Nadal businesslike in his straight set win over Kiefer.

 
 

Nadal doesn’t have a title yet and he has not even faced Federer. Federer has no title and he has not faced Nadal yet. The big winners so far this season?

Djokovic (AO), Roddick (Dubai) and Djokovic(Indian Wells).

At two of these three important events (Dubai and Indian Wells), Nadal lost to the eventual winner (Roddick and Djokovic) and Tsonga at the AO was not too far from that slot.

To him that means Federer may not be his most feared rival anymore on hard courts. It could also mean that field might have overtaken him on that surface for good. Although he is still able to hold his own against most everybody else, but the title contenders for any given event have so far taken him out in humiliating straight sets – at all the above three tournaments.

 

Draws he has received so far have also contributed to Nadal getting deep at tournaments, as is the case here. He is not going to clash with a title contender until the finals, whether it’s Federer or Tsonga or Roddick. That’s the hump that appears to have gained height on him to the extent he is unable to find the next gear to scale that mountain. Straight set losses at that level can point to no other direction.

For the past two years, Nadal has been unable to string together any impressive wins in the second half of the season after he is done with clay. He has to extend himself so far out on clay, to just hold his current ranking that he ends up being either completely spent or injured when he comes out the other end.

He has won just five freaking hard court titles in his entire career since 2004. That works out to just one title per year.

 

Nevertheless, Nadal has shown consistency at all the events he has played so far except Rotterdam where he inexplicably lost in the second round. Other than that misstep he has reached one quarterfinal, two semifinals and one final. That’s not bad, but the kind of year Nadal is in this season, this is not even enough to hold his current ranking forget about gaining on Federer.

However, it’s encouraging to see some improvements in his hard court game this year. His first serve percentage is over 70 percent and his ace count is slowly appear to be moving up. Will that be enough to keep the wolves at bay?

Answer coming up right after the clay season ends for sure.

Is Miami the place for a hot upstart to get through?

 

With two failed attempts at the AO and Indian Wells, this could be a perfect opportunity for a hot joker to finally come through.

If you were still in coma, Tsonga went on this incredible run at the AO defeating Murray, Gasquet, Youzhny and Nadal before falling to Djokovic in the finals. Then at Indian Wells, Fish started his own tour frying Davydenko, Hewitt, Nalbandian and Federer before Djokovic again put a halt to that run.

While no one has really made a breakthrough wild run yet, but the likelihood of it happening has increased sharply due to the freaking seeds failing to sprout at Miami. With Djokovic, the only one who has stopped the two freaks already out, Federer still to find his stride and Nadal not on his most comfortable surface, the gate is wide open for some black sheep to dart in.

Can Tsonga repeat again or is Ancic ready for prime time in need to prove himself again after the long absence from the tour? Youzhny? Can’t think of anyone else who has shown any kahunas yet. 

Carrot suddenly appears closer than it has ever been for Nadal with Djokovic’s exit and the seed tumble.

 

It appears almost impossible that Federer will falter on his way to the final here, not with the clowns lined up now. Translation: Federer will gain on Nadal in the points race for the top spot.

But Nadal has just Kiefer and Mathieu to beat to not lose any points here. With Blake and possibly Berdych next before he meets Federer in the finals, there’s a good chance that Nadal can soften the impact of Federer gaining points here, by earning some of his own by potentially winning the title here.

 

And with clay season starting right after this event, Nadal could be home free. With whatever has happened so far this season, it’s reasonable for Nadal’s camp to assume that Nadal can clinch the top spot, if not narrow it down to a very manageable margin by the time the red season comes to an end.

With Djokovic falling back in the points race, Nadal can play more freely instead of looking over his shoulder for Djokovic all the time. As clay is physically more demanding, it is safe to predict that Federer’s movement will become more of an issue on the red surface.

All this is firing up Nadal like a kid in a toy store, or is it a bull in a china store? This again proves how much an individual is able to produce due to a certain event which has nothing to do with his physical game but rather what’s between the OK ears.

 

Did you watch Kobe Bryant score 53 points yesterday? It was just his second 50 plus game for this month. BTW, he was also thrown out of the game by the referee the day before that. Can you freaking put two and two together here, or do I have to spoon feed everything here?

The freaking point is this: We all have so much in reserve that never gets tapped into unless a life changing event presents itself to stimulate our brain to the extent that we are able to produce magic physically. If you have never experienced it ever, please consider yourself dead.

Federer knows he has been able to narrowly avert the take over at the AO, but his job is far from over. Unless he is able to shift gears in a hurry, his car is going down before June and the grass court season starts.

Nadal may need just reaching the tape and pinnacle once to generate so much momentum and do or die attitude that a crow bar will be required to wrest that No. 1 rank from him again. It could also lead to a drastic improvement in his hard court game out of sheer necessity to maintain his perch at the top. Would that create some excitement? You think!!!!!!!!

