Losing the shirt.

Vienna Saturday highlights.

Basel draw.

Click here.

How should the former greats respond to Agassi?

What punishment will fit the crime for Agassi?

How long will Delpo’s honeymoon last?

There’s a clear time capsule that you are allowed after you win your first Slam to gloat and celebrate over. But the transition of that event being such a blessing to a curse happens overnight once you turn that corner.

Sampras endured it for two and half years, Roddick must have thought at least once what it would have been like if he had not won that US Open and Djokovic is still reeling from it.

The bump you get after your first Slam in the locker room is addictive. The wearing off of that potion is painful and humiliating.

So is the next Australian Open the one for Delpo? After all, it’s a hard court and the closest Slam in many respects to the one he won.

Or winning over Federer, specially at Basel, the deal for Delpo now to solidify that five set win? If it is and he wants to be just a handful of jokers to own a winning record against Federer, he has very little time.

The age difference of seven years will start to take away the juice from that stat very soon. The dynamic may even start to turn on Delpo if it reaches a point where it becomes a no win situation like Federer’s been in against Nadal many times.

Ideally Delpo would like to win the next Slam after going through Federer irrespective of the round, but it appears, unlike Murray, he may be more content with winning his next major instead of proving anything against an aging Federer now.

Given the drought almost everyone has had in the majors since the two-headed monster took over the game and Djokovic’s experience, Delpo will still be OK if he wins just one Slam next season.

However, until he gets his next one, there will be that uneasiness in his game given the benchmarks former greats have established on the pattern a decorated tennis career usually follows on the way to promised land.

The other player Delpo may be concerned about today, other than Federer, has to be Cilic. There are just too many similarities to let that one pass from age to height to whatever. Is that the new rivalry brewing today? Maybe.

Nadal has been more or less spanked out of recognition by Delpo, Djokovic’s recent success is more out of default and Murray is still to shine on the big stage – not to mention that none of them own the number 66.

I feel Delpo appears to think that he has already achieved more than he expected for this season releasing that complacent beast to blunt his progress until that one-Slam pang rises to bite.

Federer to resume on Nov 2.

The opening ceremony will begin at 17.30 hours and will be followed by Roger Federer’s opening match at 18.30 hours (local time).

Big names at Basel.

Federer.

Djokovic.

Del Potro.

Gonzalez.

———–

Stepanek.

Haas.

Ljubicic.

Gasquet.

Karlovic.

Isner.

Missing from the entry list is Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (ATP 7), who had had a long-standing contract to enter the event. A tax agreement in effect at his place of residence in the Canton of Vaud prohibits the French player from taking part in the Davidoff Swiss Indoors.

Agassi cannot freaking be the only one.

I mean, maybe others don’t have it that bad, but there’s definitely at least one juicy stick in there waiting for that book deal, don’t you think?

With some, most of it is already out of the bag, eliminating the windfall Agassi is expecting with this one.

Whatever is Agassi’s ‘real’ motivation on coming out with this startling revelation, he needs to write another book on it to complete the cycle now. We can’t be just left hanging now.

Why did you come out with this and why now and not when you were about to die? And this BS about ‘it will benefit others’ will only work with Steffi when she is high. You are not fooling anyone with that crap.

Can this make others to step forward and unload too?

Connors has to be the next guy to raise his hand, don’t you think? Now that we know how Agassi was able to extend his career and win Slams past age 29, isn’t Connors’s longevity and 109 titles the logical progression for this truck?

Well, we already know the problem. We just need to know specifically what it was: Steroids, weed, crack, homemade concoction, liquor, beer………

And Borg has that confession to make about the suicide and why he chose underwear, of all the freaking garments, to be in business with.

Lendl has to explain his obsession with a son and Wimbledon.

Kevin James at his best.

Cartoons of the Week.

Click here.

Photos.

Sex morphing in progress!!!!!!!!!!

Happy birthday to Virender – Oct 31st.

Silver lining to Nadal’s problems.

Be careful what you wish for. Nadal probably played the underdog card far too long as he now finds himself deep in that trench – for real.

