in her match, Davenport broke back immediately and then also recovered from 1-3 down in the tie-breaker before minimising her unforced errors in the second set as Sprem failed to hang on.
  
  Last year's dual finalist, who won the women's doubles crown with fellow American Corina Morariu, said after her latest win that she was pleased to have received such a difficult workout so early in the tournament.
  
  "Yeah, it was a really tough match," she said. "I knew she had definitely the ability to play really well and be dangerous, and that was the best that she's played against me. I think I played her three previous times. But really tough.
  
  "I felt like I was hitting the ball well, just not quite hitting my spots. So really tough match to pull out. But was able to play well when I needed to and, you know, get through a tough opponent early on."
  
  Having almost joined older sister Venus in departing on Day One - only to come from a break down in the final set to beat Li Na of China - Williams is still aiming to improve significantly in order to be a 'threat' for the title.
  
  "I just always like to improve my all around game, so there's not one thing," she said. "I mean, only thing I want to do better is just keep moving the ball around. Other than that, I would just like to keep improving on everything."
  
  Henin-Hardenne admitted after her win over Sromova that a lack of knowledge of the Czech's game, having never played her before, contributed to the closeness of the opening set.
  
  "Yeah, I wasn't feeling that great on the court," she said. "I didn't know her at all and it took me almost a set to get used to her game. There was no rhythm in the match. I was doing the mistakes and the winners. That's not the kind of game I like."
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Wed Jan 18 7:25:11 2006.

  Australian Open 2006 is only three days old but after another authoritative performance, No.2 seed Andy Roddick is looming as the overwhelming favourite to reach the men's final from the bottom half of the draw.
  
  Roddick cruised into the third round with a 7-5 6-3 6-2 win over South African Wesley Moodie and thanks to two major upsets on Day Three, the American will now not have to face a seeded player until the quarter-finals.
  
  In stark contrast to the top half of the draw on Day Two when seeds Lleyton Hewitt (No.3), Nikolay Davydenko (No.5), Guillermo Coria (No.6) and Dominik Hrbaty (No.12) were all taken to five sets before winning their first round matches, Roddick has hardly dipped into his energy reserves so far in not dropping a set in either of his two matches.
  
  In the third round he will meet 24-year-old French qualifier Julien Benneteau, who reached the third round of a Grand Slam event for only the second time in his career by ousting Spaniard Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 6-4 7-6 (7/3) 6-1.
  
  And if Roddick wins that match he will face either Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus or German qualifier Denis Gremelmayr in the fourth round with those two to meet in a surprise third round match-up after causing the upsets of the day by ousting seeds Radek Stepanek (No.17) and Robby Ginepri (No.13) respectively.
  
  However Roddick said after his win over Moodie he would not be falling into the trap of looking too far ahead in the draw as he looks to add to his sole grand slam title in the 2003 US Open.
  
  "For me there is no such thing as an open draw," he said. "If there's one thing we've learned by seeds getting knocked out, it proves everybody can play."
  
  Roddick however did admit to being surprised by the shock departure of countryman Ginepri - a semi-finalist at the US Open last year - who was bitterly disappointing in blowing a two-set lead against 24-year-old Gremelmayr, who prevailed 2-6 5-7 6-4 6-3 6-3.
  
  And it was the 177th ranked German's ability to win the key points which proved the difference as he converted eight of his 12 break-point opportunities while Ginepri could only convert seven of his 21 break point chances.
  
  His next opponent in 20-year-old Baghdatis is the first player from his country ever to be ranked inside the top 100 but the Cypriot is not a complete stranger to Australian tennis fans.
  
  Not only did he win the 2003 junior title at Melbourne Park but he reached the fourth round here last year before losing to world No.1 Roger Federer.
  
  Roared on by some fanatical supporters on court two, Baghdatis showed great character against Stepanek after threatening to implode when he seemingly had the match won.
  
  But Baghdatis finally prevailed 6-4 6-3 3-6 0-6 7-5 in just over three hours.
  
  Croatian Ivan Ljubicic, the hero of his country's historic Davis Cup victory in 2005, could well be Roddick's major obstacle in that side of the draw.
  
  Ljubicic finally looks capable of making an impact at Grand Slam level. Amazingly, the No.7 seed has only reaching the third round of a Grand Slam for the fourth time in 26 appearances with the others being here in 2002, at the 2003 French Open and the 2005 US Open.
  
  Ljubicic, whose 11-1 record in Davis Cup last year was the best since John McEnroe's record 12-0 in 1982, booked his place in the third round with a 7-5 6-2 6-1 win over German Philipp Kohlschreiber on Rod Laver Arena.
  
  Argentine No.8 seed Gaston Gaudio, the 2004 French Open champion, also continued his easy progression through the tournament.
  
  After winning his first match 6-2 5-0 when his opponent Razvan Sabau was forced to retire hurt, Gaudio cruised through his second-round match 6-3 6-2 6-3 against veteran German qualifier Lars Burgsmuller in just under two hours.
  
  Gaudio will next meet French veteran Fabrice Santoro after the 33-year-old downed another veteran in 31-year-old Romanian Andrei Pavel 6-4 6-1 6-4.
  
  Santoro, who won the Australian Open doubles title with countryman Michael Llodra in 2003-04, is making his 14th appearance at Melbourne Park and now has the chance to
  
  reach the fourth round for only the second time and the first since 1999.
  
  Spanish No.11 seed David Ferrer also booked his place in the third round by downing Italy's Daniele Braccali 6-4 6-4 6-7 (5/7) 6-2 and will next meet Croatian No.18 seed Mario Ancic, in what shapes as one of the best third-round match-ups.
  
  Ancic, the 2004 Wimbledon semi-finalist who reached the fourth round here in 2003, was untroubled in thrashing Czech Jan Hernych 6-1 6-4 6-4.
  
  Other winners on Day Three were Finland's No.26 seed Jarkko Nieminen, who ousted Asia's last representative in the men's draw in Taipei's Yeu-Tzuoo Wang 6-2 7-6 (7/3) 6-2, No.20 seed James Blake who overcame a slow start to beat French qualifier Jean-Christophe Faurel 2-6 6-1 6-4 6-3 while another French qualifier in Gilles Simon upset No.19 seed Tomas Berdych 6-3 6-2 4-6 6-2. No.31 seed Feliciano Lopez booked his place in the third round with 6-2 6-2 6-7 (6/8) 6-4 win over Luxembourg's Gilles Muller.
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Thu Jan 19 10:03:49 2006.

  Day-4 Important results
  
  Starting with a sad news
  
  Sania Mirza suffered a double blow at the Australian Open, losing her women's singles and doubles matches in Melbourne on Thursday.
  
  The Indian ace went down in straight sets to Michaella Krajicek of the Netherlands in the women's singles second round. Later, she and partner Corina Morariu of the United States were beaten 2-6, 1-6 by 14th seeds Svetlana Kuznetsova and Amelie Mauresmo in the first round of the women's doubles.
  
  In the singles, Sania recovered from a sluggish start to put up a tougher challenge in the latter part of the match but committed 35 unforced errors and went down to her 17-year old Dutch opponent 6-3, 7-5.
  
  The 19-year-old Indian, ranked 32 in the world, was nervous in the first set, where she was broken four times.
  
  She picked some momentum in the second set when she bounced back from a break and saved two match-points in the tenth game.
  
  The Hyderabadi girl struggled to get the timing in her shots throughout and even her ever-reliable weapon, the forehand, kept misfiring today.
  
  As it were, she hit a forehand long to concede the match after an hour and 21 minutes, committing five double-faults.
  
  Krajicek, world number 43 and the 2004 US Open and world junior champion, broke Sania in the very first game of the match, pouncing on her too weak second serves.
  
  The Dutch teenager, who had won two Tour titles in the last four months, dropped serve in the next game but got back the lead, a forehand setting up a volley winner for breakpoint and Sania obliging with a wide forehand.
  
  After going down 2-5 with another break of serve, Sania showed signs of recovery when a drop shot followed by a return winner gave her the break back.
  
  But the Indian hit an easy putaway into the net to face two break-points and Michaella hit a forehand for a break and set.
  
  Sania, playing with a taped left knee, showed more resilience as the match progressed but wasted a breakpoint in the fifth game of the second set when a simple volley went long.
  
  In fact, that game captured the pattern of Sania's game, as she worked hard to get into a winning position on every point only to squander them with unforced errors.
  
  Michaella, with a 5-0 win-loss record this season, then choked. From being 4-2 up, she allowed Sania to come back into the match as she dropped serve in the seventh game.
  
  The Indian, however, failed to convert two more breakpoints that came her way. A double-fault saw Sania face a double match-point situation in the twelfth game, and another misfiring forehand sealed her fate.
  
  Sania also faces a tough task in the mixed doubles, as she and partner Stephen Huss of Australia square up against third seeds Bob Bryan of the United States and Vera Zvonareva of Russia in the first round.
  
  Mahesh Bhupathi gave India something to cheer about when he and South African Wesley Moodie beat the unseeded pairing of Italy's Danieli Bracciali and Oliver Marach of Australia 7-5, 6-3 in the first round of the men's doubles.
  
  The 11th seeds next take on the French pair of Arnaud Clement and Michael Llodra.
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Thu Jan 19 10:04:33 2006.

  Roger Federer's grip on the Australian Open 2006 trophy tightened on Day Four with his projected semi-final opponent, Australian No.3 seed Lleyton Hewitt, dramatically bowing out to Argentine Juan Ignacio Chela.
  
  The feature match of the Twilight Session on Rod Laver Arena between Hewitt and Chela was much-anticipated due to their memorable encounter in last year's tournament, but the contest was more noteworthy for injury management for both players as Hewitt was eliminated 4-6 4-6 7-6 (10/8) 2-6.
  
  The Australian appeared strangely subdued throughout the match, quietening the parochial crowd. Hewitt was troubled by a virus leading into the tournament and required medical attention during the second set, but only for a foot complaint.
  
  In a nervous start to the match, both players lost their opening service games. It signalled a trend with seven of the first 16 games becoming service breaks, but it was Chela who eventually gained the upper hand - only losing the third set in a tie-break before serving it out in the fourth.
  
  The Argentine received medical treatment to his leg during the final set and, despite restricted movement, managed to hang on for victory.
  
  With Hewitt's illness and early exits from lead-in tournaments, he did not have the best preparation for the Open, but apart from his foot complaint he said he felt good out on court.
  
  "I was giving it everything I had out there, I just wasn't up to it tonight," Hewitt said.
  
  "I felt like my ball striking got better and better as the match went on - it's probably the best I've struck the ball throughout the whole Australian summer.
  
  "It's just a bit disappointing not having those matches before in Adelaide and Sydney to maybe be hitting the ball a bit better coming in."
  
  Earlier on Thursday, Federer needed just 72 minutes to destroy German Florian Mayer 6-1 6-4 6-0 despite almost making as many unforced errors (18 to 21) as his vanquished opponent.
  
  The six-time Grand Slam champion was virtually untouchable on serve and was not broken throughout a match in which he was only on break point once.
  
  The 24-year-old, who is chasing his second Australian Open crown to go with his 2004 success, was also delighted to have won both his matches in straight sets so far - saving vital energy as the temperature begin to warm at Melbourne Park.
  
  "I'm very pleased with the way I'm playing," Federer said. "There's not really a need, you know, to change the game."
  
  While the bulk of the top men's seeds - with the exception of No.2 Andy Roddick who has also won both his matches in straight sets - have struggled through the first two rounds, Federer has cruised and has no doubt playing short matches earlier in the tournament will help during the vital later rounds.
  
  "It might come down to one match where you're going to be tangled up in the fifth set and you need some (energy) reserves.
  
  "I definitely feel like I can keep playing the way I am, not losing too much energy out on the courts and I prefer obviously always to win in straight sets so for this reason I'm very pleased with my first two matches here."
  
  Federer will now meet giant Belarusian Max Miryni in round-three after the No.30 seed beat Italy's Davide Sanguinetti 7-5 6-3 4-6 7-6 (10/8).
  
  The progress of the world No.1 so far could not be in greater contrast to that of another seed in his quarter of the draw - Slovakian No.12 Dominik Hrbaty.
  
  Hrbaty survived his second successive five-set match on Day Four to advance to the third round as he only just got through a marathon clash against Belgian Dick Norman 6-2 7-5 5-7 4-6 10-8 on clearly the hottest day of the championships so far with temperatures in the mid 30s.
  
  The other top men's seeds in action on Day Four had far less trouble in progressing to the third round.
  
  No.6 seed Guillermo Coria of Argentina took nearly three hours but still beat Italian Federico Luzzi in straight sets 7-6 (12/10) 6-4 6-3 and will now meet No.25 seed Sebastien Grosjean in what should be an epic third-round clash after the 2001 Australian Open semi-finalist thrashed Argentine Juan Monaco 6-4 6-3 6-3.
  
  Russian No.5 seed Nikolay Davydenko recovered from a slow start to beat American Kevin Kim 4-6 6-0 6-3 6-2 while No.21 seed Germany's Nicolas Kiefer did likewise in beating Serbia's Boris Pashanski 4-6 6-1 6-4 6-1.
  
  Fellow Russian Igor Andreev, the No.23 seed, also reached the third round, downing Dutchman Raemon Sluiter 3-6 6-3 7-6 (7/4) 2-6 6-2. However, another two seeds were knocked out on Day Four.
  
  No.24 seed Olivier Rochus of Belgium was beaten by Australian Peter Luczak 6-7 (7/4) 6-4 6-1 6-7 (7/1) 6-1 on Margaret Court Arena while No.28 seed Fernando Verdasco went down to 95th-ranked Belgian Kristof Vliegen 3-6 6-2 7-6 (7/4) 7-5.
  
  For 26-year-old Luczak, who lives in Melbourne, the win over Rochus was arguably the best of his career.
  
  Luczak overcame the disappointment of letting the first and fourth sets, both of which he could have easily won, slip away in tie-breaks and used his serve - 22 aces, a first serve percent of 69 per cent and a 75 per cent success rate on first serve points - to move into the third round of a Grand Slam tournament for only the second time.
  
  Luczak now has the chance to surpass his previous best Grand Slam performance when he takes on German Tommy Haas, who defeated American Paul Goldstein 6-0 6-1 6-2.
  
  And Luczak was joined in the third round by another Australian wildcard in 25-year-old
  
  New South Welshman Nathan Healey.
  
  Healey, playing just his second Grand Slam event, bettered his second round appearance on debut in last year's Australian Open by downing American wildcard Amer Delic 6-4 6-7 (7/4) 6-3 6-4 with his ability to hold serve under pressure the difference between the two players.
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Thu Jan 19 10:05:22 2006.

  So far, so good for Kim Clijsters and her injured hip.
  
  The No.2 seed is through to the third round of Australian Open 2006 after a routine 6-4 6-2 defeat of Meng Yuan from China on Rod Laver Arena on Day Four.
  
  Clijsters has been restricted to about 10 minutes of practice per day because of her troublesome hip, but while she looked comfortable enough during her 82 minutes on centre court, her shot-making was still awry, with 48 unforced errors coming from her side of the court.
  
  Next up, she plays Marion Bartoli or Roberta Vinci.
  
  

• From: Thiru on Thu Jan 19 15:39:57 2006.

  beckham, great job.. Though i dont follow tennis that much these days, its good to keep track of who's winning what...Looks like its gonna be federer again...
  
  

• From: Sanjeevi on Thu Jan 19 16:02:21 2006.

  Wov great, I am a great tennis fan. Thanks back
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Fri Jan 20 8:43:33 2006.

  DAY 5 IMPORTANT RESULTS
  
  Roddick Rocks
  
  Andy Roddick might have needed just 82 minutes on Day Five to continue his easy progression through the early rounds of the Australian Open 2006 but the No.2 seed is already 'expecting the worst' when he takes on Cypriot cult Marcos Baghdatis in the fourth round.
  
  The pair recorded devastating third-round wins as the temperatures soared at Melbourne Park - saving vital energy in the process - with Roddick destroying French qualifier Julien Benneteau 6-1 6-2 6-2 and Baghdatis - ranked 54 - taking even less time to thrash German qualifier Denis Gremelmayr 6-2 6-1 6-2.
  
  It is the second successive year Baghdatis - the 2003 junior champion at the Australian Open - has reached the fourth round in the main draw at Melbourne Park and last year it took world No.1 Roger Federer to put the 20-year-old out.
  
  While Roddick will start a hot favourite against Baghdatis - the Greek Cypriot's incredible support from Melbourne's enormous Greek community has ensured his matches have been the must see event on the outside courts in the first week of the championships.
  
  Such was the noise from Baghdatis' soccer-style following during the match against Gremelmayr and his previous victory against No.17 seed Radek Stepanek - the ebb and flow of his matches could be followed all over Melbourne Park.
  
  And while Roddick believes the type of support Baghdatis is receiving is fantastic for the sport, he knows he will have the crowd against him when the pair clash in a fourth round match that looks destined to be staged on centre court at Rod Laver Arena.
  
  "I think they're great the way they support him," Roddick said of Baghdatis' fanatical following in Melbourne.
  
  "They even came and tried to heckle me a little bit today at the end of my match (after Baghdatis had already won) and I said 'Man, you guys can't show your hand before the end of it'."
  
  
  
  "But you know they are going to do everything they can to help their guy and that's the job of a good fan and they certainly are that."
  
  "I'm going to expect the worst, you know, for me and I think it's easier when you know what you're in for, going into the match but you can definitely appreciate that kind of loyal and passionate fan support, even if it's not for you."
  
  While Roddick, who is looking for his first Australian Open title to go with his lone Grand Slam success so far at the 2003 US Open, is being tipped as the only player capable of beating world No.1 Roger Federer - the American refuses to be drawn on his title chances.
  
  "I just think it's so senseless talking about Roger until I actually get there," he said.
  
  As for Baghdatis, the man from Cyprus is revelling in reaching the round of 16 at Melbourne Park for the second successive year not to mention the crowd support he is receiving.
  
  "I like the surface here, I won the juniors here and every time I come here it feels great," he said. "I love the atmosphere and the fans are helping me so much."
  
  Baghdatis is the first player from Cyprus ever to be ranked inside the top 100 but despite the small Mediterranean country not being renowned as a tennis hotbed, the 20-year-old grew up with the sport.
  
  "My father was crazy about tennis and my brothers were playing tennis," said Baghdatis, who was 14 when he left Cyprus to chase his tennis dream.
  
  Another of the game's great entertainers also made it through to the last 16 on Day Five but in vastly contrasting style to Roddick and Baghdatis.
  
  French veteran Fabrice Santoro outlasted No.8 seed Gaston Gaudio of Argentina 6-3 6-2 5-7 1-6 6-4 in a match lasting just under four hours on Vodafone Arena.
  
  Both players looked exhausted at the end of the gruelling match with Santoro regularly placing four ice packs on his head and upper body during the change of ends in a bid to stay cool.
  
  But it was the 33-year-old Santoro, who despite his singles ranking of 65 is better known as a doubles player having twice won the Australian Open doubles crown with countryman Michael Llodra, who prevailed.
  
  It is only the second time Santoro has reached the fourth round in 14 visits to Melbourne Park and he will now have the chance of reaching the quarter-finals of any Grand Slam event in singles for the first time when he takes on Spanish No.11 seed David Ferrer.
  
  However Ferrer's progress to the fourth round could not have been more contrasting to that of Santoro's with the much-improved 23-year-old, who last year reached the quarter finals at the French Open before being stopped by eventual winner Rafael Nadal, thrashing No.18 seed Mario Ancic 6-3 6-3 6-3.
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Fri Jan 20 8:46:06 2006.

  Russians Maria Sharapova, Nadia Petrova, Elena Vesnina and Svetlana Kuznetsova have won through to the fourth round of Australian Open 2006 on a hot and windy day at Melbourne Park.
  
  No.4 seed Sharapova was the first through after spending just over an hour on Rod Laver Arena with Croatian Jelena Kostanic.
  
  She was rarely troubled as she cruised to a 6-0 6-1 win over the world No.71, winning 78 per cent of points on her first serve and showing few signs of the shoulder problem that hampered her preparations for the tournament.
  
  "Mentally it was pretty tough when you know you've got a very patient opponent and you know that it's really hot out there. I mean, you've got to be really tough. And the score doesn't really explain the match," she said.
  
  But Sharapova answered everything that Kostanic gave her, slamming down 18 winners in the match, although she could only convert five of 13 break points.
  
  The path was not as easy for Vesnina, who struggled through three sets and five match points before finally closing out a 5-7 6-2 6-4 victory over Olga Savchuk of the Ukraine.
  
  "Today was so mentally a tough match for me because with Olga I play with her many times. I know her and she knows me. She knows everything, how I play, what I like, what I don't like. That's why we played so long a match," Vesnina said.
  
  Visibly exhausted after the match on Show Court Two, Vesnina said she had never played in such conditions before, but it was the wind, not the heat that caused her problems.
  
  "I can play deep, I can play wide, but I did not know how to deal with this wind. Her serve had some extra kick and with this wind it was very hard."
  
  Vesnina will meet Petrova next after the No.6 seed ran away with a 6-1 6-2 win over Italian Maria Elena Camerin.
  
  Petrova pulled out a stunning service game winning 95 per cent of points on her first serve.
  
  All went to plan for Kuznetsova as well, with the No.14 seed recording a 6-3 6-1 win over Italian Mara Santangelo in 56 minutes.
  
  She faces a possible fourth-round match with top seed Lindsay Davenport and will be looking to square their head-to-head record at two matches each.
  
  Spaniard Virginia Ruano Pascual advanced in straight sets after American Laura Granville collapsed under a string of unforced errors.
  
  Pascual capitalised on Granville's 40 errors, to take the match 6-3 6-3 and will wait eagerly to see if she will face eighth seed Justine Henin-Hardenne next. Henin-Hardenne plays Virginie Razzano in her third-round match.
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Sat Jan 21 10:09:25 2006.

  Day 6 Important Highlights
  
  Samantha Stosur's Australian Open 2006 dream is alive and well, Martina Hingis's comeback continues to gain momentum and most of the seeds fared well on a scorching Day Six at Melbourne Park.
  
  Stosur faced up to Sybille Bammer on Rod Laver Arena in the Twilight Session and managed to overcome a shaky serving performance to see off the Austrian 7-5 4-6 6-3.
  
  The opening set saw an amazing nine breaks of serve from the two players, with Stosur able to hold hers twice to Bammer's once to take out the set.
  
  "One of the good things was that I was able to really try and stay as patient as I could out there, I mean, she really didn't give me anything," Stosur said.
  
  "I really had to work hard for every single point. She just didn't really give an inch, and I wasn't getting any free points off my serve like I usually do. She just made everything really tough for me."
  
  Stosur's progression has caused a welcome dilemma for Australian tennis followers as she is slated to take on firm crowd favourite and three-time champion Hingis in the fourth-round.
  
  Hingis faced a determined challenged from unseeded Czech Iveta Benesova, who had dispatched French No.5 seed Mary Pierce in the second-round, and was down 1-3 early in the match.
  
  But the former world No.1 remained composed - while the hot conditions took their toll on Benesova - to win nine of the next 11 games and wrap up the match 6-4 6-1.
  
  "Towards the end of the second set you could feel the heat, but thank God she felt it more than I did," Hingis said.
  
  The Swiss Miss is yet to drop a set and has only conceded ten games in three rounds so far, but she denies she is one of the hot favourites for this year's title.
  
  "I think there's plenty of people (in contention). It's coming down to the last 16, right?" Hingis said.
  
  With the temperature hovering around 40 degrees Celsius, the Extreme Heat Policy was implemented for the second day running, but the energy-sapping conditions did not seem to bother the seeds, most of whom progressed.
  
  No.3 seed Amelie Mauresmo, runner-up at Australian Open 1999, continued her run with the Frenchwoman gifted a spot in the fourth-round when her opponent, 17-year-old Dutchwoman Michaella Krajicek, retired with heat stress.
  
  Mauresmo won the first set 6-2, but Krajicek was clearly struggling and called for an injury timeout between sets. Moments later she left the court in tears after forfeiting the match.
  
  Kim Clijsters showed few signs of the lower back or hip ailments that have been causing her concern as she prevailed 6-1 6-2 over Italian Roberta Vinci.
  
  With her left thigh heavily strapped, the No.2 seed disposed of the world No.49 in 45 minutes to set up a fourth-round encounter with Italian Francesca Schiavone.
  
  Service breaks were also plentiful in the third-round match between No.15 seed Schiavone and Spaniard Maria Sanchez Lorenzo, but sadly for Sanchez Lorenzo they were all in favour of her opponent.
  
  The unseeded Spaniard won only 18 points in the match as Schiavone cruised to a 6-0 6-0 victory in just 42 minutes.
  
  Patty Schnyder, the No.7 seed, also advanced with relative ease, dominating her match under the roof at Vodafone Arena against Aiko Nakamura of Japan.
  
  The Swiss broke Nakamura four times in the opening set and three more in the second to wrap up a 6-2 6-3 victory and maintain her unbeaten record over the Japanese.
  
  No.12 seed Anastasia Myskina faced as much a battle with high winds on Margaret Court Arena as she did with Swede Sofia Arvidsson.
  
  The Russian controlled the match throughout, with 20 more winning shots than Arvidsson, to claim a 6-3 6-1 win.
  
  But Myskina was clearly frustrated by the swirling winds, which did nothing to help her reduce her unforced errors, finishing with 33.
  
  "I don't really know how to use the wind when I play. So today I was really concentrating, focus for each point, and try to play every ball and fight for every point," she said.
  
  Service breaks came thick and fast between Nicole Vaidisova and Italian No.20 seed Flavia Pennetta, but it was the Czech's third in the first set which proved the difference in the evenly-matched contest.
  
  The No.16 seed went on to break Pennetta another three times in the second set to claim the match 6-4 6-2.
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Sat Jan 21 10:12:07 2006.

  Last Aussie Men Fall, Federer Untroubled
  
  
  
  The Australian flag has been lowered in the men's draw of Australian Open 2006, with both Peter Luczak and Nathan Healey eliminated on Day Six of the tournament, but No.1 seed Roger Federer continued his smooth run.
  
  Federer is still yet to lose a set in the Open, with No.30 seed Max Myrnyi the latest to fall victim to the Swiss master - the Belarussian bowing out 6-3 6-4 6-3 in the Twilight Session on Rod Laver Arena.
  
  "I'm very pleased with the way I played, it was a very good performance," Federer said. "I knew what to expect - I've played him on many occasions and he played exactly how I expected."
  
  "It's always a tough match against Max and I really played good, especially mentally. I thought it was a good performance because you don't get many opportunities and when you do you've got take them and that's what I did, so I'm very pleased."
  
  Russian No.5 seed Nikolay Davydenko dispatched Healey 6-2 5-7 6-4 7-5 in the other Twilight Session match out on Margaret Court Arena.
  
  Consistent unforced errors were the Australian wildcard's undoing - he finished with 61 - while the Russian also proved difficult to pass as he won 83 per cent of points when he approached the net.
  
  "I learnt that I definitely can compete at the top level," Healey said later. "I mean, he's No.5 in the world, and I felt really comfortable out there."
  
  "Yeah, I felt like when I broke back in the fourth, I felt it could go either way. So, yeah, it's a marvelous experience."
  
  Davydenko will now square off against Slovakian marathon man Dominik Hrbaty, who won his third successive five-setter at Melbourne Park.
  
  Having gone the distance to defeat Belgian Dick Norman and Austrian Oliver Marach in the opening rounds, Hrbaty improved his career five-set record to 16-7 when he overcame a temperature that topped 40 degrees and a 1-4 deficit in the fifth set to defeat Russian world No.23 Igor Andreev 1-6 6-4 6-3 2-6 6-4.
  
  Appearing in his 37th consecutive major, the tireless Hrbaty has now won 11 of his past 13 five-set matches and is through to the final 16 at Melbourne Park for the fifth time.
  
  No.12 seed Hrbaty has now spent close to ten-and-a-half hours on court in his first three matches.
  
  Under the closed roof of Rod Laver Arena, the in-form German Tommy Haas set up a date with Federer when he ousted Luczak in four sets.
  
  Belying his world ranking of 139, the local hope claimed the first set before the German's class shone through as Haas prevailed 4-6 6-3 6-4 6-4.
  
  "The guy's an incredible player, I think he's made quarters or semis here before," Luczak said.
  
  "You know, the thing I can take out of it is maybe if I can hang with him for most of the match, I should be able to maybe compete with these guys on a more regular basis."
  
  Nicolas Kiefer overcame a third-set hiccup to defeat former world No.1 Juan Carlos Ferrero 6-3 6-2 5-7 6-2 and will now meet Argentine Juan Ignacio Chela.
  
  Kiefer raced through the first two sets before Ferrero fought back in the third but the German recovered, breaking the Spaniard twice in the fourth set on his way through to the fourth-round.
  
  Chela followed up his upset of Australian No.3 seed Lleyton Hewitt on Day Four with a straight-sets victory over Belgian Kristof Vliegen.
  
  The Argentine made just 16 unforced errors to his opponent's 44 in his 6-1 6-4 6-4 victory to move into the fourth-round at Melbourne Park for the first time.
  
  Frenchmen Sebastien Grosjean and Paul-Henri Mathieu set up a fourth-round showdown with gritty victories.
  
  Mathieu, ranked No.48 in the world, advanced to the last 16 of a Grand Slam for just the second time in his career with a 7-6 (7/3) 7-6 (9/7) 6-1 victory over Peruvian Luis Horna on Show Court Three.
  
  Tie-breaks were needed to separate the pair in the first two sets with Mathieu prevailing, his 9-7 win in the second set decider giving him a two-sets-to-love lead.
  
  Struggling in the heat, Horna dropped the first five games of the third set before bowing out after more than two-and-a-half hours on court.
  
  Grosjean, a semi-finalist at the Open in 2001, overcame a third set revival from world No.9 Guillermo Coria to advance to the round of 16 with a 6-2 6-2 3-6 6-4 triumph on Vodafone Arena.
  
  The Frenchman claimed the opening two sets in a canter, but Coria fought back in the third set.
  
  After calling for a medical time out with scores locked at 1-1 in the fourth set, Coria was broken twice to trail 2-5.
  
  The Argentine retrieved one break as Grosjean, the world No.28, unsuccessfully served for the match at his first attempt, but he made no mistake with his second opportunity to advance.
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Sun Jan 22 12:14:53 2006.

  Day- 7 Highlights
  
  Now the fans on Rod Laver Arena at Melbourne Park know why there has been so much excitement on the outside courts during the first week of the Australian Open 2006 when Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis has been in action.
  
  Baghdatis brought his entourage of excitable fans and his brilliant shot-making to centre court for the first time on Day Seven of the championships and far from being out of his depth against American No.2 seed Andy Roddick, the 20-year-old pulled off the biggest upset in the men's singles so far.
  
  The 2003 Australian Open junior champion played breathtaking tennis to eliminate Roddick 6-4 1-6 6-3 6-4 and throw the bottom half of the men's draw wide open as he advanced to his first-ever Grand Slam quarter-final.
  
  And the win by the Greek Cypriot is certain to be celebrated long into the night by Melbourne's huge Greek community with Baghdatis fast developing a reputation as a cult figure in the Victorian capital.
  
  All of his matches have been attended by scores of Greek fans, who have livened Melbourne Park up considerably during this year's championships with their soccer style support of their hero.
  
  And while their numbers may have been slightly down for Baghdatis's maiden centre court appearance, it was obvious, even before the action had started, that this would be no normal match on Rod Laver Arena.
  
  Even before the match began, Baghdatis's fans were making their presence felt with their array of Greek and Cypriot flags and their non-stop chanting.
  
  And every time Baghdatis won a point, the chants would be repeated as some fans in the crowd tried to even up the huge difference in vocal support for the two participants by barracking for Roddick.
  
  One local, obviously tiring of the non-stop chanting, decided early in the first set to try the Australian chant of 'Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi' but to the delight of the centre court crowd it was immediately mimicked by Baghdatis's fans.
  
  It wasn't long before Baghdatis was giving his fans plenty to cheer about as he overcame a nervous start - Roddick held to love in the opening game of the match - by converting his first break point on Roddick's serve in the seventh game to grab the first break of the match.
  
  Baghdatis, whose progress in last year's tournament was only halted by world No.1 Roger Federer in the fourth-round, calmly served out the first set in 38 minutes.
  
  In the second set however Roddick - himself a junior champion at Melbourne Park back in 2000 - took control to win the set 6-1 and the 54th-ranked underdog looked in trouble.
  
  However, with his brilliant forehand, particularly cross-court, constantly troubling Roddick, Baghdatis broke the American in the sixth game of the third set and it was all he needed to take a two-sets-to-one lead.
  
  The crowd was now sensing an upset and Baghdatis's fans were sensing a triumph to rekindle the excitement of Greece's memorable victory in soccer's 2004 European Championships.
  
  When Roddick double-faulted to be broken to love in the fifth game of the fourth set, all Baghdatis had to do was hold his nerve to clinch the biggest win of his career.
  
  And that he did, fittingly sealing victory with yet another forehand cross-court winner to set off what is certain to be a long night of partying amongst Melbourne's huge Greek community.
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Sun Jan 22 12:16:24 2006.

  All the fancied chances in the top half of the women's draw progressed in straight-sets on a sweltering Day Seven at Australian Open 2006, with Lindsay Davenport setting up a quarter-final meeting with Justin Henin-Hardenne and Maria Sharapova advancing to make it an all-Russian affair against Nadia Petrova.
  
  No.4 seed Sharapova was the last of the women through on yet another day where the Extreme Heat Policy meant no play on outside courts and the closure of the roofs on Vodafone and Rod Laver Arenas.
  
  The Russian faced off against Slovakian No.17 seed Daniela Hantuchova in the Twilight Session on centre court and prevailed in an absorbing contest 6-4 6-4.
  
  The match was a high-quality affair with Sharapova's ability to convert break-point opportunities - 5-of-8 to Hantuchova's 3-of-9 - the telling factor.
  
  "It was good today, I kept my composure when I was down in both of the sets and just kept calm," Sharapova said.
  
  "I just tried to break her and tried to get the momentum back and it went my way in the end. I'm so excited, I'm just happy with every round I win."
  
  No.6 seed Petrova was the first woman to advance, trouncing compatriot Elena Vesnina 6-3 6-1 on Rod Laver Arena.
  
  Petrova dealt with the pressure of the fourth-round match far better than her 19-year-old opponent, who was playing in her maiden Grand Slam, making just 13 unforced errors to Vesnina's 35.
  
  "Today, Nadia, she showed me how I need to play in the future. It's a good lesson for me," Vesnina said of her countrywoman. "But I did so many unforced errors today, so it's impossible to win if you made so many errors."
  
  Petrova has conceded just 15 games on her way to the quarter-finals but feels that she is now ready to be tested.
  
  "I can't say I played a very dangerous opponent yet till now. But I've showed it doesn't matter who's on the other side, and I still showed my tennis and been winning quite easily in two sets," said Petrova.
  
  "I'm quite happy the way every game went, and I'm just looking forward to make another step forward and play a top 10 player."
  
  Davenport breezed through the first set in her 6-2 6-4 triumph over 2004 US Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova before the Russian put up a bigger fight in the second.
  
  After Davenport broke twice to race to a 3-0 lead in the second, Kuznetsova peeled off the next four games before Davenport steadied and won the next three to advance to the final eight.
  
  "You either keep going for your shots or you try and work the ball and make the person hit a lot of balls," Davenport said of Kuznetsova's second set revival.
  
  "She definitely gave me a reprieve at 3-4 where I really think I only hit one or two balls that game, and she was missing a lot and going for shots. That obviously helped open the door after I'd lost four games in a row and struggling."
  
  Waiting for the world No.1 in the quarter-finals will be Henin-Hardenne, the No.8 seed winning her 11th consecutive match at Melbourne Park when she thrashed unseeded Spaniard Virginia Ruano Pascual 6-0 6-3.
  
  Henin-Hardenne dominated the match, firing 28 winners to Ruano Pascual's one as she outclassed the world No.104.
  
  "It's going to be a good test for me," said Henin-Hardenne, who was unable to defend her 2004 crown at Melbourne Park last year. "I'll have to play my best tennis for sure if I want to go to the semis."
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Mon Jan 23 8:15:16 2006.

  Day 8 - Highlights
  
  The gruelling Australian Open 2006 campaign of tennis ironman Dominik Hrbaty has come to an end after the Slovakian narrowly failed to become the first man to ever win four successive five-set matches at a Grand Slam event.
  
  The physical toll of winning three successive five-set matches finally caught up with the No.12 seed as he squandered a two-sets-to-love lead on Rod Laver Arena before bowing out to No.5 seed - Russian Nikolay Davydenko - 4-6 4-6 6-4 6-2 6-3.
  
  With Davydenko now waiting for either No.1 seed Roger Federer or Tommy Haas, the other two men to advance to the quarter-finals so far on Day Eight were French No.25 seed Sebastien Grosjean and Germany's No.21 seed Nicolas Kiefer, with that pair to now meet for a place in the semi-finals.
  
  Grosjean - a semi-finalist here in 2001 and a dual Wimbledon semi-finalist - thrashed countryman Paul-Henri Mathieu 7-5 6-2 6-2 while Kiefer was impressive in ousting Lleyton Hewitt's Argentine conqueror Juan Ignacio Chela 7-6 (7/4) 6-3 6-3.
  
  However it was the Hrbaty-Davydenko match that enthralled another packed crowd on Rod Laver Arena as fans wondered whether Hrbaty's amazing Australian Open 2006 campaign could continue.
  
  The durable Slovakian, who has now played in 37 consecutive Grand Slam events (the longest current streak), had spent a total of 10 hours, 27 minutes on court in winning his first three matches against Oliver Marach, Dick Norman and Igor Andreev respectively.
  
  But when he cruised through the first two sets against Davydenko, it looked as if Hrbaty would finally have an easy passage through to the next round.
  
  However all that changed when Davydenko, aiming to reach his second successive Australian Open quarter-final, easily won the next two sets.
  
  Suddenly the 28-year-old, who admits he runs for fun and who some day wants to run in the New York City marathon, found himself in yet another five-set battle.
  
  The only man ever to win four consecutive five-set matches in the Open Era was Goran Ivanisevic at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics but the feat has never been achieved at Grand Slam level.
  
  Indeed only Jan Kodes (1974 Wimbledon), Eliot Teltscher (1979 French Open), Felix Mantilla (2003 Australian Open) and Robby Ginepri (2005 US Open) had previously played four five-setters in a row at a Grand Slam event but all had lost in the fourth match.
  
  But when Hrbaty broke Davydenko in the opening game of the fifth set, it appeared the Slovakian was on course to create history.
  
  However Davydenko broke straight back in the next game and when he produced a great backhand lob in the sixth game, he had another break point on Hrbaty's serve which he converted to go 4-2 up.
  
  Both players then held serve and it looked like Hrbaty would break back when he had Davydenko 0-40 on serve as the Russian served for the match in the ninth game.
  
  However despite a nervy smash at 15-40 which clipped the tape only to land in, Davydenko recovered and finished the match off with an ace.
  
  Hrbaty admitted his tough Australian Open 2006 campaign had taken a toll on him physically during the clash with Davydenko.
  
  "He was more fresh," Hrbaty said of the Russian. "I think you could see after the third set he was one step ahead of me. I was trying but I didn't have enough power to run for all the balls."
  
  It was only the second time Davydenko had recovered from two sets down to win a match and he now has the chance to equal his previous best Grand Slam performance when he reached the semi-finals at last year's French Open.
  
  Kiefer, meanwhile, notched up his 300th career win and his 50th at a Grand Slam event to continue the remarkable transformation in his fortunes after an injury-marred build-up to the Australian Open when he retired in the semi-final at Kooyong against Andy Roddick due to an ankle injury.
  
  The 28-year-old German has also put aside his poor recent form at Melbourne Park to sweep into the last eight here for the first time since 2000, having bowed out in the first-round in his three previous visits here prior to this year.
  
  In fact it is the first time Kiefer has reached the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam event since the 2000 US Open.
  
  The stunning turnaround has delighted Kiefer, who admits he can still improve.
  
  "I would say I am still far away from my best," he said. "But I'm happy with the way I'm playing at the moment. I still see that many things can happen and anything is possible."
  
  Grosjean overcame a slow start and a poor first serve percentage to reach the quarter-finals at Melbourne Park for the fourth time.
  
  Despite a first serve percentage of just 43 for the match, Grosjean still served 12 aces and such was his dominance on serve that when he did manage to get his first serve into play, he lost just two points for the entire match in winning a staggering 94 per cent of such points or 29-of-31 for the match.
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Mon Jan 23 8:15:34 2006.

  Day 8 - Highlights
  
  The gruelling Australian Open 2006 campaign of tennis ironman Dominik Hrbaty has come to an end after the Slovakian narrowly failed to become the first man to ever win four successive five-set matches at a Grand Slam event.
  
  The physical toll of winning three successive five-set matches finally caught up with the No.12 seed as he squandered a two-sets-to-love lead on Rod Laver Arena before bowing out to No.5 seed - Russian Nikolay Davydenko - 4-6 4-6 6-4 6-2 6-3.
  
  With Davydenko now waiting for either No.1 seed Roger Federer or Tommy Haas, the other two men to advance to the quarter-finals so far on Day Eight were French No.25 seed Sebastien Grosjean and Germany's No.21 seed Nicolas Kiefer, with that pair to now meet for a place in the semi-finals.
  
  Grosjean - a semi-finalist here in 2001 and a dual Wimbledon semi-finalist - thrashed countryman Paul-Henri Mathieu 7-5 6-2 6-2 while Kiefer was impressive in ousting Lleyton Hewitt's Argentine conqueror Juan Ignacio Chela 7-6 (7/4) 6-3 6-3.
  
  However it was the Hrbaty-Davydenko match that enthralled another packed crowd on Rod Laver Arena as fans wondered whether Hrbaty's amazing Australian Open 2006 campaign could continue.
  
  The durable Slovakian, who has now played in 37 consecutive Grand Slam events (the longest current streak), had spent a total of 10 hours, 27 minutes on court in winning his first three matches against Oliver Marach, Dick Norman and Igor Andreev respectively.
  
  But when he cruised through the first two sets against Davydenko, it looked as if Hrbaty would finally have an easy passage through to the next round.
  
  However all that changed when Davydenko, aiming to reach his second successive Australian Open quarter-final, easily won the next two sets.
  
  Suddenly the 28-year-old, who admits he runs for fun and who some day wants to run in the New York City marathon, found himself in yet another five-set battle.
  
  The only man ever to win four consecutive five-set matches in the Open Era was Goran Ivanisevic at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics but the feat has never been achieved at Grand Slam level.
  
  Indeed only Jan Kodes (1974 Wimbledon), Eliot Teltscher (1979 French Open), Felix Mantilla (2003 Australian Open) and Robby Ginepri (2005 US Open) had previously played four five-setters in a row at a Grand Slam event but all had lost in the fourth match.
  
  But when Hrbaty broke Davydenko in the opening game of the fifth set, it appeared the Slovakian was on course to create history.
  
  However Davydenko broke straight back in the next game and when he produced a great backhand lob in the sixth game, he had another break point on Hrbaty's serve which he converted to go 4-2 up.
  
  Both players then held serve and it looked like Hrbaty would break back when he had Davydenko 0-40 on serve as the Russian served for the match in the ninth game.
  
  However despite a nervy smash at 15-40 which clipped the tape only to land in, Davydenko recovered and finished the match off with an ace.
  
  Hrbaty admitted his tough Australian Open 2006 campaign had taken a toll on him physically during the clash with Davydenko.
  
  "He was more fresh," Hrbaty said of the Russian. "I think you could see after the third set he was one step ahead of me. I was trying but I didn't have enough power to run for all the balls."
  
  It was only the second time Davydenko had recovered from two sets down to win a match and he now has the chance to equal his previous best Grand Slam performance when he reached the semi-finals at last year's French Open.
  
  Kiefer, meanwhile, notched up his 300th career win and his 50th at a Grand Slam event to continue the remarkable transformation in his fortunes after an injury-marred build-up to the Australian Open when he retired in the semi-final at Kooyong against Andy Roddick due to an ankle injury.
  
  The 28-year-old German has also put aside his poor recent form at Melbourne Park to sweep into the last eight here for the first time since 2000, having bowed out in the first-round in his three previous visits here prior to this year.
  
  In fact it is the first time Kiefer has reached the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam event since the 2000 US Open.
  
  The stunning turnaround has delighted Kiefer, who admits he can still improve.
  
  "I would say I am still far away from my best," he said. "But I'm happy with the way I'm playing at the moment. I still see that many things can happen and anything is possible."
  
  Grosjean overcame a slow start and a poor first serve percentage to reach the quarter-finals at Melbourne Park for the fourth time.
  
  Despite a first serve percentage of just 43 for the match, Grosjean still served 12 aces and such was his dominance on serve that when he did manage to get his first serve into play, he lost just two points for the entire match in winning a staggering 94 per cent of such points or 29-of-31 for the match.
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Mon Jan 23 8:19:28 2006.

  The remarkable revelation that is Martina Hingis continued to confound and be admired as she fended off a determined Samantha Stosur in a gritty two-set encounter to book a quarter-final berth against No.2 seed Kim Clijsters at Australian Open 2006.
  
  Nerveless in her third comeback tournament, the former world No.1 was forced to pull out a full array of shots - and big-time experience - to defeat the Australian 6-1 7-6 (10-8) in one hour and 32 minutes at Rod Laver Arena on Day Eight of the Grand Slam of Asia Pacific.
  
  Meanwhile women's No.3 seed Amelie Mauresmo believes she is ready to finally break through at Grand Slam level after cruising into the quarter-finals with a surprisingly one-sided victory against rising Czech star Nicole Vaidisova.
  
  Mauresmo barely raised a sweat against 16-year-old Vaidisova - who cut her ranking from No.77 to No.15 in a 2005 season that was her first full year on the WTA Tour - in winning 6-1 6-1 in under an hour.
  
  Mauresmo will now play Swiss No.7 seed Patty Schnyder after she thrashed a disappointing Anastasia Myskina 6-2 6-1. No.12 seed Myskina - the first Russian woman to ever win a Grand Slam singles title when she took out the 2004 French Open - served poorly and simply made too many mistakes.
  
  Schnyder's first serve percentage was a healthy 69 per cent, but Myskina's was just 48 per cent and the Russian also made 32 unforced errors compared to just 13 from Schnyder.
  
  Belgian Clijsters also continued her easy passage through the tournament so far with another straight-sets win, this time against Italian No.15 seed Francesca Schiavone 7-6 (7/5) 6-4.
  
  2004 finalist Clijsters is yet to drop a set in the tournament despite battling hip and back problems and will now meet the winner of the much-anticipated Martina Hingis-Samantha Stosur match in the quarter-finals.
  
  Three-time Australian Open champion and triple runner-up Hingis looked like she had never been away from the tour when she whipped through the first set in 23 minutes.
  
  Converting 74 per cent of her first serves, Hingis dictated play, using every angle of the court with cross-court forehands, volleys and cute drop shots.
  
  The match threatened to be an ugly and one-sided affair until Stosur made it a heated and gutsy battle in the second set.
  
  It transformed into a contest of craft and wit with long, entertaining rallies, offensive and defensive lobs, risky approach shots and both players struggling to hold serve.
  
  Down a break of serve at 4-5, Stosur leveled the set after enduring a patient 28-shot rally. Hingis, however, continued to put pressure on the Gold Coast 21-year-old and immediately broke back, setting her up to serve for the match.
  
  With Hingis just two points shy of securing a quarter-final berth, Stosur punished a limp 124km second serve with a bludgeoning forehand and forced the set to a tie-break.
  
  After trailing 2-5, Hingis reeled off four straight points and had three match points in the tie-break before converting her fourth to win 10-8 when Stosur's shot from the baseline found the net.
  
  "Sam played an awesome match, she's a real fighter," Hingis, 25, said. "She was the last Aussie standing and I'm sorry for that, I look forward to everyone's support in the next round."
  
  "She's still young, Australian players are more dangerous in their home country and I knew it was going to be difficult. I started off well; I knew I had to get off to a good start and not alllow her any momentum."
  
  Playing in her first Grand Slam singles quarter-final, Stosur said she gained enormous experience from the battle, particularly in front of a supportive and appreciative crowd.
  
  "Martina is just an unbelievable player. She anticipates really well. She's awesome," Stosur said. "It's just awesome experience playing in front of a crowd like that … it's a feeling I'll never forget."
  
  Unfortunately for Vaidisova, who won three successive tournaments last year in Seoul, Tokyo and Bangkok, she seemed overawed playing in front of a packed crowd at Rod Laver Arena as she made 34 unforced errors compared to just two from Mauresmo.
  
  However, Mauresmo's constant pressure throughout the match and her ability to combine precision shot-making with power hitting played a big role in Vaidisova's self-destruction in what served as an ominous warning to her main rivals for this year's women's crown.
  
  It is the 14th time in her past 16 Grand Slam events that the Frenchwoman has reached the last eight but still that breakthrough triumph at the majors has eluded her.
  
  The 26-year-old's only appearance in a Grand Slam final came at Melbourne Park in 1999 when she lost to Martina Hingis. Since then she has lost in the quarter-finals in her past three appearances in Melbourne, in the semi-finals in her past three at Wimbledon and she has never progressed past the quarter-finals at her home Grand Slam at Roland Garros.
  
  But buoyed by her win in last year's season-ending WTA Tour Championships, where she beat countrywoman Mary Pierce in an epic three hour and 46-minute final after also beating Kim Clijsters and Maria Sharapova in the same event, Mauresmo says she has the self-belief needed to win a Grand Slam event.
  
  "Obviously that win gave me experience and made me realise that I can really stay focused against the best players in the world for a few matches in a row, which has to be the case in a Grand Slam," she said.
  
  Mauresmo said she has also learned not to let her emotions get the better of her in big matches.
  
  "I've got a little bit of experience (now) and (winning a Grand Slam) is about not letting the emotions get to you."
  
  "And on the tennis side I think I have improved a little bit and I'm using different things a little better - coming in, staying back sometimes and maybe that will make the difference as well."
  
  Clijsters may be continuing to battle injury but she is nonetheless pleased with the state of her game now that the tournament is in its second week.
  
  "I always had, like I said in my previous press conference, I always have really good matches against her," Clijsters said. "And I feel like, you know, I had to come up. When it was getting close, I really had to come up with some good shots."
  
  "And then that's fun, you know, when you're able to play like that and feel like you're hitting the ball well. You know, that's a great feeling to have against those kind of players. When you have to do it, it's good to be able to do that."
  
  Pleased with the presence of her compatriot Hingis, Schynder gives herself a great chance of upsetting Mauresmo to earn a place in the semi-finals.
  
  "Of course, I mean, it doesn't get any easier, for sure," Schnyder said. "Just try to get the tactics against her and then, yeah, go for it. You never know what's going to happen. She's maybe a little favourite. But I think I have a shot."
  
  
  
  
  

• From: buddysathi on Tue Jan 24 0:57:23 2006.

  It'll be Federer Vs Nalbandian Final!! Time for Fedex to revenge Masters open defeat..
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Tue Jan 24 10:59:09 2006.

  Day-9 Highlights
  
  David Nalbandian has blitzed his way through to the semi-finals of Australian Open 2006 with a 7-5 6-0 6-0 win over France's Fabrice Santoro.
  
  After a tight first set, it looked as if the Argentine No.4 seed would be pushed all the way in his attempt to reach the final four for the first time in Melbourne. But he progressed through the final two sets with surprising ease, stunning unseeded Santoro with a volley of searing winners.
  
  Santoro was the first to break serve, punishing Nalbandian for a series of unforced errors in the seventh game. But the Argentine then broke back and with the set in the balance in the 12th game, dominated the Frenchman's serve to take the set in 51 minutes.
  
  Nalbandian got the important service break in a tight second game of the second set, and Santoro seemed to drop his head. He won just two points on serve for the rest of the set, and just one on Nalbandian's serve as he surrendered the set in just 25 minutes.
  
  As the Argentine eyed a semi-final spot against either Ivan Ljubicic or Marcos Baghdatis, Santoro could do little but watch as the set followed the same pattern as the first. Nalbandian broke him three more times, making it 13 games on the trot, and played the Frenchman off the court in one hour and 41 minutes.
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Tue Jan 24 10:59:53 2006.

  The comeback continues and the question remains; where will it all end?
  
  Martina Hingis, three times triumphant on Rod Laver Arena and thrice runner-up, lived up to her lofty record and reputation, displaying fun, flair and ambition during her fourth-round victory against Australian Samantha Stosur at Australian Open 2006.
  
  The unflinching Swiss right-hander advanced to the quarter-finals of Australian Open 2006 with a gutsy 6-1 7-6 (10-8) win against the home country's final player in the singles draw.
  
  It was both the Hingis of old and Hingis of new. Mustering all her experience with gently nurtured offensive lobs, crafty drop shots and dynamite volleys, Hingis was amazing - particularly in the first set.
  
  The more contemporary Hingis showed off that her precision volleys have improved, and although her service game has come under criticism, she managed to execute 76 per cent of her first serves.
  
  Her anticipatory skills are immaculate, and as each match has progressed throughout the Open, she has gathered more and more confidence of moving closer in from the baseline.
  
  And now for No.2 seed Kim Clijsters, who is adored at Melbourne Park almost as much as Martina. It will be a quarter-final battle fought and won on and off the court.
  
  "This is definitely one of the more relieving matches I've had. Now I already stand in the quarter-finals. Making the last eight coming into this event. I would have never thought I got that far," Hingis said after her win.
  
  "Now here I am. Really no one can take that away from me anymore … right now, I don't really have anything to lose. I know that she (Clijsters) had, well, some problems physically … but she's been overcoming that."
  
  "Definitely she tries to keep the points as short as possible, and I just have to try to outlast her at this point. You know, just the first couple, three shots, are going to be key. Just try to stand against it."
  
  >
  
  Hingis, 25, described her 23-minute first set against Stosur as 'perfect' - and it was.
  
  She won her opening two service games to love and 15 respectively, broke Stosur in the fourth game, came back from 15-40 down in the fifth and broke again to power away to a 5-1 lead. She served out the seventh game and the set conceding just one point.
  
  Stosur manufactured her fightback midway through the second set when errors and fatigue began to creep into Hingis's game.
  
  Hingis conceded a stingy six unforced errors in the first set, and the number blew out to 18 in the second with Stosur putting more pressure on her.
  
  Stosur became more aggressive, adopting a serve and volley approach which converted into 15-points-from-27 shots at the net, and mixing up her powerful ground strokes and overheads.
  
  Down 4-5 and with Hingis serving for the match, Stosur broke back after a well-constructed 28-shot rally. Hingis immediately broke Stosur in the next game and had her 22nd Grand Slam quarter-final within her sights.
  
  Stosur, however, fought back from 0-30 down and took the set to a tie-break when she spanked a 124km second serve from Hingis.
  
  The tie-break was a tense affair with Stosur leading 5-2 before three successive unforced errors pegged the Swiss princess back on even terms.
  
  Hingis had three match points, with Stosur saving the first with a risky and brave 33-shot rally. The fourth was converted when Stosur pumped the ball into the net.
  
  "The first set she was just playing a little bit too good for me out there. And as the match went on, I kind of found what I needed to be doing a bit better," Stosur explained.
  
  "I think she started getting a little bit tired. Obviously the crowd was behind me all the way. I just started grinding it out and just fighting for every point and came within two points of getting the set."
  
  "So, I mean, it's disappointing but I'm also really happy with the way I fought out there and in the end played the match."
  
  "She's just an unbelievable player. She hasn't got a huge serve, she hasn't got big groundies, but she's got everything mentally and just anticipates really well. She just knows what's going on out there."
  
  "She can hit lob winners on the line and reflex volleys back when she needs to. That's what she did to me. She's just an awesome player. Now playing her, I know why she's won all these Grand Slams and why she's probably going to go down as one of the greats ever."
  
  Disappointed yes, down, no. Stosur had to remain chipper because less than an hour after the completion of her singles match, she was back on court again - this time at Margaret Court Arena in the first-round of mixed doubles with fellow Aussie Paul Hanley.
  
  The No.5 seeds were on court for 74 minutes and accounted for compatriot Nicole Pratt and tour veteran Cyril Suk 6-3 6-3.
  
  For Hingis, her remarkable comeback rolls on … and on … and on …
  
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Tue Jan 24 11:01:46 2006.

  M. SHARAPOVA/N. Petrova
  
  7‑6, 6‑4
  
  Q. That was a pretty good fight out there, wasn't it?
  
  MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, it was definitely not easy. You know, we were breaking each other's serves left and right out there. I mean, it was a miracle when someone held serve.
  
  I was having trouble with the direction of the wind. It was going in one direction the whole match. When I was playing against the wind, I would, you know, hit the ball harder with more spin on my serve. Then when I would go to the other side, I'd do the same thing, and it felt like the ball was just, you know, going way out. It just put pressure on my second serve. Knowing she has pretty big serves, that's one of her biggest weapons, you know, that put more pressure on me.
  
  I just tried to hang in there. You know, it's really tough being down two set points. But I gutted it out in the first point, then had an easy second point. You know, yeah, I mean, it definitely wasn't easy.
  
  Q. Might be the survival of the fittest. How are you feeling just at the moment?
  
  MARIA SHARAPOVA: I feel pretty good. My arm is feeling pretty good, yeah. I must say, I didn't expect it to be this good.
  
  Q. Why do you say you didn't expect it to be this good?
  
  MARIA SHARAPOVA: Well, because in my mind I have this (indiscernible) that I'm going to play the whole tournament in pain. So I just know in advance. That's what I thought before the tournament started: I'm going to play this tournament with pain. I'm just going to tough it out and do whatever I can, as long as it doesn't get to a point where I can't play.
  
  Q. What do you do, painkillers?
  
  MARIA SHARAPOVA: No, nothing. Just treatment.
  
  Q. Very high number of unforced errors in that match.
  
  MARIA SHARAPOVA: There were.
  
  Q. What do you put that down to?
  
  MARIA SHARAPOVA: Uhm, I think a little bit of everything. I think the conditions, the wind a little bit, as well as the serve. I think when you have a low percentage of your serves going in, I don't know what it was in the end, but the first set I know wasn't high. That puts pressure on everything else.
  
  I mean, I was trying to think of, you know, how to get my first serve in. That's all I was thinking about, when I should have just, you know, played my game. Yeah, combination of both.
  
  Q. Was the wind swirling?
  
  MARIA SHARAPOVA: No.
  
  Q. Or was it inconsistent?
  
  MARIA SHARAPOVA: No, it was just going in one direction. I think that's why ‑‑ I mean, both of us had problems with our serve. We were breaking each other, making a lot of double‑faults.
  
  Q. At this level, there's rarely what you would call a friendly match, but it seemed like things were a little testy out there. She certainly was unhappy a number of times. Seemed to be unhappy with maybe even Yuri. Does that concern you at all?
  
  MARIA SHARAPOVA: Well, yeah, I get unhappy when, you know, I make six double‑faults in four service games. I mean, that's not normal. I shouldn't be doing that, yeah. On an important point, I get a bad call, yeah, it's normal, I get frustrated.
  
  But, you know, what, you got to go out and you got to deal with it. That's the way it is. Like it or not, with the wind, I mean, there can be so many excuses out there. Can leave me a lot of excuses, but that's not going to do me any good if I keep making excuses.
  
  Q. How do you get along with the other Russian girls on tour at the moment?
  
  MARIA SHARAPOVA: I'm very good friends with Maria Kirilenko. I've known here since we were about 14 years old. She's a very good buddy of mine. Other girls, I'm, "Hello, how are you?" But that's about it. They're a lot older than me. I didn't know them growing up.
  
  So, you know, it makes things a little bit different. You know, anyone, it's hard having great friends on tour when the next day you can go out and play them.
  
  Q. Is there any tension left over from, say, the Fed Cup two years ago?
  
  MARIA SHARAPOVA: What happened?
  
  Q. When Anastasia Myskina...
  
  MARIA SHARAPOVA: Oh, God, no. That's history.
  
  Q. The medical timeout, Petrova in the second set, did that concern you at all?
  
  MARIA SHARAPOVA: It gave me a break. I mean, you know, no, it didn't concern me at all. It was pretty quick.
  
  Q. Do you feel you could beat Justine or Lindsay the way you played today?
  
  MARIA SHARAPOVA: I'll have to step it up, that's for sure. But, yeah, I mean, I'm confident that I can. I'm moving a lot better. I feel like, you know, the biggest weapon of mine is just my toughest, and I know that over any girls, until the end, I'm just going to be a tough opponent. Even if I'm making a lot of unforced errors, I'm just going to try to do the best that I can and just to give it all I have out there.
  
  I've won a lot of matches like that. So even if I'm not going to be playing my best tennis, I'm just going to give it all I have. I don't know if that's going to be enough, but I'll sure be trying.
  
  Q. In the first matches, you were saying you were getting better match by match. Do you feel you did that today, too?
  
  MARIA SHARAPOVA: I definitely wasn't serving as well as I would like to. But game‑wise, I mean, she's a very tricky opponent. She stays way behind the baseline, gets a lot of balls back. I think the main thing was just to be patient. I think, you know, I did what I needed to be done today. I mean, it's hard because the other matches have all been pretty different, in different conditions.
  
  But, you know, that's what makes this tournament even tougher, is every day you go out, played under the roof the other night, the conditions are totally different. Today you have wind and it's hot out.
  
  Q. Did you pay more attention to your support team in the stands today than what you normally do?
  
  MARIA SHARAPOVA: Uhm, no. I just look over there, you know, for inspiration, for just motivation. You know, sometimes when I'm a little bit flat, they get me going.
  
  Q. You were telling Alicia you wouldn't necessarily watch Lindsay and Justine tonight. Do you have to step away from tennis? Is that a conscious effort on these days off that you have to get away from it?
  
  MARIA SHARAPOVA: No. It's just not that I'm going to plan my day, my evening around some match that's on TV, you know. I was on court. I've been waiting for a match the whole day. I'm not going to wait to watch another match that's this evening.
  
  Q. Are you at a point now, when it gets this deep in the tournament, can you even go out without getting hassled for autographs or people wanting to take pictures, or do you have to stay inside?
  
  MARIA SHARAPOVA: I'm not really worried about that. Here everyone's pretty mellowed out. I mean, I just have a few restaurants that I go to on a daily basis. You know, it's fine. I mean, it's not like I have all the time in the world to go out and do things during a Grand Slam. But after that, yeah, I mean, I'll be doing a few things.
  
  I mean, even if I get asked for a few autographs or congratulations, you know, hopefully no "bad lucks." I'm fine with it. It's not a big deal for me. I appreciate it.
  
  Q. Some athletes get enough by playing a sport themselves and don't want to watch television or football or tennis. How do you feel about that? Do you like to watch it on television?
  
  MARIA SHARAPOVA: I'm not the biggest fan, I must say, no. I don't know why. I mean, if there's other things on, I'd rather watch something else than tennis, unless it's like a very exciting match where you know the quality of the tennis is going to be great.
  
  Q. You're not a scout watching?
  
  MARIA SHARAPOVA: No, no, no.
  
  Q. After playing a few matches, what if anything are you telling yourself you have to do to win the tournament? Anything you need to play better?
  
  MARIA SHARAPOVA: I definitely need to improve my percentage of serving next match, that's for sure, you know, work on that. I don't know. Depends who I play.
  
  Q. What would you like to change of this world of tennis?
  
  MARIA SHARAPOVA: The weather of tennis?
  
  Q. What would you like to change of this world of tennis.
  
  MARIA SHARAPOVA: Oh, the world of tennis.
  
  Q. If there is anything that is important for you.
  
  MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, I think there's a lot of things that could make the tennis world more exciting for the players, as well as the fans. I mean, first of all, I think everybody knows that the tennis season is way too long. I mean, it's about 10 and a half months of the year. If you tell it to anyone else, they think you're crazy. If they know nothing about tennis, people think you're absolutely crazy.
  
  I think there needs to be consistency in the surfaces that we play on and the balls that we play with. Seems like, I mean, we're going from Rebound Ace to Tokyo, which is a synthetic grass, to hard court, to a faster surface, to playing with different heaviness of the balls. I mean, there's so many things. I think a lot of the times with the scheduling, I think fans don't know sometimes what tournaments are bigger than the others. I think there needs to be a better structure on the tour. But, again, that is not something that is going to happen very quickly.
  
  I also think that this is a big business for everyone. The WTA Tour and the ATP and the ITF and everyone that's in this whole tennis world needs to come together because I think each and every one of them is trying to make a business in their own little shell. In order to make this game bigger and better, I definitely think they need to come together.
  
  Q. For you personally, off the tennis courts, you say it's not easy to have friends between competitors, you have one, or you're always with your father. Some other people may have more fun than you maybe doing other things.
  
  MARIA SHARAPOVA: That's great. I respect that.
  
  Q. What would you like to change in that prospect? Would you love to have different kind of friendships, deeper friendships, have a chance to meet other people?
  
  MARIA SHARAPOVA: Just different people around the world?
  
  Q. Yes.
  
  MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, I think that's one of the coolest things of traveling around the world, is meeting new people. I love meeting new people and I love working with different kinds of people.
  
  I think just getting to know someone different, I mean, from a different country. I know probably this sounds weird or something, but I enjoy getting to know someone totally new in a different business, about their lives and things like that. That's what I love. I love meeting new people, yeah.
  
  But, I mean, I'm not going to create friends all of a sudden just out of nowhere. I mean, I have friends that I've been friends with since I was younger, and they're still my friends. But I think as you all know, it's very hard for someone that achieved a high level to just get someone from the street and just become friends with them. You never know what they want to be friends with you for.
  
  Q. Do you pray before the match to win this?
  
  MARIA SHARAPOVA: Do I pray?
  
  Q. Do you pray, yes?
  
  MARIA SHARAPOVA: No, I don't pray.
  
  Q. Can you tell us what Yuri puts in those drinks that he sends over to you?
  
  MARIA SHARAPOVA: It's another form of Gatorade or Powerade, same thing.
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Wed Jan 25 10:31:57 2006.

  Day-10 Highlights
  He's got panache, he's got verve and he's sure got one hell of a game; a game that has rattled the foundations of the tennis world - and the men's draw at Australia Open 2006.
  
  Marcos Baghdatis, shamefully a name many in the media could barely pronounce, let alone spell before this tournament, is the toast of the town after crunching another seed on route to his first appearance at a Grand Slam semi-final.
  
  With Euro-sophistication, floppy hair, designer stubble, shiny teeth, as well as a pretty, fresh-faced girlfriend, his looks, charm and appeal pretty well match-up to his game.
  
  He is not bashful of coming forward - to the net. He swathes his racquet like a shimmering sword, slicing, spinning and chopping at his foes. He's refreshingly emotional, inciting fans from Cyprus, Greece and any of those who want to join him.
  
  He punches his heart after big points, alluding to his passion and commitment to the contest, and what's at stake.
  
  Baghdatis' 6-4 6-2 4-6 3-6 6-3 victory against Ivan Ljubicic was a grande affair.
  
  Sprinting to a two-set lead, he appeared to lose his way in the third and fourth sets, but managed to regroup and capture the thrilling fifth and deciding set in peerless fashion.
  
  "I played great tennis first two sets and then I start thinking," he said after the match.
  
  "Whenever I had break point or was close to break him again, start thinking about the victory, start thinking about a lot of things."
  
  "In the fifth set I just said to myself, 'I just fight for it'. And couldn't find any solutions."
  
  "So the only thing I had to do is just put the ball in the court, just try to fight every point, just try not to make a lot of mistakes, go for the right shots at the right moment.
  
  "I got pumped up. I start to move a lot and start to have fun, start to enjoy it in the match. It just pumped me up and made me get some more energy to finish it up."
  
  Transpiring over three hours and 17 minutes, the tennis was of the highest quality with long rallies, powerful passing shots and variation. It was interesting to admire the contrasting styles of the ice-in-the veins Ljubicic versus the hot-blooded Baghdatis.
  
  'Baggy' got off to a flyer winning the opening two sets with meek resistance.
  
  He was in control, winning 92 per cent of points on his first serve and conceding nine unforced errors. 'Loobie', on the other hand, won 63 per cent - in the first - and 67 per cent - in the second - and had 24 unforced errors. The Cypriot won 69 points to his opponent's 42, despite both players cranking out classy forehand and backhand winners.
  
  Ljubicic converted the only break in the third set, and seemingly at will raced through the fourth set in just 30 minutes.
  
  He looked confident and was breathing deeply as if to suck up every ounce of his new-found confidence.
  
  Unwavering in his gallantry, he stayed in the game with patient baseline movement and build-ups.
  
  Fluffing two-break point opportunities against Baghdatis in the third game, you sensed that his chances of pulling off a great comeback, however, had all but nearly faded.
  
  He attempted to move him around the court, but his mounting errors were proving costly.
  
  He finished the set with 14 unforced errors (57 in total for match) compared to Baghdatis' five (26).
  
  Baghdatis ripped out an extraordinary shot to take the scores to Advantage, a carefully threaded passing shot after the Croat had set up the point with a sensational drop shot. He closed-out the game with a forceful volley.
  
  He broke Ljubicic in the following game with an explosive passing shot and then backed it up with an easy service game for a 4-1 lead.
  
  Games went on serve; Ljubicic winning the eighth to love with two sparkling aces.
  
  Baghdatis, with unbridled support from the locals - and his friends, family, tennis comrades and the entire population of Cyprus - firmly behind him, the moment did not pass and he served out the match and into Cypriot immortality.
  
  "It was tough after beating (Andy) Roddick. I felt a bit stressed out in the beginning of this match. Didn't know what will happen, how will I play," he said.
  
  "I played my best match last - two days ago beating Roddick. Just I didn't know what to wait. I mean, I just didn't know how Ivan will play. I was a bit stressed out. But at the end I found a solution, so I'm very happy."
  
  Ljubicic was despondent after the game. He carried the weight of his nation too, and was supremely confident entering in the match against the world No.54.
  
  "I'm disappointed. After third set, I thought I'm going to win because I felt everything much better," he said.
  
  "Finally getting rhythm and play much better … I think he was just pushing the ball back and running left and right."
  
  "I think I was very unlucky in the third set not to get the break in the beginning, then to lose service game after. But that's tennis."
  
  Can Baghdatis believe that he is in the semi-final of a Grand Slam?
  
  "Not yet," he said. '"I don't want to believe it and I don't want to think about it. I just want to take the match like it's a first round and just fight my way through."
  
  
  
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Wed Jan 25 10:37:33 2006.

  Additional info Ivan Ljubicic was the winner of Chennai open -2006
  
  One more info his GF is very beautiful :p
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Wed Jan 25 10:39:54 2006.

  German No.21 seed Nicolas Kiefer has prevailed in an epic quarter-final against French No.25 seed Sebastien Grosjean on Day Ten at Australian Open 2006.
  
  In a five-set thriller which lasted just short of five hours, Kiefer prevailed 6-3 0-6 6-4 7-6 (7/1) 8-6 after a tight and often tense match which decided who will meet either Roger Federer and Nikolay Davydenko in the semi finals.
  
  It was the German who began the match the better, putting immediate pressure on Grosjean's serve, and creating break-point chances in the fourth game before breaking him in the sixth on his way to a one-set lead in 41 minutes
  
  However, the match was turned on its head in an extraordinary second set, where Kiefer's game seemed to fall apart. Unforced errors on break points in the second and fourth game handed Grosjean a huge advantage and the German gave up his set advantage when he double faulted on set point.
  
  Kiefer regained his concentration and broke Grosjean in the first game and third game of the third set. Grosjean pulled one break back, but couldn't get the other one and the German held a 2-1 lead.
  
  The fourth set mimicked the see-sawing nature of the match, with the players exchanging breaks on the first two games. Grosjean then broke his opponent again before a series of three games where another break from the Frenchman was book-ended by a dropped service game. The result was a tie-breaker, which Grosjean won 7-1 to force a fifth set.
  
  The No.25 seed broke Kiefer in the first game, but the German wasn't going down without a fight and levelled things up again in the fourth game. A Grosjean break in the seventh game was matched by Kiefer's break in the eighth and the players settled down to fight out an increasingly tense contest.
  
  Kiefer vehemently protested a line call before an extraordinary 12th game when the German lost control of his racquet and it landed in Grosjean's side of the court. The Frenchman was less than pleased after Kiefer was credited with the point, but managed to win the game regardless.
  
  However after an epic 14th game, the German finally prevailed on his second match point when Grosjean made a crucial error.
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Wed Jan 25 10:44:32 2006.

  World No.1 and overwhelming favourite for the men's title at Australian Open 2006, Switzerland's Roger Federer, has survived a massive scare in the quarter-finals to defeat Russian Nikolay Davydenko.
  
  In a dramatic clash where Davydenko failed to win several big points, the Swiss master triumphed in four sets, 6-4 3-6 7-6 (9/7) 7-6 (7/5), after more than three hours on Rod Laver Arena in the Twilight Session.
  
  Just two days after Federer had a similar heart-scare with a five-set victory over Tommy Haas in the fourth round, the six-time Grand Slam winner looked uncharacteristically shaky as Davydenko threatened to cause a boilover.
  
  Even though Davydenko won the opening set in 38 minutes, the Russian returned the favour in the second set with confident tennis, converting at 88 per cent on his first serve.
  
  Crucially, Davydenko had five set points in the decisive third set - two in his service game at 6-5 and another three after getting on top in the tiebreak - but the No.5 seed failed to deliver.
  
  And Federer was similarly pushed in the fourth set but the world No.1 showed more composure under pressure to take another step towards a second Australian Open crown
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Wed Jan 25 10:47:49 2006.

  Hingis
  
  Martina Hingis' Grand Slam comeback has ended at the quarter-final stage of Australian Open 2006 after she pushed No.2 seed Kim Clijsters to three sets.
  
  The Belgian saw off her opponent's stubborn challenge with a 6-3 2-6 6-4 victory in one hour and 42 minutes.
  
  Clijsters was firmly in control in the first set, breaking Hingis' first service game to love as well as her second to race to a 4-0 lead. Hingis managed to pull a break back, but conceded the set in the ninth game when Clijsters held serve to love.
  
  The second set looked like following a similar pattern when the Belgian broke her Swiss opponent in the first game, but Hingis rallied to get back on even terms in the fourth game as she went on a six-game run to square the match, which included three breaks.
  
  Clijsters again got the first break in the decider, but Hingis' persistence against the No.2 seed's serve paid off as she levelled in the fifth game. The Belgian got another break, however, and then had two match points in the ninth game. Hingis rattled off four straight points to force Clijsters to serve for a spot in the semi-final against Amelie Mauresmo. She did that to love and keeps her hopes of a second Grand Slam title alive.
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Fri Jan 27 10:17:07 2006.

  Day 11 and Day 12 Highlights
  
  Cypriot sensation Marcos Baghdatis has stormed into the men's final of Australian Open 2006 with an epic, come-from-behind semi-final win over highly-ranked Argentine David Nalbandian in the Twilight Session on Day 11 at Melbourne Park.
  
  Urged on by his highly-vocal cheer squad, the world No.54's meteoric climb through the tournament appeared certain to come to an end at two sets down, but Baghdatis was able to summon a Herculean effort to come back and take the match 3-6 5-7 6-3 6-4 6-4.
  
  After winning the Australian Open junior boy's crown in 2003, this will be the 20-year-old's first Grand-Slam final appearance with his previous best result a fourth-round berth at last year's Centenary Open.
  
  It was a night of high drama until the very end, with play suspended by a torrential downpour with the score at 5-4 and 15-15 as Baghdatis attempted to serve out the match.
  
  Having fought so hard for the opportunity, you could only sympathise with Baghdatis as he raised his arms to the heavens in disbelief as he trudged off Centre Court to await the closing of the Rod Laver Arena roof.
  
  With the court dry and the roof closed, play resumed after a 30-minute pause and the Cypriot held his nerve - serving an ace for the win on his second match point.
  
  "It's like a dream, I have to wake up I think because it's unbelievable - I don't know what to say - it's just amazing," Baghdatis said after the gallant victory.
  
  "It's a dream (of mine) to play here and win this tournament - I believe it, my coach believes it, the guys I work with believe it, my parents believe it - I work for that and I believe in it.
  
  "I'm very proud of myself and very proud of what we've been working on through the years. It's been an amazing career for me, it's like a story and I'm just very proud."
  
  He was at a loss to explain his Houdini-like escape from the jaws of defeat.
  
  "To tell you the truth I don't really know," Baghdatis said with a laugh.
  
  "I'm playing amazing tennis, I just stopped thinking and just played my tennis, tried to be very aggressive and everything was going in. I'm just in my own world right now I think."
  
  No.4 seed Nalbandian joins fellow seeds Andy Roddick (2) and Ivan Ljubicic (7) as one of the highly-ranked casualties of Baghdatis' stirring run to the final, with the success story of the tournament set to meet either world No.1 Roger Federer or Nicolas Kiefer in the final.
  
  The classy Argentine had all the answers in the first set-and-a-half, while Baghdatis seemed to have finally run out of ideas after thrilling the crowd with his inventive play throughout his Open run.
  
  The tension of the occasion was evident early in the match with both players losing their serves soon after the start, but that was to be Baghdatis' only break opportunity for the set, while Nalbandian had nine and converted two of them to take the set comfortably.
  
  The Cypriot was quickly down two service breaks in the second set, but managed to break Nalbandian as he served for the set at 5-2 and held his own serve in the next game with relative ease.
  
  The comeback was in top gear when he broke the Argentine again to be back on serve at 5-5 with the pumped-up Baghdatis raising his fist to the ecstatic crowd, but their elation didn't last long as he lost his serve in the very next game.
  
  Like many before him, Baghdatis appeared spooked by the onset of the traditional fireworks display let off in a nearby park to commemorate Australia Day, losing his serve and the set after Nalbandian held.
  
  The third set proceeded on serve until Baghdatis broke the pattern, pulling out some stunning forehand winners to go up a break at 4-2. He held his nerve and his serve this time and went on to serve out the set with an ace two games later.
  
  The Cypriot's serve was his Achilles heel in the first two sets, but it became his most formidable weapon in the third and fourth with his winning percentage on first serve a stunning 93 per cent in the third and 88 per cent in the fourth.
  
  Baghdatis sent the match into five sets by converting his only break point opportunity in the fourth set and successfully holding off a determined challenge from Nalbandian.
  
  The differing body language of the players was notable as they came on court for the decisive set with Baghdatis skipping to his end, while Nalbandian trudged wearily to his, wiping sweat off his face with a towel as he went.
  
  It made little difference early, however, as the Argentine struck first, breaking to go ahead 2-0 before, once again, being broken right back. The two broke each other once again as the set progressed, but Baghdatis made his move in the ninth game, breaking the No.4 seed to love, before going on to eventually serve out the match.
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Fri Jan 27 10:18:15 2006.

  France's Amelie Mauresmo will finally get the chance to shed her tag as the best female player yet to win a major tournament after qualifying for her first Grand Slam final in seven years.
  
  Mauresmo, the No.3 seed, will take on No.8 seed Justine Henin-Hardenne in the women's singles final at Australian Open 2006 after taking advantage of an unfortunate injury to Belgium's Kim Clijsters during their epic semi-final on Rod Laver Arena.
  
  Mauresmo, whose only previous appearance in a Grand Slam final came here in 1999 when she lost to Martina Hingis, had just broken Clijsters to lead 3-2 in the deciding set when the No.2 seed was forced to retire with an ankle injury.
  
  Earlier Henin-Hardenne continued her magnificent recent record in Australia by winning her 22nd consecutive match 'Down Under' to book her place in the final by beating Russian No.4 seed Maria Sharapova 4-6 6-1 6-4 in two hours and 26 minutes of high quality tennis.
  
  It was the second successive year Sharapova, the 2004 Wimbledon champion, had blown a one-set lead in the semi-finals at the Australian Open after last year squandering three match points in the third set in losing to eventual champion Serena Williams.
  
  And it was the fourth time in the past five Grand Slams that the Russian teenager had bowed out in the semi-finals as she continues to search for that elusive second Grand Slam title.
  
  But for Mauresmo her 5-7 6-2 3-2 victory ends her frustrating run of exits just prior to the final in Grand Slam events having bowed out at either the quarter final or semi-final stage in 13 of her past 15 Grand Slam tournaments without once reaching the final.
  
  "It feels good (to finally be in another Grand Slam final)," Mauresmo said.
  
  "For all those years (in between) I was working hard and adjusting a few things here and there to do my best.
  
  "And I'm in the final right now and I don't want to stop there, I want to give it 100 per cent on Saturday (in the final) and try to get a trophy."
  
  Mauresmo said she felt sorry for Clijsters describing her injury as "a very strange way to finish a match".
  
  Clijsters, also searching for her first Australian Open crown and second Grand Slam success after winning last year's US Open, can consider herself desperately unlucky not to be taking on Henin-Hardenne in yet another Grand Slam final.
  
  Clijsters broke Mauresmo in the 12th game to win a tight first set after Mauresmo double-faulted on set point but her game disintegrated in the second set after the Frenchwoman broke her to love in the third game.
  
  The Belgian made 16 unforced errors to just five from Mauresmo for the set as Mauresmo claimed it 6-2 in just 28 minutes to level the match at one-set all.
  
  The third began with Mauresmo breaking Clijsters in the opening game but Clijsters then broke back in the fourth game.
  
  In the next game Mauresmo broke again to take a 3-2 lead but Clijsters fell awkwardly on her right ankle in the last point of the game.
  
  After calling for an injury time-out, Clijsters had her ankle heavily strapped and looked as though she was going to be able to continue before retiring and handing a place in the final to Mauresmo.
  
  Afterwards Clijsters spoke of her frustration at having to retire at such a crucial stage of such a crucial match.
  
  "I got myself back into the match in the third set and I ran around my backhand and tried to hit a forehand inside out and I went over on my ankle and I felt it straight away," Clijsters said.
  
  "It's very frustrating because I felt in that third set I was getting into it and playing better again and starting to hit the ball cleaner.
  
  "I felt if I kept playing the way I was going then anything could have happened."
  
  However, despite the loss, Clijsters will still become the new No.1 player in the world when the latest rankings are released on Monday following Lindsay Davenport's loss to Henin-Hardenne in the quarter finals.
  
  Henin-Hardenne showed great character in getting past Sharapova in the earlier semi-final to continue her love affair with Australia where her last loss came way back in the 2003 Australian Open semi-final against Venus Williams.
  
  Since then the Belgian has won the 2004 Australian Open crown and the 2004 and 2006 Sydney titles having not played in Australia in 2005 due to a knee injury.
  
  Henin-Hardenne will be aiming for her second Australian Open crown and fifth Grand Slam success, having also won the 2003 US and French Opens and the 2005 French Open in winning her past four Grand Slam finals since losing her first major final to Venus Williams at the 2001 Wimbledon.
  
  The No.8 seed said the win over Sharapova had been one of the toughest of her career and she is thrilled to be in another Grand Slam final in only her second tournament back after missing the end of last season with a hamstring injury.
  
  "I'm very proud of myself because I kept fighting during the whole match, even when the points were very long," she said.
  
  "I ran like I probably have never run in the past on the tennis court.
  
  "I have surprised myself for sure because when I arrived here I was coming to play a couple of matches and get my confidence back.
  
  "It's been tough for me to be injured for such a long time and no matter what happens (in the final) on Saturday I think I can be proud of my comeback."
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Fri Jan 27 10:24:55 2006.

  Finals
  Men
  Roger Federer Vs Marcos Baghdatis
  
  In semi's Federer beat Nicholas Kiefer of Germany
  6-3 5-7 6-0 6-2
  
  Women
  Amelie Mauresmo Vs Justine Henin-Hardenne
  
  In semi's Justine beat Maria Sharapova
  
  4-1 6-1 6-4
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Fri Jan 27 10:28:13 2006.

  Paes
  
  Men's No.1 seeds Bob and Mike Bryan are through to the final of Australian Open 2006 after a straight-sets win over Australian Paul Hanley and Zimbabwean Kevin Ullyett.
  
  The Bryans, who are looking for their first Australian Open title, claimed the semi-final 6-3 6-4 and now plays the No.7 seeded pairing of Czech Martin Damm and Indian veteran Leander Paes.
  
  The Americans took just 28 minutes to wrap up the first set, losing just two points on their own serve and effecting the break necessary to take a one-set advantage.
  
  The second set was a slighter tougher assignment as the Melbourne heat, tipped to reach 38C, started to take its toll. Still, the twins conceded just five points on their serve, broke Hanley and Ullyett at their only opportunity, and wrapped up the match in 63 minutes.
  
  Out on Margaret Court Arena, Damm and Paes ended the run of unseeded Polish pair Mariusz Frystenberg and Marcin Matkowski in a match that lasted just 17 minutes longer than the clash on Rod Laver Arena. Damm and Paes won 6-2 6-4.
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Fri Jan 27 10:33:47 2006.

  Bhupathy
  
  Mahesh Bhupathy/Hingis rocks into Finals in the mixed doubles.They will meet Daniel Nestor/Elena Likhovetseva.Earlier this pair Nestor/Elena Likhovetseva beat Leander Paes/Nathalie Dechy
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Sun Jan 29 9:14:10 2006.

  Day 13 & Day 14 Highlights
  
  Men Singles Final
  
  Roger Federer Beat Marcos Baghdatis and takes this year first grandslam
  
  7-5 5-7 6-0 6-2
  
  Anybody saw the emotional filled presentation ceremony?
  
  Womens Singles Final
  
  Amelie Mauresmo Beat Justine Henin-Hardenne
  
  6-1 2-0 (Retired)
  
  Mens Doubles Final
  
  Bob Bryan/Mike Bryan Beats Martin Damm/Leander Paes
  
  4-6 6-3 6-4
  
  Womens Doubles Final
  
  Zi Yan/Jie Zheng Beats Lisa Raymond/Samantha Stosur
  
  6-2 6-7 3-6
  
  Mixed Doubles Final
  
  Bhupathi/ Hingis
  
  Mahesh Bhupathi/Martina Hingis Beats Daniel Nestor /Elena Likhovtseva
  
  6-3 6-3
  
  
  
  -------------------------------------End--------------------------------------------
  
  

• From: buddysathi on Mon Jan 30 3:11:43 2006.

  [quote="Beckham"]Day 13 & Day 14 Highlights
  
  Men Singles Final
  
  Roger Federer Beat Marcos Baghdatis and takes this year first grandslam
  
  7-5 5-7 6-0 6-2
  
  Anybody saw the emotional filled presentation ceremony?
  
  quote]
  
  He cried like a baby.. He mentioned later, its tears of relief than joy..Media dragged him saying he's not at his best, but still managed to win the GRAND SLAM?!?!
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Mon Jan 30 4:55:52 2006.

  Yeah partially i will accept.Baghdatis had a great chance of winning the cup but he failed to capitalise the chances.After winning the first set, Baghdatis breaked a game in the second set but failed to continue! Poor Baghdatis!
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Sun Apr 9 10:43:46 2006.

  Davis Cup
  
  India Vs Pakistan
  
  Age has not mellowed down the fighter in Leander Paes one bit. The 33-year-old beat the rising heat, cramps and a charged up opponent to give India another memorable victory in the Davis Cup.
  
  And sporting rivalries don't get better or bigger than this one. India was playing Davis Cup against Pakistan after 33 years and the passion spilled over during a draining day at the Brabourne stadium.
  
  India's captain Paes, who gave up the fourth set to preserve himself for the last, beat Aqeel Khan 6-4, 7-6(4), 3-6, 0-6, 6-1 amid an electric atmosphere to help India to a 3-2 victory.
  
  Earlier in the morning, Aisam Qureshi outlasted Prakash Amritraj 6-2, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 in another high intensity encounter to draw Pakistan level in the tie.
  
  Qureshi was left dehydrated by the effort and was rushed to hospital after the match. He returned after treatment later as Paes battled it out for a memorable victory.
  
  Paes's decision to pick himself over India's number two player Rohan Bopanna seemed to have backfired as the veteran player's fitness was tested to the fullest four more than three hours. He suffered cramps in the third set and seemed unable to move by the fourth. He just about threw in the serves and didn't even attempt a shot that wasn't within his reach.
  
  He took a medical break in the fifth set as well and wasn't at his best even in the third set, but the sheer will was enough to break Khan's confidence.
  
  The crowd got behind him and even the Indian bench cheered for their captain wildly as he saved three break-points in the first game of the fifth set and then went onto break Khan to take a 2-0 lead.
  
  Paes, who played his last Davis Cup tie against Uzbekistan last year, showed no signs of rust as he walked through the first set with a break in the tenth game.
  
  Khan ran Paes close in the second set, but couldn't stop him from taking it via the tie-breaker at 7-4.
  
  The Indian took a bathroom break after the second set and Khan cut a forlorn figure as he slumped into the chair, towel wrapped around his face. He came out to face Paes in the third set with a glimmer of hope and tears still lingering in his eyes.
  
  The break affected Paes's momentum and he was broken in the fourth game with Pakistan up 3-1. That's where the slump began for India. Paes couldn't get in the returns and his volleys dropped well before the net. Khan saw his chance and seized it.
  
  He ran through Paes in the fourth set and looked good to end the tie in heartbreak for India.
  
  But, as Mahesh Bhupathi later said, "When the chips are down you can't trust anyone better than Paes to do the job for India in Davis Cup."
  
  The 33-year-old Paes, who has won 78 of his 108 Davis Cup singles ties over 17 years, drew inspiration from those years of hard work for India and turned tables on Aqeel. Apart from the first game of the fifth set, where he faced three break-points, Paes played through the set in a trance. The minute he was able to move and challenge Khan, the Pakistani was held paralysed by the Indian ace's spirit.
  
  In the end, Paes took the deciding set 6-1 to script another memorable Davis Cup win and win the hearts if the Indian crowd all over again.
  
  Aisam Qureshi too good for Amritraj
  
  Qureshi was a distinct class above Amritraj in the first reverse singles as he overcame cramps in another intense performance to draw Pakistan 2-2 level in the tie.
  
  The game started with a flurry of big serves as Amritraj cracked three service winners to win the first game comfortably. Qureshi followed it up by firing three aces in his first service game as the first few games hardly saw any rallies.
  
  Pakistan got into the lead when Qureshi broke Amritraj in the second service game and followed it up with sizzling serves and volleys to race through the set 6-2.
  
  Amritraj was outclassed in the first two sets by the Pakistani, who has a game tailor-made for grass. Though Amritraj tried to attack the net, he was unable to put away the volleys. Qureshi pushed the bar too high and the Indian didn't have any weapons to beat him.
  
  Amritraj was broken in the third game in the second set too and though he saved a set point, Qureshi served out the set with an ace.
  
  Just when it looked like a cakewalk for the 26-year-old from Lahore, Amritraj fed off the massive crowd support to bounce back in the third set. Qureshi served a double fault to hand over the sixth game and Amritraj consolidated the break to go up 5-2.
  
  The Indian youngster hung in by the thread, moved Qureshi round the court and got his volleys working to win the set 6-3.
  
  The players traded breaks in the first couple of games in the fourth set. Qureshi hit a cracking return winner to break Amritraj in the second game as well and go 3-1 into the lead. After the first point in the next game Qureshi went down with cramps and took a medical break.
  
  The heat and humidity in Mumbai was draining for both the players as the Indian camp also tended to Amritraj meticulously. Amritraj had suffered from cramps in his first singles encounter against Aqeel Khan.
  
  But Qureshi came out after the break stronger and broke Amritraj in the eighth game. When Amritraj slammed the ball into the net at match-point, Qureshi went down on his knees, kissed the ground and broke into tears in triumph
  
  

• From: rocketboy on Mon Apr 10 15:57:13 2006.

  There is a wonderful write up on leander paes in the hindu today. Its nothing short of a tribute to one of the most glorious heroes of Indian sports. Some excerpts from the article :
  
  " ...this is precisely why leander transcends sports - he is much more than a tennis champion ,or even an athletic achiever. As an Indian, Leander is the yardstick. You measure every other champion of the era against Leander when it comes to committment to the country's cause. "
  
  "Has winning for the country ever meant so much to any other athlete in the history of sport in India? Has it ever meant to as much anyone as it does to Leander."
  
  " No man who has ever played for India can claim to have done so with greater pride and commitment and with a bigger heart than India's Davis cup Hero"
  
  

• From: Ghlli on Sun Apr 30 21:14:59 2006.

  tennis
  
  

• From: mgb on Tue May 2 8:39:54 2006.

  rocketboy wrote:

  "Has winning for the country ever meant so much to any other athlete in the history of sport in India? Has it ever meant to as much anyone as it does to Leander."

  
  
  True. This is what made him win a bronze medal in olympics when he was not even ranked in the top 100.
  
  

• From: S.Balaji on Tue May 2 8:57:20 2006.

  this year's french open.....
  
  looks like another cup for Nadal only ......
  
  very few can challenge him on clay court today ......
  
  wont be surprised if Federer gets knocked out .........
  
  but Federer will win Wimbledon ...thats for sure......
  
  

• From: mgb on Tue May 2 8:59:20 2006.

  agree with you balaji
  
  

• From: S.Balaji on Tue May 2 9:06:52 2006.

  MGB
  
  Wonder now a days few Americans are hitting the headlines......
  
  Europeans are dominating
  
  After Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras, I couldnt see any high quality player ( Jim Courier was there in brief )
  
  are Americans focussing on other sports ??
  
  I feel the game itself has lost its charm compared to the days when Becker, Agassi, Edberg, Lendl, Cash, Wilander ....... were all playing .....
  
  

• From: mgb on Tue May 2 9:41:40 2006.

  me too balaji.
  
  Nothing can match Connors Vs Mcnroe 1982 wimbledon finals.
  
  I used to forgo everything for Matches involving Becker and Edberg (including my preparation for May CA exams).
  
  

• From: S.Balaji on Tue May 2 9:46:02 2006.

  MGB
  
  I am one of those fortunate to watch from 79 finals !! Borg vs Mac ....
  and all the finals after that !
  
  IMO, the worst final : Lendl vs Pat Cash
  
  The best final : Borg vs Mac 79
  
  Sad story : Lendl vs Becker semifinal 1987 ?? or 89 ...probably Lendl played his best ever grass court tennis .......and was ahead of Becker by 2 to 1 ... a shower ...the game went to the next day.....AND IT WAS BECKER...WHOSE BACKHAND KILLED LENDL....
  
  The next day...HIndu news had the title...BECKER'S BACKHAND SPEAKS !
  
  

• From: S.Balaji on Tue May 2 9:48:46 2006.

  Edberg's grass court game was fascinating...... like GR Vishvanath's artistic touch....
  
  He was one guy who gave charm to the game which was dominated by Hard hitters like Lendl, Becker, Agassi...
  
  another eccentric guy...Miloslav Mecir ..... excellent player but lost direction.......faded soon.....
  
  

• From: mgb on Tue May 2 9:53:59 2006.

  oops i haven't watched borg in action.
  87 was lendl vs cash. The semifinal you are referring should be 89.
  Mecir will be great one day and could be pretty ordinary the next day. I think he won the gold medal in 1988 when tennis was introduced in Olympics
  
  

• From: S.Balaji on Tue May 2 9:58:08 2006.

  yes yes Mecir won the men's section while Steffi won the women's
  
  yes its 89 semifinal only Lendl vs becks.....
  
  Borg used primitive raquets and won so many titles :
  
  1. 6 french open
  2. 5 wimbledon
  3. 4 ?? Australian open
  
  ZERO US OPEN !
  
  

• From: mgb on Tue May 2 10:01:10 2006.

  He used to play with wooden racquets.
  Australian open also i doubt whether he won any.
  
  

• From: S.Balaji on Tue May 2 10:06:12 2006.

  Its like this :
  
  1. Borg - won all grandslam titles except US
  2. Connors - All except French
  3. Lendl - All except Wimbledon
  4. Mcenroe - All except French
  5. Pete Sampras - all except French
  
  One guy who was capable to win all titles / surfaces : Ande Agassi........
  
  I think he won each title in different years....
  
  

• From: mgb on Tue May 2 10:12:13 2006.

  mmm. that too agassi vowed he wiill never play in grass and commented grass is for cows etc. but ironically his first grand slam was wimbledon
  
  

• From: S.Balaji on Tue May 2 10:16:57 2006.

  Agassi vs Goran Ivanisevic ...
  
  that epic 5 setter !!
  
  Agassi was the only guy to play from baseline in Wimbledon and went on to win handsomely !!
  
  that tournament also witnessed record number of aces from Goran
  
  

• From: mgb on Tue May 2 10:32:27 2006.

  Goran is another exciting player. Poor guy lost to andrez gomez of equador in another final
  
  

• From: Ghlli on Tue May 2 11:02:39 2006.

  venus williams
  
  although she makes the most WIERD sounds on court
  
  

• From: sgokulprathap on Sun May 14 23:37:38 2006.

  Nadal shatters Federer to equal winning record
  
  ROME, (AFP) - Spanish sensation Rafael Nadal equalled the record of 53 straight clay-court victories as he saved two match points on his way to beating top seed Roger Federer 6-7 (0/7), 7-6 (7/5), 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (7/5) to win the Rome Masters on Sunday. Nadal's fourth straight victory over his world number one rival equalled the clay run of match success established by Argentine Guillermo Vilas in 1977. It was Nadal's fifth victory over Federer in six meetings between the top two players in the world.
  Nadal successfully defended his third clay title of the season after Monte Carlo and Barcelona.
  
  "I'm very content, this was a fantastic win," said Nadal, who saved two match points in the 12th game of the final set in a match which lasted five hours, six minutes.
  
  "The crowd was just great. I'm happy to have won a second title here. But Roger is a great player.
  
  "He's been the finalist at Monte Carlo, finalist at Rome and three times a Hamburg champion on clay. I think it will be easier for him to win Roland Garros than for me to win Wimbledon."
  
  Federer insisted that he learnt lessons from the match.
  
  "It's disappointing but I improved certain things today," said the Swiss world number one.
  
  "Each time I play him, I try to be the aggressive player and come to the net and I have to continue like that."
  
  Federer led 4-1 in the final set and served for victory in the 12th game. Nadal stood 0-30 in that game after his only double-fault of a long afternoon on the clay
  
  But a pair of forehand mistakes, among 89 unforced errors off the Swiss player's racket in a match where he went to the attack from the start nullified both match points.
  
  Nadal held serve for 6-6 to force a tiebreaker, where Federer couldn't hold a 3-1 lead.
  
  The world number one put a backhand long on a service return to hand Nadal his victory chance, which the young king of clay converted as a Federer forehand sailed out.
  
  The final was the second marathon here in as many years - it took Nadal just eight minutes longer to defeat Guillermo Coria for the trophy a year ago.
  
  The teenager will head to Roland Garros riding a wave of form as defending champion.
  
  All three of Federer's defeats this season have all come at the hands of his young rival.
  
  The Swiss, accompanied during the clay season by legendary coach Tony Roche, is pointing his spring season towards Paris, where he is keen to lift the French Open, the only Grand Slam title which he has never won.
  
  Federer played a solid first set, trading breaks with second seed before the set headed into a tiebreaker.
  
  The Swiss dominated in style, sweeping it to love after 70 minutes.
  
  But the energetic Nadal began to pull his powerful game together after the early setback.
  
  Nadal missed on a set point in the second leading 5-4 but won a tiebreaker as Federer netted a backhand.
  
  Nadal consolidated in the third set to take the lead after three hours on court before the Federer resurgence.
  
  Federer, playing in his 13th straight final, had lost only three of those coming in - Dubai and Monte Carlo this season to Nadal and the Masters Cup in Shanghai to David Nalbandian last year, whom he beat in the Rome semis.
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Tue May 30 10:35:50 2006.

  French Open-Day1&Day2 Highlights
  
  
  Juan Carlos Ferrero is in to the second round at Roland Garros, but not without a fight from 17-year-old Juan Martin Del Potro.
  
  The 2003 French champion needed four sets and two hours, 57 minutes to oust the youngest man in the draw, 6-3 2-6 6-2 6-4, on a cold and overcast Monday. At times, the Argentine qualifier controlled the match, but seemed to run out of gas as Ferrero pulled away over the final two sets.
  
  The match mirrored Ferrero's recent history, during which his ranking dropped to No70 in the world, rose to 18th and is now at No27. The Spaniard had little trouble claiming the first set after building a 5-1 lead. But in the second, Del Potro attacked and reeled off the final four games to level the match.
  
  Del Potro, in his Grand Slam debut, returned brilliantly in the second set, earning break points in all four of Ferrero's service games. That trend continued early in the third, but the youngster showed his inexperience and allowed Ferrero to reclaim control of the tilt.
  
  With a chance to break to 2-0, Del Potro got tight and passed up four break points. Ferrero held and, in a flash, led, 5-1.
  
  In the fourth set, Ferrero made an early break hold up, finally closing out the match when a Del Potro return died in the net.
  
  Ferrero is still trying to find his form on clay. He reached the Barcelona quarters and the round of 16 in Monte Carlo and Hamburg, but also lost his opening round match three times (Salvador, Valencia and Rome).
  
  Ferrero, the No24 seed, will play Philipp Kohlschreiber or Olivier Marach in the second round. He has yet to face either.
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Tue May 30 10:38:28 2006.

  Martina Hingis won her first Roland Garros match in five years with relative ease, 6-2 6-2, over Lisa Raymond inside Court Philippe Chatrier Tuesday.
  
  The former world No1 and two-time runner-up had more issues with the fall-like temperatures than the 32-year-old American, who committed 25 unforced errors. Hingis has now won seven consecutive clay court matches after her triumph in Rome just over a week ago.
  
  "Somehow it didn't feel like it's that long," the No12 seed said of her hiatus. "Maybe also because I had a first round opponent who I was comfortable with…but, you know, I had to go out there and do my job. I'm pleased with my win today."
  
  Roughly six months since ending her semi-retirement due to foot and ankle injuries, Hingis is counted among the favorites here, especially with the Rome crown on her résumé. But the 14th-ranked player in the world does not want to be part of that conversation just yet.
  
  "I don't want to put any extra pressure on myself because I don't have to," Hingis said. "Of course, it feels better moving into tournaments, Grand Slams, with having won the last tournament. It definitely gives me hopes and the confidence."
  
  And it made her more relaxed as she returned to the location of one of the lowest points of her career - her meltdown in the 1999 final against Steffi Graf.
  
  "Everybody probably expects me to say [it] is overwhelming to be back here," Hingis said. "You play your matches, try to be focused. You just do your things you got to do to be done that moment, that day.
  
  "I wasn't really nervous going out there today because I felt confident. That confidence takes a lot of nerves away. That's why I feel the way I never did a big deal of anything anyway. That's my mentality. That's how I am."
  
  Hingis won the opening three games of the match with Raymond struggling to find her stride. And while the American did eventually sure up her game, she was never consistent enough to truly challenge Hingis. The No12 seed clinched the set with her second break of serve thanks to consecutive errors from Raymond.
  
  In the second set, Raymond flirted with a break in the third game, but could not convert, putting three straight balls in the net. Her poor play carried into the next game as Hingis broke to put the match away.
  
  "I don't think I was totally tested today," Hingis admitted. "It's hard to say something after 6-2 6-2 against Lisa Raymond. I'm sure once you work yourself into the tournament, you can tell more. I'm just happy the first round's over."
  
  And she's happy to be indoors after dealing with temperatures barely in double digits Celsius.
  
  "It doesn't affect you that much once you're running and everything. It's more the warm-up that is really important before going on court," Hingis explained. "I'm from a cold country, so it shouldn't be such a big factor."
  
  Hingis now boasts 32 career wins on Parisian clay and will look for number 33 against Zuzana Ondraskova in the second round. It will be their first meeting.
  
  
  
  
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Tue May 30 10:41:23 2006.

  The top seeds overcame blustery conditions on Monday to race into round two of the tournament.
  
  Despite the poor weather and a brief rain shower, Spain's Rafael Nadal wasted no time in stomping Robin Soderling of Sweden, 6-2 7-5 6-1, in two hours and eight minutes on Court Philippe Chatrier.
  
  By virtue of his success, the Mallorcan established a new record for the longest clay court winning streak in the Open era.
  
  Nadal won his 54th match on the trot, passing all-time great Guillermo Villas' previous mark of 53.
  
  "It's an important day for me. It's a beautiful record,'" said 19-year-old Nadal, who has not lost on clay since April 7 2005.
  
  "It was the worse day to play on clay today. It was dangerous. But it was nice to come back here and get that first match out of the way."
  
  Earlier on Monday, 2004 champ Gaston Gaudio, the No10 seed, hardly broke a sweat in his 6-2 6-2 6-2 dismantling of Croatian qualifier Roko Karanusic.
  
  The 27-year-old Argentinean proved too strong for the 180-ranked Karanusic who was playing his first ever Roland Garros.
  
  Gaudio, who squares off with little-known Russian Evgeny Koralev in the second round, is on course for a dramatic third round clash with 2003 champion Juan-Carlos Ferrero of Spain. Ferrero posted a 6-3 2-6 6-2 6-4 win over teenager Juan Martin Del Potro.
  
  Also joining Gaudio in round two is Russian Nikolay Davydenko, a 7-5 6-4 6-4 victor over US veteran Vincent Spadea.
  
  Meanwhile on the women's side, second seed Kim Clijsters of Belgium survived a second set scare against Virginie Razzano.
  
  After steamrolling the Frenchwoman in the opener, Clijsters, a two-time runner up here at the 'Porte d'Auteuil', blew hot and cold. Down 2-5 in the second set, she regrouped just in time to snatch the victory in a contested tie breaker 6-0 7-6 (4).
  
  "In the second set, I wasn't being aggressive enough," Clijsters said. "Today, it was almost playing like on a hard court because of the wind."
  
  Asked about her chances of reigning supreme on the final day of the tournament, Clijsters said: ''My goal is to find the game that allowed me to win the US Open last year. At least feel as good. It's hard because my game depends on my movement. And moving on clay is harder for me."
  
  No11 seed Venus Williams also produced a streaky performance despite her 6-4 6-3 triumph over Austria's Sybille Bammer. The US player thumped 26 winners but committed 33 unforced errors.
  
  Venus, making her tenth consecutive appearance here, is bidding to capture her first Roland Garros after reaching the finals in 2002, her best showing to date.
  
  Also advancing Monday was Russian Elena Dementieva, the No6 seed and 2004 runner-up, who ousted Slovakian Martina Sucha 7-6(3) 6-2, and fellow countrywoman Svetlana Kuznetsova, who mercilessly dumped Laura Granville 6-4 6-0.
  
  

• From: ab_123 on Tue May 30 15:44:35 2006.

  S.Balaji wrote:

  Edberg's grass court game was fascinating.....

  
  
  Yes, he was my favorite. Loved a Edberg-Becker finals. Fun to watch.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Tue May 30 16:21:19 2006.

  its interesting to see how federer fairs in this french open.....
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Wed May 31 3:18:27 2006.

  Day-3 Highlights
  
  RODDICK OUT!
  
  It was a bad and anxious day for the Andys.
  
  After British hopeful Andy Murray and his bad back went down in five sets to France's Gael Monfils, American and fifth seed Andy Roddick withdrew from his first round match against Spaniard Alberto Martin because of a recurrence of an ankle injury. Roddick was trailing 4-6 5-7 0-1.
  
  It was the third time that the American has fallen in the first round here and he has only advanced to the third round once, in his 2001 debut.
  
  Roddick tried vainly to hang in long backcourt rallies with the quick and intelligent Martin, but had trouble sliding and tweaked his ankle a number of times.
  
  Roddick first suffered the injury last week at the World Team Cup and said the ankle never felt 100 percent.
  
  He fought off a break in the second set, but late in the set, he twisted his ankle again. Martin did a terrific job on moving Roddick around and the American was only in control when his serve was cranking, which wasn't often enough.
  
  "At 5-all when I tried to go back for an overhead, I kind of caught it the wrong way again," Roddick said. "It started affecting the way I landed on my serve. Not much else was working besides my serve. It was a lost cause, I think. I didn't think it was going to be a hundred per cent. Maybe I was stupidly optimistic last week. But I was definitely tentative sliding around out there."
  
  Roddick requested a trainer to re-tape his ankle down 0-1 in the third set, but the rulebook no longer allows players to re-tape injuries once a new set has begun. Had Roddick asked for the re-taping after the second set, he would have had his wish granted, but it's unlikely it would have affected the outcome of the match.
  
  "Right now I just want to get healthy,' said Roddick who also suffered an injury in Rome and hasn't won a title this year.
  
  "It's been an extremely annoying the last month or so. It's frustrating. You feel kind of helpless because mentally you're one way, then physically you're another."
  
  With Roddick's exit and Robby Ginepri's loss today, only two American men remain: eighth seed James Blake, who faces red hot Spaniard Nicolas Almagro, and lucky loser Kevin Kim, who has the Herculean task of facing defending champion Rafael Nadal.
  
  The U.S. - which saw three men win four Roland Garros titles between 1989 and 1999 - hasn't seen one of its men reach the second week since Michael Russell in 2001.
  
  "Obviously, we're not in a dominating position," Roddick said. "We're playing a 7 2 off suit against pocket aces right now. I'll pull for James as much as possible. I really hope he does it. Having said that, it's a pretty tough draw, as well."
  
  Two-time Grand Slam champion Lleyton Hewitt came through, besting Jan Henrych 7-6, 3-6, 6-2, 6-0.
  
  Hewitt, who like Roddick has been struggling with injuries and had played only one clay court match coming into Roland Garros, was fairly consistent on the day and never got rattled.
  
  "I haven't played, apart from one match, on clay for two years," Hewitt said. "It's obviously tough to come out here and expect to be playing at your best the whole time. But I felt like there were patches today where I played extremely well. He's not an easy player to play against. So it was a good one to get under my belt."
  
  Hewitt said his sore calf has healed but his ankle is still not 100 percent. He's in Nadal's quadrant and knows he'll have to be in top shape if he's to go far.
  
  "It's obviously pretty tough coming into such a big tournament and not having as many matches, let alone this year but last year as well," he said. " That obviously makes things pretty tough. Hopefully I can get better and better with each match."
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Wed May 31 3:19:37 2006.

  Defending champion Justine Henin-Hardenne began her campaign for a third Roland Garros title with a sterling 6-3 6-0 first round victory over Estonia's Maret Ani.
  
  Playing a forceful contest that featured both her standout all around offense and remarkable defense, Henin overcame a spirited effort from the inexperienced Ani in the first set and wiped the court with her in the second set.
  
  While Ani tried to press the action with her big forehand, Henin showed much more variety than her foe and dominated her from the backhand side.
  
  The Belgian nailed 17 winners to six from her opponent and committed five fewer unforced errors, despite the fact that it was a cold and windy day in Paris. She also knocked in 71 per cent of her first serves.
  
  "It was tough for all player the today," she said. "It was pretty freezing and windy. It's not easy for first match. But it's the best match I've ever served. I was very happy because it's always tough to play the first round, you have to stay focused and be careful. I tried to be a little aggressive. I've been very focused in preparation and I just have to go play my game."
  
  Henin, who went undefeated during last year's clay court season and crushed Mary Pierce in the Roland Garros final, has yet to win a clay court title this year. However, she did score two critical wins on clay over Nadia Petrova and Elena Dementieva in Fed Cup.
  
  She's focused most of her attention on this tournament, where she's arguably been the best player since she first came to light by reaching the semifinals in 2001.
  
  "I feel like at home here," Henin said. "I feel the crowd is behind me 100 per cent. I feel like 2005 was just yesterday. But I try to forget about previous years and try to concentrate on the present. This is a special place for me."
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Wed May 31 3:21:25 2006.

  Two-time French Open semifinalist and No3 seed Nadia Petrova became the first major casualty of the women's tournament on Tuesday, shockingly defeated by Japan's Akiko Morigami 6-2 6-2.
  
  After winning three clay court crowns (Amelia Island, Charleston and Berlin) coming into the event, including overcoming Justine Henin-Hardenne in Berlin, Petrova was expected to make a major push for her first Grand Slam title, but a left leg injury and a quick, zoning foe did her in.
  
  Petrova injured a muscle in her left leg in practice and said she couldn't get a good push off it. She limped around the court, called upon the doctor and even stopped sitting down at the changeovers between games.
  
  The 69-ranked Japanese veteran strung her around the court and showed very quick hands.
  
  Petrova, who reached the 2005 semifinals, was devastated.
  
  "It's a new injury I've never experienced," she said. "I couldn't move and felt slow and it was affecting me in the head. Morigami played her best, but there is no excuse for me not winning the match.
  
  "I'm disappointed because I was really looking forward to this. I've had really good results here. It was really unfortunate what happened to me. It was bad luck."
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Wed May 31 3:22:13 2006.

  SANIA MIRZA
  
  India's Sania Mirza, who begins her campaign at the French Open on Tuesday, dropped two places to be ranked world number 40 in the latest WTA list released on Monday.
  
  The 19-year-old returned to the courts last week at Istanbul after a three-week break to recover from a wrist and lower-back injury.
  
  She bowed out of the US $200,000 event in Istanbul, Turkey in the singles second round after a 6-4, 1-6, 2-6 loss to Michaella Krajicek of The Netherlands. But she made it to the doubles finals of the event along with Alicia Molik of Australia.
  
  France's Amelie Mauresmo retained her world number one spot (3272 points), with Belgian Kim Clijsters close at her heels on 3048. Former champion Martina Hingis, who returned to the elite list with the Italian Open triumph, fell one place to 15 in this week's rankings.
  
  

• From: S.Balaji on Wed May 31 6:36:14 2006.

  Sania is basically a grass court player . Right ? she will find it difficult to sustain in clay court
  I expect her to do well in Wimbledon
  
  Can Roger win French open this time ? looks like he is very determined this time.
  
  The other end seems to Nadal all the way
  
  

• From: mgb on Wed May 31 6:40:57 2006.

  I ll put my money on Nadal
  
  

• From: S.Balaji on Wed May 31 6:48:35 2006.

  mgb wrote:

  I ll put my money on Nadal

  
  
  Hai MGB Ganesh !
  
  Sowkyama ?
  
  Nadal palar palarnu adikiraan. Do you find any grace or charm in his game like Federer ? or Edberg ?
  
  He is another Wilander
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Wed May 31 16:33:33 2006.

  Day-4 Highlights
  
  Top-seeds Roger Federer and Amélie Mauresmo continued their quest for the Parisian crown in contrasting styles on Wednesday.
  
  The Swiss stylist left his struggles behind after his streaky performance against Argentine qualifier Diego Hartfield in round one. On Court Suzanne Lenglen, Federer drew blood, blasting past lucky loser Alejandro Falla 6-1 6-4 6-3, in one-hour, 28 minutes.
  
  Federer's biggest nuisance on this day was the rain that interrupted play twice.
  
  "It's not easy, you know, to come on and off. Conditions are really slow and wet and everything," Federer said. "The match was okay. I sort of played really well in the first set. After that it was on and off. That was I think normal with the rain.
  
  "Now that I won my second round, I'm in the rhythm again," added the Swiss, who enjoyed a two day rest.
  
  "It was nice to get the first match out of the way. I had one day extra. I just got to be able to switch now again to one day in between."
  
  On Friday, the 'Federer express' takes on Chilean Nicolas Massu, who downed Belarus giant Max Mirnyi 6-4 7-5 6-4.
  
  While Federer cruised, third-seeded David Nalbandian battled for his life against Frenchman Richard Gasquet.
  
  The 19-year-old Gasquet held more than his own, dazzling the Parisian crowd with masterful court stewardship.
  
  After splitting the two first sets, Nalbandian fell 4-5 and 0-40 on his serve but he quickly regained control of the match as the Frenchman disintegrated, falling 6-2 3-6 7-5 6-0.
  
  On the women's side, France's favourite daughter Amélie Mauresmo survived a scare against 19-year-old Vera Dushevina.
  
  After securing the first set in 34 minutes, the top-ranked Frenchwoman struggled mightily in the wind. She came close to loosing the second set twice before prevailing 6-1 7-6(5).
  
  "In the first set, I was in control of the game," Mauresmo said. "Then all of a sudden, I'm not sure if it's in my mind or I just relaxed too much. Something happened. Things sort of weren't functioning any more: the serve, the tennis."
  
  "But I think that experience and managing the important points helped me and made the difference in that second set," added the Frenchwoman, who meets Jelena Jankovic of Serbia, a 2-6 6-4 6-1 victor over Marion Bartoli of France earlier on Wednesday.
  
  Two days after being on the brink of elimination - she staved off three match points against American Mashona Washington in round one - fourth-seeded Maria Sharapova restored order as she overwhelmed Czech Iveta Benesova 6-4 6-1 to advance into the third round.
  
  Sharapova feels her condition is improving after each day.
  
  'It was a lot better actually than my previous match. I didn't feel like I was moving great still. (I'm) just being a little cautious out there naturally with the tape on. Pain wise, it felt a lot better," Sharapova said of her right ankle.
  
  The Russian blonde is slated to meet Australian Alicia Molik, who outlasted Romanian qualifier Anda Perianu 3-6 7-6(5) 6-3.
  
  
  
  
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Wed May 31 16:35:23 2006.

  Nalbandian took down French sensation Richard Gasquet, 6-2 3-6 7-5 6-0, and was joined in victory by sixth seed Nicolas Davydenko, 1998 Roland Garros champion Carlos Moya, 2003 champion Juan Carlos Ferrero and 2004 victor Gaston Gaudio.
  
  Although those men are situated in the second quarter of the draw in top seed Roger Federer's half. All feel capable of making major runs here.
  
  Nalbandian, who has reached the semifinals or better at the other three Grand Slams and got to the quarterfinals here last year, played an intelligent, forceful match against Gasquet, jumping on his foe's second serves, playing to sharp angles and continually keeping him out of his rhythm.
  
