King lion duo and their pride.

Federer’s phrases.

-Look……

-I am getting close to beating Nadal.

-I don’t have Nadal nightmares.

-I don’t cry after every Slam loss – in public.

-I don’t know anyone named Mr. Denial.

You got more? No, you don’t!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Quiz.

Federer is about to demand an official apology from Nadal. Why?

Hint: Incident that prompted this action happened within the last week AND one of you cheap freaks even mentioned it. Geeeeeeeeeeezzzzzzzzzz!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You better get this now – fast.

Which Slam is Nadal most likely to falter at in his quest for a calendar Slam next year?

Who is most likely to stop Nadal from earning a calendar Slam next season?

Photos.

Federer’s results at the last 17 tournaments he’s played.

Slams only in this period	Titles	Finals	Semis	Quarters	4th	3rd	opening rd
Finals, Winner, Quarters, Quarters and Semis.	2	5	4	2	1	1	2

Who has done what at the last three ‘significant’ events.

Player	Shanghai	Paris	WTF
Nadal	Finals	Semis	Round 3
Djokovic	Semis	Winner	Round 3
Federer	DNP	Opening rd	Semis
Murray	DNP	Round 3	Round 3

Four months ago Nadal was at just 6 freaking Slams.

And he is at nine already? If ’08 season is to be taken as a benchmark to predict what can happen in the coming months – with knee or other problems not being a factor – this can get ‘scarily’ scary in a hurry. Nadal can very realistically reel off at least three more Slams consecutively before he takes a break. That’ll be like moving from 6 to 12 in about a year – something unheard of.

Looking at Nadal’s demeanor this is what I sense he is saying inside: “You’ve seen nothing yet”. What his fellow colleagues fear most? The feeling that Nadal appears to get hungrier after reaching another seemingly impossible milestone – instead of taking time to rest on his laurels – at least momentarily. Nadal’s victory celebration even after winning the career Slam is very low-key compared to others. He may be quite close to Sampras in that respect who was back on the practice courts within hours of winning another Slam. And like Sampras, Nadal shuns public events, media circus and other shams clothed as ‘promoting the sport’ BS – and unlike someone else.

Nadal is on the cusp of what could catapult him as an indisputable GOAT – past Federer, of all the freaking people. It appears Federer did not really expect to get where he is now. It kind of blew him away. In contrast, Nadal seems dangerously deliberate and has already visualized and EXPECTS to become an all time great. The difference is unmistakable. That’s the magic of a clearly defined target – whether it’s a record set by a predecessor or it’s totally a figment of your imagination – it doesn’t matter.

Both Sampras and Federer are prime exhibits to prove that beyond any doubt.

Just three worthwhile events left for the season.

1. Shanghai Rolex Masters
Shanghai, China. Oct 10.

2. BNP Paribas Masters
Paris, France. Nov 11.

3. Barclays ATP World Tour Finals
London, England. Nov 21.

Happy Birthday to Raj: Sept 19.

Wilander story. From Bjornino. Thanks.

BJORNINO

Hello TP-people,

I just felt I should stand up for Mats Wilander a bit since he always seems to be getting truckloads of hate from some posters on this forum.

Mats was “kidnapped” by Swedish TV show host Ingvar Oldsberg last night to be a guest on the show “Här är ditt liv” (This Is Your Life). During the show he got greetings from McEnroe, Sting (Wilander had a dream of becoming a rock musician and he and Sting hung out a lot in the 80s, apparently) and many other people from his past. Some of his old Davis Cup teammates were on the show as well (unfortunately Edberg wasn’t there).

Another guest on the show was Mats’ son Erik who talked about his incurable skin disease Epidermolysis bullosa (EB). Wilander has been raising money for research about EB for many years.

(I hope you will all be able to watch the clips below. They’re from the Swedish Television website, but I am able to see them from Germany where I am at the moment, so should at least work for everyone in Europe, hopefully for those of you in America and Asia as well.)

In this clip the umpire (Jacques Dorfman) from Mats’ semifinal vs Jose-Luis Clerc (Wilander won 7-5, 6-2, 1-6, 7-5) at the FO 1982 gives him a lot of praise for asking for a replay after Dorfman had made the wrong call on match point (he calls it his best tennis memory of 50 years (and 15000 matches) of umpire work). There is also a greeting from Clerc in the clip:
http://svtplay.se/v/2152740/har_ar_ditt_liv/hyllningar_till_en_akta_sportsman?cb,a1364145,1,f,-1/pb,a1364142,1,f,-1/pl,v,,2152744/sb,k138777,2,f,-1

And this is about his kids:
http://svtplay.se/v/2152725/har_ar_ditt_liv/alla_barnen?cb,a1364145,1,f,-1/pb,a1364142,1,f,-1/pl,v,,2152740/sb,k138777,2,f,-1

And here McEnroe talks about Mats’ charitable work, their memorable matches and “sings” a cover of a certain Bob Dylan song with a JMac/Mats text to it. Pretty funny:
http://svtplay.se/v/2152770/har_ar_ditt_liv/mcenroe__mats_och_mack_johansson_rockar_loss?sb,k138777,1,f,-1

Watching this makes one realize that we’re probably very lucky that Wilander never made a breakthrough as a rock star ^^
http://svtplay.se/v/2152744/musikern_mats

Hopefully watching some of these clips will make those who are very anti-Wilander change their mind a bit  Enjoy!

Cheers and have a nice Sunday everyone.

/B

Happy birthday to M: September 19.

TP, is this where we make our “birthday photo” requests?
Because you know mine is on DC Saturday, and I’m sure you know whose pictures I would like. FEDAL Forever!

Also, you instituted this lovely new tradition after my birthday last year, so this is the first chance I get to make a request.

Now if you really want to make it interesting, do you want to find pictures of Rafa and Roger that I *don’t* have?

(Rafa’s newest Nike shoot and Roger’s Japanese Nike shoot will not count. I have those. Neither will Roger’s Swiss insurance or coffee ads, Rafa’s Kia, L’Oreal, or Balearic tourism ads, or their baby pictures. If that makes it too hard, of course I will accept blowups of classics. )