Federer in post-match interview after beating Thiago Alves in straights today. "I think I did pretty well the last few years and I'm pretty happy with my career so far."
Just to recap Fed's career since 2004:
34 Titles including 11 Majors
354-34 singles record
237 Weeks at #1
Ten consecutive Grand Slam finals
17 consecutive Grand Slams semis [still intact]
65 match win streak of grass
56 match win streak on hard courts
Doubles Gold at 2008 Olympics
Friday, August 29, 2008
Genius
It's apparently official. Chad Ocho-Cinco will suit up for the Bengals this season. Brilliant.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Some Kind of A Record
Just looking over at Peter Bodo's Tennisworld blog and happened to come across this picture of Pete Sampras circa 1996. By my count there are 6 buttons on his Nike polo. A polo shirt...with SIX buttons! Pete had some style back then. I want one.
US Open
The US Open draw was revealed a few days ago and some very interesting things are going on.
For starters, the top of the draw no longer says "Roger Federer". It has been over 4 years since a grand-slam has not had his name at the top. It has been 3 years since Rafa's name was not at the bottom. Seeing the flip in print not only makes it official, but more real than anything. We've known for 3 weeks Rafa was going to take the #1 spot on August 18th, but it doesn't make seeing Fed's name with a '2' next to it any easier.
Rafa has a nice draw in his quarter. There is some talent, Thomas Berdych and David Nalbandian for instance but those guys don't pose a serious threat. The two guys that are in his quarter that he may have to worry about are James Blake-fresh off an olympic victory over Fed, and Dr. Ivo. If I were Rafa and saw Dr. Ivo's name in my quarter I would not be too happy. You just never know what is going to happen with him, especially on a fast surface like the US Open. I don't honestly think Blake can beat Rafa, so if there is an upset it will be Dr. Ivo.
David Ferrer's quarter is an interesting one. Ferrer is the 4 seed, but as far as I'm concerned this is Andy Murray's quarter to lose. Ferrer has only 2 minor titles this year and an early flame out at the Olympics. Murray has been coming on strong all summer and has reached his highest ranking ever at #6. He had an impressive Wimbledon reaching the quarterfinals, beat Djokovic in Toronto, and beat him again the next week to win in Cincinnati. One guy to keep your eye on in this quarter as well is Juan Martin Del Potro, possibly the hottest guy on tour right now. He's the 17 seed, but has had an unbelievable summer, winning the Mercedes Cup in Stuttgart, the Austrian Open, the Countrywide Classic [where he beat Roddick in the final], and the Legg Mason in D.C. [the last two US Open Masters Series tournaments]. Don't be surprised if he makes a lot of noise and takes out Ferrer before meeting Murray later on.
The bottom half of the draw is scary good. If Djokovic comes through his quarter it will be well deserved indeed. Great second round match-up here with Roddick v. Gulbis, Roddick could easily lose this match which would be devastating considering he's always talked about as someone with a puncher's chance at the Open because of his serve. Gonzo is in here at 11, always dangerous. Marat Safin is unseeded, but as at Wimbledon, if the guy gets hot watch out. Carlos Moya is having a good summer. Maran Cilic is in here, as well as Jo Wilfried-Tsonga. Djokovic should come through this quarter, but if he doesn't I think it will be Gulbis or Gonzo that gets him. I hate to say it, but don't be surprised if you see Andy out of this tournament in round 2.
Now Fed's quarter. Obviously he will be the favorite, but his quarter is absolutely stacked. Davydenko, Tursunov, Nicolas Almagro, Tipsarovic [who gave Roddick fits at Wimbledon], Gasquet, Verdasco, and Stepanek are all threats here. It would be so simple [and make me feel better] to say Federer will cruise because none of these guys have ever really given him problems, but before this year who really have him problems anyway? [Besides Rafa]. I am hoping and praying that Fed will come through this quarter, but a lingering feeling has me doubting him. He lost to James Blake in Beijing, who he was 8-0 against. Every fiber in my being tells me not to expect him to come out of his half of the draw, so I'm going to do the obvious thing. Take him anyway.
In the Semis:
Rafa v. Murray
Djokovic v. Federer
Final:
Rafa v. Federer
Winner:
Rafa [unfortunately]
For starters, the top of the draw no longer says "Roger Federer". It has been over 4 years since a grand-slam has not had his name at the top. It has been 3 years since Rafa's name was not at the bottom. Seeing the flip in print not only makes it official, but more real than anything. We've known for 3 weeks Rafa was going to take the #1 spot on August 18th, but it doesn't make seeing Fed's name with a '2' next to it any easier.