  "I thought that will be a tough match because he's a very good player," Nalbandian said. "Doesn't matter if I beat him twice before. He's young, he's tough, and he's strong. I think he plays a good match in the beginning. Then it was so windy, so difficult to play. But I think I played good in the end, and that's good."
  
  Gasquet was often spectacular early on, crushing his one-handed backhand and pulling off some amazing volleys. But Gasquet didn't serve consistently enough and towards the end of the third set, lost his focus.
  
  "Apart from losing the second set, being there in the third set, I felt that I was in control of the points," Nalbandian said. "He was counterattacking. I realized that I had a quicker pace than him; I was not going to lose."
  
  Davydenko, a semifinalist here last year, had an easy morning when Flavio Saretta retired with the flu down 6-2 4-1.
  
  He'll face Moya, who thrashed Mikhail Youzhny 6-3 6-4 6-2.
  
  ''I know that I'm not a favorite here,'' Moya said. ''That changes things for you, because you're not under so much pressure. I think I've still got good tennis to play. Playing Davydenko is going to show me where I stand.''
  
  The 24th seeded Ferrero took down Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-2 6-4 6-2 and will face Gaudio, a 6-3 6-7(5) 6-4 3-6 6-4 winner over Russian Evgeny Korolev.
  
  Nicolas Massu the 32nd seed, earned himself a date with top seed Roger Federer after a 6-4 7-5 6-4 win over Max Mirnyi.
  
  Briton Tim Henman contest against Dmitry Tursunov was stopped due to poor light with the Russian winning the first two sets 6-3, 6-2.
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Thu Jun 1 16:09:01 2006.

  Day-5 Highlights
  
  Hope, potential, the odd flash of grit and determination coupled with a few lovely forehands, but ultimately all to no avail… Tim Henman, the last remaining Brit, fell in four sets to his Grand Slam nemesis Dmitry Tursunov in a two-day, four-set epic 6-3 6-2 4-6 6-4. Bring on the grass courts and 'Henman Hill'!
  
  The first two sets were played on a chilly Wednesday night, as evening was falling after a day of rain delays more akin to Wimbledon than its French predecessor. Despite the British weather, however, Tim was off his game right from the start, surrendering his opening service game and losing the first set 6-3.
  
  He needed to hit the ground running in the second, but was again broken on his first service game, leading to a fiery outburst which prompted a warning from the umpire. This did, at least, seem to focus Tiger Tim's mind, and he finally broke back - after squandering six break points - to level at 2-2. That, however, was as good as it got for the Brit on Wednesday evening, with Tursunov breaking him in both of his next two service games via a combination of deep ground strokes and powerful forehands to take the second set 6-2. Bad light then stopped play, and Henman was given a stay of execution.
  
  The players re-emerged on a sunnier, yet still rather brisk, Thursday lunchtime, with Henman clearly determined to take the game to his opponent. After holding serve, the Brit hurtled to the net on the first point on Tursunov's serve, only to find himself gunned down by a bullet of a forehand. Three Russian aces later, and the tone had been set, or so we thought.
  
  All the No31 seed had to do was to sit back and wait for Henman to net a forehand or over-hit a backhand, and a combination of those two errors, followed by a lucky let cord, did for Henman in the fifth game.
  
  Down but not out, Henman broke straight back, twice held serve and began charging to the net on the Tursunov service in game 10. The Russian faltered, and Tiger Tim was back in the match, taking the third set 6-4.
  
  With the crowd well and truly behind him in the fourth, Tim led 3-2 and had a total of eight break points in the sixth game, none of which he managed to convert. He would come to rue this lack of killer instinct, which saw him net an easy smash on 30-40 that would have given him a 4-2 lead. Tursunov turned the tables on him in the next game, requiring only two bites of the cherry to break the Henman serve for a 4-3 lead.
  
  At 5-4, the Brit had one final flurry but failed to capitalise on a break point, and after two hours and 51 minutes, the No31 seed was through, 6-3 6-2 4-6 6-4. Tursunov has now beaten Henman in all of their three encounters - including the Australian Open this January, and last year's Wimbledon.
  
  Tursunov goes from strength to strength, therefore. After falling in the first round in 2004 and the second last year, the stocky Russian is now into the last 32. At this pace, you could do worse than wager a few euros on him to win the tournament in 2011… He is also showing himself to be more adept on clay, but whether he can trouble David Nalbandian in a few days time is another matter. For Henman, however, and the owner of the Union Jack draped over the front row on Court No2, the grass season has already begun…
  
  After the match, Henman was surprisingly upbeat. "There's a large part of me that really is very, very confident about the way that I've been playing, the way that I'm moving on the court," he said.
  
  "My movement, my strength and my enjoyment is probably as good as it's been in the last three or four years, and that's a big motivating factor. Sure, I'd like the results to improve, but I just don't really have any doubts that they will improve because I'm playing good tennis.
  
  "It didn't go my way today, and in those conditions against that type of player, it's difficult. I nearly was able to pull it off, but I do feel very, very optimistic about things."
  
  
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Thu Jun 1 16:09:39 2006.

  Lleyton Hewitt's Roland Garros continued Thursday with a solid 7-5 6-3 6-3 decision over French wild card Mathieu Montcourt.
  
  The two-time Grand Slam winner appeared to be in good form as he recovers from a sprained ankle suffered less than two weeks ago. He retrieved well, hit winners off both wings from the baseline and was proficient at the net.
  
  Hewitt's only real struggles came early in the two-hour, 24-minute match and then at the start of the third set. But the 21-year-old Frenchman, ranked No213 in the world, was never consistent enough to truly challenge the former world No1.
  
  "The ankle's still not a hundred percent. But, you know, I'm getting through, doing all I need to right at the moment. You know, hopefully it picks up a bit. But, you know, it's something that you know, I've played with pain before. This is just another case of it."
  
  As for Montcourt, he is anything but upset, especially after sharing the court with Hewitt.
  
  "He's my favorite. Sometimes I had to sort of remind myself, 'Hey, you're on this court playing against him,'" Montcourt shared in French after the match. "I had to sort of refresh my memory every now and then."
  
  The 21-year-old had his moments on Court Philippe Chatrier, in particular a four-game winning streak in the first set that left Hewitt fretting a long match.
  
  "It was really enjoyable. There were a number of mistakes I made, but I'm still on the learning curve, doesn't matter. Fantastic experience," Montcourt said.
  
  
  Montcourt's opening set run helped him climb out of a 1-4 hole. He broke Hewitt in an interminable ninth game even though the Australian was one point from holding 10 times.
  
  But serving 5-4, Montcourt dropped his level again, making back-to-back errors to clinch the break for Hewitt. That started a five-game winning streak that gave Hewitt the opening set and a solid lead in the second.
  
  
  "First set was pretty tough out there," Hewitt said. "I knew nothing about the guy, though, going into the match. It's always going to take a little bit of time to work him out.
  
  "Once I got that first set under my belt, I felt like I could, yeah, get more and more confident. I got better as the match went on."
  
  Hewitt began the final set with a break, but found soon himself serving 2-3 after Montcourt found his stride once again. The Aussie, though, quickly erased any thoughts of a fourth set by dominating the final four games of the match, which ended with his eighth break of the match on Montcourt's 39th unforced error.
  
  Hewitt will face No22 Dominik Hrbaty in round three.
  
  "He's a workhorse out there," Hewitt said of his next opponent.
  
  "He doesn't give you too many cheap points. He's extremely fit, going to run down a lot of balls. We've had some tough matches in the past. You know, I've been able to get through quite a lot of them."
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Thu Jun 1 16:16:22 2006.

  Two of the tour's most formidable brunettes will meet in a tantalizing third round clash when 2004 Roland Garros champion Anastasia Myskina and Serbian sensation Ana Ivanovic scored quick wins on Thursday.
  
  Myskina dilled Melinda Czink 6-2 6-4 while Ivanovic took down France's Emilie Loit 6-1 6-1.
  
  Myskina hasn't had a great year, but has held steady in the top 20 and after reaching the final of Istanbul last week, she entered the tournament as the 10th seed. "The first set was great and the second was a little shaky," Myskina said. "But I wanted to finish the match so maybe I just started rushing."
  
  Ivanovic needed only 47 minutes to triumph behind blowtorch groundstrokes, some decent defense and remarkable return. "Every match you are a bit nervous at the beginning and you try to find rhythm," Ivanovic said. "She can play much better and I was little more lucky. I used the chances I had."
  
  The 19th seed stunned Amelie Mauresmo here last year in the third round and has steadily progressed up the ladder. "She is very powerful," Loit said. "She has a lot of strength, and I'm sure she has a good future."
  
  After winning her first career title last year, Ivanovic has had an okay year, reaching three quarterfinals. While she's a great hitter, movement is not yet her forte and she can often be pushed out of position.
  
  That's what the tricky Myskina thrives on. While the Russian isn't at her best right now, she knows how to fool the youngsters. "I know she's a great player and can hit the ball very well so it's going to be a great match," Myskina said.
  
  Ivanovic said she can't afford to make a ton of errors. "I'm going to go and enjoy it and have her adapt to my game and not the other way around," she said.
  
  Russian teen Maria Kirilenko also moved ahead, blitzing Mathilde Johansson 6-0 6-1. "I wasn't that confident after my first round because I was nervous, so today I said 'I'm not going to give her any ball, I'm just going to stay very focused'," Kirilenko said.
  
  The speedy 20th seed will face the winner of the match between No13 Ana-Lena Groenefeld and Jamea Jackson. "I've never done that well at the Grand Slams so I really want to go further here," Kirilenko said.
  
  

• From: sgokulprathap on Sat Jun 10 2:49:22 2006.

  Federer, Nadal set up dream final
  
  The tennis world was granted its wish of a dream showdown between Roger Federer, the world number one, and Rafael Nadal, the world's best claycourter, on Friday after they surged into the French Open final.
  
  Their Paris rendezvous on Sunday promises to be a classic.
  
  Top seed Federer dabbled in a bit of squash to overcome a storming start from David Nalbandian and reach his first final at Roland Garros. The Argentine eventually quit their semi-final with a recurrence of an abdominal injury trailing 3-6, 6-4, 5-2.
  
  Federer had been a set and 3-0 down before turning the match with an extraordinary squash-style trick shot and the Swiss will now attempt to join Australian Rod Laver and American Don Budge as the only men to have held all four grand slam titles simultaneously by winning on Sunday.
  
  To complete his collection, though, the reigning Wimbledon, US Open and Australian Open champion will have to snap Nadal's record 59-match winning streak on clay.
  
  The remarkable 20-year-old Mallorcan wore his cloak of invincibility with customary panache in a 6-4, 6-2, 7-6 semi-final victory over Croatian fourth seed Ivan Ljubicic.
  
  "It will be a beautiful final after the matches we played in Monte Carlo and Rome," said Nadal, who won both those finals on clay against Federer earlier this year and leads their head-to-head 5-1.
  
  Sunday's match will be the first time since 1984 that the top two seeds have made it through to the men's final at Roland Garros.
  
  Nalbandian called the trainer for a lengthy consultation early in the third set against Federer and, after losing serve to trail 5-2, informed the chair umpire that he could not continue.
  
  "All of a sudden, I felt a very sharp pain that was worse than during the previous match," Nalbandian said. "You feel very bitter about it. You feel very bitter having to retire like that."
  
  Nalbandian's retirement was the ninth such pull-out from the men's singles on the energy-sapping clay at Roland Garros and it was a disappointing end to what had become an intriguing and at times breathtaking encounter.
  
  Federer was outplayed for a set and a half before his stroke of genius turned the match.
  
  Chasing to retrieve a Nalbandian lob and with his back still turned Federer landed an outrageous forehand winner in the corner of the court, bringing a roar of disbelief from the stands.
  
  The Swiss raised one arm in the air, finger aloft, as if to say, 'That's why I'm number one.'
  
  "I don't know how I did it," said Federer. "It came out automatically. But maybe through squash, who knows? I enjoy the sport. If it helps me out in the semi-finals of the French Open, that's not bad."
  
  "I thought I was going to lose, so I knew that something had to happen."
  
  LJUBICIC ANNOYED
  
  Nadal's victory over Ljubicic, who was playing in his first Grand Slam semi-final, was more routine.
  
  The Spaniard controlled the first set and treated his opponent to his trademark double-bicep flex and running fist-pump after winning a net exchange on set point.
  
  Nadal dominated the second set but 27-year-old Ljubicic refused to cave in. He was 5-3 up in the third set tiebreak and saved two match points before a missed forehand volley cost him the match.
  
  "I am very happy. He had started to play very well in the third set," said Nadal. "He has improved a lot in the past two years."
  
  Ljubicic was less complimentary about his opponent, however, and criticised the chair umpire for not clamping down more on Nadal's habit of taking a long time between points when serving.
  
  "It's ridiculous how much time he takes between points," said the Croatian, adding that he hoped Federer won the final.
  
  

• From: sgokulprathap on Sat Jun 10 2:51:29 2006.

  No. 1 Federer vs. Clay court king Nadal.
  
  Goin to b a gr8 match.
  
  

• From: sgokulprathap on Sat Jun 10 2:55:31 2006.

  ajithfederer wrote:

  its interesting to see how federer fairs in this french open.....

  
  
  Federer now reached French Open finals for the first time ever.
  
  But do u think he can overcome Nadal atleast this time. Federer never beats Nadal on clay courts. Infact their overall head to head stands @ 5-1 favoring Nadal (correct me if I'm wrong).
  
  Lets c whether Nadal continue his gud run on clay court or Federer claims French open, the only grandslam he didnt won so far.
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Sun Jun 11 2:53:55 2006.

  sgokulprathap wrote:

  No. 1 Federer vs. Clay court king Nadal. Goin to b a gr8 match.

  
  
  I tell you what..Today match is going to be a wonderful match..Nadal is in full form so as Federer....Whoaa!! Lets c...
  
  

• From: sgokulprathap on Sun Jun 11 23:58:42 2006.

  Nadal wins second consecutive French Open
  
  Rafael Nadal won his second consecutive French Open crown when he defeated world number one Roger Federer 1-6, 6-1, 6-4, 7-6 in Sunday's final.
  
  The Spaniard extended his Roland Garros record to 14-0 and his winning streak on clay to 60 matches.
  
  The result left the Swiss one match short of becoming the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to hold all four Grand Slam titles at once.
  
  "The match has been extremely tough," said Nadal.
  
  "Roger played much better at the beginning, then I was much better in the second. After this, the match was more balanced.
  
  "It's incredible. I think I prefer this year's title," added Nadal, who had beaten Argentine Mariano Puerta in last year's final.
  
  The Swiss saved two break points in the opening game of the match before surging to a 5-0 lead in breathtaking style as his opponent barely managed to string together any winners.
  
  Appearing to suffer from nerves, Nadal failed to convert any of the five break points he earned during the set.
  
  But as Nadal stepped up a gear in the second, Federer simply faded away and produced an uncharacteristic 16 unforced errors during the 32-minute set.
  
  The Spaniard broke Federer in the second game with one of his trademark backhand crosscourt passing shots.
  
  At 3-0, Nadal called the trainer to treat blisters on his feet but that did not stop him from racing to a 4-1 lead. Federer dropped his serve again in the sixth game before Nadal served out for the set.
  
  Struggling to emerge from a slump, Federer pushed Nadal hard in the fourth game of the third set. But the Mallorcan survived unscathed after saving four break points.
  
  To compound Federer's frustration, he dropped his serve in the following game with a netted forehand to give Nadal a 3-2 advantage.
  
  The 20-year-old Spaniard held serve to wrap up the 55-minute set.
  
  Nadal again broke in the first game of the fourth set and held on to the advantage till he stepped behind the baseline to serve for the match.
  
  Federer finally stirred into action and needed only one break point to level at 5-5.
  
  But his relief was short-lived as Nadal won the tiebreak 7-4 and the match after three hours and two minutes.
  
  "He played better. He deserves this win because he played better today," said Federer.
  
  "I was close this year. It's a pity but I will come back next year."
  
  

• From: sgokulprathap on Mon Jun 12 0:04:26 2006.

  Nadal now takes his head to head record against Federer to 6-1 favoring Nadal.
  
  On clay courts, Nadal has 4-0 winning record over Federer.
  
  On hard courts, Nadal has 2-1 winning record over Federer.
  
  http://cbs.sportsline.com/tennis/h2h/federer_nadal
  
  

• From: Nakeeran on Sat Jun 24 4:05:40 2006.

  Lets discuss Wimbledon 06 here
  
  Going by the current form, I think Federer will sail to the finals . I am not seeing any grass court specialist matching with him today.
  Doubt whether Nadal ( a clay court guy ) can make it big here
  
  Lets also discuss the prospects of other players here
  
  

• From: sgokulprathap on Sat Jun 24 5:10:50 2006.

  Nakee, can I atleast post my views freely here.
  
  As Feddy is my favorite too, there wont b any endless arguments between us here.
  
  

• From: sgokulprathap on Sat Jun 24 5:12:56 2006.

  Sania is sure to b ousted in 1st round, as she is facing Dementieva in the first round of Wimbledon.
  
  

• From: sgokulprathap on Sat Jun 24 5:17:44 2006.

  Federer is facing some stiff competition right from first round.
  Federer wil face Frenchman Richard Gasquet in first round. The Frenchman beat the world number one at the claycourt Monte Carlo Masters in 2005.
  Federer faces a potential second round match against Tim Henman, if the Briton overcomes Swede Robin Soderling (ofcourse he wil) in their opening match.
  
  

• From: sgokulprathap on Sat Jun 24 5:21:50 2006.

  Federer will surpass Bjorn Borg's grasscourt streak of 41 wins in a row if he wins his first round match.
  
  

• From: Nakeeran on Sat Jun 24 5:28:38 2006.

  sgokulprathap wrote:

  Nakee, can I atleast post my views freely here. As Feddy is my favorite too, there wont b any endless arguments between us here.

  
  
  Ayyo theriyama poche enakku
  
  Jokes apart . I am a big fan of Federer
  
  I thought Pete Sampras also had a similar record like Borg on continuous winning of matches. Not sure
  
  

• From: Nakeeran on Sat Jun 24 5:31:06 2006.

  sgokulprathap wrote:

  Federer is facing some stiff competition right from first round. Federer wil face Frenchman Richard Gasquet in first round. The Frenchman beat the world number one at the claycourt Monte Carlo Masters in 2005. Federer faces a potential second round match against Tim Henman, if the Briton overcomes Swede Robin Soderling (ofcourse he wil) in their opening match.

  
  
  Though Henman is a British guy, I will not support him
  
  This guy is actually good up to certain level but once he reaches semis , he was not able to raise his level of performance to win key points & he loses in the process
  
  

• From: sgokulprathap on Sat Jun 24 5:34:56 2006.

  Sampras made a record for winning more grandslam titles. I think he had 14 grand slam titles, of which 7 were from Wimbledon, 5 from US open and 2 from Australian open.
  
  

• From: Nakeeran on Sat Jun 24 5:39:11 2006.

  sgokulprathap wrote:

  Sampras made a record for winning more grandslam titles. I think he had 14 grand slam titles, of which 7 were from Wimbledon.

  
  
  Whats your opinion about Pete ?
  
  Who is the best ever player at Wimbledon ?
  
  Borg, Becker, Edberg, Sampras or Roger ??
  
  
  Any comments ??
  
  

• From: sgokulprathap on Sat Jun 24 5:45:10 2006.

  Nakeeran wrote:

  sgokulprathap wrote: Sampras made a record for winning more grandslam titles. I think he had 14 grand slam titles, of which 7 were from Wimbledon. Whats your opinion about Pete ? Who is the best ever player at Wimbledon ? Borg, Becker, Edberg, Sampras or Roger ?? Any comments ??

  
  
  To be frank I was not used to watch Tennis b4 few years. I didnt watch Sampras matches much. I didnt know abt any of those player's skills much except Roger. I love to watch Roger vs Nadal match. Nadal never crossed 3rd round in Wimbledon. I wish Nadal to do well this time and face a match with Feddy. V can c how can he play against Feddy on grass courts.
  
  

• From: sgokulprathap on Sat Jun 24 5:46:12 2006.

  Both Federer and Sampras never won french open.
  
  

• From: rajeshkrv on Mon Jun 26 15:25:43 2006.

  http://www.wimbledon.org/en_GB/news/interviews/2006-06-24/200606251151239033046.html
  
  a nice interview with the LEGEND
  
  

• From: sgokulprathap on Wed Jun 28 0:31:27 2006.

  Federer Delights in Record Victory
  
  Tuesday, 27 June, 2006
  
  Though he stressed that getting through the first round of his Wimbledon defence was the priority today, Roger Federer could not disguise his pleasure at breaking Bjorn Borg's streak of 41 straight wins on grass when he defeated Richard Gasquet.
  
  "Nice, isn' it?" he said. "To get any streak is obviously nice, and it is still going, so even better. Let's hope I can make it last a little longer."
  
  That said, the three-time Wimbledon champion felt his run of 42 grass wins could not be compared to that of Borg, who had five consecutive Wimbledons (35 victories) and lost in the final of the sixth (another six wins), whereas Federer has won three Wimbledons and four titles at Halle.
  
  "Halle is not Wimbledon," he pointed out. "Halle is best-of-three, even though that's maybe considered a little more dangerous to lose, obviously. But Wimbledon stays Wimbledon, after all. Five Wimbledons and a sixth final is something almost beyond possibilities for any player. So for me, obviously, he stays a hero."
  
  Federer also felt there were many times when his grass streak was in danger of being snapped. "Many of those matches have been incredibly close, especially a few in Halle. I had about four or five which I could have lost easily.
  
  "So I'm surprised I kept it going for so long. To come through today's match (and not to break the Borg streak) was basically my only wish. But when the two come together, obviously that's nice."
  
  However, Federer was more than content with the way he played against Gasquet, who he acknowledged as a dangerous opponent. "Gasquet is a good player on grass, on any surface really, a big talent. So to play so well makes me very happy, especially over two days, that made it more difficult. Maybe it was my best form, I don't know, but it was definitely up there."
  
  Federer described his looming second round match as being "as tough as it gets for a second round, really." Henman is one of the few players to have won more than he has lost against Federer, a statistic which bothers the champion. "I was absolutely hoping he was not going to be in my section of the draw, knowing how well he can play on grass.
  
  "So obviously it's not a nice draw. Also we're good friends and it is never nice to play against a friend. But somebody's got to win, so I hope it's going to be me."
  
  

• From: sgokulprathap on Fri Jun 30 1:14:54 2006.

  Federer, Roddick, Nadal, Agassi moves to third round of Wimbledon...
  
  

• From: sgokulprathap on Fri Jun 30 1:19:24 2006.

  Rafael Nadal beat the American Robert Kendrick in 5 sets.
  
  6-4, 6-7, 3-6, 7-6, 7-5
  
  Rafael Nadal’s nerve-jangling second round encounter with qualifier Robert Kendrik was the Spaniard’s second match on grass since he was forced to retire with a shoulder injury in the quarter-finals of the Stella Artois Championships at Queen’s.
  
  The clay court specialist and French Open champion finds the grass at Wimbledon a difficult surface. “It’s a different sport on another surface. Every match is very difficult.”
  
  This was evident today, when second seed Nadal was two sets down to Kendrik, ranked 276 in the world.
  
  “He was playing very well. I was playing well, but I was losing.
  
  “My goal in the next three, four years is to play a good tournament here. I don’t know if it’s going to happen this year. But tough matches against big servers are good for my improvement, no?”
  
  Despite his five-set struggle today, Nadal feels confident going into his third round match against sentimental favourite Andre Agassi.
  
  “It’s a nice match for everybody. I’m going to enjoy it and prepare well for the match. I know I need to play my best tennis to win, and I’m going to try.”
  
  Vanquished opponent Kendrick confirms that Nadal's confidence is not misplaced.
  
  "Do I give him a chance? Of course. He's Rafael Nadal. He's full of fight."
  
  

• From: sgokulprathap on Fri Jun 30 1:20:41 2006.

  Nadal wil now face Agassi in third round.
  
  

• From: sgokulprathap on Fri Jun 30 1:23:14 2006.

  Venus Wiliams beat fellow-american Lisa Raymond 6-7, 7-5, 6-2.
  
  Defending champion Venus Williams skated perilously close to disaster in her second round No. 1 Court match against fellow-American Lisa Raymond.
  
  A veteran of 14 consecutive appearances at The Championships, Raymond came within two points of victory at 5-3 in the second set, before collapsing in the face of a characteristically brave and spirited counter-attack from the title-holder. Williams prevailed for a 6-7 (4-7), 7-5, 6-2 win.
  
  Because of an elbow injury, Williams has been short of matches coming into Wimbledon, having played only four events this year. Following an easy stroll through the first round she faced, in Raymond, an experienced opponent who has honed her volleying skills as one of the world’s best doubles players – and who was not afraid to attack the champion.
  
  That lack of serious match practice was apparent in the opening set. Though she held serve with ease, Venus was regularly left stranded by Raymond’s bold hitting to the corners. Williams also missed three break points and was forced into a tiebreak, which got off to a bad start when she sent a volley wide. Raymond held her nerve and took the tie-break 7-4 after 46 minutes of play.
  
  Raymond's sole win in five meetings with Williams had come at the 2004 Australian Open, and she looked on course to repeat the feat as her high-intensity play continued to hit its mark. The key break of serve Raymond was seeking came in the sixth game of the second set when the Williams forehand lapsed.
  
  Needing to hold serve twice to clinch a famous victory, Raymond managed the first to go 5-2 ahead, and at 5-3 she led 30-15 thanks to two more forehand errors from her opponent. But the two points she still needed would prove elusive. Venus kick-started a bold and fascinating counter-attack, breaking the Raymond serve and sweeping the following three games to level the match.
  
  The momentum, exciting for Williams, frustrating for Raymond, was maintained as the champion surged into a 4-0 third set lead for the loss of just one point. An ace completed a remarkable fightback in one hour 49 minutes.
  
  

• From: sgokulprathap on Fri Jun 30 1:27:26 2006.

  Venus Williams, Sharapova, Myskina, Mauresmo, Dementieva, Hantuchova moves to third round.
  
  

• From: rachel on Fri Jun 30 1:34:08 2006.

  sgokulprathap wrote:

  Both Federer and Sampras never won french open.

  
  
  interesting sampras is no more...federer may win
  
  awesome avatar
  
  

• From: sgokulprathap on Fri Jun 30 1:38:42 2006.

  Men's Doubles (1st round):
  
  13th seeded Indo-German pair Mahesh Bhupathi & Alexander Waski (GER) crashes out in 1st round to unseeded Frederic Niemeyer (CAN) & Glenn Weiner (USA) 6-7, 3-6, 6-7.
  
  Meanwhile 7th seeded Indo-Czech pair Leander Paes & Martin Damn (CZE) advances to 2nd round beating unseeded Janko Tipsarevic (SCG) & Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) 7-6, 6-3.
  
  

• From: sgokulprathap on Fri Jun 30 1:40:48 2006.

  rachel wrote:

  sgokulprathap wrote: Both Federer and Sampras never won french open. interesting sampras is no more...federer may win awesome avatar

  
  
  Thanx
  
  Federer may win French open only if Nadal opts out of it due to some injuries. Otherwise there is no one to beat Nadal on clay courts.
  
  

• From: sgokulprathap on Fri Jun 30 1:51:06 2006.

  Ladies Doubles (1st round):
  
  Sania Mirza & Michaella Krajicek (NED) beat Stephanie Foretz (FRA) & Antonella Serra Zanetti (ITA) 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 and advances to 2nd round.
  
  

• From: Anoushka on Sat Jul 1 18:07:52 2006.

  Agassi loses to Nadal I would have loved to see Agassi go ahead... and the only good news for me this weekend is Andy Murray is still in
  
  

• From: Raikkonen on Sun Jul 2 11:54:47 2006.

  i dunno what the hell happened to Safin.. his sis playing better than him..
  losing 3-2 after leading 2 sets and lost a break on crucial 3rd set..
  now i dont care about the winner of this edition...
  
  
  I have to wait for Flashing Meadows...
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Jul 2 20:17:16 2006.

  appideengala?
  

  sgokulprathap wrote:

  rachel wrote: sgokulprathap wrote: Both Federer and Sampras never won french open. interesting sampras is no more...federer may win awesome avatar Thanx Federer may win French open only if Nadal opts out of it due to some injuries. Otherwise there is no one to beat Nadal on clay courts.

  
  

• From: Elmer_Dinkley on Sun Jul 2 23:42:25 2006.

  Nakeeran wrote:

  Though Henman is a British guy, I will not support him This guy is actually good up to certain level but once he reaches semis , he was not able to raise his level of performance to win key points & he loses in the process

  
  
  Henman is exactly like the English football team. All hype and no substance....'Tiger Tim' my big brown behind...more like 'Tiny Tim'
  
  

• From: sgokulprathap on Sun Jul 2 23:52:36 2006.

  ajithfederer wrote:

  appideengala? sgokulprathap wrote: Federer may win French open only if Nadal opts out of it due to some injuries. Otherwise there is no one to beat Nadal on clay courts.

  Aamango. Nadal is clearly clay court king. Same as how Feddy is grass court king.
  
  

• From: sgokulprathap on Sun Jul 2 23:54:07 2006.

  Nadal reaches the 4th round of Wimbledon for the first time.
  
  

• From: sgokulprathap on Mon Jul 3 0:25:02 2006.

  Andy Roddick crashes out in 3rd round.
  
  Andy Murray beat Andy Roddick in straight sets.
  7-6, 6-4, 6-4.
  
  

• From: sgokulprathap on Mon Jul 3 0:26:04 2006.

  Murray wil face Baghdatis in 4th round.
  
  

• From: sgokulprathap on Tue Jul 4 2:11:19 2006.

  Murray lost to Baghdatis in 4th round in straight sets
  3-6, 4-6, 6-7
  
  

• From: sgokulprathap on Tue Jul 4 2:14:26 2006.

  Men's Singles:
  
  Federer, Nadal, Hewitt, Baghdatis, Ancic, Niemenen, Stepanek Bjorkman enters quarterfinals.
  
  

• From: sgokulprathap on Tue Jul 4 2:19:33 2006.

  Women's Singles:
  
  Henin-Hardenne, Mauresmo, Sharapova, Clijsters, Dementieva, Na Li, Myskina, Bremond enters quarterfinals.
  
  

• From: sgokulprathap on Tue Jul 4 2:33:03 2006.

  Women's Singles: Quarter Finals pairings
  
  Centre Court
  Sharapova(4) vs. Dementieva(7)
  Na Li(27) vs Kim Clijsters(2)
  
  Court 1
  Bremond vs Henin-Hardenne(3)
  Mauresmo(1) vs Myskina(9)
  
  Matches to start @ 1.00pm local time today.
  
  

• From: sgokulprathap on Wed Jul 5 0:31:53 2006.

  Women's Singles Quarter Finals:
  
  Sharapova(4) defeats Dementieva(7) 6-1, 6-4
  
  Clijsters(2) defeats Na Li(27) 6-4, 7-5
  
  Mauresmo(1) defeats Myskina(9) 6-1, 3-6, 6-3
  
  Henin-Hardenne(3) defeats Bremond 6-4, 6-4
  
  

• From: sgokulprathap on Wed Jul 5 0:36:42 2006.

  So all the top 4 seeds in Wimbledon enters semi finals.
  
  Semi-final clashes (Women's):
  
  Mauresmo(1) vs. Sharapova(4)
  Clijsters(2) vs. Henin-Hardenne(3)
  
  

• From: sgokulprathap on Wed Jul 5 0:40:23 2006.

  Men's singles Quarterfinals
  
  Centre Court:
  Federer(1) vs. Ancic(7)
  Hewitt(6) vs. Baghdatis(18)
  
  Court 1:
  Stepanek(14) vs Bjorkman
  Nadal(2) vs Niemenin(22)
  
  Matches to start @ 1.00pm local time today.
  
  

• From: sgokulprathap on Wed Jul 5 0:44:43 2006.

  Men's Doubles Q/F:
  
  Martin Damm(7)/Leander Paes(7) vs. Paul Hanley(4)/Kevin Ullyett(4)
  
  

• From: Raikkonen on Wed Jul 5 11:31:07 2006.

  Ayyo..
  My fav male player Safin is out
  My fav female player Myskina is out..
  
  
  
  

• From: Anoushka on Wed Jul 5 12:23:18 2006.

  Gokul: thanks for the update, I better get down to watching today's match
  
  

• From: Sanjeevi on Wed Jul 5 13:26:52 2006.

  As usual Federer Rocks and enters semi final
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Wed Jul 5 14:21:35 2006.

  
  

  Sanjeevi wrote:

  As usual Federer Rocks and enters semi final

  
  

• From: Nerd on Wed Jul 5 21:16:37 2006.

  Nowadays Federer is *eating* grass better than bulls
  
  

• From: sgokulprathap on Wed Jul 5 23:50:13 2006.

  Federer, Bjorkman, Baghdatis in semis.
  
  

• From: sgokulprathap on Wed Jul 5 23:53:57 2006.

  Indo-Czech pair Leander Paes / Martin Damm moves to Semis in Men's doubles.
  
  

• From: sgokulprathap on Thu Jul 6 0:04:38 2006.

  Todays Schedule: (Matches to start @ 1.00pm local time)
  
  Centre court: Ladies Singles S/F
  
  Henin-Hardenne(Bel-3) vs Kim Clijsters(Bel-2)
  Amelie Mauresmo(Fra-1) vs Maria Sharapova(Rus-4)
  
  Court 1: Men's Singles Q/F
  Rafael Nadal(ESP-2) vs Jarkko Nieminen(Fin-22)
  
  Court 2: Mixed doubles - 3rd round
  Leander Paes(Ind-4) / Samantha Stosur(Aus-4)
  vs
  Sebastian Prieto(Arg) / Flavia Pennetta(Ita)
  //2nd match in court 2
  
  Court 18: Mixed doubles - 3rd round
  Pavel Vizner(Cze) / Sania Mirza(Ind)
  vs
  Daniel Nestor(Can-5) / Elena Likhovtseva(Rus-5)
  //Match wil start @ 12 noon local time.
  
  

• From: sgokulprathap on Thu Jul 6 9:43:51 2006.

  Henin-Hardenne into Ladies Finals.
  
  3rd seeded Henin-Hardenne defeats fellow Belgian 2nd seeded Kim Clijsters in straight sets 6-4, 7-6 to enter Wimbledon finals.
  
  

• From: sgokulprathap on Thu Jul 6 9:47:26 2006.

  Sania out of Wimbledon mixed doubles.
  
  Pavel Vizner (CZE) / Sania Mirza (IND) lost to Daniel Nestor (CAN) (5) / Elena Likhovtseva (RUS) (5) 3-6, 7-6, 2-6 in a 3rd round match.
  
  

• From: sgokulprathap on Fri Jul 7 0:09:04 2006.

  Amelie Mauresmo into Ladies Finals.
  
  Amelie Mauresmo defeats Maria Sharapova 6-3, 3-6, 6-2
  
  

• From: sgokulprathap on Fri Jul 7 0:10:10 2006.

  Mauresmo and Henin-Hardenne wil clash for the Ladies singles title.
  
  

• From: solona on Fri Jul 7 0:34:12 2006.

  Hope Justine will not do her I" am broken cinema" and run awaywithout playing till the end.
  
  Amelie allez another french in finals wow France kku ithu athirshta varushama (french riots appram kadavul konjam karunai katraro
  
  Amelie will win I think
  
  Federer will rock to finals
  
  

• From: sgokulprathap on Fri Jul 7 0:51:26 2006.

  I hope the Belgian Justine Henin-Hardenne to win.
  
  Already my favs. Clijsters and Sharapova r ousted in semis.
  Now I hope Henin to win.
  
  

• From: sgokulprathap on Fri Jul 7 0:56:46 2006.

  Mixed Doubles: Quarter finals
  
  Leander Paes (Ind-4) / Samantha Stosur (Aus-4)
  
  lost to
  
  Bob Bryan (USA) / Venus Williams (USA)
  
  7-6, 6-3
  
  

• From: sgokulprathap on Fri Jul 7 0:58:47 2006.

  Rafael Nadal enters Semis:
  
  Rafael Nadal (Esp-2) defeats Jarkko Nieminen (fin-22)
  
  6-3, 6-4, 6-4
  
  to enter Wimbledon Semifinals for the first time.
  
  

• From: sgokulprathap on Fri Jul 7 1:02:07 2006.

  Today's Matches: Matches to start @ 1pm local time
  
  Centre court: Men's Semifinals
  
  Roger Federer (Sui-1) vs Jonas Bjorkman (Swe)
  
  Rafael Nadal (Esp-2) vs Marcos Baghdatis (Cyp-18)
  
  

• From: sgokulprathap on Fri Jul 7 1:03:31 2006.

  Love to c a Federer vs Nadal finals in Wimbledon.
  
  

• From: sgokulprathap on Fri Jul 7 1:08:44 2006.

  Men's Doubles Semifinals:
  
  Court 1:
  Bob Bryan (USA-1) / Mike Bryan (USA-1)
  vs
  Mark Knowles (Bah-3) / Daniel Nestor (Can-3)
  
  Court 3:
  Leander Paes (Ind-7) / Martin Damm (Cze-7)
  vs
  Fabrice Santoro (Fra-6) / Nenad Zimonjic (SCG-6)
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Jul 7 1:10:07 2006.

  And Fedex should win hands down..........
  

  sgokulprathap wrote:

  Love to c a Federer vs Nadal finals in Wimbledon.

  
  

• From: sgokulprathap on Fri Jul 7 1:13:57 2006.

  ajithfederer wrote:

  And Fedex should win hands down.......... sgokulprathap wrote: Love to c a Federer vs Nadal finals in Wimbledon.

  S. That is most likely to happen.
  
  

• From: sgokulprathap on Fri Jul 7 1:33:54 2006.

  Federer wil surely win his SF against Bjorkman.
  
  But Nadal MAY struggle against Baghdatis.
  
  

• From: Raikkonen on Fri Jul 7 3:15:23 2006.

  Baghdatis- Australian Open Finalist right?
  I tought he was a one hit wonder...
  
  

• From: sgokulprathap on Fri Jul 7 23:51:47 2006.

  Men's SF:
  
  Federer beats Bjorkman 6-2, 6-0, 6-2
  
  Nadal beats Baghdatis 6-1, 7-5, 6-3
  
  

• From: sgokulprathap on Fri Jul 7 23:52:23 2006.

  So it wil b Federer vs Nadal Finals this time.
  
  

• From: sgokulprathap on Fri Jul 7 23:54:16 2006.

  Men's Doubles: India's last hope ends
  
  Leander Paes / Martin Damm
  lost to
  Fabrice Santoro / Nenad Zimonjic
  2-6, 1-6, 5-7
  
  

• From: sgokulprathap on Fri Jul 7 23:56:36 2006.

  Today's Match: Ladies Singles Finals
  
  Centre Court (1pm local time):
  
  Amelie Mauresmo vs. Justine Henin-Hardenne
  
  

• From: Sanjeevi on Sat Jul 8 22:23:24 2006.

  I liked Justin Henin to win over Amelie Mauresmo. But one of my fav Henin failed to defeat the french lady.
  
  Today Can't wait watch the clash between Federer and Radal. As a fan of Faderer, i want that he have to revenge Radal. World No. 1 Federer have bad record with Radal, the No. 2. Radal has defeated the No.1 5 times and Federer has won only one time.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Jul 9 9:41:00 2006.

  Annan federer looking good
  
  1st set
  
  6-0
  
  
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Jul 9 10:52:16 2006.

  2nd set 7-6
  
  good comeback
  
  

• From: Justice on Sun Jul 9 12:09:37 2006.

  Federer is wimbledon champion again but Nadal'll soon replace him as the no 1. Pundits may say Nadal struggles in grass but he has shown he's not a flash in the pan. With his attitude, he'll soon jettison Federer. When Nadal took the third set, you have to look at Federer's face, priceless
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Jul 9 12:22:20 2006.

  Federer again Wimbledon Champion.................Kudos to Emperor Of Grass Court Tennis
  
  4 time Wimbledon Champion
  
  Overall 8 Grandslams at 24.......
  
  
  
  

• From: sgokulprathap on Mon Jul 10 0:42:02 2006.

  Federer third man to win Wimbledon 4 times consecutively after Borg and Sampras.
  
  This is Federer's 48th consecutive victory on grass court.
  
  

• From: Nakeeran on Mon Jul 10 7:00:26 2006.

  Great show by Federer Though I was a bit tense in the beginning stages of 4th set .
  
  Amazing consisteny ! I think he can play wimbledon ( on any grass court ) straight from the bed !
  
  Nadal definitely has capability to win Wimbledon .
  
  Probably next year !
  
  

• From: Elmer_Dinkley on Mon Jul 10 14:27:48 2006.

  Justice wrote:

  Federer is wimbledon champion again but Nadal'll soon replace him as the no 1. Pundits may say Nadal struggles in grass but he has shown he's not a flash in the pan. With his attitude, he'll soon jettison Federer. When Nadal took the third set, you have to look at Federer's face, priceless

  
  
  You mean the same pundits who said that Federer would struggle on clay? When Federer took the match, did you see Nadal's face?
  
  

• From: Nakeeran on Mon Jul 10 15:04:04 2006.

  I think this grass - clay indifference will be a problem forever
  
  No champion seem to have balanced both surfaces .
  
  After Borg , only Agassi could win both Wimbledon & French Open .
  
  Not sure whether Connors achieved both
  
  Neither Lendl, Mcenroe, Sampras, Becker, Edberg..........
  
  

• From: Justice on Mon Jul 10 15:11:27 2006.

  Elmer_Dinkley wrote:

  Justice wrote: Federer is wimbledon champion again but Nadal'll soon replace him as the no 1. Pundits may say Nadal struggles in grass but he has shown he's not a flash in the pan. With his attitude, he'll soon jettison Federer. When Nadal took the third set, you have to look at Federer's face, priceless You mean the same pundits who said that Federer would struggle on clay? When Federer took the match, did you see Nadal's face?

  
  
  clay and Federer
  
  A federer lose would have hurt Federer's reputation, a Nadal lose won't do much harm to Nadal. I saw Nada's face, I was able to notice fire but Feddy's face when Nadal took the third set is .. Federer won't have easy chances anymore..
  
  Nadal will be no 1 soon
  Federer
  
  

• From: Elmer_Dinkley on Tue Jul 11 2:53:47 2006.

  Justice wrote:

  Elmer_Dinkley wrote: Justice wrote: Federer is wimbledon champion again but Nadal'll soon replace him as the no 1. Pundits may say Nadal struggles in grass but he has shown he's not a flash in the pan. With his attitude, he'll soon jettison Federer. When Nadal took the third set, you have to look at Federer's face, priceless You mean the same pundits who said that Federer would struggle on clay? When Federer took the match, did you see Nadal's face? clay and Federer A federer lose would have hurt Federer's reputation, a Nadal lose won't do much harm to Nadal. I saw Nada's face, I was able to notice fire but Feddy's face when Nadal took the third set is .. Federer won't have easy chances anymore.. Nadal will be no 1 soon Federer

  
  
  Grass and Nadal
  
  By your logic, did defeat to James Blake, etc hurt Nadal's reputation in previous tournaments? Have you ever heard of off days? It does happen to even the best of sportsmen.
  
  Fire in Nadal's face...thats about the silliest thing i've read in tennis history....looks more like a pussy cat shitting bricks while a pit bull is charging at it.
  
  Let me state the obvious, Federer has the game to play on any surface, Nadal doesnt have it yet and until he comes close to being convincing on hard courts and grass he's not in the same league. Unless Nadal makes the same progress in Wimbledon next year, this will just be a flash in the pan. Take Federer at Rolland Garros. Last year - semi-finals. This year - finals. Now this is what your call progress. So wait until there's a repeat performance from Nadal.
  
  As for Nadal being no 1 soon, it's not impossible as he definitely has talent but thats also the same garbage said when Leyton Hewitt and Andy Roddick were chasing Federer. So lets wait till he gets close
  
  

• From: Justice on Tue Jul 11 10:18:06 2006.

  Federer and crap
  
  Ya talented Andy roddick was no 1, talented Federer was no 1(we'd say in few months)..
  
  Hewitt and Roddick are chasing Federer which is something Federer's gonna do in few months
  
  Sillient thing I've ever heard was Federer is the all time best
  
  

• From: Billgates on Tue Jul 11 10:29:31 2006.

  Justice wrote:

  Federer and crap Ya talented Andy roddick was no 1, talented Federer was no 1(we'd say in few months).. Hewitt and Roddick are chasing Federer which is something Federer's gonna do in few months Sillient thing I've ever heard was Federer is the all time best

  
  
  Mr. Justice
  
  Federer is one of the most consistent performers today. Agreed he could not win French open but he managed to reach finals. This shows he has brains to achieve .
  Come on....... someone who could get wimbledon 4 times in a row ...is a big achievement !
  
  Nadal , as age is on his side & no other strong contender to counter him, may soon become No : 1 for sure
  
  Are you happy now !
  
  

• From: Elmer_Dinkley on Tue Jul 11 13:10:57 2006.

  * deleted *
  
  

  Mod wrote:

  No personal attacks!

  
  

• From: villan007 on Tue Jul 11 13:13:41 2006.

  http://i6.tinypic.com/1zlcal5.jpg
  
  Seems Federer has gone bankrupt
  
  

• From: Elmer_Dinkley on Wed Jul 12 2:13:20 2006.

  Elmer_Dinkley wrote:

  * deleted * Mod wrote: No personal attacks!

  
  
  Well, no offence meant.....I really dont think it was a personal attack with any malicious intent. Just felt that it's about time that people like Justice grow up and stop trying to behave like a man child.
  
  

• From: MMMuthukumar on Thu Jul 20 13:04:22 2006.

  Remember Federer lost the last match to be played on hard court to Nadal in dubai. they both are good in that surface where the US open is to be played. So I think Fed Ex has to work very hard to beat Nadal in US Open.
  I put my money on Nadal to win it. any takers??
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Tue Aug 8 15:21:47 2006.

  Many More happy returns of the day Roger Federer....Man who is born 2 break all records of Tennis .......
  
  
  
  Wish Federer on his birthday here.......
  
  http://www.orkut.com/CommMsgs.aspx?cmm=78522&tid=2480198950375419338&start=1
  
  

• From: Elmer_Dinkley on Wed Aug 9 0:58:31 2006.

  MMMuthukumar wrote:

  Remember Federer lost the last match to be played on hard court to Nadal in dubai. they both are good in that surface where the US open is to be played. So I think Fed Ex has to work very hard to beat Nadal in US Open. I put my money on Nadal to win it. any takers??

  
  
  I put my money on Federer to show up Nadal for the kid that he really is. Let's see if Nadal can overcome players like James Blake, Andre Agassi or even Andy Roddick on American soil before even thinking of Federer. Nadal is good but he is not in the same league as Federer where his overall game is concerned. In fact, no one on the tour is right now.
  
  

• From: vuchuuuu on Mon Aug 14 11:26:56 2006.

  hi guys!
  
  WHOOOOOOO HOO!!! Did anyone watch the Rogers Cup in Toronto??
  
  FEDERER WON! I WAS THERE!!!!! Amazing plays and his opponent, Richard Gasquet played a DAMN good game against the MASTER!!!!!
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Wed Aug 16 17:20:08 2006.

  http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/4797657.stm
  
  Brilliant Murray outplays Federer
  
  Murray's confidence will be sky high after beating Federer
  Andy Murray pulled off the biggest win of his career, beating Roger Federer 7-5 6-4 in the Cincinnati Masters.
  The teenager became only the second player to beat Federer this year, and it was the first time the Swiss had lost before the final for 18 events.
  
  Federer was far from his fluent best, but an inspired Murray took full advantage, breaking serve seven times.
  
  The Scot has struggled to serve out in recent matches, but had no such trouble as he completed his straight sets win.
  
  One of the big strengths of Murray's game is his refusal to bow to anyone on a tennis court, no matter how big his reputation.
  
  I played a pretty perfect match but for a few games at the end of the first set
  
  Andy Murray
  
  And he was the aggressor from the start against Federer, who had only been beaten by world number two Rafael Nadal in 2006.
  
  After squandering a glorious opportunity at break point in the opening game, Murray made amends on Federer's next service, pressuring the Swiss to miss with an attempted pass.
  
  It set the pattern for an intriguing match as Federer struggled increasingly with his form under fire from fierce Murray ground strokes down both flanks.
  
  The 19-year-old's backhand was particularly effective and was responsible for securing him a second break after Federer had briefly broken back.
  
  Murray wobbled when serving for the set at 5-4 and his first serve percentage hovered at a lowly 40% all game.
  
  But he immediately created another chance to serve out and duly did so with a booming ace at set point.
  
  
  Federer (right) was magnanimous - if frustrated - in defeat
  
  Amazingly, the second set followed the pattern of the first, Murray applying pressure on almost every Federer service game and breaking at the first time of asking.
  
  Locked at 4-4, the Briton hit another purple patch, painting the lines to breach Federer's serve for a seventh time.
  
  And he sealed the biggest result of his fledgling career in fitting fashion with a fizzing backhand pass before sinking drained into his chair, towel over face.
  
  "Obviously this was pretty special - I wasn't expecting it to happen today," said Murray afterwards.
  
  "I don't think Roger played his best match, but he has such a reputation that other players think they have to hit the lines.
  
  "I played a pretty perfect match but for a few games at the end of the first set."
  
  Federer, who has been flawless on the American hardcourts for years, saw a run of 55-straight wins broken.
  
  And he also missed out on equalling Ivan Lendl's record of reaching 18 consecutive finals.
  
  
  
  

• From: vuchuuuu on Thu Aug 17 0:33:41 2006.

  NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!
  
  

• From: Elmer_Dinkley on Thu Aug 17 4:44:59 2006.

  I agree that Murray played a very good game. Just hung in there and took his chances. But it was as obvious as the balls on a dog that Federer was completely off colour last night. DOn't know if it's a dip in form or what? Even when he won the Rogers Masters he wasn't playing his best Tennis. It was more like driving his opponents into mistakes than hitting sensational winners. But, nevertheless, rather lose now then when it matters - at the Grand Slams.
  
  
  

  ajithfederer wrote:

  http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/4797657.stm Brilliant Murray outplays Federer Murray's confidence will be sky high after beating Federer Andy Murray pulled off the biggest win of his career, beating Roger Federer 7-5 6-4 in the Cincinnati Masters. The teenager became only the second player to beat Federer this year, and it was the first time the Swiss had lost before the final for 18 events.

  
  

• From: vuchuuuu on Thu Aug 17 11:11:05 2006.

  wow...this is the first defeat for federer since nadal.
  
  

• From: MMMuthukumar on Fri Aug 18 0:58:33 2006.

  Wait wait. Federer will have enough rest by losing at cincinnati, to prepare for US open. I am certain It is a Nadal - Federer Final at US Open, with due respects to Roddick,Blake and others
  
  

• From: vuchuuuu on Mon Aug 21 1:36:38 2006.

  roddick won cincy!
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sat Sep 9 21:23:37 2006.

  Federer and Roddick clash again in US open Finals
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sat Sep 9 22:07:43 2006.

  Sharapova wins Ladies US open
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Sep 10 19:44:12 2006.

  Hip Hip Hooray
  Roger Federer wins his 9th Grandslam
  Roger Federer wins US Open
  
  
  First man in Men's History 2 win three straight Wimbledon and US open Titles (2004,2005 and 2006)
  
  

• From: vuchuuuu on Sun Sep 10 22:05:34 2006.

  AMAZING MATCH!!!! RODDICK PLAYED SOOOOO WELL FOR SOMEONE PLAYING AGAINST THE RAJAH!!!
  
  

• From: Nakeeran on Mon Sep 11 4:16:55 2006.

  Hats off to Federer A SYMBOL OF CONSISTENCY .
  
  Definitely ranks amongst the greats of all time.
  
  All the best Roger for 2007 French Open !
  
  Hey guys, lets also appreciate Leander Paes & martin Damm for doubles title !
  
  

• From: MADDY on Tue Sep 12 18:49:57 2006.

  Federer is the greatest tennis player in our era......but is he being tested by this mediocre competition??? look at these guys - Roddick, Blake, Safin, Hewitt....they are all so inconsistent.....they dont threaten Federer in any way......they have good power game but do they have flair like the yester year players???
  
  compare 90's and now.....in 90's ofcourse King Sampras was always made to run by Aggasi, Ivanisevic, Patrick Rafter, Kafelnikov, Micheal Chang........even players like Muster, Sergi Bruguera were real champs in their own way......compare this pool of players to today's....its disheartening.....
  
  I guess, if atleast half of this 90's players were present now, then Federer wud have had some competition....now, Tennis has become so boring and predictable......Federer will win the next 5 out of 6 grandslams.....do u think its fun that only one man is winning always???
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Thu Sep 14 11:26:46 2006.

  yeah its true that pete had good contenders who will make him run for the money.......but dont u think federer's game is near 2 perfection.......man he looks like a WONDER 2 me
  

  MADDY wrote:

  Federer is the greatest tennis player in our era......but is he being tested by this mediocre competition??? look at these guys - Roddick, Blake, Safin, Hewitt....they are all so inconsistent.....they dont threaten Federer in any way......they have good power game but do they have flair like the yester year players??? compare 90's and now.....in 90's ofcourse King Sampras was always made to run by Aggasi, Ivanisevic, Patrick Rafter, Kafelnikov, Micheal Chang........even players like Muster, Sergi Bruguera were real champs in their own way......compare this pool of players to today's....its disheartening..... I guess, if atleast half of this 90's players were present now, then Federer wud have had some competition....now, Tennis has become so boring and predictable......Federer will win the next 5 out of 6 grandslams.....do u think its fun that only one man is winning always???

  
  

• From: MADDY on Thu Sep 14 19:52:59 2006.

  ajithfederer wrote:

  yeah its true that pete had good contenders who will make him run for the money.......but dont u think federer's game is near 2 perfection.......man he looks like a WONDER 2 me

  
  
  yes AF, Federer is the best player, maybe of all time, but picture this: Federer will end up with 20 grand slams, Sampras has 14......so when my son is going to read history books he wud think that Federer was someone way ahead of Pete which is not at all true........i'm just sad that Federer is creating history without any effort........
  
  also, it is a nightmare for me to see Pete's record being broken in just 6-7 years......i never xpected that......i thought it wud stay like roda laver's record for many years....
  
  

• From: imsai on Thu Sep 14 21:13:37 2006.

  Maddy, no matter how many players surpass Bradman in piling up runs, Bradman will remain as the DON.
  
  The same goes to Pete, the greatest. i don't care who and how many surpass him for the number of grandslams, Pete is the DON.
  
  Now I think Safin is a good player but isn't consistent as he doesn't value himself that much. Reminds me of Lara of these days.
  
  

• From: Elmer_Dinkley on Fri Sep 15 8:16:25 2006.

  What a load of rubbish posted above.....Do you all actually know anything about tennis or just post under the impression that the game is easy to understand just because two jokers hit a ball towards each other across court.
  
  Federer creating history without any effort? Good for a laugh that remark. It's not his bloody fault or business that the rest of the tennis field is not up to his level. By your logic, Michael Schumacher should regard at least 3 of his 7 World Championship wins as shallow achievements just because he was winning those effortlessly leaving everyone trailing in his wake.
  
  Maddy you mentioned: "Roddick, Blake, Safin, Hewitt....they are all so inconsistent.....they dont threaten Federer in any way......they have good power game but do they have flair like the yester year players".
  
  Hadn't it ever occured to you that they're just not in the same league and when i say league i don't just mean ability and skill with a racquet. And you can add the overrated Andre Agassi wannabe ponce Nadal to that list as well.
  
  You also mentioned:
  compare 90's and now.....in 90's ofcourse King Sampras was always made to run by Aggasi, Ivanisevic, Patrick Rafter, Kafelnikov, Micheal Chang........even players like Muster, Sergi Bruguera in their own way......compare this pool of players to today's....its disheartening
  
  As if Ivanisevic, Patrick Rafter, Kafelnikov, Micheal Chang were all models of consistency those days. Dude, is this a joke or what? Ask anyone who actually knows tennis and they will tell you that the field that you mentioned above is far weaker than what you get in todays game. Having watched and covered tennis since late 70s, i know who to believe.
  
  Now read this:
  
  It was only weeks after quitting school that Federer, at 16, won Junior Wimbledon. Obviously, this is something that not every junior who devotes himself to tennis can do. Just as obviously, then, there is more than time and training involved - there is also sheer talent, and degrees of it. Extraordinary kinesthetic ability must be present (and measurable) in a kid just to make the years of practice and training worthwhile. But from there, over time, the cream starts to rise and separate. So one type of technical explanation for Federer's dominion is that he's just a bit more kinesthetically talented than the other male pros. Only a little bit, since everyone in the top 100 is himself kinesthetically gifted - but then, tennis is a game of inches.
  
  This answer is plausible but incomplete. It would probably not have been incomplete in 1980. In 2006, though, it's fair to ask why this kind of talent still matters so much. Kinesthetic virtuoso or no, Roger Federer is now dominating the largest, strongest, fittest, best-trained and -coached field of male pros that has ever existed, with everyone using a kind of nuclear racket that's said to have made the finer calibrations of kinesthetic sense irrelevant, like trying to whistle Mozart during a Metallica concert.
  
  To put it simple, between having to read or listen to stuff like above from those that have lived and played the game like McEnroe, Agassi, Sampras and Lendl and taking all your absurd and utter garbage about a sport that none of you have a clue about....I know which one i'll choose.
  
  Federer is not yet the greatest ever. But he has more to his game than Sampras ever had. Just ask Agassi. He has 5 more years and roughly 20 grand slams to go, before he reaches 30, to overtake the all time record and then he will be the greatest ever in the history of the game. And sadly, There's nothing all your bitter, deluded and laughable posts, could do about it. Just sit back, relax and watch Federer re-write history and figuratively and literally, re-embody men's tennis.
  
  

• From: imsai on Fri Sep 15 13:54:18 2006.

  Elmer_Dinkley wrote:

  What a load of rubbish posted above.....Do you all actually know anything about tennis or just post under the impression that the game is easy to understand just because two jokers hit a ball towards each other across court.

  
  
  oh sorry.. u r the god of tennis.. u know everything
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Sep 15 14:08:55 2006.

  Rock on enigma
  

  Elmer_Dinkley wrote:

  What a load of rubbish posted above.....Do you all actually know anything about tennis or just post under the impression that the game is easy to understand just because two jokers hit a ball towards each other across court. Federer creating history without any effort? Good for a laugh that remark. It's not his bloody fault or business that the rest of the tennis field is not up to his level. By your logic, Michael Schumacher should regard at least 3 of his 7 World Championship wins as shallow achievements just because he was winning those effortlessly leaving everyone trailing in his wake. Maddy you mentioned: "Roddick, Blake, Safin, Hewitt....they are all so inconsistent.....they dont threaten Federer in any way......they have good power game but do they have flair like the yester year players". Hadn't it ever occured to you that they're just not in the same league and when i say league i don't just mean ability and skill with a racquet. And you can add the overrated Andre Agassi wannabe ponce Nadal to that list as well. You also mentioned: compare 90's and now.....in 90's ofcourse King Sampras was always made to run by Aggasi, Ivanisevic, Patrick Rafter, Kafelnikov, Micheal Chang........even players like Muster, Sergi Bruguera in their own way......compare this pool of players to today's....its disheartening As if Ivanisevic, Patrick Rafter, Kafelnikov, Micheal Chang were all models of consistency those days. Dude, is this a joke or what? Ask anyone who actually knows tennis and they will tell you that the field that you mentioned above is far weaker than what you get in todays game. Having watched and covered tennis since late 70s, i know who to believe. Now read this: It was only weeks after quitting school that Federer, at 16, won Junior Wimbledon. Obviously, this is something that not every junior who devotes himself to tennis can do. Just as obviously, then, there is more than time and training involved - there is also sheer talent, and degrees of it. Extraordinary kinesthetic ability must be present (and measurable) in a kid just to make the years of practice and training worthwhile. But from there, over time, the cream starts to rise and separate. So one type of technical explanation for Federer's dominion is that he's just a bit more kinesthetically talented than the other male pros. Only a little bit, since everyone in the top 100 is himself kinesthetically gifted - but then, tennis is a game of inches. This answer is plausible but incomplete. It would probably not have been incomplete in 1980. In 2006, though, it's fair to ask why this kind of talent still matters so much. Kinesthetic virtuoso or no, Roger Federer is now dominating the largest, strongest, fittest, best-trained and -coached field of male pros that has ever existed, with everyone using a kind of nuclear racket that's said to have made the finer calibrations of kinesthetic sense irrelevant, like trying to whistle Mozart during a Metallica concert. To put it simple, between having to read or listen to stuff like above from those that have lived and played the game like McEnroe, Agassi, Sampras and Lendl and taking all your absurd and utter garbage about a sport that none of you have a clue about....I know which one i'll choose. Federer is not yet the greatest ever. But he has more to his game than Sampras ever had. Just ask Agassi. He has 5 more years and roughly 20 grand slams to go, before he reaches 30, to overtake the all time record and then he will be the greatest ever in the history of the game. And sadly, There's nothing all your bitter, deluded and laughable posts, could do about it. Just sit back, relax and watch Federer re-write history and figuratively and literally, re-embody men's tennis.

  
  

• From: Elmer_Dinkley on Fri Sep 15 14:16:21 2006.

  imsai wrote:

  Elmer_Dinkley wrote: What a load of rubbish posted above.....Do you all actually know anything about tennis or just post under the impression that the game is easy to understand just because two jokers hit a ball towards each other across court. oh sorry.. u r the god of tennis.. u know everything

  
  
  thanks and u r the lord of morons .....u know nothing
  
  

• From: imsai on Fri Sep 15 14:16:52 2006.

  ur post will be removed when mods come back.
  
  

  Elmer_Dinkley wrote:

  imsai wrote: Elmer_Dinkley wrote: What a load of rubbish posted above.....Do you all actually know anything about tennis or just post under the impression that the game is easy to understand just because two jokers hit a ball towards each other across court. oh sorry.. u r the god of tennis.. u know everything thanks and u r the lord of morons .....u know nothing

  
  

• From: Elmer_Dinkley on Fri Sep 15 14:26:46 2006.

  Good...until then...let the truth be on display
  
  

  imsai wrote:

  ur post will be removed when mods come back. Elmer_Dinkley wrote: imsai wrote: Elmer_Dinkley wrote: What a load of rubbish posted above.....Do you all actually know anything about tennis or just post under the impression that the game is easy to understand just because two jokers hit a ball towards each other across court. oh sorry.. u r the god of tennis.. u know everything thanks and u r the lord of morons .....u know nothing

  
  

• From: imsai on Fri Sep 15 14:28:41 2006.

  Pity your thoughts had to be moderated .. as mods will discard your post.. so must be a useless post
  
  useless post
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Sep 15 14:38:24 2006.

  Enigma carry on ur good work on federer
  
  

• From: Elmer_Dinkley on Fri Sep 15 15:07:26 2006.

  imsai wrote:

  Pity your thoughts had to be moderated .. as mods will discard your post.. so must be a useless post useless post

  
  
  The truth hurts doesn't it Don't worry, i won't tell a soul about your disabilities
  
  

• From: Elmer_Dinkley on Fri Sep 15 15:08:10 2006.

  ajithfederer wrote:

  Enigma carry on ur good work on federer

  
  
  Don't worry machi....anything available....i'll be in here with like a flash
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Sep 15 15:22:14 2006.

  Post some more tid bits about federer whenever u find time
  

  Elmer_Dinkley wrote:

  ajithfederer wrote: Enigma carry on ur good work on federer Don't worry machi....anything available....i'll be in here with like a flash

  
  

• From: m_23_bayarea on Fri Sep 15 15:39:39 2006.

  Dint even know there was a thread for TENNIS !!! Lemme begin by listing my all time favorites right from my childhood days !!
  
  Boris Becker - Was completely mesmerized like millions of ppl on his style, energy, and charisma on court !!
  
  Pete Sampras - For me, he's the BEST ever !! The legend .... All his qualities are sooooo admirable ... And his game, no complaints !! So sad he couldnt win the French Open !!
  
  Roger Federer - After Sampras retired, I stopped watching Tennis completely ... All the new kids were soooo unworthy I thought ... Until, I saw Roger ... For me, he looks completely like Sampras' successor ... Except that, his control over his peers is even more than what Sampras had !!!
  
  
  
  

• From: Elmer_Dinkley on Fri Sep 15 16:04:23 2006.

  m_23_bayarea wrote:

  Dint even know there was a thread for TENNIS !!! Lemme begin by listing my all time favorites right from my childhood days !! Boris Becker - Was completely mesmerized like millions of ppl on his style, energy, and charisma on court !! Pete Sampras - For me, he's the BEST ever !! The legend .... All his qualities are sooooo admirable ... And his game, no complaints !! So sad he couldnt win the French Open !! Roger Federer - After Sampras retired, I stopped watching Tennis completely ... All the new kids were soooo unworthy I thought ... Until, I saw Roger ... For me, he looks completely like Sampras' successor ... Except that, his control over his peers is even more than what Sampras had !!!

  
  
  Agree with pretty much what you have stated above. At last we get some proper sensible tennis opinions. The world is saved.
  
  As for Sampras, he was my favourite during his era...even more than Agassi. I liked his 'minimum fuss, maximum efficiency' style that made him a legend in the sport much the same way Roger Federer is going about it right now. Don't know about the best ever tag though. Many would argue that Sampras' failure to win Roland Garros has put paid to the 'greatest ever' tag with his rival Agassi having won lot less slams but succesful on all surfaces. But he's still a legend all the same.
  
  But if Federer exceeds 14 slams with at least a French Open title amongst them, he deserves and will be rightfully regarded as the greatest ever. As for now, Pistol Pete's achievements still stands head and shoulders above all.
  
  

• From: MADDY on Fri Sep 15 23:16:55 2006.

  Elmer, i'm entitled to my opinions......i have watched Tennis right from when i was 6 yr old and i have played a lot too........if u dont like my comments then u need to argue justifiably........dont argue abt my knowledge/abilities here........i think i need not stress this anymore....
  
  i have accepted that Federer is the gr8est now.....when sampras has rated Federer above himself, i dunt think i'll disagree.......but i still maintain that things are a bit too easy for him......he is not breAking sweat to create history.....
  
  and i dont need a middle-finger displaying unruly kid to change my opinions.....
  
  imsai, ivargal ippadithan.......they think one person is gr8, and evben if someone has a genuine concern they will just start bashing him.........they are a bunch of insecure kids......
  
  

• From: imsai on Sat Sep 16 2:59:03 2006.

  MADDY wrote:

  and i dont need a middle-finger displaying unruly kid to change my opinions.....

  
  
  
  
  

  Quote:

  imsai, ivargal ippadithan.......they think one person is gr8, and evben if someone has a genuine concern they will just start bashing him.........they are a bunch of insecure kids......

  
  
  Maybe it's too much to expect from them
  
  

• From: Elmer_Dinkley on Sat Sep 16 3:31:44 2006.

  * deleted *
  
  

  Mod wrote:

  Warning!

  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sat Sep 16 13:10:11 2006.

  Breaking sweat 2 create history : He does things so simply that makes many guys think that the competition is so easy for him.....
  
  Federer has already achieved so much more than what sampras did when he was 25.....
  
  and i think that sums up everything ......
  

  MADDY wrote:

  Elmer, i'm entitled to my opinions......i have watched Tennis right from when i was 6 yr old and i have played a lot too........if u dont like my comments then u need to argue justifiably........dont argue abt my knowledge/abilities here........i think i need not stress this anymore.... i have accepted that Federer is the gr8est now.....when sampras has rated Federer above himself, i dunt think i'll disagree.......but i still maintain that things are a bit too easy for him......he is not breAking sweat to create history..... and i dont need a middle-finger displaying unruly kid to change my opinions..... imsai, ivargal ippadithan.......they think one person is gr8, and evben if someone has a genuine concern they will just start bashing him.........they are a bunch of insecure kids......

  
  

• From: nilavupriyan on Sat Sep 16 13:14:56 2006.

  federer is an all time great player!
  
  but nowadays..its like one-man show without competion unlike sampras with the likes of michael chang,andre agassi etc!
  
  

• From: MADDY on Sat Sep 16 14:13:42 2006.

  ajithfederer wrote:

  Federer has already achieved so much more than what sampras did when he was 25..... and i think that sums up everything ......

  
  
  hey somewhere i read that Sampras had same number of Grandslams as Federer at this time.......i'll try to give u the link......actually Sampras started to slack after 1997......
  
  my brain says Federer is the best but my heart still says Sampras is best
  
  

• From: imsai on Sat Sep 16 16:39:10 2006.

  It's not about achieving at 25 That's a poor attempt to prove.
  
  Pete's era was totally different, he had tougher opponents but nowadays tennis quality has diminished so it's easy for Federer to win.. He should've been in Pete's era or Pete should be in this era, he'll prove them that he's the master.
  
  Anyway you can't really draw a conclusion because of different eras
  
  One more joke. Sharapova won her first grandslam in her 18 so she must be one of the greatest
  
  Pete is the master. I'm entitled to my opinion as others are to theirs.
  
  

• From: Elmer_Dinkley on Sun Sep 17 0:00:48 2006.

  imsai wrote:

  It's not about achieving at 25 That's a poor attempt to prove. Pete's era was totally different, he had tougher opponents but nowadays tennis quality has diminished so it's easy for Federer to win.. He should've been in Pete's era or Pete should be in this era, he'll prove them that he's the master. Anyway you can't really draw a conclusion because of different eras One more joke. Sharapova won her first grandslam in her 18 so she must be one of the greatest Pete is the master. I'm entitled to my opinion as others are to theirs.

  
  
  You see what I mean. You contradicted yourself in the space of two sentences.
  
  This should pretty much explain that, although you are entitled to an opinion, you haven't really given one. Get the drift? No? Am not entirely surprised. Anyway, please stop.....I am getting tired of being proven right time and again
  
  

• From: imsai on Sun Sep 17 0:10:12 2006.

  Must be frustrated to see your post being deleted
  
  I'll wait for you to calm down and make sense. Till that point, continue whining. I'll take it easy on you
  
  

• From: Elmer_Dinkley on Sun Sep 17 0:17:23 2006.

  * deleted *
  
  

• From: nilavupriyan on Tue Sep 19 13:00:32 2006.

  pete sampras game is a treat!...he handles opponents with ease...ennamo kulandha kooda velayadra maadhiri velayadavaru
  
  

• From: Nakeeran on Tue Sep 19 13:11:50 2006.

  nilavupriyan wrote:

  pete sampras game is a treat!...he handles opponents with ease...ennamo kulandha kooda velayadra maadhiri velayadavaru

  
  
  Nilavu
  
  Both Pistol Pete & Roger F are greats beyond doubt.
  
  Rather both names should appear in the elite list of ALL TIME GREATS
  
  One thing , Pete tenure, he faced much better opponents like Agassi , Becker, Edberg ( final stages ) , even Ivan Lendl also ( remember he won his first grandslam in US beating Ivan in quarters ) , Goran Ivanisevic that mighty guy of aces in Wimbledon
  
  But if Federer is not getting such class players as opponents, he cant be blamed for this .
  
  Go go Federer . U are a clear winner today.
  
  

• From: MADDY on Tue Sep 19 15:06:32 2006.

  Nakeeran wrote:

  One thing , Pete tenure, he faced much better opponents like Agassi , Becker, Edberg ( final stages ) , even Ivan Lendl also ( remember he won his first grandslam in US beating Ivan in quarters ) , Goran Ivanisevic that mighty guy of aces in Wimbledon But if Federer is not getting such class players as opponents, he cant be blamed for this .

  
  
  u hit the nail on the head Nakee......Federer cant be blamed for this........but i have stopped watching Men's tennis for a long time now......cos i will give u the result of all 4 grandslams for next year now....will there be any interest left to watch if u know the final result before??
  
  they are not even winning one set against Federer leave alone the match.........i dont know how Federer fans look at it, but if this was the case with Pete then i wouldnt be happy.......infact Ram is considered great because he defeated Ravan and not some small time king........imagine Vaiyyapuri as villain for V V .....Nowadays Men's tennis is just like that....
  
  

• From: imsai on Wed Sep 20 1:05:16 2006.

  maddy and nakee
  
  cracking posts
  
  

• From: sgokulprathap on Tue Oct 3 5:16:44 2006.

  Bhupathi says he is no longer available for India
  Tuesday, October 3
  
  Indian doubles specialist Mahesh Bhupathi said on Monday he would no longer play for his country.
  
  "I spoke to the Federation and they have accepted it," the 32-year-old multiple grand slam winner told Reuters soon after winning the Mumbai Open doubles crown with Croatian Mario Ancic.
  
  "I will not be playing for India but I will continue playing on the Tour and grand slams."
  
  Bhupathi had been expected to partner Davis Cup captain Leander Paes at the Asian Games in Doha in December and defend the doubles crown.
  
  He felt slighted when the Federation paired top woman player Sania Mirza with Leander Paes for the Asian Games.
  
  Bhupathi was paired with the lower-ranked Shikha Oberoi.
  
  "Various factors led to it, things were adding up," said Bhupathi, who has won 10 grand slam doubles and mixed doubles crowns.
  
  "I needed to cut down on my playing and prioritise on the men's doubles at the Australian Open, one title that I have not won."
  
  "Two weeks at Doha is not the ideal preparation for the Australian Open," added Bhupathi, who has won four men's doubles grand slams.
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Sun Nov 19 11:08:44 2006.

  Federer done again! He won the Masters Cup ' 06 in style by beating James Blake of US! The American was simply humiliated by the champion I was simply amazed by the placement and timing of Federer! More informations...
  
  http://www.rediff.com/sports/2006/nov/19masters.htm
  
  

• From: St Petersburg on Mon Nov 20 4:50:56 2006.

  Sanguine Sridhar wrote:

  Federer done again! He won the Masters Cup ' 06 in style by beating James Blake of US! The American was simply humiliated by the champion I was simply amazed by the placement and timing of Federer! More informations... http://www.rediff.com/sports/2006/nov/19masters.htm

  
  
  Well, what can you say, the man's a genuis. He is redefining the sport almost everytime he takes to the court. Federer's tennis is out of this world and I agree with many in the tennis fratertnity that he plays the way not seen before in any era. He's fast heading towards being the greatest ever in the history of the game and that can be achieved once he wins the French and surpasses 14 grand slams. We must be lucky to be able to witness the unique talent's of Federer in our lifetime.
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Mon Nov 20 8:58:40 2006.

  very true! he is polite when he is winning, like Sampras and that is his secret of success!
  
  

• From: St Petersburg on Mon Nov 20 12:27:59 2006.

  Sanguine Sridhar wrote:

  very true! he is polite when he is winning, like Sampras and that is his secret of success!

  
  
  True. Many people see similarities between them charachter wise. Both have no time for nonsense. They just get on court do the demolition job, bask in the glory and move on to the next challenge. So i couldn't careless when people say they were not as charismatic or energetic or popular like Ander Agassi or Pat Cash....popularity dont put you in the pantheon of greats, trophies do. But I had a soft spot for Agassi. I like the what he brought to tennis thats never seen before. At least he had substance to go along with all the popularity and style unlike some of the poofs in the circuit these days.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Tue Nov 21 0:57:49 2006.

  Federer is truly a master..........
  
  

• From: Nerd on Thu Dec 14 13:10:01 2006.

  Peas and Bhupathy have split, officially
  
  EGO was the main problem between them. They would have brought home atleast 3 more grandslam titles.
  
  Its indeed great that they ended on a high note
  
  

• From: mazhaichaaral on Thu Dec 14 23:08:13 2006.

  Nerd wrote:

  Peas and Bhupathy have split, officially EGO was the main problem between them. They would have brought home atleast 3 more grandslam titles. Its indeed great that they ended on a high note

  
  
  won asian games gold?
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Thu Dec 14 23:16:43 2006.

  i think they will play only for asian games and davis cup...
  
  

• From: Aandavan on Fri Dec 15 4:24:01 2006.

  Sanguine Sridhar wrote:

  i think they will play only for asian games and davis cup...

  not even for that from now on...
  
  

• From: rocketboy on Fri Dec 15 11:28:27 2006.

  I think this time Paes was reponsible for the split up. Whatever be the reason , he should not have gone to the media over Bhupathi's indifference. I think Mahesh needs to be shown the door for his attitude. When Sania was not paired with him he announced he won't be playing for India again. . It was also sickening to read Bhupathi's father comments soon after Paes' outbursts. Bhupathi's father said that Paes was keen on Mahesh not taking home a medal ( He was referring to the match for the bronze medal in Athens 2004 Olympics. That match was keenly contested and the Indian pair went down 7-6, 4-6, 16-14). Maybe Mahesh is a better player than Paes having won more no of grand slams. But how can anyone question Paes' commitment ?
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Tue Jan 9 16:11:31 2007.

  Sania advances to quarters in Hobart
  
  Sania Mirza sustained her sparkling form to move into the singles quarter-finals with a commendable win over Romina Oprandi of Italy at the Moorilla Hobart International Open women's tennis tournament in Tasmania on Tuesday.
  
  Wildcard entrant Sania, ranked 66th in the world, downed Oprandi 6-7 (2), 6-3, 6-0 in the second round at the USD 145,000 hardcourt event on the WTA Tour.
  
  The 20-year old Indian had ousted world no. 29 Maria Kirilenko of Russia in the first round on Monday.
  
  On the men's Tour, Leander Paes and Czech Republic's Martin Damm defeated Lukas Dlouzy and Pavel Vizner 7-6 (2), 6-2 in their opening round tie at the USD 436,000 Medibank International in Sydney.
  
  The reigning US Open champions, who reached the final of the Qatar Open in Doha last week, were seeded fourth.
  
  
  
  Source : http://ia.rediff.com/sports/2007/jan/09sania.htm
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Wed Jan 10 13:48:41 2007.

  Sania storms into semis
  
  Sania Mirza continued to roll as she stormed into the semi-finals of the Moorilla International Open with a straight-sets victory over home favourite Alicia Molik in Hobart on Wednesday.
  
  The 20-year old Indian thrashed Molik, her doubles partner, 6-4, 6-1 in the quarter-finals of the USD 145,000 WTA Tour event, a lead up to the Australian Open starting on Monday.
  
  In the last four, Sania will face top seed Russian Anna Chakvetadze, who beat seventh-seed Jie Zheng of China 4-6, 6-1, 6-1.
  
  Sania, however, tasted defeat in the doubles as she and Molik went down fighting 6-7 (5), 6-7 (1) to second seeds Maria Elena Camerin of Italy and Gisela Dulko of Russia in the quarter-finals.
  
  In Sydney, the Indo-French pair of Mahesh Bhupathi and Fabrice Santoro bit the dust with a 1-6, 6-7 (6) loss to Paul Hanley of Australia and Kevin Ullyett of Zimbabwe in the quarter-finals at the USD 436,000 Medibank International on the ATP Tour.
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Thu Jan 11 14:48:11 2007.

  Sania bows out in Hobart semis
  
  Sania Mirza's dream run came to an end after she lost to top seed and world number 13 Anna Chakvetadze of Russia in the semi-final of the Moorilla International Open in Hobart on Thursday.
  
  The Indian ace went down 6-4, 6-1 to her fancied opponent, bringing an end to her fine run in the season-opening WTA event, a lead-up to the Australian Open beginning Monday.
  
  Sania had a perfect start when she broke Chakvetadze in the very first game of the match.
  
  But the Russian fought back and did not allow Sania to take the advantage and broke Sania in the next game.
  
  Sania was broken again in the tenth game which cost her the set 4-6.
  
  Sania had a chance to take lead in the seventh game with the scores level at 3-3, but could not exploit the break-point that came her way. In the second set, Chakvetadze did not give any chance to Sania.
  
  She set the momentum in her favour and broke Sania twice to take a 5-0 lead.
  
  The Russain conceded just one game in the second set to take the set with a scoreline of 6-1. It will be an all Russian affair in the title clash tomorrow with Chakvetadze taking on qualifier Vasilisa Bardina who thrashed Sybille Bammer of Austria in the first semifinal 6-3, 6-1.
  
  
  
  

• From: Nerd on Thu Jan 11 17:26:48 2007.

  I think she should shed some weight, seriously. Also technically speaking her service is horrible especially the second service
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Sat Jan 13 9:47:11 2007.

  Roddick shocks Federer in Kooyong final
  
  The American swept to a 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 victory to record his first win over the world number one since August 2003, gaining a huge psychological boost before the Australian Open starts on Monday.
  
  Unfortunately Roddick will only be able to savour the memory of the rare victory over the Swiss master as the result will not count in the official records with the event only being an exhibition.
  
  "It (a win over Federer) needs to be done on a big stage before you can put too much emphasis on it," Roddick told reporters.
  
  "That said, it's nice. It's nice to get some good preparation throughout the final before the Australian Open."
  
  The result will do little to dent Federer's confidence since he was also beaten in the tournament last year before securing a second Melbourne Park crown just two weeks later.
  
  In fact, the last time the Swiss was beaten, in the second round of the 2006 Cincinnati Masters by Briton Andy Murray, he was spurred on to win his ninth grand slam title with a series of breathtaking victories at the U.S. Open last September.
  
  "Andy played well. I thought I would be out very quickly because of the start he had," Federer told the crowd.
  
  "But I feel ready for the Australian Open."
  
  Federer entered the match with a commanding 12-1 advantage over his American rival, who had lost eight successive matches to the Swiss.
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Mon Jan 15 8:43:14 2007.

  Australian Open- 2007
  
  Day 1 : Highlights
  
  
  Fish ousts No.4 seed Ljubicic
  
  
  American Mardy Fish has caused the first boilover of Australian Open 2007, upsetting men's No.4 seed Ivan Ljubicic 4-6 7-6(2) 6-4 6-4 on Day One.
  
  Fish, currently ranked No.42 in the world, played some stunning tennis to send Ljubicic on his way in just under three hours.
  
  Ljubicic, was made the final eight at Melbourne Park in 2006, got off to a good start with a solitary break good enough to give him the first set in 41 minutes.
  
  Fish tightened up his service in a gripping second set, and Ljubicic could make no inroads, winning just nine points on the 25-year-old's serve while conceding just 12 on his own. But Fish settled better for the tie-break squaring the match and wresting the momentum.
  
  The American made the better of his opportunities, breaking Ljubicic at his only chance in the third, despite taking just 12 of the 31 points on the Croatian's serve. Fish then gained the all-important service break in the decider, and set up a second round clash with Frenchman Nicolas Mahut.
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Mon Jan 15 8:44:06 2007.

  Petrova cruises past Tanasugarn
  
  Russian Nadia Petrova was rarely troubled by Thailand's Tamarine Tanasugarn on Monday with the No.5 seed bundling the world No.71 out of Australian Open 2007 6-3, 6-2.
  
  Petrova broke Tanasugarn three times out on Show Court Two on her way to the win and did not lose her own serve during the first round match - the Thai managing to secure just one break point opportunity.
  
  The Russian's serve was a key weapon in her arsenal as she sent down 10 aces for the match and won the point 79 per cent of the time when she got her first serve in.
  
  Tanasugarn struggled to get her own serve on target in the first set, serving at 45 per cent, and while she upped that to 61 per cent in the second, she could not find a way to effectively combat Petrova's serve.
  
  But perhaps the largest discrepancy in the match was the number of clean winners struck with the No.5 seed slamming 32 to the Thai's 13 with Petrova also stronger at the net winning eight points to two.
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Mon Jan 15 8:45:24 2007.

  Roddick's hard slog
  
  Men's No.6 seed Andy Roddick has endured a scare in his first-round match at Australian Open 2007, eventually defeating French wildcard Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-7(18) 7-6(2) 6-3 6-3.
  
  Roddick, who came into the Melbourne Park tournament off the back of a win against world No.1 Roger Federer in the AAMI Classic at Kooyong, endured a much-tougher than expected first-up task against the 21-year-old.
  
  Tsonga, making his first appearance in the main draw at an Australian Open, gained the upper hand after edging out the 2003 US Open champion in a 38-point first-set tie-breaker.
  
  He continued to pressure Roddick, breaking his serve once in the second, but also conceding his own. The American prevailed with relative ease in the tie-breaker and the momentum of the match switched.
  
  A single break was enough to give Roddick a two-sets-to-one advantage after a 31-minute third set. The 2003 and 2005 semifinalist then hit his stride, rifling 12 winners past Tsonga a breaking him twice in a dominant fourth set
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Mon Jan 15 8:46:36 2007.

  Mauresmo through to second round
  
  Defending women's champion Amelie Mauresmo has cruised her way into the second round of Australian Open 2007 with a 6-3 6-4 success over American Shenay Perry.
  
  In the first match of the tournament to be played at Rod Laver Arena, Mauresmo took charge early on, breaking the 22-year-old's serve on two occasions in a 30-minute first set.
  
  Perry did manage a break of her own in the each of the sets, but Mauresmo's pressure when receiving told in a relatively tight second set.
  
  The American, who had failed to make it past the first round in her two previous trips to Melbourne, held out for another 44 minutes, but two breaks of service against her saw the No.2 seed progress to a clash with Russian Olga Poutchkova, who defeated Poland's Marta Domachowska 6-2 6-4.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Mon Jan 15 16:14:12 2007.

  Wishing Roger Federer all the very best of luck for his 10th grandslam
  
  Go fedex
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Tue Jan 16 11:27:13 2007.

  Day2 Highlights
  
  Nadal clears first hurdle
  
  Spanish star Rafael Nadal, the men's No.2 seed at Australian Open 2007, says he is pleased to have got through his opening match on Day Two at Melbourne Park, but isn't looking too far ahead just yet.
  
  Playing his match at Rod Laver Arena under the closed roof after the Extreme Heat Policy had been activated earlier in the afternoon, Nadal had to work hard early against American Robert Kendrick.
  
  But after saving a set point at 5-6 in the tie-breaker - after he had failed to convert one of his own earlier in the set - Nadal won three straight points to take the opening set and then broke once in the second and twice in the third en route to his 7-6(6) 6-3 6-2 win.
  
  "Well I'm happy," he said. "(It) is a good start for me. I have a very difficult first set, I have my chance, some break points in the first. I don't know, one break point, maybe more than one."
  
  "After I had set point down with 6-5. So, well, (it) was important for me (to) win the first tiebreak. After, the match change a little bit. Was easy after. Most important thing is I won today. Always is very difficult to start one tournament."
  
  Out-pointed 29-32 in the winners' count Nadal only committed 14 unforced errors to Kendrick's 43 for the match, and the two-time French Open champion told reporters after his triumph that he prefers playing outdoors.
  
  "Well, (it) was a little bit different feeling because is indoor court, so that's little bit change," Nadal added. "That's fine, (it) is unbelievable hot outside. I prefer play without indoor, but that's it, that's fine."
  
  Having beaten world No.1 Roger Federer in four finals last year - in Dubai, Monte Carlo, Rome and when he defended his French Open crown - Nadal wasn't looking any further ahead than his second-round clash with either Belgian Kristof Vliegen or German Philipp Kohlschreiber.
  
  Nadal added that he's feeling '100 per cent fine' after suffering an injury scare that forced him out of last week's Medibank International in Sydney, and that he's confident he can succeed on any court if his form stands up, even though clay is his preferred surface.
  
  "If I am playing good, I can play all surfaces fine," he said. "I play the final on Wimbledon, the fastest place in the world. If I am playing good, I can play good in all places, but if I am playing bad, I can play bad in all places, too."
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Tue Jan 16 11:31:20 2007.

  Blake finds top gear
  
  American James Blake looked to be in for a torrid time when Carlos Moya pushed him to a tie-break in the first set of their first-round clash on Day Two, but the No.5 seed found another gear to prevail in straight sets, 7-6(8), 6-2, 6-4 on Vodafone Arena.
  
  The match looked destined for five sets with neither played able to gain an edge in the first set, sending it to a tie-break, and it was an unforced error from the Spaniard that eventually gave Blake a window of opportunity that he didn't let pass.
  
  The biggest disparity of the match was the amount of winners from each player with Blake finding his range with 50 to Moya's 25.
  
  Moya had difficulty combating Blake's serve throughout, gaining just the one break-point opportunity which he did not take, while Blake converted three of his five break points.
  
  The last of those came when the American broke Moya to go 5-4 up in the third with Blake then going on to serve out the match comfortably.
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Tue Jan 16 11:33:30 2007.

  Nalbandian's escape
  
  Men's No.8 seed David Nalbandian has prevailed in a dramatic five-setter against Janko Tipsarevic after the Serbian withdrew in the final set with the score at 6-7(5) 4-6 7-6(2) 6-0 2-1.
  
  Nalbandian looked set to become the second men's seed inside the top 10 to depart Melbourne Park at the first hurdle, after No.4 Ivan Ljubicic seed was beaten by Mardy Fish on Day One, when he trailed two sets and a break in the third.
  
  Nalbandian, a semifinalist at Australian Open 2006, got his campaign off on a bad note, as Tipsarevic prevailed in a tiebreak, 7-5 in the first. The second set saw both players struggling to hold serve, but the world No.64 was able to get through to a 2-0 set advantage with three service breaks.
  
  Tipsarevic gained the key service break in the third, and had chance to close it out with a match point in the tenth game, but a Nalbandian drop shot saved that, and while the Argentine trailed 0-40 on serve in the subsequent game, he rallied to hold.
  
  He won the subsequent tiebreaker, then stormed through the fourth in just 23 minutes to set-up a decider. The Serbian gave up his serve in the fifth and suffering from the effects of the heat chose to withdraw 15 minutes into the set.
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Tue Jan 16 11:34:58 2007.

  Hewitt digs deep to progress
  
  Top local hope Lleyton Hewitt survived an almighty scare on Day Two of Australian Open 2007, with American qualifier Michael Russell taking a two-set lead before the South Australian reeled him to progress 3-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3.
  
  The No.19 seed looked set for a quick exit from the tournament down two sets and a break in the third, but displayed his trademark grit and determination to fight his way back into the match.
  
  It seems blowing out the cobwebs with a grueling five-setter has become part of Hewitt's Australian Open ritual, and he certainly looked a little rusty early on while Russell was right on top of his game.
  
  The turning point in the match came when Hewitt broke the American in the eighth game of the third set to go up 5-3 and wrest the momentum from his opponent.
  
  Two breaks of serve gave the South Australian the fourth set, but it only took one for him to serve out the match in the fifth, much to the delight of the parochial crowd.
  
  Each player had nine break-point opportunities during the match, but Hewitt managed to convert seven of his to Russell's six with the No.19 seed also gaining an edge at the net where he won 29 points to the American's 17.
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Tue Jan 16 11:38:35 2007.

  u]Sania in second round of Australian Open[/u]
  
  India's tennis ace Sania Mirza warded off the challenge of Ukranian Olga Savchuk to reach the women's singles second round at the Australian Open in Melbourne on Tuesday.
  
  Sania overcame Olga 6-3, 7-5 in a keen battle that stretched an hour and half to keep up the Indian hopes at the first Grand Slam of the season.
  
  The 53rd ranked Indian ace banked on her experience to make the most of Olga's double faults and unforced errors.
  
  Olga helped Sania's cause in the first set by committing as many as six double faults. The Hyderabadi's ability to hold onto her serves and better game near the net also paid dividends as she cruised to bag the first set in 44 minutes.
  
  Sania was under pressure as the 102-ranked Olga fought back in the second set by minimising the double faults and giving the higher-ranked Indian a run for her money.
  
  However, the Ukraine girl's spiralling unforced errors let Sania off the hook.
  
  Sania, who was broken once in the second set, made amends to break back twice and wrap up the set and match in 46 minutes.
  
  The 20-year-old Indian, basking in the glory of good shows in Asian Games, Hopman Cup and Hobart International, said with growing experience she has become a better player now.
  
  "I'm a more complete player these days, I believe I have more than when I was 30 in the world, I'm 53 now and I play much better tennis today than I did then," she said after the match.
  
  "I feel a lot fitter, I'm moving a lot better, probably the serve is my weakest point right now, but it's not exactly a weakness, but it's not a strength, it's just a matter of consolidating on that and playing some quality matches," Sania added.
  
  Sania, who plays Eleni Daniilidou of Greece or Japan's Aiko Nakamura in the next round, said she was thrilled to know that many Indians follow her performances closely.
  
  "Tennis is really growing in India as a sport. I got so many messages today from people saying they were going to sleep early so they could get up early in the morning to see my match on TV. I've never seen or heard of that before, people following tennis in such a big way," she said.
  
  "It is a good feeling (being a role model) and everything has its pros and cons. But it's great when someone comes up and says I picked up a tennis racquet because of you and what's you've done.
  
  "You need a role model to look up to and when you look at someone doing it from your own country you start believing that you can do it too.
  
  "A lot of people are picking up tennis racquets and I just hope that five, six years from now we don't have one woman tennis player we have a few more. I think it's just a matter of time before we have more players coming out at this level," Sania added.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Tue Jan 16 11:45:16 2007.

  SS, thanks for ur updates
  
  

• From: Raikkonen on Tue Jan 16 22:29:57 2007.

  U see Safin, one of the best under-rated talent needing 5 sets..
  Its hard to see him pushing for honors at this rate, but i hope he can qualify for QF/SF.. if he reaches there, then he has good chances of winning..
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Thu Jan 18 13:44:57 2007.

  Day3 & Day 4: Highlights
  
  
  Sania Out
  
  Sania Mirza crashed out of the Australian Open following a 3-6, 2-6 second round loss to Japan's Aiko Nakamura in Melbourne on Thursday.
  
  The Indian was erratic throughout, committing 26 double-faults, as Nakamura outplayed her in just over an hour to set up a third round clash with Switzerland's Martina Hingis.
  
  
  Nakamura, it seemed, had learnt her lessons from the 2005 loss to Sania in the Japan Open -- the only face-off between the two players before today -- and was clearly the more disciplined and broke the Indian thrice in the opening set.
  
  Sania also managed to convert the two break-points that came her way but never looked in her elements, committing 12 unforced errors compared to Nakamura's six, as she surrendered the first set in just 33 minutes.
  
  The second set followed almost the same script and Nakamura gave no chance to the world number 53, breaking her twice.
  
  The Hyderabadi star wasted two break-points and served poorly, committing three double faults apart from 14 unforced errors before bowing out of the singles event at the first Grand Slam of the year.
  
  But there was some good fortune for the Indian ace later. She and Anabel Medina Garrigues of Spain defeated Sandra Kloesel of Germany and Aravane Rezai of France 6-1, 6-4 to advance to the second round of the doubles event.
  
  Also racing into the third round of the singles was Kim Clijsters. The Belgian scored a 6-3, 6-0 win over Japan's Akiko Morigami. She will next play Ukrainian Alona Bondarenko.
  
  Light rain caused delays on outside courts, with matches held up by at least 90 minutes.
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Thu Jan 18 13:46:03 2007.

  Baghdatis Out
  
  Rising French star Gael Monfils described Day Three of Australian Open 2007 as the 'best time of my life' directly after ending the winning run of 2006 finalist Marcos Baghdatis on Rod Laver Arena.
  
  In a tough four-setter, which involved an injury time-out for Monfils after his movements were restricted by tape on his left foot, the 20-year-old from Paris prevailed over No.11 seed Baghdatis, 7-6(5) 6-2 2-6 6-0.
  
  And, it seemed Melbourne found itself another cult figure with Monfils lifting the crowd with his fist-pumping antics, consistent desire to slide across the Rebound Ace as if it were clay, and collection of impossible shots.
  
  "It's something magic. First when I get on the court I was a little bit scared because the stadium was full," the young Frenchman said after the win.
  
  "And before the match, I knew it was a big match against Marcos, so to win was magic. That's the word, magic. "
  
  Monfils, who has now made it through to the third round of the Melbourne Grand Slam for the first time and will meet compatriot and good friend Richard Gasquet next up, is taking the sensible approach to proceedings and isn't getting too far ahead of himself.
  
  "It feels very good, very good, but I think I have to step through the tournament," he said.
  
  "Like one match, maybe it's a big win, but still a long tournament, so after the tournament I would maybe say second round was good, but I have to see more now."
  
  Baghdatis wasn't without his own crew of local support with Rod Laver Arena dotted with loud fans decked out in blue and white, and was full of praise for his younger opponent despite his disappointment over his inability to halt the Monfils train once it gathered momentum.
  
  "Gael just played a great match today. He was very aggressive. He was hitting the ball very aggressive," Baghdatis said.
  
  "He wasn't being very aggressive, but he was playing deep all the time. I just couldn't find a solution."
  
  While today's rankings separate the two by 48 places and Baghdatis is just over 15 months older than Monfils, distinct comparisons between the two can be made.
  
  Both were junior Australian Open champions, Baghdatis in 2003 and Monfils in 2004, both have claimed one career title and they turned professional within a year of each other.
  
  And, both have staged consistent rises up the rankings since joining the Tour with Baghdatis moving from world No.179 in 2003 to No.12 today, and Monfils rising from No.231 in 2004 to No.46.
  
  Before Wednesday night, the Cypriot held a 1-0 head-to-head advantage, having beaten Monfils at the ATP Masters Series in Cincinnati last year in a tough three-setter in the round of 32.
  
  Since that August meeting, Baghdatis believes a rise in confidence and a change in coach to former ATP pro Pier Gauthier in October 2006, for the lanky French star has led to his sudden rise from obscurity.
  
  "I think (in August) he had problems with coaches so he wasn't feeling so good. I couldn't say. I mean, every day is different. One day we play good, one day we play bad. One day you're good at important points, one day you're not," he said.
  
  "He improved. Today, I think he stuck with his coach before this tournament. He's playing with nothing to lose, and you saw how confident he came on the court and how he's hitting his forehands and how he's running everywhere. He's very confident, and that's a lot.
  
  "The tennis he has since two years, he doesn't improve anything amazing in tennis. It's just the confidence. It's just the experience.
  
  "I think it's good that he found his way, he stuck with his coach and he's feeling very confident now. That's the difference, I guess."
  
  And, Monfils agreed Baghdatis's win in Cincinnati came with completely different circumstances with the Cypriot clearly suffering from tightness in their most recent encounter in Melbourne.
  
  "Today the conditions were very different because we were out there with the roof. I learned a little bit," he said.
  
  "I know how to play, and when you're going to make a mistake … and I think today Marcos was very tight so it was easy to defend. A good way to play against him."
  
  
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Thu Jan 18 13:50:32 2007.

  Straight forward for Hingis
  
  Three-time champion Martina Hingis has booked her spot in the final 32 of the women's draw at Australian Open 2007 with a 6-2 6-2 victory over Russian Alla Kudryavtseva.
  
  Hingis, the 1997, 1998 and 1999 Australian Open champion, who made the quarterfinals in Melbourne last year in her comeback Grand Slam, eased through her second round match in an hour and eight minutes early on Day Four.
  
  It didn't go totally to plan for the Swiss No.6 seed, who dropped her serve once in the first set and twice in the second. But Kudryavtseva, a qualifier ranked No.134 in the world, was unconvincing on her own serve.
  
  She won just 11 points on serve in the first, and 14 in the second, handing Hingis seven breaks of serve for the match. It all added up to a relatively easy win for the 26-year-old, who will play Aiko Nakamura for a spot in the fourth round.
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Thu Jan 18 13:51:28 2007.

  Blake sees off compatriot
  
  Men's No.5 seed James Blake has eased his way into the third round of Australian Open 2007, thrashing fellow American Alex Kuznetsov 6-4 6-1 6-2 on Rod Laver Arena.
  
  Blake, who had beaten Carlos Moya twice in four days in the lead-up to this match, took some time to adapt to Kuznetsov's style of play, but wrapped up his spot in the final 32 in just an hour and 22 minutes.
  
  Kuznetsov began the match in positive fashion, moving to a 3-0 lead with an early break. But Blake rallied by breaking him back twice, to grab the early running.
  
  Blake's serve was close to impenetrable in the second set, dropping just six points, while breaking the world No.216 twice to take a stranglehold. Sensing a quick victory, Blake upped the ante in the third. The qualifier had no answer, dropping his serve twice more and surrendering his brave campaign, which began week ago in the first round of qualifiers.
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Thu Jan 18 13:52:40 2007.

  Hewitt keeps dream alive
  
  Lleyton Hewitt's dream of becoming the first local player to win the men's singles at the Australian Open since 1976 remains alive after he overcame Canadian Frank Dancevic in four sets on Day Four at Melbourne Park.
  
  Hewitt improved noticeably from his five-set struggle against American qualifier Michael Russell in the first round to reach the last 32 at Melbourne Park for the sixth time in the past eight years with a 6-4 6-4 3-6 6-4 win at a packed Rod Laver Arena.
  
  The Australian No.19 seed was joined in the third round on Day Four by No.2 seed Rafael Nadal, No.3 Nikolay Davydenko, No.5 seed American James Blake, No.8 Argentine David Nalbandian, No.13 Czech Tomas Berdych, No.15 seed Andy Murray and No.21 seed Russian Dmitry Tursonov on a day of few surprises.
  
  And remarkable French veteran Fabrice Santoro, appearing in his 58th Grand Slam tournament - the most of any current player - stayed on course for a repeat of his shock quarterfinal appearance here last year by thrashing countryman and 2001 Australian Open runner-up Arnaud Clement 6-2 6-4 6-4.
  
  Nadal headed the list of seeds to advance on Day Four, but the Spaniard didn't have it all his own way in the late match on Rod Laver Arena.
  
  Playing tenacious German Philipp Kohlschreiber, Nadal appeared to be cruising after taking the first two sets, but suffered a hiccup in the third before prevailing 7-5 6-3 4-6 6-2.
  
  Nadal will face No.31 seed Stanislas Wawrinka from Switzerland who downed Chilean Paul Capdeville 6-4 6-3 6-2.
  
  Davydenko cruised into the third round with a seemingly effortless 6-4 6-0 6-3 win over Luxembourg's Gilles Muller on Show Court Two and will now face Santoro in the third round.
  
  Blake thrashed fellow American Alex Kuznetsov 6-4 6-1 6-2 and will now meet another American in close friend Robby Ginepri in the third round after Ginepri downed German Mischa Zverev 6-4 7-5 6-1.
  
  Berdych ended the campaign of Australian wildcard play-off winner Robert Smeets with a commanding 6-3 6-2 6-4 win and he will meet Tursonov in the third round after the Russian was too good for big-serving Belorussian veteran Max Mirnyi 6-2 6-3 7-6(4).
  
  Nalbandian downed fellow South American Nicolas Lapentti in straight sets 6-4 6-4 6-4 while Murray, the 19-year-old Scotsman who was a shock first round loser here on his Australian Open debut last year, recorded his second successive straight-sets victory with a 7-6(4) 7-5 6-4 win over Spaniard Fernando Verdasco.
  
  He will now play tough Argentine Juan Ignacio Chela for a place in the last 16 after Chela advanced to the third round at Melbourne Park for the third year in succession with a 6-3 2-6 6-4 6-4 win over No.17 seed Jarkko Nieminen of Finland.
  
  But it was Hewitt's win which was the highlight of Day Four as the 25-year-old, who endured a terrible lead-in to the Australian Open 2007 after splitting with his coach Roger Rasheed and then missing the traditional lead-up event in Sydney with a calf injury, finally began to show glimpses of his best form.
  
  After winning the first set and grabbing an early break in the second, Hewitt looked on course for a rare easy victory before Dancevic broke back in the sixth game of the second set when Hewitt hit three successive forehands into the net before handing Dancevic the break back with a double fault.
  
  But Hewitt broke Dancevic again in the ninth game before serving the set out for a two-sets-to-love lead.
  
  However in the third, Dancevic did not let slip his break of serve, achieved in the sixth game when Hewitt was again broken to love, as he served out the set 6-3.
  
  The fourth set was tight with games on serve but serving to stay in the match in the tenth game, Dancevic faltered to hand Hewitt a confidence-boosting victory.
  
  Despite his win, Hewitt admitted he still has areas of his game that have to improve if he is to make a realistic title challenge this year.
  
  "I didn’t serve well today, I got my first serve in but my second serve wasn't there," he said.
  
  "That's disappointing but it's nice to come through those matches with not everything clicking and in the fourth set I served a lot better when I needed to."
  
  The South Australian will need to be on top of his game in his third-round match which pits him against No.10 seed Fernando Gonzalez who, despite being pushed hard by Juan Martin Del Potro, had the match in hand when the Argentinian retired late in the fifth set with the score at 7-6(7) 4-6 6(3)-7 4-6 4-0.
  
  But while Hewitt has needed a total of nine sets to get through his first two matches, Blake, Murray and Berdych have all strolled into the third round without losing a set.
  
  However Blake knows he is in for a real struggle in the third round when he comes up against 24-year-old Ginepri, who Blake believes is a lot better player than his ranking of 51 would suggest.
  
  "It could be interesting," Blake said of the all-American match-up.
  
  "We've been practicing together here so I know to be fearful and very respectful of a match-up with him because although he's ranked about 50 now, I know he has the talent in him to be a top ten player."
  
  Frenchman Sebastien Grosjean set up a third-round meeting with Nalbandian after downing Belgian Olivier Rochus in five sets, 4-6 6-1 6-3 4-6 6-4.
  
  The No.28 seed saved two break points in the ninth game of the fifth set and broke Rochus for the second time in the set in the very next game to advance.
  
  After a testing start, No.12 seed Tommy Haas comfortably defeated Serbian Ilia Bozoljac 7-6(3) 6-1 6-3 on Margaret Court Arena to advance to the third round where he will meet Florian Mayer after the German came from a set down to beat Italian Andreas Seppi, 5-7 7-5 6-2 6-2 out on Court 19.
  
  
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Thu Jan 18 13:56:26 2007.

  Anybody saw the match between Monfils and Baghdatis?!
  
  Eventhough Monfils played well, Baghdatis ruthless mistakes ensured Monfils a berth in the 3rd round
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Thu Jan 18 13:57:10 2007.

  ajithfederer wrote:

  SS, thanks for ur updates

  
  
  You are welcome sir!
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Jan 19 11:52:22 2007.

  http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/6278975.stm
  
  Safin ousted
  

  Raikkonen wrote:

  U see Safin, one of the best under-rated talent needing 5 sets.. Its hard to see him pushing for honors at this rate, but i hope he can qualify for QF/SF.. if he reaches there, then he has good chances of winning..

  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Fri Jan 19 13:31:09 2007.

  Day 5: Highlights
  
  Gasquet ousts Monfils in four
  
  Richard Gasquet has ended the winning run of rising star and compatriot Gael Monfils in a tumultuous four-set encounter on Vodafone Arena, 6-0 4-6 7-5 6-3.
  
  Monfils was fast becoming a crowd favourite at Melbourne Park with his unpredictable antics and explosive forehand after he dumped 2006 finalist Marcos Baghdatis out of contention earlier in the week.
  
  Gasquet, who is the No.18 seed for Australian Open 2007, was clinical in the first set as he closed out the opener in only 20 minutes.
  
  Monfils had is serve broken by Gasquet six tmes and also struggled when receiving, winning just 26 per cent of points.
  
  Both players took injury time-outs late in the match - Monfils for a back complaint and Gasquet for an arm issue - but the elder of the two Frenchmen in Gasquet blew his younger countryman away in the final set to claim entry into the fourth round in just over two and a half hours.
  
  Monfils has posted a career-best result for the Australian Open, having previously only made it to the second round.
  
  Gasquet will now face Spaniard Tommy Robredo in the round of 16, with the winner of that match a strong chance to meet world No.1 Roger Federer in the quarterfinals.
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Fri Jan 19 13:32:00 2007.

  Williams rallies past Petrova
  
  Two-time Australian Open champion Serena Williams has kept her hopes of a third title at Melbourne Park alive with a stirring come-from-behind win over Russian No.5 seed Nadia Petrova on Rod Laver Arena.
  
  Williams, the 2003 and 2005 champion, was staring down the barrel of a third-round exit with Petrova one set and a break up in the second. But a combination of Williams' power and Petrova's nervy service game saw the unseeded American rally to take a gripping match.
  
  The current world No.81 was in early trouble, as Petrova grabbed two first-set service breaks to sew up the opener in just 29 minutes. Williams responded to grab a 3-0 advantage in the second, but just as she looked set to get back in the game, Petrova won the next four games to take a stranglehold on the match.
  
  But in a decisive period, both women's struggled to hold serve, and Williams managed to level up before a Petrova double fault in the 12th game handed Williams the set.
  
  Williams got the first break of the third, but Petrova broke back immediately. But the Russian again faltered, losing her serve, and giving Williams the opening she needed to seal the match.
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Fri Jan 19 13:32:58 2007.

  Roddick wins mind games too
  
  Rod Laver Arena played host on Friday night to a battle of the big hitters that produced an interesting subplot involving a psychological contest between two of the game's most popular personalities.
  
  American Andy Roddick now leads the head-to-head count 4-3 against Russian enigma Marat Safin, after prevailing in what can only be described as a fast and furious slog-fest, that was played out on the psychological battlefield as well as on court.
  
  Safin lost the third set and was trailing Roddick 1-2 when light drizzle began to fall on Rod Laver Arena.
  
  Perhaps taking heart from his last match against Dudi Sela, in which a rain delay helped him to refocus and go on to post a come-from-behind win, Safin tried valiantly to make lightning strike twice in the same place.
  
  But, play was ordered to recommence earlier than Safin had hoped, and the Russian loudly made his displeasure known while Roddick patiently waited.
  
  For awhile, it appeared the commotion caused had Roddick rattled with the two big baseliners stayed on serve for the entire set.
  
  In the tiebreak, Safin was the first to falter and once given a break, Roddick didn't look back as he cruised towards a place in the round of 16, winning in four, 7-6(2) 2-6 6-4 7-6(2).
  
  Roddick admitted he approaches matches with Safin expecting to witness emotional displays and raging tempers, and credits himself on his ability to remain focussed on the job at hand while the Russian goes off on a tangent.
  
  "I think with Marat, you know he's going to kind of go on the emotional roller coaster a little bit, but I don't know if that hurts him often," Roddick said.
  
  "I think you've seen him do that his first couple of matches, and he somehow finds that right gauge. I just kind of tried to … I was just feeling like I should be even keel out there tonight. There was enough emotion in the air that I don't know if I needed to create any extra.
  
  "What overrides his emotional roller coaster from my end is what a quality player he is, and I think that's at the forefront of my mind as opposed to kind of, I'll let you guys watch what's happening over there, but I've kind of got to focus on what he's doing to me."
  
  Safin and Roddick had previously met six times and were even as far as wins were concerned heading into Friday night's clash.
  
  The last time the big-serving pair met was in Russia last year, where Safin came away with a straight-sets victory in their only meeting to have taken place on clay.
  
  Before that, Roddick had enjoyed a three-match winning streak with all encounters taking place on hard surfaces - but the significant result came from Australian Open 2004, when Safin prevailed in five long sets.
  
  On his 24th birthday, Safin clawed his way back into Open contention after dropping the first set with spectators witnessing an intense battle between the two hard-hitting opponents.
  
  But, at Australian Open 2007, all the mind games in the world couldn't have derailed the Roddick train, which had been spurred on by the arrival of his coach, Jimmy Connors, who flew in from the US after attending to the death of his mother, Gloria.
  
  And while the mind games raged on the court, the American admitted the presence of Connors in his courtside box provided an element of inspiration.
  
  "He was great. You know, for him to kind of go through what he's been going through in the last couple of weeks, I probably haven't seen him for five weeks now or six weeks, for him to kind of hop a flight and show up this morning and stay up, he's still in the locker room chugging along," he said.
  
  "It's just great that he could make it down here, and I'm real excited about that."
  
  
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Fri Jan 19 13:33:53 2007.

  Sania in doubles pre-quarters
  
  Building on her improved doubles performance, Sania Mirza marched into the pre-quarterfinal of the women's doubles with Spanish partner Anabel Medina Garrigues at the Australian Open on Friday.
  
  The tenth seeds beat Russia's Ekaterina Bychkova and Martina Muller of Germany 6-3, 6-4 in the second round in Melbourne.
  
  Sania-Anabel will face sixth seeds Daniela Hantuchova and Ai Sugiyama next.
  
  Sania, who went down 3-6, 2-6 to Japan's Aiko Nakamura in the singles second round, has teamed up with Frenchman Fabrice Santoro in the mixed doubles.
  
  

• From: rocketboy on Sat Jan 20 3:07:05 2007.

  Yesterday I watched the match between Paes/Damm and one Australian pair. Paes made a lot of unforced errors. His serve was also poor. Damm for his part did some brilliant returns . They mangaed to sneak through only because the Australians weren't good too
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Sat Jan 20 14:56:46 2007.

  Day 6 Highlights:
  
  Hewitt Out
  
  F.Gonzalez bt Hewitt
  
  2-6 2-6 7-5 4-6
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Sat Jan 20 15:01:28 2007.

  Hingis breezes through
  
  No.6 seed Martina Hingis has continued to cut a swathe through the Australian Open, with an impressive 6-2 6-1 defeat of Japan's Aiko Nakamura on Day Six of Australian Open 2007 at Melbourne Park.
  
  Hingis, a three-time Australian Open winner, has now conceded just nine games in her three matches to date and will take plenty of confidence into Monday's match against either Na Li or Dinara Safina.
  
  And she will have plenty of petrol in the tank, with the win over the unseeded Nakamura lasting just 62 minutes.
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Sat Jan 20 15:04:17 2007.

  Nadal matches Open best
  
  Spaniard Rafael Nadal has equalled his best result at Melbourne Park by cruising through to the fourth round of Australian Open 2007.
  
  The 20-year-old matched his 2005 effort in reaching the round of 16 at the year's opening Grand Slam when he brushed aside the challenge of Swiss No.31 seed Stanislas Wawrinka 6-2 6-2 6-2.
  
  
  Fresh from victories over American Robert Kendrick and German Philipp Kohlschreiber on Days Two and Four respectively, Nadal needed only 122 minutes to ease past 21-year-old Wawrinka under the closed roof at Rod Laver Arena.
  
  The dual French Open champion's reward as he strives to reach the last eight for the first time Down Under is a clash with fellow young gun Andy Murray, the No.15 seed from Scotland, who saw off Argentine Juan Ignacio Chela in three sets.
  
  Nadal and Murray have never met before on the ATP Tour.
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Sat Jan 20 15:06:01 2007.

  Sharapova into fourth round
  
  No.1 seed Maria Sharapova is through to the fourth round of Australian Open 2007 after an effortless 6-3 6-1 defeat of Italy's Tathiana Garbin in the opening match of Day Six on Rod Laver Arena.
  
  The Russian start took just 69 minutes to knock over the 30th-seed, in a match played under the closed roof at Melbourne Park because of persistent rain outside.
  
  Sharapova was far too powerful from the back of the court against Garbin, who had won through the third round of the Australian Open for the first time.
  
  Sharapova will meet either No.22 seed Vera Zvonareva or No.13 seed Ana Ivanovic on Monday for a berth in the quarter-finals.
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Sat Jan 20 15:07:22 2007.

  Blake bounces Ginepri
  
  American James Blake has moved through to the fourth round of Australian Open 2007, dispatching compatriot Robby Ginepri in straight sets at Vodafone Arena.
  
  Blake, who last week won the Medibank International in Sydney for the second year in succession, needed just under two hours to send Ginepri packing 7-6(7) 7-5 6-2, setting up a clash with either local hope and No.19 seed Lleyton Hewitt or Chilean No.10 seed Fernando Gonzalez in the round of 16.
  
  The first set was a close encounter with Blake narrowly managing to close out the tiebreak, but the difference between the world No.4 and No.51 became apparent as the match wore on with the former cruising through the final set in just 23 minutes.
  
  Blake was simply happy to get through, knowing that Ginepri had had his chances and that on other occasions he may have been victorious.
  
  "As you said, it was very tight," Blake said. "You know, that's a match that without confidence there's no way I could win. Going for my shots on set points, it shows just how close tennis is, how quickly it can change, how close all the guys are on Tour."
  
  "If you change literally two points in that whole match, it's a completely different match. If he wins the set points in the first set, four set points in the second, any one of those goes a different way, that's a whole new match."
  
  Blake has now beaten two fellow Americans, adding Ginepri to his second-round scalp Alex Kuznetsov, and he kicked off his Australian Open 2007 campaign with an opening-round win over Carlos Moya - having also beaten the Spaniard in the Sydney final.
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Sun Jan 21 12:08:20 2007.

  Day 7 Highlights:
  
  Federer sweeping all before him
  
  No matter what his opponent throws at him, no matter how confident the man on the other side of the net is in his own ability, it seems that Roger Federer can always pull something better out of the bag.
  
  His fourth-round opponent, Novak Djokovic, came out onto Rod Laver Arena ready to play the match of his life against the world No.1 - Federer though had other ideas.
  
  He knew this could be a danger match and that Djokovic has the ability to cause an upset.
  
  Federer had been in Djokovic's situation before when he managed to beat then world No.5 Carlos Moya as an 18-year-old, or when he upset Pete Sampras at Wimbledon in 2001 when Sampras was enjoying a run of 31-match winning streak at the All-England Club.
  
  Djokovic too knew that, along with skill, confidence can play a big part when trying to beat a champion.
  
  "I think that's the only way you can actually win against a player like Federer – you have to be positive," Djokovic said after the loss.
  
  "You have to be confident to win. That has to be your goal for the match against him because if you think the other way, just to play your best tennis, just to perform well, then you can't do it."
  
  As can be expected with a 6-2 7-5 6-3 win in the fourth round, Federer was happy with his achievement.
  
  "I was hoping for a good start and I got that," Federer said.
  