But the ingredients his story carries has potential to become one of the most compelling sporting careers of all time.

The meteoric rise as a teenager to being crippled with injuries and personal problems to the mix of an uncertain future and legendary grit to the possibility of owning at least Roland Garros for some years to the potential of reaching double figures in Slam total to now fighting a new breed /style of play – the suspense and the intrigue it all oozes with is riveting.

If you place utter domination against winning against tough odds, side by side, the latter will invariably come ahead by a mile with respect to fan admiration, following and the subsequent monetary windfall.

Add the weak competition theme touted by former greats and it makes the story even more of a blockbuster waiting to happen deal.

Inadvertently Nadal may have stumbled upon a gold mine and a route to success which is far more gratifying and memorable than the silky smooth ride Federer has had for five some years. Heard of the Rocky movies?

Even Ali (here we go again) had to reinvent himself late in his career to stoke that ‘sportsman of the century’ glow. He fell off the pedestal numerous times both inside and outside the ring to make his run that much more identifiable with the common man around the world.

Today the call on Nadal is borderline. The probability of him making it big may not be that strong but it’s not been abandoned all together by even the most narcissistic critics.

Even if Nadal regains his footing it’s unlikely that he will rattle off titles with Federer-like consistency taking into account his knee problem, younger taller competition etc. etc. But that’s the very component that may make Nadal the darling of the tennis world thereby matching if not exceeding Federer’s charisma and appeal.

There are some obvious deficiencies in his game which even a freaking cucumber can point out. Could his serve be the most glaring one? Maybe. But these are the very circumstances that force a great athlete to address his problems to claim the immortal plate.

Life has thrown the gauntlet to provide that proverbial fork in the road. Can Nadal rise and take charge?

Photos.

She can smile?

Mary Jo.

Valencia Open. From Jenny. Thanks.

JENNY

The Agora looks futuristic impressive.

Everyone is hoping Roddick and Murray will be fit enough to compete, I don’t think the organisers have heard anything to the contrary.

Click here.

Is this legal? Forget about morality.

Can you freaking follow this simple rule?

“if man made it, don’t eat it”, and “if it tastes good, spit it out”.

At the age of 95, LaLanne continues to work out every morning for two hours. He spends 1½ hours in the weight room and half an hour swimming or walking. LaLanne and his wife Elaine (83) live in Morro Bay, California. When interviewed by Katie Couric on NBC’s Today show, LaLanne said his two simple rules of nutrition are: “if man made it, don’t eat it”, and “if it tastes good, spit it out.” He often says, “I cannot afford to die, it will ruin my image.” Interviewed on his 93rd birthday, he said his feat of strength was going to be “towing my wife across the bathtub.”

___________________________________________________

Can you handle that? No, you can’t. So here’s a rather simpler goal:

Just block one hour a day of your life. That’s reasonable and doable, don’t you think? And use that time to freaking exercise preferably with weights. If that’s not an option, can you at least freaking walk for an hour?

Photos.

If this one can open up so generously, others have to be scary.

Sampras’s first thought on learning Agassi cheated.

Can I get those three losses in Slams back – please, please, please – I am on my knees?

1. Roland Garros – Semis.

2. AO – Final.

3. AO – Semis.

AND at least ONE Slam added to my total? And then start dreaming that Federer doesn’t win any more Slams.

But there will still be one base left uncovered: Bribe Nadal to either never write an autobiography or just lie about the steroids to ensure Federer stays put after he retires.

Borg, wouldn’t you like to get someone checked too? After all, ALL your losses in the Slams to somebody were in the finals:

1. USO – finals.

2. Wimbledon – finals.

3. USO – finals.

That should get you to 14 and six straight Wimbledon titles. If nothing else you will have one extra Wimbledon trophy to bail you out next time you go bankrupt.

More importantly it will slide someone to just 4. Go for drugs and insanity plea.

Agassi: Why I wrote my autobiography.

„The person Federer has a good grip on the player Federer“. From Sarah. Thanks.

