Remember the last time you were nervous and why?

Most likely you were about to face something or someone you seemed least prepared for. In your case that’s the time you got beaten up on the school yard or at the parking lot. In my case, I was the one dishing it and felt the fear through the joker’s pores.

When you get nervous, you are not only not ready, but what you have gets to dissipate from you too. You think somebody is in that dilemma at this Wimbledon? You bet!!!!!!

Every time Nadal pulls out a straight set win here, it has a proportionate effect on the other side called Federer’s camp. Federer is going to feel just like all of YOU felt before that exam you were most ill prepared for. Remember the days leading upto that dooms day? The only solution was to somehow make that exam go away. Federer does have that same hope, but can Murray and the other tomato can in the semifinal make that come true? I am talking about Nadal, for all you mentally challenged freaks. Geeeeeeeeeeezzzzzzz!!!!!!!!

As is normal in such circumstances, Federer’s next few matches may not be as fluid and flowing if the nerves do get the better of him. Luckily for him, most probably he will be playing before the Nadal-Murray match to avoid any further damage to his psyche.

You see, when the fear is that you may get humiliated again and it’s stacked up against the effort required to make history that no human has ever achieved, the likelihood of the machinery moving like one unit, well oiled and all, has to be pretty bleak.

Translation: If Nadal brushes aside Murray convincingly, the current from that win will be too strong for Federer to bear. You see, it’s not how good Federer plays these days that matter any more. It’s how good Nadal is playing that appears to affect Federer more than anything else. There was ample evidence of that even before the just completed Roland Garros. What do you think would have happened to that after the bagel demolition, on both sides?

Federer’s first serve percentage, ace count and his forehand emanate mainly form his confidence and conviction of being able to win the title. Surface has some bearing on it too, but it’s not result-altering. How else do you explain the repeated failure of the forehand, the serve and the ace at every freaking match the two play together, except at Wimbledon where Federer, until now, had whole lot more confidence going in.

Translation: If Nadal is able to send a strong message with his next outing, the title is his.

Nadal calls the reporter at the presser stupid. I would have added moron, duesh bag and knucklehead too, AFTER throwing my shoe at him.

Q. Did you find it quite draining, watching the game last night? Was it hard emotionally? Did it take a lot of energy out of you?
RAFAEL NADAL: If I say that and today I won 6 3, 6 3, 6 1 I going to be very stupid, no?

You think few people might consider coming out to watch this doubles match?

Federer and Agassi vs Sampras and Nadal

Or how about:

Federer and Nadal vs Sampras and Agassi.

Best of five: Three on grass, two on clay.

Will that get lazy freaking freaks like you to get your carcasses out from under that rock? You freaking bet!!!!!!!

Nadal interview: Youzhny. From Dalia. Thanks.

DALIA

R. Nadal Interview – 30 June

Monday, 30 June 2008

R. NADAL/M. Youzhny

6 3, 6 3, 6 1

An interview with:

RAFAEL NADAL

THE MODERATOR: Questions for Rafael Nadal.

Q. How is your knee?
RAFAEL NADAL: I think fine.

Q. Have you had it checked out?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, nothing very important. That’s sure.

Q. You weren’t too concerned then, even when you had to have the restrapping? You weren’t too bothered? You felt okay, felt fine?
RAFAEL NADAL: I felt a little bit. I felt a little bit pain. I was a little bit scared because I felt something. I felt, well, crack something a little behind. But I think it’s fine, no?

Q. Was there ever a moment you thought you would have to pull out?
RAFAEL NADAL: This is a lot. No, no. I never thought about that, no.

Q. How much have you had to battle through pain in your career, and how important is that quality in you?
RAFAEL NADAL: I think I am fine. I don’t have a lot of pains. Like every professional sportsman have pain because our body’s always at a hundred percent. We go to the limit, no?
But I think no more than the rest.

Q. Can we say that today the match was easier than expected for you?
RAFAEL NADAL: Sure. 6 3, 6 3, 6 1 against one difficult opponent like Youzhny for me is very good result. I did very good match, so happy for the victory. Especially very happy because I am playing well and I’m in quarterfinals.

Q. Have you ever had the problem with your knee before? Have you had the same trouble with your knee before?
RAFAEL NADAL: Was not the knee.

Q. It was below the knee?
RAFAEL NADAL: Was behind the knee.

Q. Have you had that before?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, no, no. Was a bad movement.

Q. Could you talk us through the challenges you would face with your next opponent, Gasquet or Murray.
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, both are very good players, young players. The same age like me. Andy one less probably, yes. Young players. Good players. Both gonna be very tough opponents. I know that. I have to play my best tennis if I want to be in the semifinals.

Q. Do you think today was your most complete performance so far at Wimbledon?
RAFAEL NADAL: Today? I played well. I played very well.

Q. If it is Andy Murray in the next game, do you think the Wimbledon crowd will be a difficult thing to overcome?
RAFAEL NADAL: Wimbledon crowd always are very respectus (sic) with everybody. And with me, when I go on court, I feel the people are with me always, so that’s very nice. I just can say thank you very much for the England people and the London people. I felt the same last week in Queen’s. Well, I am very happy about the crowd here always.
I know if I play against Andy Murray, probably the crowd gonna be with him. But I think with me gonna be nice, too, no?

Q. Before the tournament started you said your idea of a dream would be for Spain to win the football and for you to win Wimbledon. How do you feel halfway now?
RAFAEL NADAL: I think for right now we have the first thing, and the second gonna be difficult.

Q. Did you celebrate last night?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, for sure I celebrate. But, you know, I play today. I can’t go out and celebrate. But at home, yes.

Q. You won 21 points at the net out of 24. What does it mean for you?
RAFAEL NADAL: Unbelievable volley (smiling).
That’s mean I was playing very good from the baseline, because when I arrive to the net, I arrive in always very good position. That’s what that mean for me.