  "No, I was really happy the way I played. I couldn't ask for more really."
  
  Federer and Djokovic's match was tennis at its finest. Djokovic fired forehands straight up and down the line only to have them returned with interest. Djokovic finessed drop shots over the net only to have Federer chase them down and hit cross-court winners. Djokovic fired down an ace at190 kilometres per hour, only to have Federer hit a beautiful slice backhand return off his next serve.
  
  The only thing Federer felt he could improve on was his performance under pressure especially when he was threatened by a break on his own service in the second set.
  
  "The only thing is maybe I would have like to have finished off the second set easier," Federer said.
  
  "I was up a break, playing really well," he said. "I mean to miss a smash like this on breakpoint, it's really just disappointing, you know."
  
  "I just wish that wouldn't happen because it happened (in the third round) against Youzhny as well and made things become more difficult."
  
  "If I can maybe shut that out a little bit more, make it a bit more harder to break for the opponent then I think things are going extremely well."
  
  Next up, Federer will meet Tommy Robredo, an opponent he rates highly but who he knows he can beat.
  
  "To see Robredo through, it's not a big surprise," Federer said of his quarterfinal opponent who he holds a 6-0 win-loss record over.
  
  "I've never lost to him, I think. It will be interesting to see how we match up in a couple of days."
  
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Sun Jan 21 12:11:41 2007.

  Haas' campaign gains momentum
  
  Players loathe looking too far ahead in the draw, but if Roger Federer survives his fourth-round encounter with up-and-coming Serb Novak Djokovic, then there will be one match in the bottom half which he will take a particular interest in.
  
  While No.2 seed Rafael Nadal is one of only six players to boast a winning record against Federer, both David Nalbandian and Tommy Haas have given the world No.1 more than just a headache during his dominance of world tennis.
  
  Nalbandian boasts a respectable 6-8 record against Federer, having most recently beaten him in the 2005 Masters Cup final in Shanghai, while Haas pushed the peerless Swiss to a fifth set 12 months ago in one of the tournament's best matches.
  
  The pair will clash in the round of 16 but have taken vastly different paths to get there.
  
  Haas, who advanced to the fourth round with a regulation straight-sets victory over compatriot Florian Mayer, has not dropped a set thus far at this tournament and is shaping as a dark horse to end Federer and Nadal's run of seven straight Grand Slam titles between them.
  
  Meanwhile, Nalbandian has twice fought back from two-sets-to-love deficits and saved three match points against Frenchman Sebastien Grosjean, hardly the ideal launching pad into the business end of a Grand Slam.
  
  "Honestly, I prefer winning in three sets. It's not that simple. Sometimes matches are more complicated than I thought, but that's the way it is," Nalbandian said.
  
  Haas was also surprised the Argentine had made it to the final 16, particularly as he entered the event under an injury cloud and with just one match under his belt this year.
  
  "(It's) quite amazing that he is into the fourth round. But that's what he does well. He's a competitor. It's going to be tough. I like his style of play. I'm going to go out there and have to play my game obviously and be aggressive. (It) should be a good match."
  
  Having spent just a tick more than five-and-a-half hours on court as opposed to Nalbandian's nine, Haas will enter the showdown the fresher player.
  
  However, the world No.12 dismissed those facts as merely numbers which would have little influence on who would make it to the final eight.
  
  "At the end of the day you can do a lot of calculations, wonder how many hours this guy has been on the court or off the court. You can also calculate I'm not going to get a day of rest, I'm going to play again tomorrow," Haas said.
  
  "I was hanging around all day yesterday, nine hours watching matches. That's also tiring."
  
  Haas bowed out in five last year and Nalbandian has made a habit of going the distance in 2007. Should the match enter a fifth set, Nadal and Federer will both be rubbing their hands with glee.
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Sun Jan 21 12:16:14 2007.

  Clinical Robredo rolls on
  
  
  No.7 seed Tommy Robredo has swept into the quarterfinals with a 6-4 6-2 3-6 6-4 win over Frenchman Richard Gasquet on Vodafone Arena.
  
  No.18 seed Gasquet struggled with his serve throughout the match and the Spaniard made the most of his opponent's woes, creating 21 breakpoints and, while he converted just four of them, it was enough to see him through.
  
  The Frenchman was forced to defend breakpoints in his first two service games of the fourth set and appeared to be through the worst of his troubles when he managed to hang on and then hold his next game comfortably.
  
  A determined Robredo wasn't to be denied, however, and eventually did break Gasquet's serve - after going up 15-40 in the tenth game of the set - to take the match.
  
  The Spaniard now faces the daunting task of a quarterfinal clash with world No.1 Roger Federer.
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Sun Jan 21 12:18:43 2007.

  Safarova shocks Mauresmo
  
  In perhaps the greatest upset at Australian Open 2007, unseeded Czech Lucie Safarova has sent defending champion and women's No.2 seed Amelie Mauresmo packing with a stunning straight-sets win at Rod Laver Arena.
  
  Safarova advanced to the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam for the first time after coming from a break down in the first set to power past the Frenchwoman 6-4 6-3 in 89 minutes.
  
  The first indications that the Czech world No.70 was going to provide more than a regulation challenge for Mauresmo was in the defending champion's first service game when she had two break points.
  
  While Mauresmo was able to hold her serve, and the break for a 4-1 lead, she never looked completely comfortable, and Safarova rattled off 12 consecutive points to level up and set up a chance to break Mauresmo in the ninth game. That secured the first set and a chance at a spot in the final eight.
  
  Safarova then broke Mauresmo early in the second, and charged out to a 4-1 lead with a second break. The No.2 seed did get a break back in the sixth game, and had 0-30 on the Czech's next serve, but couldn't convert. A poor service game gave Safarova two match points. She squandered them, but Mauresmo gave her another opening and netted the ball to hand the joyous Czech the match
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Mon Jan 22 15:00:53 2007.

  Day 8 Highlights:
  
  Nadal grinds out five-setter to advance
  
  No.2 seed Rafael Nadal is through to the quarterfinals of Australian Open 2007 after defeating Scot Andy Murray 6(3)-7 6-4 4-6 6-3 6-1 in a tremendous battle of wills on Rod Laver Arena on Day Eight.
  
  Both players pulled out an astonishing array of shots during the titanic struggle that thrilled the crowd for three hours and 51 minutes on Monday night.
  
  The No.15 seed had the world No.2 on the ropes at several different points in the encounter, but the Spaniard refused to give in and toughed out the five-set win to set up a quarterfinal clash against Chilean No.10 seed Fernando Gonzalez - his best result in an Australian Open so far.
  
  Neither player was able to establish a break during the opening set, but two unforced errors from Nadal on his serve in the tiebreak proved crucial.
  
  Taking over on serve, Murray looked to have wrapped up the set when the Spaniard sent his forehand return wide. A challenge was forthcoming, but proved unsuccessful, giving the Scot the first set.
  
  The serves of both players were under pressure early in the second set, but it was Nadal who faltered first, Murray breaking him to go 3-1 up. The Scotsman was in the driver's seat when he held serve to establish a 4-1 scoreline, but appeared to lose focus for a period allowing Nadal to come storming back with five consecutive games to take the second set.
  
  Murray spent much of that time wincing in pain and clutching at his right side, although his play was not noticeably affected and at no point did he call for the trainer.
  
  The rout looked on when Nadal broke again to go 2-1 up in the third, but seemingly from nowhere, Murray found his rhythm again. First he evened the set when he broke back in the sixth game, then he completed the comeback when he broke in the tenth game to take a two-sets-to-one lead that had looked highly improbable not too long before.
  
  Perhaps struggling to comprehend his abrupt reversal in fortunes, Nadal was shaky before holding his first service game in the fourth, but was put under even more pressure the next time he served.
  
  The Spaniard saved five break points before holding to even the set at 2-2, but in a crucial oversight, Murray failed to use one of his challenges to query a ball that was called out, but was shown to be in. A successful challenge would have seen him go 3-1 up with a break and the momentum, but instead it was his opponent who rallied.
  
  Nadal broke Murray in the seventh game to go 4-3 up and when the Scot double-faulted on break point two games later, the match was headed for a fifth set.
  
  The career five-set records of the respective players - 6-2 for Nadal and 3-3 to Murray - favoured the Spaniard and the numbers didn't lie as the deciding set unfolded.
  
  Nadal achieved the first service break to go 2-0 up, while Murray failed to convert five break points in the very next game and visibly wilted as a result. Broken again in the fourth, the Scot finally held to get on the scoreboard in the last, but the hole was too deep with Nadal serving out the match comfortably.
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Mon Jan 22 15:02:16 2007.

  Li goes down fighting
  
  Asia's last hope at Australian Open 2007, Chinese No.19 seed Li Na, may have bowed out on Day Eight at Melbourne Park, but not before she gave Martina Hingis a massive fright and showed why former Australian player Sandon Stolle rates her so highly.
  
  A month short of her 25th birthday, the native of Wuhan is coming off a career-best season that saw her become the first Chinese player to make the last eight at a Grand Slam and also the first woman from that nation to break into the world's top 20.
  
  Li also played in the WTA Tour's first all-Chinese singles final, when heat illness unfortunately forced her to retire at a set all against countrywoman Zheng Jie, and is now up to No.16 in the world.
  
  And, after finishing the past three seasons at No.80, No.57 and No.21, her experiences this week at Melbourne Park will give her added confidence as she looks to add to her breakthrough singles title win, which came in Guangzhou in 2004.
  
  "I played pretty well in the first set," Li said after three-time champion Hingis had rallied to win 4-6 6-3 6-0 and advance to the quarterfinals. "In the second set, Martina got the rhythm already. The third set, I just lost … totally lost my rhythm."
  
  "I'm not really disappointed. Just the score in the third set makes me, how you say, not comfortable with a love game. I will do it step-by-step, slowly," she added of her ambition to improve the mental side of her game.
  
  Li tested Hingis out by winning the opening set and then also having her chances in the second, some of her backhands down the line particularly impressive as she went for her shots throughout.
  
  But while she hit 33 winners, a massive unforced error count of 28 in the second set, on the way to 69 for the match, ultimately proved terminal as Hingis put up only 18 unforced errors and just eight winners.
  
  Having pushed Swiss No.6 seed Hingis, former men's world No.50 Stolle, who has been working with the Chinese Tennis Association as a consultant for the past few months, says Li's game is at a stage where a stronger self-belief is all that is standing in her way.
  
  "I've seen her play now for a couple of years and in my mind, no doubt she's a top 10 player and I'd love to see her get into the top 10," said Stolle, who has been watching several of China's star women at Melbourne Park.
  
  "If I can help in any way to get her into the top 10 well I will. I think all the girls know that, they see Li Na and they know that this girl is a good player. But I think she's got to believe in herself."
  
  "She's got a huge game, she moves unbelievably well and I think she's got a great make-up for women's tennis, she's strong. There's some areas of her game that definitely you can work on and when she does that there's no reason that she shouldn't be top 10."
  
  The son of former star player Fred, Stolle was also ranked as high as No.2 in doubles as he won 22 titles, and he has also been working with the likes of Shuai Peng, Zheng Jie, Sun Tiantian and Yan Zi.
  
  Hired originally to work with China's leading women players, Stolle has also assisted some of the male players when both genders have worked at the same camps, and he has been impressed by what he's seen.
  
  "That's the beauty of it I think a little bit over there is that all the top girls and top guys all get together and they train together and that's something that we sort of lose back here (in Australia)," Stolle added.
  
  "Everyone pushes one another. They work extremely hard and they've got an incredible work ethic and workload that they put themselves through. That's what's probably been a great experience for me to see what they do and see how hard they train."
  
  Committed to his current role for the 'first part of this year' after a mate advised him last year at Wimbledon that the CTA was looking for international coaches, Stolle also believes the game is only going to get bigger in China as the likes of Li continue to shine.
  
  "I think it's growing every day, like China," he said. "It's a new sport over there."
  
  It's not going to overtake table tennis or badminton right away but the more kids start playing it and the more they start seeing it as an international sport, seeing the glamour of tennis on television, will inspire more kids to start playing it over there."
  
  
  
  
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Mon Jan 22 15:03:37 2007.

  Clijsters through to quarters
  
  Women's No.4 seed Kim Clijsters has sewn up a spot in the quarterfinals of Australian Open 2007 with a straight-sets win over No.15 seed Daniela Hantuchova.
  
  Clijsters is yet to drop a set in her four matches, continuing her march with a 6-1 7-5 win over the Slovakian in 79 minutes to set up a quarterfinal match up with No.6 seed Martina Hingis.
  
  The Belgian stole a march with three breaks in the opening set. Despite a poor first-service percentage from Clijsters, Hantuchova won just three points on her opponents' serve and was quickly trailing.
  
  The second set was a much more even affair, with both players getting breaks early in the set. Clijsters was looking more at ease on her serve, and had three match points in the tenth game, when leading 15-40 and then an advantage. But the Slovakian held in there, saving all three. Clijsters raced through her next service match and then held three more match points on 0-40 on the Slovakian's serve.
  
  She conceded the first point but an errant backhand from Hantuchova sent Clijsters into final eight in Melbourne for the fourth time.
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Mon Jan 22 15:04:43 2007.

  Haas ousts Nalbandian
  
  David Nalbandian has been unable to reproduce his escape acts from earlier in Australian Open 2007, with the Argentine No.8 seed eliminated by German No.12 seed Tommy Haas in the fourth round.
  
  Nalbandian, who had twice come back from match point down earlier in the tournament, won the first set, but was easily overpowered by the German 4-6 6-3 6-2 6-3. Haas will now play the winner of the clash between No.13 seed Tomas Berdych and No.3 seed Nikolay Davydenko.
  
  Nalbandian, who had made at least the quarterfinals in the past four years, got off to an excellent start, breaking Haas' serve twice in the opening set, while conceding his own just once. Within 44 minutes he had established a set advantage.
  
  But Haas, famously beaten in five sets by Roger Federer at the same stage last year, was not going down easily. He took his chance to break Nalbandian in the second, and won it in the ninth game.
  
  Haas upped his service game in the third, allowing Nalbandian just three points, while breaking him twice. Two more breaks in the fourth, and the continuing strength of his own service ensured Haas' progress to the final eight was routine, and that Nalbandian was not going to pull a rabbit out of a hat again.
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Tue Jan 23 14:07:17 2007.

  Day 9: Highlights
  
  Serena of old a force to be reckoned with
  
  In a year in which no American women were seeded at the season's opening Grand Slam for the first time since the Open era began in 1969, the United States could still yet provide the winner of the Australian Open 2007 after Serena Williams stayed on course to become the first unseeded woman in nearly 30 years to win the event on Day Nine at Melbourne Park.
  
  But the two-time Australian Open champion needed to display all her renowned courage to overcome Israeli No.16 seed Shahar Peer who came within two points of winning their quarterfinal showdown on Rod Laver Arena when she served for the match in the 12th game of the deciding set.
  
  However Williams' greater power and experience prevailed in a two hour, 34 minute thriller as she advanced to the last four with a 3-6 6-2 8-6 victory.
  
  Williams will now play Czech No.10 seed Nicole Vaidisova for a place in the final after Vaidisova cruised into her first Australian Open semifinal with a crushing 6-1 6-4 win over compatriot Lucie Safarova in the other women's quarterfinal staged on Day Nine.
  
  Safarova was a shadow of the player who ousted No.1 seed and defending champion Amelie Mauresmo in the previous round as her first Grand Slam quarterfinal appearance ended after just 71 minutes.
  
  But the Williams-Peer match was an epic as the first Israeli woman ever to reach a Grand Slam women's singles quarterfinal came desperately close to causing a major upset.
  
  Williams may have come into the match ranked 81 to Peer's 17, but everyone with even the slightest interest in tennis knows that Williams' current ranking is not a true reflection of the abilities of the 25-year-old seven-time Grand Slam champion.
  
  And after her gallant victory, Williams said the best thing to come out of her return to form in this tournament is that her ranking is set to move back into the top 30.
  
  "Most of all I am happy that I won't be ranked No.81 anymore," Williams said after her win.
  
  A left knee injury which caused her to miss six months last year, following the Australian Open, is the reason for Williams' current low ranking, but nevertheless she is now a great chance to become the first unseeded player since Australia's Chris O'Neil in 1978 to win the Australian Open.
  
  And Williams could not resist a dig at her critics following her win over Peer.
  
  "I don't think anyone thought I would get this far except me and my mum (her coach Oracene)," Williams said.
  
  "I don't listen to what the commentators and writers say, it's amazing the negativity towards me and that's why I don't read the papers."
  
  "No-one knows what I have been through off the court, but I always believe in myself."
  
  And it was that belief that proved vital in the gripping third set against Peer, which alone took 83 minutes.
  
  While Peer could only convert two of her ten break-point opportunities for the set, Williams converted all three of her opportunities, including on match point in the 14th game when Peer's backhand went wide as she served to stay in the match.
  
  Williams may have made 49 unforced errors for the match compared to just 34 for Peer, but this was offset by the fact she hit 30 winners to 20 and served 11 aces to none.
  
  And while Williams was regularly serving around the 180km/h mark, with one first serve even surpassing 200km/h, Peer's second serves were regularly dropping below 120km/h emphasising the difference in power between the two.
  
  However, Peer chased down every ball and made Williams work for every point as the much bigger American appeared to be tiring in the final set.
  
  But Williams again showed why she is such a great big match player by winning the last three games after Peer had served for the match at 6-5, at one stage getting to 30-30, before Williams' sheer power overwhelmed her as Peer paid a heavy price for consistently failing to get her first serve into play on the key points.
  
  The in-form Vaidisova now awaits Williams in the semifinals with the 17-year-old making her second appearance in the last four of a Grand Slam tournament after reaching the semifinals at last year's French Open.
  
  On that occasion Vaidisova was in a winning position against Russia's Svetlana Kuznetsova when she led by a set and 5-3 before Kuznetsova fought back to win 5-7 7-6(5) 6-2.
  
  But this time Vaidisova says she will be a tougher nut to crack.
  
  "Definitely. It's a position I've been in before so I know how to handle it better," she said of her second Grand Slam semifinal appearance.
  
  Vaidisova has yet to play Williams, but knows she will have to be at her best to stop the American's seemingly inevitable path to yet another Grand Slam final.
  
  "She's definitely a great champion so I expect a tough match from her," Vaidisova said.
  
  And Williams was quick to dismiss suggestions she may have trouble backing up from her epic match from Peer in the semifinal against Vaidisova.
  
  "I have plenty left in the tank," was the dual Australian Open winner's warning ahead of her first Grand Slam semifinal since winning here in 2005.
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Tue Jan 23 14:08:11 2007.

  Roddick, Federer into semis on Day Nine
  
  Andy Roddick and Roger Federer will renew their rivalry in the semifinals at Australian Open 2007 after both progressed through their quarterfinals in straight sets on Day Nine at Melbourne Park.
  
  The big-serving American was the first through after he sent close friend and compatriot Mardy Fish packing 6-2 6-2 6-2 in an hour and 27 minutes, while the No.1 seed booked his place after easing past Tommy Robredo 6-3 7-6(2) 7-5 in the late match on Rod Laver Arena.
  
  The two Americans are so close that they once played on the same high school basketball and tennis teams while Fish even lived with Roddick and his family for a year in 1999.
  
  But their friendship was temporarily put aside on Rod Laver Arena as Roddick sounded a warning to world No.1 and defending champion Federer, that this time he is not prepared to settle for second best.
  
  Roddick might be trailing Federer 12-1 in their career meetings, but he did beat the Swiss champion in their last meeting in the final of the Kooyong exhibition tournament, prior to the Australian Open, while he held match points against Federer in the round-robin stage of the Masters Cup Final in Shanghai at the end of last year.
  
  But revitalised ever since his inspired decision to hire former champion Jimmy Connors as his coach, Roddick - who still has just one Grand Slam title (the 2003 US Open) to his credit despite now having reached the last eight in 12 Grand Slam tournaments - feels he is again ready to breakthrough at the highest level.
  
  "I played pretty flawless tennis today," Roddick admitted after his demolition of Fish.
  
  "Going into the semis I feel great and I feel like I am hitting the ball well."
  
  Roddick is yet to reach an Australian Open final, having fallen in the semis here in 2003 and 2005, and he knows he will have to overcome the giant hurdle of Federer once again if he is to finally reach the final here this time.
  
  Among Federer's 12 wins against Roddick were Roddick's only three other appearances in a Grand Slam final at Wimbledon in 2004 and 2005 and last year's US Open but the American No.6 seed believes he is getting closer to Federer.
  
  "I have said that over the past five to six months the gap is closing a little bit or that he hasn't extended it the way he had been doing for the past three years," Roddick said.
  
  "The match in Shanghai I had match points and then I beat him at Kooyong (which did not count in the pair's head-to-head record because of its exhibition status) and I do love the competition against him."
  
  Roddick said the key to beating Federer was to be aggressive and to serve well.
  
  "You can't sit back and let him create, that is when you get into trouble," Roddick said.
  
  For his part, Federer never appeared to hit top gear in his quarterfinal encounter with Robredo, but rather seemed to play within himself on his way to the straight-sets win.
  
  The No.1 seed broke his opponent six times during the match, and was himself broken four times, but lifted himself into the semis on the strength of his 42 winners to 17 from Robredo as well as his superb play at the net where he won 41 points to the Spaniard's 12.
  
  Despite the lopsided nature of his record against Roddick, Federer said he was looking forward to going around against his rival once more, and would certainly not be taking anything for granted when the two next meet.
  
  "I think we've played on so many big occasions against each other, look, I mean, if I wouldn't have been there, maybe look at the success he would have had, in Wimbledon especially, maybe at the US Open as well," he said.
  
  "I mean, we've had some really close matches. We're about the same age. You know, he's been No.1. I mean, I don't think the record really plays much of a role.
  
  "Now that we've played over 10 times, I think it gets always very interesting. I think the record is good for me, but I think it's still a great match with Andy."
  
  Certainly Fish is in no doubt that Roddick is now capable of winning his first Australian Open after watching the No.6 seed record his easiest ever win over him in their six career meetings.
  
  "That's the best I have ever seen him play against me," Fish said.
  
  "He is serving so well that it just puts so much pressure on you to hold your serve because the way he is serving he is going to hold his serve most times."
  
  That was evident from the fact that Roddick gave up just one break point for the entire match against Fish as he won a staggering 92 percent of points when he got his first serve into play, which he did 62 percent of the time.
  
  Fish said the way Roddick was playing at the moment, it was almost inevitable the big-serving American would again breakthrough at the highest level.
  
  "You feel like he is almost on a mission to get back on top," Fish said.
  
  "You can just see it in his confidence level as well and he can definitely win the tournament."
  
  While Federer for one will have plenty to say about that, Fish believes Roddick is also ideally suited by the faster courts at Melbourne Park this year.
  
  "I think Andy likes these courts a lot," Fish said.
  
  "These courts are playing pretty quick this year and this surface is going to help his serve a lot and I think that's (a) big (advantage for Roddick)."
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Tue Jan 23 14:09:42 2007.

  Nicole's ready for the big time
  
  Czech youngster Nicole Vaidisova has largely flown under the radar so far at Australian Open 2007 but, after advancing to her second career Grand Slam semifinal, that's all about to change.
  
  Seventeen-year-old Vaidisova may be seeded No.10 at Melbourne Park but, having gone about her business quietly in the first week, it has been her quarterfinal opponent, her unseeded 19-year-old compatriot Lucie Safarova, who has dominated the headlines in recent days.
  
  Safarova understandably rose to prominence on Day Seven when came from a break down in the first set to end French No.2 seed Amelie Mauresmo's title defence in the fourth round.
  
  But just months after her career-best Grand Slam result when she made the French Open semifinals, Vaidisova has impressed with wins over American Jill Craybas, Venezuelan Milagros Sequera, Slovenian No.21 seed Katarina Srebotnik and Russian No.7 seed Elena Dementieva.
  
  And after claiming all those victories at either Vodafone Arena or Show Court 6 (the win over Srebotnik), Vaidisova was rewarded with a visit to Rod Laver Arena, where she brushed Safarova aside 6-1 6-4.
  
  "Yeah, I served pretty well," Vaidisova said afterwards. "I'm really happy the way I returned her serve. She's tricky. She's a lefty. She can have those weird rotation slices. I read it well. Happy about that."
  
  "Definitely, very, very happy and excited. The first Grand Slam of the year, you have some off-season. You don't know how you're going to come back. But I had a great start of the year. Now just keep improving."
  
  Vaidisova, who reached a career-high of No.9 last August, was in superb touch at Roland Garros when she took out a pair of Grand Slam champions - Mauresmo in the round of 16 and Venus Williams in the quarters - and took a set off another in Svetlana Kuznetsova in the semis.
  
  But having failed to advance to the final in Paris in 2006, Vaidisova believes the experience she gained and her growing maturity will hold her in good stead in this battle for a place in the Australian Open 2007 final.
  
  "I'm very happy. Maybe that was the first time," Vaidisova said of her French Open campaign last year. "You're so, so excited. Now you try to be calm more about it. Just go back, relax. But I had my whole family there. Here, it's my dad, my agent."
  
  "But still very, very excited, definitely. It's a position I've been before, so I know how to handle it better. I think as you age, you get more mature, I hope. But, you know, it's definitely, improving everything, just getting better."
  
  Confident that she is also 'able to handle tough situations better' even though she is three months shy of her 18th birthday, Vaidisova isn't exactly sure what to expect from her semifinal opponent Serena Williams, who she has never met before on court.
  
  But having first laid eyes on the seven-time major champion and two-time Australian Open winner several years ago at Nick Bolletieri's academy in the United States, Vaidisova wasn't planning to do too much scouting before the semi and insists she won't be overawed.
  
  "It's a semifinal, it's going to be tough no matter what," she said. "She's definitely a great champion. I expect a tough match from her. At the end of the day, when you step on the court, you don't look who's against you, you just play your game and try to win."
  
  "I think for some people yeah (Serena still has an intimidating presence). On the court, when you play, you don't think if she won a Slam or not. I block that out. I have a lot of respect for her."
  
  Impressed by Safarova's performance even though she beat her, Vaidisova claims that she won't contemplate the possibility of a maiden Grand Slam title unless she gets past Williams and holds match point in the final.
  
  But with Safarova giving Vaidisova a good chance to advance to the Day 13 decider, even though she rates Kim Clijsters more highly and is also wary of the improvement Williams is showing with each outing, the Czech Republic's No.1 player is fast proving that she belongs at the top level.
  
  And if she can continue her fine run and lift the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Trophy in a few days, Vaidisova will be able to say that she has truly arrived as one of the world's best players.
  
  

• From: buddysathi on Tue Jan 23 18:37:23 2007.

  Wow,, Federer vs Roddick!! I think it will be a gud one to watch than their previous matches where federer dominated completely! Roddick is improvng and he wont surrender easily,,even he might win!
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Wed Jan 24 13:41:16 2007.

  Day 10: Highlights
  
  Wounded Nadal limps out of Open
  
  Spanish No.2 seed Rafael Nadal has revealed the pain caused by an undisclosed leg ailment was a major factor in his upset straight-sets defeat at the hands of Chilean Fernando Gonzalez on Rod Laver Arena on Day 10.
  
  Nadal left the court to receive treatment for the injury to his left leg early in the third set of the quarterfinal with the red-hot Chilean holding a two-sets-to-love lead, but said the pain persisted.
  
  "Well, he's playing very good level, that's for sure. Maybe was not a good match for me. I don't know if I can say I am playing bad, but for sure I can't play at hundred per cent, no?," Nadal said.
  
  "I have problems in my leg, so I cannot run. I can't run a lot. Was difficult play one match like this, quarterfinals of one Grand Slam, with pain, without the best conditions, no?"
  
  "When I am on court, I am trying to run. Hundred per cent run, well, I can't. I can't start. Was difficult and disappointing for me, no?
  
  "I don't know if is a good opportunity because Fernando is very tough match. But for sure when you are in quarterfinals of a Grand Slam and you can't play with your best feelings, your best conditions, is difficult, no?"
  
  The Spaniard said he had sustained the injury "after the last match of Murray" referring to the epic five-setter he played against the Scot on Day Eight and while he had trouble describing the exact nature of the complaint, he did show he had not lost his sense of humour.
  
  "Well, it's not just the one place. I have pain here, in my famous ass," he said with a smile in reference to recent press about his three-quarter length playing shorts.
  
  "After I feel a little bit here, too (pointing to the inside and outside of the thigh). That maybe it's just tired, no? But down this way and in the ass is very, very painful, no?
  
  "I don't feel the pain in the match of Murray, no? I feel later, I feel after. Well, I don't know, I was thinking was just tired, normal. I was playing very tough match, I just feel tired.
  
  "(But) maybe is not just tired, because is not normal. Walking right now I have lot of pain. Maybe is a little bit more than tired."
  
  Nadal will leave for Spain on Friday where he will undergo scans in a bid to rectify the problem so he can take his place in the Spanish Davis Cup squad.
  
  "I want to play the Davis Cup after one week. I hope be hundred per cent for Davis Cup. Is one of my goals always, play for your country is always special for me," he said.
  
  "But I need go to the doctor and watch what I can I do right now, no?"
  
  Nadal missed last year's Australian Open with a foot injury and had been in some doubt for this one after he withdrew from the Medibank International lead-in tournament in Sydney with a hamstring strain.
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Wed Jan 24 13:42:08 2007.

  Hingis reflects on 10-year odyssey
  
  Ten years ago as 16-year-old prodigy, Martina Hingis walked away from Melbourne Park with the first of three successive Australian Open women's singles titles.
  
  A decade on, Hingis' 2007 campaign ended on Day Ten in the quarterfinals against Kim Clijsters, leaving the Swiss star feeling frustrated and wondering about what might have been.
  
  "It's definitely the most disappointing loss against her I've had," was Hingis succinct assessment of the 6-3 4-6 3-6 defeat on Rod Laver Arena.
  
  Hingis and Clijsters met at the same stage at last year's Australian Open where Hingis, her comeback from three years away from the Tour still nascent, pushed Clijsters hard despite her world ranking of 349.
  
  This time round, a steady Hingis - now the No.6 seed - was able to capitalise on Clijsters' 23 unforced errors in the first set to take it 6-3 before the Belgian was able to protect an early break to level-up in the second 6-4.
  
  At three-all in the decider the match seemed certain to be resolved by attrition when almost imperceptibly Clijsters lifted the tempo. In an instant Hingis was broken twice and it was over.
  
  "It's great playing her, but I don’t want to see her in the quarterfinals ever again," laughed Hingis at her post-match media conference.
  
  "Sooner or later I would have to face her anyway - I would prefer maybe a semifinal next time."
  
  So just where is Hingis at? Does she have it in her to seriously challenge the women's top four? Is the game she plays today that was good enough to take her to the quarters in 2007 superior to the game that earned her five Grand Slam titles as a teenager?
  
  The answer to that last question is most certainly, yes.
  
  "It was really a long time ago it feels like, but 10 years is 10 years, you can't change it. The game moves on - I think I've got better over the years," Hingis said.
  
  "I definitely think I'm a better player (now). Today I moved well and played well and sometimes I would have probably mentally broken other players earlier."
  
  "I kind of had her, but let her get back in the game and … some players wouldn’t have come back, but she did."
  
  Hingis agreed that the tour now is tougher and more demanding, and that the pool of talent runs much deeper than back in 1997 when she rose to No.1 for the first time (on March 31st).
  
  At 16 years, six months and one day, Hingis was the youngest-ever No.1 and it was a ranking she held for the next 80 weeks, and 209 weeks in all across her career.
  
  "Before, I was more fearless," she said.
  
  "When I was 17 or 18, those shots I would just make, out there not missing a return … but today I'm too tentative instead of like OK, going for it."
  
  "I'm too nice, that's what they're saying - I'm too nice!"
  
  She may be nice, but that's now how Hingis wants to be remembered.
  
  The 26-year-old, whose life is about to take another turn when she marries 20th ranked Czech star Radek Stepanek, believes she has a lot more to offer on the court and that a win over one of the world's top four may not be far off.
  
  "I can only take the positives. I played a heck of a game against Kim today so there's always room to improve," she said.
  
  "I think during this tournament I got better each match and if I can continue this way …"
  
  
  
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Wed Jan 24 13:42:58 2007.

  Haas battles past Davydenko
  
  Men's No.12 seed Tommy Haas is through the Australian Open semifinals for the third time after rallying past Nikolay Davydenko in a five-set thriller on Rod Laver Arena.
  
  Haas, a semifinalist in Melbourne in 1999 and 2002, faced a match point in the fifth set, but kept on fighting, eventually prevailing 6-3 2-6 1-6 6-1 7-5 in three hours and 19 minutes.
  
  Haas began the match full of confidence in the first set, giving just one point away on his service, making just three unforced errors, and breaking Davydenko in the eighth gam.
  
  But Davydenko improved his service game markedly in the second set, conceding just six points, while getting breaks in the sixth and eighth games to level the match. The momentum of the match switched distinctly, with Haas looking tired and slow in the third set.
  
  After dropping his serve in the fourth game, the German seemed to lose his way, letting the Russian go on a run of five straight games to jump to two-sets-to-one advantage. But having conserved energy during that period, Haas launched himself back into the match, breaking in the second, fourth and sixth games of the fourth set, levelling the contest at 2-2, and pinching the momentum.
  
  The fourth and fifth games of the fifth set saw breaks to Davydenko and Haas respectively. They both held their nerves until Haas almost faltered in the tenth game. He double faulted twice to give Davydenko match point, but the Russian missed his chance. Then, in the 11th game, Haas got the vital break, serving for the match, the German played assured tennis, wrapping up his spot in the final four with his second match point.
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Wed Jan 24 13:45:25 2007.

  Maria fights into semis
  
  Women's No.1 seed Maria Sharapova has booked her spot in the semifinals of Australian Open 2007, but not before a battle royal with compatriot Anna Chakvetadze on Rod Laver Arena.
  
  Sharapova may have progressed in straight sets, but it was far from straight forward for the US Open champion, who had 41 unforced errors, before progressing 7-6(5) 7-5 into a semifinal against either Kim Clijsters or Martina Hingis.
  
  Sharapova prevailed from a see-sawing first set, which could have gone either way. Chakvetadze got the first break in the sixth game, paving the way for a double exchange of breaks, where she had a chance to serve for the set at 5-3, but was broken back for a second time.
  
  The tiebreak followed a similar pattern, with the first nine points going against serve, before an errant forehand from the No.12 seed opened the door for Sharapova. Chakvetadze saved one set point, but then crashed the ball into the net to concede the first set.
  
  After Chakvetadze took a medical timeout for a troublesome shoulder, the pair exchanged breaks again early in the second. Long, drawn-out games were a feature of the set, and Sharapova also sought a medical time out for a foot injury. She then broke Chakvetadze immediately, but faltered serving for the match, giving her advantage away with a double fault on break point.
  
  A myriad of errors from the less experienced Russian handed Sharapova her first match point, but she netted her chance to wrap up the match at that point. Her next opening came two games later, when she had an opportunity at 15-40. She missed one chance, but Chakvetadze eventually relented, unable to get the ball back across court to concede the match.
  
  

• From: Nerd on Wed Jan 24 13:58:01 2007.

  Doubles ennAchu maams ??
  
  Sania - out. Bhupathi - out
  
  Peas in doubles/mixed ??
  
  Bhupathi in mixed ??
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Wed Jan 24 14:03:48 2007.

  Paes-Stosur in last eight
  
  Leander Paes and his Australian partner Samantha Stosur earned a quarter-final berth at the Australian Open mixed doubles competition after a 6-3, 6-4 victory over South African Chris Haggard and Elini Daniilidou of Greece, in Melbourne, on Wednesday.
  
  The third-seeded Indo-Australian pair prevailed in just under an hour to set up a clash with
  
  Canadian Daniel Nestor and Russia's Elena Likhovtseva, who beat the Australian team of Stephen Huss and Monique Adamczak 6-1, 6-4.
  
  Paes and Stosur capitalized on both their break points while their opponents squandered the four they got.
  
  Earlier in the day, Paes' former partner Mahesh Bhupathi bowed out of the men's doubles competition.
  
  Bhupathi and Radek Stepanek lost in te quarter-finals to Sweden's Jonas Bjorkman and Max Mirnyi of Belarus.
  
  The second seeded pair needed just over an hour to get the better of the Indo-Czech combination 6-3, 6-2.
  
  Rupesh Roy enters doubles semis
  
  In boys' doubles quarter-finals, the eighth seeded pair of Rupesh Roy of India and Stephen Donald of Australia beat top seeds Roman Jebavy of Czech Republic and Martin Klizan of Slovakia 4-6, 6-1, 7-6(5).
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Wed Jan 24 14:04:56 2007.

  Bhupathi, Stepanek out of men's doubles
  
  Mahesh Bhupathi and Radek Stepanek bowed out of the Australian Open men's doubles competition at the quarter-final stage after a straight set loss against Sweden's Jonas Bjorkman and Max Mirnyi of Belarus on Wednesday.
  
  The second seeded pair needed just over an hour to get the better of the Indo-Czech combination 6-3, 6-2.
  
  Bhupathi and Stepanek struggled on their serve winning just 65 per cent and 25 per cent of points on their first and second deliveries respectively.
  
  As a result, they were broken four times while they could only get the better of their opponents' serve once.
  
  In the last four, Bjorkman and Mirnyi will face the fourth seeded team of Australian Paul Hanley and Kevin Ullyet of Zimbabwe who defeated the French team of Nicolas Mahut and Julien Benneteau 7-6 (7/4), 6-2.
  
  The other semi-final will pit top seeded Americans Bob and Mike Bryan against the third seeds Daniel Nestor of Canada and Bahamas' Mark Knowles.
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Wed Jan 24 14:05:54 2007.

  Nerd wrote:

  Doubles ennAchu maams ?? Sania - out. Bhupathi - out Peas in doubles/mixed ?? Bhupathi in mixed ??

  
  
  Updated!
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Thu Jan 25 13:45:19 2007.

  Day 11 : Highlights
  
  Flying Federer storms into final
  
  World No.1 Roger Federer has blasted his way into the final of Australian Open 2007 in the most emphatic fashion, disposing of No.6 seed Andy Roddick in straight sets, 6-4 6-0 6-2 in a lopsided semifinal on Day 11.
  
  All the talk leading into the match had centred on how much the American had bridged the gap between himself and the Swiss maestro in the past 12 months, but Federer quickly exposed such conjecture on the big stage of Rod Laver Arena.
  
  The No.1 seed set the tone from the very first game when he broke Roddick's opening service game and despite losing his own serve in the fourth game - the only time for the match - Federer was able to come up with another break to take the first set.
  
  If the sublime array of strokes on display in the first set had the American unsettled, then the Swiss master's elevated level of play in the second had him positively uncomfortable.
  
  Federer broke his opponent three times, smashed 11 winners to two and allowed Roddick to score a paltry six points for the entire set as he failed to win a game.
  
  If the American had been hoping to ride out the storm and work into the match in the third set he was sorely mistaken as the 'Fed Express' continued on his way merry way, breaking in the first game and then the fifth to have the match in his keeping.
  
  Amazingly, the world No.1 broke his opponent each and every time the opportunity presented itself - seven from seven for the match - and while he blotted his copybook by spurning his first match point, he did not waste the second, setting up a shot at his third Australian Open title.
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Thu Jan 25 13:46:10 2007.

  Williams cruises into final
  
  Serena Williams has become the first unseeded woman to make the Australian Open final for eight years, ousting Czech No.10 seed Nicole Vaidisova in straight-sets on Rod Laver Arena.
  
  Williams, the 2003 and 2005 champion, overcame a slow start to take a tight match 7-6(5) 6-4 and set up a final showdown with either Kim Clijsters or Maria Sharapova.
  
  Vaidisova got a break in the opening game of the match, before Williams snatched it back in the sixth game. The Czech teenager then broke again and she served for the set in the tenth game.
  
  But Williams rescued a set-point and took it to a tiebreaker, where she won the first four points. Vaidisova rallied to square it at 5-5, but cost herself the set with a forehand into the net when Williams had set point.
  
  The first three games of the second set went against serve, before Williams held for a 3-1 lead. A crucial double fault in Vaidisova's next service game handed Williams another break, and she soon had a grip on a spot in the final with a 5-1 advantage. The Czech held her next service game, and then got a break back with sensational backhand winner which left the American flat-footed.
  
  The brave 17-year-old then saved four match points in her next service game, getting the scoreline back to 4-5. She rescued another as Williams served for the match, before Williams finally sealed it with an overhead smash
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Thu Jan 25 13:46:47 2007.

  Sharapova into final, Clijsters exits
  
  Women's No.1 seed Maria Sharapova is through to her first Australian Open women's final after blitzing No.4 seed Kim Clijsters in straight-sets on Rod Laver Arena.
  
  Sharapova had been a semifinalist in Melbourne for the past two years, but finally cleared that hurdle at her third attempt. She ended Clijsters' Melbourne Park campaign with 6-4 6-2 win.
  
  The Belgian began the match well enough, breaking in the third game. Sharapova squared up in the sixth, only to be broken immediately. But facing a first-set defeat, the giant Russian rallied to break her in the eighth and tenth game and claim a surprise lead.
  
  The No.1 seed then broke Clijsters in the second game of the second set to gain a stranglehold on the match. Clijsters had three chances to break back in the fifth game, but let them slip and Sharapova kept the pressure on her opponent. She sealed her berth in the final on her first match point with a forehand winner on Clijsters' serve,
  
  Clijsters bid farewell to Melbourne Park at the end of her match, as she plans to retire at the end of the year, while for Sharapova, she gets a shot at her third Grand Slam title.
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Thu Jan 25 13:53:37 2007.

  Paes bows out of Australian Open
  
  
  
  Leander Paes' Australian Open campaign came to a tame end, as he lost in the quarter-finals of the mixed doubles at the Rod Laver Arena on Thursday.
  
  Canada's Daniel Nestor and Russia's Elena Likhovtseva upset third seeds Paes and Samantha Stosur 7-6, 6-1.
  
  Paes-Stosur were serving for the set at 5-4 in the first, but squandered the opportunity as their opponents stretched the set into a tie-break before taking it 7-4.
  
  The Indo-Australian pair then faltered miserably on serve, dishing four double faults and getting in only 40 per cent of the first serves in. They also failed to convert any of the four break points and dropped three service games.
  
  Nestor and Likhovtseva garnered their experience to overtake the faltering third seeds in the second set, winning it 6-1 in 34 minutes.
  
  

• From: Nerd on Thu Jan 25 14:05:36 2007.

  So its going to be Sharapova and Federere again
  
  I dont even know half of the top 10 seeds
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Thu Jan 25 15:18:05 2007.

  Its
  
  Sharapova Vs Serena Williams
  
  Federer Vs Gonzalez\Haas
  
  
  Men's final should be one-sided
  
  Woman's final will be interesting I saw couple of matches of Serena..she is wonderful and confident.I hope it wont be an easy final for Sharapova
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Fri Jan 26 9:58:59 2007.

  Day12 : Highlights
  
  Fernando into final
  
  Fernando Gonzalez has booked his maiden Grand Slam final appearance with astonishing ease, cruising past Tommy Haas in straight-sets in the second men's semifinal of Australian Open 2007.
  
  Gonzalez, the No.10 seed, has produced the most entertaining tennis of the tournament and continued to use his full array of tricks, in sweeping aside the No.12 seed 6-1 6-3 6-1 in just 91 minutes and will play defending champion Roger Federer in the final on Day 14.
  
  Broken to love in his opening service game, Haas failed to win a point until he faced 0-40 in the third game. He managed to hold serve, but Gonzalez was using both his forehand and backhand to maximum effect and got another break in the fifth game. It was near perfect tennis from the Chilean, who didn't have an unforced error in wrapping up the set in just 28 minutes.
  
  Things didn't get any better for the German in the second set as he conceded his first service game with a double fault. Gonzalez was not going to let Haas back in from that point, conceding just seven points on his serve for the set, making just three unforced errors and racing to a two-sets-to-nil lead in just over an hour.
  
  Another Gonzalez break early in the third, and it was apparent that Haas was set for this third exit at this stage of the tournament. The South American was producing absolutely sublime tennis, rifling winner after winner past the hapless German, while again going a whole set without an unforced error. He raced away to grab the match with a cracking backhand cross-court winner, sealing his seventh break and a shot at history.
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Sat Jan 27 1:59:44 2007.

  Day 13: Highlights
  
  Williams Won
  
  Serena Williams has become the first unseeded player in 29 years to capture the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup, the American claiming the trophy for a third time by dismantling Russian No.1 seed Maria Sharapova in the Australian Open 2007 women's final.
  
  Not since Chris O'Neil in 1978 has a female stormed all the way through the draw at the Australian Grand Slam, but Williams showed a steely determination right from the first point in the final and was never troubled on the way to the 6-1 6-2 victory.
  
  Williams hadn't claimed a WTA Tour title since winning her second Australian Open title in three years at the 2005 tournament, with a lack of fitness brought about by injury woes then compounded by knee problems that restricted her to only four tournaments in 2006.
  
  But having started this year's first major with her ranking at No.81, Williams now has eight Grand Slam crowns to her name after racing out of the blocks under the closed roof at Rod Laver Arena.
  
  After Williams held serve comfortably in the opening game Sharapova looked set to do the same but from 40-15 ahead she was broken and, after holding serve again herself, Williams broke again to love in the fourth game.
  
  Sharapova pressured Williams in her next service game but couldn't make the most of a break point before finally holding serve after 23 minutes, and Williams opened up a one-set advantage after 26 minutes thanks to a Sharapova error.
  
  The first-set procession included 15 winners to five from Williams and seven unforced errors to four, while she converted both her break points, won 28 points to 15 and landed 76 per cent of her first serves to Sharapova's 50 per cent.
  
  The second set didn't start any better for Sharapova as she managed to win only one point in her opening service game and then saw Williams overcome a pair of double faults to consolidate the break and lead 2-0.
  
  Williams continued to pressure the Sharapova serve in the third game of the second set and broke at the second opportunity thanks to a double fault and forehand dumped into the net, before comfortably holding again with an ace for a 4-0 lead.
  
  Sharapova had rare easy games on her own serve in the fifth and seventh games, holding without being taken to deuce, but Williams likewise held easily in the sixth and eighth games to seal her superb triumph, falling onto her back in delight after hitting the final winner.
  
  Williams now has three Australian Opens, a French Open and dual victories at Wimbledon and the US Open to her credit, and also a 3-2 head-to-head record against Sharapova.
  
  The result also gives Williams some measure of revenge for her defeat to Sharapova in the 2004 Wimbledon final, with the world No.1 losing for the first time in a major final after also winning the US Open several months ago at Flushing Meadows.
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Sat Jan 27 2:25:16 2007.

  Clara\Black Woman'd doubles winner
  
  Zimbabwe's Cara Black and South Africa's Liezel Huber have claimed the Australian Open women's doubles crown at Melbourne Park with a 6-4 6-7(4) 6-1 victory over rising talents Yung-Jan Chan and Chia-Jung Chuang of Chinese Taipei.
  
  After winning the 2005 Wimbledon doubles title and falling in the final of Roland Garros in the same year, the African pair marked their return to the winners' circle in emphatic fashion.
  
  And despite the pair being taken to three sets before winning the Australian Open title, Black, speaking at the post-match press conference, said it was simply pleasing to win.
  
  "I think a lot of expectation was on us. We were the No.3 seeds and really we didn't know what to expect of them," she said. "You never know playing them for the first time."
  
  "We regrouped and stuck together and I think that was the major part of today."
  
  Huber, meanwhile, admitted the pair had been nervous midway through the match before overcoming the Chinese Taipei combination.
  
  "Because it is a final, that's why we were so tight," said Huber. "By far, if you had seen any of our other matches this was the tightest that we played."
  
  "It doesn't matter if it was ugly like it was today, that is what we are here for."
  
  Chan and Chuang, the first Chinese Taipei pair to make a Grand Slam final said they were disappointed not to have been able to climb the final hurdle.
  
  "I think they changed in the third set and put us under pressure," said Chan. "We are a little bit disappointed."
  
  "We just did our best."
  
  Squaring off on the sun-drenched Rod Laver Arena on Australia Day, the No.3 seeds looked ominous from the outset.
  
  Taking the first set in 39 minutes, Black and Huber edged ahead after capitalising on two service breaks to Chan and Chuang's one.
  
  Hitting only one unforced error in the first set, the African pair proved too good, winning 36 points to gain the ascendancy.
  
  Then, after an even start to the second set, it was again Black and Huber who strode out to a 4-2 lead on the back of an early service break.
  
  However, despite squandering a spate of break-points in response, Chan and Chuang finally had something to celebrate about when they squared proceedings up shortly after, before taking a 5-4 lead.
  
  But just as things looked heading toward a deciding third set, Black and Huber exacted another service break to grasp the contest by the horns.
  
  Up 6-5 and serving for the match, the African pair, though, was broken and Chan and Chuang, mounting a stellar comeback, went on to claim the second set with their second set point in the ensuing tiebreaker.
  
  Serving first in the third set and clearly reeling after dropping the second, Black and Huber easily held their own service game and then broke Chan and Chuang to race to a 2-0 lead.
  
  Further compounding the Chinese Taipei pair's increasing woes, Black and Huber firmly wrestled control of the match in the subsequent games with another service break to take a 4-0 lead.
  
  Finally, while trailing 0-5 in the final set, Chan and Chuang managed to thwart a championship point and hold serve to delay the imminent victory for their opponents, albeit briefly.
  
  But moments later and serving for the match, the African pair made no mistake with their second championship point to claim the title in two hours and 10 minutes.
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Sun Jan 28 10:30:13 2007.

  Day 14 : Highlights
  
  Its Federer....asusual!
  
  
  Having moved to equal-fifth on the all-time Grand Slam title winners' list when he claimed the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup for a third time on Day 14 at Australian Open 2007, Roger Federer admitted the genius tag sits comfortably with him.
  
  The Swiss maestro and No.1 seed was so supreme throughout this year's tournament that he became the first player since Bjorn Borg at the French Open in 1980, and just the fourth in the Open era, to win a Grand Slam title without dropping a set along the way.
  
  Federer capped off his 10th major title by making it 10 wins from as many clashes against Chilean No.10 seed Fernando Gonzalez, eventually prevailing 7-6(2) 6-4 6-4 in two hours and 20 minutes.
  
  Having joined American Bill Tilden on the major winners' list, Federer now has Australian Rod Laver and Swede Bjorn Borg (11 each), Australian Roy Emerson (12) and American Pete Sampras (14) in his sights.
  
  "I mean, look, I guess I'm the best tennis player in the world," Federer said when asked how he reacts to the word genius being used to describe him and his sublime game.
  
  "You can call me a genius because I'm outplaying many of my opponents, kind of maybe playing a bit different, you know, winning when I'm not playing my best. All of that maybe means a little bit of that. So it's nice."
  
  Federer answered everything the free-swinging and brilliant Gonzalez could throw at him emphatically throughout the contest, as he became the first player to win at least three times at three of the Grand Slams.
  
  Tested in the first set after three unforced errors on his own serve in the ninth game handed Gonzalez a break and a chance to serve for the set, Federer saved two set points at 40-15 and then broke back.
  
  After holding in the 11th game Federer then had four chances to take the set in the 12th game, only for Gonzalez to hang on, but Federer upped the ante in the tiebreaker with the first five points and duly took the set.
  
  Gonzalez continued to push at every opportunity in the second and third sets, hitting plenty more amazing shots, but Federer was the equal to virtually everything his opponent could serve up, leaving the South American to shake his head as his shot-making resulted in little reward.
  
  "I tried to tell myself I've beaten him nine times out of nine, play your game, be aggressive, don't give him too many free points," said the four-time Wimbledon champion and triple US Open winner.
  
  "It ended up working even though it was a close match. I'm just kind of relieved and all proud I did it again. He made it hard for me today to really kind of attack him. He slices the forehand, slices the backhand."
  
  "It's just a different game, especially the first set. I was missing a few of them to give him the upper hand. He should have won the first, but I came back and won. That might have been crucial.”
  
  Having been informed about the records he had equalled or history he has made with the latest win, his semifinal victory having given him the record of 11 straight major tournaments in which he's made at least the final four, Federer could only marvel.
  
  "Equalling records, doing something that hasn't been done for a long time, it's really nice, there's no doubt," Federer said. "It wasn't ever a goal for me up to win a Slam without dropping a set."
  
  "All I care in the end is to hopefully hold that trophy, even though it might be 20-18 in the fifth set. I don't mind, as long as I win. Of course, now that it's all over, it's great to think, 'Wow', you know, not having dropped a set. It's quite amazing."
  
  Many players would have dropped the first set from the same position Federer was in when Gonzalez served for the match but Federer was able to draw on his huge confidence and the fact that he did drop the first set in the final against Marcos Baghdatis a year ago.
  
  "I think I handled the situation well and I knew that those weren't match points, they were set points, and you can always take a lost set or even two," he said. "You just got to keep on believing that you can turn it around and that you're doing the right things."
  
  For all of the records, all of the streaks, Federer is especially proud of the fact that he has dominated the game so much in the past three-and-a-half years, having not won his first Grand Slam title until Wimbledon in 2003.
  
  "All these Grand Slams since 2003, that's what, for me, is really scary, how many I've won," Federer said. "I was thinking about it this morning actually when I woke up."
  
  "Like if somebody would have told me I'd win 10 Grand Slams from mid '03 till today, I never would have thought there was any chance of doing something like that. I would have signed up for just one, you know."
  
  Federer will be back for another crack at the Australian Open in 2008, to the absolute delight of organisers and local fans alike and, on current form, he may return having also won his first French Open and completed a rare single-year Grand Slam.
  
  We can hardly wait.
  
  
  
  
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Sun Jan 28 10:33:32 2007.

  Nestor and Likhovtseva mixed doubles champions
  
  After the bitter disappointment of losing the Australian Open mixed doubles final in 2006, Daniel Nestor and Elena Likhovtseva, have gone one better 12 months on, claiming the crown at Australian Open 2007.
  
  The experienced pair toppled Belarus combination Max Mirnyi and teenager Viktoria Azarenka 6-4 6-4 in one hour and 19 minutes.
  
  It was a worthy finale for Canadian Nestor and Russian Likhovtseva, who at 34 and 31 celebrated their maiden mixed doubles Grand Slam victory after three attempts.
  
  Nestor now boasts an unusual doubles treble in Australia, having won the men's doubles gold medal at the 2000 Olympics and 2002 Australian Open and now the mixed.
  
  Mirnyi, on the other hand, had to settle for runner-up for the second day in a row, with he and Jonas Bjorkman losing the men's doubles final to the Bryan brothers.
  
  However, he was consoled by the poise and polish of his 17-year-old partner Azarenka, playing in her second Australian Open.
  
  The pair received a wildcard into the tournament and achieved surprising victories against No.1 seeds Lisa Raymond and Bob Bryan and No.4 seeds Francesca Schiavone.
  
  For Nestor and Russian Likhovtseva, the 2007 victory erases the memories of finals defeats at the 2000 and 2004 US Open.
  
  "It's very nice … we're very happy. I'm glad that Elena decided not to retire at the end of last year," Nestor said.
  
  "We played a tough team that appeared to be winning all their matches pretty easily."
  
  The unseeded pair won the opening set in 34 minutes, consolidating their lead after breaking Mirnyi in the seventh game.
  
  Nestor, with two set points up his sleeve, closed out the set with an overhead smash.
  
  Mirnyi was quickly in trouble again, this time in the opening game of the second set, when he lost serve with four break points; and in the fifth when he struggled to hold after being 40-0 up on serve.
  
  It was his teenage partner that kept them in the match with her all-round game and balance at the net and baseline. Although at times she showed her frustration, spraying her shots wide.
  
  Nestor and Likhovtseva, meanwhile, rarely looked ruffled, apart from a minor glitch when the Muscovite dropped her serve after two double faults. It was the pair's only break of serve in the match.
  
  They managed to break in the next game and Nestor followed up, almost assuring victory after conceding just a point in his service game.
  
  Mirnyi kept his and Azarenka's hopes alive, holding on in the ninth game, but their more experienced opponents clinched the trophy when Likhovtseva's wide and kicking serve pushed Mirnyi out of the action, leaving a vacancy in the middle of the court which Nestor exploited.
  
  It was grand finish, and finally brushed off the cobwebs of their 2006 mixed doubles final defeat to Martina Hingis and Mahesh Bhupathi.
  
  "We played all last year together and played two finals and didn't succeed. I hope we continue to play all year (this year)," Likhovtseva said.
  
  "I've been on the tour for a long time and I thought about doing something different," she said in reference to retiring. "But then I thought if I am still enjoying it and have good results, I decided to go another year."
  
  For Azarenka, a junior Australian Open and Wimbledon singles champion, her mixed doubles partner tipped big things.
  
  "Hopefully, this is a kick-start to your career," Mirnyi said. "She is a bright up-and coming player and you will be seeing and hearing a lot about her."
  
  
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Jan 28 13:55:44 2007.

  10th Grandslam
  Way to go feddy
  

  ajithfederer wrote:

  Hip Hip Hooray Roger Federer wins his 9th Grandslam Roger Federer wins US Open First man in Men's History 2 win three straight Wimbledon and US open Titles (2004,2005 and 2006)

  
  

• From: Anoushka on Mon Jan 29 7:03:44 2007.

  did you watch the match yesterday af? I saw the match from the begining to the end (even sat through the prizegiving speeches ) a very good match and both of them played well!
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Mon Jan 29 11:15:19 2007.

  No, I didnt see.... ..it was at early morning 4 on sunday....so slept through and just read the news in the morning.......
  

  Anoushka wrote:

  did you watch the match yesterday af? I saw the match from the begining to the end (even sat through the prizegiving speeches ) a very good match and both of them played well!

  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Mon Jan 29 12:59:33 2007.

  Actually when he got the cup last year, he cried. This year when he got that he said " I know what happened last year, Dont worry it wont happen this year...!"
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Mon May 14 7:46:49 2007.

  Nakeeran please use this thread
  
  

• From: Nakeeran on Mon May 14 7:49:01 2007.

  Oh thanks Sri .
  
  Anybody other than Fed. who can challenge Nadal today ?
  
  What about women's circuit ? Looks like competition is even in French open.
  
  

• From: Nerd on Mon May 14 11:57:26 2007.

  Sania is top seed at Morocco Open
  
  FES (Morocco), May 14: Sania Mirza has become the first Indian to be seeded number one in a WTA event after she was given top billing in both the singles and doubles competitions of the $145,000 Morocco Open starting from Monday.
  
  The Indian ace, who was out of action for the past two months due to a knee injury, makes her return to court in the Tier IV event and will take on a qualifier, who is yet to be decided in the first round of singles.
  
  In the doubles competition, the 20-year-old has teamed up with American Vania King and the duo will take on the unseeded Russian-Ukrainian pair of Alla Kudryavtseva and Olga Savchuk in the opening round of the clay-court event.
  
  Also in the competition is US-based Neha Uberoi, who has reached the last-four stage of qualifiers and will take on Ioana Raluca Olaru of Romania on Monday.
  
  Neha will also compete in the doubles competition, teaming up with Italian Silvia Disderi against the Canadian-Russian combination of Stephanie Dubois and Alina Jidkova in the opening round.
  
  
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Wed May 16 5:24:35 2007.

  Sania loses in singles comeback
  
  Top seed Sania Mirza was ousted in the first round of the $145,000 Moroccan Grand Prix clay-court tennis tournament on Tuesday.
  
  The Indian ace was beaten by qualifier Ma Emilia Salerni of Argentina 6-2, 7-5.
  
  Earlier, Sania put aside her three-month long injury lay-off to win her first round doubles match.
  
  She and Vania King of the United States came back 4-7 in the super tie-break to win 6-3, 5-7, 10-8 against Alla Kudryavtseva of Russia and Olga Savchuk of Ukraine.
  
  It was the 20-year-old's first competitive match in nearly three months as she was out of action due to a ligament injury.
  
  "It's always good to win a match when you're coming back after so long, especially a close one," Sania said.
  
  Sania, who played with Liezel Huber of South Africa most of last season, said she combined well with Vania.
  
  "I think it's a good thing we got the toughest unseeded team first. We played well together for our very first time as a team.
  
  "There were a few hiccups, but at the end of the day it's good to come through."
  
  Sania said her knee "was holding up very well".
  
  The Hyderabadi girl said she felt a mix of excitement and nerves in her first match after a long break.
  
  "While I was playing today, I was thinking about how much I've missed the feeling of competing," she said
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Fri May 25 12:47:30 2007.

  Sania-Chan in Istanbul Cup final
  
  
  Sania Mirza is eyeing her second WTA doubles tennis title in as many weeks after advancing to the final of US $200,000 Istanbul Cup in Istanbul on Friday.
  
  The Indian ace and her new partner Yung-Jan Chan of Taipei overcame stiff resistance from Mervana Jugic-Salkic of Bosnia and Italy's Romina Oprandi before winning their semi-final match 6-7 (3/7), 6-0, 10-5.
  
  Sania and Yung-Jan were leading 5-1 in the opening set after breaking their opponents in the first game of the match but squandered the advantage and allowed Mervana and Romina to level scores at 5-5 and win the set via the tie-breaker.
  
  But it was a completely different story in the second set, which top seeded Sania and Yung-Jan dominated to take the match into the Super tie-breaker, which they won to clinch the match.
  
  Sania won her fourth WTA doubles title at the Morocco Open at Fes, Morocco, partnering Vania King of the United States last week. She lost in the first round of the singles event in Istanbul to Meghann Shaughnessy
  
  

• From: Nakeeran on Mon May 28 12:41:07 2007.

  http://www.sportal.com.au/tennis.asp?i=news&id=99409
  
  frenchopen results available on this site
  
  

• From: Raikkonen on Mon May 28 22:13:05 2007.

  Safin won, Safin won, Safin won
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Tue May 29 12:39:38 2007.

  First round clear
  
  

• From: Raikkonen on Tue May 29 22:46:51 2007.

  Roddick's Out - Sweet Jesus.. The Most over-rated guy in the business got what deserves..
  
  

• From: ThalaNass on Wed May 30 5:59:22 2007.

  Raikkonen wrote:

  Roddick's Out - Sweet Jesus.. The Most over-rated guy in the business got what deserves..

  
  
  
  
  

• From: ThalaNass on Wed May 30 6:00:22 2007.

  Anyway no chance for Federer in clay court.. Its business as usual in French open.. its Nadal 4 sure..
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Wed May 30 8:37:57 2007.

  Seriously, when he defeated federer before aussie open media praised him like hell. Federer taught him tennis in the Semi's
  
  In the news conference when he was questioned how did he feel out there in the middle , Roddick's reply : it sucked
  
  
  I couldnt stop myself from
  

  Raikkonen wrote:

  Roddick's Out - Sweet Jesus.. The Most over-rated guy in the business got what deserves..

  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Wed May 30 9:04:32 2007.

  Sania storms into second round
  
  Sania Mirza broke her French Open drought with a crushing victory over Alberta Brianti of Italy in the first round at Roland Garros on Wednesday.
  
  The Indian ace, who had never gone beyond the first round in two previous attempts, peppered the 87-ranked Italian with her hard-hitting groundstrokes to score a 6-1, 6-1 victory in under an hour.
  
  Sania returned to the tour last month after a two-and-a-half month injury lay-off and failed to go past the first round in singles in both her warm-up events, in Morocco and Istanbul.
  
  On Wednesday, she didn't let the Parisian clay demoralise her. She served well and once she had taken a 3-0 lead in the first set, she maintained the momentum and never let up the pressure from her forehands against an error-prone opponent.
  
  But the real test awaits the 20-year-old when she clashes with number seven seed Ana Ivanovic of Serbia in the second round.
  
  Ivanovic, who made it to the quarter-final in 2005, beat Sofia Arvidsson of Sweden 6-2, 6-0 in her first round match.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Wed May 30 11:33:19 2007.

  Raikki safin ousted
  
  http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/6704553.stm
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Thu May 31 10:47:58 2007.

  Sir - Second Round clear
  

  ajithfederer wrote:

  First round clear

  
  

• From: Selvam_mayyam on Thu May 31 11:21:56 2007.

  ajithfederer wrote:

  Sir - Second Round clear ajithfederer wrote: First round clear

  
  
  NICEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
  
  FED RULEZ
  
  

• From: Raikkonen on Thu May 31 23:12:41 2007.

  Hayyo.. Safin's out again..
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Fri Jun 1 0:47:04 2007.

  Sania's singles campaign ends at French Open
  
  Sania Mirza's joy of going beyond the first round in the women's singles at the French Open for the first time was short-lived as she was sent packing by Ana Ivanovic at the Roland Garros on Thursday.
  
  The seventh seeded Serbian needed an hour and four minutes to beat the 20-year-old Indian ace 6-1, 6-4 in a second round match on court No 1.
  
  It was an easy victory for Ivanovic once she broke Sania in the second game of the first set.
  
  Another break in the sixth game sufficed to give the Serbian the set.
  
  Games went with serve till the eighth game in the second set, but Ivanovic changed tactics in the ninth and repeatedly used both flanks as she had done in the first set and made the Indian run from end to end. She broke and then held serve in the tenth to wrap the match.
  
  Ivanovic's serve was a revelation and Sania never came close to threatening it. The 19-year-old Serbian dished out seven aces and converted three of the five break-points she forced to underline her authority.
  
  Sania had beaten Alberta Brianti of Italy in the first round on Wednesday and advanced for the first time after two unsuccessful attempts.
  
  She will team up with Frenchman Fabrice Santoro for the doubles competition.
  
  But there was something to cheer about for Indian fans as Leander Paes and Martin Damm of the Czech Republic quelled the challenge of local hopes Jeremy Chardy and Jonathan Eysseric 7-6 (4), 7-6 (2) to advance into the second round of the men's doubles earlier.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Jun 1 10:07:06 2007.

  Thalaivar - Third Round Clear
  

  ajithfederer wrote:

  Sir - Second Round clear ajithfederer wrote: First round clear

  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sat Jun 2 10:13:25 2007.

  Fuhrer - Fourth Round Clear
  

  ajithfederer wrote:

  Thalaivar - Third Round Clear ajithfederer wrote: Sir - Second Round clear ajithfederer wrote: First round clear

  
  

• From: ThalaNass on Sun Jun 3 4:05:14 2007.

  ajithfederer wrote:

  Fuhrer - Fourth Round Clear ajithfederer wrote: Thalaivar - Third Round Clear ajithfederer wrote: Sir - Second Round clear ajithfederer wrote: First round clear

  
  
  athu seri..
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Mon Jun 4 12:07:51 2007.

  http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/scores/draws/ms/index.html
  
  

• From: ThalaNass on Tue Jun 5 8:13:57 2007.

  Nadal all the way..
  
  

• From: Hey Ram on Tue Jun 5 12:06:44 2007.

  Henin all the way
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Tue Jun 5 15:28:08 2007.

  Sir - In semi's
  

  ajithfederer wrote:

  Fuhrer - Fourth Round Clear ajithfederer wrote: Thalaivar - Third Round Clear ajithfederer wrote: Sir - Second Round clear ajithfederer wrote: First round clear

  
  

• From: aanaa on Wed Jun 6 16:02:33 2007.

  poor Serena lost in Quarter final
  
  Justine Henin BEL (1) 6 6
  
  Serena Williams USA (8) 4 3
  
  

• From: aanaa on Wed Jun 6 16:05:41 2007.

  in semi
  
  Justine Henin BEL (1)
  Ana Ivanovic SRB (7)
  
  Jelena Jankovic SRB (4)
  aria Sharapova RUS (2)
  
  

• From: aanaa on Wed Jun 6 16:06:51 2007.

  lost # 3
  Ana Ivanovic SRB (7) 6 3 6
  
  Svetlana Kuznetsova RUS (3) 0 6 1
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Thu Jun 7 10:08:43 2007.

  Ivanovic crushes Sharapova to reach Paris final
  
  Serbia's Ana Ivanovic reached the final of a grand slam tournament for the first time with a 6-2 6-1 demolition of world number two Maria Sharapova at the French Open on Thursday
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Thu Jun 7 15:41:58 2007.

  Bhupathi-Stepanek go down in semis
  
  India's campaign at the French Open came to an end with 10-time Grand Slam champion Mahesh Bhupathi's exit from the men's doubles on Thursday.
  
  Bhupathi and Czech partner Radek Stepanek lost 6-3, 6-4 to sixth seeds Mark Knowles of the Bahamas and Daniel Nestor of Canada [Images] in the doubles semi-finals.
  
  The Indo-Czech duo, who had upset defending champions Jonas Bjorkman and Max Mirnyi in the earlier round, struggled on Thursday with Knowles-Nestor not giving them a look at even a single break-point.
  
  Knowles-Nestor will face Czech duo Lukas Dlouhy and Pavel Vizner in the doubles final.
  
  Dlouhy-Vizner upset fourth seeds Fabrice Santoro and Nenad Zimonjic 6-1, 1-6, 6-4.
  
  

• From: Anoushka on Fri Jun 8 9:07:17 2007.

  Anyone watching the Federer Vs Davidenko semis? A brilliant match!
  
  update: Feddy beats Davidenko 7-5, 7-6, 7-6...
  
  Davidenko put up a tough fight and it was a very good match to watch!
  
  

• From: buddysathi on Fri Jun 8 13:20:25 2007.

  Wowwwwwwwwww! Its Fedex Vs Nadal FINAL!
  
  I wud say "Match of the year"!
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Fri Jun 8 13:53:52 2007.

  Anoushka wrote:

  Anyone watching the Federer Vs Davidenko semis? A brilliant match! update: Feddy beats Davidenko 7-5, 7-6, 7-6... Davidenko put up a tough fight and it was a very good match to watch!

  
  
  Yes I saw that! Very good match!
  
  

• From: Ramakrishna on Fri Jun 8 13:58:21 2007.

  buddysathi wrote:

  Wowwwwwwwwww! Its Fedex Vs Nadal FINAL! I wud say "Match of the year"!

  
  
  Bayangaramaana match-aa irukumpola
  
  

• From: CEDYBLUE on Sat Jun 9 1:05:21 2007.

  Ramakrishna wrote:

  buddysathi wrote: Wowwwwwwwwww! Its Fedex Vs Nadal FINAL! I wud say "Match of the year"! Bayangaramaana match-aa irukumpola

  
  
  WOULD LOVE TO SEE ROGER LIFTING THE FRENCH OPEN!
  
  

• From: Hey Ram on Sat Jun 9 14:29:19 2007.

  Hey Ram wrote:

  Henin all the way

  
  
  hat-trick at French Open
  
  &
  
  made the final at the last six Grand Slams she has played!!
  
  
  
  

• From: aanaa on Sat Jun 9 14:45:54 2007.

  after Monica Seles she got 3 consecutive .
  
  

• From: aanaa on Sat Jun 9 14:46:19 2007.

  mens final Tomorrow -
  really challange one
  
  

• From: ThalaNass on Sun Jun 10 5:08:39 2007.

  Its NadaL for sure.. in straight seT..
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Jun 10 12:29:07 2007.

  Fedex lost
  
  

• From: aanaa on Sun Jun 10 12:29:41 2007.

  Rafael Nadal beat Roger Federer
  6-3/ 4-6 /6-3 /6-4.
  
  Rafael Nadal has become the first man to complete a French Open hat-trick since Bjorn Borg in 1981.
  
  

• From: aanaa on Sun Jun 10 12:30:12 2007.

  ajithfederer wrote:

  Fedex lost

  
  its too bad
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Jun 10 12:31:34 2007.

  Nope.......he just hit 2 many unforced errors just like last year.....No one deserves 2 win with so many unforced errors
  

  aanaa wrote:

  ajithfederer wrote: Fedex lost its too bad

  
  

• From: Hey Ram on Sun Jun 10 13:37:58 2007.

  Nadal
  
  A thoroughly deserving victory!!
  
  May he continue to thrash opponents like no other
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Sun Jun 10 14:03:51 2007.

  2007- French Open winner
  
  Rafael Nadal
  
  
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Sun Jun 10 14:08:16 2007.

  2007- French Open winner
  
  Justine Henin-Hardenne
  
  
  
  

• From: Sanjeevi on Mon Jun 11 2:26:11 2007.

  bad luck to federer in French Open continues
  
  will he get French Open title in future?
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Mon Jun 11 9:52:56 2007.

  Just my thoughts on the final match that happened on sunday....
  
  Federer's unforced errors played the spoil sport. Blunderous hitting of first serve returns and spoiling sitter chances of scoring easy points. Some returns were awful to say the least
  Only thing which went favor of him were the dropshots. First serve percentage was at an all time low.
  
  There is a term called Federer's Standards which wasnt there in the match yesterday
  
  Federer : u just blew away the match.......Nadal didnt take it away from you. you just gave it to him.
  
  

• From: thilak4life on Mon Jun 11 10:02:45 2007.

  ajithfederer wrote:

  Just my thoughts on the final match that happened on sunday.... Federer's unforced errors played the spoil sport. Blunderous hitting of first serve returns and spoiling sitter chances of scoring easy points. Some returns were awful to say the least Only thing which went favor of him were the dropshots. First serve percentage was at an all time low. There is a term called Federer's Standards which wasnt there in the match yesterday Federer : u just blew away the match.......Nadal didnt take it away from you. you just gave it to him.

  
  
  Feddy machi,
  
  Fed has been a bit low for a long time. He hasn't bettered the 2003 fall and 2004 rise period. Factors on his side is, lack of quality contenders.
  
  And in clay, no wonder that he lost to Nadal. Although he is capable of beating Nadal.
  
  And Nadal got lucky with Fed's unforced errors BUT his exceptional forehand can take even the best off guard.
  
  

• From: ThalaNass on Mon Jun 11 10:23:50 2007.

  Nadal..
  
  Feddy and his fans
  
  

• From: Hey Ram on Mon Jun 11 11:00:21 2007.

  Sour grape from Federer fans not to accept defeat.
  
  Federe was defeated by the better man. Nadal just the beat the heck out of him.
  
  Players dont' make unforced errors just like that. Unforced errors are really "forced" errors. Some players crumble under pressure in some situations. Federe put pressure on himself to win the FO, and he desperately wanted it. Federer himself accepted before the match that Nadal is the favourite to win it. So there you go. It was no surprising Nadal won it. Had Nadal lost, we can conclude, Nadal just gifted it to him. After all, Nadal wasn't at his best either.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Mon Jun 11 11:21:13 2007.

  1: Did i ever say federer was not defeated by abetter player(Nadal)?? . Wasnt i talking abt the points from fedexs perspective alone??
  
  2: Unforced errors dont happen everytime with Federer. Yesterday the count was 60 quite abnormal for already a genius like fedex who has already 10 grandslams.
  
  3. Did i ever say nadals win was surprising. What was surprising 2 me was the way federer gave it away 2 him without a big fight and squandering easy opportunities and blundering returns?
  
  4. fyi Nadal is the best at clay, No doubts and hats off. Needless to say who is best in grass court? (Any questions??) . Everytime fedex gives him atleast a run for his money in the french open and whats nadals records in grass courts(if not the best) .
  
  Can nadal try to do that in grass court?? Nadal is the only player to be in the second position for a record 98 weeks Do ya people understand what that means ?
  Didnt fedex win him in clay at hamburg open? .
  What are Nadal's records in grass and hard courts?
  
  Point that matters is : There can be another Nadal but there cant be an other Roger
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Mon Jun 11 11:27:11 2007.

  Highly disagree........ Its not the lack of quality contenders but its the proven genius of federer's masterplay over his opponents all over the years..
  
  

  thilak4life wrote:

  ajithfederer wrote: Just my thoughts on the final match that happened on sunday.... Federer's unforced errors played the spoil sport. Blunderous hitting of first serve returns and spoiling sitter chances of scoring easy points. Some returns were awful to say the least Only thing which went favor of him were the dropshots. First serve percentage was at an all time low. There is a term called Federer's Standards which wasnt there in the match yesterday Federer : u just blew away the match.......Nadal didnt take it away from you. you just gave it to him. Feddy machi, Fed has been a bit low for a long time. He hasn't bettered the 2003 fall and 2004 rise period. Factors on his side is, lack of quality contenders. And in clay, no wonder that he lost to Nadal. Although he is capable of beating Nadal. And Nadal got lucky with Fed's unforced errors BUT his exceptional forehand can take even the best off guard.

  
  

• From: Hey Ram on Mon Jun 11 11:27:45 2007.

  Me no Nadal fan, but not giving the credit he deserves itch me.
  
  You talk about all the babbels and say they weren't said then why would you talk about grass courts when we aren't even talking about? hysteria? Federe fans are TOO JEALOUS.
  
  Because there aren't many good players now, players of Federe's talent make it to FO final. It's sad.
  
  

• From: aanaa on Mon Jun 11 11:37:37 2007.

  Quote:

  Federer, who has lost to his Spanish rival for the last three years at Roland Garros, believes Nadal is good enough to win other grand slams

  
  

  Quote:

  Apart from Wimbledon last year, Nadal has not progressed beyond the quarter-finals of a grand slam away from Roland Garros.

  
  

  Quote:

  Nadal may have been the conqueror of Federer once again in Paris, but he is in no doubt that the Swiss does not need a Roland Garros title to prove his greatness.

  
  

  Quote:

  "It is the fourth year he will try to stay number one. The other day, I looked at the number of ranking points (Pete) Sampras had when he was number one. I think he had 5,500. Federer has scored 8,000.

  
  
  http://www.sportinglife.com/tennis/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=tennis/07/06/11/TENNIS_French_Men_Nightlead.html
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Mon Jun 11 11:38:10 2007.

  Please read my post again : Nadal is/was the best at clay as like federer in grass/hard courts.
  
  Nadal didnt achieve anything commendable in hard/grass courts is a fact ...anybody to disagree?
  
  Federer is a tennis great/legend and Nadal is not ... End of arguments
  
  

• From: Hey Ram on Mon Jun 11 11:38:22 2007.

  ajithfederer wrote:

  Can nadal try to do that in grass court?? Nadal is the only player to be in the second position for a record 98 weeks Do ya people understand what that means ? Didnt fedex win him in clay at hamburg open? . What are Nadal's records in grass and hard courts? Point that matters is : There can be another Nadal but there cant be an other Roger

  
  
  Since you ran out of steam, you introduce outlandish elements to this very discussion. Since you don't know the HISTORY(assuming because you already started this practice) of tennis, I can give a few lessons.
  
  Hamburg clay court match was not FO, and Nadal was exhausted. I think putting your talent in display in important matches matters because it test your ability. Take that if it's a good excuse. In a period of gestation, he beat Federer just like that.
  
  FYI, Nadal reached last year's wimbledon final
  He is only getting better and he shows signs of developements, I bet my @$$, he is gonna be force to reckon with.
  
  What was Federer's achievement at 21?
  And what's his overall record against Nadal?
  
  There will be more Nadals and more Federers but no Pete Sampras .
  He played in an era of "outstanding" players and beat them in their "peak" which Federe hasn't done and will never do. Federer's opponents are Roddick and Hewitt, which's epitomizes the standard of tennis played these days.
  
  Sports like Tennis and Cricket started losing their standard long back.
  sad. too sad.
  
  

• From: Hey Ram on Mon Jun 11 11:39:36 2007.

  Quote:

  Apart from Wimbledon last year, Nadal has not progressed beyond the quarter-finals of a grand slam away from Roland Garros.

  
  
  Federer at this stage was NOBODY, which is better than what Federer was at that stage. So give Nadal time, he is not 25 now.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Mon Jun 11 11:48:16 2007.

  1) Hamburg open is a clay court tennis tournament(Nadal's biggest forte and undisputed tennis ability lies there). Federer defeated him there....Exhausted who cares . He was defeated in clay court is all that matters.
  
  2) who won the wimbledon last year?? the year before, even before? what happened to Nadal in us open and australian open. Improvement signs huh? ( who won those grandslams??)
  
  PS : I have already said that nadal is very best at clay and . keeping on circling the same argument doesnt bring anything better to this discussion.
  
  Just to illustrate one simple but an outstanding fact about federer
  Nadal loses to everybody else in grass/hard courts and federer loses only to nadal in clay courts. There is a whole lot of meaning
  to be explored here.
  
  

  Hey Ram wrote:

  ajithfederer wrote: Can nadal try to do that in grass court?? Nadal is the only player to be in the second position for a record 98 weeks Do ya people understand what that means ? Didnt fedex win him in clay at hamburg open? . What are Nadal's records in grass and hard courts? Point that matters is : There can be another Nadal but there cant be an other Roger Since you ran out of steam, you introduce outlandish elements to this very discussion. Since you don't know the HISTORY(assuming because you already started this practice) of tennis, I can give a few lessons. Hamburg clay court match was not FO, and Nadal was exhausted. I think putting your talent in display in important matches matters because it test your ability. Take that if it's a good excuse. In a period of gestation, he beat Federer just like that. FYI, Nadal reached last year's wimbledon final He is only getting better and he shows signs of developements, I bet my @$$, he is gonna be force to reckon with. What was Federer's achievement at 21? And what's his overall record against Nadal? There will be more Nadals and more Federers but no Pete Sampras . He played in an era of "outstanding" players and beat them in their "peak" which Federe hasn't done and will never do. Federer's opponents are Roddick and Hewitt, which's epitomizes the standard of tennis played these days. Sports like Tennis and Cricket started losing their standard long back. sad. too sad.

  
  

• From: Hey Ram on Mon Jun 11 11:55:03 2007.

  This Federer fanatic never understands.
  
  

  Code:

  1) Hamburg open is a clay court tennis tournament(Nadal's biggest forte and undisputed tennis ability lies there). Federer defeated him there....Exhausted who cares . He was defeated in clay court is all that matters.

  
  Says a lot about Federer. When there's pressure, he crumbles
  It's too sad he cannot emulate the same feat in FO.
  
  

  Quote:

  2) who won the wimbledon last year?? the year before, even before? what happened to Nadal in us open and australian open. Improvement signs huh? ( who won those grandslams??)

  
  Nadal was a kid then.. What was Federer doing when Pete was dominating the Tennis? He was in his nappies.
  
  

  Quote:

  PS : I have already said that nadal is very best at clay and . keeping on circling the same argument doesnt bring anything better to this discussion.

  Likewise, I have already said Nadal is only 21 and he is doing a lot better than Federe has been at this stage. Nadal only needs a bit of experience and time. There's a good sign of improvment and he reached GS last year.
  
  

  Quote:

  Nadal loses to everybody else in grass/hard courts and federer loses only to nadal in clay courts. There is a whole lot of meaning to be explored there. Just o illustrate one simple but an outstanding fact about federer

  
  If Federer reaches FO final, then that should mean the lack of quality opponents in clay.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Mon Jun 11 12:06:34 2007.

  heyram : Nadal isnt anything great in tennis like federer......
  
  Federer defeated pete in wimbledon 2001 fourth round when he was going for his 100th victory.
  
  Nadal isnt as consistent as federer.
  
  have better things to do in work as well as in federers thread
  
  

• From: Hey Ram on Mon Jun 11 12:34:20 2007.

  First you did not give the credit to Nadal. Dont' refute it because you already mentioned "Federe, you gifted it to him" the perpective doesn't matter to me.
  I only wanted to see him lauded for his terrfic performance and wanted to rectify some mistakes here, but you jumped in to the bandwagon of introducing other courts and veered it off to the Federe vs Nadal. The discussion was on FO.
  
  I don't give a damn to this one-off wins like Federer beating Sampras once, and Feddy beating Nadal on clay once and Bangaladesh beating Australia once. Then I think Safin beat Federer in Aus Open.
  Andy Murray beat him too Any dog can do that on its day. I'm asking for a better, consistent result.
  It's too sad that players after a certain age, don't get better. But worse. And they will become crictics's favourites. It will happen to Federer too, if he doesn't retire at the right age.. I mean he will get beaten by some average players at 32 or 33.. and we move into a new era..
  
  Nadal is a great player, has the potential to dominate all courts.
  Federe is playing in an era, when the "oustanding" players are retired.. in other words, when the standard of tennis is at its lowest.
  
  You conveniently skipped the "age" factor because you can't argue with that..
  Nadal, at young age, has achieved a lot in tennis world. Unthinkable for Federer.
  
  Hamilton(F1) shows great promiss of developing into a damn good racer and unprisingly his record at this stage will be poor, with some wins here and there. athE maathiri thaan ithuvum.
  
  Now I gotta better thing to do: sleep.
  
  
  
  

• From: Nerd on Mon Jun 11 12:39:22 2007.

  adra sakka adra sakka adra sakka
  
  Pistol Pete -- You are the greatest
  
  

• From: thilak4life on Mon Jun 11 12:46:13 2007.

  Nerd wrote:

  adra sakka adra sakka adra sakka Pistol Pete -- You are the greatest

  
  
  Lendl, you're the greatest!
  
  

• From: aanaa on Mon Jun 11 12:51:59 2007.

  Quote:

  Federer is not scheduled to take part in any other tournaments until Wimbledon begins on June 25th.

  
  

• From: aanaa on Mon Jun 11 12:55:15 2007.

  John McEnroe was a good player eventhogh too much fights/shout in the court.
  
  

• From: thilak4life on Mon Jun 11 14:31:14 2007.

  aanaa wrote:

  John McEnroe was a good player eventhogh too much fights/shout in the court.

  
  
  So were Connors, Borg and Edberg.They were legends, whichever way you look at. They were much more entertaining than just a routine strategically equipped machine like how Pete used to be(such a boring player). I would rather watch Rafter or Becker play (and loose) than watch Pete or Agassi win Even Agassi's baseliners were entertaining than Pete's forehand and his world famous 'serve'. I puke everytime I see Sampras smash like a frog - unconventional but effective. Maybe, he had an all round game. But his movements were so typical and as you expect, the American athleticism gets over 'technique' and finesse - maybe thats what the game was all about. The poetic movements and graceful returns were missing. Here comes the "power game" galore. Fcuk that ****.
  
  I would strongly say the game's best phase was from mid-70s till early 90s. And then the mundams came and spoilt the game with tactical and stereotyped game. Fcuk 'em! I hate tennis!
  
  

• From: aanaa on Mon Jun 11 16:00:57 2007.

  You missed Ivan Lendl. Another good Tennis player.
  for fun
  http://www.tennis4you.com/quizzes/quiz005.htm
  
  

• From: thilak4life on Mon Jun 11 16:03:18 2007.

  aanaa wrote:

  You missed Ivan Lendl. Another good Tennis player. for fun http://www.tennis4you.com/quizzes/quiz005.htm

  
  
  
  
  just scroll up. He is one of my favorites! I 've already mentioned him. How can I miss him? If I did, come whoop my @$$
  
  

• From: aanaa on Mon Jun 11 16:05:25 2007.

  FOR those who have dial up connection or fee concerns
  
  
  the answers:
  Tennis4you.com Quiz #005 Answers
  I hope you did well on quiz #005, here are the answers.
  
  1. What male tennis player has won the most Grand Slams?
  Answer: "D" - Pete Sampras
  
  2. What female tennis player has won the most Grand Slam?
  Answer: "B" - Margaret Court Court
  
  3. What male tennis player has won the most tournaments ever?
  Answer: "A" - Jimmy Connors
  
  4. What female tennis player has won the most tournaments ever?
  Answer: "B" - Martina Navratilova
  
  5. What male tennis player has hit the fastest serve ever?
  Answer: "D" - Andy Roddick - 153 mph
  
  6. What female tennis player has hit the fastest serve ever?
  Answer: "C" - Venus Williams
  
  7. How long was the longest singles game ever played in professional tennis?
  Answer: "A" - 80 points
  
  8. Who was the only person in professional tennis to ever win a "Golden Set"?
  Answer: "D" - Bill Scanlon
  
  9. What professional male tennis player held the #1 ranking the longest?
  Answer: "B" - Pete Sampras
  
  10. What professional female tennis player held the #1 ranking the longest?
  Answer: "C" - Steffi Graf
  
  

• From: Sanjeevi on Tue Jun 12 5:53:16 2007.

  ThalaNass wrote:

  Nadal.. Feddy and his fans

  
  
  Nadal won't become No.1 when Feddy has tennis rocket in his hand
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Mon Jun 25 10:47:18 2007.

  The Championships starts today
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Wed Jun 27 2:20:19 2007.

  Wimbledon: Sania enters 2nd round
  
  Sania Mirza beat Russian Yaroslava Shvedova in straight sets to reach the second round of women's singles in Wimbledon tennis championship on Tuesday.
  
  The Indian needed less than an hour to trounce her rival 6-0, 6-3.
  
  Sania now faces a tough task in the second round where she is pitted against another Russian, 11th seed Nadia Petrova.
  
  Petrova thrashed unseeded American Vania King 6-0, 6-1 in her first round match.
  
  

• From: Nakeeran on Wed Jun 27 3:12:58 2007.

  Any possibility that Fed & Nadal may face before the final ?
  
  

• From: Sanjeevi on Wed Jun 27 3:17:20 2007.

  Nakeeran wrote:

  Any possibility that Fed & Nadal may face before the final ?

  
  
  I don't think so, Nadal won't reach final because he is like crocodile in the water (clay).
  
  

• From: aanaa on Wed Jun 27 9:12:08 2007.

  Nakeeran wrote:

  Any possibility that Fed & Nadal may face before the final ?

  
  Fed is on Top in first half #1
  http://www.wimbledon.org/en_GB/scores/draws/ms/r1s1.html
  Nadal is on botom in seconf half #2
  http://www.wimbledon.org/en_GB/scores/draws/ms/r1s4.html
  
  so no possibility except at final
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Thu Jun 28 14:01:04 2007.

  Sania crashes out of Wimbledon singles
  
  Sania Mirza crashed out of the singles competition at Wimbledon after being thrashed by Russia's Nadia Petrova in a second round match on Thursday.
  
  The 20-year-old Indian ace was outplayed by the 11th seeded Russian, losing 2-6, 2-6.
  
  Nothing went right for Sania after being broken in the second game of the match. Another break in the eighth game gave Petrova the first set in 28 minutes.
  
  Sania came back strongly at the start of the second set, extending the 25-year-old from Moscow in the first game, where she had two break-points but failed to convert them.
  
  But she could not sustain the early flourish and was broken for the third time in the match as Petrova went 2-0 up.
  
  Sania had another chance to break in the third game but frittered it away by committing an unforced error.
  
  Games then went with serve before the Russian effected another break in the eighth game to wrap the match in 64 minutes.
  
  The victory was revenge of sorts for Petrova, who was shocked by Sania two years back in a WTA Tour event in San Diego.
  
  Sania will partner Israel's Shahar Peer in the ladies doubles and Mahesh Bhupathi in the mixed doubles.
  
  

• From: ThalaNass on Fri Jun 29 8:52:19 2007.

  Sanjeevi wrote:

  Nakeeran wrote: Any possibility that Fed & Nadal may face before the final ? I don't think so, Nadal won't reach final because he is like crocodile in the water (clay).

  
  
  
  
  

• From: padmanabha on Wed Jul 4 8:46:05 2007.

  5 hour 5 set matches at wimbledon is not extraordinary or anywhere else, but now 4, 3, 2 set matches take that long to finish and some make it five day match like a cricket test!!!!
  
  

• From: Nakeeran on Thu Jul 5 0:05:37 2007.

  Maria Sharapova is out of wimbledon now.
  
  Sad. A real beauty is gone .
  
  Its left to Justin Henin & Venus W
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Jul 6 9:47:06 2007.

  http://www.espnstar.com/tennis/tennis_newsdetail_6344372.html
  
  

• From: Nakeeran on Sun Jul 8 6:54:32 2007.

  Its Fed Vs Nadal again today !
  
  If Fed can retain the Wimbledon, thats a phenomenal achievement .
  
  And if Nadal manages to win today, cheers to him for a remarkable achievement .
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Jul 8 11:31:07 2007.

  http://www.wimbledon.org/en_GB/scores/index.html
  
  

• From: Nerd on Sun Jul 8 12:22:59 2007.

  Two sets each
  
  

• From: Nakeeran on Sun Jul 8 12:34:20 2007.

  Its 2-1 in the final set.
  
  Nadal to serve now !
  
  Too tense !
  
  

• From: Nerd on Sun Jul 8 12:52:53 2007.

  one game to go for feddy
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Jul 8 13:00:19 2007.

  
  
  

• From: Nerd on Sun Jul 8 13:00:30 2007.

  And feddy winsssss!!!
  
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Jul 8 13:02:02 2007.

  Nadal
  
  

• From: aanaa on Sun Jul 8 13:02:46 2007.

  Federer won again
  CONGRATS!!!
  what a match!
  came back on game 5
  amazing game
  
  

• From: Nerd on Sun Jul 8 13:04:16 2007.

  This is what I hate in Feddy: Weeps like a dog
  
  Anyway Nadal was awesome today.. He was actually playing much much better than feddy but feddy pulled himself up in the final set
  
  Nadal's volleys were amazing today, given that he is a baseline player.
  
  

• From: rocketboy on Sun Jul 8 13:05:08 2007.

  Nadal is the real winner. We all know what happened to his leg. In spite of it he carried it to the fifth set. Congrats Nadal Singam Da Nee
  
  

• From: thilak4life on Sun Jul 8 13:06:02 2007.

  Congrats to (our)Feddy
  
  But still, Federer sucks
  
  

• From: Nerd on Sun Jul 8 13:08:47 2007.

  Did anyone notice: Nadal's gf looks much better than Feddy's
  
  Anyway the trophy looks like a caricature when its in feddy's hands.. Sampras pudicha summa sooper-A irukkum!
  
  

• From: Nakeeran on Sun Jul 8 13:13:31 2007.

  Incredible Champion >>>> Fed Express !
  
  Champion performer
  
  So , what next from you Fed ? !
  
  

• From: thilak4life on Sun Jul 8 13:15:10 2007.

  Nakeeran wrote:

  Champion performer

  
  
  Nakeeran saar, yenna DD commentary style-A?
  
  

• From: Nakeeran on Sun Jul 8 13:16:48 2007.

  thilak4life wrote:

  Nakeeran wrote: Champion performer Nakeeran saar, yenna DD commentary style-A?

  
  
  Namma Doordharshanla normallaa final over or final service varumbodhu connection pudungi vitruvaanga .
  
  Idhu NDTV style
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Jul 8 13:18:47 2007.

  With down 15-40 in 2 games of the final set federer came back 2 win the 5th set
  
  Federer's returns were
  
  Nadal's returns were
  
  

• From: kannannn on Sun Jul 8 13:19:07 2007.

  Nadal played better tennis without doubt. To adjust the game so soon after French Open for the grass and playing at the top of the game after such a tight schedule is no mean achievement. Granted the conditions was in his favour, but playing in spite of the injury is just amazing. He is indeed here to stay for a longgggg time. As Federer said at the awards ceremony: "I told Rafael at the nets that he deserved it as much today." I just have one grouse: Nadal, please serve better. The second serves were so slow that Federer had so much time to adjust his position before the ball came to him
  
  

• From: rocketboy on Sun Jul 8 13:21:47 2007.

  Its a shame that Nadal has to lose in such a manner. Had he been outplayed completely by Feddy I would have accepted . This is such a shame. Nadal's serve dropped due to that niggling pain in his knee. His serve was somewhere in the 130 mph range in the first set . But I am also happy . I got a clear indication of whats in store for the future.
  
  

• From: Nakeeran on Sun Jul 8 13:22:50 2007.

  This Federer - Nadal is actually between guys fm the same age group. Fed is more aged in tennis terms .
  
  If guys like Roddick can challenge Nadal , it will be better for tennis.
  
  Federer & Nadal now both having won their respective surfaces, it should be interesting to see how US open is being played. Hardcourt
  
  

• From: kannannn on Sun Jul 8 13:23:52 2007.

  rocketboy wrote:

  Its a shame that Nadal has to lose in such a manner. Had he been outplayed completely by Feddy I would have accepted . This is such a shame. Nadal's serve dropped due to that niggling pain in his knee. His serve was somewhere in the 130 mph range in the first set . But I am also happy . I got a clear indication of whats in store for the future.

  
  Actually, Nadal has never been as good as Federer in serves. From the very first set, his second serve speeds dropped to 85 mph. Infact, he has been practising his serves the last few days. Guess, he needs more practice. But what cross court shots
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Jul 8 13:29:30 2007.

  All praises to the almighty and then to the master
  I feel proud to be his fan and I am so happy for Roger Federer......
  

  thilak4life wrote:

  Congrats to (our)Feddy

  
  

• From: Sanjeevi on Sun Jul 8 13:36:04 2007.

  Wov what a match
  
  Feddy Nadal fans
  
  Nadal what a performance
  
  

• From: Sanjeevi on Sun Jul 8 13:49:09 2007.

  Nadal stormed through the fourth set despite treatment on a knee injury to extend Federer to five sets for the first time in his 13 grand slam finals
  
  Fedex's strength is terrific Service. Wov 22+ aces.
  Nadal strength is terrific shots except service.
  
  Sweet revenge by Feddy in reply to 2 consecutive defeat in French open 2006, 07.
  
  This year Nadal is toooo good, he has terrific victory percentage same as Federer. But still Federer is no.1 and this year's head to head count for Fedex vs Nadal is 2:1 (Total 8:5)
  
  Look at this wimbledon final sets
  
  Fedex : 7+4+7+2+6 = 26
  Nadal : 6+6+6+6+2 = 26
  
  Feder won
  
  Also look at below sets of 2006 Rome master tennis final
  
  Fedex : 7+6+4+6+6 = 31
  Nadal : 6+7+6+2+7 = 28
  
  But Nadal won
  
  hmm.........
  
  

• From: Murali Srinivas on Mon Jul 9 10:54:46 2007.

  Well it may look like anti climax my posting here after everybody had done it yesterday itself. Still I thought I would put in my comments.
  
  It goes without saying that the match was fantastic. It oscillated between Roger and Ralph. Till roger broke Ralph in the 6th game of the final set, it was cat on the wall. After successfully breaking Ralph, in the next game Roger closed out with 3 aces which tilted balance clearly.
  
  My heart bled for Nadal who put up such an excellent performance.
  
  While watching, my mind was travelling back to 1980. Yes the great match between Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe. As one would say irony, it had also the same elements
  
  1. It was also the finals of Wimbledon
  
  2. It also went for 5 sets.
  
  3. Bjorn was also playing for his 5th title in a row and McEnroe for his 1st.
  
  4. Borg won to claim his 5th title in a row like Roger.
  
  But history also records that in the next year (1981), both came to play back another epic in the finals which saw McEnroe crown as champion and which threw Borg out of reckoning for ever.
  
  Well Ralph can take heart out of this.
  
  Regards
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Mon Jul 9 11:29:24 2007.

  24 aces ....
  

  Sanjeevi wrote:

  Nadal stormed through the fourth set despite treatment on a knee injury to extend Federer to five sets for the first time in his 13 grand slam finals Fedex's strength is terrific Service. Wov 22+ aces. Nadal strength is terrific shots except service. Sweet revenge by Feddy in reply to 2 consecutive defeat in French open 2006, 07. This year Nadal is toooo good, he has terrific victory percentage same as Federer. But still Federer is no.1 and this year's head to head count for Fedex vs Nadal is 2:1 (Total 8:5) Look at this wimbledon final sets Fedex : 7+4+7+2+6 = 26 Nadal : 6+6+6+6+2 = 26 Feder won Also look at below sets of 2006 Rome master tennis final Fedex : 7+6+4+6+6 = 31 Nadal : 6+7+6+2+7 = 28 But Nadal won hmm.........

  
  

• From: rocketboy on Mon Jul 9 12:08:46 2007.

  So guys how will you rate this match? Will it find a place in your top 10?
  
  

• From: aanaa on Mon Jul 9 12:27:54 2007.

  Nadal missed to convert
  15 - 40 on 2 matches to win
  Federer came back from 15 - 40
  
  thats where Nadal looses
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Mon Jul 9 13:12:08 2007.

  Relax Nerd ... How many ever accolades come he is just a mortal
  

  Nerd wrote:

  This is what I hate in Feddy: Weeps like a dog

  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Tue Jul 10 12:05:53 2007.

  -dEl-
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Tue Jul 10 12:08:25 2007.

  Fedex
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Tue Jul 10 12:10:05 2007.

  Venus Williams - The Winner
  
  
  
  
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Wed Jul 11 23:01:27 2007.

  Ace
  
  http://youtube.com/watch?v=31xaDOaYTKw&mode=related&search=
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Wed Aug 8 5:38:57 2007.

  Sania stuns Hingis in Los Angeles
  
  India's Sania Mirza stunned former world number one and five-times Grand Slam winner Martina Hingis 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 to reach the third round of the Los Angeles Classic on Tuesday.
  
  
  
  Sania continued her fine summer hardcourt season and fought off two break points at 1-1 in the third set with two blazing forehand winners.
  
  She needed four match points to close out the match, but won it when Hingis missed a forehand.
  
  "She was all hungry out there and so am I, but she just seems fresher," Hingis told reporters.
  
  "She hits incredible angles with her forehand."
  
  After four straight weeks of play, Sania said she was tired but had learned how to push through the matches.
  
  "To beat one of the quickest players on the tour and to have to dig deep to do it, that feels great," she said.
  
  "It tells me that I can do it again."
  
  Sania will face the winner of the match between Israel's Shahar Peer and Virginie Razzano of France in the third round.
  
  Hingis, who has been suffering from a back injury, said she may have returned too fast and was considering pulling out of Toronto next week to recover and get more practice in for the US Open.
  
  Wimbledon finalist and number six Marion Bartoli and Russian Dinara Safina also made early exits, although three seeds did survive.
  
  Defending champion and number nine seed Elena Dementieva took a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Ekaterina Makarova of Russia in the first round.
  
  Tenth-seed Shahar Peer of Israel also won her first round contest when she defeated Dominika Cibulkova of the Slovakia 6-2, 6-3 and 15th seed Katerina Serbotnik of Slovenia beat American Bethanie Mattek 6-4, 7-5.
  
  Bartoli lost 7-6, 6-3 to Russian Maria Kirilenko and Safina went out to Ukrainian Kateryna Bondarenko 6-2, 7-5.
  
  After suffering her third early exit in as many weeks, Bartoli said she was having problems with her confidence.
  
  "When you win a lot of matches and you are used to playing the big points, then you are confident," Bartoli said.
  
  "When you don't play the big points, you think a little too much."
  
  After rediscovering her form in recent weeks, Russian Kirilenko said she has no problems with her confidence.
  
  "I did a good job in the end," she said. "I attacked and played the big points with confidence. This week I feel perfect."
  
  Top seed Maria Sharapova will make her debut on Wednesday against Greece's Eleni Daniilidou, a 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 winner over France's Arevane Rezai.
  
  Second seed Jelena Jankovic of Serbia will face China's Shuai Peng, who defeated Yaroslava Shvedova of Russia 6-3, 6-4.
  
  Third seed Ana Ivanovic of Serbia will play her first match since Wimbledon, against American Ashley Harkleroad.
  
  

• From: rajeshkrv on Sun Aug 12 20:01:25 2007.

  Djokovic Beats Federer to Win Rogers Cup
  
  
  this young guy showed immense strength tobeat the world champion
  
  henever gave up any point in the game
  
  he broke federer from 40 -0 in the last game of the first set to take it to a tie breaker and win the first set
  
  His serves were good, return,volley defence shots all were perfect!!
  
  He not only beat federer, but beat Nadal in semis, Roddick in quarters and nalbandian in the 3'rd round.
  
  He is definitely a star performer and has the talent to win major titles
  
  http://www.newsvine.com/_news/2007/08/12/892756-djokovic-beats-federer-to-win-rogers-cup
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Sat Sep 8 23:34:51 2007.

  Henin crushes Kuznetsova to win US Open
  
  http://ia.rediff.com/sports/2007/sep/09henin.htm
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Sat Sep 8 23:35:38 2007.

  Federer to face Djokovic in final
  
  http://ia.rediff.com/sports/2007/sep/09fed.htm
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Jan 13 22:25:31 2008.

  Australian Open starts
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Thu Jan 17 13:46:28 2008.

  Safin ousted in second round by Marcos bagdatis
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Thu Jan 24 12:40:40 2008.

  Nadal loses to unseeded Frenchman in straight sets
  
  6-2 6-3 6-2
  
  http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/news/match_reports/2008-01-24/200801241201173660328.html
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Mon Jan 28 1:30:09 2008.

  Very intersting final it was! Tsonga was just brilliant In future he should not disappoint like Bagdatis who was very impressive in 2005.Djokovic was bit nervous after losing the first set, but great fight back by the young Serbian
  
  

• From: Sanjeevi on Mon Jan 28 2:38:42 2008.

  Djokovic and his drop shots
  
  Tsonga is new hero
  
  

• From: rocketboy on Mon Jan 28 11:28:57 2008.

  I didn't watch the final. But from the glimpses I have had so far I can say Tsonga is another Scud . He has a similar physique and serves in a similar fashion. I expected him to win . Nevertheless I am happy with the result .
  
  

• From: thilak4life on Sat May 24 11:03:17 2008.

  French open:
  
  I'd pick Djokovic as the dark horse as he's not rated much in clay, and of course Nadal will be everyone's favorite. Fed and Djokovic struggled to come up to nets with such persistent winners from Nadal in Hamburg. That said, I hope Djokovic gets the consistency, and the timing right at Roland garros. And, I hate Nadal taking time between every point, and I suspect he fakes to be injured at times. If he gets out of that mode, I'd like him more.
  
  

• From: thilak4life on Sun May 25 12:33:01 2008.

  Shaky start, Djokovic needs to get in touch.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun May 25 13:14:43 2008.

  All the best Roger
  
  

• From: CEDYBLUE on Mon May 26 1:02:57 2008.

  thilak4life wrote:

  French open: I'd pick Djokovic as the dark horse as he's not rated much in clay, and of course Nadal will be everyone's favorite. Fed and Djokovic struggled to come up to nets with such persistent winners from Nadal in Hamburg. That said, I hope Djokovic gets the consistency, and the timing right at Roland garros. And, I hate Nadal taking time between every point, and I suspect he fakes to be injured at times. If he gets out of that mode, I'd like him more.

  
  
  would love to see the Serb win at Roland Garros..... and agree he can surprise many here! But Nadal is too stong and Fed is the closest to Nadal on clay!! Djokovic can cause a few surprises thats for sure
  
  

• From: thilak4life on Wed May 28 8:09:30 2008.

  The disappointment again, Gasquet pulls out. when will we ever see him play at his best? (not that he's good in clay)
  
  

• From: HBK on Wed May 28 23:58:33 2008.

  Maria lost a set.. But she won
  
  pick of 2nd round: Safin vs Davydenko - All depends on Safin's attitude and performance. If he's on form, then nobody is better than him in the world (ay even better than Roger), if he bottles it, then he is the worst player in the world..
  
  

• From: thilak4life on Thu May 29 2:08:58 2008.

  HBK wrote:

  Maria lost a set.. But she won pick of 2nd round: Safin vs Davydenko - All depends on Safin's attitude and performance. If he's on form, then nobody is better than him in the world (ay even better than Roger), if he bottles it, then he is the worst player in the world..

  
  
  Exactly, no greater talent has been wasted as much before!
  
  

• From: wrap07 on Thu May 29 2:46:13 2008.

  I remember a match where he made pete look stunned (for once). He was expected to rule Tennis for some time. A complete player with full range of strokes but wavering mind/casual attitude ensured that he has not realised his true potential.
  
  

• From: sriranga on Thu May 29 2:55:26 2008.

  I don't think he is mentally tough, the other one i can think of is scud. promised much and delivered little.
  
  In woman's tennis , i never thought justin henin could win so many titles. i think she is mentally very tough.
  
  

• From: wrap07 on Thu May 29 3:15:10 2008.

  i also miss the beauty of stefan in todays game. no raw power but beautiful game.(i can see only videos)
  
  yes. choking is natural in womens tennis and henin is in steffi mould. tough player to beat.
  
  

• From: Raikkonen on Thu May 29 3:20:04 2008.

  HBK wrote:

  Maria lost a set.. But she won pick of 2nd round: Safin vs Davydenko - All depends on Safin's attitude and performance. If he's on form, then nobody is better than him in the world (ay even better than Roger), if he bottles it, then he is the worst player in the world..

  
  
  True..
  Safin is my fav tennis player of all time. Tremendous technical abilities. Look no further than 2005 australian semi final vs Federer for a proof. Its a real shame that this dude is injury proned and mentally not tough. On his day he can beat ANYONE.. but he loses so frequently nowadays. He is not even the best player in his freakin house... His sister ranks higher than him in Rankings..
  
  

• From: Raikkonen on Thu May 29 3:22:34 2008.

  wrap07 wrote:

  I remember a match where he made pete look stunned (for once). He was expected to rule Tennis for some time. A complete player with full range of strokes but wavering mind/casual attitude ensured that he has not realised his true potential.

  
  
  US Open 2000?
  
  i remember US press were creaming for him as the new Pete... that was 8 years ago, and he only 2 grand slams to show.. what a sheer waste of talent..
  
  

• From: wrap07 on Thu May 29 3:59:10 2008.

  Raikkonen wrote:

  wrap07 wrote: I remember a match where he made pete look stunned (for once). He was expected to rule Tennis for some time. A complete player with full range of strokes but wavering mind/casual attitude ensured that he has not realised his true potential. US Open 2000? i remember US press were creaming for him as the new Pete... that was 8 years ago, and he only 2 grand slams to show.. what a sheer waste of talent..

  
  
  yeah. it was US open 2000. Even pete was in awe of safin.
  if he had maintained that level of play, he could have gone places.
  you are quite right about the waste of talent. quite a loss for tennis
  
  

• From: thilak4life on Thu May 29 4:17:06 2008.

  He had a great deal of injuries, and that didn't help much...
  
  

• From: Sanjeevi on Thu May 29 5:07:11 2008.

  This is worst of year for Roger Federer after he reached to No.1 place. Hope he will triumph Frenche open
  
  

• From: thilak4life on Thu May 29 16:02:54 2008.

  Safin out in straight sets (as expected), he looked dangerous, and played few amazing winners. But no consistency, and temperamental.
  
  

• From: Raikkonen on Fri May 30 3:36:56 2008.

  thilak4life wrote:

  Safin out in straight sets (as expected), he looked dangerous, and played few amazing winners. But no consistency, and temperamental.

  
  
  Same old Marat.. like you said, he showed flashes of brilliance in third set (jumping volley), but too late.
  
  But what impressed me is that the crowd got behind him from the word 'go'. They were chanting his name when he was 3-0 in third set and actually booing line calls which went in favor of Davydenko. Safin provided all the entertainment, but Davydenko just played it to perfection.
  
  Ah, well Wimbledon here i come..
  
  

• From: wrap07 on Fri May 30 3:49:25 2008.

  His ground strokes continue to be great and serves good. But, he looks rusty and unforced errors poured. He had his chances for breaks but did not capitalise. yes, the consistent play was not there.
  
  

• From: wrap07 on Sat May 31 6:52:27 2008.

  Nadal had blisters in his right foot during the match. nadal has played for four consecutive days courtesy rain. I think he is drawn to play djokovich in the semis. It will be quite a contest. Fed has luck on his side in the draw and if he maintains the form he has played, he may break the jinx.
  
  

• From: wrap07 on Mon Jun 2 2:34:55 2008.

  nadal & djokovich through in straight sets. It sets up for a grand semi final possibly.
  
  

• From: thilak4life on Mon Jun 2 4:26:46 2008.

  Could the Scintillating Serb beat Mr.Clay court Invincible? Shudder..
  
  

• From: wrap07 on Tue Jun 3 12:18:25 2008.

  nadal steamrolled a poor guy in the quarter finals and looks in prime form.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Tue Jun 3 12:19:17 2008.

  Yeah 3 sets of 6-1
  
  

• From: omega on Tue Jun 3 23:20:09 2008.

  I am looking forward to tommorrow's QF between Feddy & Gonzu...
  Fed is on top of his game (so far) & Gonzu has beaten him in the year end Masters last year & looking good in this tournament. Should be a cracker (unless Fed decides otherwise)...
  
  Yes, the semis between Novak & Nadal should be the much awaited clash yet again, after Novak's withdrawal against the same opponent in Hamburg final (I guess??).
  
  

• From: wrap07 on Wed Jun 4 10:47:21 2008.

  Nadal beat Fed in hamburg final. Novak was beaten by Nadal in the semifinals in three sets.
  
  

• From: Sanjeevi on Wed Jun 4 23:14:16 2008.

  Feedy in Semin Final and he defeated Conzu 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 6-
  
  

• From: thilak4life on Thu Jun 5 15:39:25 2008.

  Monfils to win at Roland Garros, would be exciting indeed. But I don't see any of 'em (Djokovic, Fed, and Monfils) stopping Nadal. If it happens, then it's something of a miracle!
  
  

• From: omega on Fri Jun 6 8:16:00 2008.

  thilak4life wrote:

  Monfils to win at Roland Garros, would be exciting indeed. But I don't see any of 'em (Djokovic, Fed, and Monfils) stopping Nadal. If it happens, then it's something of a miracle!

  
  
  Feddy's best chance is this year, I would think. He seems to be in the zone, as he did in the past couple of years....Lets see how he does.
  
  True, it would be a miracle to beat Rafa in his backyard though
  
  

• From: wrap07 on Fri Jun 6 10:56:12 2008.

  nadal was in his usual best in the semis. Novak tried his best but nadal's top spin groundstrokes with baseline slogging proved too much. There was a semblance of fight in the third set but in Tie-breaker nadal played just perfect.
  
  With the way Fed is hitting his groundstrokes also, final may be a cracker.
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Fri Jun 6 12:24:04 2008.

  FEDEX leads G.MONFILS 6-2, 5-7, 5-1
  
  FEDEX almost reaches hat-trick FRENCH OPEN FINAL.
  
  Now the biggest million dollar question is,
  Can FEDEX able to break his jinx with NADAL and FRENCH CLAY?
  
  

• From: thilak4life on Fri Jun 6 14:15:23 2008.

  monfils played well, he has a great future ahead if he could maintain the same physical condition, and hits consistency. Another Nadal-fed matchup. As I said before, it'd take a miracle to overcome Nadal. Federer is capable.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Jun 6 16:39:07 2008.

  YEAR 2018
  
  Spanish world number one Rafael Nadal has pulled out of this year's French Open to provide an opportunity to his great friend Roger Federer to finally complete his carrier GrandSlam and also become the second highest Grand Slam winner in the history of Tennis. Rafa who himself completed this Slam in the year 2009 obviously disappoints his fans who were looking forward to him winning 14 French open titles in a row.
  
  Nadal's withdrawal was announced by tournament officials just half an hour before he was due to face India's Ajay Deshmukh in his first singles match.
  
  Nadal's place will be taken by world number 138 kevin anderson who is coming back from an injury.
  
  This is a great opportunity to 37 year old Roger to finally achieve what he has been trying to for such a long time and win his 15th Grandslam after winning 2011 Wimbledon.
  
  " Its obviously such a big relief not to see his name in the French Open draw and I hope after being unlucky in 10 finals here, this time I can make it. I am feeling good about my game and mono is almost gone but ya, there are other talented guys out there especially the likes of Djokovic & Gasquet so I will have to be on top of my game. I would like to thank Rafa for this lovely gesture and I hope I dont disappoint him". Federer said.
  
  " Sorry fans, but I guess it was about time I did this.. No ? for perhaps the greatest player in the history of tennis.. No? and a great human being... No? I can wait for Grand Slam no. 30, if not French, I will try to do it at Wimbledon..No??" Rafa Said.
  
  
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Jun 6 16:40:07 2008.

  Fed's reply
  
  
  
  " Its obviously such a big relief you know not to see his name in the French Open draw and I hope after being unlucky in 10 finals here, this time I can make it you know. I am feeling good about my game you know and mono is almost gone you know but ya, there are other talented guys out there especially the likes of Djokovic & Gasquet so I will have to be on top of my game you know. I would like to thank Rafa for this lovely gesture and I hope I dont disappoint him you know". Federer said.
  
  
  
  
  
  

• From: wrap07 on Sat Jun 7 1:03:44 2008.

  
  
  

• From: Sanjeevi on Sat Jun 7 2:20:03 2008.

  It seems Federer improved a lot in clay court. I hope and want that he will triumph over Nadal. This is best chance to Fedex. If he miss to achieve he may miss French Open title ever.
  
  In semifinal matches, Nadal was terrifc and Federer too
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Sat Jun 7 3:56:57 2008.

  So it is going to be Nadal Vs Federer again!
  
  Lets see whether Feddy can beat Nadal this time.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sat Jun 7 15:48:24 2008.

  Wrap, Just observe the number of "you know's" in Federer's reply.
  
  Great creativity by a fan from orkut
  

  wrap07 wrote:

  
  

• From: wrap07 on Sun Jun 8 2:11:53 2008.

  ajithfederer wrote:

  Wrap, Just observe the number of "you know's" in Federer's reply. Great creativity by a fan from orkut wrap07 wrote:

  
  
  yeah. brilliant
  
  

• From: thilak4life on Sun Jun 8 2:16:21 2008.

  Nadal will win, from my brain. Fed should win, says heart.
  
  

• From: Ramakrishna on Sun Jun 8 4:38:34 2008.

  at what time the match starts?
  
  

• From: wrap07 on Sun Jun 8 5:06:48 2008.

  6.30 pm Indian time
  
  

• From: omega on Sun Jun 8 7:48:08 2008.

  I want Federrer to win & strongly feel that he will. He would have to work hard to get it though. Good luck Feddy...
  
  

• From: omega on Sun Jun 8 9:50:07 2008.

  Nadal takes the first set 6-1, breaking Federer on 3 occasions.
  Feddy's shoulder is already dropping. Hope be bounces back.
  
