US Open '13 - Victories and their Implications!

With the US Open the Grand Slam drama is over for the year. Though the tennis season still goes on for some more prestigious prizes to bag, but the stage will only be a bit lesser as compared. Even amidst quite straightforward and predictable results over the fortnight, the US Open leaves us with a lot to ponder. 

Most of the tennis pundits predicted Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams for the title and both of them did not disappoint. Unlike in Wimbledon '13, where both Rafa and Serena fail to meet the expectations of wise men and lost early. Of course, predicting isn't rocket science - everybody just goes with a bit of history and flow of current form and thankfully for the pundits, tennis champions are generally very consistent these days. 

Rafa & Serena - Heating up the Greatest of All Time Debate!

Serena Williams is dominating the women's tour like anything. Yet, the first two slams of the year somehow slipped her grasp under inspired challengers. She wanted this second slam and badly. She run through the first six rounds with minimum fuss to meet Vika in the final. Serena was the favourite but she had to really get into a dogfight before clinching the trophy. Victoria Azarenka is no Serena Williams. Her arsenal is not so wide and lethal. But she is a fierce competitor and moreover, she is not afraid of Serena. Vika has a heart of a lion and when everybody (including Williams) thought that she is done, she fought her way back in that final. By just not going away no matter what, she made Serena suffer, berate herself, even cry and eventually bring out her best to win. All credit to Williams for fending off this fightback and win 7-5, 6-7(6), 6-1.

Unlike Sharapova, who despite being in the top 3 consistently cannot hold a candle to Serena in their encounters and just fades away without a fight, Azarenka brings her best against Serena. Till now, it has not been enough to topple Serena in Grand Slams but it can now be said that the only WTA player who can consistently challenge (if not defeat) Serena is Azarenka. Like Vika said in her post-match conference, "I can't wait to face her again"; well neither can we.

When Rafael Nadal missed 7 months from injury, people said he will not win another slam outside his beloved clay. When he won back to back titles in Montreal and Cincinnati before US Open, people made him the favourite to win the slam. No wonder, everybody goes with the flow. Like Serena, Nadal also wasn't really challenged en route to the final. The anticipated and expectedly tough Quarter Final against Roger Federer never happened, as Federer faltered his end of bargain to reach there. Yet, when Novak Djokovic stood across the net in the final everybody knew it wouldn't be easy for Rafa. But Nole is nowhere close to his 2011 form and he looked not so confident in the entire match. Nadal was the more determined, more consistent and more hungry player of the two and he came out on top in four sets. The 6-2, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 scoreline had only the third set which could have gone both ways. The rest did not have that great a drama. Minus the purple patch of form that Djokovic hit in the late second and early third set, it was all Rafael Nadal's day. Djokovic still remains world no.1 but only...just. Most likely, by the year end the World No. 1 ranking would have Nadal's name written against it.

Things aren't so rosy beneath the top two's of the world on the ATP tour. Andy Murray's meek loss can be easily attributed to an inspired Stan Wawrinka but Murray needs to revisit his hunger after winning US Open and Wimbledon titles. He doesn't seem as desperate as he was and the field is so tough that any slight lack in motivation could be a lethal blow in fighting for big prizes. Roger Federer surely doesn't lack motivation like Andy. In fact, it seems that's the only thing he has as of now. He is lacking in confidence and at 32 age of course is not helping. He got steam rolled by Tommy Robredo who has never won against him in 10 previous meetings. With the current rank being 6, it will take a massive effort from Federer to bounce back at the top of the table. Yet, it's not wise to count against him like experts did after 2009 Aussie Open and a major-less 2011 season.

And more disappointingly, none of the younger lot like Raonic, Janowicz, Del Potro, Gulbis or anybody for that matter showed any promising signs to break the stranglehold of few people at the top. Not yet!

Interestingly, the winning of Serena and Rafa has heated up the debate of the Greatest of All Time once more. They both surely are already One of the Greatest and will go down in history. But somehow this non-objective, superficial debate has many participants in both spectators and experts. Serena Williams at 17 Grand Slam titles is sure to get ahead of Chris Evert & Martina Navaratilova at 18 Slams and might even challenge Steffi Graf's 22. Rafael Nadal with 13 Grand Slams is breathing right at Sampras' neck and even Federer's 17 seem very much gettable. More so, with Roger Federer in no seeming possibility of adding on to his current tally, Nadal will definitely make a run at it hoping his knees to last.

As of now, both Champions of US Open '13 will go down as all time greats but whether they'll be the Greatest in the Grand Slam tally is what we'll see. What we learned till now is - Serena Williams is undoubtedly the most dominant player at the WTA tour and Rafael Nadal just doesn't know how to give up; and he definitely is among the greatest fighters in the history of tennis.

Additional Note: In the not so popular doubles matches, the Bryan Brother's Bob and Mike were coming of wins at all previous slams this year and were gunning for a calendar grand slam. Unfortunately, they couldn't get over Paes and Stepanek in the semi's and lost a rare opportunity. Yet, Bryan Brothers are surely one of the best Doubles pair the world of tennis has seen. Also, India's Leander Paes at 40 years won his 14th Doubles Slam and is now widely regarded as a doubles legend in his own right.

The Good and the Bizarre at Cincinnati Tennis!

Like it or not, it's all happening in Cincinnati.

Marion Bartoli, the reigning Wimbledon Champion, has announced her retirement from professional tennis after her second round defeat at Cincinnati. She said the physical toll that game is taking on her is no longer bearable and after the high point at Wimby, the time seemed reasonable. She is about to turn 29 and any return prospects would not be too bright.

Seemingly, the motivation to keep going after the unexpected win at Wimbledon died and she found it best to leave on her career defining high. Her antics of relentless air swings, jumps, fist pumps and unique style of play will be missed on court. And what she will miss, with other things, is of course the opportunity to play the opening women's match at Wimbledon '14 as defending champion. She's done, most likely for good!

The highly anticipated pairing of Maria Sharapova with Jimmy Connors has come to a most abrupt halt. Yes, Maria fired (literally) the legendary Connors after just one WTA match that resulted in her first round loss at Cincy. Well, they also practised a bit together but....it's also over. Talk about giving time to the relationship here. So the highest earning women player enters the US Open without a coach in box. That's some saving!

With all these, Federer returning to his small racket becomes no news at all.

Despite all this, there is some order still left in the tennis circuit. Serena Williams is still winning in Cincinnati. So are, Djokovic, Murray, Federer, Nadal and Del Potro. They have all moved into the Quarters where some potentially explosive face off's are awaiting for Friday.

