Rafael Nadal converts another doubter. From Blake. Thanks.

BLAKE

Pure poetry (No, not the campy Wimbledon kind):

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/commentary/news/story?id=5358534

Nadal fighting for No. 1 of another kind now?

Remember the agony and anguish Nadal went through for nearly two freaking years as No. 2 in the world with a prospect of never being No. 1? He was destined to become another stat in a long line of No. 2s who never could take the next step. With Federer showing no signs of declining then, it was quite a real possibility. Well, he was able to take the next step. But there’s another No. 2 staring him in the face again with nearly as impossible a shot at taking the next step. Have a clue? No,  you don’t!!!!!

Federer has clinched ‘the greatest player to have ever reached for a tennis racket’ spot leaving Nadal with a very realistic probability of running around like a rabbit for his entire career just to be No. 2 – not to mention the wear and tear some opening in his body will have to endure – just for that. Nadal may not have been even in that debate until now but with this 8th Slam – at Wimbledon – after beating Soderling, Murray and Berdych – Nadal has reached a point on the mountain which provides a panoramic view of valley GOAT – for the first time, relapsing him very close to where he was when fighting for the No. 1 ‘rank’.

Despite all the H2H advantage, Wimbledon-FO combos etc. the ONLY stick that can now dislodge Federer from that undisputed GOAT peak and place Nadal at No. 1 is No. 17. If Nadal is to play until age 30, he HAS to average a little over one Slam a year to get there. While it’s a stretch to imagine Nadal winning Slams at age 30 specially when even Federer with all his scales of economy is struggling at age 28, there’s a possibility that Nadal can produce a couple of ’08 years to compress the pace to avoid the need of winning Slams that late in his career to match Federer.

Whether it’s possible or not is debatable, leaning heavily towards ‘not happening’, but what’s not in question is the instant existence of this state of frenzy, agitation, excitement, turmoil or whatever else you want to call it – after this 8th Slam – to go after an even bigger No. 1. Is that good or bad for the rest of the guys on the tour? Cannot be too good in the short run, don’t you think?

Andy Murray with James Corden on ITV.

Federer’s astonishing ‘Stands alone’ records.

OVERALL	GRAND SLAM CHAMPIONSHIPS	RECORDS
Overall	Record accomplished	Player tied
Wimbledon 2003 — Australian Open 2010	16 Grand Slam titles	Stands alone
US Open 2008 — Australian Open 2010	Career Grand Slam	Rod Laver Andre Agassi
French Open 2008 — Australian Open 2010	Winner and Runner-up at all four Grand Slam tournaments	Stands alone
Wimbledon 2003 — Australian Open 2010	22 Grand Slam finals	Stands alone
Wimbledon 2005 — US Open 2007	10 consecutive Grand Slam finals	Stands alone
Wimbledon 2004 — Australian Open 2010	23 consecutive Grand Slam semi-finals	Stands alone
Wimbledon 2004 — Wimbledon 2010	25 consecutive Grand Slam quarterfinals	Stands alone
2004 & 2006 — 2007	3 years winning at least 3 Grand Slam titles	Stands alone
2004 — 2007 & 2009	5 years winning at least 2 Grand Slam titles	Stands alone
2003–2010	8 consecutive years winning at least one Grand Slam title	Björn Borg Pete Sampras
Wimbledon 2003 — Australian Open 2006	First 7 Grand Slam finals won	Stands alone
US Open 2006 — French Open 2007	36 consecutive Grand Slam sets won	Stands alone

How many Wimbledon titles will Nadal win in his career?

Any of the heavyweights ever won a Wimbledon final in straight sets? How about with a bagel? How about against their arch rival?

Player	No. of straight set wins in finals	Opponent(s)	Scoreline
Borg	2	Nastase	6-4, 6-2, 9-7
		Connors	6-2, 6-2, 6-3
Sampras	3	Ivanisevic	7-6, 7-6, 6-0
		Pioline	6-4, 6-2, 6-4
		Agassi	6-3, 6-4, 7-5
Federer	2	Philipoussis	7-6, 6-2, 7-6
		Roddick	6-2, 7-6, 6-4
Nadal	1	Berdych	6-3, 7-5, 6-4

Wimbledon champions who never reached No. 1.

Singles champions never World No. 1

• According to Wallis Myers of The Daily Telegraph and the Daily Mail and the computer rankings of the Women’s Tennis Association, only seven women have won the Wimbledon singles title since 1921 but never reached the World No. 1 ranking. (Since Wimbledon’s “Open Era” (1968), only four of the 16 winners haven’t reached WTA World No. 1.) These are, in chronological order: Kathleen McKane Godfree, Cilly Aussem, Karen Hantze Susman, Ann Haydon Jones, Virginia Wade, Conchita Martínez, and Jana Novotná.

• The men fared differently. Although the men ranked World No. 1 have been dominant in Wimbledon (11 out of the 19 winners), the Open Era features a mixed fortune of champions. Three champions reached a career high of World No. 2, Arthur Ashe, Goran Ivanišević, and Michael Stich. Richard Krajicek and Pat Cash, who both reached a career high of World No. 4, have also won the singles championship. One singles champion, Jan Kodeš, reached a career high of only World No. 5 (the lowest career-rank of a winner of the Wimbledon Men’s Singles); he won in 1973 when many high-ranking players were absent.

Close up of Nadal’s watch.

Fallen Roger Federer ready for new life after tennis. From Claire. Thanks.

Click here.

Live thread for Newport & Davis Cup quarter-finals.

BJORNINO

TP, how about a new live thread for Newport & Davis Cup quarter-finals? Cheers/B

Federer wants to buy Swiss indoors. From Claire. Thanks.

CLAIRE

I found this on Blick – Switzerland newspaper – site above doesn’t take you there.
To get to article:

Google – Bick Switzerland newspaper -translate this page.
then : go to sports – hit on Federer’s picture -then hit on Federer’s picture again – right upper side of paper.
this will take you to more articles about Federer and below article is on this page!

This was dated July 4, 2010

Actually, it is obvious: Federer and the Swiss Indoors in hand. So was speculated for some time, whether in future the most expensive sports event in Switzerland will play a role. It is now clear: Federer does not want to be any role, not ambassadors or director. He wants to buy the Swiss Indoors, although he is far from a retirement as a player thinks.

SonntagsBlick knows that the champion looking for other tournaments. Various events will he win as investor. His IMG Management is to just as little information as to Federer’s interest in the Swiss Indoors.

Roger Brennwald, the founder, tournament director and rights-holders of the events from waves. “IMG is applying for ten years at the tournament, even from abroad there are many interested parties. My tournament is very popular. But I do not currently sell. ”

That unlike earlier not to IMG, Federer wants to invest but does currently nothing in the decision.

Although burning wood does not exclude that his years at some flagship reaches the shift lever. “I can well imagine one day. But he is supposed to still play tennis. I have a few projects that I want to realize the. Like the new hall. ”

For burning wood, the Swiss Indoors for more than a tournament. The occasion is no less than his life. “We are a family. Since it is about many friendships. The tournament is my city, my country, my life story. ”

Roger Federer certainly has enough wealth to buy this tournament easily. And his passion for his first love is so great that Brennwald think of worse candidates could, he should at some point but getting tired. Even if he some years the reins in his hands yet, he says: “When the day comes, I sit down at a table with Roger, no question.”