SARAH

„The person Federer has a good grip on the player Federer“

by René Stauffer

October 27th, 2009

Pierre Paganini, who is since 10 years the personal fitness coach and advisor of the worlds best tennisplayer, says that the athete Federer is underestimated. He is convinced that Federer could have become a top soccer player.

Switched the violin with the medicine ball

Federers fitnesscoach is from a musicfamily, lives in Zermatt and Dubai – and prefers it to stay in the background. In the 10 years, in which he works with Roger Federer, he has just given a few bigger interviews. Coaches, who present themselves in the public are an anathema to him. He is annoyed that people talk about the coaches of many soccer teams and not of the players. “I don’t want to come to the fore ahead of Roger“, says the 52years old man from Westswitzerland, who speaks perfect Swiss German. Barely nobody knows that he was born in Zürich and lived a few years in Glattbrugg. His mother Maria was a teacher at universities in the USA for 30 years and his father Roe a pianist, who was responsible in the 60ies that music education has been launched in Swiss schools.

He has made music himself for 16 years, „but when I was 20 years old I switched the violin with the medicine ball“, says the bald, still athletically topfit romand. Already as a child he has felt attracted to the sport and his later profession. “I remember when we followed in 1970 for the first time on a color tv the WM final in Mexico between Brazil and Italy“, he tells. “My friends only wanted to know what happens on the pitch. I was the only one who already asked himself before the match: What do the players do now at this moment? What is going on?”

17 years with Marc Rosset

Pagainin played soccer in the 2nd and 3rd division, but also comes from the athletics. Those two sports have been his special subjects during his training as a sports coach in Magglingen. In the 80ies he concentrated on tennis. During the last 20 years he worked for Swiss tennis, between 1991 and 2008 he belonged to the Daviscup team for 11 years. The Maleeva sisters were among his clients and also Marc Rosset for 17 years.

Paganini was a fitness coach and administrative leader in Ecublens, when Federer joined the project tennis/etudes there in 1995. Federer engaged him privately in 2000, like Stanislas Wawrinka has meanwhile done (for 70 days a year). Paganini has developed an own trainingsconcept with excersices, who are specifically made for tennis and have become his trademark.

During his schooltime Paganini lived in Wallis. Today he commutes with his wife Isabelle, who also works as a fitness coach, between his residences in Zermatt and Dubai.
“I got to know Dubai through Roger. Meanwhile I would stay there, even when I would not work with him anymore.“ The city would be an ideal place for his many travels through Asia or to Australia. “There is a lot which dismays you in Dubai, but a lot also delights you. You can see a Catholic, an atheist and a muslim at the same table and it is normal. 97 % of the people who live there are foreigners.“

“Somehow a luxury“

Even after 25 years Paganini still does his job with enthusiasm. “I really like to work with Federer and Wawrinka and want to continue as long as I feel useful”, he says. “But some day I want to work with young players again.“ He knows that he has a job which many people are envious of and feels privileged. “I can work with Roger, when nobody else is around. We are undisturbed and can talk openly. Somehow this is a luxury.“

Pierre Paganini, can Roger Federer be successful for 8 more years in tennis? He says he aims to play as long as Andre Agassi, who retired when he was 36 years old.

It’s not getting downhill when you are 28 or 30 years old. Important is that you adapt your schedule. Someone who has run 850 metres doesn’t have the same big tank as the one who has just run 200 metres. It’s not a matter of age, but of splitting: preparing, playing, resting.
As long as his health is good everything indicates that he can keep his top level for a long time to come. I’m convinced: As long as he plays he is going to be strong.

Don’t you reach certain limits when the tank gets smaller?

You have to choose another way to make the tank full again. Federer’s advantage is that he has so much experiences on a very high level. This experience and his unbroken enthusiasm for tennis help him to use his energy optimally. He is exceptionally skilled in here as well.

However, even Federer probably won’t be athletically as strong and fast with 35 years as he is today.