(1) Rafa vs Rog the 31st - Yes, it comes back. For the first time at QF stage (could not happen at Wimby). Nadal in superb touch. Federer really struggling. Odds not so good anyway in favour of Roger. Hope it becomes one of the 2005-2009 Fed-Nad matches that defines their rivalry. 

If you want to watch, it's 4.30 AM by IST on Saturday. Need some fire to get up and see.

(2) Azarenka vs Wozniacki - Both former World No. 1's. Baseline rallies to expect and lots to prove in this contest. And yes, two gorgeous girls in one match too.

(3) Djokovic vs Isner - A resurgent John Isner (normal for American male players in US Swing) dispatches Milos Raonic to meet World No. 1. Serve vs return contest; could really get interesting and might prove to be even better than the first two encounters.

(4) Murray vs Berdych - Only if the Berd comes to the party in form. He is way too off and on. If on, dangerous and can win; if off, well, routine win for Muzz. Murray of course will be consistent.

Enough on the platter for one day, eh?

Cincinnati: Gearing up for the US Open!

The tennis bandwagon is round the corner for the final Grand Slam of the year. After crossing Montreal, Canada with some great matches it is currently treading in Cincinnati with another Masters 1000 title for the taking.

But, it's not just the title - there's plenty more at stake. Ranking points, match practice before the US Open, a place to be the top 8 in order to qualify for World Tour Finals, psychological edge over the rivals and of course, the reputations. All the big names are present in the Cincinnati draw, fine tuning their preparations for the coming Slam. Roger Federer and Maria Sharapova, the notable absentees from Montreal Canada due to injuries, are back in the mix. 

Though these tournaments are lesser in stature compared to Grand Slams and best of three in nature, their importance cannot be undermined in the least. They may not be the clear indicators of possible winners in the coming Slam but they give a fair idea of the current form and mindset of the players. So far in the women's draw, the top seed and prime pick of all experts, Serena Williams continues to roll. She quite easily swept the field to get her hands on the title in Montreal and there is no seemingly visible obstacle to her run at Cincinnati and the US Open. Maria Sharapova, with Jimmy Connors in her box, has lost the opening round match to Sloane Stephens in Cincinnati. That coupled with the absence in Montreal, is not the best way she would like to get into the Grand Slam.

In the men's section also, the winner at Montreal, Rafael Nadal is playing some of his best tennis on the hardcourts. His win over Novak Djokovic in the semis at Montreal and the title has made people forget his first round loss at Wimbledon and he suddenly seems to be leading the pack. Even otherwise, with the exception of Wimbledon, he has played flawless since his return from injury in February this year.

As Nadal returned more aggressively from the baseline returning to being World No 3, Novak Djokovic continue to lose the stranglehold he had on Nadal in 2011. He need to find some answers here at Cincy to give himself a better chance at the US Open. Though both Djokovic and Murray lost before the finals in Montreal, Murray is freshly confident from his Wimbledon win. Having said that, he has always struggled against Nadal in the past and hasn't got a chance to face off his nemesis for quite a long time now. He'll have to confront that question sooner or later.

The resurgent Juan Martin Del Potro, victimized by losing a key point (and the match) to Raonic's dishonesty and Chair Umpire's miss, is better than last year but is yet to go the distance on holding the trophies. He seem to lose just when everybody starts taking him seriously to threaten the quartet and win his first Masters 1000. Yet, he's up there with the big four.

While, Del Potro is moving up, Roger Federer is struggling to hold on to even his current fifth spot. Being a defending champion at Cincinnati, if he doesn't reach the Semi's here he'll be falling even further deteriorating his Grand Slam chances even further with tricky draws. To top the cherry of his problems, a possible Nadal clash in the Quarter Final awaits him should both reach there. Even without looking at his record against Rafa, Federer's current form saw him losing to 3 players outside of top 50 at Wimbledon, Hamburg and Gstaad while the problematic back made him sit out Montreal altogether.

With all this to deal with at once, Roger Federer's experimentation with a 98" Wilson prototype is officially over - at least for now. He's back in Cincy with the 90" Wilson pro staff wand and has confirmed to keep it till the US Open. Having won the US Open five times in a row, he hasn't held it for the last four years. At 32, the odds are stacked against him.

At Cincy, each of the players are keen to be as ready as possible giving themselves the best chance to come out on the top. While Serena is far ahead in the WTA contenders race; at the ATP Nadal, Murray and Djokovic, in that order, are going strong with Del Potro and Federer lurking pretty far behind.

Will this week supplement us with any possible alterations in this scheme of things? Watch it out for yourself!

Between the Wimbledon and the US Open!

In tennis, there is practically no off season. But there are peaks and then not so happening times. Grand Slams of course are the ones where the greatest drama lies and right now we are somewhat in the middle of two Grand Slams; so one may call it a lull.

Wimbledon 2013 had all the ingredients like upsets, close matches, emotional new champions leading to a perfect recipe for an unpredictable two weeks of play. As Marion Bartoli and Andy Murray lifted the trophy's at the Centre Court and as former champions tumbled on course, a peek of the new world of tennis was there. Going forward, the things only get more interesting.

That is why precisely the 'lull' we talked earlier is not really dull. There is lots that is happening in the world of tennis even in these times, and players are doing their best to get ready for the US Open at the end of August. Let's have a glimpse of the current events.

The run up to the US Open is still nearly two weeks away when two back to back Masters 1000 tournaments are scheduled. Before this, you will seldom find a top four or five player in any of the lesser tournaments. As Robert Ludlum's Jason Bourne acknowledges many a times, "Rest is a weapon, don't forget that." So, this is when the best players hone this weapon.

On the contrary this year, the frontrunners of major championships Serena Williams and Roger Federer are out on court, and that too on clay. Roger Federer is making the biggest waves in the off season for several reasons. He is currently World No. 5 and is in the middle of a storm as far his form is concerned; and to top that he is playing with a new racquet. Till now, he had been using a 90" square frame racket when his competitors in Nadal, Djokovic use a 100" sq frame and Murray a 98".

Federer played in Hamburg with a black framed Wilson prototype of 98 inch sq frame which is a huge shift in the racquet size. It's never easy for a tennis player to change his or her stick and even if they do, the shift is very small or gradual like adding weight to the head, changing strings, small upgrade/change in size. Considering this and that Roger Federer is already 32, the change is mammoth. Also, to let go of the wand that has won him 17 GS titles (more than anyone else on ATP) is a great 'let go'.