  

• From: omega on Sun Jun 8 10:39:39 2008.

  Nadal takes second set 6-3. It will take a miracle for Federer to pull it off now.
  
  

• From: thilak4life on Sun Jun 8 10:54:25 2008.

  Nadal demolishes Federer on clay, time and again. Both are even on hard court IMO, but head to heads must be in favor of Fed. Returned back on grass surfaces by Federer. So, their respective fans have something to cheer for either. That said, Federer needs this to cement being called the greatest player ever.
  
  

• From: thilak4life on Sun Jun 8 10:56:41 2008.

  Will Fed ever win the French open? Next year, we will see an even better Djokovic, and then there are other young talents coming through. Unfortunate that he missed it three times in a row, to a same player. Nadal is simply unbelievable, and unstoppable in clay.
  
  

• From: Ramakrishna on Sun Jun 8 11:06:21 2008.

  
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Jun 8 11:07:17 2008.

  Nadal wins French open
  
  

• From: srimal on Sun Jun 8 11:10:16 2008.

  
  
  such a tame loss... fedex should have put in more of a fight...
  
  

• From: wrap07 on Sun Jun 8 11:14:17 2008.

  Nadal wins french open for the fourth time in a row.
  
  
  Nadal receives the trophy legend and all time great Borg.
  
  

• From: wrap07 on Sun Jun 8 11:16:32 2008.

  one feels really sorry for fed. he gave his best shot. But, Nadal is simply unbeatable on clay atleast as of now.
  
  

• From: wrap07 on Sun Jun 8 11:18:23 2008.

  & the great thing to see is the mutual respect these two have for each other. it is nice to see that.
  
  

• From: MADDY on Sun Jun 8 22:22:39 2008.

  wrap07 wrote:

  one feels really sorry for fed. he gave his best shot

  
  
  he made lots of unforced errors, infact i felt, he gave it easily to nadal.....but even if he had played his best - i dont know if he wud survived nadal onslaught
  
  

• From: Sanjeevi on Sun Jun 8 23:49:16 2008.

  Nadal
  
  Federer
  
  Nadal played safe tennis. Federer tried risk movements where he failed miserably.
  
  

• From: wrap07 on Mon Jun 9 2:34:44 2008.

  MADDY wrote:

  wrap07 wrote: one feels really sorry for fed. he gave his best shot he made lots of unforced errors, infact i felt, he gave it easily to nadal.....but even if he had played his best - i dont know if he wud survived nadal onslaught

  
  
  yes. I had fed's pre match talk in mind when he said that he is ready with his plan for the final. However, the main problem for fed was he could win only bare minimum points with his second serve which cost him dearly. yes. he was making lot of unforced errors.
  
  However, it goes to Nadal' credit that he has the complete game for clay court and he is also improving and his backhand which was supposed to be his weak link was devastating on few occasions.
  
  Fed is used to playing aggressively and he could not slog it out with the topspin strokes of nadal. I think fed was mentally down and out by 4/3 in the second set when he was playing better than first set and he gave up completely. He could have made a match of it but as u said, it would not have made any difference to the result. Even Nadal was surpised by his easy win.
  
  

• From: wrap07 on Mon Jun 9 4:42:29 2008.

  I also think for Nadal to achieve greatness in overall prespective, he should try to do what incomparable Borg did winning both French (6) and Wimbeldon titles(5). Borg is the only player to have mastered both the slow clay as also the grassy fast wimbeldon. Agassi did it once also though it was in different years.
  
  Nadal should not become what sergi, kuerten became winning only in clay. But Nadal has also won lot of Master series tournaments on fast courts also. The impressive thing about Nadal is he is improving his game all the time and that will help him to do better in other surfaces also.
  
  Fed is in the illustrious company of Mcenroe, Pete to have won everything except ofcourse French though Fed has some years left to achieve that.
  
  

• From: aanaa on Mon Jun 9 8:44:50 2008.

  poor FEDERER lost again in 3 sets
  better luck next time
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Thu Jun 19 13:15:32 2008.

  Wimbly started already
  
  

• From: thilak4life on Thu Jun 19 13:19:01 2008.

  Anyone saw stella artois chamionship? Poor Djokovic.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Thu Jun 19 13:19:29 2008.

  What happened ??
  

  thilak4life wrote:

  Anyone saw stella artois chamionship? Poor Djokovic.

  
  

• From: thilak4life on Thu Jun 19 13:34:11 2008.

  Showed poor mental strength, and conviction in losing that match to Nadal (Again). He threw set points, when he could have been more agressive, and should have got the job done. His body language reminds (dangerously) of Safin, that's a bad sign.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Thu Jun 19 13:40:38 2008.

  Thilak
  
  http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/7462963.stm
  
  
  Federer still the best - Sampras
  Roger Federer and Pete Sampras
  Federer (left) is Sampras's tip to win Wimbledon again this year
  
  Pete Sampras has dismissed suggestions that Roger Federer's four-year dominance of tennis is on the wane.
  
  Seven-times Wimbledon winner Sampras believes Federer remains the man to beat despite the Swiss having won just two minor titles in 2008.
  
  And Sampras has backed Federer to win his sixth consecutive Wimbledon title.
  
  "He's still the guy most likely to win the majors. He's lost a couple but if anything that'll do him some good, it'll get him fired up," said Sampras.
  
  "As great as Roger is he's going to have his losses and his bad days, it's just human nature to go through some lulls.
  
  
  As much as I'm a full-blooded American and I love the US Open, there's just a certain romance that I've always had with Wimbledon
  
  Pete Sampras
  "The media need a story and something to grab on to, like he's lost his edge. He hasn't lost his edge.
  
  "If he goes through the next few months and he's losing a lot and he doesn't contend for tournaments then maybe, but I don't see that happening."
  
  Federer was thrashed by world number two Rafael Nadal in the French Open final earlier this month, winning just four games.
  
  And Novak Djokovic, who beat Federer in the semi-finals of the Australian Open in January on his way to the title, says the Swiss is vulnerable.
  
  He said: "Federer is still the number one in the world, but suddenly he feels a little bit shaken up because of a couple of losses.
  
  "It's normal to have ups and downs after four years of absolute dominance.
  
  "New names are coming, talented players who believe they can beat him and I am one of them. Suddenly he is a little bit worried."
  
  
  606: DEBATE
  Do you think Federer is the man most likely to win Wimbledon?
  Sampras, though, remains convinced that he will lose his record of 14 career Grand Slam titles to Federer.
  
  And the American former world number one says he wants to be present when it happens - ideally at Wimbledon, a place he has not returned to since he retired.
  
  Sampras will make his first return to London since Wimbledon 2002 when he plays in the BlackRock Masters Tennis at the Royal Albert Hall in December.
  
  "If I were to step back on that court at Wimbledon it would bring up a lot of emotion, just because of what the place meant to me and how big it was to the sport of tennis," said the American, who makes his debut on the BlackRock Tour of Champions in Sao Paulo on Thursday.
  
  "As much as I'm a full-blooded American and I love the US Open, there's just a certain romance that I've always had with Wimbledon.
  
  "I didn't always express it with words but I think internally I just felt a great connection with the place, the court and the arena.
  
  "I felt like that was what tennis was all about for me and I look forward to going back and enjoying that experience."
  
  

• From: sriranga on Fri Jun 20 5:21:06 2008.

  The scars of the french open defeat will be difficult to erase easily for Roger. Though he is such a wonderful allround player, the best player since i started watching tennis (my fauvorite player will always be boom boom boris) , he is surely running low on confidence at the moment. I think Nadal will win wimbledon inspite of grass being his least preferred surface.
  
  

• From: Nerd on Fri Jun 20 14:25:52 2008.

  http://www.rediff.com/sports/2008/jun/20paes.htm
  A splendid start to their second innings
  
  

• From: wrap07 on Sat Jun 21 10:42:29 2008.

  wimbeldon draw. fed drawn to play novak in semis and nadal in finals if things go normaly without any major upset.
  
  

• From: wrap07 on Wed Jun 25 2:46:33 2008.

  fed & nadal have started the wimbeldon well.
  
  

• From: sriranga on Wed Jun 25 11:20:42 2008.

  Safin defeats Djokovic
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Wed Jun 25 11:25:14 2008.

  Wow.Raikkonen (hubber) will be the most happy guy here to hear this
  
  

• From: sriranga on Wed Jun 25 11:39:37 2008.

  shabba...
  
  Ana Ivanovic defeats Dechy 6-7 7-6 10-8
  
  

• From: wrap07 on Wed Jun 25 11:52:01 2008.

  Safin played superbly today with strong all court game to defeat novak. If he decides play like this often , it will be a real treat.
  
  

• From: omega on Mon Jun 30 18:49:16 2008.

  Safin in quarters!!!
  Would love to see him take Federrer in Semis.
  
  I think Nadal vs Murray should also be a very good match.
  Nadal definitely seems to be cruising. The ever slowing british lawn is suiting him to T.
  
  

• From: wrap07 on Tue Jul 1 6:32:02 2008.

  yeah. safin vs feddy should be real treat if safin is in normal self.
  Nadal though bit affected by thigh injury was scary yesterday again youzhny.
  
  

• From: Sanjeevi on Wed Jul 2 13:07:57 2008.

  Federer defeated Ancic who was the last player defeated federer at Grass in 2002 wimbledon and yes Federer reached semifinal
  
  

• From: Sanjeevi on Wed Jul 2 14:00:37 2008.

  In a semi final current No.1 vs former No. 1
  
  I mean
  
  Federer vs Safin
  
  

• From: omega on Wed Jul 2 17:38:26 2008.

  Safin vs Federrer - Semifinals
  I am expecting an exciting contest.
  Hope Safin can keep his cool.
  It would be difficult for Safin to pull off but I am sure Federrer would have started feeling some butterflies already!!
  
  Nadal seems unstoppable on the other bracket.
  Somehow I feel this may be his turn.
  
  

• From: Sanjeevi on Wed Jul 2 23:02:17 2008.

  looks like another federer vs nadal match in final.
  
  

• From: CEDYBLUE on Thu Jul 3 4:03:17 2008.

  looks like fed vs nadal all over again! i was expecting ancic to put in a bit more fight..but nevertheless he looks definatly a player for the future!
  
  

• From: wrap07 on Thu Jul 3 5:22:37 2008.

  fed was quite dominating yesterday and looks in full flow.
  Nadal was also in prime form though contrast in style. His groundstrokes esp forehand was lethal and murray would have felt like running 10 miles.
  
  Fed/nadal in final with both in form will be great.
  
  
  

• From: thilak4life on Thu Jul 3 7:41:55 2008.

  Speaking of French open, Fed looked stunning in clay until the finals came. Same would be poetic justice if it happens other way around in grass and Wimbledon.
  
  Oh, I'm a Safin fan as well. Would love to see him win this, though I don't realistically expect the same to happen.
  
  

• From: Sanjeevi on Thu Jul 3 7:56:23 2008.

  thilak4life wrote:

  Speaking of French open, Fed looked stunning in clay until the finals came. Same would be poetic justice if it happens other way around in grass and Wimbledon. Oh, I'm a Safin fan as well. Would love to see him win this, though I don't realistically expect the same to happen.

  
  
  he is damn cool yesterday after his victory
  
  

• From: HBK on Thu Jul 3 23:55:14 2008.

  OH MY LORD
  
  I CANT BELIEVE IT.. Safin in the Semis..
  As a fan i'm delighted that he's atleast showing some confidence and fire. But to be honest unless some miracle happens, i suppose this could be his best performance in Wimbledon.
  
  I cant wait for the match.. Federer will be usual. But Safin is going to provide all the entertainment. I just realize it now, he seems to be crowd fav everywhere he goes.. Cool
  
  

• From: MADDY on Fri Jul 4 8:14:43 2008.

  Federer streamrolling Safin, 1 break up in second game itself
  
  nobody in this generation belive they can defeat feds.....they lose the game before even the match starts....except for nadal and djokovic............
  
  

• From: sriranga on Fri Jul 4 12:46:12 2008.

  Mouth-watering final on Sunday.
  
  

• From: Sanjeevi on Fri Jul 4 12:59:42 2008.

  yet another Federer vs Nadal match at Wimbledon. Pori parakkuma illai FO final maathiri pussvanam aguma
  
  

• From: sriranga on Fri Jul 4 13:17:58 2008.

  Sanjeevi wrote:

  yet another Federer vs Nadal match at Wimbledon. Pori parakkuma illai FO final maathiri pussvanam aguma

  
  No way.
  
  Its going to be thrilling 5 setter.
  
  

• From: CEDYBLUE on Sat Jul 5 2:34:01 2008.

  i would love to see a close contest....a five setter preferably and with Nadal showing signs of definite improvement from last year.....even an upset is on the cards! Watch out Roger!
  
  

• From: wrap07 on Sat Jul 5 4:41:52 2008.

  yeah. a close contest would be fitting.
  
  

• From: MADDY on Sun Jul 6 11:18:53 2008.

  federer 2 sets down in wimbledon finals ....Nadal on target to seize grass supremacy from Federer.........
  
  

• From: Vivasaayi on Sun Jul 6 11:21:46 2008.

  CEDYBLUE wrote:

  i would love to see a close contest....a five setter preferably and with Nadal showing signs of definite improvement from last year.....even an upset is on the cards! Watch out Roger!

  
  
  
  
  

• From: MADDY on Sun Jul 6 11:44:43 2008.

  one of the best matches ever in centre court - equalling becker-edberg, mcnore-connors, sampras-aggasi duels
  
  Nadal has saved 11 break points so far - mostly from 15/40s .........Federer is such a rythm player - he wins in a stream, loses in a stream as well..........
  
  Federer just saves a game from 0/40 - this is getting better
  
  

• From: MADDY on Sun Jul 6 11:54:09 2008.

  what a shame - shame on London weather
  
  play suspended to rain.......
  
  Vijay amritraj - "Federer has a inferiority complex over Nadal"
  
  

• From: sriranga on Sun Jul 6 12:05:50 2008.

  MADDY wrote:

  what a shame - shame on London weather play suspended to rain....... Vijay amritraj - "Federer has a inferiority complex over Nadal"

  
  
  some of the passing shots of nadal are simply out of the world, federer has no clue.
  
  

• From: Nerd on Sun Jul 6 12:30:08 2008.

  Just watched the highlights so far.. Stunning display by Nadal and the third set has been amaaaazing
  
  

• From: Nerd on Sun Jul 6 14:33:25 2008.

  Federer Have to give it to this guy.. Sheer dedication and perseverance. After a long time I am watching a mind boggling tennis match. 5th set now
  
  

• From: Sanjeevi on Sun Jul 6 15:08:43 2008.

  Federer and Nadal
  
  wov wov what a match
  
  
  who will win?????
  
  

• From: Nerd on Sun Jul 6 16:20:09 2008.

  Nadal wins it finally, but what a match!!!!!!!!!!!!
  
  

• From: Sid_316 on Sun Jul 6 16:30:46 2008.

  awesome match! both played really good! Well done nadal
  
  

• From: Sanjeevi on Sun Jul 6 16:48:34 2008.

  Yeah Nadal won
  
  Federer again
  
  

• From: omega on Sun Jul 6 17:31:32 2008.

  A classic Final.
  Kudos to both the players.
  
  Seems like it is going to be an uphill task for Federrer to get past Pete's tally.
  
  

• From: MADDY on Sun Jul 6 21:44:20 2008.

  omega wrote:

  Seems like it is going to be an uphill task for Federrer to get past Pete's tally.

  
  
  Nadal/Djovokic can only stop Federer from reaching Pete's tally ......
  
  my main grouse was that feds was getting it more easily than he should have........now, that he has worthy contendors - i'll have no qualms if he goes past pete one day
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Mon Jul 7 0:21:31 2008.

  This finals will be remembered for ever. What a match!
  
  
  Nadal and Federer
  
  

• From: Kalyasi on Mon Jul 7 1:30:04 2008.

  Sanguine Sridhar wrote:

  This finals will be remembered for ever. What a match! Nadal and Federer

  
  
  
  
  

• From: sriranga on Mon Jul 7 2:19:41 2008.

  sriranga wrote:

  Sanjeevi wrote: yet another Federer vs Nadal match at Wimbledon. Pori parakkuma illai FO final maathiri pussvanam aguma No way. Its going to be thrilling 5 setter.

  
  
  yeah!!!
  
  Nadal best player of the tournament deserved to win it. He is just 22. . World number 1 is not far for this kid.
  
  Federer , though a touch below his best ( he wud've won it had he been at his best)
  
  Maddy,
  I thought pete sampras had it easy too with a few ocassional challenges from agassis and ivanisevics.
  IMO, Federer is a better allround player than Pete.
  Roger's career will be complete if he wins a french open. With Nadal there, i don't think its gonna happen so easily.
  
  

• From: thilak4life on Mon Jul 7 2:29:23 2008.

  As few people would know, I have always been a bit apprehensive about Federer being the best tennis player ever. I'd say he is, never has great champions of the past, been tested to the limits. Two of the greatest players in the Era, Federer, and Nadal are here to stay. And I can only warm my hands in glee.
  
  That said, Federer was not at his best. Where were the backhand winners that went missing this year? If not for the aces, the second serve could have been tested more. The mental strength was stretched, and Nadal never really gives up, does he? Nadal's pass will go down as the most lethal, better than the great Borg, and much better than Agassi's, this relies on channeling over the tight angles than just relying on power. Pete's style of play will be outdated this era. Just Imagine Nadal's passing shots, I can only see that destroying Pete to all ends (as would Henman, Rafter, and other s&v specials). The modern Pete, ala Roddick with powerful shots, and unbelievable serve has been found out. This my friends, is the greatest era of Tennis history. No more orthodox style. You need to mix it up. Thus, you need all court players like Fed, Djoko, etc to be at their best, and we have tactical baseliners who can also play s&v (which Rafa did with his wide spin serve, and volley). We are seeing tennis of very high quality. Let's savor the moments.
  
  

• From: thilak4life on Mon Jul 7 2:32:21 2008.

  Not here, but certainly few tennis fans bash Rafa for his style. I wonder why. Rafa's forehand topspin, and backhand pass, combined with incredible anticipation, and unrelenting commitment, top quality physical condition. What a player!
  
  

• From: MADDY on Mon Jul 7 4:01:51 2008.

  thilak4life wrote:

  Pete's style of play will be outdated this era. Just Imagine Nadal's passing shots, I can only see that destroying Pete to all ends (as would Henman, Rafter, and other s&v specials). The modern Pete, ala Roddick with powerful shots, and unbelievable serve has been found out.

  
  
  ofcourse, times change and styles change........Pete was the best player of 90's........coming to ur arguement of hm passing pete --- he wudnt have let Nadal touch his serves in first place - MIND IT .......PEte Sampras-daa - rod'dick' illa .....
  
  (da was not meant for u, its just a attachment with that punch liner )
  
  

  Quote:

  This my friends, is the greatest era of Tennis history. No more orthodox style

  
  
  wowowowo wait - 90s' started with greying Edberg and Becker.......then came the raw force of Jim courier for a couple of years until Agassi and Sampras tamed it........then it was sampras/ivanisevic/agassi show on grass with clay dominated by Kafelnikov, Sergi Bruguera (awesomest clay player i have seen), Thomas muster (41 wins in a trot on clay at one time), gustavo kuerten.....to round it up - delicate Rafter, dangerous Philiphousis, talented marcelo rios, huge Krajicek etc etc...hey this era might be technically better, but they were no way near to the flair and attitude of the 90's ......90's is the best - no maatru karuthu as far as i'm concerned
  
  btw, y do i see a sudden spurt in nadal's support in HUB??
  
  

• From: MADDY on Mon Jul 7 4:05:18 2008.

  sriranga wrote:

  Maddy, I thought pete sampras had it easy too with a few ocassional challenges from agassis and ivanisevics. IMO, Federer is a better allround player than Pete. Roger's career will be complete if he wins a french open. With Nadal there, i don't think its gonna happen so easily.

  
  
  sri, just compare the pool of names i have given in my previous post who played in 90's with the list of players roger played against in 2000-2006 until djokovic came in.........i dont deny Roger is a better player than pete - but i still believe he is the best big match player of all times......
  
  

• From: thilak4life on Mon Jul 7 4:47:46 2008.

  MADDY wrote:

  thilak4life wrote: Pete's style of play will be outdated this era. Just Imagine Nadal's passing shots, I can only see that destroying Pete to all ends (as would Henman, Rafter, and other s&v specials). The modern Pete, ala Roddick with powerful shots, and unbelievable serve has been found out. ofcourse, times change and styles change........Pete was the best player of 90's........coming to ur arguement of hm passing pete --- he wudnt have let Nadal touch his serves in first place - MIND IT .......PEte Sampras-daa - rod'dick' illa ..... (da was not meant for u, its just a attachment with that punch liner )

  
  
  Roddicks clocks the highest speed, and most powerful shots. Surely that can't go wrong, right? And, Nadal could beat Roddick fair and square. I don't mean to compare Roddick to Pete, but It wouldn't be an overestimation to call him a modern era Pete. Pete could be the better player, with a much better winning mentality, and impeccable footwork. Let's talk about his backhand as well, if Nadal could exploit Fed's, then I'm bloody convinced he could do the same to Pete's.
  
  

  Quote:

  Quote: This my friends, is the greatest era of Tennis history. No more orthodox style wowowowo wait - 90s' started with greying Edberg and Becker.......then came the raw force of Jim courier for a couple of years until Agassi and Sampras tamed it........then it was sampras/ivanisevic/agassi show on grass with clay dominated by Kafelnikov, Sergi Bruguera (awesomest clay player i have seen), Thomas muster (41 wins in a trot on clay at one time), gustavo kuerten.....to round it up - delicate Rafter, dangerous Philiphousis, talented marcelo rios, huge Krajicek etc etc...hey this era might be technically better, but they were no way near to the flair and attitude of the 90's ......90's is the best - no maatru karuthu as far as i'm concerned btw, y do i see a sudden spurt in nadal's support in HUB??

  
  
  If Bruguera is an awesome clay player, Nadal is the best claycourter of all time. Phillipousis is ridiculously inconsistent, and similar powerhouse players like Krajicek will never really challenge the current players. Agassi will not be as successful in this era, and the great man would testify to that himself. I'll raise my hat for Becker, he remains the most dangerous s&v I've ever seen. But seriously I don't think Edberg, McEnroe or Henman (wink) could have easier ride in this era. The modern Grand slam champion needs an all court ability than relying on a particular tactic. That's why the likes of Hewitt will decline slowly. See, you may be fazed by the attitude of past players. I don't question that. I myself would pay more to see characters like Ivanisevic, Petr Korda, and others. Then gain we are speaking of quality, I see Nadal a more refined player than Hewitt (a more recent player), Agassi, Kafelnikov, and likes will ever be. Players today ARE indeed of highest quality. If you're speaking of flair, then the past great "pistol" Pete doesn't have the flair of Federer, ditto with Agassi and Nadal, etc. Gasquet's backhand has its own flair, which we didn't see in past players. Yet it doesn't win him grandslams easily, surely demarcates flair and quality.
  
  As for Nadal's support, don't be surprised. He has shown his abilities to play in two contrasting courts, developing all aspects of the game. If at all there's a criticism, it should be his showing in Hard court. I don't think there's a big agenda spouted against Federer. While I do acknowledge Federer is a greater talent (Than Nadal), he's been tested to all ends by Rafa (technically, physically and mentally). I'm pretty sure Federer could have played his backhands winners, and his normal game against most ex-players, including Sampras, Agassi, and co. But we are speaking of someone who has the lethal passing shots, and someone who could render s&v inactive.
  
  Oh by the way I'm not alone, almost all past tennis greats have hailed the match as a classic, and few claim it's better than Borg-McEnroe.
  
  

• From: crajkumar_be on Mon Jul 7 5:49:32 2008.

  thilak4life wrote:

  This my friends, is the greatest era of Tennis history. No more orthodox style

  
  [/quote]
  I disagree. The courts are becoming slower and slower and from a purely personal preference, i'd like it if its not all about baseline slug-fests....
  
  Federer
  
  

• From: wrap07 on Mon Jul 7 5:49:56 2008.

  Fantastic win for Nadal who fully deserved it
  His indefatigable will and persevarance is paying dividends inspite of his shortcomings on grass (serve-volley). He joins Agassi in the list of baseliners to come good here also.
  
  Nadal responded to all great shots of fed which others could have done nothing. Actually he shoud have won in IVth sete tiebreak. To some extent, his serving was not at the level of his matches with murry/youzhny. Fed looked dominant mostly in his service games but seems to have psychological -mindset with nadal. Nadal's shotmaking was unbelievable. He has equalled Borg(french & wimby) whereas Borg's record of 5 titles on trot stands.
  
  During rain delay, wimbeldon 80 final was shown. Borg had won in five sets. For sheer intensity and range of strokes, this match rivals that.
  
  

• From: thilak4life on Mon Jul 7 6:09:08 2008.

  crajkumar_be wrote:

  The courts are becoming slower and slower and from a purely personal preference, i'd like it if its not all about baseline slug-fests.... Federer

  
  
  There's some truth in that, I wouldn't disagree. But again, Roger did come up to the nets, and occasionally Rafa did as well. But, I'd take baseline rallies if it's of such high quality. The courts are indeed slower. Recalling Pete-Rafter finals, and Rafter-Ivanisevic, then next year we saw Hewitt-Nalbandian in the finals(!), where it's the difference of the surface, or the game of the players, I'd never know. But it's a remarkable coincidence I'd say. All said, I don't think Federer, and Nadal would be challenged by 90s players. Both the players don't throw easy points, and the unforced errors were quite low.
  
  

• From: thilak4life on Mon Jul 7 6:12:42 2008.

  wrap07 wrote:

  During rain delay, wimbeldon 80 final was shown. Borg had won in five sets. For sheer intensity and range of strokes, this match rivals that.

  
  
  Nadal's passing shots to beat Federer were much better than Borg's to McEnroe (in that match). I caught the tightest phase of the match, the third set tiebreak, at 8-8, first Borg does a rare volley of first serve to make it 8-9, then McEnroe returns back with his to 9-9. Electrifying atmosphere.
  
  

• From: crajkumar_be on Mon Jul 7 6:31:38 2008.

  thilak4life wrote:

  But, I'd take baseline rallies if it's of such high quality. The courts are indeed slower.

  
  Only managed to watch the match for 5 mins (adhuvum rain interrupted break la) where they showed some highlights.
  
  The rallies were
  
  And one particular down the line backhand pass of Nadal was
  Little or no angle whatsoever and yet Federer didn't have a chance!
  
  

• From: wrap07 on Mon Jul 7 6:52:02 2008.

  It really goes to Nadal's strong will and never say die spririt that he could shake off the disappointment of 0-40 3-3 in fed serve in third set as also match point chances in the iv set tie break. Mostly when players miss chances like this in a pivotal moment, they lose self-confidence and break and become a easy prey for the opponent/lose the match tamely. Not this man, nerves of steel and amazing mind control. This one aspect will defeat most of the opponents.
  
  

• From: sriranga on Mon Jul 7 8:45:45 2008.

  MADDY wrote:

  sriranga wrote: Maddy, I thought pete sampras had it easy too with a few ocassional challenges from agassis and ivanisevics. IMO, Federer is a better allround player than Pete. Roger's career will be complete if he wins a french open. With Nadal there, i don't think its gonna happen so easily. sri, just compare the pool of names i have given in my previous post who played in 90's with the list of players roger played against in 2000-2006 until djokovic came in.........i dont deny Roger is a better player than pete - but i still believe he is the best big match player of all times......

  
  
  IMO, Roger is a class apart (sorry, pete comes a distant second) in terms of allround game. Thats why he is able to win them so easily.
  Rafa, though is in the same league as Roger in terms of class, but he has to win more Grand Slams to be put alongside Roger.
  The other big reason that Roger seems to be winning easily is the complete decline of American tennis players (read, in the mould of pete sampras). Not that its going to bother Roger, it only adds upto the numbers 4 to 15 ( 1,2 and 3 are reserved). Now we have two class players Roger and Rafa playing to their full potential ( i've not seen enough of Djokovic), i would take any match between these two players any day as against S&V/ just the Big S's of the ivanisevics and their likes.
  
  

• From: MADDY on Mon Jul 7 9:45:26 2008.

  sriranga wrote:

  1. The other big reason that Roger seems to be winning easily is the complete decline of American tennis players (read, in the mould of pete sampras). 2. i would take any match between these two players any day as against S&V/ just the Big S's of the ivanisevics and their likes.

  
  
  1. ofcourse, have u ever seen wannabes shining as much as the originals??? Pete's style was suited for fast courts of 90s........
  
  2. ofcourse, serve and volley game is of less entertainment value........
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Mon Jul 7 9:59:15 2008.

  
  
  I remember the lush green grass on the final days in center courts a decade back and yesterday i had to search for them. Wimbledon definitely is certainly not the same GRASS that was before
  

  crajkumar_be wrote:

  thilak4life wrote: This my friends, is the greatest era of Tennis history. No more orthodox style

  
  I disagree. The courts are becoming slower and slower and from a purely personal preference, i'd like it if its not all about baseline slug-fests....
  
  Federer [/quote]
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Mon Jul 7 10:03:32 2008.

  As many have said here even I too feel that roger may possess a mental block over nadal
  
  Some of the shots were bad but not plain awful like the unforced errors that he did in the French Open Finals. I think there is nobody who possess a great all round play like federer but he has to overcome his mental slumps.
  
  

• From: MADDY on Mon Jul 7 10:09:17 2008.

  thilak4life wrote:

  Roddicks clocks the highest speed, and most powerful shots. Surely that can't go wrong, right? And, Nadal could beat Roddick fair and square. I don't mean to compare Roddick to Pete, but It wouldn't be an overestimation to call him a modern era Pete. Pete could be the better player, with a much better winning mentality, and impeccable footwork. Let's talk about his backhand as well, if Nadal could exploit Fed's, then I'm bloody convinced he could do the same to Pete's.

  
  
  even HJ is a modern day ARR - so ??? .......on faster courts, Nadal wont stand a chance against Sampras..........i doubt whether u have seen sampras playing in his prime.....his angles on serve are too good - which forces the opponent to return to where he stands.........
  
  

  Quote:

  If Bruguera is an awesome clay player, Nadal is the best claycourter of all time. Phillipousis is ridiculously inconsistent, and similar powerhouse players like Krajicek will never really challenge the current players. Agassi will not be as successful in this era, and the great man would testify to that himself. I'll raise my hat for Becker, he remains the most dangerous s&v I've ever seen. But seriously I don't think Edberg, McEnroe or Henman (wink) could have easier ride in this era. The modern Grand slam champion needs an all court ability than relying on a particular tactic. That's why the likes of Hewitt will decline slowly. See, you may be fazed by the attitude of past players. I don't question that. I myself would pay more to see characters like Ivanisevic, Petr Korda, and others. Then gain we are speaking of quality, I see Nadal a more refined player than Hewitt (a more recent player), Agassi, Kafelnikov, and likes will ever be. Players today ARE indeed of highest quality. If you're speaking of flair, then the past great "pistol" Pete doesn't have the flair of Federer, ditto with Agassi and Nadal, etc. Gasquet's backhand has its own flair, which we didn't see in past players. Yet it doesn't win him grandslams easily, surely demarcates flair and quality. As for Nadal's support, don't be surprised. He has shown his abilities to play in two contrasting courts, developing all aspects of the game. If at all there's a criticism, it should be his showing in Hard court. I don't think there's a big agenda spouted against Federer. While I do acknowledge Federer is a greater talent (Than Nadal), he's been tested to all ends by Rafa (technically, physically and mentally). I'm pretty sure Federer could have played his backhands winners, and his normal game against most ex-players, including Sampras, Agassi, and co. But we are speaking of someone who has the lethal passing shots, and someone who could render s&v inactive. Oh by the way I'm not alone, almost all past tennis greats have hailed the match as a classic, and few claim it's better than Borg-McEnroe.

  
  
  thilak, tennis is a game where a great player is measured by his compatriots - its always the quality of opponents that decide greatness.......in ur case, u just have 3 players to show - u mean to say these 3 will defeat everyone all times??? u have any other player to justify this is the best era?????
  
  also, as bala anna pointed out - slower courts are result of Nadals and Federers..........this was predicted as early as 2000.........amritraj clearly said that there will be baseliners winning wimbledon in future and how true he was.........this is why u see Nadal and federers and others of this era - working up unbeliavable angles and passes - bcos they have the time to do so.........slower courts producing better volleyers - so u cant say older players were not better -its like saying Eric clapton is a bad guitarist, bcos he cant play electric guitars as well
  
  also evolution - my son will be taller than me - doesent mean he is greater than me
  
  

• From: aanaa on Mon Jul 7 10:30:49 2008.

  Nadal
  
  after long ggggg battle
  
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Mon Jul 7 13:37:36 2008.

  IMO, As faras duels are concerned Roger - Rafael have surpassed the previous duels like sampras - agassi, borg - mcenroe and edberg - becker easily
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Mon Jul 7 13:43:57 2008.

  Adiyaein naan irukaein
  

  thilak4life wrote:

  As few people would know, I have always been a bit apprehensive about Federer being the best tennis player ever. I'd say he is, never has great champions of the past, been tested to the limits. Two of the greatest players in the Era, Federer, and Nadal are here to stay. And I can only warm my hands in glee.

  
  
  Backhand winnersaee vidunga. Oru sila unforced errors pakradhuku kandravi aa irundadhu. I shouted f#$%^k a couple of times yesterday
  

  thilak4life wrote:

  That said, Federer was not at his best. Where were the backhand winners that went missing this year?

  
  
  
  

  thilak4life wrote:

  If not for the aces, the second serve could have been tested more. The mental strength was stretched, and Nadal never really gives up, does he? Nadal's pass will go down as the most lethal, better than the great Borg, and much better than Agassi's, this relies on channeling over the tight angles than just relying on power.

  
  
  
  

  thilak4life wrote:

  Pete's style of play will be outdated this era. Just Imagine Nadal's passing shots, I can only see that destroying Pete to all ends (as would Henman, Rafter, and other s&v specials).

  
  
  
  

  thilak4life wrote:

  This my friends, is the greatest era of Tennis history. No more orthodox style. You need to mix it up. Thus, you need all court players like Fed, Djoko, etc to be at their best, and we have tactical baseliners who can also play s&v (which Rafa did with his wide spin serve, and volley). We are seeing tennis of very high quality. Let's savor the moments.

  
  
  All said yesterday was the best ever tennis match i had seen in my life. Kudos to both the players for such an spectacle.
  
  

• From: thilak4life on Mon Jul 7 14:12:28 2008.

  MADDY wrote:

  even HJ is a modern day ARR - so ???

  
  
  Unfortunately Maddy, there's no decibels level for film composers as with the speed of the serve. What a sensational bit of analogy that!? Your earlier statement was his serve couldn't be touched by Nadal, which could be overstating it. But playing the devil's advocate, even with the large number of aces by Roger, you see Rafa winning this game.
  
  On lighter note, few people claim GVP is modern day ARR, and ARR is modern day IR, and it goes on, you'll be a bit offended, so I'm not going that way buddy
  
  

  Quote:

  .......on faster courts, Nadal wont stand a chance against Sampras..........

  
  
  No one argues Rafa's ineffectiveness on hard courts. But I stand corrected that he'll beat Sampras or any other 90s player in place of Federer. Rafa is in top form, and in full control of his skills to win in grass. Oh what is the word, "equanimous" so to speak. Such was his dominance, and 100% mental sharpness (a quality which Agassi, and Pete have, as well).
  
  

  Quote:

  i doubt whether u have seen sampras playing in his prime.....his angles on serve are too good - which forces the opponent to return to where he stands.........

  
  
  Is this a polite way of disclaiming my perspective while defending your favorite? Of course, I have seen Sampras play, and most of 'em live. He serves ace after ace (could we call him a one-trick pony like Roddick), and if it's not a first serve ace, then it's the second serve ace. Or his second serve hits the deck hard giving it a massive uplift. This might have worked in the old surface where it's suited to help faster serves, and british players like Heman win with S&V. "All England club" relaying the surface coincides with the brit past his best. (J/K and pun intended). Sarcasm apart, the new surface indeed has made it a rally based game, and needs more "technique" than just "power". Surely that's how it works. But again, you still see high quality volleys by Roger, and co. So, it's not something that's extinct so to speak.
  
  Going back to Pete, I've often blasted him for the lack of gracefulness. I have always been a Pat Rafter, and s&V fan. Reminded of my naive writeups in Bala's blog on this very topic, I had ruthlessly dissed Federer, and the modern players (I used to believe Pete could thrash Roger all ends out, ). Well I was in college then, seems a long time, and the fanaticism withers, that was a period of watching the game with rose tinted glasses. But with time, you become wiser. You learn to see beneath the blinkers, I appreciate the modern game. I could only say the same to others, come out of the closet.
  
  

  Quote:

  thilak, tennis is a game where a great player is measured by his compatriots - its always the quality of opponents that decide greatness.......in ur case, u just have 3 players to show - u mean to say these 3 will defeat everyone all times??? u have any other player to justify this is the best era?????

  
  
  Tennis is an individual sport, and based on head-to-heads in finals, the best players are decided. Since you're getting a bit offended by what I said, I'll rephrase. Had any other great players of the past compete with Roger or Rafa, their skillset will be seriously challenged by these two unbelievable athletes of moderngame.
  
  And In any era, there will a maximum of 3-5 "top rack" players. But in this era, there's a cloud of players with their own qualities, the all court player Federer, followed by perennial runner Rafa, another all court player in Djokovic, unrelenting Hewitt (a "baseliner", mind you), Davydenko (another), fast serving Roddick, Ferrer, Gasquet, Ancic, Nalbandian, and from wimbledon, we also see the good ol' Safin still hanging around (let's not forget the young Safin who destroyed Samparas in US Open ). Then you have the talented Monfils, Gulbis, "british sensation" Murray, Tsonga, and few others as well. It's also my observation that these players play better tennis than the past top 10-20 players. It's something that I firmly believe in. I'd also go on to say they would challenge the past top players to their very limits as well.
  
  

  Quote:

  also, as bala anna pointed out - slower courts are result of Nadals and Federers..........this was predicted as early as 2000.........amritraj clearly said that there will be baseliners winning wimbledon in future and how true he was.........this is why u see Nadal and federers and others of this era - working up unbeliavable angles and passes - bcos they have the time to do so....

  
  
  Going by the theory of "time on the hands", the baseliners like Hewitt, Davydenko, Nalbandian and co aren't getting a cakewalk either. And quite rightly too. This also proves the greatness of the modern era grand slam champion, and you need to mix it up to win. For eg, Rafa going up to volley from the net, backed by the wide spin serve.
  
  If you could scroll up the page, you could find my affirmation of the same, or you could also refer Bala's blog, where we had discussed about this as well (where you could find my stance close to yours pretty much).
  
  

  Quote:

  .....slower courts producing better volleyers - so u cant say older players were not better -its like saying Eric clapton is a bad guitarist, bcos he cant play electric guitars as well also evolution - my son will be taller than me - doesent mean he is greater than me

  
  
  The past players should have played on much slower courts than this year Wimbledon surface, namely the French open. To state the obvious, It's been clay since forever. So, the older players (as you put it) like the current lot should have a game attuned to different surfaces, and not "suited" to just one. That is why it makes Roger(and Rafa) better champions as they make it to both clay and grass court finals year after year. The older court and its faster serves were mechanical, and boring, so in retrospect and better examination, it's a wise choice to change the surface. Unlike Pistol Pete, who was abysmal in clay, the current top players are playing far better tennis in different surfaces. No one in their right mind could call Rafa an average claycourter henceforth, or Roger as just a Grass court champion, or Djokovic a hard courter. These players in their shorter careers have made a serious challenge in different grandslams already.
  
  P.S: Coming from a Rafter fan, I'm grateful that likes of Roger and Rafa didn't have to face him, I'm thankful Pat was saved the humiliation. Sampras, and other 90s fans, just move on...
  
  

• From: thilak4life on Mon Jul 7 14:17:26 2008.

  ajithfederer wrote:

  IMO, As faras duels are concerned Roger - Rafael have surpassed the previous duels like sampras - agassi, borg - mcenroe and edberg - becker easily

  
  
  
  
  Unlike us Feddy, few wannabe bloggers get offended, and begin to diss Borg, McEnroe, Becker, and others for admitting this very fact. When Borg says history is to repeat itself, he means the end of 5 time haul by the defending champion, and not relating himself to Roger (or Nadal to John). Borg had said in the past that Roger will remain the greatest Tennis player in the history of the game. Sampras has said it countless times as well. Becker, McEnroe have joined too.
  
  The best part? This duel is here to stay. :
  
  

• From: thilak4life on Mon Jul 7 14:22:51 2008.

  ajithfederer wrote:

  Adiyaein naan irukaein thilak4life wrote: As few people would know, I have always been a bit apprehensive about Federer being the best tennis player ever. I'd say he is, never has great champions of the past, been tested to the limits. Two of the greatest players in the Era, Federer, and Nadal are here to stay. And I can only warm my hands in glee. Backhand winnersaee vidunga. Oru sila unforced errors pakradhuku kandravi aa irundadhu. I shouted f#$%^k a couple of times yesterday

  
  I agree. Some really desperate shots. The second set was all Rogers, until his nerves stopped sending the right signals. In Semis, Roger's second set against Safin proved why Roger was the defending champion, and Safin, an underachiever. The roles got reverse in the final against Nadal, at least in the first two sets, the mental toughness were gone. It came back, and he fought to win back the next two. The final set was anybody's game. The physical condition suited Nadal I'd assume. Roger's breakpoints conversion was abysmal. Now, the great man knows where to improve. I think he'll come back stronger now.
  
  

  Quote:

  All said yesterday was the best ever tennis match i had seen in my life. Kudos to both the players for such an spectacle.

  
  
  Same here Feddy. Including Ivanisevic-Rafter, Sampras-Agassi, Borg-McEnroe, McEnroe-Connors, Edberg-Becker, etc.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Mon Jul 7 14:34:02 2008.

  1. The horrible thing was Federer leading 4-1 in the second set until he blew it away
  
  2. Yes the mental toughness wasnt there.
  
  3. Break point conversion just wasnt there from federer.
  
  4. IMO, I reiterate this is as the best ever duel tennis had seen.
  

  thilak4life wrote:

  ajithfederer wrote: Adiyaein naan irukaein thilak4life wrote: As few people would know, I have always been a bit apprehensive about Federer being the best tennis player ever. I'd say he is, never has great champions of the past, been tested to the limits. Two of the greatest players in the Era, Federer, and Nadal are here to stay. And I can only warm my hands in glee. Backhand winnersaee vidunga. Oru sila unforced errors pakradhuku kandravi aa irundadhu. I shouted f#$%^k a couple of times yesterday I agree. Some really desperate shots. The second set was all Rogers, until his nerves stopped sending the right signals. In Semis, Roger's second set against Safin proved why Roger was the defending champion, and Safin, an underachiever. The roles got reverse in the final against Nadal, at least in the first two sets, the mental toughness were gone. It came back, and he fought to win back the next two. The final set was anybody's game. The physical condition suited Nadal I'd assume. Roger's breakpoints conversion was abysmal. Now, the great man knows where to improve. I think he'll come back stronger now. Quote: All said yesterday was the best ever tennis match i had seen in my life. Kudos to both the players for such an spectacle. Same here Feddy. Including Ivanisevic-Rafter, Sampras-Agassi, Borg-McEnroe, McEnroe-Connors, Edberg-Becker, etc.

  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Mon Jul 7 14:41:35 2008.

  All said, I have joined the Roger - Nadal rivalry community in orkut
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Mon Jul 7 15:26:51 2008.

  Thilak Did you observe that roger lost too many points coming to the net. what do you say/think
  
  

• From: MADDY on Mon Jul 7 23:30:23 2008.

  thilak, u r assuming so many things - r u asking one of the earliest ARR fans, roger federer admirers to come out of the closet .......
  
  and reg asking u whether u have seen Sampras playing - ofcourse i was not dismissing ur views - i had a vague idea abt ur age (inputs from selva/karthi ) and guessed u mite have missed a good part of 93-2000..........sorry, if thats not the case.......thats how IR fans used to speak to me - unakennada theriyum IR-a pathhi - i wont commit the same mistake
  
  and thilak, my list of 90's best were all grandslam winners - do u get the point??? oh, yea, u can very well say, nadal and federer never let them win any and ofcourse, Sampras lost to safin, Federer which really marked his end.......but i'll always be happy that he won US open(14th GS) despite roger federer and safin's presence.........
  
  for me, i wont rush in calling this best ever just after one great contest........mcnroe-borg's matches had 11-12 match points split between the 2.........Sampras-Ivanisevic's 5 setters used to complete within 2 hrs .....edberg served out of the doubles line twice in 5th set in his title win against becker - there is so much nostalgia attached to such events........ofcourse, i have no doubts that Roger Federer is the best tennis player ever and Rafael Nadal will rank in top5 players of all times......but i'll wait and wait - may not eventually call this the best era.......
  
  

• From: HBK on Tue Jul 8 0:38:36 2008.

  Great match. One of the very few matches that lived up to pre match expectations ( cough Italy/Spain cough
  
  Nadal is a worthy winner imo. And also i got fed-up with the tv guy who focused on Gwen and Federer's girlfriend all the time. I flipped the channel for every break.
  
  

• From: thilak4life on Tue Jul 8 3:13:15 2008.

  Fair enough Maddy. Anyways, Age and experience are overrated. If you want to go back, and reason my following from young age, it's because I played tennis from young age in Meiyappan academy (behind AVM school, Virugambakkam). I started watching tennis because of that. I got accustomed to s&v play, and thus my admiration for players like Becker, Rafter, etc. No more and no less.
  
  I'll stick with my estimation of today's players over yesteryear champions. At a caution of misleading with my writeups, let me reaffirm that I'm not discrediting the past champions, but I believe the form and quality of the current crop is really good, and probably better than the past champions. During this transition (the fall of 90s old guards, and rise of the new gen), people got bored of the gap between Federer and the rest. The transition is almost over, it's getting narrow with rise of Nadal, and Djokovic. I can't wait to see more of this.
  
  

• From: thilak4life on Tue Jul 8 3:17:27 2008.

  Maddy, Of course I can understand your attribution of nostalgia, and uniqueness to past matches and champions. More so coming from a Raaja fan here.
  
  

• From: thilak4life on Tue Jul 8 3:26:30 2008.

  ajithfederer wrote:

  Thilak Did you observe that roger lost too many points coming to the net. what do you say/think

  
  
  Not sure Feddy. He saved break points, and a match point coming to nets, he gives himself a better chance to come up to the nets on first serve. He took the risk on second serve, and also got beat by Nadal's low pass. But He got more winners than Nadal, and a significant number from the nets. The long rallies from the back is much more dangerous, as he got nervous with some shots. He kept hitting the winners when the right bounce fell for him to hit forehand winners. But whenever he took chances at key points, the unforced errors increased. His backhand was woeful at times, and the slice failed to get past the nets. Regardless of that, I thought his fighting spirit got him going in the last three sets. Had he been a bit more relaxed on 2nd, we could have seen a 6-time champ.
  
  

• From: wrap07 on Tue Jul 8 5:02:02 2008.

  thilak4life wrote:

  ajithfederer wrote: Thilak Did you observe that roger lost too many points coming to the net. what do you say/think Not sure Feddy. He saved break points, and a match point coming to nets, he gives himself a better chance to come up to the nets on first serve. He took the risk on second serve, and also got beat by Nadal's low pass. But He got more winners than Nadal, and a significant number from the nets. The long rallies from the back is much more dangerous, as he got nervous with some shots. He kept hitting the winners when the right bounce fell for him to hit forehand winners. But whenever he took chances at key points, the unforced errors increased. His backhand was woeful at times, and the slice failed to get past the nets. Regardless of that, I thought his fighting spirit got him going in the last three sets. Had he been a bit more relaxed on 2nd, we could have seen a 6-time champ.

  
  
  We could see certain points where fed was moving and stopping in between when going to the net. The balls were forced onto his backhand and it looked like it was more of Nadal making mistakes and losing than Fed winning this match. Fed was always on the verge of saving points and not dominating which is his usual territory. His serves won him many points and saved crucial situations also.
  and Nadal was clever enough to serve on body and to the backhand side of fed which is supposed to be his weaker link.(though certain shots of fed from backhand were stupendous).
  
  However, fed is challenged now and it will only make him play better and it will improve the level of their rivaly even further.
  
  

• From: crajkumar_be on Tue Jul 8 5:34:53 2008.

  thilak4life wrote:

  Unlike us Feddy, few wannabe bloggers get offended, and begin to diss Borg, McEnroe, Becker, and others for admitting this very fact. When Borg says history is to repeat itself, he means the end of 5 time haul by the defending champion, and not relating himself to Roger (or Nadal to John). Borg had said in the past that Roger will remain the greatest Tennis player in the history of the game. Sampras has said it countless times as well. Becker, McEnroe have joined too.

  
  <Dig>
  Gasquetfan-a serious-a eduthukkitteenga pola?
  </Dig>
  
  

• From: crajkumar_be on Tue Jul 8 5:36:37 2008.

  BTW, nice discussions Thilak/Maddy and others
  
  Since i haven't been following tennis (among other things!) seriously for a while, enjoying all your posts from the outside
  
  

• From: thilak4life on Tue Jul 8 5:38:19 2008.

  crajkumar_be wrote:

  thilak4life wrote: Unlike us Feddy, few wannabe bloggers get offended, and begin to diss Borg, McEnroe, Becker, and others for admitting this very fact. When Borg says history is to repeat itself, he means the end of 5 time haul by the defending champion, and not relating himself to Roger (or Nadal to John). Borg had said in the past that Roger will remain the greatest Tennis player in the history of the game. Sampras has said it countless times as well. Becker, McEnroe have joined too. <Dig> Gasquetfan-a serious-a eduthukkitteenga pola? </Dig>

  
  
  Amaam!
  
  

• From: thilak4life on Tue Jul 8 6:07:00 2008.

  wrap07 wrote:

  thilak4life wrote: ajithfederer wrote: Thilak Did you observe that roger lost too many points coming to the net. what do you say/think Not sure Feddy. He saved break points, and a match point coming to nets, he gives himself a better chance to come up to the nets on first serve. He took the risk on second serve, and also got beat by Nadal's low pass. But He got more winners than Nadal, and a significant number from the nets. The long rallies from the back is much more dangerous, as he got nervous with some shots. He kept hitting the winners when the right bounce fell for him to hit forehand winners. But whenever he took chances at key points, the unforced errors increased. His backhand was woeful at times, and the slice failed to get past the nets. Regardless of that, I thought his fighting spirit got him going in the last three sets. Had he been a bit more relaxed on 2nd, we could have seen a 6-time champ. We could see certain points where fed was moving and stopping in between when going to the net. The balls were forced onto his backhand and it looked like it was more of Nadal making mistakes and losing than Fed winning this match. Fed was always on the verge of saving points and not dominating which is his usual territory. His serves won him many points and saved crucial situations also. and Nadal was clever enough to serve on body and to the backhand side of fed which is supposed to be his weaker link.(though certain shots of fed from backhand were stupendous). However, fed is challenged now and it will only make him play better and it will improve the level of their rivaly even further.

  
  
  I thought Fed's backhand went missing from start of the year. He's not hitting the backhand winners like he used to. Not just this match. But as you said, Nadal didn't give him the proper height, width, and time to hit those. Almost every winner had to come from the forehand for Fed. Actually unforced errors were like 52 to Nadal's 27, aces were in favor of Federer. It was 204-209 (Fed-Nadal)in terms of total points. A close game with Nadal in top form, and Fed wasn't in full flow. Which brings up to the assessment that Fed is still the man to beat in Grass.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Tue Jul 8 14:02:45 2008.

  Intha varusham spain varusham pola irukku both in football and tennis.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Tue Jul 8 17:54:33 2008.

  This piece matches completely with my observation on federer.
  
  The level of unforced errors and erratic play was surprising. I haven't seen Federer squander so many gifts from the opponent. He had so many chances in the first two sets and he literally threw them away by the way of unforced errors. You wouldn't associate Federer with this sort of trait. Both Becker and Federer in their respective years weren't this erratic up until the finals and I thought facing an old rival made them play badly.
  
  They might look as different as chalk and cheese. However, when he threw away break-point after break-point after break-point that was handed to him as gifts, I thought I saw traces of Becker in Federer. He squandered all the opportunities and pushed himself into a corner and then dug his way out with booming serves.
  
  
  http://hawkeyeview.blogspot.com/
  

  thilak4life wrote:

  ajithfederer wrote: Thilak Did you observe that roger lost too many points coming to the net. what do you say/think Not sure Feddy. He saved break points, and a match point coming to nets, he gives himself a better chance to come up to the nets on first serve. He took the risk on second serve, and also got beat by Nadal's low pass. But He got more winners than Nadal, and a significant number from the nets. The long rallies from the back is much more dangerous, as he got nervous with some shots. He kept hitting the winners when the right bounce fell for him to hit forehand winners. But whenever he took chances at key points, the unforced errors increased. His backhand was woeful at times, and the slice failed to get past the nets. Regardless of that, I thought his fighting spirit got him going in the last three sets. Had he been a bit more relaxed on 2nd, we could have seen a 6-time champ.

  
  

• From: ThalaNass on Wed Jul 9 2:51:54 2008.

  Yeah Go Nadal go!!!!!!!!!! Enjoyed every moment of the match.. Nadal will be the numero uno player by the year end I think its going to be very hard for Feddy to bounce back..
  
  

• From: CEDYBLUE on Wed Jul 9 5:03:52 2008.

  sriranga wrote:

  MADDY wrote: sriranga wrote: Maddy, I thought pete sampras had it easy too with a few ocassional challenges from agassis and ivanisevics. IMO, Federer is a better allround player than Pete. Roger's career will be complete if he wins a french open. With Nadal there, i don't think its gonna happen so easily. sri, just compare the pool of names i have given in my previous post who played in 90's with the list of players roger played against in 2000-2006 until djokovic came in.........i dont deny Roger is a better player than pete - but i still believe he is the best big match player of all times...... IMO, Roger is a class apart (sorry, pete comes a distant second) in terms of allround game. Thats why he is able to win them so easily. Rafa, though is in the same league as Roger in terms of class, but he has to win more Grand Slams to be put alongside Roger. The other big reason that Roger seems to be winning easily is the complete decline of American tennis players (read, in the mould of pete sampras). Not that its going to bother Roger, it only adds upto the numbers 4 to 15 ( 1,2 and 3 are reserved). Now we have two class players Roger and Rafa playing to their full potential ( i've not seen enough of Djokovic), i would take any match between these two players any day as against S&V/ just the Big S's of the ivanisevics and their likes.

  
  
  Sampras a distant second???? Fed is undoutably my favorite now, but Pete is my all time champion! what a player he was.....!as Maddy has so beautifully put in names, there were too many good serve and volleyers in the 90's and Pete's achievement of 7 Wimbledon is truely commendable, unlike Fed who had a relatively 'weak' era!
  
  Becker, Edberg, Michael Stich, Agassi, Goran Ivanisevic, Richard Krajicek, Mark 'scud' Philipoussis, Pat Rafter, Tim Henman, Todd Martin d who else......all good grass court players and Pete managed to still dominate Wimbledon and that is some achievement! and as Bala had said, the slow nature of relaid wimbledon courts are jus making it a slugfest for baseliners!
  
  

• From: Sanjeevi on Wed Jul 9 5:27:12 2008.

  Federer vs Nadal, the rivelry is getting better and better every year. The head to head count Fedex vs Nadal is 12-6. I believe Feder really thinking and hardly trying to equal this H-H numbers. Remember at once the numbers was 6-1 but federe somewhat improved him against Nadal. But the main problem for Federe is Nadal is getting better every year. And it is tooo interesting to watch their match since they have very different playing style. I would say Fed vs Nadal is like 'smart & risk playing' vs 'hard & athelete playing'. I don't think Federer will equal Nadal in H-H but I also don't believe Federer era is over.
  
  I am expecting neck to neck matches from Federer and Nadal in forthcoming days. Being an ardent fan of Federe I may want to win Federe always against Nadal but I really salute Nadal . But as a fan I support Federer Go Feddy
  
  

• From: sriranga on Wed Jul 9 5:43:42 2008.

  CEDYBLUE wrote:

  sriranga wrote: MADDY wrote: sriranga wrote: Maddy, I thought pete sampras had it easy too with a few ocassional challenges from agassis and ivanisevics. IMO, Federer is a better allround player than Pete. Roger's career will be complete if he wins a french open. With Nadal there, i don't think its gonna happen so easily. sri, just compare the pool of names i have given in my previous post who played in 90's with the list of players roger played against in 2000-2006 until djokovic came in.........i dont deny Roger is a better player than pete - but i still believe he is the best big match player of all times...... IMO, Roger is a class apart (sorry, pete comes a distant second) in terms of allround game. Thats why he is able to win them so easily. Rafa, though is in the same league as Roger in terms of class, but he has to win more Grand Slams to be put alongside Roger. The other big reason that Roger seems to be winning easily is the complete decline of American tennis players (read, in the mould of pete sampras). Not that its going to bother Roger, it only adds upto the numbers 4 to 15 ( 1,2 and 3 are reserved). Now we have two class players Roger and Rafa playing to their full potential ( i've not seen enough of Djokovic), i would take any match between these two players any day as against S&V/ just the Big S's of the ivanisevics and their likes. Sampras a distant second???? Fed is undoutably my favorite now, but Pete is my all time champion! what a player he was.....!as Maddy has so beautifully put in names, there were too many good serve and volleyers in the 90's and Pete's achievement of 7 Wimbledon is truely commendable, unlike Fed who had a relatively 'weak' era! Becker, Edberg, Michael Stich, Agassi, Goran Ivanisevic, Richard Krajicek, Mark 'scud' Philipoussis, Pat Rafter, Tim Henman, Todd Martin d who else......all good grass court players and Pete managed to still dominate Wimbledon and that is some achievement! and as Bala had said, the slow nature of relaid wimbledon courts are jus making it a slugfest for baseliners!

  
  
  summa etho pera sekkanumennu tim henman, todd martin ellam sekkakoodathu. Becker and Edberg were actually well past their prime.
  the whole world knows the temperament of scud and ivanisevic.
  
  The point is Federer's allround game is way better than pete sampras. ithulla avallavaa mattru karuthu yarukkum irukaathu.
  
  Federer vs nadal rivalry is watching 2 champions at the peak of their career which unfortunately hasn't happened much during pete's career.
  
  

• From: MADDY on Thu Jul 10 0:17:24 2008.

  sriranga wrote:

  Federer vs nadal rivalry is watching 2 champions at the peak of their career which unfortunately hasn't happened much during pete's career.

  
  
  Sampras and Aggassi started their careers almost same time.......Ivanisevic too........Stefan Edberg defeated Sampras to win 1992 US open finals.......he was in his peak but Jim courier just destroyed him couple of times in australian open finals.......Becker was like pakistan cricket team, u never know when he wud win.....there were guys like Petr korda who never let sampras have it easy.......there was this qualifier who stunned Sampras in US open semi-finals, he stunned even more by disappearing after that.......Michael chang, poor man's Nadal, used to run 10 kms in a match ..........Sergi Bruguerqa demolished Sampras in 1993 French open..........Krajicek made sampras look like a novice in his own backyard in 1995 wimbledon QF.......the list was endless....
  
  with roger, i see only Nadal and Djokovic standing up to him......btw, i always had this doubt of big match temperament and pressure handling on Federer......my doubt is strengthening.........also, to call Nadal-Federer a contest, Federer has to win some matches as well ....trend is pretty lopsided in favor of nadal in recent times....
  
  going through sampras wiki profile i hit upon this:
  
  

  Quote:

  One of Sampras's most memorable matches there came in 1995 when he played Courier in the quarterfinals. Sampras's longtime coach and close friend, Tim Gullikson, had mysteriously collapsed during the tournament and was forced to return to the United States. Gullickson was later diagnosed with brain cancer to which he succumbed the following year. Saddened by Gullickson's illness, Sampras began visibly weeping during the match, but somehow managed to win.

  
  
  that was a comeback from 2 sets down sampras and aggassi had hearts of steel......
  
  

• From: CEDYBLUE on Thu Jul 10 2:39:37 2008.

  MADDY wrote:

  sriranga wrote: Federer vs nadal rivalry is watching 2 champions at the peak of their career which unfortunately hasn't happened much during pete's career. Sampras and Aggassi started their careers almost same time.......Ivanisevic too........Stefan Edberg defeated Sampras to win 1992 US open finals.......he was in his peak but Jim courier just destroyed him couple of times in australian open finals.......Becker was like pakistan cricket team, u never know when he wud win.....there were guys like Petr korda who never let sampras have it easy.......there was this qualifier who stunned Sampras in US open semi-finals, he stunned even more by disappearing after that.......Michael chang, poor man's Nadal, used to run 10 kms in a match ..........Sergi Bruguerqa demolished Sampras in 1993 French open..........Krajicek made sampras look like a novice in his own backyard in 1995 wimbledon QF.......the list was endless.... with roger, i see only Nadal and Djokovic standing up to him......btw, i always had this doubt of big match temperament and pressure handling on Federer......my doubt is strengthening.........also, to call Nadal-Federer a contest, Federer has to win some matches as well ....trend is pretty lopsided in favor of nadal in recent times.... going through sampras wiki profile i hit upon this: Quote: One of Sampras's most memorable matches there came in 1995 when he played Courier in the quarterfinals. Sampras's longtime coach and close friend, Tim Gullikson, had mysteriously collapsed during the tournament and was forced to return to the United States. Gullickson was later diagnosed with brain cancer to which he succumbed the following year. Saddened by Gullickson's illness, Sampras began visibly weeping during the match, but somehow managed to win. that was a comeback from 2 sets down sampras and aggassi had hearts of steel......

  
  
  i did miss Michael Chang d Krajicek actually defeated Pete in 1996 i think! Sergi Bruguera, Thomas Muster, Gustavo Kuerten, Albert Costa, Marcelo Rios d Yevgany Kafelnikov....all were real clay court 'specialists'...infanct Rios had a great run in hard courts as well....d what is wrong with players like Tim Henman d Martin, both were a handful in grass!
  
  Talking of temperemental players now we have Safin, Hewitt d Roddick..does it make Fed's domination of these guys any lesser?how would you make out of Pete's excellent showing in the three exhibition matches against Roger (don't use excuses such as Fed had glandular fever d afterall those were exhibition matches...)??the guy retired five years back mind you....!!!
  
  better all court player???? Pete had better service, better volleys, a powerful forehand....d yes Fed's backhand is sensational but less potent these days....how could you say better all round game????
  
  Fed is a true gentleman, a true champion of the modern era d he along with Nadal can take tennis to another level in the years to come!!!but don't make listless comparisions!!!
  
  BTW Sri how old are you???
  i ask this question because you seem to favor players from this generation (u sound very harsh with older players...poor old guys ) irrespective of what sport you debate!!!either you have watched very little of Sachin or Sampras or u haven't watched them at all
  
  

• From: crajkumar_be on Thu Jul 10 4:39:10 2008.

  MADDY wrote:

  ...slower courts producing better volleyers - so u cant say older players were not better -its like saying Eric clapton is a bad guitarist, bcos he cant play electric guitars as well

  
  //Dig
  Nitpick Alert!
  Maddy,
  Eric Clapton oru guitar guru, vidhwan, maestro, etc etc - both acoustic and more specifically electric. Jimi Hendrix ku aduthapadi nu solluvaanga
  //End dig
  
  

• From: crajkumar_be on Thu Jul 10 4:42:56 2008.

  Maddy/ceddy,
  arumayana vaadhangal.. nostalgia!
  
  Would just like to add something here:
  Though big servers had it going for them in Wimbledon (in the Sampras period), the rest of the slams were kind of open enough for everyone else (apart from the French obviously)... And it wasn't as though it was S/V everywhere. Nothing like a S/V-er versus a baseliner in battle. I just feel they've overcompensated now by making EVERYTHING slow...
  
  P.S: pizhai irundhaal thiruthavum
  
  

• From: sriranga on Thu Jul 10 5:40:24 2008.

  cedy,
  
  may be my tennis knowldege is limited or i have not seen enough of sampras.
  
  read somewhere on the net, "To call pete as the greatest tennis player is an insult to french open"
  
  but, look at what the experts say about roger.
  http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Roger_Federer
  
  "[In the modern game], you're either a clay court specialist, a grass court specialist or a hard court specialist ... or you're Roger Federer. " Jimmy Connors, winner of 8 Grand Slams.[24]
  
  "If you want to be a tennis player, then mould yourself on Roger Federer. I won three Wimbledon titles and I wish I could play like him. "
  John McEnroe.
  
  "Roger's got too many shots, too much talent in one body. It's hardly fair that one person can do all this—his backhands, his forehands, volleys, serving, his court position. The way he moves around the court, you feel like he's barely touching the ground. That's the sign of a great champion. "
  Rod Laver
  
  
  
  

• From: Kalyasi on Thu Jul 10 5:48:17 2008.

  crajkumar_be wrote:

  Maddy/ceddy, arumayana vaadhangal.. nostalgia! Would just like to add something here: Though big servers had it going for them in Wimbledon (in the Sampras period), the rest of the slams were kind of open enough for everyone else (apart from the French obviously)... And it wasn't as though it was S/V everywhere. Nothing like a S/V-er versus a baseliner in battle. I just feel they've overcompensated now by making EVERYTHING slow... P.S: pizhai irundhaal thiruthavum

  
  
  Maddy and Cedy Nostalgic... I remember the bets that I had during my school days supporting Jim Courier during every grand slam and losing it many a times....
  
  

• From: thilak4life on Thu Jul 10 6:11:46 2008.

  Bang on, Sriranga. Someone brings this exhibition match FFS, it was more of fun than professional match. Guess what, They were doing player mimicry from Agassi to tiger woods to keep the audience going. Take it from a 90's fan, Federer and Nadal are the most complete players competing at the same time. They can both win in all surfaces, unlike Sampras who needs a considerable faster court for his powerful serves and forehand going. When you speak of flair, and talent, you have to speak of Roland Garros. That's where athleticism and raw power takes a backseat to skill. Federer has more flair, and unbelievable footwork of a ballerina dancer, he could cut it in clay as much as Hard courts. While his nemesis Nadal could do in Hard courts, he's just a kid, and will infinitely improve (he has his head in the right place). I saw him maim Roger in Miami. Specially so It was his first match against Roger. And, He's just 22 to Fed's 26, let's just warm up for some more scintillating tennis.
  
  Sampras is still fit though. Recently they telecasted the highlights from BlackRock Tour of Champions. The semi against Muster is the pick of the tour, and Pete still has the athletic capability to cover groud. They were both entertaining with some superb rallies. The finals with Rios was good as well.
  
  

• From: leosimha on Thu Jul 10 7:21:01 2008.

  Rafa Express is here to stay.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Thu Jul 10 12:15:06 2008.

  http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1176574&pageid=2
  
  NEW DELHI: Wimbledon used to be about lunging volleys, the chipped approach and the overwhelming dominance of the serve and volley proponents. It was also about bad bounces and the ball sliding on the moist surface when the covers would come off after a rain break.
  
  The 2008 Championships had little of that and the epic final epitomised the preponderance of brute power from the baseline. The grass at SW19 no longer gives those charging the net a high; it instead offers a truer, higher bounce for the return to be smacked hard off the space-age tech racquets now wielded by the pros.
  
  “It’s a softer ball now which sits up. Earlier the ball would slide but now the grass actually checks the bounce. That makes it tougher for the volleyer. If a player with the net skills of Roger Federer refuses to follow his serve up, then you know the surface does not allow it anymore,” says Leander Paes.
  
  While the authorities have persistently denied there has been any perceivable difference in the speed of the surface, players who have seen the transition during their playing years are quite clear that this is a slower surface which offers a much higher and truer bounce.
  
  After years of experimenting to move Wimbledon beyond the unidimensional dominance of the big server, in 2001 the erstwhile 70:30 mixture of two types of grass was abandoned. The Championships shifted to 100% perennial ryegrass doing away with the 30% of red fescue variety. The blades are grown to a uniform length of 8mm which seems to contribute to slowing down the game.
  
  “The grass is also grown differently now and the blades actually check the ball much more. All the courts at Wimbledon have slowed down,” agrees Mahesh Bhupathi.
  Already in 1995 ball pressure was reduced, allowing more time for the return of serve. “The balls don’t skid as much anymore and they are heavier,” says Bhupathi.
  
  “There seems to be more felt on them now as it’s tougher to put them away as compared to before. The moment they made them softer, they made it better for baseliners,” adds Paes. “The harder ball moved faster but it also made big serves virtually unplayable.”
  
  Another significant change introduced on the centre court in 1998 was the use of a new rain cover that allows for better light and enhanced ventilation with the use of four fans underneath. This in turn ensures the surface stays hard and dry. “Earlier there would be some moisture that would make the chip slide off. Doesn’t happen anymore,” Paes explains the impact of the new covers. A harder sub-surface also makes the ball bound higher.
  
  From a time when baseliners would regularly choose to skip the outing on grass to now when they are giving even big servers a torrid time — Janko Tipsarevic’s win over Andy Roddick being a case in point — Wimbledon has changed itself to appeal to the new generation of tennis player.
  
  “Nadal is a great player. But if Wimbledon would have been the same surface as it was in the early nineties, the scoreline for this year’s final may well have been a repeat of the French. Only that it would have been Federer dominating overwhelmingly,” is Paes’ assertion to illustrate just how much The Championships have morphed over the years.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Thu Jul 10 12:26:57 2008.

  Cedy,
  
  Its no fault of Roger to have all the supreme talent in him. Do you think the likes of all 90's pete opponents do have half the strength/skills of Roger and Nadal. Give me a break. As thilak said this is the best era of tennis. Roger playing his best out at Nadal and Nadal improving leaps andbounds every year. In fact i cant wait for this US Open
  
  If Pete had an allround game like federer and that coupled with his powerful service I would say his tally would have crossed 20. Take out the powerful service game from sampras and i think i can say you can take a couple of grandslam titles away from him. Pete is definitely not the best player but yeah he is one of the greats of the game.
  
  

  CEDYBLUE wrote:

  MADDY wrote: sriranga wrote: Federer vs nadal rivalry is watching 2 champions at the peak of their career which unfortunately hasn't happened much during pete's career. Sampras and Aggassi started their careers almost same time.......Ivanisevic too........Stefan Edberg defeated Sampras to win 1992 US open finals.......he was in his peak but Jim courier just destroyed him couple of times in australian open finals.......Becker was like pakistan cricket team, u never know when he wud win.....there were guys like Petr korda who never let sampras have it easy.......there was this qualifier who stunned Sampras in US open semi-finals, he stunned even more by disappearing after that.......Michael chang, poor man's Nadal, used to run 10 kms in a match ..........Sergi Bruguerqa demolished Sampras in 1993 French open..........Krajicek made sampras look like a novice in his own backyard in 1995 wimbledon QF.......the list was endless.... with roger, i see only Nadal and Djokovic standing up to him......btw, i always had this doubt of big match temperament and pressure handling on Federer......my doubt is strengthening.........also, to call Nadal-Federer a contest, Federer has to win some matches as well ....trend is pretty lopsided in favor of nadal in recent times.... going through sampras wiki profile i hit upon this: Quote: One of Sampras's most memorable matches there came in 1995 when he played Courier in the quarterfinals. Sampras's longtime coach and close friend, Tim Gullikson, had mysteriously collapsed during the tournament and was forced to return to the United States. Gullickson was later diagnosed with brain cancer to which he succumbed the following year. Saddened by Gullickson's illness, Sampras began visibly weeping during the match, but somehow managed to win. that was a comeback from 2 sets down sampras and aggassi had hearts of steel...... i did miss Michael Chang d Krajicek actually defeated Pete in 1996 i think! Sergi Bruguera, Thomas Muster, Gustavo Kuerten, Albert Costa, Marcelo Rios d Yevgany Kafelnikov....all were real clay court 'specialists'...infanct Rios had a great run in hard courts as well....d what is wrong with players like Tim Henman d Martin, both were a handful in grass! Talking of temperemental players now we have Safin, Hewitt d Roddick..does it make Fed's domination of these guys any lesser?how would you make out of Pete's excellent showing in the three exhibition matches against Roger (don't use excuses such as Fed had glandular fever d afterall those were exhibition matches...)??the guy retired five years back mind you....!!! better all court player???? Pete had better service, better volleys, a powerful forehand....d yes Fed's backhand is sensational but less potent these days....how could you say better all round game???? Fed is a true gentleman, a true champion of the modern era d he along with Nadal can take tennis to another level in the years to come!!!but don't make listless comparisions!!! BTW Sri how old are you??? i ask this question because you seem to favor players from this generation (u sound very harsh with older players...poor old guys ) irrespective of what sport you debate!!!either you have watched very little of Sachin or Sampras or u haven't watched them at all

  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Thu Jul 10 12:40:26 2008.

  Cedy and most of the clay court specialists(Guga kuerten/ rios/ brugera/)you have mentioned didnt have a better run in hard courts/ grass courts.I mean nobody remembers them winning any titles.
  
  Unga list of best players in pete era la
  Agassi/Becker/courier/Rafter/edberg ok. Why does this list have stitch/chang/Philipousis/Henman(avar innum wimbledonjeiparnnu london makkal kathirukaanga)/Krajicek/ivanisevic(but for his serves he was absolutely nothing givenhis temperament on court). Ivanisevic once famously remarked that when he played tennis he had to battle with ball boys/umpire/lines man/ audience and finally himself. I mean mostof them are one hit wonders. Nobody remembers these gentlemen for continously winning titles or for the dominance of the game.
  
  Pete wasn't able to do exceptionally well in any of the french opens as well. If my memory serves me right he onlymade it to the semi's of 93French open and lost to brugera. His performance in clay courst started deteriorating right from there and nobody thought that he can win french/clay titles any more. Just like sriranga said to call pete as the greatest ever is an insult to french open.
  
  And I don't see you mentioning about the slow natureof wimbledon courts either in winning grandslams.
  
  Approm enna idhu sinna pulla thanama exhibition match ellam oru matchnnu pesureenga
  
  

• From: MADDY on Thu Jul 10 13:00:25 2008.

  thilak4life wrote:

  Take it from a 90's fan, Federer and Nadal are the most complete players competing at the same time. They can both win in all surfaces, unlike Sampras who needs a considerable faster court for his powerful serves and forehand going

  
  
  can i say that Nadal and Federer need slower courts to puff out so much volleys and angles/passes??
  
  Feddy, comparison is betn Sampras/Aggasi's opponents and Nadal/Federer's opponents..............just to say, 3 best players make up this era as best era is too much.........also, y shuld we take big serves from Sampras??? then i wud love to take Federer's backhands
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Thu Jul 10 13:03:44 2008.

  The talk is about the all round game and cedy was claiming that sampras is the best ever and he went on about federer's opponents.
  
  And I was replying to him saying that it is agreed upon by many tennisplayers that federer is the best ever in terms of all-round play and pete's abysmal records in french open and his main weapon is the serve/volley game are some of the reasons which dont make him the best ever player.
  
  

  MADDY wrote:

  thilak4life wrote: Take it from a 90's fan, Federer and Nadal are the most complete players competing at the same time. They can both win in all surfaces, unlike Sampras who needs a considerable faster court for his powerful serves and forehand going can i say that Nadal and Federer need slower courts to puff out so much volleys and angles/passes?? Feddy, comparison is betn Sampras/Aggasi's opponents and Nadal/Federer's opponents..............just to say, 3 best players make up this era as best era is too much.........also, y shuld we take big serves from Sampras??? then i wud love to take Federer's backhands

  
  

• From: MADDY on Thu Jul 10 13:11:38 2008.

  ajithfederer wrote:

  Cedy and most of the clay court specialists(Guga kuerten/ rios/ brugera/)you have mentioned didnt have a better run in hard courts/ grass courts.I mean nobody remembers them winning any titles. Unga list of best players in pete era la Agassi/Becker/courier/Rafter/edberg ok. Why does this list have stitch/chang/Philipousis/Henman(avar innum wimbledonjeiparnnu london makkal kathirukaanga)/Krajicek/ivanisevic(but for his serves he was absolutely nothing givenhis temperament on court). Ivanisevic once famously remarked that when he played tennis he had to battle with ball boys/umpire/lines man/ audience and finally himself. I mean mostof them are one hit wonders. Nobody remembers these gentlemen for continously winning titles or for the dominance of the game. Pete wasn't able to do exceptionally well in any of the french opens as well. If my memory serves me right he onlymade it to the semi's of 93French open and lost to brugera. His performance in clay courst started deteriorating right from there and nobody thought that he can win french/clay titles any more. Just like sriranga said to call pete as the greatest ever is an insult to french open. And I don't see you mentioning about the slow natureof wimbledon courts either in winning grandslams. Approm enna idhu sinna pulla thanama exhibition match ellam oru matchnnu pesureenga

  
  
  atleast we have some group of ppl. to talk abt - wat does 2000 boast - Nadal, Federer, Novak - thirumba thirumba pesa vendiyadhu dhaan ivingala pathhi
  
  

• From: MADDY on Thu Jul 10 13:13:36 2008.

  ajithfederer wrote:

  The talk is about the all round game and cedy was claiming that sampras is the best ever and he went on about federer's opponents. And I was replying to him saying that it is agreed upon by many tennisplayers that federer is the best ever in terms of all-round play and pete's abysmal records in french open and his main weapon is the serve/volley game are some of the reasons which dont make him the best ever player

  
  
  i agree, pete is a step below Federer - infact 2/3 steps maybe.....but sampras had the heart to climb any steps - being his ardent fan, i knew he just lost it completely around 98-99......watever he won after that were true grit and character
  
  

• From: wrap07 on Thu Jul 10 13:14:30 2008.

  feddy,
  whatever i have seen of sampras, he was too dominant and Agassi who was touted as his closest rival(i was awestruck by Agassi"s return of serve and style of taking the ball early) never troubled pete much, to the best of my knowledge. pete's dominance was total, to some extent boring.
  
  The most important fact is that he never had a Nadal to contend with and most of the players against pete were simply outplayed and they had no clue.
  
  Fed is a complete player and has all the arsenal one would dream of. His shots with pin point angles bear the stamp of real genius. He also makes everything look so simple and effortless. He is in constant company of Nadal who is a relentless fighter with unbelievable grit and determination with his own weapons. For Fed to have achieved so much during this era is something great and real stuff.
  
  Even Legends like Borg and Mcenore are overawed by his genius.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Thu Jul 10 13:17:11 2008.

  
  
  
  And neenga sonna andha 95 q/f match ae mulusaa paatha baakyasali naan. Was a heavy pete fav then . Never made any sense to me as why he was crying then but it was very sad to watch him cry all the way from the 3rd set (?). But now i got the reason and yes indeed its very sad.
  

  MADDY wrote:

  ajithfederer wrote: The talk is about the all round game and cedy was claiming that sampras is the best ever and he went on about federer's opponents. And I was replying to him saying that it is agreed upon by many tennisplayers that federer is the best ever in terms of all-round play and pete's abysmal records in french open and his main weapon is the serve/volley game are some of the reasons which dont make him the best ever player i agree, pete is a step below Federer - infact 2/3 steps maybe.....but sampras had the heart to climb any steps - being his ardent fan, i knew he just lost it completely around 98-99......watever he won after that were true grit and character

  
  

• From: MADDY on Thu Jul 10 13:17:37 2008.

  wrap07 wrote:

  Fed to have achieved so much during this era is something great and real stuff. Even Legends like Borg and Mcenore are overawed by his genius. There is nothing to add more.

  
  
  even pete sampras, the GOD himself has rated federer better than himself......
  
  but pls give me some names apart from Nadal/Federer/Novak to prove this era is great - give me atleast 1/2 grandslam winners apart from the 3 in last 4 yrs........
  
  Pete's dominance was more human and realistic.........i remember having eaten kilos of fingernails over each grandslam
  
  

• From: crajkumar_be on Thu Jul 10 13:22:17 2008.

  OK, one small point in defense of serve and volley-ers.
  In a service game maybe its all about serve and volley but still while the opponent (baseliner)is serving it becomes a baseline battle right (excluding the forays into the net during rallies in the opponent's serve)?
  I mean yeah, Fed has a "complete" game but to discount Pete as JUST a serve/volley-er - konjam adhigam nu ninaikkaren..
  
  [This has nothing to do with who is the greatest , Fed or Pete]
  
  P.S: Isn't it similar to cricketing pitches? You have diff wickets and the French open suited basliners and Wimbledon suited the S/V-ers.. Everybody could coexist. Lendl's nemesis was Wimbledon and Pete's was Rolland Garros...
  Now, they've over-compensated and its lead to the extinction of serve and volley.
  
  

• From: Vivasaayi on Thu Jul 10 13:23:06 2008.

  sampras is my fav!
  
  his powerful serve..Odite adikaradhu...running to the net and attacking!
  
  another fav is michael chang....chumma paanju paanju adipanya...
  
  

• From: wrap07 on Thu Jul 10 13:25:55 2008.

  MADDY wrote:

  wrap07 wrote: Fed to have achieved so much during this era is something great and real stuff. Even Legends like Borg and Mcenore are overawed by his genius. There is nothing to add more. even pete sampras, the GOD himself has rated federer better than himself...... but pls give me some names apart from Nadal/Federer/Novak to prove this era is great - give me atleast 1/2 grandslam winners apart from the 3 in last 4 yrs........ Pete's dominance was more human and realistic.........i remember having eaten kilos of fingernails over each grandslam

  
  
  I meant that this era has one competitor for Fed in Nadal who is proving to be his great nemesis. Fed no doubt dominated all for quite some time and but now he is fully tested and challenged and this rivalry is adding value to the quality of the game as also to the players.
  
  I feel that Pete did not have a player of Nadal's grit during his time.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Thu Jul 10 13:31:03 2008.

  Bala . Please dont get me wrong. I am a fan of both serve and volleys and baseline slugfests. What i wanted to say is pete had the most powerful serve and volley game that i could remember and it had definitely played a big hand in winning slams. avvalo dhan. I was also a pete fan once and i also agree that he was a great ambassador for the game.
  

  crajkumar_be wrote:

  OK, one small point in defense of serve and volley-ers. In a service game maybe its all about serve and volley but still while the opponent (baseliner)is serving it becomes a baseline battle right (excluding the forays into the net during rallies in the opponent's serve)? I mean yeah, Fed has a "complete" game but to discount Pete as JUST a serve/volley-er - konjam adhigam nu ninaikkaren.. [This has nothing to do with who is the greatest , Fed or Pete] P.S: Isn't it similar to cricketing pitches? You have diff wickets and the French open suited basliners and Wimbledon suited the S/V-ers.. Everybody could coexist. Lendl's nemesis was Wimbledon and Pete's was Rolland Garros... Now, they've over-compensated and its lead to the extinction of serve and volley.

  
  

• From: MADDY on Thu Jul 10 13:31:51 2008.

  wrap07 wrote:

  I feel that Pete did not have a player of Nadal's grit during his time.

  
  
  hey, i gave so many examples where pete was outplayed in the 90's.....talk abt Grit - i'm sure Agassi will have the highest number of 2 comebacks from 2 sets down............
  
  bala, great point .....also, Sampras's forehand is very underrated......and a person who used to hit second serve aces consistently cant just be a dumb S &V-er
  
  //btw, i also picked the nitpick alert - i thot he was pretty old for electric guitars //
  
  

• From: wrap07 on Thu Jul 10 13:44:25 2008.

  yes. Talking of Agassi, he was amazing enough to have second innings in Tennis and won grand slams too. But mostly in the duels of pete-andre, one of them outplay the other easily though the scoreline may show 5 sets also.
  
  I really liked Agassi's style of play and return of serves and taking the ball early(repeating it). His was a natural talent wasted on showmanship. He is the only player to have won all four grandslams also though in different years. remarkable guy.
  
  

• From: crajkumar_be on Thu Jul 10 13:48:50 2008.

  MADDY wrote:

  //btw, i also picked the nitpick alert - i thot he was pretty old for electric guitars //

  
  //Dig
  Electric guitar-e old aache.. remba kaalama irukku.
  
  

• From: crajkumar_be on Thu Jul 10 13:49:37 2008.

  I used to hate Agassi when he was in his peak.
  He had a deadly return of serve, as wrap pointed out...
  
  

• From: MADDY on Thu Jul 10 14:34:01 2008.

  crajkumar_be wrote:

  I used to hate Agassi when he was in his peak. He had a deadly return of serve, as wrap pointed out...

  
  
  //digr//shaem blood.........but now when i look back - i adore his gr8ness........also, just a thot, how he wud have fared in this slower courts in his peak
  
  

• From: MADDY on Thu Jul 10 14:34:38 2008.

  crajkumar_be wrote:

  MADDY wrote: //btw, i also picked the nitpick alert - i thot he was pretty old for electric guitars // //Dig Electric guitar-e old aache.. remba kaalama irukku.

  
  
  //digr//ippa thavirittaen, ini thavara maatten //end digr//
  
  

• From: thilak4life on Thu Jul 10 17:36:48 2008.

  Serve&volley, and Baseline are two styles of play, but not exactly mutually exclusive. Which is the better tactic? That's difficult to answer. But I'd say not many S&V players could play in all surfaces! Rafter for example was woefully abysmal if the surface isn't hard enough. Becker hasn't won a clay court tournament. Pete, McEnroe, Edberg, etc couldn't cut it in French open. They fail, even when they don't play s&v, as they are incapable by "design". Baseliners could however succeed in all courts, but not consistently so in Hardest of courts. Baseliners could also do s&V on first serve with some ease, just as much the s&v "specialists" returning from behind the line, rather than the nets. Baseliner need more fitness levels, and ability to cover ground. S&v could save their energy on power, and speed. Both styles need years of practice to develop your own technique to outmaneuver the opponent. Federer is an all-court player with both aspects of the game, and he could mix it up with both style of play "effectively". The same is true of Djokovic, but he looks to be a lesser talent than Roger. Nadal is a more skillfull than many baseliners in the history of the game, a perennial runner, and mentally unsurpassable. Of course, They are the top three players at peak of their game. We could also speak about Hewitt, Safin, Roddick, Davydenko, and others, but they are hymbled when top 2 are in question.
  
  Maybe we (post-00 supporters) are not so diplomatic about ex-greats. But we sure give 'em credit for their success, and have immense respect for their game. But when in context of the quality in modern tennis, let's just meekly put it as "unconvinced".
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Thu Jul 10 21:20:01 2008.

  Please have a look at this base-line rally
  
  Final Björn Borg vs. Guillermo Vilas / Incredible 86 (!) shots rally between Bjorn Borg and Guillermo Vilas at the French Open sometime in the 70s
  
  

• From: MADDY on Fri Jul 11 1:00:57 2008.

  Sampras has played like Federer too
  
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1q2OU6eWqqM&feature=related
  
  did someone say Nadal would have undone Pete easily with passing shots ?? come on guys, he is winner of 14 GRANDSLAMS -
  
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uw8IV4jqjUI&feature=related
  
  

• From: MADDY on Fri Jul 11 1:18:39 2008.

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7s1ap03Vvo&feature=related
  
  esp to thilak4life who thinks roddick is a sampras .....roddick can never become a sampras , for that matter, nobody can
  
  

• From: CEDYBLUE on Fri Jul 11 2:51:49 2008.

  ajithfederer wrote:

  The talk is about the all round game and cedy was claiming that sampras is the best ever and he went on about federer's opponents. And I was replying to him saying that it is agreed upon by many tennisplayers that federer is the best ever in terms of all-round play and pete's abysmal records in french open and his main weapon is the serve/volley game are some of the reasons which dont make him the best ever player

  .
  
  Fedy, I was not claiming Pete to be the greatest; I was jus replying to Sri’s claim that Pete was a distant second. Having watched a lot of Pete and Fed, I jus feel that Pete would have defeated Fed especially at Wimbledon, had they played during the same era. This is purely my personal opinion and I am not trying to impose myself on anyone here! I adore Fed as much as Pete, but if I had to place my life on a player to win Wimbledon I would surely pick Pete over Fed (again very personal).
  
  I really think players like Ivanisevic, Krajicek d Henman are very significant to this debate, as I really believed that atleast Goran d Richard had the game to topple anyone at grass! Excellent players they were (please the likes of Hewitt, Safin d Roddick are as temperamental as Goran and does that take any credit away from Roger’s dominance of them) and Pete had lost consistently to them (as Maddy pointed out) but when it comes to facing them on a big stage, he was literally unstoppable. Then there was this Andre Agassi guy who to me possessed the best return of serve ever! It would be really interesting how well Nadal would have handled the likes of Sergi Bruguera, Gustavo Kuerton, Thomas Muster d Marcelo Rios at Roland Garros had they played together (Nadal would have taken them apart but can we say that with certainty??) that is why these clay court ‘specialists’ of the 90’s claim significance.
  
  Sometimes the nonchalant ease with which Fed used to dismiss his opponents from 2003-2007 surprised me! Was he really that good or does he face very little competition??? After all he turned pro in 1998, apart from one significant triumph against Pete in grass; Fed was not really taking the tennis world by storm! On a sharp contrast, the emergence of one Nadal has significantly ended his five here dominance. Then there is Novak who promises to posses’ consistent threat to the champion! Men’s tennis looks healthy after a while and let’s hope that the likes of Tsonga, Ancic d others too join the list soon!
  
  Regarding the exhibition matches, would you sincerely believe that any of the two would have taken it lightly! No way, both were out there to give their best d prove a point or two as the quality of play suggested (I was pleasantly surprised how handy Sampras still was in hard courts). There is absolutely no ‘chinna pulla thanam’ here!
  
  Most people infact all former greats believe Fed to be the best ever, but let’s see what they will have to say if Nadal manages to win the Australian and the US opens. I follow Roger with the same interest I used to follow Pete. Fed is a true champion and an amazing sportsman, but Pete is my all time champion
  
  

• From: sriranga on Fri Jul 11 4:11:09 2008.

  MADDY wrote:

  crajkumar_be wrote: I used to hate Agassi when he was in his peak. He had a deadly return of serve, as wrap pointed out... //digr//shaem blood.........but now when i look back - i adore his gr8ness........also, just a thot, how he wud have fared in this slower courts in his peak

  
  
  he wud have done way better than pete, but below nadal and fedex.
  
  

• From: thilak4life on Fri Jul 11 7:15:52 2008.

  MADDY wrote:

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7s1ap03Vvo&feature=related esp to thilak4life who thinks roddick is a sampras .....roddick can never become a sampras , for that matter, nobody can

  
  
  You sure have abysmal comprehension. Scroll the pages back, I said he's a modern era Sampras more or less, and not think he's a Sampras. I don't like his style (ditto it used to be with Sampras).
  
  Nobody has to become a Sampras, Roddick tries to be one. But looks like Federer, and Nadal have far more ability on their hands.
  
  "did someone say Nadal would have undone Pete easily with passing shots ?? come on guys, he is winner of 14 GRANDSLAMS - Cool"
  
  you sure have a thick skin. Not Nadal, even Hewitt has destroyed Sampras with his passing shots. Nadal is far more skillful than Hewitt, and by my their playing ability, would say beat Sampras today. Of course, I don't have to check youtube to forge my opinions.
  
  

• From: thilak4life on Fri Jul 11 7:17:58 2008.

  sriranga wrote:

  MADDY wrote: crajkumar_be wrote: I used to hate Agassi when he was in his peak. He had a deadly return of serve, as wrap pointed out... //digr//shaem blood.........but now when i look back - i adore his gr8ness........also, just a thot, how he wud have fared in this slower courts in his peak he wud have done way better than pete, but below nadal and fedex.

  
  
  Spot on again.
  
  

• From: MADDY on Fri Jul 11 8:15:16 2008.

  thilak4life wrote:

  You sure have abysmal comprehension. Scroll the pages back, I said he's a modern era Sampras more or less, and not think he's a Sampras. I don't like his style (ditto it used to be with Sampras). Nobody has to become a Sampras, Roddick tries to be one. But looks like Federer, and Nadal have far more ability on their hands. "did someone say Nadal would have undone Pete easily with passing shots ?? come on guys, he is winner of 14 GRANDSLAMS - Cool" you sure have a thick skin. Not Nadal, even Hewitt has destroyed Sampras with his passing shots. Nadal is far more skillful than Hewitt, and by my their playing ability, would say beat Sampras today. Of course, I don't have to check youtube to forge my opinions.

  
  
  thilak, i know u'll talk abt my comprehension - its bcos of ur unwanted comparison of this generation with older generation which has sparked so many debates......also, i'm basing my arguements on facts in English, u r doing it with just English.....grow up bro........
  
  when will u grow up??? all these kids defeated Sampras when he was old.........also, read this:
  
  

  Quote:

  Christo Van Rensburg (1–2), Andy Roddick (1–2), Max Mirnyi (1–2), Marat Safin (3–4), Lleyton Hewitt (4–5), Paul Haarhuis (1–3), Richard Krajicek (4–6), Sergi Bruguera (2–3), Michael Stich (4–5), and Derrick Rostagno (1–2) were the only players who finished with a winning record against Sampras (minimum three matches).

  
  
  please note that none of this generation have better head-to-head over him..........hey, be careful when u talk abt Sampras
  
  

• From: MADDY on Fri Jul 11 8:18:01 2008.

  sriranga wrote:

  MADDY wrote: crajkumar_be wrote: I used to hate Agassi when he was in his peak. He had a deadly return of serve, as wrap pointed out... //digr//shaem blood.........but now when i look back - i adore his gr8ness........also, just a thot, how he wud have fared in this slower courts in his peak he wud have done way better than pete, but below nadal and fedex.

  
  
  i accept - Sampras was good for fast courts and not for slow courts.....
  
  

• From: thilak4life on Fri Jul 11 8:49:01 2008.

  The fact remains that Sampras was fit and athletic, but still couldn't surpass the young guns coming through, especially Hewitt/Safin/Federer were looking far better players against him, as we saw 'em beat the once 'pistol' Pete comprehensively.
  
  Now you're saying Roddick, Safin, Hewitt aren't this generation? But somehow it's quite magical to see Edberg, Becker, Courier make your lists as "competitors" for Sampras.
  
  I'll grow to digest the excuse-spouting by Sampras fans. But I can't say I agree.
  
  

• From: MADDY on Fri Jul 11 8:57:21 2008.

  thilak4life wrote:

  But I can't say I agree.

  
  
  who cares.......Sampras has been there, done it - if u know wat it means
  
  

• From: thilak4life on Fri Jul 11 9:01:18 2008.

  MADDY wrote:

  thilak4life wrote: But I can't say I agree. who cares.......Sampras has been there, done it - if u know wat it means

  
  
  Obviously you do. Coz you had problems with my eulogies for this current lot, and my uncanny euphemism to slate Sampras. And you pretty much accused me of my supposedly "blinkered" opinions. You started it mate, now don't back down.
  
  

• From: MADDY on Fri Jul 11 9:32:25 2008.

  thilak4life wrote:

  MADDY wrote: thilak4life wrote: But I can't say I agree. who cares.......Sampras has been there, done it - if u know wat it means Obviously you do. Coz you had problems with my eulogies for this current lot, and my uncanny euphemism to slate Sampras. And you pretty much accused me of my supposedly "blinkered" opinions. You started it mate, now don't back down.

  
  
  nope i never started anything - i came in here because u brought Sampras unneccessarily here.........second, i never said u have blinkered opinions until u called me "thick skinned" and "absymal comprehension" ..........when i asked u ur age, i was just curious which generation u belonged to and i explained it pretty well, i hope...........i never based ur age for opinions........
  
  also, i accept roger is the best ever and rafa is in my top 5 - i dont have doubts in that.......but i cant let unwanted mockery on sampras go unanswered......line of arguement that "sampras wud have suffered heavily in today's era" is completely hypothetical just like if Bradman had faced wasim akram/muralidharan ect etc etc......and its not appropriate if u consider the duels between a greying sampras and fresh youngsters........
  
  

• From: thilak4life on Fri Jul 11 16:58:38 2008.

  MADDY wrote:

  nope i never started anything - i came in here because u brought Sampras unneccessarily here....

  
  
  Whoa! So you should prescribe what is neccessary in this thread from now on.
  
  

  Quote:

  .....second, i never said u have blinkered opinions until u called me "thick skinned" and "absymal comprehension" ...

  
  
  
  Another whoa. Could you kindly scroll the page up, and check for yourself? Apparently my comments were in regards to your swipe at my opinions. That's why I said you have a thick skin. No offence there. The abysmal comprehension is again for how you're framing the whole thing as if I hadn't seen Sampras, and I've got into this fanbase of new stars like Roddick, Federer, or Nadal.
  
  

  Quote:

  but i cant let unwanted mockery on sampras go unanswered......line of arguement that "sampras wud have suffered heavily in today's era" is completely hypothetical just like if Bradman had faced wasim akram/muralidharan ect etc etc......and its not appropriate if u consider the duels between a greying sampras and fresh youngsters........

  
  
  Come on dude. I said he would have suffered against Nadal, as Fed has in many duels with Nadal. Surley his grand slam counts would have been far less. And, Nadal has won 4 out of 6 Grand slam finals against the best player in the history of the game. He's still 22. So I have every right to believe Sampras wouldn't have had easier time winning the titles. Nadal-Fed is a more closer rivalry than Sampras-Agassi. A considerable line of thought the way I see it. And, it makes no sense to compare cricketers with Tennis, the latter is everything about the individual talent. Certainly nothing of the sort you call as "mockery" has been spouted on Sampras.
  
  

• From: MADDY on Sat Jul 12 9:32:36 2008.

  thilak4life wrote:

  Whoa! So you should prescribe what is neccessary in this thread from now on.

  
  
  ofcourse, we need to trace back to the root cause of big arguements and in this case i felt ur statement that Sampras would have suffered today was not appropriate which took us this far........i'm not judging on wat happened here, i'm just reasoning it out, why it happened.........
  
  

  thilak4life wrote:

  Another whoa. Could you kindly scroll the page up, and check for yourself? Apparently my comments were in regards to your swipe at my opinions. That's why I said you have a thick skin. No offence there. The abysmal comprehension is again for how you're framing the whole thing as if I hadn't seen Sampras, and I've got into this fanbase of new stars like Roddick, Federer, or Nadal.

  
  
  i felt u were trying to establish that Pete would have played only as much as Roddick in this era and he wud have been blasted off.......i repeat , i never took ur age to diss ur opinions - u completely missed my point there..........
  
  

  thilak4life wrote:

  Come on dude. I said he would have suffered against Nadal, as Fed has in many duels with Nadal. Surley his grand slam counts would have been far less. And, Nadal has won 4 out of 6 Grand slam finals against the best player in the history of the game. He's still 22. So I have every right to believe Sampras wouldn't have had easier time winning the titles. Nadal-Fed is a more closer rivalry than Sampras-Agassi. A considerable line of thought the way I see it. And, it makes no sense to compare cricketers with Tennis, the latter is everything about the individual talent. Certainly nothing of the sort you call as "mockery" has been spouted on Sampras.

  
  
  see, i'm very uncomfortable to base arguments on something so hypothetical.......thats all i can say ......
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sat Jul 12 14:35:43 2008.

  http://www.petitiononline.com/fastgras/petition.html
  
  To: The All England Tennis and Croquet Club (AELTC) and The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA).
  This is a petition from tennis fans for the AELTC/LTA to increase the speed of the grass courts used at the 2009 Wimbledon Championships to a greater level than that used in 2008.
  
  The signatories of this petition disapprove of the significant reduction in court speed that has gradually occurred at the Championships over the past five or so years.
  
  This reduction has primarily had two negative effects. It has firstly led to a decrease in the amount of play that is traditionally associated with the Championships; serve-volleying and net-attacking play is now seen only rarely. Interrelated with this, the style of tennis played at Wimbledon has been brought into greater uniformity with the other grand slams. The signatories of this petition believe that this is pernicious to the sport of a whole, for it is largely the differences between the grand slams that constitute their greatest strength.
  
  There has been much speculation in the media and among tennis fans that the reduction in court speed is to reduce the success of big servers on grass and thus to improve the quality of play. The signatories to an extent sympathise with this objective. However, they hereby argue that the reduction has been excessive and needs to an extent be reversed for the reasons stated above.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  The Undersigned
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Mon Jul 14 2:03:08 2008.

  http://www.sports-central.org/sports/2008/07/01/wimbledon_grass_or_green_clay.php
  
  Maybe it's just me, the way I think. Or maybe it's not. I have been sitting here watching Wimbledon now for a week and I am in shear disbelief. My Wimbledon was ruined after the second round.
  
  No, my tournament wasn't ruined because I lost both Ana Ivanovic and Maria Sharapova in the first week, and then Jelena Jankovic to start week two. I'll admit it is a huge loss, as both Ana and Maria succumbed to opponents much less talented and experienced as themselves and the loss of the top three seeds this early is just way too much to handle. I may never recover fully from watching their exits from the tourney.
  
  No, my tournament wasn't ruined by the loss of both Andy Roddick and Novak Djokovic also in the first week, although it is peculiar that on grass, the surface that favors the powerful and those with complete games, both of these players fell early and easily.
  
  No, my tournament wasn't ruined by the charge of Marat Safin to the second week, albeit that rarely happens and it gives the Marat Safin Mafia too much joy. Nor is the fact that Feliciano Lopez happens to be in the round of 16 what is making me unhappy.
  
  What has ruined it all for me, and what has brought me to this point is the audacity of the powers of the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) to insist that they have not changed the playing conditions here to favor the clay-court players. As recently as Sunday, the AELTC on Wimbledon.org had a story about how the conditions of the courts haven't really changed. They offer no specific evidence, but they said, "It would not be Wimbledon if, every year, people did not complain that the courts are getting slower, and more like clay. But there is no evidence to suggest these claims are accurate."
  
  In dissecting the story first, I see that most of the discussion is focused on the fact that the courts and balls haven't changed in the past 13 years. That is interesting in itself. It hides the fact that there have been changes from the heyday of the sport, the late 1970s and early 1980s. Until the mid-1990s, clay-courters, with the exception of Bjorn Borg and Mats Wilander, rarely made it into the second week. Many clay-court specialists even skipped the grass court season because of the playing characteristics of grass and especially Wimbledon. To quote ATP Tour veteran Jonas Bjorkman, "There was a time when clay-court specialists wouldn't even make the trip," he said after losing to Rafael Nadal at Queens Club just prior to the start of The Championships, Wimbledon.
  
  Balls changed from white to yellow in 1986 at the AELTC, then in 2000 Slazenger introduced an "ultra-high visibility yellow ball" for use at the tournament. The tournament acknowledges that the balls are delivered in vats prepared two weeks in advance of the tournament, but continues to claim that the balls are the same as when they were provided in pressurized cans. As an engineer, I'm very skeptical. Tim Henman, the last great Brit to grace the lawns of AELTC with a serve and volley style, himself noted several times in the past couple of years that the balls lost their liveliness quicker and had less life in them after just a few games.
  
  Wimbledon officials admit that the lawns are groomed differently, although they try to down play the effect. "In 2001, experts advised the Wimbledon groundsmen to change the court surfaces to 100 percent perennial ryegrass, which is stronger and more hard-wearing than the previous mix..." Previously, the courts were a mixture of mix of 70% rye and 30% creeping red fescue. The rye grass chosen for the courts is more durable and withstands the two weeks of abuse better, but it grows more upright, catching the ball more firmly and helping it slow down. With the change in grass, the court maintenance changed, as well.
  
  First, the grass is cut slightly higher. This allows more of the ball-catching effect. Second, the grass requires less water, so the soil surface top layer is harder and more compact, allowing a much higher bounce. The soil mix is rarely talked about, but you can slow the court down even more by varying the amounts of sand and clay in the mixture. Grass courts are rolled with rollers that typically weight between 500 and 1,000 pounds. I'm guessing that they might be rolling the courts at higher weights to compact the soil even more. Probably true, as the moisture requirement of the soil to maintain the fescue-rye mix of the 1970s and 1980s would not allow a very heavy roller.
  
  Head groundskeeper Eddie Seaward says it best, "Soil does compact a little over the fortnight, so the courts will become slightly harder over the course of the tournament. Soil compaction makes the ball bounce higher so it appears that the players have more time. And it gives a truer bounce, so the ball does not skid through, which also creates the perception that things are slower." He's right about the bounce, but I'm not sure he is being completely honest that the courts only appear to be slower.
  
  I have spoken to many players and coaches who are at Wimbledon, and there seems to be a consensus that the courts are playing more like clay and I think the results this year say it all. Feliciano Lopez into the round of 16. Andreas Seppi of Italy making a match of it with Marat Safin, four very close sets before Safin pulled it out. Andy Roddick falling to Janko Tipsarevic. Simone Belelli, also of Italy, dispatching Fernando Gonzalez, a skilled grass court player who on his own nearly destroyed the U.S. in a Davis Cup match on the grass. Rafa Nadal crushing players like he does on clay. On the women's side, even more evident. Not one of the women who defeated the top three seeds is known for their power, serve, or volley. Yet they managed to win by slugging from the baseline. Sounds like clay court tennis to me.
  
  Roger Federer, look out. They are stacking the cards against you. Conditions here clearly favor Nadal. Better brush up on your clay court game. You may not be as invincible here now.
  
  The luster of Wimbledon for me this fortnight is gone, but for now, Wimbledon is still my nirvana. So I'll finish my tournament the way I always do. Don't bother calling or writing me on Saturday or Sunday morning, as I'll be sharing the women's and men's finals with my girl, Suzanne Paquette, a bucket of strawberries and cream, and a perfectly chilled bottle of Moet.
  
  

• From: crajkumar_be on Mon Jul 14 5:04:09 2008.

  ajithfederer wrote:

  http://www.petitiononline.com/fastgras/petition.html To: The All England Tennis and Croquet Club (AELTC) and The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA). This is a petition from tennis fans for the AELTC/LTA to increase the speed of the grass courts used at the 2009 Wimbledon Championships to a greater level than that used in 2008. The signatories of this petition disapprove of the significant reduction in court speed that has gradually occurred at the Championships over the past five or so years. This reduction has primarily had two negative effects. It has firstly led to a decrease in the amount of play that is traditionally associated with the Championships; serve-volleying and net-attacking play is now seen only rarely. Interrelated with this, the style of tennis played at Wimbledon has been brought into greater uniformity with the other grand slams. The signatories of this petition believe that this is pernicious to the sport of a whole, for it is largely the differences between the grand slams that constitute their greatest strength. There has been much speculation in the media and among tennis fans that the reduction in court speed is to reduce the success of big servers on grass and thus to improve the quality of play. The signatories to an extent sympathise with this objective. However, they hereby argue that the reduction has been excessive and needs to an extent be reversed for the reasons stated above. Sincerely, The Undersigned

  
  
  
  

• From: thilak4life on Mon Jul 14 5:23:17 2008.

  This will bring back big servers, and powerful players, considering the net play has always been predominant in U.S and Australian open, and French open lets baseline slug fests. Wimbledon gives equal chances for both tactics, or we will be back to domination of power over flair. A move which will certainly favour Americans like Roddick, and British like Murray. We've already got Federer winning the championship five times with equal distribution of s&V and baseliners, and Mauresmo a big S&V players winning it in 2006. And of course, Williams sisters are comfortable with their winners from the nets. But this smells like frustration by Americans and especially British (now that they got their son Murray in the frame). And we see Federer fans joining this underlying agenda to devalue Nadal's victory, which has stalled Fed's record. Regardless of which, I think Nadal will come back stronger.
  
  

• From: thilak4life on Mon Jul 14 5:25:33 2008.

  Maddy,
  
  Nevermind. Perhaps you being a Sampras fan has something to do with this disagreement. If someone had a lower opinion of Rafter's game, and thought he would struggle today, I'd also be a bit peeved about it.
  
  

• From: MADDY on Mon Jul 14 5:34:08 2008.

  thilak4life wrote:

  Maddy, Nevermind. Perhaps you being a Sampras fan has something to do with this disagreement. If someone had a lower opinion of Rafter's game, and thought he would struggle today, I'd also be a bit peeved about it.

  
  
  //disgr// yup - i'm a sampras fan as much as i'm a ARR fan - that shuld tell u something //end disgr//
  
  

• From: crajkumar_be on Mon Jul 14 5:42:13 2008.

  Thilak,
  1. I disagree with the contention that only baseline duels have "flair". The same goes for the quality of tennis argument.
  2. Equal distribution of s/v and baseliners? In recent times???
  3. Why is it wrong to maintain some diversity? Wimbledon-a mattum chumma viduvome? You always have your RG for basliners right?
  
  adhavadhu, ungalukku Nadal is the epitome of "skill", enakku Becker/Navratilova dhaan ucham... idhu mattum dhaan osathi nu solradhu yen? (Even if your counter is 'I'm also stating my opinion only!', your comments seem to be dismissive of the other viewpoint and blaming "dissidents" of a mini-conspiracy theory. Sorry if there is some "Recursive hypocrisy" in my comments, in which case, LA2D )
  
  

  thilak4life wrote:

  This will bring back big servers, and powerful players, considering the net play has always been predominant in U.S and Australian open, and French open lets baseline slug fests. Wimbledon gives equal chances for both tactics, or we will be back to domination of power over flair. A move which will certainly favour Americans like Roddick, and British like Murray. We've already got Federer winning the championship five times with equal distribution of s&V and baseliners, and Mauresmo a big S&V players winning it in 2006. And of course, Williams sisters are comfortable with their winners from the nets. But this smells like frustration by Americans and especially British (now that they got their son Murray in the frame). And we see Federer fans joining this underlying agenda to devalue Nadal's victory, which has stalled Fed's record. Regardless of which, I think Nadal will come back stronger.

  
  

• From: thilak4life on Mon Jul 14 6:16:04 2008.

  crajkumar_be wrote:

  Thilak, 1. I disagree with the contention that only baseline duels have "flair". The same goes for the quality of tennis argument. 2. Equal distribution of s/v and baseliners? In recent times??? 3. Why is it wrong to maintain some diversity? Wimbledon-a mattum chumma viduvome? You always have your RG for basliners right? 4. adhavadhu, ungalukku Nadal is the epitome of "skill", enakku Becker/Navratilova dhaan ucham... idhu mattum dhaan osathi nu solradhu yen?

  
  
  1. Not at all. I mean the distribution of shots is flair. The change of pace, and spin is most skillful.
  
  2. Yes of course. Today's Wimbledon has all-court players winning tournaments. The contention is that, it is not being advantageous to the trademark style of past winners, which is s&V. I find it problematic to suit a particular tactic. All-court game is the determinant of the range of skillset.
  
  However, I'm not arguing for all surfaces to be the same. But there should be handful of surfaces where specialists (s&v and Baseliners) aren't better placed before the first point is served. If they were to speed up the grass at Wimbledon, I'm certain Karlovic, Roddick, and likes would have a pretty big edge, and I don't think that's right. Tennis should reward players who can hit ALL of the strokes and not have 2 tournaments that reward good baseliners, 2 that reward big servers, etc. It should strive to recognize players with better range of strokes.
  
  The recent decline of s&v in Wimbledon is because of two reasons:
  
  1. The surface is only part of the reason. And I wouldn't change it all that much. Perhaps, relay fescue again. currently Wimbledon much is slower than Halle, and Stella artois. Last year, Federer and Nadal won them respectively. Again, speaks a lot about the quality of both.
  2. The current ATP balls are less pressurized and aerated to have lesser bounce. In the past, High-bouncing tennis balls favored aces and topspin. This (welcome) move once again confirms ATP delineating the importance of an open game than power battles. Light balls is the ideal grass court weapon. The aces should be under control and the bounce benefits slices, to open a rally in the first place. that's very important.
  
  3. As much as I don't agree with Wimbledon being less suitable to s&V. It's rather the lack of one-trick ponies (s&V-ers) in today's game. We still have good volleys from almost all top players. The way I see it, Wimbledon is better placed today. Playing devil's advocate, I say we have RG for slow courts, and the rest of the season are harder. Saving Grass for the middle ground, however the idea of fasten it up a bit more is slightly worrying to me. This year's wimbledon has certainly been the most satisfying for various shots, and tactics. It's a pity that it's targeted.
  
  4. Not at all. I'm a big Becker and Rafter fan. I'd reiterate the aforementioned point (2) again. All-court game over big servers any day. That is what "flair" means to me. Pure s&v old school players are extinct. Perhaps a new wave of s&v players will evolve. But again, I wouldn't want Wimbledon to benefit one particular style. We already have RG for baseliners, and big powerful players for US and Australian open.
  
  P.S: The last bit Nadal reference in my last post is to take a swipe at Fedtards in net, and elsewhere. Not to say, I undermine Federer. He's the greatest player I've ever seen, but his fans are pretty amusing to say the least. Nothing to do with flair. To me, the current top players have more flair and play more range of shots. Which is why, I'm pretty comfortable with things as such.
  
  

• From: thilak4life on Mon Jul 14 6:48:48 2008.

  My prediction is, All England club would change the surface soon, they might want Murray to win. And in a typical English style, the future Wimbledon would end up being fast serves, and not much of rallies. The strategy to let Wimbledon benefit with light-bounce balls would also be short-lived. I sympathize with claycourters, it's because they have been out of courted for long in all three grandslams. It was time to make it open. But if ATP retract back, I'd like to see an argument of green clay for RG in future, to relegate 'em once for all.
  
  

• From: CEDYBLUE on Tue Jul 15 5:43:13 2008.

  http://tennisworld.typepad.com/tennisworld/2008/07/httpwwwcanadaco.html
  
  Well, just in case you think you've read pretty much every possible take on the recent men's Wimbledon final, I bring you this gem from Los Angeles via the northerly outpost of Montreal. Let me just warn you: anyone who would get his or her shorts in a bunch over this might be the only person on earth who's a bigger tool than the dude who wrote the piece.
  
  Personally, I find it hilarious - right up there with the time my sister (name withheld to protect the guilty) admitted that she sat through This is Spinal Tap and, thinking it was a documentary, couldn't understand why everyone was laughing so hard.
  
  Anyway, on to more worthy preoccupations. I spoke with Pete Sampras yesterday, and he says "Hi' to all his fans at TennisWorld. Time out for a shameless plug: the book we wrote together, A Champion's Mind, has been on the New York Times best seller list (at no. 20, now 21) since shortly after it was published. We talked mostly about the Wimbledon final, and his pal and hitting buddy, Roger Federer
  
  So what did you think?
  
  I thought it was great, maybe the best match I've seen in many, many years. Two all-time greats, at their prime, playing great on the best court on earth. if you wrote a script it couldn't have been any better - Roger coming back from two sets to love, Nadal showing his heart. . . I thought it was great tennis and great drama.
  
  I think Roger handled himself with a lot of class. What I really liked is that the match goes to show that when you come right down to it, great moments aren't about controversy, and they aren't about personality. They're about two great players who manage to reach beyond the usual audience for the game - that's especially big in this country. It was impressive that two guys who aren't American could capture the American sports fans that way. It was one of those moments in all sports that we'll never forget.
  
  Did you talk to Roger, Pete?
  
  It wasn't the right time, I didn't think. But I did send him a text, and told him, "Bad luck, too bad there had to be a loser in that one." I said he should take pride in the way he and Rafa are taking the sport way beyond the usual audience. He should feel great about that. He texted me back to say thanks.
  
  I know it was disappointing for him, I'm sure hes still playing that match in his mind. But in years to come, he'll look back on this match and appreciate the moment. No question in my mind about that.
  
  So do you think Roger needs to make any changes at this stage in his career, given Nadal and Djokovic's emergence?
  
  I heard quite a few people saying he should come in more, serve and volley more. But Roger is just so much better than anyone except Rafa from the backcourt that you wonder if that would be a smart move. Sure he could attack a little more, but I still feel that if you put Rog and Rafa on that Centre Court 10 times, I think Roger wins 7 of them. He was right there with Rafa, neck-and-neck, and that's the opposite of how it is on clay. Rafa's already a legend on clay, but I'm sure Roger thinks he's still the better player on grass, and I believe that's true. But Rafa showed that it now comes down to form of the day, and on Sunday Roger just came up a little short.
  
  Do you think Roger should have a full time coach, for either technical or emotional reasons?
  
  No, I don't think he necessarily should. Everybody is different, and Roger's won plenty of Slams on his own. Maybe that's more his comfort zone. On the other hand, a coach can see things that a player can't, and he can emphasize things and come up with a plan when a player might just want to go out and play his game. I always found it valuable when Paul (Annacone, Sampras's former coach) would say something like, "I think you should serve big to his backhand at the start, just to plant a bug in his mind and open up the court, then try to do most of your damage on the forehand side."
  
  That kind of simple advice was always welcome to me, even if at the last minute I didn't always carry it out. A coach can help, what, 2 per cent, for a player of Roger's caliber? But then again - this match came down to that small a difference between the guys. So who really knows.
  
  What I think is important, though, is to keep a perspective on this and not over-analyze the match. Roger played well enough to win, only he didn't. On another day, he does. Contrary to what a lot of people are saying, I think Roger is having a good year, it's just that he's set such a high bar for himself. But can anybody say he's fallen off the pace, or that his game has holes in it? No way. He's right there, ready to strike, and he will - given the opportunity.
  
  Do you still expect Roger to break your Grand Slam singles title record (14 titles)?
  
  
  Oh, absolutely. It's inevitable. He'll be in contention for all the majors, and he'll win a few more Wimbledons and U.S. Opens before he's done - no doubt in my mind.
  
  Do you plan to practice or play any exos with him, like you did last fall?
  