Q. How did you celebrate the football result?
RAFAEL NADAL: Jumping.

Q. Champagne or jumping did you say?
RAFAEL NADAL: Jumping. Champagne will reserve for finish the tournament.

Q. Where did you watch it and who was with you?
RAFAEL NADAL: We watch it here at home with my team and the team of Feliciano López. There like 10 persons, 11, 12. I don’t know.

Q. Have you sent any messages of congratulations to any of the players?
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, I send to Casillas, sure.

Q. Did you find it quite draining, watching the game last night? Was it hard emotionally? Did it take a lot of energy out of you?
RAFAEL NADAL: If I say that and today I won 6 3, 6 3, 6 1 I going to be very stupid, no?

Q. If Andy Murray doesn’t win Wimbledon, do you think the crowd here would like you to win it more than anybody else now?
RAFAEL NADAL: Ask the crowd. I am not nobody for say what the crowd wants. I just can say when I go on court I feel the crowd support me a lot.

Give us the freaking ‘schedule of play’ for men and women separately for crying out loud. Geeezzz!!!!!

You have to freaking go through the whole BS to pick mens matches. Why can’t you freaking have it for mens and womens separately like the results or the draws?

Nadal defeats Youzhny in straights to set up his toughest match of the event so far against Murray.

Nadal has been successful in taming his ‘off-clay’ demons this season. He has defeated Blake twice on hard courts. In his last five encounters against Youzhny, Nadal has now won four of them. While Youzhny may have slipped a little but then Nadal has clearly gained huge on surfaces not called clay.

But Nadal’s next match will probably draw the fanfare Federer’s match against Djokovic was supposed to build at semifinals. Murray just dispatched Gasquet in five sets purely feeding off the home court frenzy from local fans. Nadal in his current showing and with stingy time on court so far, is in full flight. His determination to win this thing has only grown even more berserk after last year’s loss to Federer in the finals here. Add Spain’s win at the Euro Cup and Nadal is as close to a real raging bull as you can get.

But Murray himself must be coming in on his own high, having defeated some quality jokers on his way here – Santoro, Malisse, Haas and Gasquet. Murray has lost three sets so far and is first serve percentage is in the early sixties. But he is close to averaging 12 aces per match. Besides, he has better defense than any of the jokers Nadal has faced so far. Those two facts make it difficult for Nadal to get his breaks as easily he has had them.

But playing Murray could be a perfect set up for Nadal to peak just around the right time. His semifinal match is likely to be a foregone conclusion. And the prospect of facing Federer in the finals looking more and more a certainty, this Murray match will have a lot to do, if Nadal wins the title here.

Can Murray pull off an upset? Maybe. After all, he is at home and on his favorite surface. His defensive skills are far superior than most on the tour, allowing him a shot against practically anyone. It was one of the main reason he took out Federer at Dubai in the opening round. But even with all that firepower, Nadal still appears much larger. Problem with Nadal’s knees is the only way Murray can hope for any break.

Nevertheless, the match is guaranteed to showcase some of the best tennis the tournament has witnessed so far.

Federer eliminates Hewitt tomato can style.

That was the former Wimbledon champion showing signs of regaining his former touch and rank in recent months. His last two matches were straight set wins, one with a bagel. With Roche in his corner, Hewitt was coming in with some momentum and more belief than he had in the last four years against Federer.

All that was blown away in just an hour and 49 freaking minutes with stats like 100% break point conversion and 21 freaking aces. The switch from tomato cans to Hewitt seemed as seamless as it can get. With a tired Ancic next, who just won in a five-setter against Verdasco, Federer is on a roll. Only Nadal has any chance of creating any problems for Federer now. And if Nadal’s fall against Youzhny did tweak his knee to the extent of even slightly compromising Nadal’s game on July 6th, it may be time to eat that bagel from Roland Garros after Federer regurgitates it on Sunday.

Verdasco may have already done the work for Federer by pumping enough fuel out of Ancic to render him useless against Federer on Wednesday. Ancic’s place of being the only one to cause Federer problems before the final, now appears to have been taken by Safin. Safin brushed aside Wawrinka in four sets to set up the quarterfinal match against Lopez.

Wawrinka may have taken his acting gig a match too early. He should have done that against Lopez to ensure Safin, with his hot run, does not become another Tsonga or Fish for Federer. Safin is gaining huge boosts of confidence with every outing, and with his track record of eliminating both Sampras and Federer in Grand Slams, he may suddenly start looking larger than life if he does secure his semifinal berth against Federer. It WILL resurrect the AO ghost for Federer. And knowing how fragile Federer has been recently, mentally, it may prove to be decisive.

But with current stats and form, Federer appears untouchable, unless Safin can produce some magic to at least match the drama the fans were deprived of with Djokovic’s exit. Federer will take Safin any day for Djokovic, even on this streak.

But Safin can only make things interesting at best, considering how strong Federer is now. That ‘dip’ match Federer has had all of this season, hasn’t surfaced since Halle. If it shows up against Safin, count on Safin to go for the kill mercilessly.

Smile extraordinaire.

How far can it go with Mirka peeking?

Guess what Nadal’s thinking after Spain’s soccer win?

Wimbledon title now becomes more for his country than to himself individually. If he truly lets that wind get behind his sails here, Federer and whoever is standing in his way are in for some serious thrashing and demolition.

That sentiment has propelled numerous people in practically every field of human endeavor to heights that they could not have even dreamed of without that unique dimension to their pursuit of excellence. Ali found that when he, according to one journalist close to him, said to himself that this fight is for my people, when he fought that famous fight against George Foreman. You need more than just your individual gratification to take you beyond the mortal zone. When the motivation to win transcends your individual hunger, you have moved to a much larger canvass and your abilities move up to fill that larger space to bring about what we call a miracle.

