Tennis laughs

Fun!!! :o)

I hope he can make it through the US Open to the final... and WIN!!! (but Djokovic won't make it easy...)

The King of Clay...

... is BACK!!! :o)

Celebrating Victory (photo by AP, at NPR website)

La Armada Española en Roma!

Oh my! I didn't know Spain was playing the Davis Cup this Friday! In Rome?! And not content to play against a single country in the course of a weekend, the "Armada Española" is taking on 5 different countries in one day! ;o)

Davis Cup Champions 2009  (http://www.elespectador.com/imagen-armada-espanola)

Anyone reading this a tennis fan? If you're following the Rome Master's Tournament then look at this Friday's programme (the quarter-finals) and you'll see what I mean... Roma. Centre Court. 5 matches... ALL of them involve a Spaniard (or two since there's a doubles match). I just got the biggest smile on my face when I read this:

Verdasco vs Djokovic (Serbia)

Ferrer vs Tsonga (France)

Nadal vs Wawrinka (Switzerland)

Feliciano Lopez vs Gulbis (Latvia)

Almagro/Granollers vs the Bryan brothers (USA)

And now I feel like singing "qué viva Españaaaaaaaaaa!!!" :p 

Just missing Ferrero (who was in the crowd watching Nadal's match today) and my current Spanish favourites are all there! :o)

Who was it that said that Spain had enough good tennis players to field TWO Davis Cup teams? You betcha!!! :D

I figure Lopez and Verdasco will have the toughest time, but I really hope Verdasco beats Djokovic: 1. because I like Verdasco, and 2. because it will decrease the points difference between Nadal and Djokovic and bring Nadal that much closer (if he wins the title) to 2nd place in the ITF rankings! :o)

So fingers crossed for Spanish face-offs in the semi-finals and then the Final! With Nadal winning of course! ;o)

PS: if you're not a tennis fan then the Davis Cup is an international tennis tournament by national teams, Spain will next play France in the 1/4F first weekend of July.

What's on Belgium's mind tonight?

Juju (a.k.a. Justine Henin) is baaaaaack!!!

Fans of women's tennis REJOICE!

The rumours have been all over the place since Clijster's return to the circuit this summer, reaching a peak of intensity with her victory at the US Open (bravo!)... but still they were constantly answered by "No, no more tennis". Tonight she officially announced she'd start playing professional tennis again in January, with her old coach.



Perhaps she'll be able to complete her career Grand Slam by winning the one title that has continuously eluded her? As her coach said on the news "Je vais tout faire pour l'essayer d'y arriver" (I'll do everything to help her make it i.e. win the missing title). Look out Wimbledon, her she comes!

Click here for the NYTimes report on the big return.

Hmm... methinks having lived 8 years in Belgium has made me slightly biased in favour of their the country's two star players... But they do play some beautiful tennis! ;o)

If you understand French, here's the story in her own words:



And since I can't resist the chance to put up some of my own pics... here are some images from Justine's final Roland Garros in 2007 (which she won, again. She surprisingly retired while still number 1 in 2008 just a few weeks before RG). Unfortunately they're all of the big screens... I got tickets to the men's 1/4f matches but couldn't get seats for the women's. That day we had general admissions tickets so saw matches on the smaller courts (for example the Brian Brothers up real close!) and saw bits of big matches like this 1/4f vs Serena Williams on the big screens:

Writing another page in the (tennis) history books!

HE DID IT!!!

(from ATP website)

After finally completing the career Grand Slam at Roland Garros last month, Federer now stands alone in number of singles Grand Slam titles... after a grueling 5-set match against Andy Roddick, Roger Federer won his 6th Wimbledon title to total 15 Grand Slam wins (and he did it in 6 years, beating Pete Sampras' record of 14 over 13 years, with the man himself in the public watching his record go bye-bye! lol!). (photo from NYTimes website by Suki / European Press Agency)

(from ATP website)

Boy I wish I could have seen it! :o(

Damn Canal + for not showing it "en abierto" on their Canal 4! But thanks Wimbledon Radio, even though it's a lot harder to follow a match with your ears instead of your eyes, still they made it a very fun experience (I heard the last two sets) with a high degree of excitement. I thought that last set would never end (I was impatient to head down to the pool before the sun set, lol!)! 16-14?! wow! And all those aces?! Yikes! Wouldn't have wanted to be on the receiving end of those!

