What can win the Australian Open title for the two top clowns?

Federer:

The now ‘every cucumber’ knows strategy will be in full bloom from Nadal: Pound Federer’s backhand and then shoot a bullet to the open court to either win the point outright or evoke a gimme. But Federer has been able to take that abuse and still keep the scoreline pretty close.

The predictable return from Federer to Nadal’s forehand has to be mixed up to keep Nadal guessing. Additionally a slice from the backhand is not a good strategy since it provides an eternity for Nadal to set up for his forehand. The crosscourt shot which Federer has employed so far at least forces Nadal to rush his forehand, comparatively, producing at least a possibility that Nadal may misfire or will fail to place the ball completely beyond reach.

If Federer goes for his ‘running around the ball for the forehand’ strategy from the get go and the match goes into a fifth set, Federer will find himself exactly where he was at last year’s Wimbledon final: with no gas to close the deal.

Winning the first set will add to the mental lethargy to Nadal’s game and the ‘tired’ crutch may subconsciously place him on a slippery slope to give in, in just three sets. Conversely, Federer losing the first set will open the door for Nadal, not to mention the adrenaline rush it will trigger, to make Nadal completely oblivious of the five setter he played just hours ago.

If Nadal sees an opening, he will turn into an Agassi where all his physical troubles will be masked by the rush of motivation, until the match ends. That’s when he may not be able to even stand. Remember Agassi’s match against Baghdatis at the US Open?

Nadal:

Nadal’s stingy unforced error is the biggest threat to Federer winning this title. Nadal has cleaned up his game progressively for over a year now. Although his serve, the part begging for the most attention, is still languishing, it’s still almost impossible to force an error out of Nadal.

Translation: Federer has to come up with his vintage ‘out of the world’ shots to win a point outright – something Federer is not too fond off. If it keeps up, Federer gets anxious and frustrated forcing his run to the net and other BS.

Those shots against both Del Potro and Roddick which did not even meet the racket by a mile will not only connect but will come back even stronger and with an even ‘acuter’ angle if Nadal is even close to his usual self.

Nadal’s control of the ball, specially when changing direction has improved exponentially. Erstwhile, Federer had to just deal with that high ball on his left shoulder, knowing that Nadal’s ability to fire a bullet to the open forehand court was suspect.

Not anymore. Nadal now uses that pounding on the backhand to pull Federer off the court to fire that shot to the open court perfectly and with confidence. The whole freaking purpose is to stay away from the fearsome forehand or at least force Federer to engage it on the run without planting his feet.

Add to it the recent inconsistency that has crept into that forehand monster and Nadal feels even more encouraged to force the issue. Federer losing Wimbledon on his forehand only boosts Nadal to continue on with his backhand -forehand attack to frustrate Federer.

When Federer is somehow able to get the ball exactly where he wants it to execute a perfectly placed forehand, he overplays it not knowing whether he will have another opportunity to go on the offensive, thereby producing an error.

By now Nadal knows he has the anti-dote to Federer’s game. Since he has added the mental dimension to it, Nadal now relishes playing against Federer. Beating Federer on grass was the bigger achievement for Nadal than winning Wimbledon for the first time.

That precedent alone gives Nadal a huge edge mentally. But he has to still execute the blueprint and transfer it from the drawing board to the court under current conditions. Being an underdog despite being the No. 1 player in the world, plays right into the psyche Nadal loves when playing Federer.

The five setter against Verdasco may have taken away some ‘lethality’ from Nadal’s game, but the intangible underdog status may have compensated for it, if not tilted the scales in his favor.

Most of the tennis world is expecting a more lopsided final this time, given Nadal’s condition. It may very well happen, but as Verdasco has proven (he not only played and beat Murray and Tsonga back to back, he also played four doubles matches) that a strong desire and motivation can overcome any deficiency physically.

First set will be crucial to how fired up Nadal is for the whole match. Federer cannot afford to let this opportunity to get to No. 14 so early in the season pass. It may be as important as winning Wimbledon was last year, if not more, given the changed landscape all around.

Losing to Nadal on both grass and hard courts back to back in a Slam will not be a good omen for Wimbledon and beyond for obvious reasons.

If Nadal loses, Verdasco will surely instantly turn into a scapegoat. But if Nadal wins, which Verdasco is now praying for on his knees to avoid the backlash, it will prove to be a blessing in disguise and may even add to Verdasco’s hero status he earned at Davis Cup.