To add on to the mixed responses he was getting, he lost to Frederick Delbonis (another player ranked outside top 100) in the semis at Hamburg and now almost every nook and cranny of tennis is out with a piece of advice for one of the greatest player tennis has seen. Federer also hasn't committed yet to use this racket at the US Open and he'll make that decision after having some more feel at Gstaad and maybe at even the Masters 1000's.

A bigger racket is supposed to add on more power and pop to his shots while compromising on the precision somewhat. It is also supposed to give him more options to keep the ball in play while returning. One thing that comes out positive is that - Federer is still willing to play till Rio Olympics 2016 (as he said earlier) and his early loss at Wimbledon this year has not vanquished the flame. Rather, he's willing to do whatever it takes (Racquet, Play) to hang around. Right now, the critics and some fans alike are advising him to retire while on top, leaving his legacy intact. Roger Federer so far is defying all, and wants to keep playing for his love for the game, even if he slips in rankings.

Another great champion Serena Williams won the Swedish Open couple of days back to find back the lost confidence after losing to Sabine Lisicki at Wimbledon. She's good for now and will most likely be the favourite at USO. Serena's favourite bunny to beat, Maria Sharapova is also on the change road alike Federer. Maria though isn't playing due to hamstring but has let go of her former coach (with whom she has been on a good run winning the French last year, going deep in GS and holding rank 2 currently) and hired Jimmy Conners. Yeah, the legendary Jimmy Connors! The one who coached Andy Roddick when he took Federer to five sets in 2009 Wimby Final and looked like winning it all along...till he lost. Connors would hope to do for Maria what Lendl has done for Murray.

And talking of Andy Murray, his roller coaster ride has reached to the top and he's now not only a challenger - he's winning the big ones too. His earlier nemesis' Federer and Nadal are on the low and even Djokovic isn't right at the top. Murray is resting and enjoying his Wimbledon success and will return to play the tune ups for the US Open in the quest for defending his title.

Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal are also on the rest mode for now (actually practising their butt out) to get ready for the US hard court challenge. Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic is ready for sharing the nutrition tips in his book called 'Serve to Win' which is a 'nutrition based performance guide'. It'll be launched before the USO. It'll share how changing his diet in late 2010 made him a formidable player from 2011.

Rafa, the biggest loser of Djokovic's new diet is happy fishing, playing poker and playstation in his home town Majorca for now. It'll be interesting to see how Rafa's knees hold up on faster hard courts and how Nole finds the motivation to keep Nadal and Murray away from taking the top spot.

In the current scheme of things, Federer seem to really struggle against the top three guys; Rafa surely against Nole, and Nole against Murray to a great extent. Yet, that concludes nothing. And there is one more guy, who can potentially blast off anybody, and who is more lethal on the fast hard courts and who is also a Grand Slam Champion. Yes, Juan Martin Del Potro! 

Del Potro fell short to Djokovic in the Wimbledon Semi but took enough out of him emotionally and physically to help Murray win easier than expected. Having said that, grass is his worst surface and US Open the most preferred. He's in good form and if he really wants to get back into the mix of top guys and the form of 2009; this probably is the best time and the best surface.

Federer is currently playing in his home town Gstaad and all the other big names return (well practised and rested) in the second week of August for the tune ups. The drama continues....!

Wimbledon '13: The Grand Finale!

It's time for the Men's Singles final at the Weirdest Wimbledon/Grand Slam we have seen in a while. Yet, the weirdness ends here. It's the top two seeds fighting for the right to hold the trophy. The final, does not have a Federer or Nadal in the final but it only shows that in current form Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray are better than them and rightly hold the top rankings.

What to expect on Sunday? It's very very difficult to choose between these two. Nole and Muzz, as they are fondly called, are not just close in the rankings but similar in so many other aspects. They are separated by only a week in birth; they are both extremely extremely fit; they both have very similar styles of play; both like to stay at the back of the court and hit the ball hard, retrieve every ball, quickly turning defence to offence; they both practically have no 'weak spot' in the game; they have been playing each other since the age of 11 in Juniors knowing each others game like their own; they will both have their lovely girlfriends cheering up from their respective boxes, tense as ever; they have had some epic contests in the past on all surfaces - their matches almost always going the distance.... let me stop at this...phew!

In their Juniors, Murray was the one who started dominating earlier. As they turned pro, Djokovic handled the transition better and won his first Grand Slam 4 years before Murray. But now, Murray too has won one of his own at the US Open last year. Also, this late blooming of Murray can also be attributed to the humongous pressure and expectations he was under from a entire Great Britain. Andy has that monkey off his back now and he'll be playing freely with almost all of the crowd support behind him today. Novak sure is seasoned in these kind of moments, already having six Grand Slam singles titles under his belt and he won't be easy to put away at all.

Expecting all the possible celebs and royals today again at the Centre Court Royal Box; we're certain to have a long long match. Five sets maybe, but nonetheless lengthy in nature. I believe, for the first time in a Grand Slam encounter Nole and Muzz are on an equal footing in the combination of things. The only difference of GS titles 6 to 1 is nullified by the excessive crowd support and the fact that Muzz has his first by beating Nole and an Olympic Gold beating Federer. So, now he also knows how to do it.

A definite action packed match is on the cards, no matter who wins it. A few crucial points are going to make all the difference in the world. I don't want to make a pick on this one; it's so bloody damn close from how i see it. Yet, however difficult i may find it to bet against the ever consistent World No.1....maybe just, it's time for Britain to be happy! 

Pick: Murray in Five!

Marion Bartoli - the new Wimbledon Champion!

Wimbledon has a new women's champion and a first time Grand Slam winner, in Marion Bartoli. In spite of no big names being there, the final was like a wave of fresh air. Though, it wasn't any sort of an epic as Sabine Lisicki was extremely overwhelmed by the occasion. Marion Bartoli, surely benefited from her appearance in Wimbledon 2007 final where she lost to Venus Williams, took the game to her opponent with intense demeanour and shot making winning 6-1, 6-4 fending off a late fightback by Lisicki.

It was more like a blink and miss final yesterday. Many experts believed and favoured Sabine Lisicki to take up this title. That too had good reasons. Sabine Lisicki has been very consistent on grass; She has come out winning the tough three setters against quality players even while trailing; and her list of casualties on the way were opponents like Francesca Schiavone, Samantha Stosur, Serena Williams (all Grand Slam winners), Aga Radwanska (the world no. 4). On the opposite, Marion Bartoli hasn't faced a top ten opponent on her way to the Final and not even dropped a set.