Rafa has a nice draw in his quarter. There is some talent, Thomas Berdych and David Nalbandian for instance but those guys don't pose a serious threat. The two guys that are in his quarter that he may have to worry about are James Blake-fresh off an olympic victory over Fed, and Dr. Ivo. If I were Rafa and saw Dr. Ivo's name in my quarter I would not be too happy. You just never know what is going to happen with him, especially on a fast surface like the US Open. I don't honestly think Blake can beat Rafa, so if there is an upset it will be Dr. Ivo.
David Ferrer's quarter is an interesting one. Ferrer is the 4 seed, but as far as I'm concerned this is Andy Murray's quarter to lose. Ferrer has only 2 minor titles this year and an early flame out at the Olympics. Murray has been coming on strong all summer and has reached his highest ranking ever at #6. He had an impressive Wimbledon reaching the quarterfinals, beat Djokovic in Toronto, and beat him again the next week to win in Cincinnati. One guy to keep your eye on in this quarter as well is Juan Martin Del Potro, possibly the hottest guy on tour right now. He's the 17 seed, but has had an unbelievable summer, winning the Mercedes Cup in Stuttgart, the Austrian Open, the Countrywide Classic [where he beat Roddick in the final], and the Legg Mason in D.C. [the last two US Open Masters Series tournaments]. Don't be surprised if he makes a lot of noise and takes out Ferrer before meeting Murray later on.
The bottom half of the draw is scary good. If Djokovic comes through his quarter it will be well deserved indeed. Great second round match-up here with Roddick v. Gulbis, Roddick could easily lose this match which would be devastating considering he's always talked about as someone with a puncher's chance at the Open because of his serve. Gonzo is in here at 11, always dangerous. Marat Safin is unseeded, but as at Wimbledon, if the guy gets hot watch out. Carlos Moya is having a good summer. Maran Cilic is in here, as well as Jo Wilfried-Tsonga. Djokovic should come through this quarter, but if he doesn't I think it will be Gulbis or Gonzo that gets him. I hate to say it, but don't be surprised if you see Andy out of this tournament in round 2.
Now Fed's quarter. Obviously he will be the favorite, but his quarter is absolutely stacked. Davydenko, Tursunov, Nicolas Almagro, Tipsarovic [who gave Roddick fits at Wimbledon], Gasquet, Verdasco, and Stepanek are all threats here. It would be so simple [and make me feel better] to say Federer will cruise because none of these guys have ever really given him problems, but before this year who really have him problems anyway? [Besides Rafa]. I am hoping and praying that Fed will come through this quarter, but a lingering feeling has me doubting him. He lost to James Blake in Beijing, who he was 8-0 against. Every fiber in my being tells me not to expect him to come out of his half of the draw, so I'm going to do the obvious thing. Take him anyway.
In the Semis:
Rafa v. Murray
Djokovic v. Federer
Final:
Rafa v. Federer
Winner:
Rafa [unfortunately]
Saturday, August 16, 2008
2 quick thoughts
1) Finally something good this year for Fed. He and Stanislas Wawrinka won the gold in doubles yesterday. Maybe this will give him some confidence and bring up his spirit just in time for the US Open, which starts in 9 days.
2) For everyone who hasn't watched the Michael Phelps 100m fly race from last night, go to nbcolympics.com/video and watch it immediately. It was amazing! He won by the length of 1 fingernail, unreal.
2) For everyone who hasn't watched the Michael Phelps 100m fly race from last night, go to nbcolympics.com/video and watch it immediately. It was amazing! He won by the length of 1 fingernail, unreal.
Friday, August 15, 2008
Michael Phelps is even more amazing then you think
Michael Phelps' daily diet:
Breakfast: Three fried-egg sandwiches loaded with cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, fried onions and mayonnaise. Two cups of coffee. One five-egg omelette. One bowl of grits. Three slices of French toast topped with powdered sugar. Three chocolate-chip pancakes.
• Lunch: One pound of pasta. Two large ham and cheese sandwiches with mayonnaise on white bread, plus 1,000 calories of energy drinks.
• Dinner: One pound of pasta, an entire pizza and even more energy drinks.
Estimated calories: 12,000. Courtesy of London Times
A collective... whaaaaaa? That's a whole lot of calories, however take into consideration he burns approximately 4,000 calories in a workout. But what's with all the cheese? and an entire pizza plus 1 pound of pasta?? that's just ridiculous.
Breakfast: Three fried-egg sandwiches loaded with cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, fried onions and mayonnaise. Two cups of coffee. One five-egg omelette. One bowl of grits. Three slices of French toast topped with powdered sugar. Three chocolate-chip pancakes.