  We have nothing in the works. We talked about trying to put something together for London, an exhibition or something, but we couldn't make it work, schedules-wise. It would be nice to do it again, but right now Roger has other fish to fry.
  
  What do you think about the Olympics; is Roger making a mistake by taking part, instead of concentrating on the U.S. Open, as Andy Roddick decided to do?
  
  
  I think it's apples and oranges there. I think the Olympics is in Roger's heart; it's a really big deal for him. Maybe it's because he's the (arguably) greatest athlete ever produced in Switzerland, which is a small nation that does a lot better in the Winter Games than the Summer Games. But the Summer Games are bigger.
  
  It means a lot for Roger to be able to carry that Swiss flag, like he did at the last Olympic Games. By contrast, Andy skipping the Olympics isn't that big a deal. The Olympics aren't quite as important in the U.S. as elsewhere, and the tennis event will be overshadowed because we have so many great athletes in the other sports. The Olympic thing - it's either in your heart or not.
  
  What are you doing in the near future, public appearance-wise?
  
  I'll be on the Charley Rose show this Friday, promoting our book. I'll be playing a senior event in London and a few one-night exhibitions, with Sam Querrey and a few of the other guys. I'll stay busy, play a little bit. . .
  
  What major will you be attending next?
  
  The one where Roger is poised to break my record. I'm kind of selfish about it, though - I told Roger that if that happens to be at the Australian Open, I may not make the trip. It's far, I've logged a lot of miles in my life going to tennis tournaments. I half-kiddingly told him he'll have to do it at Wimbledon or the U.S. Open, so now we'll just have to see what happens. Emotionally, I'd like to see him do it at either of those two places, preferably Wimbledon. And I want to be there out of respect for him, but I also would like to go back to Wimbledon someday, because I love that place.
  
  

• From: Nerd on Tue Jul 15 23:45:18 2008.

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EotEO905J1g
  My most favorite tennis player EVER. Goran's 2001 victory. I have not got that emotional after a tennis victory ever. His serves and return of serves If only he had worked on his *temperament* and unforced errors he would have been the best
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Tue Jul 15 23:47:49 2008.

  Recently re-visited that match. Talk about Goran's temperament he makes two double faults at championship points.
  
  

• From: Nerd on Tue Jul 15 23:52:16 2008.

  ajithfederer wrote:

  Recently re-visited that match. Talk about Goran's temperament he makes two double faults at championship points.

  
  He must hold the record for breaking the most number of rackets in the court
  
  

• From: Nasc on Wed Jul 16 13:48:11 2008.

  Nerd wrote:

  ajithfederer wrote: Recently re-visited that match. Talk about Goran's temperament he makes two double faults at championship points. He must hold the record for breaking the most number of rackets in the court

  
  
  Breaking the most number of rackets -- tough competition from Mcnroe
  
  

• From: wrap07 on Sun Aug 3 1:07:56 2008.

  nadal will become world no1 on Aug 18. This is after four years reign by fed.
  
  

• From: Nerd on Mon Aug 25 23:04:48 2008.

  Thambi Nadal is through after a few hiccups. He looked very rusty
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Mon Aug 25 23:17:15 2008.

  Yeah two sets of tie break and a 6-3 i believe!!!
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Mon Sep 1 15:10:30 2008.

  Nadal loses the second set against querey
  
  Match is tied at set a piece !!
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Mon Sep 1 15:44:55 2008.

  3rd set
  
  Nadal breaks querey in the 1st game and querey breaks again!!
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Mon Sep 1 16:03:18 2008.

  3rd set goes to tie break
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Mon Sep 1 16:07:02 2008.

  Nadal wins
  
  

• From: omega on Tue Sep 2 18:07:47 2008.

  Roger trailing by a set & really struggling to hold his serves in the second set against Andreev (4th round). 6-7 & 2-2................Looking real low confidence with his numerous unforced errors (30 total, 10 just in second)..
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Tue Sep 2 18:10:48 2008.

  Omega me too watching. He is really struggling to hold the serve.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Tue Sep 2 18:31:26 2008.

  second set went to a tie break
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Tue Sep 2 18:38:47 2008.

  Federer wins second set tie break.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Tue Sep 2 18:55:38 2008.

  Fedex breaks in 3rd set
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Tue Sep 2 19:41:28 2008.

  match into 5th set
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Tue Sep 2 19:54:05 2008.

  Fed leads 3-0. He is venting EMOTIONS more, characteristically different to his on court persona
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Tue Sep 2 19:55:19 2008.

  Match trivia : 50+ Unforced errors by fed
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Tue Sep 2 20:17:30 2008.

  shabba......7th game mudinjudhu
  
  

• From: MrIndia on Tue Sep 2 20:21:47 2008.

  whats happening to him..
  
  is he tired of winning in straight sets..
  
  something is wrong
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Tue Sep 2 20:30:02 2008.

  The swiss ass escaped
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Tue Sep 2 21:23:30 2008.

  Roddick vs Gonzales now
  
  

• From: omega on Tue Sep 2 21:47:32 2008.

  Big bangers going against each other........Gonzu already struggling to hold.
  Lets see if he could get his range........
  
  Great escape today for the top players, earlier Novak & Roger later....
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Tue Sep 2 22:38:31 2008.

  Roddick is cruising. Match may finish in the next 25 minutes!!
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Wed Sep 3 10:58:51 2008.

  
  
  Men's tennis is improving
  

  MrIndia wrote:

  whats happening to him.. is he tired of winning in straight sets.. something is wrong

  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Wed Sep 3 23:23:51 2008.

  Spain's Raging bull in action now !!!
  
  

• From: Nerd on Thu Sep 4 0:13:28 2008.

  ajithfederer wrote:

  Spain's Raging bull in action now !!!

  Watchin it.. Nadal thambi has lost the first set
  Paes is mixed doubles final Watched parts of Bhupati's 3rd round match on sat'day. He is still amaazzzing. Don't know what happend to the match (and the subsequent ones)
  
  

• From: Nerd on Thu Sep 4 0:19:38 2008.

  http://www.usopen.org/en_US/scores/cmatch/16md.html
  Paes is in both Doubles and Mixed doubles finals
  
  

• From: Nerd on Thu Sep 4 0:47:40 2008.

  Nadal thambi takes the second set quite convincingly 6-1
  
  

• From: Sanjeevi on Thu Sep 4 3:03:58 2008.

  Nadal wins
  
  

• From: wrap07 on Thu Sep 4 4:34:14 2008.

  watched nadal match. fish was serving rocks in first set. nadal as always plays waiting game and jumps on mistakes of opponents. quite a charecter.
  
  Wilander during commentry said, "nadal practices relaxedly and easily but during matches he takes himself to a different level".
  
  

• From: MADDY on Thu Sep 4 7:35:57 2008.

  Nadal - amazing .........superb mental makeup, probably the best for this generation
  
  yaaru semis ippa??? feddy v nadal?? .....i dont want a nadal v djokovic semis
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Thu Sep 4 10:29:11 2008.

  Maddy there will be no nadal vs djokovic semi's.
  
  Today the matches are
  Federer vs Muller
  
  &
  
  Roddick vs Djokovic. (The big one)
  Roddick off late has been serving very very impressively and he is quite discontented that he didn't do well in this year's earlier grand slams and keen to make a mark on home turf. Djokovic is another hard court specialist. So we are in for a tennis spectacle.
  
  

• From: MADDY on Thu Sep 4 11:22:17 2008.

  ajithfederer wrote:

  Maddy there will be no nadal vs djokovic semi's.

  
  
  oh ok, its going to be Nadal v Andy Murray and Federer v Djokovic if there are no upsets
  
  

• From: Nerd on Thu Sep 4 15:10:05 2008.

  Paes has won the first title at New York this year, the mixed doubles he is going to play the doubles final against the top seeded Bryan brothers.
  Feddy's QF match is later in the evening.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Thu Sep 4 15:45:20 2008.

  Nerd, match is happening now !!
  
  

• From: Nerd on Thu Sep 4 16:04:49 2008.

  Yes and feddy has already won set #1
  
  

• From: omega on Thu Sep 4 16:41:17 2008.

  And Fed has second set too..........Now he should steamroll...
  Much bigger test awaiting him in the Semis' (either one (Joker or Rod)
  seems tough)...
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Thu Sep 4 17:29:31 2008.

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkxDcA4qnsA&feature=related
  
  Some lighter moments in the federer vs sampras match
  
  
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Thu Sep 4 22:14:47 2008.

  4th set in the q/f between roddick and djokovic
  
  djokovic leads 2 sets to 1
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Thu Sep 4 22:51:41 2008.

  Roddick loses a golden chance to take the match into the 5th set!!.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Thu Sep 4 23:12:37 2008.

  And the semis are
  
  Rafael Nadal ESP (1)
  v
  
  
  Andy Murray GBR (6)
  Novak Djokovic SRB (3)
  v
  
  
  Roger Federer SUI (2)
  
  

• From: wrap07 on Fri Sep 5 4:08:54 2008.

  both semi finals will hopefully be a real treat.
  
  
  

• From: Nerd on Fri Sep 5 14:59:42 2008.

  Paes goes fighting in the men's doubles finals 7-6 7-6
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Sep 5 15:41:52 2008.

  bad luck!!!!
  
  

• From: Nerd on Sat Sep 6 14:25:42 2008.

  naansanssssss Nadal
  
  

• From: wrap07 on Sun Sep 7 1:01:11 2008.

  murray leading 2-0 6/2 7/6 nadal 3-2 up in third. due to rain match suspended.
  Nadal looks real out of sorts with hopeless serving and unforced errors. Murray is really dominating with power game and pin point shots. It is not th usual Nadal one often sees on court. Break may change things.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Sep 7 1:06:46 2008.

  NY crowd behavior was absolutely rotten and pathetic towards Nole!!
  
  

• From: omega on Sun Sep 7 6:15:40 2008.

  wrap07 wrote:

  murray leading 2-0 6/2 7/6 nadal 3-2 up in third. due to rain match suspended. Nadal looks real out of sorts with hopeless serving and unforced errors. Murray is really dominating with power game and pin point shots. It is not th usual Nadal one often sees on court. Break may change things.

  
  
  One can clearly see fatigue after a long season in Nadal. Actually I am even surprised that he made it thus far. Well he definitely was helped by the weaker pool (relatively).
  
  Murray definitely seems to have done a good bit of work on tackling Nadal. Whenever there was a chance he went hard & flat @ Nadal. Murray seems to be justifying his talent after almost 2 years (He was expected to be in the top 5 as early as beginning of last year but for his injury problems). Hope he continues his form, as Nadal will need just the third set to turn things around. Yes, the break would definitely help Nadal.
  
  

• From: Nerd on Sun Sep 7 17:31:07 2008.

  Nadal breaks Murray in the third game of the fourth at love. But he saved 7 breakpoints in the previous game, won in the 4th game point. Three cheers to this man's perseverance. If he could improve his serve a bit he would be unstoppable for years..
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Sep 7 17:44:25 2008.

  Murray breaks Nadal !!
  
  

• From: Nerd on Sun Sep 7 17:54:52 2008.

  4-4. No matter who wins this one I feel its going to be a cakewalk for for Feddy
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Sep 7 18:05:33 2008.

  Murray wins.
  
  Nerd, Murraay has beat federer this year in an ATP event. He is no lesser contender .
  
  

• From: Nerd on Sun Sep 7 18:05:44 2008.

  Murray is through Tremendous display in the very last game.
  
  

• From: wrap07 on Mon Sep 8 2:17:46 2008.

  great play by murray. he never let nadal to get into the groove.
  Fed with his current form can assure himself of the championship. He wont have the nadal mindset in the final for once and he will be happy about it.
  
  

• From: omega on Mon Sep 8 7:27:47 2008.

  I am still not sure if Roger (with his current form) would have a cake walk in the finals against Murray (who also leads 2-1 against Roger).
  
  To me Roger played a perfect match against Stepanak in the 4th round (again Stepanak also was one of the guy who had beaten him earlier in the year) but seems to be little patchy (again only by his own standards) since then.
  
  There is a lot of positives on Roger's side however (a perfect 2 days rest being an added bonus) to get his 5th US Open title in a row......
  
  I hope it to be a great contest (like the womens finals yesterday)....
  
  

• From: crajkumar_be on Mon Sep 8 8:20:50 2008.

  Feddy is getting better. Felt extremely glad to see Nadal lose!
  
  Feddy, kamaaan
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Mon Sep 8 11:03:33 2008.

  Men's final at 5pm EST today !!!
  
  

• From: thilak4life on Mon Sep 8 13:37:31 2008.

  Highlight of the tournament: Federer's smash lob shot of course.
  
  Surprise of the tournament (not to me, but the vast majority): Andy murray. he's better than Henman at his age. The british press/media hate the guy, because he's too scot for his own good.
  
  

• From: thilak4life on Mon Sep 8 13:39:03 2008.

  I think Federer would win, some of his buildup play to eventual winners, were in deed spectacular.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Mon Sep 8 13:41:49 2008.

  Enna Thilak, You still hate federer??
  
  ATP rankings after US Open (If Federer wins US Open 2008)
  
  1) Rafael Nadal----------------7000
  2) Roger Federer--------------5930
  3) Noval Djokovic--------------4855
  4) Andy Murray-----------------3040
  5) David Ferrer-----------------2490
  6) Nicolay Davydenko---------2400
  7) David Nalbandian-----------1975
  8) Andy Roddick----------------1845
  9) Stanislas Wawrinka--------1670
  10) James Blake----------------1650
  
  
  
  
  ATP rankings after US Open (If Federer loses in the finals)
  
  1) Rafael Nadal----------------7000
  2) Roger Federer--------------5630
  3) Noval Djokovic--------------4855
  4) Andy Murray-----------------3340
  5) David Ferrer-----------------2490
  6) Nicolay Davydenko---------2400
  7) David Nalbandian-----------1975
  8) Andy Roddick----------------1845
  9) Stanislas Wawrinka--------1670
  10) James Blake----------------1650
  
  
  
  
  
  Stanislas Wawrinka will gain 1 place and will be ranked #9 in the world!! Andy Murray will replace Ferrer as the new #4 in the world!! Only 2 changes in the rankings!!
  
  So Federer won't regain Number one status even if he wins US Open today!!!.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Mon Sep 8 13:58:30 2008.

  http://www.orkut.com/CommMsgs.aspx?cmm=78522&tid=2579735423031427703&na=4&nst=611&nid=78522-2579735423031427703-5242924066393668245
  
  For al those who stil have a confusion wit how the ranking points work
  
  Had posted this in another thread which is locked now, a few seemed to understand wel, so posting here
  
  Each tournament has a fixed no of points for the winner, runners up, semi-finalists etc. For example - For the ongoing U.S.Open, (or for any GS) the ranking points r as follows
  
  ATP Ranking Points
  W: 1000
  F: 700
  SF: 450
  QF: 250
  R16: 150
  R32: 75
  R64: 35
  R128: 5
  
  Now consider a tennis player who has started playing on the ATP Tour recently. Consider he is playing the Australian Open 2009 (since the Oz Open is the start of the season) for the very first time & he lost in the semi-finals!!
  
  Now he will gain 450 ranking points for his performance!! Now he plays many tournaments in the course of the season (for the first time)!! He plays GS, Masters series & other tournaments!! All these tournaments will have a fixed no of ranking for each round that u pass!!
  
  Now consider that at the end of the year he is at 3500 ranking points after amassing ranking points in each tournament depending on his performance!!
  
  When he starts the next season n he plays Australian Open 2010, he will have to defend the 450 pts that he got in the previous Oz Open (where he reached semis) which means that he will have to reach the semi-finals again at any cost if he does not want to lose any of his ranking pts!!
  
  
  Now consider that he lost in the 4th rd of the Oz Open 2010!! So, then his ranking pts will be as follows -
  
  3500 - 450 (pts gained in the previous season) + 150 (for reaching 4th rd this season) = 3200
  
  
  
  Say if he lost in the semis again in Oz Open 2010, then his ranking pts will remain intact, which means
  
  3500 - 450 + 450 = 3500
  
  
  
  If he reaches the finals of Oz Open 2010 n loses, then his ranking pts will be
  
  3500 - 450 + 700 = 3750
  
  
  Similarly for all the tournaments in the rest of the season u will have to defend the pts gained in the previous season!
  
  Contd in my next post!!
  
  When it comes to ATP race, a player starts from zero at the start of the year!!
  
  Now consider a GS, the ranking points & the race points for a GS are as follows
  
  ATP Ranking Points/ATP Race Points
  W: 1000/200
  F: 700/140
  SF: 450/90
  QF: 250/50
  R16: 150/30
  R32: 75/15
  R64: 35/7
  R128: 5/1
  
  Now if a player wins a GS he gains 200 points. Consider the same player which i have mentioned above!! He lost in the semis of Australian Open 2009 for which he will gain 90 race points. Similarly he wil go on to gain race points in each tournament according to his performance!! At the end of the year, he had 3500 ranking points which implies that he had amassed 700 race points in the entire year!!
  
  In short, at the end of the year, the ranking points would be 5 times the race points
  
  Ranking points at the end of the year = 5 x Race points gained in that calender year
  
  At the start of the next season, the race points again start from zero while ranking points starts from 3500 and either increases or decreases depending on the players performance when compared to the previous year!!
  
  In short, If u improve on the previous year's performance in any tournament, u will gain ranking pts and if there is a decline in the performance when compared to the previous year, u will lose ranking pts!!
  
  Thats y, its amazing that Federer could keep his consistency for 4 and half consecutive years!! Which means he either repeated the performance of the previous year in each tournament or fared better than the previous year!!
  
  

• From: thilak4life on Mon Sep 8 14:03:48 2008.

  I used to hate federer, not anymore. I'd like to see his talent tested to its limits. of course...
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Mon Sep 8 14:04:55 2008.

  thilak4life wrote:

  I used to hate federer, not anymore. I'd like to see his talent tested to its limits. of course...

  
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Mon Sep 8 17:32:25 2008.

  First set
  Fedex breaks murray.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Mon Sep 8 17:41:00 2008.

  1st set to Roger !!!
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Mon Sep 8 17:54:07 2008.

  Fedex breaks and murray breaks again
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Mon Sep 8 18:07:03 2008.

  Roger was freakkin lucky. A backhand shot was out and it wasnt called. Murray should have been leading now !!! . Thats attrocious
  
  

• From: omega on Mon Sep 8 18:22:22 2008.

  ajithfederer wrote:

  Roger was freakkin lucky. A backhand shot was out and it wasnt called. Murray should have been leading now !!! . Thats attrocious

  
  
  ....that was not even close, long by an inch.
  Murray is holding up really well (so far). Hope his knee holds up...
  
  

• From: omega on Mon Sep 8 18:33:49 2008.

  Federer gets the second set breaking Murray 7-5. Great set!!!
  Now nothing can stop Fedex!! (I am hoping that he would get the 3rd set @ 6-2)
  
  

• From: MrIndia on Mon Sep 8 18:33:59 2008.

  feddy wins second set..
  
  

• From: MrIndia on Mon Sep 8 18:50:48 2008.

  omega wrote:

  Federer gets the second set breaking Murray 7-5. Great set!!! Now nothing can stop Fedex!! (I am hoping that he would get the 3rd set @ 6-2)

  
  
  gud guess..
  
  feddy leading 4-0
  
  

• From: omega on Mon Sep 8 18:51:24 2008.

  Ruthless Roger rips off Murray. Leads 3rd set 5-0 (with two breaks).
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Mon Sep 8 18:57:31 2008.

  
  
  Murray breaks
  
  

• From: omega on Mon Sep 8 18:58:53 2008.

  Murray holds & breaks Roger to save his face off. Can he hold his serve to make it 3-5?? Tall ask!!!
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Mon Sep 8 19:06:04 2008.

  Roger wins !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  
  
  
  

• From: omega on Mon Sep 8 19:06:17 2008.

  GS No. 13th for Roger.... KING is back!!!
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Mon Sep 8 22:22:58 2008.

  PR,
  
  Please upload this picture !!!
  
  http://i33.tinypic.com/nydw04.jpg
  
  

• From: wrap07 on Tue Sep 9 1:31:07 2008.

  Federer
  
  With the type of intensity and single mindedness that Fed displayed in this tournament, not even Nadal could have stopped him. Fed was so pumped up and wanted to prove a point which he did really well.
  
  

• From: Sanjeevi on Tue Sep 9 2:32:58 2008.

  Federer
  
  will he become No.1 for this win?
  
  

• From: wrap07 on Tue Sep 9 2:56:28 2008.

  No. Nadal continues to be No 1.
  
  Around 900 ATP points diff between fed and nadal now.
  Nadal was a quarterfinalist last time and he did one better whereas Fed was the defending champion and that is the reason fed will not gain more points.
  
  (feddy has explained in detail in other thread)
  
  

• From: thilak4life on Tue Sep 9 3:47:53 2008.

  
  
  

• From: crajkumar_be on Wed Sep 10 7:55:53 2008.

  Federer
  
  Fantastic, ruthless, clinical, stylish, classical and GRACEFUL
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Wed Sep 17 10:24:53 2008.

  http://www.hinduonnet.com/tss/tss2934/stories/20060826016200400.htm
  
  From the publishers of THE HINDU
  
  VOL.29 :: NO.34 :: Aug. 26, 2006
  
  • Contents
  
  COVER STORY
  
  Fierce rivals
  
  Roger Federer versus Rafael Nadal is a marquee rivalry that should, as things stand, suffer nothing in comparison with Borg-McEnroe, Navratilova-Evert and Sampras-Agassi from the Open Era, writes S. Ram Mahesh.
  
  There he was, minding his business. Going quietly about it, with the petulant tucking of a wisp of hair into his headband, or the sharp bark after shanking a forehand his only concessions to emotion. Maybe, he pumped his fist on the odd occasion. But most of his demeanour on court — index finger raised to the sky, head down or gentle racket wave not unlike a composer twiddling his baton to applause — was of a man supremely at peace with himself.
  
  Roger Federer was in the business of destroying opponents; his love for beauty in stroke creation, and his knowledge of the greats that had gone before him, however, made him something of a benevolent aggressor. Scarcely had Pete Sampras retired his 85-square-inch-head Wilson Pro Staff that there was talk of a greater force gracing tennis: a force that might be the greatest ever.
  
  Amidst all the titles and the streaks and the glory, a statistical oddity raised its head. A statistical oddity that slugged a muscular, left-sided forehand, and got to everything. A statistical oddity in capris or clamdigger pants — a distinction depending on your sartorial preferences — called Rafael Nadal. At first, it seemed a glitch. But, it grew and grew, till Federer could no longer say, "But I don't know, you guys have to have more to write about than I have to talk about. So this is for me one night, and I'll be on the road and forget it, so... " as he did at Rome after one of many defeats to his nemesis, and sound convincing.
  
  How can you be the greatest of all time if the second-best player of your generation beats you at will? Not the kind of thing that looks pretty on the resume. Going into the Wimbledon final this year, Federer had lost five straight times to Nadal. The right-hander's only four losses in the year till then had been to the Spanish man-child the media had anointed his rival.
  
  Andy Roddick, ever one for self-depreciatory humour, when asked about his `rivalry' with Federer, said he'd have to start "winning a few of them" for it to be called a rivalry. Federer, in audience then, had laughed politely. Stepping onto the lawn at the All England Tennis Centre, the Swiss, could have forgiven for thinking the same with regard to Nadal. In the event, Federer closed out the match for his fourth successive Wimbledon title, joining Sampras and Bjorn Borg as the only men to have done it. The difference was the first set — a bagel — that featured all of the champion's artistry: bow-bent crosscourt backhands, forehand swipes on the run that looked nothing like swipes.
  
  But, Nadal hadn't rolled over on the surface he is most vulnerable. Anything but. There are many technical facets to the 20-year-old's seemingly one-dimensional game; his strength of mind is another thing altogether. He will not go quietly, or as Federer put it, "no matter if he's love-40 down or 40-love, you're always going to get the same guy." Federer, himself a master of mind control, had tightened up, looked anxious, and confessed as much after the match. "It was important to get him back, not to let him beat me on grass, on hard court, on clay, on all surfaces this year," said the 25-year-old. "It was a big, big match. I stepped up to the plate." What about the rivalry? "I like it again now."
  
  The Wimbledon final marked an important phase in the Federer-Nadal dynamic. Yes, it could now be legitimately called a rivalry — despite being 6-2 overall in Nadal's favour, it's 1-1 in Grand Slam finals. But, more importantly, it marked the rise of Nadal as a challenger on all surfaces. With the two separating themselves from the rest of the field, they will meet around the year in finals. Or at least that's what tournament directors will be hoping. For, Federer v Nadal is a marquee rivalry that should, as things stand, suffer nothing in comparison with Borg-McEnroe, McEnroe-Connors, Navratilova-Evert, and Sampras-Agassi from the Open Era.
  
  Tennis needs such rivalries. Two belief systems, two representations, two forces: one-on-one sport thrives on duality, on polarisation. As Richard Zago wrote in the Guardian, a rivalry brings into conflict two emotional chemistries. "It certainly has all the components that can capture the imagination of the sporting public," said Agassi of Federer-Nadal. "It's number one and number two in the world with two entirely different games. Their personalities are entirely different. These are the layers that are needed for a great rivalry. Something tells me they will be deciding Grand Slams for the next few years."
  
  Federer-Nadal has enough for the regular fan: the clean-cut FedEx versus the bicep-popping Rafa, or, perhaps, as the American media will have us believe, Superman and his Kryptonite. But, it's the technical pedantry when the two face off that fascinates most. Why does Federer's serve break down (he has never had a higher first-serve percentage than Nadal in any of their meetings)? Why, oh why, does his space-creator shot, the inside-out forehand implode even when struck from within the baseline? Will Nadal continue to wear him down with those heavy roundhouse forehands that Federer has to pull from above his shoulder on the backhand side?
  
  McEnroe spoke of each forcing the other to improve. The evolution in Nadal's serve is a case in point, as is his desire not to allow Federer "play aggressively with forehand (because) I can do nothing, I playing very short, and it easy for him". So, will Federer continue to stay back, as he did to his advantage on a quicker surface like grass, or will Nadal force him to serve and volley, hence changing modern tennis?
  
  As the two head to the US Open, they throw into relief another thing that makes rivalries great: simplicity. It's a simple theory, one that two-time US Open champion Tracy Austin verbalised: Nadal owns clay (he is Federer's biggest stumbling block on the path to a career Grand Slam); Federer owns grass; hard courts then are the middle ground for battle. It's the kind of simplicity essential for main-eventing an American tournament, whose major stars aren't expected to be American.
  
  THE DUELLISTS
  
  Rod Laver v Ken Rosewall
  Career titles: Laver 39; Rosewall 25
  Prize money: Laver $1,564,213; Rosewall $1,600,300. Head-to-head: Laver ahead 12-5.
  
  Bjorn Borg v John McEnroe
  Career titles: Borg 62; McEnroe 77.
  Prize money: Borg $3,655,751; McEnroe $12,547,797.
  Head-to-head: Equal at 7-7.
  
  Bjorn Borg v Jimmy Connors
  Career titles: Connors 109
  Prize money: Connors $8,641,040.
  Head-to-head: Borg ahead 13-8.
  
  Ivan Lendl v McEnroe
  Career titles: Lendl 94.
  Prize money: Lendl $21,262,417.
  Head-to-head: Lendl ahead 21-15.
  
  Stefan Edberg v Boris Becker
  Career titles: Edberg 42; Becker 49
  Prize money: Edberg $20,630,941; Becker $25,080,956.
  Head-to-head: Edberg down 10-25.
  
  Pete Sampras v Andre Agassi
  Career titles: Sampras 64; Agassi 60.
  Prize money: Sampras $43,280,489; Agassi $31,110,975.
  Head-to-head: Sampras ahead 20-14.
  
  
  
  

• From: Sanjeevi on Wed Sep 17 11:48:33 2008.

  After US Open Nadal points are increased but not for Federer.....
  
  

• From: Ramakrishna on Wed Sep 17 11:51:42 2008.

  Sanjeevi wrote:

  After US Open Nadal points are increased but not for Federer.....

  
  
  yes, because he was the defending champion.
  
  

• From: Ramakrishna on Wed Sep 17 11:51:59 2008.

  Sanjeevi wrote:

  not for Federer.....

  
  
  yes, because he was the defending champion.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Wed Sep 17 11:55:17 2008.

  Sanjeevi,
  
  Nadal's best results until this US Open is achieving a quarter final berth. This year he lost in the semi's. So he has actually bettered his previous performances. So that will result in a lot of points. But federer has to win this US Open in order to regain the same level of points or else he would lose them.
  
  ATP points system is indeed strange and asks for much better performances .
  

  Sanjeevi wrote:

  After US Open Nadal points are increased but not for Federer.....

  
  

• From: wrap07 on Wed Sep 17 12:10:21 2008.

  feddy,
  
  good compilation of details reg rivalries. Not only for his on court brilliance and skills but also off court manners, Federer is cut above the rest. he is quite a delight to watch. I somehow love this fed-nadal rivalry may be because we are seeing it live and it is more intense and also either of them do not give up easily.
  
  I had loved Agassi for his flamboyance and shot making. But the stunning natural talent of Agassi was lost in his carefree approach. But nadal has more grit and determination and he digs deep. That quality i like.
  
  Frankly, for style, brilliance, shotmaking and dominance of the game, none can equal Federer and he is quite a sight to watch.
  
  
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Wed Sep 17 12:16:25 2008.

  Shankar
  
  There are tons and tonnes of such articles in orkut. Whenever I find time I would post them here. Orkut is seriously a treasure house.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Thu Sep 18 12:01:03 2008.

  http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/tennis/usopen06/news/story?id=2570537
  
  Navratilova criticizes lack of racket regulation
  
  Reuters
  NEW YORK -- Martina Navratilova criticized the tennis establishment on Saturday for not having enough regulations to deal with the size and strings of rackets.
  
  "It takes less skill to hit great shots or to hit powerful shots because you just bang away," Navratilova told a news conference at the U.S. Open. "Tennis used to be more like squash -- now it's more like racquetball.
  
  "Hit the ball as hard as you can, it will still go in."
  
  The 49-year-old Navratilova, who won 18 Grand Slam singles titles during her illustrious career, is playing women's and mixed doubles at the Open in her final tournament.
  
  She said the new rackets are too powerful for the game and have essentially eliminated the need to volley, changing the way both singles and doubles are played.
  
  "You can be a great volleyer and still not be able to win on a slower court against great baseliners," she said.
  
  "Two people on the baseline, two people at the net, you should win every time. It does not happen. The rackets help the groundstrokes so much more than they help the volley."
  
  Navratilova said "the powers that be aren't regulating" tennis enough.
  
  "I'm disappointed that the racket manufacturers are dictating what kind of tennis we're watching," she said.
  
  "They're saying, 'Oh, this is the rackets we need to be playing with.'"
  
  She praised the strict rules dictated by the Professional Golf Association.
  
  "If golf regulated their game the same way tennis regulated our game, they'd be hitting 400 yard drives, hooking it left and right, any which way they want to, or keeping the ball straight even though you have a hook swing but the ball still goes straight."
  
  Navratilova has reached the second round of both doubles events in the swan song of her career. She suggested racket heads should be smaller and there needs to be "some kind of restriction on the strings."
  
  "I am disappointed with the direction the game is going, period," she said, noting that even top-ranked Roger Federer has essentially given up on serve-and-volley tennis.
  
  "I'm the greatest volleyer that's ever played, and I would have a hard time serve-volleying in today's game, so something is wrong.
  
  "The courts are too slow, the rackets are too powerful, so you're going to see much more one-dimensional tennis. It takes a genius to play really well at the net.
  
  "Even Federer, he used to serve and volley. Now he's staying back more because it's safer."
  
  All you(we) serve and volley supporters here you have some support in form of Martina
  
  

• From: Sanjeevi on Mon Sep 29 1:32:56 2008.

  Jo Tsongo who cruised Nadal in last year Aus open semi final is back with Thai Open championship by defeating World No.3 Djokovic
  
  

• From: omega on Tue Sep 30 7:12:52 2008.

  Sanjeevi wrote:

  Jo Tsongo who cruised Nadal in last year Aus open semi final is back with Thai Open championship by defeating World No.3 Djokovic

  
  
  Sort of a revenge for Tsonga who lost to Nole in AO earlier this year.
  Congrats! to Tsonga on winning his first ATP title. Hope he continues to be a force.
  
  

• From: omega on Thu Oct 16 6:18:56 2008.

  Madrid Masters is in progress............Davydenko (lost to Ginepari), Ferrer (to F. Lopez), Gonzalez (to G. Monfils) & James Blake (to Gilles Simon) are the casualities so far among the top seeds....
  
  Roger takes on Tsonga today....................
  
  

• From: thilak4life on Thu Oct 16 6:52:58 2008.

  I watched Gulbis vs Nadal. I'll put my neck on the line and say in a year or two, Gulbis will become #1 player in the world. With right confidence, and mentality, the kid will prosper. I'm amazed of his ranges of shots (of course, his special drop shots which is impossible to read). He needs to work on his footwork though. Coming back to Madrid masters, Nadal won the game. But what's new?
  
  

• From: omega on Fri Oct 17 12:48:04 2008.

  Federrer gets past Del Potro in QF..........
  He is due to meet Andy Murray in SF (A rematch of US Open Final)..
  Should be a very good match.
  
  

• From: omega on Sat Oct 18 12:50:54 2008.

  Federrer loses to Andy Murray in Madrid Masters SF (3-6, 6-3, 7-5).
  
  

• From: omega on Sat Oct 18 13:42:06 2008.

  Nadal loses as well to Giles Simon in a nail biting SF match.
  Simon won it 3-6, 7-5, 7-6.......... It will be Murray vs Simon for the title match....
  
  

• From: omega on Sun Oct 19 11:50:36 2008.

  Murray wins Madrid Masters beating Simon in straight sets 6-4, 7-6..
  
  

• From: wrap07 on Sun Oct 19 12:44:57 2008.

  Murray- he looks very strong. He will be a major force to reckon with for fed&nadal.
  
  

• From: thilak4life on Mon Oct 20 2:35:08 2008.

  Muarry won it. But I'm equally impressed of Simon. The commentator in that Nadal semis match is bang on "Simon gives Nadal taste of his own medicine". He was that good - resilience, hard working, and mentally strong.
  
  Murray has been excellent all year I have to say. Will be amongst the best next year.
  
  

• From: Sanjeevi on Mon Oct 20 3:36:45 2008.

  Murry is No. 4 and he has beaten all the Top 3 players very recently. Excellent form and lets wait for 2009 and who will be new No. 1
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Tue Oct 28 13:37:04 2008.

  http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7693396.stm
  
  
  Tennis call 'brain bias' found
  tennis ball
  Hawk-Eye virtual reality system can tell whether a ball is in or out
  
  Tennis line judges are more likely to make mistakes when calling balls "out" rather than "in", say researchers.
  
  Californian scientists found that of 83 incorrect calls, 70 of the errors were wrong "out" calls.
  
  This was down to a time lag of a few hundred milliseconds between an image hitting the retina and the viewer processing it, the team said.
  
  This bias, revealed in Current Biology, could enable players to exploit the "challenge" system, they suggested.
  
  
  Players should maximise their challenges, because the referee error rate is rather high for close calls
  University of California researchers
  
  Decoding information about the position of objects is a complex task, as the brain has to allow not only for the movement of the object, but also for the movement of the eye relative to it.
  
  The result is a time lag of a few hundred milliseconds between an image hitting the retina and our becoming aware of it.
  
  If the object is moving fast, the brain produces an illusion that the object has moved slightly further than it actually has in order to overcome this lag.
  
  The team from the University of California, Davis, says, in tennis terms, this means a ball which bounces on the line could actually be perceived by the line judge or umpire as slightly further away and called "out" as a result.
  
  To test this, video clips of 4,000 random Wimbledon points were examined and any incorrect calls logged.
  
  If this "bias" did not exist scientists would have expected the number of balls wrongly called "out" to equal the number wrongly judged "in".
  
  In fact, of 83 calls, 70 of the errors were wrong "out" calls.
  
  More clay
  
  The researchers said the only ways to eliminate this were to either judge every shot using the "Hawk-Eye" radar method or via instant replay, or to make everyone play on clay, when the ball leaves a "skid mark" showing the exact point it bounced.
  
  There is potential for players to use the knowledge of the brain bias to improve their success rate when challenging line calls, they suggested.
  
  "As it stands, the skill of challenging referee calls is intertwined with the skill of playing tennis itself - those players who make better use of their challenges benefit more," they said.
  
  "Players should maximise their challenges, because the referee error rate is rather high for close calls - it is a suboptimal strategy to leave unused challenges.
  
  "Because players are allowed to continue challenging calls as long as the challenges are correct, players should predominantly challenge those calls consistent with the perceptual error revealed here."
  
  Professor George Mather, from the University of Sussex, has conducted his own research into the accuracy of tennis line calls.
  
  He said it was possible the bias was introduced not as the brain processed the visual information from the court, but as it decided how to respond.
  
  "It may well be that there is a contribution from both the perception stage, and the response stage, with some other reason why the decision to call 'out' is made wrongly more often."
  
  He said his own research found the risk of wrong decisions due to this kind of bias was a small one.
  
  

• From: Raikkonen on Sat Nov 1 3:11:37 2008.

  I heard that Marat Safin is going hang up his rackets at the end of the year..
  
  i really have no words to describe how i feel because he is the only reason why i have been watching this sick sport for last few years.
  
  injuries and mood swings have let him down, but still on his day, he is just as good as anyone.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sat Nov 1 14:13:00 2008.

  http://specials.rediff.com/sports/2008/oct/13slide1.htm
  
  
  
  

• From: wrap07 on Sat Nov 1 14:30:33 2008.

  
  
  In masters series, feddy withdrew due to back problem and Nadal due to knee injury after losing the first set.
  
  

• From: omega on Sun Nov 2 21:50:29 2008.

  Tsonga has won the Paris Masters beating Nalbandian in a 3 set thriller
  earning him the final spot for the Shanghai Masters (season ending Masters cup for the top 8). So it will be Nadal, Feddy, Novak, Andy, Davydenko, Roddick, Tsonga & Del Potro.
  
  

• From: omega on Mon Nov 3 17:26:35 2008.

  Nadal withdraws from the prestigious year end Shangai Masters, owing to fatigue.... His withdrawal allows Giles Simon to sneak into the tournament that features the top 8 tennis pros'.
  
  http://www.tennis.com/news/news.aspx?id=151554
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Mon Nov 3 19:48:06 2008.

  http://tennis.bnpparibas.com/en/news/?AFP=081103104612.wyoy6218
  
  ATP Rankings after Paris Masters
  
  PARIS, Nov 3, 2008 (AFP)
  
  ATP world rankings on Monday:
  
  1. Rafael Nadal (ESP) 6675 pts 2. Roger Federer (SUI) 5205 3. Novak Djokovic (SRB) 4645 4. Andy Murray (GBR) 3420 5. Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) 2315 (+1) 6. Andy Roddick (USA) 1970 (+1) 7. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) 1950 (+7) 8. Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) 1845 (+1)
  
  9. Gilles Simon (FRA) 1780 (+1) 10. James Blake (USA) 1775 (+1) 11. David Nalbandian (ARG) 1725 (-3) 12. David Ferrer (ESP) 1695 (-7) 13. Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) 1510 (-1) 14. Gael Monfils (FRA) 1475 (+2) 15. Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) 1420 (-2) 16. Fernando Verdasco (ESP) 1415 (+1) 17. Robin Soderling (SWE) 1325 (+1) 18. Igor Andreev (RUS) 1245 (+2) 19. Nicolas Almagro (ESP) 1230 (+2) 20. Tomas Berdych (CZE) 1215 (+2) afp08
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sat Nov 8 15:06:52 2008.

  http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hr3-mGCEWrd5VYfVhLh7KaFjleyg
  
  Tennis legend Borg backs Murray for Slam success
  
  3 days ago
  
  LONDON (AFP) — Swedish tennis legend Bjorn Borg is backing British star Andy Murray to win a Grand Slam in 2009 and end a national drought going back to Fred Perry in 1936.
  
  Murray lost the US Open final to Swiss world number two Roger Federer but Borg told the BBC on Wednesday that the 21-year-old Scot, ranked four in the world, was destined to bag a major prize in the coming months.
  
  "I said last year Andy Murray was going to be a great player," said Borg.
  
  "Everybody was a little bit sceptical when I said that. But look at what Andy has been producing this year.
  
  "He is improving his physical condition and his mental aspect," Borg told BBC Radio Five Live.
  
  "I pick Federer, Nadal and Murray to win Grand Slam tournaments next year," said Borg, who landed five Wimbledon and six French Open crowns between 1974 and 1981 to become a global sporting icon.
  
  Borg, 52, saw Federer equal his Wimbledon feat of five successive titles with his victory in 2007 but Spanish star Nadal denied him a sixth last July when he became the first man since Borg to win back-to-back French and Wimbledon crowns.
  
  As a result, the Mallorcan ousted Federer from the top of the world rankings.
  
  Murray has won five tournaments this year and he is now out to deny the likes of Federer the season-ending Masters Cup in Shanghai starting Sunday.
  
  Nadal will miss the event through a knee injury.
  
  Borg says 209 should be a great year for the game.
  
  "I really enjoy watching Federer and Nadal and Murray - it's great rivalries and that's why I say next year is going to be very interesting for world tennis."
  
  Murray continues to be out on his own in the British men's game with the country's number two player, Alex Bogdanovic, ranked 184.
  
  Borg's long-time adversary from the late 1970s and early 1980s, John McEnroe, likewise backed Murray earlier in the week.
  
  "When Andy Murray first came on the scene three or four years ago you heard people say that he could win 'majors', and he's putting all that together now," said McEnroe, three-times Wimbledon singles champion in the 1980s.
  
  "What I love the most is how incredibly well he's moving," the left-hander, renowned as the outstanding 'touch' player of his generation, added.
  
  "It's unbelievable. Most people can't move on the court like that and find the position and the angles that Andy's able to come up with.
  
  Andy Murray is definitely a Grandslam Material. - Hope we have a breath taking 2009 season. [/tscii]
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Nov 9 14:05:40 2008.

  http://tennis.com/features/general/features.aspx?id=151846
  Viewpoint: The greatest generation?
  
  Viewpoint by Tom Perrotta
  
  We’ve all had the debate before. Who’s the greatest (fill in the blank) of all time? Which World Series champion would beat all others? (The 2004 Red Sox, of course.) Which Super Bowl winner is the finest of them all? In tennis, we’ve been talking about the G.O.A.T. since Roger Federer turned in his first three-major-title season in 2004.
  
  As 2008 comes to a close and the best men, minus a banged up Rafael Nadal, travel to Shanghai, ask yourself, how does the current Top 10 compare to similar collections from years past? In terms of titles and accomplishments, this group is barely in the conversation with the best generations. But do they have the potential to rival, say, the 1979 year-end Top 10, which included Bjorn Borg, Jimmy Connors, and John McEnroe at the top (see chart)? Or the remarkable 1985 year-end Top 10? The top six players from that year—Ivan Lendl, McEnroe, Mats Wilander, Connors, Stefan Edberg, and Boris Becker—won a remarkable 42 major titles. Right now, the current Top 10 have 20 major titles, 18 of which belong to Federer and Nadal.
  
  1979
  
  Top 10
  B. Borg
  J. Connors
  J. McEnroe
  V. Gerulaitis
  R. Tanner
  G. Vilas
  A. Ashe
  H. Solomon
  J. Higueras
  E. Dibbs
  Total
  
  
  Slams*
  11
  8
  7
  1
  1
  4
  3
  0
  0
  0
  35
  
  1997
  
  Top 10
  P. Sampras
  P. Rafter
  M. Chang
  J. Bjorkman
  Y. Kafelnikov
  G. Rusedski
  C. Moya
  S. Bruguera
  T. Muster
  M. Rios
  Total
  
  
  Slams*
  14
  2
  1
  0
  2
  0
  1
  2
  1
  0
  23
  
  *Career Slams Won
  
  1985
  
  Top 10
  I . Lendl
  J. McEnroe
  M. Wilander
  J. Connors
  S. Edberg
  B. Becker
  Y. Noah
  A. Jarryd
  M. Mecir
  K. Curren
  Total
  
  
  Slams*
  8
  7
  7
  8
  6
  6
  1
  0
  0
  0
  43
  
  2008
  
  Top 10
  R. Nadal
  R. Federer
  N. Djokovic
  A. Murray
  N. Davydenko
  A. Roddick
  J. Tsonga
  J. Del Potro
  G. Simon
  J. Blake
  Total
  
  
  Slams**
  5
  13
  1
  0
  0
  1
  0
  0
  0
  0
  20
  
  **Slams Won So Far
  
  But they are young—the youngest Top 10, in fact, since 1994 (average age: 24). Given time, they might achieve nearly as much and, by a not entirely unreasonable stretch of the imagination, maybe more. Here are my generous predictions:
  
  1. Rafael Nadal: Nadal has five majors at age 22. He’s nearly unbeatable on clay and not quite as unbeatable on grass, but close. Only injuries—to his feet, his knees, and his shoulder, to catalogue a few of the problems he has had in his career—will keep him from doubling his current total (say three more at the French Open, another victory at Wimbledon, and a hard court major somewhere along the way). Projected career total: 10 majors
  
  2. Roger Federer: If Federer, 27, continues to slump—that is, win one major a year—he ought to reach 15 before his career ends. Tough to bet against him after his inspired U.S. Open run. Projected career total: 15
  
  3. Novak Djokovic: Djokovic won his first major this year, but he has struggled—and shown signs of frustration—for much of the year. He’s only 21 and his game has no technical flaws: solid strokes, excellent footwork, and multiple weapons. He’s strong mentally, too, but I do sense a bit of impatience from him recently. Compare him to Becker, Edberg, Connors, and Wilander. Does he stack up? If so, he has five or six major titles to go. Projected career total: 5
  
  4. Andy Murray: Murray’s play this year, especially late in the year, caused me to write this column. Nadal, Federer, Djokovic, and Murray are, to my mind, among the strongest foursomes in the history of the game. Tennis fans have praised Federer’s versatility for years. Murray doesn’t have the same grace or the same caliber forehand. He does, however, have a stronger return of serve, a more reliable backhand, a first serve with more sting, and softer hands at net. The 21-year-old Scot is that good—certainly good enough to win multiple majors. Will he remain healthy enough? Projected career total: 6
  
  5. Nikolay Davydenko: The man with perhaps the most efficient groundstrokes in the game is this era’s answer to Miloslav Mecir, who ranked ninth back in 1985 (and retired at age 26 with a bad back). Davydenko has never reached a major final and isn’t likely to change his fortunes in the future. Projected career total: 0
  
  6. Andy Roddick: Roddick is the most consistent member of the Top 10 (he’s always there) and he owns the most dangerous weapon, the second-best serve in the world (nothing beats Ivo Karlovic’s booming delivery from 700 feet in the air). Roddick could win another major, but it will be a difficult task with so much young talent surrounding him. Projected career total: 1
  
  7. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga: Here’s a comparison I haven’t seen before that seems dead on: Tsonga and Boris Becker. Tall, rugged, powerful, agile, always moving forward, always on the offensive, always dangerous. Tsonga’s talent is immense; unfortunately, so is his capacity for injury (he had a knee operation this year and suffers from a chronic back condition). Can he play enough to be at his best in the biggest tournaments? Projected career total: 1
  
  8. Juan Martin Del Potro: I had all but written off Del Potro a year ago. He seemed to lack intensity, he wasn’t in the greatest shape, and he suffered from injuries. He also didn’t move well. This year, though, he’s addressed all these concerns to varying degrees and jumped more than 40 spots in the rankings. I have no idea how he’ll respond to the pressure of a major final, but I do think he’ll get there—and even win a couple. Projected career total: 2
  
  9. Gilles Simon: While the wiry Frenchman lacks the flash of some of his compatriots, he knows more about winning, something no top player from France has figured out since Yannick Noah, another member of the 1985 Top 10 list. Will he break the curse? Close, but no cigar. Projected career total: 0
  
  10. James Blake: Unfortunately, one gets the sense the soon-to-be 29-year-old’s best tennis is behind him. I’d love to see him reach a major final, especially in Flushing, but the chances are slim. Projected career total: 0
  
  Total for the group: 40 (three fewer than the Top 10 from 1985)
  
  I admit, these are lofty predictions, but that ought to tell you how highly I think of this crop of players, not to mention a few others (such as Gael Monfils and Marin Cilic) who might well contend for major titles in the future. Of course, these men might not achieve anywhere near this much success. Take a look at the 1997 Top 10, which no doubt seemed strong at the time. Six of those players reached the No. 1 ranking, yet only Sampras won more than two major titles. Moya could have won more than one French Open. Same goes for Chang and Muster. Rios won 67 percent of the matches he played in his career but couldn’t string seven together over the course of two weeks. Bjorkman couldn’t quite get over the hump in singles. In total, this group won a total of 23 majors, 14 of them by Sampras. They could have done much, much better.
  
  When most people talk about talent, they describe it as difficult to identify. Not true, I say. It’s easy to spot talent. Predicted what a person will do with it is the difficult part. Shanghai is a prelude to the answers we’ll begin learn in 2009.[/tscii]
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Nov 9 14:12:40 2008.

  http://www.atptennis.com/5/en/deuce/november2008/nadal.asp
  
  Making History In a Hurry
  
  
  © Getty Images
  Nadal added an Olympic gold in Beijing to his seven other titles in 2008.
  By JOEL DRUCKER
  Published: November 7, 2008
  
  It was a year that changed everything in shaping Nadal's mark on history
  
  It has been known for some time that Rafael Nadal will be regarded as one of the best clay court players the game has ever seen. But after one of the finest seasons of the Open Era, can there be any doubt that Rafa is destined to become an all-time great?
  
  "Actually I walked up to Rafael Nadal. And he is probably my favorite tennis player to watch and I walked up to him and I was like, 'I just want to meet you and don't take a picture or anything, I just want to meet you.' And I told him, 'I watch you all the time when you play tennis and I love watching you play tennis.' I told him good luck."
  
  Demonstrating the same tidal wave force with which he overwhelms his opponents, Rafael Nadal has sprinted his way into history. At 15, he won his first ATP match. At 17, he became the youngest man since Boris Becker to reach the third round of Wimbledon. At 19, he became the first man in more than 20 years to win the Roland Garros title on his main draw debut.
  
  His pace accelerated in 2008. Amazingly, Nadal did not win his first tournament of the year until April 27. Capturing his fourth straight Masters Series Monte Carlo title that day with a win over Roger Federer, Nadal commenced a tri-continental performance that will leave tennis aficionados dazzled for years to come. In just under four months, he won eight tournaments, wracking up a 48-2 record and a 32-match winning streak highlighted by victories at the French Open and Wimbledon. Just prior to the US Open, Nadal took over the World No. 1 ranking from Federer.
  
  It was a year that changed everything in shaping Nadal's mark on history, elevating him to pre-eminence as more than a clay-court specialist but perhaps placing him on a path towards becoming an all-time great.
  
  What's interesting, though, is that once again 22-year-old Nadal has sprinted his way into the conversation. Over the last five years, talk of history, legacy and all-time greatness has been largely confined to Federer, all for good reason given the Swiss' massive achievements. Yet as much as Nadal continued to enhance his game, not until that final point at Wimbledon did it become clear that Nadal too could end up a tennis titan.
  
  There were good reasons for this. A year ago, Nadal held three Grand Slam titles earned only at Roland Garros and a pair of runner-up efforts at Wimbledon. That's a superb, Hall of Fame-worthy resume, but as is the case with Gustavo Kuerten and Patrick Rafter, earning multiple Slams at one venue leaves a player perceived more as an occasional titlist than a champion for the ages.
  
  By proving himself a man for all surfaces – besides Wimbledon, Nadal in 2008 reached the semis for the first time at the Australian and the US Open – Nadal has significantly upgraded his place in tennis history. In nearly doubling his Slam output to five, Nadal vaulted past the likes of Kuerten, Jim Courier, Guillermo Vilas and now stands but one Slam title away from such multi-venue champions Becker and Stefan Edberg.
  
  While it's quite likely he'll earn his sixth Slam soon enough, as the 22-year-old Nadal nears his mid-20s, it's easy to imagine Nadal earning more Slams – figures that take him into the realm of such all-time top tenners as McEnroe (seven) and eight-Slammers Agassi, Connors, Ivan Lendl and Ken Rosewall. Start hitting doubles digits, and among Open era champions you enter the rarified air occupied only by Borg, Laver, Federer and Pete Sampras.
  
  It's easy to forget this, but early in 2008 there were times when Nadal looked weary, most notably when he lost in the Indian Wells semifinals to Novak Djokovic and the final of the Sony Ericsson Open to Nikolay Davydenko. As recently as Masters Series Hamburg in May, he stood one set away from dropping to No. 3 in the world.
  
  But in Paris, Nadal's tremendous sense of urgency and competitive fury was brilliant. His fourth straight French Open was his most dominant of all, the Spaniard failing to yield a set (a feat last attained at Roland Garros by Borg in 1980). At Wimbledon, he beat Federer in the greatest match in tennis history, 9-7 in the fifth. Again following in Borg's footsteps, Nadal that day became the first man since the Swede in 1980 to win Roland Garros and Wimbledon in the same year.
  
  Nadal's other six 2008 titles included an Olympic gold medal in Beijing, as well as three ATP Masters Series events (Monte Carlo, Hamburg, Toronto). During this run, he'd snapped up multiple titles on clay, grass and hard courts.
  
  "I know how tough it is to be No. 1," Nadal said during the US Open. "And I know for sure I can go back to No. 2 or No. 3 in next months, no? So you have to be ready for everything and try to enjoy this moment and accept everything."
  
  How does Nadal's 2008 rank among the greatest years in Open era history? The pinnacle is Rod Laver's unmatched 1969 calendar-year sweep of all four Slams. Five years later, Jimmy Connors won 99 out of 103 matches and every Slam he entered, the only gap resulting when Connors' participation in World Team Tennis led to his banishment from Roland Garros (another mitigating factor: the extreme shallowness in those years of the Australian Open field). In 1988, Mats Wilander also won three Slams, losing in the quarterfinals of Wimbledon.
  
  In a three-decade span from 1969 to 1999, there were 20 different years when a man earned two Slams in a calendar year, led by Pete Sampras accomplishing this on four occasions between 1993 and '97.
  
  Federer has topped everyone but Laver, notching a trio of three-Slam years in 2004, 2006 and 2007.
  
  So while certainly Nadal's 2008 has been spectacular, it joins a long list of other notable tennis seasons. But perhaps the most engaging part of Nadal's success is his youth – and the way everything from his success to his demeanor gives evidence of even more great things to come.
  
  If Nadal's sprint up the mountain hasn't been quite as fast as Borg's, it's pretty darn close. The Swede is the youngest man in tennis history to have earned a fifth Slam, reaching that figure the week he turned 22 at the 1978 French Open. Nadal's fifth Slam, at Wimbledon, came a month after his 22nd birthday.
  
  The two also share a stylistic affinity. Like Nadal, Borg burst on the scene as a precocious, understated prodigy graced with an alluring mystique, the hair of a rock star and an iron will. Having built a cult as tennis' "Teen Angel," Borg earned his first of six French Open titles in 1974, 10 days after he turned 18. As is the case currently with Nadal, Borg on clay was a human backboard, able to cover the court for hours on end with scarcely an unforced error. But just like Nadal, early in his career, Borg's dominance on clay threatened to overshadow his overall excellence.
  
  Like Nadal, Borg at first was considered too much of a defensive baseliner to make an impact on the grass of Wimbledon. Everything from his grips to his volley skills was considered unworkable at the All England Club.
  
  Soon enough, though, the Swede and Spaniard proved the world wrong. In the quest to win Wimbledon, Borg and Nadal each dramatically improved his serve, slightly adjusted his court positioning closer to the baseline and, perhaps most telling of all, displayed a willingness to shed innate defense in favor of selective offense.
  
  "What's so impressive about Nadal is his increased understanding of how to play on grass," nine-time Wimbledon champion Martina Navratilova said on the lawns of the All England Club. "He's hitting his backhand earlier, he's slicing it intelligently and his movement is just incredible."
  
  But in a less quantifiable, more emotional sense, Nadal and Borg part ways. Though Borg was unquestionably an all-time great by his early 20s, he'd also grown increasingly world-weary. The pressures of turning back such ravenous competitors as Connors, McEnroe and an ascending Ivan Lendl, the monk-like rituals he followed in practice, the demands of fame and, perhaps most painfully, the limitations of his attrition-based playing style – all of it made Borg more of a reluctant ruler than an ambitious, blood-thirsty warrior.
  
  Nadal, of course, is just the opposite. There's nothing jaded or bored in Nadal's attitude, no sense as Borg displayed that the life of a tennis pro is a drain on one's soul. There came a point in Borg's career, for example, when the smaller events meant far less to him than the majors, a pragmatism that perhaps in some ways hindered his growth as a player – and certainly revealed his competitive fatigue.
  
  "It's not a question of opting for quantity or quality," Nadal says about his active playing schedule. "You go for what there is, you play what you can play. There is no alternative but to play. Nothing more, nothing less."
  
  In that sense, while Nadal's grinding game has its ancestral roots in Borg (and even more closely, another clay-court maestro, left-handed Argentine Vilas), his battle-hungry temperament is more like Connors. This is a man who loves to compete, day in and day out. Not content to merely peak for the majors, Nadal has already won 12 ATP Masters Series titles, third all-time behind Andre Agassi's 17 and Federer's 14.
  
  How large a legacy Rafael Nadal will leave is one of the great questions of contemporary tennis. In large part it's a question that's been under a rock for many years but is now, much like Nadal, staring the entire sport – and Roger Federer most of all – right in the face. He faces many more battles. But while Borg waved his white flag and surrendered at the age 25, Nadal wouldn't have it any other way.
  
  "I only want to progress," says Nadal. "That's what you have to do if you are No. 1 and want to stay there. I want to stay there and I will fight to do that."
  
  

• From: omega on Mon Nov 10 8:28:23 2008.

  Federrer lost to Giles Simon in his first match @ the Tennis Gold Masters Shanghai 4-6, 6-4, 6-3. Federrer was struggling for most part to hold his serve. Hope he gets better in the other two matches....
  
  Next Andy (UK) takes Andy (USA).........
  
  

• From: thilak4life on Mon Nov 10 12:56:03 2008.

  Simon deserved it. The second set winner, and the rally itself was top notch. And Federer saved all 3 breakpoints after goin' 0-40 in 3rd game of final set. Simon returned back the taste of his own medicine, that is goin' 0-40 and taking 5 straight points! Cracking match
  
  

• From: wrap07 on Tue Nov 11 10:47:18 2008.

  Novak bt Davydenko in three sets. 7-6, 0-6, 7-5. rally after rally.
  
  

• From: omega on Sun Nov 16 10:13:40 2008.

  Nole beats Nikolay in the Season ending Masters 6-1, 7-5 (I thought the Finals was supposed to be a 5 setter, may be not??).
  
  Anyway the way Nole was struggling in the SF to finish off Simon, I thought he would have a long day with Nikolay, but seems like it was Nikolay who had little left in his tank for the Final.
  
  So Nole started & ended the year winning both the big events (AO & ATP Gold Masters).
  
  Comparatively a very forgetful year for Roger... Hope he returns healthy for 2009.
  
  

• From: wrap07 on Mon Nov 17 0:50:33 2008.

  It looked like novak will steamroll nikolay. In later part of the second set only there was some fight with nikoly's poor serving hurting him throughout the match.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Wed Nov 19 13:09:50 2008.

  If,Read by Roger Federer And Rafael Nadal
  http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=is-JCJCUy18&feature=related
  A fine poem read by 2 of the finest sportsmen.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Wed Nov 19 16:07:00 2008.

  http://www.espnstar.com/tennis/news/detail/item154470/A-year-of-great-tennis/
  A year of great tennis
  
  With only the Davis Cup left on the year's tennis calendar, we take a look back at the best action in 2008.
  
  MEN'S PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Andy Murray
  
  Murray started the year as a player on the fringe of the true elite and proceeded to establish himself as very much part of it, claiming two Masters Series titles and finishing runner-up in the US Open.
  
  The young Scot added consistency and accuracy to his game to devastating effect and mastered both Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, suggesting Great Britain's long wait for a male grand slam champion will soon be over.
  
  Murray will kick off the 2009 campaign as one of four players - along with Nadal, Federer and Novak Djokovic - who currently sit a step above their rivals. That he has managed to join that company is reason enough to celebrate.
  
  WOMEN'S PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Dinara Safina
  
  After too long living in the shadow of her brother Marat, Safina finally claimed some headlines of her own in a season in which she claimed three consecutive tour titles and finished runner-up at Roland Garros.
  
  Safina's extraordinary run in Paris - most famously, her comeback from the brink of defeat to beat Maria Sharapova - underlined the Russian's potential and saw her finish the full season ranked a lofty third in the world.
  
  Safina now needs to build on that success heading into the new campaign. But in a women's game where nobody seems currently capable of taking a stranglehold, Safina's dramatic emergence may not be over yet.
  
  MEN'S MATCH OF THE YEAR: Nadal v Federer, Wimbledon final
  
  Not only the match of the year, but very possibly the greatest tennis match of all time: at his third attempt, Nadal finally dethroned Federer on Centre Court after the mother of all battles.
  
  Held back by a magnificent Federer comeback from two sets down to level matters, the match seemed destined to head into an extra day with both players locked together in the final set.
  
  But with darkness quickly falling, Nadal grabbed the crucial break and served out amid an extraordinary All England Club atmosphere to round off surely the most high-octane tennis match ever played: 6-4 6-4 6-7 6-7 9-7.
  
  WOMEN'S MATCH OF THE YEAR: Safina v Sharapova, French Open fourth round
  
  Sharapova looked like she was coasting into the French Open quarter-finals against the Russian, who had been in sublime form heading into the tournament but had proved next to nothing on the really big occasion.
  
  Sharapova won the first set and led 5-2 in the second, holding match point, before Safina belatedly stirred, storming back from the brink of defeat to ultimately triumph 6-7 7-6 6-2.
  
  It was to prove a turning point for the whole career of Safina, who went on to reach the final and ended the year very much deserving her place among the women's elite. Sharapova, injury plagued, may never be the same again.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Dec 5 11:41:46 2008.

  http://specials.rediff.com/sports/2008/dec/05slide1-sampras-back-in-london-and-relishing-life.htm
  A sampras special.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sat Dec 6 13:19:51 2008.

  http://www.atptennis.com/1/en/2008news/wtf_countdown09.asp
  
  Countdown To Barclays ATP World Tour Finals Begins
  
  © AFP/Getty Images
  Pat CashTennis icon Pat Cash today marked the one-year countdown to the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, which comes to The O2 in London in November 2009.
  
  Cash unveiled a countdown timer that is programmed to release one tennis ball each day up until the event. The O2 arena will host the prestigious eight-day singles and doubles tournament, welcoming 240,000 fans to watch the world’s top eight players battle it out for the final South African Airways 2009 ATP Rankings points of the year, and a chance to be crowned 2009 ATP World Tour Champion.
  
  The Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, previously known as the Tennis Masters Cup, is moving to London after a four-year run in Shanghai. Now in its 40th year, the tournament has been hosted in some of the world’s most glamorous cities and been won by the biggest names in tennis, including Pete Sampras, Roger Federer, John McEnroe, Andre Agassi and Bjorn Borg.
  
  The event is the climax of the ATP World Tour, where players gather ranking points from more than 60 tournaments, including the four Grand Slams, played throughout the year. The eight men who then finish with the most South African Airways ATP Rankings points at the end of the regular season qualify to compete at the circuit finale for a total prize of $5 million and for the chance to become the ATP World Tour Champion of the Year.
  
  Cash, who qualified for and played at the tournament in 1987, said: “Qualifying for and competing in an event like this is a dream for any tennis player. It’s the chance to compete on the ultimate stage, battling the best of the best, and giving it your all. When I look back on my playing years, the Masters, as it was known then, was certainly a highlight. I’m definitely looking forward to catching the action here in London next year.”
  
  Cash said that next year in London he expected to see British No. 1, Andy Murray, who qualified for the event for the first time this year in Shanghai. Murray posted wins over four-time champion Roger Federer, Gilles Simon and Andy Roddick in the round-robin stage before falling to Nikolay Davydenko in the semifinals.
  
  “It is such a unique event – it is the only tournament where fans are guaranteed to see the top eight guys playing each other every day,” said Murray. “After some great results this year, I was really pleased to have qualified for Shanghai and for me, it’s the perfect climax to the season. With the event moving to London next year I’m determined to try and qualify so that I can play in front of a British crowd at the O2 arena.”
  
  The ATP will host the climax of the season with the support of the Wimbledon Championships and the Lawn Tennis Association, who are partners of the tournament. Chris Kermode, tournament managing director, said: “We are delighted to be bringing the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals to London, and with the support of Wimbledon and the LTA we are confident of staging the type of world class event that tennis fans have become accustomed to here in London. This tournament will be a unique experience for fans, who will be guaranteed to see two of the top eight men on court at any one time and the opportunity to watch their favourite players under one roof. With approximately 67,000 tickets already spoken for through ticket pre-registration, the event is already bearing all the signs that it will become one of the must-see events in London of 2009.”
  
  Mayor of London Boris Johnson also added: "It's brilliant that the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals are moving here from 2009. London is the home of sport and tennis is already hugely popular, not least with me. Our aim is to drive up participation in the capital and hosting the great annual finale of the tennis season will further increase the sport's profile. As we approach the 2012 Games, it reinforces London's reputation for international sporting events and adds impetus to our work with the LTA to ensure that every child and young person in London has access to affordable, well-maintained tennis courts and high-quality coaching."
  
  For more information about the event and to pre-register for your tickets visit: www.BarclaysATPWorldTourFinals.com
  
  Supporting Quotes
  
  Ian Ritchie, CEO of the Wimbledon Championships, said: “We have partnered with the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals because we believe it important to showcase more elite level tennis in the UK. This is a great opportunity for Wimbledon fans to get another chance to see their favourite players battling it out on court in London.”
  
  Philip Beard, Chairman Sponsorship and Sport, AEG Europe, owners and operators of The O2, said: “We are very proud to be hosting the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in 2009 because of the great heritage this tournament has – it’s been hosted in some of the world’s top venues and it’s fantastic that we will become a part of that history. The O2 is a great venue for watching live sport and will be unmissable for British tennis fans.”
  
  Andrew Morton, Chief of Staff to the CMO, Barclays Global Retail and Commercial Banking said: “We are pleased to be marking the one year countdown to the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, which promises to be one of the most exciting sports events in 2009. At Barclays we have been involved in tennis, both at elite and grassroots level, for a number of years, and this event gives us the opportunity both to raise our profile on a global scale and to drive strong commercial benefit through the appeal of tennis to a significant portion of our Customers.”
  
  Roger Draper, CEO of the LTA, said: “The Barclays ATP World Tour Finals will be a truly inspirational event for tennis fans across the country. It provides another opportunity for sports fans to watch some of the very best athletes in the world competing and I have no doubt that the tournament will encourage people to pick up a racket themselves and start playing.”
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Wed Dec 17 21:43:17 2008.

  http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/news/articles/2008-12-11/200812111228974080871.html
  
  Spotlight: Why Murray can win the Open
  
  Thursday 11 December 2008
  By Eleanor Preston
  Andy Murray
  
  In our special series we look at the standout threats at Australian Open 2009 – those who have never won a major before but could play a leading role on the world’s biggest stage in January.
  
  It has been nearly 73 years since Great Britain last had a male Grand Slam champion so it is no wonder that the Poms are a little bit excited about Andy Murray.
  
  Murray will go into the Australian Open as the tournament’s fourth seed and with what appears to be a golden chance to end a drought that dates back to Fred Perry in the 1930s. His first round loss to eventual finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at the Australian Open in January turned out to be an anomaly, for the tousle-haired 21-year old went on to enjoy a stellar 2008 season, marked by five titles on the ATP Tour, including prestigious Masters Series trophies in Cincinnati and Madrid and wins over Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer (twice) and Novak Djokovic. At the US Open, Murray cut a swathe through the draw and showed himself to be the equal in talent, fitness and ambition to the three players he went on to join in what has become known as the ‘big four’ at the top of the men’s game. No wonder he is being touted by many observers – even away from the fevered expectation that has exploded in his home country – as a Grand Slam champion-in-waiting.
  
  Murray’s recent leap into the elite of men’s tennis owes much to his decision, announced in November 2007, to replace his former coach Brad Gilbert with a kind of tennis brains trust, a panel of experts hand-picked to help maximise Murray’s talent. Gilbert had helped make Murray savvy and match-tough but the Scot felt that both their relationship and his development had stagnated. He found being on the road with a one-on-one coach difficult and much prefers the less intense experience of travelling with a group. Since the start of the 2008 season, Murray has been advised on coaching matters by Zambian-born Scot Miles Maclagan, a far more low-key and more self-effacing character than Gilbert but a clever coaching mind nonetheless. Usually to be found alongside Maclagan in the Players’ Box during Murray’s matches are fitness trainer Jez Green, strength and conditioning expert Matt Little and physiotherapist Andy Ireland.
  
  “At the end of 2007 I wasn’t particularly enjoying myself,” explained Murray. “The whole set-up that I’ve got now, I love the guys that are with me. We get on great, they’re all really good fun and they make me feel good about myself and about my game. I needed to start travelling with a fitness trainer and a physio, as well as a coach, to make sure that I was doing all the right things. It was the best decision I ever made.” Murray’s fitness, thanks to hours in the weight room and on the running track, has built up his stamina to the point where he has become one of the fittest, fastest men on the Tour. His December training regime to prepare for the 2009 Australian Open has included hours on court at Nick Bollettieri’s Academy in Florida complemented with punishing sprint drills on the running track, painful weightlifting and Bikram yoga in steaming hot temperatures. It is not for the faint-hearted.
  
  “I’ll do similar stuff that I did last year but obviously my base will be a lot better than it was, so I’ll be able to run a little bit faster, lift heavier weights,” said Murray of his plans for a not-so-Merry Christmas. “When you do 10 sets of 100m sprints, on the sixth, seventh one you’re not feeling too great and at the end of it you’re thinking, ok, this is when it counts and this is why I’m doing it. It’s so tough that you are pushing yourself in every session but you get the rewards when you’re on the court because playing tennis matches feels so much easier afterwards. When the physical side is right then you become mentally stronger as well.”
  
  He might have been caught cold by Tsonga last Australian Open but the Frenchman has proved since that he is no slouch and in any case, Murray comes to the 2009 tournament a far more accomplished competitor – particularly on hard-courts – than he was a year ago. Britain’s long wait for a grand slam champion might just about to come to an end.
  
  Five reasons why he might win it:
  
  • Movement – Murray has often been compared to Miroslav Mecir because of his cat-like court coverage.
  • Speed – He might look like a punch-drunk boxer between points but don’t be deceived. Murray is one of the quickest players on the Tour.
  • Guile – Murray always thinks several points ahead and he is so crafty that opponents are often left befuddled and flapping at thin air.
  • Fitness – Murray has spent December working his sinewy body into peak condition. Once a notable weakness, Murray’s fitness is now a major strength.
  • Form – He was one of the standout players of the 2008 season and was runner-up to Roger Federer at the US Open.
  
  Five reasons why he might not:
  
  • Drought – 73 years is a long time to go without a male Grand Slam champion for British tennis fans and all that expectation could be suffocating.
  • The competition – Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic are the main contenders and none of them will be inclined to step aside.
  • His record – Murray has never got past the fourth round of the Australian Open and got ambushed in the first round in 2008 by Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
  • His temper – Murray has struggled in the past to control his temper during tense moments in matches. Could the Australian summer see him overheat?
  • Injury – Murray was born with a deformed kneecap which can flare up without warning. Playing successive matches after the Christmas break might not agree with that pesky patella of his.
  
  Eleanor Preston is a UK-based freelance writer and co-author of Andy Murray: The Story So Far.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Dec 19 13:59:52 2008.

  http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/tennis/3832369/Top-ten-tennis-highlights-of-2008-tennis-review.html
  
  Top ten tennis highlights of 2008
  An epic duel between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in arguably the best Wimbledon mens' final ever, Andy Murray became a Grand Slam finalist for the first time, Novak Djokovic showed why he's the one to watch and Justine Henin retired.
  
  
  By Andrew Baker
  Last Updated: 5:32PM GMT 18 Dec 2008
  Previous
  1 of 4 Images
  Next
  Andy Murray - Tennis: Highlights of 2008
  Mister Muscles: Andy Murray shows off his improved physique after beating Richard Gasquet in the fourth round at Wimbledon Photo: AP
  Roger Federer - Tennis: Highlights of 2008
  Hard times: Roger Federer had a lean year and missed out on his sixth Wimbledon singles title after losing to Rafael Nadal in the final Photo: REUTERS
  Venus Williams - Tennis: Highlights of 2008
  Walking the walk: Venus Williams' spare tennis ball is showing as she prepares to serve during the Australian Open in January Photo: REUTERS
  Laura Robson - Tennis: Highlights of 2008
  A British champion at last: fourteen-year-old Laura Robson brought the nation joy with her triumph in the junior girls' singles Photo: PA
  
  1) The Wimbledon Mens' Final
  
  Roger Federer against Rafael Nadal, and both of them against the worst that their opponent, the weather and twilight could inflict. It was the longest and, in the eyes of many, the best Wimbledon final of all time. The quality of play was at times breathtaking, with awesome power and grace on display on both sides of the net. Only the force of nature that is Nadal could have dislodged Federer from his throne.
  
  2) The Wimbledon Ladies' Final
  
  With Venus and Serena pitted against each other for the sixteenth time in a Grand Slam final, this could have been another anticlimax. Not so. The days when the sisters operated an "after you" policy on such occasions are past, since both have now won plenty. A gripping match was eventually edged by Venus, and it is unfair that the memory will be blurred by the following day's drama on Centre Court.
  
  3) Andy Murray reaches the US Open final
  
  The exciting Scot seems more at ease on the hard surface of Flushing Meadows than the grass of London SW19. Or perhaps it is the comparative lack of pressure. Murray became Britain's first Grand Slam finalist since Greg Rusedski at the same tournament in 1997, and had he not worn himself out overcoming Nadal in the two-day semi-final might well have given Federer a harder time for the trophy. The final was nothing special: Murray's progress to it was.
  
  4) Djokovic - a rival to Roger and Rafa?
  
  In a year dominated by Federer and Nadal, Novak Djokovic established his credentials by starting and finishing the season in stunning form. "Djoko" dominated the Australian Open, only losing one set throughout the tournament, then capped off 2008 with an equally impressive display in the Masters' Cup, where he beat Nikolay Davydenko to clinch the year-ending finale.
  
  5) Nadal's golden moment in Beijing
  
  Tennis is a peripheral sport in the Olympic pantheon, and most players would rather win a Grand Slam title than the gold medal. But Nadal's victory in China was significant because it marked the official displacement of Roger Federer from the world number one spot. Nadal's comfortable straight-sets win in the Olympic final against Fernando Gonzalez of Chile brought to an end Federer's 237-week reign.
  
  6) Henin hangs up her racket
  
  The womens' game was rocked in May by the sudden retirement of the then number one Justine Henin. With seven Grand Slam victories, and a one-handed backhand widely considered the most aesthetically appealing and effective in tennis, she was at the very top of her game. The wiry Belgian said that she wished to focus on charity and tennis-school work: the game is poorer without her.
  
  7) Andy Murray beats Richard Gasquet at Wimbledon
  
  Murray is different from Tim Henman in so many ways, but they share one endearing trait: the ability to extricate themselves from deep doo-doo. Recovering from a two-set deficit in his fourth round match against French fellow young-gun Gasquet, Murray eventually prevailed in the south London gloom with a ferocious ace, and his muscle-man impression at the moment of victory was one of the defining images of 2008.
  
  8) Spain win the Davis Cup
  
  In a major upset, a weakened Spanish side defeated the home-town favourites Argentina. The inexperienced Spanish side, without Rafael Nadal and Juan Carlos Ferrero, were expected to crumble in front of the hostile South American fans, but the Spaniards prevailed 3-1, with the unheralded Fernando Verdasco winning the crucial point.
  
  9) Sampras returns to London
  
  "Pistol Pete" Sampras, who conducted such a long-running love affair with the grass courts of Wimbledon, made his first return to London since his painful exit from The Championships on Court No 2 (how dare they?) in 2002. The big-serving American was the leading attraction at the BlackRock Masters veterans' event at the Royal Albert Hall, but neither he nor John McEnroe made the final, which was won by Cedric Pioline. Who?
  
  10) Going for a Tsonga
  
  The powerful young Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga introduced himself to the British public by defeating Andy Murray in the first round of the Australian Open. He then went on to amaze by making it all the way to the final, where he lost to Novak Djokovic. Despite being hampered by knee surgery in the mid-season, Tsonga finished 2008 on a high, winning the Thailand Open and the Paris Masters and qualifying for the year-end Masters' Cup.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Mon Dec 22 12:04:28 2008.

  http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art29208.asp
  
  Did You Know?
  
  Do you know tennis? If not, use this list as a refresher. Impress your tennis friends after your next match with one or more of these little-known facts.
  
  * The net is 36" high in the center.
  
  * 17-gauge string is more resilient than 15-gauge string, but will not last as long.
  
  * In Australian doubles play, the server's partner stands on the same half of the court as the server.
  
  * Canadian doubles is played with 3 people - one person against a doubles team.
  
  * Grass is the fastest court surface, and produces the lowest bounce.
  
  * The U.S. Open is the only Grand Slam event to be played on 3 different surfaces.
  
  * A standard tennis ball weighs between 2 and 2-1/16 ounces.
  
  * The tennis court is 78 feet long.
  
  * The traditional scoring system in a tennis game is 15-30-40-deuce-ad-game is said to derive from the usage of the four quarters of a clock.
  
  * On the NTRP rating system, 7.0 is a world class player.
  
  * The Eastern forehand grip is the classic forehand grip, and sometimes called the shake hands grip.
  
  * The Royal Tennis Court, built by Henry VIII in 1530, is the oldest tennis court in use in the world.
  
  * The game of tennis originated in France before the 12th century.
  
  * Lower string tensions generate more power.
  
  * In doubles, when one partner calls a ball out and the other one good, the ball must be considered to have been good.
  
  * Returning a service that is obviously out (accompanied by an out call) is a form of rudeness.
  
  * The kick serve gives you the most time to get in to net for serve and volley play.
  
  * If your opponent hits a winner and his/her foot touches the bottom of the net, it's your point.
  
  * If your opponent's serve hits you before it bounces, it's your opponent's point.
  
  * The serve is probably the most important shot in tennis but the least practiced.
  
  * The mental side of the tennis is said to be 80 percent of the game.
  
  * If you're not sure whether your opponent's shot is in or out, it's in.
  
  * Rumor has it that if you beat Henry VIII in tennis, you stood a good chance of being beheaded.
  
  * The game of tennis was originally played with the bare hand, later with a glove.
  
  * The first Lawn Tennis Championships was instituted at Wimbledon in 1877, where the Gentleman's Singles was contested.
  
  * The French Open was not held from 1940-1945 due to World War II.
  
  * Slazenger has been the Official Supplier of Balls at Wimbledon since 1902.
  
  * The women's singles was was first contested on the Center court at the French Open in 1928.
  
  * Roland Garros, for whom the French Open venue was named, was a pioneer in aviation, but he was not a tennis player himself.
  
  * Each of the Grand Slam tournaments have a different type of surface: Rebound Ace in Australia; clay at Roland Garros; lawn at Wimbledon and finally decoturf at Flushing Meadow The Australian Open was first played in 1905 at the Warehouseman's Cricket Ground in St Kilda Road, Melbourne.
  
  * The Australian Open 2001 at Melbourne Park is the only Grand Slam venue with not only one, but two, retractable roofs.
  
  * The first US National Championships for women were held in 1887, at the Philadelphia (PA) Cricket Club.
  
  * The first U.S. National Championships were held in 1881 at the Casino in Newport, R.I., now home to the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
  
  * The USTA National Tennis Center is the largest public tennis facility in then world with 33 outdoor courts and 9 indoor courts.
  
  * You should restring your racquet throughout the year as frequently as you play tennis each week, and a minimum of once a year.
  
  * A fresh tennis ball contains enough pressurized air so that it will bounce at least 53 inches when dropped from 100 inches above the ground onto a concrete slab.
  
  * Regulation size tennis balls are 2 5/8 inches in diameter.
  
  * The woven wool/nylon fur, called the nap, that covers the rubber ball must be either white or yellow in color.
  
  * After about three hours of play, tennis balls begin to go dead.
  
  * A player has scored a bagel when a set is won 6-0.
  
  * The butt cap is a plastic piece on the tip of the racquet handle where there is usually a manufacturer's logo.
  
  * A player willing to play out the long, difficult, and often slow matches that occur on clay courts is called a dirtballer.
  
  * A baseline player who attempts to win points by keeping the rally alive until the opponent makes a mistake is called a pusher.
  
  * The singles stick is 3 inches in diameter, and holds the doubles net at the appropriate height of 42 inches at each edge of the singles court.
  
  Have fun on the courts!
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Wed Dec 24 11:58:05 2008.

  2008 best matches: Federer vs. Murray, Masters Cup
  
  12/19/08 7:05 AM | Ricky Dimon
  - TennisTalk, throughout the off-season, will recap the ATP's best matches in 2008. Part 8 features a Masters Cup round-robin clash between Roger Federer and Andy Murray.
  
  Andy Murray was the final victim when Roger Federer captured his fifth straight U.S. Open title back in August. Just over a month later at the Masters Series Madrid, however, Murray got revenge in a semifinal showdown. A third encounter (not counting the previous three meetings between the two men) was needed to settle the score.
  
  It came in the last stage of round-robin play at last month's Masters Cup. It also came with a lot at stake for Federer. If Federer won, he would move on to the semifinals out of the red group. If Murray won, Gilles Simon would qualify for the semis at Federer's expense. Murray, meanwhile, was already guaranteed a semifinal spot due to his 2-0 round-robin record.
  
  Both men, however, played like their tennis lives depended on it. Federer went up an early break, but Murray got back on even terms as the set reached its latter stages. With Murray serving at 4-5, he could not handle the pressure on a double-fault on set point gave Federer the opening frame of play.
  
  Already assured of his place in the semis, Murray easily could have thrown in the towel. Instead, he wanted another win over arguably the greatest player in tennis history and he fought like it. The Scot surged to a 5-2 lead before the first of an incredible number of momentum swings took place. Murray dropped serve twice in a row, bringing Federer back to 5-5. Seemingly out of answers, Murray resurrected his game in the ensuing tiebreaker and he dominated it to force a decisive third set.
  
  Federer's suspect back, which had been acting up earlier in the week, started to give him problems early in the third and Murray raced to a 3-0 lead. With the Swiss moving gingerly, the question was not whether he could win, but merely if he could finish the match. In another stunning turn of events, that question changed. Out of nowhere, Federer managed to break back not once, but twice. Now it was Murray but looked out of it, but he too responded with a break to get back on serve. Federer found himself serving to stay in the match--and the tournament--at 4-5. Before his service game was over, Federer saved a whopping seven match points and eventually held in dramatic fashion.
  
  At long last, however, Murray put in an end to the incredible drama by dominating the last two games. A valiant effort by both men--one who didn't even have to win, the other who could barely move at the start of the third set--ended with Murray prevailing 4-6, 7-6(3), 7-5 in three hours and one minute.
  
  "It was a great match," Murray said. "So many sort of twists and turns."
  
  Added the No. 4 player in the world: "A win over Roger Federer means almost as much as winning the Masters Cup to me. He's the best player of all time. He's still playing great. This match meant a lot to me. I know I'm going to be tired tomorrow."
  
  He was right. The grueling effort cost him the next day against Nikolay Davydenko, as an exhausted Murray lost in straight sets. Was the win over Federer worth it? For tennis fans, it certainly was.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Thu Jan 1 13:08:09 2009.

  Revisited an almost entire match of the classic wimbledon final epic between Nadal and federer of 2008 in Tennis Classic Channel. My respect for Nadal has grown multiple times after this match
  
  The first set was pretty good and it was Nadal all the way. I couldn't recollect much about the match in the initial sets although i knew that Federer lost the first 2 sets. Looks like Federer was leading comfortably in the second set at 4-1 before he was broken twice and lost 6-4 .
  
  Come third set the match starts to set higher standards for the men's game i had ever seen. Nadal and Federer at their furious best of their careers. One thing I noted was Roger wasn't certainly confident while playing the match. He looked visibly uncomfortable and at few places was murmuring something at some points. We all know that he is severely uncomfortable with the hawk eye system and whenever any challenge was made we could see the tension on his face. Highly unlike Roger
  
  Third set tie break was a cliff hanger as he faced the championship point came back from that and he won the third set. Rain breaks come and here we witness a break in a great match. Nadal was in peak form through the entire mach and i have to admit that his body language was far superior compared to Roger. His passing shots, running forehands omg simply
  
  Fourth set was an other cliff hanger. Roger saves another championship point with a running backhand pass down the line. Commentator screams "are u kidding me" .
  
  Another rain break at 2-2 in the fifth set and the rest is history. Nadal wins the final at a cliffhanger of an epic. The match lasts an record time for a final, thanks to rain breaks it finishes at 9.22 of local London time. Anyway they would have stopped the match @ 9.30 if anybody is interested to know this trivia .
  
  Ladies and gentlemen we are in the best era of tennis history. 2009 season should be mouthwatering .
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Thu Jan 1 19:44:44 2009.

  How many balls are used at Wimbledon each year?
  This year, Slazenger is supplying 52,200 tennis balls to Wimbledon.
  About 20,000 of these are used for qualifying and practice.
  Every single ball will have been individually hand tested for bounce, weight and compression.
  That's because according to strict tennis rules, the ball must bounce between 53 and 58 inches after being dropped onto concrete from a height of 100 inches.
  Each ball must also measure two-and-a-half inches (6.35cms) in diameter and weigh two ounces (56.7g).
  http://news.bbc.co.uk/sportacademy/hi/sa/tennis/features/newsid_2997000/2997504.stm
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sat Jan 3 12:09:58 2009.

  Capitala world tennis championship:
  Murray wins Nadal 6-4 5-7 6-3
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Tue Jan 6 15:12:21 2009.

  Jan 5 (Reuters) - Men's tennis world rankings on Monday
  (previous week's rankings in brackets): 1. (1) Rafael Nadal (Spain) 13160 points 2. (2) Roger Federer (Switzerland) 10610 3. (3) Novak Djokovic (Serbia) 10590 4. (4) Andy Murray (Britain) 7050 5. (5) Nikolay Davydenko (Russia) 5330 6. (7) Gilles Simon (France) 3960 7. (6) Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (France) 3950 8. (8) Andy Roddick (U.S.) 3940 9. (9) Juan Martin del Potro (Argentina) 389010. (10) James Blake (U.S) 355011. (11) David Nalbandian (Argentina) 345012. (12) David Ferrer (Spain) 339013. (14) Gael Monfils (France) 295014. (15) Fernando Gonzalez (Chile) 284015. (16) Fernando Verdasco (Spain) 283016. (13) Stanislas Wawrinka (Switzerland) 267017. (17) Robin Soderling (Sweden) 265018. (18) Nicolas Almagro (Spain) 254019. (19) Igor Andreev (Russia) 249020. (20) Tomas Berdych (Czech Republic) 2430(Compiled by Neil Maidment)
  
  http://uk.reuters.com/article/tennisNews/idUKL57812920090105
  
  

• From: omega on Tue Jan 6 18:51:36 2009.

  ajithfederer wrote:

  Jan 5 (Reuters) - Men's tennis world rankings on Monday (previous week's rankings in brackets): 1. (1) Rafael Nadal (Spain) 13160 points 2. (2) Roger Federer (Switzerland) 10610 3. (3) Novak Djokovic (Serbia) 10590 4.

  
  
  There is hardly anything between Roger & Nole....
  Hope Roger wins Doha & Australian Open to keep Nole at a distance.
  
  

• From: omega on Wed Jan 7 8:27:09 2009.

  Seems like Nole is not playing Doha. He is playing the Brisbane International instead, where he lost his first round match against yet another sensation Ernests Gulbis.............Hope Federer wins @ Doha...
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Thu Jan 8 11:29:38 2009.

  http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24885661-3162,00.html
  
  Roger Federer seeded second for Australian Open
  
  Leo Schlink
  
  January 08, 2009 12:00am
  
  BARELY a week into the new season, Roger Federer has claimed honours in the first significant skirmish of 2009 - second seeding at the Australian Open.
  
  Federer, who led Novak Djokovic by a mere 20 points - 10,610 to 10,590 - in the ATP World Tour rankings, could have lost the No. 2 spot if the first-week results had fallen Djokovic's way.
  
  But Djokovic's first-round loss to Latvian talent Ernests Gulbis in Brisbane, coupled with Federer's 6-2 6-2 victory against Italian Potito Starace in Doha yesterday, means Djokovic will have to wait for another opportunity to overtake the Swiss.
  
  It could prove a costly lapse by Djokovic, who needs to excel at the Sydney International next week to relieve the building pressure surrounding his Open defence.
  
  As the defending champion, Djokovic has the most points (2000) to defend in Melbourne.
  
  He could be overtaken by Scotland's Andy Murray, a first-round casualty at Melbourne Park last season who has only 10 points to protect.
  
  Federer trails world No. 1 Rafael Nadal by 2550 points -- equal to more than the value of a grand slam victory -- but is desperate to stave off Djokovic.
  
  By overcoming Starace, Federer has bought himself time and space.
  
  Open officials will announce the tournament seedings early next week before tomorrow week's draw.
  
  There will be no surprises in the men's or women's seedings because the tournament follows the ATP World Tour and WTA rankings.
  
  The biggest benefit in the race for the second seeding is the fact Federer will not have to face Nadal until the final.
  
  As it stands, No. 3 Djokovic or No. 4 Murray could meet Nadal in the semi-finals.
  
  Queenslander Sam Stosur's hopes of breaking back into the top 30, and an Australian Open seeding, dissolved after a 6-4 6-4 second-round defeat to Czech Lucie Safarova at the Brisbane International on Tuesday.
  
  And with Lleyton Hewitt ranked only 70th, no Australian man or woman will be seeded.
  
  

• From: omega on Thu Jan 8 13:58:15 2009.

  Roger wins over Kohl in the QF @ Doha.... (6-2, 7-6)...
  Nadal loses straight to Monfills in another QF (4-6, 4-6)
  
  Federer may have to meet Murray (his nemesis) next up, if Murray wins his QF match over Stakhovsky....
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Thu Jan 8 14:31:50 2009.

  Yes and actually Roger would have slipped to 3rd if Djoker had won the event.
  

  omega wrote:

  ajithfederer wrote: Jan 5 (Reuters) - Men's tennis world rankings on Monday (previous week's rankings in brackets): 1. (1) Rafael Nadal (Spain) 13160 points 2. (2) Roger Federer (Switzerland) 10610 3. (3) Novak Djokovic (Serbia) 10590 4. There is hardly anything between Roger & Nole.... Hope Roger wins Doha & Australian Open to keep Nole at a distance.

  
  

• From: omega on Thu Jan 8 18:12:16 2009.

  Roger will meet Murray in the Doha SF.
  Murray beat Roger in last year's Doha Open (First round I guess).
  Roger will have lot to settle with Murray.
  
  

• From: omega on Fri Jan 9 12:33:43 2009.

  Roger has taken the first set against Murray in the SF @ Doha
  (7-6).......One more to get to meet Roddick in the Finals.
  
  

• From: omega on Fri Jan 9 13:37:43 2009.

  Federer loses to Murray 7-6, 2-6, 2-6..........
  He is finding it really difficult to get past Murray these days....
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Jan 9 13:39:11 2009.

  May be he is taking it too easy. I bet we will see a different Roger in Grandslams.
  

  omega wrote:

  Federer loses to Murray 7-6, 2-6, 2-6.......... He is finding it really difficult to get past Murray these days....

  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Jan 9 13:46:11 2009.

  And the last post is to take no credit away from Murray. He has been terrific and a very promising young player in the global arena
  
  I have already said in my previous posts here that we would be seeing very stiff competition between Federer, Nadal, Nole and Murray this year.
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Sun Jan 11 9:38:04 2009.

  IMO, Feddy lost his concentration a little bit after his Wimbledon's bitter loss to Nadal.
  
  Now Feddy lost to Murray 4 times in their last 5 encounters.
  
  

• From: dinesh13284 on Mon Jan 12 2:34:12 2009.

  Somdev
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Thu Jan 15 16:56:50 2009.

  The Main Draw will be released on Friday 16 January and play begins Monday 19 January, 2009.
  
  http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/scores/draws/ms/index.html
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Mon Jan 19 0:02:43 2009.

  Australian Open starts today. Roddick advances to second round.
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Mon Jan 19 0:20:20 2009.

  dinesh13284 wrote:

  Somdev

  
  
  Australian open-ku qualify aaitAra?
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Mon Jan 19 1:50:29 2009.

  Djokovic wins his 1st round. Players exchange their jerseys(shirts??) like soccer players .
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Wed Jan 21 0:25:42 2009.

  Sania lose to Petrova in the second round.
  
  

• From: rocketboy on Wed Jan 21 5:54:14 2009.

  Fernando Gonzales . I want him to win a grand slam before he hangs his boots.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Wed Jan 21 12:52:34 2009.

  http://www.orkut.com/Main#CommMsgs.aspx?cmm=78522&tid=5291642206851333403&na=1&nst=1
  
  Australian Open 2009 - Comments and Updates
  
  Tournament Name: AUSTRALIAN OPEN
  Location: MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA
  Dates: 19 January - 01 February 2009
  Prize Money: AUS $10,142,240
  128 DRAW
  
  SITE: MELBOURNE PARK
  BATMAN AVENUE, MELBOURNE
  VICTORIA 3000 AUSTRALIA
  SURFACE: PLEXICUSHION
  BALL: WILSON AUSTRALIAN OPEN BALL
  PRIZE MONEY: AUSTRALIAN DOLLARS
  
  ATP World Tour Ranking Points
  W----2000
  F-----1200
  SF----720
  QF----360
  R16---180
  R32---90
  R64---45
  R128--10
  
  
  Seeds
  
  1-----Rafael Nadal
  2-----Roger Federer
  3-----Novak Djokovic
  4-----Andy Murray
  5-----Jo-Wilfried Tsonga
  6-----Gilles Simon
  7-----Andy Roddick
  8-----Juan Martin Del Potro
  9-----James Blake
  10----David Nalbandian
  11----David Ferrer
  12----Gael Monfils
  13----Fernando Gonzalez
  14----Fernando Verdasco
  15----Stanislas Wawrinka
  16----Robin Soderling
  17----Nicolas Almagro
  18----Igor Andreev
  19----Marin Cilic
  20----Tomas Berdych
  21----Tommy Robredo
  22----Radek Stepanek
  23----Mardy Fish
  24----Richard Gasquet
  25----Ivo Karlovic
  26----Marat Safin
  27----Feliciano Lopez
  28----Paul-Henri Mathieu
  29----Dmitry Tursunov
  30----Rainer Schuettler
  31----Jurgen Melzer
  32----Philipp Kohlschreiber
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Wed Jan 21 12:57:58 2009.

  Quoting the present points from previous page.
  

  ajithfederer wrote:

  Jan 5 (Reuters) - Men's tennis world rankings on Monday (previous week's rankings in brackets): 1. (1) Rafael Nadal (Spain) 13160 points 2. (2) Roger Federer (Switzerland) 10610 3. (3) Novak Djokovic (Serbia) 10590 4. (4) Andy Murray (Britain) 7050 5. (5) Nikolay Davydenko (Russia) 5330 6. (7) Gilles Simon (France) 3960 7. (6) Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (France) 3950 8. (8) Andy Roddick (U.S.) 3940 9. (9) Juan Martin del Potro (Argentina) 389010. (10) James Blake (U.S) 355011. (11) David Nalbandian (Argentina) 345012. (12) David Ferrer (Spain) 339013. (14) Gael Monfils (France) 295014. (15) Fernando Gonzalez (Chile) 284015. (16) Fernando Verdasco (Spain) 283016. (13) Stanislas Wawrinka (Switzerland) 267017. (17) Robin Soderling (Sweden) 265018. (18) Nicolas Almagro (Spain) 254019. (19) Igor Andreev (Russia) 249020. (20) Tomas Berdych (Czech Republic) 2430(Compiled by Neil Maidment) http://uk.reuters.com/article/tennisNews/idUKL57812920090105

  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Wed Jan 21 14:42:12 2009.

  And he ousted Kamaaan hewitt !!!.
  

  rocketboy wrote:

  Fernando Gonzales . I want him to win a grand slam before he hangs his boots.

  
  

• From: omega on Wed Jan 21 15:29:07 2009.

  rocketboy wrote:

  Fernando Gonzales . I want him to win a grand slam before he hangs his boots.

  
  
  He had his chance in 2006 AO, where his dream run eventually ended in the Final against Federer. Since then, he has not been able to reach even the last four in the majors. Hisbackhand is too inconsistent. But I like him a lot. Sure he could win anyone on his day.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Wed Jan 21 15:53:37 2009.

  http://www.orkut.com/Main#CommMsgs.aspx?cmm=78522&tid=5291642206851333403&na=1&nst=1
  
  Possible Opponents for the Top 4
  
  Federer's possible opponents
  
  Rd 1 - Andreas Seppi
  Rd 2 - Carlos Moya
  Rd 3 - Marat Safin
  Rd 4 - Stanislas Wawrinka / Tomas Berdych
  QF - Juan Martin Del Potro / David Ferrer
  SF - Novak Djokovic / Andy Roddick
  F - Rafa Nadal / Andy Murray
  
  
  
  
  Djokovic's possible opponents
  
  Rd 1 - Qualifier
  Rd 2 - Jeremy Chardy
  Rd 3 - Paul-Henri Mathieu
  Rd 4 - Mardy Fish / Marcos Baghdatis
  QF - Andy Roddick / David Nalbandian
  SF - Roger Federer / Juan Martin Del Potro
  F - Rafa Nadal / Andy Murray
  
  
  
  
  Nadal's possible opponents
  
  Rd 1 - Christophe Rochus
  Rd 2 - Florent Serra
  Rd 3 - Dmitry Tursonov / Tommy Haas
  Rd 4 - Richard Gasquet / Fernando Gonzalez
  QF - Gilles Simon / Gael Monfils
  SF - Andy Murray / Jo-Wilfred Tsonga
  F - Roger Federer / Novak Djokovic
  
  
  
  
  Murray's possible opponents
  
  Rd 1 - Andrei Pavel
  Rd 2 - Marcel Granollers
  Rd 3 - Jurgen Melzer
  Rd 4 - Fernando Verdasco / Radek Stepanek
  QF - Jo-Wilfred Tsonga / James Blake
  SF - Rafa Nadal / Gilles Simon
  F - Roger Federer / Novak Djokovic
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Thu Jan 22 13:46:40 2009.

  http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/tennis/rankings
  
  Last Updated: January 19, 2009
  Men's Singles Rankings
  RANK PLAYER COUNTRY MOVEMENT POINTS
  1 Rafael Nadal Spain
  0
  13160.0
  2 Roger Federer Switzerland
  0
  10700.0
  3 Novak Djokovic Serbia & Montenegro
  0
  10650.0
  4 Andy Murray Great Britain
  0
  7190.0
  5 Nikolay Davydenko Russia
  0
  5330.0
  6 Juan Martin Del Potro Argentina
  3
  4060.0
  7 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga France
  1
  3995.0
  8 Gilles Simon France
  1
  3960.0
  9 Andy Roddick USA
  1
  3940.0
  10 James Blake USA
  0
  3550.0
  11 David Nalbandian Argentina
  0
  3500.0
  12 David Ferrer Spain
  0
  3390.0
  13 Gael Monfils France
  0
  3010.0
  14 Fernando Gonzalez Chile
  0
  2840.0
  15 Fernando Verdasco Spain
  0
  2830.0
  16 Stanislas Wawrinka Switzerland
  0
  2670.0
  17 Robin Soderling Sweden
  0
  2650.0
  18 Nicolas Almagro Spain
  0
  2540.0
  19 Igor Andreev Russia
  0
  2490.0
  20 Marin Cilic Croatia
  0
  2450.0
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Jan 23 14:18:42 2009.

  Watched Djokovic play in 3rd round yesterday. He dropped a set but still he looks in good touch.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Jan 23 14:36:35 2009.

  Learnt a little bit of history after watching Djokovic match yesterday.
  
  Actually there seems to be much hatred between the countries Serbia/Bosnia-Herzegovina. After the match fans of both countries had an ugly fight outside. But the players (Djokovic and Delic) were very cool and asked the fans to be polite before the match but it was of no use.
  
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRpTV7PRJGM
  
  

• From: rocketboy on Fri Jan 23 19:44:30 2009.

  ajithfederer wrote:

  Learnt a little bit of history after watching Djokovic match yesterday. Actually there seems to be much hatred between the countries Serbia/Bosnia-Herzegovina. After the match fans of both countries had an ugly fight outside. But the players (Djokovic and Delic) were very cool and asked the fans to be polite before the match but it was of no use. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRpTV7PRJGM

  
  
  Oh ,there's an interesting history behind that. Try searching either for Serbian Police atrocities or Muslim atrocities against Serbs in google you'll end up with the most ghastly images of genocide that one could possibly see in a lifetime. Decaying corpses bearing torture marks all over the bodies , intestines strewn out onto the ground as if it had been ripped out by a leopard , heads blown apart reminding you of shotgun suicides. Horrible
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Jan 23 21:13:36 2009.

  
  
  

• From: omega on Sat Jan 24 7:27:20 2009.

  Gasquet vs Gonzalez.............great match in progress!!!
  5th set decider to start......What a match so far.
  
  

• From: rocketboy on Sat Jan 24 8:13:57 2009.

  6-6 in the final set
  
  

• From: rocketboy on Sat Jan 24 8:16:46 2009.

  gonzalez leads 7 to 6.
  
  

• From: rocketboy on Sat Jan 24 8:20:33 2009.

  7-7
  
  

• From: rocketboy on Sat Jan 24 8:26:48 2009.

  gon 8-7
  
  

• From: rocketboy on Sat Jan 24 8:31:15 2009.

  8-8
  
  

• From: rocketboy on Sat Jan 24 8:33:59 2009.

  gon 9-8
  
  

• From: rocketboy on Sat Jan 24 8:37:36 2009.

  9-9
  
  

• From: rocketboy on Sat Jan 24 8:40:29 2009.

  gon 10-9
  
  

• From: rocketboy on Sat Jan 24 8:43:05 2009.

  10-10
  
  

• From: rocketboy on Sat Jan 24 8:50:37 2009.

  11-10 Gon Memories of Roddick _ Aynaoui match looms
  
  

• From: rocketboy on Sat Jan 24 8:51:26 2009.

  Match point gonzalez
  
  

• From: rocketboy on Sat Jan 24 8:51:52 2009.

  saves match point
  
  

• From: rocketboy on Sat Jan 24 8:52:26 2009.

  match point gonzalez
  
  

• From: rocketboy on Sat Jan 24 8:53:02 2009.

  Gonzalez wins Wow
  
  3-6 3-6 7-6 ( 12 -10) 6-2 12-10
  
  

• From: rocketboy on Sat Jan 24 8:57:31 2009.

  Next match will be very difficult. He is up against the MACHINE
  
  

• From: omega on Sun Jan 25 0:45:37 2009.

  Federer vs Berdich going on. Worst start for Federer. He has been broken twice already. Berdich serving @ 4-1....
  
  

• From: omega on Sun Jan 25 0:49:06 2009.

  Federer gets a break back!.......Serving 2-4 now & holds to make it 3-4.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Jan 25 1:10:37 2009.

  At the first set point the serve was clearly out and he(Fed) was pointing it out to the chair umpire but since he had no challenges it wasn't called out.
  
  

• From: omega on Sun Jan 25 1:41:00 2009.

  Feddy, is definitely struggling with his forehand & serve mostly. Too many unforced errors & double faults. Rather strange...
  
  

• From: omega on Sun Jan 25 1:52:22 2009.

  This is getting really interesting...........Federer trailing by 2 sets....
  Can he come back?? He is being pushed to the limits by Berdych.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Jan 25 2:11:59 2009.

  Fed breaks for the second time in 3rd set!!
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Jan 25 2:18:44 2009.

  And berdych breaks him again in the 3rd set
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Jan 25 2:24:30 2009.

  Can you believe it. Fed breaks for the 3rd time. He can lose this match if he doesn't hold this game.
  
  

• From: Sanjeevi on Sun Jan 25 2:30:57 2009.

  Fed leads 5-3 in thirs set
  
  

• From: Sanjeevi on Sun Jan 25 2:33:41 2009.

  Fed 5 - Berdych 4 now
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Sun Jan 25 2:36:44 2009.

  Atlast Federer manages to win a set from Berdych. Still Fedex fails to reach his top gear.
  
  

• From: Sanjeevi on Sun Jan 25 2:37:22 2009.

  Federer took third 6-4
  
  

• From: omega on Sun Jan 25 2:38:01 2009.

  Finally Federer gets a set...............Looking way far from his best. Both his problem numbers looked better in the third set (unforced errors & double faults)
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Sun Jan 25 2:39:53 2009.

  So far only Federror
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Jan 25 2:43:23 2009.

  Fed breaks in the 4th set!!
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Sun Jan 25 2:43:36 2009.

  It seems to be a cliffhanger. Early break for Fedex in the fourth set. Can he race past Berdych from here????
  
  

• From: omega on Sun Jan 25 2:44:33 2009.

  Starts the 4th set by getting break....
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Sun Jan 25 2:45:36 2009.

  Hold his nerve as well as serve. Fedex seems to be little comfortable now.
  
  

• From: omega on Sun Jan 25 2:46:01 2009.

  steveaustin wrote:

  So far only Federror

  
  
  Federror (1&2nd set) ---> Federer (3 & 4th) --> Fedexpress (5th)
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Sun Jan 25 2:51:56 2009.

  Match statistics - Fedex Vs Berdych
  
  1st serve 66% against Berdych's 61%
  Aces 10 against Berdych's 5
  Double faults 3 against Berdych's 1
  Winners 37 against Berdych's 38
  Unforced errors 28 against Berdych's 27
  102 points won against Berdych's 104
  
  Fedex closing out the gap from the third set onwards.
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Sun Jan 25 2:52:40 2009.

  Fedex leads 3-1 in 4th set. Trailing by 2 sets to 1. Now Fedex won 108 points against Berdych's 106.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Jan 25 2:59:28 2009.

  Fed looking confident!!
  
  

• From: Sanjeevi on Sun Jan 25 3:02:05 2009.

  3-2
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Jan 25 3:02:36 2009.

  Sanjeevi,
  
  Its 4-2
  
  

• From: Sanjeevi on Sun Jan 25 3:06:49 2009.

  Yahoo says lively
  
  It's a mixed game from Berdych, he began just sitting back off the ball and allowing Federer to find his own rhythm as well but then played a couple of stunning forehand that were more indicative of his first and second set form
  
  is it?
  
  I am not watching on TV
  
  

• From: omega on Sun Jan 25 3:09:21 2009.

  Iam watching online @ http://www.channelsurfing.net/watch-austrailian-open-3.html
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Jan 25 3:23:51 2009.

  4th set roger!!
  
  

• From: omega on Sun Jan 25 3:25:09 2009.

  Roaring Federer takes 4th set.................Nailbiting finish on cards....
  
  

• From: Sanjeevi on Sun Jan 25 3:26:45 2009.

  Federer took 4th 6-4
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Jan 25 3:28:54 2009.

  In the other match, Roddick wins.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Jan 25 3:30:52 2009.

  15-40
  
  Roger has high chance to break in the 5th set
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Jan 25 3:32:09 2009.

  Roger breaks in 5th set.
  
  

• From: omega on Sun Jan 25 3:33:15 2009.

  Starts with a break............Federer on a roll.
  
  

• From: omega on Sun Jan 25 3:34:18 2009.

  ajithfederer wrote:

  In the other match, Roddick wins.

  
  
  Roger's next opponent (if Roger wins).
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Jan 25 3:38:43 2009.

  Excellent game point that was @ both players
  
  Roger breaks again!!
  
  

• From: omega on Sun Jan 25 3:40:06 2009.

  Federer on fire...........breaks again for a 3-0 in the 5th...
  
  

• From: Sanjeevi on Sun Jan 25 3:41:24 2009.

  3-0
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Jan 25 3:41:57 2009.

  4-0 @ 5th set.
  
  

• From: Sanjeevi on Sun Jan 25 3:44:39 2009.

  fed-ber
  4-1
  
  

• From: Sanjeevi on Sun Jan 25 3:48:18 2009.

  fed-bar
  5-1
  
  

• From: Sanjeevi on Sun Jan 25 3:52:17 2009.

  fed-ber
  5-2
  
  I hope next game will be the last
  
  

• From: Sanjeevi on Sun Jan 25 3:57:04 2009.

  At last Federer won
  
  

• From: omega on Sun Jan 25 3:57:55 2009.

  What a match..............Federer was truly tested to the maximum extent....
  Well played Berdych!!
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Jan 25 3:58:26 2009.

  James Berdych - Another upcoming star
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Jan 25 3:59:21 2009.

  Del Potro, i guess!!
  

  omega wrote:

  ajithfederer wrote: In the other match, Roddick wins. Roger's next opponent (if Roger wins).

  
  

• From: Sanjeevi on Sun Jan 25 3:59:43 2009.

  yes Berdych
  
  

• From: Sanjeevi on Sun Jan 25 4:00:28 2009.

  Federer will go through to face eighth seed Juan Martin Del Potro in the quarter-finals
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Jan 25 22:59:19 2009.

  Ladies World No 1 Jankovic loses
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Sun Jan 25 23:57:46 2009.

  Serena Williams Vs Victoria Azarenka
  
  Serena trails by a set.
  
  3-6, 1-1
  
  So far Serena Williams was ruthlessly demolished by the Belarusian girl in a battle of amazing power display. The Belarusian girl hitting winner after winner in the battle of baseliners. The Belarusian earlier despatched Amelie Mauresmo in the third round. It is a big surprise that Serena is unmatched for the hard hitting game of the Belarusian girl.
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Mon Jan 26 0:01:27 2009.

  At last Serena manages to break the Belarusian girl.
  
  Serena leads 2-1 in the second set but trails by a set.
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Mon Jan 26 0:09:12 2009.

  Serena Vs Azarenka - 3-6, 3-2
  
  Slowly Serena getting into her groove. Somehow manages to hold her serve. Still Serena is uncertain. The Belarusian girl Azarenka still hitting astonishing winners to every part of the court. Still she is too powerful for Serena. In today's power hitting game Serena is an underdog to the Belarusian girl's power display.
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Mon Jan 26 0:30:03 2009.

  Serena Williams Vs Victoria Azarenka
  
  3-6,4-2
  
  VICTORIA AZARENKA RETIRES!
  
  In Serena-Azarenka match where the Belarusian girl is on the brink of collapse. I think that the heat might have hit her. Just now the Belarusian girl has taken a medical time-out. Serena too had her share of problems with fitness. Serena also has taken a medical time-out. A very big bandage heavily strapped in Serena's foot by her trainer.
  
  Tame end to a great match. Azarenka won 60 points against Serena's 54.
  
  Serena through to quarterfinals.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Mon Jan 26 0:58:48 2009.

  Nadal vs Gonzales now
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Mon Jan 26 3:23:28 2009.

  Interactive Draw
  4 A.Murray 6 1 6 3
  14 F.Verdasco 2 6 1 6
  
  Match onto 5th set now.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Mon Jan 26 3:57:16 2009.

  Anybody watching murray's match. is he down with fever? .
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Mon Jan 26 4:08:19 2009.

  murray loses.
  
  nadal wins.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Mon Jan 26 13:11:57 2009.

  And the GentleMen's draws for Quarter Finals are:
  
  Rafael Nadal ESP (1)
  v
  
  
  Gilles Simon FRA (6)
  Fernando Verdasco ESP (14)
  v
  
  
  Jo-Wilfried Tsonga FRA (5)
  Previous RoundNext Round
  
  Andy Roddick USA (7)
  v
  
  
  Novak Djokovic SRB (3)
  Juan Martin Del Potro ARG (8)
  v
  
  
  Roger Federer SUI (2)
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Mon Jan 26 13:34:03 2009.

  http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/news/articles/2009-01-26/200901261232962890750.html
  
  Reversing the trend
  
  Monday 26 January 2009
  By Eleanor Preston
  Fernando's defense
  
  You have to hand it to Fernando Verdasco, who bounced back from being two sets to one down against a player he had lost to on five previous occasions and was rated, pre-match, as one of the favourites for the tournament. Much will be made of the fact that he upset Andy Murray, the Australian Open’s fourth seed, but let us pour praise on Verdasco rather than concentrate on what Murray did - or did not - do wrong.
  
  Murray did just that in a considered and philosophical post-match press conference. “Sometimes you've just got to say ‘too good’ and he played better than me,” said Murray. “He served incredibly in the fourth and fifth sets. So, you know, he deserves the credit for the win. Even though I didn't play my best, in the second set and the beginning of the fourth set, I had chances to get back into the fourth set, and I also had a chance to go up in the fifth set. He served huge. The consistency of his first serve was pretty awesome for the last two, three sets. A lot of times, he's sort of just kicking the serve in and putting a lot of slice on it and not going for too much. But he started to go for it huge in the fourth and fifth sets. He served very well when he was behind, which he hadn't done against me in the past. I wasn't necessarily expecting him to serve that well, because it's not something that he's known for. But when he serves like that, he's going to be very tough to beat.”
  
  While the world was busily asking whether 21-year-old Murray had it in him to win a Grand Slam, Verdasco was busy reaching the final of the inaugural Brisbane International (where he lost to Radek Stepanek) and making good on a gruelling off-season program put together for him by Andre Agassi’s ex-fitness advisor Gil Reyes. Verdasco spent two weeks training with Reyes in Las Vegas and, just as Agassi used to do, arrived in Melbourne fit as a flea and ready to take the tournament by storm.
  
  The Spaniard showed deep reserves of mental and physical resistance against Murray and a largely pro-British crowd. As well as serving with, as Murray put it “awesome” power and accuracy, he hit his forehand with a potent mix of clever placement and searing pace, and was ready to scrap and defend when required. As much as the shock waves of Murray losing in the fourth round will reverberate around Melbourne Park, nothing should be taken from Verdasco’s win, for he earned every point of it.
  
  “I'm disappointed that I lost. But I'll try and learn from it,” Murray said afterwards.
  
  “I want to win every (match) that I play, but I'm not going to get down about it. I worked very hard in the off‑season. It's been a good start to the year. I'll try and learn from it. Hopefully, you know, come back a better player. I think in the match, it's kind of similar to when I lost to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga last year (at Australian Open 2008). I think I won more points throughout. So I obviously did have my chances. But sometimes, guys serve too well or hit the ball too big.”
  
  There will be more opportunities for Murray, for he is only 21. Verdasco meanwhile, will go into the quarterfinals feeling unbeatable.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Tue Jan 27 0:46:26 2009.

  A rematch of US Open 2008 quarter finals
  
  Djokovic vs Roddick
  
  5 all.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Tue Jan 27 1:41:45 2009.

  Match is tied at set a piece. Djokovic wins 1st set 7-6 and roddick takes second 6-4.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Tue Jan 27 2:27:35 2009.

  Too many medical issues for players in this year's AO. Roddick takes the second set too. Anybody watching?. Is Djokovic fully fit??
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Tue Jan 27 2:44:13 2009.

  Djokovic retires. Roddick advances to semi's.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Tue Jan 27 2:45:13 2009.

  It is nearly 140 degrees Fahrenheit in Melbourne
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Tue Jan 27 2:48:58 2009.

  A couple of ladies too exited early unable to play in that scorching melbourne sun yesterday.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Tue Jan 27 3:08:08 2009.

  Ranking points will be heavily affected for Murray and Djokovic.
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Tue Jan 27 3:43:20 2009.

  Its going to be
  
  Nadal Vs Tsonga & Federer Vs Roddick?
  
  

• From: omega on Tue Jan 27 6:29:41 2009.

  ajithfederer wrote:

  Ranking points will be heavily affected for Murray and Djokovic.

  
  
  They will keep a distance from Federer. Federer must do better than last year (that is advance to the Final atleast) to gain some points. I am hoping that he could win, but you never know with yet another GS surface getting slower & slower (Tailor made for the Nadal's brand of tennis).
  
  

• From: crajkumar_be on Tue Jan 27 6:34:16 2009.

  omega wrote:

  but you never know with yet another GS surface getting slower & slower (Tailor made for the Nadal's brand of tennis).

  
  
  
  

• From: omega on Tue Jan 27 7:13:16 2009.

  The players are out in the middle (Federer & Del Potro). Roger will serve after losing the toss...
  
  

• From: omega on Tue Jan 27 7:59:51 2009.

  Fedexpress is crusing.........Already up a break in the 2nd set. Won the first 6-3. Having an easy day so far.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Tue Jan 27 9:29:59 2009.

  
  
  
  2 bagels by federer
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Tue Jan 27 9:31:21 2009.

  are u talking about australian open?,AFAIK, Only Wimbledon is getting slower
  

  omega wrote:

  ajithfederer wrote: Ranking points will be heavily affected for Murray and Djokovic. They will keep a distance from Federer. Federer must do better than last year (that is advance to the Final atleast) to gain some points. I am hoping that he could win, but you never know with yet another GS surface getting slower & slower (Tailor made for the Nadal's brand of tennis).

