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

Who are the male players in the open era with winning percentages over 80 at Grand Slam singles tournaments?

Borg in 1974. What is he saying?

Clay season curiousity.

-Will Nadal win the fifth Roland Garros? With so many events lined up one after another, previous seasons have witnessed some nervous moments that may very well have led to the dethronement of Nadal at Roland Garros.

With Miami the most recent reminder of how tamely Nadal can disappear when physically extended and now that he is four years older than his first success here with various injuries, past and present – time to take it for granted may be over for good.

Just a blister last year was enough for Ferrero to take an ‘injured’ Nadal out of his misery. It’s a wonder that nothing of the sort has not bothered him at Roland Garros so far given the hectic ‘running for dear life’ schedule he has here.

-How will Federer fare? Will the belly that’s already been exposed after the monoless titleless hard court season, take another devastating hit on clay to accelerate the now fast moving to the south truck?

Is Federer strong enough to take the mauling that appears more likely this clay season to still carry on for the rest of the season with some semblance of grace and humility?

While many may not expect him to do well here, Federer himself is yet to accept that fact opening up the possibility of another meltdown and embarrassment. Every match for Federer will be a drain with nothing to gain if he wins and everything to lose if he even loses a set, forget about losing the match.

He is between that proverbial hard place and a rock with no where to go but forward with a giant to face at every outing.

-Can Murray translate his success on hard courts to clay? Both Federer and Djokovic didn’t seem to have any problems. If he does, will it to go as far as to eliminate Federer or can he reach for Nadal too?

With both Djokovic and Federer fading fast, the likelihood of a Nadal-Murray final at most events is quite high. With his all around game, Murray may prove to be more dangerous than Federer ever was to Nadal on clay.

-If after clay season No. 2 rank is up for grabs based on what happens at Wimbledon, Federer could be in a world of hurt with this insult to injury set up.

Though Murray is over 2000 points behind Federer, he has practically nothing to defend on clay:

Monte Carlo: 3rd round (Federer-Final)

Barcelona: Opening round (Federer-DNP)

Rome: 2nd rd (Fed -Quarterfinal)

Hamburg: 3rd rd (Fed-Final)

Roland Garros: 3rd rd (Fed-Final)

-It appears any ambiguity that currently exists about who all are in the race today will finally get resolved once clay season is over. Nadal and Murray should prevail emphatically.

Kids Curb Marital Satisfaction.

Click here.

Some more Djokovic impersonations. From Ch. Thanks.

World’s first tennis brother-sister No. 1 ranked combo.

Scotland Yard mess up. From Schop. Thanks.

SCHOP

TP san here is maybe another thread regarding the most stupid Murray fellow-countryman! Scotland Yards Senior “Anti”-Terrorist! Officer -lol- had to quit due to his careless #10 Downing Street visit! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QT7hcaL1IgY Now I know why Bin Laden is still alive and why Andy Murray is not gonna win more than one (?) Grand Slam! Oh boy, this is so embarrassing! Feddie pls keep on destroying rackets and throwing bottles!

Federer angrily throws away water bottles on court. From Schop. Thanks.

Djokovic imitates Federer.

This period from now to Wimbledon may determine Nadal’s status among the greats of the game.

There are many juicy carrots to be had during this fertile phase:

-Record Five straight Roland Garros titles.

-Back to back RG and Wimbledon titles – back to back.

-Matching Federer’s three majors in a year. Actually trumping him by getting it done on three different surfaces.

-Reaching No. 8 for career Slams at age 22, equalling Agassi, Connors and Lendl on the all time pole.

-Potential of reaching / passing No. 14 becomes more of a possibility.

-Calendar Slam hopes are still alive, and if realised will unanimously push him past Federer in the GOAT debate.

-Further cementing his claim to the greatest clay court player ever by starting and building another clay streak – from Monte Carlo to RG.

Nadal prepares for clay.

Federer makes first sensible decision of his life: Accepts MC wild card.

If he hadn’t, the self pity, the constant crying, the brooding over all the spilled milk, Cahill’s scorn, the pregnancy etc. etc. would have done a number on him mentally which even Nadal couldn’t have matched.

Not to mention how annoying he would have been for Mirka and his family just like that man who retired and is home all the time picking at stupid stuff.

Action is the cure for ALL troubles. Even though he will still be going at it alone, despite all pointers to the contrary, it’s a lot better than cooking up trouble at home.

Federer this season has come out with his best stuff – consciously. So much so that he may have crossed the natural perimeter in a strained effort to right the ship. And despite him trying virtually everything his memory banks could offer, he has still fallen short.

But it has not been by much, considering he has lost to only the top dogs and in the deciding set. Although the deciding set has not looked good at most of them, losing to Roddicks and the like would have been even more devastating.

Now it gives Federer three events to prepare before he goes for that elusive title once again. While the odds are stacked heavily against him, there are many variables at any Grand Slam to knock off the favorite from his high perch.

It’s been done many many times in the past for reasons as varied as the tone of the draw to weather conditions on a particular day to injury and illnesses to an off day for the big dog to someone catching fire (Verdasco?) to …….

Considering you have been to one final and three semifinals in your four outings this season, any one of those reasons could be sufficient to hurl you over the top.

Granted none of the four are Estorils and meeting with the king of clay is all but assured at each one of them, maybe this is the year that Nadal’s stupid insistence in playing Barcelona will tilt the scales as it nearly has done in previous years.

But more importantly this decision gets Federer to be out and about to face whatever discomfort that’s due at the locker room and elsewhere after his frustrating defeat at Miami – and get it over with.

I still feel Estoril-like event would have been a better option but this is way better than what he had already decided.

Federer is at a point where not only has his game deserted him when he needed it most, but subsequently his prestige and stature on the tour has taken a huge hit (AO crying, Miami PC and defeat etc.).

As if all that was not enough, Mirka, his sanctuary from all this has moved on. She is already into picking out clothes, names, diapers etc. for the baby. Even though Mirka may try to camouflage it as best she can, Federer in his current mental state is just too sensitive to not notice that.

That may be one of the main reasons why Federer has opted for Monte Carlo, apart from the obvious ones. You see, there’s no better therapy than work to get over the blues.

Even a semifinal berth on this surface would do more than what that station did for Federer on hard courts, given the circumstances. A title of course will be perfect.

You know, life is strange and unpredictable. How many times have you received that you worked so hard for all your life right at the time when it seemed most improbable?

How ironic it would be for Federer to win a Roland Garros and No. 14 right here?

Although it’s stretching it, but unless Murray and Djokovic show some marked improvement this year on clay, Federer is still the second best player on clay.

If nothing else, his decision should spice up the tournament with another shot at a Nadal-Federer final.