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The US Open 2010: The Ladies Fab Four
All good things must finally come to an end and so must this year’s US Open.
But before the tennis concludes , there’s just enough time for the artistes to hit the high notes and close the Flushing Meadows symphony on a crescendo.
The final three days will bring fans more mouth-watering, lip-smacking , engrossing wizardry, not to mention coquetry.
A quick dekko at the women’s singles semi-finalists.
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A Gallery Of Roguish Quotes At The US Open 2010
What they said, what they really meant and what they definitely didn’t.
Our beloved tennis players are eminently quotable. They can rise to the occasion and serve up wonderful sound bytes – some terrific , some terrible – when accosted at their press conferences and when grilled at interviews.
A sampling from the articulate geniuses.
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Federer Vs Nadal: Beauty Against The Beast
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Nadal and Federer, Federer and Nadal, can we mention one without naming the other?
Once upon a time, there was Roger Federer and the many dwarves. Then arrived Rafael Nadal like a light bulb whose incandescence just shone brighter and brighter. But not so much to eclipse a dwindling Federer but enough to illumine and bathe the ATP tennis courts – each taking turns at being sunbeam and moonbeam.
We have all heard talk about how graceful Federer is on the tennis court, how he is balletic , fluid of motion and a purist’s delight.
We have also lauded Rafa for his continually improving game, noted how his serve has become much more faster and accurate, and exclaimed how he keeps adding facets to his game.
But if you and I were to single out one defining characteristic of these two outstanding protagonists of the modern game, what would it be?
Quote of the day:
In great affairs men show themselves as they wish to be seen; in small things they show themselves as they are. – Nicholas Chamfort
Llodra slips a mickey to a doubting Tomas
The Has!
Ha! Ha! Ha!
Serve and volley? Ha!Ha! Ha! Serve and volley is dead!
Net play? Ha!Ha!Ha!
Are you nuts?
A woman coach? Amelie Mauresmo? Ha! Ha! Ha! You must be crazy!
These are the kinds of barbs , taunts, scorn and scathing attack you would imagine that Michaël Llodra endured when he decided to seek coaching from his compatriot Mauresmo.
Changing your game plan is never easy. Remolding and remodeling it is even harder, especially late in your career. The trick lies in not changing a lot of stuff, just a few things.
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Can Samantha Stosur Go Far At The US Open?
Samantha Stosur cuts a striking, even imposing figure on court with her trademark baseball cap and dark shades.
She brings to the tennis court her unique persona and style.
She started out as a doubles player and was ranked No. 1 in the world with Lisa Raymond.
Samantha Stosur is the Australian No.1. She goes into the US Open ranked No. 5, her highest ranking ever at Flushing Meadows.
If 2009 marked the rebirth of Stosur in her singles avatar, 2010 confirmed her status as a challenger to beware of.
2009 saw her reach the French Open semis and 2010 saw her go one better reaching the finals only to cave in to an uninhibited Schiavone. Ironically, it was Schiavone she knocked out in the first round at the 2009 edition of the French Open.
2010 has been her best year ever on the WTA tour. Her career high-ranking of five has come on the back of her stupendous showing at the French Open. This period also includes seven successive quarter-final appearances, a record of sorts.
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Four Reasons Why It Could Be Federer All The Way At Flushing Meadows
The Poached Egg
The hiring of Paul Annacone as coach appears a masterstroke in hindsight. Federer’s results and ranking since have shown an upward trajectory.
He has reached two consecutive finals: The Rogers Cup and Cincinatti Masters, winning the latter.
A new resilience and a willingness to slug it out with the best of them exemplify Federer’s ascendant star. He expects no easy wins and is willing to stay the course. This was so not the case earlier when Federer’s opponents were overawed by his reputation and gifted away easy victories.
The mortality of Federer has unlocked a new stream of consciousness in his opponents that there is life in professional tennis despite his looming presence.
As to how Annacone has added luster to Federer’s glory, the answer is still in the realm of speculation.
Roger, what is it? Is it validation? Is it motivation? Is it technical? Or is he a trophy coach?
Either way, Annacone is there to egg Federer on to his sixth US Open title.
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Dhoni’s pressing concerns
Image via Wikipedia
Post another inept batting display aided by a slew of umpiring errors, Team India slid to an abysmal loss against the Lankans on Sunday at Dambulla.
However, this article is not going to lament another inconsistent performance by Dhoni’s boys. There is probably enough media coverage of the defeat.Nor am I one of those who like to get down to it as the match progresses or as soon as it finishes.
An interesting sideshow of yesterday’s loss was that MS Dhoni and his boys refused to attend the press conference that immediately follows the match. This caused the print journalists to throw up their arms in frustration and boycott the press conference.
The captain was ostensibly busy playing football when the scribes frantically tried to contact him. What a s(h)occer!
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Spirit Of The Game:Will and Grace
The fallout of the condemnatory reaction to the no- ball incident has been swift in its dénouement.
Suraj Randiv has been suspended for the next game and fined 100% of his match fee.
Tillekaratne Dilshan has forfeited his entire match fee as well.
Image via Wikipedia
Kumara Sangakarra gets off with just a slap on the wrist – not even a perfunctory rap on the knuckles.
The Sri Lankan cricket board was quick to react and ordered an enquiry into the unsavory affair.
The Sri Lankan board comes out smelling like roses; it has been commended by the ICC for its speedy resolution of the controversy. The Spirit Of The Game has been enforced.
The same cannot be said of the other protagonists in L’affaire No Ball.
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Do our sporting heroes deserve us?
A nation gets the politicians it deserves.
By the same token, do fans get the sports stars they deserve?
Kumar Sangakarra instructed his young teammate and bowler Suraj Randiv to ensure that Sehwag be denied the single he needed to complete his century. Sangakarra was seen to have deliberately allowed four byes past earlier in Randiv’s over ensuring the scores were tied with Sehwag still stuck on ninety-nine.
The youthful Randiv bowls a blatant no ball to finish the match. His interpretation of his skipper’s exhortation was translated into controversial action. The transgression over the line was clear-cut; there was no shadow for doubt. It could not have been overlooked by the hapless umpire.
The shameful act has been debated by cricketing pundits all over the world; more so in the Sri Lankan and Indian media. Can we say that winning at all costs has now become the mantra of the hour?
This was not about winning either. It was the petulant act of a spoilt child when denied a lollipop.
“If I can’t have a win, you shall not have a century either , however well-deserved!”
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The Indian cricket team: Pace bowling riches?
Dhoni’s troubles
On Saturday, the 14th of August, 2010 , Dhoni walked out of a practice session when Dinesh Karthik was struck on the thumb by a nastily bouncing ball. The excuse given was that the practice facilities were inadequate; the pitch was underprepared and dangerous to use.
On Sunday, the 15th of August, Dhoni sought to underline his independence from the BCCI requesting that the Indian bowlers be rotated more often to allow them more rest and time to recover from their many niggles.
So what gives? Is the pressure of arguably the hottest seat in the country getting too much for Mahendra Singh Dhoni to handle?
The weight of a billion expectations is overwhelming. Is Dhoni finding the captain’s kitchen too warm for comfort?
Or is Dhoni trying to cut manic expectations of his young, troubled side?
Is he beseeching the Indian cricket fan to be more understanding, more kind, more real?
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Make Time For Sports. 