Federer predicts the rankings.

Sharapova can.

Players likely to shine at Paris Masters.

 

1. Murray: That ‘absent from the tour’ syndrome is doing Andy good. He just won the second title of the year at St. Petersburg, Russia. He has had a pretty decent October so far, reaching the finals at Metz, France, and losing to Nadal in a close match at Madrid. He has moved up four ranks to No. 12 in the world.

This is proof, how much, or what, you do, is dictated by what your neighbor does, in any freaking country around the world, that has humans. Translate that to, what your classmates do, and you will understand why Murray will put everything on the line, here.

You see, Djokovic, Gasquet, Murray and Baghdatis were lumped together in one class: Future of tennis. The pride and ego gets a beating, if you are left behind in the dust. How bad it hurts you, will determine how serious you will be, to ‘catch up’.

So far, Murray appears to be hurting a lot more than Baghdatis. With that ‘absent’ syndrome adding fuel to fire, he has nowhere to go but north.

But he has a tough draw, with Djokovic in the second match of the event. Djokovic has humiliated him twice this year, in straight sets, one with a bagel. But this is a new and renewed Murray, and it is unlikely Djokovic will have that easy this time.

If he gets past Djokovic, he may go all the way, with Federer resting with his ‘tank’ early.

2. Mario Brother Ancic: Another joker with that ‘absent syndrome’ roaming like a wounded tiger. He reached the quarterfinals at Madrid, losing to Djokovic. Having been out of commission for a longer time and with lesser talent, he may not match Murray, but he can inflict some serious damage, after Federer tanks. Dangerous clown.

3. Del Potro: If he gets by Davydenko in the next round, he can create havoc in his half of the draw. He is at a career high rank, and was eliminated by Federer and Nalbandian, the eventual winners of the last two events.

4. Karlovic: He tasted some blood against Federer at Basel. If he is able to pull off an upset against Federer, watch out. He is like a volcano, ready to erupt. He has been tantalizingly close so many times, that he is so fed up with just missing it by a whisker, that he may take all that frustratin out right here.

If he gets past Federer, for whatever reason (wink, wink), and if he keeps up his recent form, no one can stop him until the semis. He has full support of two other freaks of nature, like Isner and Querrey, who are just waiting for the road to be paved by Karlovic, before they start their own destruction of these mortals and midgets.

5. Wawrinka: His ‘stay’ with Federer is now starting to pay off. Something more than just the body, has rubbed off on him. Although in Nadal’s half, he can move up higher than he has ever been in a Masters Series this time. All he needs is some alone time with Federer – for advice. WHAT? What were you thinking? You perverts.

So, there you have it!!!!!!!!!!!

Federer cannot control his laughter. Can you guess what exactly tickled him? From Gracie. Thanks.

Gracie |

This is a link to an interview during the Swiss Indoors, after Federer’s match with DelPotro. I didn’t see it originally, but I’d read about this exchange. The video has a caption translation, though I don’t know how accurate it is. Can anyone help? Pommedesuisse? Whether you fully understand it or not, it will still have you chuckling.

Will Federer tank at Paris? Duh!!!!!!!!

 

What do you think, you would do? If you were given a choice between tanking, an injury or a ‘lack of integrity crap’ fine. Do you need brain cells for this?

He is just sitting down with Davydenko, right about now, to avoid the mistakes he committed to give away that ‘lack of effort’ effort, couple of days ago.

I would suggest that you discuss this in advance: All balls to your backhand. Stand towards the right of the court, to ensure even the ones on your forehand, end up on the backhand. And then just spray the freaking court, to your heart’s content.

No one will be able to tell. Everyone will get what they want. Isn’t that, what this is all about? Making everyone happy.

Maybe Nadal could chime in too. He actually should get the ‘acting’ award for that fifth set at Wimbledon. Besides, you can call on your own experience, from the FO final and 17 break points. That was superb.

It’s always the innocent guy that gets caught. Poor Davy. But that was just a learning experience for him and everyone else.

That’s the reason, people choose individual sports. No boss. No coach. No crap about supporting your team etc. Don’t let it die. Just disguise it, and everyone will return to their crappy life happy.

Grosjean’s first trophy in five years. How did all that hard work, work out for you?

 

Or is this how you hint at retirement, these days?

