Federer vs Nadal…

For those of you that have simply no idea who I’m talking about… That was simply the match-up for the Australian Open Final that finished last night.  Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are the greatest tennis players in the world today.  Their rivalry far exceeds any kind of tennis rivalry that I have ever seen or heard before.  Pete Sampras vs Andre Agassi…Gimme a break..it doesn’t even come close.  A lil’ bit of info…

Roger Federer:  The current world no. 2.  Classy, cool and humble.  He is probably the greatest player to have ever played the game having been the number 1 in the world for a record 237 weeks from February 2004 to August 2008 till that annoying Spaniard came into the picture.  13 Grand Slams titles, 14 ATP Masters Cups, 4 Tennis Masters Cup titles.  From my rose-tinted glasses, I don’t think any player in the last 20 years can match Federer…most definitely not John McEnroe!  If only  mononucleosis didn’t strike, he’d probably still be number 1 in the world today.  Oh not to forget..also voted Laureus World Sportsman of the year from 2005 - 08.  All information courtesy of wikipedia.  Plays tennis with a touch of class.  No brutality involved..just pure class….=p

Rafael Nadal:  The current world number 1, a nice and humble guy too but still annoying nevertheless cause he just doesn’t know when the point is lost!  Just when you think you’ve killed him with a winner, he charges like a Spanish bull and whips the ball back.  Some of his defensive returns are just out of this world and he definitely has the edge over Fed at the moment.  Based on my limited tennis knowledge, I think he plays a hard-hitting baseline game where he makes few errors and uses pure muscle to hit winners from behind the baseline.  Plays tennis very much like a “grinder”.  According to some respected tennis professionals, this genre of player does not enjoy a long career due to the physical nature of their play.  Not even 23 but already a 6 time Grand Slam winner.  He has a 13-6 record against Federer although it was way much closer until Fed got struck down by the illness at the beginning of 2008.

The Final and the tournament in review..:  A thrilling 5 setter that was worthy of a final with Nadal coming on top 7-5, 3-6, 7-6(7), 3-6, 6-2.  It was one of those rare games that Federer was on the back foot for quite abit of the game.  It was such a heart breaker for Roger as he broke down in tears and had difficulty giving his runner-up speech after….Such a heartbreaker…….Nadal is unbelievably fit as we all know..Who on earth plays a 5 hour 14 min game in the semi-final less than 2 days before and then plays a 4 hour 5 setter with Federer and still wins???  It’s just sheer phenomenal…..

It’s been a great tournament with many great matchups and many great players bowing out.  We had Fernando Verdasco who lost to Nadal in the longest match in Australian Open history (5 hours and 14 mins) where every shot was like this swinging pendulum where the rally refused to end.  Enthralling to say the least…we also had Andy Roddick who shed 7 Kgs before the tournament and played unbelievably till he met…… Federer and not to forget Serena Williams who was actually on the verge of a 4th Round knockout till her opponent retired due to illness.  Williams subsequently went on to win the entire tournament winning her final in less than an hour against Dinara Safina of Russia.  I guess the biggest match of the whole tournament had to be the final where Federer and Nadal both wrote another chapter of their storied rivalry. 

Unlike other sports such as football where managers tend to blame the ref and the linesman for not giving a penalty, not blowing for offside etc etc and of cos blaming other factors that allow the other team to win..We should  give Rafael Nadal the due credit.  He was brilliant and is a deserving winner of the 2009 Australian Open.  See you at Roland Garros…..

Blessed week,

Dan