Yet, Bartoli had a comfortable win. It's not about the speculations and how well one did before the Final but also the day itself that matters. Experience plays a big role at a big occasion and Baroli being there once purely made good use of Lisicki's jitters to finish the match much before she could settle herself down.

There were tears, on both ends, for different reasons. Marion Bartoli now is a Wimbledon Champion and Sabine Lisicki will surely give herself another shot at least on grass, as she's just 23 and has a lot of tennis up her sleeve. There is only one Champion but they are both winners in what they did this year at Wimbledon. Both of them can be proud of the fortnight they had at the All England Club.

Men's Semifinals Wimbledon'13: Favourites vs Giants

Wimbledon '13 is in its final lap. The Men's semifinals are already on at the Centre Court with Djokovic and Del Potro battling right now and Murray and Janowicz next. This Wimbledon has been very different from the Grand Slams we have been used to in the last 5 years or so. But in the Men's draw, at this stage, it doesn't seem that much turbulent.

The top two seeds are yet in the draw and on course to meet in the finals as per the seedings. But, who they are contesting the semifinals against is somewhat different. Djokovic playing Del Potro instead of David Ferrer in the semi's is very understandable considering the explosive nature of play the big giant has. Del Potro's win over Ferrer is no great surprise and would not even be called an upset by any standards. So, in this half we can say, we got what we were expecting, more or less.

The other half, has British hope Andy Murray as the top seed and one of the semi finalists. He has held is game and temper to come back from two sets to love down against the resurgent Fernando Verdasco. And he faces Polish Jerzy Janowicz, instead of a speculated Nadal or Federer here. The heavyweight bottom half has lightened up to quite a great extent with Federer Nadal going out early. Murray, for sure, is the biggest beneficiary here. Let's see what to expect today as they battle for a place in the finals.

(1) Novak Djokovic vs Juan Martin Del Potro

The ever consistent World No. 1 has been meticulous in his run up to this point. He has fended off challengers like Tommy Haas and Tomas Berdych without even dropping a set. He knows he can win it, and he really wants it. But still, he would have been happier to see Ferrer on the other side than Del Potro, even if he's the favourite going in. Del Potro, has also done well and he's also here without dropping a set. He isn't in quite the form he was when he won US Open in 2009, smashing Nadal and overcoming Federer in consecutive matches, but he's nevertheless dangerous. Standing at 6'6", he's the sort of player who on his day can win over absolutely anybody...and yes, anybody it is. But he's also carrying an injured knee which did not hamper him much against Ferrer but as we all know, Djokovic is no Ferrer.

Djokovic will look to play consistent and move around Del Potro as much as possible. He'll also look to return well as JMDP has been serving very well this tournament. Del Potro will again have to serve extremely well (as Djokovic is the best returner we have) and fire his booming forehand to gain advantage.

Del Potro can in no way outplay Djokovic but he sure can out-hit anybody off the court. Only, if that rocket of a forehand is up and running today, he may just have a chance. Djokovic has advantage to get into rallies; Del Potro in finishing the point early.

Pick: Djokovic in Five! -if Del Potro's knee holds.

(2) Andy Murray vs Jerzy Janowicz

This seems like a no-contest to many. But, that surely isn't the case. Jerzy Janowicz might have benefited from not having to face Federer or Nadal but he's still come out as the best player in the quarter. He is not too popular but he has a lot of potential and whatever happens today, he's still most likely a future top 8 player. Janowicz stands at 6'8" and his serve is like a cannon down the barrel. Yet, he's not only all serve and no play. He has a very good forehand and a solid backhand to boast off. Despite all this, what he's facing is no petty task. Janowicz faces - (a) Andy Murray who's been a hell of a player (only improved further under the great Ivan Lendl); (b) who's seasoned for such big occasions and has won the US Open last year and the Olympics Gold to get the monkey off his back; (c) the overwhelming occasion of playing the Wimbledon Semifinals on the centre court with a lot of royalty and celebs to be expected; (d) the British crowd who wants Murray to win at any cost and who'll back him to the hilt.

Jerzy Janowicz has to hold his nerve and focus on his game (much easier said than done) and hope Andy Murray goes into the slump like he did against Verdasco. Murray needs to play solid and ride the support wave without thinking ahead about the Finals; and thank the Gods for giving him Jerzy instead of a more experienced player as expected.

Pick: Murray in Four! 

Serena too bites the dust! - Wimbledon'13

No expert has picked anybody other than Serena Williams to lift the trophy at SW19 this year. She has been on a 34 match unbeaten run, has been far ahead of her competitors this year and was coming off a French Open victory recently. However, this Wimbledon hasn't been kind to these kind of statistics.

Come Sabine Lisicki, No. 23 ranked German from the lands of legendary Steffi Graf but nowhere close to Graf in terms of tennis success, and sweeps past the 16 time Grand Slam Champion Serena to reach the Quarter Finals this year. Lisicki still is no novice when it comes to play at the grass.

I like her game because she's aggressive, has a big serve and ground strokes and has been a Semi and Quarter Finalist in the past couple of years at Wimbledon. But that itself does not suffice to beat Serena Williams on the green courts where she is a five time champion.

But as we all know very well by now, Wimbledon '13 is different and unkind to past champions (Novak is still there). Lisicki caught Serena off guard with her power game to win the first set 6-2 in almost three quarters of an hour. Serena demolished Lisicki in the second 6 games to 1 in mere 27 minutes to ward off any hopes of the upset. Nobody thought otherwise when Serena went a break up in the third to lead 3-1. But, i guess, the upsets have raised the belief quotients of the underdogs like never before. Sabine Lisicki produced some scintillating 'boom boom' game of her own and romped off to take the set 6-4 and thus, the match.

She outplayed Williams in terms of hitting winners and saved a lot of break points (11 out of 16) while breaking 5 times in 8 opportunities. She did what nobody has done to Serena in last 34 matches...register a win!

But looking at the upset brigade this year, the next round results hasn't been anything close even when the opponents are no big guns. Steve Darcis after beating Nadal couldn't play due to a shoulder injury; Sergiy Stakhovsky coming from his win over Roger Federer gets straight setted by Jurgen Melzer and Sharapova conqueror De Brito lost to another unseeded player Karin Knapp in two sets.

One of the reasons for this is the emotional fatigue to overcome a champion, along with the attention and limelight that come along with it. It shows how great players become great. They do it day in and day out...never going away! Still, Sabine Lisicki will be looking to change this 'pattern' and go deep in the draw. Maybe, even make a title run. She sure has the game, but does she has it in the head? That is to be seen. That, in tennis, is the difference between a good player and a great player. That, is the difference between the top 8 player and a 100th ranked player.

