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Today—the 16th of January—is the eve of the 2011 Australian Open.
History will be made at the Asia-Pacific Grand Slam if Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal clinch the men’s title.
It will be Roger Federer’s 17th major. It will be a Star Trek landmark—going where no man has been before. If Nadal wins, it will be the culmination of the Rafa Slam—an event much anticipated by players and fans.
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Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes have done it again.
The Indian Express triumphed at the 2011 Aircel Chennai Open subduing the Dutch-American pair of Robin Hasse and David Martin 6-2, 6-7 (3), 10-7.
The Chennai tourney has Indian champions once more. This is the first time since 2002 that an Indian pair have inscribed their names on the trophy. It was the duo of Bhupathi and Paes who claimed it then as well.
Somdev Devvarman came close in 2009, losing to Marin Cilic in the final.
It was fitting that the duo came together in the sweltering environs of the South Indian city that boasts the best-known tennis families in India—the Krishnans and the Amritrajs, to clinch their first title this year.
Sceptics felt that the two would find it difficult to reprise their form of the late 90s and early oo’s, given their aging bodies and slower reflexes.
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Will 2011 see more head-to-head matches between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal?
The man from Mallorca certainly hopes so.
“I would love to play against Roger Federer this year a few more times because when we play each other it’s in the final, so that’s already a very good result for both of us to be in the final of important tournaments,” said Nadal.
Federer seconded the motion: “We only played twice last year in Madrid and the [Barclays] ATP World Tour Finals in London, which was a great end for both of us.There’ll be huge hype going into the new season with him going for his fourth Grand Slam in a row and me trying to defend the Australian Open title. So right off the bat we’ll have some excitement.”
The recent invitational Abu Dhabi tourney finished with Nadal edging out Federer in two sets 7-6, 7-6.
Here’s a toast to the New Year and more exciting tennis and finals between the supremoes of the sport.
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Marvel comic book fans will surely have heard the news. The Fantastic Four will no longer be a fearsome foursome. The comic book creators will dispose off one member in the January issue. Who will it be? That will be a secret unveiled early next year.
Who are the Fantastic Four?
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Two matches for charity saw the No. 1 and No.2 players in the world faceoff in Zurich and Madrid. The matches billed “Match For Africa” and “Joining Forces For the Benefit Of Children” finished with scores tied 1-1. Roger Federer was victorious 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 back home and Rafael Nadal hit back 7-6(3), 4-6, 6-1 in Spain.
The two stars rarely collide on the ATP Tour. The matches were a bonus to their multitude of fans.
Bolshoi, my pet Boxer, wishes to act in a Hollywood picture.
“I have decided that I will become a film star. I want to win an Oscar for the country.”
“Sure. And pigs will fly.” I reply.
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The WTA Tour may have shut down shop for the year. But the International Tennis Federation show rolls on. And doesn’t Sania Mirza know it.
The 24-year-old won the $75,000 Al Habtoor Tennis Challenge knocking over Serbian Bojana Jovanovski in the final 4-6, 6-3, 6-0.
The little known Serb is her nation’s No. 3. Her favourite book: The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari.
My dog, Bolshoi the Boxer, was saying,” I hear that Rafael Nadal is going to strip for Armani underwear.”
I replied, “Hmm. Is that so?”
“Yes”, he replied. “I want you to write a letter to the various underclothes manufacturers in India that I am available to model their brands.”
“I think I would cut a fine figure for VIP. VIP stands for Very Important Person and that I am.” he continues.
“Or I could shoot for Roopa. I am in excellent shape.It would make for a snug fit.”
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Somdev Devvarman continues to delight his many fans. His expressed desire to coach budding ,upcoming players from his home state has the Tripura government agog.
"As he belongs to Tripura, he would be very happy if he gets the scope to teach budding and young players from the northeastern states, where there is no dearth of talented and skilled players," Somdev’s father Pravanjan Kishore Devvarman said.
Somdev will be given a hero’s welcome when he returns home on December 26. He is currently in Texas training with Andy Roddick.
Djokovic is now truly bold, beautiful and bald. He capped a marvellous 2010 by leading Serbia to its first ever Davis Cup championship in front of a raucous, baying and partisan home crowd in Belgrade.
The Davis Cup always manages to evoke strong emotions; incredible comebacks are the need of the hour and happen more often than not.
This year’s final was no stranger to drama either. The score was even-stevens after the first day’s play. The top seeds on either side, Djokovic and Monfils justified their ranking and clinched wins over their less acclaimed opponents,Simon (6-3 6-1 7-5) and Tipsarevic (6-1 7-6(4),6-0) respectively.