  
  

• From: omega on Tue Jan 27 10:49:03 2009.

  ajithfederer wrote:

  are u talking about australian open?,AFAIK, Only Wimbledon is getting slower omega wrote: ajithfederer wrote: Ranking points will be heavily affected for Murray and Djokovic. They will keep a distance from Federer. Federer must do better than last year (that is advance to the Final atleast) to gain some points. I am hoping that he could win, but you never know with yet another GS surface getting slower & slower (Tailor made for the Nadal's brand of tennis).

  
  
  I did read a couple of articles this year & even heard some experts say in the first week of the tournament about how slow the new All Blue Plexicushion surface (laid in 2008) has become. When they did lay it last year, the hope was the surface would have substantial pace in it (comparable to the US Open - Deco Turf surface ??), which it has not lived upto so far. Although to my human eye it is not all that visible, we can tell the difference, in the total net points won. Not many are rushing to net (not many volleyers anyway in this genre) even when they have nailed a good serve. I am sure Nadal would find plenty of time to reach any ball (have not watched him yet in this year) hit between corners of the court.
  
  Anyway will be interesting to watch the last few matches.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Tue Jan 27 11:20:57 2009.

  http://australian.open-tennis.com/tennis-court-surfaces.php
  
  Australian Open Tennis Court Surfaces
  
  The Australian Open tennis court surfaces where changed for the 2008 event. The existing Rebound Ace surface was replaced with a cushioned, acrylic rollout known as Plexicushion.
  
  The controversial Rebound Ace will be replaced at Melbourne Park, Albert Reserve and at other Australian Open tennis venues, in a hope that the days of inconsistent pace and bounce will be a thing of the past for Australian tennis.
  
  The existing Australian Open tennis court surfaces have been criticised by the top players because of their propensity to retaining heat, which in turn has been associated with ankle injuries, as well as causing inconsistent pace and bounce.
  
  Top Australian player, Lleyton Hewitt, has praised the move by saying: "I think it's a good decision. We can get a pace that's going to be consistent around Australia". "That's been the biggest problem with Rebound Ace," he added, "Whether I'm playing Adelaide, Sydney or Melbourne, it plays differently. The weather conditions have always affected it so much."
  
  Other professional players are not as sure of the move. Many believe it will be too much like the DecoTurf of the US Open - effectively a hard-court surface. In comparison to Rebound Ace, the ball slows down slightly less on the bounce and bounces slightly lower on the DecoTurf.
  
  Australian Open Tournament Director, Craig Tiley, has denied this by saying that the Plexicushion is not a hard court surface, but a cushioned acrylic surface, thereby preserving the point of difference from the other Grand Slam tournaments.
  
  * The new surface will have a lower rubber content leading to firmer under foot conditions.
  * It will retain less heat, a factor which has posed a unique problem to the Australian Open
  * The new surface involves applying multiple layers of rubber filled resin to the base and this is expected to achieve more consistency on court
  * The Plexicushion surface will not warrant any change in the current ITF (International Tennis Federation) classification of medium to medium fast
  
  For live tennis betting and daily special offers, we recommend William Hill, one of the world's largest and most reputable betting companies.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Tue Jan 27 11:21:17 2009.

  Thanks Omega.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Tue Jan 27 12:12:06 2009.

  An Almost All Russian Semi Finals in Ladies
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Wed Jan 28 0:51:06 2009.

  af,
  
  Can you please post semi-finals fixtures for both the gender?
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Wed Jan 28 0:56:44 2009.

  Finally They closed the roof for serena match against Svetlana Kuznetsova. It was unbearably hot and a couple of the audiences had a banner
  
  Thanks for closing the roof
  
  
  
  

• From: omega on Wed Jan 28 5:29:53 2009.

  Sanguine Sridhar wrote:

  af, Can you please post semi-finals fixtures for both the gender?

  
  
  Womens
  ---------
  
  1) E. Dementieva vs S.Williams
  2) V. Zvenorava vs D. Safina
  
  
  Mens
  -----
  
  1) R. Federer ( ) vs A. Roddick
  2) F. Verdasco ( ) vs Winner [ R. Nadal vs G. Simon]
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Wed Jan 28 5:41:31 2009.

  Thanks Omega! Its going to be another Nadal-Federer encounter.
  
  

• From: omega on Wed Jan 28 6:20:36 2009.

  Sanguine Sridhar wrote:

  Thanks Omega! Its going to be another Nadal-Federer encounter.

  
  
  I am still believing in the surprise element associated with AO...
  If that holds true, then probably F. Verdasco could be in Finals!!!
  
  2006 -> M. Bagdatis (from nowhere reached the Final)
  2007 -> F. Gonzalez (again reached his first GS Final)
  2008 -> W. Tsonga (first GS Final appearance from nowhere)
  2009 -> Verdasco (hopefully!!!)
  
  None of above could cross the final hurdle though (Federer on first two occasions & Joker last year).
  
  You have to beat Federer to win the AO or it will be him who holds the trophy. This has been the case in the last five years,
  
  2004 --> Winner Federer
  2005 --> Winner M. Safin [Beat Roger in the Semis (classic)]
  2006 --> Federer
  2007 --> Federer
  2008 --> Novak Jokovic (Beat Roger in the Semis)
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Wed Jan 28 6:43:37 2009.

  Omega,
  
  That’s a very good analysis; I completely forgot that in the last four years Nadal and Federer never met in the AO finals. Statistically good chances for Verdasco or Simmon
  
  

• From: omega on Wed Jan 28 8:07:15 2009.

  Sanguine Sridhar wrote:

  Omega, That’s a very good analysis; I completely forgot that in the last four years Nadal and Federer never met in the AO finals. Statistically good chances for Verdasco or Simmon

  
  
  Giles Simon is out...........
  
  So one will be a Spanish SemiFinal,
  
  F. Verdasco vs R. Nadal ( both lefties)
  
  One all Righty Semi & other all Lefty Semi.....
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Wed Jan 28 8:49:04 2009.

  Sania-Bhupathi in mixed doubles semis
  
  http://www.rediff.com/sports/2009/jan/28sania-bhupathi-in-mixed-doubles-semis.htm
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Wed Jan 28 9:53:41 2009.

  Omega . Very True.
  

  omega wrote:

  Sanguine Sridhar wrote: Thanks Omega! Its going to be another Nadal-Federer encounter. I am still believing in the surprise element associated with AO... If that holds true, then probably F. Verdasco could be in Finals!!! 2006 -> M. Bagdatis (from nowhere reached the Final) 2007 -> F. Gonzalez (again reached his first GS Final) 2008 -> W. Tsonga (first GS Final appearance from nowhere) 2009 -> Verdasco (hopefully!!!) None of above could cross the final hurdle though (Federer on first two occasions & Joker last year). You have to beat Federer to win the AO or it will be him who holds the trophy. This has been the case in the last five years, 2004 --> Winner Federer 2005 --> Winner M. Safin [Beat Roger in the Semis (classic)] 2006 --> Federer 2007 --> Federer 2008 --> Novak Jokovic (Beat Roger in the Semis)

  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Wed Jan 28 10:19:04 2009.

  Day 11: Thursday, 29 January
  
  Rod Laver Arena
  
  Not Before:13:30
  Women's Singles - Semifinals
  Elena Dementieva(RUS)[4] vs. Serena Williams(USA)[2]
  
  
  
  Women's Singles - Semifinals
  Vera Zvonareva(RUS)[7] vs. Dinara Safina(RUS)[3]
  
  
  Rod Laver Arena
  
  19:30 Start
  Men's Singles - Semifinals
  Andy Roddick(USA)[7] vs. Roger Federer(SUI)[2]
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Thu Jan 29 0:46:25 2009.

  Bhupathi-Knowles romp into Australian Open final
  
  http://www.rediff.com/sports/2009/jan/29bhupathi-knowles-in-australian-open-final.htm
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Thu Jan 29 6:26:29 2009.

  Rod Laver Arena
  
  7 A.Roddick 2 5 2
  2 R.Federer 6 7 2
  
  Federer leads 2 sets to love.
  
  

• From: omega on Thu Jan 29 6:26:34 2009.

  Joining the 3rd set 2-2.............Federer leading 2-0...
  
  

• From: omega on Thu Jan 29 6:50:31 2009.

  Writing on the wall....Federer serving for the match @ 6-5 3rd set.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Thu Jan 29 6:53:26 2009.

  Federer wins
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Thu Jan 29 6:53:34 2009.

  omega wrote:

  Writing on the wall....Federer serving for the match @ 6-5 3rd set.

  
  
  Nadal - Verdasco match aduthadha?
  
  

• From: omega on Thu Jan 29 6:54:16 2009.

  Federer wins in straight sets, 6-2, 7-5 &7-5.....
  Roger set to gain points.........Can he get the maximum? I think he surely can, if he plays at this level.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Thu Jan 29 6:54:43 2009.

  Tomorrow. Finals on Sunday.
  

  Sanguine Sridhar wrote:

  omega wrote: Writing on the wall....Federer serving for the match @ 6-5 3rd set. Nadal - Verdasco match aduthadha?

  
  

• From: omega on Thu Jan 29 6:56:25 2009.

  Sanguine Sridhar wrote:

  omega wrote: Writing on the wall....Federer serving for the match @ 6-5 3rd set. Nadal - Verdasco match aduthadha?

  
  
  No that one is for tommorrow...
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Thu Jan 29 7:06:06 2009.

  Thanks af maams and Omega. Tomorrow match is going to be interesting, i guess.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Thu Jan 29 7:08:00 2009.

  Only if your theory works properly. If Fed wins the final and Nadal doesn't make it to the finals he can cut down a huge chunk of 1280 points.
  

  omega wrote:

  Federer wins in straight sets, 6-2, 7-5 &7-5..... Roger set to gain points.........Can he get the maximum? I think he surely can, if he plays at this level.

  
  

• From: omega on Thu Jan 29 8:58:13 2009.

  ajithfederer wrote:

  Only if your theory works properly. If Fed wins the final and Nadal doesn't make it to the finals he can cut down a huge chunk of 1280 points. omega wrote: Federer wins in straight sets, 6-2, 7-5 &7-5..... Roger set to gain points.........Can he get the maximum? I think he surely can, if he plays at this level.

  
  
  Yes, I still believe that will happen
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Thu Jan 29 18:17:05 2009.

  http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/7858463.stm
  
  
  Nadal aims to book Federer final
  AUSTRALIAN OPEN
  Venue: Melbourne Park Date: 19 January-1 February
  Coverage: Nadal v Verdasco live from 0830 GMT on BBC Red Button, Radio 5 Live sports extra, BBC Sport website (Red Button coverage streamed on website throughout fortnight)
  Rafael Nadal and Fernando Verdasco
  Nadal (left) has won all six of his previous matches against Verdasco
  
  World number one Rafael Nadal has vowed to avoid complacency as he looks to set up an Australian Open final against rival Roger Federer.
  
  The 22-year-old meets Fernando Verdasco at 0830 GMT on Friday, having won all six of his previous matches against his fellow Spaniard.
  
  "Fernando is playing at his best level," said the top seed.
  
  "I've never played against him when at the level he's playing at right now. It's going to be very tough."
  
  Nadal may be chastened by his experience in last year's semi-final when he was crushed by the previously unheralded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
  
  Verdasco, like Tsonga in 2008, is this year's surprise package in Melbourne following his five-set win over Andy Murray and victory over Tsonga in the quarter-finals.
  
  The 25-year-old has been in fine form since helping Spain win the Davis Cup in December, after which he spent the off-season in Las Vegas working with Andre Agassi's former coach Gil Reyes.
  
  606: DEBATE
  Does anyone think Verdasco has the type of game that could be a threat to Nadal?
  
  Wenger's Magic Hat
  
  "The Davis Cup changed my life so much and gave me a lot of confidence and mentally made me much stronger," he said.
  
  "I worked so hard this pre-season with Gil Reyes in Las Vegas. I'm feeling much better than before. They helped me so much."
  
  Verdasco progressed beyond the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time in his career with victory over Murray - who was considered one of the title favourites.
  
  But the 14th seed believes he faces a much tougher task against Nadal.
  
  "For me, Rafa is the toughest player in five-set matches," he said.
  
  "It's going to be the toughest match possible, but I'm feeling pretty good and I just think that I can beat anyone."
  
  Federer booked his place in Sunday's final with a consummate display against Andy Roddick.
  
  The world number two is through to his 18th Grand Slam final as he seeks a record-equalling 14th major title.
  
  He admitted he has mixed feelings about who he would prefer to face.
  
  "I'd like to play Fernando because he's never played a Grand Slam final before. I have an edge there," said the 27-year-old.
  
  "Playing Rafa is obviously more exciting because of the history we have, playing in so many Grand Slam finals.
  
  "Him being the best player in the world at the moment, it would make it a very intriguing match."
  
  Nadal is the only player to have beaten Federer in a Grand Slam final, three times at the French Open and once at Wimbledon.
  
  But Federer said he could not be happier with his form in 2009 after struggling with the after-effects of glandular fever at last year's tournament.
  
  "I do feel better mentally. I'm obviously more healthy so I can focus on playing well," he said after seeing off Roddick in straight sets.
  
  "I'm really pleased about my performance so far in the tournament. The draw was difficult and dangerous if you look back on who I had to play."
  
  

• From: omega on Fri Jan 30 6:11:41 2009.

  Verdasco takes the first set in a tiebreaker.............Great set.
  25 winners for Verdasco to just 8 for Nadal...
  
  

• From: mgb on Fri Jan 30 7:18:14 2009.

  Sanguine Sridhar wrote:

  Bhupathi-Knowles romp into Australian Open final http://www.rediff.com/sports/2009/jan/29bhupathi-knowles-in-australian-open-final.htm

  Bhupathi has reached the mixed doubles final as well
  
  

• From: omega on Fri Jan 30 7:44:06 2009.

  Nadal takes second set 6-4. Up a break in the 3rd (4-2)...
  
  

• From: omega on Fri Jan 30 7:46:02 2009.

  Verdasco breaks back...........Back on serve in the 3rd. To serve 3-4.
  This guy is keeping Nadal on his toes.......Hope he takes this set.
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Fri Jan 30 7:47:26 2009.

  omega wrote:

  Verdasco breaks back...........Back on serve in the 3rd. To serve 3-4. This guy is keeping Nadal on his toes.......Hope he takes this set.

  
  
  unga vaaku palikattum.
  
  

• From: omega on Fri Jan 30 8:08:31 2009.

  Sanguine Sridhar wrote:

  omega wrote: Verdasco breaks back...........Back on serve in the 3rd. To serve 3-4. This guy is keeping Nadal on his toes.......Hope he takes this set. unga vaaku palikattum.

  
  
  
  Hope so. So far, Verdasco has matched Nadal to the most part....
  Third set into tie-breaker
  
  

• From: omega on Fri Jan 30 8:18:56 2009.

  Nadal takes third set..........It will be very difficult for Verdasco now.
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Fri Jan 30 8:19:59 2009.

  omega wrote:

  Nadal takes third set..........It will be very difficult for Verdasco now.

  
  
  Cha!!
  
  

• From: crajkumar_be on Fri Jan 30 8:20:40 2009.

  
  
  

• From: omega on Fri Jan 30 9:03:23 2009.

  Fourth set heading towards yet another tie-breaker. (Nadal serving to stay in the set 5-6)
  
  

• From: omega on Fri Jan 30 9:15:58 2009.

  All charged up Verdasco takes fourth set in tie-breaker (7-1).
  He crushed Nadal giving away just one point. It cannot get any better.
  Remember Nadal did not drop a set thru' out the tournament. He has lost 2 today. Exciting fifth set to start.
  
  Verdasco I don't care even if you lose from here.
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Fri Jan 30 9:20:03 2009.

  Verdasco playing amazing tennis and destroyed Nadal in the fourth set but the scoreline suggests different story. 21 winners against Nadal's 9 in the 4th set. Too many unforced errors from Verdasco.
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Fri Jan 30 9:28:32 2009.

  1-1 in the fifth set. Somehow, Verdasco managed to hold his serve.
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Fri Jan 30 9:30:12 2009.

  Moonball player leads in the fifth set by 2-1.
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Fri Jan 30 9:36:21 2009.

  Fantastic display and great move from Verdasco to bring Moonball player to the net and hit a great passing shot.
  
  2-2 in the fifth set and still with serve. Verdasco is yet to bring down his unforced errors.
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Fri Jan 30 9:38:53 2009.

  Nadal hold his serve comfortably. So far in the fifth set Nadal had no problems with his serve. Verdasco had some problems with his serve in the second game of the fifth set.
  
  Moonball player leads 3-2 in the fifth set.
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Fri Jan 30 9:45:53 2009.

  Verdasco had problems with his serve. Double faulted at crucial point to give an opportunity to the moonball player to break his serve. However, with some big serves Verdasco manages to hold his serve. 3-3 in the fifth set. Will Nadal wilt under pressure now????
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Fri Jan 30 9:49:22 2009.

  No. A big no. Verdasco yet to cut down his creeping unforced errors. Nadal held his serve without any problems to lead 4-3 in the fifth set. Now it seems Nadal may ran away with this match as Verdasco is still out of radar.
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Fri Jan 30 9:54:05 2009.

  Now they have played, for 5 hours, a marathon match. Verdasco is physically still good but his unforced errors is the only problem for him. Nadal has to ride on his luck with Verdasco's errors alone. Moonball player is powerless against fellow spaniard. What a great shot from Verdasco at 30-40. Hitting magical shot at adversity is an absolute talent. Hitting another shot out after deuce is a stupidity. Tremendous ace down the centre to hold his serve after few difficulties. Wow! 4-4 in the fifth set. There is no signs of breaking serve after 8 games. Plenty of break points but no breaks!!!!
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Fri Jan 30 10:02:34 2009.

  Two big errors from Verdasco cost him the chance to break and Nadal held his serve and nerve after some difficulty. Now it's 5-4 with Moonball player leading. Testing time for Verdasco.... Can he hold his nerve and serve????
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Fri Jan 30 10:08:57 2009.

  Moonball player played intelligently than his opponent. Unforced errors from Verdasco gives Nadal 0-30. Double fault gives the Moonball player 0-40 and a chance to win the match. Two smart moves from Verdasco to make it 30-40. But another double fault cost him the match.
  
  Powerless Moonball Player won this match which was dominated by Verdasco's winners and unforced errors.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Jan 30 10:08:59 2009.

  Double fault costs Verdasco the match.
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Fri Jan 30 10:10:04 2009.

  Moonball player in the final against his bunny FEDEX. Can FEDEX turn things around against the left handed spaniard atleast this time??? As the ball travels little slower than anticipated, it might be an added advantage to NADAL against FEDEX. For FEDEX and tennis fans, this jinx has to be broken now.
  
  Moonball player played with some ideas in the fifth set. First he has not given many shots to Verdasco's thunderbolt forehand. He knows that he had no clues to Verdasco's powerful ground strokes.
  
  

• From: crajkumar_be on Fri Jan 30 10:12:10 2009.

  
  
  Roger has to fk Nadal out of OZland!
  
  

• From: Sanjeevi on Fri Jan 30 10:12:38 2009.

  So Nadal is going to win his First GS other than French Open
  
  or
  
  Federer is going to win 14th GS to match Sampras record
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Jan 30 10:14:00 2009.

  Nadal has won Wimbledon.
  

  Sanjeevi wrote:

  So Nadal is going to win his First GS other than French Open or Federer is going to win 14th GS to match Sampras record

  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Jan 30 10:15:04 2009.

  A 5 hour 14 minute match
  
  

• From: Sanjeevi on Fri Jan 30 10:15:20 2009.

  Nadals way is to give chance to opponent to make error. Athuvaraikkum naama eppadi thappu illama adikkanumnu vilaiyaduvar pola
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Jan 30 10:17:52 2009.

  First Hardcourt Grandslam final for Nadal.
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Fri Jan 30 10:20:30 2009.

  Sanjeevi wrote:

  Nadals way is to give chance to opponent to make error. Athuvaraikkum naama eppadi thappu illama adikkanumnu vilaiyaduvar pola

  
  
  This is the reason why I call him a Moon ball player. Spaniards always grind, grind and grind and plays tennis matches like cricket test matches. If they want to hit a winner, then they should have open court. Then only they hit a winner. As far as I know, the trend continues from the days of Arantxa Sanchez and her brothers Emilio sanchez, Javier sanchez. Further as they were brought up in clay courts, they have no other option it seems. Finally IMO, NADAL is the GEOFFREY BOYCOTT of TENNIS.
  
  I am happy with the way Verdasco played. He played too aggressive unlike other spaniards that I have seen in my entire life.
  
  Somehow mokkai mAmA NADAL in final.
  
  

• From: Sanjeevi on Fri Jan 30 10:22:44 2009.

  ajithfederer wrote:

  Nadal has won Wimbledon. Sanjeevi wrote: So Nadal is going to win his First GS other than French Open or Federer is going to win 14th GS to match Sampras record

  
  
  Opps... what a fantastic final
  
  what was the total played time at that final?
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Jan 30 10:24:08 2009.

  4 hours and 48 minutes match time over a day of multiple rain breaks.
  

  Sanjeevi wrote:

  ajithfederer wrote: Nadal has won Wimbledon. Sanjeevi wrote: So Nadal is going to win his First GS other than French Open or Federer is going to win 14th GS to match Sampras record Opps... what a fantastic final what was the total played time at that final?

  
  

• From: Sanjeevi on Fri Jan 30 10:26:38 2009.

  steveaustin wrote:

  Sanjeevi wrote: Nadals way is to give chance to opponent to make error. Athuvaraikkum naama eppadi thappu illama adikkanumnu vilaiyaduvar pola This is the reason why I call him a Moon ball player. Spaniards always grind, grind and grind and plays tennis matches like cricket test matches. If they want to hit a winner, then they should have open court. Then only they hit a winner. As far as I know, the trend continues from the days of Arantxa Sanchez and her brothers Emilio sanchez, Javier sanchez. Further as they were brought up in clay courts, they have no other option it seems. Finally IMO, NADAL is the GEOFFREY BOYCOTT of TENNIS. I am happy with the way Verdasco played. He played too aggressive unlike other spaniards that I have seen in my entire life. Somehow mokkai mAmA NADAL in final.

  
  
  yeah safe game.
  
  I didn't see the match. Anyway it seems a new sensation Verdasco is rising. There are threats to Djokovic place.
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Fri Jan 30 10:30:58 2009.

  Sanjeevi wrote:

  I didn't see the match. Anyway it seems a new sensation Verdasco is rising. There are threats to Djokovic place.

  
  
  He reminds me error prone Mark Phillippoussis of Australia, tormentor for Pete Sampras in the late 1990s, who had big thunderbolt serves called 'scud', big forehand, single handed excellent backhand, serve and volley game. Mark is a treat to watch when he was in full flow. When he was on top of his game, even high powered Sampras was out of sorts in few matches.
  
  But Verdasco plays powerful shots only from the baseline and he has to improve his net game.
  
  

• From: omega on Fri Jan 30 11:39:17 2009.

  crajkumar_be wrote:

  Roger has to fk Nadal out of OZland!

  
  
  If the QF & SF matches of Federer are any indication, then he certainly will.... Federer definitely seems like have got his magic touch back. Lets hope the long rest doesn't bother him.
  
  Kudos to Vardasco for keeping Nadal in the court for > 5 hrs....
  
  

• From: Nerd on Fri Jan 30 12:04:00 2009.

  Ennadhu mokkai mAmA-vA?? Naansanss!
  I m so looking forward to another Feddy-Nadal clash. Go Rafa
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Jan 30 12:10:13 2009.

  Roger has to serve like what he did in the Roddick Match. He had double the number of aces of Roddick and Roddick(being a great server himself)acknowledged that Fed served extremely well.
  
  Men's Final at Sunday Morning 3:30 EST.
  

  omega wrote:

  crajkumar_be wrote: Roger has to fk Nadal out of OZland! If the QF & SF matches of Federer are any indication, then he certainly will.... Federer definitely seems like have got his magic touch back. Lets hope the long rest doesn't bother him. Kudos to Vardasco for keeping Nadal in the court for > 5 hrs....

  
  

• From: steveaustin on Fri Jan 30 12:26:05 2009.

  Nerd wrote:

  Ennadhu mokkai mAmA-vA?? Naansanss! I m so looking forward to another Feddy-Nadal clash. Go Rafa

  
  
  IMO, Nadal is too boring because of his stereo-typed game. Grind, grind, grind, grind and so on. He plays like Michael Chang. On anyday Chang, a better athlete than Nadal. No big shots at the time of adversity. He has struggled against Verdasco and only Verdasco's creeping errors made his route bit easier to the final.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Jan 30 12:40:50 2009.

  Wimbledon's speed 2003-2008
  
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WmJXHAmu-w&feature=rec-fresh+div
  
  Observe the differences in speed from 2003 to 2008.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Jan 30 13:03:18 2009.

  Exactly.
  
  Eppo Double fault poduradhunnu vevasthaye illa !!. Final Game-la rendu double faults, puhleesee.are you kidding me??.
  

  steveaustin wrote:

  Moonball player played intelligently than his opponent. Unforced errors from Verdasco gives Nadal 0-30. Double fault gives the Moonball player 0-40 and a chance to win the match. Two smart moves from Verdasco to make it 30-40. But another double fault cost him the match. Powerless Moonball Player won this match which was dominated by Verdasco's winners and unforced errors.

  
  

• From: steveaustin on Fri Jan 30 23:00:02 2009.

  I have seen the match from the 2nd set to 4th set then and there because of my work. From the 4th set tie-break till the end of the match, I have seen it completely. I was amazed by some of the shots played by the Spaniard Fernando Verdasco. Unbelievable 91 winners in total.
  
  

• From: sgokulprathap on Sat Jan 31 0:17:19 2009.

  Cricket la Australia va neraya pEr thittara maadhiri inga neraya pEr Nadal la thittareenga.
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Sat Jan 31 0:45:35 2009.

  Gokul.
  
  Nobody blames Nadal but only his game. Now my thoughts on present day tennis is here.
  
  After a long time, I am witnessing one of the most celebrated tennis events in Melbourne of Australia. Suddenly my friend came and asked: “Is it a Good match?” I sported a mischievous smile and he did not wait for my answer. Further he asked, “Did you see a single serve and volley in the match? A single, delicate, angled pass?”
  
  Later, I started to look back, it seemed certain to me that I had not watched a single perfect serve and volley in the entire week. Then again serve and volley game at even in Wimbledon now-a-days is a rarity. Hoping to see serve and volley might be as unsuccessful as waiting for the sighting of a sunrise in the west.
  
  Serve and volley is not only a rare sight these days in Tennis. Exquisite drop shots of McEnroe, amazing clinks, Agassi’ passes of silken smoothness as to take one’s breath away, Christ Evert’s delicate lobs, Pistol Pete’s running forehands, Edberg’s kicking second serves, Boris Becker’s booming first serves, Rafter’s half volleys, Fraulein Steffi’s greatest forehand missiles, Becker’s acrobatic diving volleys, Graf’s slice backhands (In fact her only weakness), Pistol Pete’s jumping smashes too missed out these days.
  
  Most volatile package of Tennis talent, John McEnroe turned the tennis courts into a stage for display of his sublime art. Meanwhile, a typical pro of the day, the one whose game and personality are the very definition of professionalism reminds me some one like Rafael Nadal, a man who grinds and grinds away for an eternity like a Jacques Kallis used to in cricket just a few years ago.
  
  If the Nadals and Kallises are great performers and record-breakers and players whose contribution to enrich their sport in their own ways, then the distressing thing had happened now is that these are the type of players had become rule.
  
  For sport’s most successful players, (In fact, top performers today might be an apt indication) it does not pay to stick to their natural instincts. This is the age of harmony and competence revolution and creativity. Boris Becker’s tennis was the very definition of youthful exuberance and naturalness when he played the game two decades ago is certainly a rare one in this day and age. The strategy, winning-is-everything madness has made percentage play the only play possible. Now in tennis, the organized sport, is firmly moving towards the age of mass producing robot superstars like Nadal.
  
  It has become crystal clear that art in tennis is much less in evidence in this decade than in glorious late 70s, 80s or even the 90s to certain extent. A trend is obvious too. There is much less scope for naturally gifted players to express themselves totally in today’s sports than in the past.
  
  It is for this reason that frequently I blaring out loud – will you please shut up – When I hear my colleagues saying that Sehwag or Gayle should curb their natural attacking instincts and concentrate on patiently building their innings. From their team’s perspective, this might be important but what of sport as a exhibition? Sehwag is Sehwag and Gayle is Gayle because they play the way they do. I know the essence of sport and its pleasure to certain extent. I will say only this: Please leave them alone. Let them be. Sehwag and Gayle are a rare work of nature. Still they are untainted by the ridiculous demands of the so-called professionalism.
  
  The recklessness and the courage to go after big shots and big serves even in times of adversity are extraordinary qualities that made Roger Federer special and straightaway set him apart from the rest. And to say that he is not doing his talent justice in terms of numbers – as if natural genius can be quantified in terms of number of Grandslams he won recently(last year or so) – is nothing but absurd.
  
  Did Sehwag do his talents justice? Did Ramnaresh Sarwan end up with the kind of rewards that his talents deserved? Did Richard Krajicek or Goran Ivanisevic win as many major titles as their talents illustrated? How inane these questions sound! Of course, Roger Federer would have won all of his matches against Nadal comfortably till date if he had resorted to percentage play. But people like us would have never seen the greatest angle shots, whether it is from his forehand or backhand, some of the beautiful volleys, dazzling forehand and great topspin backhand winners. Roger has achieved so much because he is courageous enough to risk looking idiot. He allowed himself to explore the extreme limits of his talents rather than settling for a secure mediocrity.
  
  At present in Tennis, players are becoming long on consistency but are short on artistry as they distance themselves from their instincts. Prime example is Rafael Nadal. Why? Money. Money.. Money… Money spoiled the artistry tennis of many. It’s not only him. Djokovic, Tsonga, Baghdatis and many top players. This is not a fault of him. It is the fault of audiences. If the audiences watches these type of tailor made matches then more and more players will bloom in this way only. Many of the top players in today’s Tennis never deserved to be even in top 50 considering their skills. There are not as many naturally gifted players today as there were in 70s, 80s or even in 90s to certain extent.
  
  A Maradona or a George Best or even a Rudd Gullitt would have been successful at any time, even in today’s foot ball, but they might have had less room in which to express their wizardry in 21st century. In Modern tennis, when the public expectations are as high as they are, when reactions to winning and losing are as extreme as they are, even the most gifted players will choose percentage play sooner than later. Even after in the circuit for so many years, now Federer slowly changing his path to safety and he has curbed his natural instincts just like our great maestro Sachin Tendulkar. Now-a-days he fails to come to the net frequently which he did in his early days.
  
  IMO, Rafael Nadal, will be remembered for his coloured clothes rather than his Tennis in years to come, always choose the defensive route to his grandslams success till date. Percentage play is certainly killing the sport as well as viewers’ and real Tennis lovers’ entertainment. I am certain that Tennis has lost its charm after the percentage players like Rafael Nadal, Djokovic but still trying to regain its charm by players like Roger Federer, David Nalbandian (the most complete player in the circuit after Sampras) and upcoming Andy Murray. Of these three, at present only Andy Murray only inspires me. But he is certainly a mismatch for Federer’s skills till date.
  
  The cavalier courage has been replaced by mostly dull professional competence. IMHO, finally it is Talent Vs Patience in the Australian Open final. We have to wait and see whether the winner is talent or patience.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sat Jan 31 1:00:42 2009.

  Wow steve
  
  

• From: Sanjeevi on Sat Jan 31 2:20:37 2009.

  steveaustin, r u Steffi Graf fan?
  
  I was/is big fan.
  
  What a rivalry between Steffi and Monica Seles man that was fantastic
  
  

• From: sgokulprathap on Sat Jan 31 3:46:55 2009.

  Steve, am not big fan of Tennis as u guys.
  I was bit surprisd, bcoz when Nadal startd to raise against Feddy, I saw many positive comments about his game here.
  
  

• From: sgokulprathap on Sat Jan 31 3:51:23 2009.

  Cricket cant be compared wit Tennis I think.
  Sehwag's aggression and Kallis's defense are both gr8 in each way.
  Like how its foolish to ask Sehwag to play defensive cricket, we cant expect Kallis / Dravid to play aggressive cricket. What is important is both of them contributing to their team.
  
  

• From: Nerd on Sat Jan 31 5:21:30 2009.

  Steve, I did not watch the Semi-finals, but I have seen enough of Rafa to judge him. He is a damned good player. Certainly not in the league of Feddy, but reducing him to a *mokkai* player is obscenely funny.
  
  

• From: thilak4life on Sat Jan 31 6:00:14 2009.

  Rafa & "mokkai mama". And Chang compared to Rafa?
  
  Ada ponga pa...
  
  

• From: thilak4life on Sat Jan 31 6:05:24 2009.

  Btw, Serena annihilated Safina. She (and Venus too) is just about speed, power and stamina, No?
  
  

• From: omega on Sat Jan 31 6:32:04 2009.

  SA,
  
  Eventhough you have some valid points, I don't think, you have to be so critical about Nadal's game. The game has witnessed so many baseliners to date (who could forget the never ending match between Ivan Lendl & Mats Wilander @ French Open) & Nadal is one of them.
  
  My major grouse is, how all the majors have become baseliners' paradise (the surface made slower deliberately), thereby denying the small percentage of volleyers to put their talents at display. The net rushers have been made look ridiculously stupid, with literally every attempt being shut with a passing winner. This is clearly the organizers fault not Nadal's. He is only taking advantage of the situation.
  
  May be this is a ploy to literally get No.1 & 2 all the way to the final each time (which happens almost regularly). Yes the modern day surfaces (barring the US Open) are no more balanced (as it used to be in the 90s thru' early part of this century).
  
  To say, Feddy would have won all his matches against Nadal had only he played percentage tennis, is not a valid argument. "If only" analysis is only good on paper & can never be taken seriously.
  
  Finally it is not easy to be a Nadal either. Playing percentage game (be it tennis or cricket or any other sport) is not a simple thing at all & not all can do it. It needs extreme patience & a strong mind to keep you in the game & come up with one more return than your opponent.
  
  Like you I too like to see a lot a variation in the game, rather than being pure ball machines hitting back & forth across the net. Unfortunately we might be put on a long hold, the way tennis is played these days.
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Sat Jan 31 10:34:11 2009.

  Bhupathi-Knowles lose Aus Open final
  
  http://www.rediff.com/sports/2009/jan/31bhupathi-knowles-lose-aus-open-final.htm
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Sat Jan 31 10:59:45 2009.

  I am not critical about Nadal’s game alone. More than 90% of the tennis players at present play only percentage and safe tennis. Further my worry is only about the quality of declining artistry tennis and not about day-by-day increasing modern professional percentage tennis. If the quality of artistry tennis declines, after 25 years our future generation might ask that did serve and volley tennis ever really played? Were cross court or half volleys played? Were overhead smashes played from the net? This should not happen.
  
  Even though the game has witnessed so many baseliners till date, can anybody match the charisma or shot making abilities of another greatest ever baseliner Andre Agassi. Who can forget the charismatic champion’s win at Wimbledon 1992. Even after serving 206 aces in just 7 matches, the moody croatian Goran Ivanisevic just only ended as a tame loser to Andre Agassi because of the service return winners from both flanks from the Las Vegan. Only because of his little adjustment to his game (standing inside the baseline and not behind the baseline) according to the surfaces, but he never cut down his shots, Agassi won Grandslam titles on all surfaces, which Ivan Lendl or the game’s most allround player Pete Sampras, Stefan Edberg failed to do it. Regarding Federer we have to wait and see in a year or two. Agassi never played percentage tennis instead played vintage tennis. Even though he was a baseliner, he has gone for unbelievable shots and till date I have never seen any great service returner in this earth than Agassi. He is lightning quick at his feet and he hit winners from nowhere to every corner of the court. His lobs landed mostly just a few inches inside the lines which were ungettable. Has anyone ever said Bjorn Borg is boring? No. Because he too hit winners but not by grinding.
  
  Nadal is very good when equated with current crop of players alone. Nadal is just workhorse man like few tennis machines like Ivan Lendl, Wilander, James Spencer Courier. IMO, they are boring champions. Atleast Lendl and Courier occasionally played net games in their career. Even during mid-90s when I saw Pete Sampras at Wimbledon, I thought he too belonged to a category of boring champion since Sampras’ game mainly relied on his great serve at Wimbledon in many matches. Considering modern day tennis(now), Sampras’ game is not boring. Sampras too started his career only as a baseliner with double-fisted backhand. Later changed his game to serve and volley and single-handed backhand. Becker too initially started as a baseliner and later switched over to serve and volley. This is what great champions do.
  
  IMO, boring but hardworking champions are Czech Ivan Lendl, Miloslav Mecir, Mats Wilander (who won 3 grandslams in 1988 exception being Wimbledon won by fellow Swede Edberg), American James Spencer Courier, Spaniard Sergi Bruguera, Austrian Thomas Muster, Chilean Marcelo Rios, Brazilian Gustavo Kuerton (Guga). At present, I may add Nadal in this category but it is too early to say about him. As he is young, he has a chance to improve his all round game by coming to the net often and hitting more winners as soon as his confidence level gets increased.
  
  Even yesterday, Verdasco hit amazing 91 winners which only made me to watch the match. Hitting balls to the opponent and waiting for the errors is not at all interesting. It is damn boring for me. How many players today made their opponents wrong footed in this Australian open? Wrong footing your opponents itself a great skill to make your opponent to guess. IMO, percentage tennis is just like a mass masala movies with predictable storyline. I am just interested in entertaining unpredictable matches than the predictable ones.
  
  This is just an example of percentage tennis. No offence.
  
  Of late, Federer too played some percentage tennis. Tomorrow Nadal is mostly going to serve and hit most of the balls to Federer’s backhand (his weakness when compared with his forehand) at Australian Open. Federer will just follow Nadal and he is going to hit the balls mostly to Nadal’s forehand since the Spaniard is a left-hander. Nadal will keep the ball in play and after few shots Federer will try to hit winners and only succeed partially. Federer will start his serve with nervously only to lose the first set. His unforced errors will creep high whenever he meets Nadal. He will try to hit more shots but mostly will end in unforced errors. This is the order of the last few meetings between them. Actually this is certainly not Nadal’s fault but it’s part of failure of Federer. If Federer come up with some new plans like serve and volley or try to hit winners on Nadal’s serve or try to bring Nadal to the net often, then Nadal has to change his game and adopt new tactics which is better for entertaining tennis as well as to improve Nadal’s game. Recently the British Andy Murray did and succeeded against both Nadal and Federer.
  
  So far, IMO, his game has not reached the levels to place him as one of the greats like John McEnroe, Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Boris Becker, Stefan Edberg.
  
  Leave the great players. A few Australians like Pat Cash, Wally Masur, Jason Stoltenberg, Patrick Rafter and few others might not have reached top but their game always made to sit in the edge of the seats. Frenchman Guy Forget, Henri Leconte, American Todd Martin, Swedes Jonas Bjorkman, Magnus Larson, German Michael Stich, Danish Kenneth Carlson, British Tim Henman, Canadian born Brit Greg Rusedski too made the game an exciting one.
  
  Finally I am of the view that every one should not play percentage tennis. I need atleast one out of 10 has to play artistry tennis. Then only artistry tennis has a chance to survive. Patience and strong mind is not a solution to artistry tennis. Hitting great shots at hardtimes alone is a talent which is the need of the hour for artistry tennis. Artistry tennis is just like a classic movie and percentage tennis is just like a commercial movie. Both are needed for the audiences. Now only commercial movies are coming out and no more classics. I hope everyone will understand my perception.
  
  This is only my view and not to hurt any one.
  
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Sat Jan 31 11:24:55 2009.

  Sanjeevi wrote:

  steveaustin, r u Steffi Graf fan? I was/is big fan. What a rivalry between Steffi and Monica Seles man that was fantastic

  
  
  Myself too a big steffi graf fan. She is a better all round, all court player. It is an absolute beauty to watch her in tennis court with pony tail, powerful serve, big forehands, sheer atheletism and mental toughness. She dominated the tennis court with her allround display. When she was down, her ability to come to the net or hitting the big serves / winners at crucial junctures of the game and get the game back into her groove is a treat to watch. She is little bit less talented when compared with the great Martina Navaratilova.
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Sat Jan 31 11:36:50 2009.

  sgokulprathap wrote:

  Cricket cant be compared wit Tennis I think. Sehwag's aggression and Kallis's defense are both gr8 in each way. Like how its foolish to ask Sehwag to play defensive cricket, we cant expect Kallis / Dravid to play aggressive cricket. What is important is both of them contributing to their team.

  
  
  //Sorry for the dig.
  Can you say how many people prefer to watch Kallis / Dravid than Sehwag? Sports always remember the thrilling winners rather than subdued winners. Here my point is about the value of entertainment. Further, Dravid is a classic treat to watch but Kallis??. Dravid got better style, technical skill and he is a superior strokemaker than Kallis. Kallis only can accumulate runs and he is never in the league of Dravid. They are uniform only in consistent performances. Proof Kallis yet to score a double hundred and he is slower than Dravid. To achieve greatness you should be ready to take high risk and not like Kallis. Regarding contribution I have already mentioned in my post. //
  
  

  Quote:

  From their team’s perspective, this might be important but what of sport as a exhibition? Sehwag is Sehwag and Gayle is Gayle because they play the way they do. I know the essence of sport and its pleasure to certain extent. I will say only this: Please leave them alone. Let them be. Sehwag and Gayle are a rare work of nature. Still they are untainted by the ridiculous demands of the so-called professionalism.

  
  

• From: steveaustin on Sat Jan 31 11:49:01 2009.

  Today I missed out Serena Vs Safina final.
  
  Has anyone seen the complete match??? From the scoreline it seems that it is a lopsided affair. Is it Serena played brilliantly or Safina's errors cost the match and trophy?
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Sat Jan 31 11:54:42 2009.

  Nerd wrote:

  Steve, I did not watch the Semi-finals, but I have seen enough of Rafa to judge him. He is a damned good player. Certainly not in the league of Feddy, but reducing him to a *mokkai* player is obscenely funny.

  
  
  Nerd,
  As I have seen tennis from 1980 onwards, my taste might have been different. At present, Rafael Nadal is very good than current crop of players. As he is not going for big shots and playing safe game, I have mentioned him as 'mokkai'. Otherwise no offense.
  
  

• From: omega on Sat Jan 31 12:32:33 2009.

  SA excellent analysis.
  
  To be honest, I too have a similar view. I used to be a big fan of Andre until his retirement. But I have no doubt in my mind that Federer is by far the best (that I have watched from Boris Becker days to the latest Giles Simon).
  
  Federer having more unforced errors against Nadal is the extra loop that Nadal creates from his forehand to Feddy's backhand. Very hard to either slice or drive from that bounce. This becomes even tougher when the surface is slower (as evident in Clay always & Grass of the late).
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sat Jan 31 13:49:26 2009.

  Steve
  
  Pinniteenga
  
  Agree with evry point on Nadal - federer clash. That is exactly why I want Federer to make powerful serves especially against Nadal. No use in playing rallies against Nadal. Serve - Volley is the best tactic against him.
  
  

• From: thilak4life on Sat Jan 31 14:49:21 2009.

  It is fallacious to assert Nadal is not as entertaining as Agassi. Nadal could return impossible shots from different angles. some of 'em could be bracketed as "artistry" if you aren't tinted. Or you could categorically state waiting game and long rallies is "boring" because the opponent has hit more winners and still lost? Agassi's days had less fit players, wherein you could place the ball by wrong footing the opponent. The modern tennis has its share, but the game has stronger(eh fitter) players (no more Todd martin(s) and such likes), it is important to traverse around and anticipation is far more astute. The technical nous among the players today is far more impressive. Ever-cliched terminology "all-court" players applies to most in the circuit today. The player with varied range of shots and ability should win.
  
  Nadal took over the slot of generation's best baseliner, something Messrs. Bjorn borg and Agassi acknowledge to be well deserved. And it's not that he couldn't acclimatize to other styles. He has a decent volley in him.
  
  

• From: crajkumar_be on Sat Jan 31 17:09:24 2009.

  Nice discussion.
  SA, comprehensive and i agree in general
  
  

  thilak4life wrote:

  Nadal could return impossible shots from different angles.

  
  
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sat Jan 31 17:40:03 2009.

  Sorry to barge in.
  
  I is/was/ will always be a Seles Fan. Monica Seles is the best woman player of her era and she completely outclassed Steffi during the season from being the Youngest ever French Open Champion at 16 in 1990 till 1993 where she was stabbed. She was in a roar winning 8 slams at her prime only for fate to play
  
  

  Sanjeevi wrote:

  steveaustin, r u Steffi Graf fan? I was/is big fan. What a rivalry between Steffi and Monica Seles man that was fantastic

  
  

• From: crajkumar_be on Sat Jan 31 17:42:03 2009.

  If you can call Seles the best, then the Williams sisters are the bestest. Monica > SG?
  
  A double-handed forehand is uglier than Ijaz Ahmed's stance
  

  ajithfederer wrote:

  Sorry to barge in. I is/was/ will always be a Seles Fan. Monica Seles is the best woman player of her era and she completely outclassed Steffi during the season from being the Youngest ever French Open Champion at 16 in 1990 till 1993 where she was stabbed. . Sanjeevi wrote: steveaustin, r u Steffi Graf fan? I was/is big fan. What a rivalry between Steffi and Monica Seles man that was fantastic

  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sat Jan 31 17:53:19 2009.

  Seles's attitude on court and her fierce playing style made me her fan. Her aggressive play and going for the win no matter what attitude stands out the best. Steffi was outclassed severely during 1990-93 until the disgraceful incident. And I simply don't want to buy the argument that Steffi was the best womens tennis player ONLY DUE to the fact that Seles career was cut short. Women's Tennis would have had greater battles if Seles was there is my belief.
  
  I don't have a problem in anyone calling Williams sisters as the best .
  

  crajkumar_be wrote:

  If you can call Seles the best, then the Williams sisters are the bestest. Monica > SG? A double-handed forehand is uglier than Ijaz Ahmed's stance ajithfederer wrote: Sorry to barge in. I is/was/ will always be a Seles Fan. Monica Seles is the best woman player of her era and she completely outclassed Steffi during the season from being the Youngest ever French Open Champion at 16 in 1990 till 1993 where she was stabbed. . Sanjeevi wrote: steveaustin, r u Steffi Graf fan? I was/is big fan. What a rivalry between Steffi and Monica Seles man that was fantastic

  
  

• From: Nerd on Sat Jan 31 21:42:04 2009.

  ajithfederer wrote:

  Seles's attitude on court and her fierce playing style made me her fan. Her aggressive play and going for the win no matter what attitude stands out the best. Steffi was outclassed severely during 1990-93 until the disgraceful incident.

  
  What?!
  Even from 1989 - 1993 the head-to-head is 6-4 in favor of Steffi Graf.
  
  

• From: crajkumar_be on Sat Jan 31 21:49:40 2009.

  Nerd wrote:

  ajithfederer wrote: Seles's attitude on court and her fierce playing style made me her fan. Her aggressive play and going for the win no matter what attitude stands out the best. Steffi was outclassed severely during 1990-93 until the disgraceful incident. What?! Even from 1989 - 1993 the head-to-head is 6-4 in favor of Steffi Graf.

  
  
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steffi_Graf#Rivalry_with_Monica_Seles
  
  

  Quote:

  Rivalry with Monica Seles The indirect effects on Graf's career of the stabbing of Monica Seles in 1993 is the subject of frequent speculation. Seles was World No. 1 at the time of the attack. In head-to-head matches, Graf never had a losing record versus Seles at any point in her career, and prior to 1990, Graf was undefeated versus Seles in three encounters. Seles, however, won four of the seven matches they played from 1990 through 1993, including a 3–1 advantage over Graf in Grand Slam tournaments. From the start of 1991 until the April 1993 Seles stabbing (i.e., the period of Seles's dominance), Graf lost nineteen matches but only two of these were to Seles (while defeating her three times). Graf retired with a 10-5 lifetime record over Seles, including a 6–4 winning record versus Seles in Grand Slam singles tournaments and a 3–2 winning record versus Seles while Seles was ranked World No. 1 in 1991-1993.

  
  
  And the only thing uglier than Seles's style is her extremely annoying and excruciating grunts (literally for every stroke!)
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sat Jan 31 23:00:21 2009.

  [tscii]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monica_Seles
  
  Seles won her first Grand Slam singles title at the 1990 French Open. Facing World No. 1 Steffi Graf in the final, Seles saved four set points in a first set tiebreaker, which she won 8–6, and went on to take the match in straight sets. In doing so, she became the youngest-ever French Open singles titlist at the age of 16 years, 6 months. She also won the 1990 year-ending Virginia Slims Championships, defeating Gabriela Sabatini in five sets. She finished the year ranked World No. 2.
  
  1991 was the first of two years in which Seles dominated the women's tour. She started out by winning the Australian Open in January, beating Jana Novotná in the final. In March, she replaced Graf as the World No. 1. She then successfully defended her French Open title, beating the former youngest-ever winner, Arantxa Sánchez Vicario, in the final. Instead of playing at Wimbledon, however, Seles took a six-week break, blaming shin splints. But she was back in time for the US Open, which she won by beating Martina Navratilova in the final to cement her position at the top of the world rankings. She also won the year-ending Virginia Slims Championships, defeating Navratilova in four sets.
  
  1992 was an equally dominant year. Seles successfully defended her titles at the Australian Open, the French Open, and the US Open. She also reached the final at Wimbledon but lost to Graf in the final 6–2, 6–1. Some observers, however, attributed her lop-sided loss to her decision to remain silent throughout the match, resulting in less penetrating shots.[citation needed] Two opponents (including Navratilova in the semifinals) had strongly complained about Seles's grunting.
  
  
  1993 stabbing
  
  Seles was the top women's player heading into 1993, having won the French Open three consecutive years and both the US Open and Australian Open in consecutive years. In January 1993, Seles defeated Graf in the final of the Australian Open, which to date was her third win in four Grand Slam finals with Graf.
  
  Everything changed, however, following an incident that shocked the tennis world on April 30, 1993. During a quarterfinal match with Magdalena Maleeva in Hamburg in which Seles was leading 6–4, 4–3, a 38-year-old deranged fan of Graf, Günter Parche, ran from the middle of the crowd to the edge of the court during a break between games and plunged a boning knife between Seles's shoulder blades.
  
  Grand Slam results
  Australian Open W (1991, 1992, 1993, 1996)
  French Open W (1990, 1991, 1992)
  Wimbledon F (1992)
  US Open W (1991, 1992)
  
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monica_Seles#Grand_Slam_singles_finals
  
  Year Championship Opponent in final Score in final
  1990 French Open Flag of Germany Steffi Graf 7–6(6), 6–4
  1991 Australian Open Flag of Czechoslovakia Jana Novotná 5–7, 6–3, 6–1
  1991 French Open (2) Flag of Spain Arantxa Sánchez Vicario 6–3, 6–4
  1991 US Open Flag of the United States Martina Navratilova 7–6(1), 6–1
  1992 Australian Open (2) Flag of the United States Mary Joe Fernandez 6–2, 6–3
  1992 French Open (3) Flag of Germany Steffi Graf 6–2, 3–6, 10–8
  1992 US Open (2) Flag of Spain Arantxa Sánchez Vicario 6–3, 6–3
  1993 Australian Open (3) Flag of Germany Steffi Graf 4–6, 6–3, 6–2
  1996 Australian Open (4) Flag of Germany Anke Huber 6–4, 6–1
  
  Year Championship Opponent in final Score in final
  1992 Wimbledon Flag of Germany Steffi Graf 6–2, 6–1
  
  After the stabbing
  1995 US Open Flag of Germany Steffi Graf 7–6(6), 0–6, 6–3
  1996 US Open Flag of Germany Steffi Graf 7–5, 6–4
  1998 French Open Flag of Spain Arantxa Sánchez Vicario 7–6(5), 0–6, 6–2
  
  
  
  Nerd/Bala
  
  From January 1991 through February 1993, Seles won 22 titles and reached 33 finals out of the 34 tournaments she played. She compiled a 159–12 win-loss record (92.9% winning percentage), including a 55–1 win-loss record in Grand Slam tournaments. In the broader context of her first four years on the circuit (1989–1992), Seles had a win-loss record of 231–25 (90.2% winning percentage) and collected 30 titles. Only Chris Evert had a better first four years in terms of winning percentage (91.1% from 1971 to 1974) and titles (34) in the open era.
  
  
  Seles first grandslam attempt was 1989 French Open. She Turned Pro only from 1989. Seles was Number one ranked for a period of 2 years from March 1991- April 1993. She was the youngest ever world number one ranked player (at that time) at the age of 17 years. She won 8 grandslams as you can see above. So who dominated that period?
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sat Jan 31 23:32:01 2009.

  Illainu naan sollavae illaye. Her agression/playing style is what I liked the most.
  

  crajkumar_be wrote:

  And the only thing uglier than Seles's style is her extremely annoying and excruciating grunts (literally for every stroke!)

  
  

• From: steveaustin on Sun Feb 1 1:51:37 2009.

  thilak4life wrote:

  It is fallacious to assert Nadal is not as entertaining as Agassi. Nadal could return impossible shots from different angles. Nadal took over the slot of generation's best baseliner, something Messrs. Bjorn borg and Agassi acknowledge to be well deserved. And it's not that he couldn't acclimatize to other styles. He has a decent volley in him.

  
  
  May be.
  This is purely my assumption based on the skills of the players.
  
  IMO, as the surfaces start to play slower, he can make those kinds of shots. If Pete Sampras played today's surfaces, he may not had so much successes as he got in the 90s. If players like Sergi Bruguera, Thomas Muster had played today's surfaces they might had higher successes than their successes in 90s. These clay courters were known for their endurance. In fact, the Spaniard clay courter Sergi Bruguera has beaten the serve and volley grass courter Australian Patrick Rafter at Wimbledon 97(faster one than the current surface) with the match went to the wire in the fifth set 13-11 after saving 4 match points. The same year Patrick Rafter reached the semis of French Open with his serve and volley game alone and not by playing in the baseline and lost to same clay courter Sergi Bruguera by 6-7, 6-1, 7-5, 7-6.
  
  If the surfaces behave start to play fast as in early 90s, I am not sure about the shot making abilities of Nadal. He has never faced the different kind of opponents as there were in 90s. Today's tennis has no big servers like Goran Ivanisevic, Richard Krajicek, Pete Sampras, Greg Rusedski, Michael Stich, Boris Becker, Mark Phillippoussis and few others. In today's tennis only big server is Andy Roddick can match these servers. Some of the big servers are there but they cannot match these all time big servers' ability. As of now, Tennis is on the little bit slower side, it might be a little bit easier for the baseliners like RAFA. He never stands inside the baseline like Agassi. Instead he stands some 6 or 8 yards behind the baseline. I am of the opinion that as the surface plays slower, it is relatively easier for him to make those shots. Thomas Muster one of the greatest clay courter before RAFA plays the game similar one to RAFA but for singlehanded backhand.
  
  Anyway, it is not Nadal's fault. He has used this opportunity very well to reach the top which many other players did not manage. The organizers and Tennis academies has the biggest responsibility of producing varieties of players with different skills. Then only tennis will be entertaining.
  
  Finally there is a saying that in the country of blind one-eyed man is king.
  
  

• From: Sanjeevi on Sun Feb 1 1:57:08 2009.

  Aaha thiriya pathavachutten pola irukke
  
  I agree during peak period of Seles, she overpowered Steffi. I always remember Seles with his 'urumal' sound and powerful shots. She was undoubtedly the best player when her peak. But somehow Steffi attracted more n more fans over monica. Even one hardcord fan plunged a knife in Seles's shoulder. It is acceptable that Seles would have won more GS titles if this incident did not hapen.
  
  BTW It is utter non-sense to say serena (or venus) williams better than Monica Seles, IMO.
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Sun Feb 1 2:00:52 2009.

  Feddy
  I agree with you about Monica Vs Steffi rivalry. You also have to look out that Steffi too had her share of problems with her father when Monica came in the 90s. Monica's father Karolj is extreme opposite to Steffi's father Peter. Steffi's problem in those days was not in Tennis court but with her father alone. In earlier 90s, there was a allegation that Steffi's father had a relationship with some other woman. At that stage even spaniard Arantxa had beaten Steffi in those years. Later around mid-90s again Steffi faced her problems of tax evasion. Steffi's career had been plagued by physical and mental injuries. Only because of that she retired earlier than predicted.
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Sun Feb 1 2:06:11 2009.

  crajkumar_be wrote:

  A double-handed forehand is uglier than Ijaz Ahmed's stance

  
  //dig//
  Ijaz's stance really
  But his attacking game Who can forget his innings of around 130 of just 84 balls in which he destroyed India. A total around 225 was overhauled in just 26 overs. //dig//
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Sun Feb 1 2:14:07 2009.

  Mahesh - Sania won Mixed championship 6-3, 6-1.
  
  Another proud moment for India.
  
  

• From: thilak4life on Sun Feb 1 2:32:22 2009.

  Kudos to ATP for curbing high bounces which would curb rallies, and thereby bringing range of shots into the game. I'm actually glad that one-trick ponies (eh read big servers) like Ivanisevic* wouldn't dominate, and ability to hit shots would be rewarded. Glad that the game had grown into an era of new-age all-court players. Nice to see Roddick, Karlovic and likes relying on shots as much as serves. And the notion that changing grass courts had favored baseliners in Wimbledon, a tournament which should traditionally favor s&v. This could either be disagreed or agreed depending on your viewpoint. I personally think the surface is part of the reason, besides ATP are using less aerated balls to prevent the game being reduced to powerful serves.
  
  I had said this before, "The current ATP balls are less pressurized and aerated to have lesser bounce. In the past, High-bouncing tennis balls favored aces and topspin. This (welcome) move once again confirms ATP delineating the importance of an open game than power battles. Light balls is the ideal grass court weapon. The aces should be under control and the bounce benefits slices, to open a rally in the first place. that's very important. "
  
  Although your point stands good on Agassi facing powerful servers in the old grasscourts and the pressurized balls. It's not that Nadal couldn't return them (that is strictly hypothetical). So what makes Agassi better? Agassi's height was against him, but had incredible technique to boot. Driven by nature(of his height) and hence nurture (of shots). Enga Eq?
  
  *Charisma and attitude-lam different story.
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Sun Feb 1 2:33:37 2009.

  steveaustin wrote:

  Mahesh - Sania won Mixed championship 6-3, 6-1. Another proud moment for India.

  
  
  Yeah
  
  And Bhambri from India wins Australian Junior title
  
  http://specials.rediff.com/sports/2009/jan/31sld1-yuki-bhambri-wins-aus-open-junior-title.htm
  
  

• From: thilak4life on Sun Feb 1 2:37:17 2009.

  On Yuki, Vijay Amitraj made a pertinent point, he should build his body, and keep improving on his shots. The game has fitter players, you got to cover the court. Speed, agility and technique.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Feb 1 3:07:15 2009.

  . Adhu matter especially the bolded line.
  

  Sanjeevi wrote:

  Aaha thiriya pathavachutten pola irukke I agree during peak period of Seles, she overpowered Steffi. I always remember Seles with his 'urumal' sound and powerful shots. She was undoubtedly the best player when her peak. But somehow Steffi attracted more n more fans over monica. Even one hardcord fan plunged a knife in Seles's shoulder. It is acceptable that Seles would have won more GS titles if this incident did not hapen.

  
  
  Steve,
  I chose not to comment on her personal life . Injuries yeah, they are tough on any sportsman/woman. But isn't it the responsibility of the individual to avoid injuries?.
  
  But Poor Monica Seles career was cut short brutally by an insane d!@$#head. Seles was not even 20 and she was right up in the groove to become the greatest of all time. That Poor girl lost the prime of her career playing days and she couldn't play for 2 and a half years. When she came back in 1995 it was too late. Even then she bageled Steffi in the US Open final eventhough she lost but came back and won 1996 Aus Open. I always believed that Steffi was never truly tested and I still stand that she is not the best ever women tennis player as she is claimed to be.
  

  steveaustin wrote:

  Feddy I agree with you about Monica Vs Steffi rivalry. You also have to look out that Steffi too had her share of problems with her father when Monica came in the 90s. Monica's father Karolj is extreme opposite to Steffi's father Peter. Steffi's problem in those days was not in Tennis court but with her father alone. In earlier 90s, there was a allegation that Steffi's father had a relationship with some other woman. At that stage even spaniard Arantxa had beaten Steffi in those years. Later around mid-90s again Steffi faced her problems of tax evasion. Steffi's career had been plagued by physical and mental injuries. Only because of that she retired earlier than predicted.

  
  

• From: Nerd on Sun Feb 1 3:40:56 2009.

  Which years would you want to take? We are just talking about the rivalry here, I assume. 91 and 92? Its 3-1 in favor of Steffi. And personal problems do affect a sportsperson, its not a joke. And I dont want to hear hypothetical bullcrap like if she had not been stabbed etc, and if you insist take this from my end - If Steffie's father had been a nice person..
  
  And on Seles's style, the double-handed forehand seals the argument.
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Sun Feb 1 3:41:46 2009.

  thilak4life wrote:

  I'm actually glad that one-trick ponies (eh read big servers) like Ivanisevic* wouldn't dominate, and ability to hit shots would be rewarded. *Charisma and attitude-lam different story.

  
  I agree with you.
  
  This is my analysis about Goran Ivanisevic after I saw him play for more than a decade.
  
  Goran Ivanisevic is a moody player and he is a little bit talented too. He has played football for the croatian team around 2000. If I am right, he has scored a goal in an exhibition match in the earlier 2000s. He has won titles on all surfaces like Hard, Clay, Grass and carpet. According to me, he has not played upto his potential. He had all shots in his armoury. But he had never utilized it properly only because of his ill-temper. Had he played upto his potential, IMO, he should have won a few more grandslams. On carpet, which is a fastest surface of all, I think, he was almost unbeatable.
  
  Once upon a time, he said that he has to five opponents (himself, ball boys, crowd, umpire and ball boys) in every match. Such a crazy player he is.
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Sun Feb 1 3:43:00 2009.

  Nerd wrote:

  if you insist take this from my end - If Steffie's father had been a nice person..

  
  
  
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Feb 1 3:48:48 2009.

  What do you mean by hypothetical bullcrap??. Winning all grandslams after seles wasn't playing right. What was steffi doing 91-93. World number one ranked for two goddamm consecutive years doesnt matter. Yeah right. Highest percentage of winning matches. Yeah even that doesn't matter. Beating steffi fair and square in 3 GS finals. even that doesnt matter. I am stunned
  
  And please don't tell me that steffi was the greatest player after seles turned pro. See the records for yourself. All personal problems eh. give me a break. Not a valid exxuse on a global arena of sports.
  
  Is there any rule you can't play a double forehanded. It is her style of play PERIOD. Sheer dominance is seles all the way.
  

  Nerd wrote:

  Which years would you want to take? We are just talking about the rivalry here, I assume. 91 and 92? Its 3-1 in favor of Steffi. And personal problems do affect a sportsperson, its not a joke. And I dont want to hear hypothetical bullcrap like if she had not been stabbed etc, and if you insist take this from my end - If Steffie's father had been a nice person.. And on Seles's style, the double-handed forehand seals the argument.

  
  

• From: steveaustin on Sun Feb 1 3:52:28 2009.

  Federer Vs Nadal in AO Final.
  
  In today's final, my heart says as usual it is Federer but my mind says it is Nadal because of his tactics and his dominance over Federer. Can Federer break this jinx?
  
  Statistics:
  Overall Nadal leads Federer 12-6.
  Last four matches won by Nadal. Of these, 2 of them in straight sets.
  
  Nadal leads Federer 5-2 in Grand slams.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Feb 1 3:54:00 2009.

  What crap is this. Western culturela idhellam oru matter aa?. I am shocked at this lame excuse. Are you Guys telling me is it the reason for her poor performances??.
  

  steveaustin wrote:

  Nerd wrote: if you insist take this from my end - If Steffie's father had been a nice person..

  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Feb 1 4:03:55 2009.

  Nerd you just amaze me with your argument. Stabbing a player is equal to one's personal problems eh ??
  
  I rest my case
  
  

• From: Nerd on Sun Feb 1 4:10:31 2009.

  The severely outclassed bit brough me here. Monica has won 3 slams against Graf, OK. No problems there. In the only slam that Steffi won against Seles in that period, the scoreline read 6-2, 6-1. And seles except at French open 1991, did not win in straight sets and we all know about the 10-8 victory in the 92 French Open. Again I am not taking anything away from Seles in those Slamfinals. But you were projecting as if Steffi was reduced to an arantxa sanches vicario in front of Seles.
  
  Yes affairs are commonplace here, but the whole freakin media blowing that issue out of proportions is not. You might remember Steffi breaking down with tears in a Press Conference (Wimbledon) in 1991 (?). And yes, I dont want to be hypothetical as well.
  
  

• From: omega on Sun Feb 1 4:46:12 2009.

  Roger & Nadal are warming up right now.....
  
  

• From: omega on Sun Feb 1 4:50:14 2009.

  Nadal has won the toss & elected to receive (?? - Seems like it starts here).
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Sun Feb 1 4:54:52 2009.

  Nadal straightaway breaks and leads 1-0
  
  

• From: omega on Sun Feb 1 4:55:12 2009.

  Worst start for Feddy. Nadal up a break!! Backhand failed twice already.
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Sun Feb 1 4:56:40 2009.

  Already Nadal plays to the backhand of Federer more and more.
  
  

• From: omega on Sun Feb 1 5:05:58 2009.

  Fed breaks back.... 1-1
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Sun Feb 1 5:06:37 2009.

  'Serving only to backhands and play only to backhands and you will get your points' seems to be the theme of NADAL. However, Federer breaks Nadal with barrel of Forehands.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Feb 1 5:08:10 2009.

  First Ace of the match and for Feddy.
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Sun Feb 1 5:08:53 2009.

  Federer hold serve comfortably with heavy forehand winners to every corners of the court.
  
  

• From: omega on Sun Feb 1 5:09:06 2009.

  steveaustin wrote:

  Already Nadal plays to the backhand of Federer more and more.

  
  
  Fed upto the challenge (so far!! - way to go)
  
  

• From: omega on Sun Feb 1 5:09:58 2009.

  From what it appears, we are here for a long session.
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Sun Feb 1 5:13:22 2009.

  Not even a single service to forehand.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Feb 1 5:14:23 2009.

  Yes. Everything to Fed's backhand
  

  steveaustin wrote:

  Not even a single service to forehand.

  
  

• From: steveaustin on Sun Feb 1 5:16:03 2009.

  Atleast Federer should convert some of the backhands into his forehands by changing the tactics. But I think he seems to be out of ideas. He also should serve big. Poor Federer. He is not trying to convert those backhands into forehands.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Feb 1 5:16:45 2009.

  Fed has to really serve more powerful. ACES are needed.
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Sun Feb 1 5:19:37 2009.

  That's a wonderful serve. More aces is the need of the hour. Nadal converts some of serves to his backhand into forehand. But Federer ???
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Feb 1 5:24:33 2009.

  sa
  
  did u watch that FOREHAND return?/
  
  .
  
  

• From: omega on Sun Feb 1 5:25:05 2009.

  - Federer forehand winner to get the break.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Feb 1 5:28:17 2009.

  Double fault loses break.
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Sun Feb 1 5:28:20 2009.

  ajithfederer wrote:

  sa did u watch that FOREHAND return?/ .

  
  
  That is what I said he has to convert some of his serves to backhand into his forehand. His forehand is a deadly weapon.
  
  

• From: omega on Sun Feb 1 5:28:48 2009.

  Nadal breaks back..............Even a deep volley can't get a point against Nadal.
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Sun Feb 1 5:32:47 2009.

  Nadal holds serve. It's 4-4. Federer has to hold his serve to stay in the set.
  
  

• From: sgokulprathap on Sun Feb 1 5:34:02 2009.

  Congrats to Mahesh Bhupathi & Sania Mirza for winning Mixed Doubles Final in Australian Open.
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Sun Feb 1 5:35:46 2009.

  Federer hold his serve and nerve. So far this is only a Federer's mental battle than his skills in the court. Two big serves saved him. Federer leads 5-4.
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Sun Feb 1 5:40:43 2009.

  Nadal holds his serve and it's 5-5
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Sun Feb 1 5:46:08 2009.

  Federer played one of the poor service games. When the approach shot was not good, what is reason to come to the net??
  Nadal breaks his serve and leads 6-5.
  
  

• From: MADDY on Sun Feb 1 5:50:11 2009.

  First set Nadal
  
  Jai hoooooooooo
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Sun Feb 1 5:50:28 2009.

  Federer do all the running and Nadal dictating the terms because of the poor tactics by Federer. Nadal brilliant.
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Sun Feb 1 5:56:44 2009.

  Suddenly three big serves on trot are coming out. Can Federer turn things around??
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Feb 1 6:02:10 2009.

  A love service game atlast
  
  

• From: MADDY on Sun Feb 1 6:14:17 2009.

  Nadal breaks Federer in second set
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Sun Feb 1 6:15:06 2009.

  Nadal breaks Federer and goes up 3-2 in the second set with first set already in his bag.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Feb 1 6:20:11 2009.

  Federer breaks Nadal.
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Sun Feb 1 6:20:20 2009.

  Federer breaks back and plays the Nadal way. Atlast Nadal choose to play Federer's way and lost his serve.
  
  

• From: MADDY on Sun Feb 1 6:20:20 2009.

  Feddy breaks back
  
  

• From: sgokulprathap on Sun Feb 1 6:21:46 2009.

  steveaustin wrote:

  Federer breaks back and plays the Nadal way. Atlast Nadal choose to play Federer's way and lost his serve.

  
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Feb 1 6:21:50 2009.

  Out of what I have watched Federer play his first serve percentage is at an all time low of less than 50%.
  
  

• From: ArulprakasH on Sun Feb 1 6:22:23 2009.

  Come on Federer.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Feb 1 6:23:12 2009.

  Some of fed's serves are no powerful at all. Nadal has time to adjust his position and play it to a forehand return.
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Sun Feb 1 6:25:09 2009.

  Heavy barrels of forehands into play and Federer holds his serve. 4-3 in the second set and first set with Nadal.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Feb 1 6:27:32 2009.

  15-40
  
  Can fed break. Ennayum ippadi kekka vechutaangale(Read like Mudhalvan arjun)
  
  

• From: ArulprakasH on Sun Feb 1 6:32:35 2009.

  ajithfederer wrote:

  15-40 Can fed break. Ennayum ippadi kekka vechutaangale(Read like Mudhalvan arjun)

  
  
  AF
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Feb 1 6:35:57 2009.

  Breakkittan. Can he hold his serve now??
  
  Dig. Hi arul.
  

  ajithfederer wrote:

  15-40 Can fed break. Ennayum ippadi kekka vechutaangale(Read like Mudhalvan arjun)

  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Feb 1 6:38:03 2009.

  2 Set points for Federer.
  
  

• From: MADDY on Sun Feb 1 6:38:25 2009.

  Feddy takes second set, i think nadal did a mistake here......its going to be tough for him
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Feb 1 6:38:47 2009.

  Roger moves away from the return and takes second set 6-3.
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Sun Feb 1 6:39:05 2009.

  Federer wins second set against RAFA. Federer played some brilliant and amazing shots. Some brilliant volleys which is a treat to watch.
  
  

• From: ArulprakasH on Sun Feb 1 6:39:55 2009.

  Feddy will
  
  Dig. hi AF Dont Worry Federer will win the match. i'm leaving now.. ciao.. tc
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Feb 1 6:40:24 2009.

  For the nth time i am typing this
  
  Fed Please improve your service.
  
  

• From: MADDY on Sun Feb 1 6:41:03 2009.

  Sampras's record just 2 sets away
  
  i thot it will take 40-50 yrs to break sampras's record but its a rude shock that its going to be broken in just 9 yrs
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Sun Feb 1 6:43:52 2009.

  Federer still plays Federror way. This is not Federer's game. He is yet to hit his top gear. IMO, at present he has just shifted to second gear to win a set against Nadal.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Feb 1 6:59:12 2009.

  Arul Thanks and lets see.
  
  Maddy, Even if he wins this slam he is only going to TIE sampras record. Where is the question of breaking ?
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Feb 1 7:01:16 2009.

  Fed's service games are improving. Again he holds on comfortably.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Feb 1 7:03:16 2009.

  Some of Nadal's cross court winners are
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Sun Feb 1 7:18:58 2009.

  Federer still plays a pedestrian game. Yet to hit top gear.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Feb 1 7:22:55 2009.

  Fed has three break points.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Feb 1 7:25:08 2009.

  Nadal saves all three.
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Sun Feb 1 7:29:35 2009.

  Fed err.
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Sun Feb 1 7:33:49 2009.

  Can Federer hold his serve to stay in the set??
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Sun Feb 1 7:54:57 2009.

  He holds somehow. Now it's 6-6 and tie break.
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Sun Feb 1 7:56:35 2009.

  Nadal wins 3rd set and leads by 2 sets to 1.
  
  

• From: ajaybaskar on Sun Feb 1 7:57:28 2009.

  3rd set won by Nadal
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Sun Feb 1 7:57:40 2009.

  So far FEDEX derails. Yet to find his touch. He is errorprone.
  
  

• From: crajkumar_be on Sun Feb 1 7:58:09 2009.

  Fedex is playing like sh!t
  
  

• From: ajaybaskar on Sun Feb 1 7:58:50 2009.

  Looks like he's nervous...
  
  

• From: crajkumar_be on Sun Feb 1 7:59:43 2009.

  Nerd wrote:

  Which years would you want to take? We are just talking about the rivalry here, I assume. 91 and 92? Its 3-1 in favor of Steffi. And personal problems do affect a sportsperson, its not a joke. And I dont want to hear hypothetical bullcrap like if she had not been stabbed etc, and if you insist take this from my end - If Steffie's father had been a nice person.. And on Seles's style, the double-handed forehand seals the argument.

  
  
  
  Feddy,
  Your conclusion is not based on output, but rather, just speculation
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Sun Feb 1 8:04:39 2009.

  Federer bit slow on his footwork today. Some of his shots' timing was awful.
  
  

• From: crajkumar_be on Sun Feb 1 8:05:01 2009.

  thilak4life wrote:

  Kudos to ATP for curbing high bounces which would curb rallies, and thereby bringing range of shots into the game. I'm actually glad that one-trick ponies (eh read big servers) like Ivanisevic* wouldn't dominate, and ability to hit shots would be rewarded. Glad that the game had grown into an era of new-age all-court players. Nice to see Roddick, Karlovic and likes relying on shots as much as serves. And the notion that changing grass courts had favored baseliners in Wimbledon, a tournament which should traditionally favor s&v. This could either be disagreed or agreed depending on your viewpoint. I personally think the surface is part of the reason, besides ATP are using less aerated balls to prevent the game being reduced to powerful serves. I had said this before, "The current ATP balls are less pressurized and aerated to have lesser bounce. In the past, High-bouncing tennis balls favored aces and topspin. This (welcome) move once again confirms ATP delineating the importance of an open game than power battles. Light balls is the ideal grass court weapon. The aces should be under control and the bounce benefits slices, to open a rally in the first place. that's very important. " Although your point stands good on Agassi facing powerful servers in the old grasscourts and the pressurized balls. It's not that Nadal couldn't return them (that is strictly hypothetical). So what makes Agassi better? Agassi's height was against him, but had incredible technique to boot. Driven by nature(of his height) and hence nurture (of shots). Enga Eq? *Charisma and attitude-lam different story.

  
  Ridiculous because you are asserting that baseline = all court game.
  I mean the occasional volley or three for a match(!) does not make it an all round game.
  
  I agree on the Ivanisevic's of the game (courts, racket power and the changes in style itself being the contributors). However, this is just the other end of the spectrum and your argument is as bad as the ones favoring server gets-all line.
  Simple sample. You had serve and volleyers playing from the baselines for the *opponents* serve (mostly). You have an entire style of play taken away and what is that all round game we are talking about??? We have ALL the slams favoring the baseliners (almost). So much for variety
  
  Double-handed backhand/forehand ban pannungappa
  
  

• From: ajaybaskar on Sun Feb 1 8:05:36 2009.

  Service break...Come on,Federer
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Sun Feb 1 8:05:43 2009.

  Atlast it seems Federer finds his touch in the fourth set. Breaks Nadal and leads 2-0. Can he hold his serve from here onwards???
  
  

• From: crajkumar_be on Sun Feb 1 8:09:15 2009.

  Nadal is sizzling and i don't see Federer matching him in this *surface*
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Sun Feb 1 8:09:17 2009.

  Why Federer not gone for the review, when the ball was clearly out? It's break back for Nadal. Nadal is too lucky in this entire service game. That lucky point turned something around.
  
  

• From: crajkumar_be on Sun Feb 1 8:16:34 2009.

  Fedex is getting f-ed and couriered
  
  

• From: Vivasaayi on Sun Feb 1 8:19:49 2009.

  crajkumar_be wrote:

  Fedex is getting f-ed and couriered

  
  
  
  
  

• From: Vivasaayi on Sun Feb 1 8:22:41 2009.

  
  
  watta rally and feddy comes up with an ace!
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Sun Feb 1 8:26:52 2009.

  Somehow Federror manages to hold serve. It's 3-2.
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Sun Feb 1 8:42:37 2009.

  Even though Federer played too poorly, this match has gone to fifth set.
  
  Played well in very small patches here and there in the entire match. As far as Nadal is concerned he played truly upto his potential. Nadal has judged Federer's game very well than Federer. Federer is short of ideas against Nadal even though he had enough skill.
  
  

• From: crajkumar_be on Sun Feb 1 9:05:13 2009.

  steveaustin wrote:

  Even though Federer played too poorly, this match has gone to fifth set. Played well in very small patches here and there in the entire match. As far as Nadal is concerned he played truly upto his potential. Nadal has judged Federer's game very well than Federer. Federer is short of ideas against Nadal even though he had enough skill.

  
  Nadal is unbeatable.
  It boils down to being tactical. Raw truth
  We are seeing what you posted yesterday being played out again.
  All sluggers will feast on the slug-fest surfaces
  
  

• From: omega on Sun Feb 1 9:10:52 2009.

  crajkumar_be wrote:

  steveaustin wrote: Even though Federer played too poorly, this match has gone to fifth set. Played well in very small patches here and there in the entire match. As far as Nadal is concerned he played truly upto his potential. Nadal has judged Federer's game very well than Federer. Federer is short of ideas against Nadal even though he had enough skill. Nadal is unbeatable. We are seeing what you posted yesterday being played out again. All sluggers will feast on the slug-fest surfaces

  
  
  Only USOpen is left. IF ATP can come up with some reason to slow down that as well, we can see Nadal to win all slams probably in a calendar year (will become the first man in open era to do that)
  
  

• From: crajkumar_be on Sun Feb 1 9:11:42 2009.

  And fedex is making A LOT of unforced errors, especially in crucial points under pressure. OTC, Nadal reserves his best when he is under pressure
  
  

• From: crajkumar_be on Sun Feb 1 9:12:49 2009.

  omega wrote:

  Only USOpen is left. IF ATP can come up with some reason to slow down that as well, we can see Nadal to win all slams probably in a calendar year (will become the first man in open era to do that)

  
  And i can't for the life of me, fathom how it favors all court play.
  1+1=2 dhaane?
  
  

• From: sgokulprathap on Sun Feb 1 9:14:45 2009.

  Nadal
  
  

• From: mgb on Sun Feb 1 9:16:13 2009.

  Rafa
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Sun Feb 1 9:24:08 2009.

  Federer can hand over the trophy to Nadal if he plays him in future in the finals. He was out of sorts whenever he plays against Nadal. So patience is the winner. Talent is like the sea water. Patience is like the drinking water. This is the lesson NADAL has taught me as well as Federer. Even after so many years, Federer is just a raw product. He fails to come up with certain plans against RAFA. I have lost hopes on him. I personally feel 13 is going to be unlucky number and it will stand forever in Federer's case.
  
  Nadal played percentage tennis brilliantly. Credit cannot be taken from him for his patience as well as his intelligence. He had proper plans like hitting more balls to Federer's backhand and running all over the court to get the ball into court and make Federer to err. Brilliant tactics. Nadal taught Federer as well as me a lesson that talent alone cannot make any one a Champion.
  
  

• From: omega on Sun Feb 1 9:26:20 2009.

  Nadal
  Federer --> try to change your tactics against Nadal.You are playing on his terms rather than make him come out of his comfort zone.
  
  

• From: crajkumar_be on Sun Feb 1 9:28:40 2009.

  steveaustin wrote:

  Federer can hand over the trophy to Nadal if he plays him in future in the finals. He was out of sorts whenever he plays against Nadal.

  
  
  And Nadal raises his game whenever he plays Federer. Remarkable stamina, resilience and some unbelievable winners
  And he is just 22
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Sun Feb 1 9:31:31 2009.

  Nadal 100% success in last three Grandslam finals against Federer.
  Federer 100% failure in last three Grandslam finals against Nadal.
  Federer's all losses in finals came only at the hands of Nadal. Nadal goes up 13-6 against Federer. Now it seems no stopping of Nadal. Now, Nadal is walking on water when the rest are trying to keep their heads above water.
  
  Nadal show at grandslam begins.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Feb 1 9:34:51 2009.

  Extremely well played Nadal
  
  

• From: thilak4life on Sun Feb 1 9:38:27 2009.

  crajkumar_be wrote:

  thilak4life wrote: Kudos to ATP for curbing high bounces which would curb rallies, and thereby bringing range of shots into the game. I'm actually glad that one-trick ponies (eh read big servers) like Ivanisevic* wouldn't dominate, and ability to hit shots would be rewarded. Glad that the game had grown into an era of new-age all-court players. Nice to see Roddick, Karlovic and likes relying on shots as much as serves. And the notion that changing grass courts had favored baseliners in Wimbledon, a tournament which should traditionally favor s&v. This could either be disagreed or agreed depending on your viewpoint. I personally think the surface is part of the reason, besides ATP are using less aerated balls to prevent the game being reduced to powerful serves. I had said this before, "The current ATP balls are less pressurized and aerated to have lesser bounce. In the past, High-bouncing tennis balls favored aces and topspin. This (welcome) move once again confirms ATP delineating the importance of an open game than power battles. Light balls is the ideal grass court weapon. The aces should be under control and the bounce benefits slices, to open a rally in the first place. that's very important. " Although your point stands good on Agassi facing powerful servers in the old grasscourts and the pressurized balls. It's not that Nadal couldn't return them (that is strictly hypothetical). So what makes Agassi better? Agassi's height was against him, but had incredible technique to boot. Driven by nature(of his height) and hence nurture (of shots). Enga Eq? *Charisma and attitude-lam different story. Ridiculous because you are asserting that baseline = all court game. I mean the occasional volley or three for a match(!) does not make it an all round game. I agree on the Ivanisevic's of the game (courts, racket power and the changes in style itself being the contributors). However, this is just the other end of the spectrum and your argument is as bad as the ones favoring server gets-all line. Simple sample. You had serve and volleyers playing from the baselines for the *opponents* serve (mostly). You have an entire style of play taken away and what is that all round game we are talking about??? We have ALL the slams favoring the baseliners (almost). So much for variety Double-handed backhand/forehand ban pannungappa

  
  
  Did I say Nadal is an all-court player? I'm still checking.. I just alluded to the fact majority of tennis players today are all-courters. IOW, the modern tennis have brought a set of all-courters in. Now where did I state baseliners are all-courters? Of course, I would want to see old school s&v return. But it should return in a big way. As in, tactically astute volleying rather than Rafter-style pushing towards the net. It'd be easy to desire for a Boris Becker mark II. I want a modern version.
  
  So you're saying *only* baseline game wins GS. This is not true. If Rafa hasn't got into Feddy's head, then we wouldn't be debating.
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Sun Feb 1 9:39:17 2009.

  crajkumar_be wrote:

  And Nadal raises his game whenever he plays Federer. Remarkable stamina, resilience and some unbelievable winners And he is just 22

  
  
  He not only raises his game but he is also mentally too tough. He gets into the court just like a tiger on the prowl. Federer too raises his errors against Nadal whenever he plays against Nadal and his service today are one of the worst I have seen in the finals. At present it seems no one can stop Nadal. If someone plays better serve and volleym then they are having a very good chance of win against Nadal.
  
  

• From: omega on Sun Feb 1 9:41:49 2009.

  Unbelievable to see Federer weeping for so long. The pressure of getting the No. 14 must be really killing him badly. With that on him, it will be a struggle going forward. I still believe in Roger!! He will do it.
  
  

• From: thilak4life on Sun Feb 1 9:42:53 2009.

  Feddy's tears should help build a new-found epiphany. The psychological gap should be bridged over. By now.
  
  Here's to Feddy's return.
  
  

• From: omega on Sun Feb 1 9:45:48 2009.

  The problem playing against Nadal, is you get two different kind of returns.
  His drives from forehand will be extremely loopy but the one from his backhand flat & skiddy (being a natural righty, with two handed backhand, he generates more speed than his forehand). Unless you can get your serve going on those corners, there is no way you could beat him.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Feb 1 9:48:38 2009.

  Federer really had his chances to win the match when he was leading 4-2 only to lose the set later. In the 3rd set too having three break points he couldn't even convert one. 5th set, Naan edhuvum sollala. Its all Federer's fault of his unforced errors eventhough having 71 winners.
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Sun Feb 1 9:53:57 2009.

  omega wrote:

  Unbelievable to see Federer weeping for so long. The pressure of getting the No. 14 must be really killing him badly. With that on him, it will be a struggle going forward. I still believe in Roger!! He will do it.

  
  
  If Federer has to do it, then this is not the right way to beat Nadal. First he has serve to big and either he has to get to the net or to bring Nadal to the net often. Further he has to serve and play to Nadal's backhand alone and he has to convert some of his backhands into forehands just like Steffi Graf. His movement in the court today is not as fast as Nadal. If he has to serve and volley then he has to serve big. Hitting the serves straight into the hands of Nadal and volleying won't serve any purpose.
  
  In today's match many times he came to the net without hitting the approach shot deep. Generally, if you want to play at the net you have to hit the approach shot deep. Further, whenever he slices the ball with his backhand, the slice backhand should be low and it should drop in the service box. If it drops in the service box, then Nadal has to come to the net and has to play the net game. Then there is a chance of derailing Nadal's game. By feeding his shots or serves into Nadal's forehand will not serve any purpose. Since, Nadal covers court quickly Federer has to come to the net often and cut down Nadal's timings to hit the shots. By coming to the net and hitting deep volleys / halfvolleys in to the corners of the court, he can make Nadal to guess whether to hit the passing shot or to hit the lob.
  
  

• From: thilak4life on Sun Feb 1 9:55:00 2009.

  omega wrote:

  there is no way you could beat him.

  
  
  No truer words were uttered before. We said the same of Boris Becker, Pete Sampras, Roger Federer. And now. Rafa.
  
  I have high hopes for Simon. Another baseliner.
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Sun Feb 1 9:58:48 2009.

  ajithfederer wrote:

  Federer really had his chances to win the match when he was leading 4-2 only to lose the set later. In the 3rd set too having three break points he couldn't even convert one. 5th set, Naan edhuvum sollala. Its all Federer's fault of his unforced errors eventhough having 71 winners.

  
  
  Now I think he is suffering from RAFAphobia.....
  
  

• From: MADDY on Sun Feb 1 10:18:41 2009.

  Rafaaaaaaaa Rafael Nadal - you're the man...........his mental makeup matches the all time greats - Sampras, Aggasi, Becker etc.......that is what excites me more than his tennis abilities...........utlimately its your mind that should work to complement your tennis talent to win tough situations...........
  
  vijay amritraj on pre-match show posed a question - which got me thinking.......i know i dont prefer Federer because of the threat he is to Sampras' records but i regard him as the best ever - but amritraj's question shook my belief......vijay says "how can u say he is the best ever when he has lost so many matches to Nadal" absolutely, thats a very valid question............
  
  4 more months Sampras' record stays on
  
  

• From: thilak4life on Sun Feb 1 10:33:27 2009.

  To borrow from Cameroon NFT, Rafa should be officially named the Indomitable Lion of Tennis.
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Sun Feb 1 10:34:39 2009.

  It might be because of the racket skills. So far many of us said Sampras is the bestever. It is only because of his skills and the no. of grand slams won by him.
  
  Sampras head to head records with some of the players
  
  Roger Federer 1-0
  Yannick Noah 1-0
  Paul Haarhuis 3-1
  Andy Roddick 2-1
  Richard Krajicek 6-4
  Sergi Bruguera 3-2
  Marat Safin 4-3
  Michael Stich 5-4
  Lleyton Hewitt 5-4
  
  Can I say all these players are better than Pete Sampras only because they are leading Sampras in their head to head encounters?
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Sun Feb 1 10:39:09 2009.

  Nadal
  
  Feddy needs to cry for himself! He gifted the final set to Nadal, absolute gift. Too much of errors.
  
  Well, lets see! Aduthu French Open thaane?
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Sun Feb 1 10:40:46 2009.

  French open dhaan. Anga Nadal-a adikka idhu varaikkum endha kombanum porandhadha enakku theriyale.
  
  

• From: thilak4life on Sun Feb 1 10:41:28 2009.

  Nadal wrote:

  To receive this trophy from Rod Laver is a dream for me.

  
  
  I actually think Nadal could do a Rod Laver this year. Although one is aware of the wounded tiger.
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Sun Feb 1 10:48:08 2009.

  As of now, I think upcoming Andy Murray (If he continue his present form) only stands between Nadal and Grandslam.
  
  

• From: MADDY on Sun Feb 1 10:58:37 2009.

  steveaustin wrote:

  Can I say all these players are better than Pete Sampras only because they are leading Sampras in their head to head encounters?

  
  
  i think u got vijay's point wrong here, he says if roger is the best ever, then there should be no "frontiers unconquered" in his career....anyways, i rest my case here - just felt vijay's point was interesting.......for me, tennis is not the same after sampras' exit.....i just hope a "deserving" person breaks his record
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Sun Feb 1 11:35:20 2009.

  MADDY wrote:

  i think u got vijay's point wrong here, he says if roger is the best ever, then there should be no "frontiers unconquered" in his career.

  
  
  If vijay's point is right here, then Agassi should have been a better player than Sampras and Federer. Since he has won all the four Grandslam titles but in different years. He too won 14 of his 34 matches against Sampras which is not bad considering his height as well as his serve which is the weakest part of his game. Had he possess the great serve I think he is certainly unbelievable. Most of the times Agassi gave Sampras to run for his money more than anyone. Still I have never seen anyone mentioned Agassi above Sampras. So, I think it might be because of the racket skills as well as the no. of GS titles won by them. Both Federer and Sampras possesses allround game (unbelievable shots in their armoury) than many other players. So I personally feel this might be one of the reason that Federer has been equated with all time greats. But in one way I have to accept that Federer with his enormous talent should not lose so often to Nadal. Greatness lies not only in shotmaking but also to perform well in crucial junctures. In that case, I feel Federer let me down. There is no doubt that on song he is the glorious one to watch.
  
  

• From: rocketboy on Sun Feb 1 11:40:50 2009.

  Rafael
  
  Thambi will definitely make this a golden slam.
  
  

• From: wrap07 on Sun Feb 1 12:02:40 2009.

  Rafa Nadal
  
  stunning & amazing play.
  
  

• From: rocketboy on Sun Feb 1 12:20:55 2009.

  I have been saying this for sometime.I feel Federer was able to win 13 grandslams only because he was not adequately challenged. But when Pete was playing he was playing with some of the all time greats. In their prime these players will definitely beat the hell out of the current crop of players. Edberg, Agassi,Stich, Chang, Courier, Kafelnikov,Moya, Guga
  
  

• From: MADDY on Sun Feb 1 14:27:22 2009.

  rocketboy wrote:

  I have been saying this for sometime.I feel Federer was able to win 13 grandslams only because he was not adequately challenged. But when Pete was playing he was playing with some of the all time greats. In their prime these players will definitely beat the hell out of the current crop of players. Edberg, Agassi,Stich, Chang, Courier, Kafelnikov,Moya, Guga

  
  
  ah, i said this point sometime during last year and so many people disagreed.........in my personal opinion, federer wouldnt have won 13 GS in Becker-Edberg or Sampras-Agassi era.......current crop are great athletes, not neccesarily great tennis players except feddy, nadal, djokovic........but nadal would have been a champ in any era - wat say he has the mental toughness of all time greats....
  
  

• From: thilak4life on Sun Feb 1 14:48:01 2009.

  Becker, "he is the kind of guy who can overtake the greatest."
  
  Safin, someone who played in Sampras-Agassi era, "He’s the most complete tennis player in the history of tennis, that’s for sure. With all due respects to (Andre) Agassi and (Pete) Sampras and the rest of the gang. But I never felt so uncomfortable against any of the players before."
  
  Safin also said, "He put tennis, the bar very high—very high. It's incredible what kind of game he can play."
  
  Agassi, "He's the best I've ever played against."
  
  Tim Henman, "He's the best player I've ever played agains"
  
  Rod Laver, "Oh, I would be honoured to even be compared to Roger. He is such an unbelievable talent, and is capable of anything. Roger could be the greatest tennis player of all time."
  
  McEnroe, "He's the most gifted player that I've ever seen in my life. I've seen a lot of people play. I've seen the (Rod) Lavers, I played against some of the great players—the Samprases, Beckers, Connors', Borgs, you name it. This guy could be the greatest of all time. That, to me, says it all."
  
  More
  
  

• From: Nerd on Sun Feb 1 23:15:58 2009.

  Way to go Rafa
  And congrats Bhupathi-Sania
  
  

• From: MADDY on Sun Feb 1 23:21:43 2009.

  Nerd wrote:

  And congrats Bhupathi-Sania

  
  
  ah forgot that
  
  this is india's best effort in grandslams 2 titles yuki bhambri and sania-bhupathi
  
  

• From: wrap07 on Mon Feb 2 2:01:48 2009.

  considering the marathon semi final of 5 hours, it was expected that Rafa would be tired and may not be at his fighting best. But the final went on for four hours 23 mts with rafa holding forte till the end and coming up with some unbelivable takes/returns off sure shot winners. As well put by commentator, Rafa seems to be indefatigable.
  
  & the mutal respect these two have for each other is quite pleasing.
  
  

• From: Shakthiprabha. on Mon Feb 2 2:03:29 2009.

  
  
  

• From: wrap07 on Mon Feb 2 2:12:23 2009.

  // sp //
  
  

• From: leosimha on Mon Feb 2 2:25:20 2009.

  MADDY wrote:

  rocketboy wrote: I have been saying this for sometime.I feel Federer was able to win 13 grandslams only because he was not adequately challenged. But when Pete was playing he was playing with some of the all time greats. In their prime these players will definitely beat the hell out of the current crop of players. Edberg, Agassi,Stich, Chang, Courier, Kafelnikov,Moya, Guga ah, i said this point sometime during last year and so many people disagreed.........in my personal opinion, federer wouldnt have won 13 GS in Becker-Edberg or Sampras-Agassi era.......current crop are great athletes, not neccesarily great tennis players except feddy, nadal, djokovic........but nadal would have been a champ in any era - wat say he has the mental toughness of all time greats....

  
  
  yes, mental toughness/strength plays a big thing. that is what our Dhoni has it in him, I guess. The Self-Confidence to meet the Champion Roger Federrer who has won 13 GS.
  
  Simply Awesome by Rafael Nadal.
  
  Vamos Rafa.....
  
  

• From: leosimha on Mon Feb 2 2:27:53 2009.

  wrap07 wrote:

  considering the marathon semi final of 5 hours, it was expected that Rafa would be tired and may not be at his fighting best. But the final went on for four hours 23 mts with rafa holding forte till the end and coming up with some unbelivable takes/returns off sure shot winners. As well put by commentator, Rafa seems to be indefatigable. & the mutal respect these two have for each other is quite pleasing.

  
  
  yes. Nadal admires Federrer a lot and acknowledges that he is the best.
  
  

• From: Sanjeevi on Mon Feb 2 2:59:53 2009.

  Nadal played better than federer and he deserves for the title and Federer served bad and even he lost his touch
  
  Nadal
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Mon Feb 2 14:19:33 2009.

  [tscii]Enna speculation, enaku suthama puriala. If you are saying after stabbing period yes i agree I was speculating and I also said that I don't believe that Steffi wouldn't have dominated if seles was there and I have steve/sanjeevi (Other 2 steffi fans) agreeing with me.
  
  Let me reiterate it again I have clearly said why Seles was best during her Peak period. Peak period as I mean until she was stabbed.
  
  1) World number One ranked player for 2 + years. Isnt Number one ranking a good enough parameter ??.
  2) Beat all her prime opponents including Steffi, Martina, Gabriela Sabatini, Sanchez vIcario and Jana Novotna and who not at that time?. She beat Chris Evert while she was 15.
  2) 8 grandslams on the trot. Remember she didnt play 91 Wimbledon and entered finals of 92 Wimbeldon.
  3) A freakin 90+ average of winning matches. And entered 33/34 finals out of the tournaments she played.
  
  If this is not Tour domination, I cannot understand what would be domination of women's Tennis tour.
  
  Quoted exactly from wiki
  

  wrote:

  From January 1991 through February 1993, Seles won 22 titles and reached 33 finals out of the 34 tournaments she played. She compiled a 159–12 win-loss record (92.9% winning percentage), including a 55–1 win-loss record in Grand Slam tournaments. In the broader context of her first four years on the circuit (1989–1992), Seles had a win-loss record of 231–25 (90.2% winning percentage) and collected 30 titles. Only Chris Evert had a better first four years in terms of winning percentage (91.1% from 1971 to 1974) and titles (34) in the open era.

  
  
  P.S: I have no qualms in you guys complaining over her grunts/double forehanded style as I have said. I take it as her attitude and prime aggression and thats exactly what made me as her fan.
  
  

  crajkumar_be wrote:

  Nerd wrote: Which years would you want to take? We are just talking about the rivalry here, I assume. 91 and 92? Its 3-1 in favor of Steffi. And personal problems do affect a sportsperson, its not a joke. And I dont want to hear hypothetical bullcrap like if she had not been stabbed etc, and if you insist take this from my end - If Steffie's father had been a nice person.. And on Seles's style, the double-handed forehand seals the argument. Feddy, Your conclusion is not based on output, but rather, just speculation

  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Mon Feb 2 14:27:01 2009.

  Let me put an absolute drop dead analogy for my argument regarding Seles/Steffi Argument. Yes it is speculation again.
  
  God forbid, If Nadal was injured and doesn't play for the next 3 years from now, Nobody(or atleast many) would give credit to Roger if he wins the French Open and other slams for the next 3 years. As a Roger Fan even I myself wouldn't give credit if he wins. Because I strongly feel that isnt a deserving win especially because of lesser competition and its purely my Opinion only. That is as straight as I can say about Seles Steffi Rivalry. Hope i was clear.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Mon Feb 2 15:09:12 2009.

  Steve unmayilae oru theerka dharisi.
  At present in my observation US Open hardcourts are faster than wimbledon grass courts.
  

  omega wrote:

  crajkumar_be wrote: steveaustin wrote: Even though Federer played too poorly, this match has gone to fifth set. Played well in very small patches here and there in the entire match. As far as Nadal is concerned he played truly upto his potential. Nadal has judged Federer's game very well than Federer. Federer is short of ideas against Nadal even though he had enough skill. Nadal is unbeatable. We are seeing what you posted yesterday being played out again. All sluggers will feast on the slug-fest surfaces Only USOpen is left. IF ATP can come up with some reason to slow down that as well, we can see Nadal to win all slams probably in a calendar year (will become the first man in open era to do that)

  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Mon Feb 2 15:23:13 2009.

  He has the mental toughness of all time great. True. Infact I say he has the greatest mental strength ever.
  
  But he winning wimbledons/US opens/Aussie opens in the serve/Volley eras of 80's/90's is open to speculation. I for one think that it would have been difficult if not impossible. The grandslams then had much faster courts. Because I myself didnt see any clay courters winning Aus/US/Wimbledons during that era. Informed people correct me if i am wrong.
  

  MADDY wrote:

  .....but nadal would have been a champ in any era - wat say he has the mental toughness of all time greats....

  
  

• From: steveaustin on Tue Feb 3 1:09:26 2009.

  Feddy,
  
  Later I will post what Federer has to do if he has to beat Nadal, even from the baseline itself. Nadal is not unbeatable considering Federer's talent and he has to make subtle changes in his game. I have replayed the entire Australian open final in my mind, there I could see that the defeat is not only due to temperament of Federer but also the failure to come up with some ideas against Nadal.
  
  I think you are right about US open. I too feel that this is the fastest surface as far as Grandslams concerned at present.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Tue Feb 3 1:41:39 2009.

  Steve
  
  Eagerly awaiting your posts!.
  
  

• From: leosimha on Tue Feb 3 1:54:47 2009.

  US Open and Australian Open are played on Hard Court surfaces.
  
  What's the difference between these two hard court surfaces? How could US Open Hard Court be faster than Aus Open Hard Court?
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Tue Feb 3 2:03:30 2009.

  Australian Open hard courts are made of Plexicushion surface hard courts. Until 2007 Australian Open had surfaces made of Rebound Ace surface. From 2008 Aus open the surfaces were changed. Since then players(men/women) have complained of the surface having slowed down considerably from 2007 event.
  
  US Open hard courts are made of Deco Turf. They are considerably faster than Aus Open hard courts.
  
  Both the court surfaces are considerably different.
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plexicushion
  
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DecoTurf
  

  leosimha wrote:

  US Open and Australian Open are played on Hard Court surfaces. What's the difference between these two hard court surfaces? How could US Open Hard Court be faster than Aus Open Hard Court?

  
  

• From: leosimha on Tue Feb 3 2:17:14 2009.

  somewhere read that the blue hard courts of Aus Open are the faster surface. And if you had read in a recent interview of Nadal where he says that he votes for fewer hard court matches.
  
  

• From: omega on Tue Feb 3 8:35:27 2009.

  Nadal thought about not playing in hardcourts anymore (right after his knee problem that started somewhere in the mid off 2007 season. For his grinding style of play hardcourts are real tough. Those surfaces doesn't provide the traction + it is very damaging to his knees & ankle as well (again due to his defensive style of play). With almost all the surfaces slowed down (apart from some hardcourts in the US) Nadal will have a huge advantage (if he could take preventive measures to protect his knee & ankle (which he has)) to win all majors (provided someone knocks of Feddy in USopen).
  
  In the Sampras era, Nadal wouldn't had a chance outside French Open period (IMO).
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Tue Feb 3 10:17:40 2009.

  omega wrote:

  In the Sampras era, Nadal wouldn't had a chance outside French Open period (IMO).

  
  I too feel the same. But I have little doubt about four consecutive French open titles. Anyhow, four consecutive French Open titles at any era is absolutely unbelievable. Kudos to Nadal and his clay court skills. IMO, he is certainly a better athlete (He demonstrated his lightning footwork in the AO final) than Federer.
  
  

• From: omega on Tue Feb 3 11:25:54 2009.

  The main reason for Federer's continuous failure against Nadal (other than French Open) is due to his half-hearted tactics. He is neither playing attacking nor defensive tennis. In an effort to strike a balance (may be the surface nature could be a reason) he seems to be nowhere, which is just enough for Nadal to beat him (rather Federer to beat himself).
  
  If Federer want's to play from baseline, then he has to step a little further (Nadal stands a good 4 feet behind the baseline, same as Andy Murray & Roddick), whereas Federer is not even a foot away from the baseline, which is fine, if you want to attack (meaning rush to the net often). Since he is not doing that, he finds himself in a tough position to win long rallies (which you would expect when playing Nadal). It is also extremely difficult for Federer to reach those flat cross courters from Nadal's backhand. I am sure, Federer is not comfortable staying as back as a Nadal or Murray, as that is how he must have played all along his tennis (again when the surfaces where more balanced). He is clueless (rather helpless).
  
  Those kickers from the forehand of Nadal to Feddy's backhand makes it very tough for him to have a slice, that could bring Nadal to the net (whenever he tries that, he ups the unforced error count). It is really strange for a genius like Federer still not being able to figure out a way to beat Nadal.
  
  I have absolutely no doubt that Federer is by far the best (complete) tennis player we have seen. Unfortunately he has to compete against the best ever clay couter ever. His 3 straight French Open Final appearance is an ample proof of itself.
  
  PS--> Has Federer signed up a coach yet?
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Tue Feb 3 11:39:16 2009.

  Omega spot on, IMO Federer could have pressurised Nadal atleast by holding to his own serve in the first set when he was leading 4-2. What worse was with Federer serving so pathetic. Couldn't even hold his serve for godsakes. He deserved to lose. And with three breaks in the third set he wasn't even attacking Nadal. Fifth set was a complete joke with him throwing away everything.
  
  Seeing Federer serve in the Finals, I for one had profoundly enhanced the respect towads Sampras and his serve and volley game. In some matches if nothing goes his way Sampras could bail him out with his pistol serve and volley attack. I am big fan of his slam dunks. Federer should have atleast served better as I said before the match.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Tue Feb 3 11:41:13 2009.

  Illai.
  

  omega wrote:

  PS--> Has Federer signed up a coach yet?

  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Tue Feb 3 11:47:45 2009.

  ATP Rankings after Aus Open
  
  http://www.atpworldtour.com/1/en/home/default.asp
  
  Top Eight Pts
  1 Rafael Nadal 14260
  2 Roger Federer 11000
  3 Novak Djokovic 9010
  4 Andy Murray 7360
  5 Nikolay Davydenko 5030
  6 Andy Roddick 4510
  7 Juan Martin Del Potro 4350
  8 Gilles Simon 4170
  
  The Gap is expanding.
  
  

• From: omega on Tue Feb 3 12:02:48 2009.

  ajithfederer wrote:

  Omega spot on, IMO Federer could have pressurised Nadal atleast by holding to his own serve in the first set when he was leading 4-2. What worse was with Federer serving so pathetic. Couldn't even hold his serve for godsakes. He deserved to lose. And with three breaks in the third set he wasn't even attacking Nadal. Fifth set was a complete joke with him throwing away everything. Seeing Federer serve in the Finals, I for one had profoundly enhanced the respect towads Sampras and his serve and volley game. In some matches if nothing goes his way Sampras could bail him out with his pistol serve and volley attack. I am big fan of his slam dunks. Federer should have atleast served better as I said before the match.

  
  
  
  AF,
  
  Federer never had a big serve (compared to a Pete or Ivanisevic or Roddick). He has precise placements. Sure, it was a complete disaster in the Finals. Even if he had served 50-60% of what he did against Roddick, it could have been a different story.
  
  Even on a bad day, he could push it to a 5 setter (on all courts other than clay against the no. 1) itself is a proof of his greatness.
  
  I still believe in Fedex.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Tue Feb 3 12:13:31 2009.

  Me too believing in Fedes omega I am sorry if My posts sounded otherwise.
  

  omega wrote:

  Even on a bad day, he could push it to a 5 setter (on all courts other than clay against the no. 1) itself is a proof of his greatness. I still believe in Fedex.

  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Tue Feb 3 16:22:25 2009.

  http://soonapaana.blogspot.com/2007/07/serve-and-volley.html
  Thursday, July 05, 2007
  Serve And Volley
  
  I don't watch much of Tennis these days. I manage to catch the action sometimes in Grand Slam finals. I wish to follow tennis more regularly going forward. With my touch with tennis (watching!) being almost non-existent over the last few years, i was shocked when i first found that the art of serve and volley was dead. No one did that even at Wimbledon! Navratilova, McEnroe, Edberg, Becker, Sampras - the best of tennis that i've seen were from these server-and-volley-ers.
  
  Nirmal Shekar writes:
  
  
  The great left-handed conjurer is still around, in these
  parts, keeping us entertained from the commentary box. But the stroke that he
  played with such breathtaking virtuosity — the volley — is on its way to
  extinction. When the odd player now chooses to serve and volley on every point,
  it almost seems like a vestigial trait
  
  Even Roger Federer, who can masterfully play every stroke in
  the book — and some that are not there because the ones who wrote the game’s
  manual could not have even dreamed of his brand of shotmaking genius — has won
  at least three of his four titles (barring the first, in 2003, when he served
  and volleyed for the most part against Mark Philippoussis
  
  
  Update: I'm glad that Federer won last night but i have a question (guess its obvious to regular tennis watchers). Federer is way behind Nadal on clay while Nadal is relatively closer to Federer on grass. Does it in anyway raise a question mark on the claim that Federer is the greatest ever? Yesterday, it was Federer who was made to run around. The rare trips he made to the net resulted in him missing the simplest of volleys (atleast twice, and in crucial situations). I missed the most important part of the match when Federer saved four breakpoints in the final set and i rejoined the action to see Nadal serving at 2-5. That must have been something. All said and done, it was immensely satisfying to see a clay court specialist - having said that, like Vijay Amritraj said, there doesn't seem to be much of a difference between Nadal on clay and Nadal on grass - losing.
  
  Quoting from Annan Bala's blog from 2007 July after 2007 Wimbly chships. Life Indeed goes fast.
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Wed Feb 4 12:14:44 2009.

  'The game is not only played in your arms, but also in your head’ – Becker once mentioned. Yes. It’s absolutely true in the case of Roger Federer.
  
  Roger Federer has had his ups and downs against Nadal, but he always remains a favourite with the fans. What was a matter of routine for Roger is an extraordinary feat for others. Roger, who as ruthless a tennis player as you would ever get to see, is always changed man when he meets Nadal.
  
  What’s ailing Roger? Has the Swiss lost the competitive edge against Nadal? Why Roger wide of the mark? The Swiss superstar who put in a heroic effort to climb to the very top just before a year or two, has not won any major title other than US Open in the last five slams and has slipped to No.2 in the rankings. Has the aspiration gone? Has he lost direction? Is it start of a burnout?
  
  No. Not really. Now, Roger has to make some subtle changes to his game whenever he faces Nadal.
  
  Service – Serve big, serve only to the backhand of Nadal and try to play serve & volley game.
  
  He should try to serve big as possible as he can. Further he should serve to the backhand or into the body of Nadal in the ad court / Deuce court. By serving wide to the backhand of Nadal in ad court, he can send Nadal out of the court. On run, it is too difficult to hit double-handed backhand winner for Nadal. As he serves wider, he can approach the net and he can use his volleying skills. In deuce court he has to serve down the middle. Again a big serve down the middle will make Nadal to return the serve off-balanced because of his double-handed backhand. So Roger can move forward to cut down the time for Nadal to react as well as to hit winner on his own.
  
  Service Return
  
  Strategy 1 – Stand inside the baseline, Try to take the ball earlier, Hit backhand deep and don’t give enough time for Nadal to react.
  
  As of now, Nadal serves only to Roger’s backhand. It is too tough for Roger to generate more power from his single handed backhand (his weakness) to hit a return a winner. Even though he hits a good backhand, Nadal has sufficient time to react to Roger’s shorter backhand return as Roger stands atleast 3 to 6 feet behind baseline. Hence Roger should try to stand a feet or two inside the baseline since Nadal is not a powerful server. As these surfaces slowed down a lot these days, considering Roger’s skills to hit a shot from even off-balanced positions, either he can hit a half-volley return winner or atleast his shots can go deeper as well as faster than shorter in which he can unsettle Nadal. By standing inside the baseline alone, Roger can create some doubts in the mind of Nadal. He can force faults from Nadal or atleast expect some changes from Nadal. When Nadal serves from ad court, then Roger should try to go inside out backhand winner more times than he normally does. Since Roger is playing inside out from backhand, it will give Nadal a torrid time to hit double handed backhand on the run.
  
  Strategy 2 – Chip and charge with slice backhand with underspin
  
  IMO, Chip and charge seems to be very good and counter productive tactics against Nadal. This is another one which Roger failed to utilize against Nadal at any time of his career. Chip and charge is a traditional tactics of a serve and volleyer. Actually chip and charge was used only against second serves. Now as the surface plays relatively slower, I think it is better that Roger can play even in Nadal’s first serves. It's a best strategy that Roger can get to the net quickly and put pressure on Nadal to hit a good lob or passing shot. The slight spin can help to keep the ball low and make it difficult for Nadal to hit double-handed backhand winner on the run as well as Roger’s charging to the net also makes him to guess whether to hit the lob or the winner on which side.
  
  Serve and volley – Gives very little time to react for the baseliners.
  
  If Roger serves big, immediately he should approach the net instead of playing from the baseline. Since backing a big serve by volleying will give Nadal little lesser time to react. Further Nadal might have all sorts of trouble as he has played very few times against serve and volleyer in his career. This may make Nadal to guess about Roger’s game plan. As the surface plays slower and Roger too playing from the baseline gives Nadal a feeling that he is playing only at clay instead of hard or grass court.
  
  Recently in the Australian open, even after hitting some of the shots deeper, Roger has not came to the net. When Roger catches Nadal off-balanced, then he should try to approach the net immediately. Failing in which will give Nadal sufficient time to react. In Australian Open, many times Roger waited for the ball from the baseline which gave Nadal enough time to get his balance in time. Because of this approach, IMO, Roger could have lost atleast 15 to 20 points. By coming to the net with a good approach shot (deep) will create confusion to the baseliner.
  
  Baseline – Play inside the baseline instead of behind baseline will force more pace on the ball and gives little time to your opponent to return.
  
  Finally Roger wants to play from the baseline alone and still needs a win over Nadal. Is it possible? Why not. By playing inside the baseline 2 to 4 feet at all times instead of playing behind the baseline will make Nadal to revisit his strategy. As Roger is playing inside the baseline, many of his backhands may land deeper instead of shorter (normally plays 3 to 6 feet behind baseline) which will give lesser time for Nadal to react and Roger may force the error from Nadal. Further from playing inside the baseline the ball travel little bit faster to Nadal will make him off-balanced. Even Roger can make Nadal wrong footed when he hits shots from corner to corner. I am sure that playing two to four feet inside the baseline may cause confusion in Nadal’s mind and he may try to go for winners, which might have ended in errors. Further Roger’s coverage of court will be little bit lesser than when he stands behind the baseline. For example, if Roger hits a cross court backhand little deeper (As he stands 2 to 4 feet inside baseline), the ball will reach Nadal faster. The extra pace may create problems for Nadal. Even though if he gets to the ball and hits back to Roger the ball will reach quickly to Roger. Since Roger prefers to play quicker than slower it is an advantage to him.
  
  All these changes may force Nadal to rethink his strategies and his judgement about Roger.
  
  
  

• From: thilak4life on Thu Feb 5 3:13:16 2009.

  Nice post. Sadly Feddy keeps trying with various other strategies as well (the key here is Nadal's reaction time, which is unbelievable), but still flounders because of the pressure of facing his nemesis. What worries us(neutrals) the most is his serve against Nadal.
  
  Nevertheless, you make some valid points on different style of play which would test Nadal.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Thu Feb 5 13:02:32 2009.

  Steve, Take a
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Thu Feb 5 13:35:55 2009.

  [tscii]http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5i8QAHKX1_MY5C0bOHFjP3Hbxha5QD963C3P00
  
  Nadal calls for fewer hard courts, reduced season
  
  3 days ago
  
  MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — A day after winning his first Grand Slam on hard courts, Rafael Nadal called on tennis officials to be mindful of the physical toll the hard surface takes on players in an ever expanding schedule.
  
  "This calendar I am playing with this surface — hard court surface — is tougher than grass or clay for the body, and all the time we are playing more on this surface," said Nadal, who beat Roger Federer 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (3), 3-6, 6-2 for his first Australian Open title Sunday.
  
  "In my humble opinion, we have to change that a bit more," the Spaniard said. "I can say that because I won a grand slam on hard (courts)."
  
  Nadal, 22, has previously won four Grand Slams on the French Open clay courts, as well as Wimbledon on grass last year.
  
  "Before if I say that, a lot of people think `He wants to change because he's a clay player.' But believe me, I don't think anything about if I am a clay court player or not.
  
  "When I say this, I think about the best for the players and for the future. It's not possible to have a lot of injuries on tour like this. So we have to try to change something."
  
  The Australian Open marked the first time Nadal reached the final of a major on hard courts, having been knocked out in the semifinals of the Australian and U.S. Opens last year.
  
  Even this time, he had to struggle to make the last weekend at Melbourne. He held off a fellow Spanish left-hander Fernando Verdasco in the semifinals on Friday in 5 hours, 14 minutes — the longest match in the tournament's history.
  
  "To play with this aggression and with this rhythm all the time from the 1st of January to 31st of December is impossible," he said.
  
  Nadal said he was worried the rigors of the present ATP Tour could hinder his quality of life after his tennis.
  
  "I love (soccer) — I can't play (soccer) right now because I am playing (tennis) — but I would love to play (soccer) with my friends later when I finish," said Nadal, whose uncle Miguel Angel Nadal played for Barcelona and represented Spain.
  
  "I would love to continue playing tennis and to do what I want," he added. "But if we continue to play this (many tournaments), later maybe it's going to be tough to practice sports."
  
  Nadal, who now needs a U.S. Open title to complete a rare career Grand Slam, on Monday blamed exhaustion for his semifinal loss to Andy Murray at Flushing Meadows last year.
  
  "Last year was tough at the U.S. Open," he said. "I arrived playing well, winning Olympics, winning Toronto, having semifinals in Cincinnati. So I was playing a high level of tennis.
  
  "But I felt during the tournament it was going to be almost impossible to win the title because I feel too tired. Mentally and physically, I wasn't there. The semifinals especially, against Murray, I really can't move."
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Tue Feb 10 15:13:58 2009.