• Lunch: One pound of pasta. Two large ham and cheese sandwiches with mayonnaise on white bread, plus 1,000 calories of energy drinks.
• Dinner: One pound of pasta, an entire pizza and even more energy drinks.
Estimated calories: 12,000. Courtesy of London Times
A collective... whaaaaaa? That's a whole lot of calories, however take into consideration he burns approximately 4,000 calories in a workout. But what's with all the cheese? and an entire pizza plus 1 pound of pasta?? that's just ridiculous.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Friday, August 1, 2008
Vamos Rafa
Long live the King. It's over. 235 weeks. 4 1/2 years. Roger Federer is no longer the world #1.
After a disastrous turn of events following the greatest tennis match in history a few weeks ago Rafa Nadal has ripped away the #1 ranking and looks poised to hold onto it for some time after defeating Nicolas Lapentti 7-6 [3], 6-1 in Cincinnati tonight.
Following Wimbledon Fed's nightmare season has continued as he lost to Gilles Simon in Toronto in the second round last week and in the 3rd round at the Cincinnati Masters last night to Dr. Ivo. Rafa has taken control by winning the French [for the 4th straight time], Wimbledon, Toronto and he now looks poised to take Cincinnati; although he will have a tough time playing a determined Novak Djokovic tomorrow and will face either Dr. Ivo or Andy Murray in the final. Federer looked great at Wimbledon, just not great enough in that epic final. Now he looks shaken and uninspired and will have to dig deep and find some answers before the Olympics and the US Open. He was unable to deal with Dr. Ivo's ridiculous serving in the big moments and he was spraying forehands all over the place on the big points. The Federer forehand, one of the greatest shots in the history of tennis, has somehow become vulnerable. Those who have watched Fed since he became Roger Federer in 2004 will recall how easily his forehand could change a point. He could go from a defensive position to an offensive position in an instant and the forehand was his biggest weapon. Now it is prone to mistakes and players are even attacking it. They are attacking Roger Federer's forehand. This is like throwing A-Rod a fastball down the middle, or allowing Randy Moss to be single-covered; it's just not done. Ever. Fed has lost the mystique and the invincibility that was a calling card over his 4 1/2 years at #1 and it is obvious players believe they can beat him when they step onto the court.
Rafa looks unbelievable right now. Who remembers the forehand passing shot he hit against Fed at 7-7 in the 4th set breaker at Wimbledon? He hit it from about 10 feet behind the baseline off his back foot for a clean winner past a charging Fed. I just saw him hit 2 consecutive shots like that against Lapentti to set up double break-point at 5-1 in the 2nd set. The guy is an absolute beast. Even on TV it is obvious how hard he hits the ball, how much spin is imparted, and how physical he is. He is simply imposing his will on guys and dominating them. Rafa's game isn't poetic like Federer's. Federer is Baryshnikov with a tennis racket, his game is beautiful to watch. Rafa is like a tank out there, steam-rolling people and blowing them off the court with power, spin, and intensity. The guy is just plain scary. And right now he's on a 32-match win streak and playing with a ton of confidence to match all those physical gifts.
I can't wait until tomorrow night for the Djokovic-Nadal match. There is known bad-blood between these two guys and Djokovic seems to have recovered from his 2nd round loss to Safin at Wimbledon and early exit in Toronto. This is a guy who could have been the #2 player in the world if he had beaten Nadal at Queens the week before Wimbledon and he is playing well now, so it should be a helluva match.
Rafa looked a little tense against Lapennti in the first set, but he managed to take in a breaker. I'm curious to see how he reacts now that he knows he is the #1 player in the world. I think he will simply continue rolling people and it won't affect him that much. Not until the US Open, when he is playing Fed in the final hopefully.
As for Fed, I think it's just a confidence thing right now. He's still got he same gifts, the same game; but now he is in a position he hasn't been in for 4 1/2 years. As excited as I am to see how Rafa reacts to being #1, I'm more excited to see how Federer reacts to being #2. He doesn't show it on the court a lot but he is an extremely competitive guy who is not going to like his crown being taken from him. This is when we'll find out how great of a champion he is. For 2 years we've been talking about him as the greatest tennis player of all-time. But right now he's only got 12 grand slams and he's lost his #1 ranking. If he bounces back, which I think he will, and can regain that #1 and win a few more slams and take Sampras' record away he will indeed be the greatest ever. But it's not going to be easy, not by a long stretch, with a guy the quality of Nadal standing in the way.
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