Verdasco may have been motivated to show Ivanovic, but in the end, Ivanovic may be the one having the last laugh – if Nadal loses. Can you even imagine Wawrinka pulling this on Federer? He may have gotten banned from his country – and Federer.

Additionally, Nadal’s showing at Wimbledon when he beat that clown in a match that lasted what three days, is surely something Uncle Tony is talking about. Although Nadal lost the final to Federer, it was on the surface Federer was most dominant. Australian Open has been the least dominant of Federer’s Slam portfolio, other than the FO of course.

You think Uncle Tony is harping on that, right about now? You bet!!! This is the time for Uncle Tony to do his job. This is where a coach is made or destroyed. It’s his responsibility to now provide ample and convincing reasons to Nadal to view the current scenario as ‘exactly where he wants Federer to be’.

Why? Because as has been proven over and over again, the title lies within Nadal’s mind more than his physical self. Verdasco is the most glaring and recent exhibit ‘A’ for it.

It would be a shame to see Nadal just cave in three sets to bring an anti climatic end to the first Slam of the year. Federer is very well positioned to reasonably pull that off which makes the perfect ‘blessing in disguise’ opportunity for Nadal.

If Federer wins this in any manner, Wimbledon, if not Roland Garros, may become a foregone conclusion with No. 1 rank a huge cherry on the top.

Can the match live up to it’s hype or will it just fizzle out to disappoint fans worldwide?

Answer coming up in a few hours!!!!

Nadal produces second epic match of his career to oust Verdasco in five sets. Is that good or bad?

It’s bad because:

-The fuel needed to take on a rejuvenated Federer may have been exhausted just enough to deny fans another epic battle in the finals. Has the epic battle so anxiously awaited already happened for this event?

-Dropping two sets  just before a final may have taken away the intimidation factor a ‘not dropped a set’ Nadal would have had on Federer, considering all the other baggage Federer is already carrying into the match.

-’Time on court’ stat, a huge barometer on how Nadal will perform on court, has exceeded Federer’s despite Federer having his share of a five setter against Berdych.

-The five plus hours spent of court gives birth to a very legitimate crutch. Depending on how Nadal perceives it and uses it, it could become the source of his unravelling in the finals or an emergence of an even stronger Nadal.

It’s good because:

-Federer’s five setter was against a Berdych who was  not even remotely close to the form Verdasco has been on lately and the powerful giants he slayed on his way up to the semis.

Add the fact that Roddick, an eternal punching bag for Federer, was able to turn in a lot decent showing than expected specially after the Del Potro thrashing and Nadal may have a very convincing argument to suggest he has been playing at a much higher plane.

-Considering the history between Federer and Nadal suggesting a battle in the finals, Verdasco’s match may have effectively ramped up Nadal’s game to deal with whatever Federer throws at him on hard courts, compared to what Roddick’s match did to Federer.

Sampras got his wish but it comes with enough uncertainty to push him over the edge and into a psychiatric ward. Federer, on the other hand,  may not have gotten what he REALLY wished, but he will take it happily.

This is what Uncle Tony is telling Nadal right about now:

-You had never beaten Federer on grass, but yet you took away what Federer treasures most: Wimbledon. On hard courts you have already defeated Federer what twice, and this is not anywhere close to what Wimbledon means to Federer despite No. 14.

Translation: You have a better shot than you had at Wimbledon to take Federer out.

Additionally, Nadal moving to his first final of a hard court  Slam event after languishing in the semifinals what twice last year, is a huge boost to his confidence and adrenaline.

But with so much leaning heavily on Nadal’s fitness and energy at every match he plays due to his physical style of play, it’s hard to imagine Federer not feeling good already.

With Nadal already conceding the advantage to Federer after the match, it will be interesting how it actually plays out specially if the match is extended past four sets.

But Federer, despite last two matches, cannot still be sure of whether he will be able to summon his real game to ward off the inconsistency bug. His match against Berdych was more due to that factor than anything spectacular Berdych was able to produce.

The fact that despite Berdych winning the first two sets, there was very little doubt who was going to win the match, says a lot what’s good and bad about Federer’s game these days.

Overall, Federer has to be given the edge for obvious reasons from the surface to everything else that’s happened so far. It’s his to lose. But he has to capitalize on the opportunity bright and early in the match to push away the mental edge Nadal clearly enjoys over him.

