wimbledon

Roger Federer can win another Slam provided…

I’m quite chuffed with how the camera coped, considering we were quite far back and I was lacking in tripod! (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Every time he makes a Grand Slam final nowadays, his fans go wild with delirium believing that an 18th Grand Slam is inevitable. Yet, the man comes up short. In 2014, it was Djokovic in five sets at Wimbledon.

This year, it was the Serbian again in four sets.

The Swiss last won a Grand Slam in 2012, beating Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray in succession to clinch the title. It was also the year he was last ranked No. 1.

It is this ability to clinch Slams that has eroded over the years. The 17-time-champion no longer can produce the tennis required to beat the rest of the Big Four when it matters, where it matters, in successive best-of-five encounters.

This is unlikely to change as age catches up with one the modern greats of the game.

That is the bad news.

The good news is that he is not the only one suffering a loss in invincibility.

Nadal ceded his domination over the French Open this year losing to Djokovic who in turn surrendered his chance at a Career Slam by losing to Fedex’s fellow countryman Stanislas Wawrinka in the final.

That is the other piece of good news. Novak, if Roger can’t beat you, Wawrinka surely must.

Murray is not quite among the invincibles. Yet, he is a potent force on the comeback trail.

For Roger to win another Slam, the draw must be favorable enough to have him encounter just one of the above three at any stage in the tournament and preferably not the Djoker.

This is the blueprint for (immediately) imminent Grand Slam success for the Original Man.

Magnifique Novak Djokovic wins battle royale, US Open title

Magnifique.

In a veritable slugfest lasting a little over four hours, Novak Djokovic trumped the defending champion Rafael Nadal—6-2, 6-4, 6-7 (3), 6-1—at Flushing Meadows on Monday, Sept. 12,  2011.

The No.1 seed had an answer for everything the Mallorcan threw at him—from his top-spin forehands, ripped backhands, deceptive serves and breaks of service.

If Nadal would break the Djoker’s service, Djokovic would come roaring right back with his incisive return of serve. The Spaniard was outlasted, out-rallied and outplayed by the Serb on his own terms—from the baseline.

The US Open is his fourth major and leaves only the French Open to complete a career Slam.

Continue reading →

Petra Kvitova: What she said, really meant and definitely did not

What she  said:

"It was the head."

Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova has an explanation for her first round loss at the  US Open to Romanian, Alexandra Dulgheru.

What she really meant:

“I understand psychology and physiology—if the head doesn’t function, the body parts follow.”

What she definitely didn’t:

“I’m gonna practice some soccer style headers with a tennis ball to prevent a recurrence.”

Maria Kirilenko: What she said, really meant and definitely did not

What she said:

"I didn’t catch the bouquet. All the girls tried to catch it but Dushevina came out from somewhere and stole it from me! I said okay, whatever."

Maria Kirilenko is none-too-perturbed about missing out on the bouquet at the wedding of her friend, Elena Dementieva. Dementieva married NHL star, Maxim Afinogenov, on the 16th of July, 2011 in Moscow.

What she really meant:

“All that practice catching tennis balls from ballboys (and ballgirls) came to naught. You see, there’s no mad scramble for those, on-court.”

What she definitely didn’t:

“’Okay, whatever’ wins me tennis matches.”

Andre Agassi: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

What he said:

“So Dad, please don’t ever stop telling me what to do.”

Andre Agassi, in his acceptance speech at the Newport International Tennis Hall of Fame, thanked his dad Mike for his advice over the years that included exhorting him to win Wimbledon and all the Slams, getting into the Hall of Fame, and marrying his current wife, Steff Graf.

What he really meant:

“I could always do with more validation. Thanks, Dad.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“Just don’t remind me to floss at night. (Steffi does that now.)”

Venus Williams: What she said, really meant and definitely did not

What she said:

“While I’m playing well, I’m just going to try and dominate.When I’m done, I’ll dominate somewhere else.”

Venus Williams is still struggling with her form—evinced in her World Team results. The five-time Wimbledon champion feels that she will be just as competitive in her outside interests as she is on-court, once she retires from the game.

What she really meant:

“Domination’s the name of the game—be it tennis, fashion or anything else.”

What she definitely didn’t:

“I guess that explains why Serena has more majors than me.”

Novak Djokovic: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

What he said:

"I don’t know why I ate the grass. I felt like an animal! I wanted to see how it tastes. It came spontaneously. I didn’t plan to do it. I didn’t know what to do in all my excitement and joy."

Novak Djokovic discovered a fresh way to celebrate his Wimbledon win on centre-court. He simply bit into the grass. An acquired taste, perhaps?