For Serena, she sure joins the elite club this year, with Sharapova, Azarenka, Federer, Nadal and many more...unwillingly though!

Federer Floored: Weird Wimbledon Wednesday...!

Rafael Nadal's first round loss on Monday was a huge upset. Federer though pushes him one down in that list with one of his own two days later!

Roger Federer! Such a loss, 10 years after his first triumph at All England Club though he came in as the defending champion. And guess, who has just tweeted in at Wimbledon tweets....? Andy Roddick. He says, "Well, this is very interesting." Yes, he was denied a lot by Federer but it's not to settle some score or so. Without Nadal and Federer within first two rounds any tournament will become interesting. It hasn't happened often in almost a decade.

Federer went out in four sets without being able to threaten his serve in any way. He only broke him once, but that was when he was himself down one in the fourth. He had chances, he had openings, but each time the door was shut by Sergiy Stakhovsky with a big serve or confident shot making. Sta...kho...whatever! Sergiy is 116 in the world, never gone beyond round 3 at any Grand Slam; but that is all history. Today, he is the winner over Federer and neither his own career history nor Federer's great past could do anything to stop him from taking on the glory. And like i said with Nadal, it's not about how bad Federer played but how well Sergiy played to defy him. He held on; solid & tough! It's for him to savour forever.

Not many believed Federer to go, even when it went to the fourth set tie-breaker; he has turned it around too many times at Slams before. In the wake of "oh no", "it can't be", "not possible", Federer went on to complete the shocker. Guess, with so many other things, it's a way of nature to tell all people that with time - everything shall pass. Nobody rules forever. Time catches up with you, no matter who you are!

I am not saying that Federer is all gone and will retire tomorrow. Most likely, he'll not. Most champions want to go out on a high and he can still have a last hurrah. But that is without denying the fact that he is not the player he once was, which is quite a natural phenomenon in sport with age. This ends the unmatched run of consistency (36 consecutive Grand Slam Quarter Finals) he has accumulated starting with Wimbledon 2004. In Nine Years, he never lost before Grand Slam Quarters. That is something!

We as people and as fans, we never want to lose our loved ones and never want good things to end in life. But it is also good in a way. It gives the opportunity for the next in line's to come and take the stage. I absolutely love this process of ageing and natural removal. Had Bradman not gone with time, a Tendulkar would never have emerged. Had Laver, Rosewell, Conners, Borg, McEnroe, Sampras and Agassi not gone, a Federer would not have raised the bar.

As a fan, i may feel bad in Federer's loss but i feel happy in what he has done in all the years before this loss.  The accuracy of the serve, the elegance of the one handed backhand, the on court movement akin to a ballet dancer and the 'liquid whip' of the Forehand, which McEnroe termed as the Greatest Shot ever in Tennis are still around for some more time for all to enjoy. He may not win a lot, but the joy of watching the 'effortless' game will still be there.

Till Wimbledon 2003, critics and fans wondered if he'll ever do justice to his huge talent and fulfil his potential  or will he be like so many other talents to never reach the heights. In 2013, that question is answered beyond reasonable imaginations and there could be more.

What's also interesting is now players like Darcis and Stakhovsky ranked way below are not getting bogged down by the might and aura of players like Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and Murray and are believing in themselves to win. That's a great sign. Sergiy Stakhovsky said today after defeating Federer, "With him, it's like you are playing against two players. One, as a player and two, is his aura. "Each upset gives a lot of hope to the underdogs and the results on Day 3 at Wimbledon 2013 attests to that. 

Today Azarenka, Sharapova, Jankovic, Hewitt, Tsonga, Wozniacki, Ivanovic, Isner and Cilic were the top seeds to tumble along with the Big Rog. There were injuries to few, a lot many tumbles, few complaints about the courts and their slippery nature but upsets nevertheless. We'll come to see whether this weirdness will continue in the days to come or the contenders Nole, Muzz and Williams will be able to defy their lesser successful counterparts from more such upsets. 

For some fans and tennis lovers, it's all over with Rafa, Rog, Maria and Vika....for the rest it's just beginning to get interesting!

Rafael Nadal: Grass not so green!

It's over for Rafael Nadal at this year's Wimbledon. Yes! It is gonna take time to sink in. First round loss for the reigning French Open Champion. He went out in the second round last year to Lukas Rosol, the bad knees came into picture soon after, but he couldn't even make it to the second round this year.

There is a certain Steve Darcis (no we don't need to know him; he's ranked 135 in the world....35 behind Lukas Rosol also) to credit for that who served and volleyed (yes, you heard it right...some crazy people still do that) Rafael Nadal out of the grass courts of Wimbledon. And he did it in some style 7-6, 7-6, 6-4....a straight set win over the two time Wimbledon champion.

Darcis went for his shots, even after he missed them, he served well and moved ahead to the net even when he was passed by Nadal. Simple game plan, extremely well executed. He also held his nerve quite remarkably as he saw three set points went by in the second set tiebreaker. Steve Darcis held his serve in the third with the prospect of causing the biggest upset of this century, yet not letting it mess with his head. 

And, for the people speculating on the reasons of Nadal's first round exit, i would like to give all the credit to Mr. Darcis for the way he played and held his nerve. But how can we complete any write up on Nadal without talking about his beloved knees. No we don't! He moved absolutely fine in the first two sets but yes, after the early break in the third set, he moved a bit hindered. That knee surely must have a nerve directly connected to Nadal's brain; maybe getting an 'upset alert'.

Nadal's is a great player, no doubt, with a troubled knee (factored in because of his grinding style of play), but giving the credit to the knee and talking too much about it after losses (Eg. Rosol, Soderling) does not do much good to his image. We'll see in the days to come, if all the blame will still be cast on to the poor knees. One has to feel for them, they take immense physical load and even the blame....phew!

Like i said, when i started writing about Wimbledon on this blog, Grass causes upsets. It suits attacking players. We have one.... a big one! The great prospect of a Roger-Rafa QF showdown is now 'poof' in the air but there is not much opening of the draw or anything. As long as the top three players are around in the draw, it's impossible for anybody else to rejoice.

Grass makes you look older and slower a bit earlier than the other surfaces; coz it's the fastest. When Sampras went out to a 19 year old Federer in 2001 at Wimbledon, his decline was registered. When Federer lost to Tomas Berdych at Wimbledon Quarter Finals in 2010, his decline was spoken of. Then Tsonga blasted off Federer next year making him look more vulnerable. Sampras never won Wimbledon after that loss to Federer; Federer has managed only one in three years after that Berdych loss.