Can Nadal pull a ‘Del Potro’ on Verdasco?

If just the fact that Nadal is the only one who has not dropped a set here and the two gruelling matches Verdasco has played back to back, four doubles matches Verdasco showed up for with Lopez, may prove to be the ‘bringing on the Del Potro’ moment.

Although historically, Nadal has not been capable of a complete massacre so late in the draw, this may be a perfect time to bring it on. Wouldn’t that be the classic ‘two birds one stone’ deal? You demolish Verdasco to mentally position yourself at par with Federer’s Del Potro assignment while creating a spectre of doubt in Federer’s camp.

Verdasco has to have the demeanor of a cold blooded killer to be going up against what’s at stake for not only the two top players but for tennis and the fans alike.

You think Nadal has the Del Potro match in his mind? You bet!!!! Although his ‘no set dropped’ is not too shabby considering the five setter Federer had to go through, Nadal would love to send an even stronger message so close to the battle to wrest some psychological advantage.

With a relative absence of either players getting tested, with the elimination of both Djokovic and Murray, this potential final will be a huge shock talent-wise despite how many times they have played each other. Federer should clearly enjoy the edge being his favorite surface and that he has won it three times already.

That’s another reason for Nadal to make a statement against Verdasco by dispatching an extremely hot Verdasco convincingly. A straight set win may at least equal the Del Potro scoreline, even if it’s without a single bagel – considering who all Verdasco eliminated compared to Potro.

But for Verdasco, irrespective of how much he might be torn on taking down Nadal for obvious reasons, this is his great and maybe only shot at getting to a final of a Grand Slam. To repeat this performance again will be mighty tough. So it’s now or never for him and with no pressure, relatively speaking, Verdasco is a very dangerous opponent – unless what I have ordered is ignored.

Conversely, a close match may help Nadal ramp up his game for the war on Sunday to avoid the shock treatment. With two ‘easy’ matches leading up to the final, Federer may take time to catch up. Will that be enough for Nadal to run away with it is debatable based on his track record and the surface.

Additionally, when you are the last one to clear the hurdle to the final, the pressure is immense. And if your opponent just breezed through his semis, it only exacerbate the problem. But Nadal couldn’t have asked for a better draw. Verdasco is any day better than facing a hot Murray on this surface.

Will Nadal lose a set and open a kink in his armour or is this same old same old?

Nice try, Mirka. But your secret hand signal cannot fool perverted lunatics on this site.

Federer makes no mistake, reaches 18th Grand Slam final. WOW!!!

By reaching the final, Federer may have already resurrected the ‘intimidating’ factor that once won him matches even before he stepped on the court. Of course, the intensity may never reach the level he once enjoyed, but this at least reverses the trend that factor was taking on.

Roddick is a year younger than Federer and even with his ‘losing weight’ trick, new coach and a great effort here, the gap appears to have only widened. The ONE factor that makes Federer so comfortable against Roddick is his utter lack of movement on the court. Balls that Nadal, Djokovic and Murray are able to return with some effort go flying past Roddick without even an attempt, forget about the ones that the above three scramble hard and return.

Just a slight angle away from Roddick is all that’s needed to fire a winner against him. That may have been the main motivation in going after those 15 lbs. Roddick is like a tank in tennis or how about a center in NBA, but he is playing against quicker and faster guards.

That’s the ONLY quality that frustrates Federer more than ANYTHING else. Super fast serves, forehands, backhands – nothing fazes him. Fact that he fired TWICE as many aces as Roddick here (16-8) more than proves the point. Once Federer finds how a poor mover you are, he just blasts that opening into a Grand Canyon.

That’s exactly what happened against Del Potro. Either Del Potro has to improve movement to match the above three clowns, which is near impossible given his height and weight ,or he has to fire aces Karlovic style to even have a shot against Federer.

Maybe Roddick needs to shed another 10 lbs and complement that with targeted regimen to boost his quickness on the court. Just trying to blast through Federer will never work. There’s just too much fire power and variety of tools at his disposal.

Alongwith all this BS, Roddick, deep within, does not enough belief in himself to pull off a win against a 100% Federer. This result may actually have been a win for Roddick, considering the demolition Federer was coming off of. There’s no question that the Del Potro match made a significant dent in Roddick’s conviction to win against Federer. It was instantly replaced with ‘a decent scoreline’ match specially when your trophy fiancee is in the stands knowing how much you have put in for ust this one particular match up.

