The Strange and Irony of 2012 Season

The tennis world is very quite at this moment and there seems nothing big to write as well since the last Grand Slam of the year is finished except for the ongoing ATP World Tour Finals. And Andy Murray has finally put to an end for Britain’s long wait of 76 years before having another grand slam winner. I am not making this post to reminisce that event since I am not a big fan of him because I still want the maestro to extend his 17 grand slam titles. Although right now it is quite slim because of his age and also there are plenty of very competitive and much younger players. 

I was making this post because I bumped in one of the tennis column several months ago and it was only this time that I have the chance to write on it. This year, unlike the previous year, the top four players has own each of the four grand slams and no one dominates each other. They have their own fair share of superiority and mediocrity. And I never expected Federer to come back on top of the rankings considering how Djokovic and Nadal played last year. 

What is very strange and ironic in this year’s grand slam winners is the manner of how the four of them won it. We all know that when the 2012 season has started, it was Djokovic who occupies the top spot coming from a very impressive 2011 season. He is followed by Rafa then the Maestro and finally Andy Murray. And so here’s the catch, if you look at the winners of each grand slam, you will notice that they won it according to their rankings when the season started. Take a look at it below. 

1. Australian Open – Djokovic 

2. French Open – Nadal 

3. Wimbledon – Federer 

4. US Open – Murray 

Did you notice it before I pointed it out here? And you think the strange things just stop right there? There’s more to come in my next post and it is also related to this one.

The Golden Moment, Finally

I watched Federer bowed down to the resilient Andy Murray in their tennis finals at the London Olympic Games yesterday afternoon. And if you are following my blog, you know that I am a big fan of the maestro because of the sportsmanship he displays on and off the court or even during the hard times of his playing career. And you seldom see him smashed tennis racket on the court or show disappointments while on play. He always keeps his composure despite the difficulty of the situation on hand.

image from TopNewsToday

And just like what happened during yesterday’s Tennis Olympic finals, he never showed any frustrations when he can’t seem to find answers on Murray’s aggressive approach. He eventually lost in three sets with a stunning margin in the first two sets (6-2, 6-1), especially on the second set when Federer was unable to score for more than an hour.

It was a sweet revenge for Andy Murray after his defeat from the hands of Federer himself a month ago at the same tennis ground. The only difference is that, it was during the Wimbledon Grand Slam finals. Murray’s victory yesterday marked a career breakthrough for him and he could be a favorite going to the next Grand Slam, the US Open, which is still eluding him.

Federer on the other hand, was chasing for a career Golden Slam as it is the only major award that is missing in his illustrious career with a total of 17 Grand Slam titles in all competitions.

Federer’s Another Magnificent Milestone

I watched the Swiss maestro humbled Andy Murray in the finals at Wimbledon that many thought he could no longer compete with the younger legs. Yet, he once again defy that age is certainly not the case when it comes to his favorite court. It ended a Grand Slam title drought for Roger Federer and eventually became one of the oldest players to win a grand slam title and the second oldest to hold the number one ranking. It also puts on hold Britain’s 76-year wait for a homegrown champion once again though Andy is almost right there already.

Though Andy did try his best by taking the first set yet Roger was just in his own class and became the top-rank player that once he was. With the win, Federer equaled a record seventh Wimbledon title and adding one more to a record grand slam collection that now stands at 17. In doing so, he also returned as number 1 in the world rankings, equaling Sampra’s record of 286 weeks at the top and he will eventually set a new record and reach another unprecedented landmark of 287 weeks as world number one in the coming week.

And with the London Olympic just around the corner, there is no doubt that he will be one of the favorites to win the gold in men’s tennis considering that it will be held on the same grass court. Although Djokovic, Nadal and Murray were also there but there’s nothing simple about beating the guy on the other side of the net if Federer is standing there. An Olympic gold in men’s tennis singles will add to his already illustrious achievements that until now keep eluding him. And if he continues to play the way he has, he’ll have an excellent chance of finishing as number one through the end of the year.


NB: Image from wikimedia commons.

Federer - Nadal Renewed Epic Rivalry

Federer and Nadal renewed their epic rivalry again for the first time in more than two years now. Seeing both of them in Grand Slam finals or nay other finals match is of natural occurrence before then it suddenly stopped.  And tomorrow's Roland Garros is one that every tennis lover doesn't want to miss watching for it holds so much at stake for both of them.

Foremost is, Rafa wants to equal a record six Roland Garros title and his 10th Grand Slam title but more to that is trying to prevent Djokovic from snatching the number one spot ranking and so a win is a must for Rafa. He also builds up a very impressive record of 44-1 in the French Open and has never been beaten by Federer in four matches already and it was only during the time when Rafa was defeated by Soderling in 2009 that Roger got what he wanted to complete the grand slam titles by winning at Roland Garros.

It is not only Nadal who is chasing something, Federer on the other hand, is vying to extend his record breaking sixteen Grand Slam titles and to finally beat Nadal at Roland Garros. Although Nadal has dominated the clay court for several years now but the recent defeats from Djokovic at Madrid and Rome could serve as a lesson for Federer to uproot Rafa's dominance. Knowing that Federer ended Djokovic's impressive 41-match winning streak this year in a stunning four-set victory in the semis and that he must be playing his best tennis form.

A defeat by Nadal will hand over the number one crown to Djokovic. In contrast, Federer has little more to accomplish except that winning at Roland Garros with the fact that Nadal is across the net somehow a great achievement for him.

Federer Snaps Djokovic Winning Streak

An epic battle in a nearly to be suspended match due to darkness unfolded a few minutes ago. The showdown between world's number two and three ends in a mixed emotions and a gentle reminder that Roger Federer should not be discounted until when it is done. No one's to be blamed of considering how impressive Djokovic unbeaten run this year that started from the Australian Open. But the Maestro snaps Djokovic winning streak at 43 unbeaten matches and ended Novak’s hope of dethroning Nadal at number 1. Yet, one thing is certain though, a great streak is bound to end.

image from wikimedia commons

The man who we thought seemed to be unstoppable for a long while finally ended his incredible winning streak and it ended in a bad moment. Roger doesn’t seem to have an old hand in taming Djokovic in probably one of his classic game by unleashing 18 aces including the winning shot in the tiebreaker fourth set. You seldom hear Federer roar, like a beast, in jubilation for every point he took away from Djokovic. Only a few times you’ll see Roger displayed a fist pumping and shouts during the match and the well mannered Federer just can’t seem to stop his self from celebrating one of his epic games.

Both played so well during their respective draw from the start but only one has to be declared winner and it is unfortunate that the recipient wasn’t Djokovic. Roger is just too good for him at this time.