Nadal’s shock defeat in Wimbledon round 1

Nadal’s shock defeat in Wimbledon round 1

The fans quite expecting a Rafa-Roger set up in pre-quarterfinals were in for a shock on day one of the oldest grand slam in the world, Wimbledon. First round exits are rare for top seedings.

Passing of the round one as a cakewalk for Rafa, most of the fans glued to the match only after Rafa was down two sets. Humble but clearly shaken after his first round defeat in almost 35 majors, Nadal refused that his knee conditions had affected his game. Clearly, one could see him limping on and off and not in his usual aggressive self. But he refuses to take away the 135^th seed Belgian Steve Darcis work. Darcis was playing a defensive

Darcis, fully aware that Nadal was playing his first grass court match of the season defeated him 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (10/8), 6-4, terming the victory, one if his best. Nadal saved four set points in a second set tie-break. But, the Belgian showed no signs of nerves as he broke in the first game of the third set soon after serving for the match of his career.

In a post match interview, he even accepted that probably Rafa was not at his best as beating Rafa when in form is quite difficult. When asked whether he took advantage of Rafa’s limping left knee, he clearly mentioned that focussing on improving his game was a better choice.

Two-time Wimbledon champion Nadal, also suffered a humiliating defeat in the 125^th edition of the grand slam in 2012, when he was defeated by Lukas Rosol in the second round. But the worst was yet to come.

Eight-time Roland Garros champion, Rafael Nadal is clearly not in love with the grass court as much as he is with the red clay.  Nadal had won 43 of his 45 matches and seven titles since his return to the tour in February, after a seven-month injury lay-off.

With the elimination of Nadal, Andy Murray and Roger Federer have one hurdle clear. Andy Murray, meanwhile, termed Rafa’s exit a shock and shame. 

The red clay season begins

It is time of the year again when tennis circuit is abuzz with speculations as to who will win the second coveted grand slam of the season. Will the king of clay, Rafael Nadal win his eighth title, or will world number one Novak Djokovic emerge victorious? Can Roger Federer prove his dominance on the red dirt or we get to see a new champion?

In the year 2012, since the Big Three turned The Big four, the world saw each one of them clinch one grand slam each. Now, with absence of Andy Murray, we can expect Roger Federer meeting either Djokovic or Nadal in final. It will be exciting to see Nadal and Djokovic in the semi-final clash. The Nadal-Federer rivalry can see a revival with their 31^st match in the finals, a delight for the fans.

Nadal has already proved he is the master of clay, and with the French clay, his love is special.  

The possibility of David Ferrer causing a huge upset cannot be ruled out. Though, the line up till the semi finals seems easy for the top three.

As of now, the only top ranker to be ousted is fifth seeded Tomas Berdych. In the Indian context, all is not lost. Though Somdev Devvarman (singles) and Mahesh Bhupati (doubles) have lost, Leander Paes (doubles) marches ahead.

In the women’s singles, former world number one Caroline Wozniacki’s bad luck with grand slams continue. She is out of the tournament. Another upset was Venus William’s exit in round one. Serena Williams, Victoria Azarenka, Maria Sharapova and Li Na continue winning matches.

The men’s dominance continues while the women’s reign is shaky. Week two will decide two future champions of Roland Garros, only time will tell.  

Fedex succumbs to Andy Murray

Under Ivan Lendl’s tutelage, this new Andy Murray is not an easy opponent, not even for Roger Federer, who had a never lost a grand slam match against the Briton, until now.

Andy Murray defeated Roger Federer 6-4 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 6-7 (2-7) 6-2 in the Australian Open 2013 semi-final that lasted close to four hours.      

Clearly, Federer was not at his brilliant best. Andy Murray shot 21 aces as compared to Federer’s 5.  Murray dominated the game right through the first set, dwindling only in the two tie breakers in set 2 and 4. Federer, known for his nerves of steel during tough matches was completely taken over by the Briton in the fifth set. The man who dominated the game, Murray has set a date with the world number 1, Novak Djokovic.  

Andy Murray’s career is in its prime now. He has defeated Novak in US Open finals in 2012, won an Olympic gold medal, and has a new found winning confidence. Tennis now has ‘The Big Four’. Murray had made it to the big league. Fans don’t disregard him as a meek opponent anymore. But tomorrow’s match is against a tough opponent, a man who has an indomitable winning attitude. Novak Djokovic is mean even in five setters, can come back and win even after two sets down (read US Open 2011 against Federer). But with this new Andy, even Djokovic is not invincible. We have to wait and watch.   

Ivan Lendl must be a happy man now, but even that’s not a reason enough to see him smiling more often. He was instrumental in bringing a grand slam to Great Britain after almost 76 years.  
No doubt everyone’s waiting for an epic finale tomorrow. If only Rafael Nadal was here, things could have been different! 

A legend stumbles

This morning, I woke up to a sad news. A legend I had been hearing tales since childhood had fallen……to disgrace.

A fighter and seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong has been stripped off his 7 titles and has been slapped a lifetime ban from cycling. But they will never be able to strip him off his fans. Fans, who love him, as a sportsman, as a fighter and as a survivor.

The US Anti Doping Agency claims on hearsay basis (is that even valid?) that all these years Armstrong had been using performance enhancing drugs. Without any trials, the USADA has declared a presumed verdict. And all this happens when Armstrong has never failed in any dope test. So has the USADA proved science wrong?