Nadal has now had two upset losses here in two years. Is the curve bending downwards? We'll come to see that in the near future. But for sure that curve doesn't apply on the red clay. He can keep winning there for....what, another 8 years?

P.S. - Nobody will talk about it with so much focus on Nadal's shock exit but Mr. Defending Champ has romped off to a comfortable 6-3, 6-2, 6-0 win over Victor Hanescu. Ten years after his first Wimbledon crown, Roger Federer is still gunning for Major titles and at Wimbledon, he'll always have a chance. It's his territory!




And finally, adding this pic as an afterthought, since most people have never known how Steve Darcis looks like. He, after all, is the man of the moment :)

Wimble-dawn!

The wait is over, the heat is on. A fortnight of play, seven consecutive match wins (best of five set matches for men) to get the names etched on the prestigious Wimbledon crown. Wimbledon begins today on the lawns of All England Club. In accordance with the tradition, each year the men's defending champion opens the play at the centre court. Roger Federer will yet again (for the Eighth time) do the honours; against Victor Hanescu.

Adding to Federer, the line up for the opening Monday is star studded. Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal, Maria Sharapova, Victoria Azarenka all have their opening round matches today. 

As a result, players like Nadal and Azarenka will only get to play on Court 1 while Federer, Murray and Sharapova will take the Centre Court. Anyway, none of them will be hoping to hang around in their respective courts for too long. It's only their respective challengers who would hope for a match of their lifetime to cause some turbulence in the tall order.

Other than the star show, there are some interesting contests also that are brewing today. On Court 1, former world no.1 and Wimbledon champion Lleyton 'fight till you fall' Hewitt takes on Swiss No. 2 Stanislas Wawrinka - the 11th seed, in what promises to be a mouth watering clash. Hewitt is not a title contender these days but he really likes to take out a couple of seeds in the opening rounds of the Slams. Will Stan be up for him?

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga takes on young hope David Goffin, who might just give him a few anxious moments to start the tournament. Though an upset is unlikely, a set at best might be for Goffin's taking.

Marin Cilic, though being the tenth seed, is constantly struggling in slams and will have to put his act together to pass the tough test in Cypriot Marcos Baghadatis. Baghadatis, like Hewitt, is past his best days but that can only fuel his thirst to go deeper in the draw.

On the women's side, the bright young guns of American tennis Sloane Stephens and Jamie Hampton will have to outdo the other for advancing into the next round. Stephens, a seeded player, is a bit ahead of Hampton in the ranking race but Hampton has flatter ground strokes and more compatible game for the grass. Also, Stephens run since defeating Serena in Aussie Open hasn't been very good. An upset may be on the cards.

Nevertheless, the match-ups, anticipation and results will keep on happening for the next two weeks. As the pre-tournament preparations are over, the players are warmed up for glory, let's get into our seats to enjoy the show. As they say in Tennis, it's....TIME!

Wimbledon 2013 Draw: Federer-Nadal set for Quarter Final showdown!

Rafael Nadal vs David Ferrer in 2013 Roland Garros Final. Nadal won the trophy with Ferrer's demolition, Ferrer still won the No. 4 ranking. That's how the ATP Ranking system works, where players have to defend the points they won last year.

Nadal seeded fifth at Wimbledon creates problems both for him and for one of the top four guys. Plainly, it meant that, he'll be facing one of the top four seeds in the Wimby Quarters (if no upset is caused). And putting an end to the speculation, today's draw announced that 'not so lucky' player as....Roger Federer, the defending champion! 

At least, the British fans would have heaved a sigh of relief but not for long as the winner of this Quarter Final can meet Murray in the semifinals.

As per the Draw, the potential Quarter Finals at Wimbledon'13 will look like:

• Novak Djokovic (1) vs Tomas Berdych
• David Ferrer (4) vs Juan Martin Del Potro

• Roger Federer (3) vs Rafael Nadal
• Andy Murray (2) vs Jo Wilfried Tsonga

So, clearly Novak Djokovic has a GREAT advantage. As he sits comfortably in the top half of the draw, all the other three contenders share the bottom half. It also means, Djokovic needs to defeat ONLY one out of Nadal, Federer or Murray on his way to win the title. Jackpot....isn't it!

On the contrary, the toughest way to negotiate is for both Federer and Nadal. Unfortunately, for any tournament and fans, only one of them is going to reach the last four stage. Also, if one of them has to win a title, he'll have to potentially defeat the other, Murray and Djokovic in three consecutive matches. That's hell of a task for anybody.

Again, all this is considering there are no upsets on the way and the seeds hold. Still, the draw is called 'lucky' and proves to be so for some and the opposite for some. Novak Djokovic will be the happiest man out of this draw, Murray quite ok and neutral with it....but Federer and Nadal facing in the Quarter Finals of a Slam....well, its 2013 - how much has changed in five years, when they played that epic final.

But life isn't fair always! So, if one of them wants to win this title, he has to do it the hard way. And who better than the two of them, 29 GS Singles titles between them, a great rivalry to beckon, one owns the other in head to head, the other practically owns Wimbledon....fighting it out one more time! Though it is a bit early in the tournament, it's still the clash of the champions; let's relish till it lasts....!

Happy Watching :)

It's Grass, It's Wimbledon!

Change is in the air! Green is in! The red clay is no more to be seen, the colourful clothings also go and the whites come in. We'll also have some royal guests in the box. But more than that, the grinders go and the first strike tennis comes back.

Wimbledon separates itself from the other Grand Slams in history, tradition, the uniqueness of surface and the pull to join the league of greats who have won here. Wimbledon has it all. And from 2009 its centre court also has a retractable roof. However, what makes it the most special is the fact that its the ONLY Grand Slam that is played on grass. 

In 1982, the great Ivan Lendl skipped Wimbledon and went for a holiday, famously quoting, "Grass is for the cows." He must have regretted that. After 1982, he tried several times but he is the best player in the history to have never won on the grass of Wimbledon.

The grass season is very very small. Two weeks at Wimbledon (that too not for all) and two weeks before that. But no Masters 1000 or even ATP 500 - just a few ATP 250 tourneys. So the less it is, the better it is to savour while it lasts. Actually, we all know the grass courts are hard to maintain and to manage them over the year for one tournament does not seem to be a great idea for many investors. 