What he really meant:

“I’m wild, I’m me, I’m inimitable, so I’d better relish my victory with a fresh, new palate.Pâté de Foie Grass!”

What he definitely didn’t:

“If grass is for cows, I’m one.”

Novak Djokovic Has An ‘Eye of The Tiger’

"I don’t know why I ate the grass. I felt like an animal! I wanted to see how it tastes. It came spontaneously. I didn’t plan to do it. I didn’t know what to do in all my excitement and joy."

—Novak Djokovic describing his wild rite on centre-court on winning Wimbledon for the first time.

Perhaps, the slim Serb was feeling like a tiger—admittedly a grass-chewing one.

Survivor wrote a song for Rocky III in 1982 called the ‘Eye of The Tiger’.

The lyrics could very well depict the Djoker’s elation at achieving a long-held dream.

Survivor – Eye Of The Tiger (As Is Version)

Risin’ up, back on the street
Did my time, took my chances
Went the distance, now I’m back on my feet
Just a man and his will to survive

So many times, it happens too fast
You change your passion for glory
Don’t lose your grip on the dreams of the past
You must fight just to keep them alive

It’s the, eye of the tiger, it’s the thrill of the fight
Risin’ up to the challenge of our rival
And the last known survivor stalks his prey in the night
And he’s watchin’ us all with the eye of the tiger…

Face to face, out in the heat
Hangin’ tough, stayin’ hungry
They stack the odds still we take to the street
For the kill with the skill to survive

It’s the eye of the tiger, it’s the thrill of the fight
Risin’ up to the challenge of our rival
And the last known survivor stalks his prey in the night
And he’s watchin’ us all with the eye of the tiger…

Risin’ up, straight to the top
Had the guts, got the glory
Went the distance, now I’m not gonna stop
Just a man and his will to survive

It’s the, eye of the tiger, it’s the thrill of the fight
Risin’ up to the challenge of our rival
And the last known survivor stalks his prey in the night
And he’s watchin’ us all with the eye of the tiger…

The eye of the tiger…
The eye of the tiger…
The eye of the tiger…
The eye of the tiger…

Quote of the day:
A coupla months in the laboratory can save a coupla hours in the library. – Westheimer’s Discovery

Underwear, one-way streets and Central European champions

“Bjorn Loves John”—that’s what will be emblazoned on Bjorn Borg’s new line of underwear.

Mac the Mouth disclosed that he has donned the Borg name under his pants for the past 10 years. Now, he has a chance to get his own back.

The former champs are serious.

But John, why wear those undies beneath your clothes? Wear them over  like a modern-day superhero where those labels are visible to all and sundry.

A better idea would be for Bjorn to launch a special edition of ‘Borg loves Nadal’ when the Spaniard equals Bjorn’s record of 11 majors.

For a man who is immensely flattered to be compared to the inimitable Swede, there could be no bigger compliment.

But then, Armani might not be too happy about it.

For now, it’s merely a ‘Perfect 10’  for the Mallorcan.

Rafael Nadal was on his way to a third Wimbledon title and his 11th major, until he turned into a one-way path—‘Djokovic Street’. Unfortunately, traffic was not flowing his way.

The Serbian knocked out the defending champion in four sets, a thorough demolition of the man who would be ‘GOAT’. Is there a chance that we might soon be saying the same of Nadal, that he is the best ever except he was not the best of his generation?

That’s assuming the Djoker can sustain his spell of excellence and attain a stranglehold over his senior—by a year.

We shall see.

Did you know?

Petra Kvitova is the first Czech woman since Jana Novotna—in 1998—to win Wimbledon.

Jan Kodes was the last Czech man to triumph at Wimbledon in 1973 representing the erstwhile Czechoslovakia.

Novak Djokovic is the first Serbian to win the men’s title. He is the first man from a Central European country to win the title since Croatian Goran Ivanisevic in 2001.

No Central European ‘pair’ have lifted the singles title in the same year.

Quote of the day:
In science one tries to tell people, in such a way as to be understood by everyone, something that no one ever knew before. But in poetry, it’s the exact opposite. – Paul Dirac

Andy Murray: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

What he said:

‘It’s hilarious. It happens three or four times a match. I don’t find it amusing.’

Andy Murray is not amused that some fans think it a gag to start a ‘Come on, Tim’ chorus whenever he plays at Wimbledon—an obvious reference to his predecessor Tim Henman, who made four Wimbledon semis without making a single final.

What he really meant:

“Aw, come on, chaps. Tim’s retired, besides he never got to a Slam final. I have three appearances.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“Now, you know why I grew a beard this year. I was hoping they wouldn’t recognise me and leave me alone.”

“You do know, it’s not called ‘Henman Hill’ anymore.’Murray Mound’, it is!”