The ATP official website has got a Roger tribute up and running, lots of interesting articles such as "Federer's Road to Grand Slam Greatness" and "Sampras' Tribute to Federer". Plus those really cool photo montajes above and here below! ;o)


I'm so happy for Roger, but of course Rafa fans will be a bit sad today because with this win Federer regains his number 1 rank. So the rivalry for the top spot is still alive, I hope Rafa's knee is better and he gives us an exciting hard-court season! Rafa vs Roger at the US Open final anyone? ;o)

GRAND SLAM!

As I write this first part (the rest will be when I get back home after a tea outing), I'm watching Federer smash Robin Soderling of Sweden and write his name in tennis history books as only the 6th man to achieve a career Grand Slam (which means he's won the Australian Open, Wimbledon, the US Open and now -finally- Roland Garros)! Finally equalling Pete Sampras in Grand Slam titles (14, highest number for men, amongst the women the amazing Steffi Graff has over 20 I believe!).

I am so enjoying every minute of it too! The crazy dude who jumped the fence to give Federer a hat (read about it here). The thrills on the rare break point Soderling has had, Federer's powerful and precise aces, the lovely drop shots... Go Roger!!! And how about the stress in the final game? Serving for the Championship and giving Soderling an opportunity for a break?! be still my beating heart!!! Quickly corrected thank heavens! ;o)

And to receive the trophy from the hands of Andre Agassi? The last man to complete the Grand Slam... how wonderfully symbolic!

Beautiful speeches... I've got tears in my eyes! I'm such a sentimental goofball sometimes! :p





(photo from Getty Images on eurosport.yahoo.com)

INCONCEIVABLE!

(publicity in the Paris metro in June 2007)

Rafa Nadal knocked out of Roland Garros in the 4th Round?!

(photo by AFP, on NYTimes website)

Not even by Djokovic, Murray or Federer, but by a 22-seeded Swede?!

(photo by AFP, on NYTimes website)

INCONCEIVABLE!!!

I'm in official tennis mourning... :o(

I knew this day would come... our unvanquished champion would fall... but NOT THIS YEAR!!! After a couple of years chasing after and matching Bjorn Börg's records (4 consecutive Roland Garros titles, winning RG and Wimbledon the same year, etc.), THIS was the year in which he was going to create his own record for others to beat: 5 successive RG titles!

*sigh*

He played well, and yet not well enough. He wasn't 100% the Rafa we've admired so often on court -clay or otherwise-. I noticed something seemed off 2 weeks ago in the Madrid Master's and hoped he'd shake whatever it was off in time for Paris. But I guess not.

A -not so subtle- reminder that our champions are only human after all. As he himself admits, recognising his faults, in an interview he states that at during the whole the match he "didn't play with calm" (only found a Spanish transcript of bits of the interview on RTVE). He is his usual humble self, admitting his errors, and hoping Federer wins the tournament.

Ah! I've found two videos on YouTube (boy does he look miserable). The second seems to be the continuation of the first (different source). I love his answer in the first when asked how he's planning to prepare for Wimbledon! ;o)






And after all, full credit to Robin Soderling who's got to be in 7th heaven right now, and has earned -thanks to some amazing tennis, good lord what a serve and drive!- his place in the books as the guy who stopped Rafa's winning streak in Roland Garros.

I was soooo looking forward to watching a 100% Spanish, Nadal vs Verdasco 1/4 final match on Tuesday... but Verdasco couldn't make it either, never managing to threaten Davydenko who beat him quite easily in 3 sets...

So, what's left for Roland Garros this week? After the intial shock of Djokovic getting knocked out yesterday, and the MAJOR shock of losing Nadal today... all I can say is that Federer had better take FULL advantage of his opportunity to complete his career Grand Slam and equal Sampras' record of Grand Slam titles (14 I believe). His two most dangerous rivals out of the way, if he plays the way he did in the Madrid Masters two weeks ago... he shouldn't have too much trouble. But better lock it in now 'cause next year Rafa will be back to continue chasing another of Björg's records: the most Roland Garros titles (6). :o) VAMOS RAFA!!!