Federer deserves immense credit to have come so far, despite the two losses to Murray and whatever else he had to deal with post-defeat(s). While going through Djokovic would have added another jewel to the crown, it’s still a huge achievement (18 GS finals) that may never get eclipsed.

What’s the downside? You cannot afford to now lose this. Not just because you are so close to No. 14, but to also exact some revenge (if Nadal shows up). Even though just getting to No. 14 now is a big deal, going through Nadal, even if it’s a hard court, will mean that much more.

Can Federer close the deal now and take the pressure off, or is this another one of those ‘so close so far’ deal?

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Roger aims to be a modern great. From M. Good work. Thanks.

M

Roger aims to be a modern great

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/7858446.stm

“Nadal rebels against new anti-doping code: “It’s a disgrace”. From Tellmenow. Thanks.

“Nadal rebels against new anti-doping code: “It’s a disgrace” (Feature)” 28 Jan
http://www.monstersandcritics.com/sport/tennis/article_1456337.php/Nadal_rebels_against_new_anti-doping_code_%26quotIts_a_disgrace%26quot__Feature__

It’s odd the fuss this new whereabouts is causing in tennis, considering it is done with success with other sports. You can look at a calendar and where they will be on practically any date.

Nadal quotes f you look at the number of out of comp tests that is done now it is silly. “We have proved that we are a clean sport. You can count (doping) cases with one hand.”
The quote is sad. If all of his fellow players were clean, we would not need these strict rules. WADA sees a problem; they are trying to fix it.

I’d like to know why Mike Bryant missed two dates for testing. No excuse for avoiding the testers.

Federer, if the fans are not supporting you, you still have to be civil. Geeeezzz!!!!

What’s Roddick thinking right about now?

-How many under-wears should you take on the court?

-Is toilet paper allowed?

-Should I wear a dark colored short?

-Is there a stat on how long humans can ’carry the kids’ before a bathroom becomes a necessity?

-Should I be trying to hit more than just the lines with my serve? How about other balls?

-Maybe playing with my left hand might work?

-Should I prepare for the press conference now?

Here’s the next Wall Of Fame contest. First correct answer=Wall Of Fame listing.

Who coined the title ‘magician’ for Santoro?

What was the most dominating thought in Djokovic’s mind before retiring?

If he retires, he will not win the title, or will miss another and probably the last opportunity to take over the No. 2 spot from Federer, or will tarnish his reputation? Have a clue?

It was this:

The guy across the net has already hit me with his ’16 illness’ BS. How can I now retire against him of all the freaking people. Even if I try to make this one as real as possible, it’s not going to fly against Roddick. When I tell him I am retiring, he will be thinking No. 17 while pretending to be sympathetic.

Now I get that ‘boy crying wolf’ crap.

Conditions that can trigger an upset in the semis.

Nadal-Verdasco:

Nadal’s knees: Duh!!! Although nothing indicates Nadal has had a lapse of the knee problem that forced him to an extended vacation last year, the problem now is an old one making it more vulnerable to act up early in the season.

Verdasco’s serve and forehand: Verdasco is averaging a freaking 78 percent first serve percentage. Add his forehand and it’s a lethal one-two punch. Maybe the Gonzalez match for Nadal can provide some pointers on how to handle that attack.

Federer-Roddick: 

Roddick’s serve: Usually Federer is quite comfortable in blocking whatever bombs Roddick throws at him, but Roddick has added a little more variety without cutting too much pace to produce 79 aces so far – that’s almost 16 per match.

Federer’s forehand: Roddick does not have the ability like Djokovic, Murray or Nadal to consistently send the ball to Federer’s backhand. He is happy to just get the ball over the net. Translation: Federer will get ample opportunity to fire his forehand, but if it’s misfiring, Roddick will feast.

How the semifinalists stack up statiscally.

Joker	Aces	Ist serve pct.	Sets lost/ Bagels dished	Unforced. Errors - Total	Bk pt conv %	Time on court.	Matches played
Nadal	26	68	0 / 1	78	59	9:21	5
Verdasco	32	78	3 / 3	124	59	10:53	5
Federer	58	63	2 / 2	135	59	10:28	5
Roddick	79	66	2 / 1	97	51	10:14	5

If an upset is destined in the semis, who is most likely to pull it off?

Verdasco vs Tsonga – Highlights.