Having said that, grass is for the shot makers. It is exciting because it produces more upsets than any other surface. Remember, Lukas Rosol vs Rafael Nadal 2012. They are the fastest courts in tennis, with the ball skidding and snatching away the time to grind in the rallies. Serving is strength, the volleys are rewarded, the top spin passing shots are difficult to execute and the ball stays low to enhance powerful drives but even the slices are pretty useful. Basically, it encourages an all court game and versatile players succeed more here.

Still, purists believe the courts of Wimbledon are not what they used to be. They have grown slower and slower in the first decade of 21st century which can be seen from the gradual demise of the serve-volley game. Baseline exchanges have increased and the grinders have a fair chance as well. Still, it's still grass.

In the tune up for the event, the reigning French Open champion Rafa Nadal and world number one Novak Djokovic have decided to keep out of the events and enter directly at Wimby. The other two - Federer and Murray have won at Halle and Queens respectively to set themselves adequately for the Lawns.

Player Dynamics

No surprises here. Djokovic, Murray, Federer and Nadal are the top contenders without doubt. The rest of the field like Tsonga, Del Potro, Berdych can cause upsets but does not have the fire power and sustenance to go all the way.

Let's assess the top four briefly:

Rafael Nadal: Back and back at his best. With virtually no points to defend from here on till next years Aussie Open (having been out for 7 months last year), and having won the French by defeating Djokovic on the way, his confidence buldging like his biceps. He'll be ready to make the title run and the run for the World No. 1 position as well. Rest three are all under pressure. He just needs to adjust better to grass in the earlier rounds to avoid upsets. Also, his seeding (5) may put him against one of the top seeds in the Quarters itself.

Novak Djokovic: He'll be hungry, both for title and to hold on to the top spot. Losing to Nadal at French once again must have been hard to swallow and he'll have to work hard to put it together again. He lost to Federer last year and understands the increased threat with Nadal's return. Consistency has been the concern area for him recently.

Andy Murray: He skipped Roland Garros to be fit and fighting at Wimbledon. He is more than hungry and its in front of his home crowd. He had a tough loss last year but that made him more determined and he got rewarded at Olympics and US Open. Just a chink in the armour here, Nadal wasn't around. He has never defeated Rafa in a Grand Slam. Well, you gotta beat everyone around to gain the title. And dear Ivan Lendl in his box, will want one for himself too - even if its as a coach only.

Roger Federer: Not in his best form, just won his 1st title in Halle after almost an year's drought but he's the defending champion. And he did it defeating Novak and Andy in consecutive high pressure matches. This is his favourite tournament, he has reined here more than others and he'll see Wimbledon as his better chance to add to his Grand Slam glory. Still, he cannot afford off days which are more there these days. Considering recent form, the expectations will be low from him to win. Let's see if he responds otherwise like last year.

....we'll see how they all fare in the next few weeks as the draw opens on Friday 21st and the Tournament begins on Monday 24th June. Grass is greener for all tennis fans in the days to come. Happy watching :)

Roland Garros '13 - Clash of the Titans

We have all heard about the Roman gladiators. TV series and movies have made them come alive for us. It was a sport, a fun thing, involving blood and gore and even lives...just for fun! It was a spectre to prove one's might and strength over the rest and stand glorious. It may be unjustified but it pulled the crowd.

In today's more civilized world we have versions of sports with no life's at stake but no less anyhow. Sport has always been the world's biggest reality show, made even more glorified and rewarding with the technology and its reach.

Today's tennis reminds me of those Gladiatorial battles, with two individuals closed in an arena, highly skilled in an art/sport, trying to outdo the other with tactics, power, speed and skill. To come out on top is to snatch all glory and more money.

With the advent of more and more slow courts around the globe, the baseline battles have become bloody. And the two pioneers of this type of play are facing each other for the 35th time. Nadal vs Djokovic - the 35th edition. Their 6 hour+ Australian Open final led even the spectators weary. They have had epic clashes in the past and today promises to surpass.

Much is at stake for both. For Djokovic, a 1st French Open title and career slam. For Nadal, retaining the title and proving that Djokovic is not in his head. Losing to Djokovic at his favourite arena will hurt him for sure.

Conditions favour Nadal the most, so is the previous head to head and his impeccable record at the French Open - and even the weather forecast. Match-up suits Djokovic. He's 1-0 against Nadal in 2013 and that win was on Monte Carlo clay. Djokovic's backhand will play a crucial role in deciding the outcome of this match but for sure it will be a long and taxing battle.

In the other, much subdued half, because of the hype surrounding Nadal-Djoko semi, a frenchman Jo-willy takes on the Duracell battery David Ferrer for a place in the final. Despite Ferrer dominating the previous H2H, I believe the outcome is on Tsonga's racket here. He showed immense mental fortitude to dispatch Roger Federer in straights (the game always there) and I like his chances over Ferrer. But with Ferrer's tenacity and unending energy, the result may come not easy and not quick.

We are in for a feisty Friday here at the French Open and the modern day Gladiators will be all set to lighten up the arena. Let us begin!

Picks for me are (and I'll take my chances here), Djokovic in five sets and Tsonga in four sets!

Serena vs Maria - the one sided battle

As we arrive at the final match of women at French Open '13 the top two seeds have held their ground. What better than the top two players battling it out in the final of a Grand Slam? Still the expectation of a great contest may fall flat, and we might see a one sided affair.

Serena Williams is resurrected at 31 yrs of age both in fitness and motivation. She always had the skill. Her dominance of the field has been outrageous this season. In Quarter Finals, she had a tough match with experienced clay courter Svetlana Kuznetsova and for a part of the second set she must have felt threatened. However, her resolve is steely this year and helped her came through the QF in 3 sets. In semi she demolished Sara Errani in about 45 mins to earn a place in the final.

Maria Sharapova, on the other hand, is the defending champion. She had two very tough matches in QF and SF against Jelena Jankovic and Victoria Azarenka, but she made it in the third on both occasions. I think, her will is commendable and despite being 2-13 against Serena in all matches, she'll give it her best shot. Though, its a long shot.

Maria defeated Serena in 2004 Wimbledon final and looks like till date Serena is avenging her loss. She comes out extra motivated against Maria and routes her to defeat.

To me, the result would be the same in favour of Serena since Sharapova doesn't do anything different against her. Sharapova's game plan works well against everybody else but not Williams and if she is willing to change the results she must come out and play out of her comfort zone. Even then, it won't be easy.

Deep within Maria, the belief levels are low and even Sharapova's dad has said that she can't beat Williams. When such a psyche is within you and team, you sure can't.

Williams in straight sets!

Roger Federer: Will the streak end today?

