Djokovic interview (ankle), highlights etc.

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The ‘semifinals’ prediction.

 

1. Federer vs Kiefer: H2H: 8-3. Although Federer has won the last seven encounters, Kiefer has been able to take a set off, in each of the last four, one at Wimbledon.

If not for the injuries, that took him off the tour for a while, Kiefer would have had a much impressive resume. It’s just that time has just run out on him. He is now 30, but he still appears to be capable of producing world class tennis, as he demonstrated against World’s No. 6 Gonzalez.

Kiefer has reached as high as No. 4 in the world (2000), and is currently ranked 112. He is not having a particularly great season, since his ranking has dipped from N0. 48 in January to 112 today. He is yet to win a title this year, to add to his 6 career titles.

It should be the end of the road for him, barring a miracle. Bagels?

2. Djokovic vs Nalbandian. H2H: 1-0. Djokovic defeated Nalbandian in their only meeting at Montreal this year, when Djokovic had that unbelievable run, dispatching the World’s top three players, back to back.

Nalbandian is looking at a totally different animal, fresh from humiliating Nadal. This is his surface, unlike Nadal, and at least this year, appears to be holding, better all around credentials than Nadal.

Although Nadal’s poor performance may have helped Nalbandian, Djokovic still cannot take him lightly. At the same time, Nalbandian cannot nurse a false sense of complacency, after that victory. He has to keep it in perspective, to not disturb his game against Djokovic.

Djokovic should also note the wreckage Nalbandian has left behind: Berdych, young Del Potro and then Nadal. All that cannot be achieved by just chance.

But the only card Nalbandian has against Djokovic is superior physical conditioning. If Nalbandian can stretch the match, which Ancic failed at, he has a chance to dominate in the latter stages. Nalbandian is a master at five-setters, having played five this year already.

But if Djokovic is fit, and that ankle for which he called the trainer, against Ancic, has not swelled up like a tennis ball overnight, Nalbandian will have his hands full.

It is unlikely, we will see any upset, taking us to another consecutive final between Federer and Djokovic – a scene likely to play out many times, for some years.

Federer has to ‘work’ for his win against Lopez, 7-6, 6-4.

  

Federer was made to sweat, but it was still a straight set win.

But what appears to be getting scarier for the competition, is Federer’s serve. Although he served just 8 aces in this match, he lost just nine freaking points on his serve, in the entire freaking match.

He is averaging 62 percent on his first serves, for the tournament. Add the aces count and all the other crap you have coming from Federer, and suddenly the crack you had, to break Federer, has shrunk drastically.

Had Federer not squandered nine break points in the first set, the score would have been a lot different. In all, he converted just one out of 11 break points.

Goes to show, how deep a hole you are in against Federer, that so many life lines, are no guarantee, you will see the break of light.

Up next his Kiefer, who dispatched a fresher, ‘on the streak’ Gonzalez in straight sets.

Nalbandian embarrasses Nadal in straight sets, 6-1, 6-2.

 

This is exactly what Nadal was asking for, when he elected to play here. If Nadal or anyone in the world is surprised that he lost so badly, you need to cut down on the cartoons.

What surprised me, was that he came off the event without another injury, which is what he really deserved. And the auntie, should get a huge blister on her luggage, to allow this to happen.

Just because this is your home event, just because you are close to the No. 1 ranking, just because your ass is itching, just because, just because, just because. Nothing that you can place in front of that ‘just because’, can justify risking the entire future, when you are not physically ready to play.

You just had a thousand laser operations on your knee, so you can just play at the US Open. Is that a wise strategy? If you thought you could win there, despite all that, with Federer and Djokovic firing at all cylinders, on your least favorite surface, you need to count your marbles again.

And even if you had won at the US Open, would that be worth it? Like it was not even worth, coming out for this Madrid crap. If you had won here, it would have been, just to confirm that famous cliche ‘A classic loss in victory’.

How shortsighted do you, and all around you, have to be, to risk everything for such a meaningless gain?

If you don’t learn from this, and call this a season NOW, consider your career over, or at least your stay at the No. 2 post.

Nadal, you really are, as dumb as you look. Use the little grey matter, you have up there, or is it down there, instead of your body, to solve every freaking problem.

Small country ‘syndrome’.

Baghdatis has a chronic case of it. Djokovic has been able to overcome it, because of his burning desire to be No. 1 in the world.

Federer must have felt in, for sure, when he was starting, until he beat Sampras. Switzerland is known for some freaking watches, that’s all. Or some mountains. If that’s all your tiny country has to offer, it has to give you a complex, specially when you are visiting the big cats.

It’s the same as any other syndrome. Like the ‘small’ man syndrome. Just ask Oliver Rochus. Is there a ‘big man’ syndrome? If there is, there sure are no clues so far. Maybe, Karlovic just overcame that affliction.

That Koubek clown is so self-conscious of his looks, he is shooting himself in the foot with it. Get some therapy or get drunk before the match. He is giving Stepoverneck run for his money. Walks around like he is carrying the weight of the whole world.

There is a reason why Roddick, Safin, Hewitt, Blake etc. have that air of confidence, irrespective of where and whom they are playing, or what the result of the match is.

It’s like being in a school yard, with a group of the big, cool guys. You have no predator. You might get stung, once in a while, but that self image and ensuing confidence, never leaves you.

It’s called superiority and inferiority complex. .