Who is this kid? Don’t read the BS on the poster, just look at the face. Yeah, you lazy freaks are going to do that!!!

Weak desires will bring weak results.

 

History is replete with instances, where a human reached the pinnacle of his chosen profession, without seemingly possessing the typical traits of a winner.

Arnold Schwarzenegger is a perfect example. If you heard him say, that he wanted to be Hollywood hero, you would have laughed, if you knew anything about him. He had a heavy accent, still does, and was a champion body builder.

That’s not a typical profile of a successful Hollywood hero. In fact, each one of his qualifications, went against the standard mould of an acclaimed actor. Many bodybuilders in the past, had tried their luck at acting, but were relegated to side roles.

There was so much working against him, that it was impossible to see him getting anything other than some side roles of a tough guy in the background. So what was it, that turned everything that was negative, into positive, to create one of the most memorable Hollywood action figures of all time.

And then he did it again, the second time, to turn cold turkey and become the governor of California. Is it just luck? Maybe, some of it sprinkled here and there, but that cannot get you the success he has had in three totally isolated professions, he has chosen and succeeded at.

How about Lance Armstrong? Perfect profile of a champion cyclist? Far from it. Larry Bird? Jesse Owens? Joe Louis? Jackie Robinson? Rod Laver? The list is endless.

When desire becomes a burning obsession, it not only removes every obstacle from the path, it converts those obstacles into props, to move you up the ladder of success.

That’s what happened to Sampras after he lost to Edberg, to Federer after he beat Sampras etc. etc. That’s the switch, when turned on, leads the individual to a glorious journey. That’s what a Safin and a Baghdatis will never understand.

Without that burning desire, you are trying to navigate a ocean with a small boat. Sooner or later, it is destined to crash. Strong desire will bring strong results, and vice versa.

You don’t believe it? Just look around your own life, and notice the people who are succeeding in your family or neighborhood. They are possessed with this gift, that is driving them upward.

Talent is just a small part of the rubric. Strong desire can overcome huge hurdles, including lack of talent, within reason. You think, Lendl was one of the most talented tennis players. Not even close. Maybe McEnroe was, but he was missing the main ingredient.

Or was Sampras the most talented of the whole bunch? Not at all. If you have followed Federer’s game closely, you know it is not true. Despite the wooden rackets, and all the other crap of the ‘shut’ era, you think Laver had a better profile on paper than Emerson, as a potential winner of two calendar Grand Slams? He was 5’8″, with six footers all around him.

The freaking point is this: Federer is not winning, so consistently, mainly because of this dazzling and dynamic talent. That cannot sustain this long a run alone. It’s his strong desire, from which emanates everything, including talent, physical fitness, mental toughness, smarts to take breaks when required, you name it. That’s the root, which brings the whole package together, like an orchestra coming together to produce a masterpiece. Just talent cannot achieve that. McEnroe, Safin, Agassi, etc. are glaring examples, as ample testament.

This is the stage, when your desire becomes so intense, that it starts to burn into heat. Not just any heat – white heat. An absolute obsession. If you have never experienced that ever in your life, you have not lived.

You think, Tiger Woods possesses it? You bet. There has never been a golfer who has achieved so much so early in life. Does he fit a typical profile of a successful golfer? You’ve got to be freaking kidding me!!!!!!!!

There may come a few Djokovics here, and few Nadals there, but unless anyone of them is armed with that intangible gift, of white heat burning desire, these Federer records are not going anywhere.

Talent, hard work, practice, blah, blah, blah, will get you a Grand Slam here and there, make you some decent money, but the big prize demands that streak of fierce heat, before it will give in.

Any takers?

Check out this related post also, ‘What is that number in Federer’s mind on the no. of GS/titles? 

Describe the tennis freak on this site, part II: Gracie.

 

-What does she do for a living?

-Where does she live? Country, state, county?

-What are her interests?

-Any children.

-Married?

-What you like most about her?

-Her favorite tennis player, other than Federer?

-Her age?

-Her favorite sport, after tennis.

-Has she attended a Grand Slam event? If yes, which one?

-Has she attended any ATP tennis event in person?

-Does she have pets? If yes, which ones?

-What kind of car she drives?

-Is she in a house, condo or apartment.

-Does she have a crush on any tennis player? If yes, which one?

-Which countries has she been to?

-What’s her Zodaic sign?