  Mentor Mine
  Posted 02/03/2009 @ 6 :07 PM
  by Pete Bodo
  
  Howdy, everyone. I'm a little late on this, but as I posted at the previous thread, Typepad ate my entire Rafael Nadal post earlier today. I can't tell you how far your heart sinks the moment you realize the work is gone for good and can't be retrieved. So here we go again.
  
  I confess that I was a little disappointed when Nadal showed up in Melbourne in. . .sleeves. It signaled the end of an era - that period when you could watch Nadal and feel safe judging him a Rousseauvian character, the wild boy from Manacor, slashing and blasting his way through a draw as if it was less a game of tennis than a demolition derby (and didn't sleeveless Rafa remind you just a wee bit of a derby car, perhaps 1988 Plymouth Fury with the doors removed?).
  
  Well, those days are gone; if Jet Boy will never again look quite so much like a cross between a cartoon Superhero and Rambo, he'll also never again be accused of being a one-dimensional tennis pro. He's now the defending champ on all three Grand Slam surfaces (hard courts, grass, clay).
  
  Watching the final, I sensed from the start that it was going the be a battle of wills, more than skills. And that's not a diplomatic way of saying that Nadal's will would trump Federer's skill, although it wouldn't be the first time something like that happened, and not just in this rivalry. These men are evenly matched in the skills department, if you concede that that placing a feathery drop volley is no more, or less, a skill than bending a running passing shot around the netpost and landing it in the square foot at either corner of the opposite court. Or that hitting a specific serve on demand, when it's most needed, is the equal of executing a turn-around jump volley.
  
  The skills of Nadal and Federer are different in kind, but not in quality, and certainly not in utility. Each of us may prefer certain skills to others, but personal taste plays a much larger role in our minds than on the field of play.
  
  In fact, the skills of the two men are so well-dovetailed that they more or less fought to a standstill in that department. Might Federer have served better? Of course. But what if Nadal would have returned better? There's no point in dealing with flying pigs, so it seems to me that with the skills deadlocked, the match was decided by will. But let's be careful about this, because saying Nadal "wanted" it more doesn't do the man justice - didn't most of us tell our children, today or yesterday, that there is no causal relationship between "wanting" and "getting? You might say that Rafa showed more "heart," but that seems unnecessarily cruel. Let's just say that when they tabulated the sum of want and heart in each man, Nadal's total added up to a higher number.
  
  What struck me most about Nadal, beyond the comments I made in my last post, was his imperturbability. He's extraordinarily well designed to withstand the pressures and temptations of competition, right down to, or perhaps because of, the way he goes about his business. He doesn't seem to care what his opponent is doing or thinking, or what the moment means (he's got plenty of time to experience the exquisite torture of that apprehension, and when he does the first person he calls for advice will probably be Federer). The best example of Nadal's ability to be totally absorbed in the task of the moment (and what a blessing that is) is in the way he lines up his serve, as painstakingly and openly as he aligns his water bottles. Does he worry about telegraphing his intentions to one of the best returners in the game? Nah. Does he feel obliged to mix it up, lest this 13-time Grand Slam winner tee off on the return and drill him through the forehead? Nah.
  
  This points somewhere interesting, for once you get past the matters of style, Nadal turns out to be more like Pete Sampras than Federer has ever been. Like Sampras, Nadal isn't going to out-think his opponent (or himself). He's not going to try to blind-side him, or overwhelm him with inventive, creative shotmaking. He's going straight at him, with the most powerful weapon he has, and let the chips fall where they may. And that automatically gives him additional heft. Sampras's early coach Tim Gullikson used to try to pump Sampras up by comparing him to a certain power-based play made famous by the NFL's iconic team, the Green Bay Packers: You're like the Packers power sweep," Tim would say, his eyes gleaming. "They know it's coming, but there's nothing they can do to stop it.
  
  That's Rafa's way as well; he'd look good in green-and-gold.
  
  These virtues are relatively easy to discuss, compared to the quality that may be most responsible for Nadal having won the match, his stamina. Let's be clear about this: Tennis Australia owes him, big-time, for not running out of gas midway through the match. The decision to play the semi-finalists on different days is unfathomable. Who would have thought that when it comes to boneheaded scheduling, anyone could surpass the US Open's insistence on holding the men's semifinals and final on back-to-back days?
  
  For a period in the second set, it looked as if Nadal was going to pay a heavy penalty for his lengthy semifinal with Fernando Verdasco. But that swoon, uncharacteristic and inconvenient as it was (Nadal at that point looked like he might actually humiliate Federer) didn't last, and it's hard to say what caused it. The recovery was a tribute not just to Nadal's physical powers, but his nerves. By the end, well-rested Federer looked more the exhausted man. Have we ever seen a more vivid demonstration of the role nerves play in a match, or the often derided notion that you're only as tired as you allow yourself to be?
  
  Pondering Nadal's stamina, I was reminded of that famous quote Adriano Panatta delivered after he lost a terrific five-setter to Jimmy Connors at the US Open some years ago: Jimmy. . . he doesn't want to die. I always found that quote irritating, probably because it's a truism. But it comes about as close as you can get to identifying the kind of drive and determination that has to be considered a special gift, and there's a certain amount of appeal in the idea that we play sports partly because doing so allows us to absolutely revel in our own driving life force. Anyone who's ever experienced the ecstasy of physical exhaustion will probably know what I mean. It's at the boundaries of our physical capabilities where we're most in touch with the miracle of our own corporeal existence.
  
  Nadal has always seemed sufficiently earthy not only to enjoy this condition, but to accept what discomfort comes along with it. The overt physicality of his game is not just a matter of style, it's also a dimension of personality. Don't you get the sense that if you could attach a happiness meter to his nervous system, it would register the highest score when he's chasing like mad after a seemingly irretrievable ball? In this, Nadal has been uncorrupted by prudence or fancy notions of "energy management", which can lead down the road to self-created limitations.
  
  Nadal seems to have steered clear of such pitfalls thanks in part to his coach and uncle, Toni. One of the more interesting things Toni told me at the last US Open was that while developing Rafa, he would sometimes make him practice with old balls, or take him to a broken-down old court, just to impress on him that playing only under ideal conditions is inadequate training for adversity. The lesson took: nobody in today's game handles adversity better than Nadal.
  
  This ability to absorb lessons is one of Rafa's trademark characteristics, and while it's counter-intuitive to think of a great champion as a great student, this seems to be the case. Nadal is a model student; he respects his teachers, and no matter what he achieves, it never seems to occur to him that he's outgrown them, or has come to know more. He may have greater talent, and he may achieve more success, but it doesn't change the established order.
  
  This has less impact in his role as a pupil of Toni's than it does in his relationship to his other great mentor. . . Roger Federer. Think about it: Who set the bar for Rafa? Who painted the baseline of greatness for him? Who handled himself with the kind of statesmanlike dignity that a good, obedient, eager and intelligent young learner might want to emulate? Isn't it odd, at some level, that this rivalry has been utterly free of acrimony, given the way that Jimmy Connors trash-talked Bjorn Borg, and John McEnroe and Ivan Lendl took every opportunity to express their mutual antipathy?
  
  Rafa may have eclipsed his mentor, but I believe that while he's well aware of the situation and proud of what he's accomplished, he's not inclined to think of it in those terms. There's a lot more than good manners, tact and a kindly disposition at work in this; there's also a certain purity of spirit. Nobody appreciates TMF more than Rafa does, because nobody has done more for him than Federer. I can imagine Rafa experiencing many emotions on the heels of this win, but gloating isn't one of them. I thought that the consolation he offered Federer after the podium breakdown was telling; Nadal didn't need to think for a moment of what to do, or how to handle the situation. He threw his arm around Federer and produced one of the most genuine smiles I've ever seen cross his elastic, expressive features. The gesture seemed to come from the heart, and testify to how large it is.
  
  Hail, it even made Roger look sheepish, which was quite a feat, given the emotional tone of the moment.
  
  To some, this win at a hard court major was overdue. It was an understandable concern, because players tend to establish histories at certain events and on specific surfaces, much like they do against their rivals. And once a pattern is established, it becomes hard to break - and harder with each missed opportunity. I don't think hard courts posed special problems for Nadal; I believe the backstory to his results on the surface was more a matter of priorities.
  
  This was, to some degree, a culturally-driven decision. The tale of clay-court wizards having to "prove" themselves outside their red dirt playgrounds is as old as the hills, and the rocky history of so many great Spanish players at Wimbledon puts a special premium on winning there (Who can forget the huge fuss a group of Spanish players led by Alex Corretja made a few years back at Wimbledon, because of the demotion of some clay-court experts in the seedings?). Wimbledon was the highest priority for Nadal, and after he checked it off his to-do list, he was liberated to focus on further ambitions.
  
  As it turns out, though, there's far more at stake for Nadal now at the US Open. He's shown that he can win on hard courts, but the American major represents an opportunity for Nadal to join the select group of just five men who have completed the "Career Grand Slam", winning at least once at each major venue. The last person to do it was Andre Agassi, in 1999. Before that, it was Roy Emerson, in 1964. And let's not forget that Nadal will be the overwhelming favorite to win the French Open, which means that he's got a realistic shot at completing the first Grand Slam since Rod Laver's second one, in 1969.
  
  It's a small price to pay for adding a couple of sleeves, no?
  
  http://tennisworld.typepad.com/tennisworld/2009/02/rafa.html
  
  

• From: crajkumar_be on Tue Feb 10 15:53:25 2009.

  My brief return to watching tennis has ended with the OZ open. Vivasaayam paakkanum, pillaingala padikka vekkanum....
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Tue Feb 10 15:57:48 2009.

  
  
  

• From: omega on Tue Feb 10 17:36:45 2009.

  crajkumar_be wrote:

  My brief return to watching tennis has ended with the OZ open. Vivasaayam paakkanum, pillaingala padikka vekkanum....

  
  
  Uncle Toni maathiri pullaingalukku tennis kathu kudungo!!
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Feb 15 14:47:34 2009.

  Murray beats injured Nadal in ABN Amro final
  
  3 hours ago
  
  ROTTERDAM, Netherlands (AP) — Second-seeded Andy Murray has beaten an injured Rafael Nadal 6-3, 4-6, 6-0 to become the first British winner at the ABN Amro tournament.
  
  The top-ranked Nadal was bothered by a right knee injury on Sunday and had to call a medical timeout in the second set, before deciding to continue the match.
  
  Murray took the first set after breaking Nadal in the sixth game, but the Spaniard fought back in the second. However, he struggled with his serve in the third set because of his sore knee, and Murray was able to seal the win with an ace.
  
  Britain's Tim Henman was runner-up here three times, losing the 1999, 2000 and 2002 finals.
  
  http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jWckosaEKtiOgzTiEzEyd2KLO3cAD96C3FOG0
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Mon Feb 16 1:03:35 2009.

  Whether he was injured or not, but I am sure that Murray is going to be a thorn in the flesh for Nadal as Nadal for Federer. As this is a faster surface than other courts, Nadal struggled for the entire week, exception being his semi-final.
  
  

  Quote:

  As of now, I think upcoming Andy Murray (If he continue his present form) only stands between Nadal and Grandslam.

  
  

• From: leosimha on Mon Feb 16 7:01:27 2009.

  steveaustin wrote:

  Whether he was injured or not, but I am sure that Murray is going to be a thorn in the flesh for Nadal as Nadal for Federer. As this is a faster surface than other courts, Nadal struggled for the entire week, exception being his semi-final. Quote: As of now, I think upcoming Andy Murray (If he continue his present form) only stands between Nadal and Grandslam.

  
  
  hmm...but I differ. IMO, Nadal will emerge only stronger for he learns from his mistakes and other's mistakes and weaknesses also.
  
  

• From: omega on Mon Feb 16 12:20:39 2009.

  leosimha wrote:

  steveaustin wrote: Whether he was injured or not, but I am sure that Murray is going to be a thorn in the flesh for Nadal as Nadal for Federer. As this is a faster surface than other courts, Nadal struggled for the entire week, exception being his semi-final. Quote: As of now, I think upcoming Andy Murray (If he continue his present form) only stands between Nadal and Grandslam. hmm...but I differ. IMO, Nadal will emerge only stronger for he learns from his mistakes and other's mistakes and weaknesses also.

  
  
  Leo,
  
  No matter how much willing is he to learn, fast surfaces will be a problem for Rafa with his current style of game. Simply he will not find enuff time to keep grinding.
  
  I don't see him changing his game style either.
  
  

• From: leosimha on Tue Feb 17 2:01:35 2009.

  omega wrote:

  Leo, No matter how much willing is he to learn, fast surfaces will be a problem for Rafa with his current style of game. Simply he will not find enuff time to keep grinding. I don't see him changing his game style either.

  
  
  yeah, I do agree that fast surfaces will be a problem for Nadal and I have seen that too in the Semi-Finals match with Monfils. It is big problem for Rafa as of now but if he overcomes this then he will become GOAT if he wins the Wimbledon and U.S Open. Lets see.
  
  And as Steve rightly put it, just as Nadal is thorn for Federer, Murray will be a thorn for Nadal.
  
  I am eager to see such wonderful and exciting matches.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Tue Feb 17 14:08:51 2009.

  Federer pulls out of Dubai.
  
  OFF COURT - DUBAI AND DAVIS CUP
  
  Dear Fans,
  
  Today I am disappointed to announce that I am withdrawing from both Dubai and the Davis Cup tie in the United States. This was a hard decision to make as I am missing not only one of my favorite events on tour in Dubai but I am also missing out on an opportunity to help my country try and move on to the next round of Davis Cup. After injuring my back last fall, I did not have enough time to strengthen it completely. As a precautionary measure, I will use the next few weeks to make sure the back injury is fully rehabilitated and I am ready for the rest of the 2009 season.
  
  As always, thanks for your continued support.
  Roger
  
  
  http://www.rogerfederer.com/en/rogers/news/newsdetail.cfm?uNewsID=868
  
  

• From: leosimha on Wed Feb 18 2:18:56 2009.

  Federer, come back full fit. We want to see more of you on the courts.
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Wed Feb 18 11:02:30 2009.

  John McEnroe turns 50
  February 17, 2009 12:00am
  
  JOHN McEnroe, often recalled as much for his scathing criticism of umpires as his electrifying skills on the tennis court, celebrates his 50th birthday today.
  
  McEnroe, whose 77 career titles rank third in all-time Open Era crowns to Jimmy Connors' 109 and Ivan Lendl's 94, was born to Katy and John Snr. at the US military base at Wiesbaden in what was then West Germany.
  
  McEnroe's family, of Irish heritage, moved to New York when he was an infant and went on to a spectacular career that saw him reach world number one, win more than $US12.5 million and capture seven Grand Slam singles titles.
  
  McEnroe won the US Open in 1979, 1980, 1981 and 1984 and Wimbledon in 1981, 1983 and 1984. He lost his only French Open final in 1984 and played Australian Opens only five times, with his 1983 debut semi-final run the best showing.
  
  His legendary career also included playing on five US Davis Cup championship squads and winning nine Grand Slam doubles crowns.
  
  In 1980, just 15 days past his 21st birthday, McEnroe passed Bjorn Borg to become the youngest man in tennis to receive the world number one ranking, an age mark since surpassed by Russian Marat Safin and Australian Lleyton Hewitt.
  
  McEnroe spent 170 weeks atop the rankings, trailing only Swiss star Roger Federer, Lendl, Connors and record-holder Pete Sampras in time at the top.
  
  On the eve of his milestone birthday, McEnroe lost 7-6 (12/10) 6-4 to Sampras, 37, in the finals of a Champions Cup over-30 tour event at Boston.
  
  McEnroe, who beat Sampras in last year's finals of the event, failed in four set-point chances in the tie-breaker to fall but won respect from 14-time Grand Slam champion Sampras for his skills after retiring from ATP play in 1992.
  
  "It's incredible how well this guy still plays. I'm in awe of it actually," Sampras said. "At 50, it's amazing to move that well. It's pretty incredible. He's still in great shape - his hands, his experience, he knows where to go.
  
  "He doesn't move quite as well but it's pretty remarkable at 50 he plays this well."
  
  McEnroe was quick to point the finger of blame at himself, not the umpire.
  
  "I gave it everything I had," McEnroe said. "I felt like I was on the ball. His serve was difficult to read. I had a break. Any time you have a break on a reasonably quick court you can make the argument that you should win the set."
  
  Source: The Daily Telegraph
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Wed Feb 18 14:13:53 2009.

  Federer/Borg - Blake/McEnroe Fun Doubles at KL 08
  
  Such a unique fun aspect of tennis .
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Thu Feb 19 11:26:41 2009.

  Feddy
  Thanks for the link.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Thu Feb 19 14:12:32 2009.

  Nadal pulls out of Dubai tournament to rest knee
  Thu Feb 19, 2009 5:51pm GMT
  
  By Mark Elkington
  
  MADRID (Reuters) - World number one Rafael Nadal has withdrawn from next week's Dubai tournament to continue his recovery from a knee complaint, he said on Thursday.
  
  "I am very disappointed not to be able to compete in Dubai but the doctor has advised me to stay home and rest after the pain in my knee in Rotterdam last week," the Spaniard said in a statement on his website (www.rafaelnadal.com).
  
  "It's nothing to be worried about but it needs some rest. I ask my fans and the tournament organisers to understand and I am sorry for this. Dubai is one of my favourite tournaments and I have always played there.
  
  "I expect to be back in competition the following week for the Davis Cup tie in Benidorm against Serbia and then for Indian Wells and Miami after that."
  
  Nadal's knee problem surfaced during last Sunday's World Indoor Tournament final in Rotterdam when he was beaten 6-3 4-6 6-0 by Briton Andy Murray.
  
  The next day Nadal told reporters in Madrid he had a problem with a tendon just below his knee but was not worried about it.
  
  Spain's Davis Cup opener against Serbia starts on March 6.
  
  (Editing by Ken Ferris)
  
  http://uk.reuters.com/article/sportsNews/idUKTRE51I56D20090219
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Feb 22 14:30:59 2009.

  Roger Federer, The GOAT; Rafael Nadal, The Kid
  
  The GOAT (greatest of all time) status has always been a sensitive subject. One that many people hesitate to label any player. One that is argued until the day is dead. One that rarely finds a conclusion.
  
  As we have seen over the past four to five years, Roger Federer has risen the bar of tennis to a standard that was never seen before. He has shown us his unique ability to adjust his game to suit almost every opponent.
  
  He has demonstrated to us his various weapons available to him to destruct or counter attack the many threats posed to him on the court.
  
  Winning on almost every surface, bar clay (which he was still winning ‘’titles’’ on, such as Hamburg), praise was coming to him from all directions.
  
  From every corner of the tennis world.
  
  Federer’s status was becoming so large that by the time he was two tears into his reign, he was the household name of tennis.
  
  The early challenges of Andy Roddick, Leyton Hewitt and Marat Safin were thrown into Federer’s ever-growing spider’s web that he was masterfully winding around that GOAT status.
  Author Poll
  
  If it was to be seen literally, the timing was perfect. Federer’s GOAT with precision and perfection was entering a new dimension in tennis, a new field of it’s own, with Sampras, despite his 14 grand slam titles, quickly exiting.
  
  For many, Federer’s Swiss revolution was deserving of the GOAT status.
  
  It was a monster he had created. It needed continuous grand slam victory feeding, and it was getting it.
  
  However, there was still one place where Federer couldn’t feed his GOAT...the French Open. It was at the final of this grand slam in may 2006 when Federer lost for the first time in a grand slam final, to Rafael Nadal of Spain.
  
  Little was made of the young and persistent Spaniard, who had previously beaten him in the semifinal the year before, aged just 17.
  
  Nadal then shocked tennis fans, analysts and pundits by reaching the Wimbledon final that same year. However, he was no match for Federer’s angry GOAT, going down in four sets.
  
  On to 2007 and Federer had finally beaten Nadal on clay in the Hamburg Open final, ending an 81 match winning streak by Nadal (on clay). Then, the French Open final battle raged again. Federer losing again, and failing to capitalize on the momentum gained after Hamburg.
  
  Now it was Nadal’s turn to have a go at the GOAT’S patch in the Wimbledon final, but once more he went down, this time in a more tightly contested five sets.
  
  With Federer cleaning up around all the other grand slams, it was the French Open final 2008 before they battled again. Federer’s GOAT had caught illness and went down in a non-resistant three sets.
  
  Then, it was the Wimbledon final. The raging Rafael finally announced himself as a Kid (a baby Goat). Federer made a brave comeback from two sets down, in which we saw tennis that redefined the law of physics, but ran out of steam in the fifth, eventually losing 9-7.
  
  Federer’s veteran GOAT was feeling the pull of critics across the globe, and even worse, the weight of history. It was feeling vulnerable to nearly every player.
  
  With haste the bruised GOAT retreated to New York.
  
  Here, people believed in the lame GOAT. They roared him on like never before and, to the relief of the Swiss man, he ended the year in a flourish, taking the U.S. Open home.
  
  For Federer’s GOAT, redemption and the number 14 beckoned at the Australian Open 2009. However for the little Kid of Nadal, it was battleground number three and a sixth grand slam title which awaited him.
  
  It was the fifth set of this final when Federer’s GOAT showed the first signs of fatigue in a grand slam final, going down 6-2.
  
  Perhaps it was that number 14 (the record) which had made Federer so subdued with nerves, or perhaps it was the sheer realization of Nadal as a hungry Kid in his GOAT’S field, willing to fight for every grand slam.
  
  Federer knows that Nadal was unscripted in his story of greatness. He knows how different things might be if it wasn’t for Nadal, and perhaps his tears at the victory ceremony demonstrated this.
  
  Nadal knows that he is breaking through to a field of greatness. He knows that he is the ever-growing Kid with six grand slam titles at the age of just 22, and perhaps his sleeves demonstrate HIM growing from a Kid into that GOAT status.
  
  The scientific definition for competition is ‘’when two or more living things need the same thing that is in short supply."
  
  That is exactly the competition Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have. Both men want grand slams and there’s only four a year.
  
  What Federer and Nadal win and how they perform in the next three to four years will strongly define the field of greatness in tennis.
  
  It is a time for us to look forward to, a time to enjoy. A time that will be remembered forever.
  
  Good luck guys.
  
  May the best man win.
  
  http://bleacherreport.com/articles/126905-roger-federer-the-goat-rafael-nadal-the-kid
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Feb 22 14:39:24 2009.

  Pointtu. Thambi has won 10 titles as of now.
  

  steveaustin wrote:

  Whether he was injured or not, but I am sure that Murray is going to be a thorn in the flesh for Nadal as Nadal for Federer. As this is a faster surface than other courts, Nadal struggled for the entire week, exception being his semi-final. Quote: As of now, I think upcoming Andy Murray (If he continue his present form) only stands between Nadal and Grandslam.

  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Tue Feb 24 14:45:31 2009.

  http://bleacherreport.com/articles/128173-the-banes-of-their-betters-rivalries-that-shouldnt-have-been
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Mar 1 20:30:05 2009.

  http://edition.cnn.com/2009/SPORT/02/28/dubai.djokovic/
  
  (CNN) -- World number three Novak Djokovic claimed his first title of 2009 with a straight sets 7-5 6-3 victory over Spain's David Ferrer in Dubai on Saturday.
  
  Djokovic was delighted to wrap up his first ATP title of 2009.
  
  It was the 12th title of the Serbian's career and first since winning the season-ending Masters Cup in Shanghai last year.
  
  Djokovic, who was forced to pull out of his quarterfinal against Andy Roddick as he defended his Australian Open crown, had been struggling with his form coming into the tournament.
  
  Djokovic's passage to the title was eased by the earlier withdrawal of second seed Andy Murray through a virus, but the ever-willing Ferrer was expected to test him to the limit.
  
  The top seed had also survived a marathon semifinal against Gilles Simon the day before, but started brightly to lead 4-2 and 5-3.
  
  Ferrer broke back and looked set to take it to a tiebreaker until Djokovic broke again to take the opener in 50 minutes.
  
  A further break at the start of the second set put him ahead immediately and he broke through again to lead 3-0.
  
  Ferrer broke back again in the seventh game but the end was not long delayed and Djokovic closed the match out with an ace.
  
  The two men are set to meet again in the Davis Cup World Group first round match in Benidorm next week as Spain begin their defense of the title against Serbia.
  
  In WTA Tour action, top-seed Venus Williams beat Barbora Zahlavova Strycova of the Czech Republic 6-0 6-3 to reach the final of the Mexican Open in Acapulco.
  
  Williams, who won the previous week's tournament in Dubai, will face defending champion Flavia Pennetta of Italy for the title
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Wed Mar 11 10:28:19 2009.

  BNP PARIBAS Masters-Indian Wells(12/3 to 22/3)
  Tournament Name: BNP PARIBAS OPEN
  Location: INDIAN WELLS, CA, USA
  Dates: MARCH 12–22, 2009 (THURSDAY START)
  Prize Money: US $4,500,000
  96 DRAW/48 DRAW QUALIFYING
  
  SITE: INDIAN WELLS TENNIS GARDEN
  78-200 MILES AVENUE
  INDIAN WELLS, CA 92210
  SURFACE: HARDCOURT/PLEXIPAVE
  BALL: PENN ATP
  PRIZE MONEY: U.S. DOLLARS-PAID BY ATP
  
  Qualifying draw: Monday, March 9, 2009, TBA
  Main draw: Tuesday, March 10, 2009, 1:00 p.m.
  Doubles draw: Wednesday, March 11, 2009, 6:00 p.m.
  _______________
  ATP Ranking Points
  W: 1000
  F: 600
  SF: 360
  QF: 180
  R16: 90
  R32: 45
  R64: 25 (Seeds: 10)
  R128: 10 (WC: 0)
  Q: +12
  Q24: 7
  Q48: 0
  
  WEB SITE: http://www.bnpparibasopen.org/1/home/
  Indian Wells, Calif., Wednesday, February 25, 2009 – The BNP Paribas Open, the most attended tennis tournament outside of the Grand Slams, will have increased broadcast coverage with 61 hours of coverage domestically, it was announced today by tournament director Steve Simon.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Mon Mar 16 12:09:06 2009.

  Sport - Tennis
  
  Federer overcomes rust to advance
  
  HARD WORK: Roger Federer, making his first appearance since the Australian Open, was made to sweat by Marc Gicquel.
  
  INDIAN WELLS: Roger Federer and Andy Murray both shrugged off the rust of enforced layoffs with second-round victories at the ATP event in Indian Wells on Saturday.
  
  World No. 2 Federer, in his first appearance since the Australian Open, beat France’s Marc Gicquel 7-6, 6-4, while fourth seed Murray, back after two weeks out with a virus, eased past Spaniard Albert Montanes 7-5, 6-3.
  
  French seeds Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Richard Gasquet and Paul-Henri Mathieu all advanced, while Spaniards Fernando Verdasco and Tommy Robredo booked their places in round three.
  
  Federer, who missed last month’s Dubai event and Switzerland’s Davis Cup tie against the United States because of a back injury, was made to work hard by Gicquel.
  
  The first set was nip-and-tuck all the way but Federer won the tiebreak 7-4 and then broke once in the second set, in the seventh game, on his way to victory and a third-round meeting with Croatia’s Ivo Karlovic.
  
  Important win
  
  
  “I am happy,” Federer said. “I was a bit rusty maybe, coming back from not having played. But it was OK. I’m happy I’ve won. That’s always most important.”
  
  Murray, who missed Britain’s Davis Cup tie against Ukraine this month because of a virus, came from 4-2 down in the first set to clinch victory over Montanes.
  
  
  Jankovic bows out
  
  
  Former World No. Jelena Jankovic is suffering from a crisis of confidence after being dumped out of Indian Wells WTA event in the second round on Saturday. The Serbian was well below her best in the 6-4, 6-4 loss to Anastasia Pavyluchenkova and the second seed admitted her whole game needed an overhaul.
  
  Mixed fortunes
  
  
  Leander Paes advanced in men’s doubles but it was curtains for Sania Mirza who crashed out of the women’s singles event after a straight-set loss to 12th seed Italian Flavia Pennetta in the second round of the BNP Paribas Open here. Fourth seeds Paes and his Czech partner Lukas Dlouhy carved out a hard-fought 6-4, 3-6, 10-8 win over unseeded Austrians Julian Knowle and Jurgen Melzer in the opening round.
  
  However, Sania lost 3-6, 4-6 after battling it out for over an hour against the Italian, who now leads the head-to-head record between the two players 3-2.
  
  The loss ends Sania’s campaign at the $4.5 million event as she has already been ousted from the doubles event after suffering a first-round defeat.
  
  The results:
  
  At Indian Wells (Second round):
  
  Indian Wells ATP tournament: Fernando Gonzalez bt Lleyton Hewitt 4-6, 6-2, 6-3; James Blake bt Jarkko Nieminen 6-3, 6-7(6), 6-3; Gilles Simon bt Lu Yen-Hsun 5-7, 6-4, 6-4, Roger Federer bt Marc Gicquel 7-6(4), 6-4; Ivan Ljubicic bt Mario Ancic 3-3 (Ancic retd.); Ivo Karlovic bt Sergiy Stakhovsky 6-4, 6-2; Fernando Verdasco bt Thomaz Bellucci 7-5, 6-1; Nicolas Lapentti bt Robin Soederling 6-4, 7-6(7); Jo-Wilfried Tsonga bt Teimuraz Gabashvili 7-5, 6-3; Paul-Henri Mathieu bt Potito Starace 6-4, 6-7(11), 6-4; Philipp Kohlschreiber bt Olivier Patience 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-3; Richard Gasquet bt Michael Llodra 6-4, 6-0; Marin Cilic bt Steve Darcis 6-7(4), 6-2, 6-1; Andy Murray bt Albert Montanes 7-5, 6-3; Igor Andreev bt Ernests Gulbis 6-4, 6-4; Tommy Robredo bt Igor Kunitsyn 6-1, 6-4.
  
  Indian Wells WTA tournament: Angela Haynes bt Ai Sugiyama 6-4, 7-5; Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova bt Jelena Jankovic 6-4, 6-4; Daniela Hantuchova bt Yanina Wickmayer 5-7, 6-3, 7-6(4); Flavia Pennetta bt Sania Mirza 6-3, 6-4; Aleksandra Wozniak bt Lucie Safarova 6-3, 6-3; Sybille Bammer bt Roberta Vinci 6-2, 6-3; Ana Ivanovic bt Anastasiya Yakimova 6-4, 6-3; Alisa Kleybanova bt Tamira Paszek 6-3, 6-2; Kristina Barrois bt Alize Cornet 6-2, 6-2; Vera Dushevina bt Zheng Jie 6-2, 6-2; Gisela Dulko bt Bethanie Mattek-Sands 6-1, 6-3.
  
  Petra Cetkovska bt Elena Dementieva 7-6(2), 2-6, 6-1; Nuria Llagostera bt Dominika Cibulkova 7-6(6), 6-0; Agnieszka Radwanska bt Samantha Stosur 3-6, 6-3, 7-5; Karin Knapp bt Sara Errani 6-2, 3-2 (retd.); Agnes Szavay bt Edina Gallovits 6-2, 6-2. — Agencies
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Tue Mar 17 10:58:44 2009.

  Roger Federer, Andy Murray advance at third round of Indian Wells
  8 hours ago
  
  INDIAN WELLS, Calif. — Roger Federer and Andy Murray each took a step closer to a possible showdown in the semifinals with relatively routine victories during third-round matches Monday at the BNP Paribas Open.
  
  Federer, a three-time Indian Wells winner ranked No. 2 and trying for another shot against No. 1 Rafael Nadal in the title match, downed Ivo Karlovic 7-6(4), 6-3.
  
  Playing his first event since withdrawing from the Dubai tournament and the first round of Davis Cup because of back problems, Federer came up with big shots when needed against Karlovic.
  
  Federer said afterward that he wasn't sure if his game is coming together.
  
  "It's tough to say. I don't think I've had an awful lot of rhythm in my last two matches. Even in my first match, there was quite a bit of serving going on," Federer said.
  
  "I don't think I've had to face break point yet in the first two matches, so that's a good thing. That kind of keeps you a bit relaxed. I'm seeing the ball OK. My baseline game, I can't really judge it."
  
  In women's action, 25th-ranked Aleksandra Wozniak of Blainville, Que., lost her third-round match against No. 7 Agnieszka Radwanskaof Poland, 6-1, 6-4.
  
  Down 3-1 in the tiebreaker, the Swiss star evened it with points on a volley past Karlovic, then a low, hard forehand that the Croatian couldn't handle. Karlovic, ranked No. 28, then made a series of unforced errors, including hitting a forehand long for the final point of the tiebreaker.
  
  Federer, who had said he was rusty coming into Indian Wells, looked considerably sharper in the second set, reeling off the hard, accurate groundstrokes that made him the world's top player for so long.
  
  The 21-year-old Murray, a Scot ranked No. 4 and off to a 17-1 start this season, overpowered Paul-Henri Mathieu 6-3, 6-2. Murray served six aces, won 21 of 25 first-serve points and jumped on his French opponent's second serve to take 17 of 24 points.
  
  "I served big when I needed to and moved very well again," Murray said. "Bar a couple of games where I lost my concentration a little bit, it was a very solid match."
  
  Asked whether he believes Federer can climb back to No. 1, Murray said, "Yeah, no question he can. I just don't think he's going to be dominating the sport like he did when he clearly was No. 1 by a long way. I think he's going to lose more matches than he did before just because the standard of tennis has gotten better.
  
  "And the reason tennis has gotten better is thanks to him setting the bar so high. Guys have tried to reach his level and a few of us have."
  
  No. 17 Fernando Gonzalez of Chile made quick work of James Blake, needing only an hour and five minutes to beat the American 7-5, 6-1. No. 13 Blake made 35 unforced errors, 11 more than Gonzalez.
  
  Blake, who won his first three meetings with Gonzalez, now has lost seven in a row against him. But Blake said the latest defeat was "just a bad day."
  
  "He played well; I played badly. Just one of those, relatively simple," he said. "It hurts. It makes me want to get back on the practice court."
  
  Defending champion Ana Ivanovic, also last year's French Open winner who spent some three months atop the rankings, defeated Gisela Dulko 6-3, 6-3 in their third-round match.
  
  Daniela Hantuchova, the 2002 and 2007 champion, also advanced, outlasting Petra Cetkovska 7-5, 7-5 in their night match.
  
  Copyright © 2009 The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
  
  http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5gXLrwh8V1tAm2dd01XsezcAeCRGA
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Thu Mar 19 10:31:41 2009.

  http://www.bnpparibasopen.org/1/news/newsarticle_2663.asp
  
  Nadal saves 5 match points and wins the match against nalbandian.
  
  

• From: omega on Thu Mar 19 11:21:11 2009.

  ajithfederer wrote:

  http://www.bnpparibasopen.org/1/news/newsarticle_2663.asp Nadal saves 5 match points and wins the match against nalbandian.

  
  
  Actually watched from the tie-breaker (2nd set). It was all downhill for Nalbandian once he dropped the set.
  
  All big matches from now on. Fed takes Verdasco next.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Mar 20 21:51:57 2009.

  Roddick defeats defending champion the Joker in straight sets in Indian wells
  
  Nadal defeats del potro
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sat Mar 21 17:07:25 2009.

  Murray takes first set 6-3
  
  2nd set Federer serving at 2-2.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sat Mar 21 17:19:36 2009.

  Federer breaks Murray for 5-3 lead in the second set.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sat Mar 21 17:25:05 2009.

  2nd set Federer!!!
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sat Mar 21 17:59:56 2009.

  Murray wins
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sat Mar 21 20:17:01 2009.

  It is Nadal vs Murray in the Indian wells Open Final.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Mar 22 12:52:44 2009.

  Nadal will have a clear 4000 ranking points lead if he wins this match today.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Mar 22 20:28:37 2009.

  Rafael Nadal is the 2009 Indian Wells Open champion.
  
  
  
  

• From: omega on Mon Mar 23 11:17:29 2009.

  Seems like Murray has figured out how to beat Federer cosistently.
  Time to hire a full time coach Feddy. He is seriously running out of time to fullfil his dream (winning in French & overhauling Pete's 14GS record). He will have a handful (both physically & mentally) to deal with after his baby due this summer.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Mon Mar 23 11:48:05 2009.

  Omega
  
  Did you watch the s/f match against Murray. The first set he literally threw away. In the second set he was playing God level Tennis(Yes, i mean it). In the third set when Murray fell down and injured himself (at1-1) he was playing like a kid throwing tantrums here and there. Such an irresponsible play. 46 unforced errors in a three set match for heaven sakes. This guy just threw everything away. He had the most winners in the match btw.
  
  Roger hightime you set things straight.Its all in your Mind.
  
  Miami Masters starts today. Another hard court affair.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Mon Mar 23 11:54:11 2009.

  Nadal is 3rd on the list of all time Masters Singles Title winners list at 13 with Roger on 14 and Agassi on 17.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Mon Mar 23 12:02:30 2009.

  http://www.atpworldtour.com/tennis/3/en/rankings/default.asp
  
  As i said earlier Nadal has a 4080 point lead over Roger and its only the third month of this year. Roger has to win atleast Wimbledon and US Open to bridge the gap atleast this year.
  

  ajithfederer wrote:

  Nadal will have a clear 4000 ranking points lead if he wins this match today.

  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Mon Mar 23 13:16:41 2009.

  SONY ERICSSON Master's-Miami(25/3 to 5/4)
  Tournament Name: SONY ERICSSON OPEN-MIAMI
  
  Location: Key Biscayne, FL, USA
  Dates: MARCH 25–APRIL 5, 2009 (WEDNESDAY START)
  Prize Money: US $4,500,000 ($3,645,000)
  96 DRAW/48 DRAW QUALIFYING
  
  SITE: Tennis Center at Crandon Park
  7300 Crandon Boulevard
  Key Biscayne, FL 33149
  
  SURFACE: HARD
  BALL: ATP PENN BALL
  PRIZE MONEY: U.S. Dollars. Paid by ATP.
  
  
  Qualifying draw: Sunday, March 22, 2009, TBA
  Main draw: Monday, March 23, 2009, 2:20 p.m.
  Doubles draw: Wednesday, March 25, 2009, 6:00 p.m.
  
  ATP Ranking Points
  W: 1000
  F: 600
  SF: 360
  QF: 180
  R16: 90
  R32: 45
  R64: 25 (Seeds: 10)
  R128: 10 (WC: 0)
  Q: +12
  Q24: 7
  Q48: 0
  
  Web Site- http://www.sonyericssonopen.com/
  
  I made a mistake in one of my earlier posts here. The Miami masters starts on March 23rd, 2009.
  
  http://www.orkut.com/Main#CommMsgs.aspx?cmm=78522&tid=5315813840432487027
  
  

• From: omega on Mon Mar 23 14:07:58 2009.

  ajithfederer wrote:

  Omega Did you watch the s/f match against Murray. The first set he literally threw away. In the second set he was playing God level Tennis(Yes, i mean it). In the third set when Murray fell down and injured himself (at1-1) he was playing like a kid throwing tantrums here and there. Such an irresponsible play. 46 unforced errors in a three set match for heaven sakes. This guy just threw everything away. He had the most winners in the match btw. Roger hightime you set things straight.Its all in your Mind. Miami Masters starts today. Another hard court affair.

  
  
  I was out of town for the weekend, hence didn't get to watch SF & Finals. Didn't even bother to read about the match either (was pissed off to see he lost to Murray again). Sounds like, he is not taking these ATP events all that seriously. His only aim seems to be to win couple more GS. Yes, the gap is increasing at a rapid pace. I am not sure, if he could even stay @ 2nd spot for long enough.
  
  His serve seems to be a big liability these days. He never was a power house, but his placement was precise. These days, more players are reading him with ease that he is struggling to hold.
  
  You are right, it is all in his mind. This is exactly were a coach (full time) could make a difference.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Mon Mar 23 14:14:43 2009.

  What irritated me the most was his sudden downfall from 2nd set to third set. Second set was complete brilliance and amazing point construction.
  
  Ada thotthu po paravala yaar dhan thokkala, aana oru fight vendam. Onnu Netla illati outtu. Nettu outtu, outtu nettu kadaseela Match nottu !!.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Thu Mar 26 9:22:07 2009.

  http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/story/965906.html
  
  Versatile Rafael Nadal is talented enough to pull rare Slam sweep
  
  
  Rafael Nadal, of Spain, celebrates winning the men's final against Andy Murray at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament in Indian Wells, Calif., Sunday, March 22, 2009. Nadal won 6-1, 6-2. Mark Avery / AP
  Sony Ericsson Open | Tuesday, March 24, 2009 Photo
  
  BY MICHELLE KAUFMAN
  mkaufman@MiamiHerald.com
  The question is no longer whether Rafael Nadal deserved to unseat Roger Federer from the tennis throne. That is hardly debatable after the counterpunching, scrappy Spaniard beat the stylish Swiss five times in a row, including in the finals of the most recent Australian Open, Wimbledon and French Open.
  
  The debate now is whether Nadal, 22, will become the first man in 40 years to conquer a Grand Slam -- victories at the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and U.S. Open in the same calendar year.
  
  The men's quadruple crown has been achieved only three times. Don Budge did it in 1938, and Rod Laver was the last (1962 and 1969). Back then, there were only two playing surfaces -- clay and grass. Now, there are three, with the Australian and U.S. Opens on hard courts.
  
  Others have come close. Jimmy Connors, Mats Wilander and Roger Federer won three of the four in the same year. In fact, Federer has done it three times -- in 2004, 2006, and 2007 -- but the French Open title eluded him. He fell to Nadal in the final two of those years.
  
  FEAT OF CLAY
  
  Nadal will be the overwhelming favorite at the 2009 French Open, where he will go for his fifth title in a row. And he will be the co-favorite at Wimbledon, where he tries to defend his title after last year's epic match against Federer. The U.S. Open is expected to be his toughest challenge, as it is the fastest surface and the ball skids more, which isn't ideal for his game.
  
  But the kid who grew up on the dirt courts of Mallorca is getting more and more comfortable on the hard stuff. He enters this week's Sony Ericsson Open in Key Biscayne on the heels of a lopsided 6-1, 6-2 win over No. 4 Andy Murray in the finals in Indian Wells, Calif. Murray, by the way, had just crushed Federer in the semifinals.
  
  A victory in Key Biscayne would further solidify Nadal as the world's dominant hard-court player.
  
  ''He's got a great chance at the Slam, considering he's already won three, and his rate of improvement on hard court is phenomenal,'' TV commentator Patrick McEnroe said. ``It's hard to think of anyone who has gone from a clay-courter to a great all-around player like Rafa has. Ivan Lendl is in that category, but he didn't win Wimbledon. Bjorn Borg could never do it at the Australian or U.S. Opens. Rafa is certainly capable of getting it done.''
  
  Federer agrees.
  
  ''With the great record Rafa has at the French, and he comes in with incredible confidence for the grass, he definitely has a shot to do it this year,'' the former No. 1 said. ``There are many guys who want to prevent that from happening, and I'm one of them. It's definitely going to be interesting to see how well he can do. I don't think the clay has been my problem. My problem has been Rafa on clay. That's a big difference. I grew up on clay and played well on clay a lot, if you look at my record the last few years. If he hadn't been there, we would be talking differently today.''
  
  The one thing that might stand between Nadal and a Grand Slam is his health. He throws his body into every one of those punishing groundstrokes, and that can take its toll -- especially on hard courts. For that reason, Nadal is probably going to play fewer tournaments this summer, take time off after Wimbledon, and save himself for the U.S. Open.
  
  ''Rafa is still only 22, but he's older and more mature now, and he realizes he doesn't have to be out there week in and week out,'' McEnroe said. ``He's at a point in his career where he should be peaking for the big four. If he does that, he has a great chance of winning them all. He's already [proved] he can master all the surfaces.''
  
  Butch Buchholz, chairman of the Sony Ericsson Open, also would put his money on Nadal.
  
  ''People talk about how strong and quick he is, but what impresses me most is how deceptive he is,'' Buchholz said. ``You don't see the power and spin in his shots. He fools people all the time. Whether he is putting topspin on the ball, or hitting it hard, his prep is the same, and that is very hard to defend. Roger has figured that out. It will be interesting to see if Roger can adjust because he cannot play him the same way anymore. It doesn't work. If he does, Nadal will win.''
  
  MODEST GOALS
  
  About the only person downplaying Nadal's chances of the calendar-year Slam is Nadal.
  
  Nadal is as modest as tennis champions come. This is a guy who chose to stay in the athletes village at the Beijing Olympics last summer rather than enjoy privacy and luxury at a five-star hotel. So, it is hardly surprising that his reaction to all this talk about a Grand Slam is to shrug it off as a far-off dream.
  
  Asked last week about his chances of winning the four titles, Nadal smiled, held his two index fingers a few inches apart and replied: ``My chances is really small. For that reason, I don't think of that. The U.S. Open is a big goal right now. I would love to have that, the fourth. But I know how tough is everything, and I'm happy with my results. What Rod Laver did was amazing. But at the same time was a little bit easier in that moment than right now, because in that moment I think they only have two different surfaces. Now we have three. It is very difficult. Almost impossible.''
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Thu Mar 26 10:23:02 2009.

  Agree with everything the author says.
  
  

• From: omega on Thu Mar 26 10:53:31 2009.

  Quote:

  The one thing that might stand between Nadal and a Grand Slam is his health. He throws his body into every one of those punishing groundstrokes, and that can take its toll -- especially on hard courts. For that reason, Nadal is probably going to play fewer tournaments this summer, take time off after Wimbledon, and save himself for the U.S. Open.

  
  
  I agree that Nadal has a very good chance to win all 4. To do it in a calendar year, will be very tough (IMO). If he manages then it would be an outstanding achievement. Nevertheless winning all 4 in itself will be huge.
  
  Like quoted above, no one knows how long Nadal can play in his current style. Simply it is a huge ask on a continous basis for his whole body. May be once he wins all slams, he can slow cut down some tournaments.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Thu Mar 26 14:25:57 2009.

  World number one Rafael Nadal's remarkable 2008 tennis season has seen him named Player of the Year in the ATP World Tour awards.
  
  The Spaniard became the first man since Bjorn Borg in 1980 to win the French Open and Wimbledon titles back-to-back.
  
  Nadal's rival Roger Federer has won the Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship prize for a record fifth successive year.
  
  Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was voted the most improved player, while Japan's Kei Nishikori was named newcomer of the year.
  
  http://tvnz.co.nz/tennis-news/nadal-atps-best-2008-2588294
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Thu Mar 26 22:57:14 2009.

  http://www.orkut.com/Main#CommMsgs.aspx?cmm=78522&tid=2555299494380294140&na=1&nst=1
  
  Women's Tennis Post 1:
  The Best Of The Best
  http://www.sportsmediainc.com/tennisweek/index.cfm?func=showarticle&newsid=9855
  
  By Raymond Lee
  11/06/2003
  
  Eight of the world's best players converge in Los Angeles this week to compete in the WTA Tour Championships and strive for supremacy as the season-ending No. 1 player. As the competition to contest the top spot unfolds, I've conducted my own championship to crown the greatest woman player of the Open Era.
  
  As I wrote in my first feature for Tennis Week.com Numbers Reveal The No. 1 Player Of The Open Era, tennis is a tough sport to evaluate. We have a tendency to judge players based solely on observation rather than on careful statistical scrutiny. As we all know, appearances can be deceiving. Some players may look like world beaters on some days yet ultimately find a way to lose a match, while other players may look like they wouldn't take a game off their 99-year-old grandmother still wielding a wood racquet, yet they seem to find a way to win.
  
  Ultimately, champions produce results and results are what should be used in assessing the greatest champions — not speculation, not opinions, not the style of someone's forehand.
  I compared the nine greatest women of the Open Era — Lindsay Davenport, Chris Evert, Steffi Graf, Martina Hingis, Martina Navratilova, Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario, Monica Seles, Serena Williams and Venus Williams — using the following statistical criteria:
  
  1. Career winning percentage
  2. Best winning percentage for a five-year period
  3. Career tournament titles
  4. Tournament titles in a best five-year period
  5. Career percentage of tournaments won
  6. Percentage of tournaments won in a best five year period
  7. Career Grand Slam titles
  8. Career percentage of Slams won
  9. Total Grand Slams won in a best five year period
  10. Percentage of Grand Slams won in a best five-year period
  
  part 2
  Quite honestly, before I began my research for this story, I truly believed Martina Navratilova and Steffi Graf would resume the rivalry they shared on court in competing for the unofficial title as the game's greatest player with Chris Evert settling in the third spot. However, as I began research on this statistical study, I soon realized the remarkable record Chris Evert had amassed and it quickly became clear the Fort Lauderdale native with the impeccably immaculate strokes was in the running to take the title as the game's greatest player of the Open Era.
  
  Ultimately, it was a very, very close battle between Navratilova, Evert and Graf, but after careful consideration of all the stats (I used Hall of Fame tennis writer Bud Collins' Total Tennis as well as the work of esteemed tennis historian Robert Geist) I am ready to announce one player as the greatest of the Open Era: Martina Navratilova!
  
  The legendary lefthander finished first in five of the 10 categories I established and did not place lower than third in any one category. The greatness of Navratilova is a given, but what was absolutely astonishing was Navratilova's comprehensive domination of women's tennis from 1982 to 1986. In that stunning span of five years, Navratilova produced a 427-14 record for a wondrous winning percentage of .968. Losing only 14 matches is regarded as a great year for most players, but Navratilova's 14 losses in five years is an average of just under three losses per year! In that spectacular five-year span, the serve-and-volleyer won 70 of 84 tournaments she entered and 12 of the 19 Grand Slams she played. No woman in the Open Era was as dominant during any five-year period as Navratilova. Her official record of 167 singles titles may well prove to be one of the toughest tennis records to break. In 1984, Navratilova set the Open Era record for most consecutive wins with 74 straight victories. 16/09/2007 Shreyas
  prt 3
  The owner of 58 Grand Slam titles overall, Navratilova's numbers are mind-boggling. As Tennis Week senior feature writer Bud Collins writes in Total Tennis: "As a pro since 1973, Navratilova played the most singles tournaments (383) and matches (1,653), and won the most titles and matches (1,440) with a won-loss mark of 1,440-213."
  
  The 16-year rivalry between Navratilova and Evert is one of the most storied in sports history. The pair first met in 1973 in Akron, Ohio with Evert scoring a 7-6, 6-3 victory. Evert won 21 of the pair's first 25 meetings, but Navratilova would rally to win 39 of their final 55 matches to conclude the career rivalry with a 43-37 edge over Evert.
  
  A winner of 154 career singles titles, Evert finished a very close second to Navratilova in my study. Evert claimed the top spot in two of the 10 categories, and like her archrival, she did not place lower than third in any single category. The brilliant baseliner was so consistently great for so many years, her achievements are almost beyond belief when the records are viewed in retrospect. Two stats stand out in Evert's remarkable resume:
  
  1. Her career record of 1,309-146 is an astounding .8996 winning percentage — the best in the history of professional tennis.
  2. She won more than half of the tournaments she entered and was a runner-up in 72 tournaments, which means she reached the finals in 76 percent of the 303 tournaments she entered, according to Collins' Total Tennis.
  
  As great as Navratilova was from 1982 to 1986, Evert's record from 1974 to 1978 is almost as impressive. During that five-year period, Evert registered a 325-21, capturing 61 of the 84 tournaments she entered, including eight of the 13 Grand Slams she played. Entering 13 majors in a five-year span is not much by today's standards, but in Evert's era many of the top American players seldom played the Australian Open. In fact, Evert only played the Australian Open once in the first 10 years of her career, reaching the final in 1974.
  
  part 4
  Had Evert entered more majors during that time she very well could have threatened Margaret Court's record of 24 Grand Slam singles titles.
  
  In retrospect, it's truly amazing that two of the greatest players of all time played basically at the same time. How many majors did each prevent the other from winning? How many more majors would Navratilova or Evert had won without the presence of her primary rival? Then again, both women have said repeatedly that the rivalry pushed them to produce their best tennis. They played 22 times in majors with Navratilova holding a 14-8 edge in those Grand Slam showdowns.
  
  Even in my research, the rivalry between the pair produced a very close result. For example, had Evert beaten Navratilova in the 1978 Wimbledon final (Navratilova won 2-6, 6-4, 7-5), Evert would have been No. 1 in my statistical study. It was that close. On a side note, my research shows Hall of Famers Rod Laver and Ken Rosewall played each other approximately 140 times with Laver holding the edge in one of the greatest men's rivalries in history.
  
  The great Steffi Graf, who will join Navratilova and Evert in the International Tennis Hall of Fame when she's inducted in the summer of 2004, held the No. 1 rank for 377 weeks — the longest streak in the Open Era. Graf produced possibly the greatest single season in Open Era history by sweeping the Grand Slam and an Olympic gold medal in 1988. This awesome accomplishment — dubbed "The Golden Slam" — has never been matched. In that Grand Slam season, Graf compiled a record of 72-3, winning 11 of the 14 tournaments she entered. In terms of winning percentage, Graf's best season came the year after her Golden Slam when she won 86 of 88 matches, captured 14 of 16 tournaments she entered and three of the four majors losing only Roland Garros to Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario. Had Graf beaten Sanchez-Vicario in the French Open final she would have swept successive Grand Slams. The native of Bruhl, Germany was first in two of the 10 categories in this study.
  
  Of course, if there were a study the most successful family in the Open Era, Graf and husband Andre Agassi would clearly top the list.
  
  Monica Seles placed a distant fourth in my study. At one point, in the early 1990s it appeared Seles was on pace to produce historic career records. The two-handed titan won seven of the eight majors she played at one point and was clearly the premier player in women's tennis. At that point, Seles appeared poised to challenge for a prominent place as the greatest player of all time. It took a demented man plunging a knife in her back to derail what seemed to be an unstoppable tennis power. Prior to her stabbing, who would have believed the Seles of the early 1990s would have amassed "only" 53 tournament titles, including nine majors? Undoubtedly, these are Hall of Fame credentials, but the numbers pale in comparison to the career path Seles was on before she was stabbed. Sadly, a the sharp steel of a madman's knife robbed Monica of what may have been her peak years and leaves us wondering what she would have accomplished had she played in her prime.
  
  Of the current competitors in the study, Serena Williams made the greatest impact, placing fifth. Obviously, Serena's best years may still be ahead of her giving her a shot to surpass several players in these categories. Still, with 23 tournament titles to her credit and the fact that Serena's schedule is relatively small compared to past Grand Slam greats, it's difficult to imagine her winning 144 tournaments to match Navratilova in total tournament victories.
  
  
  Swiss stylist Martina Hingis, who became the youngest woman to rise to the No. 1 rank at the age of 16 years, 6 months, 1 day, finished sixth. I've always enjoyed the vast variety of shots in Hingis' game. At her best, it seemed Hingis had the ball on a string and could place it anywhere she wanted.
  
  part 6
  Hingis' best year was 1997 when she claimed three of the four majors and perhaps only a fall from her horse that caused a knee injury that required surgery to repair, prevented her from beating Iva Majoli in the French Open final. Only Graf (377 weeks), Navratilova (331 weeks) and Evert (262 weeks) held the No. 1 ranking longer than Hingis, who was the world's top player for 209 weeks.
  
  Two other active players — Venus Williams and Lindsay Davenport — placed seventh and eighth, respectively, in my study. Though both players are currently recovering from injury, they both have the potential of moving even higher on this list.
  
  Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario finished ninth, which is not too bad considering the caliber of players ahead of her. Sanchez-Vicario, who won four singles, six doubles and four mixed doubles Grand Slam championships, was truly a great competitor who may be underrated in tennis history.
  
  Unfortunately, I could not find accurate records and statistics for many of the great players whose peak years preceded the Open Era such as Suzanne Lenglen, Helen Wills, Alice Marble, Pauline Betz, Maureen Connolly, Althea Gibson, Maria Bueno, Margaret Court and Billie Jean King. Wills, for example, won 19 of 22 majors she entered and did not surrender a single set for years. Court's 24 Grand Slam singles titles still stands as the record for most majors won by a man or woman in singles play. According to my research, Court won a total of 194 tournaments, well ahead of Navratilova's official record of 167. Court also claimed the Grand Slam in 1970 — two years after the Open Era began in 1968 — and posted a record of 104-6 that spectacular season, winning 21 of 27 tournaments played.
  
  part 7
  I was tempted to include two of my personal favorites — Hana Mandlikova and Evonne Goolagong — in this study, but opted against including them. Goolagong was eliminated because she played a bit before the Open Era began, which is the cut-off period I used in order to maintain statistical accuracy, and I decided that Sanchez-Vicario, who had a few more tournament wins, was more deserving than Mandlikova. However, you can make a good case Mandlikova deserves a place in this group. Both Mandlikova and Goolagong were two of the most gifted players of the Open Era and both woman played aesthetically beautiful tennis. Had Goolagong been included in this study, she would have placed highly, but clearly would not have beaten out the top three players. A case can also be made for the inclusion of former No. 1 Tracy Austin, however injuries shortened her career and she lacks the longevity of the players in this group.
  
  There's no doubt in my mind every player on this list, in her prime, would be at or near the top of tennis today given the superior racquet technology and training techniques. The second-ranked players in the world today, Justine Henin-Hardenne, is shorter than five-foot-six and weighs less than 130 pounds yet she hits the ball as well as anyone in the world and won two of the four majors this year so the suggestion that the best players from the past would be too small to prosper in today's power age may not be valid. A year ago, a 46-year-old Navratilova was quite competitive playing singles against players who were more than 20 years younger! How would a Martina Navratilova 20 years younger compete against today's players? In my view, a 26-year-old Navratilova would be the best player in the world today. 16/09/2007 Shreyas
  
  part 8
  Comparing the peak five-year periods of Navratilova, Evert and Graf reveals the true greatness of each champion as each woman's record makes a legitimate claim for the prestigious place as the greatest player of the Open Era. However, the statistics don't lie: when you look at Navratilova's career record of 167 titles, 18 Grand Slam singles titles and an incredible domination of women's tennis over a five-year period, you have to conclude Martina Navratilova is the greatest women player of the Open Era.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Thu Mar 26 22:59:09 2009.

  Women's Tennis Post 2:
  
  Continued from the same orkut thread.
  
  Unrivaled
  Chris Evert vs. Martina Navratilova
  Match win %: CE .900 (1,309-146), MN .877 (1,438-212)
  Win % by surface: clay (CE) 94.1%, (MN) 81.1%, grass (CE) 88.0% (MN) 88.7%, hard (CE) 89.4% (MN) 87.6% carpet (CE) 84.3%,(MN) 89.9%
  Singles titles: CE 157/279 (56%), MN 167/383 (43%)
  Grand Slams: CE 18, MN 18
  Head-to-head: CE 37-43 MN
  Win streak per surface: CE 125 (clay), MN 69 (grass)
  Win streak all surfaces: CE 56, MN 74
  Losses before Grand Slam semifinals: CE 4, MN 21
  Key strength: CE mental, MN physical
  Best shots: (CE) backhand/service return/passing shots/dropshot, (MN) forehand/serve/volley/overhead smash
  Three set encounters: CE 15 wins, MN 13 wins
  Grand Slam encounters: CE 8, MN 14
  Handed: CE right, MN left
  Playing style historically compared to (CE): Wills/Connolly/Austin/Hingis, (MN) Marble/Gibson/Court/King
  Most titles won in a single year: CE 16 (1974, 1975), MN 16 (1983)
  Years on WTA tour: CE 1971-1989, MN 1973-1994 (singles)
  Notable stats: CE: Best claycourt player in the history of the game, win streak at 125 matches and 197 wins out of 198
  MN: Best grasscourt player of all time, best doubles/mixed doubles player of all time
  Nickname: CE Ice Maiden/Chrissie/Chris America, MN Mighty Martina/Martina the Magnificent
  Year-end No. 1: CE 1974,1975,1976,1977,1978*,1980,1981 (7 total), MN 1978*,1979,1982,1983,1984,1985,1986(7 total)
  Weeks at No. 1: CE 302 (approx; pre-1975 not counted in official records), MN 332
  Grand Slam singles record: CE 299-37, MN 305-47
  [red[*The year end 1978 No. 1 ranking remains a toss up and extremely debatable. Different records claim it for both. For more on this please see the official WTA rankings as well as:
  http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1094344/index.htm
  and http://www.tennisforum.com/showthread.php?t=208033&page=4
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Thu Mar 26 23:12:54 2009.

  Actually this season he plays all the ATP 1000 Masters level Tourney's. http://www.rafaelnadal.com/rafaforum/forum/viewthread_thread,369
  

  omega wrote:

  Quote: The one thing that might stand between Nadal and a Grand Slam is his health. He throws his body into every one of those punishing groundstrokes, and that can take its toll -- especially on hard courts. For that reason, Nadal is probably going to play fewer tournaments this summer, take time off after Wimbledon, and save himself for the U.S. Open. I agree that Nadal has a very good chance to win all 4. To do it in a calendar year, will be very tough (IMO). If he manages then it would be an outstanding achievement. Nevertheless winning all 4 in itself will be huge. Like quoted above, no one knows how long Nadal can play in his current style. Simply it is a huge ask on a continous basis for his whole body. May be once he wins all slams, he can slow cut down some tournaments.

  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Mar 27 12:09:16 2009.

  Women's Tennis Post 3:
  
  Continuing on women's tennis from orkut rf thread.
  
  Some additional Evert stats:
  *Owns the highest winning percentage in pro tennis history (.900)
  
  *Holds Open Era record for most consecutive Grand Slam SFs or better with 34 from 1971 US Open through 1983 Roland Garros
  
  *Won 101 matches at the US Open, more than any other player, male or female
  
  *Won 1,000th career singles match during 1984 Australian Open, becoming first player, male or female, to reach that landmark; ended career second in match wins with 1,309
  
  *Reached SF or better of 52 of last 56 Grand Slams
  
  *Holds all-time singles title record at Roland Garros with 7 titles
  
  And now Navratilova:
  *With Shriver, holds record of 109 consecutive doubles matches won, dating from April 24, 1983 to July 6, 1985; streak broken in Wimbledon final by Kathy Jordan/Liz Smylie
  
  *Achieved three non-calendar year Grand Slams of doubles w/Shriver in 1983-84, 1984-85, 1986-87
  
  * With 2003 Australian Open mixed doubles title, became the oldest person to win a Grand Slam title at 46 years, 3 months, surpassing record set in 1924
  
  *Tied with King for all-time record 20 Wimbledon titles
  
  *In 2003, at 46 years of age, became oldest Wimbledon champion, supplanting Margaret Dupont, who won mixed doubles in 1962 at 44
  
  *Won singles and doubles titles at same event 84 times to lead all players
  
  *Won 2003 Australian Open mixed doubles title w/Paes to become the third woman (after Court and Hart) to win singles, doubles and mixed doubles titles at all four Grand Slam tournaments.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Mar 27 12:10:34 2009.

  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graf-Seles_rivalry
  
  Steffi Graf and Monica Seles dominant women's tennis players in 80's and 90s had enthralled tennis fans all around the world. Their power packed game, single mindedness towards victory and success ration inspired many to take up rackets. Seles, a left hander played with two-fisted forehand and backhand steamrolled her opponents with precise shot making. Graf in contrast had a formidable forehand, which is called as the greatest shot in the history of women's tennis and a sliced backhand in addition to her penetrating serve. Right from the day both fought for the first time, till the point one of them (Graf) retired, their matches always lived up the expectations.
  
  Contents [hide]
  1 Head-to-head
  1.1 Steffi Graf 10-5 Monica Seles
  2 Breakdown of the rivalry
  3 History
  4 References
  
  
  
  [edit] Head-to-head
  
  [edit] Steffi Graf 10-5 Monica Seles
  No Date Tournament Surface Round Winner Score
  1 11-Jun-89 French Open Clay Semifinal Steffi Graf 6-3 3-6 6-3
  2 04-Jul-89 Wimbledon Grass 4rth Round Steffi Graf 6-0 6-1
  3 29-Oct-89 Midland Bank Championships Indoors Final Steffi Graf 7-5 6-4
  4 20-May-90 German Open Clay Final Monica Seles 6-4 6-3
  5 10-Jun-90 French Open Clay Final Monica Seles 7-6 6-4
  6 31-Mar-91 U.S. Hard Court Championships Clay Final Steffi Graf 6-4 6-3
  7 05-May-91 Citizen Cup Clay Final Steffi Graf 7-5 6-7 6-3
  8 07-Jun-92 French Open Clay Final Monica Seles 6-2 3-6 10-8
  9 05-Jul-92 Wimbledon Grass Final Steffi Graf 6-2 6-1
  10 30-Jan-93 Australian Open Hardcourts Final Monica Seles 4-6 6-3 6-2
  11 10-Sep-95 US Open Hardcourts Final Steffi Graf 7-6 0-6 6-3
  12 08-Sep-96 US Open Hardcourts Final Steffi Graf 7-5 6-4
  13 21-Nov-98 Chase Championships Indoors Quarterfinal Steffi Graf 1-6 6-4 6-4
  14 27-Jan-99 Australian Open HardCourts Quarterfinal Monica Seles 7-5 6-1
  15 04-Jun-99 French Open Clay Semifinal Steffi Graf 6-7 6-3 6-4
  
  
  [edit] Breakdown of the rivalry
  Hard courts: Graf 2-2
  Clay courts: Graf 4-3
  Grass courts: Graf 2-0
  Indoors: Graf 2-0
  Grand Slam Finals: Tied 3-3
  Grand Slam Matches (all): Graf 6-4
  Year-ending Championships Cup: Graf 1-0
  All Finals: Graf 6-4
  
  [edit] History
  The rivalry between these two great women is legendary in many ways. Both had tasted success enormous success at a very young age. Graf had won 8 of the 9 last grand slam titles before Seles won her first. Seles won 7 of the 8 grand slam titles during the period of 1991-1993. These two shared a complex sort of relationship. Graf’s slump coinciding with her father’s alleged scandal broke-out and emergence of Seles’s as a new No.1 women’s player, had taken down the confidence a lot out of Graf who was still at her physically peak period. Seles said after Steffi Graf whipped her 6-2 6-1 for the 1992 Wimbledon title: “I am still the best women’s tennis player in the world. Steffi will never be No.1 again.” .[1]
  
  Ever since Monica Seles was stabbed, the relationship definitely ruined, still leading to a big debate between their fans. When Seles beat Graf for the first time after her comeback, in her interview she quotes:
  
  “ Q. Do you still get a special feeling when you know you are going to play Steffi?
  
  A. I really get a special feeling when I play any top players. I don't exclude or include Steffi in that. I just go out there and play, and I know it's going to be a tough match, and I expect that a quarter final of a Grand Slam to be tough and I just do, try to do the best that I can that day.
  
  But Steffi is not the best player in the world. It's Lindsay, and Martina. So it's a different level that they are playing now”
  
  If Seles had not been stabbed it would have been one of the greatest ever rivalries in the world of sport. However, the rivalry had its own highs.
  
  1989 French Open Semi Final: Seles surprised everybody with such penetrating strokes on both the sides. However Graf won the thriller.
  
  1990 Berlin Final: Seles shocks the tennis world by snapping Graf's 66 unbeaten match streak, taking the title in two easy sets.
  
  1990 French Open Final: Seles wins a thrilling first set tie-break by saving several set points and comfortably wins the second set for her first Grand Slam title.
  
  1992 French Open Final: Still considered by many as one of the greatest finals of all time, one of best that Graf and Seles played. Graf saved 5 match points before losing 8-10 in the third set.
  
  1992 Wimbledon Final: Graf plays a flawless match and takes the title in two easy sets 6-2 6-1.
  
  1993 Australian Open Final: Arguably the only Seles-Graf match where both Seles and Graf played at their best with a low amount of unforced errors. Seles comes from a set behind and defeat Graf in a 3 set classic.
  
  1995 US Open Final: Graf held her nerve this time to win the match to prove a point. However only after losing the second set 0-6.
  
  1998 Chase Championship Quarter Final: Graf with couple of tournament wins behind qualified for this year ending championships, beat defending champion Jana Novotna in the earlier round. With the way Seles played and won the first set, it looked like a thrashing defeat in store for Graf. However, Graf and Seles played one of the most enjoyable matches at the Garden and thrilled their fans one more time. Graf came out as victor 1-6 6-4 6-4.
  
  1999 Australian Open Quarter Final: Seles comes from 4-5 down in the first set to win 8 games on the trot on her way to a 7-5 6-1 victory, her only post-stabbing victory over Graf. This victory took Seles to 33 matches unbeaten at the Australian Open and 37 matches unbeaten in Australia.
  
  1999 French Open Semi Final: Graf upsets the odds to defeat Seles in a tightly fought 3 set match after coming from a set behind. This was their last ever head-to-head match.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sat Mar 28 17:35:03 2009.

  Women's Tennis Post 4:
  
  Continuing with women's tennis stats:
  
  And now Navratilova:
  
  *With Shriver, holds record of 109 consecutive doubles matches won, dating from April 24, 1983 to July 6, 1985; streak broken in Wimbledon final by Kathy Jordan/Liz Smylie
  
  *Achieved three non-calendar year Grand Slams of doubles w/Shriver in 1983-84, 1984-85, 1986-87
  
  * With 2003 Australian Open mixed doubles title, became the oldest person to win a Grand Slam title at 46 years, 3 months, surpassing record set in 1924
  
  *Tied with King for all-time record 20 Wimbledon titles
  
  *In 2003, at 46 years of age, became oldest Wimbledon champion, supplanting Margaret Dupont, who won mixed doubles in 1962 at 44
  
  *Won singles and doubles titles at same event 84 times to lead all players
  
  *Won 2003 Australian Open mixed doubles title w/Paes to become the third woman (after Court and Hart) to win singles, doubles and mixed doubles titles at all four Grand Slam tournaments
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Mar 29 13:26:43 2009.

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LC99glR53wE
  
  Selection of Pete Sampras serve and Volleys against Agassi during US Open 2002.
  
  

• From: omega on Sun Mar 29 17:43:24 2009.

  Watched Safin vs Monfils match (3rd round - Sony Ericson Masters).
  Monfils won 5-7, 7-5, 7-6. Safin had an excellent oppurtunity to serve for the set in the third @ 5-2. Monfills just stayed there winning the next 4 games & pushing for a tiebreaker. Safin like always was fighting against his attitude for most of the time. A wonderful talent wasted (SAFIN).... Great match.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Wed Apr 1 0:00:13 2009.

  Awesome match between Nadal and Stanislas wawrinka in Miami.
  
  Nadal took the first set in tie break and stan broke nadal and again nadal broke stan in the second set. Match is at 5 games all with Nadal serving. This match had some amazing winners from Nadal.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Wed Apr 1 0:23:08 2009.

  Nadal wins in 2tie breaks
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Wed Apr 1 0:26:17 2009.

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uG9vVisdY1w
  
  
  
  

• From: omega on Wed Apr 1 10:17:09 2009.

  ajithfederer wrote:

  Awesome match between Nadal and Stanislas wawrinka in Miami. Nadal took the first set in tie break and stan broke nadal and again nadal broke stan in the second set. Match is at 5 games all with Nadal serving. This match had some amazing winners from Nadal.

  
  
  I missed this. I love Wawrinka's backhand. One of very few guys with an amazing backhand (single handed). Looks like he gave Nadal a run for his money.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Wed Apr 1 18:59:17 2009.

  Q/F between Roddick and Federer @ 9 p.m ET for interested hubbers.
  
  

• From: omega on Wed Apr 1 21:36:05 2009.

  Just tuned in....Roger up a break.. 4-2
  
  

• From: omega on Wed Apr 1 21:41:27 2009.

  BH down the line (razor sharp)
  
  

• From: omega on Wed Apr 1 21:46:28 2009.

  Takes the set with double break 6-3....
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Wed Apr 1 21:57:54 2009.

  Djokovic wins over Tsonga 6-3 and 6-4.
  
  

• From: omega on Wed Apr 1 22:14:18 2009.

  Roger down a break in 2nd....Roddick to serve 4-3
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Wed Apr 1 22:19:33 2009.

  Omega
  
  Any live links??
  
  

• From: omega on Wed Apr 1 22:34:31 2009.

  www.channelsurfing.net (there is a link)
  
  Roddick takes 2nd set....6-4
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Wed Apr 1 22:38:48 2009.

  Thanks omega!!!
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Wed Apr 1 23:15:57 2009.

  Very close match. Roddick served very well. Federer was lucky for the point before match point which het the net, bounced over roddick and fell before the baseline. Guess the semi's it is against Djokovic(??).
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Wed Apr 1 23:18:43 2009.

  IMO, No hopes of an interesting match between Nadal and Del Potro. I expect the Spanish Bull to win quite easily (but i would be glad if i am proved wrong).
  
  Murray vs Verdasco should be an Interesting prospect.
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Thu Apr 2 11:49:25 2009.

  It seems that Tennis Master Federer slowly losing his concentration and his magical touch. At the moment, I think he is not in good frame of mind. His confidence level is down. He needs to charge up to regain his lost glory. Without doubt, his frequent losses to Nadal might have crashed his confidence level. It looks like slowly one by one turning the tables on Federer. First Murray and now this may be turn of Roddick and Djokovic. Federer has to change his game plans if he has to remain on top.
  
  

• From: omega on Thu Apr 2 13:49:57 2009.

  steveaustin wrote:

  It seems that Tennis Master Federer slowly losing his concentration and his magical touch. At the moment, I think he is not in good frame of mind. His confidence level is down. He needs to charge up to regain his lost glory. Without doubt, his frequent losses to Nadal might have crashed his confidence level. It looks like slowly one by one turning the tables on Federer. First Murray and now this may be turn of Roddick and Djokovic. Federer has to change his game plans if he has to remain on top.

  
  
  Actually it is not that bad. Surely not what it used to be in the years between 2004 thru' 2007, where he simply couldn't do anything wrong (except in dirt). I too feel, he has lost his focus much. He still has most in him, but certainly not the will. I think it would be a Murray vs Roger finals @ Miami come this Sunday.
  Result of that match is anyone's guess!!!
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Thu Apr 2 14:25:31 2009.

  Omega and steve,
  
  Slightly older article, thought of posting it anyways:
  
  Playing with Heart by Chris Evert
  
  
  What is it about Roger Federer that pulls at our heartstrings? Watching him break down during the Australian Open trophy presentation after losing in five sets to Rafael Nadal in the final brought tears to my eyes. His passion for his sport runs deep, probably deeper than most realized, and his willingness to show it was moving. I don't think the flood of emotion from Federer was simply about that one match, though. He had lost to Nadal in a similar scenario at Wimbledon last year, and to see his opportunity to pull a reversal vanish after coming so close was too much for him to handle.
  
  Some may disparage a man for crying after losing, but it's inspirational that he cares so deeply. Federer has all the money and fame he could want, but neither motivates him. What makes his rivalry so special is that Nadal is cut from the same cloth. His performance throughout the Australian Open was remarkable, possibly only surpassed by the respectful way he treated Federer after beating him in the final. People forget it's not only about forehands and backhands. Both these guys display character you don't always see in big-time athletes. Look at Michael Vick and the steroid-users in baseball to see how poorly some represent their sports. Tennis is lucky to have this duo at the top.
  
  While his legacy as a great sportsman is secure, of greater importance to Federer at the moment is how he's going to beat Nadal. I've heard commentators wonder if he'll ever do it again in a big match, or possibly even win another Grand Slam. 29 Mar (4 days ago) Rajlaxmi~
  Contd.
  I know what he's going through. I lost to Martina Navratilova 13 times in a row over a period of more than two years. Then, when I finally ended the streak, I went on to defeat her in two French Open finals and have a fairly even record with her for the rest of my career.
  
  So, I'm not counting Federer out yet, especially when there's not much separating him from Nadal on a fast surface. It's not like he got drummed in straight sets and didn't have opportunities. He served poorly, committed uncharacteristic errors, and missed numerous break point chances, yet still had the match knotted at two-sets apiece before losing his way in the fifth. I don't think Federer needs a new coach to make stroke adjustments or any drastic changes. He just needs a few tweaks, such as cleaning up the backhand errors and getting more assertive on his return of serve. But what it really comes down to, and it's easy for me to say, is that Federer needs to play better on the pivotal points.
  
  Obviously, there's another guy with a say in this, and right now he doesn't seem human. Nadal is a tireless competitor with the advantage of youth on his side. His intensity and fitness are unrivaled, making him difficult to beat in long matches. I'm curious to see whether in five years, when he's Federer's current age, Nadal will still be motivated to battle so fiercely for every point. For now, that's irrelevant to Federer. He must conquer a hungry opponent who seemingly has no limits.
  
  My heart goes out to him.
  
  A great article by another great player of all time
  
  

• From: omega on Thu Apr 2 17:07:40 2009.

  Delpotro takes first set against Nadal 6-4.....
  Watched until it was 3-3....
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Thu Apr 2 17:19:28 2009.

  Del potro breaks Nadal in 2nd set.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Thu Apr 2 19:29:15 2009.

  Del Potro wins over Nadal despite being two breaks down in the final set .
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Thu Apr 2 21:25:21 2009.

  omega wrote:

  I think it would be a Murray vs Roger finals @ Miami come this Sunday. Result of that match is anyone's guess!!!

  
  
  At the moment Murray seems to be a favourite because of his recent successes against Roger. Personally I would prefer to see a Roger's win than Murray's.
  
  Del Potro's win over Nadal is simply unbelievable.
  
  

• From: Sanjeevi on Fri Apr 3 2:19:54 2009.

  http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090403/sp_afp/tennisatpwtausawomennewseries;_ylt=Akhczt0fzyJec.9aLqPxdIVNz7QF
  
  Serana becoming non-stop?
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Apr 3 13:48:42 2009.

  Federer leads djokovic 6-3 in the semi final
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Apr 3 14:02:12 2009.

  2nd set:
  
  
  Djokovic leads three games to one. Federer to serve.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Apr 3 14:05:57 2009.

  Djokovic double faults and loses the break and we are back on serve at 3-2.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Apr 3 14:30:19 2009.

  the joker takes the second set.
  
  

• From: Sanjeevi on Fri Apr 3 14:53:06 2009.

  I think federer avvalavuthano
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Apr 3 14:55:32 2009.

  Djokovic serving for the set at 5-3
  
  

• From: Sanjeevi on Fri Apr 3 14:56:40 2009.

  ajithfederer wrote:

  Djokovic serving for the set at 5-3

  
  
  match?
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Apr 3 14:59:46 2009.

  Djokovic wins over federer.
  
  Second semis at 7 between delpotro and murray.
  
  

• From: omega on Fri Apr 3 15:28:44 2009.

  ajithfederer wrote:

  Djokovic wins over federer. Second semis at 7 between delpotro and murray.

  
  
  I was thinking the match was @ night today. I thought he was playing good enough (so far) to beat Nole (particularly when played in Sun).
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Apr 3 15:34:34 2009.

  Omega
  
  Its the same old story. Play well in the first set, lose concentration and momentum and finally the match in the rest.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Apr 3 16:02:52 2009.

  Omega
  
  Main matter-ae marandhutein. Saar smashed a racquet today . First such instance in like 5 years of watching him.
  
  

• From: omega on Fri Apr 3 20:37:41 2009.

  ajithfederer wrote:

  Omega Main matter-ae marandhutein. Saar smashed a racquet today . First such instance in like 5 years of watching him.

  
  
  That tells it all....Must be really pissed off with himself.
  
  

• From: omega on Fri Apr 3 20:38:53 2009.

  Murray vs Delpotro going on right now...
  Murray has the first set 6-1, Second set is 6-5 (on serve with Murray to serve). Watched the last couple of games, Delpotro is really stepping it up.
  
  

• From: omega on Fri Apr 3 20:41:15 2009.

  Murray serving 0-40 to stay in the set...
  
  

• From: omega on Fri Apr 3 20:42:06 2009.

  And Delpotro breaks to take the 2nd set 7-5....
  DelPotro
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Fri Apr 3 23:35:55 2009.

  Joker defeats Emperor.
  
  Joker defeats Emperor. It sounds ridiculous atleast for me. Now Joker turns the heat on Emperor of Tennis.
  
  Is the Emperor losing his steam??? Is Federer going on the Jim Courier's way??? Is he fading out slowly??
  
  For these questions at present I have to say "Yes". For the first time, yesterday I saw Federer smashed his racquet and this itself tells the story of Federer's mind status. Fedex was first derailed by Nadal and later Murray. As I said before, it seems now everyone turning the tables on Federer. Federer is under heavy pressure after his consecutive losses to Nadal and Murray. I don't think that he is having problems with his game. His problem is alone with his mindset.
  
  I think, he is suffering from kakorrhaphiophobia
  (the phobia of defeat). As of now, I personally feel that mentally he is not ready to play his natural game. Now it is the right time that he should take break from tennis and he should comeback after motivating himself is the only way once again to climb to the top.
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Fri Apr 3 23:42:37 2009.

  Brilliant Murray into Miami final
  
  Andy Murray produced a sensational display as he beat Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro to reach the final of the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami.
  
  The Briton sealed a 6-1 5-7 6-2 victory and will face Novak Djokovic in Sunday's final, after the Serb earlier beat Roger Federer 3-6 6-2 6-3.
  
  http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/7982365.stm
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Apr 5 14:15:43 2009.

  Miami Masters Final:
  
  Murray wins first set 6-1
  
  Djokovic leads 4-1 in the second set.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Apr 5 14:58:21 2009.

  Murray wins Miami Masters
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sat Apr 11 13:06:06 2009.

  MONTE-CARLO ROLEX MASTERS. 13-19 April 2009
  Tournament Name: MONTE-CARLO ROLEX MASTERS
  Location: MONTE-CARLO, MONACO
  Dates: SUNDAY 12–SUNDAY 19 APRIL 2009
  Prize Money: €2,750,000
  56 DRAW (Q28)
  ...........................................................................................
  SITE: MONTE-CARLO COUNTRY CLUB
  
  SURFACE: RED CLAY
  BALL: HEAD ATP
  
  Qualifying draw: Friday, April 10, 9:00 p.m.
  Main draw: Saturday, April 11, Noon
  Doubles draw: Saturday, April 11, 6:00 p.m.
  
  ATP Ranking Points
  W: 1000
  F: 600
  SF: 360
  QF: 180
  R16: 90
  R32: 45 (Seeds 1-8: 10)
  R64: 10 (WC: 0)
  Q: +25
  Q14: 14
  Q28: 0
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sat Apr 11 13:06:26 2009.

  Seeding: April 6, 2009
  
  1 Nadal, Rafael ESP 1
  2 Djokovic, Novak SRB 3
  3 Murray, Andy GBR 4
  4 Davydenko, Nikolay RUS 5
  5 Del Potro, Juan Martin ARG 6
  6 Simon, Gilles FRA 8
  7 Monfils, Gael FRA 9
  8 Verdasco, Fernando ESP 10
  9 Ferrer, David ESP 12
  10 Nalbandian, David ARG 14
  11 Robredo, Tommy ESP 15
  12 Wawrinka, Stanislas SUI 16
  13 Stepanek, Radek CZE 18
  14 Cilic, Marin CRO 19
  15 Almagro, Nicolas ESP 21
  16 Berdych, Tomas CZE 22
  17 Andreev, Igor RUS 23
  18 Gasquet, Richard FRA 24
  19 Safin, Marat RUS 25
  20 Soderling, Robin SWE 26
  21 Karlovic, Ivo CRO 28
  22 Ancic, Mario CRO 29
  23 Schuettler, Rainer GER 30
  24 Melzer, Jurgen AUT 31
  25 Kiefer, Nicolas GER 32
  
  26 Mathieu, Paul-Henri FRA 33
  27 Lopez, Feliciano ESP 34
  28 Montanes, Albert ESP 35
  29 Kohlschreiber, Philipp GER 36
  30 Hanescu, Victor ROU 37
  31 Kunitsyn, Igor RUS 38
  32 Seppi, Andreas ITA 39
  33 Bolelli, Simone ITA 40
  34 Troicki, Viktor SRB 41
  35 Acasuso, Jose ARG 42
  36 Gulbis, Ernests LAT 43
  37 Benneteau, Julien FRA 44
  38 Tipsarevic, Janko SRB 46
  39 Granollers, Marcel ESP 47
  40 Chardy, Jeremy FRA 48
  41 Serra, Florent FRA 50
  42 Gicquel, Marc FRA 52
  43 Rochus, Christophe BEL 53
  44 Vassallo Arguello, Martin ARG 54
  45 Chela, Juan Ignacio ARG @54
  ............................................................
  Alternates
  1. Monaco, Juan ARG 55
  2. Schwank, Eduardo ARG 56
  3. Nieminen, Jarkko FIN 57
  4. Sela, Dudi ISR 58
  5. Youzhny, Mikhail RUS 59
  6. Clement, Arnaud FRA 60
  7. Lu, Yen-Hsun TPE 61
  8. Devilder, Nicolas FRA 62
  9. Hernych, Jan CZE 63
  10. Haas, Tommy GER 64
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sat Apr 11 13:28:44 2009.

  Official Website : http://montecarlo.masters-series.com/1/en/home/default.asp
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sat Apr 11 13:50:42 2009.

  Actually Rafa is going for his record straight 5th Title if he wins this year's Monte Carlo Masters title.
  
  
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Wed Apr 15 21:59:37 2009.

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9G2iIYkPSg
  
  
  
  

• From: omega on Thu Apr 16 12:42:24 2009.

  Federer loses to fellow countrymen Wawrinka in Monte Carlo Masters 4-6, 5-7. (Federer had reached the Finals the last 3 times losing to eventual winner Rafa)..... Not a memorable honeymoon for the newly wed Roger...
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Thu Apr 16 20:50:09 2009.

  http://www.atpworldtour.com/en/common/TrackIt.asp?file=http://www.atpworldtour.com/1/posting/2009/410/mds.pdf
  
  I Don't understand why most Master's 1000 Tournament websites post thier draws in pdf format
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Apr 17 11:50:54 2009.

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1QXNVCZ7hM
  
  
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Apr 17 12:36:33 2009.

  Stanislas def A beck 62 64
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Apr 17 12:39:32 2009.

  Monte Carlo Master's:
  Singles - Quarter-finals / Simples - Quarts de Finale
  [1] R Nadal (ESP) d [WC] I Ljubicic (CRO) 63 63
  [3] N Djokovic (SRB) d [7] F Verdasco (ESP) 62 46 63
  [13] S Wawrinka (SUI) d [Q] A Beck (GER) 62 64
  
  
  [4] A Murray (GBR) vs [8] N Davydenko (RUS)
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Apr 17 16:50:34 2009.

  Murray beats Davy 76 64
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sat Apr 18 10:09:23 2009.

  warinka serving to stay in the set at 5-3 over djoker.
  
  first 2 sets 46 61
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sat Apr 18 10:53:25 2009.

  Nadal breaks Murray in the first set.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sat Apr 18 12:42:07 2009.

  Rafa wins the first set and the second set is in tie break. Actually Rafa was leading 4-1 in 2nd set.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sat Apr 18 12:52:30 2009.

  Spain bull wins the tie breaker. It is now Nadal vs Djokovic in the Monte carlo masters final.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Apr 19 11:29:37 2009.

  Rafa wins 5th straight Monte Carlo Masters Title. He now equals Roger federer on 14 for the number of Masters 1000 Titles.
  
  
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Apr 19 11:45:04 2009.

  Winning 5 straight Masters 1000 Titles is no mean achievement. Winning every year is a mountain to climb. My respect for Rafa Increases again. Well done Rafa.
  
  
  
  

• From: wrap07 on Sun Apr 19 12:08:20 2009.

  Rafa
  amazing consistency.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Mon Apr 20 11:22:51 2009.

  Rankings as of 20th April
  1 Rafael Nadal 15390
  2 Roger Federer 10760
  3 Novak Djokovic 9520
  4 Andy Murray 8950
  5 Juan Martin Del Potro 4580
  6 Andy Roddick 4340
  7 Fernando Verdasco 3790
  8 Nikolay Davydenko 3675
  
  As mentioned earlier, players will loose their last year's MC points 1 week from now..That is why we see an increase in gap among the top 4..
  
  http://www.atpworldtour.com/tennis/3/en/rankings/
  
  

• From: leosimha on Tue Apr 21 3:01:24 2009.

  ajithfederer wrote:

  Rankings as of 20th April 1 Rafael Nadal 15390 2 Roger Federer 10760 3 Novak Djokovic 9520 4 Andy Murray 8950 5 Juan Martin Del Potro 4580 6 Andy Roddick 4340 7 Fernando Verdasco 3790 8 Nikolay Davydenko 3675 As mentioned earlier, players will loose their last year's MC points 1 week from now..That is why we see an increase in gap among the top 4.. http://www.atpworldtour.com/tennis/3/en/rankings/

  
  
  how are the points calculated? I am chocked at seeing Nadal leading by near 5000 points against Federer. Will we ever get to see the best rivalry of Federer-Nadal?
  
  

• From: leosimha on Tue Apr 21 3:04:51 2009.

  ajithfederer wrote:

  Winning 5 straight Masters 1000 Titles is no mean achievement. Winning every year is a mountain to climb. My respect for Rafa Increases again. Well done Rafa.

  
  
  will he be able to win 5 consecutive French titles?
  
  

• From: omega on Tue Apr 21 5:58:04 2009.

  leosimha wrote:

  ajithfederer wrote: Winning 5 straight Masters 1000 Titles is no mean achievement. Winning every year is a mountain to climb. My respect for Rafa Increases again. Well done Rafa. will he be able to win 5 consecutive French titles?

  
  
  All signs are there for that to happen. No one in the top 10 seem to have the patience that Nadal has, which exactly is what the surface (dirt) needs. He has the best chance unless there is a new unknown clay court specialist (there are tons of spaniards & south american players) who can have a run for those two weeks.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Tue Apr 21 13:40:38 2009.

  Some holy #@%$@ plays by Nadal.
  .
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrqU6gU-jW4&fmt=18
  .
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4XFf0p04jQ&feature=related
  .
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdnwqHUlY_k&fmt=18
  .
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3k3wSdL-TbQ&fmt=18
  .
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOnNfa44P5k
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Tue Apr 21 13:45:46 2009.

  Quite easily. AFAIK, there is nobody even remotely close to him in clay(dirt).
  

  leosimha wrote:

  ajithfederer wrote: Winning 5 straight Masters 1000 Titles is no mean achievement. Winning every year is a mountain to climb. My respect for Rafa Increases again. Well done Rafa. will he be able to win 5 consecutive French titles?

  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Tue Apr 21 20:07:00 2009.

  There is no reason for you to get shocked. He has been invincible in the last 12 months or so. .
  
  He has won Last'years Wimbledon, French Open and this Year's Australian Open. In addition to that he has won Two Master's series titles upto now which adds up to 3*2000 + 2*1000 = 8000 Points. The point to be noted here is he has won 2 grandslams which he hasn't won before namely the wimbledon and the aus open which immediately shot up his rankings.
  

  leosimha wrote:

  I am chocked at seeing Nadal leading by near 5000 points against Federer. Will we ever get to see the best rivalry of Federer-Nadal?

  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Wed Apr 22 14:04:02 2009.

  The tale of two hard courts
  I saw two highlight clips.
  Federer - Murray US Open 2008 Final
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOzcxveb_NA
  Federer - Nadal Aus Open 2009 Final
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fo44ycnkbrE
  _
  The difference as clear as chalk and cheese. The courts of Indian Wells and Miami are similar to that in AO, while the Deco Turf of US is completely different.
  _
  Look at how Federer's backhand has so much more venom in US and looks easily attackable at AO. The ball does not grip the surface. Hence, it comes to Murray faster and bounces less. Murray was usually found reaching for the ball rather than the ball reaching him (which has been Murray's strength in year opening hard court season).
  _
  Similarly, Federer's forehand 'seems' much flatter in US than AO. The same forehand comes to Nadal a littler slower than to Murray (observe that both are usually standing a feet or two outside the baseline).
  _
  This just explains Federer's immense success at the Flushing Meadows over the last five years, and why I still consider him the favorite going into US (unless something drastic happens).
  
  http://www.orkut.com/Main#CommMsgs.aspx?cmm=78522&tid=5322580595743450652&na=3&nst=1608&nid=78522-5322580595743450652-5327102109652592659
  
  

• From: wrap07 on Thu Apr 23 1:34:13 2009.

  now barcelona open- atutha tournamenta. resta irukkathu pola irukku.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Thu Apr 23 11:10:59 2009.

  Pete Sampras 14th Grand Slam (HD)
  
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7n7ZWG8QCCc&feature=related
  
  

• From: wrap07 on Thu Apr 23 11:43:26 2009.

  http://sport.scotsman.com/tennis/I-take-my-hat-off.5196980.jp
  
  'I take my hat off to Nadal' says appreciative Wimbledon chief'
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Apr 24 15:50:43 2009.

  INTERNAZIONALI BNL D’ITALIA Masters (27/4 - 4/5)
  
  INTERNAZIONALI BNL D’ITALIA Masters (27/4 - 4/5)
  Tournament Name: INTERNAZIONALI BNL D’ITALIA
  Location: ROME, ITALY
  Dates: 27 APRIL–3 MAY 2009
  Prize Money: €2,750,000
  56 DRAW
  SURFACE: RED CLAY
  BALL: HEAD ATP
  
  
  Qualifying draw: Friday, April 24, 9:00 p.m.
  Main draw: Saturday, April 25, Noon
  Doubles draw: Saturday, April 25, 6:00 p.m.
  
  ATP Ranking Points
  W: 1000
  F: 600
  SF: 360
  QF: 180
  R16: 90
  R32: 45 (Seeds 1-8: 10)
  R64: 10 (WC: 0)
  Q: +25
  Q14: 14
  Q28: 0 03:45
  
  Entry deadline March 16, 2009,
  
  Seedings as at April 20, 2009
  
  1 Nadal, Rafael ESP 1
  2 Federer, Roger SUI 2
  3 Djokovic, Novak SRB 3
  4 Murray, Andy GBR 4
  5 Davydenko, Nikolay RUS 5
  6 Del Potro, Juan Martin ARG 6
  OUT Roddick, Andy USA 7
  8 Simon, Gilles FRA 8
  OUT Monfils, Gael FRA 9
  10 Verdasco, Fernando ESP 10
  11 Tsonga, Jo-Wilfried FRA 11
  12 Ferrer, David ESP 12
  13 Blake, James USA 13
  OUT Nalbandian, David ARG 14
  15 Robredo, Tommy ESP 15
  16 Wawrinka, Stanislas SUI 16
  17 Gonzalez, Fernando CHI 17
  18 Stepanek, Radek CZE 18
  19 Cilic, Marin CRO 19
  20 Fish, Mardy USA 20
  21 Almagro, Nicolas ESP 21
  22 Berdych, Tomas CZE 22
  23 Andreev, Igor RUS 23
  24 Gasquet, Richard FRA 24
  25 Safin, Marat RUS 25
  26 Soderling, Robin SWE 26
  OUT Tursunov, Dmitry RUS 27
  28 Karlovic, Ivo CRO 28
  OUT Ancic, Mario CRO 29
  30 Schuettler, Rainer GER 30
  31 Melzer, Jurgen AUT 31
  32 Kiefer, Nicolas GER 32
  33 Mathieu, Paul-Henri FRA 33
  34 Lopez, Feliciano ESP 34
  35 Montanes, Albert ESP 35
  36 Kohlschreiber, Philipp GER 36
  37 Hanescu, Victor ROU 37
  38 Kunitsyn, Igor RUS 38
  39 Seppi, Andreas ITA 39
  40 Bolelli, Simone ITA 40
  41 Troicki, Viktor SRB 41
  42 Acasuso, Jose ARG 42
  43 Gulbis, Ernests LAT 43
  44 Benneteau, Julien FRA 44
  45 (SE)
  46 (Q)
  47 (Q)
  48 (Q)
  49 (Q)
  50 (Q)
  51 (Q)
  52 (Q)
  53 (WC)
  54 (WC)
  55 (WC)
  56 (WC)
  
  Alternates
  
  OUT Moya, Carlos ESP 45
  IN Tipsarevic, Janko SRB 46
  IN Granollers, Marcel ESP 47
  IN Chardy, Jeremy FRA 48
  IN Querrey, Sam USA 49
  IN Serra, Florent FRA 50
  OUT Santoro, Fabrice FRA 51
  IN Gicquel, Marc FRA 52
  9. Rochus, Christophe BEL 53
  10. Vassallo Arguello, Martin ARG 54
  11. Chela, Juan Ignacio ARG @54
  12. Monaco, Juan ARG 55
  13. Schwank, Eduardo ARG 56
  14. Nieminen, Jarkko FIN 57
  15. Sela, Dudi ISR 58 03:47
  
  WEB SITE: http://www.internazionalibnlditalia.it/1/default.asp?LNG=EN
  
  ITALIAN QUARTET GIVEN WILD CARDS
  
  
  The four wild cards have been attributed for the first round of the ATP Masters 1000 –Internazionali BNL d'Italia, and local fans will be more than happy with the tournament organisers' choices.
  Filippo Volandri,
  Flavio Cipolla,
  Potito Starace and
  Fabio Fognini are the four players – all Italian – who missed out on direct acceptance but who will nevertheless be in the first round, along with the top 44 players in the ATP rankings.
  
  That brings the number of Italian players to six, with Andreas Seppi and Simone Bolelli having secured their places by direct acceptance.
  
  “Together for Federico” is the exhibition/event on Sunday April 26 at the Foro Italico – the day reserved on the last day of qualifying at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia men’s event. The objective is to collect funds in favour of “Fede Lux”, the association for research against leukemia, lymphoma and melanoma [?] (combined with the AIL – Italian association against leukemia) founded by the family of Federico Luzzi (in the photo), the unfortunate tennis player from Arezzo past away last 25 October at just 28 years of age from a fatal Leukemia.
  .
  Roger Federer was one of the first to support/agree: the Swiss world no.2 will play the fourth match scheduled on Centre Court (at 4 pm). As well as Federer, Serb Novak Djokovic, and Scot Andy Murray also quickly accepted together with 6 azzurri on the timetable: Simone Bolelli, Andreas Seppi, Potito Starace, Fabio Fognini, Flavio Cipolla and Filippo Volandri. The only absentees will be the protagonists in the Barcelona final.
  
  http://www.internazionalibnlditalia.it/1/PopNews.asp?LNG=IT&IDNews=777
  
  

• From: wrap07 on Sun Apr 26 12:52:32 2009.

  http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/8019528.stm
  
  Nadal wins fifth consecutive Barcelona Open title
  
  
  
  

• From: wrap07 on Sun Apr 26 12:54:46 2009.

  Nadal on clay
  
  The four-time defending French Open champion goes into the Rome Masters on a 25-match unbeaten run with only three defeats in his last 133 matches on clay.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Tue Apr 28 12:16:40 2009.

  Clay court season should be hereafter named nadal court season.
  

  wrap07 wrote:

  Nadal on clay The four-time defending French Open champion goes into the Rome Masters on a 25-match unbeaten run with only three defeats in his last 133 matches on clay.

  
  

• From: wrap07 on Wed Apr 29 3:19:20 2009.

  He looks unbeatable on clay at present.
  
  i also think other clay courters are also trying to reach his level of play and he may be tested in future in this baseline slug fest. The amount of of toll it takes on his body may also play a role. But, his mental strength, stamina and never say die spirit is amazing.
  
  

• From: omega on Wed Apr 29 11:46:25 2009.

  wrap07 wrote:

  He looks unbeatable on clay at present. i also think other clay courters are also trying to reach his level of play and he may be tested in future in this baseline slug fest. The amount of of toll it takes on his body may also play a role. But, his mental strength, stamina and never say die spirit is amazing.

  
  
  His style is fine for clay (soft courts), whereas it is way too much toll in hardcourts. Yes he is winning mostly mentally than anything else. The amount of exchanges he has to do before winning a point . To do it consistently as he is doing
  
  

• From: omega on Wed Apr 29 15:17:48 2009.

  Murray loses opener to Monaco in Rome opener 1-6, 6-3, 7-5
  Roger wins against the big serving Iva Karlovic 6-4, 6-4
  
  http://sports.yahoo.com/ten/news;_ylt=AhcaX94xHe_ZB5K3vrBBfZQ4v7YF?slug=ap-romemasters&prov=ap&type=lgns
  
  

• From: omega on Thu Apr 30 18:26:26 2009.

  Roger, Nadal, Joker all qualify for QF in Rome.
  
  Nadal takes on Verdasco next
  
  

• From: omega on Fri May 1 17:59:58 2009.

  Its Roger vs Joker & Nadal vs Gonzu in the SF @ Rome Masters...
  Hope Roger can win Joker to avenge the loss earlier @ Miami
  
  

• From: omega on Sat May 2 8:50:39 2009.

  Federer vs Joker
  
  Federer leads 6-4 & 2-1 (up a break) ....
  
  Its a rain break as well @ Rome
  
  

• From: Sanjeevi on Sat May 2 10:36:48 2009.

  Djokovic took the second set 6-3
  
  

• From: Sanjeevi on Sat May 2 10:51:08 2009.

  seems djokovic will win
  
  

• From: omega on Sat May 2 11:02:56 2009.

  Njokovic wins 4-6, 6-3, 6-3...
  The drought continues for Roger
  
  

• From: steveaustin on Sun May 3 1:28:22 2009.

  Recent results has proved that Roger is down and completely out of sorts. I personally feel that he is mentally not prepared to play tennis than physically at the moment.
  
  

• From: Sanjeevi on Sun May 3 4:44:44 2009.

  So there are 3 nadals for roger now
  
  

• From: Sanjeevi on Sun May 3 12:49:16 2009.

  stupendous Nadal is simply unbeatable - 7-6, 6-2
  
  

• From: Sanjeevi on Sun May 3 13:25:47 2009.

  Djokovic played brilliantly at times but the main difference was in unforced errors where he made 40 to just 22 from Nadal.
  
  yes, this is the real strength of Nadal
  
  

• From: wrap07 on Mon May 4 1:17:50 2009.

  Nadal
  
  wins Fourth Rome Masters title
  
  It’s the third clay-court title in three weeks for the top-ranked Spaniard, following victories at the Monte Carlo Masters and the Barcelona Open.
  
  It was his 15th Masters Series title, one more than Roger Federer and two shy of Andre Agassi’s record of 17.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Mon May 4 11:52:24 2009.

  Yeah!!
  
  Nadal
  
  15th Master's Title at 22 should be some sort of a record
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Mon May 4 16:33:31 2009.

  http://www.atpworldtour.com/tennis/1/en/news/newsarticle_3289.asp
  
  ATP stats and information guru Greg Sharko looks at the numbers behind the stories of the ATP World Tour in his regular column, 'Shark Bites'.
  The No. 2 position in the South African Airways ATP Rankings has been occupied by Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal for every week since 25 July, 2005.
  
  But that may soon be changing with No. 3 Novak Djokovic and No. 4 Andy Murray in pursuit. In fact, Djokovic has been one match win away three times since May 2008 of becoming No. 2, only to lose the opportunity.
  
  After ATP World Tour No. 1 Rafael Nadal began his clay court campaign with a record fifth consecutive title at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters and Barcelona, he strengthened his lead at the top, the battle for No. 2 going into Roland Garros is underway.
  
  Murray, who has held No. 4 for 32 consecutive weeks since 8 Sep., 2008, is off to a career-best 29-4 start, and he's closing quickly on Djokovic. The 21-year-old Serb has ranked No. 3 every week since 9 July, 2007 except one (6 Aug., ’07).
  
  The 2008 Monte-Carlo points dropped off Monday, 27 April, and Federer lost 700 points, Djokovic 450 points and Murray 150 points. Murray narrowed the gap to 110 points going into the fourth ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament in Rome. But after an opening round loss in Rome, Murray will have to wait until May 11 as the earliest he could pass Djokovic for No. 3.
  
  Put Shark to the test! Send him your stats question
  
  
  
  Here is what the trio's point totals look like in the South African Airways 2009 ATP Rankings on Monday, 27 April:
  
  Ranking Points
  2) Roger Federer 10,060
  3) Novak Djokovic 9,160
  4) Andy Murray 9,050
  
  
  Rome was held one week later last year and the 2008 points will drop on 11 May with Djokovic losing 1,000 points for his title, Federer 250 and Murray 70. Murray's point total has been updated after his Rome loss. Here are the minimum point totals (without the '09 Rome points added on 4 May and Belgrade points on 11 May):
  
  Ranking Points
  2) Roger Federer 9,810
  3) Andy Murray 8,990
  4) Novak Djokovic 8,160
  
  The following week on 18 May, the points from 2008 Hamburg will drop with Federer losing 700 points from his runner-up effort, Djokovic 450 points from the semi-finals and Murray 150 points from the third round. Here are the minimum point totals (without the '09 Rome, Belgrade and Madrid points added):
  
  Ranking Points
  2) Roger Federer 9,110
  3) Andy Murray 8,830
  4) Novak Djokovic 7,710
  
  
  In 2009, Nadal and Murray have accumulated the most points in nearly four months of action (as of 20 Apr.) with both players leading the ATP World Tour with three titles and a 29-3 match record. Here's a look at the Top 5 players based on 2009 results only:
  
  Ranking Points
  1) Rafael Nadal 4,605
  2) Andy Murray 2,980
  3) Novak Djokovic 2,420
  4) Roger Federer 2,100
  5) Andy Roddick 2,000
  
  
  
  
  Special stats assistance by Mario Vergara and Bram Tukker.
  
  
  Roger beware!!!.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Mon May 4 16:39:15 2009.

  http://www.atpworldtour.com/tennis/1/en/news/newsarticle_3440.asp
  
  Internazionali BNL d'Italia
  Rome, ItalyMay 3, 2009
  
  Nadal Clinches Record Fourth Rome Title
  © AFP/Getty Images
  Reigning ATP World Tour Champion Rafael Nadal won a record fourth Internazionali BNL d’Italia title with a hard-fought 7-6(2), 6-2 victory over defending champion Novak Djokovic on Sunday at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 clay-court tennis tournament in Rome.
  Nadal is rewarded with 1000 South African Airways 2009 ATP Ranking points and €434,000, while defeat for World No. 3 Djokovic means that he will be surpassed in the Rankings by No. 4 Andy Murray on 11 May when the 2008 Rome points drop off.
  
  The 22-year-old Nadal has now amassed a staggering 15 ATP World Tour Masters 1000 shields - second only (since 1990) to the now-retired Andre Agassi, who holds the record with 17 titles won during his illustrious 20-year career.
  
  "[It is] one of the most important [titles] of my career," said Nadal. "[To] win in Rome is a big title. I have right now 15 Masters 1000 [wins] in my career, so that's a lot, and I'm very happy for that.
  
  "[To] win here in Rome is always unbelievable. It's a very good tournament, and I am very happy for the victory. I am going to try my best in the next tournaments. Important thing for me right now I have 15 (Masters 1000 titles). It is a lot. Sure, I would love to have more than 17."
  
  Victory marked Nadal’s 30th consecutive clay-court match win, including 16 wins in a row this season; his last loss on the surface came against Juan Carlos Ferrero in the Rome second round last year. During the span, he has won 71 of 75 sets and clinched four titles. Since 2005, Nadal has compiled an outstanding 147-4 match record on clay.
  
  Watch highlights of Sunday's action in Rome
  
  
  Watch match highlights, interviews and features from Rome
  
  The Spaniard is currently seventh on the list of clay-court title leaders with 25 tour-level titles on the crushed brick. He is already over halfway to reaching Guillermo Vilas’ Open Era record of 45 triumphs.
  
  In their second ATP World Tour final meeting in three weeks, Nadal was fast out of the blocks – breaking in the first game to stamp his authority early in the pair’s 17th meeting. However, two rare forehand errors from the Mallorcan when he served for the set at 5-4 brought Djokovic back into the set as he levelled at 5-5.
  
  Djokovic failed to capitalise on his momentum and was immediately broken again by Nadal to trail 5-6. But the defending champion refused to relinquish the set without a continued fight and his persistence was rewarded as Nadal miss-hit a forehand to lose serve for the second time.
  
  Six-time Grand Slam champion Nadal raised his level in the tie-break though and as he cut out his errors, Djokovic was unable to maintain his high-level of play and was made to pay the price as a failed drop shot trickled down his own side of the net to grant Nadal a hard-fought one-set lead.
  
  The 21-year-old Djokovic produced more of the top form that saw him defeat Roger Federer in the semi-finals to stay on an even keel with Nadal early in the second set. But the Spaniard’s continued brilliance on the clay proved too hot for Djokovic to handle ultimately and he broke through in the sixth game as Djokovic double faulted under the pressure.
  
  After two hours and three minutes of high-quality action, Nadal closed out his 13th victory over Djokovic with a second break of serve as he flicked a forehand pass up the line past the resigned Djokovic.
  
  "Obviously it's his patience in the certain points (that is key)," Djokovic said. "When I needed to maybe stay a little bit more patient and just play the right shots I made some unforced errors. It happens a couple of times already on this surface that I'm close, and in the deciding moments he just overcomes the pressure better than me. But that's why he's the best in the world in this moment. Overall, I'm really happy with the week."
  
  Nadal improved to a 22-1 event match record by clinching a record fourth Rome title. He previously won in 2005 and 2006 with epic five-set victories over Guillermo Coria and Roger Federer respectively, before winning his third successive title in the Italian capital with a straight-sets win over Fernando Gonzalez in 2007. Jaroslav Drobny (1950-52), Martin Mulligan (1963, ’65, ’67) and Thomas Muster (1990, ’95-96) are the others who have won three titles in Rome.
  
  
  Nadal improved to an ATP World Tour-best 38-3 match record on the season after capturing his fifth tour-level title from six finals. He clinched his first hard-court Grand Slam title at the Australian Open with back-to-back five-set victories over Fernando Verdasco and Roger Federer before continuing his hard-court success at ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Indian Wells (d. Murray).
  
  The left-hander then took his strong form into the European clay-court season, where he won the ATP World Tour Masters Monte-Carlo title (d. Djokovic) and Barcelona crown (d. Ferrer) for the fifth successive year.
  
  "[Regardless] the result in Madrid and Roland Garros, the clay season is unbelievable. I'm very happy for everything. Sure it's a big surprise for me to win three titles in a row in three weeks. But I never did in the past, so it's a good thing for me to know I can do."
  
  Nadal won his 36th tour-level title in his 45th final. He has 25-1 lifetime record in clay-court finals, with his lone loss coming to Roger Federer in the 2007 Hamburg final.
  
  Djokovic was contesting his third consecutive ATP World Tour Masters 1000 final after finishing runner-up to Andy Murray in the Miami final and Nadal in Monte-Carlo. The Belgrade native, who will headline the inaugural event in his hometown next week, dropped to a 12-9 mark in tour-level finals. His most recent title, and his only one of the season, came in Dubai (l. to Ferrer) in February.
  
  "I've been playing really well in the last three Masters 1000 events, and I'm really happy with the shape I'm in in this moment," said Djokovic. "Confidence is really important in this sport, in any sport. Right now I think I have good confidence. Hopefully I can continue with the successful tournament."
  
  The right-hander captured the Rome title, his last at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 level, last year with victory over Stanislas Wawrinka in the title match.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Thu May 7 15:09:46 2009.

  
  http://www.orkut.com/Main#CommMsgs.aspx?cmm=78522&tid=5332675736007694963&na=1&nst=1
  
  MUTUA MADRILENA Masters!!(10/5 to 17/5)
  Tournament Name: MUTUA MADRILENA MADRID OPEN
  Location: MADRID, SPAIN
  Dates: SUNDAY 10–SUNDAY 17 MAY, 2009
  Prize Money: €3,700,000
  
  
  
  56 DRAW (Q28)
  
  SITE: MAGIC BOX
  C/CAMINO DE PERALES S/N
  28041 MADRID
  SURFACE: CLAY
  BALL: HEAD ATP
  PRIZE MONEY: EURO/PRIZE MONEY WILL BE PAID BY THE ATP
  
  Qualifying draw: Friday, May 8, 9:00 p.m.
  Main draw: Friday, May 8, TBA
  Doubles draw: Saturday, May 9, 6:00 p.m.
  
  Entry Deadline-March 30,2009
  Seeding: May 4, 2009
  
  1 Nadal, Rafael ESP 1
  2 Federer, Roger SUI 2
  3 Djokovic, Novak SRB 3
  4 Murray, Andy GBR 4
  5 Davydenko, Nikolay RUS 5
  6 Roddick, Andy USA 6
  7 Del Potro, Juan Martin ARG 7
  8 Simon, Gilles FRA 8
  9 Verdasco, Fernando ESP 9
  OUT Monfils, Gael FRA 10
  11 Tsonga, Jo-Wilfried FRA 11
  12 Ferrer, David ESP 12
  13 Gonzalez, Fernando CHI 13
  14 Blake, James USA 14
  15 Nalbandian, David ARG 15
  16 Robredo, Tommy ESP 16
  17 Wawrinka, Stanislas SUI 17
  18 Cilic, Marin CRO 18
  19 Stepanek, Radek CZE 19
  20 Almagro, Nicolas ESP 20
  21 Andreev, Igor RUS 21
  22 Berdych, Tomas CZE 22
  23 Safin, Marat RUS 23
  24 Soderling, Robin SWE 24
  25 Gasquet, Richard FRA 25
  OUT Tursunov, Dmitry RUS 26
  27 Karlovic, Ivo CRO 27
  28 Fish, Mardy USA 28
  29 Kiefer, Nicolas GER 29
  30 Ancic, Mario CRO 30
  31 Schuettler, Rainer GER 31
  32 Melzer, Jurgen AUT 32
  33 Mathieu, Paul-Henri FRA 33
  34 Lopez, Feliciano ESP 34
  35 Montanes, Albert ESP 35
  36 Kohlschreiber, Philipp GER 36
  37 Kunitsyn, Igor RUS 37
  38 Hanescu, Victor ROU 38
  39 Seppi, Andreas ITA 39
  40 Bolelli, Simone ITA 40
  41 Troicki, Viktor SRB 41
  42 Acasuso, Jose ARG 42
  43 Gulbis, Ernests LAT 43
  44 Benneteau, Julien FRA 44
  45 Chardy, Jeremy FRA 45
  
  53 (WC) Ferrero, Juan Carlos ESP
  54 (WC) Ljubicic, Ivan CRO
  
  Alternates
  IN Tipsarevic, Janko SRB 46
  IN Querrey, Sam USA 47
  OUT Moya, Carlos ESP 48
  1. Serra, Florent FRA 49
  2. Santoro, Fabrice FRA 50
  3. Granollers, Marcel ESP 51
  4. Vassallo Arguello, Martin ARG 52
  5. Gicquel, Marc FRA 53
  
  Official Web Site: http://www.madrid-open.com/site/start
  
  

• From: leosimha on Mon May 11 3:17:48 2009.

  Quote:

  I can still rattle Nadal, says Federer 2009-05-11 00:18:06 Last Updated: 2009-05-11 00:25:14 FedererMadrid: World number two Roger Federer believes his form is improving all the time and that he still has what it takes to rattle number one Rafael Nadal and steal the Spaniard's French Open crown. The Swiss 13-times grand slam winner has yet to win a title this year and has lost in semi-finals twice to Novak Djokovic and twice to Andy Murray as well as falling to Nadal in the Australian Open final. "I'm happy how I am playing now and it's getting better every week," Federer told a news conference ahead of the Madrid Open clay event. "It's been rather a tough start to the season considering I haven't won a tournament yet but I think I am very close to turning it all around," he added. "I have struggled a little bit against my main rivals. I was always very close to beating them. So I just hope I can turn the corner and win those matches. Click here for the latest Tennis news "I feel the game's right there and that's why I'm aiming high this week." Federer, 27, said it would not necessarily be a bad thing if he went into the French Open later this month, the only grand slam to elude him, not having played Nadal on the Spaniard's favoured clay this season. Nadal has beaten his predecessor as number one nine times out of 10 on the surface stretching back to the semi-finals at Roland Garros in 2005, his only defeat coming in the final of the Hamburg Masters in 2007. "I think he's playing the tennis of his life right now," said Federer. "But still I'm a great believer I can rattle him. I was so close at the Australian Open and Wimbledon. "Every match has to be played and I know that I have the game to beat him, even if he has beaten me on clay so many times and he knows how to beat me." Federer is currently without a regular coach and said he was not considering hiring one anytime soon despite his lack of success this year. "At the moment I am very content with the situation. Things are calm in my team and I'm doing the right things and practising extremely hard to get my game back," he said. "Of course, the main goal for me is the French Open and Wimbledon, trying to regain the Wimbledon crown and trying to win the French Open for the first time. "But I'm an open person and I'm always looking for ways to improve my game. So if that's talking to somebody else or somebody else giving me advice that's not a problem but at the moment it's not happening."

  
  
  Link - http://sify.com/sports/tennis/fullstory.php?a=jflasggdefj&title=I_can_still_rattle_Nadal_says_Federer
  
  
  
  

• From: omega on Tue May 12 6:45:16 2009.

  Nadal will be tested at Madrid Masters
  
  MADRID (AP) — The Madrid Masters will provide Rafael Nadal with a difficult final warmup ahead of the French Open.
  The top-ranked Nadal, who will be going for a record fifth straight title at Roland Garros later this month, leads the new-look Madrid tournament, which has been transformed from a men's hard court event into a clay event -- the surface that the Spaniard loves best.
  
  And although he carries a 30-match unbeaten clay run, Nadal's not a big fan of the Spanish capital's altitude, which could negate his advantage in long rallies with high bounce and provide a possible upset.
  
  Madrid's 600-meter (2,000-feet) altitude provide challengers Roger Federer, Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic some hope going into the euro3.7 million ($4.95 million) event.
  