All you freaks have of course never ever thought of anything beyond yourself, so if you don’t get this, it’s not because it’s not there, it’s because you’ve never been there and never will be. So like every other BS I throw around here, just believe and trust me blindly. Now, type in your PIN for your ATM card.

Spain wins Euro Cup. Will it show at Nadal vs Youzhny match?

Will Aunt Tony allow his pupil to party late into the night and have tacos from Taco Bell like Andy Roddick and screw up an expected title here?

Hope not. But it’s difficult to imagine that this win will not detract from what’s on hand for Nadal and his camp. I understand it’s a pretty big deal for Spain to win this. Actually I don’t, but as long as it’s allowed to play itself out long before court time comes along, it should be fine.

But a loss or even a four setter with tie breaks will have no other excuse specially against a tired Youzhny. Talk about how much of all this and everything in our lives is mental.

Have you noticed the new trend with Nadal’s first serve?

He is still not able to buy an ace, but the percentage of serves that are absolutely nonreturnable, at least on grass, is moving up. In his last match against Kiefer, there were many instances when Kiefer was barely able to get his racket on the serve.

Of course, his lefty serve with top spin on grass appears to slid away faster and quicker, but Nadal is also able to add some pace to it without sacrificing the first serve percentage of over 70 percent. Translation: Nadal is able to get some free points, conserving vital energy to fuel his charge on the top rank, specially in the second half of the season.

Another factor that’s helping Nadal is his track record of serving 90 percent of the time to the backhand of ALL his opponents. Against Federer it goes over 100 percent. That leaves him with the option of firing one on the forehand occasionally to get that free point.

Against Federer, Nadal actually does it by telling Federer ‘this one is going to your backhand, and you can do nothing about it’. Federer has tried to counter that constant barrage by going around the ball to hit that bomb return with his forehand. But if Nadal is able to add more pace to it and grass exacerbates the problem, that loophole may close this time.

Nadal knows Federer’s first serve percentage and ace count will pretty much determine the outcome in the finals. With current numbers Federer is only going to get better by the time the two meet on July 6th. Can Nadal use this new found confidence with his own first serves to attempt to halt or slow down the bleeding?

If Federer gets into rallies on his serve, he will lose the point and get broken multiple times. Federer’s serve holds the key to his 6th championship.

What is this fashion craze at Wimbledon?

Will Sharapova’s early exit make people think twice about making fashion statements in the future? I mean, how embarrassing it has to be to get knocked out early with all the vain fashion accessories all over you? No wonder only the previous champions here and favorites have so far dared to walk the fashion line.

With Serena and Federer, the only other two clowns to walk with their closet on the court this year still alive, there’s still hope. But if they fall short too, will that mean players will not flaunt their stupid attention grabbing clothes until they reach the finals?

So then will this be Federer’s last year with pretty jackets and cardigans? It would look pretty stupid to be still working on it when you are not even expected to make the quarters.

Or that attention is too addictive to negate the wins on the court?

Diamond in the rough? Can Carlos get her any further with Vaidisova and Serena next? I can do that and more!!!

Chaks, I can coach ALSO.

Who can stop Federer and Nadal from reaching the finals here?

Federer:

It has to be Ancic, don’t you think? He has the biggest serve of all the jokers left in Federer’s half and his game is most suited to grass. Besides, he is still carrying that chip on his shoulder for being sidelined because of injuries all this while. And he has defeated Federer at Wimbledon back in the dark ages in 2002 in straight sets.

Hewitt has to be second in line followed by Baghdatis. Safin, well, it’s hard to imagine him producing top notch tennis twice in the same year, forget about ten days. Wawrinka already has a deal in place to just roll over with what he has learnt at the acting school Serena and Venus have graduated from. Lopez will be butchered.

Nadal:

Murray with home court advantage and current form appears most dangerous, followed by Gasquet. Youzhny may have had some success in the past against Nadal, but he has already played two five-setters and is clearly not as sharp here.

Anyone dares to show up in the semifinal will be squished with the road roller for a delicious road kill.

Nadal interview: Kiefer. From Dalia. Thanks.

DALIA

Saturday, 28 June 2008

Rafael Nadal def. Nicolas Kiefer 7-6 (7-3), 6-2, 6-3

Q. First of two wins for Spain against Germany this weekend, you hope.

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, tomorrow is another history, no? Happy for my win, but tomorrow is very important.

Q. You’ve said on the television you have the other Spanish players coming to your house tomorrow.

RAFAEL NADAL: Maybe.

Q. When you play a singles match, what do you enjoy most about having just one other person out there on the field of play with you? What do you like most about this aspect of the competition?

RAFAEL NADAL: I like the competition in all aspects, no? I like to compete in everything. The tennis is a big competition because you play alone against another one, so is nice competition. And I love the competition in all aspects.

Q. How much do you enjoy the mental side of going against just one other person and you’re the only two people out there?

RAFAEL NADAL: The true, I never thought before something like this. I didn’t thought, no? I don’t know. Try my best every point and try to be focused during all the match.

Q. Were you struggling to see the ball near the end? How were you finding it?

RAFAEL NADAL: A little bit nervous, because for me was important finish the match. I had an unbelievable mistake with the volley, the forehand volley in the 5 1, and later he has a very good serve game. And, well, lucky for me later I played a good game.

Q. Was it hard to see?

RAFAEL NADAL: Little bit.

Q. Your thoughts on the match tomorrow? Are you confident?

RAFAEL NADAL: About?

Q. The football tomorrow, are you confident?

RAFAEL NADAL: If we are not confident right now with this team we never gonna be confident, no? For sure we are with the foots here, but gonna be tough.

Q. You could have helped them with your win tonight.

RAFAEL NADAL: I don’t think I gonna help nothing, but for sure tomorrow I gonna be supporting the Spanish team hundred percent, no?

Q. What do you think about Andy Murray’s progress so far? Is he looking fitter and stronger to you?

RAFAEL NADAL: No.