Hmmm... can you tell I'm a big tennis fan? This is nothing... you should check out my attempt at live-blogging this year's Australian Open final between Nadal and Federer here. ;o) And to think once upon a time I really disliked the sport... all that changed when I learnt to play properly. And learnt to appreciate watching good matches on TV with my dad. And then living in Belgium for 8 years where it's a big deal helped. Not to mention the awesome opportunity to watch a couple of men's 1/4f matches two years ago (one with Djokovic, the other Nadal vs Moya, such fun!) live in Paris. The energy in the Philippe Chatrier stadium is just... amazing!



Oh well, I now really hope Federer gets his name etched into the Coupe des Mousqutaires this year! But it will be a strange final... no Federer vs Nadal. But I'll be watching it whoever he's playing against!

Tennis madness! The Australian Open Men's Final

It's Roger vs Rafa. Again! ;o)

We're 5-5 in the third set. They've got one set each. And this game is sizzling!!! (am watching this home alone, so feel the need to comment it with someone, even if just the internet ether)

at OzOpen Final, photo by Joe Castro/European Pressphoto Agency

training in Paris, photo by C.B.

What else would you expect when the world's top two tennis players meet for the first time in 6 months (since Nadal managed to pull an impressive win in a 5h -not counting rain delays- Wimbledon final last year)? The first time since Rafa took the #1 spot from Roger? With Rafa fighting for his first Australian Open title (and to be the first Spaniard to win it), confirming what he showed in Wimbledon and by winning Olympic Gold in Beijing, that he's more than the King of Clay? With Roger trying to equal Pete Sampras' record of 14 Grand Slam titles?

1-1, 6-5 for Rafa, Roger serving to get a tie-break. Nice drop shot! Rafa ran but couldn't make it to the net on time! Another surprising light shot just on the other side of the net! A reminder that tennis isn't just about duking it out from the baseline, finesse and control play a bigger part. And these guys are giving us a "leçon magistral" in tennis. Alternating between textbook combinations, perfect shots... and then running all over the place reaching seemingly impossible balls and sending them back with an innovative and surprising shot of their own! Oooh! Break point (set point) for Rafa! oops, out. The tension keeps mounting. Whoever wins this set has a distinct advantage over the other (I'm hoping for a 4-set match). Ace! Roger just got himself a tiebreak! ;o) 6-6.
What an amazing exchange! And how on earth did Rafa manage that volley?!?!?! He just gave himself 3 set points!!! VAMOS RAFA!!! Unbelievable, Roger double-faulted?! :O THIRD SET FOR RAFA!!!

I didn't used to like tennis. In fact as a kid I pretty much hated it! :p That's what happens when you're 11 years old, your dad is a big tennis fan and wants you to join him on court to learn how to play, but since you're in the icky-sticky swealtering humid heat of Chiapas all you want to do is play in the pool with your sisters. ;o) And then (many years later) I came to Spain. And one Christmas I got a tennis racket. And I decided since I had access to a tennis court in our complex I might as well take lessons at the Uni. And then it turned out the second half of the '90s was really good for Spanish tennis, with stars like Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario constantly challenging Steffi Graf (amazing woman!) and among the men Carlos Moya (who's still playing), Albert Costa and Alex Corretja. Hearing the buzz on the news, having a chance to watch compelling French Open matches... and discovering that it's much easier to appreciate watching a sport when you play it yourself (however badly). Man, I can still remember the Roland Garros final in 1998 between Corretja and Moya (winner), with the Coupe des Mousquetaires being presented by Pelé (there for the World Cup), and watching the 3 of them kicking a football around center court for a while! :o)

And then I went to live in Belgium for 8 years... all it takes is to know a couple of people who like tennis and the subject becomes unavoidable thanks to their two main sources of national pride: Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin. Being able to watch just about any Roland Garros match you want on TV (with matches being shown on 3 channels), granted some extra time to watch them thanks to a few bus strikes that wouldn't let me get up to the University... :p I witnessed (on the small screen) Nadal's first Roland Garros victorious final in 2005 (which was a bit bland after the much more impressive semi-final vs Federer) and have been hooked ever since. Have seen as much as possible of the following 3 Roland Garros (including live in Paris in 2007, saw him train and then play the 1/4f against Moya, amazing energy in the stadium!), never missing a final (all against Federer), and catching his 3 Wimbledon finals also against Federer. Through him I discovered the impressive Roger as well (had been ignoring tennis for a few years so didn't know who he was), and I would truly love to see him achieve a career Grand Slam... just not this year, I want Rafa to be the first player to win 5 consecutive Roland Garros titles! ;o)