Verdasco’s train derails another run by Tsonga for semifinal berth.

All that Verdasco gained nationally and internationally by winning that deciding Davis Cup match on the road at Argentina is either about to get even more glossier and glorious or it’s about to get washed away in a blink of an eye.

Verdasco, sit down first. Look, you are  not winning this title here – no matter what kind of supernatural game you beam in. Granted you have taken out Murray who defeated Federer what four straight time, but this is a Grand Slam and unlike Murray, Federer has a lot riding on this title than even your shot at your first and only Grand Slam.

That, with your experience at this stage, means Federer will have you for breakfast, lunch and dinner to wash away all the goodwill and accolades you have accumulated so far. Not to mention the boat load of ridicule that’ll come your way from your own countrymen for denying Nadal a reasonable shot at a hard court Slam, forget about all the world clamoring for another Federer-Nadal final.

Put your country before your own interest. Don’t you want a Spaniard to win the Australian Open? No Spaniard has won it – ever. This is your time to win big by losing. Of course, you have to take some acting classes with the William sisters. Check with Wawrinka too, but limit your conversation to tennis only.

In short, JUST GET THE HELL OUT OF THE WAY.

You have done too good so far by eliminating two potent forces for the title to now mess all that up by either extending Nadal or God forbid beating him in the semis. Just take the money and whatever else you want done to Ivanovic and move freaking on.

Verdasco’s win is another testament to how huge a part your mind plays in whatever BS you are into. Verdasco, in affect, literally moved into a telephone booth with Ivanovic and chazaaaam, you have a Davis Cup match he now admits has been the turning point.

If he keeps it up, there’s no doubt he WILL be able to at least extend Nadal to four, five sets. Beating Nadal, however will need a lot more than what he had against Murray and Tsonga combined.

However, like Federer, Nadal is happy to see the unexpected opponent in the semis. However, both Verdasco and Roddick are on a run of their own. While Roddick may not match Verdasco’s run, he did beat Federer last time they met on hard courts of Miami.

So each of these clowns are coming in with their quite reasonable agenda. Additionally, there has to be a mini-huge exhale from both Federer and Nadal knowing who they will face next. With Federer’s track record in recent months of playing down to the competition, that may not bode too well.

Nadal, apart from that factor, also has to deal with playing his countryman.

But considering what’s at stake for both Federer and Nadal here, all this should be a minor annoyance to what they are after. Once the ball goes up, everything except their will to win here will wash all BS away.

Federer can get to No. 14 and release weight of the world on his shoulders to play freely and with renewed confidence. Nadal has a shot at eliminating the hard court monkey off his back to deservingly get included in the greatest to ever play the game debate.

With Roland Garros a virtual lock and being a defending champ at Wimbledon, Nadal can complete what no man has done since Laver – complete a calendar Grand Slam.

So, there’s just too much on the plate for the two giants to even be bothered with what’s next. A business like ruthless dismemberment is on tap, unless Roddick and Verdasco can play the match of their two lives together.

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Serb is labelled a quitter by Federer? From Manon. Thanks.

MANON

Novak Djokovic, retirement King

http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Sport/Story/STIStory_331263.html

Some other females awe struck and floored by Federer and his mystique.

Natural smiler?

10 tips to save on groceries.

Click here.

Isn’t this Verdasco’s turn to morph into a Wawrinka?

This could be Nadal’s first hard court Slam, it could lead to a calendar Slam while keeping Federer from getting too far ahead of Nadal in the Slam count etc. etc. If you are really as patriotic as you wanted us to believe at that Davis Cup win, then this is the time to show it big time.

Tsonga clearly is a bigger threat to throw a monkey wrench at a potential Federer-Nadal Grand Slam final – first one on hard courts. And now you are the only one who can stop him. Will a few derogatory remarks from the ex Ivanovic get you fired up?

Of course, Nadal is grateful that you took Murray out, but the job is still not done. Granted Tsonga has been on this great run, but you have had one of your own now. Besides, Tsonga is not one of the fittest clowns on the tour. If you can keep him out there for over three hours, he may turn into another Djokovic what with his back and whatever else is going on.

Once you get to the semis, you just need to name the price and arrange a meeting with the William sisters – and you  are made for life. Done? Done.

Federer vs Del Potro: Longer ‘with better picture’ video. Watch Federer’s header at 9:57.