Q. No different to previous years?

RAFAEL NADAL: I don’t know. I don’t think, no. I think Andy is a very good player. What do you think? Right now he’s more in better performance than one month ago?

Q. Looks he can go the distance now.

RAFAEL NADAL: Right now he’s better form than two weeks ago? That’s your opinion?

Q. Possibly.

RAFAEL NADAL: I am not agree. I am not agree. I think Andy is very good player. He can win in every tournament because he has very good talent for do anything. But I think here he’s doing very well because he’s in a very positive attitude. I saw him today play before my match, and he’s all the time supporting himself. Well, all the time in positive attitude, so for that reason he’s doing well, not because he’s more good performance physically or something like this. I am not agree with that.

Q. If you met him in the quarterfinal, would you be prepared to be the villain of Centre Court?

RAFAEL NADAL: Right now I am focused on fourth round. You can ask me after fourth round if I win.

Q. Your routine before each point where you take a long time bouncing the ball, how important is that to you to take so much time and to set yourself?

RAFAEL NADAL: Depends of the moment. When I bounce the ball more times because I am not clear the option to do: serving to the T, serving outside, serving to the body, thinking a lot of times. So when I decide, I serve.

Q. When you think back to your matches over the years with Roger Federer, you think about your differences in styles, how different is it, and what is so different between the two of you? You and Roger Federer, what are the biggest differences between the two of you?

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, I think he’s more elegant player. I think he has more options to do on court. He can do everything: serve and volley; he can serve better than me; the forehand he can play, well, more aggressive than me. Probably the defensive shot I have little bit better than him. But I think in the global, I think he’s more complete than me in all aspects, no?

Q. And what’s similar, the same, or close to the same?

RAFAEL NADAL: I think we are very focused all the time, no? Because, well, he’s doing better results than me in the last years. But both, we are doing very good results, no, winning or being in the final rounds in a lot of tournaments during the season, so that’s very difficult. And both, I think we have a good mentality, no?

Upcoming juicy matches at Wimbledon.

-Federer vs Hewitt.

-Gasquet vs Murray.

-Nadal vs Youzhny.

-Safin vs Wawrinka.

Wimbledon day 6 photos.

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why are fat old people in front, opps all Wimbledon seats?

Did you see that old fat lady at Nadal’s match today who had everything hanging out of her dress, or whatever was left of it?

Have you ever seen the front row at an NBA game? Or a boxing match? They all could be models. Even the guys, also called pigs, are in much better shape and clothes than the turkey necks at tennis stadiums.

Does that mean that when these turkeys die, they will take the entire tennis fan base with them? Or are the shorts skirts and strong winds too much to resist irrespective of what generation turkey neck you are?

If that’s really true, wouldn’t moving to women’s volleyball ‘uniform’ then be more lucrative for tennis?

And what’s up with obese cops on the court? Or is it that an invitation to streakers? Geeeeezzzzzz!!!!!!

Is Nadal’s ramp up to the finals perfect or what, at least compared to Federer’s?

Not only has he played players of much higher calibre, he has dispatched them with just as much ease as Federer has had with his tomato can line up.

Round	Federer	Nadal
1st	Hrbaty	Beck
2nd	Soderling	Gulbis
3rd	Gicquel	Kiefer
4th	Hewitt	Youzhny
Q	Ancic	Gasquet
S	Baghdatis	Tipsarevic
F	Nadal	Federer

 

While Federer may be hoping for an easier draw from now on, it’s important for him to play Ancic and Baghdatis if he is to face Nadal in the finals. If Verdasco and Lopez ruin that prospect, Federer will find himself facing a sea change of tennis artistry in the finals.

Nadal’s matches so far have been a lot tougher and the workout he is getting is not only sharpening his game but is also making that confidence, conviction or whatever else you want to call it grow with leaps and bounds. In particular, dispatching both Gulbis and Kiefer has already proven to be a God send for Nadal. With even tougher nuts on the way, specially in the quarters (Gasquet or Murray), Nadal will have to get baptized by fire, to have a shot at this coveted title.

Considering the quality of players the two jokers have played and that this is Federer’s favorite surface, Nadal’s stats are not bad at all, although he is three hours in the hole (Time on court).

Hewitt will be Federer’s first test of the event. Even at current form Hewitt is a huge step up for Federer based on who all he  has tackled so far. With Tony Roche in the picture again, it will add a little sizzle to the match up. Federer has dominated Hewitt ever since he went on his domination tour (H2H 13-7). Last time they played at Wimbledon was in 2005 when Federer won in straight sets. But since then, Hewitt has moved up couple of notches.

Of the last three matches the two have played, Hewitt has taken a set off at two of them and has taken Federer to three tie-breaks. With Roddick winning against Federer this year, Roche to add his wisdom and Federer coming off tomato cans, Hewitt is better prepared to go toe to toe with Federer this time than any time he can remember.

This match may provide the drama that was sucked out of the tournament when Djokovic got eliminated. Still it’s a tall order for Hewitt, even though it looks he has rededicated himself to get back on the tour with some serious commitment. Hewitt played a five-setter in his opening round here, but since then he has not dropped a set. That five-setter will gain all the credit if Hewitt is able to pull off another huge upset of the tournament.

Like Roddick, Hewitt has lot to even up with Federer, least of which was the humiliating thrashing at the US Open finals with TWO freaking bagels. With Roche with his own agenda, it’s the perfect coming together against a common enemy.

But for Federer, he is lucky to have Hewitt for many reasons. Not facing a tomato can instead, would be close to No. 1, don’t you think? Hewitt is the perfect guy to face if you are about to run into Nadal soon. Both are tenacious fierce competitors. So Hewitt is the ideal stepping stone for Federer under current conditions.