Damn! Roger has started off the 4th set by breaking Rafa! :o( Dudes I said I wanted a 4-set match!!! I can't take another day like the semi-final between Rafa and Verdasco, 5 sets, 5 hours... so close there was no way to predict who would win until that final break by Rafa at 5-4 when Verdasco double-faulted... Whew! Rafa just broke Roger back! :o) But as Roger started off serving in the set he's still ahead 2-1. They seem to have a really good crowd there today, well behaved (unlike at the US Open last year, or even worse the Davis Cup final in Argentina), respectful and quiet during exchanges, applauding every great shot, cheering on both one and the other...

HOLY SHIT!!! These guys are monsters on that court!!! Each just had the other rushing for the balls sent right along the line, each managing to send back an impressive shot of his own... and Rafa closing it off. We're at 2-2, Roger serving, 4th deuce! 5th break point for Rafa! Roger saves it again. A few more deuces and Roger pulls it off. 3-2 for Roger, Rafa serving. Dammit! Roger broke him!!! 4-2 for Roger... if Rafa doesn't pull of a break we're looking at that 5th set I was hoping to avoid... :p Rafa looks a bit more tired than usual... ditto Federer, but at least he didn't have a 5h marathon match ending at 1am 2 days ago... Love game! 5-2 :o( Rafa serving to stay in the match. Done! Oops, now Roger gets to serve for the set... Game and Set.

So much for wishful thinking! Set 5 about to begin (apparently the first 5-set Oz Open final in 21 years!). Rafa gets to serve first. VAMOS RAFA!!!!!! With no tiebreak available... please don't make this one of those "14-12" fifth sets, I have to be out of here in under an hour to go to lunch! Rafa holds his serve. He has the advantage by serving first. All he has to do is hold his serve until 5-whatever, and then get a break and he'll have won! Right... as if Roger is going to make that easy... sigh!!!

Although a small (teeny-tiny) part of me wouldn't mind Roger winning -he is considered by most to be the "all-time" best tennis player, and so I'd like seeing him beat Sampras' record someday (but maybe not today) and complete the Grand Slam by winning Roland Garros one year, plus it's Rafa's first final here and there will be more- but basically I'm 99% behind Rafa, this guy is so amazing on that court!
.
Man, I've been paying such close attention to tennis in the past several years, that I'm even recognising the referees (or is it chair umpire?)!!! Particularly today's! French Pascal Maria chaired the Wimbledon final last year, several Roland Garros finals, and I believe I saw him in a US Open semifinal and the Davis Cup finals last year... I like him. Inspires confidence in his arbitrating skills. Hmmm, and it's fun hearing him exchange comments in French with Federer. ;o)

photo during Oz Open Final by WILLIAM WEST/AFP/Getty Images

BREAK!!!! YAY!!!!!! Rafa did it!!! Now he has to confirm it and hold on to his serve for another 3 games.... VAMOS RAFA!!!! 3-1. Break confirmed! 4-1. :o) Wow, they just said it's past midnight in Melbourne! 5-2!!! Just one serve left to hold on to!

2 (break) MATCH POINTS!!! First one saved by Roger. Damn! Rafa sends a backhand into the doubles lane and we're up to deuce. MATCH POINT!!!

VICTORIAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!! Rafa Nadal Australian Open Champion and #1!!!

Ohé! Ohé! Ohé! Ohéeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!

Sorry Roger (ouch, he really looks broken up this time), that 14th title will have to wait a bit, 'till after Paris at least! ;o)

Looking forward to the next episode of this "historic rivalry"! :o)

photo by Oliver Weiken/European Pressphoto Agency

Am going to stop here. Not going to comment the trophy ceremony, no time left! Except to say trophies to be presented by Australian Rod Laver, one of the few people to have won the Grand Slam (all 4 tournaments) in one year, once upon a time...

This was fun... :p Perhaps I'll do it again for Paris... ;o)