In tennis you can be fast enough with 35 years when you have planned and implementted the career correctly. When you have the fire, you add to this the experience, anticipation and trainingsvolume of a 35 years old – and Federer will be unexcelled in this regard. Therefore I don’t see a difference. Jimmy Connors has proven that it is possible. (Connors has been a semifinalist with 39 years at the US Open)

How has Federer developed athletically in the last years? Where does he stand today?

He has shown that he has become a fully grown athlete. He doesn’t only has a big routine and experience as a player, but also as an athlete now. He feels his body and knows exactly what is going on and how to react, for example when he gets tired, which is normal for a tennisplayer. Furthermore he has become more balanced muscularry. After all those years we know each other better because we talk and plan the whole time together. We permanently learn from each other and have collected many experience values, which we now have to use.

In 2008 the mono set him back. When did he athletically catched up with this in your opinion?

Last year he was always lacking 2 or 3 %. Mono is really a tough thing. Then he got the backproblems in autumn, which haven’t helped. I would say: In 2009 he was the old one. But it was just sensational how he fighted through everything in 2008, even though he was retrenched. This makes a big difference on this high level and was challenging him mentally extremely. 2008 was one of his best years mentally.

This year Federer won 2 Grand Slam finals and lost the other two in the 5th set. Did those losses in Melbourne against Nadal and in New York against Del Potro have something to do with athletics?

I don’t think so – and I’m not saying this to sugarcoat something. First of all you play tennis and you can do it good or less good. As a fitnesscoach I differentiate how you move, you intensive you can express yourself athletically and how long you are able to do this. Those three parameters are equally important for me and they affect each other. You can’t compare the five set matches against Nadal in Melbourne and Del Potro in New York, because both were a different kind of tennis.

In which respect?

Against Nadal he played physically an incredible match. He was present during four hours and this against the energy-sapping game of a Nadal. This is like when you talk in a foreign language: You need more energy. After the year with the mono this was something positive. It was just the match which he needed in order to say: Hey, you are back. After this he has proven in Roland Garros, where he was sometimes struggling with his tennis, that he can play a few matches over 3 hours and more. The intensity in todays toptennis gets underestimated. In New York you saw with both finalists that they had already played a long season, but one has to say that Del Potro played an excellent match.

How would you explain Federers backproblems from the end of 2008 to laymen?

Tennis isn’t a symmetric sport. One day you will see wear marks of each player, but way more less in Roger as in other players of his age. But we have to respect this point and take more time in order to work preventive and scrutinise ourselves. Instead of practicing five days in a row you practice maybe 3 1/2 days, rest 24 hours and then practice 2 ½ days. Then you have the same trainingsvolume in six days, but you have given your body the opportunity to recover.

Before he started his winning streak in Madrid, Federer underwent a few endurance tests in trainings camps in Sardinia and in Switzerland. He said he needed those as a confirmation that his back would be okay.

Sometimes you just want to know where you stand, especially before a series of tournaments, when you are searching your rhythm. But he has also worked extremely hard in December 2008 and in February this year.

How important has it been for him not to play in Dubai in March and the Davis Cup against the USA?

It’s a good thing that he made it. It would have been to much strain for his back. This break was the basis fort his super season. He was able to take the run-up in this phase, which he needed. What he demonstrated afterwards was incredible: 2 Grand Slam titles, final in New York, victory in Cincinatti…

Could it be possible that he is going to play even less in the future?

He will surely listen to his body and his inside even more before he is going to make a decision. That doesn’t mean he is going to play less tournaments. He meanwhile has so much experience and knows what to do. It’s so wonderful with him as we need to anticipate mostly. Of course he would like to play every week, but he knows the consequences of what he is doing. The person Federer has a good grip on the player Federer. He knows himself so well.

Federer withdrew from the tournaments in Tokio and Shanghai after he complained of pains in the thighs. Where does he athletically stand now in the week before his hometournament in Basel?

After the Davis Cup he wanted to rest in order to prevent a more serious injury and to be able to cure the physical problems he had. That was reasonable, because it gave him the time to recover from this super tough summer and to practice then again.

How did the programme of the last weeks looked like?