For Nadal, if he can get through his next two matches relatively unscathed, Nadal will have a very reasonable and makeable shot at the championship. If desire is the sole barometer to predict who will win this time, Federer should have the edge. Why? Because losing here for Federer has more pain than Nadal not winning. Nadal has had a good share of feasting on clay to be coming in as hungry as Federer, considering the kind of season he has had. For Federer, losing here will officially declare his sudden decline. For Nadal it’s still not that bad.

Nadal has successfully distanced himself from Djokovic for the No. 2 and has just won his fourth straight Roland Garros title – two of his most immediate goals of the year. Wimbledon is still a nice cherry on the cake compared to Federer’s need to win here.

Translation: Soley based on desire, Federer has the edge, but forehand and bachand wise, Nadal is gaining lot more firepower for the meeting.

Federer, Nadal Mow de Villiers on Wimbledon Grass. From Sceral. Thanks.

SCERAL

Federer, Nadal Mow de Villiers on Wimbledon Grass: John Helyar

Commentary by John Helyar

June 27 (Bloomberg) — At Wimbledon this year, the strawberries and cream come with a heaping side plate of nasty tennis politics.

The top three seeds — Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and the already-defeated Novak Djokovic — are ringleaders in a player revolt against the chief executive officer of the men’s circuit, Etienne de Villiers. By the end of the Wimbledon fortnight, the leader of the ATP Tour may have reached the end of the line.

Player rebellions may yet become a Wimbledon tradition, as bows and curtsies to the Royal Box once were. The first great battle between the players and the establishment occurred 35 years ago, when 79 of them boycotted the London tournament. The ATP, formed as the Association of Tennis Professionals in 1972 to protect the interests of hitherto powerless players, took a dispute with the tennis poo-bahs to their very Centre Court.

This latest contretemps involves players who’ve grown far more rich and powerful — they own 50 percent of the ATP Tour — yet still feel disenfranchised.

Federer, Nadal and Djokovic ran for seats on the 10-member ATP Players Council at a pre-tournament meeting at Wimbledon, angered at 2009 tour changes they believe worsen their already grueling schedules — and out of frustration at de Villiers for allegedly ignoring them.

The 2009 schedule brings major changes in the order, location and weighting of tournaments. The ATP has divvied them into three tiers, with nine tournaments awarding higher points, for player-ranking purposes, and thus becoming higher profile. Players must appear in eight of the nine, a dictate that steamed them.

`Defend Interests’

“We have to defend our interests,” Federer said after each of the trio was elected to a two-year term on the council. The panel’s power lies in appointing three members of the ATP board. (The tournaments appoint another three; the seventh member, and chairman, is de Villiers.)

The reconstituted council promptly swapped out its three incumbent reps — deemed pushovers for de Villiers –with ones who’ll seek to undo player-opposed changes and seek alternatives to de Villiers, whose contract expires in December.

Let us now break Wimbledon’s polite hush with an impolite question. Are these players wearing tennis whites or asylum whites? The ATP hired de Villiers away from the Walt Disney Co. 2 1/2 years ago because it desperately needed an outside pro to make changes to a tour that had double-faulted in its media and marketing approach. Now the players want to fire this 58-year- old South African for making changes?

“The problem with the ATP isn’t Etienne de Villiers,” says Stephen Woods, whose events-marketing firm, emg3 of Portland, Maine, has clients involved with the circuit. “The problem is a business model that has multiple groups with conflicting interests, all trying to assert their dominance.”

Butting Heads

In the balkanized world of tennis, other interests also have beefs with de Villiers. The United States Tennis Association didn’t like the ATP pulling a tournament out of Las Vegas, continuing a decrease of U.S. contests. The 2009 changes include a buildup of the ATP’s presence in growth markets like Asia at the expense of the mature markets.

When Hamburg was demoted in the re-shuffle from hosting a top-tier tournament to a lesser one, it filed an antitrust suit against the ATP. The case goes to trial in a federal court in Delaware on July 21.

The ATP has a lot on the line here. It could be on the hook for $76.6 million in damages, which is what Hamburg alleges it unjustly lost in sponsor, ticket and broadcast revenue. The ATP could also get an opinion that it doesn’t have the legal power to compel anyone to do anything.

Golf Comparison

Either outcome might gut an organization that’s already a weak leadership vessel for its sport. Just compare the ATP with the U.S. PGA Tour, which at first glance seem like country-club cousins. Both are based in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida; both orchestrate a series of tournaments appealing mainly to the high-end crowd and employing independent contractors as competitors. Yet the revenue gap between them is so wide that 99 PGA Tour golfers topped $1 million in prize money last year, compared with 12 ATP players.

There’s a “Tiger factor” at play, of course, since golf has had a money-magnet superstar in recent years and tennis has had, um, Roger Federer. There are also, however, major institutional differences. The PGA Tour has been ruled by two strong commissioners — Deane Beaman and Tim Finchem — over the past 34 years. The ATP seems about to run through its third CEO in 16 years and seems disinclined toward strong management.

Player Uprising

The men’s tennis tour in its current form was born of a 1988 player uprising against the Grand Prix circuit’s management, against which it had accumulated many grievances. The players broke away to launch the ATP Tour in 1990, and it’s still in their DNA to mistrust the suits.

(The women’s tennis tour plans similar changes of schedule and player requirements in 2009, but to much more peaceable player reactions.)

Golfers and tennis pros have very different mindsets as well as these very different histories. Most PGA-card holders have gone to college and understand a balance must be struck among the tour’s stakeholders — sponsors, broadcasters, tournaments and, of course, themselves. They also take a long- term view on money matters, since they can make plenty of it on tour into their 40s — plus more after 50 on the Champions Tour.

Tennis players are not as well-educated — they often abandon schooling for serving at an early age — and not as patient. They may enjoy only five years of peak earnings power before breaking down with injuries. They don’t care if Etienne de Villiers has a great five-year plan; they won’t be around in five years. They just know this guy is holed up in London, rarely deigning to speak with them, while they’re hopscotching the world, whacking a yellow ball and nursing aches and pains.

