King Federer rules

Roger Federer made history by becoming only the second player ever to win five consecutive wimbledon titles(Bjorg was the other).

Though the climax was familiar, the script wasn't.It was easily the toughest Wimbledon match for Federer in the last five years.Nadal played very well,exploiting Federer's backhand again, forcing errors.Federer managed to win the first and third sets in tie-brakers and was really strugling to hold his serves in the fifth.Federer was down 15-40 in the fifth game,but managed to win that game and hold the serve.That was perhaps very critical and it turned out to be one,as Federer broke Nadal in the very next game and broke him yet again in the eight game to win the set at 6-2 and hence the championship.Scorecard read 7-6,4-6,7-6,2-6,6-2.

Federer made it five in a row,but looked beatable in this match,by Nadal who showed vast improvements and adaptability to Grass-court.It would be very interesting to see how Nadal delivers in the Grand slams before the next French.

With both Federer and Nadal looking to out-do the other in each others favorite surfaces, promises a lot more keen tussles between the two.So, Federer is the supreme king of Mens tennis now,but Nadal definitely is a serious contender for his throne.

Fedex on the verge of history

Roger federer would make history when he (most likely) beats Nadal in the Wimbledon Finals today.This would be a fifth consecutive Wimbledon title for him and there is only one who achieved this before.
Federer looks in prime form and his journey to the Finals has been perfect one.There were very few doubters about the inevitable and he goes into the Finals as the favorite.Federers' form has always been consistent on his favorite surface and no one could stop him so far.

Meanwhile Venus Williams simply steamrolled Bartoli to win the ladies championship at the wimbledon.With Serena winning the australian open and venus here,the williams sissters are certainly back on top and would be serious threats for the contenders at the US open.

Back to the big match today, If Nadal is to beat Federer, then it got to a very very special effort.Nadal must be praying for some magic ahead of the finals.As it stands now, it looks like a very familiar story.

Day of French upsets

Two french stars made headlines today with big upsets.A 22-year French Miss,Marion Bartoli, demolished Henins' hopes of a long-pending wimbledon dream and 21-year old Richard Gasquet stopped Roddick from facing Federer in the semis.

This is Bartolis' bestever Grandslam performance to date.When fans across the world were predicting a Henin-Williams final,Bartoli had other ideas.At one point,it looked to be a familiar script when Henin was leading 6-1 and 4-3.But, Bartoli went into aggressive mode and bundled out henin to pull off the shock result of the tournament.Bartoli won 1-6,7-5,6-1.

In the other semis,Venus sailed through to the Finals brushing aside Ivanovic in straight sets 6-2,6-4.Venus is the favorite for the title and looks like she is all set for the crown.Let us see if Bartoli could repeat her feat for one another time.

Another French star to shine on the day was Richard Gasquet, who upset Roddick in a thrilling five setter,4-6, 4-6, 7-6, 7-6, 8-6 in a tense and gripping encounter on No.1 Court.As you would read from the scoreline, Gasquet was down two sets and then a couple of costly mistakes from Roddick played to Gasquets' script.Gasquet reaches his first ever Grandslam semis and would face 'king' Federer next.

The prince of clay is also there in the semis and would face Djokovic next.So, an interesting wimbledon weekend ahead.

Moving close to the climax

Ten days into the tournament now.Semifinalists are spotted for the ladies and the last-8 in the mens.There are no surprises so far in the mens section but we have a few in the womens.

How many would have bet on Venus to reach this far and to add she looks like the one to go all the way.Venus always had that inconsistency and injury breaks,more so in recent times,but has come back quite well and taken everyone by surprise here.Her opponents now feel that old Williams intimidation factor.Going by the form,it looks like a henin-venus final, a very interesting one to look forward to.

Intimidation factor in mens tennis;you know who i am talking about.As usual, Federer has moved on.He would face carlos 'mosquito' ferraro in the quarterfinals,most likely to meet Roddick in the semis and may be (!) Nadal in the Finals.

I really pity Roddick.But for Federar and Nadal,he would have won quite a few grandslams already.Nadal stops him in clay and federer elsewhere.It must be really frustrating for him and he can only hope to pass these hurdles sometime in near future. Wish him luck!

'Raining' Wimbledon Victors

The player of the tournament so far is Mr.Rain.Whenever i checked for an update this week,there was Mr.Rain getting his name mentioned almost on every day.From the data that i could collect,this might well be one of the worst rain-affected wimbledon tournaments.

Nadal,the Prince of Clay, took five days to complete his third round match.No,no..dont expect an astonishing scorecard..It was a five setter for sure, and was a tougher round for Nadal, but his oppenent was not on the other side of the court. He had to face the most unpredictable and the popular star(Mr.Rain), who was simply unstoppable.

It must be really tiring and frustrating for the players, when u have frequent interruptions in your match and leading to a possibility of playing more than a match on a single day.Our prince of clay had to fight against the rain (8 rain-breaks in this match) for five days to come home victor.He must be hoping that his next round is not so tough!!!.He is one of those 'raining' wimbledon victors for the day.

This gives me some interesting Trivias:-
(1) Which was/were the wimbledon tournament(s) that Mr.Rain failed to attend
(2) Which was the most rain-affected wimbledon tournament?
(3) Which was the most rain-hit wimbledon match..Was that the one we discussed here?

Rain-gear should be a wonderful gift, for the ones coming up with the answers :)

Anyone there to stop this Express?

Roger Federer, the express rolls on in wimbledon and one wonders if there is anyone to stop this express.

Looking back, the first few years of his tennis life wasn't so rosy.He was a very inconsistent player and had attitude problems.But from the time he won his first grandslam here,there is no looking back and tennis world is rejoicing that they get to see the best ever tennis player in action.He truly is a master act and when in full flow, there is no stopping him.

Technically, he is a predominantly forehand player.Though his weakness in backhand is well known, his opponents are unable to exploit that.If you analyze his last two French Open Finals,2006, Federers' forehand was totally out of order and in 2007 Nadal gave him too many backhands,to force errors.Nadal,himself being a fine exponent of tennis is too strong in Clay surface.But, he is way behind Federer in grass and hardcourts,where the ball grips a little and hence doesn't skid much,unlike clay.

As we wonder when he is going to conquer the roland garros clay,he has already reached the quarterfinals in wimbledon,without much of sweat.Do we see anyone stopping him from conquering the London Slam (for record fifth time in a row) this time?we would know soon.

But who dares betting against this master!