The first trainingsblock took place in Dubai, together with Severin Lüthi. In the beginning the condition stood in the foreground. Last week we returned to Switzerland and now tennis is the central point.

Are the thighs and back a non-issue now?

At the moment everything is ok, Roger can practice normally and feels good. He is looking forward to Basel as he says. But when someone has played so much you always have to be careful. You never have a guarantee, we need to be really careful.

This season is going on until the end of November and is two weeks longer as usual. Already in early January the new season is going to start. What does this mean for your work and the preparation for 2010?

Certain things from the current tennisblock we can use for the work in December, so Roger gets – even with the shorter break – the amount of trainingstime which he needs for 2010.

How does your work with Federer has changed within the years?

The division is different, the flexibility has become more important. To work 140 days with Roger means to be available 365 days.

Does Federer getting underestimate as an athlete?

For sure.

What distinguishs Roger?

He is fast, sustained and extremely coordinated and this even after several hours and in 70, 80 matches a year. Since 10 years. That isn’t just talent, but rather the consequence of hard work and the will to repeat something over and over again. This is what Roger is strong in. He works a lot more as people can imagine – because he mostly practices when nobody sees him. He needed to ascribe his whole philosophy of life to work.

For which other sports would he have been fitting?

He would be a great soccer player, sprinter, thrower – not a shot-putter, but a good javelin thrower. He also would be a good volley player and a good skier.

Does it have any influence to your work that he now has a family with two children?

The situation has become a bit more complex because they are now as a foursome, but Roger and Mirka know each other so well, have travelled together and from this experience they can now benefit. It hasn’t become any more difficult, but more exciting. We are used to each other and to talk about every new situation first.

You are one of his most important advisors. How big is your influence?

You shouldn’t ask this question to me. I have no use for the word important. Roger, Mirka, Severin and myself know each other for 10 years now or even longer and we talk a lot together. We have noticed how important this is and our common scheduling. This leads to the fact that we have a very close employment relationship and a deep trust. Roger feels how much I enjoy it to work with him and that I like to be flexible for him. A player has to decide himself, but he should also respect what the people around him suggest. A charismatic player like Federer needs to have people around him who have charisma. People, who are strong enough to say to him what they think. That’s what he wants and I’m one of those.

Who are the other ones?

Severin Lüthi, Mirka Vavrin… sorry: Mirka Federer. For certain things his manager (Tony Godsick) And then of course in special fields his parents. What’s good in our team is that everyone takes over responsibilty in his province.

Will you advise Federer to play against Spain in the Davis Cup in March 2010?

I’m the fitness coach and I’m not going to say which aims the player should have. I only advise him to think about him, when an event could have a negative influence to the whole package. As a fitness coach I’m not going to say something about the Davis Cup, but I know how much Roger likes the Davis Cup and what he does for this team.

Source: http://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/sport/te…story/12454726

Last time I visited a restaurant.

Click here.

Motivational speaker Mom and Dad got for me.

Click here.

If you haven’t seen this video yet, you need to go drown yourself in the kitchen sink.

Obama pays Taliban millions to stop fighting? What kind of BS is that?

Watch for Switzerland to take up arms anytime now with Mirka in the forefront!!!!!!!!! Are you freaking kidding me!!!!!!

What kind of stupid message is that? No wonder his approval numbers are in a free fall.

There’s an instant message for the poor countries to band together for the mother of all bailouts. Why bother straining your brains to move up the ladder. Just freaking fight and prosper.

Is the newspaper bribe to not publish anti US stuff next? How long will it take to boil down to the blogs? I need a new herd of goats like yesterday.

Geeeeeeeeeeezzzzzzz!!!!!!!!!

Who are the biggest liars – men or women?

If tennis is your life why would you do this?

If a 15-Slam winner is hesitant to marry, partly because he wants to make sure he is able to focus on tennis until he is done, who are you, at about the same age, to think of marrying when you are on the opposite end of the shake with a one-Slam wonder board hanging around your neck?

Could it be because of that white flag? Or that slide upwards from Mandi to Brooklyn just too much to pass?