Cautious Sponsors

The Federer-Nadal viewpoint is quite understandable, but for companies invested in the business of tennis — or contemplating it — the situation is intolerable. They like strong leaders at their sports properties. They don’t like coalition governments, which is what ATP amounts to on its best day.

The present situation portends something worse: the inmates running the asylum. That’s a cause for corporations to stampede for the exits. Daimler AG’s Mercedes-Benz has already declined to renew its major tour sponsorship, which expires this year. The taint of a match-fixing scandal hurts the ATP, too.

As the sport of tennis focuses on Centre Court at Wimbledon, the business of tennis reaches a crossroads. It can either settle for being a sport that enjoys quarterly spikes of mass interest for the Grand Slams — now the fate of horseracing with its Triple Crown — or it can grow up.

(John Helyar, co-author of “Barbarians at the Gate,” is an editor-at-large for Bloomberg News. The opinions expressed are his own.)

Federer seemingly unconcerned about perceptions of vulnerability. From arbit. Thanks.

ARBIT

WIMBLEDON, England — Confidence, as slippery as a wriggling eel, cannot be seen or touched or tasted. Still, you can smell it coming a mile away.

Like true love, confidence cannot be bought; it must be earned. It’s about belief, a faith based on a history of success.

These days, does confidence genuinely reside in Roger Federer‘s heart and mind?

Here at the All England Club, where the world’s tennis media have gathered in impressive numbers, this is the leading question.

After winning only four games from Rafael Nadal in the French Open final — the worst Grand Slam loss of Federer’s career — many believe they see a worst-case scenario after studying his Paris Rorschach test. Every news conference is an opportunity to probe and to assess his frame of mind. But reading between the lines of his usually polite responses, all of this amateur psychology seems to irritate the world’s No. 1 player.

“Why do they want to shoot me so soon?” Federer asked Neil Harman of the Times of London.

Federer is continually put in the position of defending himself. He does this by patiently reciting his results, and trophies are tangible evidence of that confidence.

“I haven’t been reading and I haven’t been listening to what has been said,” Federer said after his first-round match. “So, of course, I haven’t been affected, either. So I’ve been working in there as defending champion, opening Centre Court, trying to defend the title again. That’s all that mattered to me.

“I came from a good tournament in Halle [Germany],” he said. “I couldn’t do any better than not dropping a set, not dropping a service game, so I feel like I’m right there to do the same thing again this week.”

So far, that’s just about how it’s working out. On Friday, Federer defeated Marc Gicquel 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 and now he’ll have the weekend off.

Federer has won 37 straight matches at Wimbledon, 62 straight on grass and he’s held serve in 89 of 91 service games this grass season. He’s been the No. 1-ranked player for 230 consecutive weeks. These facts have not been lost with the bookmakers. Before the match, British bookmakers listed Federer as a 100-to-1 favorite, meaning you needed to invest 100 pounds to win … one pound.

“He’s extremely motivated,” said Tony Godsick, Federer’s long-time agent. “He loves it here. He won the junior title here, he beat Sampras for the first time here, won his first major here. The Olympics are here in 2012.”

Federer said on Friday that Wimbledon is what’s closest to his heart and he wished that someday his career might end here.

According to Godsick, the well-publicized bout with mononucleosis early in the season was an enormous factor in his slow start, which included a semifinal loss to Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open. When Djokovic, the young and rising Serb player, reached the semifinal at Roland Garros, it was the fifth straight time he had advanced to the final four of a major. He then later told the world that Federer was vulnerable.

“He was vulnerable at the beginning of the year,” said Godsick, who, after Federer’s girlfriend Mirka Vavrinec, is the supporter seen most often in the Swiss player’s friends box. “He was sick. Luckily he didn’t know it and played through it. It slowed him down. He didn’t have enough practice time. And, with the Olympics, this is the worst year to get sick.”

Djokovic is at Wimbledon here after a second-round loss and Federer looks to be on track for a record sixth straight final. So who is vulnerable — and worried — now?

Federer has reached 16 straight Grand Slam semifinals, an achievement that is difficult to fully process. This is far beyond the previous Open era record of 10 belonging to Ivan Lendl.

In the four years from 2004-2007, Federer won 11 of the 16 majors contested, a streak that John McEnroe calls “the four greatest years in the history of Open tennis.”

“He’s been to 16 straight Grand Slam semifinals?” said McEnroe, who is broadcasting here for the BBC and NBC. “How many of the top players have even played in 16 straight Grand Slams?”

Brad Gilbert, who coached Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick and most recently Andy Murray, believes that the pressure from Nadal and Djokovic helps Federer focus.

“Yes, that’s a good thing,” Gilbert said. “It means he’s got to keep it going, got to re-up, man.”

Much has been made of the swift — and difficult — transition from clay to grass after the French Open, but how about Federer’s transition from devastating loss to a flawless 8-0 on grass?

“He has always had a great ability to compartmentalize,” Godsick said. “As good a winner as he is, he’s a better loser.”

“The key to coaching is short-term memory loss,” Gilbert said. “The French — that’s gone, that’s over. He gets tired of answering all the questions. He’s thinking, ‘Just look at the results at the end of the tournament.’

 

Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Federer entered Wimbledon without a Grand Slam title for the first time since 2005.

“He’s got a quiet cockiness.”

He should.

Whether it’s Tom Brady with the ball during the fourth quarter of a Super Bowl, Mariano Rivera coming in to save the game in the ninth inning, Kevin Garnett rising in the paint to block a shot with the game on the line, or Federer in a Grand Slam final outside of Paris, demonstrated ability is a wonderful hammer to have in your tool chest. Federer is 12-for-12 in Grand Slam finals not held in Paris.

McEnroe used the words “superb” and “unbelievable” to describe the level of Federer’s play on Friday.