Conspiracy theory on Federer. From TuckerP. Thanks.

TUCKERP

How did he do it you ask? It’s actually quite simple. Do you remember when Federer beat Andreev in five sets at the US Open? Well…do you remember what happened the rest of the tournament? Federer dominated everyone he played, including Murray in the finals. I think Federer will win the Australian Open, and you should too ;

Something I’d like to point out though…Federer vs. Andreev happened in the fourth round; Federer vs. Berdych also happened in the fourth round…is there something going on? Is Federer doing it on purpose to get some extra time on the court? If he has the capability to beat Del Potro with bagels, then why did he play like that against Berdych? Federer beat Safin pretty handily too. There is also more interesting details in the Federer-is-being-helped-by-God conspiracy…Djokovic and Murray both going out, the hawk-eye malfunction, and Andy Roddick in the semifinals…

What’s Sampras upto right about now?

Who is most likely to avert a Federer-Nadal final?

Federer hammers Del Potro with two freaking bagels. Wow!!!

And this was supposed to be the start of the tougher part of draw? When you are twenty and have built up so much reputation specially in your own country for your tennis prowess, to get your face literally shoved through dirt, has to be excruciating.

This was not a veteran Hewitt taking a the beating in the US Open finals, this was a kid flying high after a great season last year alongwith the Davis Cup final showing. These are the kinds of defeats that either make or mar a man of Del Potro’s current standing on the tour.

To be a professional tennis player and not manage to win a single freaking game in two sets, irrespective of how meaningless it was to even fight at that point, has the potential of breaking your spirit. To realize first hand the gap between you and the top players in such a humiliating manner is devastating.

Del Potro may have Berdych to blame for this mess. That five-setter woke Federer up to ensure he erased that memory from his and his competitor’s psyche before he went to war for No. 14. This thrashing may have taken more than one victim with it.

You think Roddick has already soiled his pants many times? You bet. Last year Roddick was the one eating a bagel from Federer right here. While Del Potro may not have beaten any of the top dogs, he did came pretty close. Besides he did manage to reach the quarters of a major.

Last match against Berdych for Federer was like this one he dished to Del Potro. With so much at stake that showing against Berdych was like getting bageled. To have another match that’s even close, would have just added to the mess. But with this performance Federer is back in the saddle.

With Roddick next, Federer’s final appearance should be foregone conclusion, unless two things happen:

1. Federer goes back to his inconsistent ways.

2. And Roddick plays the match of his life studded with aces and high first serve percentage.

Even with those two in place, it’s hard for Roddick to overcome the hunger pangs burning within Federer now.

Has this demolition gone as far as the finals? Sure it has, unless of course it’s Nadal across the net. Nadal is the last one to get intimidated and he makes absolutely no effort to hide it. Federer will have to use the crow bar to wrest the hardware on Sunday if it’s Nadal.

Other two jokers, Simon and Tsonga, are already dead. All they will playing for will be to avoid eating a bagel.

But despite this dominating show from Federer, there’s no guarantee that he will be able to follow it up with anything close to it in the next match – even against his punching bag called Roddick. Last two some years are proof of that.

Nevertheless, it’s one of the rare opportunities fans have to see anyone get bageled so far up the draw in a Grand Slam. With the change the game is under, it may not be happening ever again.

Federer now wants Nadal in the final to exact some revenge to what all has been heaped upon him by the raging bull last season and beyond. With Nadal maintaining the most consistent line of play so far and the inconsistent up and down showing Federer has had for sometime, it’s difficult to give Federer any edge, despite this massacre.

But if they do meet, one thing’s for sure: It will be a fight to the finish. Can it match the Wimbledon battle? With what’s at stake at both ends, there’s no reason to assume it won’t.

But Nadal still has two tricky opponents to clear. How much those two can tire Nadal may prove to be a key as to who will win the title now. With heat already claiming what 100 players, physical fitness WILL play a huge part.

It’s just Nadal again standing in Federer’s way to deny him another huge accolade. Can Federer turn things around and march on to glory and immortality, or this is just another test to prove that Nadal has arrived?

Photos.

Federer vs Del Potro – Highlights.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTalNsioiZk

Bartoli in love with Federer? Who’s next? Roseanne? Is there a pattern here? From Sol. Thanks.