How else can you justify tying the knot when historically there’s no precedent at that age, forget about your zeal to not give up given your predicament?

Granted there’s a slight uptick this year, but is it more because of ‘go for broke’ and ‘nothing to lose’ mentality after you have unfurled the white flag?

Why not have the twins too?

Or the fact that US No. 1 spot appears safe is what we are really after now?

Photos.

The cheater.

Look for the interview video of Agassi and Graf at the middle of the page. From Joao. Thanks.

JOAO

Click here.

Nadal and fishing. From Samantha. Thanks.

Next Wall Of Fame contest.

Who amongst current WTA players resembles ‘Puma’ the most?

First correct answer = Wall Of Fame listing.

Who has the most doting parents?

GOAT contenders and their career numbers.

Player	Titles	Finals: Won/Lost	Tie-breaks: Won/Lost	Titles won on which surfaces	$	Most popular for
Laver	40	40 /18	60 / 52	C=6 G=5 H=15 Cpt=13	1,565,413	Was never ranked No. 1. Highest rank: 3.
Borg	63	63 / 24	93 / 76	C=30 G=6 H=5 Cpt=22	3,665,751	Failed suicide attempt/business
Sampras	64	64 / 24	328 / 194	C=4 G=10 H=36 Cpt=15	43,280,489	Boring pressers.
Federer	61	61 / 23	263 / 137	C=9 G=11 H=39 Cpt=2	50,777,919	Long nose, Wawrinka episodes.
Roddick	27	27 /17	257 / 149	C=5 G=4 H=17 Cpt=1	16,933,084	Marriage joke.

Interesting facts and article! From Claire. Thanks.

CLAIRE

Interesting facts and article!
Pts. as of 10/28:
Federer – 10,305
Nadal – 9,095
Djokovic – 7,950
Murray – 6,890
Del Potro – 6,165
Davedinko(sp) – 4,700
Roddick – 4,670
Tsonga – 3,930
Verdasco – 3,330
Soderling – 2,900

Is there anyway Nadal could be #1 at year end? Both Fed and Nadal have 250 pts. to defend at Paris

Interesting article! Federer said on his facebook page something like he is having an amazing time visiting with family and that he went for walk with girls along Lake Geniva!!!!!!

TP, think Federer is enjoying playing “house,house”?

“has not been spotted on the ATP Tour since the U.S. Open final – and don’t be too surprised if he takes his extended break all the way into the New Year.

The world No. 1 took time off after his defeat to Juan Martin del Potro at Flushing Meadows to rest up and spend time with his young family, yet was expected to return for the Paris Masters and the year-ending ATP Tour finals in London.

However, rumors out of Switzerland have suggested that Federer is considering keeping a low profile until January in order to be fully fresh and ready for 2010.

It would be a controversial move if Federer decided to skip the Tour finals, and one that would likely bring sanctions from the ATP unless he could prove he was injured. Rafael Nadal, then atop the rankings, pulled out last year.

Federer’s year has been outstanding but it is understood he has made regaining the Australian Open crown his first priority for next year.

He was devastated to lose to Nadal in this year’s final, with his idol Rod Laver looking on. After losing to Novak Djokovic in the 2008 semifinal, the Swiss feels his preparation for Australia has not been ideal and wants a more structured approach this time around.

Federer remains atop of our power rankings, primarily because most of the leading men have either been out of action or out of form.

Nikolay Davydenko breaks into the list, while Andy Murray and Andy Roddick slip due to inactivity.

Yahoo! Sports Power Rankings

1. (1) Roger Federer – Resting up before the Tour finals

2. (2) Juan Martin del Potro – Targeting a huge 2010

3. (5) Rafael Nadal – Still not back to his pre-injury level

4. (4) Novak Djokovic – Showing solid end-of-year form

5. (3) Andy Murray – Wrist injury is a real concern

6. (NR) Nikolay Davydenko – Superb win in Shanghai

7. (6) Andy Roddick – Ran out of gas at the end of a tough year

8. (NR) Jo-Wilfried Tsonga – Strong year from the big Frenchman “