“Going forward,” McEnroe said, “this will give him more confidence, not that he needs it. It seems almost casual, that’s how easy he makes it look. We saw a master at work.”

Federer, sweat still oozing from his forehead and a little out of breath, did a brief interview with the BBC after beating Gicquel.

“Not losing a set against tough players, I like the way I’m playing,” Federer said. “I’m looking forward to a few days off.”

Federer was asked what areas of his game he’d like to improve.

“Well,” said Federer, clearly perplexed by the question. “I just want to keep the game where it is.”

Patrick McEnroe, the U.S. Davis Cup captain, has seen this phenomenon before.

“Is he supremely confident?” McEnroe said. “I think up until he plays Nadal, he is. And then he would be just confident. That might be enough.

“We really don’t know. We’ll find out. That’s what we’re all watching.”

 Greg Garber is a senior writer for ESPN.com.

How far can Safin take this?

The two Grand Slams he has won both were ‘rabbits out of a hat’.

For the first one, he beat Sampras in straight freaking sets in the final, after playing TWO gruelling five-setters and two close four setters.

For the second one, he beat Federer in the semifinal (???????) at the AO.

If he keeps this up, it may be deja vu again for him.

Wimbledon day 4 in photos.

 

 

 
 
 
 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 
 

Wimbledon legend: Borg.

Federer’s pressers more business like after media’s attack and decline theories?

Why don’t coaches teach this simple no brainer of a tactic on the practice freaking courts?

The moment you are able to plant your feet for a shot, you should pull the trigger. Maybe not the ‘out of the world’ shot, but it should certainly be the one that guarantees that you will win the point at the next shot.

How many times have you seen players get the perfect ball in their hitting zone and hit the freaking ball right in the center of the court? You don’t get too many opportunities where you are standing still and connecting the ball on your terms. You’ve got to make the best of it, don’t you think?

Like in that Roddick match yesterday, there were at least a thousand instances where Roddick got the ball right where he wanted it – perfect bounce, depth and on his forehand. And he would fire it right smack in the middle of the court, right at Tipsy. It doesn’t freaking matter how much pace you have on that shot, it’s going right on to his freaking racket, you knucklehead!!!!!

Shouldn’t this be the main routine on the practice court? To get the ball in your striking zone and practice till death to place the ball as close to the lines on either side instead of trying to hit through your opponent? How many times do you have to do that to execute it perfectly? 1000, 5000, 10,000? There has to be a number for each player based on what he’s made of. But there is a number, after which it should become just second nature to blast that ball to the edges of the court, to put yourself in a position to close out the rally at the next shot, don’t you think?

How much of a freaking no brainer is that?

Can Euro soccer event derail Nadal at Wimbledon?

If you are tinkering with your Wimbledon schedule to watch a freaking soccer match when your entire career is at stake and you are on the cusp of making history and become just the third man ever to win Roland Garros and Wimbledon in the same year, you’ve got to be freaking kidding me!!!!!!!

If Spain wins the whole enchilada, it’s hard to imagine the subsequent festivities not having any impact on the laser focus required from Nadal to not only win the title here but to just get past the next few tough clowns.

Like Osama’s video helped Bush win his second term, this soccer BS may turn out to be Federer’s Osama.

No matter how riveting it is and how attracted you are to it, this is the worst time to be even paying attention to it. You think Sampras would care if he was in the same boat, irrespective of what US was about to win? No freaking way!!!!! There’s so much riding on this one and the difference between the clowns is so minuscule this time, that any shift at any level will prove decisive.

Aunt Tony needs to lock up his pupil in a cage and not divulge the result of the final soccer match until after July 6th. OK maybe that’s too much. Coma? Sequestering? Soccer riot to delay the finals after July 6th? Streakers? Pathetic!!!!! 

Federer moves into fourth round with another straight set win.

While the wins here appear impressive compared to Federer’s showing this year even against tomato cans like the ones he has defeated so far, it’s vital for Federer to play against a bona fide quality grass court player before the semis at least.

Good news is that Hewitt beat another tomato can to provide Federer something even close to a word called resistance, in the next round. Bad news is that Verdasco eliminated Berdych to even that gain.

However, from the looks of it, it appears that Federer will win the championship even with this run laced with tomato cans ONLY if he does not face Nadal in the finals. Both Murray and Gasquet in the finals together are not enough to derail Federer even with this kind of competition going into the finals.

If Nadal is still alive on July 6th with even a hint of pulse, Federer is going down, unless of course injury or other BS messes up the juicy match.

While Ferrer is currently being battered by Ancic and may get eliminated, facing Ancic may not be that bad in the quarters. Both Wawrinka and Baghdatis suddenly find themselves in the thick of things after Djokovic’s departure. Wawrinka will have so much baggage that it will be hard for him to end the match against Federer in the semis without some kind of suspension or penalty for lack of effort or match fixing violation.

It will be a pity if Federer does not win this title and create history, since he is so close and the draw is just begging to be thrashed. However losing to Nadal in the finals will still be not that bad a stinger compared to losing to anyone else either in the finals or anytime earlier.

The moment Nadal loses here, the tournament should be suspended and the trophy mailed to Federer. Everybody else should this time buy the plane ticket and board it before playing the next freaking match.

Nadal interview: Gulbis.

Federer vs Soderling Wimbledon ’08.

Safin vs Djokovic Wimbledon ’08.

Safin interview after beating Djokovic.

Wawrinka objects to Hrbaty sitting so close to Federer during break.

 

Wawrinka is so angry that he may not play Davis Cup alongside Federer, unless Federer apologizes and ‘makes up’ for it. Mirka has stepped in to clear any misunderstanding. She says it was Hrbaty’s decision to come so close. Federer had nothing to do with it.

Wawrinka has also threatened to rat out Federer on what has been discussed about their potential meeting at Wimbledon. “I don’t want to wash dirty laundry in public, but Federer is forcing it by not refusing overtures from Hrbaty” Wawrinka said.