It's sometimes better to avoid the anxiety of following every point in a match and speculate about it on the blog. Currently, Roger Federer is down 2 sets to 1 to Gilles Simon after winning the first set.  Well, Roger Federer has been quite consistent. He has a running streak of 35 consecutive Grand Slam Quarter Finals. That means he has not lost before Quarter Finals in a Grand Slam for almost nine years...phew!!!

However, people only noticed this Quarter Final streak when he lost to Robin Soderling in the 2010 French Open Quarterfinals. Before that, he had a streak of 23 consecutive Semifinals at the Grand Slam stage. That's what, nearly 6 years! These are huge statistics of consistency. But no record goes on forever and today seems one such day.

As Federer right now plays Gilles Simon of France in the fourth round of the French Open, things don't seem too bright for him. He played and executed pretty well to take the first set 6-1 and seemed in control in the second. Simon wasn't playing bad at all but he needed something to change the way things were proceeding. And then suddenly, at 3-3 while reaching for a backhand, Federer got the toe stuck in the sand and took a tumble. 

There wasn't any visible injury but he surely lost his rhythm and lost his next service game. Simon leveled the match winning the second set. He upped the ante in the third set where Federer seem to struggle finding his range. Simon broke Federer twice in the third set, to win the third 6-2 and take a 2 sets to 1 lead.

What remains to be seen is how well Federer fights back and whether it will suffice? But as Rocky Balboa would say, "It ain't over, till it's over." 

Day 7 @ Roland Garros: Exciting Encounters

We are nearing the half way of this year's French Open where the clashes would get only bigger and better. Let's have a look at some of today's highly anticipated battles.

1. Grigor Dimitrov vs Novak Djokovic

Last match on Phillipe Chartrier today, this is big. The formidable world no.1 facing the talented 'baby-federer'. Well, he's not that baby anymore. The bulgarian Dimitrov has already overcome Djokovic in Madrid Masters and has troubled Nadal quite a few times. He has the shots, all of them, and he will be out to prove a point. But i believe the match will be on Djokovic's racket in the best of five. His consistency will decide the course of this match. He's hungry for the only Grand Slam still not in his kitty. Dimitrov might take away a set but in the best of five, Grigor Dimitrov might not yet, hold his ground against the seasoned campaigners. Djokovic in Four!

2. Marion Bartoli vs Fransesca Schiavone

The ever restless Bartoli against the former French Open champion Schiavone. Bartoli is a power and rhythm player, Schivone has variety and all court play. Bartoli currently is higher ranked and thus more consistent. Still, at the clay court where she has won the title before, Schiavone must be able to find her way to win this match. Schiavone in three!

3. Benoit Paire vs Kei Nishikori

The french hope faces the hardworking Japanese Kei Nishikori for a place in the fourth round for a potential encounter with Rafael Nadal. Paire has got flair and Nishikori has the energy powerhouse to send back every ball. It'll be a tough match for both players but i'll give an edge to Benoit Paire for coming out better at crucial points. He is still on the rise, and we are yet to see the best of him. Paire in Four Sets!

Other notable ones: Jelena Jankovic vs Sam Stosur, Nikolay Davydenko vs Richard Gasquet and Tommy Haas vs Jon Isner (if Isner can recover from his long match against Harrison yesterday)

Roland Garros Day 6: Snippets

As it happened on Day 6 of RG, in brief.

• In a heart breaking news for the French fans, Gael Monfils' inspired run at this year's French open is over. He held three match points against Tommy Robredo but lost in five sets. The french fans will still pin their hopes on Tsonga and Benoit Paire more than the remaining french players.
• In women's draw, Sharapova, Serena Williams, Radwanska, Sara Errani, Ana Ivanovic registered easy wins in straight sets. Fransesca Schiovone struggled in her three set win over Kirsten Flipkins.
• Janko Tipsarevic prevailed over Fernando Verdasco in five sets. finishing 8-6 in the fifth. Giles Simon also went to five sets in his win over American Sam Querry. In another match, all american, John Isner came back from a two set deficit to prevail over young Ryan Harrison in five.
• David Ferrer, Jo Tsonga, Tommy Haas and Stan Wawrinka came on top in straight sets.
• The only notable upset was, the tenth seed Marin Cilic losing to Viktor Troicki in three straight sets.

Roland Garros: Federer def. Benneteau 6-3, 6-4, 7-5

Arguably the greatest player of all time, is old. His decline is inevitable. It has happened to Laver, Borg, McEnroe, Sampras and he'll not be spared. He hasn't won a single title till now in 2013 and that hasn't happened in years and years. So, is it time? Maybe. But this isn't the first time his obituaries have been written. They sprung on after he lost the Best Match of Tennis at the Lawns of Wimbledon in 2008 to the younger, stronger Rafael Nadal. And, more so this is clay. He isn't the favorite and Benneteau has done it before to him.

Anticipations were high as Federer and Benneteau walked on the court yesterday. The heavy conditions would be supporting Benneteau's big hitting and Federer's back issues tend to surface. Roger's been seen wearing a warmer inside his T for some time now during cooler conditions. And to top the speculations, he got broken in the very first game with 3 unforced errors, failing to convert break points in the 2nd, to hand a 2-0 lead to the Frenchman.

That was that. Federer pounced back finding his range and movement breaking in forth and eighth game to close the first set 6-3. The rare to see these days, the one-handed backhanded was on fire. It was solid in return and spectacular in down the line shots that leave Benneteau stranded.

Federer was on such a roll that he won 14 out of last 15 points holding the opening game of second set with ease. It needed a 'lucky' net cord in the 2nd game from Benneteau to hold serve and put a stop to Federer's momentum. In the next two sets, Federer broke Benneteau only once in each set and wrapped the victory in straights. Despite less number of breaks, he was too solid on serve, holding many games to love and was in no threat.

Benneteau was consistent in the match, never fading away, but never in control as well. He looked a bit restricted with his movement. Still, he went out today to a better player while Federer marches on another Grand Slam match of his long and legendary career. His cute twin daughters were in the box wrapped in pristine identical fur coats and he did not disappoint.

In the on-court interview, Roger Federer was asked if his daughter's in any way comprehend or understand his success, and he replied "No. They have no clue. It's better that way. But they know that i play a lot of tennis, and i go back and forth, back and forth. I come back from the courts, and i go play a match and i come to the practice and then i come back to the room. They must be, like, this guy is crazy. I don't know what he's up to." 

Well, the girls are pretty right, i say. This guy do play a lot of tennis because he's seldom upset-ted and goes deep into the draw. And i am sure they'll soon come to understand the term "tennis legend".