Though we don’t know the truth, we might never know it, for Armstrong has called it quits. He is not going to challenge the verdict. He has decided to move on. In his words ‘Enough is enough.’ He moves on dedicating his life to his family and a cause he has been supporting even before he won a Tour de France, his cancer foundation.

Though the fans would want to see their icon fight a battle and emerge victorious, like he has always all battles. In his book It’s not about the bike Lance says, “Giving up was never an option.” Then why did he give up this fight? Some may even consider this retract as a sign of guilt, but what the world knows is the half truth, or probably half lie.

Armstrong has failed the sporting test but has come out with flying colours in the test of humanity. He is a symbol of hope for millions of cancer afflicted patients, who look up to him as a fighter.

The sport of cycling has definitely suffered a huge setback. The word cycling is synonymous to Lance Armstrong. If people chose to believe the USADA then definitely the synonym has been dropped and probably will never find a replacement. Lance Armstrong, the human - has won, the cyclist - failed. 

OSCAR 'VICTORIOUS'

‘You’re not disabled by the disabilities you have, you are able by the abilities you have’ – Oscar Pistorius

This comes from a man who has shown to the world that grit, determination and courage can take one to places. South African sprint runner Oscar Pistorius, Blade Runner for the world, has become the first differently-abled person to qualify for Olympics. Yes, you read it right, Olympics and not Paralympics!  

London Olympics will see a unique participant in form of Pistorius this year. He will compete in the men's 400m and 4x400m relay at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Pistorius was born with congenital absence of the fibula (calf bone) in both legs and both his legs were amputated between the ankle and knee at the age of 11 months. Then on, he could have lived a life of oblivion as a man fretting and frowning over his fortune, but he decided otherwise.  He rewrote his life course, set examples for others and achieved what even normal humans only think of. He got the artificial limbs, must have struggled hard and reached the place he is today.

Oscar Pistorius holds the world records for the 100m, 200m, and 400-meter sprint events in the T44 sport class (reserved for disabled athletes). At the 2004 Athens Paralympics, he won gold with a record time of 21.97 seconds. Pistorius competed against able-bodied athletes at the South African Championships in 2005, and in the same year he won the 100m, 200m, and 400m events at the Paralympic World Cup. At 2008 Summer Paralympics: he won gold in the 100m, 200m, and 400m events, completing the 400m race in a world-record time of 47.49 seconds.

Imagine a person achieving these feats, without legs; a runner without legs! Though there has been controversy over his prosthetic limbs, as some critics claim that he has an advantage over able-bodied athletes.

But Pistorius emerged a winner in this battle as well. In 2007 International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), felt Pistorius had advantages over normal runners due to his prosthetic limbs. IAAF gave a ruling that prohibited him from participating against able-bodied athletes. But Oscar won the appeal against the IAAF, resulting in revocation of the rule.

This Olympics, watching Pistorius compete with the other athletes, would be a delight. Whether he wins or lose will be a different tale altogether. For millions of his fans out there, he is already a winner.  

At times when abled-bodied humans are depressed, distressed and feel that life is not fair to them, they must have a look at this man’s life; surely they’ll feel life has never been fairer.  

ROGER FEDERER: RETURN OF THE KING

Centre Court. Stunned silence mixed with huge uproars. The royal box and the 15000 plus audience. Two champions on the world’s most coveted grass court, aiming to create history.

The 126^th edition of the Wimbledon at the All England Tennis and Croquet Club was all about old champions doing what they do best. Destroy the young guns and let the critics realise they are not to be written off yet. The Men’s and Women’s singles champions this year - Roger Federer and Serena Williams - are both aged 30 years.

On July 8, Sunday, when Andy Murray and Roger Federer stepped on court, both carried huge pressure on their shoulders. Roger aimed to add another grand slam to his 16 slams kitty after a two year drought while Murray was a nation’s hope that yearned for a Wimbledon crown for almost 76 years. The match was being touted as Federer vs Britain. The much anticipated match began in presence of a royal audience, with Britain’s who’s who present to cheer for their local hope.   

Amidst huge cheers from the home crowd, when Federer serve on the very first game was broken by Andy, it seemed that Murray under his new coach, eight-time grand slam winner Ivan Lendl would not be present in yet another final and let his opponent win.

As the game progressed, Murray with his dominance and excellent returns took the first set 6-4. He broke Federer twice in the set, second time in the ninth game. Federer broke back in between, with more chances in the twelve minute eighth game and in the second but couldn’t take them.  

Then in the second set which seemed would turn in to a tie-break, Federer did what only champions can do. At 6-5, 30-all on the Murray serve, after a long rally with acute angled shots and spins and a classic drop shot, the set was his.

In the third set, in the Federer serve in the third game at 40-0, rain struck. Rain it seems was a blessing for the six-time champion.  With the Centre Court roof now covered, after a forty minute gap, Roger Federer played unbelievable tennis. Rightly so, Fedex has lost no indoor match in the last two years.  The sixth game of the set saw ten deuces before Federer took the game with a backhand shot. The third set was his by the ninth game.

With two sets down, Andy Murray now seemed to be lost in the spell cast by the maverick magician.

In the fourth set, the Swiss star meant business. Murray lost his serve in the fifth game. Then there was no looking back for Roger, champions don’t miss such opportunities. Federer served out the match in his second championship point kneeling down to the grass, a king had met his lost kingdom. The grass court had regained its sheen.  

With his twin girls watching daddy dearest, winning his 17^th grand slam singles title, regaining number one position, equalling Pete Sampras’ record of being number one for most number of weeks, no more tennis records are to be broken, Roger Federer now creates them.