“I am deeply saddened by such public display of emotions towards other people. This is not the first time and I am honestly getting too tired of it. I want an apology and ‘make up something’ immediately”. Wawrinka added.

Federer obviously wants to keep things under cover until July 6th since he has bigger fish to fry. But this fish is growing rather rapidly and may need to be ‘stuffed’ long before that date.

“I had warned Federer that he is playing with fire, but he wouldn’t listen” chimed Mirka.

“The most disturbing part is that Federer was the one trying to move his leg closer and closer for that skin on skin contact” Wawrinka alleged.

Federer, when asked about it, blamed Djokovic’s mom and dog for it.

Nadal interview: Gulbis. From Dalia. Thanks.

DALIA

Thursday, 26 June 2008

R. NADAL defeated E. Gulbis 5-7, 6-2, 7-6, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Questions for Rafael Nadal.

Q. The way the match started, was there perhaps a fear in your mind you may have missed kickoff?

RAFAEL NADAL: If I lose?

Q. With losing the first set, there was a fear that the match might drag on.

RAFAEL NADAL: If I’m going to miss the football? If I play the longest match in history, yes.

Q. In the first set you got to a dropshot on time, but the umpire incorrectly ruled it. Looked like you flew into a rage. What was the conversation you had with him about that?

RAFAEL NADAL: My English is not very well. Especially when I am a little bit nervous on court worse.

Well, I only said it wasn’t ‑‑ was easy one bounce, not two bounce. I say that’s unbelievable how you can’t see something like this, no? I said probably for your fault I gonna lose the set. Disappointing for me, I lose the set.

But wasn’t for this. I lose the set because I played terrible, terrible next game.

Q. The challenge for you in this match was to find a way to stop all of his power, his great serving. Did you change tactics here and there to find a way to win this match?

RAFAEL NADAL: Sure, I changed a little bit after the first set, trying to return a little bit more behind, with the second serve especially, too.

Because in the beginning I tried to play aggressive with the second serve, going inside, but was impossible. With the first, the same, and it was impossible, no? He was serving too good. The second serve, too, was very difficult.

But later I go little bit behind and I felt like I had little bit more control of the situation there, no? I can play the first shot with more time, playing normal shot, but starting the point.

Q. How dangerous do you think Gulbis will be when he has more experience?

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, for sure he can improve. But more than right now is not easy, because he has very good serve, very good forehand, unbelievable powerful, no?

So I think when his game stops maybe a little bit, because in one moment he has to think a little bit more and don’t hit all the balls with this power, he gonna be in the top positions for sure.

But, you know, sometimes I don’t know is better stop a little bit or don’t stop, because player like this is very dangerous. If you stop little bit the opponent have more chances for playing against you, no? But you never know.

Q. I know the Spanish players are proud of how well they’re doing on grass right now. Do you feel like you led that progress? Were you the leader for the Spanish players on grass?

RAFAEL NADAL: I answer this question the other day. Before me was good players like Feliciano Lopez doing quarterfinals here. Ferrero do the fourth round here.

So I don’t know if I am the leader. Probably I was the first ‑‑ because Feliciano has a very good serve, very good volley. Everybody say Feliciano, he going to be a specialist on this surface.

But probably I was the first who did a very good result playing normal: aggressive from the baseline, but changing a little bit the tactic. But for sure I can’t play the same like clay or hard, but playing from the baseline and playing rallies, for sure playing aggressive.

But I think everybody right now is trying to play similar in Spain because is our game. Our game is not going to the net. But probably in the past was a little bit mistake try to change a lot your game when you are playing on grass, no?

Q. Are you happy with today’s performance?

RAFAEL NADAL: Very happy with my win today, sure. I know I had a very tough opponent. Before the match I know that. Very happy on my win. Is very important win for me.

Q. He hit a great number of dropshots today. For the most part you did not do well with them.

RAFAEL NADAL: No, I didn’t did very well.

Q. Have you ever had a day where you had a worse day dealing with someone else’s dropshots?

RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, I did terrible today when I arriving to the dropshots, so for the next day I gonna do better.

Q. What can you do about it?

RAFAEL NADAL: What can I do? Well, change a little bit the tactics. Probably another dropshot. I never did another dropshot when he give me dropshot.

Q. You are very young, but he obviously is still a teenager. Does it make you feel old to play a player that young?

RAFAEL NADAL: Not old, no? But lucky for me or not lucky for me, I had six years on tour. No, I feel young. But I feel like 22 years old, very young person. But when we speak tennis player, not the same.

Q. You are aware that Manolo Santana won this tournament in 1967.

RAFAEL NADAL: So?

Q. So when they ask you if you’re the leader of Spaniards on grass, he would be the leader, right?

RAFAEL NADAL: He was the leader in his moment, but right now maybe the Spanish are not watching how Santana played in that moment.

Q. Are you friends with any of the Spain footballers on duty at the moment? Has there been any contact between you in the past few days? Have you been in touch with them, encouraging each other?

RAFAEL NADAL: I only send message to say best of luck to Casillas.

Q. Do you think the good weather is helping your game this year?

RAFAEL NADAL: No. Worse than last year is impossible and I did the final.

Q. When playing Gulbis, which shot did you find the most challenging with him being so young?

RAFAEL NADAL: The most impressive shot him has? I think the serve and forehand.

Q. Is it a special challenge? Do you enjoy playing younger guys because you have to be a little more careful because you don’t know them so much?

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, always is dangerous to play against very good players like Gulbis. If he’s young more, because he had always a special motivation.

Probably he don’t have the same respect for the top player, because I know for me. So always very dangerous play against one player like Gulbis, no?

Q. What are your expectations for the game tonight that Spain will be in?

RAFAEL NADAL: Win.

Q. Any other details that you’ll be looking for?

RAFAEL NADAL: Only win.