What exciting times. Anytime I have to post ‘post it’ notes to remind myself to ‘entertain’ goats during the day, you bet there’s more something fascinating going on elsewhere.

Louise wants to challenge all you freaks to come out of your hole and protective freaking shield. Prize: Front row, middle of the court seats at Wimbledon.

 

Louise |

right i was thinking.. if we have a bet or a competion or make prediction on who you think will make it to the finals or win. TP keeps the table on who has guessed right, i guess we will have to think who will win rather than who we want to win. thought it would add a little spice to the site
then who wins over all gets a…? maybe someone could think something up for that? what you think?

The only seeds alive so far.

1. Federer: 1

2. Nadal: 2.

3. Davydenko: 4.

4. Roddick: 6.

5. Blake: 9.

6. Berdych: 10.

This Indian Wells-Miami and Montreal-Cincinnati back to back shock is not easy to absorb.

That’s the Masters Series duet. Roland Garros-Wimbledon is the Grand Slam’s almost impossible couple.

Both Djokovic and Ivanovic are finding that out the hard way. Djokovic went out in the opening round at Cincinnati after winning Montreal, just like he did here after winning Indian Wells. Ivanovic is almost out to Davenport.

It requires special focus and experience to pull these back to back puppies out together. It starts with realizing the test ahead even before you play the opening match at the first one, and then adjusting your schedule and strategy on and off the court to assure a trophy at both events.

Isn’t Borg the only one to have pulled that rabbit out of a hat, what five times at the Grand Slam level? Both Roland Garros and Wimbledon in the same year.

Well, both Federer and Nadal have come pretty close to it last two years. Besides, the fact that Federer has won both Indian Wells-Miami and Montreal-Cincinnati combo is a testament to his game and work ethic.

Did you hear about Young throwing his racket out of the freaking stadium?

 

Yeah, at Delray Beach, Florida, in his match against Amer, Donald Young got so frustrated that he threw his racket out of the freaking stadium. Not the main one but you know the side courts.

So now as a fan you need a hard hat to be walking around the courts? Why don’t we just go for the full body armour, with the way things have been going at tennis venues lately? It would be a good idea to remain in that attire while in the stands as well.

We will let you know when it will be required at least a day after you have returned home after cheering for a player in the stands. You see it’s no longer safe to be cheering for your favorite player for fear of offending the other players’ fans. You don’t want them following you home, do you?

How soon now before the courts get flooded with rowdy fans after or during the match like in soccer? Or do we have to wait for the beer bottles and chairs first?

With even players providing a lead now, how far can the fans be?

BTW, Young was fined $5000. He went home with $1000 from the tournament as he had ’earned’ $6000 in all there.

When will the last barrier go away? I meant women earning more than men. WHAT? What were YOU thinking, you perverts?

 

Federer wins his opening round match. Has it come down to this that this makes news now?

  

The only stat that seems uncharacteristic in the entire match was the ace count from Federer: 2 to 8 from Monfils. Monfils had eight against Isner too.

So not only was Federer not able to get his serve past Monfils, his movement and anticipation has to be way off to be on equal footing with a snail like Isner, to let Monfils fire eight past him.

 

But I think it was a good enough workout for Federer, considering all potential candidates in his line up expected to provide real match play are already freaking out – Wawrinka (somehow something’s fishy here), Hewitt and Robredo. They have been replaced by Soderling, Acasuso (change the freaking name, for crying out loud) and Sela.

Not to mention he will most likely face a Davydenko instead of a Murray in the semis.

 

With Tsonga looming after Federer is done with the first three tomato cans, it’s going to be a shock, jumping in a pool with cold water from the comfort of an air-conditioned suite.

It is similar to the Haas withdrawal at Indian Wells. Only difference is this time there is at least a body, so that should be a step up or is it? Federer should make sure he pays for all their meals in his room to make sure they don’t fall sick before the match.

Federer desperately needs a close match against a quality opponent to get his confidence back. These Monfil matches are doing nothing for it.

So on paper, it’s not looking too good for Federer. The only chance of him facing real competition is only in the finals, if Nadal keeps his end of the deal. With current run up to the finals for Federer, Nadal clearly will have an edge, with the backdrop of recent developments this season, even though it’s a hard court.

Other than his potential clash with Blake, Nadal should be able to get through without much trouble. But if Blake’s match extends him, the likelihood of which is extremely high, it could level the playing field for Federer in the finals.

A title here for Federer is high and minuscule at the same time. It’s huge for obvious reasons. It’s small for obvious reasons. OK, I was lazy. What do you expect, after being day in and day out with you cheap, lazy freaking freaks?

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