  "Yesterday and today I trained outside, and the court gave out some pretty bad bounces," Nadal said Saturday. "If you add in Madrid's altitude, it's going to be tough to play here."
  
  Nadal has won five titles from six finals this season and comes to Madrid off clay wins at Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Rome.
  
  Most impressively, the 22-year-old Mallorcan can move to within one of Andre Agassi's record Masters Series titles haul of 17, in front of a home crowd. It would also be the first time sine 1990 that a player has won all three clay court Masters titles in one season.
  
  "Now is the time for him to let someone else win a tournament," said Fernando Verdasco, who was drawn to potentially meet Nadal in the quarterfinals.
  
  Federer is defending 700 rankings points, with Djokovic and Murray poised to take over his No. 2 ranking due to the Swiss star's lost momentum since the Australian Open final loss to Nadal.
  
  Murray is playing his first event since taking over the No. 3 spot from Djokovic.
  
  
  
  
  http://www.usatoday.com/sports/tennis/2009-05-09-1223318408_x.htm
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Tue May 12 12:03:18 2009.

  I think its the first time they are playing Madrid Masters in CLAY.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri May 15 1:40:48 2009.

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVcZCJsWVzI
  
  Federer beat Blake - Mutua Madrilena 2009
  
  

• From: omega on Fri May 15 10:41:39 2009.

  Federer beats Roddick in Madrid Masters QF 7-5, 6-7, 6-1
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sat May 16 16:31:07 2009.

  Federer wins del potro and will face nadal in madrid masters final tomorrow.
  
  

• From: omega on Sat May 16 16:51:56 2009.

  ajithfederer wrote:

  Federer wins del potro and will face nadal in madrid masters final tomorrow.

  
  
  Federer has a great chance to win this one, provided he shows some will tommorrow.
  
  Nadal had a tough SF against Novak 3-6, 7-6, 7-6.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sat May 16 16:54:59 2009.

  Omega
  
  Yes and i even think so. But with Nadal around we may never know. Kudos to Nadal for winning the semi final and to djokovic for giving a tough fight.
  
  

• From: omega on Sun May 17 10:58:50 2009.

  Federer breaks Nadal to go up 5-4. Can he hold serve to win the first set?
  
  

• From: omega on Sun May 17 11:03:06 2009.

  Federer holds to take the first set 6-4. Total nets points 7/9 & 3 aces to go with it
  
  Nadal was in a similar position yesterday against Novak, but fought back brilliantly to win the next 2 sets in tiebreaker..
  
  

• From: omega on Sun May 17 11:22:42 2009.

  Roger up a break in 2nd set. Will serve 3-2..
  
  

• From: omega on Sun May 17 11:25:49 2009.

  Holds for a 4-2 lead.. Need to just hold on
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun May 17 11:26:53 2009.

  Thanks Omega for the updates
  
  GO ROGER
  
  

• From: omega on Sun May 17 11:32:41 2009.

  Rogers serves 4-3, 0-30 crowd is going beserk (all behind Rafa)
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun May 17 11:34:03 2009.

  he holds 5-3 .
  
  

• From: omega on Sun May 17 11:34:44 2009.

  Roger raises his game to hold 5-3.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun May 17 11:35:14 2009.

  Omega
  
  It's home crowd for Rafa at Madrid.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun May 17 11:39:34 2009.

  It's all upto ROGER for to serve for the match.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun May 17 11:45:52 2009.

  Roger holds 2 breakpoints and now serves for the match.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun May 17 11:46:56 2009.

  Roger wins an Masters event after 2007
  
  6-4 6-4.
  
  

• From: omega on Sun May 17 11:47:30 2009.

  Thats the first title of the year for Roger ending 81 match winning streak of Nadal (in clay). This should be a great confidence booster for Roger....
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun May 17 12:08:25 2009.

  Its nice to see roger and rafa talking jokingly with their respective cheques in hand
  
  

• From: Sanjeevi on Sun May 17 13:16:00 2009.

  Roger
  
  Nadal
  
  

• From: Sanjeevi on Sun May 17 13:20:35 2009.

  omega wrote:

  Thats the first title of the year for Roger ending 81 match winning streak of Nadal (in clay). This should be a great confidence booster for Roger....

  
  
  yeah
  
  also it was federer only who ended Nadal's winning streak previously
  
  

• From: Sanjeevi on Sun May 17 13:22:44 2009.

  Common federer you can French open
  
  

• From: Sanjeevi on Sun May 17 13:27:09 2009.

  What happened to Murray who was claimed to be next No. 1.?
  
  But surprisingly Novak Djovoic is playing very well. Even in clay he was very close to beat Nadal
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun May 17 13:45:07 2009.

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RZxB2sUsiQ
  
  2009 Madrid Open Ceremony Excerpt (1/2)
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun May 17 13:51:53 2009.

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5waQLcIlJU&feature=channel
  
  2009 Madrid Open Ceremony Excerpt (2/2)
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun May 17 22:55:49 2009.

  http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/tennis/2419158/Wimbledon-unveils-centre-court-roof
  
  Wimbledon unveils centre court roof
  By PRITHA SARKAR
  Last updated 06:40 18/05/2009
  
  Reuters
  LOVE MATCH: Married couple Steffi Graff and Andre Agassi kiss after playing an exhibition doubles match at the opening of Wimbledon's Centre Court roof.
  photo
  Reuters
  UNDER COVER: The scene at Wimbledon's Centre Court at the opening of its new retractable roof.
  Relevant offers
  
  It was blustery, cold, cloudy and drizzly over southwest London – just the kind of weather fans had prayed when Wimbledon unveiled its new multi-million-dollar retractable roof over Centre Court.
  
  Former Wimbledon champions Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf, along with Kim Clijsters and Tim Henman had been billed to take centre stage for an exhibition event but for once it was not the players who were the main attraction.
  
  At 2.39pm local time, 15,000 wide-eyed fans tilted their heads back in unison as the 1000-tonne concertina structure over Centre Court started unfurling at eight inches a second.
  
  Seven minutes and four seconds later, the most famous tennis court in the world had become an indoor arena for the first time in its 87-year existence, complete with a translucent roof and bright floodlights.
  
  "It sure has lived up to the beauty that has existed here for a long time. It's an exciting change, it's an addition for the players and the fans," Agassi said before teaming up with wife Graf to take on his European rivals in a game of mixed doubles.
  
  "It's an honour to be part of history here. Any time Wimbledon breaks with its tradition, you have to sign up."
  
  While spectators loudly cheered the moment when the north and south sections of the roof locked together to block out the grey sky and harsh elements, there were some residents who were less than thrilled.
  
  Wimbledon's new innovation had managed to trap two pigeons inside the bowl and they fluttered around in circles desperately trying to find an escape route.
  
  The plight of the birds was the last thing on the mind of the All England Club's chief executive Ian Ritchie, who was using the event as a dress rehearsal for next month's grasscourt grand slam.
  
  "Technically the closure worked fine. It was interesting to get the feedback from everybody who played on court because the humidity and the air control were one of the big issues for us. So we will analyse some of the data and see how it all performed and that was the major purpose of today," he said.
  
  Since rain could no longer play spoilsport at Wimbledon, the only fear for the crowd was that a worker crawling across the roof, casting a Spiderman shadow as he made a routine repairs, might crash through the fabric.
  
  There was no such drama and Ritchie added that it was important for a traditional tournament like Wimbledon to embrace new technology.
  
  "The two things we are trying to address here is people have a lifetime ambition to get a seat ticket here to Centre Court and I always feel terribly sorry for them when it rains and they miss it," he said.
  
  "Equally, we are in 185 countries around the world on television and people want to see live play. We are (now) able to offer live tennis and that is a huge plus point."
  
  When the venture had been announced five years ago, Henman had been among the sceptics who were concerned that a 'living surface' like grass would get slippery in an enclosed space.
  
  But organisers, who have declined to reveal the exact cost of the project, installed an air management system which removes condensation from within the bowl and stops the grass sweating.
  
  Although the roof has arrived eight years too late for Henman, whose Wimbledon hopes were famously scuppered by rain in 2001 when he was beaten by Goran Ivanisevic in a semifinal that spanned three days, the Briton gave the surface his thumbs up.
  
  "We all know what sort of day it's been outside and it's a real treat to be able to play in the conditions inside when it's so miserable, cold, windy and wet outside," the now-retired 34-year-old said after teaming up with Clijsters to beat Mr and Mrs Agassi in an entertaining contest.
  
  "It feels there is a little humidity in the air. . . but in terms of court surface, it's so dry. There is no real effect of there being a roof to the playing conditions. I've only got good things to say about it."
  
  Agassi added: "I was a little worried the conditions, with the roof being closed, would create a level of moisture and make the court more slippery for the players.
  
  "I was really impressed with what I saw, maybe I wasn't running even fast enough to slip, but the movement felt good, the court felt very solid and the sound was magnificent. The way the ball sounds here is going to add to the intensity.
  
  "When you get two people out there who can really play, and move and hit the ball, I think you are going to feel it like a titanic battle that you've not seen yet."
  
  On a day when Wimbledon heralded in a new era, there were some things that remained unchanged.
  
  Before the match, Agassi had quipped: "I was practising really hard for this event. Then they told me I was playing Tim and I stopped."
  
  The American beat Henman 6-4.
  
  -Reuters
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun May 17 22:58:08 2009.

  http://www.reuters.com/article/sportsNews/idUSTRE53K3YM20090421
  (Reuters) - Factbox on the new Center Court roof at Wimbledon which will be operational for the first time at this year's championships:
  
  DESIGN
  
  * Plans for a new roof were unveiled in 2004. The old roof was demolished in 2007, meaning there was no cover on Center Court at that year's championships.
  
  * Architectural designers Populous, formerly known as HOK Sport, were also involved with Wembley Stadium, the O2 World Arena in Berlin and the new Yankee Stadium.
  
  VITAL STATISTICS
  
  * The roof is made of a lightweight, flexible fabric called Tenara that can fold up on huge trusses.
  
  * It takes 10 minutes for the roof to close.
  
  * The roof is 16 meters (52.5 feet) above the court surface, so only the highest lobs are in danger of hitting it.
  
  * The air management system removes condensation from within the bowl and stops the grass sweating. Play can resume 30 minutes after the roof is closed.
  
  * The new roof can be used safely in wind speeds of 69 kph (42.8 miles) .
  
  * The fabric is 40 percent translucent but the roof will feature 120 lights so that play can continue after dark.
  
  * There are 10 trusses holding up the roof, each one wider than a football pitch, sliding along parallel tracks.
  
  * The new-look Center Court has 15,000 seats, an increase of 1,200, all wider than the previous ones, and padded.
  
  * No complete days have been lost to rain at Wimbledon since 2004, when two days were a washout.
  
  AFTER-DARK ACTION
  
  * Matches interrupted by bad light late in the day will be able to finish once the roof is closed and the lights switched on, meaning night tennis at Wimbledon is likely this year.
  
  * "I think we've all got a feeling of quiet confidence. If it gets to 22-22 in the final set it could go a bit pear-shaped," said All England Club chairman Tim Phillips about finishing matches under lights.
  
  (Compiled by Martyn Herman; Editing by Clare Fallon)
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Mon May 18 1:04:38 2009.

  Well, well, the real test for Nadal will start now.
  
  He is defending an amazingly high number of points in the next 3 months. And as someone mentioned above, he will not earn any points until August 15, 2009, even if he wins all the tournaments. The only chance that he might gain a few ranking points would be the ATP World Tour 500 - Hamburg Tournament, where he can gain 500 ranking pts if he plays the tourney & wins it.
  
  Now, here is a comparison of points the Top 4 will defend till the US Open
  
  Rafael Nadal
  
  Roland Garros----------------------------------------------------2000
  London Queen's Club--------------------------------------------450
  Wimbledon--------------------------------------------------------2000
  ATP Masters 1000, Canada------------------------------------1000
  Beijing Olympics---------------------------------------------------800
  ATP Masters 1000, Cincinnati-----------------------------------450
  U.S.Open------------------------------------------------------------900
  Total Points------------------------------------------------------7600
  
  
  Roger Federer
  
  Roland Garros----------------------------------------------------1400
  Halle-----------------------------------------------------------------450
  Wimbledon--------------------------------------------------------1400
  ATP Masters 1000, Canada---------------------------------------10
  Beijing Olympics---------------------------------------------------200
  ATP Masters 1000, Cincinnati-----------------------------------150
  U.S.Open----------------------------------------------------------2000
  Total Points------------------------------------------------------5610
  
  
  
  Contd.........
  
  Andy Murray
  
  Roland Garros-----------------------------------------------------150
  London Queen's Club--------------------------------------------000
  Wimbledon---------------------------------------------------------500
  ATP Masters 1000, Canada-------------------------------------450
  ATP Masters 1000, Cincinnati---------------------------------1000
  U.S.Open----------------------------------------------------------1400
  Total Points------------------------------------------------------3500
  
  
  Novak Djokovic
  
  Roland Garros-----------------------------------------------------900
  Halle----------------------------------------------------------------310
  Wimbledon----------------------------------------------------------70
  ATP Masters 1000, Canada-------------------------------------250
  Beijing Olympics--------------------------------------------------410
  ATP Masters 1000, Cincinnati----------------------------------700
  U.S.Open-----------------------------------------------------------900
  Total Points------------------------------------------------------3540
  
  
  
  While Nadal & Federer are defending a lot of points, Murray & Djokovic are defending almost half the amount of points that Nadal is defending!! So i guess the end of this season is going to be very exciting!!
  
  http://www.orkut.com/Main#CommMsgs.aspx?cmm=78522&tid=5287557100247350555&na=2&nst=324
  
  

• From: wrap07 on Mon May 18 3:49:33 2009.

  Federer
  
  Fed will take lot of confidenec into French.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Tue May 19 11:43:14 2009.

  http://www.orkut.com/Main#CommMsgs.aspx?cmm=78522&tid=5337441015107508851&start=1
  
  French Open 2009-Updates And Comments
  Tournament Name: ROLAND GARROS 2009
  
  Dates: Sunday 24 May 2009 to Sunday 7 June 2009
  
  CHAMPIONNATS INTERNATIONAUX DE FRANCE
  Location: Paris,France
  
  Prize Money: €7,322,320
  Prize Money: Euro Paid On-Site
  
  128 DRAW
  
  Site: Stade ROLAND GARROS
  2 AVENUE GORDON BENNETT
  75016 PARIS
  
  Surface: Red Clay
  Ball: Roland Garros,French Open
  
  Qualifying draw: Monday, May 18, 6:00 p.m.
  Main draw: Friday, May 22, 11:30 a.m.
  Men's doubles draw: TBA (Entry deadline: Friday, May 15, Noon)
  Mixed doubles draw: Monday, May 25, 2:00 p.m.
  
  ATP Ranking Points:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
  W: 2000
  F: 1200
  SF: 720
  QF: 360
  R16: 180
  R32: 90
  R64: 45
  R128: 10 (WC: 0)
  Q: +25
  Q32: 14
  Q64: 8
  Q128: 0
  
  Entry deadline: April 13, 2009
  Seeding: May 18, 2009
  
  1 Nadal, Rafael ESP 1
  2 Federer, Roger SUI 2
  3 Murray, Andy GBR 4
  4 Djokovic, Novak SRB 3
  
  5 Del Potro, Juan Martin ARG 5
  6 Roddick, Andy USA 6
  7 Simon, Gilles FRA 7
  8 Verdasco, Fernando ESP 8
  9 Davydenko, Nikolay RUS 9
  10 Monfils, Gael FRA 10
  11 Tsonga, Jo-Wilfried FRA 11
  12 Ferrer, David ESP 12
  13 Gonzalez, Fernando CHI 13
  14 Robredo, Tommy ESP 14
  OUT Nalbandian, David ARG 15
  16 Wawrinka, Stanislas SUI 16
  17 Blake, James USA 17
  18 Cilic, Marin CRO 18
  19 Stepanek, Radek CZE 19
  20 Almagro, Nicolas ESP 20
  21 Safin, Marat RUS 21
  22 Andreev, Igor RUS 22
  OUT Gasquet, Richard FRA 23
  24 Soderling, Robin SWE 24
  25 Berdych, Tomas CZE 25
  
  26 Karlovic, Ivo CRO 26
  27 Tursunov, Dmitry RUS 27
  28 Fish, Mardy USA 28
  29 Schuettler, Rainer GER 29
  30 Kiefer, Nicolas GER 30
  31 Melzer, Jurgen AUT 31
  32 Lopez, Feliciano ESP 32
  33 Ancic, Mario CRO 33
  34 Kohlschreiber, Philipp GER 34
  35 Hanescu, Victor ROU 35
  36 Montanes, Albert ESP 36
  37 Kunitsyn, Igor RUS 37
  38 Troicki, Viktor SRB 38
  39 Mathieu, Paul-Henri FRA 39
  40 Seppi, Andreas ITA 40
  41 Bolelli, Simone ITA 41
  42 Gulbis, Ernests LAT 42
  43 Chardy, Jeremy FRA 43
  44 Serra, Florent FRA 44
  45 Querrey, Sam USA 45
  46 Acasuso, Jose ARG 46
  47 Benneteau, Julien FRA 47
  48 Gicquel, Marc FRA 48
  49 Vassallo Arguello, Martin ARG 49
  OUT Nieminen, Jarkko FIN 50
  OUT Moya, Carlos ESP 51
  
  121 (WC) Gaudio, Gaston ARG
  122 (WC) Isner, John USA (USTA)
  123 (WC) Mannarino, Adrian FRA
  124 (WC) Ouanna, Josselin FRA
  125 (WC) Recouderc, Laurent FRA
  126 (WC) Rufin, Guillaume FRA
  127 (WC) Sidorenko, Alexandre FRA
  128 (WC) Tomic, Bernard AUS (TA)
  
  
  
  
  
  Alternates
  IN Darcis, Steve BEL 102
  IN Koellerer, Daniel AUT 103
  IN Kim, Kevin USA 104
  IN Golubev, Andrey KAZ 105
  
  Web Site: http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/index.html
  
  The most awaited tournament by all tennis fans after Wimbledon this year. Let's go .
  
  

• From: ThalaNass on Tue May 19 11:49:01 2009.

  Things will remain the same.. Rafa will win it That is FACT.. But if Fed can pull it, it will be a massive achievement for him!! He has to be at his maximum best.. All the best to him..
  
  Go Rafa GO!!
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Tue May 19 12:28:44 2009.

  http://www.atpworldtour.com/tennis/3/en/rankings/default.asp
  
  
  14960 PTS.
  Rafael Nadal (ESP)
  Rankings Points Breakdown
  Rankings History
  Clay-court streak ended by Federer in Madrid final.
  
  
  10470 PTS.
  Roger Federer (SUI)
  Rankings Points Breakdown
  Rankings History
  Captured first title of 2009 in Madrid.
  
  
  9020 PTS.
  Andy Murray (GBR)
  Rankings Points Breakdown
  Rankings History
  Defending champion ousted in Madrid quarter-finals.
  
  
  8830 PTS.
  Novak Djokovic (SRB)
  Rankings Points Breakdown
  Rankings History
  
  For everybody's information here, Murray is now world number 3 and he has surpassed djokovic. I am not entirely sure but I think again Djokovic may come to number three in the coming months due to the points system.
  
  Until then congrats for murray at 3 .
  
  

• From: leosimha on Wed May 20 7:41:40 2009.

  ThalaNass wrote:

  Things will remain the same.. Rafa will win it That is FACT.. But if Fed can pull it, it will be a massive achievement for him!! He has to be at his maximum best.. All the best to him.. Go Rafa GO!!

  
  
  yes, vamos rafa...
  
  rafa losing the madrid could be attributed to his lengthy 4 hour semi-final against jokovic but in the final he could have easily beaten feddy but for those skilled play from feddy....
  
  french open will be a delight as rafa will get good amount of rest before competing....
  
  

• From: leosimha on Wed May 20 7:43:05 2009.

  how come rafa lost points....rafa wasn't a winner of madrid open last year but still he has lost inspite of coming to the finals....
  
  

• From: Raikkonen on Mon May 25 3:56:20 2009.

  Like Brother, Like Sister
  
  
  
  I'm predicting both of them to land the male/female roland garros..
  
  atleast 1 has a great chance..
  
  Time for Dinara to step out of Marat's shadows (Marat isn't even the best player in his family.. )
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Wed May 27 10:28:59 2009.

  http://bleacherreport.com/articles/180538-the-10-greatest-clay-court-players-of-the-open-era#page/11
  
  No one can know how this year’s Roland Garros will turn out; what we do know is that Rafael Nadal will be going for his fifth RG title, with a win placing him only one shy of Bjorn Borg's total.
  
  
  Another thing we know is that the RG is a two-week test of endurance and is widely considered the toughest major to win in terms of mental and physical fortitude.
  
  
  Many of the game’s all-time greats, from Jimmy Connors to John McEnroe to Pete Sampras, fell short there, while those with thinner résumés have prospered.
  
  
  But while many RG champions have traits that are unique to the clay, you’ll soon see that the best clay court players have known considerable crossover success.
  
  
  Therefore, being a truly great clay court player means being a great player anywhere.
  
  
  Here we will examine the 10 men and women of the modern era who have known the most success on the surface, find out what made them great, and in the process learn where Nadal ranks in terms of clay court history.
  
  
  And our list starts with...
  
  10. Monica Seles: Intensity Slide 2 of 13
  Key Stats: Roland Garros champion 1990-92; RG finalist 1998; 14 clay court titles.
  
  
  Seles won her first Roland Garros in 1990 at age 16, and then defended her title in 1991, a year in which she won all three majors she played in.
  
  
  At the time, it appeared that her bludgeoning two-handed groundstrokes and her unshakable focus would one day demolish all the standards that came before her.
  
  
  But her shocking stabbing in 1993 kept her away from the Roland Garros title, where she was three-time defending champion, and left physical and mental wounds she wouldn't recover from for more than two years.
  
  
  When she returned to the game, two of her best seasons were gone forever, and the intensity that made her great did not come back with her.
  
  
  So impressive were her early results, however, that the time she lost doesn't keep her off this list.
  
  9. Mats Wilander: AdaptationSlide 3 of 13
  Key Stats: Roland Garros champion 1982, 1985, 1988; RG finalist 1983, 1987; 19 clay court titles.
  
  
  Wilander's patience, consistency, and speed made him a natural for the dirt, as he won his first RG at age 17 in 1982.
  
  
  The Swede didn't rely on talent alone, though, as he made continued efforts to improve his serve and volleys. By 1988, all his effort paid off, helping him win three of the year's four majors and post a thoroughly dominant RG victory.
  
  
  In that year's final, Wilander missed all of one first serve against French native son Henri Leconte and lost only eight games.
  
  
  He was finished winning majors by the time he was 24, but there seems little doubt that by then he'd gotten all the mileage out of his talent that he could have.
  
  8. Arantxa Sánchez Vicario: HeartSlide 4 of 13
  Key Stats: Roland Garros champion 1989, 1994, 1998; RG runner-up 1991, 1995-1996; 18 clay court titles.
  
  
  If talent were everything, Sánchez Vicario might rank at the base of this list. If scrappiness were everything, she'd be awfully close to the summit.
  
  
  She was, in the words of Bud Collins, "unceasing in determined pursuit of tennis balls, none seeming too distant to be retrieved in some manner and returned again and again to demoralize opponents."
  
  
  Though much less powerful than Steffi Graf or Monica Seles, she beat the former to win her first RG in 1989 (at age 17) and the latter to win her final major in '98 (in a three-set final where she actually won fewer games AND points than Seles).
  
  
  Though this tendency also netted her a US Open title in '94, six major doubles titles, and five Fed Cup wins for Spain, her best-known achievements were in singles in Paris, where the slow clay helped reward her doggedness most.
  
  
  7. Ivan Lendl: DeterminationSlide 5 of 13
  Key Stats: Roland Garros champion 1984, 1986-1987; RG runner-up 1981, 1985; 28 clay court titles.
  
  
  By the middle of the '80s, Lendl was methodically breaking down opponents with his huge forehand and seemingly endless stamina. It seems prudent, therefore, to remember how hard he had to work to get to that point.
  
  
  He lost the first three majors he played in, including a five-set final against Borg at the '81 RG, and his breakthrough came after falling behind two sets to none against John McEnroe in the '84 final.
  
  
  Not long after battling back to win that match, he took over the game, adding two more RG titles, spending 270 weeks at No. 1, and, perhaps most importantly, forever changing notions of what a forehand could do.
  
  
  His hours of strength and cardiovascular training contributed to his image as a "machine," but such fitness is a prerequisite in today's game, nowhere more so than on clay.
  
  6. Margaret Court: VersatilitySlide 6 of 13
  Key Stats: French championships winner, 1962, 1964 (as an amateur); Roland Garros champion 1969, 1970, 1973 (as a professional).
  
  
  Court was not a great clay court player; she was a great player, full stop, winning 24 major titles, 11 of them after the Open Era. The fact that she won in Australia 11 times indicates that the dirt was not her favorite surface, but rather that her five wins in Paris were the product of her overall greatness.
  
  
  After the Open Era began and the competition grew keener, however, it would appear that her affinity for the clay grew, as three of her five French titles came as a pro.
  
  
  She ended her career with 24 major victories, making her the most decorated competitor in men's or women's tennis history. Therefore, while love for clay helps, overall greatness as a tennis player can go a long way in mastering the dirt.
  
  
  Please note that for this list, her two French wins as an amateur break the tie between her and the others who won three RG titles professionally, but place her no higher.
  
  
  The above photo belongs to BBC News.
  
  
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Wed May 27 10:31:04 2009.

  Cont'd: The 10 Greatest Clay Court Players of the Open Era
  
  5. Justine Henin: EfficiencySlide 7 of 13
  Key Stats: Roland Garros champion 2003, 2005-07; 12 clay court titles.
  
  
  Justine Henin's results not only made her the first Belgian to win a major; for a time they seemed to transcend gender. John McEnroe called her backhand the best one-hander on either the WTA or ATP tours, and Billie Jean King called her "pound for pound...the best tennis player of her generation."
  
  
  She stood only 5'5", 130 pounds, but the Belgian didn't waste an inch or ounce, using her phenomenal racket-head speed to serve in the 120 mph range and overpower women taller and heavier than herself.
  
  
  Just as she maximized the use of her physique, she was determined to make the most of the opportunities given her. This was best revealed in her 4-for-4 record in Roland Garros finals, each of which she won without dropping a set.
  
  
  Then, when her desire waned in 2008, she left tennis at age 25, rather than step on court with anything less than her all.
  
  4. Rafael Nadal: MaturitySlide 8 of 13Key Stats: Roland Garros champion, 2005-08; 25 clay court titles; 81-match win streak on clay from 2005-07.
  
  
  The things we noticed about Nadal when he won his maiden slam were almost all physical.
  
  
  There was the tremendous amount of terrain he was capable of covering.
  
  
  Then there was the animated style of celebration, punctuating each passing shot winner with an uppercut to the chin of an invisible opponent, adding a knee-jump if he hit it to save a break point.
  
  
  And of course, there was the incredible action he got on his forehand, aided by the arms that were large for a tennis pro in 2005 and have seemingly gotten bigger with each year.
  
  
  It's safe to say that almost no other player has emerged so physically mature at such a tender age; the closest that comes to mind is Boris Becker, whose tree trunk-sized legs gave him the foundation needed to power to a Wimbledon title at age 17.
  
  
  But mentally Nadal also seems more fully developed than his peers, and this has been evident ever since he stared down world No. 1 Roger Federer in the 2005 RG semis.
  
  
  It's been clear in the way he overcame the pressure to defend his title the next year, the way he's ratcheted up his play at every RG since, and in all the phenomenal five-set matches he's won over the past four years.
  
  
  Just shy of his 23rd birthday, the maturity he seems born with has propelled him to a 28-0 record on Paris clay and into the upper half of the top 10 clay courters of all time.
  
  
  He's got some work to do before he can climb any higher, but to bet against him would be, well, immature.
  
  3. Steffi Graf: ProfessionalismSlide 9 of 13
  Key Stats: Roland Garros champion 1987-88, 1993, 1995-96, 1999; RG finalist 1989-90, 1992; 32 clay court titles.
  
  
  In order to succeed as a professional, one must discover their tennis talent at a young age. Sadly, all too many young talents use the discovery of such gifts as an excuse to never grow up.
  
  
  Graf, however, seemed to realize from childhood that pounding a forehand harder than any other woman wasn't just her gift; it was her job.
  
  
  A little younger than 18, she used her dominant wing to win her first RG, thus commanding the respect of older greats like Martina Navratilova. Soon she was at the top of her line of work, regularly beating back those of similar age who weren't as dedicated to their profession, or just weren't as good at it.
  
  
  Twelve years after her first win and nearing an elderly state among tennis pros, her weapons were still sharp and sense of professionalism still acute enough to snatch one more RG, her last major title, from a young champion named Martina Hingis.
  
  
  It was her sixth title in Paris, amounting to a little more than a fourth of her 22 majors.
  
  
  To win even one RG requires great talent (think Iva Majoli) or great commitment (think Thomas Muster). To win six over a 12-year period, against three generations of players, requires a considerable amount of both.
  
  
  Roland Garros history, and tennis history in general, are richer for that talent having been in the hands of a professional like Steffi Graf.
  
  2. Bjorn Borg: CoolSlide 10 of 13
  Key Stats: Roland Garros champion 1974-75, 1978-81; retired with a 28-match win streak at Roland Garros; 28 clay court titles.
  
  
  Like Graf, Borg won the last RG he ever played at, and six overall. Unlike her, he also won the RGs from the three previous years.
  
  
  Furthermore, while her final major title showed how committed she was to overcoming obstacles such as age and injury, Borg's victories proved him to be the obstacle, and one no other man could overcome.
  
  
  From the start of the French championships to the last point of the final, Borg cranked his heavy groundstrokes and ran down his opponents' shots; never tiring, never seeming to err, and never betraying frustration.
  
  
  Much like Wilander and Nadal would later, he improved his serve and volleys to excel on other surfaces, but against fellow (but lesser) baseliners on clay, this was merely window dressing.
  
  
  Some players couldn't even win games against the Ice Borg in Paris. An elite few could win sets, but his last 28 opponents at Roland Garros failed to beat him, or apparently to tire him in the slightest.
  
  
  Perhaps this helps explain why he left the game so young; at age 26 he'd finally failed in the challenge of holding onto the Wimbledon crown, and the championship in New York he so coveted continued to frustrate him.
  
  
  Meanwhile, his closest challenger in Paris was a young Lendl, who'd pushed him to five sets but lost the last 6-1. Perhaps seeing nothing new on his horizon, the Swede walked away at an age when most tennis pros are peaking.
  
  
  If his number of RG victories is eventually surpassed by Nadal, he'll be as much to blame as the Spaniard.
  
  1. Chris Evert: All of the AboveSlide 11 of 13
  Key Stats: Roland Garros champion 1974-75, 1979-80, 1983, 1985-86; US Open (on clay) champion 1975-77; RG runner-up 1973, 1984; 125-match clay court win streak from 1973-79.
  
  
  If Nadal wins this year's RG and the next, he can perhaps be said to have overtaken both Borg and Graf on this list; like them, he'll have six RG titles, but his will have come in sequence and with no losses in between.
  
  
  His odds of overtaking Evert as the greatest of either gender, however, remain long.
  
  
  An analogy: In 1983 Tony Dorsett of the Dallas Cowboys ran for a 99-yard touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings. Not only is this the longest run possible for an NFL running back, but it was even more special for the fact that the Cowboys had mistakenly fielded only 10 men for that play, rather than the usual 11.
  
  
  As Dorsett's run took place in conditions unlikely to be duplicated, his record will probably stand for all of football history.
  
  
  Likewise, Evert's domination of the clay court surface is unlikely to be surpassed because the conditions won't allow it; she had the advantage of playing when the US Open was also on clay.
  
  
  Therefore, while Nadal's current record of four majors on the surface is auspicious, he still has less than half as many as Miss Chrissie.
  
  
  Even without the US Open's factoring into the equation, Evert would still hold a death grip on the status of best clay-courter ever. Nadal's 81-match win streak on clay is far and away the greatest among men, but an entire third shorter than the 125-match streak Evert amassed in the '70s.
  
  
  Her trendsetting double-fisted backhand and power baseline game set the blueprint for players like Seles and Sanchez-Vicario, and her cool demeanor in tense matches lead to her being nicknamed "Ice Maiden."
  
  
  Oh, and by the way, her seven RG titles came despite not playing there from 1976-78. Oh, and after her 125-match streak was broken, she promptly went on a 72-match streak on clay that lasted until 1981.
  
  
  Rafa, there'd be no shame in finishing second on this list.
  
  Honorable MentionsSlide 12 of 13
  Only just missing out on this list were a number of very good male players, including three-time champ Gustavo Kuerten (pictured) and 1977 RG and USO winner Guillermo Vilas, plus two-time RG champs Jim Courier, Sergi Bruguera, and Jan Kodes.
  
  
  On the women's side, the only multi-time French champion of the Open Era not on this list is Martina Navratilova, who won two RGs in the 1980s.
  
  

• From: Rocky89 on Thu May 28 5:08:38 2009.

  Raikkonen wrote:

  Like Brother, Like Sister I'm predicting both of them to land the male/female roland garros.. atleast 1 has a great chance.. Time for Dinara to step out of Marat's shadows (Marat isn't even the best player in his family.. )

  
  
  Love Safina
  
  

• From: omega on Thu May 28 9:31:09 2009.

  Roger struggling against Jose Acasuva in FO 2nd round match.
  Trailing by 7-6, 5-7 & 1-4......
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Thu May 28 9:44:28 2009.

  He now leads 6-5 by double breaks.
  
  

• From: omega on Thu May 28 10:07:44 2009.

  Federer takes 3rd set (also in a tiebreak). Now leads 7-6, 5-7, 7-6
  
  

• From: omega on Thu May 28 10:25:25 2009.

  Federer leading in 4th set 5-1....
  
  

• From: omega on Thu May 28 10:34:31 2009.

  Roger wins 7-6, 5-7, 7-6, 6-2 (Real close first 3 sets )
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Thu May 28 12:25:59 2009.

  Rafael Nadal plays hewitt in third round.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri May 29 9:56:37 2009.

  Nadal leading 4-1 over hewitt in first set.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri May 29 10:50:40 2009.

  Rafa leading 6-1 6-3 over hewitt.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri May 29 10:51:42 2009.

  Giles simon trailing by 2 sets to hanescu
  
  6-4 6-4 2-0.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri May 29 13:48:42 2009.

  There is a possibility of Nadal facing Verdasco in 4th round of the French Open.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri May 29 13:56:49 2009.

  I am sorry that was for the Q/F.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sat May 30 12:04:41 2009.

  Djokovic trailing against Kohlschreiber by 2 sets to love.
  
  
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sat May 30 13:28:53 2009.

  Djokovic loses in straight sets of 6-4. His ranking points may get affected badly.
  
  

• From: omega on Sat May 30 15:18:38 2009.

  Roger wins his 3rd round match against Paul Mathieu 4-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-4. Meets Tommy Hass in round of 16.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sat May 30 15:24:06 2009.

  Omega
  
  Djoker lost to a german player today. I watched from set 2 he was completely out of sorts.
  
  

• From: Sanjeevi on Sun May 31 8:53:32 2009.

  looks like Nadal is struggling in first set 2-5 against soderling whose shots are powerful like Nadal
  
  

• From: Sanjeevi on Sun May 31 8:59:51 2009.

  Soderling took first set 6-2
  
  The first set lost for Nadal in 2 French Open session (this and last)
  
  

• From: Sanjeevi on Sun May 31 10:59:48 2009.

  Amzing Soderlings will end Nadal's winning streak!?
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun May 31 11:01:40 2009.

  Nadal has never played an 5th set in RG``
  
  

• From: Sanjeevi on Sun May 31 11:05:48 2009.

  Oruvelai ippavum antha chance kidaikkathunu ninaikkuren
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun May 31 11:50:54 2009.

  Tie break soderling leads 5-1
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun May 31 11:54:40 2009.

  Nadal lost to soderling in 4th round of french open
  
  

• From: Rocky89 on Sun May 31 11:58:08 2009.

  This is ridiculous I say
  
  

• From: Rocky89 on Sun May 31 11:59:23 2009.

  Feddy,
  
  Did u watch the match?? Was Soderling too good or Nadal didnt played well??
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun May 31 12:01:37 2009.

  Round of 16 loss means, Nadal will lose (2000- 180), 1820 points after this draw. This will be a huge dent for his world number one ranking!!.
  

  ajithfederer wrote:

  ATP Ranking Points::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: W: 2000 F: 1200 SF: 720 QF: 360 R16: 180 R32: 90 R64: 45 R128: 10 (WC: 0) Q: +25 Q32: 14 Q64: 8 Q128: 0

  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun May 31 12:03:08 2009.

  Nope Nass i didn't watch the match. I was trying gravely for online links and on tv damm nobody was showing the maych so i had to settle for online scores. Looks like Robon soderling had played a match of his life.
  

  Rocky89 wrote:

  Feddy, Did u watch the match?? Was Soderling too good or Nadal didnt played well??

  
  

• From: Sanjeevi on Sun May 31 12:03:32 2009.

  Unbelievable
  
  Soldering
  
  he is too good today
  
  Nadal's first defeat in French Open history
  
  

• From: Rocky89 on Sun May 31 12:06:00 2009.

  ajithfederer wrote:

  Nope Nass i didn't watch the match. I was trying gravely for online links and on tv damm nobody was showing the maych so i had to settle for online scores. Looks like Robon soderling had played a match of his life. Rocky89 wrote: Feddy, Did u watch the match?? Was Soderling too good or Nadal didnt played well??

  
  
  Thanks Feddy!! Hmmm damn!!
  
  Atleast Federer should win this!! Or even Andy Murray
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun May 31 12:11:52 2009.

  On the womens side another reigning champion ana ivanovic loses to azarenka.
  
  

• From: Sanjeevi on Sun May 31 12:12:27 2009.

  Almost Soldering played a Nadal, I mean, Soldering rarely did mistakes and he is big server with 229 mph speed but not acer like Roger or Ivanisevic
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun May 31 12:14:07 2009.

  Soderling was defeated by Nadal 6-0 6-1 in Rome this year.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun May 31 12:14:38 2009.

  I think its km/h. 229 mph should be a machine
  

  Sanjeevi wrote:

  Almost Soldering played a Nadal, I mean, Soldering rarely did mistakes and he is big server with 229 mph speed but not acer like Roger or Ivanisevic

  
  

• From: Sanjeevi on Sun May 31 12:20:21 2009.

  
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun May 31 12:28:00 2009.

  Yesterday Djokovic, Today Nadal and Tomorrow???
  
  I shudder to think!!!
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun May 31 14:01:14 2009.

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeTgWsGImiw
  
  Soderling beat Nadal Highlights 2009
  
  
  
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun May 31 14:20:39 2009.

  Soderling will face Davydenko and Murray will face Gonzales for the Q/F's.
  
  The other 4th round matches are as below:
  Juan Martin Del Potro ARG (5)
  v
  Jo-Wilfried Tsonga FRA (9)
  
  Tommy Robredo ESP (16)
  v
  Philipp Kohlschreiber GER (29)
  
  Andy Roddick USA (6)
  v
  Gael Monfils FRA (11)
  
  Tommy Haas GER
  v
  Roger Federer SUI (2)
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun May 31 14:54:38 2009.

  Interesting trivia
  
  In 2001, Federer ended Pete Sampras's 31-match winning streak at Wimbledon in the fourth round of the tournament
  
  In 2009, Robin soderling ended Rafa Nadal's 31 match winning streak at French Open in the fourth round of the tournament.
  
  

• From: aanaa on Sun May 31 19:12:39 2009.

  ajithfederer wrote:

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeTgWsGImiw Soderling beat Nadal Highlights 2009

  
  
  
  
  lost tennis in our 110W satellite --
  
  

• From: aanaa on Sun May 31 19:15:27 2009.

  ajithfederer wrote:

  Interesting trivia In 2001, Federer ended Pete Sampras's 31-match winning streak at Wimbledon in the fourth round of the tournament In 2009, Robin soderling ended Rafa Nadal's 31 match winning streak at French Open in the fourth round of the tournament.

  
  
  so........
  let's c
  
  

• From: crajkumar_be on Mon Jun 1 2:30:55 2009.

  Feddy/DH,
  It should be noted that anotheriplplayer kind of "predicted" that Nadal will not retain the title this year!
  
  

• From: Raikkonen on Mon Jun 1 2:39:02 2009.

  I guess Feddy will finally have his moment rolland garros this year..
  
  Safina is laughing all the way to the final.. she has been ruthless.
  
  

• From: wrap07 on Mon Jun 1 5:28:58 2009.

  Soderling was playing awesome.
  It would have been new experience for nadal on clay
  After his play ag hewit which was a thrashing, no one would have expected this. But the swede was brilliant. groundstrokes.
  I thought Verdasco would match nadal.
  Feddy has a real chance to complete grandslam.
  
  

• From: wrap07 on Mon Jun 1 5:41:19 2009.

  & somehow nadal looked out of sorts too. As he admitted in post match, he was not in his elements and in longer rallies, swede got the better of him which is rare for nadal.
  
  Borg's record at french also stays as of now
  
  

• From: omega on Mon Jun 1 7:23:16 2009.

  Did watch the Nadal vs Soldering match (NBC had delayed broadcast of it later yesterday). Soldering played a dream match. He almost smoked Nadal with his powerful flat strokes (the only way to beat Nadal). The amazing thing was his consistency thru out the match. He almost dominated the entire course of the match.
  
  Nadal's press conference after losing the match
  
  Davydenko looked real good on the other match where he won Verdasco in straight sets.
  
  It will be a very interesting second week @ the FO. Tournament is wide open.
  
  Federer loses the first set against Haas in the first set.....
  
  

• From: omega on Mon Jun 1 7:33:02 2009.

  Roger up a break in the 2nd set. Will serve 3-2
  
  

• From: omega on Mon Jun 1 7:58:12 2009.

  Haas breaks Roger twice to take the 2nd set 7-5...
  Roger trailing by 2 sets. Its going to be a miracle to win it now...
  Are we in for another major surprise??
  
  Roger is looking real lethargic today
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Mon Jun 1 8:24:07 2009.

  Roger is trailing by 2 sets. He is serving to hold at 4-3/.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Mon Jun 1 8:29:32 2009.

  Roger is screaming in the match
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Mon Jun 1 8:45:08 2009.

  Roger takes the third set and he breaks hass in the opening game.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Mon Jun 1 8:51:08 2009.

  Roger breaks again in 4th set.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Mon Jun 1 9:01:36 2009.

  Bagel for federer
  
  But still one more set to be played and we have to see.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Mon Jun 1 9:23:19 2009.

  Roger breaks in 5th set.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Mon Jun 1 9:37:09 2009.

  Roger wins
  
  An upset averted
  
  

• From: Dinesh84 on Mon Jun 1 9:40:40 2009.

  Roger
  
  

• From: omega on Mon Jun 1 9:54:20 2009.

  Great win for Roger . Watched till he took an early lead in the 4th set (a bagel for Haas in the 4th ). Haas was serving really great the first 2 sets (Roger was not really in a mood to return I guess) before everything started falling apart.
  
  Thougt for a while as if Roger's motivation suffered due to Nadal's exit (reverse effect ?), but surely this should be his greatest chance to complete his long time goal. Not going to be easy though. Actually every top 10 player remaining sees an oppurtunity right now.
  
  

• From: Nerd on Mon Jun 1 10:16:50 2009.

  Nadal - vudra vudra wimbilton-la pAthukkalaam
  
  

• From: Rocky89 on Mon Jun 1 10:31:04 2009.

  Nerd wrote:

  Nadal - vudra vudra wimbilton-la pAthukkalaam

  
  
  
  
  Congrats Federer!!
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Mon Jun 1 11:08:53 2009.

  Tommy Robredo wins against Philip Kohlschreiber.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Mon Jun 1 11:44:55 2009.

  Yes of course
  
  

  omega wrote:

  Nadal's press conference after losing the match

  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Mon Jun 1 12:09:40 2009.

  Many still jokingly say that Borg's curse works.
  
  Last year Roger was not able to break borg's record by winning his 6th consecutive wimbly(Borg did 5 wimbly's consecly)
  
  Now nadal couldn't win his 5th straight FO, Again Borg had won 4 consec Fo's.
  

  wrap07 wrote:

  & somehow nadal looked out of sorts too. As he admitted in post match, he was not in his elements and in longer rallies, swede got the better of him which is rare for nadal. Borg's record at french also stays as of now

  
  

• From: omega on Tue Jun 2 9:57:45 2009.

  As expected Roddick loses to Monfills (son of the soil) in straight sets.
  
  In the first mens QF Soldering continued his hammering against Davydenko winning it straight 6-1, 6-3 & 6-1. This is looking extremely dangerous.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Tue Jun 2 10:20:11 2009.

  Dinara safina comes over a tough opponent azarenka
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Tue Jun 2 10:34:23 2009.

  Soderling , Pinraan ya pinraan. All other top seeds watch out.
  
  Murray, gonzales has started.
  
  

• From: Plum on Tue Jun 2 10:34:29 2009.

  AF, indha varudamavadhu Federer "aachiyai" pudippara?
  
  

• From: omega on Tue Jun 2 10:37:27 2009.

  Plum wrote:

  AF, indha varudamavadhu Federer "aachiyai" pudippara?

  
  
  Federer namburaaro illayo, naan nichayam namburen. Paakkalaam mannin mainthanoda ( Monfills) epdi aadraarunnu... Last year he beat him in semis I think. Will be a good match.
  
  Epdi paarthaalum intha muradan muthuva yaaru jeipaangannu theriyala (soldering)
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Tue Jun 2 10:37:53 2009.

  Enkittae avaru onnum sollaleenga
  
  This is his best chance in all the 4 years. So lets wait and see. Aana vera valiae illai aachiyae pudichae aaganum. If that "Number 14" mental bloc is over I think he will start to play tennis more freely.
  

  Plum wrote:

  AF, indha varudamavadhu Federer "aachiyai" pudippara?

  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Tue Jun 2 10:42:18 2009.

  Monfils match appo remba enthu va irundhaapadi. He was swirling his hands and gesturing the home crowd a lot.
  

  omega wrote:

  Plum wrote: AF, indha varudamavadhu Federer "aachiyai" pudippara? Federer namburaaro illayo, naan nichayam namburen. Paakkalaam mannin mainthanoda ( Monfills) epdi aadraarunnu... Last year he beat him in semis I think. Will be a good match. Epdi paarthaalum intha muradan muthuva yaaru jeipaangannu theriyala (soldering)

  
  

• From: omega on Tue Jun 2 10:48:51 2009.

  ajithfederer wrote:

  Monfils match appo remba enthu va irundhaapadi. He was swirling his hands and gesturing the home crowd a lot. omega wrote: Plum wrote: AF, indha varudamavadhu Federer "aachiyai" pudippara? Federer namburaaro illayo, naan nichayam namburen. Paakkalaam mannin mainthanoda ( Monfills) epdi aadraarunnu... Last year he beat him in semis I think. Will be a good match. Epdi paarthaalum intha muradan muthuva yaaru jeipaangannu theriyala (soldering)

  
  
  Paarthen paarthen. Anga Roddick Chair umprieta ore azhugaachi, kannu theriyalannu.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Tue Jun 2 10:52:50 2009.

  Yes i saw that too .
  
  Roddick missed a great chance to qualify for the Q/F's.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Tue Jun 2 11:10:36 2009.

  Gonzales takes the first set 6-3.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Tue Jun 2 11:11:55 2009.

  Sharapova on the verge of being eliminated by a double bagel.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Tue Jun 2 11:16:16 2009.

  Sharapova escapes a second bagel
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Tue Jun 2 11:37:31 2009.

  Gonzales kavuthufied in second set; Trailing 5-2 to Murray.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Tue Jun 2 12:06:20 2009.

  Orae kolappama irukku indha piranju open. Gonzo is on his way to bagel (6-0) Murray
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Tue Jun 2 12:46:36 2009.

  Gonzales wins . So soderling will play Gonzales on Thursday(??).
  
  

• From: Dinesh84 on Tue Jun 2 13:12:23 2009.

  Gonzales
  
  

• From: omega on Tue Jun 2 13:29:25 2009.

  ajithfederer wrote:

  Gonzales wins . So soderling will play Gonzales on Thursday(??).

  
  
  Antha tennis balls paavam. Rendu payapullaikalum tharma adi adippaanunga. Gonzu
  
  Looks like script is neatly written for Roger. One by one all his nemesis have been eliminated, unless he finds a new one from the remaining lot.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Tue Jun 2 17:20:51 2009.

  Retire aagiyum indha Borg imsai thanga mudialappa/ Enna oru villathanam
  

  Quote:

  Q. Did you receive that SMS from Bjørn? ROBIN SODERLING: Yes. Q. You did? ROBIN SODERLING: I did. Q. Phone call or SMS? ROBIN SODERLING: No, I got an SMS. Q. What did he say? ROBIN SODERLING: Yeah, he said, Congratulations, and thank youfor not letting Nadal break my record. Ithink he will be down here maybe tomorrow.

  
  
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Tue Jun 2 21:36:08 2009.

  Happy Birthday Rafa Nadal. Wishing u all the best in Wimbledon.
  
  /.
  
  

• From: rocketboy on Wed Jun 3 1:26:24 2009.

  My money on Gonzalez . This is his best chance to win a grand slam .
  
  

• From: omega on Wed Jun 3 11:23:13 2009.

  Federer takes the first set 7-6 & is up 2 breaks in the 2nd for 3-0 lead.....Way to go....
  
  

• From: omega on Wed Jun 3 11:38:46 2009.

  Federer takes the 2nd set 6-2. Leading 2-0.
  
  

• From: Plum on Wed Jun 3 12:05:58 2009.

  omega, idhu QF-laya?
  
  

• From: Sanjeevi on Wed Jun 3 12:17:13 2009.

  Federer defeated Monfils
  
  7-6, 6-2, 6-4
  
  

• From: Sanjeevi on Wed Jun 3 12:20:03 2009.

  FEDERER BOOKS HIS PLACE IN HIS 25TH CONSECUTIVE GRAND SLAM SEMI-FINAL
  
  
  
  

• From: omega on Wed Jun 3 13:06:54 2009.

  Sanjeevi wrote:

  FEDERER BOOKS HIS PLACE IN HIS 25TH CONSECUTIVE GRAND SLAM SEMI-FINAL

  
  
  I think it is 20th consecutive semifinals appearance.
  A great feet by any means.
  
  

• From: omega on Wed Jun 3 13:56:26 2009.

  Plum wrote:

  omega, idhu QF-laya?

  
  
  Next up the lanky Argentine Del Potro who beat Robredo in straight sets.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Wed Jun 3 14:00:39 2009.

  Yes it is 20th consecutive SEMIFINAL appearance.
  

  omega wrote:

  Sanjeevi wrote: FEDERER BOOKS HIS PLACE IN HIS 25TH CONSECUTIVE GRAND SLAM SEMI-FINAL I think it is 20th consecutive semifinals appearance. A great feet by any means.

  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Wed Jun 3 22:33:11 2009.

  Dyanora safina in the semi's
  
  

• From: Plum on Thu Jun 4 1:06:11 2009.

  Indha varusham Nadal ponappurammum French Open jaikkalaina, Federer-oda all-time-greatest candidacy will be totally ruined.
  
  

• From: rocketboy on Thu Jun 4 7:58:07 2009.

  Del Potro looks very strong. I am hoping for a Gonzalez - Potro final
  
  

• From: Plum on Thu Jun 4 8:19:44 2009.

  Rocketboy - finals apdi thaan varumnu naanum feel pandren. Federerku marubaidyum aapu dhaen. But Indha varusham romba feel pannuvan thokkaradhukku - Nadal, Murray, Djokovic ellam poyum kooda jeikka mudiyaliyenu...
  
  

• From: omega on Thu Jun 4 10:38:05 2009.

  I think, Federer will cruise into Finals beating Del Potro.
  In Finals who knows, if the opponent is going to be Swede MURADAN MUTHU (Soldering). Still Federer all the way......
  
  Among the remaining lot (Del Potro/Gonzu/Soldering), only Gonzu has beaten Federer once.
  
  Federer's head to head record with these 3,
  
  Del Potro 4-0
  Gonzu 12-1
  Soldering 12-0 (Haven't played this guy in 3 years I guess )
  
  Anyway records are history. Who knows what tommorrow brings.
  Federer will feel definitely very confident.
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Thu Jun 4 10:40:48 2009.

  Indha french open suthama naan follow pannala!
  Blaady Sun Direct
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Thu Jun 4 16:40:29 2009.

  Nadal to launch tennis school in India
  
  Updated: June 4, 2009, 9:14 AM ET
  
  Reuters
  
  CHENNAI, India -- Spanish world No. 1 Rafael Nadal will set up a tennis school in India through his foundation, local media reported on Thursday.
  
  The Nadal Tennis School will take shape in September and be functional by June next year in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, The Hindu newspaper reported.
  
  The paper said NTS is a joint venture between the Rafael Nadal Foundation and Fundacion Vincente Ferrer, the Spanish arm of India-based non-governmental organization Rural Development Trust.
  
  "There have been 135 registrations so far for admission to the academy, which will be restricted to children above eight years," RDT's associate program director Moncho Ferrer told the paper.
  
  Four international-class clay courts will be created by the new year, the paper said.
  
  "Training will be year-long as will monitoring of the progress of the academy's intake," Ferrer said.
  
  Nadal, beaten in the fourth round of the French Open last week while chasing a record fifth straight crown at Roland Garros, launched his foundation in January last year, with the focus on social work and development aid.
  
  His mother, Ana Maria Parera, chairs the foundation.
  
  "A month and a half ago I was in Chennai, in India. The truth is we live great here [Spain]. And if I can contribute something with my image ... " Nadal told his Web site at the launch of the foundation.
  
  Former world No. 1 Roger Federer also runs a foundation that focuses on Africa. Federer's mother is South African.
  
  http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/tennis/news/story?id=4229843
  
  Nadal
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Jun 5 4:03:27 2009.

  Seven-time French Open champion Chris Evert, one of the most formidable clay-court players in history, rang up ESPN.com's Bonnie D. Ford last week for their annual pre-Roland Garros chat. Topics included the Rafael Nadal-Roger Federer rivalry, the state of flux in the women's game and what Evert has learned about golf from watching her husband, Greg Norman. The following are excerpts from their conversation:
  
  Bonnie D. Ford: Chris, you're certainly familiar with having a long, great rivalry hit an interesting tipping point. Is that's what's happened with Nadal and Federer in Grand Slams? Once that momentum gets going, is there a way to stop it?
  
  Chris Evert: It's interesting. With Martina [Navratilova], I dominated the first part of it, she came on strong the second part, then I broke that streak and won the '85 and '86 French Opens, so we were sort of even when we retired. [Editor's note: Each woman won 18 Grand Slam titles; Navratilova finished with a 10-4 edge in their head-to-head Slam finals and had 43 wins to Evert's 37 in their career series.] Anything is possible. The thing that concerns me about Roger is, I just don't know if his best is going to be good enough to beat Nadal. I don't really see him playing out of the box, so to speak; I don't see him changing anything, and that is what must happen if he wants to turn the tide. And also you have the added dimension of Andy Murray emerging, and [Novak] Djokovic, he seems to have gotten it back together.
  
  Ford: I know it's easy to give advice from afar, but do you agree with the speculation that Roger needs a full-time coach at this point?
  
  Evert: I think he's his best coach. I don't think there's anyone better than him out there. Maybe someone to help him with training, fitness, getting stronger. If he can't beat [Nadal], join him. Maybe he needs to get into the gym more. And by the way, he might be doing all this already, I don't know. The fitness level could improve and that will bring along with it quickness and more power. But as far as playing the game and tactics, Roger is the best judge of that. Fitness helps you psychologically, there's no doubt about it. When Martina started cleaning my clock, I said, I at least have to give myself a chance here, and so I went into the gym. Not to try to copy her, but just to be the best I could be and the strongest I could be. I think that's what Roger needs to think about. Now's not the time, but after this year when you have a period of six weeks, two months where you can really train hard.
  
  Ford: In retrospect, what surprises you more -- that Nadal was able to beat Federer at Wimbledon or on hard court in Australia?
  
  Evert: Wimbledon. Roger is such a natural volleyer and Nadal is not. Nadal hits with such topspin that it's not going to be as effective on a grass court where the bounce is lower. His strengths are not as effective on a grass court and his weaknesses are a little more exposed. I'm so impressed with how quickly Nadal has become a grass-court player and adjusted his game. At the same time, I'm a little surprised that Roger, in the last year and a half, two years, I feel, is starting to lose the feeling of closing matches. He's not closing as confidently as he did in the past. Isn't there something about Federer that pulls at your heartstrings? I cry every time he loses a match, and I don't even know the guy. (Laughs) There's something so endearing about him as a person.
  
  Ford: What are your thoughts on Nadal's chances of winning a calendar Slam?
  
  Evert: If he should win the French, then it's a conversation. Then again, if he wins the French and Wimbledon, he's going to be trying to win the U.S. Open to win the Grand Slam, and that's added pressure. If he's had a spectacular season leading up to the U.S. Open, that's eight months in, he's got to start feeling the wear and tear and the mental letdown a little bit. Winning that fourth one would be really tough, I think.
  
  Ford: Moving on to the women's game, since Justine Henin retired, the No. 1 ranking has changed hands eight times among five different players. Two of the women who have held it haven't won a Slam. Do you see the turnover as good for the game, or bad, or indifferent?
  
  Evert: People will turn on the TV if there's a real exciting rivalry. As a spectator, I would much rather watch a Federer-Nadal match than a Dinara Safina-Venus Williams match. When there's history and richness behind a rivalry, that's much more interesting. You don't have a rivalry in the women's game right now. People will turn on the TV to watch Venus play Serena, because you never know what's going to happen. Form gets thrown out the window and you never know which one's going to be better that day. But aside from the Williams sisters, there's no history right now on the women's side.
  
  Ford: The last time Maria Sharapova played in a Grand Slam was last year's Wimbledon. She's trying to come back for the French Open. How much of a hole did her absence leave?
  
  Evert: She was a big presence on the women's tour. She not only has a big game; she has a big personality and a great following. I still maintain that over the last few years, there's been nobody mentally tougher than her. She brings glamour to the game, and history. The game is only better when she's in it.
  [+] EnlargeKim Clijsters
  Hamish Blair/Getty ImagesKim Clijsters' return will add a much-needed dynamic to the WTA Tour.
  
  Ford: On the other hand, Kim Clijsters is coming back.
  
  Evert: She's one of the most well-liked girls on the tour. I was happy she had a baby, but I always thought she retired too young. I felt like she had some more good tennis [left]. Nobody's dominating, nobody's necessarily playing the greatest tennis. It's a good opening and a good opportunity for her to come in.
  
  Ford: Switching sports, I know you know a little more about golf now. Do you see similarities and differences in what it takes to be a great tennis player and a great golfer?
  
  Evert: To be at the top of your profession in any sport, you have to have mental toughness -- focus, patience, the ability to make good decisions under pressure. Where I think golf is different is that you have to beat the field every single week. In tennis you have to beat one person. Or you have to win five matches to win a tournament, and maybe in those five matches you're not playing the person who gives you the most trouble. In tennis you can be down a set and still win a match. In golf, it's harder to bring it back and win after a couple sloppy holes.
  
  Ford: Do you think you would have been a good golfer if you had taken it up when you were young?
  
  Evert: Yes. I don't even hesitate to say that, because it enhances my strengths and minimizes my weaknesses. I wasn't the fastest player on the court, I wasn't the fastest off the mark like Steffi Graf, I wasn't the strongest leg-wise like Martina. It would take away the running and emphasize my focus. I was always really good at concentrating and blocking out everything else. I have good patience, and hopefully I would have pretty good hand-eye coordination. I think I would have been pretty good at it.
  
  Bonnie D. Ford covers tennis and Olympic sports for ESPN.com. She can be reached at bonniedford@aol.com.
  
  http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/tennis/french09/columns/story?columnist=ford_bonnie_d&id=4176032
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Jun 5 4:49:28 2009.

  http://tennis.com/features/greatestshots/
  
  What are the greatest shots in tennis history? We pick out the game’s most fearsome weapons stroke by stroke, concentrating on the Open Era (since 1968).
  
  Part I: The Serve
  
  Final Pick
  Pete Sampras
  
  Shortlist
  Pete Sampras
  Goran Ivanisevic
  Boris Becker
  Wayne Arthurs
  Greg Rusedski
  Pancho Gonzalez
  Roscoe Tanner
  John McEnroe
  John Newcombe
  Neale Fraser
  Jack Kramer
  Ellsworth Vines
  Bill Tilden
  
  Venus Williams
  Steffi Graf
  Serena Williams
  Brenda Schultz-McCarthy
  Martina Navratilova
  Margaret Court
  Althea Gibson
  
  Today's Best
  Ivo Karlovic
  John Isner
  Andy Roddick
  
  Venus Williams
  Serena Williams
  
  — TENNIS.com
  
  The Pete Sampras serve. Deadly, fast, accurate, versatile – the leading weapon that opened up a superb arsenal. And best of all, reliable.
  
  Recreational players rarely ace one another, so there is a tendency to discount the profound impact of an ace. But to be a pro on Andre Agassi’s level and find yourself unable to even touch the ball on a big point – that is exceptionally demoralizing. As Sampras once said, “I love getting out there and stepping on the gas.” Let others open the match with a few groundstrokes. Sampras favored the 126 mph ace straight down the T – a lead-off home run that let the opponent know it was only the start of a relentless assault. His second serve was also the most feared on the circuit, so opponents had little respite even when he missed his first delivery.
  
  Certainly there have been other serves rivaling Sampras. Though they couldn’t back it up as effectively, southpaws like Goran Ivanisevic and Roscoe Tanner could strike every corner. Though he couldn’t hit it as hard, John McEnroe’s lefty delivery was terrifying.
  
  Other champions such as John Newcombe, Pancho Gonzales and Jack Kramer were powerful and accurate too, particularly when the chips were down. Way back in the early ‘30s, there was Ellsworth Vines, a man whose motion was quite similar to Sampras’. And one of Bill Tilden’s many strengths was a first-rate serve.
  
  Recently, a new breed of giants like Ivo Karlovic and John Isner have begun carving their own legends with this stroke – though not with much else. Andy Roddick's record-setting delivery is the current bar at the top of the men's game.
  
  But with apologies to all, none consistently sent down such high-quality serves as Sampras. Bless the hearts of Vines and Tilden, but they were often playing the club president in the first round and Biff from Yale in the second. Well into the ‘80s, most backhand returns were chipped rather than ripped. For all the talk about power serves over the last two decades, it turned out to be the service return that revolutionized the court, everything from the two-handed backhand to slower courts and heavier balls tipping the odds more in the receiver’s direction.
  
  Little of that fazed Sampras. Under the guidance of his coach, Pete Fischer, he built an exemplary motion, a fully-coordinated lucid blend of legs, hips, shoulders and arms that was magnificently relaxed, well-disguised and powerful. No one nicked more corners with a serve than Sampras. Given all his accomplishments, the Sampras serve might well be the most single devastating shot in tennis history.
  
  Joel Drucker is a contributing editor at TENNIS magazine. The author is grateful for the assistance of many experts and former pros, including Brent Abel, John Barrett, Steve Flink, Mary Carillo, Trey Waltke, Chris Lewis, John Newcombe, Owen Davidson, Fred Stolle and Brian Gottfried.
  
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Jun 5 4:52:24 2009.

  Cont'd: The Greatest shots in Tennis History
  
  Part II: The Return of Serve
  
  Final Pick
  Jimmy Connors
  
  Shortlist
  Jimmy Connors
  Andre Agassi
  Lleyton Hewitt
  Roger Federer
  
  Monica Seles
  Lindsay Davenport
  Martina Hingis
  Kim Clijsters
  
  Today's Best
  Roger Federer
  Rafael Nadal
  Lleyton Hewitt
  David Ferrer
  David Nalbandian
  Jonas Bjorkman
  Marat Safin
  
  Lindsay Davenport
  Serena Williams
  — TENNIS.com
  
  Lest the server think holding the balls and stepping up to serve is the best way to take control of a point, imagine serving to Monica Seles. Tempting as it is to call her double-handed return risky, ramming hard, deep, forceful returns was second nature to her. Rarely content to merely get the ball in play, Seles instead treated a great many serves as short balls. After all, the serve was bouncing short of the service line, so why not pounce on it? That mindset makes Seles owner of one of the game's finest returns of serve.
  
  But even in relative terms, there have been far more big servers in the men’s game. So how to evaluate the best returners? Andre Agassi could punish a weak second serve off both sides like no other man. In today’s game, Lleyton Hewitt and Roger Federer are excellent at spitting rough deliveries back. But then again, these two know they are rarely playing the kind of volleyers who can take advantage of floating returns.
  
  And so the award for best return goes to Jimmy Connors. He had built his game around the counterattack, on flinging back the aggression of netrushers – and doing so on fast surfaces. Connors not only denied tons of aces, he shot the ball back like a laser often for a winner and just about always down low in ways that would make life quite tough for the netrushers of his day. If not as punishing in commencing a baseline rally as Agassi, Connors’ spitback rate was significantly higher. What also made Connors’ return intimidating was the threat of forward movement. An incoming netrusher would know that once Connors got the return down, he was likely charging forward, possibly to take the first volley out of the air or step in and drill a passing shot. The doubt planted by Connors’ insistent opportunism only made it that much more dreadful to serve to him.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Jun 5 4:54:06 2009.

  Cont'd: The Greatest shots in Tennis History
  
  The Forehand: Roger Federer
  
  Part III: The Forehand
  
  Final Pick
  Roger Federer
  
  Shortlist
  Roger Federer
  Pete Sampras
  Ivan Lendl
  Andre Agassi
  Jim Courier
  John Newcombe
  Jack Kramer
  Fred Perry
  Pancho Segura
  Gene Mayer
  
  Steffi Graf
  Lindsay Davenport
  Serena Williams
  Mary Pierce
  Justine Henin
  
  Today's Best
  Roger Federer
  Rafael Nadal
  Andy Roddick
  Fernando Gonzalez
  Igor Andreev
  James Blake
  
  Justine Henin
  Ana Ivanovic
  Lindsay Davenport
  Serena Williams
  Svetlana Kuznetova
  Sania Mirza
  — TENNIS.com
  Next to the serve, no shot is more terminal than the forehand – i.e., no single shot is best-poised to end a point more emphatically than a forehand. With increasing frequency since the days of Ivan Lendl, the big forehand has replaced the first volley as a primary offensive shot.
  
  And no one has done more to demonstrate everything you’d ever want in a forehand than Roger Federer. In one sense, his forehand is utterly 21st century. Taking full advantage of his string mix of Luxilon and gut, Federer’s drive is lively, heavy, deep and just about always struck on his terms.
  
  When pressed in a baseline rally, he can roll the ball with enough topspin for margin – and attain impressive depth. Should an opponent dare come to net against Federer’s forehand, his preparation is so good it seems that he always has the widest possible range of options. And at the other end, lay one in short – and the point is over, Federer able to flatten it out, or lace it with topspin, the ball exceptionally heavy and often unreturnable. Though perfectly content to drive his share of backhands, he is wise at using his backhand – such as when he slices it and forces opponents into awkward positions – to set up his forehand.
  
  But as contemporary as Federer’s forehand is, it’s also a remarkable amalgamation of many great forehands from prior years – from the powerful topspin of Andre Agassi to the crackling penetration of Pete Sampras, or back to the forceful discipline of John Newcombe, the opportunism of Jack Kramer and even the flexibility of Fred Perry.
  
  Able to change his grip to adjust with bounces – even when forced able to slice the old-school squash shot with underspin – Federer’s mechanics are at once austere and elegant. His head is always balanced, his eyes tracking the ball keenly, his feet rarely out of position. As any recreational player knows, the forehand’s very range of options make it easy to become lax. Never is this the case with Federer.
  
  The best women's forehand surely belonged to Steffi Graf – often terminal like Federer, usually struck with offense in mind and quite adept at whipping boldly from comprised court positions.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Jun 5 4:57:00 2009.

  Cont'd: The Greatest shots in Tennis History
  
  The Backhand: Ken Rosewall
  
  Part IV: The Backhand
  
  Final Pick
  Ken Rosewall
  
  Shortlist
  Ken Rosewall
  Rod Laver
  Bjorn Borg
  Jimmy Connors
  Andre Agassi
  Tony Trabert
  Don Budge
  Bill Tilden
  
  Chris Evert
  Evonne Goolagong
  Justine Henin
  Serena Williams
  Martina Hingis
  Lindsay Davenport
  
  Today's Best
  Roger Federer
  David Nalbandian
  Richard Gasquet
  Mikhail Youzhny
  Andrei Pavel
  Gustavo Kuerten
  Gaston Gaudio
  Marat Safin
  
  Justine Henin
  Serena Williams
  Venus Williams
  Jelena Jankovic
  — TENNIS.com
  Dare not impose the same demands on the backhand as a forehand. A forehand can end a point, but a backhand is almost always less about closure and more about creation.
  
  Say hello to the diminutive man dubbed “Muscles,” Australian legend Ken Rosewall. His was a backhand of incomparable elegance and precision. The contemporary rap on Rosewall’s backhand is that it was a slice, lacking the dipping topspin of his rival Rod Laver or the penetrating flatness of Jimmy Connors’ superb drive.
  
  But Rosewall’s backhand was no cut, no chop, no drifting hack like the kind we see at parks and clubs all over the world. His racket face was opened barely a scintilla, giving him just enough safety and, worst of all for his opponents, an extraordinary degree of bite and accuracy. So keenly prepared was Rosewall that against the game’s biggest servers he was able to let the ball come well into his hitting zone and then lash the ball sharply enough to compromise both netrushers and baseliners. Most deadly of all, in the true spirit of what a backhand should do, Rosewall used the shot with transitional genius, knowing that if did his job well, he could smoothly glide forward and further control the point.
  
  A superb counterpuncher, Rosewall deployed his backhand with variety, spreading out his opponents with deadly lobs and pinpoint drop shots. Connors too had command of these shots, but in talking with dozens of players who competed against each, the general thinking is that while Rosewall’s drive was not as hard as Connors’, his diversity was exceptional.
  
  Other honorable mentions go to the laser-like simplicity of Andre Agassi and Lindsay Davenport; and, of course, the unteachable élan of Justine Henin.
  
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Jun 5 4:59:22 2009.

  Cont'd: The Greatest shots in Tennis History
  
  The Forehand Volley: John Newcombe
  
  Part V: The Forehand Volley
  
  Final Pick
  John Newcombe
  
  Shortlist
  John Newcombe
  Stefan Edberg
  John McEnroe
  Pat Cash
  Tim Henman
  Patrick Rafter
  Todd Woodbridge
  Boris Becker
  Michael Stich
  Jack Kramer
  Budge Patty
  Lew Hoad
  Bill Tilden
  
  Margaret Court
  Martina Navratilova
  Jana Novotna
  Natasha Zvereva
  
  Today's Best
  Roger Federer
  Fabrice Santoro
  Mike Bryan
  Bob Bryan
  
  Amelie Mauresmo
  Justine Henin
  Venus Williams
  Ana Ivanovic
  —TENNIS.com
  The annals of tennis are peppered with so many great backhand volleys, hunting for the best is like walking into a rich body of water. Seeking the best forehand volley, however, is akin to entering the desert. While many have struck this shot quite skillfully, the forehand volley’s deceptive technical difficulty makes it hard for many supreme practitioners to emerge.
  
  During tennis’ first few decades, it hardly existed given the dominance of baseline play. Then came the onset of netrushing, with two Southern Californians bringing the forehand volley to the forefront of the sport. Jack Kramer's "big game" poineered the serve-and-volley style, his forehand volley sharply placed into one corner after another. But it’s tough to call Kramer’s the best ever when he played no more than half a dozen familiar opponents annually during the last seven years of his career – and mostly on fast surfaces to boot. Kramer’s contemporary, Budge Patty, the 1950 Wimbledon champ still able to deliver an able demonstration of his technique at age 80, made it seem as simple as turning a key into a lock. Simple, but not easy –forehand volley is prone to all sort of awkward fine motor and lazy gross motor movements.
  
  More recently, Tim Henman played this shot with exceptional skill, an effort even more impressive given his lack of a forceful serve and the sheer power of contemporary service returns. But never did this fine shot help the Brit reach a single Slam final.
  
  And so, once again, as is often the case in matters of the forecourt, we head Down Under to the Aussies. Australian Hall of Famer Fred Stolle speaks frequently of how Australians are taught how to use their shoulders far more effectively than Americans. John Newcombe, Patrick Rafter and Tony Roche – who served as both Newcombe's doubles partner and Rafter's coach at various times – are all considered to have possessed fine forehand volleys, albeit each struck quite idiosyncratically – from Newcombe’s forthright swing to Rafter’s muscled punch to Roche’s ability to swing the racket up and through the ball.
  
  After much huddling and research, Newcombe emeges as the final choice. Granted, his way to the net was often paved by a thundering serve, but time after time, he was able to strike this shot effectively. On low balls, he was supremely disciplined, using his legs to thrust into the ball and attain significant penetration. On high balls – the benign, seemingly easy volley so many players at all levels can miss – he was ruthless. Though he did in fact swing more than is commonly taught, the underpinning of Newcombe’s savage forehand volley was the way he commanded his entire body.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Jun 5 5:02:50 2009.

  Cont'd: The Greatest shots in Tennis History
  
  The Backhand Volley: Martina Navratilova
  
  Part VI: The Backhand Volley
  
  Final Pick
  Martina Navratilova
  
  Shortlist
  Martina Navratilova
  Billie Jean King
  Jana Novotna
  Margaret Court
  Evonne Goolagong Cawley
  Gigi Fernandez
  
  Stefan Edberg
  John McEnroe
  Tony Roche
  Pete Sampras
  Todd Woodbridge
  Mark Woodforde
  Vitas Gerulatis
  Ken Rosewall
  
  Today's Best
  Roger Federer
  Jonas Bjorkman
  Richard Gasquet
  Mike Bryan
  Bob Bryan
  
  Justine Henin
  Amelie Mauresmo
  Lisa Raymond
  It’s cruel that this shot is so much easier to hit than the forehand volley, thanks largely to the instant shoulder-body turn that puts the pieces in place so efficiently. From Ken Rosewall and Billie Jean King to Martina Navratilova and Stefan Edberg, tennis history is filled with tales of exceptional backhand volleys. Viewed in singular focus, it’s one of the most pleasing shots to photograph, as tidy as a man walking out of a barber’s chair – and an exceptional showcase of athleticism and even artistry.
  
  Because the backhand volley is often about knifing and angling the ball, it’s very much the province of lefthanders. John McEnroe, Rod Laver and, most notably, Tony Roche were all southpaws who struck this shot marvelously – often aided by the swinging ad court serve made it 80-percent likely they’d have to crisply angle a backhand volley.
  
  So it’s fitting that the person whose backhand volley was most eternally forceful and crisp was the lefthanded Navratilova. Much like the great Roche, her backhand volley was, yes, knife-like – but in the powerful and versatile manner of a Swiss Army knife. There was virtually nothing Navratilova couldn't do with this shot, from handling pace to knocking off sharp first volleys, lunging after passing shots or flicking away that most difficult of shots, the backhand overhead. Even near age 50, competing against players more than half her age, Navratilova was able to nimbly blunt pace and direct the ball into the right place. Her solid hands, though, were as much driven by solid legs and body movement. There was never anything flimsy about the Navratilova backhand volley. Her wrist firmly locked, shoulder turned compact, no other shot contributed more to her massive legacy.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Jun 5 5:04:29 2009.

  Cont'd: The Greatest shots in Tennis History
  
  The Lob: Ken Rosewall
  
  Part VIII: The Lob
  
  Final Pick
  Ken Rosewall
  
  Shortlist
  Ken Rosewall
  Lleyton Hewitt
  Michael Chang
  Jimmy Connors
  Gene Mayer
  Bobby Riggs
  
  Chris Evert
  Axantxa Sanchez Vicario
  Pam Shriver
  Natasha Zvereva
  Amanda Coetzer
  
  Today's Best
  Lleyton Hewitt
  Carlos Moya
  Fabrice Santoro
  Rafael Nadal
  Andy Murray
  
  Jelena Jankovic
  Anna Chavetadze
  Patty Schnyder
  Viginia Ruano Pascal
  Paola Suarez
  — TENNIS.com
  Just as with the overhead, this is a shot we rarely see in today’s baseline-focused game. To be sure, Fabrice Santoro has had his moments, and for a time Michael Chang’s topspin lob was quite impressive.
  
  But it’s best to evaluate the lob’s effectiveness when it must be deployed frequently. We harken back to the days when netrushing was frequent. In the women’s game, Chris Evert was a genius at disguise and execution on both sides. Her lob not only tired out opponents, but it bought her precious inches so that as the match wore on she could have more space for her deft passing shots. Jimmy Connors’ lob, particularly off his backhand, similarly put netrushers on alert.
  
  But no one lobbed more effectively – and faced more hot-to-trot attackers on fast surfaces – than Ken Rosewall. His approach was to lob early and often, floating deadly accurate lobs off both sides down-the-line and crosscourt. Well aware that many of his lobs might well be smashed away early on, Rosewall knew his use of the shot was both physically and mentally taxing. Opponents would get worn out – and even more to Rosewall’s favor, the threat of yet another lob kept his opponents from getting imposingly close to the net. Rosewall was also a master at following the lobs that went over his opponent’s head into the net – as well as tracking down overheads and either sending up another lob or feathering a difficult passing shot. “Every point with Rosewall,” says his fellow Aussie Hall of Famer, Roy Emerson, “was World War III.”
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Jun 5 5:07:03 2009.

  Cont'd: The Greatest shots in Tennis History
  
  The Dropshot: Manuel Santana
  
  Part IX: The Dropshot
  
  Final Pick
  Manuel Santana
  
  Shortlist
  Manolo Orantes
  Art Larsen
  Bobby Riggs
  John McEnroe
  Illie Nastase
  Adriano Pannatta
  Nicola Pietrangeli
  Fabrice Santoro
  Guillermo Coria
  Marcelo Rios
  
  Chris Evert
  Evonne Goolagong Cawley
  Aranxta Sanchez Vicario
  Martina Hingis
  Conchita Martinez
  Natasha Zvereva
  Gabriela Sabatini
  Hana Mandlikova
  
  Today's Best
  Fabrice Santoro
  Guillermo Coria
  Andy Murray
  Jurgen Melzer
  Albert Portas (on nickname alone)
  
  Justine Henin
  Jelena Jankovic
  Anna Chakvetadze
  Daniela Hantuchova
  Maria Kirilenko
  — TENNIS.com
  In every era, the drop shot appears endangered, threatened by the march of progress and power. Bill Tilden felt that way even in 1950.
  
  But the drop shot endures. Pity those who dare call this shot “junk,” for it is yet another tool in the arsenal – albeit one that should be used judiciously. And perhaps more than any shot in tennis, it’s one to savour and deploy with joy.
  
  Prosaic American instructors may not devote as much time to it as they should, but around the world – particularly on clay – it is given much greater regard. In recent years, Argentine Guillermo Coria and Fabrice Santoro have used it as a primary tactic. And no discussion of this shot would be complete without mention of an early Santoro mentor, Gene Mayer. Like Santoro, Mayer’s double-double-handed game added an element of torturous deception.
  
  Chris Evert used it quite often in her time too. After all, she was the best groundstroker of her era, her forehands and backhands pinning opponents into corners. So naturally it was wise for her to throw this shot in – and follow it up with her deadly lob.
  
  John McEnroe was masterful at using the drop when on offense – the surprise drop approach shot and, of course, his delicate drop volley.
  
  But all pale behind a pair of Spanish Manolos. Manolo Orantes frequently used the drop shot on his way to 33 singles titles in the Open era, including the 1975 U.S. Open and the 1976 season-ending Masters. One of Orantes’ favorite plays was to hit a drop shot and move forward. As his opponent charged forward, invariably pushing the ball down the line, Orantes would take the approach in the air and hit a lob volley winner.
  
  Orantes’ role model was a man touch to rival anyone in tennis history. Manuel "Manolo" Santana, winner of four Grand Slam titles in the ‘60s, could consistently hit drop shots that would bounce back on his side of the court. Fellow players Rod Laver and Roy Emerson admit they often felt embarrassed tracking down Santana’s drop shots – rare admissions indeed from such great legends.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Jun 5 5:08:48 2009.

  Cont'd: The Greatest shots in Tennis History
  
  The Overhead: Pete Sampras
  
  Part VII: The Overhead Updated
  
  Final Pick
  Pete Sampras
  
  Shortlist
  Chuck McKinley
  Lew Hoad
  Greg Rusedski
  Richard Krajicek
  Mark Philippoussis
  Yannick Noah
  John McEnroe
  John Newcombe
  Illie Nastase
  Stan Smith
  Dick Stockton
  Jeff Borowiak
  
  Billie Jean King
  Martina Navratilova
  Steffi Graf
  Martina Hingis
  Justine Henin
  — TENNIS.com
  Of all shots, grasping the best here has been a process in tennis evolution. Contemporary players come to net so rarely and strike passing shots so well that it’s rare to see players forced to play too many overheads. But still, the revised pick for the Open Era is Pete Sampras. No way did he have to hit as many as his netrushing predessors, but the fact that his smash was so good cast a strong shadow of doubt in his opponents’ minds. Had his overhead been anything less than first-rate and the netrushing Sampras would have faced a slew of lobs. But those he faced were rarely missed. Just about every smash he struck was terminal.
  
  The original pick was a player with a cult-like appreciation whose prime was just before the Open Era – 1963 Wimbledon champion and Hall of Famer Chuck McKinley. He stood just a mere 5’ 9”, but to be a champ in his time McKinley knew he’d have to come to net and work very hard on his overhead. He did, learning to jump up in the air to field any but the very best lobs. And as for the weak lobs, he was savage, taking particular delight in bludgeoning them with all his might – a dangerous occasion for any doubles opponent in his way.
  
  In the netrushing heyday of 1946-‘80, it was impossible for a player to even be on the tour without owning a fine smash. Other Americans every bit as good as McKinley – if not better given their height -- included Jack Kramer, Pancho Gonzales, Tony Trabert, Stan Smith and John McEnroe. As indifferent as McEnroe appeared towards practice, the overhead was the one shot he made sure to practice excessively. Trabert and Smith were quite powerful – each able to bounce backhand overheads over the fence. Finding an Australian without a good overhead is as rare as finding one who has never had a beer (though, curiously, Rod Laver’s smash was not considered quite as supreme as the rest of his game). Others who many lobbed at their own peril were Dick Stockton and Jeff Borowiak.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Jun 5 5:10:34 2009.

  Cont'd: The Greatest shots in Tennis History
  
  Movement: Roger Federer
  
  Part X: Movement
  
  Final Pick
  Roger Federer
  
  SPEED
  
  Final Pick
  Venus Williams
  
  Shortlist
  Venus Williams
  Steffi Graf
  Serena Williams
  Kim Clijsters
  Arantxa Sanchez Vicario
  
  Rafael Nadal
  Bjorn Borg
  Vitas Gerulaitis
  Michael Chang
  Lleyton Hewitt
  Sergi Bruguera
  Johan Kriek
  
  Today's Best
  Rafael Nadal
  Nikolay Davydenko
  David Ferrer
  James Blake
  Lleyton Hewitt
  Sebastien Grosjean
  Arnaud Clement
  Gael Monfils
  Olivier Rochus
  
  Justine Henin
  Jelena Jankovic
  Serena Williams
  Venus Williams
  Elena Dementiva
  
  FOOTWORK
  
  Final Pick
  Jimmy Connors
  
  Shortlist
  Roger Federer
  Jimmy Connors
  John McEnroe
  Vitas Gerulatis
  Rod Laver
  Ken Rosewall
  Stefan Edberg
  Miloslav Mecir
  Marcelo Rios
  Michael Chang
  
  Steffi Graf
  Chris Evert
  Martina Hingis
  Tracy Austin
  Maria Bueno
  Suzanne Lenglen
  
  Today's Best
  Roger Federer
  Guillermo Coria
  Novak Djokovic
  Lleyton Hewitt
  David Nalbandian
  
  Justine Henin
  Amelie Mauresmo
  Venus Williams
  Anna Chakvetadze
  Elena Dementieva
  — TENNIS.com
  Initially when we talk of movement in tennis we think of those who best track down one ball after another. These are the rabbits, the men and women who oppress opponents by dint of their exceptional defense. Two Open era men that come to mind are a pair of claycourt masters, Bjorn Borg and Rafael Nadal.
  
  Borg was one of the game’s first lopers, a gazelle of a man with an exceptionally low pulse and a wonderfully tapered physique. Many pros felt that on clay the Swede was so fast it was nearly impossible to win a point against him. In an era where there are even more thundering baseliners, Nadal has taken that defensive model to new heights, scampering to corners, moving forward and turning up the volume, particularly with his forehand. Honorable mention in recent times goes to Lleyton Hewitt and Michael Chang.
  
  But another way to look at footspeed is to see how a player uses his or her wheels for offense. Vitas Gerulaitis hummed into volleying position. Pete Sampras moved fast enough to put himself constantly on the aggressive end of a point.
  
  Our choice for raw velocity is a woman who’s played her fair share of both – Venus Williams. Raised to conceive of herself as an offensive player, but for much of her career, the hallmark of her career has been her pterodactyl-like defense. Still, as seen during her four Wimbledon victories, when Williams transitions that sweeping defense into offense, she is one rough customer.
  
  Then there’s footwork, not to be confused with footspeed. The race in tennis is not necessarily won by the one who is most swift. After all, the vast majority of movement in tennis is rarely further than four yards. And as every recreational player knows, the balls that come slow and soft reveal with a vengeance the limits of a player’s footwork. It’s how adeptly you move around the ball that can be exceptionally telling.
  
  So how best to define footwork? Think of it this way: How well did the player make all those little adjustment steps so that he or she could repeatedly be in the best possible position to most effectively strike the ball? By this definition, someone with the superb footspeed of Venus Williams – constantly forced to improvise and get out of her own way – does not have anywhere near the footwork of, say, the exceptionally consistent, proficient and reliable Chris Evert. Evert’s discipline was extraordinary. Rarely was she seen off-balance or unable to strike the ball emphatically.
  
  Over the course of careers that each lasted 20 years – twice the length of most – Ken Rosewall and Jimmy Connors each showed sublime footwork. Rosewall was an acoustic glider in the manner of Fred Astaire, Connors a squeaky shuffler. Like Evert, each usually was poised for quality contact.
  
  Steffi Graf represents an unusual case, combining both Olympic-like speed and exceptional discipline. Though it’s impossible to assail her Slam tally, it's fascinating that Graf employed her speed much more side-to-side than to come forward. Still, she ranks among the very best in both departments.
  
  But when it comes to harnessing speed and discipline together, no one does it better than Roger Federer. So adept is Federer at tracking the ball that he seems able to float to it. Of course he’s actually moving swiftly. Yet Federer’s feet rarely scamper. With unsurpassed posture, he is always able to adjust his feet and strike the ball precisely on his terms. That is the true goal of footwork: To get there in time – and place – so that you have the widest range of options.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Jun 5 5:12:42 2009.

  Cont'd: The Greatest shots in Tennis History
  
  Head: Billie Jean King
  
  Final Pick
  Billie Jean King
  
  MENTAL STRENGTH
  
  Shortlist
  Chris Evert
  Billie Jean King
  Tracy Austin
  Steffi Graf
  Monica Seles
  Arantxa Sanchez Vicario
  Maureen Connolly
  Helen Wills Moody
  Serena Williams
  Justine Henin
  Maria Sharapova
  
  Bjorn Borg
  Pete Sampras
  Roger Federer
  Rafael Nadal
  Jimmy Connors
  Guillermo Vilas
  Rod Laver
  Ken Rosewall
  Pancho Gonzalez
  Ivan Lendl
  Don Budge
  Bill Tilden
  
  Today's Best
  Roger Federer
  Rafael Nadal
  Novak Djokovic
  Lleyton Hewitt
  Andy Roddick
  
  Justine Henin
  Serena Williams
  Maria Sharapova
  
  TACTICAL ABILITY
  
  Shortlist
  Martina Hingis
  Billie Jean King
  Martina Navratilova
  
  Roger Federer
  John McEnroe
  Mats Wilander
  Ivan Lendl
  Brad Gilbert
  Andre Agassi
  Arthur Ashe
  John Newcombe
  Ken Rosewall
  Bobby Riggs
  Jack Kramer
  Rene Lacoste
  Bill Tilden
  
  Today's Best
  Roger Federer
  Andy Murray
  David Nalbandian
  
  Justine Henin
  Anna Chakvetadze
  Daniela Hantuchova
  — TENNIS.com
  By Joel Drucker
  
  Part XI: Head
  
  
  Years ago, pondering who was the smartest player in tennis, the answers seemed simple: Bjorn Borg and Chris Evert. After all, they won the most, so logic dictated each was surely the smartest – as obvious as the kid with the best grades being the smartest in the class.
  
  But more recently, I’ve come to see this topic more broadly. To be sure, Borg and Evert were possessed abundant qualities of self-knowledge, rarely if ever attempting shots they didn’t own.
  
  But perhaps a great tennis mind stretches further, pushing the boundaries of skill by creating game plans, making adjustments and grasping the emotional and tactical flow of a match just enough to alter it subtly.
  
  John McEnroe and Martina Hingis possessed savant-like court management skills. It’s easy to let McEnroe’s breathtaking drop volleys and acute angles cloud the fact that his tennis game was based on logic and skill at never overplaying a shot and delicately probing for weaknesses. In an era of ascending Big Babe tennis, Hingis too reminded us of tennis’ chess-like qualities.
  
  Sadly, though, as each of these players aged, neither was able to adjust as well to upgrades in power. After all, implementing a tactic also requires enough fitness and strength to execute it with frequency.
  
  So here’s my choice for the keenest mind in tennis history: Billie Jean King.
  
  Over the long haul, well aware of what she could and couldn’t do, able to preside over the court like a field marshal, King understood everything from the mental to the tactical, from managing her energy between points to grasping what would unravel an opponent – and was capable of that special quality champions possess, the ability to surprise.
  
  One of her trademark phrases is that “the ball tells me what to do with it.” But only if you’re paying as much attention as possible.
  
  Link:
  http://tennis.com/features/greatestshots/
  END OF Greatest shots in Tennis History Posts
  
  

• From: omega on Fri Jun 5 8:19:37 2009.

  Mens SF underway... (Soldering vs Gonzalez)
  
  Soldering takes the first set 6-3. On serve 2nd set Gonzu serving @ 4-4.
  
  

• From: Plum on Fri Jun 5 9:13:55 2009.

  all-time best shots list-la edhulayaume peru varama indha Nadal payyan Federer-ku ipdi thaNNi kaatturane pa
  Avanoda ball-retrieval internal software-ai yaravadhu hack paNNi konjam de-activate paNNa mudiyadha?
  
  

• From: omega on Fri Jun 5 10:11:23 2009.

  Gonzu takes the 4th set to tie it at 2 a piece. Can he win 3 in a row to win the match?
  
  

• From: omega on Fri Jun 5 10:16:23 2009.

  Plum wrote:

  all-time best shots list-la edhulayaume peru varama indha Nadal payyan Federer-ku ipdi thaNNi kaatturane pa Avanoda ball-retrieval internal software-ai yaravadhu hack paNNi konjam de-activate paNNa mudiyadha?

  
  
  Reminds me of Tharumi's dialogue to Nakkeerar,
  
  "பாட்டெழுதி பேர் வாங்கும் புலவர்கள் இருக்கிறார்கள், குற்றம் கண்டுபிடித்தே பேர் வாங்கும் புலவர்களும் இருக்கிறார்கள்"
  
  Nadal belongs to the Nakkeerar's category...
  
  To come to the point. Nadal's grinding style is already taking too much on his body. It will be tough for him in the coming years, unless he can keep it at this level consistantly w/o damaging his body.
  
  

• From: omega on Fri Jun 5 10:17:05 2009.

  Gonzu up break in the 5th set. Will serve @ 2-0
  
  

• From: omega on Fri Jun 5 10:34:34 2009.

  Soldering breaks back & it is 4-4 in the 5th set.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Jun 5 10:42:28 2009.

  What?? Was gonzu leading. Now soderling is serving for the set at 5-4
  
  

• From: omega on Fri Jun 5 10:44:09 2009.

  Soldering won 4 games in a row. Gonzu was earlier leading 3-0....
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Jun 5 10:45:38 2009.

  Gonzu
  

  omega wrote:

  Soldering won 4 games in a row. Gonzu was earlier leading 3-0....

  
  

• From: omega on Fri Jun 5 10:47:30 2009.

  Soldering wins 6-3, 7-5, 5-7, 4-6, 6-4....
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Jun 5 10:50:17 2009.

  Plum,
  
  Indha list is based on both men and women players. Adhula rendu category-la top aa varardhe peria vishayam when Roger is not even finished with his career. Adhuvum illamaindha list ellam basically food for thought avvalavu dhan. You can frame a list with no roger.
  

  Plum wrote:

  all-time best shots list-la edhulayaume peru varama indha Nadal payyan Federer-ku ipdi thaNNi kaatturane pa Avanoda ball-retrieval internal software-ai yaravadhu hack paNNi konjam de-activate paNNa mudiyadha?

  
  

• From: Plum on Fri Jun 5 10:50:48 2009.

  kizhinjudhu , muradan muthu-va finals-la? Federer semis win paNNa kooda(I doubt he will - history seems to be too intent on appu vechufying him otherwise he would have won in the last 2 years itself - ipdi tantalising-a Nadal goes out of contention in a year when Federer is not so dominant as before - idhe last year Nadal crash out aayirundha Fed would have won by sheer dominance and fear factor in others - so the fact that Nadal crashed out only this year when even poravan varavan ellam have been beating Federer means that I feel he is going to receive bulb again) , finals-la aapu dhaan poliruku
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Jun 5 10:51:47 2009.

  Enna
  
  Unga negative thinking chatterjee eh?
  
  

• From: omega on Fri Jun 5 10:53:45 2009.

  Muradan muthu will get only one set at the most, in the Finals (against Federer offcourse).
  
  

• From: Plum on Fri Jun 5 10:54:25 2009.

  AF, ofcourse the list is subjective. But I thought this list was well argued and was fairly objective.Adhanala I could give it credence and meant that Nadal-ku argue paNNa endha shot-ume illai all-time greatnu. Even his fans cannot argue...apdingaradhu en karuthu. Adhai base paNNi sonnen. Not that this list is the final naattamai
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Jun 5 10:59:11 2009.

  Omega
  
  Thalaivar match eppo start aagudhu. Where are you watching it from?
  
  

• From: omega on Fri Jun 5 11:07:23 2009.

  ajithfederer wrote:

  Omega Thalaivar match eppo start aagudhu. Where are you watching it from?

  
  
  Looks like it is about to start. I am @ office & following it in yahoo live (UK).... I think it should come live in NBC starting 10AM. Will leave in another 40 minutes to watch....
  
  

• From: omega on Fri Jun 5 11:11:49 2009.

  Federer vs Del Potro underway....
  Federer holds his first game for 1-0
  
  

• From: omega on Fri Jun 5 11:18:28 2009.

  Yahoo live
  

  Quote:

  1-2 - Federer holds serve again without even a moment for Del Potro to gather his thoughts. The Swiss looks utterly focused for this semi-final and has started very brightly indeed, with his serve working perfectly

  .
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Jun 5 11:27:02 2009.

  DelPotro breaks fed serve.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Jun 5 11:29:31 2009.

  Backhand passing shots today are
  
  

• From: rocketboy on Fri Jun 5 11:42:28 2009.

  Del Potro the man
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Jun 5 11:42:55 2009.

  Delpotro takes first set 6-3
  
  

• From: rocketboy on Fri Jun 5 11:44:34 2009.

  enna feddy bet veipoma ?
  
  

• From: Plum on Fri Jun 5 12:05:45 2009.

  Sonna madhiriye Semis-la gaali pola...Del Potro...hmm..enna irundhalum aNNan ipdi kevalapada venaam
  
  

• From: rocketboy on Fri Jun 5 12:13:04 2009.

  Soderling is coached by Magnus Norman . Magnus Norman was once a top 5 player . If I remember correctly Sampras was no 1 , Stich was no 2 , Norman no 3 and Medvedev no 4 at that time.
  
  

• From: rocketboy on Fri Jun 5 12:16:36 2009.

  Plum wrote:

  Sonna madhiriye Semis-la gaali pola...Del Potro...hmm..enna irundhalum aNNan ipdi kevalapada venaam

  
  
  Chollavae mudiyaathu. All players look great before they play against Federer. Once they start playing their weakness will be exposed. Del Potro strong serve help pannanum.
  
  

• From: rocketboy on Fri Jun 5 12:29:55 2009.

  Federer takes second set 7-6
  
  

• From: omega on Fri Jun 5 12:41:39 2009.

  Del Potro breaks early in the 3rd set..
  
  

• From: directhit on Fri Jun 5 12:50:37 2009.

  mm a five set match with Fed to win
  
  live links anyone?
  
  

• From: omega on Fri Jun 5 12:52:38 2009.

  DH
  http://24xtv.com/index/0-4
  
  

• From: omega on Fri Jun 5 13:03:34 2009.

  Del Potro breaks again for a 5-2 lead in the 3rd set.
  Federer struggling to hold his serve Not looking good at all.
  
  

• From: rocketboy on Fri Jun 5 13:06:15 2009.

  Del Potro takes third set 6-2
  
  

• From: directhit on Fri Jun 5 13:16:18 2009.

  thx Omega
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Jun 5 13:24:22 2009.

  Had work. Oops things dont look good.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Jun 5 13:34:01 2009.

  Fedex breaks in the 4th set.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Jun 5 13:36:20 2009.

  Up by 4-1.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Jun 5 13:36:47 2009.

  Bet vekkura alavukku namma kittae panam kedayadhu .
  

  rocketboy wrote:

  enna feddy bet veipoma ?

  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Jun 5 13:42:40 2009.

  Second break of serve by federer. Should serve for the set now.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Jun 5 13:44:30 2009.

  4th set Federer.
  
  

• From: omega on Fri Jun 5 13:47:22 2009.

  Quote:

  1-6 - Two aces in a row wrap up another service hold to love and Federer has levelled the match again. He goes off for a bathroom break before the decider.

  
  
  
  Payangara tension pola Who is going to hold the nerve?
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Jun 5 13:50:42 2009.

  Fed breaks del potro's 1st game in the fifth set.
  
  

• From: omega on Fri Jun 5 13:52:57 2009.

  ajithfederer wrote:

  Fed breaks del potro's 1st game in the fifth set.

  
  
  He needs to hold his serve somehow...
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Jun 5 13:54:37 2009.

  He better hold. Kaalai-lerndhu avanavan saapidama match paathutu irukein .
  
  2-0 Fed
  

  omega wrote:

  ajithfederer wrote: Fed breaks del potro's 1st game in the fifth set. He needs to hold his serve somehow...

  
  

• From: omega on Fri Jun 5 13:54:55 2009.

  Quote:

  0-1 - FEDERER BREAKS!!! Dominant stuff with the forehand sees him earn another break point and then great defensive play on the next point sees him earn his sixth game in a row. Chants of "Roger, Roger" from the Parisian crowd. They want it to be his year and it looks like the dream is still very much alive.

  
  
  
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Jun 5 13:55:56 2009.

  His dropshots .
  
  

• From: omega on Fri Jun 5 13:56:04 2009.

  AF,
  
  I am @ work now. How is he playing 5th set?? I mean is he really attacking or just letting the other guy make mistake??
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Jun 5 13:57:13 2009.

  He is attacking del potro'sgame. Del potro's first serve percentage has dropped.
  
  

• From: omega on Fri Jun 5 13:57:43 2009.

  I am reminded of the first SF, when Gonzu was leading 4-1 & lost it from there....Hope Federer doesn't let that happen.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Jun 5 14:03:42 2009.

  Omega,
  
  Fed holds at 3-1/
  
  

• From: omega on Fri Jun 5 14:07:52 2009.

  tenson............
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Jun 5 14:10:10 2009.

  Fed 3 - potro 2
  
  Fed to serve now,
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Jun 5 14:13:52 2009.

  Del potro breaks federer
  
  

• From: rocketboy on Fri Jun 5 14:14:10 2009.

  Come on Potro 3-3
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Jun 5 14:16:17 2009.

  3 break point chances for federer
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Jun 5 14:18:58 2009.

  Streaming gone!!
  
  

• From: rocketboy on Fri Jun 5 14:20:09 2009.

  Federer 4-3
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Jun 5 14:20:13 2009.

  Fed breaks again 4-3
  
  Fed has to better get his act right for the finals. This sloppy service game act won't fetch a French crown.
  
  

• From: omega on Fri Jun 5 14:20:53 2009.

  Full of drama I guess.........Hope Federer holds from now on...
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Jun 5 14:24:50 2009.

  Omega fed 5- potro 3
  
  Potro 2 serve.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Jun 5 14:28:06 2009.

  Potro double faults again for deuce.
  
  

• From: rocketboy on Fri Jun 5 14:28:13 2009.

  Potro loses steam.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Jun 5 14:30:11 2009.

  Fed has to serve for the match/finals.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Jun 5 14:31:57 2009.

  Fed 30-0
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Jun 5 14:34:06 2009.

  Match federer
  
  Del potro . He was defeated in straight sets (double bagel)by federer in the Australian open this year. Huge improvement and this is only first half of the season.
  
  

• From: omega on Fri Jun 5 14:35:49 2009.

  for both the players...
  Federer...
  
  Both the SF were classics.
  
  So Muradan Muthu vs Roger Federer.
  Roger is 4 sets.....
  
  

• From: rocketboy on Fri Jun 5 14:37:04 2009.

  Two terrific matches. We saw Gonzo losing a match he shouldhave won and Federer coming back from the brink to win the match. A Nadal would have made all the difference.
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Jun 5 15:19:12 2009.

  Rafael Nadal has withdrawn from next week's Aegon Championships at Queen's Club because of "ongoing knee problems".
  
  And hence he loses another 450 ranking points and his tally will be 12690 at 15th June 2009. Since Federer equalled his last year's performance in French (i.e making it to the finals) he won't lose any ranking pooints but will gain 600 points if he wins fo.
  
  

• From: m_23_bayarea on Fri Jun 5 15:24:34 2009.

  ajithfederer wrote:

  Match federer Del potro . He was defeated in straight sets (double bagel)by federer in the Australian open this year. Huge improvement and this is only first half of the season.

  
  
  Can't wait for Federer to win the 1st French Open...
  
  

• From: omega on Fri Jun 5 15:42:38 2009.

  m_23_bayarea wrote:

  ajithfederer wrote: Match federer Del potro . He was defeated in straight sets (double bagel)by federer in the Australian open this year. Huge improvement and this is only first half of the season. Can't wait for Federer to win the 1st French Open...

  
  
  Bay,
  
  Is it a honest wish or is it that you are being sarcastic??
  I know, you did want Pete's record to be intact.
  
  

• From: m_23_bayarea on Fri Jun 5 15:44:39 2009.

  omega wrote:

  Bay, Is it a honest wish or is it that you are being sarcastic?? I know, you did want Pete's record to be intact.

  
  
  Come on, I was being honest! I was really saddened by my past favorites Sampras and Becker not being able to pull off even a single French Open. I truly wish at least my current favorite Federer can pull it off...
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Fri Jun 5 15:44:46 2009.

  http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/tennis/article6438306.ece
  From Times Online
  June 5, 2009
  Fears for Rafael Nadal's long-term future after withdrawal from Queen's
  
  (Andres Kudacki)
  
  Nadal's all-action style of play may be damaging his body
  Barry Flatman, Sunday Times Tennis Correspondent
  
  To say Rafael Nadal’s decision not to defend his Queen’s Club title next week puts his Wimbledon participation in doubt is probably jumping to false conclusions. However, the concern for the long-term future of the world No 1 is once again brought starkly into focus with those troublesome knees.
  
  Nadal today announced that he had forced to withdraw from the Aegon Championships which begin on Monday after doctors, who examined his knees after an intensive schedule on clay, advised him to rest.
  
  The warning signs have been flashing for the hugely popular Spaniard for several years. Many have stated that his style of play could not be more brutal on his body. The knees, or to be more specific the tendons, suffer the brunt of the pounding.
  
  “I have been having some problems in the past months with my knees, that's no secret, that did not allow me to compete always at 100 per cent.," Nadal said. "I need to work with my team to recover well, work on my physical condition to be at my top form and get ready for the grass to play at Wimbledon.”
  
  Nadal’s premature exit from his beloved French Open at the hands of Robin Soderling last Sunday initially appeared to have a silver lining in that it would at least allow him a few days to rest and recuperate after an arduous spring. It was well documented that he was reluctant to play in the Madrid Open a fortnight before Roland Garros and ultimately Rafa’s inability to let down his adoring Spanish public has hurt him.
  
  Doubtless he felt bad about not being able to spearhead his nation’s team in last December’s Davis Cup final in Argentina when the knees again waved the white flag of submission after too much play. Throughout the clay court season, which started in early April, he fought proudly.
  
  Nadal triumphed in the principality, moved straight on to Barcelona and won again. The next week it was Rome and another title and after just a few days off he was almost forced to go to Madrid where he fought that gargantuan semi-final against Novak Djokovic that extended more than four hours before coming up, understandably, a little short, less than a day later against Roger Federer.
  
  He knew it was too much. In fact, everyone knew it was too much but the real damage is done to Nadal on the brutal hard courts on which, apart from the European spring and the truncated grass court season, most of the ATP World Tour is contested. The agonising sight of Nadal clearly in pain a couple of years ago at the US Open against compatriot David Ferrer was a sad portent of what was to come.
  
  Then just a few months ago in Rotterdam the tendonitis in his knees again effectively rendered Nadal lame for the final against a sympathetic Andy Murray. “If he stopped I wouldn’t have thought any less of him,” said the Scot. “There’s a difference of stopping when you’re not feeling great or you have a slight problem, or [when] you can’t move like he had at the end of the match.
  
  “I was thinking to myself ‘he should stop the match it’s better for him, for his knee’. I have a lot of respect for him. I don’t want to see him making his knee worse. It wasn’t particularly entertaining towards the end.”
  
  Everyone who holds the sport of tennis dear hopes that Rafa Nadal will be fit enough to defend his Wimbledon title. Many who have seen him frankly play too much for the continued health of his body over the last couple of years are racked with doubt whether we will still be watching him in a couple of years time.
  
  

• From: omega on Fri Jun 5 15:49:40 2009.

  m_23_bayarea wrote:

  omega wrote: Bay, Is it a honest wish or is it that you are being sarcastic?? I know, you did want Pete's record to be intact. Come on, I was being honest! I was really saddened by my past favorites Sampras and Becker not being able to pull off even a single French Open. I truly wish at least my current favorite Federer can pull it off...

  
  
  Great... Even if he doesn't win the finals. Just making it to the Finals 4 times in a row (in clay) is no mean achievement. I just love watching this guy. I can go on to say, that he is the most complete player (all court) I have ever watched.
  
  

• From: m_23_bayarea on Fri Jun 5 16:09:02 2009.

  omega wrote:

  m_23_bayarea wrote: omega wrote: Bay, Is it a honest wish or is it that you are being sarcastic?? I know, you did want Pete's record to be intact. Come on, I was being honest! I was really saddened by my past favorites Sampras and Becker not being able to pull off even a single French Open. I truly wish at least my current favorite Federer can pull it off... Great... Even if he doesn't win the finals. Just making it to the Finals 4 times in a row (in clay) is no mean achievement. I just love watching this guy. I can go on to say, that he is the most complete player (all court) I have ever watched.

  
  
  I can agree to that! After Sampras retired, I quit watching Tennis completely for about a couple of years, as I thought there will be no replacement or even a player of that kind of caliber. It changed when I watched Federer beat Agassi, and my hopes came back!
  
  

• From: rajeshkrv on Fri Jun 5 18:39:02 2009.

  Rafa is the best. just by one defeat no conclusions should be drawn and he is 24 still he'll win all slams and more titles than anyone
  
  

• From: Sanjeevi on Sat Jun 6 3:22:44 2009.

  All the best Federer to win FO
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sat Jun 6 10:31:01 2009.

  Kuznetsova is the french open champion.
  
  Safina loses.
  
  

• From: Plum on Sat Jun 6 11:59:00 2009.

  Finalsla gonzo vandhirundha naan confidenta oirumdhiruppen federe pathi. But muradan muthuvai samaaLichu fed jeikkaradhu romba kashtam. Enakkennamo history fed kitta tantalisinga veLayadudhunu thonudhu. Nadal illainaalum unakku aappu dhaandi final-la-nu mcenroe, borg, sampras, laver ellam solraa maadhiri oru kanavu nethu. They were all rotfl at fed
  Enakkennamo kaikketinadhu vaikettadhu fedkunu thonudhu
  This year french open tennis chamption sodermanilomg
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sat Jun 6 13:13:42 2009.

  23
  

  rajeshkrv wrote:

  Rafa is the best. just by one defeat no conclusions should be drawn and he is 24 still he'll win all slams and more titles than anyone

  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sat Jun 6 13:59:43 2009.

  Leander Paes
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sat Jun 6 14:20:54 2009.

  Rafael Nadal out of Queen's and in doubt for Wimbledon
  
  • World No1 pulls out because of ongoing knee problems
  • 'I hope I can be ready to compete at Wimbledon'
  
  Steve Bierley in Paris
  The Guardian, Saturday 6 June 2009
  
  Rafael Nadal suffered a shock fourth-round exit at the French Open. Photograph: Christophe Ena/AP
  
  The world No1, Rafael Nadal, has withdrawn from next week's Aegon Championships at Queen's and faces a battle to be fit for Wimbledon. The Spaniard, who suffered a surprise fourth-round defeat at the hands of Robin Soderling in the French Open this week, has been advised by doctors to rest because of ongoing knee problems.
  
  "I have been having some problems in the past months with my knees, that's no secret, that have not allowed me to always compete at 100%," Nadal said.
  
  "I need to work with my team to recover well, work on my physical condition to be at my top form and get ready for the grass to play at Wimbledon. I hope I can be ready to compete by then. I am very disappointed to miss Queen's and not defend the title I won last year. I enjoy playing there in front of the very knowledgeable British crowds."
  
  Toni Nadal, the player's uncle and coach, said on Spanish radio: "Wimbledon is up in the air at the moment."
  
  Andy Murray will now be No1 seed at Queen's, as he begins his preparations for Wimbledon, which starts on 22 June.
  
  Nadal, four times French Open champion, was beaten by Soderling having lost the Madrid Masters final to Roger Federer. On neither occasion did he complain of knee problems, though he has suffered from tendinitis for a couple of years. Until recently he has taped his knees above the joint. The general feeling is that Nadal has simply played too much tennis, having won his sixth grand slam title, and his first Australian Open, in January. After that there was talk that perhaps the Spaniard could achieve the calendar slam, which was last done by Rod Laver in 1969. Prior to the French Open, Nadal won clay-court Masters events in Monte Carlo and Rome and a tournament in Barcelona. Then came defeat by Soderling.
  
  Nadal had not been at his best in this clay-court season. He had lost weight earlier in the year, in order to put less pressure on his knee joints, and the pink shirt he wore at Roland Garros tended to make him look less physically imposing. But nobody was expecting such an early defeat in the French Open.
  
  His decision not to play at Queen's may be more to do with his current mental state, after losing the grand slam title that has always meant more to him than any other. It was his first-ever defeat at Roland Garros and his first loss in a five-set match on clay. Whatever the state of his knees, it was perhaps no surprise that he subsequently felt that he needed more time to regroup.
  
  Two years ago Federer, having lost the second of two French Open finals against Nadal, pulled out of the pre-Wimbledon tournament in Halle and went on to win a fifth Wimbledon title. Nadal will have the opportunity to play in a couple of exhibition matches in the week before Wimbledon, assuming that the problem with his knees has not worsened to the point of preventing him playing. That would be terrible news for both Nadal and tennis as a whole.
  
  
  

• From: omega on Sun Jun 7 9:13:20 2009.

  Federer vs Soldering Finals (FO) about to start...
  Soldering to serve...
  
  

• From: omega on Sun Jun 7 9:17:59 2009.

  Federer breaks the first game, as Soldering double faults...
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Jun 7 9:18:46 2009.

  Fed breaks
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Jun 7 9:19:36 2009.

  easy service game for fed. what a dropshot
  
  

• From: omega on Sun Jun 7 9:19:44 2009.

  Federer holds to love with a nice drop shot...
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Jun 7 9:23:03 2009.

  Double break in the first set
  
  

• From: omega on Sun Jun 7 9:24:13 2009.

  Federer breaks again to serve 3-0...
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Jun 7 9:24:32 2009.

  Andre agassi in the crowd and so is borg
  
  

• From: omega on Sun Jun 7 9:26:48 2009.

  Another easy hold for Federer to go up 4-0
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Jun 7 9:31:14 2009.

  Fed 4 - SOD 1
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Jun 7 9:33:47 2009.

  This is the kind of service game a fan would expect from fed. In 3 service games he just lost one point .
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Jun 7 9:35:50 2009.

  2 set pts for fed
  
  

• From: omega on Sun Jun 7 9:37:30 2009.

  Federer takes first set 6-1, looking rock solid now...
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Jun 7 9:37:43 2009.

  This is like federer of 04-07. 6-1 to federer.
  
  

• From: omega on Sun Jun 7 9:39:38 2009.

  ajithfederer wrote:

  This is like federer of 04-07. 6-1 to federer.

  
  
  Hope he can keep the intensity for another hour or so.
  
  

• From: omega on Sun Jun 7 9:40:51 2009.

  Easy hold in the first game of 2nd set
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Jun 7 9:47:03 2009.

  Fed 2- sod 1 (2nd set)
  
  

• From: Sanjeevi on Sun Jun 7 9:49:23 2009.

  Go federer go
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Jun 7 9:49:51 2009.

  Some bloody f!@# streaker in the crowd.
  
  

• From: Sanjeevi on Sun Jun 7 9:50:12 2009.

  Roger deserves FO title
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Jun 7 9:52:54 2009.

  Bill gates is in the crowd
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Jun 7 10:01:33 2009.

  His drop shots today are nothing less of greatness
  
  

• From: omega on Sun Jun 7 10:17:14 2009.

  The backhand down the line
  
  

• From: omega on Sun Jun 7 10:19:48 2009.

  Running forehand down the line...
  
  

• From: omega on Sun Jun 7 10:20:51 2009.

  another backhand down the line....
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Jun 7 10:22:17 2009.

  TIE BREAK
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Jun 7 10:24:13 2009.

  Aces
  
  4-1 to fed
  
  

• From: ajithfederer on Sun Jun 7 10:27:11 2009.

  One set away from French Glory
  
  

• From: omega on Sun Jun 7 10:33:39 2009.

  Federer up a break in 3rd...Serving 1-0
  
  

• From: omega on Sun Jun 7 10:35:22 2009.

  13-2 aces for Roger
  
  

• From: omega on Sun Jun 7 10:35:48 2009.

  federer holds 2-0
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Sun Jun 7 10:36:22 2009.

  Go Go Feddy!
  
  

• From: NOV on Sun Jun 7 10:36:24 2009.

  How about starting a new thread?
  
  

• From: Sanguine Sridhar on Sun Jun 7 10:37:12 2009.

  NOV wrote:

  How about starting a new thread?

  
  
  Sure thing, it took almost 3 years to complete 100 pages!
  
  

• From: NOV on Sun Jun 7 10:38:47 2009.

  sridhar
  
  

• From: omega on Sun Jun 7 11:06:24 2009.

  Roger serving to create history 30-15
  
  

• From: omega on Sun Jun 7 11:07:10 2009.

  Roger facing a break point 30-40...Can he hold to finish it off
  
  

• From: omega on Sun Jun 7 11:08:23 2009.

  Federer to serve Match point....40-30....
  
  

• From: omega on Sun Jun 7 11:09:58 2009.

  History is created....Roger gets French Open to complete career grandslam & tie it with Pete for 14th GS title...
  
  
  
  

• From: mgb on Sun Jun 7 12:24:04 2009.

  Roger
  
  

• From: littlemaster1982 on Sun Jun 7 12:25:46 2009.

  Federer
  
  

• From: Plum on Sun Jun 7 13:28:29 2009.

  habba, negative strategy succesful! aNNan Federer-ku Jey
  
  

• From: Rocky89 on Sun Jun 7 19:59:03 2009.

  Roger
  
  

• From: Sanjeevi on Mon Jun 8 1:49:24 2009.

  The Man has finally achieved
  
  Congrats Roger Federer
  
  

• From: wrap07 on Mon Jun 8 1:58:47 2009.

  Roger
  
  Agassi
  
  

• From: P_R on Mon Jun 8 2:01:16 2009.

  As we are past 100 pages we need to lock this thread.
  
  Who wants to start a new one ?
  
  

• From: crajkumar_be on Mon Jun 8 4:00:16 2009.

  Prabhu Ram wrote:

  As we are past 100 pages we need to lock this thread. Who wants to start a new one ?

  
  Sorry PR, since Feddy/Omega should/would open the new thread, let me sneak in a last one here
  
  

  Plum wrote:

  habba, negative strategy succesful! aNNan Federer-ku Jey

  
  
  In fact, i went a step further and stopped watching tennis till Nadal's exit.
  aha, ippo idha sollittadhunaala effect poidumo. Anyway, Feddy Wimbilton kaippatrina sandhippom!