SOL

Hey, here’s an article about Marion Bartoli saying on sunday she’s in love with Roger:
http://www.20min.ch/ro/sports/dossier/openaustralie/story/31177244

I know it’s in french, so I’ll translate. In short, she’s asked who her ideal man is and she answers Roger Federer. She says that if he asked her to fly to the moon for him, she’ll do it. She says he’s nice, handsome and classy and that she cries when he loses big matches. She then adds that when he says hi to her in the locker room, she starts to shake all over…

That’s kinda weird no?

What the…..?

I have now finally grown out of Chakvetadze phase. Waiting for the next wagon.

With the new crop of girls on the tour even worse than my goats, I am preparing to hunker down for a long time. Of course, I have my red hair sweet heart to keep me company.

Whose win at the Australian Open will create the most expectations / buzz for 2009 season and beyond?

Nadal’s. Duh!!!!

The likelihood of us witnessing a calendar Grand Slam in our lifetime rests with no other player today. And this title will realistically ensure at least three legs of it and leave the rest to Uncle Tony and the family to manage the rest of the year to bag the US Open title to complete the near impossible feat in today’s game.

Federer winning No. 14 surely will create a buzz, but it’s a lot weaker and less long lasting than Nadal’s. If it comes true, Nadal will be at his No. 9 Grand Slam already at age 23. Even if he fails to win another hard court title or even a Wimbledon, he will have positioned himself as one of the greatest to have ever played the game, if not the only one – after all dust settles, that is.

With Murray going out early and a long battle(s) ahead for both Federer and Djokovic at each of their matches, relatively speaking, Nadal may not be too far from realizing his other goal that’s eluded him – winning a hard court Slam. If he wins, he will have taken another swipe at Federer by winning a Grand Slam on all surfaces.

But this scenario is also the typical ‘trap’ match syndrome looking down at him. In Murray’s absence, Nadal will have to resist the strong temptation to mentally move over to the finals prematurely. Additionally, the guy who beat him last year in the semis is likely to show up again. Although Nadal leads the H2H 2-1 and did exact revenge for his Australian Open loss by defeating Tsonga on hard courts of Indian Wells last year, it’s still not a given under any circumstances.

The draw has finally smiled on Nadal on hard courts by taking out the unanimous expected winner of the tournament while maintaning the battle mode on the other side to provide him a huge fuel advantage in the finals. This is a huge opportunity for Nadal he HAS to close on.

A calendar Grand Slam possibility will send tremors across the entire sporting world thereby creating a buzz far stronger and far reaching than even Federer’s reign did. It will force tennis on the world map to rejuvenate and invigorate the fan base worldwide.

Djokovic’s next shot at No. 2 coming up.

He has to win this title to pass Federer. Should Roddick already start feeling despondent and Nadal, in the final, should consider it a done deal based on what three times Djokovic has bungled that baton transfer?

If that’s anything to go by, Federer should be toast in the semis if they get to get there now that Verdasco has set a precedent. And all Nadal has to do is beat Simon and Verdasco to win the title.

Or is this the time when Djokovic starts misfiring a notch before his previous letdowns? If Djokovic meets Federer in the semis, in all likelihood the hunger from Federer to not give up the No. 2 will be a lot stronger than Djokovic wanting to step up.

Of course Federer has a lot bigger fish to fry and the two could make Federer unbeatable, unless Del Potro produces another five setter or something similar to plant the seed of doubt AND Federer steps back to his inconsistent forehand and first serve percentage.

Even though Nadal leads everyone in the stats so far, Djokovic-Federer semis may be the de facto final. If Federer is destined to lose in the final to Nadal, he would rather lose in the semis. Why? Because planting another feather in Nadal’s cap at this point may be devastating. Other feathers? Ending the No. 1 streak, six straight Wimbledon, Roland Garros…….

Of the three clowns, Federer obviously has the trickiest match followed by Djokovic before a semifinal can be played. If Federer can dispatch Del Potro with relative ease, the ghost Berdych produced will not only lose it’s sting, it will turn into Federer’s ally against Djokovic.

Djokovic’s match against Roddick is not a walk in the park either. If nothing else it’s a very emotional ‘must win’ match for Djokovic and if Roddick’s serve is on, it may drain enough fuel out of Djokovic to disable him facing Federer effectively.

It’s a stage where the strategy gets fine tuned to come out as unscathed as you can physically, knowing that Nadal has not only not lost a set yet, there’s no Murray to exhaust any of the overflowing energy Nadal is likely to bring come Sunday.