Not a gentle game anymore

Kyrgios comments during the match with Wawrinka certainly crossed the line. Hoping there is a strict action against him as his predilections for such comments during matches is certainly impacting the game and its lineage.

Single Handed Backhand

The single handed backhand is a thing of beauty. Currently the players with the best single handled backhands have to be Richard Gasquet and Stan Wawrinka. Gasquet's is more stylish but Stan's has more power. However, Justine Henin in my opinion had one the best single handed backhands that I have seen. She would just win points from near impossible positions with that weapon. And its also interesting to note that Federer when growing up could just play the slice with the one handed backhand and could never go over it. Considering that, he has developed it into a pretty decent shot himself although its less consistent than those of the players mentioned above.

Beginning of the end

I am writing this moments after witnessing the worst loss for Federer ever. I havent ever felt this sad after the match as I am feeling now. The reason is not that he lost to Djokovic who is having some of his tennis highs right now. The reason is that he had lifted his game to a great level the first two sets and barely put a foot wrong. And the great front runner that he is, its beyond absurdity that he let Djokovic back into the match. After that the tennis from Federer for the next two sets was the worst I have seen him play, ever. He did up his game in the decider but just couldnt scrap it out. And to top it all and the biggest source of my disappointment is that he squandered those two match points exactly the way he did 12 months back in the semis against the same opponent, the difference being that this time it was of his own serve. I cant still believe he has done that again. I am disappointed for this guy whom I keep rooting for in all tournaments never giving up hope. I have to say this with a sinking feeling that this guy is over and done with. He can come up with moments of brillance even now but he can also play some atrocious tennis at other times. The past year and a half have been frustrating to follow this guy, when he combines the sublime with the ridiculous.
I sign off with this very simple request to the greatest player ever to have played to game.
Dear Federer, for us fans, please win one more slam and then hang up your racquet with that high. Thats all we ask. I think the 20 slams I wished for is beyond you now, but the next slam would be special, whenever it is, I am waiting, fingers crossed.

Djoker in the pack

Djokovic has always been the joker in the pack. He has spent the most number of weeks at number 3 before this that I can remember of any player. I think thats what got him going, he was playing second fiddle for too long and even if it was up against two of the greatest players in the history of the game, it does get to you to wake up every morning for the last few years seeing that you are not the best.

In the same era of Federer and Nadal, Djokovic has managed to win 3 slams, thats an incredible achievement, and he has managed to win 2 slams this year alone. Winning Wimbledon is the big cherry on a large cake. There has been no doubt about the talent this man has. He has always had the game to win on the big stages, he has always had an all court game suited for all surfaces. What has changed this year has been his consistency, and his incredible depth on those ground strokes, ability to stay in the rally till it matters and then up the ante with brilliant winners. His service is a bit more stable and with him being one of the best returners of serve in the game today, his game is now complete. Almost as an afterthought and just as an indicator when everything falls into place, I also noticed that he has consciouly tried to reduce the number of times he bounces the ball during his service motion,obnoxious both to the viewer and his opponent.

Djokovic Nadal rivalry is here to stay, i am sure Nadal will come back stronger and fitter during the US hard court season, but for now lets savor the exploits of the new champion. Djokovic, take a bow, a thoroughly deserving one at that.

Rafa Again

There is no doubt that Rafael Nadal is among the greatest clay court players to have played the game. How else could you account for him playing way below his best and yet winning the French.
No doubt Federer handed him the perfect birthday present by dismissing Djokovic in the SF. Rafa's tremendous mental strength gave him the biggest edge over Fed in the final. Federer played the best he could and squandered many chances to win. I doubt if Federer will ever win the French with a win over Nadal, and this was probably his last and best chance to do that.

The SF match between the Swiss and the Serbian would be rated among the best clay court matches played. The first set was of the highest claycourt quality.

Being a Federer fan, I am delighted with the way the maestro played this tournament, it was a resurgence that can only mean that he is not done yet and there are atleast a couple of slams left in him. Fingers crossed.

Vamos Rafa

Its no surprise that Rafa has once again proved the pundits wrong. For me the best testament for a champion to emerge and remain in any sport is given by the desire to continously improve. Nadal has done that over and over again. In the past, there have been great clay court champions, greats who were natural on clay but could not bring their game to adapt to the grass or the fast surfaces. Rafa was not to be one of them. If you dissect Nadal's tennis over the last 2 years or so, what has changed, simply put have not been his strengths which have remained enduring assets but the chinks in his armor. If there was an Achilles' heel, a blemish in Rafa's game before the US championships, it was the serve. Rafa changed his service grip just a few days before the start of the final slam, he found he could serve faster and consistently big and the results were evident for everyone to see. What sets Rafa distinctly apart is his ability to meliorate, change, albeit subtly to suit certain surfaces, against certain opponents. The great Billie Jean King once remarked that champions keep playing till they get it right. That said, Rafa is only 24 and has got everything right, resulting in the grand slam and the Olympic gold. So what next. Great champions set bigger sights when a goal is achieved and go all out to accomplish them and for tennis fans that privilege of sighting greatness has just begun.

Another Fed-Nad clash?

So guys, we are into the business end of the French Open. There hasn't been any big surprises so far. Apart from a possible match up in the QF, where Nadal might have a tough Verdasco to contend with and Fed could have is hands full with Soderling, another Fed-Nad final looms large. Who would eventually win seems pretty obvious to me. Federer unfortunately does not pose too big a threat to Nadal on clay. The free points that he gets on his serve and the potential winners on both sides would work on faster surfaces but would get nullified in the slow clay of Roland Garros. Why does it also appear to me that Murray could have something up his sleave looking at the tough opening challenges he has faced in the draw?Djokovic and Verdasco are dark horses who could spring an upset or two. Soderling has the game to beat Federer and would be looking to go one better than his performance here last year. All in all some mouth watering matchups in the second half of the tournament. Go for it.